TUESDAY 16TH APRIL 2019 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Meters: Electricity Consumers to Pay through Service Charge Chineme Okafor in Abuja Contrary to the position of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that electricity consumers in the country would be provided meters free-of-charge by their distribution companies

(Discos), power consumers would actually have to pay for such through a new window termed ‘metering service charge,’ THISDAY yesterday learnt. THISDAY gathered from the Meter Assets Providers (MAPs) regulation of NERC

that Discos’ customers can either choose to pay upfront for meters to be installed at their premises by Discoaccredited MAPs, or accept an installation by the Discos with an agreement to pay for it through their electricity bills. NERC recently stated that

the responsibility of providing meters to consumers was still that of Discos. It also disclosed that under the MAPs scheme, consumers who choose to self-finance their meter acquisition would pay the MAPs N36,991.50 for single phase meters and N67,

055.85 for three phase meters respectively. It has so far approved the MAPs accredited by Abuja; Ibadan; Ikeja and Jos Discos to commence operations. However, it is not clear if the new meter service charges in the MAPs scheme are different

from the fixed charge the NERC in 2015 abolished and striped Discos from collecting from consumers. Efforts to reach the General Manager, Public Affairs, Dr. Usman Arabi, and Head of Continued on page 6

IG to Hold Area Commanders, DPOs Responsible for Extra-judicial Killings... Page 7 Tuesday 16 April, 2019 Vol 24. No 8772. Price: N250

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PDP Warns INEC over Presidential Election Materials Says failure to obey court order may cause crisis

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday raised the alarm over alleged refusal

of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obey the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal’s order to release election

materials used for the conduct of the February 23, presidential election to it. The party warned that this could plunge the nation into

We won't engage in media war, replies commission

a monumental crisis. But the electoral commission reacted swiftly yesterday, telling THISDAY that it would not engage in a media war

with any party over issues that are in court. The main opposition party had also said that the refusal by INEC to release

forms EC8D, EC40G and the reports of the card readers was a deliberate and vicious Continued on page 6

Buhari Silent as CCT Decides Onnoghen's Fate on Thursday Alex Enumah in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has kept mum over reported notice of retirement sent to him by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, whose fate over alleged false asset declaration trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) would be decided on Thursday by the three-man panel headed by Mr. Danladi Umar. Following reported indictment by the National Judicial Council (NJC) over a petition filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Onnoghen was said to have sent in his notice of retirement, apparently to beat NJC’s recommendation that he be compulsorily retired from service. Presidency officials had said Buhari, who was abroad on official trip at the time Onnoghen sent in his letter

on April 5, would decide whether to accept his voluntary retirement or opt for the NJC recommendation. The president since his return to the country has, however, been silent on the issue, fueling speculation that he might be awaiting the outcome of the embattled CJN’s trial at the CCT. The CCT yesterday after the adoption of written addresses by both defence and prosecution lawyers, fixed Thursday for judgement. On that day, the tribunal would also deliver its rulings on two applications filed by Onnoghen in which he challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the suit and the other, which prayed the tribunal chairman to recuse himself from the trial on account of bias. Justice Onnoghen is standing trial on a six-count charge of Continued on page 6

Shettima Backs Lawan, Ndume Group Insists on Secret Ballot... Page 6

BRITISH HOSPITALITY… L-R: Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Laure Beauﬁls; Lagos State governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing; and Ogun State governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during a reception hosted by the High Commission in Lagos...recently

T H I S D AY Ë¾ TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019

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T H I S D AY Ë¾ TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019

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TUESDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE SIX

Shettima Backs Lawan, Ndume Group Insists on Secret Ballot Deji Elumoye in Abuja Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan’s, ambition to lead the ninth Senate received a huge boost yesterday as Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, threw his weight behind him. Shettima, also a senator-elect, is the governor of Lawan’s main rival, Senator Ali Ndume, whose supporters yesterday insisted that the mode of election of the leadership of the Senate when it convenes in June must be open secret ballot. Speaking to reporters in Abuja, the governors said his

position was in line with the directive of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari, that Lawan be selected as the candidate of the party for the top Senate position. Shettima said every APC senator-elect has a duty to obey the party’s directive, explaining that compliance was necessary to enhance party discipline and cohesion. He said: “I hail from the same state with the distinguished Senator Ali Ndume. And I appreciate the fact that politics is local. But politics is also national. And I believe the blood that

binds us together supersedes whatever we might harbour. “But I fully aligned with the aspiration of my party, to the aspiration of President Muhammadu Buhari, and by the grace of God, we are going to mobilize all our goodwill to see that we are fully on board. “We are for Senator Ahmad Lawan, we are for Femi Gbajabiamila and all other senators and other House of Representatives members endorsed by the party.” He added: “We are for party discipline that allowed everyone to aspire for political offices. We believe that we must respect

the party. All of us won under platforms. There is no provision for independent candidate. “I don’t know whether anyone has won under an independent platform, except maybe Senator-elect Ifeanyi Ubah, who brought in an anonymous party and won. “So, I feel honored by the visit but honestly this visit is unwarranted. I am fully onboard. I am for Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate president.” “Well, I am the first citizen of the state; I have made wide consultations with our leaders from Borno before resolving to

back Senator Ahmed Lawan.” According to him, “We are not at war with Senator Ali Ndume, he is my kinsman but we will continue to prevail on him to align himself with the aspiration of the party. We are not at war. We belong to the same paternity.”

Meanwhile, some senatorselect of the APC backing Ndume have insisted on open secret ballot for the election of presiding officers of the ninth National Assembly.

The senators, who spoke with Thisday yesterday, said it is insulting for some of their colleagues to be canvassing for open ballot voting system for the election of presiding. Two of them routing for Ndume declared that the APC leadership by its utterances was sending wrong signals to the legislators on the leadership tussle. One of the senators from the North-east told THISDAY: "We are for Ndume and no amount of threat can change our position. Let's just wait and see until our inauguration in June."

efficient cost of the meter asset and its installation cost as determined by the procurement process for the MAP conducted by the distribution licensee,” it added. As for the obligations of the MAPs and Discos in the arrangement, it stated that after initial installations of meters, the MAPs shall repair or replace them within two working days of being notified they are faulty. “Where a MAP fails to repair or replace a meter within two working days of a report by the customer or distribution licensee, the customer shall not be liable for the payment of metering service charge for the billing period unless such delays were as a result of inaccessibility to the customer's premises. “In the event of a prolonged delay in repairing or replacing a defective meter asset, the

distribution licensee and MAP shall agree on an appropriate compensation to the distribution licensee for loss of revenue. “The MAP shall install the meter at the premises of the customer within 10 working days of the receipt of full payment by the customer. The authorisation by the distribution licensee to pay for the meter shall only be issued after certifying the readiness of the premises for a safe and secure installation of the meter asset,” according to the regulation. The regulation also provides that the cost structure of metering service charge shall cover the cost of providing the meter asset and the ongoing costs of operating and maintaining them, and would be transparent in the billing processes.

stated that he "forgot" to declare the bank accounts. He, therefore, prayed the tribunal to find Onnoghen guilty as charged and convict him accordingly. Yesterday’s sitting of the CCT did not end without a drama as the camp of the prosecution in the trial had a disagreement as proceedings got underway. The drama began when the prosecution, led by Umar, and the defence led by Efut, announced appearances for their teams in readiness for the business of the day, which was the adoption of final addresses. As Umar was making his announcement, a member of his team, Prof. Zainab Duke, attempted to speak to the bench but was shouted down by Umar. It is not clear what led to argument but Umar was seen

shouting at her. Duke wanted to make an observation but Umar said: “Sit down, I am leading.” Umar said: “She wants to address the tribunal but I have not given her permission to do that.” Duke got up to explain to the CCT chairman but she was not audible. Thereafter, the lead counsel to the federal government applied that her name be removed from appearance. “I want to apply that her name be withdrawn from appearance,” he said. Ruling on the application, the CCT chairman said Duke should “take her leave or take her seat at the back bench.” She walked out of the tribunal after Umar’s ruling. Both prosecution and defence adopted their addresses after

which a date for judgment will be fixed. It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019 suspended Onnoghen as CJN based on an exparte order of the CCT and sworn in Justice Tanko Muhammad to serve in acting capacity. While the National Judicial Council (NJC) was said to have recommended the compulsory retirement of Onnoghen at its emergency meeting of April 3, 2019 in Abuja, Onnoghen was said to have turned in his notice of retirement to the president the following day.

of the card readers were not specifically captured in the order of the court whereas the court was unequivocal in its order that all materials used for the election be made available to our legal team. "For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal, among other orders, directed INEC to release and allow our legal team to inspect, scan, forensically audit and make copies of forms EC4OA, EC8A, EC8AVP, EC8B, EC8C, EC8E and all other electoral forms

and materials including, but not limited to ballot papers and voters registers and materials used for the conduct of the presidential election, held across Nigeria on the 23rd of February, 2019, for the purpose of instituting and maintaining an election petition." The party said Nigerians should note that INEC, "having rigged the election in favour of APC" was now seeking ways to frustrate its petition at the tribunal.

Ndume Group Insists on Secret Ballot

METERS: ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS TO PAY THROUGH SERVICE CHARGE Media, Mr. Sam Ekeh, of the NERC for clarification on the content of the regulation proved abortive as none of them responded to calls and text messages as at the time of filing this report. NERC had also stated that the main objective of the MAPs would be to encourage the development of independent and competitive meter services in the power market, eliminate estimated billing, attract private investment in metering services, close the huge metering gap, and then improve the revenue generation profile of the sector. According to it, the Discos’ metering gap as at December 2017 was 4,740,275, which it said could significantly increase upon the conclusion of a customer enumeration exercise. Based on MAPs regulation, all Discos are expected

to engage the services of MAPs towards meeting their metering targets. It added that 30 per cent of the contracted meters to be installed by the MAPs would be locally sourced. Also, consumers who do not have meters yet shall provide access for the provision of meters for their premises by MAPs, failure for which would result in a denial of electricity service by the Discos. The document further said: “The distribution licensees shall include a metering service charge as a clear item on the billing of its customers provided with meters under an MSA (meter service agreement) with MAPs and shall be separate from the energy charge. The metering service charge shall be based on the outcome of the procurement process for the MAP and subject to the

approval of the commission.” It said that when this is the case, the Discos shall have rights to use data derived from customer meters for monitoring, billing planning and any other related activities, as well as to query data from the meters for audit purposes. Further, the regulation explained that: “The metering service charge paid by all customers shall be ring-fenced in a dedicated account for the purpose of timely payment to MAPs,” adding that the MAPs shall retain the right to be paid in full the aggregated metering service charge paid by customers during the billing cycle. Dwelling on obligations of parties under the scheme, the regulation stated that: “Upon the installation of a meter by a MAP, the customer has no obligation to pay for metering service charge through the

distribution licensee at the time of payment for energy unless financed upfront in full by the customer. “The payment for metering service charge by the customer to the MAP shall cease upon full amortisation of the meter asset over its technical life assumed in the procurement process for the MAP.” According to it, where a customer fails to pay for metering service charge in any given month or months, the cumulative metering service charge shall be deducted upon the subsequent payment. Equally, where a customer elects to pay for a meter asset upfront under the regulation, such a customer shall not be liable for the payment of metering service charge through the Discos. “The amount payable to the MAP by a customer electing to pay upfront shall be the

BUHARI SILENT AS CCT DECIDES ONNOGHEN'S FATE ON THURSDAY false assets declaration. The Chairman of the threeman panel, Mr. Danladi Umar, yesterday fixed the date for judgment shortly after the defence lawyer, Mr. Okon Efut SAN, and the prosecution lawyer, Mr. Aliyu Umar SAN, adopted their written addresses as their final brief of argument. The date for judgment was announced almost three months after the CCT scheduled Onnoghen for trial, following a petition written to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by a non-governmental organisation. Adopting his address, Onnoghen’s lawyer, Efut, urged the tribunal to dismiss the six-count charge because they were not known to law, adding that the defendant can only be punished for offence known to law. Onnoghen also asked

the tribunal to dismiss the charges against him because the prosecution did not prove the ingredients of the element of the offence of false asset declaration. Efut particularly faulted the claim of the prosecution that Onnoghen made partial asset declaration, adding that the claim establishes the fact that Onnoghen declared his asset and that if it was done, it raises doubts that must be resolved in favour of the defendant. He further submitted that from the asset declaration form of Onnoghen, which was admitted by the tribunal as exhibit, it was clear that the claims of Onnoghen were not verified by the CCB as required by law, saying the charges against his client were based on hearsay. The defence counsel

therefore, prayed the tribunal to dismiss the entire charges, discharge and acquit Onnoghen from the alleged offences. Responding, the prosecution counsel, Umar, urged the tribunal to discountenance the submissions of the defendant as being misconceived. Umar argued that all the essential ingredients of the charges have been proved beyond all reasonable doubts and urged the tribunal to uphold his submission. He insisted that Onnoghen did not declare his asset between 2005 and 2015, adding that when he did on December 14, 2016, five bank accounts with Standard Chartered Bank opened between 2009 and 2011 were not declared. Umar in addition stated that Onnoghen had admitted to the offence in Exhibit 6 when he

PDP WARNS INEC OVER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MATERIALS disobedience to the orders of the court for which the management of INEC should be charged for contempt. The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said INEC, by its action, was blatantly standing in the way of justice and working against the will of the people in their quest to salvage the nation and reclaim their stolen mandate at the tribunal. According to him, "The continued refusal of INEC to release the electoral materials

to the PDP and our legal team is completely provocative and shows that the commission is working in cahoots with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Buhari presidency to frustrate the PDP; our candidate, Atiku Abubakar; and majority of Nigerians from retrieving our mandate at the tribunal." Ologbondiyan added that the party has been reliably informed of how the APC and some compromised top officials of INEC have been boasting that they would never allow these

materials and documents to be released to PDP’s legal team. He stressed: "INEC and the APC are apprehensive that the materials, particularly the forms EC8D and EC40G covering the nation in addition to the report of the Smart Card Readers used in the Presidential Election will show at the tribunal that the PDP and Atiku Abubakar clearly won the presidential election. "This is the reason the APC and the INEC manufactured a groundless claim that the form EC8D, EC40G and the reports

Continued on page 7

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TUESDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

IG to Hold Area Commanders, DPOs Responsible for Extra-judicial Killings Chiemelie Ezeobi The acting Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has decried the incessant killing of innocent persons in Lagos State by policemen, threatening to hold Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) or sectional heads vicariously liable for lacking supervision.. Adamu stated this yesterday while addressing officers and men of the Lagos State Police Command at the Police College, Ikeja. He said his visit to the state was scheduled for later in the year, but that he had to reschedule it because of the incessant extra-judicial killings. According to him, such incidents were pitting the force against the citizens

they pledged to serve and protect. He condoled the families of victims of the killings and re-assured the people that police authorities would not condone any form of abuse of power. “From January to April, 2019, Lagos State has recorded four incidents of misuse of firearms which have resulted in extra-judicial killings of young citizens of this country and injury to others. “More worrisome is that two of these incidents occurred within the last two weeks. “Aside negating our professional calling, extra-judicial acts of any description or level by any police personnel is an unacceptable anomaly that creates disdain between the

Adamu

citizens and their police and widen the trust gap between them,’’ he said. He warned that any police personnel that insisted on engaging in abuse of his or her powers or misuses his weapons in utter disregard

to statutory provisions would be arrested. “The person will be investigated through our internal disciplinary machinery and if found culpable, shall be dismissed from service. “In addition, such personnel will be charged to court for murder or sundry offences depending on his or her level of criminal liability in the instance. “Furthermore, the line supervisors of such officer, including the Area Commander, Divisional Police Officer or Sectional Head, shall be held vicariously liable for lacking supervision and shall be similarly sanctioned. “In the long term, rather than the use of firearms, we shall henceforth use technologies and weapon systems such as electro-

muscular disruption technology, commonly known as Taser or Stun guns by police. “It will be used for routine patrols as a strategic approach towards reducing incidents of fatalities associated with misapplication of lethal weapons by the police. “In perfecting these initiatives, we shall be engaging with human rights bodies, international agencies, development partners and Civil Society Organisations,” Adamu said. He said that in the coming days, more administrative actions directed at giving a new orientation to all police personnel and restructuring of Lagos State Command would be undertaken. “This may involve personnel re-organisation. There will be nationwide

tailor-made training and capacity development programmes that are directed at reorientation of personnel in compliance with human rights and professional conducts,” he explained. The IG, however, commended policemen in the command for their dedication to crime-fighting and encouraged them to do more in line with international standards. Earlier in his address, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Zubairu Muazu, had expressed dissatisfaction that the IG was visiting the command under unpleasant circumstances. “The Lagos State Police Command would have loved to welcome the IG on a better note than the one that brought him,” he added.

Suspected Herdsmen Kill 18 Persons in Nasarawa, Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti and Igbawase Ukumba in Laﬁa Suspected herdsmen have killed 18 persons in Nasarawa and Ekiti States. While the suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Numa village in Andaha community of Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State killing 16 Mada natives during a naming ceremony on Sunday, another suspected herders killed two people at Iyemero Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, yesterday. The killings of the Mada natives is coming few weeks after some suspected herdsmen reportedly raped a Mada girl to death, which had sparked off a face-off between the herdsmen and the natives. Confirming the ugly incident to journalists in Akwanga, the headquarters of

Akwanga Local Government Area, the senator representing Nasarawa North senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Philip Gyunka, said the celebrants made up of the father, mother and the son were killed during the attack. He described the killings as unfortunate, barbaric and uncalled for. “The unfortunate thing is that both the celebrants- the father, mother and the boy were killed. A pregnant woman is involved in this attack. An aged person above 100 years is also involved in the attack.” “They did not spare women or children and this are the people that don’t have arms,” he explained. Also, the paramount ruler of Mada, Samuel Gamu-Yare, while speaking to journalists in his palace about the attack on his subjects, said “this thing happened like a thunder strike in the night and the terrain

was too accessible and when we informed the police, the perpetrators have vanished.” Gamu-Yare, who is the Chun Mada, confirmed that 16 people of Mada extraction died in the attack. “We have 16 deaths while several others were critically wounded. “Some of the assassins we have identified and some names were mentioned and handed over to the security agents,” the monarch explained. “The situation is quite unfortunate, devastating that a peaceful, law abiding and innocent community like mine, which over decades have never involved in skirmishes either internally or externally, would be attacked when in celebration mood of a naming ceremony by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen,” he added. In a related development, no fewer than two persons

were killed by suspected herders at Iyemero Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State in the early hours of yesterday. Three other persons were macheted during the attack with many displaced from their residences by these assailants, who were said to have invaded the farmstead. The gory incident occurred at a farmstead called Eda, one of the communities under Iyemero town. Sources identified one of the dead as Mr. Danjuma Ali, a Muslim farmer, while the identity of the second person, whose bodies had been deposited in the morgue of the General Hospital, Ikole Ekiti was still unclear as at the time of filling this report. Those undergoing medicare at the emergency section of the Federal Teaching Hospital(FETHI), Ido Ekiti include: Mrs. Jennifer Akoko , Mr. Joseph Achebe, and one

NLC Cautions FG against Borrowing The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to be cautious on the issue of borrowing both within and outside the country. The General Secretary of the union, Dr. Peter OzoEson, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja. “We now owe a debt stock in excess of N24 trillion, which is quite excessive. We can take comfort that we are not excessively breaking out of the guidelines. “However, we take the view that it is not just the technical matter of the debt to GDP ratio alone that we should be focusing on; more importantly, we should be focusing on debt service

burden. “The amount we spent to service the amount annually can then become a major drag on the annual budget and that is the situation we are worried about. “Borrowing in itself is not bad if you deploy a borrowed fund to generate the capacity to service such loans. So, what is crucial is the utilisation of the cumulative borrowing, that we have done,” he said. Ozo-Eson explained that the federal government has continued to borrow to finance infrastructure. “We want a situation in which borrowed funds are quickly used to execute projects that have the capacity to generate income.

“If you use the fund judiciously and quickly create railway infrastructure between two major towns and you run those rails efficiently and commercially. You should be able to service that loan from the proceeds that are then generated from the rail service. “I am not sure we are matching borrowing to match our specific projects so that we can expect those projects to run in a way to service those loans. I think these are things we need to start focusing on. “Take for instance, the rail service between Kaduna and Abuja, it is booming due to the complete collapse of security on the highways. “Now, we also hear of

syndicates that are now taking advantage and there are manipulation of tickets and things like that; those are haemorrhages. “We need to manage this such that it can generate sufficient fund that can be used to service what loan went into its own creation,” he said. Ozo-Eson said that Nigeria must be creative to ensure that the loans are sustainable. “I think that we need in a creative way to do these kinds of things for those loans to be sustainable. “We should be careful not to be back to those days, so that debt overhang will not become a major drag on our capacity to finance development,” he said.

other victim. “It has happened again today, it has been a recurrent killing. Some herders called Bororo stormed the farmstead and shot these innocent people,” one of the sources said. “They came around 1a.m. and were there till dawn. Our farmers were all afraid to go their farmsteads. They all rushed to the Palace of Oba Ebenezer Agboola Ogungbemi, the Olu of Iyemero Ekiti to take refuge. The Olu of Iyemero , Oba Ogungbemi and Olu-inCouncil, restated their calls for establishment of a police station in the town to curb what they described as these vampires. The monarch, who spoke through the palace spokesman, Chief Ariyo Abejide, said there was urgent need for the teeming population of farmers in the

farmstead to be protected and secured by the security agencies from another seemingly and imminent attacks and onslaught from the marauders. “These Fulani herders stormed the community through the border of Iyemero at Eruku in Kwara State. This makes Iyemero a porous exit and entrance, which portend dangers and insecurity to the community, Ikole Local Government Area and the state in general”. Also, the head of security and community vigilante group, Chief Jimoh Eshikin called on the state government to empower the village hunters in order to assist the security agents in effective security surveillance and patrol. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said he has not been briefed about the matter.

PDP WARNS INEC OVER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MATERIALS

It, therefore, called on the electoral umpire to end its shenanigan and release the documents without further delay.

We Won't Engage in Media War over Issues Pending Before Court, Says Commission Meanwhile, the commission has said it is aware that there are petitions pending before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal. Its National Commissioner and Chairman Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, maintained that the commission is a law-abiding institution and would continue to accord the requisite respect to judicial institutions and obey the orders of court. He told THISDAY: "The commission is also aware that issues have been joined in the

said petitions as the petitioners have filed their petitions and the respondents have responded to the petitions. The commission as one of the respondents in the petition filed by the PDP and its presidential candidate has responded to the said petition. "The commission is aware that very senior lawyers are representing the petitioners and the respondents in relation to the said petitions. "The commission is a lawabiding institution and will not argue or canvass in the media, petitions that are sub-judice and where the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal is firmly seized of the issues. "The lawyers representing the petitioners are seized of the state of the law and the course to take if they truly believe that the commission is in disobedience of the orders of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.”

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS Gunmen Abduct 18 People in Kogi Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja Eighteen people were abducted yesterday by gunmen in different locations in Kogi State, worsening the state of insecurity in the Confluence State. While 14 passengers travelling in a commercial bus were abducted by suspected kidnappers along LokojaKabba road, four persons were kidnapped between Oshokoshoko and Obajana in the early hours of yesterday on their way to Lokoja. The four victims were reported to be travelling from Ayetoro Gbede in Kogi West

to Lokoja, the state capital. The four victims were identified as: Mr. Jamiu Idris (driver); Mr. Omole Olubunmi; Chief Olugbemide Oladele; and Elder Simon Adebayo. It was however, gathered that the fifth person in the car was a physically-challenged man who was set free by the kidnappers. THISDAY gathered that the abduction of the 14 passengers occurred yesterday at about 8a.m. when the bus they were travelling in from Ayetoro to Lokoja was attacked. It was gathered that the kidnappers abducted their 14 victims at Obajana-Kabba

road. The kidnappers numbering five, and fully armed with AK47, barricaded the road, forced the bus to stop, and ordered all the passengers to alight from the vehicle. A commercial driver popularly known as Sapamo

who could not escape immediately, was attacked by the gunmen. In the last three months, kidnappers have taken over the major highways in Kogi State particularly, Lokoja-Abuja road; Okene-Lokoja road; Obajana-Kabba road, and

Itobe-Anyigba road, where they carried out their nefarious acts. Many innocent people have been kidnapped by the hoodlums. Those who could pay the ransom were released from captivity, while those who

could not meet up were killed. However, all efforts to confirm the two latest incidents from the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Williams Ayah, were not successful as he didn’t pick the calls put across to his mobile phone.

Nigerian, Cameroonian Troops Kill 27 Terrorists Recover gun trucks, machine guns Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Nigerian Troops of Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole in a joint clearance operation with the Cameroon Defence Forces, were said to have killed 27 insurgents and recovered large cache of arms and ammunition yesterday. The killing, according to a statement by the Nigerian Army, followed a fierce encounter between the troops and the terrorists in the Northern parts of Wulgo, Tumbuma, Chikun Gudu and Buka Maryam villages and the fringes of Gamboru-Ngala in Borno State. An update provided by Army Spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, said 27 terrorists were

killed in the fire-fight. He said troops recovered five gun trucks, several motor cycles, five AK 47 rifles, two anti-aircraft guns, five rocket-propelled gun tube bombs and 1,000 assorted rounds of different calibrate ammunition. Musa said there was no casualty on the part of Nigerian and Cameroonian troops. “Coordinated military operation is ongoing especially in the fringes of Gombaru - Ngala and surrounding areas to deal with the fleeing bandits running out from Multi National Joint Task Force (Op Yamcin Tafki) onslaught on their hideouts”, he said.

I APPRECIATE YOUR WARM RECEPTION…

L-R: Edo State Acting Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu (left), receiving plague from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, during a courtesy visit by the Chief of Army Staff to the Government House, Benin City...yesterday

Alleged Certificate Forgery: Autopsy Report Links Civil Defence Officer’s Death to Head Injury Hospital, Abuja, after the at about 7.25 a.m. on March is referred to as cerebral Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Inspector General of Police, 20, 2019, which led to his oedema. Blunt force injury to Court Strikes out Suit The autopsy report on the Mohammed Adamu ordered receiving repeated blows to the head is a well-recognised late Assistant Superintendent the test. the head and body with fists cause of cerebral oedema, a against Bindow of the Nigerian Security and The autopsy revealed that and batons, both there and condition in which there is Civil Defence Corps (NSCDS), Jumbo’s death was unnatural, later on in the police station. severe impairment of brain

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yesterday struck out a suit challenging the nomination of Governor Muhammed Bindow as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Adamawa State. Justice Ekwo struck out the suit filed by another governorship aspirant and chieftain of the APC in the state, Mahmud Ahmed for lack of jurisdiction. Delivering ruling on the preliminary objection filed by Bindow, the judge held that the suit has become academic exercise and will not confer any benefits to either of the two parties. The judge held that since the governorship election had been conducted and winner declared, the issue of nomination for a party that had lost in the election was not relevant, having been overtaken by event. Justice Ekwo said he declined jurisdiction to go into the substantive matter because the end result would be of no use to the two main parties in the matter. Ahmed who came second in the primary election that

produced Bindow as APC governorship candidate had asked the court to disqualify Bindow on the grounds that the governor supplied false information relating to his academic qualification to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC). The plaintiff through his counsel, Ubong Akpan, prayed the court to invoke section 177 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2010 to declare as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and, to bar the electoral body from accepting the purported nomination. He also applied for another order prohibiting the APC from submitting Jubrilla’s name to INEC and that having come second he should be used to substitute Jubrilla. However, the governor filed a preliminary objection asking the court to decline jurisdiction to hear the suit on the ground that the election had been conducted and lost by the APC and, as such the issue of nomination has become academic exercise. Justice Ekwo who upheld the preliminary objection agreed that there was no cause of action to pursue by the parties. He subsequently struck out the suit.

Oche Ochigbo Jumbo, has revealed that he died from the head injuries he received during the scuffles with two traffic wardens in Nyanyan, an Abuja suburb on March 20. THISDAY gathered last night that three renowned pathologists carried out the autopsy on the civil defence officer on March 26 at the Maitama General

saying it resulted from “multiple skin and soft tissue injuries, blunt force injury to the head and cerebral oedema.” “Death was due to the blunt force injury to the head”. He was said to have been involved in an altercation with traffic wardens at the traffic control point on Redeemed Junction along Nyanya-Karshi road,

“He collapsed and was taken first to Nyanya General Hospital, and then to Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja where he was certified dead by 10.30a.m. that same day.“The brain was swollen as evidenced by widening of the folds of brain tissue (gyri), and narrowing of the spaces in between these folds (sulci). “In medical parlance, this

function. This was the cause of his death,” parts of the report revealed. Those that witnessed the autopsy exercise included the deceased brother, a family lawyer, a Police Detective, John Anebe, a renowned Pathologist from the General Hospital, Asokoro and another from a private hospital, Abuja (names withheld).

UTME: Over 50 Professional Examination Writers Arrested, Says JAMB The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said it has arrested no fewer than 50 professional examination writers who sat for candidates in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The spokesman of the agency, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in the agency’s weekly bulletin published yesterday. According to him, the impostors were arrested nationwide as a result of the various intelligence gathering mechanisms of the board. Benjamin revealed that

some of the suspects arrested were Master’s degree holders, postgraduate and undergraduate students of various tertiary institutions. He added that they connived with owners and operators of some Computer Based Test Centres (CBT) to carry out the crime by engaging in multiple registrations, where the fingerprints of the main candidates were captured side-by-side with that of the impostors. “The modus operandi of these UTME syndicates was confirmed when one of the kingpins was apprehended

recently,” the bulletin said. On interrogation, the JAMB’s spokesman said the culprit confessed to having done multiple registrations of his biometric along with several other candidates with the intention of sitting for them and collecting huge sums of money from the candidates. The bulletin added, “this development is the fundamental reason for the decision of the board to revalidate all biometrics of candidates that have taken the board’s examination in recent times. “This timely action would

enable the board to not only fish out and dismantle these registration cartels and racketeers but also bring them to book along with their collaborators.” Fabian further said the board discovered that a substantial portion of UTME applications yearly comprised such registrations. He noted that JAMB resolved to put measures in place to effect the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in activities capable of subverting the sanctity of the entire examination process and its credibility.

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

US Embassy: We Don’t Enjoy Denying Nigerians Visa The United States Embassy in Nigeria has said its visa officers do not enjoy denying Nigerians visa. In a Facebook post yesterday, the embassy said this is contrary to the opinion held by most Nigerians. It said there are some questions often misunderstood by applicants which earn them a rejection. The embassy said the first step to securing a US visa is to complete the DS 160 form correctly. “Contrary to popular opinion, visa officers do not enjoy handing anyone the 214b refusal letter,” according to the post. “Proof: Visa Officers will be live on Facebook to talk about some of the commonly misunderstood questions on the DS 160 and help you improve your next application.” The embassy, according to

The Cable, said its officers will be on a Facebook Live session at 2 p.m. on Wednesday to answer visa questions and discuss common mistakes seen on the DS 160. However, some rejected applicants disagreed with the position of the embassy as they recounted their unpleasant experiences. One Eunice Erusiafe said his son was denied visa three times, while intending to visit the US for a surgery. “My son was denied visa three times without any reason; he was going for an open-heart surgery (congenital heart defect). The boy is going through a lot of pains right now; I pray God sends help to us,” she wrote. Ufoeze Ugo said she was rejected for admitting that she wasn’t married. “To think I stood before a staff and the first thing he

NECA Raises Concerns over Fuel Subsidy Regime, Rising Debt Profile Chris Uba The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has again expressed concerns at the corruptionridden fuel subsidy regime and the increasing debt profile of the country. This concern is coming as the usual queues resurfaced in filling stations across the country, with the usual attendant suffering. The Director General of the association, Mr. Timothy Olawale, who stated this yesterday, when he addressed members of NECA in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said “like a sore that has refused to heal, the recurrent issue of fuel scarcity has reared up its ugly head again. “We are where we are today because, despite past sound counsel, government has not been faithful to the deregulation of the petrol market of the downstream sector of the oil and gas. “Let us ponder and ask ourselves where the nonderegulation of the petroleum sector has led our economy: continued dependence on offshore sources for petroleum products, supply perennial shortage of petroleum products, loss of productive man-hours as a result of endless hours spent at filling stations, massive and unimaginable corruptions in the management of the subsidy dispensation.” All these, he said, are not sustainable if government can put its act together and muster the necessary political will to do things that are right for the country. Giving insight into the need for urgent deregulation of the downstream oil sector, the NECA boss noted that “over the last decade, the country has spent over N9 trillion on fuel subsidy, about N15.5 trillion on capital expenditure, N2.1 trillion on health and about N3.9 trillion on education. “This is a misplacement

of priority and shows that critical developmental items such as education, health and infrastructure have suffered due to the expenditure on fuel subsidy.” He noted that “by and large, the fuel subsidy regime has succeeded in creating phony and emergency billionaires at the expense of millions of pauperised Nigerians.” Olawale also expressed concern at the growing debt stock of the country with huge percentage of the budget, over the last decade going to debt servicing. He pointed out that “borrowing could have been permissive, given the state of the economy in 2015 but not to the clearly humongous level it has turned out to be.” According to NECA boss, incurring debt for developmental purposes is not in question, but when over N24.39 trillion debt stocks is taking over 20 per cent of annual national budget to debt servicing, it should be enough source of worry. He noted that although the argument of debt-to- GDP ratio is tenable, the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) has warned that Nigeria’s Debtto-GDP ratio, though good, is risky and cannot be guaranteed going forward. He advised that “government should do well to manage the rising debt profile, both at the states and federal levels as this trend portends a gloomy future for the nation.” The NECA helmsman said “increasing debt profile and the corruption-ridden fuel subsidy regime are twin-evils that has clogged the wheel of the nation’s march towards development in the last decade. “Government should do the needful by immediately putting in place a process and enlightenment machinery that will lead to the deregulation of the downstream oil sector and a deliberate disengagement from the debt burden,” he explained.

asked me was: What does your husband do? I answered “Sir, I am not married”. The next thing I heard was ‘sorry ma;

you are not qualified for this visa’. So it is now a must to be married,” Ugo said. “When people are sincere

they are denied. I can’t lie because I want to go to another man’s land.” Magnus Nwanonenyi said he

was invited by a company in US in 2005 to attend three-day conference but was denied visa with no reason given.

A BOOST TO LOCAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT…

L-R:ManagingDirectorofDeepwaterConcessionLimited,Mr.VincentAdegbotolu;ViceChairman/ManagingDirectorofNigerianAgipExploration Limited (NAE), Mr. Lorenzo Fiorillo; Director, Research and Planning of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Patrick Obah; Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Solomon Adeola; and Chief Operating Officer, Upstream of NNPC, Mallam Rabiu Bello, during the handing over of certificate to one of the 10 young Nigerian graduates trained in highly specialised Subsea Engineering course by NAE as part of the company’s programmes to close existing skill gaps of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry…recently

Baru: NNPC Owed No Cash Call Arrears in 2018 Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, yesterday stated that in 2018 fiscal year, the corporation fully paid its share of cash call obligations for oil and gas production to its joint venture (JV) partners. Baru explained that such development also propelled Nigeria’s oil production to record an increase of about nine per cent, thus moving from 1.86 million barrels a day (mbpd) in 2017, to 2.019mbpd in 2018. Speaking at the 12th edition of the annual conference of the Nigerian Association of Energy Economists (NAEE) in Abuja, Baru, said that the corporation’s upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development

Company (NPDC), equally recorded some capacity growth in its production which he noted rose from an average of 108,000 barrels a day (bpd) in 2017 to 165,000 bpd in 2018. According to him, the percentage of NPDC’s production growth within the year under consideration was 52. Baru explained that the negotiation of JV cash call indebtedness to the international oil companies (IOCs) and NNPC’s commitment to meeting its obligations therein has helped restore investors’ confidence in the industry. “Last year, Nigeria’s national average daily crude oil production stood at about 2.019 million barrels. This volume translates to an increase of nine per cent above the 2017 average of 1.86 million barrels and comes as a significant improvement

from the unimpressive production levels recorded on my assumption of office in July, 2016. To underline this, the NPDC in 2018 posted a production growth of 52 per cent compared to 2017 (that is, from an average of 108kbod in 2017 to 165kbod in 2018),” said Baru, who was represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Ventures of NNPC, Dr. Babatunde Adeniran. “We negotiated settlement of the pre-2016 JV cash call arrears and also championed indigenous cash exit/JV selffunding mechanism. So far, we have repaid over $1.5 billion out of the $5.1 billion cash call arrears to date, a development that has not only restored the confidence of IOC JV partners, but has also led to improved reserves growth and crude oil production.” “It was quite fulfilling that in 2018 – that is for the second

year in a row - we concluded the fiscal year without any cash call arrears.” The December 2018 operations and financial report of the NNPC indicated that in 2018, the corporation transferred a total of $4.56 billion to its JV cash call account. He stated that the corporation has also made some gains in ensuring that supply of petrol to Nigerians was stable, adding that a special security taskforce had been set up to tackle instances of products’ hoarding and smuggling. “To entrench our gains and achievements in the steady supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide, a petroleum product monitoring taskforce comprising of NNPC and DSS (Department of State Services) personnel was set up.

NUC Processes Applications for 303 Private Varsities Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The National Universities Commission (NUC) has said it is currently processing 303 new applications for private universities from different parts of Nigeria. The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said the applications were received from groups of individuals, corporate organisations, foundations and faith-based organisations from all over the country. Rasheed spoke in Abuja while delivering a lead paper at the maiden edition of the national summit on private universities with the theme: “Private University Education Delivery in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities.”

The NUC boss further noted that the country currently has 170 universities out of which 79 are private with 38, representing 48.11 per cent owned by faithbased organisations, while 41, representing 51.89 per cent are owned by corporate bodies, foundations or individuals. He said although there were many private universities in the country, most of them were still unable to fulfill their admission quotas as they admit barely six per cent of the total university admissions in the country per session. He, however, stated that the setback was not enough to stop the issuance of licenses as Nigeria needs more universities to cope with the high demand for university education. While admitting that private

universities still face a number of challenges, including non-availability of quality infrastructure and facilities, merit-based student admission, staffing and sustainable funding, Rasheed, however, noted that in spite of these difficulties, the institutions have fared very well. Speaking on the summit, he said the programme was to serve as an avenue for the exchange and promotion of good practices in private university education delivery in Nigeria and to initiate a dialogue on the challenges and opportunities in the subsector. “The summit is also aimed at supporting the Nigerian Government’s effort at developing academic, institutional and executive

capacities within the higher education subsector, to enable it compete effectively and be relevant in an increasingly knowledge-driven world economy,” he said. In a keynote address, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, noted the huge expansion of the Nigerian University System through the application of private resources, rising from 30 universities in 1996 to 170 universities in 2019. Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, urged the institutions to tackle the challenges bedevilling them such as improper staffing, excessive proprietor influences and inadequate funding among others.

