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VOL. 25: NO. 62622

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

8

Drama as Saraki's lawyers walk out on tribunal

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri & Samuel Ujah

•Say continuing with trial amounts to judicial rascality A •Defence lawyers' action smacks of disrespect —Judge

BUJA — The trial of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false declaration of assets turned dramatic, yesterday, as Saraki’s lawyers, comprising three Senior Advocates of Nigeria and 24 other lawyers walked out of the court

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS: P.17

SWEET & SOUR

CBN overrules FRCN P.19

OWEI LAKEMFA There will be Rwanda after Kagame

Mr & Mrs RETREAT—President Muhammadu Buhari (right) being received by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the SGF, David Babachir Lawal and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari on arrival to open the two-day Presidential Retreat for Ministers-Designate at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Buhari, 36 govs to attend HID Awolowo's state burial SOUTH WEST VOICE

AFENIFERE: Are

things falling apart? See inside

Join hands and restore Nigeria's lost glory, Buhari tells ministers-designate 9

11

CBN restates stance on BVN for forex transactions 9

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

The Joint Community Development Associations, CDA, Youth Forum, on a peaceful protest against epileptic power supply and estimated bills in Igando, Alimosho, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Drama, as Saraki's lawyers walk out on tribunal Continues from Page 1 abandoning the Senate president in the dock.

The defence lawyers staged a walk-out following the refusal of the tribunal chairman, Justice Danladi Umar to suspend the trial until Saraki’s appeal before the Supreme Court is determined.

The Senate President had gone before the apex court to challenge the constitutionality of the charge which was preferred against him by the Federal Government, as well as the jurisdiction of the twoman tribunal to entertain same. He prayed the Supreme Court to set aside an appeal court judgment that gave the tribunal the nod to try him.

Meantime, Saraki’s lawyers, yesterday, accused the tribunal of engaging in an act of “judicial rascality”, by

refusing to accord respect to the apex court which they said was already seized of the facts of the case, saying they would not take part in an “illegal proceeding”.

When the matter was called yesterday, the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the tribunal that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had in a judgment it delivered on October 30, paved the way for full-fledged trial to commence on the criminal case against Saraki. Rotimi insisted that the appellate court, in its verdict, settled Saraki’s contention with regards to the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him.

He said: “The Appeal Court held that the charge was proper and the tribunal properly constituted to sit with two members. We have the Certified True Copy of that judgment. This

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO

W

E all are born differently into different homes, with different purposes. Don’t try to be like others, be all you can be. It's up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The best way to predict the future is to create it now — Forbes

H

OW do you create your future? Figure out what you want. Take small steps toward making it a reality. Find mentors in your area of interest and contemplate on their experiences from start to success. If it means being flexible, adjusting to your initial path, so be it. In other words, the best way to create the future is to learn and act in the now.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

W

E gave a baby to an old woman to hold and she complained of toothache, was the baby given to her to eat?

matter was adjourned till today for us to report the outcome of the proceeding before the appeal court and for continuation of trial. The appeal court, having disposed of the case before it, my lords we are ready to open our case against the defendant.

Our witnesses are present.”

Confirming the judgment of the appellate court panel which he said was split, Saraki’s lawyer, Magaji, SAN, told the tribunal that his client would like to make a fresh application.

“My lords, we have an application to make. It is true that judgment was delivered by the Court of Appeal on October 30.

Sequel to that judgement, there was a split decision of the court of appeal. As a result of the dissenting judgment, the defendant filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the Appeal Court”, Magaji submitted.

He told the tribunal that the notice of the appeal marked SC/852/ 2015 and dated November 2, had been served on all the parties in the matter, adding that the record of the proceedings of the appellate court has already been transmitted to the Supreme Court.

More so, Saraki’s lawyer, said his client had also filed a motion for stay of proceedings of the tribunal, at the apex court. He said that the tribunal was duly notified about the pendency of the appeal at the Supreme Court via a letter addressed to its chairman, Justice Umar, on November 4.

“In essence, we are saying that we have a

valid appeal before your lordships at the Supreme Court”, Magaji added, arguing that for the tribunal to begin hearing on the matter would amount to an affront and disrespect to the judicial hierarchy.

Saraki’s counsel relied on the decided cases of Achebe vs Mbanefo, 10NWLR, 2007, part 1043, and AGF vs FakunwaOnikoyi, 18-NWLR, part 1010, and argued that the tribunal, as a lower court, was constitutionally bound to put its proceeding in abeyance pending determination of the appeal before the Supreme Court. He argued that they are expecting a date for hearing of the appeal, saying they would apply for the apex court to abridge its proceedings so that the matter could be expeditiously determined.

M e a n w h i l e , prosecuting counsel, Jacobs, SAN, vehemently opposed Saraki’s application, describing it as a ploy by the defendant to frustrate his trial. He argued that going by the provision of Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the tribunal, including the parties before it, have no option than to enforce the appeal court judgment that ordered the trial to go on.

The government lawyer argued that Saraki’s application was unconstitutional and contrary to Section 306 of the newly-enacted Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, which he said prohibits courts from staying criminal trials.

“I am happy that the lawmakers that made that law are here today (yesterday). They are the ones that said that we must move from the era where corruption cases were handled with levity. They can confirm that the aim and spirit of the ACJA is for speedy and efficient management of criminal cases.

“Section 396(3) and (4) of the same Act says that after plea has been taken, criminal cases must he heard on a dayto-day basis. As it stands, there is no order from the Supreme Court. Besides, it is a fact that the apex court is presently hearing appeals lodged before it since 2012. Is the defendant asking your lordships to adjourn and wait until the next two years for his appeal to be determined?

“I pray your lordships not to fall for this invitation. Since this matter started, they have brought one motion or the other to frustrate this

trial. They have gone before the Federal High Court, the Appeal Court and now the Supreme Court. Even now my lords, they have filed another case in Lagos State where they joined everybody, all in a bid to stop this case.

“I urge your lordships to reject this application.

He wants to deprive us of the fruit of our labour.

The court should rise and stop this disturbing trend in our criminal justice system”, Jacobs added.

He also relied on the authority in Dariye vs FRN, 2013, 10-NWLR, part 1457 and that of Ajiboye vs FRN, 2013, 4FWLR, part 694, and urged the tribunal to refuse Saraki’s request.

Replying on points of law, Saraki through another lawyer in his camp, Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, contended that the only issue for the tribunal to decide was whether it could continue with the proceeding despite the appeal before the Supreme Court.

He said: “All we want is to let the head move the tail and not the tail moving the head”.

Meantime, in a ruling it delivered after a onehour stand down, the tribunal refused Saraki’s application, even as it directed the Federal Government to immediately open its case against him.

According to Justice Umar, “the tribunal has painstakingly analysed all the arguments from both counsel. However, as lawyers, we are ministers in the temple of justice and must at all times advice our clients accordingly and with the interest of justice at heart.

“This tribunal hereby in strength of the provision of Section 305(c) of the ACJA, which gives us the power to conclude trial and pass sentence but suspend execution until such time when an appeal before a higher court is considered and decided, order the prosecution to open its case.

“The essence of the ACJA is to ensure that criminal cases are

expeditiously and judiciously thrashed within a short time. The tribunal hereby upholds argument of the prosecution. Moreover, the defendant will never suffer any injury, miscarriage of justice or harm in anyway if the proceeding continues.

This tribunal is a sacred institution that took an oath to do justice to all and sundry.

The prosecution is hereby ordered to open its case against the defendant”, Justice Umar held.

Immediately the prosecutor, Jacobs, SAN, made move to call his first witness, Saraki’s lawyer, Magaji, SAN, told the tribunal that all the defence counsel would not be comfortable to take part in what he termed “judicial rascality”.

“I therefore hereby withdraw my legal services to the defendant”, he told the panel.

Likewise, Raji, SAN, said: “In my capacity as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I have not seen where this kind of conduct will be exhibited against the apex court of the country and I don’t want references to be made in future that I was part of such proceeding.

I find it most impossible to sit down here and participate in a proceeding whose legality is being challenged at the Supreme Court. We are asking for the indulgence of your lordships to leave,” a request to which Justice Umar replied: “You are all free to go.”

At that juncture, Jacobs noted that though most of his witnesses came from outside Abuja, “ we will, however, allow the defendant to make alternative arrangement for lawyers or decide to defend himself.”

Speaking from the dock after all his lawyers had left, Saraki told the court that he had limited knowledge of the legal system, even as he begged for time to seek

Continues on Page 47

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

39th Miss Nigeria pageant holds tomorrow

T

HE 39th edition of Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant will hold tomorrow at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos at 7p.m.

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, is the Special Guest of Honour, while the Chief Custodians of the event are Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi and Dame Grace Oyelude, Miss Nigeria 1957.

Bizman docked over burglary, N3.9m theft

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS—A 36-year-old businessman, Desmond Nnechi, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court over alleged burglary and stealing of N3.9 million.

The defendant, who has a shop at Trade Fair Complex, along Badagry Expressway, is facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, burglary, obtaining and stealing preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the defendant and others, still at large, committed the alleged offences on or around May 11, 2012.

He said that the incident took place at Abia Plaza, Trade Fair Complex, along Badagry Expressway, in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Osuji alleged that the defendant obtained N1.2 million from one Stanley Ugwueze under the pretence of helping him to purchase two shops, a representation he knew to be false.

He also alleged that the defendant broke into the shop of the complainant at the trade fair and stole 25 cartons of a beauty cream, which is valued at N2.7 million.

Magistrate S. K. Matepo granted the defendant N100,000 bail, with two sureties in like sum, adding that one of the sureties must be a blood relation, show evidence of tax payment, gainfully employed and verified addresses.

The case was adjourned till November 26 for mention.

Edo bank robbery: Police arrest 2 suspects posing as farmers

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE hunt for the daredevil armed robbers, who attacked two banks at Igarra, headquarters of AkokoEdo Local Government Area of Edo State, seems to be yielding fruits as two of the suspected bandits were arrested in the bushes of the community yesterday by the police in collaboration with vigilante group members in the area.

No fewer than six persons, including two policemen, died in the attack on two new generation banks in the area.

However, Edo State Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike, said the suspects were still being investigated to ensure that the wrong persons were not arrested.

Following the robbery attack on the two banks, Ezike had deployed a crack team of detectives in the bushes of Igarra, to work with local vigilante groups in combing the bushes for the bandits.

We responded to robbery—CP

Ezike, who debunked reports that there was no response from the police during the deadly attack by the robbers, said: “I was on tour of police divisions in the state, when I heard about the attack and I can tell you that the first response that came from the police came through my escort team. It happened that I was in Edo North area when this happened.

“The problem we had in this area was bad network for communication, but I was able to mobilize our men, got the District Police Officer, DPO, at Ibillo to block the exit routes and that was how we opened fire on the Honda Odessa car.

“Yes, we were working with the local vigilante groups because they know the terrain better. I have been an apostle of community policing.

“We have about 7,800 policemen in Edo State, but the actual fighting force is less than 5,000. So we must partner with the communities, the vigilante groups, if we must make progress.

“I met with the vigilante groups and we mobilized because our aim is to get it done; to get the bastards. It was the community and villagers who were giving us information.

Recovered from the robbers

“Over N4 million, 11 AK-47 rifles and another four assault rifles were recovered; and one of the robbers was shot dead inside the Honda Odessey, that is why my men remained in that

Vigilante built 50-metre barricade bush.

“Officers of Igarra Police Division pursued them. We recovered about 34 unexploded improvised explosive devices and arrested two people inside the bush (yesterday). But I said they must be interrogated before we ascertain whether they were involved.

“Two people were picked up.

The one we got yesterday (Wednesday) denied he was part of them until two bank officials identified him.

“I am sure they came from Okene, through Ibillo. The one arrested is called Shaibu and he is from Okene.

“So we are working hard to ensure that all those involved in this dastardly act are arrested. They cannot commit this evil and escape; we will hunt them down, no matter how far they run.”

members were mobilized from Ojirami, Ojah axis, when it was learned the robbers had taken over Igarra.

He said the vigilante members in the area immediately contacted their counterparts at Ososo, Makeke, Lampese and environs and were directed to barricade Ekpedo-Ekpe axis of the road with tyres, stones, logs and other obstacles across a distance of about 50 metres, which slowed down their movement.

The vigilante member said: “We have to swing into action to give support because they had already disorganized security at Igarra. We had to quickly call our members at Ojirami and Ojah, who then called others because we suspected they will pass through that axis.

‘They demobilized police’

Vigilante tells story

Meanwhile, a leader of the vigilante group who spoke on condition of anonymity, said

“The robbers shot and deflated the vehicle of the DPO in which police were pursuing them, after police had killed one

of them. We mounted barricade near Ekpedo to slow down their movements. We did that with stones, tyres, logs and any hard object we could find.

“We mounted barricades of almost 50 metres. So it really slowed them down. It disorganized them and they had to escape into the bush with some guns and abandoned the others and the cash.

“The one that was caught on Tuesday night whistled, apparently to contact any of his men who may be in hiding, and a member of the vigilante group responded and that lured the suspect out.

“The two that were arrested yesterday in a forest near Makeke with gunshot wounds had wanted to disguise as farmers and come out of the forest. They failed because they could not change their clothing.

“We suspect they are from Okene in Kogi State, because they were speaking Igbira.”

