TUESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER 2018

Lagos Standstill as Ovia’s ‘Africa Rise and Shine’is Unveiled Calls for economic digitisation to stimulate growth Obinna Chima The founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, yesterday stressed the need for digitisation of the Nigerian economy in other to

stimulate growth.

Ovia made this call yesterday, during the unveiling of his new book, ‘Africa Rise and Shine – How a Nigerian Entrepreneur from Humble Beginnings Grew

Buhari, Osinbajo, others hail business mogul

Ibom, Borno, Taraba, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, several traditional and political leaders, chief executives, media entrepreneurs including the

a Business to $16 Billion,’ in Lagos.

The event attracted bigwigs which included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governors of Lagos, Gombe, Delta, Akwa

Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, THISDAY Newspapers Limited, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, among others.

In his speech, Ovia said internet had completely

changed the face of the world and highlighted the benefits of technology in the growth of nations.

Continued on page 6

Nigeria Faces Serious Revenue Challenges, Says Ahmed ... Page 6 Tuesday 18 September, 2018 Vol 23. No 8553. Price: N250

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L-R: Central Bank Governor, Chief Godwin Emefiele; Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel; former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu; Ms. Fatima Dangote; wife of the author, Kay; the author, Chief Jim Ovia; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Dr. Christopher Kolade; governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), during the launch of Ovia's book 'Africa Rise and Shine' in Lagos…yesterday

Ambode Weighs Options as Efforts to Secure Tinubu’s Support Fail Negotiations continue in Osogbo today Gboyega Akinsanmi As it becomes more obvious that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, will not change his mind on his decision not to support Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s second term of office ambition, the embattled

governor is weighing his options and will soon make his next move public, THISDAY learnt last night.

Although Tinubu has not spoken publicly about his reported opposition to Ambode’s ambition, his political foot soldiers, massed in the Mandate Movement, the same group that facilitated the

governor’s ride to power in 2015, have publicly declared their support for the Managing Director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC), Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu. Sanwo-Olu formally launched his intention to take over Ambode’s job on Sunday at a huge gathering

at Lagos City Hall with major stakeholders of Lagos APC, including local government and development councils’ chairmen in attendance, signifying the breakdown of negotiations with Tinubu by peace makers, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to save the governor’s job.

Even as his aides kept hope

alive last night, saying further discussions were on in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, where the party’s regional and national leaders have assembled to hold a final rally for APC’s governorship candidate in next Saturday’s election, Chief Gboyega Oyetola, Ambode is said to be weighing the options available to him.

The options, according to his close aides, who spoke to THISDAY yesterday on condition of anonymity, are, step down because without Tinubu’s support, he has no other structure with which to fight; join another party as proposed by the opposition Continued on page 6

CJ Directs Judges to Conclude Pre-election Cases by October …

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Nigeria Faces Serious Revenue Challenges, Says Ahmed Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The newly appointed supervising Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, yesterday revealed that Nigeria was facing serious revenue challenges.

She, however, promised that the ministry would do everything possible to shore up the revenue base of the country.

Ahmed was directed to oversee the Ministry of Finance by President Muhammadu Buhari after the resignation of former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, on Friday.

While officially resuming for duties yesterday at the Ministry of Finance, she promised to work diligently to ensure that the country attains greater economic stability.

She said, “We have very serious revenue challenges and it is up to us to make sure we shore up the revenue base of the country. “The president has a lot of confidence that we can do this if we work together. You are working for the president and at the end of the day; you’re working for the benefit of the citizens.�

The minister expressed her

readiness to ensure harmonious working relationship with the permanent secretary and management of the ministry, whom she described as highly skilled.

She charged the management staff of the ministry to do all within their power to justify the confidence of the president in their ability to achieve a much needed economic turnaround in the country.

The minister, who arrived the ministry at exactly 9.27a.m., was ushered in with the familiar labour song, "Solidarity forever," by leaders

of the in-house labour union.

The unionists expressed their desire to cooperate with her while in the ministry.

Ahmed, who acknowledged their song, said, "We will work together."

She was immediately escorted inside the building by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mahmud Isa-Dutse, and other directors.

At a meeting with staff shortly after, the minister told them that the country was currently undergoing a period of financial challenges.

She said, "I will work very well with you and especially

the permanent secretary to ensure that we do all we can to ensure that President Buhari succeeds in his endeavours."

Commending the staff for being core professionals, she said, "We know that you have been doing well but we will push ourselves to do more.�

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the permanent secretary had told the minister, "We have been operating as a team," adding, "We are also ready to give the support to whoever comes as minister."

He promised, "We will make sure that you succeed in the task that the president

has assigned to you."

Until the sudden resignation of the former finance minister over alleged certificate forgery, Ahmed was the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning.

She is a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), a member of the Nigerian Institute of Taxation and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

Until she joined the federal cabinet in 2015, she was the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, and the APC governors will attend the political gathering.

The source disclosed that Ambode would equally depart “to Osogbo, not only because of the political rally, but also due to the extended peace meeting that will likely hold in the state today before or after the political gathering. He will join other APC leaders in the state.

He said, “Do not forget all the key actors in the AmbodeTinubu friction will also be in Osogbo. Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, who is the arrowhead of the Mandate Movement, will host them.

Allegedly, also, Aregbesola is a major factor in Ambode’s ordeal. “As a matter of fact, some of these leaders have even gone ahead. Most likely, the APC leaders will revisit the AmbodeTinubu crisis. The party leaders will take advantage

of the Osun rally to end the impasse between Tinubu and his political godson.�

Apart from the peace meeting scheduled to hold in Osogbo today, another source claimed that he spoke with Ambode Sunday night, which according to him, his re-election bid on the platform of the APC had not been foreclosed against the social media reports.

He said, “I spoke with His Excellency Sunday night. From all indications, his re-election has not been foreclosed. All the party leaders are still talking.

The party leaders will be going to Osogbo for the final campaign rally of the APC governorship candidate.�

If all peace efforts eventually fail, the source claimed that Ambode would not fight the APC leader even though he had resources “to prosecute such political battle. His Excellency is not thinking of fighting his

these qualities have served as a guiding principle for me and were very useful during the economic downturn that Nigeria faced between 2016 and 2017. “Under the glaringly distinguished but often unacknowledged leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, these qualities propelled me and the rest of the economic team to remain focused, to work assiduously, and to reach out to relevant stakeholders in developing solutions that eventually led to Nigeria’s recovery from the recession by the third quarter of 2017.�

Also, the Chairman of the occasion and Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, noted that one of the reasons “Why Africa received less honour than she should have is of course because our story was usually being told by other people, saying “today, Ovia is reminding us that the place Africa is a continent that must rise and shine.�

On his part, Obaigbena, who was among the readers of the new book, said, “Today, we celebrate Jim Ovia and we would continue to applaud him. But, let us also take our time to celebrate Nigeria.�

According to him, “Nigeria made it possible for us all to thrive. Our democracy is in its 19th year and growing.

Imperfect as it is, it is coming

of age. With our democracy, we must create opportunity. “Only in Nigeria can a company come in with $402 million and make $8 billion in a few years. It is certainly a land of opportunities. But we must also build a Nigeria of rule of law, free choice and democracy. “If we do that, our democracy will thrive, and our business and institutions will keep thriving. Jim Ovia is a strategist and I have known him most of my life. He comes from the minority of the minorities, but

AMBODE WEIGHS OPTIONS AS EFFORTS TO SECURE TINUBU’S SUPPORT FAIL Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and fight at the state nomination congress slated for Monday and go down like a man.

In the event that Tinubu remains adamant and withholds support, the aides said, the most viable option for Ambode is to step down and go home. “Ambode did not prepare for the prevailing circumstances,� said an aide, “therefore, he does not have alternative plan to respond to his dilemma.�

Brought in from political obscurity by Tinubu and helped into office through the massive political machine, called Mandate Movement, headed

by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Ambode was not in a position to attempt creating his own structure.

The initial attempts he made, said his aides, were stoutly resisted by the political establishment. “The few policy changes and

appointments he made were seen as a move by him to stand alone and assert his authority.

This is what has brought him to the current sorry state,� said another aide.

Without a structure of his own, his close associates, according to THISDAY sources, are advising him to step down and let go. “After all, he was in his quiet corner before he was asked to come and be governor. If they don’t want him again, why would he fight them? How will he do it anyway?� said a source.

The thinking, said another source, is that a soft landing could be arranged for Ambode, whereby he would be allowed to serve out his term and go home in peace without any further molestation, which could include removal from office since his traducers have control of the House of Assembly.

The other two options, said a close associate, could

not be contemplated without serious complications and consequences.

According to him, “Yes, he could join another party, as being proposed by the PDP but that could be grievous as the APC dominated House of Assembly could move against him before the general election.�

However, some other associates argue that a removal from office move might be difficult to carry out since the Chief Judge of the state, who is expected to constitute the investigation panel might not cooperate being a wife of a traditional ruler in the state that is sympathetic to the embattled governor.

The third option of going into the congress, knowing full well that he would be beaten, is also being advised against by his associates and aides who think that would undermine his political legacy and record and bring him in full conflict with the national leader and

his political machine. “Once he takes that route and he is defeated, and he sure would be, the political establishment would not spare him. If they can’t remove him from office, he would spend the rest of his term fighting battles he is not likely to win.

Is that what he wants?� said an associate.

But not a few of his associates still hope that a miracle could still happen even when the signs are clear that Tinubu risks internal revolt if he decides to back down and support Ambode.

An APC source told THISDAY yesterday that series of meetings were held last night and might continue in Osogbo either before or after the final political rally for the APC candidate.

According to the source, President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo, former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the APC

Continued on page 8

LAGOS STANDSTILL AS OVIA’S ‘AFRICA RISE AND SHINE’ IS UNVEILED He said, “The internet enables you to do online transactions, online sales, online education and everything. Amazon is now over $1 trillion. This Amazon doesn’t have a factory anywhere. “They don’t have any oil well at all but has over $1 trillion in market capitalisation and richer than Nigeria and twice the GDP of Nigeria. It is because they embraced technology and the internet. Look at what Google has done. “Google was just set up as a search engine, but now Google is one of the richest companies in the entire world. Of course, the market capitalisation of Google is larger than Nigeria’s GDP, and I mean larger than all the oil wells we have, all the resources we have and all the agriculture we have. Just one company! “So, economies driven by technology will always blossom.

So, for us to blossom the Nigerian economy, let’s start to digitise the economy. If we digitise the economy, it will continue to grow. “If we use technology to drive our manufacturing process, our agriculture and healthcare, we will know what that will do for us,� he added.

He urged fledgling entrepreneurs to always go with their gut and to be determined in their chosen fields. “You must use your Godgiven sense and go with your gut. We all have the feeling at

certain points in our lives. We will want to do certain things, you are not too sure because you don’t have any data to prove it’s going to be right. “But your instinct tells you do it, just do it. If you research what is going on in the global world and replicate it in your local world,� he said.

Commenting on the book, Ovia said there was need to change the narrative of Africa, which according to him, had been “so pathetic.�

He explained: “When you Google about Africa then, the first things that come out is that it is a continent of complex, a continent of corruption and of coups. And that was played out very dramatically when The Economist magazine had on their front page that Africa then was a continent of coup and a continent of corruption. “But after two decades, that narrative started changing.

Today, we now know that Africa is truly rising. Between then and now, what you have is GDP per capita of many African countries well above $1,000, whereas about 20 years ago, it was below $500. “So, for me, Africa is rising.

Twenty years ago, only few African countries have mobile phones, but today, all the African countries not only have mobile phones, they also have broadband technology and internet penetration is high.

Africa is rising by embracing technology.�

Meanwhile, the audience erupted in laughter when the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, was invited to speak immediately after the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying, “Who am I to speak after the Jagaban has spoken?�

Ambode eulogised the author and urged Nigerians to emulate his hard work.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a congratulatory message that was read at the event, hailed Ovia’s passion for success as well as his contribution to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also extolled Ovia for his achievements as well as his character, describing him as an exceedingly humble and self-effacing man despite his great achievement.

He said Ovia, who lost his father at the age of five was able to rise to surmount his challenges and become a successful man through vision and hard work.

He said, “I am not surprised that he used this book to tell the story of an incredibly humble beginning of a man who lost his father at the age of five. And most importantly, is his admission that he did not even prevail because he was a superman or because he was a genius. “The vast majority of most

Nigeria’s most successful entrepreneurs did not begin from families of great wealth or great education or good privilege, most times first generation university degree holders but they have cracked the ceilings imposed by poverty and deprivation.�

In his speech, Emefiele, described Ovia as a mentor who played a very instrumental and irreplaceable role in his life, having served under his leadership and tutelage at Zenith Bank for over 24 years.

He said, “For those of us who know him and have worked under him, Mr. Jim Ovia is a stickler for knowledge and is deeply committed to excellence. “These are important principles that should guide local and foreign investors in their approach to the Nigerian and African Market. “Key success factors for investors would be a clear understanding of the potentials of the market, leveraging technology and innovation in providing superior products and services to a market of about 200 million people, in the case of Nigeria. “If these principles are followed like Mr. Jim Ovia has done in Nigeria as well as in other parts of the World, you can expect to receive huge rewards for your efforts. “In my role as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,

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NEWS

N’Assembly Begins Fourth Amendment to Electoral Act 2010

Deji Elumoye and Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters yesterday commenced the fourth attempt to amend the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which President Muhammadu Buhari had refused to assent last month.

Buhari had in a record three times this year refused to assent to the amendment bills transmitted to him by the National Assembly.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi, PDP), who made this known at the commencement of the executive session of the committee said the meeting would conclude correcting the identified faulty provisions of the bill on Monday and make its conclusions public on Tuesday.

According to him, the committee, which he said is being monitored by Nigerians, who are eager to see how the lawmakers would conclude the process, will perform its duties in

the best interest of the country.

"My highly respected colleagues have cut short their holidays once again to look at the Electoral Act. We are in the eyes of the storm and Nigerians are waiting to hear from us,� he said.

Nazif said the committee was addressing the issue of the 2018 Electoral Act Amendment Bill for the fourth time in nine months.

His words, "Here we are, again, trying to address the Electoral Act for the fourth time. Nigerians will recall that there was a first Electoral Act (amendment bill), the second and the third one.

"And if we pass this one, it will be the fourth one. I believe that what we are doing is in the best interest of this country. It will address all the fears and we will ensure that we equip INEC with what is necessary and what will ensure free and fair elections in 2019."

He further explained that it would not be right for him to speak to newsmen when the

committee was yet to meet.

"I'm not in a position now to address the press and I don't think any member of this committee is in a position to address the press.

According to him, the committee will have to look at what transpired (concerning the bill) in an executive session "and tomorrow by 11a.m., we will call all press men and we will tell you in detail what transpired and the position this committee has taken."

The Joint Committee's proposal on the Amended Electoral Bill will be presented to the two Chambers of the National Assembly when it reconvenes next week.

The presidency had earlier this month attributed the refusal of President Buhari to assent to the third version of the 2018 Electoral Bill to some drafting issues.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, had in a statement

said Buhari declined assent to the bill on August 30.

According to him, “President Buhari had by communication dated August 30, 2018, to the Senate and the House of Representatives declined Assent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

"I pray for leave, that in view of public interest, the fact of the National Assembly vacation, the imperative to avoid speculation and misinformation, that I give just a few of the rationale by Mr. President. ‘’Mr. President is declining assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill due to some drafting issues that remain unaddressed following the prior revisions to the bill. “Mr. President invites the Senate and House of Representatives to address these issues as quickly as possible so that he may grant President Assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill.�

A few of the outstanding issues, according to Enang, are:

‘’There is a cross referencing error in the proposed amendment to Section 18 of the bill. The appropriate amendment is to substitute the existing sub-section (2) with the proposed subsection (1A), while the proposed subsection (1B) is the new sub-section (2A). “The proposed amendment to include a new Section 87 (14), which stipulates a specific period within which political party primaries are required to be held, has the unintended consequence of leaving INEC with only nine days to collate and compile lists of candidates and political parties as well manage the primaries of 91 political parties for the various elections. This is because the Electoral Amendment Bill does not amend sections 31, 34 and 85, which stipulates times for the submission of lists of candidates, publication of lists of candidates and notice of convention, congresses for nominating candidates for elections.

“For clarity, may I provide some details of the provisions referenced. Clause 87 (14) states, ‘The dates for the primaries shall not be earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days before the date of elections to the offices.

The Electoral Act 2010 referred to herein states in Section 31, “That every political party shall not later than 60 days before the date appointed for a general election submit to the commission the list of candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections.

Section 34, ‘’That the commission shall at least 30 days before the day of the election publish a statement of the full names and addresses of all candidates standing nominated.

Section 85 (1), “That a political party shall give the commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress etc., for electing members of its executive committees or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices.’’

CJ Directs Judges to Conclude Pre-election Cases by October Bars grant of exparte applications Alex Enumah, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abudul- Kafarati, has charged judges in the court to endeavour to conclude all pending political cases in their courts before the end of October 2018, so as to exonerate the court from blames by the political class.

Abdul-Kafarati in addition, disclosed that in his bid to ensure that the court is not used by politicians to scuttle the political process and disrupt the peace of the country, he had directed vacation judges not to grant ex-parte orders in any political case brought before their courts.

He urged the judges to be guided in their decisions by the rule of law and the constitution, so as to remain the hope of all citizens.

The chief judge gave the charge yesterday in Abuja at a special court session to mark the commencement of the 2018/2019 Legal Year of the Federal High Court.

Abdul-Kafarati noted that the tasks before the judges are daunting, taking into consideration the forthcoming 2019 general election.

He said, “In an attempt to forestall any hiccups and the blame on the court by the political gladiators, I have during this vacation issued a circular that interim orders of exparte shall not be granted in political cases brought before the court. “I believe that controversies especially in political cases can be reduced when the court takes a decision after hearing all the parties in the case. “It is also extremely important that all political cases that may affect any of the parties, which are still pending in any of our courts, be concluded without further waste of time to afford all candidates the opportunity to pursue their political ambitions.

Honourable judges whom such cases are still pending must endeavour to conclude them before end of October 2018.�

While appreciating the judges and staff of the court for the dedication and hard work, he emphasised that they must be wary in their handling of all cases and “especially cases concerning political parties and the upcoming general elections.

He said the judges should use the court and the constitution to regulate the society for the good of the future generations and the society, adding that as Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, he would continue to give priority to their welfare.

Abdul-Kafarati, while noting that the court would start the new legal year with about 191,766 cases from the previous legal year, urged litigants to take advantage of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre soon to be opened in the Federal High Court. “It is my advice that the advantages of the centre be exploited by all to help us reduce the dockets of the courts and for quicker resolution of disputes devoid of the usual legal technicalities,� he added.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), in acknowledging the constitutional mandate of the court, however, urged the court to take urgent steps to facilitate the speedy dispensation of justice, which according to him, will engender greater public respect and confidence.

The minister, who was represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, also suggested that the court in the discharge of its duties must always strike the appropriate balance between the personal rights of litigants and the overall good of society.

He said, “In this manner, the judiciary will play its role

INEC prohibits use of mobile phones, camera during Osun election

actively as an agent of social change and re-orientation without necessarily sacrificing its core mandate of protecting the rights of all individuals and institutions in an efficient and humane manner. “Let me also appeal that judicial officers must equally ensure that the credibility of their offices and their sense of personal integrity remain unimpeachable at all times in order to promote greater confidence of the public in the judiciary.�

On his part, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), while reiterating the loyalty and faithfulness of lawyers in the temple of justice, commended the court for being brave and fearless when it matters most, adding, “Your lordship pronouncements in this cases, far more than the handiwork of the political class, has kept this country united and prevented strife, chaos and commotion in the different states of the federation.�

Earlier, the Chief Judge and other judicial officers of the Federal High Court had commenced the legal year with a religious service at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama and the National Mosque, both in Abuja.

INEC Prohibits Use of Mobile Phones, Camera during Osun Election In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has banned the use of mobile phones, cameras or any recording devices by voters during the Osun State governorship election scheduled for September 22, 2018.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, disclosed this yesterday at the stakeholders meeting in Osogbo, the state capital.

He said the ban would help reduce the risk of vote buying and selling, which he said has

been a new development amongst politicians and a major concern to the nation.

The INEC boss explained that voters would not be prevented from using their devices at the polling units, but would be banned from holding their cameras and telephones, once the ballot papers are issued and until they cast their votes in the ballot boxes.

The commission also disclosed that it had developed an application as part of efforts being put in place by the commission to stamp out the menace of vote buying that has found its way into the electoral process of the country.

It released the names of 48 gubernatorial candidates and their political parties.

The names of the candidates include, former Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade of African Democratic Congress (ADC); Adeoti Moshood Olalekan of

Action Democratic Party (ADP); Senator Iyiola Omisore of Social Democratic Party (SDP); Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Adegboyega Oyetola of All Progressives Congress (APC); Oluwatoki Adedayo (APGA); James Akintola of Alliance for Democracy (AD), among others.

The i-report app according to a statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary of the commission chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, allows the citizens to report wrong doing and malpractices, including vote buying and selling during the elections to the commission.

He stressed that the application also allows and encourage ordinary citizens to submit reports by text message and pictures of such incidences.

On how to use the app, Oyekanmi explained, “Nigerians must first download my INEC app via Google play

store.

"Open the app and scroll down to the 'report INEC' segment and click after that, take a picture or attach a picture from your gallery.

"Preview your picture in the 'preview section. Then, enter your name and phone number in the next text field, "Send a typed report in the report field' indicating time, location, (name or description of the area and give polling unit details); tap the send arrow button in the report to INEC." Similarly, the commission has released dedicated telephone lines that Nigerians can call to report any case of vote buying to the commission.

INEC dedicated lines include: 09050858629, 09050858675, 09050858649, 08180958715, 08180958717, 08180958709, 09025038466, 07086945927, 08120183063, 07062896047, 08105119010, 08146697603.

AMBODE WEIGHS OPTIONS AS EFFORTS TO SECURE TINUBU’S SUPPORT FAIL

political godfather because he wants to seek re-election.�

Contrary to some social media reports, the source noted that the governor might not defect to another political platform in pursuit of re-election.

However, according to him, “We are hopeful that the peace meetings will eventually yield meaningful outcome.�

In a related development yesterday, Ambode sent the audience laughing while acknowledging Tinubu at the public presentation of ‘Africa Rise and Shine’, a book by Chairman of Zenith Bank, Chief Jim Ovia.

At the book presentation held at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Ambode was invited to speak immediately after the APC leader.

As he mounted the podium, the governor acknowledged virtually all the dignitaries, noting that he was not prepared to give a speech. “Actually, I did not prepare

to come and say anything here.

Aside, who am I to speak after the Jagaban has spoken?� he said.

Ambode’s statement elicited uniform reaction from the audience and himself, compelling them to laugh for a brief period before making some remarks on Ovia.

Ambode's political future has been uncertain immediately after the Sanwo-Olu and former Lagos State Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, obtained the nomination forms to contest the APC primary scheduled to hold on September 25.

Just after obtaining the nomination form, the Mandate Movement, a political group loyal to the APC national leader, promptly endorsed Sanwo-Olu, the state’s Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions under the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to contest the 2019 governorship poll.

Subsequently, Conference

57, a forum of Chairmen of 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) as well as 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, signed Sanwo-Olu’s governorship nomination form, claiming that they were acting on the instruction of the APC leader.

Some APC chieftains including former Deputy Chairman of Lagos APC, Cardinal James Odumbaku and former Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Kaoli Olusanya allegedly directed Ambode to return his nomination form or face impeachment at a meeting held at Watercress Hotel, Ikeja Monday night.

With these political dynamics that redefined the state’s governorship race, Buhari, Osinbajo, Oshiomhole, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi have at different times intervened in the AmbodeTinubu standoff without meaningful outcome.

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NEWS

News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

UN Kicks as Boko Haram Kills Aid Worker Abducted in March Alex Enumah in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, has condemned the killing of the aid worker and midwife, Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa in Borno State by Boko Haram.

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has also confirmed the death of the aid worker, who was one of the health workers kidnapped from Kala-Balge in the state.

Ms. Hussaini, 25 years old, was abducted on March 1, 2018 in Rann town, Borno State, where she was working with ICRC, following a deadly attack by a Non-State Armed Group in which three aid workers were killed. Two other female aid workers were also kidnapped during that incident.

A statement from the Information Office of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator quotes Kallon as saying that, “The killing of Ms. Hussaini, a young, dedicated and passionate midwife and humanitarian, is a cowardly, heinous and despicable act.

While he sent condolences of the UN to the family of the deceased, including her two young children, and friends, Kallon however, called on the

federal government to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

He also called for the immediate release of the two aid workers who are still being held.

“This incident demonstrates the severe challenges that Nigeria continues to face, but will not deter the international community from providing aid to millions of Nigerians caught up in the conflict in the north-east. The United Nations stands in solidarity with the humanitarian community,” Kallon said.

According to reports, the humanitarian community is currently providing life-saving assistance, including food, safe water and medicine, to over 60,000 internally displaced people in the camp in Rann, and millions more across the north-east.

Some 3,000 aid workers are present in the north-east, the majority of whom are Nigerian nationals.

The report added that the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast, which has spilled over into the Lake Chad region, is one of the most severe in the world today, with 7.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2018 in the worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, and 6.1 million targeted

Stop Parading Yourself as ‘Mr. Integrity,’ PDP Tells Buhari Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stop parading himself as ‘Mr. Integrity’, following revelations that the federal government smuggled the erstwhile Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, out of the country.

The party alleged that Adeosun was smuggled out of the country by the government to prevent her from exposing how the Presidency cabal, including close relations and associates of the President fleeced the country of trillions of naira.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said there are clear evidences that Adeosun could not have circumvented the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), National Security Adviser (NSA), the Police and even the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) without the tacit approval of the Buhari Presidency.

According to him, “How did Adeosun evade checks by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abeokuta and the Ogun State House of Assembly for clearance as commissioner, with her status as a dual citizen, if not armed with inherent tendencies for fraud? It is clear that the Buhari Presidency

exploited this factor to swindle the country in the finance ministry” The opposition party said the All Progressives Congress (APC) in congratulating Adeosun, even after she had admitted her culpability on issues of forgery and corrupt practices, has further showcased APC as a party of corruption; an iniquitous fold, where thieves receive medals instead of condemnation.

Ologbondiyan said: “The PDP is worried that President Buhari in appointing Adeosun, with her divided citizenship allegiance, to hold the sensitive office of the minister of finance, exposed our country to the danger of having our security and economy information sold to international interests.

“This, perhaps, explains the anti-Nigeria financial policies, including damaging foreign borrowing negotiations, which have returned our beloved country to a debtor country.”

The PDP added that until President Buhari brings Adeosun back to explain how the Presidency cabal and APC leaders frittered away more than N10 trillion in three years, the Buhari Presidency and the APC would lack the moral rectitude to pontificate on corruption as they have become directly complicit.

The PDP urged the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, to note that Adesoun has already confessed to a fraud in Nigeria and must not be allowed a shelter in her country.

for humanitarian assistance.

Meawnhile, the spokesman of ICRC, Aleksandra Mosimann, has also condemned the killing yesterday, describing the action as sad and called for the

immediate release of the two others still in captivity.

“The International Committee of the Red Cross condemns in the strongest terms the tragic killing of its abducted colleague,

Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa.

“It is appealing to the armed group to immediately release a second ICRC midwife and another health-care worker taken in North-eastern Nigeria

in March.”

The statement quoted Eloi Fillion, the head of the ICRC delegation in Abuja, as describing the murder as devastating.

LINKING PORTS AND HINTERLAND…

L-R: Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman; President Muhammadu Buhari, and Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, during the opening of 2018 African Ports and Hinterland connectivity Regional Conference held in Abuja…yesterday

NEMA Declares Flooding as National Disaster in Four States The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja, has declared the flooding in four states as national disasters.

The affected states are Kogi, Niger, Delta and Anambra. The agency has also placed eight other states on its watch list.

Addressing journalists yesterday, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, said 33 camps

had been opened for internally displaced persons (IDPs) as the state is the worst hit.

“In 2012, we were worst hit, we are praying that the situation will not exceed that this year.

We are normally proactive to sensitise the people and evacuate them to high ground,” he said.

“We have created over 33 camps in Kogi State. As I speak with you, between nine to ten local governments are

underwater, you can imagine the pressure on our resources.

“So, we are doing our best in collaboration with federal agencies and security agencies to make sure that we evacuate them to high grounds, IDP camps and provide security to them and relief materials including medicals.”

Also, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed NEMA to declare flooding in Kogi a

national disaster after a warning by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency that Rivers Benue and Niger had almost reached levels that resulted in flooding in 2012.

The letter, which was signed

by Abba Kyari, chief of staff to the president, had also directed that the disaster response unit of the military be activated for possible search and rescue victims.

UNICEF Declares State of Emergency in Nigeria’s Water, Sanitation Sector Says Nigeria will not meet 2025 target Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has declared a state of emergency in Nigeria’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector. The UNICEF’s Chief WASH specialist, Zaid Jurji, who made this known during a media dialogue yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, noted that in the past 15 years, Nigeria had remained amongst the top five open defecators in the world, moving the ranks to attain second position in 2015.

He lamented that despite the efforts of the federal and state governments, as well as development partners, the present indices indicate that Nigeria cannot achieve a free open defecation status

in the year 2025, due to poor sanitation practices and water systems in the country; cutting across communities, households, health facilities, schools, markets and parks.

According to him, the real cost of open defecation besides the loss of N455 billion annually due to poor sanitation, includes diseases and deaths, stunting, wasting and malnutrition, loss of dignity, privacy and security, reduced school attendance and loss of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Zaid described the current scenario where more people in Nigeria have access to mobile phones than toilets as “very unfair”, saying there was need for the federal government to triple its investments in the

WASH sector. “The situation of WASH in Nigeria is not good and we need to do something about it. The WASH sector is in a state of emergency.

“One quarter of people in Nigeria practice open defecation. This will put Nigeria as the number one country in Africa with highest number of people practicing open defecation and the second globally.

“140 million have cell phones; meanwhile, only 97 million people have access to improved sanitation. One of the problems in the sanitation sector in Nigeria is that it is severely under resourced, the UNICEF expert stated.

He said Nigeria needs at least N234 billion to realise free open defecation by 2015

and so, Nigeria should at least triple its investment in the WASH sector.

The Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Rivers State, Mr. Emmanuel Amatemeso, urged UNICEF to beef up its interventions in the Niger Delta region, especially Rivers State.

He lamented that the few ongoing projects were confronted with inadequate funding due to the peculiarities of the region saying, “because of our peculiar environment, transportation cost of materials needed for projects are more expensive than the materials themselves. Such inputs are not considered and so our projects suffer poor funding.”

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COMMENT

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

WHAT IS HOLDING AFRICA BACK?

Stanley O. Omadogho argues that sub-Saharan Africa can be great if they choose to

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rustrated by the colossal failure in his continent, a young father once asked rhetorically, “Is black a curse?� Never shrink back from a controversial, and probably stupid, inquiry, I said to myself. So let us try the remix of that question.

Is the lightning speed of Usain Bolt and all other 100m champions before him, a curse? Or is the phenomenal strength of Iron Mike a desecration of nature? Or is the beauty of Meagan Good a sad consequence of genetic mutation? Can black be nature’s mistake?

Black is divine, the bullying muscles of their ripped men, the voluptuous curves of their endowed women, beautifully conceived and sculptured in the mind of the most intelligent being in the universe.

But this is not really a question of who is strongest, fastest, or most beautiful, but who has the capacity to build an advanced world by themselves, and for themselves? The curse question then becomes relevant when you take a snapshot of the entire subSaharan African region, the world headquarters of poverty, diseases, and underdevelopment.

The question becomes even more pertinent knowing that this region possesses the most abundant natural resources, and a human resource base with the most tremendous entrepreneurial energy needed for success. Sub-Saharan Africa could so easily have become the most strategically important geopolitical region on the planet, leading the way both intellectually and economically, smashing and holding every world record in the Olympic Games that require power play. (Remember Jesse Owens).

Except they are mostly held back by one crucial factor, not religion or ethnicity, not a low IQ, not their leaders per se, and definitely not a curse, but a certain attitude mostly characteristic of the sub-Saharan African region.

Name any of the world’s great who is black, who have reached the pinnacle of their careers, whether in the field of technology, medicine or entertainment, and they would have plied their trade in the West, an environment more conducive to nurturing talent, to harnessing new and imaginative ideas generated by all, irrespective of race. Back home in Africa, their successes would most likely have been limited by this characteristic attitude.

So here is the attitude holding Africa back. You can see it in the most common of places, the highways, when driving in Africa.

At intersections or narrow streets, nine out of 10 motorists who find themselves in a gridlock with other motorists would never back up. They would rather create a major traffic jam than yield when ‘challenged’ in a traffic confrontation. A nose-to-tail traffic can easily become a tug of war as everyone defends his right of way.

Interestingly, cutting a line, or getting in front of other motorists, is as easy as begging for permission, in effect, massaging someone’s

THE PREVAILING ATTITUDE GOVERNING EVERY FACET OF LIFE IN AFRICA CAN BE SUMMARISED WITH THESE STEREOTYPES: TO GET AHEAD OF ME, I WILL HAVE TO LET YOU PASS, OR YOU WILL NEVER GET THROUGH

ego, rather than trying to be the victor in a power tussle. And for the benevolent motorist, it is a case of, “You didn’t win. I let you through.�

The prevailing attitude governing every facet of life in Africa can be summarised with these stereotypes: To get ahead of me, I will have to let you pass, or you will never get through. Your success either comes from me, or through me, or you will have no success at all. We are either at par, or everyone else must simply play catch-up. You simply cannot be better than me. This mental disposition is powered by the “I pass my neighbour� syndrome.

It is difficult to find the words to describe this attitude. This is neither hatred nor wickedness. Is it a display of alpha male superiority and dominance (ladies are not left out), or just being plain inconsiderate and uncompassionate? Interestingly, this attitude is not displayed towards obvious foreigners, for example Europeans, who are highly respected. Every confrontation, every situation, every hiccup, every obstacle, becomes a challenge that must be won, if only for personal ego. The little things are hardly allowed to slide for the greater good of society.

Now picture this attitude in political establishments, in corporate organisations, in academic institutions. For example, students fail to come up with a first-class under the watch of university lecturers who failed to achieve that academic feat.

Embezzlements are not just in response to poverty but to ensure parity is never achieved in society. Wages in local-based companies are ridiculously kept low for the same reason.

A destructively competitive and jealous spirit becomes apparent, one that creates very little cohesion and minimal cooperation.

Many individuals will rather let a societal project burn if the accolades will go to someone else. This guarantees only one reality, that societies are littered with unkempt lawns on the sidewalks, untarred roads, dilapidated structures, unfunded public institutions, and an unsatisfied, malnourished, disgruntled, and eviscerated populace.

Whether Africa succeeds or not depends on their ability to restore a noble value system in their people. Some believe their society lost its way somewhere in the distant and forgotten past.

Still, it is never too late to adopt the values of equity, selflessness and respect for others, honouring the dignity, rights and privileges of everyone to enjoy a fulfilling existence, knowing that they all share a common ancestry that makes them family.

So here is a simple formula that could propel Africa into a century of progress: live and let live. Whatever the nature of the challenge, always let go of ego and back-up for the greater good.

Let others through. Let others have it if they deserve it. SubSaharan Africans can be great, even greatest, if they choose to be, definitely with input from the West as South Africa has proven. In the end, it is a matter of choice - their choice.

AVIATION UNIONS: IS NCAA COMPROMISED? The unions must act within the law, writes Kabir Hadejia

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he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is the umbrella body saddled with the onerous task of regulating the country’s aviation sector. With this, the authority must both be technically and procedurally competent to handle any or all the issues in the industry. Unlike the road transport sector that is an all-comers’ affairs because its regulations are not obeyed, the aviation sector must continue to maintain its integrity and be highly regulated because a single plane crash may be so catastrophic that it can wipe out several lives, both of the flyers and those on the ground. So, in essence, there must be no half-measures in aviation, as no aircraft can park in the sky for repairs of any sort, unlike road transportation.

NCAA is not only saddled with the responsibility of ensuring safety in the sky, it is also to ensure peace in the aviation sector so that those operating therein will do so seamlessly. This is because, if all the aircraft landing and taking off in the country and all the facilities are not in perfect order, NCAA would have been seen to have failed in an aspect of its statutory duties. Therefore, NCAA has a responsibility to ensure that all government policies and contracts are sustained for the enhancement of safety in the industry. It also has a responsibility to educate the monstrous unions in the sector which are always hell-bent in disrupting the prevailing peace despite the federal government’s attempts to rejuvenate and attract foreign investors to the aviation industry.

It is annoying and equally unbelievable that some of these union officials are uninformed, as they are displaying lots of ignorance and misinformation about happenings in the industry, all in an attempt to portray those who are providing jobs for teeming Nigerians and foreigners alike in bad light in the name of unionism. They selfishly do this to strengthen their arguments laced with half-truths

and outright lies to curry public sympathy for their ill-decisions of disrupting the operations of the airlines and the airport terminals in ways reminiscence of thuggery.

For instance, it is shocking, embarrassing and indeed laughable that the Secretary General of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Mr. Olayinka Abioye, would step out at a recent stakeholders forum organised by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in Lagos to say that Dana Air has surreptitiously brought in a foreign airline, Asky, to operate domestic flights in Nigeria, when in actual fact, the plane is on wet-lease to Dana and NCAA approved it.

Anybody worth its salt in the aviation industry should know that airlines are protected by law to go on either wet-lease or dry lease of aircraft from other airlines. This clearly shows the level of ignorance and illiteracy among the aviation union leaders who claim to be fighting for the rights of workers. It is like the blind leading the eyed.

There is hardly any critical investor in the aviation industry today who has not tasted the bitter pill of the unions’ unruliness and thuggery. Airlines, such as Arik, Aero, Dana, Landover and others have lost millions of dollars to the unions’ brigandage in the name of picketing. Now, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, operators of the internationallyacclaimed Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) has been under the constant threats of the unions since May, this year.

As an observer and a critical stakeholder in the sector, I have watched in awe how the unions have been issuing all sorts of threats and ultimatums publicly to the terminal operators to recall some staff members relieved of their jobs for incompetency or old age, as Bi-Courtney would later explain. I have equally watched how Bi-Courtney has approached the government and NCAA severally with a lot of maturity and superior arguments, despite the threats

to the MMA2 concession from different quarters.

I have read and digested the firm’s response to the unions’ allegations and I have rightly come to the conclusion that these are real needless threats.

Fortunately, many other stakeholders have the same thought about the whole thing. The basic thing is that you can never force an employee on an unwilling employer.

However, I am seriously worried that issues that are being discussed at various meetings by both parties to amicably resolve the crisis are being pushed to the public space by the unions who obviously are workers of the aviation agencies to curry public sympathy. This to me is very unfair on the part of the government.

In as much as the unions have the right to protect their members anywhere they are, the employers they have been fighting in the industry also have the right to justly hire and fire for without the investors, there would not be anywhere for the employees to work and claim they belong to any union. NCAA must ring this into the ears of the union people, if they have not done so already.

