TUESDAY 3RD MARCH 2020

With Planned Demutualisation, NSE to Unlock Nigeria’s Growth Potential Onyema, Aig-Imoukhuede, Ogunbanjo list other gains of impending regime Obinna Chima The court-ordered meeting as well as an extraordinary general meeting of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) holding in Lagos today,

will pave the way for the commencement of the process to demutualise the Exchange, thereby unlocking Nigeria’s economic growth potential, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY gathered that

if the resolution is passed at the meetings today, the demutualisation process will lead to the conversion of the NSE from a company limited by guarantee, to a company limited by shares.

It will also be re-registered as a company in the name Nigerian Exchange Group Plc. However, the shares of the NSE would not be listed immediately after the demutualisation, but

later. This would be after other documentation and registrations would have been done.

With the process, the NSE would be unbundled and the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc

would be a non-operating holding company.

Under the holding company, there would be subsidiaries, which would include the Continued on page 10

Standard & Poor’s Revises Nigeria’s Outlook to Negative...

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Buhari Offers Solace as Bandits Kill 51 in Kaduna Says FG won’t allow reign of terror to subsist El-Rufai rules out amnesty, negotiations with gunmen Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday offered comfort

to the people of two local government areas in Kaduna State where bandits killed 51 people on Sunday and injured scores of others.

The president, who condoled with the bereaved family and sympathised with the injured, in a statement by presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba

Shehu, assured the people of Kaduna State and other parts of the country that his government would continue to deploy all resources at its

disposal to fight bandits and wipe them out.

The state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who also visited the affected

communities in Igabi and Giwa Local Government Areas, foreclosed the possibility of Continued on page 10

Coronavirus: Nigeria Places Italy, Iran, S’Korea, Japan on Watch List Tracing 156 co-passengers of infected Italian Cautions schools against forcing students to wear face masks Fayemi orders screening of passengers at motor parks Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Martins Ifijeh in Lagos, Francis Sardauna in Katsina and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The federal government has placed five countries with community transmission of COVID-19, comprising Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China on its watch list.

The federal Ministry of Health is also tracing 156 passengers that boarded the Turkish Airline flight with the Italian that tested positive to Coronavirus on arrival in Nigeria. It is believed that some of the passengers may have left the country after stopping over for days.

Besides, the federal government has cautioned schools against forcing students to wear face masks, adding

that the virus is treatable.

Also, following the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Lagos, the Katsina State Government has inaugurated an emergency operation centre to tackle any outbreak of the disease in the state.

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has also directed medical experts to start screening passengers coming into the state from border states to prevent the spread of the virus to the state.

However, as the federal government stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the virus in the country, the DirectorGeneral, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said yesterday that the government had decided to place four more Continued on page 10

Again, S'Court Adjourns Ihedioha's Judgment SECURING THE DELTA...

L-R: Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai (left), and Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, during the Reversal Application Hearing... Page 6 presentation of a Certificate of Occupancy for 63 Brigade Headquarters Complex to the Army chief in Asaba...yesterday

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

Standard & Poor’s Revises Nigeria’s Outlook to Negative

Obinna Chima One of the leading global rating agencies, Standard & Poor’s (S&P), yesterday revised its outlook on Nigeria to ‘negative’ from ‘stable.’ Also, it affirmed its 'B/B' long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings on the country, just as it lowered its long- and short-term Nigeria national scale ratings to 'ngA-/ngA-2' from

'ngA/ngA-1'.

The rating agency in a statement yesterday hinged its decision on the fact that Nigeria's economic growth remains weak, “slower than that of several peers at a similar rating level.�

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.27 per cent in full-year 2019, compared to 1.91 per cent recorded in the preceding year.

INEC Lists Priority Areas for Electoral Reform

Says commission’s draft bill ready

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday highlighted areas of concerns that the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act should address.

He listed the areas to include: "Increasing citizens’ confidence by enhancing the transparency and credibility of the electoral process; entrenching internal democracy within political parties; and ensuring inclusivity in the electoral process for marginalised segments of society such as women, youths and persons living with disability.�

Other areas are: “Reducing the cost of elections; curbing the incidence of violence and sundry malpractices in the electoral process and ensuring that violators of electoral laws are effectively sanctioned; and deepening the deployment of technology in elections."

He added that the commission would also seek to address the need for more autonomy and independence for INEC. The INEC chairman said at a workshop with civil society organisations in Abuja that before looking at specific provisions of the Electoral Act, the commission had defined the basic principles, which should guide any review.

He explained that the revised bill amended some sections and subsections of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Yakubu also said the commission’s draft for the amendment of the Electoral Act was ready, adding that it requires further internal review ahead of submission to the National Assembly.

He stated that after the commission had listened to Nigerians, saying it was clear that a review of the Electoral Act in particular, and the electoral legal framework in general, must be anchored on some factors.

"In presenting the draft bill to the commission, the Senate Committee specifically requested for the commission’s input into areas that will strengthen the proposed legislation.

"In turn, the commission shared the draft bill internally with the national commissioners and directors at the headquarters as well as the resident electoral commissioners and senior officials in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for comments. These comments have now been compiled into a draft document that this retreat will discuss and validate as

the commission’s position on the electoral legal framework," he stated.

He explained that the commission’s draft document has also taken the comments and suggestions by stakeholders into consideration, especially following the conclusion of the 2019 general election.

He said the commission had organised a series of post-election review meetings ending with a retreat in Lagos in July last year, where participants in the series of consultative meetings canvassed for electoral reforms.

"For an enduring review, the commission looked at the electoral legal framework comprehensively.

The commission reviewed existing provisions with regard to elections in both the constitution and the Electoral Act, although for the purpose of this retreat the focus of attention is on the Electoral Act. The procedure for constitutional alterations is handled separately, including a different procedure for harnessing citizens’ input.

"Our draft is ready but requires further internal review ahead of submission to the National Assembly," he added.

According to him, the commission’s input is not limited to the review proposed by the National Assembly, adding that as election managers, INEC conducts elections and also monitors pre-election activities such as party primaries and handles post-election processes, including the outcome of litigations. “We must, at this meeting, cast our nets wide by dissecting the Electoral Act in the light of experience and proposing wide-ranging amendments that will give the nation an electoral legal framework that can truly protect their choice and guarantee free, fair and credible elections".

He commended the Senate Committee on INEC and the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters for their readiness to join the retreat on Thursday and Friday for in-depth review of both their proposal and INEC's input.

According to the INEC chairman, this is the first time the National Assembly and INEC are coming together on electoral reform, explaining that the commission looks forward to this opportunity to serve Nigerians better.

He commended the commission's development partners, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), for their untiring support to the electoral and democratic processes.

But S&P in the statement stressed that weak growth, sizable public debt and external pressure were all weighing on Nigeria's credit worthiness.

It noted that the country’s foreign exchange reserve levels have fallen from $45 billion at mid-year 2019 to $38 billion at end-2019 and $36.5 billion in February 2020. “The Central Bank of Nigeria has been issuing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bills, which have attracted foreign investors.

About a third of foreignexchange reserves are derived from non-resident holders of these CBN bills, positions we consider to be vulnerable to a change in investor sentiment. “Owing to the late passage of the budget in 2019, government funding pressures resulted in increased financing from the central bank through overdraft facilities. As a consequence of these pressures, we are revising the outlook to negative from stable,� it stated.

It, however, said it might lower the ratings if “Nigeria's international reserves decline markedly, external debt rises significantly faster than our current assumptions or if our projections of gradual fiscal consolidation do not materialise. “We could raise our ratings if Nigeria's economic performance were to strengthen significantly, forex reserve levels rose or if fiscal deficits were to reduce faster than we project." “In October 2019, Nigerian local non-bank participants were restricted from participating in CBN auctions, which subsequently resulted in a larger portion of CBN bills being held by non-residents (estimated at about $12 billion or one-third of reserves). “These holdings could be subject to changes in foreign investor sentiment and a potential sell-off, thereby creating risks to current reserve levels.

Given these risks, we have added CBN bills to general

government debt. Therefore, our estimate of general government debt, net of liquid assets, now stands at an average of 39 per cent of GDP in 2020-2023,� it added.

The rating agency noted that Nigeria's growth rates remain low relative to peers with similar wealth levels, adding that the country’s GDP per capita growth has been negative in dollar terms.

Nevertheless, it viewed the approval of the 2020 budget in 2019, prior to the start of the fiscal year, and much earlier than recent years, as favourable for budget execution and capital projects. “Increased foreign currency flows into the market and a relatively stable exchange rate have supported a slight rebound in non-oil sector growth. In the fourth-quarter of 2019 the economy grew 2.6 per cent, the strongest expansion since the third quarter of 2015. “The non-oil sector grew by

2.3 per cent. The extension of bank credit to the private sector is still weak. That said, in its most recent measure to boost credit, the CBN has encouraged banks to increase lending by maintaining a minimum loanto-deposit ratio of 65 per cent. “It has also excluded banks from participating in some auctions of government securities (where they earn a comfortable low-risk margin, which in turn discourages them to lend to the wider economy). “In an environment of low oil prices, boosting nonoil economic growth and associated tax revenue have been priorities for the Buhari’s government. Absence of further structural policy reforms to stimulate economic growth, we forecast real GDP will expand by a modest two per cent or 2.4 per cent over the medium term. In per capita terms, this translates into negative growth over our forecast horizon,� it added.

HOMAGE TO THE GRANDMASTER...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (left), and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, during a courtesy visit by the governor to the former president at his hilltop residence in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State‌yesterday

Osinbajo Chairs Committee on Proliferation of Small, Light Weapons Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja A new committee to help curb the proliferation of small and light arms was inaugurated in Abuja yesterday with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as chairman.

The presidential committee, which had its inaugural meeting in the State House, has as members, top security chiefs and other stakeholders.

The committee's debut was the fallout of the decision of the last National Security Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari with the president's directive authorising Osinbajo to chair the panel.

The committee was saddled with the responsibility of reviewing the report of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM) set up by the administration of

former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and factor in the current realities.

A statement by the vicepresident's spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, explained that the presidential directive for the review of the report of PRESCOM was meant to secure a solution to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.

According to the statement, the scourge of insurgency in the North-east and other security challenges plaguing the country are fuelled by the influx of small arms and light weapons.

"At the last National Security Council meeting, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the vice president to chair a committee to review the report of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM) constituted in April 2013 by

the then federal government.

"In line with that presidential directive, Prof. Osinbajo on Monday (yesterday) chaired the inaugural meeting of the review committee, calling for the development of clear cut, a specific line of action to address the serious problems of small arms and light weapons, many of which fuel the insurgency in the North-east and other security challenges in the country," the statement said.

At the meeting yesterday, Osinbajo said the gravity of the proliferation of small and light arms in the country made the setting up of the review committee compelling. “The problem we have at hand is really enormous,�

Osinbajo was quoted as saying, adding that the president is keen on finding effective and prompt solutions to the menace.

Akande listed members

of the review committee as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami; the Ministers of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; his Foreign Affairs counterpart, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu.

Others are the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd); Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmed Abubakar; the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman; and the Chairman of PRESCOM, Mr. Emmanuel Imohe.

Also in the committee are the representatives of the DirectorGeneral of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Ministry of Defence.

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Again, S’Court Adjourns Ihedioha’s Judgment Reversal Application Hearing Resumes today, fixes Zamfara case for March 17 Alex Enumah in Abuja For the second time in one month, the Supreme Court yesterday adjourned hearing in the application by a former governor of Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, seeking a reversal of his removal by the apex court.

It also adjourned hearing in the case of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State to March 17 to enable the applicant to serve the suit on all parties.

The adjournment in the Imo case was sequel to a request by the lead counsel to Ihedioha, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), who requested for time to study a process served on him inside the court yesterday.

Ihedioha in the application filed on February 6, is asking the apex court to set aside the judgment sacking him as governor on the ground that the judgment was a nullity because it was procured by fraud.

However, when the matter was called on February 18, Agabi asked for a short adjournment to enable him to respond to the processes filed by the APC and the Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who are the first and second respondents in the case.

His request was accordingly granted and the seven-member panel of justices of the Supreme Court, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, adjourned hearing till yesterday.

However, when the matter was called yesterday, Agabi informed the court that he had just been served inside the court with the reply of the respondents and he would need to look at the documents in order to respond accordingly.

Although, counsel to the APC and Uzodinma, Mr. Damian Dodo (SAN), and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Tanimu Inuwa (SAN), had indicated their readiness to proceed with the hearing, Justice Muhammad

adjourned the matter till today as requested by the applicants.

The Supreme Court had on January 14, 2020 ordered the removal of Ihedioha from office on the ground that he did not win majority of lawful votes cast in the March 9 governorship election.

INEC had declared Ihedioha as winner of the March 9 governorship election, having won the majority of lawful votes cast at the governorship poll.

The Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in their concurrent decisions in the appeal filed by Uzodinma also upheld Ihedioha's election and dismissed his petition on the ground that Uzodinma did not prove his allegations against the election of Ihedioha.

But the apex court held otherwise.

The court in its judgment disagreed with the decisions of the lower courts on the grounds that they erred in law when they excluded votes from 388 polling units from the total scores at the poll.

According to the apex court in the judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, when the excluded votes totalling over 200,000 were added, Uzodinma and not Ihedioha actually won majority of the lawful votes cast in the March 9 governorship election.

The apex court consequently declared Uzodinma governor of Imo State and ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return earlier issued to Ihedioha and issue a fresh one to Uzodinma.

The court accordingly ordered that Uzodinma who came fourth in the election be sworn in as governor of Imo State.

But Ihedioha in his application said the apex court was misled into arriving at the decision, which removed him from office.

He clarified that his application before the apex court was not in any way seeking review of the court's judgment or asking the apex court to sit on appeal over its judgment.

He explained that his application is seeking the court "to set aside its January 14, 2020 verdict that removed him from office for being a nullity.

"The application is not an academic exercise or an invitation to this honourable court to answer hypothetical questions as the issue of nullity of the judgment of January 14, 2020 is neither academic nor hypothetical.

"Contrary to the deposition

by Governor Hope Uzodinma, he (Uzodinma) never stated the results of the other 68 candidates that participated in the election at the 388 polling units, as their scores were not indicated anywhere by the appellants," he said in the latest affidavit.

He argued that contrary to the depositions by the respondents, there is nowhere in the judgment of the apex court delivered on January 14, 2020 in which the decision of the lower court striking out the petition for incompetence was set aside or upturned.

However, Uzodinma on his part urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit and a waste of the court's

time having been caught up with section 285 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides a 60-day life span for the hearing and determination of the appeal.

Uzodinma and the APC, who are first and second respondents respectively, in their reply to Ihedioha's motion, claimed that the request is nothing but a mere academic exercise and an affront to the 1999 Constitution.

In a 19-paragraph affidavit filed in opposition to Ihedioha's application, the governor and his party asserted that the 60 days allowed for the Supreme Court by the constitution has since lapsed.

"The undisputed facts relating to the respondents/applicants’ motion hereinafter referred to as “the motion� are to the effect that the judgment of the Court of Appeal was delivered on 21st September, 2019 while the one sought to be set aside was delivered on 14th January, 2020. Clearly, the 60 days allowed

by Section 285(7) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for this honourable court to hear and determine appeal from the Court of Appeal in an election matter, lapsed on 17th January,

2020. The motion to set it aside was filed on 5th February, 2020, 19 days after the time allowed by the constitution.

"It is now a settled law that the 60 days’ time limit to determine and conclude litigation on election matters is sacrosanct and cannot be extended by any guise", they said in the counter affidavit filed on their behalf by Dodo.

Meanwhile the court has also adjourned hearing in the Zamfara State APC case till March 17 to enable the applicant to serve the suit on all parties.

Respondents in the suit include Senator Kabiru Marafa and 180 Zamfara APC candidates in the 2019 general election.

The APC is asking the apex court to review the consequential order which gave rise to the swearing in of candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into office from governorship to national and state House of Assembly positions.

The apex court had in its judgment last year voided the participation of the APC in the 2019 general election in Zamfara State due to the party's failure to conduct primary election as required by law.

The court having declared all votes cast for the APC in various elective positions in the state as wasted, ordered that candidates of the party with the highest number of votes and spread be sworn in as governor, senators, House of Representatives members as well as members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

However, when the matter was called yesterday, it was discovered that some respondents in the suit were yet to be served with the court's processes as they were not in court nor represented by their lawyers.

Although counsel to the APC, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), informed the court that an affidavit of service on all respondents had been filed, the CJN said there was no evidence to that effect since the affidavit was not in the court's record.

Clarke accordingly asked for a short adjournment to enable him to do the needful.

Since the request was not opposed by counsel to the respondents, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the presiding justice subsequently adjourned till March 17 for hearing.

Kayode Denies Involvement in EXPLORING THE MINING WORLD...

Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olu Adedayo; the Permanent Secretary, Alleged N35bn Defence Contracts L-R: Mr. Edet Sunday; and the Minister, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, at the opening of Prospectors and Developers Association of

Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja

Former Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), has denied news reports alleging his involvement in arms procurement contracts under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The report had alleged that a sum of N35 billion arms contracts were diverted out of which a contractor alleged he gave $240,000 to some senior state officials through a proxy.

However, in a statement in Abuja yesterday signed by Tunji Salawu, Kayode described the report as unfounded and false.

He said: "Our attention has been drawn to a publication in some newspapers in which a contractor was alleged to have given $240,000 to Mr. Mike Oghiadomhe Jnr. to give to his father and Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) in respect to a 2008 arms contract. There is no iota of truth in the said allegation. Punch did a lot of disservice to its self by not seeking reaction from Prince

Kayode before going to press.

"It is on record that Mr. Oghiadome Jnr. has consistently refused any suggestion that he took any money from the contractor and that he never gave any money to Prince Kayode. Also, the mixed up in the narrative of the contractor is glaring.�

As a minister, Kayode said he had no hand in the processing of contracts, saying that was the turf of the Tenders Board, while approval was by the president.

According to the statement, “Prince Kayode was not the Defence Minister when the alleged contract was issued.

Kayode was the 8th minister in 9 years between 2002 and 2011. He left office in 2011.

"It is expected that the media should have asked for his reaction before publication.

This regrettably was not done.

The public must discountenance this baseless allegation. Prince Kayode never collected any money from any contractor on any defence contract. Please keep him out of any smear campaign.�

Canada’s world’s premier mineral exploration and mining convention in Toronto, Canada‌yesterday

Oyetola Reverses Aregbesola’s Education Policies Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Osun State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, has approved the recommendations of the committee on education review, which reversed the education policies of his predecessor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.

The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, at a press conference jointly addressed with her counterpart in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Folorunso Bamisayemi, said the recommendations of the committee were approved at the State Executive Council meeting held yesterday.

Under the new policy, Oyetola has approved the reversal of a single uniform policy and each school in the state will revert to its former uniform identical to its students with effect from the

next academic session.

Aregbesola had introduced a single uniform for all the schools in the state.

The state government has also resolved that each secondary school should be referred to as 'Grammar School' as against ‘Middle/High School’ introduced by the Aregbesola administration.

The state executive council also agreed that the education system be reversed to 6-3-3-4 as against 4-5-3-4 introduced

by Aregbesola.

According to the state government, the reversal became necessary because of overwhelming demand from the people.

The state government also approved that the tablet of knowledge, known as 'Opon Imo,' be reintroduced while the government will consider collaboration with stakeholders

for effective implementation.

The merger of girls’ high schools and boys’ high schools was also reversed with girls and boys having separate schools.

The review committee, chaired

by Professor Olu Aina, in its report, had urged the governor to return schools to the former status before the administration of Aregbesola.

Egbemode said 10 of the recommendations were approved at the executive meeting.

However, moderating the briefing, the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, noted that the speculations about the policy being an affront to the former administration was not correct, stating that the new policies are the government's response to the yearnings of the people.

The governor had earlier constituted the panel to look at some extant education policies

in the state, with a mandate to review and come up with workable recommendations that could further improve the state’s education system.

Quoting a renowned American author, John Maxwell, who has written many books on leadership, Oyetola, who noted ‘a man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them and strong enough to correct them,’ said every responsible and responsive government must make people's demands the basis of its policies and implementation.

He added that the need to review the education policy was informed by the people's demand, saying the government would ensure full implementation of whatever that will improve the lots of the people and protect the future of its children.

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PAGE TEN CORONAVIRUS: NIGERIA PLACES ITALY, IRAN, S’KOREA, JAPAN ON WATCH LIST countries on the watch list.

He told Channels TV that the four nations were added to China, which has been on the list since January.

He explained that the federal government has now added four more countries to enable authorities to heighten surveillance for travellers from these countries.

He said: “Anyone travelling from these nations who fall ill within 14 days is advised to reach us to enable us to take their samples and then do tests to check whether or not they are positive to the virus. “We have been preparing for this for the past six weeks. So far, we have done 15 tests and only one came up positive. This shows our system is actually working. We are testing people that meet our case definition. “As you have seen in Lagos, we have had only one positive case and we have been able to mount a response in partnership with Ogun and Lagos States. “This virus is circulating around the world and over 50 countries have been affected.

We will do our very best to ensure it doesn’t further enter Nigeria and even if a few more cases happen, we can walk together to defeat it. Nigerians are also very cooperative. They have shown that truly, we can come together to address these incidents.�

According to him, one of the best investments the federal government has made is setting up NCDC, which has grown to become the pride of Africa.

He said the centre has a team of 250 persons who work 24/7 in the laboratories, surveillance, risk communication, among others; NCDC, he added, had built a team of scientific experts. “We are building a long term investment in science, thinking and in knowledge base as this will help us respond to incidence like this. “We have 23 emergency operation centres in the country as of today. This is an investment we have made over the past few years. We have five new molecular laboratories, which are actually not easy to set up. The buildings are actually the easiest part.

The more difficult ones are the laboratory and scientific expertise, the reagents, and the likes,� he added.

He called on state governments to invest in health security, adding that the federal government cannot tackle issues around disease outbreaks alone.

FG Tracing 156 Co-Passengers of Italian Patient The federal government also said the 156 passengers that boarded the flight with the Italian that tested positive to Covid-19 on arrival in Nigeria are being traced as some of them may have left the country after stopping over for days.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, told journalists in Abuja that apart from some of the phone numbers that

were not connecting, there was the likelihood that some of the passengers might have left the country.

He said the ministry, which was leading the efforts to arrest the further spread of the virus had so far done well.

The minister added that the team of health officials had been able to identify and quarantine 19 persons in Lagos who had met the index definition.

Besides, a total of 39 persons have been identified in Ogun State under the ongoing contact tracing operation.

"The only ones we know for sure is the number of people that were in the aircraft with the Italian who imported COVID-19 into the country, 156 persons. Those ones are still being traced and contacted.

We are having a huge challenge contacting these passengers; whereas some of them didn't leave phone numbers, others left numbers that were not connecting. Some were arriving in the country for the first time and probably haven't registered their SIM cards, some also left the country after a day or two, but there are ways we can track them through the passenger manifest," the minister said.

Ehanire explained that the owner of the aircraft has been notified as well as the embassies of the travel agencies involved in the flight operation.

However, Ehanire said the four Chinese, who were tested for Coronavirus, all came out negative.

"Contact tracing is a

specialised activity that is carried out by experts and technologists who know what information to look out for. And so far, we have been able to trace 19 persons in Lagos and 39 in Ogun who had contacts with the Italian COVID-19 victim,� he added.

Regarding the incidence and scope of fatality of the virus disease, he said China was leading with over 95 per cent cases while it had so far claimed 2,977 lives from 59 countries.

The minister said there were speculations that about 80 per cent of infected persons do not have severe symptoms, adding that the severity of the infection is based on the level of one's immune system.

According to Ehanire, the Covid-19 aliment is largely treatable if there are early signs of infection.

Also the minister used the opportunity to counsel Nigerians against panic measures but to always adhere to health advice on hygiene practices.

He advised against the idea of schools forcing students to wear face masks to classes.

He said even where such a measure might be necessary for those students who reported sick, the authorities of the school may have to think of subsidising the face mask.

emergency operation centre to tackle any outbreak of COVID-19 in the state.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Yakubu Danja, who briefed journalists yesterday on the preparedness of the state government, said the government had also reactivated its Emergency Response Committee and purchased personal protective equipment.

He reiterated that members of the committee would monitor, supervise and coordinate the state government’s response to the disease in rural and urban areas.

He explained that the state government has commenced the training of health workers, including disease surveillance and notification officers and clinicians on COVID-19.

Fayemi Orders Screening of Passengers at Motor Parks

others.

The government has also set up an isolation centre at the state specialist hospital for quarantining those suspected of being infected.

Fayemi, at a press conference on the virus infection in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, said he had co-opted the leadership of the drivers' unions to join the task force in a bid to tackle the spread of COVID-19, especially in the area of proper screening of disembarking passengers at motor parks and report those manifesting the symptoms to the appropriate quarters.

The Bishops of Anglican Communion, Ekiti State, Bishop Christopher Omotunde; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti, Bishop Felix Ajakaye; and the Chief Imam of Ekiti, Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere, are also members of the task force.

The governor, who allayed the people's fears, stated that 24 emergency centres had been provided across the state with enough internet facilities containing the already specified hotlines that can be contacted for emergency situations.

"As a responsible government, Ekiti will beat the virus and minimise its spread. Protective materials will be provided for all health facilities in the state within the next 24 hours,� he said, adding: "Well trained health officers will be available in all our facilities that can handle all information while passengers coming to the state will be screened at the motor parks and entry points.�

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Government has inaugurated an

In Ekiti State, Governor Fayemi had directed medical experts to start screening passengers coming into the state from border states to prevent the spread of the virus.

The governor also set up a 40-man task force to work for the prevention of the spread of the epidemic in the state.

The taskforce, chaired by Fayemi, has members drawn from medical bodies, religious and traditional institutions, civil society organisations, among

According to him, shortly after the bandits started the attack, there was security intervention both on the ground and in the air in which they were wiped out. “The security agencies are doing the best they can, but they find it difficult to get to remote areas in good time due to poor access roads while the native also find it difficult to alert security agencies due to poor GSM network.

"But I am grateful to the Air Force, Army, Police and DSS for being always prompt. It would have been worse. If not for their prompt intervention, they would have wiped out the entire villages. But people are still here. I also come to apologise to the community for failing them fully. We are doing our best to minimise the situation. We are hoping

that this bandit issue will be addressed because security agents are on ground to manage the situation,� the governor said.

He said Kaduna had vast land, adding that “if the security closed one area, they attack another area.�

The governor called on the people to continue to be patient and vigilant and “continue to forgive us where we have failed to fully protect them, but nevertheless, we will continue to do our best�.

He expressed condolences to the bereaved families and directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief materials to displaced victims.

Earlier, the District Head of Karewa, Alhaji Ibrahim Damu, appealed to the state

government to intensify efforts in tackling security challenges in the area.

He lamented the persistent invasion and kidnappings in the communities, saying, economic and social activities had been destroyed.

The governor was accompanied by the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ali Janga; the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Faruk Yahaya; and the Kaduna State Director of DSS. The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mr. Muhammad Jalige, however, said he was not in a position to ascertain the number of people killed in the attack.

surely bring about changes in the market structure with more participants. It will also give rise to improved corporate governance, higher levels of efficiency and lower transactions costs, which will inadvertently attract more listings to the market. “Furthermore, we expect a general boost in confidence both from investors and issuers resulting from increased trade activities and better opportunities for international alliances and cross border listings. We believe the value proposition associated with demutualisation will encourage more listings. “Our focus to increase retail participation and protect investors in our market will be unchanged. Retail investors will continue to have access to diversified asset classes for growing wealth and through the Investors’ Protection Fund we will continue to restitute proven cases of infractions but more importantly on artificial intelligence-driven market monitoring system will be sustained. “Ultimately, when the Exchange is ready to float new shares for the investing

public, retail investors would be a key consideration for the allocation of shares,� he added.

Katsina Inaugurates Emergency Operation Centre

BUHARI OFFERS SOLACE AS BANDITS KILL 51 IN KADUNA his administration negotiating with the gunmen or granting them amnesty.

The bandits were said to have invaded 13 villages in Kerawa Ward, where 51 people were killed while scores of others sustained injuries.

The villages were said to have been razed down by the bandits who, sources said, were probably on a revenge mission.

Some of the affected villages include Zareyawa, Kerawa, Marina Rago, Hashimawa, and Unguwar Barau villages, all in Kerawa Ward.

Thousands of women and children in the affected communities were said to have relocated to a primary school in Birnin Yero for refuge.

Reacting to the attack yesterday, Buhari expressed regrets about the incident, saying he was deeply saddened

by the latest banditry.

According to the president, from available reports, the bandits are deliberately venting their fury and frustration on innocent people as a result of the ongoing military and police offensive against them in the Birnin Gwari and Kaduru forests.

He said the federal government would resist orchestrated moves by criminals to blackmail it to abandon the current military operations meant to crush them.

"These criminals should make no mistake that they can establish a reign of terror on the people without feeling the full might of the government, which was elected to protect the citizens," the statement quoted the president as saying.

Buhari said his

administration would double efforts to fish out the bandits and make them pay for their crimes.

"The criminals cannot be lucky always; we are determined to frustrate and defeat them; and no matter how long they run or where they hide, they would be smoked out and brought to justice."

The governor, during a visit to the communities, said security agencies had been directed to wipe out the bandits.

El-Rufai said: “In Kaduna State, we don’t give bandits amnesty and we don’t negotiate with them.

"It is our duty to wipe them until we send them to their maker. The security agencies are taking the war to the forest and we are eliminating them.�

Continued on page 16

WITH PLANNED DEMUTUALISATION, NSE TO UNLOCK NIGERIA’S GROWTH POTENTIAL operating Exchange. When the process is finalised, the Exchange would be known as The Nigerian Exchange Limited and its regulatory powers would be removed.

It was also gathered that at the end of the process, a new regulatory company, NGX Regulation would be created to provide regulatory services to the operating Exchange, pursuant to an agreement.

The Chief Executive of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, told THISDAY yesterday that some benefits would accrue to the stock market once the process is finalised.

He explained that it would bring about the diversification of the financial system. “As you know, with a more agile and efficient Exchange, we would have a better capital market that can complement the banking sector, which presently dominates the funding of entities,� he said.

He added that African stock exchanges generally have liquidity challenge, saying that with a better exchange that is agile and more competitive, the liquidity challenges on the Nigerian stock market would

be addressed.

This, according to him, would make the market serve the Nigerian economy better. “The other economic benefit would actually be wealth creation for the general populace. “Again, if you have a demutualised NSE that is listed itself; that means the general populace can actually buy the shares and benefit from the growth of the Exchange. “So, because it is listed, it will be better governed and better managed. It will have more flexibility to raise capital. So, all these are expected to support the general populace who are shareholders,� he stated.

According to him, with demutualisation, the branding of the company would improve because it would be viewed as a modernised Exchange with independent directors.

Also speaking with THISDAY, the immediate past President of the NSE, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said the process was one that had been under consideration several years before he joined the Council of the NSE. “Without demutualisation,

the NSE will not realise its full potential neither would the capital market. Demutualisation to me is a necessary step towards the Nigerian capital market emerging as a global force to be reckoned with and that is what fueled my own desire to see the fulfillment of the journey,� he added.

He said the process would make the NSE more competitive. “One of the things that make financial institutions competitive is the fact that they are accountable to shareholders.

Another reason is corporate governance. “So, obviously once you are a company limited by shares and the public for that matter, you are subject to various standards of governance that are attached to companies of that nature. “So, I can summarise this as, one, competitiveness, corporate governance, and then, of course, access. “This means that it will introduce new players into the capital market and who will bring significant value particularly international players,� the former Access Bank CEO explained.

He expressed optimism that the exercise would lead the NSE to emerge as one of Nigeria’s best-performing companies in the next 20 years. “I feel that there is a significant need for innovation in the Nigerian capital market and demutualisation is going to unlock that,� Aig-Imoukhuede said.

Similarly, the President of the NSE, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, said demutualisation of the Exchange would benefit the economy in more ways than one.

He stated that postdemutualisation, the emerging entities would be subject to companies’ income tax and other relevant taxes payable by for-profit organisations, thereby providing an additional source of tax revenue for the Nigerian government.

Ogunbanjo expressed optimism that it would reinforce the continuous growth and development of a dynamic, fair, transparent and efficient capital market and thus significantly contribute to Nigeria’s economic development. “The demutualisation of The Nigerian Stock Exchange will

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % LAWUNION 0.09 0.99 10 AIICO 0.06 0.83 7.7 ETERNA 0.11 2.10 5.5 FCMB 0.09 1.80 5.2 COURTVILLE 0.01 0.21 5.0 TOP LOSERS NGN % LAFARGE 1.55 13.95 10 NESTLE 113.00 1,017.00 10 PZCUSSON 0.45 4.05 10 UNILEVER 4.50 40.50 10 NAHCO 0.26 2.35 9.9 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,017.00 Volume: 325.26 million shares Value: N6.03 billion Deals: 5,054 As at yesterday 02/03/2020 See details on Page 33

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Sanwo-Olu: Two More Foreign Nationals Tested Negative to Coronavirus

Takes COVID-19 advocacy to the grassroots Meets 57 council chairmen, CDA, CDC State govt isolates most of contacts of Italian carrier Eddie Alegbe Two more foreign nationals suspected to be carrying the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) from a high-risk country in Asia have tested negative in Lagos State, the Chief Incident Commander, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said yesterday.

The governor disclosed that series of medical examination at the state’s bio-security facility conducted on the two patients, who were brought from Ogun State over the weekend, did not show any sign of COVID-19 infection.

Sanwo-Olu made this known during an advocacy meeting

held at the Banquet Hall in State House, Alausa, with all 57 council chairmen, community health officers from all councils, representatives of Community Development Association (CDA) and Community Development Council (CDC) across Lagos.

All Progressives Congress (APC) members led by the state Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, attended the event.

The governor, who spoke in Yoruba dialect, observed that the condition of the Italian national tested positive to the virus last Friday was improving, saying the Incident Command Centre was satisfied with recovery of the infected patient.

Sanwo-Olu said the aim of the meeting with the local government stakeholders was to engage them in propagating accurate information on the virus at the grassroots and also to cascade down communication on how to prevent the human-to-human transmission in case of potential outbreak.

He said: “We have called for this meeting as part of proactive measures we are taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus to our local communities. It is no more news that we are managing a case in Lagos, but the situation does not

call for panic. One of the lessons we learnt during the outbreak of Ebola virus six years ago is that, the grassroots was adequately sensitised and prepared.

“We are bringing the lesson back in this period when we are dealing with another highly contagious virus. We don’t want to record any loss of life to this virus. My administration places premium value on human life, which is the reason we have upgraded facilities at our bio-security centre and Infectious Disease Hospital to stop the spread of the virus. But, we believe we will achieve better

results in this effort if people at the grassroots are properly sensitised on how to protect their communities from the virus and other contagious diseases.

“Government is doing its best to stop coronavirus, but Government cannot do it alone. It requires collective responsible of everybody living in Lagos to stop the virus.

Therefore, what we are doing today is to cascade information on coronavirus down to people in our various communities and towns.

We want every resident of the State to have first-hand information on the virus and how to report any

possible case to the authorities.”

Sharing more updates on the case being managed, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the Government had intensified its search for all persons that had interaction with the isolated patient.

Abayomi disclosed that the Incident Command Centre was still investigating possible transmission of the virus, pointing out that the Centre had identified all the local contacts that interacted with the patient, including some passengers in the aircraft and six other persons who came in contact with the carrier at the airport.

Iwu Develops Potential Treatment for Coronavirus A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, yesterday disclosed that his team has developed a potential treatment for coronavirus disease.

Iwu made this claim when he led members of his team to Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and his Science and Technology counterpart, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in Abuja yesterday.

The Cable reported that Iwu commended the federal government for the efforts to find a cure to the deadly virus.

“Honourable Minister, Sir, I am here to formally brief you about our drug discovery project, which has led to the identification of a potential treatment agent for Coronavirus infections,” he said.

“Your Excellency will recall that when the Ebola virus infection broke out in 2014 many people

were surprised that our research group had an experimental lead compound that was identified 15 years earlier in 1999.

“And now with the emergence of a novel Coronavirus in 2019 as Covid-19 we had identified and patented a possible treatment back in 2015. It is very important that we must remain ahead of these emergent infections through research.

“We have under consideration possible dosage forms, including a combination product formulation of the three agents (Rhygyfyn) described in our patents as broad spectrum antiviral drug, identified and developed here in Nigeria.

“We are set to introduce the products but our only limitation is finance. As you well know, science is a very expensive undertaking. I will like to plead with you to use your good office to kindly appeal to Nigerians for their support.”

South-east Records Highest Sexual, Gender-based Violence Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) yesterday said it has received over 113 cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) within the six geo-political zones with South-east having the highest record.

Besides, the commission said it’s working on a recommendation to the federal government through the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as part of his request for immediate steps to arrest the scourge in the society.

Briefing participants at the public sitting organised by the Special Panel on SGBV in Nigeria for the South-south geo-political zone in Benin City, capital of Edo State, NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu Esq., said of the number of complaint received, South-east accounted for the highest number with 35, representing 30 per cent, North-central 19, North-west 17, South-south 26, South-west 12, while the North-east has the

lowest number of four.

He said the disclosure was coming on the hill of stakeholders’ call for more enlightenment to be carried out to encourage victims to speak out.

Ojukwu said the panel was constituted after a complaint received on April 26, 2019, when armed security personnel led by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) under the auspices of the FCT joint task force raided night club and the streets of Abuja.

“The essence of this SGBV panel is to check the scourge of sexual and gender based violence in Nigeria and increase access of Nigerians to the service of the commission to seek for accountability where there is evidence to indicate that any officer or official or any individual is involved in the act of sexual and gender based violence.

“I am using this opportunity to commend the complainants and the public for the courage to lodge their complaints and submit memoranda to this panel despite some reported cases of intimidation.