POWER PROTEST: The Joint CDA Youth Forum on a peaceful protest against Ikeja Electricity Company on epileptic power supply and billings in Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State, yesterday. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

Gunmen kill Okadaman in Ughelli, abscond with motorcycle

By Perez Brisibe

U

GHELLI—SUSPECTED armed robbers, in the early hours of yesterday, shot dead a commercial motorcycle operator, popularly known as Okada, and absconded with his machine.

The incident, it was

gathered, occurred at about 6a.m., a few meters from Ughelli yard of Setraco Construction Company, along Ughelli axis of the East-West Road.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the incident at about 2p.m., the remains of the victim were still at the scene

of the incident hours after he was shot dead.

Though the identity of the Okadaman, who appears to be in his early 40s, could not be ascertained at press time, sympathizers identified him as a father of four, whose Okada was given to him on a hire-purchase basis.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—7

Killer of school prefect, 6 others in Police net Suspect re-admitted 2 days before incident

By Esther Onyegbula & Ufuoma Tiveruahor

L

AGOS—SAKA Hammed, the 19-year-old student of Gaskia College, Amukoko, Lagos, who allegedly stabbed a prefect, Saheed Jimoh, to death on Wednesday for punishing him over lateness, has been arrested by police.

He was said to have been arrested by policemen attached to Amukoko Division, in his hideout somewhere around the vicinity, at about 6.40p.m., yesterday.

Also arrested earlier were six students of the college.

Vanguard gathered that before his arrest , the suspect’s father was invited by the Police for questioning. At 2p.m., he was still being interrogated by the police.

When Vanguard visited Gaskia College yesterday, normal school activities had resumed as students were seen in their respective classes receiving lectures. Officials from the office of Educational Quality Assurance, Zone 14, were also sighted in the school,

Cultism, charms popular in the school—SOURCE compiling reports of the incident.

The school’s Principal was not around, but a man who identified himself as the Vice Principal, was hostile to reporters, saying he was not authorized to speak to the press.

However, a student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “There are several cult factions in the school. It is an open secret that many students are involved in cult-related activities and the use of charms.

“One of the common charms used by some of the students is called no touch blood, which is a very poisonous charm that kills instantly when it comes in contact with blood.

“Perhaps, in the case of Saheed, his killer could have tried to test the potency of the charm.”

Another senior student revealed that that the fleeing Saka Hammed only resumed for the term on Monday.

A

middle-aged woman escaped death by the whiskers yesterday, after she was attacked by a mob who accused her of kidnapping six children, at Iyana-Iba area of Lagos.

The woman, identified simply as Mrs Nwamu, was later discovered to be the departmental head of Sports and Tourism of PRO LABORE DEI, a Catholic Diocese in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Nwamu, who was said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed private hospital, was also discovered to be owner of a motherless babies’ home around Badagry area of the state.

She was said to have been accompanied by six children, clad in uniforms, later discovered to be that of her home. Destination, as gathered, was Ibadan, where they were to attend a monthly vigil.

However, on reaching IyanaIba, some women reportedly raised the alarm, apparently thinking that the children could have been kidnapped.

Eyewitness account

An eyewitness told Vanguard: “When she was accosted to identify who the children were,

she paid little or no attention.

That made everyone to conclude that she could have kidnapped the children.

“A mob suddenly descended on her. But for the timely intervention of policemen, she would have been killed. Some of the children, whose ages were between four and nine years, sustained injuries in the process as she was struggling

O

Late Saheed Jimoh, Labour prefect.

The student said: “He failed woefully and was supposed to repeat SSS 2. He was in the same class with the deceased, who was promoted SSS 3. But he stopped coming to school.

“On Monday, his father

brought him to school to see the principal. Only for the incident to occur on Wednesday.”

A police source told Vanguard that the case would be investigated to its logical conclusion.

to release them from her attackers’ grips.

“Meanwhile, a woman was shouting at the top of her voice that she knew the woman as the operator of a motherless babies’ home. She also said that the woman helped a lunatic to deliver her baby and that the lunatic and her baby were in her home in Badagry.

“But the mob turned deaf ears to the claim, saying she could be a member of her gang.”

Spokesman for Lagos State Police Command, Mr Joe Offor, condemned the mob attack, clarifying that the woman was innocent.

At 6.30p.m., Offor said three of the children were still asleep, adding that their foster mother was responding to treatment.

Members of the Catholic Diocese invited to ascertain her claim, according to Offor, confirmed that Nwamu’s was one of them.

We won't cater for daughter of killer-policeman's victim— LAGOS COMMAND

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS State Police Command may not take responsibility for the upkeep of the tennis star, Angel McCleod, whose mother was allegedly killed by a policeman at a hotel on Victoria Island two weeks ago.

This came against the backdrop of appeal by family of the deceased that the command took responsibility for the upkeep of the 14-year-old tennis player.

Spokesman of the command, Mr. Joe Offor, said yesterday that since the command had not taken responsibility for the killing of the deceased, it might be too early for it to also take

They're suspected cultists —POLICE

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

Owner of motherless babies' home escapes lynching over kidnap alarm

By Evelyn Usman

Anambra youths protest police invasion, shooting

responsibility for the daughter’s upkeep, adding that investigation into the incident was still ongoing.

On insinuations that the deceased tried to disarm the policeman, who allegedly shot her, Offor said such a scenario could have been possible, but noted that investigation would reveal what actually happened.

It would be recalled that the deceased, Beauty McCleod, was allegedly shot in the leg by a policeman attached to the hotel on Victoria Island where she lodged with her daughter, following an altercation.

She died at St. Nicholas Hospital due to loss of blood as the alleged killer-

policeman was said to have delayed moves to rush her to the hospital.

NITSHA—ANGRY youths, yesterday, stormed the palace of the traditional ruler of Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Magesty, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III, protesting alleged invasion of the community and arrest of innocent citizens by men of the state police anti-cult squad.

The protesters, under the aegis of Obosi Youths Land Management Council, OYLMC, led by Augustine Nwankwo, told the monarch that the police anti-cult squad had stormed his residence at about 11a.m. in about four Hilux pick-ups, yesterday, and allegedly opened fire on them, which led to the shattering of the leg of one Maduabuchukwu Nwokolo.

He noted that the injured Nwokolo was currently hospitalized at Multicare Hospital, Omagba Phase II, Onitsha, adding that he had just been informed by the medical personnel in the hospital that his leg was so shattered by bullet that it would be amputated.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ali Okechukwu, confirmed to newsmen on phone that some persons were arrested during a raid on suspected cultists at Obosi, adding that investigations were still in progress.

Man jailed 7 years for stealing rifle

By Jane Echewodo

A

Lagos State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikeja, presided over by Magistrate B. O. Osusanmi, has sentenced a 30-year-old man, Nasiru Bello to seven years imprisonment for illegal possession of a gun.

The court arrived at the decision sequel to the convict’s guilty plea to the two counts charge of stealing made against him by the police.

He was alleged to have

carted away an AK-47 rifle with breech No. 0713 and 16 rounds of live ammunition of 7.6mm calibre, property of the Nigeria Police.

The convict was further alleged to have in his possession and under his control, one AK-47 rifle with breech No. 0713 and 16 rounds of live ammunitions without license issued to him by the appropriate authorities, since he could not satisfactorily explain how he got the gun.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Confusion in Customs as newly retired officers stay put

DSS aborts Dasuki's medical trip, besieges home Why we stormed his residence —DSS I was never invited by c'ttee on arms purchase —Dasuki

By Godwin Oritse

L

AGOS— THERE are indications that the newly retired officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are still in the service of the agency following the absence of a board that should rectify and approve their retirement.

The same reason has also been given for the newly promoted officers, who cannot take over their offices as there is no board to rectify the promotions.

Sources at the agency told Vanguard that the retired officers still come to work but not in their uniform.

It was gathered that the officers cannot leave the system because in the Customs And Excise Management Act (CEMA), the Comptroller-General of Customs does not have the powers to retire or promote certain level of officers without recourse to the board.

While the retirees cannot leave their offices, the newly promoted officers cannot take over.

Meanwhile, the service spokesman, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, has denied the development, saying the new management of the Customs service has been inaugurated. He said at the inauguration, all the newly promoted officers were in attendance.

He said: “This cannot be true. The new management was inaugurated Wednesday with all the acting new Deputy ComptrollersGeneral of Customs, (DCGs) and Assistant ComptrollersGeneral (ACGs) zonal coordinators in attendance.”

Section 5 of the CEMA states that the board shall be subject to the control of the Minister of Finance in the exercise of powers and duties.

Other functions of the board includes the formulation of general policy guidelines for the service, administering the CEMA accordingly.

The board also has the power to promote, transfer and confirm appointments and dismiss persons and exercise other disciplinary action over person so appointed.

Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd)

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor & Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA — OPERATIVES of the Department of State Services, DSS, yesterday laid siege to the Abuja residence of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki, retd, after aborting his medical trip abroad on Wednesday.

A Federal High Court, Abuja had last Tuesday granted him permission to travel abroad for medical attention and ordered the Federal Government to release his travel documents.

The DSS, however, explained that the siege on his residence followed his refusal to honour an invitation by a committee investigating procurement processes relating to a $2 billion arms transaction by the last administration, under which he was the National Security Adviser, NSA and which was an entirely different case from the matter before the court.

The armed DSS officials, laden in two operational black trucks, stationed themselves in front of the expansive compound of the former NSA but were not confrontational with passers-by, who did not understand what was going on around the highbrow neighbourhood.

Vanguard learnt that the siege might not be unconnected with a renewed bid to arrest and charge Dasuki to a different court over what a security source described as "fresh evidence" against him.

The overall goal, according to

Lawal Musa Daura, DSS D-G

informed sources, is to make it impossible for Dasuki to leave Nigeria with charges of illegal arms possession and money laundering hanging on his neck.

The sources said the security agents were dissatisfied with Justice Ademola Adeniyi’s order, directing them to release Dasuki’s passport for him to travel abroad for three weeks in search of medical attention.

The security establishment, it was learnt, is apprehensive Dasuki could escape from the country and evade prosecution for offences against the state.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, last Tuesday, granted Dasuki’s request for his passport to be released to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.

However, Vanguard learnt, yesterday, that Dasuki, who was billed to travel on Wednesday night, was stopped by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Dasuki reportedly returned to the airport yesterday morning to make his trip but was also prevented by the same security agents, who did not, however, give him any reason for their action.

Dasuki may challenge DSS A frustrated Dasuki was said to have returned to his Asokoro house following the aborted trip and was considering returning to the Federal High Court to seek redress against the Department of State Security Service, whose agents halted his movement abroad.

A source close to the former NSA said that Dasuki was in his

house as at the time Vanguard made contact with him. The source denied reports that Dasuki had again been placed under house arrest by the DSS. The source said: “The security agents only prevented Dasuki from travelling on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. He has returned to his house and is not under house arrest.”

But the DSS operatives had on Tuesday attempted to arrest a former Adamawa State Governor, Boni Haruna, who had gone to court to stand as surety for Dasuki.

Haruna, a former minister in the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan, was reportedly questioned on how he knew that Dasuki would be granted bail and why he went there as a surety.

Why we besieged his house —DSS The DSS in a statement, yesterday, by its spokesman, Tony Opuiyo, explained that Dasuki was prevented from travelling because of his refusal to appear before a committee that was investigating an entirely different matter from the one he was facing in court.

According to the service, Dasuki refused to honour the invitations of the committee set up by the government to investigate procurement processes relating to a $2 billion arms transaction by the last administration, under which he was the National Security Adviser, NSA According to the statement, "the attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been brought to the

report making rounds that its operatives illegally blocked the residence of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki (Col/rtd), in violation of a subsisting court order granting him a relief to travel overseas for medical services. This is to say the least that such report is not only unfounded and malicious but aimed at tarnishing the good image of the service.

“It may be recalled that Sambo was initially arrested and charged to court for unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering, for which reason his International passport was seized and on the order of the court, returned to the registrar for custody.

"What has, however, brought the seeming standoff between Sambo and the service, despite the courtordered release of his International passport on November 4, 2015, is his refusal to appear before a committee undertaking the investigation of an entirely different case.

“The public may wish to note that the government set up the committee to investigate procurement processes relating to a two billion dollar ($2 billion) arms transaction by the last administration, under which Sambo was the NSA. It was on this premise that he was invited by the committee to shed light on his involvement in the deal.

"It, therefore, remains surprising and shocking that Sambo has refused to honour invitations of the committee but instead resorts to grandstanding and subtle blackmail of the service. His refusal to appear before the committee has left the service with no option than to adopt legal means to ensure his attendance.

“Therefore, without doubt, Sambo is pulling all strings available to him to evade justice and put the service in bad light.

The simple fact is that the DSS is not persecuting him. Nigerians are, therefore, enjoined to disregard the impression being created by him.

"This service wishes to reemphasise its commitment to the rule of law and strict adherence to democratic ideals. However, any person or group, no matter how highly placed, that may wish to test the will of the present democratic dispensation, will definitely be checked through the legal provisions of the law.”

I was never invited by c'ttee —Dasuki Meantime, Dasuki has denied ever receiving any invitation letter to appear before a committee set up by the current administration to investigate procurement processes relating to any arms transaction by the last administration, under which he served.

Responding to a statement by DSS, Dasuki added that it was strange that a committee purported to be operating from the office of the National Security Adviser could have transferred its mandates to DSS.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—9

CBN restates stance on BVN for forex transactions

VISIT:

From left: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello and Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State during the governor's visit to the council's office in Abuja, yesterday.

