TUESDAY 22TH MARCH 2022

Emefiele: Unprecedented Oil Theft Affecting Economy CBN leaves MMR unchanged at 11.5%, predicts moderation in food prices Urges NNPC to ensure adequate fuel supply to check price arbitrage by marketers Says Infraco up and running, secures N250bn in bridge finance James Emejo in Abuja Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin

Emefiele, yesterday lamented the unprecedented rate of oil theft recorded in recent times and its debilitating effect on govern-

ment revenue and accretion to reserves. Emefiele said this while briefing journalists at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee

(MPC) meeting in Abuja.

After MPC meeting, the second in 2022, the CBN resolved to retain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR),

otherwise known as the interest rate, at 11.5 per cent with the asymmetric corridor of +100/-700 basis points around the MPR.

But Emefiele urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Continued on page 40

NDPHC to Restore 800mw to Power Grid to Boost Supply… Page 6 Tuesday 22 March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9842. Price: N250

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Saraki: Ministers of States Positions Will Be Occupied by Youths Under 40 in My Presidency...Page33

Defection: Again, Court Sacks Two Reps, 18 Cross River Assembly Members Imoke hails judgement State govt appeals, files stay of execution Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah in Abuja Barely two weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja sacked the

governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, his deputy and 15 members of the House of Assembly, another court has ordered the immediate removal of two House of Represen-

tatives members and 18 legislators of the Cross River State House of Assembly.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court

yesterday ordered their removal from office on account of their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Taiwo, in his judgement, held that the affected federal and state legislators could not continue to occupy office having dumped the party that brought them into office.

The two House of Representatives members to vacate their office were, Micheal Etaba and Continued on page 40

Four Days to APC Convention, Buni Harmonises Sub-committees, Screening Starts Today Party inaugurates media committee Sule: APC govs have resolved their differences Uzodinma confident March 26 is sacrosanct Senate has no consensus candidate, says spokesperson How Buni saved Akpanudoedehe after caretaker members threatened to stage walkout Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia Four days to the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), slated for this weekend, March 26, Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary

Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, yesterday, stormed the national secretariat of the party, where it harmonised the sub-committees and immediately after, inaugurated the media Continued on page 40

ON THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) after receiving briefing on the state of the economy from his Chief Economic Adviser, Prof.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE Doyin Salami, at the State House, Abuja...recently

EFCC Recovers N152bn, $386m, Records 2,220 Convictions in One Year... Page42

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

PANORAMA APARTMENTS GROUND-BREAKING...

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. (Mrs) Aramide Adeyoye; Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Oba Patrick Fafunwa-Onikoyi; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Consul-General, People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Mr. Chu Maoming and Chairman, CCECC, Jiang Yi Gao, during the cutting of tape to mark the ground-breaking of Grand Panorama apartments at Ikoyi...yesterday

Sack: Umahi, Deputy Notify Court of Appeal against Judgement Withdraws stay of execution application He can no longer exercise functions of Governor, says PDP Alex Enumah in Abuja Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State yesterday informed a Federal High Court of the appeal filed against the court's judgment ordering him and his deputy, Eric Igwe to vacate office as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

This is just as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that Umahi and Igwe can no longer exercise the functions of Ebonyi State governor and deputy governor respectively However, Umahi through his lawyer, Chukwuma MachukwuUme, accordingly applied to the court to withdraw the application for stay of execution of the judgment pending their appeal at the

higher court.

Justice Ekwo had in a judgment delivered on March 8, ordered the applicants to vacate the elected offices they occupied owing to their defection from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) whose platform they became governor and deputy to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The court had held that their continued stay in office was illegal, null and unconstitutional on the grounds that votes in an election belongs to political parties and such votes cannot be transferred, hence the applicants who won the 2019 election with the PDP cannot transfer the votes of the PDP to the APC following their defection.

The judge further ordered the PDP to present another candidate

to replace the decamped governor and deputy, or in the alternative, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should conduct a fresh poll within 90 days.

Shortly after a Notice of Appeal was filed at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, Umahi and his deputy had brought an application for stay of execution of the judgment, pending their appeal.

However, the application was not heard last week following request

by Machukwu-Ume for a short adjournment to enable him correct some noticeable clerical errors in the motions.

The request was granted with the court fixing fixed March 21, for hearing in the motion for stay.

The court also fixed same date for hearing a similar motion by

15 lawmakers of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, whom were also sacked for decamping from the PDP to APC. When the matter came up yesterday, Machukwu-Ume informed the court of his intention to withdraw the application for stay.

According to him, the appeal of the respondents have been entered at the Court of Appeal and records of proceedings also transmitted to the appellate court.

He said as such he would be asking to withdraw the application seeking to stay execution of the judgment that sacked Umahi, his deputy and 15 members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

Counsel to the PDP, Chief Emmanuel Ukala, however, did not oppose the application.

FG to Inaugurate New Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal Today Chinedu Eze The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that its newly built international terminal at the Murtala Muhammed Airport would be inaugurated today.

The new facility is one of five

being built in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu, in a bilateral arrangement between the federal government of Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.

The ones in Abuja and Port Harcourt have been completed and commissioned already, while

that of Kano has been completed and would soon be commissioned.

In a statement signed by the acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the agency, Mrs. Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, the new Lagos international terminal, which would be inaugurated by President Mu-

Diesel Hike, Energy Crisis May Cause Job Losses, MAN Warns Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has appealed to the federal and state governments to protect industries from the erratic power supply and hike in price of diesel across the country.

The Chairman Kwara/Kogi branch of MAN, Bioku Rahmon, stated this yesterday in a statement.

He called for expedited rescue of players and investors from the imminent orgy of unemployment and mass closure of companies that is imminent due to the energy crisis. He expressed concern that the manufacturing industry was yet to fully recover from the monumental strangulations occasioned

by COVID-19 pandemic, while describing the subsisting energy crisis as the exact antithesis of what the industry can't contain at this time.

He lamented that electricity generated from the national grid had recorded no improvement and was hampering the activities of MAN. MAN urged the state and federal governments to save the manufacturing sector from imminent collapse, which according to him could be a major catastrophe to the already bad economy.

It asked that interest rates on industrial loans be reduced by commercial banks, the widening of the foreign exchange windows to industries and a drastic reduction

of interest rates as done with the COVID-19 era palliatives to 2.5 percent.

"Renewed wave of inflationary pressures further plunged the buying masses into extreme depths of poverty with concomitant erosion of customers’ Disposable Income (DI) and hence culminated in low patronage of our industrial finished products.

"Foreign Exchange (FX) scarcity has worsened significantly, even as industry players continue to experience a sharp and growing shrink in the FX windows. This has led to major downturns and stress in the purchase and acquisition of foreign components for production,” MAN said.

hammadu Buhari, has the capacity to process 14 million passengers per annum, built on a land mass of approximately 56,000 square metres with 66 check-in counters.

“Other facilities in the terminal include five baggage collection carousels, 16 Immigration desks at arrival, 28 Immigration desks at departure, eight security screening points, six passenger boarding bridges (out of which two has already been installed), two food courts, four premium lounges, 22 guest rooms and spa, 16 airline ticketing offices, visa on arrival and port health facility, as well as praying area, more than 3,000 square metres of duty free space, approximately 5,000 square metres of lettable utility space, amongst others,” the statement said.

The agency also said the new terminal to be commissioned was expected to generate about three thousand direct and indirect employment for Nigerians, as well as enhance passenger facilitation and comfort at the Lagos airport.

“The authority will also sign a memorandum of understanding with the Lagos State Government on the 9km Airport-Shasha-Alimosho link Road to be constructed by the state government,” FAAN disclosed.

Consequently, the court struck out the application for stay.

Umahi and his deputy, in the motion on notice brought pursuant to order 26 rules 1 & 2(1) and order 32 rules 1 & 4(1), of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) rules 2019, are praying the court for an order staying the execution of the orders made in the judgment of the court delivered on March 8, 2022.

They are specifically seeking a stay of execution of the order of court directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately receive from the PDP, the names of its candidates to replace them.

In addition, they want the court to stay the execution of its order directing INEC to hold a governorship election in accordance with section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution.

Furthermore, they want another order staying the execution of the order of court directing INEC to immediately declare the persons nominated by the PDP as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

Umahi Can No Longer Exercise Functions of Governor, Says PDP

Meanwhile, the PDP has averred that Umahi and Igwe can no longer exercise the functions of Ebonyi State governor and deputy governor respectively.

The National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba said this yesterday, pursuant to the order of the Federal High Court, which removed them from office and the subsequent order of the Federal High Court today, which refused their application for stay of execution.

The PDP also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately and without any further delay, issue certificates of return to Iduma Igariwe and Fred Udogwu as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

In a statement by Ologunagba, the PDP also demanded that the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, upon the issuance of Certificates of Return by INEC proceed to swear in Igariwe and Udogwu as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

The party added: “This is in

furtherance of the Order of the Federal High Court issued in Abuja today, Monday, March 21, 2022 refusing to grant Stay of Execution to the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi and his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe over their removal from office by the Court.

“INEC, pursuant to the provision of Section 287(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which provides that “the decisions of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, a High Court and of all other courts established by this Constitution shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by other courts of law with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, a High Court and those other courts, respectively” is bound to issue Certificates of Return immediately to Hon. Iduma Igariwe and Fred Udogwu as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

“In this regard, the PDP also demands that the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, upon the issuance of Certificates of Return by INEC proceed to swear in Hon. Iduma Igariwe and Fred Udogwu as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

“This is absolutely necessary to prevent the existence of vacuum in the government and governance of Ebonyi State as Messers Umahi and Igwe can no longer exercise the functions of the office of Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State pursuant to the Order of the Federal High Court which removed them from office on March 8, 2022 and the subsequent Order of the Federal High Court today, which refused their application for Stay of Execution.

“The PDP commends the judiciary for its courage in defending the Constitution as well as the will of the people of Ebonyi State as expressed in their votes for the PDP in the 2019 governorship election.

“Our party also congratulates the people of Ebonyi State for the restoration of their mandate and urged them to remain united under the PDP as we forge ahead in our mission to Rescue and Rebuild our country from the rudderless APC administration,” the statement read.

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NEWS

INTERSWITCH PARLEY...

L-R: Managing Director, Payment Tokens Verve, Vincent Ogbunude; Managing Director, Interswitch Financial Inclusion Services (inclusio), Titilola Shogaolu; Managing Director, Payment Processing and Switching (Interswitch Purepay), Akeem Lawal; Group Marketing and Corporate Communications, Interswitch, Cherry Eromosele; and Managing Director, Digital Commerce and Merchant Acquiring PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN (Interswitch Paymate) Muyiwa Asagba during the media parley at Four Points by Sheraton, in Lagos… yesterday

NDPHC to Restore 800mw to Power Grid to Boost Supply TCN: System collapse dropped available capacity to 3500mw as of Monday All electricity consumers to be metered in three years, says NERC Peter Uzoho Niger Delta Power Hoiding Company (NDPHC) has said it was targeting to re-inject about 800 megawatts (mw) of electricity into the national power grid in the coming months as part of the ongoing joint efforts of all industry stakeholders to restore supply to the grid and to Nigerians.

The Managing Director of NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, during an interactive session with industry stakeholders and the media which was led by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Also at the meeting, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said the current available capacity in the national as of 5am on Monday was 3500mw just as NERC assured that with eight million meters being expected for deployment under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), all electricity consumers would be metered in the next three years.

Providing situation report on the power plants, Ugbo assured at the meeting that the 450mw Calabar Independent Power plant which had been out of operation due to maintenance would resume generation of power by midnight yesterday.

He said the company lost closed to 800mw between Calabar and Alaoji power plants due to gas challenge, adding that the outage from the two power plants added to the overall outage in the country.

He said while the Calabar plant was shut down due to the ongoing

routine maintenance on the gas pipeline by the gas supplier, the Alaoji was shut down as a result of the force majeure declard by TotalEnergies on its gas supply pipeline after an attack on it by vandals.

Ugbo explained that the 800mw targeted to be re-injected into the grid would be realised when Calabar and Alaoji come back coupled with the 600mw worth of gas contract it had signed with the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC) with the approval of emergency gas pricing by NERC. "Our major challenge is gas. But thankfully, with the intervention of the federal government and of course the regulatory commission, we are now able to contract for at least 600mw worth of gas for those power stations for a long period. We have negotiated all the agreements with the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC), which is a subsidiary of the NNPC. "We have now obtained the approval of the commission as to the gas price and then we go ahead to close the agreement and begin to get gas from the NGMC. So, when we have Calabar back today and with another 600mw from the West, we should have from NDPHC alone over 800mw.

"We will expect that to increase significantly when TotalEnergies lifts the force majeure that it invoked and then supply us gas for another 337mw from Alaoji. We expect that in no distant time.

"Geregu Power Plant is on routine maintenance outage. We expect that again with 435mw back

this April. But just to add to what the chairman has said that a lot of work is ongoing and very soon, we're going to be back to normal and even better."

Managing Director, TCN, Mr. Sule Abdulaziz, said the recent collapse of the grid had brought the available capacity of the national grid to about 3500mw as of 5am yesterday from the previous 5800mw.

Abdulaziz apologised to Nigerians for the difficulties caused by the system collapse, saying it was not deliberate.

"First of all, let me start by

apologizing to Nigerians for what we have gone through in the past one week or 10 days. This is not deliberate. It was just something that came and there was nothing we can do.

"But if we can all remember, last year, by this time, we were only getting peak of 5,700; 5,800; but due to some issues which the chairman has already mentioned, we are now around 3500mw.

"And unfortunately, last Monday and Tuesday, we had system collapse. Somebody was asking when do we get out of this problem. If

Abductors of the six chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, have been killed in a rescue operation conducted by local vigilante.

Consequently, five of the victims have been rescued by the vigilantes.

THISDAY gathered that, the kidnappers were shot dead on Saturday night, when the vigilante operators swooped on their hideouts in bushes around Ekiti Local Government Area of the state after hours of tracking them.

The development, according to THISDAY checks, was not unconnected with the the killing of APC Women Leader that was among the leaders abducted after returning from the inauguration of the

newly constituted state executive members of the party last week Thursday in Ilorin by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the state.

A security source told journalists yesterday that, the state government had since the incident a few days ago, activated the security architecture, which involved the police and local vigilante groups in the area.

The vigilantes, it was gathered, traced the abductors to their hideouts following detailed intelligence gathered from various sources.

Sources said part of the successful operation involved difficult terrains and night movement.

It was further learnt that, the criminal gang in their usual cowardly ways, had put the victims in harm's way as human shield

expected for deployment under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), all electricity consumers would be metered in the next three years.

He said Nigeria has about eight million metering gap and that four million would be provided during phase one of the NMMP while additional four million would be procured with financing from the World Bank.

Garba stated that procurement for the first four million meters had started and that the deployment would commence soon.

FG to Start Implementing Universal Licence on Microsoft Products

Says company's $200m ADC initiative will boost local talents in Nigeria

Emma Okonji

The federal government yesterday disclosed that it would soon begin the implementation of universal licence on all Microsoft products, an initiative that would allow the federal government to purchase in bulk, all Microsoft product licenses and sell same to federal public institutions that are in need of such product licence.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, made the disclosure yesterday, during the launch of Microsoft’s $200 million Africa Development Centre (ADC)

West Africa initiative and the launch of Microsoft new facility in Lagos.

Pantami who commended Microsoft International for the ADC West Africa initiative, said the centre, which is located in Lagos, would further develop local talents in Nigeria.

According to Pantami, the process of universal licence for Microsoft products, when completed, would be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and approval.

“With the universal licence, the federal government is able to negotiate with Microsoft and then purchase in bulk, all Microsoft

Kwara: Abductors of APC Leaders Killed, Five Rescued in Gun Duel

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

you are talking of system collapse, as soon as the system came back, we are out of that problem."

The TCN boss said the grid collapse had been dropping since 2018 with 12 collapse recorded in 2018, nine in 2020, four in 2021 and three this year.

However, the analysis of the numbers showed that the national grid has collapsed 30 times since 2018 till date.

The Chairman of NERC, Mr. Sanusi Garba, who led discussion at the meeting, assured that with eight million meters being

during the operation.

Sources further said, "During the exchange and operation that lasted hours, the criminals were killed and their corpses had been handed over to the police. Sadly, we lost one of the victims while five others were rescued alive and are now being taken care of".

The sources further noted that, the operation was a difficult one and praised the heroic efforts of the vigilante.

"It should be noted that based on what was observed during the operation, the criminal element had no issue causing us to lose all five (remaining) abducted victims.

"The professionalism of the groups involved in the operation limited the number of innocent lives lost in the operation. A life lost is one too many, but we thank

God for the successful rescue of the other five innocent victims.

"The government has, apart from supporting the conventional security networks, been investing in the local vigilante bodies to strengthen security of lives and properties in the state.

The government has similarly established strong relationships with other states to boost security.

"I can also confirm that three Kwarans, who were recently abducted in Kaduna State, have been freed following discreet efforts of the state government, which swung into action once the issue was brought to its attention last week. Two of the abductees are students. As I speak to you, government is arranging their safe movement to Ilorin, the state capital."

product licences that are necessary for the use of all federal public institutions in the country, such that any federal public institutions that want the licence, will subscribe through the federal government instead of purchasing directly from Microsoft.

“The federal government is in the process of formalising the business with Microsoft Nigeria, to enable it have universal license on all Microsoft product licences.

“The process has reached advanced stage and I have directed the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), to complete the process for onward presentation to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and approval,” he added.

Explaining the need for the universal licence, Pantami said some government institutions may have the capacity to purchase Microsoft product licences, while some may not, and this often leads to low patronage for Microsoft.

According to Pantami, “The essence is to increase the scope of patronage and make purchases open to all federal public institutions. It will also reduce cost of the licence, and also reduce the rate of piracy.

“The issue of renewal of licence for institutions will be eliminated because federal government will be responsible for renewal, since federal government will be doing bulk purchase of the licence. It will also provide opportunities for institutions to have access to Microsoft solutions.”

Excited about the Microsoft ADC West Africa Initiative, Pantami said since it is located in Lagos, it would promote local talent development among Nigerian youths.

“Emerging technologies are driving the fourth industrial revolution, and the emerging technologies include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Robotics, 5G, Internet of Things (AI), Cybersecurity, Autonomous Vehicle among others, but government is focusing on AI, Robotics, 5G and any other emerging technology that drives technology development much faster.

“The ADC West Africa initiative is in line with the federal government policy on National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), and government is happy with the Microsoft ADC West Africa initiative,” Pantami said.

Corporate Vice President for Identity at Microsoft, Joy Chik, said Microsoft would continue to partner with the federal government of Nigeria and technology startups to develop local talents on technology skills.

She said the launch of Microsoft ADC West Africa initiative, and the launch of its new office facility in Lagos, were part of Microsoft’s commitment to further develop digital skills in Nigeria and West Africa.

The Managing Director, ADC Wast Africa, Garfa Lawal, said the centre would employ skilled persons that would be involved in developing Microsoft products for the West African market.

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NEWS

DANGOTE FERTILISER GOES INTO PRODUCTION...

L-R: Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Niyi Adebayo, during a tour of Dangote Fertilizer Plant, in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos…yesterday

US Makes Fight against Corruption Global, Focuses on Transnational Dimensions Introduces visa restriction, sanctions, others to deny corrupt actors access to ill-gotten wealth Alex Enumah in Abuja The United States of America (USA) has described corruption as a cancer that is spreading beyond national and regional borders requiring deliberate and concerted efforts by countries of the world, including international agencies to nip in the bud.

According to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the US State Department, James Walsh, corruption wherever it is found enables all forms of criminality, particularly transnational crime.

Walsh disclosed that since corruption impedes investment, stifles economic growth, hampers government services, and allows for criminality to flourish, the United States has started leveraging on diplomatic and foreign assistance tools to support preventative measures and criminal justice responses to promote the enforcement of international anti-corruption obligations and to strengthen domestic anti-corruption laws, institutions, and regulations.

Speaking at a Foreign Press

Centers’ Anti-Corruption Virtual Reporting Tour, Walsh said the President Joe Biden’s administration has not only made the fight against corruption a national security priority, but was beginning to partner with international organisations, governments, civil society, and the private sector to checkmate the menace of corruption.

“As I noted earlier, we are increasing our focus on the transnational dimensions of corruption. Through the multilaterally-supported Global Anti-Corruption Consortium, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), is substantially scaling up support to strengthen collaboration between investigative journalists and civil society to expose transnational corruption, drive policy reforms, and increase accountability for corrupt actors.

“Additionally, the department, in partnership with the Departments of Treasury and Justice, launched a Democracies Against Safe Havens Initiative, or DASH, at the Summit for Democracy.

“This initiative will work to build partner-government capacity to deny corrupt actors the ability to

hide ill-gotten gains, to encourage like-minded partners to adopt anti-corruption sanctions and visa restriction regimes, and to detect and disrupt complex corruption schemes,” he said.

Other initiatives he said included the introduction and support for reforms to make information about the true ownership of legal entities more transparent and accessible to law enforcement.

Speaking on the topic: ‘How US Agencies are Coordinating Efforts to Fight Corruption,’ the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, stated that the United States have also advance effective implementation of its international asset recovery obligations through transparent and accountable returns of proceeds of crime, adding that while the country has targeted over $3.4 billion in corruption proceeds, it has, “confiscated over $1.7 billion of these assets and returned – and assisted in the return of over $1.6 billion to victim countries.”

He added: “Now these are funds taken out of the hands of criminals and kleptocrats, and they go back to these countries to support the schools, roads, and hospitals that

Bar Practicing Fees: No Rift Between Supreme Court, NBA, Chief Registrar Clarifies Alex Enumah in Abuja The Supreme Court of Nigeria yesterday cleared the air on the perceived controversy surrounding the mode of payment of the annual bar practicing fees by legal practitioners in the country.

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) had in a circular directed lawyers in Nigeria to henceforth pay the statutory annual Bar Practicing Fees via Paystack, an online payment portal.

The directive seems to have generated controversy over who is entitled to collect the fees between the NBA and the Registrar of the Supreme Court, who hitherto had been collecting the fees.

However, in an apparent move to clear any misconception, the apex court in a statement noted that the directives by the NBA did not in any way usurped the function of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme

Court, who is constitutional mandate to collect the fees.

The statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hajo Sarki-Bello, explained that the online portal introduced by the NBA was done in good faith, ostensibly with the sole aim of operating within the ambit of the new global information and communication technology order.

Sarki-Bello, however stated that those interested in still using the manual payment system were free to do so at any branch of the apex court's designated bank, as was previously done.

"With the explanations given by the leadership of the NBA, their action has not, in any way, contravened the Legal Practitioners Act 2004, which explicitly confers such role and function on the Chief Registrar of the Court.

"The subsisting mode of payment makes the Chief Registrar and NBA

President co-signatories to the Supreme Court’s Bar Practicing Fees (BPF) account into which the fee is paid annually by all lawyers in Nigeria.

"For the purpose of clarity, the procedure for collecting this fee has been that every year, between 1st January to 31st March, lawyers pay the annual National Bar Practicing fee in line with extant Legal Practicing Fee, as specified in the LPA 2004.

"Accordingly, at the end of each year, the NBA takes a sum equal to nine-tenths (being 9/10) of the aggregate amount of the fees received and the Supreme Court, on the other hand, is given one-tenths (being 1/10) of the aggregate amount of the practicing fees received, which it now pays into the Treasury Single Account, domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria, as revenue generated by the Court," the statement read in part.

they need.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of USAID’s Anti-Corruption Task Force, Shannon Green, noted that when money gets siphoned off through shady procurements, roads and schools do not get built.

“When public officials are bribed to turn a blind eye to poaching or pollution, local economies get destroyed, and the soil and groundwater on which those communities rely gets spoiled and become unusable,” she said.

Green disclosed that the USAID was prioritising the fight against corruption because it weakens democracy and subverts the entire notion that government is meant to make decisions and to work on behalf of the public good.

According to her, when candi-

dates in an election are bankrolled by foreign corrupt interests and democratic institutions captured by kleptocrats, citizens lose faith in their government, and increasingly in democracy itself.

“And so that is why, at USAID, we are taking on this issue with such vigor, answering the call when reformers are experiencing a historic opening, and having the backs of our partners when the political winds shift.

“At the same time, as PDAS Walsh mentioned, we are grappling with a threat that has significantly evolved in recent decades. So while we’re still seeing corruption as a pervasive local challenge in the many countries in which USAID works, as with everything else, corruption has become globalised.

Corruption today is a vast, networked, and pernicious problem that knows no boundaries.

“And so for us, addressing that kind of transnational threat requires building new pathways for collaboration with the journalists, activists, small and medium enterprises, and government supporters that USAID partners with and supports, but also internally within the US government.”

While emphasising that the war against corruption can only be won through a collaborative and coordinated approach, Green charged journalists, media representatives and civil society groups to “shine a light on dark money and help push for accountability for those who have engaged in corruption in order to create lasting change.”

NHRC Says ASUU Strike, Denial of Students’ Rights to Education Michael Olugbode in Abuja The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has described the incessant industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as deprivation of students’ enjoyment of their rights to education.

In a statement yesterday by the spokesperson of the Commission, Fatimah Mohammed, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu expressed deep concern over the incessant industrial action

by ASUU, lamenting that such actions have become the gravest threat to the Nigerian university system, in particular, and the Nigerian education sector in general.

He observed that Nigerian students have been deprived of the enjoyment of their right to education over the years, adding that this has made them victims of industrial disharmony between the federal government and ASUU. He expressed regret that ASUU had been embarking on incessant nationwide strikes, during which students have lost cumulative period of years of the academic calendar.

He said the effect of ASUU strikes had been devastating on the Nigerian university system by way of watering down the quality of education offered to Nigerian students, while expressing disappointment that the government would allow this kind of situation to linger, thereby jeopardising the

future of the youth as leaders of tomorrow.

He lamented that academic performance of these students have been adversely affected, and the entire educational system almost crippled.

Ojukwu who said he was pained by the situation, further stated that, "the situation has resulted in half-baked students and graduates who are unemployable and lack the basic skills necessary to survive dynamic environments like Nigeria and the rest of the world."

He, however, appealed to the federal government to get back to the negotiation table with ASUU and to ensure that the previous agreements reached with the union are implemented honestly to the best of its ability to avoid further escalation of the matter.

Similarly, Ojukwu urged ASUU to think out of the box of other strategies not using incessant strikes to press for their demands as this strike strategy has killed education in this country.

He noted that poor funding of universities, lack of payment of promotion arrears, earned academic allowance, poor funding of state universities etc, as demanded by ASUU were genuine concerns that the government should not overlook, given that they are germane to the growth of the universities.

He advised National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), not

to do anything that would violate the rights of other Nigerians, like blocking of federal highways, as its south-west branch allegedly did recently, saying that such action was a clear violation of the rights of other road users.

He further pointed out that although students have the right to express their grievances, they should always do so in a most civilised and human right friendly manner where the rights of every one is respected.

Ojukwu said it was necessary to immediately resolve the impasse between ASUU and FG, to prevent further collateral damage to our educational sector.

He said: “As things are today, educational tourism by Nigerians to even smaller countries in West Africa, Europe and Americas is mind bugging,” noting that, “all this has resulted in huge loss of resources to other countries. Most students, after a prolonged stay at home, start venturing into unholy acts making some of them not to return to school when the industrial actions are over.

“There are others who out of boredom and want of what to do resort to crime and criminal activities such as advanced fee fraud, drug peddling and use, gambling, robbery and kidnapping as well as other vices. some of the ladies become susceptible to abusive relationships, unwanted pregnancies, prostitution and low morale and esteem.”

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POLITICS

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

Anticipating Soludo’s Solution to Worsening Insecurity in Anambra Udora Orizu writes that following the inauguration of Prof. Charles Soludo as the Governor of Anambra State, indigenes look forward to what actions he will take to stem the worsening insecurity in the state

Azubogu

Ibezim

O

n March 17, Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo was sworn in as the Governor of Anambra State by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu at the Government House, Awka, in a low-key ceremony. Delivering his inaugural speech at the event, Soludo vowed to fight all forms of criminality in the state.

Nigeria as a nation has for decades tried to curb the rising spate of insecurity bedeviling her. From the Northern to the Southern part of the country, it appears that despite efforts of the government and security agencies, security situation of the country is getting worse by the day. While every state in the country have had their share of terrible state of security, Anambra State, once known to be relatively peaceful, has recently and constantly been in the news for the wrong reasons, bordering on kidnapping, wanton killings, destruction of private and public properties by ‘unknown gunmen,’ and shutting down of economic activities with the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

In 2021, the state’s security architecture was put to the test by a surge of insecurity that

Soludo

shook its core. The insecurity worsened with a declaration by a separatist group, that the November 6 governorship poll in the state would not hold. The killings were linked to the South-east separatist group, known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Following the detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB members called for weekly sit-at-home protests, each Monday, across the Southeast states including Anambra, freezing business activities in cities, towns, and even village markets. Despite, the former state Governor, Willie Obiano lifting the order and directing residents to go about their daily life, they obeyed the sit-at-home order even to the detriment of their businesses, education and other economic activities.

These non-state actors largely dictate the life of residents, deciding when they could go out and when they should stay in. It was so bad that even party flagbearers suspended their campaigns for fear of being attacked.

According to reports, “No fewer than 175 persons, including soldiers, police and civilians, have lost their lives in the

South-east within the last six months due to the insecurity that has engulfed the troubled region. The killings took place in 72 attacks by hoodlums across the five states in the region, namely; Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia.

In Anambra state, 76 security agents and civilians were killed within the period, while 15 buildings and 28 vehicles were set ablaze. On September 28, 2021, Mr. Chike Akunyili, husband of the late DG of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Dora Akunyili, was brutally murdered by ‘unknown gunmen’ in Anambra. He was shot dead while returning from an event to honour his late wife.

On Sunday, October 3, gunmen set ablaze the residence of Joe Igbokwe, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Drainage and Water Resources, and that of a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Sonny Chu Okongwu, in Nnewi. There was heavy gunfire during the attack and unfortunately, two lives were lost. Also, a police station in Orumba North was attacked and people were killed. On September 30th, a serving member of

the House of Representatives, Hon. Chris Azugbogu’s vehicle was attacked along Nnewi-Nnobi Road leading to death of one of his drivers. The offices of Department of State Security were also burnt down on October 3 and people were killed.

While some government officials and security agencies have blamed it on the separatist group, the group on its part has denied any involvement, and in turn accused mainstream politicians of causing the mayhem. Also, there’s believe in some quarters that the disorder in Anambra and the entire South-east region can be linked to the race for the 2023 Presidency.

Soludo, who contested for gubernatorial election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said the insecurity challenges in the state was politically motivated.

He stated this in November, 2021 during the Anambra Gubernatorial Debate organized by Arise TV, noted that some individuals hope the situation would give them a political advantage.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Nigeria’s Leadership Challenge Caused by Society not People in Power, Says Sani The society, rather than, those with political power should be blamed for Nigeria’s leadership problem that is stunting the nation’s development, Ahmed Sani, the Group Managing Director of Amco Group of Companies, writes Bennet Oghifo

S

ani, who discussed some national issues with journalists recently, said, “Leadership is a major challenge in Nigeria, but we are always looking at the issue from the wrong perspective. When we talk about leadership in Nigeria, a lot of us start thinking about people who are in power. There is more to that. It is a system. Society gives birth to the people in power. The leaders in power are people’s fathers, brothers, cousins, sisters, mothers etc. We are all leaders and we need to build that capacity in every aspect of our society. We need to be accountable to our wives, husband, father, family, communities, local government, states and the nation. It is unfortunate that we’ve not gotten it right when it comes to leadership. You find out that a typical Nigerian man doesn’t do anything without being paid or find a way to be corrupt one way or another.”

Corruption, he said, permeates every facet of society, stating that the system is plagued by different sentiments that inhibit progress.

“Look at people who are managing little offices today, when you go to them, everyone would start looking after the ethnicity, religion and benefits they tend to get, all of these contribute to problems of leadership. A Hausa man only

Sani

feels comfortable with Hausas and vice versa with other ethnicities.

We’re not just getting it right, the leadership problem we have in the country is not just the president, governor, chairman.”

Sani said to address this problem, “We need to see ourselves as a leader

and deliberately build leadership capacity. We need to see ourselves first as a Nigerian. We need to move away from ethnicity and religion.

These things should not be above humanity.

We are first human before we are Igala, Yoruba, Muslims or Christians. We need justice. We need equity. We should treat one another equally with the interests of Nigerians being priority as one of the cardinal pillars. If you’re in a particular position, look at yourself as a Nigerian, not a man from the North, South, East, West or North central. That’s the only way we can get it right.”

The Kogi State-born businessman also addressed his political future, having earned a name in his line of enterprise, and since people are canvassing for leaders with the right capacity, saying, “I am very passionate about Kogi and I won’t fail to serve when need be. I think it is time to ensure that we have leaders with the right capacity. States are struggling in Nigeria.

The challenges are not mainly caused by the states. The centre has to be right. Our federal system placed a lot of power in the centre. So, I think, representatives of states at the centre must be strong. It is these representatives that determine laws and what eventually gets back

to the states. Personally, I think Kogi needs stronger representation in the Senate and House of Representatives, especially Kogi East where I come from. I see myself serving in this capacity.”

Giving his assessment of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration in Kogi State, he said the governor “has done well in the area of security. You may not understand how bad the issue of insecurity has been in Kogi. It became very difficult for some of us to go home. A lot of times, the security details required to go home is enough headache but those things have changed. I think Kogi is one of the safest states in the country. “Unfortunately, this is one area that a lot of governors could not get right, even the government at the centre. Security is paramount. People should be able to move and do business freely. I have not heard much around kidnapping, farmer herder clash in Kogi or bombing and kidnapping. These things are pronounced in neigbouring states to Kogi. I have also seen that infrastructural projects are ongoing across the states. The bridge being constructed at Ganaja junction is a major one.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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POLITICS

Amaechi: A Minister’s Last Laugh Asu Beks writes that Transportation Minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has surmounted, arguably, one of the most trying periods of his life

Amaechi

Buhari

T

hat only death can be worse than betrayal is an age-long aphorism; and for more than two and half years into the five-year tenure of Ms Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), this was the burden Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi had to contend with.

Rotimi Amaechi did not know jack about Hadiza until Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai introduced her to the Buhari Campaign Council in 2014. And true8 to the recommendations, Hadiza proved in the various tasks assigned to her that she could be relied upon. She came into the Buhari Campaign Council with very brilliant ideas 88which endeared her to Amaechi.

“I found in Hadiza an unquestionable passion for excellence in Project Nigeria.

Her contributions to discussions at various sessions were top-notch. She saw herself first as a Nigerian before tribal, regional, or religious considerations. She was one of the most detribalized Nigerians I had come across”, Amaechi had confided in a friend who prefers to be anonymous.

The former Rivers State Governor also described Hadiza as someone who was exceptionally brilliant and intelligent. So, when the opportunity emerged to appoint a new team at the NPA, Amaechi did not hesitate to nominate her for the top job despite protests by political pundits and stakeholders that

she may be overwhelmed by the enormity of her responsibilities.

“I didn’t regret forwarding her name to Mr President, as I regarded her as eminently qualified and competent for the job’, the Minister was quoted as saying.

However, events of the past few years have proven sceptics right.

Hadiza did not only betray the trust and confidence Amaechi reposed in her, but she stabbed him in the back at will, making him a laughing stock in the federal cabinet. As the years progressed, she had become obsessed with power and fame such that she frequently bypassed Amaechi and was dealing directly with the Presidency.

Amaechi was stunned by Hadiza’s complete volte face even as she took advantage of her closeness to El Rufai and the Presidency to thwart his authority on numerous occasions. She leveraged her position to woo Emirs and traditional rulers and doled out money with reckless abandon in order to garner support and establish loyal backing.

For the Minister, his reputation was in tatters, and his ability to carry out supervisory functions on the agency was called into question,

el-Rufai

but President Muhammadu Buhari did not lose his faith in Amaechi. For full effect, recall that Rotimi Amaechi earned the hatred of his kinsmen when in 2014 he was appointed Director General of Buhari’s campaign council. He abandoned his people and staked his life to ensure that Buhari was elected and repeated the feat with Mr President’s re-election in 2019, thus establishing his indispensability to the Buhari administration. Amaechi was in fact and purpose, Buhari’s man Friday, a role that could only be entrusted to a loyal and disciplined disciple. Yet, the significance of this relationship seemed to have been lost on NPA’s emerging enfant terrible.

As Hadiza’s influence grew, so did her nonchalance and impunity. She did not let any opportunity to undermine the Minister go to waste, as it was alleged that she had a hand in the process that led to the removal of Mr Akinwunmi Ricketts as Board Chairman of the NPA just about 10 months after he was appointed.

Furthermore, in her brazen display of newfound power, Hadiza was quick to throw money at problems and people who she felt stood between her and her desires. She even went as far as lobbying the Presidency to renew her appointment six whole months before the expiration of her tenure and without the knowledge or input from the Minister. This development met stiff opposition from industry stakeholders as a suit was filed challenging

Buhari’s powers to reconstitute the NPA Board, appoint Executive Directors and prematurely reappoint Hadiza six months to the expiration of her tenure without recourse to the NPA Act. Save for his political experience and sagacity, Rotimi Amaechi was on the cusp of spiralling into depression as evinced in the melancholylaced statements about disloyalty and betrayal which dominated his WhatsApp status, thereby revealing his predicament with Hadiza. He had been hurt badly, but Amaechi had been here before and was willing to wait patiently as the tiger likes to wait for its prey to come within striking distance.

Just as Hadiza thought she possessed a carte blanche at NPA and in the corridors of power, Rotimi Amaechi, who had endured her betrayal for close to two years, revealed the ace he had up his sleeve all along. Following some irregularities related to the audit and payments to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation by the NPA, Amaechi recommended Hadiza’s immediate suspension as Managing Director to President Buhari and got his approval to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the management of the agency.

-Beks, a maritime journalist wrote from Lagos NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

APC, Mai Buni and Matters Arising The current impasse in the All Progressives Congress (APC) deserves compromise to surmount, writes Zaharaddeen Maigari

F

or many observers, the current crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC ) which has muddled the waters ahead of its long-awaited National Convention is an ill-wind that will blow no one any good.

It is an adventure that would have been averted with greater circumspection.

President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly sanctioned the removal of the Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mai Mala Buni.

Since the purported removal on March 7, the back and forth over whether or not Buni is still in charge beggars belief.

For a party that dons the ‘progressive’ garb, the March 7 coup de grace which ‘ousted’ Buni should not have been contemplated at all if the rule of law and attention to procedure meant anything to the APC, irrespective of any real or imagined sin counting against him.

At its last meeting, the National Executive Committee (NEC) had last year conferred on the CECPC the power of the National Convention which is in line with powers provided in Article 13.3 of the party’s constitution.

The National Chairman also had the President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval to review the timeline available to the CECPC. No doubt, the party has been embroiled in crisis in various states of the federation and at different levels, threatening its very existence.

Buni

Akpanudoedehe

While the Buni-led CECPC shifted the dates of holding the party’s national convention due to a number of reasons, including the pockets of crisis in various states, it sought to reconcile warring factions.

With reconciliation efforts greatly achieved, the CECPC earlier slated the party’s national convention for February 23, 2022 and later shifted it by about a month (March 26, 2022).

However, the reported March 7 sack of the Buni-led CECPC appears

to have caused some setback.

Buni was reported to be away in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend to his health when his celebrated ‘ouster’ was announced.

Reacting to the purported sack, many governors and party stalwarts had riled at him for promoting personal interest above that of the ruling APC, in a move that would have allegedly driven the party into turmoil and perhaps sound its death knell.

They may have enough grounds for wanting Buni out, but the manner he was ‘axed’ is flawed as unfolding events have portrayed.

Listing the heroes and villains or who is right or wrong in the current APC debacle serves no useful purpose, but truth be told, the March 7 incident was a product of impunity, the common foe which has eaten deep into the nation’s fabrics in all spheres and at all levels of socio-political life.

If Buni emerged through a laid down process as the Chairman of the CECPC, why wouldn’t a similar process be deployed in his ouster rather than dismissing him with a wave of the hand?

There are claims that his current travails started from some ‘disgruntled’ elements among his colleague governors who felt their interests were being circumvented and were not allowed to hijack the party machinery in their states.

This is believed to clearly present a potent danger to actualize their dreams of going to the Senate and anointing their successors in their various states.

The recent amendment of the Electoral Act passed by the National Assembly and signed into law recently by President Buhari is said to have further tightened the noose and eroded the larger-than-life powers of the governors and their lackeys in Buhari’s cabinet.

-Maigari is of Arewa Youths Support Group, Dutse, Jigawa State NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2022 Tuesday 22 March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9842 TR

ABIODUN HOLDS THE ACE IN OGUN ABDULLAHI W. YUNUSA The governor holds the APC party structure ahead of the 2023 election, writes JAMES SOWOLE See page 24 ON BUNI’S STOIC LEADERSHIP Buni has displayed a unique capacity to manage the affairs of the APC, argues ABUBAKAR BUKAR KAGU See page 25 SECTION 84(12) AND THE CONSTITUTION SAMSON R. OSAGIE argues that the recent judgment on the Electoral Act cannot stand legal scrutiny See page 25 EDITORIAL WHOSE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW? See page 26

& RE A S O

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

‘THE ATIKU ABUBAKAR FORMULA’ The former vice president is the most prepared candidate for the office of president, writes ZAYYAD I. MUHAMMAD See page 24

UT H

The Italian court put a lie to the allegations levelled against Adoke over his role in the OPL 245 deal, writes FEMI OBORO

OPL 245, ITALIAN COURT AND THE ADOKE QUESTION In view of the serial and unrelenting misrepresentation of facts and mischief orchestrated by forgers, pathological liars and pseudo anti-corruption activists in partnership with an online publication globally notorious for its culture of blackmail and extortion, it is important to set the record straight on the pronouncements of the Court of Milan, Republic of Italy, in the OPL 245 trial. The court discharged and acquitted all defendants of criminal charges on 17 March 2021. Of particular interest to me is the extent of involvement of my client, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN, who served as the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice of Nigeria between 2010 and 2015 during which the OPL 245 dispute was resolved and the oil block was acquired by Royal Dutch Shell Plc and ENI S.p.A. from Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd for a combined consideration of $1.3bn.

Although Mr Adoke was not on trial in Italy, his name came up frequently in the court proceedings because of the desperate desire of Mr Fabio De Pasquale, the Deputy Public Prosecutor for Milan, to criminalise the OPL 245 transaction by impugning the integrity of Mr Adoke and casting aspersions on his legal advice as the Attorney-General of the Federation in which position he acted on the lawful and legitimate instructions of President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR. In trying to work to an answer, Mr De Pasquale came up with a series of investigative theories, some of which were propounded by the so-called anti-corruption campaigners who were out to win awards as transparency champions by trampling on the truth. To them, all is fair in war. They can cook up anything, forge any e-mail and stage-manage any interview as long as they would get applause from their funders and promoters.