SENSITISATION CAMPAIGN…

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, displaying coronavirus sensitisation materials during an advocacy meeting with local council chairmen and other stakeholders at Lagos House, Alausa... yesterday

Obasanjo Seeks Prayers for Better Nigeria Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said all hands must be on deck to address security challenges in the country.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by a special envoy to the archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Justin Welby, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Obasanjo maintained that all Nigerians must work and pray to restore unity amongst all.

“There are so many areas

in the world where attentions are needed for peace, equity, and justice. We just cannot as children of God, fold our hands where needs abound for us to do something.”

The former president, while narrating conversations with some African leaders recently, stressed that other countries on the continent see Nigeria as a big brother, but show worries that issues of unity and security

have not been addressed.

“If you Nigeria cannot solve your security problem or unity, how can we look up to you for help,” Obasanjo quoted the worries of an African leader, but his response was; “help comes from God and we are looking up to God for help.

“We cannot fold our hands, we must work and pray, but I’m a very irredeemable optimist about Nigeria and

the world. If we show love, I think all other human problems we can deal with,” he stated.

The envoy led by Bishop Precious Amuku brought a message of peace to the former president ahead of his 83rd birthday anniversary.

Prayers were offered to the former president for long life, peace in Nigeria, Africa and indeed the world.

Sylva: S’Court Judgment Criminalised Bayelsa APC Dep Governorship Candidate Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timi Sylva has said that the disqualified deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent Bayelsa State governorship election, Senator Biobarakuma Degi Eremienyo may commit suicide on account of blemish and doubts cast on his name by the case.

Debunking the report of forgery levied against Degi-Eremienyo, Sylva, the APC leader in Bayelsa State expressed shock at the Supreme Court judgment which

he described as a travesty of justice that criminalised the APC chieftain..

The minister further affirmed that it was shocking that the apex court did not recommend the prosecution of the APC running mate if it really established the case of forgery.

Sylva spoke on Channels Television Sunrise programme yesterday morning rise The minister said, “I have in my hand somebody that is contemplating suicide; somebody that has been criminalised for life. We feel that there are aspects that cannot stand the test of time.”

He confirmed that the deputy governorship candidate has requested the police to investigate him to disprove the allegation of forgery, stating that there was no single allegation of forgery leveled against the candidate.

Sylva said the various name changes in the credentials of the candidate were incidental to cultural variations and mistakes that could not be blamed on the candidate.

“Forgery is supposed to be a criminal offence and when you have this kind of situation you have to come out and correct the impression. There was no

forgery here at all. There were just variants of the name on the certificate and the Supreme Court went ahead to uphold the judgment of a lower court.

“We are also saying that the Supreme Court has introduced extraneous things to that judgment. That judgment said that the deputy governor had been disqualified, but that judgment did not disqualify the governorship candidate.

“The Supreme Court went ahead and disqualified the governorship candidate. Where did that come before the court because you don’t give what was not asked?

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NEWS

IATA Seeks Global Suspension of Slot Rules due to Coronavirus

Chinedu Eze

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is contacting aviation regulators worldwide to request that the rules governing use of airport slots be suspended immediately for the 2020 season, due to the impact of COVID-19 (the Coronavirus).

Slot is time allocation given to airlines to land at very busy airports in the world.

IATA said that around 43 per cent of all passengers depart from over 200 slot-coordinated airports worldwide.

The global body said that at present, the rules for slot allocation mean that airlines must operate at least 80 per cent of their allocated slots under normal circumstances.

“Failure to comply with this means the airline loses its right to the slot the next equivalent season. In exceptional circumstances, regulators can relax this requirement. The COVID-19 crisis has had a severe impact on

air traffic. Airlines are experiencing serious declines in demand.

“Including: a carrier experiencing a 26 per cent reduction across their entire operation in comparison to last year; a hub carrier reporting bookings to Italy down 108 per cent as bookings collapse to zero and refunds grow; many carriers reporting 50 per cent no-shows across several markets and future bookings are softening and carriers are reacting with measures such as crew being given unpaid leave, freezing of pay increases, and plans for aircraft to be grounded,” IATA Director General, Axandre de Juniac said.

IATA also explained that given these extraordinary circumstances as a result of the public health emergency, the collective view of the airline industry is that the application the 80 per cent rule during the upcoming season is inappropriate.

It noted that flexibility is needed for airlines to adjust their schedules

according to extraordinary demand developments.

“Regulators have already been waiving the slot rules on a rolling basis during the COVID-19 crisis primarily for operations to China and Hong

Kong SAR. However, given the recent further outbreaks this is no longer contained to the Asia markets. Without certainty that these waivers will continue for the summer season (or winter season in

the Southern hemisphere), airlines are unable to plan ahead sufficiently to ensure efficient rostering of crew or deployment of aircraft,” De Juniac also said.

IATA said suspending the

requirement for the entire season to October 2020, will mean that airlines can respond to market conditions with appropriate capacity levels, avoiding any need to run empty services in order to maintain slots.

Anambra Doctors CONTINUA… Commence Indefinite Strike ALUTA L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Qasim Akinreti;THISDAY Managing Editor, Mr. Joseph Ushigiale; David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Medical doctors in Anambra State under the aegis of Conference of Civil Service Doctors last weekend embarked on an indefinite strike.

The strike, THISDAY learnt, was sequel to the alleged failure of the state government to adhere to agreement signed with them.

The state Chairman of the group, Dr. Livinus Chukwuma, who briefed journalists at the General Hospital in Onitsha yesterday, said: “This strike is necessitated by the failure of the state government to adhere to the agreement signed with the Civil Service Doctors and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on one part and the Anambra State Government on the other.”

He recalled that doctors in the state had earlier embarked on 13 months strike due to the

failure of the state government to accept the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure as prescribed by the federal government as the standard for all doctors in the federal civil services.

Chukwuma said the strike was called off after the intervention of eminent persons, and an agreement reached and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, which stipulated that the government would periodically review the salaries until 100 per cent was achieved, starting from 50 per cent.

He said the federal government in 2014 reviewed the CONMESS upwards.

According to Chukwuma, “This is in spite of all efforts made for the state government to see reason, including a warning strike in 2019, still the review has not affected our salaries.”

Oba of Benin Suspends Chief from Osokpikan Society The Bénin Monarch Oba Ewuare II has suspended a top palace chief, Utete Omo Osagie, the Obadolagbonyi of Benin from palace activities and the Osokpikan society over alleged misconduct.

Chief Omo-Osagie was accused of leading some members of Osokpikan society to place a curse on someone’s premises without the permission of the Oba. Speaking on behalf of the Benin monarch, Chief Osaro Idah, said Chief Omo-Osagie action was without the blessing of the palace.

Chief Idah said the suspended Chief acted on his own volition and not in the interest of the palace.

He explained that the Osokpikan society is the property of the palace and permission ought to have been sought before embarking to laying a curse on another man’s premises.

Idah said Chief Osagie over stepped his bounds and has therefore be suspended from the palace.

His words, “On Saturday last week, a certain group known as

Osokpikan, owned by the palace, was led by a Chief to a certain premises in Benin, to place a curse on an event, which he has no right to do.

“That group Osokpikan belongs to this palace and the only authority to such action is His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin.

“In this instance, neither did they seek the permission of the palace or take permission from the palace before going to perform such act”, the Benin monarch said.

“Subsequently, His Majesty, the Oba of Benin, has hereby disassociated himself and the palace from that event and the chief who led them, chief Utete Omo Osagie, the Obadolagbonyi of Benin has been suspended from palace activities till further notice.

“For such thing to happen in Benin, they have to seek the permission of the Oba of Benin otherwise, it is non avail.

“Omo Osagie is also hereby suspended from Osokpikan society,” he said.

and National President, NUJ, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, during the NUJ officials’ courtesy visit to THISDAY Corporate Office , Lagos… yesterday.

SUNDAY ADIGUN

Four AbujaVarsity Students Face Prosecution over Fake NECO Certificates KuniTyessi inAbuja The authorities of the University of Abuja have released four students of the university to the National Examinations Council (NECO) for prosecution over alleged certificate forgery.

The four suspects accused of allegedly forging NECO results

to gain admission into the university are to be arraigned by the examination body this week.

The students, whose names are Effiong Theresa Etim, Solomon Victor, Abdulkabir Mohammad and Yakubu Joy Adama, have since been arrested by the police and were in detention in Minna, Niger State, where NECO has its

headquarters.

THISDAY learnt that the suspects, who have been slammed with a one-count charge by the FCT Magistrate Court, Wuse 2, Abuja, by the police, were said to be in different faculties the university, where they allegedly used the forged certificates to gain admission.

The police prosecutor, Chijioke

Chigozie, said about nine students of the university have so far been arrested over the similar offence, adding however that they were still under investigation.

The arrest which took place in October 2019, is sequel to an ongoing screening exercise embarked upon by NECO on all the higher institutions in Nigeria.

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COMMENT

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

IMMUNITY FOR LAWMAKERS

Granting immunity to lawmakers will leave Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda in tatters, writes Kolawole Olaniyan

W

hen Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was named by the African Union as its first “anti-corruption champion in Africa� in 2018, he called on member states to “invest in institutions to entrench transparency and accountability.� But the recent push by many lawmakers from his All Progressives Congress (APC) party to grant themselves immunity from prosecution for corruption would seem to leave Mr Buhari’s national commitment to tackle corruption in tatters and fatally undermined.

The bill, known as “Bill for an Act to Alter Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Extend Immunity to Cover Presiding Officers of Legislative Institutions,� has passed the second reading at the House of Representatives. It seeks to amend Section 308 of the constitution to extend immunity to all the principal officers at the country’s National Assembly and the houses of assembly of the states while in office.

Briefly, Section 308 provides that: “no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors during their period of office.�

The proposed amendment to Section 308 to cover the lawmakers would mean that any criminal or civil action for crime of corruption or other egregious crimes they commit while in office would be stayed until the expiration of their tenure.

The bill first appeared in parliament in 2016 but the lawmakers then backtracked after a public outcry over the move.

In effect, the bill will protect lawmakers from legal consequences for corruption, exacerbate the impunity that prevails in Nigeria’s political circles and worsen the country’s ranking in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. And this would have a negative effect on the human rights of Nigerians.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, several politicians—including governors with allegations of corruption against them — have sought to hide out in the National Assembly. The proposed bill will now make them almost untouchable once they swear their oath of office as lawmakers.

Some lawmakers, including the sponsor of the bill, Odebunmi Olusegun of Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency (APC, Oyo), and at least two members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) and Nkem-Abonta Uzoma (PDP, Abia) —believe that the bill will protect them from “blackmail� while in office; that fear is misplaced.

The lawmakers are already covered by parliamentary immunity under the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2018, which means they are immune from civil or criminal proceedings for anything they say in parliament.

This is a privilege developed to ensure open and fearless debate in parliament and is similar to the situation of lawmakers in the US and UK, where members of parliament cannot be sued for defamation for statements made in parliament, which Nigerian politicians frequently cite as “best practices.�

However, this act doesn’t shield lawmakers from prosecution for crime of corruption or other egregious crimes. The proposed amendment to Section 308 would now extend the immunity provided under the act to shield lawmakers from criminal and civil proceedings, far beyond existing parliamentary privileges and immunities.

The push for immunity for lawmakers ignores the history and legacy of corruption in Nigeria and its impact on human rights.

It’s also at odds with Nigeria’s international commitments as a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

There is no legal justification to provide immunity to lawmakers beyond the privileges they already enjoy, as to do so would be antithetical to the fundamental principle that all persons are equal before the law, and to Nigeria’s voluntary obligations under the

THE LAWMAKERS ARE ALREADY COVERED

BY PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY UNDER THE LEGISLATIVE HOUSES (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) ACT, 2018, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE IMMUNE FROM CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS FOR ANYTHING THEY SAY IN PARLIAMENT

UN Convention against Corruption, which in article 30(2) requires states parties to limit immunity from investigation, prosecution or adjudication of corruption offences.

Similarly, the Commonwealth Working Group on the Recovery and Repatriation of Assets of Illicit Origin has stated that Heads of State/Government, ministers and other public officials should not have immunity from prosecution for alleged criminal activity.

Lawmakers also argue that if the president, his deputy, state governors and their deputies can enjoy immunity, there is no reason why they should not also enjoy immunity. But it’s difficult to see how granting immunity to lawmakers will aid the fight against grand corruption in the country.

The lawmakers’ “levelling up� strategy is in fact counterproductive, as section 308 of the constitution is already shown to impede disproportionately the conduct of inquiries, prosecutions and the sentencing of the persons it covers, and thereby contributing to the prevailing impunity of politicians for corruption.

Lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution for corruption would fuel perceptions that those charged with the responsibility to make laws for the country are seeking to use their position to stay one step ahead of the law.

Rather than trying to “level up� with the executive—at both the federal and state levels—members of the House of Representatives should push to exclude section 308 or limit its application to cases of corruption and other similar crimes that have an impact on human rights. Doing this will prompt real change in the country’s political culture and help to improve the lawmakers’ image with Nigerians.

If the bill is passed, it will constrain the ability of Mr Buhari’s government to fight corruption, as it will mean that lawmakers will see expanded opportunities to line their pockets and divert scant public resources through, for example, the so-called “Constituency Projects� and with no fear of facing prosecution while they remain in office.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) already found in a recent report that Nigerian federal lawmakers use the constituency projects as a conduit for pocketing public funds.

This will deny justice to Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses caused by corruption.

All human rights can be restricted by corruption, be they economic, social, cultural, civil, or political rights. Opening the door to impunity threatens the rights of all people in Nigeria.

The higher levels of corruption, the lesser degree of human rights protection. For example, corruption in the management of public resources and public services denies people their right to education, health and other rights.

Criminal prosecution represents the best hope for holding lawmakers to account for corruption, since Nigerian laws do not currently allow people to pursue cases in civil or human rights action against corrupt politicians.

If lawmakers want to protect themselves from politically motivated charges, they should pass laws to reform and improve the country’s criminal justice system. This will ensure that due process is always observed in corruption cases, including those that involve lawmakers, and that the executive does not use its anti-corruption fight as a tool for political expediency.

Whether the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Femi Gbajabiamila will use his leadership position to ensure that the bill is dropped, remains to be seen.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s job of tackling corruption is already complicated enough without immunity for lawmakers.

He now must publicly condemn and reject the bill, if he is to be able to deliver on his anti-corruption promises to Nigerians. t0MBOJZBO BVUIPS PG $PSSVQUJPO BOE )VNBO 3JHIUT -BX JO "GSJDB JT MFHBM BEWJTFS BU "NOFTUZ *OUFSOBUJPOBM T *OUFSOBUJPOBM 4FDSFUBSJBU -POEPO

SOWING SEEDS OF DISUNITY IN TARABA

Musa Zacheus writes that the political opposition in Taraba is mischievous

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am mortified by the recent onslaught on the person and office of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State by political jobbers. The criticism is not only reckless but misplaced.

Thus the outcry against the governor should be discountenanced for what it is: a politically motivated affront that lacks merit and substance.

If for anything, the opposition has only rubbished its own ego by its ill-advised voyage to choose to discredit the person of the governor in the media.

What could have warranted this hubris and desperation by a political vagabond seeking relevance is beyond comprehension? The attack bears the hallmark of a failed politician, who is out of tune with the reality and is prepared to go to any length to smear others having been rejected by his constituents.

It is, however, gratifying that people who should know are wary of the allegation and plot as a desperate move to cause disaffection and breakdown of law in Taraba State. We should commend the governor for standing for peace and ensuring continued service, development and safety in Taraba State in spite of the grandstanding and covert attempt by certain forces to destabilise the state.

In the first place, the governor has neither violated any part of the Constitution nor failed to fulfill his obligations to the people of Taraba to warrant this campaign of calumny against his person.

The governor’s prolonged stay in Abuja was to attend to his illness and has not in any way disrupted any aspect of government

activities. One can also see the mischief in the suggestion of these naysayers that the governor breached Section 190 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by failing to transmit power to his deputy. However, they failed to emphasise that Section 190(2) of the constitution speaks of transmission of power only when the Governor proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office.

But this case, the governor is not on vacation and he is not unable to discharge the duties of his office. He has been conducting his official duties diligently. It has also not stopped him from fulfilling his promises to the people and government workers. The civil servants can attest to this as salaries, pensions and gratuities are being paid as and when due.

Therefore, to suggest or input that the governor’s absence has affected governance and the morale of the civil servants in the state is totally far from the truth. Another positive is that the 2020 budget bill that has been signed into law is being implemented by the state government.

New classrooms are springing up in various parts of the state, while others are being renovated. In Takum and Gembu, the construction of Model Basic Education schools has reached advanced stages of completion.

One is, therefore, amused that these fractious elements who are desperate for power and will lie even in the pit of hell, are showing their unkindness by making a political capital out of this situation.

They are sowing discord and spreading outright falsehood against the governor, even to the ridiculous extent of calling for his

impeachment just because he decided to tend to his health.

In spite of the shenanigan of the political adversary, the governor is undaunted and has been having abiding faith in the social contract with the people of Taraba State.

Their desperation has even turned them into laughing stock apparently for failing to come to terms that in this age of technological advancement, it should matter less from which part of the world a governor is running the affairs of government, in so far as he is able to deliver the dividends of democracy.

The people of Taraba have no qualms in coming to term with from which part of the world the governor is running the state.

Although the governor is presently domiciled in Abuja the heavens will not for any reason fall if tomorrow, he decides to superintend the affairs of the state from New York, Nairobi, London or Moscow. After all the scorecard of the governor as far as Taraba State is concerned is an open secret.

In Taraba State, all government projects are going on smoothly while government has continued to meet its obligations to the contractors handling its projects. The progress on the projects is also constantly being monitored by appropriate government ministries and officials and the reports (including pictorial evidence) are sent out constantly to the governor.

The flurry of projects under the administration of Governor Ishaku is enough to make his political adversaries filled with envy and to remain in self-denial.

Are we to talk about the Wukari Tsokundi road and Yoro-Pantisawa road projects that

have been going without hitches or the dualisation of the Airport road in Jalingo, which comes with an overhead bridge that has started and is making steady progress even in the absence of the governor?

These ongoing projects in addition to the Mararaba- Baissa-Abong-Kan-Iyaka-Nguroje road which is the shortest road to the Mambilla Dam projects are initiatives of the Ishaku administration, which the Hon. Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman openly acknowledged and commended during the sensitisation flag off on the Mambilla Dam project by Governor Ishaku in Abuja on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.

The minister firmly believed that the sensitization flag-off itself would be a giant leap for Nigeria towards the realisation of the Mambilla hydro dam, an enabler for stable electricity supply in the near future. Is it not a display of ignorance to assume that the absence of the governor is the reason delaying the implementation of the Mambilla Dam Project?

Another positive is that the 2020 budget bill that has been signed into law is being implemented by the Taraba State government.

In various parts of the state, classrooms are being constructed while others renovated.

In Takum and Gembu, the construction of Model Basic Education schools that are ongoing have reached advanced stages of completion.

All these needless hues over the governor’s absence are out of partisanship. But one knows that the people are wiser and will not make themselves the agents to destabilize the state just to satiate the political ambition of one individual.

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T H I S D AY Ëž TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020

EDITORIAL REFORMING THE JUDICIARY It is time to overhaul the judiciary for eďŹƒciency

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lmost every case of substance in Nigeria, as in other countries, ends at the apex court which in our case is the Supreme Court. But the number of Justices in the court is dwindling by the day. With the retirement of Justice Aminu Sanusi in February, there are only 13 remaining Justices to sit over weighty issues. The constitutional provision is for 21 justices; a number the court has never attained. Given the need to lessen their burden, there is need for more appointments. But much more importantly, the quality of the justices also matters, both in competence and character. This is becoming a challenge. The court to which the brightest and the best in our country used to be elevated is gradually becoming something else.

Any serious review of the constitution must approach the Supreme Court matter from a fundamental THE COURT TO WHICH systemic angle. We THE BRIGHTEST AND THE adopted a presidential constitution BEST IN OUR COUNTRY USED TO BE ELEVATED IS patterned after that of the United GRADUALLY BECOMING States but kept a SOMETHING ELSE Westminster model Supreme Court.

The United States Supreme Court, for instance, has nine justices comprising the chief justice and eight other justices, all of whom serve for life. The justices are nominated on the basis of ideological leaning: conservative, liberal, etc. Also, they do not have to be nominated from a career civil service bench. The president can nominate from a broad band of legal luminaries of proven record and competence. So, our problem goes beyond the issue of number of justices to that of a system mismatch.

The same Supreme Court used to command respect. What went wrong? Appointment was no longer based on merit but on quota. Once a justice of the court retires, the most senior judge from the

Letters to the Editor

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

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

IN PRAISE OF DANJUMA GOJE

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nly few men get lucky enough to have their lives celebrated while alive. They are simply so great that the world cannot wait till they are gone. Danjuma Goje is one of those few men.

Goje is one man whose life and legacy in business and politics continues to be a source of joy to many. He is a leader, a mentor and an inspiration. Danjuma Goje is one man who has ensured that the Northeast becomes relevant in the political permutations at the federal level.

His doggedness saw to the rebuilding of the progressives in the Northeast and it dawned on many that the region has unearthed a true leader they have needed since the late Tafawa Balewa.

He defines his leadership by the numbers of people he has empowered.

This is what true leaders do. The culture of sacrifice, loyalty and compromise for common good and selflessness is why Goje is not only relevant but pivotal to the politics of Nigeria today. This is why he is one of the biggest icons of modern day democracy.

Goje is neither corrupt nor arbitrary. He has always been accountable to the people in all capacities he has held sway. He is not into clientism or patronage which is now the hallmark of governance in our country.

Goje is not a brand made for greed as he is an embodiment of public good. Whatever he owns

geographical zone from where the retiring justice hails in the court of appeal would be recommended to the president to replace him. This ensures that justices who cannot reason independent of their colleagues get to sit at the Supreme Court.

There are other self-inicted problems: Case ow management, corruption, and the rest.

Before she retired, the only woman ever elevated to the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar introduced amendments to rules of procedure across the courts, including the Supreme Court. This was aimed at ensuring that cases involving sexual offences, corruption, money laundering and related cases were fast-tracked. But after Mukhtar left, her colleagues at the Supreme Court jettisoned those rules. Yet, they keep complaining of having to deal with too many appeals. Aside these the main reason why it takes so long to decide a case is because the leadership of the judiciary has failed or is afraid to adopt new technology. Judges continue to take notes in longhand. In so doing, they punish themselves, they punish litigants and on the long run, the society suffers.

The question is: why do our judges want to write themselves to death? The answer is simple: they are afraid of change. They don’t want to lose the privileges they enjoy taking notes manually.

Besides, unscrupulous judges derive beneďŹ t taking notes in longhand. It allows them to manipulate their records. Some high court judges have changed their records when summoned by the National Judicial Council (NJC). In the course of trial, some judges carelessly make statements that they ought not to make in the course of adjudication. But they don’t record such statements. The only way to deprive judges the chance to tamper with their records is to record court proceedings electronically. Copies of the proceedings can be printed within minutes after the day’s session.

Recording judicial proceeding electronically is a win-win situation for the country. Our judges will live longer. Litigants will have their cases decided on time. Cheating by judges will be reduced. This will in turn restore conďŹ dence in the judicial system.

is always for public service, even his personal residences belong to the people - where the rich and the poor visit for their respective intents.

The greatness of Senator Goje transcends his politics. He is an influencer, a leader, a multiplier of values, a political cum administrative hunter of talents. He belongs to me, to you, and to everyone. His ideology, beliefs, and associations can be publicly identified. He is an open book.

Yet, he is an independent chapter of a voluminous epistle of life.

His blueprint for Gombe State has served as road map to achieving the Gombe State of his people’s dream. His government made water available to all farmers and other industrial users of water and Gombe is now cited as an example of how to irrigate farming fields for subsistent and commercial farming.

Indeed, so successful is the Gombe water supply scheme that the former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his visit to the state commended the Goje administration and recommended it for implementation in his state, Ogun.

Again, it is instructive to note that the completed airport project in the state has continued to baffle many. The state university was conceptualized, initiated and built by Goje.

During his term as governor of the state he succeeded in bringing about religious harmony, a policy which his predecessors have replicated till this day. t.VTB 8BEB "CVKB

TOWARDS A CORRUPTION-FREE NIGERIA

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he fight against corruption in this country is gradually gaining momentum, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the helms of affairs in the fight against this evil. Although the stakes are high, the positive record is more and everywhere for the citizens to join. Little wonder why the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has on several occasions and at any given opportunity call on the citizens to own the fight against corruption. The fight against corruption is a tough one from the process of petition, investigation, arraignment and in some instances recovery, conviction and sentencing. The corrupt is also fighting back with every resources at its disposal and will seek sympathy from corrupt citizens who enjoy some of the proceeds of corruption.

There is no doubt that corruption is Nigeria’s greatest challenge; it has caused a lot of pain to the government and citizens alike. The effect and consequences of corruption is everyday manifesting in our lives. From bad governance to dwindling economy, from education, health, job creation, youth unemployment, entrepreneurship and rise in cybercrime. Worst is security which makes us all vulnerable.

Our borders have become safe passage for

criminals, bandits and terrorists who carry out attacks on innocent citizens.

Nigeria should be better than any country in areas of improving the lives of its citizens; in the health sector, education, agriculture, science and technology, entrepreneurship, transport, good governance, transparency, accountability, security, job creation, peace, development and progress.

Our population is put at 200 million, and God so kind, has blessed us with varying abundant mineral resources which when appropriately used and utilized, we all can boast of having the giant of Africa of our dream.

Sometimes this year, during the passing out parade of detective inspectors of EFCC at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA Kaduna, the Acting-Chairman of EFCC, made a clarion call to citizens of this country to stand up against corruption and to be counted in the fight to redeem our country from the pangs of corruption. One lesson to take home from this passionate plea is that our country’s greatest enemy does not know the color of our skin, neither does it care about our religions, culture, gender and geography. When corruption attacks, it attacks us all at the same time, force, strength, level and the effect is highly devastating. t"CCBT " 6NBS +BCJ "CVKB

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TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020

POLITICS

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

Lawmakers Put All Hands on Deck to Tackle Insecurity Udora Orizu writes that with the spate of killings in the country, lawmakers have put all hands on deck to tackle insecurity

Benson

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ith the increasing spate of killings going on in the country, it seems Nigeria security has collapsed with no tangible solution to solve the insecurity issues currently bedevilling the country.

Nowadays, it is very hard to keep up with the mindless killings going on around the country. From havocs wreaked by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East and Fulani herdsmen attacks, to violent crimes like armed robbery, assassinations, cultist killings and kidnappings, it’s clear Nigeria is going through one of the greatest security challenges since its independence in 1960.

The United Nations last year lamented over the spate of killings in Nigeria noting that over 1,400 people have been killed as a result of kidnapping and banditry within a period of six months.

The UN Country Director, Edward Kallon disclosed this in Makurdi, Benue state at a meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom.

A tally by Amnesty International put the death toll from herdsmen attacks alone in January 2018 at 168, it said 549 deaths came from herders hands in 2017. Also recently Boko Haram fighters invaded Garkida town in Adamawa state around 7 pm shooting sporadically, killing many people while burning down several houses and property.

The height of insecurity in the land clearly showed that the Service Chiefs are not doing enough to curb the menace and this has brought about the calls by lawmakers for their sack or resignation.

The National Assembly recently raised an alarm over the rising spate of insecurity in the country. Members of the upper and lower legislative chambers had on two different occasions urged President Buhari to sack the Service Chiefs and National Security Adviser.

As the President is yet to act on the lawmakers resolution to sack service chiefs, some lawmakers on their part are seeking ways to help security agencies tackle insecurity.

The lawmakers have done this through the enactment of certain bills that will aid the security agents carryout their duties more efficiently and effectively.

During plenary at the House of Representatives recently the lawmakers passed for second reading a bill which seeks special support fund for Armed Forces.

The bill seeking to create a five-year funding plan for Nigerian armed forces, aside their annual budgetary allocations, in their fight against insecurity, scaled second reading and was subsequently referred to the Committee on Defence by Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, for further legislative action.

Gagdi The bill was jointly sponsored by the Chairmen of House Committees on Defence, Babajimi Benson; on Army, Abdulrazaq Namdas; on Police Affairs, Bello Kumo; on Deputy Chairman, Committee on Defence, Makki Yalleman; on Air Force, Shehu Koko; on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi; and on National Security and Intelligence, Shaban Sharada.

It was proposed in the draft that the bill would be funded with an amount constituting one per cent of the total money accruing to the Federation Account; 0.5 per cent of profit made from investment of the National Sovereign Wealth Fund by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority; an amount constituting one per cent of Value Added Tax remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Leading debate on the Bill, Benson said no nation rely wholly on its annual budget for the armed forces to combat crimes and fight insecurity.

He stated that while Nigeria is fighting a war, the Armed Forces did not have enough resources to prosecute the war.

The lawmaker explained that the alternative source of funding is expedient especially with the recent security challenges in the country, adding that national security is of utmost importance to the growth and development of any nation.

He advised that no security threat should be treated with levity.

According to him, “Nigeria has witnessed diverse and unprecedented level of insecurity in the recent times in which the Nigerian Armed Forces have been fully involved. They include curbing the menace of kidnappings, robbery, herder-farmers clashes, protection of the nation’s oil resources in the Niger Delta, banditry in the Northwest and most of all, the lingering boko haram insurgency in the Northeast. This is apart from other security issues like cultism, oil bunkering, cattle rustling, piracy and smuggling that the Armed Forces are usually summoned to help contain.

“In the last fifteen years, the Nigerian military have been involved in thirteen operations and

four exercises. Coping with all these are, no doubt, an enormous task that requires a robust, well-trained, well-equipped and efficient Armed Forces.

“On the external front, Nigeria is contending with the international dimension and view of domestic insurgency as well as drug and human trafficking, illegal immigration and movement of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).”

Supporting the Bill, “The Deputy Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha said the bill would change the narrative on the fight against insecurity.

Nasiru Ali on his part suggested that the parliamentarians should contribute part of their salaries to fund Nigerian Armed Forces.

Also Mohammed Tahir Munguno said the army needed special funding to be able to fight the battle against terrorism because no nation on earth funds its security through budgetary allocation, citing Brazil and America as examples.

In similar vein, Recently a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Police Act and enact Nigeria Police Bill passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

The Bill seeks to provide the framework for the police services and ensure cooperation and partnership between the police and communities in maintaining peace and combating crime and sundry acts of insecurity in Nigeria.

The Legislation titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to repeal the Police Act CAP P19 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and to enact the Nigeria Police Act, 2019 to Provide for the Framework for the Police Services and ensure cooperation and partnership between the police and communities in maintaining peace and combating crime and for related matters,’ was sponsored by Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi.

The sponsor of the Bill, Gagdi while leading debate on the Bill, said the present Police Act is not only fraught with deficiencies, but strangely, the major organization, duties, and powers of the Nigeria Police, as stipulated in the present Act, have largely remained as set out in 1943 police Act. He stated that it is the recognition of the inherent shortcomings in the extant law and the

The bill was jointly sponsored by the Chairmen of House Committees on Defence, Babajimi Benson; on Army, Abdulrazaq Namdas; on Police Affairs, Bello Kumo; on Deputy Chairman, Committee on Defence, Makki Yalleman; on Air Force, Shehu Koko; on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi; and on National Security and Intelligence, Shaban Sharada

seemingly intractable challenge of insecurity in the country, necessitated the proposed repeal of the existing Act and the enactment of a new legislation.

Gagdi explained that the passage of the Police Trust Fund Bill, which was recently assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari may not achieve the level of effectiveness and outcome desired without the total overhauling the existing legislation, except there is a concomitant amendment to the extant Act of the Nigeria Police Force.

Listing out the objectives of the Bill, the lawmaker said the extant Nigeria Police Act has neither general or specific objectives.

He noted that the new bill will provide for a more efficient and effective police services that is based on the principles of accountability and transparency as well as, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

According to him, “The security of life and properties of citizens and residents remains one of the primary purposes of the government, everywhere. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), in Section 14 (2) (b) indeed states that: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government. Yet, the spate of insecurity and criminality in Nigeria has remained not only alarming, but unrelenting. Violent crimes, such as terrorism; kidnapping; armed robbery and banditry; suicide bombing; ethno-religious kilings,election violence and so on have characterized daily living in Nigeria.”

“Another deviation from the extant Police Act is the amendment proposed in respect to the appointment, removal of the Inspector General of Police. This amendment was the one that became contentious especially in the view of the 8th House of Representatives. In response to the lacuna in the present law on the functions of the IGP, a clause is inserted in this new Bill to clearly state the limit of the powers and functions of the IGP and thus improve accountability.”

“Another amendment has to do with the tenure of office of IGP, A 5 year was recommended for each IGP to address the challenges of non-committal for the IGP to effect meaningful changes due to the usual short tenure of most IGPs. For instance, since 1999, there have been 10 IGPs, including the present one, This is an average of 2 years per IGP. Provisions relating to the removal of a serving IGP are so crucial, that they have also been inserted in this new Bill.”

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 3, 2020

POLITICS

Gathering Acceptance for Guber Contest in Anambra David-Chyddy Eleke writes that the intention to run for the governorship of Anambra State by Dr. Obiora Okonkwo has garnered tremendous acceptance. from monarchs in all zones of the state

Okonkwo

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r Obiora Okonkwo, a Russiantrained political scientist and foremost businessman, in late 2019 made open his intention to become the governor of Anambra State, as the state gets set to conduct a governorship election to find a successor for Governor Willie Obiano. He stated during a small gathering of journalists to unveil his intention that his decision was hinged on the fact that Anambra can actually be better than what it is today if a competent hand pilots the affairs of the state.

Okonkwo stated that what also informed the decision was the deterioration being witnessed in Onitsha city, which should by now have attained the status of a mega city. He contended that in the early 80s when Onitsha was already a sprawling city, with the highest number of highrise buildings in Nigeria, and the largest market in the entire West Africa, today’s Dubai was merely a desert, with only a handful of buildings, running from one end of the city to another. He laments that today, Dubai has been transformed into a mega city, with some of the best highrise buildings in the world. Besides that, he added that Dubai has built its economy to the level where people from across the world come there to shop, and has a large market economy with influx of foreign currency.

With an emotion laden voice, Okonkwo declared, “Today, Nigerians, including Anambra people flock to Dubai, both for relaxation and to shop. So, what has changed? Why is it that Anambra which was already known for commerce with one of the biggest market in Africa, and a city like Onitsha which had already witnessed considerable development at a time when Dubai was only a desert land, turn out to be a mega city, while Onitsha has sank lower than what it was back then?

“Let me tell you the import of this scenario I just painted. What it means is that, while Dubai was being set up and struggling to grow, Onitsha was climbing down the ladder, and rapidly deteriorating. Then, let me ask you, why do you think this happened? It is simply because of leadership failure. At a time when the leaders of Dubai where working for the city to grow, our own leaders in Anambra either did not know what to do, or simply kept quiet, and watch the city deteriorate.”

Okonkwo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant has carried on with his preaching of transformation to all nooks and cranny of the state, and evidence abound that he is already raking up the support needed for the kind of contest anticipated in 2021.

A good example of the acceptance is that

Obiano recently, Okonkwo who hails from Anambra Central zone was crowned jointly by all the traditional rulers of the other two zones of the state (Anambra South and Anambra North) with the highest titles of the land.

Okonkwo, reacting to this said, “This is rare in the state. What is usually obtainable is one monarch, out of the 179 monarchs that represent the 179 communities, honouring one, but this one is a joint one. It is to me like acceptance, endorsement of you like.”

Okonkwo, in his native Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area, which falls within Anambra Central zone holds the title of ‘Dikeora Ogidi,’ which in Igbo language translates literally as - the warrior of the entire Ogidi kingdom. But in Anambra North Senatorial zone, the entire monarchs of the area assembled at the Ofala square of Okalakwu Igbariam, the traditional ruler of Igbariam Kingdom, Igwe Kelly Nneli to bestow the title of - Ibobo, on Okonkwo. In the northern part of the state, Ibobo is known to be the highest traditional title of the people, and only few persons hold it, including Senator Victor Umeh, former national chairman of All Progressives Grand Congress (APGA).

During the event which was made very colourful, It was garlands for Okonkwo, as the host monarch, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nneli Kelly, Okalakwu Igbariam, during the breaking of the kolanut prayed extensively for Okonkwo, while also declaring that the installation of the title meant nothing more than endorsement and support for his good deeds. He said, “We have gathered for a two-day celebration of the culture of our people, and to honour a man who deserves to be honoured.” He disclosed that the joint installation of a title on an individual by all the traditional rulers of the northern senatorial zone was something that was rare.

He said that the last time it happened was six years ago, and that it was happening again because of the feat Okonkwo had achieved with his philanthropic gestures in and around the state.

Besides the traditional rulers of Anambra North zone who were complete in their number, visiting monarchs also witnessed the installation, including; chairman of Anambra Central traditional rulers council, Igwe Peter Uyanwa, Ezedike Ukwulu, Igwe Alex Onyido, Ezechuamagha of Ogidi and Osuofia of Nawfia, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo among many others.

Shortly after the bestowment of the title, Okonkwo proceeded again to the Southern Senatorial zone where the traditional rulers of the state from that zone converged on the expansive Ekwulobia township stadium in Aguata local government, where again all the traditional rulers of the southern part of the state jointly bestowed the title of Ebube Mba on him. Just like that of Anambra North, the event was attended by many and had in attendance all traditional rulers of the southern senatorial zone and leadership of town union, just as coulourful masquerades entertained the crowd singing his acceptance and praise.

The day was declared open with the traditional prayers and breaking of kolanuts performed by the ageless Igwe of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, who also prayed for longevity, good health and good neighbourliness and better life for all. In his prayers, Igwe Orizu called for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians. He also called on the Igbo people never to forget their cultural heritage. Done with the prayers, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, a Professor of Music and doyen of choral music in Nigeria who now sits on the stool of Oko kingdom, mounted the podium and performed the traditional

The forthcoming battle in the 2021 governorship election, most pundits have accepted will not be an easy one, but besides wining the heart of the traditional institution in the state, Okonkwo is not relenting. Recently, he awarded scholarship to three blind students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

He has also come to the aid of traders in the state who were involved in fire disaster. In Ochanja market, during the news of the tanker fire in which several lives were lost, Okonkwo did not only pledge to provide a firefighting equipment to forestall future occurrences

cutting of the yam. ‘Ebube Mba’, the title bestowed on Okonkwo by the monarch in Igbo language means; the glory of the land.

