EFCC recovers looted $2trn in 12 years- AGF

...towards a better life for the people

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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VOL. 25: NO. 62685

N150

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Blame Obasanjo, other leaders for our woes — Saraki

HOW FUNDS WERE LOOTED Year

Amount

How

1998 2012-2014 **** 2000-2013 2003-2015

$2m $321.689m (N64Bn) $12.7 Bn $33.144Bn (N20.6 trn) $2trillion

Money laundered by Abacha Financial system’s loss Internet fraud Illicit flows Recovered and confiscated

5

MONEY LAUNDERING:

EFCC recovers looted $2trn in 12 years— AGF

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

•Says Abacha looted over $2m in 1998 alone A •Adds Buhari has vowed to recover every kobo

BUJA—THE Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, yesterday, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has so far recovered more than $2 trillion (about N400trn at current exchange rate) looted from the national treasury.

Of the huge funds he said were stolen by “criminal groups and Continues on Page 5

No subsidy paid in January — Kachikwu 8 VISIT: From left: Chief Bisi Akande, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi(Ojaja ll); National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Oba Saridi Ademola Elegushi(Elegushi of IkateLand), during a courtesy visit to Tinubu at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday.

Ugwuanyi wades into Umode, Oruku 6-yr communal war See Inside C M Y K

COLUMNISTS:

How ex-Gov Dariye shared N1.2bn ecological fund—EFCC P.39

P.17 TABIA PRINCEWILL

Fixing Nigeria’s ‘socially useless' banks

DEAR

BUNM

Did my husband infect me?

P.19 ROTIMI

FASAN

Nigerians, social media and public office holders

11

FIRS sets N4.957trn target for 2016 8

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

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4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—5

POCKET CARTOON

TRANSPORTATION: From right: Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; Former Minister of Transportation, Idris Umar and Chairman, Board of Railway Corporation, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, during an investigative hearing on the award of Railway contracts between 2010 and 2014 at the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday: Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

EFCC recovers looted $2trn in 12 years— AGF Continues from Page 1 public office holders” within the past 12 years, the AGF said it was estimated that in 1998 alone, the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, laundered over $2million.

The AGF, who made the disclosure in a keynote address presented at the ‘First Annual Conference on Financial Fraud, Cyber-Crime & Other Cross-border Crimes’, in Abuja, yesterday, said President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed “to recover the fortunes that criminals have made illegally by returning every penny that belongs to the Nigerian public."

He observed that the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, had made it possible for criminal matters to enjoy accelerated hearing in courts.

The AGF said: “With more than 166 million

inhabitants, Nigeria represents more than half of Africa’s total population. Nigeria’s major source of revenue is oil and Nigeria is ranked ninth highest exporter of crude among members of the Oil Producing Exporting Countries (OPEC) and 13th across the globe.

“In 1998, Nigeria came under severe attacks from the international community. Political and economic sanctions were imposed on the country to pressurise the military regime at the time to create an enabling environment for democratic election.

“During this period, the Nigerian financial system suffered crisis of confidence, caused in part by the inability of the financial supervisory authorities and the enforcement agencies to prevent the abuse of the financial system and enforce national and international financial laws and regulations.

“It is estimated that

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO O job or work came down from heaven with dignity, it is men that dignified the positions they occupied so well that people aspired to be like them. Whatever you do, make it the envy of many.

N

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Do anything but let it produce Joy — Walt Whitman

W

HENEVER you act with love, goodwill, charity and compassion, you are living from a high spiritual consciousness, and once ignorance and fear are removed from our lives, we enter into the states of wisdom, power and freedom. Fear keeps us from living life to the fullest. Open your heart to light and let the shadow fall behind you.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A river does not wash away a man if it did not see his feet.

General Abacha alone laundered more than USD2 million during this period. It was not just the financial system that broke down under severe mismanagement but also the justice system due to lack of comprehensive legal framework, weak law enforcement agencies, ill equipped judiciary, and the over-crowded court system. These were just a few of the problems that contributed to the high rate of economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

Plan of Buhari's govt

He continued: '“The government of President Buhari is committed to the development of an economically, politically stable and just society where the security of lives and properties are guaranteed and underpinned by a constitutionally independent judicial system that ensures respect for rule of law and promotes equal rights to justice.

“It is no longer in dispute that internal security remains a challenge, especially as internal conflicts, including religious extremism, and ethnic conflicts have had a debilitating effect on the country ’s development since independence.

Nigeria is not an exception in Africa when it comes to internal conflicts, insurgency and terrorism”.

He said that trends and statistics from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, indicated that on the average, Nigerian banks lose huge amounts of money annually to different forms of cybercrime and cyber-criminals.

“The total estimated loss incurred by the financial system alone from 2012 to

2014 could be more than N64 billion or USD321.689m.”

Besides, the AGF noted that the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, had in a report it issued in 2014, observed that the increase of fraud in the country was a result of “astronomical increase of online banking and use of ATM as well as fraudulent withdrawal of funds.”

He further identified “illicit funds flows” as a major area of organised crime in Nigeria, saying a report compiled by the presidency in 2013, identified a total of over $33.144bn (N20.6 trillion) illicit flows during 2000 to 2013, “of which over $7.456trn were proceeds of corruption and embezzlement in Nigeria”.

Malami said: “As you all know, illicit funds transfer has a number of severe effects on a country like Nigeria. It drains the country ’s foreign exchange reserves, reduces tax base, increases poverty levels, increases insecurity as a potential source of terror funding, and hurts the country’s international image.

“The common crimes that confront Nigeria today include terrorism/ terrorist financing, cybercrime, fraud, money laundering, corruption, kidnapping, trafficking in illicit drugs and persons, armed robbery, oil theft, sexual exploitation of young persons. All of these crimes threaten Nigeria’s economy and make Nigeria unattractive for investment.

“Nigeria gained notoriety among the commity of nations since early 1980 because of advanced fee fraud commonly referred to as

“419” as well as high incidence of corrupt pract ices by politically exposed persons and bureaucrats”.

He said that available reports showed that in the past 12 years, since the establishment of EFCC, more than $2 trillion has been confiscated and recovered.

“Recoveries have also been made by ICPC, NAPTIP, NDLEA and DSS. As Nigeria struggles to deal with the high-level criminality associated with greed to acquire so much wealth through criminal activities, my task is to see how we can turn back the gains of criminal groups and to recover the fortunes that criminals have made illegally by returning every penny that belongs to the Nigeria public.

“With the passage of the ACJA, we have seen accelerated hearing of criminal matters. This

would need to be sustained through various initiatives that we are developing”, the AGF stated.

Meantime, in his remarks at the event, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, said there was urgent need for the country to consider and priortise the reform of its laws. “This is heightened by the need to conform with the primary concerns of law and order, national security and public interest.

“However, the desire of every Nigerian for the quick and fair dispensation of justice can only be achieved where stakeholders in the justice sector work in tandem towards a common objective as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

“It is time to leave the rhetoric behind and take visible steps forward in this fight against transnational crimes”, the CJN added.

Blame Obasanjo, other leaders for Nigeria's woes — SARAKI

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—SENATE President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday, responded informally to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to him last week, blaming all past leaders since 1999 for the woes the country is presently facing.

Saraki said rather than blame an individual, all past leaders of the country since the return of democracy in 1999 were culpable of the present economic problems of the country.

He insisted that all public office holders in Nigeria since 1999 , were involved in one way or the other, in the mistakes of the past that led the country to the present political and economic mess.

The Senate President spoke while responding to questions from journalists on the alleged secrecy of the National

Assembly’s budget and corruption leveled against it by former President Obasanjo in a recent letter.

He noted that it was wrong for anybody to hold an individual or group of people solely responsible for the mess of the past.

Saraki said rather than trading blames on the woes afflicting the country now, what was needed from all stakeholders was a collective participation of all for the good of all Nigerian.

He vowed that details of the N115 billion National Assembly budget on section by section basis, would be transparently put into the public domain this year as against the practice of one item in the past.

He said: "We’ve all been here since 1999 up to the recent past when things were not done right; we are all part of it. I was there, you were there, every other political office holder in different capacities were there as well."

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

My experience in kidnappers' den—DELTA MONARCH

Boko Haram fear spreads as explosion rocks Benin

By Simon Ebegbulem

By Emma Amaize & Ochuko Akuopha

O

LOMORO—THE traditional ruler of Olomoro Kingdom, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Aghazi I, yesterday, narrated how four guntoting kidnappers, who spoke Urhobo and Isoko, stormed his project site, overpowered, blindfolded and whisked him to a forest in Abraka, where they tortured and humiliated him for three days.

The monarch, who was released at 9p.m. Monday night, told Vanguard that his abductors put him in the booth of their car and did not feed him for 48 hours.

He said it was on the third day that they forced four slices of bread and water down his throat.

He said: “That Friday, January 29, members of the Warri branch of the Olomoro Community Development, OCD, paid me homage and I invited chiefs, OCD Vigilante, Iletus and women to my Ikiagbodo residence to enjoy the goat they brought with me.

“After the goat was slaughtered, I went to Olomoro where I am doing a small project; I went to see my bricklayer on the site.

While I was expecting the bricklayer, some persons came and attacked me with guns; they were four men with guns.

I struggled with them before they carried me out.

I shouted but no help came.

Nobody was with me as I was shouting. They were some Isoko and Urhobo boys. They took me in their own vehicle.

“They said the problem is from Olomoro. They said all the money coming to Olomoro, I am the one spending them alone and that I do not share with others, so that is why some persons planned this.

“They said they have been tracing me for almost a month and half. They tortured me with cutlasses, guns and now I find it difficult to move.”

On the location that they took him to, he said: “I did not know the direction we were headed because I was blindfolded. But one of the tires burst on the way.

“They managed it until they brought another vehicle to carry me and they put me in the booth.”

B

ENIN—THERE was pandemonium in Benin, yesterday, as an explosion destroyed about five houses in Sakponba area of Edo State capital city.

Residents of Zomi Zomi Street in Upper Sakpoba Road ran for safety when they heard the loud noise that came with the explosion at about 3p.m., as many claimed that Boko

It was a bomb left behind by kidnappers—POLICE Haram insurgents had invaded the city.

A police source at the scene informed Vanguard: “We learned that the bungalow where the bomb detonated was being used as a hide out for kidnappers some months ago.

But a combined unit of soldiers and police invaded the place and arrested the suspects.

“So recently, somebody hired the building and just this afternoon, decided to burn refuse in the compound. He set the refuse on fire and went out to buy something.

“Immediately he left, the bomb exploded. He was not aware that the kidnappers, who once used the house, had left some bombs behind.”

At press time, bomb disposal experts from the Edo State Police Command have cordoned off the building, trying to ascertain if more bombs were still inside.

The tenant, who resides in the building, was taken away while one woman, said to have sustained deep cuts, was rushed to the hospital.

CRASHED: A sand-laden truck crashed into an auto market at Obanikoro, Ikorodu Road, Lagos, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Youths kill 2 policemen, injure 9 in A-Ibom

By Tom Moses

T

WO policemen, an inspector and corporal,

have been reportedly shot dead, while nine others sustained various degrees of injuries, following the invasion of a

police station in Okoroete, the headquarters of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, by armed youths

EFCC boss orders investigation into alleged battery of pregnant woman Mandates operative to pay her N10,000 monthly

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS—THE Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has ordered investigation into the battery of a pregnant woman by one of its operatives in Lagos.

The lady, Blessing Nwokpa, alleged last week that she had been abandoned after being impregnated by an EFCC officer (names withheld), following her refusal to abort the seven-month pregnancy.

This is just as authorities of the commission mandated the EFCC operative to pay N10,000 monthly to his pregnant girlfriend as part of upkeep.

Last Friday, Vanguard reported that the expectant mother was homeless after she was allegedly beaten and

thrown out by her lover from his Fadeyi abode.

Vanguard was reliably informed that EFCC would be meeting with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria that is handling the matter, with a view to settling the issues between its operative and his estranged girlfriend.

‘She was not our staff’

Investigation, according to sources at EFCC, revealed that Nwokpa was never its permanent, casual or contract staff as she claimed.

A source said: “Investigation reveals that she sells recharge cards opposite our office and is a single mother of two.

“That is, however, not justification for whatever wrong was allegedly done her. We are well disciplined and also have respect for the Rule of Law and

for women.”

It was also gathered that an officer, superior to the accused operative, gave Nwokpa N15,000 during one of her visits to the Ikoyi office.

The source was, however, quick to clarify that the money was not meant for abortion, but was given to her on compassionate grounds.

When contacted, the commission’s Head of Internal Affairs, South-West, Mr. Michael Olaremi, confirmed that a letter was received from the Legal Aid Council on January 30, officially bringing the case to the commission’s knowledge.

He said: “The chairman has directed that the case be investigated and on our part, the operative was mandated to pay the pregnant woman N10,000 monthly.”

suspected to be from Andoni, a neighbouring community, in Rivers State.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, numbering over 10, stormed the police station and attempted to disarm the deceased police officers, but met resistance, prompting the other hoodlums to open fire on the officers, killing two of them on the spot.

Although the cause of the incident could not be ascertained at press time, it would be noted that the area had been volatile in recent times, following the communal clash between Amazaba community in Eastern Obolo and Ikot Akpan Udo in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.

A chieftain of the area, Chief M. W. Ujile, told Vanguard: “I do not know what might have propelled the hoodlums to take such action against the police.”

State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, who confirmed the incident, expressed surprise over the incident.

While disclosing that one suspect had been arrested, the PPRO implored members of the public, who have knowledge of the armed youths, to report to the police for necessary action.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 — 7

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

No subsidy paid in January— Kachikwu Says FG'll save N200bn as direct crude oil trading commences

By Michael Eboh, Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE Minister of State for Petroleum/Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe. Kachikwu, yesterday said the Federal Government did not pay any subsidy on petroleum products in January 2016.

He also stated that the country would save $1 billion (N200 billion) from the newly introduced Direct-Sale-Direct-Purchase, DSDP, arrangement in Nigeria’s crude oil for products transaction which is to commence next month.

Kachikwu stated these when he appeared before the House of Representatives’ Ad-Hoc Committee set up to investigate the NNPC’s offshore processing and crude swap arrangement for the period from 2010 to date.

He explained that the DSDP was adopted to replace the Crude Oil Swap initiative and the Offshore Processing Arrangement so as to introduce and entrench transparency in the crude oil for product transaction by the corporation in line with global best practices.

The Direct Sale-Direct-Purchase alternative allows for the direct sale of crude oil by NNPC as well as direct purchase of petroleum products from credible international refineries.

Under the old order, crude oil was exchanged for petroleum products through third party traders at a pre-determined yield pattern.

Kachikwu stated that the DSDP option eliminated all the cost elements of middlemen and gave the NNPC the latitude to take control of sale and purchase of crude oil transaction with its partners, adding that the initiative would save one billion dollars for the Federal Government.

He said: “When I assumed duty as the Group Managing Director of NNPC, I met the Offshore Processing Arrangement (OPA) and like you know, there is always room for improvement.

"I and my team came up with the DSDP initiative with the aim of throwing open the bidding process. This initiative has brought transparency into the crude-forproduct exchange matrix and it is in tandem with global best practices.”

He further stated that the DSDP initiative whittled down the influence of the minister in the selection of bid winners as it allowed all the bidders to be assessed transparently, based on their global and national track records of performance before the best companies with the requisite capacities are selected.

Need for introduction of DSDP

Commenting on the need for the introduction of the DSDP, Kachikwu maintained that the policy was aimed at reducing the gaps inherent in the OPA and the losses incurred by the NNPC in the past.

He stated that the new arrangement would help the NNPC grow indigenous capacity in the international crude oil business and generate employment opportunities for indigenous companies that were selected.

He added that the DSDP initiative gave other government agencies, such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and

Nigeria Extractive Industry and Transparency Initiative (NEITI) the opportunity to be part of the bidding process in order to engender adherence to due process.

Misgivings by some agencies

Speaking on some of the reported misgivings by some federal agencies over the alleged non-transparent nature of past crude-for-products exchange arrangements, Kachikwu assured that the reconciliation process was ongoing and that going forward, the ministry would deploy technology to track cargoes and trans-shipment at the reception depots in order to forestall any incidence of round tripping.

The NNPC had in November, said it had discontinued the Offshore Processing Arrangement, OPA, and had replaced it with Direct SaleDirect-Purchase (DSDP) programme.

The NNPC had also stated that the replacement of the OPA with the more efficient DSDP was aimed at enshrining transparency and eliminating the activities of middlemen in the crude oil exchange for product matrix.

To this end, the NNPC withdrew the call for commercial bids issued to 44 bidders, made up of 34 international firms and 10 indigenous companies, earlier shortlisted.

VISIT: From left, Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Knut Ulvmoen; Deputy President, Babatunde Paul; President, LCCI, Mrs. Onikepo Akande; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Vice President LCCI, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje; Vice President, LCCI, Yeye Adenike Shobajo and Director-General, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf during an audience with Vice President Osinbajo at State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Badeh to honour EFCC's invitation today

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—BARRING any last minute change of arrangement, former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh (retd), will today honour the invitation extended to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The invitation extended to

Badeh by the EFCC was in furtherance of investigations into procurement in the Armed Forces under his watch.

According to sources, Badeh received EFCC’s invitation on Monday and has promptly directed his personal aides to make arrangements for his visit to the commission’s office this morning, as requested by the ant-graft agency.

The source said the former CDS

would be visiting the EFCC from his house where he had been since he left office, to explain certain activities alleged to have taken place in the Armed Forces under his watch as the coordinating officer for all the arms of the Armed Forces.

The source said Badeh had maintained a low profile in the face of recent allegation.

Arms probe: Falana’s petition against Dasuki, Okonjo-Iweala arrives ICC

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AGOS — THE International Criminal Court, ICC, at The Hague has confirmed that it is considering petition submitted to it by a human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, over alleged crimes against humanity committed in the context of the arms procurement scandal.

The ICC revealed this in a letter dated February 1, 2016 with reference: OTP-CR-32/16

and signed by Mark P. Dillon, Head of Information & Evidence Unit of the ICC. The letter read in part: “The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court acknowledges receipt of your documents/letter.

This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office.

"We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the

International Criminal Court.”

Falana had in a petition dated January 19, 2016 requested the ICC to “investigate allegations of crimes against humanity committed against the Nigerian people by some former and serving military as well as public officials and private persons who engaged in the criminal diversion of $8 billion earmarked to procure equipment for the armed forces to fight insurgency.”

FIRS sets N4.957trn target for 2016  Captures 361,451 new taxpayers in 3 months

By Emmanuel Elebeke

A

BUJA— In a swift response to the continued drop in oil price and uncertainty in the market, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has proposed a revenue generation target of N4.957 trillion for 2016.

Executive Chairman of the agency, Dr. Tunde Fowler, disclosed this, yesterday, at the opening of the Federal Inland Revenue Service 2016 Corporate Strategy Retreat, with the theme: “Optimizing non-oil tax revenue collection through compliance and enforcement," in Abuja.

The FIRS boss also announced that the FIRS had registered about 361,451 new corporate taxpayers within the last three months while targeting another 500,000 new corporate taxpayers by end of the first quarter of 2016.

He attributed the feat to the nationwide taxpayer registration, Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax Monitoring (WTM) being undertaken by FIRS, alongside tax enlightenment and publicity campaigns, anchored by the FIRS Federal Engagement and Enlightenment Tax Teams, FEETT. In addition to the above feat, he said the agency was leveraging heavily on technological tools to aid compliance by taxpayers and to enable the agency monitor and capture all taxable transactions as they occur.

The executive chairman, however, explained that the N4,957 trillion target for 2016 would be largely dependent on non-oil collection and in particular VAT, which will account for N2 trillion and CIT expected to account for Nl.877 trillion.

“We have proposed a revenue target of N4.957 trillion for 2016. This target is largely dependent on non-oil collection and in particular, VAT and CIT," he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—9

Obasanjo tolerated me for three-and-half years — Buhari A

BEOKUTA— PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari went down memory lane in Abeokuta, yesterday, recalling the role of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his successful political career.

Speaking in the Ogun State capital, Buhari, who was the special guest at the 40th anniversary of the state, said Obasanjo appointed him Minister of Petroleum and tolerated him for three and half years.

He said: “I express my thanks to General Obasanjo, who, as Head of State, made me Minister of Petroleum and tolerated me for three-and-half-years. He tolerated me because God knows and he

knows that I am not used to working as hard as he used to, but he allowed me to last that long and allowed me to work.

“If you go into records, that government made so much investment and infrastructural development in the petroleum industry.

"Two refineries were built, Warri and Kaduna. More than 20 depots were built; more than 3,500 pipelines were laid; and we were exporting refined products of 100,000 barrels per day. But what do we have today?”

Lauds Amosun

Buhari said Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State had people-oriented programmes and

prayed that the people of the state would continue “being lucky to have a governor that would look after them.”

The President said the transformation in the state capital was so obvious that although he was posted to Abeokuta when he was newly-commissioned in the army, he would not be able to trace his way around the town again.

He said: “I have previously, on commissioning of some projects, expressed my gratitude to the governor of Ogun State for inviting me and identifying me with his success.

“On my commissioning in January 1963, my first posting was to Abeokuta, where 2nd Infantry Battalion, Nigerian Army used to be. We were living in wooden flats, which were built in the last war

and I was here for some time before I was posted to Lagos.

“But today if you drive me around Abeokuta and you ask me where the barracks is, I assure you that I will get missing. I won’t be able to remember Lisabi Club where we used to sit, those of us who used to drink Fanta and listen to music.

“Your programmes are certainly people-oriented. We have commissioned roads, schools and legal complex headquarters, where I met justices and I made an observation to the governor that women were more than men. I am just wondering that gentlemen, the ladies are taking over in very important profession."

Dasuki: Late arrival from custody stalls trial As lawyer insists FG must obey court order on bails

A

BUJA — THE late arrival of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, from security custody has stalled the commencement of his trial before Justice Peter Affen of FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja The proceedings could not go on due to the failure of the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce the ex-NSA in court on time and the need for the other codefendants to respond to an application by Dasuki to stop the trial over failure of the government to obey the bail conditions granted him by Justice Peter Affen.

The operatives of DSS only produced the ex-NSA in court two hours after the court started hearing the matter and after Justice Affen had adjourned the case till February 26, 2016.

Others, who are being prosecuted along with the former NSA with respect to charges of diversion of arm funds, include a former Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu; a former Minister of State, Finance, Bashir Yuguda; a former Sokoto Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; the ex-governor ’s son, Sagir Attahiru; and a firm, Dalhatu Investment.

Before the adjournment, Dasuki’s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu, had complained that his client was re-arrested to unknown destinations where his lawyers could not have access to him.

Daudu said he had filed an application before the judge, arguing that the prosecution lacked the right to continue to prosecute him because of the flagrant disobedience of government to all bails granted to Dasuki from three courts.

EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacob, said he had filed a counter

affidavit and had just served the affidavit on Dasuki and others in the case.

Other counsel told the judge they needed time to respond to issues raised in the counter affidavit of EFCC and that the

trial should not continue until the applications are concluded.

Dasuki was re-arrested by operatives of the DSS on December 29, 2015 shortly after he was released from prison

upon fulfilling the bail conditions granted him by Justice Affen and two other judges which amounted to disobedience of the orders granting bail to their client.

PRESENTATION: From left: Mr. Uyi Akpata, Country and Regional Senior Partner West Market Area, PwC; Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President; Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption and Mr. Tola Ogundipe, Deputy Country Senior Partner, PwC at the presentation of a report, entitled 'Impact of Corruption on Nigeria's Economy' to the Vice President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

We should work together to defeat Boko Haram —Dogara  Consoles Borno, Adamawa over Dalori attack, bomb blast

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA — SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has urged Nigerians to team up with the government and the military to ensure that Boko Haram was defeated.

Dogara, who said he was deeply touched by the killing of scores of people in the recent attacks by the Boko Haram sect, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, described the killings as senseless and a crime against God and humanity.

He said: “I am deeply touched by the number of deaths from the recent terrible attack on Dalori on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno State capital by the murderous Boko Haram insurgents and spate of bombings in Adamawa State over the past days.

“This is one attack too many. The spate of killings and destruction of property by blood-thirsty terrorists is inhuman and a reminder to us all on the need to work together to defeat terrorism.

“I condemn it in the strongest possible terms as the handiwork of heartless, godless and babaric terrorists who are all out to shatter the relative peace that is returning to the North-East.

“I wish to express my heartfelt condolence to the victims’ families, the government and people of Borno and Adamawa states over this dastardly acts.”

UBA, ODUAH: S-Court not consequential in judgement — Lawyers

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By Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

AGOS— REACTIONS have trailed the Supreme Court judgement which ruled on the elections of Senators Andy Uba and Stella Oduah.

Legal practioners were, however, unanimous in their submission to the verdict by the apex court.

Senior Advocates, who lent their voices, include Messrs Rickey Tarfa, Mike Ozekhome and Emeka Ngige.

Also, elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, opined that the apex court was not consequential in its

judgement.

Supreme Court not specific — Tarfa

In his reaction, Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN) said the Supreme Court did not give consequential orders to the National Assembly members to vacate their seats.

His words: “I am yet to read the full judgement of the Supreme Court and I have a narrow observation on the judgement.

However, from what I have read so far in the newspapers, there was no specific declaration that they should vacate their seat.”

It never gave mandatory orders — Ozekhome

Also reacting, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said what the Supreme Court gave was a declaratory order and not a mandatory order for the Senators to vacate their seats.

His words: “Although I have not read the Supreme Court judgement, but from what I have read, what the Supreme Court did was to give a declaratory order to say that a particular state executive was the recognized one while the other is not recognized."

They’ve not flouted court order—Emeka Ngige

According to Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, the lawmakers

were expected to retain their seats until the apex court gives a contrary judgement.

Ngige said: "They are entitled to remain in the Senate in the absence of any consequential court order ordering INEC to withdraw Certificates of Return from them.

There was no consequential order—Adebanjo

On his part, Chief Adebanjo said it was imperative for proper interpretation of the judgement, adding that there was no consequential order on the matter.

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 , 2016

HIJAB: Lagos Assembly warns against harassment of Muslim women

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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A G O S — A S Nigerians joined the rest of the world to celebrate the world Hijab day, Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, warned all government agencies including the Nigerian Military against harassment of women wearing Hijab in the state.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudasiru Obasa, gave the warning while addressing scores of women who protested to the House to mark the annual event and to express their displeasure over the continued harassment of Muslim women wearing Hijab by Nigerians Military, Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS among others.

Obasa, who was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Health, Mr. Segun Olulade said that no religion was superior to the other, saying “Both religions (Christianity and Islam) are important. And that is why we often preach peaceful coexistence among residents of Lagos State.”

His words, “We will not tolerate any agency of government that harasses Muslim women wearing Hijab. We believe in the rule of law and in the integrity of every religion including Islam. We will always stand by every residents of Lagos State irrespective of their religion.

“We urge you to always conduct yourself in a peaceful manner. Islam cannot be termed as the religion for terrorist. We are joining you in urging people to desist from using Islam to perpetrate illicit acts,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Women Affairs Secretary of the Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Mrs. Aisha Adams, lamented that Hijab was often misinterpreted and larger percent of Muslim Hijab women were discriminated and abused through deliberate insensitive remarks.

RAIL PROBE: I signed agreements not contracts – EX-NRC BOSS

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—FORMER Chairman of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Dr Mohammed Haliru Bello, yesterday admitted before a House of Representatives adhoc committee on rail contracts that he signed agreements not contracts.

Also, Managing Director of

NRC denied any link with ESR Nig Ltd allegedly owned by his relative.

Bello said it was the Federal Executive Council, FEC, that awarded contracts not the board he chaired.

Fielding questions from the House of Representatives adhoc committee investigating the alleged contract scam, Bello cited Section 22 of the Procurement Act which

excluded the board from contracts.

The Acting Board of Trustees Chairman argued that the Board only carried out oversight functions of contracts approved

by FEC reiterating that he only signed agreements not the contracts.

“That would have been against the law, I signed agreements not contracts, I cannot recall all the contracts I signed, I’m 70 years

WORKSHOP: From left: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Shehu Ahmad; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the representative of the chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Adamu Bello, at the national workshop on a new agricultural policy for Nigeria in Abuja yestersday.

Faleke leads Reps probe of seized cargoes by Customs

By Godwin Oritse

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HE House of Representative Committee on Customs and Excise has commenced the probe of past auction sales by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS following several petitions over seized cargoes.

In a letter to the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, Chairman of the Committee, Honourable James Faleke directed the Customs management to furnish the Committee with information concerning all seized cargoes.

In the letter with reference number NASS/8HR/ COMM.CT.25.015, signed by the Committee’s Chairman, the Customs management was also to list the names of importers whose goods were seized.

Although, the Committee was silent on the period of seizures, it however wants to know the total value of seized goods.

The letter titled “Request for information on all seized/ confiscated goods pending in your custody”, the Committee gave the management two weeks to respond to its request.

In a telephone chat with

Vanguard, Faleke said all the Committee needed was information regarding the confiscated goods. “Äll we ask for is just information and when we get this, we will look at the relevant Customs laws and will take a decision whether to go ahead or not because we have information with regards to some past deeds of the Customs management.

“And if you have information and you want to assist to cleanse the Customs system please do oblige us,” he said.

“Kindly furnish the Committee with details of all seized/ confiscated goods pending in your custody in this format. ''Description of goods, Period of seizure/confiscated goods, Estimated value of seizure/ confiscated goods, list of those importers affected and their locations.''

When Vanguard contacted the service spokesman, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, a deputy Comptroller of Customs said that he had no comments on the matter.

In his reaction, the President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, (ANLCA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu told Vanguard that the

Committee was at liberty to probe the Customs.