Mr De Pasquale argued in court that the OPL 245 Resolution Agreement of 2011, which was based on a Settlement Agreement reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd on 30 November 2006, was illegal. He argued that it was also illegal to award an oil prospecting licence (OPL) through a court-ordered Settlement Agreement.

De Pasquale and his team theorised that the $801 million paid by Royal Dutch Shell plc and ENI S.p.A. to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd to acquire the rights to the oil block was illegal and was a VFKHPH WR EULEH )*1 R΀FLDOV 7KH\ DOOHJHG WKDW Mr Adoke participated in the bribery scheme DQG SURÀWHG WR WKH WXQH RI 1 P P DW WKH WLPH IURP WKH EQ WUDQVDFWLRQ 6SHFLÀFDOO\ they said Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, a property developer known to both Chief Dan Etete, the promoter of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, sold a property worth N700m for N500m to Mr Adoke. They further alleged that the N200m GLͿHUHQFH ZDV D EULEH 7KH ,WDOLDQ SURVHFXWRUV tried to use the property transaction as evidence of corruption.

Since some of these expended allegations are sub-judicial in Nigeria because Mr Adoke is still being tried in two honourable courts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the same issues, my comments would have to be limited to the Milan Court

decision. Also, some of the facts are already in the public domain and as such do not require any further comments from me. Luckily, the full text of the 458-page judgment, marked “Judgment No. 3055”, is available on the internet. Anyone interested in reading the document, which I intend to quote generously in this article, should google “OPL 245 full decision” and download it.

It documents the key presentations made by the SURVHFXWRUV DQG WKH ÀQDO SURQRXQFHPHQWV RI WKH court after nearly three years of trial. ,W LV VLJQLÀFDQWO\ RI QRWH WKDW QR DGYHUVH ÀQGLQJV ZHUH PDGH DJDLQVW 0U $GRNH /HW XV JR LQWR WKH VSHFLÀFV ,W KDG EHHQ DOOHJHG WKDW Mr Adoke exerted “unlawful pressure” on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to endorse the Settlement Agreement. But the Milan Court pronounced at Page 241 of its judgment: “We cannot instead accept the comments on the fact that Adoke Bello allegedly exerted unlawful pressure on NNPC and DPR. In fact, as we have seen, it had been the Minister himself who had engaged these departments and demanded that an agreement EH PDGH UHÁHFWLQJ WKHLU VXJJHVWLRQV VR WKDW

As yet, no court of law has concluded that the OPL 245 deal is a scandal.

It is just the narrative cooked up by self-serving pseudo activists and forgers, and vented by notorious online blackmailers

the companies (Shell and ENI) were forced to give ground on recognition of the back-in rights, which were not included in the previous contractual framework, which called for direct purchase from Malabu, considering that that company had been granted a license free of these restrictions.”

On the rightfulness of awarding an OPL based on an out-of-court settlement (and the attempt to link it to corruption), the judges said at Page 248: “The opinions of the Public Prosecutor’s expert are absolutely contradictory and legally erroneous. Although she admitted that licenses in Nigeria may be issued by the government on a discretionary basis, it underscores the anomaly represented by the issuance of a license in the context of an out-of-court settlement agreement that involved a party, Eni, that was considered to have nothing to do with the legal disputes over ownership of the license. On the basis of these erroneous premises of its own expert, the prosecution transforms a fact from common experience (out-of-court settlements of disputes may come about through the intervention RI D WKLUG SDUW\ LQYHVWRU RU ÀQDQFLHU LQWR circumstantial evidence of underlying corrupt arrangements.”

2Q WKH DOOHJDWLRQ RI FRQÁLFW RI LQWHUHVW WKH prosecutors argued that Chief Etete, as Minister of Petroleum in 1998, should not have awarded an oil block to a company in which he had interest. The court agreed with the position of the defence lawyer that it was never raised as a breach of law before any court. In fact, the 1998 DVVLJQPHQW ZDV VXEVHTXHQWO\ FRQÀUPHG VHYHUDO times by the government, even before Mr Adoke became AGF. The court agreed with the defence lawyer who had argued that the “fallaciousness of the prosecution’s reasoning was such that the Public Prosecutor was forced to contradict KLPVHOI ZKHQ KH H[SOLFLWO\ D΀UPHG WKDW FRQÀUPDWLRQ RI WKH OLFHQVH DZDUGHG WR 0DODEX had legitimated it to sell the license”.

On the charge that Adoke’s involvement in meetings and communications with key actors in the OPL 245 negotiations was evidence of vested interest for corrupt enrichment, the judges said at Page 291: “Equally devoid of evidentiary value is the fact that the Minister Adoke Bello intervened in the context of these communications, guaranteeing the legitimacy of the agreements underlying the payments, legitimacy that has already been demonstrated and would in fact also be recognized by the Nigerian judicial authority at the request of the VDPH SXEOLF R΀FLDO VHH WKH UXOLQJ RI -XGJH %LQWD Nyako). The prosecution’s argument, based on the fact that the defendants knowingly provided the money for the bribe paid by Etete to the SXEOLF R΀FLDOV LV UHDVRQDEO\ FRQWUDGLFWHG E\ WKH outcome of the SOCA authorizations…”. SOCA is the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency which gave JP Morgan the go-ahead to transfer funds to Malabu in 2011 after investigating suspicion of fraud.

Mr Oboro is Solicitor at Gromyko Amedu Solicitors, 148 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, UK

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2022

The governor holds the APC party structure ahead of the 2023 election, writes JAMES SOWOLE

ABIODUN HOLDS THE ACE IN OGUN

The former vice president is the most prepared candidate for the office of president, writes ZAYYAD I. MUHAMMAD

‘THE ATIKU ABUBAKAR FORMULA’ On Wednesday, March 23, 2022, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Waziri $GDPDZD ZLOO R΀FLDOO\ GHFODUH KLV intention to contest for the Presidency of Nigeria come 2023. This is Atiku’s sixth attempt at the presidency: 1992, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. The 2019 presidential election was Atiku’s best outing in his over 27-year quest to be president of Nigeria. Atiku fought the 2019 battle with everything at his disposal. From the onset, Atiku had EHHQ RQ WKH RͿHQVLYH NQRZLQJ IXOO\ ZHOO that it was his best moment to grab the presidency.

Luckily for Atiku, current events and situations in the country have turned

the 2023 battle for the presidency into another big moment for him and many people have high hopes on him. Atiku started early ahead of other contestants for the PDP Presidential ticket, he had

His opponents will be quick to describe him as a serial presidential contestant. His supporters will refute by describing the decision as sheer doggedness and a clear sign of Atiku’s passion to serve his fatherland

several months of consultations across the country and internationally, Without a doubt, Atiku’s decision to contest will draw diverse reactions from many quarters. For instance, his opponents will be quick to describe him as a serial presidential contestant. His supporters will refute by describing the decision as sheer doggedness and a clear sign of Atiku’s passion to serve his fatherland.

Whichever way anyone decides to see it, one thing that cannot be denied about Atiku is that he is the most prepared candidate for the post of president. Atiku Abubakar has a well-drafted policy GRFXPHQW ORDGHG ZLWK ÀQH SROLFLHV programs, and projects, including what many observers christened ‘The Atiku Abubakar Formula’. Atiku promised, if elected, that his medium-term strategy would be to ensure that recurrent H[SHQGLWXUH LV ÀQDQFHG IXOO\ ZLWK QRQ oil revenues, while all oil proceeds will be invested in infrastructure, security,

education, and health.

In the PDP, there is no doubt that Atiku is the most grounded candidate for the 2023 presidential elections. However, there are some odds against him, as there are many in his favor, taking into consideration the present realities in the polity. One critical factor that would help Atiku to have an edge over any other candidate, especially from the north, is that he is already ahead of them in terms of political structure and thorough understanding of the politics of greater Nigeria. Again, among all the possible PDP presidential contenders, Atiku is the only one that can freely decide to contest or not, while the decision of others is entirely centered on many things, the most important - war chest and political structures. On the other hand, if the PDP truly wants to challenge the APC in the 2023 presidential election Atiku is the party’s best bet. For example, Atiku Vs Tinubu will be an interesting big game- a very big one. Two similar people with similar treats, similar game styles and I- know-you, you- know-me scenario will come to play. The two have well-established political structures that can easily scare an opponent. They pay their own bills, so the contest would be 100 percent politics, politics. It will be a fascinating zero-sum game. $WLNX·V R΀FLDO GHFODUDWLRQ LV D VLJQ WKDW he has fully commenced his participation in the race for the presidential ticket of the PDP. One thing for sure is Atiku ZRXOG ZKROHKHDUWHGO\ ÀJKW IRU WKH 3'3 presidential ticket. With an immense war FKHVW WKDW HDVLO\ VFDUHV RͿ KLV RSSRQHQWV vast political network, and connection, Atiku can comfortably contest for the PDP presidential ticket. When North East Business Community (NEBC) presented the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms to Atiku, it sent a strong signal that Atiku’s political family are planning ahead of other presidential contestants.

It is not sheer luck that has kept Atiku very relevant in the politics of the presidential elections for about three decades. But from the beginning, he didn’t focus only on the ‘End Game’, but also on building a strong political organization and working with bright people.

The 2023 presidential election battle will be very interesting. Like this writer has always maintained, PDP will be on WKH RͿHQVLYH ZKLOH WKH UXOLQJ $3& ZLOO be on the defensive. Apart from political calculations, many observers believe that this time around Atiku will also utilize science in his political strategies. For example, when it comes to the selection of a running mate Atiku will not look only for a candidate that will bring massive votes from his primary constituency, but also someone that is acceptable across Nigeria. Political observers also believe Atiku will massively market to Nigerians his well-documented policy document while putting the youth, women, and new ideas as his central point.

Muhammad writes from Abuja

The March 11, 2022 inauguration of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State, by the Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, marked the end of doubts and apprehension over the control of the party’s structure in the state.

The event was a follow-up to the February SUHVHQWDWLRQ RI &HUWLÀFDWHV RI 5HWXUQ to 34-state chairmen of the APC by the Interim National Secretary of Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), John Akpanudoedehe, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

7KH $EXMD HYHQW ZDV LQ FRQÀUPDWLRQ RI WKH declaration by Akpanudoedehe, in the wake

members, we must all ready to wear our leadership gown and work very hard to lift this party to victory in 2023.

“Let us all shun factionalism and blueprint that can divide our party, we must show leadership quality, we must display maturity and tolerance to carry everybody along so that we can build a united party that can face the challenges ahead of us.

“This is a call to service, we must be very serious, we know the situation of the party in Ogun State and we must be ready to carry everybody along so that we can have a united front that can confront the General Election in 2023.”

of reported parallel congresses of APC in some states, including Ogun State, that the party would only recognise results of the Congress, supervised by the Congress Committee, deployed by the National Headquarters of the party.

3ULRU WR WKH SUHVHQWDWLRQ RI WKH &HUWLÀFDWH RI 5HWXUQ WR 6DQXVL LQ $EXMD WKHUH ZHUH DQ[LHWLHV and apprehension, among leaders and members of the APC in Ogun State, on which Congress results will the National Secretariat accept, despite the declaration by the Interim National Secretary that had earlier paved the way for Sanusi, who was elected by the Wale Ohu-led Congress Committee.

The reason for the apprehension was that the Abdullahi Adamu-led reconciliation committee, which met separately with the Governor Dapo Abiodun’s group and Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s group, which produced, Chief Derin Adebiyi as State Chairman, did not make its report and recommendations available to the party members in Ogun State. So, on the day of the presentation RI &HUWLÀFDWHV RI 5HWXUQ WR HOHFWHG $3& FKDLUPHQ the two sides mobilised their followers to Abuja for the ceremony.

To event watchers, the main reason for the struggle on who controls the party structure in the state is the forthcoming 2023 election in the state. This is because the primary of any party is usually determined by the person and the group that is in control of the structure.

It was therefore expedient on the Ogun APC State Chairman that inaugurated other 19 members of the SWC when he charged them to brace up for the challenges ahead of the party in the state. Sanusi charged the SWC members to be more committed to the unity of the party as political activities gather momentum in build up to the 2023 general election.

He said, “I appreciate His Excellency, Governor Dapo Abiodun for the support he has been giving to members of state exco of our great party.

“After today’s inauguration of the state exco

With all these processes, which were in favour of the Abiodun-led group, relief has come the way of the governor, who like his predecessors, is expected to seek another WHUP RI IRXU \HDUV LQ R΀FH Also, signs that Abiodun’s group holds the party’s structure and which may make his path, to securing his party’s ticket for 2023 Election, was informed by the prominent role he was assigned as the APC prepares for its National Convention.

For Abiodun like many of his counterparts in the country, the road to the Government House in 2019, was never a smooth one, partly, because he never enjoyed the cooperation of his predecessor, Ibikunle Amosun, who sponsored a candidate from another party, even after he (Abiodun), had emerged as the APC candidate.

Considering the support that the governor received from some leaders of the party including two former governors of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Chief Gbenga Daniel among other leaders, Abiodun, in the spirit of Omoluwabi ethos, on assumption of R΀FH DFFRUGHG WKHP UHVSHFW DQG ZKLFK ZDV one of the reasons that made them special guests at notable state functions.

In the spirit of inclusive governance, Abiodun also embraced some followers of his opposition during election in his administration either by appointing them into political positions or through patronage.

That Abiodun, therefore, is forging ahead of his detractors politically, is not because he performed magic, it is the outcome of deliberate act of inclusiveness in approach to governance and demonstration of Omoluwabi ethos.

sowolejames@gmail.com

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2022

Buni has displayed a unique capacity to manage the affairs of the APC, argues ABUBAKAR BUKAR KAGU

ON BUNI’S STOIC LEADERSHIP 7KH ODVW WZR ZHHNV ZHUH ÀOOHG ZLWK critique regarding the status and future of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Many commentators envisaged a slippery slope for the party. Notably absent in most of the discussions, however, was the character, political history, and acumen of the Chairman of the Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, who was at the midpoint of the storm. For those who pay attention, Buni’s entire political career is a philosophical chef-d’oeuvre, and his stint as the Chairman of the CECPC is further proof, if not the climax, of that.

Four decades down, Giovanni Sartori’s political dictum, to make an inference, characterizes party politics as a system

of interaction that earns through strategic LQWHUIDFH WKDW FDQ PDQDJH DQG EHQHÀW IURP both intra and inter-party competitions.

This philosophy is still a reference point for politicians and political thinkers. If Sartori had only drawn up the idea, Buni KDV WDNHQ LW RXW WR WKH ÀHOG DV WKH IXOFUXP for conducting the APC. To a careful observant, it is easy to envision how Buni is constantly swayed by the conviction that the fortunes of the party depend neither on the assumption that it has reached some optimal threshold nor the familiar complacence of ruling parties that some pinnacle of stability has been attained, once already in power. Far from that, and distant from what some pundits envisaged at the wake of the tumultuous exit of Adams Oshiomhole, the erstwhile leader of the party, and the bog that greeted the party in recent days, Buni has gainfully displayed astounding magnanimity and a unique capacity to manage what ordinarily could have EHHQ D ÁXLG VLWXDWLRQ IRU WKH SDUW\ +H OHG WKH $3& ZLWK D FKDUDFWHU WKDW GHÀQHV him as both a staunch party man and a pragmatist.

Time and again, Buni has refused to lose sight of the fact that the stability and the future of the party requires more than just the belief in the mechanics of incumbency; that one-dimensional fallacy inherent in the familiar ephemeral deduction that once you become the leader, you have an insuperable grip of all the aces. What he pursued instead, was a carefully structured pattern of interface

and engagement of benign political HTXLOLEULXP WKDW LGHQWLÀHV DQG DJJUHJDWHV interests, while pacifying any supposed chaos that will hinder target prospects going into 2023.

Through his inaudible but dogged exposition of leadership, he ensured the APC snowballed, making prodigious inroads that have so far renewed the party’s D΁XHQFH +H GH[WHURXVO\ GHPRQVWUDWHG this political skill by triumphantly courting into the APC one of the largest inter-party LQÁX[ RI SROLWLFDO ELJZLJV LQ UHFHQW KLVWRU\ So far, the APC has welcomed former and serving governors, a number of former and serving legislators both at national and state assemblies, including two former speakers of the House of Representatives.

This is a testimony to how the party, under his leadership was reinvented and its treasures revived.

The past few days have again tested Buni’s capacity and acceptability.

Conscious of how he succeeded in reorganising and bolstering the party, prominent members, as we have seen with the Senate caucus, and indeed the President rose to the occasion to ensure nothing disrupts the accomplishments made so far. Some observers were constrained to ask if the APC should be concerned by the recent squabble among party members. :HOO 3HGHUVHQ·V SULQFLSDO ÀQGLQJV DQG RQ SROLWLFDO SDUW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQ DQG FRQÁLFW has further revealed how, as delicate as they may seem, intra-party skirmishes and disagreements are inherent to party life that they occur frequently both within DQG EHWZHHQ WKH GLͿHUHQW IDFHV DQG hierarchies of the party organization. The research clearly shows how in the end, these disagreements shape a party’s policy stances, electoral strategies and coalition behaviour. If not anything, the APC has QRZ LGHQWLÀHG VRPH RI LWV IRUPLGDEOH IDXOW lines, giving it a head start to forge a sturdy appeasement and reconciliation strategy going into 2023. Hence, these events, and most of what the Buni led CECPC worked for and withered, speak only of utility, HVSHFLDOO\ ZKHQ RQH UHÁHFWV RQ WKH OHVV anticipated electoral volatility that ousted the PDP in 2015.

Another monumental feat in the line of what the Buni led CECPC achieved is guiding the party on the principle and philosophy that kept inspiring members and even those outside to view the APC as a dialogue-driven coalition of dedicated and experienced stalwarts who tenaciously demonstrate an unswerving aptitude to reach out, to resolve, to attract, to pull and, to subsequently win. As we gradually approach the 2023 general elections, whoever emerges as the leader of the party must exhibit these inspiring political VNLOOV WR H΀FDFLRXVO\ QDYLJDWH LQWUDSDUW\ intricacies and organisational obscurities.

For the opposition, they probably have to go by similar inspiring and dogged strategies and discover a scheme to shrink the APC, which at present seemed farfetched.

Kagu, a member of the APC, writes from Damaturu, Yobe State

SAMSON R. OSAGIE argues that the recent judgment on the Electoral Act cannot stand legal scrutiny

SECTION 84(12) AND THE CONSTITUTION The recent judgement in Chief Nduka Edede v. Attorney General of the Federation by the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State is one judgement that cannot and should not stand the test of legal scrutiny because it was given per incuriam. There is no doubt that the powers of court to review actions including legislations by the Legislature is constitutionally guaranteed under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

First, the speed with which the case was heard within eleven days, thus making history as the quickest suit to be heard and determined in Nigeria judicial history, is suspect.

Second, the non Joinder of the National Assembly which enacted the Law, means that the suit was heard without the necessary parties.

Third, the judgement confused the persons who are political appointees as used in Section 84(12) of the New Electoral Act and persons who are employed in the public service of the Federation or of any State as used in Sections

The speed with which the case was heard - within eleven days thus making history as the quickest suit to be heard and determined in Nigeria’s judicial history, is suspect 66(1)f, 107(1)g 137(1)g and 182(1)g. If the judge has painstakingly studied the plethora of cases that has been decided which clearly GLVWLQJXLVKHG EHWZHHQ SXEOLF R΀FHUV RU persons employed in the public service of the federation or any state from political appointees who does not enjoy some permanency in their jobs or appointment she would have arrived at D GLͿHUHQW YHUGLFW See the cases of HON COMMISSIONER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS & ANOR V. OBA ADEYINKA ONAKADE (2016)LPELR-41133(CA), INEC& OTHERS v. CHIEF T.A. ORJI& ORS(2009)LPELR-4320(CA); ASOGWA V. CHUKWU(2003)4NWLR(Pt.811)540@576A-F;

DAVA v.

ADEYEYE(2005)6NWLR(Pt.920)1@19; etc Also, had the judge examined carefully the clear provisions of Sections 277(1), Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, she would have convinced herself that in enacting Section 84(12), the Legislature did not intend to refer to persons employed in the public services of the State or Federation.

Curiously, the sole defendant in the suit, to

wit, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation did not waste time in celebrating the judgement and pledging to comply with same with the kind of alacrity that we have never seen when it comes to obeying court judgements. ,W LV LQWHUHVWLQJ WR QRWH WKDW WKH 3ODLQWLͿ a Chieftain of Action Alliance(AA) had no locus standi to institute the action in that he is not a political appointee and thus had no interest that will be prejudiced by the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022.In SHEHU BALA & ANOR v. SALE HASSAN (2014) LPELR-23997(CA) the Court of Appeal held “Cases abound that the issue of locus standi is so fundamental that where a party to a suit lacks the standing to institute an action, the matter shall automatically come to an end because the court shall be without jurisdiction and cannot be competent to proceed further and consider the merit or otherwise of the action”. Chief Nduka Edede clearly lacks any standing to challenge the Electoral Act and had all the proper and necessary parties be included in the suit, this point would have been canvassed strenuously with merit.

Another worrisome aspect of the judgement was that it even mandated the AGF to delete Section 84(12) from the Electoral Act thus vesting legislative powers on the executive.

In totality, the judgement was a predetermined, premeditated outcome of a grand design to protect the political interest of a few powerful political appointees who will probably want to seek other political R΀FHV LQ EXW \HW ZDQWV WR KROG RQ tenaciously to their present appointment. It is a travesty and cannot nurture democratic ethos, norms and culture.

Dr Osagie is a Private Legal Practitioner and Lecturer in Political Parties and Parliamentary Politics

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

WHOSE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW? The current effort is again a waste of time and resources

N

ot much was expected from the exercise. Predictably, at the end, what came out from the National Assembly as ‘constitutional review’ was largely an elaborate charade.

Like previous editions of the exercise, many issues and bills that are crucial to advancing the cause of good governance and national cohesion were ignored. Despite the visit to their chambers by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, the lawmakers still rejected legislations that would allow married women to choose their indigeneship by marriage or state of origin for appointive or elective purposes, among other gender bills.

To be sure, there are important issues that demand legislative interventions and a few of them were considered.

The Senate passed a total of 49 bills, including moving prisons, railways, and power generation from the exclusive to the concurrent list. The lawmakers gave a nod in support of independent candidacy in presidential, governorship, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and Local Government Council HOHFWLRQV 7KH\ DSSURYHG WKH VHSDUDWLRQ RI WKH R΀FH of Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from that of the Justice Minister. Besides, they approved ÀQDQFLDO DXWRQRP\ IRU VWDWH OHJLVODWXUHV MXGLFLDU\ and local governments, and voted for the retention of Value Added Tax (VAT) on concurrent list. VAT issue has been in contention between the federal and state governments over who should be collecting it and how it should be shared.

However, the approval of autonomy for the local councils is rather contentious. It is also noteworthy that the lawmakers had enough common sense to jettison the idea of awarding lifelong pensions to WKHLU SUHVLGLQJ R΀FHUV Overall, critical issues were ignored. Questions that have agitated Nigerians in recent years include:

Should we tinker with the current arrangement? How do we deal with the question of local government ÀVFDO DXWRQRP\" $QG KRZ GR ZH UHVWUXFWXUH WKH country to make it work for the people? But they are issues that hardly bother our federal lawmakers.

8QHYHQ GHYHORSPHQW LV D PDMRU FDXVH IRU GLͿHUHQW modes of agitations across the country, some of which threaten the existence of Nigeria as a single entity.

But perhaps more painfully, the cry for state police, which has been a constant across many states in the country, did not make the list. The pervasive insecurity across the country has made it essential for the active participation of local government, civic and business leaders, residents, churches, mosques, in policing their communities and bear responsibility for safeguarding their welfare.

But the National Assembly thought otherwise and has missed yet another opportunity to play up issues of security in the country.

Since democratic government was restored in 1999 anchored on a constitution put together by the military and top civil servants that swore in Olusegun Obasanjo as President, every elected National Assembly has had as one of its core committees Constitution Review. This is one of the so-called juicy committees whose membership is a privilege.

Members of the committee usually tour all the geopolitical zones in the country, and frequently go on a ‘retreat’ which can last for days in a posh hotel invariably out of Abuja with all expenses paid and generous allowances. Ironically, their conferences and meetings have no impact. And this one is not GLͿHUHQW IURP SDVW HͿRUWV LW LV DQ RUJDQLVHG ZDVWH RI time and resources.

All said, while it is the prerogative of the National Assembly to amend provisions of the 1999 Constitution, we strongly believe that such exercise must be carried out with a good sense of history, the highest level of patriotism and in accordance with the wishes of the people.

While it is the prerogative of the National Assembly to amend provisions of the 1999 Constitution, we strongly believe that such exercise must be carried out in accordance with the wishes of the people T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY 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 SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 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 (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS SHEHU SHAGARI’S BIG SHOES The one who wants to be president of Nigeria in 2023 must FKRVH KLV ÀJXUHV RI VSHHFK DQDORJLHV SURSHUO\ MXVW WR OHW XV know he really knows what he wants. What’s this about “not wanting to step on toes,” in reverence to the sitting president who is unfortunately regarded as the ultimate kingmaker?

The analogy that should have been appropriate is the one DERXW D GHVLUH WR EH DEOH WR ´ÀW LQWR 6KDJDUL·V ELJ VKRHV µ Anyone who styles his presidential campaign for 2023 on the basis of nostalgia for the great days of the President Shehu Shagari’s presidency really knows why he wants to be president. President Shagari ruled for a comparatively four short years but, in retrospect, and in comparison to the bumbling ÀDVFRV RI 1LJHULD·V FXUUHQW OHDGHUVKLS 6KDJDUL ZDV D JUHDW leader indeed. Shagari was around between 1979 and 1983: &KL\RGD FRPSOHWHG WKH .DGXQD 5HÀQHU\ LQ WKH 6KLURUR Hydroelectric Generating Plant was completed in 1980, the Itakpe ore mining project and the Ajaokuta steel plants plus associated steel mills and rolling plants across Nigeria at Aladja, Osogbo, Jos, Katsina were activities you’d put into the 1979-1983 development context of President Shehu Shagari.

At Kaduna, the textile factories and an automobile assembly plant plus sundry industries attracted and supported thou-

sands of workers. At the state governance levels, governors were in healthy competitions to nourish localised industries and create jobs as a consequence; one index of the burgeoning factory scene was beer consumption pattern amongst the population, for when factory-assembly plants run in shifts round the clock, workers coming out of shift-sessions and WKRVH WDNLQJ WKH GD\ RͿ DUH OLNHO\ WR FKLOO RXW LQ EHHU JDUGHQV to socialise. If these factories are scattered in states around the country, there will be uptick in beer production and consumption patterns and there’d be the need to have a localised beer production plant in your state if you are a governor.

No, this does not make you a “cursed sinner” one bit, that idea being an oddity in the context of economic growth and development and poverty reduction overall. In my opinion, Governor Sabo Bakin Zuwo (was he immortalised at Kano at all?) was thoroughly misunderstood, for it was pure business consideration that made the Kano lager beer, Double Crown, the best brand then.

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

THE ENERGY CRISIS AND BUSINESSES The recent energy crisis in Nigeria is biting hard with two system collapses and poor power supply nationwide; businesses and organizations are feeling the heat.

I spoke to the Managing Director of an ,QVXUDQFH FRPSDQ\ DQG KH FRQÀUPHG WKDW KLV ÀUP KDV PRYHG WR ZRUNLQJ IURP 4pm from the hitherto 7.30-5pm.

He said this was done to save cost and help balance the cost. On further investigation, O DOVR VSRNH WR ÀYH EUDQFK PDQDJHUV RI VL[ GLͿHUHQW EDQNV DQG WKH\ DOO FRQÀUPHG WKDW by 5.01pm the generator must be turned RͿ DQG DOO PHPEHUV RI VWDͿ PXVW OHDYH WKH R΀FH H[FHSW LI WKHUH LV SXEOLF SRZHU VXSSO\ which has been epileptic lately.

The moribund grid in Nigeria and inadequate power generation poses a big risk for businesses. The grid, recently collapsed twice in a week and this caused a loss of power nationwide. The federal government claimed to have signed a deal with Siemens which remains nebulous till

date because when Chimamanda Adichie, the Nigerian writer, asked the erstwhile German leader about the deal, Mrs Merkel was not convincing in her response.

I also sampled the opinions of facility managers that complained bitterly about the N850 per litre price for diesel. Some facility manager opined that they can no longer SURYLGH VHUYLFHV HͿHFWLYHO\ DV WKH SULFH JUHZ from N240 last year to N850 and they cannot increase their service charge because of the state of the economy.

One facility manager in Oniru, Victoria Island complained that because of the inadequate power supply, once he exhausted his 1400 litres per month diesel allowance, he had to call on the residents to make their own diesel arrangements. I also spoke to a URDGVLGH EDUEHU WKDW FRQÀUPHG WKDW KH KDV increased the cost of a hair to N500 from N300.

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

LAWYER TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

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OLUWABAMISE AYANWOLE

#JusticeForBamise

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IN THIS EDITION

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Defection of Governor/Deputy Governor from One Political Party to Another

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e s i m a B r o F e c i #Just QUOTABLES ‘We do not have enough Judges in Lagos; but, certainly, we have more hands on deck now.’ - Honourable Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba, Chief Judge of Lagos State

Council of Legal Education Appoints DDG for New Port Harcourt Campus Page V

‘….Many believe that political appointees are not public servants…..

There are those that say ‘no’, political appointees are public servants, because they draw money from the National till or the State treasury…..’ - Chief (Dr) Mike Ozekhome OFR, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer & Activist

EFCC Tenders More Evidence in the Alleged £2.556 billion Fraud Matter Page V

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LAWYER

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

Electoral Act 2022: When the Constitution Thumps Politics Nullification of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 received with mixed feelings, the decision of Anyadike J. of the Federal High Court sitting at Umuahia, nullifying Section 84(12) (former 84(10)) of the Electoral Act 2022 (EA), by reason of its unconstitutionality. You will recall that in my editorial of March 1, 2022 “Electoral Act 2022: Unresolved Issues”, I had expressed the same sentiments as Anyadike J. using the same Sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1) (g) & 182(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2018) (the Constitution) as support for my assertion.

However, I say mixed feelings because, while my argument was upheld in the judgement, it is beginning to look like the Umuahia case was somehow contrived.

“Cunny man die, cunny man bury am!” Did it come as a shock that for the first time in its history, the 9th Senate hurriedly dismissed President Buhari’s letter asking them to amend the EA by removing the offending Section 84(12)? In the words of Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN, “I am yet to see a chicken voting for Christmas!”. The National Assembly (NASS) willingly deleting Section 84(12), would have been tantamount to the Legislators whittling down the powers which they have sought to arrogate unto themselves in politics. I had said in my aforementioned editorial, that Section 84(12) seemed like a battle for supremacy between the Legislature and the Executive. After all, the three arms of government are supposed to be co-equal; but, over the years, the Executive has put itself on a pedestal, over the Legislature and the Judiciary. So what, if the Legislature is now trying to catch up with the Executive, by acquiring more power for itself, albeit by inserting some unconstitutional provisions into legislation?!

According to some Legislators, Section 84(12) refers to Congress and Convention, not general elections. That is not entirely true. Congress/ Convention, in one way or the other, are stepping stones to elections; and, in fact, the offending provision states: “…..for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election”.

This provision is definitely related not only to intra-party, but to general elections. ‘ace’, The Electoral Knowledge Network, wrote that the National Congress of a political party is usually the highest decision-making body of the party. By Legislators keeping themselves in as statutory delegates, and leaving ‘political appointees’ (whoever they may be) out (unless they quit their jobs well in advance), the Legislators would have more power in the party, and obviously more leverage to decide on candidates for elections (certainly, the political appointees would be reluctant to quit their jobs so long in advance, in order to maintain their strength, standing and relevance, and eat their cake and have it). Even in the case of the offending Section 52(2) of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 which was subsequently jettisoned, NASS tried to arrogate more power unto itself by usurping INEC’s constitutional role and foisting itself and NCC into the electoral process to give permission to INEC for electronic voting, contrary to Sections 78 & 158(1) of the Constitution.

I

Who are ‘Political Appointees’?

Aside from unconstitutionality, I think NASS may have shot itself in the foot because Section 84(12) of the EA is vague, as it doesn’t specify who a political appointee is for the purpose of the provision. In some countries (like USA), it is possible to void a law on account of it being vague.

Sections 147, 150, 151, 192, 195 & 196 of the Constitution provide for the positions of Minister, Attorney-General of the Federation, Special Adviser, Commissioner, State Attorney-General and State Special Adviser respectively. Are they the ones that Section 84(12) of EA refers to as political appointees? Maybe.

With all due respect to those who cite cases like Dada v Adeyeye 2005 6 N.W.L.R. Part 920 Page 1 at 19 as their authority for saying that political appointees are not public servants, I am not in agreement, at least not for all political appointees.

Section 318 of the Constitution defines the public service of the Federation or a State as “the service of the Federation (or the State) in any capacity in respect of the Government of the Federation (or the State) and includes service as …..”. Firstly, does this not mean that anybody who serves the Federation or a State in any capacity whatsoever, is a public servant?

Then, the provision goes on to enumerate some of those who are included on the list of public

as the name implies, leads and runs the party.

What then is a Caretaker Committee of a political party? If it is a Committee that temporarily performs all the duties of the political party executive body until a proper executive is put in place, then is it not an executive office, albeit temporary? But, if it is a Committee whose role is limited in function, and it is not responsible for leading the party, then maybe it cannot be said to be an executive office. My dear colleagues, what do you think?

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocate

The

Advocate “By the foregoing definition of Section 318, are these aforementioned officers (Minister etc) who are political appointees, not also in the service of the Federation and State (in various capacities), and therefore public servants as well…..?” servants; but, this does not mean that the list is exhaustive, because the word ‘includes’ is used. According to the online MerriamWebster Dictionary, the word ‘include’ means “to take in or comprise as a part of a whole or group”. Those listed in the provision, simply comprise as a part of the groups of public servants, and not all public servants.

By the foregoing definition of Section 318, are these aforementioned officers (Minister etc) who are political appointees, not also in the service of the Federation and State (in various capacities), and therefore public servants as well, and consequently, the said Sections 66, 107, 137 & 182 of the Constitution giving 30 days before the election to resign, also applicable to them? While civil servant and public servant can be distinguished, and usually, a political appointee cannot be said to be a civil servant, sometimes there is an intersection between public servant and political appointee.

Caretaker Committee Again, take for example the issue of the Caretaker Committee set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC); the decision to use Governors as ‘Caretaker Chairman’ since the unceremonious ousting of its erstwhile Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in 2020, has made for yet another debate about whether it is constitutional for a sitting Governor to be in that role. This question has arisen because of the provision of Section 183 of the Constitution, which mandatorily prohibits a Governor from holding any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever, during the period of his/her tenure in office.

Maybe it is time for those who feel uncomfortable with this arrangement to seek the face of the court for an interpretation of "executive office”, as the provision of paid

employment is clear enough and may need no further interpretation since it simply means working in a job where the individual receives a salary. In Coca-Cola (Nig.) Ltd v Akinsanya 2013 18 N.W.L.R. Part 1386 Page 255 at 372 per Ikyegh JCA, the Court of Appeal held inter alia that: “The word ‘employment’ is not defined in the Third Alteration Act. It’s ordinary or literal meaning, however, is “work, especially when it is done to earn money (see Oxford Learner’s Dictionary 7th Edition Page 470)”. Drawing from this, one can undoubtedly conclude that paid employment is definitely work for money. Also see the case of Okoh v University of Lagos 2011 14 N.W.L.R. Part 1268 Page 563 at 584 per Pemu JCA: “The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 6th Edition at its Page 379 defines “employee” as a person who is paid to work”. The Governors can easily argue that they are not employees in paid employment, because do not receive any remuneration in this additional role they play, and therefore, the issue of being in any other "paid employment" does not arise.

However, the case of executive office is not as clear cut. "Executive Officer" has various meanings, but in the context of this conversation, "he/she is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organisation, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organisation". This Wikipedia definition seems to be the best suited, to the issue at hand. ‘ace’, describes the organisational structure of a political party, and refers to the national executive body of a party as “ ‘the party government’ making and implementing decisions on a day-to-day basis”. Going by this definition, it seems that apart from the constitution of a political party, it’s executive

President Muhammadu with a copy of the new Electoral Act

Conclusion Nigerians are now beginning to wonder how well versed in the law and law making our law makers are, with some of the unconstitutional laws they seem to enact. One would imagine that even if many of our law makers may be clueless, they would seek sound legal advice before trying to craft laws, so that they can get it right and only enact lawful laws. Or is that our politicians just do not give a hoot about constitutionality and legality, and are mostly interested only in what will be of benefit to them?

It seems that some of the innovations that politicians are seeking to introduce, good or bad, self-serving or altruistic, may need to be accommodated in the Constitution first, via the constitutional amendment process laid out in Section 9 of the Constitution. It is trite law that, any enactment that is inconsistent with the Constitution which is supreme and binding on all persons and authorities in Nigeria, including NASS, is inconsistent, null and void to the extent of its inconsistency (Section 1(1) & (3) of the Constitution). In a country where it is almost the norm to obtain conflicting orders and judgements; get different interpretations of the same law depending on the court you go to (forum shopping)(last year, the CJN, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad had to take some steps to try to curb the negative trend of forum shopping); disregard the rule of law etc, it may be better to have the provisions set in the Constitution. For now, it may be difficult to develop the law using impeachable case law; the justice sector requires reform, for reliable case law to evolve.

Dear Editor Re: Umahi: Between Abuse and Law Dear Editor, I do not agree with your analysis of this situation.

I am glad that the court has attempted to put a stop to this immorality and political rascality of cross-carpeting, with the decision of Ekwo J. in Umahi’s matter. The Constitution did not envisage this circumstance, and it was up to the court to step up to the plate.

O.O., Abuja Dear O.O., Thank you for your observations. I do agree with you, that a lot of the party cross-carpeting we have seen is based purely on self-interest, and is indeed, nothing more than political rascality and immorality.

But, one of the first things we were taught in Jurisprudence is that, law and morals are not necessarily the same; it is not in all circumstances that immorality translates to illegality, though sometimes there is an intersection between both.

So, for instance, prostitution is both immoral and illegal. On the other hand, marrying two sisters may be considered by some to be immoral or abhorrent, but it is not illegal.

In the case of the executive cross-carpeting, it may be immoral and even deceitful to use one party to win elections and get into office, and then defect to another party; but the Constitution does not seem to make it an illegal act like it does for Legislators. Can one confidently claim that the Constitution did not envisage that cross-carpeting would occur in the case of the executive, when the Constitution copiously provides for cross-carpeting in the case of Legislators?

However, since the matter is sub judice, it is best that we leave it for the Court of Appeal to decide. Ultimately, this case will go to the Apex Court, and it will be quite interesting to see how it is laid to rest, especially with the issue of the executive’s immunity from legal process.

Editor

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Defection of Governor/Deputy Governor from One Political Party to Another Facts The Plaintiff and the 2nd Defendant are political parties duly registered in Nigeria, while the 1st Defendant is a statutory body saddled with the conduct, supervision and overall superintendence of elections all over Nigeria. The 3rd and 4th Defendants are politicians and were members of the Plaintiff. In the Governorship election held in 2015 and conducted by the 1st Defendant, the Plaintiff sponsored the 3rd and 4th Defendants as its candidates for the position of Governor and Deputy-Governor of Ebonyi State. The 3rd and 4th Defendant won the election overwhelmingly under the political umbrella of the Plaintiff.

Thereafter, the 3rd and 4th Defendant were sworn into their respective offices. In exercising their constitutional right to run for a second term in office as Governor and Deputy-Governor of Ebonyi State respectively, they implored the Plaintiff to endorse, nominate and sponsor them as its candidates for the 2019 Governorship election which the Plaintiff acceded to.

At the end of the election held on March 9, 2019, the Plaintiff polled a total of 393,043 of the votes defeating the 2nd Defendant who managed to amass a total of 81,703 votes. Having polled majority of the lawful votes cast, the Plaintiff was declared the winner and its candidates; the 3rd and 4th Defendant were returned elected as Governor and Deputy-Governor of Ebonyi State respectively; they were accordingly, issued with certificates of return. They were duly sworn into those offices on May 29, 2019 and their second four year tenure which is to end on May 28, 2023. However, on November 17, 2020 whilst their tenure was still running, the 3rd and 4th Defendant relinquished the membership of the Plaintiff and defected to the 2nd Defendant.

The Plaintiff made several demands to the 3rd and 4th Defendant to drop the Plaintiff’s mandate secured at the 2019 Governorship election and step down from their respective positions, but same was not acceded to. Aggrieved by the foregoing, the Plaintiff instituted this action vide an Originating Summons, seeking various declarations and perpetual injunctions against the Defendants. Notable among the reliefs sought by the Plaintiff is a Declaration that votes won at an election by a political party cannot be transferred or utilised for the benefit of another political party or member of another political party.

Various objections were raised by the 2nd Defendant on one hand, and the 3rd and 4th Defendant on the other hand. The objections bother on juristic personality of the 2nd Defendant; abuse of court processes; incompetence of the Originating Summons which was not signed by the Registrar of court; the Federal High Court lacking jurisdiction to determine the suit as same does not come under any of the sub-provisions of Section 251 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); and the 3rd and 4th Defendant cannot be validly sued in the personal capacities, as they enjoy immunity from such acts. These Preliminary Objections were duly considered by the Court and same was judged unmeritorious by the court.

Issue for Determination The following sole issue was considered by the court: What is the constitutional effect of the defection of the 3rd and 4th Defendant from PDP to APC, having been elected Governor and Deputy-Governor respectively of Ebonyi State on the platform of the Plaintiff by the votes given to the Plaintiff by electorate in the governorship election of 9th March, 2019.

Arguments On the issue, counsel for the Plaintiff argued that by virtue of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), only a political party can canvass for votes for any candidate at any election. Votes cast on March 9, 2019 wherein the Plaintiff polled the majority votes cast to defeat the 2nd Defendant which came far second belongs to it (the Plaintiff) and the 3rd and 4th Defendant cannot transfer the votes to the 2nd Defendant, so as to remain the Governor and Deputy-Governor on the

the powers of the legislative body owing to the fact that the 1999 Constitution has succinctly provided for the procedure for the election and removal of a sitting Governor in Nigeria. Reliance was placed on Sections 188, 189 and 190 of the 1999 Constitution. They challenged the guts of the Plaintiff, and submitted that the present suit is tantamount to an abuse of court process, as a similar suit on the same subject+matter had been filed earlier. Reliance was placed on A-G LAGOS STATE v A-G FEDERATION & ORS (2014) LPELR-22701(SC). Counsel posited that the action against the 3rd and 4th Defendant is a stale claim, having been brought outside the statutory time provided for commencing an action against Public Officers. Reliance was placed on Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Act. Thereafter, counsel for the Respondents maintained that the Plaintiff’s Originating Summons, inclusive of all exhibits, was incompetent and invalid.