Says it poses no risk to customers’ bank accounts

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

A

BUJA — THE CBN has said that the Bank Verification Number, BVN, requirement for foreign exchange transactions posed no security risks to the bank accounts of those purchasing forex.

Spokesman of the bank, Alhaji Ibrahim Mu’azu, said in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, that the excuses by critics of the policy were unfounded and that the requirement would therefore stay.

Below is the full statement: “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently mandated all banks and licensed Bureaux de Change (BDCs) operating in Nigeria to provide Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) as part of the requirement for the sale of foreign exchange to their customers.

"It has, however, come to our notice that some customers are reluctant in disclosing their BVN to authorised dealers and buyers because of claims that there are attendant risks to the disclosure.

“It is, therefore, imperative for the bank to make the following clarifications: “The adoption of BVN as a condition for the purchase of FOREX is expected to reduce the incidence of multiple purchases, round tripping and illicit transfer of funds, facilitate enforcement of authorized limits of forex sales to end users, sanitize the retail segment of the market and engender policies that will facilitate better allocation of the forex, based on genuine demands.

“The BVN is neither a payment instrument nor an account number and, therefore, could not be used to access any account by unauthorized users. The banks, BDC operators and even regulators use the BVN to validate the identity of a customer using some biometric information such as fingerprints and photograph obtained at the point of enrolment.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the provision of BVN by customers at the point of forex purchase or for any legitimate banking transaction with any of the above named institutions does not attract any security risk. Rather it protects the customer against identify theft."

Buhari to ministers-designate: Join hands to restore Nigeria's lost glory Cautions against impunity, waste Reiterates resolve to fight corruption, unemployment, insecurity

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, called on his ministers-designate to join hands with him and restore the lost glory of Nigeria in all spheres after they must have been sworn in as substantive ministers.

He said expectations were high from his government, stressing that they must collectively live up to the challenge of meeting the demands of Nigerians.

The president made the call while addressing the 36 ministers-designate at a retreat organized by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in Abuja.

While congratulating the appointees on their successful screening and confirmation by the Senate, President Buhari, however, asked them to count themselves privileged to be called for national service among millions of Nigerians.

According to Buhari, the retreat marked the first contact of the designates to the machinery of government, urging them to work as a team.

He said: “It is with great pleasure that I address you today, my ministers-designate, at this retreat in preparation for your swearing-in as the cabinet that will run this administration. We must count ourselves privileged to have been chosen among millions of our compatriots at this historic time to be the instruments that will deliver

the change we have promised.

“Let me congratulate you for your success at the various levels of screening that culminated in your confirmation by the Senate.

"The work of restoration and renewal is urgent and immense. The expectations of Nigerians are high. Our determination to succeed and change the fortunes of our country must be equal to the challenge.

“I have invited you to join me in this urgent mission for our country. I am convinced that in accepting this invitation you are also equally determined to take part in this patriotic undertaking.

“This retreat, therefore, marks your first official contact with the machinery of government, of which you will soon be an integral part. It is important that you are fully acquainted with the direction and priorities of this government so that we can all move together as a team."

Cautions against impunity, waste

The president, who recalled that his pact with Nigerians during his campaign was hinged on the promises to tackle corruption, insecurity and revive the economy, also warned them against impunity and waste of resources while in office.

He also gave an insight into what his government had done since assumption of office and urged them to key into the programme.

He said: “My election as President of this country was

hinged on my promise to tackle corruption, insecurity and revive the economy.

“We have already taken deliberate measures to plug leakages of government revenue and resources. You all know the steps we have taken to tackle Boko Haram.

We have degraded them and in desperation, they are resorting to attacks on soft targets, killing innocent people. Diversification of the economy away from oil will be a major focus of this government.

“We will intervene in mining and agriculture and upgrade the country ’s physical and social infrastructure, which will broaden our revenue base and significantly improve the level of employment, especially among the youths.

Our economic focus will be policies that will ensure inclusive growth and we will count our achievements based on the number of Nigerians we move out of poverty.

“The objective of this retreat is clearly reflected in the choice of topics which you will be dealing with during the sessions. The need for observing the rule of law is being emphasized to ensure that impunity is removed from government conduct.

“You are coming on board the ship of governance at an interesting time. So much has been said about the state of our economy. It is expected that we make the running of government at all levels as lean as possible,

avoid waste and conserve resources. As ministers, you must be the vehicle that will administer the change.

Our main task

“Our main task is to turn our manifesto promises to practice and results. Over the next two days I expect you to have a better understanding of the context in which we have taken the challenge of serving our country, as well as the strategies we have adopted to tackle them. I would also expect you to be even more determined to work as a team, and to live up to the high standards of probity and integrity which Nigerians expect of us.”

Speaking on official communication channel, President Buhari told the ministers-designate to use the Office of his Chief of Staff as official communication channel inline with the presidential system of government.

He said: “Let me remind you that clear and effective communication at all levels is vital in modern management. You must keep in touch with your fellow ministers and share information, so that the conduct of government will be more efficient. In addition, all communication and appointments from you to the Presidency should be routed through the Office of the Chief of Staff as is normal in this Presidential System.”

The retreat which started on low key at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja on Wednesday and ends today is themed “Delivering Change: From Percepts to Practice.”

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 , 2015

LAGOS: 57 Councils fault Ogunlewe

over alleged deductions L

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

AGOS—THE Conference of 57 Local Government Executive Secretaries in Lagos State has described as untrue the statement by the former Minister of Works and chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Adeseye Ogunlewe accusing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of deducting 80 per cent from funds accruing to Local Governments in the state.

The Executive Secretaries, debunked the claim by Ogunlewe yesterday, describing it as a blatant falsehood which was nothing short of an “act of gross irresponsibility and a clear evidence of desperation of a man whose political diminution has inflicted an advanced state of abnormal behaviour”.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Executive Secretary of Bariga Local Council Development Area, LCDA and Chairman of Conference 57, Hon. Alabi Kolade David, said; “In the last five months, they have had the opportunity of working with Ambode, whose deep passion for the autonomy of the Local Government is immeasurable, adding that the respect which the governor has for the political and administrative personnel is equally exemplary.’’

While urging the public to disregard the allegation, the Executive Secretaries said rather than deduct from the funds of LGs, Ambode elected to

empower the 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs in the state.

While assuring that the LGs and LCDAs are up to the task of speeding up development and responding to the demands of residents, the council bosses emphasised that it is on record that since the administration of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos has never defaulted in salaries payment to all teachers and staff.

Meantime, Governor Ambode yesterday, said the agribusiness sector remains one of the most

viable areas that the Federal and State Governments must begin to pay serious attention to boost its revenue generation in the wake of dwindling oil prices.

He spoke at the 4th European Union-Nigeria Business Forum 2015 holding at the Eko Hotels and Suites said the harsh times in the oil sector and its attendant impact on government revenue makes it imperative to look inward for creative ways of growing the economy of the country and boosting gross domestic product.

"To this end, he said the

agricultural sector serves as a ready alternative source of revenue generation not only to governments but also to individuals and private organizations through the various agro allied value chains.

He commended the organisers for the theme of this year ’s forum, “Unlocking Opportunities for Diversification”, saying it was apt as it would afford participants focus on addressing the obstacles to the effective development of the agricultural value chain.

BRIEFING: From left: Mrs. Olatunji Olayinka, Mrs. Yinka Gisauri, Director, Community Development, Ministry of Local Government & Community Affairs, Lagos State, Special Adviser on Communication and Communities to Governor, Mr. Kehinde Bamgbetan, Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Olohuntele Folarin and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Jafar Sanuth, during the briefing to commemorate Year 2015 Community Day Celebration in Lagos.

Hundreds escape suffocation as Med-View plane malfunctions

By Lawani Mikairu &

L

Daniel Eteghe

AGOS—HUNDREDS of passengers escaped suffocation yesterday when an Abuja bound MedView Airline plane suffered depressurisation when the plane had already attained about 8000 ft altitude after taking off from Muritala Muhammed Airport ,MMA2, Lagos.

The technical problem affected the cooling system and passengers were gasping for breath.

This development forced the pilot to immediately return to Lagos where it took off. The passengers were evacuated and alternative arrangement was made for them to continue their flight to Abuja.

Reacting to the incident, the media consultant of MedView Airline, Mr Obuke Oyebota, said: “ Abuja bound MedView Airline aircraft made an air return this morning (yesterday). At about 8000 ft altitude it developed a pressurisation problem which affected the cooling system. The

pilot properly briefed the passengers and landed safely.

There was no panic. Another aircraft was made available immediately and the passengers were flown to Abuja.”

The acting General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil

Aviation Authority, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye when asked if the airline filed a Mandatory Occurrence Report with them said he did not have any detail on the incident.

Mr. Adurogboye added that air return is a normal occurrence in

the aviation industry stressing that it depicts a situation when a pilot discover a fault and return to base to fix it. “It is a normal thing; the pilot took off and discovered a fault and returned to the airport to fix it.

There is really no big deal about it,” he stressed.

Bank customers in Lagos continue to register for BVN

L

AGOS—Five days after the expiration of the deadline for the registration of Bank Verification Number, BVN, banks in Lagos are still registering customers and synchronising their accounts.

Some bank workers, however, said that the exercise was putting pressure on their routine operations.

Some of the banks visited in Lagos Metropolis had a good number of customers who called to either comply with the exercise or to synchronise their accounts with their BVN numbers.

An official of one of the banks visited, who spoke on condition

of anonymity, said that customers were still making frantic efforts to comply with the exercise.

She said that the bank was complying with the apex bank’s directive on BVN by ensuring that customers who had not registered were not able to withdraw from their accounts.

According to her, the only category of customers exempted from immediate compliance with the exercise are those living abroad.

She explained that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had given customers in the Diaspora up to the end of January 2016 to comply or face the necessary sanctions.

Also, an official of another bank said that his branch was magnanimous to spend quality time with their customers who wished to comply with the exercise.

The official, who also spoke under condition of anonymity, also said that the exercise was exerting pressure on their routine operations.

There were fewer numbers of customers waiting to register unlike before the deadline for the exercise.

So far, more than 21 million bank customers have registered for the BVN according to official statistics.

NAWOJ protests incessant rape, violence

L

By Ebun Sessou

AGOS—LAGOS chapter of National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ protested at the Lagos Assembly yesterday over incessant rape and violence in the state.

Leading the group, the chairman, Dupe Olaoye Oshinkolu said, the protest was followed by incessant rape cases and violence, adding that the rate at which rape is being committed in the state is alarming.

Seeking the support of the House on the amendment of the violence against persons Act 2015 that seeksprohibitionofallforms of violence against the people regardlessofage,sexandreligion, she said, it is the only way to curb rape incidences in the state.

Addressing the protesters, Funmilayo Tejuoso representing Mushin Constituency I, assured the protesters that the House would look into their complaint and address it accordingly.

Group wants work resumed on LagosIbadan expressway

L

By Kingsley Adegboye

AGOS—A socioeconomic group in Ogun State, known as Egba Economic Summit, has called on the Federal Government to resume the on-going reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, stopped this year, to prevent the road from deteriorating further.

The Lagos-Ibadan road is being redeveloped at a cost of N167 billion.

The President of the Egba EconomicSummit,Mr.Ayobami Biobaku said in a statement, yesterday, that the Federal Government should recall the contractor handling the Lagos – Sagamu interchange stretch of the road to improve economic activitiesintheareaandtoreduce the agony of the people who use the road.

He added that it was also important for the Ogun State Government to contract a construction company to do palliative rehabilitation of some sections of the road that have deteriorated since the main contractor left the site.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 , 2015—11

Buhari, 36 govs to attend HID Awolowo's state burial •300 clerics, 60 Bishops to minister

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and 36 governors have been invited for the final burial rites of the late matriach of Awolowo, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.

Also, no fewer than 60 Bishops, 300 Clerics, including Pastors Adejare Adeboye and Tunde Bakare of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG and Latter Rain Assembly respectively, have been commissioned to participate in the two-week burial programme of HID Awolowo.

Addressing newsmen at Ikenne home of the Awolowos on the burial programme in a joint press conference, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa and Chairman, Central Planning Committee, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu disclosed that the burial activities will span eleven days.

Both Awolowo and the state government disclosed that the activities would commence November 15 and end November 25, the late Awolowo’s 100th posthumous birthday.

According to Adeoluwa, the State government has invited all the 35 other state governors and secretaries to state government to join her in the special fanfare organised for the celebration of

the late matriarch at Sagamu International Stadium on November 23.

According to him, the day was set aside for the people of the state to honour the departed Yeye Oodua of Yorubaland.

He also disclosed that the state executive would deliberate on the proposal by Governor Ibikunle Amosun to immortalise the matriarch and probably approve same on Monday next week.

While rolling out the programmes, Awolowo-Dosumu,

former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, revealed that no fewer than 60 bishops, 300 christian clerics have declared their readiness to attend the burial ceremonies.

She disclosed the church where Mama used to worship, Our Saviour’s Anglican Church where the service will hold can sit only 690 people so not all guests would be allowed inside the church during the service.

She read the programme to include: November 15, at 12 pm

lying-in-state at Park Lane, Apapa, Lagos, followed by Christian interdenominational service.

Monday, November 16, her body would depart to Ibadan for lying-in-state at Oke Bola, Ibadan.

November 17-24 lying-instate at Ikenne, home town of the Awolowos.

Interment and reception will hold November 25 also at Ikenne.

MEETING: From right: Chief Seinde Arogbofa, Hon. Korede Duyile, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin and Chief of Staff to Ondo State Governor, Dr. Kola Ademujimi, at the meeting of the Afenifere chieftains, in Akure.

