TUESDAY 9TH JUNE 2020

Former US Director at AfDB Backs Adesina’s Second Term Bid Africa’s private sector warns against interference

Peter Uzoho with agency report Support for the second term bid of the embattled President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi

Adesina, has continued to grow with a former United States director of the bank, Dr. Mima Nedelcovych, backing him.

The private sector in Africa has also declared support for

Adesina.

Nedelcovych, yesterday stated that Adesina's second term as president of AfDB would benefit the US, regarded as the arrowhead of opposition to AfDB president's re-election.

He added he was convinced

by Adesina's responses to the accusations of wrongdoing levelled against him by whistleblowers.

Nedelcovych, in an interview with Pan African

Visions, said unless the US government was holding some secret that the American public was not aware of, he saw no reason why it should not support the re-election of Adesina as AfDB president.

He stated: "I am fully convinced with the responses provided by Dr. Adesina to the accusations of the whistleblowers.

Continued on page 8

CBN Set to Credit More Applicants for N50bn COVID-19 Fund... Page 6 Tuesday 9 June, 2020 Vol 25. No 9192. Price: N250

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Pressure Mounts on APC to Disqualify Obaseki from Governorship Race Party displays aspirants' credentials

Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos, Alex Enumah, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin The intrigues over who

clinches the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September governorship election in Edo State deepened yesterday with pressure on the ruling party

Court adjourns suit to stop direct primary

to disqualify the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, from the race.

The pressure came against the backdrop of the unexplained inconsistencies

in his certificates, which were among those the party displayed yesterday at its national secretariat in Abuja.

THISDAY learnt those pushing for Obaseki's

debarment told the APC leadership that given the unexplained inconsistencies in his certificates, the party would be faced with a likely repeat of its experience in

Bayelsa State where it won the last November governorship election but its candidate, David Lyon, was stopped

FG Links 587 of Kano’s Unexplained Deaths to COVID-19 Pandemic 315 new cases bring total to 12,801; 4,040 people discharged, 361 dead Lagos allays fears of Continued on page 9

virulent virus 70% of infected persons can’t infect others, says report Doctors to begin nationwide strike June 15 FG to pay N20bn allowance to health workers 150 health workers test positive Olawale Ajimotokan, Kingsley Nwezeh, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Chinedu Eze and Martins Ifijeh in Lagos The federal government yesterday linked the death of about 587 out of the 979 people who died under controversial circumstances in Kano State in April to COVID-19. The figure represents 60 per cent of the fatality data.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, gave the data during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja hours before the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gave its daily update on the battle against COVID-19, saying

Nigeria has recorded 315 new cases, bringing to 12,801 the number of confirmed cases in the country with 4,040 persons discharged, while 361 persons have died.

In a breakdown of the new cases, NCDC said Lagos recorded 128 new cases, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 34, Rivers 32, Edo 28, Oyo 22, Kaduna 20, Gombe 13, Ogun eight, Kwara and Delta seven each, Plateau and Kano five each, Bauchi four, and Katsina two.

It said: "Nigeria has recorded 12,801 cases of COVID-19.

4,040 persons have been discharged while 361 persons have died."

Continued on page 8

Court Declines EFCC’s Bid for Final Forfeiture of Saraki’s Assets... Page 5

A VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT...

L-R: Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Aminu Waziri Tambuwa (Sokoto), after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House in Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

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NEWS

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

Buhari to Delay Financial Autonomy for States’ Legislature, Judiciary Directs governors to parley justice, finance ministers Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has succumbed to pressure from governors of the 36 states of the federation to slow down the implementation of Executive Order 10 of 2020 on financial autonomy for the legislature and judiciary at the sub sub-national level.

The president, after a meeting yesterday in Abuja with a delegation of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), assured them that he would not gazette the executive order and would delay its implementation.

The order mandated governors to disburse to state

legislatures and the judiciary allocations due to them, failing which the federal government is empowered to deduct such funds from state allocations and directly transfer them to the two arms of government at state levels.

The governors had expressed displeasure over the signing of the executive order, saying some of its provisions violated the 1999 Constitution as (amended).

At their last virtual meeting last month, the governors had set up a three-member committee, comprising Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) to engage

Transcorp Appoints Abdulrazaq Board Vice Chairman Nume Ekeghe

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), a listed conglomerate and owner of Transcorp Power Limited and Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, has announced the appointment of Mrs. Foluke K. Abdulrazaq to its Board of Directors as vice chairman.

The appointment became effective since last Friday.

According to a statement yesterday from the company, Abdurazaq brings considerable experience in both the public and private sectors to the board.

It explained that her public service career includes serving as a Commissioner in the Ministries of Finance and Women Affairs in Lagos State, when during her tenure, the broad policies that led to the state’s Accelerated Revenue Generation Programme (ARGP) were formulated.

She was also the Chairman of the state’s Tenders’ Board, a member of the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), and the state’s Executive Council.

Mrs. Abdurazaq has held, over a period of 20 years, various senior positions in the Nigerian financial services sector, including her appointment by the Central Bank of Nigeria/ NDIC in September 1995, as the Executive Chairman of the Interim Management Board of Credite Bank Nigeria Limited.

She also served on the Group Board of United Bank of Africa Plc from 2008 to 2020, when she retired as the chairperson of the Board Credit Committee.

Mrs. Abdulrazaq holds an M.Sc in Banking and Finance from University of Ibadan.

Commenting, Chairman of Transcorp, Mr. Tony Elumelu, was quoted to have said: “I am delighted that Mrs. Abdulrazaq is joining our board. This appointment demonstrates

once again our commitment to the highest level of governance, human capital investment and diversity and inclusion across all layers of our business. “Mrs. Abdulrazaq’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s senior business leaders and public servants, coupled with her track record of championing the role of women in business will be an inspiration. I am also pleased to announce her appointment as the Vice Chairman, the first occupant of this role in the history of Transcorp. “Mrs Abdulrazaq’s extensive leadership experience will support the new management team, led by Mrs. Owen Omogiafo, the President/ CEO, who recently unveiled her five-year strategic business goals that include the expansion of the investment portfolio of Transcorp Group through strategic acquisitions; deepening the market share of the existing businesses and diversifying into the manufacturing sector, to help realise our vision of improving lives and transforming Nigeria’s economy.�

On her part, Abdulrazaq expressed enthusiasm for joining the board and management to assist in the delivery of the organisation’s strategic objectives. “I am glad to be joining the remarkable team on the Group Board of Transcorp. I look forward to working with them and the motivated management team, led by Owen, to actualise our immediate and long-term strategic goals of creating value for our stakeholders,� she said.

Transcorp has one of the largest shareholder bases with about 300,000 shareholders, on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and is a leading power producer in the country and owner of the iconic Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, among other significant assets including oil and gas.

the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to iron out the grey areas.

Yesterday's meeting with the president had in attendance NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who led some of his colleagues; the Chief of Staff to the president, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, and Malami.

Fayemi told State House reporters after the meeting that the president, after listening to concerns of the governors about the constitutionality of the order, agreed to delay its gazetting.

He said consequently, the

president asked them to meet with Malami and Ahmed with an assurance that gazetting of the order would be delayed.

He said: “We have a delegation of the governors’ forum here to discuss some matters of fundamental importance to the nation and the president has asked that we meet with the AttorneyGeneral, the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning on the issue.

"It is an issue that has seized the interest of many of you in the media and a lot of people in the federation.

It is about the autonomy of the state legislature and the judiciary and we had met with the president before now on it and the president was very pleased that for

us as governors, we are all united in support of the autonomy of state judiciary and the legislature. That’s the position of the 36 governors of the federation. “What is at stake is the constitutionality of the modalities of what had been put in the executive order and the president was gracious enough to say 'okay,' given your concerns about that, we will delay the gazetting of the order and allow you meet with the Attorney General and the Minister of Finance to work out the modalities.�

Fayemi added that the governors had been been meeting with the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly on how to amicably work out modalities

for the implementation of the executive order. “In any case, we have been meeting at our level with the Conference of Speakers. The Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Governor (Aminu) Tambuwal of Sokoto State, was delegated as the chair of a number of governors who have gained legislative experience either because they were in the House of Representatives or they were speakers of state assemblies, or they were senators and that committee has been meeting with a delegation of the Conference of Speakers, working out these modalities and we believe that all of that would be settled amicably without any resort to court,� he stated.

BRAINSTORMING ON SECURING THE NATION...

L-R: Chief of Army Sta, Lt General Tukur Buratai; President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief of Sta to the president, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, during a security brieďŹ ng at the State House in Abuja...yesterday photo: state house

Court Declines EFCC’s Bid for Final Forfeiture of Saraki’s Assets Davidson Iriekpen

The Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, yesterday declined the request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seek the final forfeiture of two properties belonging to a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Justice Mohammed Liman turned down the request in a ruling over insufficient and conflicting affidavit evidence.

He held that the documents put before the court by EFCC in support of the final forfeiture order were insufficient.

The judge also held that EFCC’s documents did not establish any link showing that Kwara State Government funds were used to repay

Saraki’s loan.

He asked the anti-graft agency to call its witnesses at the next adjourned date to give oral evidence to resolve the inconsistencies and contradictions in its documents.

Saraki's lawyers would also get an opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses.

The judge, who also dismissed a preliminary objection filed by the former senate president, assumed jurisdiction to hear the suit.

He subsequently fixed September 29 for the next hearing.

In the suit, EFCC had asked the court to order the final forfeiture of Saraki’s properties to the federal government.

The properties situated at 17 & 17A, McDonald Road

in the Ikoyi area of Lagos.

At the last sitting of the court on March 5, EFCC counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, who moved the application for the final forfeiture, told Justice Liman that the properties were acquired with a loan obtained from Guaranty Trust Bank and paid back by money suspected to have been diverted from the coffers of Kwara State Government.

The counsel said: “There are written statements from some officials of Kwara State Government on how the money was taken from the coffers of the state government and used to pay back the loan.�

EFCC, therefore, asked the court to look at the merit of its case, all the exhibits

attached, and make an order permanently forfeiting the properties to the federal government.

However, counsel to Saraki, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, had asked the court to reject the application by EFCC. He argued that the antigraft agency was unable to prove that the money used to pay back the loan was acquired by any illegal activity.

Ogunwumiju also told the court that EFCC had litigated on the same properties before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, all the way to the Supreme Court and had lost.

He then asked the court to dismiss EFFC’s suit seeking the final forfeiture of the properties and rule in favour of the former senate president.

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CBN Set to Credit More Applicants for N50bn COVID-19 Fund Households, SMEs to get cash within 48 hours

James Emejo in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday assured all successful households and small and medium scale enterprises (SME) applicants that have submitted their account details for its N50 billion COVID-19 Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) that they would be credited within 48 hours.

CBN Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor, in a statement yesterday, urged all successful applicants whose accounts have not been credited, to visit the website of NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank (www. nmfb.com.ng) and input their account details.

He, however, urged any successful applicant that “do

not receive a credit alert within 48 hours to call mobile number: 09010026900 for resolution.�

Okorafor also said CBN had waived the requirement for the provision of guarantors by households and SMEs applying for TCF. According to him, the bank’s move is to address the concerns of those who had fulfilled all requirements for the loan but were yet to have their accounts credited, particularly as other persons had begun to receive credit alerts.

Okorafor reiterated that funds being disbursed were loans and should not be taken as grants.

He, therefore, urged eligible households and small businesses to take advantage of the palliatives to revive their businesses and contribute to

steering Nigeria away from recession.

CBN had in March unveiled guidelines for the implementation of the N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility as a stimulus package to support households and micro, small and medium enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the CBN guidelines, those eligible beneficiaries of the fund are households with verifiable evidence of livelihood adversely impacted

by COVID-19 and existing enterprises with verifiable evidence of activities adversely affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, on behalf of CBN, last month commenced the disbursement of the fund to beneficiaries.

“The facility is available for service providers in the health sector, trading and all those businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea is to provide cash flow which has been disrupted by the lockdown occasioned by the pandemic.

The product is intended to provide liquidity for businesses. “This initiative is to provide liquidity and allow the economy to normalise. Businesses are hurt. People are hurt. People are no longer staying on jobs. “By the end of today, they should be able to receive alerts. The idea is to launch the products so that people will know that we have started disbursement," the Managing Director of NIRSAL Microfinance Bank,

Mr. Abubakar Kure, had said.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, recently said so far a total of N107.45 billion out of its health sector intervention fund, the agricultural and manufacturing sectors as well as the households and SMEs funds had been disbursed. “The committee recognised that under the N100 billion healthcare sector intervention fund, the bank has approved and disbursed N10.15 billion for some projects, for the establishment of advanced diagnostic and health centres and the expansion of some pharmaceutical plants for essential drugs and intravenous fluids.

"As part of the N1 trillion intervention targeted at the agric and manufacturing

firms, the bank has further disbursed N93.2 billion under the real sector support fund to boost local manufacturing and production across critical sectors. This consists of over 44 greenfield and brownfield projects. “The bank has also approved N10.9 billion to 14,331 beneficiaries under the N50 billion targeted credit facility for households and SMEs out of which N4.1 billion has been disbursed to 5,860 successful beneficiaries. The committee directed management to reach out to the banks to encourage them to disburse the funds to the priority sectors of the economy, so as to stimulate aggregate demand and create more jobs in the country,� he had added.

Nigeria, Cameroon Pay N2.3bn to UN for Boundary Demarcation Ejiofor Alike Nigeria and Cameroon have remitted $6 million or N2.3 billion to the United Nations (UN) headquarters for the demarcation of the international boundaries between the two countries.

The money was paid to the Trust Fund account on the Nigeria-Cameroon Boundary Demarcation in respect of the 2,000 kilometre-stretch from the Lake Chad region in the North-east to the Bakassi Peninsula in the South-south and the maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea.

The acting Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Mr. Adamu Adaji, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja.

He also dismissed reports that UN planned to cede 24 local government areas to a

new country to be known as Ambazonia.

It was reported that Nigeria and Cameroon would donate part of their territories to form the new state identified as Ambazonia or UNO State being created by the United Nations.

However, Adaji described the report as false, stating that the nation’s territorial boundaries were sacrosanct and not amenable “to any form of modification, alteration or adjustment as it is meant to exist as one indivisible nation.�

Giving an update on the Cameroon-Nigeria international boundary dispute which was settled by the International Court of Justice on October 10, 2002, NBC director said the various sub-commissions and committees had completed their assignments except the subcommission on demarcation.

TOWARDS A BETTER CIVIL SERVICE...

L-R: Chairman, Delta State Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Nkem Okuofu, and Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, during the unveiling of the commission's regulations 2019 in Asaba‌yesterday

At Last, Buhari Asks Senate to Confirm Dongban-Mensem as A’Court President Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja After days of suspense, intrigues and controversies, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday finally asked the Senate to ratify the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem as the substantive President of the Court of Appeal.

The president's request came barely a week after a former military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd.), wrote him a letter, accusing him of lopsided appointments, citing the delay in approving the nomination of Justice Dongban-Mensem as an instance.

But, a statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja yesterday, said the president forwarded the name of Justice Dongban-Mensem to the Senate for confirmation in accordance with his constitutional duty.

The statement added that her appointment followed her initial recommendation for the post by the National Judicial

Council (NJC).

"President Muhammadu Buhari, in line with his constitutional responsibility, has sent the nomination of Her Lordship, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Acting President, Court of Appeal, to the Senate for confirmation as President, Court of Appeal.

"Justice Dongban-Mensem is a serving justice of the Court of Appeal and was recommended, as is the practice, by the National Judicial Council for the nomination by the president," the statement stated.

Since the retirement in March of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa as the Court of Appeal president, Justice Dongban-Mensem has been presiding over the affairs of the court in acting capacity.

Justice Bulkachuwa bowed out of public service after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Following Justice Bulkachuwa's retirement, the president on March 5 had named Justice DongbanMensem as acting President

of the Court of Appeal based on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria led by Justice Tanko Muhammad, in compliance with the provisions of Section 238(4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

She was appointed in that capacity for three months being the next most senior judge of the Court of Appeal in accordance with tradition in the judiciary.

However, after the expiration of the initial three months allowed by the constitution for a presiding officer of any court to act, Buhari extended her appointment in acting capacity for another three months, thus generating controversies and resulting in an allegation that the president did not seem to be favourably disposed towards approving her appointment as substantive president of the Court of Appeal.

But the presidency, on Sunday, debunked the allegations, saying contrary to insinuations, her appointment as the substantive Court of Appeal president was not delayed by ethnicity or

religion but rather by ongoing security checks.

The presidency had pleaded with the public to allow the security agencies to properly complete their jobs.

"In the specific case of the Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Her Lordship, Justice M. S. Dongban-Mensem, the statutory regulatory time of her acting period has not lapsed.

This is not about ethnicity or religion.

"It is about security and law enforcement agencies being allowed to complete their work. Nobody should seek to stampede the president in carrying out his constitutional duty in this respect. The president had not been a rubber stamp dealing with these matters before, and is not prepared to be one at this time. Let's all allow the system to do what is right," the presidency had said.

However, 24 hours after the explanation, the president opted to send Justice DongbanMensem's name to the Senate for confirmation.

Born on June 13, 1957, Justice Dongban-Mensem, a daughter of a retired Court of Appeal judge, Justice M. B. Douglas-Mensem, hails from Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Until her appointment as acting President of the Court of Appeal, she was the presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, and a life member of the Body of Benchers.

The Body of Benchers is responsible for the training and discipline of all lawyers in Nigeria.

Justice Dongban-Mensem has been described as an authority in Criminal and Civil Procedure Law, Taxation and International Public Finance, Public International Law, Legislative Drafting, Constitutional and Administrative Law and International Commercial Transactions.

After obtaining an LL.B and LL.M from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, she proceeded to the Institute

of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, Russel Square where she obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma.

The judge, who was the registrar of Plateau State High Court in 1979, became a magistrate of various grades until she rose to the position of chief magistrate between 1981 and 1990.

She was a visiting lecturer on Press Law at the Catholic Media Centre, Kaduna from 1988-1992 and a part-time lecturer at University of Jos between 1989 and 1997.

She served as deputy chief registrar, Superior Courts and Protocol Affairs from 1990 to 1993 and was appointed a judge of the High Court of Justice, Plateau State from 1993 to 1996.

She was redeployed from Plateau State to Abuja in 1997 and became a judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 2003. She was the acting presiding justice of Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal between November and December 2009.

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PAGE EIGHT FG LINKS 587 OF KANO’S UNEXPLAINED DEATHS TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC A preliminary research, however, has shown that 70 per cent of persons infected with the virus do not pass it on to others.

Speaking yesterday on the report of the federal government’s fact-finding team sent to Kano State to investigate the strange deaths in the state, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, told journalists during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja that the final report showed that a total of 979 deaths were recorded in eight municipal councils in the state at the rate of 43 deaths per day.

He said: "With regard to unexplained deaths in Kano, which occurred in April, the team confirmed from graveyard records that a total of 979 deaths were recorded in eight municipal local governments areas of the state at a rate of 43 deaths per day, with a peak in the second week of April.

By the beginning of May, the death rate had reduced to 11 deaths per day it used to be."

He explained that the verbal autopsy carried out showed that about 56 per cent of the deaths had occurred at home, while 38 per cent were in the hospital.

"With circumstantial evidence as all to go by, investigation suggests that between 50-60 per cent of the deaths may have been triggered by or due to COVID-19, in the face of pre-existing ailments. Most fatalities were over 65 years of age," he said.

Ehanire added that over 150 health workers have been infected at the time of the arrival of the medical team.

He, however, said there was no report of an infection among health workers who had received training from the team on infection prevention and control.

"It is gratifying to note that they all returned safely and had no incident of contracting the infection," he stated.

The minister also spoke on the milestones reached within 100 days of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, saying over 76,800 persons have been tested.

The minister said since the country began more aggressive tracking and testing, it had increased its laboratory network capacity from five to 30 molecular laboratories, with a plan for at least one laboratory in every state.

On plans to develop health policy guidelines for the aged, the minister said two webinar meetings were held on June 3 and 4 on the effect of COVID-19 on health and care management

of the elderly.

He said the meeting was conducted in collaboration with the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), and it took a critical look at various aspects of the impact of the disease on the elderly, who are usually at higher risk of infection.

"The outcome of the webinar provides grounds for policy direction for care of the elderly during and beyond COVID-19.

The general recommendation is that senior citizens are vulnerable and should stay at home most times and wear a mask once outside their home," he stated.

70% of Infected Persons Can’t Infect Others, Says Report A preliminary research has shown that 70 per cent of persons infected with COVID-19 do not pass the virus on to others.

The study also showed that most 20 per cent of infected persons are the super-spreaders of the high incidence of the virus seen across the world.

The study conducted by a group of epidemiologists in Hong Kong found that just 20 per cent of cases studied were responsible for 80 per cent of all COVID-19 transmissions, noting that all super-spreading events involved indoor social gatherings.

The epidemiologists examined more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong between January 23 and April 28, and they found out that superspreading was the primary means of transmission in the city.

'The term ‘super-spreader’ refers to an infected person who transmits the virus to more people than a typical infected person would.

The research noted that about 350 of the cases analysed were a result of community spread, while the rest were imported from other countries, adding that within the communityspread cases, more than half were connected to six superspreading events. “An average person with the coronavirus infects about two other people, but an infected person sometimes passes the virus to far more people during a super-spreader event.

An estimated 70 per cent of infected patients studied didn't pass the virus at all. “By targeting locations and activities that beget super-spreading, countries may be able to avoid more lockdowns during future waves of infections. Super-spreader

events, in which one person infects a disproportionately large number of others, are the primary means by which the coronavirus spreads, new research suggests,� the report said.

Doctors to Begin Nationwide Strike June 15 Despite the threat posed by COVID-19 in Nigeria, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has said it would commence a nationwide strike on June 15 to press home its demands.

In a statement yesterday and made available to THISDAY, NARD National President, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, said the federal government's unwillingness to address its concerns has resulted in the association's decision to commence the indefinite industrial action.

He said: “Consequent upon the 14-day ultimatum duly served the federal government for an indefinite strike, in accordance with the resolution of the ordinary general meeting of the association on May 29, 2020, we hereby notify you that all resident doctors, medical officers below the rank of Principal Medical Officer (PMO) and house officers across all the federal and state hospitals in Nigeria, shall be embarking on a total and indefinite strike effective 12:01 a.m on Monday, 15 June 2020. “It is important that you make alternative arrangements for the care of the patients as the strike shall be total and indefinite. No service of any kind, be it emergency, care at COVID-19 isolation and treatment centres shall be exempted. We sympathise with the patients and Nigerian populace."

He listed the union's demands to include the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for all healthcare workers, immediate reversal of the illegal disengagement of all 26 resident doctors in Jos University Teaching Hospital and the payment of all salaries owed them.

FG to Pay N20bn Hazard Allowance to Health Workers However, as part of efforts to appease the health workers, the federal government has undertaken to pay over N20 billion as three months’ hazard allowance for those in the frontline battling to contain the pandemic.

At a meeting yesterday in

Abuja, the federal government said the hazard allowance for April and May would be paid before Friday, while that of June would be paid by the end of the month.

This was part of the agreement reached between the government representatives led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and the representatives of the health sector workers.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), NARD, the Joint Health Sector Unions and affiliates of JOHESU, the Nigerian Midwives Association are among unions whose members are to benefit from the package.

Speaking after the meeting, Ngige said the urgent approval given by President Muhammadu Buhari was in appreciation of the efforts of the health workers, risking their lives on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19.

He said the government had approved insurance coverage for the workers, adding that the gesture was in consonance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered on April 21 between the federal government and the representatives of the health workers' unions on the COVID-19 Special Incentives for the public sector health workers under the federal civil service.

He said: "We reviewed all and also, we reviewed the emoluments that we are to give these gallant workers who are in the frontline taking the risk for all of us and the federal government side has given them the financial implications of what they have done.

"So, we have fixed a timeline for ourselves that before the end of this week, the health workers captured in that particular COVID-19 net; frontline workers should get all their hazard and inducement allowances for the months of April and May before the close of the week."

According to him, the decision on the commencement of the implementation of the allowances was reached along with the Accountant-General of the Federation and Minister of Health.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunninbe Mamora, said the ministry would ensure the provision of PPEs to various hospitals.

NMA General Secretary, Dr. Ekpe Philip Uche, said they were pleased with the outcome of the negotiations.

IG Unveils New Operational

Guidelines for Police Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, yesterday unveiled new operational guidelines for the police and other law enforcement agencies on COVID-19 prevention enforcement duties.

The guidelines are also expected to deal with emerging incidents of gender-based violence.

The IG said in Abuja that the guidelines were necessitated by the increase in reported cases of domestic violence, rape, defilement, cybercrimes, among others linked with the COVID-19 restrictions.

"These unfortunate incidents have prompted the introduction of these operational guidelines, which will help to adequately coordinate and reshape the conduct of personnel of the force and other law enforcement agencies on the frontline of operations in the enforcement of the COVID-19 prevention orders.

"It will also serve as a standard code of conduct for police officers in similar operations in the future," he said.

The IG directed the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in zonal and state commands as well as heads of police departments and formations to make the guidelines subject of departmental briefings and lectures.

He said the operational guidelines would also serve as a training manual in all police training institutions.

"Consequently, the IG has also ordered the strengthening of the Gender-Desk Units and the Juvenile Welfare Centres (JWCs) across the country and the deployment of investigative assets to deal with genderrelated offences.

"In addition, the cybercrime unit of the force has also been strengthened to deal with cybercrimes connected with the COVID-19 pandemic," he added.

Lagos Allays Fears of Virulent Virus Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, yesterday dismissed fears over claims that the state now has a virulent strain of the virus.

Abayomi, in a message seen yesterday by THISDAY, said: "No evidence for virus becoming more virulent strain.

We are still on the up slope of the outbreak. In other words, we have not yet peaked."

Earlier, THISDAY had learnt that the state had entered into a

second phase of the pandemic, with the strain of the virus considered more virulent.

"The pandemic seems to have entered a second phase in Lagos with elevated levels of new infections. The current strain also seems to be more virulent. Please don’t let your guard down, it’s been a long haul but we must reach the finishing line," a source had said.

FG Issues Protocols for Evacuation of Nigerians Abroad Also speaking during the briefing, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, stated that nearly 80,000 tests carried out so far were among the accomplishments of the task force in 100 days since the country's index case was recorded on February, 27, 2020.

He also said over 13,000 health workers were trained, increasing the human resource available for case management, more personal protective equipment and ventilators procured and prepositioned across the country, while the number of beds available for isolation and case management had increased from 3,000 to 5,000 nationwide.

He added that in the last 100 days, PTF developed new guidelines for homecare and general case management; evacuated over 1,000 Nigerians from different parts of the world, while still reviewing the evacuation and quarantine protocols; enhanced the efficiency of the identification, testing, evacuation, and isolation process for confirmed cases and gradually reopened the economy, while balancing between lives and livelihood.

Others achievements included the conduct of Mid Action Review in line with WHO guidelines, with lessons and recommendations being used to improve the response, engagement with development partners and the private sector to grow the capacity of the nation in the response and introduction of several nonpharmaceutical interventions to slow down the spread of the virus.

He said there were several ongoing infrastructure interventions government was making in collaboration with development partners and the private sector nationwide.

He added that PTF has commenced the process of Continued on page 9

FORMER US DIRECTOR AT AFDB BACKS ADESINA’S SECOND TERM BID "Unless the US government is holding some secret that the American public is not aware of, I see absolutely no reason why it should not wholeheartedly support the re-election of President Akinwumi Adesina for a second term at the helm of the African Development Bank. “If competing with the Chinese in Africa is primordial to the US, then supporting the position of our African fellow shareholders in AfDB and supporting President Adesina is in our own interests.�

According to him, Adesina has established the framework for furthering the critically important role that AfDB is playing in the development and inclusive growth of the continent.