He said that he could not remember the last time Customs carried out a public auction of seized goods as these categories of cargoes are sold in secrecy.

old. The decision making was in the hand of the tenders board, “Bello told the committee.

He further explained that the NRC had various board committees who received report from the engineers and report back to the board.

Bello said he recalled giving a directive of the sale of scraps in the railway yards but said he did not know if it was eventually sold during his tenure, which spanned from 2009 to 2011 Sijuwade denies link with ESR When the MD of NRC was asked on his alleged link to ESR Nig Ltd, he debunked it, saying “I know them very well, they are my contractors, they are handling Port Harcourt-Kaduna line. ‘’It is 85 percent completed, it is a well funded project, and if we are able to get funding, it should be completed in a matter of three months. On the issue of any director or CAC, I don’t know anything about it.”

Mojeed Alabi (Osun APC), however, insisted that since Sijuwade was under oath, he couldn’t say ‘’I don’t know’’ in defence.

Sijuwade responded, “I am unaware of any of my relatives being a director of ESR.” Also speaking at the hearing, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said plans were underway to begin movement of petroleum products from Southern part of the country to the north by rail before the end of the first quarter of 2016.

The minister said the development would decongest the number of heavy trucks and trailers conveying the products.

“As from this first quarter, we should be able to begin to move petroleum products from Lagos by rail up to the north so that we reduce the impact of trailers and tankers on our roads,” he said.

How ex-NIMASA boss paid me for job undone – WITNESS

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others, Uche Obilor, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos how his three companies were paid N905.8million, by NIMASA under Akpobolokemi , for a contract he did not execute.

Obilor, Managing Director of Ace Prosthesis Limited, Seabulk Offshore Limited and Southern Offshore Limited told the court that the money was paid into the companies’ two bank accounts though he did not bid for any contract for NIMASA nor executed any.

Akpobolokemi is standing trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba

alongside three others, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

In the charge against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, they were alleged to have converted the sum of N2.658billion between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.

In his evidence-in-chief, Obilor, led by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said that the sum of N437million was paid to Ace Prosthesis Limited, while N402 million was paid to Seabulk Offshore Limited and N66.8 million was paid to Southern Offshore Limited respectively.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 — 11

S’Court dismisses Ladoja’s appeal, upholds Ajimobi’s election

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—THE final victory in respect of last April governorship election has come for Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi as the Supreme Court yesterday upheld his election and dismissed the appeal filed by former governor of the state and Accord Party governorship candidate, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

The apex court in a unanimous verdict dismissed Ladoja’s appeal for lack of merit.

Ladoja had earlier lost at both the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

Reacting to the judgment, Governor Abiola Ajimobi said through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka that he gave thanks to the Almighty God saying he was not surprised that the pendulum of judgment tilted towards him.

“We thank God and the good people of Oyo State. It is not surprising knowing well that the election was considerably free and fair.”

“L adoja and his party had the right to challenge the results of the election. After losing at the tribunal, he went to Appeal Court and later to the Supreme Court.

Now that the fight is over, everybody will now turn his productive energy to the

development of the state”.

Ladoja congratulates Ajimobi

Accepting the judgment, his main opponent in the election, Senator Rashidi Ladoja said with the judgment of the supreme Court, the electoral process has come to an end and as such I urge all to support Ajimobi government.

Ladoja, in a statement signed by his media aide, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, thanked all party faithful and everyone who supported him during the course of the election and

judicial process.

“This is the time to join hands with the governor to move the state forward as the judgment of the Supreme Court has put finality to the election process.

He further stated that he will continue to offer himself to the service and improvement of the state and encouraged all well meaning citizens of Oyo state to work and pray for the governor towards the betterment of the state adding that it’s only in a peaceful atmosphere that true development can take place.

The state chairman of the APC reacting to the judgment said; ‘’I am one of the few who attended all the court sittings from the beginning to the end.

I could not see how Ladoja would make it. ‘’The fulcrum of their case was on one Adesoji who is a farmer. With that, I knew that if he goes to the Almighty God, he will lose. The judgment is a legacy that would stand for many years. I’m thankful to the Almighty God, the party members and the people of Oyo State for standing with the State Chairman, APC reacts governor and the party.”.

BRIEFING: From left — Mr. Kehinde Subair; Prof Femi Lana; Alahaji Olalekan Alli, secretary to Oyo State Government, SSG and Prince Gbade Lana during the press conference on the burial programme for the late Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade at Mapo Hall, Ibadan by the burial committee. Photo by Dare Fasube.

How ex-Gov Dariye shared N1.2bn ecological fund, by EFCC

By Soni Daniel

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BUJA—REVELATIONS of how the embattled former governor of Plateau State, Mr. Joshua Dariye, wasted the N1.2 billion Ecological fund, he received from the Presidency on behalf of his state, came to the fore at the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja.

The trial of Dariye, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 23count charge bordering on money laundering and diversion of funds, continued in Abuja on Tuesday with the statement he made in 2007 forming the thrust of the day’s proceedings.

His trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gudu, Abuja had commenced on January 25, 2016 with the EFCC presenting exhibits, including the statement, as part of documents to prosecute him for allegedly diverting N1.162 billion Ecological Fund meant for the state, to private companies and individuals.

In the statement, Dariye acknowledged giving instruction to All States Trust Bank, (now defunct), on the disbursement of the said N1.162 billion Fund, which had been released by the Office of the Ecological Fund and credited to the bank.

A document from the bank confirming the disbursement of the cash as instructed by Dariye was also presented in court.

In the document, the then state governor, instructed that N250 million be paid to Pinnacle Communications Limited; N80 million to Union Savings & Loans; N550 million to the Plateau State government; N100 million to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP South-west; and N176,862,900 to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, ERV, a company said to be owned by the him.

Prosecution witness, Musa Sunday, who was cross-examined by G. S. Pwul, counsel to Dariye, told the court that the documents, including Dariye’s statement were obtained in the course of investigations into the alleged diversion of the N1.162 billion fund.

According to him, though during investigation the owner of PCL – a contractor with the state government confirmed the receipt for work done for the state, ERV was a company owned by the former governor, and actually got paid the sum of N160 million (instead of N176,862,900 as earlier instructed

by Dariye) for no services rendered to the state government.

He told the court that during interrogation of Dariye, he admitted that the balance of about N16 million was shared between the then Deputy

Senate President, Ibrahim Nasir Mantu, who got N10 million, and the remaining N6 million given to the PDP in the state.

He said, “We invited the owner of Pinnacle Communications Limited who confirmed that he was a contractor for the Plateau State government.

“The N80 million credited to Union Savings was traced to Kingsley Nkomah the Permanent Secretary in the Ecological Fund office, which investigations later showed was the share of Nkomah to facilitate the release of the Fund.

“During interrogation, the defendant volunteered his statement and made it clear that the N100 million paid PDP Southwest was different from the N100 million we traced to Marine Float

Nigeria Limited.”

Sunday told the court that the N80 million was, however, recovered from Nkomah.

The trial continues today.

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DO-EKITI—EKITI State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has asked President Mohammadu Buhari to stay at home and find solution to the myriad of problems confronting the country, rather than wasting the nation’s resources on unnecessary foreign trips.

According to the Governor;

By Dayo Johnson

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K U R E — GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has presented a budget of N119 billion to the state House of Assembly christened ‘Budget of Hope’ in relation to the global economic challenges.

Presenting the budget before the House, Mimiko said he was presenting the Seventh in the series of his budget to the people of the state, with the hope that a brighter and blissful future ahead after the current experience all over the world.

The budget, which has a total sum of N50.990 billion as capital expenditure during the fiscal year with emphasis on completing the on-going projects that have reached advanced stage of implementation, noting that new projects in the meantime will not be embarked upon.

The sum of N68 billion will be expended on recurrent expenditures, with personnel cost taking a lion share of N37.billion in the fiscal year.

Governor Mimiko calls for reduction in waste of public funds by been prudent and shunning any act of corruption that may arise in the course of governance.

ZIKA VIRUS: FG puts 36 states on alert Disclosing this to Vanguard in

By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

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HE Federal Government has put all the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on a red alert following the declaration of Zika virus as an international public health emergency by the World Health Organisation, WHO.

Buhari’s incessant foreign trips crippling economy — FAYOSE

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

Mimiko presents N118.9 bn budget for 2016

“Foreign countries won’t solve our problems for us and the President’s incessant foreign trips is already bleeding the economy with about $1 million being spent per trip.”

Fayose, who said most of the trips embarked on by the President were unnecessary, and that ministers could have been made to attend most of the functions.

a telephone interview, the Director General of Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Prof Abdulsalam Nasidi said the red alert was to enable effective monitoring of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

The Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus, are found in Nigeria and Nasidi explained that the decision taken by the government is in line with global practice.

“We are charting a way forward now; the WHO said every country must be on red alert to monitor the behaviour of the virus.

“For Nigeria, we have to fortify our preparedness and send red alert to states. The Zika meeting is now taking place on Thursday because we have to expand stakeholders and participants, “he added.

On whether Nigeria has all it takes to battle the virus, Nasidi said: “With the small structures in place, we were able to fight Ebola and Lassa fever. We are not as bad as people think.”

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

S-Court upholds Okowa's election Apologise to Deltans, Okowa tells Ogboru, Emerhor

By Festus Ahon & Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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HE Supreme Court has upheld the election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

The apex court, in a lead judgment by Justice Musa Muhammad, dismissed two separate appeals lodged against Okowa by candidates of the Labour Party, LP, Chief Great Ogboru and that of All Progressives Congress, APC, Olorogun O’ tega Emerhor, as grossly lacking in merit.

In a unanimous judgment, a seven-man panel of justices of the Supreme Court led by Justice Walter Onnoghen, affirmed the verdicts of both the Court of Appeal and the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which earlier declared Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the electoral contest.

Ogboru had contended that the declaration of the election results in 21 of the 25 local government areas of the state were invalid on grounds of irregularities and over voting, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced results before compilation was completed.

Meanwhile, Governor Okowa, yesterday, told Emerhor and Chief Ogboru respectively to apologise to the people of the state for distracting the state with legal battles they knew they would not win.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service held shortly after the Supreme Court upheld his election as duly elected governor of Delta State in Asaba, Okowa, said Emerhor and Ogboru knew that they did not win in the election, yet, “they went to the Elections Petition Tribunal, to the

Court of Appeal and then to the Supreme Court, subjecting Deltans and lovers of the state to uncertainties.

“It is time to forgive and move on. I also believe that my opponents, Emerhor and Ogboru, should apologise to all Deltans because they knew the people’s choice but they just wanted to go through this legal process.

“I have forgiven them but, I think they need to apologise to Deltans because, they distracted the people.”

Similarly, in Asaba, a cross section of Deltans, yesterday described the apex court's judgment as victory for the sustainable development of the state.

Urging all Deltans, particularly those in opposition parties to join hands with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDPled government of Dr Okowa, to move the state to another level, they stressed the need for Deltans to unite for a better future for the state and its citizenry.

Those who spoke to our correspondent include Olorogun John Oguma, Olorogun Talib Tebite, Denis Omovie, Sheriff Oborevwori, Chief Solomon Ighrakpata, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, Mr Steve Ovedje, Elijah Ologe, Johnson Erijo and Tim Owhefere.

Similarly, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr

Monday Igbuya, has described the Supreme Court judgement as brilliant and straight forward.

He also said that Governor Okowa’s victory at the apex court was well deserved as “it is the will of a democratic majority."

Igbuya in a statement, said, "Okowa’s victory at the Supreme Court should be seen as historic."

In his reaction, Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Friday Osanebi, said that the victory was a testimony of God’s perfect handwork, adding that the serial legal victories of Governor Okowa testified to his divine ordination as governor.

On his part, Oguma said that the judgment was well deserved and anticipated, adding that the PDP worked hard for its victory at the April 11, 2015 governorship election.

VISIT: Mr. Festus Ovie Agas, SSG, Delta State (right) welcomes Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah,Team Leader, and Brig-Gen. Sinjen, during a courtesy visit by participants of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Senior Course 38, Jaji, to the SSG, in Asaba.

Photo: Nath Onojake.

Itsekiri leaders allege multi-billion naira contracts scam in DESOPADEC payments were made.

“However, our team on from the 400 purported projects,

By Emma Amaize & Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—ITSEKIRI Leaders of Thought, ILoT, Warri, Delta State, has alleged contract fraud in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, running into billions of naira, mainly on phantom, shoddy projects and outright embezzlement by officials of the agency in Itsekiri oil communities.

Addressing newsmen in Warri on the outcome of its inquiry into the agency, the secretary, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, said: “We were inundated with complaints by the various communities in the three Warri local government areas about contracts for projects awarded by DESOPADEC that were abandoned, poorly done, or did not even exist, but yet

Meanwhile, Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Chief William Makinde, in an sms response to the allegation, said, “I am not aware of any scam.

We are currently doing verification.”

Also, a source in the commission told Vanguard: “All the allegations raised by the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought are things that predated the tenure of this management in office and these are the rot they are trying to clean up since they came on board.

“In the face of dwindling allocation, they are finding it difficult to operate, so you can see their predicament,” the source said.

Continuing, Ekpoko said, “The ILoT commissioned a body to verify these claims and after physical inspections of well over 60 projects randomly chosen

we are very sad to report that our findings reveal poor and dismal execution of projects and criminal indulgence by the commission.

“Our finding shows that DESOPADEC has been a cesspool of fraud, corruption, maladministration and favour dishing government agency.

For over eight years, DESOPADEC has been run like a vehicle with a drunken driver loaded with reckless passengers urging the driver on. The end, needless to say, is the sorrow state we now find ourselves.

“The project for the development of Ugborodo New Town in Warri South- West Local Government Area was awarded at the sum of N1 billion and had been certified by DESOPADEC as 100 per cent completed and fully paid for.

assessment found out that the site has only very weak foundation for about 15 units of bungalows, which is less than 10 per cent completion. The name of the contractor is not known only the Office of the Chairman is shown as the contractor on paper,” he said.

On the construction/ establishment of Recreation Beach at Koko Beach in Warri North Local Government Area, he said, “This contract was awarded to Trisac Nigeria Limited at the sum of N1.2 billion. The percentage of completion is put by DESOPADEC at 19.78 per cent with a cumulative payment of N237.389 million. There is nothing on ground to justify this payment to the contractor. The project location is not even accessible by road and the location is not suitable for recreation beach.”

NLNG offers FG N60 billion for Bonny-Bodo Road

By Ikenna Asomba

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IGERIA LNG Limited, NLNG, yesterday, called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies, including the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to partner it in the development of Bonny-Bodo, a longstanding government project which will help improve the infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

Before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta in Abuja, NLNG re-stated its offer to provide 50 percent of the funding, worth N60 billion, provided the partnership was accepted and matched by the Federal Government.

According to Kudo EresiaEke, General Manager, External Relations Division, the road will better the lives of the thousands of Nigerians, mainly from the Niger Delta living on Bonny Island, as well as other Niger Delta residents in Ogoni, Okrika, Eleme, Andoni, among others.

NLNG also clarified the company ’s position on NLNG’s exemption from payment of a three percent Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, levy.

It said it was granted exemption from payment of this levy by the provisions of the NLNG Act of 2004.

The company reminded the committee that the matter under reference was the subject of a legal action filed against NLNG by the NDDC in 2005, and that the case had gone from the High Courts, through the Appeal Court to the Supreme Court, which all ruled in NLNG’s favour in October 2011.

Okonkwo passes on

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R. Okeichie Okonkwo, the Obaludikegwe of Enugwu Ukwu, in Anambra State, is dead, aged 86.

A statement by Mr. Anene Okonknwo said he was a member of the Ibadan Boxing Club and became a heavy weight champion.

He was involved in many social and religious activities in Onitsha where he served as President General of Enugwu Ukwu Community Development Union, ECDU, for over 20 years, and Chairman of Enugwu Ukwu Anglican Community, Onitsha.

His remains would be buried on February 11, 2016 after a funeral service at Immanuel Anglican Church, Enugwu Ukwu.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—13

Ijaw youths plan one-million-man march against alleged anti-Niger Delta policies As Burutu people protests plans to scrap Maritime Varsity

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By Emma Amaize & Samuel Oyadongha

JAW Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, yesterday, announced plans to embark on a one-million-man protest march against perceived wrong policies against the Niger Delta region by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, including the planned closure of the Maritime University.

The protest march, according to IYC, will include a youth convention at the temporary site of Maritime University, in Korutie community and would involve various Niger Delta communities, student organisations, sympathizers of development education, the tertiary institutions in the region, and clans, local and international youth organizations are expected to halt the noticeable lopsided and biased policies of the present administration against the people and entity known as the Niger Delta region.

Also, reverine residents of Ogulagha in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, took to the streets of the community, in protest over the plan by the Federal Government to scrap the Maritime university.

Similarly, Chief Boro Lala of Burutu council has kicked against the scrapping of the maritime varsity in Okorenkoko.

Addressing newsmen in Warri, Lala condemned the purported intention of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation and Aviation to scrap the maritime university.

On why the university should not be scraped, Lala noted that the contribution of the area to the common wealth of the nation cannot be overemphasized as no project was adequate compensation to the people.

Lamenting why Amaechi, who is from the Niger Delta, could conceive such a move, he pleaded with President Muhammadu Buahri to listen to the voice of reason coming from reputable Nigerians who genuinely desire the university to stay as originally planned by the Federal Government under the administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

Ikimi vows to drag FG before ECOWAS court

Also, Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, led by Oghenjabor Ikimi, has threatened to drag the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Court of Justice if it fails to rescind its decision to scrap the university.

“Assuming, without conceding that the nation has security challenges in Okerenkoko and the entire Gbaramatu Kingdom, is scrapping of the maritime university the solution to the above

challenge? Is it not the primary responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure the welfare and security of her citizens? Alternatively, is the Federal Government admitting to the whole world that it has failed her citizens in the above regard?” he quarried.

Thousands of Ogulagha youths, led by their president, Bright Guwor, who thronged the streets of Burutu, said it was unjust to cancel the university after the authorities had completed arrangements for its take-off from the temporary site this academic session.

IYC plans protest

President of IYC, Udengs Eradiri, who made the disclosure in Yenagoa, Baleya State, said, though the protest was not targeted against the

person and office of President Buhari, it was an open message to the current administration that the people of the region were tired of retrogressive policies against the region and its people.

“It is to show to the world that the President is too busy to closely monitor what is happening in the Niger Delta region,” he said.

On the planned scrapping of the Maritime University, Eradiri said though the people of the region should not castigate Amaechi for the planned scrapping of the University, “Amaechi is only a messenger sent by some Northern powers.

“It has shown in past actions.

Immediately Buhari took office, the first casualty was NIMASA Managing Director.

Immediately the acting DG took

over, the first action he took was to suspend work on the Maritime University and the second action was to suspend funding for Nigerians undergoing studies in foreign universities because of vendetta.

“So, people should not throw tantrums at Amaechi. This matter started in June and we have written series of letters to President Buhari.

The administration is ill-informed despite seeing pictures of the institution on the internet. Buhari should now know that the claim

by Amaechi that only feasibility study was done have now been seen as false.

“We have met the Niger Delta Minister and he was perplexed that the claim was false and that even the N13 billion land fraud was part of the development in the institution.”

INEC shifts rerun elections in Rivers to March 19

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rescheduled the re-run elections for Rivers State to March 19. The elections were earlier slated for February 6.

Secretary to the commission, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu, in a statement, said that the shift was after a meeting with various stakeholders in the electoral process.

Meantime, Governor Nyesom Wike has warned against rigging the rerun elections, saying that anyone caught would be treated as an armed robber.

“Anyone who plans to rig an election is an armed robber and should be treated as such.

If you are coming to rig an election in the state, first prepare your Will before embarking on the journey.

Inform your wife or husband and go ahead to say your last prayer.

“When they used the security forces in Bayelsa State, it didn’t work. It will also not work here in Rivers State.

Rivers State is a peaceful state and our people are peace loving. We want to remain so,” he said.

Delta lawmaker’s father installed oldest man

By Tare Youdeowei

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Julius Orumere, father of the Minority Whip, Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Peter Uviejitobor, has been installed as the oldest man of Ekreseha quarters, Okpako Uduwun Ekreseha, in Orhuwhorhun Community, Udu Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the event, Pa Orumere expressed joy on his installation as the oldest man of the quarters, assuring that he will discharge his duties according to the provisions of his position.

Also speaking, the Minority Whip said his father’s present position was a right step in the right direction, praying that God who has brought him this far will keep him for more years.

He thanked elders, women and youths of Ekreseha quarters, as well as Chief and Mrs Blessed Egbetamah, Chief and Mrs Bright Gbada, Chief Eddy Ono-sorhue and others for their support and finding time to attend the ceremony.

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MEETING: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Lasu Yusuf (right) and Chief Whip, Hon Pally Iriase, during a meeting of the Constitution Review Committee at the National Assembly, Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Itsekiri warned against flouting Warri monarch’s order on youth exco positions

By Daniel Gumm

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ARRI—IMMEDIATE past Delta State Commissioner in-charge of Youth Development and former President of Iwere Development Association, IDA, Mr Omolubi Newuwumi, has warned Itsekiri against flouting the order of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, regarding the 40 years age limit for any of his subjects holding youth executive position to vacate such office.

Omolubi, a former Vice President of prominent Itsekiri youth body, Warri Social Development Association, WASDA, told newsmen at the Olu of Warri Palace in Warri, that his warning was coming on the

heels of increasing speculations that some Itsekiri community leaders had expressed reservation over the Olu’s directive on age limit for youth excos, oldest man in the community (Olare-Aja) and other community leadership positions to relinquish power at the expiration of their tenure.

According to him, the Warri monarch’s directive on age limit for active involvement in youth activities “is in conformity with the United Nation’s regulation of 15-24 years, Sub-Sahara Africa statutes of 15-35 years and even that of Nigeria as well as UNESCO, which define youth as anyone between the ages of 18 to 35 years of age.”

Admonishing youths against

falsifying their ages in desperate bid to fall within the age limit directed by the Olu, Newuwumi said that there were authoritative and statistical records to check age cheats, “Who are determined to hold on to youth positions at both community and Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC, levels because of their selfish ends.”

He stressed the need for all Itsekiri sons and daughters, no matter their status, to adhere strictly to the Olu of Warri’s order to vacate community elective positions at the expiration of their tenure and for all community heads (Olare-Aja) to reside in their community so as to ensure the much needed development in Itsekiri communities.

14 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 , 2016

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI VISITS OGUN STATE. Photos by Wunmi Akinola.

President Muhammadu Buhari unveiling the plaque at Sapon Shopping Mall, while from right, Mrs Funso Amosun, Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun and others watch.

Governor Amosun, President Buhari and Ogun State Chief Judge, Tokunbo Olopade going through the plan of the complex during the laying of the foundation stone.

President Buhari laying the foundation stone of Judiciary complex at ItokuElewe, while Governor Amosun (left) and Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Tokunbo Olopade (right) watch.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun (right) discussing with President Buhari at the commissioning of Omida Shopping mall.

FG Efficiency Unit to save N12bn annually

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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BUJA—THE Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance is to save about N12 billion from procurement discount annually, as it begins the implementation of the policy geared towards ensuring better value-for-money in running government organisations.

The Head of the Unit, Mrs. Patience Oniha, told journalists at a briefing in Abuja, yesterday, that federal government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, would be given price guidelines for their procurements.

She said: “The strategy is to know the prices of various items at which producers and suppliers sell to other users, especially in the private sector.

That will guide us in producing a template of prices within which public purchases can be made.

“We will ensure strict compliance to the guidelines by all MDAs because that is the only way to maintain sanity and guarantee value-for-money, in the interest of the Nigerian public. We are aware that in

the private sector, when purchases are made, the volume usually affects the unit price. ‘’We want to see that happen in the purchases to be made by MDAs, as we go forward because procurements are usually made in large volumes by the MDAs. “We, as an Efficiency Unit, we are going to negotiate for favourable terms. Primarily, we are going to talk about price because we are going to get a discount for being a large buyer. From the study we have done, we have discovered that for some items, we can really get very favourable terms. ‘’For instance, vehicles, if you are a big consumer of vehicles, the period of warranty and freeservice is longer than the terms given to someone who bought only one.”

Mrs. Oniha added that the unit had started working on strengthening internal controls in the MDAs, with a view to eliminating procurement frauds, such as cases where unscrupulous individuals in the past got paid for items they did not supply.

She said: “The Federal Government is running on a zero budgeting policy. What that means is that for every demand

that an MDA puts in the budget, it has to justify why it needs it. ‘’The question then is: how are we sure that these items are procured because each year we see them re-occurring in the budget.

One major aspect of the reform going on now is the overhaul of the internal controls.

“The MDAs have Internal Audit officers who are supposed to validate those

stuff before payments are made. ‘’We admit that there have been weaknesses but those in that unit are going to be empowered to make sure that they is absolute compliance such that they don’t sign documents to say that items have been delivered when in fact they were not delivered. It won’t be business as usual.”

FG’s $25bn infrastructural funds receiving support — OSINBAJO A statement by the Vice declared the support of the President’s spokesperson, Mr.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu Laolu Akande, also quoted

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BUJA—VICE President, Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday in Abuja disclosed that the plan of the Federal Government to raise a $25 billion Infrastructure Fund from the global community and establish long term bankable projects was gaining attention.

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by a former Minister of Industry, Chief Nike Akande, the Vice President said the idea of the Fund was to attract commercial partners and other investors to help develop the country ’s infrastructure.

“We have seen considerable, favorable interests from some sovereign wealth funds and other nations,” Osinbajo said.

Osinbajo as saying that the China-Exim Bank had agreed to finance the railway projects linking Lagos and Kano as well as Lagos and Calabar.

According to the statement, the vice president said the fund will generate some economic activities and create jobs.

The Vice President reiterated the federal government’s determination to raise revenue internally to fund the budget including through an expansion of VAT coverage but not an increase of the VAT rate.

He said: “At 20% coverage the VAT coverage now, the federal government intends to do much better giving a boost to the country’s tax revenues.”

Also speaking, the leader of the delegation, Akande, who

chamber for federal government’s fight against corruption, acknowledged that in the current economic situation that the Buhari Presidency was having to deal with, “there are no easy choices.”

She challenged the Central Bank of Nigeria to find a foreign exchange regime that would boost the confidence of investors and remove uncertainly.

In a similar development, the Vice President also received a delegation from the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, ALTON. Speaking during the meeting, Osinabjo noted that telecom was a critical sector of the economy, adding that “there is no question at all about the importance and contribution of the sector, especially since the 2001 privatization.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 , 2016—15

BIAFRA: IPOB, MASSOB deny alleged seizure

of merchant ship by members •MASSOB not divided—Chukwu •Merchant ship seizure not linked to Nigerian group —Defence HQ

By Nwabueze Okonkwo, Chimaobi Nwaiwu & Ugochukwu Alaribe

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NUGU—THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday, denied alleged involvement in the seizing and threat to blowing up a merchant ship carrying foreigners.

IPOB Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful said IPOB is a non violent group with responsible men in the society in Nigeria and in diaspora as members and therefore, cannot involve in any violent activity that may possibly harm or take the life of anybody from within and outside Nigeria.

He said: “Many people are sympathetic to the Biafran actualization cause because of the treatment meted to the entire Biafran land comprising the former Eastern Region. Many groups are also rising up to speak against the treatment meted to the IPOB leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu who at present is being incarcerated in Kuje prison, and they can use any style to make their demand felt by the Federal Government but no IPOB member has a hand in it.”

The allegation

An online medium had yesterday, reported that Biafra agitators have allegedly hijacked a merchant ship and threatened to blow it up with its foreign crew if government authorities do not release its detained leader agitating for a breakaway state of Biafra.

The medium claimed that a Defence Ministry source has allegedly confirmed that the hijacking occurred on Friday and called it “an act of sabotage.”

The publication did not mention the name of the ship or where it happened.

The publication also alleged that the Defence Ministry source spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue is sensitive, saying the hijackers have given the government 31 days to free Kanu or they will blow up the ship along with its crew.

We don’t know about it —MASSOB

But the leader of MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said that the group has no hand in the alleged hijacking of any merchant ship or any threat to

Detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu (2nd right). blow up the alleged ship, because they are non violent and have no weapon to hold any ship hostage, let alone seizing and threatening to blow it with its passengers.

He said: “I am aware that a militant group sometime gave the Federal Government twenty one-day ultimatum to release Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, failing which they threatened that they will do what will surprise the Nigerian government. May be it is the group, I do not even remember their name but I heard or read about that threat.

“You know that a lot of groups are springing up from the old Eastern Region to agitate for the actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra and as far as they are fighting for Biafra, we cannot disown them, but they have their own style which I think the Federal Government of Nigeria understands easily.

If you are not violent, they will not understand and they will ignore you. So, we support the group if that is what they have actually done.

“We in MASSOB are not involved in violence, that is why they do not take us serious. They believe we are illiterate job seekers that are frustrated in life and decided to demand for Biafra. They think that our own is to demonstrate peacefully and they will shoot and kill us and go into jubilation that they have dealt with us, but now, they have seen their match. We support the people if they have actually done that."

He further stated that “any method applied by any Biafra agitating group to ensure that the Federal Government of

Nigeria respects its law and court orders is approved by MASSOB, but we in MASSOB have chosen the path of nonviolence and we will maintain it until Biafra is achieved.

No division

MASSOB has also denied reports that the group is divided between the Ralph Uwazuruike and Uchenna Madu factions, battling for supremacy.

Addressing newsmen in Aba, Abia State, Leader of MASSOB, Chief Solomon Chukwu, who spoke through the organization’s National Director of Information, Sunny Okerefaor said that the group was planning to invade MASSOB headquarters in Okwe, Onuimo council area of Imo State to sack the Uchenna Madu faction.