Honourable Justice Inyang E. Ekwo J

In the Federal High Court of Nigeria In the Abuja Judicial Division Holden at Abuja On Tuesday, the 8th day of March, 2022 Before His Lordship Inyang E. Ekwo J. Judge, Federal High Court FHC/ABJ/CS/920/2021 Between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Plaintiff And

1. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 2. All Progressive Congress (APC) 3. Engineer David Nweze Umahi 4. Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe

Defendants

(Judgement delivered by Honourable Inyang E. Ekwo J.)

platform of the 2nd Defendant. Reliance was placed on NDAYAKO v DANTORO & ORS (2004) LPELR-1968 (SC) at 24.

Counsel for the Plaintiff also argued that by virtue of the doctrine for acquired or vested rights, the 3rd and 4th Defendant cannot by their own action of defection arbitrarily strip the Plaintiff off its vested right. It was argued that the 3rd and 4th Defendant are deemed to have resigned from their offices, the moment they abandoned the majority of the lawful votes casted for the Plaintiff at the election. Reliance was placed on Section 180(1)(c) and (d) of the 1999 Constitution as (amended) and AMAECHI v INEC 5 NWLR (Pt. 1080).

The Defendants merely relied extensively on their Preliminary Objection to argue that the Court lacks jurisdiction, as the originating summons was issued and served on the 3rd and 4th Defendant in breach of Section 308(1)(a)(b) and (c); (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution which confers immunity from being sued on the said Defendants being the current/serving Governor and DeputyGovernor of Ebonyi State. Counsel submitted for the 2nd Respondent that its name of

“….. a party cannot win an election by poaching the candidates of the party that actually won an election…. a person who won an election on the platform of a political party and occupied an office by virtue of that, cannot by an act of defection make a party that lost an election become the party in power”

the 2nd Defendant as sued is a non-juristic person, and the name is therefore liable to be struck out. Thereafter, counsel argued that the suit ought to have been filed at the Ebonyi State Governorship Election Tribunal being a post-election matter. It was also their submission and also argued that the originating process was brought contrary to the provision of Order 3 Rule 9(2) of the Federal High Court, Civil Procedure Rules as no Affidavit of Non-Multiplicity of Action on the same subject-matter was attached, neither did the Registrar seal the Originating Summons, making same incurably bad and defective. Reliance was placed on IGIRIGA v BASSEY & ORS (2013) LPELR-20346(CA). Counsel for the 2nd Defendant further argued that the wrong mode for commencement of an action was used in this present case, as Originating Summons is used where the action seeks the interpretation of statute or document and not for contentious matters. Reliance was placed on EZEIGWE v NWALULU (2010) 4 NWLR (Pt.1183) 169 at 191.

Also, counsel for the 2nd Defendant argued that despite the fact that 1st Defendant, an agent of the Federal Government was added as a party to the suit, the main/principal reliefs sought by the Plaintiff were directed against the 3rd and 4th Defendant, and as such, the Plaintiff’s complaints do not fall within the purport of Section 251(1)(a)-(s) of the 1999 Constitution.

On their part, counsel for the 3rd and 4th Defendants argued that the 1999 Constitution does not bestow any power on the court to grant the reliefs sought by the Plaintiff, as same is an invitation for the court to usurp

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the sole issue, the court held that the averments of the 3rd and 4th Defendant in their Counter-Affidavit, were insufficient to effectively challenge or controvert the substantive case of the Plaintiff. The court relied on MAERSK LINE v ADDIDE INVESTMENTS LTD (2002) 7 SC (Pt. 11) 112 in support of its position that averments in an affidavit can only be controverted by a counter-affidavit; it is not sufficient to put the Plaintiff to the strictest proof of its averments.

Regarding the submission on the immunity enjoyed by the 3rd and 4th Defendant under Section 308(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, the court held that the “immunity clause” is not absolute as the criminal and civil proceedings envisaged in Section 308 thereof, are those cases where the cause of action is still enforceable after the tenure in office. Applying this, the court noted that the cause of action and remedy in this present case could not wait till the 3rd and 4th Defendant leave office; holding that Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution is a “veritable constitutional shield”, not inserted for political reasons. His Lordship held further that where the act of a Governor and/or Deputy Governor amounts to an infringement of the provisions of the Constitution or creates a constitutional issue which requires the interpretation or enforcement of the Constitution, the action can lie. To hold otherwise, would be tantamount to having a person or group of persons elevated to a status greater or above the Constitution.

On the effect of the defection of the 3rd and 4th Defendant from the Plaintiff to the 2nd Defendant, the court held that Election is won on the ballots, and constitutionally, ballots are sacrosanct and are ascribed to the political party; the votes in any election are votes for the political party to whom the electorate voted. There is no constitutional provision, that makes the ballot transferrable from one political party to another. Where the electorate express their trust in an election by giving their votes to a political party, there is no political machination or manipulation that would be allowed to short-change the will of the electorate.

The court held further that a party cannot win an election by poaching the candidates of the party that actually won an election. In the same vein, a person who won an election on the platform of a political party and occupied an office by virtue of that, cannot by an act of defection make a party that lost an election become the party in power. Relying on the above principles, the court held that the 3rd and 4th Defendants cannot transfer the voter’s mandate given to the Plaintiff which sponsored them in the election to another party. The office belongs to the Plaintiff who had the majority of the lawful votes cast t the election.

Plaintiff’s case succeeded on the merit.

Representation J.B. Daudu, SAN with E.C. Ukala, SAN, S.I Ameh, SAN, Ferdinard Orbih, SAN, Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, M.A. Ebute, SAN, Messrs O.J Iheko, Adedayo Adedipe, Z. Akubo, R.O Mohammed and Praise Ahiaba for the Plaintiff.

Titilayo Precious Soje, Esq. for the 2nd Defendant.

Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN with Messrs G.A. Okereke and Jerome T. Mukang for the 3rd and 4th Defendant.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

NEWS

New DDG, Nigerian Law School, Port Harcourt Campus, Mr Chinonso Uzodinma Mmuozoba

Ayuli Jemide

EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa

Council of Legal Education Appoints DDG for New Port Harcourt Campus

The Council of Legal Education, the proprietor of the Nigerian Law School has appointed a Deputy DirectorGeneral (DDG) to head its newly created campus at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, named after late Dr Nabo Graham Douglas, SAN. The new appointee is Mr Chinonso Uzodinma Mmuozoba, a renowned author, teacher and Director of Academics at the Bwari campus of the institution.

The Council at its recent meeting presided over by Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, unanimously approved the recommendation of Prof Isa Chiroma, SAN led management that Mr Mmuozoba, be appointed as a DDG, and posted to Graham Douglas campus.

The multi-billion Naira campus at Port Harcourt with state of the art facilities is being constructed by the Government of Rivers State under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike (Life Bencher) with the commissioning date being projected to June, 2022. Construction work on the campus is going on on 24-hourly basis, and has reached an advanced stage. If commissioned on the

projected date, about 1500 Bar Part II students for the 2022/2023 academic session will be posted to the brand new campus.

Mr Mmuozoba, a Bar-man par excellence was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1995.

He joined the Nigeria Law School in 2001, and has held

the positions of Director and Head of Academics, Dr Augustine Nnamani Campus, Enugu; Head, Department of Civil Litigation, Professional

Ethics & Legal Skills, Corporate Law Practice respectively. As a Bar man he was a member, Continuing Legal Education Committee, Nigerian Bar As-

EFCC Tenders More Evidence in the Alleged £2.556 billion Fraud Matter Steve Aya

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has tendered more evidence in the ongoing trial of four suspected fraudsters, Abayomi Kukoyi, Prince Kingsley Okpala, Prince Chidi Okpalaeze and Prince Emmanuel Okpalaeze alongside a company, Petro Union Oil & Gas Company Limited, over an alleged £2.56 billion fraud,which continued on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, before Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Defendants were arraigned on February 13, 2020, on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, attempt to steal and forgery to the tune of £2,556,000,000 (Two Billion, Five Hundred and Fifty-Six Million Pounds).

They however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

One of the counts reads:

“That you, Petro Union Oil and Gas Company Limited, Prince Isaac Okpala (now deceased), Abayomi Kukoyi, Prince Kingsley Okpala, Prince Chidi Okpalaeze, Prince Emmanuel Okpalaeze and Princess Gladys Okpalaeze (now at large), on or about December 29, 1994, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently procured a Barclays Bank cheque dated 29th December 1994 in the sum of £2,556,000,000.00 (Two Billion, Five Hundred and Fifty- Six million Pounds) made payable to Gladstone Kukoyi & Associates, purporting the said cheque to be meant for foreign investment in the construction of three refineries and petrochemical complex in Nigeria, when you knew the said cheque to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,

1990 and punishable under the same section”.

At the resumed sitting last Wednesday, the 11th Prosecution witness, PW11, Ahmad Sulaiman, an investigator with the EFCC, told Justice Mohammed Liman that the Commission, sometime in 2005, received a petition dated October 19, 2004, wherein the Petitioner, Prince David Okpala, alleged that a cheque of £2.5 billion was deposited in Union Bank, and that the bank refused to release it.

Led in evidence by the Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Sulaiman also told the court that the Petitioner claimed that due to the bank’s reluctance to release the said funds, a search was conducted, which revealed that the bank had transferred the sum of £2.159 billion from the £2.556 billion into the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. In his further testimony, he

said: “Upon receipt of the petition, we invited Isaac Okpala to adopt the petition, and he also volunteered statements.

“We wrote letters of investigation to the Central Bank of Nigeria to authenticate the statement, and they responded, saying that the account number was incomplete; hence, they could not authenticate such information. ”We wrote to Barclays Bank to confirm if the money was paid, and we received a response stating that it was highly unlikely that a genuine cheque would have been written for the said sum.

“During the investigation, there was no satisfactory evidence to make us continue with the investigation; so, we wrote to the Complainants that there was no evidence.

“However, sometime in January 2020, the Commission received another petition dated January 16, 2020.

“We invited the Complain-

Court Convicts Two Over Phony Crude Oil Deals Steve Aya Justice Sodetan Ogunsanya of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos state, has sentenced two Oil marketers and their companies to seven years imprisonment over phony crude oil deals.

The two business men are Epebinu Omoniyi, his company, Pure Pack Oil Nigeria Ltd, as well as Adekanbi Adedayo and his company, First Hallmark Energy Ltd. The two were arraigned on an eight count charge before Justice Sodetan Ogunsanya.

They were first arraigned

sociation, Awka Branch The erudite law teacher popularly called, ‘Onyenkuzi Mmuozoba’, is married with children.

alongside their companies on October 16, 2017 on the eightcount charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy to commit felony and forgery.

According to the charge: "Epebinu Omoniyi, Adekanbi Adedayo, First Hallmark Energy Ltd, Pure Pack Oil Limited, Titus Adegoke (at large) and Demola Omisore (at large) on or about the 8th day of December, 2014 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) from Ayo Faleti under

the false representation that you have secured a contract from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to supply crude oil from Nigeria to the United States of America, and that the sum represented one percent contract performance bond payment, which representation you knew to be false.

"Epebinu Omoniyi, Adekanbi Adedayo, First Hallmark Energy Ltd, Pure Pack Oil Limited, Titus Adegoke (at large) and Demola Omisore (at large) on or about the 22nd day of October, 2014 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud Ayo Faleti, forged

a document titled: To whom it may concern, Letter of Authority to sell Bonny Light Crude and to represent the NNPC/Shell JV Operators Bonny Terminal issued in favour of Pure Pack Oil Nigeria Limited dated 22nd October 2014 purporting same to be issued by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)."

They pleaded "not guilty' of the charges.

During the course of the trial, the Prosecuting counsel, Samuel Owede, presented four witnesses and tendered 12 exhibits to prove the case of the Prosecution against the Defendants.

Justice Ogunsanya, in her judgement discharged and acquitted the two men and their companies on count six, and held that the Prosecution proved the other counts against them beyond reasonable doubt.

The trial Judge thereafter, found them guilty as charged and sentenced Epebinu Omoniyi and Adekanbi Adedayo to seven years imprisonment on counts one and two, and three years on counts three, four, five, seven and eight. The companies were also each fined N100,000 having been found guilty of counts one and two. The sentences are to run concurrently.

ants to our office. They obliged and made a statement under caution.

“We used our mutual relationship with the National Crime Agency and wrote a letter of investigation on Gazeaft Ltd. “We were made to understand that the company, Gazeaft Ltd that allegedly issued the Barclays cheque is no more in existence.

“The investigation revealed that Gazeaft, a foreign company based in London, was dissolved in 1989 and the account of the company has since been closed.”

The Prosecution sought to tender the response of the NCA alongside a Digital Versatile Disc, DVD, containing the company’s document and files of Gazeaft Ltd. Counsel to the Defendants, however, objected to the tendering of the evidence because the content of the DVD was unknown; hence, the witness could not tender it since he didn’t produce it.

In a short ruling, Justice Liman held that the requirement of authentication of a document “can be done by the person through which the document is being tendered”.

“The document has been duly authenticated and hereby marked in evidence”, Justice Liman declared.

The Judge, however, ruled that the witness might not be cross-examined on the document, until all the Defendants had been served copies of the DVD. Justice Liman adjourned the case to May 24 and 25, 2022, for the continuation of trial.

#upjudicialsalaries “The call to the Nigerian Judiciary, unlike that of the Legislature, Executive and a lot of its Judiciary contemporaries around the globe, is a call to poverty. I call upon Government, to rectify this unfortunate and shameful state of affairs forthwith.”- Onikepo Braithwaite

VI

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

AfCFTA and its Dispute Settlement Regime: A Faulty Design?

This article by Dr Bayo Adaralegbe discusses the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which came into force in 2019 vis-à-vis its dispute settlement regime and its implications, tracing the history of international trade dispute settlement from the time when under international customary law only State actors could sue each other; to the advent of non-State actors now being able to bring their claims/disputes against State actors before international tribunals. Unfortunately, however, the modern day innovations in international dispute resolution, do not seem to have been reflected in AfCFTA’s dispute resolution mechanism Introduction ompared to trade within the European continent, Asia or North America, trading activities within Africa has been abysmally very poor. With the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2019, this is expected to change. The overarching objective of AfCFTA is the creation of a single market on the African Continent for goods and services through the easy movement of people. The AfCFTA was inspired by other continental and regional arrangements that have effectively used the treaty system as a tool to enhance cross border trade and investment. It is expected that AfCFTA will cover a market of 1.3 billion people and a GDP of $3.7 trillion across the 55 member states of Africa. AfCFTA has a number of provisions that help ensure this. For instance, Article 5 of the treaty states that “A State Party shall accord to products imported from other State Parties treatment no less favourable than that accorded to like domestic products of national origin, after the imported products have been cleared by customs”. In other words, it is no longer acceptable for African countries to develop policies or laws that protect their local markets, to the detriment of imported products from other African countries.

C

History of Dispute Settlement Under International Customary Law Article 1(e) of the Protocol on Rules and Proceedings on the Settlement of Disputes defines a dispute as “a disagreement between State Parties regarding the interpretation and/ or application of the Agreement in relation to their rights and obligations.” Article 3(1) of the Protocol stipulates that “This Protocol shall apply to disputes arising between State Parties concerning their rights and obligations under the provisions of the Agreement.” In essence, the dispute settlement regime created under AfCFTA is strictly between the 55 member States. The obligations that member States commit to under the AfCFTA are to other member States, and not to legal and natural persons that are the conveyors of cross-border business activities that is expected to cause the single African market. Such persons do not have any primary rights (that can be violated), or secondary rights (that can be enforced) under AfCFTA. Thus, if a Nigerian trader is discriminated against in South Africa, it is the Nigerian Government, not the Nigerian trader, whose rights are violated, and who can bring a claim against South Africa before the Dispute Settlement Panel of AfCFTA. At first blush, this appears to be perfectly normal. Historically, before the advent of legal/artificial persons, while foreigners were protected within their host States under customary international law, they did not have secondary rights to bring claims against their sovereign host nations in international law.

They were considered objects, and not subjects of international law, originally known as the “Law of Nations,” i.e., the law regulating the relationship of sovereign States to the exclusion of non-State actors. It was the home States of these non-State actors, that made erring sovereign States accountable on behalf of their nationals.

This was originally by declaring wars against these erring States. Ultimately, this evolved into what came to be known as ‘gun boat diplomacy’ in international law. It was this classical international law that informed the International Court of Justice model that did

not recognise the standing of non-State actors as parties, and before it, Permanent Court of International Justice. The case of Ahmadou Sadio Diallo Case (Republic of Guinea v Democratic Republic of Congo), is a very good example of this traditional model. Diallo was a businessman of Guinean nationality, who had lived in Congo for about 30 years.

At a time that he was pursuing a debt in Congo, he was arrested, stripped of his assets and expelled from Congo. Because he lacked standing before the ICJ, it fell on his home country, Guinea, to bring a claim on his behalf against Congo before the ICJ. The World Trade Organisation dispute settlement system follows this traditional model, and non-State actors are unable to bring claims before it. This is understandable considering that the WTO system was developed to support the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT), established in 1947 at a time that traditional international law prevailed.

However, following the advent of legal persons, and ultimately, multinationals, some of which are known to be more economically prosperous than Nation States, and following the spate of expropriation of their investments in host countries, a shift in public international law began to emerge. Today, non-State actors are allowed to bring claims against sovereign States before international tribunals. Rich examples exist in the International human rights regime where non-State actors are allowed to bring claims against sovereign States before an international tribunal, and the Investor-State Treaty Arbitration system, where foreign investors are allowed to bring claims against their host States before an international tribunal. In these two examples, States make commitments under treaties that non-State actors are not party to, but in respect of which non-State actors enjoy secondary rights to bring claims against States before an international tribunal.

“…..AfCFTA followed the WTO model that responded to traditional international law, that did not recognise the standing of non-State actors, and whose objective is the promotion of cross-border trade over the more recent European Community Treaty, that recognises non-State actors…..”

AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Regime and its Implications A careful examination of AfCFTA, makes clear that it is modelled after the WTO system. The same way non-State actors and businesses are not allowed to bring claims under the WTO system, is exactly what obtains under AfCFTA. In that sense the AfCFTA settlement regime, is a throw-back to traditional international legal order where it is up to the home State of an injured non-State actor whether to pursue a claim against another sovereign State, and if successfully pursued, it is the home State that is the beneficiary of the claim, not the non-State actor. Home States are typically reluctant to bring claims against other States, on behalf of their nationals. The considerations for bringing a claim against a State, are as diverse as they are complex. Thus, the fact that South Africa has violated an AfCFTA obligation against a Nigerian trader, does not exactly mean that Nigeria would be willing to pursue a claim against South Africa before AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Panel.

The European Union actually started the idea of a single continental market in the late 50s with the European Community Treaty.

Just before AfCFTA came into force, intra-trade in EU approximated 70% compared to Africa’s abysmal 14%. It is important to note that the EC Treaty that inspired AfCFTA single market agenda in fact allows non-state actors to bring claims against EU countries before the Court of Justice of the European Union based in Luxembourg, created under the treaty. Is there a correlation between EU’s successful single market and its dispute settlement design? What is clear is that the African continent appears to have an aversion for the standing of non-State actors before international tribunals. The African Charter on Peoples and Human Rights of 1981, was inspired by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom of 1950. Despite the fact that the European version created the ECtHR, based in Strasbourg, that allows non-State actors to bring claims against sovereign States, this secondary right is only available conditional on each African State accepting this in its ratifying instrument under the 1998 Protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights by its Article 34(6).

In the end, AfCFTA followed the WTO model that responded to traditional international law, that did not recognise the standing of non-State actors, and whose objective is the promotion of cross-border trade over the more recent

European Community Treaty, that recognises non-State actors, and whose objective is identical to AfCTA’s- integration of a single continental market.

Conclusion The failure of AfCFTA to create a permanent international tribunal like the CJEU or ECtHR and allow businesses standing before it, denies those businesses the opportunity to directly hold States accountable for commitments they have made under AfCFTA. As it is, businesses can only bring claims in the national courts of their host States.

Apart from not possessing any primary rights that protect them against protectionists tendencies that favour local markets (that, as we have seen, exists under the AfCFTA), the serious challenges that exist across national courts in Africa (compared to their counterparts in Europe or North America) are well documented. We will have to wait and see if this settlement design, will not impede the single market integration objective of AfCFTA. This settlement design is a draw back for another reason. There are at least four separate permanent international tribunals located on the European Continent alone - ICJ; ECtHR, CJEU, and the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

Surely, this keeps the European Lawyer busy, and improves his competence in international law. When international law was being developed by so-called civilised nations, African countries were mostly under colonial rule and did not have the opportunity to contribute. It is not a coincidence that in respect of the Cameroun v Nigeria land and maritime boundary case, it was an Australian, late Professor James Crawford, then Whewell Professor of Public International Law, Cambridge University (who subsequently became an ICJ Judge) that addressed the ICJ on behalf of Nigeria.

In that sense, this settlement design denies African Lawyers the opportunity to develop competences in international law, an area we consider arcane on the Continent.

This article is dedicated to the memory of foremost German Professor of International Economic Law, Professor Thomas Walde.

Professor Walde did a lot in his lifetime to encourage a deep understanding of natural resources and international investment law for students from developing countries.

He died suddenly in a freak domestic accident in France, while supervising my PhD Thesis.

Dr Bayo Adaralegbe, LLM Petroleum Law and Policy, PhD; Adjunct Professor of Law, CPEEL, University of Ibadan; Partner, Babalakin & Co.

VII

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

Hello NASS, Stop Amending the Constitution through the Back Door (Part 1) Introduction n these trying times of our beleaguered Nation, NASS should concentrate more on creatively making laws for the peace, order and good government of Nigeria. The recent amendment to the Electoral Act, has caused too much needless national hoopla and ruckus.

It ought not have been at the centre stage in a sane society. Is barring certain classes of persons from contesting elections simply because they are government appointees Nigeria’s bane at the moment? I think not.

Earlier, NASS had, by its earlier proposed Section 52(2) of the amendment bill, sought to strip INEC of its control over elections and subject INEC to the control and supervision of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the critical but sore issue of electronic voting and transmission of results.

This fatal step was later reluctantly reversed, after Nigerians rose against it. I had spilled buckets of ink and made several television appearances, advocating to get it extirpated, root and branch, from the amendment bill. NASS had ignored the fact that under Section 158(1) of the 1999 Constitution, INEC “shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person”. They comfortably forgot that it is INEC and INEC alone that is responsible for organising and supervising all elections to political offices; registering, monitoring of political parties; and conducting voter and civic education, including promotion of sound democratic processes. See also section 153 (f).

freely with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests. See Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria & ors v Delta State Motorcyclist Assoc & Ors (2010) LPELR 4503 (CA); Lafia LG v Executive Governor Nassarawa State & Ors (2012) LPELR 20602 (SC).

In addition to the above, Section 42 accords every Nigerian the right to freedom from discrimination. See Okafor & Ors v Ntoka (2017) LPELR – 42794 (CA); NMCN v Adesina (2016) LPELR – 40610 (CA). The question is, why will any Nigerian be prevented or barred from being “a voting delegate or to be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the nomination of candidates for any election”, when the Constitution (the supreme law) has exhaustively outlined factors barring a person from contesting?

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The Albatross in Section 84(12), (13) of the Electoral Act 2022 NASS while amending the Electoral Act inserted subsections 12 and 13 into Section 84 which, unlawfully, illegally and unconstitutionally disenfranchised serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at conventions or congresses of political parties. The offensive Section 84(12) had provided thus: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or to be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election”.

Section 84 (13) drives this home, more pungently, thus: “Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for the election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue”.

The Alarming Ouster Clause in the Electoral Act I am surprised that all the critics of the Federal High Court judgement in Umuahia delivered by the Honourable Justice Evelyn Anyadike, have not averted their minds to the more worrisome provision in Section 84 (15), which, after granting the Federal High Court jurisdiction in Section 84 (14), to entertain cases from “an aspirant who complains that the provisions of this Act and the guidelines of a political party have not been complied with in selection or nomination of a candidate of a political party for election, may apply to the Federal High Court for redress”, went on to oust the jurisdiction of all courts on matters concerning primaries, thus: “Nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general elections under this Act pending the determination of a suit”.

Interpreted in another way, Section 84(15) is saying: “Courts, please, allow political parties to first do maximum damage during their primaries and

general elections, and subsequently entertain emerging suits thereafter, after the wrong candidates would have emerged and after resources, time and energy would have been wasted by individuals, political parties, INEC and the electorate to conduct sham elections”.

I am worried by this obnoxious ouster clause.

I believe that the above subsections are totally unconstitutional. They are ultra vires the powers of NASS. What NASS intended to do by subsections 12 and 13 of Section 84, is to amend the Constitution through the backdoor, without going through the tortuous process prescribed in Section 9 thereof; which deals with the mode of altering the provisions of the Constitution.

President Buhari’s Earlier Objection President Muhammadu Buhari had initially kicked and refused to assent to the Electoral Bill as initially amended by NASS, which contained the above subsection. To escape from the avalanche of criticism that trailed his initial withholding of assent, Buhari later reluctantly signed the Bill into Law; but with a caveat vide a letter to NASS, to consider amending Section 84(12) subsequently. He believed that subsection 84(12) imported into the Constitution extraneous matters, such as blanket restriction and disqualification of political appointees who ought to be accorded protection. His argument is that a public officer could resign his office, withdraw or retire from service 30 days before the date of election in accordance with Section 66(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution. I think his handlers should have simply done an Executive amendment bill to the NASS; not a mere letter. But, I agree with his serious reservations about Section 84(12).

Why Section 84(12) & (13) are Offensive and Unconstitutional Qualification and Disqualification for Election Sections 66 and 107 of the 1999 Constitution provide for circumstances under which certain public officers are qualified or disqualified from contesting for election.

Qualification for Election Let us start with Sections 65 (1) and (2) and

“I believe that the above subsections are totally unconstitutional. They are ultra vires the powers of NASS. What NASS intended to do by subsections 12 and 13 of Section 84, is to amend the Constitution through the backdoor…..”

106 of the Constitution which deal with qualification for election, as a member of Senate and House of Representatives; and House of Assembly respectively. See also Sections 137(1) (g) and 182(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution.

These sections provide that such a person for Senate or House of Representatives or member House of Assembly of a State shall be qualified to contest election, if he is a citizen of Nigeria and has attained the age of 35 years (30 years for a House of Representatives members; and 25 years for a House of Assembly member); is educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent; and he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party.

Disqualification for Election By virtue of Sections 66 (1) and 107 (1) respectively any of the above the Constitution, persons also is disqualified if he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria; adjudged to be a lunatic or a person of unsound mind; is under a sentence of death, imposed on him by a court of competent jurisdiction; or a sentence of imprisonment or fine involving dishonesty or fraud. Such a person is also not qualified if he is an undischarged bankrupt; is a member of any secret society; or he has presented a forged certificate to INEC. The most critical subsection for our discussion here, is Section 66(1) (f) which provides that if such a person is employed in the “Public service of the Federation” or “Public service of a State” and has not resigned, withdrawn or retired from such employment THIRTY DAYS before the date of election for a State, he shall be disqualified from contesting or being voted for.

Sections 107 (1), 147 (4) and 192(3) deal with offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation and Commissioners in a State, respectively. A Minister or Commissioner shall be deemed to have “resigned” his membership of the National Assembly or a State House of Assembly upon taking the Oath of office as a Minister or Commissioner.

The Extant Laws It is therefore clear, per adventure, that aside the circumscribing and inhibiting factors restricting a public appointee from contesting offices as described above, Section 84 (12) and 13 are unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever, in so far as they import other extraneous disqualifying factors not provided for or envisaged by the Constitution.

NASS cannot import into the Constitution, other additional disqualifying factors.

Sections 84 & 318 of the Constitution Considered Section 66(1) (8) only provides for “public service” of the Federation or the “public service of a State”. Do political appointees such as Ministers, Commissioners and personal aides qualify to be protected by these sections? I believe so.

Some people have argued that it is only public servants envisaged in Section 84 and as defined in Section 318 of the Constitution, that are covered by the 30 days resignation notice. Political Appointees who hold offices at the pleasure of their appointor, are not public servants within the meaning and intendment of Sections 84 and 318 of the Constitution, they pontificate.

Specifically, the Court of Appeal in ONI v FAYEMI & ORS (2019) LPELR-46622(CA) held that: “A Minister, being a mere political appointee, cannot be regarded as an employee in the Public Service of the Federation and is consequently not constitutionally caught by the 30 days resignation rule imposed on employees in the Public Service”.

See also the following apposite cases: Wilson v Ag. Bendel State & Ors. (1985) LPELR-3496 (SC); PPA v PDP & Ors (2009) LPELR-4865(CA); Shitta-Bey v AG Federation & Anor (1995) LPELR-3055 (SC); Abubakar v The Executive Governor, Gombe State & Ors (2002) LPELR-1124 (CA); Military Governor of Ondo State v Adewunmi (1988) 3 NWLR (PT. 82) 280; Ojukwu v Yar’ Adua (2008) 4NWLR (Pt. 1078/435; AG Bendel State v AIDEYAN (1989) 4 NWLR (PT. 118) 646; Adamu v Takori (2010) ALL FWLR (Pt 540) 1387 (CA).

I earnestly believe the attention of these courts was NEVER specifically drawn to the definition of “Public Service of the Federation” and “Public Service of a State”. The definition of “Public Service” of the Federation means the service of the Federation in any capacity in respect of the Government of the Federation and includes…….”. The definition of “Public Service of the State” means the service of the State “in any capacity in respect of the Government of the state and includes service as …..”.

Thus, in both cases, the clause “any capacity” is used for both the Federal and State governments.

Can anyone plausibly argue that Ministers, Commissioners and other appointees of Mr President or a Governor of a State who draw their salaries, allowances and other perquisites of office from the Federal or State treasury, are not engaged in “any capacity” in “respect of the Government of the Federation and State Government”? The other offices lined up in this interpretation of Section of 318 are merely in addition to, as the section specifically states that the specie of public officers outlined therein is merely in addition to those employed in “any capacity” in both the Federal and State Governments. (To be continued next week) Serious and Trivial “If you want to achieve something, you have to forget the boundaries that people create. No one knows your capabilities more than you.” – (Anonymous)

Section 84(12) & (13) Also Contravenes THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Sections 40 & 42 of the Constitution Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution grants every “The illegal we do immediately. The unconstituNigerian the right to assemble and associate tional takes a little longer.” (Henry Kissinger)

VIII

˜ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͰ ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

Ho

#JusticeForBamise

The recent murder of a young lady, Oluwabamise Ayanwole in a BRT vehicle in Lagos metropolis, left many in deep shock and fright over the safety of BRT transport system. It has also elicited widespread calls demanding justice for the slain Bamise, who is alleged to have been raped and murdered for rituals, as her corpse is said to have been found with her genitals purportedly missing. In this Discourse, Norrison Quakers, SAN, George Oguntade, SAN, Professor Hope Eghagha and Major Ben Aburime (Rtd) all call for a thorough investigation into Bamise’s untimely death, and that the culprit(s) be brought to justice swiftly. We at This Day, express our heartfelt condolences to Bamise’s family on their irreplaceable loss. “Those who walk uprightly, enter into peace” - Isaiah 57:2. May Oluwabamise’s soul rest in perfect peace. Amen

Introduction

dehumanisation of females and their relegation has led to clamours for legislations to address their valid concerns, with women groups picketing the gate of the National Assembly following Nigeria lawmakers’ rejection of five gender Bills, in the process of the amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

ue to recent occurrences, the mere thought of stepping out of the comfort of one’s home or, to put it better, discomfort, in pursuit of daily bread can make one cringe in fear for reasons not unrelated to the series of many sad tales that have since ceased to be tagged -‘Breaking News’, due to their prevalence. This brings to the fore the many failings of Government, in prioritising the welfare of the masses. Of note, the several incidents of

Background The word - ‘Oluwabamise’ in Yoruba parlance means- "God has blessed me". Sadly, for the 22 year old lady- Oluwabamise Ayanwole, who was inside a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle (regulated by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, though currently operated by Primero Transport Services Limited) in Lagos, and allegedly kidnapped/murdered, with her body said to

In Pursuit of Justice for Oluwabamise Norrison Quakers, SAN, FCArb

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“Everyone implicated in this gruesome murder case, must be brought to justice. Likewise, the public road transportation system in Nigeria must be made secure with CCTV (closed-circuit television) installed in public buses and public places, for ease of crime detection”

have been mutilated, her life’s travails are one too disheartening to fathom; the nature of the sad occurrence involving a BRT bus, being a laudable brain-child of the Lagos State Government on a public-private partnership arrangement cum tax payers’ funds, raises grave security concerns.

Oluwabamise’s story having allegations of rape, harvesting of her private parts, kidnapping and assault, all being sexual related offences is one of many confronting females in our polity; recall the story of Miss Keren-Happuch Akpagher, who was allegedly raped and later died of complications, 14-year-old Miss Keren died on June 22, 2021, after allegedly developing sepsis as a result of the infection caused by the condom left inside her by her rapist, which compromised her immunity.

The BRT driver - Nice Andrew Omininikoron, suspected to have abducted and murdered Oluwabamise, who was later arrested in Ogun State by the Department of State Services (DSS) and handed over to the Lagos Police Command, in a statement televised upon being paraded, on Monday March 7, 2022 at the Police Command’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, recanting an alleged earlier confession of complicity, said that he did not abduct and murder Ms Ayanwole, but rather, the BRT bus he was driving was hijacked by the notorious faceless infamous - ‘unknown gunmen’.

Of note, other females have recently accused Mr Omininikoron of rape cum sexual assault. Mr Omininikoron is currently being remanded at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre following the order of Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, upon being charged to court on a four-count offence of conspiracy, rape, murder and misconduct with

regards to Oluwabamise.

Questions Lagos State Police Command, without doubt, promptly made the arrest with respect to Oluwabamise’s gruesome murder; but, was this proactive or reactive? Could some preventive measures have been taken by Lagos State Government? Was the death of Oluwabamise avoidable? Could criminal profiling and forensic background checks of BRT drivers operating in Lagos due to public confidence reposed in them, have made a difference? The answers to these are not far fetched; yet, to be candid, evil lurks around in unsuspecting places, as aptly captured by John Milton - ‘Law can discover sin, but not remove/ Save by those shadowy expiations weak’ (Paradise Lost, bk XII, 1.290).

Another germane question is - should a media parade of the suspect - Nice Andrew Omininikoron have been carried out?

Even, by extension, when a prima facie case is established upon conclusion of investigations by the Police, as far as prosecution is concerned, the guiding rule is aptly captured by William Shakespeare vis - ‘let proof speak’(Cymberline, 1609-10, III.i); and accorded legal cloak by Olagunju JCA in State V. Duke (2003) 5 NWLR(Pt. 813)437 as follows‘Getting even with an accused is a barren showmanship.

It is a negative approach to criminal prosecution in a reversal of role in which the ‘Public Prosecutor’ adopted the posture of a ‘Public Avenger’’.

An examination of the substantive law on Ritual killings, Kidnapping, Rape, Relevance of Criminal Profiling as Panacea, and Prohibition of Media Parade of Suspects in Lagos State where the ugly incident of the murder of Oluwabamise occurred, suffice.

IX COVER

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

#JusticeForBamise The Legal Framework Examined Firstly, Sections 33 to 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) grants to every Nigerian citizen the right to life, dignity of human person and personal liberty.

The Position of the Law on Ritual Killings The discourse will briefly examine the provisions of law in this regard, due to the allegation of Ritual Killing with respect to Oluwabamise’s gruesome murder. Of note, the autopsy report of Oluwabamise Ayanwole is important in this regard, to confirm body mutilations. The court will equally consider if there was a plan to hide Oluwabamise’s corpse to conceal same, which may amount to a grand plan to cover up the crime.

Section 221 Criminal Law of Lagos State, Laws of Lagos State 2015 is apt since there is usually resultant loss of life of victims in cases of ‘ritual killings’ vis “Any person who unlawfully kills another commits murder or manslaughter, according to the circumstances of the case.”

Section 223 provides “Subject to the provisions of any other Law, a person who commits the offence of murder shall be sentenced to death.”

Section 224 provides“A person who unlawfully kills another in circumstances which does not constitute murder commits manslaughter if he causes death— (a) by an unlawful and dangerous act; or (b) with gross negligence or reckless disregard for human life.”

Generally in criminal law, the guilt of an accused person can be proved by one of three ways:- 1. The confessional statement of the accused person; 2.

Circumstantial evidence and 3. Evidence of eyewitness of the crime. See: IGABELE v STATE (2006) 6 NWLR PT. 975 at 100. Circumstantial evidence is defined in MOHAMMED v STATE (2007) 13 NWLR PT. 1050, 186 at 204 as - "an evidence of surrounding circumstances which by undesigned coincidence is capable of proving a proposition with the 'accuracy of mathematics.....".

There is already a requirement under Section 6(1) of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Law 2021 to record all items recovered from an arrested person; to facilitate circumstantial evidence.

Each case depends on its own facts; but, the one test which such evidence must satisfy is that it should lead to the guilt of the accused person and leave no degree of possibility or chance that some other person could have been responsible for the commission of the offence. This is the major thing to note in successfully prosecuting offences of ritual killings, since common intention is usually prevalent; for example a suspect engaging an herbalist or trading in human parts for others to use for money rituals.

PATRICIA AJUMA MAHMOUD JCA in the recent decision - OJO v STATE(2020) LPELR-50530(CA) (Pp 8 - 26 Paras A - D) held sagaciously“In this case therefore, in the course of the execution of their common intention to do a money ritual, the killing and beheading of the deceased and the removing of his genitals, in my view, following this authority is enough proof of the criminal liability of all the four accused persons or convicts as it were, including the Appellant to establish that one of them caused the death of the victim.”

Likewise, the court is also guided by the doctrine of 'last seen'. This doctrine presumes that any person last seen with a deceased, bears full responsibility for his death. See the case of KOLADE v THE STATE (2017) LPELR - 42362 (SC).

In addition, once a suspect in his confessional statement admitted in evidence, confesses to killing whilst using body parts for rituals, the findings of the court on murder will be unassailable since a man is presumed to intend the natural consequences of his act.

See OMOSOWON v STATE (2019) LPELR-47889(CA).

The Position of the Law on Kidnapping The discourse will briefly examine the provisions of law in this regard, due to allegations of kidnapping with respect to Oluwabamise’s gruesome murder.

Section 2(1) of the Lagos State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2017 prescribes life imprisonment for forcible abduction; whilst Section 2(2) prescribes death penalty if the victim dies as a result of the kidnap.

The Position of the Law on Rape The discourse will briefly examine the provisions of law in this regard, due to allegation of rape with respect to Oluwabamise’s gruesome murder. Of note, the autopsy report of Oluwabamise Ayanwole is important in this regard to confirm defilement.

Section 260 Criminal Law of Lagos State, Laws of Lagos State 2015 provides (1) Any man who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl without her consent, commits the offence of rape and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.

Norrison Quakers, SAN, FCArb (2) A woman or girl does not consent to sexual intercourse if she submits to the act by reason of force, impersonation, threat or intimidation of any kind, fear of harm or false or fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act.

Section 262 states “Any person who attempts to commit the offence of rape or sexual assault by penetration commits a felony and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for fourteen (14) years.”

Section 263 states“(1) Any person who sexually touches another person without his consent commits a felony and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for three (3) years.

(2) In this Section, touching may be done with any part of the body or with anything else” Criminal Profiling as Panacea for Sexual Offences The discourse will briefly examine the provisions of law in this regard due to series of similar allegations of rape/sexual assault levelled on the suspect with respect to Oluwabamise’s gruesome murder - Mr Omininikoron by other women.

Over time, the recurring criminal cases of rape, ritual killings and kidnapping amongst others that dot Nigeria’s criminal justice system have been attributed to absence of forensic evidence. Criminal Profiling is a behavioural and investigative tool, that is intended to help investigators to accurately predict and profile the characteristics of unknown criminal subjects or offenders.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA) (Sections 15 and 16 precisely) provides for recording of particulars of suspects, provision for a Central Criminal Records Registry for the Nigeria Police Force and mandates for a register of arrests to be kept at Police stations with particulars of offenders clearly set out. Of note, the following data of the suspect are to be recorded: height, photograph, fingerprint impression or other means of identification. Section 29(5) ACJA empowers the Attorney-General of the Federation to establish - ‘an electronic and manual database of all records of arrested persons at the Federal and State levels’.

Likewise, in Lagos State, Section 370 of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Law 2021 provides for the Lagos Criminal Information System, LCIS as a crime data register that serves as a repository of biometric data of persons who have been in contact with the Criminal Justice System.

Public Media Parade of Suspects The discourse will briefly examine the provisions of law in this regard, due to the public media parade of the suspect with respect to Oluwabamise’s

“It beats the imagination that a 21st century man can believe that, the harvested body parts of a human being can fetch them wealth and power!”

George Oguntade, SAN gruesome murder - Mr Omininikoron.

Section 9A of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice(Amendment) Law 2021 provides“as from the commencement of this Law the Police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media”.

Hence, the Police media parade of the suspect is uncalled for, hence a shortfall. There are several questions already begging for answers, as a result of the conflicting accounts of the suspect during the said media parade. This, in itself, undermines the smooth administration of justice.

Conclusion/Recommendations Though a burial date is yet to be fixed for Oluwabamise as the autopsy result is patiently being awaited, her story captures the growing trend of violent crimes across the country, calling for speedy resolution; the involvement of a BRT, being a laudable brain-child of the Lagos State Government makes it even more disheartening.

From the foregoing exposition, death penalty is the maximum sentence if the BRT driver - Nice Andrew Omininikoron, suspected to have murdered Oluwabamise is found guilty by the court for the offence of kidnapping culminating in loss of life; definitely to be tried at the High Court of Lagos State and not a Magistrate Court, due to limits of sentencing of a Magistrate.

There is an urgent need to have a more robust public awareness initiative starting from cradles of learning in schools/entrepreneurial centres, places of worship, homes, social media circles, amongst others to checkmate sexual offences in our society.

The need for implementation of a robust criminal profiling framework in our polity is brought to the fore, since other females have recently accused Nice (Andrew) Omininikoron of rape cum sexual assault. Likewise, criminal profiling and forensic background checks of public transport drivers is desirable. It is important to have a collaboration between State Governments with the National Identity Management Commission [NIMC], in linking data of individuals to Criminal Records Registry. The legislative arm of government should prioritise the Crime and Criminal Tracking System Bill 2019, which proposes a unified system for criminal tracking and individual background checks.

The role of law as a deterrence tool, is also a panacea. Proper investigations, timely conclusion of trial, rehabilitation of victims, amongst others are some steps required in addressing this issue, since our criminal justice system is currently battling with poor funding of the Judiciary, incessant adjournments, poorly trained prosecutors, shoddy investigation of crime, amongst others.