He noted that with his vision and execution of the “High 5s� for Africa, Adesina has contributed tremendously to the development of the continent, adding that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other former African presidents have reason to publicly support AfDB

president.

On the whistleblower allegations that triggered the current tensions between AfDB partners, Nedelcovych said the internal inquiry did its job fully in line with statutory guidelines, adding: “For me, those accusations that were made public and investigated by the Ethics Committee have been responded to in great detail by President Adesina to my full satisfaction."

Nedelcovych, who served as the US executive director at AfDB from 1989 to 1993, added that Adesina and AfDB have stepped up when most needed for an African institution to lead the way in the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US is the largest nonregional shareholder of AfDB, and one of the major contributors to the African Development Fund, the concessional window.

Africa’s Private Sector Warns

against Interference Also yesterday, the private sector in Africa declared support for Adesina.

The group also warned that the presence of external influence, interference and undermining the credibility of the bank’s governing principle might disrupt Africa’s continuous economic growth, infrastructure development and investment.

The sector, in a statement issued yesterday by the President Emeritus, African Business Roundtable, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, cited numerous achievements recorded by Adesina as the president of the bank as the reason for supporting his second term ambition.

The sector equally expressed its contentment with the outcome of the investigation by the AfDB’s Ethics Committee concerning the allegations by some whistleblowers against Adesina.

The committee had cleared

Adesina of all allegations of wrongdoing levelled against him by the whistleblower group.

The statement read: “The African Development Bank, which plays a major role in driving Africa’s development, is known to have a reputable standard globally. So the presence of external influence and interference, mistrusting the credibility of the bank’s governing principle might disrupt Africa’s continuous economic growth, infrastructure development and investment. “Under the leadership of Dr. Adesina, African Development Bank’s presence and work have been highly visible and impactful across the continent in the last five years. “His vision for Africa’s development through the Bank’s High 5 transformative agenda has positively impacted over 333 million people, envisaging well planned interventions ranging from access to electricity, improved food security, access to

private sector finance, improved transport infrastructure and access to water and sanitation. “He has always stood in the fore front of supporting Africa’s private sector, which is very important for economic and social development.

"In 2018, the bank launched the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) in Johannesburg, which drew investors from the private sector, sovereign wealth funds, pension, and government. The forum attracted massive global investments into Africa with about $38.7 billion raised in investment after the forum.�

The statement listed other developmental initiatives of AfDB led by Adesina to include the bank’s 2019 innovative Desert to Power, which would develop 10,000 megawatts of solar power across 11 countries in the Sahel region and provide electricity for 250 million people.

It added that when completed the $20 billion investment would be the world’s largest solar zone.

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % WAPIC 0.03 0.33 10 FIDSON 0.29 3.25 9.8 ABCTRANS 0.04 0.45 9.7 NEIMETH 0.17 1.94 9.6 CHI PLC 0.04 0.46 9.5 TOP LOSERS NGN % JAPAUL 0.03 0.33 10 CORNERSTONE 0.05 0.50 9.0 CHAMS PLC 0.02 0.25 7.4 TRANSCORP 0.04 0.73 5.1 COURTVILLE 0.01 0.20 4.7 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,000.00 Volume: 230.492 million shares Value: N2.166 billion Deals: 4,621 As at yesterday 8/6/2020 See details on Page 21

9

TUESDAY, Î Ëœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS FG LINKS 587 OF KANO’S UNEXPLAINED DEATHS TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC integrating comprehensive psychological services programme into its activities for the benefit of people who are in isolation and the wellbeing of their families and communities. ''As we mark the 100 days after the index case, we remember all Nigerians who have passed away from the disease. We commiserate with their families and friends who have had to deal with the difficulty of losing their loved ones at this time. We pray that God will continue to console them and heal our land," he stated.

FG Issues Protocols on Evacuation of Nigerians Abroad The PTF has also issued the protocol on the safe evacuation of Nigerian citizens who are living abroad and have indicated

willingness to return to the country.

The protocols would be applied when the federal government resumes the evacuation of Nigerians, which is presently suspended.

PTF National Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu, who read out the protocols yesterday, said the task force, which is working with the private sector, was banking on making the arrangement successful to allow the more than 4,000 returnees come in and enjoy their families.

According to him, the protocols are a joint effort by some of the federal government agencies including the Ministry of Health, NCDC, the Nigeria Diaspora Commission and the aviation sector.

Key aspect of the aspects of the protocol is that Nigerians outside the country would undergo the PCR for COVID-19.

The least time for the test is 14 days and prior to boarding they would sign an undertaking that they would follow the necessary precautions applied by PTF when they arrive the country.

Aliyu added that there would be a repeat PCR test when they arrive in the country, adding that within 72 hours, they would be given appointment card and a place where they would go and do the test.

According to him, the tests would be done in Abuja and Lagos.

He said the returnees would be required to make their accommodation arrangements for 14 days.

Though they would have been tested before boarding the flight, which must be negative, they would be tested again upon arrival within 72 hours of landing to be sure they have not developed COVID-19.

They would supervised and monitored on regular basis everyday for the presence of symptoms that might require them to be taken into treatment if their result is positive. ''These changes will be in line with international practices and the country will be doing a lot more than other countries are doing at the moment. It is important that we get this process to work because we have more than 4,000 Nigerians outside the country.

"We need to smoothen it and make sure we bring home at least 1,000 Nigerians per week so that we clear the backlog over the next four weeks,'' Aliyu said, adding all the affected Nigerians are expected to register with the Nigerian missions in their countries of abode.

On his part, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said

the federal government would only open all schools when it was safe to do so.

He explained that he would not want to experiment with the children by sending them to schools when the protocols for safety have not yet been ratified.

The minister added that he had a meeting with the WAEC, NECO and NAPTEP yesterday on resumption, adding that they are looking at a time after the interstate ban is lifted as they would need the openness associated with the easing of the boundaries for the students to move.

He said the federal government had looked at the letter from WAEC in Ghana, WAEC in the Gambia which reopened schools yesterday.

He said the two examination bodies were participants on the WAEC platforms where the issue of timetable and subjects to be

offered were discussed.

UK Evacuates 17,000 Britons from Africa The United Kingdom has evacuated over 17,000 of its citizens in Nigeria and other African countries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was confirmed by the UK Consulate, which indicated that about 2,200 Britons were evacuated from Nigeria.

A statement from its website said charter flights to evacuate Britons from countries in Africa had flown over 150,000 miles, bringing people back from across six different time zones and enabling over 8,400 stranded travellers to return in addition to over 9,000.

This, the statement said, was facilitated by the Foreign Office, which helped the Britons to return on commercial flights.

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON APC TO DISQUALIFY OBASEKI FROM GOVERNORSHIP RACE on the eve of his inauguration following a judgment of the Supreme Court that voided his election.

A five-man panel of the court, led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, had overruled the declaration of Lyon along with his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, as winner of the governorship election.

It had upheld the November 12, 2019 judgement by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja which had disqualified Degi-Eremienyo in the election for submitting forged certificates with multiple names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Supreme Court had ordered INEC to issue fresh certificates to the candidates of the party with the next highest votes and with the required constitutional spread of votes in the results of the election, which are the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Among the inconsistencies cited in Obaseki's certificates are that his O/Level results showed that he has three credits but despite that he spent only three years to allegedly bagged a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, in 1976, without an A/Level result.

A/Levels are required for a three-year direct entry course in Nigerian universities. If you have O/Level credits in at least five subjects, then University of Ibadan and a indeed other universities required a mandatory four-year course. The question APC is dealing with include: could three O/Level credits/passes have given Obaseki admission into University of Ibadan as required by law? And if indeed, he got the admission, could he have graduated in three years instead of mandatory four years? Would APC not be facing another Bayelsa scenario when the NWC was blamed for fielding a candidate with a dubious certificate?

Besides, there's a discrepancy in his degree certificate and that of another governorship aspirant, Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, who graduated the same year in University of Ibadan with a Postgraduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering.

In a petition to the Chairman of the Screening Committee for Edo State Gubernatorial Election, some concerned members of APC in the state, Mr. Edobor Williams, Ugbesia Godwin and Amedu Anakhu, warned that the party would be risking another Bayelsa scenario if Obaseki is not disqualified.

In the petition, they said their action was borne out of their passion for APC's success in the forthcoming governorship

election in the state.

In the petition, dated June 8, 2020 and entitled: ‘Petition For The Disqualification of Godwin Obaseki from Participating in the Gubernatorial Primary Election For Edo State, signed on their behalf by their lawyer, Mr. Chisimdi Chima, the petitioners said their findings after a thorough checks on the governor's background revealed that in 2016, he submitted a false affidavit to INEC to aid his qualification for the then governorship election.

According to them, PDP, which had suspected foul play over the documents submitted to INEC, had approached an Abuja High Court for a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the affidavit of loss of document Obaseki had presented in his form CF 001 to INEC in 2016.

The petitioners said in response to PDP's request, the Abuja High Court denied issuing any affidavit to the governor.

Based on the above, the petitioners stated that the letter of the court to PDP dated September 28, 2016, "clearly established the element of false affidavit on the part of Godwin Obaseki, which makes him disqualified."

The petitioners added: "Any political party that fields such a disqualified candidate would be fined under section 31(8) of the Electoral Act." The trio said they wanted Obaseki investigated for allegedly falsifying a public document and submitting same to INEC for official use following the governor's interest in participating in the forthcoming governorship election.

They also called for Obaseki to be investigated over his alleged academic qualifications, which he submitted to INEC in 2016.

They said: "The problem with Obaseki educational history is that it appears fraudulent as no explanation has been reasonably offered why a four-year academic progamme was completed in three years against the established course requirement for the completion of a degree programme in Classical Studies."

According to them, the governor claimed that he obtained a degree in Classical Studies from the University of Ibadan in three years after gaining admission from Eghosa Grammar School with only three credit pass in his Ordinary Level certificate.

"It is indeed very questionable when one imagines how Mr. Obaseki secured the admission into University of Ibadan with just three credit pass in his ordinary level certificate at a time when the educational system was purely on merit," they stated.

While they noted that the

three-year degree programme was, and is still applicable to only students with Advanced Level certificate/Diploma/ National Certificate of Education, they said the governor never showed that he possessed an A’Level certificate to qualify for a three-year programme.

They therefore prayed the screening committee to disqualify Obaseki for alleged falsehood.

Attached to the petition include copies of the sworn affidavit dated June 7, 2016, letter from Chief Ferdinand Orbih SAN, September 2, 2016, letter from the FCT High Court, dated October 28, 2016, Form CF 001 submitted to INEC on July 12, 2016 and University of Ibadan revised/ new requirements for U.T.M.E and direct entry.

The petitioners also compared Obaseki’s University of Ibadan certificate with that of Ogiemwonyi, who graduated from the school the same year – 1976, saying there are conspicuous differences.

They noted that while Obaseki’s certificate was signed by just the vice chancellor, Ogiemwonyi’s was signed by both the vice chancellor and the registrar of the institution.

The petitioners are already before the Federal High Court in Abuja, to contest the genuineness of the governor's credentials.

APC Begins Screening, Display Aspirants' Credentials The party yesterday began the screening of six governorship aspirants vying for its ticket.

The party heralded the screening with the display of the credentials of all the governorship aspirants at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja for public scrutiny.

APC said the publication of the credentials of the aspirants was to allow the public participate in the screening as a way of saving the party the type of embarrassment it faced in Bayelsa State where it was denied the fruit of its electoral victory in that state's governorship election.

Defending the publication of the aspirants' credentials, the party said the step was necessary to avoid the 'unpalatable' experienced it had in Bayesla State.

Besides, Obaseki and Ogiemwonyi, others whose credentials were displayed were Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Hon. Osaro Obaze, Mr. Iduoriyekemwen Matthew and Dr. Pius Odubu.

According to the details provided by Obaseki, he wrote his West African Examination Council (WAEC) in June 1973 and he had three credits in Christian Religious

Knowledge - C6; History - A3; and Geography - C6; while he also had passes in English - 7; Literature - 7 and Chemistry - 8.

However, the governor presented a "To Whom it May Concern" for his Higher School Certificate (HSC) from Institute of Continuing Education Centre, Benin in 1975; while he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979 from University of Ibadan. He was born in 1957.

Also, the details provided

by Ize-Iyamu revealed that he obtained his WAEC in 1979 with credits and one pass. The details of his WAEC result showed that in English, he scored C4; Literature - C4, History - C4, Mathematics - A3, Chemistry - P7, Biology - A3 and Economics - C4.

He also obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from University of Benin in 1986 and he was called to bar in 1987 and served in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) between 1987 and 1988.

The details of Ogiemwonyi's credentials revealed that he obtained WAEC in 1969 and had seven credits and one pass.

He also obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Benin 1974, and served in the NYSC between 1974 and 1975. He further obtained Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering in 1976 from University of Ibadan. He was born in 1951.

Obazee's credentials showed that he obtained his WAEC in 1992 with five credits and three passes.

He equally obtained Bachelor of Science degree from University of Benin in 1999 and a Master of Public Administration in 2012 from the same university. He served between 2000 and 2002. He was born in 1970.

On his part, Matthew's details showed that he obtained his WAEC in 1985 with six credits and one pass.

He also obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Benin in 1991and served between 1991 and 1992.

He was born in 1966.

Odubu's details revealed that he obtained his WAEC certificate in 1974, and had seven credits and one pass.

He attended Southern University, Baton, Louisiana in the USA, where he obtained a degree in 1980 (BA Hons) and also obtained a degree in Law from the same university in 1983.

He obtained a Master’s degree from Georgetown University Law Centre, Washington in 1985. He also attended the Nigerian Law School in 1986 preparatory to his call to the bar. He was born in 1957.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam

Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the party published the credentials of the aspirants to avoid the bitter experience it had in Bayelsa State.

He stated: "You know that it had been said that experience is the best teacher. We've had experiences that are not so palatable. We have had experiences that are so shocking and we won't be doing the right thing if we don't learn from those experiences.

"You will recall what happened in Bayelsa State.

We thought we did the best we should, but it turned out that we did not do enough. So, the best thing we have to do now is to go beyond ourselves to the things that may not be known to us."

He added that besides the fact that the party had published the credentials for anyone with information to help the screening committee, it's equally taking official steps to verify some of the documents to be sure that the right thing is done.

Asked if the party is contacting the institutions as claimed, he said: "By mere putting it on the board here, making it transparent, putting it before the public, it does mean that people who know them very well; school mates, acquaintances, friends and even enemies could come up with whatever they have. We are expecting help from whatever angle it could come from."

Issa-Onilu noted that all the party was interested in was to ensure transparency, adding that the ruling party would comply with its own constitution, the Electoral Act, as well as the constitution of the country.

Issa-Onilu, however, explained that there was no need for the party to call for an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to resolve the crisis between the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and Obaseki, saying there's only contestations of interests and not crisis.

"There is nothing strange in what is going on in Edo. What is important is that at the end of the day, whether the national chairman, whether governor, everybody is subjected to the same rule," he added.

Court Adjourns Suit Seeking to Stop Direct Primary The Federal High Court, sitting in Benin City, yesterday adjourned sitting in a suit seeking to restrain NWC of APC from using direct primary to select its candidate in the governorship primary slated for June 22.

Adjourning hearing in the suit till Thursday, Justice M.G. Umar said all parties in the suit must not do anything contrary

to the procedure and hearing of the suit.

He also directed parties to file all papers and exchange same within two days.

The suit was filed by the factional State Deputy Chairman of APC, Mr. Kenneth Asemokhai, and a governorship aspirant of the party, Matthew.

The two party chieftains had approached the court seeking to restrain APC from adopting the direct primary, citing COVID-19 and 2018 APC National Executive Council (NEC) resolution as the grounds for their action.

According to the plaintiffs, who were represented by Ken Mozia (SAN) and John Odubela (SAN), APC Constitution provides that the states should suggest mode of primaries to NWC, adding that they have suggested indirect primaries in which 4,000 delegates would participate with 500 delegates representing each ward.

14 Lawmakers-elect Await Lalong Peace Committee The leader of the 14 lawmakerselect in Edo State, Hon. Washington Osifo, has said the reconciliation committee set up by the governor has not reached out to them formally.

Obaseki had constituted the committee last week to resolve the almost one-year-old crisis in the state House of Assembly.

He named the Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Senator Ehigie Uzamere as members of the committees.

Osifo, while speaking with THISDAY yesterday, said the committee was the right thing to do after about a year since the crisis begun. “That is the best thing to do and this is what we have been asking for since the last one year. Don't forget at about June 17 last year, the nocturnal inauguration was done and we were shut out.

And between then and now, we have been asking that the governor should respect our rights and the rights given to us by our people to go and represent them, so that we can be sworn in.

"So, if after one year, he has seen the need to do the needful, then that is the best thing to do. We are not against it, we are for it, we accept because we have been asking for it and we thank God he has realised that is the right thing to do," he said.

Osifo noted that while a statement from the governor stated that the committee would begin work immediately, he said no invitation had been extended to them.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2020

10

POLITICS

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

In Nasarawa, It’s OneYear of Flagging-off Projects Igbawase Ukumba reports that in Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule flagged-off projects construction to mark his one year in office.

G

overnor Abdullahi Sule received the mantle of leadership as the 4th elected governor of Nasarawa State on May 29, 2019 amidst high expectations from the people. The economy of the state and the overall wellbeing of the people was the main thrust of his campaign. He has spent the first year of his four year term.

Although it is difficult to say if one year is enough or not for him to do anything substantial to address the challenges confronting the state’s economy and the wellbeing of the people, given his experience and what he was exposed to by his predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, one year was enough to understand the direction and aspiration of his administration.

Considering his background, exposure and wealth of experience in the private sector as well as his numerous attempts to govern the state in the past, the expection on him to, at least, deliver a greater good to a greater majority of the people was justifiable. More so, given the foundation that his predecessors had built and what they exposed him to, the least the people expected of him was to exceed all expectations.

In his inaugural address, Sule pledged to focus on Security, Power, Education, Healthcare, Business and Industries, Economy and Agriculture.

Other areas of focus according to him include infrastractural and rural development, Youths and Women, traditional institutions as well as civil service and labour relations.

This was even as he declared that he would give priority to completing projects left by his immediate predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, rather than embarking on new projects. Abandoning such projects, he said, would not augur well for the state.

Some of the uncompleted projects left by his predecessor included Kilema - Shinge road, Lafia International Cargo Airport, General Hospital - B.A.D road, Agyaregun Tofa road, Kwandare - Keffi road, Fertilizer Blending Company, among others.

However, the heartrending result is that one year later, there are mixed feelings among residents and indigenes of the state on the development efforts of Governor Sule. Many thought that the election of Sule in 2019 would have changed a lot of things in the first few months.

To many in the state, the policy direction and focus of Governor Sule’s administration is still unclear to the people of the state. This, no doubt, earned the governor names like “One Tenure Governor.” Such pessimists believe that Sule is unable to complete some laudable projects embarked upon by his immediate predecessor, Senator Al-Makura.

However, Sule at a meeting with the media to mark his first year in office revealed that if he had inherited much funds from the previous administration, he would have performed better.

Sule, while responding to a question on how much he inherited from the previous administration said, “That would have really been the ideal question for the last administration. But I will tell you one thing, if I had taken a lot of money, I would have done a lot of things.

But the people who handed over to me, I think some of them are still here as commissioners, so you can ask them.”

On allegations being thrown at him in public places by most that they were dissatisfied with his performance so far that he would only be in the government house for one term, Governor Sule responded by expressing joy, whike praising God for giving him the privilege to serve his state, as Governor for a four year single term.

“What a rare opportunity given to me by Allah the Merciful to serve in this capacity for a single term. I am indeed very grateful,” he maintained, making light of the situation.

In fairness to Sule, if not for the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, the Nasarawa state government had planned to celebrate the one year anniversary in office of the Governor Sule in an elaborate manner in

Sule

order to show case the giant strides recorded within the year. In accordance with the dictate of the times, the first anniversary of the Sule administration was low-key.

The deputy governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, disclosed at a press briefing in Lafia that, “it was customary to celebrate the one year anniversary in office of the governor in an elaborate manner in order to show case the giant strides recorded within the year. But the state has decided to celebrate it in low key due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak which will not permit an elaborate celebration. In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, government intends to undergo some activities order to show case to the world our modest achievements in the past 12 months.”

Consequently, Governor, Abdulahi Sule performed the ground breaking ceremonies for the construction of the 25km MararrabaUdege feeder road, as well as the Keffi Square/ Neighbourhood Market, all valued at N3.6bn and N1.6bn respectively as part of activities marking his one year in office.

Performing the ground breaking ceremony for the feeder road in Mararraba Udege, in Nasarawa Local Government Area, the governor said with the area endowed with lots of minerals, vast potentials for agriculture, as well as tourism potentials, the project was expected to provide enabling environment for harnessing these endowments, for socio-economic benefit of the communities along the axis, the state and indeed Nigeria as a whole.

Sule recalled when performing the ground breaking ceremony of the road project that

his administration made elaborate provision in the 2020 budget for the construction of a number of roads across the state, in line with the government’s policy of creating interconnectivity in rural communities for economic activities and empowerment of the people.

He pointed out that the Mararraba - Udege 25 km stretch, was the second major project to be undertaken by his administration, with the other one being the 15km Sisin Baki - Farin Ruwa road awarded last year.

According to the Governor, “the Mararraba - Udege road project, awarded to the Messrs Tonghyi Group Limited, a Chinese firm, at a total cost of N3.6 billion, is expected to be completed within a period of 12 months. The road which runs for a 25km stretch with a one hour port to Odu, has the following features: pipe and box culvert, drainage channels, bridge, double coat 7.3m surface dressed pavement and single coat 1.5m surface dressed shoulders on both sides.”

Performing similar ceremony at the site for the construction of the Keffi Square/Neighbourhood Market at the location of the Old Keffi market, in Keffi Local Government Area of the state, Sule described the day as special for not only fulfilling his campaign promise to the people, but making a dream come true.

The governor pointed out that the project was aimed at upgrading the market for enhanced economic activities.

“It’s against this background therefore, that we conceived the idea of developing the Keffi market into a neighbourhood market and also a square, so that we can release the palace of

On allegations being thrown at him in public places by most that they were dissatisfied with his performance so far that he would only be in the government house for one term, Governor Sule responded by expressing joy, whike praising God for giving him the privilege to serve his state, as Governor for a four year single term. What a rare opportunity given to me by Allah the Merciful to serve in this capacity for a single term. I am indeed very grateful,” he maintained, making light of the situation

our royal father as venue for most events. The Keffi Neighbourhood market is designed to be a model market with modern facilities and infrastructure and that when completed, will comprise of 561 locked-up retail and wholesale shops, open traditional shops and covered walkways,” the governor said.

He added that the project was geared towards transforming the economy of the state, which will enhance the internal revenue generation of the state and Keffi Local Government Area.

In the same vein, the governor equally performed a ground breaking ceremony of the 350-capacity Lafia Modern Bus Terminal in Bukkan Sidi area. Flagging-off construction of the 350-capacity modern bus terminal in Lafia, the state capital, Sule recalled the commitment of his administration to build modern bus terminals across the three senatorial districts of the state, noting that the provision of infrastructure was a veritable tool for enhancing development, particularly in the transport sector, adding that the sector, with adequate facilities, was capable of spurring socio-economic development in the society.

“It’s in this connection that it became absolutely necessary to develop modern transport infrastructure, in order to unravel the potentials of this important sector. It has become necessary to build much desired infrastructure for an ordered city like Lafia, in order to enhanced development, which will further complement the status of the state capital. Lafia metropolis is faced with several inadequate infrastructure with attendant increase cost of doing business, which results in lower returns on investment, fewer jobs and less productive labour with attendant negative effects on our economy,” he explained.

He added that government was committed to bringing about infrastructural development aimed at improving the standard of living of the people and also as a wealth, job creating opportunities for the socio-economic development of the state. Sule further disclosed that that explained the resolve of his administration to build modern bus terminals in Karu and Lafia, with plans concluded to construct two other smaller terminals in Akwanga and Keffi.

“The development is critical to the success of the mass transit service delivery, as every terminal will promote good culture of passengers embarking on a journey and arriving at their destinations successfully. Lafia is strategically located as a state capital, as well as its advantage in linking major cities of Benue State and the entire southern part of the country,” he stated.

Giving a graphic picture of the project, Project Consultant for the Lafia Bus Terminal, Architect Shehu Tukur, disclosed that the Bukkan Sidi Bus Terminal will be erected on a 2.7 hectares of land, which will accommodate about 350 vehicles at a time. Tukur added that the facility will comprise a terminal building, drivers lounge, public toilets, a petrol station, service yard, restaurants and ATM points, among others.

Findings by THISDAY revealed that the project, which was awarded at the cost of N1.2billion, was expected to be completed in 40 weeks time.

While delivering a state-wide broadcast in commemoration of the first anniversary of his administration, the governor stressed the resolve of his administration to diligently and selflessly serve the people, through deliberate policies by executing programmes that will bring development to all the nook and cranny of the state.

According to him, “my administration is committed to the continuous upgrade of physical structures, particularly roads, upliftment of educational standard, enhancing agriculture, upgrading of health sector and market facilities, as well as other social services.”

He however noted that the journey has not been all rosy as the administration has had its own share of daunting challenges.

“As you are aware, Nasarawa State is among the least in the revenue allocation chart. I want to caution that there is yet a long way to go,” Sule concluded.

T H I S D AY ˞ ͡, 2020

11

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

Army 38: Four Years in Limbo With six court judgments and National Assembly resolutions ordering their reinstatements, the 38 senior officers whose careers the Nigerian Army arbitrarily truncated in 2016, are still in limbo waiting for justice, Davidson Iriekpen writes

F

or those following developments in Nigerian Army, today makes it exactly four years since it compulsorily retired 38 of its senior officers and truncating their careers without justification.

At the point when the action was taken, Nigerians were informed by its former spokesman, Brig. Gen SK Usman, that the officers were compulsorily retired on “disciplinary grounds, serious offences�.

Even the then Minister of Defence, Brig.

Gen Mansur Dan-Alli (rtd) and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, corroborated the statement of Usman, alleging further that due process and fair hearing were granted to all the 38 officers, implying that they were found guilty.

Specifically, Buratai said: “It took us painstaking procedure to ensure we did not pick innocent ones. We started with one inquiry from One Division General Officer Commanding (GOC) to the other. After that, we subjected it to legal review. “After the legal review, we forwarded our recommendations to higher authorities for consideration. So, it took us time; we have our own process also; our administrative process dovetailing into legal review and so on.�

However, it did not take long for Nigerians to know that none of the 38 officers were found guilty of any offence, and were never charged, tried or found guilty, let alone even appear before any court martial.

Several of the officers who felt the Army breached its extant rules and regulations in carrying out the retirements took their grievances to court to clear their names.

This was after they appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari for his intervention and reinstatement, but their appeals did not see the light of day, as till now there has been no response from the presidency or the army.

Six of the officers have won their cases in court and have obtained judgments ordering their reinstatements into the Nigerian Army.

The officers who have obtained judgments against the army are, Maj Gen Ijioma, Cols Hassan and Suleiman as well as Lt Cols Arigbe, Dazang and Mohammed. In the first half of this year alone the army lost four of these cases. Added to these six, are another two officers who obtained National Assembly resolutions ordering their reinstatements representing some 20 per cent of the 38 officers.

Curiously, Buratai has refused to comply with both the court judgments and the resolutions. This has led to serious questions about the Army’s desire to adhere to the rule of law.