He added that MASSOB cannot allow itself to be distracted by people he described as expelled members who are determined to sabotage Biafra.

Ojukwu Memorial Library as 5th headquarter

According to him, “Ojukwu Memorial Library is our 5th headquarter. We started from Lagos to Aba to Owerri and Okwe and now back to Owerri.

Okwe is MASSOB headquarters; it belongs to MASSOB. It has never been in contention. There are dissidents in every organization. You can observe it in every agitation.

Uchenna Madu was our Director of Information, but he was expelled for anti-MASSOB activities. Anybody not authorized by MASSOB founder, Chief Ralph

Uwazuruike, is fake. The only MASSOB we have is the one headed by Chief Uwazuruike and it has been properly handed over to me. These are people being sponsored by the politicians.

“Uchenna Madu and other expelled members are just using MASSOB to collect money from politicians. Check who are behind the violence during pro-Biafra protests in Aba, Port Harcourt, Asaba and Onitsha? This tells you that they are not MASSOB members. Very soon, I will call Uchenna Madu to order.

Whatever they are doing, we won’t fight them because we are non violent. But at the appropriate time, the world will know they are not our members.”

He disclosed that over 40 groups are fighting for the actualization of an independent state of Biafra, with MASSOB as the parent body and urged the Federal Government to grant unconditional release to the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Seizure not linked to Nigerian group —Defence HQ

Meantime, military authorities in Nigeria have debunked reports in foreign media that Nigerian militant group with sympathy to Biafra and IPOB hijacked a ship and are demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government before the ship will be released.

Speaking with Vanguard on the development, Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig-General Rabe Abubakar said: “It is not true.

The story about the hijack has happened but not within our waters and it is not under any particular group.

“But it (ship) is currently being guarded by Benin Republic Navy.

The name of the Ship is MT Leondias (9279927), a tanker. The ship is presently in Benin waters, about 7.5 nautical miles, off Cotonou Port under the watch of the Benin Republic Navy.”

Plea for bail

Similarly, the General Overseer of Bethel Church of God Mission, Enugu, Bishop Amaechi Agbo has appealed to the Federal Government to order the release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, for the sake of peace and tranquillity in the country, saying that although Kanu had already been denied bail by the court, the federal government can still use an executive fiat or prerogative of mercy to release him from detention, with a condition that he should deposit his two international passports (British and Nigerian) after which his trial would commence in earnest.

In his sermon during a special Sunday service that featured testimonies, ministration, healing and Bible studies, Bishop Agbo contendedthatitwasnecessarytorelease KanutoavoidfurtherprotestsbytheIPOB members which usually end up in destruction of lives and properties and at the same time, created the opportunity for touts and other undesirable elements to infiltrate and take over such protests anytime it is staged.

Anibeze, master saxophonist, dies @ 63

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R. THOMAS Ezenwa Anibeze, a master instrumentalist, musician and leader of the The Blue Band is dead.

The late Anibeze, aged 63, died on Saturday at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. Thomas Anibeze played saxophone with passion. He once played for the likes of the late Osita Osadebe and Christianna Essien Igbokwe before he established his own band.

He is survived by wife, Chioma, four children and five siblings, including Saturday Editor of Vanguard, Mr Onochie Anibeze.

Confirming his demise, Mr Onochie Anibeze said: “This is a rude shock to the entire family.

Thomas was a jolly good fellow, who enjoyed making people happy with music. We are still to come to terms with his passing AWAY but we give glory to God and pray for His grace to bear this huge loss.”

Late Thomas Anibeze

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

INEC bars APC's Ikeazor in Anambra Central election re-run •Says no fresh candidates in 69 re-run elections

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By Omeiza Ajayi

BUJA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has barred the All Progressives Congress, APC, from presenting Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor in the forthcoming Senate re-run elections.

The exclusion of Ikeazor is in line with the directive of the commission barring political parties from bringing in new candidates in 69 scheduled court ordered re-run elections whose dates were announced by the commission yesterday.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday and signed by the commission’s secretary, Augusta Ogakwu.

INEC said it took the decision following Monday ’s consultations with major stakeholders in the electoral process as well as in the public interest.

The affected states are Gombe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi. Others are Taraba, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers.

That of Gombe has, however, been conducted since January 27.

The exercise in the various states would now take place from February 13 to March 19, 2016.

In adherence to the rulings of the various courts in some of the cases, INEC said some political parties and their candidates have been excluded from the race. It also said that only those parties and candidates who participated in the annulled polls would be eligible to take part in the forthcoming rerun.

“Consequent upon the judgment of the court, the commission will conduct the elections in 69 of the said constituencies with the same political parties and their respective candidates who participated in the annulled elections,” INEC said.

With this development, INEC said in the case of Anambra Central Senatorial rerun, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate in the election, Sen. Uche Ekwunife are excluded. Ekwunife has since defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, while the then candidate of the APC in the annulled election, Sen. Chris Ngige is now a minister of the federal republic. APC had recently conducted a fresh primary that threw up Mrs. Ikeazor as the party’s candidate for the election.

In Kogi State, the APC has also been excluded from the senatorial rerun in both the Central and Eastern districts. Both Senators Abdulsalami Mohammed Ohiare and Abdulrahman Abubakar of

the APC would not take part in the rerun, despite having recently orchestrated the conduct of fresh primary elections by the APC

which again threw them up as winners.

The situation is no different in the case of the Okene/Ogori-

Magongo federal constituency of Kogi State where the APC and its candidate, Hon. Abdullahi Bello have been excluded from the race, thus clearing the coast for his major challenger, Tijani Damisa of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

VISIT: Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State (5th left) with stakeholders from the ancient kingdom of Arondizuogu in Ideato political bloc, led by Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe and HRH, Eze Ndubuisi Kanu, during a visit to the Governor at Government House, Owerri, yesterday.

Enugu Assembly passes 2016 buuget

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By Emeka Mamah

NUGU—MEMBERS of the Enugu State House of Assembly yesterday passed the 2016 Budget of N85,179, 449,000 after some amendments.

The bill which had earlier passed the first and second readings was passed, following the presentation of the report by the Committee on Finance and Appropriation headed by Hon. Bismark Eneh as the ministries had defended their own budget estimates.

Before passing the bill, the committee had amended some budgetary allocations, by either increasing or reducing them.

According to the House

Committee Chairman, Hon. Eneh, the committee recommended additional N110,000,000 to the House of Assembly budgetary allocation bringing the figure to N746,226,008, just as it allocated the same figure to the budget of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development bringing it to N2,919,049,231.

The committee, however, recommended a reduction of the budget estimate for the Enugu State Economic Planning by N378,850,000 thereby bringing it to N472,150,000.

Eneh prayed his colleagues to painstakingly join hands, “with our amiable governor, Hon.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to actualise the laudable goals of achieving the theme of this year’s budget of stability and consolidation."

Speaker of the House, Hon. Edward Ubosi who spoke later thanked members for their contributions which helped to shape the scope of the budget and vowed to ensure serious oversight functions for the budget to be implemented accordingly.

“We must back it with thorough oversight.

Everybody should swing into action to ensure that the budget is implemented to the letter,” he said.

Obiano appoints elected LG bosses as transition chairmen like his predecessors in order

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By Enyim Enyim

NITSHA—ANAMBRA state House of Assembly has approved the appointment of 19 out of 21 elected council chairmen and 326 councillors as transition committee members to pilot the affairs of the council areas for three months.

This is coming on the heels of condemnations by political parties and stakeholders in the state.

Two chairmen who were tentatively dropped without reason included Chief Emeka Ojukwu jnr, for Nnewi North and Awugosi Chigozie for Ihiala Local Government areas.

The tenure of the elected chairmen expired on January 11, 2016 and the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano was expected to conduct local government polls to usher in new council chairmen.

A source close to the governor’s office told Vanguard that the

Obiano government had to go back to the old order of using transition caretaker committees

to use council federation allocation for development projects in the state.

Court adjourns hearing on Bianca Ojukwu's suit to Feb 29

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By Onozure Dania

AGOS—THE continuation of cross examination of the widow of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu, in the ongoing legal battle between her and his brothers over the company’s property Ojukwu Transport Limited OTL, before an Igbosere High Court, could not go on as her lawyer asked for an adjournment to enable him file an amended writ of summons.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday ,the claimants’s counsel Nick Omeje told the court that he had an amended

writ of summons and an additional statement of claims and therefore asked the court for an adjournment, for the hearing of the motion.

However, Justice Abdulfattah Lawal, adjourned the matter till February 29, for the hearing of the motion and 26, 27 of April for continuation of trial.

It will be recalled that on Monday she told the court that she was the only one that was legally married to her late husband as she engaged in court, Church and traditional marriage, unlike the other wives who only had the traditional marriage.

She also told the court that

UBA, EMEKA:

APGA faults S-Court judgment

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By Enyim Enyim

NITSHA—THE All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA yesterday faulted the recent Supreme Court judgment that declared Chief Chris Uba and Prince John Emeka winners in the last senatorial election conducted in Anambra South and Anambra North Senatorial zones respectively on grounds that it contravened sections 140 and 141 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

Addressing newsmen at the Government House, Awka, the national publicity secretary of APGA, Chief Ifeanyi Obi-Okoye said that in line with the cited Electoral Act Provisions, the People’s Democratic Party, had no lawful candidate in the last national and state Assembly elections and prayed the Independent National Electoral Commissiontodeclare the seats currently occupied by senators Andy Uba and Stella Odua vacant.

Alternatively, Obi-Okoye urged INEC to return the APGA candidates who came second in the elections as duly elected on the grounds that PDP did not present any candidate in the election.

APC chair promises better welfare for Igbo in Lagos

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By Elizabeth Uwandu

A G O S — T H E Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter, Otunba Henry Ajomale has assured the Igbo in the state of better welfare and co-operation, as he hosted Imo State Liaison Officer, Lagos, Hon. Nze Steve Asimobi in the company of some principal officers.

Receiving Hon. Asimobi and his entourage at the party’s secretariat in Ikeja, Otunba Ajomale said that henceforth, Imo Liaison Office and the Igbo in general, will be carried along in all APC programmes and activities in the state.

Giving reasons for the courtesy visit,Asimobiexpresseddelightatthe efforts of the party chairman and his executive in moving the state forward.

His words: “We are creating an environment where all Igbo in the state and other western states will partner with APC to move the state forward. I promise that the liaison office and all Imo indigenes in the state would join hands for the progress of the party to the benefit of all."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 —17

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HERE is no shortage of excitement in Nigeria today.

Although the incredible revelations regarding #DasukiGate read like something straight out of a telenovela, one must appreciate that it is necessary to purge the system of corrupt acts and persons in order for this country (and its government) to successfully function.

Many of the agencies and parastatals seem to be in a state of chaos, with their heads being successively interrogated for various counts of either fraud or mismanagement. The case of the NIMASA DG and other such agencies which earned revenue in dollars yet allegedly only remitted a lesser Naira equivalent to the Federal Government, proves that without the anticorruption war, the many loopholes and leakages created and enforced by past administrations, would prevail, thus robbing Nigeria and its citizens of the much-needed funds to develop this country.

The EFCC recently communicated that it has been interrogating Sally Mbanefo, DG Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation over the misuse and possible misappropriationofN600million.Ifthisproves to be true, what is left for the next DG to work with? So, to those saying Buhari has not fulfilled his campaign promises, let us sincerely ask, how can he, without first of all recoveringthefundsnecessarytofulfill said promises?

focusingonautoloansormortgages, or encouraging hard working Nigerians to invest or buy shares, we prefer to accumulate non-performing loans awarded to various characters who see shareholders’ money as their personal play thing.

In the #DasukiGate saga, it is interesting that none of the banks holding the funds paid to Olisa Metuh or any of the other accused, are being made to explain the role they played.

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Fixing Nigeria’s 'socially useless' banks

Permanent tax waivers Most Nigerians don’t pay taxes.

In fact, according to the country Director of Action Aid, Ms. Ojobo Atuluku, Nigeria lost an estimated $3.3billion in revenue last year because many companies don’t pay taxes.

Curiously, the Federal Government under the past administration signed permanent tax waivers with some companies, which therefore make only profits and remit nothing to government. This estimated $3.3 billion (N750 billion) lost is three times Nigeria’s budget for healthcareandeducation.So,again, how can Buhari fulfill his campaign promises without plugging such holes and leakages, which exist due to corruption?

Now, let us come to the immoral, complicit banking system that houses these “lost” funds, which rightfully belong to the Federal Government and to the Nigerian citizenry. Let us also compare this to what obtains in other climes. Last year HSBC was fined £28 million for assisting money laundering through “organisational deficiencies” which meant the bank helped a mixture of mafiosos, politicians and businessmen from the developing world (of which some top Nigerians listed in a public report) to make their money appear legitimate.

At the end of the trial, Geneva’s chief prosecutor, Olivier Jornot, said to the bank executives: “This (the so-called organisational deficiencies) is an excuse which will only apply once.” When will Nigerian banks be given such notice? It is not enough for those on trial for corruption to say: “we didn’t know where the money was from”. The Nigerian financial sector is opaque and awash with criminal funds.

Every time a bank launches a C M Y K

Customers at a bank counter meaningless, would-be empowerment scheme which barely benefits a handful of people, and we excitedly celebrate them for handing the people crumbs, I think back to the words of Mark Carney, the English Central Bank Governor who in 2013 cautioned banks against being “socially useless”.

Any bank that doesn’t focus on the real economy, on building small businesses by providing loans to entrepreneurs, a bank that only truly deals with the funds of the 1%, can be deemed “socially useless” for not helping businesses to invest their money and create jobs.

The millions still operating outside of the banking sector often because their money is regarded as “too small” to make a difference, show Nigerian banks are disconnected from real people and their trades which it could build its profit on.

Our banks prefer government officials’ quick, easy money. Hence

Any bank that doesn’t focus on the real economy, on building small businesses by providing loans to entrepreneurs, a bank that only truly deals with the funds of the 1%, can be deemed'socially useless'

why the Treasury Single Account, TSA, was so vehemently opposed by the banks and the politicians whose dirty money is no longer welcome in most Western countries: even Switzerland is attempting reform! Then there is the issue of foreign exchange transactions and round tripping, aided by bank staff.

The illegal diversion of money from the inter-bank market to the parallel market, benefits bureau de change operators; it is this system that enables such allegations as $35 million used to rig an election.

Speculative trading To counter “socially useless” banks and to enable government more firmly control and benefit from forex transactions, the Tobin tax (named after Nobel Laureate and economist James Tobin) is used in financial centres confronted with speculative trading and round tripping (e.g. Mumbai, Johannesburg, Hong Kong).

This tax on large forex transactionsnotonlyraisesmoneyforgovernment but can also be used to finance its debt. In Nigeria, given that many banks were rescued by AMCON using public funds, and to top it all, do little to economically empower the public, why shouldn’t they be taxed?

The state needs funds to deliver change for the common man: let’s get creative and rescue public funds from those holding it hostage. After all, AMCON MD, Ahmed Kuru says rich Nigerians who owe the corporation money

still fly around in private jets rather than repay what they owe!

Nigerian banks don’t invest in Nigerians (we believe it is only the bank of industry or micro credit banks’ job to do this) whereas most of our financial institutions operate under commercialbankinglicences.Ratherthan

Funds of dubious origin These companies are as of yet just witnesses, but if Buhari’s proposed anti-money laundering bill is passed, banks and asset managers handling the alleged proceeds of corruption will be prosecuted, as is done all over the world because a party has indeed committed an offence if he knows or ought reasonably to have known that the funds are of dubious origin.

A certain Nneka Ararume, a former wealth manager with Assets Resource Management, ARM, claimed during the Metuh hearing, that she received $2 million in $100 bills from him, for investments. She wasquotedassaying:“Weonlyhave access to the funds when the client transfers money to us or when the client asks us to transfer money to them, we have all clients’ account details on file.” In which case, why didn’t anyone raise the alarm?

Thankfully, section 15 of Buhari’s anti-money laundering bill states: “It is a criminal offence for anyone to make or accept a cash payment beyond a particular amount” and if such a transaction occurs, it must be reported by the institution and/or its employees.Concealmentofsuchan act is criminal. One thing’s for sure, 2016 will be a most interesting year.

A rewarding one too, for those who refused to take part in the looting.

Obanikoro

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T is evident that Nigerian politicians do not understand the way a democracy works.

If an allegation leveled against you is false, let it be proven to be so, allow the authorities to investigate without insulting them.

EFCC isn’t “deceiving” Nigerians or indulging in “smear tactics” by letting the public know its findings.

Nigerians have a right to know what is alleged to have happened to public funds, which govern-

Obanikoro ment officials hold in trust. The common man’s human rights matter too.

Buhari

President Buhari

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HE challenge facing the war against corruption: our corrupt judiciary. What about establishing special courts? Corruption, with these mind-boggling revelations, is a crime against the citizenry. If properly explained to Nigerians there would be wide spread support for special courts to circumvent corrupt judges. I might

even be in favour of using international bodies to try these cases, perhaps the UN or the ICC as no one is impartial in Nigeria and the accusations are grave enough. Why not an international criminal tribunal, like in Sierra Leone after the war? Make no mistake, we are indeed at war against those willing to destroy Nigeria. *Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the cohost and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBUARY 3, 2016 General Secretary of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, would like the funds being recovered from former public officeholders and their cohorts to be spent on the building of more refineries.

We, however, believe that this issue deserves far more serious attention than merely the spending of recovered funds. President Muhammadu Buhari, who has made the war on corruption a cardinal point, needs to set up a committee made up of members from his government, media, civil society and legal practitioners to monitor the programme of “loot” recovery and spending.

A well-drawn up guideline specifying those returning their “loot” (or being forced to do so) and the amounts should be established. It is imperative that Nigerians be informed about those who took their money and how much they took.

Nigerians should also be fully informed about how the money is being spent.

Making loot recovery transparent So far, the exercise has been shrouded in secrecy, and this dates back to the days of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. The public was informed that several sums of money allegedly stolen by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, were being repatriated from foreign countries. Not much was known about how the money was spent. This led to speculations that government officials might have “re-looted” the recovered funds.

It took the efforts of a civil society advocacy group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability

Project (SERAP) for the public to have a firm indication of how the “Abacha loot” was spent. SERAP had, sometime in 2015, petitioned the World Bank demanding to know how the said “loot” was spent by the Federal Government. The Bank was able to get former Minister for Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to disclose that about $500 million recovered from Abacha was spent in the 2004 and 2005 Federal Budget on roads, electricity, education, water and health across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

This has not doused the dissatis-

faction among many Nigerians who still believe that the money has not been properly accounted for. In fact, SERAP has indicated its intention to probe further by appealing for more information from the Bank.

Unfortunately, the Buhari administration is moving in the direction of its Obasanjo predecessor. It routinely tells the public that “looters” have been returning some funds without providing more, concrete information.

We urge media and advocacy groups to emulate SERAP and insist on a wholesome and transparent handling of the various “loots”.

The public must be kept fully informed and their inputs accommodated since the money belongs to them.

We also suggest that henceforth, the recovered funds should be spent on concrete, identifiable projects that will benefit all Nigerians, rather than spread thin in all sectors.

OPINION Fore h, bad cchoices hoices and the future orexx crunc crunch,

By Adewale Adebayo

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HETHER on TV or radio, newspapers or magazines, websites or blogs, or even on facebook and twitter, different reactions continue to trail the current forex challenge in the country and the announcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, days ago, that Nigerians should prepare for hard times ahead. According to media reports, the CBN had disclosed after its Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja that while the period of low oil prices which last occurred in 2005 lasted for a maximum of eight months, the current situation is expected to continue over a longer period of time. He warned that the situation would necessitate huge sacrifices from Nigerians as well as hard and uncomfortable choices.

However, despite the diversity of opinions and the multiplicity of comments from all those who have been reacting since the news broke, there is a common thread. It is the fact that, as a country, we have made very bad and terrible choices over the years, and some of them even dating back to political independence in 1960. Truly, if we won’t mince words, these bad choices have been many. Indeed, very many!

For instance, successive leaders in the country, especially those who took office from the end of the First Republic, and their ministers of planning and national development, only talked about the necessity

of diversifying the nation’s economy so that oil would no longer be the major source of our national revenue. Yet, while the good times lasted, they did little or nothing to concretely ensure that this lofty agenda was achieved during the tenure of their regimes and administrations or set on an irreversible course for their successors to complete.

For many of the former military leaders we had, after delivering their annual budget speeches, it appeared things ended there so long petrodollars rolled in easily. Even their ministers who stood on podiums to speak at conferences and meetings failed to achieve anything worthwhile in that direction. No detailed, actionable, and realistic long-term strategic plans were put in place. Meanwhile, in the few occasions where these were in place, there were no stakeholders’ consultations to get the necessary buy-in let alone for the plans to be implemented. And even in the few times when policies were put in place, the aftermath was usually policy summersaults years later when another government came to power!

But to really demonstrate how unserious we have been as a country, and indeed, how we evidently cared little about our national economic well-being, we saw nothing wrong

Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria has received no less than $400 billion in aid

wasting billions of dollars importing fuel and settling oil barons claiming fake subsidies every year when the sane and sensible thing we could and should have done was ensuring that our refineries functioned at optimal capacity and satisfying our internal consumption needs while exporting the excess. That way, the 40 percent of official foreign exchange demand being used for importation of refined petroleum products would simply have been unnecessary.

I think our insatiable craze and appetite for foreign goods was also another of our bad choices. We adamantly refused to wean ourselves of the inferiority complex and belief that all things foreign or imported are superior and better. We assumed all things indigenous or locally-produced are not good enough and of lower quality. In fact, we so loved importing all kinds of things, some of which could even be produced here in Nigeria, that the average import bill of the country skyrocketed from N148.3 billion in 2005 to N917.6 billion in 2015, a whopping increase of over 500 % , all within just 10 years according to the CBN. Yet, if we had developed our manufacturing sector as well as focused on further expanding agriculture, we would have leap frogged our economy to higher heights beyond even our own imagination.

Unfortunately, we didn’t think along those lines.

Many of these actions not only underdeveloped the country, but also further worsened the poverty level among Nigerians.

This is aside the fact that our leaders and elite further worsened the situation too by sending their children to study overseas when they could have made our own educational

institutions first-class and world-class if they really had the vision and will. After all, it is said that where there is a will, there is a way.

They equally believed our hospitals aren’t good enough to take care of them when they are sick and started flying abroad for treatment instead of fixing our own hospitals here. They flew to places like Germany, London, France and Switzerland. Of course, many of them sadly died over there. It’s unnecessary to mention their names here.

Desperately-sick average Nigerians, on their part, flew to India.

The final nail that sealed the coffin for us was the pervasive corruption in the system and the scandalous salaries and entitlements politicians gave themselves when the national minimum wage of N18, 000 can’t sincerely take any worker home. Even aids and loans from development partners and international agencies were diverted and not fully used for the purposes they were meant for. Till date, billions of dollars looted by the General Sani Abacha regime are still being recovered from Europe.

Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria has received no less than $400 billion in aid, that’s six times what the United States pumped into reconstructing the whole of Western Europe after World War II, yet we really have nothing super-impressive or outstanding to show for it when we compare ourselves to Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore which got independence around the same period as we did.

Continues tomorrow •Mr. Adebayo, an economist,s wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBUARY 3, 2016—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Nigerians, social media and public office holders

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IGERIANS are becoming ever more creative in the way they employ social media as tools of mass communication. In terms of their engagement of everyday reality and narration of contemporary events, the virtual world is fast becoming not just a familiar but indeed comfortable terrain for many Nigerians. A lot of what goes on social media platforms should, in terms of their mobilisation of popular consciousness, truly be of concern to many of those who abuse positions of leadership in this country. Social media are becoming a veritable means of mass mobilisation and tool of political education in a way never before seen in these parts and that should necessarily get those with soiled political image to worry.

It is not surprising therefore that legislators in the National Assembly recently took the profoundly self-serving and unpopular step to control Nigerians’ access to these platforms. The proposal of a section of the Senate leadership, smarting from what they consider unfavourable scrutiny from online media, to gag online media was met with the angry reactions of Nigerians, forcing the senators to

go softly on the idea while offering afterthoughts as explanation for their false move. But even as we speak and in spite of assurances from both the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, there is no clear indication that the Senate has entirely given up on its ignoble plan to curtail these online platforms that only recently served many of them in battles with their opponents for the control of the political space.

But the truth is that these platforms are a convenient way to keep Nigerians very easily and quickly informed of happenings in their country. This even if one must recognise the relative ease with which the platforms can also be easily manipulated to confuse the unsuspecting, spread falsehood and malicious lies even among informed users. As we become more sophisticated users of online media, we must come up with very creative and acceptable means of standardising their activities without standing in the way of their operations. This is the challenge before everyone who recognises the great potential of online media to serve both good and bad ends. In the present

situation in which we’ve found ourselves among a generation of politicians and public office holders that see public office as a means of fulfilling personal goals and ambitions, social media are a good way to let them know that all eyes are on them and that they can be called to account at anytime.

It’s in this wise that I find heartening the ingenuity of those ordinary Nigerians who employ social media in very creative ways.

The visual language they ’ve created and the narratives it tells are simply compelling. Of particular interest is the way they ’ve tried to contrast governance and leadership styles and responsibilities among Nigerian leaders and their counterparts elsewhere. One way they’ve been interrogating power in Nigeria is to juxtapose images of Nigerian leaders in different situations against those of leaders from elsewhere. Parallels are drawn between these images and readers are left to reach their own conclusion. Even when some of the images provided can’t be independently verified, the underlying message they are intended to convey can hardly be missed.

In one recent example, two pictures of American and Nigerian military top brass are juxtaposed.

In the one, a number of these senior officers are seated side by

With so much to expose, and so much to be silent about, the presence of online media platforms will always be bad news for Nigerian big men

Of good governance and NDIC's handsome pay-off

By Bashir Hassan

I

N a report in Business Insider of India, Amy Cuddy, a professor at Harvard Business School has published a report based on first impressions. In the study she conducted over 15 years with two colleagues, she discovered patterns in interpersonal interactions. In her new book Presence, published last December, Cuddy says people quickly answer two questions when they first meet you: Can I trust this person? Can I respect this person?

Psychologists refer to these dimensions as warmth and competence, and ideally we all want to be perceived as having both.

Interestingly, Cuddy observed that most people, especially in a professional context, believe that competence is the more important factor because they want to prove that they are talented enough to handle your business. But, in fact, she says, warmth or trustworthiness is the most important factor in how people evaluate you. Cuddy gives her reason: “it is more crucial to our survival to know whether a person deserves our trust.”

For example, she says, it makes sense when you consider that in cavemen days it was more important to figure out if your fellow man was going to murder you and steal all your possessions than if he was competent enough to build a good fire.

Apply this to corporate organisations and it matches perfectly. When Stakeholders deal with corporate organisations they are looking for answers to those two questions about trust and competence. And in the corporate world this realisation —that corporations need to comply to set of codes and framework that will guarantee trustworthiness and competence — came in the hard way. It came in the wake of the

collapse of corporations like Enron and WorldCom in the early 2000s and the global financial meltdown of the 2008, which were all attributed to enforceable frameworks that guide how corporations are governed.

And since then measures in the form of codes have been issued to corporations by the regulators all in an efforts to address the quest for trust and competence in the way corporate organizations are governed.

Those measures are today enshrined in the mantra called good Corporate Governance not only in Nigeria but across the world.

So what is corporate governance? It is variously defined as both the processes and structures by which the business and affairs of an organisation are directed and managed in order to improve long-term shareholder values by enhancing corporate performance and accountability, while taking into account the interests of other stakeholders.

Good corporate governance seeks to address several issues all dealing with the governance of an organisation from the responsibilities of its board to its composition and from the board’s structure to issues related to risk management, financial disclosure and audit committees, etc.

In Nigeria, the foremost formal corporate governance code could be traced to the Code of Corporate Governance for Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria which was issued by the Bankers’ Committee in August 2003. This Code was

Ensuring compliance with corporate governance is the surest way to winning the war on corruption

side in very alert and attentive postures apparently listening to a speaker or watching someone that is off-screen. Written below this picture are these words, ‘How would these not kill Osama Bin Laden?’ Or words to that effect. In the other picture, top military men of the Nigerian Airforce and Army are shown in ceremonial gears, slumped and snoozing publicly, in postures that are far from dignifying. The latter picture is a very realistic portrayal of scenes that Nigerians have seen now and again- of top civil servants slumbering in public or members of the National Assembly fast asleep while important issues are supposedly being debated in the chambers. Below this second picture are words to this effect: ‘How can these defeat Boko Haram?’

These images provide graphic statements and accounts of the different ways in which American and Nigerian leaders approach matters of governance and public office. The images were apt and said far more than can be adequately expressed in words.

When their American and other more serious counterparts elsewhere were busy listening to strategy talks on how to capture Osama Bin Laden, Nigerian military leaders would rather sleep than confront Boko Haram the images seemed to be saying.

Such images speak to our present situation in which funds earmarked for the procurement of arms were criminally diverted and shared by top military officers saddled with the responsibility of combating insurgency. They would rather send soldiers into battle without weapons while moonlighting as business moguls and real estate investors.

There was also this image of Barack Obama running to board

the outcome of the work of the Bankers’ Committee’s Sub-Committee on Corporate Governance. It was initiated in response to the financial crises in Nigeria in the early 1990s and in the realisation that poor corporate governance was one of the major factors in virtually all known instances of financial sector distress in the country.

But because it was not issued by a regulator -- having been issued by a voluntary association of the Chief Executives of the banks in Nigeria, otherwise known as Bankers’ Committee -- not much is known about the Code. However, today there a number of regulatory bodies issuing corporate governance codes to organisations in the sphere of influence.

They include: Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) and Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC).