Also, a major hinderance in prosecution of sexual offenders, is the unwillingness of surviving victims to testify due to the stigma involved; happily, this issue is now being addressed by legislation as exemplified by Section 374 of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice(Amendment) Law 2021 which provides for a trial court to hold in-camera proceedings to consider measures to take testimonies such as victims giving evidence through video link, close circuit television, amongst others.

Of note, the initiative of publication of names of sexual offenders which started in Ekiti State is fast gaining ground in the South West, and should be encouraged in other parts of the country.

Everyone implicated in this gruesome murder case, must be brought to justice. Likewise, the public road transportation system in Nigeria must be made secure with CCTV (closed-circuit television) installed in public buses and public places, for ease of crime detection.

In all of this, the recurring crimes against females should not be treated with kid gloves. This admonition has become necessary, to avoid a breakdown of law and order due to recurring incidents. In particular, the Lagos State Government’s wider transport reforms (exemplified by newly introduced Last Mile buses and new e-hailing taxi scheme - Lagos Ride) stands to be impacted if Oluwabamise’s murder case is not properly resolved.

Not forgetting to add that the Media Parade of suspects as done in the instant case should be discouraged in line with the extant law in this regard, to avoid compromising investigations.

Finally, all the States of the Federation must have Sexual Violence Response Team helpline desk which must be toll-free, proactive and user friendly.

Norrison I. Quakers, SAN, FCArb, Constitutional Lawyer, Lagos

Gruesome Murder on a Lagos BRT George Oguntade, SAN According to Thomas Jefferson, “ the chief purpose of government is the protection of life. Abandon that, and you abandon all”.

The recent reported abduction, rape and murder of a young lady, Miss Bamise Ayanwole on a Lagos public bus is truly tragic, and a sad reflection of how much how society has retrogressed. The alleged murderer was no other than the driver of the bus, whose contractual duty it was to transport passengers to their destinations safely. Apparently, this driver is also alleged to have previously assaulted and raped another passenger.

Issues Arising This incident raises a number of issues. The first is the recruitment process of the BRT Operators. Apart from tests to ensure that applicants can drive buses, are there any checks done to ascertain if they have criminal records or mental competency? Do the drivers provide guarantors who can attest to their general suitability for the job etc? These questions are fundamental, and I hope that the recruiters will give serious consideration to them going forward.

The next issue is that of general public safety, and protection of lives of residents of the State. This duty clearly resides with the Government. It is globally acknowledged that, crime prevention is an integral part of crime management.

This means that Governments must put in place, measures that will deter criminals from committing crimes in the first place. In many countries, closed circuit television cameras are installed strategically in public places and also on public transportation.

The purpose is two-fold. Firstly, it deters criminals who know that they may be identified, traced and prosecuted. This is the deterrence effect. The other is the evidential effect, in that footages can be used in the successful prosecution of offenders. cont'd on page X

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#JusticeForBamise cont'd from page IX I strongly believe that if there was a CCTV camera in that BRT, the alleged murderer would not have committed that crime on that bus. The Government therefore, needs to do more in terms of enforcement of laws and protection of lives which is its paramount duty. No matter how good and modern your laws are, they become of no moment and pale into insignificance, where there is no adequate enforcement in place.

This is why people will generally break laws at will, with impunity. The cost of law enforcement is undoubtedly huge, but it is one that a responsible Government must bear in order to deliver on its chief duty to its residents.

George Oguntade, SAN, Commercial Litigator and Arbitrator, Lagos

Ritual Murder of Bamise Ayanwole, Wakeup Call for BRT Security Prof Hope Eghagha Introduction As the world marked International Women’s Day two weeks ago, news of a missing 22 year old, Ms Bamise Ayanwole swept through social media, with a video of another woman, Caroline Oni, wailing frantically in front and around a BRT belonging to the Lagos State Government. This wailing brought a personal dimension to Bamise’s plight, and further deepened the tragic image of loss, frustration, and desperation. Caroline Oni, Bamise’s madam and adopted mother wailed loudly that her ward had boarded Bus 240257 that fateful night from Chevron Bus stop in Lekki heading to Oshodi, and alerted the family that she was in danger. Apparently, she was right. She could not be reached on her phone shortly after. A week later, her body was found in a morgue, having been deposited there by the Police.

The Police reported that her body had been found on Carter Bridge, a week after her disappearance.

It beats the imagination that a 21st century man can believe that, the harvested body parts of a human being can fetch them wealth and power!

This is a now familiar sad story in Lagos. There have been reports of commuters who went missing in Lagos, stories about passengers who were forcefully taken into the bush in the Lekki axis, saved only by divine intervention from the hands of ritual killers. The Bamise story is familiar therefore, yet it is shocking beyond words how a young lady saw her death coming, alerted her family, and nothing could stop the barbaric hands of a demented ritualist from snuffing out her life. Her death is another indication of how the State continues to fail Nigerians, and the impunity with which the State reacts. For some State officials, this is yet another death. Nothing special.

They seem to say that in a matter of weeks the tension will wear off, and we will move on to other disasters, forgetting poor Bamise in the cold grace that the barbarity of scoundrels sent her to in the prime of her life.

Questions There are questions crying to be asked and answered.

How many others have lost their lives in such circumstances in Lagos and around the country?

What were Bamise’s thoughts as she lay dying?

The dread. The struggle, the terror. Then death! If BRT is unsafe, what is the fate of passengers who commute in those ‘danfo’ buses within the metropolis?

How many have culprits have been arrested and prosecuted? How many more will die, sadly, like Bamise? Why have Lagos State officials behaved as if the image of the transport company is more important than the life of a citizen? Why was the driver allowed to address the press like a free staff of BRT, when he had to be arrested by the DSS and brought to Lagos from his hideout? Why are there conflicting reports about the state of her body from the Police and her family members?

Fortunately, Bamise left enough traces for her murderers to be caught. She was smart enough to record the Bus number, and communicate same to her family. If only she had let the scoundrel driver know that she had communicated his details to family members; perhaps, they would have let her go. If you interview commuters in Lagos, you will hear stories. There was a lady who worked in a television station in Ikeja. That early morning, she boarded a danfo, between Maryland and Ketu, she was raped inside the bus and thrown out of the moving vehicle. There was yet another, who was taken to a forest in the Lekki area. According to her, the place was a thriving market for body parts. She was spared by the ritualists, because she was in her monthly flow. A State that takes the security of life and property seriously, should have burst the ring

Prof Hope Eghagha of ritualists in Lagos.

LASG: Impunity and Falsehood Bamise must get justice. Her killers must be brought to book, to the satisfaction of the citizens of Lagos. I suspect that the BRT driver had been in the dirty business for long. The impunity stinks.

Lagos State Government, must redeem itself. Too many officials lies emanate from the State Government. The way LASG handled the anti-SARS demonstrations in 2020 in which lives were lost, is a clear demonstration of their capacity to tell barefaced lies. The investigative panels concluded that lives were lost; yet, the official position was that soldiers did not fire at protesters at the Lekki toll gate. They even had the temerity to challenge the footage of the shooting provided by CNN! The Dowen College incident is yet another stain on official narratives from Lagos. The credibility gap is widening by the day.

Necessary Measures It is high time the Government equipped the State roads and crannies, with CCTV cameras.

Every modern city takes security seriously, and the surest way of monitoring activities on the streets and communities is CCTV which quietly records incidents. Lagos State ought to have its Police Force. The foolishness of the Federal system that we operate, makes common sense a rarity in governance.

The point must be repeated that, the killers of Bamise must be prosecuted. Justice must not only be done, but it must also be seen to be done, especially considering the circumstances of Bamise’s death. There is a feeling right now that someone or some forces are trying to change the narrative, to create the impression that Lagos is safe for commuters. The truth is that Lagos is not safe. We move about and live by Providence, not because of the security measures which the State has put in place! Also, there ought to be a strong security action against the ring of ritualists in the country. Advocacy is needed too.

Finally, Bamise cried for help before she died.

In death, the only thing the State Government can do, is to unravel the circumstances of her death and send a strong message to others that they will ultimately be caught by the long arm of the law! #JUSTICE FOR BAMISE.

Professor Hope Eghagha, University of Lagos

Bamise: A Ride into Eternity and the Absurdity of Intrigues Major Ben Aburime (Rtd) About Bamise Oluwabamise Ayanwole was a 22-year-old Nigerian citizen. She was the last born in a family of ten,

“If the protection of the State's image and interest, as well as that of the LBSL/BRT is what informed the manipulations, then it was a very dumb move”

Major Ben Aburime (Rtd)

where there was parity among the sex of all ten.

She was born into a Christian home, where their Pastor-Father was in his eighties, and Mummy was about a decade younger. Bamise, as she was fondly called, was still a virgin in spite of the permissive times and peer pressure of her days and age.

The Unfortunate Incident On Saturday, February 26, 2022, Bamise took a ride in a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), belonging to the Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL), boarding at Chevron bus stop and headed for Oshodi, just past 7.30pm. The bus number is 240257. It was just like any other normal BRT ride, but, not quite. There, began the tale of the unexpected.

Most of what is now known by way of facts of the case are recordings and chats by Bamise herself, which she exchanged with her friend, Felicia Omolara; and they essentially stem from her fears and apprehensions right from when she boarded the bus, and the driver, later identified as Mr Nice Andrew Omininikoro, who hails from Moba LGA of Ekiti State, instructed her to move to the back row seat, after which he locked the doors, turned off the lights, and drove off, without picking other passengers, at least, not immediately. The driver was to pick only three other people later, but before he did, Bamise had already recorded a video of the bus, showing its number and the driver's profile. She had also exchanged chats and recorded voice notes with her friend, who had advised her to drop at the nearest bus stop wherever the bus stops next. It is apparent she didn't have the chance to dash towards the door, from where she was seated.

Soon after the driver picked up the three people, things spiralled out of control, as it appeared two of them had made a dash for her, whereby her friend could hear the agitated voice and sounds of scuffling, before she stopped responding to her friend's chats and calls. The friend alerted the family, who immediately responded the very next day. Her body was found some days later, after some residents of Isale Eko (popularly called Ogogoro Community) reported the sight of a female corpse with missing genitals to the Council officials, who in turn, notified the Police.

After the Unfortunate Incident 24 hours after the deceased's disappearance, the family reportedly went to the Police at Akinpelu, Maroko and Ajah respectively, but at none of the stations were they attended to.

This appears to negate the claims of the Police spokesman, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, that they acted promptly and swiftly.

Another interesting fact was that the family went to the BRT terminal, located the bus and armed the the videos and messages, attempted to report their case. Not only did they ridicule and taunt the family, but they also appeared to have tipped off the driver who then absconded.

Unknown to the BRT officials, the family recorded their interface. It was the Department of State Services (DSS) through tracking and the arrest of one of the guarantors, that eventually effected the fugitive-driver's arrest. The maiden leaked video showed the suspect stating that he had forced carnal knowledge of her and did things to her, before she allegedly escaped through the back door. If this was a mere case of rape in the BRT bus, it will be consistent with the allegations of two earlier victims, an ex-sales girl and a medical doctor, both of who have

come forward with evidence of their encounter with the same suspect.

Suspicious Role of the Police and LASG: The Recant What is curious here is that, rather than obtain their statement and collect the exhibits, the Police merely advised them to go and make a formal complaint for investigations.

It is not in doubt that any of the three Police stations could have accepted the report, incident it, and communicate it to their command headquarters and other stations, because Lagos State Command is one, irrespective of station. That's what they have radio setups for. Besides, the emergence of cell phones makes it easier to communicate between units, were the Police ready to work.

Even after the DSS apprehended the fugitive-driver, rather than the Police taking him into custody and recording his statement, they handed him over to the officers of Lagos State Government, an obviously interested party, who took him to TVC to record a recant of his earlier statement. By his recant, two things became evident. First, he alleged gun-threat, without saying why he never still reported the case even after the threat was over.

Second, by Lagos State seeking to exonerate the suspect, they inadvertently shot themselves in both feet. Now, this move has given rise to speculations that this driver and his bus may be part of a body engaged in ritual killings, and organs-harvesting in the light of the 2023 elections and certain persons' political ambitions. Can one fault the speculations, given the presence of the three persons who later boarded the bus, the alleged presence of the SUV car behind them all the time, the disappearance of the driver, and the hasty self-serving interview with TVC which the State has control. If the protection of the State's image and interest, as well as that of the LBSL/BRT is what informed the manipulations, then it was a very dumb move.

Yet another point of interest, is the fact that both the residents who reported the presence of the corpse and the family of the deceased are agreed that some of Bamise’s vitals were missing. The Police who claimed to base their source on the same family, have been told to stop telling lies in their allegations that nothing was missing. The question then is, why is the Police lying and whose interest are they protecting?

By our criminal law jurisprudence, it is only the suspect and his collaborators that can be charged and tried for this offence. Still, the family has a remedy in tort where, notwithstanding the existence of the criminal case, both the suspects as well as Lagos State Government and the LBSL/BRT can be made co-Defendants.

One final thought is that Lagos State may also be acting as they did, because of its failure to install tracking devices and CCTV cameras in all their buses. Worse still, is the fact that five good years after the hype and fanfare, CCTV cameras are still an aberration in the State. The absence of bus attendants or stewards/stewardesses is another failing. From the circumstances of this case, it is my considered opinion that only the IGP and Federal Government can carry out a meaningful and dispassionate investigation into this case.

All in all, it is not impossible, to my mind, that Bamise, a virgin, was a convenient sacrifice by a Higher Divine Order, for the protection of other millions of girls and ladies out there. Or, how else can one explain her calmness in pointing to and fishing out her killers, even in the face of all the odds? I can only salute the Amazon, a true daughter of Zion.

Major Ben Aburime (Rtd), Lawyer, Lagos

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

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

New Vista for Military Retirees Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that for 329 senior Non-Commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces, their reintegration into civil life was a new vista after they retired recently following months of intensive training at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre

L-R: Director of Training, Brigadier General, MCE Ejike; Commandant NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Idi Gamso Lubo; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo; and Deputy Commandant NAFRC, Major General SI Igbinowanhia

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he Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) in Oshodi, Lagos, is saddled with the task of integrating military retirees into civil life. Recently, they churned out 329 retirees after intensive training on various entrepreneurial skills to ease their transition.

The pre-retirement course was designed to give trainees the requisite rudiments for a successful reintegration into civil life after a meritorious service to the country.

Meritorious Service For 35 meritorious years or less, the 329 soldiers went through series of military trainings to ensure they turn out to be professional soldiers in their various units and fields. Throughout those years, they recited the soldiers creed, and were solely dedicated to the actualisation of the Armed Forces core responsibilities whatever the cost or odds.

But three months to their retirement, it was time to reformat their thinking process back to the civilian life they were used to before their sojourn into military life. Thus began their journey to NAFRC, a centre established for military retirees to transition into civil life.

Passing Out Ceremony For the current graduates drawn from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Nigerian Army (NA) and the Nigerian Navy (NN), they were equipped with relevant trades and vocational skills.

The retirees, comprising 258 from the NA, 59 from the NN and 12 from the NAF, who were sent off at a passing-out ceremony at the centre, had undergone preparatory and skills acquisition training to equip them with needed tools for easy reintegration into civil life.

CNS' Charge Addressing the retirees, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, reminded them that some of them could be called upon to render certain services including training of cadets, new recruits that would be deployed to various theatres of operations.

He said that the level of insecurity had taken a new dimension, urging the retirees to be wary of subversive elements within their environment, adding that they should brace up for post service life challenges.

The CNS said: "So many challenges are associated with post service life which include how you manage your resources especially your retirement benefits among others.

"Also, influence from members of your family and friends, management of your physical and mental health as well as integrating with the civil society must be properly managed.

"I urge you to be proactive in your conduct inorder to overcome these chal-

Cross section of retirees with the special guest of honour, NAFRC commandant, traditional rulers and other senior officers

lenges because your loyalty to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Federal Republic is non-negotiable.

"Some of you may be called upon to render certain services. Your vast experiences are still relevant and the Armed Forces can tap into your expertise in terms of training of officers at the various schools for deployment at theatres of operation.

"The society will expect high moral standards and discipline from you and you will have to prove that you passed through a highly disciplined system. I am sure that your training exposed you to several vocational opportunities and general management skills to alleviate pitfalls inorder to have a stress-free and meaningful life in retirement."

Vice Admiral Gambo also noted that since they are still beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) programme, they are advised to ensure they do the necessary documentation so they would not be charged from their retirement benefits.

Commendation The CNS also commended the leadership of NAFRC under AVM Idi Lubo for its effort at ensuring that discharging trainees are exposed to master trends in global entrepreneurship and management frame.

"Your reviewed curriculum has enabled personnel to benefit from the modern trend of doing business.

I urge the Commandant to continue this laudable initiative for high quality human resource development so that the high standard for which the centre is known for is sustained," he said.

The Commandant's Remark In his remarks, Lubo said over 50,000 personnel of the Armed Forces had been trained in NAFRC since its inception in the 1980's.

"The centre has also successfully trained members of paramilitary agencies as well as members from federal ministries, departments and agencies.

The training the centre provides, help beneficiaries to be equiped with skills for self sustenance and meaningful income while approaching life with a positive mindset.

"This will enable them contribute meaningfully to their various societies

thus reducing crime, criminality as well as other vices from our society," he said.

The AVM, who congratulated the graduands of NAFRC Course 1/2022 for the laudable achievement, added that "the successful completion of these courses is proof of your determination, commitment and discipline in the number of years of your active military service to our dear land.

"The training you acquired in the last three months is to enable you contribute positively to their various societies and thus helping to build a greater Nigeria".

Earlier at the Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service held at the centre in Oshodi, Lagos, as part of the events leading up to their passing out ceremony (POC), the commandant also urged retiring personnel to invest wisely with their retirement benefits.

Charging them to continue to be ambassadors of the country as they prepare to bow out of service, he advised that as they were preparing to leave the service, it was important to put their resources to good use and avoid investing in bad vices.

History of Establishment With a vision to be a world class training institution capable of repositioning not only ex servicemen but retirees of other paramilitary/ security agencies and organisations in order to cope with the challenges of post service life, the NAFRC was established to provide military personnel with relevant vocational and entrepreneurial training, in preparation for living a productive and fulfilling life in retirement.

The centre was first established as an idea by the British Colonial Government’s as a Vocational Resettlement Centre (VRC) for the West African Frontier Force (WAFF) that fought on the side of the Allied Forces in the Second World War in 1945.

The centre was mandated to impact relevant skills to meet the resettlement needs of the ex-combatants of the war in Nigeria and Ghana.

However, by the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970, the mandate was redefined to meet the urgent need

"I urge you to be proactive in your conduct inorder to overcome these challenges because your loyalty to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Federal Republic is non-negotiable"

of rehabilitating the disabled soldiers of the civil war.

Thus, the centre became an army establishment and was accordingly renamed the Nigerian Army Rehabilitation Centre to rehabilitate the disabled soldiers of the Nigerian Civil War. In the early 1980s, it became necessary to review the mandate of the centre when virtually all the disabled soldiers had been rehabilitated. Accordingly, with the introduction of the concept of Defence Headquarters, in the NAFRC Centre in 1982 with a renewed mandate.

Vocational Skills The vocational courses which comprises management, fashion, shoe making, laundry, fine arts, photography, printing, soap making, agriculture, wood work, building and civil works, electrical and electronics, fabrication and welding, are meant to help the retirees re-integrate into civilian life and provide a source of living for them after retirement.

For the current graduates, they were equipped with relevant trades and vocational skills. For the fashion wing, courses like shoe making, barring, tailoring, laundry and weaving were taught, while the fine arts and printing training had courses like fine arts, ceramics making, photography and printing as its core base.

While the soap and cosmetics department had courses like soap and cosmetics making and domestic products, the agricultural section had general agric/food/cash crop, poultry, piggery, fishery, rabbitary, ruminants and snailery.

Also, the wood work sections boasts of carpentry and joinery, furniture design and construction, as well as the machine wood work, while the building and civil works section has bricklaying and concreting, plumbing and pipe lifting, painting and spraying.

For the electrical and electronics section, courses like refrigeration and air conditioning, electrical installation and maintenance practice, as well as radio and television. The auto mechanics wing boasts of mechanical engineering, battery charging, vulcanising and car wash.

Other departments like fabrication and welding have the fabrication, welding, machining and fitting, as well as foundry, while the music department deals with instrument learning and entertainment, even as the food and beverages department deals with bakery and the information technology department takes care of computer appreciation, hardware maintenance, networking and internet, as well as systems development and design.

Given the important role the centre is saddled with it, it is therefore expected that consistency in providing quality training, geared towards preparing the retirees to face the challenges of re-integrating into civil life, is sacrosanct.

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FEATURES

2023: The Nigeria Agenda Train Moves across the Country Julius Ogunro

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he Saadu Zungur Auditorium, venue of the inaugural launch of The Nigeria Agenda (TNA) project, gradually filled up. The gaily dressed participants came in T-shirts and various costumes, all branded with quotes demonstrating their love for Nigeria and hope that someday the country will fulfil its full potentials.

The atmosphere in Kano was one of celebration with the drumming, singing and dancing. But the event was not another political jamboree but one which the organizers believe will change the political trajectory of the country.

The choice of the Saadu Zungur Auditorium for the TNA project launch was deliberate. The auditorium is part of the iconic Mombayya House, the political leadership centre founded by associates of the late Mallam Aminu Kano to preserve his memory through collection of his speeches and mementoes and then project his political ideology as the incubation centre for radical progressive ideas for Northern Nigeria.

The Nigeria Agenda (TNA) campaign is in sync with the people-centric ideology and focus of Mallam Kano and the Mombayya House. Although primarily a champion of poor people’s (Talakawas) rights in Kano State, the late Mallam Kano’s vision for Nigeria was of a stable and united nation hued out of the many ethnicities, languages and religions that make up the Nigerian state. He believed that from these many complexities would arise a nation united by common goals and purpose as well driven by the shared dream of a greater country.

It is about 39 years since the ideologue from Kano State passed on. Yet, his vision for a stable and prosperous Nigerian state is far from being realized. Why has Nigeria consistently promised so much, but delivered very little? Why has it not fulfilled the vision of its founding fathers such as Mallam Aminu Kano? And even more significantly, what can be done to change the country’s squalid story??

That was the crux of the message taken by the TNA team to Kano. The group is led by Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, a well-known social critic and government functionary, and sometimes Marxist theoretician. Sajoh, a former Commissioner for Information in Adamawa State, makes a lot of interventions in the Nigeria public space and is a familiar face on TV, providing insight on several important issues.

But this time, in Kano, Sajoh was preaching a different kind of message. That, Nigeria’s redemption is possible and near.

A man of action, he was walking the talk and rather than just being a pundit, another face on TV, he threw his hat into the ring, mobilizing Nigerians from all walks of life towards resolving the eternal Nigerian

Mallam Ahmad Sajoh (in blue); Julius Ogunro, and Niyi Akinsiju (in white) quagmire: the development question.

Gone was the academic punditry.

Gone too was the somewhat impotent postulations about the different and sometimes contradicting ideas on how to fix the country.

Now, Sajoh was firm and clear about what Nigeria needs to do to survive and succeed. A leadership that works was his prescription. And that is The Nigeria Agenda message. It is that there is a connection between our national aspirations and political leadership, and that we cannot hope to rise above the leadership of our country.

The TNA team commended the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for its great strides, especially for its massive investments in infrastructure and various social investment schemes but insisted that, despite all of these, the country has not reached The Promised Land.

The TNA campaign argues that to transform our national potentials to real growth and development, we must make sure that we get the leadership with the skillset, competence, experience and compassion to unlock the country's economic growth as well as ensure peace and stability through the promotion of equity and fairness and justice.

These are hardly revolutionary ideas.

Scholars through history have made a connection between leadership and performance. As with companies, so it is with countries. In fact, all the major leaps that some societies have made in modern times have been linked to the exceptional leadership provided by men such as Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, Sheikh Mohammed ibn Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, Luiz Inacio Lula

da Silva of Brazil, and Xi Jinping of China. And all of these giant strides have happened under different political circumstances, some of which are not necessarily democratic.

So, in what form is The Nigeria Agenda message different and more urgent?

Sajoh and his TNA team members explained that the 2023 general elections offer a unique opportunity to turn the corner via the enthronement of the right quality of leadership across board, especially a President whose vision, skillset and experience match the country’s needs. And, so they called on Nigerians to be very deliberate about the political recruitment process in 2023 because of its serious implications for the peace, unity, economic prosperity of the country and ultimately, its development.

Julius Ogunro, the Strategist and Consultant to the TNA Project, explained that Nigeria’s seemingly permanent underdevelopment was not as a result of a curse or ill-luck. ‘’We understand that the issues are complex and tough. Political leadership is not a magic wand that would just blow away all our problems and turn everything around for good. But it is a good place to start. The right kind of political leadership is more important than all the mineral resources that we have been blessed with in the country,” he said.

He argued that in spite of the well-known leadership and followership conundrum in the country which invariably ensures the recycling of bad leadership since leaders emerge from the followership, there is a way out for

Nigeria.

He also explained that that we can have an exception with leadership. ‘’What the Chinese call a Sunzi, a person with exceptional attributes and characteristics beyond the average in the society, and who through his moral examples and actions, point the society towards a better way of doing things and conduct.’’

The TNA team explained that Nigerians should seek out a Sunzi in 2023, the exceptional Nigerian with remarkable skills and experience to turn the country around and gradually put it on the path of sustainable growth and development. Niyi Akinsiju, the Chief Advocate and head of Public Affairs of TNA reiterated this when he encouraged Nigerians to seize the moment in 2023 and enthrone the right leadership so that the country can begin to make the kind of progress that will guarantee growth and development as well peace and stability.

Aside Kano, the TNA campaign team took the message to the capitals of other geopolitical zones of Nigeria. In Bauchi, Port Harcourt, Awka and Minna, the message was received with enthusiasm, demonstrating its timeliness and the country’s readiness for a true change.

In Bauchi, the well-respected Islamic scholar, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi, leader of the Tijaniyyah movement, who received the TNA delegation was excited about the prospect of a new Nigeria, one that would finally achieve the vision of the founding fathers. He prayed for the team to succeed and birth the kind of Nigeria that we would all be proud of.

In Port Harcourt, Kingsley Suaka Nnaa, a retired General of the Nigerian Army, declared his determination to fight for the success of the TNA through propagation of values that will engineer unity and citizens-driven development in the country. He recalled his time in the Army and how in all his postings locally and overseas, he always fought for and believed in one united Nigeria. “Now, I’m ready to fight for the leadership that will take the country to the next level,” he said.

The group received similar level of support in Awka and Minna. In Minna, the Governor of Niger State, Sanni Bello, who was represented by the Secretary to the State government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, said the TNA message was timely and called on Nigerians of goodwill to join the TNA train. Over 300 volunteers from across the South eastern states were inducted as TNA ambassadors, promising to take the message to the nook and corners of the region.

So, what is next for the TNA team? They say they are ready to walk the talk and would not rest until Nigeria gets the kind of leadership that can ensure real growth and development.

-Ogunro is Consultant/Strategist to The Nigeria Agenda Project

Balvenie Makers Project Celebrates Creativity, Craftsmanship Rebecca Ejifoma

L

uxury, regardless of its expression, is underpinned by one key element - craftsmanship.

That is why the Balvenie, a deluxe range of whisky from the staples of William Grant and Sons distillery in Scotland is crafted

by Malt Master David C. Stewart.

Every drop to the bottle is made with artistry at its heart and as such, each expression of the Balvenie is described as unique, rich, luxuriously smooth, and underpinned by a distinctive honeyed character.

To bring this concept to life, The Balvenie collaborated with three incredibly talented artists and hosted guests to an opulent evening of fine dining, classical entertainment, live music, art exhibition, and of course a taste of Balvenie at the Vanilla Restaurant in Abuja.

One of the Balvenie makers, Babalola Oluwafemi who is a curator and major promoter of African arts, has continued to show the world that he's an exceptional craftsman.

With a Degree in Fine Art, specialty in Art History, the CEO of the Artmazing studios, his

Babalola Oluwafemi, Dotun Popoola, and Jacqueline Suowari story is one that would motivate anybody from the grassroots.

Describing his craftsmanship, Oluwafemi said he is inspired by originality.

He expressed: "I like to tap right into that originality that so many of my contemporaries have, in the quest for modernisation, abandoned.

"A lot of my art has been inspired by stories

of old, sculptures of old times, traditional arts and fashion, and most of all, the will to keep things as connected to the beginning and the center of all things, as possible."

Now, Jacqueline Suowari is a visual artist who uses the Ballpoint pen primarily as a means of expression to become who she is today.

She's one of the most respected female artists who have poured out her talent in painting exceptional arts that the world is reckoning with. According to her, everyone is a social creature always looking for fantasy in real life to trigger their thought process and seek inspiration from them.

Meanwhile, Dotun Popoola is a synergetic metal sculptor who has carved a niche for himself with his monumental metal sculptures.

He rose from a state of hopelessness to becoming a dealer in hops, giving himself to the service of humanity through his artistic practice and community services.

For Popoola, he takes his time to select different scraps and weld them together, each piece is a product of tenacity, perseverance, and long-suffering but the end product gives a fulfilling breath.

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT NCF Champions Climate Resilience, Impacts Over 10,000 People in Kwara Bennett Oghifo

T

he Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), in partnership with the Canadian High Commission’s Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, has embarked on activities to tackle climate change in the grassroot communities of River Kampe National Park, Kwara State.

The objectives of the project are building resilience for vulnerable 3 support zone communities to the impact of climate change through nature-based solutions; Empowering 3 support zone communities especially women on alternative energy source through the production of Biochar/

Briquette from agriculture waste; Developing a Nature-based Recovery Action Plan for River Kampe National Park towards restoring its over 65,000 hectares of forest landscape through a community-led approach.

As part of the project activities, NCF has trained 50 women and youth from the various communities on Biochar production from rice waste. The training covered production, packaging, use, and marketing of briquette and contributes in these 3 key areas:- Energy security by developing alternative and sustainable energy source for the communities, thereby dissuading them from cutting down trees for firewood; Climate change mitigation from reduction

Kempe River reservation community, Kwara State

in emissions of greenhouse gases; Economic development with the improvement of livelihoods of over 10,000 inhabitants of these rural areas especially women and youth through fruits and biochar enterprise.

Participants in this biochar training were also organized into community biochar women cooperative group where they will have access to seed funding to set up the biochar enterprise in the beneficiary communities - Agboro, Latayi, and Koro in Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Earlier in January, NCF kicked-off the Naturebased recovery and climate resilience project around River Kampe Forest Reserve with a community need and attitude assessment as well as the establishment of Site Support Groups in the 3 communities. This resulted into understanding the need of the community around household energy, unemployment, knowledge gap in biodiversity monitoring, which informed the design, and implementation of the project.

NCF has established three native/economic tree nurseries across the three target communities with the planting of locust beans and cashew tree seeds. Our goal of raising 15,000 native economic seeds have been achieved while the communities will lead the planting of these seedlings by the onset of raining season in April across their agrological landscapes. In the long term, NCF will be increasing the number of seedlings raised to about one million seedlings over the next two years. These fruit trees would provide long term healthy nutrition, economic and environmental support for these communities to address biodiversity loss and climate change.

On the Key Biodiversity Area training

conducted, NCF organised a capacity building workshop on wildlife monitoring, data collection, recording, and reporting for 30 forest officers and youth selected from these communities who will become Site Support Groups. This Site Support Group in addition to job employment will help the Kwara State Ministry of Environment close the biodiversity data gap already identified in River Kampe and be able to plan for its long-term conservation action.

River Kampe Forest Reserve is a forest reserve located at Pategi, Kwara State. Despite the Federal Government’s intervention to upgrade River Kampe Forest Reserve (RKFR) to a National Park, there remains unsustainable practice within the 3 Support Zone Communities. The Forest Reserve, important for safe drinking water to over 1 million people in the area, supports irrigation for crop and livestock farming, but lacks sustainable management practice. Threats of unlawful timber exploitation in buffer zones of the Forest Reserve, wildlife poaching, and production of charcoal by merchants persist.

These communities do not benefit much from these forest resources with high levels of unemployment among women and youth and continuous exposure to the impacts of drought and desertification on food security.

These challenges and others necessitated NCF and its partner to develop a strategic project that can directly impact the lives of the host communities’ members.

However, in collaboration with the Kwara State Ministry of Environment, NCF is organising a stakeholders workshop to commemorate the International Day of Forest on 23rd March 2022 in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Neurosurgeon Tasks Surveyors in Private Practice on Good Mental Health Bennett Oghifo A Neurosurgeon, Dr Okezie Kanu has advised Nigerians, particularly Surveyors to avoid isolation because it could lead to unnecessary diseases and sickness, resulting to death either from these or by suicide.

He stated this during the 2022 Annual General Meeting and Luncheon organised by Private

Practicing Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN), a subgroup of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), in Lagos, recently.

The theme of the event was: “Professionalism and Longevity; Addressing the Dimensions of Wellness and Personal Health”.

Dr. Kanu, who is an Associate Professor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and Guest Lecturer at the luncheon, said to ensure

Lagos, IFMA to Begin Safety Risk Assessment of Highrise Buildings Fadekemi Ajakaiye Lagos State Safety Commission (LSC) and the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Nigeria Chapter, has said it would soon begin sensitisation on occupational safety risk assessments for highrise buildings to proactively address the ineffective safety management system in such facilities.

This is part of the LSC’s ongoing 2022 Zero Accident Campaign (ZAC) across the state, according to a statement issued by officials. “Over the years, the lack of leadership commitment to safety issues, non-compliance to safety standards and guidelines, poor emergency preparedness plans have contributed to accidents such as fires, building collapse at highrise buildings.” The Director-General/CEO Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, stated that in line with the Commission’s mandate, which is to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the State, the sensitisation and commencement of risk assessment at highrise buildings will help to reduce to a significant level physical injuries, fatalities and property damage that may lead to lawsuits, reputational damage, and huge compensation.

He added that sensitisation was one of the germane steps to be taken, as this would

reawaken the awareness of relevant stakeholders on the need for adequate safety protocols at high rise facilities.

According to him, accidents at highrise buildings often lead to fatalities, serious physical injuries, and loss of properties, which are avoidable if effective safety management systems are in place.

He further stated that the scope of the assessments would include risks associated with fire, vertical transportation equipment, explosions arising from chemical/hazards storage, persons trapped in lifts and disease outbreaks amongst others. While seeking for the cooperation of the owners, occupants, and residents at highrise buildings towards the success of the exercise, he expressed his confidence in collaboration with IFMA as the capable Association to co-drive this to a success.

The President of IFMA, Nigeria Chapter, Mr. Segun Adebayo, commended the Lagos State Safety Commission for the laudable collaboration and assured them of their readiness to co-operate and work with the professional and technical team to achieve the purpose and objective of the task. He agreed that the laudable initiative is in line with the renewed purpose of the Association as regards strategic collaboration with

public institutions towards an excellent operation of facility management practice in the built environment.

He further explained that “The collaboration of LSC and IFMA Nigeria will help in improving the occupational health and safety of occupants in high rise buildings and also reduce risks associated with the built environment.

It is expected that this risk assessment exercise will lead to various implementable recommendations proffered by accredited professionals.”

He added that with the combined expertise of professional members and the leverage on technical acumen and global exposures, IFMA Nigeria will be co-driving this impactful sensitization and development of an applicable Risk Assessment framework.

IFMA will also put together templates to identify the hazards associated with highrise buildings and determine the risk level of the hazards. They would also evaluate and analyse the identified hazards and review the risk assessment and risk management process of highrise buildings within the state. It is hoped that the State will soon record minimal challenges related to highrise buildings after the sensitisation is conducted and risk assessments completed.

good mental health and wellness, Nigerians should shun isolation, embrace interactions and engage in regular exercises.

Kanu said mental health is the foundation of all wellness, hence professionals must remain healthy physically and mentally for efficiency.

While listing requirements for the physical, spiritual, financial and emotional health, Kanu said necessary factors for wellness included associating with friends and loved ones to eradicate stress and depression, as well as group exercises.

He said, “Togetherness fosters good mental health. Mental health is the foundation of wellness. Good exercise must be regular and enjoyable; you cannot enjoy good exercise alone.

It must be done together.”

He listed the various kinds of stress and

the need to adopt the right coping attitude to overcome the ones that were not predictable and beyond human control to avert sinking into depression.

Kanu said there was a thin line between wellness and illnesses which depended on attitude and reactions to mental health issues, adding that response to stress could either be positive or negative as some negative behavioral responses could include drugs, alcoholism, anger, irritability and hormonal imbalances.

According to him, research shows that about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts go through the human mind daily, adding that 70 per cent of those thoughts are usually negative .

He, however, urged people to deliberately focus on good thinking by creating the right diversions engaging in hobbies.

Driving Nature-based Solutions to Achieving UN SDGs in Nigeria Salamatu J. Fada The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in September of 2015 represent the blueprint prepared to achieve an improved and more sustainable future for the world. At its heart of the SDGs is a call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. A review of action taken by countries to deliver the SDGs by 2030 shows that many countries are not on track to achieve the Goals. The key challenges countries are facing in achieving the SDGs include problems of political instability, implementation, and governance. However, the magnitude and extent of these challenges vary across countries. These challenges have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which is regarded as the worst public health and economic crisis of this generation. The pandemic

has led to millions of lives been lost, with unprecedented human and economic losses. The imperative actions adopted to respond to the urgent danger of COVID-19, including the complete shutdown of economic activities for months, led to a global economic crisis with massive job losses and major impacts especially on vulnerable groups. In a June 2021 Research briefing in the UK for example, GDP declined by 9.8% in 2020, the steepest drop since consistent records began in 1948 and the most in over three hundred years on some estimates. In subSaharan Africa, it erased over 2 decades of development gains and caused the region’s first recession in 25 years. According to a recent UN report, “The current crisis is threatening decades of development gains, further delaying the urgent transition to greener, more inclusive economies, and throwing progress on the SDGs

even further off track”.

However, a growing body of research points to a direct link between the nature and development during the pandemic. Many reports have pointed to significant reductions in environmental pressures resulting from declines in economic activity. As the economy gradually recovers, emissions are projected to increase again, with growth rates going back to the pre-COVID-19 baseline projection levels. An important focus should be to restore economic activity without restoring old patterns of environmental degradation. This should be the approach for Africa which has the most vulnerable segment of the international community.

For countries on the continent, business as usual is not an option!

-Dr. Salamatu J. Fada, a Conservation Scientist and Educator, wrote from the United Kingdom

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

M A R C H

S & P INDEX

2 1 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

Despite FG’s Platitudes, Nigeria’s Gas Production Remains Stagnant in Five Years 4% of total production unaccounted for, says NEITI Production from JVs decreased by 3.42% between 2019 and 2020

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja In spite of the much-talked-about renewed attention to the use of natural gas in boosting Nigeria’s foreign earnings, there was no significant growth in the country’s production level between 2016 and 2020, THISDAY has learnt.

The latest report from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Initiative (NEITI), covering 2020, revealed that indeed the country produced more of the commodity when there

was little focus on it compared to when programmes to expand its exploration and use gained national prominence.

Since the current administration took over the reins of governance, a number of programmes to reduce gas flaring and make it more available for use nationwide have been launched, while other initiatives to expand the growth of the commodity have taken centre stage.

But despite all the efforts, there’s was no marked growth in gas

production during the period under review, even though gas utilisation increased in-country marginally.

In 2017, the federal government launched the national gas policy to end gas flaring and create an enabling environment for investors, seek value addition for gas, and improving governance in the sector.

A year later, President Buhari signed the Flare Gas Regulations, 2018, which provides a fiscal and commercial framework for the implementation of the NGFCP.

Similarly, in December 2020, the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), which aims to deepen domestic usage of natural gas in its various forms, was launched.

During the period, the government stated that it completed the 342KM Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System Phase 2 (ELPS 2), running from Oben node in Delta State to Itoki in Ogun State, and doubling the capacity of the ELPS from 1,100MMscfd to 2,200MMscfd.

This was in addition to the

completion and commissioning of the Integrated Gas Handling Facility and LPG Processing and Dispensing Plants, said to be the largest onshore LPG plant in the country.

It was built and is being operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), an upstream subsidiary of NNPC in Oredo, Edo State.

Furthermore, the federal government has touted the commissioning of the Lot 2 of the 130KM Obiafu-

Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline, running from Obiafu/Obrikom in Rivers State, through the Oben Metering station in Edo state, to link to the Oben node on the Escravos Pipeline system (ELPS), in Delta state as one of its achievements. The OB3 Pipeline has a capacity to deliver 2,000MMscfd of gas.

Furthermore, in 2018, the NNPC signed agreements on what it termed seven “critical gas development Continued on page 28

Stakeholder: CBN’s $250m Intervention in Discos’, TCN Interface Will Stabilise Power Grid Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in the rehabilitation of interfaces between Nigeria’s transmission and distribution infrastructure to the tune of of $250 million will help in stabilising

power delivery nationwide, some stakeholders have said.

Speaking on the matter recently, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu stated that the apex bank was already funding a $250 million project to ensure the rehabilitation of critical interfaces infrastructure

between both segments to increase and stabilise power delivery.

This according to him, is in addition to the Siemens Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) that will bring in additional $2.0 billion or more to the transmission grid from the government.

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

N23,000–N26,500

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 EDO

N17,000–N20,000

With the critical intervention, the minister said government was expending almost $4 billion secured by the current administration to augment the grid, adding that much of the funds were being actively spent and the results will be felt soon.

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

According to him, the interface projects along others already being embarked upon by TCN brings ongoing projects in the transmission segment alone to 135 ongoing projects with 30 completed key substation projects and 12 transmission lines.

Also speaking on the issue,

Market Operator (MO) at TCN, Edward Eje said the interface project was aimed at providing quick solutions at various transmission/ distribution interfaces where there are challenges.

Continued on page 30

T O D AY

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

28

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

N21,000 – 24,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000 25CL

PRICE

25KG LAGOS

N9,500

40KG DELTA

N17000

PRICE

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

NACC, Stakeholders Push for Food Safety Bill to Address Rejection of Nigerian Non-oil Exports Gilbert Ekugbe The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) has rallied stakeholders in the agricultural sector to champion the need for food safety bill that would address the high level of rejection of Nigeria’s non-oil export.

The NACC highlighted the need for the passage of the National Food Safety and Quality Bill 2019 into law by the National Assembly in its quest to safeguard the health of Nigerians while also achieving food security.

The Counselor for Agricultural

Affairs, US Consulate, Mr. Gerald Smith, said during the NACC’s March breakfast meeting, said a major player like Nigeria could not be without a food safety bill, and called on all stakeholders in the agricultural sector to push for the implementation of the food safety bill.

Smith said: “You cannot have an agro sector without a food safety bill.

The bill in the National assembly waiting for implementation is a major constrain. We know that it might not happen in this regime with the elections happening next year. We will not have a food safety law come

into play next year. Beyond that, with the next government coming in, there is need to collaborate and join forces so that Nigeria can have a food safety law in place.”

He, however, stated that the United States’ government is collaborating with soil farmers in Nigeria to improve their agronomic skills and best practices to increase soya bean production in the country He said that given the level of consumption for soya bean in the country, there is an urgent need to boost its production.