In delivering his judgment on February 5, 2020 in Col M. A. Sulaiman v Nigerian Army and ORS. Justice Sanusi Kado corroborated the officers by stating that: “The compulsory retirement of the claimant (Col MA Sulaiman), is hereby declared null and void and of no effect whatsoever, as it was not done in line with the extant rules and regulations.� This has been the pattern in the cases that have been concluded.

In fact, in a society where the rule of law is supreme and strictly adhered to, the plethora of losses the Nigerian Army has suffered would have caused a judicial review of the retirements. This has not been the case as sources close to Army authorities revealed that they have sworn “with their last blood� never to revisit the retirements while they remain at the helm of affairs of the Army as that would be an admission that they lied against the 38 officers.

For many observers, there are several unanswered questions for Buratai. Firstly, what manner of due process was followed by the supposedly highly professional Nigerian Army that 38 senior officers were retired without being found guilty of an offence? When and where, were all the officers charged, tried, and

CDS General Olonisakin

COAS, Lt. General Tukur Buratai (middle)

President Buhari found guilty? Is there any evidence of the dates and times of the Court Martial sittings?

Were the officers granted fair hearing? What is the status of the appeals of these officers to Mr. President? Lastly, when will Buratai and the Nigerian Army comply with the rule of law and obey the court judgments?

The above questions are significant because in 2016 the Army leadership under Buratai, reinstated Maj-Gen Ahmadu Mohammed after his appeal was reviewed by Mr. President.

Mohammed, it would be recalled was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 7 Division in 2014 when his troops mutinied and fired at his vehicle. The soldiers accused him of dereliction of duty and sending them to the battlefield with minimal logistic supports thereby leading to many deaths. The former GOC who is from Kano State, did not appeal his retirement within 30 days as stipulated by the conditions of service which according to Defence sources, was already a breach of the appeal process but this was ignored because the army headed by Buratai had an interest to ensure fairness and justice was served. Mohmmmed instead, waited for the outcome of the 2015 general election as well as the removal of the previous service chiefs.

As soon as President Buhari and Buratai came onboard, he was pronto, reinstated.

The issue is becoming embarrassing, as a judge in the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court recently granted an order of mandamus for the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin, to appear in court and produce evidence that the officers’ appeals were forwarded to the Presidency for review.

In Wing Commander Mshelia v. NAF & ANOR (2014) the Court of Appeal held: “The

Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) Armed Forces as a body, is supposed to be exemplary, in discipline, the world over. To violate the law and retire a member of that body in consequence is not an exhibition of discipline or exemplary conduct. To refuse to act in accordance with Section 178 of the Armed Forces Act 2004, and to continue to keep the appellant in suspense, is an abuse of office, calculated at denying the appellant the right to seek redress in a court of law, and that is why the Public Officers Protection was invoked. The law does not give reprieve in such a situation. No one will be allowed on the one hand, to act in breach of the law in a high-handed manner, and on the other hand, seek the protection of the law. The courts will not open their doors to such unlawful acts and dereliction of duty, a duty imposed by law‌ As earlier opined, the Public Officers Protection Act is meant to shield public officers and bodies, lawfully and conscientiously carrying out their duties, within the scope of their authority, from attack. It is not meant to be used as a sword by public officers acting without good faith and in flagrant disobedience of the law, to attack and maim others, more so when those others, are members of the same family, engaged in the service and defence of our country.�

Despite the "locus classicus" judgment of the Court of Appeal, the illegal and unjust retirements have continued under the Buratai-led army.

What perhaps is most shocking to many is the conspiracy of silence between the Defence and Army leadership as well as the presidency on this matter. It appears they are indeed aware of the perverse injustice meted out to these young men and are either

supportive of the actions of Buratai or are totally indifferent.

The president has always lamented his own unjust treatment at the hands of others.

He noted at every given opportunity how he was prematurely retired and detained for several years.

This is why analysts believe that if he is a just man, he would have compelled the Nigerian Army to comply with the court orders or obey the rule of law in the unjust and illegal compulsory retirements of 38 senior army officers who were regarded as part of the brightest officers in the Force. The issue is one of several matters lingering on his table and requiring his urgent intervention. “It is worthy of note that justice demands condemnation of the wicked and guilty, while by respecting the country’s laws the people preserve the common good and sacrifices of the innocent. It is pertinent to ask, is our Army chief not honourable enough or does he not possess the moral courage to do the right thing and correct the injustice he has dealt out to his own officers?� asked one of the analysts who did not want his name in print.

Efforts by THISDAY to reach the Defence spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu and Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, on whether the lingering issues proved abortive.

But a source close the Army said the decision on whether the officers would ever be reinstated lies squarely with the Chief of Army Staff, General Buratai. “Unfortunately, it is only the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai, that can answer that question. There is no other person that can answer that please,� the source said.

12

IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˞ ͡, 2020

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

Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief Edward Onoja (left), addressing the Yagba East people during his condolence visit over the death of Police oďŹƒcers that lost their lives in the bank robbery in lsanlu, Kogi State... recently

L-R: Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu and Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha during his inspection visit to the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, at Gaduwa in Abuja...recently

L-R: Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; Deputy Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Ogbere; and the President of the State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Daniel Ayah, during the Democracy Day Thanksgiving Service, held at King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa‌ recently

L-R: An oďŹƒcial of Immobiliare Construction Limited, Mr Abib Sadiq; Ekiti State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr Sola Adebayo; Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment, Akin Oyebode; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; and Special Adviser on Road, Transport and Infrastructure, Hon Sunday Adunmo; during the Governor’s inspection of on going Agbado-Ode road project in Ekiti State...recently

Minister of Humanitarian Aairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq (middle), Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa (right) and a beneďŹ ciary, during the distribution of 554,670 bags of 50kg fertilizers approved by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to farmers under the Agricultural Intervention programme for farmers aected by ood, in Jigawa...recently

National Orientation Agency (NOA) community mobilization and enlightenment oďŹƒcer addressing residents over the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, in Jibia, Katsina State...recently

L-R: Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Political Matters, Edo-South, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Chief of Sta, Osaze Uzamere; Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Oredo Local Government Area, Mr. Godwill Alabi, during the governor’s Thank You tour to principal oďŹƒcers and ward leaders in Oredo Local Government Area (LGA)...recently

R-L: Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo; Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Alabi during the commissioning of vehicles for Osun State Judges, at the Government House, Osogbo...recently

TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

13

NEWS

Finally, FG Arraigns Suspected Taraba Kidnap Kingpin, Wadume, Six Others Accused military accomplices left out

Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government yesterday finally arraigned a suspected kidnap kingpin in Taraba State, Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on charges of terrorism.

The arraignment came barely few days after the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice took over prosecution of the case from the police.

Wadume was arrested by the police in August last year for alleged kidnapping.

His arrest, earlier, had led to the killing of three policemen and a civilian in Taraba State with some military officers accused of aiding him.

Attempts by the police to arraign the defendants since February had not been successful owing to the alleged refusal of the military authorities to release other defendants who are military personnel in the 16-count criminal charge.

However, the AGF finally succeeded yesterday after amending the charges to 13 and bordering on “terrorism, kidnapping, continual to detain and collection of a ransom of N106million.”

The AGF also reduced the defendants to seven from the initial 20.

Those arraigned alongside Wadume include: (a police inspector), Aliyu Dadje, Auwalu Bala (aka Omo Razor), Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu) Bashir Wazlri (aka

Baba Runs), Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho) and Rayyanu Abdul.

Left out were the suspected military accomplices, led by Captain Tijani Balarabe, attached to the 93 Battalion, Takum, who were accused of freeing Wadume and allegedly killed some members of the police team who had arrested him.

Apart from Balarabe, other soldiers accused of being Wadume’s associates were David Isaiah, a staff sergeant; Ibrahim Mohammed, a sergeant; Bartholomew Obanye, a corporal; Mohammed Nura, a private; Okorozie Gideon, a lance corporal; Markus Michael and Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra,

both lance corporals; Abdullahi Adamu, a staff sergeant and Ebele Emmanuel, a staff sergeant.

At the arraignment yesterday, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them following which Wadume’s lawyer, Mr. T. Dangana, informed the court that he has a pending bail application for

his client.

He told the court that the first defendant is critically ill and coughs out blood.

But the prosecution lawyer, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, objected to the bail application on the grounds that it cannot stand because it is premised on the previous charge.

Police Sergeant Kills Inspector in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi Police Sergeant Okema Azuquo, on Monday killed a superior officer, Inspector Adekunle Ilesanmi, who tried to defend their co-tenants, all civilians, from his ire.

Azuquo was said to have gone on rampage at their residence at No 8. Dosumu Street Agbelekale Oke-odo area of Lagos when he tried to butcher his co-tenants over a misunderstanding.

Ilesanmi, as a senior policeman, had tried to intervene but his pleas fell on deaf ears as Azuquo angrily butchered him for saving other co-tenants from his machete.

THISDAY gathered that it took the intervention of the Oke-odo Police Station before he was disarmed and the inspector and another tenant, one Ayodele Eyitayo, were rushed to the hospital.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, said

the case has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.

He said: “The CP Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu pays tribute to police inspector who sustained deep cuts and died while preventing an unruly sergeant from killing co-tenants.

“One Azees Adebayo reported at Oke-Odo Police Station that one Sergeant Okema Azuquo, a tenant in the same house returned home and engaged other tenants in a fight.

“That he inflicted matchet cuts on one Inspector Adekunle Ilesanmi, who is also a tenant in the house and was trying to stop the sergeant from harming other civilian tenants. “ Ayodele Eyitayo, a tenant in the house sustained minor injury on his face. A team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer was promptly deployed to the scene.

Nomination for WTO DG Closes July 8 Obinna Chima The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has disclosed that the nomination period for the position of its Director General closes on July 8, 2020.

The global trade body stated this in a statement yesterday, which announced Mexico’s nomination of Mr Jesús Seade Kuri for the position.

According to, “the timetable announced by the Chair of the General Council, WTO, David Walker, the nomination period will close on 8 July 2020.

“Shortly after the nomination period has closed, candidates will be invited to meet with members at a special General Council meeting, present their views and take questions from the membership.”

Kuri is to compete with other candidates for the position, as they aim to succeed the current DirectorGeneral, Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, who has announced he will step

down on 31 August 2020.

President Muhammadu Buhari last week approved the nomination of Nigeria’s former two-term Minister of Finance and former Managing Director (Operations) of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the position.

Nigeria also withdrew the candidacy of Yonov Frederick Agah, Nigeria’s permanent representative to WTO, for the same position.

The document had stated: “The embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and permanent mission to the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) presents compliments to all embassies and permanent missions in Addis Ababa and has the honour to inform that the Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the candidacy of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah for election to the position of Director-General of the WTO.

ENFORCING NEW PROTOCOLS...

L-R: Executive Director, Cleen Foundation, Dr. Benson Olugbuo; Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Operations, Abdulmajid Ali; Stabilisation Adviser, British High Commission, Mr. John Sanderson; Chairman, Police Press Corps, Mr. Sam Ogbeifun; and Inspector General of Police, (IG), Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, during the official presentation of the enforcement of COVID-19 operational guidelines for the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agencies at the Force Headquarters in Abuja… yesterday KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

Buratai: Military Killed 1,429 Boko Haram Insurgents in Two Months The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has disclosed that the military fighting insurgency in the north-east killed 1,429 Boko Haram insurgents and arrested 166 informants of the group in two months.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Buratai said there have been “tremendous” achievements in the fight against the insurgents.

The army chief expressed the hope that the security situation

in the north-east would continue to improve.

“The troops are putting in their best and that has resulted in the tremendous successes we are recording,” he said.

“The fight is still ongoing and over 1,429 of this Boko Haram terrorists have been neutralised and we have arrested over 166 Boko haram terrorists informants, their spies, couriers on logistics and their coordinators in the villages, the towns and even the forest.

“So, this is a tremendous

achievement, our intelligence corps along with the Department of State Services and of course our good friends the civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have worked very hard to see that this is achieved and I assure you that things will continue to improve as the days go by.”

Buratai said the focus of the army is not only on the northeast but also on other parts of the country experiencing insecurity.

“So with this brief that I gave

him (president) this morning, is further confirmation of what he has been receiving and so far, so good, he is impressed with the performance of the troops in the north-east and the effort put in so far has paid off,” the army chief said.

“We will continue to deal with the situation, not only in the north-east but all other parts of the country.”

Buratai praised the effort of the soldiers in making sure that the country is safe.

N150, 000 Bounty Placed on Man Who Raped Minor in Benue George Okoh in Makurdi A N150, 000 bounty has been placed on a man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in Otada, Otukpo Local Area of Benue State The bounty was placed by a member of the House of Representative representing Otukpo/ Ohimini federal constituency, Hon Blessing Onuh, and a group, One Idoma Initiative(OII) According to a social activist, Julie Okoh, the alleged rapist, an All Progressive Grand Alliance

(APGA) Secretary in Otukpo, Eddy Ujah, had raped the 15-year-old girl simply identified as Ene and had since fled the town.

According to Okoh, “The House of Representatives member, Onuh, has kicked against the incident and placed a bounty of N50,000 on whoever finds the man.

“Also, a group, OII, has placed a N100,000 bounty on him. The state police commissioner, the Inspector General of Police (IG) and National Police Officers’ Wives Association (NPOWA)

are all working to ensure that the man is arrested.”

The activist said the raped girl is on admission at the General Hospital Otukpo where she is recuperating.

Narrating her ordeal, Ene said she was returning from where she had gone to process cassava around 10 a.m. that fateful day when Eddy Ujab grabbed her from the road.

“Because the road is connected and is close to his house, so he was coming outside easily, and

met me and grabbed me, kicking me into his room.

“He locked the door and started beating me. After that he went to the back door and locked it and switched on his phone music and connected it to a speaker and made it so loud that when I was shouting nobody could hear me.

“After beating me, he dragged me to his bedroom and raped me.

So, I told him that if he does not repent, that God would judge him and God will punish him for his sins against others.

Ekiti Assembly to Invite Fayemi over Alleged Embezzlement of Funds Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The sixth Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday celebrated one year of its inauguration, disclosing that the Assembly will invite former state Governor, Ayodele Fayemi, at the appropriate time to make clarifications on some financial dealings he undertook during his reign in the state.

The Assembly clarified that a committee has been set up to discuss issue of invitation to

Fayose, and that the summon will be extended to the former governor at the right time.

Invitation to Fayose on the passage of N10 billion supplementary budget 30 days to his exit on October 15, 2018, was discussed in the Assembly last year, which prompted the former governor to storm the Assembly complex uninvited in December 2019 to clarify issues, but he was resisted.

The Assembly also disclosed that

the All Progressives Congress (APC) dominated legislature has passed 19 out of the 25 bills presented before it by the executive in the last one year.

As part of the activities marking the celebration, the Assembly passed a motion mandating the executive to rename Ekiti State Civic Centre under construction as John Kayode Fayemi Cultural Centre to honour the governor for his unwavering dedication to serve the Ekiti people.

The motion was moved by the lawmaker representing Moba 1, Hon. Adeyemi Ajibade, and seconded by his colleague from Ikole II, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, and adopted by the whole Assembly.

The Assembly was inaugurated

by Fayemi on June 6, 2019, after which the lawmakers elected Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, representing Ikere constituency 1, and Hon. Hakeem Jamiu of Irepodun/ Ifelodun constituency II, as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

14

T H I S D AY TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2020

COMMENT

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

PANDEMIC OF DOMESTICVIOLENCE ALONGSIDE COVID-19 Patricia Scotland writes about the urgent need to protect women and girls who are being abused and even killed in their homes

W

aking up to screams, thuds, angry shouting and the sickening sound of someone crashing into a wall, a table, a door. This is the cruel reality of many children and young people across our Commonwealth.

As economies, institutions and social welfare sectors continue to buckle under the strain of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic crisis, there is a dangerous escalation in the risk to the millions of people caught in the clutches of domestic and gender-based violence.

Emerging evidence on the impact of essential lockdown measures and the economic fall out of the pandemic on gender-based and domestic violence, paints a frightening picture.

The crisis has led to an alarming escalation of violence in the home, with women bearing the brunt of the frustration and anger. In some areas, there have been reports of women being prevented from seeing doctors, and female doctors being spat on while testing other women for COVID-19.

We are seeing surging numbers of emergency calls to helplines – with rises of anything between 25 and 300 per cent, dramatic increases in internet searches for support for those affected by domestic violence, and higher numbers of domestic homicides. These are extremely disturbing trends, which must not be ignored.

Experience teaches us that women tend often to be at a disadvantage during crises, epidemics and now this pandemic, and that domestic violence tends to increase. In West Africa, 60 per cent of total deaths in the 2014 Ebola outbreak were women. Following the Canterbury earthquake in New Zealand, there was a 53 per cent rise in domestic violence.

In many cases, this is because gender roles and harmful practices, including customs such as early and forced marriage, limit women’s access to health services. Women do three times as much unpaid care work at home compared to men and make up 70 per cent of workers in the health and social care sectors. They are squarely in the infection’s path.

During the present COVID-19 pandemic, mass school closures are tending to entrench learning gaps between girls and boys, and putting many more girls at risk of sexual exploitation, early pregnancy and early or forced marriage. They also mean that children are unable to report abuse to a trusted teacher. And with restrictions on home visits by police and health workers, violence shelters being converted into health facilities, and courts being forced to close, many victims may find themselves trapped and feeling abandoned. Mitigating the devastating impacts of this hidden pandemic of domestic violence requires strong and concerted action. So the Commonwealth Secretariat is working alongside partner organisations on measures which will help our 54 member countries to stem the rising tide of gender-based violence.

In meetings with counterpart organisations such as the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, the Pacific Island Forum, the Council of Europe and the Community of Spanish Language Countries, we have explored collaboration and mechanisms to ensure that women are at the centre of post-COVID recovery planning. We will work with our respective members to implement policy responses and interventions to safeguard victims and those at risk.

These discussions allowed us to share concerns and ideas conveyed by

VIOLENCE IN THE HOME IS ONE OF THE MOST PERVASIVE HUMAN RIGHTS CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME

our member governments, and to outline key considerations for the upcoming ministerial meetings being arranged by the Commonwealth.

It is clear, for example, that an important priority is the provision of basic healthcare to all individuals and communities free of charge at the point of delivery. All evidence points to a clear link between weak health systems and vulnerabilities to domestic violence. So urgent action needs to be taken to ensure that during this COVID-19 pandemic victims of abuse are able to access the healthcare they need, including mental health services. It is also key that post COVID-19 strategies include dedicated funding and support for micro, small and medium sized businesses and the informal sector, which are predominantly led by women - many of whom need the assurance of financial independence to escape from dangerous domestic situations.

I would lay particular emphasis on the importance at present of creating opportunities through virtual meetings and seminars for Commonwealth countries share knowledge, resources and experience on how best to navigate through the rapidly evolving processes and circumstances within which we now operate. It is encouraging, in this regard, that throughout the Commonwealth we already see evidence of renewed commitment and action to end violence against women and girls. Much is being done in our member countries to keep domestic violence refuges open during the outbreak. There are also examples of innovative partnerships with businesses and organisations to provide alternative locations for victims to use as shelters.

Some governments have been able to provide additional resourcing and funding to organisations supporting victims, so they can upscale operations and continue providing services in a safe manner. Other useful innovations such as virtual hearings and legal advice, are allowing survivors to continue to access justice.

What is clear from my meetings with officials and development leaders is the immense urgency of taking action to protect women and girls who are being abused, isolated, punched, kicked and even killed in their homes. Sadly, children living in violent homes not only witness violence but may themselves suffer abuse. Violence in the home is one of the most pervasive human rights challenges of our time. So, the Commonwealth collectively stands ready to bring the power of its advocacy and support to the planned UN Declaration on Women and COVID-19.

We are increasing our ongoing advocacy through a range of initiatives, including creating a strong economic case for addressing gender-based violence by identifying the significant economic costs if we fail to act. Research from the Commonwealth project, The Economic Cost of Violence against Women and Girls in The Seychelles, carried out in 2019 before the pandemic shows that gender-based violence leads to estimated costs of 4.625 per cent of GDP. We will also hold a virtual follow up session to the Women Affairs Ministerial Meeting that was held last September, to set out an action plan to support women and girls during the COVID-19 crisis, because we simply cannot allow victims of domestic abuse and gender-based violence to feel trapped and helpless during this hidden parallel pandemic.

Scotland is Commonwealth Secretary-General

SO FAR, SO GOOD

Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe is an agent of change, writes Gidado L. Ibrahim

T

he functional value of the maxim “greatest good of the greatest number” as described by the liberal British philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, will continue to generate interest when analyzing the role and impact of government or policymakers in the affairs of societies. This is especially so in a democracy where multitudes of the people elect leaders to govern and deliver on their manifestoes. In effect, such political leaders, in the noble thoughts of Bentham, are expected to make policies and programmes geared toward fostering as much wellbeing for as many people as possible.

They should necessarily honour their promises to the people as a matter of integrity and that itself underscores how effective political leadership is measured.

These are salient thoughts in evaluating the stewardship of Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State as he marks one year in office.

While campaigning in an election he eventually won overwhelmingly, the governor had promised to accord priority to areas like education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and human capital development.

One year after, it is heartening that Governor Yahaya has not only delivered on his promises but also shown through his outstanding leadership and vision that greater prosperity is on the way to better the lot of the people. From education to health, infrastructure, where construction of rural roads has been quite remarkable to water provision, rural electrification and empowerment, governance is becoming more and more meaningful compared with the past. Seriously, we can now see a paradigm shift which has the compelling signature of the governor in a methodical approach to governance,

strategic structure and passion for excellence.

Of course, education as a major concern has now been well repositioned in an upward trajectory to address accessibility and quality. The declaration of state of emergency in this critical sector by the governor at inception has led to far-reaching transformation with the concomitant gain in huge enrolment of out-of-school children, including the Almajiris, who are now in public schools. Girl-child education is also in upward swing, high scale provision of infrastructure is the order of the day and competent teachers are now in public schools across the state as a necessary reform. The education sector, I think, will likely be Yahaya’s finest legacy going by the commitment and tenacity of the administration to it and possible impact on the young generation as social capital.

Also, infrastructure as catalyst for development has so far got a boon via the various roads constructed linking strategic locations across the state. The “Network Eleven-Hundred” project targets the construction of 100 kilometres of road in each of the 11 local government areas of the state. This is significant as a means of opening up the rural communities thereby facilitating access and economic activities that will in the long run increase wealth of households. And there’s more to come as road construction will continue to enjoy the support of the government through proper financing. Indeed, more rural roads and intensified projects in rural development as the government has carried out are in the right direction when it is realized that about 80 per cent of the people live in rural communities.

The procurement of 50 brand new buses for the state’s transport company, Gombe Line, is another landmark initiative aimed at improving inter and intra states transportation.

Equally important was the completion of the Dadin-Kowa Hydro-power plant by the federal government which has capacity to generate 40 megawatts of electricity. The story behind this particular project is a classic study in leadership and shrewd appreciation of what really counts in the key inter-linked factors for development. The plant was first conceived in 1959 and neglected by successive administrations but Governor Yahaya could see the strategic value of the project now completed after 60 years when it was initiated. We have also seen more localities being connected to the national grid to enjoy electricity and improve socio-economic wellbeing of the people. One special attraction of the Dadin-Kowa hydro-plant is the good thinking behind the 1000-hectres industrial park leveraging on the facility and envisioned to ultimately create a cluster of industries with strong value chain that will create many jobs even with the associated economy of scale.

Looking ahead, the 30-year state infrastructural master plan will help to refocus this facet of development with history of huge deficit and enhance consistency in infrastructural provision which is a good idea. In addition, the 10-year Gombe State development plan which has a diversified base and orientation will further put the state on a steady growth through a coordinated and orderly development strategy. I also think the devotion of 55 per cent for capital budget and 45 per cent for recurrent expenditure in the 2020 budget is quite salutary.

Similar feat has also been recorded in the area of water provision to the people in Gombe township and environs which was a major campaign promise now delivered. This is one achievement that has gladdened the hearts of the people realizing that water scarcity has been a thorny issue in the state

for the past 20 years without solution because past governments either failed to make it a priority or just unwilling to tackle it.

Health care is not left out of the people-centred policies and programmes of the Yahaya administration. By instituting the Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and partnering with international donor/ development agencies, there is a deliberate effort to ensure healthcare is accessible to the people through adequate and sustainable funding which in particular serves the greater interest of the vulnerable ones.

Aside this, the introduction of the health insurance scheme in the state has further improved healthcare delivery. Also the preference heath enjoys in the current budget tells a fitting story of what should be major components of good governance. And from the various ongoing health projects and programmes, the various health infrastructure across the nooks and crannies of the state, not leaving out the vigorous and commendable handling of Covid-19 pandemic, Gombe is on a new pedestal in development.

Among other achievements of Governor Inuwa Yahaya in the last one year is empowerment of the people, particularly the youths who have been trained in skills acquisition and duly empowered.

Yet agriculture is well prioritized with clear-cut policies and incentives including timely provision of fertilizers and other inputs at subsidized rates while security is being tackled with the right funding and architecture.

Importantly, the Gombe Goes Green project is Yahaya’s answer to climate change where environmental challenges particularly desertification is getting the right attention. Interestingly, the project also has a twin effect of job creation which has benefited over 27,000 people.

Ibrahim wrote from Abuja

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2020

EDITORIAL THE KILLINGS IN CROSS RIVER This is the age of enlightenment. The killers should be brought to justice

T

he recent tragedy in Cross River State in which no fewer than a dozen persons were set ablaze over allegations of witchcraft is a sad reminder of how deep-rooted superstition has become in our country.

According to reports, a political appointee in the state, accompanied by some young men, stormed Oku community in Boki Local Government Area and set ablaze about 12 persons alleged to be witches and wizards. These innocent citizens were reportedly brought out of their homes and burnt alive. The survivors were also denied medical treatment following a threat by the leader of the killer gang that anyone who offered them medical attention would also suffer similar fate.

This callous act of unscrupulous men waking up from their beds in 21st century Nigeria, moving from house to house and carrying out blatant acts of murder without being challenged is totally unacceptable and must be duly punished. It is more disheartening that public officers could have the audacity to take laws into their hands, IT IS DISHEARTENING THAT condemn people to PUBLIC OFFICERS COULD death and carry out HAVE THE AUDACITY the execution. This TO TAKE LAWS INTO political appointee THEIR HANDS, CONDEMN was said to have been accompanied PEOPLE TO DEATH by some youths, one AND CARRY OUT THE of whom was said EXECUTION to be using a mirror to show who was a witch or wizard and had to be destroyed.

More disturbing is that cases like these have become prevalent in the South-south, particularly in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, where people have over the years cultivated the habit of unjustly accusing their neighbours of witchcraft after which they mete out jungle justice. We therefore challenge both Governor Ben Ayade and the Cross River State Police Commissioner to immediately fish out these

murderers and promptly bring them to justice. Only deliberate punishment for this callous act can serve as a deterrent to others.

H

T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, 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 HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA

owever, there is also a challenge that we must deal with. Given the nature of our society, people usually reduce things they don’t understand to ‘spiritual attacks’, ‘witchcraft,’ etc., and such labelling and embellishments often push them to seek false solutions. Leo Igwe, President of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfWA), who named the principal suspect in the tragic incident explained how “some traditional priests claim they can look into the occult world using a mirror to find answers and solutions to individual and community problems.” He added that these supposedly spiritually powerful persons are usually invited to point out witches and wizards and other evil persons in their families. “They usually place the mirror in front of any suspect or ask the person to look into it as they try to certify if the person is evil or not. These charlatans are hired and paid huge sums of money to come and identify witches and wizards.”