Aromolaran silent over Osun Traditional Council chairmanship

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—THE acting chairman of Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran has refused to respond to the question of who leads the monarchs now that a new Ooni has been picked.

The Ooni is the permanent chairman of Osun Traditional Council, OTC. Oba Aromolaran became the acting chairman of the council following the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade in a

London hospital in July this year.

But when asked if he would quit as the chairman of the council by the time the Ooni-designate, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was installed, Oba Aromolaran said; “I would not answer such question.”

The monarch while fielding questions from newsmen in Osogbo yesterday after a meeting of traditional rulers in the state said he did not beg for the position and that it was not a position to be contested for.

Oba Aromolaran said; “My

appointment- I did not beg for the position. When Ooni Sijuwade was alive, I was the one doing most of the work. This is not a position we have to contest for.”

He also said that monarchs in the state were ready to offer assistance to get the state out of its current financial challenges and other problems.

Oba Aromolaran said the council was ready to partner with the state government for the development of the state in whatever capacity they could.

He said: “The Council of Traditional Rulers in the state is

ready to find ways and means to help the government of the state . We want Osun to recover from its illnesses.

“We want workers to earn their salaries, pensioners too as and when due. We want peace in the state and we want pensioners to be able to live longer than before.

“The Obas have agreed to help the state government . We are ready to cooperate with the government. We have set up a committee to draw up an MoU on how to solve the problems.”

Ogun govt raises alarm over toxic smelling, abnormally thick imported ponmo with layers and ridiculously

A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—OGUN State government has raised an alarm over the discovery of poisonous cattle hide and skin otherwise known as ‘Ponmo’ in some markets in the state, warning the people against its consumption.

The government said some unscrupulous businessmen were taking advantage of the gap in demand and supply of the soup ingredient popularly called ‘Ponmo’ to

sell industrial ‘Ponmo’ laden with tanning chemicals to the unsuspecting public.

The state commissioner for Agriculture, Ronke Sokefun raised the alarm, yesterday, while addressing stakeholders and ‘Ponmo’ sellers in her office, in Abeokuta.

Sokefun explained that the toxic ‘Ponmo’ otherwise known as ‘imported ponmo’ is often brownish black, foul

cheap compared to the certified ponmo.

According to her, what is being sold is raw hide meant for leather production from African and European countries like Sudan, Italy and Japan.

“Tanning chemicals like biocides and fungicides are added along the processing chain to preserve the hides against protein degradation, bacteria and mould growth that would have damaged the hides and skin," she said.

Ijaw laud peaceful emergence of new Ooni

By Tare Youdeowei

L

AGOS—THE Ijaw of the Niger Delta have applauded the new Ooni of Ife, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on his ascending the throne of his forefathers without politics of bitterness, adding that it has further confirmed the Yoruba’s value for tradition and culture.

They expressed hope that the emergence of the new Ooni of Ife, would bring greater development and peace to the cradle of Yoruba nation.

A statement by Comrade Joseph Evah, on behalf of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, said as a man of peace, a great businessman and a lover of culture and tradition, the new Ooni will showcase the beauty of the rich Yoruba culture and improve on the great achievements of the late Ooni.

Evah recalled that the late Ooni, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade “strengthened the influence of Yoruba culture and tradition across the globe.

It is our belief that this new developmentshowsthatayoung visionary and committed prince will continue from where the late Ooni stopped."

Ondo donates antikidnapping gadgets to police

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—ONDO State government has donated Communications Technology hardware to the State Anti-kidnapping Unit of the state police command in a bid to curb activities of kidnappers in the state.

The donation of the equipment will enhance the operations of the units.

Presenting the hardware, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr.Aderotimi Adelola, noted that the present administration will continue to prioritize the safety and security of the people.

Aadelola added that the government will not relent in the provision of necessary support to the Police and other security agencies in the discharge of their duties.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

PDP faults Edo govt's moves to recover $31m from former governor

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday reacted to the state government's moves to recover $31million, among others, from a former governor of the state and his associates, by accusing the state government of squandering over N1trillion allegedly received from the federation account from 2008 till date on perceived overpriced legacy projects.

The party described the moves to recover the $31 million allegedly fraudulently taken from the state’s coffers as political desperation and persecution.

But in a swift response, Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Media Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbusa, said: “Tell those PDP hawks to go and borrow their own money too, if it is that easy to extract loan commitment from the World Bank.

If they have nothing to say, can you tell them to simply keep quiet instead of exposing their crass ignorance about governance. Or do they think World Bank is a village shrine where the more you pour libation, the more empty assurances you get? Let us get serious for once please."

On the alleged receipt of over N1 trillion since its assumption of office in 2008, he said, “It is the same tradition of emptiness that keeps rearing its ugly head. Can you ask them to point at kilometers of roads they undertook when they presided over the state for 10 years?

“At least, Edo people can see for themselves what we have been able to do with allocations from the Federation Account.

Even though it is nothing near half a trillion, let alone a trillion naira. We have been able to impact heavily on the state of our roads. We constructed new ones and rehabilitated a lot of existing ones. Because they are a bunch of shameless politicians, they feel the only way to be heard is to effuse such incoherent monologues as the immoral badge of courage. What a pity.

We are still suffering from the

regime of colossal and abysmal leadership failure of the PDP till date. We will not be distracted from doing the needful for the good people of Edo State.”

However, in its accusation, PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, at a briefing, claimed it was shameful and disgraceful that “it took the Oshiomhole administration seven years to wake up from its slumber to begin what is clearly a case of political witch hunting."

He alleged that instead of confronting the challenges

facing Edo State in the form of dilapidated roads, flood and others, Governor Oshiomhole was plotting how to perpetuate himself in office by installing his lackey as successor.

Nehikhare drew the attention of Edo people to what he described as a parlous state of roads in the state capital, listing some of the roads as Evbotubu Market road, Ugbiyoko Road, Upper Sakponba Road, St Saviour Road, Boundary Road, Ihama Road, Nekpenekpen Road, Upper Adesuwa Road, Ibiwe Street and Uwa Street.

ABIYE SEKIBO AT 57: From left: The celebrant, Abiye Sekibo, his wife Alali; PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and former NDDC Chairman, Timi Alaibe, during Sekibo's 57th birthday thanksgiving service, yesterday.

Okowa attributes victory at election, tribunal to workers' goodwill

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—DELTA State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, said his success at both the April 11, governorship election and the election tribunal, was as a result of the goodwill and solidarity of workers in the public and private sectors who trooped out to vote for him at the polls.

Okowa, who spoke during an interdenominational thanksgiving service organized by the state chapters of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, to mark his victory at the tribunal, recalled that workers in the state mobilized for his success and gave him their maximum support during and after the elections.

He said: “All workers in the local government, public and civil service in the state showed me their support. This is what led to my victory especially at the governor ’s tribunal and l

appreciate this kind gesture. I thank them for this thanksgiving to God on my behalf and promise that I will always carry workers along in this administration.”

Okowa who spoke through his Senior Political Adviser, Mr Festus Ochonogor, said the

state government would consolidate on its transformation agenda for the benefit of all Deltans, saying; “This administration will not fail Deltans, especially workers because you have done your part by electing us into office.

We will fulfil our campaign

promises to you and ensure that there is prosperity for all.”

Factional Chairman of NLC in the state, David Ofoeyeno, who also spoke during the service held at the NLC Secretariat, described Dr Okowa, as a labour friendly governor, commending the workers for coming out enmass for the thanksgiving.

Edo Justice C'ttee frees 8 awaiting trial spent a year and six months inmates Michael, who was remanded for and was said to have no case to

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Edo State Administration of Justice Committee, headed by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Cromwell Idahosa, has freed eight awaiting trial inmates at the Oko Medium Security Prison in Benin City, Edo State.

The inmates were released during an inspection of facilities at the prison by members of the committee.

Those released by the committee included Isaiah

alleged armed robbery since January 10, 2009, and Mohammed Buba, having spent five years and five months in prison custody.

Others were Christian Ikekiaye and Festus Abukari, who had spent three years and eight months and four years and two months in prison custody for alleged armed robbery, respectively.

Also released were Otamere Iyase, Ali Bello, Abubakar Ali and Ajauro Unuahro, who had

answer.

One of the freed inmates, Buba, told the committee that he was arrested while selling onions at New Benin for alleged conspiracy and armed robbery and had been remanded in prison custody since April 20, 2010.

Earlier, Justice Cromwell decried what he described as “bloated prison cells,“ which created numerous challenges in the administration of justice in the state.

Otuedon lauds Delta govt on security

W

A R R I — GOVERNOR Ifeayin Okowa of Delta State, has been commended for his leadership quality and ensuring adequate security in the 25 local government areas of the state.

Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Affairs, Kelly Otuedon, who spoke yesterday in Warri, said Deltans were elated over the governor ’s giant strides in ensuring that the entire state was peaceful.

According to him, “We are no doubt surprised at Governor Okowa’s penchant for peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups in the state. However, I wish to plead with the people of the state to remain steadfast and continue to support the state government.”

Otuedon, who is also the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uvwie Local Government Area, remarked that the area was now peaceful and enjoined the workers to support the government in power.

“We want Uvwie Local Government Area to continue to be peaceful. We have a situation where a handful of people will continue to cause trouble in order to destabilise the prevailing peace process,” he added.

Dr. Nwosu passes on

D

R. Chijioke Nwosu, Chief Medical Director of Udo PolyClinics, Port Hacourt, is dead, aged 68.

Funeral rites begin November 17, with service of songs at Wesley Methodist Church, Port Harcourt.

Commendation service holds at same venue on November 20, while his remains would be laid to rest on November 21, after funeral service at Methodist Church, Okpulu Nkpa in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Stella Chijioke Nwosu, children, Dr. Udodiri Isirima, Dr Ikenna, Chijioke Nwosu, Ezioha Chijioke Nwosu, Obialor Chijioke Nwosu and many other relations.

Late Dr. Chijioke Nwosu

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—13

APC plans forceful take-over of Rivers, A-Ibom in re-run polls —Senator Okon

By Tom Moses & Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO—ELDERS and major stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State have accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of plans to forcefully take over the state and Rivers State in the re-

run elections in the two PDPcontrolled states.

Speaking through Senator Anietie Okon, at a briefing in Uyo, in reaction to media reports of November 4, 2015 credited to the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, that “Rivers and Akwa Ibom states are very strategic to APC”, warned that

any attempt by the APC to subvert the collective will of the Akwa Ibom people as manifestly expressed in the April 11, 2015 governorship election, would be resisted.

According to him: “When the APC talks about Akwa Ibom and Rivers states as being strategic to their objectives, it appears it

GDI faults Peterside on roads developed by Wike

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— G R A S S R O O T S Development Initiative, GDI, has dismissed as cheap propaganda, allegation by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, that Governor Nyesom Wike had only rehabilitated a total of 10 kilometres of roads in the state, Speaking, yesterday in Port Harcourt, Publicity Secretary of the body, Mr Sam Wonosike, said it was unfortunate that the governorship candidate of APC could tell lies over what every Rivers man resident in Port Harcourt could confirm.

He said the governor had completed about 70 kilometres of roads in Port Harcourt, Obio/ Akpor and adjourning local government areas.

He said: “A few days ago, we had a disappointing statement from Dakuku Peterside when he said he sent out people to inspect what the governor is doing and he said they told him what the governor had

done was about 10 kilometres of roads. It is very important that when men who want to hold the highest office in the

land come out to misinform the public they should be called to order. That information was false.

is their ravenous and ghoulish intent to take over Akwa Ibom State by force and that implies that there is a determination by them to break all the rules and break all the laws and through subjugation, conquer the Akwa Ibom people. It will not happen.

We are not surprised given the document that is credited to the APC where they detailed their plans to trample upon the express will of the people by their chaotic, riotous and contradictory process that have been handed down through the tribunal."

PRESENTATION: From left: Vice Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Mr. Mohammed Lawal Bello, Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi and Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State, during the presentation of certificate of additional generation capacity of electricity by Ibom Power Plant to Akwa Ibom State Government, in Abuja, yesterday.

Rivers gov poll: INEC appeals tribunal judgment

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

B U J A — T H E Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, went before the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal to challenge the nullification of the governorship election it conducted in Rivers State on April 11, 2015.

The electoral body, in the appeal it lodged through its lead counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, is praying the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that on October 24, voided the election of Governor Nyesom Wike.

In its notice of appeal dated November 4, 2015, INEC insisted that the governorship election that produced Wike was conducted in total compliance to the Electoral Act, as amended.

It told the appellate court that the Justice Suleiman Ambrosa-led panel, erred in law when it refused to

dismiss the petition that was filed against the governorship election by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate at the poll, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

In its 12 grounds of appeal, INEC prayed the appellate court to among other reliefs, “make an order allowing the appeal, an order setting aside the decision of the tribunal and an order dismissing the petition as lacking in merit.“ INEC maintained that the panel erred in law when it failed to evaluate the evidence of each of the witnesses that were called

before it by the petitioners before reaching its final decision to nullify the outcome of the governorship election.

According to the electoral body, “The tribunal was obligated to make findings as to where elections were said to have held on the one part and where they were alleged not to have held on the other."

It told the appellate court that the tribunal erred in law when it resorted to generic declaration like “many instances,” when the justices were obligated to specify where the evidence elicited under cross examination

enhanced the case of the first and second respondents.