According to him, there is enormous amount of soya bean

that needs to be produced in the country, but stated that importers who have the ability to bring soya bean especially from the United State for Nigerian farmers to have access to improved varieties are being challenged by the unavailability of foreign exchange.

Smith said that the United State is committed to be a reliable supplier of soya bean for the Nigerian economy to improve poultry production.

“However, the challenge is that importers who are interested to importing soya bean into the country are being challenged by the unavailability of foreign exchange

and this is constraining the efforts of the importers to bring in these improved varieties,” he said.

Earlier, the National President of NACC, Ms. Adebola Williams, said that before the discovery of oil, Nigeria’s economy could be described as an agriculture economy, stressing that the country was notable all over the world for its agricultural products.

Williams said that despite efforts from agricultural institutions, the country is yet to harness the full potentials of its natural endowments.

“Despite Nigeria being the

highest producer of yam, we still do not do enough export to the world. The reason is that we are not growing the right species to meet international standards whereas yams from Ghana and Benin Republic are in high demands at the international market. We must continue to harness our resources and reach out for whatever help we might need,” she said.

She added that one of the key imperatives of the chamber is to continuously engage all departments of the USA’s mission in Nigeria on trade development of its members.

OPEC+ Compliance Jumped to 136% In February, Say Delegates Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Compliance among deal-bound members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies OPEC+ rose to 136 per cent in February from 129 per cent in January, according to delegates and a document seen by Argus, a firm which provides market insights in

the oil industry.

The report said that this was driven by a widening gap between production and quotas from some of the non-OPEC members of the group.

The average compliance rate among non-OPEC countries increased to 135 per cent last month from 123 per cent in January, while conformity among the OPEC participants edged up to

136 per cent from 133 per cent.

OPEC+ achieves its monthly compliance rates using the average crude production estimate of six independent secondary sources, one of which is Argus. Argus’ own figures show the group as a whole was 890,000 bpd under target in February, leaving a compliance rate of 130 per cent.

Pressure is building on the OPEC+ group to boost production beyond the current agreed monthly increments to help ward off a potential supply crunch should sanctions levied on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict cause large-scale disruption to Russian output.

The coalition has been raising its collective quota by 400,000 bpd a

month since last year.

Under a roadmap agreed last July, that increment is due to edge up to 432,000 bpd from May, when the baseline levels determining quotas and compliance rise for five of the group’s members — Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE. OPEC+ ministers are due to meet on 31 March to set May quotas. The

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director, Fatih Birol , had said that he hoped the upcoming meeting “will come up with some good messages which would help to relieve the strain in the oil markets”.

The IEA said earlier last week that up to 3 million bpd of Russian oil production could be pushed offline as a result of the Ukraine conflict.

Ex-OPEC Scribe Urges Host Communities to See Investors as Partners Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A former the Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) King Edmund Daukoru, has urged host oil communities to support investors and companies in their domain and refrain from burdening them with onerous demands.

Stressing that this will enable them thrive sustainably, the Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa State, expressed delight

that Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) interventions were transforming Bayelsa state into a haven.

Daukoru spoke during the ground-breaking ceremony of a 64,000 litres per day lubricants blending plant being developed at Gbarain, Bayelsa State by ERASKON Nigerian Limited in partnership with the NCDMB. The former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), said

that the board was redefining the oil and gas industry and changing its reputation of just being a base for commodity export, with no industrial capacity.

He hinted that the number of derivatives and linkages from the oil industry was limitless, and that they create opportunities for employment and economic advancement in the polity.

He acknowledged the NCDMB for the effective implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry

Content Development (NOGICD) Act and the huge impact it had made on the economy.

Some of these, a statement from the NCDMB said, include the 12,000 barrels per day (bpd) Azikel modular refinery and the 2,000bpd Atlantic modular refinery, Rungas composite LPG cylinder manufacturing facility at Polaku, the oil and gas industrial park at Emeyal-1 and the Board’s 17-story headquarters building.

Others are the partnership

with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, for the development of 10,000metric tonnes per day methanol production plant in Brass and development of the Brass Island Shipyard to domicile the repair and maintenance of vessels.

In addition, the NLNG carriers and the development of a coastal petroleum products terminal in Brass, Bayelsa State, NCDMB stressed as well as the construction

DESPITE FG’S PLATITUDES, NIGERIA’S GAS PRODUCTION REMAINS STAGNANT IN FIVE YEARS projects”, to deliver about 3.4 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, to boost domestic gas supply, and support power generation and industrialisation.

They include the development of Assa North/Ohaji South field, Samabri-Biseni, Akri-Oguta, UbieOshi and Afuo-Ogbainbri unitised gas fields, among others.

But the projects appeared to have done little to boost the country’s overall supply, according to the NEITI report, recently released in Abuja.

During the five years under review, in 2016, Nigeria produced 3,051,249 mmscf of gas, followed by the highest production level in 2017, when the country did a total of 3,499,695 mmscf.

This production declined sharply in 2018, as Nigeria produced 2,909,144 mmscf for that year, recording a little improvement in 2019 to 3,047,507 mmscf and declining again to 3,013,640 mmscf in 2020.

Of the figures, Joint Ventures (JVs) produced 68.36 per cent as Shell, Mobil and Nigerian Agip

Oil Company (NAOC) led the production from the arrangement.

The NEITI report stated that 114,781.44 mmscf that is, about 4 per cent was the total quantity of gas unaccounted for, based on the templates submitted by the 54 companies assessed.

But while total gas production decreased by 1.11 per cent between 2019 and 2020, the country’s total relative gas utilisation of the commodity rose to 3.90 per cent.

The total sum of $1.08 billion was the value of the gas sold by the NNPC in 2020, comprising NLNG feed stock at $523.8 million, export at $83.8 million, domestic at $180.4 million, while third party project falcon yielded $206.6 million.

The NEITI report also aligned with the position of an oil and gas industry player and ex-Chief Executive of Seplat as well as the current Vice Chairman of Platform Petroleum, Austin Avuru, who last week argued that the federal government’s sloganeering has not done much to increase the country’s gas production.

“We have to match our gas slogans with effective, measurable, policy actions to drive investments in domestic gas supply. The current flip-flops on pricing and commercial structure of the gas business cannot stimulate investments in the sector.

“The situation is the same with domestic gas delivery. Even though we are weaving all the right slogans about the future of gas in Nigeria, in the past five years, I can only point at a couple of Nigerian independents who are investing in gas development and processing for the domestic market,” he explained.

Between 2019 and 2020, the report showed that production from JVs decreased by 3.42 per cent, from Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) slumped by 9.66 per cent, the one from Service Contract fell by 100 per cent as there was no such arrangement in 2020.

Similarly, production from marginal field arrangements slumped by 5.17 per cent although the one from sole risk arrangement was up by 49.6 per cent.

of the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre in Ogbia LGA of the state, were some of its major strides in the last few years.

In his address, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, explained that the partnership with ERASKON was in line with the board’s mandate of developing local manufacturing capacity, providing employment opportunities, and increasing local content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and linkage sectors.

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ENERGY

As Power Sector Falters, TCN Trudges On That the power sector has been problematic for decades would be an understatement. But recently, despite the general challenges besetting the sector, there appears to be a glimmer of hope from the transmission segment, writes Emmanuel Addeh

T

he Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has in the last few months experienced a major decline in the distribution of electricity to consumers, leading to a corresponding increase in production cost of locally manufactured products and causing untold hardship to consumers.

Although as a unit, it is difficult for one segment of the sector to significantly make progress, without being pulled back by others, the transmission part of the power network has been silently upgrading its human and infrastructural assets in the last few months.

A BRIEF BACKGROUND

Handled by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), responsible for evacuating electric power generated by the Generating Companies (Gencos) and wheeling it to Distribution Companies (Discos), this ‘middleman’ in the grid, provides the vital transmission infrastructure between the generators and distributors.

Its job entails maintaining a network of power transmission infrastructure, through its three business units, namely the Transmission Service Provider (TSP), System Operator (SO) and Market Operator (MO).

As a background, the TCN emerged from the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) as a product of the merger of the transmission and operations sectors on April 1, 2004 and was incorporated in November 2005.

Being one of the 18 unbundled business units under the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), TCN was issued a transmission License on 1st July, 2006, with the mission to transmit electricity in the most efficient and effective manner.

Its major activities include operating, expanding and upgrading transmission facilities for efficient and effective wheeling of generated electricity as well as building the transmission grid.

As part of its responsibilities, the company also pursues inter-connection with neighbouring countries for power exchange with associated cost savings from the sharing of reserve capacity and energy resources.

PUSHING DESPITE CHALLENGES

In January this year, President Muhammadu Buhari during a presidential media chat on one of Nigeria’s national televisions, declared publicly that the distribution remains a cause for concern in the sector.

According to him, this sub-segment of the industry lacks the capacity to deliver on its mandate. In fact, he went further to say that at the time they were sold, the assets were given out as mere outlets for political favours.

On that same platform, the president had commended the performance of the TCN, saying the system had recognised the strength and technical capacity embedded in the government-owned company, further pledging to ensure the company operates at its best.

Again, at the weekly ministerial press briefing, at the presidential villa, recently, the Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu , stated that the government will continue to improve overall power supply levels as investments have improved stability of the grid through the efforts of the System Operator under the TCN. Aliyu stated that to this end, under the current administration, grid stability had drastically improved, stressing that in 2021, the nation only had two adverse

grid events (partial or full collapses of the grid).

This is comparison to a peak of 42 events in 2010 and greater than10 events every year before 2020.

Although a lot of work still remains to be done, without doubt, despite the challenges in the sector, the transmission segment has always been singled out for commendations by the authorities.

TCN EXPLAINS LOAD SHEDDING

It is believed that the functions to the TCN is sometimes muddled up with the other players in the value chain.

To explain the issues , in a recent statement signed by the General Manager Public Affairs Division TCN, Ndidi Mba, the TCN explained that the issue of load shedding leading to the inadequate supply of power was as a result of very low power generation by the Generation Companies (Gencos) for TCN to wheel through the transmission grid to distribution companies nationwide. ‘‘For clarity, TCN does not generate electricity and therefore can only transport cumulative generation from all the generation companies nationwide to distribution load centres.

“The distribution companies are responsible for end-users consumption. TCN allocates power to distribution companies based on approved percentage (formula approved by NERC), of the total generation available per hour or on day-ahead nomination,’’ it explained.

According to the TCN, generation companies have attributed the current challenge to several factors, including poor gas supply, fault in generating units of generating companies, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, all of which have caused most power generating companies to limit their generation, and sometimes not generate at all.

Indeed, this position may not be easily faulted.

A summary of the power generating profiles in the last two months, for instance, clearly shows that 14 gas-powered generating stations were either not generating at all or had limited generation at various times within the period.

This further depleted the quantum of power generation available for transmission into the grid on a daily basis.

Power generating stations in this category include; Omotosho units 5 & 6, Olorunsogo units 3, 4 & 6, Omoku units 3 & 6, Omotosho NIPP units 3 & 4, Delta units 15, 17, and 18, Afam VI units 11 & 12, Olorunsogo NIPP unit 3, Ihovbor NIPP unit 2, Sapele Steam unit 3, Sapele NIPP unit 1, Odukpani NIPP units 1 & 3, and Okpai units 11, 12 & 18.

Also, within the same period, Jebba Hydro and Shiroro Power Generating Stations were either out or had limited generation.

This caused an additional loss of 232MW from the grid, while other power generating plants such as Omotosho units 3&4, Olorunsogo units 1, Delta units 10 &20, Afam VI unit 13, Ihovbor NIPP units 4, Geregu NIPP units 22&23 and Odukpani NIPP units 2, 4 & 5, had also been out either due to a fault or for scheduled maintenance, causing

a further loss of about 3,180MW from the grid.

The combination of these scenarios, TCN stated have persisted with the total effect on the grid being persistent low generation, which TCN operators have had to strive to dispatch in a way that will not jeopardise the stability of the grid.

CONTINUING GENERATION SHORTFALL

More recently, from the 1st to 4th of March, 2022, TCN insisted that there was a generation shortfall due to water management in Shiroro and Jebba hydro with the loss of 307MW and 125MW respectively from both stations.

Within the same period, there were fault and technical problems in Egbin, causing 514MW shortfall and in Geregu causing 230MW shortfall, while reported fault at Alaoji NIPP reduced generation from the substation by 263MW. Gas constraint alone in Olorunsogo gas generating plant was also said to have reduced generation from the station by 104MW while in the same vein, Omotosho gas lost 102MW and Sapele NIPP lost 263MW. In Omotosho NIPP, there was generation shortfall of 233MW and in Omoku a shortfall of 112MW. Two units in Okpai had limited generation due to technical problems causing a 204MW drop in generation and in Afam VI 511MW drop in generation.

In addition, gas constraint and fault in Olorunsogo NIPP reduced generation by 240MW, Geregu NIPP by 435MW, and Ihovbor by 142MW. Also, due to gas pipeline pigging, it was learnt that Odukpani NIPP was shut down which caused a reduction of generation by 575MW. In defending itself, TCN further reiterated that a combination of issues ranging from gas constraints, fault, and technical problems within generating plants caused persistent low generation and consequently low load allocation to distribution companies nationwide, saying that the fault was not theirs.

“This is based on the fact that TCN can only transmit what is being generated by Gencos and presently they are all generating below capacity.

“It is important to note that except cumulative power generation increases considerably for TCN to transmit to distribution companies nationwide, TCN will be left with no choice than to continue to shed load,” it said.

However, it stated that the company will continue to work hard to ensure the efficient allocation of the total load generated by power generating stations into the grid, bearing in mind the need to ensure that the national grid is stable in spite of the challenges posed by insufficient load on the transmission grid.

REINFORCING TRANSMISSION LINES

The TCN has been carrying out series of reinforcements of transmission lines across the country as well as complete overhaul of its sub-stations to boost energy transmission and use.

On different occasions, the Acting Managing

Director, TCN and Chairman West African Power Pool (WAPP), Sule Abdulaziz, has declared that the company remains fundamentally committed to ensuring that the transmission of power is scaled up and strengthened to serve consumers better.

In this connection, the federal government has many key grid initiatives with more than N125.2 billion budgeted between 2015 to 2021 for TCN and development finance funding.

It is also to Abdulaziz’s credit that the human resource element in the power supply chain, especially those working at the TCN are being trained and retrained for the task ahead.

RAMPING UP FUNDING

Some of these interventions are through the likes of the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AFDB) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and others, to the tune of of up to $1.7 billion.

In addition, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is also providing funding of $250 million for the rehabilitation of critical interfaces between transmission and distribution to increase and stabilise power delivery.

Also, through the Siemens Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) the sector is expected to bring in an additional $2.0 billion transmission grid, going up to almost $4 billion secured by this administration to augment the grid.

Many of these funds, it was learnt, are being actively spent and the results will be felt over time as the TCN works tirelessly to ensure that all of the investments translate to incremental delivered power.

Currently, there are 135 ongoing projects for transmission lines, substations and other associated grid infrastructure. The TCN has completed 30 key substation projects and 12 important transmission lines.

Some of the critical grid interventions across the NESI include the resuscitation of the second Egbin-Ajah Transmission Line and the recently commissioned NDPHC Lafia 2X150 MVA & 2X60 /132/33/330 KV transmission substation.

Other ongoing interventions include 330kV Quad Lines in Alaoji to Onitsha, Delta Power Station to Benin as well as the Kano to Katsina 330kV line.

There is also the important Lagos/Ogun transmission infrastructure project under JICA funding, plus the commencement of the implementation of the Siemens PPI with the purchase of 10 Mobitra transformers and 10 Substations.

The pre-engineering segment of the PPI contract, it was learnt, is already complete and the contract offers on 127 transmission and distribution projects (brownfield and greenfield) from Siemens is also ongoing.

Added to that, recently through the CBN intervention for transmission-distribution interfaces, the company has also awarded more than 30 substation rehabilitations and 1,570MVA transformer capacity upgrades with 34 critical transformers to be installed or replaced.

While all these are commendable, the hope is that they should translate to more efficient and reliable power for Nigerians soon, with the expectation that other parts of the value chain will also rise to the occasion.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

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INTERVIEW

Olayebi: Nigeria Yet to Explore Leather Industry to Spur Economic Growth In this interview with Oluchi Chibuzor and Hamid Ayodeji, the CEO/ Founder FemiHandBags and Lagos leather fair, Femi Olayebi, highlights how the country through effective industry-based collaboration can spur the leather industry in the country Tell us about your partnership with Mastercard Foundation to create an initiative such as Kafawa? he Mastercard Foundation is a noteworthy organization with massive goals and equalsized plans to follow. Their Young Africa Works program is designed to tackle the problem of youth unemployment across the continent: by 2030, the Foundation aims to secure dignified and fulfilling employment for 30 million young people, especially women, across Africa. Over the past half-decade, My World of Bags, through FemiHandbags, has been training young people in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council; and with the support of Bank of Industry and Providus Bank, has launched a platform for increased visibility for Nigerian leather designers, through Lagos Leather Fair. These initiatives have aligned our goals with various aspects of the Young Africa Works strategy and led to a partnership that birthed the Kafawa Training Program in 2021. Through Kafawa, we hope to train hundreds of thousands of youth and improve their access to both paid and self-employment opportunities; beyond that, we also hope to be able to provide new and relevant insights to the Foundation, to further expand their impact and bring us all much closer to the goal.

Hausa - and as the name implies, the initiative is designed to establish a highly-skilled generation of youth to enhance the quality of workmanship in Nigeria’s leather and non-leather industries, and begin to tackle the problem of unemployment across the country.

We recognize that Nigeria is rich with potential - with millions of young people currently underserved and unemployed, much of that potential remains untapped. The program is on a mission to equip Nigerian youth with hard and soft skills that will ultimately create the country’s next generation of business owners, employers of labor, and industry leaders. Furthermore, the goal is to simultaneously invest the necessary skills into Nigeria’s manufacturing industry - particularly in the country’s high-potential, high-value leather industry. Having operated in the leather industry for many years, through my brand FemiHandbags, I have seen first-hand how the dearth of skilled manpower has limited the growth and expansion of strong brands. Kafawa is designed to be a multi-faceted solution to these issues.

T

How crucial is the role of access to capital for budding entrepreneurs?

It is one thing to equip the unemployed and underserved youths with the right skill set that makes them either employable or ready to stand on their own, and it is quite another to provide them Olayemi with access to the funds that can help them set up businesses that feed into their economic outcomes. facing the industry are unfortunately numerous, Naturally, financial literacy is necessary, in order to and they are all quite significant. educate and re-orientate individuals seeking capital The cost of production is quite high because of on how to effectively utilize startup capital, and how a lack of proper industry infrastructure, a lack of to remain accountable. Beyond that, it helps these good quality raw materials, and a difficult business micro-and small business owners to even assess how environment where access to basic necessities much they need in the first place. like electricity is limited. Finding highly-skilled One key learning I have gained as an entrepreneur workers who understand quality, detail and are is that no matter how skilled you are if you do not able to maintain a strong work ethic makes it have the sufficient funds to source the right tools difficult for businesses to create and/or sustain and materials to help you actualize and develop this high standards. A lack of high-quality hardware skill, many business goals remain unachievable. Yet, results in a reliance on importation, which can be while the role of capital cannot be under-estimated, highly expensive. For large brands, these challenges we emphasize to our trainees the need to save money are hurdles; and for up-and-coming brands, these and start with what they have - and sometimes, all can prove detrimental to sustaining a business. that is, is a skill. Some trainees on the program have In 2017, I took a bold step and created the been highly resourceful - some have sold what they Lagos Leather Fair, a platform designed to have produced in class to begin to create the funds promote Nigerian talent, tackle the industry that they can invest in future businesses; some have challenges, and begin to unlock the massive joined the program’s placement scheme to gain access potential of the leather industry in Nigeria. to full-time jobs where they can earn an income and Lagos Leather Fair levels the playing field and gain the capital they need; some are partnering with creates a means through which businesses of their peers to pool resources to create viable businesses. all sizes can network and potentially begin to The fact is, starting with the base resources one already collaborate to collectively address some of these has - whether it’s one bag of tools or one machine problems. Through Kafawa, and with the help or even tools that can be improvised to achieve the of numerous partners, we are actively tackling same results as a machine - creates a foundation with one of these problems - skilled manpower. Our which to build, and ultimately, that consistency in hope is that by creating more industry players, building is what often attracts prospective investors. we create more solution providers.

Or better yet, it creates a proof of concept that helps small businesses to better communicate their value Your organisation recently partnered with and position to gain the capital they need.

Mastercard Foundation to launch the Kafawa Training Program - what is the program’s From your experience, what would you say mission and vision? are the biggest challenges facing the leather My World of Bags’ partnership with Mastercard manufacturing sector and how best can they be Foundation has been transformative - it has tackled? brought some of our biggest goals and plans Although the manufacturing industry makes up to life in such significant ways, and the Kafawa 38.33% of the Nigerian economy and the leather sector Training Program is one major one. The word alone employs over 750,000 workers, the challenges ‘Kafawa’ loosely translates to ‘establishment’ in

How have you been able to develop a curriculum that feeds into bridging the skills gap within the manufacturing industry?

We have developed what we like to call a “living” curriculum - which means that it is extremely flexible and consistently adaptable to the needs of the industry. Using the Technical Industrial Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TIVET) standards, we have established partnerships with industry experts and partners who feed into the development of each course curriculum. Findings from our research activities provided additional insight into the skills gap across leather and non-leather industries. These findings were also incorporated into the design of the curriculum, in order to ensure that all the content would be significantly value-adding for our trainees.

Having been a key player within the industry, My World of Bags recognizes that being employable also requires that individuals have certain soft skills such as design thinking, workplace habits, emotional intelligence, customer service, communication skills, and so on. Therefore, it has been very important for our curriculum to be broadly holistic, and effectively combine hard skills course curricula with a soft skills focus.

To allow for a ripple-effect system - where the graduate-trainees can go on to establish themselves and in turn employ more young people that they would go on to train, we also included an Entrepreneurship course facilitated by the Enterprise Development Centre of the Lagos Business School (Pan Atlantic University). Other elements of our curriculum include activities like business plan pitching, group coaching, peer-to-peer mentoring, and so many more training models that create growth and mindset shift opportunities for young people - so that they view manufacturing work as dignified and fulfilling.

How do you see the Kafawa Training Program impacting the Nigerian economy in the coming years?

We are immensely excited about the potential impact of Kafawa on the wider Nigerian economy.

In the coming years, we hope to train tens of thousands of young people across the country, such that, in the next ten years, Kafawa will be recognised as a fully accredited and certified

institution with a manufacturing hub that has successfully created a pool of extremely skilled hands.

Our aim is to create professionals and thriving entrepreneurs, who in turn create opportunities for other young and underserved people within their various communities. We also hope to be defined as one of the key solution providers to Nigeria’s unemployment problem and its ultimate economic development. As the program’s training activities are centered on the Nigerian leather industry, which has been estimated to have the potential to generate over $1 billion by 2025, the program’s mission is to create the pool of talent that will unearth that potential and make it a reality.

As the first cohort is now graduating, where are they headed & what can we expect from the next edition of the training program?

We are so pleased to be rounding up the first cohort of the Kafawa pilot program. We have trained hundreds of young people, in-person and online, and it has been an enormous success. Over 97% of our trainees have indicated that their learnings on the program have had a positive impact on them; over 96% of them have improved self-confidence and self-perception as a result of the program; and more than 95% are now confident that they can find and keep a job, while another 90% are confident that they can start their own businesses within one to six months with the skills they have now gained.

This pilot cohort of trainees is an inspiring start for us, and as they become alumni, we will leverage their stories to expand the pool of Kafawa trainees, beyond the southwest.

We’re eagerly anticipating the next edition of the program. Over the last six months, we have pilot-tested a variety of elements of the training models that we would like to deploy - from standard physical facilitator-led training to trainee-led models, to onlinephysical models, and so much more. In the process, we have learnt an enormous amount about what works effectively and what has the most impact. Without a doubt, this pilot program has been dynamic, in that it has given hundreds of young people an array of new skills - from hard technical leather-crafting techniques to business development knowledge and tools - to make them more well-rounded than they were. This is the foundational goal for the coming cohort - we are aiming to create a new generation of youth who are able to leverage their skills to improve their economic outcomes and ultimately, pay it forward.

As the founder of a successful three-decade-old business, what advice would you give to your Kafawa graduates seeking to achieve similar goals?

Success is a term that can be defined in more ways than one, and for an entrepreneur, it’s no different.

Success means growth, it means breaking barriers, it means paying it forward, and ultimately, it means expanding beyond a single environment. It requires a lot of hard work and passion in equal measure, but most importantly, it requires consistency. You must be prepared to take risks; push the limits of your understanding and capacity, and must actively work at improving your skill sets. You must not be afraid to ask for help, and not be afraid to dream big dreams.

You must stay focused, and not compare yourself to others, because there is a path that is yours, and yours alone. You must never stop learning, never settle for less than the best and shun mediocrity so that your product speaks before you do. And finally, you must trust the process, stay authentic, and always remember that good things take time.

STAKEHOLDER: CBN’S $250M INTERVENTION IN DISCOS’, TCN INTERFACE WILL STABILISE POWER GRID “This makes sense to me. It is a laudable measure to achieve a seamless and a hitch-free power transmission from the transmission stations to the distribution network,” said.

Eje’s position also aligned with the comments by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company, (NBET) Dr. Nnaemeka Ewelukwa.

Ewelukwa disclosed that the apex bank was able to identify critical projects that could quickly address and restore normalcy to the sector

in the near term.

“The CBN has actually performed a very positive role in trying to sort out these electricity market challenges. The CBN is working with TCN and the Discos. CBN basically asked what are those critical projects that if they are addressed today can quickly yield results in the sector.

“This is even as the federal government is doing the Siemens project and TCN is implementing the report. The issue is that what are those critical projects that if they are done today, will unlock additional megawatts quickly.

“And so the DISCOs and TCN worked together to come up with a list of some critical projects and I can’t be specific on the amount, maybe we can furnish that subsequently but that is what is happening,” he said.

The NBET’s boss said CBN decided to find those critical interventions so that there could be some quick wins even as the bigger project is being implemented.

In his intervention, an energy expert, Oyebode Fadipe, stated that one of the fundamental issues in the power sector was poor liquidity in the industry.

He added that while it is true that one of the expectations of the privatisation programme is that the sector would be self funding so that government would ultimately stop funding it, the benchmark had not been realised.

“It is in direct response to this liquidity challenge that the CBN was brought into the loop. There is therefore sense in the involvement of the CBN in the interface projects between Disco and TCN,” Fadipe said.

He stated that the action of the apex bank would help to bring

more stability in the grid and by so doing, more people will be able to receive electricity for their use.

Fadipe stated that quality of supply is also expected to increase because in some locations where the transformers are overloaded, they would be uprated.

Another stakeholder who didn’t want his name in print, said that the intervention in the interface project showed the obvious gap that had been left over the years.

Although he admitted that the intervention is critical and requires sustainable approach possibly on a

yearly basis, he explained that the development is however not devoid of bureaucratic challenges which is associated with the government.

Also speaking, a consumer advocate and legal expert, Kunle Olubiyo noted that the continuous intervention while critical, shows that the essence of privatising the sector may have been defeated.

Olubiyo noted that the poor governance system, lack of monitoring, accountability and weak setup of the market were responsible for the financial issues in the sector.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

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NEWS

Vendease Harps on Continuous Stakeholders’ Engagement to Boost Food Production Gilbert Ekugbe Leading Agri-foodtech Company, Vendease Africa, has emphasised the need for stakeholders in the nation’s agricultural sector to strengthen its engagements and collaboration that would boost food production in the country.

According to the Chief Executive

Officer and Co-founder of Vendease, Mr. Tunde Kara, these conversations are important, noting that the food industry is a sector that concerned everybody.

Kara, therefore, stressed the need for increased engagements between stakeholders in the industry to garner support to chart a new course for the food industry.

Speaking at the week-long Africa Next event, formerly known as the social media week, themed “The Future of Food: Emerging Trends and Technology,” Kara said the event is apt considering the staggering amount the country spends to import its food needs.

He said: “We know the government plays a vital role in helping

the industry thrive especially by providing an enabling environment, but we have to strengthen our collaboration to complement the effort of the federal government.”

The event featured conversations around the role of technology in agriculture, the emerging trends in the food supply chain, agriculture and in running a food business.

The session had experts in the agri-Foodtech industry and food business operators on the panel including the Vice President, Thrive Agric, Oshone Anavhe; Founder of Afrolems, Atim Ukoh; Executive Director of HSE Gourmet, Ozununye Ajuru; Founder of Farmatrix, Nyifamu Manzo and CEO/Co-founder, Vendease Africa,

Tunde Kara.

Also speaking, the Founder of Farmatrix, Nyifamu Manzo, emphasised the need to drive more inclusion for women in the agricultural sector, calling on venture capitalists to examine more female-led businesses across different levels of the food value chain in Africa.

NIDO-E Cautions Nigerians on Online Information Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Europe Chapter (NIDO-E), has advised Nigerians to be weary of information published online before acting on them to ensure safety of citizens.

Chairman, NIDO Europe Chapter, Dr Bashir Obasekola, made the appeal during a forum held in Moscow, Russia, and monitored online by journalists in the country.

The forum was organised by NIDO Russia Chapter with the theme, “Russia-Ukraine Situation: Impact on Nigerians in Russia/ Europe and Bilateral Relations.”

Obasekola disclosed that NIDO leveraged its network across Europe to provide support and assisted many Nigerians fleeing Ukraine to ensure their safety.

He, however, said that some Nigerians were still trapped in Ukraine, noting that they need moral and psychological support till relief gets to them.

According to him, it is now risky to cross the border due to unverified information of recruitment of foreign mercenaries for the war.

“We pray that none of our citizens will be caught in that crossfire of being mistaken for mercenary,” he said.

Obasekola said they were surprised at the news of some people going to the Ukraine Embassy in Nigeria seeking opportunities to join the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine.

He described the step as a wrong signal that might expose Nigerians in Diaspora to danger of being suspected as mercenaries.

The NIDO chairman, therefore, advised the public to be cautious

with their moves and information they publish online.

Speaking also at the occasion, Former Chairman, NIDO Russia Chapter, Dr Rex Essenowo, said Nigerians in Diaspora had faced lots of crises in the past, but noted that the current crisis was different from others.

Essenowo said the forum presented a platform for Nigerians in Russia to brainstorm on opportunities emanating from the crisis amid various sanctions.

He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite the inauguration of the Diasporan Committee Board to enable more participation that would enhance socio-economic development.

Similarly, Mr Sampson UwemEdimo, Chairman, NIDO Russia, said some Russian banks are seeking opportunities to partner with Nigerian banks to enhance the financial industry.

Uwem-Edimo noted that a Russian health facility had indicated interest in establishing a Cancer centre in Nigeria, saying the Nigerian Ministry of Health was working out the modalities.

Also, Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Prof. Abdullahi Yibaikwal, said that Russian Government had pledged to provide the necessary assistance to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Nigerian citizens in Russia.

Yibaikwal said that the Russian Ministry of Education had offered admissions to Nigerians who want to continue their education in Russia.

He said that the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine had worsened humanitarian issues, thus called for speedy resolution through diplomatic dialogue.

Creditwise Financial, Empire Media Others Clinch 2022 Africa Brand Awards

The eleventh annual edition of Africa Brand Awards will take place on the 31st of March 2022 at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos. The annual program which serves as the benchmark for rewarding outstanding brands and professionals will honout excellence in customer service at the award night.

Some of the brands on the honours list are Market Trends International, Creditwise Financials, Empire Media Group Cameroun, BrandNerds Ghana, Goodgate Finance, Evaluate Media and Integrated Trust.

Others include Smathealth hmo, Auxilia Images Global Resources, Gross Asset Properties, Gotham Properties, Emerge Ghana to mention

but few.

According to Abidemi Adesanya, the project director during a recent media chat in Lagos, he said that the 2022 award will reward excellence in customer service, innovation and strategic market leadership among brands across various sectors in Africa.

Some past winners of the award include FrieslandCampina WAMCO Plc, Meyer Plc, Pepsi, X3M Ideas, Insight Communications, UPDC Plc, AIICO Insurance Plc, Leadway Pensure Pfa, Brandfirst, ARNERGY, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Startimes, Halogen Security, CentrespreadGrey, Cowbellpedia, Wellness hmo, FHA Mortgage among several others.

L-R: Member of Trustee, Institute of Leadership Manpower and Management Development (ILMMD), Pastor Emeka Aguobi; trustee member, Pastor Tony Bang; awardee of Doctorate in Leadership and Development and Managing Director, EL-lab Medical Diagnostic and Research Centre, Dr. Elochukwu Adibo; and Director, Communications for the Institute, Dr. Charles Eromosele, during the induction ceremony of Membership,Fellowship and Doctorate Awards of the Institute of Leadership, PHOTO: ABAYOMI AKINYELE Manpower and Management Development (ILMMD) in Lagos... recently

Stakeholders Urge Oil Service Firms to Develop Capacity in Natural Gas Peter Uzoho Following Nigeria’s adoption of natural gas as its transition fuel, the country’s oil service companies have been urged to key into the ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative by the federal government and develop capacity around the resource.

Managing Director, Global Process and Pipeline Services Limited (GPPSL), Mr. Obi Uzu; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote; and Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Com-

pany (SNEPCO), Mrs Elohor Aiboni, made the submission in Abuja at the 2022 Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES).

They spoke at a panel session, which focused on “Competitive Landscape and Sustainable Development of In-Country Value Addition.”

Uzu stated that it was important for local oil service companies to build capacity around natural gas and the allied industries in the value chain, which include power, petrochemical, fertiliser, pharmaceutical amongst others.

“Building capacity for our local oil service companies should hinge on

process, plan, strategy and resources,” he stated.

On the global response to energy transition, he advised that the country should focus on developing enough capacity to exploit the remaining God-given hydrocarbon resources as the developed countries were already turning their back on fossil fuels.

“The success of the Nigerian Local Content intervention can be ascribed to the efforts of the NCDMB and its leadership.

Nigeria’s local content experiment has become the poster boy of incountry value addition for other

African countries with extractive resources,”Uzu said.

In her contribution, Aiboni stressed that the pivot of local content should be to stimulate local manufacturing for homegrown solutions as that was the only way to drive down costs and stay competitive.

The session explored different in-country value addition scenarios critical to robust enhancement of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry with the mission to encourage the use of local labour, goods and services at different stages of the oil and gas value chain.

PENGASSAN Seeks Incentives for IOCs, Warns of Activities of ‘Briefcase Investors’ in Oil Industry Peter Uzoho Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has expressed worry over the increasing divestment by the international oil companies (IOCs) from the country, urging the federal government to provide incentives to enable them remain in the country.

The oil workers body also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the country’s Minister of Petroleum to take steps to check the presence and activities of portfolio and briefcase

investors in the oil and gas sector whose sole aim it claimed was to milk the country without adding value.

PENGASSAN made the interventions in a statement jointly signed by its President, Festus Osifo and the General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, noting that the IOCs’ divestment started in 2012 and spread quickly within the industry, resulting in the reduction of the fortunes of developments within the oil and gas fields.

Stating that it was not averse to indigenous participation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, the

association said it would not fold its arms and allow mediocre persons to take hold of national assets and ruin the fortunes of future generations for immediate gains.

“It is on record that since IOCs started divestment in 2012; most of the companies that purchased such assets do not have and cannot attract the requisite finances for capital expenditures in such fields or have made reasonable efforts to provide the required human and technical developments of Nigerians in their establishment.

“Most of these companies practically draw from the existing

wells until it is dried up. They do not substantially if at all invest in work over operations or drilling of new wells...

“Concerted efforts should be made to persuade and provide more incentives to the IOCs to remain in the country to benefit from the newly passed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) “However, should they decide to exit after all efforts fail, a good investor that has relevant technical experience, good financial standing, and reputation for managing employees must be sort after,” the group stated.

Petrocam Boosts LPG Utilisation with New Solar-powered Outlet in Lagos Peter Uzoho In a bid to enhance the availability and utilisation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country, Petrocam Trading Nigeria Limited has opened new solar-powered LPG retail outlet in Ejirin, Epe, Lagos State, with five

metric tonnes storage capacity.

Managing Director of Petrocam, Mr. Patrick Ilo, said at the unveiling of the facility that the company built the LPG skid in order to encourage the use of the energy source in the country, particularly in rural areas like Ejirin where most people use

firewood.

Ilo also said the building of the gas skid was to provide employment opportunities for people of Ejirin and discourage rural-urban migration due to the search for employment.

He said the number of LPG facilities in the country was not

enough for the over 200 million people in the country.

He explained that the company decided to go the way of solarpowered LPG skid in line with the current global demand for a shift to cleaner energy that would not deplete the ozone layer.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

‘NPA Committed to Elimination of Systemic Corruption at Nation’s Seaports’ Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, has reiterated the organization’s commitment to the elimination of systemic corruption and other criminal practices at the nation’s seaports.

He has equally affirmed the authority’s position to operate in compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as stipulated in the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM), a project

it funded, to enhance operational excellence and service delivery at all Nigerian seaports and terminals.

The MD NPA made these remarks recently when he received members of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) led by Soji Apampa, at the Authority’s headoffice in Marina, Lagos.

Koko stated that the NPA Management appreciates the positive being played by the network in partnership with key sister agencies

‘Customers are Treated as Kings, Queens at Majesty-Realm Hotels’ Okon Bassey in Uyo The management of MajestyRealm Hotels Limited, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has lauded five banks namely Union Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, FCMB and First Bank for extending their facilities to the company to build a world class hotel in the South South region of the country.

The board director of MajestyRealm Hotels Limited, Sir Udo Isobara commended the banks weekend when conducting journalists around the facilities provided by the hotel which he noted would also boost tourism development in the region.

“These banks granted the hotel all the loans with which Majesty-Realm got established and developed to her current

and organizations to create a more friendly environment for doing business in the nation’s maritime industry. He also commended the group for promoting the gains of business integrity and raising awareness on the negative impact of corruption on the country’s image and global rating.

The NPA helmsman expressed delight that the anti-corruption reforms introduced by the Buhari led Federal Government has significantly reduced corrupt and related criminal practices in the Nigerian port and shipping sector.

In his words, “the NPA Management under my watch is happy to note that we are doing well in view of the drop

in the incidences of corruption to 5 from over 150 cases when this anti-corruption campaign started.

We have seen the progress being recorded in all aspect of port operations as well as revenue into government coffers, it shows that sooner than later, the port industry in Nigeria would become the most attractive maritime cluster in the region, going by our market share and capacity”, he declared.

Leader of the MACN team, Soji Apampa, explained that the purpose of their visit is to intimate the Authority about the achievements recorded, in collaboration with other key stakeholders, to engender zero tolerance to corruption in the port

as well as remove opaqueness in port operations in line with international best practice.

He mentioned that the Nigerian port ecosystem has witnessed a positive change in the last three years, as reported demands made by corrupt public officials on shipmasters and shipping agents in the process of vessel clearance has reduced from three to two digits. “The introduction of the SOPs and NNPM has increased the level of transparency around processes to be complied with in Nigerian ports. The introduction of the Port Service Support Portal has also made complaints and grievance handling processes more transparent and effective”.

He further said that his group from 2017 has trained over a thousand personnel serving in the port, including staff of NPA, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Immigrations Service and other agencies, across all port locations in the country.

Apampa appealed to the NPA Management to sustain the collaboration with his group. He requested for increased support in terms of logistics and manpower deployment, whilst assuring the NPA Management of the group’s readiness to provide technical support and training to staff of the Authority, in view of MACN’s affiliation with the World Maritime University.

state of glory” he said.

He explained that it was the high demand of tourism facilities in the state that, the Board was constrained to approach the banks to obtain the loans to finance an expansion programme.

Isobara said the Majesty-Realm situated on plot 166, Lagos street, Ewet Housing estate, Uyo is “designed to treat customers as kings and queens” hence the name Majesty-Realm hotel.

“Currently, this hotel can boast of world class facilities for recreation, relaxation and conferences.

Majesty is completed with a full complement of swimming pool, standard gymnasium, internet, a restaurant that can take 150 guest seated comfortably and conference either a seating capacity of 400.

BUA Cement Installs 3 500KVA Transformers, Drills 2 Power Solar Boreholes in Sokoto Community Onuminya Innocent In Sokoto As part of its contribution to the development of its host communities BUA Cement Plc has installed 3 units of 500KVA, transformers to boost access to electricity in SARDA, Kalambaina and specialist hospital, in Wamakko Community of Sokoto state.

In the same vein, the company also commissioned 2 power solar Boreholes in Gidan Gamba, Giremshi of Wamakko local government to cushion the effects of water scarcity in the area.

Speaking at the event the Managing Director/ Chief Executives Officer of the company Engr Yusuf Haliru Binji said BUA cement corporate social responsibility is

a critical part of the BUA cement and as a result the company is committed to the development of host communities wherever it operates.

Represented by Head Administration and Corporate services Sada Suleiman, Binji said the 3units of 500KVA transformers will ease the burden of access to.electricity currently being experienced in the communities.

On the power solar Boreholes Binji said it company is committed to the provision of portable water to its host communities to prevent outbreak of water borne diseases.

He noted that the company has also given scholarship, instructional materials worth millions of naira to the indigent students.

Jigawa Governor Visits WACOT’s Sesame Farm, Hails Contributions to State, Nigeria’s Economy Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has assured Jigawa citizens and investors that his administration will continue to support private investors such as WACOT Limited whose investments are contributing to the state’s socioeconomic development while boosting Nigeria’s food security.

Governor Abubakar stated this during his site inspection of WACOT Limited’s 500 hectares Gumel Farm Project for cultivating certified organic sesame.

During his inspection, the Governor expressed joy at the progress made

by WACOT over the past five years in Jigawa. He stated that WACOT Limited commenced its Jigawa operations in 2016 by buying sesame from farmers through a pilot out-grower scheme with a few hundred farmers.

This scheme has now grown to capture over 6000 farmers in Gumel Emirate.

He added that when WACOT decided to expand and diversify into organic sesame farming two years ago, the state government readily provided over 500 hectares of land because it was confident the company would improve the welfare of farmers and boost the state’s economy.

Governor Abubakar said, “Not only did they commit to creating an organic sesame farm, but they also committed to creating a Farmers’ Academy, a drip irrigation section, a sesame cleaning plant and warehouses.

As you can see, the entire project is nearly complete – in fact, some of the areas are already in use.

“The primary one is the organic sesame farm, which is operational and now certified by an international body ‘ECOCERT’, meaning sesame grown on our land is internationally recognized and approved for export in Europe and America. “

L-R: Chief of the Naval Staff, (CNS) Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari , during a courtesy visit to Naval Headquarters, Abuja… recently

Quantity Surveyors Propose Death Sentence for Persons Indicted in Building Collapse Incidents Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), has proposed jail terms or death sentences for anyone inducted over the collapse of any building in Nigeria.