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Appeal Court Nullifies Election of Peter Akpatason Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Appeal Court in Benin City yesterday nullified the candidacy of Hon. Peter Akpatason of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for recent election into the House of Representatives. The appellate court also declared null and void, the outcome of the party appeals committee panel headed by former governor of Edo State, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor,

recognising Akpatason, representing Akoko -Edo Federal constituency Delivering it’s judgment, the appeal court declared the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Kabiru Adjoto as the candidate of the party for Akoko-Edo federal constituency. Justice Moore AbrahamAdumein who read the judgment, confirmed Adjoto as the rightful candidate of the party in the appeal brought before it by the respondent

FG Shortlists Three Consortia for Acquisition of Afam Genco The federal government has granted approval to three consortia to participate in the financial bids opening for the acquisition of 100 per cent shares in Afam Electricity Generation Company. A statement issued yesterday by the Head, Public Communications, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Amina Othman, said that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) gave the approval after its first meeting in 2019, held on April 12. The companies were Diamond Stripes Consortium, Transcorp Power Consortium and Unicorn Consortium. According to her, the three consortia met the benchmark score of 750 points after evaluation in accordance with the criteria set out in the Requests for Proposal (RfPs). She said that other decisions taken by the council included approval for Quest Electric Nigeria Limited to proceed to the financial bids opening stage for the re-privatisation of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC). It also approved the appointment of Lead Capital Consortium as Financial Adviser for the restructuring, recapitalisation, and partial privatisation of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA). The council appointed Vesta Healthcare Partners as consultants to carry out diagnostic review of the Nigerian

Health Secto. It delisted Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja from post Privatisation monitoring by the BPE. Also decided on was the privatisation of the Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) through a strategic core investor sale and commencement of the process of listing it in the schedule of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation & Commercialisation) Act 1999. Othman said that the privatisation of Afam Electricity Generation Company, which encapsulates, Adam Power Plc and Afam Three Fast Power Limited, could not be concluded during the first round of the power privatisation in 2013 due to issues stemming from gas supply to the plant. “Following the termination of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) signed between Taleveras (the then Preferred Bidder) and BPE in 2016, council at its first meeting of 2017 held on August 22 and 23, approved the privatisation of the enterprise based on a strategy to be recommended by the transaction Advisers. “For the YEDC, although it was successfully privatised and handed over to the core investor in 2013, a force majeure was declared in 2015 by the core investor citing insecurity in the North-East region of the country. “Following this, the company was duly repossessed by the federal government,” she said.

who claimed he won the party’s primary election but was denied the ticket. Justice Moore AbrahamAdumein also said that the trial court (lower court) that first heard the matter ought to have heard the case brought before it since it is its duty to do so but noted that “the trial court for reasons best known to it failed or neglected to make any pronouncement on the live issue before it. According Justice Abraham-Adumein, the Osunbor committee was not

properly constituted because the committee contravenes Article 21 B of the APC guidelines which says “no member of the five-member appeals committee shall be from the state of assignment” and so the committee ought not to hear the case. He said referring the case back to the trial court (Federal High Court) would have been statute-bared but that having considered the evidences before the lower court which it did not consider, Adjoto won the primary election as the

Returning Officer during the election, Hon. Sufiyanu Igbafe declared that Adjoto scored 7,034 votes as against his opponent, Honourable Peter Akpatason who scored 5,606 votes. “This appeal is hereby unanimously allowed and the prayers sought by the appellant in the trial court are hereby granted and the sum of N300,000 is hereby awarded as cost against the 1st and 2nd respondents”, Justice Abraham-Adumein declared.

He said his two colleagues; Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme who is the presiding justice and Justice Tunde Efotoye agreed with the judgment. Counsel to Akpatason, Omoh-Ige Adebayo said they would contest the judgment in the Supreme Court while an elated Adjoto said “the judiciary is not only the last hope of the common man but also of the big man” and promised to give more representation to his people than he has given in the state assembly.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR VISIT …

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), presenting a souvenir to Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, during IG’s visit to the governor at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja…yesterday

FG Mulls Privatisation of Christian Pilgrimage’s Services Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has said that plans are underway to involve the private sector in the organisation and handling of pilgrimage activities. The federal and state governments currently oversee the handling of pilgrimage exercise in the country. Speaking during a thanksgiving service for a successful 2018 pilgrimage exercise, held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Parish, Central

Business District Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev. Tor Uja, said the commission was working towards moving pilgrimage from government enterprise to a private enterprise. In a statement issued by the NCPC Media unit, Uja, he quoted NCPC as urging Christians to take ownership of pilgrimage and sponsor its activities. He further disclosed that the commission had registered over 120 Christian Pilgrimage Operators (CPOs) to help in the organisation of the pilgrimage trips.

Uja challenged the northern Christians to set up CPOs and take up their responsibility so that they can serve the needs of the people in the north. He said that the major goal of the commission is to see that Christians should be at the centre of pilgrimage and use pilgrimage activities to preach the gospel in Nigeria and the world at large. According to him, “We want our pilgrimage to be such that everyone who goes on pilgrimage should have an encounter with Christ.” Uja stressed the need

for Nigerians to be good Ambassadors of Nigeria, adding that anyone who goes on pilgrimage should build leadership, productive and national development in every sphere of their lives. While assessing the activities of the commission during the 2018 pilgrimage exercise, Uja said that despite the challenges it faced the commission was able to conclude its mission successfully. “No live was lost and every activity of the commission in 2018 recorded a huge success’’, he added.

APC, called at the instance of the factional state Chairman, Prince Peter Odike, at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt. He said, “Everybody who wants to be part of the APC should come let us build the party. I have ended my own ambition for 2019 here, today. I am now a member of the party just like everybody else, and I am ready to support the party in any way. “I call on everybody who has interest in this party, whose expectations, aspirations one way or the other were not met to also drop whatever ambitions they have. Let us come together and face the task of rebuilding our party. “There is one single rule of progress which I will like to share with all of you. That rule is that when you are in a hole, stop digging. There is no point pretending that the APC in Rivers State is not in a hole. We are in a hole. Let us stop digging. “Because if you continue to dig,

you go deeper into the hole; so all those who are accusing anybody against anybody, blaming anybody, doing this or that let us stop it so that we can save this party. “This appeal is across board. In moving forward, it will take a lot of sacrifices on the part of everybody. We must understand that it is our own determination that will make the APC work for Rivers people”. He urged the party’s leadership to work with the Peter Odike-led executive in the state which he said is recognised by an extant court judgment in order to begin the task of putting things right in the party. His words: “Based on the existing judgment of the Supreme Court, which stopped the congresses in Rivers State at that time and voided those that have been held, the only legitimate executive of the party is the one that the court says should maintain the status quo. “That is the executive led by Chief Peter Odike. There is

every need therefore to begin the urgent, necessary, important and inescapable task of putting the APC together in Rivers State. And it has to be done through the legitimate executive of the party. “I wish to use this opportunity to call on the national leadership of the party to stop doing anything that will promote illegality, confusion, and problem in the APC in Rivers State. “They should work with Odike so that we can begin to put things together. For there to be order, decency, and progress in any society, there must be an end to every dispute and every litigation. “So the pronouncement by the Supreme Court brought an end to our agitation for the direct primaries. “Henceforth, when you hear APC do not say Magnus for Governor, do not say Magnus the Governor, do not say Magnus 2023. Do not say anything. Say change. That is the slogan of our party”.

Nigeria’s Birth Registration Increases by 100%, Says UNICEF Abe Drops Governorship Ambition, Insists on Rebuilding Rivers APC “Low rate of birth Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that the birth registration rate in Nigeria has increased by over 100 per cent, even as children registration between the ages of zero and 17 has increased by 29 million. In a birth registration evaluation report released yesterday, UNICEF said the birth registration programme was implemented by the National Population Commission (NPC) with support from the children’s organisation. UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Fall, said the report showed that for children under one year of age, the programme increased by more than 100 per cent the number of children registered; that is, from three million in 2012 to 11 million in 2016.

registration is a challenge in Nigeria. In 2011, the birth registration rate was 41 per cent, which means that three in every five children were not registered.“This lack of birth registration negatively affects a child’s ability to access his or her right to health care, education and many other rights. “It is in this context that the programme was initiated to accelerate birth registration rates, particularly for children under the age of five, between 2012 and 2016, ‘’ he said. Fall said that the programme made significant improvements in strengthening the birth registration system in Nigeria. According to him, at the level of infrastructure, the numbers of NPC registrars/ centres increased to nearly 4,000 in 2016 from about 3,000 in 2012.

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

The Senator representing Rivers South-east senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has said he has dropped his ambition of becoming the Governor of Rivers State in 2019 following the ruling of the Supreme Court that has ended the legal tussle in the party. He has also declared that it is time to rebuild the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, adding that the task of rebuilding rest on all those who have an interest in seeing the party grow. The task, he said, is left for party members and not for one man to decide the direction and future of the party in the state. Abe also appealed to the national leadership of the party to refrain from doing anything that would promote illegality and confusion within the party in the state. The former governorship aspirant spoke during a stakeholders meeting of the

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T H I S D AY Ë¾ TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019

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COMMENT

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

LESSONS FROM SUDAN AND ALGERIA Happenings in Sudan and Algeria hold lessons for Nigeria, writes Iliyasu Gadu

ike a phoenix, the Arab spring rose from the brutal civil war in Syria to claim the thrones of two African Arab leaders: Omar El-Bashir of Sudan and Abdel Aziz Bouteflika of Algeria. In a twist of irony, Sudan’s El- Bashir was the first Arab leader to visit Syria after signalling a normalisation of relations with that country following the civil war that engulfed it in the attempt to oust its leader Bashir Al Assad from power by rebel forces.

The two leaders fell from power on account of two familiar factors of the African experience: rising prices of essential items, unemployment and corruption, as well self-perpetuation in power. In the case of El-Bashir he had been in power for 30 years since 1989 after ousting the civilian administration of Sadiq Mahdi in a military coup led by him. In that period that he had been in office his country had been engulfed from one crisis after another, the two most prominent being the government sponsored genocide in Darfur region and the civil war in the country which led to the secession and creation of the republic of South Sudan. These two issues drew worldwide attention leading to declaration of El-Bashir as a war criminal by the International Criminal Court (ICC). For Algeria’s Bouteflika, it was the issue of his seeking a fifth term in office, compounded by the fact that he was almost in a vegetative state and has to be confined to a wheelchair. In his own case, he was a compromise choice by the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) to rule the country following a leadership stalemate. Bouteflika, a popular veteran of the Algerian war of Independence from France was thus chosen by the leadership of the FLN to hold the fort as it were. But like El- Bashir of Sudan, he had outlived his welcome and coupled with the dire economic situation the people of Algeria felt he should go. In the aftermath of the events in Sudan and Algeria, there have been discussions on whether same could happen here in Nigeria. There are those who will argue that as a democracy where there are constitutional checks and balances against any ruler who would want to perpetuate himself in power, what happened in Sudan and Algeria will not happen here. They will also point out that unlike in Sudan where the issue of bread shortage was one of the serious grievances that led to El-Bashir’s downfall, we do not have a bread crisis here in Nigeria because bread is in plentiful and in affordable supply across the country. There is also the argument that the existential issue of ethnic and religious differences among others which has eaten deep into the body politic of Nigeria will act as a draw back against any united front against underperforming rulers. My submission is that notwithstanding the foregoing arguments, what happened in Sudan and Algeria could well happen here. In Nigeria today we are faced with very serious economic issues with rising poverty as the most prominent indicator. Indeed a recent report found Nigeria as the country with

THE AVERAGE NIGERIAN SEES VERY LITTLE OF THE STATE IN HIS LIFE. FROM HIS MEAGRE EARNINGS HE PROVIDES HIS OWN HEALTH CARE NEEDS, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, WATER, ENERGY AND POWER ALONG WITH OTHER BASIC NEEDS

the poorest people in the world, overtaking India in that category. Another put Nigeria as the sixth most miserable country in the world. While poverty could be termed as relative and not necessarily a factor to trigger the sort of events in Sudan and Nigeria, what should concern us more is that as the incidence of poverty is increasing in areas worse hit, the presence and authority of the state as a benevolent institution is seen to be receding in Nigeria. The average Nigerian sees very little of the state in his life. From his meagre earnings he provides his own health care needs, education, transportation, water, energy and power along with other basic needs. While those at the relatively higher strata of the social ladder can afford with some difficulty take care of those needs, those at the bottom strata who are finding it difficult to meet those needs are however resorting to extreme forms of self-help. Thus a combination of rising poverty and very little presence of benevolent state intervention has fawned the upsurge and seeming intractable incidences like kidnapping and other forms of criminal insurgencies. In themselves, these developments are fundamentally more dangerous to the country than street demonstrations against certain policies. Criminal insurgencies have morphed from their petty forms to become an economic enterprise and way of life for its practitioners complete with gadgetries, division of labour hierarchical structure, and operational territories. In large parts of Nigeria today outside of state capitals, bandits of all descriptions rule the turf, kidnapping, robbing, extorting, maiming, looting, killing and destroying lives and livelihoods. These activities have proven to be devoid of any religious or ethnic sentiments. Those engaged are motivated by their own basic instincts of surviving in an increasingly desperate socio-economic society and they are taking advantage of the receding relevance of the state in their lives to operate. While we may describe these activities as insecurity, it is in reality more fundamental than that. It is a reflection of the state of the state where people long used to being left out by the state as an institution have resorted to establish, assert and exact their own authority within a state that they feel is non-existent in their lives. The danger in all these is that those engaged in these activities in a bid to finance the cost will continue to expand the frontiers of the enterprise in the process, taxing the ability of the state to confront and neutralise them. This is where we should draw the lessons of what occurred in Sudan and Algeria. In the case of those two countries the action of the populace in removing these two rulers had as its collective objective the strengthening and legitimising the state. In Nigeria however the activities which we see and term as criminal insurgency and insecurity are in reality existential symptoms of a rapidly failing state which if not fundamentally tackled may result in delegitimizing the state as happened in some African states. And what may result from that will even be worse than the events in Sudan and Algeria.

Ilgad2009@gmail.com

IDPS CAMP AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Tayo Ogunbiyi writes that Lagos State is making the best of its displaced peoples’ camp

hough the gory incidence of the building collapse at Ita Faji, Lagos Island has come and gone, its fallouts have continued to resonate. In the aftermath of the sad event and in line with international best practices, the state government swiftly embarks on a systematic process of demolishing defective buildings across Lagos Island. This is basically a precautionary measure to forestall future occurrence of such gruesome episode. Naturally, in the process, some people were displaced and there was an urgent need to resettle them. It is therefore out of the quest to relocate them that the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Resettlement Centre, Igando, in Alimosho Local Government Area, became a sure option. The camp has facilities to provide relief for affected victims, including those living with disabilities. It has five hostels with 22 rooms each, four double bunk beds and is capable of accommodating eight persons per room. The centre also has a kitchen facility, a dining hall, a general hall to be used for recreational activities, a three-ward medical facility, a set of 10 toilets and bathrooms for each hostel, sets of three bedroom flats for members of staff, facilities for persons living with disabilities, security post, power-generating set, among others. Presently, the camp has come to life with over 300 displaced persons, including children, teenagers and adults. At first, reports had it that a lot of them were quite apprehensive of moving to the camp because they were not too convinced of its suitability. But upon getting to the camp, the earlier callers had to send words to others about the comfort of the camp as well as other mouth- watering welfare package

on ground. At the camp, the displaced persons are fed three square meals daily. Also, they have recreational facilities that keep them busy and excited while a medical team is on ground to ascertain the health status of the people and equally offer relevant medical assistance as might be needed. The Igando General Hospital is handling referrals from the camp. Similarly, government provided three buses to convey children to and from their schools while their parents were equally ferried daily to their respective offices. This has really helped in terms of helping them to reduce emotional and physical stress. The whole essence is to ensure that the effect of loss on the victims is mitigated to the barest minimum. Meanwhile, the camp is to be opened for three months, after which government would review the need for an extension. Emergency management and preparedness has been a reactive science. In recent history, disaster awareness through the 24/7-news cycle has intensified the concept of emergency management integration into our daily lives. Through continued awareness and dedicated mitigation advancements, the effects of future disasters can be limited. In Lagos State, emergency management is a significant part of government’s overall strategy for achieving a smart city. The state has today invested heavily on emergency and disaster preparedness and response because its growing population is highly vulnerable to emergency situations like inferno, building collapse, road accident, floods, suicide and others. The consequences of disasters could be in term of loss of lives and property and in the long term can include serious setbacks to the

state development plans. Hence, plans are needed, not only for responding to the impact of disaster, but also to maintain business continuity while managing the crisis, and to guide recovery and reconstruction effectively. To a large extent, a solid, well-planned emergency response system that routinely includes the educated participation of the community is the most important preparation for a disaster. In Lagos, LASEMA was established vide LASEMA Law 16 of 2008 for emergency and disaster management in the state in pursuance to decree 12 of 1999 as amended by Act No. 50 of 1999 which established the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The agency is statutorily empowered to respond to fire-fighting (co-ordinate with fire services), flood control, collapsed building, evacuation, search and rescue operations, environmental pollution, crowd control/ cordon off affected areas, public enlightenment on safety issues, perform general life saving activities including provision of relief materials and to clear and remove objects that constitute the carcass or remains of incidents. Today, due to continuous funding and proper management, the agency has grown in leaps and bounds. Unarguably, Lagos has been exceptional in term of investment and achievements in emergency responses and this claim is evidence-based. LASEMA is now optimally responding to the challenges of disaster management with improved preparedness and responses. When people get trapped in vehicles during accidents and emergency responders are on ground at the scene, the absence of equipment that would enable them to break into the affected vehicle to rescue the victims usually renders the whole

rescue operation meaningless. This explains why the state government has not just decentralized the operations of LASEMA, but each response unit has been equipped with a new ultra-modern equipment (trucks, power bikes, heavy-duty vehicles and fire trucks, mobile intensive care ambulances and light rescue equipment, and 14 new BMW power bikes for on-spot reconnaissance assessments of emergency incidents and to boost the sea, air and land capacities of the state emergency responders. In furtherance to the need to provide proper extrication equipment for timely rescue of trapped victims in any form of life-threatening emergencies, LASEMA in February, 2018, procured light rescue equipment, which included hydraulic rescue equipment with power unit attached with spreader, rescue ram, cutters combi tools and concrete cutters distributed to all the dispatch centres. The agency has also extended its response to emergencies beyond Lagos. In most cases, accidents along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway stretch into Lagos, thereby affecting residents who work in Lagos but live in border towns including Magboro, Arepo, Kara, Ibafo, Mowe, among others. To further strengthen emergency management, about 70 ad hoc staff of the agency was recently absorbed into the state civil service. Equally, a special allowance is paid to staff of the agency in order to get the best out of them. Without a doubt, it is safe to affirm that Lagos State is poised to take emergency management to new heights. It must, however, be stressed that the citizenry need to embrace safety culture and practice in its entire ramification. This way, the rate of man-made emergency occurrences would be extremely reduced. Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

T H I S D AY TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019

EDITORIAL The Anambra Law On Funerals The new law against expensive burials is welcome

ow a family chooses to bury their loved ones should not be the business of anyone. It is a private affair. But the ostentation that goes with funerals in Nigeria, especially for those who profess Christianity, is worrisome. In some parts of the country, funerals have become a burdensome and competitive exercise. Sometimes a dead relative is deposited in a morgue for between three months and one year. Some people go as far as taking loans or even selling land just for the purpose of making the burial of their relation “a great celebration of life” even if the deceased died of hunger. It is against this background that we situate the recent passage into law by the Anambra House of Assembly of a bill to control burial and funeral ceremonies in the state. Sponsored by Hon. Charles Ezeani, the THE MONEY USED FOR bill provides that “in EXTRAVAGANT BURIALS the event of death, no person shall COULD BE BETTER deposit any corpse APPLIED TO HELP THE in the mortuary or LIVING any place beyond two months from the date of death, while burial ceremonies shall be for one day only.” It also banned the destruction of property, ﬁring of gunshots, praise singing and blocking of roads and streets during burial ceremonies in the state, warning that defaulters would be punished according to the law. In addition, the law provides that from commencement, “no person shall subject any relation of the deceased person to a mourning period of more than one week from the date of the burial ceremony.” Although we do not know how some provisions of the law will be enforced without infringing on the rights of citizens, we commend the spirit behind it. We also commend the Catholic Bishop of

Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor who started the campaign against expensive burials in Anambra State. “I always seize any available opportunity to speak on the dangers of wasteful burials and funerals among our people. I have insisted that what we should be talking about is how to give our people decent and beﬁtting living and not beﬁtting funerals by which we mean mindless display of extravagance. The money used for extravagant burials could be better applied to help the living,” said the Bishop who was appointed a resource person for the bill by the lawmakers.

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

part from the cost of the caskets, there are several other expensive trappings that have made the task of burying the dead a humongous albatross in our country such that many people end up being pauperized afterwards. Without prejudice, Christians do have something to learn from their Muslim compatriots regarding the conduct of funerals. Muslims bury their dead within 24 hours in a manner that is simple and devoid of any ostentation. More disturbing is that sometimes the person being buried in a golden casket suffered neglect in the hands of the same relatives. In fact the person whose corpse is in a mahogany coffin and carried in a Rolls Royce ambulance probably never entered a private vehicle all their life. To the extent that moderation is what Christianity preaches, we fail to understand where its adherents in Nigeria got the idea that they must break the bank in order to give “befitting burials” to their deceased relations. The message from the Anambra lawmakers is that the most befitting burial rites would be to set up a charity foundation or a trust fund and dedicate the millions of naira wasted in a single day of funeral to the education of the less privileged and providing succour for the poor. This will offer a more lasting legacy to the memory of the dead than expensive coffin and other lavish expenses.

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AS KADPOLY HONOURS MKO ABIOLA

ood deeds are like smoke from fire that can never be hidden from people while they illuminate like fire that shows people the right way to follow. Meanwhile, talking about good people sets people on the right path to emulate them and make them feel the fragrances of their good efforts and taste their struggles. Exposing one to the successes of others is intended to impose endurance, perseverance and good quality in the minds of the people and their tales lure people to follow their footsteps. Good people are God people because they always do what is good and shun the castigating acts. It is good to be good to get good reward and commendations even after death. Good deeds are good teachers that their actions and wealth of impacts never die because history engrave them and write their names in gold. One of the personalities that his name is written with indelible mark in history is Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popular known as M.K.O Abiola. His contributions to national development spanned all human ramifications and democratic developments. It is for the solid reason that Kaduna Polytechnic deemed it very important to immortalize the winner of the June 12 Presidential candidate.

The rector of Kaduna Polytechnic, Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje has done a thing that deserves special commendation, for believing that M.K.O Abiola should rise in Kaduna Polytechnic and set a new thinking in the minds of students that come to learn. His request from the Hon. Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to approve the change of the male hostel in the College of Business and Management Studies to M.K.O Abiola is a testimony of the adage of the Hausa people that says: what a great man sees from afar cannot be seen by a child. It is a good thinking that will produce resilient youths that will serve the country better with vision and passionate nationalism. Chief Abiola was awarded GCFR posthumously on 6 June 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s democracy day was changed to June 12 for believing to be the victor of the 1993 democratic election. To resuscitate the good virtues of late Abiola, there are other names of places that are rekindling his deeds like the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, while there was also the effort of former President Goodluck Jonathan to immortalize him by naming the University of Lagos Moshood Abiola University but the proposal was rejected by the alumni and students. Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Kaduna

RELIGION AT THE ROOT OF CORRUPTION

f mankind continues to live in denial about the real cause of a vexing social issue, then that palaver will continue to trouble mankind and the spinoff from such stubborn point-of-view are societies that are stupid in their progression. Presently, in Nigeria, there are myriad “theories” about the causes of corruption and poverty in our society but none of this postulate has yet to hit the point because everyone is ducking shooting straight at the bull’s eye, and that is why we have fanciful posturing that “16 years of PDP wrecked all,” this strange position even coming from the mouth of a law professor. But religion is to blame for corruption at all levels and widespread poverty like we know them in Nigeria today: when a religion preaches a Shangri-la doctrine that is class conscious in the mould of the Hindu caste system and if the promise of sexual escapade is thrown in the mix, then you have a recipe for societal self-destruction. This class-structure mentality that tells the adherents that the

“superior ones” are naturally wealthy because of their birth status and skin colour (relate this idea to the Brahmin upper-class of Hinduism caste), and because of the privileged wealth these ones could indulge in plural marriages for full-measure sexual dress-rehearsal pre-paradise, then someone should explain to me how anyone of this “superior ones” could manage public office and public finance knowing that the task of series of expensive pilgrimages are also thrown in the overall mix. For those who are poor and who are the “inferior ones” as a result of their black skin colour (relate this idea to the Dalit lowest-class of Hinduism caste), and for whom collective wealth could not be shared, then they should just indulge in sexual pleasure to equally full measure, birth like rats, and well, just continue to pray and bash America and blame PDP. What does such mentality beget? Corruption and poverty. Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Kaduna Constitutes 10-man Commission of Inquiry to Investigate Kajuru Crisis John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Government has constituted a judicial commission of inquiry to look into the crisis in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state, which has led to many deaths and destruction. Hundreds of people have been killed while over 11,000 others have been displaced following persistent invasion of communities by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. Announcing the establishment of the commission in a statement yesterday in Kaduna, Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to Governor Nasir el-Rufai,

said the commission will be headed by Justice Isa Aliyu, a judge of the Kaduna State High Court. It stated: “During a visit to Karamai community in Kajuru LGA on March 2, 2019, Malam Nasir El-Rufai announced that the Kaduna State Government had decided to establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the communal conflict in Kajuru Local Government Area. “The governor explained that building sustainable peace in the area requires that all the facts around the violent conflict be established” the statement said. Members of the

commission include, AVM Abdullahi Shehu (rtd.); Mr. B. C. Osuji; U. U Shehu, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police; Mrs. Hannatu Ugah, a retired Head of Service, Kaduna State; and Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai (rtd). Others are Alhaji Auwal Aliyu Damau, a Permanent Secretary in the Kaduna State Civil Service; Muhammad Sani Isa, a Director at the Interfaith Mediation Centre, Rev. Yusuf Biniyat, a senior pastor of the ECWA Church; and Salim Musa Umar of

the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Edward Andow, a Director in the Ministry of Justice, is to serve as the secretary to the commission, while M.I. Aliyu, a Director of Citizens Right Department, will serve as counsel to the commission. The mandate of the commission, according to the statement, include: “To inquire into or investigate, ascertain and identify the immediate and remote causes of all instances of disturbances from

2017 to date in Kajuru, Kachia, Chikun LGAs and surrounding communities; “Identify individuals, traditional and religious institutions and other associations that might have contributed to the build-up of the disturbances and recommend further action by government; ”Assess, determine and establish the extent of loss of lives and property and other forms of damage caused during the disturbances and identify the perpetrators of the dastardly acts for further

action by government; ”Make any other recommendations to government consequential to or related to any or all these terms of reference “In the light of the Commission’s findings, recommend appropriate legal and other actions to be taken against those responsible for the disturbances; “Make appropriate recommendations to government on steps to be taken to forestall future occurrence of the disturbances.”

Maritime Workers Renew Threat to Shut down Seaports over Apapa-Oshodi Road Eromosele Abiodun Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the umbrella body of maritime workers in the country has threatened to renew its earlier ultimatum to shut down the nation’s seaports over failure by the federal government to fix Apapa Oshodi Expressway. The threat is coming barely one year MWUN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the federal government on the need to fix Tin Can Island end of Apapa Oshodi Expressway. President-General of the union, Adewale Adeyanju stated this when the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ahmed Gambo, paid him a working visit. He lamented that government had promised the union earlier in 2018, to repair the Ijora-Apapa and Oshodi-Apapa expressways before the end of second quarter but noted that nothing has been done to fix the failed portion of Tin Can Island access road. Adeyanju lamented that the communiqué signed by both parties in 2018 has expired, thus the government failed to fulfill its own agreement. The union leader also acknowledged efforts made by the government to reconstruct the Ijora-Apapa road, but bemoaned the dilapidated and abandoned state of the Oshodi-Apapa road. While highlighting some of the challenges faced by the union, the MWUN boss called on the government to put in place measures to fix the deplorable condition of the failed road. “The vice president of this great country came to visit the port last year, he saw the situation of the port and a contract was awarded to the same man constructing the Wharf Road linking Apapa port but we want to know what is happening to Tin Can Island port access road. “What we are saying is that

the government should put some palliative measures on ground which we know will reduce the gridlock on the road and that is the essence of saying we might be forced to renew our suspended ultimatum. “We cannot access Tin Can Island Port, we cannot even access Mile 2; what we told the ministries at the meeting last year was for them to upgrade the roads through palliative measures because Apapa was still under construction then but Apapa port access road is a bit motorable for now and nothing is done to Tin Can port access road, “he said. Adeyanju added, “we will continue to talk until something is done to fix Tin Can Island road, because we all signed a communiqué and this communiqué has elapsed. The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria is not known to be loud when it comes to critical issues like this because what we are saying affects the economic growth of the nation and turnaround time for ships. “We always believe in due process and we signed what we called a communiqué with the federal government last year and the we way things are going right now is that we might be forced to renew that ultimatum.” While commenting on the security agencies deployed to ease gridlock along the ports corridor, the union leader further frowned at the federal government taskforce on port decongestion over alleged extortion on truckers, noting that the situation has led to high cost of transportation. According to him, truck owners have increased haulage charges due to the alleged extortion and molestation of the taskforce at the Ijora Bridge, even as he noted that such actions have caused major setback to the growth of the maritime sector. He said truck owners had threatened to withdraw their services over the alleged extortion, adding that the union intervened to halt that proposed action.

IN HONOUR OF A LEGEND ...

L-R: Head of Service, Edo State, Mr. Edekin Imoukhuede; Representative of the Secretary to Edo State Government, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa; Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Youth Empowerment and Job Creation, Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede; and Mr. Oseomoje Imoukhuede at the media briefing for 30th Memorial Lecture of the first Secretary to Government and Head of Service of the Midwest State J.E Imoukhuede...weekend.

IG Lauds Ambode over Support to Police, Other Security Agencies The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Adamu Mohammed yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode over recent cases of extra-judicial killings recorded in the state, and commended Ambode for the massive support to police and other security agencies in the state, saying the successes recorded in keeping the state safe would not have been possible if not for the support of the governor. “I want to thank Governor Ambode for all his support to the members of the Nigerian Police in Lagos State. Without the support of the Governor, I think the successes we recorded

in the State, would not have been possible. The Governor is the Chief Security Officer in the State and all his policies towards fighting crime have been implemented by the Nigerian Police Force and we felt this is the time to come and thank him,” Mohammed said Responding, Governor Ambode commended the IG for taking it upon himself to promptly address the extra-judicial killings in the state personally, despite his responsibilities across the country, saying it shows responsiveness and seriousness with which the issue was being handled by the police chief. “I want to commend the IG for this visit. Beyond the fact that this

is a courtesy visit and like he has said, he is coming promptly to address the issue of extra-judicial killings that have actually taken place in the last few weeks. “So, for the IG to come promptly himself to address issues that relate to public feelings about SARS and actually talking to the officers and men, that means he is taking the responsiveness within the Nigerian Police seriously before we start to address extra issues that border on the citizens. So, I like to commend him on that act of responsiveness and also say that it is what we should emulate in dealing with management issues that relate with our officers.

“I empathise with the IG because last week, he was in Zamfara; today he is in Lagos and tomorrow he would be in other places. Policing Nigeria is a big challenge but again he is up to the task and we wish him well in his assignment,” Ambode said. He said with just 33,000 officers policing a population of about 24 million in Lagos, the police was already overstretched, but assured that the state government would continue to support the Police and other security agencies to ensure that they carry out their duties lawfully and also to have the human face needed to continue to uphold peace and unity in the country.

Jubilation as Ugwuanyi Flags off Abakpa Nike-Emene Link Road There was jubilation in Enugu yesterday as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi flagged off the construction of the second phase of the all-important Nike Lake-Harmony EstateAdoration Ministry- Emene road in Enugu East Local Government Area, linking the ever-busy Nike road and Emene. The second phase of the road, which will serve as a bypass from Nike Lake junction to Emene, was approved by the state Executive Council (EXCO) a few weeks before

the just concluded general election, after the first phase - construction of five River crossings including culverts and bridges of various sizes, to connect Harmony Estate with the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN) Ground, reached 85 percent completion. Flagging off the road amid jubilation and excitement from the residents, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who was accompanied by the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Priscilla Ngozi Emehelu, the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Alex Ugwu, the House

of Representatives Memberelect, Hon. Prince Cornelius Nnaji, and the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, among others, stated that the project, which was being constructed for the first time in the history of Enugu State, will help to ease traffic movement in Enugu metropolis and beyond. The governor added that the road construction was in line with his administration’s urban and rural development polices “to provide access to the communities in this area and

ensure the full development of the Harmony Housing Estate as well as the surrounding environment”. He disclosed that three kilometres of the 10.5 kilometres road stretching from Emene to the Adoration Ground has already been completed and inaugurated by his administration, stressing that the state government decided to commence the construction of the second phase of 2 kilometers because of the socio-economic importance of the road to the people of the state.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019

POLITICS

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

TRENDING NEWS

Battle For Bayelsa’s Creek Haven Commences Emmanuel Addeh writes on the likely candidates who may make the governorship battle in Bayelsa State and interesting and heated spectacle

Okoko

n many ways, the next governorship election in Bayelsa State, is not only going to be interesting, but will draw both local and international attention. This is so, not just because the state is pivotal to the economic survival of Nigeria, holding a large portion of the country’s oil reserve, but mainly due to the trend of politics in recent times. The last election has been variously compared to a war by the major actors who insist that more than anything, it was a test of the popularity of the incumbent government at the time. While Governor Seriake Dickson does not have the constitutional right to a third term, and therefore will not be contesting directly in the next poll, fixed for November by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all eyes will be on him to throw his support behind his preferred candidate. Though in the last few months, journalists in the state have tried to force words out of the governor’s, suggesting the direction he would move in the coming polls, it is obvious that he is keeping his plans close to his chest, citing the need to consult God and political stakeholders as reasons for his indecisiveness. If anything, the governor, usually seen as very strategic in his political moves, may likely pick an ‘insider’ to succeed him, rather than those he doesn’t really trust, either to continue with his vision for the state or to keep what some might regard as his deep official secrets. As expected, there are a horde of political actors milling around the governor for attention. Others, especially those outside his inner circle, it was gathered, have been reaching out to national leaders who have the respect of the governor to convince him to throw his support behind them. Being a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled-state, the thinking is that if Dickson and former President Goodluck Jonathan, can set aside their differences and work for a common candidate, the election will largely be a walk-over for the party. On the other hand, if both politicians fail to agree, it is believed, then the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) may take the opportunity to inflict serious political injury on the ruling party in the state. But as the race slowly picks up, especially since the announcement by INEC that candidates must emerge by August, some serious contenders as well as pretenders have upped their games. In earnest, many of those interested in taking over Creek Haven, a nickname for the Government House located at Onopa, Yenagoa, have not officially indicated interest, but their covert moves of recent have given them out in an election that will determine who governs the state in the next four years. It might be still early to get a definitive list of emerging candidates of the two popular parties in the state. However, there are clear indicators pointing to a handful of the major contenders interested in taking over Dickson’s job before the end of the year.

Sylva

Keniebi Okoko The name Okoko readily rings a bell in Bayelsa. Though not known to have jostled for an elective political position, Prof. Okoko conjures one thing in the psyche of those who know him- morality in government. This time, it would not be about the amiable Professor, but about his son, Mr. Keniebi Okoko, who hails from Gbarain-Ekpetiama, Yenagoa, which has never produced the leadership of the state since the inception of democracy. Young, highly educated and exposed, the philanthropist has a degree in Political Science from Carlton University as well as a second degree in Economics. He is also a clergy. Added to that are his several leadership and management trainings at the Harvard Business School at the senior executive level. Said to be highly intellectual, Okoko has interests in oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure, engineering procurement, civil construction, marine and dredging. In his private capacity, he has offered employment to several young people. Okoko exudes a lot of confidence about his capacity to turn around the fortunes of the state, though he readily admits that Dickson has done his best for the state. He believes that he is a clean break from the past, with no baggage or political IOUs to pay to anyone who’s sole interest is not the development of Bayelsa State. Okoko, had also expressed his intention to govern the state in 2015. He believes that one of the biggest problems besetting the state is not necessarily lack of money, but poverty of the mind. “Bayelsa as a whole needs to focus on education. Mental poverty is worse than financial poverty. If a mind is not developed and equipped, a man cannot give what he does not have,” says Okoko. According to him, “Our people are not completely exposed to good education systems. Our people are not well travelled like other tribes. The Ijaw man is determined to succeed, if you give the Ijaw man the right playing ground, he will perform, I can assure you” His youth, brain and brawn, his philanthropy and the fact that his local government area has never produced the governor of Bayelsa are some factors that may work in his favour.

Senator Emmanuel Paulker Born 63 years ago, Paulker studied Biochemistry at the University of Port Harcourt. He was a teacher by profession, before his appointment as Bayelsa State Commissioner of Lands and Housing from 1999-2001. Paulker, who represents Bayelsa Central took his seat in the Senate in June 2007 and has held several appointments, including committees on Industry, Finance and Downstream Petroleum. He was said to have sponsored motions to scrap FERMA and create a Federal Highway Authority instead, and to stop universities from conducting post-JAMB examinations. In 2015, Senator Paulker Emmanuel, sought to contest the 2015 Bayelsa state gubernatorial elections but was disqualified under circumstances

Alaibe

Okoya

said to be controversial. He reportedly ascribed his disqualification from the race for the PDP governorship ticket to the fact that some members of the opposition, APC attended a thanksgiving service he organised. Like Okoko, a governor has never emerged from Paulker’s local government, arguably the most populated, in terms of voter strength. But his age and somewhat reclusive attitude may work against him.

Development Commission (NDDC), Ndutimi Alaibe, who hails from Opokuma in Kolga local council, has a first degree in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration. He was first in charge of the finances of the then newly established interventionist agency before his appointment as MD years later. In the last few years, Mr. Alaibe’s ambition to govern Bayelsa State, has seen him leave the PDP for the APC and then back to the PDP. Though still influential in the politics of Bayelsa, there are those who believe that if he had stayed back to consolidate in the PDP after he lost out, he would have stood a better change of winning the party’s governorship ticket this time without much hassle. Alaibe, 56, regarded as a deft political schemer, returned to the PDP late last year and has been seen around the governor since then. He is said to have the ear of a former Nigerian president who is still working to convince the governor of the state and ex-president Jonathan on the need to throw their weights behind him. Whether Dickson will support an ‘outsider’ remains to be seen.

Godknows Igali Those who follow Nigeria’s national affairs must have seen his face several times on television during former President Jonathan’s tenure. A former ambassador to some Scandinavian countries, Igali, 59, who holds a PhD in Political Science and International Studies and two degrees in History and International Law from Nigerian universities, hails from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, late governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha’s political base. A Jonathan’s ally, Igali who received in 2005 the the National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), is a former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government and was appointed in 2010 as the Federal Permanent Secretary for Water Resources and then redeployed to the Federal Ministry of Power by President Jonathan thereafter. A widely travelled man, he has in the last one year, become very close to governor Dickson, and has been present in almost every major public appearance by the governor. Aside the age factor, one other thing that may not be in his favour is the fact that he hails from a part of the state that has produced the governor in the past.

Kemela Okara Like other politicians in the state, Mr Okara, currently the Secretary to State Government in Bayelsa, has not publicly indicated interest to contest the next governorship election. What is clear, however, is that if Dickson is thinking of carrying out a balancing act in terms of giving some local councils that haven’t had a shot at the government house a chance, then Okara, who hails from Yenagoa, might be an option. However, many believe that if Okara, erstwhile Commissioner for Trade and Investment, is to go far in the politics of the state, he must do away with what seems like his somewhat Western political orientation. He must relate more with all stakeholders, irrespective of their ideas, ideals and political ideology and be more involved, rather than his natural aloofness and ‘just leave me to do my job’ kind of attitude. Dr. Kemela holds a law degree from Middlesex University and has years of experience of private practice in Nigeria’s business and law environments. He contested the the governorship election in 2012 on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), but lost to his current principal, Governor Dickson.

Timi Alaibe A former Managing Director of the Niger Delta

Reuben Okoya Reuben Okoya, an architect, is a strong ally of ex-President Jonathan and Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council during the former’s reign as Nigeria’s leader. He has not publicly declared his intention, but it is clear that he is behind a group, the Campaign for Development and Democracy in Bayelsa, CDDB, which has been doing the groundwork for him for a while. Executive Director, CDDB, Dr. Ekiyor Welson, says Okoya remains the people’s choice for the 2019 governorship race , following the “process of searching, finding and endorsing it’s preferred candidate for the office of governor.” According to him, of all the 10 criteria upon which the governorship aspirants were assessed, Okoya came top. On the side of the opposition APC, there are just two likely contenders, former Governor Timipre Sylva and Minister of State, Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. Obviously there have been cracks in the relationship between the two obviously ambitious politicians who want to rule Bayelsa, though they have tried to keep them on the low. It is only a novice in Bayelsa politics that will agree that Chief Sylva is a pushover or that Lokpobiri will simply bow to the PDP or any of the party’s candidates. With the modest inroads made by the APC in the last election, garnering quite a huge chunk of votes for President Muhammadu Buhari and winning four state assembly seats, it’s safe to conclude that the party is preparing for a showdown. It might be too early to say with absolute confidence, where the pendulum will swing in August when the primaries are to be concluded, but what is clear is that the race for the Creek Haven may have begun in earnest with INEC’s announcement last week.