It was further the position of INEC that the tribunal erred when it used the testimonies of witnesses who were not at polling stations to nullify the Rivers governorship election.

It said: “Evidence of reports at an election by persons who did not make them and who did not observe the proceedings, the subject matter of the reports, cannot be substitute for evidence of witnesses in the polling units of Rivers State."

FG issues Ibom Power Plant licence to generate additional 495mw

A

By Chris Ochayi

BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday issued Akwa Ibom Ibom Power Plant, licence to generate additional 495 megawatts of electricity.

The amended licence issued the Government of Akwa Ibom State, promoter of Ibom Power Plant, has now increased its generating capacity from 190 megawatts to 685 megawatts.

The Ibom Power Plant at present supplies 190mw to the national grid.

Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State received the license from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, on behalf of the state and the company’s management at a brief ceremony in Abuja.

Udom, who was enthused by the near absence of bureaucracy and the speed with which the application to increase the generating capacity was treated by the Commission, declared: “Ibom is one of the first independent power projects in the country."

This achievement according to him, did not come as an accident, noting, “It is because the previous administrations in the state invested heavily in this sector. This is not a power plant that would have gas supply challenges. We have set up a gas processing plant that is supplying gas to the adjoining power plants. We would soon come for an embedded generation licence that would supply power to our industrial estates to be established along the coastal line.”

The governor appealed to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, to improve its network, ahead of the completion of the expanded power plant as he disclosed that the state government had invested $22million on transmission networks and that it would be a wasted investment if there would be no corresponding investment in transmission line by TCN to evacuate the generated power.

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Presidential retreat for ministers-designate

President Muhammadu Buhari, flanked by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (left) and the SGF, Mr. David Babachir Lawal (right), while the Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Ita-Oyo (left), watches as the President declared open the Senator Chris Ngige (right), and Hajia Amina two-day Presidential Retreat for Ministers-Designate, at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Mohammed.

Abuja. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida

President Muhammadu Buhari, being received by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (2nd right); the SGF, Mr. David Babachir (2nd left), and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, on the arrival of the President to open the two-day presidential retreat.

From left, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau, Chief Audu Ogbe

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu

Cross section of the ministers-designate

Hajia Khadija Bukar Ibrahim (left), and Hajia Aisha Abubakar.

From left, Hajia Amina Mohammed; Mr. James Ocholi; Mr. Adebayo Shittu; Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—15

We'll not go on strike because of pay cut —Abia NULGE

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—THE state President of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Mr. Ijioma Onyenaucheya has explained that the salaries of workers in the council was cut to accommodate all the workers due to shortfall in allocation.

Reacting to the strike action embarked upon by council workers in Umuahia South Council, Onyenaucheya absolved the government of sinister motive in the deduction of the September salaries of the workers.

“It was not a deduction per se. What happened was that the arrears of salaries being owed dated back to August, September and October.

"The Bailout Committee in addressing the issue brought out August and September salaries of our members.

“The correct fact is that government released 90 per cent of our salary, not 100 per cent and that is where this problem started. What was released could not go round all the council workers,” he explained.

Onyenaucheya ruled out the issue of asking the workers to embark on strike, saying the issue would be resolved amicably.

On the current verification exercise of council workers as condition for the payment of salaries, Mr. Onyenaucheya welcomed the idea, saying the union was not against the position of government on the conduct of the exercise.

“As a union, we are not against the verification exercise. What we want the government to do is to pay workers their salaries. The administration still has four

years or even beyond to go. The verification exercise could be done gradually.

“The union is on top of the situation. We have to handle this situation calmly and maturely.

INAUGURATION: Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State (5th left); Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe (5th right); Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Prof. Bernard Odoh (3rd right); Chairman, Ebonyi State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Mrs. Lilian Nwankwo (4th left); and members of the board, during the inauguration of the members of the pension board, in Abakaliki, Wednesday.

Brittania-U vs. Chevron: S’ Court adjourns judgment till Jan. 29 2016

T

HE Supreme Court has fixed January 29 2016 for judgment in the appeal brought

by Brittania-U against Chevron Nigeria Limited and four others.

The five man panel of the apex court led by Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta fixed the date after listening to the submissions of the counsel for all the parties who canvassed their positions vigorously before the court.

Brittania-U Nigeria Limited is

challenging the award of Oil Mining Leases (OML) 52, 53 and 55 by Chevron Nigeria Limited to Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited. Joined as defendants also are Chevron USA Inc, BNP Parbas Securities Corp, Hermant Petel and Seplat Petroleum Development Company limited. Britannia-U Nigeria Limited had approached the court seeking for a declaration that its final binding offer of

Ebonyi workers tasked on ICT adoption to improve efficiency

By Jonah Nwokpoku

E

BONYI STATE government workers have been enjoined to adopt information and communication technology, ICT, to improve efficiency and drive human and natural infrastructure in the state.

The Special Assistant, SA, to the Governor on ICT, Prince Aja Igwe, gave the advice during a familiarisation visit to the State Staff Development Centre, in Abakaliki.

Prince Igwe told the staff of the centre that the state governor, Engr. David Umahi, was poised to make Ebonyi an ICT-driven state for industrialisation and economic diversification.

Igwe, who said he was at the centre to build a synergy that would enhance capacity build-

This government is sincere.

They are going to pay whatever is being owed between now and next week,” Onyenaucheya said.

ing in the state through ICT, stated that proper integration of his office with the centre would bring about the actualisation of the governor’s idea of digitalizing the state.

The SA, who used the opportunity to inspect facilities at the centre, however, decried the absence of technical personnel at the centre, adding that the government had invested so much on the project, and that it was a wonderful project that required special attention so that the facilities could be used to improve the economic sector of the state, especially in the area internal revenue.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Manpower Development and Service Welfare, Chief Oliver Eze, while appreciating the Special Assistant for identifying with them at the centre, said

that over 4,000 civil and public servants had been trained by the Office of the Head of Service in a bid to make workers in the state ICT-compliant.

$1,015,000,000.00 for acquisition of 40 percent participating interest of Chevron Nigeria in oil mining leases 52, 53 and 56 has been accepted by the first defendant.

In its statement of claim, the plaintiff stated that the second defendant, (Chevron USA) requested Britannia-U to provide firm Board commitment letter issued by the plaintiff ’s bankers for payment of the balance of $765million which was complied with.

The plaintiff added that its bankers directly paid the money to the second defendant (Chevron Corp) at their Houston office on November 15, 2013 arguing that, with that it followed that the parties had entered into binding contract for the acquisition of the OMLs 52, 53 and 55 by the plaintiff.

Mouka appoints Murphy CEO

M

OUKA Limited, a leading mattress and bedding product manufacturer in Nigeria has appointed Raymond Murphy as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective November 2, 2015. Raymond takes over from Femi Fapohunda who had been the Acting CEO of the Company since 2014.

Mr Murphy, a British national brings to Mouka a wealth of knowledge and experience with strong expertise in strategy, sales, operations, route-tomarket and marketing, having worked in the consumer goods industry across three different continents, including Africa. Most recently, Murphy led the successful execution of a growth strategy at Twinings Ovaltine International in Nigeria, where he has previously lived and worked for over five years.

NANS commends MOUAU VC

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—THE Zone B chapter of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has commended the Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Prof. Hillary Edeoga, for transforming the institution.

Presenting an award of excellence to the Managing Director of university’s microfinance bank, Mr. Bashir Ogungbange, NANS noted that the bank was established through the visionary leadership of Prof.

Edeoga, whose four year term will elapse next year.

2,000 women benefit from Aisha Buhari’s free health scheme

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—OVER 2,000 women drawn from various locations in the South East geopolitical zone, yesterday, converged at Queens Secondary School Enugu where President Muhammad Buhari’s wife, Aisha launched a one-day free health screening initiative programme .

The initiative, powered by Government of Enugu through Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s

wife, Monica, seeks to entrench health care consciousness in women through advocacy, screening and boosting of primary health care centre facilities in Enugu State.

Buhari’s wife, who was accompanied by wife of Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, inspected service provider’s outlet, who rendered blood pressure, blood sugar, kidney function, dental and eye checks service to women, who

thronged to benefit from the exercise.

While flagging-off the free health screening initiative, Mrs. Buhari described her husband’s administration as a government of unity.

According to her: “You are in safe hands. I am glad that we are gathered here with governors' wives for this programme. It is a voluntary health agency rendering free health care services.

16 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 —17

L

AST week, I criticised the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN, for suspending the Chairman (Mr Atedo Peterside), Group Managing Director (Mrs Sola David-Borha) and other senior personnel of Stanbic IBTC. The FRCN had justified its action by accusing them of “accounting irregularities and improper disclosures in the bank’s 2013 and 2014 financial statements.”

I told you that I have known Mr Peterside for many years and made it clear that I admire him greatly and don’t think that he is capable of such dishonesty.

Then, in a letter dated Monday November 2, Mr Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank, CBN, Governor (having reviewed this matter in depth), criticised Mr Jim Obazee, the FRCN CEO, for imposing illegal sanctions on

•Mr. Atedo Peterside

•Emefiele

CBN overrules FRCN Stanbic IBTC….and listed his reasons for concluding that FRCN has not handled this matter satisfactorily.

According to Emefiele: “…The CBN is concerned about the apparent failure of the FRC to follow due process as laid down by its own FRC Act and regulations…”

I am so glad that my instincts and comments about Mr Peterside’s character and conduct have been vindicated by an objective official investigation.

And I hope that the Vanguard reader who contacted me last

weekend to express the view that “all Nigerian bankers are crooks” and accuse me of only supporting Peterside “because he is your brother” (we both come from Rivers State) will now admit that Peterside is on the right side of the law and deserves to be defended!

And, by the way, the very same Mr Obazee is also embattled on other fronts.

As I write, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos is supposed to be looking into Obazee’s handling of another case and determining whether to invite him to appear before

the court to show cause why he should not be committed for contempt.

Meanwhile, the law firm he engaged to help him nail Stanbic has resigned.

MTN wahala

These are not happy clappy times for MTN, Nigeria’s premier mobile phone company. For many years, it has been enjoying massive profits (despite providing a far from perfect service to its millions of customers)….and bestriding the country like a mighty colossus. But the honeymoon seems to be over,

Cabinet issues

I

was surprised when I heard that President Buhari has said that while all of his recently cleared 36 ministerial nominees will be members of his Cabinet, not all will become substantive ministers with portfolios because he wants to downsize to save money and because the Constitution does not compel him to have 36 ministries.

I totally understand Mr President’s allergy to wastefulness and desire to minimize expenditure. And I have long thought that we could do with fewer ministries.

I personally have never seen the point of the Ministry of Womens’ Affairs, for example, because I have reservations about gender apartheid and think that female interests can be protected by other ministries like health, education, etc.

However, if I were the Head of State, I would probably forget about such rational reservations for reasons C M Y K

relating to political expediency and moral cowardice…and grimly hang onto ministries I don’t regard as crucial in order to avoid conflict.

My fear is that Mr President will definitely cause grevious offence to any state whose minister winds up without a proper job!

And my fear is that Mr President - in a nation like ours in which everything has to be divvied up with Federal C h a r a c t e r sensitivities in mind - will definitely cause grevious offence to any state whose minister winds up without a proper job!

Meanwhile, Mr President has (five whole months after being sworn in on May 29!) STILL not

*President Buhari

told us who is going to get which ministry or who is going to get no ministry. It took him ages to deliver his list of nominees and we are still waiting with bated breath to be told what roles he wants them to play.

I could of course be wrong.

But given this foot-dragging about putting a full team in

place, the fact that he has not hitherto come across as a leader who is collaborative by nature and the fact that he has wryly expressed the opinion that ministers are mere noisemakers, I cannot help suspecting that Mr President wishes that he could continue to run the show without bothering with a Cabinet!

for now at least.

A few days ago, MTN was fined a whopping N1.04 trillion for failing to comply with a National C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission, NCC, directive.

Now, it is being accused of over-billing subscribers in a bid to covertly make them pay this fine.

According to The Political Economist, an online publication: “Many students at the University of Lagos and Lagos State University told our reporters that they have noticed some crazy billing by MTN on their prepaid lines since last Sunday…the students who were visibly angry said that the secret cheating by MTN has caused them untold pain and frustration. Some said their credit was completely withdrawn for just making a call of two minutes.

The Editor of the publication claims to have had similar experiences and has confidently published his phone number and publicly challenged MTN to explain allegedly inexplicable disappearances of credit he had loaded onto his phone.

He insists they were not commensurate with calls made and text messages sent.

I really don’t know what to think.

If it is indeed true that MTN users are being over-billed, would a sophisticated foreign corporation like MTN REALLY be foolish enough to further risk its reputation by indulging in such blatant trickery at a time when it is being carefully monitored by the authorities?

Or is the alleged overbilling a genuine error caused by temporary technical glitches that will soon be resolved? Are the above complainants being paranoid to assume that the problem is caused by MTN trying to slyly dodge the NCC fine? Time will tell. The jury is still out!

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18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 SINCE it was established in 1999 via Decree (now Act) 35 of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been tasked with the overall goal of enhancing access to quality and affordable health care for all Nigerians. This scheme eventually saw the light of day 27 years after it was first mooted in 1962 as the Lagos Health Bill.

But since it became operational in 2005, the scheme has not been on track to meet its primary target of providing universal coverage for all Nigerians by 2015. Its poor implementation has not justified the years of spadework invested before it became a reality.

