Tuesday 5th June 2018

Naira Pares Losses as CBN Reviews Dollar Rate for BDCs

Obinna Chima

The naira appreciated yesterday as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approved an upward review of the trading margin for Bureau de Change (BDC) operators in the country.

With the review, BDC

operators will now buy the United States dollar from the CBN at N357/$ and sell same at N360, leaving the currency dealers with a margin of N3.

The revision also means that BDCs will buy forex at the same rate that banks buy from the CBN for retail transactions

such as BTA, PTA and for school fees.

Previously, BDCs bought the greenback from the central bank at N360 and sold same at N362 to the dollar.

Following the announcement, the naira gained N2 to close at N361

on the parallel market, higher than the N363 at which it sold last Friday.

On the Investors’ and Exporters’ window, the naira also gained marginally to close at N361.32 to a dollar yesterday, as against N361.12 last Friday.

Confirming the review of rates for BDCs, the acting Director, Corporate Communications of the CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor said the decision was aimed at giving the BDCs a level playing field to enable them to compete favourably with other

authorised foreign exchange (forex) dealers.

Okorafor, in a statement, urged BDC operators to abide by the new guidelines and not seek to exploit eager customers by selling above the N360 Continued on page 10

Obasanjo, Ambode, Amosun, Others Mourn Ex-ICAN President, Olakunrin's Passing… Page 50 Tuesday 5 June, 2018 Vol 23. No 8447. Price: N250

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Aiteo Denies Involvement in Protest Against JTF over Illegal Oil Bunkering Says Nembe Creek pipeline shut for total of 145 days Over 50m barrels of crude oil deferred in three years Ejiofor Alike Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production, operator of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) and the prolific Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 – both in the eastern Niger Delta –

has denied its involvement and that of its chief executive Benedict Peters, in a protest by youths against the security Joint Task Force (JTF) in the oil-rich region.

The oil firm has also gone into details highlighting the

losses incurred from vandalism on the NCTL, saying this has led to the shutdown of the pipeline for about 145 days and an approximate deferment of 50.386 million barrels of crude oil (net) for the six oil firms that pump crude oil into

the NCTL since it took over its operatorship in September 2015.

The JTF is a security operation of the federal government comprising the military, the police and civil defence corps. Its primary

responsibility is to provide security cover to oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta and prevent oil theft and illegal bunkering in the region.

Despite its presence in the region for over a decade, illegal

activities including piracy have continued unabated.

Allegations have also swirled over the involvement of JTF officials in the illegal acts in the oil-rich region.

Continued on page 6

Offa Robbery: nPDP Pulls Out of Talks with Presidency, APC Saraki to send written response today after U-turn by police over firestorm Offa community warns, Nigerians polarised over issue Deji Elumoye, Omololu Ogunmade, Senator Iroegbu, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Following the invitation extended by the police to Senate President Bukola Saraki to report at one of its offices in Abuja to respond to allegations levelled against him over his purported involvement in the Offa bank robberies, members of the defunct

new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) bloc of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday withdrew from the reconciliatory talks with the presidency and the ruling party.

This is just as Saraki accepted to send a written explanation to the police over the allegation linking him to the armed robberies, which led to deaths of 33 persons in Offa, Kwara State last April.

Continued on page 6

THE MEDIA MOURNS ABODERIN...

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Kayode Komolafe; General Manager/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye; Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena; Managing Director, The Nation, Mr. Victor Ifijeh; and Managing Director, The Sun, Mr. Eric Osagie, during the condolence visit by the Nigerian Press Organisation to Punch Place in Magboro, Ogun State on Monday, following the death of the Chairman of Punch Newspapers, Mr. Wale Aboderin

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PAGE SIX AITEO DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN PROTEST AGAINST JTF OVER ILLEGAL OIL BUNKERING Last Friday, hundreds of youths had at a press briefing accused the Commander of Operation Delta Safe (Commander of the JTF), Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman of complicity in illegal bunkering and oil theft and called for his immediate removal from office.

But in his defence, the navy admiral had pointed accusing fingers at Aiteo and its chief executive of being behind the allegations made by the youths.

Reacting yesterday, Aiteo, in a statement issued by its management, said: “We have read with consternation, comments attributed to the embattled Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman on or about June 1, 2018, in which, ostensibly in defence to serious allegations levelled against him, he unfoundedly suggested that ourselves and our chief executive officer, Benedict Peters were somewhat responsible for the publicly aired complaints about actions and outcomes arising from his work at the JTF. “To put the factual matrix in perspective, it appears that on June 1, 2018, hundreds of youths connected to the Niger Delta region organised a world press conference at Abuja, within which one of the central themes was to draw attention to the activities of Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman in his role as the JTF supremo. “Allegations were made against him, accusing him of complicity in the growing menace of illegal bunkering and oil theft and calling for his immediate removal from office.�

Aiteo stressed that it was not in any way involved in the allegations made by the youths against Suleiman, noting that any attempt to suggest otherwise was a distraction that is bound to fail. “For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, any attempt by the embattled Admiral Suleiman to suggest our involvement in the activities of those who undertook the event or indeed any other related activity is a distraction designed to fail. “It does not in any way detract from the weight of allegations with which Admiral Suleiman has been publicly confronted nor the overwhelming need for him to engage in a process that will allow him to deal with the substantive issues that flow from that event,� the company added.

Aiteo maintained that Admiral Suleiman’s attempt to divert attention from himself was an “ill-conceived, reckless and

ineffectual response aimed at fabricating a distant alibi to aerate a degenerating sore of a festering personal wound�. “Clearly, the Admiral misguidedly considers that there is some form of wrongdoing around the genuine agitation by a people to get protection for their land, property and assets from the vile criminality that oil theft has become. “For someone who professes to lead a security entity whose principal objective is to engender community safety and protection, this disposition suggests abject insensitivity and a total lack of responsibility, issues presumably at the top of the list of those seeking a change to JTF’s leadership. “Aiteo has enormous responsibilities in the oil industry requiring focused intensity and attention in the execution of our quite considerable commercial obligations. “With a daily production in the region of 90,000 barrels per day (bpd), the NNPC/Aiteo JV is now directly responsible for producing five per cent of the country’s daily oil production.

In doing so, the group employs over several hundred direct staff and thousands of others indirectly through contractors and service suppliers. “This sense of responsibility is the bedrock on which our commercial and other activities are founded. Sadly, this oil theft has meant that we are one of the biggest victims of oil theft in the country. “As the opportunity regretfully presents, we consider it apt to clarify a number of ‘matters arising’ from the admiral’s unfortunate comments: r5IF BENJSBM SFGFSSFE UP UIF Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) as the property of Benedict Peters.

This is a poor, ill-informed and disappointing description of the ownership interests in an extremely valuable asset, which the JTF under his leadership professes to support. We need hardly remind him, a very senior naval officer, that the NCTL is actually more the property of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we, as operating partners, holding a minority interest. The NCTL is an asset owned by the NNPC/Aiteo Joint Venture in which Aiteo owns 45 per cent and the Nigerian Government owns 55 per cent. How then can the rear admiral reasonably suggest that the pipeline is the property of one individual? There are several other oil majors whose crude is injected and transported by

Niger Delta youths protesting against the JTF Commander, Real Admiral Apochi Suleiman, at Defence Headquarters in Abuja‌ recently the NCTL, including Belema Oil Producing Limited, Eroton Exploration and Production Company, Newcross Petroleum Limited, and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Shutdown of such a strategic public infrastructure due to activities from illegal bunkering has a staggering effect on the commercial fortunes of these companies and a significant impact on the Nigerian economy from the ensuing loss of revenue for government. r"T B SFTVMU PG SFDVSSFOU UIFGU along the NCTL pipeline route resulting in significant pressure reductions on the trunk line, theft points identification as well as illegal refineries, and corroborated by several joint investigative visits constituted by various regulatory bodies and the applicable host community, Nigeria has experienced a loss of production and revenue that should have accrued to the country. In Dec 2016 alone, 45.46 per cent of the total net crude injected into the NCTL was lost on this basis which implies that the country lost revenues that could have been accumulated in the country’s treasury from crude sales. r 5IJSE QBSUZ JOUFSGFSFODF XJUI the line has often resulted in oil leaks, which ultimately culminate in shutting down the NCTL to undertake emergency repairs.

This in itself has resulted in the NCTL being shutdown for about 145 days and an approximate deferment of 50.386 million barrels of crude oil (net) for the

six injectors into the NCTL since Aiteo took over the operatorship of the trunk line in September 2015. r"T SFDFOUMZ BT .BZ there were a total of 24 illegal bunkering points identified along the NCTL. Aiteo has successfully repaired nine of these illegal CVOLFSJOH QPJOUT EVSJOH .BZ at a huge cost to the company.

These illegal bunkering points also contribute to the huge losses on the volumes injected across UIF /$5- CZ UIF TJY 0.-T BOE the volumes actually received at the Bonny Terminal. r%VF UP UIF DPOUJOVFE vandalism of the NCTL and resulting oil theft, Aiteo has written to the federal government, through the Chief of Army Staff, General TY Buratai on two occasions (April 17 and 23, 2018), requesting the involvement of the armed forces in reinforcing existing security arrangements to the pipeline as the incessant security breaches were resulting in losses amounting to billions of naira for the country. We have made similar efforts to other arms of the security apparatus of the country. r"JUFP JT WFSZ DPODFSOFE OPU just about the effect of these disruptions on its bottom-line, but the health and livelihoods of people living in these areas.

This tragic trajectory is not only condemnable but inimical to human existence, in the long term. It appears that this is a situation that is lost on the admiral. r*U JT JOUSJHVJOH UIBU UIF

admiral, rather than address the allegations directed at him, opted VOXJTFMZ UP BMMFHF UIBU .S 1FUFST supposedly supported the protest because he is ‘trying to hide something’. By these utterances, he personalises and trivialises a matter of grave national concern in an incomprehensibly absurd manner. Aiteo and others with proprietary interest in the pipeline are the hitherto unmitigated victims. As we have indicated, we have pressed relentlessly for the involvement of all arms of the security apparatus of the country to find an enduring solution to the problem, hardly the action of one with ‘something to hide’! r*O PVS WJFX JOTUFBE PG seeking the location of ‘shadows’, the admiral anxiously needs to address the issues that are critical to eking out a long-term solution to this pervading menace. Some of these issues are captured in recurring questions that may even have been articulated by those communities complaining about the JTF’s role as follows: (a) Why has large-scale illegal oil bunkering and refining assumed unprecedented dimensions in recent times? (b) Is it correct that the security forces are now offering protection/escort services to those allegedly responsible for oil theft? (c) How is it that vessel movement of the oil thieves occurs unnoticed in the region despite heightened activity in large-scale illegal bunkering? r/JHFSJB DBOOPU BGGPSE UP remain passive as our sovereign wealth is being aggressively

pilfered, aided by indifference on the part of relevant stakeholders.

These activities are highly injurious to the economy of a country vacillating between a recession and the fringes of economic stability. As a major indigenous producer, we identify with issues about which the communities rightly complain.

Although – and again we make this abundantly clear – we have not instigated them to participate in any protest, we believe the object of their complaint about the persistence of illegal bunkering remains germane. All hands must be on deck to diminish and extinguish the theft of oil across the NCTL and other such national facilities and its attendant implications,� Aiteo stated.

The company restated that it did not “mastermind� any of the protests by Niger Delta communities, noting that as a socially responsible organisation, “it understands that the community bears the brunt of illegal bunkering and refining activities�. “Indigenes of these communities remain morally and legally free to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed civic rights to peacefully protest against the ills in their community till their voices are heard and desired remedial or corrective actions are taken,� Aiteo added.

The company reiterated its long-standing commitment to due process and international best practices in the discharge of every aspect of its statutory mandate.

“It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves, which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks. “Given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours, where the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the executive governor of Kwara State, both of whom attended the meeting with the WJDF QSFTJEFOU PO .POEBZ .BZ IBWF TVEEFOMZ CFFO accused of sponsoring an armed robbery by the police under the directives of the presidency. “Similarly, on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018, the Department of State of Services (DSS) also suddenly withdrew more than half of all the security detail attached to the presiding officers of the National Assembly under questionable circumstances. “The nPDP leadership has decided to brief our members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh mandate if good faith returns to the discussions,�

he said.

OFFA ROBBERY: NPDP PULLS OUT OF TALKS WITH PRESIDENCY, APC The Senate President’s decision to respond to the police in writing, came after they backtracked on their demand that the Senate

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President reports to the Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja, to answer to the allegations levelled against him by the five suspected gang leaders of the Offa robberies and 17 other suspects.

Instead, the police, following the firestorm and pressure mounted on the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, sent a letter to Saraki asking him to provide an explanation in writing within 48 hours over his alleged involvement with some of “his political boys�.

The nPDP was scheduled to hold the second round of talks with the presidency and the APC leadership yesterday to look into their complaints and to find ways of addressing them.

Yesterday’s peace meeting was to be attended by VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, the Attorney General of the 'FEFSBUJPO BOE .JOJTUFS PG +VTUJDF "CVCBLBS .BMBNJ (APC) and Deputy National Chairman (North) of the APC, Senator Lawan Shuaibu, while members of nPDP were to be led by Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

However, the meeting failed to hold after the leadership of nPDP boycotted it blaming its action on the alleged “bad faith� exhibited by the presidency and the leadership of the ruling party.

The chairman of the nPDP group, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, in a statement, said the group could not continue negotiations in a “fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life�.

The nPDP bloc of the APC recalled that there had been ongoing talks between its members, the APC and the presidency in recent days.

It also recalled that a team from the nPDP led by Dogara and four others, were to meet with Osinbajo yesterday. “However, while we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general election, it appears that the presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been

negotiating in bad faith. “We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the vice-president last week, the presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily. “Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the congresses from wards, local governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli,� Kawu said.

In an apparent reference to Saraki’s travails with the police, Kawu went on to state that the persecution of nPDP members using state security apparatus had continued unabated. “We recognise the powers of the police to conduct criminal investigations, but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.

Osinbajo Meets AGF, Others But even as the nPDP withdrew from their meeting with the presidency and APC leadership, Osinbajo yesterday met with .BMBNJ UIF 1PMJDF *( BOE UIF Director-General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, at the State House, Abuja.

The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, was preceded by an earlier meeting PG 0TJOCBKP BOE .BMBNJ XJUI 1SFTJEFOU .VIBNNBEV #VIBSJ "GUFS 0TJOCBKP BOE .BMBNJ left the president’s office, they were joined by the IG and DSS DG in the vice-president’s office.

There was speculation in the State House that the meeting may have been connected to the allegation levelled against Saraki over the robbery incident in Offa. But there was no official confirmation from the presidency in this regard.

After the meeting, the trio of .BMBNJ *ESJT BOE %BVSB EJE Continued on page 10

7

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018

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TUESDAY, Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Ancient Kano Wall Disappears Along with History Illegal encroachment and a lack of maintenance has led to the destruction of the city’s historical barrier It was the time of the Fulani Empire and this prosperous ancient city in northern Nigeria bustled with activities.

Hundreds of years before British colonisers set foot, Kano – now the second most populous city in Nigeria – was surrounded by a brown-mud wall standing 3.5-metres high and 1.5-metres thick to protect it from outside invasion.

The fortification covered an area of 24km and all entry and exit to the city, which at the time was home to an estimated 50,000 people, was through one of 13 giant gates manned by security guards.

The city was a centre for Islamic studies and a thriving trading hub with abundant water and rich iron deposits. The massive barrier protected the inhabitants inside, but that was the old days.

Things are very different today.

Large parts of the barricade, which is more than 1,000 years old, are either destroyed or in a bad state of disrepair.

Abbas Yushau, 34, stands in front of one of the gates, talking to a group of young men taking cover next to the wall from the blazing afternoon sun.

The father of one is a

campaigner who wants to preserve the barrier’s glorious past. “The wall is our culture. That wall stands for us. When people think of Kano they think of the wall. It is our symbol. We need to preserve and maintain our ancient culture, not destroy or watch it go into ruins,� Yushau said, his eyes squinting because of the sunlight.

Kano city has expanded exponentially since its early days, now with a population of about 3.6 million. At the destroyed parts of the wall, homes and business have popped up. Other areas have been turned into a dumpsite.

Hamisu Bello just opened a mechanic shop to repair rickshaws that clog the city’s roads at a partly demolished section of the fortification. Business is booming and he is happy he chose this location to ply his trade. “I have only been opened a month and as you can see I have more than 15 rickshaws to repair today,� he said, pointing to yellow-painted auto-tricycles awaiting his attention. “I moved here because it has more space. I wanted to expand my business and this was the best place in the city. I want to

Some of the 13 gates of the wall have been freshly painted expand the business further and this place gives me that,� he added.

Yushau, the wall-restoration campaigner, tried to talk Bello out of expanding his business space, fearing it will destroy the barrier further.

But Yushau accepts that many city residents have more pressing issues to worry about than the ancient fortification’s well-being. “When a lot of people are struggling to survive, they will not take the issue of the wall as a priority. And I can understand that - but I won’t give up,� he

said.

At the city’s Bayero University, one of the largest learning institutions in northern Nigeria, the barrier’s historical significance is still taught despite the present challenges.

Professor Tijjani Muhammad works in the university’s history department and said he cannot emphasise enough the importance of the crumbling wall to Kano’s past. “Kano will lose a lot of historic monuments if the destruction continues. The city will lose its cultural value. When people are

unaware of their history, they will lose focus and will not have a reference point to look up to.

The younger generation will grow up uninformed about the contributions of their forefathers,� he said.

Previous efforts to salvage and restore what is left of the ancient wall have been launched. At least two of the 13 gates have been painted and repaired.

But the Kano State Government – suffering dwindling income because of the drop in the global price of oil – has other pressing priorities. Oil accounts for more

than 90 per cent of Nigeria’s earnings.

With a deadly insurgency in the region, a large population and high unemployment, upkeep of the ancient barrier doesn’t resonate with most residents here. “The government, to the best of its ability, has tried to maintain the wall. There is a lot of encroachment... We have reported and in many cases prosecuted people,� Ibrahim Muazu, the state’s executive secretary of the history and culture bureau, said. “We do not have the money to do a big project to restore the destroyed parts of the wall. A lot of money will be needed for that. To also stop people from encroaching and destroying the wall, we will need surveillance that will cost a lot of money, which currently we don't have.�

But Yushau said the younger generation should not wait for the government to do something to preserve Kano’s history. “The youth need to take matters into their own hands by educating the masses about the importance of the wall. If we wait for the government, nothing will ever be done,� he said. t$VMMFE GSPN "M +B[FFSB

OFFA ROBBERY: NPDP PULLS OUT OF TALKS WITH PRESIDENCY, APC not grant any interview. Instead, the IG referred journalists to the ADC of the vice-president for information on the meeting.

Police Backtrack However, earlier yesterday the Nigeria Police made a dramatic U-turn over their invitation issued to Saraki on Sunday over his alleged link to the bank robberies in Offa.

In a letter to Saraki through his ADC, Superintendent of Police Usman Dungunzu, the police denied asking him to appear before any of its divisions, commands or stations for questioning.

This contrasted with the statement by the spokesman of the Police Force, Moshood Jimoh who on Sunday said: “The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki is being invited by the Nigeria Police Force to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja, to answer to the allegations levelled against him from the confessions of the five gang leaders, namely: Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran, and some of the other 17 suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa bank robberies and the gruesome killing of 33 innocent persons including some pregnant women and nine police personnel.�

But the police, in a fourparagraph letter to Saraki sent through his ADC yesterday, only asked him to respond to the allegations in writing and not to appear in person.

One source informed THISDAY that Saraki had sent his ADC to pick up the letter of invitation so that he could honour the invitation of the police.

According to the source, “The Senate President sent his ADC to the police headquarters to collect the formal letter of invitation, after which Saraki was to go there to honour the invitation.

But instead he was given a four-paragraph letter asking for a written explanation. “In the letter, the police claimed that they did not ask Saraki to come to the police station but he should write a statement of all he knows about

the robbery. That he is to write what he knows of the robberies and submit his statement within 48 hours.�

Confirming this, Saraki in a Twitter post yesterday said he had directed his “ADC to get the letter of invitation from @ PoliceNG in respect of the allegations raised yesterday (Sunday) — so that I can immediately honour the alleged invitation�. “Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG. They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours -- which I plan to do,� he said later in another post.

THISDAY learnt that the Senate President’s response to the police was being prepared yesterday and his ADC would present the response to the Force Headquarters before close of work today.

Further, findings also revealed that the police were yet to carry out their reported threat to withdraw Saraki’s security aides.

Sources informed THISDAY that all the police officers attached to the Senate President were still with him, but the DSS had reduced their personnel attached to Saraki from 15 to nine.

Confession of Gang Leader THISDAY yesterday was also able to lay its hands on a transcript of the confession made by the suspected gang leader of the Offa robberies, Ayoade Akinnibosun.

According to his statement made to the police, he said his nickname was AY and he identified himself as the chairman of the Liberation Youth Movement in Kwara South. “My involvement with the Senate President, we are his boys! We work for him in Kwara South; we are the ones that hold Kwara South for him. “We have three senatorial districts in Kwara State – we have Kwara South, Kwara North and Kwara Central. There are some people in Kwara North, there are some people in Kwara Central. “We have been working for him since when we were in

the Peoples Democratic Party, it has been long, when he was governor of Kwara State,� he informed his interrogator.

2VFTUJPO 8IFO ZPV TBZ ZPV XPSL GPS IJN XIBU JT UIF OBUVSF PG UIF XPSL ZPV EP GPS IJN We are the ones that do political arrangement for him, for example were we can’t win, we make ‘dabaru’ (Yoruba for spoil) arrangement there. We scatter elections if we don’t win.

2VFTUJPOT 8IBU JT UIF DPOOFDUJPO CFUXFFO ZPV BOE UIF 4FOBUF 1SFTJEFOU BOE UIF BSNFE SPCCFSZ The connection between me and the Senate President is that he is the one that is arranging everything for us. For example, this car was given to me by His Excellency, Governor Fatai Ahmed, through the chief of staff as a gift from the leader Bukola Saraki.

2VFTUJPO 8IBU IBT UIF 0GGB SPCCFSZ HPU UP EP XJUI #VLPMB 4BSBLJ EPFT JU IBWF BOZ MJOL XJUI #VLPMB 4BSBLJ I participated in the Offa robbery, I took this Lexus car to Offa.

2VFTUJPO 8F XBOU UP LOPX UIF MJOL EJE UIF 4FOBUF 1SFTJEFOU BOE HPWFSOPS FODPVSBHF ZPV QFPQMF UP CF TUFBMJOH BOE LJMMJOH QFPQMF JO ,XBSB The Senate President and governor of Kwara State we have been their political thugs so that was what encouraged us to do what we were doing.

2VFTUJPO )PX EJE ZPV HFU UIJT XFBQPO It was through one retired policeman, Michael Adiku, he was the one that came with this ammunition.

2VFTUJPO %FTDSJCF UIF SPCCFSZ That faithful day, it was me, this man sitting beside men here, the five of us, I came to join them at Ajasse Ipo, then we took off to Offa. On getting there, me I now positioned everybody. Me I stood at that Total fuelling station junction, on getting there we now met that Michael, that dismissed police officer. He came down from one Audi, there was a Nissan parked in front of us, he came down from the Audi and removed guns from the Nissan – five AK47s and gave it to us, and I shared it between

the five of us inside our Benz.

2VFTUJPO #BDL UP UIJT RVFTUJPO BHBJO XFSF UIF TUBUF HPWFSOPS PS #VLPMB 4BSBLJ BXBSF PG UIF SPCCFSZ CFGPSF ZPV XFOU GPS JU EJE UIFZ TFOE ZPV They did not send us to the robbery but because we are their political thug that was what led us to that robbery.

2VFTUJPO 8IP HBWF ZPV UIF UXP HVOT GPS UIF QPMJUJDBM UIVHHFSZ It is the chief of staff to Abdulfatai Ahmed, the Kwara State governor, Abdulwahab that gave us the guns, the chief of state was not aware of the robbery.

Offa Community Warns Police Meanwhile, the people of Offa in Kwara State, have dismissed the allegations by the police linking Saraki to the incident.

They also warned the police against implicating him.

Similarly, a coalition of Kwara youths under the aegis of the Kwara Agenda, asked the federal government and the Nigeria Police to stop politicising the Offa robbery incident.

Also, elders of Ajikobi Central Ward in the Ilorin West Local Government Area where Saraki hails from, said that they received with shock the invitation of the Senate President by the police in respect to the unfortunate Offa armed robbery attacks.

The people of Offa comprising youths, market women, artisans had besieged the palace of the traditional ruler of Offa, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye 1 yesterday to protest against the persecution of Saraki over the bank robberies in the town.

The youths came with placards stating: “We are one with Saraki in Offa,� “Don't politicise Offa robbery,� “Baba IGP, this is too much for our leader,� “Saraki is the leader in Kwara,� “Offa robbery cannot be used to settle political scores.�

Speaking with journalists at the palace of the Olofa, their leader Mr. Peter Kayode said the current scenario was unacceptable and uncalled for.

He said it was inconceivable that the Senate President could be

linked with the armed robbery in Offa community, being the first dignitary that paid a condolence visit to the community after the tragedy.

He also applauded Saraki for the important role he played to quickly facilitate the release of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to the community to beef up security in the area.

While urging the police authorities to stop playing politics with the incident, he warned that thousands of Kwara youths including secondary school pupils would trek from Ilorin to Abuja in protest over the incident.

Responding, the traditional ruler said: “What has happened we leave to God, but we don’t want the innocent to be punished.

We want the police to go after the real culprits.�

Represented by the Ojomu of Offa, Chief Bayo Akinola, the traditional ruler said the police must only fish out those that were involved in the incident rather than trying to implicate innocent persons.

According to him, “The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was one of the first government functionaries that paid a condolence visit to Offa and even made promises to the town and has fulfilled the promises to us, so we don’t believe that he can be involved

in such act. “The Nigeria Police Force should ensure that those allegedly involved should be made to face the full wrath of the law and not use the issue to make any political point.�

Also, the elders of Ajikobi Central, in a statement signed by their coordinator, Alhaji Salihu AbdulWahab Agbaji, said: “It is illogical and unthinkable that the Senate President and the political leader of Kwara State will ask bandits to kill the citizens that he leads. “The plot against our son is as a result of his growing popularity across the country, a situation which is making some of his political rivals uncomfortable.

We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently call the Inspector General of Police to order so as to allow our hard earned democracy to blossom.�

Despite the overwhelming support Saraki got from his home state, the police summon and allegation levelled against him pitted several Nigerians against one another.

While those in support of the Senate President tagged it a witch-hunt, others opined that there should be no sacred cow when it comes to crime and its consequences.

Continued on page 45

NAIRA PARES LOSSES AS CBN REVIEWS DOLLAR RATE FOR BDCS band, just as he warned that erring BDCs will be sanctioned in the event an infraction is established against them.

Speaking on the development, the acting president of the Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe welcomed the development and assured the central bank that his members would ensure that “any spike in rate in the market is wiped out�. “We are calling on our members to comply. Whoever goes contrary to this directive would be summarily dealt with and if possible suspended or we will push for the CBN to revoke the licence of such a person. “We assure the CBN of our continuing support. This is a target that has been given to us and we would continue to

achieve it,� he said.

The CBN in March last year had released new forex guidelines, whereby it directed licensed BDCs in the country to purchase forex from it at N360 to a dollar while selling same to customers at no more than N362.

At the time of the directive, the aim of the CBN was to achieve a convergence between the rates in the official interbank window and that of the BDCs. In a related development, the CBN in its first sale of the month yesterday, offered $100 million to dealers in the wholesale segment of the market to meet the requests of customers.

Similarly, it offered $55 million each to customers in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) window as well as those in the invisibles segment (retail transactions).

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COMMENT

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

PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGH INFORMATION-BASED TRANSPARENCY Agabaidu C. Jideani writes that transparency enhances public trust and effective public service delivery

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here is a renewed drive globally towards increased openness and transparency in the activities and operations of government through citizens access to information and records held or maintained by the government.

This movement towards a more open government is hinged on the idea that democratic governance should be founded on citizens’ participation, access to information, transparency and accountability and the utilisation of technology to resolve issues of concern to the citizens.

Two major drivers of this are government reforms and advancement in information technology that enhanced citizens’ capacity to source for and access information and records.

These democratic principles of citizens’ participation in governance, freedom of expression, freedom of the press and an enhanced access to a marketplace of ideas are already enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

The 1999 Constitution in section 14(2) (a & c) declared that “Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority�; and that “the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.� Furthermore in sections 22 and 39 respectively the constitution provided for freedom of the press and citizens’ freedom of information and ideas.

In addition, a technology-driven, information-based transparency initiative for public engagement was given fillip with the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act 2011. The act provided for the use of technology to create, maintain, update and widely disseminate government information and records. In section 2(4) the act provides that “A public institution shall ensure that information referred to in this section is widely disseminated and made readily available to members of the public through various means, including print, electronic and online sources, and at the offices of such public institutions�.

Consequently it is safe to state that the Nigerian constitution and laws provided a foundation upon which an open government could be built.

In 2016 Nigeria in a bid to deepen its anti-corruption reforms joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and developed a National Action Plan which implementation began in January 2017. The Nigerian OGP National Action Plan is anchored on four focal themes and had 14 commitments which address the challenges of public sector transparency; anti-corruption; citizens’ access to information; citizens’ engagement and empowerment; and utilisation of technology and innovation to improve public service.

A critical fulcrum in this national action plan is information-based transparency. This requires the government to establish easy to use- low threshold technology platform to provide information and receive input and queries from the public.

It has been noted that information-based transparency initiatives when used to promote open government provide a veritable avenue not only for improved service delivery but also to promote social and economic

TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVES OPEN A WINDOW INTO GOVERNANCE TO ENABLE CITIZENS SEE AND UNDERSTAND HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS, MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO WHAT GOVERNMENT IS DOING AND BE IN A POSITION TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE

value through public use of government information.

Transparency for our purposes should be viewed as a tool for public sector institutions to collaborate with their stakeholders to broaden participation and collaboration with citizens, enhance public trust and prevent corruption in order to deliver effective public service.

Transparency initiatives serve a dual purpose: firstly it introduces the disinfecting rays of sunlight by opening a window into governance to enable citizens see and understand how government works, make contributions to what government is doing and be in a position to hold public officials and agencies accountable. Secondly, public access to knowledge of government data, information and records enable businesses to take informed decisions to generate socio-economic value.

In keeping with the above, Mr. Boss Mustapha – a lawyer and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday 21st May 2018, launched a technology driven citizens’ engagement platform http://www.osgf.gov.ng/ At the event held in Abuja, Mr. Mustapha stated that the platform was established in conformity with the open government process and the Nigerian Access to Information legislation to enhance openness, transparency and citizens’ participation in the governance process.

A key feature of the platform as explained by Mr. Mustapha is the e-participation portal which will allow the citizens to: request for information from government; submit an idea to government; lodge complaints to government; respond to government; report issues to government; and give compliments to government.

In addition to the above platform launched by the SGF the Ministry of Communication is in the process of developing a national open data policy. Working with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and several civil society organisations the ministry has held consultations and have engaged experts to help drive the process to meet global best practices. All these are aimed at achieving open government and improving public service delivery.

Open government ordinarily should result in greater collaboration between government and civil society –including other non-state actors stakeholders. This enables citizens to participate fully by contributing to decision making and policy formulation as well as in developing, monitoring and evaluating other government activities. Here the governed should be able to place their expertise, knowledge and proficiency at the disposal of government and this should be acknowledged and be seen to be put to use by government. This enhances the peoples taking ownership of the governance process and public trust in government.

Laudable as this technology-driven information based transparency initiative is there are challenges. A key challenge is ensuring that the data provided on these platforms are fit for purpose or fit for use by the general public. Information released must be such as businesses and private sector interests could harness to create economic value.

ON ALTAR OF POLITICS

Abiodun Fanoro argues that corruption is the greatest crime against humanity

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fortnight ago in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) raised the ‘alarm’ and also expressed his disappointment that the name of Nigeria has suffered so much disrepute under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to the extent that the country is being cited as an example for bad or negative things. He made reference to how the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo mocked Nigeria when Akufo-Addo allegedly said his country is not like Nigeria where cattle roam the streets. The former president’s comment was widely reported by the media.

At the face value people are likely to jump into conclusion and label Dr Jonathan’s comment as patriotic and genuine; and even go further to applaud him. For me as a patriotic citizen who is concerned about the image of this country at all times, I think there is the urgent need to properly and dispassionately interrogate the ‘alarm’ raised by the former president within the context of what our image was under Jonathan and even the holier- than- thou Jonathan’s former political godfather, erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo who he recently re-united with, with the sole mission to either humiliate, blackmail or pressurise President Buhari out of office. This seeming ‘alarm’ is certainly part of these strategies to achieve this sole mission Talking about the image of Nigeria or any country for that matter, certainly so many issues will come to play to determine the local and international image of the country. Top among them will be safety of lives and property, social wellbeing of the people, corruption index, independent judiciary, free and fair electoral system, among others.

Since Dr Jonathan raised the alarm in Ekiti where his administration conducted the governorship election in 2014, he may need to reflect on how the election was conducted , especially how members of the main contender, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), were hounded, prevented from entering the state; those lucky to be in the state were put under house arrest in their homes and all money found on them were looted and shared by soldiers and other security personnel used by his administration to coerce ACN members. Has the former president forgotten the revelation by that famous captain in the army who recorded the whole dastardly episode after escaping into exile?

No doubt in the eye of the former president the Ekiti show lifted the image of Nigeria!

Dr Jonathan must have regretted as a statesman that the ‘alarm’ which is more of an outburst was reported by the media the same day his former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s bombshell about the dirty financial relationship between his Presidency and the kleptomaniac National Assembly, was published when they got N17 billion as a condition to pass the 2015 Appropriation Bill. If that is not corruption but stealing, is he happy the way the name of his wife has continued to make headlines in national dailies not for winning awards?

When should we expect him to boldly volunteer to come and testify for detained Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) if in his own judgment and standard Dasuki had only engaged in a patriotic acts of allegedly frittering away scarce national funds? What have all these done to Nigeria’s local and international image?

Under his administration how were Nigerians treated abroad? Were they not treated as lepers?

Till tomorrow Professor Wole Soyinka cannot forget

how he was treated at the entry to one of the foreign countries during the tenure of the former president.

In the category of crimes, I am of the sound view that the greatest crime leaders and those entrusted with public offices could commit against their country and fellow country men and women, is corruption. Succinctly put, the greatest crime against humanity is corruption because it breeds other crimes. Corruption leads to genocide, mass illiteracy, road accidents, collapsed building, plane crash, infant and mothers’ death, etc.

Now to the alleged Ghanaian leader’s statement which drew tears from Jonathan’s eye, it is difficult to understand how this could genuinely be a source of tear to the former president, because the nuisance issue of cattle or animals roaming the streets is not peculiar to Nigeria, nor Africa. It is a common feature in under-developed countries.

Is the former president honestly saying that in his own village of Otuoke, animals are not roaming the streets and what have you done to stop it?

If the comparison allegedly made by the Ghanaian leader was truly made by him, certainly he was economical with the truth, because as I earlier said this menace is not peculiar to Nigeria.

It is just not an African problem, it is part of the problems of developing countries where you find all manner of animals roaming the streets.

For both Jonathan and Akufo-Addo, dispassionate analyst should even ask them what their objectives were and what they stand to achieve.

For Jonathan, we can easily decipher his intention; it is part of the pull down Buhari plot which has now united him with his estranged godfather, Obasanjo.

If the former president is moved to tears by the alleged killings by Fulani herders, that would be

understood as no sane human being would not condemn this dastardly act in its entirety, but he was not reported to have referred to this.

The Bible clearly establishes that, ‘Truth exalts a nation, sin is a reproach’. Yes there is the clamour and cry by all that Nigeria must develop and move to the next level, but is this possible when everybody refuses to embrace truth? Certainly no.

In a situation where everything is blamed on President Buhari, who has just spent three years in power, certainly we are far away from telling the truth. May be we have forgotten that only the truth can set us free. Like Pastor Tunde Bakare puts it, it is ‘the truth we know (confess) and practise.

How honest and truthful is Dr Jonathan to claim that everything was well with the image of Nigeria while he was in office? Or that the menace of roaming cattle started with the Buhari Administration? Or that killings by herdsmen only began in 2015. Of course the killings witnessed a reprehensible astronomical increase under Buhari and which every decent people worldwide had condemned.

All our past leaders including Jonathan and ‘saint’ Obasanjo have contributed one way or the other to the sorry state of our country today which Buhari is being expected in three years to salvage. The earlier Jonathan, Obasanjo and the rest abandon their defensive posture, this holier–thanthou attitude, to team up with whoever is the leader, the earlier we would truly move forward and the better for us.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said it all when he recently declared that herdsmen killings pre-dated the Buhari administration; ditto all the problems starring us in the face today.

Fanoro, a journalist, wrote from Lagos

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EDITORIAL CURBING FRAUD IN BANKS The relevant authorities could do more in fighting financial crimes

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he report of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) which revealed a spike in internal fraud cases perpetrated by staff of banks from 231 in 2016 to 320 in 2017 is quite disturbing. It is a clear expression of how the menace of corruption has permeated every sphere of our national life. A situation where banks which ought to be the custodians of people’s trust have transformed into dens of robbers is quite tragic and calls for due attention by all the relevant authorities.

In perpetrating their internal abuse, unscrupulous bankers connive with outsiders to defraud unsuspecting customers by helping fraudsters to open fake accounts into which victims are deceived to make deposits. Mohammed Ibrahim, spokesman of the NDIC, said the corporation’s report was drawn from off-site supervision of the THE LEVEL OF FRAUDULENT deposit money CASES AND MAGNITUDE OF banks (DMBs).

LOSSES IN BANKS WOULD According to him, ULTIMATELY EXCEED THE 286 responses DISCOVERIES OF NDIC received from banks AS THE CORPORATION’S in 2017 showed that 26,182 cases of FINDINGS WERE ONLY PREDICATED ON REPORTED fraud and forgeries were 56.30 per cent CASES higher than 16,751 cases reported in 2016.

Furthermore, he said the amount involved in documented fraudulent activities increased by N3.33 billion from the N8.68 billion reported in 2016 to N12.01 billion in 2017 or 38 per cent. Ibrahim also said internet/online-banking and ATM/card-related fraud-cases that were reported amounted to 24,266 or 92.68 per cent of all the reported cases, culminating in N1.51 billion or 63.66 per cent losses in the banking sector in 2017.

What is particularly irksome in these unwholesome acts is the level of negligence and carefree attitude by the managements of the various banks involved.

Ordinarily, especially in this age, you expect every bank to have a sound database with effective platforms

Letters to the Editor

for tracing fraudsters. But such is the level of criminal negligence that some unscrupulous bank employees now open fraudulent accounts for their cronies within the system without being detected. With that, it becomes easy for criminals masquerading as bankers to provide information to their co-conspirators, leading to online/internet fraud.

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eanwhile, one of the platforms for ďŹ ghting online fraud is bank veriďŹ cation number (BVN). But several months after the expiration of the deadline given by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to banks for the issuance of BVN, many accounts are yet not linked with any veriďŹ cation number.

It should also be noted that the level of fraudulent cases and magnitude of losses in banks would ultimately exceed the discoveries of NDIC as the corporation’s ďŹ ndings were only predicated on reported cases whereas there are obviously many cases of fraud that are not reported while victims mourn only in silence.

Against this backdrop, the magnitude of losses recorded by bank customers, according to NDIC, to the tune of N3.33 billion in 2017, should be a wake-up call to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beam its searchlight into bank operations with a view to ushing out such criminal elements in the banks and put paid to their nefarious acts. Otherwise, the government’s bid to promote e-payment and entrench a robust cashless economy will fail to achieve optimal result.

If the federal government is indeed committed to ďŹ ghting ďŹ nancial crimes, it must take decisive steps to end internal robbery going on in the banks by reading the riot acts to them that they should either clean up their systems or face adequate sanctions. The government must also have the strong will to shut down any account that is not linked to BVN while giving innocent owners the platforms to apply through their banks for proper registration with a view to reclaiming their funds while those with criminal records should be forfeited to the federal government.

This will go a long way in entrenching sanity in banking operations and restore citizens’ conďŹ dence in banks.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to speciďŹ c publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTER TO ALIKO DANGOTE “I do not only want to be known as Africa’s richest man but the biggest philanthropist in Africa. I will continue to use my resources and my voice to help shape a better Nigeria and Africa as a whole�.

These were your words at one of your empowerment programmes.

I

write this letter with the highest sense of humility, praying to Allah the Almighty that you receive it in your best health condition and humanitarian spirit. This is the second individual open letter I am writing. One was to the President of Nigeria on political grounds. Now I am writing to you on humanitarian grounds. I am sure that you do not know me, but we share some things in common which form the basis of this missive. Simply a Nigerian patriot from Ebonyi State, an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance, it may interest you that I have some noble ideas which you definitely would find interesting and beneficial to your humanitarian endeavours but which require direct conveyance.

As a Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON), you have attained the second highest honour in Nigeria, awaiting the highest that is only reserved for the Presidents of Nigeria and I feel deeply in me that Nigerians will demand that you lead them one day. Though not a partisan politician, in view of the fact that every human being practices politics in different ways, you are an ardent proponent of good governance, peace and humanity which I so

much advocate for but with the difference in the means.

I know you, just like I have read and seen great heroes. I have benefitted from you directly and indirectly, just like millions of Nigerians and hundreds of millions of humanity have benefitted from your philanthropy and humanitarian gestures. At least, my people are benefitting from your Ramadan packages. Both Muslims and Christians are receiving aids from you like the Jaiz Zakat and Waqf Foundation does. I have witnessed Zakat distributions in the states of the Southeast and South South where beneficiaries transcend religious lines.

The little more I definitely know about you is that you are an Al-Azhar University Alumnus which I am also; you are exclusively Africa’s richest man, an industrialist who has founded many Nigerian-rooted global industries of repute. You chair many intercontinental companies including Dangote Cement which is Africa’s largest cement producer and which produces 44 million metric tonnes annually and plans to increase its output 33% by 2020. Your name is a brand for sugar, spaghetti, salt, oil, flour and many agricultural products. Your presence in the oil sector is manifestly felt and when your refinery is finally completed, Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief that the unpleasant story of fuel scarcity will never be experienced again in Nigeria.

Even as your great grandfather, Alhaji Alhassan Dantata of blessed memory, was the richest man in Nigeria sometimes ago, you did not follow the footstep of many children who naturally grew up with the entitlement mentality. You did not recline on the

belief of some privileged children that “my father was�. Rather, you worked hard for your position in accordance with the divine insight which inspires the strive for sublimity in life accomplishments. I know of the poet who proclaimed: “Sublimity! Verily seeking sublimity is an obligation upon a Muslim; the best of the worlds leaned on us (Muslims); for sublimity, we are a progressive Ummah; for sublimity, here I am with my life and soul�.