Even though Okonkwo holds the title of Dikeora in his Idemili community which is in Anambra Central zone of the state, he also has a chieftaincy title from the joint monarchs of the area, which was earlier installed on him. He is the Mbuba Anafolu Mbulu N’Ukpa of Anambra Central. With these installations, Okonkwo becomes one of the few people in Anambra State to have received such acclaim by the traditional institution in all three senatorial zones of the state.

The forthcoming battle in the 2021 governorship election, most pundits have accepted will not be an easy one, but besides wining the heart of the traditional institution in the state, Okonkwo is not relenting.

Recently, he awarded scholarship to three blind students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He has also come to the aid of traders in the state who were involved in fire disaster. In Ochanja market, during the news of the tanker fire in which several lives were lost, Okonkwo did not only pledge to provide a firefighting equipment to forestall future occurrences, he also donated millions to help rehabilitate the victims. But in the fire incidence concerning Obosi Old Spare Parts Market, Okonkwo went full blast with the donation of a trailer load of cement to help in the rebuilding of the destroyed market. This gesture elicited a lot of accolades from the traders in the very densely populated market.

Recently too, Okonkwo through his Pro Value Humanity Foundation, inaugurated community service centres in all the communities of the state. His aim he said was to provide rural people the opportunity get information, referral and supportive services. He has continually impacted on the society and once confessed that his philanthropic works were not just because he was standing election but has always been in him. He rather said that standing election for a public office will only help him do what he is doing as an individual, in a much larger scale.

All of the above gestures, which have been happening in far flung parts of the state have elicited applause from the people. An applause which could be said to culminate to endorsement for Okonkwo, especially as it has become public that he is in the race to govern Anambra State. But as 2021 draws near, Okonkwo is still faced with the task of surmounting some notable personalities in the state who are also in the race for governorship ticket of the PDP, and only when the primary election have been held will one know how the gestures of Okonkwo have truly swayed their support.

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TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 •T H I S D AY

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

‘SECURITY AGENCIES NOW MONITOR JUDGES’

03.03.2020

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN

2/DASHBOARD

03.03.2020

Finality of the Decision of the Supreme Court PAGE 4

Plea Bargain Will Enhance Speedy Justice Delivery, Says Kaduna AG, Dikko PAGE 5

Hearing on Suit against INEC’s Deregistration of Youth Party Begins PAGE 5

Court Grants Two Weeks Out of Court Settlement to FAAN, I-Cube, over Concession Dispute PAGE 5

QUOTABLES ‘The move to extend immunity to Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, is cynical....But, that the House of Representatives right now, considers that this is their priority, rather than security, economic transformation, education, health.....It is a self-serving attempt to defend themselves from scrutiny, for acts they may commit; it suggests to me that, they don’t exercise their power with the appropriate sense of responsibility, and I would consider it to be shameful.’

– Yemi Candide-Johnson, SAN ‘Either way, it makes no sense that we do not reflect the present situation and economic reality in the country. There must be a time to stop the increase, and be real in dealing with allowances of the National Assembly.’

– Honourable West Idahosa, Lawyer, Former Member, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria

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

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

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

HURILAWS, Onevoice Coalition, Urge President Buhari to Sign 2018 Electoral Act into Law PAGE 6

‘Do not Shortchange Yourself by Rushing into Specialisation ’ PAGE 6 JOY HARRISON-ABIOLA AJoy Harrison-Abiola holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Ondo State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Lagos State University. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Management Nigeria (ISMN), a member of the Association of Legal Administrators Illinois, and a member of the International Relations Committee (Africa).

She is is a leading Legal Management Professional, with over 21 years’ experience as a business professional. She works with Adepetun Caxton- Martins Agbor & Segun- ACAS-Law as the Practice Administrator.“FROM THE BACK OFFICE” explores what law firms need to do, to remain competitive and relevant in today’s business and economic climate, and will also look at ways to re- engineer and awaken the dynamics of the contribution of the Legal Management Professionals; to better position them to provide practical solutions to the challenges facing law business.

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

/3

Boko Haram: When Injustice Trumps Competence

I

Honourable Kazaure’s Submissions on Insurgency in the North East was listening to an interesting videoclip of Honourable Kazaure, talking about the Armed Forces and the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East; and, I must say that, he made a lot of sense.

He mentioned his friend, a soldier who was killed in a Boko Haram attack, and how there was a lack of synergy even between the Nigerian Army and Air Force. He talked about non-functioning military equipment in spite of the huge monies allocated to the Military, how it was time for the Service Chiefs to go, how there was no need to bother about NGOs like Amnesty International presently and according human rights to insurgents who have been killing women and children mercilessly - that insurgents should be shot on sight. One of the valid points which Honourable Kazaure made, was that some people were enjoying the insurgency and using it as a money-making venture, and therefore, did not want it to end, so that their pockets can continue to be lined ad infinitum. He also made mention that Boko Haram had members who had not only infiltrated the Armed Forces, but were probably even Officers. This assertion, is probably true too.

Do you remember two Engineers, a Briton, Chris McManus, and an Italian, Franco Lamolinara who were abducted by gunmen in Birnin Kebbi in 2011, and eventually murdered? I was in London at the time of the botched rescue operation in March 2012, and had read an account of how the incident had allegedly gone terribly wrong, once the Nigerian authorities had been involved in the ‘secret’ rescue mission. According to the newspaper report (it may have been the Daily Mail or Express, I cannot recall which one for sure), plans for the rescue operation had been seamless, until details of it had ‘somehow’ leaked to the captors. Unfortunately, there was an existing order that the captives be killed, in the event that anyone came to rescue them. By the time the Rescuers arrived at the location where the captives were being held, the captors who knew the Rescuers were coming, laid ambush and opened fire on them. They were lucky to have escaped alive. The rest, is history.

I was so pained, when I heard about the recent Auno incident, where even a child was thrown into fire and burned alive. Honourable Kazaure was absolutely right when he concluded that, these acts go against the teachings of Islam. No true or Godly religion, will encourage anybody to go on an incessant killing rampage, raping men, women and teenage girls, and looting properties, valuables and food stuff (stealing/ armed robbery). It is, pure criminality.

Manipulating Conditions of Service Section 217(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution), clearly provides that suppression of insurrection and assisting civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by

the President, are some of the functions of the Armed Forces. I agree with Honourable Kazaure, that if the Service Chiefs have failed to fulfil their constitutional mandate, what are they still doing there, while Nigerians are being murdered in droves? So much so that, the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers) 2012 Revised (HTACOS) in Chapter 9 Paragraph 9.08 which previously provided that the Chief of Defence Staff, Naval Staff, Airforce Staff and Army Staff, will hold appointment for a continuous period of two years, and can be extended for another term of two years from the expiration of the first tenure, was revised in 2017, as far as I’m concerned, simply to accommodate those holding these positions, presently. The issue of 35 years in service or age 62 or whatever the retirement age is, was also jettisoned, because of them.

The new Paragraph 11.09 of the 2017 HTACOS, has now given the President who is the Commander-in-Chief, the prerogative to extend the tenure of the Service Chiefs, irrespective of age or length of service. How very convenient!

Naturally, nobody would care or be in the least bit bothered about this self-serving amendment to the HTACOS, if these Service Chiefs were truly vanquishing Boko Haram (‘technically’ and really), but, because it is obvious that they have run out of ideas, there’s an outcry against their tenure elongation. Their jobs can be extremely demanding, tedious and exhausting, and that’s possibly why their tenure was given a limit, to allow for the inflow of fresh ideas after a defined period. With the amendment, they can stay forever, or for the rest of their lives, or at the minimum, for a period of eight years, if the Government that appoints them, secures two four year terms (like this one). Most people seem to agree that, whatever the Service Chiefs achieved, was in the earlier stages of their tenure, when they were still a fresh sets of eyes.

Illegal Dismissals and Lack of Due Process Aside from not performing up to par on the insurgency front, the Army seems to be busy purging itself of some good, intelligent, Officers, for reasons that cannot qualify as reasons - tribalism, politics and its relatives!

In June 2016, the Army unilaterally and illegally compulsorily retired 38 Officers - 29 of them were Southerners and/or Christians - obviously, the Armed Forces is not immune to the tribalism, nepotism, partiality and religious bigotry that this administration is so famous for and fond of. Nine Officers appeared before a Defence Court Panel, while 11 appeared before a Military Election Panel headed by Major General Oyebade who was then the GOC in Kaduna. Contrary to Section 36(1) of the Constitution, at least 18 out of the 38 Officers who were dismissed under Chapter 9 Paragraph 9.02(c)(4) of the 2012 HTACOS (now 11.02(c)(4) of the 2017 HTACOS), that is, on disciplinary grounds for serious offences, were not informed about of

the nature of the offences which they were alleged to have committed, talk less of being given an opportunity to defend themselves before any Board of Inquiry or Court Martial, as the procedure that is normally followed, demands.

The proper procedure which must be followed is - there must be a Board of Inquiry where witness statements, including that of the accused is taken, consequent upon investigation by Military Police or an agency like the Directorate of Military Intelligence. The Board of Inquiry then recommends the appropriate disciplinary action where applicable, and which in the case of Officers, must lead to a Court Martial where the accused is defended by a civilian or military Lawyer. The Army Council then, subsequently confirms the decision of the Court Martial.

Lt. Col Thomas Edirin Arigbe and Others Out of the 18 Officers who were dismissed (and were not given fair hearing), four of them were actually outside of Nigeria on various military assignments as of June 2016. Lt. Col T.E. Arigbe who was one of these four (I had the opportunity of interviewing him personally), entered Military School at the age of 11, 4th in a class of 204, a holder of two Masters’ degrees, was actually on a two year teaching assignment at the Military Training School in Ghana at the time (and had been there for 10 months) when he received the news of his dismissal for serious offences, via an email! He was not informed of his alleged offence, nor was he given the opportunity to defend himself, nor was he Court Martialed. To date, he is unaware of the allegations levelled against him (if any).

Lt Col A Mohammed, Commander of 195 Battalion in Agenebode, was accused of not helping the ruling party to win elections in Edo State in 2015. At the time, he was far away in Dambura and Kindigwa in the North East (nowhere near Edo State), fighting Boko Haram! Col M A Suleiman who was also compulsorily retired, was conferred with National Honours by President Jonathan, for rescuing seven French Nationals who were kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in 2012.

By virtue of Paragraph 9.02(e) of the 2012 HTACOS, Lt Col Arigbe appealed to President Buhari (Baba) through the Chief of Defence Staff within 30 days of his purported dismissal, to have his case reconsidered. To date, Baba has failed or neglected to respond. Paragraph 9.07 of the 2012 HTACOS (now 11.07 of the 2017 HTACOS) permits any Officer who has objections to being called upon to retire or resign, to seek redress to the highest level possible.

But, in the case of Major General Ahmed Mohammed who is a Muslim and hails from Katsina, he was compulsorily retired by the Jonathan administration in January 2015, for dereliction of duty in the fight against Boko Haram. He appealed to Baba in September 2015, well beyond the 30 day period provided for the appeal for reconsideration/reinstatement.

Of course, he was promptly reinstated. Talk about double standards!

Litigation So, five Officers out of the 18 (out of which only Col D R Hassan appeared before Oyebade’s Panel, and was found not culpable) - the other four, Major General Ijioma (who had some alleged infractions), Col M A Suleiman, Lt Col Arigbe and Lt Col A Mohammed, who were not queried, charged or tried, proceeded to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to seek justice, and all won their cases. Their dismissals were found by the courts to be wrongful, unconstitutional, null and void, and the Army was ordered to reinstate them (amongst other orders), an order which, to date, the Army has failed to comply with. So far, it is only the case of Col Hassan, that the Army has filed a notice of appeal.

In reading the judgement in Arigbe’s case, I discovered that, the Nigerian Army had absolutely no defence, and instead, sought to defend the action, based on non-existent technicalities.

Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE

THE ADVOCATE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocateTD

“IN JUNE 2016, THE ARMY UNILATERALLY AND ILLEGALLY COMPULSORILY RETIRED 38 OFFICERS - 29 OF THEM WERE SOUTHERNERS AND/OR CHRISTIANS - OBVIOUSLY, THE ARMED FORCES IS NOT IMMUNE TO THE TRIBALISM, NEPOTISM, PARTIALITY AND RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY, THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS SO FAMOUS FOR AND FOND OF”

Conclusion The question is, how long is the Nigerian Government going to continue to sacrifice the lives of it citizens and the progress of the country, on the altar of tribalism, witch-hunting, ineptitude and the like? How long will useless politicians, be allowed to truncate the careers of brilliant Officers? Instead of cherishing and harnessing the capabilities of those like Lt Col Arigbe and Col Suleiman, who can be instrumental in evolving strategies to fight the Boko Haram insurgency effectively and decisively, they are sacked for nonsensical non-reasons - possibly because of where they may come from, or the religion they practice, or because someone of a higher rank or politicians don’t like them - for no justifiable reasons, while people bereft of ideas, who hail from the ‘right’ areas, practice the ‘preferred’ religion, and are in with the ‘right’ political crowd, have thriving careers!

Meanwhile, this is all at the expense of innocent Nigerians, including women, children and the elderly, who are slaughtered and killed in their numbers, on a daily basis. This was the same senseless blueprint that was adopted, when over 20 Police Officers were retired, simply to pave the way for Ibrahim Idris Kpotum, who will go down in Nigerian history, as one of the worst Inspector Generals of Police, to emerge.

You are absolutely right, Honourable Kazaure - some people are enjoying this insurgency. If not, how can the Nigerian Army be more concerned and interested in sand-filling the lagoon and developing a 43 hectare residential ‘Apple’ Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos (obviously for the higher echelons of the Armed Forces), seeking to illegally create access through another residential estate, Banana Island, not caring about the environmental impact assessment or whether Banana Island and its environs sink, when they should be consumed with fighting insurgency in the North East?

Why does the Nigerian Army feel comfortable, meting out injustice to its own Officers, who they know are innocent and underserving of such unfair treatment?

4/LAW REPORT

03.03.2020

Finality of the Decision of the Supreme Court

B Facts

y the decision of the Supreme Court of delivered on 13th February, 2020 in this appeal, the court allowed the appeal of the Appellants/ Respondents herein (1st set of Respondents); disqualified the 1st Respondent/Applicant (and by implication, the 2nd Applicant); and ordered INEC to declare the 2nd and 3rd Appellants/ Respondents as winner of the Governorship election conducted in Bayelsa State.

The Applicants approached the Supreme Court for a review of the decision above by way of Motion on Notice dated 17th February, 2020 and 20th February, 2020 (filed by the 1st & 2nd Respondent Applicant and 3rd Respondent/ Applicant respectively). In the application filed by the first set of Applicants (1st and 2nd Applicants), they prayed for an order setting aside ex debito justitiae, the judgement delivered on 13th February, 2020 and an order restoring the appeal for hearing on its merit.

In the other application filed by the 3rd Applicant, it sought an order setting aside the portions of the judgement of the Supreme Court, where it agreed with the Federal High Court that the 1st Applicant gave false information to INEC, thereby disqualifying the 1st Applicant (and the 2nd Applicant) from contesting the Governorship Election in Bayelsa State. The party also sought an order setting aside the interpretation of the judgement, which it alleged was wrongly done by INEC; and an order setting aside the execution of the judgement, as carried out by INEC. The 1st and 2nd Respondents (who were the 1st and 2nd Appellants in the main appeal), filed Counter-affidavits and Written Addresses, in opposition to the two applications. The 3rd Respondent/Appellant filed a Counter-affidavit and Written Address, as well. In addition to this, it filed a Preliminary Objection to the applications, praying the court to strike out the said applications, for lack of jurisdiction. The 4th Respondent (INEC) did not file processes, before the court.

Issues for Determination The issues raised for determination by counsel for the 3rd Applicant were: 1. Juxtaposing the judgements of the trial High Court (delivered on 12th November, 2019) and the Court of Appeal (delivered on 23rd December, 2019) (including the Order for Stay of Execution of judgement of the trial High Court made by the Court of Appeal on 13th November, 2019), with the judgement of this Honourable Court (delivered on 13th February, 2020) and situating all of them within the confines of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2020 (as amended) and decisions of the Supreme Court, whether this Honourable Court will not set aside the portions of its judgement delivered on 13th February, 2020, as particularly highlighted under relief 1 on the body of the application.

2. Considering the judgement of this Honourable Court delivered on 13th February, 2020, together with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), whether this Honourable Court will not readily accede to reliefs 2 and 3 on the body of the Applicant’s Motion on Notice dated 20th February, 2020, by setting aside either or both interpretations given to, and the execution of the judgement of this Honourable Court wrongly done by INEC (4th Respondent) on or about the 13th February, 2020.

Arguments In support of the application, Counsel for the 3rd Applicant argued that the trial court granted only reliefs 1 to 5 in the Originating Summons, and went ahead to grant relief 7 as the final Order made by it. The trial court restricted itself and refused to grant reliefs 6, 8 and 9, which sought a Declaration that the 2nd Applicant cannot validly contest as Governor of Bayelsa State without a qualified Deputy Governorship Candidate; an Order setting aside the nomination of the 2nd Applicant as the Governorship Candidate of the 3rd Applicant; and an Order restraining the 3rd Applicant from fielding any other Governorship Candidate and Deputy Governorship Candidate upon the disqualification of the 1st and 2nd Applicants, for the Gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State.

Counsel submitted that, the trial court was deliberate in the reliefs granted, and given the fact that the refusal of reliefs 6, 8 and 9 in the Originating Summons were not up for consideration at the Court of Appeal, then the Supreme Court, which is constitutionally restricted to hearing appeals from the Court of Appeal, does not have the constitutional jurisdiction to grant reliefs refused by the trial court in the absence of an appeal to the Court of Appeal against that part of the decision of the trial court.

Further, counsel posited that the suit was initiated by way of a Pre-election matter, and by virtue of Section 31(6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), where a court determines that any of the information contained in the affidavit or document submitted by any candidate is false, the court shall issue an order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election, without more. Counsel argued that, to proceed beyond the limit in the said provision is to assume jurisdiction not statutorily bestowed on the court. He argued that, the inherent jurisdiction of the Supreme Court does not supersede its statutory jurisdiction which is encapsulated in Section 31(6) of the Election Act, 2010 (as amended) – CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, EDO STATE v AGUELE (2018) 3 NWLR (Pt. 1607). He cited the decision in NOBIS-ELENDU

Hon. Amina Adamu Augie, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 26th day of February, 2020 Before Their Lordships Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili Olukayode Ariwoola Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun John Inyang Okoro Amina Adamu Augie Ejembi Eko Justices, Supreme Court SC.1/2020 Between 1. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2. Senator Duoye Diri (Governorship Candidate of PDP in the November 16, 2020 Bayelsa State Governorship Election) 3. Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo (Deputy Governorship Candidate of PDP in the November 16/11/ 2019 Bayelsa State, Governorship Election) Appellants/Respondents And 1. Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo (APC Deputy Governorship Candidate For Bayelsa State) 2. Lyon David Pereworimin (APC Governorship Candidate For Bayelsa State 3. All Progressive Congress (APC) Respondents/Appellants 4. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ....... Respondent/ Respondent (Lead Judgement delivered by Hon. Amina Adamu Augie, JSC)

v INEC (2015) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1485) 197 at 241, where the Supreme Court held that, a court of law cannot grant any order contrary to the express provisions of statute.

Counsel argued that Governorship candidates emerged through a Primary election process, while a Deputy Governorship Candidate does not go through a Primary election. There was no challenge under Section 87 of the Electoral Act, against the candidacy and nomination of the Governorship Candidate; hence, the orders made subsequent to reinstating the judgement of the trial court ought to be set aside for being a nullity, premised on error, given without jurisdiction and against public policy.

On the powers of the Supreme Court to set aside its own judgement in appropriate circumstances, counsel listed a host of decisions, particularly, the recent decision in STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC v LGC LTD (2020) 2 NWLR (Pt. 1707) 1 at

“THERE IS NO STATUTORY OR CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION ALLOWING THE SUPREME COURT, AS THE APEX COURT, TO REVIEW ITS DECISION BY ITSELF; THEREFORE, THIS COURT DOES NOT AND CANNOT SIT ON APPEAL OVER ITS OWN JUDGEMENT”

17, where the Supreme Court listed ten instances when it can set aside its own judgement thus: where – (i) there is a clerical mistake; (ii) there is an error arising from an accidental slip or omission; (iii) there arises the necessity for carrying out its own meaning and to make its intention plain; (iv) any of the parties obtained judgement by fraud or deceit; (v) such a decision is a nullity; (vi) it is obvious that the court was misled into giving the decision under a wrong belief that the parties consented to it; (vii) judgement was given without jurisdiction; (viii) the procedure adopted was such as to deprive the decision or judgement of the character of a legitimate adjudication; (ix) the writ or application was not served on the other party, or there is denial of fair hearing; and (x) the decision/judgement is contrary to public policy and will perpetuate injustice. Counsel situated the present application under the grounds enumerated above, save for ground four, and urged the court to set aside the judgement delivered on 13th February, 2020 in SC.1/2020.

The Respondents argued in their respective Written Addresses that the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction to grant the prayers sought by the Applicants, given the provisions of Order 8 Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules, which provision prohibits a review of the judgement of the court once delivered, save to correct clerical mistake or some error arising from any accidental slip or omission or to vary the Judgement or Order, as to give effect to its meaning or intention.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale The Supreme Court considered the prayers sought in the applications filed, juxtaposing same with the law on the subject and arguments of parties, and came to the conclusion that, the applications lack merit and constitute an abuse of court process. The court noted that, the language used in the applications notwithstanding, the Applicants sought a review of the judgement of the Honourable Court delivered in the appeal. Order 8 Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules employed the words – “Shall Not” and as aptly decided in UGWU & ANOR. v ARARUME & ANOR. (2007) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1048) 367 at 441-442, the word “Shall”, when used in a statutory provision, imports that a thing must be done, and when the negative phrase “Shall Not” is used, it implies that something must Not be done. It is a form of command, or mandate. Given the decision above, the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to review its judgement, except in the circumstances spelt out in the said provision.

The Applicants herein, failed to show any accidental slip or omission, or show any part of the judgement that needs to be varied so as to give effect to its meaning or intention. What the Applicants require of the court, is prohibited by the relevant provision – varying the operative and substantive part of the judgement and substituting a different from.

By Section 235 of the 1999 Constitution, no appeal shall lie to any other body from the determination of the Supreme Court. The court is final; so is its decision – ARCON v FASSASSI (No. 4) (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 59) 42. The decision of the Supreme Court is final, in the sense of real finality.

It is final forever. Only a legislation ad hominin can alter it. There must be an end to litigation.

The Apex Court found it regrettable, that the Applicants prayed the court to sit on appeal over its judgement. There is no statutory or constitutional provision allowing the Supreme Court, as the Apex Court, to review its decision by itself; therefore, this court does not and cannot sit on appeal over its own judgement.

Given the above, the Supreme Court adjudged the applications as vexatious, frivolous and a gross abuse of court process. The Applications were dismissed with costs of N10 million each awarded against the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Applicants respectively, and in favour of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Appellants/Respondents, to be paid personally by their respective counsel.

Application Dismissed.

Representation Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, Olu Daramola, SAN, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN with Tunde Babalola Esq and Oluwasina Ogungbade, Esq. for the 1st and 2nd Applicants.

Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, O.I. Oluwadare, SAN, Bode Olanipekun, SAN with Remi Peter Olatubora Esq. for the 3rd Applicant.

Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, C.V.C. Ihekweazu, SAN with Chikezie Obiefule Esq., Paul Mbeoma Esq. and Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo Esq. for the 1st Respondent.

Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN, M.M. Nurudeen, SAN with Ibrahim Eddie Mark Esq., Sir F.N. Nwosu Esq. and Zainab Atoba Esq. for the 2nd Respondent.

Chief Chris Uche, SAN, Chief Gordy Uche, SAN with John Sambo Esq., Olakunle Lawal Esq. and Abduljalil Musa Esq. for the 3rd Respondent.

T.M. Inuwa, SAN, Alhassan A. Umar, SAN with Wendy Kuku, Esq., Bashir M. Abubakar and U.K. Muazu, Esq. for the 4th Respondent.

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

03.03.2020

NEWS/5

TNP Acquires Nigeria's Foremost Tax Litigation Firm Akinwale Akintunde

L-R: John Edozie, Int'l Coordinator AGA, Anthony Campagna, AGA Facilitator, San Diego, Ebelechukwu Enedah, Workshop Coordinator, Aisha Dikko, Kaduna AG & Commissioner for Justice; Chris Umar, Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Justice; Olubunmi Salami, AGA Facilitator, Iowa

Plea Bargain Will Enhance Speedy Justice Delivery, Says Kaduna AG, Dikko Akinwale Akintunde Kaduna State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Aisha Dikko, has said that the deployment of the mechanism of plea bargain, will go a long way in enhancing speedy dispensation of justice in the country, as the mechanism she said would save judicious time that would have been spent arguing cases in court.

Mrs Dikko said, contrary to the misconception in some quarters that people think when you offer money, you are let off the hook, the system ensures that offenders are punished according to law, but only get lesser punishment because they own up to the crime.

She was speaking at a two-day workshop on Effective Administration of Criminal Justice, which held in Abuja. The workshop was put together by AGA Africa, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice.

The Kaduna AG said the State Government realising the important role that plea bargain plays in administration of criminal justice, has decided to train stakeholders in the justice sector in Kaduna State on the effective implementation of the mechanism.

“The Ministry of Justice shall soon commence trainings on Plea Bargain as enshrined in the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2017, in the State. We believe this effort, will help in decongesting the dockets of our courtrooms.

“The Ministry has also commenced the use of the ‘Case Management System’, a software which improves data collection and monitoring in the day to day handling of cases”, she said.

The Commissioner for Justice further disclosed that, the State as part of efforts at

ensuring compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, which was domesticated in 2017, inaugurated a Monitoring Committee in 2018 that was saddled with the mandate of monitoring the implementation and adherence to the provisions of the Law. In addition she said the Government enacted the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2018, the Kaduna State Child Welfare and Protection Law 2018, among other legislation to improve on the overall administration of justice in the State.

She said although the State is still at the implementation stage of the ACJL, it nonetheless, has recorded some gains, particularly in the area of synergy among all agencies in the justice sector.

“It was enacted in 2017, and we are still at the implementation stage, but since it clearly defines

the roles of all the actors in the judicial system, the Police, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice and the Prisons, we are making progress, because it has brought us together and we are sitting together and finding ways to make it easier and better for us to do our jobs and enhance our collaboration”, she said.

She however, noted that with relevant and adequate training which the workshop is meant to provide, coupled with the availability of a sizeable number of Judges and Magistrates to handle cases in the State, the ACJL would be smoothly implemented in Kaduna State.

Also speaking, Coordinator of the Workshop, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Enedah, who noted that the problem with most of Nigeria’s laws and in particular, the criminal justice law, is mostly

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Court Declares Retirement of Rivers Permanent Secretary Illegal t0SEFST 4UBUF (PWFSONFOU UP QBZ BMM IFS FOUJUMFNFOUT Akinwale Akintunde The Port Harcourt Division of the National Industrial Court has ordered the Rivers State Head of Service and State Civil Service Commission, to within 30 days pay Mrs. Alaliba Christine Dokubo all her salaries and other entitlements as a Permanent Secretary from August 14, 2015 to January 27, 2018.

Justice P. I. Hamman also declared Mrs. Dokubo’s retirement from the State Civil Service on January 27, 2008 vide a circular dated August 14, 2015, as illegal.

It consequently set aside, the said circular.

The court also held that, the retirement Mrs. Dokubo from the Rivers State Service took effect from January 27, 2018, having attained the retirement age of 60 years during the pendency of the suit.

The Claimant had dragged the State Attorney-General, Head of Service and the State Civil Service Commission as 1st to 3rd Defendants respectively, to court to challenge her illegal retirement from the service.

She said was employed into Rivers State Civil Service Com-

mission on January 19,1973 as a Clerical Staff, but she shortly after obtained Study Leave without pay for three years (1974 to 1977).

According to her, she however, spent a total of 11 years outside of the three years period approved for her.

She noted that, upon completion of her studies and return, she was re-absorbed into the Rivers State Civil Service vide a letter dated October 13, 1989.

In the said letter, according to her, it was stated that the 11 years period would be treated as a period of break-in-service.

Curious to know what the term break-in-service meant, Mrs. Dokubo said on February 24, 2009 she wrote a letter to the Defendants to seek clarification, and the 3rd Defendant (Rivers State Civil Service Commission) replied her letter stating that, the break-in-service meant her (Claimant) tenure in the service extends to January 27, 2018, which would be date of her retirement and not March 1, 2009.

According to the Claimant, with that clarification, she continued to diligently perform her duties such that by January 2009 when she was already a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, she was subsequently appointed the Acting Chairman of the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue, which position she held till January 2012, when a substantive Chairman was appointed.

According to her, on handling over to the substantive Chairman, she had cause on February 8, 2012 to write to the 3rd Defendant again, to clarify her employment status.

She said the 3rd Defendant again replied her, reaffirming that her date of retirement from the service of Rivers State Government was January 27, 2018 or the date she attained 60 years of age (which ever comes first).

The Claimant with such clarification again, said she continued to perform her duties as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, when through a circular dated August 16, 2015, she was purportedly

retired from the service of State Government with effect from January 27, 2008.

Aggrieved by the action of the Defendants, the Claimant through her Lawyer, Ubiaza Benard Obaika, filed the suit to challenge her illegal retirement.

The Defendants’ counsel, Henry Amadi, an Assistant Principal State Counsel in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, had in their defence, asked the court to dismiss the Claimant’s case.

But, Justice Hamman in his judgement upheld the reliefs sought by the Claimant, stating that the retirement of the Claimant particularly in the light of the letter written by the Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission on August 13, 2013, wherein it reaffirmed that the Claimant would retire from service on January 27, 2018 or attainment of 60 years (which ever came first) was illegal null and void, considering the fact that her employment had statutory flavour, in that her condition of service is provided for by statue and cited relevant authorities in support.

Lagos -based Firm, The New Practice (TNP) has announced the acquisition of Adebiyi Tax & Legal (ATL), Nigeria’s foremost tax litigation practice, with effect from March 1, 2020.

ATL has an impressive track record of resolving tax disputes on behalf of its numerous clients, which include multinationals and local blue-chips, > The tax litigation firm has obtained several landmark tax judgements, that have effectively saved clients billions of Naira worth of tax liabilities.

Speaking about this development, the firm’s Practice Manager said, “With this acquisition and our recent collaboration with Anderson Global, we are better positioned to provide best-in-class tax dispute resolution services to clients”.

Founded in 2007, TNP

provides a broad range of commercially oriented services, in a number of disciplines.

These include capital markets, commercial dispute resolution, corporate finance, infrastructure, construction, real estate, energy & natural resources, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, ecommerce, fintech, and business advisory.

Andersen Global, an international association of legally separate, independent member firms compromised of tax and legal professionals around the world, in 2019 entered into a Collaboration with TNP, increasing the global organisation’s footprints in Africa, and strengthening its presence in Nigeria.

Established in 2013, Andersen Global has more than 5,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 166 locations, through its member firms and collaborating firms.

Hearing on Suit against INEC’s Deregistration of Youth Party Begins Peter Taiwo An Abuja High Court has commenced hearing, on a suit filed by the Youth Party to challenge the party’s deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice I.E. Ekwo however, adjourned the case till April 20, 2020.

In the suit filed through its lawyer, Mr. Francis Akinlotan, who is also a Board of Trustees Member, the Youth Party had argued before the court that, the Party had on January 8, 2020, filed an interlocutory injunction to restrain INEC from deregistering them as a political party.

Akinlotan further stated that, INEC was served on January 15, 2020, and responded on February 3, 2020, but proceeded

to deregister the party without regard for the matter already pending in court.

Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, Akinlotan expressed faith in the judicial system, noting that, INEC would do the right thing by reversing its attempt to deregister the party.

“We hope to participate in all coming elections, and we will exercise our constitutional right to freedom of association to the fullest. INEC is seeking to restrict the democratic space under the pretext of the law, which it applies selectively in bad faith.

“Serious political parties must be allowed to grow organically, if we are serious about having ideologically driven parties like the Youth Party in charge of the country”, he said.

Court Grants Two Weeks Out of Court Settlement to FAAN, I-Cube, over Concession Dispute Peter Taiwo Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has granted the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and one of its major concessionaires, I-Cube West Africa, two weeks to explore an out-of-court settlement.

The Judge granted the settlement option, following an application by FAAN. I-Cube West Africa had dragged FAAN to court, for allegedly wrongfully terminating its concession deal.

In the suit marked as FHC/L/CS/2364/2019, I-Cube West Africa alleged that, before the termination, it had a 10-year contract to manage the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access toll gates.

When the matter came up

on February 18, I-Cube West Africa, through its counsel, Mr. Charles Ebhoman, applied for the parties to maintain status quo.

Counsel to FAAN, Mr. J.O. Lolo, however, opposed him.

But, in a bench ruling, Justice Oweibo upheld Ebhoman’s prayer and ordered the parties to maintain the status quo, pending the hearing of applications on the next adjournment.

“The Claimant (Rose Pine Integrated Limited) and FAAN and Integrated Intelligent Imaging West (Defendants) in the suit, are hereby directed to maintain status quo ante bellum”, Justice Oweibo said.

But, during proceedings on February 28, I-Cube West Africa, through Ebhoman, told the

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03.03.2020

HURILAWS, Onevoice Coalition, Urge President Buhari to Sign 2018 Electoral Act into Law Akinwale Akintunde Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) and its partner, Onevoice Coalition, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the 2018 Electoral Act (Amendment Bill), in order to address some of the challenges identified with the election petitions process, like the issues of access to election materials and use of card readers.

The human rights advocacy groups also urged the Independent Electoral National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately after announcing the result of an election, make available at no cost, certified copies of all relevant election documents to all political parties, to facilitate fair challenges against the election outcome.

Senior Legal/Programmes Officer, HURILAWS, Collins Okeke made these calls last week at a Media Parley and formal presentation of a Report titled, ‘Judicial Application of 2019 Election Petition Laws in Nigeria’.

The Media parley, which held at the Training Hall of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), Ilupeju, Lagos, was jointly organised by HURILAWS in collaboration Onevoice Coalition.

The groups, as part of their recommendations contained in the Report, also called on the National Assembly to adopt the recommendations of the Uwais Committee, by placing the burden of proof for election petitions on INEC and the Respondent.

According to the groups, since INEC conducted the election and the Respondent is the beneficiary, it will be easy for INEC and the Respondent, to prove that the election was conducted substantially in accordance with the electoral law.

The groups noted that shifting the burden of proof in election petitions from the Petitioner to INEC and Respondent, will substantially restore confidence in election tribunals.

“It is on record that, no presidential election has been upturned in Nigeria, on account of the doctrine of substantial compliance. This is due in part, to the onerous burden of the substantial compliance principle. The 2008 Electoral Reform Committee (otherwise known as the Justice Uwais Committee) tried to relieve this onerous burden placed on the Petitioner, by recommending that the burden of proof for election petitions be placed on INEC and the Respondent. The thinking is

that, since INEC conducted the election and Respondent is the beneficiary, it will be easy for INEC and the Respondent to prove that the election was conducted substantially in accordance with the electoral law. Unfortunately, the Uwais recommendation was not incorporated into the Electoral Act of 2010. Shifting the burden of proof in election petitions from the Petitioner to INEC and Respondent, will substantially restore confidence in election tribunals”, it stated.

While stating that it supports all just measures proposed to curtail the time spent in endless election petitions, the human rights group advised that these measures must be holistic, and not limited to simply throwing out a petition or nullifying a judgement, acts which simply mete out injustice to the litigant who has done all he or she was required by law to do.

The groups also recommended that, substantial compliance should not be restricted to what transpired on Election day, adding that matters such as voter registration, unlawful campaign outside of the statutory period, campaign funding, accreditation of voters, collation of results form the composite process of an election, any of which

PLEA BARGAIN WILL ENHANCE SPEEDY JUSTICE DELIVERY, SAYS KADUNA AG, DIKKO with implementation, said the workshop is specifically designed to address this challenge.

Mrs. Enedah lamented that, five years after the law was passed at the Federal level, and with more than 25 States of the Federation having domesticated the Act, there is very little to show.

“Statistic on implementation of ACJA does not really look good, even after the law was passed and being implemented it didn’t do anything to the statistics, it didn’t show more convictions, it didn’t show more trials, so you will see there is a problem, and the problem is the implementation of the law. If you have

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a law, no matter how beautiful the law is, if you are not implementing it, it adds no value to the system.

“That is why the capacity building is very important, because people need to actually know how to go about investigation, need to know how to use plea bargain, the restorative justice

COURT GRANTS TWO WEEKS OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT TO FAAN, I-CUBE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Judge that FAAN had violated the court order.

It claimed that some of the unions acting on FAAN’s directive, stormed the premises of the concessionaire to vandalise its properties and cut off electricity and water sources to the facility, in a bid to force the firm out of the area.

Justice Oweibo adjourned the matter till March 14, for a report of settlement.

In a statement afterwards, Ebhoman said: “On February 13, 2020, my client got a letter from FAAN, saying they should remove all their containers and properties within this vicinity on or before February 14, 2020.

“Upon the receipt of that letter, we immediately did a letter to the author of that letter, Mrs Victoria Shin-Aba who happens to be the Regional General Manager, South West of FAAN”.

“We did the letter to her, to let her know that ours is a society that is regulated by law. People do not have the right, to take the law into their own hands. We wrote her, and copied the Judge that is handling the matter. We copied the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command; we copied Joel Ololo who is the counsel to FAAN.

could be manipulated to thwart the fairness of an election and change the outcome thereof.