For many years now, the state of the health system in Nigeria has been in jeopardy. Even after 55 years of independence, Nigeria still ranks low among the World Health Organisation (WHO) member nations.

But health insurance in Nigeria remains fraught with a lot of problems.

Apart from being operated strictly

Reforming the health insurance scheme with the government’s contributions, the NHIS has not ensured that every Nigerian has access to good health care services.

Today, there is little or no protection of individuals or families from the financial hardship of huge medical bills. Many individuals have no faith in the Scheme, while a number of corporate bodies have withdrawn from i t . Treatment from accredited hospitals is often questionable. While consumers often accuse healthcare providers of being too profit-conscious, many hospitals complain of

non-payment of the bills of patients treated by them. Clients also moan that many diseases are not covered and they are given substandard drugs.

The nation’s healthcare system deserves urgent reformation. What Nigerians need is a universal healthcare system which will increase coverage, reduce maternal and child mortality, while increasing life expectancy of the generality of the citizenry. We must refocus the policy to ensure it meets its laudable objectives.

It is time to provide the legal frame-

OPINION 2014 and restate them in accordance with the FRCN: Interrogating the objectivity of a provisions of Section 64 (2) of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act and regulator Regulation 21 of the FRCN. A fine of N1 billion was also slammed on the bank.

By Akeem Ogunlade

W

ITH a seeming arrogant posture, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN, on October 26 posted on its website the outcome of its investigation of Stanbic IBTC for alleged infractions claimed by minority shareholders of the company, fronting as the Trusted Shareholders Association of Nigeria, TSAN and bankrolled by the Mahtani brothers of the Churchgate Group.

However, by punctuating practically every argument advanced by the FRCN in its media conviction of Stanbic IBTC, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, categorically questioned the competence and integrity of its Executive Secretary, Mr. Jim Obazee and by extension, the FRCN. And to only further compound the FRC’s troubles, Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the FRCN from interfering in the operations of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc pending the final determination of a suit against the agency by Stanbic IBTC Holdings.

In a ruling on the motion for interlocutory injunction filed by Stanbic IBTC Holdings, the judge also barred FRCN from inviting the company’s entire Board of Directors to any meeting in connection with any statutory investigation of its financial statements until the final determination of the pending suit. Justice Ibrahim Buba, however, refused the third leg of the reliefs sought by Stanbic IBTC Holdings for the court to restrain

FRCN from taking further steps to enforce an invitation it sent to Stanbic IBTC on October 16, 2015 to attend a meeting.

According to FRCN, there were discrepancies in Stanbic IBTC’s financial statements and general financial reporting for 2013 and 2014.

It said Stanbic IBTC Bank developed banking application software which it subsequently sold to its parent company, Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, without appropriate approval

by Nigeria’s National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP. Among sanctions announced by FRCN was the suspension of the Financial Reporting Numbers of Stanbic IBTC’s Chairman, Mr. Atedo Peterside, and the CEO, Mrs. Sola DavidBorha, a step that was supposed to bar them from vouching for the integrity of any financial statements in Nigeria. In addition, the Chief Financial Officer, Arthur Oginga and another director, Dr. Daru Owei were suspended for attesting to ‘misleading’ financial accounts, while Ayodele Othihiwa of KPMG Professional Services, auditors to Stanbic IBTC, was also suspended for the same offence.

Stanbic IBTC was further ordered to withdraw the financial statements for 2013 and

The decision of the FRC is not in compliance with the requirements of the FRC Act

In a swift reaction, Stanbic IBTC denounced what it described as inaccurate and unseemly allegations against it and the manner FRCN chose to make them was procedurally defective. “The matters that FRCN alleges to be wrong are not wrong in any material respect and many are in any event not matters of financial reporting at all, but matters of business decision and judgment for Stanbic IBTC and its board of directors.

For example, the decision whether to enter into a sale and lease back, whether in relation to intellectual property or any other asset, is a business decision and entirely a matter for the board of directors of Stanbic IBTC and certainly not a matter for FRCN. In the same vein, NOTAP’s refusal to register a franchise agreement does not render the agreement null or void, or indeed relieve Stanbic IBTC of its liability. It merely means that any foreign currency payment due to the foreign counterparty under the unregistered agreement cannot be remitted. Stanbic IBTC has not and will not make any remittance which is subject to NOTAP approval without obtaining such approval.”

On its part, KPMG Professional Services, auditors to Stanbic IBTC, restated the propriety of the financial statements of Stanbic IBTC, adding: “Our position is that the decision of the FRC is erroneous on its merits and the process that led to it, is significantly flawed and not in compliance with the requirements of the FRC Act.”

work for a new policy shift in order to help poor Nigerians. This is the era of Universal Health Care. Nigeria must take a cue from the industrialised countries and follow the good examples of successful implementation. The existing national health policy only guarantees consumer protection and access to care for citizens on paper. The NHIS as it is and the Universal Health Coverage are poles apart.

Universal Health Coverage should not only involve massive government investment in the health sector, it also encompasses contributions from individuals and corporate organisations, which should be encouraged to invest generously as part of their responsibility and relevance to the society.

We believe that any social programme that only caters for government sector workers while leaving the mass of Nigerians outside the government payroll cannot suffice.

Let us take another look at the NHIS and make it work.

Apparently rattled by the threat which FRCN’s actions portended, shareholders of Stanbic IBTC, under the aegis of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, held a press conference during which they called for urgent intervention to reign in the FRC before it caused more damage to businesses and the larger economy. Speaking through its President, Mr. Boniface Okezie, the association stated that “we would have expected FRCN to recognise that circumspection ought to be its guiding standard. FRCN is not a regulator of banks neither is it a regulator of the capital market.” The FRC, Okezie added, ought to have recognised the implication of their reckless pronouncement in an unsophisticated capital market as it could lead to panic among investors.

In rejecting a request by FRCN to sanction Stanbic IBTC, CBN said it does not see enough grounds to advise or compel Stanbic IBTC to re-issue the statements or comply with the sanctions meted by FRCN. The apex bank said FRCN failed to consult it throughout the process of its investigation, noting that the pronouncements by the FRCN on Stanbic IBTC was not only capable of eroding investor confidence, but also very inimical to financial system stability.

As highlighted by CBN, FRCN under Obazee has clearly deviated from its key mandate of financial reporting and corporate governance into the arena of determining sanctions, a function of the courts, in the event of a financial reporting breach. The threat to the economy by the action of this regulator cannot be more frightening. *Mr. Ogunlade, a social critic, wrote from Abuja.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015— —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

There will be Rwanda after Kagame

P

AUL, the youngest of the six children of Deogratias and Asteria Rutagambwa Kagame was two when his family fled their homestead in 1959. That was the year of the Peasant Uprising in Rwanda which became known as the Rwandan Revolution. That uprising brought to fore the ethnic tension in that country which eventually resulted in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.

Paul Kagame had the distinction of leading the Tutsidominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) which brought that genocide to an end. From that 1994, he was Vice President and Defence Minister. In 2000, President Pasteur Bizimungu gave way to Kagame, and he has been President for fifteen years with his tenure scheduled to end in 2017. It is an appreciable height for a former refugee boy to attain.

And many acknowledge that he has done well.

But rather than bow out as scheduled, he is queing to join the bad gang of African leaders who, rather than obey their country’s constitution, are prepared to do violence to it in order to hang on to power.

Careful and crafty like

Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo by not openly campaigning personally for an unconstitutional Third Term in office, he is letting others do the job and take the bullets for him.

When I was in Kigali last May, the process was on . There were signatories being collated to amend the constitution and allow Kagame, run again.

It is an old trick; the leader would seem disinterested and would only run if his ‘people’ ask or beg him to run. In Nigeria, General Sani Abacha was waiting for his ‘people’ to call him to transform into a civilian President. He expended enormous state funds in the gambit and had groups like Youths Earnestly Ask For Abacha to do the dirty job of not only ‘begging’ him to run, but also to be the sole presidential candidate for all the political parties. Rather than get the call, Abacha received a call from above.

In Kagame’s case, the Parliament last July voted to rewrite the constitution to enable him run again. When the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda went to court for an interpretation of Section 101 that puts a limit on presidential

terms, the Supreme Court ruled that the constitution can be amended since it is allegedly based on the peoples voices.

Kagame is really in bad company; from neigbouring President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi who forced a Third Term in April, triggering mass protests, killings and attempted coup, to Congo Republic’s Dennis Sassou Nguesso, 71 who this month, wants to extend his rule.

Nguesso’s attempt is almost incomprehensible; he was a Minister of the Republic from 1970 becoming President for thirteen years from 1979. After his electoral defeat in 1992, he fought his way back to power in an armed rebellion assisted by Angolan troops. So he has been in power for a combined thirty one years, and has been African Union (OAU/AU) chair twice; 1986 and 2006. Yet, he wants to extend his rule.

Rwanda is a sensitive country

Kagame is really in bad company; from neigbouring President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi who forced a Third Term in April, triggering mass protests, killings and attempted coup, to Congo Republic’s Dennis Sassou Nguesso, 71 who this month, wants to extend his rule

Random musing on Buhari's maiden Council of State

By Clement Udegbe

T

HE front page of Vanguard of Thursday, the 22nd October 2015, carried a picture of the members who attended the maiden Council of State meeting held in Abuja, five months after President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, was sworn in as our President.

PMB, thus, became the first Nigerian democratically elected President to rule the country for almost six months as a Sole Administrator, to have successfully laid the precedence for another to rule Nigeria for as long as they may desire in the future, without Ministers. A president who met “an empty treasury” would have been expected to do things differently to begin the work of rebuilding the economy.

If someone said, that PMB was able to do this, because he is of the north, and a Fulani man, people would call him a short sighted, ethnic gingoist. But in actual fact, it is only the Fulani Herds Men, that have continued to kill, displace people from their farmlands, rape women, and commit various atrocities on Nigerians, without any issues made out of it, except to heap the burden on our Police Force, even when the South West threatened to secede as a result of the impunity of the herdsmen and insensitivity of government.

If another person reasoned that PMB, was able to rule over 170 million people solely, for over five months and running, because he is “Baba Go Slow”, some would demand respect for an elder, and not to speak like that about someone who led us

C M Y K

as Military Head of State, some 30 years ago. But a look at his ministerial list, will show that he has quite a number of old persons coming around to help fix what they either destroyed, and forgot to fix, or could not fix in the past, which the younger generations could not sort out.

The youth will therefore have to wait for a little longer, to begin to learn to govern.

If yet , someone reasoned that PMB,was able to pull this un-constitutional stunt without our blinking eyes, because he is a good man who wants to change our nation by fighting corruption, many would wonder how the fight against corruption can be well founded, with some members of PMB’s team being fingered as corrupt, to the extent that their confirmation as ministers is causing serious divisions in the Senate. It became right perhaps to conclude that since we are not in a perfect world, the members of our Council of State, are not perfect including PMB. We must therefore move on, allowing for

These men of honour, did their best for Nigeria, but their differences are so much, and the Nigeria they see today, must be a cause for concern to them

with large populations in exile.

Although the country has tried to evolve into a single nationality, the Banyarwanda, and created a single language, the Kinyarwanda, the wounds of the civil war and genocide are yet to heal. Ethnic tensions remain.

The indigenous population of the country is the Twa who now account for one percent.

The Hutu, an agricultural group joined them, and from the fifteenth to sixteenth century, the Tutsi, a pastoral group arrived. The Tutsis became the ruling class producing the monarch. With the Hutu uprising, many Tutsis fled, and the Kagame family eventually settled in the Wshungerezi Refugee Camp, Toro, Uganda.

After the overthrow of Idi Amin in Uganda, Kagame pitched camp with the Yoweri Museveni faction of the ruling group. He was sent to Tanzania to train as a spy.

After the 1980 Ugandan elections won by founding Prime Minister, Milton Obote, there were tensions between Ugandans and the Rwandese which led to attacks and the refugees fleeing.

Museveni who was considered a friend of the Rwandan refugees, challenged Obote’s government by establishing an armed rebel group, the National Resistance Army (NRA) which captured the capital, Kampala in 1986.

Kagame became the new Ugandan Army Chief of Intelligence.

He was attending a Command and General Staff College, in the United States, when his fellow compatriots in the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) invaded Rwanda. Within three days, the leader, General Fred Gisa Rwigyema, a veteran of FRELIMO (Mozambique) and NRA was killed, and by month

human imperfections, while dealing with human frivolities, and weaknesses.

I noticed from that picture, that two former Presidents namely Obasanjo and Jonathan were conspicuously absent, perhaps on some global assignments overseas. Being statesmen, they both may have chosen to keep away, from meeting each other at such a forum at a time like this, to "keep Nigeria One" and I see reason in that. After the deepest cut from Obasanjo, against Jonathan, during the heat-up to 2015 elections, time was necessary to heal such wounds.

PMB should however, and anyhow, ensure that Jonathan attends his next Council of States meeting, for one fact; he is President today because Jonathan is a man of pure heart and good conscience to have allowed him. God used Jonathan to give us this peace we seem to be taking for granted today. Himself and his good helms men should therefore be treated well by this administration because we are all imperfect people in an imperfect nation.

Leave them alone!

Looking at the picture again, I wondered what could be running in the minds of our former Presidents; For example, what would IBB and PMB, be thinking of each other at that very highest level? Could they trust each other in the interest of "One Nigeria"? I just could not say, my mind kept wondering about what they had said against each other in the past before and after coups, or change in government. Words are very powerful, and can hurt very deeply, and will our presidents stop speaking evil of each other, whether serving or not ? I wondered from my little experience in following the actions of retired Generals in Nigeria, whether forgiveness is in their culture ?