It is on record that at a very young age, you started developing the business spirit, not minding your background from a very wealthy family. I read you say these words: “I can remember when I was in primary school, I would go and buy cartons of sweets (sugar boxes) and I would start selling them just to make money.

I was so interested in business, even at that time.� Nothing more explains your inborn dexterity, creativity and boundless determination to make a difference. Records show how football legends were attached passionately to the round leather from infancy. Also, it is on record how great inventors displayed inclination to their fields of excellence at nonage.

Truly, you have made a difference in life. You have touched the lives of human beings, the creatures of God on earth. I pray for you and wish you well. My prayer for you is based on the grounds that your wealth has been a source of your strength in faith. Many have gone astray with little fortunes. Many have struggled but failed.

But yours is Allah’s gift and that is why your broadmindedness in giving out to the poor and needy is immeasurable.

Muhammad Ajah, Abuja

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

16

POLITICS

Group Politics Editor Tobi Soniyi Email tobi.soniyi@thisdaylive.com 07054786260 SMS ONLY

EXECUTIVE BRIEFING

Three Years of Ambode The initial hiccups and poor handling of waste management aside, Lagosians are in agreement that Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has done a great job, writes Tobi Soniyi

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hen Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode came up with a revolutionary plan to tackle the seemingly intractable waste problem in his state, little did he know that a few factors beyond his control would frustrate his plan. A few people have tried to hang the governor over this and not many have taken the time to digest his comprehensive and scientific approach to waste management.

Those who did say that had Ambode’s plan succeeded, it would have been another first in the history of the country. Rather than criticism, what the governor deserves is support. His new waste management plan is one that promises to deliver the greatest good to the people.

That aside, many also easily remember how Ambode started on a shaky note in 2015. The governor was just about settling in for business of governance when the corollary of the rocky start began to be felt in major sectors especially security and traffic management. Naturally, tempers flared and people started questioning the ability of the governor to step into the “big shoes” left by his predecessor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola now Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

In the face of the initial turbulence, Ambode kept calm and remained focused on the big picture and soon, the story changed and people who castigated him initially started showering accolades on him for sterling performance in office.

The governor would later explain the slow start of his administration thus: to achieve success one must first think through policies, plan and then act by brilliantly executing the well-rounded programs. True to him, the process of thinking and planning the programs brought about the initial drawback, but today the story of Governor Ambode’s Lagos is a potpourri of positively impactful infrastructural renewal as well as focused and dynamic leadership in all sectors and sections of the state.

As a public financial expert extraordinaire, Ambode came up with checks and balances for revenue inflow and also introduced the Treasury Single Account which in turn blocked revenue leakages and loopholes. The development ensured that there were funds to carter for government activities, while he immediately followed same with N11billion approval to offset arrears owed since 2010, not only for Lagos State Government mainstream retirees but also retirees in Local Governments and other government agencies.

In response to the public outcry over the increase in spate of crime, Ambode rebranded the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the police. In an unprecedented move, he donated equipment worth N4.765billion to the State Police Command.

This was done in September of 2015 and the items include 100 4-Door Salon Cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 15 BMW Power Bikes, 100 Power Bikes, Isuzu Trucks, three Helicopters, two Gun Boats, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers, Revolving Lights, Siren and Public-Address System, Vehicular Radio Communicators, Security gadgets including bullet proof vests, drones, helmets, handcuffs, uniforms, kits and Improved Insurance and Death Benefit Schemes for officers.

The governor, in coming up with the policy framework of his administration, had hinged it on security, job creation and infrastructural renewal. According to him, when there is security of lives and property, more businesses will spring up and such will facilitate job creation.

In March 2017, the governor donated 48 Patrol Vans, 385 Walkie Talkies, 11 Base and Repeater Stations, 1,150 uniforms, 570 handcuffs, 1,150 Belts, berets and boots to boost the operation of the Neighborhood Watchers to keep all the communities in Lagos safe. It must, however, be noted that the Neighborhood Watchers have been

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode

rebranded and transformed to Neighborhood Safety Corps Officers with 171 Vehicles fitted with communication gadgets, 377 Motorcycles, 4000 Bicycles, Metal Detectors, 7000 members of staff, among others to improve security in all communities in the state.

As part of the transport reforms in the state, the governor in another unprecedented move, commissioned the Mile 12-Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Extension Project and injected 434 new air-conditioned and comfortable BRT buses into the transport scheme in November 2015.

As part of the integrated transportation system aimed at ensuring intermodal transportation of rail, water and land, Ambode re-launched the Blue Line Rail Project which upon completion will ease connectivity in the state as over 500, 000 passengers would be conveyed daily between Marina and Okokomaiko. The project is to be followed by the second phase which is the Red Line Rail Project from Alagbado to Lagos Island.

To ease traffic, the Ambode’s administration constructed several laybys and modern segregated bus parks across the state with some still ongoing notably in Ikeja, Oworonshoki, Lekki-Epe expressway, Ogudu, Alapere, among others, while in a move to find a lasting solution to the perennial traffic gridlock along Ikorodu Road, Ambode on November 9, 2017 commissioned multiple layby and slip road in Alapere. On the same day, the governor also launched the Intelligence Transport System (ITS), the e-ticketing for commuters using the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the Ojota BRT Depot and the new complex for the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority known as LAMATA Place.

The road sector is perhaps, the biggest

One thing that is clear from his efforts so far is that - he is determined to leave Lagos better than he met it

beneficiary of the administration as no part of the state was left behind in the last three years.

Briefing journalists recently, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Adebowale Akinsanya said in the last three years, the state government had completed about 500 significant projects which had impacted positively on the life of residents.

From Ikorodu to Lagos-Abeokuta expressway to Badagry, Epe, Ikeja and so on, one road project or other is either completed or ongoing simultaneously including 21 Lagos-Ogun boundary roads with two bridges in Alimosho inaugurated in March 2018, Pen Cinema Flyover, 181 inner roads, Epe arterial roads, and the recently approved flyover to be constructed in Fagba to permanently address the perennial traffic associated with the axis.

In the health sector, the governor as early as 2115 commissioned 20 Mobile Care Units Ambulances and 26 Transport Ambulances which were deployed across the various general hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the state. He also approved the purchase of generators and x-ray machines for all general hospitals to ensure 24-hour power supply. The first state-owned helipad for medical emergency was also constructed within the premises of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), among others.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris said in area of tertiary healthcare for instance, LASUTH benefited from the supply of medical equipment by the governor, while renovation of some buildings in the hospital was carried including Old Admin Block, Surgical Emergency, Kitchen, Laundry Section, Chest Clinic, Engineering Workshop, Main Laboratory, Tailoring, among others.

To ensure food security, the governor entered into a strategic partnership with Kebbi State in 2016 which brought about the famous Lake Rice. The initiative forced down the price of rice in the market. The governor is building on that to install a 32 metric tonnes per hour rice mill in Imota, a suburb of Ikorodu.

It is projected that when operational from February 2019, the mill will ensure availability of rice in the market and will also facilitate the creation of about 200, 000 jobs across the agric value chain, while it will also bring about cultivation of 32,000 hectares of farm land to

produce rice paddy equating to an estimated 130million kg of processed rice per year (an equivalent of 2.6million 50kg bags of rice). Also, the scheme will be aligned with the Western Nigeria economic integration agenda whereby the states in the South-west will supply the mill with rice paddy.

In the same vein, work is progressing steadily at the new Mile 12 Regional Foodstuff Market in Imota. The idea of the new market was aimed at easing traffic and the need to move to a much bigger, comfortable and convenient place.

In that axis too, work is already completed for operational take-off of the Timberville Sawmill in Agbowa/Ikosi Ejirin LCDA where plank traders in Okobaba Sawmill will be relocated to. The development will pave way for the regeneration of Okobaba.

In the power sector, the government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, has done a lot. First, the governor unveiled the Light Up Lagos Project with three-pronged approach focusing on street lightening, community electrification and embedded power programme.

Through the street lightening component of the scheme, major highways and streets are now well lit at night thereby enhancing security and improving aesthetics of the environment.

On the community electrification component, many communities across the state have so far been connected to the national grid and many others had their either moribund or non-existent transformers replaced with new ones.

The governor had also set up a Power Advisory Committee made up of key stakeholders from the public and private sector to drive the bid by the state to generate 3000 megawatts of power.

Another laudable achievements of the governor is the N25billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF) set aside to provide minimal interest loan for members of the informal sector and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). So far over N4.1billion has been given to about 5,000 beneficiaries.

The governor is also taking tourism serious.

A tourism master plan is being developed for the state. It will drive tourism potentials of the state for the next 15 to 20 years.

As part of the smart city project, many online portals have been developed to enhance residents’ interaction with government, while High Definition CCTV cameras with gantries being installed across the state. Also, the State Government has concluded plans to transform the Sabo Industrial Estate in Yaba into a technology hub and another Silicon Valley where new set of entrepreneurs and innovators will be raised to address the challenges confronting the nation in the ICT sector.

Education has also been receiving the needed attention with completion of new model colleges, revamping of infrastructure in public schools and ingenuity in coming up with innovative initiatives such as Ready.Set.Work (RSW), Code Lagos, among others.

Thee Deputy Governor, Mrs Idiat Adebule said a total of 12,500 final year students in tertiary institutions have so far been trained in the last two years on entrepreneurship and employability skills under the RSW, while plans have been firmed up to train additional 25,000 students through the scheme in 2018.

The RSW is an intervention designed to equip graduates of tertiary institutions in the state with knowledge, skills and attitude required to gain employment upon graduation. It is a 13-week training through which participants are prepared for immediate entry into the workforce as employees and employers of labour by equipping them with market-aligned soft skills, business tools and a mindset of re-orientation.

Amode as an all-rounder has also invested massively in housing, environment and sports.

One thing that is clear from his efforts so far is that - he is determined to leave Lagos better than he met it.

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

PERSPECTIVE

Issues That Will Shape 2019 Elections As 2019 beckons, Magnus Onyibe breaks down the issues that will seal the fate of participating political parties and their candidates

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ith the level of despondency now pervading the polity, we don’t need an expert to enlighten us on how disappointed Nigerians are with the state of insecurity of lives and property as well as the debilitating hunger ravaging citizens across the country.

Applying the hue and cry around the country as a barometer during this year’s May 29 democracy day, most Nigerian voters believe that they were short changed by politicians in 2015.

The alarming level of anguish by citizens across the political divide is corroborated by the statistics from NOI Polls which indicates that President Muhamadu Buhari’s approval rating has dropped to 41% from 80% at inception of this administration.

In a previous article, l tried to make a case that the ruling party was reneging on the promises made to the electorate during its campaign for office which it won in 2015.

Even the APC itself has disclaimed some of the promises by arguing that they were crafted and published by people or organizations sympathetic to its course, but without its approval.

So more or less, unwary voters were sold a dud and if you like, some of the electorates were fooled by the deceptive message of APC support groups. Against the backdrop of the principle of “Fool Me Once, Shame On You, Fool Me Twice,Shame On Me”, and given what they know now, would Nigerian voters allow themselves to be fooled a second time by voting for APC in 2019?

In defence of its inability to keep some of the fantastic promises made, the APC claims that the incredible propositions such as bringing the naira exchange rate to N1-$1 and reducing fuel pump price as well as ending the regime of petroleum subsidy (which are obviously mere fairy tales) are being hindered by corrupt people from the opposition party who are fighting back.

They also argue that those fantastic promises which sounded like sweet music to the masses did not have the imprimatur of then candidate and now president Muhammadu Buhari and the APC secretariat.

But as the 2019 general elections ramp up and February date for presidential polls looms large,most pundits are beginning to have clear optics (based on promises kept or undelivered) about whether the present occupant of Aso Rock villa will likely remain there or relinquish the keys to a new occupant.

It is heart breaking to contemplate the notion that if the current spell of political witchcraft that has shackled the former ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not dispelled by an equally savvy wizardry via charismatic leadership, the party that its one time chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor boasted will rule Nigeria for sixty years, would likely disintegrate before 2023.

Now, a lot of analysis of the impending election have been based on Buhari and APC’s track record of governance in the past three years. The prevailing sentiment amongst the politically conscious is that the performance has been manifestly below expectations. However , the critical masses that vote are in the rural areas and they are more often than not politically naive. So they may not be as sensitive to non delivery of campaign promises by the APC as their counterparts in the urban centres.

In any case, victories in elections are not based on sentiments alone, but mainly on the efficacy of the strategy applied to win by both the incumbent and opposition. One of which is that there has to be a strong narrative of a societal ill which the parties must strive to stigmatize each other with in order to be able to brand it a public enemy not fit enough to continue to steer the ship of state or un entitled to take over.

As an opposition party, APC did that successfully by branding the PDP a cohort of thieves. It reinforced its claim by raising dust with the alleged fraud in NNPC (Un remitted $40b or so ) revealed by then CBN governor, now Emir of Kano,HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

So far the main opposition party, PDP has been unable to make such a case against the APC.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Contrary to the political capital that then opposition party, APC made out of the alleged NNPC fraud in 2013/14, the PDP now in opposition has been unable to capitalize on the alleged illegal award of contracts in excess of $20b by NNPC GMD, Maikanti Baru without due process, (as revealed by minister of state petroleum, lbe Kachikwu) and other financial malfeasance by the establishment to give APC a bad name so that it can be punished at the polls.The PDP has also not been able to make the case that it is the APC’s three prong agenda of fighting corruption, insecurity and economy in that order of priority, instead of putting the resuscitation of the economy first that is largely responsible for the economic recession that the country is currently recovering from. ldeally, the ruling party should have concentrated on putting the economy on even keel, especially as it was coming to power at the time that crude oil price, the economic main stay of Nigeria was on downwards spiral.As opposed to saving the economy the establishment concentrated attention on fighting corruption which is energy sapping and inherently anti growth.

Owing to the uncertainty generated by the economic policies deemed to be out of tune with global reality, investor apathy kicked in resulting in capital flight to safety and recession of 2016 which was more or less an own goal. As PDP is unable to make the case, the narrative on the street is that it is PDP’s economic mismanagement that triggered recession in 2016. The truth is that bereft of any development plan until the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP was developed two years into the tenure of the present administration, the inaction or lethargy combined with dwindling crude oil price accelerated the sinking of the economy into doldrums.

As Nigeria does not operate in an autarky but as a member of the comity of nations with clear economic linkage, it also did not help that there was no cabinet until six months into the 4 years tenure of the government in power.

However, with a weak opposition, that failed to successfully capitalize on the leadership gaps earlier highlighted, the APC as the present occupant of Aso Rock villa seat of power and holding sway in 24 of the 36 governors lodges across the country, already controls over 70% in terms of sphere of influence .

Conversely, the PDP as a badly fractured and dying party controlling only 10 states and whose integrity plus brand are highly damaged by previous abysmal record , don’t possess the mettle to sail into Aso Rock villa successfully in 2019.

As such, next year’s election looks like a cherry waiting for the APC to pick again.

In as much as most political indices tend to be making election 2019 look like a walk in the

park for the ruling party, however the initial flashes don’t necessarily mean that the impending contest is a slam dunk for the APC and Nunc Dimitis for the PDP. The foregoing assertion stems from the fact that there is no certainty in politics as situations and circumstances can change faster than the English weather.

The above observation is underscored by the simple fact that although the PDP is in shambles, deep down the APC is equally in disarray.

The assertion above is justified by the fact that, of the 24 states that the APC controls, parallel congresses were held in at least 10 states, and by some accounts 14.

That’s a clear evidence that the ruling party has become fractious. In other words, APC is now a house divided in the light of the very high level of acrimony within the party.

In fact, the internecine war within the APC is not surprising to some of us because what is happening now is a fall out of the reality that the party comprises of strange bedfellows.

The five political parties ACN, CPC, ANPP, and factions of PDP and APGA that merged in 2013 in order to be formidable enough to unseat the PDP (which had been the ruling party since 1999) had diametrically opposing philosophies before their merger.

Whether the merger of five political parties which are strange bed fellows between 2013/14 to form APC to snatch power from the PDP in 2015 in Nigeria would be a misadventure is a question that’s giving most politicians sleepless nights.

The answer to the question may become manifest on June 23-the proposed day that the much awaited APC convention would hold. On that occasion, the legacy parties would be expected to put on the table their individual ethnic and religious interests which they had buried or stood down in 2013 owing to the overriding desire and determination to temporarily stand down their selfish and ethnic agendas to grab power from Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP. In the light of the circumstances highlighted above, its difficult at this point to decipher whether the ruling party would implode as hordes of pundits aver. But the telltale signs as reflected by the conflicts that manifested during the congresses held by the ruling party are quite ominous.

Before the congresses, the coalition was already experiencing convulsions as nPDP had sent a notice signaling the deepening of the rift.

As the aggrieved bloc recently reminded the leadership, it controls about 12 states and as such could make or mar the ruling party’s chances of retaining power.

Although the crack in APC is being hastily patched up through consultations and holding out of olive branch to the feuding or aggrieved

factions and blocs, the undercurrent remains dangerous as there are still subterranean moves for some of the legacy parties to migrate to other platforms.

From the APC Nationa Leader leader, Bola Tinubu who was mandated by President Buhari a couple of months ago to assuage the anger of the aggrieved members, to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, now saddled with the task of quelling the nPDP descent which is threatening to ravage the party, time is running out.

In another piece, l had also reiterated the belief that the ruling party merely avoided facing its demons by postponing or deliberately avoiding negotiating the interests and agendas of the merging parties during its first and only convention in the past five years .

Obviously, at that time the party did not want its common mission to send the PDP packing from Aso Rock Villa thwarted. Hence it decided to skip some vital steps in entity or team formation principle of Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing as enunciated by psychologist, Bruce Tuchman.

Having failed to follow the team formation protocol, the APC would pay the price in the future.

The proposed June 23 APC convention date will be that future and it promises to be the ruling party’s moment of truth.

This is because after forming the party in 2013, the next stage which is Storming was bucked due to its risky nature. It is at that stage that an entity could break up or be sustained.

Since that process wasn’t allowed to play out, the APC has remained a contraption. Without going through the Storming process it can’t go into the Norming stage how much more entering the Performing circle. In other words APC has no vision or mission because it is yet to complete the whole gamut of protocols in fulfilment of entity or team formation rules.

As it is inevitable to Storm or squabble, APC’s proposed convention next month promises to be its day of reckoning as it would be going through the Storming stage which it must pass through wily-nilly.

If after the convention the ruling party remains intact, then retaining the keys to Aso Rock villa on May 29,2019 would be most likely.

But most importantly, instead of denying the promises it made to Nigerians that facilitated its election in 2015 and blaming the former ruling party for the socioeconomic and insecurity woes currently besetting the long suffering masses, the APC must come clean by admitting that it was initially overwhelmed by the magnitude of challenges which it had underestimated based on ignorance about leadership at the cantre.

As such the past three years has been spent laying the foundation for a better Nigeria. Voters may be keen on giving the APC a second chance as it may be weighed against voting for another party that would need another four years of learning curve in national leadership.

But if the ruling party continues on the path of lying to Nigerians by claiming to have made giant developmental strides which are not visible and therefore considered to be mere phantoms and figments of imagination of the authors of such narratives, the party should be ready to suffer massive failure in February polls, if the elections are free and fair.

This is simply because most Nigerians across the spectrum have been busy undressing the lies about economic stability, improvements in security/safety of lives/property and steady electricity power supply accomplishments that members of the establishment have been touting.

While not being unmindful that truth is not coveted by Nigerian politicians especially because there are no mechanisms for fact checking , my sincere advise to the APC is that it should be guided by the wise counsel of Thomas Jefferson , the author of America’s Declaration of Independence and one of the founders who ruled from 1801-09.

For inspiration, the APC should accept Jefferson’s admonition that “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom” As it was true then, it’s remains true today.

Onyibe wrote in from Lagos.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

The Smartphone Revolution UBA wants to change the way people, especially the youths, use their time, writes Peter Uzoho

L-R: Eniola Cameron Cole; Vice Principal Academic, International School, UNILAG, Mr. K.O Amusan; Executive Director, Lagos and West Bank, Marketing; Liadi Ayoku; Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Principal, Dr. M. Brai Malik; Vice Principal, Administration, International School, UNILAG. Mr. AO. Popoola and Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, United Bank for Africa, Mrs. Bola Atta, flanked by students of ISL, during the launch of the bank's online learning platform 'UBA Learn' in Lagos...recently

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cross the world, humans have become addicted to their smartphones. It is no more a strange phenomenon to spot people in public spaces peering into lit-up screens, largely unaware of their physical environment. In 2014, a 15-year-old, Nayomi Mendez, was killed in San Diego when, while using her phone, she stepped into the path of an oncoming semi-truck. Mendez case is not peculiar. The city of Montclair in California has had to ban walking across the street while using a phone or headphones.

Honolulu has a similar law.

The smartphone craze is strong in Nigeria too, which has been described as one of the largest mobile internet users in the world.

According to a 2017 report published by Jumia, Nigeria’s largest online retailer, the number of Nigeria’s mobile subscribers has reached 150 million, and the number of its internet users has climbed to 97.2 million at penetration rates of 81 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively. What these numbers suggest, of course, is that the smartphone craze is not going away. It is here to stay.

In 2008, author, Nicholas Carr, wrote an article, ‘Is Google Making us Stupid’, for the Atlantic that broke the internet. There, he examined the impact of the internet on human lives and recognised its incredible force.

“Over the past few years I’ve had an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has been tinkering with my brain, remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory,” he wrote.

“My mind isn’t going – so far as I can

tell – but it is changing.”

Ten years after the article, the smartphone and the internet that drives it, have become

UBA Learn is a Nigerian cum global curriculumbased learning application powered by Roducate, an education technology company. It is particularly targeted at students within five to 16 years and 17 to 24 years, and is designed to help them attain academic excellence, while ensuring that the parents and teachers keep track and monitor their wards’ educational development, activities and performance

more addictive and unbiquitous. It has been estimated that an average smartphone user picks up and touches the device more than 2,000 times a day. In Nigeria, this phenomenon has been blamed for falling academic grades among students in secondary and tertiary education institutions. It has also been credited for adding flame to young people’s interests in anti-social activities such as online scam and illegal pornography.

But the internet and the smartphone can also be a force for good. Recently, at the International School of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the United Bank for Africa, launched an online learning platform, ‘UBA Learn’, which it said was aimed at helping students achieve all round academic success.

According to a promotional document released by UBA, which is one of Africa’s largest banks, the idea for UBA Learn sprung from the bank’s understanding of the increasing prominence of mobile phones in daily life as a conduit for negative values.

“Rather than serving its purpose of effective means of communication, the use of mobile phones, especially among children, has surprisingly done more damage than good,” the promotional document said.

“Some features on the mobile phones such as messaging, rogue websites, social media platforms, and the increasing number of cheap call and data rate packages by service providers, have significantly affected the children’s lifestyles and education.

“Worst hit is the nation’s education sector, as stakeholders have regrettably linked the rising cases of examination malpractices and students’ poor performance in external

examinations to the negative uses of phones.

“To many children, the use of cell phones has become an obsession, as they squander precious hours engaging in messaging activities, surfing the internet for frivolous and obscene things, or merely playing games.”

This frivolous use of time, UBA advocates, is what UBA Learn is set to combat.

Meanwhile, rather than try to take people away from their smartphones, an impossible task, the bank is attempting to employ smartphones in helping people make better decisions.

UBA Learn is a Nigerian cum global curriculum-based learning application powered by Roducate, an education technology company.

It is particularly targeted at students within five to 16 years and 17 to 24 years, and is designed to help them attain academic excellence, while ensuring that the parents and teachers keep track and monitor their wards’ educational development, activities and performance.

During the launch at UNILAG, the bank’s Group Head, Retail Consumer Banking, Mr. Tomiwa Sotiloye, explained that the product, which is accessible online through a downloadable mobile application and USSD, features academic curricula such as the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO), continuous assessments and tests, financial education, learning and fun games, among many others.

He added that the product is open to both existing customers and non-customers, saying intending customers can have account numbers automatically generated once they

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• T H I S D AY TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

FEATURES

L-R: Principal, International School UNILAG, Dr. M. Brai Malik, Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka and Executive Director, Lagos and West Bank, Marketing, Liadi Ayoku, during the launch of the bank’s online learning platform 'UBA Learn' in Lagos

enroll on the platform.

Also speaking, UBA’s Group Managing Director, Kennedy Uzoka said as a technology-driven company with enormous capability in business, extending such capability to a critical sector such as education was a worthy decision taken by the institution.

He said because education is key and a fundamental human right, the bank felt the need to extend its innovative capability to revolutionise access to education through technology.

Uzoka said: “That is the main reason we are here today; to bring knowledge to the doorstep of everyone across Africa and other parts of the world, through this unique innovation, called UBA Learn.

“The application is a distinctive and well-tailored product loaded with all the needed learning tools and required subjects put together in a robust manner that is guaranteed to grow with the students very early to when they become young adults.”

The application is a distinctive and welltailored product loaded with all the needed learning tools and required subjects put together in a robust manner that is guaranteed to grow with the students very early to when they become young adults

L-R: Group Head, Retail and Consumer Banking, United Bank for Africa, Mr. Tomiwa Sotiloye; Group Head, Online Banking, IT Online Banking Services; Mr. Austine Abolusoro; Regional Head, Lagos Bank, Pamela Shodipo; Vice Principal, Academics, Mr. KO. Amusan; Executive Director, Lagos and West Bank, Marketing; Liadi Ayoku; Group Managing Director, UBA, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Principal, Dr. M. Brai Malik; Group Executive, Digital and Consumer Banking, Mr. Anant Rao; Company Secretary, Mr. Bili Odum; Vice Principal Administration, International School, UNILAG. Mr. AO. Popoola, anked by students of ISL, during the launch of the bank’s online learning platform 'UBA Learn' in Lagos...recently

On his part, the company’s Group Executive, Digital and Consumer Banking, Anant Rao, said the product was carefully conceptualised to suit a niche focus of customers, who he noted, are mostly students.

He said: “This is because more than anything, we are a bank that is particularly passionate about the growth and development of youths especially as it concerns their academic growth as evidenced in the

plethora of our campaigns and Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives (CSR) targeted at helping them find their paths in life. These initiatives include; Read Africa Initiative, Campus Ambassadors, National Essay Competition, among others.”

He added that apart from preparing the students academically, the platform also aids users to becoming financially independent, saying; “At this stage, account holders will enjoy exclusive invitations to job and career

fairs as well as entrepreneurship workshops.”

Meanwhile, the Principal of the UNILAG International School, Dr. Brai Malik, applauded the bank for the innovation and for choosing his school for the launch, saying both students and teachers would benefit from the product.

He said: “UBA as a financial institution and innovator of this wonderful product deserves applause for demystifying learning with this application.”

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Kawuwa Shehu Damina; Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and Country Manager, OCP Africa, Mr. Caleb Usoh, during the official flag off of Africa School Laboratory for 10,000 farmers, in Nabordo, Bauchi State….recently

L-R; Group Head, Consumer Liability, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Shamsideen Fashola; Regional Head, Lagos, Mr. Oliver Opara; winner of N1million at the first draws of the FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 5 in Lagos Region, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Mourence; Regional Retail Head, Lagos & South-west of the Bank, Funmilola Paseda and Manager, Ikorodu Branch, Mr. Kayode Adetola, during the cheque presentation ceremony to the winner in Lagos...recently

L-R: One of the Beneficiaries of Gbaja Ride, Mr Shola Alli; Onikate of Ikate, Surulere, Oba Lateef Adams and the Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila at the unveiling of 30 New Buses, 25 Tricycles and 160 Motorcycles under the GbajaRide Transportation Initiative in Surulere 1, Federal Constituency, Lagos...recently Photo: Office of the House Leader

R-L: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and his Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security Programme, Prince Joe Okojie, at the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 General Assembly in Accra, Ghana...recently

L-R; Registrar/Chief Executive, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. John Evbodaghe; the new President, Alhaji Razak Jaiyeola; and Immediate Past President, Alhaji Ismaila Zakari during the investiture of Alhaji Jaiyeola as the 54th President of ICAN, in Lagos...recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R; Chief Executive, Stanbic lBTC Pension Managers Ltd, Mr. Eric Fajemisin;Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Steve Elusope and Executive Director, lnvestment/Support, Mr.Oladele Sotubo durimg an interactive session by Stanbic lBTC Pension Managers Limited with media on Pensions in Lagos on Monday, 28/5/2018 ABIODUN AJALA

L-R; Second Vice President, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Mr.Olasunkanmi Balogun; President/Founder (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Faseun; and the group first Vice President, Alhaji Wasiu Afola, at a press conference on President Buhari Government and National Issues held in Lagos, yesterday……

SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R:Chairman, Teach For Nigeria, Mr Gbenga Oyebode; CEO, Teach For ALL, Wendy Kopp;and CEO, Teach For Nigeria, Folawe Omikunle, at the inaugural Teach For Nigeria dinner with the Nigerian Business Community in London...recently

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 3.33 4.42

J U N E

Group Business Editor ChikaAmanze-Nwachuku Email: chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157, 08057161321

1 ,

2 0 1 8

S & P INDEX

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

3.50 6 6.50

INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DAY QUARTER-TO-DAY YEAR-TO-DAY

EXCHANGE RATE 357.99 0.03% -0.72% 3.47% 8.66%

N306/1US DOLLAR AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes American Airlines Mull Fare Increases American Airlines warned airline passengers may eventually face higher ticket prices if oil prices remain high, prompting carriers to remove seats from the market.

Oil prices have risen around 50 per cent compared to the levels seen last year and that is putting pressure on airline profits.

“If it becomes clear this is the new normal you would see over time less capacity and growth in the industry and therefore higher prices, but I don’t think that’s going to happen in the near term,” CEO Doug Parker told reporters on the sidelines of the annual IATA meeting of airline executives in Sydney.

IATA, which represents about 280 airlines comprising 83 percent of global air traffic, has said that on Monday it will revise down its forecast for industry profitability this year due to higher oil, infrastructure and labour costs.

The United States last month agreed a deal with the United Arab Emirates and in January with Qatar to resolve claims from the three largest U.S. carriers that Gulf airlines had received unfair government subsidies.

NGA Holds Business Forum

PETAN SEAL OF QUALITY LAUNCHED

L-R: Vice Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Wole Ogunsanya; Secretary, PETAN, Patricia Simon-Hart; Chairman, PETAN, Bank-Anthony Okoroafor; Chairman & CEO of OilServ Ltd, Emeka Okwuosa; Governor Seriake Dickson and Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, at the launch of PETAN Seal of Quality in Houston, Texas, USA … recently

NERC Raises the Alarm over 20 Inactive PPAs, 18 GSAs in Gencos Chineme Okafor in Abuja A status report of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Gas Supply Agreements (GSAs) of electricity generation companies (Gencos) published by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has indicated that 20 Gencos do not have active PPAs, while another 18 do not have GSAs. PPAs are contracts between two parties in which one party generates electricity and the other purchases the electricity.

It represents agreements to purchase a certain amount of power for a certain price and

ENERGY for a certain amount of time, thus reducing variability of costs and profits.

There are multiple uses for PPAs, including utilities, which use them to procure power from independent power producers, and large power users, who use them to obtain preferential and steady rates from utilities.

On the other hand, a GSA is usually a binding mutual agreement to sell and purchase stated volumes of gas at agreed times and places and for an agreed price between gas producers or suppliers and

Gencos.

Obtained from the webpage of the NERC by THISDAY, the report claimed that the country’s hydro Gencos – 600 megawatts (MW) Shiroro hydro plant; 578.4MW Jebba hydro plant; and 760MW Kainji hydro dam, have active PPAs. It also stated that eight of the 10 Gencos built under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) – 500MW Omotosho NIPP; 750MW Olorunsogo NIPP; 504MW Alaoji NIPP; 500MW Sapele NIPP; 435MW Geregu NIPP; 450MW Ihovbor NIPP; 625 Calabar NIPP; and 225MW

Gbarain NIPP do not have active PPAs or GSAs. Also, five of the legacy gas power Gencos – 300MW Afam legacy thermal plant; 765MW Delta legacy thermal plant; 435MW Geregu legacy thermal plant; 720MW Sapele legacy thermal plant; 1320MW Egbin legacy thermal plant reportedly do not have PPAs and GSAs, while only two - 336.8MW Omotosho legacy thermal plant; and 336MW Olorunsogo legacy thermal plant have full active PPAs but no active GSAs. For Independent Power ProjContinued on page 22

Petrol Glut Hits Nigerian Market as NNPC Struggles for Buyers Ejiofor Alike The efforts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to sustain the availability of petrol in the country with massive importation of product have led to a glut of petrol in the market, with the corporation struggling for buyers, THISDAY’s weekend market survey revealed.

NNPC became the sole importer of petrol in October 2017 when the private marketers stopped importation on account of dwindling margins, occasioned by the high cost

ENERGY of foreign exchange and the rising price of crude oil at the international market.

Initial attempts by the corporation to bridge the supply gap were unsuccessfully, resulting in acute fuel crisis that marred the Christmas celebration and lingered to the first quarter of 2018.

However, with sustained importation, coupled with lower demand for fuel during the rainy season, the NNPC was able to stabilise product supply as the ex-depot price,

which was N160 per litre at the peak of the crisis, dropped to N134 at the weekend.

THISDAY’s investigation showed that more than 22 depots were stocked with petrol imported by the NNPC in Lagos at the weekend, compared to the usual 10 – 14 depots at the best of times.

The prices range from N134 – N135 per litre in these depots, which belong to both major marketers and independent marketers.

The depots include: AA Rano, Ascon Petroleum, Bovas, Chi-Pet, Fatgbems, First

Royal, Folawiyo, Gulf Treasure, Integrated Oil and Gas, MRS Oil and Gas Limited, Obat Oil, Africa Tanker, Sahara Energy, Swift Oil, Techno Oil, and Stallonire.

Others include: NIPCO, Oando, Mobil Oil, Forte Oil, Conoil, and MRS Oil and Gas Plc. It was also learnt that NNPC stocked petrol in Atlas Cove Depot in Lagos, which receives imported product from very large vessels and pump to Ejigbo Satellite Depot, Mosimi Continued on page 22

The Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) Annual General Meeting and Business Forum will hold today in Lagos with the theme ‘Gas Policy, Markets and Regulations: Catalysing the Development of Gas Hubs’.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary of NGA, Mr. Frank Uzuegbunam stated that the Managing Partner,Olaniwun Ajayi LLP, Prof. Koinyi Ajayi, will be the lead speaker at the event.

The statement added that among the distinguished professionals that will be speaking on the dynamics of the gas pricing mechanism necessary for creating the competitive markets needed for functional gas hubs includeMr. Wole Shonibare, Director, Energy Financial Solutions, Policy & Regulation, African Development Bank; Mr. Osten Olorunsola Former DPR Director & Former VP Shell Gas and Power;Mr. Mordecai Ladan, current Director, Department of Petroleum Resources; Hon. Fred Agbedi, Chairman House Committee on Gas.

Shipping Industry to Scrap More Tankers The shipping industry will this year scrap the largest number of oil tankers in over half-a-decade, driven by weak earnings, firm prices for scrap steel and the need to prepare fleets for strict new environmental regulations.

The surge in scrapping underscores how the sector is grappling with one of its worst-ever crises, hit hard after rates for transporting oil plunged to multi-year lows in the wake of excess tanker supply and tepid demand as OPEC production cuts bite.

“The tanker markets are definitely in a trough at the moment, with one of the worst years in a decade in terms of freight rates and returns,” said Ralph Leszczynski, head of research at ship broker Banchero Costa in Singapore.

The tough operating conditions are expected to persist until at least the second-half of 2019, analysts and industry sources said.

Estimates on the number of tanker demolitions vary between the four shipping analysts that Reuters spoke to, with the most conservative standing at a seven-year high in 2018.

About 10.3 million deadweight tonnes (DWT) have been sold for demolition from January to April this year, compared with 11.2 million DWT for the whole of 2017 and 2.5 million for 2016, said Erik Broekhuizen, head of tanker research and consulting at ship broker Poten & Partners Inc.

“If the PIGB is not signed into law before 29 May 2019, then we have to start afresh by re-presenting it before the 9th National Assembly that will resume sitting after 29 May 2019”

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY , JUNE 5, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD NERC RAISES THE ALARM OVER 20 INACTIVE PPAS, 18 GSAS IN GENCOS

ects (IPPs) in the country, the report explained that the duo of 650MW Afam VI operated

by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC); and 480MW Okpai IPP operated

by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) have full active PPAs and GSAs with their gas been self-supplied. 85MW capacity Paras IPP also has an activebilateral and fully active GSA. However, 136MW TransAmadi IPP; 180MW Rivers IPP; 198MW Ibom power IPP; and 150MW Omoku IPP, do not have active PPAs and GSAs, added the report.

Providing details as to why the Gencos do not have GSAs or PPAs, the report stated that the total installed generation capacity of the Gencos was 12,019.20MW, but the Gencos have not activated their GSAs and PPAs with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) because they do not have payment guarantees from the federal government through the NBET.

PETROL GLUT HITS NIGERIAN MARKET AS NNPC STRUGGLES FOR BUYERS

Depot in Ogun State, Ibadan Depot, Ore Depot in Ondo State and Illorin Depot, collectively called System 2B network, which accounts for 60 per cent of petrol supply in the country.

THISDAY gathered that with the large availability of petrol in System 2B, there is a glut in the market.

Marketers, who spoke to THISDAY at the weekend, stated that it is now NNPC officials that chase the private marketers to buy petrol, as against the old practice where marketers would pay for NNPC product without getting the product for several months.

“NNPC literally beg marketers to come and buy product these days because they have too much stock in their system. There is product virtually everywhere,” said one of the marketers.

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)

NEWS

NNRC Decries Nigeria’s Reliance on IOCs for Crude Oil Production, Exports Data Stories by Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) has described as a “sad commentary,” Nigeria’s reliance on data from international oil companies (IOCs) to determine the volume of crude oil produced and exported, even after about 60 years of oil exploration and production by the country.

NNRC stated recently at a workshop in Lagos on the remedial issues raised in the various oil and gas audit reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Initiative (NEITI), that after several years of reportedly managing the country’s oil industry, Nigerian authorities still do not know the exact volume of crude oil exported every day and often relied on whatever the IOCs told them.

Chair of the Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) of the NNRC, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, stated this in an opening remark that was delivered on his behalf by a former Vice President at the World Bank, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

Ajumogobia, a former minister of State for Petroleum, also disclosed that very little results could be gained from Nigeria’s attempts to reform her extractive industry, notably the oil and gas sector, if the country failed to comprehensively implement the remedial issues highlighted by the NEITI in its audit reports.

The remedial issues, according to Ajumogobia, bothered on oil theft, abuse of governance processes, loss of revenues, and poor management of the industry, all of which have resulted in huge economic

losses to Nigeria.

“Despite our proven reserves of 37.1 billion barrels of crude oil and 180.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Nigeria remains a net importer of refined petroleum products aimed at meeting the bulk of its local consumption needs.

Undoubtedly, we are yet to fully optimise and maximise the opportunities in the oil and gas value chain. The need for our government to address some of the recurring issues in NEITI’s audit reports still requiring remedial actions is of utmost importance. Over the

years, both government agencies and the Nigerian public do not know the exact volume of petroleum exported except what the IOC’s say. This is a sad commentary for a country that been exporting crude oil close to six decades,” Ajumogobia explained.

He added: “If recommendations such as the multi-phased, calibrated meters at the oil well-heads, flow stations and export terminals are adhered to, this challenge might have been avoided. The need to invest not only in metering infrastructure but also in digital command

centres where regulating agencies can monitor the status of the oil assets in real time should therefore be encouraged.”

Ajumogobia explained that NEITI’s reports highlighted that up to $14.2 billion had been lost by Nigeria to theft of crude oil, in addition to another $1.5 billion between 2009 and 2013, and $4.1 billion in 2014 by six companies.

“The report also revealed losses associated with arrangements such as the ‘product for oil swap’, offshore processing agreements that cost the country about $518 million

and $198.7 million in 2013 and 2014 respectively, outside the loss to the infamous Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) in the upstream sector,” he said.

“The importance of remediation of the NEITI audit reports especially on ongoing efforts to reform and reposition Nigeria’s oil and gas industry cannot be overstated as it is intertwined with the need to project Nigeria not only as a country committed to improving the ease of doing business but also aligning with global best practices in the industry,” Ajumogobia explained.

A BOOSTTO POWER SECTOR

L-R: Joint CDA Chairman, Amikanle Community, Mr. Azeez Oyegbemi; Managing Director\CEO, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), Mr. Chiedu Ugbo; Chief Technical Officer, Ikeja Electric, Sunday Oyewole and Executive Director, Engineering and Technical Services, NDPHC, Mr. Ife Oyedele, during the inauguration of Injection Substations by NDPHC, at Amikanle community in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State … recently KOLAWOLE ALLI

TCN to Re-conduct Kano High Why Abuja’s First Municipal Biogas Plant Project is VoltageLinetoBoostPowerSupply Stalled The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that it would re-conduct its Kumbosto-Dan Agundi 132kV transmission line to enable it wheel more power to the Kano Electricity Distribution Company. TCN said in a statement by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, that the Kumbosto-Dan Agundi 132kV transmission line currently had the capacity to carry only 90megawatts (MW), adding that this was inadequate for the load demand of the substation.

The Kano Disco had frequently complained of inadequate supplies to it to service consumers in its network.

However, TCN said the planned line re-conduction would change this situation.

TCN also disclosed that it would require the support of the state government to remove a lot of the illegal structures built along the Right of Way (RoW) of its transmission lines, adding that people living under the RoW of the 132kV line are exposed to potential electricity accident. According to the statement, the snapping of any of the transmission lines could lead to unimaginable disaster on the transmission RoW. The statement added that in line with its Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Program (TREP), TCN has

completed and energised three new transformers in Jos capital of Plateau State and Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, as well as the repair and reactivation of its Dan Agundi 60MVA 132/33kV power transformer in Kano State, which was burnt in December 2017.

Mbah stated that the new 60MVA 132/33kV transformer installed at TCN’s 330/132/33kV in Jos in Jos transmission substation has improved the transmission of bulk electricity to the Dogan Dutse 33kV distribution line which feeds the heart of Jos and Anglo-Jos 33kV feeder that supplies power to the state secretariat; GRA; and environs.

According to Mba, the Jos sub-station was established in 1975 with 120MVA transformer capacity, now has 180MVA capacity at 132/33kV circuit following the upgrade by 60MVA. Also, it said the replacement of a 2x30MVA with a new 2x60MVA 132/33kV power transformers in its Abeokuta transmission sub-station has substantially increased transformer capacity from 90MVA to 150MVA and consequently improved power supply to the Ibadan Disco for onward distribution to electricity customers at the University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Owode 1 and 11, Imeko, Lagos Road areas in Ogun.