“Hence, if any of these components of the election process is not conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act, it should be permissible for a Petitioner to ground his petition on such default, without being foreclosed by the argument that such default is a pre-election matter.

“Finally, it would be good to interrogate the source of funding of an election petition process, by a Respondent who is an incumbent and has access to State resources. It puts the Petitioner at a serious disadvantage where the Respondent can draw from State Resources to retain the best of legal minds or advocates to defend a petition, whilst the Petitioner with his or her very limited personal funds struggles to retain a relatively inexperienced Lawyer to prosecute the petition with the humongous weight of burden or onus of proof the Petitioner is expected to discharge”, the groups stated.

The group listed cost of filing petition, access to vital materials by Petitioners, issue of burden of proof, use of card readers, and neutrality of INEC, as the persisting challenges with the petitions process.

“We also copied the Managing Director of FAAN, we copied the Director, Legal Services.

We have the acknowledgement of that letter? from all of them”.

“On February 18, 2020, we were in court. We brought this to the attention of the court, that despite the order, FAAN had gone ahead about the whole issue, as if nothing has happened.

After arguments by counsel, the court ordered that parties should maintain the status quo.

However, FAAN has reportedly disassociated itself, from the action of the unions.

which will facilitate the implementation of the law”, she added.

One of the AGA Facilitators from Iowa in the United States, Mr. Olubunmi Salami, said justice is served when it is served timely and expeditiously.

Mr. Olubunmi commended the efforts being made by the Kaduna State Government, towards the effective implementation of criminal justice law.

“We are here to share ideas on how we all can improve the system, not just in Kaduna, but we want to take the information that we can share with other African nations.”

He disclosed that in the State of Iowa where he is from, when a suspect is arrested, within 24 hours, that suspect has to appear before a Judge, and within 10 days, that suspect is entitled to a preliminary hearing. He stated that, while the Prosecution has 45 days from the day the arrest was made to file an indictment or trial information or else the case will be dismissed, the Defendant he said, is given 90 days to decide for a jury trial or bench trial.

He said with such a system, justice is done and done expeditiously.

Legal Personality of the Week Sixtus Iwuoha

‘Do not Shortchange Yourself by Rushing into Specialisation ’ by the court at the conclusion of trial, and counsel were invited to address the court on the point. I had the responsibility of preparing the written submission, on an issue that appeared fairly settled.

I was creative in my arguments, and successfully distinguished the mass of authorities which the court agreed with. I was chuffed, with the judgement.

Please, give a brief introduction of yourself My name is Sixtus Iwuoha. I am currently a graduate student (specialising in International Business Law) at Osgoode Hall Law School, Canada. Before embarking on my graduate studies in 2019, I was a core member of the Litigation, Arbitration and ADR practice group at Banwo & Ighodalo, where I spent the last six years representing domestic and multinational clients in big ticket disputes. In 2018, I was seconded to the London offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer under the International Lawyers for Africa secondment programme, where I worked with the Civil Disputes and International Arbitration Groups.

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

The greatest challenge I have experienced as a dispute resolution practitioner, is the somewhat slow pace of our justice delivery system. This is specifically in the areas of assignment and hearing of cases, at the various levels of court. Often times, uncontested and routine applications sometimes take months to be heard for a number of reasons, ranging from congested dockets to unavailability of Judges. This can be discouraging for new wigs, and paints a sad picture when managing clients’ expectations.

What do you consider to be your worst day as a Lawyer?

My worst day has to be when a witness I had conducted pre-trial briefings with and availed copies of his witness statement on oath, went off on a

Sixtus Iwuoha

tangent on the day of trial. The witness ended up giving evidence which did not only support the Plaintiff’s case, but also contradicted his written statement. I was visibly stunned. Thankfully, it turned out to be a pyrrhic victory for the Plaintiff.

What has been your most memorable experience as a Lawyer, so far?

I will never forget the day the High Court of Lagos State delivered judgement in favour of my client, in a case that was hanging by a thread following the decision of the Supreme Court in Okafor v Nweke. At the time, we were reluctant to discontinue and re-file the suit, because of the stage of the proceedings and a possible plea of limitation by the adversary. The issue was raised

Who has been most influential in your life?

A number of people have made an impression on my academic and professional career, which I remain grateful for. Aside from the unseen hand of God, my family has been the most influential in the areas of my discipline, work ethic and ethos. In the professional sphere, I owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN and Chinedum Umeche, both of whom led from the front in moulding my personality as a dispute resolution practitioner. I continue to shadow them, and also stand on the shoulders of many others.

Why did you become a Lawyer?

To fulfil a childhood passion, and also prove my parents wrong. Because of the lofty nature of the profession, my father assumed (erroneously in hindsight) that it will be difficult, if not impossible for me to gain admission to study law. We took what may have been a bet at the time, and the rest is history. I ended up graduating in the top 10% of my class, at the University and Law School.

Also, I have had an investigative and probing mind for as long as I can remember, which made law an easy decision for me. Whilst there are many faces/areas of the profession, trial advocacy appeals to me the most.

What would be your advice to anyone wanting a career in law?

My advice will be for them to keep an open mind, and not rush to short-change themselves by specialising in an area of law in their early years, as a result of an unconscious bias they may have about certain other areas. The technical and soft skills they learn from different areas will serve them later on, after an informed decision has been made to specialise. In addition, I will also advice prospective Lawyers to think outside the box, and always question conventional thinking, practices and theories. Generally, they should seek to know the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of any given state of affairs, as there is no moratorium on thinking, especially for a Lawyer.

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

I will probably have studied Mass Communication, and subsequently, focus on Investigative Journalism as a freelancer, or considered a career in law enforcement as a Detective. My fascination lies in unravelling, or searching for innovative and creative solutions to issues. It is an exercise that can be likened to the light at the end of the tunnel, or that eureka moment.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

At the forefront of the profession and legal education, with the same level of passion that drives me everyday. In 10 years, I hope to grow in leaps and bounds, in every area of my academic and professional life. Although, tomorrow is not promised, I like the dreams of the future, better than the history of the past.

03.03.2020

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TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

SMS only to 08098898888

Federalism as a System of Government (Part 2) Introduction Last week, we explored the concept, meaning, definition and history of Federalism. Simply put, Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central government at the national level and State or regional governments, with each sharing and exercising powers within its sphere of influence. The opposite of Federalism, is unitary government – a system in which power is held by one central authority.

Reasons for Federalism Many arguments for Federalism have traditionally been put in terms of promoting various forms of liberty, in the form of non-domination, immunity or enhanced opportunity sets. When considering reasons offered in the literature for federal political orders, many appear to be in favour of decentralisation, without requiring constitutional entrenchment of split authority. Two sets of arguments can be distinguished: Arguments favouring federal orders, compared with secession and completely independent sovereign States; and arguments supporting federal arrangements rather than a (further) centralised unitary State. They occur in different forms and from different starting points, in defence of ‘coming together’ Federalism, and in favour of ‘holding together’ Federalism.

Reasons for a Federal Order rather than Separate States, Confederation or Secession The following reasons have been advanced as to why many modern States with a pluralistic composition, prefer a federal system to any other system of government: 1. Federations may foster peace, in the sense of preventing wars and preventing fears of war, in several ways. States can join a (con)federation to become jointly powerful enough to dissuade external aggressors, and/or to prevent aggressive and pre-emptive wars among themselves. The European Federalists, Altieri Spinelli, Ernesto Rossi and Eugenio Colorni argued the latter in the 1941 Ventotene Manifesto: Only a European federation could prevent war between totalitarian, aggressive States. Such arguments assume, of course, that the (con) federation will not become more aggressive than each State separately, a point Mill argued.

2. Federations can promote economic prosperity by removing internal barriers to trade, through economies of scale, by establishing and maintaining inter-member unit trade agreements, or by becoming a sufficiently large global player, to affect international trade regimes.

4. Federal arrangements may protect individuals against political authorities by constraining State sovereignty, placing some powers with the centre. By entrusting the centre with authority to intervene in member units, the federal arrangements can protect minorities’ human rights, against member unit authorities. Such arguments assume, of course, that abuse by the centre is less likely.

5. Federations can facilitate some objectives of sovereign States, such as credible commitments, certain kinds of coordination, and control over externalities, by transferring some powers to a common body. Since cooperation in some areas can ‘spill over’ and create demands for further coordination in other sectors, federations often exhibit creeping centralisation.

6. Federal arrangements may enhance the political influence of formerly sovereign governments, both by facilitating coordination, and particularly for small States - by giving these member units influence or even veto over policy making, rather than remaining mere policy takers.

7. Federal political orders can be preferred as the appropriate form of nested organisations, for instance in ‘organic’ conceptions of the political and social order. The Federation may promote cooperation, justice or other values among and within member units, as well as among and within their constituent units, for instance by monitoring, legislating, enforcing or funding agreements, human rights, immunity from interference, or development. Starting with the family, each larger unit responsible for facilitating the flourishing of member units and securing common goods beyond

“NIGERIANS OWE THEIR ALLEGIANCE, NOT TO NIGERIA AS A STATE, BUT TO THEIR VILLAGES, TOWNS UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS”

President Muhammadu Buhari

their reach, without a common authority. Such arguments have been offered by such otherwise divergent authors as Althusius, the Catholic traditions of subsidiarity, as expressed by Popes Leo XIII (1891) and Pius XI (1931), and Proudhon.

No doubt, Federalism promotes “unity in diversity” in a heterogenous society, such as ours. It gives voice and opportunities to people, including minority groups, so as to obviate fear of marginalisation.

The Nigerian Federal Structure In its structural and political context, Nigeria’s Federalism may be likened to a biological cell capable of dividing and reproducing itself. This is because, it has continued to witness continuous splitting of units. In 1954, it began as a Federation of three regions, but by 1963, it became four with the creation of the Mid-Western region from the then Western region on the 9th of August, 1963. By 1967, the federal structure became subdivided into 12 States, while by 1976, it was further split into 19 states. By 1989, it became a Federation of 21 states, increasing to 30 by 1991, and by 1996, it had subdivided to become a Federation of 36 States. In addition, the creation of more States, has always been accompanied by the creation of additional Local Governments areas.

Thus, from 301 in 1976, the country currently boasts of about 774 Local Government Area Councils. Implicit in the above description is that, Nigeria’s federal structure is predicated on a three-tier administrative structure – the Federal, State and Local Governments. While it is not a misnomer to have, in a federation, more than two tiers of government, in order to cope with the extent of diversities, the continued structural division, however, has not produced a satisfactory outcome for the component units. This is evidently so, because every attempt at States and local government creation, is usually followed by increased agitations for more.

The Nigerian Federation: Issues in its Origin and Creation Two Schools of Thought There are two schools of thought, that talk about the adoption of a federal system in Nigeria.

The First School of Thought The first school of thought, is made up largely of “Marxists”.

They argue that the federal system of government in Nigeria, was imposed on the country by Britain. To the proponents of this school, Nigerians did not contribute to the decision of adopting Federalism in the country. To this extent, Dr Uma Eleazu is of the view that, the founding fathers of Nigerian Federalism that gathered in Ibadan in 1950, did not have a clear intention of what they wanted to achieve, and so, they did not address core issues and questions such as: 1. What is the common interest?

2. How best can the common interest be achieved?

3. If we need Federalism, what do we want to achieve by it?

4. Is a federal structure the best means of achieving what

we want?

5. If so, what should be the nature and form of the federal structure?

Thus, the British colonial masters, convinced that the Nigerian delegates to the Ibadan Constitutional Conference were not clear in their minds as to what type of political system they wanted, designed what appeared to them would work, and euphemistically dubbed it “Federalism with unity in diversity.”

The statements of some of our political elites during this period tend, to shed more light to the view of the above school of thought.

Alhaji Tafawa Balewa seems to have stated the position and concern of Northerners in the midst of the raging controversy and mutual distrust that characterised that era, when he said that Nigeria’s political future may only lie in Federalism, so far as the rate of regional progress was concerned. He said: "… the regions of Nigeria as you are aware have reached different stages of development. Some of them seem to have advanced very much more than the others, and they are therefore, now naturally asking to be given the opportunity to make very rapid political advance. North is afraid of making this rapid and if I may call it, artificial advancement, at this stage…”.

The above statement clearly indicates the gradualist pace of the Northern drive towards Federalism, which was in direct conflict with the interest of the political elites of the other regions.

He saw the “rapid political advancement” being advocated by the other regions different from the North, as nothing but “artificial advancement at this stage”.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo also observed that, Nigeria is not a nation.

“It is a mere geographical expression. There are no ‘Nigerians’ in the same sense as there are ‘English’, ‘Irish’ or ‘French’. The word ‘Nigeria’ is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria, from those who do not”. … Since 1914, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one, but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious beliefs, and do not show themselves any sign of willingness to unite.

Nigerian unity is only a British creation, for the country.

The Second School of Thought The second school of thought argues that, Federalism was freely chosen by Nigerians. According to them, the 1950 and 1953/54 Constitutional Conferences preceded the adoption of a federal system of government in Nigeria, and Nigerians participated actively in the deliberations that led to the adoption of the Macpherson Constitution in 1951. The argument that Nigerians participated actively in the deliberations that led to the adoption of Federalism in Nigeria, however, appears not to be water tight. Thus, a critical analysis of the views of the above schools of thought would take us to the conclusion that, although Nigerians participated in the London Constitutional Conferences of 1950, 1953, 1954 respectively, the British Government however, played a greater role in establishing the Nigerian federation.

Unlike the federal systems of United States of America and Switzerland which fall under the category of aggregative or coming together federations (which involves the classical method of federation building, in which a federal State is constituted through an agreement or bargain to bring together previously sovereign entities in a new federation, as described by Suberu and Agbaje), the Nigerian federation was established to hold together already existing diverse ethnic groups and nationalities, that had been forcibly and arbitrarily incorporated into a unitary colonial State under British imperialism. John P. Mackintosh stated thus: “The Nigerian federation has always had peculiar features; the most evident being that, it was not created by the coming together of separate States, but was the result of the subdivision of a country which had in theory, been ruled as a single unit”. This peculiar feature of the Nigerian federation (i.e. being a British creation) is a major problem of consolidation, in that it lacks the integrative features associated with a “coming together federation”. It is rather associated with the citizens owning their allegiance to their units or regions, rather than to the central government.

This is clearly the situation in Nigeria, to date. Nigerians owe their allegiance, not to Nigeria as a State, but to their villages, towns unions and associations. (To be continued).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Federalism should be a meeting point of all groups.” (Khil Raj Regmi)

8/COVER

03.03.2020

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN Photos: Kolawole Alli

‘Security Agencies Now Monitor Judges’ The recent judgements of the Supreme Court have not only altered the jurisprudential landscape of Nigeria, they have also opened a floodgate of applications for reviews of the court’s decisions.

This recent trend has left in its trail, debates, protests, and even unexpected negative criticism from some American lawmakers who are calling for sanctions against their Lordships at the Apex Court. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, proffered his views on this and many other issues going on in the polity, including the vexed matter of extending immunity from prosecution to the presiding officers of the National Assembly, independence of the judiciary, why he built toilet facilities at the Federal High Court, Lagos and his ordeal as a detainee, during the dark days of the Abacha draconian military regime

T

he Imo State Governorship election matter is back at the Supreme Court.

Some believe it was travesty of justice, to give judgement to Hope Uzodinma who didn’t even score the next highest number votes to Ihedioha. What is your take on this, especially as it has been argued that the purport of the judgement is that, the total number of votes declared by the Supreme Court exceeds the number of permanent voters cards actually collected in the State?

Generally, there is need to tread cautiously, concerning the issue of review of judgements of the Supreme Court, being the final court of the land, as stated in Section 235 of the Constitution. In this regard, there are conditions already laid down by the Supreme Court, for the review of its own judge-

ments, some of which include whether the judgment was given without jurisdiction, whether it was given per incuriam, whether it was based on fraud, whether it has violated any known rights of the parties, such as where one party was not properly notified

“OTHER THAN THESE RESTRICTED INSTANCES, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE THAT, EVERY TOM, DICK AND HARRY WILL APPROACH THE SUPREME COURT TO SET ASIDE ITS JUDGEMENT”

about the court proceedings or for the correction of clerical errors. Other than these restricted instances, it should not be the case that, every Tom, Dick and Harry will approach the Supreme Court to set aside its judgement. This is because the issue of review of Supreme Court judgements has very grave implications for the judiciary in particular, and the nation in general, as it may open the floodgates and derogate from the integrity and authority of the Supreme Court, as the final bus-stop for all litigations in Nigeria.

So, it is better when a similar case presents itself in future, and the Supreme Court is asked to depart from its previous decision, if there is any valid reason to so do. But, where every loser in the Supreme Court is being encouraged to seek a review or setting aside of the judgement that he lost on the merits, then it may lead to instability, as surely, every loser would love to have another bite at the cherry. The Imo State

03.03.2020 “THE OTHER POINT ABOUT FILLING VACANCIES IN THE SUPREME COURT, IS FOR THE NJC TO SOFT-PEDAL FROM ITS HARD-LINE POSITION THAT ONLY JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL CAN ASPIRE TO BE ELEVATED TO THE SUPREME COURT” case is very intriguing indeed, but I believe that we have some lessons to learn from that judgement.

The first lesson is the disadvantage that our electoral jurisprudence has imposed upon us, when there is no onus on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to justify the authenticity and validity of the election that it conducted as an umpire. In most cases, INEC would play neutral in the Election Petition Tribunal, which I believe is wrong. If you claim to have conducted an election, then it should be your responsibility to convince everyone that you indeed, truly conducted that election, and that you followed all known guidelines and procedures set up by law for the conduct of the election.

The second lesson is that, our leaders are only paying for their ineffectiveness and selfishness. We had all the time in the world to have sanitised the electoral space to achieve peaceful and credible elections, but our leaders and the politicians kept on to their old worn out strategies of rigging and manipulation, just because they are benefiting from the rot. When elections are credible, there will be less cases in court, and we will surely avoid the kind of situation that we now have in the Imo State Governorship election and indeed, in many other States.

The third lesson is a product of the neglect of the Judiciary by the executive arm of government, over the years. Whether we admit it or not, our Judges are human. There are too many cases for them to handle, and so, they are always under pressure and so the easy way out is to work from the position of default. Instead of investing in the judiciary by appointing more Judges and building more courts, and equipping them for smooth justice delivery, the politicians thought that they were being clever by amending the Constitution to get their cases heard on time, and thereby, escaping the rot and delay in the courts. How do you determine an election petition in thirty or even sixty days, with over 1,000 witnesses in some cases, with bundles and bundles of documents tendered? How does the Judge go about reading and analysing the testimonies

COVER/9 of the many witnesses called, against the motley of documents tendered? So, you see that the margin of error is very high in election petition cases, because of limitation of time. At times the Judges sit from Monday to Sunday, some Lawyers are in their offices day and night, preparing pleadings and briefs of argument, and you can be sure that there will be no substance in such efforts.

So, at the end of the day, a lot of important issues are overlooked, both on the side of the Judges, and even the Lawyers. So that, after the judgement, you begin to notice very fundamental errors which could not be easily deciphered in the course of hearing.

Take the Presidential Election Petition as an example, the number of witnesses called, the number of documents tendered, and the time in which judgement was delivered. And the Supreme Court heard the appeal in just one day, and delivered judgement immediately.This will most probably continue, until a firm decision is reached by the executive, to fund the judiciary for effective administration of justice.

The Imo State case, is most probably an unfortunate example of the humanity of our Judges and the Lawyers. The parties should be properly advised to wait for another election to test their popularity, as we cannot because of a political tenure of just four years do incalculable damage to our judiciary, which is the most critical institution of democracy. So, in each of these election related cases, including that of Imo State, we are all paying for our collective failure to build a proper foundation for the judiciary, in the areas of adequate funding, inadequate manpower, poor welfare of judicial officers, and absence of necessary infrastructure for the courts.

I believe that, the reason the Imo State judgement seemed to have hit the politicians so hard, is that in all previous cases in the other States, no major upset was recorded in the Tribunals and even on appeal, as most Governors retained their seats. Imo State was the first case in which a Governor was removed, but it is a final judgement and I urge the parties and their Lawyers to accept it, and plan for the next election.

The Bayelsa Governorship Judgement seems to have been another surprise shocker from the Apex Court, to some.

That also went back to the Supreme Court for review.

A greater poser, is the one posed by Femi Falana, SAN, arguing that the court is short of six Justices and therefore, cannot even sit. Do you share his view on this?

Like I said in respect of the Imo State case, it is better for the parties and their Lawyers, to let sleeping dogs lie. The consequences of all these applications for review of Supreme Court judgements, is that there will be no end to litigation.

Because even after the Supreme Court must have reviewed any of these judgements, if at all it does so, then people will still find fault even with such reviews, and they will still call for a further review. The Latin maxim that I learnt early in the

courts when I started legal practice is, interest rei publicae ut sit finis litium, that is, it is in the interest of the public, that there must be an end to litigation. The other one is interest rei publicae res judicates non rescindi, that is, it is in the interest of the State that things adjudged, be not rescinded.

If we give the impression that judgements delivered by the Supreme Court are no longer final because they are fallible, then we would have opened the floodgates for all other cases of land, commercial transactions, matrimonial causes, etc, to come back to have a bite at the cherry. And this will lead to total anarchy, avoidable instability and a breakdown of law and order. I am glad that the Supreme Court took the bull by the horn, to uphold its judgement in the Bayelsa State election; it couldn’t have been otherwise, or else we set the judicial roof on fire. I can only commend their Lordships for their courage and sagacity, believing that the decision of the Supreme Court in this case will give a signal to all others who still have pending applications for review, to withdraw them and go and plan for the next election. They should allow the courts to focus on other cases which have all been adjourned, because of election petitions. And, it is not as if the politicians are themselves ready or planning to change their tactics. Come 2023, they will most probably do worst things, so why are we all shouting ourselves hoarse, over people who won’t change from their crooked ways.

Now, to the issue of quorum of the Supreme Court. Presently, the Supreme Court has the capacity to review any case, in very deserving cases where it is confronted in a subsequent case.

Ideally, in the review panel of the Supreme Court, the Justices who sat on the case that is up for review, should not be part of the review exercise. In the Bayelsa State judgement, only five Justices sat on the panel that delivered the judgement. That being the case, the Supreme Court still has the capacity to set up a review panel, if need be, given the number Justices that we have in that court. And, when it came to fore that the Supreme Court dismissed the application to enlarge the panel for the Bayelsa case, then one would appreciate the kind of pressure that the Justices are facing from their crowded workload and schedules. But, having said that, it is my candid opinion that there is no need for the Supreme Court to occupy itself with the demand by politicians for a review of its judgements. The Supreme Court should attend to other cases, that are suffering monumental delays caused by election related cases.

Does it surprise you that, the Supreme Court has challenges in filling its vacant seats?

We have really not had any occasion where all the slots constitutionally prescribed for the Supreme Court have ever been filled, as we have not been proactive in this regard. As we appoint new Justices for the Supreme Court, others in active service are already on their way out, leaving a vacuum always.

We should undertake a holistic data review of the Supreme Court Justices, to x-ray their respective tenures so that even before the retirement time, the process of appointing a successor is already concluded. These matters are time bound, and one cannot remove from the retirement age, so the system should be activated to ensure that no vacuum is created, having regard to the important role that the Supreme Court plays in our national life.

In this regard, the Federal Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Council, NJC, should fast-track the process of appointment of Supreme Court Justices, as done by the other arms of government. When a Minister is removed or has reason to vacate office, he is immediately replaced by the President; the same thing for a legislative office that becomes vacant either by reason of death or elevation, a by-election is immediately conducted for his replacement, and the successor is sworn in immediately to resume duty. We should set a much better standard for the judiciary, given the important role that it plays in our body polity.

But, far beyond the judiciary, is that the fact that we must appeal to the other arms of government, especially the executive, to take the matter of appointment of Justices of the Supreme Court more seriously, by applying the same speed of action, as employed in the appointment and confirmation of Ministers, to that of the appointment of Supreme Court Justices. This is because, our experiences have not been too good under the present administration. You will recall that, it took so long a time for the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen, to be confirmed as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria, many months after his appointment was recommended by the FJSC and the NJC. Almost six months now, the NJC has recommended six Justices for appointment into the Supreme Court Bench, but, the President has not taken any action on this by forwarding their names to the Senate for confirmation, and eventual swearing in. This is not helping the judiciary, and the nation itself.

The other point about filling vacancies in the Supreme Court, is for the NJC to soft-pedal from its hard-line position that only Justices of the Court of Appeal can aspire to be elevated to the Supreme Court. Legal practitioners who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession, should be given the opportunity to serve on the highest Bench, in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution in Section 231 (3), which is that, the candidate must be a legal practitioner and fifteen years post-call. In this same country, we have had Lawyers who rose to the Supreme Court Bench, and they performed most wonderfully. Presently, in Ghana, the Chief Justice of Ghana was a former President of the Bar Association; so also in America, there are legal practitioners on the Supreme Court Bench. In Britain presently, senior members of the Bar who have risen to the position of Queen’s Counsel, which is the equivalent of SAN in Nigeria, are allowed to aspire to be elevated to the Bench. This should not just be for the Supreme Court, but also that all judicial appointments in Nigeria should be thrown open to serving Judges and legal practitioners.

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‘SECURITY AGENCIES NOW MONITOR JUDGES’ If we analyse the issues better, then we will appreciate this point more. In Nigeria presently, it is easier to become a Judge than a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. To be appointed a Judge, you must be a legal practitioner ten years post-call and have at least ten judgements in court cases that you have handled, with recommendations from reputable Lawyers and Judges. To be appointed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, however, you must have at least twenty judgements of the High Court, five judgements of the Court of Appeal, and at least, four judgements of the Supreme Court. In addition, you must have at least twelve trial proceedings which you have handled personally, and you must have filed and signed the court processes personally, and be personally involved in the trial proceedings by frontloading the record of trial proceedings to show your involvement. You must be involved in pro bono cases, wherein you have rendered free and useful service to some indigent litigants, you must have an office that is well located and suitably furnished, you must have a minimum number of junior lawyers working with you for whom you have arranged pension and life insurance, and your library must be up to date with the relevant practice books and law reports. You must show your bank accounts and your clients’ account, have modern machines and equipment in your office, including utility cars, suitable conveniences for clients and visitors and show evidence of payment of tax, your participation in Bar Association matters, and you must possess the good recommendations of your fellow practitioners, your clients and the Judges before whom you have conducted cases. So, you see it is like the camel passing through the eye of the needle, to be an SAN. It could be that the NJC may insist that legal practitioners who aspire to be elevated to the Bench must first be Senior Advocates of Nigeria, that is okay, but I honestly don’t think that the NJC should hold tenaciously to the policy of restricting judicial appointments into the appellate courts, to only serving Judges.

The issue of fake or no certificate for aspirants to political offices, multiplicity of names for individuals et al have become a recurrent decimal in our polity, at all levels.

How do we deal with this?

There is no way we can totally eradicate the issue of certificate forgery from our electoral system, because it is part of the larger society. We place too much emphasis on paper qualification, without considering experience, talent, human capacity and self-development. The people who are ruling the world today through technology, are those who Nigerians will refer to as dropouts.

When you consider the educational qualifications of the Facebook promoter, then you wonder if he could ever have survived in Nigeria, but when he visited us last, we celebrated him as one with a national honour.

The Constitution is clear on who can contest elections in Nigeria, virtually imposing illiterates on us. For most elections, the minimum educational qualification is to possess the WASCE or its equivalent, which the Constitution has defined to mean that you don’t even have to attend any school, so long as you have some working experience or you are able to convince INEC that you can read and write in English Language. If that is the case, then what is the need to go around forging certificates, in order to convince people that you are educated?

If you examine it properly, this is common with many political office holders, who, instead of disclosing their real status, are trying to impress their supporters that they are well educated.

Given the convoluted nature of our Constitution, I believe that there is need to specify a higher minimum qualification for those who aspire to positions of leadership, but, that cannot be a reason for arrogating to yourself a qualification that you very well know in your own mind, that you do not possess.

The issue of multiplicity of names is rather cultural, as most people have multiple names, such as baptismal name, family name, English name or even traditional or native name. It is therefore, not strange for anyone to parade multiple

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names, but where this is done for the purpose of perpetrating a crime or to mislead or confer undue advantage, then there is a problem.

One of the ways to deal with this is, to encourage our schools, colleges and universities to go digital and put the names of all past students of their respective schools online on their websites, such that you can easily click and confirm the educational qualifications of anybody. Another suggestion, is to de-emphasise possession of paper certificates. We can also embark upon adult education for political office holders who have attained certain positions of authority, to equip them for better performance of their jobs. In all established cases of criminality however, the candidate should be barred from contesting future elections, in addition to criminal prosecution.

Do you agree that the security situation in the country is worsening, nationwide?

Now that regional security outfits are springing up, even amidst controversies, would you say that it is the panacea to the problem? We now have Amotekun in the South West, operation “Shege-Ka-Fasa” in the North and Ogbunigwe is in formation in the South East. What else do you think Government should do, to secure the nation?

Are you also of the school of thought that the security chiefs have run out of ideas and they should be replaced?

Going by Section 14 of the Constitution, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. What this means is that, the main reason a government exists is to offer protection for the people and their properties and assets. Then the other reason, is welfare of the people, concerning their state of health, their housing needs, their feeding, education, road through which they will travel and move about, and other necessities of life.

The reason is simply because government has annexed major means of income and resources to itself on behalf its citizens, so that it will in turn deploy the said resources for the provision of common facilities, including security. Now, if any government is unable or unwilling to guarantee the lives and properties of its citizens, then it has no business remaining in power.

From the reports of some international organisations, especially Amnesty International, we have so far lost about 20,000 souls to the Boko Haram insurgency, and countless number of lives to bandits, kidnappers, cultists and armed robbers. Life has become so cheap in Nigeria, that it is no more a matter of whether people die, but the number of deaths. There is hardly any day that we don’t read about stories of massacre of dozens of citizens, by bandits and criminals. It would seem that the government is helpless about this dangerous

“NOW, THE CAREERS OF MANY OFFICERS ARE TIED DOWN, GIVEN THAT THE POSITIONS OF THE SERVICE CHIEFS HAVE BECOME SERIOUSLY POLITICISED, TO THE EXTENT THAT, TWO OF THEM ARE BUSY COMPETING TO BUILD UNIVERSITIES IN THEIR HOME STATES, WHILE THE BATTLE FIELDS ARE GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER BY THE DAY”

situation, or that it is overwhelmed and has no idea of how to combat it. Given the huge sums of money voted on security matters every year, Nigeria should not be in the situation that it has found itself presently, whereby it is as if there is nobody in charge. Fear has enveloped the land, when even police officers and other security personnel are being kidnapped, and they are paying ransom to be free. Without any doubt therefore, there is much to be desired from the efforts of government in securing the lives and properties of the people.

The emergence of the regional security outfits of Amotekun, Shege Ka Fasa and Ogbunigwe, is a confirmation of the fact that, government has failed in its responsibilities to guarantee security. And, part of what has led to this is that, the framers of the Constitution have given too much to the Federal Government to bite, that it can no longer cope. Since it is already that stated that the primary purpose of government is security, then it is a contradiction for the same Constitution to seek to make security and defence exclusive to the Federal Government, because the word ‘government’ as used in Section 14(2) relates to all governments in Nigeria, including the Federal, State and Local governments. So that, any of these tiers of government can take steps to implement security initiatives that will guarantee peace, in their respective domains. There is absolutely nothing illegal in the emergence of these regional security outfits, as security and policing should ordinarily be localised, to involve the people themselves.

What the Constitution has stated in Section 214 is that, nobody is allowed to establish any security outfit to retain the same name with that of the ‘Nigeria Police Force’; it is all about name and nomenclature, so long as the names of the regional security outfits do not compete with the ‘Nigeria Police Force’, then they remain legal entities for all purposes.

To secure the nation, the government should urgently embark upon holistic restructuring that would lead to massive and radical devolution of powers, especially in the area of security.

Let the people own their own security, and take full responsibility for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in their domains. In this regard, the Federal Government should actually collaborate with the States to strengthen the newly established security outfits, and not to antagonise them as we are currently witnessing.

It will be a disservice to the people, for the States to be forced to step down on these noble initiatives, given that it will even lead to job creation and massive economic development.

The other point about security is that, crime and criminality are products of societal inequalities, joblessness, poor economy and a large population of unengaged youths. To tackle the root of insecurity therefore, is to address the unemployment menace and seek ways of empowering the increasing number of youths who are largely unemployed.

The case of the service chiefs, is becoming more embarrassing by the day. Their tenures expired in 2017, and the President unilaterally extended these tenures without the approval of the Senate, and he extended it for an unspecified time. I mean we just cannot continue in this way, whereby you are unable to predict the actions and policies of government based on certain

laws, regulations, or at least, some measurable parameters. It is all about body language and how people feel within themselves, to decide the fate of a country of over two hundred million people. Now, the careers of many officers are tied down, given that the positions of the service chiefs have become seriously politicised, to the extent that, two of them are busy competing to build universities in their home States, while the battle fields are getting hotter and hotter by the day. In this regard, I join the National Assembly and all other Nigerians to urge the President to do the needful, by replacing all the service chiefs immediately. That will inspire confidence in the remaining officers, and help to boost the confidence of soldiers who are working in the field, that one day, they may be able to rise higher in their careers.

What motivated you to build toilet facilities for the Federal High Court, Lagos Division?

Generally, right from my early days in Gani Fawehinmi Chambers, I have been a regular practitioner in the Federal High Court, Lagos. So, I go to that court every week, for one case or the other, on behalf of my clients. Whilst applying for elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I had cause to be in court so many times. One particular day I was appearing with my learned best half, and she needed to use the toilet. When she came back, the horrific story of the state of the toilet that she narrated to me, moved me to tears. At another time, I was seriously pressed to use the toilet, but the facilities were not functioning, so the public toilet was locked up. The court official that I met explained to me that, someone has to go and fetch water for me to be able to use the toilet. In this modern age? So, on one particular day whilst I was in that court, I was led in my spirit to make a vow to God that if He could be kind and merciful to me to be elevated to the rank of SAN, I will come back to the same court to renovate all the public toilets and make them functional.

When I was eventually conferred with the rank, God reminded me of that promise, but I didn’t have enough money to execute it immediately, given all that I had spent in preparing for my promotion. It was the first case I got after my elevation as SAN, that I deployed part of the proceeds to commission engineers, technicians and plumbers to carry out the renovations. We bought very quality plumbing materials for the existing public toilets in the main court, for Lawyers and litigants, and also the general toilet at the car park for members of staff of the court and the general public.

I decided to build an executive toilet for senior Lawyers and physically challenged persons.

For that we needed to pull down the existing structure to rebuild it totally, creating separate toilets for male and female, and we installed modern equipment in that toilet. I sought the permission of the court for the renovation and rebuilding, and I got very great cooperation from the court. To me, it is just a way of giving back to the institution that produced me. I am still trusting God to be able to do the same thing for the Igbosere High Court, Ikeja High Court, and even the Court of Appeal, to renovate all their public toilets.

Kindly share with us, your experience during the Abacha regime which held you in detention for almost two years, and how you later regained your freedom. Did you actually bomb the locations, as alleged?

It is an experience which I always dread to share, as it always draws me to tears whenever I have to recount those horrible moments of my life, but I will try.

Right from my university days, I have always been an activist. I was appointed Principal Liaison Officer of the Law Students Society in my year one, Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union in year two, and later, President of the Union in year three, which automatically qualified me to be a member of the Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. There was a major crisis in the University, which resulted into students protest and the university clamped down on us as their leaders and expelled about 62 of us at a go. Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN came to our rescue by filing a case in court for our re-instatement, which he won eventually.

Naturally, when I finished from the Law School, my heart drifted towards his chambers for my tutelage. Gani was also involved in activism, and he got me involved in it. But, here is the story of my arrest and detention.

The late General Sani Abacha, as the self-

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‘SECURITY AGENCIES NOW MONITOR JUDGES’ proclaimed Head of State then, had become more like a maximum ruler, who did not broach any form of opposition at all, and he made no pretences about that. By all means, he was the most draconian of any known regime in Nigeria, meaning that a declaration of any form of opposition to his plans and policies would spell doom for anyone.

When it became clear that the battle to reclaim the June 12 mandate was getting tougher than anticipated, the progressive politicians, activists, labour and civil society organisations, decided to align forces together.

This was spearheaded by the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, through Chief Abraham Adesanya. They all met and set up an umbrella body known as Joint Action Front of Nigeria, JAFCON, headed by Chief Adesanya himself.

They insisted that Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, must be involved in the activities of JAFCON directly, so he nominated me to represent him.

Meetings were held in the law office of Chief Adesanya on Simpson Street in Lagos, wherein I was chosen as the Secretary of the body.

JAFCON then decided to honour Mr Walter Carrignton, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria then, for his courageous support for the cause of June 12 and the struggles of the people of Nigeria. After some meetings, Chief Adesanya nominated Mrs Kofo Bucknor-Akerele as alternative chairperson and thereafter, the actual planning shifted to her law office in Western House.

We got feelers that government was bent on aborting the event, so we decided upon a plan.

We announced a public centre in Surulere as the venue, but had in mind the house of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, also in Surulere. So, we set up in the two locations and started the event proper in the public centre.

I was also nominated as the chaperone, for the event. Just as I started announcing the dignitaries, armed soldiers swooped upon the venue, snatched the microphone from me, and started shooting sporadically. They scattered all the tables and other equipment, already arranged.

By this time, Mr Carrignton and his beautiful wife, Dr Arese (from Delta State), were already at Chief Adebanjo’s house, for the award ceremony proper. By the time the security personnel realised what had happened, the event had been concluded and it was well reported in the news. I little imagined what followed, thereafter.

One early morning in November of the year 1997, armed military men from the Directorate of Military Intelligence, Apapa, stormed our house in Ebute-Metta. It was first a game of arguments and legal gymnastics about human rights and freedoms, but by the end of the day when I met face to face with the man in charge, one Col Frank Omenka, my mind became settled. He assured me, in no time, that as long as Gen Sani Abacha was on the throne, I will be his priced asset. There were days that we were all lined up outside, just to gaze at the sun. The cells were overcrowded, very hot and you couldn’t find space to sleep or stretch yourself, fully.