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019

STATE OF THE POLITY

Who Speaks for Kwara? Hammed Shittu writes the issue of who emerges the 9th Speaker of the All Progressives Congress dominated Kwara State House of Assembly has become very intriguing

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed

n any democractic setting, the importance of legislative arm of government cannot be over emphasized. Apart from legislating on quality laws that would make life more meaningful, it also ensures that they serve as checks and balance in the day to day administration of government which hirtherto would be in tandem with world practices as a way of ensuring good governance. Thus, it is not surprising that people of Kwara state, the State of Harmony, joined other 28 states during the just concluded general election to show manifestation of this gesture by electing their lawmakers that would make laws for the overall benefits of the common man in the state. The elected lawmakers who were mainly members of the All Progressives Congress(APC) came from all the three senatorial districts of the state in a landslide electoral victory. Though, this victory was not the first time of the APC in the state as they won all the seats of the assembly during the 2015 general elections when the outgoing Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was in the APC. However, with the electoral victory of these lawmakers in the election in the state, the stage is now set for who will lead the assembly in the 9th legislative assembly as series of intrigues and political calculations have started come up in the political landscape of the state especially in the ruling APC. This development has created a faction within the leadership of the party especially in the Kwara north and Kwara south senatorial district of the state. The development according might not be unconnected also to providing a quality leadership in the House so as to ensure quality laws are made for the good governance of the state. The outgoing speaker, Hon. Ali Ahmad and other principal officers of the House of Assembly would wind up on June 9, this year and a new speaker must take over the mantle of leadership of the House in order to consolidate the laudable achievements recorded by the outgoing speaker. Prior to the just concluded general elections, various political parties especially the APC and PDP have laid a political ticket before the three senatorial districts that would be used to outwit each other during the polls since the two major parties have picked their governorship candidates from the Kwara Central senatorial district and also picked their deputy from the Kwara South senatorial district thereby leaving out the Kwara North senatorial district to produce the speakership position of the state House of Assembly if eventually such party wins the polls. This political calculations is based on zoning formular designed by the two major political parties in the state. It is on this premise that, after the successful outing of the APC in the state during the just concluded general polls which has Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq as the governor-elect from Kwara central and his deputy, Mr. Kayode Alabi from

Governor-elect Abdulrazaq Kwara South senatorial district, the Kwara north senatorial however decided to position itself as the zone to produce the speaker of the 9th assembly based on zoning formular put on ground before the election. Even, there was precedent to this analysis as during the regime of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, and Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, between 1979 and 1983 respectively, the first speaker of the state was produced by the NPN under the political guidance of Dr Olusola Saraki. In 1983 before the democracy was truncated by the military after three months, Barrister Ishmaila Sadiq was the speaker during the tenure of Chief Cornelius Adebayo as governor. In the botched Third Republic, Alhaji Issa Gomi from Asa Local Council in Kwara Central was the speaker because Alhaji Shaaba Mohammed Lafiagi (Kwara North) was the governor. In 1999, Hon. Issa Benjamin Ezekiel was the Speaker, while Alhaji Mohammed Lawal from Kwara Central was the governor. Ezekiel was followed by Hon Razaq Atunwa (from Asa in Kwara Central) while Dr Bukola Saraki also from Kwara Central was the governor. The outgoing Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, is from Kwara Central while the outgoing governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed is from Kwara South. Presently, it will be noted here that, the issue of sacrifice, loyalty and experience have come into front burner in the new emerging intrigues that may determine who will emerge as the next speaker of the assembly under the incoming administration of APC in the state. In line with the extant rules of the assembly, out of the 24 elected lawmakers of the assembly, only one lawmaker in person of Hon.Saheed Popoola representing Balogun/ Ojomu/Igbodun State constituency of Offa local government council area of the state remains a second timer that has well needed legislative exposures and experience that would be of a good benefit for the day to day lawmaking process of the assembly. Hon. Popoola remains the only lawmaker in the outgoing Assembly that refused to join PDP when other 23 members dumped APC for PDP when the Senate President, Dr. Saraki and all his political structures joined PDP in the state. He remained in APC in the state. He was also a former chairman of Offa local government council under the banner of Action Congress of Nigeria while other were in PDP in the state. He was a former commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state and distinguished himself as a seasoned administrator during the period in the state. Also, a lawmaker representing Kaiama state constituency of Kaiama local government council area of the state which falls within Kwara North senatorial district, Hon. Haliru Danbaba is also interested in the speakership position of the 9th Assembly. He is a first timer to the House and according to the political pundits in the state, Hon. Danbaba has no political experience that can help in his quest to lead the Assembly. He is

Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ahmad said to be banking on zoning formular that has been designed by the APC before the conduct of the just concluded general polls in the state. However, some pressure groups in the state have risen up to list conditions for who will be the speaker of the 9th Assembly in the state, One of such pressure groups is the religious leaders in Offa, the headquarters of Offa local government council area of the state where they put up some conditions that the next speaker of the state House of Assembly should have before such person can be elected as the next head of the assembly. The religious leaders under the aegis of Offa Muslim and Christian Cleric Council (OMCCC) called on the leadership of All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state to make use of experience, sacrifice and loyalty to the party rather than zoning formula in the consideration for electing ninth Speaker of the state House of Assembly. The clerics however said that out of the elected 24 lawmakers in the house of assembly, only Hon.Saheed Popoola representing Ojomu/Igbodun constituency of Offa town remain the most qualified lawmaker to be elected as the 9th speaker of the house. Speaking with journalists in Offa recently, the Muslim and Christian clerics said that when considering Kwara state as a collective project, it is not logical to have a new governor and speaker in both executive and legislative arms in the state. The group recalled that the governor-elect in the state, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, is coming into governance with private sector background, while all the elected members of the Assembly, except one, Hon. Saheed Popoola, are all new members. The spokesperson of the clerics, Reverend Segun Ogungboye, who said that zoning arrangement in politics is good for power balancing, added, however, that experience among other qualities should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning. Reverend Ogungboye said that the group had made its opinion on the issue known to the party structure in the state, calling on party leaders and members in the state to encourage sacrifice and loyalty to the party rather than zoning formular that may breed apathy. “That the kind of unalloyed loyalty that Prince Saheed Popoola displayed in the lifetime of the eighth Kwara State House of Assembly and the sacrifices he made thereafter should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning. “That four years of legislative experience gained and garnished by Prince Popoola should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning “That the spirit and letter of the legislative rule that bequeath principal offices to high ranking legislators for prosperity sake should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning”, he said. Also, collaborating the stand of the religious leaders on the conditions the new speaker of the state house of assembly must possess, some youths in the state under

the banner of Kwara Youths Democractic Alliamce (KYDA) also advised the leadership of APC in the state to allow experience and rules of the state House of Assembly to guide them in the emergence of speaker of the 9th assembly in the state. Speaking at a news conference in Ilorin recently,. the spokersperson of the group, Mallam Yakub Bello said that, the development became imperative so as to allow the new elected state lawmakers to choose their leader without rancour or acrimony. According to him, “ there is no doubt that, the new governor-elect, Alhaji Abdulraham Abdulrasaq needs an articulate and capable new speaker that posessess all the nitty and gritty of the house and not just a new lawmaker that has just been elected into the house”. He said that, “the expectations of all Kwarans in this forthcoming administration are enormous and the only way to articulate the yearnings and aspirations of the residents is to have a capable speaker of the state house of assembly that would help the governor-elect to achieve all the needs and aspirations of the people of the state. “And it is pertinent to intimate the leadership of the APC that, out of the elected members of the state house of assembly, Hon.Saheed Popoola remain the only lawmaker that is worth its salts in view of being the only ranking lawmaker out of the 24 elected members of the house. “We want to say that, Hon. Popoola representing Ojomu/Balogun, Offa state constituency has expected exposures that can be used to lead the 9th assembly. Apart from this, he remain a loyal member of the party to the extent that, he didnt dump the party for any party since he was elected into the house”. It added that,”His robust political experience since his tenure as the chairman of Offa local government, and his commissionership tenure coupled with his experience as a legislature in the outgoing state assembly are critical factors that cannot be ignored. “The incoming administration surely needs an experienced leadership in the state assembly to deliver on its electoral promises to Kwarans and this should not be compromised for any primordial political interest” By and large, as the intrigues have commenced on who will emerge as the next speaker of the State of Harmony come June 9, this year, the political pundits believe that, the issue of sacrifice, loyalty, experience and extant rule of the House of Assembly should be looked into so as to have a virile assembly during the next political dispensation in the state. It is also believed that, since the new governor, Alhaji Abdulrasaq is coming from private business exposures, a speaker of the House of Assembly that would take over from the outgoing speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad must be with wide legislative experiences that would be of good support to the new governor in the day to day governance of the state.The Kwarans are waiting for the game.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08152252325

New Order at NNDC Segun James reports that it’s a new order at the Niger Delta Development Commission under the leadership of Professor Nelson Brambaifa, who was recently appointed acting managing director

ntil recently when the Boko Haram terrorist group took the title of the most volatile region in the federation to the North-east, the Niger Delta militants were seen as one. In some quarters, the militants in the Niger Delta were “freedom fighters”, whose activities was geared towards drawing the attention of the federal government and the world to the plight of the people in the much neglected region, whose land produces the oil that is the mainstay of the nation’s economy. It was in the realisation of the need to correct this that the federal government set up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to be the vehicle to drive this radical change in the region, given the fact that the task of developing the Niger Delta is too important to be toyed with and too compelling to waste time upon. Given the fact that the region has suffered enough deprivation and realising the urgent need for a change, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed university don, Professor Nelson Brambaifa as the acting managing director of the commission to drive the president’s dream for a new order in the Niger Delta region. Brambaifa’s appointment came alongside that of the acting Executive Director Finance and Administration, Mr. Chris Amadi and the acting Executive Director Projects, Dr. Samuel Adjogbe, who are experienced technocrats. President Buhari who is also the Minister of Petroleum, who has a deep understanding of the region and recognising the need to redress the situation in the region had charged the new team to be the difference by ensuring rapid infrastructural development and capacity building in the region. On assumption of duties, Brambaifa had hit the ground running. He ordered the resumption of work in ongoing projects especially in the deep riverine areas. Projects in these areas, which are the core oil producing areas, had been abandoned because of the difficult terrain, which makes accessibility almost impossible. The new team had found out that contractors handling some projects in these areas had also capitalised on this difficult terrain to abandon jobs only to claim that woks have been completed on them. But with the arrival of Brambaifa, a man who grew up in the creeks and very conversant with the ways of the creeks and waterways, the situation changed. Being a child of the creek himself from Agbere, a oil producing community on the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean, in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Brambaifa has seen it all with the eyes of a man with a deep understanding of the terrain, the people and their needs. Brambifa, comes to his new office with over four decades of career experience. To him, his appointment is another step in the effort to offer genuine hope to the Niger Delta people and restore their confidence and faith in rebuilding the region. According to him, there is a new dawn in NDDC and an opportunity to do things differently for the development and actualisation of the aspiration of the people. A Professor of Pharmacology, Brambaifa, has demonstrated the zeal to positively affect the life of his people. As the commissioner representing

time to stay.” According to the minister, his ministry will continue to supervise the commission to ensure that it performs maximally “because the performance of NDDC goes a long way to determine the forms ofagitation we get from the different segments of members of Niger Delta society”.

Brambaifa

Bayelsa State on the immediate past governing board of the commission, his vision as the acting managing director of the commission has already manifested within the short period he has led the management team. Given Brambaifa’s tract record and experience as an academic and former member in the immediate past board, he has shown good leadership and competence coupled with the zeal to positively affect the life of his people, his vision as the acting MD of the commission has already manifested within the short period he has led the management team. Braimbifa is insisting that the commission must provide for the region a credible roadmap for building a rapidly growing region and economy which will eliminate prevailing extreme poverty and foster prosperity in an environmentally and socially sustainable level. As a respecter of the traditional institution, Brambaifa at an interactive meeting with traditional rulers from the region said the commission will work with traditional rulers for sustainable development in the region given their crucial role in ensuring peace as well providing a platform for dialogue. He expressed the hope that the royal fathers will continue to support the development process given that they play crucial roles in ensuring peace as well as providing a platform for dialogue in the region. To serve as a clearing house for its projects, he said efforts were being made to revive the Partnership for Sustainable Development (PSD) forum as an important organ for bringing all stakeholders under one umbrella to aid the process of harmonising development projects as enunciated in the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan. EU Delegation At a visit of a delegation of the European Union (EU) to the commission, Brambaifa had reminded the visiting team that the commission will strengthen its collaboration with the

EU through the Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP) to resuscitate abandoned water infrastructural projects across the nine Niger Delta states. While emphasising the need to develop a framework to ensure community ownership of water projects in the region, he said much can be achieved through institutionalising community-based management structure for the maintenance and sustainability of basic infrastructure in the region. Brambaifa had also told the Ijaw Elders Council from Delta State, who visited him at the Commission's headquarters in Port Harcourt that the goal of the commission’s leadership is to uplift the living standard of the people, engage in infrastructural development and drive a robust capacity building. He said: “These are the things we are doing to promote the stability of our region, and we urge you to partner us." Renewed Commitment Expressing the urgent need for a renewed commitment by the leadership of the commission, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Useni Useni, during working visit to commission as the supervisory ministry, told the management team that the federal government is determined to succeed with the programmes at the NDDC. Accompanied by his Minister of state, Prof. Claudius Daramola; the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu-Bisalla and other directors of the supervising ministry, the minister said the current NDDC management, being an interim one, was expected to do more for the people of the Niger Delta than a regular board as it has more to prove. He said: “We expect every functionary and staff of the commission to appreciate this fact and put up the very best efforts in the performance of their duties. It may be too early to assess the performance of the new management team, but it is essential for us to know that the task for the management is a greater burden than it would have been if it has longer

Commendation The secretary of the Bayelsa First Initiative group, Mr Mekunisi Aworabi, who also visited the commission, while commending President Buhari for the appointment of Brambifa as the acting MD of the commission, described the appointment as a right step in the right direction. Aworabi said that given Brambaifa’s track record and experience as an academic and former representative of Bayelsa State in the immediate past board, he has shown good leadership and competence within the short period he led the board. Aworabi said the acting MD is already standing up to the challenges of giving direction to actualisation of the objective of the commission. Quiet and unassuming, the managing director started life in Agbere where he had shown brilliance as he made his WAEC papers in flying colours. After his secondary education, Brambaifa proceeded to the Free University, Berlin, in then East Germany where he graduated with a Degree, Vor-diplom Biochemie (Biochemistry) in 1974. In pursuit of higher degrees, four years later and in quick succession, on the path of scholarly procession, he earned his first; Diplom Biochemie in Oral Examination in Biochemistry, Clinical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry and Pharmacy graduating with distinction from the same university. By 1982 he has earned his Doktor der Naturwisseshaften (Dr.rer.nat) in Oral Examination in Pharmaology, Biochemistry, Clinical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, progressing in the process to Research Assistant in Research Laboratories of Scharing, Research Fellow in Scharing Central Research both in Berlin and a post – Doctoral Research fellow at UCLAF in the Loire Valley France. Brambaifa has worked as team leader in Scchearing, Central Research Department of Neuroendocrinology and Neuropscychopharmacology from 1984 to 1993 and became a professor of Biochemical Pharmacology in 1996. As a scientist, his attention to detailed clinical inquiry remains precise. As a teacher on the other hand, he is as inspiring as he is an example of ceaseless scholarship, reflecting a mind of profound intellect and a passion of unerring gusto. He had served as Dean Student Affairs 1992 to 1996 as well as been the pioneer Dean Faculty of Basic Medical Collage of Health Science, at the University of Port Harcourt. He also served as the pioneer Provost, College of Health Science, Niger Delta University Amassoma in Bayelsa state. He has published 62 scientific articles and delivered several public lectures in concern about health, environment and the lingering issues of seeking a credible roadmap for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. With a rich academic background, international exposure and sociopolitical involvement in affairs of the region and the nation at large, there is groundswell of opinion that Brambaifa should transit as the substantial MD of the commission.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

FEATURES

Testimonials for Rural Diary Farmers in Oyo Jonathan Eze writes that for the 3,500 diary farmers, particularly the 900 rural women in Oyo State, where FrieslandCampina WAMCO operates its Dairy Development Programme, it’s been testimonies as the scheme has increased transactional activities and improved family lifestyles in the milk producing communities

igeria’s dairy sector is still largely evolving and unable to cope with the dairy needs of the country’s population of over 180 million. There are key players in the sector who sell milk and other dairy products to Nigerian consumers, but only one multinational company has demonstrated total commitment to developing the sector, thus blazing a trail that others may follow. When FrieslandCampina WAMCO, began its multi-billion naira Dairy Development Programme (DDP) in 2010, not many people in the dairy sector knew it was in it for the long haul, because similar efforts by others had failed in the past. In just a few short years, the company’s commitment to growth and the development of Nigeria’s dairy sector has yielded encouraging results. Today, over 900 rural women in Oyo State, where FrieslandCampina WAMCO operates its successful scheme, have been sharing huge testimonies of how the DDP has improved their lives, living conditions and livelihood, amid the 3,500 dairy farmers who are benefitting from the scheme.

Testimonials Hawawu and Umu Abdullahi are both wives and mothers. Before the DDP commenced in Iseyinland, Oyo State, they were both local cheese sellers without hygienic means of extending the shelf life of the cheese they both ate and sold for sustenance. Smiling as they reflected on what had changed since the advent of WAMCO’s DDP, Hawawu told THISDAY: “My profit has improved. Every day after the cows are milked, we go and deliver the milk to the collection centres and the company (FrieslandCampina WAMCO) pays us money very promptly.” In addition to the boost in her income, Hawawu, like many other women dairy farmers, testified to the immense social and lifestyle benefits that the DDP has brought their way. She said, “I now belong to a women forum they encouraged us to form and join where we learn and discuss things of great benefit to us as women. Before, things were very hard, but today, my life and that of my family is easier. I have even started an additional business of selling uncooked rice. I am happy”. Umu Abdullahi’s testimony confirms that the DDP success in Oyo State has created numerous complimentary businesses, which have boosted the sights, sounds and socio-economic patterns of various communities significantly in the state. She said: “I now have time to do other things as my family makes steady income from selling raw milk from our cows to the company. Also with more people coming to trade and live among us, this boosts our sales as we sell other things like foodstuff to the community and transporters.” Both women like many others in the DDP communities use some portion of the milk supplied to the company to nourish their families. They could only drink milk in the morning because they had no means to preserve or process the fresh milk. They had to walk long distances to sell their ‘wara’ (local cheese) which they make from raw milk crudely preserved at home. But of course the meagre income from their ‘wara’ sales wasn’t commensurate to the effort they put into it.

DPP Investment Since 2010, FrieslandCampina WAMCO has been investing in the DDP and has established a large network of milk collection centres across the South-west of Nigeria. The Dairy Development Programme provides sustainable livelihoods in over 90 farming communities where dairy farms have been made more effective. Since signing and renewing its Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as the Oyo State Government, FrieslandCampina WAMCO also collaborates with the Dutch Government under the FDOV, IFDC-2SCALE and Sahel Capital. It has setup one bulking centre, five milk

Some of the rural diary farmers in Oyo collection centres, 10 milk collection points and dedicated 15 specialised milk trucks to facilitate the process of milk collection in the DDP area. Some of the major drawbacks for other dairy companies who may have been contemplating the local sourcing of raw milk would include huge financial outlay, long term investment turnaround period and related community development projects that every dairy investor must also engage in before the affected communities can embrace fully the business model that such an investor will establish. Over the years, FrieslandCampina WAMCO alongside its partners has provided 50 solar-powered boreholes in the milk producing communities in Oyo State, completed over 200 hectares of pasture development, and trained over 3,500 dairy farmers/milk suppliers on various topics in modern dairy production. According to Mr. Ben Langat, Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, “Our Dairy Development Programme has supported four

Over the years, FrieslandCampina WAMCO alongside its partners has provided 50 solarpowered boreholes in the milk producing communities in Oyo State, completed over 200 hectares of pasture development, and trained over 3,500 dairy farmers/milk suppliers on various topics in modern dairy production

master farms where dairy projects are currently running and there are 16 more under development. “The DDP has impacted over 100,000 people from raw milk supplies to the creation of job opportunities to host communities, for example - transporters, feed, veterinary supplies etc. This has engendered business development around the milk collection centres.”

Intervention Seeing their struggle, FrieslandCampina WAMCO decided to intervene and empower these women farmers. They were grouped into two co-operatives of 30 members each, namely Fashola Women Dairy Cooperative and Alaga Women Dairy Cooperative. The women were trained on entrepreneurial and leadership skills to increase their income and sources of livelihood. They were also trained on vocations like bead making, fabric designs and dress making. WAMCO provided shops for members of these cooperatives to sell provisions and other items to members of their communities. These forward-looking women are also empowered to sell in these shops, milk products made from the raw milk they initially supplied to the milk collection centres. Families living in these DDP-enhanced communities use the potable water provided by FrieslandCampina WAMCO for milking, domestic and personal hygiene like cooking, cleaning and drinking. Some of these women have made significant socio-economic progress; a good number have built houses and moved out of the thatched huts they used to live in. “This Dairy Development Programme (DDP) is the nucleus of the company’s CSR programmes. It transfers over 140 years of FrieslandCampina’s global expertise to Nigeria, bringing gold-standard Dutch farming practices to the nation. According to Langat, “The DDP is the second chapter of our history and a new era for the dairy industry in Nigeria. Studies show that 95 per cent of farmers in Nigeria are nomadic and they face challenges such as lack of knowledge, poor infrastructure and low financing. The DDP stimulates local sourcing of raw milk and supports the Federal Government’s initiative of improving dairy farming.” The DDP enables dairy farmers run their businesses optimally as well as raise the quality and

quantity of their dairy production. This is done through knowledge-sharing, training courses and exchange programmes with a number of partners. The DDP spans across 90 communities in Southwest Nigeria, identifies dairy value chain actors, organises and trains dairy farmers and extension workers, collects and processes raw milk, funds crossbreeding and hybrid pasture cultivation, and transfers global know-how to farmers.

Farmer2Farmer Programme The company also facilitates an annual Farmer2Farmer programme, where certified Dutch dairy farmers train and assist Nigerian farmers in extension services and improved dairy farming practices particularly targeted at increasing the quality and quantity of raw milk production. To further promote dairy development in Nigeria, FrieslandCampina WAMCO hosted Nigeria’s first Dairy Farmers’ Day in December 2017 with over 300 dairy farmers in attendance. The company is keen to institutionalise this event as a day of honour for dairy farmers, bringing together stakeholders from the public, private and academic sectors to develop and implement a long term and inclusive national development plan for the dairy sector in Nigeria.

Grassroot Model The DDP has proven to be a successful business model that encourages grassroots economic development through milk production. It has increased transactional activities and improved family lifestyles in the milk producing communities. Langat confirms that the model has helped his company to develop new capacities, policies and practices that benefit pastoralists, small-holder farmers and Nigeria’s dairy sector as a whole. Other successes of the DDP include an increasing appreciation of women farmers as game changers in the community. In the DDP areas of Oyo State, the overall quality of raw milk supplies have improved with bacterial contamination reduced considerably. Farmers’ competencies have increased as a result of sustained trainings. The DDP has grown new sources of income for rural women and they have direct control over this income. There is increased food security for rural families and dairy products have become more available and affordable for these women and their families in the milk producing communities.

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

16.04.2019

THE KILLING FIELDS OF ZAMFARA AND KADUNA

Chief of Army Staﬀ, Tukur Buratai

President Muhammadu Buhari

Chief of Air Staﬀ, Sadique Abubakar

Chief of Naval Staﬀ, IbokEte Ekwe

National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Monguno (Rtd)

Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu

2/DASHBOARD

16.04.2019

Statutory Appointments made “At the Pleasure of the Governor” PAGE 4

NIALS Celebrates Late Professor Ajomo in Book PAGE 5

23 Days Later, former NBA Vice President, Ubani, Regains Freedom from EFCC Detention PAGE 5

Court Restrains NBA from Suspending Ikorodu Branch Chairman PAGE 5

QUOTABLES ‘Nigerian people, because of poor education, low consciousness, they ascribe their circumstances to the divine....No! leave God out of it! People in power, have a duty to ameliorate our circumstances. So, if we don’t ask troublesome questions to those who are in power, then they will continue to take us for granted.’ – Professor Akin Oyebode, Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence

‘Corruption has prevented Nigeria from meeting sustainable development goals, has diminished the opportunity and capacity for providing infrastructure, is the main reason why we don’t get the kind of salaries we deserve.’ – Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)

PALU President Calls on National Association of Prosecutors, to Extend Plea Bargain Beyond Financial Crimes PAGE 6

‘A Lawyer has to be a 360-Degree Human Being’ 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.

DR. KUBI UDOFIA Dr. Kubi Udofia holds a Doctorate degree in Law from The University of Nottingham, a Certificate in International Risk Management from the Institute of Risk Management, London, a Masters degree in Corporate Law from University College, London and a Bachelors degree from University of Uyo in Nigeria. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2007, Dr Udofia is the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Law Practice Group, at Fidelis Oditah & Co. He is an acknowledged expert in Insolvency and Restructuring Law in Nigeria.

STEPHEN KOLA-BALOGUN Stephen Kola Balogun, is a vastly experienced Legal Practitioner who obtained his LL.B from University of Ife and LL.M from School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London. He has Post-Graduate Diplomas in Intellectual Property Law, Construction Law, Management and Arbitration. He has served in various capacities since his Call to the Nigerian Bar in 1982, including practicing at Akinjide & Co., and lecturing part-time at Oxbridge Tutorial College. He was the Honourable Commissioner forYouths, Sports and Special Needs, State of Osun, August, 2011 to November, 2014. He is currently the Principal Partner at Kola Balogun & Partners. SKB, as he is fondly called, is accredited with several publications to his name, both International and Domestic.

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

Landmines in the N’Assembly Leadership Contest

Politicians and Power ow that the 2019 general elections are more or less over (save for Bayelsa and Kogi States, whose elections have been scheduled for November, 2019), we have a new saga that has arisen therefrom – who will be the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the holders of other principal offices in the 9th National Assembly. Would it not be refreshing, if with the same ‘gusto and aplomb’, Politicians were arguing about the dire situation our country is in, and competing against each other about their various solutions to get the country out of the rut/rot we find ourselves in, instead of displaying their incessant, unending quest for power and penchant for ‘politricking’? None of our successive governments (present company included), have delivered on Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution), that is, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, yet Politicians/Leaders seem rather unfazed and unconcerned about that, and are more preoccupied with self- aggrandisement. Lack of Security and Infrastructure About 10 days ago, I travelled outside Nigeria. As I was walking towards the boarding gate, the disgusting stench of the toilets hit me. My friend told me that, the airport probably doesn’t have water! No water, at a so-called international airport? I have entered the restrooms in airports in other African countries, and they are spotlessly clean. What an embarrassment, for Nigeria. I arrived from the trip at about 2am last Wednesday, and because of insecurity that is fast becoming a reality nationwide, I asked my driver to take Ikorodu Road/Eko Bridge, instead of Third Mainland Bridge. Arriving from a city where majority of the roads are well lit at night, it was sad to see that most of our roads are predominantly in darkness at night; majority of the street lights we encountered all the way home, were off. There were trailers parked on both sides of Eko Bridge, and I wondered to myself, whether the Bridge was designed to carry that amount of weight constantly, for the extended period of time that trailers have been using Eko Bridge as their parking

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki

space. I started praying that the Bridge would not collapse, before we descended at Apongbon. I made a mental note never to take that route, unless I am absolutely compelled to. When we boarded the flight back to Lagos, my friend asked one of the crew members whether the luggage compartment can, and has been locked from the outside. Reason? Yes, we all know that there are thieves at most airports in the world, but apparently, in Nigeria, even when the plane is taxing slowly to the gate, especially when it is dark, it is not unheard of, for thieves to open the luggage compartment and steal passengers’ suitcases! I am trying to point out a few issues of lack of infrastructure and security, encountered on a basic everyday level, talk less of the major issues facing our country, yet our leaders are more interested in the occupation of ‘juicy’ positions, instead of competing to solve the nation’s myriad of problems. Election of Principal Ofﬁcers Section 50(a) and (b) of the Constitution, provide for the election of the President and Deputy President of the Senate, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. The provisions say that they “.....shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves”. The Constitution does not provide that, these principal officers must be members of the majority party, nor does it state that, they must be the highest ranking members of either of the two chambers, to qualify them to lead. Of course, by logic and convention, the party who has the majority, should produce the leaders. However, Section 50 of the Constitution, is silent on what type of majority is required, for electing those principal officers. Section 56(2) of the Constitution provides that, in the absence of any provision with regard to the required majority, the requirement is a simple majority. What then, constitutes a simple majority? The Constitution, seems to be silent on this. Is it over 50% of all the members of that particular House, in the case of the Senate, at least 55 or so, and in the case of the House of Representatives, at least 181? Or is it over 50% of those members present and voting, obviously on the assumption that they form a quorum? By virtue of Section 54(1) of the Constitution, a quorum of either the

Senate or the House of Representatives shall be one-third of all the members of the House concerned, that is, 36.33 for the Senate, and 120 for the House of Representatives; and a quorum is competent, for the House to transact business (Section 54(3) of the Constitution). If a quorum is competent to transact the business of the day, does it follow that, a simple majority can be a simple majority of the quorum, that is, about 19 or so in the Senate, and 61 in the House of Representatives? It seems that, the Constitution again, requires some amendment here, to clarify this issue. It may be possible to argue that, a simple majority should be over 50% of all the members of that House, while others may choose to argue that, it should be over 50% of the quorum, since a quorum is what is required, to legitimately transact the business of either of the two chambers. Senator Jibrin and Open Ballot Last Wednesday, I watched a television interview of APC Senator Barau Jibrin, Senator representing Kano North Senatorial District, in which he said that Senator Ahmed Lawan being the highest ranking and most experienced Senator, and APC Senate Leader, he should automatically be the next Senate President. What amused me most, was when he said that this time around, voting would not be by secret ballot as usual, but by open ballot! It reminded me of the Option A4 (open ballot, queue behind your candidate), which the APC ‘successfully’ adopted, to get rid of Governor Ambode in its party primaries last year. We all know that, the reason for the open ballot system, is to reduce the incidence of election rigging. However, we have never heard of any incidence of rigging in the elections of principal officers in the National Assembly, so why opt for the open ballot system, when it is public knowledge that, many countries who have attempted to use it, have adjudged the secret ballot system to be better? With the secret ballot, people can vote confidently for their preferred candidates, without any fear of intimidation and reprisal. Senator Jibrin stated in the interview that, the reason that the open ballot system will be used, is, as he said: “this time, we will not agree”; so, they want to know where everyone stands. It is obvious that, it is nothing more than a

Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE

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

“WOULD IT NOT BE REFRESHING, IF WITH THE SAME ‘GUSTO AND APLOMB’, POLITICIANS WERE ARGUING ABOUT THE DIRE SITUATION OUR COUNTRY IS IN, AND COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER ABOUT THEIR VARIOUS SOLUTIONS TO GET THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE RUT/ROT WE FIND OURSELVES IN, INSTEAD OF DISPLAYING THEIR INCESSANT, UNENDING QUEST FOR POWER AND PENCHANT FOR ‘POLITRICKING’?”

not-so-subtle attempt at terrorising and cowing, to ensure that Senators vote in a particular way, especially APC party members (strong arm tactics). During the APC primaries in Lagos, we saw videos of delegates being commanded to vote for a particular candidate, with threats of negative consequences, if they did not tow the Party/Leader’s line. Isn’t it ironical and bizarre that, such a high level of dictatorship, autocracy and oppression (antithesis of democracy), should be displayed by the Senate, the highest lawmaking body in the land, the body that should be the greatest upholder of democracy, just because they are desperate for someone to occupy a particular position? The essence of democracy, is to be able to choose who you want. That is what makes it different from a military dictatorship, or a totalitarian government. If Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila are the most popular candidates for Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, by all means, their colleagues will vote for them, and they will emerge as the winners. When will Nigerian Politicians, stop trying to use all forms of unacceptable means, to win elections? My advice? It is never too late, to begin to do things properly. Let’s start now.

4/LAW REPORT

16.04.2019

Statutory Appointments made “At the Pleasure of the Governor”

T Facts

he Appellants were appointed as Chairman and members of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (E.S.I.E.C.) by the then Governor of Ekiti State, Engr. Olusegun Adebayo Oni. However, the tenure of the Governor ended when his election was nullified, by the Court of Appeal. Shortly after the new Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi came on board, it was announced on radio that, the new administration had dissolved all the Commissions, Boards and Parastatals in Ekiti State, including the E.S.I.E.C. When the Appellants were prevented from carrying out their functions, they instituted this action by way of Originating Summons, praying the High Court to determine inter alia, whether the Plaintiffs (now Appellants), who are Chairman and Members of the E.S.I.E.C. constituted under Sections 197 and 198 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, can be removed and the Commission dissolved, otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of Sections 198 and 201 of the Constitution? They sought declaratory reliefs, that the purported dissolution of E.S.I.E.C. was unlawful, unconstitutional, ultra vires and against the rules of natural justice. The Respondents filed notices of Preliminary Objection and Counter-affidavits, in opposition. In its judgement, the trial Judge overruled the objections, and held that the appointments of the Appellants, were within the purview of statutory appointments guided and regulated by the Constitution. The Respondents appealed the decision, to the Court of Appeal. In allowing the appeal, the appellate court held that, the appointments were at the pleasure of the Governor who appointed them; thus, they are bound to swim and sink together. The Appellants were dissatisfied with the decision, and thereby, appealed to the Supreme Court. Issue for Determination Of the issues formulated for determination by the Appellants and the Respondents, the court adopted the following for determination of the appeal: Whether the appointments are statutory appointments in the eyes of the law; in view of the clause in the Appellants letters of appointment that said, ‘appointment is at the pleasure of the Government, please’? Arguments The Appellants argued that, their appointments were statutory, and governed by the provisions of Sections 199 and 201 of the 1999 Constitution, which were superior to, and overruled their letters of appointment, and that their tenure as Chairman and members of the E.S.I.E.C., was not tied to the tenure of the Governor who appointed them. They argued that, their removal from office could only be by a resolution of the State House of Assembly supported by two- thirds majority, on grounds of inability to discharge the functions of their office arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause; or for misconduct. The Respondents, on their part, argued that the appointments were not made in line with the provisions of the Constitution, which stipulates that, the appointments should be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the State House of Assembly. The Appellants neither deposed to such facts in their affidavit, nor did they exhibit any material to substantiate such ratification. They submitted that, a party must show that the law applies to his situation, and that the court has no business rewriting the Appellants’ letters of appointment or importing extraneous terms into them. Court’s Judgement and Rationale The Supreme Court noted that, the tenure of office of the Chairman and members of the State Independent Electoral Commission appointed by the State Governor under Sections 198 and 201 of the 1999 Constitution, had been settled in the case of THE GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE v OJIBARA (2006) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1012) 645 where the court held that, same was for five years, as it was deliberate to create an Electoral Commission which life span exceeds that of the Governor and the State Legislature. This was done with the view to create continuity and stability in the electoral process and governance, and it is not to change with the fortunes of the political parties in a State. On statutory appointments, the law is that an appointment has statutory ﬂavour if it is protected by statute, and the only way to terminate such appointment, is to adhere strictly to the procedure laid down in the Statute. OLORUNTOBA-OJU v ABDUL-RAHEEM (2006) 13 NWLR (Pt. 1157) 83. In the instant case, the appointment and removal from office of the Chairman/ Members of the E.S.I.E.C., is provided for in Section 198 to 201 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Nevertheless, the appointment of the Chairman and members of the State Independent Electoral Commission established by Section 197(1) of the Constitution, is governed by statute, and any such appointment is said to have statutory flavour. On whether the appointments of the Appellants was done

Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 18th day of January, 2019 Before Their Lordships Olabode Rhodes-Vivour Olukayode Ariwoola John Inyang Okoro Chima Centus Nweze Amina Adamu Augie Justices, Supreme Court SC662/2015 Between 1. Major General Kayode Oni (Rtd.) 2. Chief (Mrs.) Tola Ajayi 3. Tayo Awopeju 4. Sesan Akinola 5. Odutola Babatund.... Appellants And 1. Governor of Ekiti State 2. Attorney-General of Ekiti State.......Respondents (Lead Judgement delivered by Hon. Amina Adamu Augie, JSC) by the Governor in line with the set-down procedure, and who has the burden of proving same, the Respondents placed the burden on the Appellants, who had to establish that the appointments were made as statutorily stipulated, before they could enjoy the benefit conferred by the statute in question. It was noted that, the legal burden on the Plaintiff to plead and prove the claims in a declaratory relief had been settled, that declaratory reliefs could not be granted

“....ONLY SECTIONS 171 AND 208 OF THE CONSTITUTION, VEST IN THE PRESIDENT OR THE GOVERNOR, THE POWER TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS AT THEIR PLEASURE. SECTION 208(5) CONFERS ON THE GOVERNOR, THE POWER TO APPOINT THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE, AND ANY OTHER OFFICE ON THE PERSONAL STAFF OF THE GOVERNOR ...IT COULD NOT BE THE INTENTION OF THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW APPOINTMENTS UNDER SECTION 198, TO BE AT THEIR PLEASURE....”

even by the admission of a Defendant, where the Plaintiff fails to establish the entitlement to the declaration in his own evidence. DUMEZ (NIG.) LTD. v NWAKHOBA (2008) 18 NWLR (Pt. 119) 361. The court confirmed the above position of the law, that the Appellants failed to establish that their appointments were in compliance with the 1999 Constitution. As it was the case, the Appellants instituted a declaratory action, and they had the onus to establish their appointments by the then State Governor, was confirmed by a resolution of the State House of Assembly as provided in Section 198 of the Constitution. It was agreed that, the Appellants failed to discharge the burden of establishing that they were entitled to the declaratory relief sought. There was no evidence or material provided, to show that their appointments were subsequently confirmed by a resolution of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. As the letters of appointment specifically conveyed that their appointments were ‘at the pleasure of the Governor’; it follows that the Appellants served at his pleasure, for as long as he is pleased. Their Lordships explained that the term ‘at the pleasure of the Governor’, was an offshoot of the phrase ‘at her Majesty’s pleasure’, which is a legal term or art, referring to the undetermined length of service of certain appointed officials, and the said term is based on a concept that all legitimate authority for Government comes from ‘the Crown’. The two germane questions were, firstly whether the said Governor acted within his mandate, when he ‘graciously approved’ the appointments at his ‘pleasure’; and secondly, whether the Appellants can be said to have been validly appointed by the Governor, in terms of the said appointment letters as worded? By the provisions of Section 198 of the Constitution, the appointment of a Chairman and members of the E.S.I.E.C, was subject to confirmation by a resolution of the House of Assembly; therefore, there could not be a valid appointment unless this is first sought and received. The provisions of Section 198, are silent to suggest that the Governor could appoint the Appellants ‘at his pleasure’, as the office of the Governor itself is a creation of the Constitution, and like other offices, administrative law teaches that, they act ultra vires once they act outside their mandate. The trite principle of law is that, the express mention of one thing in any statutory provision, automatically excludes any other which otherwise would have been applied by implication. The word ‘subject to’, is mostly employed, when the draftsman intends that certain provisions shall be conditional upon compliance with certain requirements in the provision referred to. In the context of Section 198, the phrase “and the appointment shall be subject to the confirmation by a resolution of the House of Assembly of the State”, is intended to subordinate the Governor’s power of appointment, to the confirmation of the House. Applying the above principles to the case, only Sections 171 and 208 of the Constitution vest in the President or the Governor, the power to make appointments at their pleasure. Section 208(5) confers on the Governor, the power to appoint the Secretary of the State, and any other ofﬁce on the personal staff of the Governor. Therefore, since the Constitution makes speciﬁc provisions as to when appointment can be made at the pleasure of the Governor, it could not be the intention of the framers of the Constitution to allow appointments under Section 198 to be at their pleasure. As such, the appointment by the Governor was made ultra vires, thereby rendering the appointment null and void. In so far as the appointments were not governed by the provisions of Section 198, their removal could not be subjected to the provision of Section 201 of the Constitution. Further, the Governor did not act lawfully, to bestow on the Appellants any valid appointment. By Section 198, such appointment is subject to confirmation by a resolution of the House of Assembly of the State; making the confirmation a condition precedent for the validity of the appointments. The requirement of confirmation by the State House of Assembly is a hurdle, deliberately erected by the Constitution, to ensure checks and balances. The Appellants could not claim to have been validly appointed to seek the reliefs in the case, as the Governor had no authority to appoint the Appellants into offices covered by Section 198, without meeting the condition precedent stipulated in the Constitution. Conclusively, the court resolved that the Governor acted beyond his powers in making the appointment ‘at his pleasure’, and thus, the appointments were null and void. The appeal was adjudged as lacking in merit, and accordingly, dismissed. Appeal Dismissed. Representation: Obafemi Adewale, Esq. with Ezekiel Agunbiade, Esq., Olubunmi Olugbade, Esq., Adeyemi Adewumi, Esq. and Rashidat Ajise Esq. for the Appellants. Owoseni Ajayi Esq. with Dolapo Kehinde, Esq. for the Respondents. Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited (Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR))

16.04.2019

NEWS/5

23 Days Later, former NBA Vice President, Ubani, Regains Freedom from EFCC Detention

L-R: Professor Ademola Popoola, Professor Deji Adekunle, SAN, Engr. Oladapo Ajomo, Chief Robert Clarke, SAN and Professor Yinka Omorogbe at the event, last Thursday

NIALS Celebrates Late Professor Ajomo in Book Stories by Akinwale Akintunde The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), last Thursday unveiled a book in memory of its former Director General, Professor Michael Ayo Ajomo, at the Institute’s auditorium in Lagos. The events were a Symposium on ‘Contemporary Trends in Investment Law and Policy: Lessons for Nigeria’, in commemoration of his posthumous 90th birthday and the presentation of a book, ‘International Investment Law and Practice’ in his honour. Former Dean, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Ademola Popoola, chaired the event. Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Yinka Omorogbe, reviewed the book, while Chief Robert Clarke, SAN, launched the book. Chairman of the occasion, Professor Popoola, in his opening remarks described the late Professor Ajomo, as one of Africa’s most illustrious International Law experts. That Ajomo was recognised as the pioneer of Oil & Gas Law in Nigeria, as he introduced the

subject into the University of Lagos law curriculum in 1975. He eulogised Ajomo as a foremost Nigerian arbitrator, mediator in international disputes, with over 20 books on various legal issues. In her review of the book, Professor Yinka Omorogbe, acknowledged Ajomo as her mentor, to whom she owes a lot of her success in the academia. Ajomo was the pioneer President of the Nigerian Society of International Law, of which Professor Omorogbe was the 5th and first female President. The 12-chapter book was forwarded by Ajomo’s lifelong friend and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajobola, SAN. Professor Omorogbe pointed out in her review that, the Asian Tigers have succeeded economically, largely because of their investment laws, an opportunity she advised that Nigeria should not let slip by. The second phase of the event, was devoted to a symposium in honour of the late eminent legal

academic. The Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, Yewande Sadiku, delivered the keynote lecture of the symposium. She painted a gloomy picture of foreign investments in Africa, pointing out that the continent accounts for 16% of the world’s population, but sadly accounts for a dismal 2% global GDP. She however, advised that, for the continent to attract Foreign Direct Investment, good investment policies must be designed and put in operation. Sadiku further pointed out that, the continental move towards Africa Continental free trade, its getting late for Nigeria. The country she said, cannot afford to be left out. She also spoke on trade and investment agreements and treaties, some of which Nigeria is yet to sign and ratify. Even those which have been signed and ratified, there are no proper and adequate documentation to enable her Council to work on. Sadiku advocated an urgent review of these

agreements, and treaties. On Bilateral International Treaties, she said Nigeria now has a model draft in place since 2015, which her Council is further working on. She urged the Government, to consider adopting NIPC as the nation’s investment Ombudsman. She said it is the desire of her Council, to bring Nigeria below 100 on the Ease of Doing Business Index. The discussants of her paper included, Professor Jonathan Aremu of the Covenant University, NBASBL pioneer Chairman, Mr. George Etomi, and NIALS Director of Research, Professor Paul Idornigie, SAN. NIALS Director General, Professor Deji Adekunle, SAN, expressed his feelings of being so privileged to have the erudite Ajomo as one of his predecessors in office, promising that Ajomo’s legacies at the Institute will continue to be preserved. Also in attendance were one of his three sons, Engr. Oladapo Ajomo, and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye.