Plans by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to build a modern low carbon biogas plant to power activities at its abattoir in the Karu area of Abuja, have not progressed, six months after it was flagged off because of bureaucracies, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY gathered that the construction of the biogas plant, which could become the first municipal-owned modern low carbon biogas plant in Nigeria has largely stalled on account of its promoters been unable to get supporting letter from the FCTA to enable it attract the needed funds for the plant.

The development, the paper learnt, has kept the promoters from moving on negotiation to achieve financial closure for the construction to commence.

In the last quarter of 2017, the FCTA launched the initiative at the Karu Abattoir, in collaboration with a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), African Environment Action Network (EANet-Africa).

During the project flag-off ceremony, the Secretary of FCT Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Stanley Nzekwe, indicated the biogas plant was overdue, given the escalating waste generated by users of the abattoir.

Nzekwe had stated that the waste was a challenge to

the environment of the FCTA which had resolved to pursue a sustainable solution to the challenge using the low carbon biogas plant.

He also promised that within a six months’ timeline, starting from December 2017, the facility would be ready for commissioning and use.

Nzekwe had equally noted that the FCTA will not relent in its partnership with EANetAfrica with the provision of an enabling environment for the project to take off and get completed for use.

Also at the flag-off, the Founder, EANet-Africa, Dr. Victor Fadele, explained the project was planned to be funded with supports from international partners.

Fadele had noted that when completed, the plant would be able to provide electricity to more than 150 households within the abattoir area. He added that degradable waste materials would be converted in the facility to help reduce the pressure on the environment.

However, THISDAY’s checks revealed that nothing has been done at the site earmarked for it.

When the paper visited the abattoir, its operators and users said nothing had happened at the site since the flagged off in 2017.

When the paper contacted

Fadele, to know why nothing has happened at the site since it was flagged off, he explained that the FCTA has not given it an authorisation letter that would enable it conclude its negotiations with its international partners and funders.

“We are (an) NGO. We don’t have the funding but we have the technology, the knowhow and every other thing but not money. We have gotten in touch with some of our international funders and we are still waiting for them because they take their time to do their background checks and everything they need to do but we are really waiting,” said Fadele.

He further explained: “For them to believe us on what we are doing, it is necessary to have the FCDA give us a formal letter to reach out to them. We are still waiting for that letter.

That is the fact, without the partnering organisation giving you a letter they won’t believe you. So, there is a waiting time, we want the FCDA to actually give us that letter that they are actually partnering with us. That is what we are still waiting for.”

Asked if he was optimistic the letter would come from the government, Fadele said he was hopeful it would, adding that the project was too important to be ignored by the government.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

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BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

Curbing Price Setting in Cooking Gas Market With the anti-competitive tendencies of some operators in the liquefied petroleum gas sub-sector, the price of locally produced cooking gas in Nigeria is frequently hiked above the price of the imported variant. This has been perpetuated by artificiallyengineered bottlenecks, Ejiofor Alike reports Nigeria is blessed with natural gas resources to the extent that the country is said to be more of a gas nation than an oil nation, ranking ninth globally in terms of gas reserves.

Through the Nigeria LNG Limited, the country had accounted for 10 per cent of the LNG supplies to the global market, but could not consolidate its position as a result of lack of sustained investments to build more LNG projects, especially Brass LNG, Olokola LNG and Train 7 of the NLNG Limited.

NLNG is also a net exporter of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), better known as ‘cooking gas,’ in Africa, producing over two million tonnes yearly.

But despite Nigeria’s endowment in gas resources and the country’s huge contributions to the international market, local consumption of cooking gas is the lowest in Africa, as only less than 15 per cent of the country’s output is consumed locally.

Despite the huge benefits of gas over other cooking fuels – firewood, Kerosene, and charcoal, Nigeria’s per capita consumption of a little above one kilogramme, compares very poorly with other West African countries like Ghana (4.7kg) and Senegal (9kg) per capita, according to the World Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (WLPGA), Before the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power, Nigeria spent over $1 billion yearly on kerosene subsidy, when other countries were moving away from the use of dirty fuels to avoid health hazards associated with environmental and indoor pollution, coupled with deforestation.

With over 50 per cent of Nigerian household still relying on dirty fuels such as kerosene, charcoal and firewood, Nigeria has continued to face increasing environmental and health challenges.

The NLNG set aside about 350,000 tonnes of LPG yearly for the domestic market.

But the country has per capita consumption of only one kilogramme, which is significantly lower than Indonesia – 24kg, Egypt – 85kg and South Africa – 8.5kg In fact Nigeria’s yearly consumption of about 200,000 -250,000 metric tonnes is far less that the projected consumption figure based on 2004 World Bank estimated market potential of 3.2 million tonnes per year.

Challenges of LPG penetration Since the NLNG intervened in the supply of LPG to the domestic market, the company has delivered over 800,000 metric tonnes as it increased its yearly allocation to the domestic market from 150,000 metric tonnes to about 300,000MT as a result of increasing demand.

The LPG sector has also recorded improved jetty availability and capacity with the investments made by Navgas , NIPCO and PPMC, a subsidiary of NNPC. Also the number of LPG offtakers selected by the NLNG increased from six in 2007 to over 20 in 2017.

However, despite the gains recorded since the intervention of NLNG in 2007, deep penetration of LPG into the Nigerian market is still being hindered by sundry challenges.

Apart from sub-standard products from some questionable sources, the supply of LPG in the Nigerian market is heavily impacted by the inadequate low-draft vessels, as there is only one in Nigeria and this has led to inefficiencies in shipping operations, leading to high unit freight cost, which is transferred to end users.

Until very recently, there was inadequate and uneven spread of receiving terminals, as there were only two operational receiving terminals in Lagos, while LPG trucks from South-South and South East travelled to Lagos to load product.

In Lagos, there is limited jetty availability as NNPC has only one jetty – NOJ, and preference is given to vessels of petrol, while low priority is given for LPG vessels in Lagos.

Apart from the issue of jetty occupancy, availability and turnaround times, there are also the challenges of channel draft restrictions, and maritime security.

The LPG sector is also hampered by inefficient and unsafe operations, which have led to fatal incidents that scared actual and potential users of LPG, thus frustrating efforts to encourage Nigerians to switch over from the use of kerosene, firewood and charcoal to the use of LPG. Also apart from inadequate transportation infrastructure, there are also inadequate bulk storage facilities, which are not evenly spread as most of the bottling plants are concentrated in the southern part of the country, while the north relies heavily on firewood.

Before Technoil Limited embarked on the construction of a cylinder manufacturing plant in Lagos, which is billed for commissioning this year to produce five million cylinders yearly, there was no functional cylinder manufacturing plant in the country and this has affected availability, ownership and standardisation of cylinders.

The Standards of Organisation (SON) is supposed to test the integrity of cylinders in circulation every five years but many cylinders in the Nigerian market have been in circulation for over a decade without integrity texts.

With the internal squabbles between the two major players in the LPG sector – the Nigerian Association of LPG Marketers (NALPGAM), and the Nigerian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA), there is fragmentation and weak control and this has affected safety operations.

However, the greatest challenge facing households that want to switch over from kerosene to LPG is the high startup or switching cost, as a result of the high cost of cylinders and other accessories.

While it is very convenient for households to use N1,000 and buy other dirty fuels, poor households cannot afford the cost of cylinders and accessories to switch over to gas even when it is evident that LPG is cheaper.

Some other countries such as India and Brazil that successfully switched over gas supplied cylinders to their citizens at no cost.

Artificial Hike in Gas Price Of all challenges that hinder efforts to deepen the penetration of LPG in the Nigerian market, the greatest impediment that has consistently wiped out the gains recorded in these efforts is the frequent hike in the price of gas by some operators.

These operators capitalise on the logistics challenges facing the LPG sector to accord undue berthing priority to vessels discharging petrol at NNPC’s Apapa Jetty, to ensure delays in arrival and berthing of LPG vessels from the Bonny Island plant of Nigeria LNG Limited, so that they can temporarily hike the price and erode the previous gains recorded in deepening the LPG penetration in the domestic market.

NNPC has three jetties in Lagos that constitute the Apapa Jetty - Petroleum Wharf (PWA); BOP and NOJ, and all these are used by vessels to discharge petroleum products.

But only NOJ has facilities to discharge cooking gas and is thus dedicated for the discharge of LPG, base oil and other similar products from vessels.

However, NOJ is also used to discharge petrol and other petroleum products from vessels. Each time NLNG brings LPG vessel to Lagos and another vessel is discharging petrol at NOJ, the NLNG vessel will either wait and incur huge demurrage or go to NAVGAS terminal, which is a private jetty and the only alternative jetty for LPG vessels to discharge in Lagos.

Even when NOJ is vacant and NLNG brings in LPG vessel, any petrol vessel around the high sea will be given priority to berth before the LPG vessel “to avoid creating fuel scarcity” as the PPMC and petrol marketers usually claim. This logistics challenge in the supply of cooking gas has allegedly given the operators of some private terminals and some officials of the NNPC the opportunity to create monopoly situation by ensuring that each time vessel arrives from Bonny Island in most cases, the NOJ will always be occupied by a petrol vessel. This has led to frequent hike in the price of LPG. President of NALPGAM, Mr. Nosa OgievaOkunbor recently raised the alarm over what his association described as the artificial hike in the price of the product by 15 per cent

within two weeks. Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Ogieva-Okunbor alleged that a cabal within the LPG sector is sabotaging the efforts of the federal government to deepen LPG consumption in Nigeria.

He said the efforts of the Office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu were being thwarted by some LPG operators, adding that the marketers have been doing everything possible to encourage the use of cooking gas as domestic fuel.

Ogieva-Okunbor disclosed that the price of 20 metric tonnes of LPG has increased from N4 million to N4.6 million within two weeks, adding that this has resulted to a hike in the price of 6kg and 12.5kg cyclinders.

“About three weeks ago, we were in Abuja for the harmonisation of the new LPG policy so that it can hit the ground running. But three weeks after, this cabal started increasing the price of LPG. Within two weeks, the price of LPG has increased by 15 per cent. What came into our minds is why is it now that the federal government is trying to make LPG available by creating a robust policy that these people are trying to kill the NLNG’s LPG programme and monopolise the market?

NLNG ship will come and stay for three days without seeing any space to discharge.

Another question is why is imported gas cheaper than locally produced gas? Who is behind it? Why is it that VAT is not paid on imported gas but is paid on NLNG product?

You said that you want to encourage the use of cooking gas in Nigeria but the one produced in our backyard is more expensive than the imported gas,” Ogieva-Okunbor explained.

He called on the federal government to beam its searchlight on the LPG sector and remove VAT on imported product.

The LPG operators had blamed the high cost of the product to the sale of the product in Nigerian market at the international price, as well as the payment of associated costs, otherwise called agent fees, in dollars.

With the pricing of the product based on the fundamentals at the international market, marketers argued that the price of LPG always responds to the rising price of crude oil and the high cost of forex.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

24

BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

Ajumogobia: PIGB Could Sail Through Despite 2019 Elections A former Minister of State for Petroleum cum Chairman, Expert Advisory Panel of the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, spoke to Chineme Okafor on the interactions pertaining to the passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill. Excerpts: After about 18 years, the National Assembly sort of found a way around the PIB – breaking it into component parts and passing its first component - the PIGB. But recent developments make the whereabouts of the PIGB suspicious, what really could be wrong, do you have an idea?

I have no more information than any member of the public. According to the Senate President’s tweet on April 28, 2018, the 8th National Assembly had sent on that day, a harmonised copy of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) to President Buhari for assent. Therefore the PIGB is with the President.

Since then, there have been indications that the President is in consultations involving experts and stakeholders aimed at ensuring that the PIGB is error free and acceptable to all stakeholders before signing it into law.

Reliable sources have hinted that the president may not be disposed to signing the PIGB. They allege he’s being advised against it on the basis that he’ll lose his discretionary powers in the country’s oil sector, what do you make of this?

It is certainly true that the petroleum minister will lose a degree of discretionary power under the PIGB. That indeed was part of its purpose: to provide an efficient, effective and transparent governance and institutional framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry and create clear separation between, policy, regulatory and commercial institutions that will in a transparent and accountable manner ensure value creation and addition and internationalisation of the petroleum industry.

While it would not surprise me that some of the President’s advisers may see certain aspects of the bill as curtailing the President’s powers, it must be remembered that these are powers that the President is to exercise as minister and not as president.

Ajumogobia

Constitutionally, the National Assembly can veto the President where he fails to sign the PIGB into law.

Section 58 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that where the President withholds assent to a bill, the National Assembly is empowered by the Constitution to override the President’s veto and to pass the bill into law directly where the bill is passed by two-thirds majority of each house of the National Assembly

Given President Buhari’s antecedents, I believe that he would be committed to signing the PIGB or as may be amended, into law considering the potential benefits to the economy and the nation as a whole.

The delay as alluded to earlier, may stem from on-going consultations being carried out by the President. It is my hope that these consultations are concluded quickly and the PIGB is signed into law.

We’ve talked severally about what the country loses from the lack of reforms in her oil industry. Do you think this is genuinely felt or known by the political class, how much longer do you think we have on this ‘ostrich’ path?

It is indeed true that the oil and gas industry is in dire need for reforms. The passage of the PIGB by the National Assembly after about 18 years, now awaiting presidential assent is proof that the ‘political class’ understands or recognises the urgent need for reforms in the industry.

It must be noted however, that the extent to which the proposed changes contained in the bill will be made manifest, will certainly depend on a variety of factors which include attitudinal changes and integrity. Without these, the industry’s road to recovery, rediscovery and redevelopment as catalyst for economic and national development, will remain rhetorical

at best.

From your standpoint, what could go wrong with the passage of the PIGB into law, especially with the 2019 elections at hand?

If we stay focused, it is unlikely that the PIGB would be impacted by the 2019 elections. The PIGB has undergone vigorous review and analysis at the National Assembly. What is left is for the President to sign it into law.

Of course, the President is not expected to rubber-stamp it but consider its merits.

There are eminently qualified personnel in the executive branch of government to advise him in that regard. Therefore, I do not see why the 2019 elections should affect the passage of the PIGB. But, do you think there’s still a whiff of chance at getting the PIGB become a law with just about 9 months or thereabout to the elections, will the politicians have the time to commit to it. What does its failure mean to the president’s re-contest?

The benefits of the PIGB which in itself is only a segment of the original Petroleum Industry Bill, cannot be overemphasised.

Amongst other things, it is expected to usher in efficient management, transparency and accountability in the oil and gas industry.

There is however an obvious tension between the timely passage of the PIGB and preparation

for the 2019 general elections. It is thus a matter of garnering the political will to do what will be beneficial to the industry and to the lives and future of the citizens of this country.

I do not however see how its non-passage into law will affect the 2019 elections. Such discussions or predictions should be left after the elections.

If we miss this opportunity – that is, having the PIGB crossed over now, what chances do we have, are we going to have it go through another legislative process, and on what circumstances can the NASS veto the president if he fails to assent the bill?

If the PIGB is not signed into law before 29 May 2019, then we have to start afresh by re-presenting it before the 9th National Assembly that will resume sitting after 29 May 2019.

Constitutionally, the National Assembly can veto the President where he fails to sign the PIGB into law. Section 58 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that where the President withholds assent to a bill, the National Assembly is empowered by the Constitution to override the President’s veto and to pass the bill into law directly where the bill is passed by two-thirds majority of each house of the National Assembly.

25

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

Perspective on the Nigerian Economy The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently reviewed the economic and investment opportunities in the country. Jonathan Eze writes on the challenges and recommendations made by the chamber Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.92% in Q4-2017 and averaged 0.78% in 2017. The economy returned to recovery path in Q2-2017 after five consecutive quarters of contractions. However, few sectors are currently contributing to the positive GDP numbers.

These include agriculture, transportation, mining which includes crude petroleum, and trade.

Productivity and growth remain lower than desired and fragile; population growth is high at 3% per annum, raising concerns about prospects for sustainable poverty reduction.

Inflation Rate Headline inflation rate trended downwards to 12.48% in April 2018 from 18.72% in January 2017, the lowest since 2016. It is noted that improvement in crude oil prices and oil output, better liquidity conditions in the forex market and rising foreign reserve are partly responsible for the sustained moderation of the price level.

Foreign Exchange Market Exchange rate volatility has reduced over the last three quarters and businesses are witnessing improved liquidity and relative stability in the forex market. Confidence has returned to the market but remains somewhat fragile due to continued dependence on oil revenue. Thus, stable global oil prices and local production levels of crude oil remain the two key critical factors driving the current stability in the FX market.

Meanwhile, there are concerns over the following issues in the forex market: • Multiplicity of FX rate: The CBN currently operates multiple rates and this continues to raise transparency issues and impact adversely on investors’ confidence.

The wide gap between CBN official rate of N305 rate and other rates at N360 and above continues to create undue arbitrage and transparency issues.

Foreign Reserves At $47.5 billion in April 2018, foreign reserves recorded significant growth of 109% from a low of $23 billion in October 2016, the highest since 2014. Growing reserves would impact positively on investors’ sentiments, stability and liquidity of the foreign exchange market.

Interest Rate Access to and cost of fund in Nigeria have been and remained a big issue for many domestic investors. With commercial bank lending rate at between 20-35%, depending on the borrower and other factors such as acceptability of collateral, it is very difficult to successfully access fund by the private sector especially the SMEs. The LCCI notes the efforts of government through CBN and the Bank of Industry (BOI) to extend intervention funds to operators. However, the range of beneficiaries and economic wide impact of government intervention funds remain very limited. Investors in many sectors cannot finance projects profitably at an interest rate above 10%. These sectors are majorly agriculture, real estate, solid minerals, etc.

Debt Profile Nigeria’s total debt, both FG and states, was $71 billion and N14 trillion for external and domestic debt respectively as at year end 2017. Debt service cost was about 66% of government’s revenue in 2017. Nigeria’s external debt grew by 41% over the last three years from $10.7 trillion in 2015 to N15.1 trillion in 2017. Domestic debt seems to have grown even faster during the three-year period by 52%. The budget office recently reported that the federal government spent a total of N4.3 trillion to service the country’s debt obligations to local and foreign debtors between January 2015 and September 2017. In addition, the Federal Ministry of Finance announced that the FG currently spends about N700 billion monthly on wages and debt servicing. This figure is higher than the average monthly

LCCI President, Babatunde Ruwase FAAC shared between states and FG over the last 12 months. At the current growth rate, it is projected that Nigerian debt stock will keep rising by more than 20% annually over the next decade. Mounting debts have the following implications: • High debt service deprives the economy of revenues for infrastructure investments.

• There is a crowding out effect on the private sector credit.

• Exchange rate depreciation creates additional debt burden arising from foreign debt.

Equity Market The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) experienced a depressed trend over the last six weeks after an impressive performance in Q1-2018 when it was adjudged one of the world’s best performing stock markets. The All Share Index (ASI) gained 7% year to date in 2018 compared to 40% performance it recorded in 2017.

It was also noted that the equity market failed to respond to impressive full year 2017 financial results released by many of the quoted companies in Q1-2018. This is likely the outcome of some recent policies such as the directive by the CBN that restricted dividend payments by banks with high Non-Performing Loans, (NPLs) and low Capital Adequacy Ratio from paying dividend to their shareholders.

Fake and Substandard Products Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) are making efforts in ridding the economy of fake and substandard products. But, the reality is that the incidence of fake and substandard products as well as counterfeiting is on the increase. It is a major problem for many leading brands in the consumer and durable products sector. It erodes the market share of the leading brands, impacts adversely on their reputation, and erodes their profit margins.

There are also implications for the health and safety of the citizens.

We, therefore, request for better investment in the capacity of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). This is important to tackle the menacing and growing incidence of fake and

substandard products. There are concerns about the overlapping responsibilities of SON and NAFDAC. Such overlaps also exist between SON and Weights and Measures unit of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Cost of Logistics The role of government in fixing roads and the enhanced capital budget in the 2018 budget was commended. However, the cost of logistics remains very high, arising largely from the poor state of the roads and the effects on transportation and logistics cost. We demand for a better funding framework for Nigerian roads. The current budget-dependent framework for funding of the roads cannot make the desired impact.

The proposal to set up a Road Fund needs to be quickly revisited and its implementation accelerated. This is the model that has worked in many other jurisdictions and we believe it will work here. The earlier we adopt this model for funding the roads, the better for the economy and the citizens.

Borehole Tax The Lagos Water Regulatory Commission (LWRC), imposes tax on boreholes. These are in the form of borehole permit, Application fee, abstraction fee, and water treatment plant levy. We appreciate the need to worry about the impact of the indiscriminate drilling of boreholes on the water table. But, we do not believe that the solution to regulating the drilling of boreholes is the imposition of levies.

Private sector players sink boreholes because of the acute water shortage in Lagos State.

After all, the drilling of boreholes comes as an additional cost to business.

The Private Sector is ready to pay for public water supply if it is provided. In fact, it is cheaper to depend on public water supply than to be drilling and maintaining boreholes.

The resort to borehole drilling is a product of necessity. We, therefore, urge the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC) discontinue the imposition of borehole tax in the interest of equity, fairness, and morality.

High Cost of Gas Users of gas are currently charged in dollars, this creates pressures and volatilities

of exchange rate depreciation. This pricing policy has been imposing a lot of burden on the manufacturing sector. It is inappropriate to charge in dollars for a product that is produced in Nigeria and sold in naira. Energy cost is a major component of cost and a major factor in the competitiveness of firms in Nigeria. We need to address the issue of gas pricing to support the non-oil sector of the economy and promote the realisation of the objectives of Economic Recovery and Growth Plan [ERGP]. The government needs to support investment in gas infrastructure in order to bring down the price of gas to end users. This will enhance the competitiveness of our industrial sector as well as other sectors of the economy.

Palletisation Policy Late last year, the government introduced the palletisation policy. We raised our concerns over its imposition, especially the implication for the cost of freights. Additional containers would be required by importers under a palletisation regime. Additionally, we expressed concerns based on the fact that not all cargoes can be palletised. We appreciate the response of the government and subsequent review of the policy. In particular, we appreciate the prompt and effective intervention of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, (PEBEC).

Customs Checkpoint We recall that the Presidential Executive Order which directed the dismantling of all customs checkpoints outside 40 kilometres of international borders and the Port Areas across the country. Regrettably, this order has not been complied with. We receive frequent complaints about the actions of the Federal Operating Unit (FOU) and the CG Task Force, stopping containers on the highways in violation of the Executive Order.

We demand that this executive order be strictly complied with in line with the ease of doing business agenda of government.

However, in the event of strong and credible intelligence, containers can be intercepted.

But, this should only be an exception, not the rule. We request that all containers that have been duly cleared from the ports should not be intercepted on the highways.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

‘I CAN NEVER JOIN APC’

05.06.2018

Mr. Femi Falana, SAN

2/DASHBOARD

05.06.2018

Validity of Trial Conducted under a Repealed Law PAGE 4

Lawyer Commends FG On ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Bill, Stresses Need for Urgent Restructuring PAGE 5

Lagos Decries Increasing Spate of Domestic Violence, Killings PAGE 5

QUOTABLES ‘Nigerians would have been worse off, if this Government had not taken the steps that it took, especially in respect of the economy. Remember that in 2014, the recession started. So, nobody should wake up, and because of political reasons, say that it was when this Government came on board that we slipped into recession.’

– Festus Keyamo, SAN, Director, Strategic Communications of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation ‘The Number 1 beneficiaries of the Not too Young to Run Law, are the children of the elite. If we do not check this, Senator XYZ or Governor BAB, is going to have his son emerge in the Party to succeed him, and become whoever he wants him to be.’

– Daniel Hassan Bwala, Legal Practitioner, Political Analyst, Abuja

COLUMNISTS DR. KUBI UDOFIA Dr. Kubi Udofia holds a Doctorate degree in Law from The University of Nottingham, a Certificate in International Risk Management from the Institute of Risk Management, London, a Masters degree in Corporate Law from University College, London and a Bachelors degree from University of Uyo in Nigeria.

Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2007, Dr Udofia is the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Law Practice Group, at Fidelis Oditah & Co. He is an acknowledged expert in Insolvency and Restructuring Law in Nigeria.

Banana Island, Ikoyi Invaded

by Soldiers and Nigerian Army Properties Limited PAGE 6

‘The Lawyers who Win the Most, Prepare the Most’ PAGE 6

NBA-SBL Set to Deliver WorldClass Conference in Abuja PAGE 14

MICHAEL JONATHAN NUMA The word “Canvass” in legal parlance means to discuss thoroughly, to advance an issue, to examine a question in detail.

This column attempts to critically analyse trending legal issues across several jurisdictions bordering on topics making the rounds at the material time, ranging from judicial decisions, to policy statements, guided political simulations, and socio-economic matters to statutory interpretations by commentators within and outside the legal profession, proffering constructive criticism based on different well thought out perspectives.

The writer, Michael Numa obtained his LL.B (Hons) and LL.M (Hons) from Delta State University and Queen Mary College, University of London respectively. He is a member of the School of International Arbitration London, Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration UK, Member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys U.K. He is the Managing Associate of Messrs Karina Tunyan (SAN) & Co in the FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. He is an Intellectual Property and Private International Law Practitioner.

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

/3

The West, Aid and Gay Marriage

I

British PM’s Call know that this may be somewhat of a ‘taboo’ topic in Nigeria, but with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May’s call on Commonwealth Leaders at the recently concluded 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to de-criminalise homosexuality and promote girl and women’s rights, I felt that it is time to broach the topic. Some people were outraged, saying that the PM showed a lack of respect for our African culture, by making such a call in respect of homosexuality, since it is largely seen as a form of perversion in these parts. Similarly, former US President Barrack Obama, in 2011 threatened to cut off aid to Nigeria, if we passed the anti-gay Bill. Are we sure that the reason for most Western Leaders adopting a pro-gay stance, is not just for political expediency? In Britain or USA for example, it is probably impossible to win an election, if one adopts a conservative anti-LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) stance. That is not the case here! Apparently, up to 85% of Nigerians, are against same sex marriage (I don’t know how reliable the statistics are).

The truth of the matter is that, even though homosexuality may not be accepted here, many of our African/Nigerian brothers, are “On the Down low” – a sexual slang for men who identify as heterosexuals, but have sexual relations with other men secretly.

The Irony Maybe I’m not too good at picking up signs, unless they are too obvious to miss, but throughout my University days in USA, I cannot say that I had any friends who were homosexuals. Ironically, it was when I returned home to Nigeria, that I came into contact with gay people. Of course, we all know that a homosexual is a person who is sexually attracted to people of his/her own sex, as opposed to the opposite sex. The word ‘homosexual’ is used interchangeably with ‘gay’, while a ‘lesbian’ is a homosexual woman, that is, a woman who is sexually attracted to women.

Some years after I moved back to Nigeria, I started going to a Hairdressing Salon, where a particular Hairdresser who most of us used, was rumoured to be gay. He was not particularly effeminate, nor did there seem to be any visible reason for the allegation, so I discountenanced the rumour until one day, when I asked to borrow his phone to download some music and ringtones to my phone, while I was having my hair done. In the process of doing the musical transfers, the contents of his phone which I happened upon, left no doubt in my mind, as to his sexual preference.

However, at the time, he struggled to keep his sexual orientation a secret (like many Nigerians it seems, even before the advent

The Rainbow Flag (LGBT Flag)

of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 (SSMPA)). Twenty-five years ago, in the Western World, people remained in the ‘closet’ (keeping their homosexuality a secret), because the phenomenon had not caught on. Today, not much has changed in Nigeria. People discuss the issue in hushed tones, and whether some do it in secret or not, we cannot say it has caught on here, as being acceptable.

Recently, I went to the Pharmacy to buy some medication. As I was looking round to see if there was anything else that I needed, a young man came into the store. He was extremely thin, and was dressed in a very tight white shirt and trousers. Our attention, that is, that of the Store Attendant, the Pharmacist and mine, were immediately drawn to him, because of the way he “strutted” into the store, his overly exaggerated feminine walk, was more ‘niminy piminy’ than that of a woman. As a woman (who certainly doesn’t swoon around the place like that), I found it ridiculous. I thought to myself “which woman walks like that, unless maybe she’s modelling on a catwalk!” We concluded that he was gay. I wondered whether such an effeminate display by a man, qualified as an offence under the SSMPA. The answer is, it does not. But, of course, typical of the Nigeria Police, they abuse the SSMPA at will. The other day, someone I know called me early one morning, to come and get him out of the Police Station. He had been arrested on his way to work, on suspicion of being gay, because he had a tuft of short dreadlocks in the front of his hair, and was carrying a knapsack! Recently in Kenya, a lady who was arrested for a traffic offence, was made to strip naked by the Police, to ascertain her sex, on account of her facial hair.

criminalised homosexuality (sodomy has always been an offence under the Criminal and Penal Code carrying a punishment of 3 years imprisonment), are the same ones that have contravened the 8th Commandment of the Bible to the hilt, that is, “Thou shall not steal”! “Thou shall not kill”, is another commandment in the Bible, which many people do not seem to observe these days. So, why does homosexuality occupy such a special place?

The Holy Bible There are many theories as to the origins of homosexuality, ranging from people being born naturally gay, to socialisation, to simply the new hedonistic permissive way of the world, to people engaging in the act for financial gain and so on. The fact of the matter is, it is here to stay. I myself, am a heterosexual, but I am not here to judge anyone about their sexual preferences.

Many people who are against homosexuality, rely on the Holy Bible and the Holy Qu’ran, as the basis for saying that the act is unnatural or abhorrent. Leviticus 18:22 says thus: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination”, while Leviticus 20:13 goes on to say: “If a man lies with a male as a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them”.

Here in Nigeria, those that further

Is the SSMPA Unconstitutional?

However, if indeed, it is true that people are born naturally gay, is the SSMPA which provides for 14 years imprisonment for most homosexual related acts, unconstitutional? After all, Section 42(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution), provides that “No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth”.

Other constitutional provisions that seem to support the view that the criminalisation of homosexuality may be unconstitutional, are Section 37 (citizen’s right to privacy) and Section 38(1) (freedom of thought).

Those on the other side of the divide, however, may argue that, Section 45(1) (a) of the Constitution restricts or limits those fundamental rights, and so these rights may not necessarily invalidate a law which is enacted in the interest of what they see as public order or public morality. Therefore, the SSMPA may fall into this category.

The bottom line, is that homosexuality is seen as being un-African, eroding the fabric of our established cultural and family values, where marriage and sexual relations have always been between a man and a woman, or a man and several women, if he is polygamous. Apart from South Africa which accepts same sex marriage, most other Africans do not recognise it, preferring to stick to the traditional definition of marriage, as being a union between a man and a woman.

While the object of the SSMPA is to prohibit same sex marriage (Section 5(1)), giving a maximum punishment of 14 years imprisonment (life imprisonment in Uganda), it extends to other activities associated with the homosexual identity.

For instance, the public display of gay affection (Section 5(2) of the SSMPA) and administering, witnessing, abetting or aiding the solemnisation of same sex marriage (Section 5(3)), all attract a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

The Holy Qu’ran Similarly, in the 81st verse of Chapter 7 of the Qu’ran (surat l-a 'raf), Prophet Lut (Lot in the Bible) said: “Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people”.

The Hadith, “a collection of traditions containing sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBOH) which, with accounts of his daily practice (the Sunna), constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Qu’ran, condemns homosexuality unequivocally.

Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet (PBOH) cursed effeminate men (those men who are in the similitude (assume the manners of women) and those women who assume the manners of men, and he said, “Turn them out of your houses.” The Prophet (PBOH) turned out such- and-such man, and ‘Umar turned out such-and-such woman’.

Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 72 Hadith 774 Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet (PBOH) said: “If you find anyone doing as Lot’s people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done”.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood – Book 38 Hadith 4447

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE

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

“THE BOTTOM LINE, IS THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS SEEN AS BEING UN-AFRICAN, ERODING THE FABRIC OF OUR ESTABLISHED CULTURAL AND FAMILY VALUES, WHERE MARRIAGE AND SEXUAL RELATIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN, OR A MAN AND SEVERAL WOMEN, IF HE IS POLYGAMOUS”

My View Personally, I do not subscribe to same sex marriage. I remain traditional as far as that is concerned, and believe that, it will only bring confusion, erode the fabric of our society and the essence of family, as we have always known it to be, from the beginning of time. That said, it certainly does not mean that I am homophobic. To hate a person because they are Homosexual or Black or Muslim or from another tribe, is wrong. Hatred is senseless.

A few years ago, I was out having dinner with a friend of mine in a Restaurant in Los Angeles, California. We happened to sit at a table next to an American guy, who my friend knew. He then introduced another man to us, as his Husband, and their two very cute daughters. It all seemed strange to me. Husband and Husband, instead of Husband and Wife. Two men cannot give birth to a child, nor can two women, without a man. Of course, my friend who has lived in America most of her life, saw the look on my face, and was very amused, calling me a ‘Bush African’.

While I have nothing against people who are gay, each to his own really, and I think most of the SSMPA is draconian and unnecessary (aside from making same sex marriage illegal), I do not think the Western World has the right to arrogantly try to impose their values on us, or force us to change our value system, to something which is still considered alien to our culture; dangling the carrot of ‘aid’, if Africa agrees to accept homosexuality as the new norm.

Even though Mozambique for example, succumbed to Western pressure a few years ago and de-criminalised homosexuality, people are still ostracised by their families for being gay. How would it sound, if Nigeria decides not to sell oil and gas to the UK or USA, unless polygamy is legalised there?

4/LAW REPORT

05.06.2018

Validity of Trial Conducted under a Repealed Law

T

he Appellant was a Deputy Superintendent of Police attached to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Benin City, Edo State. He was involved in the investigation of one Elder Alexander Okiye, who had a criminal complaint against him. The Appellant demanded for the sum of N1,000,000.00 from Elder Alexander Okiye, to make a favourable report on the investigation, to the effect that the matter is civil and not criminal. Elder Okiye wrote a Petition against the Appellant, further to which he was investigated and subsequently, charged before the High Court of Edo State on a three count Charge under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act (ICPC Act), 2000. The Counts were – (i) Corrupt demand by person; (ii) Corrupt receipt by person; and (iii) Failure to report offer of gratification.

At trial, the Prosecution called four witnesses, while the Appellant called three witnesses who testified in his defence. The trial Court found the Appellant guilty on counts 1 and 3, and sentenced him to 7 years imprisonment with hard labour. The Appellant unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Appeal. Dissatisfied, the Appellant further appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The issues before the Court were as follows: (i) Whether the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 under which the Appellant was tried and convicted, is a valid law; (ii) Whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were right, when they held that the Respondent had proved the offences with which the Appellant was charged.

Arguments In arguing in the first issue, counsel for the appellant stated that on the 24th November, 2006, when the Appellant was arraigned, the statute in force was Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2003 and not the statute of 2000 which had been repealed. Counsel argued that the Appellant was charged, tried and convicted under the repealed statute. He relied on the case of OSADEBEY v A-G BENDEL STATE (1991) 1 NWLR (PT. 169) P.525 in submitting that, the Appellant can only be charged under an existing statute and that the trial, conviction and sentence are unconstitutional, null and void.

Counsel for the Respondent, on the other hand, argued that the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act (ICPC), 2000 was amended in violation of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court and the Court in Suit No. FHC/ ABJ/ CS/93/2003 – HON BALA KAOJE & 5 ORS v THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & 13 ORS declared the ICPC Act of 2003 passed by the National Assembly null, void and of no effect. Therefore, the ICPC Act, 2000 is in force.

He relied on the case of A-G ONDO STATE v A-G FEDERATION & ORS (2002) 9 NWLR (PT. 772) P. 222.

On the second issue, Counsel for the Appellant had argued that, the Respondent’s evidence was riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions, which were enough to raise reasonable doubt in the mind of the court. He submitted that, there were inconsistencies in respect of the date the Appellant allegedly made the demand for the bribe, and the source of the money. It was also argued on behalf of the Appellant that, some of the prosecution witnesses were tainted witnesses, and that the third count of the charge was ambiguous, and, convicting the Appellant on it, occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

The Respondent’s Counsel on the other hand, stated that there were three ingredients for the offences in counts 1 and 3. They are – (a) the offender must be a public officer; (b) that he asked for benefit of any kind for himself or for any other person in respect of something to be afterwards done; and (c) that he asked for the benefit in the course of the discharge of his official duties. The Respondent argued that, the ingredients were proved beyond reasonable

doubt, and the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was uncontroverted. He relied on the case of AJIBADE v STATE (2013) 8 NCC P.221.

He also relied on Section 29(1) of the Evidence Act, to posit that the Appellant having admitted under cross-examination that he received part of the money in question, the need for further proof became unnecessary.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale On the first issue for determination, the Apex Court held that an accused person charged for an offence, can only be charged under the law that creates the offence which must be in force at the time the offence was committed. The Court stated that in 2003, the National Assembly attempted to promulgate the ICPC Act of 2003 and repeal the ICPC Act of 2000.

However, before the process at the National Assembly could be concluded, there was an Order of the Federal High Court, Abuja restraining all parties from taking further action on the proposed amendment. The National Assembly nonetheless, proceeded to produce a Bill of 2003, which was sent for Presidential Assent. The Assent was withheld based on the subsisting Order of Court. The National Assembly sought to override the

Hon. Justice Olabode. Rhodes-Vivour, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 23rd Day of February, 2018 Before Their Lordships Olabode Rhodes-Vivour Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili Clara Bata Ogunbiyi Ejembi Eko Sidi Dauda Bage Justices, Supreme Court SC.783/2015 Between Temple Nwankwoala... .........Appellant And Federal Republic of Nigeria ......Respondent (Lead Judgement delivered by Hon. Olabode RhodesVivour, JSC)

“AN ACCUSED PERSON CHARGED FOR AN OFFENCE, CAN ONLY BE CHARGED UNDER THE LAW THAT CREATES THE OFFENCE. SUCH A LAW MUST BE IN FORCE, AT THE TIME THE OFFENCE WAS COMMITTED. THERE IS NO PROVISION IN OUR CONSTITUTION, TO CHARGE AN ACCUSED PERSON UNDER A LAW THAT WAS NOT IN EXISTENCE AT THE TIME THE CONDUCT COMPLAINED OF MANIFESTED, OR TO CREATE AN OFFENCE TO CRIMINALISE A CONDUCT AFTER THE ACT. A TRIAL CONDUCTED UNDER A LAW THAT HAS BEEN REPEALED, NO MATTER HOW WELL CONDUCTED AND DECIDED, IS A NULLITY”

Presidential refusal, which necessitated the decision of some members to approach the Federal High Court, Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ ABJ/CS/93/2003 – HON BALA KAOJE & 5 ORS v THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & 13 ORS. Here, the Court declared the ICPC Act of 2003 passed by the National Assembly, in violation of a subsisting order, as null, void and of no effect, and revalidated the ICPC Act of 2000. In the absence of an appeal from the decision of the Federal High Court, the ruling is inviolate until set aside, and the law in force is the ICPC Act of 2000. It follows that, the ICPC Act of 2000 is valid and that the Appellant was tried and convicted under a valid law.

On the second issue, the Court held that, to succeed under counts 1 and 3, the Prosecution must prove that – (a) the accused is a public officer; (b) that he received or obtained any property or benefit of any kind for himself or other person, for anything already done or omitted to be done, or for any favour or disfavour already shown to any person by himself, in the discharge of his official duties, or in relation to any matter connected with the functions, affairs, or business, of a government department or corporate body or other organisation or institution, in which he is serving as an official; (c) that he asked for the benefit in the course of his official duties and; (d) that the accused person failed to report the offer of gratification to any officer of the ICPC. The Court examined the ingredients in this case, and held that they were proved beyond reasonable doubt.

In respect of the issue of contradiction in the testimony of the Prosecution witnesses, the Court opined that a piece of evidence contradicts another, when it affirms the opposite of what that other evidence has stated. However, it is only material contradictions that are considered. In this case, the issue is whether a demand was actually made, and a mix up as to the dates the demand was made in the testimony of PW1 and PW2, is a minor discrepancy and not a material contradiction. The Court expressed its satisfaction upon examining the testimony of the Prosecution witnesses, that the witnesses were indeed witnesses of truth and not tainted witnesses. Further, there was no error in the proceedings, to cause a miscarriage of justice.

Based on the foregoing, the Supreme Court affirmed judgement of the Court of Appeal.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation: O. Ovrawah and E. Osunde for the Appellant G. Lawal and K.K. Anabraba for the Respondent.

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

05.06.2018

NEWS/5

NBA PROFESSIONAL DINNER Grand Dame of the Bar, Chief Folake Solanke, SAN and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan branch Professional Dinner, Oyo State

L-R: Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami at the Press briefing on increasing cases of domestic violence, last week

Lawyer Commends FG On ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Bill, Stresses Need for Urgent Restructuring Stories by Akinwale Akintunde The 2nd Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Monday Ubani, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the law makers on the ‘Not too Young to Run Bill’ just signed into law, noting that “it is what is in operation in developing countries, which take time to develop their leaders”.

Ubani also stressed the urgent need for the country to be restructured, in order to move forward.

He said this last Thursday, at a press conference which he addressed on the state of the nation in Ikeja titled: “Restructure the Country, Nigeria or Nigeria May Die an Unnatural Death”.

According to the Lagos-based Lawyer and former Chairman of NBA, Ikeja Branch, the country is no longer working, and there is no viable option left, except to restructure the country.

“Whether anyone likes it or not, or wants to hear it or not, the truth of the matter is that,

Nigeria has a fundamental foundational issue, which we need to deal with. But unfortunately we have failed, refused and or neglected to deal with it, to our great detriment.

“Previous and past Governments, have paid lip service to it, even when they found out the truth, that the country cannot make much progress with the present structure in place.

The present structure is bogus, over-bureaucratic, over-centralised, oppressive, devoid of justice and equity.

The structure encourages laziness, lack of competitive spirit that was prevalent in our polity in the early sixties, due to the apparent adherence to the tenets of operational Federalism.

“Today, what we operate, is a highly distorted economy, the Federal taking everything that belongs to the federating units, and gathering the States in Abuja for handouts monthly, whereas the proper system would have been the various federating units, pay-

ing a certain percentage of what they have gathered in the federating units for the maintenance of a leaner, more efficient, and adequately compensated, public service.

"Let us stop beating about the bush, Nigeria is not working and may not work, unless we address our defective and unhealthy structure, that is clearly defective. There is no viable alternative to a comprehensive restructuring of this polity, if Nigeria will be united, peaceful and prosperous", he stated.

He said the starting point, will be to revisit the 2014 report of the National Conference, to move the country forward.

Ubani further said, there is no time, as 2019 is around the corner, and election of new public officers will soon commence.

He urged the electorate, to demand any aspiring politician, to swear to a written affidavit on oath, to restructure Nigeria upon winning and assumption of office in 2019.