Part V of the Trade Union Act under the Miscellaneous and General Provisions in Section 43 (sub-sections 1, 1A and 2) outline everything that labour must and must not do when carrying out peaceful picketing. In Section 43 (1) with the heading, Peaceful Picketing, the act says: “It shall be lawful for one or more persons, acting on their own behalf or on behalf of a trade union or registered Federation of Trade Unions or of an individual employer or firm in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute, to attend at or near a house or place where a person resides or works or carries on business or happens to be, if they so attend merely for the purpose of peacefully obtaining or communicating information or of peacefully persuading any person to work or abstain from working.�

While sub-section 1A says: “No person shall

subject any other person to any kind of constraint or restriction of his personal freedom in the course of persuasion.� Sub-section 1B adds, “No trade union or registered Federation of Trade Unions or any member thereof shall in the course of any strike action compel any person who is not a member of its union to join any strike or in any highways, institutions or premises of any kind for the purposes of giving effect to the strike.�

And sub-section (2) concludes: “Accordingly, the doing of anything declared by sub-section (1) of this section to be lawful shall not constitute an offence under any law in force in Nigeria, or any part thereof, and in particular shall not constitute an offence under Section 366 of the Criminal Code or any corresponding enactment in force in any part of Nigeria.� It therefore means that although the labour unions have the right to peaceful picketing, any attempt to restrict or compel other Nigerians, or block the highways, or any business premises, or destroy the assets of the business to give effect to their strike, or picketing is a criminal offence.

Therefore, NCAA and the security agencies have a duty to ensure that no labour union has the power to disrupt the operations or destroy the assets of any operator in the aviation sector, as this will certainly send a wrong signal to the international community that Nigeria is one of the most volatile countries in the world to invest in; that Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where the government will sign an agreement and renege; that Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where the government will compete vehemently with its investors as a way of destroying their businesses.

The authority must rein in the unions and act as the impartial arbiter in all the crises the unions are creating here and there because, if you decide to go to war before you jaw-jaw, you will still come round and jaw-jaw after the war.

Hadejia wrote from Abuja

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EDITORIAL OSUN POLL: NOT ANOTHER BAZAAR, PLEASE The electorate should be allowed to determine the outcome of the election

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ome Saturday, the people of Osun State will go to the poll to elect a new governor for another four years. It is yet another litmus test for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies and other stakeholders given what transpired in the Ekiti State gubernatorial election held in June. The summary of the report of observers was that the election was fundamentally flawed and indeed fell short of global standards. While financial inducement is not a new development in Nigeria, the entrepreneurs of vote-buying became so brazen that they transacted their nefarious business in the open.

As we have said repeatedly on this page, the use of money to manipulate electoral outcomes is not only a violation of the law, it constitutes an abuse of the constitutional right of the people to choose their leaders in a free, fair and credible manner.

Unfortunately, one of the observers during the Ekiti polls, Mrs. Virginia Marumoa-Gae of the United States’ International THE ISSUES OF VOTE Republican Institute (IRI) painted a BUYING, FINANCIAL INDUCEMENT AND THE disgraceful picture of GENERAL DEPLOYMENT how the slogan, “see buy” was used OF CASH TO GAME THE and to lure voters to show ELECTORAL PROCESS their thumb printed ARE VERY SERIOUS ballot papers in exchange for money.

INFRACTIONS We are delighted that INEC is not living in denial about this ugly development that is making a mockery of democracy as contestants engage one another in financial shoot-outs to secure power at all costs. The resident electoral commissioner for Osun State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje said last week that the commission would do all within its powers to checkmate vote-buying this Saturday. “It is not an easy thing to prepare for an election and then some people will come on election day with bags of money very

Letters to the Editor

close to where you are having your polling units to see how they can pay voters for a particular candidate”, said Agbaje who promised that INEC would rearrange the voting cubicles in such a way that it would be difficult to display ballot paper after voting.

While we support INEC and hope all the stakeholders will help in the bid to demonetise elections in the country, the federal government does not seem to be getting the message. In what was clearly an error of judgment, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo last week launched the ‘TraderMoni’ scheme, an empowerment programme for 30,000 petty traders in Osun State. Ordinarily, safety net as a social welfare policy aimed at alleviating and reducing poverty in the society by way of deliberate actions is not wrong. However, questions are being asked as to why the programme was launched in Osun State on the eve of a crucial gubernatorial election.

For an administration that claims to be fighting corruption, it is to say the least indefensible.

I T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

n the last two years, Nigeria’s global credibility ratings on issues of transparency and accountability have continued to dwindle. A recent Carnegie report said despite the much-touted anti-corruption drive of the current government, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is as corrupt as the PDP it replaced. That should worry President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration. The issues of vote buying, financial inducement, and the general deployment of cash to game the electoral process are very serious infractions for which all critical stakeholders must come together to find a solution. When elections become a zero sum game in which dirty money has to be deployed for victory at all costs, then democracy is endangered.

As the people of Osun State therefore go to the poll on Saturday to elect their next governor, it is our hope that the electorate will be allowed to make their choices in a free and fair process devoid of intimidation or any form of financial inducement.

May the best candidate win!

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific 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.

PARTICIPATION IN THE NIGERIAN ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY

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ight from the period when the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) became defunct and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was established and unbundled into 18 successor companies comprising six generation companies (“GenCos”), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and 11 distribution companies (“DisCos”), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (“the Commission”) under the Electric Power Sector Reforms Act have among other objectives to create, promote, preserve efficient industry and market structures and to ensure the optimal utilisation of resources for the provision of electricity resources. The commission also has the function to promote competition and private sector participation when and where feasible; and undertaking any other activities which are necessary and convenient for the actualisation of the said objectives.

In order to ensure that the commission carries out the purpose for which it was set up, section 96 of the Electric Power Sector Reforms Act empowers the commission to make regulations which in its opinion are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the act. This has resulted in a lot of well-meaning regulations by the commission to enhance the Nigerian power sector.

One of these regulations is the regulations on National Content Development in the Power Sector 2014 (“the Content Regulations”).

The objectives of this regulation include: deliberate utilisation of Nigerian human and material resources, goods, works and services

in the industry; opening the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (“NESI”) at all levels of its complexities to involve Nigerian people and expertise; building capabilities in Nigeria to support increased investment in the industry and leveraging existing and future investment in the NESI to stimulate growth of Nigeria and Nigerian located enterprise. These objectives would ensure that whatever goods or services which are produced or manufactured in Nigeria would be properly utilised before recourse can be made to the foreign markets. Regulation nine of the content regulations clearly stipulates that consideration shall first be made to goods made in Nigeria and services provided by Nigerian firms in award of contracts.

This regulation i.e. has been bringing good tidings to Nigerians especially those who are in the power sector while attaining the objective of strengthening the power sector and improving the indigenous involvement in developing the economy in general.

But the Meter Asset Providers Regulation 2018 (“MAPs Regulations”) which came into effect on March 8, 2018 seems to curtail, limit and streamline the local content objective. The MAPs regulations is a much needed regulation in the Nigerian power sector as it relates to metering services in Nigeria with particular importance to the DisCos and the electric end users; it is aimed at eliminating estimated billing which has pervaded the NESI for a long time. The MAPs regulation essentially sets the framework for the installation of meters for the electric end users and to ensure that they are properly charged for the electricity used by them which would in turn enhance revenue assurance for the Discos in the face of illiquidity in the Nigerian Electricity Supply

Industry. The regulation has also created another private investment opportunity in the metering services in the distribution chain of the power sector.

In the face of this much-needed regulation in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, it has also brought with it a clear contradiction to the content regulations in the power sector 2014.

Regulation nine of the MAPs regulations 2018 provides that meter asset providers shall source a minimum of 30% of their contracted metering volumes from local meter manufacturing companies in Nigeria. This clearly tends to circumscribe the provisions of the content regulations on local content which provides that all licensees shall give first consideration for Nigerian goods and services in award of contracts. The interpretation of this provision is that non-Nigerians or goods that are not Nigerian made will only be considered when the utilisation of domestic operators in the domestic power market have been exhausted before foreign goods or services would be resorted to. The seeming contradiction would mean that the 70% of foreign participation is allowed provided that 30% of the sourced meters would be coming from a Nigerian company. The MAPs regulations in this regard seem to have derailed from the local content object of the commission.

The holy grail of the government in passing and implementing local content regulations is to promote indigenous participation and not to stifle their participation.

If this issue is addressed by the commission, we believe it would bring to shore the always encouraged local participation in the Nigerian electri.

Friday Abia, abiafriday@yahoo.com

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POLITICS

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

TRENDING NEWS

Who Will Ajimobi Send into Oyo Governorship Race?

Tobi Soniyi writes that the growing list of governorship aspirants on the platform of theAll Progressives Congress is disturbing

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s the number of aspirants jostling for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Oyo State continues to rise, Governor Abiola Ajiombi must be having a tough time trying to determine who succeed him.

Among those who have shown interest in the race are a former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, a professor of animal physiology and former chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Soji Adejumo, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Adebayo Adelabu, Chief Executive Officer of Costain West Africa Plc, Ayo Karim, a Senior Partner and Head of the Technology Advisory Services and Markets of KPMG Professional Services in Nigeria, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, Project Director and Director at Integrated Energy Distribution And Marketing Limited and Dr. Olusola Ayandele. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), a legal practitioner, Mr Rotimi Adeniji, a former editor of the Guardian, Mr. Debo Adesina, as well as the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyo State, Mr. Akeem Agbaje, Members of the Oyo State Executive Council are also not left out. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan is in the race. His counterpart in the finance ministry, Mr. Abimbola Adekambi is running for the top office as well.

Commissioner for Land, Housing and Survey, Mr. Isaac Omodewu has also shown interest.

The deputy governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo is in the race. Ajimobi’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Mr. Morounkola Thomas has also indicated his interest.

Two senators, Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North Senatorial District and Soji Akanbi,

Ajimobi

Akintola

Adesina

Olaosebikan

representing Oyo South Senatorial District have also joined the race.

Members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State are also interested in the Oyo State Government House. They are Dada Awoleye representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency and Temitope Olatoye (Sugar), representing Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency.

Only recently, the Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu secured the nod of President Muhammadu Buhari to join the race.

Others are: Mr. Soji Eniade, former Head

of Service, Oyo State, Dr. Babalola Owolabi, a former Commissioner for Health, Oyo State and Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, a former chairman, Oluyole Local Government.

Also Mr. Zacheaus Adelabu, a former Commissioner for Finance, Oyo State has equally shown his interest.

The list continues to grow. At the last count, six members of Ajimobi’s cabinet are in the race.

Until recently, two aspirants were believed to be the governor’s favourites: the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),

Adebayo Adelabu and Chief Adeniyi Akintola, (SAN). Both are eminently qualified for the job.

However, sources close to the governor said Ajimobi was no longer disposed to Adelabu following alleged “unguided’ talk attributed to him which filtered to the ears of the governor.

He was reported to have boasted that he had assisted the governor and his wife, Florence at different times in the past and that it should be a payback period for him. THISDAY could not verify this claim. It is also not unusual in politics for mischief makers to come between politicians.

What is not in doubt is that the governor has since become uncomfortable with Adelabu.

THISDAY checks further revealed that the race is now between Akintola and Tegbe, who is believed to be a business partner of the governor.

Many in Oyo State are of the view that Tegbe will cover the governor’s tracks once installed as governor. His closness to Ajimobi, which should have been his asset is turning out to be a liability.

He claims to be from Ibadan, but many in the ancient city have their doubt.

The governor also appears to be favourably disposed to Akintola. The legal icon has so many factors working in his favour He is a household name in Oyo State and the social gatekeepers in the pacesetters state are very comfortable with him. He is at home with the traditional rulers: Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomosho, the Aseyin of Iseyin and the Olubadan of Ibadanland-- some of the leading traditional rulers who cut across the major senatorial zones in the state.

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‘Zoning Inculcates Mediocrity’ Nseobong Okon-Ekong encounters a clever aspirant for the House of Representatives from Isiala Ngwa North and South federal constituency in Abia State. At 31, Ms. Adaeze Nwokeukwu is a young and fresh face on the political turf

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daeze Nwokeukwu, a medical practitioner is fast learning the ropes and how to navigate in the turbulent waters of Nigerian politics. It may be her first political sojourn, but she is enjoying every memorable moment, as she goes around consulting different stakeholders for the opportunity to represent her federal constituency in Abia State on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Her calm disposition could even be discerned from the forthright manner of her response to questions sent to her via email. “You may find it interesting to know that this is the first chapter of my sojourn in politics. I have neither sought any political position in the past nor identified officially with any political struggle.

This is not as a result of my lack of interest in same but simply because, there is a time for everything. Every crucial or calculated step we take as humans is guided by two major factors: Time and chance. I have spent more than one decade preparing myself for the opportunity to be of service to humanity. This is in fact the inspiration behind my chosen career path.

However, my background in politics could be easily traced to my father; a man who for the greater part of my earlier years fully devoted his life to building a career in law while remaining very relevant in the Abia State political scene.

He has always been a leader to many and an indisputable community builder. This inspired

Ada

me a great deal and sowed that seed in my heart to know that mine would be a life of service to my people.”

To her, the race is not a do-or-die affair. While she is focusing on her chances of securing the party’s ticket, if the lot does not fall on her, she plans to return to her medical practice and her business. She has a word for women who plan to take part in politics. Nwokeukwu believes there’s been an upsurge in the number of women taking part in the political process. “We are witnessing an upsurge in the involvement of women in active politics. Women are gradually beginning to recognise their value in the society.

We are beginning to accept that we do not belong just in the kitchen and in the ‘other room’, contrary to widely held opinions. There are more educated, career women today than there was 20 years ago. This is not excluding roles in leadership. I will also like to commend efforts from platforms like the PDP that have afforded women a greater chance to get more involved in leadership through policies such as making the party nomination forms free for women with political aspirations. I would also like to commend the relevant non-governmental organisations that continue to strive to give women a voice in our society of today. A lot, however, still needs to be done.

There is need to invest more effort in the sensitisation of women, starting from the girl child. All hands must be on deck in totally eradicating the notion that the girl child is a second class citizen and is not entitled to dream and aspire as much as her male counterpart.

Also, women who are already established in politics need not be passive about this. We must champion the cause particularly in the rural areas where there is a higher concentration of uneducated, betrothed, abused, undermined and highly dependent women. We must let them know that marriage, child birth and the many other tasks that significantly shape our lives do not necessarily need to amount to the untimely death of our dreams, passions and aspirations.”

Nwokeukwu claims to have had both

sweet and sour experiences in her political in her short, but event political sojourn. “On a positive note, the reception of my aspiration by women, particularly of my constituency has been overwhelming. It has given so many women a new found belief in themselves. People want me to meet their daughters and ask me to mentor them because they would like to see what they see in me in them. The fact that I am a young woman makes it all the more exciting for many because they see the assurance that if things work as we project, God willing, I will be here for a long time.

On a more disappointing note, I have encountered dissenting views bordering solely on the fact that I am a woman and single. This is with absolutely no regard for my intellect, my few accomplishments, my vision and what good I can bring to my people. I think this speaks lowly of us as a society that prides itself as the pacesetter on the African continent. It hurts me not just because of me but because of the thousands of women across the country and continent whose hopes and dreams are dead on arrival because of their gender. I am of the belief that everybody is deserving of a chance to be assessed based on their capacity and their potentials, not based on gender and marital status.”

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NEWS Nwulu Picks UPP Nomination Form for Imo Guber Nseobong Okon-Ekong Imo State governorship aspirant and lawmaker representing Oshodi Isolo Federal Constituency, Hon Tony Nwulu has finally made known his intention to lead the people of Imo State out of what he called political disadvantage.

Nwulu obtained his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on the platform of United Peoples Party (UPP) to vie for the governorship position in Imo State.

At a meeting with journalists at the national Secretariat of UPP in Abuja, Nwulu restated his determination to bring about the needed people-oriented leadership that has eluded Imo State especially since the reign of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The Ezinihitte Mbaise-born House of Representative member made it clear that the process of returning Imo State to greatness had started and will be sustained to ensure victory in 2019.

He noted that Imo State was faced with many challenges hence the need to forge a united stance against the challenges presented by the current leadership in the state.

Nwulu stated: “The journey towards liberating Imolites and restoring our pride of existence has just begun in earnest.

I seek your prayers in your daily devotion and your support.

There shall be indeed showers of blessings; seasons refreshing; precious reviving and sound of abundance when we assume office. I bring message of hope to the unemployed youths, to the deprived pensioners and the oppressed people of Imo State.

I am confident that together we will emerge victorious.

We are one people.

With eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we shall carry on this great task of rebuilding Imo state and deliver it safely to the future generation.”

Osun ADP Guber Candidate Promises Justice to All Tasks INEC on Credible Election Yinka Kolawole Osogbo Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, the candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP), in the September 22 governorship election in Osun State has promised to ensure justice, fairness and equity in the running of the affairs of the state.

Addressing the mammoth crowd of supporters that thronged the party’s mega for Ife Federal Constituencies in Enuwa, Ile-Ife, he said, “injustice and lack of fair play was responsible for the defection of a good number of former members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It is the turn of Osun West

and Iwo town in particular to produce the next governor of the state.

He added, “if the present administration in the state is sincere, why is it now that the people of Iwo accosted them that they went to launch ‘trader-monie’ for the poor and when election is near that they realised that they have to do something on Iwo roads?”

He frowned at the level of injustice and lack of transparent fairplay that has continued to dogged the present administration in the state. He therefore called on the electorates to use their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to stop this as well

as capital flight from Osun State to Lagos State which has continued to impoverish the people of Osun State.

Other prominent speakers at the rally include the veteran football administrator, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Hon. Sola Lawal, Barr.

Gbenga Awosode, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, Prince Olakunle Aderemi and Oluomo Sunday Akere among others. They all implored the electorate to use their PVCs to effect the needed change in Osun.

His running mate, Prof.

Adeolu Durotoye implored the youths, women and patriotic indigenes of Osun not to vote for those he referred to as ‘alien politician’ that are

boasting that they are richer than the state.

Promising to ensure prompt payment of civil servants salaries and pension to retirees who have all the useful time of their lives to serve the state and the nation meritoriously, he said that a sound and logical financial re-engineering would be deployed in conjunction with the expertise of his team members to salvage the chronic situation that the state found itself.

In another development, Adeoti charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rise above board by ensuring that the September 22 governorship poll is free and fair.

SDP WillTrounce Others, Says Duke Bassey Inyang A Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, has boasted that his new party would defeat other political parties at the 2019 general elections.

Duke who recently moved from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the SDP said while inaugurating the state secretariat of the party in Calabar, that he and other like-minded individuals, across board, and party members were working assiduously to ensure victory for the party at the polls.

“The SDP as a party is on a rescue mission from the danger the country is into because there is no positive hope for Nigerians. We have come to put the country in the right direction, therefore, SDP is prepared and committed to take hold of the country come 2019. We have come to build, recover and restore our dear country from the bad leadership of the so-called APC and PDP ideologies,” Duke said.

Duke who also spoke on his presidential ambition said he was on a mission to rescue Nigerians from the present administration.

He described himself as a builder, saying he would rather “take a house from the foundation and build than remaining in a completed building that could not be put together.”

Duke also commented on his exit from the PDP, saying his former party had lost the ideals for which it was established.

He said impunity and indiscipline had become the hallmark of the PDP in recent years.

“People have asked me why I left the PDP, and I always tell them that I left because the umbrella was breaking. The problem with the PDP was

that it does automatic things automatically. With me as the presidential candidate of the SDP, we will drown other parties,” Duke said.

Duke applauded a governorship aspirant of the party, a legal practitioner, Eyo Ekpo, and the party supporters for believing in a new beginning.

Duke urged them not to be afraid of starting a new foundation for the party as he appealed for unity in order to succeed at the various stages of election.

He also assured his teeming supporters that an SDP government would change the fortunes of the state.

Ekpo who was a former Attorney General of the state during Duke’s administration promised to build a new Cross River State by revamping what he called the faulty situation in the state, if elected governor in 2019.

“This state has known and seen what good governance looked like in the past, and had been the jewel in the eyes of other states. We will restore and recover good governance once we take over the leadership of the state,” Ekpo said.

He called on supports to use their vote come 2019 to rescue the nation and state in correcting the mistakes of the PDP and APC. “You are all aware that good governance is gone in Cross River State and with the rescue mission of the SDP in the state I am assuring you all that the lost glory of the state will be recovered and restored come 2019. We have a lot of work to do as party faithful and SDP is an alternative because the party will give Cross Riverians and Nigerians an option,” Ekpo said.

The State Chairman of the party, Ikpi Ibor, charged supporters to drum up support for the presidential and governorship candidates as he assured both parties of victory.

KNOCKING ON THE PRESIDENCY DOOR

Former Governor of Cross River State and Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Donald Duke addressing members of the party in Calabar

Zenith Labour Party Drops SDP Presidential Aspirant Berates Nigerian Banks Nomination Form Fees Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP) has lowered the cost of purchase for Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms in order to give teeth to the Not-TooYoung-To-Run Act. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Segun Jones said the party has fixed its Expression of Interest and Nomination forms as follows; State House of Assembly- N100,000.00 and N400,000.00, while House of Representatives expression of interest and nomination forms

are N200,000 and N800,000.00 respectively. Aspirants for the the Senate aspirants will pay a total of N2 million, while forms for governorship is N6 million and Presidential N12 million.

Justifying the party’s decision, its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Zayyan Aliyu said the decision was in the best interest of aspirants, stressing that those under 30 years of age including women and people living with disability are exempted from paying for nomination forms.

Oyinlola CanvassesVotes for ADC Yinka Kolawole Osogbo Former Governor of Osun State and National Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has urged people of the state to vote for the candidate of ADC, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade in the September 22 governorship election.

Oyinlola spoke at the mega rally of the party in Ile-Ife educated people on how to

identify the logo of ADC on the ballot paper, which is classified with a handshake.

He noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned against campaigning during voting.

He said a judge in the state government, who was retired for saying the truth, Justice Oloyede Folahanmi, should be given sympathy votes as the running mate of the ADC candidate.

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, has accused the Nigerian financial sector of being a comprehensive crime scene where banks declare fantastic profits after stealing from their customers and colluding with few Nigerians who owe the banks N4.3 trillion through loans.

Hagher made this claim at the national Secretariat of the SDP in Abuja when he received and submitted his nomination form which was purchased for him by a group of friends, family and youths.

According to him, “I will arrest economic decline by sanitising the financial sector, which is nothing but a comprehensive crime scene.

Three hundred and fifty Nigerians owe N4.3 trillion in banks. Nigerian banks are stealing from their customers and declaring fantastic profits

and colluding with less than 500 Nigerians to take away money in loans, which are then declared delinquent. My presidency will not encourage nor tolerate these criminals as is being done now.”

Speaking further he promised to take back Nigeria from the five per cent who have stolen the country’s wealth and future “I stand here as the presidential aspirant of the 95 per cent of Nigerians. I stand here to take back Nigeria from those who have stolen our wealth and future and made us slaves in our land.

My presidency will end the rot and end the decay processes where we have continued to recycle bad leaders,” he promised.

“I promise you that I will fix the country, I will usher protection to the masses of Nigeria from bad governance of the five percent that think change is to make citizens poorer, more insecure and allow our lands, homes, property and lives to be taken by violence.”

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Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 07010510430

Reflecting on KABAFEST Literary, Arts Fiesta As the curtains fall on the 2018 Kaduna Book and Arts Festival, Peter Uzoho reports that it was an enriching moment of interesting booklogues, film screenings, poetic renditions, and informative networking with literary artists from Nigeria, Africa and beyond

A cross-section of audience at the festival

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t was an exciting experience returning to Kaduna a year after, for the second edition of the all-enriching Kaduna Book and Arts Festival (KABAFEST).

From September 5 to 8, over 70 literary artists from Nigeria, Africa and beyond, comprising writers, filmmakers, actors, poets, musicians, onstage-storytellers, visual artists, journalists, and lovers of arts were in Kaduna for the literary banquet.

The four days arts and book feast was organised by the Lagos-based Book Buzz Foundation in partnership with the Kaduna State Government, and some interested private sector organisations, and embassies. Of note is that KABAFEST remains the first and only literary fĂŞte of this magnitude in northern Nigeria and aims at changing the perception of the world about the region.

It was also intended to boost access to literacy and reading, reignite a passion for arts and culture in the state, and to create safer spaces where cultural and literary enthusiasts can gather to dialogue on books, culture and ideas.

About KABAFEST KABAFESTis a four-day programme of arts and book-focused events featuring ‘booklogues’, panel sessions, workshops, art/book exhibitions, a stage play, a film screening, onstage storytelling, poetic renditions and music, with Nigerian and international writers and creatives.

Like the maiden edition held last year, KABAFEST 2018 did not fail to meet the expectations of attendees as the booklogues and panel discussions on important issues, covering arts, politics, health, economy, culture, security, gender, amongst others, were thoughtprovoking, enriching and fun-filled.

Also, food-lovers yearning to try something new availed themselves of desserts from the North, while tasting flavours from outside Nigeria.

Opening Ceremony The festival began with a grand opening ceremony where some of the artists entertained the audience with brief but heart-rending performances. The event was held at the SilverSand Hotel, Kaduna. Members of the Kaduna State Executive Council, led by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Barnabas Bala Bantex, graced the occasion.

Sponsors, students of higher institution

Kenyan-Scottish storyteller, Mara Menzies telling a story at the festival

in Kaduna, and many art enthusiasts were also in attendance in the colourful ceremony.

With the guests glued to their seats, waiting for the progrmme to commence, the Festival Director and Founder, Book Buzz Foundation,

African writers should be mindful of who is critiquing African literature, most are just out to dehumanise us. They know nothing about us and want to be experts on who we are. Some critics, you just learn to do away with

Festival Director and Founder, Book Buzz Foundation, Lola Shoneyin, delivering her welcome speech at the Kabafest 2018

Lola Shoneyin, glowingly welcome them with her address, assuring all present of fulfilling experience throughout the duration of the programme.

There were thrilling poetry performances by one of Nigeria’s finest poets, Efe Paul Azino, whose story captured the huge potentials in Nigeria and queried why the so-called superpowers should be undermining Nigeria and Africa. An award-wining South African poet, KolekaPutuma, also performed for the audience.

The audience also savoured Ogaba Ochai’s acrobatic dance, and a superb music rendition by renowned Jeremiah Gyang, who carressed his guitar like a lover would. The hall lit up the more with a fascinating story from a Kenya-Scottish storyteller, Mara Menzies, who told a story of a Gikuyu woman who dared an age-long custom that allowed women to cook meat but forbade them from eating it, whether in their homes or elsewhere.

The opening ceremony also featured the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to a renowned novelist and professor at the Nasarawa State University, Zaynab Alkali, for her immense contributions to the society through her creative works. The festival was thereafter declared open by the deputy governor on behalf of his principal, Governor Nasir

el-Rufai. Bantex restated the commitment of the administration to the creative industry.

Sessions and Discussions One caveat that assured participants of unfettered safety during comments in session was: “What happens at Kabafest, ends at Kabafest.�

With such rule, everyone had due coverage to air one's view on issues raised. This was only established to avoid the temptation of keeping malice with someone as a result of clash of opinion during each discourse. It was to remind attendees, speakers and contributors that Kabafest was a safe space for their contributions: with no judgment of any sort.

However, the caveat did not extend to limitations on getting quality suggestions and resolutions emanating from the event on burning societal issues, from getting to the appropriate authorities. Even with that, you could see freedom of speech and expression in action as all bottled-up emotions on issues at stake were let loose in constructive manners.

After all, the common objective was a better society for all.

Why African Literatures Matter The first panel was hosted by Abubakar Ibrahim, winner of Michael Elliot Award for

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L-R: SaďŹ ya Ismaila Yero, Mukoma wa Ngugi, Kinna Likimani, and Abubakar Ibrahim, at a panel session on 'Why African Literatures Matter' at the just ended Kaduna Book and Arts Festival (Kabafest) in Kaduna...recently

Excellent African Storytelling and author of “Season of Crimson Blossoms.�

On “Why African Literatures Matter�, Ibrahim interrogated Kenyan novelist and professor, Mukoma wa Ngugi; Ghanaian writer and blogger, Kinna Likimani, and Nigerian novelist, Safiya Ismaila Yero.

Ngugi who is also the son of popular Kenyan writer, Ngugu wa Thiongo, concurred that Africa literatures does matter, adding that it could be proven by the tendency of many African dictators to jail and kill writers for their work. But Likimani was not comfortable having such question come up. “Look, African literature is not a new genre and we cannot forever continue to respond to the ancient query on whether Africans have culture and literature; we should just continue to live our cultural lives and tell our stories," he opined.

Trying also to determine what an African story should be, Ngugi suggested that the use of the concept “Afropolitan� to describe today’s African writer. To him, the concept “African story� was limiting.

Ngugi said, “Whether or not they live in Africa, global issues and events mould their narratives. They are African and they are cosmopolitan. The important thing is that they write what they want to and resist the pressure to conform to addressing ‘African themes’. “I find terms like poverty porn dangerous because it silences books. Rather than constant criticism of poverty porn themes associated with mainly Nigerian writers, why can’t we just appreciate where they are coming from?

We cannot close ourselves to other voices.�

For Likimani, African writers should care less about what the West says about their stories, as they should not determine what they should write.

Likimani said, “African writers should be mindful of who is critiquing African literature, most are just out to dehumanise us. They know nothing about us and want to be experts on who we are. Some critics, you just learn to do away with. “I hate the word global, I think that is where African things go and die. We should be far more concerned about what we think of each other. Global is done to us, we don’t need global, we just want good stories that make you feel good and make you think.�

Contributing from the audience, Nigerian poet and filmmaker, Wana Udobang, said: “We must be careful to expand and free people to write. We must stop this thing about being an African writer, worrying so much about what is an African story, which silences a lot of people.�

Booklogue In one of the booklogues, Kaduna State First Lady and author of “An Abundance of Scorpions,� Hadiza el-Rufai, and Ayobami Adebayo, author of “Stay With Me,� discussed

their fictional works. Their works represent the emerging writers known as “new voices�, whose works engage new themes hitherto not found in African fictions.

Such themes like sex, pains in marriage, and inhuman treatment meted out to women which were usually not spoken about. They also addressed difficult questions concerning religious practices and tensions, as fundamentalism takes root in Nigeria and other African countries.

Fielding questions after reading a portion of her book, el-Rufai frowned at some African cultures which inhibit people’s rights. “I believe everyone has the right to practice whatever they want as long as they are not infringing on the rights of others,� she said. “Sex is something all of us know and enjoy so long as you are an adult but people don’t want us to talk about it,� she added.

She called for more women, especially from the north to engage in writing, asking that was the only way they could express things that bother them.

L-R: Author, 'Stay With Me', Ayobami Adebayo; Author, 'An Abundance of Scorpions' and Kaduna First Lady, Hadiza el-Rufai, during a booklogue at the Kabafest

Likimani said Feminism In another highly charged panel session, women who profess and stand for feminism talked about the face of feminism in the future, its importance; and why it is critical to the development of any modern society. The panel moderated by Wana Udobang, composed of author and Co-founder of Women Leading Africa, Nana Dakoa; lawyer and writer, Fatima Zahra Danejo; and Senior Programme Officer, MacArthur Foundation, Amina Salihu. They

We want you writers, educated and inuential people to call on the government to meet with the parents of the Chibok girls still missing; government is not meeting with them. Most of the parents are traumatised, and we are helpless. Don’t forget us, please

challenged the socio-cultural order, which they argued placed women at a disadvantaged position against the men folks.

According to them, Nigeria’s patriarchal nature has never been kind to women. “At the foundation of patriarchy is the visceral need to control a woman, her needs and her desires,� Danejo said, adding, “There is a rich Northern feminist history and a rich Muslim feminist history. As a Northern woman, just surviving is a feminist issue. Northern men are a peculiar brand of men. What they desire inside is what they frown upon outside.�

Salihu urged her fellow women to rise and challenge the societal treatment of women as a reproductive vessel. “When we begin to ignore the little, the little becomes bigger and the bigger becomes the biggest. It took Nigeria 18 years to pass a bill on violence against women, it had to be changed to violence against persons and it took a very slim majority to have it passed,� she said.

The moderator, Udobong, frowned on the politicisation of women’s body, noting, “one of the things about being a woman is that our body is politicised.�

Contributing from the audience, journalist and media entrepreneur, Kadaria Ahmed said: “There is a hijacking of the Abrahamic religions to give men the superiority and power they need to oppress women.�

Uncovering the Politics of Boko Haram This panel moderated by a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, Mr. Abubakar Othman, comprised Chairman of the abducted Chibok Girls, Yakubu Nkeki; Chief Executive Officer, 555 Consulting Limited, Bukky Shonibare; Author and Doctoral Student, Abdulbasit Kassim.

They shared the true plight of people living

in the insurgent areas in the North-east and the pains of parents of the girls still in Boko Haram captivity. They said the claims by the Nigerian government that the insurgents had been degraded were all false. According to them, government had not found it needful to go and meet with the parents of the abducted Chibok girls. “We want you writers, educated and influential people to call on the government to meet with the parents of the Chibok girls still missing; government is not meeting with them. Most of the parents are traumatised, and we are helpless. Don’t forget us, please!,�

Nkeki, pleaded. Also speaking, Shonibare, said, “We do not need anything from government, we do not ask for favour; all we want is our girls. We are farmers; we can till our lands as we have been doing for thousands of years.

We only need peace to farm and safety for our community; 112 girls are still missing.

Boko Haram plays hugely not just to the ignorance but the innocence of young ones.

I’ve heard young people in North-east say they like the way Boko Haram dress. We need early intervention.�

Night of Poetry The festival ended with the poetry night. It was all fun and funfair going into the night, as poets took control of the stage, thrilling and entertaining the audience with their mesmerising renditions. The likes of Nigeria’s Efe Paul Azino, Chika Jones, Dami Ajayi, Wana Udobang, Femi Oyebode; and South Africa’s KolekaPutuma, all performed. Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai and his wife, Hadiza, were present during the night of bliss. It was indeed a worthwhile experience being at the Kabafest 2018.

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Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (right) presenting car key to overall winner of Kwara State Civil Service Award, Atobiloye Musiliu during the Civil Service Award Dinner at State Banquet Hall, Ilorin‌recently

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L-R: Director Administration, National Film and Video censors Board Abuja, Mrs. Fatima Abdulkadir; Cultural Consellor Embassy of the People Republic of China, Mr. Li Xuda; Charge d ‘aaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Lin Jing; and Permanet Secretary Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Grace Isugekpe, during the Chinese ďŹ lm festival in Abuja...recently PHOTO: JULIUS ATOI

President, Anwar-Ul Islam College Agege, Old Students Association (ACAOSA) 1991/92 Set, Mr. RaďŹ u Mohammed (middle) anked by other members of the sets, during the 70th Anniversary Celebration/Awards presentation to Mohammed, for his contributions to the Association, in Lagos...recently

L-R: Representative of FITC on the Board of Banks Directors Association of Nigeria (BADN), Dr. Lucy Newman; Immediate Past Secretary, Mrs. Ojini Olaghere; Vice President, Mrs. Funmi Oyetunji; President, Mrs. Osaretin Demuren; Immediate Past Vice President, Mrs. Foluke Abdulrazaq and Financial Secretary, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, during the 21st Annual General Meeting of the Association, in Lagos...recently PHOTO: KOLA OLASUPO

L-R: JCI World President, Paschal Dike; Monitoring and Evaluation OďŹƒcer, Act Foundation, Olumide Emeralds; Brand Manager, Taxify, Bandega Terver; JCI Nigeria President, Adeniyi Balogun; Country Leader, Let’s Do It Nigeria, Olumide Coker, at the World Clean Up Day 2018 by Let’s Do It Foundation, held in Lagos...recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

Edo State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hon. Christopher Adesotu (2nd left, front row); Permanent Secretary, Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Bernard Oigborie (left, front row); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dania Dare (2nd right, front row); and the Coordinator, Government Science and Technical College Benin Rehabilitation Programme, Giles Omezi (right), during an inspection tour of the ongoing revamp of Government Science and Technical College (GSTC), formerly Benin Technical College, in Benin City...recently

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

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Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email: obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08024557078, 08091152219

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Quick Takes Africa50 Inaugurates Headquarters The pan-African infrastructure investment platform, Africa50, has inaugurated its headquarters in Casablanca.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Secretary of State for Investment at the Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade, and Digital Economy, Otman Ferdaous and the President of the Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Salaheddine Mezouar.

In his opening remarks, Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobissé said: “The Kingdom of Morocco is our host country and one of our founding shareholders. We are very grateful to the Moroccan authorities for the administrative support, trust, and goodwill they have provided since the start of our operations in Casablanca.”

He also expressed appreciation for the Kingdom of Morocco’s contribution to the shareholding of Africa50, which included investments of $100 million from the government and $20 million from Bank Al-Maghrib.

Ferdaous, reiterated the government’s support for Africa50’s mandate, both in Morocco and across Africa.

He explained that, beyond the economic benefits, the real value of infrastructure in Africa was its positive impact on the living conditions and the social and human development of the population.

Ecobank Offers ‘Back-to-School’ Payments

UNVEILING NEW HEADQUARTERS

R-L: Africa50 CEO, Mr. Alain Ebobissé with the Moroccan Prime Minister, Mr. Saad Dine El Otmani, during the inauguration of the panAfrican infrastructure investment company’s headquarters in Casablanca…recently

GencosUnhappywithTCN’sFrequencyControl Practice Stories by Chineme Okafor in Abuja Power generation companies (Gencos) in Nigeria’s electricity market have frowned on what they described as an unhealthy frequency control practice of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Alleging that the TCN was having challenges controlling the frequency levels of electricity in the grid, the Gencos stated that their generation plants were being impacted negatively by TCN’s reported challenges with

ENERGY controlling electricity frequency in the country.

Therefore, they warned that the development could lead to complete shutdown of their units and perhaps a national blackout.

The Executive Secretary of the Gencos’ association – the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), Dr. Joy Ogaji, explained this to THISDAY in Abuja, in telephone chat.

Ogaji’s claims however came

at a time the TCN announced its energisation of a 330 kilovolt (kV) transmission substation and 150 megavolt amp (MVA) power transformer in Damaturu area of Yobe State.

According to Ogaji: “TCN has serious difficulties controlling frequency with another impending blackout. Evidence shows as follows: system performance for 07/09/2018: Highest Frequency 50.98 Hz. Lowest Frequency 49.64 Hz. Peak Generation 4,498.10MW. Lowest Generation 2,627.60MW. Total Energy Sent Out 81,770.75MWH

“System performance for 09/09/2018: Highest Frequency 50.98 Hz. Lowest Frequency 50.12 Hz. And, 11, September 2018: Frequency from 48.85 to 50.9 HZ.” She explained further that: “Generating units cannot withstand this very high frequency for a long time. Even for a very short time generating units will get into a vibration zone.

“This will diminish their life expectancy and will require extended maintenance in the Continued on page 22

FG Gazettes New Gas Flaring Law The federal government is set to stiffly penalise offenders of gas flaring in the country, after several years of leaving it at a meagre fine of N10 per thousand standard cubic feet of gas flared by oil companies in the country.