While we therefore condemn the Cross River State killings, there is also a need for a sustained sensitisation of Nigerians, especially in rural areas, on the dangers posed not only by jungle justice but also by a retrogressive belief system that has no regard for human lives. This tragic episode is a throwback to the primitive age when might was right and stronger personalities oppressed the weak and vulnerable in the society. We hope that the authorities in Cross River State will join hands with the security agencies to fish out the principal character in this most heinous crime and all his collaborators after which they must be brought to book for this depraved social behaviour.

In all, we strongly voice our opposition to the spate of indiscriminate killings. Nigerians should seriously work against any form of bestiality that portrays this nation in bad light before the international community. We are not a nation of sadists and savages.

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

NITDA And Its Virtual Academy

O

n Wednesday, April 26, 2020, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) launched its virtual academy for information technology. Over 14,000 active students nationwide were enrolled for 47 different courses across emerging technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and many more at the academy.

One of the interesting things about NITDA’s launch of the virtual academy is not about the virtual academy per se; it is not a new thing - the use of virtual teaching is rising worldwide. There are currently more than 4,700 colleges, institutions and universities that provide online courses to their students worldwide. NITDA’s launch of its virtual academy is a novelty - the agency has brought a new style in delivering its core mandates to foster the development and growth of Information Technology (IT) in Nigeria and ensure that the IT policy’s implementation proceeds with maximum effectiveness. The agency is also mandated to regulate, monitor, evaluate, and verify progress on an ongoing basis under the supervisor of the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy.

Other agencies of government can copy from NITDA’s style of bringing innovation, new ideas and going beyond organizational boundaries to create new things based on collective decision-making in delivering its core mandates. This has shown that MDAs can bring innovations in governance

while achieving their mandate flawlessly.

NITD’s virtual academy will assist young Nigerians to spend their time meaningfully and get trained on new technologies that will help create and shape the post-COVID era, including helping Nigeria and Nigerians to effectively work with the ‘new normal’ by devising new ways on how to cope with the impact of Covid-19 using ICT. NITDA’s initiatives to identify youths with innovative ideas, take them to innovation hubs, incubate and accelerate their ideas into a product or services through NITDA Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support Scheme will also have a positive impact on the Nigerian youths.

The conceptualization and launch of NITDA’s virtual academy has brought to fore the significance of creativity in the running of the government-owned agency, the effectiveness of support from the supervising federal ministries. NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Abdullahi, has exhibited innovativeness and new thinking, while the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Ali Isa Pantami has provided the needed leadership.

NITDA’s ability to seamlessly launched the virtual academy with over 14,000 active students nationwide was only possible because its leadership have developed synergy within and outside the agency, while its Director General, Kashifu Abdullahi has shown commitment and passion as well as inspires others.

Mr. Abdullahi, 39-year-old ICT expert, as Director-General

of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is a square peg in a square hole. In less than one year as NITDA’s DG, he has brought innovation, new style, and new thinking while hitting the target in delivering the agency’s core mandate. Well, Abdullahi, with education from ATBU, management and leadership training from Harvard University, Cambridge in the UK, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, etc., he is not new in achieving excellence and doing what ought to be done when saddled with a responsibility. In 2014 he was engaged by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as Technology Architect to develop Technology Architecture Repository (TAR) that gives a 360 view of the CBN’s IT infrastructure. He also laid a solid foundation for himself at Galaxy Backbone where he started as a Network Engineer and Solutions Architect, as well as IP Network Field Engineer, IP Operations Team, Senior Network & Lead and Senior Solution Architect between 2004 to 2013.

NITDA and its leadership should be applauded while its DG, in particular, should be encouraged to bring more innovations and new thinking in governance in the development of information technology in Nigeria. In fact, NITDA virtual academy should continually be developed and expanded to compete with the world’s best. If well-funded and remodeled, it can be among the foreign-exchange-spinners for Nigeria as we move towards the digital economy.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Jimteta, Adamawa State

TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Kogi Central, West Senatorial Districts Reject Court Judgment on Ownership of Ajaokuta, Others Ejiofor Alike The Ebira Peoples’ Association (EPA), Koton-Karfe Igu Descendants Association (KIDA) and Okun Development Association (ODA), all of Kogi Central and Kogi West senatorial districts of Kogi State, have rejected a recent court judgment ceding ownership of Ajaokuta, KotonKarfe and Oworo land to the Igala ethnic group in the state.

In a joint statement issued yesterday by the representatives of the umbrella bodies of the two senatorial zones, the two zones recalled that Kogi Central, Kogi East and Kogi West have managed to coexist peacefully since the creation of the state in 1991, in spite of what they described as “the dissatisfaction with some state practices by certain sections of the state from the very beginning.”

The zones noted that the peaceful coexistence received a boost recently following the shift of power away from the Kogi East for the first time since the

creation of the state and since the advent of democratic dispensation.

The statement was signed by the President General of EPA, Dr. Adeiza Musa Abdurahman; National President of KIDA, Hon Abdulkarim shuaibu; and National President of ODA, Mr. Femi Mokikan.

According to the joint statement, “the sustenance of this fragile peace is the responsibility of every citizen of the state, and much more so, of the leaders in government, in our royal Institutions, the judiciary, and other natural and professional bodies in the state”.

The two senatorial zones reaffirmed their highest respect for the courts of the land and other institutions of the judiciary, pledging not to impugn the integrity of the judiciary.

“While our focus here is not to assess the judicial processes that led to the historic judgment, we as the official umbrella organs of the peoples of Ajaokuta, Koton-Karfe and Lokoja (Oworo), the original,

natural, and historical owners and uninterrupted custodians of the land that is the subject of the judgment of the Federal High Court Lokoja, hereby declare our absolute rejection of the said court judgment and whatever it represents.

“We confirm that in accordance with the above rejection, steps are already being taken to appeal the judgment and we are confident that in the end the cause of justice will be served.

“We feel pained that in an era when the rest of the world is thinking of how to make life more meaningful and worth living for their people, what we are

being invited to deal with here is some outdated expansionist and imperialistic tendencies.

“We however note very strongly that the initiation of the court case in the first instance was illconceived, ill-advised, provocative and without consideration for the fragile peace of the State,” the statement explained.

Kogi Central and West senatorial zones argued that the steps taken that led to this judgment and the judgment itself have further deepen the mutual suspicion and mistrust that had existed among the various blocks in the state.

According to them, this mutual

suspicion has held the people of the state back in development.

The two zones recalled that it was only last year that the people of the state decided to confront the mutual suspicion, which led to the coming together of the umbrella associations of the three senatorial districts that make up the state for the first time in the history of the state to form a coalition named Kogi Coalition of Umbrella Development Associations (KOCUDA).

The sole aim of KOCUDA, the statement said, was to promote mutual understanding, peace and unity amongst the various people of the state through various

initiatives.

“This recent judgment has grossly undermined the efforts of this body. It is our fervent believe that the situation is not irredeemable. With some introspection, necessary damage control measures can still be taken to rebuild confidence and trust,” the statement added.

The statement called on the people of the state “to continue to remain calm, maintain the peace and continue their lawful activities while cooperating with law enforcement and other agencies of government with responsibility for promoting peaceful coexistence”.

No DiscussionYet on Zoning of 2023 Presidency: PDP Tells Atiku’s Son Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disclosed that it has not started discussion on the 2023 presidential election and the zoning of its presidential ticket.

PDP’s clarification was in reaction to a statement credited to Adamu Atiku Abubakar, son of the former vice president and presidential candidate of the party in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, that his father will contest for president in 2023.

Atiku lost to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election Adamu was quoted to have said this while presenting his scorecard as Commissioner for Works and Energy in Adamawa State.

The junior Atiku said that his father had remained a master politician, adding that there is

nothing wrong if he contests again.

But reacting during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan said, “The PDP has not come to discussion in respect of zoning. I want to leave it at that”.

On the situation of things in Edo State and the PDP’s level of preparation, the spokesperson of the party said, “For Edo people, we have eminently qualiified aspirants ready to take back their state from the stranglehold of oppressors represented by the APC and our party is working with them to achieve that.

“Our aspirants are working hard and penetrating the grassroots. They have moved into all the electoral wards, sensitising our members and voters and getting ready for the election”, he said.

FG Declares June 12 Public Holiday Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The federal government has declared Friday, June 12, as public holiday to mark this year’s Democracy Day Celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government, congratulated all Nigerians at home and abroad for the entrenchment of democratic rule in the country.

The minister commended the heroes of democracy for their dogged determination and sacrifice which eventually birthed democratic governance in Nigeria.

A statement signed by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Georgina Ehuriah quoted Aregbesola as calling on all

Nigerians to continue to cherish the selfless efforts made to attain democracy.

He urged Nigerians to collaborate with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to ensure the realisation of the democratic ideals which these patriots fought for, even at the cost of their lives.

The minister who reassured Nigerians of the federal government’s commitment to battling the scourge of COVID-19 with the cooperation of all Nigerians, advised them further, to take responsibility for stopping the spread of the virus.

He reiterated the need for all Nigerians to stay safe by observing physical and social distancing, personal and respiratory hygiene, as well as other regulations issued by relevant authorities.

HOME-GROWN SOLUTION...

Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, washing his hands in the solar-powered automated sanitizer dispenser, developed and presented to the state government by the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu...yesterday

Conditions of Service of National Assembly Staff Split Senators, House Members Chuks Okocha in Abuja The ongoing review of the Revised Conditions of Service for the staff of the National Assembly by a committee set up by the National Assembly Service Commission has split members of the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as commissioners in the commission into two factions.

This is coming as insiders

traced the ordeal of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Omolori, to his insistence to use the Senate Rules of 2015 to conduct the Senate presidency election between Dr. Ahmed Lawan and Ali Ndume.

However, THISDAY is in position of the letter written by the clerk of the House of Representatives, Patrick Giwa, dated June 4, 2020, with NASS/

HR/LEG/14/3/30 with the title: ‘Re: Forwarding of memorandum on the review of condition of service for the National Assembly Service’, wherein the House allegedly disassociated the Green Chamber from plot to review the revised conditions of service that would send over 150 senior directors of the National Assembly to their terminal leave.

The letter is the outcome of the meeting of the members of the House of Representatives last Wednesday.

The letter is a direct opposite of the letter written by the Special Adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lanre Lasis, debunking the earlier letter by the Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Nwaoboshi Denies Link with 11 Companies Allegedly Used for NDDC Contracts Deji Elumoye inAbuja The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, has washed his hands off the 11 companies allegedly linked to him for the collection of contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2016.

NDDC had accused Nwaoboshi, of looting N3.6 billion from the

commission and called on the senator to step down as Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC. The commission said the senator used 11 companies owned by or traceable to him to collect contracts worth the amount in 2016.

“It is perhaps the biggest single case of looting of the commission’s resources”, NDDC said in a statement signed by its Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Charles Odili.

But in a swift reaction, the senator has refuted the claims that he collected contracts from the NDDC with 11 different companies without executing them .

He said the allegations were nothing but national embarrassment that must stop.

According to him, none of all the 11 companies listed belong to him as far as records at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) are

concerned.

He challenged the NDDC officials to substantiate their allegations with required documents implicating him as evidence if they have.

“The smear campaign and character assassination of people perceived to be stumbling blocks against the rot in NDDC over the years must stop in the national interest”, he added.

Governors’Wives Worried over Rise in Sexual Offences Chuks Okocha in Abuja Worried by the rise in cases of sexual harassment in the country against women, wives of the 36 state governors have resolved to harmonise efforts to curb the menace in the country by working together collaboratively and sharing best practices.

According to a communique issued by the state first ladies in a virtual teleconference, which

signed by the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, on behalf of First Ladies Against Gender-based Violence (FLA-GBV), the wives of the governors said: “A committee comprising first ladies from the six geo political zones was set up to drive the process, headed

by Erelu Bisi Fayemi of Ekiti State and Mrs. Folake Abdulrazaq of Kwara State as secretary while the Chairpersons of the Northern and Southern Governors Wives Fora,

Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello and Mrs. Betsy Obaseki respectively, would lend their support to the process.”

The meeting of the first ladies further agreed to inform the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) of all that were discussed in order to get the governors involved in the much needed areas of enacting laws to punish offenders.

The communique of the meeting said the first ladies noted the calls

by various concerned organisations to declare a state of emergency on sexual and gender-based violence, and would like to add their voices to such demands.

The meeting also observed that very few cases of sexual violence in Nigeria end up in convictions, and therefore, resolved to become more involved in seeing that justice is done for survivors of sexual violence.

17

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 16.70 15.60

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

16 18 20

A S

A T

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

J U N E 518.89% 0.22% 0.18%

5 ,

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

2 0 2 0

11.43% 7.84%

EXCHANGE RATE N361/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes IFAD Supports Madagascar on Agric

STOCK-TAKING

Managing Director, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor (left) and the Company’s Chairman, Senator Daisy Danjuma, during the 69th annual generalmeeting(AGM)ofthecompanyheldinLagos...recently

NERC: Benin, Niger Owe Nigeria N32.1bn Electricity Debt Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has disclosed that a total of N32.1 billion is the outstanding debt owed the country by Benin and Niger Republic for electricity supply to the two countries in 2019.

Four reports obtained by THISDAY for the four quarters of 2019 suggested that the countries that get electricity supply from Nigeria on a diplomatic trading framework, actually paid nothing to the country within the period.

According to the NERC, all the supply invoices sent to the countries through their national electricity corporations - Societe Nigerienne d’electricite (NIGELEC) and Communaute Electrique du Benin (CEB) by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and Market Operator (MO) were yet to be paid for.

The power regulator lamented that the debt with other challenges such as low remittances by the country’s 11 distribution companies (Discos), high technical and commercial loss levels, as

INDUSTRY well as transmission constraints, contributed to the poor showings of the country’s electricity industry in the year covered.

In NERC’s first quarter 2019 report, it said that, “during the same period, the invoices issued to Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd (designated as special customer) and international customers (i.e., Societe Nigerienne d’electricite – NIGELEC and Communaute Electrique du Benin–CEB) were N0.3 billion and N12.8 billion respectively. “However, neither NBET nor MO received payments from the special and international customers during the period under review. The Nigerian government has continued to engage governments of neighbouring countries benefitting from the export supply to ensure timely payments for the electricity purchased from Nigeria.�

Further in the second quarter, the NERC noted that, “the invoices issued to Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd (designated as special

customer) and international customers (i.e., Societe Nigerienne d’electricite – NIGELEC and Communaute Electrique du Benin–CEB) stood at N0.32 billion and N10.85 billion respectively,� adding that during the quarter under review, the special and international customers made no payment to NBET and MO while the Nigerian government continued to engage governments of neighbouring countries benefitting from the export supply to ensure timely payments for the electricity purchased.

Also, in the third quarter, the regulator explained that the special and international class of customers made no payment to NBET and MO with the invoices issued to Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd (designated as special customer) and NIGELEC and CEB standing at N0.21 billion and N6.38 billion respectively.

For the last quarter of 2019, it noted that, “during the quarter under review, the special and international class of customers made no payment to NBET and MO. The invoice

issued to Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd (designated as a special customer) and international customers (i.e., Societe Nigerienne d’electricite – NIGELEC and Communaute Electrique du Benin–CEB) stood at M29.50 million and N2.07 billion respectively.�

It stated that the challenge of low remittance to the power market has remained a concern to it as one of the main causes of the liquidity crisis facing the power sector. “Low remittance adversely affects the ability of (the) NBET to honour its financial obligations to Gencos while service providers struggle with the paucity of funds impacting their capacity to perform their statutory obligations. “The financial viability of NESI is still a major challenge threatening its sustainability.

The liquidity challenge is partly due to the non-implementation of cost- reflective tariffs, high technical and commercial losses exacerbated by energy theft and consumers’ apathy to payments under the widely prevailing practice of estimated billing.

REA Connects 364 Households to Solar Power in Bayelsa Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government of Nigeria, through its implementing agency, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has inaugurated two solar hybrid mini grids in Akipelai and Oloibiri villages in Bayelsa State.

The agency said both facilities have a total capacity of 134.64kW for both communities under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), with 180kWh of lithium battery storage and two units of 100kva diesel generator sets.

The Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Salihijo Ahmad, said the solar hybrid mini grids would provide clean, safe and reliable electricity to hundreds of people and spur economic growth in

ENERGY Akipelai and Oloibiri respectively.

According to organisation, the NEP is a federal government programme that seeks to provide energy access to households and enterprises in off-grid communities across Nigeria through renewable power sources.

The solar hybrid plants were commissioned under the Performance-Based Grant (PBG) component of NEP. Renewvia Energy Corporation, a recipient of PerformanceBased Grants (PBG) from the REA through the World Bank-funded NEP, successfully developed the two solar hybrid mini grids in Bayelsa state.

The 67.32kW solar hybrid mini grids in Akipelai and Oloibiri are estimated to connect 364 households, and in the course of developing the infrastructure, created 170 jobs in the construction phase and seven permanent jobs.

The mini grids utilise lithiumion battery storage to provide reliable power throughout nondaylight hours and are designed to scale as individual household and communal power demand increases. “The REA is committed to scaling up reliable and sustainable energy access to rural unserved and underserved communities through provision of grants to mini grid developers,which is the

intent of the federal government through the NEP. “After signing two Performance-Based Grant agreements with Renewvia Energy, we are delighted to see the completion of these two projects and we look forward to commissioning more sustainable electrification solutions in our rural communities by grant beneficiaries� Ahmad said.

The World Bank task team lead, Jon Exel, responding, said that the new move would boost businesses in the connected areas. “The solar hybrid mini grids in Akipelai and Oloibiri will boost the local economy and improve the quality of life in both communities through electrification of homes, schools, and businesses.

Rural development projects ďŹ nanced and supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have helped to reduce rural poverty and increase rural entrepreneurship in Madagascar, according to a new report presented recently.

The report, prepared by IFAD’s Independent OďŹƒce of Evaluation (IOE),reviewsthejointworkofIFADandtheGovernmentofMadagascar overthepastsevenyears(2013-2019),coveringsixprojectswithatotal project cost of US$510 million, of which 59 per cent was ďŹ nanced by IFAD.The evaluation report highlights achievements as well as areas for further improvement.

IFAD- supported projects aim to raise the incomes and improve livelihoods, food security and living conditions of the world’s poorest people, who live in rural areas of developing countries. In the years after the 2009-2012 political crisis, IFAD-supported projects helped rural poor by providing them with the abilities and skills to improve their productivity and better capitalize on economic opportunities.

SeveralprojectsintroducedinnovationsintoMadagascar,leadingto positiveresults.Forinstance,IFADwassuccessfulinintegratingalarge numberofmicroenterprisesandsmallbusinessesintohigh-valuesectors bypairingfarmers’organizationswithmarketoperators,whichimproved farmers’ access to the markets. According to the report, the creation of nearly400ofthesepairsattractedoverUS$5.4millioninprivatesector investments. “We are quite proud of our gains in Madagascar in terms of rural productivity, incomes and entrepreneurship. Linking farmers with market operators was key for improving economic opportunities in rural areas,� Regional Director of IFAD’s East and Southern Africa Division (ESA), Sara Mbago-Bhunu said.

Afreximbank Partners ITC

Afreximbank is teaming up with the InternationalTrade Centre (ITC) to train small-business owners and young entrepreneurs in Africa to tradewithotherAfricancountriesaspartofthenewAfricanContinental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The training programme titled: “How to Export within the AfCFTA, is being launched as the new free-trade area comes on stream and amid the economic strain of climate change and the coronavirus pandemic.

The training would give business owners the knowledge and skills they need to engage eectively in cross-border trade under terms of the emerging free-trade area for Africa.

Intra-African trade is structurally low at 15 per cent (compared to Europe at nearly 70%, for example), and the AfCFTA will open a market of 1.2 billion people. “Against the backdrop of the current COVID-19 health and economic crisis, African micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) need support to take full advantage of the continental market,� ITC acting Executive Director Dorothy Tembo said. “Through this partnership, African businesses will have the opportunity to learn, plan and succeed in growing their business by taking full advantage of the AfCFTA.�

Managing Director of Afreximbank’s Intra-AfricanTrade Initiative, Kanayo Awani, said the initiative was necessary because increasing intra-African trade through exports of goods and services by small and medium-sizedenterprises(SMEs)wasthecornerstoneoftheAFCFTA.

Algeria Trade DeďŹ cit Deepens

OPEC member Algeria’s energy earnings fell almost 26 per cent in the ďŹ rst quarter of 2020, pushing up the trade deďŹ cit by just over 26 percentfromthesameperiodlastyear,thegovernmentsaidonSunday.

The North African country has been trying to reduce spending on importstocopewithadropinenergyrevenueduetolowerglobalcrude oil prices.The value of oil and gas exports, which accounted for 92.40 per cent of total sales abroad, stood at $7.04 billion, down from $9.48 billion in the ďŹ rst three months of 2019, customs data showed.

That pushed up the trade deďŹ cit to $1.50 billion from $1.19 billion in the ďŹ rst quarter of last year. Overall exports stood at $7.62 billion in January-March 2020 against $10.14 billion in the same period a year earlier, while imports fell 19.52 per cent to $9.12 billion in the ďŹ rst three months of this year

“Any company that would like to survive in the oil and gas industry going forward will have to be a low-cost producer of oil because the price volatility will continue�

Chairman, Seplat,

Dr. ABC Orjiako

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT UWAILA OMOZUWA

Rape and Murder in God’s House

09.06.2020

2/

09.06.2020

All Lives Should Matter Equally I am sure that we are all in agreement that the world has become an extremely violent place, whether the violence is perpetrated by ordinary citizens or by law enforcement agents, whether it is as a result of racism, tribalism, intolerance, depravity, pure crime, some other reasons or no explicable reason at all.

Rape About two weeks ago, beautiful 22 year old Microbiology student of University of Benin, Uwaila Omozuwa was brutally raped and left unconscious lying in a pool of her own blood, where she had gone to study in a Redeemed Christian Church of God Parish in Benin City, as schools remain closed as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic. She succumbed to her injuries, and died in hospital a few days later.

I seize this opportunity to express my deepest condolences to the family of Uwaila, and I pray for the repose of her soul. A suspect linked to this dastardly crime of rape and murder has been arrested, and I pray that the perpetrator and his cohorts, if he had any, are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, as they, deserve nothing less.

Murder and Rape in the Southern States of Nigeria are provided for by the Sections 316, 317, 319, 325, 357 and 358 of the Criminal Code Act, in the Northern States, Sections 220 - 226, 282-283 of the Penal Code Act, and Sections 1 and 2 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, applicable in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The punishment for rape is life imprisonment, while that of murder could be the death penalty.

I believe that I’m becoming a proponent of chemical castration, for rapists and paedophiles.

I cannot get over the shock of the recent rape of two 12 year old girls, one in Dutse, Jigawa State who had been raped repeatedly by 11 men, and another in Ajah, Lagos, who was raped by four masked men. See the case of Isa v State (2016) 6 NWLR (Pt.1508) 243 per Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, J.S.C (now CJN): "A rapist is worse than an animal. He has no moral rectitude. He throws overboard, the limit of his legal right and he can, shamelessly, deprive another person (more painfully, female children of under age) of their God given rights of protecting the chastity and sanctity of their body and mind. He is all out to pollute such chastity and sanctity. He has no respect for human beings! He can commit any atrocity.

He is a cancer in the society. What a shame!"

I concur with his Lordship. Truly, a rapist is worse than an animal, especially one that rapes children. It is simply unthinkable, inconceivable - beyond belief.

“I can’t breathe” Recently, former Police Officer, Derek Chauvin, killed George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota while purportedly effecting his arrest. In the “I can’t breathe” video which went viral worldwide, Chauvin was seen kneeling on the neck of 46 year old Mr Floyd for 8 minutes 46 seconds, and despite the fact that the deceased was heard pleading for his life and begging that he couldn’t breathe, even when Mr Floyd became unresponsive, Chauvin continued to maintain that position on his neck for a few minutes. Naturally, this nasty incident resulted in the death of Mr Floyd.

To get things in a better perspective, let’s look at what got Mr Floyd into trouble in the first place. He was suspected of using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes in a store, a non-violent gross misdemeanour which carries a maximum penalty of 1 year imprisonment and $3,000 fine, if the amount involved is less than $1,000 (and Mr Floyd’s was $20) - (Section 609.632(3), punishable by 609.632(4) Minnesota Statutes).

My first submission is that, undoubtedly, Chauvin used a sledgehammer to kill an ant, and that if America is truly serious about trying to stem what seems to be the ever-rising ugly tide of racism, Chauvin and his colleagues must be given the maximum penalty for the crimes they committed, to serve as a deterrent to racist

Police Officers in America and indeed, all racists, that it’s no longer business as usual - whether white, black or green, if you use excessive force against people on account of their race or colour, the appropriate punishment will be meted out to you - no more slaps on the wrists.

Degrees of Murder Only three States in USA - Florida, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, have provision for the crime of 3rd degree Murder, which initially was the main crime that Chauvin was being charged for.

1st degree Murder is - you planned the killing, you wanted your plan to result in death, you executed your plan and killed the deceased (mens rea and actus reus); it is punishable with life imprisonment (with or without the option of parole) and in some States, the death penalty.

The lesser offence of 2nd degree Murder, is that the Defendant intended to kill the deceased, but didn’t plan it - that is, it was not premeditated; this is punishable with imprisonment of up to 40 years.

3rd degree Murder is Depraved Heart Murder - the unlawful killing of a human being, perpetrated without the intent to kill the deceased by perpetrating an act “eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life”. In the State of Minnesota, the sentence cannot exceed 25 years imprisonment or a fine of $40,000 or both, though about 12 years and 4 years imprisonment are the recommended punishments for 3rd degree Murder and 2nd degree Manslaughter respectively.

Let me state categorically that, I was happy that the charge against Chauvin was upgraded to 2nd degree Murder, as I certainly did not agree that the charge applicable to his crime could be regarded as simply one of a depraved heart that didn’t have the intention to kill! Indeed, Chauvin certainly had a depraved heart, and even if he didn’t leave home with the intent to kill Mr Floyd that morning, he certainly developed the intent at some point during the arrest. We all know that, every individual on this earth needs to breathe to stay alive. Therefore, a person who does something that disrupts another’s breathing process, and knowingly continues to do so when he becomes aware of that fact, obviously and definitely intends to snuff the life out of the victim.

I submit that, Chauvin did have the requisite

legal intent to murder Mr Floyd. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have stayed on Mr Floyd’s neck for the length of time he did, nor would he have ignored Mr Floyd’s pleas about being unable to breathe. I further submit that, there is enough evidence for the Prosecution to discharge the burden of proof that, Chauvin intentionally killed Mr Floyd without premeditation, that is, 2nd degree Murder.

State v Mohamed Noor The case of Chauvin can easily be distinguished from that of 27-CR-18-6859 State v Mohamed Noor, a case in which Noor, a Somalian American Police Officer was found guilty of the 2017 3rd degree Murder of Ms Justine Ruszczyk (Caucasian) and 2nd degree Manslaughter, contrary to Minnesota Statute: 609.205(1) reference to 609.205.11.5(a).

Both offences carry a minimum sentence of 3 years imprisonment, but Noor was sentenced to the recommended 12.5 years imprisonment.

In that case, Noor had fired a shot from his gun, killing the deceased who had called for Police assistance on hearing some noises in the alleyway behind her residence. It was dark, and Noor and his partner had heard some noises which “spooked” them. In a bid to protect his partner and himself, Noor fired the shot which killed Ms Ruszczyk who had exited her residence into the alleyway.

Some have argued that, if Noor had been Caucasian and Ms Ruszczyk African-American, he would probably not have been found guilty.