Immediate past 2nd Vice-President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Monday Ubani, who was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has regained his freedom 23 days later. Ubani was arrested and detained on March 19, along with Senator Christopher Ania, for failing to produce the former Managing Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme who they both stood for, as sureties. Olojeme is facing an N6.4 billion fraud charge, preferred against her by the EFCC. Ubani had maintained his innocence over Olejeme’s disappearance, insisting that she absconded after the EFCC raided her home.

He also stated that, his decision to stand surety for Olejeme, was because he compelled her to return to Nigeria to face the charges against her, and all efforts to secure her bail, was frustrated by the EFCC. Since Ubani’s arrest, there has been a massive public outcry for his release, especially after a Federal High Court ordered that EFCC should either release him, or charge him to court. Several Civil Rights Organisations, very prominent Nigerians and Senior Lawyers including Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, mounted pressure on the EFCC to release Ubani. Ubani was released at about 11am, last Thursday.

Court Restrains NBA from Suspending Ikorodu Branch Chairman A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, has granted an injunction restraining the national body of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), from suspending Mr Bayo Akinlade, the Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA. Justice Candide-Johnson granted the injunction in a ruling, following a motion ex-parte filed by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, counsel to Akinlade. Joined as the Defendants in the motion ex-parte, are the registered trustees of the NBA and Ezekiel Ogbaide, the Acting Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA. The application sought an order of interim injunction, restraining the Defendants from acting on the purported suspension of Akinlade as the Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA on March 28, pending the determination of the motion on notice. An order restraining the Defendants from preventing

Akinlade from performing his duties as the Chairman Ikorodu Branch of the NBA, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. The motion ex-parte, also sought order of interim injunction, restraining Ogbaide from parading himself as Acting Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA, pending the determination of the motion on notice. Justice Candide-Johnson in the ruling said, "I hold that this present case is covered by the case law of 7up Bottling Company v Abiola and Sons Nigeria Limited. "The motion ex-parte dated April 2, succeeds, the interim injunction is hereby granted, as order as prayed. "The life span of the interim injunction granted this Friday, shall operate CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Court Remands Businessman in Prison for Allegedly Dealing in Substandard Engine Oil Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has remanded businessman, Cajetan Chike Muonagolu, in prison custody, for allegedly dealing in adulterated and substandard engine oil. Muonagolu was remanded in prison, pending the perfection of his bail conditions, after being arraigned and pleading not guilty, to a four count charge. The court admitted Muonagolu to bail, in the sum of N50 million, with two sureties in the like sum.

The Judge ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil/public servant, not less than Grade Level 15, in the employment of the Federal or Lagos State Government, while the other must be, the Defendant’s relation, with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. According to the court, both sureties must deposit their passport photographs with the court, while Muonagolu must deposit his international passport with the Court Registrar.

The court also ordered that, the prosecution and the Court Registrar are to verify the sureties’ addresses. Arguing the bail application yesterday, the Defence counsel, Goke Olagunlehin, holding the brief of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, urged the court to grant his client bail. The SON prosecution team of Babatunde Alajogun and Adeleke Olofindare, opposed the bail application on the ground that, Muonagolu

committed another offence during the pendency of the case. Alajogun said he broke and removed the official seal of SON, and evacuated 15, 000 cartons of suspected adulterated/substandard engine oil, which SON put on hold. He also allegedly assaulted and beat up SON officials, in the course of their lawful duties. The court ordered the Counsels for the Prosecution and Defence, to visit the warehouse, to ascertain

the breaking of the seal or otherwise. The matter was adjourned to May 20, 2019, for commencement of trial. The Federal Government charged the Defendants with four counts of production, possession, dealing in, and distribution of substandard engine oil. In the charge, the Defendants are accused of committing the offences at ASPAMDA Trade Fair Complex, Lagos Badagry Expressway, Lagos State, between December 12 and

13, 2018. They were accused of being in possession of 15,000 Cartons of adulterated Prime Plasma, Prime ATF and Stanley brand of engine oil, which they presented as being of quality. The offences contravene Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and Section 26 of Standards Organisation CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

16.04.2019

PALU President Calls on National Association of Prosecutors, to Extend Plea Bargain Beyond Financial Crimes Akinwale Akintunde The President of the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), Chief Emeka Obegolu, has called on the National Association of Prosecutors, to extend the practice of plea bargain as envisaged under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), beyond the conventional practice of financial crimes with politically exposed Persons, but to also Defendants in violent crimes such as terrorism, rape, armed robbery etc. The President made this call, when presenting the lead paper titled: ‘The Instrumentality of Plea Bargain in Enhancing Speedy Dispensation of Justice’, during the 5th Summit on Criminal Justice Administration, organised by the Legal Defence and

Assistance Project (LEDAP), ably supported by the National Association of Prosecutors (NAP) and the Federal Justice Sector Reform Coordinating Committee (FJSRCC), held at the Auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Justice last Wednesday, April 10, 2019. He noted that, with the legislation of plea bargain, the country has witnessed more convictions for allegations of financial crimes. He cites the Reports released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2018, as a testament to the fact that, convictions have increased from what it was in 2017. In 2017, there were 189 convictions between January and December 2017, in contrast to 312 Convictions in 2018 between January and December 2018. He posited that, the catalyst

for this increase, is at the doorstep of plea bargain. Chief Obegolu noted that, even with the appreciation of the process as a positive innovation that can be utilised in the dispensation of criminal justice, investigation and victim - offender mediation, that regrettably, the Federal Prosecutors and most State Prosecutors, have not extended plea bargain to violent crimes. He observed that, it is only through plea bargain, that the victim of a violent crime can be properly recompensed, as to bring a true closure to the incident while serving the interest of justice and public order. He invited the Prosecutors to note the provision in Section 1 of the Act as

follows: “The purpose of this Act, is to ensure that the system of administration of criminal Justice in Nigeria promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, protection of the society from crime, and protection of rights and interests of the suspect, the Defendant and the victim”, and give true meaning to the purpose of the Act. In conclusion, the PALU President urged the organisers to do more of enlightenment, to address the public perception of corruption in the implementation of some reported plea bargain agreements, which invariably leads to the uninformed conclusion that, plea bargain supports corruption and financial crimes.

COURT REMANDS BUSINESSMAN IN PRISON FOR ALLEGEDLY DEALING IN SUBSTANDARD ENGINE OIL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 of Nigeria Act, 2015. The charge sheet reads in part: “That you Cajetan Chike Muonagolu and Richbon Nigeria Limited of Plot 242, Oshodi Apapa Express Way, Odolowu Bus Stop, Lagos, on or about 12/13 December, 2018, while at ASPAMDA Trade Fair Complex, Lagos Badagry Expressway, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this

Honourable Court, did indulge in dealing in adulterated/substandard engine oil to wit: 15,000 Cartons and 60,00 pieces of Prime Plasma, Prime ATF and Stanley brand of Engine oil which is not of quality, substance nature or efficacy which the seller represented it to be and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1 (18)(ii) of the Miscellaneous

Offences Act, CAP M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. “That you Cajetan Chike Muonagolu and Richbon Nigeria Limited of Plot 242, Oshodi Apapa Express Way, Odolowu Bus Stop, Lagos on or about 12/13 December 2018, while at ASPAMDA Trade Fair Complex, Lagos Badagry Expressway, Lagos State within the

COURT RESTRAINS NBA FROM SUSPENDING IKORODU BRANCH CHAIRMAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 until midnight of April 12, 2019. "Substantial hearing of the motion on notice, is fixed for Tuesday April 16, 2019." Akinlade was suspended on March 28, during the National Executive Council

(NEC) meeting of the NBA. He was suspended for allegedly flouting an order from the national body of the NBA, to halt the bye-election of the NBA Ikorodu Branch, which eventually held on March 15.

Following Akinlade's suspension for allegedly going against the directive, Ogbaide was appointed as the acting Chairman of the NBA Ikorodu Branch. According to the Claimant, his suspension is unconstitutional.

jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fail to comply with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s Conformity Assessment Programe (MANCAP) to wit; dealing in and having in possession of: 15,000 Cartons of Prime Plasma, Prime ATF and Stanley brand of adulterated/ substandard engine oil. SON recently undertook a nationwide raid on suspected adulterated and substandard lubricants, in response to a myriad of Consumer complaints and failure of engines, occasioned by suspected substandard engine oils. The arraignment of Muonagolu and his company, Richbond Nigeria Limited, is on the heels of other ongoing prosecution of standards infractions, in relation to adulterated and substandard engine oils in Lagos, and other parts of the country.

Legal Personality of the Week Caleb Adebayo

‘A Lawyer has to be a 360-Degree Human Being’ Please, give a brief introduction of yourself I am Caleb Adebayo. I work at Templars, a full service law firm in Nigeria. My area of work is Energy (Oil and Gas and Power), Projects and Finance; an area which I am very passionate about. I graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife in 2015 and the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus in 2016. I am also an environmentalist and founder of Earthplus, an environmental nonprofit organisation, with a reach of about 7000 people within and outside Nigeria. I am a spoken word poet, and I perform both Christian themed poetry and poetry that addresses societal issues, from climate change to gender equality to governance. I am an alumnus of the Barrack Obama Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Fellowship and the Carrington Youth fellowship of the United States Consulate and a Fellow of Climate Tracker. I have been named one of 20 Young Peacebuilders in West Africa, by the United Nations Alliance of Civilisation (UNAOC) and have been a delegate to and speaker at the African Union Youth Exchange Ideation Dialogue. I am also a TEDx speaker, public speaking coach, and writer of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. I am passionate about good governance, crafting environmentally sustainable solutions for Nigeria’s energy sector, global citizenship education, youth leadership, gender inclusiveness and a circular economy. Have you had any challenges in your career as a Lawyer, and if so, what were the main challenges? Certainly I have. Starting out as a new wig, I was faced with the challenge of the world of work being radically different from what I had been taught, both at undergraduate level and at the Law School. It was a challenge, trying to navigate my way in the profession, with no one to hold my hand or help me find my footing. There is also a bias (which

What was your most memorable experience as a Lawyer? I think that was the day I got to speak on Lawyers in an Oil and Gas panel, side by side Professor G. Elias, SAN, and other notable Lawyers in the industry. I was all shades of emotions that day; I was the youngest and most inexperienced in years, on the panel, but I can’t forget the experience, and the great feedback I got afterwards

Caleb Adebayo

I surmise is untrue), that the young freshout-of-the-pan Lawyer is lazy and unwilling to learn. There was the challenge of battling against this obvious bias in my work, to show that I was in fact hardworking and more than eager to learn. The profession has not also fully embraced technology in this part of the world as it should, and that has proved very challenging, in terms of work product and efficiency. What was your worst day as a Lawyer? Maybe not the worst, but a pretty bad day, was when I went to the wrong court for a matter, and sat there until I was informed the Judge was sitting at another court. By the time I got to the court where the Judge was sitting, the client was already there asking where I had been. To make it worse, he had called my senior at the office, saying no Lawyer showed up for his case in court.

Who has been most inﬂuential in your life? Foremost, my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adebayo, for whom I have tremendous respect. The tenets, morals and faith in God - what they groomed me with as a child, have stayed with me to date, and made me who I am. Also, my Pastor, Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, has greatly influenced my life and work ethics positively through his exemplary life and teachings. Dr. Odunola Orifowomo, my lecturer from Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr Bode Olanipekun, SAN, was also very instrumental in cutting my teeth in the legal profession. Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN has also been influential in encouraging me to go after my passion, in the Energy sector. Ayodele Oni, Energy Partner at Bloomfield, Desmond Ogba and Yemisi Awonuga, Energy Partners at Templars, have influenced me positively, in my quest to be a distinguished energy Lawyer. Modupe Dabiri, Senior Associate at Templars has also been a teacher and a role model of how hard work, commitment and attention to detail makes a great, outstanding Lawyer. Why did you become a Lawyer? I became a Lawyer for two reasons. Growing up, my mother had assigned professions to each of us (as a lot of parents did). I was supposed to be the Engineer. In JS3, during the holiday after my Junior WAEC exams, in my silent moments studying books on ‘purpose’, I realised how I had a burning passion for

justice, governance and due process. That was the first sign. A few weeks later, during the same holiday, I was having a personal spiritual retreat, and I became convinced in my spirit that I was meant to study law.. What would be your advice to anyone wanting a career in law? Law is an amazing profession. This is because, it is a door that opens you up, to a vista of other opportunities and platforms. Being a Lawyer, is demanding. So, I’d say to anyone looking to a career in law, be an eager learner. Be curious. Ask questions. Law is about finding solutions to real problems, through the instrumentality of the law. So, to be a great Lawyer, you have to open yourself up to learn about various aspects of life, you have to be a 360 degree human being, not just familiar with law books, but everything else too. Be commercially aware. Love the English language, as it is your tool. Develop your writing, and public speaking skills. Learn thoroughness and attention to detail. Have a problem- solving mind. And, be ready to give the hours. If you had not become a Lawyer, what other career would you have chosen? Perhaps, I would have become an Aeronautic Engineer. Where do you see yourself in ten years? My passion for Nigeria runs deep, and there are problems I am intent on ensuring lasting solutions to. In 10 years, I see myself consulting for the Nigerian government and private sector, on issues of clean energy, green financing and environmental governance, and creating working collaborations between the government at all levels, nonprofits and international non-governmental organisations and the private sector, to foster development. I also see myself helping local nonprofits thrive, and access resources and networks, to enable them scale their impact.

16.04.2019

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN, OFR, FCIARB, PH.D, LL.D

SMS only to 08098898888

Onnoghen: The Metaphor for a Fractured Nation (Part 2)

L Introduction

ast week, we discussed this vexed issue, where Onnoghen has been made a scapegoat of a rabidly dysfunctional system in a fractured Nation, called Nigeria. Nigeria yearns for nationhood, equity, fairness, justice, egalitarianism. She is presently fractured along religious, ethnic, linguistic, political, gender and other primodial lines and cleavages. Let’s see more on Hon Justice Walter Onnoghen, the man who must be crucified on the cross of our national Golgotha, to satiate some expensive palates and over- bloated egos. Funny and Phoney Charges It is clear that, when you want to hang a dog, all you have to do is to simply give it a bad name. That happened to Onnoghen. How could Justice Walter Onnoghen have influenced about 11 Justices of the Supreme Court, to pervert the course of justice, with a mere car gift worth N7 million, as alleged by EFCC in its petition to NJC? One of the allegations was that, the sum of N24 million which accrued to Onnoghen between 2017 and 2018 as estacodes and paid through the Chief Protocol Officer of the Supreme Court, one Ngozi Nwankwo, had suddenly become a criminal offence. Onnoghen’s traducers did not care that, Rule 13.5 (2) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers (published February, 2016), permits a judicial officer to accept “personal gifts or beneﬁts from relatives or personal friends to such extent and on such occasion as are recognised by custom”. Why should they, anyway? It was simply satanic, to link Onnoghen’s gifts with Supreme Court cases, in which he did not even sit as a member of the panels, simply because one of the Counsel who gave him gifts during his child’s wedding, had appeared before the above mentioned Justices during the period in question. Some of the phoney and ridiculous charges against Onnoghen, are that Onnoghen had failed to declare his assets, and that he also maintains domiciliary accounts, contrary to the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act. Domiciliary accounts, are not foreign accounts. What the Constitution forbids are foreign accounts, not local domiciliary accounts. Need for a Strong and Independent Judiciary A strong and independent Judiciary, is one of the irreducible fundamental platforms for any meaningful constitutional democracy. If you terrorise, intimidate, harass and humiliate the Judiciary, using strong hand and brute force, it is a stage set for bidding democracy farewell. It is clear to any objective observer that, the charges against Onnoghen were highly political, and designed to intimidate the Judiciary ahead of the 2019 presidential election, and force out Onnoghen, who, as the CJN, would play a major role in the system to entertain disputes arising from the presidential election. Many facts bear this simple deduction out. The petitioner, an NGO, actually committed the Freudian slip, by anchoring its petition on “bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 general elections and the overwhelming role of the judicial arm both before and after...”. The second fact is that, even after recommendation of Onnoghen as CJN by the NJC on 13th October, 2016, it took VP Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, the courage to appoint him as CJN on 1st March, 2017, after stringent protests and outcries by overwhelming majority of Nigerians, and at a time PMB was actually abroad on medical vacation. Three, Onnoghen became the first Southerner to be made CJN in 30 years, after the last Southerner, Justice Gabriel Ayo Irikefe, occupied that exalted office in 1987. Four, Onnoghen had been CJN for well over a year, before his problems started. How come the Executive suddenly woke up from a deep slumber, and discovered his operation of domiciliary accounts, years before he was appointed CJN, which accounts, according to the petition, had been in existence since 2011, a period during which, since 2005, Onnoghen had already been a Justice of the Supreme Court. When have Nigerian security agencies been so optimised and displayed such efficiency, that a petition written by an NGO on 7th January, 2019, received by CCB on 9th January, 2019, was acted upon with such “automatic alacrity”, that by 11th January, 2019,

Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen

charges had been filed against Onnoghen. And wait for it, he was arraigned on Monday, 14th January, 2019, all within one week! What of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Act, which prescribe certain necessary steps that must be taken before a charge is filed? How come the CCT granted an ex parte order, not moved by any Lawyer on record, to order a sitting CJN to “step aside” from office? What would be the final punishment, at the end of the trial? What happened to the provisions of Section 3 (d) of the CCB/CCT Act, which provides that acceptance of non-compliance with the provisions of the Act on declaration of assets, shall be a bar to arraignment and prosecution before the CCT? Why was Onnoghen’s case different? I believe that this onslaught is to finally cow, and if possible, annihilate the Judiciary, the last hope of the common man and woman. Nigerians now appear to live in bondage of dictatorship, and absolutism. Citizens now talk in whispers, afraid of even their own shadows. Only those who support the government in power, however corrupt they may be, find peace and solace. Like Naaman the leper, who dipped himself into River Jordan seven times and became cleansed of his leprosy, all that a corrupt politician needs to do to be washed clean of his political leprosy (as white as snow), is to decamp to the ruling APC. He would be embraced immediately, given a front pew, inducted into the hall of fame, and put in charge of government affairs and our collective destiny. This is quite sad. Some Nigerians are still playing the Ostrich, in the full glare of this clear and present danger, behaving like the “Chichidodo” bird talked about by the Ghanaian author, Ayi Kwei Armah, in his epic novel, “The beautiful ones are not yet born”. The bird hates human faeces, but paradoxically feeds on maggots that wriggle out of such excreta. Some people, are bent on breaking up Nigeria. I will never allow this, from my little window of objective social criticisms and campaigns for a better, more inclusive, justice-based, equitable and egalitarian Nigeria, where all Nigerians are happy and fulfilled.

“IF YOU TERRORISE, INTIMIDATE, HARASS AND HUMILIATE THE JUDICIARY, USING STRONG HAND AND BRUTE FORCE, IT IS A STAGE SET FOR BIDDING DEMOCRACY FAREWELL”

Nigeria’s Presidential System: An Unruly Bull in a China Shop (Part 1) Introduction “A bull in a China shop”, means many things: “an inconsiderate or tactless person”; “an awkward or clumsy person”; “a trouble maker or dangerous person”. The historical origin of this unique term, was first recorded in a novel titled “Jacob Faithful” by Frederick Marryat (1834). I have decided today, to start the interesting series of the Presidential and Parliamentary systems of government. The presidential system of government, for all intents and purposes, has become not just a bull in a China shop, but an unruly and dangerous one, at that. Can it be tamed through a total extirpation, root and branch, hook, line and sinker? Or, can it be tamed through an admixture of presidentialism and parliamentarianism, as recommended by the 2014 National Conference, in which I played a leading role as a Federal Government delegate? Better still, can we exorcise it from our governance template, and replace it with the West Minister Parliament System? In 1979, Nigeria embraced the American model of presidential system of government, thereby discarding the parliamentary model which she had operated between 1960 and 1966. Nigeria became independent on October 1, 1960, when the British Union Jack was lowered for the Nigerian “Green-White-Green” flag. In 1963, she became Republican, doing away with British monarchy and becoming a full fledged Nation. The history of Nigeria has been chequered since her name was coined by Miss Flora Louise Shaw, the young British journalist and writer who later became Mrs Lord Lugard. Recall that it was this same Lord Lugard, who amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates, to found Nigeria on January 1, 1914. Since then, Nigeria has tried difficult constitutional experimentations – 1922 Clifford Constitution, 1946 Arthur Richards Constitution, 1951 Macpherson Constitution and 1954 Littleton Constitution. These led to the 1960 Independence Constitution, and 1963 Republican Constitution. Nigeria operated the Parliamentary System of Government, borrowed from her colonial masters, Britain between 1960 and 1966. Alhaji Tafawa Balewa was the Prime Minister, whilst Chief Obafemi Awolowo led the opposition. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was the President. This parliamentary system survived until January 15, 1966, when fire-eating Major Kaduna Chukwuma Nzeogwu, a young ideologically - inclined military officer from Okpanam in Delta State, led other young officers to execute the first military putsch in Nigeria. The young officers violently overthrew the Balewa Government, and murdered many influential and leading politicians and military officers. These included, aside Balewa, the then Premier of Northern Region and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir, Ahmadu Bello; the Premier of Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola; Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh (Omimi-Ejoh); Brigadier-General Samuel Ademulegun (and his wife); Brigadier- General Zakariya Maimalari; Col Kur Mohammed; Col Shodeinde, Lt-Col Abogo Lagerma, etc. the rest, as they say, is now history. My Aims and Objectives My intention in this series, is to x-ray both the presidential and parliamentary systems of governments, their advantages, disadvantages, merits and demerits. For too long, Nigerians have been crying over the expensive and wasteful nature of presidentialism. They belly-ache over the absolute powers placed in the hands of one man called the President, who can indeed become dictatorial, absolutist, tyrannical and even fascist, if he so desires. They argue for, a change. They want a re-enactment of the West Minister model of parliamentary system that is more tame, more inclusive and less expensive. From next week, we shall critically examine these issues. We must discuss Nigeria, and make her a better place for ourselves, children and generations yet unborn. (To be continued). THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do, is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude”. (Charles R. Swindoll).

8/COVER

16.04.2019

COVER/9

The Killing Fields of Zamfara and Kaduna Going by security reports from the North-East, North-Central and North-West, living in Nigeria is now, unarguably, a nightmare. Life has become nasty, brutish and sometimes short, and the Government appears overwhelmed, by the challenges of restoring peace to a once peaceful country. Scores have been getting killed by the day in Zamfara, Kaduna and Maiduguri, to a point that the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, recently declared that, he is prepared to vacate ofﬁce, if that is what is required to restore peace and security to the State. The American Government, last week, issued a travel advice to its citizens, regarding visits to Nigeria. In the face of these challenges, many have started to ask, if the law is still working in some of these States where there is so much violence. Femi Falana, SAN leads Emmanuel Onwubiko, Richard Akinnola and Jide Ojo, in this discourse, on the state of the nation’s security, and how Government can apply, to provide the much-needed panacea to the dastardly killings and bloodshed

Ending Incessant Killings of Nigerian people Femi Falana, SAN

S Killings

ince the restoration of democratic rule in 1999, the country has consistently witnessed avoidable ethnoreligious and communal clashes. The tragic situation, has been compounded by insurgency, militancy and violent clashes between herders’ and farmers, which could have been prevented by the government. Governor Samuel Ortom, once revealed that, 1,878 people were killed in herders/farmers clashes from 2013-2016. In Plateau State, over 3,000 were killed in 10 years. In 2013, a group of bandits abducted and killed over 150 policemen and SSS operatives in Nasarawa State. Scores of people were killed in the in the military invasions of Odi in Bayelsa State, Zaki Biam in Benue State, and Gbaramotu in Delta state. Not less than 100 people were killed, during the 2015 general election. According to the National Human Rights Commission, 58 people were killed in Rivers State, alone. The post election violence in 2011 in 12 Northern States and Akwa Ibom State, recorded the deaths of over 866 people. Apart from thugs and militants who have continued to unleash mayhem on innocent people, the Joint Task Forces have been indicted in the unlawful killing of members of the public. Many nihilist groups have also taken advantage of the growing culture of official impunity, to engage in savage killings, abductions and other primitive brutalisation of unarmed people. Even though the Buhari administration promised to secure the life of every citizen, crimes of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping have increased, without any solution in sight. Many of the victims of kidnapping are brutishly killed, while the hapless families of others pay huge ransoms to secure their release. Extrajudicial killing of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Shiites by security forces, appears to have been sanctioned by the Buhari administration. Whereas, the Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba Commission of Inquiry, which inquired into the December 2015 military invasion of Zaria, Kaduna State, found that 347 Shiites were killed by the army. The authorities have ignored the recommendation, that the culprits be prosecuted by the government. Zamfara State In Zamfara State, over 2,000 people have been killed. According to Senator Marafa, not less than 5,000 women, have been raped by

Doom and Gloom of Widening Insecurity Emmanuel Onwubiko

F Philosophy

bandits. These figures exclude the killings by terror gangs and killer squads, set by some State Governors, armed robbery gangs, kidnap gangs and other bandits. In the majority of the cases of unlawful killings and violent attacks, the Police made arrests, but the suspects were hardly brought to justice. That is why the killings, have been on the ascendancy. Other States The 2019 general elections conducted in Rivers State and a few other States, witnessed wanton killings and destruction of properties. While it is true that State Governments are not in control of the Police and other security forces, it is indisputable that, it is the sole constitutional responsibility of State Attorneys-General to prosecute criminal elements accused of armed robbery, murder or culpable homicide, and kidnapping. No civilised community, can allow murderers to go scot free, while the relations of those who have been killed, are frustrated, in their search for justice. In February 2018, I was compelled to request the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to sanction State Attorneys-General, for exposing and subverting the rule of law, by refusing to prosecute murder suspects. Ranches: Panacea to Farmer/Herdsmen Crisis I have almost shouted myself hoarse, in demanding for the establishment of ranches in the States with large scale livestock, as a panacea to the herders/farmers’ violent clashes. Although, the Federal Government has belatedly accepted the suggestion, it has not established any ranch. In dismissing the diversionary enactment of antigrazing laws and creation of grazing routes, I had asked the Government to learn from our history. Until about two decades ago, there were ranches in the country. In fact, the first ranch, the Obudu Cattle Ranch (now Obudu Holiday Resort), was established in 1951 by a Scotsman. Later, the Ahmadu Bello regime, founded a ranch in Mokwa, now in Niger State, while the Obafemi Awolowo regime, set up a ranch in Akunu, now in Ondo State. Under the Yakubu Gowon regime, the Audu Bako regime in Kano State, had the best ranches in the country. Currently, the Nigerian Army, has set up a ranch in the Federal Capital Territory. In 2014, the Jonathan administration sent a number of young men and women to Botswana, to study the development of ranches. They trained, returned home and were made redundant. That regime made available N100 billion, for the establishment of ranches. The fund was diverted, by some State Governments. By 2016, the Buhari regime announced that it was going to establish ranches. For the project,

Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu

11 State Governments provided 55,000 hectares of land, for the ranches. But, not a single ranch, has been established. In a move which smacks of insensitivity, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe came up with the provocative pet project of cattle colony. Happily, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, has dissociated itself from cattle colonisation. President Buhari, also kicked against the idea. Since majority of the owners of the cattle are very rich, they should be made to own ranches. With ranches, the animals will be fatter. They will produce, quality meat and milk. The cattle herders will live in the vicinity of the ranches, and have schools for their children. It is the height of permissivity on the part of any government, to dispatch young men to the street to rear animals. Police Last week, the Senate passed a resolution for the creation of State Police, to address the worsening security situation in the country. The House of Representatives has requested President Buhari to address a joint session of the National Assembly, on the same matter. In the past 20 years, the Military Constitution, has been altered four times. But, the National Assembly members have not deemed it fit, to amend the Constitution to empower State Governments to create State Police. On the contrary, the Federal legislative and executive arms of government, have displayed total hypocrisy by opposing State Police, while they have set up the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission etc, whose operatives are all authorised to bear arms. It is indeed, worrisome that, all the 36 State

Chief of Army Staﬀ, Tukur Yusuf Buratai

Governors have allowed the Federal Government, to usurp police powers in Nigeria. The Constitution has not created the Federal Government Police Force, but the Nigeria Police Force. Section 214 of the Constitution provides that, the President cannot appoint or remove the Inspector-General of Police on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council. The principal function of the Nigeria Police Council, is the organisation, administration and supervision of the Nigeria Police Force. Who are the members of the Nigeria Police Council? The President, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and the 36 State Governors. But, since 1999, the 36 Governors out of a body of 39 members, have allowed the President alone, to control and supervise the Nigeria Police Force. It is on record that, in the appointment and removal of the Inspector-General of Police, the advice of the Nigeria Police Council has never been sought. Neither has the Council intervened in the administration, organisation, and supervision of the Nigeria Police Force. Never! The anomalous situation of relying on the Nigeria Police Force to enforce State laws, has limited the capability of State Governments to provide security for the life and property of every citizen. While the Federal Government should be blamed for under policing the country, the State Governments bear full responsibility for failing

“NO CIVILISED COMMUNITY, CAN ALLOW MURDERERS TO GO SCOT FREE, WHILE THE RELATIONS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED, ARE FRUSTRATED, IN THEIR SEARCH FOR JUSTICE”

to end impunity, by prosecuting the criminal suspects that have been arrested and indicted for kidnapping and other dangerous crimes. In spite of the presidential assurance to protect the life and property of every person living in Nigeria, the Government appears to have lost the monopoly of violence, to criminal gangs. To halt the killings of unarmed citizens, the Federal Government should be compelled to embark on a mass recruitment of police personnel, and provide equipment and other facilities, for effective performance of the Nigeria Police. Socioeconomic Challenge of Security Apart from providing security architecture, the socioeconomic challenge of security, has to be urgently addressed by the State. It has to be pointed out that, an economic programme that generates poverty and mass unemployment of youths, cannot meaningfully combat violent crimes. Many interest groups, have demanded for the restructuring of the country. In supporting the demand for restructuring, we have argued that, mere devolution of powers from the Federal Government to the other federating units, will not guarantee law and order or political stability, without equitable redistribution of the common wealth. Hence, we made a strong case for horizontal and vertical restructuring, or power devolution. In other words, the powers that are expected to be transferred from the Federal Government to State and Local governments, will have to be democratised. In particular, the privatisation of the common wealth, has to give way to collective ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, as provided for in Section 16 of the Constitution. Falana Femi Falana, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer and a recipient of International Bar Association’s Bernard Simmons Award

athers of classical philosophy such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, up until even the contemporary philosophers such as Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill, David Emile Durkheim; John Locke; Jean Paul Satre, Martha Nussbaum; Cornel West; Slavoj Zizek; Gayatri Spivak; Judith Butler; Su; John McDowell, amongst a collective of other members of the global intelligentsia, have in their scholarly and profound body of works, reached a conclusion in the realm of political philosophy, that government exists for the sole purpose of protecting the security of lives and property of the citizenry. These intellectual giants, asserted that, the moment the essence of government, which is the security of lives and property of the citizens, is imperilled, the legitimacy of government would become questionably shaky and unsustainable. Government, as a body that delivers good governance, emanated from the transition of man from the state of nature to the state of rule of law, or rather, the evolution from the rule of the brute to the rule of law. John Stuart Mill John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), is reputed to be one of the most influential British philosophers, of the nineteenth century. In one of the most beautiful analysis of the body of knowledge left behind by Mill, it was implicit that, Mill's explicit theory of rights is introduced in chapter five of his take on Utilitarianism, in the context of his sanction theory of duty, which is an indirect form of utilitarianism that identifies wrong actions, as actions that it is useful sanction. Those who know, affirmed further that, he then introduces justice as a proper part of duty. Justice involves duties, that are correlated with rights. Justice implies something which it is not only right to do, and wrong not to do, but which some individual person can claim from us, as a matter of right. Mill explains his theory of rights, in terms of the two elements in a right violation- an injury to the right holder and warranted punishment. A quick look at the UShistory.org and precisely the piece that treats the purpose of government, tells us that one major reason why government exists is that they create rules. Then, interestingly, the writers posed the question of what rules are desirable and necessary and quickly affirmed that almost certainly that all governments originated with the need to protect people from conflicts and to provide law and order. They then asked why conflicts

have perdured amongst humanity and also asserted that human nature dictates selfishness, and people inevitably will come to blows over who gets what property or privilege. Karl Marx Karl Marx explains that, conflicts in human society occur, because the very idea of property makes people selfish and greedy. The reasons for government, was the realisation by people that, when they come together, then protection is easier, especially if some kind of organisational structure is evolved, that domiciles power on the institutions governed by law. This is the basis for sovereignty, and the right of the group of country, to be free from outside interference. The writers of the entry in the website of American history concluded by stating that, though the rules and responsibilities vary greatly through time and place, governments must create them. Governments provide the parameters for everyday behaviour for citizens, protect them from outside interference, and often provide for their well-being and happiness. Cocktails of Killings in Zamfara and Kaduna States: Government’s Incapacity These aforementioned philosophical superstructure, brings us to the theme of our piece today, which is basically about the state of insecurity in all of Nigeria, and with specific reference to the cocktails of killings going on in Zamfara and Kaduna States, in which thousands of citizens have been killed by armed bandits and terrorists, whilst the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari, seems incapable or unwilling to stop the menace of the systematic genocides going on. The Nigerian Constitution is grounded on the norm that, the security of the people supersedes every other duty of government, and this is why the provision of security of lives and property of citizens is classified under the Nigerian Constitution as the PRIMARY DUTY OF GOVERNMENT. However, there has been a clear lack of capacity or the will power on the side of President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration, to exercise the constitutional mandate of protecting the citizens from unwarranted attacks and extralegal deaths. This apparent incapacity or inability of the current government in Nigeria to stop the bloodshed and targeted violence by all sorts of freelance armed hoodlums, bandits and terrorists, brings us to the inevitable conclusion that since the Constitution in Section 14(2) (b) says the security and welfare of the people of Nigeria is the primary duty of government, it therefore follows that, the current government which has clearly failed to stop these

“.....THE MOMENT THE ESSENCE OF GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS THE SECURITY OF LIVES AND PROPERTY OF THE CITIZENS, IS IMPERILLED, THE LEGITIMACY OF GOVERNMENT WOULD BECOME QUESTIONABLY SHAKY AND UNSUSTAINABLE” killings, lacks legitimacy to exercise any form of authority, because the people are the owners of the sovereignty of Nigeria. Besides, Muhammadu Buhari anchored his campaign message before he got elected on the three fold promises of restoration of security, the economy, and the fight against corruption. In the area of bringing about stability in security, it is evident that Muhammadu Buhari has failed in his sacred vow to defeat terrorists and mass killers, and restore order and security. The Federal House of Representatives, has just slammed a summons on him, to appear before the National Assembly to speak to Nigerians on the apparent incapacity or inability of his administration to stop the killings of Nigerians by armed bandits in Zamfara, Kaduna and many other flashpoints. He also seems to have provided cover for some of the armed Fulani herdsmen, because he has severally put up flimsy excuses for these killings, and has continuously blamed Governors who blocked grazing routes for cattle, as being the ones who instigated the Fulani herdsmen to kill citizens. The President also blamed traditional rulers in Zamfara State, for the killings, but has also claimed that foreign illegal miners of solid minerals, were responsible. This double speak, has become the hallmark of the current government, in its attempts to find a cover for its inherent incapacity to provide good governance in terms of security of lives and property of Nigerians, which is the ESSENCE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIMARY DUTY OF GOVERNMENT as stated clearly in Section (14) subsection (2) (b). The President whose office as the head of the executive branch of government, is backed by Section 5(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of

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10/COVER DOOM AND GLOOM OF WIDENING INSECURITY 1999 (as amended), is duty bound to execute the constitutional obligation of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians. He has failed serially, to so protect the security and wellbeing of Nigerians. The President seems to be enjoying the past time of shifting the blames for the widening insecurity to external forces, but has failed to realise that, as the President of the Federation, the responsibility begins and ends on his desk. As we read above, Karl Marx relates the love for property, as the mother of greed and avarice which inevitably leads to conflicts, it is clear that the attacks against communities in Zamfara and Kaduna by bandits and armed Fulani terrorists, are brought about by the contestation for grazing land, and the unbridled criminal determination to capture areas that are endowed massively with solid minerals. The Federal House of Representatives, has similarly accused the armed Fulani herdsmen of attacking communities and occupying the communities, from where the natives are displaced violently. Also, President Muhammadu Buhari, without any shame, admitted in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that the armed Fulani herdsmen killing Nigerians were from foreign jurisdictions, but at the same time, he failed to realise that, he had just admitted to his failure to exercise the primary duty for which he took an oath of office to so execute, and therefore, ought to resign or be impeached. We will get to read about the datelines and highlights, of the killings in those two States of Zamfara and Kaduna. The media are regularly replete with stories of gloom and doom and of deaths and violence, to an extent that Nigeria is seen internationally as a basket case, and as a failed nation. Citizens from Zamfara and Kaduna States have also staged demonstrations, to protest the failure of the current government to check these killings. Benue State particularly, has on many occasions staged mass burials for hundreds of their innocent citizens killed by armed bandits, even as government has failed to arrest and prosecute the killers and their sponsors, such as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Owners Association, which is known to always defend the right of Fulani herdsmen to pillage farms of villagers. The cries of Nigerians are heightening, and even the international community, has taken notice. This is because, there is hardly a day that will pass that the media wouldn't be awash with stories of blood cuddling violence, and the AXIS OF EVIL is located in Zamfara/Kaduna and the North Central region, in addition to the North East of Nigeria that has, for half a decade, become the epicentre of death and violence by the dreaded armed terror gangs of Boko Haram. Birnin Magaji For instance, one of the papers reported that suspected armed bandits on Wednesday (19th December, 2018) stormed three communities in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing many residents. Some of those killed, were working on their farms when they were attacked. Sources said the armed bandits came heavily armed and opened fire on the farmers, who were harvesting sweet potatoes at Garin Haladu Community. A resident stated that, “the armed bandits came around one o’clock in the afternoon, and opened fire on some youth harvesting sweet potatoes at Garin Haladu Community, and killed ten people”. He added that, “they came back in the evening and ransacked some villages around”. The source said during Wednesday’s attack, 12 people were killed at Garin Haladu Community. At Nasarawa Godal Community, four persons were killed, while at Garin Kaka community, nine people were killed, he said. The three communities, are in the same local government. “Many youths from Nasarawa Godal Community ran to Garin Haladu, to help the neighbouring community fight the attackers. Among them, four persons were killed by the armed bandits, and their corpses were discovered on Thursday”, the source said. Incidentally, the affected local government, Birnin Magaji, is the hometown of Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mansur Dan Ali. This man is the person who never condemned armed Fulani killer gangsters and their killings of villagers in Benue State, but rather blamed the Benue State government for passing a legitimate law banning open grazing of cows. Now, his backyard has become the epicentre of the conflicts between innocent citizens who are on the run, as they cannot resist the violence from the well-armed bandits. Most of the villages surrounding Birnin Magaji Local Government Area, such as Ballaka, Tsalle, Gidan Kare, Katsinawa, Garin Boka and Garin Kaka, are deserted due to repeated attacks by the bandits. Residents of such villages, are taking refuge at the Council headquarters and some other places in the State. Soldiers reportedly came in three vehicles to the area; hours after the armed bandits had finished their operation. Also, traditional rulers are blaming the incompetence of the military, for the continuous and sustained bombardment by the armed bandits. Many local government Councils in Zamfara State, are battling armed bandits and cattle rustlers with Tsafe, Zurmi, Shankafi, Maradun, Maru and Birnin Magaji local government areas, most affected. Just an attack on five villages in Maradun local government area, claimed not less than 30 lives. Residents reportedly said the bandits stormed Sakkida, Farin Zare, Orawa, Gyadde and Sabon Gari villages on motorbikes, killing people and carting away cows. “We have buried 26 so far, and we are still scouting for other bodies in the bush. Some of the residents were trapped on their farms, and got killed”, Makau Ali, a resident was quoted as saying.