This was contained in a newly gazetted Flare Gas Prevention of Waste and Pollution Regulations 2018.

Obtained by THISDAY in Abuja, the new regulation was recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It would provide a legal framework to support the government’s plan to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions through flaring and venting of natural gas.

ENERGY Under the regulations, the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) would also be implemented.

The NGFCP would in line with its objectives, introduce new payment regime or penalties for gas flaring.

According to the document, the operational principle adopted in the NGFCP was that of the ‘polluter pays’ principle which is similar to carbon tax. The regulations also imposed significant obligations on producers and gas flare out projects for the reporting of data in respect of activities related to gas flaring.

Within the objectives of the regulations, Nigeria would reduce the environmental and social impacts of flaring natural gas; protect the environment especially that of the Niger Delta region which has been the most impacted; prevent waste of natural resources; and create social and economic benefits from gas flare capture.

According to the regulation, its contents are consistent with the dictates of Nigeria’s Petroleum Act which indicates that the government could take all flare gas free of cost at the flare and without payment of royalty.

An introductory note on the regulation stated that it

now: “Prohibits flaring and venting of gas except further to a certificate issued by the minister (of petroleum resources) in limited circumstances.”

It further explained that: “The current meagre flare payments (penalties) of N10 per thousand standard cubic feet is increased, in the case of any one producing 10,000 barrels of oil or more, to $2.0 USD per thousand standard cubic feet of gas and, in the case of anyone producing less than 10,000 barrels of oil per day, to $0.50 USD per thousand standard cubic square feet of gas.”

Continued on page 22

The Head, Consumer Marketing, Ecobank Nigeria, Ikechukwu Kalu has said the bank’s offerings enables seamless payments for school fees and other purchases by parents and guardians as their wards resume for the new academic year.

Kalu, affirmed that Ecobank provides services that support both local and international school fees payments at very good rates; personal loans to help with school fees payments and the Ecobank versatile Mobile App that supports school fees and other related payments. Kalu, who was responding to media enquiries on various ‘back to school’ initiatives of Ecobank, stated that apart from personal loans, the bank has other digital payment options.

“As a bank that has the interest of its customers at heart especially this period when school resumes, we have put in place personal loan to help parents and guardians pay school fees for their children and wards.

“Also, we have put in place a convenient, accessible and reliable digital payment solutions like the Ecobank mobile app for shopping and school fees payment. We’ve got your back coverd this new school year,” he said.

How to Increase Cote d’Ivoire Trade Cote d’Ivoire can greatly increase the benefits accruing to it from trade with other African countries and transform the West Africa region by increasing its sourcing of raw and industrial materials from Africa to feed into its burgeoning light manufacturing sector, a high-level panel discussion in Abidjan has recommended.

The panel, featured former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo; Jean Louis Ekra, former President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank); Dr. Vaflahi Meite, Executive Director, General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire; and Dr. George Elombi, Executive Vice President, Governance, Legal and Corporate Services, Afreximbank, was organised by Afreximbank recently, as part of a stakeholder engagement event to promote the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) scheduled to take place in Cairo from 11th to 17th December, 2018.

The panellists highlighted the need for Cote d’Ivoire to build up its capacity in ago-processing around edible oils in order to improve its trade capacity.

We will not interfere because we do not doubt the authority of the Central Bank of Nigeria to take decision that is of interest to the country and in accordance with the law

Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY , SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD GENCOS UNHAPPY WITH TCN’S FREQUENCY CONTROL PRACTICE

SON Develops Standards for Staple Food Jonathan Eze

medium term.

“There is need to declare a state of emergency on these issues, politics is not helping.

These assets though in private hands, if allowed to go down like this, will be colossal waste for all of us considering the huge sum invested in them.”

However, in a statement signed by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, the company said it successfully energised the 330kV transmission substation which was constructed six years ago but could not be energised.

It also said the 150MVA power transformer and associated 75MVR reactors were energised by it, adding that its task team would now concentrate on completing a 60MVA transformer within the next two weeks to enable Damaturu and its environs get supply from the substation.

Mbah, explained in the statement that contract for the Damaturu 330kV substation project was awarded in 2006, but like its Wudil 132kV

FG GAZETTES NEW GAS FLARING LAW

Also, the regulation noted that there are mandatory additional payments by gas producers of $2.50 for failure to produce accurate flare data; failure to provide access to flares or flare sites; failure to sign a connection agreement.

It further stated that: “In the event of continuous or egregious breaches, there is a possibility of suspension of operations, or a termination of the producer’s license.”

With the NGFCP, the government plans to provide flare gas buyers with access and title to flare gas for fuel and or feedstock for their gas utilisation projects.

The programme will provide a structure and platform that will enhance the bankability of such projects; present a market-driven solution; reduce gas flaring; as well as provide benefits to Niger Delta communities and the Nigerian economy.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Jonathan Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

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

NEWS

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has developed international standards for most of the country’s staple food products such as garri, dry beans, soya beans, rice and the likes.

The Director General, SON, Osita Aboloma, who disclosed this, said the move was to put an end to the high level of rejection faced by Nigeria’s agricultural produce at the international markets.

The SON boss represented by the Director, Standards Development, Chinyere Egwuonwu, at a media briefing in Lagos recently said: “For instance, as far as agriculture is concerned, the standards we developed are to ensure that our products meet the global benchmark, thereby forestalling a repeat of the rejection of our products as it happened recently at the international market.

“We have developed standards for many agricultural products, like Shea butter, dry beans, smoked fish, yam flour, plantain chips, sesame seeds, oil, Rice, Cocoa, Cocoa Butter and Garri.

“It will interest you to know that the standard we developed for garri is accepted globally and now adopted by countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

So, you need to appreciate that the standards we are talking about are indeed standard,” he stated.

He pointed out that out of the 800 standards it had produced in one year, 339 standards have been developed for the nation’s agricultural produce.

“Some of the standards include the anti-bribery and

corporate governance standards, the African traditional medicine, human resource management, hotel management, to mention a few.

The standards for agricultural produce were developed to end the reject, of exportable Nigerian farm produce at the global market. So far, the agency had developed standards for Nigeria’s dry beans, smoked fish, yam flour, cocoa, plantain chips, rice, garri, sesame seeds, oil and many more,” he added.

According to him, the standards would act as a code of conduct for the agriculture value chain ranging from planting, processing, harvesting, packaging and transporting these

goods within and outside the country.

He noted that SON has continued to use standardisation and certification to support businesses to grow and be sustainable.

He said SON’s goals are to use standardisation and quality assurance to promote the federal government’s economic development policies such as economic diversification, Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Ease of Doing Business, Backward Integration as well as agricultural and industrial revolution He appealed to all operators,

stakeholders, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, including MSMEs players to work with SON, urging them to feel free and patronise the standards it had put in place for business growth and sustainability, restating its commitment to ensure that local industries are protected from unfair competition as a result of sub-standard imported goods.

“SON is therefore opening up new vistas and opportunities for farmers, agro-allied operators and commodity exporters. We are taking up agro products from farm to when they come to the table as meal. The aim for the uniformity of standards for agricultural products with CODEX, the global body

responsible for food safety, is to boost food export and stop rejections of local agro products overseas due to quality and integrity concerns,” he averred.

The SON helmsman added that the agency has also coordinated the development of standards for Nigeria’s smoked fish, yam flour, cocoa, plantain chips, rice, garri, sesame seeds oil and many more in the agro and allied sector.

“All these standards deliberately address the agricultural value chain from planting, harvesting, processing and packaging to transportation.

That is, from farm to the table within and outside the country,” he said.

DISCUSSING BANKING AND FINANCE

L -R: Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Peter Amangbo; President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr Uche Olowu; Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Joseph Nnanna and Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, at the 11th CIBN banking and finance conference held in Abuja…recently

Nasarawa Gas Explosion: NLPGA CSO Urges FG to Protect Rights of Mining SeeksGreaterEnforcementofStandards Communities Ejiofor Alike Against the backdrop of the recent gas explosion in Nasarawa State, the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) has highlighted the need for greater enforcement of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) standards and code of practice within the industry across the country. “Without this, the proliferation of substandard and undocumented gas facilities/infrastructure will remain a recurrent issue, which ultimately undermines the efforts of law abiding industry practitioners,” the President, NLPGA, Mr Nuhu Yakubu, said in a statement. The association said its governing council and members were saddened by the explosion, adding, “Our sincere condolences go to the affected families who lost their loved ones and we commiserate with those who were directly and indirectly affected by this unfortunate incident.”

According to the statement, LPG, popularly known as cooking gas, is a valuable resource that serves Nigerians well, and has helped two million new homes switch to a cleaner gaseous fuel; achieve a reduction in deforestation; reduce gas

Chineme Okafor in Abuja flaring through the recovery of LPG; and reduce respiratory and health-related sicknesses among women and children.

The NLPGA said, “This recent occurrence reiterates the need to address the three overarching industry safety objectives, namely safe handling and best practices in LPG; prevention of loss of containment (gas leaks), and successful disaster management.”

It said it had in recent times collaborated with the regulatory agencies such as Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to draft and develop processes and procedures “to ensure that best practices are upheld within the industry to ensure the safety of lives and property.” “There has been commendable improvement on the part of the regulators which has seen them share reports on previous similar occurrences with stakeholders.

These have helped the association improve on its delivery of training programmes geared towards addressing some of these gaps in order to improve safety practices, especially during product handling/transfer operations.

The Global Rights, a civil society organisation, has asked the federal government to proactively take up the challenge of protecting the rights of communities in Nigeria that host mining operations.

Its Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, while speaking at the opening of a recent workshop on ‘translating the ECOWAS mining directive and regional instruments within the context of business and human rights,’ in Abuja, said the fundamental rights of host communities of mining operations in the country were constantly abused by mining operators who leave such communities in misery after exploiting their resources.

Baiyewu, said given the reported losses suffered by host communities across the country, especially in Zamfara and Kogi States, it had become imperative for mining companies to be more responsible in their operations.

She said it was chiefly the responsibility of the government to ensure this happened.

According to her, there is an urgent need to balance the practice of mining as a commercial venture seeking to earn

profit from the natural resources of communities and rights of host communities to good health and clean environment.

Baiyewu, underpinned this call with the government’s recent reported look-in on solid minerals mining as an alternative to crude oil revenue.

She explained in this regards that: “Mining is becoming a major concern in Nigeria and we must not make the mistakes we made with the hydrocarbon in the mining industry. If mining would work for the rights of Nigerians, it must be a deliberate effort to ensure that rights of Nigerians are protected.”

Going further, Baiyewu, pointed out that mining businesses should be concerned about human rights because, “if they don’t, they will create hostile communities.”

“Hostile communities will eventually impact on their bottom line and their profit margin,” she added, while indicating that Nigeria was yet to submit any document to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) despite 2014 being the deadline for the submission of implementation plan of the ECOWAS mining directives.

She however observed that

ECOWAS has not developed any sanction for countries who fail to implement the directives, but noted that countries such as Ghana, which were already implementing the plan had started reaping the benefits.

Baiyewu said: “In Ghana production is higher and the general state of the communities has become more peaceful since they started the implementation.”

Also, she explained that most of the illicit financial flows from mining in Africa come largely from Nigeria, and that data showed Nigeria has more gold than Ghana, but simply fails to manage the mining process of her gold deposits.

She thus urged the government to do more to protect mining host communities as they have become more vulnerable to mining activities in their domain.

Similarly, in his address at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu explained that as a regulator, the ministry recognised that government and mining title holders have the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights of mining host communities in the country.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

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BUSINESSWORLD

BeyondtheBeat CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU

Tel: 08033294157, 08057161321 Email: chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com

Whither the $4.5bn Modular Refinery Project It is an indisputable fact that people who take loans for consumption purposes go bankrupt and the same applies to countries also.

One incurs a debt in the hope of making an investment that will produce enough money both to pay off the debt and to generate economic growth that is self-sustaining. But in contrast, borrowed funds are often not used for productive investments, but rather to maintain a current, albeit desperate, standard of living.

No country can survive when it borrows for consumption purposes. Nigerian leaders take loans for purposes of consumption, and not for productive investments.

Recent data released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) put Nigeria’s total debt stock at N22.38 trillion ($73.21billion) as at the June 30, 2018. Also, the debt office said the federal government has so far borrowed a total of N410 billion locally to finance the N9.12 trillion 2018 Budget.

The dangerous implication of the massive government debt is that it makes the suffering significantly worse.

Most tragically too, this huge debt endangers the chances for the happiness of millions of Nigerian children who will have committed no crime other than that of being born into one of the world’s poorest nations.

Worried about the development, the International Monetary Fund warned recently that greater reliance on foreign borrowing may sooner or later become a vulnerability to the economy of Nigeria.

But the government argues that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the world, insisting that it has the capacity to repay its debt obligations.

Penultimate week, the federal government announced it had secured $500 million (about N179.9 billion) facility from the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) for the establishment of modular refineries and the Flare Gas Recovery Programme in Nigeria.

The dire need to boost local refining capacity and put an end to years of massive importation of refined petroleum products might have prompted federal government’s decision to apply and obtain the loan through the Bank of Industry (BOI).

But chances that the project would be actualised are very slim, given that loans obtained government for similar projects, were diverted and the purposes for securing the loans were not fulfilled.

In 2012, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of six modular refineries was signed between the then Ministry of Trade and Investment; a United States firm, Vulcan Petroleum Resources Limited and an indigenous company, Petroleum Refining and Strategic Reserve Ltd (PRSR).

Under the MoU, construction of the proposed six modular refineries with a combined production capacity of 10 million litres of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPFO per day was billed to be completed in 2013.

PRSR and Vulcan Group had stated at the signing that the first two modular refineries would be ready within 12 months, while the remaining four would be completed 18 months after the inauguration of the first two.

The estimated cost of the project was $4.5 billion and parties to the deal had promised to work with all relevant ministries and agencies of the federal government to ensure that products from the first two modular refineries reached the Nigerian market by mid - 2013.

Soon after the contract was signed, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Petroleum Ministry distanced themselves from the modular refinery project and insisted that they were not a party to the MoU. THISDAY checks then revealed that the project was a sham. Obviously, the then govern-

Buhari ment in power only used it as a conduit to siphon money for election purposes. THISDAY also found that the addresses affiliated to one of the partners, PRSR were fake. In fact, both the Maitama and Wuse 2, Abuja addresses belonged to two different companies, Alpha Consulting located at No. 23A Kainji Crescent, Off Lake Chad Crescent in Maitama and System Trade Service at No. 2 Kinda Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent Wuse 2.

The two companies also denied any link with PRSR when contacted.

Six years down the line, there is no information about the possible site for the six modular refineries or any further development apart from the MoU signing.

The federal government also between 2013 and this year, signed several deals with local and international firms on establishment of modular refineries.

In May this year, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru announced

The dangerous implication of the massive government debt is that it makes the suffering significantly worse.

Most tragically too, this huge debt endangers the chances for the happiness of millions of Nigerian children who will have committed no crime other than that of being born into one of the world’s poorest nations

Baru that 13 firms had been granted licenses to build modular refineries in the country, specifically, in the Niger Delta area. A total of 35 firms had expressed interest to establish the refineries, but only 13 reportedly got approvals from the Department of Petroleum Resources.

The establishment of modular refineries, according to Baru, was one of the key policies of the Buhari administration to resolve agitation in the Niger Delta, where most of Nigeria’s crude is located. He said the modular refineries would put a stop to illegal refining of crude and also create employment and wealth among residents of the Niger Delta.

Besisdes, he said the dream of transforming Nigeria from a net exporter of crude oil to a net exporter of refined petroleum products would in the months ahead transform into a reality. He expressed commitment to actualising the December 2019 target set by the federal government to end the importation of petroleum products into the country.

On his part, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu had also given the assurance that two of the modular refineries would be completed and inaugurated by December this year.

The refineries, to be located in Rivers and Delta states, were said to be among the 38 whose licenses were approved by the DPR. Kachikwu said government’s resolve to establish modular refineries was part of long term plans to end importation of petroleum products as well as to discourage illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta.

The minister, during an inspection of construction of a modular refinery by Omsa Pillar Astex Company Limited (OPAC Modular Refinery) in Kwale, said the team was on ground to evaluate the extent of work so far.

“If you recall, sometime last year, the Vice President visited the Niger Delta and made a policy statement that will encourage the establishment of modular refineries. We are happy that we are here today. This is one of the first few and within six months from now, the refineries would be completed and we are looking forward to seeing that.

He explained that the construction of the two modular refineries had reached advanced stages and their inauguration would send the right signals to other investors who had doubted the federal government’s commitment to investing in modular refineries.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the $500 million facility in Beijing, China, Chief Executive of BoI, Mr. Olukayode Pitan, said

the partnership will create over 100,000 jobs in Nigeria’s Oil & Gas sector and advance the federal government’s Modular Refineries and Flare Gas Recovery Programme.

The MoU stipulates that the loan facility will be utilised to finance the purchase of equipment and machinery from China by investors and project owners of modular refineries in the country.

The aim, according to him, was to ensure availability of refined petroleum products, monetise gas flare, reduce cost of products in the mid-term and provide employment for Nigerians.

The facility, he further noted, can be accessed via letters of credit issued for the delivery of specified modular refineries and gas processing equipment to qualified Nigerian companies establishing petrochemical facilities under the modular refineries and gas flare recovery programme.

However, industry analysts have expressed concerns that the money might not be utilised for the purpose it was obtained.

Whereas some industry experts view it as another conduit to divert funds, others argue that given that no much efforts had been made by the federal government to revitalise the existing four refineries that had been in comatose for decades, not much should be expected from the recent signing.

Besides, they pointed out that the MoU for Greenfield Refineries project was signed on May 13, 2010 but till date, the project has not progressed despite that it had been envisaged to add 750,000 barrels per day (tbpd) of extra refining capacity to Nigeria’s paltry 445,000 bpd refining capacity.

They also noted that the various gas flare out projects had been stalled owing to several challenges. It was gathered that Nigeria loses as much as $1 billion of revenue through gas flaring, due to its inability to capture and commercialise flared gas in the country.

Experts disclosed that if flared gas is properly exploited, it has the potential to create at least 300,000 jobs, produce 600,000 MT of LPG per year and generate 2.5 GW of power from new and existing IPPs, as approximately 700mmscf/d is flared at 178 flare sites in Nigeria.

An energy analyst, who spoke on the development during the weekend, noted that these assorted MoUs signed by government in this twilight of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration might not exceed the paper signing stages.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

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BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

Before Power Sector Recovery Plan Runs into Snag There are strong indications that the federal government’s Power Sector Recovery Plan may run into a self-imposed trouble, writes Chineme Okafor The coming on stream of the 450 megawatts (MW) Azura-Edo independent power plant (IPP) to the national electricity grid has remained a mixed event for Nigeria’s power sector.

First, its completion and synchronisation to the grid especially ahead of its projected completion timeline, showed that Greenfield power projects with good economics can be done in Nigeria after all.

However, it also exposed the inherent threats in the country’s power market with full activation of its existing contracts with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET).

This further highlighted the fundamental structural challenges of the sector which is currently reeling from huge financial deficits.

By design, Azura which is a privately-owned power firm, has a ‘buyer payment security,’ established under a Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) negotiated and guaranteed by the federal government. Under the PRG, Azura is protected from payment defaults on its contracted capacity whether delivered or undelivered as long as its capacity to produce power are not impeded by its making.

For clarity, what this then means is that if for no fault of Azura, energies it generates are not taken by the national grid for distribution to homes and offices in the country, it would not be denied payment in full for the volumes it has generated.

On the back of this, records obtained from the power market indicated that the monthly invoice of Azura which is usually sent to the NBET is about N6 billion and making up for about 15 per cent of NBET’s total monthly invoice for power generation. From further calculation, the invoice also amounted to approximately 50 per cent of the monthly remittance of the electricity distribution companies (Discos) to the NBET, under the current average market remittance performance of 30 per cent the Discos did.

Also, THISDAY learnt that the NBET, which is directly in contract with Azura on behalf of the government, had to resort to creative ways of managing its contractual obligations to Azura to mitigate associated risks of any default that might lead to a draw down on the PRG Azura has.

As a practice, the PRG is intended to reinforce the credit worthiness of a government buyer like the NBET which should have the capacity to discharge its obligation under normal business conditions so that projects can meet credit risk thresholds of international lenders, however, the NBET, to minimise the impact of unutilised capacity given that the Azura plant would be costlier to keep idle, ensures that Azura’s generated energy enjoys priority dispatch.

This a reflection of the structural challenges Nigeria’s power sector is beset with, and for which the Power Sector Recovery Plan (PSRP) was developed with support from the World Bank.

But THISDAY learnt that the implementation of the PSRP may not absolutely tackle these challenges, especially the systemic bottleneck and structural issues that still exist in the sector because key stakeholders have been locked out of the process of appraising the programme.

The PSRP The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had in March 2017, approved the use of the PSRP document which provides details on how the power sector would be reset over a five-year period to promote sustainable financial viability and growth in the sector.

Intended to formulate appropriate policies whilst implementing financial interventions to accelerate sustainable long-term growth and development in the power sector, the PSRP offered Nigeria a fresh attempt to reposition her power sector after the government launched an ambitious set of power sector reforms in 2001 that led to the unbundling and subsequent privatisation of electricity generation and distribution companies in 2013.

Although, the design of the power sector reforms envisaged four stages of evolution that would culminate in a competitive, efficient, private sector-led power sector regulated

by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), with the power ministry only providing general policy oversight, that has not happened. And the four market evolution stages – interim period, transitional electricity market, medium-term electricity market, and final market – have not progressed as expected, perhaps making the PRSP a necessity.

While the transitional electricity market was effectively declared in February 2015, by an order of the NERC, it was reportedly done without all the pre-requisites for it to be in place considering that the market’s commercial operations are still not fully implemented.

Indeed, years after the power privatisation, the sector faces infrastructure, liquidity, and governance challenges that require specific, strategic intervention by the government and

Indeed, years after the power privatisation, the sector faces infrastructure, liquidity, and governance challenges that require specific, strategic intervention by the government and its regulatory agencies to reset the market

its regulatory agencies to reset the market, and this is perhaps what the PSRP represents, however experts from their views would want its implementation to be good and without unwholesome interference especially from the political class.

According to these experts, even though the purpose of the power privatisation was to reduce government participation and increase private operations, the government had since 2013, continued to interfere in the operations of the sector in manners that have not helped it to segue into a contract-based market. This is even with several critical financial interventions it had made in the sector to address its illiquidity troubles.

Before the PSRP runs into hitches Even though the PSRP was planned to reset the sector by restoring its financial viability; improving power supply reliability; strengthening market governance; as well as placing a premium on transparency and contract-based market, industry sources told THISDAY its implementation may become a bit challenged for some reasons.

As part of its plan, the government expects to within the PSRP which should last from 2017 to 2021, dimension and commit to fund projected future sector deficits until tariffs are adequate enough to support the market’s liquidity; eliminate historical revenue deficits of the sector; allow the sector to operate a cost reflective tariff; keep a baseline daily power supply of 4500 megawatts (MW) across Nigeria; as well as ensure the Discos perform their tasks.

However, some government officials in the sector disclosed that the government could implement the plan and yet fail to reactivate the power sector.

These officials pointed out that two key agencies in the sector – the NBET and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) were left out of the preparation of the project appraisal document for the PSRP. They noted that such alleged anomaly could derail the implementation of the plan.

Additionally, they explained that with such development, the PSRP may be implemented with some of the inconsistencies and structural weaknesses that have continued to stall the progress of the power sector still in place.

“NBET is regarded as the obligor or borrower of the loan (in the PSRP), what this means is that the borrower will have the ultimate responsibility for the successful implementation of the World Bank performance-based loan to the sector under

the PSRP. “It becomes pertinent that he who is responsible and accountable for the loan should have a critical stake in designing measurable parameters it may use to ensure performance and successful utilisation of the funds.

“The project appraisal document of the PSRP was put together by a team external to the core market participants of the sector from the government side which is the NBET and TCN,” said one of the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to the source: “Without the careful review and input from these two critical stakeholders, the PSRP may continue with some of the inconsistencies and structural weakness that continues in the sector.

“The crux of the PSRP is to ensure financial viability of the sector, it is important to leverage on the success of the N701.9 billion payment assurance facility which is a precursor of NBET’s capability to manage the World Bank performance-based loan especially if the company is its borrower.

“The NBET should be empowered both financially and structurally to drive financial viability in the sector, whilst the regulator (NERC) focuses on ensuring stable environment for all participants to transact. NBET continues to advocate for a careful review of the project appraisal document of the PSRP to ensure that we do not continue with the mistakes of the past.”

Considering the potential implication of this on the PSRP, THISDAY sought the reactions of the NBET and TCN, but their officials declined to comment, stating that they were not authorised to talk about the programme, which they noted was being managed by the office of the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Commenting on the implementation status of the PSRP, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had cited the inauguration of the board of commissioners of the NERC and management board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) as some of the governance markers the programme enunciated.

Notwithstanding, the government sources who spoke on THISDAY, argued that those were superficial contents of the programme. They explained the real issues in the programme had not gained traction, adding that the reported exclusion of the TCN and NBET in the appraisal process was a potential threat to the full implementation of the programme.

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INDUSTRY

Okunbo: Nigeria Has Huge Export Potential Wells Hosa Green House Farms Limited in Benin City recently inaugurated its farm. In this interview, its Managing Director, Bright Okunbor, speaks about the plan of the farm to satisfy the Nigerian market. Jonathan Eze brings the excerpts Wells Hosa officially harvested its first fruits last week. Can you tell us about the turnover?

The quantity that was harvested today was about 2.5 tonnes as verified by the production department, however from the first harvest on August 21 till today, we have harvested over 10 tonnes of tomatoes from only four Greenhouses and this is just the beginning because the production is staggered and also, it’s not the peak of production. So, only the first four greenhouses are producing now and the next four will start producing in about six weeks and the fruits will be ready for harvest.

houses started arriving in October 2017 and between October 2017 till date, we have 10 greenhouses installed, eight greenhouses in production while construction is ongoing for the the remaining greenhouses.

Can you tell us about the values you have added as per jobs you have created directly and indirectly?

One of our primarily objectives as a company is to serve and empower our community. With this in mind, we have employed over 250 construction workers as both permanent and contract staffs and also over 160 production workers for the eight green houses, we have employed a lot of young male and female currently undergoing training on greenhouse crop production, these include young graduates, current NYSC members and unemployed youths out of the streets. By the time we achieve full operating capability with all 28 Greenhouses in operation, we would actively have created over 500 direct and 4000 indirect employment. In the near future, the company’s vision is to partner both government and private sectors to replicate this model across Nigeria, however we are not just going to build greenhouses and abandon them with the investors but run both the production and marketing with our team of experts to guarantee success. So yes, we have created a lot of jobs directly and we already have association of market men and women from Edo, Sapele, Warri and Port Harcourt coming to us for distribution of our products, so indirectly, people are already getting the benefits from the proceeds from Wells Hosa Green House farms and this is just in a span of two weeks of production.

Are these tomatoes meant for local distribution or are you considering export, or do you intend processing them into finished products?

We want to satisfy the Nigerian market first before thinking of export, because like you know the issue of scarcity of tomatoes is not a thing of surprise and we all know the challenges and most especially down south here in Nigeria, because most of the tomatoes usually comes from the north. We are trying to inject a new trend into the market, our target markets is establishing key accounts with hotels, cafeterias, major retail outlets and also the open market. This is because we will be producing the best variety of tomatoes with a shelf life of a minimum of 10-14 days without refrigeration in three grades of sizes with the premium grades weighing over 150g per tomato fruit. So, to answer your question, it will be for local consumption but not for processing.

Right now, we already have our products in the open market in Benin, Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt. We have tested the Habanero Pepper with a few lines in our greenhouse and they have proven successful. When full production of Habanero peppers starts it will be mainly for exports. The tomatoes will be sold locally, and the Habanero peppers will mainly be for export with about 10-15 per cent of its production for the local markets.

Are there things you are sourcing locally for the Green House Farms?

It is a mix; some materials were sourced locally and there were some that could not be sourced locally. I will give examples. The greenhouse structures that you see comprises about 70 per cent galvanised steel and 30 per cent plastics, mesh, substrates, circulatory fans and so on, all these components were all imported. All the materials we used for the construction of these green houses were imported from various countries like Isreal, Mexico, Spain and Sri Lanka, just to make sure we are getting the best quality of materials.

In the long-run, to be sustainable and reduce cost as a company, we are already looking ahead on how we can get most of these essential greenhouse material produced in Nigeria and most especially the galvanised steel, where we can get the right gauge and percentage of the galvanised steel. That is one of the major challenges we have in Nigeria because the local steel are not 90 per cent galvanised. So, we need the right type of steel and the right type of material to use.

However, everything else used in the land preparation, road and drainage construction, buildings and structures were all done locally with our local companies and the labour we used has been local, so we have involved local content in both human and material resources.

Tell us about some challenges you have passed through and the ones you are anticipating since you commenced this farm?

Land preparation started in October 2015 in the dry season, however in April 2016, when the rain season started, we discovered that the ten hectares greenhouses already erected where flooded as a result of sub-standard greenhouse materials used for the gutters which led to flooding, hence we had to redesign the drainage at a much higher cost to accommodate the

Okunbo existing greenhouses. A report by groups of consultants from both Mexico and Israel after extensive studies on the quality and durability of the greenhouses advised that the greenhouses were of sub standard and was not suitable for the tropics and should be removed. With this information of sub-standard quality from our initial partners, I had to go in search for new partners to rescue us from this failing greenhouse situation and at the back of my head it kept resounding that I did not leave

Nigeria should not have focused only on oil all these years and I am sure when the price of oil dropped to $30 per barrel, we felt the impact, and this is something we should have prepared for by diversifying our economy for other sources of revenues

everything behind in the US to come back to Nigeria to fail and with a tenacious Chairman like Capt. Idahosa Okunbo, I had no other choice but to succeed so with this in mind I had to travel to Israel, Mexico and the United States of America in search of new partners.

This was one of the most challenging part of this project because we had to dissolve the Joint Venture (J.V) entered into with our previous partners while searching for new technical partners. In addition to that we had to uninstall all existing 10 hectares green houses already in place. This cost the company a lot of money in labour, tools, machineries, manpower, revenue losses and so on. To uninstall those 10 hectares of green houses, we had to pay for extra labour. So, that was another challenge we had to deal with and also on top of that, I had to travel abroad looking for better partners and the first conference I went for was the PMA conference on fresh produce and marketing in Orlando in 2016, in search of partners that could rescue us from the problems that we have found ourselves in.

After Orlando it was Israel and then Mexico visiting different greenhouse manufacturers and we finally narrowed down our new partners brought them to Nigeria and after extensive study of the weather conditions in Edo State and the southern parts of Nigeria, they designed and patented a new greenhouse model specifically for the tropical region to help combat the challenges the tropical weather poses to greenhouses. So, that is how we had to start afresh with construction again in October 2017 that is two years after we first started land preparations. The first set of containers of the newly designed green

What level of support have you gotten from the government so far?

Well, I will say we have gotten a lot of support from the government. Firstly, was the import duty waivers. So, we were able to secure import duty waivers on all our containers that came in so that also reduced our overhead cost for clearing of the containers, because these green houses that you see today took a total of 42 forty foot containers imported to Nigeria and the government was able to give us that import duty waiver which was very key and also the Edo State Government has been very supportive as well as making approvals for developing a non painful task.

We have had some challenges with some agencies, because it is a little bit difficult to get approvals for things that you need to enhance this type of agriculture. The first challenge we had was with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), after securing a NAFDAC permit to import the required fertilisers, we tried to secure the End User Certificate (EUC) from ONSA to import inorganic fertilisers to be used and that permit process took about five months to get as a result of various technically issues which delayed our start of production and almost ruined all efforts that has been put in up until that point but I am glad we were approved for the EUC because without these inputs, we would have not been able to have a successful production. So, what I will like to ask of the federal government and it’s respective agencies is to give consideration and proper timing to have approval treated on time because agriculture is time sensitive if you miss a planting season or period because of inability to get approval for various permits, that season or period is lost. So, my plea is for the process to be a little bit faster especially for sensitive materials and inputs that are needed for production. As I speak to you now, we are in the process to get bumble bees into Nigeria for pollination and the same delays are been experienced as well at these ministries and parastatals, please don’t get me wrong I am not against going through the Continued on page 26

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NEWS

Minister, PAN Laud Chi Farms, Zoetis on Veterinary Laboratory Project Jonathan Eze The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has lauded CHI Farms and Zoetis for the establishment of City Laboratory, an ultra-modern veterinary diagnostic Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ogbeh who spoke through the Director and Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Olaniran Alabi, stated that the inauguration of the diagnostic centre justified the collaborative efforts of the federal government and the private sector in providing

essential tools needed for sustainable socio-economic growth in livestock development in Nigeria.

According to him, the livestock sub-sector contributes 5.8 per cent of National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides livelihoods to over 30 per cent of the Nigerian rural population, while adding that, for livestock business in Nigeria to remain profitable and sustainable in the face of growing population and demand for protein, it is important that animal diseases and epidemics are well controlled and eradicated.

He pointed out that the sub- sector was limited by a number of factors most

important of which is the preponderance of a wide range of animal diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Peste des Petits Ruminant (PPR), African Swine Fever (ASF), among others.

He further stressed that for Nigeria to ensure a profitable livestock business for farmers, proper, efficient and accurate animal disease diagnosis needed to be carried out.

“It is important to note that animal disease diagnosis is an important component of veterinary services and that Nigeria has quite a number of laboratories that carry out animal disease diagnosis.

However, these laboratories

operate below their optimal level thereby leading to huge gap in veterinary diagnosis services.

“The establishment and equipping of Chi Farms’ ultra-modern veterinary diagnostic laboratory being commissioned today in Ibadan could not have come at a better time than now that Nigeria is looking forward to diversification of its economy through agricultural and other non-oil sectors.

“Let me use this opportunity to appreciate Chi Farms and Zoetis-ALPHA for this laudable initiative and call on other foreign organizations to partner with Nigeria on animal health and veterinary

services” he added.

Also speaking at the event, the National President, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim, said the poultry industry in Nigeria had been confronted with many challenges especially losses as a result of diseases outbreak, which according to him has frustrated and crippled some farmers’ investments, leaving them dejected and hopeless.

He acknowledged the efforts of National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in domesticating animal disease diagnosis but pointed out that emerging challenges and changing trend in clinical manifestation of diseases

calls for a more aggressive intervention.

According to him, “Managing poultry disease is highly sensitive to the time the index case is identified in order to avoid, control and prevent production losses.

This is where the quality of veterinary diagnostic laboratory intervention becomes a centre point in management decision on disease control.

“The industry requires a diagnostic laboratory facility that is reliable in sensitivity and specificity. This is the future of addressing challenges of disease in the poultry industry.

“The poultry industry at this

its operations which would include harnessing all flare gas free of cost at the flare sites without payment of royalty; subjecting the flare sites to competitive bidding; issuance of permit to access flare gas to third party investors; increase the flare penalty payment to the government; mandate flare gas data measurement through metering; and mandate the department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to publish annual data on flared gas.

‘Gbite, equally sought the involvement of PTDF in the NGFCP especially in cases of partnership to develop and implement strategies towards building human and institu-

tional capacity to support the flare-out programme.

He also informed that he wanted the PTDF to assist in developing strategies to support the NGFCP with training in matters connected with the gas value chain, as well as the development of indigenous manpower and technology acquisition on gas flare reduction projects.

Based on ‘Gbite’s requests, Gusau, said the PTDF would be ready to partner with the NGFCP especially in the areas of capacity development to ensure the country’s efforts at reduce gas flaring through harnessing of flared volumes would be realised.

‘Nigeria Lost $1.150bn of Potential Gas Income to Flaring in 2016’ Chineme Okafor in Abuja In 2016 alone, Nigeria could not earn about $1.150 billion potential gas revenue because as much as 275 billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas were flared from oil fields in the Niger Delta, a taskforce of the federal government has said.

The taskforce - Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) - which is situated in the ministry of petroleum resources and chiefly responsible for designing the programme to commercialise the volume of gas flared in country, explained that in addition to revenue lost, the flared gas could have

generated 3000 megawatts of electricity for Nigeria, but could not.

According to the NGFCP, the monies lost by Nigeria to flared gas were in two forms - $800 million in revenue and $350 million that could have been earned in emission credit.

The NGFCP Steering Committee Chairman, Mr. ‘Gbite Adeniji, who is also a senior technical assistant (STA, Upstream and Gas) to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, stated this in a recent presentation he made to the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Dr. Bello

Gusau, when he visited him at the PTDF headquarters in Abuja with his team.

In the presentation which was obtained by THISDAY, Adeniji, explained the NGFCP had identified 179 gas flare sites spread across on-shore, swamp, shallow offshore and deep offshore areas of the Niger Delta region.

He stated that these sites were burning an approximate volume of about 750 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of gas.

According to him, in 2016 alone, about 275BCF of gas was flared, which he noted could have generated about 3000MW of electricity; generated about

$800 million in revenue and earned about $350 million emission credit value.

‘Gbite, equally indicated that recent data obtained by the programme placed the figure of flared gas volume at about 1BCF per day, suggesting an increase from the 2016 figures.

He listed the intentions of the programme to include reduction of gas flaring in the Niger Delta; as well as initiation of a market-driven solution for the flares to benefit the communities and Nigeria’s economy.

He informed that President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved a regulations developed by the NGFCP to legally back

OKUNBO: NIGERIA HAS HUGE EXPORT POTENTIAL is something we should have prepared for by diversifying our economy for other sources of revenues. Nigeria has to and must diversify our sources for revenue generation and agriculture is one of the greatest means to do that because in 2017, countries like Netherlands generated US$2 billion while Mexico generated US$ 1.9 billon from export of tomatoes alone. Nigeria needs to key into this huge export opportunity because there are lots of commodities that we can grow in the country, so we can reduce our dependence on crude oil.

The government needs to continuously support agricultural development as it’s already doing with various programs and incentives for farmers, support for new and improved ways to crop production in the case of greenhouses which is tailored specifically to help increase yields and produce the best quality products suitable for exports hence boosting and increasing the foreign exchange earned by Nigeria from non oil sector, with all this in place and properly implemented, its never too late for us as a country to join other countries that have realised that moving towards a non- oil dependent economy is the best strategy for a country that wants to succeed and stay relevant in the nearest future.

due process, but it can be done more timely and efficiently but the delays and mistakes that happens along the process cost us time and money, it will improve agriculture a great deal if these processes are improved upon.

Do you think Nigeria as a country can achieve self-sufficiency in tomato production?

Good question, Nigeria produces about 1.6 to 1.8 million metric tonnes of tomatoes annually and a majority of this is done in the open field, Italy has about 20,000 acres of green house under tomato production, Spain is another huge tomato producer with over 25,000 Acres of greenhouse, in Mexico as at 2000, Mexico had only about 700 hectares of green houses and as of today, they have over 25,000 hectares of green houses for vegetables.