In that DMI detention centre was Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, who was being detained because of June 12 and his relationship with Mrs Kudirat Abiola. There was also “The Tunnel Man”, Mr Moshood Fayemiwo, publisher of Razor Magazine, who was so christened because he was kept in the underground cell, where we had no access to him, save his constant praise and worship sessions and his very loud prayers.

The list of detainees was very long, Chief Victor Okafor, (Ezego), Honourable Chima Nzeribe, Senator Musa Adede, and so many others. Some young military officers, also in detention for no specific offence, all made our stay memorable. I became sick, about the third month. I was diagnosed for a chronic infection, so I was advised to visit the Naval Hospital, Apapa, for treatment.

The day of my hospital visitation coincided with children immunisation day, so there were many nursing mothers in the hospital, with their babies. Now, it happened that because I was considered to be a dangerous detainee, I was handcuffed, both hands and legs, to the hospital.

We were all lined up to see the doctor, on a long bench. Some women later joined me on that row, with their babies. Unknown to them, I was carrying some special ‘chains’, on my hands and legs. And I was really looking wild, having refused to shave, all the while.

So, the soldier in charge of us beckoned to me to get up to see the doctor. As I got up, the chains on my hands and legs made a very loud noise, like some local masquerade, about to dance. Now, looking at me in mortal terror and bewilderment, the women seated near me jumped and fled with their babies, supposing

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they had been sitting with an armed robber or a condemned criminal, from Kirikiri prisons, all the time. I had no time to explain to them that I was an innocent political detainee, as they were all gazing at me, both with some suspicion and pity as if I might just snatch their bags or even their babies.

By the time I limped into the doctor’s consulting room, my eyes were flooded with tears. I just couldn’t hold myself again. I mean, here am I, an Activist, a Lawyer, fighting for the good of Nigeria, being paraded as a common criminal, in hand and leg cuffs. It was truly, traumatic.

The doctor was a nice man, who gave me tissue papers to wipe my tears, and treated me well.

He nonetheless gave me a shocker, when he diagnosed me for fistula in anu.

So, it became clear that I needed urgent medical attention, but Col Omenka would not budge, boasting to me constantly, that even if he was transferred from DMI, he would take me along with him, as I had become his personal detainee. My health was deteriorating.

Chief Fawehinmi successfully challenged my arrest and detention in court and secured an order for my immediate release, through Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta (as he then was), but it was never obeyed. Through the efforts of Chief Fawehinmi, other Lawyers, activists, and especially Amnesty International and Pope John Paul II, I was finally recommended for surgery at the Military Hospital, Yaba.

It turned out to be a day to remember, for life.

And I will tell you why. The vehicle that took me from DMI to Yaba, was directed to drop me at the gate of the hospital, in hand and leg cuffs. At first, I didn’t know the implication, but later on, it dawned on me that it was a humiliation parade. The soldiers deliberately dropped me at the gate, so that I could trek the long distance to the main hospital, in order to showcase me as a criminal.

So, as I was walking the distance, with my chains clicking and singing, nurses were trooping out of their offices, to have a vintage glance of me, other members of staff soon joined them, all wondering I’m sure, what kind of offence I must have committed, to be so chained. It was an enduring moment, as armed soldiers stood on my left and on my right, while I walked in pains, to the main hospital. Well, I endured it all and even managed to give a dry smile, though I couldn’t wave to the crowd, because of the chains on my hands.

I finally met the doctor, did some X-rays and was told that I had to be admitted. And a soldier had to remain with me, on guard.

The consequence was that, I had to be chained to an iron bed in the hospital, just so I would not escape. Unknown to me, my soldier guard had been well instructed. He would be all over me in the early evening, prompting me to eat well and drink water, but would disappear in the middle of the night and early mornings.

The consequence would be that, I would not be able to visit the toilet, no matter the pressure. It affected me greatly the first two days, but by the third day, I got a solution, to try and fast and drink less water, so I could stay longer in bed, chained down. I had the surgery and was able to now receive visitors, mostly my colleagues from Gani Fawehinmi Chambers. It was on my hospital bed that the news broke one day, that Gen Sani Abacha had died, and I was later released from the hospital, to go home. No charge, no apology, nothing. Just like that, for about eight months.

Col Frank Omenka himself, later escaped to Brazil, on asylum. The good side to this trauma was that, before my arrest, I was saving money to rent a house, get married and then start a home. Upon my release, it turned out that Chief Fawehinmi was paying my salaries for all the period that I was in detention and when I got the money, it was enough to rent a two-bedroom flat in Onike.

I have shared this story, to make a point.

June 12 cannot be about individuals or a family, even though the heroic roles of some persons should be acknowledged. So many people died, lost their jobs, liberty and limbs, all for that struggle, not to mention those who suffered untold persecutions and deprivations.

What is needed, is an action that will touch every hero and heroine of the June 12 revolution (most of who are unknown), through genuine democratic engagements, that will usher in true fiscal federalism, resource control, electoral reforms, good governance, eradication of poverty and joblessness, holistic restructuring and fundamental constitutional amendments, all to be achieved through enduring legislation.

That is the true June 12, that Nigerians suffered

and died for.

I’m totally amazed that, anyone could think that I have ever in my life handled a bomb or explosive. I did not bomb any location, as I believe in peace and due process of law. I rely always on the use law for social engineering, and I will never subscribe to any form of violence at all.

How would you rate this Government’s Human Rights record?

If you look at it from the point of view of the fact that, the Nigerian State is a party to the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, then you must understand that these international statutes impose some obligations on member States in respect of promotion and observance of human rights, which obligations Nigeria has not performed.

Against this background and that of the President himself as a former military head of state, then it will not be wrong to say that the human rights record of this administration has been much less than what is desired. From extra judicial killings by the Police and other law enforcement agencies, to numerous cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, citizens are not having the best of times. When you visit the police stations and other places of detention, you will be amazed at the number of citizens who are kept in custody without trial. In the correctional facilities, the number of awaiting trial inmates is simply amazing, with very poor welfare conditions of feeding and sleeping.

Many of them are sick, and without provisions for adequate medical facilities. Presently, the correctional centres only exist in name, and they offer no room for proper reform of inmates.

Even though we now live in very unusual times, due to insurgency and other criminal activities of bandits and kidnappers, the inability of citizens to move freely from one point to another, is a serious cause for concern.

Then we talk about access to justice and the independence of the judiciary, which are some of the greatest challenges of this government. The cost of prosecuting and defending cases in court has jumped so high, that many citizens would prefer to forgo their rights or seek alternative means, such as resorting to self-help. The Judges themselves, are under strict surveillance and monitoring by the executive arm of government, through the security agencies, a factor that has greatly eroded the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. What this translates to, though very unfortunate, is that when you face a criminal trial in Nigeria today, you go there to prove your innocence, as the concept of presumption of innocence has practically been abolished, in the present clime. And, on top of this, is the media campaign attending these cases, to such an extent that, once you are charged to court, the public is in most cases, misled to believe that the Defendant is guilty as charged. So, it will take rare courage in this dispensation, for a Judge to discharge and acquit a Defendant charged with corruption, for instance.

This is not to throw away the merit of the campaign against corruption, that is one of the cardinal programmes of this administration.

The point being made however, is that since the judiciary is the gateway to properly fight corruption, that institution should be accorded due respect and granted full autonomy to perform effectively.

Then we move to the issue of respect for court orders, and judicial directives. The example of

“...... MY EYES WERE FLOODED WITH TEARS. I JUST COULDN’T HOLD MYSELF AGAIN. I MEAN, HERE AM I, AN ACTIVIST, A LAWYER, FIGHTING FOR THE GOOD OF NIGERIA, BEING PARADED AS A COMMON CRIMINAL, IN HAND AND LEG CUFFS. IT WAS TRULY, TRAUMATIC”

the impunity of the Department of State Security, in the case of Omoyele Sowore, cannot easily be forgotten, where a branch of the executive arm of government stormed the hallowed premises of a superior court of record, to attempt to arrest a Defendant who surrendered himself for trial by the same agency. And, it is now about three months after that unfortunate event and nothing has happened, the government has kept mute as if it is normal for law enforcement agents to take over the court, for whatever reason. That should not be the case at all. And when you consider that it took over four years for Col Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) to enjoy the fruits of the various orders of court admitting him to bail, then you can aptly summarise the attitude of the present administration to the rule of law and due process of law.

What this has done, is to create a sense of impunity across the land, especially within some members of the executive, to deride the courts and treat their orders with some form of levity.

It has also portrayed the judiciary as ineffective to deliver justice to the ordinary citizen, as many have come to believe that you cannot win against the government in court, which should not be the case at all.

Added to all this, is the issue of press freedom and freedom of speech, which have become totally endangered. Journalists are being arrested and detained on account of their publications, as with the case of Mr. Agba Jalingo, where the government of Cross River State turned a simple criticism of the administration into treasonable felony and terrorism, leading to denial of bail for the journalist until recently when he became free, due to pressure from the international community, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Labour Congress, Lawyers and other activists. There are several other cases in Kaduna State and indeed, all over the country, where citizens are railroaded into custody because of the exercise of their freedom of expression.

It has since emerged that the law enforcement agencies have cornered the telecommunications companies, to have free access to the private communications of citizens, through which arrests have been made, which is clearly a breach of the fundamental right to privacy. If you have observed lately, most people now prefer to make their telephone calls through data calls, rather than the regular calls.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

12/COVER ‘SECURITY AGENCIES NOW MONITOR JUDGES’

With the proposed Hate Speech Bill and Social Media Regulation Bill, we are finally approaching an eclipse of the freedom of expression, guaranteed under Section 39 of the Constitution.

If you look at that section more closely, the phrase employed is ‘without interference’, which connotes that the freedom of expression is absolute, except in cases of lawful derogation through another law or abuse of that right through libellous publications, that should be actionable in civil suits.

Then, if you go to all the States across Nigeria, virtually all communal land hitherto held by the natives have been taken away by the government, under the guise of compulsory acquisition for public purpose. This has assumed an alarming dimension, especially in the urban areas like Lagos, Rivers and even the Federal Capital Territory. Now, the Land Use Act was promulgated in 1978 to allow Governors hold land in trust for the people, but this has been seriously abused, to deny customary owners of land of their customary inheritance. From some of the cases that I have handled, it is simply a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, to take over land from one family compulsorily, without paying adequate compensation, and then turn around to give the same land to one individual, who has registered an estate development company purely for his own profit, and who is not a member of the family that originally owns the land. The owners are driven away forcefully, and then a beautiful estate will spring up there to be sold to total strangers. I do not think that this is right at all, and the National Assembly should make it top priority to urgently amend the Land Use Act and come up with a new legislation that will simplify the procedure of land administration and allow the customary owners of land to have a say in the sale and use of their land.

So, in summary, I believe that there is so much room for improvement by the government, on its human rights records It is almost five years into the Buhari Administration.

How successful would you say they have been in the fight against corruption, and generally with the other leg of their campaign promises, that is, revamping the economy?

I must say that the present administration has demonstrated the will to confront the menace of corruption, over the years. The persons and entities that were hitherto considered untouchable, have been touched, and to the extent that no one can be regarded as a sacred cow, the government deserves commendation in this respect. It is a plus for the Buhari administration, that the President and the Vice-President both have zero tolerance for corruption, through their personal commitments to financial transparency and probity. Since 2015 when this government came on board, you can hardly point to any serious case of financial scandal or corruption against the President and the Vice-President. The reason I have dwelt on this, is that once the leadership is not directly involved in wanton corruption and treasury looting, then you have saved so much for the nation and its economy, as the margin of error will only be in relation to some of their aides or appointees who may stray off line, once in a while.

The challenge with the anti-corruption war of this administration however, is that of selective application of laws and policies in regard to corruption cases. You see people with similar cases emerging with different conclusions, in the area of prosecution. In that regard, some efforts must be made to pursue a holistic engagement of all cases of corruption, without affection or favour. When you visit the detention facilities of the law enforcement agencies involved in the fight against corruption, the sad impression that confronts you from the statistics of the inmates, does not augur well for the administration at all.

The other challenge about the fight against corruption, is failure of the administration to invest in the judiciary by funding the courts adequately and improving the welfare of judicial officers and providing infrastructure for the courts. If we leave the courts the way they are presently, in their poor and deplorable states, they will continue to have serious negative consequences on the war against corruption, since that war is best fought through the courts.

I believe also that there is a need to properly fund the agencies involved in prosecution of corruption cases, especially the EFCC and the ICPC, to grant them opportunities for regular trainings and better welfare in terms of their salaries and allowances.

This will go in no small measure, to motivate the officers, the investigators and the prosecutors, some of who are using their personal resources and facilities to execute official assignments.

03.03.2020 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

I don’t believe that we have achieved much in the area of economic growth, given the mass unemployment, the dwindling capacity of citizens, the rising debt profile of the Federal Government and the States, and indeed, the negative forecast by the international financial institutions. I think we should all just prepare for very challenging times ahead, especially now that oil prices have gone down, the negative impact of Coronavirus on the global economy, especially as Nigeria had drifted towards China in the past few years, with so much going between the two countries in terms of trade and investments.

But, beyond all the above, one critical aspect that this administration has failed to tackle, is the power supply issue. I personally had expected that given the character of the President and the knowledge of the Vice-President, the issues of epileptic power supply, systems collapse, low generation, poor distribution and even estimated billing, would be tackled headlong, but, they have all defied the administration. It is a sad commentary on the administration that after about five years, we cannot boast of regular and stable 5000 megawatts. It is sad indeed, and I am personally shocked and disappointed in that regard.

Nigerians don’t ask for too much, from the government; we want to work and earn some decent living, and all we ask for, is the right environment to operate. If the government had solved the power supply problem, the economy of this nation would have prospered more than what we have currently. You cannot imagine the amount of money that people spend on power supply, to buy and maintain their generators, to buy diesel and fuel, to buy and service their inverters; it is just killing businesses and messing up all other services. On some occasions, the courts could not sit to adjudicate upon cases because of lack of electricity, and this has happened many times.

So, once we can fix the power supply problems, then we are halfway into solving the problem of the economy.

But, I must commend the government in the area of diversification of the economy, especially in relation to agriculture, where we are gradually becoming self-sufficient in the production of rice and cassava, and have become a major player in the global scene. The campaign to consume local rice has helped so much to boost the capacity of local rice farmers, leading to massive employment and financial inflow. So, in that regard, the government has done well, and it should keep improving upon it.

What is your view on the Senate’s new initiative to review the 1999 Constitution? Is it their place to undertake this exercise, or as Professor Akin Oyebode said - should there be a Constituent Assembly solely for this purpose?

What, in your opinion, should be the highlights of the review? Are you a proponent of Restructuring and True Federalism, or you have different ideas?

If you have observed over the years, the issue of amendment of the Constitution has been a recurring decimal with every legislative tenure, which is being employed by the politicians to curry favour and gain the confidence of the populace. From previous experiences, I don’t expect anything tangible to come out of the current experiment. It is a way of finding jobs for the boys, as they say.

But, assuming that I could well be wrong and this current attempt is a serious move to truly amend the Constitution, the first focus should be for the ruling All Progressive Congress to take a closer look at its Manifesto, in paragraph one thereof, where a solemn promise was made to devolve power to the

“SO, YOU CANNOT REALLY SAY THAT IT IS AGAINST ONE FAITH OR THE OTHER, BUT, GENERALLY, THE EFFECT OF THE BOKO HARAM MENACE HAS IMPACTED NEGATIVELY ON THE PRACTICE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY”

regions, the States and the local governments. This should be the focus of any amendment, especially as it relates to devolution of powers, which some have termed as restructuring.

The National Assembly should be courageous enough to break down the monstrous Exclusive Legislative List, to allow the States some measure of economic power, as virtually all items of value that yield revenue for the country are reserved for the Federal Government, at the expense of the States. There is no reason on earth at all, why the Federal Government should have exclusive power to generate and distribute electricity, to regulate posts and telecommunications, and even common admission into the university. That is not aiding growth at all.

The other point, is the educational qualification for public officers. In this regard, the present Constitution has more or less imposed illiterates on us as a people, and this should be changed drastically to ensure that anyone aspiring to any position of leadership should be well educated, to be able to appreciate the enormity of the demands of that office, in order to function and perform optimally.

The way to go about this, is to assemble a team of constitutional law experts, go through landmark judgements of the courts which have pronounced upon certain controversial portions of the Constitution, and then seek to streamline them to be in tandem with judicial decisions. This process should be accelerated and not dragged to the period of elections, as a means of blackmailing people into voting for the present crop of leaders. It should be a selfless exercise, that bears no ulterior motive whatsoever.

Should Section 308 of the Constitution, that is, immunity from prosecution while in office, be extended to the National Assembly leadership?

The campaign for immunity from arrest and prosecution for leaders of the National Assembly should be considered on its merits, and not to be based upon the experiences of the immediate past leadership of that Assembly, who all had running battles with the executive, and kept moving from one court to the other. So, from that perspective, it can be said that, subjecting the leadership of the legislature to constant arrest and prosecution, could hinder effective legislative assignments, and constitute a great distraction, indeed.

The other argument in support of this, is that it will help achieve some measure of independence for the legislature, if it becomes impossible for their leaders to be persecuted by the executive. The reverse of this however, is that there will be no end to immunity, as in no distant future, if not even now, the leadership of the State Houses of Assembly and even those of the local government legislative houses, will demand immunity and then it gets bastardised, and bears no meaning or usefulness again.

Furthermore, part of the negative consequences of immunity, is that it tends to breed impunity, whereby those who enjoy immunity become laws unto themselves, to the detriment of the larger society.

So, the issue of immunity for the leaders of the National Assembly is not one that can be rejected or accepted based on factors that weigh in support or against it, but rather to do a holistic appraisal of these factors, before reaching a sound determination. But, personally, I think it should be viewed on its merits.

Would you say Christians are being targeted more by insurgents in the ongoing insecurity, or that it’s not targeted at any particular religion or ethnic group, that everybody is fair game for the insurgents? Are you satisfied with the way Government has handled the Herdsmen attacks on Farmers in the various parts of the country like Benue and Plateau States? If your response is in the negative, what advice can you give to Government on what to do to curb the Herdsmen menace?

The genesis of the Boko Haram campaign, is rooted in the outright rejection of western education, and the imposition of Sharia in Nigeria. By necessary implication, it means every other faith or belief that is contrary to the above, will be a target.

But, like the President said recently, there have been deliberate attacks on Muslims by Boko Haram and the bandits. So, you cannot really say that it is against one faith or the other, but, generally, the effect of the Boko Haram menace has impacted negatively on the practice of the Christian faith, especially in the Northern parts of the country.

03.03.2020

/13

FROM THE BACK OFFICE JOY HARRISON-ABIOLA

ibejiiya@gmail.com

Law Firm Management and the Game of Chess

T

wo weekends ago, the Association of Law Firm Administrators Nigeria (“ALAN”) held its first Learning Session (ALS) for the year 2020. The venue was the beautiful offices of Banwo & Ighodalo (“B&I”). The conference hall was filled with legal management professionals – principal administrators, law firm functional specialists (business development managers, operations managers, facilities managers etc.), Lawyers and a few law students interested in legal management.

We reviewed the knowledge areas that are critical to law firm management, and the fundamental competencies that administrators needs to master to be successful.

We discussed the results of a recent legal management Job/Need Analysis survey that identified 65 competencies required for legal practice management.

These competencies are divided into five subject areas - financial management, human resources management, legal industry/business management, operations management and communication and organisational management.

We had four erudite panelists - Odunola Onadipe, Lead Operating Officer - Detail, Kemi Ajayi, COO - B&I, Ebele Iyayi – Partner/Practice Director Alliance Law Firm and Ali Afegbua, Lead Consultant, Nubianette Consulting delivering brilliant presentations respectively on – Human Resource Management; Finance: The Art of Billing/Law firm Economics 101; Legal Project Management & Facilities Management and Business Development & Technology. Our aim was to crystallise views on these several relevant aspects of legal practice management, crack tough problems and create real impact for our law firms. We brainstormed over the application of sound management principles in law firms, law office operations and what makes our job so challenging.

It is incontrovertible, that law firms are multidisciplinary environments requiring multi-skilled professionals. And Law firms with a unilateral outlook are missing the boat, when they do not recognise the bottom-line significance of business issues that these competencies cover. All through the sessions, I kept making an analogy between law firm management and the game of Chess.

The Game of Chess Chess is known to be one of the oldest skill games in the world, dating back about 1,500 years. And, if you observe the way a chessboard is set up and study the pieces and how they are used, you will agree that chess can tell you a great deal about people at a workplace or society in general. There are two players in a game of chess and several chess pieces, namely King, Queen, Rook or Castle, Knight, Bishop and Pawn. We have only one king and queen in a Chess game, two rooks, two knights, two bishops and eight pawns.

On the board there are a total of 32 pieces.

A player starts a chess game with a set of 16 pieces, each piece, with its own ability and position.

The Pieces Pawns are the only pieces to stand in the front row. When a pawn first moves, it can either move one or two squares. After its first move, a pawn can only move one square at a time. A pawn cannot jump

There must be clear and fair agreement on the policies and procedure, and penalties for non-compliance. No organisation can work smoothly without discipline - preferably voluntary discipline, by all players in the firm.

over other pieces. Its moves are measured.

If a piece is in front of a pawn, the pawn is blocked and cannot move. The pawns on the chessboard, represent employees lower in the organogram. There are more pawns than any other pieces on the chess board, and they are often sacrificed to save the more valuable pieces. However, if a pawn reaches the opponent’s edge of the table, it will be promoted – the pawn can be promoted to a queen, rook, bishop or knight. Thus, in a game of chess, all the pawns can be promoted Rooks (castles) start the game, on the corner of the board. The rook can only move, horizontally or vertically. Rooks captures pieces by taking the square the competitor piece sits on. The rook also participates, with the king, in a special move called, castling. Rooks or castle pieces are considered home or refuge, on the chessboard. Equivalent of team dynamics, and mentoring.

Knights move L-shape - either two squares horizontally and one square vertically, or one square horizontally and two vertically. Knights are the only piece that can "jump over" all other pieces. Knights captures an opponent's piece, by replacing it on its square. The knight represents the professional soldier, whose job it was to protect persons of rank. Knights in chess are more important than pawns, but less important than bishops, kings, or queens.

Their purpose in the game of chess, is to protect the more important pieces, and they can be sacrificed to save those pieces, just as pawns can.

The Bishop in the game of chess, represents the church. Bishops can only move diagonally, but can move any number of squares. It is interesting that a figure that represents religion, is on the chessboard. Religion plays a large part in our daily lives, it is a powerful force that still finds its way into the workplace, and even in our politics. It is difficult to sideline.

The Queen is the only piece on the

board that represents a woman, and she is the most powerful piece of the game.

The queen is the second most important piece in the game of chess, and the most powerful. A Queen can move in any direction (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). And, a Queen can move any number of squares. In chess, there is only one queen on each side. Queens often hold a powerful, yet precarious position. She stays near the king to defend the king, and she can also checkmate the king. The machinations of queens working either for or against their kings are well noted in history, and the queen often held more power than the king did. Equivalent of the crusade, for gender equality and inclusion.

The King is the most important, and the most susceptible piece in the game of chess - the goal of Chess is to win the opponent's king. A king can move one square in any direction (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). The king is the tallest piece on the board, and is well defended on the chessboard through castling. The surrender of the king, means the loss of the kingdom to invading armies - game over. It was to everyone’s advantage, from the lowest to the highestranking pieces, to keep the king safe from harm. The king is the most important, but not the most powerful piece in chess.

If you do not protect your king, you lose the game. Equivalent of leadership, and competition.

The Lessons Learn the Rules of the Game Understanding basic chess rules is essential, if you want to play to win.

From the initial board set up, to the movement of every piece, time control, conduct and ethics of the players, etc.

Rules must be adhered to, by all players.

Similarly for a law firm to thrive, rules and regulations, policies and procedures must be honoured, by all firm members.

“THIS ABILITY TO ANALYSE ACTIONS AND THEIR OUTCOMES, COMBINED WITH SKILLED PATTERN RECOGNITION, IS WHAT DEFINES STRATEGY, AND IT IS A GENUINE REQUIREMENT FOR LAW FIRM MANAGEMENT”

Strategy vs Tactics Chess has been ascribed with several connotations – people management, resilience, skill, intellectualism, selfimprovement, adaptation, confidence, foresight, etc., but, at its core, Chess is an enduring game of both strategy and tactics - critical equivalents to law firm management. Chess strategy consists of setting and achieving long-term goals during the game, while tactics concentrate on immediate manoeuvres. Master chess players see the unfolding patterns of the board over time, thinking not in terms of one piece or one move, but, in terms of the entire board over dozens of moves.

This ability to analyse actions and their outcomes, combined with skilled pattern recognition, is what defines strategy, and it is a genuine requirement for law firm management. How will the delivery of legal services evolve in the coming years, and how are we positioning ourselves to swim and not sink in the wave of change.

Every Piece serves a Purpose In chess, you start the game with a set of pieces, from king to pawns, each with their own ability and position. If you are novice at the game, you may want to push forward immediately trying to get your most “valuable” pieces into win positions. Experienced players, however, know that it is all the pieces working in concert that creates reliable success.

Pawns are moved into lattices that entrap knights, rooks are held back to support a castle at the most opportune time, and bishops coordinate with the queen to flank the king. Every piece plays its part, and every piece is necessary. According to - Ed Poll : Principal, LawBiz Management “No law firm can successfully meet the challenges of recession and a changing professional landscape, without the help of staff leaders who possess the multi-disciplinary skills that the new professional dynamics of law firms demand...”. There are several professionals at work today at the law office; and in order to thrive and succeed, it is vital everyone knows they are valued, know what role they play and what role others play, so they can make best use of each other.

Stalemate or Checkmate To conclude, in Chess, movement is required. If it is a player’s turn to move, and he is not in check but has no legal moves, that is a problem. Being in a static situation is called “Stalemate”, and it ends the game in a deadlock. Also, when a king is captured, it is game over in Chess - checkmate. The ultimate aim in the chess game, is delivering a checkmate – trapping your opponent’s king. The term checkmate literally means, “the King is ambushed.” So, stalemate or checkmate, there must be movement. We left the Association of Law Firm Administrators Nigeria (“ALAN”)’s Learning Session (ALS) with an armload of analysis, strategies, tactics etc., but we also left the ALS recognising the need to make a move, the right move, the Best Move possible – to apply strategy to real world circumstances, and to create more value.

Like in Chess; “It's Your Move Mate.”

14/

03.03.2020

Demutualisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange: Problems and Prospects This article by Wiseman Ubochioma, discusses the former Mutual Governance Structure in which Stock Exchanges operated business as not for profit, and the move towards Demutualisation since the early 1990s, in which they started to carry on business for profitmaking. He points out some of the pros and cons of Demutualisation, and concludes that, Demutualisation will be beneficial to the Nigerian Stock Exchange

S Background

ince 2011, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has been expressing its intention to transition from a mutual to a demutualised stock exchange. Pursuant to this intention, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) created a Committee that would actualise the policy in the same year. In 2015, SEC passed the Rules on Demutualisation of Securities Exchanges in Nigeria. However, since the passage of the Rules in 2015, the process has been in limbo. Recently, the NSE announced that it would change its name, to the Nigerian Exchange Group PLC. Implicit in this announcement is the fact that, the NSE has revved up the process of converting its governance model from a mutual to a demutualised structure in earnest.

Mutual Governance Structure Demutualisation has become a dominant theme in the operation of securities markets globally, in the past twenty seven years. Before the roller coaster ride of demutualisation globally, most stock exchanges operated a mutual governance structure. Framed differently, most exchanges carried on business as non-profit entities, and were owned and operated by broker-dealers. The broker-dealers undertake to contribute the share of their guarantee, if the exchange encounters any financial quagmire. Legally, under this arrangement, the exchange operates as a company limited by guarantee. The broker-dealers benefit from the exchange, through concessions with respect to trading levies and access rates to the trading infrastructures of the exchange.

Demutualisation By contrast, under a demutualised era, stock exchanges operate as companies limited by shares. In essence, demutualisation allows stock exchanges to carry on business as profit-making entities, and distribute their profits to shareholders through dividends. More fundamentally, it broadens the ownership structure of stock exchanges, because it allows the brokerdealers to subscribe for shares in stock exchanges. Additionally, demutualisation permits members of the public, foreign and domestic institutional investors and other corporate entities, to participate in share subscription and trading of the exchange.

At a didactic level, Nigeria is not alone on this transition from a mutual to a demutualised governance structure of its bourse. In fact, demutualisation started

in the early 1990s when the Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen stock exchanges, converted their governance structure from non-profit to for-profit entities. Since then, many countries have demutualised their stock exchanges.

Among the countries that have done so, are Canada (Toronto Stock Exchange), U.S. (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations i.e. NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchange), UK, (London Stock Exchange), Hong Kong (Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Japan, (Tokyo Stock Exchange), Kenya (Nairobi Securities Exchange), Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe Stock Exchange), South Africa (Johannesburg Securities Exchange). According to World Federation of Exchanges, over seventy exchanges have demutualised in recent times.

Reasons for Demutualisation There are many rationales, for the global shift towards demutualisation of stock exchanges. First, globalisation and liberalisation of financial markets, have triggered competition among stock markets. Indeed, globalisation and liberalisation of financial markets have prompted international mergers and acquisitions of exchanges, cross-border trading and listing of shares, and competition to attract listing, trading, and liquidity among exchanges. As a result, exchanges which fail to restructure their governance structure to align with these global trends, would not compete effectively. Demutualisation became a powerful instrument for such restructuring.

Second, the advancement in technology which allows individuals and firms to trade shares online and from any part of the world, has propelled stock exchanges to reconsider the concept of physical trading of shares on their floors. The technological advancement is evident in various Electronic Communications Networks (ECNs) and Alternative Trading Systems (ATS), which serve as the fulcrum for online trading of stocks.

Third, the lack of a share capital under a mutual governance structure of stock markets, usually poses serious threat in raising capital for huge and important infrastructures on the exchange. This problem is compounded by the fact that, the broker-dealers are sole members of exchanges, a factor which may affect their capacity to raise such funds. However, under a demutualised structure, the exchange would have a share capital, and at the very least, the membership status of broker-dealers would be turned into equity in the bourse. Also, the shares of the exchange, will be made available to the public. Finally, demutualised exchanges

“...... DEMUTUALISATION ALLOWS STOCK EXCHANGES TO CARRY ON BUSINESS AS PROFIT-MAKING ENTITIES, AND DISTRIBUTE THEIR PROFITS TO SHAREHOLDERS THROUGH DIVIDENDS. MORE FUNDAMENTALLY, IT BROADENS THE OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE OF STOCK EXCHANGES, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE BROKER-DEALERS TO SUBSCRIBE FOR SHARES IN STOCK EXCHANGES”

are more prone to make decisions more efficiently than mutual exchanges. This stems from the fact that, the motive of demutualised exchanges is to make profit, and maximise shareholder value.

Lastly, from a public welfare perspective, it is believed that demutualisation creates wealth for the people, because it affords members of the public the opportunity to buy equities and own a stake in the exchange.

Challenges of Demutualisation One peculiar challenge with demutualisation, is that it allows the stock exchange to list and trade its shares on the exchange. Thus, upon demutualisation, the exchange operates in a dual capacity, as a market operator and a quasiregulator. This raises potential problems of conflict of interest, non-neutrality and anti-competitive practices. Essentially, the exchange, as a regulator, may take an action that would favour its own listing and trading activities. The action may take the form of charging arbitrary fees, to other firms that list and trade their shares on the exchange. The fear of this kind of conduct warranted the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) to direct the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) after the latter’s demutualisation, to obtain its approval before ASX arrived at any verdict against the activities of Computershare on the ASX. The ASIC took this measure, because Computershare had competed with the ASX during the acquisition of Sydney Futures Exchange.

The action could also take the mode of imposing strict sanctions on firms who breach the exchange’s listing and trading rules, while abstaining or relaxing the enforcement of such rules for its own breach. It is pertinent to note that, there is a possibility that the exchange would engage in practices that are adverse to other firms whose shares are listed and traded on the exchange, even if the shares of the exchange are not listed or traded on the exchange. The harmful practice could take the form of, favouring a firm whose listing fee generates money for the exchange.

Further, upon demutualisation, a stock exchange could be vertically integrated. In other words, the exchange could own the clearing and settlement firm. It could take advantage of such ownership, to impede the ability of other firms that compete

with it on the exchange to net their trades.

These kinds of practices have prompted scholars like Cecilia Caglo and Andrea Pescatori to posit that, the dual obligation of demutualised stock exchanges as regulators and market participants, would trigger “a race to the bottom in market surveillance”.

From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that demutualisation would be beneficial to the NSE. However, the risks associated with it, are also high. It is against this backdrop, that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) should exercise their oversight functions strictly. With respect to the SEC, it should enforce its laws on disclosure of interest in the listing and trading of shares, approval of listing requirements, insider trading, and certain off-market transactions that may affect activities on the exchange. In addition, it should strictly review the disciplinary actions taken by the exchange, against a member. This latter recommendation is important, because it would not only enable the SEC to ensure that the exchange adequately disciplines its officer who breaches market rules, it would also protect a whistleblower that exposes acts of conflict of interest on the exchange.

From a competition law perspective, the FCCPC should enforce the provision on vertical restraints under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018, whenever the Nigerian Exchange Group PLC engages in an anti-competitive conduct through its clearing and settlement undertaking. More fundamentally, the FCCPC should always investigate discriminatory practices, tying arrangements, acts that constitute refusal to deal, cross-subsidisation, and any other practice that would lessen competition on the exchange. These recommendations are important because, after the demutualisation process, the Nigerian Exchange Group PLC would continue to act as a self-regulatory entity, that creates and enforces regulations for the Exchange.

Once the SEC and the FCCPC perform these oversight functions, the challenge of “who guards the guard” during the post-demutualisation era would be pared down or solved.

Wiseman Ubochioma, Ph.D, Lecturer at Law, Baze University, Abuja, Legal Practitioner, Blackfriars LLP

03.03.2020

THE LIGHTER SIDE/15

LEGAL HUMOUR

We Hold Your Brief JUDE IGBANOI jude.igbanoi@thisdaylive.com Dear Counsel, I will appreciate your candid advice, on this issue.

I was recently duped and deprived of my laptop by a fraudulent acquaintance, who informed me of an arrangement for me to trade in my HP Laptop, for a newer version. He took me to a shop where I was asked to trade in my laptop valued at N90,000 for another one valued at N135,000 and I was requested to add N20,000 to get the new one.

I thereafter, dropped my laptop with them and was asked to come back the next day for the new one, that they needed to assess it and determine the real value.

I didn’t suspect any foul play until a few days later, when it became impossible for me to collect my promised new laptop, nor recover mine which I had deposited with them. The particular person I deposited the laptop with, could no longer be found in the premises. The owner of the shop, asked whether I was issued a receipt. I wasn’t.

I thereafter, took the matter to the Police, and was asked write a statement. Surprisingly, the Police, even after visiting the shop and questioning the owner, has not taken any steps to assist in the recovery my laptop, or the new one I was promised.

To my chagrin, the Police told me last week that I was a victim of ‘419’. That, I was foolish to have fallen victim of such scam. They simply refused to do anything about this.

Please, is the Police not neglecting of its duties by pretending this is not a crime? What should I do?

Ms. K.E., Lagos.

Dear Ms. K.E., Indeed, everything about this incident clearly points to a crime. Your dubious acquaintance working in collaboration with the person who took your laptop,

are both criminals, and the Police have acted in a most negligent and unbecoming manner, by refusing to pursue the case, beyond just visiting the shop and questioning the shop owner.

For instance under the Criminal Code Act, advance fee fraud is a form of obtaining by false pretence, while a successful internet scam would amount to a felony under Section 419, which provides as follows: ‘Any person who by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen or induces any person to deliver to another person anything capable of being stolen, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years. If the thing is of the value of one Thousand Naira or upwards, he is liable to imprisonment for seven years. It is immaterial that the thing is obtained or its delivery is induced through the medium of a contract induced by the false pretence’.

The Penal Code Act, also contains a similar provision. In a related vein, a suspect on cyber crime could alternatively be charged under Section 421 of the Criminal Code Act which provides as follows: ‘Any person who by means of any fraudulent trick or device obtained from any other person anything capable of being stolen, or induces any other person to deliver to any person any thing capable of being stolen or to pay or deliver to any person any goods or money or any greater sum of money or greater quantity of goods than he would have paid or delivered but for such trick or device, is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for two years’.

In any part of the country, this would constitute a criminal offence. Did you try to get a hold of your fraudulent acquaintance?

I advice that you get a lawyer to write a petition to the Commissioner of Police, to further push for this case to be taken seriously, otherwise you may lose your computer.

What do you throw to a drowning Lawyer?

His Partners. ˾˾˾ What's the difference between a Lawyer and a liar?

The pronunciation. ˾˾˾ My Lawyer is a very smart guy.

He earns from my mistakes. ˾˾˾ What's the difference between a Lawyer and a vulture?

The Lawyer gets frequent flyer miles. ˾˾˾ A Lawyer says to the witness in the stand, "You seem to be quite a bit smarter than the average witness from your background".

The witness replies, "Why thank you. I wish I wasn't under oath, so I could return the compliment". ˾˾˾ What's the difference between a mosquito and a Lawyer?

One is a blood-sucking parasite, the other is an insect. ˾˾˾ Why did God make snakes just before Lawyers?

To practice. ˾˾˾ A lawyer named Strange died, and his friend asked the tombstone maker to inscribe on his tombstone, "Here lies Strange, an honest man, and a Lawyer".

The inscriber insisted that such an inscription would be confusing, for passersby would tend to think that three men were buried under the stone.

However, he suggested an alternative: He would inscribe, "Here lies a man who was both honest and a lawyer.