“We have a lot of young people who have the zeal, wisdom, brains to lead, instead of recycling the old people whose ideas have become archaic. If we get the issue of leadership right, but refuse to restructure, we are getting nowhere.

"Let Nigerians demand any aspiring politician to swear to 'a written affidavit on oath to restructure Nigeria, upon winning and assumption of office at Aso Villa.That should be the minimum requirement.”

Ubani also decried the continued habit of Nigeria Police, parading suspects before being charged to court, adding that it is illegal to parade suspects before the media, when they have not been convicted by the court.

"It is important we begin to emphasise that, the issue of parading suspects is wrong. An accused person alleged to have committed a crime, should be taken to court. Nigeria should follow international law practice", he said.

Court Fixes June 20, to Deliver Judgement in Brain-Damaged Girl’s Case Justice Kazeem Alogba of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja Division, has fixed June 20, 2018, to deliver judgement in the suit of Nicole Adesanya, the child whose brain was allegedly damaged during birth at a public hospital in Lagos seven years ago, owing to the negligence of the medical practitioners there.

Nicole’s father, Mr. Adebiyi Adesanya, had sued the Lagos State Government, seeking N10 billion as damages for his daughter’s condition, which he alleged, was caused by the negligence of government medical officers.

But the suit, which was filed by their counsel, Mr. Don Akaegbu, on March 4, 2013, was referred to the State Judiciary’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) unit, for possible resolution by the then trial Judge, Justice

Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos High Court.

Before it was transferred to the ADR Track, the suit had Nicole and her father as the first and second Claimants respectively, while the Health Service Commission, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, and the then Attorney-General of the State, were the Defendants.

The case however, returned to the court in 2016, three years after, when the ADR failed, and was reassigned to Justice Alogba for trial.

Adesanya alleged in the suit, that his wife, Funmilola, was kept in labour between June 22 and June 23, 2011, for Caesarean Section that ought to have been carried out immediately.

He claimed that his daughter, who is now 7 years old this month, and was delivered

through Caesarean Section, “does not sit, turn, talk, walk, nor show signs of development inherent in normal children”.

Nicole’s brain seizures, according to her father, started in the third month after her birth.

The father said, medical tests had indicated that his daughter’s condition was caused by birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen during birth).

He narrated how his wife was kept in labour for more than 24 hours at Somolu General Hospital, and later at Island Maternity, waiting for the operation.

The Claimants are therefore, seeking for the sum of N1.5 billion as compensatory damages for Nicole’s permanent injury, which includes “physical and psychological harm, pain, suffering and

disability”.

They are also seeking for another order “awarding N8 billion as compensation for the father’s loss of his job in the course of attending to the young girl, medical expenses, and life care expenses".

But the State had in its statement of defence dated, May 24, 2013, denied the Claimants’ allegations, insisting that it was not liable for damages for any injury.

The Defendants averred that, "all the tests carried out so far on the first Claimant, (Nicole), could not conclusively establish a link between the alleged delay on the part of Defendant’s medical team to perform the Caesarean Section, and the medical condition that the first Claimant is exhibiting presently".

Lagos Decries Increasing Spate of Domestic Violence, Killings Lagos State Government, has expressed concern over the spate of increasing domestic violence in the State, vowing to prosecute Mrs. Udeme Otike Odibi for allegedly murdering her Lawyer husband, Symphorosa, recently, at their residence at Diamond Estate, Ajah.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, disclosed this last week, while briefing the newsmen at Ministry of Justice, Alausa, Ikeja.

Kazeem said the issue of domestic violence calls for concern, because in most cases it results in the death of the spouse.

While revealing that the office of the Director of Public Prosecution has established a prima facie case against the suspect, Mrs. Odibi, the Attorney-General disclosed she would soon be charged to court for prosecution on murder.

According to Kazeem, facts available revealed that Mrs. Odibi, subsequent upon stabbing her husband, also mutilated his corpse by cutting his genitals.

He charged Lagosians to desist from acts of violence, noting that anybody found culpable would be made to face the law.

"The Lagos State Government, wishes to express dismay at the rising rate of domestic violence in the State.

Only a few months ago, a Danish National allegedly killed his wife and child in Lagos State.

That couple allegedly had a history of domestic violence, which culminated in the unfortunate murder of Zainab Ali-Nielsen and her child, Petra Nielsen.

"The trial of Mrs. Udeme Otike Odibi, will commence as soon as the case is assigned to a court, by the Honourable Chief Judge. This office will ensure expeditious trial of this matter.

"Only last week, the national dailies reported yet another case of a lover killing his live-in lover.

The good citizens of Lagos, are enjoined to fulfil their roles as compulsory reporters, by ensuring that any case of domestic violence is immediately reported to the Police, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), or any other relevant authority to avoid unnecessary loss of lives", he stated.

The Attorney-General, who is also the Chairman of the DSVRT, urged residents to report any case of violence in their area, by dialling a short code 6820 or 08137960048.

"The DSVRT commissioned a research on 15th May, 2018, on domestic violence and mortality amongst intimate partners. We hope data received from the research, will help us understand the pattern of incidents of domestic violence, the link between domestic violence and fatalities, and how domestic violence can be curbed", said Mr Kazeem.

LEGAL UPDATE ICC’s 3RD ANNUAL AFRICA CONFERENCE JUNE 18TH & 19TH, 2018 The ICC’s 3rd Annual Africa Conference which will take place on 18th and 19th June, 2018 at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, is the key forum for understanding international commercial arbitration in Africa, and is becoming the most important annual gathering for the African Arbitration Community.

This year, a top rate line-up of speakers from Egypt, Morocco, Cameroon, Somalia, Kenya, Ghana, Dubai, Paris, Belgium and the United Kingdom, will discuss issues, ranging from what must be taken into consideration when deciding to seat your Arbitration in Africa, to whether the issuance of an International arbitration award, is the first bus stop or the last station in the dispute resolution process.

The Conference provides practicing Lawyers, Arbitrators, Mediators, Corporate Counsel and Academic Professionals interested in and/or involved in international arbitration in Africa, with an indispensable update on developments in the region.

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05.06.2018

Banana Island, Ikoyi Invaded by Soldiers and Nigerian Army Properties Limited Onikepo Braithwaite It was more than commotion last Friday, June 1, 2018, when Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), used soldiers to invade Banana Island Estate, Ikoyi. Banana Island Residents were surprised that, the NAPL had so many soldiers on hand in Lagos, instead of being where their attention is urgently required, in the fight against insurgency in the North East.

The gun totting soldiers intimidated all and sundry, especially because they were armed.

Allegedly, NAPL is embarking on a 43 hectare land reclamation project, in order to build “Apple Island” (possibly a private estate, and not a barracks for the rank and file), and has been searching for what will be a suitable access point into its estate.

A particular waterfront area of land within Banana Island, located near the children’s playground, was allotted to Banana Island Estate, with a permit from the Government to

erect its Boat Club and Recreational facilities thereon. BIPORAL (Banana Island’s Residents Association), was preparing to start the construction of the recreational facilities, when NAPL with their armed soldiers, illegally, unlawfully and forcibly, came to destroy some structures on the land including the BIPORAL board, and erect its own board thereon, allegedly wanting to use it as a thoroughfare/access from “Apple Island” into Ikoyi.

Residents were alerted about the unfortunate incident, and asked to meet at the land at 11am the following day, when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, was expected to come and cut the tape and commission NAPL’s “Apple Estate”. On his arrival, General Buratai was met by Banana Island Residents, including my humble self.

We aired our grievances, informing him that Banana Island was the bona fide allottee of the land, and we were not favourably disposed to having our recreational facilities or estate,

turned into a thoroughfare.

After inspecting the purported plan of “Apple Island”, the Chief of Army Staff did not cut the tape. He informed Banana Residents, that he had not been properly briefed by NAPL staff, and assured Banana Residents that, NAPL would find an alternative access route for “Apple Island”, instead of Banana.

Some of the fears expressed by Banana

Residents, and indeed the reality, is that the estate has only one entrance, which is already serving hundreds of residents within the estate, while the only road leading up from Old Ikoyi into the estate, serves them and the other estates located off that road. The facilities are already over-stretched, talk less of being a thoroughfare for another estate as big as a mini city.

Expelled Member Appeals High Court Decision on Fundamental Rights Suit Against Ikoyi Club Akinwale Akintunde An ex-Entertainment Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr. Gbenga Gbadesire, has appealed the decision of a Lagos High Court, which dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit, he filed against the Registered Trustees of the Club.

Gbadesire, who served as the Entertainment

Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938 between February, 2006 and February, 2008, had taken the Trustees of the Club to court, claiming N100 million in damages, over alleged unwarranted or unprocedural expulsion from the club.

He had also contended that his expulsion from the Club, via a letter dated October 2, 2008, was unprocedural and a breach of Rule 9 of the Ikoyi Club 1938 Rules 2007.

Gbadesire had in a 15-paragraph affidavit deposed to by himself, said he was made to face the disciplinary sub-committee of the Club on August 14, 2008, on account of some allegations leveled against him by one Kole Jagun, alleging that he (Gbadesire) acted contrary to Rule 38 (c) and (d) of the Club’s rules.

This allegation and his subsequent summons

by the sub-committee, eventually led to his suspension from the Club for a period of one year, via a letter dated August 27, 2008.

The Claimant, however, said he wrote a letter to the Registered Trustees of the Club, challenging his suspension on the grounds of bias and miscarriage of justice.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Legal Personality of the Week Ngozi Efobi

‘The Lawyers who Win the Most, Prepare the Most’ I am Ngozi Efobi. I graduated from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in 2007 with a Second Class Upper, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008. I am currently a Senior Associate with AELEX’s Dispute Resolution and Corporate Commercial Practice Groups. I regularly give advice on Business, Legal and Regulatory Compliance; Project Financing; and Mergers and Acquisitions. My practice also includes, acting as counsel in Arbitration, Mediation and Litigation, at all levels of courts in Nigeria.

I am a member of the International Project Finance Association, Loan Market Association, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK (Nigerian Branch), the Association of Professional Negotiators and Mediators, and the International Bar Association. I was recently rated as a rising star in Project Finance and Capital Markets, by the International Financial Law Review (IFLR1000) for 2018.

Ngozi Efobi

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

My main challenges as a Lawyer, have mostly been about optimising time to accommodate work targets and personal goals. Meeting various client deadlines and doing so effectively, sometimes places a huge demand on your time, and I went through a phase where all I did was work. No social life, nothing. With time, I have learned that, with proper scheduling and effective team management, work can be done efficiently without burning myself out.

What was your worst day as a Lawyer?

Although representing a wide variety of clients comes with a few challenges, I honestly cannot recall any day in my professional life, that I would classify as my worst day.

What was your most memorable experience

as a Lawyer?

It was my first appearance alone in court.

I was fresh out of Law School, and had just started working at a law firm, when I was unexpectedly told in court by my Principal to argue a very contentious application against a senior colleague, who subtly reminded me that he was at least 20 years older than me at the Bar! A lifetime of student debates, moot competitions and being a student judge, did not stop the butterflies in my belly when I stood up to address the court. I was however, very elated when the Judge and other colleagues, subsequently, commended my eloquence and was even happier one month later, when we won the application.

Who has been most influential in your life?

My parents - Mr Chuka & Mrs Patricia Udokwu,

have been very influential in my life. Although, they had briefly wanted a different path for me (Medicine), they supported me wholeheartedly, when they recognised that I was interested in Law, and that I had a natural acumen for it.

They taught me to always remember that, God is my hope and strength. My Husband Mr. Christian Efobi, has also significantly influenced me to aspire higher, and to work harder. He constantly pushes me, to always better myself and to never rest on my oars.

Professionally, Late Chief Amaechi Nwaiwu, SAN was very influential in my formative years as a litigation Lawyer. From High Court to Supreme Court, Election Tribunals to IST, complex negotiations to client meetings, he would send me everywhere and say “Whatever I can do, you can do too. The only difference between us is when I was called to the Bar, and the texture of my robe”. As a young lawyer of 1-2 years, these words built my confidence and I never wanted to disappoint.

At AELEX, I have also been fortunate to be mentored and to learn from our Partners.

There is Mr. L. Fubara Anga and Mr. Sina Sipasi, whose Project Finance guiding influence led to my being rated as a rising star in Project Finance by IFLR1000. There are also our dispute resolution Partners-Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN, Mr. Adedapo Tunde-Olowu and Mr. Olanipekun Orewale, all of whom I look up to, and from whom I constantly learn the wider depths of arbitration and litigation.

Why did you become a Lawyer?

I had the natural proclivities of a Lawyer, and so my becoming one was pretty much a fait accompli. I am the eldest child in my family, and growing up I was constantly advocating the case of my siblings. I always had a very keen sense of fairness and justice, and was constantly

trying to get people to change something because I thought “it was not fair”. By the time I was ten years old and in secondary school, people who knew me were already calling me “Lawyer”.

At that time, in addition to wanting to become a Lawyer because I really wanted to defend people, I was also influenced by Legal TV shows like Perry Mason, which made the profession look so attractive!

What would be your advice to anyone wanting a career in Law? Always aim to provide every client with the best possible results. Careful preparation, attention to detail, a habit of studiousness and good draftsmanship are key. Understand that real legal practice is nothing like the TV shows/ movies, where Lawyers dramatically swoop into court at the last minute and save the day with some hastily obtained document, or win negotiations by bluffing. The Lawyers who win the most, are the lawyers who prepare the most.

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

Although, I have never seriously considered being anything but a Lawyer, if I had to choose, I would have been a Journalist and a Writer.

Telling people’s stories, shedding light on the state of affairs in the world, and lending my voice to the collective story of humanity, is something that I can see myself doing happily. I currently, write fictional stories as a hobby, and I also have a collection of more than fifty abstract poems.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In the next ten years, I see myself doing even better professionally, not just in terms of providing effective solutions to clients’ issues, but also being at the frontline of breaking boundaries in emerging areas of legal practice.

05.06.2018

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INSOLVENCY DISCOURSE DR. KUBI UDOFIA

k.udofia@live.com

Insolvency and Equipment Leases

A

In contrast, Section 41(b)(i) permits a recovery action against an insolvent lessee, notwithstanding that the lessee is able to perform its obligations.

It is submitted that, Sections 22(1)(b) and 41(b)(i) are not in conflict. Section 22(1)(b) seeks to prevent “unilateral termination” of lease agreements, in a manner akin to termination under Section 38 (which relates to nonpayment of rentals). As opposed to unilateral termination, Section 41(b)(i) requires lessors to commence legal action in court for recovery of the leased equipment.

It is envisaged that, in practice, lessors who desire to end equipment lease agreements, notwithstanding that insolvent lessees are making rental payments (and hence protected against unilateral termination by Section 22(1)(b)), will resort to Section 41(b) (i) of ELA.

Introduction

n equipment lease agreement, is a contract for the use of equipment for a specified period and involves the payment of rentals for the use of the equipment by the user (lessee) to the owner (lessor). The Equipment Leasing Act, 2015 (ELA), is the primary legislation governing equipment leasing transactions in Nigeria: Section 1 of ELA. The analysis in this write-up is limited to registered equipment leases pursuant to Sections 13 and 16 of ELA. Equipment leasing, is an effective mechanism for financing acquisition of capital assets. It is an efficient alternative, to borrowing money. For lessors, equipment leasing yields a higher return on investment, than lending. Lessors’ interests, are secured by reservation of title enabling lessors to repossess the equipment, if lessees default in rental payments. For lessees, they can use equipment without having to purchase them. Capital saved from leasing (rather than acquisition), can be invested in other pressing needs. Equipment leasing, thus, provides lessees with full financing for equipment and flexible payment schedules, which may be done with capital generated from the leased equipment.

Types of Equipment Leases Equipment leases can be broadly classified into operating and finance leases. ELA has further recognised other variants of equipment leases such as syndicated lease, sale and lease-back lease, cross-border lease, leverage lease etc.: Sections 2(1)(a) and 3 of ELA. This write-up will focus on operating and finance leases.

In operating leases or “true leases”, the lessee rents the equipment for a period which is less than the useful life of the rented equipment. The total sum of the rental payments, is usually less than the value or price of the rented equipment. The costs of maintenance, risks associated with ownership and obsolescence, are borne by the lessor.

In contrast, finance or capital leases, are designed to subsist throughout the estimated useful life of the equipment. Rental payments are calculated to amortise the lessor’s capital outlay, and give the lessor a margin of profit. Finance leases are thus, designed to enable a lessor recover the equipment’s cost, overhead expenses and profit, through rental payments. A further feature of finance leases, is that the lessee bears ownership risks.

Effect of a Lessee’s Insolvency on Equipment Leases Disclaimer of Leases A lessee’s liquidator may, subject to leave of court, disclaim an equipment lease, where the liquidator views the rental payments as being onerous: section 499 of CAMA. A disclaimer is a repudiation of the equipment lease agreement and will effectively deter-

mine, as from the date of the disclaimer, the rights, interests and liabilities of the insolvent lessee in the disclaimed equipment: section 499(2) of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 (CAMA); Re No. 1 London Ltd (1991) BCC 118 at 119. Where a lease is disclaimed, the lessor’s reversion is accelerated. An injured lessor is entitled to claim for damages in the winding-up as an unsecured creditor: Section 499(8) of CAMA. Ipso facto Clauses Without prejudice to a liquidator’s power to disclaim, the commencement of insolvency proceedings will not automatically terminate pre-insolvency contracts: British Waggon Co v Lea & Co (1880) 5 QB.D 149 at 151-152.

The insolvent company, through its liquidator, may choose to perform the insolvent’s obligations. Section 22(1)(b) of ELA appears to be consistent with this common law position. The section provides that, as long as the lessee performs his obligations in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement, the agreement shall not be terminated unilaterally by the lessor, even if the lessor is declared insolvent.

In practice, it is not uncommon for insolvency events, to be specified as events of default, entitling a non-defaulting party to terminate a contract. Such ipso facto clauses are plainly enforceable, so long as they do not deprive the insolvent of a proprietary interest. However, it appears that section 22(1)(b) of ELA has now neutralised ipso facto clauses in equipment lease agreements, so long as a lessee performs its obligations.

Exiting Equipment Lease Agreements With the enactment of ELA, it appears that a lessor desiring to end an equipment lease agreement upon a lessee’s insolvency, has two exit routes. Depending on the circumstance, a lessor may either terminate a lease agreement pursuant to Section 38, or commence an action for recovery of the

“THE EQUIPMENT LEASING ACT, 2015 (ELA), HAS DISPLACED A NUMBER OF COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES, WHICH PREVIOUSLY APPLIED TO CHATTEL LEASES AT INSOLVENCY” leased equipment under Section 41. The difference between the two routes, is that termination does not require the assistance of a court.

Where the lessee has defaulted in making rental payments, the lessor may serve the lessee with a default notice (Form B of the First Schedule to ELA), giving the lessee not less than 14 days within which to remedy the default. Where the lessee fails to remedy the default, the lessor may terminate the agreement in writing to the lessee: Sections 37, 38 and 39 ELA. Where the lessee has committed other defaults, other than non-payment of rentals, the lessor may commence legal proceedings against the lessee for recovery of the equipment: Section 41(a). A lessor may also commence proceedings, where a court has ordered for the (i) dissolution or winding-up of a lessee; or (ii) the appointment of a receiver or manager for a lessee: Section 41(b).

One of the grounds on which a court may wind-up a company, is when the company is insolvent: Section 408(a) of CAMA. In practice, a finding that a company is insolvent, will usually precede an order to wind-up. It would be recalled that Section 22(1)(b) of ELA forbids a lessor from unilaterally terminating a lease agreement where the lessee is capable of performing its obligations, even if the lessee has been declared insolvent.

EXPELLED MEMBER APPEALS HIGH COURT DECISION ON FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS SUIT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 He was, however, later informed through a letter dated October 2, 2008, that following a meeting of the Registered Trustees of the Club on September 23, 2008, it was resolved that his membership should be terminated.

The Claimant is contending that such decision to expel him from the Club, was a violation of his fundamental human rights to fair hearing and principle of natural justice, as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

He also urged the court, to declare that his expulsion was a malicious and flagrant abuse of his right to the freedom of association, as protected by Section 40 of the Constitution.

But responding, the Defendant asked the court to decline jurisdiction over the matter and dismiss Gbadesire's claims, for failing to explore or exhaust the club's internal dispute resolution mechanism, as provided in section 18 (1) (c) of the Club's rules, before heading for court.

The Defendant also argued that, inasmuch as the Constitution recognised a citizen's freedom of association, the same Constitution did not force anyone or group to associate with anyone they are disinclined to associate with.

Justice Dawodu in her judgement in 2015, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the

lower court, Gbadesire is challenging Justice Dawodu’s decision, and urged the court to declare that his right to fair hearing and principle of natural justice under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, were violated.

In his Notice of Appeal, filed by his Lawyer, Mr. Adeniyi Pokanu of Muyideen & Pokanu Law firm, the Appellant (Gbadesire), said the lower court erred in Law by holding that the Respondent complied with the Rules of the Club, hence, the Appellant’s right to fair hearing was not infringed upon.

He therefore, urged the court to allow his appeal, to set aside the decision of Justice Dawodu, and grant all reliefs sought by him.

Displacement of Certain Common Law Principles The Equipment Leasing Act, 2015 (ELA), has displaced a number of common law principles which previously applied to chattel leases at insolvency. Under common law, a finance lessee is considered to have rights of a proprietary nature: On Demand Information Plc v Michael Gerson (Finance) Plc [2003] 1AC 368. ELA does not recognise any such interest or right. In fact, ELA has gone to great lengths in protecting lessors’ ownership rights. For instance, Section 4(1)(e) requires a clause in lease agreements wherein the lessee acknowledges, confirms and declares that it holds the equipment, as a mere bailee of the lessor and that the lessee does not have any proprietary right, title or interest in the equipment. Section 4(1)(f) requires a clause to state that upon termination of the lease agreement or any renewal, the lessee shall deliver to the lessor the equipment in good order and working conditions.

Section 19(1) provides that, on the registration of a lease agreement, the lessor is the legal owner of a leased equipment. Section 19(2) provides that the implied legal ownership of a lessor or his assign, shall prevail at all times over any claim by a lessee, a lessee’s creditor or third party. Parties cannot contract out of Sections 19(1) and (2), as Section 19(4) renders any provision in a lease agreement which is inconsistent with Section 19(1) and (2) void. Section 20(1) forbids a lessee from sub-leasing, assigning, pledging, mortgaging, charging, creating any encumbrance or acting in any way that is inconsistent with the legal ownership of the lessor. Any arrangement which contravenes Section 20(1), is voided by Section 20(2).

Further, Section 19(3) has displaced the well-established principle that whatever is affixed to the land, becomes part of the land; often expressed in the Latin maxim quic quid plantatur solo solo cedit: Dankula v Shagamu (2008) All FLWR (Pt 413) 1280 at 1305C-D. Consequently, a chattel howsoever affixed to a lessee’s land will, not become an affixture and the lessee’s asset.

ELA may have also ruled out the possibility of terminating an equipment lease agreement, on the basis of an anticipatory breach. An anticipatory breach will occur when, before performance is due, a lessee either renounces the contract or disables itself from performing: Universal Cargo Carriers Corp v Citati (1957) 2 QB 401 at 438.

Repossession or Recovery of Leased Equipment A lessor is required to commence legal proceedings, where it desires to repossess an equipment after termination (under Section 39), or recover a leased equipment (under Section 41). Where a provisional liquidator has been appointed, or a winding-up order has been made in relation to the lessee, the lessor must seek the leave of court before commencing the legal proceedings: Section 417 of CAMA.

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05.06.2018

Mr. Femi Falana, SAN PHOTOS: Kolawole Alli

‘I Can Never Join APC’ His life’s story at 60, can be made the subject of an award winning movie. He has devoted his entire professional life, to fighting the cause of the downtrodden and less privileged Nigerians.

His unending battles with past despotic totalitarian military regimes in Nigeria, had on several occasions, cost him his liberty, having suffered many arrests by successive military juntas. But the quintessential Human Rights Activist, has remained undaunted, and he has many international awards to show, in recognition of his doggedness, including the coveted‘Bernard Simmonds’Award from the International Bar Association. As he turned 60 recently, Femi Falana, SAN took time out of his hectic schedule, to vent his spleen to Onikepo Braithwaite on why he was not in the mood to celebrate, and why he is organising the human rights community, to return to the trenches

I

n President Buhari’s May 29, 2018 Democracy Day Speech, he seems to have given his Administration a pass mark in the 3 main areas which he promised he would tackle – security, economy and corruption.

Given the state of security in the nation, the incessant killings by the Fulani Herdsmen, and the fact that most Nigerians are still very hungry, do you agree that this Administration deserves a pass mark?

It is an undeniable fact that, the nation witnessed an unprecedented wave of criminal diversion of public funds for 16 years. It was so terrible, to the extent that the nation’s budget was padded and a huge bribe was offered to collect statutory allocations, while departments of government had thousands of accounts, through which public funds were siphoned. As if that was not enough, the recovered Abacha

“FOR INSTANCE, THE LIST OF LOOTERS PUBLISHED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, EXCLUDED THE INDICTED MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING A SERVING SERVICE CHIEF AND MINISTERS”

loot and loans were cornered. Even though the PDP Government established the EFCC and ICPC, the trial of fat cats was suspended indefinitely, through stay of proceedings and other dilatory tactics adopted by VIP criminal elements and their Lawyers. Frankly speaking, I do not know of any government in recent time that was so abysmally corrupt.

I want to believe that, the Muhammadu Buhari Administration may have awarded itself a pass mark for substantially reducing the blatant theft of public funds, by implementing the TSA, BVN and the whistle blowing policy. No doubt, the whistle blowing policy has exposed the hidden loot of some serving and retired public officers, and of course, the regime has also recorded some successful prosecution of a few politically exposed persons.

While such limited success is appreciated, the Nigerian people are genuinely critical of the selective arrest and prosecution of corrupt

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“RANCHING IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON IN THE COUNTRY. THE REGIMES OF AHMADU BELLO, OBAFEMI AWOLOWO AND NNAMDI AZIKIWE, HAD RANCHES IN MOKWA, AKUNU AND OBUDU. THE OBUDU CATTLE RANCH HAS BEEN DESTROYED, AND TURNED INTO OBUDU HOLIDAY RESORT. UNDER THE YAKUBU GOWON REGIME, THE KANO STATE GOVERNMENT HEADED BY POLICE COMMISSIONER AUDU BAKO, ESTABLISHED RANCHES” elements in the society. For instance, the list of looters published by the Federal Government excluded the indicted members of the Government, including a serving Service Chief and Ministers.

The probe panels which indicted them, were instituted by the Federal and State Governments. Nigerians are also worried to note that the APC dominated National Assembly, has not passed Bills meant for promoting the fight against corruption, while the APC-led Senate has refused to confirm the appointment of the Chairman of and Board Members of the ICPC, Chairman and Board Members of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Board Members of the EFCC. So, only the EFCC has an acting Chairman. Of course, you would recall that, the confirmation of the appointment of the EFCC was sabotaged by the State Security Service. I have personally criticised the lack of inter- agency collaboration, on the part of the anti-graft agencies. Unless these contradictions are addressed, the war against corruption cannot be said to have been successfully prosecuted and won.

Another crisis in the fight against corruption, is that it is a war being waged alone by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, aided by the EFCC. Or was the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr. Babachir Lawal not dismissed and indicted for diverting over N200 million for cutting grass? I hope he will be prosecuted, for an offence that is akin to a crime against humanity. I mean stealing money meant for reducing the dehumanising conditions, of people displaced by terrorists.

The APC, controls 24 State Governments. Apart from the Kano State Government which has an anti-graft agency, no other State Government, has keyed into the anti-corruption programme of the ruling party. No Local Government, is involved in the anti-corruption battle. The Buhari Administration deserves commendation, for instituting a culture of accountability in the land. Every Nigerian, is beginning to appreciate that, they could be asked to account either now or in future. I believe that this is the greatest achievement recorded so far, in the fight against corruption.

On the economy, Section 16 of the Constitution provides that, the Nigeria economy shall be planned and controlled by

the Government, and that the wealth of the nation shall not be concentrated in the hands of a few people or a group. As far as I am concerned, the NEEDS programme of President Obasanjo, the transformation agenda of President Jonathan, and the Economic Recovery and Growth programme of President Buhari, are neoliberal economic programmes, designed and executed, to ensure that the economy is not operated to promote national prosperity. All the regimes, without exception, religiously believe in the privatisation of the nation’s asset and award of oil blocks to private individuals, so as to concentrate the wealth of the nation in a few people. The PDP regime was only lucky, that it was able to collect more revenue from the sale of crude oil. According President Obasanjo, he performed an economic miracle by producing 25 billionaires in Nigeria. On his own part, President Jonathan said that, Nigeria was not poor because many private jets owned by Nigerian businessmen accompanied him to Kenya during a State visit.

With respect to security, the Buhari regime has stopped the Boko Haram sect, from bombing Abuja and other cities, apart from Maiduguri. It has also retrieved the Local Governments that were annexed in Borno State by the terrorists, and secured the release of school girls and hundreds of others, who were abducted by the insurgents. But the success recorded in the fight against terrorism in the North East region, has been rubbished by the growing wave of banditry in the North West, incessant killing of farmers by herdsmen in the North Central zone, as well as kidnapping and armed robbery all over the country.

Security has to be viewed holistically.

Has Government handled the Fulani Herdsmen crisis adequately?

In 2014, the Jonathan regime decided to establish ranches. It set aside N100 billion to some State Governments, to establish the ranches. Apparently, the money was diverted. The Buhari regime also opted for ranches. The Federal Government has handled the violent clashes between farmers and herdsmen, rather lackadaisically. The Buhari regime opted for ranching in 2016. About 55,000 hectares were acquired for the project. But instead of establishing the ranches, the Government has suddenly embraced the cattle colony. Even though it has dropped the dangerous policy, and the plan to establish ranches has not been taken seriously.

Ranching is not a new phenomenon, in the country. The regimes of Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikwe had ranches in Mokwa, Akunu and Obudu. The Obudu cattle ranch has been destroyed and turned into Obudu Holiday Resort.

Under the Yakubu Gowon regime, the Kano State Government headed by Police Commissioner Audu Bako, established ranches.

The Kano State Government, has invited displaced farmers in Benue and Taraba states. The Nigerian Army has a ranch at Giri, in the Federal Capital Territory. I am currently praying the Federal High Court, to compel the Federal Government to establish ranches in some States, to stop the unabated killing of unarmed farmers. Curiously, my locus standi is being challenged by the Federal Government.

Did the President and the Executive act ultra vires their powers, in approving and paying out almost $500 million for the purchase of Tucano Aircrafts from the American Government, without the National Assembly’s approval?

Considering the fact that the President claims that Boko Haram has been annihilated, what was the need for such a huge expenditure on military hardware? What does this purchase without approval, mean for the rule of law in

Nigeria?

The war planes were bought witout appropriation, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution. That has been the practice since 1999, without any serious protest from the National Assembly.

It is hoped that, the Executive will quickly send a money bill to the National Assembly, to cover the purchase of the war planes, with an apology and undertaking, not to repeat such a constitutional breach.

At the same time, the National Assembly, should stop violating Section 70 of the Constitution, by paying the salaries and allowances of Legislators, which have not been approved by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

We will be deluding ourselves, if we agree that the satanic Boko Haram sect, has been annihilated. The criminals have been chased out of town, but the troops now operate like guerrilla fighters. Since about $15 billion earmarked for arms purchase in the last two decades, was alleged to have been stolen by a coterie of Army Generals, the nation has to acquire new arms and ammunition for the armed forces.

Recently, the Rivers State Judiciary, was attacked by political hoodlums. Governor Wike believes that such an act is tantamount to treason against his State, as it was an attempt to truncate democracy there. Do you agree?

In 2015, not less than 100 people were killed, in election related violence in Rivers state. No one was prosecuted. So, violence has continued because of sheer negligence and impunity. I believe that, those who attacked the Rivers State High Court complex, are enemies of the rule of law.

Incidentally, Governor Wike is a Lawyer. Why has he not directed the Attorney-General of the State, to prosecute the criminal elements who committed the offence of wilful damage to public property? The Rivers State Government recently advertised the alleged criminal offences committed by a police officer. Whao!

I have asked our colleague, the Attorney-General of the State, to file a criminal charge against the police officer, instead of asking the Police Service Commission to discipline him. State Governments cannot be campaigning for Restructuring, if they are not prepared to exercise the powers conferred on them by the Constitution.

It seems that, President Buhari has said no to State Police. This is one of the key elements of Restructuring.

In the wake of, take for example, the violence unleashed during the APC Congresses and the wanton destruction of property, which the Police seemed unable to do much about, plus the Global Index that adjudged the Nigeria Police to be one of the worst in the world, do you think State Police is necessary?

Anyone who believes in Restructuring, cannot oppose the establishment of State Police. But, it is a controversial subject.

President Buhari was asking how State Governments who cannot pay salaries, can justifiably give arms and ammunition to young men and women. Many other concerned Nigerians, are opposed to State Police, on the ground that Governors who are using armed police personnel to demolish the houses of political opponents or charge them with frivolous offences, will abuse police powers and create more problems of insecurity for the society. Why have the proponents of State Police, not asked their elected Legislators to introduce a constitutional bill for the establishment of State Police? By the way, there is no Federal Government Police Force, but the Nigeria Police Force headed

by Inspector-General of Police, who is appointed or removed by the President, on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council.

Mind you, the Council is constitutionally empowered to organise, supervise and administer the Nigeria Police Force. The Council is constituted by the President, Inspector- General of Police and Chairman of Police Service Commission, as well as the 36 State Governors. Since 1999, the President has been allowed to organise, supervise and control the Nigeria Police Force. Why have State Governors, refused to requisition the meeting of the Council, to deliberate on the general insecurity in the country?

Under the defunct military junta, it was resolved that, the Federal Government would pay the salaries of police personnel, while State Governments would equip them, with funds from security votes which run to hundreds of millions of Naira per month. Since the huge security fund has not been spent on the provision of security for the country, the human rights community has been calling for the abolition of security votes. The politicisation of security, has to stop. If it is realised that our country is under-policed, the Nigeria Police Council should convene an urgent meeting to agree on the funding of the Nigeria Police Force. Meanwhile, let the State Attorneys- General, charge the scores of criminal suspects that have been arrested for killing unarmed farmers and other citizens.

In the past year or more, Nigerians have been killed in South Africa, both by citizens and the Authorities. It also seems that, the South Africans are getting away with their heinous crimes against Nigerians. What legal remedies are available, not just to the families of the deceased, but to us as a nation? What can be done to stem this extremely negative tide?

The killing of Nigerians in South Africa, is very sad indeed. In 1995, some comrades travelled to South Africa for the launching of the Nigeria-South Africa Solidarity Association. Mr. Thabo Mbeki, who was then the Vice President, was mandated by President Nelson Mandela, to attend the meetings on behalf of the Government. It was a good reunion, on the part of the comrades in the ANC-led Government and their Nigerian comrades, who had played a major role in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

Unfortunately, the Association was not encouraged by our South African comrades. It is a project that ought to be revived, so as

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05.06.2018 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

to promote understanding among our people.

However, the Government of Nigeria, has not taken the killing of Nigerians seriously.

Since Nigeria has not facilitated access to the African Court, by making a declaration to accept the jurisdiction of the court over our citizens who are victimised in other African countries, or killed in South Africa, or enslaved in Libya, are on their own. Since the Federal Government, is not prepared to challenge the South African Government over the killings, I am in touch with the human rights community in South Africa, to ensure that the criminal gangs involved in the reckless murder of Nigerian people in South Africa, are prosecuted.

The issue of pollution and black soot in the Niger Delta, is fast gaining momentum.

How come the oil majors, have been allowed

by Government to get away with degrading our environment so badly? It seems that in many other oil producing States, they cannot get away with half of what they get away with in Nigeria. What could be the reason for that? The Niger Delta States have repeatedly stated that oil and gas and anything related to it, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution, is the responsibility of the Federal Government, and not the States. What do you think should be done, to stop further degradation and destruction of the Niger Delta? The Rivers State Government has hinted that it will institute an action against the Federal Government, amongst others. Do you think this action will yield any results?

There are two agencies established by the Federal Government, to deal with pollution in the Niger Delta region. We have judgements of Nigeria and ECOWAS Courts, which have upheld the rights of the Niger Delta people, to a safe and healthy environment. The victims of environmental degradation, have also won some cases in foreign courts.

Unfortunately, the State Governments in Niger Delta, have not contributed to the struggle against pollution in the environment. Each of the State Governments, ought to pressurise the oil companies to pay compensation to victims of oil pollution.

It is also worrisome, that our colleagues who defend the oil companies in Nigeria, have frustrated the victims from getting justice in our courts. Instead of advising oil companies to pay compensation to victims of pollution, our colleagues raise all manner of frivolous objections at the trial courts and pursue same to the Supreme Court. For instance, Mobil Oil Producing Nigeria Limited engaged 860 young Nigerians as security men, but colluded with the authorities of Nigeria Police Force, to pay them the meagre salaries of police personnel. The case has just been concluded by the Supreme Court in favour of the staff, after 18 years. Before then all efforts made by our law firm to resolve the case amicably, failed. That is the bitter experience of the Nigerians working in the oil industry, and the people in the oil producing communities.

Your statement that the Obasanjo Presidential Library will soon be taken over by the Government, has had condemnations from certain quarters, and commendations from other quarters, at the same time. You alluded to the fact that the library was built with public funds, and some have argued that there are many examples in advanced democracies where Presidential libraries were built in like manner. Others see you as taking sides with Buhari against Obasanjo, towards 2019. What informed your position?

I made that call, when the Presidential Library was launched in 2006. In raising funds for the project, ex-President Obasanjo extorted money from State Government and Federal Government contractors. The late Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, once described the way and money in the sum of N7 billion, was raised for the library project as executive extortion. He wrote a petition to the Code of Conduct Bureau, to seize the library. It was not investigated. He even approached the Federal High Court, to have the Bells University owned by the General forfeited to the Federal

Government. So, our campaign is not linked to the intra-class feud between General Obasanjo and General Buhari. Ours is a position, that is anchored on Paragraph 6 of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, which states that any gift or donation to a public office, apart from customary gift, will be forfeited to the Government. Since the library and the university were acquired as gifts and donations by President Obasanjo during his term of office, they are going to be forfeited to the Federal Government, at the appropriate time.

The National Leader of All Peoples Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has openly extended an invitation to you to join the Party.

In light of your status as an international human rights icon, would you accept that offer to join party politics?

On account of ideological irreconcilability, I can never join the APC. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu knows that, I am totally opposed to the economic and political programmes of the APC. Hence, when the regime tried to sell the nation’s shares in the NLNG, one of the most successful business outfits in Africa, I threatened to sue the Government. I have just dragged the NNPC to court, to justify billions of dollars allegedly being spent on fuel importation, because the figures do not add up.

Regrettably, Nigerians do not appreciate the mental agony I am going through, under the Buhari administration.

Under the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta, I secured the release of many people, who were detained under the obnoxious State Security Detention of Persons Decree No 2 of 1984. The court orders were obeyed. But under the current APC Government, headed by President Buhari, the Federal High Court, ordered the release of Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife on December 2, 2016. Without any reason, the order has been ignored.

In 2014, the PDP-led government, used soldiers to terrorise voters In Ekiti state. Embarrassed by the criminal behaviour, the Army investigated the incident, and dismissed the officers who were indicted. We have won legal battles, against the deployment of soldiers during elections. I have just confirmed, that the Army will be deployed for the Ekiti State Gubernatorial election next month. Since I have serious objections to such policies of the APC-led Government, I am unable to persuade myself to join the party.

You just turned 60. Happy 60th Birthday Sir. You must have had certain expectations, as a young Nigerian growing up. Would you say Nigeria has met those your expectations or are disillusioned with the country?

Our dreams have been shattered, by the recklessness of selfish and shortsighted ruling class. But, instead of agonising, I have decided to organise patriotic forces to mobilise our people to take their destiny in their own hands, in all aspects of our national life. In a country where the life span is 51 years, I believe that I am lucky to be alive. Having regard to the risks that I have taken in life, particularly under murderous military dictators I have been extremely lucky to be around. Hence, I have to rededicate myself to the struggle for the transformation of our society, from poverty to prosperity, and from liberal democracy to popular democracy.

More importantly, having found that the ruling class parties are not prepared to advance the democratic struggle, we have just the established the Popular Alternative Movement, to challenge the status quo. One of our basic objectives, is to defend all the welfare laws in the country, including the Minimum Wage Act, Compulsory, Free and Basic Education Act, Peoples Bank Act, Pension Reforms Act, Nigerian Education Bank Act, Tetfund Act, etc. To start with, we are going to publish the list of State Governments, who have refused to access the N67 billion in the UB E Account, and the public institutions that have not accessed over N500 billion in the TETFUND Account. It is our belief that, if social welfare is well funded, there will be little or no money, to steal.

There appears to be discordant tunes in the human rights community today, and the

“OUR DREAMS HAVE BEEN SHATTERED, BY THE RECKLESSNESS OF THE SELFISH AND SHORTSIGHTED RULING CLASS. BUT, INSTEAD OF AGONISING, I HAVE DECIDED TO ORGANISE PATRIOTIC FORCES, TO MOBILISE OUR PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR DESTINY IN THEIR OWN HANDS, IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE”

trenches are virtually empty. What went wrong? Why have human rights defenders lost their steam? Has Nigeria reached the human rights Eldorado?

The trenches are not empty. Under military rule, the Constitution was replaced with Martial Law, while the jurisdiction of the courts was ousted.

The Judiciary did not help matters, as those of us who challenged dictatorial tendencies, corrupt practices, and brutal killings by military dictators were labelled as meddlesome interlopers. Every public interest case, was stuck out for want of locus standi. But, the situation has changed to some extent. It has to be realised that, the anachronistic doctrine of locus standi has been abolished, in the area of human rights. Section 51 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, has clothed every concerned Nigerian with locus standi, to challenge the violation of budget laws and the mismanagement of the economy. The Freedom of Information Act has empowered Nigerians, to ask for public records, and thereby, promote public accountability. I handled the case of IGP v ANPP decided in December 2007, wherein the Court of Appeal upheld the fundamental rights of Nigerians, to protest against the Government without police permit.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, has revolutionised the criminal justice system in a way that the brutalisation of Nigerians by security forces, has been outlawed, while no citizen can be detained without a court order.

With the expansion of the democratic space, it is much easier to demand for the rights of our oppressed people. It is certainly not an Eldorado yet. Or as they say in East Africa, it is not yet Uhuru. Even though we are not in the promised land yet, we have left Egypt.

Regrettably, we are fighting local anti- democratic forces and economic buccaneers, who are aided by imperialism. Hence, we have to return to the trenches as soon as possible. Otherwise, the unabated killings in the various parts of the country, may culminate in a civil war of genocidal proportions.

You were quoted as saying that the Senate has no power to summon the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris. Why did you say that, since the Senate has oversight powers over public officers?