They started just the way we are starting now, they failed, they learnt and improved and made process as they learnt and as you know, Wells Hosa is not the only company that has tried green house production in Nigeria, a lot of people have tried but it has not been as successful as what you see here today in terms of yield, quality, management and technology that is as a result of dedication, having the right partners to run the project, because it is one thing to sell green houses and another to run these green houses effectively. If you have a green house that is not being run properly with the right growers and technology it will fail, so you have to synchronise and have a good fit both on the quality and construction of the green house and on the other hand, the best growers and best agronomists that can make it a success, so to answer your question, Nigeria has a long way to go we are just getting started, Wells Hosa Greenhouse Farms has proved that this is possible and what we want to do as a company is to replicate this tested and proven model all around Nigeria where we do not have to depend on seasonal weather conditions to produce most of our staple crops and daily food, we are just starting and with support from the government I

Okunbo know it will be possible to achieve.

The federal government is now focusing on the non-oil sector to diversify the economy, do you think Nigeria would have done better

if they had done that earlier than now?

That is a no brainer, Nigeria should not have focused only on oil all these years and I am sure when the price of oil dropped to $30 per barrel, we felt the impact and this

Please tell us about your background?

I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Crop Science (Second Class Upper) from the University of Benin, and after my NYSC, I went to California where I got my M.B.A ( Masters in Business Administration) with a major in Business Development and Marketing from the Rady School of Management, University of California San Diego. After business school, I worked in various capacity in management with companies like Conscientia Research, Finistere Venture Capital, DC Shoes Inc., Dexcom Inc., Mor Furniture for Less, all in the United States of America. All these experiences gained over a ten year period prepared me for this position.

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PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Bangkok Climate Talks: Countries Undecided on Operational Methods of Paris Agreement As calls grow for urgent and strong climate change action, the supplementary Bangkok (Thailand) Climate Change Talks closed on Sunday this week, with uneven progress on the guidelines that will tell the world how to implement the Paris Climate Change Agreement. The implementation guidelines are needed to unlock transparent and practical climate action across the world. Bennett Oghifo reports

T

he implementation guidelines on how to implement the Paris Climate Change Agreement have been under negotiation since 2016 and are set to be adopted at the annual climate change conference, COP24, to be held in Katowice, Poland in December.

The Paris Agreement’s provisions that countries are working towards operationalising include increased action to deal with the impacts of climate change and increased and transparent support for developing country action in the form of finance, technology cooperation and capacity-building.

Crucially, the provisions to be operationalised also include the goal of limiting global temperature increase

this century to well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C through transparent and ambitious emission reductions.

“In Bangkok, there has been uneven progress on the elements of the climate change regime that countries are working towards,” said Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change in a statement at the end of the Talks.

“This underlines the urgent need for continuing work in the coming weeks,” she added.

“In preparation for COP24, it will be critical to achieve balance across all issues. This is important because all parts of the regime need to function together in an inter-connected manner.” Countries have been grappling with how to

IRWA Urges Enforcement of Laws on Illegal Encroachment on Highways A group, the International Right of Way Association (IRWA), Chapter 84, Nigeria, has called for a review of construction traffic control plans and enforcement of laws on illegal encroachments on highways.

IRWA is a global body that has over 10,000 members from over 15 countries around the world. Though not popular like professional body in the built environment in Nigeria, but members have been involved in most infrastructural and real estate projects in Nigeria.

Members are from various professional associations, like the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV); Nigeria Institution of Surveyors (NIS); Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); and Nigeria Environmental Society. This is the first time IRWA Chapter 84 Nigeria is bringing professionals in the right of way practice under one roof.

President of IRWA Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Mark said the purpose of the right of way management was to provide appropriate traffic planning and coordination of all activities in the right of way acquisition processes. Mark, who was recently elected president, stated that he plans to unite efforts of members towards individual development, improving service to the employers, the public, and advancement in the body of knowledge related to the professional tasks of members.

He said: “The association comprises of a dynamic global community of dedicated professional members. Our members

will also have certification opportunities in appraisal, asset management, negotiation and acquisition. IRWA is a platform for our members to have global industry-wide recognitions, designation and certifications and to elevate the role of right of way professionals by strengthening their industry relevance.”

He urged the government to amend the relevant sections of the Land Use Act to conform to the generally accepted standard of acquisition and compensation instead of complete abrogation.

Mark called attention to section 29(4)(a) that allows for an amount equal to the rent paid to the government, as well as cost of improvements to the land.

“This ignores the fact that the allottee could have acquired the land from its original allottee at a huge cost in the open market,” he said.

“Right of Way acquisition and compensation is usually a challenging exercise. Global diversity of right of way acquisition and compensation have brought the issues of best practice to the front burner. “Issues of right to legitimate process; to notice; to be heard; to appeal; to transparent procedure, and equivalent compensation, among others, constitute the best practice in ROW acquisition,” he said.

Mark, who is the principle partner, Nuel Mark and Partners, a renowned firm of estate surveyors and valuers, revealed that the dual objectives of every Right-Of-Way activity are to ensure security of the assets and to guarantee that the assets could be sustainably managed.

reflect the contributions and responsibilities of developed and developing countries, given their different national circumstances.

Of key concern are items that relate to transparently and regularly communicating actions, as well as how to achieve full clarity on climate finance now and in the long-term.

According to Espinosa, “The Paris Agreement strikes a delicate balance to bring all countries together. We must recognise that countries have different realities at home. They have different levels of economic and social development that lead to different national situations.

“This needs to be reflected in the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement. This calls for a political solution, but

time is running short. Leaders need to engage and help solve these issues well in advance of COP24.”

The statement noted that this year, the world has witnessed flood-related deaths, livelihoods wiped out by droughts and expensive infrastructure lost across large stretches of the developed and the developing world.

“Clearly, we need to increase climate action significantly.

Clearly, fully implementing the Paris Agreement is the way to do this in a balanced, coordinated manner that leaves nobody behind. The secretariat stands ready to fully support countries towards this important outcome,” she added.

The officers presiding at the negotiations, as well as the current COP presidency

held by Fiji and the in-coming Polish COP presidency have been working hard towards COP24.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Presiding Officers, COP President Bainimarama and in-coming COP President Kurtyka for their strong commitment and hard work towards success at COP24,” Espinosa stated.

On progress made in Bangkok, the Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, Gebru Jember Endalew, said: “While there was a greater sense of urgency from countries coming into Bangkok, progress has been slow. There remains an immense amount of work to be done and only five negotiating days in Katowice before the Paris Agreement rulebook

needs to be delivered. The effectiveness of the Paris Agreement depends on the delivery of a robust set of implementation guidelines.

Nearly 300 pages of text need to be refined so that textual negotiations can begin on day one in Katowice.”

A key issue in Bangkok has been climate finance. Endalew said: “The Paris Agreement cannot be implemented without climate finance. Clear rules need to be agreed in Katowice to support developing countries taking climate action. The failure of rich countries to deliver adequate resources has severe ramifications for people and communities in the Least Developed Countries and around the world that are already bearing the brunt of climate change on a daily basis.”

Artec Practice Bags ISO 9001:2015 Certification Artec Practice Ltd, a Nigerian firm of professional architects and project managers, has bagged the global ISO 9001:2015 Certification in recognition of its operational, management and organisational effectiveness which aligns with international best practices.

Artec was awarded the certification by the internationally-acclaimed DQS, a Germany-based Management Systems Solutions organisation that certifies organisations and operates through over 80 offices in 60 countries worldwide.

To attain DQS’ certification, the certifying organisation will evaluate an organisation’s practices against its internal expectations, with the aim of identifying good practices and possible shortcomings in the organization’s processes.

Upon confirmation of high compliance of such an organisation with the International Organisation for Standardisation

L-R: Arc Samuel Alonge of Artec Practice Ltd; Arc Taofik Popoola, Managing Principal of Artec; Mr. Franklyn Nlerum of Yatsar Dev-isory Ltd and Arc Seyi Oni of Artec, holding the ISO 9001:2015 certificate presented to Artec by DQS, a Germany-based international certifying organisation in Abuja… recently

(ISO) processes, DQS will subsequently certify it.

Mr. Williams, the lead auditor and representative of DQS attributed Artec’s attainment of the global certification to its strong commitment and

professionalism as well as operational, management and organisational effectiveness.

Arc. Taofik Popoola, Managing Principal of Artec Practice Ltd expressed happiness with the attainment of the global

certification. Arc. Popoola added that the firm was determined to undergo the rigorous certification processes so as to boost the professional capability of the staff members, achieve worldclass operational standards and improve clients’ satisfaction.

Arc. Popoola, who is also a member of the Association of Consulting Architects of Nigeria (ACAN), a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and Certified Management Consultant from the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes, said the consistent demand for the highest quality by the numerous clients of Artec has also challenged the firm to improve on the quality of its service.

He stressed that attainment of quality standards by Artec in the areas of design, administration and coordination underscores the resolve of the firm to operate in a professional way.

Lifemate Furniture Introduces Sofa-swap Bennett Oghifo Corporate and individual owners of furniture with desire to replace their settees are in for a sweet deal, courtesy of Lifemate Furniture Nigeria Limited that has introduced a sofa-swap campaign.

Lifemate Furniture’s Public Relations Officer, Orebayo Ejiemhen, who presented the fine points of the sofa-swap initiative to journalists in Lagos, yesterday, said it was not limited to Lifemate’s customers, as owners of furniture from other sources could benefit from the swap. Ejiemhen said, “Our

L-R: Sales Manager, Jessica Xiong; Sales Manager, Bill Kwok; PRO, Orebayo Ejiemhen; and Shop Manager, Lagertha Zhao all of Lifemate Furniture, displaying a settee up for swap in Lagos… recently

company, Lifemate Furniture

Nigeria Limited is always look-

ing for avenues to deliver on our commitment to customers on key performance indicator of quality, durability, class and aesthetics. You will recall that most of our recent promos are to make our products accessible and affordable to our customers and by extension widen our customer portfolio. Most importantly, we are committed to delivering on our pay off, “……To Make Life Better”, this has always drive our process and tactics in relating with customers. In this month of September, the next in line in our promo series is “Sofa Swap.”

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

29

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

18.09.2018

EXECUTIVE ORDER 6: MILITOCRACY BY ANOTHER NAME?

President Muha Muhammadu Buhari

2/DASHBOARD

18.09.2018

Undefended List Procedure: Effect of Contradictions in Affidavits PAGE 4

Lawyer Urges NCC to Stop Arbitrary Charges by Telecom Companies PAGE 5

BRIPAN set to host International Conference and Gala/ Award Nite PAGE 5

QUOTABLES ‘Nigeriaisaveryimportantcountry,takenveryseriously by some other people, except ourselves’ – Professor Akin Oyebode, Professor of International Law & Jurisprudence

Court fixes October 18 to continue Hearing of Obla’s Suit against EFCC over Professional Fees PAGE 6

‘The truth of it is that, the idea of a Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, is very good in itself, because of the menace of robbery. If those people now turn to be like a right wing extermination squad or kidnap squad, you must kick up against it. And the consensus in Rivers State, is that these people have turned themselves into a criminal gang. Youths, Elders, everybody is saying, take that command away,’ – Late Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, Honourable Attorney- General and Commissioner of Justice, Rivers State

‘Advocacy is not for Lazy Lawyers’ PAGE 6

COLUMNISTS DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN, OFR, FCIARB, PH.D, LL.D Constitutional Democracy, means a system of government, in which political and governmental power, is defined, limited and shared by a grundnorm called the Constitution, which provides inbuilt checks and balances.

This column seeks to fiercely discuss constitutional, legal and political issues, with a view to strengthening, deepening and widening the plenitude and amplitude of democracy and good governance, without fear or favour.

The writer of this column, Dr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is a Constitutional Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Notary Public and Motivational Speaker. He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigeria's pioneer human rights league, on October 15,1987, the Universal Defenders of Democracy (UDD), in 1992, and with Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others in 1998, the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), to push out the military. In his early days, he lectured at the University of Ife. Dr. Ozekhome is an author of many books. He is also a Special Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.

ABUBAKAR D. SANI Abubakar D. Sani holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Maiduguri, and has been in active private legal practice since he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.He is the Principal of Abubakar D. Sani & Co., which has offices in Abuja and Kano. " INSIGHT" aims to unravel, analyse and proffer solutions to numerous anomalies in Nigerian law and practice, particularly statutes, vis-a-vis the Constitution, International Treaties and Conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory, Judicial Precedent and other relevant statutes and issues.

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

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Tribalism, Danger to the Republic

I

What is Tribalism? found my piece last week, thought provoking, especially as regards the issue of tribes and tribalism, and how it can result in making a State fail. The kind of tribal and religious bitterness that has developed amongst Nigerians today, is scary and unrivalled. I have shouted this from the rooftops, to all who care to listen, that in the 32 years since I returned home from my studies abroad, Nigeria has never been so divided on the basis of ethnicity and religion, as it is today; and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I shout again – tribalism is an extremely dangerous phenomenon, which easily leads to destruction. In our country, tribalism walks hand in hand with nepotism (cronyism) and corruption, making it even worse; they are a trio of sorts - ‘the three musketeers’!

Tribalism has become a buzz word in Nigeria.

The word ‘tribe’ originates from the Latin word ‘tribus’, which was used in Rome in the old days, to indicate groupings of Roman people.

There are many definitions of the word, but the definition that best suits the context of this discussion, is – “tribal consciousness and loyalty; especially exaltation of the tribe above other groups”, in our case, the exaltation of the Hausa/Fulani/Northern Zone above all other tribes/people/zones in Nigeria. Where practically every process in our polity, is skewed towards giving this group an advantage over others. For instance, statistics show that Lagos has a slightly larger population than Kano, yet Kano has more Local Governments than Lagos. Is this fair and equitable? No. Again, Nigerians have protested from the inception of this administration, that most of the heads of the security agencies are from the North, contrary to Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, and if anything, they have shown themselves to be rather ineffective. Given the opportunity to try to redeem itself with the vacancy at the helm of the DSS, one would imagine that a sensible, sensitive, thinking Government, would have either confirmed Matthew Seiyefa from Bayelsa State or appointed some other non-Northerner to replace Lawal Daura, in a bid to soothe the frayed nerves of the other regions. Alas, in its usual “I don’t give a damn, do your worst attitude”, Government gave Yusuf Bichi, a Northerner, the position.

Who am I?

With all that has been going on, I have had cause to question myself about who I am.

What kind of person am I? I have always been de-tribalised and de-religionised (if there is such a word). But today, I can no longer continue be blind to the fact that, tribalism is rife in our country, and sometimes when I see injustice being done because of tribalism or nepotism, bitterness engulfs me. A case in question is that of PDP Senator Demola Adeleke, who is vying for the Governorship of Osun State. Yes, many may not appreciate his dance steps, but the Constitution does not bar people who dance from running for office, nor does it require him to have a School Certificate. He only has to have been educated up to School Certificate level or its equivalent. So, if he didn’t sit for the WAEC examination, or he got an F9 in all his papers, he is still qualified to run for Governor.

On the contrary, in the case of the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun and the issue of her fake NYSC Certificate, Government was quite prepared to sweep it under the carpet, with utterances from Professor Itse Sagay, SAN (who is at the forefront of condemning many, for some infraction or the other), more or less belittling the matter, almost calling it a non-issue. The hypocrisy of it all. Cronyism of the highest level! I however, commend Mrs Adeosun for doing the right thing in the circumstances, whether belated or not - handing in her resignation, which is extremely unusual for a Nigerian politician and government official.

My friend ‘Oyinbo’ never fails to tell me that, she doesn’t believe that I am a Christian, because I punctuate most things with “insha Allah” (which simply means God willing or if God wills) and “Alhamdulillah” (which means all praise is due to God alone). What many people do not see is that, anyone who is a true believer in God, whatever their faith, should know that there are certain things that encompass the worship of God across board, that whether Christian, Muslim or Ifa faithful – God abhors stealing, random killing of innocent people, adultery, unfairness, falsehood and so on. Is that not basically the same thing that they preach to us about, when we go to Church or the Mosque? So, what is the big deal, about which religion an individual chooses to practice? What does it have to do with his/her brilliance or performance at work?

Likewise, in terms of tribe, I am Yoruba, but

I see myself as a Nigerian. What does who you are as a person, have to do with where you come from? If I was in trouble, just as I could run to Olu or Oyinbo who are from Ibadan like me, I would quite easily run to Mairo who is from Katsina or Chichi or Ebi who are from the South South Zone. Some of these friendships span over 40 years. I enjoy the cultures of my non-Yoruba friends.

I have travelled home with some of them, I eat their foods, know some words in their languages etc. Why can’t we all be like this?

Evils of Tribalism Lack of Capacity In an article which I read recently, the writer started off by saying “Commentators are sounding the alarm, that tribalism and tribal consciousness have come rushing back to the 21st century like a viral epidemic”. To sound an alarm, is “to alert people about something dangerous, risky, or troublesome”. Just like I told you last week, Nigeria has reverted to its pre-country pre-1914 amalgamation days. Tribalism is primitive. Maybe it is not as harsh, but I would go as far as calling it our own form of racism.

In our own situation, our Leaders and Politicians, have used tribalism as a tool to further their own personal selfish agendas - to perpetuate themselves in governance, as a means of amassing ill-gotten wealth. They have never really been interested, in the development of Nigeria. They are a bunch of self-servers. If not, why would you appoint a person who clearly lacks the capacity, to a highly demanding and sensitive job, or to any job whatsoever that he/she is incapable of doing satisfactorily, just because he is from your village or he practices the same religion as you? How does that correlate with ability? And we wonder why Nigeria is so under-developed?

Take for example, the issue of the recently appointed Director-General of the Law School, Professor Isa Chiroma, whose main qualification for the job seems to be that he hails from the same State/Local Government as the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari. At the relevant time, I discussed the issue on my page. The reports were that, due process was not followed in making his appointment, and other better qualified candidates were passed over.

Fight Against Corruption As tribalism goes hand in hand with nepotism and corruption, it makes it difficult to fight corruption. People don’t want to expose and prosecute their fellow townspeople, for corruption.

President Muhammadu Buhari

A Failed State: Rwanda Like I said, tribalism causes destruction, and can easily result in the failure of a State, because it breeds ethnic distrust and religious intolerance, which often ends up in mass violence.

Let us take Rwanda for example. The violence and genocide that took place in Rwanda in the 1994, apart from the role that the Colonialists played in destabilising the country, politics and enchantment of material gain, the Hutu and Tutsi rivalry also played a major role. The Rwandan genocide, was probably the worst in African history. In a country with a population of just under eight million people, about one million people were slaughtered in a matter of months. The Hutus, who account for over 85% of Rwandans, went to town, hacking an uncountable number of the Tutsi minority to death. My point, inciting of hatred among tribes, can never end well. It can lead to the violent collapse of a State, as in the case of Rwanda.

With Government inciting hatred with its lopsided appointments, Herdsmen hacking people to death with reckless abandon (and Government’s lackadaisical attitude in curbing this trend), and Boko Haram insurgents doing their own thing in the North East, are we not well on our way to the Rwandan scenario?

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE

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

“IN OUR OWN SITUATION, OUR LEADERS AND POLITICIANS, HAVE USED TRIBALISM AS A TOOL TO FURTHER THEIR OWN PERSONAL SELFISH AGENDAS - TO PERPETUATE THEMSELVES IN GOVERNANCE, AS A MEANS OF AMASSING ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH. THEY HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN INTERESTED, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA” Development Tribalism stunts development, because you have square pegs in round holes, who are incapable of making progressive decisions, which will be of benefit to the nation as a whole. Either they are too incompetent, or they simply make decisions that are primarily of benefit to themselves personally, or their tribes or interest groups.

Democratic Process Tribalism ruins democratic processes. Votes become based on your tribal identity. It does not matter who you are – whether you are a drug dealer or a felon, or whether you are a stupid moron who is too unintelligent to know the first thing about politics or governance, once you are from the right tribe you get the votes.

The Way Forward By now, we all know Sections 14(3), (4), 17(2)(a) and 42 of the 1999 Constitution by heart - constitutional provisions about equality, federal character, and the right to freedom against discrimination. However, they seem to be fading into pure theory and oblivion, as the days go by. It is time for us to retrace our steps, and start to put these provisions into practice, in order to avoid the chaos that can be the consequence of tribalism and inequality. Government needs to show a sense of responsibility, in the decisions it makes. As Government continues to act in a mindless manner, why should it be a wonder to anyone, that those who do not belong to the favoured groups, are extremely resentful, aggrieved and agitating for self-rule?

A word, they say, is enough for the wise (Abo oro, on to omo luabi. To ba de inu e, a di odindi).

P.S. Its no use complaining now, or crying over spilt milk later. If you allow some Politician, who is only interested in his own personal agenda and progress, deceive you into voting for a tribalistic or corrupt or incompetent candidate, you only have yourself to blame. Go out and get your PVC, and use it wisely!

4/LAW REPORT

18.09.2018

Undefended List Procedure: Effect of Contradictions in Affidavits

Y

that, physical possession of the property by the Respondent, was crucial to the sale agreement between the parties. On issue 3, counsel to the Respondent submitted that, the counsel for the Appellant has interpreted the use of the word “forfeit” by the trial Judge wrongly and out of context. He submitted that, the trial Judge was making a point that, it would be unjustifiable for the Appellant to refuse to refund the Respondent’s money, after failing to hand over physical possession of the property. He further submitted that, even if the counsel for the Appellant had not misinterpreted the trial Judge, the use of the word “forfeit” did not occasion a miscarriage against the Appellant. He stated that, the decision of the trial Judge, was not based on the principle of forfeiture.

Facts:

aman Fuel Filling Station was legally mortgaged to the Appellant, as security for loans obtained by Yaman Nigeria Limited (YNL) from the Appellant. In a bid to recover YNL’s indebtedness, the Appellant exercised its right of sale. After negotiations, the Appellant agreed to sell the filling station to the Respondent. The sum of N300 million, representing the price for the filling station was paid by the Respondent to the Appellant.

Further to the above, the Respondent demanded to be put in physical possession of the filling station. However, the Appellant was unable to put Respondent in physical possession, because YNL refused to give up possession, and also filed an action challenging the Appellant’s sale of the filling station to the Respondent. The Respondent subsequently, brought an action at the High Court of the FCT under the undefended list, seeking an order directing the Appellant to refund the purchase price of N300 million plus interest. The Appellant filed a notice of intention to defend the suit, and supported same with an affidavit. After a consideration of the processes filed in the suit, the trial Judge gave judgement in favour of the Respondent. The Appellant was dissatisfied, and filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, which appeal was dismissed. Further dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination 1. Was the Court of Appeal right, given the circumstances of the case, when it decided that transfer of the property coupled with physical possession, is a crucial ingredient of the purchase or sale agreement between Appellant and the Respondent.

2. Was the Court of Appeal right, when it held that, conflicts in affidavit evidence of the Appellant and Respondent, can be resolved with the aid of documentary evidence, without calling oral evidence to resolve the conflict in an undefended list application.

3. Was the Court of Appeal right, when it held that, the trial court did not violate the Appellant’s right to fair hearing when the trial High Court suo moto raised the issue of forfeiture of purchase price paid by the Respondent, and resolved same against the Appellant without affording the Appellant any hearing on the issue.

Arguments The Appellant’s counsel, while arguing issues 1 and 2 together, stated that since there were material contradictions in the affidavit evidence before the court, particularly on the issue of vacant possession of the property, the Court of Appeal ought to have allowed the appeal, and order that the case be transferred to the General Cause List of the trial court. He submitted that the contradictions in the affidavit, could not be resolved by documents. Counsel relied on JIPREZE v OKONKWO (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 62) Page 737. He further contended that, the Appellant never covenanted with the Respondent to transfer physical possession of the property to it, and as such it was not a crucial ingredient of the Purchase or Sale Agreement between the parties. On issue 3, counsel for the Appellant contended that, the trial judge raised the issue of forfeiture of the sum of N300 million paid by the Respondent to the Appellant, suo moto.

He submitted that the issue was neither raised by the Appellant nor by the Respondent, and it only arose for the first time in the trial Judge’s judgement. In this regard, he contended that, the trial court ought to have called the parties to address the court on the issue, and submitted that, by resolving the issue of the forfeiture in favour of the Respondent, without affording the Appellant any hearing, the trial court has breached the fundamental right to fair hearing of the Appellant. Counsel relied on AKERE v GOV. OF OYO STATE (2012) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1314) Page 240.

In his argument, counsel for the Respondent contended that, the Court of Appeal was right in holding that there were no material conflicts in the affidavit of the parties. He further argued

Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 4th day of March, 2018 Before Their Lordships Olabode Rhodes-Vivour Olukayode Ariwoola Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili John Inyang Okoro Amiru Sanusi Sidi Dauda Bage Justices, Supreme Court SC.453/2017 Between Union Bank of Nigeria Plc .........Appellant And Awmar Properties Ltd ............Respondent (Lead Judgement delivered by Hon. Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, JSC)

“WHERE FACTS DEPOSED TO IN AN AFFIDAVIT ARE CONTROVERTED ON A CRUCIAL AND MATERIAL ISSUE, A TRIAL COURT OUGHT TO INVITE THE PARTIES TO CALL ORAL EVIDENCE. WHEN SUCH SITUATION ARISES UNDER THE UNDEFENDED LIST, THE COURT SHOULD TRANSFER THE CASE TO THE GENERAL CAUSE LIST FOR TRIAL IN THE USUAL WAY”

Court’s Judgement and Rationale The Supreme Court stated that, where facts deposed to in an affidavit are controverted on a crucial and material issue, a trial court ought to invite the parties to call oral evidence. When such situation arises under the undefended list, the court should transfer the case to the General Cause list for trial in the usual way. The Court referred to AKINSETE v AKINDUTIRE (1966) 1 ANLRP 147.

The court noted that the conflict in the present matter, was on the issue of vacant possession.

Though the Appellant denied, in its paragraph 12, 14 and 15 of its affidavit, ever promising the Respondent vacant possession, the court held that, the said paragraphs amount to ‘bare denial’. The court held that, depositions in an affidavit denying a fact should be robust. The court commented that, the conduct of the Appellant does not reflect that of a person that did not promise the Respondent vacant possession of the filling station. The Court further queried that, if the Appellant did not promise the Respondent vacant possession, why did staff of the Appellant go to the filing station to try and obtain physical possession for the Respondent, but were chased away by staff of Yaman Nigeria Ltd. The court held that, it was satisfied that the Appellant promised the Respondent vacant possession of the filling station. The court therefore, held that, there are no conflicts to be resolved in the affidavits, and there was thus, no reason. whatsoever to transfer the case to the General Cause list.

On issue 3, the Supreme Court held that, Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides for fair hearing, which is a mandatory provision that must be complied with by the courts when determining civil or criminal rights, obligation of a person. Once a party shows that he has been denied a fair hearing and it is found to be correct, a breach of his right to a fair hearing has occurred, and the trial or proceedings would be declared a nullity.

The court referred to ISIYAKU MOHAMMED v KANO N.A. (1968) 1 All NLR P 42; AKANDE v STATE (1998) 3 NWLR (Pt 85) P 681.

The Supreme Court held that, the word ‘forfeit’ as used by the trial Judge, was interpreted out of context. The Apex Court stated that, what the trial Judge was saying in his judgement, was that if the Appellant was allowed to keep the purchase price for the filling station without the Respondent not having physical possession of the filling station, it would amount to the Respondent losing or forfeiting the purchase sum of N300 million. The court stated that, forfeiture was not an issue in the case, and that no fresh issue was raised by the trial Judge, by the use of the word ‘forfeiture’. The court thereafter, held that the Court of Appeal was correct in finding that the Appellant was not denied a fair hearing.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Prof Taiwo Osipitan, SAN with A.M Kayode, I.O Aniekwe (Miss) and Wole Aroge for the Appellant Samuel O. Zibiri, SAN with Omotayo Ibrahim and Christian Ebenebe for the Respondent Reported by Optimum Law Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)

18.09.2018

NEWS/5

BRIPAN set to host International Conference and Gala/Award Nite The Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN), is scheduled to hold its 2018 International Conference and Gala/ Award Nite on 27 and 28 September, 2018 at Four Points by Sheraton, Oniru, Lagos.

According to the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Ayodele Akintunde SAN, FBR, the Conference with the theme “Driving Business Rescue in the Shadow of the Law”, will feature seasoned resource persons, who will examine business rescue mechanisms

LYING-IN-STATE Honourable Igo Aguma (brother of the deceased), His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, and Onikepo Braithwaite, Editor, This Day Lawyer at the lying-instate of late Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Rivers State, in Port Harcourt on Saturday

Lawyer Urges NCC to Stop Arbitrary Charges by Telecom Companies Stories by Akinwale Akintunde A Lagos based lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has charged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to live up to its responsibilities, by probing all the telecommunication companies operating in the country, in relation to the method of data assessment and usage.

Adegboruwa decried that, virtually all the telecommunications companies in Nigeria have recently adopted a secret method of fleecing their subscribers, through a

prohibitive data regime.

In a statement titled ‘NCC Should Stop Arbitrary Charges by Telecom Companies’, the Human Rights Lawyer noted that, probing all the telecommunication companies, including the broadband and GSM providers, would rescue Nigerians from the fraud.

“I have noticed in recent times that virtually all the telecommunications companies have adopted a secrete method of fleecing their subscribers through a prohibitive data regime.

“With the recent increase in Facebook subscrip-

tions, the proliferation of WhatsApp platforms and other social media devices, the Telcos have suddenly turned data subscription into their goldmines.

“This experience, cuts across all the Telcom companies. No matter the volume of data that you subscribe to, it will be exhausted within days, and you’re forced to renew and to keep renewing and renewing!

“Now the substance of the Telecommunications Act, is that telecom services should be efficient, accessible and affordable.

In most cases, the data

network is so poor, that it takes ages to download simple links. This is totally unacceptable.

“It will be recalled that when the GSM regime started in Nigeria, these same telcos were grandstanding and extorting subscribers, claiming that per second billing was not possible, until the famous boycott of 2003, which birthed the liberalisation that is being capitalised upon today, by the telcos.

“It is the responsibility of the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission, to CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Alleged Negligence: Couple Slams N360m Suit on Hospital A Lagos-based couple, Mr. Eyitayo Mumuney, and his wife Stella, have dragged a hospital, Reddington Multispecialist Hospital Limited to court, over alleged negligence that resulted in the death of their baby at childbirth.

In the suit with LD/ ADR/1825/18 filed before a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, the Claimants are asking for the award of the sum N360 million, against the hospital and its management.

The Claimants alleged that the hospital caused the death of their baby at birth, for their failure to provide

adequate facilities during the delivery.

In their writ of summons, the couple stated that “it took over four hours from the time the baby was brought out of the second Claimant, for the Defendants to take the baby to another hospital, Paelon Medical. And within the four hours of waiting, the baby was left unattended by the Defendants.”

According to the couple, prior to filing the action, a letter stating the pains suffered by them, as a result of the loss of their baby was sent to the hospital with the hope that they would politely apologise,

but they never did.

“By a letter dated February 16, 2018, the Claimants through their counsel, DNL Partners, wrote to the Defendants, identifying measures that may be put in place by the Defendants to correct the wrong they had caused the Claimants.

The Defendants ignored the Claimants’ letter”, they stated.

Therefore, the Claimants felt that the Defendants had breached their duty to the Claimants, and are praying the court for an order directing the Defendants to build a Centre to be named:

Axella Eyitayo Centre for Reproductive and Baby Care.

The couple is also asking for the sum of N120 million for general damages, and another sum of N120 million as compensation for aggravated damages, for the loss of their baby.

They are also asking the court to grant them another N120 million, as being exemplary damages, as a result of the death of the baby at childbirth.

However, the matter, which has not been fixed for hearing, has been screened for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedure.

and reforms, required for a vibrant and fit-forpurpose corporate rescue regime in Nigeria. Some of the confirmed Speakers/ Panelist’s at the two-day event which will have five plenary sessions, include Mrs Mary Uduk (acting DG of SEC), Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN, Professor Fidelis Oditah, QC, SAN, Mr Mike Igbokwe, SAN, Dr Okey Nwuke, Dr Kubi Udofia, Dr Sam Etukakpan and a host of others.

The Conference will be rounded off on 28 September, 2018 with a Great Gatsby-themed Gala/ Award Nite.

African Women Lawyers Association to Host International Conference in Lagos African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), is set to organise a global conference in Lagos with the theme, ‘The African Woman in Sustainable Development: Road Map to 2030’.

Top women from across the world, are expected to be at the event, which will be held at the Nigerian Law School between October 31st and November 3rd, 2018.

Members of the Association under the age of 35, will be registering in the early bird category with the sum of N35,000, while the sum of N40,000 will apply thereafter. Onsite registration, will attract 45,000 for members.

Members above the

age of 35 years, will take advantage of the early bird at the rate of N40,000. They will pay the sum of 45,000 if they do not register during the early bird, and shall pay N50,000 onsite.

Non-Members will pay N50,000 early bird, N55,000 regular and N 60,000 onsite.

International delegates below the age of 35 will pay $100 as early bird registration, $125 regular and $150 onsite, while those above 35, will pay $150 as early bird registration, $180 as regular and $200 onsite.

AWLA is a nongovernmental, non-profit, non-sectarian, professional organisation of women Lawyers in Nigeria and Africa, generally.

HURILAWS Presents Report on Judicial Application of Election Petition Laws The Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS), a legal advocacy and public policy think-tank, will on Thurdday, September 20, 2018 formerly present to the public, a report titled ‘Judicial Application of Election Petition Laws at the 2017 Anambra State Governorship Election

Tribunal’.

The Report Presentation, will hold at the Conference Room of the Human Rights Law Service at Left Wing, 2nd Floor, Maritime Complex, Apapa.

The Report examines Nigeria’s election petition processes, and highlights possible challenges.

6/

18.09.2018

Court fixes October 18 to continue Hearing of Obla’s Suit against EFCC over Professional Fees Akinwale Akintunde Justice V.B. Ashli of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, has fixed October 18, 2018 for the continuation of hearing of a suit filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Godwin Obla, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Obla filed the suit with the number FCT/HC/CV/3220/17 last year, in order to recover his professional fees allegedly amounting to over N685 million of unpaid legal services and expenses, incurred while serving as EFCC’s prosecuting counsel.

The EFCC is currently trying Obla alongside Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia before a Lagos High Court, for alleged perversion of justice, but eyebrows have been raised, as to whether EFCC's case against him is a bid to deny him his legal fees.

In the suit, Obla is claiming payment of outstanding professional fees for the prosecution of various high-profile criminal cases on behalf of the EFCC, including the case of FRN v Raymond Omatseye.

He is also demanding fees, for the

recovery of several billions worth of assets forfeited to the Federal Government through his firm.

The suit also seeks the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by his firm for the prosecution of EFCC cases, running into several millions of naira.

Hearing in this suit commenced in April, with Obla testifying.

Meanwhile, after almost two years of trial, the EFCC closed its case against Obla and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.

They were charged with a 31-count charge, bordering on an alleged perversion of the course of justice, unlawful enrichment and forgery.

Obla’s lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that having analysed the failure of the prosecution to establish a prima facie case against his client, he would file a no-case submission within seven days.

Mobolaji Kuti, counsel to the 1st defendant, also said his client will file a no-case submission within 14 days.

Trial commenced with the arraignment

Godwin Obla, SAN

of both Defendants, on a 30-count Information on November 28, 2016.

In the period between the arraignment

LAWYER URGES NCC TO STOP ARBITRARY CHARGES BY TELECOM COMPANIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 come to the rescue of all telecom subscribers, by ensuring a transparent, efficient and affordable data regime. There should be a simple, transparent method of verifying data usage, not this present regime of unilateral and arbitrary assessment by the telcos, that puts all subscribers at their mercy.

“The telcos having realised the current heat in the political space, are now desper-

ately deploying an arbitrary data regime, that takes them to the bank smiling.

“I therefore call upon the NCC, to probe all the telcos, in relation to the method of data assessment and usage, and thereby rescue us from all the telcos, including the broadband and gsm providers.

“The use of telephone and data services cannot be said to be matters of private

contract between subscribers and the telcos, anymore. Since telephone usage is attached to the freedom of speech and general communications, any subtle denial or restriction thereof, through a regime of profiteering, by the telcos, will be illegal and immoral.

“Enough of this extortion please”, he stated.

and the closure of the Prosecution’s case, the Prosecution had applied to the court for adjournment on at least five occasions, ostensibly to call more witnesses.

On some occasions, the Prosecution’s witnesses, did not appear in Court on the dates fixed by the Court.

The pattern adopted by the Prosecution in calling its witnesses, earned the ire of the defence team, who described it as “trial by installments”. On at least one occasion, the defence had alleged that the style of seeking adjournments to call one witness, was tantamount to the persecution of the Defendants.

There have been claims that Obla’s trial, is a bid to deny him his legal fees.

Legal Personality of the Week Inalegwu Gabriel Odihi

‘Advocacy is not for Lazy Lawyers’ My name is Inalegwu Gabriel Odihi.

I attended St. Mary Primary School Otukpo, Benue State. I proceeded from there to Common Wealth Comprehensive College Jos, Plateau State. Then Benue State University, Makurdi, where I studied Law. Then to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, 2006-2007.

I was called to Nigerian Bar on the 13th November, 2007. I am presently pursuing my Masters at the University of Lagos, Akoka. I practice presently in Lagos as a Partner in Akiri Law Office.

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

Yes, I have had challenges as a Lawyer. One of my major challenge as a Lawyer, is the belief by some of the members of the public that, Lawyers are generally not truthful and/or sincere, and that majority of Lawyers are going to hell for lying.

This is as a result of the fact that, some members of the public form this opinion with little or no understanding of the judicial system. For example the general rule is that once one is found guilty for the offence of murder, the sentence is death. However, there are exceptions to this general rule, where one may commit murder and will not be sentenced to death. For example, if the person accused of murder raised the defence of self defence or insanity, and he or she has a brilliant Lawyer that can prove this defence successfully in court, then some members of the public who do not understanding the Law will start accusing Lawyers of lying. My advice is that, some of the elementary principles of law should

Lagos State, refusing our application for amendment. That day, my matter was called around 4.30 pm and at the point of moving my application, I was asked by one of the Justices of the Appeal Court, about the state of the matter at the High court. I told him that the Judge who made the order refusing our application, had retired and that the suit would commence de novo before another Judge. The Justices of the Appeal Court were very angry with me, for wasting their time. They said that if the suit was to start de novo, then I would have the opportunity of filing my application for amendment before the new Judge, instead of coming to the Appellate Court. That day, I was seriously tongue lashed by the Justices of the Appeal Court, for wasting their precious time.

Inalegwu Gabriel Odihi

be made known to the public, through sensitisation.

What was your worst day as a Lawyer?

My worst day as a Lawyer, was years back when I newly started practice. I was at the Appeal Court, Lagos. I had a motion on notice for extension of time, to appeal against the decision of the High Court of

What was your most memorable experience as a Lawyer?

I have a lot of fond memories in this profession, but one of such memorable experiences, was the day I got judgement from the Appeal court Calabar Judicial Division, reducing the damages of N300 million awarded against our Client by the High court of Akwa Ibom State, to N5 million. The most significant aspect of the case, was that I was the one who handled the appeal, from the beginning to the end.

Who has been most influential in your life?