"That way, whenever anyone walked by the tombstone and read it, they would be certain to remark: "That's Strange!" ˾˾˾ What's the difference between a Lawyer and a herd of buffalo?

The Lawyer charges more. ˾˾˾ What's the difference between a tick and a Lawyer?

The tick falls off when you are dead. ˾˾˾ A cop arrives at the scene of an accident, in which a car smashed into a tree.

The officer rushes over to the vehicle and asks the driver, "Are you seriously hurt?"

"How do I know?" replies the driver. "I'm not a Lawyer". ˾˾˾ What do you get when you cross a blonde and a Lawyer?

I don't know. There are some things even a blonde won't do.

Court Revokes Sale of Land to WAEC Akinwale Akintunde A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, has revoked the sale of four plots of land involving West African Examination Council (WAEC) and some others.

Justice Mariam Emeya in her judgement in Suit No. ID/920/2011, held that the four plots of land located at Southern Industrial Estate, Agidingbi, Ikeja, were illegally acquired and should be returned to the owner.

The Judge further held that, there was no negotiation, agreement, sale, alienation or assignment in writing by the Claimant on his four plots of land to WAEC (International), nor did he appoint any person whatsoever in any capacity, to carry out any negotiation.

Kayode Euzebio had sued WAEC and Maxi Market Limited (1st and 2nd Defendants), the Attorney-General of Lagos State (3rd Defendant) and the Registrar of titles, Lagos state (4th Defendant), over a parcel of land known as Plot 6, Southern Industrial Estate, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

Euzebio, through his Lawyer, Babatunde Oshilaja, urged the court to invoke the disciplinary jurisdiction

of the court, and restrain the Defendants from taking any action on the disputed land, pending the hearing and final determination of the suit.

The Claimant had told the court that, the 1st and 2nd Defendants, without his consent and against his interest, wrongfully and illegally occupied his plots of land, and have commenced preparation for buildings and construction works on the disputed land.

In their statement of defence, the Defendants had prayed the court to strike out the suit, for being an abuse of court process. The Defendants had maintained that prior to the execution of terms of settlement, the Claimant and 1st Defendant allegedly agreed that the interest of the Clsimant be reduced to monetary value, and that the Claimant be paid of the value of the said land.

The Defendants also argued during trial that, the Claimant had received the proceeds of sale, and was no longer in a position to lay claim the said four plots of land.

Justice Emeya in her judgement held that, WAEC without consent of the Claimant, Kayode Euzebio and against his interest illegally entered and occupied

the land.

The court held that, there was no sale of the four plots of land belonging to the Claimant, for the reason that the order contained in the consent judgement entered into by the 1st Defendant and the Claimant, was not followed.

"It is settled that he who alleges, must prove the allegation. There is no evidence that the Claimant’s consent was sought, the 2nd Defendant did not pay direct to the Claimant. I hold that, Kofo Coker has no right, there was no instruction from the Claimant to represent him.

"It is settled that, if any parties enter an agreement, it binds all parties. The agreement between the parties in the suit, is the consent judgement. Judgement of the court is the end of every litigation, and the judgement is to put an end to litigation."

She cited a plethora of authorities, among which is Section 128 of the Evidence Act. It was the contention of the Claimant that pursuant to terms of a settlement dated October 27, 2008 in respect of a parcel of land known as Plot 6, Southern Industrial Estate, Agidingbi Ikeja, Lagos, parties in the suit agreed to a joint sale of the disputed land.

16/

03.03.2020

WORDS OF WISDOM

(Culled from the Internet)

23

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍąËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

Í° ÍŻ Ëœ Í° ÍŽ Í° ÍŽ MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 3.83 3

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

3 4 6

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

505.18% 0.59% 1.41

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

4.99% 4.99%

EXCHANGE RATE ͹;˚ͯ ̊ ̊

Quick Takes Sage Gets New Distribution Partners

GLADTO MEETYOU

L-R:Chairperson,AvonHealthcareLimited,Dr.AweleElumelu;GroupChairman,UnitedBankforAfrica(UBA)PlcandFounder,TonyElumeluFoundation, Mr.TonyElumelu,andGovernorofLagosState,Mr.BabajideSanwo-Olu;duringtheinaugurationofanewUBABusinessOfficelocatedatthenewly remodeledAfrilandTower,bytheGovernorinLagos‌recently

Discos: Power Sector Credit Ratings Threatened by Re-nationalisation Talks Stories by Chineme Okafor in Abuja The electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria have said recent talks within government circles of re-nationalising the electricity sector and rolling back the objectives of the 2013 privatisation exercise can hurt the ability of operators to raise finances to improve their operations.

The Discos through their association – the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) stated that such conversations as well as the government’s reported plan to handover their distribution operations to German firm, Siemens equally suggested that Nigeria do not respect

ENERGY corporate contracts.

Reacting to recent statement by the Minister of Power, Mr. Mamman Saleh, that the government could give to Siemens the Discos network to run on the basis of an agreement the company signed with the federal government, ANED’s Director of Research and Advocacy, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, stated that the credit rating of the sector could be threatened by government’s utterances and actions. “It is regrettable that the stated proposal further promotes a perception that the Nigerian government does not respect sanctity of contract, a requirement for any investment in the country – particularly, for the

cheap foreign capital that is required for the massive capital expenditure needs of NESI. “A related note is the greater uncertainty associated with threats of renationalisation and reversal of privatisation objectives,� said Oduntan.

He explained that the current investors in the Discos had binding agreements with the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), which represents the federal government on their boards, after the 2013 privatisation, and as such focus should be on how to accomplish the terms of the agreement.

According to him: “These agreements specify the terms and conditions under which both parties shall accomplish the objectives of the privatisa-

tion, as well as a framework of commitments necessary for the Discos to achieve their performance targets.� “Unfortunately, the commitments of the government remain unmet. As such, we believe that the focus should be on how to utilise the agreement’s remedial framework to address the deficiencies that currently exist in the electricity distribution sub-sector, rather than the adoption of knee-jerk initiatives that send signals that would result in potential adverse outcomes for the larger Nigerian economy,� he stated.

Picking holes at the suitability of Siemens to run the Discos networks as intended by the Continued on page 24

TCN to Fix Ekiti’s Low Power Voltage with New Lines, Others The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ekiti state government on the construction of transmission lines and associated substations Ado Ekiti – Ilupeju and Ado Ekiti – Ijesha Ishu.

A statement from the TCN explained that the transmission system would include 132/33 kilovolt (kV) line and associated 2X60 megavolt amp (MVA) 132/33kV substations at Ilupeju and Ijesha Ishu. It would effectively bring to an end Ekiti’s reported cases of low electricity voltage.

It quoted the Governor of Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was respresented by his Deputy, Mr. Bisi Egbeyemi, to

ENERGY have expressed delight at the agreement which he noted would in new transmission lines and substations to improve power supply in the state.

Fayemi, stated that presently, the state has only one 132kV transmission substation which he added was inadequate for it.

He explained that the projects when completed would provide conducive environment for industrial development in Ekiti, adding that his administration was deeply concerned about improving the state’s infrastructure and help its residents attain economic stability.

He also urged the TCN to

consider the state in its network expansion plans to boost bulk power supply to it.

The governor reportedly assured that the state would create an enabling environment for the TCN to effectively complete the project, noting that the people of the state have lost confidence in the power sector but that measures including TCN projects would help restore that.

Fayemi, urged other stakeholders in the power sector to upgrade their facilities while developing synergy for better electricity services in the state.

The statement also noted that the Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Dele Fagbanusi said that the MoU signifies a physical attempt to reduce the

perpetual low power voltage and positively impact economic activities in the lives of the 82,300 electricity consumers within the 134 communities in the 16 local government areas of the state.

According to him, the signing of the MoU was the result of the commitment of Fayemi to finding solution to the poor power situation in the state.

The state he explained, would take care of the Right of Way (RoW) and provide land for the two substations which he urged the TCN to complete within schedule.

Also, in the statement, the Managing Director of the TCN, Mr. Usman Mohammed who Continued on page 24

Sage,acloudbusinessmanagementsolutionscompanyhasappointed three authorised Sage Distributors in the SADC, East Africa andWest African regions to serve as valued-added distribution partners for its small and medium business products and services. The partnership agreementsenableSagetoexpanditspresenceinSouthernAfricaand West Africa, simplify and improve operational processes, and reach new markets and new customers. The new distribution partners are: First Distribution, Axiz, and Redington.

TheExecutiveVicePresidentforAfrica&MiddleEastatSage,Pieter Bensch, explained that, “Sub-Saharan Africa is a strategic, high-growth region for us with many businesses recognising the need to move from legacy business software solutions to smarter cloud-based business solutions.Partneringwithbest-of-breeddistributionpartnersinSADC, East and West Africa enables us to serve the needs of this dynamic market better.“We are positioning our business for accelerated growth innewandestablishedmarkets–establishingawiderfootprintthrough a strong distribution network.We have carefully selected distributors with a well-established partner base and robust compliance practices.

We will beneďŹ t from their well-established expertise and practices in the software industry, including licensing and renewals.â€?

Zambian Launches $81m Farmers’ Scheme

Zambia’sAfricanGreenResources(AGR)onSundaylaunchedan$81 millionďŹ nancingprogrammeunderwhichthecompanyanditspartners will provide farm supplies and technology to farmers in exchange for grain. As part of broader plans by AGR to invest $150 million in Zambia for projects including a 50 megawatt solar farm and irrigation dam, AGRwilltarget120commercialfarmersand250,000smallandmiddle farmerswiththenewprogrammetoboostfoodsecurityinZambiaand the surrounding region, chairman Zuneid Yousuf said in a statement.

According to Reuters, it would cover 60,000 tonnes of fertiliser for wheat and soya farming - worth $55 million - and $26 million for projects such as the expansion of grain storage silos. It would be ďŹ nanced through regional and global banks, with the money repaid from the produce the programme yields. “We expect to receive 44,000 tonnes of wheat per season,â€? Yousuf said, some of which will be processed before being sold on local and international markets. “We will repay the loan from sales of wheat our, soya processing plant products and silo revenue.â€?

Sonangol Set to Sell Assets

Angolan state oil company Sonangol will begin in April to sell its stakes in several private ďŹ rms, chair Sebastiao Gaspar Martins said, as part of a government bid to privatise key state assets including parts of Sonangol itself by 2022. The eleven companies include local bank Banco BAI as well as Sonamet, Sonatip and Sonadit dedicated to metals,maritimeservicesandthemaintenanceofoshorecompanies respectively. Martins, quoted by state news agency Angop late on Thursday, said it was too early to put a value on the stakes.

According to Reuters, Angola, Africa’s second biggest oil exporter, is struggling with declining oil output and economic doldrums which have galvanized authorities to streamline a bloated public sector and focus Sonangol, its largest company, on its core business.

DescribingSonangolasan“octopus�,thecountry’sministerofMineral ResourcesandPetroleum,DiamantinoAzevedo,hassaiditwouldneed to shed stakes in everything from hotels to aviation around the world before a 30% share sale in 2022.

IFC Partners Coronation Merchant Bank

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of theWorld BankGroup,yesterdayannounceda$40millionTradeFinanceGuarantee facility to Coronation Merchant Bank under its Global Trade Finance Program.ThiswouldenableCoronationMerchantBanktoestablishand expandcorrespondentbankingpartnershipswithseveralinternational banks in IFC’s Trade Finance program, broadening access to ďŹ nance in Nigeria.IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP) would oer conďŹ rming banks full or partial guarantees to cover the trade-related payment obligations of Coronation Merchant Bank.

“In the last twelve months, Access Bank has grown into a powerhouse in the Nigerian and indeed, African banking CEO/GMD, Access Bank Plc,

Herbert Wigwe

24

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍąËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD DISCOS: POWER SECTOR CREDIT RATINGS THREATENED BY RENATIONALISATION TALKS

government, Oduntan, said: “It is also important to point out the following – Siemens is an electricity equipment manufacturer and not a utility operator.� “Seeking to hand the Discos to Siemens is akin to asking the pharmaceutical drug manufacturer to treat the patient as a doctor. In view of the fact that the Discos majority shareholders are mostly Nigerian investors funded

by Nigerian banks, is it the government’s intention to send the message that Nigeria is closed for business to local investors, thereby encouraging capital flight and killing home-grown solutions to our economic problems?�

Oduntan maintained that the most appropriate solution to the challenges of the sector was for both parties to collaborate and work to improve the sector’s offerings. “Pronouncements that are misleading or misrepresentative of the complicated challenges of the power sector will not lead to the increased power supply that is necessary to grow our economy, create jobs, increase fiscal revenues and improve quality of life for Nigerian citizens.

TCN TO FIX EKITI’S LOW POWER VOLTAGE WITH NEW LINES, OTHERS was represented by the company’s Head of Transmission Service Provider (TSP), Mr. Victor Adewumi said that TCN will start the 132kV double circuit lines and substations projects at Ilupeju and Ijesha Ishu simultaneously.

He acknowledged that the singular 132kV transmission substation in the state was inadequate which is why the TCN chose to collaborate with the state government on the new transmission infrastructure.

On completion of the projects, the Mohammed noted that the voltage profile of electricity in Ekiti will normalise.

He said that the collaboration with the state would ensure a fast delivery of the projects, adding that it would be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2021.

NEWS

NCC Restates Commitment to Consumer Protection Emma Okonji

community to mark the World Consumer’s Right Day on March 15, 2020, the NCC has put in place a series of initiatives to always cushion and protect the interest of the consumers. “Commission has developed and produced consumer education materials on major telecom issues for distribution.

The developed factsheets are

translated into the three major languages (Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba) including Pidgin.

Such materials cover the Do Not Disturb ‘DND’ Campaign, SIM Registration and Replacement, role of NCC in consumer protection among others. “The Commission has put in place different channels for lodging Consumer

Complaints, which include: NCC 622 Toll Free number for escalating unresolved complaints and for seeking redress. The centre is open 8am to 8pm Mondays to Saturdays. There has been consistent campaign on the 622 NCC Toll Free Line�

Danbatta, said consistent campaign on DND, attracted 22,487,849 subscribers on DND

services as at December 2019.

He promised that NCC would continue the regular monitoring of service providers’ helplines to ensure that the threshold set by the Commission is met, such as the number of rings before connecting to Interactive Voice Response (IVR), connection of calls to live agents, percentage of failed attempts to customer care helplines, among others.

As global economies, including Nigeria, intensify arrangements to mark this year’s World Consumer Rights Day on March 15, 2020, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reassured Nigerian telecoms consumers that it will continue to protect their interests and ensure that they benefit from the best of services offered by telecoms operators.

According to NCC, telecoms consumers would remain the focal point of the Commission and would do everything to protect their interest.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who gave the assurance in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, said: “Consumers’ interest and how they could get better quality of services is our focal point, and we will abide by all the tenets of consumer rights in our day to day activities at the NCC.�

The theme for this year’s event is ‘The Sustainable Consumer’.

L-R: Founder, Flying Doctors Nigeria, Dr. Ola Brown; Managing Director, Investment One Funds Management Ltd,Tope Omojokun; Research Analyst, Danbatta said: “As Nigeria Investment One Financial Services Ltd, Moses Hammed, and Founder,Vestract Company,Tomi Balogun, at an investment forum organised by joins the rest of the global Investment One Financial Services Limited in Lagos...recently

INVESTMENTFORUM

Nigeria Should Harness $3tn Halal Economy, Says ACCI President James Emejo The President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode, has urged the country to take advantage of the over $3 trillion global Halal economy, describing it as another way of opening doors of economic opportunities.

He said Halal, which is built around the Sharia Islamic principles of free interest economy covers virtually all aspects of the economy including halal food, clothing, body care products as well as halal finance among others.

Specifically, he noted that Halal finance offers businesses solace amidst the current high

interest rate charges by commercial banks.

Speaking at a media briefing on the maiden Halal Expo Nigeria 2020 which is slated to hold between June 8 -10 in Abuja, and organised by the chamber, Kayode said it provides an opportunity to address poverty in the country.

He said: “So our decision at the Abuja trade center and the ACCI is to ensure that everywhere we can get prosperity we must take it.

Every opportunity that we can create for this country to prosper for our people to get out of poverty and for empowerment we must take it. “And it is even good that we are doing something that

is permitted, something that is good. This is why we made the decision to organise the first ever Halal expo in Nigeria and by the grace of God, we will be organising this halal Expo every year beginning from 2020.�

He said this year’s exhibition, as well as subsequent trade exhibitions within the year had also been designed to commemorate Nigeria’s 60th anniversary, adding that halal was the future for the country’s development.

The ACCI president said: “I find it interesting that halal finance which is non-interest finance. It is very interesting and I believe that all things being equal, this is the way for

the future so that the bankers and finance institutions will invest in your business and not in you.�

He said: “If they invest in your business and they share in your profits and loss, then, it would be easier for them to give you credit on reasonable terms: terms that would not kill you or kill your business because if your business prospers, then they’ll be profit and they would gain but if somebody gives you loan in a way that kills your business like our commercial banks... if somebody charges you 25 per cent interest and takes 25 per cent of your money, may be government takes another 25 per cent, then the business

fails.�

Also speaking at the occasion, Chairman, Halal Certification Authority, Prof.

Ibrahim Oreagba said: “When you talk about halal, you are not only saying it is permissible based on Sharia, you are also saying that the product is hygienic and wholesome and that means there must be additional quality assurance. “We also have halal certification apart from NAFDAC and SON certification and that is why non Muslims are also very much interested in halal because it gives them that assurance and guarantee that the products which they are consuming are safe and of good quality.�

DBN Boss Outlines BeneďŹ ts of Inter-African Trade Peter Uzoho

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor ((Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

The Managing Director of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Mr. Tony Okpanachi, has enumerated a number of policy actions that Nigeria needs to take to develop the economy by increasing its level of trade with other African countries.

Delivering a paper on Monday in Kaduna on the topic, “Unlocking Nigeria’s Economic Potential through Regional Integration�, at the ongoing 41st Kaduna International Trade Fair, Okpanachi said for regional integration to be beneficial to Nigeria, raising the growth of the private sector was key.

He stated that a strong coordination of reforms and projects which would prepare the country for international

trade would be needed for the country to realise the potential benefits of regional integration.

He added that as a matter of priority, Nigeria needed to operationalise existing trade agreements that include provisions to deal with trade barriers and settling trade disputes.

According to him, a key threat for the success of regional integration for Nigeria is predictive trade practices primarily on goods from outside the country.

Okpanachi, noted that tackling such threat would require collective efforts of both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union.

He maintained that the government should implement policies, operational and technical governance

and financial interventions to restore the financial viability of the power sector.

While calling for improvement in service delivery and reduction in losses, the DBN boss also harped on the need to adopt right price for electricity.

Okpanachi said: “Since electricity is the highest production cost driver for businesses, both manufacturing and services, electricity tariff for large consumers and strategic sectors should be aligned with the cost of electricity in key peer countries. “Develop a sustainable financing strategy to upgrade and maintain the quality of the nation’s transportation system, particularly those on the export corridors. “There is need to enhance technical assistance and capacity building of all relevant MDAs

that drive organisational reforms and ease of doing business in the country. “Resolve issues preventing the full implementation of existing customs cooperation agreements, harmonising data requirements and updating existing bilateral agreements between Nigeria and neighbouring countries to include coordinated border management. “Update existing policies and measures to address supply side constraints of businesses especially the strategic sector, product and services, sustained agricultural financing incentives and expand investment and financing incentives for mining, manufacturing and service sectors�.

He, however, urged the government to aggressively pursue implementation of

mobile money licences for telecom companies and other innovative financial technology (Fintech) solutions.

According to him, the world had started embracing fintech way, saying “fintech is the way forward. So it is good for Nigeria to quickly adapt to this innovative Fintech means and as a means of facilitating trade across the borders.�

He added that Nigeria needed to develop its productive capacities across the value chain: in manufacturing, agriculture, services and other industries sectors.

Okpanachi further said: “And finally, we need to deepen access to finance to real sector.

Unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential through regional trade is not the responsibility of the government alone, as we have clearly seen.

25

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Positioning for Market Dominance Raheem Akingbolu writes on the emerging competition in the lubricant market with the recent signal from the promoters of Asha Engine Oil that the brand was positioned to take a lead

P

rice, quality, advertising and promotions are among the readily tools explored by brand owners in any competitive market.As market records new entrant, existing brands change gear to either crash the price or flag off promotion. However, whichever way the pendulum swings, consumers are always at advantage because they will not only get value for their hard-earned money, they will also get incentives.

In the next few weeks, chances are that artisans and other patrons of lubes will begin a new honeymoon as the market trend is set to change.

Considering the fact that the quality of lubricant most times determine the life span of engines, vehicle owners, technicians and other users always eager to go for the best. Unfortunately, adulteration and infiltration of the market with fake products have suddenly become consumers’ albatross.

With a bold brand promise, a new entrant into the lube market, Asharami Synergy, a Sahara Group Downstream Company, has assured Nigerians of its determination to up the ante and give consumers the best. Few days ago, the company brought together stakeholders and unveiled what it described as a “gold standard among lubricants” in the Nigerian market.

Speaking on the importance of the brand and the timing of its launch, the company’s managing director, Moroti Adedoyin-Adeyinka said one of the reasons the brand is entering the market now is to promote quality.

According to the MD; “In a market contending with quackery, consumers can now move with Asha to safeguard and optimise the performance of their engines. The Asha Engine Oil range can be applied to all manner of engines in generators, light and heavy-duty machines, cars, trucks, motorcycles, among others. We are delighted to give Nigerians the ultimate choice of engine oil that is pocket-friendly and outstanding by all parameters,” In a market where fairly used engines are common, choosing the right lubricant is arguably, the most important decision one has to make to ensure long lasting performance. In addition, the potential negative impact of counterfeit engine oils in Nigeria should elicit more robust reaction from all stakeholders to address the menace.

According to auto experts, the right oil for cars are specified in vehicle manual and vehicle users should take notice of American Petroleum Institute (API) and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) original codes.

As part of the measures to ensure originality, vehicle owners and other consumers have been urged to get involved in the selection of what lubricant matches their engine instead of putting their fate in the hands of technicians.

The Asha engine oil range which includes Asha Crest, Asha Xtra, Asha Trans and Asha HD Premium which Adedodoyin-Adeyinka said have undergone extensive quality tests and have

been certified for distribution across the country.

This should give consumers seeking pocket friendly, safe, durable, affordable and high performing lubricants a huge dose of “peace of mind” and make the decision to “Move With Asha”.

With the deregulation of lubricants market and little government interference, a lot of substandard lubricants have entered the market but it is hoped that other quality products including Asha oil produced with international standard and with much awareness among consumers, the sub-standard products will be crowded out of market, for long lasting engines. According to Adedoyin-Adeyinka: “Asha Engine Oil is here to give consumers the right option for ultimate protection and performance of their engines.”

The new Asha Engine Oil range come in different sizes. For instance, Asha Crest comes in one and four litres respectively; Asha HD: 4 and 25 litres while Asha Trans comes in 1 litre.

The company said Asha Crest is superior quality multi-grade engine oil made from the highly redefined paraffinic base oils. It is particularly suited for petrol and diesel passenger cars, 4-wheel drive vehicles, light vans, generators and motorcylces.

On the other hand, Asha HD is a top-quality high-performance mono-grade lubricant specially formulated to provide the ultimate all-round performance in diesel engines. Asha Extra is high quality mono-grade oil for both petrol and diesel engines and it is suited for turbo-charged passenger cars, light vans four-wheeled vehicles while Asha Trans is a premium transmission fluid, developed to meet the requirement of General Motors Dextron IIID. It is suitable for most automatic power steering units and certain hydraulic systems.

The Asha Engine Oil Marketing and Sales Manager, Seun Yussuf disclosed at the launch of the lubricants that Asharami Synergy was working with top distributors and other stakeholders to ensure seamless access to the engine oil across the nation.

“Asha Engine oil is here to give all consumers peace of mind whenever they are looking to buy lubricants for their engines. We urge everyone to move with Asha for ultimate protection of their engines.”

Asharami Synergy’s operations and processes have earned the company several ISO certifications for quality and safety.

Folusho Sobanjo, the company COO said Asharami Synergy is engaging in robust marketing strategy to create brand awareness of product.

“We don’t shy away from competition as we are driven by consumer satisfaction to launch the products into Nigeria market” If the company keeps to its promise to change the status quo and give consumer new experience, then one should expect positive responses from existing competing brands in the next few months.

Whatever happens, consumers still stand tall as greatest beneficiaries.

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26

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Pedro: MSMEs Face Mandatory Registration to Handle Public Contracts The Chairman, Governing Board, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Pedro, in this interview says it will soon be mandatory for micro, small and medium scale enterprises operating in the country to be registered before they participate in any business transaction with any agency of government.

The former Lagos State deputy governor also explained the rationale behind the agency’s current drive to have small businesses registered on government portal.

James Emejo brings the excerpt: from funders, financiers, policy makers and donors which will enable the MSME sub-sector to grow and employ more people and expand the country’s Gross National Product

What are the objectives of the MSMEs Mass Registration Programme (MMRP) being undertaken by SMEDAN? The main objectives are to develop a comprehensive database of all MSMEs in the country on the basis of products, sectors, geographical locations, size, owners’ personal information, etc. This information is critical for policy makers, financiers, investors, MSMEs, donors, and the general public. The information will identify formal and informal businesses and help policy makers to migrate businesses from informal to formal.

How does the proposed registration differ from that of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)? Don’t you foresee a conflict?

The MMRP is very different from CAC registration. The MMRP captures data from all MSMEs including the multitude that are not registered with CAC. It will also provide more detailed information than the CAC and it registers only active and going concern enterprises unlike CAC that registers businesses even when they only exist on paper.

What is SMEDAN’s overall plan/endgame for MSMEs in the informal sector of the economy?

SMEDAN is the apex agency responsible for the growth and development of MSMEs nationwide. SMEDAN provides advisory, training, capacity building, grants, market linkages, funding support, MSME marketplace and entrepreneurial development to all MSMEs across the country. It is part of SMEDAN’s mandate to move businesses from informal to formal and grow micro businesses to small and small to medium and medium to large.

What are the total numbers of MSMEs presently operating in the country?

Our last annual survey conducted in conjunction with the National Bureau of Statistics estimated about 42 million MSMEs nationwide.

But this figure is merely an estimate and the actual figure is yet to be ascertained. The MMRP will hopefully provide us with a more accurate and detailed statistics.

How reliable is the SMEDAN registration portal for MSMEs against Internal and external manipulations?

Our portal was developed and designed by reliable and tested technology consultants.

What is the difference between the recently released national MSME survey and the on going mass registration programme?

The national survey uses samples from few select number of MSMEs and uses the information to predict or estimate for the national population of MSMEs. The MMRP is like a census which will develop actual statistics of MSMEs nationwide. The MMRP will provide more precise, more accurate and more reliable information.

How will those MSMEs in the rural areas know about this registration?

We are embarking on a nation-wide publicity and awareness campaign but this is dependent on availability of funding. Presently, funding is inadequate but we are hopeful that the agency will soon attract higher budgetary allocation from the Federal Budget and funding support from donors Is the programme funded by an international donor agency or SMEDAN funded?

The project is presently being funded by the federal government through budgetary allocation. We however wish to use this medium to appeal to local and international donor and other agencies to support SMEDAN Pedro We are assured that it is safe and protected by firewalls against any form of hacking or manipulation. The process is however ongoing and subject to regular and periodic reviews to ensure continuous improvement.

What beneďŹ ts do those captured in this exercise stand to gain?

I encourage all MSMEs in the country to register now. Every registered MSME will be provided with a unique identification number which will enable other users to identify specific MSMEs. The registration will enable policy makers, lenders, funders, investors and prospective partners to verify information provided by MSMEs and aid them in decision making. Likewise, it may soon be mandatory for every MSMEs to be registered before they could participate

in any business transaction or relationship as contractor, supplier, grantee, consultant, partner etc with any government agency in the country.

In addition, private sector organisations like banks, insurers, manufacturers, service providers etc may soon insist on registration numbers before any engagement with MSMEs. It is also mandatory now for MSMEs to be registered with SMEDAN before it could participate in or benefit from any SMEDAN program, project and services.

What are the beneďŹ ts of the programme to the economy at large?

The Nigerian economy will benefit significantly because registered MSMEs will attract focused and targeted funding and advisory support, entrepreneurial development and support services

Tell us about the success recorded by your board since you became the chairman?

Our Board has been very active and productive since we were inaugurated in 2008. We have provided support to management to enable it expand the scope of operations of SMEDAN and increased the number of MSMEs beneficiaries of SMEDAN programs and projects. Our Board is also responsible for this MMRP initiative in conjunction with management. There’s a healthy and cordial working relationship between Board and Management Any word of advice for MSMEs in Nigeria?

MSMEs should register on the MMRP portal NOW. Please visit our website and register to obtain your unique registration number and begin to tap into numerous programs and services of SMEDAN and other organisations in the MSMEs universe.

Report Highlights Impact of NERC’s Order on Estimated Billing Peter Uzoho The recent order by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which repealed the proposed estimated billing system and replaced it with a capping system will serve the interest of both the distribution companies (Discos) and the electricity consumers in a win-win situation, a report by the United Capital has shown.

Prior to the order, the Discos had been charging their unmetered customers for power used using the estimated billing process, which the customers

had widely criticised, often describing the bills when served them as “crazy�.

The estimated billing regime was put in place by the commission as part of measures to reduce some of the Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection losses (ATC&C) borne

by Discos and to serve as an interim solution pending the widespread adoption of meters.

However, to address fairness in the billing of different types of consumers, NERC had issued an, “Order on the Capping of Estimated Bills in the Nigerian Electricity Supply

Industry’, with effective from 20th February 2020.

The commission explained that the focus of the order was to promote parity in the billing of metered and unmetered electricity customers, given the several complaints about Discos issuing unrealistic estimated bills.

However, United Capital in its report on the efforts by the NERC, said the regulator’s order which brought an end to estimated billing, introduced limit to tariff payable by consumers without pre-paid meters and mandated Discos to meter their

customers would benefit both the Discos and the consumers.

It stated: “Overall, the benefits of this order accrue to both Discos and electricity end-users. First, unmetered R2 and C1 consumers will be able to pay charges that are more commensurate to their consumption. “Second, the order eliminates the incidence of inflated estimated bills and creates customer satisfaction and fewer complaints, which are integral goals the NERC set out to achieve. “Third, the deadline to meter

high-end customers will prompt Discos to fast track metering, which is positive for the reduction in collection losses.

More importantly, this will increase overall electricity supply to Nigerians, lower collection losses, buoy revenue, and reduce the incidence of liquidity crisis across the value chain by giving Discos a better shot at meeting their minimum remittance to NBET and MO�.

The firm added that, “the biggest advantage of all comes in play when the transition to cost-reflective tariffs takes place in April 2020. If the previously

estimated billing practice was still in place, and tariffs were reviewed upwards, this would have had a severe implication on consumer wallets belonging to the R2 and CI class. With energy demand now similar to metered counterparts, tariffs paid for will be relatively fair.�

It also noted that despite the huge benefits for both end-users in terms of fair pricing and reduction in collection losses for Discos from the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme introduced by NERC in 2018, metering progress has remained abysmal.

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Forum Seeks to Deepen Capacity of MDAs, Others on Infrastructure Mgt James Emejo in Abuja Worried by the marked deficiency in the capacity of project managers in both the public and private sectors to effectively manage critical infrastructure as well as raise revenue for government, the Africa Industrialisation Group has organised a seminar to better equip practitioners.

The group’s Executive Director, Mr. Carl Oshodi, said the programme would deepen the knowledge of infrastructure handlers; train and retrain the facility managers, particularly those in ministries, departments and agencies of government

(MDAs) on how to efficiently and effectively manage their infrastructure and build business models around generating sustainable revenue for the government.

Speaking to THISDAY about the forthcoming Pan African Infrastructure Protection Master Class and Business Development Forum, themed: “Protecting the Awakened Giant: Africa, Infrastructure and Personnel�, which is slated for April 20-25 in Kigali, Rwanda, Oshodi said the essence of any infrastructure is to provide value for its building and to generate certain benefits including internally gener-

ated revenue (IGR) from the government perspective.

The director who had linked the failure of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Nigeria to the absence of a governance architecture to protect contracts, said the workshop is designed for facility managers, MDAs, local government leadership as well as the private sector and “hovers on the premise that government infrastructure requires a protection mechanism�.

He said:�Government infrastructure requires that before it can actually deliver the services it needs and that there must be people who manage this

infrastructure. “We also believe that there are so many infrastructure already developed by the government but many of these infrastructure are vandalised today, many are abandoned today because there’s no management culture of this infrastructure as well as development tools or sustainability methods which are not there.�

According to him, participants will at the end of the masterclass be able to manage infrastructure and the system involved in implementation at departmental, ministerial and private sector levels.

Oshodi said the forum will

provide a platform where the public and private sectors will rob minds stressing that “while the private sector seems to be growing, the public sector is diminishing� in the area of infrastructure management.

He said the event will bring together both the public and private sector to share and deepen perspective as stakeholders who are actually working around infrastructure development in Africa will have the opportunity to showcase their innovation and technology around improving the methodology of infrastructure development and management in the continent.

He said:�I believe that Nigeria should form the hub of infrastructure development in Africa but in a situation where we put in more money and we don’t get the value for the money or perhaps we build this infrastructure and it does not give the returns it supposed to give, it therefore means that we have not only wasted funds or our commonwealth, we have also jeopardised the future sustainability of those projects because those projects at the end of the day would be used for a different purpose and not for the purpose it was built for.�

Firm Expands Operations to Nigeria Peter Uzoho Dan Holdings Group, a Dubaibased blockhchain technology and cryptocurrency company, is expanding its business operations to Nigeria and Africa.

The move, according to the Group Chairman of Dan Holdings Group, Mr. Dan Oyekan, was to give financial access and financial benefits to consumers in Nigeria through the use of cryptocurrency and stable coins.

Oyekan, added that the company was also on a mission to, “decentralise finance, giving access to lending, giving access to investment, portfolios, those are the things we are currently looking at.�

Oyekan, who disclosed this in Lagos during an interaction with journalists, further revealed that the group would be moving into its Nigerian office in the second quarter of this year.

He said the company currently has about three stable coins as its products including, “the naira stable coins which is naira coins, dollar stable coins which is still in the works. It is called dollar coins, and the gold coins which is coming up, it’s also a Goldberg stable coins. “The naira coins is already on the utarian blockchain.

We have not made so much announcement because we are about to rap up some in-house things. In about two to three weeks or a month maximum, the announcement will be made. The dollar and the gold stable coins will be out in Q2 2020.�

On the implications of Nigeria not adopting digital

currencies, Oyekan warned that that it would not serve the country well.

According to him, “I think that if we don’t adopt it now we are just shooting ourselves in the foot. We are the biggest economy in Africa, we are the giant and we have to lead the way for every other country in Africa to follow. So at this point in time when we adopt it will really help us a lot. “At this point in time there is no African stable coin as we speak apart from two Naira stable coins that I know that are already in the market. So as we adopt the digital currencies and we make ourselves the hub everybody will come to us. We are the pioneers, so let us be the pioneers and let us drive the adoption in Africa�.

Speaking further about the group’s operations, Oyekan stated that the group had various areas of business, pointing out that its major focus was on blockchain technology and its mass adoption in Africa.

He added: “Currently our focus is on cross border remittances and payments in and out of Africa and within Africa, and decentralise finance adoption in Africa. We also have other points like social messaging and social networking which are other segment of our business. “But our core focus right now is on the adoption of cryptocurrencies, the adoption of every day used cases of payment within Africa, within countries -peer-to-peer payments, and I will say we are like the cashier for Africa, how stable coins can be used

ENTREPRENUERS’ FORUM

L-R: Head, SME Advisory, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Yemi Rufai; Group Head, SME Banking, Mr. George Ogbonnaya; Manager, Gbagada Branch, Olushola Adeyemo and Direct Sales Manager, SMEs, Mr. Valentine Osobase, during the Harvesters’ Entrepreneurs Forum sponsored by the bank, that held in Lagos...recently

Investment One Canvasses Saving, Investment among Nigerians Bamidele Famoofo Investment One Financial Services Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading financial services firm has called on Nigerians, especially the youths, to cultivate the habit of saving and investing, which it says, will make them achieve financial freedom and boost prosperity of the economy in the long run. The firm, formerly GTB Asset Management, made this known in Lagos, recently, during its annual investment awareness creation forum tagged: “All You Need to Know about Investment.�

Managing Director, Investment One Funds Management Limited, Tope Omojokun, who was one of the panelists at the forum, advocated the exploration of collective investment channels for youths who are still alien to the principles of investing.

“The youths and students are advised to approach investments cautiously not to burn their fingers when they are just starting up. It is better for them to embrace the mutual funds where their hard earned money can be managed by professionals, and help them grow confidence gradually in the matters of investments.�

Also, Founder, Flying Doctors Nigeria, Dr. Ola Brown, who was also on the panel, cautioned young investors to be wary of investments that promise very high returns within a short period of time. While Brown would not discourage risk- taking in investments, she cautioned that investors who have appetite for highly risky investments are at the risk of losing their entire livelihood in such ventures. “Investors, especially the fresh

ones, must shun ponzi schemes that promises unreasonable returns within a very short period, at all cost. They are advised to explore the avenue of investment clubbing, where they would learn the rudiments of investments before they begin to take the big steps towards investing bigger�, Brown said.

For Brown, the primary question which every investor must answer before venturing into any kind of investment is whether they would survive if they lost all their money in a particular investment.

Also, the Founder, Vestract Company Limited, Tomi Balogun, advocated the culture of savings among Nigerians. She alleged that the average Nigerian would spend their monies on frivolities rather than save the money for investment purposes.

“It is a known fact that Nigeria has a much lower savings culture compared to countries like China and even some others in the African continent.�

But beyond the poor savings culture of Nigerians, which to a very large extent, has hampered investment in the country, Balogun took a swipe on regulatory authorities in the financial industry, which she said, sometimes fail to discharge their major duty of protecting investors from opportunists. On the part of government, Balogun noted that proactive policies must be introduced to stimulate robust economic activities and growth.