The Statement of Probable Cause of Noor’s actions, at best, evinced the fact that Noor may have been reckless for firing his gun on the suspicion of a threat, without properly ascertaining what he was firing at, because it was dark. Noor certainly perpetrated an act eminently dangerous without regard for human life, but it cannot really be concluded that he had the intent to kill, like Chauvin.

Sincerely, I do not believe that Noor and Chauvin’s actions can be equated and be considered to be the same type of offence, nor can they be seen in the same light, as the latter, whose actions were deliberate, cruel and showed a total lack of regard for human life, had been in the Minneapolis Police for 18 years.

Noor, on the other hand, was an inexperienced ‘rookie’ Police Officer, who seemed to have acted recklessly in panic. This is not to say that

“JURIES, IN HANDING DOWN THEIR DECISIONS, HAVE MOSTLY ALWAYS SHOWN THAT CAUCASIAN LIVES MATTER MORE; IT IS TIME TO SHOW THAT, AFRICAN-AMERICAN LIVES MATTER JUST AS MUCH, AS INDEED, THE LIVES OF ALL THE DIFFERENT RACES”

Noor is absolved of culpability, as a precious life was lost, nonetheless. Noor should have exercised, a higher duty of care.

Uwaila Omozuwa

George Floyd

Chauvin’s Colleagues As for Chauvin’s colleagues who were present at the scene - Tou Thao, Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, mere dismissal from the Police is inadequate. Thankfully, they have been charged for aiding and abetting 2nd degree Murder and 2nd degree Manslaughter, carrying sentences of 40 years and 10 years respectively, on conviction. Keung and Lane had held Mr Floyd’s back and legs, while Thao watched his colleagues subduing him.

Police Officers are people in a special position, with a statutory duty to render aid to those in distress (whether they are accused persons or not, they are innocent until proven guilty; and even if they are found guilty, all offences have their prescribed punishments), and not to stand by assisting or doing nothing, while excessive force is used to kill suspects.

This could very well be a watershed in the history of racism, if the American judicial system and the society at large, do the right thing.

Hatred and intolerance, are harmful. Juries, in handing down their decisions, have mostly always shown that Caucasian lives matter more; it is time to show that, African-American lives matter just as much, as indeed, the lives of all the different races.

LAW REPORT/3

Whether Corroboration of Evidence is an Essential Requirement in a Charge of Rape

S Facts

ometime in March 2015, a certain nine year old girl selling rice, was directed by the Appellant to deliver the rice to his house at Rabazo Village, Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

On reaching the Appellant’s house, he further directed the girl to get a bowl from his room, to transfer the rice into it. The girl was reluctant, but upon the insistence of the Appellant, she entered the Appellant’s room. The Appellant immediately followed her, locked the door, forced her on his bed, prevented her from shouting by covering her mouth with a piece of cloth, and had sexual intercourse with her. After having sexual intercourse with the girl, the Appellant pushed her under his bed with her mouth still tied with cloth.

Subsequently, the girl’s mother, who had been searching for her daughter when she did not return home on time, got to the Appellant’s house. After interactions with the Appellant, who refused her entry into the house, she forcefully entered his room and found the girl under the bed with her mouth covered with a piece of cloth. The girl was taken away by her mother, and a report of the incident was made to the Village Head and the Police.

After investigation, the Appellant was arraigned before the High Court of Jigawa State, where he was convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment for the offence of rape. The Appellant unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Appeal; he has further appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issue for Determination In determining the appeal, the Supreme Court considered this sole issue formulated by the Respondent thus:

Honourable John Inyang Okoro, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 7th day of February, 2020 Before Their Lordships

Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili Musa Dattijo Muhammad John Inyang Okoro Amina Adamu Augie Paul Adamu Galinje Justices, Supreme Court SC.51/2017

Whether from the totality of the evidence adduced, the Court of Appeal was right when it held that the Prosecution had, at the trial court, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Arguments Counsel for the Appellant started his argument by stating that in criminal trial, a person charged with an offence is presumed innocent until the prosecution proves to the contrary. He referred to Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Section 135 of the Evidence Act, 2011 and the case of AGBITI v NIGERIAN NAVY (2011) 4 NWLR (Pt.1236) 175 at 216, in contending that the Prosecution is required to place credible evidence devoid of doubt before the court. Counsel stated further, the ingredients of the offence of rape as espoused in the case of POSU v STATE (2011) 2 NWLR (Pt. 1234) 393 and submitted that, the Respondent failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. He analysed the evidence of the Prosecution’s witnesses, stating that the first witness (PW1) failed to tender the first statement made by the Appellant to the Police, when the subsequent statement was retracted; the second witness (PW2) who is the prosecutrix’s mother, was not an eye witness to the act; the evidence of the third witness (PW3), who was the prosecutrix, was not corroborated; the fourth witness (PW4), a medical doctor, did not produce a medical report. He therefore, concluded that the evidence of the prosecution was unreliable, and this caused a high degree of doubt that should be resolved in favour of the Appellant. He relied on the case of SHEHU v STATE (2010) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1195) 112 at 141 and other relevant cases.

On his part, counsel for the Respondent stated that, the prosecution must prove the essential ingredients of the offence of rape beyond reasonable doubt, before an accused person can be convicted for the offence. He referred to Section 282(1) of the Penal Code, and the case of RABIU v STATE (2005) 7 NWLR (Pt. 825) 491 at 508 for what constitutes rape. Contrary to the submission of the Appellant, counsel for the Respondent contended that, the Prosecution proved that the Appellant had sexual intercourse with the victim, referring to PW3’s evidence and that this is fortified by the evidence of PW4. He also argued that, the evidence of PW3 and PW4 were strengthened by the Confessional Statement of the Appellant, which was tendered through PW1. Relying on the case of IKO v STATE (2001) 14 NWLR (Pt. 732) 221 at 245, counsel posited that, an essential ingredient of the offence of rape is penetration, however slight; and in this case, PW3 testified that the Appellant penetrated fully. Thus, the offence was complete.

Counsel submitted in response to the Appellant’s argument

Between Yahaya Baushe Mohammadu

……Appellant

And The State

…

……

…

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable John Inyang Okoro, JSC)

on lack of corroboration of the evidence of the prosecutrix, that corroboration entails the act of supporting or strengthening a statement of a witness by fresh evidence of another

witness. The evidence of the witnesses need not be in exact words. He urged the court, not to disturb the concurrent findings of the courts below.

“..... CORROBORATION IS NOT A RULE OF LAW, THAT AN ACCUSED PERSON IN A CHARGE OF RAPE CANNOT BE CONVICTED ON THE UNCORROBORATED EVIDENCE OF THE PROSECUTRIX, AS WHAT IS REQUIRED IS JUST A PIECE OF EVIDENCE WHICH SHOWS THE STORY OF THE PROSECUTRIX THAT THE APPELLANT COMMITTED THE CRIME, IS TRUE”

Court’s Judgement and Rationale The offence of rape is the unlawful sexual intercourse or carnal knowledge by a man of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of harm or by means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act, or in the case of a married woman, by impersonating her husband. A man is also guilty of the offence of rape, where he has carnal knowledge of a girl with or without her consent, when she is less than fourteen years of age or of unsound mind - Section 285(1) of the Penal Code, Cap P3, Laws of Jigawa State, 2012 (as amended); RABIU v STATE (supra). Section 283 of the Penal Code prescribes the punishment for the offence of rape to be imprisonment for life, or for any less term with fine.

To secure a conviction for rape, the prosecution must prove the following essential ingredients: (i) that the accused had sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix; (ii) that the act of sexual intercourse was done without consent or that the consent (if any) was obtained by fraud, force, threat, intimidation, deceit or impersonation; (iii) that the prosecutrix was not the wife of the accused; (iv) that the accused had the means, via the intention to have sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix without her consent, or that the accused acted recklessly not caring whether the prosecutrix consented or not and (v) that there was penetration, no matter however slight.

The Supreme Court restated the age-long principle of law that, the prosecution is required to lead credible evidence to prove the above stated ingredients to the satisfaction of the court, in order to secure a conviction for the charge of rape. However, proof beyond reasonable doubt, is not proof beyond all doubt or all shadow of doubt; it simply means establishing the guilt of the accused person with compelling and conclusive evidence, a degree of compulsion which is consistent with a high degree of probability – SMART v THE STATE (2016) LPELR-40827(SC). Relating the above principle to the case, their Lordships held that, the evidence of PW3, the victim of the offence, was not contradicted or controverted, and the evidence including the testimony of PW2 and PW4 were weighty and credible enough to lead to an irresistible conclusion that, the Appellant had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl without her consent. Even if she consented, such consent was unlawful as the girl was just nine years old.

The circumstantial evidence before the court disposed of the argument of the Appellant, as the evidence proffered by the Prosecution against the Appellant was strong, direct and left no remote possibility which can be dispensed with in light of the requirement of the law, that the prosecution must produce positive, credible evidence which is direct, or if circumstantial, have the quality or cogency that could be safely relied on to decide the case. More so, corroboration is not a rule of law, that an accused person in a charge of rape cannot be convicted on the uncorroborated evidence of the prosecutrix, as what is required is just a piece of evidence which shows the story of the prosecutrix that the Appellant committed the crime, is true – OGUNBAYO v THE STATE (2007) 10 QCCR 32.

Further, the Confessional Statement of the Appellant was so strong, that it added value to the evidence of the prosecution’s witnesses, and the lower courts were right to have relied on it. Once an accused person, as in this case, makes a statement under caution, saying or admitting the offence or creating the impression that he committed the offence charged, the statement becomes confessional, admissible and good to be acted upon – ISONG v THE STATE (2016) LPELR-40609(SC).

The Supreme Court concluded that, the Court of Appeal was right when it upheld the decision of the trial court, that the Respondent proved the charge of rape against the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Y.A.H. Ruba N.O. Adogah and A.O. Jafaru for the Appellant.

M.M. Imam, DPP Jigawa State with Aliyu Abdullahi for the Respondent.

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

4/ COVER

09.06.2020

Rape and Murder As the rest of the world was engulfed in protests over the murder of George Floyd, an African American who was killed by racist white policemen, Nigerians were also on the streets in Abuja and Lagos, protesting the rape and gruesome murder of a University of Benin student, Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa in Benin City. The young girl met her death in the hands of five devilish men who gang raped and viciously murdered her, right inside a church auditorium. As most Nigerian gender rights activists intensify the calls for the castration of rapists, former Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Osagie Obayuwana, writes that except the culture of impunity is curbed, Nigeria may continue to witness such dastardly and horrendous criminal acts

Rape and Murder in a Season of Anomie Dr Osagie Obayuwana

T

wo events occurred in Benin City within the same week, the last week of May, 2020.

The first was the beating to death of a Legal Practitioner, Mr. Osobase Omo-Iyoha, who was reported to have had a minor argument with some young men at a drinking joint where he had gone to celebrate his birthday. His opponents are reported to have invited more of their friends, forced the Lawyer into their vehicle, took him to the residence of their leader, beat him severely, and when they discovered that he had died, buried him behind the house. He was reported to have been hit on the head, with a big piece of wood. When the notorious leader of the gang was apprehended, he admitted that they had abducted the Lawyer, but that he was left to go after a while.

After that, the wife cried for help and the search for the Lawyer commenced.

This was until a few days ago, when one of the members confessed that the Lawyer actually died in the process of their beating him; he took the Police to where his remains were buried.

Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa The other incident is the rape and murder of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a straight A student of Micro-biology of the University of Benin. She is reported to have been a very serious student who had challenged herself to maintain her impeccable grades, and so in this era of the Covid-19 pandemic, as her school remains closed because of the lockdown, she busied herself with her studies and found a place that was quiet enough, a church in her neighbourhood, that she frequented on a daily basis.

She had no reason to be afraid that any harm would come to her in the quietude of a place of worship, but on 27th May, 2020, her almost lifeless body was discovered at the venue she had chosen for her studies, under conditions that suggested that she had been raped and battered. She had severe injuries on her head; that was a pointer to the fact that, she had been hit with a heavy object. On the ground not too far from her body was a fire extinguisher that had blood stains, which suggests that that was the instrument used, the murder weapon.

What exactly happened remains in the realm of conjecture and a puzzle for the Police, as to which came first; was she a victim of armed robbery? (It was reported that her phone was not found). Did she resist the assailant or assailants? Had she been bludgeoned with the fire extinguisher and raped in her comatose state, or had the rape taken place and the bludgeoning was to cover up the heinous crime? How

Uwaila Omozuwa

many assailants were there, or are we dealing with a single rapist/attacker?

Of course, it is no longer news that she didn’t survive the injuries, and the sense of outrage over the termination of a life so promising, is felt all over the world. This is coming on the heels of the brutal murder of Mr. George Floyd, in the USA. Culture of Impunity What underlines both incidents in Benin; the brutal killing of the Lawyer and the

“RAPE ISTHE MOST OFFENSIVE VIOLATION, OF THE RIGHTTO PRIVACY OF A PERSON. ITIS A VIOLENT SEIZURE OFTHE SENSE OF WORTH, ANDTHE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON OFTHE VICTIM”

rape/ murder of Uwa, is the culture of impunity which has been captured in the saying ‘nothing dey happen’ in local parlance, which means “there is no consequence”.

For the past 20 years or so, a generation of young men have arisen, who seized control over community lands in virtually all the communities; in spite of all authorities, traditional and modern, they disposed of vast parcels of land and through that process became stupendously rich, enough to build mansions, buy expensive vehicles, travel all over the world at will and lived a lifestyle of opulence.

With the wealth at their disposal, they armed themselves and formed syndicates (cults) that took over the construction industry, and exacted levies on would-be developers.

They may have derived inspiration from the Niger-Delta struggles, even though the spirit of rebellion was not for any collective, but individual and personal goals. They befriended many in the hierarchy of the Police, and were ready to be generous to law enforcement agents who are amenable to be compromised; and there were very many. They actually became lords unto themselves, in our society. This was the source of their confidence that ‘nothing dey happen’ Within their ranks and in their troops are hired assassins, armed robbers, arsonists

and kidnappers. They could afford the company of many girls, and those who felt too good for them could be seized and raped, after all ‘nothing dey happen’, and they often got away with murder and rape. Unscrupulous politicians recruited their services for election rigging purposes, and cemented government patronage and legitimisation.

Challenge to Culture of Impunity: Oba Ewuare II In the year 2015, the ascension to the throne of the Oba of Benin by Oba Ewuare II, marked the first open challenge to this culture, when in his coronation address, the Oba condemned the usurpation of the traditional functions of the elders in the society by these characters, who styled themselves “Community Development Associations” (CDA). Oba Ewuare actually described them as, “Community Destroying Associations” The Oba was to find collaboration with Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly, who passed the Private Property Protection Law in 2015.

The law was aimed at removing the source of funding of this army of lawless, and often violent characters. Meanwhile, the CDA operatives had reproduced themselves many times, and are seen by younger generations as models to be emulated.

Four years later, how well has the Private Property Protection Law and the Agency set up to enforce same, succeeded in curbing the excesses of those who believe ‘nothing dey happen’? How well have Police authorities purged their ranks of those who had been compromised? How many of the weapons amassed by these characters have been retrieved? How many jobs have been created, to provide alternatives to those inspired by the audacious slogan ‘nothing dey happen’, who portray same by the way they talk, the hairstyle and clothing they wear, and their gait or the way they carry themselves? We have Ministries of Information and Reorientation at the Federal and State levels, what efforts have been made in the realm of value reorientation?

And most importantly, what examples are being set by public office holders and captains of industry?.

Rape Rape as described in Section 357 of the Criminal Code Act, is the unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman by a man forcibly, against her will. It is generally accepted that, society has outgrown this definition. To go beyond the limitations of the Criminal Code which limits the victims of rape to women only, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, defines rape as the intentional penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth of another person with any part of the assailant’s body, without the victim’s consent. The punishment for rape under the Criminal Code is imprisonment for life, which is not a mandatory sentence in the sense that the Judge or Magistrate can impose less (some courts have imposed terms like 3 or 4 years with option of cont'd on page 5

09.06.2020

COVER/5

in God’s House

fine); whereas under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, the punishment for rape is life imprisonment, but with a minimum of 12 years imprisonment without an option of fine. Where what has taken place is a gang rape, the offenders are liable jointly to imprisonment for 20 years, without an option of fine.

In the case of Natasha v State (2017)18 NWLR (Pt.1596) Page 38, the victim of the rape was a 3 year old girl, the court sentenced the rapist to 10 years imprisonment (a punishment that was too light, in this circumstance)@. In the case of Ayodele Ikumonihan v The State (2018) LPELR -44362, three persons took turns in raping a girl, until she died.

The trial court sentenced them to death, and both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court affirmed the judgement.

The death sentence imposed in this case, was on account of the fact that the victim died. Thus, the punishment was that prescribed for murder.

Since the case of Uwaila Omozuwa came up, there have been calls, even at the level of the National Assembly, that the punishment for rape should be castration, while others have demanded the death penalty.

There is no doubt that there are issues with the definition of rape, even under Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, there are hurdles the prosecution must contend with, in proof of the charge of rape. Historically located in judicial pronouncements that require corroboration, there are issues concerning the application of science and forensics in the course of investigation of rape cases as it relates to finger prints, obtainance and preservation of samples of seminal fluids, in proof of the element of penetration. These, and the appropriateness of the penalty, are not the focus of this write up. My focus is rather, to appreciate rape for what it is.

Rape is the most offensive violation,

“FOR THE RAPIST TO DENY THE VICTIM OF HIS OR HER RIGHT TO LIFE AS A COVER-UP OR IN THE PROCESS, IS DOUBLY TRAGIC�

Dr, Osagie Obayuwana

of the right to privacy of a person. It is a violent seizure of the sense of worth, and the dignity of the human person of the victim. A humiliating experience that lingers in perpetuity. Rape is a momentary total subjugation of the victim, who is compelled by force in the case of a woman, to become the repository of seminal fluids that characterises the climax or height of the beastial pleasure of the rapist. Thus, it is understandable that the victim would quickly wants to wash herself up, thereby destroying evidence.

After all, some rape victims have been impregnated by their attackers.

The rapist seizes the victim, and is motivated by a sense of entitlement coupled with a belief in impunity. The imagination is that, it is a crime that he can get away with it. This is the case for pedophiles, child abusers and molesters, even the aged, and all those in between.

Rape is an unconscionable stealing of the victim’s virtue, and honour. For the rapist to deny the victim of his or her right to life as a cover-up or in the process,

is doubly tragic. Certainly, the culture of ‘nothing dey happen’ that informed the rape and murder of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, is what also undergirds the seizure of Mr. Osobase Omo-Iyoha, a Legal Practitioner, from an entertainment spot, and his being beaten to death and buried. Is this a phenomenon limited to Benin City, Edo State? Certainly not. Has the ‘Omonile’ phenomenon be completely eradicated in Lagos? The banditry, bank robbery and kidnapping in virtually all parts of Nigeria, as well as the killing of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA confirms that, the season of anomie that we find ourselves in, is indeed, worldwide.

Dr Osagie Obayuwana, former Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Benin City, Edo State

NEWS

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6/

09.06.2020

“Towards a People’s Referendum”

N Introduction

ot many may know that the words ‘For the good of the people’ was supposed to be the title of the last volume of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s memoirs, which stood uncompleted before his passing on the 9th May, 1987. Nevertheless, it is a good byword for any politician unsure of his or her role in government, be it in the executive or the legislative arm of government. Friday is June 12, and that is Democracy Day here in Nigeria. Despite several challenges in operating our present system of government; we can still give ourselves some credit, for running our democracy for an unbroken span of 21 years. An unanswered question still remains as to whether or not we have truly matured as a democracy. Can our politicians (collectively) proudly assert in good conscience, that they have genuinely been working ‘for the good of the people?’ In recent years there has been a deliberate attempt by the ruling class and their followers to subvert the interests of the majority, by instead upholding and defending their personal interests, policies and practices at their very expense.

Unfortunately, this has now reignited an old argument centred on the merits of regional government, and the need to restructure and rewrite our present Constitution. In much the same vein, largely from an economic perspective, the world appears to be on the brink of a global depression following the Covid-19 Pandemic, and the Nigerian economy as a consequence, is now in more of a perilous state than ever before. These two issues seem to imply that it may be time for the people of this country to chart a new way forward and assess the political, economic and social consequences of our present day challenges.

Democratic Evolution Since Independence We can only do this by taking control of our own destiny, by using the power of democracy to resolve the many pressing problems that afflict our daily lives. The usurpation or denial of people’s rights in Nigeria, has gone on for far too long. The 1960 Independence Constitution was a product of the departing colonial authorities; the 1963 Republican Constitution was decided upon entirely, by the Prime Minister and Regional Premiers of the day, who merely amended the 1960 Constitution to make it conform to Republican status. The 1966 Coup usurped democracy by replacing it with military rule, while the 1979 Constitution was a missed opportunity for the people to adopt a Constitution for themselves, when the Obasanjo- led military administration amended several aspects of the elected Constituent Assembly’s deliberations. As for the present 1999 Constitution, it came into existence as a result of Decree 23 of 1999 enacted by the General Abdul Salam Abubakar-led military administration, and although the Constitution begins by declaring “We the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, it is a bogus lie! We the People, had no hand in drafting the 1999 Constitution. It is not by any stretch of imagination an autochthonous Constitution.

We have tried to fix this debacle through an unelected National Conference in 2014, but the deliberations and conclusions of that conference have since been archived and left to gather dust.

Legal Framework and Basis for a Referendum The challenge for us today, is simply in rewriting our Constitution or restructuring our polity, whilst still having in place an existing 1999 Constitution (as amended)(1999 Constitution or the Constitution). When you have an existing Constitution and a system of governance in place, it would be unconstitutional for anyone to attempt to usurp the Constitution without first receiving a clear mandate from the people, the source and donor of all political power. Although ironic, the fact remains that, if the government and its organs are created by the 1999 Constitution, logic suggests that they can only be in possession of the power that is granted to them by the instrument from which their existence is derived.

There is no direct provision for a Referendum in our Constitution, but it is more than implied. We may criticise the 1999 Constitution for being imperfect, but there are several aspects to it that have not been fully explored or understood. What then is the legal framework that exists

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan

within the 1999 Constitution, that can provide ample basis for a future Referendum that may ultimately lead to a new and radically changed Constitution brought about by a people’s referendum?

Chapter of the 1999 Constitution, which contains the provisions on Fundamental Objectives and Directive States of State Policy provides some useful answers.

Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution states: 13. It shall be duty and responsibility of all organs of government, and of all authorities and persons, exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers, to conform to, observe and apply provisions of this Chapter of this Constitution.

Furthermore Section 14 provides: 14. – (1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.

(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that(a) Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its power and authority.

“WHAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REFERENDUM AUTHORITY WILL DO, IS DECENTRALISE POWER AND ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ARE ALLOWED TO EXERCISE THEIR POWER OF SOVEREIGNTY, AND USE IT TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR DESTINIES AND RESOLVE THE MANY PRESSING PROBLEMS AFFLICTING THEIR LIVES”

Now, if the Constitution states that sovereignty belongs to the people, it stands to reason that the power can be given back to them whenever they ask or require it.

The conundrum however, is that no one seems to know how to go about doing this. A clue can be found in the Second Schedule of the Constitution, which outlines the various items on the exclusive legislative list.

Item 60 provides as follows: 60. The establishment and regulation of authorities for the Federation or any part thereof(a) to promote and enforce the observance of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles contained in this Constitution.

Establishing a Referendum Authority under the Control of INEC The combined effect of Sections 13 and 14 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as item 60 on the Exclusive Legislative list under the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, is that both the executive and legislative arms of government are empowered to establish a Referendum Authority if deemed necessary ‘for the good of the people’ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I would even further state that, they are not only empowered to do so, but tasked with the duty and responsibility to do so, as outlined under Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution with regard to the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

Some might argue that our courts have long decided that Section 6(6)(c) of the 1999 Constitution states that, except as otherwise provided by the Constitution, any issue or question as to whether any act or omission by any authority or person as to whether any law or any judicial decision is in conformity with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of the Constitution, is not justiciable.

Since however, item 60 of the Exclusive Legislative list is spelt out elsewhere in the Constitution, Section 6(6) (c) does not apply, and issues relating to item 60 will serve as an exception to those provisions, and as such, is justiciable.

See Archbishop Okogie v AG Lagos State 1981 2 NCLR 337 and AG Ondo State v AG Federation & 35 Ors 2002 9NWLR Part 772.

Item 67 of the Exclusive Legislative list also provides that, laws can also be made with regard to any other cont'd on page 7

09.06.2020

NEWS/7

Again the Bar Loses two Illustrious Members The Nigerian legal community has again lost another set of its prominent members, with the passage of Chief Alfred Eghobamien, SAN and Mr Bonajo Badejo, SAN. In a short tribute to Chief Eghobamien, Chief Owen Chamberlain Obaseki said ‘Nature abhors a vacuum, but not for Chief Alfred Eghobamien who would defy such law and head straight to his eternal home, irrespective of the vacuum created by his departure. If it were possible, if we could wrestle with mortality, the likes of Chief Eghobamien would be denied transition from this terrestrial world; the world has become too much with him, and his role on life's stage has become too cardinal and crucial to be replaced. ‘He was a celebrated Lawyer, a Senior Advocate, and one of the earliest SANs in old the Bendel State. He also groomed his Ă€UVW VRQ 2VDUR (JKREDPien, SAN, to follow in his footsteps, and like a chip RÍż WKH ROG EORFN WKH FKLOG has literarily become the father of the man. ‘Few can compare with the intellectual sagacity, sagacious eruditory, legal prowess, verbal oratory, eloquence and grandiloquence of our departed father; a maestro in the Ă€HOG RI MXULVSUXGHQFH who served as a member

Chief Alfred Eghobamien, SAN

of the National Political Reform Conference in 2005; a decorated Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, UK, and a legal luminary with specialty in Corporate Consultancy, Land Law, Election Petitions and Administration of Estates. ‘Indeed, the world has lost a rare gem, a beacon of justice to humanity, a human rights advocate, DQG D Ă XRUHVFHQFH RI KRSH in a simmering world of cosmic nothingness. We take solace in the fact that, he made judicious use of every second that this world could give

and with overwhelming evidence we can say that he lived! ‘He exited this corporeal sphere in harmony, of natural causes; he passed on today, this same day which marks his 86th birthday.

What a majestic exit.’ His son, Mr. Osaro Eghobamien, SAN, said of his father, ‘Seemingly characteristic of his organised lifestyle, my father DQVZHUHG WKH Ă€QDO FDOO on the eve of 5th of June, 2020, having been born on June 5, 1935. We remain grateful for his infectious life, and may his soul rest in peace’.

Mr Bonajo Badejo, SAN Passes On too In his tribute to the late legal titan, Chief Richard Oma Ahuonaruogho said ‘The late Mr. Jadegoke Adebonajo Badejo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was born on 6th March, 1959. He hailed from Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, and was the second SAN from Ijebu-Igbo. ‘He was called to the Bar in Nigeria in 1980 at the age of 21 years, and was admitted to the Inner Bar in 2010. ‘He worked with Messrs.

Burke & Co. Solicitors, Lagos, and later founded the Law 2΀FHV RI 0HVVUV %RQDMR Badejo & Co. ‘Oga Bonajo, as I called him, was a good friend. We handled some matters as opposing Counsel, and he was a complete gentleman, whose easy mien belied his exceptional skills as a great Advocate, with numerous sterling accomplishments and notable clientele.