It is the mandate of these regulatory bodies not only to issue the codes but to ensure compliance. In line with this oversight function, we saw how recently Fiscal Responsibility Commission had cause to commend the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for its compliance with good corporate governance.

Following the submission of its 2014 External Audit report of its financial statements and annual report to the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), the Commission reviewed the report and gave the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) high commendation for prompt remittance of sum due to the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federation in line with the provision of the extant law applicable in Section 21 - 23 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007 especially the submission of Audited Financial Statements and payment of 80% of its operating surplus to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Remarkably, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) had examined the NDIC’s

Airforce One while secret service agents run after him. This picture suggests the sense of urgency with which Obama views his job as president, even running up to get aboard an aircraft that is available any time to take him wherever he was bound. Even when the aircraft couldn’t possibly leave without him, Obama still found it necessary to rush to join his flight.

A Nigerian president will not be caught doing that. And when our big men rush on airport tarmacs it is certainly to board an aircraft that has been overbooked and filled like a molue beyond capacity.

Still on these visual narratives of the Nigerian way of life, I was told of an image of David Cameron carrying his own luggage in both hands at an airport. This was juxtaposed with the image of President Goodluck Jonathan, swaggering with a walking stick to take his flight while an assistant walked behind him carrying his luggage. With these kinds of images circulating out there, there is no way Nigerian big men and women, public office holders and politicians, would be short of ideas on how to silence those criticising their unearned lives of privilege. These images highlight the abnormality of our situation. It was on social media platform that Nigerians first saw the shame of a ministerial assistant, a body guard, reduced to the level of a shoe-shine boy by Abdulrahman Dambazau, Nigeria’s Minister of the Interior. At the moment when that image was exposed one can be sure that Dambazau could not have wished social media platforms anything good. With so much to expose, and so much to be silent about in the face of possible exposure, the presence of online media platforms will always be bad news for Nigerian big men.

2014 Annual submission of Audited Financial Statements and Report where it was declared that the Corporation was managed in line with sound corporate governance with its complete and well above average compliance with the sections of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007. It further commended the Corporation for compliance with all applicable guidelines on the establishment of a General Reserve Fund (GRF) wherein 20% of its operating surplus is retained in accordance with the provisions of section 21(1) of FRA 2007.

The report also declared that the NDIC has also been consistent with the payment of 25% of Gross Revenue to Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federation in line with the Federal Minister of Finance circular to all affected agency of Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN). The FRC reported noted with satisfaction that the contribution of the NDIC has undoubtedly increased the revenue base of the FGN. The FRC report also enjoined the Management to continue to consolidate on its laudable achievements in compliance with section 23(3) of FRA 2007 and in pursuit of high standard in terms of financial discipline, governance.

Such exemplary compliance with good corporate governance by bodies like NDIC that also regulate deposit taking banks will go a long way in assuring its stakeholders that the Corporation is both trustworthy and respectful or, to borrow Cuddy’s terms, it is evidence of both warmth and competence.

Every stakeholder will feel safe dealing with NDIC. Ensuring compliance with corporate governance is the surest way to winning the war on corruption, this way we attract foregin investors.If we are to meet the challenge of diversification of our foreign exchange earning sources, there couldn’t be a more urgent imperative.

*Mr. Hassan, a financial analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20—Vanguard, WEDNES DAY WEDNESDAY DAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

PMB please let’s move forward

Dust over murder of secretary for creation of Adada state

By Ebele Orakpo

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•Ugwuanyi sets up commission of inquiry

By Francis Igata,

Enugu

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A N D E M O N I U M eclipsed the frenzy that heralded the last Yuletide at Okwojo Ngwo community located about eight kilometers on the outskirts of Enugu metropolis following the gruesome murder of the Secretary of the Movement for the Actualisation of Adada State, Ejimofor Ozongwu two days to the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Ozongwu who is an Enugubased lawyer was brutally murdered at about 2pm that fateful day by yet-to-be identified hoodlums over a disputed piece of land in his village, Okwojo Ngwo.

Irked by the dastardly act, the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has vowed to activate government machinery to unmask the killers and forestall the occurrence of such killings in any part of the state. The Governor ’s mien at the deceased’s compound showed that he had lost sleep since the disturbing news broke.

Disturbing news The Governor who was accompanied to the compound by the member representing Enugu North/South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Mr. Chime Oji, the former Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia, former State Commissioner for Justice, Chief Anthony Ani, SAN, and other leaders of thought in the area, described the late lawyer as a good citizen of Enugu State who had championed the cause for the creation of Adada State.

Speaking during the visit, a community leader, Ozo Ramsey Onyia, described the late Ozongwu as a “liberator to the community”, adding that what happened to him was beyond the issue of land dispute. He said that the late lawyer had since the early ‘90s been protecting the interest of the villagers, especially the downtrodden. He was optimistic that the Governor’s visit will go a long way to address the issue to the satisfaction of the people of the community and the general public at large.

Conflicting versions of the killing: A version of the story scooped by Vanguard Metro, VM, claimed that the late lawyer went to inspect the disputed land when he sighted his opponents in the dispute and reportedly fired some gun shots to scare them away.

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Gov.Ugwuanyi( left), handing a copy of terms of reference to the chairman of the commission, Justice Fredrick Obieze (retired) during the inauguration of the commission in Government House, Enugu It was alleged that Ozongwu in the course of scaring them, wounded the President- General of the town union, whose supporters then pursued him and killed him.

Another version claimed that a group of youths in the area sighted him while inspecting the land, pursued him and killed him before over running his corpse with a vehicle to make sure that he would not be revived.

Police angle: Operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad,SARS, Enugu Police Command said they have arrested two suspects in connection with the gruesome murder of the deceased.

Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP, Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the arrest to VM, adding that the names of the suspects would not be revealed for obvious security reasons.

Govt sets up commission of inquiry: Determined to unravel the root cause of the killing, Governor Ugwuanyi had set up a Commission of Inquiry into the incident. The Governor called on perpetrators and sponsors of acts likely to cause the breakdown of law and order in the state to desist

Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has vowed to activate government machinery to unmask the killers and forestall the occurrence of such killings in any part of the state

from such behaviour. He warned that the state government would invoke the full weight of the law on such persons.

Inaugurating members of the commission, he explained that the constitution of the commission is in consonance with the policy of his administration to vigorously promote security and rule of law.

The Governor who expressed confidence in the calibre, competence and experience of the members of the commission headed by Hon. Justice F.C. Obieze (rtd), requested them to discharge their duties effectively and satisfactorily.

He tasked them to among other things, determine immediate and remote causes of the disturbances and make appropriate recommendations that would ensure justice and lead to the permanent resolution of the crisis Gov. Ugwuanyi called all members of the community and all concerned parties to give the commission the necessary support to succeed in its assignment. He declared that his administration is committed to the protection of lives and property of the people.

Protection of lives and property In his response, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Obieze (rtd), thanked the Governor for considering them worthy to serve and assured him of their readiness to discharge their duties creditably and to the glory of God. Other members of the commission include Mr. Amechi Okolo, a lawyer; Ambassador Justice Eze; Mrs. May Anayo Enechukwu, also a lawyer and Dr. Anayo Ede who serves as counsel to the commission.

It would be recalled that Ugwuanyi recently paid an unscheduled visit to the warring communities of Umuode and Oruku in Nkanu-East Local Government Area of the State where unknown arsonists razed the Parish House of St. Rita Catholic Church, Umuode.

Luckily, the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Chris Ikegwuonu, escaped death as he was away on missionary activities when the hoodlums struck.

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari should stop chasing shadows and concentrate on providing good governance and dividends of democracy to Nigerians as he promised,” said Mike, a commuter in the CMS-bound vehicle this Monday morning as the radio presenters talked about the huge amounts of money missing from Nigeria’s treasury.

“What do you mean? The man is working hard, trying to bring all those who have stolen this nation blind to book. It seems you are among those that support corruption,” retorted Jide.

Said Mike: “Please take it easy bros. We are busy chasing rats while our house is collapsing. I am happy he is fighting corruption but truth be told, no be only dat we go chop. Everyday we are told how many billions and trillions are missing while every other thing is on hold. Haba! People are hungry for God’s sake!”

“So with what money will he provide dividends of democracy? There is no money right now, so he has to recover the funds in order provide those things we need,” replied Jide.

“No money indeed! You dey the purse? See the way you say it authoritatively. We just hear and parrot it as if we were there. So all the money they have been using to travel the globe, pay their salaries and allowances are from their personal businesses bah? A beg make I hear word!” retorted Mike.

“We are getting it all wrong. First things first! As long as the structure of this nation remains the way it is, we should forget about any positive change. My advice is for them to restructure the country, implement the resolutions of the last national conference. If the system is not restructured, he will be wasting his time. It will be like pouring water on the rock,” counselled Uche.

“But supposing an enemy Army had invaded and plundered Nigeria, will PMB and his co-travellers leave what they should be doing and keep churning out one excuse after another? I think he should see it as such and seek for ways to rebuild Nigeria. After all, they are trying to rebuild all the destructions by Boko Haram.

Strengthening the institutions No one is pursuing the terrorists to get back the things they stole. No matter what anyone says, this nation is still very rich. We have simply refused to think,” said Ken. “You guys amaze me. So we should allow the thieves to go and enjoy their loot while we suffer?” asked Udo. Replied Mike: “Far from it. Try and understand us.

There are agencies meant to do all that; empower them, strengthen the institutions and things will work. Fight corruption by all means but not at the detriment of other sectors. Our economy is now comatose; go to the streets and hear people complaining bitterly.

Said John: “Thanks bro. Your head dey here. We must learn to think outside the box. The world is moving on and we are rooted on a spot. I couldn’t believe the guy budgeted N39.4 billion to search for oil in the north when the world is doing away with fossil fuel. Not only that, Dangote is spending billions of dollars to build the largest oil refinery in Africa at this time instead of investing in green energy.

Continuing, he said: “The US wants to sell off their oil before it becomes irrelevant because of a new discovery about Thorium, with atomic number 90. Scientists have discovered that a teaspoonful of thorium can power a vehicle for 100 years without any need to refuel and here we are still struggling to search for fossil fuel.”

“Exactly! PMB should look for smart people to help him. Instead of demonising the past administration, he should look for the things they did right and improve on them. He should allow the courts and the security agencies do their jobs and talk less. The excuses are becoming ridiculous. I expect the Agric minister, Audu Ogbeh, to leverage on former Agric minister, Adesina’s achievements in the sector and improve on it. We must diversify our economy. Fund researches to look at how to add value to our agric produce and solid minerals for export,” said Mike.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Nine finalists jostle for top slot in EY Entrepreneur Awards

A

Tony Elumelu, Chairman Heirs Holdings (left) and Andrew M. Herscowitz, Coordinator for President Barack Obama’s Power Africa Initiative at the Power Africa Summit in Washington DC.

By Peter Egwuatu

S preparation for the 5th edition of EY ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Awards’ in West Africa enters the final stage, nine finalists from Nigeria and Ghana have been shortlisted in the Master and Emerging categories, following thorough and rigorous screening processes.

Launched in West Africa in 2011, the award programme is about honouring and celebrating entrepreneurs who have combined ingenuity, hardwork and perseverance to create sustained successful growing businesses. The programme has enjoyed international recognition for the past 30 years.

Giving overview of the award, Henry Egbiki, EY Country Leader and Regional Managing Partner for West Africa said “The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award was instituted to recognize and celebrate unique sets of men and women in West Africa who use their entrepreneurial energy and passion to change the world through creating job opportunities”.

Over the years we find that one of the most exciting places where entrepreneurial spirit is alive is across Africa. We at EY will continue to celebrate entrepreneurs in our own little way”Egbiki said.

$115.70

eCertify: NACCIMA to block revenue leakages, end export falsification

By Michael Eboh

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-0.65

$2,770.00 9.00 $13.11

-0.03

$35. 16 -0.83 $32.48 CURRENCY BUYING US DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

-1.14

SELLING

196 196.5 279. 8684 280. 5824 213.836 214.3815 191. 9311 192. 4207 1.6192 1.6233 0.3066 0.3166 270. 2647 270.9541 29.7999 29. 8764 52. 2263 52.3595 28.6458 28.7118 270. 578 271.2683

197 281. 2963 214.927 192. 9103 1.6274 0. 3266 271. 6436 29.9529 52. 4927 28.7919 271. 9585

CBN Exchange rate as at 01/02/2016

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— 21

he Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, has stated that the electronic Certificate of Origin (eCertify) will help block revenue leakages in the country and also put an end to the falsification of export documentations.

In a statement in Abuja, Vice President NACCIMA, Mr. Billy Harry, disclosed that with the introduction of eCertify, the Chamber was helping the Federal Government to save revenue that would have been lost to sharp practices in the area of exports, while it would also help in ensuring a positive image for the country.

He said, “We are helping the government to save revenue and also to boost our image. This is most critical to be able to enhance the image of Nigeria. If prior to now, exporters are short-changing the Nigeria Customs Service, this process will ensure that the shortchanged amount is put in the coffers of the Customs. This is because now, you cannot declare your goods falsely.”

Harry further stated that eCertify would ensure that the quality of Nigeria’s exports meet international standard while also providing accurate export data to the Ministr y of Trade and Investment and the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS. According to him, NACCIMA wants export business to be the next major revenue earner for Nigeria and going forward, it is going to campaign for agriculture and export as a complimentary value for oil and gas.

He said, “And of course, eCertify would create opportunity for more

jobs and boost the employment situation in Nigeria, because the more quality goods we are exporting, the more that particular business would expand. And the more that business expands, the more it creates room for additional staff which is what we need to engage our teeming

youths.”

Continuing, he said, “The Certificate of Origin is now targeted as the last of the export document required to be sure the quality meet international standard, especially the importing standards of the receiving country.

The certification is easily verifiable.

Customs warns against export of prohibited wood products

By Godwin Oritse

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HE Tin-Can Command of the Nigeria Customs Service,(NCS) has said that only semi-treated and fully processed wood products will be allowed through its command as export.

Speaking with stakeholders in Lagos recently, the Customs Area Comptroller of the Tin-Can Island Command, Mr. Yusuf Bashar said that it had to sensitize the trading public particularly exporters on the need to ensure that only exportable wood products are brought in to the port adding that anything short of what the law permits will be confiscated.

Bashar also said that the command had to bring in officials of the Federal Environment Protection Agency, (FEPA) to assist the Customs in explaining and showing to exporters the difference between treated and untreated wood products.

He explained that exports do not attract any duty adding that in the light of falling oil price, the government is trying to encourage Nigerians to export as much as they can with a view to earn more foreign exchange.

“It is an incentive to encourage export because it is assumed that money will come to government based on exportable products from Nigeria most

especially now that Nigeria is having issue with crude oil.

“Price per barrel is going down, it is our major foreign exchange earner so Nigerians must be encouraged to export as much lawful products as possible.

“At a point, we asked ourselves how we can encourage exports from our end, we thought that the best way to do that was to sensitize the people and tell what exports are allowed by law.

“We took wood products as the first item amongst exportable products because it attracts a lot of attention.

“The need for the campaign became imperative due to the seeming confusion emanating from the export of wood products .

“So we met exporters of wood products, freight forwarders of wood exporters, our own Customs personnel and any interested members of the public and let them know the categories of wood that are lawfully exportable”he said.

According to Bashar, other government agencies that approved such exports were also invited to tell exporters what is called processed and semi processed woods.

He opined that the more there is communication, the higher the compliance level ,adding that unprocessed wood is banned from export.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Between 2015 and January 2016, about 30 major markets, nationwide, were gutted by fire with huge resources lost to these unexpected outbreaks

,

,

Delisted brokers to pay non-refundable fee to process appeal

T

HE National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has mandated insurance brokers whose licences have lapsed and wish to re-register under the same name to send a letter of appeal to NAICOM. Such brokers were also mandated to give reasons why the last licence lapsed and must pay a non-refundable fee of N250,000.00 for processing of the appeal.

Recall that NAICOM recently advertised the names of 108 brokers delisted over compliances issues. Out of the 108 brokers, 21 of them are registered members of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB. In a circular to brokers, NAICOM said that if the appeal is sustained, then the broker can apply for reregistration.

NAICOM said, “Payment of application fee (N250,000); Certified True Copy of CAC’s Forms C02 and C07; evidence of payments of the fee in 1 above; payment of all outstanding ISS levies due before the license lapsed; nomination of qualified CEO

and Executive Management for NAICOM’s approval; as well as submission of a Management Account/ Statement of Account as at the last day of last month of the period since the last approved account.”

NAICOM also stated that such brokers must apply for NAICOM’s approval of the members of the board of directors while it will carry out re-registration inspection of broker to determine nonviolation of the Insurance Act and payment of penalties for identified violations/noncompliance even as the broker must attend and be successful at the re-registration interview.

NAICOM said, “There should be submission of the following additional documents: professional indemnity; sworn declarations; other declarations; tax clearance for the expired period of license; certificate of oath from the external auditors; payment of license fee (N2,250,000.00).”

The last phase according to NAICOM would then be issuance of license.

Every Nigerian should be availed quality pension — Fajemisin

C

HIEF Executive of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Eric Fajemisin has said that every Nigerian should be availed of the opportunity to have quality pension fund administration and financial services, which will enable a life of comfort in retirement.

Fajemisin stated that to achieve that, Stanbic IBTC has continued to broaden its service channels so that it can reach as many Nigerians as possible and encourage participation in the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS.

Fulfillment of promise Fajemisin said, “ we will continue to broaden and enhance service channels for efficient service delivery. This is in fulfillment of promise to provide quality and stress-free pension fund administration and financial management services to clients and Nigerians wherever they may be.

“The cardinal value C M Y K

propositions of the PFA are participation, accessibility, quality, convenience and efficiency. Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers can be reached via a number of service channels, which include its over 217 branch offices spread across the country, its 24-hour multilingual contact centre, SMS, Stanbic IBTC ATMs, email, its mobile office, mobile app, and the Pension Guru online.

The PFA is committed to ensuring that clients are able to experience excellent and convenient service in any of its touch points.

Fajemisin said Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers will constantly explore additional avenues where Nigerians can conveniently access its services to meet their pension and retirement needs. He further added that Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers is backed by the necessary experience, strong and sound financial clout of the Standard Bank Group, to ensure efficiency in the management and safety of clients’ investments.

INSURAN Incessant market fire: Insurance operators task govt on easy coverage

By Rosemary Onuoha

B

ETWEEN 2015 and January 2016, about 30 major markets, nationwide, were gutted by fire with huge resources lost to these unexpected outbreaks.

Just last week, the Jakande Plank market in Ikosi area of Ketu was razed down by fire.

Goods worth over N85 million were destroyed as fire gutted the tyre section of the market before spreading to the banana and plank sections. Three cars were also lost in the inferno.

Sadly, property and goods worth billions of naira have been lost to these incessant fire outbreaks across the country. At the end of the day, most of the affected traders are reduced to zero level as their means of livelihood have been destroyed.

And sometimes, when government interfere and rebuilds a burnt market, most traders are no longer able to afford the new rent being charged by government due to the exorbitant rates. But the truth is that all traders who suffer such loss would have recovered their loss if the property or goods were insured.

However, experts are of the opinion that rather than wait until such disasters happen, government at all levels should be proactive and prepare for the future. To this end, there is

need for government to partner with the insurance sector to create special insurance coverage that will come in handy in disaster situations such as fire outbreaks.

President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, Mr. Kayode Okunoren said, “When disasters happen, government will go to the scene of the disaster to symathise with the victims. Sometimes, government could set up a relief fund to cater for the victims; however, we all know that only portions of such relief funds get to those who are affected. So, we are calling on government to partner with the insurance industry to fashion

There is need for government to partner with the insurance sector to create special insurance coverage that will come in handy in disaster situations such as fire outbreaks

out a kind of coverage that will be funded with part of the relief fund. In essence, the government is not making any additional expenditure but only putting out part of the relief fund. As insurance practitioners, we are not saying that government should discard the relief fund entirely as such a move could be likened to giving the insurance sector a death knell because there will be a lot of people and interest to contend with.

However, ours is insurance and it is a proportion of the value of the risks presented that government will pay as premium.

Mitigating losses So, we are trying to tell government that they can concentrate their efforts on governance and leave the area of mitigating losses to the insurance industry. The insurance sector can fully take care of it.”

According to Okunoren, the government will be watching to see if the insurance industry can deliver on such mandate.

“Of course, government will be watching because if something happens and we don’t deliver, there will be no renewal of the coverage. However, we believe that such partnership will work.”

Director General of the

From left: Laura John, External Relations & Policy Advocacy Officer, Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA); Dr. Phil Ofulue, Executive Director, SIFAX Group; Megha Joshi, Executive Secretary/CEO, LCA and Mr Tunji Olusinde, General Manager, Legal/Claims, SIFAX Group, during LCA's advocacy visit to SIFAX Group Head Office.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—23

Residents send SOS to Obiano over Obosi road — Page 36

VOL. 1 NO 54 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARYWEDNESDAY, 20, 2016 Vanguard, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Bishop Francis Okobo (front row 2nd left); his successor, Bishop Godfrey Onah (right) and other catholic clerics during the week-long celebrations marking the Episcopal Silver Jubilee of Bishop Okobo, Silver Jubilee of Nsukka Catholic Diocese and the Priestly Golden Jubilee of Bishop Okobo.

Ugwuanyi wades into Umode, Oruku 6-yr communal war

By Francis Igata ENUGU—IT seems there may be some respite for the warring Umode and Oruku communities in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, following Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s intervention the six years long conflagration, that had claimed lives and properties worth millions of Naira.

South East Voice's checks reveal that natives of the affected communities live in perpetual fear of reprisal attacks allegedly occasioned by the ambition of certain individuals who want to lay claim to a piece land, setting the stage for a protracted showdown.

Hostilities came to a head last Saturday when unknown arsonists razed the Parish House of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Umuode, but the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Chris Ikegwuonu, was away on missionary activities when the hoodlums struck.

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South East Voice investigations showed that the incident, which sent shocking chills down Ugwuanyi’s spine, prompted an unscheduled visit to the scene at Umuode, where he later addressed community members including the former Minister of Power, Professor Bath Nnaji.

The governor declared that Enugu State Government will thoroughly investigate circumstances surrounding the act with a view to do the needful in order to restore lasting peace in the areas.

Catholic Church attack Speaking to South East Voice at the parish house, the embattled parish priest, Fr. Ikegwuonu, lamented the attack even as he revealed that he lost everything in the house to the inferno.

At both communities, there was mild drama as the governor addressed the community members occasioned by women wailing uncontrollably, urging the governor to rescue them from

impending attacks.

It would be recalled that Governor Ugwuanyi had, penultimate Monday, set up a Commission of Enquiry,

headed by Justice Fredrick Obieze, on Okwojo-Ngwo civil disturbances that led to the killing of an indigene, Ejimofor Ozongwu.

Pope Francis, bishops honour Bishop Francis Okobo

By Chinenyeh Ozor

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SUKKA—THE Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, has poured encomiums on the Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Francis Emmanuel Okobo, for dedication and humility to his religious call in his 50 years as a priest, out of which 25 were spent as a bishop.

This was contained in his goodwill message to the diocese during the week-long celebrations to mark the triple jubilee: Episcopal Silver Jubilee of Bishop Okobo, Silver Jubilee of the

Nsukka Catholic Diocese and Priestly Golden Jubilee of Bishop Francis Okobo.

Over 25 bishops, 100 priests and 70 reverend sisters and Senator Chuka Utazi, representing Enugu North Senatorial district, attended the celebrations in the diocese, while different cultural dances from different parishes entertained the crowd.

I was a pagan—OKOBO

This was even as Okobo said that he was an idol worshipper before God

Continues on Page 24

24— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Pope Francis, bishops honour Bishop Francis Okobo

Monarchs urged to use positions for devt

By Chinonso Alozie

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Continues from Page 23 elevated him to the position of a priest and then a bishop.

Okobo was ordained priest on May 11, 1966 and appointed a bishop 24 years later on November 26, 1990.

He said: “I was a pagan before I became a Christian; I was born into a pagan family.

When I look back, I have to ask myself what did God find in me that made Him to elevate me who was once a pagan to become a Christian, a priest, a bishop and now bishop emeritus.

“I remain indebted to the Catholic faithful for the wonderful support they gave me as the first bishop of the diocese.“ The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka was carved out of Enugu Diocese in November 1990 by Pope John Paul II with Okobo as the first bishop. The diocese covers the seven local governments that make up the Nsukka cultural zone including Igboetiti, Igboeze North, Igboeze South, Isiuzo, Udenu, Nsukka and Uzo Uwani.

Under Okobo, the parishes in the diocese rose from 27 in 1991 to 113 in 2013. Currently, it has 163 parishes and a population of 480,326, with 270 ordained priests, 76 professed religious sisters, 10 religious brothers, 205 major seminarians and 342 seminarians.

Papal eulogy

Pope Francis said: “As the first bishop, it was your hard work that made the diocese to grow to its present height. The local churches in Nsukka diocese have been a big family in unity with the universal Church through your hard work in

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God’s vineyard.

“As the diocese joyfully celebrate these festivities, may it continue to help in renewing the mission of all baptised as well as preach the gospel to all generations.”

Speaking during the high mass to mark the end of the celebrations, the President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, whose address was read by Archbishop Anthony Obinna of Owerri diocese, said the bishops appreciated Rev Okobo’s dedication, humility, respect and accountability as the first bishop of Nsukka Catholic diocese.

He said: “The number of bishops at the triple jubilee celebrations was an eloquent testimony of the value and respect the conference has for Dr Francis Okobo in particular and Nsukka diocese in general.

“As the first bishop of the diocese, he mobilised and led many Catholic faithful in Nsukka to the doctrine and teachings of Jesus Christ.

“Looking at the diocese, one will see his immense contributions for the 25 years he served as bishop.”

Okobo's successor

Kaigama also expressed fulfilment on Okobo’s successor, Bishop Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, who since he took over as bishop had consolidated and improved on the achievements of his predecessor, including evangelisation and conversion of souls to God. In his remarks on behalf of the clergy, laity and lay faithful in the diocese, the Vice Chairman of Nsukka Pastoral Council, Mr. Maurice

Ezeamigi, said the blessings of the diocese started with the ordination of Rev Okobo as bishop of the diocese, adding that Okobo was a no-nonsense priest, who would legitimately go miles to get what legally belonged to the diocese.

He said: “Nsukka diocese will forever remain grateful to God for his numerous uncommon blessings and favours in Nsukka diocese since 25 years ago, when it was created out of Enugu diocese.

“The architect, spiritual and pastoral success for the 25 years as diocese was God’s design, using Okobo as the pastor par excellence.

“The diocese is also grateful to God for the gift of Bishop Godfrey Onah as the successor of the bishop emeritus. Onah is an outstanding pastor that the church in Nigeria and indeed Africa would proudly want to display in ecclesiastical showcase.

“The diocese is benefiting and will continue to benefit from Bishop Onah’s many years of experience at the Vatican City.”

Bishop Onah, in his homily, expressed deep appreciation to the bishops, priests and laity from different walks of life for coming to celebrate with Nsukka diocese and the bishop emeritus, adding that the diocese would ever remain grateful to God for his uncountable blessings to the diocese.

Okobo's reaction

Responding to the encomiums ,Most Rev Okobo thanked the diocese and entire congregation for honouring the invitation, explaining that it still surprised him how God loved him to the extent of making him

attain his present status.

The bishop, who thrilled the faithful said that his desire “to offer his life as a Catholic priest was strongly resisted by his parents, who felt that their beloved son wanted to waste his life, hence they went the extra mile to prevent him from responding to this call.

“For instance, my box was burnt twice so that I may be expelled on account of carelessness, but it never worked out.”

He further said that his parents also “ resorted to adding something to my food to distort my mind but all were to no avail. They had to stop and never disturbed again when they discovered that my desire was real.”

Background

Okobo was born on December 4, 1936, to the family of late Ozo Bartholomew Nnabuchi Ugwuja and Lolo Josephine Ugwu Okobo in Lejja, Nsukka Local Government Area of the state.

The Bishop said that he was the first male and the first grandchild in a large family even as his grandfather was an old king (Eze-Lejja) who had three sons, pointing out that he was loved by his grandfather whom he “deputised for in most of his (pagan) religious obligations due to old age,” before he decided to become an ordained priest.

He said: “The people of Dunoka Lejja (where he hailed from) are known as a royal kindred, who believed in the culture, traditions and religion of the community, hence they believed then that, learning the whiteman’s culture through formal education and religion was a waste of time.

WERRI—THE founder of the Royal Centre for Communities Integration and Rural D e v e l o p m e n t , ROCFOIRD, Eze Bobby Chijioke Aguocha, has advised traditional rulers in the country to use their privileged positions to identify and expand developmental opportunities in their localities.

Aguocha, who is the traditional ruler of Umuohuru Autonomous Community, Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State, spoke in Owerri.

He said royal fathers, by their status in the society, should be at the vanguard of guiding development processes for even coming generations, adding that the potentials in their various communities were the reasons for which they should be exceptionally deferent from others, if properly harnessed.

According to him, the involvement of traditional rulers in the development of their communities would help in solving the plethora of challenges in their areas even as the time had come for them to create the path through which their subjects could leverage on through their natural endowments.

Aguocha, however, lamented a situation whereby some of the traditional rulers formed the habit of sitting down in their various palaces waiting for gifts from their subjects, instead of engaging actively in the development of their domains.

He further said that traditional rulers “must form the habit of contributing to the welfare of the less-privileged in the society, no matter how small, as part of their duties towards the wellbeing of their people.”

He stressed that such activities would be enough to spur some wealthy sons and daughters in their communities to embark on community projects.