While she joined her co-panelists in advocating the use of collective investment schemes, she also urged investors to balance their investment portfolios to mitigate against losses.

Eko Disco Set to Decommission UNISTAR Meters Peter Uzoho and Oluchi Chibuzor The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EkEDC) has expressed its preparedness to decommission UNISTAR Meters as part of efforts to provide better services to its customers.

This, the firm explained,

would help the company replace the older versions that were installed few years back, monitor and read the meters more efficiently, as well as upgrade the technology of which they operate.

The Chief Legal Officer, EKEDC, Wola Joseph, stated this on Monday, while speaking to

journalists at a stakeholders’/ customers’ engagement forum in Lagos, adding that customers were required to apply for new meters in order to get the latest and more efficient meters.

According to her, “We have learnt that UNISTAR meters, which were commissioned earlier, can no longer provide

the maximum function which consumers require. Thus, in order to boost our capacity and product service, we have made new meters available for all other regions that are currently using the old meters. “In order to help customers transition seamlessly to the latest meters, we have established

a help centre whose objective would be to hand-hold and guide customers on how to go about acquiring the new meters. “We would reach out to all our esteemed customers that are on the UNISTAR meters in writing, to switch over to the new meters that are provided.�

She, however, explained that the firm saw the need to increase its tariff for the first time since 2016, because the increase in revenue generation would help equip the establishment to operate at maximum capacity thereby, supplying more efficient power to its consumers.�

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY Ëž Íą, 2020

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

President Muhammadu Buhari Presents a gift to the outgoing Ambassador of Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic to Nigeria, H.E Malainine Sadik-Bachir during a farewell audience at the State House Abuja... recently PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Hon Edozie Madu, member of AUDA-NEPAD National Governing Council and President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House Abuja...recently

L-R: Commissioner for Environment, Hon Gbenga Agbeyo; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; General Manager, Ekiti State Waste Management Agency, Hon Bayo Kelekun; and Senior Special Assistant, on Public Health, Dr Jimlas Ogunsakin; during the Environmental sanitation monitoring exercise in Ado-Ekiti‌recently

L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum/ Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Director General, NGF, A. B. Okauru; Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu; and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; during the NGF’s meeting, in Abuja...recently

Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Engr. Adedamola Kuti (2nd right), a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Kayode Ibrahim (2nd left),Regional Technical Manager, Region West, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc , Mr Thomas Balzuweit (right) and Project Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr Thomas Chirstl (left) and others during the Final Inspection of the Completed Section of the Kara End to Berger Bus Stop of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway by oďŹƒcials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing...recently

L-R: Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Stambic IBTC, Mr Yinka Sanni, President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS),Mr Adedapo Adekoje; Founder, Investment Banking and Trust Company (IBTC), Mr Atedo Peterside; his wife, Dudun, former Secretary General, Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku at conferment of Honourary Fellowship on Mr Peterside by CIS in Lagos...recently

L-R: Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri; his wife, Gloria and Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, during the Victory Thanksgiving Service at King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa‌recently

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Sixth Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development Focuses on Prosperity Bennett Oghifo

T

he sixth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD 2020) addressed the theme ‘2020-2030: A Decade to Deliver a Transformed and Prosperous Africa through the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.’

As Africa’s official preparatory event for the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the Forum theme was aligned to the 2020 HLPF theme, ‘Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.’

The Forum was also the first regional consultation taking place under the UN@75 reform process, and the launch of the UN’s 2020 Decade of Action and Delivery on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event provided an opportunity for UN Deputy Secretary-General (UNDSG) Amina Mohammed to elicit perspectives from the region on the ongoing UN reform process.

ARFSD 2020 convened on

the heels of the 33rd African Union (AU) Summit, which addressed the 2020 AU theme of ‘Silencing the Guns: Creating conducive conditions for Africa’s Development.’ The issue of peace and security as an enabler for all the SDGs was therefore a central theme in the discussions, with frank exchanges taking place on the capacity, as well as commitment of, regional and global institutions to engage with perpetrators of violence, hold governments accountable, and manage the transition to peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

Delegates also exchanged experiences on a selection of the voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of the SDGs that are currently being conducted by 17 African countries for presentation at the HLPF in July 2020, as well as emerging lessons from voluntary local reviews (VLRs), which featured for the first time at the Forum. The discussions reiterated the urgency of speeding up implementation, in light of a convergence of evidence that, despite some pockets of progress, countries and partners

are not on track to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and Africa’s Agenda 2063.

Building on regional data sources – including the Africa Sustainable Development Report 2020, the inaugural AU Continental Report on the Implementation of Agenda 2063, as well as practical experiences at country and regional level – the Forum took an in-depth look at barriers

to, and opportunities for, making progress. High-level panels examined performance across all 17 SDGs, clustered into the “five Ps” of the 2030 Agenda: people, prosperity, planet, peace and partnerships. The discussions focused on exploring accelerators to deliver a transformed and prosperous Africa, including through leveraging science, technology and innovation (STI), and strengthening partnerships with the UN Development

System, major groups, youth, and other stakeholders.

During discussion, participants called for a new era of a confident Africa, ready to step up its game in proposing African solutions to African problems and mobilising partnerships at all levels to work in tandem on its priorities. Among them, Zimbabwe’s Minister for Higher and Tertiary Education made an impassioned plea for a paradigm shift from the colonial mindset,

designed to produce “clerks and pseudo engineers,” towards an “Education 5.0” that inculcates values such as research, innovation, and community service, and uses African resources to produce the goods and services that the continent needs. The discussions were further energized by the active participation of young people and representatives of excluded groups, particularly people living with disabilities and the elderly.

Participants at the 6th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Harare… recently

Bitek Designs Fire-Proof Russian Technology for Nigeria Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja A cost effective Russian building technology, with materials sourced from clay, which is available in abundance in Nigeria, has been introduced to the country.

The technology, known as Bitek Wall Blocks is said to be highly durable and can withstand fire and water and has a life span of 300 years.

The same clay material is also used for ceiling, blocks and tiles.

The Chairman of Bitek

Construction and Energetics Limited, Ben Gbade Ojo made this disclosure in Abuja at the unveiling of the materials with some Russian partners.

He said the Bitek Wall Blocks and Russian system of affordable housing introduced to Nigeria was a way of the deepening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Russia and an outcome of the President Buhari’s visit to Russia.

The technology and system is said to have been employed to deliver high quality and af-

fordable housing to millions of people in Russia, the former Soviet Union bloc and countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

He singled out the building technology as the answer to Nigeria’s intractable housing deficit estimated at 22 million housing units by both the United Nation’s Habitat and World Bank.

He noted that Nigeria is facing a struggle to fix its housing shortfalls, saying that Africa’s largest economy is among

countries with the lowest home-ownership rates of less than 20 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ojo identified the high cost of building as the chief cause of the mounting housing deficit in the country.

He also said the affordability issue as well confronts public and private organisations saddled with problem of building office complexes, hospitals, educational institutions, modern markets and other vital buildings necessary for individual

and societal well-being and development.

“This is one of the most enduring, durable and costeffective building technologies in the world. It is a Russian housing development technology and system that has provided high quality, affordable housing to millions of people in several countries of the world, especially in Russia. It holds the answer to Nigeria’s seemingly endless housing deficit problems. It is a building system that will boost home-ownership among

Nigerians, the system that will turn our slums into modern towns and cities within a short time, and this is another building system that the Local, State and Federal Governments can use to develop residential buildings and office complexes all over Nigeria,” Ojo said.

One of the Russian partners, Dr Boyko Valentine said they plan to source materials by setting up clay plants in the country. He said the clay technology will use less cement and will last longer in Nigeria’s weather.

Developers, Property Investors Condemn Chronic Master Plan Distortions in Lagos Fadekemi Ajakaiye Developers involved in the development and investment in properties all over Lagos have acknowledged the lopsided schemes with which they tacitly and in some cases unscrupulously secured their development rights in violation of approved layouts and master plans.

Speaking under anonymity, a major developer spoke with our reporter on how the Lekki Northern Business District (NBD) parking facility, meant for the general parking of over twenty business land investors in the Lekki Master plan was sold to a totally independent developer with no prior vested interest in any of the NBD land under the last administration of Lagos State.

Today, that common parking facility is a built-up community of block of flats, while the investors who erected their business buildings as planned in accordance to the master plan around the common parking space have nowhere to park their cars. This has caused traffic congestion at Olubunmi Owa Crescent in Lekki Phase One.

Lack of adherence to master plans and the failure inherent in master plans paved way for political and pecuniary abuse of the masterplan which has been identified as the major urbanization problem generating the chaos in Lagos State.

According to Dr. Tony Alabi, an architect based in Lagos, whose opinion was sought on this matter, “developers of highend properties on government layouts operate with one set of building regulation rules under a discretional best-of-judgement aura and a myriad of privileges; while the developers of low-end properties in other areas of Lagos operate under another set of building regulation rules and best-of-judgement aura.

Dualism in the governance of the city of Lagos dates back to the colonial era when European Quarters had a set of rules for building regulation and others (Native Quarters) were classified under the Township Ordinance with another set of rules. Dr. Alabi emphasised that, Lagos is unable to decolonize herself from the moribund master plans that remain inadequate for its

modern cosmopolitan and elitist population”. He lamented that the operating and building regulatory rules seem to have been designed as if the effect of environmental and scientific factors, and the physical qualities of land on which buildings are erected changes with affluence and social status in Lagos.

Multiple visits to the Northern Business District of Lekki brought clarity to a few of the prevailing issues. It was observed that, the human and traffic congestion generated from the businesses has reached unbearable points for business owners. The business district is fast becoming like any other one in Lagos suffering from the abuse of the master plan with the characteristic street chaos. This dire situation seems to repeat itself all over Lagos.

There is a widening gap between master plans and realities of land-use in Lagos.

Arguments have been made that changes in master plans are bound to occur. “How do you get investors to buy into the perceived comfort of a masterplan by selling to the public as investment plots of

land with an offer of common spaces that should enhance their common business good; only to jettison that master plan once they are financially locked in?”

Other professionals who would rather be anonymous called such action a crime against the built environment for which the general public will

ultimately suffer the unbearable consequences as is common in Lagos. Reckless sand filling of water ways, flood plains and build-up of channels and canals, result in annual flooding experienced alongside climate change issues.

The abuse of master plans as evident in the indiscrimi-

nate construction of all sorts of buildings anywhere land can be found without zoning compliance is the reason why you find religious worship centres in-between residential buildings as well as commercial outcrops in front of residences.

The effects are noise and waste pollution.

FCTA Receives 10,000 Applications for Regulation of Land Titles Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The FCT administration has received about 10,000 applications from the public for regularisation of their Area Councils’ land titles within the Federal Capital Territory.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), Dr. Isa Ibrahim Jalo, who stated this recently added that 22 mass housing developers have also made submissions for the massive regularisation of area council and mass housing

land titles.

Jalo said the project, which is being carried out under the Accelerated Area Councils and Sectional Titles Re-Issuance Scheme (AACSTRIS) is to be given a massive boost as budgetary allocation in the 2020 appropriation and manpower have been deployed to fast track the implementation process.

He further revealed that since the new Section commenced work in earnest, about 1,530 Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) have been prepared and ready for collection by the benefi-

ciaries of the Mass Housing Scheme.

The AGIS CEO added that about 300 R-of-O have been released to the allottees of the Area Councils titles as 30 Area Councils layouts have been vetted and ready for regularisation.

According to Jalo, the process of issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of-O) for about 250 beneficiaries of the housing scheme is at an advanced stage, now awaiting developers’ compliance with terms of R-of-O to enable issuance of (C of-O).

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

NCF Leads Conservation of Vulture Species in Africa Bennett Oghifo

T

he Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has said it is concerned by the grave decline in the population of Vultures in the country on account of traditional medicine practices and from outright persecution.

“The conservation of Vulture species in Nigeria and Africa is a priority for all because of their importance in the ecosystem and NCF will not rest on it oars until every bird species especially vultures are protected from harm and illegal trade,” the foundation said in a statement, recently.

According to NCF, “Globally, the population of vultures has suffered a serious decline with some species recording about 95% drop.

“This decline has been blamed on various factors including direct persecution, poisoning, death from diclofenac biomagnification, use of vulture parts for traditional medicines, among others.

“In Africa, where we have

about 11 species of vultures, they have also suffered the same fate of decline. It has been shown that the 6 out of the 11 species of vulture in Africa are at the brink of extinction (BirdLife 2015).

According to BirdLife, this decline has tremendous impact on human health and the economy.”

The Foundation said, “In Nigeria, the vulture populations have witnessed marked declines both in protected and unprotected areas. Protected areas that are supposed to be haven for these species have also witnessed this disturbing trend. A 2008 study by Tende and Uttosson shows that most of the vultures in Yankari Game Reserve have all declined. Of the five vulture species recorded in the Reserve in the early 80s only 2 species existed with very few individuals. In 2013, a follow up study by Onoja and others was conducted in and around Yankari Game “Reserve with similar result of the rate of decline. The marked decline of the Hooded Vulture population was

thought to be imperceptible because of its cosmopolitan nature; however, it took just 5 years for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to raise the conservation status of this species from Least Concern to Critically Endangered.

“This is because the Hooded Vulture declined more than 95% of its population. The major cause of decline in Nigeria was thought to be for traditional medicine, as recorded by Ogada and Buij in their 2011 study and by Saidu and Buij in thiers of 2013.

This led to some preliminary market surveys. Other causes of decline are: poisoning in abattoirs for onward sale in the wildlife market; extraction of eggs from nests; Habitat degradation from indiscriminate logging thereby reducing nest sites for vultures; and poor perception of vultures as harbinger of ill-will leading to direct persecution by locals “Worried about this deleterious trend on the population of these Vultures, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) took deliberate steps

to reverse the trend in Nigeria while joining the BirdLife Partnership across the globe to curb the global decline.”

The Advocacy Plan In 2015, NCF developed the Vulture Advocacy

Plan as tool to implement deliberate activities toward vulture conservation. This plan was shared with the BirdLife African Secretariat and with funding from the Leventis Foundation was used to implement ‘Vulture Decline

in West Africa: Breaking the trend through Stakeholders’ engagement in Nigeria’ between 2017 and 2018 to carry out activities that will serve as a solid foundation towards the conservation of vultures in Nigeria.

L-R: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mohammed Abba Tor; when members of the National Executive Council of NIQS paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff, at Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja… recently

FG Assures of Uninterrupted Funding of Itu-Odukpani Road The federal government has assured the contractor handling the Itu-Odukpani road construction and rehabilitation project, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, of a new funding arrangement for the contract to ensure it is no longer interrupted due to financing constraints.

The assurance was given by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, during his inspection of the ongoing works on the project recently.

The Minister said an application has been made for the Itu-Odukpani road works to henceforth be funded from the Sukuk funds.

Fashola commended the good commitment of the contractor, Julius Berger, to deliver on the Itu-Odukpani road construction and rehabilitation contract irrespective of challenges. The Minister pointed out to stakeholders present the real, visible and serious engineering works already done by the contractor on the road prior to unavoidable stoppage of work.

The minister, to the delight of stakeholders present at the event, maintained that there was no going back on the new funding strategy and successful completion of the Itu-Odukpani road, which he described as “a

strategically important road” in the country. Fashola then urged the contractor to, in the interim, work and remedy the very bad portions of the road to make it motorable during the rainy season. “The Buhari administration will deliver the high priority Itu-OdukpaniCalabar road,” Fashola said.

This piece of information excited the community people and the Permanent Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Works, Engr. John Itiat who was also on hand to receive the Minister at the project site. Itiat, who also spoke at the event, thanked the Mr. Fashola for the good news that the project

Lagos Advocates Continuous Retraining of Artisans for Improved Housing Fadekemi Ajakaiye The continuous upgrading of the skills and competencies of artisans is a crucial prerequisite for delivering high quality buildings. This was the assertion of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing Mr Wasiu Akewusola during a corporate visit of the Nigerian Institution of Building to the Ministry of Housing at Ikeja today.

The significant role played by artisans can not be underestimated as they determine the exactness of the specifications of most building projects, Akewusola said.

It is therefore in the best interest of all stakeholders along the building value chain to spare a thought for the continuous improvement of the skills of these artisans so that their output can justify the time and financial investment of all concerned, Akewusola added.

He also noted that the failure of most building designs lies in the inability of artisans to correctly translate building

plans or designs into reality.

“Artisans are very important in achieving the goals of building safe and sustainable homes hence Lagos government is set for an active involvement in capacity building for this category of workers, he disclosed.

He further pointed that the GDP of the nation will improve with the enhanced capacity of the artisans. According to him, upgrading and retooling of artisans would make them to be more marketable in the global labor market.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Mr. Sunday Wusu had pointed out that the association is interested in supporting the State government in developing contents and modules that would result in enhancing the capabilities of masons, tillers, painters and aluminum fabricators who will on the long run add value to the deliverables of the State government in the housing sector.

Wusu further added that safety and quality of homes

can only be assured when the artisans are well grounded in their various areas of specialisation. A former Chairperson of the chapter, Builder Mrs. Said Adenike also appealed for the placement of some of the association’s trainees on the ongoing projects of the State so that they can acquire appropriate site experience to boost their understanding of the practice.

In his own response, Mr. Akewusola called for improved collaboration with all the professional associations in the Built sector for a speedy actualisation of the transformation agenda of the State government in the housing sector.

The building of a greater Lagos of our dreams is a joint responsibility of all, he said.

The Chairman of NIOB, Mr Sunday Wusu was accompanied on this visit by other members of the professional association including Professor Martins Dada and Builder (Mrs) Adenike Said, a past Chairperson of the Lagos State Chapter of the association.

would henceforth be funded by the Sukuk funds without any further financing hitches occasioning operational delays.

The Julius Berger Regional Manager South-east and Southsouth operations, Engr.

Jurgen Fischer, expressed the company’s appreciation to the government on the Minister’s heart-warming information that the project will now be funded to completion from the Sukuk funds. Fischer assured the Honourable Minister of Julius Berger’s ready and unflinching commitment to, as always, deliver on its contractual obligations, even on the Itu-Odukpani Road project also.

It would be recalled that during an inspection visit to the project last year, the Director, Federal Highways,

Engr. Godwin Eke had said that the Itu-Odukpani-Calabar road was intended by the Federal government to give its adjoining communities and the country at large better access to greater participation in economic activities. Engr. Eke had during that visit decribed the road as a major Federal road that links towns out of Calabar through Ugep and Ogoja in Cross River State to Katsina Ala in Benue State in the North central zone as well as to the North eastern geo-political zone. The road, Engr. Eke said, also connects towns in Akwa Ibom State to the South-east and other South-south cities. The Director had said then that “the dualisation and successful completion of the Itu-Odukpani-Calabar road is strategically planned

by government to resolve traffic issues of the important road corridor.”

Among other senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing who were on the Minister’s entourage were the Federal Controller of Works in Akwa-Ibom State Engr. Nkereuwen Ukpong and the Director, Federal Highways, Engr. Godwin Eke. Engr. Jurgen Fischer led the Julius Berger delegation to receive the minister. He was suppported by the Julius Berger’s Project Coordinator in Uyo, Mrs Ndifreke Ukochio, the site Manager Engr. Christian Kloepfel and Engr. Kehinde Bakare. The head of the company’s Media Relations Department, Prince Moses Duku, was also in attendance at the event in Uyo.

Belgium: World Water Council Engages with Politicians, Water Technicians “Everyone is entitled to have access to quality drinking water in sufficient quantity to meet its requirements for food, domestic needs and healthcare,” were the words of Walloon Minister for the Environment, Nature, of Forest, Rurality and Animal Welfare, Céline Tellier, as she opened the 71st meeting of the Board of Governors of the World Water Council, in Liège, on 5 February 2020.

Speaking with one voice with the World Water Council, the Minister stressed the “need for commitment of political actors and local authorities” to promote the development and management of water resources in order to guarantee their effective use for all.

Echoing the Walloon government’s policy on the African continent, the minister also expressed her international commitment by officially announcing Wallonia’s participation in the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar in 2021.

The Compagnie Intercommunale Liégeoise des Eaux

(CILE), through the voice of its Managing Director, Alain Palmans, reiterated its commitment to the Board as a technical player invested in the subject of water security and the implementation of effective responses for all its inhabitants.

During the welcome ceremony for the Governors, on 4 February 2020, the Mayor of Liège, Willy Demeyer announced the entry of his city into the World Water Council’s members network.

The decision was welcomed

by Loïc Fauchon who greeted the arrival of a major local authority guaranteeing “safe and healthy management of water resources.”

On 6 February 2020, the Council broadened its political scope to the European level.

Building on the legislative work of MEP Soraya Rodriguez within the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, the Council presented its approach on the theme of water security.

The measures for better

management of water resources developed by Tomas Michel, President of Water Europe, were also at the heart of the discussions, in order to offer technological responses against pollution and water scarcity.

To support the presentations, Veronica Manfredi, Director for Quality of Life in DG Environment at the European Commission, explained the priorities of the European Green Deal. Through its objective of sustainable ecological transition, she presented the efforts made by the European Commission to transform the European institutional and financial landscape to favour better management of water resources.

The World Water Council and its members guide their actions through the involvement of political and technical players at all levels: local for practical responses, regional for better articulation of political priorities, and continental for implementing ambitious legislative and financial frameworks to serve water.

32

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍąËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

PMI Records Slow Growth in February The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) stood at 58.3 index points in February, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 35th consecutive month.

However, the index grew at a slower rate when compared to the index in January.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed this in its PMI report for February, 2020, posted on its website.

According to the report, of the 14 surveyed sub-sectors, 12 reported growth (above 50% threshold) in the review month in the following order: transportation equipment; petroleum and coal products; non-metallic mineral products and paper products.

Others include cement; textile, apparel, leather and footwear; furniture and related products; food, beverage and tobacco products; plastics and rubber products; fabricated metal products; chemical and pharmaceutical products; plastic and rubber products and Electrical equipment.

But, the primary metal, printing and related support

activities sub-sectors recorded declines.

Also, the report showed that at 58.9 points, the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the 36th consecutive month in February 2020. The index however indicated slower growth in the current month, when compared to its level in January 2020.

In all, 10 of the 14 manufacturing sub-sectors recorded increased production level, remained unchanged while one recorded a decline. “At 59.1 points, the new orders index grew for the thirty-fifth consecutive month, indicating increases in new orders in February 2020. “The index grew at a slower rate, when compared to its level in January 2020.

Eleven subsectors reported growth, while the remaining three recorded declines in the review month,� it added.

According to the report, the manufacturing supplier delivery time index stood at

58.4 points in February 2020, indicating faster supplier delivery time.

The index has recorded growth for 33 consecutive months. “Ten of the 14 sub-sectors recorded improved suppliers’ delivery time, while four sub-sectors reported no change in delivery time in February 2020. “The employment level index for February 2020 stood at 56.4 points, indicating growth in employment level for the 34 consecutive month. “Of the 14 sub-sectors, nine reported increased employment level, three sub-sectors remain unchanged, while the electrical equipment and printing and related support services sub-sector recorded lower employment level in the review month. “The manufacturing sector inventories index grew for the thirty-fifth consecutive month in February 2020. “At 58.5 points, the index grew at a slower rate when compared to its level in January 2020,� the report stated.

DMO Opens March Savings Bond Offer Nume Ekeghe The Debt Management Office (DMO) yesterday opened offer for the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Savings Bond for March 2020 with yields lower than what it offered in February.

The offer circular showed that it is offering the 2-year FGN Savings Bond due March11, 2022, at

4.131 per cent, while the 3-year FGN Savings Bond due March 11, 2023, was offered at 5.131 per cent per annum.

Last month, the DMO raised N656.577 million through two bond offerings.

Coupon on the 2-year Savings Bond for February was 5.910 per cent, while the 3-year bond was raised at 6.910 per cent, higher than 4.131 and 5.131 per cents

which it is offering for the 2- and 3- year papers in March.

Last month, it had raised N295.02 million in the two-year paper, while it raised N361.557 million on the three-year paper.

This was lower than what it raised from the two papers in January this year. It had raised N454.352 million from the 2-year bond which was offered at 7.144 per cent.

Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates UBA Business Office The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has officially added a new touch point to its network.

The new branch in Afriland towers on Lagos Island, was inaugurated by Governor of Lagos state, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu and the Chairman of UBA, Mr. Tony Elumelu. According to a statement, the Governor who congratulated the UBA management and Afriland for the beautiful edifice said the bank has remained a principal stakeholder in the development of Lagos, constantly creating jobs and opportunities for Nigerians.

The Chairman, UBA Group, Mr. Tony Elumelu, who received the Governor as well as the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, expressed gratitude to every other guest who took time off their busy

schedules to grace the event.

He explained that the project to build the new business office in Afriland towers was borne out of the need to solidify past successes recorded by the bank, as well as create new vistas for the growth of businesses. He explained that Afriland properties, developers of Afriland Towers is set to develop new projects aimed at catapulting Lagos into the state of excellence.

He said, “It is interesting to note that Afriland has been developing some iconic properties, and today is a wonderful and joyous moment to see that this building which has a lot of rich history, is back to life.

We call it the rebirth, and we appreciate all the planning that has gone into the creation of this beautiful and clean world-class

masterpiece.�

Elumelu disclosed plan by Afriland to develop more iconic properties in the near future, adding that given its expertise and its pedigree, the people of Lagos were in for a huge surprise. Elumelu said, “Indeed, this is just a tip of what we want to do at Falamo in Ikoyi. We are going to develop a worldclass integrated complex at Falomo, and everyone will be pleased at the outcome.

On his part, the Lagos State Governor, congratulated UBA and Afriland on the major feat of developing a beautiful edifice such as Afriland, adding that Elumelu was known for coming up with great ideas that boost employment opportunities for Nigerians.

CRC Introduces Credit Score Tracking App Bennett Oghifo CRC Credit Bureau Limited, a credit reporting firm, has launched a mobile app to help individuals quickly and easily know what their credit score is.

Financial institutions make use of credit scores to determine who qualifies for a loan.

The company stated that with the new mobile app, CRC Mobile, individuals now have access to their credit information and credit scores through their mobile phones.

The CRC Mobile App is avail-

able for immediate download on the Google and Apple Play stores.

The CRC Mobile Application was formally launched at CRC Credit Bureau’s Tenth Anniversary celebrations last December, with an introductory video that showcased its different features and how it can be used to subscribe to the various credit monitoring products /services that CRC has to offer including its CRC Score and CRC Self Enquiry Credit reports. The Managing Director/CEO of CRC Credit

Bureau Limited, Tunde Popoola, said the launch of the mobile application was one of the innovations that the company has created to enable consumers in Nigeria and diaspora access information that empowers them to take control of their financial reputation and be better informed.

Prior to taking a loan, they can also monitor their exposures for accurate reporting and the reduction of identity fraud.

CRC Credit Bureau has 13 products and services that are all available on the mobile application CRC Mobile.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

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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

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ Í°Íś Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

he price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $50.16 a barrel on Friday, compared with $51.89 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

33

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍąËœ 2020

MARKET NEWS

GTBank Records N196bn Profit After Tax, Recommends N2.50 Final Goddy Egene Guaranty Trust Bank Plc yesterday reported its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2019, showing improved performance despite the challenging operating environment. Net interest income improved from N222.433 billion to N231.

Impairment charges stood at N4.911 billion in 2019, as against N4.906 billion in 2018.

Profit before tax (PBT) rose

by 7.5 per cent from N215.586 billion to N231.707 billion in 2019, while profit after tax (PAT) increased by 6.6 per cent to N196.849 billion from N184.711 billion.

The bank’s loan book grew by 19 per cent from N1.262 trillion in December 2018 to N1.502trillion in December 2019, while customers’ deposits increased by 11.4 per cent to N2.533trillion from N2.274trillion in December 2018.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

The bank maintained a well-structured and diversified balance sheet with total assets and shareholders’ funds closing at N3.759 trillion and N687.3 billion respectively.

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) remained very strong, closing at 22.5 per cent, while nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio improved to 6.5 per cent in December 2019 from 7.3 per cent in December 2018 while Cost of Risk (COR)remained flat at 0.3 per cent.

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

The bank has recommended a final dividend of 250 kobo per share, bringing the total dividend to 280 kobo per share, having earlier paid an interim dividend of 30 kobo per share.

Commenting on the financial results, the Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said; “At GTBank, we exist to provide excellent service to our customers and generate the returns that our shareholders

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

expect.

Our strong financial performance in 2019 demonstrates that we are delivering on both fronts. We achieved healthy growth across all our major businesses despite varying degrees of uncertainty and volatility, and we are making progress in positioning our business for long-term growth in the face of a rapidly changing competitive landscape.�

He further stated that:

O F

“Underpinning our strong financial performance is our commitment to being there for our customers when it matters most. That is why, powered by the fundamental strength of our brand, and guided by our strategy of putting our customers at the centre of everything we do, we will continue to design and deliver financial services that not only solves our customers’ real pain points but also leaves them better after every interaction.�

2 8 / 0 2 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Bullish on N1.1bn Rights Issue Goddy Egene The Managing Director/CEO of Consolidated Hallmark (CHI) Plc, Mr. Eddie Efekoha, is optimistic of a very successful outing of the ongoing rights issue of the company. The Securities and

Exchange Commission (SEC) gave the approval to the general insurance and special risks underwriter to offer a total of 2,032,500,900 units of 50 kobo each at 52 kobo per share through a Rights Issue to existing shareholders. The offer opened on Monday, 24th February,

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

2020 and is expecte d to close on April 1, 2020.

Speaking on the rights issue, Efekoha, who is also President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), said they were very confident of having a successful outing because their shareholders

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 28Feb-2020, unless otherwise stated.

believe in the company.

“We have shown commitment to shareholder value creation and paid dividend time and again. The company is one of the most consistent dividend-paying publicly quoted firms amongst listed companies generally, and particularly

in the insurance sector. We enjoin the shareholders to exercise their rights in full,” he said.

According to him, the company is rapidly expanding its operations into other financial services business with various subsidiaries that are contributing to revenue.

“The latest subsidiary that has been added to the stable is the CHI Microinsurance Limited, a micro life assurance company recently granted approval in principle by NAICOM and set to commence operations by the second quarter of this year,” he said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.88 0.89 5.02% ACAP Income Funds 0.76 0.76 34.19% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.22% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.45 2.50 -0.66% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 5.67% Anchoria Equity Fund 97.55 97.88 -4.49% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.22 1.22 6.56% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 14.71 15.15 -3.96% ARM Discovery Fund 338.89 349.10 -1.90% ARM Ethical Fund 29.89 30.80 2.78% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.54% 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 96.14 96.82 0.07% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.93% 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 2.03 2.03 31.56% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.07 0.06 7.33% Paramount Equity Fund 11.68 11.90 -6.65% Women's Investment Fund 108.58 109.40 -1.72% 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 6.40% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 101.72 102.27 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 110.65 111.31 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.53% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.92 0.92 -1.25% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.41 1.41 6.40% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 5.93% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 5.18% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,213.47 1,215.17 4.41% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,352.34 1,353.52 4.75% FBN Balanced Fund 145.25 146.32 -1.07% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.48% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 119.50 119.77 0.22% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 120.25 120.52 0.35% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 120.46 121.97 -7.43% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,026.75 3,059.26 1.45% Coral Income Fund 3,129.87 3,129.87 14.18% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 6.84% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.72% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 116.71 117.31 8.88%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.81% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.21 2.24 2.56% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.36% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 140.49 140.99 12.57% 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 1.19 1.21 1.98% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,118.89 1,118.89 1.87% 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 9.06 9.15 -7.59% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.26% 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 1.40 1.43 14.89% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.42 12.53 10.07% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.44% PACAM Equity Fund 1.11 1.13 PACAM EuroBond Fund 101.48 103.38 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 123.26 125.82 4.66% 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 1.75% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 3.76% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 1.08% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 0.56% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 1.51% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 1.58% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.65% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -0.12% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 0.97% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.16 1.18 -3.70% United Capital Bond Fund 1.76 1.76 1.77% United Capital Equity Fund 0.66 0.68 -6.19% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.09% United Capital Eurobond Fund 113.23 113.23 1.20% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.08 -1.15% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.09 10.24 -1.71% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.56 11.70 -0.37% Zenith Income Fund 23.15 23.15 4.13% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.23%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.15 120.17 52.41

-67.35% 0.90% 0.69%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.94 89.73 69.54

9.04 91.66 70.85

2.68% -2.96% -5.66%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.69

17.60%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

35

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Coronavirus Death Toll Jumps to 52 in Italy Economy faces recession Minister tests positive for virus Italy reported Monday a jump in the death toll from the coronavirus to 52, with more than 2,000 people infected, most in the country’s northern Lombardy region.

The civil protection agency said 18 people had died since Sunday, including three in Emilia Romagna, all of whom were either elderly or had serious pre-existing medical conditions.

Some 166 people remained were in intensive care, while 149 patients had recovered since the epidemic hit Italy, it said.

The World Health Organisation said Monday that the number of new coronavirus cases registered in the past day in China was far lower than in the rest of the world — but the situations in

Italy, South Korea, Iran and Japan were concerning.

To date, more than 3,000 people have died globally from the new virus, while nearly 90,000 have been infected around the world, according to AFP’s latest toll based on official sources.

Italy is Europe’s worst-affected country. It has carried out over 23,300 tests so far, largely in the wealth north, where 11 towns have been placed under quarantine.

Tourist hotpots including the Duomo in Milan reopened their doors to visitors Monday, but access was limited to avoid overcrowding in a bid to stop the disease spreading.

Meanwhile, a regional minister in Lombardy, the Italian region

Drama as Minister Refuses to Shake Hands with Merkel Germany’s interior minister rebuffed Chancellor Angela Merkel’s attempt to shake hands with him on Monday as the number of novel coronavirus cases in the country rose to 150 with Berlin reporting its first infection.

When Merkel reached out to greet Horst Seehofer at a meeting on migration in Berlin, he smiled and kept both his hands to himself.

They both laughed and Merkel

then threw her hand up in the air before taking a seat.

Health experts have recommended avoiding handshakes as a way of preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

There are now 150 confirmed cases in Germany, Lothar Weiler of the Robert Koch Institute disease control agency said on Monday morning — up from 129 the previous day.

most affected by the novel coronavirus outbreak, has tested positive for the virus.

The Lombardy region said in a statement on Monday that the contagion concerns Alessandro Mattinzoli, 60, who serves as Commissioner for Economic Development.

The region said the entire 17-member Lombardy regional government would undergo testing for the novel coronavirus.

Earlier, Lombardy President, Attilio Fontana, said he would self-quarantine after a member of his staff tested positive for the virus.

However, Italy’s economy which performed woefully in 2019, is set to do worse this year due to the coronavirus, with the threat of recession looming large, experts

said Monday.

“In the best scenario for Italy, we expect zero growth (in 2020) with a negative first quarter followed by a slow recovery,” OECD chief economist Laurence Boone said.

The economy expanded last year by just 0.3 per cent — its worst figure since 2014, when gross domestic product (GDP) growth was zero.

Europe had fared badly across the board recently, weighed down

by Brexit and US President Donald Trump’s protectionist threats.

But Italy, the third largest economy in the eurozone, has lagged well behind the bloc’s 1.2 per cent growth.

The economy is traditionally export-driven and has been hit hard by global trade tensions, political uncertainty at home

— two general elections in two years — and a slowdown in Europe, particularly in Germany.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s government has had some good news — the public deficit fell to 1.6 per cent of GDP last year from 2.2 per cent in 2018, while the debt ratio at least remained stable at 134.8 per cent, well above the EU limit of 60 per cent.

But just as Italy was expecting a gradual improvement in both growth and debt, the coronavirus epidemic struck.

The country is the worst-hit in Europe, with 1,694 positive cases and 52 deaths, one of the largest outbreaks outside Asia.

Wealthy Lombardy and Veneto, regions that alone account for some 30 percent of Italy’s GDP, have been hit hardest — with

11 towns between them forced into lockdown in a bid to contain the virus.

The government initially expected 0.6 percent growth in 2020, while the European Commission had forecast 0.5 percent.

But that was before the virus disrupted manufacturing supply chains, travel and tourism, with airlines cutting flights to northern Italy, trade fairs postponed, sports events cancelled and employees forced to work from home.

“After Italian GDP contracted sharply in fourth quarter of last year, the coronavirus outbreak spells the near-certainty of a renewed contraction in the first quarter that would leave Italy in a new recession,” says Oxford Economics expert Nicola Nobile.

Senegal Gets First Case of Coronavirus Senegal has become the fourth African country to be affected by Coronavirus after a French national tested positive to the virus Monday.

Confirming this, Senegal’s Health Minister, Diouf Sarr said the French man who lives in Senegal visited France in mid-February where he contracted the virus before

returning to Senegal, adding that he has been quarantined in the capital Dakar, Senegal’s Health Minister Diouf Sarr said.

“The results of the tests carried out by the Pasteur Institute in Dakar came back positive.

“So far the patient’s condition has not raised any major concerns.

“The patient, a father of two who has been in Senegal for two

years, stayed in the Southern French city of Nimes as well as an unspecified ski resort last month,” Sarr said.

He said the man then returned to Senegal on February 26 where he went to a medical centre and registered a fever of 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) as well as a sore throat and headache.

Sarr said the centre contacted the country’s coronavirus

alert unit and the patient was quarantined, the minister said.

“The surveillance and response system for COVID-19 has been bolstered and all measures are being taken to contain the disease,” Sarr said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned Sunday that the outbreak could reach all countries. So far, it has affected 72 countries

36

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

UCH Trains 200 Staff to Tackle Coronavirus Records suspected case of epidemic

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Chief Medical Director ( CMD) of the University College Hospital ( UCH), Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, yesterday said the hospital has begun the training of no fewer than 200 personnel of the hospital on best methods to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

He also said presently there was a suspected case of Coronavirus on admission in the hospital, though not yet confirmed.

The CMD while speaking with journalists as part of the activities marking his one year in office, said the teaching hospital has been on the red alert since the outbreak of Coronavirus was reported.