I didn't say that the Inspector-General of Police, could not be summoned by the Senate. I was greatly misunderstood.

My position is that, it is well stated in Section 88 of the Constitution, that the oversight powers of the National Assembly, is subject to other provisions of the Constitution. Consequently, the so-called oversight functions of the National Assembly, cannot be extended to summoning a Judge to discuss cases being tried in court. Hence, I kicked against the decision of the Senate to summon the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, over the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

With respect, I insist that the Inspector-General of Police, cannot be summoned to justify the decision to file criminal charges against a Senator or any citizen for that matter. By virtue of Section 67 of the Constitution, the President may decide to address the National Assembly members. They cannot summon the President,

but Ministers can be summoned, if and only when the affairs of their Ministries are being deliberated upon. For instance, the Ministers of Interior and Defence, ought to have been summoned to brief the Senate on the killings in the country. Other public officers, can only be summoned for the purpose of enabling them to enact a law or conduct an investigation, with a view to exposing corruption. There are not less than 5 judicial authorities on the matter, wherein the extent of the power of legislative houses to summon public officers and members of the public, has been clearly defined and explained.

Similarly, the courts have also ruled that, the National Assembly lacks the power to review or debate cases, that are pending in courts. With respect to the IGP, the Senate ought not have invited him, to debate the case of Senator Dino Melaye. The Senate could have summoned him, to justify the alleged mismanagement of the funds earmarked to maintain law and order in the country, having regard to the increasing wave of killings. The purpose would have been, to expose corruption.

He could also have been validly summoned to a public hearing, to amend the Police Act with a view to repositioning the Nigeria Police Force, to halting the civil disturbances in the country.

Some Lawyers have argued that the fact that Chapter 2 which provides for the objectives of Government, is not justiceable, is an impediment to Government’s accountability to the people and the progress of Nigeria.

What can be done?

There are other ways to make Government accountable, through other legislation. Take for example, education. Section 15 of the Child Rights Act provides that, it shall be duty of Government to put every child in school from primary to junior secondary. That is, the first nine years.

As of today, only Rivers and Borno States, have accessed the fund up to 2016. Other States and the Federal Capital Territory, have about N67 billion, lying fallow in the Central Bank, because they refused to contribute counterpart funding.

Today, Nigeria has the largest number of children in the world, eligible for school, on the streets, that is, 11.5 million.

But could that not also be due to insurgency?

Because the entire North East, there are almost no schools now Not at all! Not at all! In fact, the Child’s Rights Law adopted by the States, the entire 17 States in the South have adopted that law, which was a Federal enactment. Only about 8 states in the North, making 25 States that have adopted the law. 11 States have refused to adopt it, either for religious reasons or other excuses.

Meanwhile, all the Governors and all other top public officers in the States, are all educating their children in top private schools either in Nigeria or abroad, because they want them to have the best education. But for the children of the poor, well they can just be on the streets.

So part of what we are planning to do, is to get these States, and find out where the children of the Governors, Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries are going to school. Unless you do that, there is no way we are going to make progress.

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Now, the National Health Act provides that, the Federal Government shall contribute 1% of its consolidated revenue to the funding of health. But, that is a tip of the iceberg. What is 1%? So, we are going to go into that battle to say ‘No, you are going to increase it, to at least 15% as recommended by WHO’.

We are also going to get the States, to contribute. Because, if you get 15% of your annual budget for health all over the country, we can fix our hospitals.

I have a case right now in court, to challenge the medical treatment of top public officers abroad, serving or retired. I lost the case at the High Court, on the ground that I had no locus standi. The case is on appeal.

What the court was saying was that, ‘No, this is Chapter Two, and its not justiciable’. But, the Judge cleverly avoided interpreting Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, which has guaranteed everybody’s access to health. And the law is enforceable in Nigeria.

I also have a couple of authorities, where the courts have upheld the rights of prisoners under Section 16, to be given specialist treatment. In Port Harcourt, because they had HIV, they just dumped them in prison. The Human Rights Commission went to court, and the court held ‘No, you must take them to Specialist Hospitals, and you must treat them at your own expense’.

We also have a judgement of the ECOWAS Court and the Federal High Court, to the effect that every Nigerian child must be put in school.

If not for Lawyers like you, the ECOWAS Court would have become redundant and gone into oblivion. You were amongst the few who approached the court in its infancy.

Nigerians ignored that court when it was set up.

It’s not just approaching the court. When I was the President of the West African Bar Association, we campaigned for the expansion of the mandate of the court.

Otherwise the court was redundant?

Yes. Completely redundant for four years.

But, now, it is very active and effective. Nigerian Lawyers now go there to file cases Oh yes! Now, I am handling cases for Burkina Faso. I have handled cases for Niger. I have handled cases against Ghana.

Right now I have two cases there, for people in Sierra Leone, victims of human rights abuses. I am also representing people in a community in Liberia. So, we are there.

Were you finally persuaded to abandon your case against the Federal Government which you filed when you fell into a manhole and sustained injuries?

No, no! its pending in court.

They had met me. They came to my office to apologise. But, the case is still in court. It hasn’t been withdrawn.

What really happened?

Very close to my office, I fell into an uncovered manhole. There are actually very many like that in Abuja. I landed in the hospital and was on admission for two days, and many people were saying ‘We thank God for you.’ I said ‘yes, we thank God’, but I went to court, to prevent this from happening to other people.

What do you think about of Olisa Metuh and his attempt to travel for treatment and the court refusing him?

The case is pending in court, so I cannot comment on it.

But three times the court has refused the application. What is expected, is for his Lawyers to go on appeal against the ruling of the High Court. If it’s genuinely established that he requires medical treatment abroad, of course, its almost automatic. Because, he has to be alive to stand his trial.

But, if as the court suspects, that his health situation can be addressed locally, there is nothing anybody can do about that.

The only thing Mr. Metuh and his Lawyers can do, is challenge the ruling of the court.

I have handled a case in which, my client got an order of a Lagos High Court to travel abroad for treatment. He had cancer of the colon. But, for reasons best known to the Judge, he frustrated his travelling abroad. So, what I did, was to request the prison authorities to take him abroad, to the United Kingdom for treatment. The prison refused, and we filed a fresh case at the Federal High Court, suing the Government to either treat him abroad or allow him treat himself abroad. The court granted it, because he had to be alive to stand trial. That was the case of SUNDAY ADEYEMI v ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION. In fairness to Adoke, the then AGF, upon establishing that the man had cancer, he didn’t oppose it. He instructed his Lawyers, not to oppose the application.

The man was allowed to travel abroad, but he couldn’t cope.

The cancer had reached very advanced stages, so he was asked to come back, and he died shortly thereafter. Luckily for the Judge, the family was not prepared to pursue the matter. They could have sued the Judge, and also petitioned the NJC against the judge.

What do you think about the judgement in Justice Nganjiwa’s case, about how petitions against Judges must first go through the NJC? I wrote an opinion on it, criticising the judgement. Contrary to the general feeling of our colleagues and the Judges, that the judgement is not helpful. This is why.

If Justice Ademola had been taken to the NJC on the basis of those allegations against him, that border on criminality, there was no way the NJC would not have dismissed him, and recommended him for prosecution.

But, he was taken to court and discharged and acquitted. He thereafter, retired. So, I have that problem with the judgement.

But, I also have my own problem with the class perspective.

I criticise any judgement, that tends to create a special class of people in the country. If you do not ask Lawyers to be taken to the Disciplinary Committee of the Bar before they are taken to court, you don’t ask Doctors to be taken to the Disciplinary Committee

“MEANWHILE, ALL THE GOVERNORS AND ALL OTHER TOP PUBLIC OFFICERS IN THE STATES, ARE ALL EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN IN TOP PRIVATE SCHOOLS EITHER IN NIGERIA OR ABROAD, BECAUSE THEY WANT THEM TO HAVE THE BEST EDUCATION. BUT FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE POOR, WELL THEY CAN JUST BE ON THE STREETS” of Dental and Medical Council before being arraigned in court, you cannot single out Judges for special favour or protection.

However, happily the NJC now is currently attending to the petition by the EFCC, in respect of the Judges that are affected.

But, I do hope that the Supreme Court will look at the judgement, and consider all the implications and the embarrassment that the judgement has attracted.

But, the impression has been given, that the Judiciary was out to protect its own, which I don’t think is fair. This is contrary to the allegations that, the Judiciary was covering up corruption. I think the Judiciary deserves a pat on the back. Since the Administration of Criminal Justice Act came into force, the Judiciary has been up and doing, in dealing with cases of corruption.

Some of our colleagues who benefit maximally through delay tactics and all manner of procedures of interlocutory applications, are now fighting back, by saying, rather erroneously that Section 308 of ACJA is unconstitutional, because it has abolished the stay of proceedings. You can’t stay proceedings in the Magistrate Court! Nobody goes to the Magistrate Court, to ask for stay of proceedings, where the poor are being tried daily.

This procedure, was extended to criminal cases by Nigerian senior Lawyers.

There is no country in the world, where you stay the hands of the State, to try a criminal suspect! It’s a Nigerian phenomenon.

Nowhere in the world!

In fact there was a VIP in Nigeria, who was said to have had no case to answer. But the same person, pleaded guilty to the same charges in the United Kingdom! Before he pleaded guilty, he asked one of his Lawyers, to challenge one of the interlocutory applications and ask for stay of proceedings. And they told him, ‘You are not in Nigeria! You can’t do that here, we’ll run into trouble’.

So, we must get to that stage, where Lawyers are penalised for frivolous applications. The Supreme Court, has begun that practice, of asking Lawyers to pay heavy damages for wasting the time of the court. Unless you do, all manners of frivolous applications will continue to be filed in our courts, and to expose the Judiciary to ridicule. I think we are making progress.

How about the judgement given in Dr Nwobike’s case?

Some have said it was too lenient, while others have argued that it doesn’t matter. That even if it’s one day in jail, it serves the same purpose.

I belong to the latter group. Here is a country where senior Lawyers, like VIPs, can get away with any form of criminality.

It’s an old colonial system, which confers immunity on fat cats!

Nothing happens to them. Whereas, in the West, in advanced capitalist societies, pray that you are not caught. Once you commit what Professor Akin Oyebode refers to as the 11th Commandment of the Bourgeoisie, ‘Thou shall not be caught’, once you are caught, the system deals with you, whoever you are! And it has given the impression that nobody is above the law.

A sitting President in the United States, or a Prime Minister in the United Kingdom, would hire Lawyers for a family member or friend, to go through criminal trial once they are caught. But here, before the criminal suspect is taken to a police station, calls are coming from the highest quarters in the country, asking the Commissioner of Police to leave the person alone. ‘Oh it's my cousin, it's my nephew!’ It’s a way of asking you, to confer immunity on the person. That happens in Nigeria, every day.

So, if we are now having a situation, where senior Lawyers and senior Politicians are being convicted, I think the Judiciary should be commended.

Take the case of Governor Nyame, for instance. The case was suspended for ten years. In the case of FEDERAL REPUBIC OF NIGERIA v MOHAMMED ABACHA, that case was suspended for 14 years. At the end of the 14 year period, the witnesses could no longer be located. The Judge had been promoted, so the State had to withdraw the charges.

That is what some of our colleagues, are calling for now. They have begun a campaign, for the restoration of stay of proceedings.

With profound respect, I think they are living in the past.

The EFCC has just announced that they have secured over 600 convictions in the last three years. Without stay of proceedings being abolished, that would have been impossible.

Look at the case of all these Bank Executives, because you know a criminal case requires urgent attention, the witnesses have to be made available at the expense of the State. The trial Judge may be promoted or may retire, so, you cannot ask the State to suspend the trial of anybody. Whereas, if you are tried, and you are dissatisfied with the judgement of the court, you can pursue an appeal. But, to say at interlocutory stage, don’t try the person, you bring all manner of any frivolous application.

Once a ruling is given, you then pursue it to the highest court of the land, while the trial is stayed. It’s not helpful to the society.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

12/COVER ‘I CAN NEVER JOIN APC’

05.06.2018 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Even to the accused person, because you must know your fate.

What do you think about the state of the nation generally? As somebody who was close to late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, do you think that he would have had issues that he would go to court on? Or the state of the nation is satisfactory?

Chief Fawehinmi would certainly have gone to court to challenge many, many illegalities that are going on. And I can say with pride, that the progressive extraction of the human rights community, is challenging a lot of those illegalities.

For instance, I have a case pending in court, designed to compel the Government to stop the killings by ensuring that ranches are established in those States that have livestock. Because it is primitive in this age and time, to bring cattle from Sokoto to Lagos to Calabar, Enugu on foot. It is unacceptable. Again, contrary to the misleading claim of certain people in Government, it is not our culture. The Ahmadu Bello regime, in the 1950s, had a ranch in Mokwa now Niger State.

The Obafemi Awolowo regime, had a ranch in Akunu now in Ondo State. There was a ranch in Obudu, Cross River State. We all grew up to know Obudu Cattle Ranch. Now, Obudu Cattle Ranch established in 1951 by Europeans has now been converted to Obudu Holiday Resort. And so everybody in the East now, will have to depend on Cattle brought from Niger or Sokoto or Katsina. It’s primitive. In fact, it’s the height of primitivity.

Right now, the Kano State Government has ranches. The Nigerian Army has a ranch in Giri in the Federal Capital Territory. So, it is not a strange phenomenon. It is not rocket science to manage animals, and get to produce meat and milk. Botswana is the most successful experiment in Africa. It has a population of about 1.2 million people and a cattle population of 2.8 million.

Because of the management of ranches, Botswana is the largest producer of meat in Africa and the largest exporter of meat in this continent.

This regime has embraced ranches since 2016, and has gone ahead to acquire 55,000 hectares of land from 11 States. But, what has happened? The Jonathan regime accepted ranches, sent young men and women to Botswana to learn the development of ranches. About N100 billion was released to some State Governments to establish ranches. We can’t find the ranches, the money has disappeared!

So, when people give the impression that it is impossible to stop these killings, I’m amazed.

Hence, I have gone to court.

Curiously, the office of the Attorney-General has challenged my locus standi to insist that killing be stopped in our country.

Why? Are you not a Nigerian citizen Sir? I’m not just a Nigerian citizen. I also fight to defend the rights of Nigerians, including the human right to life. So, these problems are not insurmountable. I am worried about that and of course, Chief Gani Fawehinmi would have been in the forefront of the movement to stop the killings.

Do you think the Government is doing enough to stop the killings? What is your opinion about the IG? For me, the Government has not gone enough.

Having agreed that the best way to address this problem, is to have ranches. You cannot be toying and talking of cattle colony and other irrelevant, very dangerous and provocative policies. Joking about killings in the country.

I feel honestly, that State Governments have more responsibility towards the maintenance of law and order, than the Federal Government.

Every month, hundreds of millions are taken from the public treasury in the name of ‘security vote’ by every State Governor. What happened to the funds, if we are not secure? Not less than 300 people have been arrested by the Police and the Army, in Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, and Zamfara States. It is not the business of the Federal Government, to prosecute anyone for culpable homicide or murder, in any part of the country. I was compelled 3 months ago, to request the NBA which decided to waste time and resources, to investigate killings in Benue, to get our colleagues who are Attorneys-General in those States and all over the country, to prosecute suspects and all murder suspects that have been arrested by the Police. My letter has not been acknowledged.

So, while people are shouting themselves hoarse over Restructuring, I simply laugh.

What are you doing with the limited powers granted you by the Constitution? Why must I, as a State Attorney- General, ask Abuja to prosecute in my State?

I was compelled recently, to call my colleague,

the Honourable Attorney-General of Rivers State, Chinwe Aguma, SAN, to ask him why his State Government is wasting so much money on advertisements? You are advertising to me, that a Police man has committed serious criminal offences in your State. I can’t understand it.

“Why are you advertising, when you should file a charge against him?” That is what the law requires. That is what the Constitution says. And someone told me that “oh, he may not show up in court!” I beg your pardon.

Issue a Bench Warrant Issue a Bench Warrant. Nobody is above the law.

My Sister, do you know that the EFCC, the ICPC, have to apply for the fiat of Attorneys-General of the States, to prosecute cases of corruption and financial and economic crimes? I have advised a couple of Attorneys-General, why are you giving fiat to the EFCC? Why are you not prosecuting those who have looted the treasury of your State?

And you are talking of Federalism? We are not getting it right. But, all of us, indolently blame this Federal Government, for killings in our State. For the looting of State treasury, EFCC doesn’t have up to 5,000 staff. So, we expect that agency, to perform miracles by catching every in every Local Government in Nigeria?

It’s stupid! We are not serious.

For me, I feel we must reorganise the NBA. Unlike any of the human rights organisation in the country, the NBA has about 125 branches spread across Nigeria. Each of those branches, has a human rights committee. But with profound respect, none has taken out anybody from illegal detention, in the last 10 years or so. Section 34 of the ACJA provides that on a monthly basis, Magistrates designated by the Chief Judges of the States shall conduct a visitation to every police station in every State. I drew the attention of the Bar leadership to this Section. Nobody was interested. So, I have had to write letters to Chief Judges to appoint, to designate the Magistrates, and the response has been very wonderful.

In the case of Lagos State, the Magistrates have been appointed. We have just been requested now, to nominate the human rights Defenders that will accompany those Magistrates during those visits.

If you can get the NBA to get involved in this crusade, we are going to reduce very significantly, the illegal and incessant arrests and detention, of innocent people in our country. Instead of accusing the Government of corruption and not respecting human rights, most Governments in the world are corrupt, including the US Government.

But, what are we doing as Lawyers, as Press people who are positioned to expose corruption and fight it? Before the establishment of the EFCC and the ICPC, the media alone was fighting corruption in Nigeria. I’m talking of the days of “If you Tarka me, I will Daboh you”. The media would feast on the corrupt government officials, and until you resigned, the media would not let go. Now, we have more opportunities to fight corruption, the whistle blowing policy, with the Freedom of Information Act, and with the fact that you have agencies that can be compelled to fight corruption, I would think we will need to take the Bar out of the tiny grip of status quo Lawyers who simply want to mark time, and enhance their CVs.

“NO! NO! THE MEMBERS OF THE RULING CLASS EXPLOIT RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC ISSUES, MANIPULATIONS TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE DIVIDED. IF OUR COUNTRY IS GOVERNED PROPERLY, WHO CARES WHERE YOU COME FROM?” So, you do not agree that we have a ‘Brave New Bar’ Sir? This Bar? In fairness to our colleagues, I think majority of Lawyers in Nigeria have not familiarised themselves with the history of the Bar. The time it was under a murderous military junta, when the Bar spoke for Nigerians. It is very common these days, to talk of disobedience to court orders. Under a military dictator, the late Alao Aka Bashorun, as President of the Bar, pulled out all Nigerian Lawyers from the court, to protest against a disobedience to one court order. Now, nobody bothers. It has become part of our life. We are even trying to tell our colleagues now, to appreciate that Section 84 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act that allows impunity by asking you to obtain the fiat of an Attorney-General you have defeated in court, before you can garnishee the account of the Government, has been done away with. In a judgement delivered by the Supreme Court in December last year, the court had the opportunity to review that Section, and held that you do not need the permission of an Attorney-General who is a party to a case. You have defeated the man in court, you then go and beg him, “can I collect my money?” It’s so odious. The Supreme Court said, it was against the tenets of natural justice.

Learned Senior Advocate, what do you think of the new ‘Not too Young to Run’ Law? I heard a Lawyer in an interview say that the Law is seen by some as a bid by old Politicians, to pave the way for their children to take over, as not many young people who are not connected in high places, can muster the finances and resources required to run for elective office?

We have to be fair. Proponents of the Bill. It has nothing to do with Politicians. Youths felt they were being short changed. For instance, in my generation, those who ruled us when we were in the primary school, have come back to rule us 30 years later. So, people now felt since this people are not going to retire, we need young people to be allowed to participate in the politics of the country. But for me, it is not about age. There are very reactionary young people, and there very progressive old men and women. So, ideas are not the exclusive preserve of any age bracket. Which us why all the ethnic groups in Nigeria, have a proverb to the effect that you need the young and the old, that you need the experience of the old and the agility of the young to run a good society.

Sir, many believe that this Government is tribalistic, and that today, more than ever before in Nigeria, tribal sentiments and division are present. Do you believe this?

No! No! The members of the ruling class exploit religious and ethnic issues, manipulations to keep our people divided. If our country is governed properly, who cares where you come from? Go and look at the list of our young men who are going for the World Cup, most of them are from the East. If they bring the glory glory to the country, if they win the cup, everybody will be on the street jubilating.

Notwithstanding the composition of the Government which I’m not supporting, because it is against Section 14 of the Constitution, if the country had been properly managed and governed well, and there is national prosperity as envisaged by the Constitution, and our Government exists to promote the security and welfare of Nigerians, nobody would have been bothered.

But, in criticising the Government over its composition, we must be very careful that we don’t join members of the ruling class to feather their nests. What I mean is that, the Government, the ethnic champions are calling for, is a Government that will be peopled by members of their own class in other parts of the country.

It’s not about more women in the Government, not about young people in the Government, not about workers in the Government. They are not calling for a Government led by workers. Let the women or the young people who constitute the majority of our people. They simply want a Government that will have the representatives of the members of the ruling class.

Has anybody complained, over the criminal allocation of oil wells to a few people from all over the regions? Section 16 of the Constitution provides that, the wealth of Nigeria shall not be concentrated in the hands of a few, and that the commanding heights of the economy, shall be managed by the Government exclusively. Today, the Government gives me an oil block, without any technical expertise or how to contribute, using that oil block for national development.

What do I do? I call a Chinese or a European.

Please, this oil block has been leased to me, I want to sub-lease it to you for $2 billion. I have only paid $50 million signature bonus; and I get paid. I become an instant billionaire.

Some of them have even insulted our collective intelligence by saying, “Yes, I have made the money. I don’t know what to do with it”. Yet, State Governments cannot pay salaries of workers.

The Federal and State Governments, cannot equip our hospitals, our roads are not fixed, yet, we are enriching a few people at the expense of all of us. I have challenged State Governments, “why are you not asking for oil blocks, so that you too can go and sub-lease them, so that you can have more money to run your States?” But, instead of doing that, majority of them would prefer to be the owners of the oil blocks, and not their people.

So, when you run a Government and people say my tribespeople are not in Government, I just laugh. It’s meaningless. I was reading the Paper this morning - Christian Association of Nigeria saying that Christians have been killed. So, no Muslims have been killed? More Muslims have not been killed by the Boko Haram Sect? Why are you talking about the religion or the ethnicity of a citizen that has been killed? Even the media, why are you reporting “oh, 17 Catholics killed, 50 worshippers killed?” Those 50 worshippers have no religion? Why don’t we just simply report that 17 Nigerians have been murdered by criminals? 50 Nigerians have been wiped out of existence, so that we can collectively fight the killers? That’s my way of looking at the ethnicisation of Government.

Under the Obasanjo Government, there were people in the South saying that, majority of those that were holding senior Ministerial positions were from the East, because the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Trade & Investment, Governor of Central Bank were all from there. But, in what way has the quality of life of an average Igbo person improved? Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was President of Nigeria for 8 years, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway became a death trap! The Lags-Abeokuta Road, was impassable. President Jonathan governed the country for over 5 years, the quality of the life of an average person in Niger Delta has not improved. At the end of President Buhari’s Administration, you may have more poor people in North than other parts of the country. This people are criticising Buhari’s Government for its lopsided composition, they are not speaking for the masses of our people. So, how can I join them?

Again, we wish you Happy 60th Birthday Sir. Thank you.

05.06.2018

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05.06.2018

NBA-SBL Set to Deliver World-Class Conference in Abuja Stories by Jude Igbanoi The Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Business Law, has concluded plans to avail Nigerian Lawyers of an A- Class Conference in Abuja from June 27 – 29, 2018 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Speaking to a cross section of the media last Thursday at Westwood Hotel, Lagos, the Conference Planning Committee chairman, Mr. Okey Egbuchu, said the12th Annual Business Law Conference of the NBA, would beat previous standards of the Conference series.

Chairman NBA-SBL, Mr. Olumide Akpata, told newsmen that this year’s conference will focus on Africa with the theme ‘Bringing Down the Barriers -The Law as a Vehicle for Intra – Africa Trade’.

CPC Chairman, Egbuchu further said “The theme is in fact, an inspired one. When the Chairman of the NBA - SBL told me to focus on Africa and come up with suitable themes, we did not realise then, that the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) was only a few months from reality. Indeed, I had never heard of it. Here we are today; it is the major economic topic in Africa. “Africa does more business with other continents than within, thereby limiting her potential. Fears have been expressed by stakeholders, not only in Nigeria, but other countries, in respect of the AfCFTA regarding issues of dumping, limitation of the ability to manage tariffs, loss of revenue, influx of

persons and so on. In fact, Nigeria tactically withdrew from signing the AfCFTA, due to the concerns expressed by stakeholders like organised labour and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.�

The Chairman also maintained that, the Federal Government is currently engaging stakeholders, and that they have provided platforms at the Conference for the Federal Government, the African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and other African countries, to dialogue with stakeholders on the AfCFTA and more.

According to him, these issues will, in the main, be discussed in sessions 1 and 4 of the Conference. “This is a Lawyers’ Conference, and expectedly we have a special plenary session for the profession with the topic – ‘Law Practice in the time of the African Continental Free Trade Area: Reimagining African Lawyers’. We, the Lawyers, will examine the opportunities available for us when the AfCFTA takes effect. Many African Law Societies, have been invited to join us in the discussion. Speakers and Panelists from all over the world, sourced from the governments, corporates, the regional bodies like ECOWAS, the Law firms and Law societies and other professions, will do justice to the many topics spanning twelve sessions.

He therefore, mentioned some of the Speakers that have been invited to speak, and also addressed those present, of the entertainment segment of the event.

L-R: Chinyere Okorocha, Fund Raising Committee Chair of SBL, Mr. Seni Adio SAN, SBL Vice Chairman, Olumide Akpata, SBL Chairman, and Okey Egbuchu, Chairman, 2018 Conference Planning Committee

“Some of these Speakers are: George Lipimile, the Czar of the COMESA Competition Commission, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, Nigeria’s Chief Trade Negotiator, Dr Stephen Karingi, Director, Regional Integration and Trade Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Chief Chidi Ajaegbu, Founder and Chairman, Chisco Transport Limited, Samallie Kiyingi, General Counsel, Africa Export-Import Bank, Haresh Aswani, Managing Director, Tolaram Group, Nigeria, Linus Gitali, Executive Chairman, Tropikal Brands (Africa)

NBA Eket Law Week: Democracy can only be Deepened, if built on Strong Institutions Last week, Nigerian Bar Association, Eket Branch, at its Annual Law Week, called for mutual respect among the three arms of Government, as they exercise constitutional powers, stating that, it is only the exercise of such powers within the ambit of the law, that promotes and deepens democracy in the country. This was at the lecture in honour of the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke.

Discussants at the lecture stated that, “Democracy has thus, become known to be the moral and legitimate way, by which a society can be ruled. In theory, there is an inextricable connection between democracy and good governance. This is so, because, democracy provides the template for a ‘free’ and egalitarian society, built around strong institutions, rather than men or group of men.

This paper, critically interrogated democratic rule in Nigeria from 1999 to date. It identified the benefits, as well as constraints. Corruption and lack of enthronement of respect for rule of law, appear to be the most challenging.

In his welcome address, Chairman NBA Eket Branch, Mr. Udoh Dick A. Imeh, stated that Eket Bar has a very rich tradition of excellence, and the 2018 Bar week would not be an exception. “ We have moulded topics that should be of interest to the Governments, Federal, State and Local, and every peaceful and progressive Nigerian, and indeed, the world at large. “Eket Branch does not intend to surrender its enviable position in the State, to any other Branch. In real terms, Eket Bar has always been looking down, to see if there is any other Branch in the country trying to meet up its standard�.

He stated the Branch had decided to honour the Speaker with a public lecture, in recognition of his contributions to the development of Akwa Ibom State and Eket Branch of the NBA in particular.

In his Keynote Lecture in honour of the Speaker with the theme: “Democracy in Nigeria 1999-2018: Lessons and Challenges�, former General Secretary of the NBA, Chief Ememka Obegolu who was represented at the event

by Mr. Nnamdi Innocent Ezeh, stated that �

Democracy has become the most fashionable and enduring form of government in modern times.

L-R: Mr. Innocent Nnamdi Ezeh, Chairman NBA Eket, Mr. UDA Imeh, Speaker Luke OnoďŹ ok, Justice Nsemeke Daniel, Mr. Francis Ekanem, Rt. Hon. Ekong Sampson representing Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel and Mrs. Gloria Etim at the event

He said: “Indeed, there is no other alternative to democracy. Democracy has thus become known to be the moral and legitimate way, by which a society can be ruled. In theory, there is an inextricable connection between democracy and good governance. This is so, because, democracy provides the template for a ‘free’ and egalitarian society, built around

strong institutions, rather than men or a group of men. “Unless and until all the three arms of government, are allowed to exercise their powers within their limits, and those powers are duly respected by other arms, we are not there yet in the practice of democracy and its norms in Nigeria� , Obegolu stated.

Limited from Kenya, Yemi Candide-Johnson, SAN, President of the Lagos Court of Arbitration. It would not be a Lawyer’s Conference without some controversy, and hence, we have assembled eight legal pugilists to slug it out in a debate session. “After the debate session, we will rock the closing party featuring Davido. Over the years, our Conferences have not only been talkshops, as we always ensure that there are tangible outcomes.

Sessions:r #SJOHJOH %PXO UIF #BSSJFST 5IF -BX as a Vehicle for Intra-Africa Trade. r 'JOBODJOH *OUSB "GSJDBO 5SBEF BOE Development for all the momentum towards Africa as a single trading bloc, trade and business activities need massive financing. r $POUJOFOUBM 5SBEF BOE UIF *NQFSBUJWF of Unimpeded Movement of Goods, Labour and Services. r &OIBODJOH 5SBOTQPSU $POOFDUJWFMZ in Africa Transport connectively within Africa remains a weak pillar of support for continental trade.

Marching in Lockstep - Building SubNational Competitiveness for Global Investment. r "G$'5" BOE 5SBOTGPSNBUJWF *OEVTUSJalisation in Nigeria. r -BX 1SBDUJDF JO UIF UJNF PG UIF "GSJDBO Continental Free Trade Area: Reimagining African Lawyers. r 4UBOEBSEJTJOH $POUJOFOUBM 3FHVMBUJPOT on Consumer Protection and Competition Law. r &OBCMJOH F$PNNFSDF BDSPTT UIF "GSJDBO Continent. r *OTUJUVUJPOBMJTJOH 3FGPSNT JO UIF &BTF of Doing Business in Africa. r &TUBCMJTIJOH B 'SBNFXPSL GPS SFTPMWJOH Intra-African r $PNNFSDJBM %JTQVUFT The Debate 1. Should Nigeria accede to the African Continental Free Trade Area?

2. Should Lawyers continue to selfregulate?

3. Pupillage in Law: Should it be mandatory?

4. Should there be “Ladies� at the Bar?

INDUSTRIAL COURT DISMISSES SUIT CHALLENGING REGISTRATION OF TRICYCLE OWNERS oral adumbration and the authorities cited by counsel, Justice Oji held that since the 1st Claimant, from whom the rights of the 2nd to 4th Claimants emanate, is an Association registered under Part C of CAMA, though has capacity to sue and to be sued, but does not have capacity to sue before the National Industrial Court.

According to the Judge, by the provision of entire Section 254C of the 1999 Constitution, the provision envisaged that parties before the court, must be persons deriving rights as listed and as constituting the jurisdiction of the court. “Claimants derive their status under the

Companies and Allied Matters Act, which this court has not been vested with jurisdiction to implement; unless as persons created by the Act, but deriving rights and obligations as may have been determined by the Constitution (particularly Section 245C or any Act of the National Assembly)�, she held.

Justice Oji further held that, the Claimants ought to have challenged the registration of the 4th Defendant before the Registrar of Trade Unions, before coming to court, but they failed to do so, because there was no evidence before the Court that such step was taken by the Claimants. “This suit is therefore, premature, and this

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

court lacks jurisdiction to entertain this suit.

I therefore, hold that this Court does not have jurisdiction to hear this suit. “In the circumstances of findings made in this suit, this suit is liable to be dismissed, and is hereby dismissed. I make no order as to cost�, Justice Oji held.

TOAN Executives, including the Acting Chairman Lagos Chapter, Chief Tunji Oyeniyi, Comrade Pius Bamgbelu, State Secretary and Comrade Olatunji Okunola, State’s Public Relations Officer, said the judgement has reinstated confidence in them, that truly the court is indeed the last hope of the common man.

05.06.2018

/15

THE CANVASS MICHAEL NUMA

michaelnuma@thecanvasscolumn.com

AG’s Consent Pursuant to Section 84(1) of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act: Did the CBN v INTERSTELLA Decision Nullify this Pre-Condition?

E

nforcement of Monetary Judgements vide Garnishee Proceedings against State entities especially monies considered to be in custody of a Public Officer, has been a mirage; leaving Judgement Creditors helpless after the rigours of obtaining judgement, usually through a feisty contested and protracted litigation.

Section 84(1) of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act Cap S6 2004 (SCPA), which provides that unless consent is first sought and obtained from the appropriate officer, an order nisi for attachment of money in custody of a public officer, cannot be granted.

The appropriate officer in this context, is the respective Attorney-General of the Federation, or that of the State. There have been divergent views, as well as conflicting decisions of the Court of Appeal, on the constitutionality or otherwise of this Section which tends to deprive Judgement Creditors of the fruit of their judgement.

This column attempts to analyse the applicability of this provision, vis-à-vis the recent decision of the Supreme Court in CBN v INTERSTELLA COMMUNICATIONS LTD (2017) SC/500/2014 delivered on the 15th of December, 2017.

Historical Background The pre-condition created under Section 84 of the SCPA has a common law root. The general common law position, in order to protect the State, used to be that “the King does no wrong”, which is expressed in the latin maxim, “Rex non protest pecarre”. The trend inherent in this principle, was that no country allowed execution of judgements against the State. It was also the law then under that principle, that the State could not be sued in tort. Courts were then regarded as the King’s Court, hence, the Crown enjoyed immunity from legal actions.

In 1958, the said principle was translocated into Nigeria by virtue of Section 45(1) of the Interpretation Act, Cap 89, LFN 1958. The principle was still the law in Nigeria, even though it had been abolished in England by the promulgation of the Crown Proceedings Act, 1947.

The principle of State immunity from tortious liability, was codified to be part of Nigerian law by virtue of the Petition of Rights Act, Cap 149 as amended in 1964. This explains how the common law principle prevailed. The idea is that, in a bid to protect the State, individuals cannot enforce judgements against the King in his own court without the consent of the Attorney-General. This trend persisted up till 1979, when the 1979 Constitution came into effect. In this current constitutional dispensation, the provision of the Petition of Rights Act, to the extent that it purports to prevent an aggrieved party from taking direct action in court against the State, is in conflict

Ogunbiyi JSC (Retired) held thus: “ ... It is well and explicit on the facts of this case, that the AGF has all along held out himself to be an active participant in several stages of negotiations, transactions and even part payment of the debt owed. .... the most potent factor which makes section 84(1) of the SCPA inapplicable herein, is because the AGF is the debtor and has been sued in that capacity. With the AGF being the Judgement Debtor, therefore, will it not be absurd to require that his consent should be sought, especially having admitted that he had taken the move by paying part of the debt in question?

with Section 6(6)(b) of the Constitution.

This extra formality was described by Lord Atkinson in HOLLINSHEAD v HAZLETON (1916) 1 A.C 428 H.L in the context of the Petition of Rights as “ merely an amicable litigation taken by consent of the crown against the crown itself”. Eso JSC describes it in RANSOME-KUTI v AGF (Supra) as an “Unknown Soldier”. However, commencement is one thing, but getting past the issue of consent, in order to successfully make the order absolute, is another.

Policy Consideration The rationale for the provision of prior consent of the Attorney-General, before a court can validly issue a garnishee order nisi to attach funds in the hands of a public officer was enunciated in the Case of ONJEWU v KOGI STATE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (2003) 10 NWLR Pt. 827) 40 at 88-89 Per Muntaka- Commassie, JCA (as he then was) now retired JSC thus: “In my humble view, the rationale for the provision for the previous consent of the AG before a court can validly issue a garnishee order nisi against funds in the hands of a public officer, is to ensure that moneys that have been voted by the House of Assembly of a State for a specific purpose as the Appropriation Bill presented to that House and approved in the budget for the year of appropriation, does not end up being the subject of execution for other unapproved purposes under the SCPA” This position has been followed by plethora of decisions of the Court of Appeal and indeed trial courts. UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR TEACHING HOSPITAL v LIZIKON (NIG) LTD & ANOR (2017) LPELR-42339(CA), CBN v OKEFE (2015) LPELR – 24825 (CA).

“IT IS THE WRITER’S SUBMISSION THAT, A HOLISTIC READING OF THE CBN V INTERSTELLA UNDER REVIEW, WILL REVEAL THAT, THERE WAS NO EXPRESS NULLIFICATION OF SECTION 84(1) OF THE SCPA, NEITHER WAS THE PREVAILING POSITION IN ONJEWU V KSMCI (SUPRA) OVERRULED”

The Position in CBN v INTERSTELLA (Supra) In 2017, the Supreme Court was presented with the first opportunity to determine the constitutionality or otherwise of this Section 84(1) of the SCPA, vide an appeal by CBN challenging the concurrent findings of the lower courts, on the ground inter alia that no prior consent of the AGF was sought and obtained before the Order Nisi by the Federal High Court Coram: Soba J was granted, which subsequently crystallised into an Order Absolute.

In this case, the Judgement Creditor had obtained a consent judgement wherein the AGF on behalf of the Federal Government’s inter-ministerial committee, had agreed to pay the sum of N24.666 billion as novation for a debt owed by a State owned corporation; NITEL. The Government, indeed, proceeded to pay a fraction of the agreed sum; it was after it failed, refused or neglected to pay the residue, that the Judgement Creditor approached the court. At the hearing of the appeal, both the CBN (as garnishee) and the AGF, argued forcefully that the Order nisi obtained without prior consent was void, hence, the order absolute attaching the amount standing in favour of the Government is a nullity. It was argued that compliance with the Said Section 84 of SCPA was mandatory for CBN, being a public officer within the contemplation of the Constitution.

In resolving this issue, the Apex Court relied on the relevant background facts leading to the garnishee proceedings, describing same as very peculiar, which cannot be fitted within the general interpretation of Section 84 of the SCPA. The court reasoned that, under the doctrine of accord and satisfaction, the Judgement Creditor had forfeited a substantial part of the debt, on the representation of the AGF negotiating on behalf of the State.

It posited further that, the AGF having assumed the indebtedness of the original debtor by subrogation, cannot take cover under the pretext of Section 84 SCPA, to deprive the Judgement Creditor from enforcing his judgement.

I applaud the Supreme Court, for rising up to the occasion of not being just a court of law, but equally a court of justice, by examining the factual matrix of the case, to hold that there was indeed implied consent by the AGF and/or that the AGF is the actual debtor under this circumstance. At page 74-75 of the lead judgement, the Supreme Court per Clara

Is the CBN a Public Officer or a Bank within the Context of Attaching Monies of the FGN? This issue, which has equally posed a tremendous hurdle to judgement creditors seeking to enforce judgement sums against the FGN’s accounts domiciled with the CBN, was settled by CBN v INTERSTELLA. The decision of IBRAHIM v JSC, lends credence in classifying the CBN as a public office, hence, can be held out as custodial legis requiring consent. The Court of Appeal per GALADIMA JCA (as he then was, later JSC (retired)) in PURIFICATION TECHNIQUE v AG LAGOS (2012), treated the issue shyly and relegated same to the back water, when it held that, there is absolutely no basis for treating government’s bank accounts any differently from bank accounts of every other juristic personality or customers.

At page 76-78 of the CBN v INTERSTELLA decision, the Supreme Court again resorted to the factual circumstances of the case in interpreting the ‘’statute’’ to meet the “Justice” of the case; being persuaded by the position taken in PURIFICATION TECHNIQUE v AG LAGOS (Supra), that CBN is just a Banker to the FG who can be sued as garnishee in satisfying debts in its custody.

“The relationship between the 3rd Respondent and the Appellant in this case, same is purely that of a banker to a customer. Therefore, the question of whether the Appellant is a public officer, who cannot release funds except the consent of the AGF is obtained, does not apply to the facts and circumstances of this case”.

Conclusion It is the writer’s submission that, a holistic reading of the CBN v INTERSTELLA under review, will reveal that, there was no express nullification of Section 84(1) of the SCPA, neither was the prevailing position in ONJEWU v KSMCI (SUPRA) overruled. It simply created an exception to the applicability of the law, owing to the peculiar factual matrix of this case; as a matter of fact it gave credence to the law. See Page 72 on the lead judgment. To my mind however, the lead judgement tends to suggest that, when the Attorney-General is the actual Judgement Debtor in the proceedings leading to the garnishee process, prior consent of the same Attorney-General becomes superfluous. There was in my opinion, a prevarication. We hope the Apex Court will be availed another opportunity, to specifically decide on the constitutionality or otherwise this law.

16/

05.06.2018\

NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA) (Established under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act, 2007) Maritime House: 4 Burma Road, Apapa, P.M.B. 12861, Lagos.

E-mail: procurement@nimasa.gov.ng Website: www.nimasa.gov.ng

1.0

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)/PRE-QUALIFICATION & INVITATION TO TENDER V. INTRODUCTION The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), a 9, Parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Transportation in compliance with the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007, invites reputable contractor/ ƬUPV FRPSDQLHV ZLWK SURYHQ WUDFN UHFRUGV WR H[SUHVV LQWHUHVW WHQGHU for the under-listed projects:

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BATHYMETRIC SURVEY AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERWATER INSTALLATIONS DATABASE AND PORT CHANNELS OF NIGERIA COASTAL WATERS, WESTERN ZONE. BATHYMETRIC SURVEY AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERWATER INSTALLATIONS DATABASE AND PORT CHANNELS OF NIGERIA COASTAL WATERS, EASTERN ZONE. BATHYMETRIC SURVEY AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERWATER INSTALLATIONS DATABASE AND PORT CHANNELS OF NIGERIA COASTAL WATERS, CENTRAL ZONE. IDENTIFICATION AND CHARTING OF ABANDONED OFFSHORE PLATFORMS AND STRUCTURE, WESTERN ZONE. IDENTIFICATION AND CHARTING OF ABANDONED OFFSHORE PLATFORMS AND STRUCTURE, EASTERN ZONE. IDENTIFICATION AND CHARTING OF ABANDONED OFFSHORE PLATFORMS AND STRUCTURE, CENTRAL ZONE.