16.04.2019 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

“For the first time, women were among those shot dead. “Seven persons were killed in Sakkida, four in Farin Zare, eight in Orawa, seven in Gyadde, and four were shot dead in Sabon Gari while seven were declared missing.” Suspected armed bandits have killed at least 22 persons in Malikawa village, Gidan Goga district in Maradun local government area of Zamfara State, Daily Trust learnt. That was around December 11th, 2019. Residents said dozens of unidentified gunmen (on December 10, 2018), arrived on motorbikes firing at them. “I was coming back from the farm around 4pm, when I decided to have my bath; while in the bathroom, I heard people screaming for help. I came out of the bathroom and found the whole community in pandemonium.” When the six persons were being chased on motorbikes by the armed bandits, the residents decided to bury themselves in a stock pile of corn stalks, unknown to them that they were seen by the attackers. They (the attackers) decided to torch the stalks, burning all the people inside. In May and July last year, 60 persons were killed in similar attacks on at least seven villages in the district, by the suspected armed bandits and cattle rustlers.

vehicles each in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. “We also have to give funds to those affected by these attacks, to at least help them in some way.” According to Mr Shinkafi, the State has been sitting on a time bomb for long, and there is need for citizens, the State and Federal Government, to be more concerned and find ways to stop the bomb from exploding. He recalled that, the crisis which started as a minor clash between herders and farmers, had been taken over by armed bandits, who had carried out about 40 attacks. He attributed the banditry to shortage of manpower in the State, stressing the need for more indigenes to show interest in joining the security services, to protect the State.

Governor Yari Abubakar and Zamfara State Sadly, the State Government has failed, but the officials are feeding fat from the attacks, by way of diverting resources of the State to their own pockets. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had recently indicted the Zamfara State Governor of theft of billions of Naira. The Governor hardly stays in the State, and is often travelling and embarking on globetrotting, whilst his State is under constant attacks. Shamelessly, the State Governor had the temerity to allege that, the armed bandits were better armed than the military of Nigeria. The State Government, also reeled out frightening figures of those slaughtered by the bandits. The State Government claimed that the ongoing banditry in Zamfara, has claimed over 3,000 lives in the past few years. The Secretary to the Government of Zamfara, Abdullahi Shinkafi, made the disclosure last year in Gusau, at a town hall meeting organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Mr Shinkafi also said, the State Government has spent some N17 billion in the past seven years on fighting the problem. According to Mr Shinkafi, the banditry has resulted in the death of over 3,000 people, destruction of over 2,000 homes, burning of over 500 cars, and kidnapping of over 500 people for ransom. He said that the money was spent from 2011 to date, to procure vehicles for security agencies, pay allowances to security operatives, and provide accommodation for soldiers of the 232 Battalion and other logistics. “In 2011, we provided 457 vehicles for security agencies, in 2012; we provided 2,250 vehicles, in 2014, 77 vehicles and 50

“....THE COCKTAILS OF KILLINGS GOING ON IN ZAMFARA AND KADUNA STATES, IN WHICH THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY ARMED BANDITS AND TERRORISTS, WHILST THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, SEEMS INCAPABLE OR UNWILLING TO STOP THE MENACE OF THE SYSTEMATIC GENOCIDES GOING ON”

Causes of the Killings What, then, is the fundamental causation of these killings? If one may ask. Some explanations have been offered and will be discussed, as we proceed. The then National President of the NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, also had wondered, why the Federal Government would allow the State to spend so much of its funds on security. What does Government do, with the multibillion releases to the Defence Ministry? The Federal Government also claims to have spent over N500 billion to fight insurgency, but there seems to be too much corruption at the Ministry of Defence, with regard to procurement of weapons. We will address this matter, shortly. For Aliyu Gusau, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice, the issue was that, the people of the State no longer trusted the Government. “The communities are more loyal to the bandits, because promises and assurances given by the Government are never fulfilled.” He also blamed Lawyers in the State, for being too quick to defend and secure bail for arrested bandits, and attributed this to the failure of justice delivery in the State. Other speakers also identified poverty, unemployment, corruption, ignorance, ethnic and religious sentiments, as some of the factors fuelling the conflicts. During the visit by the then leadership of the NBA, Mr Zurmi said the people of the Emirate, need a solution to the persistent banditry in the town, and not sympathy or condolences. Governor El-Rufai and Kaduna State The killings are interwoven with other attacks happening in Kaduna State and even in Katsina State, whereby the State Governor claimed that eight local government areas are taken over by armed bandits. As I stated above, the killings in Kaduna State took a dramatic dimension, when the State Governor, Nasir El- Rufai, seemed to have blown an incident out of proportion, by making an unsubstantiated, but potentially explosive claim that, 66 Fulani settlers were killed by Christian natives in Kajuru near Kaduna, just as he changed the figure to over 100. So, bad politics stokes the embers of ethno-religious killings, in the case of Kaduna State. The fact that, Governors enjoy immunity under Section 308(1) of the Constitution, may have informed the strong suspicions, that the Kaduna State Governor may have taken the liberty of that immunity clause to issue frivolous and substantially unsubstantiated allegations of killings of Fulani settlers by Kajuru natives, which may have sparked off the recent wave of revenge killings by armed Fulani herdsmen. His statement led to reprisals against the natives, which are still being recorded, even as I write. In that entirely phantom claim, the Kaduna governor in the statement stated that: “Security agencies today reported the recovery of 66 bodies that were killed in attacks by criminal elements on various dispersed hamlets in the Maro Gida and Iri axis of Kajuru LGA”. “The settlements affected include Ruga Bahago, Ruga

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16.04.2019

COVER/11

Stemming the Current Security Challenges Richard Akinnola

“TWO MONTHS AGO, CHADIAN PRESIDENT, IDRISS DEBY, FIRED THE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF AND HIS DEPUTIES, OVER THE LOSS OF 23 CHADIANS TO THE BOKO HARAM INSURGENTS.... A SHAKE UP WITHIN OUR MILITARY HIGH COMMAND IS IMPERATIVE....”

T Blame Game

he blame game has started. From Zamfara to Kaduna, the usual refrain during this time of security anomie, is to look for scapegoats. Some government spokespersons have attributed the upsurge in the killings in Zamfara, to the connivance of the traditional rulers with the bandits. The traditional rulers, in turn, have challenged the Defence Minister, Mansur Dan Ali, to name the persons aiding the bandits. While these brickbats were going on, scores of people were being daily slaughtered, in some Zamfara villages. The massacre has assumed the proportion of a pogrom. Unfortunately, despite recent counteroffensive by security forces, including the Air force, the situation is deteriorating. It is obvious that, something is missing here, and that is, intelligence gathering. The hallmark of any security offensive, is reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. This would nip in the bud, potential attacks. Besides, l don't think it would be fruitful, if government officials keep accusing traditional rulers of complicity with the bandits. Rather, they ought to engage and synergise with them, in dealing with this seemingly intractable security menace. Governor Yari It is against this background, that l don't share the views of some people who put the blame of the security situation in Zamfara State, squarely on the shoulders of Governor Yari. While it is obvious that, Yari has behaved most irresponsibly by abdicating governance and hibernating in Abuja, most times instead of governing his State, the

National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Monguno (Rtd)

reality is that, Yari, just like any other State Governor, i only a Chief Security officer of his State, on paper. In practical reality, he is not. A Governor has no direct control, over the State's Commissioner of Police, Director of DSS or the Army. These are critical Federal agencies, that are needed to confront these monsters. “Operation Puff Adder” It's in the same vein, that one looks at the embarrassing security situation on the Abuja-Kaduna highway, which has been taken over by kidnappers. While it is heartwarming that the

DOOM AND GLOOM OF WIDENING INSECURITY Daku, Ruga Ori, Ruga Haruna, Ruga Yukka Abubakar, Ruga Duni Kadiri, Ruga Shewuka and Ruga Shuaibu Yau. Among the victims, were 22 children and 12 women. Four wounded persons rescued by the security agencies, are now receiving medical attention.”Armed Fulani attackers in Kajuru Communities, may have interpreted the explosive claims by the Kaduna State Governor, to mean that the Christian natives are the aggressors. Then the next 48 hours, being April 8th, 2019, armed Fulani herdsmen struck the communities in Kajuru, and killed 38 Christian villagers. The Council Chairman, Emmanuel Adamu, told journalists in Sangam, that the attacks were carried out simultaneously. Mr. Adamu said the gunmen unleashed mayhem on Ankpon Village in Nandu and Kabamu Village in Fadan Karshi, all of Numana district. He said the gunmen killed 38 persons, including women and children. “21 people were killed in Fadan Kashi, while 17 killed in Nandu,” he said. He described the incident as unfortunate. In May last year, seven people were killed when gunmen attacked a police outpost at Fadan Karshi. Earlier in March this year, around the 16th, gunmen struck in Sanga, Southern Kaduna, just as these armed Fulani herdsmen slaughtered 10 persons. Sanga is a border town with Nasarawa and Plateau States, and home to the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe. More than 30 houses were razed in the latest attack, which was confirmed by the member representing the area in the National Assembly, as well as the PDP Deputy Governorship candidate, in the just concluded election, Marshal Katung. A statement signed by Governor Nasir ElRufai’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, also confirmed the attack and begged for calm. The attack is coming on the heels of several attacks, on the people of Kajuru Local Government Area of the State. All the attacks, are in the Southern part of the State. It was learnt that, the attack on Nandu-Gbok, was launched by yet to be identified armed bandits.

Inspector-General of Police has risen to the occasion, with his "Operation Puff Adder", it would be interesting to see how this has exterminated these hoodlums from that axis. Puff adders are poisonous snakes, and Nigerians equally want this operation to live to the expectations of real puff adders. Beyond the histrionics of the Police high command, in respect of this menace of kidnappings along that corridor, Nigerians want solid assurances of safety. It would not be out of place, for the security agencies to deploy drones along that corridor, which can effectively locate the camps and movements of these kidnap-

pers. Having said this, a nation cannot be having this high casualty figures in Zamfara, Kaduna and Borno States, and there are no consequences, in respect of heads rolling in the Army. Two months ago, Chadian President, Idriss Deby, fired the Chief of Army Staff and his deputies, over the loss of 23 Chadians to the Boko Haram insurgents. But, here in our clime, the President holds the usual security meetings with the Military Chiefs, and always charges them to go flush out these miscreants, as if that was not their initial mandate. We cannot be losing this large number of people on a regular basis, to these hoodlums, without consequences. A shake up within our military high command is imperative, not only to restore confidence in the Army, but also in the people whose lives and property, have been put in constant jeopardy. Richard Akinnola, Director, Media Law Centre

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The armed Fulani attackers, set houses ablaze. Ten people were killed, some people were burnt to death, many others were injured, some people are still missing, the source said. A member representing Sanga/Jemaa Federal Constituency, Mr. Shehu Garba, while condemning the attacks, called for urgent attention from relevant authorities, to protect the people. He said, “We woke up this morning to the sad news of an attack by gunmen on Nandu Gbok, a community in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State. “About 10 bodies have been recovered, and about 30 houses confirmed burnt down.” “That the latest attack is coming while we are mourning and trying to deal with the devastating massacre brought on the Adara People (in Kajuru LGA), has, once again, brought to the fore, the plight of the indigenous people of Southern Kaduna.” On his part, Marshal Katung blamed the incessant killings in the area, on government failure. “These attacks/crises, are becoming one too many. I am greatly disturbed, at the scale and magnitude of destruction of lives and property that has been going on unabated, with very little action by the Government.”

“IT IS THE CONSIDERED OPINION OF MOST PEOPLE, THAT THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT, SEEMS TO BE MILKING THE RESOURCES OF NIGERIA, UNDER THE GUISE OF FIGHTING INSURGENCY AND BANDITS, EVEN WHEN EVIDENCE ABOUNDS TO SHOW OTHERWISE”

“When the crisis broke out in Kajuru three weeks ago, we expressed sadness at the comments of our State Government, warning that it could trigger a circle of violence.” “For as long as the government does not treat its citizens with justice, equity and fairness, this unfortunate situation will continue”, he added. Confirming the attack, the government said nine were killed in the attack on Nandu-Gbok. Again armed Fulani herdsmen attacked Kajuru, and killed 16 people on March 11th, 2019. The Kaduna State Police Command said, no fewer than 16 persons were killed by gunmen at Barde Village under Maro in Kajuru Local Government Area of the State. The underlying but pathetic fact, is the incapacity of government to prevent the killings. There is also the case of incompetence, on the part of the security forces. Military air strikes, are alleged to kill only innocent civilians in affected local government areas and five communities, and not bandits, Zamfara State Council of Traditional Rulers, has alleged. This crass incompetence on the side of the Police and other security forces, including the Department of State Services (DSS), is replicated all across Nigeria. But, the traditional rulers, who spoke through the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, told reporters that, the air strikes have not been effective in uprooting bandits. Reports from the four local governments of Zurmi, Tsafe, Gusau and Anka, indicate about five communities where the air strikes were carried out, did not hit hideouts of bandits, according to the traditional rulers. Rather, they said, innocent civilians were victims of the strikes. Allegations against Traditional Rulers The Council of Chiefs, also faulted Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Mansur Dan Ali, who alleged some traditional rulers were supporting banditry. The Emir expressed dismay over the allegation, and called on the Minister to “as a matter of responsibility and urgency, name those traditional rulers involved in such reprehensible activities, for government to take

appropriate measures against them”. Failure to disclose the traditional rulers involved, according to Attahiru, will render the Minister’s statement false, as just an attempt to tarnish the image of the traditional institution. The traditional rulers further noted with grave concerns, the deteriorating security problems in Zamfara State. Wasted Resources and No Results? It is the considered opinion of most people, that the current government, seems to be milking the resources of Nigeria, under the guise of fighting insurgency and bandits, even when evidence abounds to show otherwise. Senator Ben Bruce was quoted as stating that, the government had spent N500 billion fighting just less than 100,000 terrorists. The question to be asked is, why no improvements have been recorded, in spite of the huge resources reportedly committed towards fighting the bandits. Why are the different levels of government, claiming to have spent tons of billions of money to fight the bandits, whereas the situation keeps deteriorating? This shows that there is inbuilt corruption within the governmental system, to an extent that, some persons highly placed in government now see the fight against bandits as a franchise, and a big opportunity for selfenrichment. The executive arm of government which engages in these corrupt practices, has the notorious record of not respecting the other two arms of government, namely legislature and judiciary, and so these procurement practices that breed corruption in government, may not be effectively combatted, because the two major institutions of checks and balances, are almost totally destroyed by the Presidency. The military is also said to be deeply entrenched, in all of these shenanigans. The best bet, is to ask the Muhammadu Buhari administration to step down, because it has become evident, that the current government has no political will to enforce the laws against terrorism and violence by armed Fulani herdsmen. Emmanuel Onwubiko, Member, Presidential Committee on Restoration of Peace and Dialogue in Northern Nigeria (PCCDR)

12/COVER

16.04.2019

Restoring Peace to the Killing Fields of Kaduna and Zamfara Jide Ojo

State of insecurity in Nigeria he greatest challenge facing Nigeria today, is not corruption or infrastructure deficit. It is insecurity. Nigerians, including myself, do not feel secure across the country, and this is known to our political leaders. Insecurity stares us in the face. This year makes it a decade, since the Boko Haram insurgency started in Borno State. This had spread to other States like Adamawa, Yobe, Kano and Abuja, before it was contained and restricted to the BAY States, that is, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. In the intervening period, thousands of lives have been lost, and millions displaced. Several abductions have also taken place, with those of Chibok in Borno and Dapchi in Yobe, making news headlines. For some time now, Nigeria has been one of the countries with a high rate of kidnapping, either for ransom or for rituals. Abductions used to be most pronounced, in the Niger Delta communities. However, in the recent years, kidnapping and banditry have scaled up in northern Nigeria, especially in States like Zamfara and Kaduna States. Before going into details of causative factors, it is important to also mention that, herders/farmers clashes, have also become most pronounced in many northern States, particularly in the last three years. In a December 17, 2018 Report, Amnesty International said more than 3,600 people have been killed in clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria, since 2016. The international human rights organisation said more than 2,000 were killed in 2018 alone, while the bloodshed had made thousands of other people homeless. Mostly affected in the farmers/herders conflict, are the States in the Middle Belt region, especially Taraba, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Kogi, and Nasarawa. Kaduna and Zamfara Killings While the killings in the Middle Belt seem to have been somewhat contained, Kaduna and Zamfara are topping the list of the most insecure States in Nigeria, due to the activities of miscreants, who are engaging in full blown criminality. In Kaduna, it is largely abduction for ransom. For instance, Abuja to Kaduna highway has become so unsafe, that many elites now join the masses to commute by train instead of travelling via road from Abuja to Kaduna and vice-versa. On a daily basis, there are reported cases of commuters being abducted on that ever busy highway, particularly around the Jere axis. Among the high profile persons who have been kidnapped along that road, include a former female Minister. Another hotspot of kidnapping in Kaduna State, is the Birnin Gwari area. This community is believed to be rich in gold, with a lot of illegal artisanal mining going on there. Aside from these two volatile areas, there is the Kajuru Local Government Area killings, in which many of the villages have been sacked by some bandits. News has it that, the Kajuru killings has economic undertones. Though there is an element of herders/ farmers clashes involved, there are also reported cases of attempts by some settlers in the area, to control the Ginger market and export. Furthermore, there is an allegation of a plot to annex the lands of the indigenous people of the local government, by some of the settlers. The unfortunate incident, has led to loss of hundreds of lives, including that of the paramount ruler of the Adara Kingdom, known as Agwom Adara, destruction of many homes, and displacement of many families. Zamfara too, has been in the news repeatedly, for wrong reasons. As far back as 2010, there were reported cases of lead poisoning in which hundreds of people, many of whom were children, died. According to Doctors without Borders in its May 11, 2012 Report, “in March 2010, MSF was alerted to a high number of child fatalities in Zamfara State, northern Nigeria – an estimated 400 children died. Laboratory testing later confirmed, high levels of lead in the blood of the surviving children”. The root cause of the lead poisoning crisis, is said to be unsafe mining and ore processing. Recently, apart from the State being embroiled in political crisis, especially over the conduct of party primaries by the ruling All Progressives Congress, in the past three years, Zamfara has been experiencing a high level of banditry. Just like the case of Birnin Gwari in Kaduna, Zamfara, a State with a number of solid minerals, such as gold, zinc, and lead, has been experiencing a lot of illegal mining by foreigners. According to news report, these illegal miners, seem to have been the brain

Some suspected bandicts arrested by the military in Zamfara State

behind some of the kidnapping and murderous activities in the State. In a press release last Tuesday, April 9, 2019, according to the Minister of Defence, Dan-Ali, the Federal Government has intelligence report, that suggested close collaboration between the activities of the bandits and illegal miners in Zamfara State, hence the announcement of suspension of all mining activities in the State. Banditry in Zamfara State, is not all about illegal mining, there are also other acts of crimes and criminality being perpetrated by some bandits who engage in abduction for ransom, cattle rustling, raiding and destruction of many villages in the State. The Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul-Aziz Yari was so overwhelmed with the insecurity in the State, that he called for the declaration of “State of Emergency” in his State. According to news report, the Governor on Thursday, December 27, 2018, expressed support for the call on President Muhammadu Buhari, to declare a state of emergency in the State. I must add that, Zamfara’s next door neighbours – Katsina and Sokoto States, have also been experiencing a lot of banditry. The modus operandi of these bandits, are similar to those in Zamfara. The bandits abduct for ransom, engage in cattle rustling, and razing of plundered communities. What are the Major causative factors? Aside from those already mentioned, such as territorial expansionism agenda of the perpetrators and illegal mining, other causative factors include unemployment, porous borders and boundaries, poverty, greed, lack of patriotism, politics, ethnicity, religion, dearth of security personnel, poor intelligence gathering by security agencies, sabotage, lack of modern equipment for security agencies, among others. Effects of the Banditry in Kaduna and Zamfara Sorrow, tears and blood. In these States, life is in the Hobbesian State of Nature – short, brutish and nasty. Many innocent lives, have been lost. Many have been maimed. Many have been displaced, from their ancestral homes. The social dislocation has overburdened many of the victims’ friends and relations. Economic activities, such as farming and trading in the affected areas, have been slowed down or halted. The country is now faced, with food insecurity. Education, health and other social services in the affected areas, have also been disrupted. What has been done by citizens to halt the ugly phenomenon?

“....KADUNA AND ZAMFARA ARE TOPPING THE LIST OF THE MOST INSECURE STATES IN NIGERIA, DUE TO THE ACTIVITIES OF MISCREANTS, WHO ARE ENGAGING IN FULL BLOWN CRIMINALITY”

Citizens, especially indigenes of Kaduna and Zamfara have organised several street protests; written several petitions to the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Police and other security agencies; the United Nations and several international human rights bodies, such as the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, to come to their aid. Several editorials, Features, Commentaries and Big Stories have been written by Nigerian and international press, to bring an end to these heart-rending developments in Zamfara and Kaduna States. The Law: What does it say? Section 14 (2) (b) says “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”. Several of the Fundamental Human Rights, such as Right to Life, Right to Own Property, and Freedom from Discrimination of the people have been violated, by reason of this insecurity. What has the Government done? Both Federal and affected States, have initiated several military operations in the past to no avail. Recall that on January 1, 2019, Nigerian military claimed to have started Operation Python Dance III nationwide, to flush out these criminal elements. In the press statement signed by the Public Relations Officer to the Minster of Defence, Col. Tukur Gusau, “The Ministry is very concerned about the security challenges in the North- West region, and particularly, in States of Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Kaduna States. Due to the recent prevailing security situation in the States, the Army is already conducting Exercise Harbin Kunama IV in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto States. The purpose of the exercise, is to effectively flush out the activities of criminal elements in the North-West.” The Minister alleged that, some unpatriotic persons, including highly placed traditional rulers in the areas, were identified as helping the bandits with intelligence to perpetuate their nefarious actions, or to compromise military operations. This is preposterous and heart-rending! The Way Forward Though President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to improve the security situation in the country, this is yet to be seen. Many security analysts have called for the overhaul of security architecture of the country. There have also been calls for the amendment of the Constitution, to pave way for State Police. Better funding of Nigeria’s security agencies, has also been put forward as a possible solution. These are all good proposals. Is there the political will on the part of the Government at all levels, to improve the security of the country? Nigerians are yet to see. It is however, heartwarming that the Senate has just passed the Police Trust Fund Bill. Likewise, on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, the Senate resolved to make N10 billion available in the 2019 budget, to cater for the internally displaced and other persons affected by the activities of bandits in Zamfara State. Above all, there is need for Government, at all levels, to tackle the problem of unemployment and impunity, which has incentivised many of these bandits to take to crime. Jide Ojo, Legal Practitioner, Abuja Quote

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INSOLVENCY DISCOURSE DR. KUBI UDOFIA

k.udoﬁa@live.com

Treatment of Employees in Corporate Insolvencies: An International Human Rights Law Perspective

n abbreviated version of a presentation at the 2019 Conference of the International Law Association (Nigeria Branch) held in Lagos, Nigeria, with the theme “Business, Human Rights and Corporate Obligations in International Law”.

Corporate insolvencies and employees Formal insolvency proceedings, are usually characterised by adverse consequences on a broad range of stakeholders of the insolvent company. Affected stakeholders typically range from directors, shareholders, employees, counterparties, creditors to tort victims. Employees are usually regarded, as being among the most vulnerable stakeholders. As involuntary creditors, employees do not assume the risk of their employers’ distress and inability to pay wages. Unlike trade creditors, employees do not extend credit to their employers, they do not have the capacity to ex ante factor in the risk of insolvency into their entitlements, and are not positioned to negotiate for security or quasi security measures. Besides, it is common practice for some companies, to have standardised employment contracts for employees. Employees are also considered vulnerable, due to their inability to diversify their risks. Employees often have one employer at a time, and typically depend on the employer as their sole source of income. Failure by the employer to pay pre-insolvency wages, will have far-reaching implications on employees, including impairing their ability to cater for basic needs such as food, shelter, healthcare etc. In contrast, trade creditors often transact with several counterparties, asides the insolvent company, thereby diversifying their risks. International Instruments Protecting Employees during Insolvencies One of the three pillars which explain how States and businesses should implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, is the duty of States to protect human rights. The right of employees to their pre-insolvency wages, may be conveniently classified as, or pigeonholed into, human rights. There is a global recognition of the vulnerability of employees in insolvency proceedings, and the fact that, they deserve protection. In consequence, there are international instruments, national laws and strategies, aimed at protecting employees during insolvency proceedings. The International Labour Organisation’s Convention 173 of 1992 (which came into force on 8 June, 1995), outlines three strategies for protecting employees during insolvencies. Firstly, countries may accord employees’ pre-insolvency claims preferential treatment, in insolvency proceedings. Secondly, countries may establish wage guarantee funds for employees. Thirdly, countries may adopt a combination of the foregoing two strategies. The European Union’s Insolvency Directive 80/987/EEC21 of 20 October, 1980, is also aimed at protecting employees upon their employers’ insolvencies. Section II, Article 3.1 requires member-countries to ensure payment of employees’ claims via guarantee institutions. In contrast to ILO Convention 173, EU Directive 80/987/EEC21, is mandatory. It appears many EU member-countries have not ratified ILO Convention 173, because they are already compulsorily required by EU Directive 80/987/ EEC21 to establish wage guarantee funds for employees.

Notwithstanding that only 21 countries have ratified ILO Convention 173, many countries rank employees’ pre-insolvency entitlements, as preferential claims. Further, many non-EU member-countries that are non-signatories to ILO Convention 173, have established wage guarantee funds to cater for employees’ pre-insolvency claims. Below is a critical assessment of the three broad strategies, for protecting employees’ pre-insolvency claims. Preferential Treatment Only Some countries protect employees’ preinsolvency claims, solely by ranking those claims in priority above other unsecured claims. Countries such as Nigeria, Brazil, Chile, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Turkey and the United States, have adopted this approach. They do not have any wage guarantee funds, for employees. The approach of these countries may differ, in terms of the actual ranking of employee entitlements on the hierarchy of claims. In Nigeria, employees’ claims rank equally with taxes and rates, above claims of holders of debentures under any floating charge, but below expenses of liquidation. Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Colombia, Malaysia and Mexico, grant employees’ claims absolute priority. This absolute priority, includes priority over secured creditors for a capped amount. The downside of this approach, is that it may increase the perception of risk in a country’s credit market. Consequently, this may hike the cost of credit, and/or adversely affect the availability of same. Given the foregoing risks, Brazil which previously granted absolute priority to wage claims without any cap, has now placed a cap on such wage claims. A demerit of this strategy is that, there is often insufficient funds for unsecured creditors. Where this is the case, the priority conferred on employees’ claims will be of no practical use to employees. Countries have employed differing approaches, in tackling the problem

of insufficient funds in the insolvency estate. In New Zealand, an employee is entitled to a maximum of $15,000 total priority ranking. Further, employees’ priority claims, are restricted to unpaid wages for the four months preceding insolvency. In the United States, each employee is entitled to a maximum of US$4,650, in priority ranking. Further, priority treatment, is restricted to entitlements which accrued in the 90 days preceding insolvency. In contrast, in Nigeria, there is no cap on the amount an employee may claim. A further demerit of this strategy, is that it imposes the cost of protecting employees on other unsecured creditors. Assets which would have been available for distribution to the general body of unsecured creditors, are diminished by the preferential apportionment to employees. Whether this is socially justifiable or not, is debatable. There are other vulnerable involuntary creditors, who are deserving of special protection. Tort victims and victims of environmental degradation caused by the insolvent company, may be in a weaker position than employees. A fisherman whose only source of livelihood is fishing in a river which has been polluted, is in no better position than employees. Same applies to a farmer, whose polluted farmland is his only source of livelihood. Wage Guarantee Funds Only Some countries rank employees’ pre-insolvency claims as ordinary unsecured claims, while establishing wage guarantee funds to cater for shortfalls. This strategy is mandatory for EU- member countries, under the EU Directive 80/987/EEC21. There are different funding models, for wage guarantee funds. In Belgium, Germany, Korea, Italy, and Denmark the funding is done by employers who pay premiums, depending on the estimated risks inherent in their industries. In Finland, it is funded solely by the Government, from a tax base. Italy’s wage guarantee funds, are jointly funded by

“THE RIGHT OF EMPLOYEES TO THEIR PRE-INSOLVENCY WAGES, MAY BE CONVENIENTLY CLASSIFIED AS, OR PIGEONHOLED INTO, HUMAN RIGHTS. THERE IS A GLOBAL RECOGNITION OF THE VULNERABILITY OF EMPLOYEES IN INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS, AND THE FACT THAT, THEY DESERVE PROTECTION”

employers and the Government. Wage guarantee funds may mitigate or eliminate the problem of insufficient funds, in the insolvency estate. Wage guarantee funds may also facilitate timely settlement of employees’ claims, as opposed to a lengthy insolvency procedure. For instance, under Belgium’s wage guarantee fund, payment commences within 15 days of insolvency filing. Wage guarantee funds, also ensure non-interference with the hierarchy of claims in insolvency. In consequence, creditors may make decisions on pricing and availability of credit, without the fear that their secured claims will be subordinated to unknown amount of employees-related pre-insolvency liabilities. This strategy is not without shortcomings. Firstly, it may result to perverse incentives. Insolvent companies may be encouraged by the implicit guarantee of payment of employees’ wages via guarantee funds, to decline paying employee wages on the eve of insolvency. Worse still, some insolvent companies may be incentivised to pay creditors, who would ordinarily rank below employees’ claims. Secondly, wage guarantee funds, are costly to administer. The cost of would understandably skyrocket, in a clime with high rate of corporate failures. Some ways of curbing the costs associated with wage guarantee funds include (i) placing a cap on the amount claimed, (ii) placing a cap on the number of years of entitlements which may be claimed, (iii) limiting the types of employees’ claims covered by the funds, (iv) limiting the fund’s coverage to companies with predetermined minimum number of employees. Combining Preferential Treatment and Wage Guarantee Fund Some countries like Canada, the United Kingdom and France, have adopted a hybrid approach by establishing a wage guarantee fund, with a preferential claims regime for employees at insolvency. Shortfalls in the insolvency estate in relation to employees’ entitlement, are supplemented by the wage guarantee funds. The hybrid strategy, eliminates the risk of perverse incentives. The wage guarantee funds, often have a right of subrogation in the insolvency process. The guarantee funds assume the preferential ranking of employees in the hierarchy of claims, to the extent of amount paid to the employees. For example, in France, when the wage guarantee fund indemnifies employees, the fund is subrogated to employees’ rights, and is entitled to super-priority vis-à-vis other creditors. In contrast, in Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden, wage guarantee funds are ranked as unsecured claims, in the insolvency process. The rationale for the approach in these countries, is that once employees are paid from the funds, employees’ claims become less important and underserving of any preferential treatment, in insolvency. Postscript Employees’ pre-insolvency claims may be protected by granting such claims priority over other unsecured claims. Alternatively, wage guarantee funds may be established to compensate employees and/or augment shortfalls in the insolvency estate, in relation to employees’ claims. From a perspective, granting employees’ pre-insolvency claims priority over those of other involuntary creditors, amounts to manoeuvring the apostles, in other words -- robbing Peter to pay Paul. Indeed, it is highly debatable whether it is socially justifiable and equitable, to maintain an expensive employer and/or government financed wage guarantee fund, solely for the benefit of employees.

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16.04.2019

MY BRIEF BY SKB STEPHEN KOLA-BALOGUN

stephenkolabalogun@yahoo.com

The Decline of Meritocracy

M Introduction

ost Nigerians would argue that, they believe in meritocracy (at least in principle), but in practice, they are wide off the mark and it would seem that they don’t believe in it at all. How else can one explain, the rise and exaltation of the rather scrappy, yet exhilarant and exuberant so called “dancing Senator” from Osun West Senatorial District, in the person of Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke? Senator Adeleke may indeed, have a rather enticing charm offensive, brought about by his dance steps, but should that be enough to catapult him into the exalted position of becoming Governor of a State, if on the face of it, his academic credentials reveal him to be a dunderhead? One of the biggest challenges facing the electoral process in Nigeria today, is the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to properly screen candidates who have presented themselves for election on the platform of various political parties registered across the country. The most glaring example of this failure, is the case of Senator Ademola Adeleke, who against all odds, became the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 2018 gubernatorial election in Osun State. Aggrieved at his candidature, a series of legal suits have been instituted against him. Senator Adeleke is of the opinion that, the various court actions brought against him following his nomination as the PDP flag bearer in the Osun State gubernatorial election, is unfair, and should be seen as no more than a campaign of calumny against him. However, the recent decision of Honourable Justice Othman Musa of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Bwari Abuja, disqualifying his nomination as the candidate of the PDP in the September 2018 gubernatorial election in Osun State, raises significant and profound questions which Senator Ademola Adeleke and his legal team, would do well not to ignore or wave away. Facts Two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wahab Raheem and Adam Habeeb, had in 2018, a few days to the governorship election, taken Senator Adeleke to Court. Both of them had accused him, of not possessing the requisite educational qualification (a Secondary School Certificate) to contest for the office of Governor. They consequently, prayed the court for an order disqualifying Senator Adeleke from participating in the September 22 governorship election in the State, on the ground that he does not have the required educational qualifications. Delivering judgement in the suit, Justice Musa annulled Adeleke’s nomination, on the ground that he violated Section 177(d) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The Section stipulates that, candidates for the position of Governor, must be educated up to School Certificate Level. According to Justice Musa, while the Court’s findings showed that Senator Adeleke entered Secondary School in 1976, there was no record indicating that he actually graduated, since his name was no longer seen in the School’s Register from 1980. Justice Musa further held that, the result Senator Adeleke attached to his form CF001, which he submitted to the INEC was fake, as it was found to be different from the one presented to the court by the Principal

“THE REQUIREMENT AS LAID OUT IN THE CONSTITUTION, TO BECOME A GOVERNOR OF A STATE, SETS THE BAR VERY LOW. SHOULD WE, IN ALL HONESTY, LOWER THE BAR EVEN FURTHER, MERELY TO ACCOMMODATE DROP-OUTS? OUR DEMOCRACY SHOULD ENCOURAGE MERITOCRACY....LET’S BUILD A PROPER DEMOCRACY, INSTEAD OF TURNING IT INTO A FAKE-IT-OCRACY”

Senator Ademola Adeleke

of Ede Muslim High School, Ede, Osun State. This statement by the Judge, raises a fresh hurdle for Senator Adeleke and his legal team to cross in that Section 182(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution as amended states that: “ No person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.” Although, Senator Adeleke and his legal team are of the view that a subsequent ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, had affirmed the Senator’s eligibility to be the governorship candidate of the PDP in the last governorship election in Osun State, the Court of Appeal in actual fact sat in judgement over a decision of an Osogbo High Court, and not that of the FCT High Court Bwari, Abuja. Furthermore, the judgement was based solely on technicalities as to (i) jurisdiction, (ii) locus standi and (iii) time periods, and never in fact, addressed the controversy of Senator Adeleke’s Secondary School qualifications. So (a) has Senator Adeleke satisfied the threshold of Section 177(d) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, in the sense that, he has been educated up to School Certificate level or its equivalent; and (b) has Senator Adeleke violated Section 182 (1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, by presenting a forged certificate to INEC? Has Senator Adeleke satisﬁed the threshold of Section 177(d) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, in the sense that he has been educated up to School Certiﬁcate level or its equivalent? Section 177 (d) of the 1999 Constitution must be read in conjunction with Section 318(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended under (Part iv) of the said Constitution that deals with Interpretation, Citation and Commencement. Under that Section, School Certificate or its equivalent means (a) a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent or Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guild’s Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate Level; or (c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and (i) Service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for a minimum of ten years, and (ii) Attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for period totalling up to a minimum of one year, and (iii) The ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission and (d)Any other qualification acceptable by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Senator Adeleke has predicated his qualification to be Governor on (a) and (b) above.