HRH Eze Aguocha

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—25

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE people of Nnaka, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, last week, celebrated their late traditional ruler, Igwe Gilbert Nwabueze Ofomata, who ruled the community for 24 years before joining his ancestors on February 9, 2015.

Igwe Ofomata, whose title was Obu Nanka of Nanka, was selected and crowned after recognition by the then Military Administrator of Anambra State, Navy Captain Joseph Abulu in 1991. In fact, he was among the first traditional rulers to be recognised after the new Anambra State was created.

Following his death, the late Igwe was mourned, as tradition demands, for one full year before the celebration of his last Ofala. During the ceremony, it was like a mass return in Nnaka as almost everybody that matters in the town was at home to pay their last respects to the late monarch.

During the last Ofala, all the seven villages in Nnaka, led by their chairmen, marched round the magnificent Nanka Civic Centre at Agbiligba Nanka with their masquerades to the admiration of the audience.

They were later to pay homage to the late monarch with gifts, which were presented to members of Igwein-Council.

Secretary of Igwe-in-Council, Chief E. O. Uba, described the reign of Igwe Ofomata as peaceful, adding that during the period he was on the throne, there was also noticeable development in the town.

He said: “All the villages in Nanka accepted and recognised him as the traditional ruler of this community. He listened to

Igwe of Nanka celebrates last Ofala in grand style

Igwe-in-Council

THE TEAM Supervising Editor: Chioma Gabriel, Lagos (08052201257) Editor: Emeka Mamah - Enugu email: emekemamah@yahoo.com) Anayo Okoli, Umuahia Vincent Ujumadu, Awka Austin Ogwuda, Awka Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri Peter Okutu, Abakaliki Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi

Francis Igata, Enugu Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba Enyim Enyim, Onitsha Chinoso Alozie, Owerri Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka Eric Ugbor, Aba C M Y K

Masquerades performing during the ofala reasonable opinions and advice.

Achievements

“Igwe Ofomata preached peace in our community and was an apostle of peaceful coexistence. His popular slogan during festivities in Nnaka, where he was invited, was Always pray to God to bring peace and development.

“He was an astute administrator reputed for his overt avuncular disposition towards his fellow men. It was in consideration of the love he had for the people and the community that made the entire seven villages to gather in large numbers to give him the desired last respects.

“The Igwe-in-Council cannot sufficiently use words to describe this honorable patriot and we sincerely hope that God, in His infinite mercies, will accept him as a worthy servant.”

In their tribute to the late Royal Father, the women of Nanka, under the aegis of Nnaka Patriotic Union, described Igwe Ofomata as an Iroko of the town, who respected the culture and traditions of the people.

To the traditional council of chiefs, Igwe Ofomata’s inspirational leadership, fatherly advice and personal sacrifices made Nanka unique.

The chiefs said: “We have missed an icon. His fatherly

advice would be difficult to replace, but we are comforted by the belief that he is resting in the bosom of our Lord.

A prominent chief in the town, Chief Godwin Nwafor said that with the ceremony marking the end of the Igwe Ofo-mata era, Nanka community will now commence the process of selecting another Igwe for Nanka.

Though the actual process is yet to begin, there are indications that those seeking to ascend the throne are already pulling the necessary strings and the expectation of the people is that the process would be rancour free to ensure continued peace and progress in the town.

Umuozu community in Imo celebrates achievements

By Chinonso Alozie

O

WERRI—THE traditional ruler of Umuozu Autonomous community in Nwangele Local Government Area, Imo State, HRH Eze Uzoma, has attributed the level of development in the community to hard work by committed individuals.

He stated this recently at Umuozu Civic Centre, during his 5th coronation anniversary and chieftaincy conferment on distinguished indigenes and non-indigenes of the community.

Eze Uzoma said: “This occasion is also marked by the conferment of chieftaincy titles on some of our illustrious sons, who have distinguished themselves in their chosen professions, and have also made significant contributions to the overall development if Umuozu.

“In the last years, the landscape of Umuozu has been transforming into a beautiful sight to behold, courtesy of the state of the mansions dotting every village and kindred which were built by our hard working and enterprising men and women.

“Our young men and women are also putting the name of Umuozu on the global scene with their accomplishments. We have reputable and acclaimed professionals in the various academic discipline.”

On his throne, he said: “I emerged as Eze-elect of Umuozu on January 31, 2010 after a free, fair and widely publicised and recognised referendum.

“I was presented to Nwangele Local Government for recognition February 17, 2010 and, thereafter, crowned Ohanyere II of Umuozu according to Umuozu custom and tradition.

“I got my certificate of recognition and staff of office from Imo State government, under former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, which sealed and authenticated my position as the traditional ruler and Ohanyere II of Umuozu Autonomous community.

“Since my ascension to the throne, Umuozu community has made enormous progress in all ramifications.”

HRH Eze Uzoma.

26—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Residents send SOS to Obiano over Obosi road

Gains of Ugwuanyi’s mission to Dublin

By Uwakwe Abugu

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Residents of Ibolo Obosi protesting the alleged reinstatement of their former President General, who they accused of refusing to do palliative work on their erosionprone road before it closed totally.

the former executive without anything to show for it.

“However, we heard that the former president general had been lobbying to get Governor

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—RESIDENTS of Ibolo Layout in Obosi, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State, have appealed to the state government to come to their rescue by addressing the erosion menace threatening their lives.

They said they lost four women last year to the devastating erosion that swept people from their homes and destroyed household properties worth billions of Naira, adding that having survived last year’s erosion, something urgent needed to be done to avert impending calamity that might come with the rainy season.

The residents, who carried placards with different inscriptions, also welcomed the removal of the President General and executives of their town union and their replacement with an interim Executive Committee.

They also thanked Governor Willie Obiano, the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III, and Idemili North LGA for their intervention during their disagreement with their former President General whom they accused of not addressing their numerous problems, in spite of the levies he allegedly collected from them in conjunction with his former executive to do some palliative works, especially on the roads.

They pointed out that this was before the state government and the Obosi Traditional Council appointed the Chief John Umeh-Ugonna led Interim Executive Committee to run the affairs of the community.

Speaking with South East Voice, the community representative in the Eze Obosi Council of Chiefs, Chief Anthony Ekechukwu said: “The residents of Ibolo Layout Obosi are very angry with the former executive, which ruled the community for four years.

“It turned out to be years of

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Chief Ekechukwu (3rd right), representating Ibolo community in Eze Obosi Council of Chiefs, leading other residents of the area to show South East Voice around the erosion-ravaged roads in the area.

Obiano to reverse the appointment of the care taker committee.

“This is why we are protesting and carrying placards.”

Discordant voices over Anambra community’s royal stool

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THERE have been dissenting voices in Ezennaja-Amada village, Oraukwu, in Idemili South LGA, Anambra State, over the selection of the traditional ruler for the community.

However, a section of EzennajaAmada has denied any rift over the choice of a candidate for the stool.

Chief Ogoo Mmeni, Chairman of Ezennaja-Amada village, whose turn it is to produce the traditional ruler, said that contrary to insinuation in some quarters, there is no crisis in Oraukwu over the selection of the next traditional ruler of the town, adding that all the required processes for the selection have been carried out successfully.

While commending members of the caretaker committee set up by the state government for ensuring that due process was followed in selecting the next monarch for Oraukwu, Mmeni explained that members of Oraukwu Congress have carried out Igweship pre-election screening and the election proper and then presented the Igweelect to the people.

The statement from the chairman of the village read: “The election was properly conducted and it culminated in the swearing in of the officers of the 10th Oraukwu Congress on December 31, 2015 in a most convivial atmosphere. That day, to the joy and relief of all, the caretaker committee of Oraukwu Congress stepped down in great honour and there and then, the 10th Congress took over and performed the rest of the functions.

“There were, of course, losers

and naturally such losers would complain, but such complaints do not amount to a crisis. The fact that such persons were not democratic enough to accept the outcome of a transparent democratic process would not amount to a crisis.”

The statement said by a letter dated May 31, 2012, Oraukwu Congress requested EzennajaAmada village to nominate candidates for screening for the election into the office of Igwe of Oraukwu and three people showed interest.

According to the statement, though there were deliberate efforts by a minute section of the community to undermine the exercise, the election was eventually held on December 29, 2015, adding that at the end of the exercise, the results were announced and authenticated by a representative of each of the kindred in the Ezennaja-Amada village, the Obi of the village, a chief from the village and a representative of the chairman of Idemili South LGA. It said that details of the votes cast showed that Chief Vincent Okechukwu scored 20 votes; Chief Pius Okoye, 535, and Dr. Emeka Onuorah, 15 votes, regretting that no sooner were the results announced than the President-General of Oraukwu Congress declared the election null and void.

“The entire process was very transparent and credible and observers from government of Anambra State were on hand to monitor the exercise,” the statement said.

Reaction

However, another section of the community said there was no election, adding that it had been difficult for the king makers in

the town to agree on the modality for the selection of the replacement for the late traditional ruler of Oraukwu.

The groups said that the constitution of the town must be followed strictly in selecting a new monarch, insisting that it would oppose any move to drop some aspects of the selection process.

The group alleged that those in opposition tried to force the Regent of the town, Chief Chiedu, to anoint a particular aspirant as the next traditional ruler without going through the laid down processes.

Chiedu, however, said that most members of his cabinet have insisted that the constitution of the town must be strictly followed in selecting the new traditional ruler and argued that as the custodian of the customs and traditions of the people, he would not compromise the constitution of Oraukwu.

He said: “A situation whereby some members of the community want to circumvent the provisions of the constitution to impose a candidate of their choice on the town as the traditional rule is unacceptable.

“The group had committed an abomination by breaking into my house on December 30, 2015 when I was not around and pretentiously posed in a photograph as having presented their elected Igwe to me.

“Neither myself nor members of Regent-in-Council were around when the group came, but they later went around to announce that I received them.

“What members of the group did was unacceptable and they have to offer sacrifice to cleanse the land before we go back to discuss the issue of installing our next Igwe.”

HE visit of a 13-man economic mission from Enugu State to Dublin, capital of Ireland, has come off as a major move

by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration to attract investors to the state to shore up its economic fortunes and find opportunities to attract international donor agencies to its development needs.

Led by the governor, the delegation began the working visit penultimate Thursday and was in intense engagements with investors, business operators and the management of Dublin City University, Ireland’s foremost tertiary institution, for four days.

It ended on Sunday, January 18, when the delegation wrapped up the working visit with a review session at the Intercontinental Hotels before departure for Nigeria.

At the end of the mission anchored by a Dublinbased newspaper organization—Metro Publishing Consultancy Ltd, publishers of Metro Eireann, Ireland’s multicultural newspaper— Enugu State entered into a working agreement when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding , MoU, with Dublin City University, DCU, to work together to promote mutual relations between the two parties for purposes of developing education in the state in a manner that would also offer value to the university in the capital of Ireland.

According to the document signed at the university by Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Professor Uche Eze, and the institution’s President, Professor Brian McCraith in the presence of Governor Ugwuanyi, “the Dublin City University, DCU, and the Enugu agencies will ha ve relationships and reciprocal visits where the university would have to examine opportunities to broker relationships with funding agencies and other higher education institutes in Ireland and possibly other parts of Europe for Enugu government and its educational institutions as may be spelt out by the terms of such proposed interventions.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 —

Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas said that there is need for government to enforce compulsory insurance policy in major markets and public buildings across the country.

Thomas noted that government needs to enforce the policy against the backdrop of the rising incidence of fire outbreaks in markets and public

buildings nationwide.

Thomas said, “It is worthy of note that the ugly incidents coupled with lack of penchant for mitigation through insurance have continued to deplete the nation’s wealth.

Most of the victims are in the entrepreneurial class who are great contributors to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

So, it would be wrong to

continue to watch without mitigation in terms of insurance cover for property within the major markets. The federal and state governments should enforce compulsory insurance for major markets and public buildings across the country as enshrined in the legal provision under Insurance Act 2003.”

From left: ACP Edward Egbuka, Area Commander, Area 'G' Police Command, Lagos State; Morenike Oshinibosi, Deputy Project Marshal, Abelinis Nigeria Ltd; Abiodun Oshinibosi, Project Marshal and Adedeji Orunkoyi, Project General during the presentation of cheques and other food items by Abelinis Nigeria Ltd to Nigeria Police Children Educational Support Initiative as part of its CSR to mark the 5th anniversary of the company, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Ensure insurance champions easy distribution of products nationwide

E

NSURE Insurance Plc has launched ‘No wahala’ an insurance distribution platform to ensure easy distribution and accessibility of insurance products across the country.

Ensure Insurance, a composite insurance company, formerly Union Assurance, made the launch at the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos last week.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Oyetunji Oshiyiye Head, Retail Channels Group at said the ‘No Wahala’ platform is insurance without the red tape.

He said, “Ensure Insurance is set to revolutionise insurance retail distribution in the country through the use of technology and products that have been designed with benefits to the consumer. The ‘No Wahala’ distribution platform provides convenience as customer only need to send the desired product name (motor, life or house) to the short code (30812) to get insurance."

The starter pack, which is C M Y K

free of charge, was handed out at the mall to shoppers. Each starter pack contains the necessary information needed to buy motor, house and life insurance.

He also explained that the idea was borne out of the need to bridge the distribution gap between insurance and Nigerians. The process saves time, money and mitigates fraud. Recall that Ensure has partnered with Forte oil and Total filling stations, Chicken

Republic outlets and Ebeano Supermarket amongst several other retail outlets, to distribute the free ‘No-Wahala’ starter packs in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Ensure is a composite insurance company owned by Greenoaks Global Holding Limited.

The company provides simple, accessible, relevant and affordable products, along with a strong customer service platform.

TOP INSURANCE GAINERS AND LOSERS

,

CE & YOU

When government interferes and rebuilds a burnt market, most traders are no longer able to afford the new rent being charged by government due to the exorbitant rates

27

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Desk officers should ensure compliance with CPS — Ideva

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HE Management of Premium Pension Limited has taken steps to create awareness and promote understanding of the workings of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, to desk officers and human resources managers.

The company organised the enlightenment forum at its corporate headquarters in Abuja and the participants were drawn from both the public and private sectors.

According to the company, the event is first in the series which is intended to cover as many establishments as possible across the country.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Wilson Ideva emphasised the importance of the forum as an avenue for interaction between the company and officials saddled with pension issues.

Ideva said, “You serve as an intermediary between us and your various establishments.

The level of compliance with the pension scheme would further increase if we all work together.”

Buttressing the company’s resolve to be a major contributor to the growth of the pension industry, Ideva pointed out that the company is the first Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) in the country to receive the Information Security Management System ISO27001:2013 certification by British Standard Institute (BSI).

“This is a clear testimony to our penchant for information security, sound service delivery, good corporate governance and global best practice.”

Also speaking at the event was

the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the company Mr. Kabir Ahmed Tijjani who said that the forum became necessary to shore up compliance level of establishments in the public and private sectors with the Contributory Pension Scheme.

According to Tijani, the forum was also meant to provide an enabling environment to engage with the relevant officials on the challenges they face in discharging their duties.

During the forum participants were enlightened on various issues including the use of Electronic Pension Contribution Collection System (EPCCOS), and its benefits.

Participants were also made to understand the workings of the Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC); its remittance and collection. Other issues discussed at the forum included the growing issue of unfunded retirement savings accounts and other general challenges encountered by RSA holders.

Representative of the Comptroller of Prisons Mr. L.L Dapak commended the management of Premium Pension Limited for professionalism which includes the adoption of cutting edge technology in service delivery.

This position was also corroborated by the representative of the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS), Mr. H. Edema who also thanked the company for the forum which he described as timely. “This programme would help to improve the welfare of retirees and RSA holders and ultimately help to sustain the steady growth of the pension industry,” he concluded.

Operators' reserves to shrink, threaten earnings — Report

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eserve releases for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance companies globally are expected to shrink over the next few years according to Morgan Stanley analysts.

The report noted that companies with about 15 per cent of operating income on average could fall to 11 per cent, presenting a real risk to reinsurers and insurer earnings.

The report stated that reserves have been seen to boost insurance and reinsurance profitability in recent years, however the contribution that reserve releases make to income and earnings is

expected to slow down, with an increased risk being posed to companies reserve buffers.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley, led by Xinmei Wang and Jon Hocking, suggest that, as underwriting and investment returns remains depressed, a slow down or shrinking of reserve releases could present not just a threat to earnings, but also additional pressure on re/ insurance company balance sheets. Analysis from the analyst team shows that while European property & casualty insurance or reinsurance companies still have reserve buffers in place, they are at differing levels and coming under increasing pressure.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Iheanacho: Why I don’t over celebrate after scoring

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anchester City man of the moment Kelechi Iheanacho has disclosed why he doesn’t celebrate to much when he scores goals.

He said he thinks that will derail him from being focused on the job on the pitch.

“I don’t celebrate too much because I think I have to focus on the game to concentrate and work hard so you can get more goals in the game,” Iheanacho said.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup winner at UAE 2013 has scored eight goals in all competitions this season for Manchester City.

Ike Uche joins Malaga on loan

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che said he is joining Malaga “ with eagerness and enthusiasm” Nigeria international Ikechukwu Uche has joined Malaga on loan, only six months after signing a three-year deal with Mexican side Tigres UANL. It is a quick return to the Spanish top-flight for the 32-year-old striker, who left Villarreal in June 2015.

He was injured on his Tigres debut, in which he also scored, and has made no further appearances for the club.

“The chance to return to Spain with Malaga came at the right time and I thought why not,” Uche told BBC Sport.

Uche’s injury, which came after he had scored in a Concacaf Champions League game against El Salvador’s Isidro Metapan in September, meant he could only watch as Tigres clinched a fourth Mexican league title in December.

“Things didn’t quite go as planned in Mexico, it’s the unpredictability of life but there are no regrets,” he said.

“I made friends, witnessed the team celebrate a league title and enjoyed the support of everyone at Tigres.

“The decision to come back didn’t take much thought and I genuinely can’t wait to get started again with Malaga.

“I just want to make a big contribution, repay the trust and hopefully fulfil expectations.”

Uche, an Africa Cup of Nations winner in 2013, is one of Nigeria’s top scorers with 19 goals in 47 appearances.

C M Y K

A

fter two hours of negotiations between football stakeholders in Oyo State that comprises of the Chairman House Committee on Sports, Hon Fatai Adesina, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mrs. Lolade Agboola, the Chairman 3SC Supporters Club, Alhaji. Sina Inolaji and the Chairman Oyo State Football Association, Chief James Odeniran with Coach Kadiri Ikhana, the later on Monday agreed to a pay cut to join the Oluyole Warrior as technical adviser.

The influential coach, according to him was on N1.8 million naira salary at Enyimba where he worked last but was persuaded by the negotiating crew to take N1.2 million as his monthly wages which he agreed but insisted on using hotel accommodation as against the residential arrangement earlier made by the club.

The permanent secretary of the ministry of Youth and Sport, Mrs. Lolade Agboola who led the negotiation team however, gave the coach a target, which is a continental ticket for the team at the end of the season.

The former CAF coach of the year, while reacting to the development pleaded for total cooperation from every

Ikhana to pocket N14.4m per season at 3SC stakeholder in the state, especially the general manager of the club, Rashidi Balogun, stressing that Ibadan football terrace is known to be a volatile one because of the strong passion the people have for the club and only cooperation from all and sundry can bring the much expected result.

The Oyo State Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade who hosted the new coach and the negotiating team in his office moment after the deal was brokered charged 3SC management to henceforth see football from business point of view and cultivate how to use the venture to generates revenue for the government.

Access Bank Lagos City Marathon: Lucozade Sport is official drink

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laxoSmithKline has announced Lucozade Sport as the official drink for the first ever full marathon to hold in Lagos Nigeria. The 42-kilometre run is scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 6th, 2016 in Lagos, after a 30year wait.

The company ’s Group Product Manager, Drinks, Ms. Aigbeme Momoh made the announcement recently in a press statement.

According to her, the decision of the company to support the Marathon with one of its leading brands, Lucozade Sport, is in a bid to encourage a healthy lifestyle among its consumers in Nigeria as well as energise the numerous athletes and participants who will be coming from across the country and various parts of the world for the race.

“Lucozade Sport is recognised globally as the ideal drink for participants of the road races as it has the unique formulation that replaces electrolytes lost in sweat. The product is an isotonic performance fuel that gives you what you need to go on. It is this reason that

makes the partnership with the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon a perfect fit.

The Marathon race is a unique asset and we are proud to be associated with it. It shows our continuous determination to reach our valued consumers wherever they are and provide them with an unforgettable experience as they would witness during the marathon

come February 6th. Our support is to further drive home the brand proposition as the no.1 sport and fitness drink for those who are physically active and for those who aspire to be physically active. Whenever the consumer is going to sweat out some calories, they must get refreshed with Lucozade Sport,” she said.

Moses bac

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ictor Moses has former interna teammate Emmanuel E to succeed at West Ham The 28-year-old’s mo confirmed on Sunday, w Premier League club re the option to make the permanent at the end campaign having spent loan at Al Ain this s scoring nine goals in 15 Moses has suppli support and backed succeed at Boleyn G having already sho strength, pace and fi ability in international f the Uefa Champions and the top divisions Turkey and Russia.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 — 29

Guardiola: Toure’ll leave City – Agent T

he

news that Pep Guardiola will replace Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City manager this summer is to mark Yaya Toure’s departure from the Etihad Stadium.

The four-time African

Footballer of the Year left Barcelona to join City for £25million in July 2010 as thenBarca boss Guardiola preferred Sergio Busquets in defensive midfield.

And after Monday ’s announcement that Guardiola

Klopp, Hughes Hughes Klopp, expect Guardiola’s magic in in EPL EPL magic at and now he will do his job at Manchester City.

“Pep won everything in Spain, nearly everything in Germany, so I think to win everything in England, that is clear.”

Also, Mark Hughes, the Stoke City ome Premier League managers have reacted manager, said that the challenge posed to the Pep Guardiola’s announcement as the next by the Barclays Premier League will be Manchester City manager, and here are some of the a stiff one for Guardiola. things they said: “Until he gets here, we don’t know Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “He is one what he will bring, but the Premier of the best managers in the world, no doubt about League is unlike any other league in this. He had two big, big clubs where he has worked world football,” said Hughes, who knows both Barcelona and Bayern, having played for both clubs, and Manchester City, “I’ve probably played about him ‘Come and express yourself where he managed 20 games with him in the same and you will do well.” from 2008 to 2009.

“He has been very “His strengths? He’s quick Nigeria team since I’ve been playing for Nigeria, he’s been and strong at the same time,” successful of course but he will still need a bit of there and we were together in he continued.

“With the Super Eagles we adaptation.” the team who won the African Claudio Ranieri Nations Cup, where he was top call him ‘The Big Man’. Once believes Guardiola will scorer in the tournament,” he has the ball he has the strength to go through players bring something fresh Moses told club website.

“I’m really looking forward to and he makes sure he wins his to the Barclays Premier League from a tactical him coming to the Club and I battles.

“I firmly believe he will be perspective. am going to make sure he feels “Maybe he can bring good in the Premier League something different,” at home.

“He called me up and told me and for West Ham as well. the Leicester City the club were interested in him. Having a player such as him manager said in his I told him ‘You should come up front gives you that strength. press conference. “His “He’s always played up front style. His tactical and play in the Premier League, West Ham are a family club, for the Super Eagles and matches.

And everyone here is friendly, we hopefully he will come here something good for have a good manager here and and show everyone what he everybody here in the people are lovely. I said to can do,” he concluded.

England.”

S

cks Emenike to succeed at West ham

backed ational Emenike m United. ove was with the etaining e switch d of the t time on season, 5 games. ied his him to Ground wn his nishing football, League in both

will join the blue half of Manchester, Toure’s agent, Dimitry Seluk has said that he believes his client will leave the club.

After leaving Barca, Toure was quoted as telling ONA FM in February 2014. ‘Whenever I asked him something, he always gave strange answers.

He pretty much ignored me until City’s offer came in.

‘That’s why I eventually opted to leave. I didn’t speak to Guardiola for a year. If he had talked to me, I would have stayed at Barcelona.

‘I did not want to go and wanted to end my career at Barcelona. However, he had no faith in me.’

And now, with Guardiola confirmed as City’s new boss, when he leaves Bayern Munich in the summer, Seluk launched a blistering rant at the Spaniard, telling SunSport: ‘I think Yaya will leave the club.

But before leaving I hope he will win the League again and all the cups.

‘It’s not a question of whether Pep likes him or not. It’s life, you know. Pep can call Yaya and speak to him to let him know “I’m with you” or “I am not with you”.’

Neymar will not join Real Madrid – Ronaldinho F

ormer Barcelona star Ronaldinho is confident Neymar will not leave the Camp Nou for Real Madrid and has backed his compatriot to become the best player in the world.

Neymar has been linked by some with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu in recent weeks following claims he met with a Madrid delegation in Zurich ahead of the FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony last month.

The 23-year-old’s representatives denied such a meeting took place, but that has not put an end to speculation he could follow in the footsteps of Luis Figo and controversially leave Barcelona for the Spanish capital.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane and Sergio Ramos both had their say on the matter last week, with the latter suggesting he would welcome Neymar with open arms.

However, Ronaldinho feels a transfer is very unlikely.

“I don’t think Neymar will join Real Madrid,” he told El Mundo Deportivo.

“I hope he will become the best player in the world. He is hugely talented and plays for the best club in the world.

“I think he has what it takes to become the best.”

My goal for African football –Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein

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frica is part of my everyday life, my family’s blood. My wife is African and my children can claim African heritage. The vibrant, pulsating and uniquely diverse culture of Africa occupies a special place in my heart.

So does Africa’s passion for football.

As part of my campaign to become the new President of FIFA, I have travelled extensively across the continent and witnessed first-hand the African passion for the beautiful game. It is a passion I share with the people of this vast continent. And if elected president of FIFA, I will make it my personal mission to help African football grow and thrive.

I see no reason why the Mother Continent whose terrestrial and maritime migrants built civilisations, cities and communities in pre-historic times cannot also create history on the playing fields of today.

Football is woven into the very fabric of African society. From the young boys and girls honing their skills on dusty

pitches to the world-class footballers plying their trade in the cathedrals of the game globally, football is the heartbeat of the continent. The quality and attraction of the Africa Cup of Nations, as well the numerous African national sides competing in the World Cup, fuel the dreams of those seeking to escape troubled lives and a hardscrabble existence.

Africa is home to more than a quarter of the world’s footballing nations. African players have lit up the game with renowned footballers whose roll includes Roger Milla, George Weah, Tony Yeboah, the Touré brothers and Samuel Eto’o. Then there are those of African descent who have become immortalised: Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Nwankwo Kanu, JJ Okocha, Didier Drogba, among them. And we’ve seen the commitment and dedication of these footballers in giving back to the community — offering beacons of hope for a new generation.

The African continent is the perfect example of the good that football can do. From inspiring hope among the young, to supplying memorable and unforgettable moments that light up lives, to helping bridge chasms by uniting people behind a shared aspiration and instilling national pride — football is the ultimate tool for good.

C M Y K

30—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

LG purifier to combat air pollution in Nigeria

NASS commences review of 2003 Telecoms Act PAGE 31

From left: Engr. Ubale Maska, Commissioner NCC; Professor Umar G. Danbatta EVC NCC and Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs, NCC at the event. and condemnable litigations between some operators and the regulator.

These appear to dampen the lightening speed with which the sector was attaining growth.

But, the new EVC who met the press for the first time since appointment four months ago, appears undaunted by those near recessions.

He appeared bold, boisterous and even challenged the media to keep tabs on him on each of

By Prince Osuagwu (Hivandalisation and multiple the eight points agenda he has penetration; improve quality of Tech Editor) & Emeka taxations); several job losses, elected to guide his service; optimise use of specAginam trum; promote ICT innovation; dwindling fortunes of the Code administration in moving the Division multiple Access genre industry forward. facilitate stakeholder HE new Executive Vice collaborations;protect and imof operations and lately fines Chairman of the Nigeri- power consumers; promote fair Industry an Communications Commis- competition and ensure watchdog role sion, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbat- regulatory excellence. ta, last weekend set an unprecThe Nigerian telecom sector, Although you may not expect edented target for himself and with teledensity at over 110 less from a professor of the commission, at his first percent, total investment of well telecommunications, but the world press meeting in Lagos. over $32 billion, created over confidence he exudes, notwithThe new EVC unveiled a two million jobs and 8.38 per standing the unpredictable and massive 8-point agenda which cent to total economic output for nature of the sector The first conscious dynamic he claims is capable enough to the opening quarter of 2015 seemed to reawaken industry move the industry in the way alone, was generally becoming step we took was to players to believe that the of global telecommunications the pillar of technology base in sector is on the March again. set up a task force trend and reawaken the Africa and all the emerging His camaraderie and boldconfidence that Nigeria is still markets of the world. to ensure ness to challenge the ICT one of the new powers to reckHowever, it has also faced media to their industry watchimprovement in on with technology wise. serious set backs in recent time dog role, evoked memories of The 3-point agenda included: with bad quality of service quality of service Engr Ernest Ndukwe. to facilitate broadband (mostly caused by insurgency, A participant at the meeting,

Danbatta reawakens telecom sector activities with 8-point agenda T

PAGE 32

confessed that “ it appears a man like Ndukwe is back again.

This was the atmosphere, the air of confidence and the emboldened spirit which saw Ndukwe succeed. I have no doubt that this man would succeed”.

Danbatta, created two scenarios reminiscent of Engr Ndukwe which may have prompted the comparison. First he elected to stand all through while addressing the news men even when he was urged to do that on his seat. Secondly, he shunned the idea of people coming to his table to exchange cards and pleasantries, rather chose to walk majestically to each table, meeting eyeball to eyeball with each and every participant.