President of the group, Murtala Aliyu, who made the suggestion at the 2022 Annual Assembly of QSRBN, in Abuja said perpetrators of such crimes must be made to face the law.

“I think that there should be a legislation where people should be sanctioned under this kind of

condition.

“They should pay heavily or go to jail or be hanged. There must be a consequence. In a situation where there is no consequence, the practice will continue,” he stated.

Also in his remarks, the President, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Enyi Ben- Eboh condemned the trend, describing it was worrisome.

“Government agencies are responsible for checking whether these buildings are being constructed according to specifications and in conformity with the provisions in building

code which, of course, is in place in Nigeria,” he stated.

In his comments, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Olayemi Shonubi, congratulated the inductees for being officially licensed to practice.

He lamented a situation where some quantity surveyors rubbish their colleagues before contractors, saying such an act was capable of tarnishing the image of the profession.

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, charged professionals in the building sector, especially, surveyors to key into the

emerging science and technology in order to be relevant in the sector.

Fashola, who declared open the annual Assembly with theme; “Shopping the future of the quantity surveying profession”, urged them to reposition their profession in order to address any new developments and challenges that may arise in the near future.

Represented by the Head of Quantity Surveying Department in the ministry, Pemi Samuel, he noted that capacity building among the surveying professionals would aid the growth of the constitution industry in the country.

W’Africa Automotive Show in Lagos to Host 100 Exhibitors, 3,000 Visitors in May Sunday Okobi The West Africa Automotive Show (WAAS), Nigeria’s largest automotive parts show, will return to Lagos on May 17 to 19 with more than 100 exhibitors from Nigeria and around the world showcasing the latest developments and products in the auto parts and services sector to more than 3,000 visitors from across West Africa.

According to the organisers, while the event will focus on local businesses, there will be a highly international flavour with overseas representation from more than 20

countries. These include India, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Thailand, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the UAE, Poland, the United State of America, and Turkey.

The show, which will take place at the Landmark Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos, is endorsed by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), and its founding partner, Africa’s largest auto spare part market, Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA).

WAAS is organised by BtoB Events, which also runs the highly popular Food and Beverage West

Africa show (taking place in June) and Beauty West Africa show (in November).

The Managing Director of the WAAS organiser, BtoB Events, Jamie Hill, in a statement issued yesterday noted that he was looking forward to seeing the regional automotive sector come together again.

Hill in a statement said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the long-anticipated return of the West Africa Automotive Show back to Nigeria for its first post-pandemic edition.

“Demand for exhibition space has been very high, which reflects

the strong desire from the market to get back to business and make us for lost time. The impact of the pandemic on international trade was huge, so the exhibition will act as a perfect platform for businesses to find new suppliers from around the world and suppliers to find new customers across the region.

“Visitors can also pre-register for WAAS at https://www. westafricaautomotive.com/preregister/ which will give them free entry. Otherwise, there will be a nominal administration fee of N1,000 for non-registered attendees on the door.”

33

TUESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

How Nigerians Can Be Wealthy In One Generation change Nigeria from the world headquarters for extreme poverty to a global haven for prosperity.

Crude oil is too crude to give the poverty we face the rising shock it deserves. Only two things can do that in one generation: education and real estate. And I thank God, I can help provide both.

Through my mentoring programme, I am teaching Nigerian youths how I escaped poverty by investing in the real estate sector. And I thank my mentor, Reno Omokri, who has given me this platform and others, to reach out to an even wider audience.

My dream is to be the driving force for creating phenomenal prosperity in Nigeria and eradicate the 17 million housing deficit being faced by Nigerians.

And let's close with this: Nigeria’s wealth is above ground, not below ground. Our riches are to be found in what is between the ears of our people and what stands on the terra firma of our country.

So let us think generationally and accumulate wealth for ourselves and our heirs in perpetuity by investing in one of the only few assets that has the capacity to be passed down from one generation to the next in perpetuity.

Joseph Nantomah is the CEO of Milwaukee-based Global Investors Capital.

O

n Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the European Supervisory Authorities, an organ of the European Union, released a statement warning the public that cryptocurrency is a risky investment and could wipe out all their savings.

Since that time, the discussion in the investment world has been about which sector to invest in that will bring about minimum risks and maximum profits.

Indeed, you can make maximum profits from cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens. However, the risk is quite significant.

But one area where the risk is very minimal is real estate. I know this because I have made millions of dollars from real estate. That sector is probably the most stable investment anyone can make, other than investing in gold, which has been in existence since God created the Earth - Genesis 2-10-11.

It is pretty easy to understand why real estate is as stable and profitable as it is. The world is not increasing in size. Earth is not expanding like some other planets are. The landmass of Earth is fixed.

However, the population of our planet is expanding. I know that is an understatement, but I am a businessman, so I tend to be conservative in my language. However, some people say that what is happening to the world’s population is an explosion, not an expansion.

So, where you have limited accommodation and unlimited population, it makes common sense that real estate will be a booming sector now and into the future.

The world’s population is 7.9 billion in the year 2022. In eight years (2030), Taft's figure is projected to rise (or explode) to 9 billion.

There is a global housing deficit of over a billion.

Therefore, there is a market for real estate.

According to the International Monetary Fund’s Global Housing Watch, global house prices continued to rise during the pandemic because people never stopped needing houses.

And it is a fact that wealth is the result of creating

Reno Omokri with his mentee, Joseph Nantomah value. Riches are the consequence of providing a service. Upward mobility is the reward for solving problems.

And that is why I encourage everyone to be in real estate.

Buy or build your house to live in. Then buy or build another house to rent out, or as an investment for, say, short letting, Airbnb, or condominiums.

That way, you will have a lifetime roof over your head and passive income for life.

The most limited resource on Earth is land and water. The human population is exploding. But the Earth’s physical landmass and water resources are not. Which can only mean that as the population rises globally, real estate prices will increase

exponentially, except a massive chunk of us will follow Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos into space and fund new habitable planets there.

And until that becomes a possibility, we must focus on making life on Earth better. And my way of doing that is through real estate.

It has catapulted me from systemic, generic and endemic poverty to wealth beyond my wildest imagination, and I have promised myself that the rest of my life would be devoted, in part, to mentoring others, especially my countrymen, until they can replicate my success story.

Because although God has blessed my effort and turned my situation about, I know that I am not the big picture. The big picture is that we need to

Reno’s Nuggets Dear men, If you are dating a girl, and she does not sin with you in the bedroom, and she bought her phone, and the words ‘Transport Fare’ has never come out of her mouth, and she does not send you ‘urgent 2k’ texts, then what you have is a treasure. A real treasure! Such women do exist. Don’t allow yourself to be deceived into thinking that they don’t. They may not bleach.

They may not do body enhancement surgeries. They may wear their natural hair. And because they are so real, you think they are local. But better a local girl, than a girl whose beauty can be erased by a hot towel!

Saraki: Ministers of States Positions Will Be Occupied by Youths Under 40 in My Presidency Says young Nigerians have mandated him to go to field by buying his forms Abaribe picks governorship forms for Abia 2023 Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Abubakar Saraki, yesterday, pledged to reserve all the ministers of states positions for youths under 40 if elected president of the country.

Saraki, who made this pledge yesterday while receiving a youth group, Grow Nigeria Movement and young professionals, who paid N5 million and N35 million for his Expression of Interest and Presidential Nomination forms respectively, said by their action, they had simply charged him to go to the field and contest.

Speaking while receiving the two forms, Saraki said, "That is why I want to promise that if I become the President of Nigeria, all positions of Ministers of State in the cabinet will be occupied by youths.

“This is a promise that I will not fail, because I believe the ideas of the youths are needed to drive modern development efforts. And, you know from my record, that I have the boldness to implement this promise.

"Without unfolding all the plans here because we will soon formally hold a public declaration to which all of you are hereby invited, I want to once again express my happiness over this gesture. I so much appreciate it and I will not take it for granted.”

The former senate president said he was told that in buying the forms, many of the youths contributed between N200,000 and N500,000 and that the highest donor was N2m.

"This initiative and noble efforts are perhaps, unprecedented in the history of Nigerian politics, adding that, "The tradition is either for the aspirant or a group of wealthy friends to come together to purchase the nomination forms, because of the huge funds required.

“Your effort has beaten some of my friends, who have been talking about doing this for me to the mark. I appreciate this your effort far more than I would have appreciated if any of my friends has purchased the forms."

While thanking the group, Saraki said, "My appreciation derives from the fact that your effort is essentially a genuine demonstration of your commitment, belief, patriotism, and sincerity in my ability and visions.

“You have taken money that you could have re-invested into your young businesses or spent to enjoy the various luxuries, which hardworking young people may find necessary once in a while to procure these forms.

"What you have done is a symbolic message that you are mandating me to go out to the field and work hard among all our leaders, delegates, and other stakeholders to win the PDP presidential ticket come May as well as subsequently follow up with decisive victory in the general election in February 2023.

"Looking at the diversity that all of you gathered here represent, another symbolic message I will take away is that as far as the youths are concerned, what we need to develop in Nigeria is not where people come from or what religion they subscribe to.

“It is about having the competence, determination, and patriotism to initiate good measures and have the courage of conviction to follow through with the plans.

“Your charge to me is to go there and make all Nigerians – young and old, northerners and southerners, Muslims, Christians, and people of other religions, operators in the private and public sectors, and members of different political parties – to join hands and fix Nigeria.

"With your action today, I do not have an option but to listen to the voice of the youths, who represent 62 per cent of the over 200 million Nigerians," Saraki stated.

However, leader of the group, Abubakar Dan Musa, while speaking earlier, said, "We are not politicians and therefore, non-party members. Rather, we are young professionals and entrepreneurs, who believe in this great country, Nigeria. We are from different parts of the country. We all worship one

God in different ways.

"Our world views are as diverse as this country to which we are citizens. However, we have a common agenda and common goal. We believe in Nigeria. We want Nigeria to develop. We want Nigeria to serve the interest of all Nigerians.

"Thus, after extensive deliberations, we have concluded that the situation of our country is so far from what it should be if we have the right leadership. The country is

not running as a functional entity that can bring the best out of her citizens and provide the best for the generality of the people.

"We are particularly unhappy that the country is not providing the right atmosphere for the millions of its youths to serve as agents of development. Instead, many of our compatriots are being forced to go into negative activities, because the system is not encouraging them to utilise their positive potential.

Useni to FG: You’re Pampering Terrorists Says politics fueling insecurity, urges govt to change tactics

Chuks Okocha in Abuja A former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lieutenant General Jeremiah Useni (retd), has accused the federal government of pampering terrorists with its approach to the growing insecurity in the government.

Useni, who also advised the government to change tactics in tackling various security challenges confronting Nigeria, however, noted that politics was fueling the insecurity.

Useni said this at an informal parley with media executives in Abuja, yesterday.

The former governor and Minister of Transport during the military era, who also represented Plateau South senatorial district in the Eighth Senate, said, “Government is pampering terrorists,” even

as he added that politics was fuelling insecurity in the country.

According to him, “What is happening now is worrying, especially, insecurity because people are killing people anyhow.”

Asked how government could address insecurity after deploying kinetic forces across the country appeared to have failed, he replied: “Just look at the people you have appointed and given such responsibilities and give instructions and directives on what should be done and should be done.

"What is happening now is that even some state governors give money to bandits to stop attacking them, so, you are encouraging them. When the money finishes, they come back again. When you deal with them properly, things will change. As a military man, even as a governor, if you commit

(any) offence, you are removed and punished.

“Well, you see, this is a civilian government. Politics is different.

Once you say something and they ask which party you belong to, that colours everything. It shouldn’t be so. We should listen.

"We are not in the same party, even if in the same party, I can criticise the party, even from a different party, I can criticise! But, if you do so, they would say you are doing so as an enemy. There are many generals; we know ourselves and they can advise (government), okay?”

He noted that the security challenges facing the country needed to be addressed by ensuring discipline in the military, while reiterating that the country needed to do more to contend in security.

Useni said, "I'm worried about

what is happening in the Plateau.

Today, the peace in Jos has gone, the killings in the Jos are gradually becoming like what we have in the north west and north east."

Speaking on the 2023 general election, Useni said Nigerians should allow merit and competence as part of the criteria for electing the next president rather than zoning, ethnic or religious affiliations.

He said it was his prayer that the best candidate, who is patriotic and have the interest of the country at heart, will emerge at the end of the day.

The former FCT minister, therefore, advised the younger politicians "to take the interest of the people and the country as a matter of priority and respect the elders and be committed to the common good of the people."

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͰ˜ 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

AfDB, AFEX, Others Task Nigeria on Food Security Judith Obaze The Director General, Nigeria Country Office, African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Lamin Barrow has said that Nigeria must climate proof its Agricultural sector to buffer it against adverse effects of extreme weather, which could undermine food security.

The call is coming because of the growing concerns on Climate Change, sustainability of food production and security across the world, which they envisaged to linger for the next 20 to 30 years.

Barrow made this submission at the third annual Agribusiness and Food Summit organized

by Vanguard Newspapersin conjunction with The Economic Forum Series themed: “Enhancing Nigeria’s Food Security in a Changing Climate and Digital Technology Environment,” held in Lagos.

Stating the impacts of climate change experienced the world

over, Barrow opined that climate proofing Nigeria’s Agricultural sector and leveraging on digital technology is in line with strategies adopted by other countries across the continent which has enabled them attain higher productivity thereby resulting in up to 50 per cent cut on import.

He said, “Most of the world’s climate vulnerable countries are in Africa. Global warming and extreme weather would continue to intensify in the next twenty to thirty years. Nigeria must therefore, like other African countries, climate proof its Agriculture and ensure compliance to technologies... flood tolerant needs, flood tolerant designs, ensure compliance with technologies such as weather forecast services and subsidized loans would also be needful.”

Speaking, the Managing Director of Nigeria’s apex commodities exchange commission, AFEX, Mr. Ayodeji Balogun stated that the

commission is poised to spur growth in the agro-economic sector through supporting smallholder farmers in ensuring that commodities are exchanged for commensurate prices thus helping them scale.

The Chief Executive Officer 9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Ms. Branka, chimed in that the bank is ready to serve in coordinating easy, fast and business friendly loans and payment options to small holder and large scale farmers to thrive enable them thrive.

On his part, the Co-Chair, Communications Sub Committee, United Nations Systems Food Summit, Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mbaram, noted that with the rising cost of food and the employment gaps in the Agricultural sector, employing innovative practices and engaging the youth population would close in the current labour gaps in the industry.

L-R:Executive Director, Treasury & Operations, Oladipupo Adeoye; General Manager, IT & Platform, Lolita Ejiofor; Managing Director, Madu Hamman; Group Head, Corporate Services, Bukola Ewedairo; Executive Director, Finance & Admin., Mobolaji Adewumi and Group Head, E-Business Product & Support, Felix Omodayo- Owotuga all of Abbey Mortgage Bank during the media launch of Abbey Mobile Banking App in Lagos

MARKET INDICATORS

MOWCA Chairman, Others Express Support for SG’s Reform Agenda The Chairman of Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Hon Kwaku Ofori Asiamah has expressed support for the reform agenda being championed by the new Secretary General of MOWCA, Dr Paul Adalikwu.

Asiamah, who is Ghana’s Transport Minister disclosed this while addressing the SG and staff members of MOWCA during his maiden visit to the MOWCA secretariat after Adalikwu assumed office. Asiamah in his advisory role, suggested that the four Directorate Cadre vacancies which are Admin & Finance, Maritime

Transport and Economy, Maritime Safety & Environment Protection and ICT in the Organization as identified by the SG in the new Organogram, should be shared to the predominant 2 Anglophones and 2 Francophones Countries.

He further expressed his concerns over MOWCA Instruments like Rules of Procedure, Conditions of Service and Financial Regulations, which he noted had been in existence since the inception of the Organization in 1975 and therefore due for review.

The Chairman stressed the need for completion of the on going Audit Report and tasked the SG

to liaise with the Audit Firm, Ernst and Young to submit its report to the Secretariat as soon as possible and inaugurate the Committee to look at the comments from member States in order to take an informed decision on MOWCA Instruments. Adalikwu briefed the Chairman on activities carried out so far since he assumed office as in the last three months. He said his administration put together a new Organogram and schedule of duties of all staff; engagement with national Authorities of Host Country especially Secretary of State, Maritime Affairs for secretariat and other support.

Sanwo-Olu Breaks Ground for Oak Heights on Eko Atlantic City Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has broken the ground for the commencement of the construction of Oak Heights, the pinnacle of opulence and first of its kind in Eko Atlantic City.

The Oak Heights is projected as a colossal residential high-rise of 33 floors befitting the class of the affluent and flush; it is worthy to note that the Eko Atlantic City was the solution to the worrying challenge of the overflow of the Atlantic Ocean to shores of Victoria Island in Lagos more than a decade ago.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Oak Holdings, Mr. Olukayode Olusanya said

the Oak Heights is designed to be the tallest residential building dotting the skylines of Eko Atlantic City. He said the development “echoes architectural magnificence in luxury buildings and finesse in real estate engineering.”

Olusanya added that, “The apartments boast of the opulence of fine spacious living where residents can enjoy about 50,000 square metres of expansive building area, 75-foot long pool, spa rooms with an ambience of ease, top of the line fitness centres, tranquil and lavishly appointed conference rooms, maisonettes and villas with suspended pools, apartments

with generous living spaces and ultra-luxury finishes.”

He also introduced the evolved operational and management team; led by Mr Elie El-Rassi as the Chief Operations Officer; Engr Ali Hashie; Project Manager; who has built a minimum of 2 towers within the Eko Atlantic City.

Commenting, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, encouraged private operators in the built environment to collaborate with the state government in bridging the housing deficit in Lagos.

Law FM Marks One, Promises to Strengthen ServiceOfferings The Law FM have promised to build on its successes going forward as it marks one year of providing Lagos residents with illuminating programmes and news.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, the Managing Director, Mrs. Abiola Tayo-Oyetibo, said the radio station that kicked off airing programmes in February 2021, maintained that despite being a station meant to drive better understanding of issues around law, its programmes and news were presented in format and languages understood by

the lay man because the station is not meant for lawyers and people in the legal profession.

She disclosed that Lagosians thought the station was for lawyers but when people started listening they got to know it was for all residents.

The General Manager, Mr Kelani Abdulhakeem Adeola, said the station helps listeners to know their rights and have better of the law.

He added that listeners will not only gain legal knowledge but also get entertained in most simplistic manner. Adeola

revealed that its programmes and news are presented in pigin, English and indigenous languages.

Reviewing its operation in the last one year, the Executive Director, Monisola Tayo-Oyetibo, said the response has been encouraging especially the acceptability by the audience, aside taking back information, which has helped to evolve new offerings and programmes.

She further said that going forward the station will go deeper into its mandate, as it evolves with time.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

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

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (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).

35

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Investors to Earn Over N780bn from Proposed 2021 Dividends Kayode Tokede Following recent proposed dividends from companies listed on Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), investors are set to earn over N780 billion for the year 2021.

So far, 16 companies across seven sectors namely; Consumer goods, Financial Services, Industrial Goods, Oil and Gas, Services, Healthcare and IT, have paid out a total of N782.192 billion as final dividend payout for the

year ended December 31, 2021.

Dividend has remained one of the key factors that traditionally drive stock market activities and aids investment decisions towards stocks across the globe, and Nigerian bourse is not an exception. For the period under review, under Consumer Goods sector, Vitafoam paid N1.876 billion, representing N1.50 per share.

Dangote Sugar Refinery proposed a final dividend of N12.147 or N1.00 per share, while Nestle

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Nigeria declared N20.213 billion dividend or N25.50 per share.

NASCON Allied Industries and Nigerian Breweries set to pay dividend of N1.060 billion and N9.691 billion, representing 40 kobo per share and N1.20 per share, respectively.

Under the Financial Services sector, shareholders of United Capital, African Prudential, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) will receive

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

a total dividend of N9 billion, N1 billion, N79.464 billion, N87.910 and N27.360 billion, representing N1.50 per share, 50 kobo per share, N2.70 per cent, N2.80 per cent and 80 kobo per share in that order.

Also, Dangote Cement and Lafarge Africa listed under Industrial Goods sector proposed a final dividend of N340.82 billion, representing N20 per share and N16.108 billion or N1 per share, respectively. Seplat Energy to pay dividend of $0.426 cent per cent,

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

making a total payout of N250.677 million in naira, while Transcorp Hotels, listed under Services sector declared dividend of N716.977 million or seven kobo (N0.07) per share.

Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals proposed N132.941 million final dividend or seven kobo (0.07) per share, while MTN Nigerian Communications (MTNN) declared a final dividend of N8.57 per share, amounting to N174.442 billion. Speaking on the

O F

2 1

development, the Chief Executive Officer, NGX, Mr. Temi Popoola, CFA stated, that the NGX has continued to be innovative and leverage technology to drive much more activity in the market.

Popoola while stating that NGX strategy for 2022 said the exchange intends to keep building on the momentum on its digital journey across value chains adding that there may be digitalized listings and digitization of its product or offerings.

/ 0 3 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

36

TUESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘Ϯй dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ĨĞůů Ϭ͘Ϯй ƚŽ Ϯ͕ϬϮϮ͘ϭϯ ŝŶͲ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĚĞdž ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ 'd K ;Ͳϯ͘ϭйͿ͕ t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ

t W K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͘ ƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ͕

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϭ͘ϯй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

Ticker

^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ƚƌĞĂŬ ŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϭй

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ďŽůͲ

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ ŝŶĚĞdž

ƌŽƐĞ

1,260.00

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ ĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚ ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬΖƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ŚĂƌĞ

2022.13

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ,KEz&>KhZ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ h ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ h E ;Ͳϰ͘ϵйͿ͕

ƌƵŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E'yͲ ^/ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ

Current Price

ďLJ

ϰϳ͕Ϯϱϭ͘ϵϯ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϬ͘ϲй ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϬ͘ϳй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ůŽƐƚ ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC 10 Access Bank PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC 12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ʬϭϲ͘ϲďŶ ƚŽ ʬϮϱ͘ϱƚŶ͘ sŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϲϬ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϯϬ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ Ϯϭϯ͘ϲŵ

13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 SEPLAT Energy PLC

ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ

15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕

18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC

E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ ʬϮ͘ϳďŶ͘

DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

ĐƌŽƐƐ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

Price Previous Price Current Change Price Change Weighting Index to Change YTD Date

-0.16% 0.0%

ROE

9.0% 102.2% 38.2%

31.9%

15.0%

ROA

P/E

3.5%

5.3x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.8x

6.0%

31.9%

17.2%

1.5%

205.50

0.0%

8.1%

4.3%

4.3%

134.7%

14.1%

14.0x

21.6x

70.75

0.0%

6.8%

5.5%

5.5%

19.1%

11.2%

34.0x

6.4x

26.15

-0.2%

6.2%

0.6%

0.6%

20.7%

3.3%

4.2x

5.1%

7.1%

0.9x

11.5%

23.6% 28.8%

2.9%

27.00

1.3%

6.0%

7.4%

7.4%

20.4%

2.7%

3.5x

0.7x

11.6%

273.50

0.0%

4.4%

6.4%

6.4%

39.2%

16.3%

12.9x

4.8x

7.3%

7.8%

1,435.00

0.0%

3.1%

-7.8%

-7.8%

106.8%

15.6%

27.8x

32.8x

3.6%

3.6%

11.90

0.0%

3.3%

4.4%

4.4%

8.4%

0.8%

7.0x

0.6x

3.8%

14.2%

23.95

-0.2%

3.1%

0.0%

0.0%

11.6%

8.4%

9.0x

1.0x

8.4%

11.2%

9.80

0.0%

2.7%

5.4%

5.4%

17.9%

1.6%

2.1x

0.3x

10.2%

46.7%

7.75

-1.3%

2.0%

-3.7%

-3.7%

15.8%

1.4%

2.3x

0.3x

12.8%

43.7% 12.8%

34.80

0.0%

1.5%

-3.3%

-3.3%

15.1%

2.1%

7.8x

1.2x

11.8%

44.50

0.0%

1.3%

-11.0%

-11.0%

7.6%

2.7%

27.9x

2.1x

3.6%

3.6%

930.00

0.0%

2.1%

43.1%

43.1%

8.7%

4.1%

8.5x

0.7x

4.5%

11.8%

-10.3%

-3.9%

11.90

0.0%

1.8%

36.8%

36.8%

5.00

-1.0%

1.1%

1.0%

1.0%

143.50

0.0%

1.0%

1.1%

1.1%

36.5%

23.3%

9.7x

3.2x

32.00

0.0%

1.1%

12.9%

12.9%

15.9%

4.5%

4.9x

0.7x

5.2%

20.4% 42.8%

2.7x

36.5% 0.9x

-11.4% 10.3%

3.07

2.3%

0.7%

20.4%

20.4%

13.3%

1.3%

2.3x

0.3x

7.2%

2.30

0.0%

0.5%

-0.9%

-0.9%

9.3%

3.0%

7.1x

0.7x

9.6%

14.1%

15.85

0.3%

0.4%

-8.9%

-8.9%

17.4%

6.9%

8.7x

1.5x

6.3%

11.4%

10.3%

1.1%

ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ Ϯ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ϯ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ

22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC

/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ

25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC

133.00

0.0%

0.4%

51.5%

51.5%

2.8x

0.8%

Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůLJ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞƌƐ͕ ƵƉ

27 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 28 AIICO Insurance PLC

13.10

-3.0%

0.3%

-0.8%

-0.8%

21.3%

6.9%

12.3x

2.5x

3.1%

8.1%

0.68

-5.6%

0.2%

-2.9%

-2.9%

7.2%

1.1%

377.8x

0.7x

Ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϭďƉ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌͲ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ

29 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 30 Custodian and Allied Insurance

264.90

0.0%

0.3%

19.4%

19.4%

48.0%

9.5%

5.4x

2.2x

1.6%

18.6%

7.00

-1.4%

0.2%

-11.4%

-11.4%

19.5%

5.5%

4.1x

0.8x

7.9%

24.3%

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ĞƐƚ ŝŶ 'h/EE ^^ ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ E'^h' Z ;нϬ͘ϯйͿ͕

31 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 32 Unilever Nigeria PLC

22.30

0.0%

0.2%

-0.9%

-0.9%

38.7%

16.0%

5.7x

2.0x

6.8%

17.5%

13.50

0.0%

0.2%

-6.9%

-6.9%

7.8%

4.9%

29.9x

1.2x

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ĂŶĚ K E K ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 34 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

26.50

0.0%

0.2%

18.6%

18.6%

18.9%

2.4%

4.0x

0.8x

1.5%

25.0%

4.1%

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d

ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕

hE/> s Z

;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕

>/E< ^^hZ

;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ Ϭ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ

35 Oando PLC 36 Wema Bank PLC

ƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ h ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ^d ZͲ

37 NEM Insurance PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

>E E< ;ͲϮ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ // K ;Ͳϱ͘ϲйͿ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ t W K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůŽǁĞƌ ďLJ ϭďƉ͘

ƉƌŝĐĞ

ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

3.40

-0.3%

0.5%

13.7%

13.7%

12.40

-1.2%

0.4%

25.3%

25.3%

71.50

10.0%

0.6%

83.3%

83.3%

13.3%

6.0%

15.1x

1.9x

0.6%

6.6%

1.12

-1.8%

0.4%

16.7%

16.7%

11.1%

2.3%

5.9x

0.6x

0.9%

16.8%

4.4%

2.8x

12.0%

6.10

0.0%

0.1%

3.4%

3.4%

7.1%

0.8%

6.9x

0.7x

5.04

0.4%

0.1%

14.0%

14.0%

14.5%

2.6%

2.2x

0.3x

0.3%

3.3%

0.92

0.0%

0.0%

27.8%

27.8%

14.1%

0.8%

4.0x

0.5x

4.3%

25.0%

0.0%

0.1%

-9.6%

-9.6%

35.6%

18.5%

6.3x

1.0x

4.6%

15.8%

1.49

-2.6%

0.1%

-1.3%

-1.3%

9.4%

0.9%

1.9x

0.3x

3.4%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-28.3%

-6.1%

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

2.4x 0.9x

13.0%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

PZ

8.60

9.6%

ET R A N Z A C T

331.1

C WG

1.07

8.1%

F ID ELIT YB K

47.8

0.7%

R OYA LEX

1.20

7.1%

FB NH

36.8

-0.4% -5.8%

0.0%

N IGER IN S

0.21

5.0%

A C C ESS

29.5

A IIC O

0.72

4.3%

UB A

28.2

1.8%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ

UP D C

1.00

3.1%

T R A N SC OR P

17.8

1.8%

ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ϮϮ ůŽƐƚ

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

1.14

1.8%

A IIC O

14.8

4.3%

UB A

8.65

1.8%

GT C O

11.7

0.0%

UC A P

12.55

1.2%

Z EN IT H B A N K

8.7

0.8%

UA C N

12.20

0.8%

UN ILEVER

6.1

0.0%

T R A N SC OR P

ǁŚŝůĞ ϳϯ ǁĞƌĞ ƵŶĐŚĂŶŐĞĚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƚŽĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ < Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ Ă ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌͲ ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ ^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŚƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ͘ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

M RS

P ric e 12.20

P ric e C hg % -10.0%

IKEJ A H OT EL

1.37

-9.9%

WA P IC

0.48

-9.4%

M B EN EF IT

0.25

-7.4%

A C C ESS

9.80

-5.8%

N EIM ET H

1.65

-5.7%

GLA XOSM IT H

5.75

-5.0%

LA SA C O

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

1.00

51.4% -13.8%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ KƵƚůŽŽŬ

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ǁĂŶĞĚ ƚŽ ͲϬ͘ϭdž ĨƌŽŵ ͲϬ͘Ϭϵdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ

14.5% 46.1%

4.07

T o p 10 G a in e r s T ic k er

0.3x

-3.8%

B UA F OOD S

59.50

-3.1%

F T N C OC OA

0.32

-3.0%

T ic k er

Value

ET R A N Z A C T

880.8

P ric e C hg % 0.0%

FB NH

435.5

-0.4%

GT C O

307.7

0.0%

A C C ESS

289.4

-5.8%

UB A

241.9

1.8%

A IR T ELA F R I

233.2

0.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

230.9

0.8%

M TNN

209.5

0.2%

F ID ELIT YB K

143.1

0.7%

N GXGR OUP

119.8

-1.5%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

37

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS 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

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 18Mar-2022, unless otherwise stated.

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 Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 8.54% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.50 3.56 -1.27% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 6.83% Anchoria Equity Fund 143.72 145.46 3.49% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.23 1.23 7.16% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.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 21.60 22.26 6.51% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 482.86 497.42 7.02% ARM Ethical Fund 39.91 41.12 2.45% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.06 -2.24% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.03 1.03 1.57% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.08% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 108.94 108.94 7.11% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,086.45 1,086.45 8.65% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.11 2.11 13.53% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.29 2.34 23.05% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 1.93% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.55% Paramount Equity Fund 18.66 18.99 10.87% Women's Investment Fund 145.36 147.12 4.57% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.75% Cordros Milestone Fund 139.56 140.48 5.58% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.56 111.56 4.69% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.57% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.02 1.02 5.75% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.04 1.04 14.04% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 101.60 101.60 3.55% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED 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 1,428.09 1,428.09 10.48% FBN Balanced Fund 186.50 187.93 6.42% FBN Halal Fund 117.74 117.74 8.35% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.10% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

123.11 158.00

123.11 3.97% 160.18 4.60% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.98 1.80 1.22

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 6.82% 3.98 -0.58% 1.84 3.57% 1.22 0.93% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 4,028.41 3,513.52 100.00

Offer Price 4,090.79 3,513.52 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 3.51% 1.30% 5.94%

1.09

1.09

0.73%

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 N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A 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 1.48 1.51 3.08% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,163.99 1,163.99 2.37% 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 12.59 12.68 6.82% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.37% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 103.43 103.43 9.34% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.94% 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 1.65 1.68 2.74% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.67 11.67 4.29% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.08% PACAM Equity Fund 1.48 1.50 2.73% PACAM EuroBond Fund 114.09 116.62 -0.94% 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 129.91 132.16 7.43% 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 1.02 1.02 9.20% 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 3,553.06 3,593.49 3.22% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 237.18 237.18 0.62% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.37 1.39 6.15% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 317.06 317.06 1.19% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 251.32 255.17 3.83% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.75% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,479.30 11,642.58 3.34% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.31 1.31 0.98% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 117.78 117.78 0.69% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 108.20 108.20 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.98 1.01 6.03% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.44 1.46 5.73% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.15 1.17 5.95% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.09 1.09 1.59% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.99 1.99 1.57% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.71 123.71 1.12% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.24% 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 Balanced Strategy Fund 13.52 13.65 2.51% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.52 15.70 6.26% Zenith Income Fund 22.36 22.36 1.65% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.94%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.07 53.16

1.55% 0.82%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.23 135.67 107.12 20.37 22.49

14.33 139.07 109.49 20.47 22.59

1.89% 3.08% 3.38% 0.00% 0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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 Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.39 5.66 18.63 1.00 21.07 169.26

4.49 5.76 18.83 1.00 21.27 171.26

16.46% 11.05% 8.38% 7.05% 8.62% 7.24%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

Fund Name NAV Per Share Yield / T-Rtn Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund 107.28 10.80% 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.

FSDH Dollar Fund

38

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Cameroon Blames Wheat Shortage on Russia-Ukraine for War Cameroon’s government says Russia’s war on Ukraine is responsible for a wheat shortage that has led to a 40 per cent increase in the price of bread. The central African state is encouraging local substitutes like cassava and yams to replace the wheat usually imported from Russia and Ukraine.

More than 40 consumers are waiting for bread Monday morning at the La Mama bakery in Mokolo, a neighbourhood in Cameroon’s capital.

Youssoufa Daouda, who sells bread at the bakery, said that the bakery had served less than 200 of its usual 500 daily customers in the past two weeks.

He said importers informed bakers in the first week of March of a potential shortage of wheat in Cameroonian markets because countries that supply wheat to Cameroon were at war. Daouda said the price of a 50-kilogram bag of wheat increased from $35 to between $50 and $60, and the supply is not regular.

Cameroon says 13 million of its 26 million citizens who consume bread daily no longer have a regular supply.

Cameroon’s Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana presided over a meeting with bakery owners and wheat importers on Monday meant to educate consumers associations that the shortage of wheat is a result of the war in Ukraine.

Chinese Plane with 132 Aboard Crashes On Monday, a China Eastern Boeing 737-800 with 132 people on board crashed in a remote mountainous area of southern China, officials said, setting off a forest fire visible from space in the country’s worst air disaster in nearly a decade.

More than seven hours after communication was lost with the plane, there was still no word of survivors.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China said in a statement the crash occurred near the city of Wuzhou in the Guangxi region. The flight was travelling from Kunming in the southwestern province of Yunnan to the industrial centre of Guangzhou along the east coast, it added.

Villagers were first to arrive at the forested area where the plane went down, sparking a blaze big enough to be seen on NASA satellite images. Hundreds of rescue workers were swiftly dispatched from Guangxi and the neighbouring Guangdong province.

The CAAC said that the plane was carrying 123 passengers and nine crew members, correcting earlier reports that 133 people had been on board.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an “all-out effort” by the rescue operation and an investigation into the crash and to ensure complete civil aviation safety.

Israelis Reject Zelenskyy’s Holocaust Comparisons Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking Israel for its mediation efforts, but he had harsh words for the leadership when he addressed the Israeli lawmakers by videoconference Sunday, accusing the Jewish state of not doing enough to help Ukraine and comparing Russia’s assault to the Holocaust. The comparison is one many Israelis reject.

Looking tired and wearing his trademark army khaki T-shirt, President Zelenskyy spoke to the Israeli Knesset by Zoom for just under nine minutes. He repeatedly invoked the Holocaust.

The Ukrainian leader recalled how the Nazis did not want to leave any Jews alive, and how they called it the “Final Solution.” Zelenskyy said he knows Israelis will never forget that and he urged Israel to listen to how Moscow is also calling its invasion of Ukraine a final solution.

He went on to castigate Israel for not supplying arms to Ukraine, for not

the transitional civilian-led transitional government in Sudan last October.

“We condemn Sudan’s security services for killing, harassing and intimidating Sudanese citizens. These actions are exacerbating the crisis in Sudan and are a direct contradiction to the Sudanese security services’ stated commitment to participate constructively in a facilitated process to resolve Sudan’s political crisis and return to a democratic transition,” said Brian E. Nelson, undersecretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.

The Sudanese government joint forces, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, killed at least 82 protesters during the demonstrations against the military coup since October, Agence France-Presse reported.

The coup in October has hindered power-sharing agreements between civilians and the army who have been negotiating since the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir, the hard-line dictator who ruled the country for nearly 30 years. imposing sanctions on Russia, and for not accepting more Ukranian refugees.

It was the comparison to the Holocaust that sparked controversy here.

Dani Dayan, the chair of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center, said Zelenskyy should apologise.

“Let’s make a clear differentiation between the Russian invasion, which is deplorable, and apparently there are a lot of actions taken by the Russian army that are apparently beyond the pale, and historical comparisons, the wrong historical equivalences that President Zelenskyy made, especially his reference to the final solution,” said Dayan.

New Zealand to Send Non-lethal Military Aid to Ukraine New Zealand said it plans to spend $3.46 million to help Ukrainian forces fight the Russians.

The government in Wellington said the additional money would mostly contribute to a NATO Trust Fund that provides fuel, rations, communication equipment and first aid kits.

The New Zealand military will also provide tactical equipment, including body armor that is surplus to its own requirements.

Delivering this non-lethal aid would most likely be by New Zealand defense force aircraft, and could also involve the Australian military.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday that her country is eager to help.

“Today, the government has also decided to support the Ukrainian armed forces with tactical defense equipment such as body armor, helmets and vests,” Ardern said.

“Today’s announcements add to the rolling economic sanctions we have imposed through the newly enacted Russian Sanctions Act, as well as NZ$6m previously provided in humanitarian support bringing our total contribution to NZ$11m. The sanctions imposed from around the world are having an effect, and, so, New Zealand will continue to play its role in supporting our partners to oppose this war.”

UN: Myanmar in Profound Humanitarian Crisis In her report, the U.N. human rights chief presents a dismal picture of a country whose economy, security, freedoms, human rights, and future are systematically being destroyed.

Thirteen months after a military coup overthrew Myanmar’s democratically

elected government, Michelle Bachelet says the human rights of the people are in profound crisis and the country is in total disarray.

She says formerly stable areas of the country are now beset by widespread violence. She says the economy is on the brink of collapse, with almost half of Myanmar’s population of nearly 55 million expected to be plunged into poverty this year.

Despite the consequences, she says people continue to protest the military’s harsh repression of their rights to freedom of assembly and expression. She says dissenters are severely punished, noting many are killed, subject to mass arbitrary arrests, and torture.

“Credible sources have recorded the deaths of over 1,600 individuals, many engaged in peaceful protest. At least 350 of those killed died in military custody, over 21 percent of the total deaths. Since the first of February 2021, over half a million people have been forced to flee their homes.”

She notes at least 15,000 people have fled the country. This is in addition to the more than one million refugees in Bangladesh, most of them Rohingya Muslims. Most have sought asylum from violence and persecution at the hands of Myanmar’s armed forces.

Bachelet says disproportionate military responses to armed resistance have taken place with ferocity in multiple ethnic states. She says the brutal operations employed to quell these areas resemble those employed against the Rohingya in Rakhine State in 2016 and 2017. She says such operations clearly violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

US Sanctions Sudan’s Reserve Police for Rights Violations The United States imposed sanctions Monday on Sudan’s Central Reserve Police (CRP) concerning grave human rights violations toward peaceful protesters who have been publicly demonstrating their strong objections toward the military coup in the country.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said in a statement that the CRP has used “excessive force” toward peaceful demonstrators in Khartoum.

The statement cited the group for firing live ammunition on civilians in January where one protester was shot and later died.

The CRP has been at the front line of Sudan’s military response to protests that came after the military overthrew

Water, Sanitation Crisis Hits Somalia as Drought Worsens Somalia’s federal government has declared a state of emergency due to a severe drought that is ravaging the country. The drought has contributed to an unprecedented water crisis that has led to a shortage of safe drinking water, poor sanitation and an outbreak of disease.

As a result of drought in Somalia’s Middle Juba region, Fadumo Muse a mother of seven, had to leave her home and seek shelter at a camp on the outskirts of Mogadishu.

The camp has not been the refuge she was hoping for. A few days after the family’s arrival, some of her children fell ill.

She said her family faces the same problem they faced before moving: severe shortages of water. Now her children are ill with diarrhea and they have not been provided with any medication or aid.

Muse is one of hundreds of thousands of Somalis who fled their homes due to the prolonged drought that hit central and southern Somalia especially hard.

The drought has led to a shortage of clean drinking water, a problem with effective sanitation, and an increase in waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid.

Earthquake Forces Norway’s Equinor to Shut Snorre B Oil Platform Norway’s Equinor has shut its Snorre B oil platform as a precautionary measure following an earthquake in the North Sea, although no damage has been reported so far, the company said Monday.

It was not yet clear when Snorre B, which produces between 30,000-35,000 barrels per day of oil, could resume normal operation, Equinor spokesperson Gisle Ledel Johannessen said.

“Our focus now is on the safety,” he said.

Remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, have been deployed to scan the seabed for any damage, Equinor said.

According to the Norwegian National Seismic Network, the quake, which took place early on Monday, had an estimated magnitude of 4.6.

The tremor was noticed at the Snorre field, which has several platforms, Johannessen said.

“At Snorre B, the production has been shut down as a precaution,” he said.

“Snorre is the closest in proximity to the earthquake and on the installations, they felt the earthquake ... But (there are) no reports of any damages to installations or on the seabed,” he added.

TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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FORTY DEFECTION: AGAIN, COURT SACKS TWO REPS, 18 CROSS RIVER ASSEMBLY MEMBERS Legor Idagbor, those ordered out of the Cross River State House of Assembly included, Eteng William, Joseph Bassey, Odey Agbe, Okon Ephraim, Regina Anyogo, Mathew Olory, Ekpo Bassey, Ogbor Udop, Ekpe Okon, Hillary Bisong, Francis Asuquo, Elvert Ayambem, Davis Etta.

Others included Sunday Achunekan, Cynthia Nkasi, Edward Ajang, Chris Ogar and Maria Akwaji.

The sacked lawmakers had joined the Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, and his deputy to dump the PDP for the APC in May last year.

But the PDP in a suit instituted on its behalf by Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, had approached the court to challenge the legality of the actions of the decampees.

Among the issues it brought before the court for determination were, "Whether upon a proper interpretation of the provisions of Sections 68 (1)(g) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and in view of the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of ABEGUNDE vs. ONDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (2015), the 6 and 7 Defendants being persons whose election to the House of Representatives was sponsored by the Plaintiff and having become members of another political party, the 26 Defendant, before the expiration of the period for which the House was elected, that is, June 11, 2019 to June 10, 2023, the 6 and 7 defendants have not thereby vacated their seats in the House of Representatives?