In KAKIH v PDP & ORS. (2014) LPELR – 23277 (SC) ELECTORAL MATTERS – ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR, the Supreme Court determined whether it was necessary for a candidate to present a certificate to qualify for election into the office of Governor of a State. SULEIMAN GALADIMA, J.S.C. (Pp. 56-57, para. C) stated as follows: “In any case, it is not a requirement of S. 177(d) of the Constitution, for the candidate to necessarily present the certificate to qualify for election to the office of Governor of a State. By the provision of S. 177(d) of the Constitution, a person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if: (a)....(b)..... (c)....(d) He has been educated up to at least School Certificate Level or its equivalent. By Section 318(1) “School Certificate or its equivalent” means: (a).... (b) Educated up to Secondary School Certificate Level. BAYO v NJIDDA (2004) 8 NWLR 544 at 630;(2004) FWLR (pt. 192) 10 at 78, the Court of Appeal then the Apex and final Court on Election petitions from National Assembly/ Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunals, had this to say on the point: “In other words, as regards a Secondary School Certificate Examination; it is enough, in my view that one attended School Certificate Level i.e. without passing and obtaining the Certificate. “By the combined reading of SS. 177(d), and 318(b) of the Constitution, it is not the only requirement or basis of qualification, but whether the candidate has been educated up to Secondary School Certificate Level.” In the case at the FCT High Court Bwari, Abuja, Justice Musa held that, the Court’s findings showed that Adeleke was admitted into Ede Muslim High School, Ede, Osun State in 1976, but there was no record showing that he graduated, as his name was not seen in the School’s Register from 1980. The implication of this statement by the court, is that Senator Adeleke may not have been educated up to Secondary School Certificate Level, in the sense that, he was not tutored by the school as from 1980. The only inference that can be drawn from this statement by the Judge, is that by implication, Senator Adeleke has not been educated up to the Secondary School Certificate Level. This, in itself, is not fatal, if Senator Adeleke can, in the alternative, show that he has a Secondary School Leaving Certificate. It is irrelevant, whether he passed or failed his examination, provided he has a Secondary School Leaving Certificate. Senator Adeleke has contended that, he sat for the May/June 1981 examinations of the West African Examination Council (WAEC). He reportedly registered for Mathematics, Literature in English, Islamic Knowledge, Geography, Economics, Biology and English Language. The result showed that he only sat for English Language and got F9 (failed). At the time Senator Adeleke sat for his School Certificate Examination in 1981, it was compulsory you registered for at least 6 subjects, and at the time you were awarded a School Certificate if you either obtained a Grade 1 (distinction), Grade 1, 2 or 3. If you failed and were unclassified, as in the case of Senator Adeleke, you would be classed as SR, meaning you would only be eligible for a Statement of Result. It is important to point out that, a Statement of Result does not in any way, prove either that you have been educated up to Secondary School level. During the period Senator Adeleke sat for his School Certificate Examination, if a student was deemed particularly brilliant in a subject in those days, the school could register him for the School Certificate Examination in that subject, just to assess the extent of his academic ability. If, for instance, such a student obtained a credit in the exam in that particular subject, this does not by any stretch of imagination, mean that he has been educated up to School Certificate Level. A student can only claim to be educated up to School Certificate Level, if he was awarded a certificate by WAEC classing him or her as Grade 1 (distinction) Grade 1, 2, 3, or was tutored up to School Certificate Level. Senator Adeleke therefore, needed much more to prove that he had been educated up to School Certificate Level, since he merely obtained a Statement of Result in one subject only, in his attempt at the School Certificate Examination in 1981. A testimonial from his School or College, would easily serve this purpose. Unfortunately for Senator Adeleke, the Principal of his CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

16.04.2019

THE LIGHTER SIDE/15

LEGAL HUMOUR

We Hold Your Brief JUDE IGBANOI jude.igbanoi@thisdaylive.com Dear Counsel, Please, help. My son and two of his friends, have been in detention for the past nine months, for what the Police described as, Internet Fraud and other offences. They were denied bail, and they have been arraigned in court, for these alleged offences. The Police raided their apartment, and confiscated their laptops, music equipment, phones, tablets and ATM cards, before taking them to the Station for detention. They were arraigned in court, and pleaded not guilty to the offence. However, the Lawyer handling the case, has advised us to enter a plea-bargain with the prosecution, if we want the case to end quickly. I am somehow worried, because they had already denied the offence. Is it legal and advisable under the circumstances? P.I., Gbagada, Lagos Dear P.I., Before your Lawyer advised that your son THE DECLINE OF MERITOCRACY

enters into a plea bargain, he must have studied the case thoroughly and critically examined the evidence against him. He also must have taken into consideration, the likely outcome of the case, and the number of years your son may have to spend in prison. However, your son may have to plead guilty to a lesser charge, to be able to enter into a plea bargain. The Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State provides extensively for plea bargain in Section 76 thus: “notwithstanding anything in this Law or in any other law, the Attorney-General of the State shall have power to consider and accept a plea bargain from a person charged with any offence, where the Attorney-General is of the view that the acceptance of such plea bargain, is in the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent the abuse of legal process”. This might be the best option available to your son, if he meets the conditions that may be set by the Attorney- General.

A dog ran into a butcher shop, and grabbed a roast off the counter. Fortunately, the butcher recognised the dog as belonging to a neighbour of his. The neighbour happened to be a Lawyer. Incensed at the theft, the Butcher called up his neighbour and said, "Hey, if your dog stole a roast from my butcher shop, would you be liable for the cost of the meat?" The Lawyer replied, "Of course, how much was the roast?" "$7.98." A few days later, the Butcher received a cheque in the mail for $7.98. Attached to it was an invoice that read: Legal Consultation Service: $150 . ˾˾˾ "I'm beginning to think that my Lawyer is too interested in making money." "Why do you say that?" "Listen to this from his bill: 'For waking up at night and thinking about your case: $25." ˾˾˾ A Lawyer, who was talking to his son about entering college, said, "Now got into your head that you want to be a Doctor instead of a Lawyer?" "Well, Dad," answered the son, "did you ever hear anybody get up in a crowd and shout frantically, 'Is there a Lawyer in the house?' " ˾˾˾ When the man in the street says: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," the Lawyer writes: "Insofar as manifestations of functional deficiencies are agreed by any and all concerned parties to be imperceivable, and are so stipulated, it is incumbent upon said heretofore mentioned parties, to exercise the deferment of otherwise pertinent maintenance procedures.” ˾˾˾ In the USA, everything that is not prohibited by law, is permitted. In Germany, everything that is not permitted by law, is prohibited. In Russia, everything is prohibited, even if permitted by law. In France, everything is permitted, even if prohibited by law. In Switzerland, everything that is not prohibited by law, is obligatory.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

old School, in giving evidence before Honourable Justice Othman Musa at the FCT High Court Bwari, Abuja, stated that there was no record of him in the School’s Register from 1980. This statement by the Principal of Ede Muslim High School, Ede (which was Senator Adeleke’s old School) made Justice Musa to declare in his judgement that: “...while the court’s findings showed that Senator Adeleke entered secondary school in 1976, there was no record indicating that he actually graduated, since his name was no longer seen in the school’s register from 1980.” There is also the nagging question, as to why Senator Adeleke only sat for English Language in the 1981 School Certificate Examination, and failed to write the exams in the other subjects. Could it be that, he was barred from taking the other subjects he registered for, because he had not followed a proper course of instruction? Could it be that he was allowed to sit for English Language, in order to help facilitate his obtaining a visa to travel abroad? Who knows! Whatever the case, the combined effect of the evidence given by the Principal of his old school and his failure to obtain a School Certificate, means that in actual fact, Senator Adeleke has not proven that he has a School Certificate or has been educated up to School Certificate level, as stated in Bayo v Njidda (Supra), and reasserted by Sulaiman Galadima JSC in Kakih v PDP & Ors. (Supra) Has Senator Adeleke violated Section 182 (1) (j) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, by presenting a forged certiﬁcate to the Independent National Electoral Commission? Justice Musa held that, the result Senator Adeleke attached to his form CF001, which he submitted to INEC, was fake, as it was found to be different from the one presented to the court by the Principal of Ede Muslim High School, Ede, Osun State. This, in my opinion, could be the most fatal blow in determining whether

Senator Adeleke is qualified to become Governor of Osun State. One particular theme kept re-occurring at the trial, namely that Senator Adeleke sat for the West African Senior Secondary School Examination, but curiously Nigeria had not even started sitting for the Senior Secondary School Examination in 1981. The Senior Secondary School Examination started in November 1989, before then, it was simply called the West African School Certificate Examination. What then was contained in the affidavit sworn to by an official of the WAEC, which was eventually discountenanced by the Judge? Did Senator Adeleke present a Senior Secondary School Certificate to INEC, when we know that the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination had not started at the time? If indeed, Senator Adeleke did present a Senior Secondary School Certificate to INEC, then it can only, in all honesty, be a forgery, and thereby, disqualify him from contesting the Osun State gubernatorial election under Section 182(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Another area of doubt, is his School or College Testimonial. The Principal of his old School/College, led evidence to the effect that, although he entered the school in 1976, there was no record of him in the School’s Register as from 1980. Could Senator Adeleke have provided INEC with a Testimonial suggesting that he was a student at the Muslim High School Ede from 1976 – 1981, when in actual fact, there is no record of him in the School after 1980? If this was indeed, the case, then it is at variance with the evidence of the Principal of Senator Adeleke’s old School, given in court, and would once again be deemed a forgery. If any of the two possibilities outlined above happen to be true, then Senator Adeleke would stand disqualified by virtue of Section 182(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The significance of Section 182(1)(j) is that, if Senator Adeleke is disqualified under this Section,

then it means that he was not eligible to contest the Governorship of Osun State in the first place, and neither was he eligible to have a running mate. Some commentators have argued that, in such a situation, his running mate would step into the saddle. This argument, in my opinion, is highly flawed. If you are not eligible to run, then the party that presented you must be sanctioned for fielding an ineligible candidate. Let’s look at the logic; if the party is not sanctioned, then a party can always field an ineligible candidate to win an election, knowing full well that, when he is disqualified, a less popular candidate can take over. The PDP liked the popularity of Senator Adeleke, that is why they fielded him. They may have known in reality that, he wasn’t qualified. They took advantage, of the crest wave of his popularity. They cannot now benefit from that calculated and unlawful decision, assuming that they were aware. It is inequitable, and Senator Adeleke, his running mate and the party, would stand disqualified. Conclusion There is a need for us as a country, to acknowledge and recognise meritocracy. If an individual with no qualifications, stands little or no chance of being employed in the private sector, why on earth should he/she be able to govern a State, which, in itself, imposes regulations on the private sector? This, to me, is highly contradictory and makes little or no sense. The requirement as laid out in the Constitution, to become a Governor of a State, sets the bar very low. Should we, in all honesty, lower the bar even further, merely to accommodate drop-outs? Our democracy should encourage meritocracy, by encouraging our youths, and pointing out to them that they will always get a lot further by working a lot harder, and by being a lot smarter. Let’s build a proper democracy, instead of turning it into a fake-it-ocracy.

16/

16.04.2019

WORDS OF WISDOM

(Culled from Social Media)

T H I S D AY Ë¾ TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯʹ˜ 2019

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

A T

REPO 21.57 % 20.29%

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

23.50% 18.25% 18.88%

A P R I L 1 2 , S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

383.11% -0.19% -0.9%

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

2 0 1 9 S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

-0.90% 7.32%

EXCHANGE RATE N307/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes NBC Supports ABU Students’ Union

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP

L-R: Executive Head, Business Development and Strategy, Hygeia, Mr. Obinna Ukachukwu; Managing Director, Old Mutual Nigeria Life Assurance Company, Mr. Keith Alford; Country Manager, Roche Products Limited, Dr. Ladi Hameed and Head, Retail Mass Market, Old Mutual, Mr. Kayode Odetola, during the Critical Illness cover partnership launch in commemoration in Lagos...recently KOLAWOLE ALLI

Kachikwu: Poor Infrastructure Hindering Nigeria’s Shift to LPG Stories by Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has given reasons why more Nigerians have not switched to using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking and undertaking other domestic activities. Kachikwu, at a recent launch of an LPG distribution facility built by the Nigerian Army in Abuja, explained that Nigeria’s LPG per capita consumption was still low when compared to that of other African countries because the infrastructure to distribute LPG to homes and other end-users in the country was still very poor. He, however, noted that government was working on rectifying the gap, adding that a partnership with manufacturers of LPG cylinders was underway to amongst other initiatives, produce and deploy more

ENERGY cylinders to users across the country. “The greatest problem of domestic utilisation of LPG is how to move the gas to various parts of the country where it is needed, and ensure that those who really want to use gas have the resources to do that. “We are working with all the LPG cylinder manufacturers under some presidentiallybacked initiative to enable them produce cylinders. “About four of them are working with the NCDMB to get facilities for that under the $200 million facility that we have,” said Kachikwu. He added: “Our mandate is that over the next one to three years, every local government will have gas filling plants within the 774 local governments. “We are also enabling virtual pipelines and with that we are

going to have the DPR issue a regulation that every filling stations in this country must have a gas filling point and this will deploy gas to about 10,000 filling stations in this country.” “The next thing is to ensure that those who pick up the cylinder do not pay for that but for the gas volumes,” Kachikwu indicated. According to him, the government came up with what, “we call the LPG penetration model and the essence of that is to provide enough gas resources to be able to power this country. Gas is an essential element of that.” Also on the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), which the government recently signed its regulation and had begun to implement, the minister said: “What we have done with the gas flare commercialisation programme is to tell the oil companies that if you are able to stop gas flaring

within the timeframe of 2020 - 10 years well ahead of the United Nations deadline, we are going to bring in private companies into yours facilities, trap the flared gas, convert them and utilise them for power and industrial purposes. “That programme has been launched. Once we do that, our intention is to exit gas flare 100 per cent by 2020, 10 years well ahead of the time.” In his remarks at the LPG facility launch, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Army Logistics, Enobong Udoh, stated that the LPG distribution facility at the Mambila Barracks was initiated by the Nigerian Army Welfare Limited by Guarantee, to cut down the use of kerosene and wood by the residents of the barracks. He noted that the barracks Continued on page 24

NERC Gives Meter Providers 10Years to Recover Investment Third-party investors in meter provision in Nigeria’s power sector will have about 10 years to recoup investments they make in the sector, and also earn reasonable returns on their investments, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has disclosed. The NERC equally indicated that tenure of a Meter Asset Provider (MAP) permit shall be for a period of 15 years in the first instance effective from the date of issuance by it. According to the NERC in its MAPs regulation obtained by THISDAY, approved MAPs would supply and maintain meters to customers of electricity distribution companies (Discos) in the country to help cut down the existing metering gap. It said in the regulation that the distribution licensee and

ENERGY the MAP shall enter into a Metering Service Agreement (MSA) which shall provide for the number of meters to be installed by the MAP in the distribution licensee’s network over an agreed period. According to it, recovery of the cost of meter asset plus a reasonable return shall be over a period of 10 years, with an acceptable form of securitisation of the metering service charge and timely. NERC recently signed off MAPs for the Ikeja, Abuja, Benin and Jos Discos, disclosing that prices for meters under the MAP regulation shall be N36, 991.50 for single phase meters and N67, 055.85 for three phase meters respectively. Furthermore, on payment securitisation within the

MAP arrangement, the NERC stated that Discos shall within 30 days of the execution of the MSA with its consumers issue a payment security to the MAPs in the forms of an irrevocable direct pay Letter of Credit (LC) or other forms of security which is executable on demand to the interest of the MAP and provided by a bank and in a form acceptable to the MAP. It equally mandated that a back-office structure mutually agreed between the parties under which all payments for metering services by customers at the time of vending shall be established and ring-fenced to a dedicated account established for the purpose of securing payment to the MAP, in addition to a securitisation framework that may be developed in collaboration

with financial institutions such as development Finance Institutions (DFIs); the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); and Infrastructure Bank. To avoid conflict of interest, the regulation equally stated that Discos, their core investors, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors and relatives have been barred from setting up, owning shares or holding directorships and senior management positions in any of the approved MAPs. The commission indicated that within 120 days of the commencement of the MAPs regulation, it shall issue a regulatory order capping the bills of unmetered customers in the Discos networks to address the issue of estimated billing which has become contentious in the industry. Continued on page 24

The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, a member of the Coca-ColaHellenicBottlingCompany(CCHBC)andbottlerofCoca-Cola brands in Nigeria has donated items which included plasma televisions and air conditioning systems to the management of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.The initiative was part of the company’s contribution towards empowering youth in the country by improving their learning environment. Speakingshortlyafterthedonationoftheitemstotheuniversity,the RegionalPublicAffairs&CommunicationsManager(North),Mr.Aminu Mohammed, who represented the Public Affairs and Communications Director, Ekuma Eze, said the donation was a demonstration of the company’s confidence in Nigerian youths and support for academic excellence as youth development remains a major focal area of the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility framework. Mohammed said: “Over the years, our community investments have evolved from unconnected philanthropic initiatives to long-term programmes aligned to three key strategic priorities including the empowerment of youth and women; the creation of a World without Waste and Water stewardship. “For youths, we are committed to motivating students and indeed, young people to unleash their potential, this is at the core of what we believe. We sincerely hope that the items donated here today, would go a long way in shaping a better life and future for the students.” In his remarks, the Deputy Dean, Student Affairs, Ahmadu Bello University,ProfessorMohammedDabo,expressedappreciationtothe management of NBC for their support towards enhancing education for the students. According to Dabo, the donation of the gift items would improve recreation for the students on the campus. He described the donation as a huge support which is expected to enrich the learning experience for the students.

African Foundries Calls for Calm

The management of African Foundries Limited, Ogijo, in Ogun State, hasurgeditsstaffandthehostcommunitytobecalmovertheindustrial accident that unfortunately led to loss of three lives. In a statement sent toTHISDAYand signed by its Executive Director, Uche Iwuamadi, the company explained that “On April, 11, 2019 at about 7:00am,therewassplashofliquidmetalfromthefurnaceinthefactory. “The liquid metal splash accidentally touched three of our factory workers who have already closed from work but were taking their bath inanopenplaceinanunauthorisedlocationdescribedasrestrictedarea within the factory instead of the normal factory bathroom and they were injured in the process. They were rushed to the nearby hospital in Ikorodu where they later passed on. “The local staff rioted in conjunction with outside hoodlums and caused damages. They looted the company’s property and cash.They also attacked the foreign nationals’ staff causing injuries to some of them. They disposed them of their personal effects and cash in their residential quarters within the plant.

Tanzania, W’Bank Seal $1.7bn Deal

Tanzania has agreed a new $1.7 billion financing deal with theWorld Bank to fund various projects during fiscal year 2019/20, its finance ministry said on Saturday. The agreement, which is comprised of lowinterest loans and grants, includes a $400 million loan for education and $300 million for a poverty reduction programme. “Part of the financing will also be used to fund various infrastructure projects, such as roads, water, information and communication technology...and energy,” Reuters quoted the ministry to have said in the statement. Tanzania plans to raise its total spending in 2019-20 (July-Jun) slightly to 33.11 trillion shillings ($14.16 billion), with the funds going towards improving roads, railways and rural electricity supplies. The financing deal was reached during talks between Tanzania’s finance and planning minister Philip Mpango and theWorld BankVice President for Africa Hafez Ghalem in Washington. The spending is up from 32.48 trillion shillings in the fiscal year that will end in June. Loans and grants are a big source of foreign currency for Tanzania.

“Peer comparison on our ability to convert GDP to revenue for capital and social investment key drivers of sustainable economic growth -show that we have a lot to do to catch up. Nigeria must mobilise significant resources to invest in human capital development and critical infrastructure”

Minister of Finance,

Mrs. Zainab Ahmed

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

BUSINESSWORLD KACHIKWU: POOR INFRASTRUCTURE HINDERING NIGERIA’S SHIFT TO LPG

have market potential for LPG deployment, adding that while 10 other points had been earmarked for similar facility, the military would gradually extend it to its other barracks and formations across the country. A civic technology organisation, BudgIT, had commended plans to end gas flaring by the NNPC. The organisation, in a statement by its Communication Lead, Abiola Afolabi, had said the plan by NNPC to reduce gas flaring could not have come at a better time than this. The statement said gas flaring was not only ravaging lives in the host communities in Niger Delta, but also costing the economy over $2.5bn annually. “Yet the economic implications of ending this practice should significantly improve Nigeria’s power generating capacity. “Gas flaring also has significant impacts on the life expectancy of the ‘working poor’ and ‘havenots’ who struggle to live within these communities,” the statement had said. NERC GIVES METER PROVIDERS 10 YEARS TO RECOVER INVESTMENT

The Chairman of NERC, Prof. James Momoh, had said the MAPs would be approved to sell meters to Nigerians, adding that this will break the monopoly enjoyed by the distribution companies. He had said with the unveiling, issues around estimated billings would be eliminated, as consumers would no longer receive outrageous bills since everyone will have access to purchase their own meter anywhere in the country from any of the approved providers. Momoh had said, “Estimated billing is not something we recommend at NERC; we met it prior to assuming office. In eliminating it, we have created a technology called MAP, which will allow us to manufacture meters in Nigeria, as well as its installation and merchandising.”

NEWS

Poor Infrastructure in Ogun State Worry Flour Mills, Others Jonathan Eze Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) and other key stakeholders in the manufacturing business in Ogun State have lamented the poor infrastructure in the state. The manufacturers noted that without adequate infrastructure to support the movement of goods and services, firms would continue to struggle to survive. The Group Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Paul Gbededo, said this while speaking at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria’s (MAN) forum with Ogun State Governor-elect, Dapo Abiodun. He, however, commended the incoming Governor’s willingness to work with the organised private sector, but stressed that top on the priority should be the urgent need to fix the poor state of infrastructure in the state. He added that Ogun State was undeniably a major industrial hub in Nigeria, but stressed that there were still a lot of room to explore. He noted the dire need to support efforts of companies within OPIC industrial estate, pointing out that some of the companies operating within the area have been negotiating how to reconstruct the Agbara/Atan road, but said it was important that government takes the lead in ensuring a proper and timely completion of the project. He also recommended that the state liaise with the Lagos State government and

the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to ensure the extension and urgent completion of the reconstruction of Lagos/ Badagry expressway. He added: “We cannot forget the issues of drainages within OPIC Estate. We need to address this to ensure that the roads do not revert to their poor state after they are rehabilitated during the raining seasons.” The manufacturers also called on the Governor-elect to take a critical look at harmonising levies and taxes in the state,

lamenting that manufacturers are currently contending with multiple charges, fees and permits. “We are delighted that, at these very early hours of your election, you considered it important to meet with the members of the organised private sector in Ogun State to understand their needs and map out a way of synergising our various efforts to achieve industrial and economic growth for Ogun State. “We are encouraged, because

we see this singular act as a clear indication of your willingness to buckle down and partner with the manufacturing sector to take on the challenges of harnessing the true potentials that we believe are inherent in the State,” he said. In his response, the Governorelect said plans were underway to increase the state’s ranking on the Ease of Doing Business in the country, saying that his government would take advantage of the proximity of Lagos while also prioritising rural-township

industrial roads in the state. He assured that his administration would continue to engage with manufacturers at least twice a year to address issues hindering the manufacturing sector. “We are also planning to have an economic advisory team comprising of MAN members because we believe this is one of the surest ways to address issues militating against the growth and development of the manufacturing sector,” he added.

CAPACITY BUILDING

L-R: Head, SME Liability Products, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Paul Adebo; Managing Director, FS Green Clothings, Mr. Hafeez Adeboye; Chief Executive Officer, S-World Posse Limited, Mrs. Shukurat Olaniyan; Managing Director, SMEFinance Magazine, Mr. Ted Iwere and Head, Training Academy, FCMB, Mr. Sola Oyegbade, during the fifth edition of the FCMB organised Business Empowerment & Sustainable Training (BEST) for SME customers of the bank held in Lagos…recently

LCCI Urges Regulators to Incentivise Investors Jonathan Eze The President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI), Mr. Babatunde Ruwase, has said some regulatory actions are not consistent with the Ease of Doing Business agenda of the federal government. Affirming that regulatory environment remains crucial to the operations, survival, viability and the profitability of doing business in Nigeria, the Chamber decried that businesses were generally burdened with

the challenges of infrastructural deficiencies and macroeconomic shocks, adding that most investors are saddled with huge cost of provision of electricity, access to good roads, security and other industry specific facilities in the midst of poor access to affordable credit, high exchange rates and multiple taxation. Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the LCCI boss noted that some of the regulatory challenges bother on high regulatory compliance cost, lack of clarity in regulatory requirements and overlapping

regulatory functions. He said: ‘’It is imperative to minimise the burdens of regulation on investment if the private sector must play the desire role of job and wealth creation as prescribed by the Economic Recovery Growth Plan(ERGP).” However, the federal government’s regulatory agencies have restated their commitments to facilitate and create conducive business environment in the country through regulatory standards that would strengthen the business community.

Speaking at the interactive engagement, the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), Mr. Osita Aboloma, revealed that SON was in conformity to the industrial standards to ease the means of doing business based on the Executive Order 1. He said SON ensures the compliance of locally manufactured goods and imported products and services to the requirements of the Nigeria industrial standards through conformity assessment programmes some of which

includes the SONCAP, MANCAP and laboratory services to ensure compliance to standards. Aboloma, who was represented by Head, Customer Feedback and Collaboration, Mrs. Mosumola Samuel, noted that in order to ease the means of doing business, in the country, “we must build the manufacturing sector. He said, from 2016 till date, we have concentrated in building up the MSMEs by offering them discounts that would make it easy for them to do business and grow.”

CSOs Push for Safe, Beneficial Regional MiningTerms Chineme Okafor in Abuja 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) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor ((Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in West African countries have said they want the harmonised model mining law enunciated by the region’s economic platform – the Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS), to reflect more on safe mining of minerals, equal opportunities for indigenous operators as well as respect and protection of people and environment. Working on the platform of the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), the CSOs also indicated they would want the Act to take into consideration the region’s challenges with climate change,

as well as the place of women in the mining sector. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on the sidelines of the WASCOF’s review of the ECOWAS Mining and Mineral Development Act (EMMDA), the Secretary General of WASCOF, Mr. Komlan Messie, explained that unfair mining frameworks have kept the region poor despite its enormous mineral deposits. Messie, noted that often, big external mining firms were favoured more than indigenous firms, adding that respect for ownership of lands and peoples’ rights need to be emphasised in the EMMDA. “West Africa has one of the best reserves of natural

resources in the world but citizens have not seen real economic impacts of those mining resources in our countries. West African countries are amongst the poorest in the world and we have one of the best resources, so there is a kind of unbalance in that and it is important to rebalance that and make sure that our governments get the most for domestic resource mobilisation,” said Messie. He further stated that: “One aspect of that is to have a harmonised mining Act in the region so companies won’t play against countries in the region, in other to have good impacts in the region.” According to him, safe and illegal mining would be taken

into account in the CSOs review of the Act, “because the conditions around mining activities involves women, ownership of the land, government and economic impacts.” He said the CSOs, “want to raise the standards in safety, environment and peoples’ protection,” in mining operations in the region. “We want to know how the mining sites are protected after the mining activities: are there harsh products that would hurt citizens? All those are to be taken into account. “There are other aspects as well, illicit exploitation is one of them; climate change is also there. We have mining and its impacts in economic develop-

ment and gender issues. “We have also tax justice in terms of those advantages that are given to big external companies but not necessarily to local companies. We want to have citizens’ views to have fair treatments of all the operators in that sector and they to be treated on equal basis,” Messie added. Also in his view, Mr. Augustie Niber, an internal consultant to WASCOF on the review, and who works at the Centre for Public Interest Law in Ghana, stated that recommendations from the review would be sent to the ECOWAS Commission to adopt in its amendment of the Act.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

Nigeria’s New Gas Flare Agenda Chineme Okafor writes on efforts by the fedral government to use a new programme to reduce gas flaring to zero level by 2020, 10 years ahead of the 2030 that had been set by the United Nations It is not clear if any record exists of how much gas Nigeria has flared since oil production began in fields in the Niger Delta region around 1956, but it is evident that the practice which is as old as oil production in the country has for long been enmeshed in controversies due largely to its devastating impact on the economy and environment. Reports indicate that gas flaring has remained a part of oil exploratory activities of companies in the country and while there is no specific law that prohibits it, even when its negative impacts are gravely felt in most communities in the Niger Delta region, the country has often declared it intention to end it but has always failed. In this regards, an existing law to regulate gas flaring in Nigeria has remained ineffective because it hardly prohibits gas flaring, and at best, only provided paltry monetary penalties for defaulters. In reality, the Petroleum Act of 1969 has remained the key law that regulates oil and gas production in Nigeria, but then, the Associated Gas Re-injection Act 1979 (as amended) was the first anti-gas flaring regulatory framework the country ever initiated, to amongst other objectives, phase out gas flaring and respond to the environmental impacts of the practice. The Act compelled oil producing companies in the country to submit initial plan for gas re-injections, as well as details of the implementation. It equally mandated oil companies to submit to the oil minister preliminary programmes for practical use of all associated gas they produce as well as projects they have to re-inject gas produced with oil but not utilised in an industrial project, not later than April 1, 1980. It in fact, the Act made it mandatory for oil companies to submit these detailed plans latest by October 1, 1980, yet this did not end the practice of flaring gas in the Niger Delta, and it continued until the government recently initiated a fresh move through the Nigeria Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) to monetise flared gas fields and completely end the practice next year - 2020. The NGFCP Guidelines With the launch of the NGFCP and Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulations in 2018 by the government, and issuance of guidelines for its implementation, it signposted the country’s readiness to address gas flare issue using commercial methods. It explained that the NGFCP was huge on its prospects and would give third party investors access to utilise gas currently being discharged to flare stacks and convert same into Flare-Gas-to-Market-Products (FG-2-MP). According to the government, the programme was equally designed to propel Nigeria’s climate change action plan. It explained it would be market-driven to allow bidders have flexibility of choosing which flare sites to bid for. In fact, the government noted it was expecting up to $3.5 billion worth of inward investments by third party investors to drive the programme and achieve its targets by 2020. As part of its plan, the programme enunciated a competitive bidding process which includes the issuance of a permit to access flare gas to successful bidders, as well as rights to permit holder to exclusively offtake such quantities of flare gas at one or more flare sites, for use in an approved flare gas commercialisation project. Furthermore, the permit according to the guidelines would only be given to entities that do not hold oil mining leases (OML) or those with allocations in marginal oil field in the country, but the upstream oil companies keen on partaking in the programme could still apply for the permit but through an existing or incorporated mid-stream entity established for the purpose. Similarly, permit holder would have to design and construct the producer’s gas connection assets which are the necessary facilities to transport the flare gas to the delivery point. This would be done at the cost of the permit holder, and would include pipelines; equipment;

machinery; and measuring stations. In addition to the economic benefits the government expects would come with the programme, the guidelines also included that permit holders would be required to manage community relations in their respective operations using standard community development plans which would be signed with local communities. Excluding any safety flaring or non-routine flaring, which would be done at minimal rates, the guidelines also indicated that holders of the gas flare commercialisation permit would be prohibited from engaging in any routine flaring or expelling of natural gas within their operational vicinities. They would also strictly adhere to the measurement, management and reporting obligations approved in the programme, and in this regards frequently provide information with respect to flare gas data to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) within 30 days of such request by DPR and on an annual basis. The annual submission would have happen every March 31, of each year. This according to the guideline would be in addition to the quarterly and annual reconciliations of all data on gas production, utilisation and flaring with the DPR. Impacts of NGFCP Guidelines According to the government, the fresh guidelines presents for upstream oil companies opportunities and challenges, adding that it would prohibit them from flaring gas from any of its facility except they are issued certificates

The design of the NGFCP as conceptualised by our development partners is an innovative, robust and scalable approach to gas flare reduction - a game changer, first of a kind, consistent with the climate change action plans anticipated in the Paris Climate Change Accords which could be replicable in many other gas flaring countries around the world with Nigeria setting the pace

for continued flaring by the oil minister in line with the provisions of the Associated Gas Re-injection (Continued Gas Flaring) Act (AGFA). In addition, the programme places an absolute limit on routine flaring of gas except for safety purposes, from any Greenfield oil project. It would also provide gas flaring penalty rates based on the level of production within an OML or marginal field. Beyond that, any failure to maintain and provide accurate records of flare gas, or even comply with reporting obligations; install metering facilities; and provide a qualified permit holder access to a flare site or flare gas, will equally attract additional penalty payment of $2.50 per 28.317 standard cubic metre for gas flared. This will apply for each day of non-compliance to such reporting standard. However, if continued non-compliance is observed, the regulation permits the oil minister to suspend the operations of a recalcitrant oil firm or even revoke its oil lease. Apart from the penalties, oil companies whose OMLs or marginal fields blocks are captured and subjected to permit to access flare gas, would however be allowed certain payments from the holder of a permit on such field. That payment, it explained would come in the form handling fee for connection facilities, as well as a guarantee fee to guarantee offtake of its allocated flare gas volumes. Government’s Expectations Explaining its expectations from the NGFCP, the government disclosed it would put out a total of 178 gas flare sites it has so far identified to be commercially acquired by investors under the programme. It noted that using the NGFCP, it would target to ensure Nigeria exit the immoral practice of flaring gas at its oil fields next year, but added the self-imposed target was not sacrosanct. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, shortly after inaugurating committees to take charge of the next phase of the NGFCP after interested bidders submitted their Statements of Qualification (SOQs), had said the government really wanted gas flaring to end, and that after 2020, it would become a punishable act. “The design of the NGFCP as conceptualised by our development partners is an innovative, robust and scalable approach to gas flare reduction - a game changer, first of a kind, consistent with the climate change action plans anticipated in the Paris Climate Change Accords which could be replicable in many other gas flaring countries around the world with Nigeria setting the pace,” said Kachikwu. According to him, if followed firmly, the

NGFCP will lead Nigeria out of gas flaring in 2020, in addition to providing her good monies. Apart from Kachikwu’s explanations of the expectations, the chairman of ministerial steering committee for the NGFCP, Mr. Rabiu Suleiman, stated in his presentation that 38 new flare sites were discovered by the programme to bring the total number of flare sites in Nigeria to 178, when the earlier documented 140 in the database of the DPR are added. Suleiman, explained that over 225 Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) had been received in response to the request for qualification (RfQ) the programme put out. He noted that $1,000 per flare site was paid by bidders to access them, with over 800 Expressions of Interests (EOIs) harvested. “Post issuance of the RfP, there will be a bidders’ conference designed for qualified applicants (QAs), upstream producers, technology providers, off-takers and financial institutions - both local and international. The conference is designed to address all questions raised outside the programme Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and to facilitate business-to-business (B2B) discussions amongst participants,” said Sulaiman. On how the programme would function as well as measures to curtail its derailment by oil companies who may prefer to continue to flare gas due to the meagre penalties imposed by the government, Suleiman said the government would take all flare gas free of cost at the flare header and without payment of royalty, adding that all flare gas taken by the government would to be subjected to competitive bids. He further explained that: “The current meagre flare payments 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 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 per thousand standard cubic square feet of gas. “And, this is irrespective of whether the flaring is routine or non–routine flaring, unless in cases of force majeure event. There are mandatory additional payments by the producer of $2.50/1000scf within the oil mining lease or marginal field for each day the producer breaches and, or fails to meet the regulations for failure to produce accurate flare data; failure to provide unfettered access to flares or flare sites; failure to sign a connection agreement.” “In the event of continuous or egregious breaches, there is a possibility of suspension of operations, which could mean curtailment of production, or a termination of the producer’s license,” Suleiman, added.

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Lenihan: Lagos Has Suffered Much Energy Crisis With the increasing interest for renewable energy in Nigeria, the Chief Executive Officer of ZOLA Electric, Bill Lenihan spoke with journalists about the benefits of this solution to the countryâ€™s huge power deficit. Peter Uzoho presents the excerpts: You are coming into Nigeria at a time when we have issues with energy access, if I may ask, what is ZOLA Electric is bringing into the country. What are the implications of your coming into Nigeria at this time? I think the problem in Nigeria is that there is not enough production and distribution of power for the population in Nigeria. I think Nigeria is a perfect example of a country where there is massive energy deficit. This is a fact that cannot be disputed. Everybody living in Nigeria has this issue; every business has this issue. So, the question is what happens when people are having problem with energy or what happen where that exists? It means people have to come up with their own energy. It means if you are a household, you are probably buying kerosene to light up a lantern or you get solar battery to attend to your power need, but if you are urban, you are either thinking of buying diesel generator or a lead acid inverter system. Unfortunately, this is not the case with developed markets where everything works. Take for instance, here in United States of America, I donâ€™t produce my energy. For those living in Nigeria, what that means is that each one has to figure it out by itself. Overall, it shows there is a mess which ought to be addressed. Beside this mess, the energy crisis also forces you to change appliances constantly or sometimes force you to do an upgrade. Beyond that, you also have these alternative sources causing health hazard and noise pollution. In a nutshell, I would say that you have a system that is unreliable, expensive and hard on your life. So, for us, that is the problem we have come to solve. So, the question then is, how do we solve these problems? That is why we are offering products such as Infinity and Flex to address this problem. At ZOLA Electric, our mission is to deliver 24-hour power to anyone, anywhere. Our product offerings allow us to do that and these products are tied towards meeting that needs. If your energy needs are more limited, which means you just want to power bulbs in your house, or power your television and other small appliances, we have a system that is built for that purpose. This system has been designed to provide solar storage that looks like computer such that the computer allows you to optimise production and discharge system. With such solution which has something similar to a computer attached to it, you can actually pay over the phone or through refinancing. Let me also add that the product is more marginal. Whenever you need more energy, the product allows you to get more energy without affecting the existing system which is different from what you have in the market today. If you want to generate more power, the solution can help you. It is smart and comes at low cost. If your energy needs are more powerful, say you run a business or factory, even though you have small power needs but rely on the grid, there is a product designed for that purpose and it is called Infinity which better serves that need. Only recently, we announced that we would be bringing the product into the market. Now, think of Infinity like a smart grid in the home. It is a product that is also connected to all other energy sources; it is connected to the grid, connected to e-solar. The first thing it does is that it optimises the ecosystem to deliver 24-hour power at reliable low cost. How does it work? It does it in a subtle way. What it does is that it optimises your accessories such that you get 24-hour power in an affordable way. Also, it is modular. As soon as you need more energy, you get it and it is done in a very seamless fashion that is cost effective. Here, existing system stay intact; you are not changing it. It is a system that allows you to manage power usage using your phone app. It allows you to manage your energy provision in a very simple way on your phone. You can make it smarter so that it optimises better. You can pay for it using your phone and we would offer that service under a 5-year service agreement. Within the five years, if there are any issues, we would fix it for you. From Flex to Infinity in emerging

Lenihan markets like Nigeria, we are offering a primary power source, unlike what you have presently where everything you do to get power involves backs-up which is unreliable and expensive. Our products are more reliable, cheaper and easy to use. For us, we believe that is the best way to solve the problem of energy access in Nigeria. You are entering into a market where solar is not new, but one of the issues with deploying solar has to do with storage. Based on what you explained with InďŹ nity solution, it looks more like what Tesla is offering with Power wall in United States of America. Are we looking at something similar? Let me clarify that this is not solar, but a smart power solution. Solar is a component. The solution only has a smart battery for Solar. It is not Tesla Power wall because Tesla Power wall is a back-up solution or system. It backs up your home. Our product is different because it

Our focus on Lagos was not only because it is huge and urban, but we realised that it is a city that harbours every type of person, business. So, if you are really going to solve the energy problem holistically, Lagos is a place to start with

is a solution provided to manage your home. It manages all your energy sources and optimises them such that you are able to get 24-hour power from any source in a reliable and affordable way. Tesla Power wall is built for United States of America and other western markets such as Europe and Australia, but these products are built for Nigeria. Our smart battery will work with other solar panels. But I think the challenge with most batteries used with other panels is that it does not last long. I need to state that most of these batteries are not built for solar energy in the home but built for automobile and other uses. That is where the difference comes in. We have five-year service agreement, and our panel is going to last at least 12 years. Our battery is durable for 7 to 9 years. We have an obligation to replace those components within that service agreement. We are offering a solution that has not been witnessed in this market before. A couple of days ago you had an interaction with CNN and you said when you were developing the products, you had Lagos in mind, what informs that and why are you interested in the Lagos market? Lagos, like Nigeria, is the epicentre of the energy access crisis across the globe. There is not one person, or business in Nigeria that is not confronted with this crisis. Unfortunately, Lagos is one large city that has suffered much energy crisis, considering its huge location of businesses and massive population. With what is on ground, the problem is only going to get worse. We talked about Nigeria for a number of years in every of our board meetings. In the last two or three years, we have been asking what do we do about Nigeria. We were never ready to provide products that we can tailor towards Nigeria until we came up with Infinity. Also, we never had a business model that

is built towards Nigeria. But in the last two years, we have placed our focus on what the problem is in Nigeria as far as energy access crisis is concerned. Our focus on Lagos was not only because it is huge and urban but we realised that it is a city that harbours every type of person, business. So, if you are really going to solve the energy problem holistically, Lagos is a place to start with. If you focus on Lagos, do you think you will be able to recover your cost because a lot of companies are already offering similar solutions? Secondly, how do you intend to deploy the solution especially to those who are not within Lagos? What is the capacity and cost of these solutions in terms of megawatt? Let me correct the notion that that there are similar solutions being offered in Nigeria. I donâ€™t think there is any one that offers our kind of solution. Currently, what we have in Nigeria is a situation whereby some companies provide solar panel with battery but I donâ€™t think there is anyone that offers our solution. In this case, you can buy solar or battery but you cannot buy a solution. In the solution we are providing, you are buying a primary energy source that can manage your ecosystem as far as energy is concerned. It is marginal and can grow with you. It is smart, connected and reliable. This is what differentiates these products in Nigeriaâ€™s marketplace today. With respect to the question on capacity, I think there is a reason why It is called infinity. It is modular and scalable. You can expand it to whatever you want to. Lagos is a massive market. We start from regions and you grow from there. Take for instance, in Tanzania, we started from the capital city and move to the regions and that is the strategy we would be adopting in Nigeria.