Even when fielding questions one would see a man with unassuming confidence to succeed. His words: “ In this technology era, broadband is the way to go. We have slated six licenses for six zones in the country, for roll out of broadband infrastructures in what we call infrastructure companies, InfraCos.

Broadband infrastructures Their services will help to deepen our broadband penetration. Two among these licenses, the Lagos and North Central zones have been licensed. Though they happened before I was appointed, I have invited MainOne over the license for the Lagos zone, for us to have a meeting on how to roll out services. IHS which also won the North central zone, I will also have a meeting with, in order to make progress. In six months I hope to conclude all these so that the country would see a transformation as far as the broadband roll out in these zones are concerned."

QoS on the EVC's mind According to the EVC, "The first conscious step we took when we came into this administration was to set up a task force to ensure improvement in quality of service. The task force was not to look into the technical factors affecting qual-

Continues on page 32

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—31

LG purifier to combat air pollution in Nigeria

By Laju Iren

A

LTHOUGH air pollution is linked to many long and short term illnesses, not many individuals, organisations and governments in this part of the world seem to be doing enough to combat it. LG Electronics’ however, seems to be employing thoughtful innovation with the recent introduction it’s latest air purifier into the Nigerian market.

The AS35GVGG0 model employs state-of-the-art air filtration technologies to rid the home of invisible air pollutants. The company boasts that Sand dust, formaldehyde, particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), pollen, dust mites and other harmful airborne contaminants are no match for LG’s comprehensive air purifying solution.

The winner of a 2014 Red Dot Design Award and an International Design Excellence Award (IDEA), the air purifier boasts a unique circular shape that adds a touch of sophistication to any environment.

“Clean, fresh air is essential for good health and is especially important where small children and babies are concerned,” said General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. C.Y Park. “That’s why we’re so excited to offer our air purifying solution to consumers in Nigeria. The AS35GVGG0 features our proprietary air filtration systems and can really make a big difference to air quality in the home. It also incorporates a distinctive circular design that integrates well

with practically any décor. LG will continue to service the Nigerian market with innovative, first-class products.”

The LG AS35GVGG0 air purifier greatly improves air quality in the home, utilizing an array of advanced filters to keep invisible pollutants at bay.

Invisible pollutants The first line of defense is provided by the Dual Protection filter, which removes large dust particles, hair, pet fur and even bacteria from the environment. Next, the Allergy HEPA Filter powered by 3M Tech does its part, combating particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), sand dust, allergens, pollen and mold. The Triple

•LG Purifier

Care filter then rids the home of formaldehyde (92 percent, 2 hours), a highly toxic chemical that has the potential to cause serious illness, within only one hour of operation. It also removes smog-causing

Huawei launches Mate 8, M2 devices

By Laju Iren

H

UAWEI technologies began 2016 with a bang by launching two new flagship devices- the Mate 8 smartphone and M2 tablet- into the Africa and the Middle East market.

Speaking at the launch of the devices held in Dubai recently, Vice President, Middle East Region, Huawei Consumer Business Group, (CBG), Mr. Sandeep Saihgal, said: “The Mate 8 is the ultimate high-end smartphone designed for the professional, striking the perfect balance between high performance and long battery life. And when designing the M2, we equipped it with an impeccable sound system to take the user’s experience to the next level.

Latest innovation Both of these devices reflect Huawei’s continued dedication to bringing the latest innovation and style to our consumers.”

Experts say that yjr Huawei Mate 8 is the ideal smartphone for today ’s on-the-go professional. The all-new smartphone is lightweight, sleek and stylish design, dual sim compatible and operates on Android Marshmallow 6.0. It features a stunning 6" FHD display, hosting the most powerful chipset and a highcapacity battery. The Mate 8 delivers industry-leading power efficiency offering over

•Huawei Mate 8

two days of normal usage and with rapid charging technology; the device is able

to charge a day’s worth of power in just 30 minutes.

Speaking about the phone, George Al Kafrouni, Regional Manager, Device Product & Training Middle East Region, explained that, “With the ‘Super Hands-Free 3.0’ technology users can enable their hands-free operation in a variety of environments.

Whether in a car, a conference room or at a crowded party, users can enjoy clear

conversations from up to 3 meters away.

The Mate 8 features omni directional recording and directional playback with three microphones, which automatically detect sound sources and record voices from all directions. Additionally, the Mate 8 provides document readjustment camera mode, which automatically straightens images that are captured at an angle for better viewing.”

pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and reduces the presence of nasty smells. For a final round of purification, the Plasmaster Ionizer sends out over two million Plasmaster ions to sterilize the air; protecting users against potentially harmful contaminants including viruses, allergens and bacteria.

The circular design of LG’s AS35GVGG0 air purifier is also a unique one. A bold departure from the conventional, the round form of the new model is at once comfortably familiar and refreshingly different.

Additionally, the AS35GVGG0 features an LED smart indicator that makes it possible for users to check pollution levels at-aglance.

Yudala ranks second in Google’s brands list

By Laju Iren

C

OMPOSITE online and offline retail chain, Yudala ranked second place in Google’s list of the top ten trending Nigerian brands of 2015. The exclusive list captures the top brands which retained the interest of Nigerians and saw the highest spike in traffic over a sustained period last year.

According to Google, Yudala had made huge waves in the marketplace following the launch of Yudala Online in August 2015, especially with its ground-breaking promise to deliver purchases via drones.

Reports of its first successful drone-powered drop-off in November had subsequently kept Nigerians talking for the rest of the year.

Speaking on the latest recognition, Founder/Vice

President, Yudala, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, reaffirmed the company’s commitment and determination to take charge and set the pace in the Nigerian e-commerce and offline retail sector.

“I am certainly delighted with the recognition we have received from Google, which is one of the world’s most popular and globally renowned outfits. It is a

•Yudala drone

testimony to the hard work we have put in as well as the sound strategies we have in place at Yudala.

“Just few weeks ago, I had mentioned in one of my engagements with the media that Nigerians are yet to see the full scale of the Yudala Revolution.

What is being unveiled at the moment is about 20% of the total package and this latest achievement goes a long

way in justifying this.

“Right from the moment we announced our entry into the market late last year, we have re-defined the retail space with our landmark composite retail strategy – the first in Africa – which has set us apart and shown that Nigeria indeed has a lot to offer the continent and the world at large in terms of innovation.

“I dare-say this is just the beginning as far as we are concerned. We are working round the clock and putting in place the ground work behind the scenes to ensure that Yudala becomes the undisputed retail giant in Nigeria and Africa.

The second quarter of this year shall define our enhanced strategy for ecommerce in Nigeria,” he enthused.

32—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

NASS commences review of 2003 Telecoms Act

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE National Assembly may have considered the extant laws regulating the Nigerian telecommunications sector as overdue for amendment, and have decided on the amendment soonest.

The Nigerian Communications Act 2003 was signed into law by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on July 8, 2003, following its passage into law by the fourth National Assembly and since then, several attempts to amend the Act failed.

The Act provides the necessary guides that enables the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to discharge its statutory functions as an independent umpire and regulator of the industry.

Twelve years after, NASS believes that the Act should go through an amendment to reflect new developments that have shaped and affected the growth of the industry positively or negatively.

Meanwhile, some stakeholders have also expressed the view that timely amendment of the Act would not just provide the soothing nerve for most of the challenges confronting the sector but also put the Nigerian telecom sector on the right footing and also align Nigeria with the world best practice.

Apparently, heeding the call by stakeholders, the National Assembly says it has finally commenced the process of amendment of the Act. The senator representing Enugu East senatorial zone and Senate Committee Chairman on Communications , Gilbert Nnaji disclosed this while reacting to the ongoing controversy between federal government and the telecom giant, MTN in Abuja.

Nnaji who spoke at the official commissioning of Airtel Service Point (Shop) on the first floor of the senate new building, National Assembly complex, Abuja, described the unending feud between the MTN and the regulator as an embarrassment

•Saraki to the country.

As part of its efforts to address such conflicts and ensure the right regulations in the sector, Nnaji said that the committee had commenced the process of reviewing the Act, which he said would address all the existing and rising disputes in the sector between the regulator and service providers.

“The review is necessary because this is an old Act enacted in 2003, so many things have happened that need to be reviewed. As a committee, we have written to NCC and Ministry of

•Danbatta Communication to make inputs.

“We have a lot that we supposed to amend that affect the service providers on their infrastructure in Nigeria to bring more service to Nigerians.

“We have been witnessing poor quality of service all over by all the service providers but we have been dialoguing and discussing with them because there are so many reasons responsible for that, ranging from vandalization, poor power supply.

“If all these happen, there is no way you can have good quality

of service. But we know that the regulator, NCC have been mandated to make sure they prevail on them to improve and with the fine given to MTN, they will improve.

“We are coming in and we have started with dialogue but we are just doing it in house until we have a good agreement between the Senate Committee on Communications and NCC. “We don’t want a situation where foreign investors will come into Nigeria and in the other way chase them away. We wouldn’t allow that to happen,” he stated.

global competitiveness by fostering increased strategic support for technology startups and SMEs.

Promote Fair Competition and Inclusive growth Vision: Ensure a competitive market for communications services that fosters fair inclusion of all actors, in innovative ways that facilitate new investment, job creation and consumer satisfaction.

Strategy: Foster the assurance of fair competition through regulations that ensure strict compliance to obligations imposed on dominant operators in ways that stimulate the growth and sustainability of smaller players in the Mainstream, Value Added Services and Ancillary services sectors of the telecom service provision ecosystem.

Ensure Regulatory Excellence and Operational Efficiency Vision: Ensure an effective regulatory framework, efficient processes, strict compliance monitoring and enforcement, efficient management of internal resources and structure, and maintain a commitment to transparency.

Strategy: Strengthen regulatory and operational systems and processes in ways that make them more result-oriented by further internalizing the Commission’s rules, culture and values, and integrating technology where necessary to improve efficiency, effectiveness and stakeholder satisfaction.

Danbatta reawakens telecom sector...

Continues from page 30 ity of service. It was the parameters that was residual to the commission. We have the capacity to perform those KPI and draw the attention of the operator if any operator is not measuring up. We can also enforce as the case may be."

Continuing, he said: Multiple taxation is still one of the challenges that are impinging on quality of service. However we have made tremendous efforts to ensure that cordial relationship between the operator and stakeholders including states and local government on the way to providing smooth service is maintained.

We have also pursued a bill in the National Assembly to protect the telecom infrastructure. It is the standard all over the world because they are national assets that attract investment to the economy.

We have approached the government to allow us the right to install small transceivers in hotels and other public place in order to enhance reception of telecommunications signals. We do have improvements at the moment but we also hope to have more.

Riot act over arbitrary deductions We are concerned about arbitrary deductions, unsolicited messages that subscribers are

being subjected to. We are going to tell operators in no mean terms that they have to stop. We are also ready to put mechanisms in check to ensure they will comply with the order.

MTN NCC case

I can now confirm that MTN wants the matter settled out of court. Our lawyers have briefed us on it, and of course, we are studying the development.

Breakdown of the 8-point agenda

•Facilitate Broadband Penetration Vision: Provide and optimize access to and use of affordable fixed and mobile broadband everywhere in Nigeria.

Strategy: Facilitate and support availability of broadband services by promoting deployment of universally available, fast and reliable network infrastructure that will stimulate seamless broadband penetration to drive technology innovations and overall productivity of the economy.

•Improve Quality of Service Vision: Promote the availability of reliable, interoperable, rapidly restorable critical information and communications technology infrastructure that are supportive of all required services.

Strategy: Strengthen measures for Quality of Service

(QoS) regulation, through improved oversight/internal controls and facilitation of active infrastructure sharing amongst telecoms operators in ways that will encourage seamless adoption of next generation technologies and remove all barriers to smooth operations.

Optimize Usage and Benefits of Spectrum Vision: Maximize the availability of spectrum in order to provide diverse and affordable ICT services and ensure spectrum acquisition does not distort market competition.

Strategy: Develop and implement flexible, market-oriented spectrum regulation policies that promote highly efficient use of spectrum in ways that stimulate innovation, investment, and job creation and increased consumer benefits.

Promote ICT Innovation and Investment Opportunities Vision: Promote ICT innovation in ways that improve the nation’s ability to compete in the global economy, through increased investment in youth and promotion of SMEs for the delivery of new business breakthrough.

Strategy: Facilitate and support the deployment and use of broadband networks as a platform for economic growth, innovation, job-creation, and

Facilitate Strategic Collaboration and Partnership Vision: Develop effective partnership with relevant stakeholders to foster ICT for sustainable economic development and social advancement.

Strategy: Foster avenue for synergy with government MDAs, Communities and relevant local and international non-state actors to advance the use of ICT for Development (ICT4Dev) by facilitating and supporting the development, adoption and usage of technology innovations for improvement in Agriculture, Healthcare, Education and Security.

Protect and Empower Consumers Vision: Protect consumers from unfair practices through availability of information and education required to make informed choices in the use of ICT services.

Strategy: Strengthen initiatives to educate and inform consumers in their use of communications services and act swiftly and consistently whenever necessary in the use of enforcement to protect telecom services consumers’ rights and privileges.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—33

Rivers monarch tasks politicians on steps to end cultism

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— FORMER Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty Eze Robinson Robinson, has called for the necessary political will to end the challenges of cultism in Ahoada East and West Local Government Areas of the state.

The monarch who spoke against the backdrop of recent invasion of Ahoada East council by suspected cultists which resulted in the death of about 14 youths, said there was urgent need for the political class to take decisive steps to put an end to the monster in the area.

Urging the newly constituted Ekpeye Peace and Security Committee put in place to promote peace in the council to do its best in the anti-cult war, the monarcho lauded the effort of the Police in the struggle to rid the areas of cult related challenges.

He assured that the newly inaugurated peace and security committee would work with the police and other

security agencies to redress the challenges of cultism in the areas.

He said: “We, in collaboration with the police, other security agencies and the chairmen of Ahoada East and Ahoada West councils,

put in place a local vigilante to work with the police. We even put in place a Peace and Security Committee to arrest the degenerating situation, but the political will to make it active it was lacking.

Security so

degenerated that the economy of the area also collapsed. Though there may be some bad eggs in the rank and file of the police who colluded with the hoodlums, the Police is doing its best on a general note.”

SWEARING-IN: From left: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Najeem Salaam; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, during the swearing-in ceremony of All Progressives Congress, APC, stakeholders council, at APC Secretariat, Osogbo.

Delta communities urged to support growth of higher institutions

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—CHAIRMAN, Governing Council, Delta State School of Health Technology, Ofuoma-Ughelli, Dr. Nelson Ejakpovi, has charged host communities to partner institutions of higher learning in the development process of schools in their areas.

Giving the charge when he led members of the Governing Council and management of the school to pay a courtesy visit on the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Oharisi III, Ejakpovi stressed the need for some of the projects earmarked by interventionist agencies to be executed in the host communities to be sited in the institutions.

“We are aware that every year, the communities make input into projects to be executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, as partners in the development of the institution. We will appreciate it if the projects are sited in the institution as community projects,” he said.

He noted that at the education summit hosted recently by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, it was observed that for a progressive education sector, there must be synergy between the institution, the community and parents.

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He solicited the support and cooperation of the kingdom in the development of the School of Health Technology, Ofuoma, saying, “We cannot do it alone, government alone cannot do it without the support of the host community.

The community can attract

projects from the NDDC, DESOPADEC, the oil companies and the illustrious sons and daughters of your kingdom, because, we can assure you of our commitment to improve on what we have seen.”

Responding, HRM Oharisi

III thanked Governor Okowa for appointing serious-minded persons as Chairman and members of the Governing Council of the institution and assured that his kingdom would partner government and other stakeholders for the growth of the institution.

PDP govs back Onaiwu for Edo guber race

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—AHEAD of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, there are indications that governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may have thrown their weight behind the co-ordinator of the Governors' Forum, Mr Osaro Onaiwu.

Vanguard gathered that the PDP governors gave their nod to Onaiwu’s ambition last week after a meeting of the governors in Abuja.

A source close to one of the two PDP governors in the North told Vanguard that the governors feel more disposed to their coordinator, because, “They want to deal with somebody who they know very well. They have dealt with Onaiwu over the years and since he has indicated his interest to run for the governorship of Edo State, they believe this is the best time to pay him for the services he has rendered to the Governor’s Forum over the years.

“The governors believe that the coordinator has imbibed the necessary experience to deliver if elected. When the issue of Edo governorship election was raised, one of the governors told his colleagues that the coordinator (Onaiwu) has been there at the formative stage of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and has demonstrated uncommon loyalty to the party and therefore, should be given the necessary support for the governorship,” the source stated.

WPF tasks lawmaker on purposeful representation

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By Dare Osho

ARRI Progressive Forum, WPF, has urged the member representing Warri South I Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Mrs Omawumi Udoh, to key into the SMART agenda of the state government so as to better the lives of her constituents.

WPF, which was the

campaign organisation of Udoh, urged her to see her victory at the Court of Appeal as a call to further work towards the deepening of democracy in Nigeria.

Addressing newsmen in Warri, spokesperson of the group and Special Adviser, News Media, to Delta State governor, Mr. Michael Tidi, said: “We are pleased to offer our congratulations over Mrs

Udoh’s historic oath-taking as the member representing Warri South constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.

“We express the hope that she will be quite humbled by the tortuous electoral journey she went through and cannot afford to conduct the business of legislation without regard for the genuine feelings of her constituents."

Rivers proclaims Jan 27 public holiday to mark political survival

By Davies Iheamnachor

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IVERS State Government has approved January 27 of every year as a public holiday to mark the survival of the state from the forces of political conspiracy that attempted to subvert the mandate of the people.

It will be recalled that the Supreme Court delivered its judgment validating Governor Nyesom Wike’s election on January 27, 2016.

Speaking, yesterday, Governor Wike reiterated his warning to those planning to rig the rerun elections in Rivers State, noting that they will be treated as armed robbers by the people.

Addressing thousands of civil servants at the state Civil Service Secretariat in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said that the public holiday signifies God’s intervention in the affairs of Rivers State.

He said: “Every January 27 will be observed as a public holiday in this state because that is the day God came down to save Rivers State. What people must understand is that power comes from God. We know God speaks last and he has spoken.”

The governor also announced that February 5, will be observed as a public holiday to enable all Rivers people prepare for the rerun elections.

Okowa urged not to scrap Oleh campus of DELSU

By Simon Adewale

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HAIRMAN Ellu Town Union, Warri Branch, Mr Thomas Omoviye, has appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State not to scrap the Oleh campus of Delta State University, Abraka.

Omoviye, who spoke to newsmen in Warri, noted that the negative effect of such an action cannot be quantified in terms of infrastructure and financial loss, stressing the importance of the satellite campus in Oleh to Delta South senatorial district and the Isoko nation.

Omoviye warned that the move will do more harm than good, noting that the Oleh campus which hosts the faculties of Law and Engineering was among the most valuable faculties of the state-owned university.

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 , 2016

Nigeria's governance structure, wasteful —Anyaoku •Insists on six federating units •Asks Bishops, Imams to question sources of donation

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By Francis Igata

NUGU—APPARENTLY infuriated over the dysfunctional structure of governance in the country, former Secretary General of Common Wealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, yesterday, declared that unless Nigeria returns to six zonal structure where the six geopolitical zones form the federating units, the country will continue on a wasteful spree devoid of any meaningful socioeconomic impact.

The septuagenarian regretted the subsisting feeding-bottle practice of the 36 states that rally at the Federal Government monthly for split milk even as he bemoaned the inability of the states to pay workers' salaries The elder statesman expressed dismay at a public symposium organized by the Bible Society of Nigeria, BSN, tagged,”Impact of Bible translation on evangelism” held at Cathedral Church of Good Shepherd, Enugu.

While delivering a keynote speech, Anyaoku said: ”With the structure of governance we currently have in place where the 36 states run to the centre every month for survival,the country will certainly continue on a wasteful spree that will not yield the much expected socioeconomic growth.

“We should return to the six federating units structure as was in the first republic when we had four federating units or regions to encourage rapid growth.”

On the fight against corruption that has ravaged every segment of the society,the former Common Wealth scribe lamented that, ”although Nigeria was described as the most prayerful country in the world, we are yet to see that translate to improved morals in the society. There is high level of

corruption everywhere including that of exam malpractice where parents even encourage their wards to indulge.

“Religious institutions should teach their flocks on the virtues of hardwork. People should know that integrity and good character

are the hallmark. The worshiping of money in our society should never be encouraged.

Bishops,Imams should question people who donate huge sums of money in the church on their sources of income.”

Owerri monarchs react to kidnap of confusion and fear in the land. colleague “We hereby issue an ultimatum is dastardly and an

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By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—TRADITIONAL rulers from Owerri geopolitical zone yesterday poured deadly curses on the hoodlums, who kidnapped the royal father of Nguru Nweafor community in Aboh Mbaise local government of Imo State, Eze Oswald O. Anyanwu.

The aggrieved royal fathers moved in groups to several road junctions in and around Owerri municipality, where they placed the curses before speaking to Vanguard.

According to the Head of Traditional Institutions in Owerri Zone, Eze Chidume Okoro, the royal fathers received the news of the abduction of their brother traditional ruler with shock.

“The current kidnapping of Eze Oswald O. Anyanwu adds to the growing list of monarchs abducted in the state, in the past few years, in what now looks like a declaration of war against the revered traditional institution and the foundation of our cultural heritage”, Eze Okoro said.

While saying that Owerri monarchs were united in the condemnation of the dastardly act, the Owerri Zonal royal fathers also reasoned that the kidnapping of traditional rulers “is not only an abomination but also desecrates the traditional institution.

“Handcuffing, blindfolding and throwing the custodians of our tradition and cultural heritage into car booths, for whatever purpose,

abomination,” Eze Okoro said.

The royal father noted that “this developing phenomenon and recurring acts of humiliation, desecration and abomination against Ndieze in Igboland is obviously responsible for the denials, failures and rejection of Igbo at various levels of our society.”

The monarchs equally noted that despite the strategic programmes of the security agencies to make Imo safe for all, the kidnappers have turned their arsenals against the royal institution, with a view to causing

to release Eze Oswald O. Anyanwu within 48 hours or face an unending calamity in their lives and their lineage from the source of power of monarchs”, Eze Okoro said.

Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, said that there was no report on whether the royal father has been released or not.

“The security agencies are still sniffing all the nooks and crannies for his release and possible arrest of the perpetrators,” the PPRO said.

Aregbesola charges new APC stakeholders to be good ambassadors

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By Elizabeth Uwandu

SOGBO—GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has charged the newly constituted stakeholders councils across the 30 local governments and Modakeke area office by the All Progressives Congress, to be good ambassadors of the party.

Aregbesola said this during the inauguration of the committees at the party secretariat , on Monday in Osogbo.

He said: "The elders' council are expected to educate and enlighten party members at their various wards and local governments on party policies and good governance."

According to him, the council is expected to brainstorm on

pertinent issues relating to party affairs and election matters.

The governor charged the council of elders to checkmate any anti party policy that might dent the image of the progressives at the grassroots.

He said: "The government would create an enabling environment towards harmonious relationship with the stakeholders council. “ The government will continue to work harmoniously with the party stakeholders council by creating a good enabling environment,” Aregbesola said.

Aregbesola also called on party faithful present at the ocassion to support the government in paying their taxes for the growth of the state.

On Supreme Cour e as Riv er e Go Courtt declares Wik Wike River erss Stat State Govvernor he Supreme Court of Nigeria has made my day with the affirmation of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike , may God continue to grant those Justices wisdom to carry out their functions. I am not a member of any political party. Mr. Peter Fowoyo, Journalist

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very right thinking political analyst expect this judgement, the supreme court cannot contradict its judgment in Lagos that gave Ambode the governor, so I know all along that Wike is the governor and will be returned. Miss Bukola Okereke, Secretary

I

f Wike had lost at the supreme Court the PDP would have blamed Buhari or Tinubu for interfering in judiciary process but now that Wike had won, who should be praised for this?

Is it Buhari who had allowed the rule of law to prevail. Mr Ismaila Abubakar, Worker

T

he judiciary is surely not helping matters. I really expected this judgment when I heard the comments made by the Chief Justice of NIgeria after the court of appeal ‘s judgment. Is that not interference? That is just my view. Mr Stanley Olisa, Graduate

O

By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—IMO State Government has dispensed with the services of all the revenue agents that has been doing business with it since the advent of the present administration.

Announcing the measure during a press conference in Owerri yesterday, the Commissioner for Internal Resources and Pension Matters, Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, fumed that government cannot authoritatively say what its real revenue is at any time.

“Government does not have access to the cash books of the agents. They post whatever they like and give whatever they like. This is not acceptable in this austere times”, Ajumbe said.

According to the Commissioner, the revenue agents are occupying government offices and neither pay utilities bills nor rent, stressing that at the end of the day, government still pays them 40 percent of their declared receipts.

“What is also most disturbing is that these revenue agents do no pay any tax on the monies paid to them”, Dr. Ajumbe said.

Answering a question, the commissioner said that all business establishments owned by religious organizations will henceforth pay commensurate taxes on their income.

Ajumbe also disclosed that any allowance paid to traditional rulers in the state will also attract commensurate tax.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

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Imo govt sacks revenue contractors

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big thank you to the supreme court for saving lives in Rivers State.

At least, the court did not go the way of Salami-gate by upholding the perverse Salami type of judgement of what the election tribunal and appeal court ruled.

Miss Olanma Brenda, Student

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hile waiting for the Supreme court to give its reasons on February 12 for today’s judgment in respect of Rivers State Governorship election, l want to say that Justice (Mrs) Kekere-Ekun is an incorruptible judge.

Mr Richard Akinola, Activist

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 — 35

MONEY LAUNDERING: Dutse emirate council suspends Lamido's son

By Aliyu Dangida

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UTSE—DUTSE Emirate council of Jigawa State has suspended the son of immediate past governor, Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido from his traditional title of Santurakin Dutse and District head of Bamaina with immediate effect.

The Ex-governor’s son was suspended by the emirate council alongside his close friend and Dokajin Dutse and Ditraict head of Kiyawa, Aminu Wada Abubakar.

The duo are standing trial on alleged money laundering charges.

The suspension letter from the Emirate Council with reference No. ECD/69/VOL III/1060, dated January 31, 2015, written in Hausa Language, and addressed to Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido, reads: ”Greetings and best wishes.

Following a letter of command which His Highness received from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, with reference No. SSG/AF/S/A/14/VOLL.III/82, of 19 Rabi’ul Akhir, 1437 AH equivalent to January 29, 2016, the government of Jigawa State through Dutse emirate council has approved your immediate

suspension from the position of District head of Bamaina and District head of Bamaina based on the laid down Civil Service Rules section number 04301 and 04412.

This suspension according to the letter signed by the council secretary, Mallam Yunusa Garba, said was sequel to the ongoing

court case involving the former governor’s son and his friend at a federal court in Abuja.

The copy of the letter was sent to the Chairman of Birnin-Kudu Local Government, Khalid S. Ibrahim for his information on the emirate council’s decision to suspend the District head of

Bamaina, Mustapha Sule Lamido.

The two young traditional rulers (Mustapha and his friend) together with the eldest son of former governor, Aminu Sule Lamido, are currently standing trial on money laundering charges.

MEETING: From left; Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, MD of Bank ofIndustry, BOI; Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President; Mr. Olusegun Awolowo CEO of NEPC and Ms Maureen Ideozu, Technical Advisor to Mr Awolowo, after a meeting with US Secretary of Commerce in Abuja.

Dankwambo moves to stimulate key economic sectors in Gombe

By Franklin Alli

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OVERNOR Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State has voted N760 million to stimulate key economic sectors in the state.

Speaking during the

presentation N76 546 billion being the 2016 Budget tagged ‘Budget of Consistency and Transformation’ to members of the state House of Assembly, the governor said: “The economic sectors which stimulate the growth, development and provide the

FCMB upgrades service platform to Finacle 10 occasions of service unavailability at

By Nkiruka Nnorom

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IRST City Monument Bank, FCMB, Limited has upgraded its service delivery platform by deploying the Finacle Core Banking solution version 10 to enhance worldclass service excellence and customer experience.

In a statement, the bank explained that the new generation banking platform would also accelerate innovation and support its business growth in the rapidly changing business environment in which it operates.

With this development, the advanced service-oriented architecture (SOA) of Finacle 10 enables the bank optimise its processes; enhance system reliability, performance and security, among others. This ensures that transactions at the bank’s branches and other touch points are now faster with rare C M Y K

its alternate channels, while offering more innovative products to customers.

While expressing gratitude to customers for their patience and understanding during the upgrade process, the bank assured that it would continue to expand its platforms and further raise the bar in products and service offerings in line with its culture of excellence and values as a simple, reliable and helpful lender.

Commenting on the development, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun, said, the bank was excited to have successfully concluded the Finacle 10 service delivery platform upgrade.

He said; “we are conscious of the needs of our target market and the evolving dynamics of the society with an increasing technology savvy population. The new Finacle 10 solution provides us the flexibility required to create new pathways for enhanced offerings and service excellence using ways

investment base with their components are Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Science and Minerals Development, Rural Development, Trade and Industry, etc., is to gulp an estimated figure of N760,000,000.00” According to him, N6.2 billion would be spent on the social sector with focus on higher education; accreditation and conversion of School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Health Technology into colleges

with the flexibility to upscale their courses.

He said: “N1 billion is voted for higher education, while N2.

668 billion is channeled to Health. Youth Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation has an allocation of N 750 million.

Women Development and Empowerment earmarked with N265 million; Sports Development, N 250 million while Culture and Tourism got an allocation of N80 million.''

ANTI-CORRUPTION: ‘Falana’s move against Okonjo-Iweala appropriate’

By Elizabeth Nwandu

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HE League of Patriotic Lawyers has said that the decision of a human rights activist Mr. Femi Falana ,SAN, to drag former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and others to the International Court of Justice, is a move in the right direction.