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7KH GRFXPHQW VKRXOG EH DUUDQJHG LQ WKH RUGHU OLVWHG DW DERYH and clearly separated by dividers; Failure to submit all the general requirements documents stated above PD\ OHDG WR WKH GLVTXDOLƬFDWLRQ RI WKH %LG Late submission will not be entertained; Note that payment of Tender fee is not required at this stage for lot1 - 7; $OO &$& 3(1&20 ,7) 16,7) DQG 7D[ &OHDUDQFH &HUWLƬFDWHV VXEPLWWHG PD\ EH UHIHUUHG WR 6HFXULW\ $JHQFLHV &RUSRUDWH $ƪDLUV &RPPLVVLRQ (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), 1DWLRQDO 3HQVLRQ &RPPLVVLRQ DQG RWKHU UHOHYDQW ERGLHV IRU YHULƬFDWLRQ Margin of preference will be accorded to local goods and services. Details are as contained in the Standard Bidding Document (SBD); This notice shall not be construed to be a commitment on the part of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to award any form of contract to any respondent nor shall it entitle any Company/Firm submitting documents to claim any indemnity from the Agency; Bid document shall be submitted in person and not through post. Any bid submitted through post shall not be accepted; %LGGHUV VKDOO EH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU DOO FRVWV LQ SUHSDUDWLRQ DQG VXEPLVVLRQ RI Bid; and %LGGHUV DUH DGYLVHG WR UHDG WKLV VROLFLWDWLRQ FDUHIXOO\ DV IDLOXUH WR IROORZ instructions may lead to rejection of bid.

SIGNED: MANAGEMENT

26

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018

27

28

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Importers Fear Double Taxation in NESREA’s Clearance Permit Permit is not to replace SON’s functions, says NESREA

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) recently introduced a Clearance Permit that some industry people/importers believe would cost them more money, as they believe it duplicates a function of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). However, the Director General of NESREA, Lawrence Anukam says their permit is strictly for importers of used electronic products and some categories of chemicals that have been banned internationally. SON, according to him, does not charge for this function and that its concern is with importation of new products. Bennett Oghifo reports

T

here has been suspicion that importers will pay more taxes since the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) introduced its Clearance Permit.

But NESREA has said the concerns of the industry people were unnecessary, because their permit was not intended to replace or duplicate SON’s functions.

Some industry watchers, however, alleged that the NESREA Permit duplicates SON’s permit and that NESREA introduced it specifically to raise money at the expense of importers. It is seen as another way to tax consumers and manufacturers. “The NESREA procedure only requires the importers to send the agency’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) along with

application to get a permit. This allows for serious loopholes in the entire system. The MSDS given by the importer could have been doctored which would invariably increase the level of unwholesome products in circulation across the country.

“Furthermore, there is no value addition to what SON and NAFDAC have already tested with their accredited agents and accredited laboratories in Nigeria. The bottom line is to collect money and create a safe haven for unscrupulous importers to falsify the import documentation by dealing it as NESREA imported goods.” To them, NESREA should focus on the huge volume of e-waste that is flooding the Nigerian market.

They alleged that the NESREA online advert told importers that: “The beautiful thing about NESREA clearance permit is that the same certifi-

your permit to apply for Form M and subsequently PAAR. Take full advantage of NESREA now and reduce costs associated with SON.” Industry watchers said, “It is so regrettable especially at a time when the federal government is focus-

ing more attention on non-oil exports and export promotion drive for certain agencies to be thinking of flooding the country with imports. What is actually wrong with some agencies that are chasing shadows instead of living up to their billings?”

NESREA, they said “has no facilities, expertise or skills to conduct due diligence certification and grant permit to prospective importers. It therefore appears to be so fraudulent for NESREA to carry out what it has not been created to do or has no capacity to execute. The ministry or minister in charge of the agency should therefore call NESREA and those at its helm of affairs to order before the federal government becomes so highly embarrassed by the latest initiative, an industrialist stated. According to Mrs. Musirat Balogun, a member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigerian (MAN), govern-

ment agencies are exploiting businesses through multiple taxations, duplication of roles and over-regulation.

She wondered why NESREA introduced its Clearance Permit when SON was fully in charge in an official capacity and was handling the processes effectively.

Another member, Mr. Famikade Famiroti said, “We gathered that to clear items in the country, importers are required by law to have for every consignment of regulated products, a SON Product Certificate (PC) and SONCAP Certificate (SC) issued

by SON approved inspection agencies like Intertek, SGS and Contecna. These independent accredited firms (IAFs) are timetested international technical partners who have the expertise and technical capacities and competencies to handle the processes.

of the building is also solid. it will comprise of amenities such as uninterrupted power, sewage system, boreholes, drainages, fibre optics.

Others amenities include, recreational parks, club house, fast-food outlets, shopping mall, schools, pharmacy, security etc.

The Apartment has 16 blocks comprising of 160 units of; one bedroom of 32 units; two

bedrooms of 32 units; and three bedrooms of 96 units.

County Apartments with its already developed neighbourhood is designed to yield even greater value in its first 5 years.

Megamound is also partnering with Omoluabi company for mortgage services at a reasonable interest rate.

County Apartments has prominent landmarks to super-

markets, hotels, hospitals, filling stations, worship centres, etc.

Also, being an off-plan, the current prices for the apartments are expected are expected to shoot-up by completion date.

Immediate capital appreciation is anticipated for investors.

Megamound is also inviting real estate agents to partner with the company at reasonable commission rates.

Minister of State for Environment, Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jibril

cate is used to obtain Form M unlike the SON certification where you are required to get PC (product certificate) first and later get SONCAP after getting Form M. “Again, no certificate validation required for NESREA. Go straight; use

Megamound Introduces County Apartments Fadekemi Ajakaiye Megamound, an indigenous real estate and management company of over 25 years, which provides adequate and affordable accommodation for all classes, has introduced County Apartments into the real estate market.

This was stated at a press conference held recently in their

Lekki office, in Lagos.

Megamound is the winner of the Direct Marketing Award and also recently awarded by the Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and has a proven record of being well equipped to offer high quality services effectively and efficiently.

County Apartments is situated within the serene

environment of the popular Lekky County Homes, IkotaLekki Lagos which is about 3minutes drive from Chevron drive. County Apartments sits within 16,000sqm of Lekky County Homes Phase 2, 72 pile points of up to 9metres into the ground and 1.2m reinforce concrete. The buildings are encompassed with concrete beams. The structured stability

NMRC, IFC Collaborate on Pazino Gives Back, Splashes Nigerians with Land Gifts Greener Building Construction Three persons, including a child, were among Nigerians, who have won plots Industry Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group have begun a partnership towards ensuring a greener building construction industry in Nigeria.

NMRC’s collaboration with IFC’s EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) has already culminated in workshops in Lagos and Abuja where Nigerian building developers converged to discuss the pathway for a greener Nigeria through the construction industry.

The mortgage refinance institution and IFC, alongside the consortium of thinkstepSGS, the certification provider for EDGE in Nigeria, at the workshops, brought to the fore the need for EDGE adoption

and implementation.

At the Abuja workshop, which was also attended by local council officials and financial institutions, the NMRC pledged to be a leader in pioneering the implementation of EDGE certification in Nigeria’s construction industry.

NMRC’s Executive Director, Policy, Partnerships and Business Development, Dr. Chii Akporji said: “NMRC is proud to partner with IFC to launch and operationalise EDGE in the Nigerian market.

“Through its value chain approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities in the Nigerian housing sector, NMRC looks to collaborating with its member-banks and other stakeholders to catalyse sustainable green buildings in Nigeria, to unlock the benefits of same to the housing industry and to the country’s GDP.”

of land and other prizes in three separate promotions conducted by Pazino ECC, recently. Pazino ECC initiated a few philanthropic projects, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, one of which was the ‘Pazino ECC WIN A PLOT OF LAND’ Raffle Draw Promo series.

In each of the promos, entry was free and winners went home with various gifts and prizes and, of course, the grand prize, which is a plot of land in Ibeju Lekki. The first winner, Mrs. Abidemi Agbaje, won a plot of land in Ibeju Lekki at the Green Springs School Lekki Fun Day on the 5th of May, 2018.

On Children’s Day, May 27, Pazino held a special Raffle Draw, where a little girl named Omowunmi Jimoh got the winning ticket and went home with the grand prize of a free plot of land.

First winner of a plot of land at the Pazino ECC Lucky Draw Greensprings School Funday, Mrs. Abidemi Agbaje, (left) receiving the award from Managing Director of Pazino ECC, Mr. Patrick Agbaeze … recently

Another draw took place on the 29th of May, Democracy Day and Miss Adegoke Adewunmi also received the award for a free plot of land.

Other lucky winners went home with various gifts and prizes, from Refrigerators to Microwaves, among others.

Pazino ECC is a marine

engineering, construction and real estate company, which has been in the business of real estate development for over a decade.

Established in April 2011, it has established itself as a real estate brand known for delivering excellent world-class services and contributing to

the community. Pazino has over 15 Garden Schemes in the lush and developing area of Lekki Peninsular.

Pazino’s Homes and Gardens Schemes provide customers the opportunity of owning property in a serene environment and at affordable prices.

29

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018

(;7(51$/ 9$&$1&< $11281&(0(17 $ +($' 2) 5(*,21$/ 7($0 1,*(5,$ 0$< Introduction

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; JUNE 5, 2018

30

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Asks Appeal Court to Differentiate Between Forensic Audit, Special Examination of Banks Davidson Iriekpen The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to determine whether it can be compelled to engage a team of private auditing firms to conduct forensic audit of a micro-finance bank at the behest of an aggrieved shareholder as against its statutory duty of conducting special examination of banks and other financial institutions.

The CBN appeal was sequel to an order made recently by a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Binta Nyako, who held that auditing and special examination of a bank are the same. According to the judge in her decision: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What calls for distinctionâ&#x20AC;Ś is can â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;forensic auditâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; be equated to a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;special examination or investigationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. An audit is defined as an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;official inspectionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (financial) of a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account.

It is an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;examinationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Forensic means â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;used inâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; it is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;argumentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; i.e. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;interpretativeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; so when the two are combined, it only means interpretative examinationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; using scientific words. In order words â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;forensic auditâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; only means â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;interpretative examinationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Thus the provision of Section 33 is not different from what the Applicant has requested for.â&#x20AC;?

CBN in its notice of appeal challenging the decision which THISDAY cited, contended that the trial judge erred in law in her interpretation as the resort to definition of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;forensic auditâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and equating same with the phrase â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;special examinationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is contrary to the provisions of Section 29, 31 and 33 of Banks and Others Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) Cap B3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

It also contended that audit of a financial institution is governed by the provisions of Section 29 of BOFIA which vest the power with the financial institution concerned while â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;special examinationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of a financial institution is vested in CBN courtesy of the provisions

in Sections 32 and 33 of BOFIA. The apex bank also contended that an auditor appointed by a financial institution pursuant to Section 29 of BOFIA is empowered to look for any irregularity which jeopardise the interest of depositors or creditors of the financial institution concerned, or any other irregularity that had occurred while special examination entailed examining or investigating whether the bank has been carrying on its business in a manner detrimental to the interest of its depositors and creditors, or that the bank has â&#x20AC;&#x153;insufficientâ&#x20AC;? assets to cover its liabilities to the public or that the bank has been contravening the provisions of BOFIA, among others. It also cited the provisions of sections 357,359 and 360 of Companies and Allied Matters Act which vests the annual general meeting of a limited liability company with the powers to appoint auditors to audit the financial statements of the company. The bank also contended that the reliefs sought by the plaintiff/1st respondent under Section 33(1)(e) of BOFIA were misconceived and ought to have been dismissed by the judge. In the substantive suit, Prof. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke had sued the CBN, one of its Deputy Governors, Dr. Okwu Nnanna, a Deputy Director in Other Financial Institution Department of the CBN, Mr. Emmanuel Zakari and Hasal Microfinance Bank Limited who are 1st to 4th defendants respectively. She had requested the Federal High Court to direct the apex bank to set up a team of external auditors to conduct a forensic audit on Hasal Microfinance Bank, one of the leading micro-finance banks based in Abuja.

The former Director General of SEC had contended that sequel to section 33 (1)(e)(i) of BOFIA and guidelines for the regulation of Microfinance Bank, the CBN has the powers to conduct an approved audit of a financial

institution upon a complaint of the chairman/director or creditor regarding allegation of corrupt practices, fraud and deliberate malfeasance against the management of the micro-finance bank.

But Justice Nyako ruled that the two words: â&#x20AC;&#x153;forensic audit and special examination are the same that can be used interchangeably.â&#x20AC;?

The court consequently ordered the CBN to constitute a team to examine the Hasal Microfinance Bank but did not specify who bears the cost of the exercise.

She held that Onyiuke as a shareholder, director and chairman of Hasal Microfinance Bank, was qualified to request the Governor of the CBN to order a forensic audit of the bank.

Justice Nyako in her judgment had also absolved Nnanna and Zakari of any wrongdoing for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;refusing and delaying to conduct forensic audit on Hasal Microfinance Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as alleged by the plaintiff.

She held that she did not see the proof of any conduct of bad faith alleged against the two officers of CBN and consequently dismissed a prayer that the duo should be compelled to tender apology to her in two national newspapers for what she described as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;offensiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; conduct regarding their purported supervision of the affairs of Hasal Microfinance Bank,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The court held that the two respondents did not do anything that would warrant public apology.

The court however, advised that since the plaintiff did not want Nnanna and Zakari to be personally involved in the audit exercise, CBN should recuse them from so participating.

Meanwhile the management of the micro-finance bank in the centre of the storm has equally appealed against the judgment of Justice Nyako and has followed same with an application for stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of appeal. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

FCMB Launches Education Advisory Services First City Monument Bank (FCMB), has unveiled a scheme tagged: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;FCMB Education Advisory Service,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; that would ensure convenient and affordable education support for its customers who or their children desire to study abroad and obtain undergraduate and post-graduate degrees.

The support includes overseas admission information services, school fees remittance, school living allowances and travel fares, loans to support school fees payments, visa process, travels and examination preparation.

According to a statement, access to customers and other aspiring candidates is available

on FCMB website with branches where operational desks are currently located, listed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is part of the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contributions towards developing a new generation of brilliant minds that would take Nigeria to the next level. The scheme is in partnership with MOD Group, a foremost international education promotion and marketing company with operations deeply rooted in Nigeria and covering the West Africa sub-region,â&#x20AC;? it stated.

Under the initiative which was launched recently in Lagos, FCMB said it is offering a full range of core financial services, tailored to meet the needs of its customers in the area of acquiring

education abroad.

This, according to the bank, would be in addition to a wide range of benefits that the Bank is providing for potential and existing students under the Education Advisory Service initiative. Among these are, up to N5 million school fees support to customers from the Bank and Credit Direct Limited, one of the subsidiaries of FCMB Group Plc (the holding company), Flexx account (in foreign exchange) for students going abroad to study, prompt and secure international funds transfer through internet banking platforms for the payment of school fees and other educational expenses abroad.

Unity Bank Supports Mentorship Initiative Unity Bank recently went into a partnership with Young Professionals Breakfast Roundtable to push the frontiers of mentorship as a prerequisite for business/ career success among youths in the country. The event was the 2018 edition of the youth programme that took place in Lagos. Unity Bank MD/CEO Mrs. Tomi Somefun, who was

among the over fifty Chief Executives of companies and ventures that facilitated the 2018 programme, enjoined participants to see â&#x20AC;&#x153;pursuit for greatness as a process rather than a one-off-eventâ&#x20AC;?.

The programme, tagged â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;YP 2018â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, was the third edition and Somefun has facilitated in all the sessions in the past three years, a statement from the bank revealed.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The commitment of Unity Bank Plc matches the enthusiasm of promoter of the Young Professions Breakfast Roundtable, Mr. Wale Adenuga, a multi-talented entrepreneur whose initiative assembles an array of accomplished professionals cutting across sectors periodically to mentor up-coming professionals,â&#x20AC;? the statement added.

CBN building

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2018 Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

5,433,209.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ě&#x2039;

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ě&#x2039; ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2018

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $74.23 a barrel on Friday, compared with $75.17 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 Ë&#x153; ÍłË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

MARKET NEWS

All-Share Index Recovers 0.36% as Equities Market Pares Losses Goddy Egene The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) recorded its first gain rising by 0.36 per cent to close at 36,947.10 yesterday after several days of a bear run. The market had hit a five-month low last week as rampaging bears took control and pulled the market into negative territory with a year-to-date decline of 3.38 per cent as at Friday.

However, some of the losses were pared yesterday on bargain hunting in banking sector.

Although the market recorded 21 gainers and losers apiece, heavy weighted counters such as Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc, FBN Holdings Plc made the bulls to have an upper hand.

Market analysts at Cordros Capital Limited had last Friday said the bear run that lasted for

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

about 11 days would be followed by bargain hunting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While acknowledging potential bargain hunting in the short term, in what follows relatively lower stock prices, we guide investors to trade cautiously and focus primarily on fundamentally sound stocks,â&#x20AC;? they had said.

And when trading resumed for the week yesterday, 21 stocks added value led by Japaul Oil and Maritime Services Plc with 9.0 per cent, trailed by Custodian

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

and Allied Plc and Eterna Plc that gained 4.9 per cent each.

GTBank Plc garnered 4.5 per cent, just as AIICO Insurance Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and FCMB Holdings Plc appreciated by 3.5 per cent, 3.4 per cent and 3.2 per cent in that order. LASACO Assurance Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc equally advanced, adding 2.9 per cent apiece.

Conversely, Oando Plc led the bears, sliding by 8.9 per cent, followed by Cadbury Nigeria Plc

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

with 8.0 per cent. Presco Plc shed 5.0 per cent, while PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and Sterling Bank Plc went down by 4.8 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively. Jaiz Bank Plc and Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc got hair cuts of 4.4 per cent each.

However, activity level weakened as volume and value traded dipped 39.2 per cent and 2.3 per cent to 314.5 million shares and N7.0 billion respectively compared with

O F

Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s figures.

Commenting on the market performance, analysts at Meristem Securities Limited said: Positive sentiment prevailed in the equities market following buying pressure on counters which have lost significantly in previous weeks, particularly heavily weighted stocks in the banking sector like GTBank and Zenith Bank. This was enough to offset the impact of continued sell-offs in the consumer goods space.â&#x20AC;?

0 6 / 0 6 / 2 0 1 8 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

32

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report:

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/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315) (A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Current Price

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

1.0%

55.9%

18.6%

7.0%

7.3x

0.9x

Previous Price Current Price Change Weighting Change YTD

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,558.85

1.22% 4.5%

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

5.4%

11.1%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

40.40

21.0%

-0.9%

-0.4%

32.6%

5.2%

6.6x

2.3x

6.7%

15.2%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

26.00

2.0%

13.1%

1.4%

0.3%

26.3%

3.6%

4.4x

1.1x

10.4%

23.0%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

106.00

2.9%

7.0%

-21.4%

-21.5%

17.4%

8.3%

26.6x

4.5x

3.9%

3.8%

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,430.00

0.0%

7.3%

-8.1%

-8.1%

73.3%

18.9%

33.4x

21.2x

3.0%

3.0%

5

Dangote Cement PLC

223.00

0.0%

6.0%

-3.0%

-3.0%

22.7%

12.0%

19.3x

4.5x

4.7%

5.2%

3.4%

6

FBN Holdings Plc

10.50

6.5%

19.3%

19.5%

6.7%

0.8%

7.6x

0.6x

2.4%

13.2%

7

Access Bank PLC

10.65

-2.7%

4.5%

1.9%

0.5%

12.7%

1.5%

5.2x

0.7x

6.1%

19.1%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

11.00

0.0%

4.6%

6.8%

5.7%

15.9%

1.9%

4.9x

0.8x

7.7%

20.6%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

19.10

0.5%

3.7%

12.4%

17.4%

-14.6%

-1.3%

6.3x

0.7x

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

740.00

0.0%

3.6%

18.2%

18.2%

22.3%

13.2%

3.8x

0.8x

2.4%

26.4%

0.0%

15.8%

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

46.10

3.2%

11.1%

12.7%

28.9%

3.8%

8.7x

2.5x

1.1%

11.4%

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

51.45

0.0%

3.2%

25.5%

28.0%

19.2%

8.0%

27.5x

3.8x

1.0%

3.6%

13

Guinness Nigeria PLC

95.00

0.0%

2.3%

1.1%

1.1%

15.4%

6.1%

18.1x

2.4x

0.7%

5.5%

14

Lafarge Africa PLC

33.10

-2.6%

1.2%

-26.3%

-26.3%

-36.8%

-7.7%

1.8x

4.5%

-18.6%

15

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.02

1.5%

1.0%

-17.9%

-21.7%

10.4%

1.4%

0.3x

5.4%

63.0%

16

Oando PLC

6.10

-9.0%

1.3%

1.8%

1.8%

10.3%

1.5%

7.6x

0.4x

17

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

17.25

-1.1%

1.0%

-13.8%

-15.3%

45.0%

20.0%

5.1x

1.9x

14.5%

19.5%

18

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

80.00

0.0%

1.3%

18.2%

18.2%

39.7%

29.4%

8.0x

2.7x

3.8%

12.5%

19

International Brew eries PLC

39.00

-3.0%

0.6%

-28.4%

-29.1%

24.6%

7.4%

40.8x

9.3x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

30.10

-3.2%

0.7%

3.8%

3.8%

13.1%

3.0%

6.3x

0.7x

3.0%

15.9%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

12.9%

1.6x

13.2%

2.4%

1.27

1.6%

0.5%

-13.0%

-14.2%

11.2%

2.5%

7.8x

0.8x

1.6%

0.0%

0.5%

-13.0%

-13.0%

1.5%

0.6%

23.9x

0.6x

4.5%

0.5%

-6.0%

-10.2%

-5.8%

-0.7%

-12.2%

-12.2%

25.0%

5.3%

9.8x

2.3x

8.4%

10.2%

42.4%

5.8%

0.9%

4.3x

0.3x

4.4%

23.3%

4.8%

16.8%

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

14.70

23

Diamond Bank PLC

1.41

1.4%

24

Total Nigeria PLC

202.00

0.1%

0.5%

25

FCMB Group Plc

2.25

3.2%

0.7%

26

11 PLC

0.1x

166.00

0.9%

0.4%

-14.7%

-14.7%

38.8%

15.7%

6.0x

2.0x

1.0%

0.4%

-18.4%

-15.5%

17.6%

1.6%

19.2x

3.0x

4.2% -51.9%

27

Forte Oil PLC

35.50

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

20.80

-4.8%

0.4%

1.0%

-1.7%

10.7%

5.0%

19.7x

2.0x

2.4%

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

11.50

-8.0%

0.3%

-26.6%

-26.3%

2.0%

0.8%

53.7x

1.8x

1.4%

1.9%

30

Presco PLC

71.25

-5.0%

0.4%

4.0%

4.0%

35.8%

24.8%

3.0x

0.9x

2.8%

33.8%

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

18.50

-2.6%

0.3%

0.0%

-3.7%

52.3%

19.7%

8.7x

3.9x

8.1%

11.4%

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

0.8x

7.2%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

5.30

-4.5%

0.2%

-32.1%

-29.4%

5.3%

1.1%

7.6x

0.6x

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

26.55

0.0%

0.3%

-5.2%

-5.2%

17.3%

1.8%

7.4x

1.2x

3.8%

13.6%

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.22

-4.7%

0.3%

13.0%

8.0%

10.7%

1.0%

3.7x

0.4x

1.6%

27.4%

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

8.95

-1.1%

0.2%

-26.3%

-26.3%

1.1x

2.2%

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

19.20

0.0%

0.2%

-11.2%

-11.2%

4.4%

2.8%

30.3x

1.3x

39.5%

3.3%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

36.80

0.0%

0.2%

8.2%

3.1%

66.2%

30.2%

17.2x

11.5x

5.9%

5.8%

39

Beta Glass PLC

87.35

0.0%

0.2%

70.2%

70.2%

18.4%

11.9%

12.3x

2.1x

1.2%

8.1%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

7.45

0.0%

0.1%

3.3%

3.3%

5.3%

2.9%

19.5x

1.0x

1.8%

5.1%

T o p 10 G a ine r s T ic k er

5.2%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e C hg %

J A P A ULOIL

0.24

9.1%

GUA R A N T Y

67.2

4.5%

C UST OD IA N

5.12

4.9%

SOVR EN IN S

33.0

0.0% 3.4%

ET ER N A

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

6.64

4.9%

FB NH

19.6

40.40

4.5%

D IA M ON D B N K

17.3

1.4%

A IIC O

0.60

3.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

15.1

2.0%

FB NH

10.50

3.4%

UB N

13.5

-4.5%

FCM B

2.25

3.2%

ST ER LN B A N K

12.9

-4.7%

LA SA C O

0.35

2.9%

LA SA C O

12.7

2.9%

106.00

2.9%

NB

10.3

2.9%

0.39

2.6%

A C C ESS

9.6

-2.7%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

OA N D O

6.10

-9.0%

GUA R A N T Y

2681.7

4.5%

C A D B UR Y

11.50

-8.0%

NB

1078.2

2.9%

P R ESC O

71.25

-5.0%

N EST LE

852.7

0.0%

PZ

20.80

-4.8%

D A N GC EM

803.0

0.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.22

-4.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

385.7

2.0%

UB N

5.30

-4.5%

FB NH

202.2

3.4%

GUA R A N T Y

M B EN EF IT

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 T ic k er

5.1%

13.1%

P ric e

NB

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘Ϭdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϱdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞĐĞĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŽĚĂLJ ǁĞƌĞ : W h>K/> ;нϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ h^dK / E ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ d ZE ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ K E K ;Ͳϵ͘ϬйͿ͕ hZz ;Ͳϴ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ WZ ^ K ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ͘ tŚŝůƐƚ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ĐĂƵƟŽƵƐůLJ ŽƉƟŵŝƐƟĐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŽĚĂLJΖƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ ůĂƌŐĞ ĐĂƉ ǀĂůƵĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͘

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

P ric e C hg %

J A IZ B A N K

0.64

-4.5%

IN T B R EW

131.1

-3.0%

LA WUN ION

0.86

-4.4%

F LOUR M ILL

111.4

-3.2%

102.6

-2.7%

78.1

0.0%

WA P IC

0.47

-4.1%

A C C ESS

R EGA LIN S

0.24

-4.0%

UB A

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, JUNE 5, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Conoil’s Profit Falls on High Financing, Administrative Costs The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday made the 2017 audited accounts of Conoil Plc available to market operators and other stakeholders through the exchange’s websites, showing an increase in revenue but a decline in profit after tax (PAT).

The indigenous petroleum products marketing company had last week announced a dividend of N2 per share for the year ended December 31, 2017 without giving the details of the financial performance.

However, according to the audited accounts made available yesterday, Conoil Plc recorded a revenue of N115.513 billion in 2017, up by 35 per cent from N85.024 billion in 2016. Cost of sale went up by 44 per cent from N70.883 billion to N102 billion, making firm to close the year with a gross profit of N13.049 billion in 2017, compared with N14.141 billion in 2016.

Distribution expenses reduced from N2.535 billion to N1.995 billion, while

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

administrative expenses jumped by 40 per cent from N7.996 billion to N11.195 billion. Similarly, financing cost rose by 21 per cent from N1.765 billion to N2.137 billion in 2017. Although tax was reduced from N1.443 billion to N726 million, Conoil Plc ended the year with a PAT of N1.579 billion, down by 44 per cent from N2.837 billion in 2016.

The increase in the financing cost resulted from high charges on bank borrowings,

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 01Jun-2018, unless otherwise stated.

a development, some analysts said had called for the need for Conoil to inject some equity capital.

According to them, the company should make a right issue to existing shareholders to raise some funds and reduce reliance on banks’ loans for its operations.

On the other hand, the administrative cost spike due to N6.515 billion litigation charge incurred by the company late last year. THISDAY checks showed that it was suit that

arose about 10 years ago between Conoil Plc and its former suppliers of Automative Gas (AGO), Vitol S.A. The suit was contested through the High Court and the Court of Appeal but was finally decided by the Supreme Court in the month of December 2017 in favour of the Vitol S.A. Hence, Conoil Plc decided to settle the payment and move on.

In all, Conoil recorded earnings per share of 227 kobo, down from 409 kobo in 2016. The directors last week

announced the proposal of a dividend of 200 kobo for the 2017 financial year.

According to the company, the proposed would be ratified by its shareholders at the company’s next annual general meeting.

Also, as part of its board resolutions the company approved that the dividend warrants will be dispatched on July 9, 2018 to members whose names appear in the register of members at the close of business on June 8, 2018.

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 181.80 183.25 2.50% Nigeria International Debt Fund 244.85 246.33 6.15% 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 0.83 0.84 0.54% ACAP Income Funds 0.64 0.64 6.41% 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 13.20% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 13.74% Paramount Equity Fund 11.81 12.11 6.50% Women's Investment Fund 102.19 104.81 1.55% 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 13.36% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.16% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.14 1.16 8.54% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.15 8.24% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Heritage Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.33 1.35 2.10% Legacy Debt Fund 3.04 3.04 5.55% 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 3,132.52 3,162.96 4.90% Coral Income Fund 2,620.71 2,620.71 7.09% 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 13.35% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 102.18 103.14 2.20% 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 12.97% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.17 2.20 3.12% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.52% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 119.47 119.83 3.87%

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 1.17 1.19 2.08% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,070.88 1,070.88 6.21% 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 13.17 13.27 0.43% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.61% 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 1.34 1.36 12.58% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.70 11.77 6.07% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.71% 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 120.14 122.13 -6.76% 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 1.58 1.58 6.42% 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 2,333.75 2,352.49 4.03% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 186.03 186.03 5.43% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.04 1.05 3.47% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 235.88 235.94 7.11% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 181.11 183.01 1.09% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.43% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,709.22 9,840.78 0.41% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.09 1.09 3.18% 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 1.35 1.36 0.96% United Capital Bond Fund 1.67 1.67 6.95% United Capital Equity Fund 0.94 0.96 2.50% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.51% United Capital Eurobond Fund 106.13 106.13 3.14% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.13 1.14 4.04% 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 12.89 13.07 4.25% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.56 13.71 3.63% Zenith Income Fund 20.25 20.25 6.96% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.15%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 135.86 51.22

1.01% 2.57% 0.77%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.78 146.78 108.18

11.88 149.83 110.15

-2.81% 2.74% -1.00%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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

4.67 8.55 17.20 18.37 147.07

4.71 8.63 17.30 18.57 149.07

-1.54% -10.57% -1.76% -6.58% 7.36%

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.

34

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍłË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Offer for Subscription

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE NIGERIA

Pursuant to the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act 2003 and the Local Loans (Registered Stock and Securities) Act, CAP. L17, LFN 2004

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE on behalf of the

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA Offers for Subscription and is authorized to receive applications for the

Federal Government of Nigeria Savings Bond at the following interest rates

2-Year FGN Savings Bond due June 13, 2020: 10.344% per annum 3-Year FGN Savings Bond due June 13, 2021: 11.344% per annum Opening Date: Closing Date: Settlement Date: Coupon Payment Dates:

June 4, 2018 June 8, 2018 June 13, 2018 September 13, December 13, March 13, June 13

SUMMARY OF THE OFFER

ISSUER: Federal Government of Nigeria (â&#x20AC;&#x153;FGNâ&#x20AC;?)

STATUS: 1.

2.

UNITS OF SALE: N1,000 per unit subject to a minimum Subscription of N5,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter, subject to a maximum subscription of N50,000,000.

INTEREST PAYMENT: Payable Quarterly REDEMPTION: Bullet repayment on the maturity date

3.

4.

Qualifies as securities in which trustees can invest under the Trustee Investment Act. Qualifies as Government securities within the meaning of Company Income Tax Act (â&#x20AC;&#x153;CITAâ&#x20AC;?) and Personal Income Tax Act (â&#x20AC;&#x153;PITAâ&#x20AC;?) for Tax Exemption for Pension Funds, amongst other investors.

Listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Qualifies as a liquid asset for liquidity ratio calculation for banks.

SECURITY: Backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government of Nigeria and charged upon the general assets of Nigeria.

INTERESTED INVESTORS SHOULD CONTACT THE STOCKBROKING FIRMS APPOINTED AS DISTRIBUTION AGENTS BY THE DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE. PLEASE VISIT www.dmo.gov.ng FOR THE LIST OF DISTRIBUTION AGENTS.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018

35

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳË&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018

37

38

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳË&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018

39

40

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍłË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

OPEN LETTER TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS Mr. Antonio Guterres Secretary General of the United Nations Thru: The UN High Level Representative to Nigeria U. N. Building, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive Central Business District Abuja - FCT. Dear sir,

PERSECUTION OF SARAKI AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR DEMOCRACY I write to update you on the increasing political intolerance, terror and persecution being unleashed against perceived opponents of the present administration in Nigeria-led by President Muhammadu Buhari and to seek your urgent intervention to prevent an imminent breakdown of law and order capable of truncating the nation's democracy.

President of the Senate. He is also a major player in the global arena as a former President of Globe Nigeria and other international engagements. Over the years, his character has remained untainted and his reputation solid. Even under the last administration where he played a pivotal opposition role, all efforts to implicate him failed as several investigations raised against him found him blameless.

Recall that last week, I wrote a similar letter to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, on the need for the international community to save Nigeria from the current political terror against highly placed and innocent Nigerians as the country approaches the 2019 general elections which is about nine months away.

Unfortunately, the present government has been out to bring him down by all means since the inception of this administration. He is currently facing trial on allegation of false asset declaration. He was accused along side his deputy of forging the Senate rules - a case that later collapsed following the inability of the government to concoct plausible evidence to support their allegations in court. The recent efforts by government to get him at all cost has led to blatant lies, harassment, intimidation and blackmail to damage his reputation and paint him black before the eyes of right thinking members of the public.

The goal of the government is to make political capital out his anticipated fall and reap bounteously from the sordid enterprise in the 2019 general elections.

The political scenario is Nigeria and the highhandedness of the executive and its agents against law abiding Nigerians is becoming unbearable and unless something is done urgently to salvage the situation, our hard earned democracy will be plagued by disaster of unimaginable proportion. This call is premised on the old wise saying that a stitch in time, saves nine.

Today, the entire country is in a dilemma. While terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements are having a field day in many parts of the country, citizens are also being framed-up and hounded by security agencies on the direct orders of the executive in order to retain power.

The police that is supposed to protect the people is being used as an instrument of intimidation and brutality against law abiding citizens. I don't think I need to recount the ongoing ordeal of Senator Dino Melaye because his humiliation and persecution by the agents of state is known even to the little children. I don't also consider it necessary to refer to the frame-up of Senator Shehu Sani as having links with murder suspects in Kaduna. The incessant arrest of opposition PDP members would take an entire page of this write-up were I to chronicle them.

Only on Sunday, the police, not tired of subterfuge, came up with bizarre claims that robbery suspects arrested in connection with the Offa Bank robbery have implicated the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki. Recall that Saraki had two weeks ago raised an alarm about the directive from the Force Headquarters to transfer cultists and murder suspects arrested and being prosecuted in Ilorin, Kwara State, to Abuja, in a bid to tutor them to implicate him and the governor of the State, Abdulfatah Ahmed. Following the uproar, the police became silent for a while only to resort to use the Offa bank robbery suspects to achieve their sinister goal against the President of the Senate.

I want you to note that the police on this occasion have not said anything new. What they wanted to achieve through the surreptitious transfer of arrested cultists and murder suspects from Ilorin to Abuja, they have now achieved through the Offa bank robbery suspects.

Unfortunately, the President has not deemed it fit to call his stray agents to order in spite of the formal report on the issue made to him by a panel set up by the Senate following the alarm raised by Saraki on the impending fraudulent indictment about two weeks ago.

Permit me to say that Saraki remains a credible and responsible Nigerian and my call is not to say that he is above the law. If there is any genuine reason that would warrant him to account for any of his actions, I believe he will gladly do so as a law abiding citizen. However, using gestapo tactics to blackmail and try to hang a criminal charge on him would be tantamount to wickedness, repression and dictatorship.

If they have anything against him, let them follow due process according to law. I believe that as a man who respects and believes in the rule of law, Saraki is at anytime ready to defend himself before any court of competent jurisdiction just like he has been doing faithfully before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

There is a rising apprehension among the vast majority of Nigerians that if this atmosphere of intimidation being unleashed against the opposition in the country is allowed to continue unchecked, our democracy might suffer an incalculable damage and irreparable crash.

God forbid! My joy is that you are well aware of these evil antics playing out in Nigeria and their implication for peace, unity, order, good governance and the rule of law in the most populous black nation in the world. What I am not sure of is your reaction to the incessant human rights abuses, harassment of opposition members and the covert forceful persecution of well placed Nigerians in order to get them to support the reelection bid of President Buhari, against their will.

I therefore call on you and the leaders of the G-7 nations to intervene to prevent this looming catastrophe in Nigeria. I believe that prevention would be better than cure in this case because if highly placed Nigerians like the President of the Senate are being made to undergo these indignities, then there is no hope for democracy and rule of law which is about the preservation, welfare and protection of the common man.

The country is dire political straits and we need your timely intervention to restore peace and the rule of law.

Yours sincerely,

I dare say that the President of the Senate is a man of integrity and high moral standing. Apart from his noble parentage, he has held several positions of trust in the private and public sectors of the economy.

Some being his directorship of a bank, special assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on budget matters, two time Governor of Kwara State, Chairman, Nigeria Governors' Forum, Senator and now

Comrade Timi Frank Deputy National Publicity Secretary All Progressives Congress timifrank40@gmail.com 07033555555

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018

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INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

White House Confirms First Trump-Kim Meeting for June 12 Says â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;powerfulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sanctions to remain on North Korea The White House said on Monday that a first meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will take place at 9:00 am (0100 GMT) in Singapore on June 12, according to Agence France-Presse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are actively preparing for the June 12th summit between the president and the North Korean leader,â&#x20AC;? spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in announcing the timing of the meeting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We feel like things are continuing to move forward, and good progress has been made.â&#x20AC;?

Sanders said that the White House â&#x20AC;&#x153;advance teamâ&#x20AC;? -- which features military, security, technical and medical staff -- were already on the ground in the Southeast Asian state.

They are â&#x20AC;&#x153;finalising preparations and will remain in place until the summit begins,â&#x20AC;? said Sanders.

She added that Trump is getting

daily briefings on North Korea in the runup to the landmark meeting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can tell you the president has been receiving daily briefings on North Korea from his national security team,â&#x20AC;? said Sanders.

Experts have voiced concern that despite Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s claim to be the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest dealmaker, he knows little about North Korea, arms control or international diplomacy.

The on-again-off-again summit is expected to focus on US efforts to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme.

The oppressive regime is believed to have developed a miniaturised nuclear device that could be placed on a missile that could strike the United States.

Washington has called that unacceptable and demanded North Korea embark on full and verifiable denuclearisation.

With days to go before the

meeting, it remains unclear whether Pyongyang is willing to take that step, or whether it is using the promise of talks as a way of easing Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;maximum pressureâ&#x20AC;? campaign.

Trump last week said he no longer wanted to use that term and indicated that he was willing to embark on a lengthy series of talks that would ease pressure on the regime. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be a process,â&#x20AC;? he said after welcoming top official Kim Yong Chol to the White House. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not -- I never said it goes in one meeting. I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be a process. But the relationships are building, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very positive thing.â&#x20AC;?

Trump also said that there would be no new sanctions while the talks are taking place, although the White House was at pains to say existing economicsanctionswillnotberemoved either,saying its policy on tough sanctions remain in place.

GuatemalaVolcano: Dozens Die as Fuego Volcano Erupts Guatemalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most violent volcanic eruption in more than a century has killed 62 people, BBC reported officials as saying.

Dozens more are missing, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disaster agency says, and it is feared the death toll could rise.

Villages on the slopes of Fuego volcano were buried in volcanic ash,

mud and rocks during Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 16-hour eruption.

Pyroclastic flows, which are fastmoving mixtures of very hot gas and volcanic matter, rushed down the mountainside and engulfed villages.

President Jimmy Morales has declared three days of national

mourning. A further pyroclastic flow on Monday sparked alarm.

Guatemalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coast has also been hit by an earthquake though there are no reports of damage so far.

Fuego, about 40km (25 miles) south-west of the capital Guatemala City, spewed rock, gas and ash into the sky.

OFFA ROBBERY: NPDP PULLS OUT OF TALKS WITH PRESIDENCY, APC In support of the invitation by the police, the APC newspaper alleged that one of the suspects was a visitor at Sarakiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding.

Tweeting from @ APCNewspaper2, the paper said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Busted: One of the caught Offa robbers was a visitor at Sarakiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding!

Look closely at the trousers he wore on the day of arrest.â&#x20AC;? @ComradOP said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;You believe PMB armed herdsmen to kill farmers in North Central but you do not believe Saraki can have anything to do with armed robbers? Restore your brain to factory settings.â&#x20AC;?

Ade Nuruyan said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saraki is not as smart as some of you are positing. The grace heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enjoying is that PMB is not meddlesome or vindictive, nor needlessly petty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Plus his inner caucus are not deft political wise (sic). At the inception of this administration, he gave them freehand yet they missed it.â&#x20AC;?

Among those rooting for Saraki was one Babasola Kuti who said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I were Saraki, I would get my lawyer to inform the police that I would only be available on Tuesday at 4 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tuesday morning I would impeach Buhari and Osinbajo... then become acting president and arrest the IG for murder of Kano REC.â&#x20AC;?

Aka Ebube said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not by

accident that vocal critics of government in the Senate are facing armed robbery charges.

Dino Melaye is contending with one. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saraki is now facing one. Even Shehu Sani, who is as peaceful, harmless and playful as Fellaini, has been accused. Democracy is in injury time.â&#x20AC;?

May Ubeku said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Bukola Saraki, a two-time governor of Kwara and now a Senate President with his â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Ahmed as serving governor and his wife, a daughter of the famous Ojora family of Lagos, does not know where to raise money and decides to arm some boys to rob a bank in Offa, Kwara. Any sense? â&#x20AC;&#x153;No... Saraki armed these boys during election and they decided to rob a bank. So Saraki is being invited for arming them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meanwhile after their arrest, these boys statements in Ilorin did not implicate Saraki and Ahmed until they were transferred to Abuja. Any sense? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so unfortunate that this government would do anything to ridicule Nigeria and Nigerians.

Imagine linking the number three citizen of Nigeria to an armed robbery case in Offa. Evil men in power!â&#x20AC;?

Ezeoke Kay said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;All you extra magnificent Pro Buhari supporters.

The man is corrupt as hell, your IG disobeyed the Senateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call severally, not one word from Buhari. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, some hoodlums said

Saraki is their sponsor and one hour later he gave the IG the go ahead to arrest him. Clear political witch-hunt.â&#x20AC;?

Okuyelu Michael said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;IG so because of your failure to arrest all the insurgents, herdsmen and their sponsors and because Saraki said the truth that you are an enemy of democracy, so the next target is to crack down on Saraki at all cost.â&#x20AC;?