That would be my Uncle. Reason being that, his life experiences influence my behaviour and action. I lost my father when I was just three years old; right from then, my uncle scarified many things, to train me to become

the man I am today. Despite all the obstacles, he never gave up on me, and he did what some fathers may not do for their children. Staying with my uncle, I never felt that I had lost my father, because he is more than a father to me.

Why did you become a Lawyer?

I was named after a popular Lawyer from my Local Government by my mother. The said Lawyer, is now of blessed memory. This Lawyer was a philanthropist, who had helped many people in our community. I opted to study Law, because I wanted to be like him. His exploits as a big time legal practitioner, influenced me to study law.

What would be your advice to anyone wanting a career in Law? Law is a noble profession, which puts one in a position of great privilege.

Therefore, to get to the top of this profession, you need to be honest, resolute, and determined to attain the goals of a successful Lawyer. You need to understand that hard work pays, and advocacy is not for lazy Lawyers.

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

I would probably have become a Doctor.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years’ time, I see myself as one of the big time Lawyers in Nigeria, and by the special grace of God, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, managing and piloting the affairs of one of the top law firms in Nigeria.

18.09.2018

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TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN, OFR, FCIARB, PH.D, LL.D

SMS only to 08098898888

President Buhari’s Blurred National Binoculars in Appointments

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Recent Appointments he recent appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB), of Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as the new Director-General of the DSS, in replacement of Matthew Seiyefa, has once again, replayed PMB’s obsession and fixation with his ethnic and religious leanings. Yusuf Bichi is from Kano State, North/West (same as Buhari), while Seiyefa hails from Bayelsa state, a minority ethnic group in Nigeria, that produces a substantial part of our oil resources – the goose that lays the golden egg, the people who constitute the hewers of wood and drawers of water. It is clear to me, with all humility, that PMB’s presidential binoculars regarding appointments, are heavily blurred.

This appointment, comes immediately on the heels of the appointment of Abass Umar Masanwa from Kastsina State (same as Buhari), as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Security, Minting and Printing Company. By this new appointment, which has generated uproarious disapproval from across the length and breadth of Nigeria, PMB has yet again demonstrated an uncanny inability, to view Nigeria from the prism of a Nationalist and President of all. He sees Nigeria as a minute and atomic unit of his ethnic group, thus displaying crass ethnocentrism, sectionalism, nepotism, tribalism, parochialism, cronyism, clannishness and favouritism.

The drama commenced when Abba Kyari, PMB’s Chief of Staff, who is defacto Vice President of Nigeria (Prof Osinbajo, SAN, are you hearing me?), ordered Seiyefa, in a most imperious manner, to rescind postings he had earlier made, towards reforming the highly politicised SPY agency. It is clear that, if PMB had not been in London when powerful Daura was peremptorily removed by Osinbajo, who was acting president under Section 145 of the Constitution, Daura who had instructed hooded DSS operatives to invade and shut down the NASS, would have been left untouched, as a sacred cow. He was (and perhaps, still is), one of the most powerful gurus in the cabal within Presidency).

I saw the end of Seiyefa coming, when his new postings were whimsically revoked by Kyari. The government could not even hide its spite for Seiyefa and Southerners, by at least allowing him to complete his few outstanding months in office, before his voluntary retirement upon reaching his retirement age. The appointment was to complete the northernisation, of the security architecture of Nigeria.

Other Key National Positions By the appointment of Bichi, the entire security architecture and apparatchik of Nigeria, is predominantly and wholly dominated by one section of the country. Thus, about 16 out of 17 key security appointees hail from PMB’s section of the country. From the Minister of Internal Affairs, IGP, NSA, Chief of Staff to the President, PSO, ADC, CSO, DG, NIA, DG, DIA, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, to the Controller-General of Customs, Immigration, Prisons, Federal Fire Service, Commandant-General of NSCD, Attorney-General of the Federation, the story is the same (North, mostly Moslems).

Let us add other key national positions such as acting Chairman, EFCC, SGF, Chief of Staff to the President, MD, NNPC, Minister of Petroleum Resources (PMB himself); Heads of DPR, PEF, NPA, FAAN, NCAA, NRC, National Security, Printing and Minting Company, AMCON, NDIC, NAICON. Nigeria has been totally northernised! Let us peep into NBC, NTA, INEC, FHA, FERMA, FRCN, NOA, NHIS, NTDA, TESTFUND, UBEC, NPHDA, NCC, NACA, NIMET, BPE, NOSDRA, NUC, Accountant-General, NEMA, Budget Office, NIRSA, and you wonder if we are in the “Northern Republic of Nigeria”, or “Federal Republic of the North”, or Republic of Northern Nigeria”. It is so ugly, so nauseating, so dirty. It means that those who determine the security direction and fate of Nigeria, can hold a meeting of the security situation of Nigeria and speak only the language of Hausa, in a country of 374 ethnic groups (Otite Onigu); or 480 ethnic groups (M. Onwuejeogwu), that speak about 520 languages, out of which 9 have become extinct.

Constitutional Provisions The Nigerian Constitution is the grundnorm, the font est origo, the supreme law of the land (Section 1(1)). By Section 14(3), “the composition of the federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of any persons from a few States or from ethnic or other sectional group in that government or any of its agencies”.

President Buhari’s lopsided, clannish, sectional, nepotistic and

Yusuf Magaji Bichi

Matthew Seiyefa

ethnocentric appointments as above demonstrated, are in violent violation of this hallowed provision. It is certainly an impeachable offence under Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution, for gross misconduct. Indeed, Section 143(11) defines “gross misconduct” to mean “a grave violation or breach of the provisions of this Constitution or a misconduct of such a nature as amounts in the opinion of the National Assembly to gross misconduct”. A great corpus of case law, exists on this issue of what amounts to “gross misconduct” which, I humbly contend, PMB’s serial violation of Section 14(3) of the Constitution and the Federal Character Commission Act, No 34 of 1996, amount to.

See the cases of INAKOJU v ADELEKE (2007) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1-25) 423, at 586 – 587; OKUNGBOWA v GOVERNOR OF EDO STATE (2014) LPELR 22135 (CA).

The appointments are thus, illegal, unconstitutional, immoral and grossly unpatriotic. I condemn them all.

The argument that the appointees are competent, flies in the face and stands logic on its head. There are equally competent, even more competent persons, in other geographical zones of the country. If competence were to be the sole deciding factor, then we should choose the President, VP, Ministers, Heads of MDAs, and all government officials, from one State of the Federation only.

The President should begin (even if belatedly in over 31⁄2 years of his lack lustre presidency), see Nigeria, for once, from the clear binoculars of a Federation and a Republic, anchored on the principles of constitutional democracy and rule of law.

His brazenly ethnocentric appointments so far, constitute a direct assault on the sensibilities of Nigerians, attack our democratic norms and constitutionalism, and merely affirms his earlier theory of discriminating against 97%, in terms of those who did not vote him in 2015, in certain parts of the Federation. Never before, since the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates by Lord Lugard, to form the contraption called Nigeria, on January 1, 1914, have we witnessed such clannish and lopsided appointments, into the most sensitive and commanding heights of the security, economic, and political firmament of Nigeria. PMB literally tells the rest of Nigerians, to go to hell.

Stockholm Syndrome Some funny and phony government apologists will, very soon, seek to add salt onto injury, by mouthing inanities, telling us that PMB made these indecent appointments, in the “interest of the nation” and for “security reasons”. Better still, those majority of Nigerians kicking against this neo-colonialism, will be termed by government defenders as “looters” who are “unhappy” about the so called “anti-corruption” mantra of the PMB government; or that “corruption is fighting back”. A government that rode on the crest wave of dissent and opposition to hijack power it was ill-prepared for, has suddenly become allergic to, and intolerant of, plurality of voices, or dissension.

Amazingly, it is a preponderance of Southern appointed elements, that will sanctimoniously justify and applaud this sacrilegious desecration of the Constitution and democratic nuances. They are people suffering from what we call, the “Stockholm Syndrome” (a situation where a victim develops feelings of trust and affection towards his traducer or tormentor). It is also known as “trauma bonding”, or “terror bonding”.

Stockholm Syndrome is a victim’s inexplicable psychological bonding, identification with, and sympathy for his slave master or captor, or kidnapper. Such a person, develops very strong feelings of emotional ties and positive bonding with his captors. It is what Psychiatrist, Dr Frank Ochberg, describes as “infantilisation”, a situation where, like a child, you cannot eat, drink, speak, or use the toilet, without permission. The child interpretes this abuse, as an act of kindness and love. When given food under such captivity, feelings of gratitude and joy are evoked, without considering the fact that the so-called kind master who is keeping you alive, is the one who actually simultaneously kept you hostage in the first place.

Yet, Southerners would lay a bigger claim to sophistication, education and enlightenment. It is inconceivable, that this situation can be perpetrated by a Southern President, and Northerners will go on television and social media to justify it; or keep mute, as they are currently doing; or hit the streets of Zamfara, Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Kaduna and Katsina, to openly campaign for the Southern President’s re-election. Have witches and wizards, eaten up the souls and hearts of these Southerners in their covens, or hypnotised and bewitched them? Are they in a state of mental stupor, or inebriation?

“NIGERIA HAS BEEN TOTALLY NORTHERNISED! .... YOU WONDER IF WE ARE IN THE “NORTHERN REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA”, OR “FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF THE NORTH”, OR REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN NIGERIA”. IT IS SO UGLY, SO NAUSEATING, SO DIRTY. IT MEANS THAT THOSE WHO DETERMINE THE SECURITY DIRECTION AND FATE OF NIGERIA, CAN HOLD A MEETING OF THE SECURITY SITUATION OF NIGERIA AND SPEAK ONLY THE LANGUAGE OF HAUSA....”

Kemi Adeosun Hasn’t Kemi Adeosun, who has just resigned as Minister of Finance, humiliated and disgraced these government bootlickers who cacophonously urged her to hold on to power because she was “competent”, contrary to her criminal breach of Sections 2, 11, 12 and 13 of the NYSC Act, even if done innocently?

I honestly sympathise with, and applaud this brilliant young lady for resigning her juicy appointment, against the “advice” of these historical revisionists.

But, she must face the law, through decent open prosecution in a court of law, where she will be afforded a reasonable defence, by a counsel of her choice. This is because the principle of law is, “ignoratia juris non excusat” (ignorance of the law is no excuse).

But, will this corruption-ridden government, prosecute her? Can it? Dare it? I predict it will never. Because she is a “sacred cow”, an untouchable member of the government’s kitchen cabinet.

So much of double standards. Nigeria, we hail thee!

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Executive Order 6: Militocracy by Another Name?

In the past one year, the nation has continued to witness a resort to Executive Orders by the Presidency. The first five orders were tolerated by Nigerians, but the Executive Order 6 captioned ‘Preservation of Suspicious Assets Connected with Corruption and Other Related Offences’, left a sour taste in the mouths of many Nigerians. The perception now is that, for whatever reason, the Order is not only ill intentioned, but a usurpation of the powers of the Legislature. Dr. Sam Amadi and Chris Akiri x-ray the provisions of the Order, and why it is antithetical to governance in a Democracy

The Legality of Executive Orders

Executive Order and Presidential Power in Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy Dr. Sam Amadi

S Introduction

ince the inception of this administration, Nigerian constitutional jurisprudence has witnessed a little transformation. We now deal with Executive Orders. Before President Buhari came to power, no civilian President issued an Executive Order. As at the last count, the Buhari presidency has issued six of such orders. Many of those orders, bear the signature of the Vice President acting as President. The closest we came to Executive Orders, were the so-called ‘General Circulars’ issued by the Secretary to Government of Nigeria, to guide the public service of the Federation. The fundamental difference between the Executive Orders and these service-wide circulars, is that the latter do not derive from Section 5 powers of the President.

Again, these circulars are signed by the SGF and not the President. These circulars have doubtful legal effect, and are not readily enforceable by the courts.

Executive Orders can be described as “a rule of order issued by the President to the executive branch of government, and having the force of law”. They have full legal effect.

Recently, the Nigerian Presidency issued an executive order, Presidential Order No. 6 of 2018, affecting assets connected with corruption and other related offences. This is the 6th of such orders. Previous orders have focused on administration of public procurement, especially as it deals with purchase of Nigerian goods and services, registration of businesses, taxes and other aspects of ease of doing business in Nigeria. Executive Order 6, has provoked harsh criticisms from politicians and human rights advocates. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has flayed the order, as targeted against political opponents. These critics consider the order a presidential overreach, and even a deliberate attempt at undermining the exercise of legislative and judicial powers under the Constitution. The Presidency, of course, denies such imputation. It believes that, these orders are in conformity with

Chris Akiri

T

he other day, the Presidency announced, with gusto, that President Muhammadu Buhari had signed Executive Order 6 into law. I was miffed.

Executive Order 6, means there have been five earlier Executive Orders! Executive Order 6 whose short title, “Preservation of Suspicious Assets Connected with Corruption and Other Related Offences” (“the Order”), smacks of a criminal law legislation, enacted by the President, who is the head of the Executive arm of government!

the functions and practice of the high office of the President of the Republic, and in accordance with the practice of constitutional democracy. The problem is that, we don’t have a practice of issuing executive orders. Therefore, our courts have not directly pronounced on them.

So, to understand the criticisms and the rebuttals, it is necessary to put these orders in the proper contexts, defined by how the Constitution structures the relationship between the President as Chief Executive, and other branches of Government. It is important, to also analyse the constitutionality and legality of these Executive Orders, within the context of the tension between a commitment to efficiency and a commitment to rights.

Executive Orders and the Rule of Law: The definition of Executive Orders, as rules issued by the President that have legal effect, raises questions about the nature of Executive Orders. Executive Orders, have the force of law. This raises problem for the rule of law, in a polity. The rule of law, both from a constitutional law and administrative law conceptions, implies the separation of power. As Montesquieu rightly observed centuries ago, the only way to guarantee the liberty and freedom of the people, is to ensure that power is not concentrated in one person or organ.

If the entire power of government is concentrated in one person or organ, then there is strong possibility of abuse and tyranny. Today, all constitutional democracies have settled on separation of powers, as a fundamental cornerstone of the rule of law. The Nigerian Constitution gives an elaborate expression to this fundamental idea, by separating the legislative, executive and judicial powers, and vesting each on three different organs whose personnel should not be co-mingled. Of course, this strict separation, is moderated by checks and balances which allow different branches of government, to support one another for effective administration.

But, fundamentally, the law-making function, is clearly defined as the responsibility of the legislature. Section 58 of the Constitution states clearly the law-making process in Nigeria. It is the National Assembly, that has the powers to make laws. This power must be exercised by concurrent votes of both houses, and

President Muhammadu Buhari

signed by the President. Where this process is not strictly followed, the Supreme Court has held such exercise as unconstitutional. This was the case in ATTORNEY GENERAL OF BENDEL STATE v ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION & ORS (1983) ANLR 208, where the Supreme Court nullified a purported passage of Appropriation Act by a committee of the National Assembly, without a concurrent vote of two-third of members of the both houses. If Executive Orders have the force of law, it means that Presidents make laws by issuing Executive Orders.

This circumvents the clear processes of law-making in the constitution. It vests on Presidents, additional power that tilts the delicate balance in the power dynamics of a constitutional democracy, especially one with a written constitution. This is more important in a fledgling democracy like Nigeria (some will say, a pseudodemocracy), coming out of a period of imperial presidency of military dictators.

Presidential Power and Constitutional Democracy: The foundation of democracy as a form of government, is the limitation of power.

Unlimited power, is incompatible with democracy as a form of government.

Democracy has not always been the

preferred form of government, in human history. All forms of undemocratic regimes, have held sway in the world in the past.

But today, democracy is the legitimate and pervasive form of government in the world. Although, there are now many pseudo democracies across the world, from prebendal regimes in Africa to the totalitarian oligarchies in Turkey, China and Russia.

But, democracy stands for the simple idea, that those who control the reins of power are exercising a delegated authority.

The divine rights of Kings, are forever abolished. Every human authority, is exercising a delegated authority. This is now the verdict of history, written with the death of millions and the turbulence of world affairs. The heart of the social contract, is the limitation of the power

“IF EXECUTIVE ORDERS HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW, IT MEANS THAT PRESIDENTS MAKE LAWS BY ISSUING EXECUTIVE ORDERS. THIS CIRCUMVENTS THE CLEAR PROCESSES OF LAW-MAKING IN THE CONSTITUTION”

exercised by the government. Although Thomas Hobbes justified the monarchy during the period of the civil unrest in England. He had to fall back on the inherent rights of the people in the state of nature, to justify the absolute power of Leviathan. But, John Locke, offered the more authoritative and influential Social Contract theory. In his view, the people in a state of nature possessed full rights and power. In order to improve their enjoyment of life, liberty and property, they constitute government with clear mandate.

And when the government becomes injurious to their welfare, they disband the government.

This notion of limited power, finds expression in the supremacy of the constitution in a constitutional democracy.

So, whereas the President may style himself as ‘an elected kingship’ in the language of some Scholars, he remains a powerful official clothed with limited power. It is important, to understand the powerful nature of the office of the President of the Republic. Many previous American presidents, have been attacked for aggrandising so much power and acting as elected monarchs. Right from the founding of the US, there have been many such presidents, who have acted

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Contravention of all Known Laws I submit, to start with, that the Order which seeks to empower the President or the agencies of the Federal Government, to impound any landed property that is subject to litigation pending the determination of such a suit by a court of competent jurisdiction, contravenes all the known laws in the democratic world, where the rule of law and the due process of law hold sway. It stands the democratic logic on its head: presume guilty before being proved innocent!

The doctrine of separation of powers among the three arms of government—the Legislature, the Executive and the Judicature—is rigidly enshrined, respectively, in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), which the President solemnly swore to uphold. This doctrine was adopted to provide checks and balances among the three branches of government, a fortiori, to preclude the exercise of arbitrary power.

In MYERS v UNITED STATES 272 US 52, Brandeis J. of the US Supreme Court stated, with approval, that the “The doctrine of separation of powers was adopted by the Convention of 1787, not to promote efficiency but to preclude the exercise of arbitrary power.” This case, a locus classicus, has had a hortatory effect on a long line of Nigeria’s Supreme Court cases. In UNONGO v APER AKU (1983) 2 SCNLR 332 @361, for instance, the Supreme Court, per Kayode Eso (JSC, as he then was), observed: “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979 (read 1999) ... is very unique, compared with the previous Constitutions, in that the executive, the legislature and the judicature, are each established as a separate organ of government. There is what can be termed a cold, calculating rigidity, in this separation...”

Aside from the Executive’s involvement in the legislative process, whereby the President assents to a Bill that has been duly passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly to become law, I know no zone of twilight, in which the Executive and the Legislature possess concurrent authority to legislate. So, from where does the Nigerian President derive the authority to legislate, interprete and enforce laws, which Executive Orders and Proclamations are?

Source of Executive Orders The President’s advisers would readily point at Section 5(1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution, which perspicuously provides that “...the executive powers of the Federation—(a) shall be vested in the President...”, subject (it should be noted) to the provisions of the Constitution and to the provisions of any laws made by the National Assembly. That section further states that, the executive powers vested in the President can also be exercised by either the Vice-President, any of the Ministers of Government and officers in the public service of the Federation. Quite clearly, it would be asinine, to suggest that the Vice-President, the Ministers and officers in the public service of the Federation, are directly or indirectly, constitutionally empowered to issue executive orders and proclamations having the force of law! Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution can, therefore, not be the source of the executive orders and proclamations issued by the Nigerian President.

In all probability, the Nigerian President has decided to take a leaf out of the practice in the US, where the Presidents issue executive orders and proclamations with abandon, even if unconstitutionally. US Presidents have based their executive orders on Section 1 of Article II of the US 1787 Constitution, which nebulously provides: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America”. That provision has been described, as being maddeningly vague. In the epic case of YOUNGSTOWN SHEET & TUBE v SAWYER 343 US 579 (1952), the court found that, the President had acted without statutory or constitutional authority. Besides, the court declined to entertain the contention that presidential power to issue executive orders, should be implied from the aggregate of his powers under the Constitution. The Court further explained that, the President’s power to issue executive orders, must stem from either an act of Congress

“EXECUTIVE ORDER 6 ....IT STANDS THE DEMOCRATIC LOGIC ON ITS HEAD: PRESUME GUILTY BEFORE BEING PROVED INNOCENT!....

A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF NIGERIAN LEADERS’ PENCHANT FOR SETTING ALL DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AT NOUGHT; IT IS DESIGNED TO USURP THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE (MAKING LAWS), AND THE JUDICATURE (INTERPRETING AND ENFORCING LAWS), CONTRARY TO SECTION 36 (5) OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION”

or from the Constitution itself.

However, DAMES & MOORE v REAGAN 453 US 654 (1981), dealt with President Jimmy Carter’s Executive Order freezing Iranian assets in the US, in November, 1979. The Court, in that case, found that Congress had acquiesced in the President’s action and, accordingly, ruled in favour of that Order because, traditionally, executive orders and proclamations involving foreign policy and security, are given great leeway by the courts.

Other than such issues, US Courts have severely criticised the issuance of executive orders by American Presidents. Justice William Howard Taft, the only individual to have served as both the President and the Chief Justice of the US, in “Our Chief Magistrate and His Powers”, (New York, 1916), posited: “The true view of executive functions is, as I conceive it, that the President can exercise no power which cannot be fairly and reasonably traced to some specific grant of power or justly implied and included within such express grant, as proper and necessary in its exercise. Such specific grant, must be either in the Federal Constitution, or in an act of Congress passed in pursuance thereof.”

A long line of the US Supreme Court cases, now loci classici, reprobate the whole concept of executive orders and CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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EXECUTIVE ORDER AND PRESIDENTIAL POWER IN NIGERIA’S CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 in the fashion of the English kings whose tyrannous manners inspired the American revolution. A notable example was Truman, whose confiscation of private steel mills in defence of national security, was nullified by the Supreme Court. Another example was Abraham Lincoln, who, during the civil war, suspended the habeas corpus writ, and answered critics with a riposte whether it is better to lose the nation and yet preserve the constitution.

Recent examples of Presidents who have been accused of acting imperially, include George Bush Jr. who appropriated much power, even to order the extra-judicial execution of US citizens in the war against terrorism.

But, despite these aberrations, the concept of presidential power under a constitutional democracy, means that power of the president as ‘elected monarch’ is highly limited, and the supremacy belongs to the constitution.

The Incidences of Presidential Power under the 1999 Constitution: Executive Orders, are products of the exercise of presidential power under the constitution. So, it is important to understand presidential power under the constitution, to understand the legal dimensions of these orders. The 1999 Nigerian Constitution adopts the presidential system of government, rather than the parliamentary system under the 1960 and 1963 Independence and Republican Constitutions. The 1999 Constitution, is like the 1979 Constitution in this regard.

Speaking about the design of the 1979 Constitution, Africa’s leading constitutional law scholar, Professor Ben Nwabueze, argues that it was the exigence of rapid economic development, that suggested the need for a presidential system of government with an executive president, rather than the parliamentary system with a ceremonial president. Economic development, was a national imperative that “calls for effective leadership, a leadership that would be able to mobilise the nation and its resources, and to provide purposeful direction for its people”. Such a leadership requires the “organisation of power around a single individual in the name of the president”.

Concentration of power in the president, answers to the exigence of effective mobilisation and management of natural and human resources. It also answers to, the exigence of effective foreign representation. But, in the design of this concentrated power, the designers of the Nigerian constitutional order, followed the founding fathers of the US Republic by limiting the power of the single individual President, such that he or she can do all the good he or she can, and none of the evil he or she could. Like I have argued elsewhere, “the unifying of the executive power in one person, does not mean that the Executive President created under the 1979 Constitution, parallels Her Majesty the Queen as the British Monarch. For one, the Nigerian President does not embody the sovereignty, as the British Monarch does. By the Constitution, the sovereignty belongs to the Nigerian people and the Constitution is supreme”.

In practical terms, the 1999 Constitution, follows the US Constitution in separating the executive power from the legislative and judicial powers. Section 5 of the Constitution, vests the executive power of the Nigerian Federation, on the President personally. This is very significant.

Whereas the legislative power is vested in an institution - the National Assembly (Section 4). The judicial power is vested on the Superior Courts of Record (Section 6). The Executive Power is vested on the President, who may exercise it by himself or through his Vice President or any other official.

It is difficult to fully comprehend, the extent and scope of the presidential power under Section 5. The language of the Section, places the President in a situation that enables him to act as the ‘elected monarch’, as well as ‘a delegated representative of the people’. Nwabueze himself, agrees that, the “executive power is difficult of precise delineation. Its limits are obscure”. First, the executive power of

Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN

the Federation, is donated to the President singularly and personally (not together with the Ministers, as is wrongly conveyed by the several approvals by Federal Executive Council (FEC)). This power, is wide ranging. It goes to the “execution and maintenance of the Constitution, all laws made by the National Assembly and to all matters with respect to which the National Assembly has, for the time being, power to make laws”. Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution, is like Article 2 of the US Constitution, which denotes executive power singularly and personally on the President. It also empowers the President, to “take care that the law be faithfully maintained”.

Constitutional law scholars, have extracted three offices in the constitutional language. First, the President is a Chief Executive of the Federation. He has responsibility to manage and administer the federal government. As Chief Executive, the President hires and fires, and coordinates the national economy. The second position, is as Commander-in-Chief. As Commander-in-Chief, the President has responsibility to secure the Federation, and marshal the Armed Forces of the Federation to protect its territorial integrity.

The third office, is the Sole Organ. The President as Sole Organ, represents the Federation in foreign relations. Exercising the functions of this office, the President negotiates with foreign entities, and signs treaties that create external obligations for the country. Each of these offices, has its incidents and limitations.

It is important to bear in mind that, even as Section 5 (2) grants the President wide powers to maintain the Constitution and the laws, and to attend to all matters which the National Assembly has power to make law (which is basically everything under our own expansive federal jurisdiction), subsection (1) limits the exercise of this wide power. The executive power of the Federation that vests on the President, is to be exercised subject to ‘the provisions of this constitution’ and ‘to the provisions of any law made by the National Assembly’. The President can only exercise the awesome power of his office, strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution or laws made by the National Assembly. Even though he is the Chief Executive who has responsibility to superintend the wellbeing of the Federation,

he cannot act, even in national interests, except such action can be justified by the provisions of the Constitution or any law made by the National Assembly.

How does this restriction relate to the clear authorisation to ‘protect and maintain the constitution’? The answer is that, the President can take any action to protect the Constitution, as long as it is in line with the clear provisions of the Constitution, and law validly made by the National Assembly. Well, Abraham Lincoln would not accept this restriction, while fighting the civil war in the United States. But, that is what our constitutional democracy requires.

The Uses of Executive Orders: Let us consider some of the benefits of executive orders before analysing the legality of some of the executive orders issued by President Buhari. One of the hallmarks of the administrative state, is the increase in the regulatory activities of the Federal Government. As David H. Rosenbloom et al put it in their book, Public Administration: Understanding Management, Politics, and Law in the Public Sector (2009), the term ‘administrative state’ refers to “several realities of contemporary government that a great deal of society’s resources flow through public agencies, that public administrators are central to contemporary government, and that the nation has decided on a course of attempting to solve its problems and achieve its aims through substantial reliance on administrative action”. As the challenges of managing the national economy increases the government resorts more frequently to the use of regulatory agencies that exercise wide ranging powers over domestic affairs, even impacting on private economic interests.

The US Supreme Court in FTC v Ruberiod 343 U.S. 470 (US Supre, C) (1952) described this phenomenon, as the emergence of a fifth branch of government, that has deranged our conventional three branches of government. The administrative state brings with it, the need for presidential intervention in the management of the national economy.

The President can intervene, through regulatory commissions duly created by the legislature. He can also intervene directly, through executive orders or presidential proclamations. One good

“THE EXECUTIVE ORDER 6, FALLS INTO THIS CATEGORY. SOME OF ITS PROVISIONS, APPEAR LIKE A USURPATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE MANDATE. AGAIN, IT INSERTS THE EXECUTIVE INTO A TERRAIN, THAT BELONGS TO THE JUDICIARY AND THE LEGISLATURE”

use of the executive order, is to prioritise commitment of the executive branch of government. For example, when Barack Obama became President of the United States, he needed to signal the change of government from the high-handedness of the George Bush Jr’s war against terrorism, by opening the government to greater transparency. This resulted in issuing his first executive order, that mandated agencies to comply with requests for disclosure of information. This order puts the onus on the agency that wants to deny the request, to justify the denial, rather than on the person seeking disclosure of information. When Donald Trump became President, he issued an executive order on immigration, to quickly deal with the grave challenge of immigration, which formed the heart of his presidential campaign.

In Nigeria, there has been a crying need for exercise of presidential power, through issuance of executive orders.

While I served in Jonathan’s government, I observed many of such instances that required an executive order. There has always been a jurisdictional conflict between the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), about responsibility for privatisation tasks. This noticeable conflict, required an executive order to streamline the focus of each of these statutory agencies. I called attention to this omission, but no one issued an executive order, to streamline responsibility.

This is one instance, in which an executive order boosts the effective exercise of executive powers.

In the Nigerian case, executive orders will be required, to fill in the gaps in legislations creating executive agencies.

Because of the interest bargaining implicit in law-making, oftentimes laws creating executive agencies leave gaps that militate against effectiveness of these agencies, and their ability to meet legislative mandates.

Executive orders help to fill the legislative gaps, by authorising procedures that enable agencies better achieve legislative mandates. A good instance of such executive order, would be Executive Order 5 issued by the President, relating chiefly to promotion of Nigerian content in public procurement of goods and services. While I was Chief Executive of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), we issued a regulation on national content in the electricity industry. The Executive Order 5, now reinforces the local regulation in the electricity industry. This is an important function of executive orders.

They help to align broad agency mandates, with presidential priority.

US Presidents have been very busy with executive orders, in shaping the regulatory activities of executive agencies.

Because of how these activities affect the economy, different Presidents, aiming at different outcomes, have issued executive orders to shape and streamline regulatory actions. Agencies make rules, in pursuit of their legislative mandates. The legislature vests such agencies as the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the National Communications Commission and the like, with rulemaking powers because they are part of the executive branch of government. These agencies exercise presidential powers. As Cornelius M. Kerwin and Scot R. Furlong observe in their book, Rulemaking: How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy (2011), agencies are the equal of Congress and the President, because the rules they issue ‘carry the same weight as congressional legislation, executive orders and judicial decisions”.

Presidents exercise oversight over administrative agencies, by use of executive orders. The President can issue executive order, that mandates some form of review process, before a regulatory intervention can be issued. The President can vary the internal review mechanisms, for issuance of licence and permits. All these orders redefine the landscape of regulatory action, to achieve strategic policy objective of the government. Presidents Reagan, Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump issued such

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THE LEGALITY OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 proclamations, as they are neither specifically provided for in the 1787 Constitution (as amended), nor defined in any statute, authorising quasi-executive legislation.

Executive orders in the US, are generally directed at, and govern actions by, government officials and agencies, unlike in Nigeria, where executive orders are targeted at individuals directly, thereby flagrantly infringing on their fundamental human rights. If US Presidents issue executive orders, they also claim to rely on a Congressional Statute, the Neutrality Act (1794), which gave the Executive the power to prosecute those who violated President Washington’s proclamations. There is no such statute in Nigeria. So, what is the source of executive orders in Nigeria? One of our problems is that, Nigerians, including Lawyers, are hardly litigious. So, every dictatorial autocratic act of government goes!

It should be stated at this juncture that, though the 1999 Nigerian and the 1787 American Constitutions may be substantially similar, they are NOT identical. For example, the terse and nebulous provision in Section 1 of Article II of the US Constitution, with regard to the powers of the US President, cannot compare favourably with

the detailed but limiting provisions of Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution on the powers of the President.

It is sad that Nigerian leaders luxuriate in photocopying the negative aspects of the US Constitution, as though Nigeria and America shared a community of socio-cultural and politico-economic antecedents, ignoring such positive areas of the US Constitution, as a rigid adherence to the Rule of Law and the Due Process of the law (usually set aside in Nigeria, with abandon and without demur, in favour of “national interest”), the democratic principle, respect for the citizens’ fundamental human rights and human dignity, catering for the welfare and security of the citizens, etc.

Executive Order 6, is a classic example of Nigerian leaders’ penchant for setting all democratic principles at nought; it is designed to usurp the functions of the Legislature (making laws), and the Judicature (interpreting and enforcing laws), contrary to Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as altered), which stipulates that “Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty.”

Chris Akiri, Legal Practitioner and Author President Harry S. Truman

EXECUTIVE ORDER AND PRESIDENTIAL POWER IN NIGERIA’S CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 orders, to improve the quality of rule making, or constrain the power of agencies to make rules by imposing additional review process.

This use of executive orders is very necessary, in the context of regulatory contradiction and uncertainty in Nigeria.

Many regulatory agencies in Nigeria, don’t have comprehensive business rules that guarantee regulatory certainty.

There is also a worrisome absence of a comprehensive procedural law, like the US Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which clearly sets out the procedure for rule making. This poses two major problems, for doing business in Nigeria. First, it grants so much discretion to agencies to make rules as they wish, since there is no substantive administrative law that constrains their rule making power. This increases the propensity, for capricious and highhanded rule making. Second, the absence of administrative procedure law, imposes uncertainty as to the procedure to be adopted for rule making. It also imperils the constitutional requirement of fair hearing, as the regulator may not be sure of which procedure will best comply with fair hearing requirements.

It must be said that, some of the earlier executive orders signed by the Vice President acting as President, meet these considerations, as they focused primarily on the work of administrative agencies, and anchored on the powers which the legislature has already granted them. No matter the exigences of public administration, the President should not exercise executive power to issue executive orders, to fill gaps which do not exist, or which the legislature has spoken by law on how it should be filled.

Legal Incidents of Executive Orders: Executive orders are instruments of management of the national economy and other domestic affairs, by a President acting as Chief Executive. But, it could also become an instrument of self- aggrandisement, by a President who wants to exercise more power than the Constitution has granted him/her. The institutional design of constitutional democracy in Nigeria, as in most constitutional democracies, is to create a fair balance between the branches of government. No branch of government, should undermine the other. We should agree with Abraham Lincoln when he said “I said to [President Washington], that if the equilibrium of the three great bodies, Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, could be preserved, if the Legislature could be kept independent, I should never fear the result of such a

government; but that, I could not but be uneasy when I saw that the Executive had swallowed up the Legislative branch.”

This constitutional policing, is achieved by limiting the president’s plenary powers as chief executive, to express provisions of the constitution and the law.

So, when will an executive order go beyond the executive power of the president? In the case of Youngstown Sheet &Tube Co. v Sawyer (343) U.S 579 (1952), the US Supreme Court opined that “The President’s power to issue the order, if any, must stem from either an Act of Congress or from the constitution”.

In that case President Truman, acting in time of national emergency, issued an order that adversely affected a private property without proper congressional or constitutional authorisation. The court reviewed the extent of the President’s power to ‘maintain the constitution’. Justice Robert H. Jackson in his concurrence in the case, argued forcefully that although the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces he is not ‘the Commanderin-Chief of the country, its industries and its inhabitants”. The Youngstown case remained a pivotal case, as it provides an intelligible framework for understanding when executive orders issued by the President in exercise of Section 5 powers, can be legally valid or invalid.

When Executive Order is Based on Express Provision of the Law: In the Youngstown case, Justice Jackson makes the point that “When the President acts pursuant to an express or implied authorisation by the Congress, his authority is at a maximum, for it includes all that he possesses in his own right, plus all that Congress can delegate”. This fits into the language of our Section 5, which gives the President the power to maintain the law, and all matters that the National Assembly can make law. Some of the earlier executive orders relating to streamlining of licensing and registration procedures to achieve business competitiveness, fall under the categories of exercise of executive power supported by the dictum of Justice Jackson.

When Executive Order is not Based on Express Provision of the Law: There are instances when the President exercises executive power, on matters which the legislature has not expressly permitted or prohibited. This is like, a grey area. How should the law, view executive orders relating to subject matters which neither the constitution nor Act of National Assembly, has authorised or prohibited?

Justice Jackson again offers a guide.

“When the President acts in absence of

either a congressional power or denial of authority, he can only act upon his own independent power, but there is a zone of twilight in which he and congress may have concurrent authority, or in which its distribution is uncertain. Therefore, congressional inertia, indifference or quiescence, may sometimes, at least as a political matter, enable, if not invite, measures on independent presidential responsibility. In this area, any actual test of power is likely to depend on the imperatives of events and contemporary imponderable, rather than on abstract theories of law”.

When Executive Action is Contrary to the Act of National Assembly or Undermines their Lawmaking Power: The third category, is when the executive order violates express provisions of the law made by the National Assembly.

Justice Jackson argues that “When the President takes measures incompatible with the expressed or implied will of Congress, his power is at its lowest ebb, for then he can rely only upon his own constitutional power, minus any constitutional power of Congress over the matter. Presidential claim to a power at once so conclusive and preclusive, must be scrutinised with caution for what is at stake is the equilibrium established by our constitutional system”. The Executive Order, 6 falls into this category. Some of its provisions, appear like a usurpation of the legislative mandate. Again, it inserts the executive into a terrain, that belongs to the judiciary and the legislature. In these circumstances, the court may nullify these orders, because they can disrupt the vital equilibrium of constitutional power sharing, that undergirds liberty and freedom in constitutional democracies.

The Guarantee of Fundamental Rights: If the President exercises Section 5 power to issue an executive order that adversely affects the rights of the citizens, then such exercise is self-aggrandising and unconstitutional. In the Youngstown case, Justice Jackson said as much. Truman had attempted to justify the seizure of private steel mills, at the wake of a national emergency. The Justice ruled that, the President cannot, in the guise of exercising executive power, deprive citizens of basic rights such as right to life, liberty or property, without due process as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.

This is like the guarantee of Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution. The obligation of this is that, no invocation of Chapter 5 inherent or express power (including the

power to protect and maintain the constitution), will validate an executive order that attempts to deprive citizens of their right to life, liberty or property without legislative or judicial authorisation. This is the logic of such cases as Stitch v Attorney General of the Federation (1986) 5 NWLR 47, Lakanmi v AG Western Region (1971) IUILR 201 Conclusion The debate about the power of the President to issue executive orders relating to seizure of assets connected with corruption and related offences, will need to be situated within the context of the architecture of presidential power within the framework of the design of constitutional governance in Nigeria. First, the debaters should note that, the validity of the exercise of executive powers, is never assessed in abstract terms. It should be assessed in the context of separation of powers, and how each branch is aggrandising power to the detriment of the other branch. The separation of powers approach, is critical, because it (separation of powers), is critical to protecting the rule of law. If ‘power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’, then we are safer in a republic, if we find an effective way to restrain the power of the ‘elected monarch’. The most effective way, is to police the boundaries of separation of powers, such that the President acts only in conformance to the express authorisation of the Constitution, or the express provisions of an Act of National Assembly.

There is no doubt that the President has power to issue executive orders, and the courts ought to approve these orders if they are challenged. But, where the subject of these executive orders, relate to matters that are contrary to the express provisions of the law, usurp the legislative functions of another branch of government, or violate the guaranteed rights of citizens, the court ought to strike down such exercise of executive power. This is what the court did, in Youngstown case. This is akin to the Nigerian Supreme Court decision, in Stitch v AG of Federation.