Do Generals forgive I wondered. Then two former heads of states stood out immediately from that picture; Generals

end, the invaders were in retreat. Kagame returned to lead retreating rebels through Uganda to the Virunga Mountains from where they conducted a guerrilla struggle which was exacerbated by the downing on April 6, 1994 of the aircraft carrying Rwandese President Juvenal Habyarimana and the Burundian President, Cyprien Ntaryamira, and the subsequent genocide.

Kagame’s administration has in comparison to most of his peers in Africa, done well especially in terms of infrastructure, particularly in Kigali. On the African scene, he is helping the integration process; Rwanda is the only country I know, where people carrying the passport of any African country, get visa at the point of entry. All some East African nationals need to enter Rwanda is their identity card.

It is not clear why Kagame wants to perpetuate himself in office. It could be fear of instability or being deceived that he alone can hold the country together. But a great danger is refusing to obey the constitution.

A major attribute of a leader is his ability to replicate himself. If after fifteen years as president, Kagame has no worthy successors, then he has no business remaining in office. He should learn from leaders like South Africa’s Nelson Mandela who despite the prolonged years of Apartheid and constitutional provision to run for a second term, decided to allow the younger generation take over.

There are also worthy examples like Sam Nujoma of Namibia who is a father figure in both Namibia and the continent. No leader is indispensable. Before Kagame, was Rwanda, after him, shall be Rwanda.

Gowon, and Adulsalam, both were deeply involved in the pursuit of peace for Nigeria during the acrimonious 2015 elections, and have remained so till now.

Gowon, a genuine born again Christian leader, continues to pray for the unity of this country, while Abdulsalam seems to prefer to work behind the scenes truly for the good of Nigeria.

What could be running in the mind of Chief Sonekan of our Interim National Government, who was shoved aside by Late Gen.Abacha. He must be constantly grateful to God for his life. I then shifted my gaze to our beloved Retired Chief Justice, who laboured to produce the National Confab Report, which the north told us that they would kill, and PMB strangely seem to have accepted that.

I could not help a deep sigh of pain for these times, the uncertainty of the implications of dumping that Report, the insensitivity of governments to the real aspirations of Nigerians for the unity and peace, the ability of politics to pollute any good thing in Nigeria, and the pride of the domination of one tribe over others.

These men of honour, did their best for Nigeria, but their differences are so much, and the Nigeria they see today, must be a cause for concern to them. Under their watch, Nigeria has changed to bombing each other under terrorism, killing and raping violently by Fulani Herds men, who have become kidnappers, violence in the creeks of Niger Delta still waiting to be aggravated sufficiently enough to spark, and now, MASSOB and IPOB, have become issues, that they cannot ignore.

I wondered what would be their response if someone asked them what Nigeria would look like by 2025, at this rate and pace?

*Mr Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

20 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Traffic confusion:

LASTMA takes campaign to churches

By Bose Adelaja

F

OR most motorists and commuters in Lagos, the past few weeks have been a hectic and harrowing experience for them. Reason?

The usually chaotic traffic situation seems to have taken a turn for the worse in recent time, with traffic law enforcement officials often at a loss to redress the situation.

Different reasons have, however, been attributed to the development, including ongoing rehabilitation works on several roads in the state, intermittent downpour and of course indiscipline by motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators who delight in breaking every known and unknown traffic regulation with reckless abandon.

Also cited as a major factor is the order from the present administration in the state which seeks to stop officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and the VIO from undue harassment and arrest of perceived erring motorists.

The belief is that officials of the relevant traffic control agencies have taken government’s position in this regard amiss and in fact feel discouraged by it, hence the prevailing lukewarm attitude being exhibited by them in carrying out their duties.

Leadership of LASTMA However, the leadership of LASTMA has since disavowed this alleged attitude on the part of its officials who it claimed have been doing their best to tackle the traffic challenge in Lagos. As if to buttress this, the Authority recently took its campaign for sanity on Lagos roads to worship centres in the metropolis with the aim being to win the hearts of the congregation to obeying traffic rules and regulations.

The move which, officials said, is to promote sanity and safety on the road will focus on voluntary compliance by motorists in order to drive home government’s message on zero tolerance for traffic C M Y K

indiscipline and lawlessness.

The enlightenment campaign tagged operation “Open Hearts”, according to LASTMA’s General Manager, Bashir Braimah, was to appeal to the feelings and passion of the worshippers who see their spiritual leaders as role models

*Typical traffic gridlock in Lagos

A traffic-free Lagos is a collective responsibility... congregations to spread the gospel of traffic law among their friends, neighbours

in decision making and opinion formation. He added that since the places of worship usually attract large congregations, including car owners, it was imperative to carry them along in traffic management in the state for the desired result.

The General Manager observed that recent perennial traffic gridlocks in the state are occasioned by act of indiscipline amongst motorists, which is why it was considered imperative to seek the support of highly revered and esteemed spiritual leaders to lend their voices to

the vision and mission of LASTMA by encouraging attitudinal change amongst the congregation who are motorists, especially those notorious for flouting traffic regulations.

According to Braimah, a traffic-free Lagos is a collective responsibility and called on congregations to spread the gospel of traffic law among their friends, neighbours, spouses and relatives so as to enhance the economic growth and sustain the mega city

status of the state.

The visit which took the management of LASTMA to Redeemed Church at Ogudu, NASFAT Alausa Secretariat Mosque and Christ the Light Chapel Alausa was in continuation of the current efforts of the agency and state government to drum up support and cooperation of motorists and members of the public for the new approach of enforcing traffic law in Lagos state.

For an electoral umpire: A garland of peace from 96 market unions

By Jimitota Onoyume, Port Harcourt

I

T was a very colourful atmosphere at the Rivers State Headquarters of the National Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, in Port Harcourt when the leadership of 96 market unions came to crown the State Resident Electoral

Commissioner, Dame Gecilia Khan as the Queen of Peace in Ubimini kingdom.

The traders came with a dance troupe whose performance shook the whole complex as the dancers gyrated to traditional drum beats. The traders who came under the aegis of Rivers State Traders Association , RTA,

*Dame Gecilia Khan being ceowned Queen of Peace

lauded the Commission for the last general elections, saying that none of their members lost his/her life during the exercise.

State Coordinator of the association, Ebi Bright Chinedu, said in previous elections traders were targets of political violence, adding that their markets were also not spared. He said in the March and April 11 elections no market was attacked in the 23 local government areas, adding that this was largely due to the sensitization campaign organised by Dame Khan and her staff in the various local government areas against electoral violence.

High point of the event was when the Coordinator announced that he had the permission of His Royal Highness, Eze Edi Mathias Igwe of Ubimini kingdom to confer the title of Ye Ine Ali Ubimini kingdom on Dame

Khan.

The Coordinator later took time to decorate the Resident Commissioner and this was followed with drum heats and shouts of celebration from the market women and dancers around.

The image maker of the commission, Tonia, said it was the first time people will come to celebrate the commission for its effort.

The market women also came with yams, plantains as gift to the commission.

Dame Khan said she was short of words, thanking the traders for the honour.

Dame Khan has bagged 15 awards from various groups after the general elections.

Some of them came from International Association of World Peace Advocates United Nations Peace Volunteers, Joint Assembly of Rivers Youths, Rotary club of Asaba Delta state and so on.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 —

21

IFC Nigeria’s portfolio hits $1.7bn — Lore

I

nternational Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank has said that the corporation’s total portfolio in Nigeria stood at $1.7 billion (N334.87 billion).

Mrs Eme Essien Lore, Country Manager, IFC Nigeria, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

She said that the total portfolio was for IFC 2015 fiscal year from July 2014 to June 2015.

Lore said that the amount was invested in key critical sectors of Nigeria such as infrastructure, commercial banks, microfinance, insurance, manufacturing, agribusiness, health and education.

“IFC total portfolio in Nigeria today stands at $1.7 billion and our investment sectors include infrastructure, commercial banking, microfinance, insurance, manufacturing, agribusiness, health and education,” Lore said. The country manager told NAN that the corporation would continue to invest in its key focus areas in the country to ensure growth and development.

“Going forward we will continue to invest in our key focus areas in the country,” she said. Lore said that IFC would support the country’s quest to move away from dependence on oil and gas.

She stated that IFC would assist in developing infrastructure, especially power, through investments and advice that would help in attracting private investments.

According to her, infrastructure, especially power has been identified by the private sector in several surveys as the critical constraint to private sector development.

Lore said that it would support the country’s quest to move away from dependence on oil and gas, adding that it would help to open up the agricultural sector for more private

120.55

0.05

$3,251. 00

$14. 92

16. 00

0.28

48.77

46.39 CURRENCY DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL SDR KRONA

BUYING 195.98 302.2208 214.1865 197.8397 1.6166 0.3088 272.7294 30. 9298 52.2404 273.0589 28.7087

0.19

0.07

CENTRAL 196.48 302.9918 214.733 198.3444 1.6207 0.3188 273.4252 31.0092 52.3737 273.7556 28.782

196.98 303.7629 215.2794 198.8492 1. 6248 0.3288 274.121 31.0885 52.507 274.4522 28.8552

CBN Exchange Rate as at 5 /11 /15

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From left: Director-General, Debt Management Office Nigeria (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo with Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo when he visited SEC in Abuja./ participation.

“Agriculture has been a critical contributor to the country’s GDP and could be said to be the largest employer in Nigeria, especially the rural poor.

“So, we will help the Federal

Government achieve its goal of diversifying the economy from the oil and gas sector by placing emphasis on supporting agribusiness,” Lore said.

She also said that the corporation would continue to invest in the financial sector so that they could

support the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector.

“At IFC, we believe one of the critical sectors that hold the key to achieving our goal of reducing poverty and shared prosperity is MSMES,” Lore said.

ARCO Group grows revenue to N6.41bn I

n spite of the very challenging economic environment, Arco Group Plc posted impressive results of its operations during the last financial year.

The company ’s gross revenue increased from N5.82 billion recorded in the year ended 31 st March, 2014 to N6.41 billion in the year ended 31st March 2015. The Chairman of the Board of Arco Group, Chief Joseph Akpieyi stated this in his address to the shareholders of the company at the 33rd Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos. The figure, he said represented 10.14% over the preceding financial year ’s performance.

He said that total assets of Arco Group increased from N12.09 billion in the year ended 31st March 2014 to N13.01 billion in the year ended 31st March, 2015. Chief Akpieyi however noted that the commendable increment could not be translated to increment in higher profitability margin because of the significant increase in financial cost during the period. The Chairman

then provided detailed insights into the present and future operations of Arco Group which he said would reposition the company to enable it to be the toast of the industry in professionalism and financial performance. He mentioned the implementation of the recommendations of Arco Strategic Enterprise Transformation Project known as Project ASET. He said that with this development, Arco Group now has a new logo.

Unveiling the new logo which is in bold red with a blue arrow pointing

The company’s gross revenue increased from N5.82 billion recorded in the year ended 31st March, 2014 to N6.41 billion in the year ended 31st March 2015

northwards, Chief Akpieyi said that the logo represents Arco accent which is a celebration of the present achievements as well as an expression of hope for its future growth into a Nigerian conglomerate that will outlive its founders. He said further that one of the subsidiaries of Arco Group, Arco Maintenance and Engineering Limited has successfully completed the First Stage Audit of the ISO certification by Bureau Veritas. He expressed the hope that the entire process would be completed by the end of the next financial year.

Chief Akpieyi said: “We have long recognized that obtaining international ISO Certification will enhance our business and enable us to compete outside the shores of this country. We are delighted to report that subsequent to year end, our subsidiary, Arco Pipeline Solutions Limited which is ISO certified, secured a contract in the emerging oil and gas industry in Ghana. We believe that this is a great opportunity that will enable us to establish ourselves as a company of choice in the areas we operate in Ghana.”

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Q3: Dangote Sugar declares N14.22bn profit

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From left: Prof. Fem-Oyewo Mfong; Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, Managing Director, May & Baker Nigeria Plc flanked by his wife, Eugenia Okafor and another award recipient after their induction as fellows of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy in Lagos.

Shareholders’ associations chart ways for capital market revival Stories by Nkiruka Nnorom

F

OLLOWING the prevailing downturn in the nation’s capital market, various shareholders associations in the country have come together under one umbrella to articulate reforms that will turn the market around.

Year-to-date, the performance measurement indicators of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) – the market capitalisation and the All Share Index have fallen by 11.2 per cent and 14.5 per cent respectively. Specifically, the market cap-

italisation of all listed equities went down to N9.978 trillion as at the close of transaction on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 from N11.237 trillion at the beginning of the year on Monday, January 5, 2015.

Similarly, the ASI lost 4,910.85 points within the same period, closing at 29,032.44 basis points at the end of trading session on Wednesday, November 5, 2015 compared to 33,943.29 basis points it closed at on January 5, 2015.

Consequently, leaders of the shareholders’ groups led by former Minister of National Planning, Mr. Shamsuddeen Usman, have constituted study groups and

Oando pays down $100m in debt

O

ando Energy Resources (OER), the upstream subsidiary of Oando Plc, has announced the repayment of its $100 million African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim) loan facility which was utilized in the financing of the landmark $1.5 billion acquisition of the ConocoPhillips Nigerian Oil and Gas business in July 2014. Combined with cash on hand, OER’s net debt position now stands at $500 Million; down 44 per cent from $900 million outstanding at the completion of the COP acquisition.