His death at the age of 61 years is most shocking, as he was not known to have been ill. In fact, he was fully dressed and ready to set out to work on Friday 5th June, 2020, when he suddenly passed on. ‘He was married to Mrs. Olayinka Badejo, and their

Mr. Bonajo Badejo, SAN

marriage is blessed with children. ‘A perfect gentleman has gone to be with the Lord. May his kind and gentle soul rest in peace, Amen.’ Chief Kunle Uthman in his own condolence said: ‘My initial contact with Mr. Badejo was in LQ WKH ODZ Ă€UP RI %XUNH & Co, where he was the Head of Chambers. He served this Ă€UP GLOLJHQWO\ DQG ZLWK WRWDO commitment and dedication to exemplary service. He was polite and kind to all junior Lawyers in Chambers, and would painstakingly explain the rudiments of law and legal practice. Even at that time, it was obvious that he was in due course, a suit-

Wike Appoints Mark ED Rivers BPPP His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Governor of Rivers State, has approved the appointment of Barrister Ibrahim Eddy Mark as the new Executive Director of the Bureau for Public/Private Partnership.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim, said in a release that the appointment WDNHV LPPHGLDWH HÍżHFW

Ibrahim Eddy Mark

“TOWARDS A PEOPLE’S REFERENDUM� cont'd from page 6

matter with respect to which the National Assembly has power to make laws in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. Item 68 further states that, the National Assembly can also make laws with regard to any matter incidental or supplementary to any matter mentioned elsewhere in the Exclusive Legislative list.

It is interesting to note that, Section 8 (3) (b)(c) and (d) of the 1999 Constitution provides for the use of a Referendum, when there is a proposal to create a new local government area. A Referendum Authority could therefore, also be used at State level whenever there is a request to create a new local government area. In summary, this means that the National Assembly has more than enough powers to establish a Referendum Authority, which could also be the precursor to a restructured, Federation or a radical new Constitution ‘for the good of the people’, if they exercise their right to have a Referendum.

Significantly, creating a Referendum Authority does not, in my view, dispense with the role of the National Assembly, who, depending on the regulatory framework ascribed to the Referendum Authority, may still have to sanction and approve a National Referendum. What the establishment of a Referendum Authority will do, is decentralise power and ensure that the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are allowed to exercise their power of sovereignty, and use it to take control of their destinies and resolve the many pressing problems afflicting their lives. Without the establishment of a Referendum Authority, the public is completely excluded from the possibility of

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila

asking for a Referendum, which cannot be right, as it is against the purpose and spirit of the 1999 Constitution. Therefore, the purpose of a Referendum Authority would be to reassert the suppressed rights of the people of this country, which have been trampled upon for decades, due to our inability to interpret the Constitution correctly. The Proposed Referendum Authority, does not necessarily have to be set up to be an Independent Statutory Authority. Part one of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, outlines the Federal Executive Bodies under Section 153 of

DEOH DQG HPLQHQWO\ TXDOLĂ€HG practitioner to be conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In later years, we interfaced in various aspects of the justice delivery system, and law in general. He had unusual aptitude for details, and was an avowed advocate ZKR W\SLĂ€HG OHJDO H[FHOOHQFH :H were also family friends, and VRFLDOLVHG DW GLÍżHUHQW IXQFWLRQV The news of his sudden demise was devastating and shocking.

At his home on this day, his wife (popularly referred to as "Mrs. B"), was inconsolable. "Erin wo" (The elephant has fallen). Adieu, "Mr. Badejo". You were indeed a good man.’

the 1999 Constitution. Section 14 of the Third Schedule provides for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Section 15 of the same Schedule outlines the power of the INEC. Subsection 15 (i) states as follows: (i) Carry out such other functions as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly In other words INEC could be given the responsibility by the National Assembly to manage a Referendum Authority within the purview of its responsibilities, without

the need to set up a separate Act for this purpose. INEC will, among other things, determine the criteria and threshold for a National Referendum.

Conclusion The most pernicious of practices, are those that continue to afflict us out of indifference. In calling for a Referendum Authority, which ideally should be embodied within INEC, a trite little point about having a Constitution for the benefit of the people is being made.

In the same vein, a much more interesting point about not having to amend the 1999 Constitution in order to have a Referendum, is equally being made.

When the power of direct democracy is given to the ordinary man in the strict sense, it means that as a people, we are free to do or request what those in the corridors of power might not necessarily approve, or do what the average politician or you or I might think is beyond their understanding. For far too long, we have tolerated a system that is designed to allow perceived leaders of thought, to make fundamental decisions for us. That is simply unfair to the many generations of unborn Nigerians. We need to build a country that works for everyone. Leaders, however wise, cannot change Nigeria, unless “We the People�, bring ourselves to the realisation that, we alone have the capacity to shape our own destinies and until we do so, nothing can really be achieved. The people need to be asked whether they want to fundamentally reshape our political structure, and as a consequence, our Constitution. A People’s Referendum is an important plank, in achieving the above objectives.

8/

09.06.2020

Are Virtual Court Hearings Constitutional? (Part 2)

O Introduction

of the question in dispute” outside a courtroom. The court may “adjourn to the place where the subject-matter of the said inspection may be, and the proceeding shall continue at that place until the court further adjourns back to its original place of sitting, or to some other place of sitting”.

n 26th May, 2020, we analysed this topical constitutional issue in Part 1. Today, we shall conclude our discourse: except there is an amendment to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, virtual court proceedings, shall be declared null and void. Mark my words.

I predicted in this manner in the Orji Uzor Kalu, Rivers, Bayelsa, Zamfara and Imo cases.

They all came to pass. It is better to tarry awhile, and amend the Constitution first.

Challenges Posed by Virtual Court Hearings Let us state right away that, our legal system has not been all analogue. After all, the Law Pavilion Electronic Law Report (LPELR), Nigerian Weekly Law Report (NWLR) electronic versions, have since been in use. However, aside the obvious constitutional obstacles posed by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, a virtual court hearing poses multi-faceted challenges beyond our immediate contemplation. Even advanced countries of the world with upscale technological, socio-economic and infrastructural development, still have open court sittings. I have watched the USA Supreme Court’s physical sittings, a couple of times.

Virtual Court sittings would have been less problematic, if they related only to mere harmless motions, non-adversarial applications, simple oral evidence and non-contentious threshold proceedings. The questions are legion: What happens when evidence is given, such that requires vigorous cross-examination and physical identification and calculation of figures, pictures, signatures, etc? How do you take finger prints electronically and prove same through the same process? How do you deal with our epileptic power supply, where some patients have been known to have died during operations due to sudden black out?

What about witnesses (and they are in the majority) resident in rural areas, who are involved in deadly chieftaincy, land and succession matters? How do you rail-road them into a zoom camera? What about the fact that unlike a normal court sitting where any member of the public can easily stroll in physically, zoom or skype proceedings are only accessible to those who have actually been invited, using a special password? Let us behold more virtual court challenges.

Online Dispute Resolution Proceedings Even some of the ‘Online Dispute Resolution’ (ODR) technological machines currently being used are only as efficient as their Internet Service Providers, leading to great risk of possible technical failures in the transmission of documents, or in the conduct of video-conferences. This impairs a party’s adequate response to allegations made by the opposing party (contrary to Section 36(2) (a) of the Constitution); a scenario not possible with traditional arbitration mechanisms.

Even at that, under Article 9 of the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, parties have the discretion as to what procedure shall be followed by an arbitral tribunal. This merely includes (not forced), the use of smart technologies and blockchain arbitration. However, such a party’s right to a free and fair trial is absolute, and he cannot waive or dispense with such a right; because it is a fundamental right which goes to the root of justice EYESAN v SANUSI (1984) LPELR-SC/107/1982.

Cybercrime on the Increase With cybercrime on the increase, sensitive documents of individuals, organisations and States, are liable to being hacked when subjected to virtual hearing or blockchain arbitration or ODR. The insecurity of confidentiality engendered by digitisation, raises serious legal and constitutional issues.

The present serial manipulations and photoshoppings inherent in technology, are dangerous in virtual court sittings. Have we not been entertained on the social media with Queen Elizabeth II dancing “owambe” with President Buhari, or Kim Jong-un, the President and Supreme leader of North Korea, suddenly opening up a booby trap and letting President Trump crash inside after Kim had carefully passed? To me, the very best that may happen for now, remains virtual hearings in extremely non-contentious simple applications, that merely complement (not displace outrightly) physical court hearings.

Visit to Locus in quo What will virtual court protagonists say, when a court decides to undertake a visit to “locus in quo” (scene of the event; where the cause of action arose)? I guess everyone will move there through the lenses of the camera, and then also cross-examine through the same lenses, on matters concerning the extent of a disputed piece of land.

As held by the Supreme Court, in NWANKPU & ANOR v EWULU & ORS (1995) LPELR – 2107 (SC): “... it is now an established principle of law that, there are certain matters that must be resolved by a visit to the locus

Witnesses’ Demeanour What happens to the well-known evidential issue, about a judex watching a witness’s physical demeanour to ascertain his credibility or otherwise? As held by the Apex Court in U.T.C. NIGERIA PLC v LAWAL (2013) LPELR-23003 (SC): “It is well settled that a trial judge who sees and hears the witnesses giving evidence before him has the exclusive right to assess their demeanour, so as to determine whether they are telling the truth or not. He can in this way, determine the credibility or otherwise of the testimony of every witness who testified before him.

If this is done properly, it is not for the Appeal Court to interfere in any way possible.” Per MUNTAKA- COOMASSIE, J.S.C. See also OGUN v AKINYELU & ORS (2004) LPELR-2319 (SC); MBAKWE v ESIONE (2016) LPELR-40954 (CA); NNADOZIE & ORS v MBAGWU (2008) LPELR-2-55 (SC); ONUOHA v STATE (1989) LPELR-2704 (SC).

Honourable Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CJN

in quo, such that at the locus in quo, the trial Judge will not avail himself of the mere belief, but of what he sees there.” Per OGUNDARE J.S.C. (P.36, paras. A-B).

See also KENON v TEKAM (1989) 5 NWLR (Pt 121) 366; OLUBODE v SALAMI (1985) 2 NWLR (Pt. 7) 282; OLUSANMI v OSHASONA (1992) 6 NWLR (Pt 245); EJIDIKE v OBIORA (1951) 13 WACA 270; ORUGBO v UNA (2002) LPELR – 2778 (SC); SEISMOGRAPH SERVICE (NIGERIA) LTD v AKPORUOVO (1974) 6 SC 111 at 128; ABDULLAHI & ORS v ADETUTU (2019) LPELR – 47384 (SC).

I guess the corpse of a deceased (the circumstances of whose death are hotly disputed by the prosecution and defence, and which must therefore, be exhumed for autopsy), could also be done through zoom? Haba!

In addition to the above decided cases, the Administration Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) provides in Section 263 for visit to locus in quo, and for the Defendant to be “present at the viewing of the place, person or thing concerned”. At this locus, the “court shall give directions as it may deem fit, for the purpose of preventing communication between the witnesses and the Defendant.”

While Section 127(1)(b) of the Evidence Act provides for a court’s visit to the locus in quo; and that the court “may, if it deems fit, inspect any moveable or improvable property, the inspection of which may be material to the proper determination of the question in dispute”, Section 127 of the Evidence Act also permits a court to inspect “any moveable or immovable property, the inspection of which may be material to the proper determination

“WHAT WILL VIRTUAL COURT PROTAGONISTS SAY, WHEN A COURT DECIDES TO UNDERTAKE A VISIT TO “LOCUS IN QUO” (SCENE OF THE EVENT; WHERE THE CAUSE OF ACTION AROSE)? I GUESS EVERYONE WILL MOVE THERE THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE CAMERA, AND THEN ALSO CROSSEXAMINE THROUGH THE SAME LENSES.....”

Contempt In Facie Curiae Contempt proceedings are used as a weapon to preserve the dignity and authority of the court, by punishing disobedience or disrespectful conduct towards a court of law or its officers, so as to maintain justice. In OMOIJAHE v UMORU & ORS. (1999) LPELR-2645 (SC), the Supreme Court held: “A superior court of record has the inherent jurisdiction to deal with contempt in facie curiae, and punish for the offence summarily.” Per KATSINA ALU J.S.C. See also INEC & ANOR. v OGUEBEGO & ORS (2017) LPELR-42609 (CA); SHERIFF & ANOR. v PDP & ORS (2017) LPELR-41805 (CA); AG OF EDO STATE & ANOR. v CHURCHGATE INDUSTRIES LTD & ANOR. (2016) LPELR-41439 (CA); OKAFOR v ORANU & ORS (2017) LPELR-42778 (CA).

The Constitution and Virtual Court Sittings Section 36 (1) provides: “In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.

(3) The proceedings of a court or the proceedings of any tribunal relating to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) of this section (including the announcement of the decisions of the court or tribunal) shall be held in public.

(6) Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled toa. be informed promptly in the language that he understands and in detail of the nature of the offence; b. be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence; c. defend himself in person or by legal practitioners of his own choice; d. examine, in person or by his legal practitioners, the witnesses called by the prosecution before any court or tribunal, and obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court or tribunal on the same conditions as those applying to the witnesses called by the prosecution”.

The law is now well settled from a plethora of decided cases that, a court must “sit in public”. In OSIGWELEM v INEC & ORS (2008) LPELR – 4805 (CA),the Intermediate Court held that: “proceedings of courts or tribunals established under the law not conducted in public but in other places, including the Judges' chambers to which members of the public do not have free and unfettered access, are null and void, and therefore, no proceedings. Neither the Court or Tribunal, nor the agreement or consent of the parties can validate such proceedings.” – per Garba, JCA, at p.14. The court held that, proceedings which were conducted by the lower tribunal in chambers with respect to the Appellant’s petition, violated the provisions of Section 36 (3) of the 1999 Constitution. See also ABARSHI v COP (2005) 5 NWLR (917) 36 at 489; ACB PLC v NTS NIG LTD (2007) 1 NWLR (Pt 1010) 596; EDIBO v STATE (2007) 13 NWLR (Pt 1051) 306.

If proceedings in a Judge’s Chambers can be wholly voided because “members of the public do not have free and unfettered access”, how much more proceedings that are limited to invited viewers only through an advertised password, but also to which “members of the public do not have free and unfettered access”?

[To be concluded].

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “There’s always such a rush to judgement. It makes a fair trial hard to get.” - John Grisham

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Burden of Delayed PIB Passage As Nigeria prepares for life after the COVID-19 pandemic, there is urgent need for the National Assembly expedite action in the passage of the prolonged Petroleum Industry Bill, writes Peter Uzoho The ravaging COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant economic hardship majorly caused by the drop in the price of crude oil –Nigeria’s largest revenue earner, has seen the federal government struggling to meet its obligations to citizens.

Apart from trying to meet the needs of the citizens at this present time, the government is also strategizing to see how the country can survive even after the pandemic.

To this end, oil and gas experts and policy analysts have advocated for urgent reform of the nation’s petroleum industry so that the space would be opened up for massive investments and increased value addition for the country. At the heart of the call is the need for the current National Assembly to accord an emergency attention to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that is before it and expedite its passage.

Nigerian oil and gas industry has for long been begging for such reform as the law guiding the industry at the moment has become obsolete and no longer relevant to the present realities having been in place since 1969.

At various meetings and fora, operators and experts in the industry have continued to call for a petroleum law that will help to attract investment to the country.

The PIB The PIB has been in the works for close to two decades, as it was first introduced in the National Assembly in the 2000, thereby making it easily the bill that has spent the longest time under our bi-cameral legislative bodies.

Having suffered a setback in the Seventh Assembly, it was decided that a new approach would be adopted to facilitate its passage and signing into law.

The bill was subsequently unbundled into several segments by the Eighth National Assembly, which was aimed at making it easier for the less-controversial aspects of the bill to have easy passage while the more controversial aspects are dwelt more upon.

The PIB was therefore split into four parts, namely: Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB); Petroleum Industry Administrative Bill (PIAB); Petroleum Host and Impacted Community Bill (PHIB); and Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill (PIFB).

PIGB Passed by 8th NASS In January 2018, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill was passed by the House of Representatives. This marked a significant milestone in the journey of replacing the obsolete Petroleum Act of (1969), as the Senate had earlier passed the PIGB in May, 2017.

Some of the underlying principles include: effective and capable institution, clear roles and accountabilities, and transparency and ease of doing business.

Core objectives in the PIGB include: provision of a one-stop-shop regulatory authority, provision of functional commercial entities, abolition of discretional powers, engendering improved technology and innovation, ensuring clarity of roles and accountabilities and creation of efficient and effective governing institutions with clear and separate roles in the petroleum industry Others are establishment of a framework for the creation of commercially-oriented and profit-driven petroleum entities that ensure value addition and internationalisation of petroleum industry, promotion of transparency and accountability in the administration of the petroleum resources of Nigeria, and creation of conducive business environment for the petroleum industry operations.

The key institutions in the PIGB are: The minister for policy formation, directing, industry co-ordination and supervision); Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which will succeed Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and Inspectorate – to regulate, promote enabling environment for investments, issue licenses and conduct bid rounds, measurement & hydrocarbon accounting, and environmental regulation.

It will also issue regulations, administer and enforce laws, to have a special investigations unit, to monitor and ensure compliance, to regulate,

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan to ensure best practice, to promote investment and value creation, it has inbuilt accountability mechanisms, and board supervision.

National Petroleum Company (for commercial operations), National Petroleum Asset, Management Company (for commercial operations), Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, Petroleum Technology Development, Petroleum Infrastructure Fund The PIAB deals with issues relating to administration in the oil and gas industry and it sets out to provide robust regulations, licensing and permits, simplicity and predictability, access to assets, and Encodes Executive Order 001.

On its part, the PHIB bothers on host communities and it sets out ensure inclusiveness, shared prosperity direct disbursement, harmonious relationships, reducing deferments.

Also, the PIFB focuses on the fiscal regimes in the oil and gas industry and it sets out to achieve profitable growth, cost efficiency, increased revenues, making gas work and staying competitive.

However, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva; the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, have all assured Nigerians that the PIB would be passed this year.

Precisely, Gbajabiamila had in February, assured that the House would pass the bill this month.

Unfortunately, this month is fast running out and not much has been heard about the bill

by Nigerians Disappearing Opportunity There has been a flight of new investments opportunities from Nigerian to our neighbour’s in Ghana, Angola and Equatorial Guinea who have more defined laws and governance structure. Experts estimate that the country loses approximately $15 million annually due to the dampened investor confidence in the industry.

Commenting on the delayed bill and its negative impact on Nigeria, the Chairman of Entek Integrated Resources Limited/Lead Promoter of EnergyhubTM, Dr. Amieyeofori Felix, said the delay had led to investors moving their investments away from Nigeria to other African countries that have more stable and predictive fiscal environment.

Felix also frowned upon the move by the senate to draft the bill from the scratch and begin fresh consultation, saying that would further delay its passage.

He even doubted the possibility of starting the bill afresh and finalising it this year.

Gbajabiamila According to him, “So if you are delaying this, what does it mean? What do you want to achieve? How long? What is wrong with the existing one? How do we amend it? What do we do? People have to sit down and look at this and not just use a fiat. “For the sake of the economy, for the sake of Nigeria, we have to ask ourselves, is that the best way to go? Are you sure if you open it up now you can close it by 2022? Can you do that? “And we have to ask them, what is the implication of opening up the PIB again for another stakeholders’ engagement? “What does it mean to everybody? what does it mean to your investment? What does it mean to your short-term, medium-term and long-term projection? What does it mean to your economy? I think that is the way Nigeria should start thinking going forward.�

Also speaking on the need to have the PIB passed, the immediate-past Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Bank Anthony Okoroafor, said: “We must strive to pass the PIB and get the presidential assent. The key is to have the PIB that gives competitive fiscal terms to attract investments and streamline all our fiscal terms to help the country raise revenue and also assure investors of fiscal certainty and win-win situation.�

Also reacting to the issue, the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, opined that Nigeria cannot afford any further delay in the presentation and passage of the PIB, noting that the absence of an appropriate legal framework had been a major undoing of the Nigerian economy.

According to him, “we have not been able to unlock huge investments, revenues and thousands of quality job opportunities for this reason. The PIB was first introduced to the floor of National Assembly in 2003, over 16 years ago. “Since then, the bill has undergone several reviews and elicited diverse sentiments among stakeholders, making it one of the most contentious bills in recent memory.�

The LCCI DG explained that the importance of passing the PIB was underscored by the fact that the oil and gas industry was very strategic to the economy of Nigeria, and that the industry currently accounts for about 80 per cent of the government revenue and about 95 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.

He added: “Today, that revenue is facing a serious risk of shortfall from illegal bunkering, declining demand from buyers, stalled investments in the oil and gas sector and emerging technology in renewable energy. “We are of the view that the government

should not be oblivious of the rapidly evolving nature of the dynamics in the global oil and gas industry. “We are concerned about the face of rapidly evolving competition in the global oil and gas market, and the increasing challenges such as insecurity and uncertain investment climate. “The policy uncertainty around the oil and gas sector continues to undermine the confidence of investors in the sector. It is of interest to note that several oil producing and service companies have left the country on account of these challenges.�

Yusuf, pointed out that recent feedback from operators in the oil and gas industry showed a number of concerns, among which, according to him, were that the, “Niger Delta region remains a dangerous place to operate for oil companies and this add to operating cost.� “Special security arrangements such as provision of convoys, security support and flight operations currently add around 12 per cent to Joint Venture (JV) costs; government finds it difficult to meet its own share of Joint Venture (JV) funding obligations. “This seriously undermines growth in the onshore and shallow water – especially in the country’s gas sector; and it takes an unduly long time to secure approvals for contracts compared to other oil producing countries. “The above concerns highlight the need for a clear understanding of the contentious issues surrounding previous version of the bill and build stakeholders’ consensus.

The PIB is very critical for Nigeria and we cannot afford to get it wrong or delay its passage/approval any further,� he added.

The passage of the bill would engender investor confidence in the industry and attract more Foreign Direct Investments.

In addition, with oil prices hitting an all-time low as a result of price wars between Saudi Arabia and Russia as well as reduced demand occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is apparent that oil dominance as an energy source of choice in the post COVID-19 economy will be challenged.

The time is therefore ripe to streamline the number of MDA’s involved in the governance structure in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, which conforms to the overall target of the government in reducing cost of governance based on current realities and scarce resources.

A single regulatory body would ensure end to end project cycle approval which will greatly reduce transaction cost, eliminate regulatory competition and enhance value maximisation.

It will also promote the Executive Order 001 on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ewubare: NNPC Diversifying to Mitigate Oil Sector Challenges The Chief Operating Officer, Ventures and Business Development, NNPC, Mr. Roland Ewubare, in this interview on Arise TV, speaks on how the corporation is resolving some of its current challenges. Emmanuel Addeh brings excerpts: The NNPC is working on reducing its cost of production per barrel of oil. Can the $10 target be met?

The $10 figure our GMD mentioned as production cost is an aspirational figure. We look at where we are coming from in terms of cost and what the larger cost drivers are for us in the industry.

Against that backdrop, the conversation about cost becomes an imperative and urgent one. You have got to understand that at the macro-economic level which you focus on a lot on your programme, oil the backbone of our economy, in terms of contribution to GDP is not that much, between 7 and 11 per cent depending on the year in question, but as a contributor to our foreign exchange earnings and contribution to national budget, it plays an important role in our nation. Whenever you have a price regime like we have right now, where commodity prices are low, the only way we are able to squeeze out some reasonable cushion in terms of cash and financial gains to the federation is by containing and constricting our costs.

Our costs are driven by a multiplicity of factors, our staff cost. You and I know that the oil and gas industry in Nigeria probably pays the highest salaries, they even pay more than banks. That is a huge part of what we spend money on. The environment in which we operate, our primary production base in the Niger Delta, still have issues around security, militancy and all of that.

So, all of those add an extra layer of cost to production. There are many countries in this world where their citizens don’t vandalise national infrastructure. So, they don’t have the added cost that we have.

For us to move equipment to an offshore location, we need mobile policemen loaded with weapons and that comes with added cost. But to address that question, $10 is an aspiration. When are we getting there? We are looking very actively at hitting that threshold before the end of quarter four of 2021. It’s an aggressive target for sure.

How did the production get so high compared to other countries?

The current cost structure we have is a fallback from the high commodity cost regime we had a few years back of about 100 to 110 dollars per barrel. Some of the projects that were sanctioned at that time used that price point based on certain assumptions. Now that prices have gone down, it will take a while for the industry to recalibrate and readjust to a more reasonable cost regime.

It’s a work in progress, but we are certain that at the end of next year, we will be able to get to $10 per barrel as our operating cost. For our technical costs, they are a separate matter.

What is your business unit doing in the area of research and development, cost saving and deployment of technology that can assist, like in the NPDC in bringing down cost?

NPDC is our flagship Exploration and Production company as a nation. NPDC’s peers are shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and such other indigenous companies. So, when we talk about reducing cost, if we tell the IOC’s to reduce cost and then our own in-house E and P company carries a cost profile that’s exaggerated, it’s not sustainable.

So, the same tactics and pressures we apply to those major partners, we apply to NPDC as well. Technology and innovation is key and interesting, but for now we are not using research and innovation to try and cut down our cost. In my initial remarks, I said the costs we have are a relic of the days of high prices, a relic of the environment in which we operate. Yes, we can use technology to address some security issues in the Niger Delta, for example.

But there is only so much technology you can use to reduce headcount and human beings in a country where we have high unemployment in terms of our critical workforce and our talent pool. We have very limited places where we can apply the hammer and trim some excess fat. We have ideas in place in NNPC to sort of diversify our income stream so that we are better able to manage this boom and burst circle which characterises the oil and gas sector.

The oil and gas sector as you well know works in a boom and bust circle and many of

plans are on track and the investors are very much online. And again because it’s part of the Siemens initiative, we are very confident that it will be delivered on time.

Can you brief us on the issue of dead ďŹ sh found around the coastline in the Niger Delta, was it caused by oil spills or oil exploration activities?

I read about that in the media, dead fish around the coast of Bayelsa. There’s a specific agency that handles that. The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and I believe they did an investigation and the report says they couldn’t draw any causal link to hydrocarbon activities. That it might be some other activity that occurred or an industrial type process that resulted in this one-off process. I don’t have any evidence to the contrary. That said, environmental degradation remains a major issue in our country.

What we can do is that we have a very active Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) processes in NNPC and also our partners and we take these issues very seriously. If it’s being attributed to one of our partners as being responsible for the dead fish, we certainly would have been involved in that process and take measures to remediate the situation, but NOSDRA told us that this particular instance is not linked to any hydrocarbon activities.

Ewubare our competitors and service companies set up other businesses to manage them. So, when you have low oil prices, you make some money from somewhere else.

What other areas are you looking at making money from?

You see NNPC for example, we have a seismic company, IDSL, in Benin for example, which I was Managing Director of, it was a very small company six to seven years ago, but last year the company posted revenues in excess of $100 million. That’s still not too much money, but in an environment where you are looking for every penny to run the national budget, it is critical. We have an engineering company in Lagos called NETCO, that’s the national engineering and technical company. NETCO historically couldn’t pay staff salaries, but because of the work we have done in revamping all these businesses, NETCO only last year did over $150 million in revenues.

Now, they are totally independent and paying their own salaries and are able to contribute and stream dividends into the NNPC and to the federation. So, there are different ideas and plans we have in place to diversify the income base of the corporation for the greater good of the nation and over the next few months you will see these things rolling out.

Covid-19 has slowed us down a bit, but we are sure that we will get back to business’s.

In the area of gas aring, why is it that the NNPC has been unable to work with partners to harness the gas that is ared and wasted every year.

Gas flaring is an issue. I am from the Niger Delta. My dad took us all over Nigeria, because he was an army officer. At least once a year, he will take us back to the Niger Delta to see his parents.