"Whether upon a proper interpretation of the provisions of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and in view of the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of ABEGUNDE V. ONDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, (2015), the 8 to 25 Defendants being persons whose election to the Cross River State House of Assembly were sponsored by the Plaintiff and having become members of another political party, the 26 defendant, before expiration of the period for which the House was elected, that is, June 11, 2019 to June 10, 2023, the 8 to 25 defendants have not thereby vacated their seats in the Cross River State House of Assembly?”

PDP submitted that if the above questions were answered in its favour, then the court should go ahead to declare their seats vacant on account of their defection to the APC.

PDP then prayed the court for an Order of Injunction restraining the six to the 25 Defendants, respectively or collectively from acting or in any manner howsoever continuing to act as members of House of Representatives and Cross River State House of Assembly haven defected to the APC. The PDP further sought another order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Clerk of the National Assembly, and Clark of the Cross River State House of Assembly, who were the first to fifth defendants, respectively, from continuing to recognise the defectors as legislators on account of their defection.

The main opposition party sought, "An Order of Mandatory Injunction compelling the 1st defendant to accept from the Plaintiff the list of its candidates for the purpose of filling the vacancy created by the exit of the 6 to 25 defendants from the House of Representatives (for the 6th and 7th Defendants), and the Cross River State House of Assembly (for the 8 to 25 defendants) by reason of becoming members of a different political party, (the All Progressives Congress) before the expiration of the term for which they were elected into office and the sponsorship of the Plaintiff and to present certificate of return to the said candidates contained in the Plaintiff List, alternatively for an order compelling the 1st defendant to conduct election (within 90 days)

into the offices formerly occupied by the 6th to 25th defendants now vacant by operation of Sections 68(1) (g) and 109 (1g) of the Constitution.

Delivering judgement in the suit, Taiwo held that the case of the plaintiff had merit and accordingly granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

The court earlier dismissed the submission of the defendants challenging jurisdiction, maintaining, "There is nothing against the law that the suit be heard by this court," adding that the 6-25th defendants are joined with other defendants who have their offices in Abuja.

"Where there are more than one defendant, the suit can be established anywhere subject to the discretion of the court,” he said.

"I find no merit in the application for transfer."

Taiwo, similarly, dismissed claims by the sacked lawmakers that there was disagreement in the PDP, which led to their expulsion from the party.

While he held that the defendants were free to belong to or join any political association and assembly of their choice, the court stressed that this freedom or liberty ended where others' started.

He said, "I consider the attempts of the 6th – 25th defendants to justify their defection, feeble in the circumstances of this case,” adding that the public voted for the lawmakers through the plaintiff who sponsored them and they were not voted for as independent candidates.

“They had a vehicle which conveyed them and that vehicle

belongs to the plaintiff. They cannot abandon the vehicle,” he held.

Taiwo further remarked that politicians treated citizens that elected them into power as if they did not matter, adding that a day will come when elected officers must resign their post if they migrate to another party or seek the permission of the people before they decamp.

Having agreed with the plaintiff that the defendants' continued stay in office amounted to an illegality, having crossed over to another party and also holding that votes belong to a political party and that the electorates voted for the legislators because they contested under the platform of the PDP and not in their individual capacity, the judge, therefore, ordered them to vacate office immediately.

The court also held that the plaintiff could forward names of its candidates to fill the vacant seat or in the alternative INEC should conduct another election within 90 days.

Another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Inyang Ekwo, had on March 8, sacked 15 lawmakers of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly as well as Governor Dave Umahi and his deputy for defection.

He had held that votes in an election do not only belong to political parties but such votes cannot be transferred from party to party by politicians when they decamped from one party to another.

Judgment was however awaited in a suit filed against Ayade and his deputy.

Imoke: Judgement, Restoration of C'River Democratic Mandates

Former Governor of Cross River State and leader of the PDP in the state, Sen. Liyel Imoke, described the judgement as a restoration of the democratic mandates given to the PDP by citizens of the state.

Members of the State House of assembly who decamped from the PDP to the AP) alongside Gov. Ben Ayade last year.

Imoke said, "Since the defection of Governor Ayade and some members of the state assembly; depriving the PDP of its constitutional mandates, I have never been in doubt that the judiciary will intervene and restore those mandates.

"Today's judgement by the Federal High Court, Abuja is a testimony that the judiciary is a formidable constitutional safeguard for Nigeria's democracy; the verdict in all accounts is a restoration of the democratic mandates given to the PDP by the voters at the ballot box.

“For Cross River PDP, this judgement is a clear testimony that as a party, our resolve to adhere to the extant laws and the 1999 Constitution has been fruitful and beneficial to our pursuit of truth, and this will continue to guide our activities and operations as party faithfuls."

He said the judgement would go a long way to fortify the belief of PDP members in Cross River State, and their firm conviction and faith on the party going forward.

Cross River Govt Appeals, Files Motion for State of Execution

Meanwhile, in a statement late yesterday night, the Cross River State government, through the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr Christian Ita, announced that it had filed an appeal against the judgement and a motion to stay the execution of the judgement.

The reads; "This is to inform All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the National Assembly from members of the Cross River State House of Assembly and the general public that an appeal against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja has been filed at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

Also, a motion for a stay of execution of the Federal High Court has been filed. Both processes were filed by renowned constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome.

Following the filing of the two processes, automatically the orders of the lower court are stayed.

Consequently, the APC members in both the National Assembly and the Cross River State House of Assembly should go about their duties freely."

FOUR DAYS TO APC CONVENTION, BUNI HARMONISES SUB-COMMITTEES, SCREENING STARTS TODAY committee for the convention.

Buni, who got to the secretariat around 3:25pm to take charge of the office, arrived to a rousing welcome by members of staff.

THISDAY also gathered that the presence of the chairman at the secretariat confirmed that the party would commence the screening of aspirants vying for various party positions today.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Media Committee for the APC Convention, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, said the APC governors had resolved their differences and put behind them all the bickering witnessed in recent weeks.

In a related development, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, yesterday, declared that nothing would stop the national convention from holding this weekend. Uzodinma spoke in Abuja after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

That was as the APC caucus

in the Senate, yesterday, said it had not endorsed any of its colleagues for the position of national chairman of the party.

And facts emerged about how a walkout by CECPC members to protest the presence of sacked APC National Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, at a meeting of the caretaker committee was averted.

The screening of aspirants ahead of the convention, according to the timetable and schedule of activities, ought to have started last Saturday and ended on Sunday, but the exercise could not commence due to late submission of forms by aspirants.

THISDAY had reported on Monday that the delayed harmonisation of the screening committees had halted the screening. All things being equal, the screening exercise would commence today following the harmonisation of the committees set up by Buni and Niger State

and increase crude production are being aggressively undermined, even wiped out by the activities of economic saboteurs whose audacity continues to be growing by the day.”

Aiteo disclosed that its NCTL had been targeted, with considerable success, for the sole and devastating objective of aiding crude theft.

The company stated that given the level of losses, occasioned by massive oil theft, it was experiencing, as joint operator of the NNPC/ AITEO JV, it was now left with the unavoidable option of actualising a total exit from the NCTL. “We are giving active and urgent consideration to this course of action because the consequences of continuing to operate in this manner now represents an existential threat to our survival,” the firm stated.

The CBN also left other monetary policy parameters unchanged, namely the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 27.5 per cent and Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

MPR is the rate at which the CBN lends to commercial banks and it often determines the cost of borrowing in the economy.

The MPC also voted to maintain CRR at 27.5 per cent as well as the Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

The CBN governor said six out of the 10 MPC members present voted to retain monetary parameters, adding that while loosening could

trigger liquidity surfeit in the system, a tightening stance would impact the fragile recovery of the economy, reverse credit expansion and yet, fall short of taming inflation.

Emefiele, who read the committee’s communiqué, however expressed worry that whereas global oil prices had gone up, this had been compounded by shortage of supply of petroleum products.

The CBN also expressed optimism that in the medium term, the proposed take-off of the Dangote refinery this year, would help to improve the supply of petroleum products in the country.

Emefiele said the CBN remained optimistic that food prices would trend downwards in 2022 as security agencies sustain efforts to subdue the activities of bandits so as to allow farmers back to their farmers.

He said, “And now what we are saying is that if farmers are able to access their farms, do they have the wherewithal to procure the inputs, seeds, fertilizer and other inputs with which they can go back to the farm and farm? We are making all those available. And that is why we still remain reasonably optimistic that food prices would moderate in 2022.”

He said the MPC further noted with concern the effect, which the global price increase in petroleum and other products was having on all economies. He pointed out

As at yesterday (Sunday), all the sub-committees had started meeting. The screening committee, the accreditation committee, and I’m aware that they are only waiting.

The venue is being prepared.

"So, I don't know the kind of machines you want, whether you want caterpillar or bulldozer before you now know that there will be convention. I told you people that APC is the party to beat.

“It is the wish of our opponent to see that APC is scattered, or is not united. But that is their wishful thinking. APC cannot afford to lose what they have, because what we have is the trust of over 200 million people.

"And we don't just have a choice, we must remain united to be able to continue with this programme. So, I want to assure you that we’ll have a very peaceful, very successful convention on Saturday. If anybody is thinking otherwise, well, that person should go and pray because God has already approved our convention."

Governor Abubakar Bello, who acted while Buni was away.

A party source, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that the committees had been harmonised and the screening would commence today.

According to the source, "We have stopped the sale of forms.

The aspirants are still submitting forms, but the sale of forms has been stopped. The screening will commence tomorrow (today).

The lists will be ready today (yesterday).

"The lists of the aspirants are being compiled zone-by-zone, as requested by the screening committee, so that it will be convenient for them during the screening. That's what they are sorting out now."

Sule stated in Abuja at the inauguration of the media committee and its sub-committees that the rift among the APC governors had been resolved. In a statement issued by the secretary to the

committee and Special Adviser to the President on Media, Garba Shehu, the governor revealed that the committee had broken into subcommittees that had moved on to their various assignments aimed at delivering a successful convention.

Sule said, “The leadership of the party under Governor Mai Mala and the members of the caretaker committee are making every effort to take everyone along and I believe it is the only path for a successful convention and victory at elections. We believe in unity in diversity, and this is the mantra of our convention.”

Uzodinma reiterated APC’s readiness for the March 26 national convention after a meeting with Buhari.

Speaking with newsmen at State House, Abuja, the governor said, "On the APC convention, I don't know what kind of sign you want to see before you know that the convention will hold on Saturday.

that this had resulted in imported inflation on the Nigerian economy.

The committee believed that specific actions were required to ensure that the trend did not continue, given the adverse consequences and aggressive rising price level could have on the cost of living and purchasing power of Nigerians.

Emefiele noted that before the Russia-Ukraine war, the MPC was optimistic that the moderate decline in inflation was sustainable due to the positive impact of good harvest on price levels. But it expressed worry that, whereas global prices had gone up, this had been compounded by the shortage of supply of petroleum products.

He added that the rising price of diesel had been compounded by the inadequate electricity supply, which has adversely impacted domestic prices.

The MPC, however, advised the CBN and the fiscal authorities to take specific and urgent actions to avoid many power generating stations shutdown for turn-around maintenance, resulting in the current unwarranted shutdown of generating assets.

The CBN said the committee was, nonetheless, relieved that food inflation declined marginally due to good harvest.

Emefiele added, “Although some

scarcity is expected as we approach the planting season, the committee is optimistic that with the high level of strategic grain reserves of the CBN, it is relieved that food prices would remain relatively moderated.”

The committee further advised the apex bank to redouble its development finance initiatives aimed at boosting domestic food output, which would help in moderating food inflation. going forward, thereby moderating headline inflation.

On the global scene, the committee noted with concern the recent heightening of uncertainties confronting the recovery of the global economy as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and numerous sanctions against Russia, introduced a new dimension of risk to the tepid recovery of the global economy.

Among other things, the committee took into cognisance the lingering headwinds associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain constraints, rising inflationary pressure, and more recently, the progression of an interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve Bank and Bank of England (BOE).

Members noted that the on-going war and the resultant sanctions against Russia will continue to have a considerable impact on

The APC caucus in the Senate said it had not endorsed any of its colleagues vying for the office of APC national chairman as consensus candidate.

Three senators – Abdullahi Adamu, Sani Musa, and Tanko Al-Makura – are contesting the position of APC national chairman at the party's convention. There was tension in the red chamber yesterday, when the news went round that the APC senators had settled for Adamu.

A certain report claimed that the leadership of the 9th Senate led by the Senate Leader, Senator Abdullahi Yahaya, made the declaration last Thursday during the launch of Adamu's campaign headquarters in Abuja.

The development caused serious confusion among the senators, as those of them, who were contacted, denied ever endorsing anyone, let alone, Adamu.

The senators said they needed the party to move forward with the emergence of an energetic person, who would be elected through a transparent process.

Spokesperson for the senate, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, when contacted, said the APC members in the red chamber had not endorsed any of the aspirants.

Basiru stated, "I am not aware

Continued on page 42

Continued on page 43

EMEFIELE: UNPRECEDENTED OIL THEFT AFFECTING ECONOMY (NNPC) to take urgent steps to ensure adequate supply of petroleum products in the country to reduce the rate of arbitrary increase in price of these petroleum products by oil marketers.

The CBN governor’s comment came a day after THISDAY reported similar concern expressed by Cofounder and former Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Austin Avuru, who called for a state of emergency in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, revealing that up to 80 per cent of oil pumped in the country, particularly in the East, is stolen. Avuru spoke few days after a businessman and Chairman Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, also bemoaned the worsening state of the industry, stressing that about 95 per cent of oil production does not get to the terminal. Elumelu has his oil assets in the Niger Delta.

Just about a week ago, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operators of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) pipeline, threatened to exit the facility due to incessant vandalism, perennial sabotage and outright theft.

The company sated, “AEEPCO remains gravely concerned about the persistent heightened attack on our production facilities and the NCTL. These attacks appear to have escalated in intensity and effect.

“All our current efforts to sustain

The former governor charged party members in the state to remain steadfast and dedicated to strengthening the PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections, and ensure that all efforts are geared towards ensuring a resounding victory for the party in Cross River and nationwide.

Senate Has No Consensus Candidate, Says Spokesperson

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NEWS

AT NACIWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY......

L-R: Chairman, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye; Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama; EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa and Secretary, George Ekpungu, at the 5th NACIWA General Assembly in Abuja...yesterday

Bloodthirsty Terrorists Attack Kaduna Communities, Kill 23, Burn 70 Houses

KDSG imposes 24-hour curfew on Jema’a, Kaura LGAs Gunmen raid Niger communities, kidnap 20 as state lists 4000 IDPs in Gwada John Shiklam in Kaduna and Laleye Dipo in Minna No fewer than 23 people have been reportedly killed by terrorists in Mararaban Agban, Agban and Adan communities in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

Owing to this, the Kaduna state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Jama’a and Kaura Local Government Areas of the state to avert outbreak of violence.

Also, in Niger State, gunmen have raided three communities in Munya Local Government Area, kidnapping no fewer than 20 villagers, just as not less than 4000 people have been displaced from their ancestral homes in Shiroro local government area as a result of attacks by insurgents and flooding of their communities by the Zungeru dam under construction.

However, in Kaura Local government, several people were also said to have been injured while about 70 houses were reportedly burnt by the invading terrorists.

An eye witnessed who pleaded anonymity said in a telephone interview that the attacks took place at about 7pm on Sunday when the three communities were surrounded by the criminals.

According to him the terrorists were in larger numbers and were well armed, adding that they divided themselves into three groups.

He said each group was stationed around the three villages where they mounted their machines guns.

“They came around 7pm and and they divided themselves into three groups. One group attacked Mararaban Agban, the second group attacked Agban and the third group attacked Adan.

“They mounted their machine guns and started unleashing mayhem the villagers,” he said.

He said he visited the affect villages on Monday morning and counted 20 corpses, while three others died in the hospital following injuries they sustained from gunshots.

“I just visited the three affected communities this morning- Mararaban Agban, Agban and Adan.

They are neighbouring villages.

“I can say that I counted 23 corpses including three of the victims who died in the hospital of wounds from gunshots.

“I also counted about 70 houses that were burnt.

“In Adan, the only structures that

were left standing, are the Church, the primary school and about two uncompleted buildings, the entire village was razed.

“In Agban half of the houses were burnt. In Mararaban Agban, some few houses were burnt.

“One woman was macheted, all in all, I counted 14 corpses in Mararaban Agban, three of the corpses were still on fire.

In Agban I saw six dead bodies including a woman and her three children.

“At Adan I did not see dead body, but that is not to say no life was lost because I didn't enter the bushes around the community,” he said.

He said last week, the terrorists attempted to attack the communities on two occasions, but were repelled.

“Yesterday (Sunday), they came in their numbers, well-armed, well-coordinated and wreaked havoc on the villagers,” he said.

When contacted, Mohammed Jalige, spokesman of the Kaduna state police command said, he was yet to receive reports of the incident.

He, however, promised to make his findings and get back. He was yet to get back at the time of this report

In a statement in Kaduna, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the decision to impose curfew on the two council areas was based on advice from security agencies.

He said, “Following advice from security agencies, the Kaduna state government has declared a 24-hour curfew in Jema’a and Kaura Local Government Areas with immediate effect.

“This is to assist the security agencies to stabilize the situation in the areas, save lives and property and enable the restoration of law and order.”

Aruwan added that security agencies have full authorisation to enforce the curfew.

“Government appeals to all residents of Jema’a and Kaura Local Government Areas to cooperate with the security agencies in the urgent task of restoring peace and upholding law and order.

“Government condemns the violence and all acts of lawlessness that have occurred in the area.

Further updates will be issued as necessary,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Jama’a and Kaura Local Government Areas of the state to avert outbreak violence.

Angry youths were said to have protested against Sunday’s killings of 26 people and the burning of about 70 houses in three communities in Kaura LGA. Eyewitness said hundreds of angry youths blocked the roads condemning the government for failing to deal with the terrorists attacking communities.

According to eyewitness, “the boys were very angry over the killings and the burning of houses on Sunday.

“There was no security on the ground so they started blocking roads. Eventually they saw a J5 bus coming and they attacked the bus, suddenly mobile police personnel arrived.

“On arrival, the police open fire on the boys, one of the boys was shot. They became angrier and and set the bus ablaze. This resulted in serious tension in the area as people were afraid of outbreak of violence,” he said.

China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737800 Carrying 133 Persons Crashes

Gunmen Raid Niger Communities, Kidnap 20 KDSG Impose 24-Hour Curfew as State Lists 4000 IDPs in on Jema’a, Kaura LGAs

Chinedu Eze with agency report

A China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane with registration number B-179, carrying 133 persons onboard crashed in Guangxi province.

According to flight FlightRadar24 data, the six-year-old aircraft with flight number MU5735, which was delivered to China Eastern Airlines in June 2015, dropped from 29100 feet to ground level in two and a half minutes.

The last ADS-B data from the aircraft was received at 06:22 UTC and was indicating a vertical speed of -31.000 feet per minute.

Chinese media reported that flight MU5735 had not arrived at its scheduled destination in Guangzhou after it took off from the city of Kunming shortly after 1pm (05:00 GMT), citing airport staff.

Gwada

In a related development, gunmen have raided three communities in Munya local government area of Niger State kidnapping no fewer than 20 villagers.

Among those abducted according to a report were a newly wedded couple.

THISDAY learnt that the incident occurred between last Saturday and early Monday morning.

It was learnt that six villagers were abducted at Getso, between Saturday and Sunday morning, nine at Shashayi and the others from Jigbe near Guni.

The gunmen it was reported were in large numbers and rode on motorcycles to the communities before shooting sporadically into the air to instill fears into the villagers.

According to the report, in the stampede that followed the abducted villagers were led at gun points into vehicles stationed around the bushes and taken into hiding.

Some agricultural produce and animals were also taken away by the bandits.

It was however gathered that some of the villagers sustained injuries while trying to escape from the terrorists but no death was recorded.

The flight-tracking ended at 2:22pm (06:22 GMT) at an altitude of 3,225 feet (983 metres) and a speed of 376 knots (696km/hour).

It had been due to land at 3:05pm (07:05 GMT).

There has been no information about any casualties in the accident, which took place on Monday afternoon. The twinengine, single-aisle Boeing 737 is one of the world’s most popular planes for short and medium-haul flights and the 737 Max version was grounded worldwide after two fatal crashes.

However, China’s aviation regulator cleared that plane to return to service late last year, making the country the last major market to do so. The China Eastern Airlines has now grounded all Boeing 737-800 passenger jets following the crash.

When contacted the Secretary of Munya Local Government Council, Mr. James Jagaba, confirmed the incidents which he described as being now a daily occurrence in the local government area.

Jagaba said an official report has been made to the state government and the police command.

Also, not less than 4000 people have been displaced from their ancestral homes in Shiroro local government area of Niger state as a result of attacks by insurgents and flooding of their communities by the Zungeru dam under construction.

Most of the victims are now staying in camps in Gwada town where it is feared that an outbreak of epidemic could be imminent.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello who was in Gwada over the weekend to commiserate with the IDPs observed sadly that the federal government has not paid compensations to those villagers whose land was acquired for the construction of the Zungeru dam, a development he said increased the number of people displaced and the ability of the people to migrate to safer ground.

"We have those displaced by bandits and water. Both cases are very serious and severe situations.

The Boeing 737-800 is one of the world’s most popular airline jets for short-haul and mid-haul flights, and over 5,000 of this specific type (the -800) have been delivered

by Boeing to airline customers worldwide.

China Eastern Airlines is one of the three major airlines in China, with hubs at Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports, as well as Kunming Airport in southwest China - where this flight departed. The airline operates a fleet of young Airbus and Boeing aircraft to destinations in Australia, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States.

China Eastern Airlines is part of the SkyTeam alliance.

The crash looks set to become one of China’s worst-ever air disasters.

China has among the best airline

You can see in a primary school like this, we have over 4,000 people.

We are more concerned that the pandemic can easily spread around here," Bello said after the visit.

The governor lamented that the displaced people cannot return to their ancestral homes immediately because, "most of their villages have been burnt down and even if they go back now, they have nowhere to stay."

He, however, said government, "was making every effort, the security agencies have been up to the task and they have dealt decisively with the bandits. As it is right now, the area is a bit calm but of course we still have pockets of bandits coming in and out.”

He said though government was faced with limited resources, it would still find a way to support the communities so that they would get their lives back and return to the farms.

Bello also raised another alarm that Boko Haram elements operating around Shiroro local government area have planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) around Galadima Kogo, a major town in the local government but said government had directed the police to embark on the detonation of the devices.

safety record in the world and its busy domestic market operates within the rules and regulations of a very strict regulator, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, China would operate around 10,000 daily domestic flights.

According to Aviation Safety Network, China’s last fatal jet accident was in 2010, when 44 of 96 people on board were killed when an Embraer E-190 regional jet flown by Henan Airlines crashed on approach to Yichun airport in low visibility.

China Eastern Airlines’ website is now in black and white, as is often the case following a tragedy in the aviation industry.

"The CAAC has activated the emergency mechanism and sent a working group to the scene" China’s civil aviation authority said in a statement.

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TUESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

CLASSICAL MUSIC DELIGHTS...

L-R: American Classical Pianist, Pauline Yang; American Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Mary Berth Leonard and President, International Visitation Leadership Programme, Toun Tade, during Photo; Abiodun Ajala the musical performance by the American classical pianist Yang in Lagos....weekend

Anti-graft Agencies Raise the Alarm, Say Corruption, Illicit Financial Flows, Fueling Military Takeovers in W'Africa Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Anti-graft agencies yesterday raised the alarm that endemic corruption, illicit financial flows

by Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) and the inability of member

States of the sub-regional block, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to meet the requirements of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption was fueling military takeovers in West

Africa.

Speaking in Abuja at the 5th General Assembly of the National Anti-Corruption Agencies in West Africa themed: "The Role of Regional Economic Communities in the Implementation of the African

Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption", Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof Bolaji Owosanoye, said the failure of member States to tackle corruption

EFCC Recovers N152bn, $386m, Records 2,220 Convictions in One Year

was behind unconstitutional change of governments in the sub-region.

"We are all aware that corruption is a significant contributory factor to Africa's underdevelopment. One can surmise that the inability of our institutions to fully implement our individual mandates and by implication the regional treaty obligations is a contributing factor to the resurgence of unconstitutional take over of government within the West African sub-region", he said.

Speaking in the same vein at

the event, Chairman of EFCC, Mr Bawa Abdulrasheed, linked security challenges in the sub-region to corruption.

"As you may be aware, the ECOWAS sub-region is threatened by existential security challenges which may not be unrelated directly or indirectly to corruption.

"We must, therefore, intensify efforts to stem the spate of illicit financial flows in the region including illicit flows by Politically Exposed Persons (PEP)", he said.

Says Obiano's arrest, detention not politically motivated Zulum Rejects Naming Ex-governor granted bail, yet to perfect bail condition School’s Facilities After Him Hostel” but soon as it was Subjects officer, who leaked video to disciplinary action Michael OlugbodeinMaiduguri Students’ announced, Zulum categorically Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, yesterday said the commission had within the last one year recovered N152 billion, $386 million and recorded 2, 220 convictions.

This is coming as the commission said the arrest and detention of the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, was not politically motivated.

Bawa said the former governor had been granted bail but was yet to meet his bail condition.

Also, the agency said it was subjecting an EFCC officer, who leaked Obiano's video while in detention to the public to disciplinary action.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 5th Annual General Assembly (AGA) meeting of the Network of National AntiCorruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), Bawa said the anti-graft agency secured 2,222 convictions and recovered N152 billion, $386 million among other recoveries.

He stated that out of the 2,222 convictions recorded in the last one year, 641 took place in 2022 alone.

"The commission has also embarked on several reforms aimed at strengthening the institution, including the development of

a reporting application named Eagle Eye, to ease the reporting of incidences of economic and financial crimes by the public.

"The EFCC has further developed a five-year strategic plan that guides its operational approach in law enforcement action,” he said.

The NACIWA Assembly was co-hosted by both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency said the former Anambra governor had been granted bail, but was yet to perfect his bail condition.

Bawa denied that his arrest was politically motivated.

"There is nothing political about the investigation. You know what the EFCC stands for. We investigate crimes, we look at people that have committed crimes and we link it up together and then we go to court. That is all we have been doing and that is what we will continue to do," he said.

“We have been accused of media trial. But we will continue to do our investigation professionally.

“He has been granted bail and we are waiting for him to perfect his bail conditions he has been cooperating with us and everything is going on well,” he added.

The anti-graft agency had said Friday, that Obiano was arrested over alleged misappropriation

of N42 billion security vote and Sure-P funds.

Obiano was arrested on Thursday night at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos while preparing to board a flight to Texas, United States.

The EFCC had in November last year placed the former governor on its watchlist.

Meanwhile, the commission said, in a statement, that it was subjecting its officer, who leaked Obiano's video while in detention to the public to disciplinary action.

"The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis-

sion, EFCC, has been drawn to a trending video showing the former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano in the custody of the Commission.

"The commission wishes to distance itself from the said video which is completely at variance with the established Standard Operating Procedure of the EFCC", he said.

It said "a discreet investigation ordered upon discovery of the leak has revealed the errant officer behind the odious act and he is currently being subjected to appropriate disciplinary action".

The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, yesterday, rejected the naming of two blocks of hostel in his honour, at the Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri.

Zulum was at the polytechnic owned by the state government to commission the hostels for 1,500 students, which was recently renovated and reequipped by the state’s ministry of higher education, technology and innovation.

The twin-project, which funds were internally generated from the polytechnic’s commercial activities, was named “Engr. Professor Babagana Umara Zulum Male

EMEFIELE: UNPRECEDENTED OIL THEFT AFFECTING ECONOMY the global supply chain as both countries are major players in the global commodities market.

Emefiele said global financial conditions were thus, expected to tighten in the short-term as the investment horizon gradually becomes clearer, adding that this is expected to impact capital flows to emerging market economies as risk-averse portfolio investors adopt a wait-and-see approach.

He said the risks to the overall recovery of the global economy remained heightened and called for cautious policy manoeuvring to avoid a sharp downturn, such as experienced in 2020.

Providing update on the N15 trillion Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (Infraco), the CBN governor

said the company had commenced operation in earnest, adding that it has secured about N250 billion bridged loans to finance three projects.

He told journalists, “Infraco is set up, the board is running and the MD has been appointed, asset managers have been appointed. We have currently three assets that are under finance. We’ve done bridge finance of almost about N250 billion for that purpose and the remaining sum, asset managers are going to be going into the data room to see the numbers, to determine viability of those roads…Lagos- Ibadan, Abuja-Kano-Kaduna (AKK) project as well as the second Niger Bridge which is almost completed now.

“I am sure we are only meant

to complete the funding that the federal government has put into it before now. And we will do it. And the Permanent Secretary, Finance, who also is assisting at least in terms of collaboration between fiscal and monetary authority also assured that there are pipelines of infrastructure to be looked at.”

He added, “Of course, Infraco as an institution that looks at commercial viability, we will look at each of those projects, determine their commercial viability and determine particularly how would revenue be realised to repay the loans and from there it would be done.

“So I believe we are on the fast mode and 2022 would be a very aggressive year in the tenure of Infraco.”

asked that it should be renamed.

He said: “No, no, I will not allow any project named after me while I am in office. It should be after my tenure of office.”

Also, while reading a plaque he unveiled to commemorate the commissioning, Zulum skipped the part his name was mentioned and instead said, “in commemoration of the commissioning of male students’ hostel”.

Zulum, however, paid glowing tribute to the Commissioner for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Babagana Mustapha, for the remarkable turnaround of the polytechnic’s fortunes.

The polytechnic has been under the Commissioner’s direct supervision since September 2021, when Zulum suspended the management of the school.

Zulum took the action, when he undertook an impromptu visit to the school and was disappointed with the state of affairs.

He lamented that some facilities he knew well at the school, including laboratories, were no longer functional.

Zulum was rector of the polytechnic from 2011 to 2015. He was also a student from 1986 to 1988 for National Diploma in Engineering, before going for Bachelors Degree, Masters, and PhD at the University of Maiduguri and University of Ibadan.

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NEWS

Buhari Okays Additional Security for Imo over Renewed Attacks On Public, Private Property I'm not behind unknown gunmen, says Uzodinma Calls on aggrieved politicians to sheath their swords Deji Elumoye in Abuja The renewed attack on public and private property by unknown gunmen in Imo State, has received the attention of the federal government as President Muhammadu Buhari,yesterday, ordered security beef-up in and around all the 27 local government councils in the state.

The news was made public

by Governor Hope Uzodinma of the state, who told reporters that President Buhari had approved his request for additional security to curb the recent resurgence of insecurity in the state.

Gunmen, at the weekend, had attacked a police station and burnt the country home of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor, prompting President Buhari to summon Governor Uzodimma.

Presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, had in a statement, said the president invited the Imo Governor to the State House, Abuja, with a view to appraising the latest security developments in the state.

Speaking with newsmen after his closed-door meeting with the President, Uzodinma, said the meeting centred on recent security skirmishes in the state and the way to approach the issue.

He said after briefing President Buhari about the security situation in his state, approval was given for more security personnel to be deployed to the state to ensure adequate security of lives and property.

Uzodinma said, "Generally, it is about insecurity in the South East and what is required to ensure that it is properly controlled. We discussed that and he took seriously my recommendations and indeed, I tell you he immediately gave approval to all that, which includes increase in manpower of security agencies and then logistics supports ranging from additional arms and ammunitions.

"Also, we are making use of our local vigilante and the involvement of community leaders to ensure that through community arrangements, additional security is provided to the people.

"Well, you will recall that a few days ago, the home of the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, was attacked by armed bandits and in the same night, a police station in Umuguma Owerri West, was also attacked. And for a very long time, if you remember, we've never had such a situation. In fact, our people have relaxed thinking insecurity has become a thing of the past.

"But to the glory of God, security agencies rose to it and by the second day, they were properly repelled by security agencies particularly, men of the State Security Service. They have been very useful working with other security agencies.

“And we didn’t also wait; we initiated a community oriented programme, where the vigilante approach, has been reached and the community leaders have shown sufficient interest and we will get there."

Shedding more light on what he meant by saying political bandits were behind attacks in the state, he said, "I didn’t say political bandits.

So, I know that it is banditry and the crisis ravaging the country.

“I have said times without number, the one in Imo State in particular is politically contrived and we're working with security agencies to unravel those behind it.

And I am very confident that sooner or later they will be unraveled."

Asked what he was doing to assuage aggrieved persons towards him or the state, the governor said, "Since January 2020, when I came to office, one of the things I initiated was quarterly stakeholders’ meeting.

“As a matter of fact, I have had six stakeholders engagements. And the purpose of that engagement is to create a platform, where the

stakeholders will meet and will also act as an opinion poll to involve people in governance and that has yielded a lot of positive results.

"Arising from that we have also done one-on-one engagement with some critical stakeholders. For those, who are aggrieved, I don’t know if those grievances are against government or against individuals.

"But those who I think are part of the political system that are not contributing positively to the current administration, we are also reaching out to them. I, of course, know if anything is to go by, some of the reasonable minds have started coming back.

"If you have been following the the politics of Imo State of late, given the evolution we have just deployed to rescue the infrastructure, that were almost absent and our achievements so far, it has attracted a lot of support from our people.

Leaders from Imo State are together and United in commending our efforts.

"And if you can go to Imo State and be on ground, apart from some dissenting voices that are on the social media, I think the state is almost recovered and we're doing very, very well.

"So, there's no need at this point in time for people to be aggrieved over what is not in existence. All I urge people to do is to be part of the growing concern, contributing your quota towards the development of the state and support the government of the day to deliver democratic dividend to our people.

"All these grievances here and there, what is the origin of the grievances? Why are people not able to look at the reality on ground. And I know that at this point in time, globally speaking, that we must not be left behind as a country; we must also not be left behind as a state. We need to unite ourselves, we need to be realistic with ourselves, we need to be proactive in making sure that our tomorrow is better."

On the allegation that he was culpable in the crisis in the state and that his government was paying

people to undermine security, Uzodinma denied being behind the unknown gunmen.

His words: "Well, thank God that you called us government. I don’t know how a government with paraphernalia of office, the Air Force, the Navy, the DSS, the Civil Defence, will now go for non-state actors to be used for governance.

"So as civilised people you also represent the elites, so you should be able to advise such minds to reason well and think well, because the only person that officially has power of cohesion is government.

If anything is to go by, we are a God-fearing government, that is why we have not used force as

the only way of controlling the violence in Imo State.

When asked if governors in Southeast zone were working in silos to tackle insecurity in the zone, as the Kaduna State Governor said Northwest governors came together and were able to financially invest in security, he said, "Well, if you look at what is going on in terms of security in the Southeast, that's quite significant improvement in terms of what happened three months ago, or four months, and what is happening now.

"For instance, before this time, there was this so-called sit-at-home order; it is no longer happening in Imo State. Today is Monday,

you can call your correspondent in Owerri, he should go round you will see that the traffic in Owerri city and the neighboring cities, our people have come to terms with the reality, which is only being law-abiding can give us what we're looking for.’

Speaking on why the country home of Professor Obiazor was attacked since he was not a politician, the governor said the position was an enviable one, adding that the attack was currently being investigated by his administration.

"You know the President General of Ohaneze, you know that is the apex of the socio-political organisation of Ndigbo and is a position

that comes with envy. In fact, it is when you succeed in life that, you know, if you don't take time, the first enemy, you have will be your close friend, because of envy and unnecessary rivalry.

"We will do our best using the security agencies to arrest those who did the arson and to see what security will be able to extract from them in terms of information. But until that is done, unless there is any prophecy from any of us to be able to tell us this is the exact thing that led to this, let’s wait for the investigation report. At least, the preliminary investigation report will come out before we can discuss the matter."

MEETING CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS...

National Chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Sani Musa (left) and lawmaker representing Gombe Central, Senator Danjuma Goje, when the Niger East Senator visited the former governor at his Asokoro, Abuja, residence…recently

FOUR DAYS TO APC CONVENTION, BUNI HARMONISES SUB-COMMITTEES, SCREENING STARTS TODAY that the APC senate caucus has adopted any senator for the position of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

I know that three senators are contesting and there was nowhere or occasion, when we took any decision to adopt any particular candidate.

"We would be very happy if any of them emerge as the APC national chairman on Saturday.

The emergence of any of the three senators would be a good omen to our institution.

"At the moment, the APC senate caucus hasn't endorsed any of them or agreed to pick any of them as the consensus candidate.

Senators Adamu Abdullahi, Sani Musa, and Tanko Al-Makura are in the race."

How Buni Saved Akpanudoedehe After Caretaker Members Threatened Walkout

But for the fervent intervention of the chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mai Mala Buni, members of the committee had threatened to stage a walkout if the sacked National Secretary of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, was allowed to be part of their meeting yesterday.

Members of the committee had in a leaked notice dated March 8, 2022, and signed by majority of the members, passed a vote of no confidence on Akpanudoedehe.

His removal was to be ratified at the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting before it was cancelled following Buni’s

return to the leadership of the party.

However, at yesterday’s meeting, presided by Buni, members of the committee insisted that they stood by the vote of no confidence passed on the secretary.

A source privy to the meeting told THISDAY that when the meeting commenced, other members of the committee insisted that Akpanudoedehe would not be part of the gathering.

The source added that it took Buni about an hour to plead with members of the committee, who threatened to walk out if the secretary was allowed to be part of the meeting.

The source said, "When they started the meeting, all other members of the caretaker committee insisted that the secretary cannot sit with them. But the chairman pleaded with them and they threatened to walk out if the secretary should sit. It took the chairman almost an hour to apologise on his behalf."

The source said members of the committee told Buni they had been receiving pleas on behalf of the secretary from top ranking members of the party, including governors.

According to the source, "The committee members made the chairman understand that they still stand by the vote of no confidence they passed on him. They told the chairman that it was during the acting period of the Niger State governor, Abubakar Bello, that they really acted as caretaker members, because responsibilities were given to them. Buni apologised and pleaded with them that the

days of the caretaker committee were numbered."

The source said Buni directed the secretary to formally apologise to other members of the committee and to also apologise to Bello.

"It was on that note that they allowed him to sit with the committee," the source said.

While the meeting was on, Uzodinma arrived at the party secretariat, apparently to plead on behalf of the secretary.

Another party source, who equally pleaded anonymity, said some of the governors came to beg on behalf of the secretary.

The source said, "The governors came to beg on behalf of the national secretary, for him not to be sacked. They want to give him a soft-landing, because if he's sacked, it's a dent on his image.

"Almost 90 per cent of the caretaker committee members voted against him. So, that is what they are addressing now. They want them to temper justice with mercy, so that he can rewrite the wrong. Other issues pertaining to the committee and how to fund the convention are being discussed."

When approached, Akpanudoedehe asked the journalists to look for the National Youth Leader of the party, Ismaeel Ahmed, to brief the press on the outcome of the meeting.

Buhari Support Group Endorses Mustapha

National Coalition of Buhari Support Organisations (BSO) declared support for the aspiration of Malam Saliu Mustapha, who

was vying for the position of APC National Chairman.

A statement issued yesterday by media aide to Mustapha, Mr. Dapo Okubanjo, said the group made its position known during a courtesy call at their campaign headquarters in Abuja.

The group, led by its Chairman, Mr Peter Oganto, said Mustapha was a product of Buhari's politics.

Oganto said, "Saliu Mustapha is a product of Buhari politics, who stood solidly behind the president through thick and thin, and still remained faithful to the cause, in spite of the injustice he has suffered in the party.

"So, having gone round to see other chairmanship aspirants, we have decided to endorse him as the only one that can truly keep the Buhari legacy alive long after the president must have left office."

Responding, Mustapha commended the group for their show of support, while also using the opportunity to outline his plans for members of the ruling party.

According to him, "Aside from what we are bringing to the table in terms of our 10-point agenda, we are the only ones with real experience of party administration.

"As a founding APC member, I have enough institutional memory of the party to ensure that members are duly rewarded for their efforts in building the party to what it is today."

Musa Possess Requisite Qualities to Lead APC, Says Yahaya

Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya said the All Progressives

Congress (APC) deserved a visionary and highly competent person, like Senator Sani Musa, as its national chairman. Yahaya said Musa possessed the qualities that could lead the APC to victory in the 2023 general election.

According to a statement by the media assistant to Musa, Nasir Mohammed, Yahaya stated this when Musa paid a visit to him at the Gombe State Governor’s lodge in Abuja yesterday.

He said, "The APC, in all sincerity of purpose, deserves the best hand to manage its affairs at this time and I am convinced that Senator Sani Musa possesses the right leadership qualities for the job as we head into the national convention.

"I urge Senator Sani Musa to continue with his consultations across all the party leaders and pray for his successful outing at the convention. I will be looking forward to working with him should he emerge the next national chairman of the APC." Musa's visit to Yahaya, the statement added, was in continuation of his consultation with stakeholders and party leaders.

Musa and Yahaya spoke extensively on ways to move the party forward, especially, with regard to the March 26 national convention of the APC. While presenting his agenda for the party if elected as the national chairman, Musa disclosed that he was fully prepared to bring about a visionary leadership to the APC and rejig the entire party architecture in line with international best practices.

TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

44

NEWS

2023: PDP Govs, Stakeholders Restate Support for Southern President Goddy Egene and Blessing Ibunge inPortHarcourt Statutory National Delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and major stakeholders in South-south yesterday restated their support for the decision of the Southern Governors’ Forum that the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must come from the Southern part of the country.

This was part of the communique issued at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held in Uyo Akwa Ibom State. The meeting, which had in attendance, the Governors of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel; Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa; Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and Bayelsa Douye Diri, party leaders and federal lawmakers from the zone, was themed: “Engendering a South-south Agenda for 2023 and Beyond.”

Reading the communique, PDP Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, said the zone frown at the continuous and unlawful violation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDwDC) Act by use of sole administrator and management in the running of the agency.

The zone therefore, called for

the immediately constitution of NDDC board.

“The zone also demands that the forensic audit of NDDC be made public and implemented

In an effort to forcefully install an Ile Ife indigene as the next ViceChancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU) Ile Ife, some indigenes of Ile - Ife yesterday invaded the campus of the university with charms and other fetish objects, having closed its two major gates thereby preventing staff, students, and other stakeholders from either coming into or leaving the university.

According to the image-maker of the university, Comrade Abiodun Olarewaju, the protests by the Ife indigenes started last Thursday,

Four persons, including three mobile policemen have been killed in a renewed communal clash between the Ichen and Ndaka tribes in Bissaula, Kurmi Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Also killed along with the policemen, who were attached to 67 Squadron, Takum, is an elderly woman who is simply identified as Isobye.

THISDAY gathered that the policemen, who were drafted to the community to maintain peace

17th March, 2022 shortly after the University Governing Council, led by its Chairman, Owelle Oscar Udoji, announced a professor of Agricultural Economics, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, as the 12th substantive VC. Olarewaju stressed that the protesters, who initially blocked the main gate of the university on the first day and threatened staff and students to stay away from campus, became very violent the second day as they beat up workers, particularly the staff of the Security Unit, and vandalised their office at the main gate.

following an outbreak of violent clashes between the two tribes, were killed last Wednesday by ethnic militia, who ambushed them when they went to make telephone call in a primary school.