Briefing newsmen, President of the association, Mallam Abubakar Yesufu urged Falana not to be discouraged by the criticisms trailing his action in some quarters, adding that no better honour could be done to the late Gani Fawehinmi’s memory than to fight against impunity and financial recklessness.

His words: “The League has

thrown its weight behind Femi Falana in his attempt to assist in sanitizing the cesspool of corruption that has bedeviled our political space for nearly two decades. ‘’The league commended Falana’s courage to drag the former Madam Okonjo-Iweala before the international court of justice. Those who turned our soldiers to lame duck and soft targets to be preyed upon by the Boko Haram by deliberately refusing to fund or misappropriate funds already appropriated definitely are subjects of international court of justice and proper sanction awaits them when their indictment is eventually unsealed now or in future.”

Jigawa moves to shore up economy with NASENI

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O V E R N O R Badaru Abubakarof Jigawa State has restated his determination to partner National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, to improve the state economy.

Governor Abubakar stated this when he received Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Professor Mohammad Sani Haruna, in his office.

The governor noted that NASENI was strategic partner in the quest for a modern, simple machinery that would save the state huge fund expended on power and water supply.

He explained that his administration planned to convert 115 mechanised water schemes to solar powered ones this year to reduce the cost of operation in the sector even as he maintained that similar effort was top gear on the conversion of sodium bulbs lightening roads in the urban areas to light emitting diode, LED, bulbs due to its low energy consumption.

He stressed the readiness of his administration to partner NASENI on conversion of a number of dams for hydro electricity generation, deployment of simple tools on agriculture to reduce manual labour, solar power for water scheme and streetlight, and e-learning tools to strengthen its educational sector.

Southern Sun Ikoyi hotel wins award

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OUTHERN Sun Ikoyi hotel has been adjudged the winner of the international online travel review website Trip Advisor‘s ‘Travellers Choice Award 2016’.

Winners of the award are selected based on reviews and opinions collated from its global online travel community.

General Manager, Southern Sun Ikoyi hotel, Mr. Mark Loxley, while thanking the hotel’s customers for their continued patronage, attributed the hotel’s success on the international online platform to the many customers who filled-in a review form and sent their comments about the hotel’s service to the travel site during their stay at the hotel.

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

ICAN: From left— President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Otunba Femi Deru; Chairman of the session, Chief Ade Ojo, and Registrar/ Chief Executive of ICAN, Mr. Rotimi Omotoso, at the institute's Entrepreneurship Initiative Programme in Lagos.

IBIDAPO: From left— Son of the deceased, Chief Rotimi Ibidapo; Deputy Governor of Osun State, Titi Laoye-Tomori, and Ondo State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant, Dr. Michael Abraham, at the burial of late Mrs. Racheal Ibidapo in Owo.

REACH FOR SKYE: From left— Head, Retail Banking, Skye Bank Plc, Nkolika Okoli; Star winner of the N1 million category (Executive Driver), Abdulwahab Aliu, and Relationship Manager, Wharf Road 2 branch, Skye Bank Plc, Olubunmi Awosemo, at the seventh cheque presentation to winners in the ongoing Skye Bank’s Reach for the Skye millionaire reward scheme in Lagos.

OANDO: From left— Senior Officer, Lagos State Fire Service, Mrs. Fanuga Shabi; Chief Operating Officer, Oando Marketing Plc, Mrs. Olaposi Williams; Dealer, Oando Alausa Secretariat Service Station, Mrs Oluwunmi Ajakaiye, and Head, Sales, Oando Marketing Plc, Mr. Babafemi Olabiyi, at the re-opening of the upgraded Oando retail station in Lagos.

AJAPA-IJAW: Mr. Joseph Evah (left), Mr. Aubere Tunke (2nd left), Mr.

DELOITTE REVIEW: From left— GMD, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Paul Gbededo; MD, Sahara Power Group, Kola Adeshina, and CEO, Financial Derivatives Company, Bismarck Rewane, at the Deloitte sectorial review of the 2016 budget in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Agah Agbede (3rd right), representative of Delta State Deputy Governor, and others during Ajapa-Ijaw Women's Day celebration in Lagos.

IOD'S EVENING: From left— President/Chairman of Council, Institute of Directors, IoD, Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Akeju; Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), and past President, IoD, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, during the Institute’s members evening in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

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IKA: Dr. Julie Kalusi (2nd right), Principal of E g b o r o d e Secondary School, Mr. Simon Enaibe (right), and others at the redemption of scholarship pledge by the Ika family in Egborode, Delta State, to indigent students of the secondary school in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the late patriarch of the family, Chief Jury Ika.

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, FEBRU ARY 3, 2016—37 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA FEBRUARY

Could his drinking be the reason I’m not yet pregnant?

Hostile stepdaughter Dear Bunmi, A few weeks ago, I attended my stepdaughter ’s wedding with my husband of 20 years.

As usual, she did subtle things to let me know I wasn’t welcome. For example, she addressed the invitation to only her father and feigned surprise that I even attended the engagement ceremony.

She’s coming for a visit soon to thank her dad for his financial support and my

husband said he would like me to be there when I made the excuse I had a prior engagement. I can already imagine how uncomfortable I will feel. If I don’t point out her shortcomings, he pretends not to notice. I’d always hoped his daughter would grow up and we could be friends. But after the wedding I reached my limit.

I’m sorry my husband is caught in the middle, but what

Did my husband infect me?

Dear Bunmi, After being divorced for a while, I met up with an old flame I’d left 30 years ago.

We rekindled our relationship and eventually married. I knew he’d cheated on previous partners, but he always assured me that it was in the past. Then last year, he started coming home late and claimed he was too tired for sex.

Shortly afterwards, I was shocked to discover that I had a sexually transmitted disease - and so had he. I asked him if he was cheating, but he denied it. Then I found a woman’s number on his mobile. He said he had no idea who she was. Although I have no concrete proof that he’s cheating, I know in my heart that he is. I just don’t

know what to do about it.

Chika, by e-mail.

Dear Chika, I think you know in your heart of hearts that your husband is cheating. Even worse, he’s risking your health. It’s widely believed that once a man cheats, he will cheat again. I can’t tell you what to do now but be rest assured that being on your own isn’t as bad as you might think. An innocent partner would be outraged if he had an infection he knew nothing of and I’m sure he would have kept quiet of his disease if you hadn’t mention it.

Seek counselling if you must. Your peace of mind is more important than a relationship without trust.

am I supposed to do?

Charlotte, by e-mail.

Dear Charlotte, You call addressing an invitation to only one person in a couple subtle? I wouldn’t call it that at all! I think that’s an intentionally in-your-face message that says, “I don’t want you around.” I can understand why you’ve had enough. Your husband ignores his daughter’s insults because he is afraid to jeopardise his relationship with her. He doesn’t seem to realise he has other options.

Like any adult, your stepdaughter has a right to pick the people she surrounds herself with. Sure, most of us fantasise about being part of a perfect family, but it is her prerogative not to like you, and her father can’t make her. It’s time to put an end to the pretence. He needs to spell out that anyone who disrespects his wife is disrespecting him. An insult to you by an omission, exclusion, or outright hostility is an insult to him too.

Ideally, your husband should get on board with you. It’s your call as to whether you see your stepdaughter, so if the prospect makes you uneasy, don’t be around when she comes by. When you find yourselves in the same place, do the decent thing and be polite. But there’s no need to force the issue.

His debts are ruining our marriage Dear Bunmi, I’m living a nightmare! My husband of five years is a chronic debtor, it seems as if borrowing money is second nature to him. He’s taken every available loan in his office and has borrowed money off neighbours and friends. No month goes by without irate people he’d borrowed money from coming to the house breathing fire.

He’s even gone as low as to borrow from artisans in the neighbourhood.

The trouble is, he’s not a generous husband and father to our child and it is virtually impossible to plan for the future with all these debts hanging down his neck. I have threatened to leave but he is urging me to have more children. How can I stay in this kind of situation?

Chioma By e-mail.

C M Y K

Dear Chioma, However much you love your man, heavy financial problems will strain your relationship. Money issues are major arguments topic for couples and you need to sort out your husband’s recklessness before you decide on having more children.

By the sound of it, your man is not good with money, but

do you know on what he spends all these monies he keeps borrowing? Does he gamble? Is he on drugs? Does he support a lot of members of his extended family? Your husband needs to change and very quickly too. His habit is one of the most difficult to break, so set your mind on keeping him if you can, by helping him manage his finances.

By the sound of it, your man is not good with money, but do you know on what he spends all these monies he keeps borrowing? Does he gamble? Is he on drugs? Does he support a lot of members of his extended family? Your husband needs to change and very quickly too

Dear Bunmi, My fiance and I have been trying for a baby since the beginning of last year but we are not having any luck. The point is, I have a sneaky feeling the fault might be his as I already had a child from a previous relationship. My man drinks beer three or four times a week. Do you think this could be the reason I’ve still not fallen pregnant? I’ll be 30 years old soon.

Janet by e-mail.

Dear Janet, You could well be overreacting here! It’s quite normal for a couple not to conceive right away. As much as it is advisable both of you live a healthy life, your man’s

alcohol consumption doesn’t seem to be over the top. In short, you seem to be blaming him for the fact that nothing has happened yet. This is probably because you’re scared, either of not getting pregnant or that it might be your fault.

Holding your man responsible will just cause needless friction at a time when you should be building your relationship in preparation for the challenge of having a baby. Why not relax for a change? Doctors recommend couples should seek professional help after trying for a baby for a year.

Wait till then - if you still haven’t conceived, then go back to your doctor for a check-up.

She’s carrying religion too far Dear Bunmi, MY girlfriend is an official member of a leading pentecostal church and she takes her religion seriously so much so that she always recoils at the idea of having sex. She says it’s against the teachings of the Bible. This makes me sad. I am a Christian myself and I go to a reputable orthodox church from time to time.

My girlfriend’s attitude is really upsetting me. I know a lot of our religious friends who are happy in fulfilling sexual relationships, why should our situation be different? At times I even wonder if she’s not hiding something more sinister from me. I’ve asked her to reach some sort of compromise by giving me oral sex but she says nothing can be done sexually until we are married.

It seems as if she is using her religion as a bait for us to get married.

What can I do? If she turns out to be a pig-in-a poke after we get married, what could I

do? Do you think there’s anything I can say to change her views? I want her so much.

Funsho by e-mail.

Dear Funsho, As you must have realised by now when people have deep religious beliefs, it is impossible to change their views and unwise and unfair to try. It doesn’t matter that some religious people do have sex before marriage, what matters is that your girlfriend doesn’t believe in it. You want to know what you can do?

Why not marry her if you want her so desperately? If you really love each other and believe you could have a good life together, marriage should be the next step. That way, you could have all the sex you want without messing up her life. But, if marriage is not in your agenda, then call the relationship off and move on. That should also free her to find someone who believes what she believes. Then both of you will be happy.

It doesn’t matter that some religious people do have sex before marriage, what matters is that your girlfriend doesn’t believe in it; You want to know what you can do? Why not marry her if you want her so desperately?

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

38—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

IMMEDIATE past Commissioner for Special Services, Legal Matters and Due Process, Office in Abia State, Mr. James Okpara, a lawyer, has picked holes in the Court of Appeal judgement nullifying the election of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and awarding victory to Dr Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, saying the Supreme Court will do justice on the matter and uphold the overwhelming wishes of the people of Abia State.

O

SHOWDOWN IN THE faceoff between the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over control of the Abia State Government House has lately been at the issue of discourse in political circles in the state and among concerned political stakeholders. At issue is the judgment of the

Court of Appeal nullifying the election of Governor Okeizie Ikpeazu of the PDP as governor on the basis of alleged irregularities in three local government areas of the state. The court in its decision pronounced the APGA governorship candidate, Dr. Alex Otti as the rightful winner of the

S-Court ‘ll do justice — OKPARA

By Clifford Ndujihe

N why protests greeted the Court of Appeal judgement,.

We have to understand what is happening from the historical perspective of Abia State politics. Abia is divided into two distinct blocs - the old Bende Division and the old Aba Division. The old Bende Division has eight local government areas and the old Aba Division has nine.

Abia North is exclusively old Bende, Abia South is exclusively old Aba; and then in Abia Central, we have three local government areas from each of the two divisions. This is the composition of Abia State.

Starting from the First Republic, Dr M. I. Okpara, Premier of Eastern Region, was from old Bende Division and when you come to the period of the military rule, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Major General Ike Nwachukwu, Amadi Ikweche, Admiral Chijioke Kaja, Navy Captain Osondu were all from old Bende.

Also, the first civilian governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, is from old Bende, before the creation of Ebonyi State, •Okpara: Appeal Court ignored obvious facts when his community became part of today’s Ebonyi State. need for fairness based on voting strength of these three LGAs, rotation. So, for the first time they it is one-third of the entire voting Civilian had the chance and they voted strength of Abia State. So, there is governors overwhelmingly for their son. nowhere A or B can win Abia So, for someone to say governorship election without the The remaining former civilian suddenly that this thing they have result of one-third of the state’s voting governors, Orji Uzor Kalu and been dreaming of and got is no strength.

Theodore Ahamefule Orji, were longer so is unacceptable, to As a lawyer, if you were to preside also both from old Bende though them. over the appeal, what would you under the current political This is part of the tension, have done? division, Kalu is from Abia North especially because they were or I would have thrown out Dr. Otti’s while Orji is from Abia Central. about to be denied this appeal as lacking any merit. Look, So, this has been the issue. No opportunity. Obingwa, the local Dr. Okezie won the election fair and Ngwa person had governed the government area of origin of the square. What the court said, making state. All they have produced governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, references to the malfunctioning of since the days of the late Chief and the two neighbouring LGAs, the card reader, was that there was Sam Onunaka Mbakwe of old Isialangwa North and Osisioma, over-voting and rigging.

Imo State were deputy which is his natural base, the But no evidence of rigging or governors. votes of these three local electoral malpractice was tendered The two deputy governors that government areas, which before the court. No security agency, Mbakwe had, Dr Agbalaha and favoured him overwhelmingly, the Police, the Army, Navy, etc, gave Chief Paul Uzoigwe, were all were totally cancelled by the any evidence of violence or from Ngwa land. It is as if the Court of Appeal. malpractice. rest of the state is saying that the This means that Ikpeazu, his What the court said was that the card old Aba cannot produce the wife, family and relatives did not reader showed that X Y Z voters were governor of the state. So, Abians vote for him. Another issue here accredited through the card reader came together and felt that it is is the voting pattern of Abia State. and more votes were cast. fair that the current governor of We all know that to win a So, the court cancelled the elections Abia State should come from governorship election in Abia in those three LGAs and ruled that Ngwa land, from old Aba State, you must win Obingwa there was over-voting. But everyone Division, especially from Abia and Bende. Otti won in Bende in Nigeria knows that in the 2015 South, or if you like, from Ukwa and Ikpeazu won election it was not only the card Ngwa. This is based on rotation. overwhelmingly in Obingwa, his readers’ accreditation that was used.

During the last election, local government of origin, only INEC announced openly that practically all the political parties for the court to cancel it, in because the card readers were chose their governorship addition to Osisioma and malfunctioning, manual accreditation candidates from Abia South as a Isialangwa North. should be used to support it. sign that everyone accepts the Now, when you look at the

Ikpeazu is delaying CHIEF Victor Umeh, the immediate past national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the party’s candidate in the Anambra Central Senatorial district in this interview affirms the party’s victory in the Abia State governorship election.

W

HAT is your take on the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which has offered your party a window of taking over Abia State and the way some lawyers are faulting that judgement?

I think that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has only one option left in law and that is proceeding to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement of the Court of Appeal.

I don’t have any problem with him going to the apex court to challenge the judgement because it is his constitutional right.

But to begin to sponsor mayhem in Abia State because there was a judgement against him is what I consider barbaric.

Requisite spread The judgement of the Court of Appeal would not have come to any man of justice with any surprise because the Abia governorship election was won by Dr. Alex Otti convincingly with the requisite spread across the state.

He was the most popular candidate in that election and Abia people yearned for change from what they have been experiencing in the p r e v i o u s administration.

So, Otti became the new face of hope for the people and that was why the major city in Abia State – Aba became a no go area

for the candidates of the other parties other than Otti.

All the rural local governments were also for him. I was there during the election and Otti won everywhere except the three local governments where they decided to do the impossible – the home local government of Ikpeazu (Obingwa), where the PDP got 82, 000 votes out of 86, 000 registered voters and APGA getting only 1,000 votes.

In Osisioma, PDP got 42, 000 votes and they allocated 900 to APGA.

Returning officer You can now see how Ikpeazu got over 120, 000 votes from just two local governments in an election that recorded about 25 per cent voters’ turnout across the local governments in the state.

Such things cannot be tolerated in sane society.

You will recall that the returning officer in that election cancelled the results from the three local governments based on reports from his officials on the field.

Against this scenario, Ikpeazu is still claiming that he won the election.

He lost the election and what the Court of Appeal did was to serve justice to the person who deserves it. Otti won the election and you could see that from the spontaneous eruption of excitement and jubilation in Abia State the day the Court of Appeal ruled on the matter.

So, the peoples’ mandate has been restored to the person they gave it to, but as soon as that jubilation was shown on television, Ikpeazu and his party sent money across to the local government to organize people to come and protest in Umuahia and Aba. Their thinking is that if they don’t protest, the Supreme Court may think that the

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—39

Akwa Ibom judgment:

ABIA

election, a judgment that has elicited strong approvals and disapprovals based on political sentiments.

Two partisans of the two men in separate interviews review the issues on ground ahead of the Supreme Court judgment that will put a seal to the agitations of the two contending camps.

reality — UMEH

Expectations high on all sides TENSION gripping Akwa Ibom State was raised to fever pitch last weekend with speculations that the Supreme Court would today give judgment on the electoral dispute between the governorship candidates of All Progressives Congress APC Mr. Umana Okon Umana and Mr. Udom Emmanuel of the People’s Democratic Party.

By Chioma Onuegbu

I

•Umeh: The peoples’ mandate has been restored judgement was popular.

But a number of lawyers have come out on television to argue against the judgment of the Court of Appeal?

I am so surprised when I see such things. I never believed that it is possible for lawyers to start passing judgement on a matter that is subjudice.

I saw one SAN on television talking in a manner that in a civilized society, his certificate would be withdrawn from him.

Even if he is an expert in Constitutional Law, he remains a lawyer.

Delivering judgement He cannot become a judge when he is an advocate. He is fully aware that this matter has gone to the Supreme Court but he is busy delivering judgement on behalf of the apex court.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should sanction him because his conduct is unethical. What he

should have done is to seek to consult for Ikpeazu or to represent him in court and not to come on television and start disparaging the judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal that has competent jurisdiction on the matter.

He cannot pretend not to know that he is usurping the powers of the Supreme Court by making such unguarded statements and inciting the public.

Otti won the election and you could see that from the spontaneous eruption of excitement and jubilation in Abia State the day the Court of Appeal ruled on the matter

N T E R E S T I N G LY stakeholders and supporters of both political parties appear confident of getting victory in the legal battle even as some prefer not to speculate over the matter until after the verdict.

The Supreme Court ruling on Rivers governorship election which reversed the earlier nullification of Governor Nyesom Wike’s election by the lower tribunal and Court of Appeal seems to have doused the tension and fears that had enveloped supporters of Emmanuel following the Appeal Court ruling that nullified his election as governor.

The thinking of many in the party is that the Supreme Court could in the same way it applied to the Rivers dispute bring a similar relief to the PDP in Akwa Ibom.

In an interview with Vanguard, a PDP elder, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga who also served as DirectorGeneral of Udom Emmanuel Campaign organisation explained that the ruling by the lower courts were political judgments even as he noted that the party was ready for any outcome of the final judgment on the legal battle.

Political judgment His words, “Nobody was surprised with the Appeal Court verdict, it was a political judgment, but we are expecting a divine judgment at the Supreme Court. This is because we believe that the justices in the Supreme Court who have reached the peak of their career, are more matured and will look at the matter more dispassionately. Even at that we are preparing for rerun and those that voted for us will still vote us again.

“However all that the country is expecting is that the rerun will be free and fair if we want democracy to stay. That is where the problem could come because it is not Udom that is on trial, it is actually democracy that is on trial”.

Similarly the Commissioner for Information and Communication Mr. Aniekan Umanah during a media interaction few weeks ago said

Akwa Ibom PDP was quick to say that they were confident that the Supreme Court will reverse the earlier ruling by the Appeal Court that cancelled the entire governorship election wondering why almost all the PDP litigations in the National and State assemblies were upheld except the governorship position.

“This is a question that even a child would ask; that you did the same thing, with the same process; the accreditations were not different, so how come the same court upheld the house of assembly election of the 21 members that were all taken to court and then on the other hand the same court now said the governorship election was marred by irregularities and therefore cancelled election in the entire local government areas.

“So you see that is what pricks the mind and we believe these

The thinking of many in the party is that the Supreme Court could in the same way it applied to the Rivers dispute bring a similar relief to the PDP in Akwa Ibom

•Emmanuel: PDP

are the issues that the higher appellate court would be looking at. We are very confident that justice will come but in any case it does not matter the angle you look at it from, we are ready for any situation. And we are very confident that Justice will come”.

The APC on its part is equally not expecting anything different from the Appeal Court judgment as they argue that the grounds on which the APC in Rivers lost the governorship legal battle was different from that of Akwa Ibom.

The Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Ita Awak was optimistic that the Supreme Court judgment would be hinged on the weight and overwhelming evidence the APC brought before the court.

He said, “Any averagely intelligent person knows that cases are won based on the strength of the facts pleaded, the weight of the evidence presented before the justices of the Court and that was what APC in Akwa Ibom did”.

“In Akwa Ibom we got the records in the 31 LGAs that is the difference between the case of Akwa Ibom and Rivers. And another important issue is that PDP could not produce any evidence to justify their claims in court."

So it is on the basis of our evidence against the PDP which they could not defend that we are very, very confident that the Supreme Court will uphold the decision of the Appeal Court”.

Meanwhile in the past few weeks both political parties were observed to be reaching out to different socio-political groups, communities on solidarity and thank you visits which many see as part of strategy to woo the electorate in expectation of a rerun in the state.

•Umana: APC

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

When political storm threatens development in God’s Own State This is the concluding part of this piece which was first published January 18. A major focus of his development efforts appears to be infrastructure, especially the construction and rehabilitation of roads for which several projects were initiated

By Mike Ebonugwo

U

NDER the aegis of this initiative, the Governor had appealed to friends and Abians in general to assist him in giving a facelift to the affected schools as well as adopting indigent pupils of these schools as a way of giving them a sense of belonging and in the process reverse the trend of drift to private schools.

Under its Universal Basic Education Provisions, the Abia State Government has launched a pilot arrangement to feed

30,000 primary school pupils three times in a week in 10 local council areas. Pupils are to be fed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Market development: Among the many achievements credited to the administration is the establishment of the Abia State Markets Development Committee, ASMDC, charged with the responsibility of restoring sanity to all markets in the state.

This is expected to complement the ongoing War Against Street Trading in Aba and relocation of traders to new sites.

Under the arrangement, new

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu acknowledging greetings from the mammoth crowd on his arrival for the inauguration of Owere road in Aba. With him are some top government officials. markets are to be provided with modern conveniences, standard roofing, police post, motor parks, fire service posts, among others, to bring them to international standards.

Establishment of agencies: Also listed in the administration’s score card is the establishment of a Traffic Management Agency, similar to the one in Lagos which has at least 200 employees.

There is also the Public

Infrastructure Management Agency whose duty is to make sure that touts and those who abuse public infrastructure are checkmated.

But all that Governor Ikpeazu is believed to have achieved so far will come to nought if the recent Appeal Court ruling nullifying his election and declaring his major rival in the election winner is not reversed by the Supreme Court. Indeed

the judgement came as a rude shock to the Governor and his teeming supporters in and outside the state.

Arising from this is a raging battle for the soul of the state. Abia state is not a stranger to political leadership succession crisis.

Unfortunately the crisis engendered by the Appeal Court judgement is presently threatening to tear ‘’God’s Own State’’ apart. It all began with the governorship election of last year that saw the emergence of Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the duly elected Governor of the state.

But his victory was subsequently challenged by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, flagbearer, Dr Alex Otti, at the Elections Petition Tribunal.

Failing at the Tribunal, Dr Otti had proceeded to the Appeal Court which last week overruled the Tribunal and declared him winner of the election.

Since that development, the state has not been the same as sections of the state have reacted in anger, threatening fire over the judgement. Indeed many aggrieved Abians, including prominent, highplaced individuals among, have been taking to the streets to protest what they have angrily described as a travesty of justice.

Travesty of justice In the fore front of the mass protests which began on Saturday, January 2 and grounded activities at Aba, were men from Ukwa Ngwa part of the state led by former Senate President, Adolp Wabara and Chief Gershion Amuta. On Monday, January 4, black attires-clad Ukwa Ngwa women took their turn as they stormed Aba and also brought the city to a halt.

The following day, members of the Abia Renion took to the streets of Umuahia and ended at the Govt House to register their grievance over the judgement and to express solidarity with the judicially embattled governor.

But in what will appear as a balance of protests, Otti’s supporters have also taken their turn in the streets to hail and celebrate the judgement which they believe will soon usher their man into Government House Umuahia.

Speaking on the Appeal Court judgement, CPS Adindu, affirmed that it was indeed a travesty and rape of justice, adding that all should ‘’rise up to condemn the judicial rascality and brigandage of the Appeal Court judges that handled the Abia guber appeal’’.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—41

FOCAC, the China-Africa practical bilateral cooperation

OGUN @40 : Reminiscences of an indigene

By Yusuph Olaniyonu

T

HE publicity created around the 40th anniversary of the creation of Ogun State by the State Government has set me thinking. It created a rush of memories. I was about ten years old actually, a primary four pupil, when the announcement of Ogun State as one of the three created from the old Western State was made. In my part of Abeokuta, which had then become the state capital, I doubt if anybody could talk of seeing on television General Murtala Ramat Muhammed as he announced the creation of new states. This is because I can’t remember any household with a television set. Even the black and white one. Oh, maybe there was one in the house of late Chief Akin Majekodunmi and I think the set was more of a status symbol. It was rarely on.

Yet, it was celebration galore.

People were generally in a gaymood. The ancient city was going to become a state capital, the seat of a new government, with the implication for attracting development projects, galvanizing the local economy and creating new opportunities for individuals. People were gathered around the redifusion which was the wireless radio set attached to walls in most houses. For the opinion leaders who had assumed the responsibility of agents of diffusion of new information, discussions were built around the new status of Abeokuta.

New status of Abeokuta In school, during civic studies classes, the states and their capital cities as well as names of the military governors also changed.

There were now 19 states. No longer 12 states. New states like Ondo, Ogun, Niger, Imo, Cross River, Gongola and Benue States joined the older 12 states whose names also changed. Myself and my colleagues began to adapt and memorise the changes in the Nigerian federation.

As young as I was, I had my own group in which we frequently discussed national events and issues. I remember in that group, there was Foluso Feyisitan. There was Kehinde Kafidipe who is now a military officer, Akeem Ogunsiji, myself and Kehinde Ladipo. Foluso could speak English very well and knew a lot about the military. He had come to join us from a private school in Lagos. That was the era when public schools were better run than private schools.

At that time the military guys had become the ruling elite. We would gather together and share stories about the military. Those stories became juicier with the death of General Muhammed and the trial of the coup plotters that followed.

From a brochure from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) that Foluso brought to school, I knew all military ranks in the order they followed. We had picture clips of all military men who were members of C M Y K

Ogun State

the then Supreme Military Council, the Federal Commissioners and the military governors.

The creation of Ogun State and the emergence of my town as the new state capital rekindled new interest in public affairs in some young lads like me. Like some of the older men around us, this new status of our town raised a lot of hope. It inspired aspirations. It opened new vistas and possibilities. Many families welcomed their kinsmen who had hitherto lived and worked in Ibadan and other provinces. They returned to Abeokuta by transferring their services to the newly created state.

Some came to join the civil service.

Those were perfect examples of creation of states bringing governance closer to the people.

I am sure that many Nigerians believe that shortly after the creation of Ogun State it would become the number one state in terms of holistic development. This is because of the history and antecedents of her forebears. The saying that when you take Ogun State out of Nigeria, then what is left is not worth much is perhaps arguable, but not without some merit. The State is the home of the longest serving Nigerian leader, former President Olusegun Obasanjo who served Nigeria as both military head of State and elected President. He was then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters and became Head of State less than two weeks after the creation of the state. That is also the home of Chief Ernest Shonekan who was the only non-elected civilian head of the Nigerian government. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose government introduced free education and initiated many pioneer development projects in Nigeria, was from the State.

Others like the only Nigerian to

Since 2002, there have been conscious efforts by various administrations to lift the State to a level where she can benefit from the tremendous opportunities that abound in Lagos

win a Nobel laurel, Prof.

Oluwole Akinwande Soyinka; first Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Adetokunbo Ademola; first Nigerian to sit on the Supreme Court bench, Justice Olufunmi Jibowu; first African specialist in Psychiatric medicine, Prof. Adeoye Lambo, who later became Deputy Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO); first Nigerian to head the Civil Service, Chief Simeon Adebo who later represented the country at the United Nations; first Nigerian Chartered Accountant, Sir Akintola Williams; first woman to drive a car in Nigeria, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and her three prominent children, Olikoye, Olufela and Bekololari; first woman chartered Accountant in Nigeria, Mrs. Toyin Olakunrin; and first woman to head a bank in Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Ayoka Kuforiji-Olubi; were all produced for Nigeria by Ogun State.