I was always fascinated by the flames of light that went up into the skies as a child. I turned 53 on Sunday. These flares were in existence before I was born, and they are still burning till burning.

In a country where we have major deficits in energy access, it makes absolutely no sense to be burning gas. Various governments have put in place a commercialisation programme to manage gas flaring.

But I am happy to announce, like you have seen in the media today that yesterday the federal government released guidelines for the commercialisation of gas flares.

So, there are about 200 flare points in the country, but not all of them belong to us. There are those who own their own assets. But for the government, it’s about a little over 100 that are now going

to be put up as part of this commercialisation programme.

It’s run by the ministry of petroleum resources and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

So, NNPC doesn’t have a direct role in it, but to the extent that the gas flares points come from our joint venture partners, we will probably need to sit at the table when that conversation is had.

But I do agree that the associated gas that we flare right now through an intelligent programme, we can sequester and capture those molecules and use it for the benefit of the broader economy.

We can use it for the compressed natural gas to drive public transport vehicles, you can do LPG and quite a number of things. We haven’t done a good enough job, working with our IOC partners to see how to utilise that gas efficiently.

Mele Kyari said the $2.8 billion AKK gas pipeline project is scheduled for completion in 2022. Has your business unit undertaken any feasibility or environmental impact assessment?

We are a serious corporation. We won’t sanction a $2.8 billion without doing basic due diligence around environmental assessment and feasibility.

AKK is a massive project. It’s a 620 kilometre gas line that’s going to run from Ajaokuta to Kaduna and into Kano. When it is completed, it can transport a fully loaded two billion quantity of gas on a daily basis. It’s massive and the whole idea is to have that whole gas infrastructure in place. Wherever you have gas or energy, development follows.

That means that northern Nigeria corridor will now be open for significant expansion in terms of industrial capacity. The line is going to service various gas-based industries, but it’s primarily for three major power plants in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

Abuja is 1,350 megawatts, I believe, Kaduna the same size and then Kano is 900 megawatts or so.

So 3,600 megawatts of electricity will come from these and you add that to national grid and you begin to see the multiplier effect on industrialisation and impact on the lives of people. It’s a major investment and it should be up for commissioning in 2022 by our current aspiration.

With regards to thermal units, what is the guarantee that they will be ready for commissioning at the scheduled time?

The plants are going to be integrated into Siemens electrification plan and there has been significant and intelligent work around debottlenecking and unlocking all the problems we have with our electricity framework. Generation, through transmission and distribution. I am not directly involved in that process. But I am aware that the

Let’s talk about proďŹ tability. Other than NNPC subsidiaries and the IOCs, are there any other organisations you are partnering with to develop and pursue initiatives that will grow NNPC? If you take a historical timeline of oil and gas, you will know it’s a boom and bust cyclical waves. So, what most operators do is to create other streams of revenue that might help during downturns.

Fortunately, I worked for a service company in the US, Schlumberger, the largest service company in the world. Shclumberger is an oil service company but back then we had two other businesses, the one in silver valley, California that made testing equipment for silicon chips. The chips in your phone, pentium processor etc and they had a water measuring business as well. No linkage to oil and gas, but those businesses provided the cushion during difficult times. Halliburton, for the longest time, were the owners of KPR, so in the same vein, in NNPC what we want to do is to create an energy company, not just an oil and gas company. And that’s why we are moving into renewable energy. We have initiatives around solar that’s paying off. We have biofuel agreements with various state governments. We are trying to activate those programmes more rapidly. Within NNPC itself, we have a bunch of non-core businesses. NNPC is one of the biggest landlords in this country. Here in Lagos, just behind Chevron, we have 90,000 hectares of land in a country where there’s a housing deficit, we are happy to collaborate with private developers to develop these assets.

We have land in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and everywhere. We have hospitals and clinics all across the country. In a country where many of our citizens fly out on a daily basis to go seek medical attention abroad, if we are able to create centres of medical excellence here, then all that foreign exchange will be saved for the country.

And the ease of care will be better, since you do have your family here. So, we do have a bunch of non-core directorates. What we are trying to do now is to expand the businesses but primarily in collaboration with the private sector whose core business is around these areas. Because we are oil men, not running hospitals. So, if we have a medical type company that wants to collaborate with us, we will be happy to talk to them. Same for those in housing estate business, they are welcome. We talked about cost, about 30 per cent of our cost are on logistics. We are now having a conversation with some of the biggest logistics providing companies in Nigeria to have NNPC partner in their businesses. All kinds of initiatives we have that are currently at incubation level.

When they mature fully, the Nigerian nation will see the benefit of it and you and I as shareholders of NNPC will also get the benefits of it.

20

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Banks Urged to Expand Financial Inclusion Ugo Aliogo Financial institutions have been urged to provide services and products such as micro-insurance, micro-credit, among others. A communiquĂŠ made available to THISDAY by the Consumer Awareness and Financial Enlightenment Initiative (CAFEi), recommended that for people to be financially included, they must be economically included and have access to decent jobs and decent pay.

It also stated that people should also have access to basic payment system, insurance and credit, as well as financial products that would enable them improve their quality of life and grow their wealth. According to the communiquĂŠ, “Expanding branches

in the rural areas is therefore not the answer rather a tailored and affordable solution is required to meet the needs and wants of rural customers. “The influence of technology is primary to improving financial inclusion, and such solutions may include deploying agent banking, USSD, and others.�

It stated that inclusion remains very low (below 10%) in terms of access to insurance and credit, adding that usage of such products on the other hand, depends on people’s level of economic participation and awareness. CAFEi also noted that the major barrier to financial inclusion was no longer lack of access to financial infrastructure, but inadequate knowledge about available opportunities and inabil-

ity of existing financial products to cater for the people’s needs.

The group further explained that in a bid to reduce the financial inclusion gaps, the financial sector may need to redirect majority of the resources spent on infrastructure to financial education and enlightenment. “Fintechs have an opportunity to contribute to improving financial products and services due to their light footprint and innovation. They have however tended to focus on the payment subsector, acting more like pay techs rather than Fintechs. “Untapped opportunities exist in the area of blockchain which may be leveraged to fix the chronic issue of identity management,� it added.

Customers Hail UBA on Upgraded Mobile Banking App The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc’s recently upgraded mobile banking app has continued to attract commendation.

According to a report, over the past few weeks following the upgrade, social media sites including twitter, Instagram and even Facebook have been agog with excellent comments about the ambience, functionality and versatility of UBA’s revamped mobile app.

The latest of such glowing reviews came last weekend, from a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, who on his social media handles, gave kudos to the bank for introducing lots of exciting and interactive features to aid banking, while allowing customers to perform unlimited transactions from the comfort of their mobile phones.

Chidoka, a former Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road

Safety Corps, pointed out that the bank put into play its experience as an institution with several decades of operations as well as modern technology to come up with a revamped app worthy of emulation by other financial institutions some of which he mentioned in his post. “UBA, surprised me with a massive improvement on their app. I used to consider them the sleeping giant of Nigerian banking. I thought they had great brand equity and name recognition. “UBA combined the savvy feel of a new generation bank with the history of a legacy bank. As I opened their mobile app today, I couldn’t help but give them a high five. The app is beautiful, user interface is great, navigation is seamless and the need to go to a branch is reduced for small users like us.�

While urging other banks

to borrow a leaf from UBA’s move, Chidoka continued, “As a customer, I have always challenged the banks on their slow adaptation to change and weak emphasis on improving customer experience. I pray UBA pushes forward in this direction and continues to surpass themselves.

Sooner than later disruptive online banks will change the face of banking in Nigeria, hence the need for constant innovation by the industry.�

Some Nigerians like Maduka Vivian, who reacted to his post also praised the app, saying “UBA app is simply the best, you can even generate receipts for transactions done long ago.�

Another user, Tayo Agbeh, said, “UBA is taking their rightful position in the industry. I’m quite sure the bank will sustain the lead�, while Felix Okechi Oguike, who was impressed by the glowing tributes quipped.

Wema Bank Reopens Branches Nationwide Wema Bank Plc has announced that it has reopened all its branches nationwide.

In a statement, the bank revealed that all its branches have resumed normal services from 8am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays.

The MD/CEO Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Ademola Adebise, explained that, “though work resumes in earnest, what is of utmost importance is the health and safety of all.�

He said the bank would take necessary precautionary

measures to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

Also, Head of Brands and Marketing Communications, Mrs Funmilayo Falola disclosed that, “while at work, staff are to ensure they keep to all our health protocols, like wearing of face masks, disinfecting work desks regularly, and frequently making use of hand sanitisers.�

Adebise also urged bank customers to maintain strict adherence to the safety protocols both in the banking halls and in their respective

environments. “Customers are advised to take absolute responsibility for their safety and that of their families. “Be vigilant in your neighbourhoods, on the roads, and in the banking halls. It is important for us all to be as alert as ever and not take the eased lockdown as a room for laxity,� he said.

The bank also advised that although the banking halls are open, it is much safer and convenient to bank from home using the alternative channels.

Group Donates Palliatives to Toge Community Kasim Sumaina Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË No fewer than 100 households in Toge community, Abuja have benefited from the Junior Chamber International (JCI) ASO N1 million worth of food items and 500 face masks.

The idea behind the donations, according to JCI ASO was to sensitise the community and also to cushion the effect of coronavirus on them.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event held recently, the Director of Projects and Programs, Olubunmi Ajayi, said, “We are targeting100 families for the food and more than five hundred face masks to distribute to the community.�

According to her, “we noticed that there is need to cushion the effect of Convid-19 on people, especially people in rural areas, I mean in our local communities where we know that it has not been easy for them. “And they have been sitting at home now for almost two months that people have been in their houses and you know people have not been working. “We actually brought all these to Toge community because when we were doing needs assessment of the project, we had three communities in mind but when we came to Toge, could you believe that out of every fourty-five people that were surveyed, it was only two

people that had a face mask on and we thought that was not right because these are the people that go to our markets to sell and buy food. “All the 12 tribes in this community are represented here. This is roughly a million but the face masks were just a donation. Government can only do their best and we really can’t rely on them for all the things that we need.�

Ajayi, observed that the most worrisome about the community was lack of sensitisation as many were not really aware of the effect of the virus. “There is no sensitisation and they don’t even know about corona virus.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ Íł Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $36.83 a barrel on Friday, compared with $34.84 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), 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

21

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2020

MARKET NEWS

BUA Cement Grows Profit by 26% to N20bn in First Quarter Goddy Egene BUA Cement Plc has recorded a 25.1 per cent increase in revenue to N54 billion, from the N43.1 billion recorded in its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

BUA Cement’s profit before tax (PBT) grew by 15.7 per cent from N17.4 billion to N20.1 billion, while profit after tax (PAT) rose by 26.2 per cent from N15.7 billion to

N19.8 billion.

Commenting on the results, , the Managing Director/CEO of BUA Cement Plc, Yusuf Binji said the performance in the Q1 financial results amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was another landmark recorded by the company since its listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

According to him, the company’s performance was buoyed by an increase in

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production capacity from five million metric tonnes at the end of Q1’2019 to eight million metric tonnes currently.

He added that the company’s strong product differentiation strategy which translates to an increasing appreciation of BUA Cement product offering and a growing distribution network across existing and new markets also boosted the performance. “In response to the global pandemic, we implemented

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our COVID business continuity programme built into our corporate governance framework. This minimises disruptions along the value chain, prioritises the safety of workers and customers; and assesses probable scenarios a prolonged lockdown would have on the business. “Clearly, our strong-showing epitomises the effect of further growth in output but most importantly, a growing appre-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

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ciation of the value and service offering we continue to afford customers in the market place: with sales revenue increasing by 25.1 per cent to N54 billion. “We continue to anticipate changes to customer and market behaviour, aimed at further strengthening our value model, even as we continue our push into ‘new markets,� he said.

Binji said as the COVID-19 virus makes landfall, they

O F

believe the current measures in place should help minimise plausible downside risks, stressing that the company is poised to take advantage of an upturn in market activities. “BUA Cement is committed to quality, a differentiating attribute, driven by its people, innovation and technology; and positioned to solving Nigeria and Africa’s challenges while driving economic growth and development,� he added.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2020

22

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT WED: Nigerians Urged to Prepare for a Post- COVID-19 World Bennett Oghifo

C

hairman of THISDAY Group and Arise TV, Nduka Obaigbena has advised Nigerians to prepare for a post-COVID-19 world, taking into consideration their relationship with the rest of humanity.

Obaigbena, who gave the advice during the commemoration of the 2020 UN World Environment Day, hosted by Lafarge Africa via Zoom, noted that this year’s event was being held at a time of major issues of biosecurity, with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, and not just those of biodiversity alone.

This year’s UN World Environment Day, which was brought

by UN Information Centre Nigeria and GreenhubAfrica, had the theme Biodiversity and the Mighty Earth. It was headlined

by Arise TV, THISDAY, with other media partners- Channels TV, and EbonyLife TV. Obaigbena, in his comment, ‘Highlighting the critical role of the Media in Environmental News awareness’, said the “Coronavirus is redefining

how we live and about how we work. We all have to rethink the new world that is before us and how are we going to shape it, how are we going to manage it, and how are we going to run health and livelihoods. In doing that, there is a whole mantra resetting the environment or doing it in an environmentally friendly way so that we can avoid all the dangers of naturethunderstorms. Luckily for us in Nigeria, perhaps in other parts of Africa, we are not affected by major earthquakes, but we do have the effect of desertification in the North, which is leading to population movement from the North to the South, which is seeing the drying up of Lake Chad, and which is causing lots of insecurity.”

He said, “As we reshape our future for mankind, we have to be cognizant of our growing population, our smaller land mass and the environment.

How are we going to shape our country in a post-COVID world?”

He recalled talks about COVID-19 being over but said he was not too sure about that, adding “I’m not so sure that it is over. I believe we are beginning

to see the impact. Maybe we are at the middle, maybe we’re at the end, but nobody can tell you if and when it will be over, but we just have to live life with it, we have to have a new normal, we have to reset our business models, we have to reset our life patterns. We have to rethink our society, how we respond to the challenges ahead.”

Obaigbena, who was Chairman of this year’s maiden World Environment Day webinar by Lafarge, then tasked the participants to “bring new ideas that we can use to reshape our future as a nation, as a people and as a community in the world.”

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa, Mr. Khalid El Dokani said he was excited by the fact that the webinar on the environment was able to hold despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said these are indeed unprecedented times that required all to pay attention to everything that matters, including the environment, and called on all to play a role in the preservation of nature, stating that it was a call to action.

He said Lafarge Africa, as an

organisation, had environmental conservation as one of its core pillars, and at the heart of their sustainability strategy. “Our environment pillar complements our other sustainability ambitions in the areas of climate and energy, circular economy and community.”

On this year’s WED focus on Biodiversity and the theme, ‘Time for Nature’, he said further underscored the need to be considerate about nature and more importantly about its collective preservation.

He said his company ensured that operate a robust environment management system, stating that in line with the commitment they implement rehabilitation and reclamation requirements in all their quarry sites, while implementing biodiversity management programmes.

On water, he said they are reducing freshwater withdrawals, water impact to the environment and that they also support sustainability of water resources, especially by making provisions in water-scarce areas. “All our dry process plants are built with water recirculation systems to encourage reuse and recycling

of process water. As a matter of duty to nature, we are seeking new ways of conservation for today and for the future.”

He said they planted 26,000 tree seedlings were planted last year in their facilities at Ewekoro, Sagamu and Ashaka, adding that they have so far planted over 4000 indigenous trees in their quarry sites between 2011 and this year.

He urged everyone at the conference to think of their respective roles in preserving the environment for generations to come. “This is a call to action for everyone present, that we must spread the word in support of nature, while encouraging safe practices in our respective communities to reinforce that the time for nature is now.”

In his opening speech, the Director, United Nations Information Centre, Mr. Ronald Kayanja presented the message of the UN Secretary General, António Guterres on World Environment Day. According to Guterres, “Nature is sending us a clear message. We are harming the natural world – to our own detriment. Habitat degradation and biodiversity loss are

accelerating. Climate disruption is getting worse. Fires, floods, droughts and superstorms are more frequent and damaging.

Oceans are heating and acidifying, destroying coral ecosystems.

And now, a new Coronavirus is raging, undermining health and livelihoods.

“To care for humanity, we MUST care for nature. We need our entire global community to change course. Let’s rethink what we buy and use. Adopt sustainable habits, farming and business models. Safeguard remaining wild spaces and wildlife. And commit to a green and resilient future. As we work to build back better, let’s put nature where it belongs -- at the heart of our decision making. On this World Environment Day, it’s Time for Nature.”

The panelists were: Angele Luh, Head of United Nations Environmental Programme West Africa; Prof. Bola Oboh, Director Research and Innovation, University of Lagos; Mrs. Belinda Odeneye, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment; and Ibrahim Salau, Managing Director, Environmental Accord Limited.

Dradrock Real Estate Positions for Housing Solutions with TEE-A Bennett Oghifo Dradrock Real Estate Limited, a Lagos-based property Development Company, recently unveiled famous Nigerian comedian, master of ceremonies, television personality, show host and content producer, TeeA, also known as ‘Babatunde Adewale a Brand partner.

Dradrock Real Estate Limited, which prides itself as dedicated to providing the most accessible real estate solutions with the highest possible industry standards, has with this partnership broke the norm.

It is not common for a brand to partner with a comedian in a market where the focus has always been on music and movie stars. “This explains why it was such an exciting time,” officials of the company said.

A celebrity, according to Hershey Friedman and Linda Friedman in their paper Endorser Effectiveness “is a personality -usually an actor, entertainer, or athlete- who is known to the public for his or her accomplishment in areas other than the product class endorsed.” The usage of celebrities as brand ambassadors within the ambits of marketing communications has become a veritable tool which brand owners have consistently explored to position their respective brands, thereby giving them the top of mind awareness with consumers.

Besides, the emergence of Marshal McLuhan’s envisioned ‘global village’ through the renewed impact of the mass media, heightened by the digital media expansion, have collectively made the business of celebrity branding a huge

success if well-defined and the celebrity has the clout to reach the target market segment. This explains why International Sports icons and super entertainers like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Davido, David Beckham, Serena Williams, and the like, have elevated various brands through endorsements in their respective profession.

The unveiling of Tee-A as a brand partner to Dradrock Real Estate Limited took place last week at the company’s highbrow office in Lekki, Lagos. After the brief signing ceremony, Tee-A was formally presented to a gathering of top company officials, media editors, brand-marketing communicators, and social media influencers.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, the MD/CEO of Dradrock Real Estate Limited, Oladipo Idowu-Agida, expressed optimum satisfaction that the consummation of the brand partnership that has been in the pipeline for some time, has eventually become a reality with the public presentation. He carefully traced the touch-points of the company’s connection with Tee-A, which started as a client-customer relationship over a period before it elevated to the present partnership arrangement.

Speaking further, Mr. IdowuAgida revealed some verifiable yardsticks behind the choice of Tee-A as Brand Partner. His words: “we place a strong premium on educating and informing our consumers, so we had to dig deep, based on consumer preferences through research, to identify a particular celebrity whose character is congruent with our

brand. Considering that we had an existing relationship, it was easy for us to identify those salient qualities Tee-A has been that congruent with our brand culture. Looking at all these, we all will agree that Tee-A will create a great impact in the minds of all segments of our current and prospective consumers with his versatile personality profile.

“Tee-A’s level of awareness on real estate and his top-notch influence in the society, made him the ideal candidate to reach out to different facets of our consumers in the Nigerian real estate market and the diaspora market.”

“I believe this relationship will surely add value to our organization,” Idowu-Agida explained further.

Also commenting after the formal signing of the partnership agreement, TeeA described his relationship with Dradrock as one that has come a long way and will be mutually beneficial to all partners involved. Although he is known more with comedy and entertainment, he acknowledged that he had been a real estate aficionado for a long time, so the partnership will not only attract goodwill to Dradrock but also strategic advice and suggestions. In his words: “The partnership will surely boost the position of the organization in the marketplace.”

However, Tee-A still expressed great joy for the honor of being engaged as the Brand Partner of Dradrock.

“To have been chosen amongst the galaxy of celebrities and Stars in Nigeria is humbling and encouraging.” He said that he is poised to bring joy to real estate consumers and

drive home all the important messages concerning development and investments options that Dradrock intend to convey to the Nigerian public Also speaking on some longterm internal programmes and plans that have kept Dradrock Real Estate Limited on top of her game, Human Capital Development Manager, Temitope Ayanbowale, revealed that several training packages for the staff and management had ensured impressive performance. “Even now that the Nigerian economy is facing a challenging time, we have experienced remarkable growth in business, and these programs have helped to establish a strong bonding relationship like that of a family within the workforce, including our external sales partners and consultants,” she explained.

Immediately after the public presentation, the Brand Partner swung in action, joining Idowu-Agida, editors, writers and all team members present

in a tour of Pacific Manor, one of the company’s new estate that is on the verge of completion.

The team arrived Pacific Manor, a magnificent and spectacular piece of real estate luxury. Everyone admired the luxurious, serene and gated community located within Atlantic Nominees Estate in Lekki, Lagos.

The estate is situated in the heart of Lagos, just a 20 minutes’ drive from the popular Four Points by Sheraton hotel.

Waiting at the gate of Pacific Manor to receive the visiting team to the unique estate that sits on 6,400sqm of dry land was the Project Manager, Olusola Ayo-Soyemi. After a swift temperature check and application of hand sanitizers, everyone was ready for the tour.

As she led the Managing Director of Dradrock, the Brand Partner, journalists, and others in a tour around the estate that was still under construction, she explained

that Pacific Manor residence is engineered with the highest possible standards. It offers opportunities for both investments and residential purposes.

She explained further that Pacific Manor also offers an investment opportunity like no other with high rental value and high capital appreciation within a short time with flexible payment options.

A visibly elated Tee-A, in his first ‘ambassadorial’ duty in this brand partnership, was impressed with the high level of professionalism and quality pace of work at Pacific Manor.

He spontaneously invited the public to come and experience the luxury lifestyle that Pacific Manor is poised to present in about eight months when virtually everything will be ready. Pacific manor has a total of 3 blocks of 1 bedroom apartment consisting of 9 units in each block and 9 blocks of a 3 bedroom terrace duplex consisting of 4 units in each block.

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dradrock Real Estate Limited, Oladipo Idowu-Agida; new Brand Partner for the company, Babatunde Adewale (TEE -A); and the Human Capital Development Manager of the Company, Temitope Ayanbowale, at the signing of brand partnership and visit to one of the estates, Pacific Manor Lekki, Lagos… recently

Experts Urge Collaboration of Stakeholders to Restore Lagos Environment Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources commemorated the International Day of Biodiversity (IDB) with the theme “Our Solutions are in Nature” through webinar recently.

The International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated each year to raise global awareness about the

importance of protecting biological resources and the global biodiversity that shapes our environment, not only the various species of plants, animals and microorganisms around us, but also the genetic diversity of each of them, as well as the great variety of ecosystems that make up our planet.

Speaking at the conference

on “Conserving Wetlands For Sustainable Urban Livelihood”, Mr. Adedamola Ogunsesan, Project Manager, Lekki Conservation Centre said that wetlands provide a diversity of ecosystem services; provisioning, regulatory, supporting and cultural services which are essential for the human society. This is particularly necessary in cases where large

urban agglomerations exist.

He revealed further that wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt-water, including are as of marine within the depth no more than six(6) meters at low tide.

He portrayed wetlands as

a source with the capability of providing humans with freshwater, ensure food supply, sustain biodiversity, protect against flooding, and store carbondioxide. Wetlands remain major source of employment globally, they are also ideally placed to show case truly sustainable livelihoods.

He said “Wetlands provide many ecosystem services.

However, many of the services are not traded in regular economic markets, and thus have no observable prices. This fact contributes to continued degradation of many wetlands and natural sites around the state. Moreover, competition for land uses and the societal demands for urbanization and development have exacerbated the pressures on wetlands.”

23

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

May & Baker Nigeria Shareholders Approve N431m Dividend Goddy Egene Shareholders of May & Baker Nigeria Plc have approved the N431.308 million dividend recommended by the board for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The dividend, which translated to 25 kobo per share, was approved at the

69th annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos. The shareholders lauded the performance of the healthcare company and requested for earlier payment of the approved dividend.

May & Baker Nigeria Plc grew its net profit by 109 per cent from N342.7 million to N716.4 million in 2019. The

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

growth was achieved despite a 5.5 per cent drop in revenue from N8.552 billion in 2018 to N8.080 billion in 2019, a general industry trend attributed to decline in consumer purchasing power, industry regulatory headwinds and unfavorable macroeconomic conditions.

Managing Director/CEO, May &

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 05Jun-2020, unless otherwise stated.

Baker, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, said the profit growth was driven by improved operating and cost efficiency as the company made more profit per unit of sale in 2019 compared with 2018.

Speaking at the AGM, Chairman of the company, Mrs. Daisy Danjuma expressed great hope in the future

prospects of the company.

“I see a great future for our company.

The attraction of May & Baker as an investment haven lies not only in her long track record of robust performance but more in her future prospects,” she said.

According to her, the healthcare

space in sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is still largely untapped and an investment haven for operators May & Baker.

“Africa’s economic prospects spark a enthusiasm about opportunities especially in its healthcare sector. Capturing that promise is the task we must set out to accomplish,” she said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 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 0.93 0.94 3.34% ACAP Income Funds 0.78 0.78 10.14% 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 6.50% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.63 2.69 7.01% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 5.87% Anchoria Equity Fund 98.76 99.09 -3.21% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.22 1.22 6.56% 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 14.60 15.04 -4.70% ARM Discovery Fund 340.13 350.39 -1.53% ARM Ethical Fund 30.25 31.16 4.02% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.27% 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 95.49 96.16 -0.62% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.32% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.07 0.05 6.96% Paramount Equity Fund 11.45 11.90 -7.56% Women's Investment Fund 109.44 110.25 -0.95% 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 4.95% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 97.38 97.59 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 107.10 107.35 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 4.08% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.91 0.92 -1.53% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.43 1.43 7.50% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 4.41% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 4.41% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,220.59 1,229.89 5.35% 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 1,290.92 1,292.22 6.26% FBN Balanced Fund 146.80 147.88 -0.01% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.07% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 114.76 115.72 -0.55% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 115.13 116.09 -0.73% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 119.06 120.47 -8.51% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.89% Legacy Debt Fund 3.76 3.76 2.96% Legacy Equity Fund 1.09 1.11 -3.76% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.11 1.11 2.19% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,057.44 3,092.30 2.51% Coral Income Fund 3,170.69 3,170.69 15.66% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 5.45% 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 N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 4.43% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.21 2.25 0.93% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.20% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 143.40 143.96 -0.01% 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 1.23 1.25 5.38% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,129.90 1,129.90 4.79% 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 1.39 1.42 13.90% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.87 11.93 5.42% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.15% PACAM Equity Fund 1.06 1.07 PACAM EuroBond Fund 106.32 108.55 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 119.96 123.04 -2.29% 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 1.01 1.01 3.72% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 3.64% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 3.22% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.56% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 3.66% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 2.19% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.47% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -2.09% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 2.42% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 10.38 10.52 1.09% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.23 12.36 5.34% Zenith Income Fund 24.43 23.43 7.54% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.93%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.50 114.44 52.79

-63.85% 2.22% 1.42%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.84 91.21 70.53

8.94 93.06 69.31

1.54% -1.42% -6.03%

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

2.97 4.22 11.56 11.57 181.32

3.01 4.30 11.66 11.77 183.32

-16.35% -28.39% -4.54% 11.23% -3.55%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.29

16.90%

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.