The challenge for the legal profession and the judiciary, is to understand the constitutional, political and policy contexts of the exercise of executive power. If we don’t understand how exercise of executive power undermines or fosters liberty, right and property of citizens, we will muddle the debate and injure society.

Dr Sam Amadi, immediate past Chairman on Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission and Imo State Governorship Aspirant, APGA

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18.09.2018

INSIGHT ABUBAKAR D. SANI

xL4sure@yahoo.com

Adeosun: Did She Need the Exemption Anyway?

T Introduction

he controversy over the allegedly forged certificate of exemption, from the ordinarily-mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme procured by the now-former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, finally came to a head on Friday, last week, with the acceptance of her resignation by President Muhammadu Buhari. Her exit was the culmination of a roller- coaster ride for the past 65 or so days, during which she maintained a dignified(?) silence in the face of unremitting media attention, if not frenzy.

For that alone, and for having the decency to throw in the towel (something very rare among public officials in these parts), she deserves our respect. At least, she is assured of mine. Why, you may ask, given the gravity of the offence alleged against her, i.e. the circumstances in which she procured the Certificate. I believe that her personal circumstances at all material times, not only disqualified her from participating in the programme, more importantly, they also meant that, in my view, she did not even need to be exempted/excused from same in the first place. In other words, she need not have bothered to acquire the Certificate, which led to her premature exit from her highprofile job. Am I right? These are the facts, and (hopefully), the law.

What is the NYSC about, and who is it designed for?

Obviously, the answers to these all-important questions will determine Mrs. Adeosun’s guilt or otherwise, of the allegations against her. The NYSC programme was introduced by the erstwhile military administration of General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) in 1973. Its objectives, scope and enabling provisions, are set out inter alia, in Sections 2 and 13, respectively, of the NYSC Act 1973, thus; - Section 2(1)(b): Subject to the provisions of this Decree, every Nigerian shall if, at the end of the academic year 1974 – 75 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent year he shall have graduated at any university outside Nigeria . . . make himself available for service for a continuous period of one year from the date specified in call- up instrument served upon him” - Section2(2): “Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofsubsection (1) of this section, with effect from 1st August 1985, a person shall not be called upon to serve in the Service Corps if, at the date of his graduation or obtaining his diploma or other professional qualification, he is over the age of thirty, he has served in the Armed Forces of the Federation or the Police for more than nine months, has been conferred with - any National Honour, or is a member of staff of the State Security Service, the National Intelligence Agency or the Defence Intelligence Service” - Section13(4): “Anypersonwho(b) forgesorusesorlends to or allows to be used other than in the manner provided by this Act by any other person any certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of this Act, or (c) makes or has in this possession any document so closely resembling any certificate so issued as to be calculated to deceive is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of

Kemi Adeosun

N5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment”.

Do these Provisions Apply to Mrs. Adeosun?

That is the million Naira question.

Straight away, it is clear from the foregoing provisions that the scheme was designed for only Nigerian graduates of tertiary institutions who are less than 30 (thirty) years old at the date of their graduation. Mrs. Adeosun has stated in her resignation letter that she was born and raised in the United Kingdom.

That makes her a British Citizen. She has also stated that she acquired a Nigerian passport at the age of 34. This has not been controverted. She reportedly obtained a degree in Economics from a British University in 1989, at the age of 22.

Given all these, the question, to my mind, is whether she was really eligible to either participate in the programme ab initio, or to even seek to be exempted therefrom. From the provisions of the NYSC Act outlined above, I believe the answer is all-too- obvious. This is because, in my opinion, to the extent that she was not a Nigerian at the time she graduated from a non-Nigerian University, she was ineligible to be called up for the program.

This explains why, according to her, she needed a visa to enter Nigeria on each of her visits here prior to obtaining a Nigerian passport at the age of 34, as aforesaid. In this regard, Mrs. Adeosun’s Nigerian parentage is immaterial, as citizenship is a matter of constitutional law and not presumption. Going by this logic, Mrs. Adeosun’s Nigerian parentage entitled her apply for and acquire Nigerian citizen by birth, pursuant to the provisions of Section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution.

So, Why did she bother to apply for the Exemption?

Short answer: bad advice, apparently,

“THIS IS BECAUSE, IN MY OPINION, TO THE EXTENT THAT SHE WAS NOT A NIGERIAN AT THE TIME SHE GRADUATED FROM A NON-NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY, SHE WAS INELIGIBLE TO BE CALLED UP FOR THE PROGRAM” and/or possibly a desire to err on the side of caution. For someone who, to all intents and purposes, was a foreigner, it would be mean and uncharitable, in my view, to accuse Mrs. Adeosun (as a lot of people have done and are still doing), of attempting to play the system by acquiring the now bogus exemption. I think it is unfair. She is not a Lawyer, and even if she was at the material time, she could be forgiven for wanting to make assurance doubly sure by procuring the exemption for whatever it was worth. Hence, she applied for it. The only problem was that, she neither bargained for nor deserved what she got (presumably in exchange for a small fortune). Simply put, she made an honest mistake. Yes, ignorance of the law is not an excuse, but even the law - and thus, justice - recognises innocent mistakes as mitigating and, indeed, exculpatory factors. In other words, they are defences to criminal liability.

What Next?

For those still baying for Mrs. Adeosun’s blood by insisting on her investigation and possible prosecution for the offence of forgery, I urge them to save their breath.

This is because, even though the relevant law clearly criminalises possession of a fake NYSC certificate of any sort, curiously, the appropriate court to deal with such infractions - in my opinion, the National Industrial Court - lacks that legal capacity. I will presently explain.

The essence of the Scheme, i.e, the NYSC, is service, that is employment.

Hence, members are paid allowances for work done or service rendered during the program. Under Sections 254C(1) (a) and 254C(5) of the Constitution, the National Industrial Court possesses exclusive jurisdiction in criminal causes and matters, inter alia, “arising from, relating to or connected with any labour, employment, workplace, conditions of service and matters incidental thereto or connected therewith”.

This seemingly wide remit, is however, tempered by Section 254 (2) of the Constitution which provides that “for the purposes of exercising (the criminal jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court), the provisions of the Criminal Code, Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code or Evidence Act shall apply”. The offence of forging an NYSC exemption certificate, is not created by any general law such as the Penal Code (applicable in Abuja, the FCT where the alleged forgery was uttered), but rather by the NYSC Act as aforesaid. This is a special law. To that extent, it is the applicable, on the maxim, specialibus generalia derogant, i.e., special things derogate from general things: ATIKU ABUBAKAR v ATT-GEN. OF THE FEDERATION (2007) Unfortunately (or, in Mrs. Adeosun’s case, fortunately), the penal provisions of the NYSC Act are not enforceable by the National Industrial Court, as they are not included among the laws which the court is specifically empowered to apply under the provisions of Section 254F(2) of the Constitution, as aforesaid. In this instance, the relevant maxim is expressio unius est exclusio alterius, i.e., the express mention of one thing in a statute implies the exclusion of others which might have been included: P.H.C.S. v MIGFO (2O12). This ought to silence Mrs. Adeosun’s ‘traducers’.

Conclusion From all accounts, Mrs. Adeosun performed brilliantly and effectively during her tenure as, first, a Commissioner in Ogun State, and subsequently, as Minister of Finance of her country.

Her passion and drive while in office, were there for all to see. Her innovations as Minister, saw to the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Bank Verification Number (BVN), the tax amnesty programme otherwise known as the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS). The list is endless. History should be, and in my opinion, will be, kind to her.

Her exit, or the manner of its execution, is unparalleled and exceptional in our political history. Perhaps, due - at least in part - to her British background, she has shown that there is life after public office, and that it is far more honourable to bow out gracefully, than to wait to be shoved out, or otherwise suffer the unkind verdict of history, as a public officer who preferred the perks of office, to her personal and professional integrity.

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The Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Rivers State, Sir Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, KSC, joined the saints triumphant on August 10, 2018 at the age of 57. The obsequies started on September 12, with a Public Lecture delivered by Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, followed by a Night of Tributes, Service of Songs, Valedictory State Executive Session and Valedictory Court Session, culminating in his funeral service on September 15, 2018 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu, Port Harcourt. Here are some of the personalities that attended the various events ....

Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN delivering the Public Lecture titled: "The Rule of Law and Leadership in Nigeria's Democracy: The Role of the Attorney-General", in honour of the late Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi Ibani, and Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkara

R-L: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, widow of the Late Aguma, Mrs Inime Aguma, his daughter, Onyinyechi, Second son, Ezekwesili and First Son, Chima, and younger brother Emenike Aguma

L-R: Former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Austin Opara, Former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, and Senator Lee Maeba during the Public Lecture

Rivers Traditional Rulers during the Public Lecture

Guests at the Lecture

L-R: Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, Chairman of the Lecture, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN and Governor Nyesom Wike

Immediate Family Members of the late Attorney-General

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Government House Choir Performing at the Nights of Tribute

Former President of NBA, Chief OCJ Okocha, SAN, giving his Tribute during the Special Night of Tributes

L-R: Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkara and Rt. Hon. Austine Opara, Chairman, Burial Committee

R-L: Mrs Inime Aguma (Widow of late Attorney- General of Rivers State) comforting their daughter, Onyinyechi

L-R: Amayanabo of Opobo and Chairman Of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Dandeson Jaja, Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, and Senator George Thompson Sekibo

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral Choir

L-R: Onyinyechi, Chima and Ezekwesili Aguma, children of the deceased

Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt Rev Wisdom Ihunwo

L-R: Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Price Uche Secondus, Justice Eberechi Suzzette NyesomWike and Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike

Emmanuel Chima Aguma, reading a lesson at the funeral service of his father

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Dr Peter Odili and his wife Hon. Justice Mary Odili greeting Chinwe Aguma's aged mother, Dame Hannah Aguma (left) and his wife, Inime (right)

The late Chinwe Aguma’s body in Church St Paul's Cathedral, Diobu, Port Harcourt

Chinwe Aguma's mother, Dame Hannah Aguma (left) and his wife, Mrs Inime Aguma during the funeral service

L-R: Former Senate President, Dr Iyorcha Ayu, Senator Ahmed MarkarďŹ and PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus at the funeral service in honour of Chinwe Aguma

Mrs Inime Aguma and her children (left aisle), Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State (right aisle) during the funeral service

Mr Osayaba Giwa-Osagie (3rd left) and others during the funeral service

L-R: Gov Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Gov Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State, Gov Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Gov Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, and Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State

Body of late Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN arriving at Government House for the Special Rivers State Executive Council Meeting held in his honour

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, paying his last respects to the late Attorney-General of Rivers State

Mourning Members of the Rivers State Executive Council

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T H I S D AY Ëž SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Announces Fines for Failed Transaction Reversals, Others Nume Ekeghe The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stated that any failed Nigerian Instant Payment (NIP) transaction not reversed into a customer’s account within 24 hours based on complaint of the sender and/or beneficiary will attract a fine of N10,000.

The central bank stated this in a ‘Circular on the regulation on instant inter-bank electronic funds transfer services in Nigeria’, posted on its website.

The circular becomes effective on October 2, 2018.

The circular stated that where a sending entity erroneously send value contrary to the customer’s instructions due to wrong ac-

count number, wrong amount, duplication among others to a receiving entity and requested the reversal in writing within 14 working days of the transaction, the receiving entity should oblige within one business day without recourse to the customer (beneficiary) of the receiving entity provided funds were available.

An automatic indemnity would be inferred against the sending entity making the reversal request, it stated.

Where funds were not available, it added, the receiving entity should immediately notify its customer that the account was wrongly credited and provide proof of such notification to the

sending entity.

It added that the receiving entity should notify the customer about the consequences of not funding the account within 24 hours, which included watchlisting in the banking industry, credit bureau and reporting to law enforcement agencies.

In the circular, the receiving entity would watch-list the customer if he failed to provide funds within seven days, the CBN stated.

If a customer claims to have made a transfer in error where the beneficiary is known to the complainant, the Sending Entity shall encourage the complainant to contact the beneficiary for an amicable settlement.

FG, GIABA Call for Enhanced Collaboration to Combat Terrorism Financing The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami and the Director General, Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Mr. Kimelabalou Aba, yesterday stressed the need for stakeholders in the financial sector and regulatory bodies to enhance collaboration to combat terrorism financing.

This call was made at the national workshop on the combating the financing of terrorism for financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) held in Lagos yesterday.

Malami, who was represented

by Director, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Mr Francis Usani said: “A number of our members states, including Nigeria, Niger and Mali, are experiencing widespread threats from terrorist and extremist groups which is undermining regional peace, stability and integration. “Cutting off the flow of funds to these groups is one of the most

effective ways of addressing the challenge. “Financial institutions and DNFBPS particularly in Nigeria are strategic in this regard, especially given their huge size and integration within the regional financial system. “It is against this backdrop that we are organising the first National Workshop on combating the financing of terrorism for financial institutions and DNFBPs in Nigeria, to strengthen your capacity to effectively contribute to on-going national and regional efforts against terrorism and terrorist financing.

He further said: “It is imperative to mention that Nigeria has been scheduled for its 2nd round of mutual evaluation in September/October 2019.

To enhance the performance of Nigeria in the evaluation exercise, reporting institutions should as matter of necessity, ensure effective implementation of its AML/CFT programmes. “In addition, i call on all reporting institutions to pay greater commitment to its collaboration

with relevant national authorities in the shared responsibility of combating terrorism and terrorist financing in the country. “On our part, in addition to the training we are providing to stakeholders, including reporting institutions to strengthen their capacities to meet the requirements of international AML/ CFT standard, GIABA will continue to provide technical support to member states to address observed deficiencies in especially their CFT regime.�

The GIABA boss said a number of its member states, including Nigeria, Niger and Mali, were experiencing widespread threats from terrorist and extremist groups. This he said was undermining regional peace, stability and integration. “Cutting off the flow of funds to these groups is one of the most effective ways of addressing the challenge. “DNFBPs particularly in Nigeria are strategic in this regard, especially given their huge size and integration within the regional financial system.

Diamond Bank Introduces Scheme to Empower SMEs Diamond Bank Plc has announced its launch of SMEZONE- a digital platform-based business community for small and medium-scale enterprises (SME) in the country. This is to enable them easily access relevant, network and be mentored with and by other entrepreneurs, attend webinars, receive newsletters and participate in competitions that ultimately help position their business for greater success.

Commenting on the innovation, Head, Corporate Communications, Diamond Bank Plc, Chioma Afe, was quoted in a statement to have said: “The essence of developing this digital business platform

is to give our esteemed SME customers an advantage in the competitive of business world that is accessible anywhere and anytime. “It is vital that this integral sector of the economy gets all the support it needs to drive growth and development. “Digital platforms are widely acknowledged as powerful tools for fully enhancing business possibilities as they open a world of opportunities to customers and vice versa irrespective or location.� Chioma noted that Diamond Bank has been at the forefront of innovation within the SME space in Nigerian.

She listed some of the innovations by the bank to include the introduction of financial advisory

packages such as monthly seminars, workshops, business clinics and trainings in partnership with reputable knowledge hub online platforms, educational institutions and SME business development consultants.

Recently, Diamond Bank recorded a landmark figure in the value of funds disbursement of over N1 billion to small business owners under the cash flow-based SME lending scheme in partnership with the Women’s World Banking (WWB), and this has earned the leading financial institution ranked among the first five SME customer bank in Nigeria in the KPMG customer service survey 2018.

AG Mortgage Bank Delivers Housing Units to Subscribers The AG Mortgage Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s foremost Primary Mortgage Banks, has enabled no fewer than 89 subscribers in Enugu to become home owners under the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme designed to promote home ownership across the country.

The keys to the houses, according to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, AG Mortgage Bank Plc, Mr. Ngozi Anyogu, were delivered to the home owners recently in Enugu at an elaborate ceremony.

Anyogu, was quoted in a statement to have said the houses were developed by the COPEN group,

a property development company with projects across the country. “All the houses are within the Jedidiah Gardens Enugu which provides a good ambience for home owners. AG Mortgage Bank is an active operator of the NHF Scheme, and has disbursed in excess of N3 billion to over 390 NHF beneficiaries� he said.

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™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

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™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

The price of OPEC basket of ďŹ fteen crudes stood at $76.05 a barrel on Friday, compared with $76.46 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), Djeno (Congo), 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 ˾ SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

MARKET NEWS

LASACO Assurance to Issue 40bn Shares for Fresh Capital Goddy Egene The Board of Directors of LASACO Assurance Plc is seeking the approval of shareholders to raise additional capital by issuing of 40 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each by way of public offering, private placement or prefer shares.

Although the offer price was not stated, the directors want to get the approval at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM)

slated for October 10, 2018 in Lagos. The capital injection is apparently in response to the new capital mandate given to all insurance firms by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

NAICOM in July announced a tier-based the risk capitalisation requirements for life, non-life and composite insurance firms have had their capital base divided. Each of the category has three tiers.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Life insurance firms now have three capitalisation tiers. Tier one companies will be required to have N6 billion as capital. Tier two life insurance firms will be required to have N3 billion, while tier 3 firms will maintain the current requirements of N2 billion.

Tier one of non-life firms are to have a capital base of N9 billion.

Tier two N4.5 billion, while tier 3 firms will maintain the current capital base of N3 billion. For tier 1 composite insurance firms,

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

they will need capital base of N15 billion. Tier two firms N7.5 billion, while tier 3 is N5 billion.

LASACO Assurance is a composite firm and the directors did not state the price to be used for proposed 40 billion shares offer. However, if the company decides to issue the shares at its par value price of 50 kobo, it will realise about N20 billion. But if it decides to make the offer at its current market price, the amount to the raised

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

would be lower. For instance, the stock closed at 32 kobo per share yesterday, meaning that should be shares be sold at that price, LASACO Assurance Plc will realise at N12.8 billion.

As at the December 31, 2017, the firm’s shareholders’ funds stood at N8.156 billion.

The company ended 2017 with profit after tax of N661.878 million, down by 30 per cent from N944.461 million. It paid a dividend of four kobo per share.

O F

Meanwhile, the bearish trend at the stock market continued in the new week as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) fell 0.39 per cent to close at 32,327.59.

The depreciation recorded in the share prices of companies such as GTBank, UBA, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries and UAC of Nigeria were mainly responsible for the decline recorded by the index.

1 7 / 0 9 / 2 0 1 8 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

32

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Local Bourse Pares Gains͙ ASI down 0.4%

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;Ϯϰ͘ϬŵͿ͕ GUARANTY ;Ϯϯ͘ϳŵͿ͕ SKYEBANK ;ϭϱ͘ϬŵͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ͘

Oil & Gas Index Emerges Lone Gainer

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; ÍšÎ&#x20AC;Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚͜

MARKET NEWS

IST Chairman Restates Commitment to Early Resolution of Capital Market Disputes Goddy Egene Chairman of the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST), Siaka Isaiah Idoko-Akoh has restated the tribunalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to early resolution of disputes arising from capital transactions to further enhance investor confidence in the market.

The IST is a dedicated, specialised fast-track civil court established by the federal government pursuant to Section 274 of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007,

for the resolution of disputes arising from investments and securities transactions.

Speaking at a two-day sensitisation workshop for capital market stakeholders, legal practitioners and investors in Lagos, Idoko-Akoh said emerging markets could only fully achieve their potential in an atmosphere of an entrenched adjudicatory framework that makes for certainty and predictability in the resolution of disputes.

According to him, the IST as a specialised court for the Nigerian

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 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sharesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the

capital market is the first of its kind in Africa is similarly to the Financial Services Market Tribunal of United Kingdom; Market Misconduct Tribunal of Hong Kong and Securities Appellate Tribunal of India. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The IST is no doubt strategically placed to meet this expectation with a view to boosting and maintaining investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; confidence in the market. The Tribunal was established as a part of the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key reform initiative for the financial sector

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 1409-2018, unless otherwise stated.

of the economy,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He explained that ISTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision, which is to be a world class capital market tribunal that is fair and transparent, dispensing justice without fear or favour, is in tandem with its overriding objective to deal with cases fairly, justly and to provide reliable, informed, expedient, flexible and affordable dispute settlement mechanism for investors, public companies, capital market operators, self-regulatory organisations and other market participants.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Also, in line with its mission statement, the Tribunalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proceedings accord litigants a more relaxed merit-based dispute resolution platform that is flexible and transparent and devoid of the usual technicalities prevalent in the regular courts,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He disclosed that some of the common features of the tribunal are user friendly rules and procedure, expertise of its membership, alternative dispute resolution, automated proceedings, unique case management, ease of access, affordability and flexibility.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The impact of the tribunal on the Nigerian capital market is felt in many areas. Apart from enriching capital market jurisprudence, the several decisions and pronouncements of the Tribunal have positively affected policies, programmes and reforms in the market. In all, the Tribunal has been able to build a unique jurisprudence for our capital market and through a long line of decided cases set the necessary benchmarks for capital market operations,â&#x20AC;? the IST boss said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.82 0.83 -0.22% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 5.20% 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 12.27% 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 132.39 133.34 -12.72% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.07% 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 10.65% Paramount Equity Fund 11.50 11.79 3.70% Women's Investment Fund 100.71 103.29 0.08% 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 12.02% 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 N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 11.69% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.07% 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 1,184.72 1,185.48 9.58% FBN Heritage Fund 138.04 138.95 0.66% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.18% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 114.32 114.74 3.69% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 113.94 114.32 3.47% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 150.95 152.06 -5.76% 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 1.20 1.22 -6.99% Legacy Debt Fund 3.14 3.14 8.88% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.00 1.00 1.08% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,952.61 2,979.87 -1.13% Coral Income Fund 2,706.78 2,706.78 10.58% 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 11.83% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 102.44 104.13 2.82% 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 12.10% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.08 2.09 -1.65% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.18%

Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 121.32 121.58 5.43% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@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 1.18 1.20 2.95% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,082.13 1,082.13 9.62% 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 11.19 11.28 -13.57% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.75% 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 1.30 1.32 8.84% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.80 11.85 6.86% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.76% 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 127.12 127.58 -1.98% 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 1.64 1.64 10.72% 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 2,266.46 2,251.43 2.51% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 183.67 183.67 5.51% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.94 0.95 -6.44% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 241.32 241.36 11.85% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 162.14 163.96 -9.47% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.59% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,498.19 8,599.49 -10.65% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.09 1.09 5.42% 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 1.17 1.17 -1.59% United Capital Bond Fund 1.54 1.54 7.66% United Capital Equity Fund 0.72 0.73 -5.07% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.54% United Capital Eurobond Fund 104.92 104.92 4.88% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.07 2.64% 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 11.12 11.29 -9.65% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.26 12.38 -6.11% Zenith Income Fund 20.22 20.22 6.89% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.63%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 138.09 51.55

1.01% 4.25% 1.42%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.70 118.25 91.09

10.80 120.77 92.81

-9.72% -17.21% -16.61%

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 GrifďŹ n 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

SPECIALIST FUNDS*

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.78 7.47 14.82 15.10 140.90

3.82 7.55 14.92 15.30 142.90

-20.12% -21.88% -15.12% -23.12% 4.90%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

105.44

17.63%

FOR HNI & PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS ONLY

Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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 managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and FMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͶË&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

34

UTILIZATION OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE AS AT 14TH OF SEPTEMBER 2018 S/N

CUSTOMERS

AMOUNT (US$)

PURPOSE

RATE

DATE

S/N

CUSTOMERS

AMOUNT (US$)

PURPOSE

RATE

DATE

S/N

CUSTOMERS

AMOUNT (US$)

PURPOSE

RATE

DATE

1

HARUNA A. RAWAYAU

4,475.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

176

EWENIKE C. EMMANUEL

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

353

AJAYI ABOSEDE OLUKEMI

2,586.20

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

2

OLAOYE R. OLAYIWOLA

1,820.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

177

UGBO K. KALU

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

354

SITU YETUNDE IBIDAPO

1,293.10

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

3

BABATUNDE O. EMMANUEL

4

ODESANMI KOLA

5

AMOS A. AKINTUNDE

6

FASAKIN AYODELE

7,242.09

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

1,890.50

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

11,671.17

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

6,521.72

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

7

DAVOU JULIUS DUNG

2,601.33

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

8

LONGJOHN O. TONYE

6,128.74

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

9

AGGREY M. OFIE

9,000.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

10

MBAERI M. NNAMDI

6,998.57

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

11

AFE FARM AND POULTRY LTD

7,796.40

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

10-Sep-18

12

UVIEGHARA E. EGHERUN

100.00

PTA

358.00

10-Sep-18

13

FOLARIN OLAKUNLE JOHN

2,000.00

PTA

359.00

10-Sep-18

14

OSUNKOJO O. ADENIKE

2,000.00

PTA

359.00

10-Sep-18

15

AZEEZ B. ADISA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

10-Sep-18

16

SUBULOYE J. OLUGBENGA

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

10-Sep-18

17

SHITTU O. SHERIFAT

3,883.20

PTA

359.00

10-Sep-18

18

ODOGUN S. ERIEYOVWE

518.64

PTA

359.00

10-Sep-18

19

SMITH K. OLAJIDE

3,889.81

PTA

359.00

10-Sep-18

20

SARUMI H. TAIWO

649.69

PTA

359.00

10-Sep-18

259.88

PTA

21

UVIEGHARA E. EGHERUN

359.00

10-Sep-18

22

CBN

141,922.96

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

10-Sep-18

23

CBN

88,256.99

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

10-Sep-18

24

PLUTO INDUSTRIES LTD

65,340.00

LD MOBIL

363.50

10-Sep-18

25

AFRICAN NON-FERRORUS

26

AFRICAN REFRACTORY & ALLIED

27

MITSULIFT NIG LTD

28

RINGARDAS NIG

29

METRA IMPEX LTD

30

CBN

31

1,500,000.00

LOAN REPAYMENT

363.40

10-Sep-18

499,990.00

LOAN REPAYMENT

363.40

10-Sep-18

12,650.00

DELFAR ELEVATOR

363.80

10-Sep-18

100,000.00 8,890.00 172,734.83

BITUMEN

306.15

10-Sep-18

REFRIGERANT GAS

363.50

10-Sep-18

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

11-Sep-18

CBN

2,685.28

32

CBN

103,219.26

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

11-Sep-18

33

CBN

2,460.78

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

11-Sep-18

34

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

11-Sep-18

MUDASHIR I. ADEOLA

1,200.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

35

ETUMAH OSEBHAHEME

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

36

UZOMA E. JOE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

37

EZEOLISAH P. UGONNA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

38

ADEOSUN LUCKY KOREDE

1,500.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

39

AKANDE OLANREWAJU AZEEZ

1,500.97

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

40

OGUNMILOYE O. ADEREMI

1,104.48

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

41

OPEYEMI O. ADE

3,378.41

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

42

OMOLOLA O LAWAL

5,900.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

43

NJOKU LINUS CHINENYE

6,015.02

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

44

AJAYI MOJISOLA ZAINAB

3,000.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

45

OMO-EGBEKUSE KEN

4,345.14

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

46

EJINYERE GODWIN

5,936.72

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

47

SENATOR R. LADOJA

7,516.64

ACCOMMODATION FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

48

OLUSEGUN ERUJA

9,546.52

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

49

SYSTEM DYNAMICS NIG. LTD

6,048.21

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

50

ISRAEL O OWATE

5,878.80

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

51

EVAREST O OKWARA

11,171.46

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

52

AMTRONIC INVESTMENTS LTD

4,352.60

INDUSTRIAL AIR COMPRESSOR

306.50

11-Sep-18

53

AMTRONIC INVESTMENTS LTD

31.61

INDUSTRIAL AIR COMPRESSOR

306.15

11-Sep-18

54

AMTRONIC INVESTMENTS LTD

603.38

INDUSTRIAL AIR COMPRESSOR

306.70

11-Sep-18

55

AMTRONIC INVESTMENTS LTD

20,000.00

MASKING TAPE

306.25

11-Sep-18

56

AMTRONIC INVESTMENTS LTD

20,000.00

MASKING TAPE

306.55

11-Sep-18

57

AMTRONIC INVESTMENTS LTD

571.14

MASKING TAPE

306.15

11-Sep-18

58

AMTRONIC INVESTMENTS LTD

19,396.62

VACUUM FLASK

306.70

11-Sep-18

59

AMTRONIC INVESTMENTS LTD

59,397.25

VACUUM FLASK

306.15

11-Sep-18

WHIRLPOOL FRIDGE

363.50

11-Sep-18

61

CROWN FLOUR MILLS

FEEDS STORAGE MACHINERY

363.50

11-Sep-18

62

60

OTUBANJO OLUMUYIWA

2,500.00

PTA

357.45

11-Sep-18

63

EDEKOBI CHUMA TONY

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

64

MERRY AVAITION

EZEILO EMEKA CHIMEZIE

10,718.00 348,204.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

65

ONYENSO JUDE NNAMDI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

66

OGBE J. OGOCHUKWU

2,000.00

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

67

OLADIMEJI V OLOLADE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

68

ISHAQ M. SANI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

69

IRUSOTA ISI ANGELA

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

70

ONYEMA, CHUKWUDI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

71

NGWU M. KANU

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

72

NGWU M. ELEWECHI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

ANGAYE SALO GESIYE

4,000.00

73

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

74

EDITH O. BAMTEFA

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

75

EKEH ELIAS BAMIDELE

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

76

GBEMUDU K. NKEM

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

77

VIVIAN IFEANYI UDUAFEMEH

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

UFOMBA A. EZENWANYI

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

79

HARRY I. BATEYIM

3,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

80

78

AGANMWONYI STEPHANIE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

81

ENWEMADU C. ROSEMARY

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

82

BAZUAYE I. ADAOBI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

83

EHI O BAZUAYE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

84

AGATHA ZARA JIKA

300.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

85

ELAKHAME M. ABDULKADIRI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

86

MOHAMMED B. BATURE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

87

TONYE A. EGBUCHULAM

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

OGOLO CHINYERE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

89

IMAGHODOR H. OSA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

90

88

NWAYOR E. AKALAKA

3,100.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

91

ABAFI A. MAWO

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

UDOH V. TOMMY

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

OLUBUKOLA DARE

3,943.96

PTA

360.00

179

OGWUEGBU S. IFEOMA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

356

OKOKHERE K. EROMONSELE

3,879.30

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

180

178

NWIGWE SAMUEL NGOZI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

357

SAMUEL B. OBANIYI

2,264.33

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

181

EMELI I. CLEMENTINA

5,000.00

OTU UWEM ROBERT

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

359

IMARHIAGBE E. DAVID

3,946.40

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

CHIME U. JUDITH

3,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

360

ADEBAYO O. ABOLADE

3,999.70

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

184

OKUNOLA T. OMOLADUN

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

361

RUFAI BASHIR OLAIDE BOLA

1,944.75

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

ORIKOHA URE JOY

1,250.00

OMOBOLAJI A. OLALEKAN

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

363

AYINLA AFOLABI

OGUNSIJI Y. BIDEMI

300.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

364

AJEYALEMI DUROJAIYE A

3,600.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

362

TONYE OJU

186

SAMSON P. GANG

11-Sep-18

358

187 188

359.00

11-Sep-18

365

KUJORE O. KOLAWOLE

AJEYALEMI KOFOWOROLA

4,916.82

2,722.65

BTA

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

182

PTA

359.00

355

183

185

BTA

11-Sep-18

360.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

648.25

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

3,889.50

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

1,944.75

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

189

BUNMI AKINREMI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

366

OKUNOLA EMILY OLUDAYO

1,102.03

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

190

AYE YENEAPRE APREMU

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

367

ADEGBORO ISAAC OMOWALE

3,979.90

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

191

IDRIS A. ABDULLAH

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

368

AGBONIFO E. ESEOGHENE

960.89

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

192

ADEDEJI O. ABIOLA

2,500.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

369

NWOGU C. NNENNA

3,248.50

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

193

ONYEMENAM CHIDERA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

370

MAUREEN CHINASA UGWU

3,248.50

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

HARRY ENOH EKUJEGBE

3,963.17

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

195

ONWUBU, CHRISTY OGECHI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

372

USMAN RABI JUMAI

1,949.85

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

196

194

NKWOJI JOSEPH A

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

373

AKUDORO P. NWACHUKWU

3,977.69

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

197

SOBOWALE A OLAKITAN

649.95

PTA

360.00

1,300.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

375

OMOSIGHO S. EWANSIHA

1,303.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

376

ANAMEKWE C. KELECHI

3,909.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

MUNIS FRANCIS ADEBAYO

3,909.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

KUBURAT ORITOKE SALAMI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

378

ABARAONYE, JUDITH

1,563.60

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

OBANIYI O. OLUSOLA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

379

AKANDE B. BOSEDE

4,962.04

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

203

JIMOH A. SULAIMON AMADU I. AYODEJI SULAIMAN D MAHMUD

206

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

377

UYOH A. ABIJAH

201

204

11-Sep-18

374

202

205

359.00

11-Sep-18

371

NIYI-DARE A. MOPELOLA

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

OTUBANJO A. ADEBANKE

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

198

OKHANI C. OSIVUE

3,500.00

PTA

199 200

OGUNSAKIN ABIODUN

2,000.00

380

AKINADE A. ADEBAYO

1,307.90

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

500.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

381

THERESA ADUK HENSHAW

3,923.70

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

382

OKEBUKOLA F. OLUTOYIN

1,307.90

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

AGIDI SAM OJII

4,000.00

OYINDAMOLA OYEDUNTAN

2,615.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

207

SHIRLEY K IBOR

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

384

OMOLARA OLANREWAJU

3,923.70

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

208

EJA UDEME EFEM

4,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

385

UYOH AMERICA ABIJAH

1,309.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

700.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

209

OPANUGA O. OLURANTI

210

ADENIYI-FALEYE ADEDOYIN

211

ADIELE G. CHIDIADI

212

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

383

386

OBI GABRIEL EMEKA

3,994.89

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

387

OKEOWO OLUSEGUN AKANNI

2,619.60

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

600.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

388

OQUA DOROTHY AFFIONG

2,880.46

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

ADEOLA I. MUDASHIR

1,200.00

359.00

11-Sep-18

213

ANYANWU J. OYIBONANU

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

390

ONUH A. CHUKWUDI

1,969.95

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

214

NWIGWE C. IROGHAMA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

391

BIOBELE-GEORGEWILL FUNMILAYO

4,204.48

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

215

ETUMAH OSEBHAHEME

4,000.00

PTA

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

389

392

NMA JOAN OKWUOSA

LOTANNA UZOKA CHINWE

1,050.64

3,994.26

PTA

PTA

360.00

360.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

216

NORMAN OLUFUNMILAYO

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

393

OSAYOGIE WILLIAM IGBINIDU

3,288.75

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

217

ZAID IYIOLA MOYINOLUWA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

394

ONWU UCHENNA IJEOMA

3,960.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

AZUKA OGBOLUMANI

2,000.00

PTA

359.00

219

LEGBO JOY FATIMA

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

396

DARAMOLA B. JANET

3,999.60

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

220

218

AKINLA F. OLAMIDE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

397

ETIM OFFIONG MARGARET

3,960.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

221

IRIAH E. AKHABWE

3,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

395

398

BILLY MAMI

OKOROAFOR EBENEZER

4,620.00

3,971.10

BTA

PTA

360.00

360.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

222

KUTI BOLAJI CHIEF

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

399

IRUSOTA ISI ANGELA

2,647.40

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

223

AZOZIE J. ELOCHUKWU

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

400

CHUKWU J. UWA

1,588.44

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

NNADI CHIFON

4,000.00

AGANMWONYI ANTHONY

3,997.57

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

225

OBAROGIE IGBINEREDIAUWA

2,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

402

AGATHA ZARA JIKA

1,323.70

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

226

224

OKON BERTHA MARY

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

403

AKEEM OLADEJI GANIYU

3,990.36

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

227

IHEANACHO C. CORNELIUS

5,000.00

PTA

BTA

359.00

360.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

401

404

OTUBO P. NDIDIAMAKA

967.76

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

228

AKPOKABAYE C. OGHABARE

5,000.00

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

405

VICTOR B ADEWUMI

2,652.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

229

AREMU-ADEBIYI MUNIRAT

4,000.00

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

406

UGBEBOR OLUWATOSIN

3,978.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

ANYAMELUHOR A. UCHE

3,315.00

PTA

360.00

231

ALI SALISU MUHAMMED

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

408

IDAHOSA MAIRO

3,978.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

232

230

UGWUECHE O. ROBINSON

5,000.00

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

409

ONWU ONYEDI EDWARD

3,978.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

233

OVENSERI E. UWADIAE

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

407

GRILLO B. LUCKMAN

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

234

SHEHU UMAR MUBARAK

4,000.00

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

411

EMEKA AGUOCHA

235

AUDU LAMU

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

412

OWOYEMI SALAMI TAOFIK

236

MUHAMMAD KABIR JARMA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

410

413

ADEDAMOLA A. BAMTEFA

ABAYOMI N. BOSEDE

11-Sep-18

4,999.02

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

530.40

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

3,907.28

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

3,973.50

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

237

KADIRI JAAFAR

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

414

INKO- TARIAH EBITENYE D.E

3,985.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

238

GBADEYANKA M. ADEWALE

3,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

415

LIADI WOSILAT BOLAJOKO

3,985.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

239

RACHEAL U. OGONNAYA

240

EDWARD E. ONYINYECHI

241

OJO P. PASTOR

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

5,000.00

350.00

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

417

AKEEM OLANIYI APONMADE

3,975.90

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

800.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

418

416

HASSAN HUSSAINI ISHAYA

LIADI AYOKU

3,978.60

3,985.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

242

OSIEGBU ESONAJOR

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

419

RAJI ADEBUSOLA HALIMAT

3,996.38

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

243

NWOKEDI, FELIX CHIEMEZIE

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

420

OKODUWA AUGUSTINE

4,928.03

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

244

OGUNLOLA O. OLUYEMISI

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

421

JOAN ENABULELE

2,663.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

245

OKAKA O. WILSON

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

422

NSONWU GEORGE OSITA

3,995.70

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

246

BARTHOLOMEW I OKEKE

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

423

OBIANUJU T. NDUKAEZE

3,995.70

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

247

LAWSON-WOKOMA ADOKIYE

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

424

NNOGO C. CHINEDU

3,995.70

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

AJAYI OLUSEGUN

3,321.50

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

996.75

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

3,987.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

248

ZEKERI B. MOHAMMED

1,350.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

425

249

ANYANWU KELECHI

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

426

UGOCHUKWU T. KINGSLEY

250

OSENI OLUFUNLAYO

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

427

AHMADU AMINATU

251

TAOFEEQ K. OLATINWO

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

428

NWANEKEZIE VALENTINE

3,990.90

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

252

YUSUF SANI

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

429

NWANEKEZIE NKECHI

3,990.90

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

253

GBORHOHWO ESEOGHENE

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

430

AHMADU M AWOH

3,991.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

EYITAYO S. ADEGBOYEGA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

255

PROF. ORAKWE JIDEOFOR C

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

432

ODUSOTE TEMITAYO

2,528.14

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

256

254

IFETA IGHUESIRI MARIA

1,400.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

433

BOBBOI A. UMMUKHAIRI

3,992.10

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

BOBBOI A. RABIATU

3,992.10

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

257

360.00

11-Sep-18

FOWODE OLUSEYE ADEGOKE

4,000.00

KATE IFEYINWA IJOGI

1,200.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

435

BOBBOI A. ABUBAKAR

3,992.10

PTA

360.00

1,200.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

436

BOBBOI A. ABUBAKAR

3,992.10

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

260

AKPOYOWARE M. OGHENE

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

437

IYONAWAN JEFFERY

3,725.96

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

SABO MARYAM NWAFORNSO JEROME OKORIE L. NONYE

264

4,000.00

PTA

NDUKWU DAMIAN KELECHI

3,067.05

50.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

439

OGBUOGEBE E. CHARLES

1,666.88

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

2,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

440

OJO K. OLUBUKOLA

307.26

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

438

441

PTA

FALOUGHI A. OLABISI

2,696.20

EZENWA L. JOSEPH

5,000.00

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

442

EDEMA M. OGHENENIEROWOME

2,292.11

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

ODUMA C. TEMPLE

1,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

443

ANGO VICTORIA

2,699.20

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

947.31

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

KIRIDI EBIZIMOR ALEX

1,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

92

AKPAN I. DAVID

500.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

268

SANI RABIU

5,000.00

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

445

ELIZABETH OTI EDEN

2,571.27

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

93

IGBOYI IBERI JANET

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

269

ABANA N. NKECHINYELU

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

446

OVIE UBOGU

2,443.32

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

PTA

94

TARWA BENJAMIN PRINCE

359.00

11-Sep-18

265

444

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

266 267

EZENWA N. EMMANUEL

360.00

434

PTA

OYETADE O. AKINYELE

261

11-Sep-18

3,991.80

258

262

360.00

SAIKI GLORIA OFUJE

259

263

PTA

431

11-Sep-18

ANABRABA D. ANDREW

2,200.00

359.00

11-Sep-18

95

MOHAMMED B. MOTUNRAYO

1,200.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

271

EMENIKE W. NZUBE

2,200.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

448

SANUSI IDIAT YEMISI

3,937.91

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

96

ADIELE J. EZIUCHE

3,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

272

OKODUWA M. IGBERAESE

1,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

449

EGUVWEBERE J. EVUARHERHE

2,715.80

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

97

ANYADIKE C. PERPETUA

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

270

OKECHUKWU J. NDUKWU

1,300.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

447

BRISIBE OSUSULUWA

142.53

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

273

SANUSI BOLANLE K.