Chimezie Ejikeme said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If Buhari could be as swift in issuing Senate President Sarakiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s immediate arrest as with the herdsmen in Benue, a lot of lives wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be lost.

But no, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neck deep in vengeance, than in real leadership.â&#x20AC;?

Calling for caution, Ashuru Abiola said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will be dangerous to be sentimental or politicise this issue. Let the police do their job while we wait the outcome. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It not about the so called big men or the untouchable. Enough of having political victims which resulted to waste of lives and valuables.â&#x20AC;?

One Ikechukwu tweeting from @Iykimo said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;IG gets Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nod to arrest Saraki over Offa robbery and murders. Good! Political choices have consequences. Like our choices in life.â&#x20AC;?

Making reference to the recent gaffe by the IG, one Gloria Adagbon said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;IG versus Saraki... looks like it is Sarakiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transmission, transmission time after all.â&#x20AC;?

TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

47

NEWS

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

APC, FG Employing Devious Means to Undermine Democracy, Says PDP Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government of resorting to all manner of negative tactics to undermine democracy in the country.

The party said APC was planning in their own words to “capture Ekiti State at all cost.”

Speaking while inaugurating the campaign committee for the July 14 Ekiti State governorship election at the national Secretariat in Abuja, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said as part of the devious strategy of the APC-led administration, key opposition elements have been marked either to be framed up for criminal offences or for corruption.

“I wish therefore to call on the international community and all lovers of democracy to show more than passing interest in what is going on in Nigeria today and watch as our democracy is being violated and ambushed.

“In this country now, the opposition and anybody holding dissenting views from that of the small clique of persons hanging on to power today have been marked either to be framed up for criminal offences or for corruption,” he said.

Secondus said the Governor

in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, had cried out recently that there is attempt to assassinate him but that his case was treated with levity only for Nigerians to witness a high profiled failed assassination attempt in Ekiti State last week at a rally.

He said PDP was also privy to a very strong rumour of a secret grand plan of the APC government where a special killer squad is being trained and armed to kill opponents and disperse rallies especially in the area where they expect PDP rallies to intimidate their own.

According to the PDP boss, the motive of all these deliberate police state being established by the ruling party is obvious; “to distract and disorganise the opponent to enable them hold on to power and establish one party state.

“Never, not even in the draconian days of the military rule was number three citizen of the country and an incumbent governor framed up for armed robbery.

“This government has become a frame up administration. Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s aide was locked for weeks where they were searching for things to frame him up; Senators Dino Melaye and Shehu Sani have all been framed up for being vocal against unjust system being perpetuated by this government.

“The Deputy Senate President,

Ike Ekweremadu, has had his guest house ransacked where they were looking for something to frame him up,” he said.

He said despite his constitutionally guaranteed immunity, Wike has had to seek court protection to halt search in his house.

Similarly, Secondus said the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has just alerted the county of plans to frame him up in the APC rally shooting.

“Nigerians should watch and be ready for the sacrifice to save not just our democracy but the country. What is however certain is that victory is ours in the end because Nigeria cannot afford this APC journey any longer.

“Part of the costs has started manifesting with the shooting carried out at their own rally last Thursday which happened

to be a continuation of the violence they launched on themselves and the state since their primaries last month.

“Because of their desperation, a hitherto peaceful state of Ekiti has been turned into a war zone for a party whose electoral presence in the state is very negligible if any at all.

While charging the campaign council to do a good job, Secondus said they should ensure that the electoral desires of the Ekiti people are realised.

On the preparations for the elections, Secondus said the indicators out there are not palatable.

He said the signs are there for all to see that the attitude of the ruling party is that of a drowning man desperate to survive and whose posture is ‘if I cannot make it, let me go down with others’ The PDP Chairman said: “The

heightened heat in the polity right now in the country is unnecessary if the APC administration is willing and equipped to face the electorate, but where it’s obvious that they have nothing to offer to get the votes of Nigerians, they are resorting to all devious means to undermine the democratic process.

“Information available to us shows that in, Ekiti State, they are trying to use all skillful underhand means to achieve goals but the people are well charged to not only come out to cast their votes on July 14 but that they are ready to defend it.

“At this juncture, let me warn that if there is any attempt to thwart the will of the people in Ekiti State, there may be no general election and the entire democratic process will be endangered.”

The PDP national chairman told

the campaign commttee that the party attaches great importance to the Ekiti State governorship election, adding that “the state means so much to the party because of the strategic position it occupies in South-west geopolitical region and the fact that it’s a test run election ahead of Osun State governorship election in September and the general elections in less than one year from now.

“Ordinarily, given the enviable achievements of our party in the state in the area of delivering democracy dividend to the people in the last three years under the leadership of our irrepressible Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Peter Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti should be a smooth contest for us, but intelligence available to the party shows that the APC is planning in their own words to “capture Ekiti at all cost.”

Crude Oil Price Drops as US Supply Grows, OPEC Mulls Higher Output Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Crude oil prices slipped yesterday as United States production hit a record high, while the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) considered boosting supply.

Global benchmark, Brent crude oil lost $1.26 a barrel, or 1.6 per cent, reaching a low of $75.53 before recovering to $76.29, down 50 cents.

US light crude was unchanged at 65.81 a barrel.

However, the U.S. contract lost about three per cent last week after a decline of nearly five per cent the previous week. US crude production climbed in March to 10.47 million barrels per day (bpd), a monthly record, data from the Energy Information Administration showed last week.

Reuters reported that US drillers added two oil rigs in the week to June 1, bringing the total to 861, the most since March 2015, energy services company, Baker Hughes said on Friday.

That was the eighth time drillers have added rigs in the past nine weeks.

Arab oil ministers agreed over the weekend on the need for continued cooperation between members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other big producers to balance global supply, Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA reported on Sunday.

OPEC ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Algeria, along with their counterpart from non-OPEC Oman, met unofficially in Kuwait on Saturday.

OPEC had on November 27, 2015, decided to pump as much

as it could to defend market share, an action that sent the price of oil to a low of $27 per barrel in February 2016.

But following the drop in oil price to an all-time low, OPEC and other major producers including Russia started to withhold output in 2017 to rein in oversupply that had depressed prices since 2014.

OPEC’s main objective for the cuts is to eliminate a global surplus in oil stocks and re-balance the market.

OPEC, together with Russia and a group of other producers, last November extended an outputcutting deal to cover all of 2018.

The initial deal, under which OPEC and non-OPEC producers are cutting supply by about 1.8 million barrels per day, had expired in March 2018.

The production-cutting pact between the OPEC, Russia and other producers has given strong tailwind to oil prices OPEC meets formally on June 22 and it is expected to agree to raise output to cool the market amid worries over Iranian and Venezuelan supply and after Washington raised concerns that the oil rally was going too far.

Saudi Arabia, the effective OPEC leader, and Russia have discussed boosting output to compensate for supply losses from Venezuela and to address concerns about the impact of U.S. sanctions on Iranian output.

Russia’s largest oil producer, Rosneft, will be able to restore 70,000 bpd of oil output in only two days if global production limits are lifted, Renaissance Capital wrote in a client note.

WE’RE ALWAYS LOYAL

L-R President Muhammadu Buhari, in a handshake with Governor Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe): Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), during breaking of Ramadan fast at the Presidential Villa , Abuja ....yesterday

NBS: Sudden Economic Shock Could Trigger Higher Unemployment Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the Nigeria population pyramid shows that majority of the population lies between ages 0 and 14, depicting a young population, high fertility rate and dependency.

This, it stated, implies a large population of adolescents entering the labour force in the near future, adding that a sudden economic shock can lead to higher unemployment in the country unless new job opportunities are urgently created.

But the agency however noted the 2017 Demographic Statistics Bulletin posted on its website that the demographic dividend of a young population is the accelerated economic growth which can happen as the population age structure changes with investment in health, education, economic policy and good governance.

“Harnessing demographic dividend will lead to decline in

mortality rate, desire for smaller family size and increase investment in family planning which will enable a decline in fertility among women of child bearing age.

“If Nigeria is able to make substantial investments in reproductive health and family planning particularly in parts of the country with poor health indicators, then fertility levels may begin to decline more significantly and with improved investment in child survival and better implementation of universal health coverage, the proportion of the population at working ages will increase relative to the dependent population who earn little or no income,” the report said.

According to the report, most Nigerian women who are currently married or in a union (86.6 per cent) are not using any contraceptive method to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Contraceptive use refers to a conscious effort by a person to limit

or space the number of children he/she wants to have through birth control methods.

Knowledge of contraceptive, accessibility and use of contraceptive for family planning purposes and prevention of pregnancy are key indicators used to measure the extent of use in a country.

In the period under review, the report indicated that Ebonyi State had the highest number (97.0 per cent) of women who are married and are not using any contraceptive methods, to space their children while Oyo State had the least (65.7 per cent).

In a bid to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2011, the Federal Ministry of Health distributed free contraceptives to states to enhance child spacing.

According to the report, this free distribution of contraceptives has continued to achieve the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for all women in the

reproductive age in Nigeria to space their children for healthy living.

It noted however, that the attitude of the people towards the utilisation of these modern methods of contraceptives still appears very poor.

Another demographic issue considered in the bulletin is maternal survival through utilisation of maternal health care, adding that a strong indicator of maternal health care is antenatal care (ANC) visit.

Lagos State had the highest (94.2 per cent) number of pregnant women who made four or more visits to antenatal care in the country while Sokoto State showed the least (24.9 per cent).

Lagos state also recorded the highest proportion of pregnant women (42.5 per cent) who received ANC in their first trimester, while Edo state recorded the highest proportion of women receiving ANC at eight months or more of pregnancy.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͳË&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

UTILIZATION OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE AS AT 1ST OF JUNE 2018 S/N

CUSTOMERS

1

JAYKAY CARPET IND LTD

2

GLAXO SMITHKLINE NIG. LTD

AMOUNT (US$)

PURPOSE

34,892.00 RAW MATERIAL FOR CARPET 174,953.91 ROTARIX

RATE DATE

S/N

CUSTOMERS

AMOUNT (US$)

PURPOSE

RATE DATE

S/N

CUSTOMERS

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

297

IBRAHIM ADEGBUYI

3,985.18 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

BADEJO SEYI TOMILOLA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

298

NWAGURU KENNETH

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

500.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

GLAXO SMITHKLINE NIG. LTD

242,083.30 CERVARIX PREFILLED SYRINGE

362.00 28-May-18

151

OMOEFE STANLEY TAWIYAH

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

299

IGBAFE EDEN EPHRAIM

CBN

166,631.88 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 28-May-18

152

UMOLU JULIET OSE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

300

OVIE UBOGU

5

CBN

153,181.14 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 28-May-18

153

REV ADINO C. ACHUSIM

3,500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

301

6

ADEYEMI ADEBOYE STEPHEN

360.00 28-May-18

154

NWOGU MARY IMELDA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

302

360.00 30-May-18

JOSEPH GBENGA E.

1,500.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

SALU BEATRICE

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

360.00 28-May-18

155

8

MUHAMMAD AMINU BASHIR

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

156

OBIMAKINDE F. RONKE

OLALEKAN KAYODE WOLE

2,000.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

157

OYESILE ADEDOYIN OLUBIYI

10

ADEOSUN TOMILOLA MERCY

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

158

AJAYI OLUFUNMILAYO O

2,719.19 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

306

ADEGBITE TOBILOBA ISAIAH

1,700.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

11

IYARE LUCIA PATRICIA

977.69 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

159

KUKU RASHIDI OLUWASEGUN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

307

NWOYE EMEKA CYPRIAN

1,000.00 BTA

360.00 30-May-18

MUHAMMAD

2,800.00 PTA

4,886.64 BTA

9

12

BALOGUN ADEOLA ISLAMIAT

RATE DATE

USIKALU TOLORUNLOJU

150

3

7

PURPOSE

149

362.00 28-May-18

4

2,000.00 PTA

AMOUNT (US$)

362.00 28-May-18

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

160

NWOGU C. KENNETH

TEMIENOR ANTHONY EMUERHI

303

DUAKA IFEANYI

2,100.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

304

NNAEMEKA CHIGOZIE AGUH

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

1,100.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

305

EFE ISOKPAN

1,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

2,750.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

308

ADEKANYE ISAAC

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

13

OLUWATOBI JOHN BANKOLE

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

161

CHIGBO VIVIAN CHISOM

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

309

OPERE SIMIAT MORENIKE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

14

TAIWO FUNKE OLUWA

1,000.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

162

SOWOLE AKINBOLA STEPHEN

1,500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

310

JIMOH ADEBAYO YINUSA

3,800.69 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

ISOH CHRISTIAN

2,172.64 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

163

IWORIMA PROMISE T J

3,998.73 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

311

ADAMU YUSUF DANTSOHO

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

16

ABERE SARAH TONYE

2,300.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

164

IRIAYE FORTUNE OHIORENUAN

1,200.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

312

SHEHU ABUBAKAR SAIDU

5,000.00 BTA

360.00 30-May-18

17

15

ABU JAFARU OSHIOBUGHIE

550.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

ADESEHINWA BOLA OMOLARA

3,989.07 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

165

313

DIETAKE ROSE EZIUNOR

3,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

18

AKOWA BRIDGET VICTORY

500.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

166

MBAONU ATURUCHI CHOICE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

314

AKPOKABAYE KEVWE

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

19

DEBORAH OTANA AJIGIDI

2,000.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

167

UDOKA CHINYERE TINA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

315

DOMINIC JOSEPH MERCY

2,125.08 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

359.00 28-May-18

168

IKA ROCKYCHRISTIAN

3,864.84 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

21

OLAITAN D. AIYESIMOJU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 28-May-18

169

EZEILO CHIDINMA ESTHER

3,864.84 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

317

PAUL EKENE ISIUWE

3,936.46 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

22

20

EZE CHUKWUDI CHRISTIAN

5,000.00 BTA

360.00 28-May-18

359.00 30-May-18

318

OKON IMEH PATIENCE

2,500.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

23

OPEYEMI OKUNOREN

5,000.00 BTA

360.00 28-May-18

171

ORJI BRIGHT CHUKWUDI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

EGEONU OSITA CLEANJEK

1,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

24

BALOGUN ARIKE KAFILAT

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

172

SODIMU TOLU BOLANLE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

320

ANYAOHA RAYMOND

3,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

25

ALIYU UMMA SALMA

3,992.19 PTA

360.00 28-May-18

173

ABUWA ADENIKE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

321

AHMED SALLAU PINDIGA

1,700.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

26

AJIGIDI NAOMI

BASHORUN GBENGA ADEDOLA

2,000.00 PTA

5,000.00 BTA

170

ODUNZE KANAYO NZUBE

1,380.70 PTA

316

319

NSE IME EBONG

800.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

359.00 28-May-18

174

200.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

27

OLONILUA TUNDE BOLANLE

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 28-May-18

175

MORONU UCHECHI

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

323

BELLO YUSUF OLATUNJI

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

28

OLONILUA OLUFEMI

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 28-May-18

176

ADENIKE ADENUGA

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

324

SAIDU YAYAYA MAKERA

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

1,300.00 UPKEEP ALLOWANCE

360.00 28-May-18

UDUEBHO MATTHEW

322

ADENIJI SETIU ADEKUNLE

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

29

PRINCEWILL C OPARA

IBE IFECHUKWU PASCHAL

4,000.00 PTA

EMEKA EMMANUEL CHINEDU

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

30

VICTORIA O EJECKAM

14,733.21 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 28-May-18

178

MGBA CHIMAROKE N

1,104.24 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

326

SHITTU ABOLADE RASHEED

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

31

MEKAKO FRANCIS ALOHO

10,094.13 LIVING EXPENSES

360.00 28-May-18

179

THEOPHILUS O ORUMOR

607.02 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

327

EBONG NSE IME

800.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

32

IRENE E OKPO

6,035.47 SCHOOL FEES

177

360.00 28-May-18

180

ILORI BABATUNDE

33

AMBROSE C ANUCHA

5,907.61 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 28-May-18

181

PROF IKEM INNOCENT CHIEDU

34

OLUTAYO A OLATUNJI

7,279.95 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 28-May-18

182

NMA JOAN OKWUOSA

35

OHAKIM CHIOMA

10,687.25 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 28-May-18

183

ATOBATELE DANIELLA OLUWA

359.00 30-May-18

325

328

ADEKANMBI TAIWO PELUMI

800.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

690.15 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

2,442.40 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

329

RAYMOND K AHUMIBE

1,955.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

3,586.96 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

330

NKECHI J ARIZOR

4,785.83 LIVING EXPENSE

360.00 30-May-18

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

331

ADAMU MOHAMMED

13,496.41 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

36

JUWARETU O MUSA

7,525.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 28-May-18

184

COMFORT IJEOMA SUNDAY

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

332

AGBO HYACINTH OJOBO

2,990.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

37

AJAYI MOJISOLA OLUFUNMILAYO

2,900.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 28-May-18

185

FALUADE MICHEAL OLURANTI

2,900.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

333

DOGHO-AFEOFO J. E.

2,160.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

38

BABAJIDE AROWOSAFE OLUWASEYI

12,200.00 TRAINING FEE

360.00 28-May-18

4,145.78 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

360.00 28-May-18

187

BASHORUN GBENGA DOLA

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

335

OSAMUDIAMEN F O.

2,160.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

93,941.60 AC MOTOR SINGLE PHASE

306.30 30-May-18

188

SAGAY ELIZABETH OSAMUEDE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

336

NGOZI B OPARA

2,160.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

41

ROOSKEY ELECTRICALS LTD

20,000.00 AC MOTOR SINGLE PHASE

306.30 30-May-18

359.00 30-May-18

337

ABUBAKAR S RABIU

500.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

42

ROOSKEY ELECTRICALS LTD

43

IATA

44

GBMT GLOBAL LTD

45

CBN

189

ANAGO BRIDGET AMAKA

EMOEDUME, BRAI ITSIKE

359.00 30-May-18

UCHENNA M IKUNI ROOSKEY ELECTRICALS LTD

7,500.00 MEDICAL TREATMENT

186

334

300.00 PTA

39 40

AJEH ALICE OMONI

4,000.00 PTA

6,058.40 AC MOTOR SINGLE PHASE

306.30 30-May-18

190

ADEKEYE PAUL ABOLAJI

1,790.62 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

11,808.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

1,011,900.12 REMITTANCE OF TICKET SALES

362.50 30-May-18

191

AYOADE ADEKUNLE RASHEED

4,552.68 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

339

OLANIRAN, ADAM LEKAN

6,844.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

5,000.00 HOT ROLLED STEEL SHEET

362.00 30-May-18

192

AYOADE AJOKE MUJIDAT

4,552.68 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

340

AJAYI SAMSON TUNDE

5,500.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

274,638.52 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 30-May-18

193

WELI, IGOCHUKWU

3,966.91 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

338

341

ENENI A EREMIE

DANIEL C UBEH

5,279.49 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

46

CBN

219,113.24 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 30-May-18

194

NGOZOR EUGENE C.

1,600.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

342

SAKA YUSUF AWEDA

6,790.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

47

CBN

205,955.99 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 30-May-18

195

NKANGA HARRY CHARLES

3,500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

343

PATIENCE I UKPE

7,198.69 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

48

CBN

165,143.42 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 30-May-18

49

CBN

9,766.70 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 30-May-18

197

KENNETH CHUKWUEMEKA AHIA

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

345

OLAFRANKIES INTERGRATED

50

CBN

5,747.54 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 30-May-18

198

ABE SOLOMON ADEDAYO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

346

ROYAL SALT LTD

51

196

OMOLEWA,TOLULOPE O.

2,500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

344

SELEDI F T-WAKAMA

13,194.68 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

7,173.17 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 30-May-18

24,750.00 ATLAS COPCO AIR COMPRESSOR

305.65 31-May-18

ADEREMI T. ATINUKE - REPLACEMENT

1,374.30 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

199

KOLADE, ATINUKE TOLULOPE

2,800.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

347

52

IBRAHIM A. EKUNDAYO - REPLACEMENT

1,374.30 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

200

KOLADE, ATINUKE TOLULOPE

344.80 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

348

NIGERIA PIPE LIMITED

35,914.89 CALCIUM CARBONATE SNOWCAL

362.10 31-May-18

53

EDEAWE E. FESTUS - REPLACEMENT

2,748.60 BTA

359.00 30-May-18

359.00 30-May-18

349

PURECHEM MANUFACTURING

53,874.00 INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL

362.00 31-May-18

201

CHIMA CHIOMA GLORIA

4,000.00 PTA

EGYPT AIR

1,381,215.47 REMITTANCE OF TICKET SALES

362.00 31-May-18

54

SANUSI S. SHOLA - REPLACEMENT

3,985.18 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

202

FAGBEMI OMONIYI EZEKIEL

2,750.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

55

OPARAH - REPLACEMENT

2,364.40 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

203

IDRIS HASSAN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

351

IBEANU CHINELO ABIGAIL

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

56

CAROLINE ANYIKA

580.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

204

PROF (MRS) EGBOCHUKU E. O.

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

352

LADIPO OLUSHOLA YINKA

1,200.00 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

57

SANI USMAN DANLADI

3,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

205

359.00 30-May-18

350

353

MBH POWER LIMITED

NDUKWE ARUAGHA IJEOMA

525,700.00 SMART PREPAYMENT METERS

500.00 PTA

362.10 31-May-18

360.00 31-May-18

EBODA KEHINDE IBITOLA

4,000.00 PTA

58

EDEM CLIFFORD EJIKE

1,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

206

GARDELL-NORWOOD Z. A.

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

354

PATRICIA ALADI AGABA

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

59

ANJU ABU FIDELIS

3,924.57 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

207

UMEGE KENNEDY C.

600.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

355

AGABA IDOKO EMMANUEL

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

60

DURU QUEENETH

1,500.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

61

MEZUE MARY NWAIFE

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

209

EKEMODE B. GBOLAHAN

552.28 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

357

DANINNA IDRIS USMAN

5,000.00 BTA

360.00 31-May-18

62

IRIABHO W. OJEILOBA

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

210

AMGBARE EDWIN BRAYE

3,935.15 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

358

MOMOH ABDUL

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

63

4,000.00 PTA

UZOEBO BENEDICT EMEKA

3,999.68 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

356

IYIORIOBHE O. ESTHER

2,000.00 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

360.00 30-May-18

211

UKACHUKWU B. MICHAEL

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

LAWAL ABIODUN KAFILAT

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

64

YUSUF BELLO JEGA

1,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

212

JOEL OLUGBENGA ALE

3,432.50 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

360

OLUWA ADIO RABIU

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

65

OBUAH CHRISTIE NKECHI

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

213

PROF AKIN OSIBOGUN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

361

CHIGOZIE JERRY

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

66

CONSTANCE C. IFESI

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

214

OSARENOMA ERHABOR

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

362

BAMIGBOYE A. MODINAT

5,000.00 BTA

67

ABUBAKAR NASIRU

2,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

215

AJAWOBU FRANCISCA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

363

IHEGWUAGU N. EDITH

68

BASSEY E. EKPENYONG

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

216

OKON UMOREN OKON

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

364

OPARA PRINCEWILL

69

OGWU IFEANYI VICTORIA

208

359

360.00 31-May-18

589.25 PTA

360.00 31-May-18

1,200.00 UPKEEP ALLOWANCE

360.00 31-May-18

GEORGE CLEMENT

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

70

GRAHAM DOUGLAS SOKIPIRI

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

218

SANI ABDULRASHID ROGO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

366

DAVID UDOM AKPAN

2,170.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 31-May-18

71

SALU OLUBUNMI BEATRICE

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

219

AJAYI ADENIKE TOKUNBO

3,995.43 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

367

SOBEREKON M. EVANS

3,834.53 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 31-May-18

72

ORENUGA TUNDE ABAYOMI

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

220

TIFASE AYODELE BERNARD

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

368

JOHN UCHEBO

73

MUHAMMAD BELLO MOBEL

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

221

OLUGBOYEGA ISIJOLA

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

369

AFTRADE NIG LTD

74

MOHAMMED NASIR BELLO

2,200.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

217

ESSIEN ANIEMA ITA

365

5,638.49 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 31-May-18

3,337.51 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 31-May-18

100,000.00 ARTIFICIAL RESINS

306.40 1-Jun-18

RINGARDAS NIG LTD

100,000.00 BITUMEN

75

BASHIR ABUBAKAR BASHIR

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

223

AKANU OLUWAKEMI

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

371

NOVA MERCHANT BANK

401,665.23 INTERBANK

361.50 1-Jun-18

76

ABUBAKAR SALISU BASHIR

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

224

PROF. OGEDENGBE O. K.

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

372

CBN

319,218.83 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 1-Jun-18

77

BASHIR UMAR ABUBAKAR

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

359.00 30-May-18

373

CBN

230,831.46 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 1-Jun-18

222

225

EZENWA C. JOSEPHINE

OMENE JOAN

4,000.00 PTA

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

370

UBEH DANIEL

306.40 1-Jun-18

78

AKINSANMI YEMISI TOLULOPE

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

226

ZIREGBE SUNDAY

3,940.86 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

79

MUHAMMED BASHIR AMINU

3,000.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

227

EMOVON ADESUWA CALLISTA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

375

OLUSI T. OLUYOLE

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

80

WOLUCHEM N. VICTOR

2,484.19 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

228

EMOVON EMMANUEL U.

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

376

CHUKWUDEBELU C. JULIE

5,000.00 BTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

81

LOWE HELEN

1,722.37 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

229

DANIEL OGHOGHO EBOIGBE

1,400.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

377

CHUKWUDEBELU F. UGO

5,000.00 BTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

82

374

UMUKORO P. BUNMI

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

NWAKA VICTOR CHUKWUKA

2,313.68 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

230

FAYOMADE MURITALA KUNLE

1,100.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

83

ERHABOR MIKE

3,975.18 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

231

ADEDUWON JANET LOLA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

379

MOHAMMAD B. AHMAD DR

2,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

84

CHARLES E NWACHUKWU

401.34 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

232

FATUSIN IDOWU T

560.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

380

MODEBE EMMANUEL EMEKA

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

85

OKULAJA FUNMILOLA ANATA

329.85 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

233

FATUSIN IDOWU T

2,746.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

381

AIGBEDO SAMSON

2,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

86

MIEBAKA L. SAMSON CHARLES

87

BAKWO IKANI ABDULLAHI

88

UBAH KELECHUKWU KENNETH

3,338.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

234

EJEZIE BENJAMIN CHIAGOZIE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

378

382

OYOLOLA Y. ADEBOWALE

SHETTIMA S. AMINA

360.00 1-Jun-18

273.90 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

235

EKE ADAKU ANGELA

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

383

ABIDOYE BOLA ESTHER

100.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

360.00 30-May-18

236

TASIE OKECHUKWU BENEDICT

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

384

MUSA ILIYA

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

650.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

89

ABIMBOLA ADENIKE SIMIAT

3,993.20 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

237

KOMOLAFE ISAAC OLADIPUPO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

385

AKANBI

BANIGO, IPALIBO GOGO

3,783.92 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

238

OJO SYLVIA

3,984.89 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

386

IKE MARY OBIAGELI

387

TUNJI-AKINWANDE A. O.

3,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

605.57 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

92

BODUNRIN TEMITOPE SARAH

3,969.83 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

240

DR AKIN-TUNDE A.ODUKOGBE

2,786.39 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

388

BASHIR ADEMOLA BUKOYE

3,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

93

ADETORO DAMOLA BUNMI

2,764.14 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

241

OVBIAGBONHIA FRANK

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

389

IGE OMOLOLA ZAINAB

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

94

IFUNANYACHUKWU N ONYECHI

1,300.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

3,992.25 PTA

90 91

5,000.00 BTA

SUBERU FATAI AYOMITAN

3,703.96 PTA

239

DR (MRS) WRIGHT, K. OLOLADE

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

390

ITABIYI DUPE TOYIN

500.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

360.00 30-May-18

242

ZIREGBE OCHUKO ANTHONIA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

95

AJAGBE ADEKUNLE WAHEED

1,249.50 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

243

AMORI ABIODUN ADEWALE

1,100.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

391

BAMIDELE S. BABATUNDE

1,600.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

96

EKE REMEMBRANCE

3,996.27 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

244

OKERINDE OLADELE MICHEAL

3,160.43 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

392

OLANREWAJU OLADIPO

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

97

ODUWOLE IDOWU TEMITOPE

2,440.90 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

245

IJAGBEMI FEMI SAMUEL

2,500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

393

OKPOKWASILI G. CHIJIOKE

1,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

360.00 30-May-18

246

CHUKWUMA E. OGO

1,600.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

394

TOCHUKWU ADIAH JESSY

99

SAHEEB BIRCH DAUDA OKOLO

1,108.96 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

247

ISHIEKWENE AZUBUIKE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

395

UMEAGUDOSI F. CHIJIOKE

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

100

OKAFOR SIMON

4,981.91 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

248

ELUSANMI KUNLE MICHAEL

500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

396

CHUKU MERCY ANYADIYA

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

98

101

EGBOBE ONYEKA SAMUEL

OLUDARE FOLAJIMI ADEYEMI

493.44 PTA

3,991.33 PTA

397

GODSWILL O. CHUKU

5,000.00 BTA

3,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

360.00 1-Jun-18

360.00 30-May-18

249

UZOUKWU CHINAKA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

102

ADEGBOLA OYINLOLA NAFISAT

3,896.20 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

250

ABIOYE JANET OLUBANKE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

398

OMOKWALE JOY F.

4,000.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

103

AKINTAYO JUDE AYOMIDE

1,718.92 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

359.00 30-May-18

399

ABDUL FATAI ABDUL H. O.

1,500.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

251

ADAMU PETER ALUMBUGU

700.00 PTA

104

ADELODUN TUNDE AYODEJI

840.06 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

252

HENRY E. M AKPAN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

TAIWO CLEMENTINA O.

4,000.00 PTA

105

ASUQUO CAROLINE ELIZABETH

3,896.20 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

253

ONWUKA ADA PATIENCE

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

401

ADEYEMI MICHAEL YEMI

1,600.00 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

106

DARAMOLA EBUN SEUN

3,999.57 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

254

OGBONNA K. CHIDIEBERE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

402

ODEYEMI O. OLAOLU

916.71 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

107

403

ANIMASHAWUN THERESA E.

674.05 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

360.00 1-Jun-18

ADEWOLE ABOSEDE O.

3,943.24 PTA

OGBONNA DAISY

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

108

NJOKU A EBUNOLUWA

2,394.28 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

256

EMENIKE DUBEN CLARA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

404

OKUESO FUNMI FUNKE

1,078.48 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

109

SHAMSIDEEN SADIQ GBADEBO

3,069.50 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

257

OGBEWE LESLIE

3,452.50 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

405

AJAYI AYOTUNDE

1,752.53 PTA

360.00 1-Jun-18

110

360.00 30-May-18

400

255

OLUYEMISI OYENUBI ADENIKE

2,520.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

111

TOLULOPE THEODORA TAIWO

2,800.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

259

PELUOLA TEMITOPE SEGUN

112

ANIAGOLU JOSEPHINE N

245.56 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

260

OLANREWAJU O ODUN

113

258

OKOLIE CHUKWUDI JUDE

2,140.55 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

406

IBHAREBHOR ALBERT EHI

600.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

407

GEORGEWILL O. ABRAHAM

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

408

ROSEMARY E NDAHBROS

409

PHILIPS MARY ANA

744.32 PTA 1,353.31 PTA 942.24 SCHOOL FEES 3,292.58 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18 360.00 1-Jun-18 360.00 1-Jun-18 360.00 1-Jun-18

YUSUF HAJARA HARUNA

2,823.94 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

261

DIENYE NAAMAN FEYI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

114

ONWU UCHENNA IJEOMA

3,920.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

262

ADEYEMI RONKE TOKUNBO

2,071.50 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

410

PHILIPS MARY ANA

3,011.09 RENT

360.00 1-Jun-18

115

OGBE OCHE PATRICK

700.05 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

359.00 30-May-18

411

JULIUS O SORUNKE

1,410.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18

263

NORMAN DORIS OLUFUNMI

4,000.00 PTA

412

MARGARET UWAKWE

5,525.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18

116

ENITOME E BAFOR

3,990.57 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

264

OKUNOYE OLUMIDE YEMI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

117

DOKUBO BROWN VIVIEN

3,990.57 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

265

IRENE E SIDO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

413

IKWUYUM O. FRANCIS

1,500.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18

118

BOTOSAN CAROLINE O.

3,990.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

266

BUKOLA OLADIPE

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

414

AFUECHETA TRANSP SERVICE

1,500.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18

119

EKURI SUSAN

1,228.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

267

EMMANUEL CHUKUWU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

415

DANIEL C UBEH

5,865.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18

120

MAURICE EFANA ASUQUO

3,380.16 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

268

UDO SAMUEL DICKSON

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

416

CHIEGE, FRIDAY NGOZI

2,777.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18

121

ERINLE OLUMIDE AKINSOJI

3,943.52 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

269

OLABODE JIMSON AJIBAYO

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

417

CONSTRAAD NIG. LTD

4,800.75 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18

2,500.00 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18

819.38 SCHOOL FEES

360.00 1-Jun-18

122

ATIEMIE JAMES CHRISTIAN

1,964.48 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

270

EZENDIOKWERE STEPHEN N

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

418

AKOBI SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

123

ADOLE ANTHONY AMODU

1,272.60 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

271

FADAHUNSI GUNADE DEJI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

419

OWOLABI VERONICA

124

ETA IMMACULATA OQUA

2,237.25 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

CHIBUEZE CHIGOZIE

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

125

BANIGO, IPALIBO GOGO

3,959.20 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

273

E LUKE CALLISTUS CHIBUEZE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

126

OMONORI A. DOMINION

1,254.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

274

272

MOHAMMED U. DANKABO

3,500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

127

OTOBONG M.UMOETTE

3,990.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

128

ATOE NOSA GODFREY

3,990.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

276

MOHAMMED D. LAWAN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

129

FAYEMIWO S. ADETONA

3,990.00 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

277

MMIRIUKWU ADA UJU

2,390.20 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

130

KELECHI K. OGBONNA

1,232.07 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

278

ASONYE M. OBIAGELI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

131

275

OHIENMHEN D. AKHERE

115.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

IMO JIMMY NDUBUISI

3,966.63 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

132

CHUKA ONYEMA MOSES

1,411.17 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

280

ENAHORO MOSES VICTOR

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

133

OLUWAFEMI A. OYENIRAN

2,822.34 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

281

JESUMUREWA TUNDE TUNJI

3,200.00 PTA

134

OQUA IKA BASSEY

3,951.27 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

282

OHAKAWA CHIDI LUCIOUS

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

135

ODUMOSU ABIMBOLA RONKE

3,947.64 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

283

ONOKPASA OGONI P.

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

136

279

AKANU OLUWAKEMI

359.00 30-May-18

POPOOLA KATE U.

2,540.10 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

EGWARE TESSY

3,200.00 PTA

137

OKEOWO SEGUN AKANNI

2,799.80 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

285

LANLEHIN OLUFEMI AKINOLA

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

138

SAMUEL BABATUNDE OBANIYI

3,982.72 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

286

EGEDI E GLORY

800.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

284

359.00 30-May-18

139

OKORIE IFEANYI CLEMENT

4,974.93 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

287

CHIBOROM G. EZEGBUNAM

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

140

GAYA SAID KHALID

3,637.67 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

288

ADIGUN ADEYINKA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

141

OKOH ALFRED ILODUBA

2,782.05 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

289

DURU CHOICE OGBONNA

5,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

142

OJI CHINEDU BENEDITTE

1,669.23 PTA

360.00 30-May-18

290

OSARENMWINDA N. O.

2,500.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

143

ORIKE ADIELA SONNY

3,865.96 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

291

SUBI OKPODI JOY

3,606.43 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

687.15 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

2,762.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

292

SALAMI, M. TEJUMOLA

145

IKECHI AMADI STEVE

4,991.23 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

293

OKOLIE CHUKWUDI JUDE

146

144

EKANEM EKANEM MICHAEL

ONOKALA UCHECHI CHIOMA

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

294

ADEYEMI RONKE TOKUNBO

147

OKAFOR M. CHUKWUDILIM

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

295

IKO NNENNA ORIAKU

2,198.72 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

148

USIKALU ABIONA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

296

MADAKI FALILAT TAIWO

2,782.96 PTA

359.00 30-May-18

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TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

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PIGB: Saraki Assures of Adoption by National Assembly Within a Week Lists gains of new Petroleum Industry Bills

Deji Elumoye in Abuja Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday gave an

assurance that the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) currently being harmonised by the National Assembly

FG Scrutinises 2018 Budget Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The federal government said yesterday in Abuja that it was currently studying the 2018 budget transmitted to it by the National Assembly on May 26.

Making this disclosure after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said the executive had 30 days to hold on to the budget without assent.

According to him, the president’s current examination of the Appropriation Bill is still within the stipulated time frame.

“The president is currently reviewing the budget and as you know, we have a minimum window of 30 days.

“The president is currently

reviewing it and as soon as he is through, he will sign it. That is what l can tell you for now,” Udoma said.

Buhari had in November last year, presented N8.6 trillion budget to the National Assembly.

But upon its passage on May 10, the lawmakers jacked up the figure to N9,120, 334,988,225 from the N8.6 trillion presented to them, thus implying an increase of N508 billion.

The budget comprises N3.5 trillion recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, N2.8 trillion capital expenditure, fiscal deficit of N1.955 trillion or 1.73 per cent to gross domestic product (GDP).

The budget was predicated on oil benchmark of $51 per barrel which was an increase of $6 from the $45 proposed by the executive; 2.3 million oil production volume and an exchange rate of N305/$1.

Conference Committee will be adopted within one week of its presentation.

Saraki, who made this disclosure in Abuja while declaring open a three-day public hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), stated that the National Assembly recently passed the PIGB “but at the point of harmonisation, certain minor observations were made which we immediately directed our Conference Committee to act on”.

He expressed hope that the PIGB will be back on the floor for adoption in a week.

According to him, the three new PIBs being considered by the Senate will boost economic growth and lead to a more efficient oil sector that is globally competitive.

Saraki said the three bills under consideration would have tremendous impact on the economy and investment opportunities when passed into law.

He listed the bills to include the Petroleum Industry Administration Bill 2018, Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill 2018 and the Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Bill 2018.

The objective of the Petroleum Industry Administration Bill, according to the Senate President , is to transform the administration of the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the Nigerian petroleum industry.

His words: “Firstly, the Bill creates a framework that will free up acreages that are not being developed by current license and lease holders, thereby creating opportunities for new investors. This will bring substantial new investment to our oil and gas industry.

“Secondly, it ensures effective management of the environment by petroleum operators and administrators.

“Thirdly, it provides a framework to unleash midstream activities which will open up the market for the supply of gas and other downstream products, for economic growth. Above all, I believe the most important feature of this Bill is that it provides much needed legal backing for the deregulation of our downstream petroleum sector,” he stated.

He noted that the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill, aims to fix

the anomalies in the nation’s existing fiscal framework for the petroleum industry which is outdated, especially with regards to royalty and tax regimes.

“For instance, billions of dollars have been lost through non-invocation of provisions in subsisting laws, at those times when crude oil price crosses certain thresholds,” Saraki said.

“The Bill will fix this as well as remove difficulties and uncertainties surrounding our tax assessment and collection system.”

“Additionally, it will remove distortions created by the Associated Gas Framework Agreement; and provide comprehensive fiscal terms for the development of our abundant natural gas resources.

“Perhaps the most critical objective of the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill is that it will enhance our international competitiveness and make Nigeria a choice destination for oil and gas investors,” he stated.

The Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Bill, according to him, provides for a legal framework for the development of the petroleum

host and impacted communities.

“It is a pan-Nigeria bill that will cater for communities that are hosts to upstream assets, as well as significant midstream and downstream assets and infrastructure.

“The Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Bill is unique because it overcomes the pitfalls of past efforts; and is structured to bring funding for the development of host communities, under the direct control of the communities themselves.

“We expect the nill to make for greater harmony and partnership among the various stakeholders in the sector. I urge everyone to pay particular attention to presentations by representatives of host communities,” he said.

He stated further that the bills are critical to the growth of the nation’s economy, the livelihood of all Nigerians and the interests of investors.

“We have the task of delivering these bills which, together, will enhance the growth of our oil and gas industry, modernise our fiscal system and enhance competitiveness, while creating harmony for all stakeholders,” Saraki further explained

UTILIZATION OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE AS AT 1ST OF JUNE 2018 S/N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61

SOURCE AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO INTERBANK AUTONOMOUS CBN CBN AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS

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AMOUNT (US$) 91.45 104.18 272.04 347.28 1,796.02 25.79 65.41 100.00 105.00 215.00 240.00 351.10 364.01 796.00 1,305.58 1,712.00 2,030.00 2,295.41 2,490.00 13,188.14 31,796.50 2,084.59 202,156.93 2,456.49 219,719.35 30,000.00 96,400.00 3,000,000.00 3,000,000.00 115.76 26.47 108.39 130.00 150.00 200.00 7,000.00 28,940.01 16,700.00 2,520,000.00 84,000.00 2,728.34 2,339.83 52.21 271,879.64 217,851.40 7,611.17 12,899.66 122.60 3,026.36 4,074.79 362,109.90 289,124.62 278.16 4,000.00 9,965.00 26,000.00 27,538.25 99,900.00 499,972.00 5,000,000.00 96.92

RATE 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 338.00 339.00 354.80 355.00 355.00 355.00 306.15 361.00 357.00 357.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 330.00 330.00 340.33 354.74 354.77 354.79 355.00 355.00 355.00 355.00 355.00 355.00 355.00 355.00 355.00 359.50 359.00 360.50 360.50 359.50 360.50 360.00 361.10 314.00

DATE 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 28-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 30-May-18 31-May-18

S/N 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122

SOURCE AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS

AMOUNT (US$) 103.02 114.47 114.99 138.66 140.80 143.09 155.11 320.94 430.98 526.57 629.59 801.33 1,713.04 2,079.90 2,260.78 3,737.49 414.04 429,886.28 12.95 15.00 29.41 38.80 70.00 73.65 85.22 92.03 100.00 130.00 150.00 200.00 220.86 273.50 304.45 315.00 360.00 496.00 535.00 625.50 650.00 650.00 1,251.72 1,400.00 1,475.00 1,740.00 2,500.00 3,386.83 4,353.59 10,221.00 10,221.00 1,084,755.30 163,000.00 210,500.00 30,000.00 445.28 70.58 160.26 177.43 199.53 212.33 328.07 809.97

RATE 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 338.53 360.50 361.00 360.50 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00

DATE 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 31-May-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18

S/N 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161

SOURCE AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS AUTONOMOUS IMTO IMTO IMTO IMTO

AMOUNT (US$) 1,112.52 65.97 168.89 40.28 63.15 86.20 100.00 100.00 100.00 116.06 121.80 130.83 195.50 200.00 226.00 235.00 250.00 300.00 382.00 404.66 475.00 475.00 482.00 582.00 650.00 675.00 680.00 730.00 739.21 800.00 950.00 970.00 1,827.28 2,190.00 500,000.00 3,380.68 304,394.60 4,978.11 420,646.99

RATE 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 314.00 335.00 354.84 355.00 355.00 355.00

DATE 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18 1-Jun-18

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TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Obasanjo, Ambode, Amosun, Others Mourn Ex-ICAN President, Olakunrin’s Passing She helped in actualising my dream, says ex-president Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adesoun, yesterday paid glowing tributes to the first African woman accountant and a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mrs. Olutoyin Olakunrin, who passed on last Sunday after a brief illness.