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Kogi’s Index Case Only Suffered from Bee Sting, State Govt Insists The Kogi State Government has insisted that the first case of COVID-19 announced in the state only had complications from a bee sting.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, said in a statement yesterday that the index case never saw a result confirming his diagnosis of the disease.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had announced two index cases for the state on May 27, with the Chief Imam of Kabba, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmad, turning out to be one of the two index cases.

However, Governor Yahaya Bello had rejected the results and NCDC’s decision to manage the patients at the National Hospital in Abuja.

Fanwo said the state debriefed the imam who has been discharged, and “we are shocked to discover that his experiences in the hands of the NCDC are far from everything that Nigerians have been told constitute best practices in a COVID-19 situation, especially its pathogenesis and management”.

“The Chief Imam, an upright and outstanding man who is only interested in the truth confirmed

what we have known all along – that he did not test positive for Covid-19 and received no result of such a diagnosis neither did his doctors at the National Hospital, Abuja where he was confined advise him of it,” he said.

“The cleric maintains that he

suffered from nothing beyond complications from an attack by bees, medical conditions which pre-date the Covid-19 pandemic and stress from travels associated with his work. Till he was released yesterday, he was held in conditions which allowed

him to interact with visitors.

“The son’s case is even more strange as he has a negative test result to confirm that he is Covid-19 free. Ditto all his siblings who were tested in the days following as the NCDC serially sought an off-taker for the second

Covid-19 case which they had earlier foisted on Kogi State.

“Throughout his father’s time in the custody of the NCDC, and in keeping with his Covid-19 negative status, the son remained at liberty and was his father’s primary helper.

Burial Without Govt Approval Attracts N10m Fine, Says Wike A new Executive Order signed

by Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, to check the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has prescribed N10million fine for any burial conducted contrary to the provisions of the order.

The order, RVSG – 122020, which has been gazetted, issued new guidelines for conducting burials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Section 3 stipulates that any person intending to hold a public burial in the state or take any corpse outside the state for burial must apply to the governor for approval through the state Commissioner for Health.

The order, which took effect from June 5, said an application for such burial of any person that died from February 1, 2020 must be accompanied by a death

certificate showing whether or not the death was related to COVID-19.

Section 4 of the order said: “The applicant shall pay a penalty of N10,000,000 to the government of Rivers State for any breach of the conditions, guidelines or protocols specified in the approval and set out herein”.

It said where the person died of coronavirus must hold between 9a.m. to 12noon, not more than three hours with not more than 50 persons, including family members in attendance.

The order further also provided that every person attending the burial must maintain social distancing of not more than two metres adding that all surfaces and enclosures must be decontaminated after the burial.

Six NDDC Staff Test Positive for COVID-19 Six staff of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.

The commission disclosed this on its Twitter handle yesterday.

The six staff were said to be attached to the office of the Executive Director (Projects), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, But Ojougboh was said to have tested negative for the disease.

“As NDDC headquarters

staff undergo isolation and Covid19 screening, six of 33 staff members in the Office of the Executive Director (Projects), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, have tested positive to Covid-19. However, Ojougboh tested negative,” the tweet read.

Earlier, the headquarters of the agency was shut down after the confirmation that Ibanga Bassey Etang, one of its directors, died from complications of COVID-19.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY...

Acting Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA); Mr. Ibrahim Odunmboni (left), and Regional Business Executive, Institutional Banking, Sterling Bank, Lagos Region, Mrs. Mojibola Oladunni, during the donation of 5,000 reflective uniforms to LAWMA in Lagos...recently

UN: Nigeria Can Emerge Stronger from COVID-19 James Emejo in Abuja United Nations Resident/ Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon, has expressed optimism that Nigeria would come out stronger from the current economic situation occasioned by the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kallon said the country only needed to pursue economic diversification more vigorously in the post-COVID-19 era.

Specifically, he said the power sector should be fixed to enhance

the capacity of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to thrive and create jobs.

He added that the government should also implement generous tax cuts for private sector firms willing to continue paying their employees despite the lull in business activities.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, Kallon said though the prevailing economic situation is dire not only in Nigeria but across the world, the situation with the country became “very serious

because of its reliance on crude oil, the prices of which has hit rock bottom because of the pandemic.”

However, the UN resident coordinator said given the country’s proven record for resilience over the years, it is no doubt it would be able to weather the storm and emerge stronger from the pandemic.

Kallon also advised the federal government to scale up social protection and safety programmes targeting the most vulnerable and the urban poor affected by COVID-19 in order to effectively

manage humanitarian situations going forward.

He stressed the need to scale up economic stimulus packages for key sectors of the economy, particularly the agriculture sector, which is currently experiencing both demand and supply-side shocks.

Also, assessing the country’s humanitarian situation, the UN chief said the Northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe remained among the most acute crises in the world.

Ortom, Suswam Mourn former Lagos CP,Tsav George Okoh in Makurdi The Former Commissioner of Police Lagos State and human right advocate, Mr. Abubakar Tsav, is dead.

The news of the death of the former police commissioner was shared by his son, Mr. Sani Tsav, who stated that his father died yesterday’s morning at the Federal Medical Center, Makurdi, after a protracted illness.

The former police commissioner would be remembered for his dogged fight to unravel the

intrigues surrounding the gruesome murder of the late founding Editor in Chief of Newswatch magazine and Chief Executive Officer of the Newswatch Communications Limited, Mr. Dele Giwa, who was assassinated via a parcel bomb in 1986 during the military regime of former President Ibrahim Babangida.

The late Tsav was an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He has been in and out of court

with the Benue State Government and was recently found guilty of libel against the Benue State government by a magistrate court in Makurdi, which asked him to apologise for the statement he made.

But he appealed the judgment before his demise.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom, on behalf of the Benue State Government, has sent a heartfelt condolence message to the family of Tsav over his death earlier today.

Ortom expressed shock at the demise of Tsav whom he described

as a gallant police officer during his years in service and prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Also, the former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam, said he received the news of the death of Tsav with great shock.

A press statement that was issued by the Media Aide to Suswam, Mr. Bede Bathlomew, said the late Tsav was a courageous and determined police officer who stood on the path of truth.

Prison Experience a Badge of Honour for Politicians, Says Wase Deji Elumoye in Abuja Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Ahmed Wase, has asked Nigerian politicians with prison experience to regard it as a badge of honour.

Wase led the principal officers of the House on a visit to the Abuja residence of Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who recently regained his freedom from Nigeria Correctional Centre, Kuje.

He said: “If you are a good

politician you should be willing to taste prison experience because it will come to you in very many dimensions. That happened to us sometimes past when we were being chased and humiliated and he asked us to be resolute and face the issues as they are.

“My leader, late Chief Solomon Lar, told me not to fear as a politician to go to prison. He told me that going to prison is a badge of honour.

“He reminded us of how he was sentenced to over 90 to 150

years in prison. He told us that as leaders there is always judgment that could be passed.”

Wase said the leadership of the House was in Kalu’s residence “to commiserate with you over what happened and your incarceration. As a politician I want you to take it as one of those things. First, we congratulate you and urge you to put everything before God and believe it is part of our destiny.

“As our leader we want

you to appreciate what God has done for you. Use it for the positive development of our country’s judicial system. Use it in the interest of humanity.

“I saw your comments and they were very responsible and intelligent because you said you will use your experience to pursue the reform of the judiciary and justice system in Nigeria. We are here to commiserate with you and to encourage you never to be weakened by what happened to you.”

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NERC to Sanction Yola, Enugu Discos for Breach of Market Rules Says Benin, Niger owing Nigeria N31.57 electricity bills

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said that it is working closely with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) to sanction the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) over the breach of some industry regulations.

NERC has also disclosed that the invoices issued to its international customers (Societe Nigerienne d’electricite – NIGELEC and Communaute Electrique du Benin - CEB) were N29.50million and N2.07billion, respectively, adding that the country had yet to receive

payments from these customers.

The regulatory agency for the Nigerian power sector, said that while majority of the 11 Distribution Companies (Discos) had been able to adhere largely with the rules, the EEDC and YEDC had yet to comply.

NERC had threatened in the last quarter of 2019 to withdraw the operational licences of the power distribution firms, accusing the Discos of breaching the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA).

It accused the companies of flouting, among others, the 20162018 minor review of MYTO 2015 and minimum remittance Order for the Year 2019 and issued a 60-day ultimatum for the Discos to explain why their

licences should not be revoked.

But explaining why it declined taking enforcement action against the eight Discos in its latest quarterly report, NERC explained that the rest of the

Discos had met the conditions set for them.

It said: “In a bid to ensure compliance to the industry rules and regulations, the commission continues its

enforcement actions against several operators for violation of rules and infractions.

“In this regard, the commission, during the fourth quarter of 2019, issued a notice

of intention to cancel licences (NICL) of the underlisted Discos believed to have breached EPSRA, terms and conditions of their respective distribution licences.

Two Arraigned in Ekiti for Impersonating Army Capt Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Two men, Abdullahi Kabiru, 39, and Tunde Obaro, 28, were yesterday docked by an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates Court for allegedly posing as an army captain.

The two men were also docked for an assault on a police officer at Omuo Ekiti, after they deceived him that they were soldiers.

The defendants, whose

addresses were still unknown, are facing a two-count charge of impersonation and assault.

The prosecutor, Inspector Oriyomi Akinwale, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on May 31 at about 05:30 p.m. in Omuo-Ekiti.

He alleged that the defendants impersonated themselves as soldiers of the Nigerian Army, alleging that the defendants

unlawfully assaulted a police Constable Awoniyi Lawrence.

Akinwale noted that the offences contravened Section 108 and 356 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

The prosecutor asked the court for adjournment to enable him study the case file and present his witnesses.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Counsel to the defendants, Timi Omotosho, urged the court to grant them bail with a promise that they would not jump bail.

The Magistrate, Mr. Bankole Oluwasanmi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N30, 000 with one surety each in like sum.

He, therefore, adjourned the case to July 1 for hearing.

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TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Osimhen is Nigeria’s Most Expensive Player Valued 64m Euros PSG’s Mbappe world’s most expensive, Messi 21st, Ronaldo 70th Duro Ikhazuagbe Lille’s forward, Victor Osimhen, 21, has been rated as the costliest Nigerian player at the moment.

In the biannual list from the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) Football

Victor Osimhen...Nigeria’s costliest player

Observatory featuring footballers from top five European Leagues: the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1, Osimhen was valued at 64 million Euros and in the 66th spot.

The only other Nigerian player in the Top 100 is Leicester City enforcer, Wilfred Ndidi who is valued 49.5 million Euros and in the 94th place.

Osimhen is currently on the shopping list of at least five top European teams with his Ligue 1 club looking forward to making a kill with a price tag of 75 million Euros.

France’s 2018 World Cup Star, Kylian Mbappe is the world’s most expensive player in the list released on Monday.

The PSG forward is valued â‚Ź259.2 million ($292 million) to occupy the number one spot in the valuation of top players from the five prestigious leagues in Europe.

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling is the number two behind Mbappe with ₏194.7 million ($219 million) with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho third with ₏179.1 million ($202 million) valuation.

Interestingly, the world’s two supposed best players, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus

were not valued in the Top 20.

Messi at 33 has a year left in his contract while Ronaldo at 35 is the oldest on the list of 100 players valued.

Messi was valued at 100.1 â‚Ź million ($113 million) and is occupying the 21st place, while Ronaldo estimated at â‚Ź62.8 million ($70 million) is 70th on the list.

BELOW IS CIES FOOTBALL OBSERVATORY’S TOP 10 1. Kylian Mbappe (PSG): ₏259.2 million 2. Raheem Sterling (Man City): ₏194.7 million 3. Jadon Sancho (Dortmund): ₏179.1 million 4. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool): ₏171.1 million 5. Marcus Rashford (Man Utd): ₏152.3 million 6. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): ₏144.9 million 7. Sadio Mane (Liverpool): ₏139.2 million 8. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona): ₏136.4 million 9. Alphonse Davies (Bayern Munich): ₏133.5 million 10. Harry Kane (Tottenham): ₏118.7 million

Buhari Mourns Sam Okwaraji’s Mother Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday condoled with the family of Mrs. Janet Okwaraji, mother of late former Nigerian footballer, Samuel Okwaraji.

The matriarch of the Okwaraji passed on at the age of 83 years.

A statement by the president’s Media Adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, described the deceased as a teacher and school proprietress, who left a lasting memory of kindness, love and charity as a devout Christian.

According to Adesina, the president believes that Mrs. Okwaraji, whose son, Samuel, lost his life in August 1989 while playing for the Super Eagles in a World Cup qualifier against

Angola in Lagos, will always be remembered for the sacrifices the family made for the nation.

The statement added: “President Buhari affirms that the matriarch of the Okwaraji family, like her son, defined simplicity, loyalty and patriotism in many ways as she remained steadfast, believing in Nigeria, despite the vicissitude of life. “As a mother, who lost her son in an unexpected situation, the President believes Lady Janet deserved to be acknowledged for her resilience and nobility, despite the odds. “President Buhari prays that the almighty God will grant her soul eternal rest, and comfort her loved ones,� concludes the Media Adviser.

Anthony Joshua Blasts Critics of His Black Lives Matter Speech Anthony Joshua has hit back at critics claiming he’s ‘racist’ following the speech he made at a Black Lives Matter protest on Saturday.

Wearing a black hoodie with the movement’s name on the front, the WBA, WBO and IBF world champion joined hundreds of others on the peaceful protest in his home town of Watford, while pictured on crutches and sporting a leg brace.

The unified heavyweight champion was then filmed at a park gathering, where he read a speech from a piece of paper and spoke out in the fight against racism.

The 30-year-old Sagamu Nigeria-born boxer read a speech from a friend Reece Campbell, who wasn’t present at the protests.

A brief snippet of the speech was taken out of context and uploaded to social media on Saturday, which showed Joshua speaking about racism as a ‘virus’, saying: ‘We need

to be united in non-violent demonstration, show them where it hurts. “Abstain from spending your money in their shops and economies, and invest in blackowned businesses.�

In a longer clip, Joshua had spoken of a need for ‘unity’ in communities and how the issues were “not black vs white, black vs Asian, black vs Indian� and thanked those ‘not from the heritage’ for coming together to support the Black Lives Matter cause.

Following backlash on social media, Joshua responded on Sunday evening with an image, that read: ‘If you think I’m a racist, go f*** yourself! ‘If you watch the full video, the speech was passed around for someone to read and I took the lead. “I personally spoke from the heart about the Watford community, ideas of us personally investing seven figures to create unity and opportunities and adding change to the African/ Caribbean community.

Kylian Mbappe...world’s current most expensive player

Sports Minister Lists Families of Muda, Keshi, Amodu, Others in Welfare Scheme

Dare changing the narrative for former athletes, coaches

Femi Solaja Barely 48 hours after the nation’s football community marked the fourth year anniversary of the death of former Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare has added him and other fallen heroes to the list of families of ex-athletes the ministry will cater for.

According to sources from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, what the minister has proposed is in line with the policy of the current administration to reach out to families of late Nigerian

sports heroes and those still alive but are in need of assistance.

Also included in the list is families of late Manga Mohammed who won the 1993 FIFA Under-17 World Cup with the Golden Eaglets In Japan.

He also had a stint with the Flying Eagles in the early 1990s.

Speaking on this new welfare scheme for sportsmen and women, Dare said, “We have compiled a list of not only explayers and athletes, we also included coaches who served their father land. They deserved to be part of what we are doing.

Their families as well as those

with one form of ailment or the other, are going to be supported. “Someone like Keshi, who won the Nations Cup 2013 in South Africa as a coach, we need to visit his family. The man (Keshi) served this country both as a player and a coach. “It is four years now that he passed away. We can’t pretend to forget so soon that he was truly a patriot as well as a legend of the round leather game. “Late Shaibu Amodu was one of the first coaches in this country that qualified Nigeria on two occasions for the World Cup, His parents and family

deserves our love. They should know we still remember him. “The family of late coach Musa Abdullahi who was Nigeria’s Under-17 coach in 2001 will be visited too. Late Manga Muhammed a player who played in the Under-17 World Cup at Japan ‘93 where the country won the trophy, we need to go to Kano and see his family. “Late Mudashiru Lawal was another legend of the game as far back as the early 1980’s. I personally made an arrangement to ensure that the family will be visited too,� observed the minister.

Akhator Targets Top 10 with Tokyo 2020 Qualified D’Tigress Nigerian centre Evelyn Akhator has said that she believes the country’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress can become a top 10 side globally after a prominent rise in the world rankings.

D’Tigress Recently qualified for their second Olympic Games after making their debut at Athens 2004. The Nigerian ladies have won back-to-back International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women’s AfroBasket titles on their way to qualifying for Tokyo 2020.

Nigeria’s women’s team won her first FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup match in 2018 and went on to qualify for the Games with a win against Mozambique after twice coming close to defeat top nations like the United States and Serbia.

Since August 2017, the team has been undefeated in Africa starting with a defeat of Mozambique and after going into the 2017 AfroBasket tournament as 42nd in the world, they have since risen to 14th in less than three years and Akhator has said they will become a top 10 side in no time. “I see Nigeria getting to the top and becoming a top 10 country in basketball,� said Akhator to insidethegames.biz. “Nobody would have thought we would be a top 20 team and now we are number 14 in the world.

Nigeria nearly recorded a famous win against the Olympic and world champions United States in a 71-76 defeat, only stopped by a last quarter comeback

from the Americans.

More than anything, the focus towards the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, moved to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has Akhator excited about the prospect.

She added: “Hearing the word ‘Olympics’ itself was a motivation for us to fight. “We were not ready to wait another four years before earning another spot to qualify for the Olympics while the ticket was right in our faces so we had to do what we can to grab it. “I always believe I would get to the Olympics from the day I started playing for the national team and I am glad it all came to pass. “Going to Tokyo has always been my dream considering the

fact that I watch lots of Japanese movies and I am excited I will be going there next year.�

With the 2021 Women’s AfroBasket coming closely after the Tokyo Games,Akhator understands the difficulties that could come next year, but is ready to be sensible.

Evelyn Akhator...believes Nigeria’s D’Tigress good for FIBA Top 10

Tuesday June 9, 2020

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MISSILE CAN to Miyetti Allah “The truth is that Nigeria does not belong to any ethnic group, section or religion but to every one of us. Making such false claims as that of Miyetti Allah’s president only creates tension and fuels crisis” – The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and Abuja knocking the Miyetti Allah Association for making unguarded utterances capable of causing crisis.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

The Rape Pandemic: #No S

ince February 27, 2020, when the first index case of COVID-19 was reported in Nigeria, and that satanic, virulent virus overwhelmed our lives, Nigeria has had cause to deal with other convergent afflictions: the first in my view, is the pandemic of irresponsible governance as evidenced by the kind of poor leadership responses that we have witnessed in some states of the Federation, and the growing narrative that some key players may have turned the main pandemic itself into a racket; the second is the pandemic of insecurity – even with states and borders on lockdown, bandits, criminals and terrorists – whichever label suits your fancy- have been running riot across the country particularly in the North East/ West where villages are sacked in one day, for hours on end, Southern Kaduna where villages have been razed and murder has been committed on a large scale, and elsewhere in the country where members of the middle class are now afraid of their own shadows.

The third is the poverty pandemic: lockdowns, shutdowns and the obvious possum-ization of all processes has resulted in the loss of income, the suspension of jobs or their outright loss, a sharp rise of course in unemployment figures and the abbreviation of hope in the face of inflation and economic contractions.

The fourth is the pandemic of rape.

I have no immediate data to suggest that the menace of “sex without consent” and the associated ills of domestic and sexual violence have any causal relationship with COVID-19, but what has been seen so far is that in the season of COVID-19, there has been an exponential rise in the reported cases of rape and sexual violence. One newspaper has had cause to report for example that in one month, there were ten high profile cases of rape across the country. In Kaduna, in April, an 18-year-old young girl known as Jennifer was attacked and raped by five men. The victim’s family released a video of her ordeal. In Lagos, a young lady, Tina Ezekwe, just 16, was shot and killed at a bus stop in Lagos by a trigger-happy policeman. This was rape of another kind, but a popular variety in Nigeria pointing to the failure of the state and its agents to place a high premium on human lives. A few days later, in Edo State, a 22-year old university student Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, simply known as Uwa was beaten to death in a church after she had been allegedly raped. Her assailants smashed her head with a fire extinguisher.

In Dutse, Jigawa, there was the report of a 12-year old girl, named Farishina who was raped repeatedly on different occasions by 11 men. In Ibadan, on June 2, a 19-year old student Barakat Bello was also raped inside her father’s house and murdered. There have been even more horrific reports: of men sleeping with a two-year-old, of men sleeping with their daughters, and the only excuse one imbecilic offender could offer was that if his wife denied him sex, he would seek sexual pleasures from his own daughters. In Lagos, four masked men raped a 12-year-old girl. In Niger State a 25-year-old man raped an 85-year old grandma!

A university undergraduate in Lagos was also accused of kissing a child passionately. He has since been arrested. In Benue, a 38-year-old man raped his seven-month-old daughter! Nigeria’s

AGF, Abubakar Malami social media space understandably, has been inundated with hashtags of protest, anguish and change: #JusticeforUwa, #JusticeforTina, #JusticeforJennifer; #JusticeforFarishina, #JusticeforBarakat; #Wearetired; #NotoRape; #StopRapeNow…#EndRapeNow..

The exponential explosion in reported cases of rape in the time of COVID-19 may be responsible for the outrage that we have seen, but the truth is that the essential difference is the focused media attention that the subject now receives. Rape is an epidemic that has now reached pandemic proportions due to inaction, stigmatization, limitations of existing law and the the failure of the state to respond to what is clearly a major humanitarian crisis. In 2017, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics reported, and you must take this as merely an estimate given the challenges of data collection in Nigeria, that there were 2, 279 reported cases of indecent assault and 1, 164 cases of anal sex, at the time from 35 states, In July 2019, a poll by NOI reported that one in every three girls in Nigeria would have experienced one form of sexual assault before the age of 25.

That means virtually every Nigerian woman has at least a story of sexual harassment or molestation to tell. In 2020, there has been an unprecedented explosion. Is COVID-19 a special type of beast that implants a new variant of madness in people’s heads, which is directly linked to their libido?

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State under whose watch rape has been fully criminalized, deserves commendation. He has just signed into law, a piece of legislation from the State House of Assembly, titled “Compulsory Treatment and Care of Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Law 2020.” There have been objections to the new Ekiti State Law on the grounds that it says no sexual offender will be entitled to bail. Expressly, this would be a violation of Sections 35(1), 36(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, and to that extent questionable, but let it be known that the right of bail is contractual in nature, per Tobi, JSC. Elsewhere, I have spoken about the principled position that has been taken by Governor Fayemi and the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

They are both convinced that there should be zero tolerance for sexual violence for all forms of sexual violence. Nobody should argue with that. Governor Fayemi also says there should be a national consensus on the issue of rape in Nigeria. His wife, the delectable Erelu Bisi Fayemi turns 57 this week and has been a victim of sexual molestation by her own account. I do not not think this is why Fayemi is gung-ho on the question of rape and sexual violence, we should look more at the principle behind his protestation. Before him, it is only in Lagos State that we have had a similar passion expressed about sexual violence, with the establishment under then Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of a sexual violence agency. In Ekiti, Fayemi has moved further by instituting a more active naming and shaming system by activating a Sexual Offenders Register, and taking that register to the Social Media. It is a brilliant initiative even if we must not overlook the fact that the register has not yet named and shamed a power-figure – power figures, the NGOs insist are the worst perpetrators of rape. Power, class, culture and privilege being the strongest enabling factors of rape. But the issue is: can we ever have a national consensus on rape in Nigeria? Opinion is divided on that and that is the real problem.

Nigeria’s attitude to the issue of rape and domestic violence has been at best unprogressive and far behind contemporary legal thinking. The failure to move forward and align with current trends on this subject is one of the sore aspects of our jurisprudence. With regard to rape, the relevant body of laws include the Criminal Code, Sections 215, 218, 221, 357 - 361 thereof, the Penal Code, Section 282 thereof, Section 1 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015 (VAPPA), and the Child Rights Act (2003), all reasonable and valid in expression and effect under Chapter Four of the Nigerian Constitution. Ancillary provisions within the statute books also do not in any way justify the abuse of human rights often indicated by the obtainment of carnal knowledge by force.

But there are known gaps in the law that have not been addressed. Without being pedantic, it is worth noting that concerns have been expressed about the definition of “rape” itself under Nigerian law. Section 357 defines rape as a man having forceful carnal knowledge of a woman. In today’s reality, it is not only men who rape women. Women rape women.

Men rape women. Men rape Men. The law needs to be changed.

In the extant law, a married man cannot rape his wife. This does not arise from a construction of the doctrine of the unity of spouse: that is a man and his wife being one and the same but the thinking that a married woman is a property of her husband, to be used as deemed fit. There are decided cases that have freed women from this primordial and antiquated misconception but this is one curious area in which the law has not yet penetrated the proverbial “other room” where even wives of Presidents, and accomplished women, suffer in silence. There is also the problem of child brides. Nigeria operates a conflict of laws, or perhaps a dual legal system with the rights of children. The definition of a child for example in the Child Rights Act

(2003) is different from that of the Children and Young Persons Law, in the same manner in which the Criminal Code Provisions on Rape are at variance with the same provisions in the Penal Code that are applicable to the Northern States of Nigeria. The existence of a dual legal system is at the heart of Nigeria’s under-development process. It accounts mostly for the failure to forge a consensus on anything in the country.

Take the Child Rights Act. Whereas it has been ratified as required by virtually every State in the South of Nigeria, 11 states, mainly Northern States, have refused to ratify it. They claim that it violates the Shariah law which allows child marriages. UNICEF reports that Nigeria accounts for one of the highest rates of child brides in the world. The figure is put at 23 million child brides, most likely to double by 2050. Nigeria also accounts for one of the highest rates of Vesico-Vaginal-Festula (VVF), arising due to early exposure of child brides to coitus, with the added complications of high infant mortality, maternal morbidity/ maternal mortality rates, out-of-school syndrome, poverty…and yet the defenders of culture, tradition and religion in parts of the North insist that any attempt to change the regime amounts to a violation of their rights. The rule is that a child below a certain age is not in a position to grant consent. The definition of a child in Nigeria is confused and confusing.

This is perhaps why since 2008, every attempt to review the extant laws on rape has been unsuccessful. There have been repeated talks about the need to review the punishment for rape, the definition of it, the burden of proof, the fielding of evidence and the time within which reasonable action can be taken. But every Bill addressing the matter since 2008 simply ends in the drawers. As recently as 2019, a bill to amend the Criminal Code on Rape made it to second reading and vanished into thin air.

A few weeks ago, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and others started talking again about the need to amend the laws to discourage rape. There is no guarantee that the latest effort will not end up as another effort at grandstanding and populism. Rape, like Federalism/Restructuring, is one of the most discussed problems in Nigeria.

Every stakeholder knows what the matter is but nobody is willing to do anything about it, or courageous enough to go the extra mile.

Nigeria is a country of smart talkers without either ambition or will.

The other issue with regard to rape is the evil of stigmatization. In traditional societies, rape was a taboo, a Karmic affliction, a curse.

Victims and their families could not talk about it. Families were afraid that nobody would marry their daughters who may have been defiled and in those traditional communities, the biggest achievement of a female child was to marry well and be a good wife. The times have changed, but primordial frames of mind have remained resilient. The culture of silence is the biggest threat to the now emerging #MeToo movement in Nigeria and Africa, reinforced by the fear of stigma. The final sticky problem here is that nobody talks about when a man rapes a man, or a woman rapes a man or a woman, and the fact that many of those shouting #MeToo, may just well be making false accusations.

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