3,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

450

KWENTOA VICTOR GREAT

4,989.92

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

98

OBANOR E. MABEL

2,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

274

IRORERE F. ADESUWA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

451

TAIWO ADEWALE ADENIYI

3,038.20

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

99

NTIA U. KOKOETE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

275

ANAELE ALEX O

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

452

OMOLEWA TITUS

8,532.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

100

OKAFOR F. UZOCHUKWU

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

276

LAMEED WAHEED

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

453

SONEYE ALABI

3,188.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

101

GAB-OPADOKUN OLUFUNKE

3,500.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

277

AKONOBI I. ALEXANDER

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

454

CHIKEZIE NNENNA JULIET

2,787.02

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

359.00

102

EZENWA CHIOMA JOSEPHINE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

AKONOBI R. CHIAMAKA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

5,507.52

SCHOOL FEES

103

ODIEDI O. ADEIZA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

279

ADIO TAYO RASHEED

3,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

456

OYESEGUN ADISA RASAAQ

5,940.39

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

104

ADEKOYA A. DAVID

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

280

AIGBE DORIS EZEGBEBE

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

457

SYSTEM DYNAMICS NIG. LTD

15,000.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

105

EKPENYONG ARIT

3,600.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

281

AIGBE VICTOR

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

458

BABATUNDE S. FOLASHADE

4,000.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

106

OSHINOWO OLUSEGUN

107

MBASO H. SOMTOCHUKWU

108

FLORA O. DAVID-OGAH

109

OYINDAMOLA OYEDUNTAN

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

278

282

ENA-ISIAVWE IMUETINYAN

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

455

459

MADUAGNU CONRAD

WISU DIDIA MICHEAL

11-Sep-18

283

OKONOWELE COLUMBUS

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

460

AGGREY M. OFIE

1,291.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

284

UCHE S ASIANUBA

3,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

461

MR & MRS A. AYEGBA

5,150.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

1,300.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

285

OZIGBU MARY NGOZI

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

462

ABE SOLOMON

ETUK UDOFOT TOM

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

286

IKPONMWEN E. OSAWARU

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

463

ANENE ADETOUN

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

287

SALOME H. GARBA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

464

AMOO KAREEM GANIYU

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

288

ANAEKWE CHIDI S

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

465

BABATUNDE S. FOLASHADE

113

CHIDINMA UKELONU

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

289

ETUKUDOH NKEREUWEN S

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

466

TUMBEE FELIX

114

UKELONU C. EHIOKIKA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

290

SOLIU ABASS GBADEBO

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

467

BOLA ADEMOLA SAMUEL

NWAGWU J. ACHUNIKE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

291

PROF CHIDI F. EZEAMA

600.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

468

SYSTEM DYNAMICS NIG. LIMITED

1,839.71

SCHOOL FEES

12,097.46

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

3,032.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

4,000.00

SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

8,271.67

PRINCE M. MOMOH

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

292

WILLIAMS HENRIETTA M

2,750.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

469

UNUIGBOJE RITA

14,261.50

DOHERTY OLUWABUKOLA S

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

293

OGHENE E. BARBARA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

470

UNUIGBOJE RITA

5,186.00

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

12-Sep-18

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

295

SHNAYDER T. OLUWAKEMI

5,000.00

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

472

CBN

134,870.09

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

12-Sep-18

3,200.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

296

OKON MARY BERTHA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

473

HAIR PRESTIGE

112,700.00

SYNTHETIC FILAMENT TOW

363.50

12-Sep-18

359.00

11-Sep-18

297

OKON EFFIONG UDOFIA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

360.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

471

474

CBN

EMBASSY OF PHILIPPINES

189,482.23

11-Sep-18 11-Sep-18

EJIOGU JUDE

PTA

PTA

359.00 359.00

ADEYIMIKA O FADINA

4,000.00

4,000.00

11-Sep-18

SCHOOL FEES UPKEEP

119

FADINA O ADEJOKE

EZIE JOSEPH ANAYO

359.00

11-Sep-18

120 121

294

ACCOMMODATION FEES

359.00

11-Sep-18

1,735.65

116

EMMANUEL E. IYOHO

359.00

13,613.25

117 118

11-Sep-18

359.00 359.00

ETUK UDOFOT TOM

115

359.00

PTA PTA

110

EVARISTUS C MOGBO

SCHOOL FEES

200.00 4,000.00

111 112

11,162.00

11-Sep-18

65,739.42

EXPEDITE VISA FEES JAN 16 - JUN 17

363.80

12-Sep-18

122

UGOCHUKWU ONYEMA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

298

TUNJI-AKINWANDE OLAJUMOKE

1,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

475

CBN

144,035.60

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

13-Sep-18

123

UGOCHUCHU JOYCE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

299

OGUNMWONYI IKPONMWOSA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

476

CBN

83,902.22

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

13-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

BELLO SHEHU TIJANI

3,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

ADAORA FLORIDA UZOEFUNA

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

AKANO R. NNEKA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

125

DEBORAH D. GANGAS

3,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

301

ERHIANO O. OVOKEROYE

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

478

UDOYE OKWY BERNARD

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

126

ABOSEDE E IBITOKUN

3,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

302

BAMGBOSE O. OLUYEMISI

4,000.00

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

479

OTUSESO E. FOLASADE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

AZINGE FLORA NGOZI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

124

300

570.40

PTA

359.00

OKEGBENRO NOFISAT

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

128

DABIRI OLUSOLA

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

304

ADEBAYO AJIBIKE SILIFAT

3,945.77

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

481

TIZHE NUHU ANNA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

ADABA J. EMILEKEUAN

1,100.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

305

ONYEJEKWE E. UCHENNA

2,287.40

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

482

UVIEGHARA E. EGHERUN

100.00

PTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

480

801.43

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

SULAIMAN A. JIMOH

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

FALADE O. JUMOKE

3,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

307

ADEWOLE TEMITOPE

1,725.75

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

484

TINUALA A. JACOB

1,155.29

PTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

UBEH A. GRACE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

308

ODEY-ACHU ALICE IDAGU

3,916.46

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

485

BELLO AYODEJI MUNIRU

3,927.99

PTA

359.00

133

EWUZIE E. BIBIANA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

309

OLUSEYE A. ADESINA

2,309.20

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

486

ALUMONA FELIX OKEYE

2,592.98

PTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

134

MOROYEI L. BOUFINI

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

310

CHUKWUDEBELU CHINYERE

3,984.06

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

487

OJO A. MORAKINYO

2,592.98

PTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

IGBINEDION J. OSHIEGBU

1,500.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

BELLO F. MOTOMORI

3,928.02

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

441.79

PTA

359.00

136

SARAH I. OGIEFA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

312

AJUH OLUCHI NORA

1,388.64

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

489

OSAZE-UZZI IWAEYE

3,995.62

PTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

JUDE O. CHIEMEKA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

313

MMEZI LIVINA CHINAKA

3,471.60

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

490

OSAZE-UZZI T. OSAMUYIMEN

3,995.62

PTA

359.00

13-Sep-18

138

OLUGBOYEGA ISIJOLA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

314

DOUGLAS IBIFAA ISEYE

3,999.16

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

488

491

OLAJIDE-TAIWO

13-Sep-18

137

135

311

483

13-Sep-18

131

KEVIN O JEGEDE

PRINCESS IREDE ABUMERE

11-Sep-18

132

130

306

BETIKU O. TIMOTHY

13-Sep-18

129

127

303

477

OLAJIDE-TAIWO

139

MADUKA JOEL

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

315

OMO-OSAGIE HELEN

1,157.50

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

492

OLULAJA MOJOLAOLUWA

140

OJO T. HENRIETTA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

316

OMOREGIE J. EHI

2,325.40

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

493

OLADAPO O. OLADEJI

ALUYOR E. OSIKHUEMEH

3,952.84

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

OLAIFA FUNMILOLA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

318

NWENEKANMA C. OWHONDA

3,957.94

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

495

EYITAYO ADEJOKE

7,642.04

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

13-Sep-18

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

319

EFFIONG E. NKAMENYIN

1,398.12

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

496

ENEH KINGSLEY UCHENNA

9,382.80

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

13-Sep-18

144

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

AKPAN G. SAMPSON

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

145

MORGAN EVANS I

3,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

146

ANYAEGBU IKECHUKWU

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

147

ADEWUYI O. ESTHER

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

148

JUMBO AMINIA ELVIS

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

149

OGBE F. GARBA

2,800.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

150

OYAFUNKE O. FESTUS

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

151

OGUCHIENTI S. NGOZI

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

152

OGBO A. ANASTASIA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

153

UKWUOMA U. VITUS

250.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

800.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

OSIYEMI, OLUSEYI

1,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

OYEJEKWE E. UCHENNA

1,300.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

154

ESIKE G. OBORAGWONO

155

UGOWE ROSEMARY

156 157 158

AKAGHA I. ANTHONIA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

159

TITILAYO AYOADE

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

160

MELVILLE EBO

3,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

161

OSHODI O. TOYIN

1,500.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

162

UCHENDU C. JOSEPH

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

163

ANYANWU NWANYINNAYA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

164

ANYANWU C. JOY

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

165

BOLAWA E. GLADYS

2,785.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

166

EZEUMAH C. GLORIA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

167

AKINKUNMI BILQUIS

2,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

320

584.25

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

497

359.00

13-Sep-18

49,997.50

COWBELL INSTANT MILK

363.80

13-Sep-18

321

OYEWOLE O. OLUBUNMI

2,182.46

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

498

PROMASIDOR

49,940.00

COWBELL INSTANT MILK

363.80

13-Sep-18

EDET CONSOLATA

3,851.70

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

499

PROMASIDOR

48,847.50

COWBELL INSTANT MILK

363.80

13-Sep-18

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

AGENMONMEN A. IYORA

3,851.70

324

JAMAL AKINADE

3,980.09

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

501

PROMASIDOR

55,345.63

LOYA WHOLE MILK

363.80

13-Sep-18

325

URIETO J. EJODAMEN

128.54

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

502

PROMASIDOR

55,440.00

LOYA WHOLE MILK

363.80

13-Sep-18

326

CHINEDU H. NWAOGU

1,850.98

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

500

PROMASIDOR

SCHOOL FEES

322 323

ADESOMI OLUSEYI

6,922.80

13-Sep-18 13-Sep-18 13-Sep-18

OJELEDE V. ORIABURE

4,000.00

OKWONG UDOH U. SUNDAY

359.00 359.00 359.00

142

OJO A. JOSHUA

494

PTA PTA SCHOOL FEES

143

141

317

440.60 692.39 10,127.00

13-Sep-18

503

PROMASIDOR

PROMASIDOR

327

HELEN AFEKORU DUAKA

3,984.74

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

504

CSA INTERIORS COMPANY

328

MOORE ASEIMO ADUMEIN

3,997.59

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

505

ZENITH BANK

329

33,950.00

363.80

13-Sep-18

13-Sep-18

SECURITY DOORS

363.80

13-Sep-18

INTERBANK

359.30

13-Sep-18

MAKANJU V. IYABODE

2,570.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

OFFOR AMARACHI

1,416.25

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

507

CBN

86,787.12

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

14-Sep-18

IBRAHIM MOHAMMED

3,864.90

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

508

KAM INDUSTRIES NIG. LTD

50,000.00

COLD ROLLING STEEL MILL

306.95

14-Sep-18

KAM INDUSTRIES NIG. LTD

50,000.00

3,993.73

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

509

333

FAGADE O. ADEOLUWA

3,995.59

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

510

CORMART NIG. LTD

334

OKORIE G. NNENNA

3,999.46

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

511

IFINEDO A. OMISI

335

BIEWARI TONYEKIRI

5,000.93

BTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

512

EDMUND-TAMNABO JOHNSON

336

TONYEKIRI KELVIN

3,995.59

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

513

MOMOH KUBI H

337

CHIKA MADUFOR

1,418.56

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

514

MMADU F. TALATU

338

UMARU USMAN

3,868.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

515

EKANEM I. INIABASI

339

FRIEND B. OLAMUYIWA

3,998.69

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

516

ODETUNDE O. OLADIMEJI

340

OLUBUKOLA O. NGONNASE

2,579.80

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

517

ENYINDAH INDY CHINONYE

341

OTSU GREGORY

1,289.90

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

518

SHUAIBU O. SHEIDU

133,525.35

LOYA WHOLE MILK

363.80

330

PEARCE A. OLUWAYEMISI

CBN

55,440.00

1,138,000.00

LOYA WHOLE MILK

331 332

506

55,440.00

486.09 2,500.00 3,944.37

IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00

14-Sep-18

STEEL MELTING EQUIPMENTS

306.95

ISOPMDI AND ELASTOSPRAY

351.71

14-Sep-18

PTA

359.00

14-Sep-18

PTA

359.00

14-Sep-18

14-Sep-18

11,846.27

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

5,133.05

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

8,270.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

835.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

5,647.84

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

5,000.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

342

DR.[MRS] MATTI ADEKEMI

3,869.70

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

519

FOKALADE SAMUEL OLUFEMI

2,500.00

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

343

MFON EKWERE INYANG

3,870.60

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

520

ABDULKARIM H. ABUBAKAR

2,309.40

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

THERESA MFON INYANG

3,870.60

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

168

OLADAPO A. ADENIKE

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

345

AKINDELE O. KUBRAT

1,291.10

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

522

FOLAWIYO K. BASIRU

13,717.20

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

169

OVIASU EFOSA

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

346

DR. AKINTOLA ABIMBOLA

3,878.70

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

523

MOMOH KUBI H

10,581.84

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

14-Sep-18

170

ABHUERE M. OTEKPEN

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

344

FAGADE I. ADEOLUWA

3,878.70

NWALI EUPHEMIA

8,279.96

AYEBAEMI IBUTEME

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

348

OLANITORI A. AKINOLA

3,878.70

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

525

AUSTIN & ANNA AKUBOR

1,461.53

OLUBODE ELIZABETH

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

349

SAMIRAH ADE-ADEBIYI

3,998.94

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

526

TUYIL PHARMACEUTICAL IND. LTD

4,000.00

PTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

OBAGAYE OBIOMA

2,794.12

174

ILIASU IDRIS MIJINYAWA

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

351

ADELEYE AANU IBUKUN

3,995.68

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

175

SADIQ A. MIJINYAWA

5,000.00

BTA

359.00

11-Sep-18

352

MOFUNANYA CHARLES

3,879.30

PTA

360.00

11-Sep-18

www.ubagroup.com

350

360.00

524

14,501.04

171

WATSON G. ELEANOR

PTA

EHURIAH M. ADAKU

172 173

347

521

92.64

ACCOMMODATION FEES

SCHOOL FEES

359.00

359.00

14-Sep-18

14-Sep-18

LOAN REPAYMENT

363.90

14-Sep-18

WRAPPING MATERIAL

363.90

14-Sep-18

11-Sep-18

Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global bank

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

35

FOREIGN/DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS

Why Nuclear Energy Should Be Part In Brief of Africa’s Energy Mix

ICC Sentences JeanPierre Bemba Over Witness Tampering

Oluwole Olutola

A

frica has the least nuclear power of any continent in the world, with the exception of Australia where nuclear power is banned.

All the largest economies in the world have nuclear power as part of their energy mix.

Over the past decade opposition to nuclear has been growing as concerns have risen about the environmental costs in terms of radiation risks and waste management, safety concerns, delays in the construction of nuclear power plants, and the high costs involved. The issue of public acceptance is also critical.

But these concerns aren’t without solutions.

I believe there are three reasons why African countries should pursue the nuclear power option as part of their energy mix. The first is the continent’s dire energy crisis.

Secondly, Africa derives most of its energy from fossil fuels. These are finite and nonrenewable and dwindling in supply. They are also subject to price volatility.

Thirdly, nuclear energy can help countries meet targets under the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions. Nuclear can help them reach that goal because carbon emissions linked to nuclear-powered energy are relatively small. In addition, supply is reliable and

prices stable and predictable.

South Africa is the only African country that has nuclear power in its energy mix. Two nuclear reactors in Koeberg near Cape Town generate 5% of the country’s electricity. But a number of other African countries are currently pursing nuclear power.

The list includes Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and lately, Rwanda.

But African countries need to address concerns around nuclear energy. In particular, they need to allay the fear about possible nuclear accidents that continue to permeate the global atomic market.

There is research that governments can draw on that shows some of the concerns are neither peculiar to nuclear power, nor as appalling as they make them to appear.

Energy supply on the continent is critically low. There are also the challenges of lack of access, poor reliability and high costs.

A rising population, growing middle class and growing urbanisation would mean more energy is needed for domestic and industrial purposes.

Energy is also critical to the socioeconomic well-being of the majority of poor Africans and Africa’s agenda for sustainable development. Nuclear energy has the potential to mitigate these burdens

by contributing to the continent’s energy mix.

African countries currently considering nuclear power are all at different stages of policy and developing plans.

Many countries are opening up to nuclear energy industry from different parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America.

A number of countries are already talking to the Russian energy company Rosatom which is currently the biggest nuclear power player on the continent. They include Algeria, Egypt, Namibia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and, lately, Rwanda.

South Africa came close to doing a deal with the company when Jacob Zuma was president. But the deal has gone cold since Cyril Ramaphosa took over the top job.

Egypt has progressed significantly in its nuclear power plans. A site at El Dabaa has been selected. In addition an agreement has been signed with Rosatom for the construction of a nuclear power plant, with a financing deal covering 80% of the cost.

One of the biggest challenges to developing nuclear on the continent is finance. There are two possible approaches to manage this. The first includes the usual approach in terms of partnerships between major nuclear energy producing countries and prospective nuclear

users.

African countries can also aim for smaller nuclear reactors rather than the conventional (large) ones. To ease the burden of cost, constructing these smaller plants could be deployed in phases as is the case under conventional arrangements.

Another way to lessen the cost burden would be for countries to create nuclear energy partnerships.

In addition, the energy plans under the Africa-European Union Energy Partnership, which seeks to promote energy access and security in Africa and the European Union, need to be reexamined. Currently, nuclear energy as a low carbon and partly renewable energy source is not part of the AEEP 2020 energy targets.

To advance nuclear power, governments need to show strong political will and put inº place an enabling environment for nuclearpowered electricity. This would include coordinated action plans, proper safety regulations and strict adherence to international safety standards.

Both public and private resources and buy-in need to be mobilised.

And public awareness about new and up-to-date developments in nuclear energy production needs to be mobilised.

– Oluwole Olutola is a postdoctoral research fellow, African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, University of Johannesburg.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday sentenced Jean-Pierre Bemba, a former vice president and rebel leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for bribing witnesses during his war crimes trial. In a ruling on Monday, The Hague-based court handed Bemba a 12 month sentence and a 300,000 euros ($350,000) fine for tampering with witnesses in an earlier hearing over possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by fighters he sent to suppress a coup in neighbouring Central African Republic between October 2002 and 2003.

Idlib Assault on Hold as Russia, Turkey Agree on Buffer Zone

The leaders of Russia and Turkey agreed to establish a de-militarised zone in Syria’s Idlib province, in a move that ostensibly puts on hold a threatened all-out assault by government forces on Syria’s last rebel bastion, Al Jazeera reported. The announcement was made on Monday during a press conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking alongside Erdogan, Putin said the 15-20km-wide zone would be established by October 15. This would entail a “withdrawal of all radical fighters” from Idlib, including the al-Nusra Front, Putin said, referring to Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is dominated by a rebel faction previously known as al-Nusra Front before renouncing its ties to al-Qaeda.

SOURCE OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE AS AT 14TH OF SEPTEMBER 2018 S/N

SOURCE

AMOUNT (US$)

S/N

SOURCE

S/N

SOURCE

1

AUTONOMOUS

1,400.00

358.50 10-Sep-18

83

AUTONOMOUS

192.94

359.11 12-Sep-18

165

AUTONOMOUS

250.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

2

AUTONOMOUS

4,000.00

358.50 10-Sep-18

RATE DATE

84

AUTONOMOUS

AMOUNT (US$) 405.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

RATE DATE

166

AUTONOMOUS

AMOUNT (US$) 255.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

RATE DATE

3

AUTONOMOUS

135.00

358.50 10-Sep-18

85

AUTONOMOUS

1,790.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

167

AUTONOMOUS

135.00

4

AUTONOMOUS

980.00

358.50 10-Sep-18

86

AUTONOMOUS

250.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

168

AUTONOMOUS

130.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

5

AUTONOMOUS

50.00

358.50 10-Sep-18

87

AUTONOMOUS

990.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

169

AUTONOMOUS

50.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

6

AUTONOMOUS

300.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

88

AUTONOMOUS

490.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

170

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

7

AUTONOMOUS

2,800.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

89

AUTONOMOUS

2,000.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

171

AUTONOMOUS

196.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

8

AUTONOMOUS

380.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

90

AUTONOMOUS

5,480.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

172

AUTONOMOUS

5,000.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

9

AUTONOMOUS

901.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

91

AUTONOMOUS

593.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

173

AUTONOMOUS

200.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

10

AUTONOMOUS

3,000.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

92

AUTONOMOUS

340.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

174

AUTONOMOUS

505.34

11

AUTONOMOUS

200.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

93

AUTONOMOUS

33.74

359.11 12-Sep-18

175

AUTONOMOUS

200.00

12

AUTONOMOUS

1,567.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

94

AUTONOMOUS

1,450.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

176

AUTONOMOUS

1,985.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

13

AUTONOMOUS

701.78

358.40 10-Sep-18

95

AUTONOMOUS

100.03

359.11 12-Sep-18

177

AUTONOMOUS

57.24

358.40 13-Sep-18

14

AUTONOMOUS

60.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

96

AUTONOMOUS

88.22

359.11 12-Sep-18

178

AUTONOMOUS

1,808.71

358.40 13-Sep-18

15

AUTONOMOUS

2,350.69

358.40 10-Sep-18

97

AUTONOMOUS

4,000.00

359.11 12-Sep-18

179

AUTONOMOUS

400.66

358.40 13-Sep-18

16

AUTONOMOUS

1,467.50

358.40 10-Sep-18

98

AUTONOMOUS

247.14

358.70 12-Sep-18

180

AUTONOMOUS

45.79

358.40 13-Sep-18

17

AUTONOMOUS

1,690.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

99

AUTONOMOUS

412.19

358.70 12-Sep-18

181

AUTONOMOUS

400.66

358.40 13-Sep-18

18

AUTONOMOUS

20.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

100

AUTONOMOUS

259.06

358.70 12-Sep-18

182

AUTONOMOUS

343.43

358.40 13-Sep-18

19

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

101

AUTONOMOUS

3,081.13

358.70 12-Sep-18

183

AUTONOMOUS

286.19

358.40 13-Sep-18

20

AUTONOMOUS

115.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

102

AUTONOMOUS

1,151.83

358.70 12-Sep-18

184

AUTONOMOUS

217.50

358.40 13-Sep-18

21

AUTONOMOUS

200.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

103

AUTONOMOUS

840.83

358.70 12-Sep-18

185

AUTONOMOUS

801.33

358.40 13-Sep-18

22

AUTONOMOUS

162.62

358.40 10-Sep-18

104

AUTONOMOUS

2,000,000.00

363.15 12-Sep-18

186

AUTONOMOUS

821.93

358.40 13-Sep-18

23

AUTONOMOUS

344.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

105

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

187

AUTONOMOUS

29.17

358.40 13-Sep-18

24

AUTONOMOUS

830.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

106

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

188

AUTONOMOUS

4,791.99

359.37 13-Sep-18

25

AUTONOMOUS

2,280.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

107

AUTONOMOUS

5,000.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

189

AUTONOMOUS

350,700.00

362.50 13-Sep-18

26

AUTONOMOUS

66.54

358.40 10-Sep-18

108

AUTONOMOUS

790.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

190

AUTONOMOUS

4,185,049.76

363.00 13-Sep-18

27

AUTONOMOUS

105.70

358.40 10-Sep-18

109

AUTONOMOUS

2,000.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

191

AUTONOMOUS

1,138,000.00

AUTONOMOUS

292.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

192

AUTONOMOUS

173,900.00

362.00 13-Sep-18

150.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

193

AUTONOMOUS

7,300.00

361.80 13-Sep-18

358.70 13-Sep-18

358.70 13-Sep-18 358.70 13-Sep-18

358.80 13-Sep-18

28

AUTONOMOUS

1,100.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

110

29

AUTONOMOUS

245.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

111

AUTONOMOUS

30

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

112

AUTONOMOUS

52.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

194

AUTONOMOUS

2,446.00

359.14 14-Sep-18

31

AUTONOMOUS

20.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

113

AUTONOMOUS

1,755.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

195

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

359.14 14-Sep-18

32

AUTONOMOUS

5,566.38

358.25 10-Sep-18

114

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

196

AUTONOMOUS

225.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

33

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

358.40 10-Sep-18

115

AUTONOMOUS

2,170.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

197

AUTONOMOUS

710.81

359.37 14-Sep-18

34

AUTONOMOUS

255.78

358.50 10-Sep-18

116

AUTONOMOUS

50.00

359.11 13-Sep-18

198

AUTONOMOUS

320.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

35

AUTONOMOUS

140.95

358.50 10-Sep-18

117

AUTONOMOUS

600.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

199

AUTONOMOUS

300.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

36

AUTONOMOUS

55.81

358.50 10-Sep-18

118

AUTONOMOUS

1,009.94

359.14 13-Sep-18

200

AUTONOMOUS

78.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

37

AUTONOMOUS

23.02

358.50 10-Sep-18

119

AUTONOMOUS

1,492.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

201

AUTONOMOUS

2,280.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

38

AUTONOMOUS

356.89

358.50 10-Sep-18

120

AUTONOMOUS

600.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

202

AUTONOMOUS

685.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

39

AUTONOMOUS

1,122.49

358.50 10-Sep-18

121

AUTONOMOUS

26.23

359.14 13-Sep-18

203

AUTONOMOUS

110.82

359.37 14-Sep-18

40

AUTONOMOUS

230.25

358.50 10-Sep-18

122

AUTONOMOUS

127.36

359.14 13-Sep-18

204

AUTONOMOUS

17,000.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

41

AUTONOMOUS

80.59

358.50 10-Sep-18

123

AUTONOMOUS

8,490.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

205

AUTONOMOUS

211.02

359.37 14-Sep-18

42

IMTO

186,834.39

355.00 10-Sep-18

124

AUTONOMOUS

4,210.97

359.14 13-Sep-18

206

AUTONOMOUS

120.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

43

IMTO

2,396.22

355.00 10-Sep-18

125

AUTONOMOUS

490.84

359.14 13-Sep-18

207

AUTONOMOUS

199.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

44

IMTO

116,514.16

355.00 10-Sep-18

126

AUTONOMOUS

34.02

359.14 13-Sep-18

208

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

45

IMTO

1,161.82

354.78 10-Sep-18

127

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

209

AUTONOMOUS

75.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

46

AUTONOMOUS

6,000.00

360.00 10-Sep-18

128

AUTONOMOUS

1,712.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

210

AUTONOMOUS

3,900.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

47

AUTONOMOUS

266,000.00

362.50 10-Sep-18

129

AUTONOMOUS

5,300.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

211

AUTONOMOUS

559.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

48

AUTONOMOUS

107,000.00

363.00 10-Sep-18

130

AUTONOMOUS

1,423.14

359.14 13-Sep-18

212

AUTONOMOUS

80.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

49

AUTONOMOUS

90,000.00

362.50 10-Sep-18

131

AUTONOMOUS

5,755.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

213

AUTONOMOUS

990.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

50

AUTONOMOUS

17,000.00

362.00 10-Sep-18

132

AUTONOMOUS

1,990.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

214

AUTONOMOUS

2,280.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

51

CBN

3,000,000.00

357.00 10-Sep-18

133

AUTONOMOUS

135.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

215

AUTONOMOUS

160.28

359.37 14-Sep-18

52

CBN

3,000,000.00

357.00 10-Sep-18

134

AUTONOMOUS

630.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

216

AUTONOMOUS

2,280.00

359.37 14-Sep-18

53

IMTO

227,554.75

355.00 11-Sep-18

135

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

359.14 13-Sep-18

217

AUTONOMOUS

2,280.00

54

IMTO

2,758.35

355.00 11-Sep-18

136

AUTONOMOUS

1,901.90

359.11 13-Sep-18

218

AUTONOMOUS

4,522.11

359.14 14-Sep-18

55

IMTO

3,552.81

355.00 11-Sep-18

137

AUTONOMOUS

90.57

359.11 13-Sep-18

219

AUTONOMOUS

81.85

359.14 14-Sep-18

56

IMTO

27.56

355.00 11-Sep-18

138

AUTONOMOUS

258.76

359.11 13-Sep-18

220

AUTONOMOUS

55.85

359.14 14-Sep-18

57

IMTO

136,243.91

355.00 11-Sep-18

139

AUTONOMOUS

129.06

359.11 13-Sep-18

221

AUTONOMOUS

632.68

359.14 14-Sep-18

58

IMTO

1,381.77

354.80 11-Sep-18

140

AUTONOMOUS

387.18

359.11 13-Sep-18

222

AUTONOMOUS

345.10

59

IMTO

3,259.21

355.00 11-Sep-18

141

AUTONOMOUS

258.12

359.11 13-Sep-18

223

AUTONOMOUS

104.17

359.14 14-Sep-18

60

IMTO

21.83

355.43 11-Sep-18

142

AUTONOMOUS

92.04

359.11 13-Sep-18

224

AUTONOMOUS

53.14

359.14 14-Sep-18

61

AUTONOMOUS

5,000.00

358.70 11-Sep-18

143

AUTONOMOUS

379.70

359.11 13-Sep-18

225

AUTONOMOUS

150.47

62

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

358.70 11-Sep-18

144

AUTONOMOUS

1,147.50

359.11 13-Sep-18

226

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

359.14 14-Sep-18

63

AUTONOMOUS

91.50

358.70 11-Sep-18

145

AUTONOMOUS

447.53

359.11 13-Sep-18

227

AUTONOMOUS

34.65

359.37 14-Sep-18

64

AUTONOMOUS

1,400.00

358.70 11-Sep-18

146

AUTONOMOUS

344.25

359.11 13-Sep-18

228

AUTONOMOUS

3,448.79

359.37 14-Sep-18

65

AUTONOMOUS

10,000,000.00

363.00 11-Sep-18

147

AUTONOMOUS

2,261.73

359.11 13-Sep-18

229

IMTO

175,925.63

355.00 14-Sep-18

66

AUTONOMOUS

29,337.71

359.11 11-Sep-18

148

AUTONOMOUS

573.75

359.11 13-Sep-18

230

IMTO

2,108.17

355.00 14-Sep-18

67

AUTONOMOUS

42,220.06

359.11 11-Sep-18

149

IMTO

189,809.91

355.00 13-Sep-18

231

IMTO

114,588.84

355.00 14-Sep-18

68

AUTONOMOUS

9,668.86

362.00 11-Sep-18

150

IMTO

2,237.55

355.00 13-Sep-18

232

IMTO

1,127.32

354.76 14-Sep-18

69

IMTO

249,593.42

355.00 12-Sep-18

151

IMTO

110,803.85

355.00 13-Sep-18

233

AUTONOMOUS

116,300.00

362.00 14-Sep-18

70

IMTO

3,049.55

355.00 12-Sep-18

152

IMTO

1,065.77

354.82 13-Sep-18

234

AUTONOMOUS

125,000.00

362.90 14-Sep-18

71

IMTO

178,103.38

355.00 12-Sep-18

153

AUTONOMOUS

35.31

358.40 13-Sep-18

235

AUTONOMOUS

1,167,500.00

72

IMTO

1,723.41

354.74 12-Sep-18

154

AUTONOMOUS

368.50

358.70 13-Sep-18

236

AUTONOMOUS

100,000.00

362.75 14-Sep-18

73

AUTONOMOUS

1,000,000.00

363.10 12-Sep-18

155

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

237

AUTONOMOUS

49,990.00

362.75 14-Sep-18

74

AUTONOMOUS

1,000,000.00

363.10 12-Sep-18

156

AUTONOMOUS

349.48

358.70 13-Sep-18

238

AUTONOMOUS

3,471.60

362.95 14-Sep-18

75

AUTONOMOUS

900,000.00

362.90 12-Sep-18

157

AUTONOMOUS

3,300.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

239

AUTONOMOUS

100,000.00

362.50 14-Sep-18

76

AUTONOMOUS

30,000.00

362.00 12-Sep-18

158

AUTONOMOUS

2,280.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

240

AUTONOMOUS

11,200.00

362.00 14-Sep-18

77

AUTONOMOUS

103,464.00

363.00 12-Sep-18

159

AUTONOMOUS

39.51

358.70 13-Sep-18

241

AUTONOMOUS

5,000.00

360.00 14-Sep-18

78

AUTONOMOUS

120,350.00

362.80 12-Sep-18

160

AUTONOMOUS

100.44

358.70 13-Sep-18

242

AUTONOMOUS

10,000.00

359.40 14-Sep-18

79

AUTONOMOUS

157,318.24

359.14 12-Sep-18

161

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

243

AUTONOMOUS

1,913.75

359.40 14-Sep-18

80

AUTONOMOUS

145,000.00

359.14 12-Sep-18

162

AUTONOMOUS

2,200.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

244

AUTONOMOUS

42,200.00

362.00 14-Sep-18

81

AUTONOMOUS

25,000.00

359.14 12-Sep-18

163

AUTONOMOUS

520.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

82

AUTONOMOUS

75.89

359.11 12-Sep-18

164

AUTONOMOUS

195.00

358.70 13-Sep-18

www.ubagroup.com

359.37 14-Sep-18

359.14 14-Sep-18

359.14 14-Sep-18

363.10 14-Sep-18

Africa’s global bank

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

36

NEWSEXTRA

Buhari Orders Construction of Rail Infrastructure in Major Seaports Kasim Sumaina in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday hinted that his administration is committed to rebuilding infrastructure that supports multimodal means of transportation from the ports to the hinterland, even as he directed the linking of major seaports in the country to rail infrastructure.

The president stated that the current administration’s projection was that by the end of 2021, the country would have

standard gauge railway across the main North-South trading routes.

He gave the hint while declaring open the first ever conference of the African Region of the International Association for Ports and Harbours in Abuja.

According to him, “We understand that this interconnectivity will improve the country’s economic competitiveness as targeted under the Economic Recovery and Growth plan

(ERGP). So, for starters, I have directed that every port must have the complement of rail infrastructure and our projections is that by the end of 2021, we will have standard gauge railway across the main North-South trading route.

“The same level of serious attention is being given to the improvement of road infrastructure. At the moment, 25 major highways and 44 roads are under construction across the six geo political zones of the country.

“Just as we have insisted on the stimulation activities on our inland waterways, major inland river channels are being dredged with adequate channel markings for ease of navigation all the way through the Eastern and Northern parts of the country. That is the only way to go if we plan to remain competitive in the maritime industry.”

Continuing, he disclosed that it is particularly gratifying that at the time that Nigeria had the privilege of the vice presidency

of this important body that the idea of a continental conference is coming up for the first time.

He said it is a testament to the country’s commitment to the even development of the continent and its maritime industry in this particular instance.

He explained that countries in Africa are also largely connected by the same developmental challenges as well as large human capital and natural endowments, saying it behooves on the citizens to work together

and deploy their resources towards solving those issues that militate against them.

Speaking further, he said, “One of the resources that we can proudly speak about as Africans is our maritime endowments. A situation in which at least 39 of the 54 countries on the continent are either littoral or island states makes the formulation of policies for the effective utilisation of our waters for the growth of our economies expedient.

Akpabio: My Heart Was with Buhari, Court Jails Kidnapper 42 Years Not Jonathan in 2015 court six years ago on a 12-count three-count charge of kidnap, Akinwale Akintunde Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswil Akpabio, yesterday in Abuja portrayed himself as a chameleon when he disclosed that his heart was actually with President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2015 presidential election and not with his party’s candidate, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Akpabio who last month defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the disclosure after a meeting of the elders and leaders of Akwa Ibom State with President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House.

Akpabio said even though his mind and soul were not with Jonathan at the time, he was compelled to vote for him because Jonathan is from Niger Delta and he did not want to engage in anti-party activities as a PDP governor and also the

Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum at the time.

However, Akpabio said now that he has finally belonged to where his soul and spirit were in 2015, he could freely express his interest at the 2019 polls without fear or favour.

He also took a swipe at his former party, accusing it of failing to construct a single kilometre road in Akwa Ibom State in its 16 years of ruling Nigeria.

He boasted that Akwa Ibom State would be the first state to be won by the APC in the South-south at the forthcoming 2019 general election, adding that Buhari will win the state by landslide.

He described the current PDP in the state as a mere empty party whose body and soul had moved to the APC, disclosing that no fewer than 266,000 persons had also dumped the PDP for APC since his defection.

According to him, no single

indigene of South-south will vote against Buhari in 2019 neither will there be any defection from APC that can affect the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.