According to Obasanjo, the late former ICAN president played a major role in actualising his dreams as the civilian president between 1999 and 2007.

The former president however, called on all Nigerians to ensure that the great labour of love exhibited by the late Chairman of Education Trust Fund (ETF) was not allowed to die in vain.

In a condolence letter to husband of the deceased, Simeon Moronfolu Olusola Olakunri (SAN), a copy which was made available to journalists in Abeokuta yesterday, Obasanjo described the late stateswoman as “ever-resourceful and trustworthy Nigerian who conducted herself with humility, dignity and decorum.

“Toyin has left an indelible mark in her national assignment at the Federal level and various facets of life.

“When I needed to put together a strong team of individuals who understood my vision and mission for the Nigerian project and those who could help actualise my dream as the civilian president between 1999 and 2007, Toyin’s name just couldn’t escape the list of such individuals.

“Through her distinguished public service, as the chairman of ETF, she was of tremendous help to me and I enjoyed every bit of her advice and support.

Her reflections and piercing insights and insistence for truth

and accountability could not but inspire anyone close to her.

“Toyin also earned the recognition and admiration of many of her compatriots across the length and breadth of Nigeria. She was a dutiful and hardworking fellow and gave her very best to the end in the service of her fatherland.

“As we mourn the passage of this illustrious daughter of Africa, we must resolve that her great labour of love shall not be in vain. While I pray that God’s strength, His bountiful blessings and perpetual guidance shall remain upon you and the entire family as you brace up to the reality of the permanence of her absence, I also pray that God will crown her soul with the joy of paradise,” Obasanjo said.

Also, Amosun described ex-ICAN president as an accomplished professional.

The governor, in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Adedayo Adeneye, said the death of the deceased is a big blow to the accounting profession.

“Mrs. Olakunrin made her mark as an accomplished professional accountant, being the first female chartered accountant in sub-Saharan Africa as well a founding member of ICAN and chief promoter of the Society of Women Accountant of Nigeria (SWAN).

“She demonstrated her verstality as an administrator and captain of industry, in her capacity as the first female president of the Institute of Directors (Nigeria), former member of the National Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Policy Commission, Vision 20:2020 Committee, and Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange,” Amosun said.

The governor hailed the late Olakunrin for exhibiting patriotism as a Nigerian and a committed true daughter of Ogun State.

While praying that her soul rest in peace, he urged the family

Unknown Gunmen Attack Minna Prison, Free Inmates Laleye Dipo in Minna Unknown gunmen last Sunday night attacked the Minna medium security prison in the Niger State capital, freeing not less than 20 inmates.

The gunmen were reported to have attacked the prison from its southern part hiding under the cover of darkness.

It was learnt that they came in their numbers in an army colour pickup van and shot sporadically into the air while other gunmen scaled the fence to set the inmates free.

The incident occurred at about 9p.m. when it was about to rain.

So far, two people, one of them a prison official and the other, a commercial motorcyclists, who must have conveyed the official to the prison have been confirmed killed.

It was said the gunmen who caught the prison officials napping, took away several people in the pickup van they came in.

When THISDAY inquired from residents of the area, they said the shooting lasted for about 45 minutes and that some inmates escaped with gunshot injuries.

Some inmates however remained within the prison despite their freedom by the gunmen.

Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Abubakar, when contacted, confirmed the incident, describing it as “a jail break.”

He said: “For further details, please contact the Prison PRO.” Effort to get the Prison PRO as at 8a.m. yesterday was abortive as his cell phone was not connecting to network.

to take consolation in the fact that their matriarch lived a fulfilled life.

On his part, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, expressed shock and sadness over the death of Olakunrin.

The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, described her as a trail blazer whose intellectual capacity not only stood her out among her contemporaries but earned her national and international recognition.

“Chief Olakunrin was a woman of many firsts who paid her dues and rose to the pinnacle of her career

in the corporate world. Her outstanding intellectual genius won her several local and international laurels. She was a pace-setter in the accounting world and her dexterity inspired both men and women in the profession.”

The governor recalled Olakunrin’s successful career spanning over several decades in the private and public sectors, saying that her achievements would continue to remain a role model for accountants in Nigeria and across the African continent.

Similarly, Adeosun expressed her sadness over the death of Olakunrin.

Adeosun described Olakunrin,

as a professional mother and cherished mentor that impacted positively on a generation of women chartered accountants.

The minister stated that the former ICAN President supported women to realise their potentials in the field of accountancy.

She commiserated with the entire Olakunri family and prayed that God would grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Former Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Gbenga Daniel, described Olakunrin as a remarkable amazon and one of the outstanding Nigerian women in recent history.

In his condolence message

on the passing of the renowned accountant, distinguished administrator and entrepreneur, Daniel said she was a woman of awesome attributes, quintessential professional and an intellectual of global repute who excelled in male dominated fields during her glorious career.

According to him, her sterling contributions especially in the economic sector and women empowerment schemes were enormous while her exceptional managerial acumen and unique diligence stood her out as a shining star among her contemporaries with rewarding accolades and international honours.

WELCOME YOUR HIGHNESS

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left), receiving the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu when the monarch visited the state for the 14th Eni Njoku Memorial Lecture held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.... yesterday.

Ben Enwonwu’s Anyanwu Sets New Local Auction Record, Sells for N52m Okechukwu Uwaezuoke Months after his long-lost portrait painting sold for £1,205,000 (N520.2 million, €1.4 million, $1.7 million) at Bonhams Africa Now sale in London, “Anyanwu,” another work

by Ben Enwonwu sold for N52 million at the Arthouse Auction of Modern and Contemporary Art held in Lagos yesterday.

The second best-selling work at the auction was “Negritude”, a painting by the artist, which sold for N40 million.

“Anyanwu”, which was first sold last year at Bonhams for a record £353,000 (N138.4 million), is a full-size cast of the bronze sculpture by the iconic Nigerian artist.

Also, at a previous Arthouse auction, the bronze sculpture sold for N21 million as the highest selling work.

The work, which expresses Enwonwu’s notion of a new Nigeria, which is culturallyconfident and proud of her heritage, was first produced for

the Nigerian National Museum in 1975.

A bigger version was later produced for the United Nation’s building in New York.

On the sculpture, Enwonwu said: “My aim was to symbolise our rising nation. I have tried to combine material, crafts and traditions, to express a conception that is based on womanhood – woman, the mother and nourisher of man.

“In our rising nation, I see the forces embodied in womanhood; the beginning, and then, the development and flowering into the fullest stature of a nation – a people!

“This sculpture is spiritual in conception, rhythmical in movement and three dimensional in its architectural setting – these qualities are characteristic of the sculptures of my ancestors.”

It was featured among the other lots at the Arthouse Contemporary 20th auction auction with works by such already acknowledged masters and leading contemporary artists

as Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ben Osawe, Kolade Oshinowo, Ablade Glover, Chuks Anyanwu, David Dale, Ato Delaquis, Mavua Lessor, Uzo Egonu, Obi Enkwenchi, Okpu Eze, Lamidi Fakeye, Amos Odion, Abiodun Olaku, Muraina Oyelami, Jacob Afolabi, Susanne Wenger and Sam Ovraiti, who are easily the sub-region’s most celebrated.

Specifically, this edition featured over 20 works culled from the collection of a prominent art collector.

These works include works by Ben Enwonwu, Tayo Adenaike, David Dale, Okpu Eze, Abayomi Barber, Jimoh Buraimoh, Solomon Wangboje, Abiodun Olaku, Dele Jegede, Ben Osawe, Kolade Oshinowo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Sam Ovraiti, Twins Seven Seven, Simon Okeke, Obiora Udechukwu and Ben Osaghae.

Also among the front-line contemporary artists featured in the auction are El Anatsui, Peju Alatise, Rom Isichei, Sokari Douglas Camp, Ndidi Emefiele, Lemi Ghariokwu,

Alimi Adewale, Duke Asidere, Chike Obeagu, Uche Okpa-Iroha, Oluseye/Lakin Ogunbanwo, Ade Adekola and Michael Soi. The biannual auction held the Kia Showroom, along the upmarket Victoria Island neighbourhood’s arterial thoroughfare Adeola Odeku Street also marks the 10th year anniversary of Arthouse auctions.

Founded sometime in late 2007, the auction house set up by Mrs Chellaram focuses mainly on modern andcontemporaryartfromWestAfrica.

In the course of its decade-long existence, it has also featured a handful works by East African artists alongside others in its past auctions.

Monday’s auction leveraged on the recent performance of African art in the global art scene.

The auction as usual was led by the English-born auctioneer, John Dabney, who has been part of the biannual event from inception and was sponsored by Access Bank, Kia Motors, Veuve Clicquot, 7UP, Le Connaisseur, and Shiro.

TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSEXTRA

APC Moves to Manage Crises Arising from Congresses

Sets up reconciliation panel Aisha Alhassan to re-contest Taraba governorship

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it will take steps to reconcile

the aggrieved factions arising from the recent nationwide congresses of the party.

Speaking while inaugurating the newly state chairmen of the party

Court Consolidates Suits Challenging Magu’s Appointment as EFCC Chairman Alex Enumah in Abuja The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday deferred judgment to consolidate the various suits challenging the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, had at the last sitting adjourned till yesterday to deliver judgment on the suit filed by Wole Balogun against President Muhammadu Buhari and four others challenging the appointment of Magu as EFCC Chairman.

But Justice Nyako rather ordered the consolidation of 12 other suits filed by individuals and corporate organisations seeking either the removal of Magu from office or affirming his appointment by the President.

All the suits arose following the Senate’s rejection of Ibrahim Magu’s nomination for appointment as the substantive Chairman of the commission.

The judge told litigants that the court had received two applications from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and one other defendant seeking for an adjournment and also praying the court to consolidate all suits relating to the appointment of Magu.

Reacting, plaintiff claimed that the matter was adjourned for judgment, adding that, “arresting the delivery of a judgment is strange to our jurisprudence.”

Responding, the Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Apata, who appeared for the federal government said he need to correct the impression that it is an arrest of judgment.

He explained that while this case was pending the AGF was served with 12 other cases scattered over the country with four of them supporting Magu’s appointment while eight others suits challenged the legality of the appointment.

He said a letter to the Chief Judge asking for their consolidation was

written as far back as July 5, 2017.

But that the letter was not brought to the court, even though the CJ had approved the consolidation.

“So the issue of arrest of judgment does not arise. Having come to the realization that the suits all relate to same subject matter we want the court to consolidate all the matters,” he said.

The judge agreed that there was a break in communication.

She said it would be better to consolidate the suits in order to prevent giving contradictory judgments on suits that have similar facts, same defendants although different plaintiffs.

She said in respective of the fact that Balogun case has been argued and set down for judgment, it should be reopened.

Balogun, however, said he was not happy but will abide by the court’s decision.

Some of the suits consolidated are suit No. FHC/ YL/ CS /14/2017 between Bello and AGF pending at FHC Abuja, FHC / KN/ CS/ 59/ 17 Abubakar Sani vs the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, FHC/ABJ/ CS/278/2017 Jibrin Samuel Okutepa SAN v. the President, FHC/ ABJ/ CS/ 318/ 17 Ahmed Tijani Yusuf & an or v. Magu.

Others are FHC/ ABJ/ CS/ 227/2017 Lady Chidimma Udebani v. the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & Ors., FHC ABJ/ CS/ 374/17 The Incorporated Trustees of Justice Mission International v. Attorney General of the Federation., FHC/ ABJ/ CS/ 378/ 17 Mr. Ali A. Jamila v. President & 4 ors , FHC/ABJ/ CS/ 296/17 Registered Trustees of African Patriotic Youth Assembly v. Mr.Ibrahim Magu& 6 Ors. FHC /ABJ/ CS/ 802/17 Wale Balogun v. The President Federal Republic of Nigeria, FHC/ABJ/ CS/ 469/17 Chijioke Kanuv. AGF, FHC/ ABJ/ CS/159/17 Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi v. The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. and one other case.

Elsie Tonye-LeggJack for Burial The funeral rites of Mrs. Elsie Furo Tonye-LeggJack, who passed on recently in Port Harcourt, will begin on Wednesday, June 6, 2018; with a service of songs at the Port Harcourt City Council Hall, Moscow Road by 4p.m.

According to a statement signed by her husband, Mr. Solomon E. LeggJack, on Friday, June 8.

2018, a church service would be conducted at St. Mark’s Anglican Church. Kalaibiama Town-Opobo at 11a.m.

The statement further indicated that the remains of her body would be committed to mother earth at her husband’s compound after the service on Friday.

Tonye-LeggaJack Mrs. Tonye-LeggJack died after a protracted illness at the age of 57 at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt.

in Abuja, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, said there is serious need for quick reconciliation which might lead to concessions and harmonisations after the exercise within this week.

“There is serious need for quick reconciliation especially in Rivers, Taraba, Oyo, Delta, Lagos and others. Let the chairmen here wait and should not inaugurate their executives like the others until the issues with the congresses in such states are resolved.

“I’m going to set up a committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman North to study the situations in such states for possible actions. There will be concessions and harmonisations after the exercise within this week,” he said.

Oyegun told the state chairmen that they should put on hold the inauguration of state party executives till the ongoing reconciliation and harmonisation was over.

He also told the new state chairmen that they have an onerous task maturing APC and ensuring that the party’s achievements are given adequate publicity in order

to convince the electorate.

“You have to work hard to return the party to its lost glory.

Also make sure you work hard for the reelection of our president.

“We are aware of conflicts, disaffections and bad blood in the party. Put all these aside and work for the victory of our party at the 2019 general election.

“Go and tell the people of the great achievements recorded by the APC government. Your government is on the right course.

A firm foundation has been laid for the development of Nigeria. In spite of lean resources, APC has achieved much more in three years.

“Get acquainted with the achievements put together in a document which I will make available to you. Tell Nigerians the achievements of your government.

In infrastructure; a lot of roads have been constructed, agriculture; much rice is produced, transport, rail is there and power we now have 7,000 megawatts.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan, who had once professed her political allegiance to former

Vice President Atiku Abubakar now a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed optimism that the ruling APC “will rule Nigeria forever,” assuring that her party would win more states in 2019.

The minister popularly known as ‘Mama Taraba’, said the party’s coming National Convention would be peaceful, adding that the current crisis in the APC was normal in every big political party across the world.

Alhassan who was addressing journalists n shortly after the inauguration of her factional chairman of APC in Taraba State yesterday in Abuja, also expressed optimism that the party would win the presidency and more states in the coming 2019 election.

“Crisis is normal in a big party like APC, once we can do our national convention, then we face the opposition PDP and I assure you that APC will win more states like Taraba in 2019.

“I will make sure that in my zone I follow up and by God’s grace Gombe and Taraba will be taken over in 2019, and don’t even talk

about Nigeria because its already APC and it will continue to be APC forever.”

While making her ambition to re-contest governorship election in 2019, Mama Taraba said she actually won the election in 2015 but it was destined that she won’t be governor.

“I won the 2015 election everyone knows that, even the PDP, and I will re-contest the election again in 2019 if God keeps me alive and well.

“It is God that gives power to who ever he desires, I won the election 2015, but God did not give me power, I will keep trusting in him and the grassroots people of Taraba and God willing, I will win the election,” she said.

When asked to react to the report that APC is factionalised in her state, she said: “I have a right to choose who become the chairman of the party in the state, there is no faction in Taraba. We are very much together, there was no love lost in the state, we were never divided; it was all about political interest.”

HOSTING UNWTO

L-R: Chairman, Commission for Africa of UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Mr. Najib Balala; Representative of the President and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; Secretary-General of UNWTO, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, at the opening ceremony of the 61st meeting of UNWTO Commission for Africa in Abuja....yesterday

FG’s New Taxes on Smoking, Alcohol Excites WHO, Others Health minister: Govt to plough tobacco taxes to health sector Paul Obi in Abuja The federal government’s new increment of taxes on smoking and alcohol yesterday received applause and commendation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other stakeholders in the health sector.

Speaking at the event to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day 2018 organised by the Federal Ministry of Health, WHO Country Representative, Dr. Wondi Alemu, explained that the WHO was elated over the federal government’s new taxes on tobacco products and alcohol which commenced yesterday.

Alemu represented by Dr. Mpazanje Rex, said: “As WHO, we would like to congratulate

Nigeria for the upward review of excise duty rates for tobacco amd alcoholic beverages taking effect today (yesterday) which aims to raise government’s fiscal revenues and reduce the health hazards associated with tobacco-related diseases.

“We also applaud the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to ratify the protocol to eliminate illicit trade of tobacco,” he said.

The WHO country representative added that “despite the well known harms of tobacco to the health of the heart, knowledge among large sections of the public that tobacco is one of the leading causes of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is low.”

Also, Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, observed that tobacco was not doing any good to Nigeria in terms of profit, but causes more damages.

Adewole said: “Tobacco companies make a lot of gains without taking responsibility for the harm they do to us. For $1 gained in tobacco, we lost $3. When you invest $1 for tuberculosis, you gain $85. There is really no gain, so we need to work together.

“The increase in tax for tobacco signed by President Muhammaud Buhari is one of our best effort, we will work harder to increase that tax so that more money can come to government coffers “While we make efforts, someone has set a target for next year for us to implement the tobacco fund, we

need all of you to work hard to join us in the struggle to implement the tobacco fund so that we can plough the funds to the health sector to improve the health of our people,” the minister maintained.

Speaking, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe stressed that efforts are in top gear by the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure anti-tobacco policies in the country are strengthened.

The Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed, represented by Mrs. Boade Akinola, also commended the Ministry of Health for expediting action on tobacco and alcohol taxes.

Presentations were also made by the Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Custom Service, the Nigerian Police, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), among other institutions.

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TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Buhari: How Gowon Restrained Nigerian Troops from Crushing Biafra Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari

yesterday in Abuja revealed how former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon’s timely warning to federal forces restrained them

FG Cuts Tariffs on Casino, Amusement Park Equipment

Commences visa on arrival policy Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has announced a reduction in tariffs and import duty on casino machine and amusement park equipment not manufactured in the country to shore up investment in the tourism sector.

President Muhammadu Buhari made this concession yesterday while declaring open the 61st United Nations World Tourism Organisation Commission for Africa (UNWTO-CAF) meeting in Abuja.

Buhari also underscored government’s readiness to grant incentives, including pioneer status to all major tourism projects.

The president was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

He listed some of the items to earn minimum tariffs to include, materials for hotel construction and furnishing, dedicated transportation for tour operators, equipment for restaurants not manufactured in Nigeria, amusement park equipment and minimum duty on casino equipment.

He called on the investors in the tourism sector to consider Nigeria as their second home as government is committed to providing security to all Nigerians,

investors and tourists.

“The importance of tourism and its potentials to national economies cannot be over-emphasised.

Tourism, as we all know, contributes to the wealth of nations and the well-being of citizens, largely through foreign exchange earnings, generation of revenue, creation of employment, knowledge, cultural integration as well as increase the GDP of the country,” Buhari said.

He also stressed that work permit will be given to foreign workers with specialised skills within the tourism industry while state governments will also approve land at concessionary rate to tourism investors.

The president added government is also deepening the legislative and institutional capacities for the protection of intellectual property rights in Nigeria, saying such will give all investors the assurance of security of their rights especially in the creative industry.

He commended the leadership of the UNWTO, CAF and tourism ministers from all over Africa for considering Nigeria worthy of hosting the event this year.

Tourism ministers from 51 African countries and several delegates are meeting in Abuja to deliberate on the theme: ‘Tourism Statistics - A Catalyst for Development.’

‘Peterside Always Upholds Integrity of Courts’ The President, Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation (RIVLEAF), Chief Alex Wele, has described Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, as someone who always upholds the integrity of the judiciary.

Wele, in a statement, said anything to the contrary amounts to painting Peterside in bad light.

A group known as Freedom House accused Peterside of only upholding the integrity of the courts when it suited him.

But RIVLEAF said: “We read with utter dismay and shock statements credited to one Freedom House, ostensibly acting and representing the interest of a senator wherein they embarked on half-truths and outright lies all in an effort to paint the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi and Peterside in bad light.

“But for the reason that the so-called Freedom House had chosen to dance naked and point an accusing finger at both Amaechi and Peterside, one would ordinarily have ignored them as those who are suffering from identity crisis and lacking a sense of responsibility.

“The truth of the matter is that Peterside appeared on a live radio programme, Rhythm’s 93.7FM View Point in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and talked about many issues

including events that led to the May 5, 2018 ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It is worth stating that some persons claiming to be members of APC had gone to court, submitting that they were denied opportunity to purchase nomination forms for the ward congress and therefore wanted the local government congress scheduled for May 12 suspended pending the determination of their reliefs in court. On Friday, May 11, barely 24 hours before the local government congress, a Port Harcourt High Court was said to have granted an order stopping the congress from holding.”

The group continued: “Throughout Friday evening, no one saw a copy of the court order, prompting many people to doubt the authenticity of the said ruling.

“It was against this background that Peterside appeared on the live radio programme on Saturday morning from 8.15am-10am. Throughout the programme, he repeatedly stated that the party leadership at both state and national levels had not seen the court order and as such the congress would go ahead until there is a contrary directive from the party. It is sheer mischief to twist the fact and say he said the court order will not be obeyed without attaching a reason to it.”

from descending heavily on Biafran forces during the civil war.

Speaking while receiving officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) led by its National President, Mr. Bolaji Anani, at the Presidential Villa, Buhari said Gowon promptly instructed Nigerian troops that they were not fighting enemies but their brothers.

According to him, this timely instruction constrained the Nigerian troops from unleashing terror on the Biafran forces, describing Gowon as a considerate and committed Nigerian whom he said also allowed international observers to be both in front and middle of the battle.

He said: “Earlier in my profession, during the civil war, I know how much sacrifice members of the

Nigerian Red Cross and their international counterparts did both in the real front of operations and at the rear, on both sides. I think it is a lot of sacrifices because anything can happen to you in the operational areas.

“The risks they faced were real and I admire their courage and commitment to helping people who were in distress and were virtually in millions. Those photographs of people from the Biafran enclave spoke a lot.

“I remember with nostalgia the performance of the Commanderin-Chief, General Gowon. Every commander was given a copy of the Commander-in-Chief’s instructions that we were not fighting enemies but that we were fighting our brothers.

And thus, people were constrained to show a lot of restraint.

“The international observer teams were allowed to go as far as possible within and outside the front and I think this was generous and very considerate of General Gowon. He is a highly committed Nigerian.”

Buhari who was decorated as the Grand Patron of the NRCS said he appreciated the honour bestowed on him by the appointment and thanked the organisation for its humanitarian services in the North-east.

Assuring the body that the federal government would look into its challenges, including non-possession of a permanent office accommodation in Abuja, the president expressed further

appreciation to members of the group for their humanitarian services to the country during the civil war and other emergency situations.

“I have taken note of your logistics especially your (request for) office here. I assure you that the government will do its best when you decide to build such facilities in terms of securing an area here within the Federal Capital Territory and we hope you will not do the Nigerian ways of doing things.

“To use the words of famous Nigerian minister ‘I hope you will not build an elephantine headquarters’ which is going to be functional because we have seen your activities throughout the country.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN… WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN…

Ezenwa Gets Nigeria’s Number One Jersey Avita resort in Austria excites Eagles, team officials Femi Solaja Following FIFA’s official confirmation of all players of the 32 teams that will play at the World Cup in Russia, Enyimba’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa is to wear Nigeria’s Number one shirt at the Mundial kicking off in barely nine days from today.

However, Coach Gernot Rohr’s body language indicates Deportivo La Fabril’s Francis

Uzoho is top in the pecking order of the goalkeepers in Eagles camp. The FrancoGerman coach has consistently relied on Uzoho as first choice in all the Russia 2018 warm up games played by the three-time African champions to date.

Ezenwa was between the sticks for the rest of Nigeria’s qualifying matches when first choice goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, was diagnosed with Leukaemia

EAGLES AND THEIR SHIRT NUMBERS 23 – Francis Uzoho 16 – Daniel Akpeyi 1 – Ikechukwu Ezenwa 5 – William Troost-Ekong 6 – Leon Balogun 12 – Shehu Abdullahi 2 – Bryan Idowu 21 – Tyronne Ebuehi 20 – Chidozie Awaziem 22 – Kenneth Omeruo 3 – Elderson Echiejile 17 – Ogenyi Onazi

4 – Wilfred Ndidi 19 – John Ogu 15 – Joel Obi 10 – John Mikel Obi 8 – Oghenekaro Etebo 18 – Alex Iwobi 14 – Kelechi Iheanacho 9 – Odion Ighalo 13 – Simeon Nwankwo 7 – Ahmed Musa 11 – Victor Moses

after the game against Swaziland and Zambia in Ndola.

Uzoho has been allocated the shirt Number 23. The third goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi is to wear shirt Number 16.

According to the tradition in Eagles the number one choice keeper is to wear purple shirt and shorts while the second choice will wear orange shirt and shorts. The third goalkeeper in the pecking order is to don the light grey attire during Russia 2018.

Nigeria’s first opponents at Russia 2018, Croatia , has dropped Matej Mitovic as the final 23-man squad was

announced on deadline day.

Coach Zlatko Dalic, who had named one extra player in his provisional squad yesterday dropped the defender.

Mitrovic had not played for Belgian champions Club Brugge since April 19 and Dalic said that was one of the reasons he was dropped.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about this, and since the beginning I was saying that one defender will be removed and I stuck to that,” Dalic told reporters. “This is my choice and I stand by it.”

Meanwhile, players and officials of the Super Eagles are pouring encomiums

on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for doing the needful to secure the world-renowned Avita Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria for the team’s final camping programme before the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

“This place makes a whole lot of sense. I am truly impressed.

The Nigeria Football Federation has improved so many things around the team, in terms of organization and logistics.

“Whoever choses this place paid attention to details. We are happy here,” Captain John Mikel Obi said yesterday at the camp.

The Super Eagles, arrived the Avita Resort on Sunday evening after the 2-1 defeat it suffered in a tune-up game against England at the Wembley Stadium to a very warm reception by the people of Bad Tatzmannsdorf. They are to spend eight days at the resort perfecting strategies for the FIFA World Cup finals.

On Wednesday morning, the Eagles will travel the one-hour distance by road to Vienna, where they play the Czech Republic at the Rudolf Tonn Stadion. They will return to the resort immediately after the match.

French Open: Injured Serena Pulls out of Clash with Sharapova Serena Williams pulled out of the French Open before her fourth-round match with Maria Sharapova yesterday because of an injury that affected her serve.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner recently returned to tennis after giving birth to her first child, but looked in good form in her opening matches.

“I’ve had issues with the right pectoral muscle to the point where I can’t serve,” said the 36-year-old.

“I’ll have a scan. I won’t know about Wimbledon until I get the results.”

Williams said she first felt the problem during her third-round win over German 11th seed Julia Gorges on Saturday.

She played in a doubles match with sister Venus on Sunday, saying she wanted to try to

manage the problem before her match with Sharapova.

“I tried lots of taping and support to see how it felt in match circumstances,” Williams said.

“It is hard to play when I can’t physically serve. I’ve never had this injury before, I’ve never felt it in my life and it was so painful.

“I don’t know how to manage it.”

Williams said she will have an MRI scan in Paris on today and will stay in the French capital at least until the extent of her injury is clear.

Sharapova said she was “looking forward” to playing Williams and “disappointed” the American had to withdraw.

“I wish her a speedy recovery and hope she returns to the tour soon,” she added.

AIICO Emerges Tops at UBA Pensions Sports Meet AIICO Pension Managers Limited at the weekend emerged the overall winner of the 2018 UBA Pensions Custodian Limited annual sports meet tagged ‘mini Olympics’ with three gold, one silver and one bronze medals.

The tournament in its 9th year witnessed the participation of 11 PFAs and the host namely: Stanbic IBTC Pensions, Leadway Pensure, ARM Pension, Crusader Sterling Pension, AIICO Pension, Legacy Pension, Fidelity Pension, Radix Pensions, AXA Mansard Pension, PAL Pensions, IEI Anchor Pensions and UBA Pensions.

With about 800 people in attendance, the tournament took place at Funturf International Admiralty Way, Lekki, Phase 1 Lagos.

Stanbic IBTC Pensions

and ARM Pension were the first and second runners up respectively winning two gold, two silver, one bronze and one gold, three silver and three bronze respectively. In the star event, the five-a-side football competition, IEI Anchor Pensions emerged tops.

Apart from the five-a-side football competition for men, other sporting events at the tournament included: sack race relay, table tennis (male and female), egg and spoon race (female), chess, scrabble, snooker, penalty shootout and the FIFA 17 virtual game.

In all, 84 medals and 30 awards were given to outstanding participants at the competition, while the overall three best teams received trophies. Children were not left out of the event as lots of entertaining games were provided with plenty to eat and drink.

BROTHERS AT WAR...

Both Alex Iwobi (left) and Dele Alli have Nigerian ancestry but played for England at the youth level. But last Saturday during the international friendly between the Super Eagles and the Three Lions of England, the players starred for the countries of their choices. Nigeria lost the game 1-2

Kanu Robbed of £8,000 in Russia Former Nigeria Captain, Nwankwo Kanu, has been robbed of £8,000 (about N4million) in the city where Super Eagles are to play their opening Group D match against Croatia on June 16.

TASS Russian News Agency reported that the money was stolen from Kanu’s luggage by the baggage handlers at the Khrabrovo Airport.

“When Kanu discovered that the money was stolen

when he got to his hotel, he promptly made a report and the two airport staff were detained on suspicion of stealing the money from the Nigeria legend.”

Lieutenant Colonel Irina Volk, spokeswoman for the Russian Interior Ministry, said the loaders were dealing with the baggage from a London to Moscow flight.

“The stolen cash was removed (from the loaders)

and will soon be returned to the owner”, she said.

The loaders, aged 30 and 36, face criminal investigation and could be sent to jail for up to six years.

Kanu played alongside ex-Manchester United and England star Wes Brown in a FIFA legends team against a Russian legends side.

The ex-Arsenal man, a former Nigerian international, did not mention the theft in

speaking to the media in the Baltic city.

“Kaliningrad is a very nice city with very nice people,” said Nwankwo Kanu.

“Nigeria will be a big surprise, for sure. We have good young and talented players; they are hungry for victories and want to do well – for themselves and for the country,” Kanu was quoted as saying to UK’s Mirror newspaper.

Moghalu Banks on Eagles to Make Nigerians Proud Presidential hopeful, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, is not losing sleep over Super Eagles’ chances at the Russia 2018 World Cup which is barely ten days to kick off.

Moghalu’s optimism is hinged on the exposure accruing from tune up matches against tough opposition, which according to the political economist, was not only a dress rehearsal but good for their nerves.

He said: “ I believe strongly in this team. The friendly games have emboldened

our players. The world will, for a change, see something spectacular from our country beyond insecurity and corruption. These boys are carrying the undiluted love of 180 million Nigerians. In soccer, we are one tribe, one tongue”.

While commending the NFF for settling all financial obligations in good time, Moghalu believes the duo of Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses are destined for great heights at the Mundial.

“We have not seen the best

of Iwobi yet. That boy carries Nigeria on his head in the field of play. His uncle, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, did wonders with the ball. Iwobi will dance more than ‘cha cha cha’ in Russia.

Moses will have planet earth in his cleats with tantalising runs from the wings”, the former Central Bank Deputy Governor added.

Moghalu is eyeing Aso Villa on the platform of a new party, the Young Progressive Party (YPP), and is glad the Eagles are going to Russia with a very young team.

“ Our party is investing in the endless creativity of the Nigerian youth. That’s part of our youth empowerment objective’’, he explained.

On Skipper John Mikel Obi, Moghalu wants him to quit on a high. “Mikel has shown patriotism at its best. He bagged a silver medal at the 2005 World Youth Championships and picked bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics. I wish God could turn silver and bronze to something more precious in Russia”.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

54

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018

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Tuesday June 5, 2018

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MISSILE Akinterinwa to FG “Powerful individuals simply come into the policy-making processes to direct on what to do and the Foreign Ministry is set aside. In Nigeria, individuals are more powerful than institutions, even more than Nigeria.

This is why PMB’s administration has been more of a burden than solution to Nigeria’s many problems” – Bola Akinterinwa, former NIIA DG, berating Nigeria’s Foreign Policy under President Buhari.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

The Road to Babylon N

igeria is on the road to Babylon: a place of confusion. Three years ago, the people were convinced that they had found a messiah who will lead them to the Promised Land, and meet all their expectations. Today, everyone is speaking in different tongues; “turning and turning in the widening gyre…the falcon cannot hear the falconer... things fall apart; the centre cannot hold/Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world/The blood-doomed tide is loosed, and everywhere/the ceremony of innocence is drowned…surely, some revelation is at hand…” But just may be, there is still, no cause for despair. The good thing about democracy is that it teaches people lessons – ask them in Malaysia and the United States - and even when the people refuse stubbornly to learn – ask them in Syria, Venezuela, and Libya - the lessons exist nonetheless. But it is a very bad thing not just for democracy but the entire society when the leadership elite ignores apparent lessons and fails the people.

About 23 years ago, we did a series of editorials titled “To save Nigeria.” As our country continues on a journey towards Babylon, such editorials may again be necessary. The pity is that those who are in charge at the centre do not seem to understand this. I once wrote that persons who wield power like a whip - a dated military strategy - that is completely out of place today in a democracy, have surrounded and “captured” President Muhammadu Buhari. But as we can see, their strategy of alienation has failed. This is the biggest challenge facing this government.

Each time their strategy fails them; their standard response is to say that the President is not “aware” of whatever transpired. They have been so adept in selling this line to the boss, that the President himself once declared publicly that he was not aware that his Inspector-General of Police ignored, perhaps modified, or changed his instructions and went on a frolic of his own.

Things have not only gotten worse since then, the entire country is in a state of shock, and I won’t be surprised if a funny character shows up before this week runs out to tell us, again, that President Muhammadu Buhari is not aware that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the Chairman of the 8th Assembly has been summoned to appear before the Nigeria Police under the authority of the same Inspector-General of Police who has been having a running battle with the National Assembly and its members – first Senator Isa Misau, then Senator Dino Melaye and now Senator Bukola Saraki. It doesn’t take much intelligence to figure out the script: what has happened between the Senate and the office of the Inspector General of Police is much less about the personalities involved but a lot more about the intra-governmental and intra-party crisis that continues to pose a threat to the Buhari government.

No other government in recent times has been this divided and suicidal. I won’t be surprised anyway if some vocal, genetic trouble-makers on social media (specially made in Nigeria since 2015) argue otherwise but let the point be made that President Buhari’s problems have all been self-inflicted, and his loss of favour within and outside government and the party have been due largely to the saboteurs within.

And if indeed President Buhari is not suffering from what Nigerians call “home trouble”, let someone explain to me why the EFCC is fighting the Department of State Security and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, why the woman who sees the President first thing

Buhari in the morning and last minute at night inside “the other room” is fighting a so-called cabal and has had cause to chide her husband publicly, why the legislative arm of government has been systematically sabotaging the Executive arm of government and vice versa, why the security agencies have been busy making enemies for President Buhari, and why the judiciary behaves like a frustrated arm of government, and civil servants have had to condemn the government they should serve as obedient servants. I believe that the chickens have now come home to roost with the latest attack on Senate President Bukola Saraki. The drama has reached its climax.

The Inspector-General of Police has summoned Saraki. It is pubic knowledge that this same public officer, Ibrahim Idris, publicly shunned the Senate when he was asked to appear before it. Now, exploiting the powers of his office as the country’s chief police officer, he has declared that Bukola Saraki has a case to answer at the police station in a typical my-Mercedes-is-bigger-than-yours fashion, or for the benefit of those who will remember, if you Tarka-me-I-will-Daboh-you.

Senate President Bukola Saraki has been called a thief by this administration. He is now being indicted as the Godfather of Offa Armed Robbers.

When a government advertises its No. 3 citizen as a thief and an armed robber, whatever happens, it is the country that loses at the end of the day.

It is good news that Saraki has agreed to appear before the police to clear his name. It is also good news – coming in as I write – that someone with some grey matter has quickly intervened and introduced a face-saving measure to wit: Saraki no longer has to go the police, Instead, the police will go to him and take his statement.

Before that spoilsport intervention, I was already imagining very ugly optics. Imagine: Saraki would have gone to the Police in Abuja with about two-thirds of the National Assembly of Nigeria in tow. Dino Melaye would have led the pack and organize placards. He and the dancing Senator Adeleke could have added a special dance and song to create colour and tragic melodrama.

Without knowing it, the Inspector-General of Police would have created a popularity contest between Saraki and Buhari and between the Executive and Legislative arms of the Nigerian government. In the eyes of the world, that will amount to a serious crisis in Nigeria. So, how does the public disgrace of Senator Saraki help us as a country, or Buhari as President?

Somehow, despite the last minute adjustments, President Buhari’s managers have turned almost

the entire National Assembly against him. The Speaker of the House of Representatives who has been so far supportive has also been alienated.

The days ahead will not only be very interesting with the do-me-I-do-you tango that has been initiated at the highest levels of this government, the developments will have serious implications for the politics of the 2019 elections.

The Executive arm of government, for sure, has alienated the Federal legislature; it has similarly done the same to the judiciary. The humiliation of judges and lawyers was meant to be part of the war against corruption by the Buhari administration but the selective nature of that assault on the judiciary, and the brazen disregard for the rule of law, has left the entire establishment bruised.

Not even under the military were the Bar and the Bench so badly treated. It is obvious that the judiciary is beginning to take its pound of flesh especially at the appellate courts. What kind of government would go out of its way to alienate other arms of government?

The media is the fourth estate of the realm.

It has not been spared either. In three years, the Buhari government has managed to intimidate, harass and frustrate the Nigerian media, including freedom of expression on the social media. The relationship between this strategic institution and the government of the day has been propelled more by fear and caution rather than respect. Those media houses that used to be very aggressive under the previous administration have gone into a sit down and look mode. I can reveal for free that although a few sections of the Nigerian media are beginning to crawl out of their shells, the prevailing attitude is rooted in the belief that the media will always have the last say, and what we have is a media establishment that is waiting for the right time to take its own pound of flesh. Obviously, nobody is thinking of President Buhari’s legacy and how it will be remembered.

“Making Enemies for the President: How President Buhari Won and Wasted the Presidency” would probably be an appropriate title for a future book.

Just imagine the number of enemies that have been made, and how the number increases almost weekly. Do these guys really want a second term?

In 2015, the likes of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had contested against President Buhari during the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ate the humble pie and supported him.

Today, Atiku has left the APC. He is a leading critic of the same government and party that he helped to create and bring to power. Kwankwaso has been declared a persona non grata in the same state of Kano that he delivered to Buhari during the 2015 elections.

In 2015, President and elder statesman Olusegun Obasanjo wanted President Goodluck Jonathan out of Aso Rock by every means possible. He wrote letters, de-marketed the man locally and internationally and he told the whole world: anyone else but Jonathan. Three years later, Obasanjo is an unwanted guest at Aso Rock. The man he helped to bring to power has publicly dissed him. He has himself had cause to offer Buhari a compulsory reading lesson by referring him to a trilogy: My Watch written by him. Buhari’s attack dogs have warned Obasanjo to keep quiet or he would be dealt with. That is like asking for “double wahala” because Obasanjo is also obviously ready for a show-down. He is leading a Nigerian coalition whose ambition is to do in Nigeria what Mahathir Mohamad has done in Malaysia and if he succeeds, he has enough

clout to do far more damage with his pen and mouth, than the entire Nigerian media.

So, who is left with President Buhari? Definitely not President Goodluck Jonathan the man who lost power to him in 2015, and who quietly and dutifully handed over, only to be harassed and hounded later. Not the army of Nigerian youths either who supported Buhari and the APC in the 2015 elections only to be dismissed as an idle and opportunistic lot. Definitely not the social media crowd that carried Buhari on its head as if he was a crate of eggs. Many are those who have since apologized openly to Jonathan and Nigerians for allowing themselves to be misled.

And certainly not Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the man who corralled the entire South West into the APC alliance in 2015, and who has been rewarded with ingratitude, insults and marginalization.

His relevance in his own immediate political constituency has just been queried with the rejection of the results of the recent APC party congress in Lagos State on wait for it – constitutional grounds.

The APC National Working Committee has the guts to tell Tinubu that he is a law-breaker, and if he is not careful, he too will get the Saraki treatment? Really? The same man who risked everything to make the APC possible? But he knows what is good for him though; he has been wisely quiet. The South East has since turned its back on the Buhari government. Rochas Okorocha, the pro-Buhari governor of Imo state has been shown the handwriting on the wall. Other Igbos having seen how their region was turned into a battle-field are quietly waiting for 2019, to use their voters cards in a more informed manner than they did in 2015.

So, really who is left with the Buhari government?

Bukola Saraki, with all the humiliation he has received would have to be an “ogbologbo omo ale” (let some twitter trolls translate that for me), to deploy his political structures in support of Buhari in 2019. He won’t anyway. Already, his political group in the APC alliance- the nPDP has declared that it is no longer interested in any further dialogue with the APC Federal Government.

They have opted out. As for Tinubu, he would have to be really naive to go before the Yoruba people in 2019 to ask that they should vote for Buhari again. Rotimi Amaechi who was a leading gladiator in 2015 is still hanging in there, but it would be most strange if he were to be seen acting as he did in 2015. Even up North, the APC is in deep crisis in Benue, Kogi, Bauchi, Kano, Adamawa, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Kebbi and elsewhere. Last week, in Oyo State, the APC lost the bye-election in Ibarapa East and the ones gloating are not PDP members but factional members of the APC! Where the APC and the Buhari government are right now is not a good place to be in the people’s reckoning.

One Jonathanian phoned me the other day and said this is the God of Jonathan at work! I told him: “I won’t talk like that, I mean: #se-omo-age-mi-ni”. But I made this point: that it is the dew that will certainly destroy a house made of spittle; as a man sows so he reaps, the laws of nature are constant and immutable and the ways of God are forever mysterious. Nobody is shaking the Buhari-APC table. They are the ones who have on their own removed the legs from their own table. I have said my own. If some herdsmen are looking for me, tell them I am currently in Abeokuta enjoying Iya Sunday’s amala and ogufe! But also tell them that some of the boys at this table are very angry that Buhari has increased the cost of beer, water, and “smoke”.

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