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SAHCO,Virgin Seal Pact on Warehousing Chinedu Eze The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) has signed a contract with Virgin Atlantic Airline to handle its cargo operations. The companyâ€™s Manager and Head of Communications, Mrs. Vanessa Adetola, said in a statement that SAHCO Plc was chosen by the airline based on the companyâ€™s track records in Cargo Handling, Ramp Handling, Passenger Handling, Warehousing among other ground handling activities in the aviation sector in Nigeria and West Africa Sub-region. She said Virgin Atlantic

Cargo awarded the handling contract to SAHCO in Lagos to improve its service offering for customers in Nigeria and to provide growth capacity following a 19 per cent boost in the airlineâ€™s export volumes last year and higher inbound demand from the pharmaceutical and courier sectors. The deal showed that since 10th April 2019, Virgin Atlanticâ€™s import and export cargo are being handled in SAHCOâ€™s 22,000 sqm warehouse operation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Adetola, said this would incorporate special facilities including cold rooms for perishables and temperature-

sensitive shipments, and dedicated locations for courier and high value cargo. She explained that the warehouse buildingâ€™s 22 truck loading bays would expedite collections and deliveries of cargo, while 24/7 CCTV coverage, access control systems, screening technology and a control room will ensure the highest levels of security. According to Directorâ€“Cargo Operations, Virgin Atlantic, Tonia Boye, the contract with SAHCO would help boost the companyâ€™s cargo business. â€œLagos has been an important cargo market for us for more than 17 years and we are forecasting further

growth in our export and import volumes in 2019. â€œBy moving to a larger and modern facility, we can improve our product and service offerings for the growing number of companies moving goods to and from Nigeria,â€? Boye said. Virgin Atlantic operates daily between Lagos and London and the operational aircraft is Airbus A340-600, which carries up to 20 tonnes of cargo capacity. The airline recorded increase in revenue and cargo growth in 2008. The companyâ€™s spokesperson said SAHCO, incorporated as an aviation ground handling

services provider under the Nigerian Company & Allied Matters Act of 1990, was formerly known as Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited which was bought by the SIFAX Group under the leadership of Dr Taiwo Afolabi. â€œDespite the 2008 Nigerian Stock Market crash and the fact that the last Initial Public Offer (IPO)in the country was in 2014, SAHCO offered 30 per cent of its shares to the public in respect of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) entered with the Federal Government of Nigeria at privatisation in 2009.

â€œThe IPO was successfully subscribed thereby transforming the company from a private limited company,â€? she said. Adetola, said SAHCOâ€™s business model was geared towards delivering premium services and this has necessitated massive investment in personnel development, state of the art ground support equipment, fleet replacement and infrastructure development in aviation ground handling, as a result making SAHCO a one stop shop for passenger handling, cargo handling and ramp handling services in the Nigerian aviation ground handling services.

Senate Assures AGIP on $13.5bn Oil Project Jonathan Eze The Senate has assured the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NOAC) and other stakeholders of its support and commitment for the commencement of the $13.5 Billion offshore Zabazaba crude oil production project that is awaiting final investment decision. Giving the assurance at an NOAC/Oando and NNPC organised Research and Development Forum/Exhibition of Emerging Technology with the theme:â€œ Research and Development-Emerging Technologies in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry,â€? Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West), who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, premised the commitment of the Senate on the fact that the project would be the first involving the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board(NCDMB) and NAOC since the coming of the Local Content Act of 2010 to ensure

Nigerian increased participation in the oil and gas sector. â€œThe National Assembly is very much interested in the project as it will go a long way in actualising the participation of Nigerians in this critical sector of our economy in terms of personnel, training and of course increase in our crude oil production.â€? he stated. Adeola, commended NAOC for turning out yet another set of highly skilled sub-sea engineers for deep sea projects like Zabazaba stressing that as representatives of the people of Nigeria, it is the role of National Assembly to ensure that Nigerians benefit directly in the production and processes in crude oil exploration and exploitation. â€œThe goal of local content is not to drive away foreign investors but to have Nigerians participate in the production process with a view to mastering some aspects of these processes in due course.

Academy Marks Anniversary Emma Okonji The Ausso Leadership Academy (ALA) at the weekend celebrated its one year of providing mentorship experience to entrepreneurs and business leaders across a diverse business spectrum in Africa. The celebration coincided with the graduation ceremony of its sixth business and entrepreneurship masterclass cohort. Speaking at the occasion, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Ausso Leadership Academy, Austin Okere, noted that the strides of the academy in just one year was a validation of its founding purpose, which was to, â€œmentor entrepreneurs to institutionalise and scale their businesses geometricallyâ€?. He also thanked all stakeholders for their commitment and support. According to him, â€œone year from inception, ALA has remained true to its purpose of mentoring entrepreneurs that will, in turn, become the drivers of sustainable economic growth,

creating an oasis of outstanding businesses in Africa. So far, we have enjoyed ever-increasing recognition and endorsement by key stakeholders. â€œThis is highlighted by the visits of the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Okey Enelama; former Minister of Communications and Technology, Dr Omoobola Johnson; Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, the CEO of the various exchanges, Mr Oscar Onyema (Nigerian Stock Exchange), Mr. Bola Onadele (FMDQ) and Mr. Bola Ajomale (NASD); the DG of the National Pension Commission, Muhammad Ahmad (OON), the Deputy British High Commisioner in Nigeria, Laure Beaufils, and many other notable champions.â€? According to Okere, â€œIndeed, we are grateful to everyone that had committed themselves to this initiative. Without you, we would not have come this far. And, we count on you in our quest to continue to mentor the giants of today and tomorrow.â€?

THIS IS OUR SCORECARD

L-R: Group Head, Innovation & Strategy, SystemSpecs, Oluwaseun Adesanya; Member, Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR) GovCo/Founder & CEO, Proshare, Olufemi Awoyemi; President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Adedapo Adekoje; Deputy Director, Consumer Protection Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ibrahim Hassan; President, FintechNGR, Dr Segun Aina; Vice-President, FintechNGR/ ED, IT & Operations, Access Bank, Ade Bajomo and President, Institute of Software Professionals Association of Nigeria, Dr Yele Okeremi, during the Annual General Meeting and Social Meet 4.0 of FintechNGR hosted by the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagosâ€Ś recently

Firm Sets Five-year Business Target Raheem Akingbolu Zedvance Limited has unveiled plan to grow its customer base to over one million customers across the country in the next five years. Speaking at a media briefing on its fifth year anniversary in Lagos recently, the Group Managing Director of Zedcrest Capital Limited and Founder/ CEO of Zedvance Limited, Mr. Adedayo Amzat, said the company would continue to pay attention to the yearnings of Nigerians through excellent customer service, tech innovation

and data science. â€œWe are proud to be a leading industry player in the consumerfinance subsector -ranking easily among the top three providers of credit across most metrics. If you ask me what makes us different from the pack, Iâ€™ll say itâ€™s the fact that we are a customer-centric brand. â€œWe listen to our customers and carry them along across every process of our product development and services,â€? he said. On the companyâ€™s mid to long-term plans, Amzat said: â€œFor the last five years, we have focused primarily on

salary-earners. We however understand that this is a limited part of the economy. â€œIn a few months, we will be introducing products and services that cater to non-salary earners as well as small businesses across the country as we continue our mission of providing customercentric financial solutions for all strata of the market, through user-friendly technological innovations.â€? As part of the celebration, Zedvance has also refreshed its website to provide a seamless experience for customers. The company would also be introduc-

ing new business locations on its coverage map. In his remarks, the Group Head, Marketing & Communications, Zedcrest Capital Limited, the parent company of Zedvance Limited, Mr. Adebowale Banzi, said the firm as a lifestyle enabler would continue to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country through customercentric solutions. â€œWe are proud that over the years, we have not only introduced great products for our teeming customers, we have also contributed to the development of the economy,â€? he said.

Unilever, Coca Cola, Others Forge Alliance on Plastics Recycling Raheem Akingbolu Diageo, Unilever, the Coca Cola Company and NestlĂŠ have launched the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance at the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali recently. The Alliance aims to turn the current challenge of plastic waste in Sub Saharan Africa into an opportunity to create jobs and commercial activity by improving the collection and recycling of plastics. According to a statement jointly issued by the companies,

the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance was established for companies to facilitate and support their local subsidiaries to engage proactively in market level public private partnerships, industry collaboration and alliances in the area of share knowledge, encourage innovation and collaborate on technical and other solutions appropriate for Sub-Saharan Africa as well as participate in local pilot initiatives. It was also designed to engage with the investment community,

policy makers and others to accelerate the development and financing of the necessary waste management infrastructure and systems. â€œPlastics will remain an important packaging material if we are to give African consumers the safe and affordable products they need. Unfortunately, a lack of collection and recycling capacity in many African markets coupled with growing populations is creating a growing problem of plastics waste.

â€œWe see an opportunity to tackle that problem in a way that creates jobs and reduces dependency on imported materials while alternatives to plastics are developed,â€? the statement stated. The companies also indicated that collaboration within and across markets will be key to success so the companies decided to launch the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance to increase those efforts and play their part as companies in finding solutions that work for Africa.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT LASBCA Yet to Enforce Stop-work Order Served Lekki Developer for Building Code Violation Lagos State Government has very strict physical development codes that, unfortunately, are rarely enforced until there is barefaced tragedy like the recent collapse of buildings in central Lagos. One of such ugly situations is raring its head in Lekki Scheme I where a homeowner has written a petition to the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) that their neighbour has allegedly used their perimeter fence as the back wall of a structure he is erecting. Almost a year after LASBCA served the new builder a violation notice and stop-work order, it is yet to enforce its order and the builder is almost completing his structure to the bewilderment of the existing homeowner. Bennett Oghifo reports

n June last year, the owner of a building at Plot 13, Abimbola Okulaja Close, Lekki Scheme I, Lagos noticed that the owner/ developer of a structure on Plot 12 next to them allegedly used their perimeter fence as the wall of a structure he is erecting and that the structure looked directly into their building because they violated statutory setback codes. Thus, on June 25, 2018, the owner of the existing building contacted its solicitor, Gbayode Somuyiwa & Co, which wrote a petition to the Lagos State Building Control Agency, detailing the alleged violation, titled ‘Petition for Violation of Building Code and Planning Laws of Lagos State’ The petition addressed to the General Manager of LASBCA, said, “This petition is against the owner of a property being developed besides our client’s building at Plot 12, Abimbola Okulaja Close, Lekki Scheme I, Lagos, in fragrant abuse of the Building Code and all relevant laws of Lagos State. “The developer in absolute disregard of our client’s space has erected a building overlook-

ing our client’s building, built a structure attached to our client’s perimeter fence and this developer did not observe the prescribed setback from the border fence.” The petition said, “The infraction into our client’s space poses serious danger, security threat and invasion of our client’s privacy. It is utterly an unacceptable act to build a structure against a perimeter fence in a highbrow area like Lekki Scheme I.” The homeowner wondered how such an infraction could be allowed to take place in Lagos State where there was zero tolerance of illegal developments. Officials of LASBCA from its Eti-Osa Office went and investigated the allegation made in the petition and stated in its ‘Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010 Contravention Notice’ to the new structure owner/ developer that “Upon inspection of the property, it appears that the provision of the Lagos State Building Control Regulations made in pursuant to Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010

have been contravened.” In the notice, LASBCA said, “Your contravention consists of the following: erection of a 2-floor structure without evidence of approval/development permit as at the time of visit; no evidence of stage-inspection, no project board to ascertain status; inadequate space and attachment to wall fence.” The stage of work was put as “finished” in the notice. LASBCA said if the owner/ developer disputed the contravention notice, he should tender “all documents in support of your case, including your Building Development Permit to the undersigned within 24 hours of the service of this notice on you. “If you do not dispute the contravention, you are hereby ordered to restore the land to its original state by removing the said contravention. “If you fail to remove the said contravention within two days from the date of service of this notice, the said contravention shall be demolished after service of demolition Notice on you.” The Notice by LASBCA was signed 31st July 2018. Nothing happened thereafter,

Lagos Gov. Akinwumi Ambode at the site of demolished buildings… recently

as days turned to months and it is coming close to a year. The petitioner reminded LASBCA of their Notice and Stop-work Order that had not been obeyed by the developer but there was no word from them. When THISDAY sought

to know what was holding LASBCA back, a senior official said, “As I said, we have taken all the necessary steps in accordance with the building law and regulations of Lagos state and he had been told to do the needful but he still

remains recalcitrant. Though the building owner is a recalcitrant offender but at the end the law will surely take it cause. “But in due cause he will surely receive the full wrath of the law. But there are procedures and steps to be taken before that.”

Awode: How Lull in Construction, Property Sector Affected Paints Industry The Group Managing Director, Chemstar Paints Industry Nigeria Limited, manufacturer of Finecoat and Shield paints, Mr. Aderemi Awode has said that the paints industry, like other sectors of the economy, been affected by the harsh economic situation in the country. Awode, who said the paints sector was not immune from the nation’s economic reality, blamed the lull in the construction sector and in property development business on the low performance of the paints industry in the

last few years. “Construction sector has been at the lowest pace; property development is also at the lowest pace; while the construction sector is not growing at the pace it had been growing in the past four or five years and there is lull in the property business that has also affected the paints business,” he stressed. He disclosed this at the weekend during the Finecoat and Shield Paints Customers’ Forum 2019, as well as CPIN Customers’ Forum 2019 (a

subsidiary of Chemstar Groups), which took place at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. On his expectations for paints industry in 2019 business year, Awode, who noted that the Federal Government had not done badly by looking at corruption and providing infrastructure, said “we also expect them to do more, especially by looking into those areas that will have significant impact on the real sector.” No fewer than three best customers/distributors in the

Finecoat and Shield paints category were presented with Honda Pilot SUV and a 4x4 Runner Toyota SUV; and under CPIN, five distributors/ customers went home with two Toyota Camry cars, two Honda Pilot SUV and a 4x4 Runner Toyota SUV; while several other distributors were presented with different electronic items and cash in the two categories. Awode, who noted that the essence of the yearly customers’ forum was to celebrate and reward the companies’

distributors who had over the year put extra efforts into ensuring that they pushed the products to end users having particularly realised that it is not easy to sell paints unlike food items, said the company had been doing this in the last 23 years. “So, we felt it would be worthwhile if we have a forum to appreciate and celebrate our customers, particularly those that have been buying our products for the past few years. The forum has gone beyond

just business relationship as the distributors have been growing their businesses every year,” he added. But, due to the lull and slow economic activities in the country, as well as the need to meet customers and consumers’ demands, Awode said the company had in the last few years put more efforts by looking at new areas of innovation and come up with attractive products that will be relevant to the customers and also the industry generally.

Government’s Revenue Will Increase, if Companies Operate Optimally, Says Oyedele Fadekemi Ajakaiye

Dr. Jerry Nwakobi (middle), Managing Director/CEO, Jenesis Colony Limited, being decorated with academic gown when he received Honorary Ph.D award in Property and Estate Development from European American University, presented at the University of Lagos… recently

If companies are operating optimally, it will increase the quantum of government’s revenue from company tax, the Chairman, Nikoy Nigeria Ltd, Mr Adewale Oyedele has said. Oyedele, who stated this at the commissioning of Ace Wash N Dry Laundromat and Work Hive Co-Work Space in Lagos recently, obsersed that provision of infrastructure such as regular power supply would go a long way in reducing operational cost. “When the federal government creates an enabling environment for the operators in the private sector, it will reduce

the cost of doing business,” he said “Our goal at Ace Wash N Dry Laundromat and Work Hive Co-Work Space is to provide quality service at affordable cost. On these two major performance indicators our customers can appraise us,” he said. “Our new companies have the human capital, technology, drive, capability and integrity to prove that Nigerians can compete favourably in the global space,” he said. Nikoy Nigeria Ltd is the parent company of Ace Wash N Dry Laundromat and Work Hive Co-Work Space, he said. The concept of Laundromat is

not new in developed countries but new in Nigeria, here you bring the clothes, wash and dry yourself within an hour at a cheaper rate. An average of 25 pieces of clothing, equivalent to 10kg, is to be washed and dried at N1500 only. This is made possible through the use of advanced technology, which covers more at reduced time and cost per unit, he said. Also present at the event, was Chief (Dr) Olusegun Osunkeye, Chairman, Olusegun Osunkeye & Associates, who stated that the industrial sector was facing problems of access to finance, power, skills and infrastructure, adding that this should be rectified.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Experts, Leaders Agree on Ways to Mobilise Accelerated Action for Climate, Sustainable Development With the urgency of climate action at an all-time high, global experts and leaders meeting in Copenhagen identified key immediate action areas to better serve both the world’s efforts to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure better lives for all people. A statement by the UNFCCC said nearly 400 participants from around the world came together for the first Climate and SDGs Synergy Conference—formally the “Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”—and agreed that a stronger connection between the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides the world’s best opportunity for positive, systemic change that will ensure a sustainable and inclusive development in a healthy environment for present and future generations. “Policies, programmes and partnerships must be designed to work together, to achieve synergies and reduce or eliminate the trade-offs,” said Liu Zhenmin, UN UnderSecretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “There are many places where such convergence is possible—for example, energy transitions are at the heart of lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

These also hold the potential for eradicating poverty, creating jobs, improving health and contributing to more sustainable ecosystems.” Speaking on behalf of the UN Climate Change secretariat, Deputy Executive Secretary, Ovais Sarmad, said: “Climate change is a threat multiplier. If we don’t act urgently and with more ambition, it will destabilize the global economy, create conflict, displacement and cause incredible suffering for people everywhere. But climate change also provides our single greatest opportunity to build a safer, healthier, more resilient and prosperous world and by further linking the climate and SDGs process, we can drive transformative action at all levels.” Participants from developed and developing nations, including government representatives, youth, and members of the private sector, academia, civil society and the UN system, attended the conference, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), UN Climate Change and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate. Attendees provided inputs to the outcome document, which will inform the indepth review of SDG 13 on climate action at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York in July. They highlighted

AfDB, ECOWAS oﬃcials at the Abidjan-Lagos Highway signing ceremony

the opportunities, advantages and gains being made through cooperative implementation of climate action and the SDGs, including through better integration of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into the Paris Agreement, processes to formulate and implement national climate adaptation plans (NAPs), and the voluntary national reviews (VNRs) at HLPF. Other post-2015 development frameworks, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and

Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, will provide other opportunities for synergies. Additionally, UN DESA and UNFCCC agreed to establish a global knowledge network and platform on the synergies between climate and SDGs, building on all the inputs to the conference, to be launched before the HLPF. UnderSecretary-General Liu said that UN DESA would work to identify and promote multistakeholder partnerships and commitments that can directly

contribute to the Climate Action Summit and the SDG Summit in September, and it would establish a SDG-Climate Synergy Pavilion at the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP25) in Chile in December. Participants discussed several new multi-stakeholder partnerships aiming to protect forests and the ocean, and boost efforts supporting sustainable energy. For example, more than 20 leaders committed to the Cool Coalition, a new effort to accelerate action on the transition to clean and ef-

ficient cooling, which can help mitigate climate change, further sustainable development and save money. Led by UN Environment, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program, and Sustainable Energy for All, the coalition includes the Ministers of Environment from Chile and Rwanda, the heads of the Danish engineering firm Danfoss and the French global energy utility Engie, as well as other leaders from civil society, academia and intergovernmental institutions.

sound disposal of waste, obtain relevant permits, obtain the environmental import statement/ Certificate, observe the proper use of environmental technologies to mitigate the effects of climate change and relevant facilities to subscribe to the Extended

Producer Responsibility (EPR) programmes. Protecting the environment, he said, is a task that all should defer to, adding that “the job of leaving an environmental friendly state for our future generations of Nigerians cannot be compromised.”

NESREA Warns against Breach of Environmental Laws Tayo Olaleye in Abuja The Director General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Professor Aliyu Jauro has warned that industrial facilities and the business communities

should carry out their activities within the scope of the environmental laws of the country as necessary measures shall be undertaken to observe any breach of the law. The newly appointed boss, while highlighting major amendments of the NESREA

Act, said the Agency has been empowered to establish and enforce administrative penalties, seal and close down premises or facilities whose pollution to the environment is of imminent danger to life and property. He said: “The amended Act

Current Technologies in HVAC Industry to Dominate ASHRAE 2019 Conference Players in the Heating, Ventilation and Airconditioning (HVAC) industry will be exposed to current trends and technologies at the 2019 Annual Conference in Kansas City, Mo., in June. Officials of ASHRAE said in a statement that the five-day conference includes sessions addressing the HVAC&R industry, as well as tours, social events and a keynote message from Mike Massimino, former NASA astronaut, advisor and author. Additionally, the incoming 2019-2020 ASHRAE President Darryl K. Boyce, P.Eng., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, present the Society theme for the coming year during the President’s Luncheon on Monday, June 24. “With the global movement towards sustainable energy, the HVAC&R industry is everchanging,” said Carrie Anne Monplaisir, chair of the 2019 Annual Conference. “We continue to face new challenges

as we adapt our designs, codes, and technology to fit this constantly changing criteria. The 2019 ASHRAE Annual Conference aims to address these challenges, and offer best practices, lessons learned, and innovative design strategies to be applied in a wide range of topics.” This conference’s technical programme will include sessions addressing engineering practices, research and professional development as follows: Research Summit – nearly one-quarter of the technical program is devoted to the presentation of current research in the HVAC&R industry. Fifteen of the 23 scheduled sessions present peer-reviewed papers on ongoing research with a total of 26 conference papers and 31 extended abstracts accepted for presentation. The Research Summit includes a partnership with ASHRAE’s archival journal, Science and Technology for the Built

Environment. Another quarter of the technical program is comprised of the Fundamentals and Applications track and the Systems and Equipment in the Built Environment track. Nearly a third of the program advances knowledge and practices in three focused tracks: Optimization in HVAC&R, Commissioning New and Existing Buildings and Modeling Throughout the Building Life Cycle. The Occupant Health and Safety track covers a range of topics from ventilation to health. The Professional Development tracks presents sessions to sharpen individual, personal skills, including career growth, ethics, business development and liability. ASHRAE Learning Institute (ALI) will offer full-day seminars and half-day courses and ASHRAE certification exams will be administered during the week.

has addressed all ambiguities and inconsistencies that had impeded the smooth running of the Agency, which is now in good stead to effectively carry out compliance monitoring and enforcement in the industries.” The DG advised the public to ensure environmentally

New Report Links Worst Global Risks to Water Water is one of the world’s gravest risks, according to the Global Risks Report published earlier this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos. And the situation is actually worse than it might seem at first glance. According to the author, Jens Berggren, Spokesperson, Advisor, Office of the ED of Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), “Every year, the World Economic Forum asks some 1,000 decision-makers from the public sector, business, academia and civil society across the globe to assess the risks facing the world over the decade to come. Since 2012, water crisis has consistently been ranked as one of the threats with the highest potential impact as well as likelihood.” This year “water crisis” is named as the risk with the fourth biggest impact. When asked how likely the risks are to occur, “water crisis” is placed as number nine. The top scores on both impact and likelihood are perceived to be: extreme weather events; failure of climate change

mitigation and adaptation; and natural disasters. “But wait a minute – what are extreme weather events, poorly managed climate change and natural disasters? Almost always the answer is water. Of the 1,000 most severe disasters that have occurred since 1990, water-related disasters accounted for 90 per cent! With extreme water and weather events increasing in both frequency and severity in the wake of climate change, floods and droughts are set to strike harder and more often in the years to come. Annual flood losses in Europe are expected to increase five-fold to 2050 and up to 17-fold by 2080,” the report says. “Water doesn’t have to create a disaster to be a problem. The sheer uncertainty around the future water availability is causing planning problems for cities, businesses and households. Shall we invest in expanding our water supplies or our stormwater drains or both? Should farmers invest in draining or irrigation? Does your

home insurance cover both wild fires and mud slides? “During last summer’s heat wave in Sweden, fans were out of stock almost everywhere, reportedly creating a secondhand market where 50 SEK fans sold for 1,500 SEK. Will fans be the hot item in 2019 as well or will rainwear be the coolest thing around? “On closer inspection, 9 of the 10 risks with above average impact and likelihood have clear linkages to water. Apart from the already mentioned, poor water governance too often plays a part in “man-made natural disasters”, “large-scale involuntary migration”, “interstate conflict” and “failure of regional or global governance”, as well as “bio-diversity loss and ecosystem collapse” where populations of freshwater species have declined by an average of 83 per cent over the last fifty years, far more than species on land or in the sea.” No one interested in managing risks can afford to ignore the role of water management, the report says.

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ´Ëœ 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

ABCON Calls for Power Sector Reforms Obinna Chima The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has called for radical implementation of the power sector reform program in order to ensure access to stable electricity for households and businesses. The association also urged BDCs to apply the principle of currency diversification to mitigate risk of currency fluctuations arising from uncertainties from socio-economic and political development in the United States and in Europe. The association made this call in its Quarterly Economic Report for the first quarter of 2019, obtained yesterday. ABCON noted that Nigeriaâ€™s score of 35 in terms of ease of getting electricity, as

indicated by the World Bank Ease of Doing Business report, was lower than the average for Sub-Saharan Africa and much lower than other comparable middle-income countries, with South Africa having a score of 63 and India having a score of 85. It stressed that access to stable electricity remains one of the key challenges and constraints for doing business in Nigeria and hence a critical area of focus for the government in order to sustain ongoing economic recovery. ABCON stated: â€œWeighing on the emergence of Nigeria from a recession in 2017, the countryâ€™s continued economic recovery will be slow, according to a new economic analysis. â€œHowever, the analysis showed, labor-intensive sectors remained weak, which

contributed to an increase in the rate of unemployment and underemployment throughout 2018 into Q1 2019. Level of poverty is also believed to have increased notwithstanding the exit from recession. â€œThe reviews have identified the power sector as a critical area that government should focus attention to sustain the economic recovery. â€œWith the electoral victory of the incumbent government, ABCON review is recommending attention in the following sectors for full recovery from the recent recession: Radical implementation of the power sector reform program to ensure access to stable electricity supply for businesses and comprehensive diversification of the economy.â€?

Court Gives Access Bank Nod to Take over Etiebetâ€™s Place Davidson Iriekpen The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday rejected the motion on notice seeking to stop Access Bank Plc from taking over a property owned by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Don Etiebet, known as Etiebetâ€™s Place in Ikeja, Lagos. The property, located on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, is in the name of his firm, Obodex Nigeria Limited. In a ruling, Justice A. Liman refused Obodex Nigeria Limitedâ€™s plea to stay the execution of a December 17, 2018 judgment of Justice Ibrahim Buba, which empowered Access Bank to take over the property.

The bank had dragged Obodex Nigeria Limited to court over an alleged indebtedness. The firm challenged the court jurisdiction to hear the suit. But in his December 17, 2018 decision, Justice Buba dismissed the objection by Obodex Nigeria Limited and ruled in favour of Access Bank. Pursuant to this, Access Bank took over Etiebetâ€™s Place and appointed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ogunba, as receiver/ manager to manage the property towards the recovery of the alleged debt. Not pleased, Obodex Nigeria Limited filed an appeal as well as an application for stay of execution of the judgment. In the application for stay of execution, filed through its lawyer,

Mr Dele Adesina (SAN), Obodex Nigeria Limited sought an order restraining Kunle Ogunba (SAN) and his privies or assignees from â€œadvertising or offering for sale, selling, mortgaging, transferring, alienating or otherwise interfering with the applicantâ€™s equitable right of redemption on the property situated and lying at 21 Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos, also known as Etiebetâ€™s House, pending the hearing and final determination of the applicantâ€™s appeals.â€? But Access Bank, through Ogunba, opposed Obodexâ€™s application for stay of execution. In a ruling yesterday, Justice Liman refused to stop Access Bank from taking over the property.

FG to Enhance Growth of Metal Sector Kasim Sumaina Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă”Ă‹ The federal government has resolved to prioritise the resuscitation of the mineral and metal sector so as to pave way for Nigeria economic growth and recovery. Pursuant to this, government, through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) is organising the second Metallurgical Industry Stakeholders Forum (MISF) for metal sector operators in the country, especially the South-South based. The Director, Metallurgical Inspectorate & Raw Materials Development (MI&RMD) Department, Mr. Victor Ihebinike, in a statement through the Director of Press, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Edwin Opara yesterday, argued that, it

was obvious the metal industry forms the bedrock on which industrialisation and development of any nation of the world is built, without which no meaningful technological advancement would be achieved. The statement further revealed that, in the course of the parley, the government hopes to create the required linkages for the rapid development of the sector by assisting private metal sector operators to synergise. According to him, â€œVirtually all other sectors of the economy rely on the metal sector in one way or the other to thrive; that includes power, agriculture, transportation, industry, electrical/ electronics, construction, roads, housing.â€? He added: â€œIt must be mentioned that Nigeria is well

endowed with various metallurgical raw materials that cut across the length and breadth of the nation. â€œSuch raw materials include coal, iron ore, limestone, marble, dolomite, bauxite, refractory clays, Ferrous alloys, foundry raw materials, scrap metals to mention as well as our natural comparative advantage towards rebuilding the ailing metallurgical industry. He revealed that: â€œIt is common knowledge that other countries that started development of their metallurgical sector in a similar way like Nigeria had been able to lift their economies from third world poverty and starvation to industrialised nation through their doggedness in the pursuit of their objectives.

LaundrybyTimeSignature, Others Win Award LaundrybyTimeSignature has been recognised and awarded as the â€˜Most Outstanding Laundry/Dry Cleaning Company for 2019â€™ by World Quality Alliance at the annual International Standards Leadership Summit/ Exhibition/Awards Nigeria 2019, which took place recently in Lagos Nigeria. Other companies that won awards in different categories included Nestle Water, Provast Limited, Africa Circle Pollution amongst others. The Finance and Admin Manager of LaundrybyTimeSignature, Mr. Monday Tama, who received

the award on behalf of the dry cleaning company, according to a statement, lauded Dr. Stanley Ohenhen, the Chairman of World Quality Alliance for rewarding excellence in a time when Service Quality is no longer taken seriously in the country. He ascribed the service performance of LaundrybyTimeSignature to the commitment of the management and staff of the company. According to him, the company pays priority attention to customer service and continuous improvement at all times, which are the two most important factors in

achieving excellence in service delivery industry. With the award and recognition, he promised that the company would continue to deliver best premium affordable service and thanked the clientele for their patronage. In celebration of the award, he shared a free wash card to all participants of the event and requested them to redeem it at their earliest convenience at any of the companyâ€™s service centres located at Lekki Phase 1 or at Atlantic Centre, Chevron Drive, Lagos.

L-R: Publicity Secretary SPE Nigeria Council, Onyebuchi Okereke; General Manager(Assets) Platform Petroleum Limited, Atakele Longfellow; Managing Director, Osa Owieadolor; Chairman SPE Nigeria Council, Debo Fagbami; Vice Chairman, Joseph Nwakue and Past Chairman, Saka Matemilola, during a courtesy visit of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Nigeria to Platform Petroleum Limited in Lagosâ€Ś recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

NOVEMBER 2018 Money Supply (M3)

31,794,803.44

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

6,333,064.28

Money Supply (M2)

25,461,739.17

-- Quasi Money

14,773,076.98

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,688,662.18

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,711,763.59

---- Demand Deposits

8,976,898.59

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

18,990,400.78

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,804,402.66

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,062,986.22

---- Credit to Government (Net)

2,980,229.66

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,093,619.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-4,144,571.43

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

23,082,756.56

--Other Assets Net

13,258,583.57

Reserve Money (Base Money

6,811,192.37

--Currency in Circulation

2,100,129.91

--Banks Reserves

4,366,259.05

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 Ă™Ă–Ă“Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ÍŻÍąĎą

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ÍŻÍŻ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍˇ

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $70.41 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $70.31 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), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

MARKET NEWS

Nigerian Stock Exchange CEO Advises Investors to Embrace FinTech Goddy Egene The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, has called on domestic investors to embrace financial technology (FinTechs) as capital flow into that space continues to increase. Onyema, who stated this at a forum on Fintech in Lagos, said as investment into the space continues to gain traction around

the globe, the exchange planned to explore new technologies including blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) for capital raise. According to him, the global picture of capital flow into FinTechs especially in emerging markets is a proof that FinTechs are important economic catalysts in the fourth Industrial Revolution, but regretted that local investors are not taking its advantage to advance their

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investments. “According to KPMG’s “2018 Global Analysis of Investment” equity investment into global FinTech companies almost tripled from $18.9 billion to $50.8 billion between 2013 and 2017 and has continued to gain traction. Surprisingly, foreign investors seem to be seeing these gains better than local investors as statistics show that they have dominated capital raise for indigenous start-ups in the

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last couple of years,” he said. The NSE CEO said at the exchange, their key strategies is the segmentation of our market with the introduction of a Growth Board to cater to companies with high growth prospects, including FinTechs emerging from venture capital management to a more mature management that would require public investment and corporate consolidation. “This approach, in our opin-

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ion, would assist companies with high growth potential, leverage public finance for growth and expansion. FinTech offers the opportunity to deepen capital market activities and also achieve sustainable economic growth by empowering a larger portion of the populace to access financial services; unlock efficiencies in product and service delivery for financial institutions and increase transparency and resilience of the Nigerian capital market and

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larger financial ecosystem,” he added. Meanwhile, trading at the stock market opened the week on negative note as the NSE All-Share Index (ASI) fell by 0.22 per cent to close lower at 29,495.91, while market capitalisation declined to N11.079 trillion. The negative performance was fueled by losses recorded by Dangote Cement Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and FBN Holdings Plc.

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Ë¾ TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

CSCS Attains Thomas Murray A+ Rating with a Positive Outlook Central Securities Clearing System entitlement calculation or processing have the potential to improve the (CSCS) Plc has been upgraded by of corporate actions in the market. risk assessment of CSCS,” it said. Thomas Murray, the global postThe company said in a statement According to the report, one of trade risk and custody specialists, that the outlook for the CSCS risk such developments include the from A to A+, which denotes a assessment is ‘positive’ owing to organisation becoming a direct ‘Low’ overall risk. the fact that there are numerous member of the Central Bank of The Overall Assessment (OA) of pending developments scheduled Nigeria (CBN) RTGS system, ‘A+’ reflects a weighted average of for implementation within the short ensuring that DVP settlement seven risk components. However, to medium term. would be realised for both onthe assessment for Asset Servicing “Official time schedules have exchange and over the counter Risk (ASR) has been omitted not been announced in all cases, (OTC) transactions by linking from the ASR assessment since but it is anticipated that, upon the securities leg and cash leg of CSCS takes no active part in the implementation, these developments settlement. CBN approval would A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 12shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Apr-2019, unless otherwise stated

be required prior to establishing a further indicate that we have link meaning that the timeframe for made notable improvements in this would be largely dependent managing our market’s overall on the CBN. risks as we increasingly continue Commenting on the upgrade, to align ourselves with global best Managing Director/Chief Executive practices. I am extremely proud Officer of CSCS, Mr. Haruna of the collective efforts made over Jalo-Waziri, said: “The upgrade the years by our committed staff to from A to A+ is a significant enable us to make such progress.” milestone towards being a In his comments, Director, globally respected and leading Head of Operations for Thomas central securities depository in Murray, Mr. Jim Micklethwaite, Africa. The key upgraded areas said: “Thomas Murray is delighted 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.

to announce an upgrade to the overall risk assessment of CSCS. The upgrade across several areas recognises the significant and widespread improvements to processes and controls put in place over the last few years by CSCS, particularly due to the upgraded functionality within its new core system, TCS BaNCS. We will monitor CSCS’ improvements as they continue to adopt international best practices.”