According to him, “On Friday, I signed about 200 certificates of training. We are training our staff in batches on how to curtail the infection and on what Coronavirus is about. If you go to any of our clinics, you will see one of our personnel using infra-red thermometer to scan people’s heads to take their

temperature.

“We have two standing committees on the virus - we have the UCH Emergency Response Committee and an Infection Control Committee. These committees have been on beat since we heard about this outbreak. In fact, they have been very busy because we had a suspected case (of Coronavirus) on admission. We have an isolation ward as you enter through the main gate of UCH to the right.

“Also, we have generated so much awareness. As you enter the hospital, you will see some posters as well as within the hospital. The committees have been going round to enlighten people.

“If your temperature is found to be higher than normal, without any explanation - because it is not only Coronavirus that causes fever - you will be separated and tested for the virus if you cannot find any other explanation. If we are to be testing everybody with fever in the hospital, we would probably be testing all our incoming patients.”

Tinubu Felicitates with Pastor Adeboye on 78th Birthday IdowuSowunmi National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has felicitated with the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, on his 78th birthday.

Tinubu, a former Lagos governor, described Adeboye as a strong and committed leader of nations who has built a flock that now numbers many millions through his formidable and devoted ministry.

In a congratulatory letter to Adeboye personally signed by him and released by his Media Office on Monday, Tinubu said: “I sincerely extend my best wishes and congratulations to Pastor E. A. Adeboye on the occasion of his 78th birthday celebrations.

“Truly, Pastor Adeboye is a strong and committed leader of nations.

Through his formidable and devoted

ministry, he has built a flock that now numbers many millions.

“With the support of his loyal and dedicated wife, Pastor Adeboye has built a church that is renowned across the world. He has led a life of grace and service. He is a beacon of hope for those in search of salvation and a guiding light for those who, like him, are called to serve.

“His dedication to his faith and the salvation of his followers deserves recognition and commendation, even from among those who do not profess identical beliefs.

“My thoughts are with Pastor Adeboye, his family and all people of faith across our great nation, Nigeria at this important moment. May God continue to show Pastor Adeboye His divine mercy. May He bless him and give him many more years in good health and high spirits that he may continue to touch the lives of those who would follow.”

Almajiri: Sokoto Mulls Adoption of Indonesian Pondok Model Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto Sokoto State Government yesterday said it may adopt the Indonesian Pondok Pesantren Madrasah model system of education as an alternative to the existing Almajiri system in the state.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal stated this when he received the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, AVM Usra Hendra Harahap, during the latter’s courtesy visit to the Government House in Sokoto.

The Pondok model system employs mosques and langgar (a blend of Islamic and Western education) as well as adopt existing local institutions such as surau (Islamic assembly buildings) and pesantren (a Muslim school in Indonesia operated by religious leaders) as the places for Muslims to study Islam.

Tambuwal explained that for the state government to have a home grown system similar to the Pondok model, it would consult Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, and other

stakeholders in order for them to have a buy-in.

Tambuwal, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, said his administration was not in a hurry to ban the Almajiri system as some states had done without providing an alternative.

He expressed confidence that the Pondok model system once adopted “can serve as an alternative to the Almajiri system.”

“We are intensifying efforts to ensure that the Pondok model system is adopted before banning the Almajiri system. This is because we are desirous of ensuring that Sokoto children are exposed to both Western and Islamic education,” Tambuwal explained.

While expressing gratitude to the Indonesian government for taking interest in Sokoto, he assured the Ambassador that his visit would deepen Indonesia’s relationship not only with the state but also the country, with which she shares religious, cultural and climatic similarities.

On the preparedness of the hospital, the CMD said, “ at the entrances of the wards at UCH, buckets of water, soaps and alcohol based hand sanitizers are available for washing. About a week ago, the head of pharmacy was directed to ensure that all the cans for the hand sanitizers in the hospital were filled.

Today, as part of the programme, we have a hospital-wide round”.

Otegbayo, who disclosed that power and water supplies were the main challenges confronting the hospital, said UCH had done so much in terms of awareness and training against the outbreak of the virus.

The hospital also indicated that it currently runs no fewer than 75 power generating sets in order to maintain seamless services across different range of services.

On IGR, the CMD said, “On the average, we generate N200millon monthly. That should not be looked at in isolation.

You will ask how much we spend also on diesel, buying and repairing generators and meeting other needs. I want to say this amount is still not enough. Fortunately, we have people of goodwill who make donations to supplement what we are generating.

GIVING BACK TO THE SOCIETY…

L-R: Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Onyebuchi China; Vice Chancellor, Ebonyi State University, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu; Zonal Head, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Chike Okeke; Regional Head, Public Sector, Mr. Chijioke Mbagwu; and Manager, Abakaliki Branch, Mrs. Ijeoma Odimgbe, during the presentation of the key and documents of a bus donated to the university by the bank, at the school premises in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State...yesterday

South-west PDP Affirms Suspension of Party Chieftain Idowu Sowunmi The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in South-west has affirmed the suspension of Mr. Adebayo Dayo as Chairman of the party in Ogun State.

The decision affirming Dayo’s suspension was taken at the party’s 18th meeting in Akure on March 1, 2020.

The party, in a statement by PDP National Vice Chairman, South-west, Dr. Eddie Olafeso, and the South-west Secretary,

Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, disclosed the outcome of the meeting, saying the suspension was in accordance with the provisions of PDP constitution as amended in 2017.

“We acted on the recommendation letter duly signed by the state Secretary of the party, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo and other nine members of the State Working Committee, which was in accordance with the provisions of our party’s constitution as amended in 2017.

“The State Working Committee

accused Dayo of breaching the provisions of the party constitution.

“Bayo Dayo’s conducts as regards the forthcoming Party congresses were found contrary to the provisions of the party constitution in Sections 31 (2) (3) and 49 (3) and the guidelines for the conduct of ward, Local Government, State, Zonal congresses and National Convention which is a punishable offence,” the statement said.

PDP accused Dayo of engaging in anti-party activities,

explaining that the decision of suspension would be forwarded to the party’s National Working Committee for final approval and implementation.

“The recommendation was also as a result of other several conducts of Bayo Dayo, including anti-party activities, engaging in conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of our party in Ogun State and likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the businesses of the party, among others.

Ondo 2020: I’ll Accept Result of Free, Fair Primary, Says Akeredolu James Sowole in Akure Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said he would accept the result of a free, fair and credible primary to elect the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the October 2020 gubernatorial election in the state even if it does not favour him.

Akeredolu stated this while featuring during a programme on Ondo Radio and Television Corporation (OSRC) tagged “An Evening with the Governor” organised as part of activities to commemorate third anniversary of his administration.

The governor’s remarks were coming amidst leadership crisis rocking APC, which made people speculated that he may not win the party’s primary election.

But, Akeredolu, who declared that he would run for second term, said there was no crisis in the party contrary to the noise being made by some people. He added that very few members of APC are complaining.

He said: “I have accepted the call by various stakeholders to run for second term. I am ready to abide by the outcome of a free and primary process even if it does not favour me.

“The process must be free and fair. If the process is not free, I believe we have learnt our lessons with the experiences in Zamfara State and elsewhere.

“I am not a desperate politician. I am in politics to serve the people of the state and I have the confidence that our work will work for us during primary and the real election.”

The governor said he had no enemy within the party, adding that he does not know how to hide his feelings on issues.

He noted that he was ready to dialogue with any person or group of persons that have

issues with him.

While promising to work more for the people of the state when elected for the second term, Akeredolu promised that preparation for election would not affect the pace of ongoing developmental projects in the state.

He said it was a fact that some of the projects could not be completed within the first year, assuring that continuity would even make the work faster.

He, therefore, called on the people of the state to remain steadfast so that the good works could continue.

Army Reiterates Commitment to Nigeria’s Security Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Major General James O. Akomolafe, has reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army to attaining greater heights in maintaining the security in the nation as well as evolving a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

Akomolafe gave the assurance at the 2019 Combined West Africa Social Activities (WASA) of Headquarters Nigerian Army Armoured Corps (NAAC),

Nigerian Army Armour School (NAAS) and 211 Battalion celebration, held at Obienu Barracks in Bauchi over the weekend.

The commander commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai, for his immense support to the corps, and the dynamic leadership and guidance he had provided.

Akomolafe, who particularly expressed his appreciation to the COAS “for the construction of the TY Buratai Village, the remodeling of the young officers’ quarters, the furnishing of the Armour

Battalion Commanders Course, Company Commanders Course Hostels, and the COAS support for all the Corps activities in the year under review.” ”I wish to assure the Chief of Army Staff of our commitment to work harder to attain greater heights in our primary responsibility as well as demonstrate our unalloyed loyalty to the nation in order to justify the commitment of the federal government towards bettering our lot,” he assured.

He said WASA was first celebrated around 1918 in Lokoja, when soldiers of the Royal West

African Frontier Forces returned from the Cameroon Campaign.

The commander added that ”WASA provides a forum for officers, soldiers and their families to interact and socialise with friends and acquaintances outside official duties. ”It is also an avenue for the barrack community to showcase the rich and diverse cultures of the country,” Akomolafe said.

In his keynote address, Major General Martins K. Yake (rtd) commended the Army for the good job it’s doing across the state and the nation at large.

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 • T H I S D AY

37

38

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

UCH Trains 200 Staff to Tackle Coronavirus Records suspected case of epidemic

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Chief Medical Director ( CMD) of the University College Hospital ( UCH), Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, yesterday said the hospital has begun the training of no fewer than 200 personnel of the hospital on best methods to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

He also said presently there was a suspected case of Coronavirus on admission in the hospital, though not yet confirmed.

The CMD while speaking with journalists as part of the activities marking his one year in office, said the teaching hospital has been on the red alert since the outbreak of Coronavirus was reported.

According to him, “On Friday, I signed about 200 certificates of training. We are training our staff in batches on how to curtail the infection and on what Coronavirus is about. If you go to any of our clinics, you will see one of our personnel using infra-red thermometer to scan people’s heads to take their

temperature.

“We have two standing committees on the virus - we have the UCH Emergency Response Committee and an Infection Control Committee. These committees have been on beat since we heard about this outbreak. In fact, they have been very busy because we had a suspected case (of Coronavirus) on admission. We have an isolation ward as you enter through the main gate of UCH to the right.

“Also, we have generated so much awareness. As you enter the hospital, you will see some posters as well as within the hospital. The committees have been going round to enlighten people.

“If your temperature is found to be higher than normal, without any explanation - because it is not only Coronavirus that causes fever - you will be separated and tested for the virus if you cannot find any other explanation. If we are to be testing everybody with fever in the hospital, we would probably be testing all our incoming patients.”

Tinubu Felicitates with Pastor Adeboye on 78th Birthday IdowuSowunmi National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has felicitated with the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, on his 78th birthday.

Tinubu, a former Lagos governor, described Adeboye as a strong and committed leader of nations who has built a flock that now numbers many millions through his formidable and devoted ministry.

In a congratulatory letter to Adeboye personally signed by him and released by his Media Office on Monday, Tinubu said: “I sincerely extend my best wishes and congratulations to Pastor E. A. Adeboye on the occasion of his 78th birthday celebrations.

“Truly, Pastor Adeboye is a strong and committed leader of nations.

Through his formidable and devoted

ministry, he has built a flock that now numbers many millions.

“With the support of his loyal and dedicated wife, Pastor Adeboye has built a church that is renowned across the world. He has led a life of grace and service. He is a beacon of hope for those in search of salvation and a guiding light for those who, like him, are called to serve.

“His dedication to his faith and the salvation of his followers deserves recognition and commendation, even from among those who do not profess identical beliefs.

“My thoughts are with Pastor Adeboye, his family and all people of faith across our great nation, Nigeria at this important moment. May God continue to show Pastor Adeboye His divine mercy. May He bless him and give him many more years in good health and high spirits that he may continue to touch the lives of those who would follow.”

Almajiri: Sokoto Mulls Adoption of Indonesian Pondok Model Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto Sokoto State Government yesterday said it may adopt the Indonesian Pondok Pesantren Madrasah model system of education as an alternative to the existing Almajiri system in the state.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal stated this when he received the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, AVM Usra Hendra Harahap, during the latter’s courtesy visit to the Government House in Sokoto.

The Pondok model system employs mosques and langgar (a blend of Islamic and Western education) as well as adopt existing local institutions such as surau (Islamic assembly buildings) and pesantren (a Muslim school in Indonesia operated by religious leaders) as the places for Muslims to study Islam.

Tambuwal explained that for the state government to have a home grown system similar to the Pondok model, it would consult Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, and other

stakeholders in order for them to have a buy-in.

Tambuwal, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, said his administration was not in a hurry to ban the Almajiri system as some states had done without providing an alternative.

He expressed confidence that the Pondok model system once adopted “can serve as an alternative to the Almajiri system.”

“We are intensifying efforts to ensure that the Pondok model system is adopted before banning the Almajiri system. This is because we are desirous of ensuring that Sokoto children are exposed to both Western and Islamic education,” Tambuwal explained.

While expressing gratitude to the Indonesian government for taking interest in Sokoto, he assured the Ambassador that his visit would deepen Indonesia’s relationship not only with the state but also the country, with which she shares religious, cultural and climatic similarities.

On the preparedness of the hospital, the CMD said, “ at the entrances of the wards at UCH, buckets of water, soaps and alcohol based hand sanitizers are available for washing. About a week ago, the head of pharmacy was directed to ensure that all the cans for the hand sanitizers in the hospital were filled.

Today, as part of the programme, we have a hospital-wide round”.

Otegbayo, who disclosed that power and water supplies were the main challenges confronting the hospital, said UCH had done so much in terms of awareness and training against the outbreak of the virus.

The hospital also indicated that it currently runs no fewer than 75 power generating sets in order to maintain seamless services across different range of services.

On IGR, the CMD said, “On the average, we generate N200millon monthly. That should not be looked at in isolation.

You will ask how much we spend also on diesel, buying and repairing generators and meeting other needs. I want to say this amount is still not enough. Fortunately, we have people of goodwill who make donations to supplement what we are generating.

GIVING BACK TO THE SOCIETY…

L-R: Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Onyebuchi China; Vice Chancellor, Ebonyi State University, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu; Zonal Head, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Chike Okeke; Regional Head, Public Sector, Mr. Chijioke Mbagwu; and Manager, Abakaliki Branch, Mrs. Ijeoma Odimgbe, during the presentation of the key and documents of a bus donated to the university by the bank, at the school premises in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State...yesterday

South-west PDP Affirms Suspension of Party Chieftain Idowu Sowunmi The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in South-west has affirmed the suspension of Mr. Adebayo Dayo as Chairman of the party in Ogun State.

The decision affirming Dayo’s suspension was taken at the party’s 18th meeting in Akure on March 1, 2020.

The party, in a statement by PDP National Vice Chairman, South-west, Dr. Eddie Olafeso, and the South-west Secretary,

Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, disclosed the outcome of the meeting, saying the suspension was in accordance with the provisions of PDP constitution as amended in 2017.

“We acted on the recommendation letter duly signed by the state Secretary of the party, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo and other nine members of the State Working Committee, which was in accordance with the provisions of our party’s constitution as amended in 2017.

“The State Working Committee

accused Dayo of breaching the provisions of the party constitution.

“Bayo Dayo’s conducts as regards the forthcoming Party congresses were found contrary to the provisions of the party constitution in Sections 31 (2) (3) and 49 (3) and the guidelines for the conduct of ward, Local Government, State, Zonal congresses and National Convention which is a punishable offence,” the statement said.

PDP accused Dayo of engaging in anti-party activities,

explaining that the decision of suspension would be forwarded to the party’s National Working Committee for final approval and implementation.

“The recommendation was also as a result of other several conducts of Bayo Dayo, including anti-party activities, engaging in conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of our party in Ogun State and likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the businesses of the party, among others.

Ondo 2020: I’ll Accept Result of Free, Fair Primary, Says Akeredolu James Sowole in Akure Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said he would accept the result of a free, fair and credible primary to elect the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the October 2020 gubernatorial election in the state even if it does not favour him.

Akeredolu stated this while featuring during a programme on Ondo Radio and Television Corporation (OSRC) tagged “An Evening with the Governor” organised as part of activities to commemorate third anniversary of his administration.

The governor’s remarks were coming amidst leadership crisis rocking APC, which made people speculated that he may not win the party’s primary election.

But, Akeredolu, who declared that he would run for second term, said there was no crisis in the party contrary to the noise being made by some people. He added that very few members of APC are complaining.

He said: “I have accepted the call by various stakeholders to run for second term. I am ready to abide by the outcome of a free and primary process even if it does not favour me.

“The process must be free and fair. If the process is not free, I believe we have learnt our lessons with the experiences in Zamfara State and elsewhere.

“I am not a desperate politician. I am in politics to serve the people of the state and I have the confidence that our work will work for us during primary and the real election.”

The governor said he had no enemy within the party, adding that he does not know how to hide his feelings on issues.

He noted that he was ready to dialogue with any person or group of persons that have

issues with him.

While promising to work more for the people of the state when elected for the second term, Akeredolu promised that preparation for election would not affect the pace of ongoing developmental projects in the state.

He said it was a fact that some of the projects could not be completed within the first year, assuring that continuity would even make the work faster.

He, therefore, called on the people of the state to remain steadfast so that the good works could continue.

Army Reiterates Commitment to Nigeria’s Security Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Major General James O. Akomolafe, has reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army to attaining greater heights in maintaining the security in the nation as well as evolving a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

Akomolafe gave the assurance at the 2019 Combined West Africa Social Activities (WASA) of Headquarters Nigerian Army Armoured Corps (NAAC),

Nigerian Army Armour School (NAAS) and 211 Battalion celebration, held at Obienu Barracks in Bauchi over the weekend.

The commander commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai, for his immense support to the corps, and the dynamic leadership and guidance he had provided.

Akomolafe, who particularly expressed his appreciation to the COAS “for the construction of the TY Buratai Village, the remodeling of the young officers’ quarters, the furnishing of the Armour

Battalion Commanders Course, Company Commanders Course Hostels, and the COAS support for all the Corps activities in the year under review.” ”I wish to assure the Chief of Army Staff of our commitment to work harder to attain greater heights in our primary responsibility as well as demonstrate our unalloyed loyalty to the nation in order to justify the commitment of the federal government towards bettering our lot,” he assured.

He said WASA was first celebrated around 1918 in Lokoja, when soldiers of the Royal West

African Frontier Forces returned from the Cameroon Campaign.

The commander added that ”WASA provides a forum for officers, soldiers and their families to interact and socialise with friends and acquaintances outside official duties. ”It is also an avenue for the barrack community to showcase the rich and diverse cultures of the country,” Akomolafe said.

In his keynote address, Major General Martins K. Yake (rtd) commended the Army for the good job it’s doing across the state and the nation at large.

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TUESDAY MARCH 3, ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Joshua to Fight Pulev at Tottenham Stadium on June 20 Nigeria born British world champion Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua

will fight Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 20 June.

Bulgarian Pulev, 38, is the mandatory IBF challenger to take on Joshua, who holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

Joshua won back the belts with a unanimous points victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in December.

“I am happy to have the opportunity to show the world

how strong I really am,” said Pulev.

It will be Joshua’s first fight in the UK since beating Alexander Povetkin at Wembley in September 2018.

He was initially due to fight Pulev at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in October 2017 but the Bulgarian withdrew after suffering a shoulder injury in sparring, with Carlos Takam

stepping in to replace him at 12 days’ notice.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said last week that talks were also under way for an all-British unification fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury.

Fury beat Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC title last month, meaning the British heavyweights now hold all of the division’s belts between

them.

However, American Wilder has triggered a rematch clause, meaning a third Fury vs Wilder contest will take place before any potential bout between Fury and Joshua.

Pulev, a former European heavyweight champion, has suffered just one defeat in 29 bouts, a fifth-round knockout

by Wladimir Klitschko in

November 2015.

He beat Britain’s Hughie Fury on points in an IBF final eliminator in Bulgaria in October 2018, his first fight since pulling out of his original meeting with Joshua.

His last bout was another unanimous points victory, against American Rydell Booker, in November.

Okala Commends Dare for Honouring Former Nigerian Stars Former Green Eagles Goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala, has commended Youth and Sports Development Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare, for his commitment to the welfare of ex players and athletes.

Speaking at the Government House Awka, Anambra State where he met Dare, Okala said: “I must commend you, the Minister of Sports for your hard work and for taking the interest of former Nigerian internationals and other athletes seriously.

“You are the first Minister that has a clear idea of what is right and has the courage to do it. This Minister is a man of great vision who decided to fish out most of us that have contributed to football development in Nigeria.

“Most of us feel abandoned and rejected. But today, I feel very important and happy that the Minister sent for me and he is planning to honour us.”

Okala lamented that many of his teammates have health challenges. “The government must come to the aid of explayers with health challenges.

Some need just little money to attend to their needs, but they cannot afford it. Thanks to my Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who has been taking care of some of us by giving us jobs and money.

“Others should emulate him by assisting players that have made so much sacrifices for our country,” concludes the gangling former goalkeeper.

Okala who made his debut for the Green Eagles in 1972 won the All Africa Games gold for Nigeria in Lagos in 1973. He also won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. He was a member of the 1977 Cup Winners Cup winning team with Rangers International of Enugu.

He also coached the team alongside Christian Chukwu.

Amuneke Explains Role Change at Egypt’s El-Makkasa Former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke has said that his job title at Egyptian side Misr El-Makkasa has changed from head coach to director of the club’s academies across Africa.

El-Makkasa only announced the appointment of Amuneke on 2 February as coach after they ended the contract of Ahmed Hossam ‘Mido’.

The club issued a statement on Sunday, naming Ehab Galal as the new man in charge, with Amuneke changing his role after less than a month as coach.

“I’m still with the team, there is no sack involved as reported because Makkasa is a massive group and the past year has seen them trying to create projects across the continent,” Amuneke told BBC Sport.

“When I was still working in Tanzania, they came to the country to discuss with the government about investing in

Emmanuel Amuneke

the east African country. They plan to invest in Tanzania, Mali and possibly in Nigeria in the future.

“We’ve been discussing about the academies, we are still looking at the contractual options because this is a longterm project and I wouldn’t want it to affect any other coaching opportunities.”

The club is currently struggling in the Egyptian league and caught up in the relegation dogfight, lying in 16th place on 14 points.

Amuneke led El-Makkasa in three games in his short tenure against Smouha and Al Entag Al Harbi which both ended in 1-1 draws and then a 0-1 defeat to Tala’ea El Gaish in the Egyptian Cup. “The decision to bring in a new coach is only logical because accepting to work on this big project means it will be difficult for me to combine both roles,” he added.

“We’ll see how things pan out but I am still here working with Makkhasa.”

Amuneke, who led Tanzania to their first Africa Cup of Nations since 1980, left the Taifa Stars by mutual consent following the team’s failure to progress to the knock-out stages of Egypt 2019.

The 1994 African Footballer of the Year previously managed his country’s youth teams and Sudanese club SC Khartoum.

A BEFITTING EDIFICE FOR NIGERIA FOOTBALL…

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) moved into its new secretariat, the Sunday Dankaro House inside Package B of the National Stadium in Abuja at the weekend. The house built from the balance of the funds raised by the Rotimi Amaechi Committee for Super Eagles participation at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, was repackaged by the Amaju Pinnick led board.

BIENNIAL POLICE GAMES

Promotion Rewards Motivating Police Athletes for Gold Rush Athletes participating in the 12th edition of the Biennial Police Games tagged Anambra 2020 have hinged the desperation to win gold medal that will earn them promotion to the next rank as their greatest motivation for the tournament.

Speaking to journalists at various venues of the ongoing tournament, some athletes also made passionate appeals to the Inspector General of Police (IGP)

Adamu Mohammed Abubakar, to increase the reward to the overall zonal winner of the event to N100m cash price and N50m worth of equipment, arguing that such gesture will make the tournament more competitive.

A kick boxer from zone 10, George Lucky, noted that he couldn’t afford to miss the chances of the 2008 edition when his bronze medal was not enough to earn him promotion

like his counterparts that won gold during the tournament.

Lucky, who brutally picked the semi-finals ticket in a bloody clash at the ongoing games, boasted that he is mentally and physically ready to pick the gold medal, announcing that he is desperate for promotion.

Meanwhile, the Games on Monday accelerated into speed gear with results of some of the events concluded.

NNPC Wins NOGIG 2020 Femi Solaja

Athletes representing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) saw off stiff competition from industry rivals to emerge champions at the 2020 edition of the Nigeria Oil and gas Industry Games (NOGIG) held Saturday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

To achieve the feat, the NNPC

amassed a total of 48 medals including 13 gold, 16 silver, and 19 bronze to narrowly beat Shell to second position with 13 gold, eight silver, and ten bronze for a total haul of 31 medals.

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) finished third with 23 medals, including six gold, seven silver and 10 bronze to complete the top three standing out of the thirteen

participating teams.

Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director, GMD, NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari assured guests that the corporation would continue to give attention to sporting activities in a bid to foster unity among the workers in the oil and gas industry.

Mr. Kyari informed the audience that industry stakeholders place a lot of premium on the games because

In cycling, Tombrapa Grikpa, representing Force Headquarters Abuja, won Gold in 1km after returning home in time of one minute, 58 seconds, 08 milliseconds (1hr 58mins 08secs).

Lindia Paul of Zone 5 Police Command picked silver after finishing second in time of 2:34.87, while Oluchi Manna of Zone 6 won bronze haven returned in time of 2:42.61.

it serves as a platform to promote sportsmanship, friendship and networking opportunities among management and staff of the industry.

The GMD reserved special commendation for team NNPC for the hard work that went into their emergence as the best team in the most prestigious game for the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria.

Ikpeba Expected at Universal White Hall Inter-house Sports Former Super Eagles forward and 1997 African Footballer of the Year, Victor Nosa Ikpeba, is among the dignitaries expected to grace the inter-house sport competition of the Universal White Hall School.

According to a press statement issued by the school, the event is scheduled to hold on March 11, 2020 at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.

It also stressed that the competition is aimed at inspiring

the pupils and the students to make maximum impact not just in the area of sport but also in other areas of endeavours.

“Over the years, we have invested so much in the psychomotor aspect of our educational scheme. We involve the students and pupils in indoor games such as Scrabble, Chess, Basketball, Volley ball, Table tennis, Taekwondo and outdoor games such as athletics,” observed the statement.

With the team “FOOTPRINT 2020,” this year’s inter-house sports competition is to be chaired by the M.D/CEO of Smarthek Security Consultancy.

Other Special Guests of Honours include, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo and officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

Apart from the regular events where athletes will compete for glories, there are lots of side

attractions for the day which include; colourful Opening Ceremony; Parents’ Match Past, Horse Parade and Special Orchestra by the Police Band.

Universal White Hall School is an international coeducational institution fully accredited by both national and international examination bodies running Nigerian and British curricular. The school also runs both primary and secondary schools

TR

Tuesday March 3, 2020

UT H

& RE A S O

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Price: N250

MISSILE Shehu Sani to Northern Governors

“Killings and kidnappings have become daily occurrences in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Niger states. Northern governors are still playing the ostrich; afraid of confronting the federal government and taking independent action to protect their people while the killings and the kidnappings go on” – Senator Shehu Sani condemning Northern governors for not waking up to their responsibility to protect the people.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

T

E ku Corona O

he Yoruba people of South Western Nigeria, described by one English Language dictionary as the fun-loving people of the Southern part of West Africa have a habit of greeting people over everything. Whatever the matter is, they just like to greet, and they will go to any extent to design a message around any event. If the sun is high in the sky, they will greet you and draw your attention to the heat. If it is too cold, the average Yoruba man will remind you that the weather is cold and try to identify with you: E pele otutu yi. For other Nigerians who have a different culture and tradition, it can be somewhat irritating. I once thanked a Fulani friend of mine for supporting me when my mother died, he had to remind me that I had already thanked him three times and he felt embarrassed being thanked again and again.

He told me to stop!

I recall, most fondly the case of one of my late bosses in my days at The Guardian. Chief as we all called him was the eyes and the ears of the owner of the company. He was Mr. Alex Ibru’s cousin. In his own right, he was a distinguished journalist, one of the best that the Nigerian media industry ever produced.

Knowledgeable, confident and self-assertive, Chief was not anybody’s fool. He was a no-nonsense person. He knew the job. He knew everybody.

He was not afraid to make enemies. He groomed younger persons. He was our father. But one morning, one Yoruba boy made the mistake of greeting him too much. Yoruba people are very bad when it comes to greetings: they will look at the clock and tell you: “e ku asiko.” Other Nigerians don’t understand why an entire ethnic group must always greet people.

At The Guardian, this young Yoruba boy ran into Chief Andy Akporugo, and greeted him: “E pele sir. Migwo sir.”

Chief fired back: “Shut up. This is the fifth time you are greeting me today. Don’t you have work to do? And why are you not at your desk? Everywhere I go, I run into you and you are busy greeting. Go and sit down and work.

Only God knows how many people you have greeted today. If I run into you again and you greet me, I will have you sacked.”

Before long, word went round that it was a crime to greet Chief Andy Akporugo twice in a day. The only problem was that Chief was everywhere. He moved around like a spirit and the staff felt obliged to greet him and pay homage. Some of us got away with it. He would tell me: “Abati, you know you are a brilliant young man, that is why you get away with everything.” God bless Chief’s soul. But I see his point. Yoruba people greet too much. I was in Abeokuta on Saturday. It was Lisabi day.

Lisabi is the patron saint of Egbaland. In 1830, the people of Egbaland in the South Western part of Nigeria declared a nation and formed a government – The Egba United Government (EUG). They related directly with the British and other parts of Europe. In the course of the civil war in Yorubaland in the 19th Century, the Egbas were led by a man called Lisabi; that army later teamed up with the Ibadan army to protect the entire Yorubaland against the onslaught of the Fulani Army. They won the war.

They stopped the Fulani Army from dipping the Quoran into the Atlantic Ocean. But the Egba people betrayed Lisabi, their Generalissimo. To atone for that sin, Lisabi is celebrated every year by the people of Egbaland. The Egba National Anthem pays tribute to this valiant warrior.

Every Egba child is known as “Omo Lisabi”.

Whatever prayer that is taken to “Igbo Lisabi” the spot where the warrior decided to end it

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire all, is answered. So we are told, even when there are other Egba heroes: Balogun Sodeke, Chief Apati of Kemta Lemboye and Ayikondu of Igbein, Ogundipe Alaqtishe, Nlado of Kemta, Ogundeyi of Iporo, Sorunke and Aboaba of Igbein etc. In 1914, Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates, and the Lagos Colony. Egbaland thus became part of a new Nigeria. In 1859, Abeokuta was the first Nigerian town to have a newspaper: the Iwe Irohin founded by Henry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society (CMS). Its children will also become the many firsts in Nigerian professions due to early contact with Western education. In 1930, the people of Egbaland celebrated the first centenary of the Egba nation.

There is a Centenary Hall in Abeokuta. The current Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo III, is planning to build a new monument to commemorate the history of the Egba people.

On Saturday, I was in Abeokuta. Although I was not directly involved in the preparations for Lisabi Day, having so far put off all chieftaincy title acceptance ceremonies, I felt a sense of duty to be in the town on the day the iconic Lisabi was being honoured. I was in town also for political reasons. There had been reports in the newspapers about further frictions in my political constituencies: Ogun Central and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. You will recall that I was a Deputy Gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the 2019 general elections in Ogun State. I was a genuine running mate with only one name and solid certificates, if you know what I mean. I needed to talk to the stakeholders, the foot-soldiers and the people we call “strikers” to get a good sense of the politics. The first man I met was more interested in Corona Virus.

“Deputy, e ku Corona Virus oh.”

That threw me off balance. Two days earlier, an index case of Corona Virus involving an Italian who returned to the country on February 25 had been reported. The Yoruba people of South West Nigeria wasted no time in constructing a greeting around it: E ku Corona o (that is an announcement of awareness and an expression of concern”). E pele Corona (that is an expression of sympathy”). A o ni ri ogun Corona lagbara Jesus (that is a prayer in Jesus name). Corona ko ni ko wa lo o (These people are terrible: this statement means Corona will not destroy us.).

E de ku ti Corona yi o (that is another expression of concern). The way Yoruba people greet and pray, you simply can’t stop them. Every hello

is a paragraph. Every greeting is a philosophy.

You just need to be patient. I was.

Nigeria’s first index case who is now in Yaba at the Lagos State Infectious Diseases Hospital was said to have visited Ogun State. He arrived in the country from Italy and went straight to Ewekoro, where there is a cement factory, less than 30 kilometres from Abeokuta. He then returned to Lagos where he has since been isolated. Ogun State has isolated 28 persons with whom the index case, hopefully he won’t be a super-spreader, reportedly had contact. Across the country, Nigeria has been on the equivalent of a red alert. The Federal Capital. Territory has isolated up to 9 persons. The Benue State Government has set up a 17-man committee to address the likely menace of Corona Virus.

Plateau State has quarantined 43 persons in Wase LGA: 25 Nigerians and 18 foreigners. Edo State has put a mechanism in place to track all travelers to Edo State from every part of the country. On the face of it, Nigeria seems to have done better than other countries of the world.

There is big panic in the United Kingdom with senior doctors protesting that the country is not prepared. In the United States where the first death has been recorded in Washington State, the people think a lot more can be done.

In Italy, perhaps the second worst hit country, the authorities are just not prepared. Italy is overwhelmed. Iran is confused.

I have heard a few voices commending Nigeria. But we are not yet doing enough. We need to do more. It is not enough for President Muhammadu Buhari to tell us not to panic.

Nigeria should panic. We face a public health safety crisis. Nobody should tell us not to panic.

About the same time that Corona virus made its landing in Nigeria, we were told that Lassa Fever is a major problem in the country: over 100 reported deaths already in more than 27 states. Nigeria also has one of the highest rates of maternal morbidity and infant mortality in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has further reported that Nigeria has the highest sero-prevalence of tuberculosis in the world. HIV/AIDS rate may have reduced in Nigeria but it also remains a serious problem around here. Nigeria also ranks among countries with the highest rates of open defecation in the world. Thus, Nigeria is a country with a public health emergency. It is the more reason why every step must be taken to ensure that Corona Virus does not spread in Nigeria. So far, over 33 countries have been affected including the United States. There is no cure yet, and what we hear is that the fastest vaccine trial effort in Israel, will take up to three months. Since the Virus left Wuhan, its epicenter, there have been more cases outside China, with the new virulent cases being reported in Italy, South Korea and Iran. The entire world is vulnerable.

Our world is at risk. Nobody is safe. The entire world faces the threat of disease. Humanity is humiliated, reminded forcefully and starkly, of its vulnerability and mortality. What is it that we do, that reminds us again and again of the helplessness of man in the face of the immensity and supremacy of the cosmos? I have no answer.

Before I left Abeokuta, however, I was shocked when someone asked me to pay for Corona, again in Yoruba language: Deputy, e sanwo Corona oh. I thought this was a joke.

I felt like telling the guy he was mad, but he meant business. E fun wa lowo Corona oh. He was literally asking me to give him some money for Corona. He had no fever. Nobody around him had been diagnosed as a Corona patient. He just wanted money and he thought mentioning

Corona would do the magic. I played along.

Corona ko ni ko wa lo o, tomo tomo. In Nigerian politics, you must learn to speak the people’s language and identify with them. The bigger epidemic in Nigeria, in any case, is the epidemic of empty pockets. The ordinary Nigerian will do anything to fill the emptiness of his or her pockets. It is therefore not surprising that the prices of sanitizers, face masks and hand wash have gone up. I won’t be surprised if very soon, there is a Nollywood movie on Corona Virus!

I have already seen photos of some beautiful women carefully posted on Social media with the message: “Not all Coronas are deadly!” Phone numbers are discreetly attached. In the midst of everything, sad and tragic, Nigerians always manage to be humorous. The only problem is that there is nothing laughable about a global epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) is yet to declare it a global pandemic.

I think the time has come for that.

COVID-19 as it is designated by the WHO is worse than MERS, SARS, Zika and Ebola before it. Nigeria woke up early to the crisis. We must commend all the agencies that began with public sensitization and enlightenment programmes.

The Federal Government, the state governments of Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Plateau, Benue and Edo States have so far done a good job of mobilizing the populace to take precautions or quarantine likely cases. But we certainly need to do a lot more, relying on lessons from other jurisdictions.

Is it possible for example for Nigeria to ban arrivals from all high-risk countries until further notice and that should include China, Japan, Italy, Iran, and South Korea? Can Nigeria also issue a travel advisory insisting that any Nigerian that has been in Europe in the last two weeks should be compulsorily isolated, and that no other Nigerian should go to Europe or Asia until further notice? Is it also possible to put every Nigerian state on red alert? There are reports that there is now in Nigeria a scarcity of hand wash, face masks, and sanitizers. The Federal Government should try every effort to ensure adequate supply of these protective materials particularly for our health personnel who are most at risk. Every available isolation and laboratory centre should also be upgraded.

We should scale up medical checks at our ports of entry. The index case in Nigeria came in through Murtala Muhammed Airport. He should have been quarantined at the airport and not allowed into the community. As the Yoruba would say: “A o ni ri ogun Corona. Corona o ni ko wa lo o”. You will have to understand Yoruba to get that.

Yesterday at Arise News, Collins Khumalo of Arise Play came visiting. He had just returned from Europe. We greeted each other shaking legs.

He too shook legs with Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, the MD of Arise News. I later exchanged leg greetings with Chika Mbonu, Arise News Business Analyst. When I ended up doing high-fives with Ijeoma, I quickly rushed into the bathroom to wash my hands. She provided money for the purchase of hand wash for all toilets in the building. We later resolved to advise one of our colleagues who just returned from Europe to stay away from the office for the next two weeks if she doesn’t mind. Covid-19 has brought a new form of madness into town. It is disrupting relationships and the way we behave and do business. Even the Nigerian Stock Market is down. The spot price of Brent Crude has crashed throwing Nigeria’s economy and the 2020 budget into disarray, with genuine anxieties about the eventual value of the national currency, the Naira.

Market capitalization has declined. What have we done to deserve this? E pele Corona oh.

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