He said: “In 2015, we had a son of the Niger Delta, former President Goodluck Jonathan, contesting the election and I was also a chieftain of the PDP. “I was also the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum.

So, in spite of the fact that I believed strongly that the current president needed to be supported, there was no way I could play anti-party activity in 2015. So, I voted for PDP. “But today, I am at liberty to exercise my franchise and that means I am with my body and soul - that is, with my supporters and my family - and as a leader, we are going out there enmasse in our thousands to cast our votes for the president in 2019 and I am saying this with emphasis.

After six years of trial, an Ikeja High Court yesterday sentenced a kidnapper, Emeka Obasim to 42 years imprisonment for the kidnap of Jude Ugoje and Miss Piriye Ogogo.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo handed down the sentence after finding the convict guilty of three-count charge out of the 12-count charges preferred against him by the Lagos State government.

Emeka Obasim, 33, was convicted on three-count charges bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to sections 231, 221 and 269 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

He was arraigned alongside four other defendants before the

The convoy of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was allegedly involved in an auto crash yesterday around the airport junction in Abuja.

The governor had left the state for a meeting scheduled with President Muhammadu Buhari when the incident occurred.

However, Governor Bello’s convoy, while travelling from Lokoja, met gridlock at Jamata bridge in Kogi Local Government Area of the state where some truck drivers were said to be protesting after a soldier allegedly shot the tyres of a truck driver.

According to a statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mrs. Petra Akinti Onyegbule, the drivers quickly mobilised and used their vehicles to block both sides of the highway, bringing traffic to a halt and commuters stranded for several hours.

She noted that it took the intervention of the governor who spent over an hour at the scene of the incident for normalcy to return.

When contacted on the issue of the incident around the airport junction, all the calls to her mobile phone were not answered.

However, source close to the governor disclosed to THISDAY that during the drivers’ protest at Jamata bridge, the security

aides of the governor were able to maneuver the governor and some few vehicles from the traffic since the governor was to meet the President 12 noon yesterday.

According to the source, the governor’s vehicle had already left but his back-up vehicle and other vehicles in convoy were involved in the accident at airport road in Abuja.

It was alleged that three vehicles were said to have been involved in the accident, which was caused by a motorcyclist who allegedly rammed into the convoy.

As at the time of filing this report, two of the drivers have been rushed to the hospital while the fate of the motorcyclist was not known.

conspiracy and armed robbery.

“For the kidnap charge, he is sentenced to 16 years imprisonment, conspiracy five years and armed robbery 21 years. “The sentences will run concurrently,” she said.

The judge also ordered the counsel to present the 1st defendant, Ukoh, who is currently at large for sentencing whenever he is arrested.

She, however, discharged and acquainted Kelvin Emenike, Uche Ubani and Onowu Nzozi of the charges.

Justice Taiwo warned the trio that was discharged to desist from the crime; else they find themselves in court again.

“You might not be this lucky the next time, so run away from crime,” she said.

10-12 October 2018 | Eko Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria

Kogi Gov’s Convoy in Auto Crash Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

bordering on kidnapping, murder, conspiracy, armed robbery, and sexual molestation.

The other defendants charged with Obasim are: Kelvin Emenike Ukoh, 32; Uche Ubani, 28; Chibuzor Osuagwu, 29; Onowu Nzozi, 37.

In her judgment, Justice Taiwo who discharged the convict and three others of the charge of murder, however, found him guilty of the kidnap, conspiracy and armed robbery charges.

According to the judge, the court is of the opinion that the fourth defendant, Emeka Obasim and the 1st defendant who is now at large are part of the kidnap gang.

“I hereby convict the defendant, Emeka Obasim of

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37

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Tinubu Committed to Values of Participatory Democracy, Says Sanwo-Olu Ugo Aliogo One of the Lagos State’s gubernatorial aspirants, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is running on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that the National Leader of APC, Senator Bola

Tinubu, is highly committed to entrenching the values of participatory democracy especially in the 2019 general elections.

Sanwo-Olu, who disclosed this in Lagos yesterday during a media briefing on his intention to run for the

Nigeria Doesn’t Need Sectional Leader, Says Saraki Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta For Nigeria to come out of the woods, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday declared that the country needed a visionary leader that would give every citizen a sense of belonging.

Addressing the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ogun State chapter, as part of his presidential consultative tour across the country, Saraki declared that Nigeria, at the moment, is at crossed roads and divided, stressing that progress can’t be achieved without unity among the various ethnic nationalities.

He said what the country needs at the moment is a visionary leader that is energetic, youthful and has the capacity and ability to bring about rapid development and growth.

“I am here in Ogun State

to seek the support of the leadership of the PDP. I am not just seeking your support but I have come to tell you, that I am your presidential aspirant in the upcoming 2019 general elections.

“Today, we are at crossed roads. The country is divided, but we must unite the country.

“We need a President that is visionary and who can give every Nigerian a sense of belongings. Without unity, there can’t be progress. A lot of people in this country are suffering and you can’t give what you don’t have.

“I have the capacity and ability. The President shouldn’t come from any specific section of the country but anywhere. I am sure you may have received many presidential aspirants that have come to you for your support, but I want you to beg them to shelve their ambition because of me,” Saraki said.

APC Can’t Protect Benue’s Interest, Says Ortom George Okoh in Makurdi

Governor Samuel Ortom has stated that he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the party could not protect the interest of the people of Benue State.

He spoke at a meeting with stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Oju and Obi Local Government Areas at the auditorium of the College of Education in Oju. Ortom said he came to the conclusion after his cries for the arrest and prosecution of leaders of various Fulani groups, including Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who threatened to invade the state and carried out the threat, fell on deaf ears.

He explained that after he signed the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Bill into law in May 2017, leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore addressed several press conferences where they pledged to mobilise their kith and kin across the world to invade the state.

Ortom stated that his petitions to the relevant authourities to

preempt the invasion were ignored just as his request for the arrest of those who claimed responsibility for the subsequent attacks and killings.

He said if the issue at stake was grazing alone, the establishment of ranches would have provided permanent peace between farmers and herders but that the real agenda was conquest and occupation.

According to Ortom leaders of the APC at the national level with their collaborators in the state have made him a target for elimination on account of the grazing law, which the people of Benue State have insisted should not be repealed.

He urged the people to give him a second chance in 2019 as the recession coupled with security challenges hindered him from delivering on most of his campaign promises, pointing out that the end of the matter is better than the beginning.

The governor noted however, that in spite of the challenges, he recorded several milestones which have been captured in a publication that was circulated at the meeting.

Independence: NAF Commences Rehearsals Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will commence rehearsals for aerial display as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 58th Independence anniversary celebration.

A statement issued by Airforce spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said there would be movement of aircraft within the Federal Capital Territory.

“Consequently, there will be movement of NAF aircraft within the Federal Capital Territory from now till October 2, 2018 as NAF pilots commence rehearsals for the occasion. “Fighter aircraft would be flying at low level during the rehearsals. The NAF therefore wishes to advise members of the public not to panic but to go about their normal businesses”, he said.

seat of governor in the 2019 governorship election in the state, said he is a fully-fledged democrat, adding that Tinubu is responsible for the affair of the party at both the state and national levels, respectively.

He expressed confidence that Tinubu would allow the tenets of democracy to reign and strive, adding that he (Tinubu) believes in participatory

democracy.

He added that if elected overnor, his administration would operate an open door policy.

“On Monday, September 10, I travelled to collect the nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the governorship seat of Lagos State, under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC)

and two days later I submitted the form in Abuja to confirm my willingness to proceed with the vision I have for Lagos. In the last 30 years, I have had the opportunity to work with the private sector for 16 years, and the public sector for 12 years. What that means is that in my public life I have been two times Special Adviser and three-time Commissioner, I have

ran one of the biggest agencies in the government. With the wealth of experience that I have and the teeming population that is going to be supporting me, we will take our state to greater and bigger level. If I have this belief, I don’t want to wait when I am 75 to tell my children that 20 years ago, I probably will have taken this decision,” Sanwo-Olu explained.

EVALUATING IBOM DEEP SEAPORT PROJECT...

L-R:Chairperson, Steering Committee, Ibom Deep Seaport Project, Mrs. Mfon Usoro; Director General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Chidi Izuwah; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Ubom Emmanuel; Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem; and Commissioner for Special Duties, Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Akan Okon, at the evaluation of Ibom Deep Seaport project by ministerial project development steering committee (MPDSC) in Lagos… recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Eight PDP Govs Support Tambuwal’s Presidential Aspiration, Says Campaign Team Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential primary election scheduled for October 5 and 6 in Port Harcourt, the campaign organisation of one of the presidential aspirants, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said the aspirant is excited over assurances by the party’s delegates.

Speaking with THISDAY in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, when Governor Tambuwal kicked off his presidential campaign weekend, one of his close aides said, ‘’so far, we have assurances from eight governors and many of the states’ delegates; they have assured us of their full supports.’’

The aide, who is part of the campaign team and who

pleaded anonymity because of his sensitive position in government, added that apart from formally kicking off his presidential campaign in Ebonyi State last Friday, the presidential hopeful had been reaching out to the party’s leaders and other stakeholders across the country secretly for support, saying the ‘’feedbacks have been very assuring.’’

While also speaking with THISDAY, a former House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Communication and close political associate of the aspirant said the ‘’strong democratic credentials’’ of Governor Tambuwal, coupled with his ‘’humility, resilient character, accessibility and detribalised nature’’ are his selling points.

He added, “Wherever he is -- in all states of the federation, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal always feels at home.

He is very young; his respect for the elders, his humility and his capacity to relate with different groups, are what is attracting him to many Nigerians. And we are very confident he will win the presidential primary, and by the grace of God, he will be the next president of Nigeria in 2019.’’

Receiving Tambuwal at the Government House in Abakaliki on Friday, the state governor, Chief David Umahi, said the people of the state were desirous to see someone like the Sokoto State Governor becoming Nigeria’s president in 2019.

Umahi, who spoke through the Deputy Governor of the

state, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, said it was an honour to the government and people of the state that Governor Tambuwal chose the state as the place to kick off his campaign to become the party’s flag bearer.

The governor said he holds the aspirant in high esteem for his competent handling of the Speakership of the House of Representatives while he held that office.

He extolled the virtues of Tambuwal as a democrat, saying that he is eminently qualified to be president of Nigeria, adding that anyone who could govern Sokoto State and bring stability to the state can rule Nigeria.

He added, “We feel honoured that Tambuwal chose to kick-start his campaign from the South-east and Ebonyi state in particular.

Dakuku: FG Will Make Nigeria Ports Hub in Africa Eromosele Abiodun in Egypt The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari ledadministration has the vision and determination to make the Nigerian ports, the hub of maritime activities in the West and Central Africa region.

Peterside stated this yesterday, while delivering a speech at the on-going

Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) Conference in Sham El Sheikh, Egypt.

Peterside who is also the chairman of AAMA said the geographical location of Nigeria would aid its transformation to a regional maritime hub.

According to him, “Today, we are celebrating Singapore based on the vision of its leaders. “And I am also happy to inform you that the Federal Government of Nigeria under

President Muhammadu Buhari is doing everything position to make the Nigerian ports the hub of maritime activities in the West and Central Africa.”

He added that the Buhari administration has a long-term, strategic port planning system that would ensure the nation’s sea ports provide adequate capacity to meet the demands of key shipping lines and their alliance partners in sizeable blocks of volume.

The NIMASA boss stated that Africa needs leaders

like President Buhari who has strategic vision and viable courage to make bold decisions that would enable the Nigerian sea ports and other ports in Africa to stay ready for the future, be a pacesetter, reap first-mover advantages, and thrive in a dynamic and competitive global maritime business.

Nigeria’s strategic vision for its ports, he said, was being built on the three Cs - connectivity, capacity, and competitiveness.

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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal May Relocate to Abuja over Insecurity Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Citing the state of insecurity around the Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, the state Election Petition Tribunal handling the petitions arising from the July 14 governorship election in the state yesterday, resolved to relocate its sitting to outside the state.

There was heavy security around Ado Ekiti High Court yesterday, as the three-man panel of judges commenced sitting.

But despite the heavy security presence, strong indications have emerged that the sitting would be relocated to Abuja.

This development followed a demand, in the form of oral application, made by the counsel to the petitioner, Mr. Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), who cited cases of insecurity and threat to lives encountered in the hands of the crowd that gathered at the court’s gate before the commencement of the sitting.

The petitioner is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Kolapo Olusola, who is challenging the declaration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi as the duly elected governor of the state.

The request by Olusola’s counsel was supported by both

the counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Charles Edosomwan (SAN), and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN)..

The lawyers alleged that they were nearly mobbed by those suspected to be the supporters of the political parties on their way to the court in the morning.

They also noted that the attackers were not discriminatory in their assaults.The tribunal, which rose for about an hour later reconvened to deliver its

ruling on the lawyers’ demand through its Chairman, Justice Suleiman Belgore.

Other members of the panel are Justices Aliyu Usman Baba and Ebiyerin Omukoro, respectively.

In his ruling, Belgore said, “Following the issue of insecurity raised by the lawyer that there was threat to human lives around the court based on his encounter with unruly crowd on his way to the court this morning and he said the venue should be relocated in view of this. And this view was not opposed by

the respondents.

“Lawyers to the respondents expressed similar inclinations that the venue should be relocated to another city citing cases of insecurity to lives.

“We are critically mindful of the consequences of the applications made by the counsel to the petitioner, which was not opposed by the counsels to the respondents.

“We have rubbed minds together and came to the conclusion that this fear is real and apparent that the situation

is becoming insecure and tense and we can’t trivialise such .

“We hereby grant the application because of the consequences the insecurity could have on this tribunal and the new venue shall be communicated through our secretary to all parties within 48 hours”, he said.

Belgore, in his inaugural speech, promised that they would act truly as unbiased umpire and won’t betray the confidence reposed in them by the Appeal Court President, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwal.

Court Strikes out Case against Jones Abiri An Abuja Magistrate Court has struck out a suit against a Bayelsa State-based journalist, Jones Abiri.

Abiri, publisher of Weekly Source Newspaper, was arrested

by Department of State Services (DSS) in 2016 and accused of being the leader of the joint revolutionary council of separatist group, Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force.

He was also accused of threatening oil companies and demanding money from them.

Abiri was arraigned in July following public outcry over his two-year detention. He was granted bail in August.

When the case came up yesterday, Samuel Ogala,

counsel of Abiri, asked the court to transfer the case to Bayelsa State since the alleged crime did not take place in Abuja.

The magistrate, Chukwuemeka Nweke, acknowledged that Bayelsa State, where the alleged offence was committed, is indeed outside the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

“That the court has the duty to uphold doctrine of fair hearing, which guarantees that an accused is charged within the territorial jurisdiction,” the magistrate held.

“That the first information report as presently presented is an abuse of process of this court.

GRAND ENDORSEMENT...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left), receiving the endorsement register from the leadership of the Forum of Enugu State

Former Commissioners, when they paid the governor a solidarity visit to endorse him for a second term in office, at the Government You Must Account for House, Enugu... yesterday Sold State’s Assets, Rivers NLC, Labour Party Feud Deepens Govt Tells Amaechi of its own as guaranteed by the leadership of Abdulkadir President of trying to interfere Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Government has said the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, must account for the $308 million, about N112 billion, being proceeds of the sale of Rivers State gas turbine power stations to Sahara Energy belonging to Mr. Tonye Dele Cole towards the end of his administration.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, said the sale of the power stations and diversion of the proceeds to fund political activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was the reason why Amaechi’s administration abandoned so many uncompleted projects and owed salaries and pensions to workers before he left office in 2015.

According to Okah, apart from the power assets which the former governor sold to Sahara Energy, the same company also bought the Olympia Hotel and other high-value state assets under suspicious circumstances from the Amaechi administration and the Justice Omereji Commission of Inquiry was asked to investigate.

“The Justice Omereji Commission of Inquiry investigated the spurious sales and indicted the Minister of Transport and instead of refunding the money, the minister rushed to court to

set aside the findings of the Commission. He lost at the high court and at the Court of Appeal. His appeal to the Supreme Court has been abandoned because for over a year, he has failed to file a brief of argument” Okah said.

He said that was the reason why the Minister was armtwisting his party members in the state and “forcing Mr. Tonye Dele Cole on them as their anointed candidate in the 2019 governorship polls”.

He stated that the reason for Amaechi’s insistence on Cole was the need to cover the skeletons in the cupboard.

Okah said, “Instead of explaining why he took such contagious economic steps against the State, the former governor and Minister of Transport is busy blackmailing the Government of Rivers State and supporting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to disobey existing court orders and harass the Government of Rivers State and her officials.

“For the avoidance of doubts, Rivers State Government is not against the fight against corruption.

Our case is that there are two perpetual court injunctions restraining the Commission from investigating the finances of Rivers State Government and until those injunctions are vacated by a superior court, the Commission is duty bound in law to respect it irrespective of how worried the former governor may feel today.”

The rift between the Labour Party (LP) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken a new dimension with the leadership of the party accusing the labour leaders of sponsoring division and rancour within the party.

LP has also stated that as a political party, it enjoys a life

the constitution and is not an appendage of the NLC or any other body.

A faction of the party led by Mr. Mike Omotosho, which is backed by the NLC had issued a statement urging the public to ignore what it described as fraudulent sale of expression of interest and nomination fees. The faction claimed that

Abdulsalam has been removed from office during a convention in 2017.

Speaking yesterday against the background of the move by the former governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko to run for presidency on the platform of LP, the embattled national chairman of the party, Abdulsalam accused the NLC

in the affairs of the party.

The Labour party chairman said the NLC president should purge himself of partisan politics, adding that he should desist from using trade union funds to promote political activities.

Abdulsalam also acussed Ayuba of promising aspirants tickets of the party.

No Division in PDP, Dickson Insists Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson, said yesterday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains cohesive, contrary to rumours that the party is divided.

He called on the 12 presidential aspirants of the party to avoid disparaging utterances as they campaign ahead of the party’s national convention.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Dickson as saying that it was pertinent for the presidential aspirants to avoid the use of words that could inflict injury on party cohesion and its strength as the country moves closer to the 2019 elections.

The Bayelsa Governor, who was Chairman of the PDP Reconciliation Committee, noted that utterances seemingly

targeted at critical organs of the party and the governors should be avoided in the interest of a repositioned PDP determined to wrest political power from the ruling party.

He said there was no division within the organs of the party and its governors as all the critical stakeholders were engrossed in the moves to produce a viable presidential candidate through a credible convention acceptable to all members.

The governor said the publication in some quarters depicting division within the PDP, its organ and governors were untrue and should be totally discountenanced.

According to him, the governors, the BoT, the National Working Committee were part of the committee that is saddled with the responsibility of producing a candidate for the party in a free, fair and credible process.

2019: Lagos PDP Endorses Saraki for President Segun James As the race for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gets hotter, party faithful of the Lagos State chapter yesterday adopted Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki as their presidential project while also endorsing him for President.

Party faithful were asked to stand and adopt Saraki as their candidate following his plea that he is a “Full Lagos Boy” who was

born and schooled in the state, he deserved their support, even as he told them that what the country need at this critical time is a president who has the capacity to deliver good governance to the people.

Saraki who was at the Lagos state PDP secretariat as part of his campaign to become the party’s presidential candidate in next year’s election, said with the quality of people in the party in the state, he has no doubt

that the PDP would win the 2019 elections.

He pledged that come 2019, the PDP will be taking over the Alausa Government House; while also promising them that “what you have been fighting for all these years, you will have in 2019.”

Party leaders who accompanied Saraki to the event included Senator Dino Melaye, Dr. Ade Dosunmu; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State,

Senator Kofo Akerele-Bucknor, Mr. Deji Doherty, former Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada; Dr. Doyin Okupe and former national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, among others.

Saraki said it is time to change things, saying it is ironic that the call for the restructuring of the country is being made to a President who hasn’t got the capability and the understanding of what the call for restructuring is all about.

39

ÍšÎ&#x20AC;Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î&#x20AC; Ëž T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

FIFA, CAF Name Observers for NFF Elections 2018 rPinnick insists: No third term for me if re-elected in Katsina World football-ruling body, FIFA yesterday named Messrs Luca Piazza and Solomon Mudege as its Observers to Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elections into the Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee 2018-2022.

Mudege is FIFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Senior Manager for Development Programmes (Africa) while Piazza is a senior official in the FIFA Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office.

Also on Monday, the Confederation of African Football, through a letter addressed to the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and signed by CAF Secretary General, Amr Fahmy, designated a Member of its Executive Committee, Mr. Sita Sangare, as its Observer to the big event. Sangare, an army colonel, is also President of the Burkina Faso Football Federation.

The city of Katsina is already bubbling for the much-anticipated polls with the arrival on Monday of an advance team from the NFF Secretariat.

The NFF Electoral

Committee put in place by the NFF Congress at the 2017 Annual General Assembly in Jos, Plateau State, which is headed by Barr. Muhammed Sani Katu, will conduct the polls.

The Committee has already cleared incumbent Amaju Melvin Pinnick, former Nigeria international and one-time NFF Secretary General, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, former NFF President Aminu Maigari and Mr. Chinedu Okoye to contest for the presidency.

Incumbent Seyi Akinwunmi will vie with Sunday Dele-Ajayi for the 1st Vice Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position, while Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah will oppose incumbent Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the slot of Chairman of Chairmen.

A total of 15 other persons will battle for the remaining eight available positions on the Executive Committee.

All 44 Members of the Nigeria Football Federation Congress will cast their votes on Thursday. A number of the voters will

arrive in Katsina today.

Meanwhile, Pinnick has declared that the next cycle of the federation board will be his last if he wins on

Thursday.

Speaking at a media parley in Lagos at the weekend, Pinnick who also doubles as CAFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Vice President

insisted that he was sure of being reelected because of the many changes he has brought to the administration of football in the country.

Despite the fact that no

incumbent has been returned to the coveted seat in the past dozen or so polls, he believes he can end the no-back-to-back reelection because, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a covenant child.â&#x20AC;?

L-R: Brand Ambassador of ADRON Homes & Properties, Said Balogun, ADRON Games Ambassador, Samson Siasia, Group Managing Director of ADRON Homes & Properties Ltd, Oba Adetola Emmanuel-King & Group Executive Secretary, ADRON Homes & Properties, Ayodeji Omoniyi-Ojo at the Unveiling of ADRON Games 2018, held in Lagos...recently

Another Shake-up in Ghana as 53 More Refs Banned The Refereesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association of Ghana (RAG) has handed life-time bans to six more referees in the wake of an investigation into bribery.

It also banned 47 match officials for 10 years each, while another 14 were exonerated.

RAG also confirmed the sanctions handed down by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) last month - two for life and six others for 10 years.

It brings the total with life bans to eight and those with 10-year bans to 53.

Those on the list released by RAG have until 1 October to appeal against the rulings.

The investigation was launched after the officials were secretly filmed, accepting money by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

In a statement RAG said those facing lifetime bans â&#x20AC;&#x153;were found culpable for seriously breaching various portions of Disciplinary Code, Code of the Ethics and Regulations of the football controlling bodies by their actions and inactions.â&#x20AC;?

David Laryea and Reginald Lathbridge had already been banned for life by CAF, they have been joined by Safo Adade,

Samuel Sukah, Dally Gagba, Furella Barnie, Charles Duwona and Umar Teni.

This is the latest fallout from Anasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; film that has seen the Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi resign from his post, as well as from positions he held with CAF and FIFA. He has also been suspended for 135 days by the footballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world governing body, FIFA, as it investigates.

Nyantakyi has denied any wrongdoing.

Last week, both FIFA and CAF announced a four-member Normalisation Committee to take charge of the football affairs in Ghana for the next six months.

Former football association board member Dr Kofi Amoah will head up the committee, he was in charge of the organising committee when Ghana hosted the 2008 Nations Cup. The other members are Lucy Quist, a former chief executive of a telecoms company, Dua Adonten, a former Asante Kotoko board member and director general of Ghana Post as well as lawyer Naa Odofoley Nortey.

ADRON Games 2018 to Begin Oct 12 All is now set for the 3rd edition of the ADRON Homes Games scheduled to take place between October 12 and 14 at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos.

At a news conference to herald this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition the members of staff of the organisation were divided into six regions for the sports fiesta.

The representatives of each of the regions also picked the kits colours for the competition at the colourful event on Monday.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for ADRON 2018, Wale Asifat, stated that all efforts were in place to make this edition special.

He listed the regions to compete for honours to include; Island (Blue and Orange kits), Mainland (lemon and white), Head office (lemon and black), Ibadan (lemon and green), Abuja (lemon and orange) and Ogun State (red and black).

Football, athletics and volleyball are some of the events to be competed for at the competition expected to be highly thrilling.

One of the organisers, Tunde Sofowora, also added that ADRON Games would also have a challenge event for the public. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are trying to carry the public along and the first prize for the challenge is N1m, second is N750,000, third is N500,000 and 4th is N250,000. The public will have to register

to participate,â&#x20AC;? Sofowora said.

A former Super Eagles player and coach Samson Siasia was at the event as the Games Ambassador while ace actor, Saheed Balogun, also witnessed the event as ADRON Ambassador. Ex international and former Lagos FA Chairman, Waidi Akanni was also a special guest at the unveiling ceremony.

The Group Managing Director of ADRON Homes, Dr. Adetola Emmanuel King, stressed that the need to encourage fitness in the society was the reason for coming up with the competition.

He said fitness should be a general culture everywhere such that there would be corporate games where athletes from various fields should be meeting at regular basis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We should have athletes from the banks competing with those from the property and then telecoms etc. We all need to keep fit to be good. That is why our team is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;For us to build together, we must be fit together.â&#x20AC;?

The ADRON chief executive officer was joined by the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambassadors and dignitaries to unveil the gamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; logo.

Siasia also added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fitness is very key in everything we do. It is amazing that this organization is not only building homes but is also concerned about the healthy living of people.â&#x20AC;?

UCL GROUP STAGE

Liverpool Tackles PSG as Ronaldo Returns to Spain Femi Solaja with agency report Fresh from contrasting fortunes in their respective domestic scenes, Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elite competition, the UEFA Champions League group stage gets underway this evening with interesting matches across major football grounds today and tomorrow in Europe.

Interestingly when the journey begins tonight, it is the beginning of a rough path for all the clubs en-route the final match in May next year in Madrid, a city which has dominated the competition in the recent years following the success of the defending champion, Real Madrid with four wins out of five consecutive tournaments since 2014!

Last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s losing finalist, Liverpool FC will hope to consolidate on the 2-1 away win at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend with at crunch home tie against French league champions, Saint Paris Germaine at their Anfield fortress where they hammered all visiting teams all the way to the Kiev final match last May. Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp, said yesterday that striker Roberto Firminoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye injury in the league clash against Spurs is not as serious as feared but it is likely the striker will not be available against visiting Paris club.

The Brazilian had to be substituted in the second half of his sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2-1 win on Saturday after clashing with the hand of opposition defender Jan Vertonghen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We all saw the picture and we were massively worried. But all these worries are away so he will be fine. (But) if he will be fine for

tomorrow, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know in the moment,â&#x20AC;? Klopp said yesterday ahead of the match. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are obviously in close contact with him and it improved already â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but in this moment I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say if he will be available for (Tuesday),â&#x20AC;? he added.

Should Firmino be unable to take his place at centre forward, then Daniel Sturridge is the most likely to take his spot.

In the other group matches, FK Crvena Zvezda will host FC Napoli while in Group B, Inter Milan and English Premiership side, Spurs will aim for recovery from their respective home loss in domestic scenes with a mouth watering clash at the San Siro ground in Milan.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tricky tie in which neither of the two sides can step on banana peel because group favourite, FC Barcelona has less to worry for as the Catalan club host PSV Eindhoven at the Nou Camp ground same time this evening.

In Group A, Club Brugge will welcome Borussia Dortmund just as Monaco FC also play host to Spanish side, Atletico FC who are facing rough time so far in the domestic league.

While in Group D, Turkish champions, Galatasaray will host Lokomotiv Moscow just as Schalke O4 welcomes former European champions, FC Porto in the last round fixture of the night.

However, the major highlight of tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s matches will focus more on Cristiano Ronaldo who is fresh from scoring his first goals for his new club, Juventus but will make an eagerly-awaited return to Spain when the Italian champions play Valencia FC.

Tuesday September 18, 2018

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MISSILE Fayose to EFCC “Putting my name on a watch list after notification of my coming is not only political but petty. I’m not among those who are afraid to face tomorrow. Nobody is God. They should expect me on October 16, 2018. I will remain in the PDP not minding their intimidation.”

– Outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, berating the EFCC for putting his name on the watch list

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI Lessons from Adeosungate N abati1990@gmail.com

igeria’s former Minister of Finance (2015-2018), Kemi Adeosun threw in her letter of resignation on Friday, September 14, to bring to a temporary closure, the public outcry and the embarrassment that her possession of a fake National Youth Service Corps Exemption Certificate had generated since July when it was first reported. Her letter of resignation in which she blames “trusted associates” for the mishap and explains her innocence, reads like the abstract of a future memoir in which she is likely to do her utmost best to ensure that her non-participation in the NYSC scheme does not become the defining marker of her public service career. She will of course in that book do the damage control of telling us that she is a victim of many conspiracies, the breach of trust, and the mischief of a sensitive and heavily politicized Nigerian public, seeking to hurt a holier-than-thou government as it seeks a second term in office.

I have no doubts that Kemi Adeosun was eventually pushed. Since the matter hit the headlines, she had been studiously silent. But her employers having seen that the NYSC scandal may be used against President Buhari during election season, she must have been advised to tender her letter of resignation. No political leader can willingly risk the cost of a serious collateral damage in an election year. It would not have been in President Buhari’s best interest to take the bullet for his own Minister. It must also have been painful for President Buhari to let her go. Out of his entire collection of faceless, impact-less and colourless Ministers, Adeosun was one of the very few whose name and face many Nigerians could recognize, and who could be given some marks for effort and commitment.

Often compared unfairly and sometimes unnecessarily with her more celebrated predecessor, Adeosun could not be accused of sleeping on the job. Under her watch, the Federal Government established an Efficiency Unit (E-Unit) in the last quarter of 2015, to monitor the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) in order to check wastage and leakages. There was also the initiative on continuous audit, the introduction of a whistleblower policy, the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme, a more rigorous insistence on the use of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), and the decision on financial bail-outs for ailing states. These initiatives may not have produced a robust or healthy economy, due to macroeconomic distortions or what the HSBC has identified as “fiscal fault lines’ in the Nigerian economy. Adeosun also borrowed rather heavily, leaving the country with large indebtedness, a choice she defended as the best option out of corrosive recession.

In the course of her work, Adeosun also showed a determination to step on toes, taking on powerful figures and departments such as the leadership of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the opaque manner in which those institutions were being run. She further threatened tax defaulters with prosecution, and spoke openly about building a data base of the assets of the wealthy, their failure to pay tax as due, and bring them to justice.

Adeosun apparently has lost out in the power game. Her lack of a proper NYSC certificate is her Achillee’s heel. Entrenched interest and groups in Nigeria, as elsewhere, take the power game seriously. There had been whispers about Adeosun’s NYSC certificate. The matter was unearthed to checkmate her. Is she guilty? Yes. The only innocent party is the media house, Premium Times, which saw in this, an opportunity for investigative journalism and chose to do its work as watchdog. Kudos to Premium Times

Adeosun for the determination with which it pursued the story. There are lessons here for all of us, in whom may reside a “Kemi Adeosun.” There is indeed a “Kemi Adeosun” in all of us.

The bone of contention is her non-participation in the NYSC, her non-entitlement to an exemption certificate and the possession of a fake exemption certificate. Established in 1973 as a post-civil war strategy for reuniting the country, the NYSC scheme is a creation of law. It requires Nigerian graduates of higher institutions, at home and abroad, to devote a year of compulsory national service to Nigeria, preferably in a state other than their own state of origin. You cannot seek exemption, except in accordance with Section 2(1) of the NYSC Act. Once you graduate before 30, if you wish, you could still serve at 50 as long as you are a Nigerian citizen. The NYSC certificate is usually required for purposes of employment generally or appointment into public office, if you are a graduate. Nigerian graduates since the establishment of the scheme have participated in it. Even in the face of calls by a few that the scheme should be scrapped, there are also those Nigerians who are happy to be part of it.

Indeed, some persons who graduate at over 30, we are told, smuggle themselves into the scheme, to avoid the stress of the unemployment queue.

Some would even willingly serve in the scheme for a second term or a third term if possible.

But Adeosun falls into a special category. She belongs to the category of Nigerians who studied abroad, and who were born and raised abroad, in countries where the NYSC is irrelevant and unknown. If she had remained abroad for the rest of her life, and did not take a job in Nigeria, there would have been absolutely no problem.

And I believe there are many of her type in the diaspora, who are so established abroad that they may never imagine that they would need Nigeria some day. Adeosungate says something to such Nigerians: should you hope to work in Nigeria at any point, and you are a graduate, you would be required to undergo a year of the NYSC. Prepare yourself for that, because you never know tomorrow.

The second issue is that of citizenship. Certain commentators on Adeosungate have argued that she was not a Nigerian at the time she graduated.

They insist that she took Nigerian visas on her British passport until she was 34. This is a wrong argument, because that was a matter of choice, not the result of a legal hindrance. Citizenship is not by passport. Kemi Adeosun became a Nigerian the very day she was born, in the light of Section 25 (1) (c) of the 1999 Constitution which confers citizenship on “every person born

outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria.”. As for her being British, Nigeria indeed recognizes dual citizenship. There are many Nigerian children being brought up overseas today by Nigerian parents, who do not regard themselves as Nigerians. I once met a young lady who told me: “My parents are Nigerians.

I am American”. Every effort to convince her that she is a Nigerian was rejected. Some of such children can even lay claim to more than two countries. Their parents are Nigerians, they relocate to the United States and have children there, who may become Americans and they may further relocate to Canada where they also obtain Canadian citizenship. Nigerian parents who bring up their children abroad must always remind them of their roots. Those who are saying Adeosun has gone back to her country after resigning as Minister of Finance are overlooking the law. She is in every sense a Nigerian. She was not recruited as an expatriate staff. She did not have to renounce her Nigerian citizenship at any time or seek naturalization.

The third issue is that of certificate. Nigerians are very emotional about certificates. The country is blessed with so many educated persons, holding a file-load of certificates. When they hear that someone is holding a fake certificate even if it is that of the NYSC, they become completely hysterical. Kemi Adeosun is not the first highlyplaced person to lose her position to a certificate controversy. Her own case is unfortunate because she got into trouble, not because of her academic qualifications, but because of NYSC certificate which some of her sympathizers claim should not be such a big deal. But the emotional attitude out there is: How can I go through NYSC and they will go and make someone who did not, a Minister? Meanwhile, there would most likely be thousands of Nigerians out there who either did not participate in the NYSC or are also holding fake or original exemption certificates that they do not qualify for. Adeosun has used that same certificate as a Company Executive in Nigeria, as a Commissioner in Ogun State and would have survived with it as Minister, if someone did not blow a whistle. This is ironic considering that she was the chief promoter of the whistle-blowing policy. Lesson: always double-check your certificates. You never know.

The fourth issue is that of trust. One of the points in Adeosun’s letter of resignation is that she was misled by a “trusted associate”. This may not be a strong point when deconstructed, more so as the NYSC exemption Certificate can only be collected in person and not by proxy.

But is it not the case that many of us in Nigeria rely on others to help us sort out a lot of paper work? I don’t know any big man or woman in Nigeria who would go personally to a vehicle licensing office to renew vehicle papers. Or to the tax office to update tax certificates. If it were possible to send a personal assistant to obtain a voter’s card, our big men and women would gladly do so, but they do this by themselves because of biometrics. Perhaps if Adeosun had personally gone to the NYSC office herself at the time she wanted an Exemption Certificate, she would have been able to make necessary enquiries and be properly guided. This should be a lesson to all well-placed persons. There are very few trustworthy aides in Nigeria: drivers cheat, housemaids steal, assistants tell lies, gatemen are often absent-minded, security men sleep on duty, they drive you crazy all the time, and when they mess up, everyone holds you liable. You are told you cannot offer any excuses. “The big man syndrome” comes with its own risks. Stop being big, take charge of your own affairs.

The fifth point to be made is about the power game that I referred to earlier. No matter how

conscientious you may be as a public official, there will always be persons who are seeking your downfall. They may not like your style, or they may simply want your job, or they are aggrieved that the job was given to you. If you are a powerful Minister or the architect of policies that they consider unfriendly, you could become the target of an established “Pull-HimDown-Syndrome” which is the easiest way to destroy anybody seeking to raise his or her head in Nigeria. Whoever blew the whistle on Kemi Adeosun has succeeded in pulling her down.

Power brokers do not moralize; they take advantage of every situation. Remember Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. As Nigeria’s Minister of Finance under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the moment Okonjo-Iweala led the administrator’s efforts to reform the downstream sector of the oil and gas sector, and the oil subsidy regime, her 82-year old mother was kidnapped and Iweala was asked to resign as Minister of Finance by the kidnappers. She has told her story in a book titled “Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines.” Kemi Adeosun may not be able to make the same claims, because the whistle-blower correctly identified her Achilles’ heel and put her on the spot. The lesson here is that once you are in the public arena, all kinds of stones can be thrown at you. You are vulnerable.

For example, right now in the United States, Brett Kavanaugh, the Presidential nominee for the US Supreme Court, has his fate hanging in the balance. A Californian Professor in her 50s, Christine Blasey Ford, has suddenly shown up, to allege that when she was 15, and Kavanaugh was 17, the latter, having taken a drink too much, had tried to force himself on her. Political gladiators are seizing upon this to say that Kavanaugh should be denied a seat on the US Supreme Court Bench.

The matter is phrased as a protection of moral standards, and part of the #Me-Too movement but the truth is that Kavanaugh’s elevation if it happens, could tip the ideological balance in the Supreme Court in favour of the conservatives for a long time to come. If there is a similar #Me-Too finger-pointing in Nigeria, there will be no man fit for public appointment in every part of Nigeria! Back to Adeosungate: So, the question may be asked: who is benefiting from Adeosun’s travails? Who is hiding somewhere saying: we have dealt with her?

Whatever it is, I expected her to apologise publicly in her letter of resignation and as a mark of her penitence and genuineness of purpose, offer to enroll for the NYSC. Rather than jet out after her resignation, she should have stayed back to put a formal closure to the matter. In 1999, Salisu Buhari, then Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives found himself in a similar situation. He was accused of presenting a fake certificate allegedly obtained from the University of Toronto and a fake NYSC discharge Certificate.

He denied the allegations and took The News magazine to court. But he eventually capitulated and apologized. He was charged to court for forgery and perjury (re: Commissioner of Police vs. Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim Buhari, 2000, FWLR (Part 1). In the end, he was granted pardon by President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2013, Salisu Buhari was appointed a member of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Ms. Adeosun’s matter needs not necessarily follow the same path. I have no doubt that President Buhari will be most willing to grant Ms Adeosun amnesty. This may be difficult but it is a practical approach to the problem. President Buhari is in the best position to help her in order to prevent a hostile, future government from using her as a scapegoat. She needs that help so she can move on with her life. And let no one jubilate over the fate that has befallen her.

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