After being killed, their bodies were dumped in a disused well and their service rifles stolen by the militia who later escaped to Cameroon.

Their corpses were later recovered last Friday in the disused well by a search and rescue party that was constituted to search for them.

JAMB Insists on March 26 Exam Date It said: “This emphasis is essential

KuniTyessiinAbuja

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reiterated that it would close the registration exercise for 2022 matriculation examination on Saturday, March 26.

The board made this known yesterday in its Weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar, in Abuja.

The JAMB said that it would not extend the sale of e-PINs for its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE), beyond Saturday March 26.

consistently voted for the PDP since 1999, the party cannot at this crucial moment ignore the South-South’s constructions to its success.

“The South-south is the pillar of the PDP. If the South-south is the pillar of the PDP, they must be treated with fairness, justice and equity.”

L-R: Managing Director, Georges Memorial Medical Centre /former President, Association of Fertility and Reproduction Health (AFRH), Dr. Faye Iketubosin; Representative of Permanent Secretary Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Funmi Shokunbi; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, The Arklinc, Dr Oluyemisi Adeyemi Bero; Secretary, AFRH, Mrs. Abiola Adewusi, and Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Ayodeji Oluwole, at the 10th anniversary and symposium of the Alpha Assisted Reproductive Klinic, in Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

Three Policemen, Woman Killed in Renewed Communal Clash in Taraba Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

he said.

Meanwhile, Wike has urged the PDP to treat the South-south zone with fairness, justice and equity.

The governor noted that having

SUPPORTING REPRODUCTION HEALTH…

OAU VC Appointment: Ife Indigenes Storm Campus with Charms, Fetish Objects YinkaKolawoleinOsogbo

without further delay. The zone is fully in support of the Southern Governors’ Forum’s position that next president must come from the Southern part of Nigeria,”

because of the persistent drop in the number of e-PINs being vended, as well as the low turnout of candidates at the various centres across the nation. “As discussed earlier, registration dates are not fixed arbitrarily but through a consensus of the Federal Ministry of Education and examination agencies, before the commencement of the exercise.

Therefore, all candidates who desired to register for this year’s examination are to do so immediately, as they only have this week and no extension would be granted after close of registration,”

Lagos for Lagos Group Promoter, Adediran, Joins Guber Race Also, Sowumi, Manga pick forms for Ogun, Kebbi

ChuksOkochainAbuja More governorship aspirants yesterday picked forms to contest in Lagos, Ogun, and Kebbi States.

Jide Adediran of the Lagos for Lagos fame, who defected with his group from the All progressive Congress (APC) January this year, paid and obtained the nomination form to enable him contest for the governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Similarly, former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar Campaign in 2019, Mr. Segun Sowumi obtained the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State.

Also, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP,

Ibrahim Manga, obtained the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the 2023 governorship election in kebbi State.

Addressing newsmen after picking the governorship nomination form, Adediran said his aim is to ensure that real lagosians govern the state and remove governance from the elites that impose themselves on the rural populace.

Adediran, the founder of Core Television, said that if he is elected governor of Lagos State by 2023 that he intends to ensure that governance is not limited to already developed cities of Lagos but taken down to unknown rural areas of the state that wallow in poverty.

He explained that the Lagos for Lagos movement did not

defect from the APC to the PDP for nothing, but to rescue the state from the stronghold of an individual who has been strangulating the state for personal benefits.

“What Lagos needs right now is that breath of fresh air, and that is what I represent, a breath of fresh air in the sense that I haven’t been appointed before. I haven’t been elected before. I’ve been on the sideline, watching and studying the situation and whatever you see us doing today, I want to tell you, it’s a result of a thorough research on how to play the game. That is why we consider ourselves in a very advantaged position to winning the state of Lagos for PDP. And this is largely due to the amount of work that we have put into this. We know it’s not just going to be a tea party to win Lagos from those that have

held onto power for the past two decades. This is why we devised our strategy of starting early, that strategy of long-term planning.”

“What is obtainable everywhere is that people come out several months without decision to say they want to run for office. We know it’s gonna take a whole lot from us delivering the gospel of the PDP because of what it is. We all know how important is Lagos to the country, to the economy of Nigeria.

“We moved from APC to PDP on the 21st of January this year.

I’m sure you have not witnessed such a movement. The very first time you’ll be having people moving from the ruling party to the opposing one, speaks a lot to what we stand for and what we represent,”, he explained.

Anambra Traditional Rulers Caution EFCC against Maltreating Obiano The Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers has condemned what it claimed as the inhuman treatment meted out to the immediate past governor of the state, Willie Obiano, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and has called on the agency to treat Obiano rightly.

The traditional rulers made the comment in a statement signed by its chairman and the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal

Highness, Nnaemeka Achebe.

According to them, the video of the outgone governor wearing a boxer in the anti-graft agency’s custody is shocking and does not befit a person of such status.

“We are equally disturbed that such a video clip found its way out of the highly secure environment of the EFCC onto the social media, obviously, with the intent of causing maximum embarrassment to Chief Obiano and, by extension, the people of

Anambra State, whose governor he was until three days ago on 17 March 2022,” the traditional rulers said.

“Therefore, the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, on behalf of all traditional rulers of Anambra State, calls on the EFCC to treat Chief Obiano with due civility and immediately restore him to his personal comfort whilst expeditiously working to conclude its investigation,”

they added.

They also called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), to call the EFCC to order.

Meanwhile, EFCC said EFCC, said a discreet investigation ordered on the leak of a trending video showing Obiano in the custody of the Commission has unmasked the errant officer behind the odious act.

Court Dismisses Suit against Abia APC Chair The application to set aside the Special Congress that elected the Abia State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, has been dismissed by Court of Appeal Owerri Division in Imo State.

The motion on notice, filed by Donatus Nwankoa, Iheanoacho Obioma and co, at the Court of Appeal,Owerri Division,and who were the claimants in Suit No:HUK/50/2021:Davie Jumbo and ORS VS APC and ORS, at

Ukwa High Court, Abia State to set aside the special congress of APC, held in Abia State on 8th January,2022, which said congress elected Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu as the chairman of APC in Abia State to replace late Enyinnaya Harbour, was yesterday dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

APC, by a preliminary objection, challenged the jurisdiction and or vires of the High Court of Ukwa to hear the said suit filed by

Davies Jumbo and co on many grounds and most prominent being that it is on the internal/ domestic affairs of a political party which no court of laws is clothed with jurisdiction to hear and determine in that the courts cannot not run political parties for them.

On 18th of February, 2022, the High Court of Ukwa, contrary to the positions of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, assumed jurisdiction to hear the said case.

On 22nd of February, 2022, APC and others filed an appeal against the Ruling of Hon. Justice C.H Ahuchaogu, vide appeal No CA/OW/45/2022.

APC and 4 ORS VS Davies Jumbo and six ORS. On 3rd of March, 2022, Davis Jumbo and co filed the said motion to set aside the Special Congress of 8th January, 2022, and for Donatus Nwankpa defunct Exco to continue in office and submit list of delegates to the March 26th national congress of APC.

TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

45

NEWSXTRA

Lagos CP Tours Area Commands, Warns against Extortion Insists bail is free, condemns tinted glass permit request

Chiemelie Ezeobi Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Abiodun Alabi, yesterday warned operatives to desist from any form of uncivilised behaviour, brutality and extortion of residents or face the penalty once caught.

He gave the warning at the Area G Command in Ogba, and Area H in Ogudu, during his maiden tour of Area Commands in the state.

Charging operatives to stay committed to their jobs and avoid bribes or forcing people to part with their resources, Alabi also kicked against criminalising civil matters by operatives, warning them to desist from involvement in such cases.

He said: “If a civil matter is brought before you, advise parties to go and sort themselves in court.

Once there is no ingredient of crime, tell parties so. Do not input offence where there is none. You can intervene as a peacemaker but do not criminalise a civil matter.

“Under my watch, acts of brutality, torture or use of maximum force would not be tolerated. Work so that you earn the trust of the public so they can provide you with actionable intelligence.

“I want you to do your job

with human face, do your job like a human being.

If anyone is arrested for any crime, deal with it expediently. Do not keep suspects in bailable cases.

Over detention is unprofessional and unlawful.

“Relate with members of the public as friends. Cooperate with magistrates who come to your division to check your cells. Work with them because they are doing their jobs, they are not enemies.”

Stressing on the importance of

not breaching human rights, Alabi also warned against accidental discharge and extortion of residents, stressing that such acts would not be tolerated. “ I also want to warn that bail is free. If you want to work under

my command, you must not collect bail money from anyone.

I mean it and I will deal with any officer who collects money for bail because it is free.

“Another area of great importance is the area of accidental

discharge. I don’t want to hear it.

There is no excuse for misusing your firearms. Guide your arms jealously because if you misuse it, you will face the consequences of using your arms when you are not supposed to use it.”

TECH EXPO 2022…

L-R: Minister of Health, Prof. Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sierra Leone, Prof. Alpha Tajan; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MSTI), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, and Minister of State, MSTI, Mohammed Abdulahi, during the closing ceremony of Technology Expo 2022 in Abuja… recently ENOCK REUBEN

Academic Activities WAEC Blacklists 35 Schools over Examination Malpractices in Rivers Resume as Teachers Suspend Strike in A’ Ibom Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Okon Bassey in Uyo Teachers and students resumed normal school session yesterday following the suspension of indefinite strike embarked by the Akwa Ibom State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

The NUT called off the strike after three working days of urging teachers to stay at home over unpaid entitlement by the state government.

The suspension of the strike

by the union was contained in a statement titled “Suspension of Strike,” dated March 18, 2022, and signed by the State Chairman of the NUT and the Senior State Secretary of NUT, Mr. Edet Emenyi and Mr. Victor Amirize, respectively.

The statement , which was given to journalists during the weekend in Uyo, linked the suspension of the strike to an agreement reached between state government and leadership of the union last Thursday.

Osun 2022: INEC Tasks Stakeholders on Credible Election YinkaKolawoleinOsogbo The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to stakeholders in the oncoming governorship election in Osun State to work towards the conduct of a successful Osun governorship election.

The appeal was made yesterday

by INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Abdulganiy Olayinka Raji, who made it known that 18 political parties have nominated governorship candidates for the election. He, however, declined to mention

their names.

Raji, who spoke yesterday at a stakeholders meeting on the devolution of the continuous voters registration (CVR) exercise to registration areas (RAs/Wards) in Osun, said that the election has been scheduled for Saturday, July 16, adding that the commission had embarked on various activities to ensure a successful conduct of the governorship election.

He said that these activities included conversion of voting points to polling units to decongest existing pooling units and ease voting processes on the day of the election.

Ganduje’s Ex-media Aide Dumps APC IbrahimShuaibuinKano Former Director General, Media and Communications to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, has announced his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a press conference in Kano yesterday, Tanko-Yakasai said he laboured for the actualisation of the ruling APC since 2013, but the party had failed in all ramifications.

According to him, the failure of APC manifested since its first tenure, but all “thought in 2015 would usher in the leadership that will answer

the cry of millions of Nigerians for good government, social stability, and material prosperity.”

“By 2019 we reelected the APC, again, to manage the affairs of the country with the hope that its first term of four years was not enough to clear the mess it inherited from the defeated PDP administration.

“Regretfully, the trust and confidence we reposed in the APC (the government as well as the party) on two occasions (first and second terms) was betrayed.

If anything, things became worse in the second term.

The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has blacklisted 35 schools in Rivers State over involvement in examination malpractices.

This was revealed in a letter signed by the Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator of the council on behalf of the Head of National office, S.D. Kum.

According to the letter addressed to the Commissioner for Education, Ministry of Education, Rivers State, the Council noted that the schools were indicted for examination malpractices, which is a serious offence.

Toping the list of derecognised schools by WAEC were private schools within the state and some state-owned schools.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Education,

Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, has reiterated that the state governments has zero tolerance for malpractices.

Speaking with THISDAY, Prof Ebeku said necessary actions have been taken against the schools delisted by the WAEC. He emphasised that the state government had taken steps against examination malpractices in the past with the dismissal and suspension of Principals, staff and withdrawal of approval

certificates of private schools involved in malpractices.

He said: “Principals of the public schools delisted have been demoted and private schools delisted by WAEC may risk withdrawal of their approval certificate”.

Ebeku also clarified that the delisting of the 35 schools were part of the steps taken in collaboration with examination bodies to fight examination malpractices.

Police Arrest Two for Defiling Four Minors in Anambra David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Two men, whose ages were put at 61 and 27 years old have allegedly raped four minors of the same parents, left in their care by their mother.

THISDAY gathered that the children whose ages are 11 months, five years, seven years and 10 years old were defiled at various time by the men when their mother left them in their care to go to market.

A press release by the state

police command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga revealed the names of the suspects as Peter Ezeala ‘M’ 61 years of Mbano, Imo State and one Elochukwu Igwilo ‘M’ 27years of Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State.

Ikenga said Police has rescued the four children and also arraigned the suspects in court.

The Commissioner of Police, Anambra Command, CP Echeng Echeng enjoined parents/guardians to exercise

utmost discretion in deciding in whose care their children/ wards are kept.

The statement said: “CP gave this advice Monday, 21st March, 2022, following the arrest and interrogation of two suspectsone Peter Ezeala ‘M’ 61years of Mbano, Imo State and one Elochukwu Igwilo ‘M’ 27years of Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State.

“The suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement in a case of defilement of four

minors aged 11months old; 5 years old; 7years old and 10years old respectively. The incident occured in Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State on 5th, March 2022.

“Investigation reveals that the mother of the victims, a trader, always leave the children under the care of the suspects whenever she was away at work. Unfortunately, the suspects capitalised on this to take undue advantage of the children.”

Court Dismisses Terrorism, Treasonable Felony Charges against Journalist A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar yesterday discharged a journalist and activist, Agba Jalingo, of the terrorism, treasonable felony and cyber crimes preferred by the federal and Cross River State governments.

Jalingo has been a strong critic of Governor Ben Ayade and his style of governance.

The discharge and dismissal

of the case was sequel to the withdrawal of the charges by the state government.

The state had taken over the prosecution of the case from the federal government in February 2020 when he was admitted to bail after spending 179 days in incarceration.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the state Director of Public Prosecution,

John Ogban, told the court that he received the directives from the counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, Tanko Ashang, to discontinue the case.

Ogban, who was slammed

by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu at the last adjourned date, said they had filed a further amended charge before now, but made a verbal application for the

withdrawal of the case.

When asked if he was withdrawing the case totally and would no longer prosecute the charge, Ogban answered in the affirmative.

The defence, led by Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), did not object to the verbal application and commended the directive.

NUC Approves New University for Sokoto Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto.

Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, made this known while presenting a letter of recognition of the new university to Governor

Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State during a visit to the Commission yesterday in Abuja.

Rasheed said the new institution, which is the first university of education in the northern part of the country and fourth of its kind in the entire nation, would meet the education needs of the people.

While commending the

governor for his passion for the development of the education sector, the NUC boss said a number of private universities would soon spring up in Sokoto State, adding that the Commission had already begun the process of approving their establishment.

Speaking further, Rasheed said the Shehu Shagari University of Education is

now fully recognised as the 58 state university and 206 in the country having met all the requirements.

He said with the approval, the National Youth Service Corps, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) would accord the university necessary recognitions.

TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

46

NEWSEXTRA

FG: No More PRC Test for Fully Vaccinated Travellers 193 Nigerians from Ukraine Test Positive for COVID-19

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Government has disclosed that 193 out of the about 2,357 Nigerians evacuated from Ukraine and screened for COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha announced the development Monday at the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID- 19 briefing.

Mustapha, who is the Chairman of the PSC, said the condition of the affected passengers was being managed according to the country’s protocol.

Over 8,000 Nigerian residents, mainly students who were living in Ukraine, were forced to disperse to Poland due to the ongoing military onslaught on Ukraine by Russia.

Meanwhile the federal government has said that in-bound (fully vaccinated) passengers arriving in Nigeria will no longer be required to take a pre-departure PCR COVID-19 test.

Mustapha, who disclosed this, said the new policy followed the revision of the revision of the situations around the world and review of the International Travel Protocols, which comes into effect in Nigeria on April 4, 2022.

According to him, upon arriving in the country, fully vaccinated passengers will have their sample taken at the

airport for rapid antigen test by the NCDC within the arrival hall of the airport.

Also, passengers who are unvaccinated or partially

vaccinated shall take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure, or do a Day 2 and day 7 test on arrival.

Fully vaccinated passengers will

not be charged for arrival rapid antigen tests at the airport. The rules that apply to fully vaccinated adults also apply to children aged 10 -18 years; they will not be

required to have pre-arrival PCR tests but will have a sample taken at the arrival hall but not charged.

He urged caution that although there has been a consistent decline

in number of cases around the world, COVID cases are predicted to rebound in China, South Korea, Germany, Vietnam, France and Hong Kong.

COURTESY VISIT…

L-R: Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo(left), and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Senator Gbenga Ashafa, during Ashafa’s visit to Gambo in Abuja…recently

OAU Student’s Murder: Civil Society Groups Demand Passage of Anti-grazing Bill in Edo We’ve No Case to Answer, Adedoyin, Others Tell Court Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

Yinka Kolawole inOsogbo

The police team prosecuting the case of alleged murder of a postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Mr. Timothy Adegoke, yesterday closed its case against the owner of Hilton Hotels and Resorts in Ile-Ife, Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, and six of his workers who are standing trial at an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo in connection with Adegoke’s alleged murder.

It would be recalled that Adedoyin and his hotel workers, including Ms. Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola

A coalition of civil society groups in Benin-city, Edo State, yesterday held a demonstration against the state government over the bill against open grazing in the state which is currently before the state House of Assembly.

They alleged that certain provisions of the bill would make the government to cede part of the lands in the state for cattle rearing.

In a statement signed by, one of the groups, Edo Civil Society

are facing trial on 11 count charges, bordering on murder, conspiracy, felony amongst others.

However, at yesterday’s hearing, the Lead Prosecution Counsel, M. O. Omosun, informed the court that the prosecution has closed its case after calling eight witnesses and tendering several evidences to prove the allegations.

Given his testimony in the court, the eighth and final prosecution witness, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr. Samuel Odeh, from Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), informed the court that forensic analysis was done on a curtain swab Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa stick obtained from Room 305 that the deceased lodged before his demise. A youth group form Bayelsa West Senatorial District, the Bayelsa West Youth Leadership Forum (BWYLF), yesterday dismissed the purported zoning of the district’s senatorial Ilogbo town in the state.

Following the report, the police seat, saying that the seat is open visited the scene where the corpse to anyone to contest.

The grassroot socio-political was found and handed it over to the family based on their insistence to group, which comprised of eminent bury it according to their religious belief.

Subsequent effort to unravel the mystery behind the gruesome murder of the victim, the police UdoraOrizuinAbuja embarked on technical and intelligence based investigation in The federal government has threatened conjunction with the community to sanction the management of National vigilante after which Ismail Hammed Assembly over the flagrant breach of the was arrested with the motorcycle provisions of the National Minimum of the victim. His arrest led to the Wage Act, 2019, signed into law by apprehension of his accomplice, President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Act provides that every employer Osoba Yakubu. shall pay a national minimum wage of not less than N30, 000 per month to every worker under his establishment, except where the number of employees

Two suspects have been arrested by the Ogun State Police command for snatching a motorcycle and subsequently killing the rider.

The suspects namely Hammed Ismail and Ozona Yakubu were apprehended following a report lodged at the station recently by the father of the deceased, Mr. Buhari Saliu.

The father of the deceased had reported that his 25 years old son, Yusuf Buhari who left home with his motorbike, was found dead the following day in an uncompleted building at Araromi Village, near

Receiving the groups, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Marcus Onobun, said the Assembly would not make any law that would be detrimental to the well-being of the people of the state.

He said: “We cannot take any position outside that of the people.

“As we all know, we have been faced with farmers/herders clash, and not only in Edo State. Edo people want the anti-grazing bill passed so that our people, particularly farmers, will have a sense of relief and have a fresh breath.”

youth leaders across Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Governments Areas, gave their opinion on the raging argument concerning the zoning of the Bayelsa West senatorial seat among Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Government Areas after a meeting yesterday at Sagbama town, headquarters of Sagbama LGA. The youth group in a communique issued after the meeting and signed by its

Coordinator, Mr. Akeme Moses, and Secretary, Ms. Mercy Clement, said there was never a time leaders of the different political parties in the two local governments met and agreed on zoning, either by writing or verbal.

The youth leaders argued that there is no organised zoning arrangement like that witnessed in other Senatorial Districts in Bayelsa State (Bayelsa East), which

has consistently maintained and respected a zoning principle.

“That the Bayelsa West Senatorial seat is open for anybody to contest, nonetheless, the youth leaders laid much emphasis on capacity over mediocrity. The group reiterated that every qualified son/daughter of both local government areas would be free to contest, for this has been the practice from the inception of the current democratic dispensation.

N’Assembly, Others Risk Sanctions over Breach of National Minimum Wage Act

Ogun First Lady Supports Fund Raising for Elderly The First Lady of Ogun State and Patron of JBS Elderly Health & Wellbeing Foundation(JBS EHWF Africa), Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, will be leading professionals, women of substance and captains of industry at a walk for the underprivileged elderly people on Saturday March 26, 2022 .The walk will commence at 7am from Quest Petrol station, Lekki.

The event tagged The ‘Gran-D alk’ for the elderly is put together by the Founder of JBS EHWF Africa, Dr. Olutoyin Ajala,

establishment of National Livestock Transformation programme codenamed RUGA in various states that want to key in. Edo State is believed to have keyed in after the meeting the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, had with President Muhammadu Buhari on same matter.”

In the same vein, another group, Network of Civil Societies Organisation of Nigeria (NOCSON), also visited the state Assembly on what it termed fact-finding mission to get clarifications on the same issue.

No Zoning of Bayelsa West Senatorial Seat, Say Youths

Police Arrest Two for Murder in Ogun Becky Uba Umenyili

Organisations (EDOCSO), interim Chairman and Secretary, Bishop Osadolor Ochei and Keshi St. Lawrence respectively, said a public hearing should be initiated by the House of Assembly to get inputs from the public, expressing concern on the percentage of communal or local government lands to be acquired for ranching which is between 10 and 20 per cent by the state government.

The statement said: “We view this arrangement to be in line with the federal government’s plan in the

to give special attention and support to this peculiar demography whose plight is yet to be met and attended to by the government and society at large.

According to a press statement signed by Olubukola Latunji on behalf of the Fundraising Committee for the foundation , the major aim of the walk is to create awareness for the A ‘ dopt a Gran’ programme and be able to raise funds towards expanding the much needed work to roll out to more states across Nigeria with a target above 2,000.

is less than 25 or are paid on a part-time basis or are seasonal employees.

The threat notice was contained in the two-page circular with reference number: SWC/S/65/III/696 dated February 21, 2022, and titled: ‘Implementation of the National Minimum Wage of N30,000 per month-Reminder’, which was signed by the Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, and addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Amos Ojo. The circular was also addressed to the

Chief of Staff to the President; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President; Ministers and Ministers of State; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Head of Civil Service of the Federation; Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chairmen, Federal Commissions; Federal Permanent Secretaries; National Judicial Council (NJC), Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission; Directors-General and Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies and Governmentowned companies; Auditor-General for

the Federation; Accountant-General for the Federation; Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation; Heads of State Civil Services; Secretaries to State Governments; Chairman, Local Government Areas; Directors-General and Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies and Government-owned companies; Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA); Director-General, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME); President.

Character Building, Catalyst for Functional Education, Says Babalola Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has said Nigeria would only have a functional education if universities are made fertile grounds to acquire degrees as well as sound and good character.

Babalola stated during the matriculation ceremony of the university for the 2021/22 session held

at ABUAD in Ekiti State yesterday.

Addressing those who matriculated, Babalola congratulated the parents, saying they have chosen the best university in this part of the world that offers good and reliable certificates as well as infusing good moral standing in the students.

He said: “ABUAD was not just set up for certificate acquisition, we also mould character. I know that we can only get it right in this country

in term of functional education if universities are places where you get certificates as well as promote good character.

“That is why whatever certificate you get here will open doors for you because we believe in character building. Without character, education will be useless.

“If you comply with our rules, you will come out with high class and you will be rewarded. This is the only

university that rewards scholarship.”

Babalola added: “ABUAD started 12 years ago with 240 students, who completed their degrees in time and with some of them moving up to earn their doctorates.

“We have the best, credible and reliable academic calendars in this country. Whether we have COVID -19, COVID-30 or not, we will not stop going to school. We will never stop opening this school for learning.”

47

TUESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

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

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

12 Players in Camp as Eagles Begin Preparations for Kumasi Battle Ighalo, Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, Etebo, eight others amongst early birds Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles preparations for the 2022 World Cup playoffs with Ghana's Black Stars opened on Monday with 12 players at

W O R L D C U P P L AYO F F S the Abuja camp of the team.

Amongst the early birds in camp include; William Troost-

Ekong, Leon Balogun, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Frank Onyeka, Odion Ighalo, Daniel Akpeyi,

Ahmed Musa, Oghenekaro Etebo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Shehu Abdullahi and Francis Uzoho.

Media Officer of the team, Babafemi Raji confirmed to THISDAY that more players

were being expected to troop into the camp last night before the last batch hit Abuja today.

Although Captain of the team, Ahmed Musa, was sighted on arrival at the airport on Sunday, he however did not stroll into in the camp until yesterday.

The Fatih Karagumruk winger in the Turkish Super Lig joined his international teammates ahead of the team's trip to Kumasi to play the Black Stars in the first leg of the final qualifier on Friday, March 25.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Black Stars’ camp at the Alisa Hotel in Accra is also already bubbling as 16 players hit the camp on the first day.

The players currently in camp are: Jojo Wollacot, Thomas Partey, Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Dennis Korsah, Edmund Addo, Andy Yiadom, Joseph Aidoo, Gideon Mensah, Yaw Yeboah, Alexander Djiku, Majeed Waris, Felix Afena-Gyan, Joseph Paintsil, Danlad Ibrahim, Fatawu Issahaku and Dauda

Mohammed.

Black Stars interim coach, Otto Addo, is expecting a full house by the close of the day as the team prepares for the crucial World Cup playoff against Nigeria.

The Black Stars host the Super Eagles in the first leg on March 25, 2022, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium before travelling for the second leg to be played on March 29, 2022, in Abuja at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.

Some players joined the team’s camp as early as Saturday and the majority of them arrived on Sunday night.

Coach Otto Addo is hoping to get the full complement of his squad by the close of day.

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey who is expected to lead the team in the absence of Andre Ayew has arrived in camp.

According to the GFA, the Black Stars will travel to Kumasi on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, to continue with preparations for the game.

GFA Rejects Nigeria’s 10,000 Ticket Request, Insist on 2,000 Fans Femi Solaja

Super Eagles players loosening up ahead of training for the 2022 World Cup playoffs

Okagbare Fails to Appeal Dope Ban Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare has failed to appeal the 10-year ban slammed on her by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Disciplinary Tribunal for the presence and use of multiple prohibited substances and her refusal to co-operate with the AIU’s investigation into her case.

The 33-year-old Nigerian threatened to take up her right to appeal against the Disciplinary Tribunal’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 30-days which elapsed on March 18, 2022.

But the Court of Arbitration for Sport said the former Commonwealth Games double sprint champion did not file any appeal upon enquiry. ''Please be advised that at the

time of writing no appeals have been filed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in relation to this matter', wrote Katy Hogg, CAS Communications Officer.

Okagbare had denied taking prohibited substances by injection or at all.

In support of her denials, she pointed to her long history of ‘negative’ tests, including ten of the twelve she underwent between 16 April 2021 and 30 July 2021.

The Nigerian also argued that the Adverse Analytical Findings shown in Sample A and B result of her blood test collected on the 19th of July 2021 as well as that of Sample A urine test result for the EPO are unreliable and erroneous as she did not take

/inject the hGH or the EPO.” She said the samples were kept at high temperatures of 24 to 10C and then 9 to 6C prior to their receipt by the Lausanne laboratory.

She also argued that the samples were stored by the laboratory at “below -15C” when the 2014 GH .Guidelines specified “approximately -20C”, and therefore the laboratory did not follow the Technical Document.

Okagbare also had issues with the measurement uncertainty used by the Lausanne laboratory in its hGH analytical procedures.

The AIU however insists that the Adverse Analytical Findings arose from Okagbare taking multiple seriously prohibited

substances which it said were, supported by expert evidence obtained by it, administered only by injection and which are extremely challenging for anti-doping laboratories to detect.

The AIU argued that the Adverse Analytical Findings supported its case that Okagbare was “engaged in a sophisticated doping scheme that was targeted specifically towards her participation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games”.

It argued that in those circumstances, the Athlete’s ADRVs were egregious and so justified the application of Aggravating Circumstances in accordance with Rule 10.4 ADR and the imposition of a period of Ineligibility of six years.

Nigeria’s quest for a ‘fair share’ of attendance at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi during the first leg, World Cup playoffs with Ghana has been faulted by the hosts.

According to the Communications Director of Ghana’s National Sports Authority, Charles Amofa, Nigeria requested 10,000 tickets for the game but the sports authority decided against the request and rather allocated 2,000 tickets to traveling fans which he noted was in accordance with FIFA regulations.

“The GFA has already allocated 2,000 tickets to Nigeria

Football Federation (NFF) and it is now left to them the procedure in allocation of the tickets among their numerous football supporters, fans and administrators who are willing to be inside the stadium for the important match.

However, with the increasing interest and tension build up ahead of the crucial tie, many Nigerians resident in Ghana and mainly in the Ashanti region may not be able to have access into the 40,528 capacity ground on Friday.

Ghanaweb.com quoted WhatsApp platform, MyNigeria, on how the fans are gearing up to make the long trips across Ghana to witness the clash.

Runsewe’s Plaudits for Gov Lalong Over Devt of Golf in Nigeria The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon B. Lalong has been commended for his lofty contributions in the development of the game of golf in the country.

This commendation was made by the President, Nigerian Golf Federation (NGF), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe at the grand commissioning of the redesigned Green 18 holes course of the Rayfield Golf Club in Jos, Plateau State.

The NGF President revealed that prior to the realization that the first golf course is older than Nigeria, the Jos Rayfield golf course was speculated to have been established in 1935

adding that it was the discovery of the “August Burler Cup” that settled the matter once and for all and proved that the Rayfield Golf course in Jos is indeed the oldest golf in the country and perhaps the entire west African region.

Otunba Runsewe pointed out that the establishment of the Rayfield Golf Club led to the off-short of other notable golf courses in the plateau and in other surrounding states Runsewe while commending Governor Lalong for building a formidable golf synergy in Nigeria thanked the executive members or the club and the organizing committee for the

successful hosting of the week long tournament.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of Rayfield Golf Club, Air Marshal JD Wuyep (Rtd) also commended the Executive Governor of the State, for his immense contributions to the upgrading of facilities at the golf club as well as the development of the game of Golf in the state.

He said the redesigning and the general upgrading of the Rayfield and other golf courses in the state would not have been possible if the governor did not operate an open-door policy.

The chairman reiterated the

urgent need for other golf clubs to organize more age grade golf tournaments to accommodate the youths and groom them for the future.

In his remarks, Plateau Lalong expressesd delight at the unprecedented turnout of golfers from other clubs throughout the country to the Rayfield golf club for the PR-AM Golf Tournament.

Rt. Hon. Lalong particularly showed gratitude to the President of the Nigerian Golf Federation, Otunba Runsewe for honouring the invitation to witness the commissioning of the redesigned green 18 holes course of the Rayfield golf club.

Otunba Segun Runsewe (left) and Gov Simon Lalong at a previous golf event at the Rayfield course in Jos

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

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MISSILE

Sowore to Ex-Super Eagles Players ‘’Hunger is a bastard! JJ Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Taribo West, and other ex-Super Eagles players paid Tinubu a visit to endorse him. Shame on them. Like Judas Iscariot, hunger has betrayed them. It is just so sad! That a group of patriots could be moving from one derelict political thief to another just to get peanuts and crumbs. It is a shame!’’ ---Human Rights Activist, Omoyele Sowore, berating the ex-Super Eagles players, for endorsing Tinubu for President

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

For Doyin Okupe, ‘The Attack Lion’ at 70 O moba Adedoyin Ajibike Okupe - the man popularly known at the “attack dog” of Nigerian politics, who eventually re-christened himself “the attack lion” is 70 today, March 22, 2022. Yesterday, friends and family gathered in Lagos, to honour him at the public presentation of a book he has written to mark the occasion: Double Jeopardy-The Doyin Okupe Story. There are further celebrations today; a church service and a party in the evening. It was a great pleasure for me to have been invited to review the book at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). Although I got the book around 6 pm on Sunday, Dr. Okupe is one of those persons to whom it is difficult to say No. His personality is compelling. He is forever persuasive and genial.

Reading the book turned out to be a great delight: for a text written in six weeks, it is an impressive outing. No one else can tell the Doyin Okupe story better than the man himself, and indeed after four decades in the Nigerian public space as a medical doctor turned political marketing guru, politician, and Presidential spokesperson, Okupe has a story to tell. He delivers his narrative in a lucid, racy, engaging and chronological manner.

I find the title of the book curious, however.

Why double jeopardy? Jeopardy has a negative connotation. Double jeopardy is a legal term referring to the conviction of a person for the same offence, based on the same facts, twice.

Okupe considers his unceremonious exit from the Obasanjo administration which he served as Special Assistant on Media, clearly as first jeopardy. His second jeopardy is described as his exit, without profit, from the Jonathan administration when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the Presidential election in 2015. Okupe’s book could well have been titled “My Odyssey”. What he chronicles is a long, eventful and adventurous account of his role in the Nigerian political and social space in more than 40 years. His life has been one of privilege, accomplishments, and opportunities.

At 70, he can indeed look back with a feeling of fulfillment, and pride, that he has so far had a good run, not double jeopardy and he is not yet done. Very few people have been as privileged.

In the business of political marketing, perhaps the only two persons in recent memory that can be rated higher would be Chief Duro Onabule, who served as spokesperson of General Ibrahim Babangida’s military government for close to nine years, and may be Igwe Alex Nwokedi who was an outstanding communicator who served a military Head of State (General Olusegun Obasanjo) and a civilian President (Alhaji Shehu Shagari). If there is any other, such persons may not be of the same rank as Doyin Okupe in terms of reach, colour and capacity for heavy-hitting political communication.

It is not for nothing that he is known as the “attack lion”. Over the years, Okupe has carved a niche for himself in that genre.

The irony is that he is originally a medical doctor.

Double Jeopardy – The Doyin Okupe Story is 316 pages long. It is divided into two parts, and has a total of 40 Chapters. The first part of the book tells the story of his beginnings, upbringing, education, his life in the medical and political theatres and what he has seen in the politics of Nigeria as role player, citizen and aide to Presidents. In the second part, he presents more or less a manifesto for leadership as he expresses his opinions about key national issues such as the rule of law, the police, insecurity, structure, education, housing, youth employment, inadequate power supply and health care delivery. This therefore is partautobiography, part-manifesto and a memoir on Nigeria’s contemporary political developments.

Okupe has written an insider-participant’s account with such forthrightness that is unmistakable. He

Okupe does not even spare himself. With a bold face, he documents his record as a polygamist, or serial monogamist, with a record of four wives and nine children and a retinue of grandchildren. He is himself a product of a similar background. He is the child of the 9th wife out of his father’s ten wives, and the 17th child out of 41 children.

Born in Iperu in 1952, his father, Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe was a haulage business owner who in 1945 established a bank – the Agbonmagbe Bank which had branches in the North and the South in Zaria, Ebute Meta, Mushin, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu Igbo. The bank would eventually become the National Bank, and transmute into a new brand, what is known today as Wema Bank. Chief Okupe eventually went into politics, a contemporary of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, H.O. Davies, Akin Maja, and Alhaji S. O. Gbadamosi. Okupe’s foray into politics was not influenced by his father, but the elder Okupe was his first hero, who taught him about values, temperance and faith. In this book, Okupe pays tribute to many mentors: those who have impacted his life positively and given him opportunities in life. These include his maternal grandmother, who taught him the art of discipline, his half-sister, Dr (Mrs) Adeola Olumide (nee Okupe), a medical doctor who insisted that the best path for him in life would be a career in medicine, Chief Akin Ogunmade-Davies who introduced him to the world of political communication and public relations, Chief Duro Onabule, who as editor of the National Concord newspaper taught Okupe the rudiments of media practice and writing, and gave him a platform to be heard. There was also Biodun Shobanjo, of Insight Communications with whom he worked on political marketing for the National Republican Convention (NRC).

Many in the Nigerian political space know Okupe for his rambunctious style. Whatever rascality anyone may ascribe to him seems to have been acquired in his days as a student at Igbobi College, Lagos where as a young man nicknamed “Dorrie”, he acquired quite a reputation for unconventional behaviour. He eventually ended up at the University of Ibadan. He gained admission to study Medicine at the age of 19. He graduated at 24. By his own account, he was an excellent student who took his studies seriously, and also enjoyed the privilege

of having very good teachers. He is so proud of the training that he received, he tells his readers: “I have not practised medicine for a long time but I can still consider myself very proficient in Medicine because this lecturer of mine took me through every aspect of medicine. …Till today, you can’t fault my diagnosis. I learnt medicine from a genius. It was the knowledge in Medicine acquired from Professor Bademosi that I used in Surgery, Cardiology and other departments.” (p.

35). Well, I don’t know about diagnosis. What this writer knows is that when he was Dr Doyin Okupe’s colleague at the Presidential Villa during the Jonathan years, we used to crack jokes behind his back that he had left his chosen field of Medicine for so long, and made a detour into politics for too many years, nobody should accept any prescription from him - even for Malaria, because he might not remember!

Dr. Okupe actually practised medicine for a short while. After his National Youth Service year in 1978, he worked briefly at the St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, and also at Juli-San Clinic, also in Lagos. In 1982, he and two others - Dr. Seyi Roberts and Dr. Ladi Okuboyejo teamed up to set up a joint practice, The Royal Cross Medical Centre in Obalende, Lagos. The practice thrived.

The young doctors had great fun, and there was Iya Modinat, who sold delicious rice “a stone’s throw from the clinic,” whose joint soon became a major attraction for many young Executives who patronized her and also stopped by at the clinic in the evenings. Dr. Okupe did not stay long in the Medical Theatre. He had developed interest in politics as a part-time vocation. He attended meetings of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), the ruling party in Nigeria at the time, but an opposition party in Lagos. He chose the NPN because he wanted to play politics at the National level. He rose quickly within the party ranks to become the Vice Chairman for Epetedo Ward, and later Secretary of Eti Osa Local Government in 1978/1980. Okupe was an associate of Dr Wahab Dosunmu who would later become Federal Minister of Works and Housing. In 1982, he contested for the Federal House of Representatives. His career as a politician had effectively begun. A substantial part of the book is understandably devoted to this new career, with Okupe’s account of his membership and participation in such political groupings as the Liberal Convention, the Alagbo Group, the National Republican Convention (NRC) which he would later serve as National Publicity Secretary, the People’s Democratic Party, the National Accord Party, and others.

His political journey is the perfect stuff of adventure. He tells not just his story, but his encounters and relationships with others, across the country, North and South. In over 40 years, Okupe comes across as an experienced politician and bridge builder who was either at the ringside or inside the arena during critical moments in Nigerian history. Readers would find particularly interesting his account of the processes leading to the formation of political parties and groups, the politics of June 12, the formation of the Oodua People’s Congress, the emergence and activities of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) as well as his interaction with key political figures: Chief Tom Ikimi, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Rufus Ada George, Bamanga Tukur, Awwal Tukur, Bashir Tofa, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Segun Osoba, Buruji Kashamu, Chief Edwin Clark and others.

The high point of Dr Doyin Okupe’s political career is readily his appointment by President Olusegun Obasanjo as his government’s Special Assistant on Media. This raised Okupe’s profile and shot him into national and international limelight. He gives a detailed and robust account of an appointment

that gave him so much joy and fulfillment but he was shocked when the President sacked him!

Thus began a period in his life that he classified as “Half-Time”, a period of about 11 years (2001 -2012) during which he tried his hands at entrepreneurship and had to hustle for survival and capital. As fate would have it, he had the opportunity of a return to the Presidential Villa under President Goodluck Jonathan as Senior Special Assistant, Public Affairs in 2012. We worked together. He was a very attentive and committed heavy-hitter. One of his first declarations on assumption of duty was that he was no longer “an attack dog” but an “attack lion”. The Jonathan administration needed a lion in its attacking mid-field. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the coalition of opposition forces that created a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called the All Progressives Congress (APC) bombarded the administration with hypertensive and hyperbolic attacks. Governance turned into vitriol and war by another name. There were issues on the table: the abduction of the Chibok Girls, Boko Haram.

In 2015, the PDP lost the Presidential election.

Okupe tells the story of the last days and what he calls “an unpleasant ending” that is - the second jeopardy. He insists that “the APC never won the 2015 Presidential election.”

At 70, Okupe has seen quite a lot and learnt so much about the nature of Nigerian politics and the character of the average politician. In reporting this, he draws attention to the intrigues in political corridors, the sycophancy of politicians, the use of money as a tool of influence and the fetishization, the reign of occultism, in Nigerian politics. A recurrent refrain in his narrative, however, is his faith in God, and how God has been faithful to him at every point in his journey, including when he first discovered that when he prays to God from the comfort of his bathroom, the “prayers are always speedily answered.” Okupe defends himself: he says he does not believe in the use of politics to amass wealth and that he has never stolen a penny.

But he says he prefers to forgive those who have wronged him.

The second part of the book is his political manifesto: his plans for the reinvention of Nigeria.

Whereas there is little to argue about in the earlier parts of the book which focus on the author’s experience, his prescriptions for Nigeria may generate debate and difference. It would be recalled that Dr. Doyin Okupe has since declared interest in the 2023 Presidential election in Nigeria. His chosen political platform for pursuing this ambition remains unknown. Questions have also been asked about how he intends to fund what is clearly an even more expensive enterprise, and a far more contentious proposition given the politics of zoning and power rotation as Nigeria embarks on the transition to another change of government at the Federal level. Okupe’s Double Jeopardy may well be taken as a campaign material: he presents himself warts and all, and he defines a social contract for Nigeria. Whatever anyone thinks of his ambition to be President, and the prospects, no one can deny that this is one man who has been here and there, who has lived a life of meaning and impact, and who beyond being a Prince of the Agbonmagbe dynasty of Iperu Remo in Ogun State is all things considered, a jolly good fellow, a media man, a prolific family man, a politician of great rank and so as he turns 70, he deserves hearty cheers, a song and a dance. Congratulations, Dr Okupe: Iperu Akesan Akesan Bale Oja Ara Oju Ona Obi Owo nso ti won Oro’woka Akesan d”ade Omo re da Oja Olori re ni da Oja… Best wishes and many happy returns.

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