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 0.88 0.89 5.04% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 12.10% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.54% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.29 2.31 2.87% 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 16.38 16.88 -1.26% ARM Discovery Fund 356.70 367.46 0.02% ARM Ethical Fund 29.27 30.15 3.65% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.29% 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 100.10 100.80 -1.07% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.61% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.77% Paramount Equity Fund 12.10 12.20 2.45% Women's Investment Fund 106.15 106.69 2.45% 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 12.41% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 98.79 99.23 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 99.43 100.10 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.85% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.82 0.83 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.17 1.17 4.63% 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 N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A 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 1,242.67 1,243.53 4.82% FBN Heritage Fund 144.02 145.22 0.43% FBN Money Market Fund 0.00 0.00 13.53% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 117.71 118.22 3.35% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 117.62 118.14 3.53% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 145.19 147.28 -3.21% 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 1.16 1.18 -5.03% Legacy Debt Fund 3.35 3.35 3.38% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 1.32% 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 2,961.08 2,991.87 -0.76% Coral Income Fund 2,856.29 2,856.29 4.27% 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 11.19% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 107.36 107.74 -0.10% 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 100.00 100.00 12.87% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.12 2.15 -1.08% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.25% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 124.32 124.51 -0.48%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ﬁncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.16 1.18 1.48% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,082.32 1,082.32 3.76% 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 N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.25 1.27 2.18% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.43 11.48 2.68% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.41% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 120.88 121.43 0.12% 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 1.00 1.00 4.07% 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 2,367.20 2,380.31 2.28% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 197.20 197.20 3.71% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.95 0.96 0.53% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 255.65 255.68 3.43% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 163.80 165.58 0.39% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.80% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,377.98 8,475.16 -1.33% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.13 1.13 1.73% 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 1.21 1.19 0.07% United Capital Bond Fund 1.66 1.66 4.32% United Capital Equity Fund 0.68 0.69 -4.38% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.26% United Capital Eurobond Fund 109.82 109.82 2.39% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.11 1.11 1.54% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.98 11.14 3.18% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.23 12.38 1.49% Zenith Income Fund 21.54 21.54 11.69% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.67%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.40 120.02 52.21

-44.85% 1.95% 0.91%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.09 106.18 85.11

10.19 108.45 86.68

-4.30% -9.48% -4.02%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.76 6.50 13.84 11.41 153.43

3.80 6.58 13.94 11.61 155.43

-5.88% -14.68% -7.40% -7.59% 6.85%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.24

17.42%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND 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 manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNA TIONAL

Sudan’s Main Protest Group Calls for Civilian Transitional Council The Sudanese group that led protests against deposed President Omar al-Bashir on Monday called for the transitional military council that has taken power to be disbanded and for a new interim civilian ruling council to be formed. Representatives of the Sudanese Professionals’ Association (SPA) piled on pressure on the armed forces leaders who have taken over, issuing a long list of demands for deeper and faster change. “If their demands were not met, the group would press on with protests and would not join a future transitional government,’’ Ahmed al-Rabie, an SPA member, told Reuters. The SPA was holding its first news conference since Bashir, who ruled with an autocratic hand, was ousted by the military on Thursday following months of street demonstrations. It noted that a new interim civilian body should be given full executive powers, with the armed forces having representation, and the Transitional Military Council (TMC) that took over recently should be dissolved. “If our demand for the formation of a civilian transitional council with military representation is not met, we will not be part of the executive authority and the cabinet. “We will continue the mass escalation and the sit-ins to fulfill our demands,” Rabie told Reuters. The SPA issued its demands hours after protesters blocked an attempt to break up a sit-in outside the Defence Ministry that has continued in spite of Bashir’s departure, a Reuters witness said. Troops had gathered on three sides of the sit-in and tractors were preparing to remove stone and metal barriers, however protesters joined hands and formed rings around the sit-in area to prevent them. Some of the most prominent SPA leaders, most of whom are in their 20s and 30s and were detained until after Bashir’s

ouster, spoke at the news conference. SPA representatives also renewed their calls for the head of the judiciary and his deputies and the public prosecutor to be removed. They demanded the dissolution of Bashir’s National Congress Party and said they received affirmation from the TMC that the party will not participate in a transitional government being negotiated. The SPA also called for the seizure of the party’s assets and the arrest of its prominent figures. It demanded the dissolution of paramilitary groups that were loyal to the old government, and of the National Intelligence and Security Service’s (NISS) operations authority. It also called for an end to Sudan’s press law and the public order law, which they have said restricts freedoms. On Saturday, Salah Abdallah Mohamed Saleh, better known as Salah Gosh, resigned as head of NISS. He was once seen as the most powerful person in the country after Bashir and protesters held him responsible for the killing of demonstrators demanding an end to military rule. Gamaria Omar, an SPA member said for them in the SPA, in the first stage, the transitional government stage, they would play a role in the restoration of the civil service and state institutions and establishing a democratic state. “Afterwards, the SPA will be comprised of unions, and will be a guardian of democracy in Sudan,” Omar added. Outside the Defense Ministry on Monday, the protesters, numbering about 5,000 in the morning with more arriving, chanted “Freedom, freedom” and “Revolution, revolution”, and appealed to the army to protect them. Some drummed and waved national flags as they mingled in the street, while others took shelter from the sun under parasols and makeshift tents. “We hope that everyone

Spanish Airline Confirms Cancellation of 148 Flights The Spanish airline, Air Nostrum, has confirmed the cancellation of 148 flights between Monday and Wednesday due to the strike action called by the Spanish Airline Pilots’ Union (SEPLA). The strike has been called in protest against the company outsourcing contracts to third parties, and unless a solution is reached this week, further stoppages have been called on from April 22 to April 24. Air Nostrom has signalled that it would be carrying out the agreed minimum services, which have been set at 47 per cent for international flights and 31 per cent for domestic flights while maintaining a full service to the Canary and Balearic Islands. Nevertheless, this week’s cancellations are expected to affect around 10,000 passengers at the start of the Easter

holiday period in Spain. The airline has apologised for the “inconvenience’’ to passengers and asked for “understanding’’ while confirming it will announce the list of flights that will be cancelled in the coming week. This is not the only problem which Spanish holidaymakers are going to face over the coming week, with ground staff at Spanish airports also confirming they will go on strike on April 21 and April 24 unless an agreement is reached on their collective agreement on wages and conditions. Staff at the Spanish railway infrastructure company ADIF have also programmed a 24hour stoppage on April 17, while security staff at the company will begin a series of two-hour stoppages the following day.

will head immediately to the areas of the sit-in to protect your revolution and your accomplishments,” the SPA said. At the news conference, the SPA said the military had promised to protect the sit-in. The protest outside the compound, which also includes

the intelligence headquarters and the presidential residence, began on April 6, after over three months of protests triggered by a deepening economic crisis. The military council said that it was restructuring the joint forces command, appointing a new chief of staff for the

army and a deputy. Boko Haram Kills Seven Soldiers in Chad, Army Says Seven Chadian Soldiers have been killed in an attack by Boko Haram, Azem Bermendoa Agouna an army spokesman said on Monday.The Islamist militants injured 15 others when they attacked an army position

in Kaiga Kindjiria, in western Chad, on Sunday, according to Agouna. The army claims it killed 63 Boko Haram fighters during the fighting near Lake Chad. Boko Haram is a Nigerian jihadist group but also carries out attacks in neighbouring countries.

Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade (right); Group Chairman, MSM Group and facilitator of Foton International Trade, Beijing, Mr. Muazzam Mairawani (third left); and other members of his delegation during an investment meeting in Calabar....recently

Trump Urges Boeing to Fix, Rebrand Grounded 737 MAX Jet United States President, Donald Trump, on Monday urged Boeing Co to fix and rebrand its 737 MAX jetliner following two fatal crashes, as regulators worldwide continue to work with the planemaker to review its grounded best-selling aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration has been meeting major airlines and convened a joint review with aviation regulators from other countries Meanwhile, federal prosecutors, the U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general’s office and a blue-ribbon panel are reviewing the plane’s certification. In an early-morning post on Twitter, Trump, who owned the Trump Shuttle airline from 1989 to 1992 and is an aviation enthusiast, weighed in with his own advice.

“What do I know about branding, maybe nothing but I did become President!. “But if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name. “No product has suffered like this one, but again, what the hell do I know?” Trump tweeted. The plane’s grounding has also threatened the U.S. summer travel season, with some airlines removing the 737 from their schedules through August. Trump issued the tweet as Boeing tries to restore trust in its fastest-selling jet, the main source of profits and cash at the Chicago-based planemaker which has won some 5,000 orders or around seven years of production for the aircraft.

Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg has apologised on behalf of Boeing for lives lost in two recent accidents and promised that it would address the risk that flight software meant to prevent the plane stalling could be activated by wrong data. Branding strategy ‘premature’ Boeing has also held dozens of briefings and simulator sessions for airline executives and pilots and held worldwide meetings with airline branding and communications staff. Pilots are expected to play a major role in regaining public confidence in the aircraft, but Trump’s tweet marks the first time the brand underpinning Boeing profits in coming years has been thrown into question at such a high level. Brand Finance, a UK-based consultancy that tracks the value of global brands, rejected

the idea that Boeing should abandon the MAX brand but said its corporate reputation was in the firing line. “This has without a doubt damaged Boeing’s reputation and we foresee a dent to the Boeing brand’s value at over 12 dollars billion,” Chief Executive David Haigh said by email when asked about Trump’s comments. According to Haigh, this is a temporary blip in the long run for Boeing. He added that Toyota and others had recovered from similar highprofile crises without a drastic rebranding exercise. Brand Finance had previously estimated the damage to the value of Boeing’s reputation at 7.5 billion dollars immediately after the March 10 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jetliner, the second fatal accident involving the 737 MAX in five months.

Egypt’s Sisi, German Chancellor Merkel Discuss Libya, Sudan Issues Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday discussed a number of regional issues including Libya and Sudan on a phone call. Sisi shed light on the unity and stability of Libya as well as Egypt’s support for efforts aiming at combating terror groups and extremist militias which pose threats not only for Libya, but the stability and security of the entire Middle East and European countries, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. Sisi also asserted that Egypt is closely following up developments in Sudan, pointing out that his country backs the choices of the Sudanese people. For her part, Merkel expressed her country’s keenness on

reaching a political solution to the Libyan crisis as part of a dialogue among the Libyan parties and stressed the importance of stepping up efforts to end the deterioration of conditions in the Arab country. Since early April, the easternbased Libyan army led by Khalifa Haftar, has been leading a military campaign to take over the capital Tripoli where the UN-backed government is based. Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011. Attorney General to Release Redacted Mueller Report on Thursday United States Attorney General, William Barr, plans

to release a redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election on Thursday, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said on Monday. Kupec did not provide a precise time, however, said it would be released both to Congress and the public. Mueller turned over a copy of his confidential report to Barr on March 22. Two days later, Barr released a four-page letter summarising what he said were Mueller’s primary conclusions. In that letter to Congress, Barr said Mueller’s investigation did not establish that members of Trump’s election campaign conspired with Russia. Barr also wrote that Mueller presented evidence “on both

sides” about whether Trump obstructed justice, however, he did not draw a conclusion one way or the other. Barr said that he reviewed Mueller’s evidence and made his own determination that Trump did not commit the crime of obstruction of justice. Barr has been under pressure from Democrats to release the full report without redactions. The Mueller investigation cast a cloud over the presidency of Trump, a Republican. Barr, a Trump appointee, has pledged to be as transparent as possible. However, he has said he must redact some sensitive information from the publicly released version, including grand jury information and information about U.S. intelligence-gathering.

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Buratai: We are Still Searching for Chibok Girls Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, yesterday said the

search for the remaining abducted Chibok girls was still on. Buratai also said the activities of Boko Haram have been

confined to Lake Chad region and fringes of Sambisa forest. He spoke yesterday while delivering the maiden lecture of the Centre for Contemporary

Edo 2020: Group, Senator Obende Back Obaseki’s Re-election Youths under the aegis of Obaseki/Shaibu Movement (OSM) and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Senator Domingo Obende, have thrown their weight behind the reelection of Governor Godwin Obaseki, assuring to mobilise support for the governor and his deputy, Hon. Philip Shaibu ahead of the 2020 gubernatorial election in the state. They made the submission during a chat with journalists

in Akoko Edo. The group declared that Obaseki has brought a rare panache to governance, which has engendered development in different parts of the state. Senator Obende, who is the Grand Patron of OSM, described Edo people as progressives, who support good governance which Obaseki’s government embodies, noting that their support for him is devoid of political, religious, or regional

differences. He said Obaseki, as a leader, has a mission to move the state forward, noting, “we are proud of the meaningful projects executed by the Obaseki/ Shaibu administration in the state and assure Edo people of more people-oriented projects.” The Senator said OSM is working hand-in-hand with all stakeholders to ensure the successful re-election of the Obaseki/Shaibu administration.

Security Affairs at the Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State. He stated that the complex security challenges like the Boko Haram activities required political and security solutions that will ensure democracy rebound stronger after a crisis. Buratai said the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari has fulfilled the pledge to support the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) by donating the sum of $100 million. The Army Chief said the current political leadership has demonstrated strong political will, purposeful direction and resources that galvanised the nation against the common enemy He informed the gathering that adequate resources were provided to re-kit, procure more arms and ammunition, vehicles and other logistics required to prosecute the campaign against

insurgency. According to him, “military leadership invariably draws inspiration from the political leadership and this allows it develop military strategic objectives that are to be achieved. “One of the silent but radical changes in the operations was changing the orientation and mind-set of troops from a defensive to an offensive posture. We also created the Theatre Command to coordinate the activities of the divisions involved in the operations”, He further said, “socioeconomic activities and free movement of people and goods have resumed in many areas. Significant improvements can be attributed to the systematic campaign led by the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other services and elements of national power “Success recorded so far is

an indication that for Nigeria’s democracy to be consolidated, the military must not only play its part but must also fulfill the constitutional roles assigned to them.” He assured that the army under his leadership would partner the institution to build officers’ intellectual capacity. In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said the centre when operational would carry out research that interrogate emerging security challenges of local and global concern Ezemonye noted that the strategy was to create a Faculty that provides knowledge based interventions for effective enforcement response, being a rich blend of academic researchers in security affairs and practitioners from the military and allied agencies.

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Wike Vows to Tackle Cult-related Killings in Rivers Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Worried by the resurgence of cult-related killings in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike,= has declared that the state government would frontally tackle menance in parts of the state. Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday when the Rivers State Council of

Traditional Rulers paid him a congratulatory visit on his re-election, Wike said his administration would take the fight to the cultists. “We will not allow these cultists who want to paint the state black continue to cause mayhem. We will take the fight to them. Enough is enough. These people cannot continue to kill our people,” he said. Wike disclosed that he

met with the State Security Council on Sunday night and modalities were worked out on how to rid the state of cult-related killings. He urged the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers to support the state government in the fight against cultism, saying that prompt information would be useful in tracking down the criminal elements. The governor stated that

Ikelegbe: Hold Universities Accountable for Graduates’ Performance Renowned don at the Institute for Security Studies, Lower Usman Dam, Abuja, Prof. Augustine Ikelegbe, has said that Nigerian universities must either adapt to the demands of today and tomorrow or die. According to him, Nigerian universities must reform how they educate their graduates to easily adapt to new technologies and become entrepreneurs or Nigeria would become the global dustbin, totally forgotten by the scientifically and technologically progressive world. He said this at the 12th matriculation ceremony of the Western Delta

University, Oghara, Delta State, at the weekend, while delivering a paper titled “University Education and the Contemporary Labour Market in Nigeria.” He called attention to the dire unemployment statistics facing the country; while the working-age population is a staggering 109, Nigeria’s full employment capacity stands at a miserly 83 million positions, thus leaving a deficit of 26 million unemployed people seeking for non-existent jobs. Breaking it down further; Ikelegbe said that as recently as 2017, 71 million Nigerians were classified as workers, with 54 million

fully employed, 17 million as under-employed and 12 million totally unemployed. Ikelegbe said unemployment is among Nigeria’s biggest social problems as about half of the 23 million Nigerians within the 15 to 35 years age bracket are under-employed while some 1.8 million Nigerians enter the labour market yearly, with tertiary institution graduates making up 500, 000 of the number. According to him, the Nigerian universities must recognise the fact that a pool of over five million unemployed graduates had accumulated as far back as 2014 and must have increased tremendously.

he would jealously guard the interest of the state and ensure further development of the state. “I am a total, unrepentant Rivers Man. I will continue to jealously guard the interest of the state,” he said. He thanked the traditional rulers for the solidarity visit, but regretted that some of them were involved in partisan politics, despite his

advice that they should stay off the political terrain. Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Douglas Dandeson Jaja, said that they were in Government House to congratulate Wike for a well-deserved victory. He thanked Wike for extending the olive branch of peace to his opponents

and urged the opponents to accept the governor’s offer. He lauded Rivers women for the wonderful role they played to defend votes across the state, especially standing firm to resist the invasion of collation centres by the Nigerian Army . King Jaja prayed God to always grant the governor the capacity to lead the state in the right direction.

Ogun Governor-Elect, Unveils 10-Man Transition Work Groups Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta The Ogun State Governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has unveiled a 10-man transition work groups with mandate to implement the action plans of his administration that is to kick- off on May 29, 2019, this year. Abiodun, in a statement by his spokesman, Hon. Remmy Hazzan, sequel to the announcement of his economic transition committee headed by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Tunde Lemo, said “the members of the work groups is a further

demonstration again that our commitment to inclusiveness is not a lip service, as the composition is broad-based and a rich blend of human resources, painstakingly selected from critical stakeholders, including professionals in politics (both in APC and other parties), experts, women, youth, organised private sector, people with special needs and non-indigenes, among others.” “There are 10 work groups to focus not only on key items in our manifesto, but also on connected matters that strengthen institutions, and build capacity that will ensure that government agencies

deliver on their mandates effectively and efficiently on a sustainable basis. Motivation of Ogun State work force is a very key objective in this regard”, the statement read in part. According to him, the Economic Transition Committee and the Work Groups will be inaugurated tomorrow at TCC Resort and Conference Centre, Kilometre 67, Lagos - Ibadan Expressway, Ogere - Remo, Ogun State by 10.00am. He said this event will be immediately followed with the inaugural meetings of the Economic Transition Committee and the Work Groups, the statement concluded.

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Appeal Court Strikes out N24.3bn Oil Spill Suit against Mobil Davidson Iriekpen The Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal has struck out a N24.3billion suit filed by one Chief Benjamin Pepple on behalf of the indigenes of the Kampa communities in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State against

Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (Mobil) at the Federal High Court in Uyo The indigenes in 2010 had alleged oil spill from Mobil’s Idoho-QIT Pipeline had wreaked havoc in their communities. They specifically claimed that their sources of livelihood had

Oando, First Bank, Others Honoured at PEBEC Awards Oando Plc, First Bank, and other private sector companies were recognised at the recently concluded Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) awards ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, for their support of the PEBEC initiative. The awards ceremony recognised MDAs and sub nationals that implemented impactful and landmark reforms in 2018; as well as key members of the private sector who particularly contributed to driving PEBEC’s overall reform initiatives. Speaking at the occasion, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, commended the Hon. Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah, for his focused and forthright leadership, and also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and her team for their tireless efforts in ensuring the implementation of the ease of doing business reforms in the country. Osinbajo said: “In the past three years of inaugurating PEBEC, Nigeria has implemented more than 140 reforms to make doing business in Nigeria easier and improve overall competitiveness in line with a key strategic objective of the Economic Recovery & Growth Plan (ERGP).

“It is a pleasure to celebrate the phenomenal successes of the PEBEC reforms, but more importantly to recognise specially some of those who made it all possible – our incredibly selfless and committed private sector partners and the sterling performance of many in the public sector. The private sector partners referred to include Oando, First Bank of Nigeria, Crownscourt Attorneys, World Bank Group, KPMG, amongst others.” Oando was recognised for its role in capacity building, specifically providing strategic communication support as well as team-building and marketing communications training for the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) team. Speaking on the event, Chief Operating Officer, Oando Energy Resources, Dr. Ainojie Irune, who received the award on behalf of the company said “While it is clear that the government, through PEBEC has done a commendable job in aggressively driving reforms to ease the process of doing in business in Nigeria, it’s imperative that we in the private sector continue to proactively look for opportunities to collaborate amongst ourselves and with the Government to bring about sustainable solutions that will move the country and economy forward.

Sani Raises the Alarm over Alleged Conspiracy Between INEC, El-Rufai John Shiklam in Kaduna Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, has alleged a conspiracy between Governor Nasir el-Rufai and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pervert the course of justice at the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna. Addressing a news conference yesterday in Kaduna, Sani said, the decision of the commission to hire el-Rufai’s lawyer to defend it at the election tribunal was unethical and questionable. According to him, the lawyer, A.U Mustapha & Co. has been el-Rufai’s personal lawyer for years. Sani who is challenging his defeat in the senatorial election at the tribunal, said democracy can only thrive when there is an electoral system in place that ensures that elections are free, fair, transparent and credible.

“What I want to use this press conference to disclose, is the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission hired Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s personal lawyer to defend it in the case. “As an independent umpire, that is abnormal and suspicious and it, in every way, prove our suspicion of collusion between the governor of Kaduna state and INEC” he said. “The said personal lawyer of the governor is called A.U Mustapha & Co. That very lawyer remains the personal lawyer of Governor Nasir el-Rufai. “In the last one year, that lawyer is the one defending el-Rufai in the case of defamation he filed against me in four courts in Kaduna state....” Sani said. He said ”in all the cases that el-Rufai has instituted in the last 15 years, it is the same A.U Mustapha that always represented him in court.

been destroyed by the alleged oil spill and were therefore entitled to compensation against the oil major to the tune of N24.3billion. Mobil in response to the lawsuit had filed an objection through its counsel, Professor Fabian Ajogwu, SAN challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear the case on the grounds that the respondent had failed to provide the particulars of damage done to his communities as required by law. Ajogwu further contended that the respondent’s writ of summons at the Federal High

Court was incompetent. The Federal High Court however on January 25, 2018 struck out Mobil’s objection, prompting the oil major to file an appeal against the decision of the High Court. Mobil in its appellate brief, argued by Mr. Charles Nwabulu and settled by Mr. Ituah Imhanze of Kenna Partners, submitted that its (Mobil) right to fair hearing guaranteed under the Constitution had been breached by reason of the failure of the respondent to provide the particulars of damage done to his community by the alleged oil spill and that the Federal

High Court ought not to have assumed jurisdiction over the suit in light of the apparent defects in the writ of summons of the respondent. The respondent was represented by Eugene O. Odey. In delivering its judgment, the Court of Appeal led by Justice Y. Nimpar, upheld Mobil’s appeal and resolved all the issues raised in Mobil’s favour. The court agreed with Mobil that its right to fair hearing was breached by Justice F. O. Riman of the Federal High Court by virtue of the respondent’s failure to provide

the particulars of damage done to his community by the alleged oil spill. Furthermore, the court agreed that the writ of summons filed by the communities through their representative was defective even after a purported renewal. It held that the failure of the counsel to the respondent in affixing his NBA seal on the writ of summons even after given the opportunity to do so rendered the writ invalid. The writ of summons was consequently, deemed incompetent by the Court of Appeal and was set aside, overturning the decision of the Federal High Court.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST SUICIDE…

L-R: Dr. Kafayah Ogunsola; Coordinator, Dr. Raphael Ogbolu; Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, LUTH, Prof. Olufemi Fasanmade; and Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo at a press conference marking the second anniversary of Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Lagos… yesterday

Witness Narrates How Fayose Received N1.2bn at Akure Airport Davidson Iriekpen The 11th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, Sunday Alade, yesterday narrated how the former governor allegedly received N1.2 billion stashed in two planes. In his testimony at the Federal High Court in Lagos, Alade said Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, received N1,219,000,000 from Akure branch of a bank in the build-up to the state’s governorship election in 2014. Fayose was arraigned alongside his company on October 22, 2018, on an 11-count

charge bordering on fraud and money laundering to the tune of N2.2 billion. Alade, who is the Head of Business Development and Safety at the bank, said the money was deposited into three accounts. “On June 17, 2014, I received a call from my head of operations, Abiodun Osode, that a customer of the bank would be coming to make a deposit into his account with the bank,” the witness said. “He also instructed me to provide security as well as the bullion van movement team to pick up the cash from the airport. “We were later instructed to proceed to the airport, where

there would be other mobile policemen and soldiers. “Osode also called me and introduced one Abiodun Agbele to me, before we all left for the airport. “At the airport, I was also introduced to Mr. Adewale .O, who was the aide-de-camp, ADC, to the then Minister of State, Musiliu Obanikoro. We had to go twice, as two different planes brought in the money.” When asked by Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecuting counsel, which department was responsible for paying and transferring such funds into accounts, the witness said such transaction can only be carried out by the head of

operations with authorisation from the signatory to the accounts. “While it was being bundlecounted, a sum of one billion two hundred and nineteen million (N1, 219,000,000) was taken to Akure branch of the bank,” Alade said. “I gathered that the cash was lodged into three accounts namely: De-privateer Limited, Spotless Investment Limited and Ayodele Fayose accounts. “I also understand that part of the money was taken away that day by Mr. Agbele.” Mojisola Olatoregun, the judge, adjourned the case till May 10 for continuation of trial.

Brazil to Send Delegation to Abuja Carnival 2019 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja A contingent of revellers from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will participate in this year’s Abuja Carnival, the Artistic Director of the event, Biodun Abe, has disclosed. The carnival is scheduled for November 23 and 25. Abe revealed yesterday at the Abuja carnival stakeholders meeting that apart from Brazil, South Africa is another country that has indicated interest to attend the event. Abe said the carnival routes will be decentralised into six

routes, enabling all the floats coming from the street party in different areas to converge at the Eagle Square. Delegates from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT will converge on the nation’s capital, Abuja to display their various cultures, costumes, cuisines, art and craft among others The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Grace Gekpe, who apologised for the postponement of the Abuja Carnival, earlier scheduled for December 2018, said this year’s

theme “Culture For Peace,” will provide a veritable platform to further strengthen the bond of unity of the country after the 2019 peaceful general elections. “This year’s carnival, among other gains, will provide platform to unwind, recreate and continue the onerous task of nation-building after the peaceful 2019 general elections,” she said. Gekpe said the ministry is equally exploring the Abuja Carnival as a vehicle for wealth creation, poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration as well as panacea for peaceful

and stable society. “Though diverse in language, tribe, culture and tradition as well as in religious and political philosophy, the carnival is conceived to showcase our strength even in our diversity and to forge a nation of one destiny, one people,” she stated. In his remarks, the Emir of Machina in Yobe State, Alhaji Bashir Albishir Bukar, stressed the need to diversify the nation’s economy by leveraging on culture and tourism because of their enormous potentials in wealth creation.

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 08111813083

Alleged Tax Evasion: Court Renews Okocha’s Arrest Warrant An Igbosere High Court in Lagos yesterday renewed a bench warrant for the arrest of a former Super Eagles Captain, Austine Jay Jay

Okocha, over alleged tax evasion. Justice Adedayo Akintoye extended the warrant, earlier issued on Jan. 29, following

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an application made by the Lagos State Prosecutor, Mr. Yusuf Sule. Sule told the court that Okocha was yet to settle out of court a 2017 alleged income tax evasion charge. The prosecutor said that Okocha had also failed to appear in court since Oct. 5, 2017, when the case first came up.

However, Okocha was not in court and was not represented by any lawyer. Sule also said that Okocha had made contact with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). He said: “The defendant is trying to settle, but is yet to make any payment. “In the circumstances, we will be asking for a further

date.” Granting the application, Justice Akintoye ruled: “Bench Warrant is to continue against the defendant. “Case is adjourned until May 28 for further directions.” Earlier, the prosecutor had filed a three-count charge against Okocha on June 6, 2017, accusing him of: “Failure to furnish return

of income for tax purposes with the LIRS, and failure to pay income tax. “The offences contravene Section 56(a) and (b) of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law No. 8 of 2006 and Section 94 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 (As Amended)”.

Ronaldo back as Juventus takes on Ajax in Turin Manchester United’s stars arrived in Barcelona yesterday as they look to pull off another stunning Champions League comeback this evening. The Red Devils trail the Spanish champions 1-0 following a first leg quarter-final defeat at Old Trafford courtesy of a Luke Shaw own goal. United have already beaten the odds once in this campaign by stunning Paris Saint-Germain on their own turf in the previous round and now need another huge performance at the Nou Camp to reach their first semifinal in the competition since 2011. The players arrived at the team hotel by coach, where they were greeted by a small gathering of supporters looking to catch a glimpse of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s outfit. A few police officers were also on hand to watch over events as United’s smartly dressed stars cut a relaxed and focused mood as they made their way towards the hotel. Alexis Sanchez was named among United’s travelling

contingent with the Chilean having been sidelined for the last six weeks because of a knee injury. Sanchez returns to bolster an attack that failed to register a shot on target in the first leg loss. Nemanja Matic and Matteo Darmian are also part of the 22-man squad. United head into Tuesday’s clash having got back into winning ways at the weekend with a 2-0 victory over West Ham United at Old Trafford in the Premier League. The result kept alive the Red Devil’s hopes of reaching the top four and booking a spot in the Champions League next season. In the other game of the evening, “Unstoppable” Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the Juventus team to face Ajax in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. The Portuguese scored in the 1-1 draw at the Johan Cruyff Arena last week, but was one of several players rested for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at SPAL.

FCV Gladiators Camp Opens in Lagos With the staging of the coaches training, the muchanticipated maiden FCV Gladiators Camp opened yesterday at the University of Lagos Sports Complex. The one-week exercise has a foremost coach from the English Premier League leading some group of tacticians to the Lagos leg of the clinic. Also, the Olympic Value Education Programme (OVEP) will also be part of the exercise holding in Lagos and the Abuja camp will be hosted at Aduvie International School between April 21 and 26. The camp which is the brainchild of Dynaspro Promotion with Advanta Interactive in collaboration with United Kingdom (UK)-based FCV Academy will hold in Lagos and Abuja with special focus on football and education. According to the Director of Dynaspro Promotion,

Oluseyi Oyebode, the camp would afford participants opportunity be acquainted with the modern trend in football. “It is a great beginning. For the first time, we are having a foreign partner that is so keen on education and football that has been the missing link. That is why today, we have a lot of our ex-footballers and athletes suffering by not being able to manage the successes, not being able to manage their finances while making the money. “Also, there will be mentorship programmes and for the first time, we will have school coaches, coaches from the grassroots having FA certification and that is the greatest value that you can think about. It will also enable participants the opportunity to have the same orientation that an average British coach will have in working with the youth academy.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the lone goal against Watford last night as Arsenal returns to Top Four of the English Premier League

EPL

Aubameyang Fires Arsenal Back to Top Four A Ben Foster howler and a needless Troy Deeney red card helped Arsenal climb back into the Premier League top four with victory at Watford last night. Goalkeeper Foster gifted the Gunners an opening goal after 10 minutes when he took too long on the ball after collecting a back pass, allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to charge down his clearance and deflect the ball in.

Just a minute later, Watford captain Deeney was sent off for throwing his forearm into the face of Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira in a late challenge. Despite playing with 10 men for 80 minutes, Watford offered the far greater threat, hitting the bar through Adam Masina’s powerful drive from distance in the second half, and forcing Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno into a number of excellent saves.

The German denied Craig Cathcart well with his feet shortly after Deeney’s red card - and later in the first half dived at full stretch to tip away Etienne Capoue’s goalbound free-kick. Ainsley Maitland-Niles also produced a crucial block with 10 minutes remaining when he slid in to block Andre Gray’s shot after the Watford striker had rounded Leno. The visitors’ only real chance came midway through

the second half but Foster brilliantly spread himself to block Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s volley from close range. The Gunners were well below their best but the rare away win could prove crucial in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League. They climb two places to fourth in the table, two points clear of Manchester United and ahead of Chelsea on goal difference.

Media Accreditation Opens for 7th Okpekpe Road Race Pamodzi Marketing company, organiser of the IAAF silver label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has announced that the media accreditation for the seventh edition of the race which holds on Saturday May 25,2019 in Okpekpe near Auchi in Edo State will open on Wednesday April 17, 2019. The accreditation process will be handled online and members of the local and international media who wish to cover the first and only IAAF silver label road race in Africa in 2019 must register via the event’s website

https://okpekperoadrace.com. The organisers said all accreditation requests must be completed on or before May 10, 2019. After the submission deadline, applicants will be notified by email if their request has been accepted or rejected. “ There is huge interest in the race from the media all over the world and with the plan to use a gold label template for the organisation of this year’s race and for proper coordination of the media, we decided to slightly change the format for this year’s edition,” said Dare Esan, spokesman for the race.

“Media practitioners interested in covering the seventh edition of the historic race in Okpekpe, a hilly, rustic community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State have between Wednesday April 17 and Friday May 10 to go to our website, https:// okpekperoadrace.com to fill the media accreditation form,’ said Esan who insists all aspects of the race including the media coverage will be done in accordance with IAAF rules. ‘’The appropriate media services which shall be provided to the press and

photographers shall include the following minimum requirements: Individual delivery of results of top 20 men and women, dedicated website with start-lists and results in English which is the lingua franca in Nigeria as well as the provision of TV monitors + high-speed internet connection,’ added Esan. ‘’Please note that media credentials will be awarded on the basis of the professional history of the applying media, relevance to the event and track and field in general, as well as space availability in the venues.’’

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

Tuesday April 16, 2019

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MISSILE PDP to APC

“Whereas Atiku Abubakar’s citizenship by birth, even under our constitution, cannot be contested, it is indeed the biggest irony of the year, that Atiku’s citizenship is being disputed by individuals whose ancestry has always been a subject of debate.” – The PDP describing the claim by APC that its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is a Cameroonian as an attempt by the ruling party to trivialise and divert attention from the rigging of the presidential election.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

The People’s Revolt in Algeria and Sudan

oung people are leading a people’s revolution in Algeria and Sudan, both developments remind us forcefully of the wages of mis-governance, the power of the people to seize control of their own destiny, and the role that the youth can play in a country’s development process. It is encouraging to see that in both countries, we are witnessing the triumph of the people’s will. In Algeria and Sudan, it is Arab Spring (or Winter?) all over, with the people saying No to Repression, No to Dictatorship, No to the abuse of power. The ordinary people are the heroes in both emerging revolutions- the villains are the members of the ruling elite, those the Algerians refer to as “le pouvoir” (that is the powerful) who have suppressed and alienated the people for decades. Algerians want a complete change of system, a break from the past. The people of Sudan are similarly asking for a new order. These courageous young men and women, who have since been joined at the barricades by professionals and in Algeria, by the military, are determined to stand firm until they have their way. They refuse to be cajoled. They do not want half-measures. They know what they want and they have been very peaceful in making their demands. They are no longer afraid. They are on the streets. They are on social media. The power of the youth in full expression, can be loud and overwhelming. In Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the 82-year old who has been the absolute dictator in charge of Algeria since 1999 and a member of the ruling establishment since independence from France in 1962, has been pushed out by the protests. Bouteflika’s reign of terror was marked by corruption, cronyism and repression. In 2010/2011, he survived the Arab Spring that swept through North Africa and the Middle East resulting in political crisis and regime change in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Syria. But he could not survive weeks of protests by the Algerian people this time around. Bouteflika had used every trick in the books to remain in power. Since he suffered stroke in 2013, he had been rarely seen in public, choosing to run the country through a selected group of family members and political associates. Still he wanted a fifth term in office. The people refused. In February, he tried to introduce cosmetic changes with the promise that there would be a national conference. The people took to the streets. They no longer trusted him. They just wanted him to go. He eventually abandoned his fifth term ambition. Even that was not enough for the people. They waved the Algerian flag on the streets, and spoke their minds with unusual boldness. Many of these young Algerians who have become revolutionaries have not known any other President in their lives. But they have seen the corruption of the Algerian elite and they were determined to register their protest. A descent into chaos seemed imminent until Army Chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah intervened and asked that the best way forward would be to invoke Article 102 of the Algerian Constitution, and thereby move the country forward within the Constitutional Framework. Article 102 requires the Algerian President to step down in the event of his incapacitation, and with his exit, the leader of the Upper Chamber of parliament would assume office as President in an acting capacity and conduct fresh election within 90 days. Bouteflika, Africa’s oldest President has since resigned, his vanity project of building the Great Mosque of Algiers remains uncompleted. His successor, Abdelkader Bensalah, the former leader of parliament has promised that he will organize elections on July 4 and respect the people’s will. But the Algerian revolutionists have refused to stop the protests. They don’t just want Bouteflika out of the way,

Al-Bashir

they want the entire system that he represents and all his cronies that he has placed in strategic positions in both government and business out of the way. They are putting pressure on Bensalah. In both Algeria and Sudan, we have not only seen the people- the youth - fighting for themselves, rejecting years of misrule and graft – we have also seen the military establishment turning against the government. In Algeria however, the military helped to facilitate the process of change. In Sudan, we have the military subverting it – that is a key difference between both countries. In Algeria, the military queued up behind the people to defend the Constitution. In Sudan, the military capitalized on the people’s protest to seize power, suspend the Constitution and impose a state of emergency on the country. But one lesson from both countries is that it may be unwise to under-estimate the people’s resolve. When a revolution begins, especially one arising from disenchantment with prices and

living conditions, it may be difficult to predict when and how it will end. This explains why in Sudan there have been three Presidents in two weeks. Four-month protests over rising prices of fuel and bread ended surprisingly in the removal of Omar Al-Bashir from office. Al-Bashir like Algeria’s Bouteflika, is a veteran dictator. Most of the young people who are leading the protests in Sudan were not yet born when al-Bashir seized power in Sudan 30 years ago. The military may have taken advantage of the people’s protests but the youths of Sudan insist that the military is unacceptable because that is not the change they want. General Ahmed Ibn Auf has had to step down. He fell within 24 hours! The new General, Abdel Fattah al-Bashan may also not survive in the face of the people’s anger even if he has taken the step of sacking and detaining more members of the disgraced al-Bashir government, and appears ready to negotiate a civilian-led transition. Omar al-Bashir ran a military government in practically every regard. His reign was marked by state-sponsored terror, autocracy, war and genocide. The military council in Sudan has declared that it has no intention of handing him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he is wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity, thus confirming the suspicion that the new caretakers in Khartoum are a clone of the al-Bashir government. The politics of the ICC notwithstanding, Omar al-Bashir should be made to answer for his crimes, against the people of Darfur and the people of Sudan in general. It is not enough to keep him in “a safe place.” These recent developments in Algeria and Sudan, and perhaps Kazakhstan should be a warning sign to all sit-tight leaders and those leaders who take the people for granted. Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev is probably the smartest of the three dictators. Faced with protests by the people, Nazarbayev quickly stepped aside

in March, to make way, he claims, for “a new generation of leaders.” He manages to retain control of his country’s Security Council. He has also created a cult of personality around himself with a pompous, self-styled title of “Leader of the nation.” The capital of Kazakhstan has also been named after him by Parliament. It doesn’t matter as his own day of reckoning would still come. Across the globe, there is a growing new wave of fascination with the ideas of democracy and people power, especially among the youth. It must be considered a positive thing that the youths of Africa are part of this trend. Africa has its fair share of dictators and sit-tight leaders. It took sustained international outrage to get Joseph Kabila to relinquish power in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is now Senator for life! In Equitorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo and his children are sitting atop the country’s wealth; the old man has no plan to leave power anytime soon. In Uganda, Yoweri Museveni is effectively a President for life. But all autocrats should contemplate and learn from the fate of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia, and now Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria and Omar al-Bashir of Sudan. No matter how long it takes, the people usually win in the end. It is one thing, however, to get rid of the strong man of power, it is another to maintain or achieve national stability. Dictators may be removed or they may die or they may be incapacitated, but after their exit, they tend to retain something of the country’s DNA in their hold. This is the sad story of Cote d’Ivoire after Houphouet-Boigny, Libya after Muammar Ghadaffi, Iraq after Saddam Hussein, Venezuela after Hugo Chavez. The rest of the world must therefore keep an eye on the developing scenarios in Algeria and Sudan. It is the people’s will that must prevail in the end, not the will of military usurpers or the clones of the ousted autocrats.

The Return of Tiger Woods

hat happened in the United States, at the Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday was phenomenal, historic and inspirational - a truly human story in its grandeur and implications. With a single, final stroke, and a hard stare, Tiger Woods won the Masters, his fifth since he won the first in 1997, 22 years ago. History was made. This was his 81st PGA tour win. His first major title since the 2008 US Open. His fourth Masters green jacket was in 2005. As he wore the jacket again on Sunday, 14 years later, he said: “It fits”. Indeed Tiger, “it fits.” It was one of those wow moments in the history of sports. The crowd cheered. The Tiger roared! On display was a touch of greatness, originality and talent- pure talent. Tiger Woods’ career as a golf athlete has been marked by “highs and lows” to borrow President Barack Obama’s words, but the highest moment for him, a moment that would forever be remembered in the history of golf was that moment on Sunday when he shot the final putt on the 18th hole. The legacy of Tiger Woods has become one of the most defining moments in the history of the game itself, and although he is second in terms of overall record to Jack Nicklaus who has a record of 18 major wins, Tiger Woods trails behind with 15 major trophies, there is no doubt that Tiger may well end up as the champion of the records. He is however, not defined by statistics. He is defined by his determination, confidence

and the manner in which he has ended up at the other end of the tunnel of self-discovery to regain his composure and his pre-eminence. Many cannot be blamed for giving up on him and thinking that he had reached the end of his career. His marriage collapsed, he was called out by women who accused him of sexual harassment. He had a car accident. He was charged for driving under the influence. As recently as 2017, he was still battling with multiple back and leg injuries. He even took to painkillers. He lost the star power that he once wielded as younger players took over the game and charted their own paths, even if many of them came into the game, inspired by him. On Sunday, April 14, the old Tiger Woods returned to claim his place as a Master of the game. His triumph is the triumph of the human will over adversity. It was pure humanism, irony and spirit on display. For a man to rise and fall, and find the courage and the energy to rise again is one of the most inspirational tales about what makes us human. For generations to come, others will draw inspiration from the example of Tiger Woods. He is beyond golf. He is such a fine example of the human spirit. The young 21-year old who won his first green jacket in 1997 has become the man, one of the greatest of all times. In 1997, his father watched him as he wore the green jacket. This time around, his own children, 11--year old Sam and 10-year old Charlie, were at the Augusta National to watch him. The son has become

the father. A cycle closed, a new chapter was opened, as history was made, fusing together the story of three generations beyond the moment. Tiger’s two children were not yet born at the time of his reign as the king of golf. Hear him: To have my kids here, it’s come full circle… You know my dad was here in ’97 and now I’m the dad with two kids here.” That was touching. Those words reverberate beyond the golf course. There are of course many lessons to be learnt from the story of Tiger Woods. Only those who persevere win at the end. From being the Tiger of the pack, Woods, ended up in sixth position in the PGA Championship in 2009, fourth at the US Open in 2010, and sixth at the British Open in 2018, and at other times he disappointed us even more tragically. But now that he is back at the top, the question is: will he be able to sustain the magic? And it won’t take too long for us to get an answer to this question as Tiger Woods participates in some of the tournaments in the remaining months of the year: the PGA Championship, May 16-17, US Open, June 13-16, British Open, July 18- 21 and the Presidents Cup, Dec. 12-15. Whatever happens in the future, we would all have that memory of April 14 to cherish: Tiger Woods is the greatest comeback king of the game. His achievement, by the way, momentarily united President Trump and President Obama, with the two political opponents agreeing on the authenticity of Tiger Woods, with President Trump becoming a twitter cheerleader for Tiger Woods. Congratulations, Tiger.

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