Leaders in the professions The first Nigerian to own a bank, Chief M. A. Okupe who started the Agbonmagbe Bank; first Nigerian to own a merchant bank, Otunba Subomi Balogun; the owner of Globacom telecommunications, Otunba Mike Adenuga; and the founders of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Fola Adeola and late Tayo Aderinokun; are all from Ogun State. Pioneer in the Entertainment industry like Chief Hubert Ogunde and stars like Asa, D’ Banj and Ayinde Wasiu; are all made in Ogun State.

With these array of Nigerian leaders in the professions, industry and business, so much is expected from the state. Many believe it should lead the other states in the area of administration, infrastructural development, service delivery to the people and modernized economy. The State has lived up to expectations in some areas and at some times, she has also failed the people in others. For example, shortly after the creation of the State, the military government established a radio station, the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) and later the Olabisi Onabanjo administration added the state television service. Immediately, both OGBC and OGTV seized and dominated the nation’s airwaves.

They became the “Nation’s Model Stations” and almost all of the people who are big players in the broadcasting industry today either cut their teeth in OGBC and OGTV or learnt from a professional who had earlier gone through the two stations.”

Olaniyonu, the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun State, is Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President.

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu & Victoria Ojeme HE 6th Forum on China Africa Cooperation, FOCAC, a triannual collective dialogue platform for co-operation between China and Africa, stands as a signal of the dynamic and expanding nature of China-Africa intended Win-Win cooperation.

According to Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Gu Xiaojie, who said that it has been 15 years since the mechanism of FOCAC was co-founded by China and Africa, with the theme, ‘Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development’, the Johannesburg Summit is the second of the FOCAC, following the Beijing Summit in 2006 and notably the first ChinaAfrica Summit to be held on the African Continent.

The meeting gathered that from the year 2009 when China became Africa’s largest trading partner, China and Africa, particularly Nigeria, have since forged strong economic relations, pointing out that the inception of FOCAC has become an important platform to assess a broader trend of the Sino-African partnership.

T

Tremendous growth It was also noted that from the time when bilateral trade broke through the record of 10 billion U.S. dollars, China-Africa trade has been witnessing interesting tremendous growth, as every year witnessed one higher step.

Also, there is a growing volume of Chinese direct investment in Africa, such as high-profile natural resource deals in countries with poor track records of governance. On the scale of China’s direct investment in Africa, Chinese statistics on overseas direct investment (ODI) records about $26 billion. This amount to about 3 percent of total foreign direct investment (FDI) on the continent, placing the flow of Chinese FDI to Africa, during the year 2013-2014 at 4.4 per cent. However, Nigeria and some other African countries are seizing the opportunities to accelerate industrialisation process, while also striving to catch up with the tide of world’s development through committed partnership.

The new stage of the

China-Africa practical cooperation intends seeking higher quality and more effective allround development, so as to enable both sides adapt to each other ’s needs, draw on their respective strengths, and make comprehensive plan on cooperation in various fields, particularly in industrialization and modernized agriculture.

Of intense interest to Africa is stepping up China-Africa cooperation and contributing to China and African development, which will assist in strengthening the two sides bilateral relationships. This historic FOCAC meeting, did not only witness the evergrowing China-Africa relations, and or evolving into a more mature stage, but marks a new milestone in the history of ChinaAfrica friendship.

Progress achieved Interestingly, leaders from both sides jointly reviewed the progress achieved by the friendly cooperation, mapped out the blueprint of ChinaAfrica mutually beneficialcooperation in the context of new situation, and exchanged views on major international and regional issues as well. “The Johannesburg Summit was held at a time of peace and development. The world currently is undergoing complex and profound changes. To pursue peace, development and cooperation is the irresistible trend of our times.

Given the background that countries become i n c r e a s i n g l y interdependent and have more benefit intertwined, peoples around the world generally hope to join hands in sharing opportunities, coping with challenges and seeking common development.

China is the largest developing country in the world, while Africa is the continent with the largest number of developing countries. Both are important rising forces in the current international system. To strengthen China-Africa cooperation will not only underpin their respective development, but also contribute to the overall interests of developing countries, South-South cooperation and the building of a more equitable and just world pattern.”

42—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Image speaks volume in any business —Hajiya Bola Muse, maritime mogul One of the bigwigs in the Nigerian maritime industry, Hajiya Bola Muse is a model for innovative thinking.

As CEO, Bomarah Group of Companies, the illustrious Oyo-born sits atop Bomarah Investment Limited, a maritime, agricultural and general merchandise firm; Bomarah Integrated Travels & Tours Limited; Bomarah Petroleum and then Bomarah Foundation.

By Josephine Agbonkhese

W

HY freight forward ing of all businesses?

I knew right from childhood that I wanted to become a businesswoman. My dream was to be like my mother in business.

Freight forwarding however came by accident.

Right from my childhood, I have always loved challenging jobs. My father believed that a woman should get married and stay in the kitchen rather than get education. We lived in Kano and I grew up there. After secondary school, I worked in several offices in Kano just to garner working experience. As I said earlier, I got into the clearing job by accident.

How do you mean 'by accident'?

I learned from my friend who was into freight forwarding.

After school, I would go to his office and being a sociable person always coming around to stay with his colleagues, I was able to learn the nittygritty of the job.

It wasn’t easy then compared to today that everything is computerized. I was really impressed about the job and that was how I started learning about clearing. I started my business in 1995 and since then the sky has been my starting point. I do import, export and freight forwarding for customers.

C M Y K

She has to her credit several awards from reputable organizations, schools and religious bodies in Nigeria and abroad.

Bola who is Governor, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs AgentsANLCA, Women's Chapter, reveals how she found her place in the highly competitive masculine world of freight forwarding.

Let us put aside the glam that comes with being an industry leader. What was the early days of business like for you?

It wasn’t easy at all, I must confess. When I remember those years of hustling, I give glory to God for His mercies.

I go to the ports, meet with the customs to run my entries and all that. Today, I have people working in the company that I have entrusted with those jobs. I told you I started the business in Kano.

life; I dress to suit myself. I’m not a label freak. I travel far and wide and when I see things that I like, I buy. I’m not a designer freak at all.

How do you cope with men as a freight forwarder?

I always tell people that you don’t have the same business with your colleagues. When we are in the field, you don’t know who is who. Right from my childhood, I have not seen anyone as a threat because I’m a fearless person. I fear God, I fear my parents and my hus-

Freight forwarding From Kano, I would take first flight to Tin Can Port here in Lagos and I go back to Kano with the last flight.

Your office is basically male dominated. Why? I don’t have any particular reason for not hiring a female.

It might just be the nature of the work. There are few women in freight forwarding because the job is very tasking. I don’t even go to the Ports any longer; my workers do that.

What informs your sense of style?

The kind of job I do demands that I look good always. Your image portrays who you are, not only in your work place but to the world. You cannot look haggard and expect someone to give you a good job. Naturally, I love the good things of

band. I tell my workers not to look at me as a woman. I’m just a woman in the natural form. Inwardly, I act as a man and that is what has kept me going. My workers have been working with me since the inception of the business 20 years ago and some of them got married here and started having kids too.

Jeopardize chances

The kind of job I do demands that I look good always.

Your image portrays who you are, not only in your work place but to the world.

I have over a hundred of them today. So, it’s one big family.

Your advice for aspiring female freight forwarders?

Discover yourself first. That is very important. When you have this in mind, then the rest is history. You must also be truthful because this job is based on trust. If a customer does not trust you, he will not give you his container at all.

You have to be content as a woman too. If you are not content, you will be forced to do a lot of things that might jeopardize your chances.

Your educational background?

I worked in several companies in Kano after secondary school. After a stint with Honda Motor Company in Kano State as a young clerical officer in the 80s, I enrolled at Baron School of Business Administration in 1988; where I had my Ordinary National Diploma, OND, in Business Administration. I proceeded to Kano State Polytechnic in 1991 for my Higher National Diploma in Secretarial Administration. Also, I obtained a postgraduate Diploma and Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Calabar. I also have a professional diploma in Freight Forwarding.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016—43

I was manipulated by evil spirit to kill my ex-lover — murder suspect • says ghost of murdered lover has forgiven him

By Esther Onyegbula

I

DON''T know what is wrong with me. I think I am possessed.

I'm being manipulated by evil spirits from a shrine in my village, to kill people. In all honesty, I am not a killer”... These were the exact words of 25 year-old Henry Uwadiegwu, who was arrested for the murder of a married woman in Gowon estate area of Lagos recently.

Report alleged that Uwadiegwu lured the deceased, Mrs Helen Peters, to his apartment on 42, Fashola street, where he injected her to death.

It was gathered that his intention was to abduct the woman and thereafter,demand for ransom from her husband. Unfortunately, the plan went awry .

But the suspect in this interview with Crime Alert alleged that the deceased was his lover , a claim her widower described as a lie.

As he attempted to explain how tragedy occurred, he burst into tears , wishing aloud that the ground could open up and swallow him.

Private guard Hear him: “ I met the late Helen while I working as a private guard in Gowon Estate last year.

She had a shop at 31 Road Gowon Estate, where she sold cosmetics, toiletries and perfumes . She gave me the green light, by wooing me. She stated in plain language that she wanted us to be lovers. Initially I refused because she was married but I later gave in to her demand when she was persistent and kept enticing me with gifts and cash”...

At this point, his face lit up with a glow . Continuing , he said “She bought me clothes and money . At three different occasions, she gave me N15, 000. Nobody suspected us because we were discreet about the whole thing. As a rule, I never went to her house, but she always visited mine.

Genesis of trouble: “Trouble

started late last year, after I informed her that I had found a lady I intended to marry and that we had to call off the relationship.

Before I knew it, I started receiving strange calls, with threats on my life.

I had to go to Helen to plead with her before the strange calls stopped. She even gave me N5,000 when I was travelling to the village last Christmas”.

Plot: Upon his arrival from the village , Uwadiegwu claimed he kept away from Helen until January 11, 2016 when a sinister motive was introduced to the alleged affair.

Auxiliary nurse It was learned that penultimate day, he approached an auxiliary nurse in the area, requesting for sedative for an insane person.

Asked what he needed the sedative for, he told the nurse that he intended to take his mentally deranged sister back to his village in Anambra state for medical attention. He was said to have given the nurse N1500 to buy the prescribed Largactil injection. A week later, he

•The suspect reportedly approached four men in the neighbourhood to help him tie his purported sister . A day before tragedy struck, Uwadiegwu told Crime Alert that he went to Mrs Peters shop to seek advice on how to go about his wedding ceremony with N200,000. The deceased according to him, promised to visit him for a tete-a-tete on the issue.

Next day, January 19,2016, unsuspecting Peters left for Uwadiegwu’s house, without the slightest inkling that it would be her last day on earth.

She reportedly met

Uwadiegwu in front of his buidlng and as they were exchanging pleasantries, the latter reportedly beckoned on his neighbours whose identities he gave as Monday Ochowu and Riliwan among others , to tie Mrs Peters up . Thereafter, the nurse was invited to inject her .

Crime Alert gathered that the victim later started behaving funny , a development that led to her being rushed to the General hospital at Oke-odun, at Ile-Apo, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.

Drama in the hospital: A drama reportedly played out

itself at the hospital , after one of the nurses who suspected a foul play subjected Uwadiegwu to interrogation on the true identity of the deceased. The phone call made by the suspect to an unknown person reportedly arouse the nurse's curiosity. He was said to have told the person on the phone in Ibo dialect that he had killed his wife. But on close observation the inquisitive nurse suspected something was amiss and consequently prevented Uwadiegwu from carrying the corpse away inspite of his stiff resistance.

This reportedly led to a verbal confrontation ,in the process of which some policemen were contacted.

I am possessed: Asked what made him to inject the woman, Uwadiegwu burst into tears afresh saying “You will not understand. I am possessed by an evil spirit. Yes, I killed her but it is the evil spirit that manipulated me.

You see, there is a shrine known as Oke-Ihiukwu in my village.

When the priest of the shrine died, I was chosen as the new priest to serve in the shrine but I refused and fled home. Since then the evil spirit in the shrine has been tormenting me. Even when I went home last Christmas, the evil spirit said it would put me into trouble. And true to its words, I am in trouble.

Whenever I am possessed by the evil spirit, I would start fighting people and talking incoherently. Please help me get a powerful man of God that can deliver me from the grips of this evil spirit “, he pleaded.

Ghost appearance: Again, he claimed that Mrs Peters ghost had appeared to him severally in the dream. “The first time she appeared to me, I begged her to forgive me,that I acted under the influence of a force that was stronger than me. The other times she appeared to me, she said she had forgiven me. how do I wriggle out of this mess? ", he asked in tears.

Robbery suspect begs Gov Ambode for financial assistance Angela Okpe

A

SUSPECTED member of a robbery gang who was paraded at the Lagos State Command headquarters, Ikeja recently, has appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to give him a loan to start business and a new life.

The 23 year – old suspect, Ayodeji Bakare, according to the command's boss , Mr Fatai owoseni , was arrested during a stop and search routine by detectives attached to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigative Department , SCID, Yaba, in Ebute-Metta area of Lagos. A locally made pistol and six live cartridges, according to Owoseni , were recovered from the suspect .

Speaking with Vanguard,

Bakare, an ex-convict, disclosed that members of his gang specialised in robbing unsuspecting motorists that were trapped in traffic.

To the astonishment of all, he stated that robbery would reduce only when government took the welfare of the down trodden into consideration, adding that he would automatically quit robbery if assisted financially.

Hear him “ I belong to a three-man robbery gang. I am an aluminium fabricator but I do not have money to establish my business. I was sent to prison in 2013, for stealing a white man's phone at Ikoyi Club ,where I worked. While in prison I met other criminals who initiated me into Eiye confraternity. They tutored me on how to rob properly and also

linked me with one Sefu who sells weapons at Seme border.

When I finished serving my jail term last year, I located Semu and bought a gun and cartridges for N30,000 from him .

“Thereafter, I formed my gang . We would approach motorists in traffic, brandished our guns and order them to give us their bags, lap tops, Ipads and other valuables. I made about N100,000 from a day's operation. I wouldn't have gone into robbery had there been someone to assist me financially.

“I am passionately appealing to Governor Ambode to assist me with a loan to start a new business. I do not enjoy robbing but circumstances led me into it”, he said.

•Ayodeji Bakare

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 — 45

46— VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Time running out to stabilise Libya, says Italy

I

TALY’s foreign minister says time is running out to stabilise war-torn Libya as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group is expanding its reach in the North African country.

The warning came as the European nation on Tuesday hosted in Rome representatives from 23 coun-

Trump gives supporters thumbs up as he concedes defeat in Des Moines

tries who are part of the US-led coalition against ISIL as it seeks to prevent the group from seizing Libya and launching attacks in the West from across the Mediterranean Sea. Paolo Gentiloni, Italy’s foreign minister, said, in an interview to the Messagero newspaper, that there was no enthu-

siasm in Rome, or within the coalition, for “hasty military intervention”.

“If anything, we need to be ever more wary and more watchful because we know that the more Daesh [ISIL] is squeezed in its core territories, the more tempted it is to pursue its terrorist activities elsewhere,” Gentiloni said.

Somali plane lands in Mogadishu with hole in its side

US to quadruple defence budget passenger plane has A made an emergency for Europe landing in Somalia’s capital with a gaping hole in deployed to European HE Pentagon is to paign against so-called bases, as well as more its fuselage.

T propose quadrupling Islamic State (IS).

The hole in the plane’s training and exercises its budget for European side appeared shortly afdefence in 2017 in the light of “Russian aggression”, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter says.

He described Russia as a growing challenge for the US. Relations between Russia and the West have plummeted since Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March 2014.

The Pentagon will also propose a 50% increase in spending on the cam-

Mr Carter said US forces engaged in an air campaign against IS in Iraq and Syria were “starting to run low” on laser-guided missiles and “smart bombs”.

“So we’re investing $1.8bn (£1.2bn) in 2017 to buy over 45,000 more of them,” he said in a speech to the Economic Club of Washington.

On Europe, Mr Carter said increased funds would allow greater numbers of troops to be

with allies.

“We’re taking a strong and balanced approach to deter Russian aggression,” he said. “We haven’t had to worry about this for 25 years, and while I wish it were otherwise, now we do.”

The Pentagon’s proposed 2017 defence budget will include $3.4bn for its European Reassurance Initiative up from $789m for the current budget year.

ter take-off from Mogadishu at 10,000ft (3,048m), a colleague of one of the passengers told the BBC. It is not clear what caused the damage. Officials say two passengers were hurt.

The Daallo Airlines flight, bound for Djibouti, was carrying about 60 people on board, a police officer at the scene told the

A plane that made an emergency landing in Somalia’s capital with a gaping hole in its fuselage.

Bloomberg news agency.

Some reports say a fire broke out shortly after take-off.

Darren Howe, who had

a colleague on the plane, took a photo of the damaged aircraft after it had landed.

Zimbabwe chief prosecutor charged over Mugabe bomb plot case Zika virus declared global health emergency

T

HE World Health Organization has declared that the Zika virus poses a global public health emergency.

The infection, which experts fear is spreading

very fast, has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains.

This alert puts Zika in the same category of international concern as

Cruz takes down Trump to win Iowa caucuses

R

EPUBLICAN Ted Cruz has beaten Donald Trump in Iowa’s presidential nominating contest for the Republican party, the first in the 2016 race for the White House.

In the Democratic poll, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were squared off in a virtual dead heat late on Monday.

Cruz, a conservative politician from Texas, won with 28 percent of the vote against 24 percent for the controversial businessman Trump.

“Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa and all across this great nation,” Cruz said in his victory speech.

Iowa has given notice that the next Republican nominee “will not be chosen by the mainstream, will not be chosen by the Washington establishment, will not be chosen by the lobbyists - but will be chosen by the most incredible,

powerful source ... the American people,” he added.

Marco Rubio, a senator from Florida, came third with 23 percent, making him easily the leader among establishment Republican candidates.

Ebola and will help fast-track research and aid toward fighting the infection.

Although the mosquito-borne virus’s symptoms are relatively mild, it is believed to be linked to a surge in cases of microcephaly, a condition in which a baby is born with an abnormally small head and brain.

WHO chief Margaret Chan said the link between the Zika virus and microcephaly was “strongly suspected but not yet scientifically proven.”

North Korea ‘planning satellite launch’

N

ORTH Korea has announced plans to launch a satellite later this month, a UN agency says.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) says it has been notified of Pyongyang’s plans to launch a satellite between 8 and 25 February.

It comes after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test on 6 January, drawing inter-

national condemnation.

Critics have called Pyongyang’s last satellite launch a cover for a test of ballistic missile technology.

Last week, US officials said that North Korea appeared to be preparing for a rocket launch, citing increased activity around the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, also known as Tongchang-ri.

Z

IMBABWE’s chief prosecutor has been charged with obstructing the course of justice after allegedly dropping charges against people accused of plotting to bomb the president’s dairy.

Four army officers also appeared at the magistrates court in the capital

Harare charged with treason.

Attorney General Johannes Tomana denies the charges. He was brought to court in the back of a police pick-up truck.

The milk production plant is run by President Robert Mugabe’s wife,

Grace.

The prosecutor told the court that the four army officers were allegedly caught with firearms and sought to get bombs designed to Mr Tomana is accused of dropping charges against two of the four army officers.

Uganda’s General Sejusa charged with insubordination

U

GANDA’s former intelligence chief, who is a strong critic of President Yoweri Museveni, has been charged with insubordination at a military

court.

Gen David Sejusa is accused of going to political rallies against the orders of the chief of de-

Five Tanzanians arrested after British pilot killed

T

ANZANIAN President John Magufuli has condemned the killing of a British conservationist after his helicopter was shot down while he chased poachers, saying five people were arrested.

Roger Gower, 37, was killed when his helicopter took fire from poachers during a patrol last week of the Maswa Game Reserve in northern Tanzania, close to the world-famous Serengeti National

Park.

Gower, who worked for the Friedkin Conservation Fund, had been tracking poachers after spotting the carcasses of recently killed elephants.

“This is a sad incident that must be strongly condemned,” Magufuli said in a statement, ordering that all those involved should be “aggressively pursued and brought to justice”.

fence forces, reports the state-owned New Vision newspaper.

Gen Sejusa denied the charges, reports the private Daily Monitor newspaper.

President Museveni, who has been in power for 30 years, is standing for re-election on 18 February.

Other charges against Gen Sejusa, who was arrested on Sunday, include absence without official leave and participating in partisan political activities.

A lawyer for Gen Sejusa, David Mushabe, said he was a “prisoner of conscience”’ who had been targeted for calling Mr Museveni a dictator, Associated Press news agency reports.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 — 47

Diack, others fight IAAF ban at CAS S

ENEGALESE Papa Massata Diack, along with two other top athletics personalities have filed appeals against the life bans imposed on them by the Ethics Commission of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

Massata Diack, a former Marketing Consultant of the IAAF and the two Russians — Valentin Balakhnichev and Alexei Melnikov were jointly contesting life bans by the commission at the CAS. This is contained in a statement released on Tuesday by the court from its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The trio were all handed the ultimate sanction by the Ethics Commission last month that had ruled that they were part of a blackmail plot that covered up Russian doping failures.

They were accused of receiving payments totalling approximately

£435,000 ($634,000/ €583,000) made by Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova, the 2010 London Marathon winner and three-time Chicago Marathon champion, in order to hide violations.

Balakhnichev, the

for mer All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) President and the Soviet Union national athletics coach from 1978 to 1984, had previously announced his intention to appeal.

Melinkov, meanwhile,

IFTY elite athletes who are part of the star-cast for this weekend’s Access Bank/Lagos City Marathon will arrive in the country tomorrow,

P

D’ Tigers Games, NBBF President Tijani Umar said, “the team will be very prepared before the Games. We have a match against China, two friendly matches against Lithuania, and we are also expected to attend a four-nation invitational in Lithuania.”

Continuing, the federation boss said, “after the four-nation tournament in Lithuania, D’Tigers are expected to play Team USA on August 1, from where they will fly straight to Rio.” Umar who was speaking in a sports programme on NTA, monitored in Lagos said Nigerians should be rest assured that the national team will go to Rio well prepared.

Nigeria played USA Dream Team at the London 2012 Olympics and the D’Tigers were scorched by a class of NBA stars known for its supremacy in an historic match that will forever haunt the image of Nigerian

F

Osaze vows to fight for Stoke place ETER Osaze Odemwingie’s said he will stay at Stoke and fight for a starting place, after a proposed loan move to Marseille failed to fly.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes revealed in his prematch news conference that the forward was given permission to speak to a club but he rejected the move.

“Really pleased I stayed with the Mighty Potters!

Will continue to fight for a place in the team,” the Super Eagles striker tweeted.

Odemwingie has found himself well down the pecking order at Stoke this season, making just seven appearances so far.

Odemwingie is in the final six months of his contract

•Iheanacho

Continues from BP

is a former long distance running and racewalking coach.

The statement said: “CAS arbitration procedures are in progress. CAS will not comment any further at this time.”

Lagos Marathon: Elite athletes arrive tomorrow

basketball in the international arena. At the end of regulation time, the scoreboard glowed USA: 156 Nigeria: 73.

Meanwhile, head coach of the women’s national U-16 team, Adeka Daudu has backed the senior women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress to qualify for the Olympic Games.

After placing second in the African Women’s championship late last year, D’ Tigress will be attending the 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) in Nantes, France in June.

And Adeka said, “D’Tigress chances are very bright. If we put our acts together, we will be in Rio with both the male and female teams, representing Africa.”

D’Tigress have been grouped alongside South Korea and Belarus. Adeka was all confident theat the Nigerian women can beat the Koreans but was a bit wary of Belarus, particularly as he considered the tactical tradition of the east European teams.

•Osaze at the Britannia Stadium and Stoke were happy to let him move on to trim their squad and reduce their wage bill.

“There was an interest from a club in Peter Odemwingie, but I had a conversation with Peter and he didn’t feel it was right for him to leave at this point in time. So that one’s gone away,” Hughes said.

Iheanacho’s agents to appear before trbunal T HE England FA Rule K Tribunal will sit soon to hear out a case brought by Kelechi Iheanacho’s former agents against his new representatives.

US-based First Eleven are asking the FA to cancel a new management deal the

Nigeria starlet has signed with UK-based Stellar Group.

They argue Iheanacho signed a contract with them just before the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand and as such he cannot sign another management agreement.

Guinea Continues from BP as we search for early goals because this is like a final, we are going to play a technical game and we will use our strikers, everything is possible and its just determination in the field.’ the coach said.

Meanwhile Congo will miss enterprising forward Heritier Luvumbu Nzinga who picked up a knee injury in their quarterfinal match against hosts Rwanda.

‘It is a big blow to us losing Luvumbu to a knee injury was the worst thing ,but I have players equal to the task,you

know we have had our clubs playing well in the continentals,AS Vita Club reached the 2014 Finals and TP Mazembe won the 2016 Championships” said Congo head coach Florent Ibenge A total of five players were booked in their quarter final match against Rwanda,and coach Ibenge said the match was physical though he is expecting a less physical game from the speedy Guineans.

Congo DR will play the first semi final against Guinea tomorrow 4 pm at the Stade Amahoro in Kigali.

“The FA Rule K tribunal will be sitting any time from now to hear the case,” a top source revealed.

“This is a major development in this matter.”

Some believe the faceoff between the agents has put on hold talks for a new contract for Iheanacho, who has continued to justify his keep at the star-studded Manchester City with goals after coming through the academy.

His contract at City is till the summer of 2018.

officials have confirmed.

The General Manager for the marathon race, Yussuf Alli revealed that most of the expected athletes will be coming from Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Bahrain, Cameroon and Rwanda.

Alli further stated that on arrival, the athletes will drive straight to the Expo Center for the Marathon race at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos to collect their race bibs and numbers.

The athletes will also be warmly received by Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission and head of the Organising Committee for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Deji Tinubu “We are expecting the bulk of our elite athletes on Thursday from their respective bases, they are all eager to be here for the Lagos City Marathon” Alli stated.

Top on the list of those expected in Lagos on Thursday is Kenya’s Josphat Kifanni Too who has a Personal Best Time of 2.08.23secs.

•Tinubu

Mourinho Continues from BP United have turned their ‘100% focus’ to Mourinho following the official confirmation that Guardiola will move to City from Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

Mourinho is now the odds-on favourite to replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford and claims that the former Chelsea boss has

‘ written a love letter to United’ have only served to further heighten the speculation.

Van Gaal has found himself under the media spotlight during his time at United, so much so that the Dutchman admitted even he isn’t sure what sort of reception United fans will give him ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with Stoke.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Emenike ‘ll be a hit at West Ham – Moses — Centre Spread CHAN: Guinea coach target win against Congo

Olympics warm-up:

G

D’Tigers to battle USA

BY JACOB AJOM

T

HE Nigeria B a s k e t b a l l Federation has lined up a series of trial matches and tournaments for senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers and the last of such friendlies is one against the invincible Team USA ahead of the Rio Olympics.

Speaking on plans for the D’Tigers ahead of the Continues on Page 47

Emmenual Emenike contests the ball. He is on a loan spell with West Ham.

UINEA Coach Mohammed Kanfory Bangoura said his team will be more offensive in today’s first semi-final match of the CAF Africa Nations Championship against Congo DR. Guinea battled Zambia for 120 minutes, but won the ensuing penalty shoot-out. He stated that flaws noticed in his team in the quarter-final match has been rectified adding that there were no injury concerns.

‘We we will be more offensive than defensive

Continues on Page 47

Mourinho silent on United link J

D’ TIGERS Olaseni Lawal (r) attempts to shoot during Afrobasket 2015 in Rades Tunisia.

OSE Mourinho has refused to answer questions on fresh claims he is being lined up to replace Louis van Gaal as Manchester United at the end of the season.

Following confirmation that Pep Guardiola will be replacing Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, Sky News asked Mourinho if he had extra

desire to take over at Old Trafford following the appointment of his great rival.

But the Portuguese coach, who has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in December, merely shook his head in disgust after being asked the question.

Reports in Tuesday’s Daily Star suggest Continues on Page 47

•Mourinho

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 View (5) 7 Therefore (4) 8 Lasso (6) 9 Frank (5) 11 Spoil (3) 13 Snip (3) 15 Paradise (4) 16 Weaken (3) 18 Liberate (4) 19 Train (7) 20 Creep (4) 22 Tack (4) 23 Ugly (7) 25 Watched (4) 27 Regret (3) 28 Grain (4) 30 Performed (3) 31 Mat (3) 33 Vapour (5) 36 Delight (6) 37 Absent (4) 38 Flourish (5)

DOWN 1 Loaf (5) 2 Weep (3) 3 Bird (3) 4 Sprite (3) 5 Snoop (3) 6 Obscure (5) 10 Stunt (4) 11 Deserved (7) 12 Attained (7) 13 Maker (7) 14 Effective (7) 16 Separate (5) 17 Annoyance (5) 18 Sport (3) 21 Concealed (3) 24 Expel (4) 26 Cede (5) 29 Rustic (5) 32 Wages (3) 33 Stitch (3) 34 Stretch (3) 35 Enthusiastic (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Glade 5, Wasted 8, Irate 10, Gateau 11, Arid 14, Roving 15, Gazette 18, Ten 19, Inn 21, Read 23, Motor 24, Rash 27, Net 29, Oak 31, Radiate 32, Stated 34, Kine 35, Loiter 38, Bread 39, Instructed 40, Reveal.

DOWN: 2, Lea 2, Diesel 4, Era 5, Wear 6, Silver 7, Dogged 9, Auction 12, Rot 13, Dine 16, Aura 17, Enter 20, Notable 22, Abut 24, Resent 25, Soak 26, Hating 28, Divide 30, Ken 33, Debt 36, Oar 37, Eke.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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