Confidence in the operations and asset quality of OER by international financial institutions has been further strengthened, notably due to OER’s operational performance in the last 12 months in spite of crude downturn. OER has achieved significant milestones in the course of the year, including the generation of cash inflow of $283 million from the reset of oil hedges; the commencement of

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production at Qua Iboe, which added 2,500 b/d to OER’s gross total taking it to 53,169 b/d; and finally an increase in 2P reserves by 82 per cent to 420.3 million boe.

A $91 million RBL Upsize was arranged by Standard Chartered Bank and African Export-Import Bank with participation from Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and Natixis; while the proceeds, along with cash on hand, were used to repay the $100 million Afrexim Facility.Commenting, Pade Durotoye, CEO, Oando Energy Resources, said: “The upsizing of the RBL loan is a true testament to the quality of the assets we acquired in July 2014. The cash flows from these assets have continued to pay down the Company’s post acquisition debt with the assistance of the value realized from the resetting of our hedge instruments, leaving a debt/ equity ratio of 0.57 today, compared with 0.91 in July 2014.

its sub-committees to conduct survey on causes of the present market trend, as well as assess the effectiveness of the voice and voting power (VVP) of minority shareholders.

Addressing a press conference to announce the commencement of the reform initiative, Usman explained that determinants of the voice and voting power of minority shareholders; effectiveness of zonal shareholders’ associations in enhancing the VVP of minority shareholders as well as extent of compliance of shareholder groups to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Code of Conduct for shareholders are some of the key issues to be tackled by the study groups.

He listed other areas to be looked at to include conduct of shareholders at general meetings, increasing compliance with SEC’s Code of Corporate Governance for public companies, how other practices by public quoted companies in Nigeria can be improved upon in line with international best practices as well as improve the overall performance of the capital market.

He said the study would take a period of six months and would take inputs from different stakeholders in the market, including shareholders associations, auditors of quoted companies, company secretaries and chairmen/ CEOs of quoted companies.

He said: “We have already consulted widely with key stakeholders – The SEC, the NSE, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE and they have already bought into the need for the study to take place. They have not only bought into the need, but have also committed to support by sending some of their representatives to participate as well as providing some of the funding.”

ANGOTE Sugar Refinery has announced a profit before tax of N14.22 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to N13.97 billion in corresponding period in 2014. According to the unaudited report released on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, gross profit rose by five percent to N18.80 billion in contrast to N18.63 billion in 2014.

Profit after tax increased to N9.34 billion from N9.15billion in the same period in 2014.

The company said in an accompanying note to the interim report that production at Savannah Sugar was on the increase, rising to 6,610 tonnes whereas a total of 6,245 tonnes was produced in 2014.

Speaking on the results, Abdullahi Sule, Deputy Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery, said “After a good pick up in the second quarter, we struggled to sustain the pace of improvement in the third quarter as we continued to face challenges getting our sugar out of the Apapa area to our customers, which constrained our overall operations in the quarter.

“We have begun to explore alternate means of product evacuation including the rail and additional warehouses to fulfil the growing demand of our sugar in the Northern parts. “I am pleased that despite these challenges, we were still able to improve our profit margins and bagged additional market share

from the sugar smugglers and competition as the quarter ended.

“We are excited as our sugar for Nigeria project continues to gain momentum and our fiveyear target to execute the first phase of our backward integration plans - the Savannah rehabilitation and Lau/Tau projects progress.”

Sule added, “Our strategy is to become a global force in sugar production, working within Nigeria’s National Sugar Master Plan to end importation and sell more than 1.5 million metric tonnes of locally produced sugar in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries. As part of this plan, we acquired Savannah Sugar in December 2012 and are currently improving its farm acreage and upgrading its production facilities.

“We intend to augment Savannah’s 32,000 hectares in Adamawa State by acquiring and planting a further 150,000 hectares across Nigeria, supporting the new plantations with modern production facilities that are located closer to the consumer.”

Dangote Sugar is Nigeria’s largest producer of household and commercial sugar with 1.44 million tonnes of refining capacity, with the ability to supply most of the country through an extensive network of distributors.

Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers named ‘Best Broker in Nigeria’

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TANBIC IBTC Stockbrokers Limited has been named the ‘Best Broker in Nigeria’ in the EMEA Finance - African Banking Awards. This is coming few months after the Nigerian Stock Exchange adjudged the firm as the best dealing member firm in 2014. The firm, along with other winners in the African Banking Awards 2015, will be presented its prize at this year ’s awards ceremony slated for Sofitel London St. James on Thursday, December 10, 2015.

Overall, the Standard Bank Group, to which Stanbic IBTC belongs, won thirteen awards at the African Banking Awards 2015 in various markets, riding on the back of its pervasive African presence. The Standard Bank Group, which has been in operation for 153 years, has representation in 20 key sub-Saharan countries and other emerging markets.

“Standard Bank continues to demonstrate leadership across all segments of corporate and investment banking in Africa, whether that is advising on complex mergers across national borders, bringing African corporations to international equity capital markets, funding African sovereigns and supranationals through bond or sukuk issuance, or securing financing on difficult, one of a kind landmark projects,” stated Christopher Moore, Publisher & CEO, EMEA Finance. ”Congratulations on the bank’s consistent achievement and leadership in African banking,” Moore added.

Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, Oladele Sotubo, said the company is delighted to win the award, which confirms the appetite and growing capability of the firm, leveraging on the expertise of the Stanbic IBTC Group, to provide robust services in the capital market.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—23

FG warns farmers over fake seeds

By Gabriel Ewepu

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NEPAD PICD Director, Mrs Estherine Fotabong, with Mr Cyril Xaba (on her left) MEC of Agriculture & Rural Development in KwaZulu-Natal, visiting one of the stands at the conference exhibition.

Unlock Africa’s agriculture potential, Finance ministers urged Stories by Jimoh

Babatunde

T

he President of African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, has called on Ministers of Finance across the continent to see the agricultural sector as the sector with the best potential to bring about macro-economic and fiscal stabilization.

Adesina said the value of the food and agribusiness market is estimated to reach $1 trillion by 2030, this according to him is an enormous opportunity for Africa, especially as it unlocks its agricultural and agribusiness potential to capture this market, while expanding regional trade.

“Africa may not be yet in a position to manufacture air planes, but it can feed its growing population, and become a global powerhouse in food and agriculture.”

Adesina explained that there is an unbelievable contrast today in Africa, asking how can a continent with such an abundance of arable land, water and sunshine annually import food worth $35 billion?.

“How can it be that the continent is not food secure?

This must change.

“We must change the narrative around African agriculture, which employs two-thirds of the population and accounts for nearly a quarter of the GDP. “Agriculture is not a way of life, or a social sector.

Agriculture is a business. A business that will help countries to diversify their economies, reduce their dependency on food imports, create jobs, and revive rural areas.”

The AfDB President noted that feeding the estimated 9 billion people in the world by 2050 will depend on how Africa capitalises on having 65% of the world’s remaining arable land, “by raising agricultural productivity, modernizing agriculture, developing agroallied industries and investing in value-added processing for

agricultural commodities, Africa can unlock its agricultural potential.

“As the private sector invests in large scale food processing and manufacturing factories across rural areas, and governments invest in integrated rural infrastructure – especially roads, rails, energy, water and irrigation – the cost of doing rural business will drop drastically.

The former Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture said migration out of rural areas is rising rapidly, and thousands of young people now jump on boats to the Mediterranean looking for new opportunities in Europe. “The agricultural sector has four times the power to create jobs and reduce poverty than any other sector.

“That is why we make the claim that we can diminish the migrant crisis in Europe by supporting agricultural transformation in Africa.

While noting that new zones of economic prosperity will be created –where young people will be willing to live in the

countryside and engage in profitable agricultural activities and non-farm and off-farm activities, he said a new generation of commercial farmers will emerge: younger, dynamic, technology-savvy and competitive.

“Smallholder farmers – the bulk of the farming population, the majority of whom are women – will be able to access reliable markets.

he Federal Government has called on farmers in the country to patronise accredited seed companies in order to boost their yields, as it expressed concern over the sales of adulterated and fake seeds to farmers.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Architect Sonny Echono, gave the call while delivering his keynote address this year’s Farmers’ Field Day, held at the National Agricultural Seeds Council Technical Headquarters, Sheda, Abuja.

Echono said: “I want to state that the issue of adulterated and fake seeds that abound in different parts of the country is worrisome. We as a ministry on our part has carried out raids in some parts of the country in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil defence Corps in mounting a seed surveillance

Nigeria seeks closer relationship with EU

T

he Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc. Sonny

Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Arc. Sonny Echono, and Ireland Ambassador, Sean Hoy, during a courtesy call to the ministry.

‘Women indispensable in agribusiness’ T he Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s Representative for South Africa, Dr Tobias Takavarasha, has described the role of women in Agriculture and food security in Africa as indispensable.

Speaking at the just concluded 2nd Conference for Women in Agribusiness, in Durban, she stated that partnerships in maximising women’s potential in agribusiness entrepreneurship remain critical, “therefore, women who excel in the agrarian sector need to be given due recognition.”

The exhibition at the conference provided female exhibitors the space to showcase their value-add

agricultural products. About 200 participants at the conference had the opportunity to also dialogue and share their experiences in agribusiness. In addition, capacity building training was also provided in the area of agribusiness processes.

Dr Martha Mbatha, Chairperson of the Agribusiness Development Agency, maintained that women are still the major producers of food in Africa, producing between 60 to 80 percent of the food output. She insisted that it is important to take heed of women’s voices in agribusiness, whose humility is at times mistaken for ignorance.

But, Mr Cyril Xaba, MEC for

operation to arrest those who indulged in these unwholesome practices and to curb the menace of these unscrupulous seed merchants, especially in Kaduna, Zaria, Gusau and Ibadan because of the volume of seed trade in these cities.

He said Nigerian seed companies have commenced the export of seeds and it is a welcomed development that Nigeria is providing quality seeds in the West African Sub region, and also generating foreign exchange for the country.

“This Farmers’ Field Day we are witnessing today is unique, as it will enhance the production of maize and other crops in this immediate environment of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Nigeria at large.

“I therefore urge you to take advantage of lessons and benefits offered by this field day to adopt the use of improved quality seeds and thus increase your productivity per unit area.”

the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in KwaZulu-Natal, said If the statistics are examined more closely, it actually means unleashing the potential of women and development of small-scale farming should be at the heart of the strategy for agrarian transformation.

Also speaking at the conference, the Director of Programmes at the NEPAD Agency, Mrs Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, said “Women starting up in business tend to provide a more immediate contribution to the economy: Around one in five women come into selfemployment from unemployment compared with around one in fifteen for men,”

Echono, has restated the importance of the EU-Nigeria Business Forum to the investment drive of government in the agricultural sector.

Arc. Echono stated this during the week, when he received a two-man delegation of the European union (EU) led by the Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Mr. Michel Arrion in his office.

He explained that the opportunity of the business forum would help in promoting the current government plan of developing the agric value chains, now that government is diversifying from oil to agriculture.

Arc. Echono said the ministry’s participation would also provide a platform to discuss the EU ban on the exportation of Nigeria’s beans, which according to him was caused by excessive use of chemicals for preservation, saying other areas of collaboration and cooperation would also be explored.

He said the European Union is supporting Nigeria in the area of cotton where it has a better expertise.

The EU Ambassador and Head of delegation, Mr. Michel Arrion, in his remarks, stated that the EU has a 20member strong relationship and presence in Nigeria and would be willing to invest in the Nigerian industrial sector especially agriculture.

24 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—25

It's too early to speak on Buhari — OGBEHA SENATOR Tunde Ogbeha, erstwhile military governor of the old Bendel State and subsequently, Akwa Ibom State served two terms in the Senate where he represented the Kogi West Central Senatorial District. He was an active player in the Senate where he alongside Senator David Mark were central players in the power schemes in the Senate between 1999 and 2007. Fourth and Fifth Senates.

In this interview, Sen. Ogbeha speaks on his experiences as military governor, senator, and his assessment of the preparations towards the forthcoming governorship election in his native Kogi State.

Senator Ogbeha, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP also gives his reasons why the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada should get a second term in office.

Excerpts:

By Kingsley Fanwo

W

HAT is your assessment of the preparations by INEC for the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State?

With the statement by the new INEC chairman, we are hopeful that the electoral umpire will conduct a free, fair and credible election, not only in Kogi, but also in Bayelsa State. INEC has a duty to ensure that best practices are employed to ensure the elections reflect the true wishes of the people of the two states.

The commission must use the upcoming polls to gain the confidence of the Nigerian electorate.

The bailout fund for states to enable the payment of salaries has grown controversy in Kogi State. What is your perception of the issues around the bailout fund?

From the signals coming from members of the APC, they don’t want that bailout to be paid due to political considerations. It is unfortunate because this bailout is meant for the workers and should not be laced with politics.

The APC is doing all in their power to obstruct the release of this fund. This is unfair to the workers and all Kogites. It shows the APC in Kogi State doesn’t have the welfare of the workers at heart. But I am sure the C M Y K

governor is doing all he can to ensure the bailout is released and when it is released, workers’ salary arrears will be cleared.

As a former Military Governor of the old Bendel and Akwa Ibom states, can you recall your memorable experiences in governing those states?

In the two states that I governed, I had the cooperation of the indigenes and they made my job a little bit easier.

Citizens'' cooperation I enjoyed working in those two states and it is difficult for me to say which one I enjoyed more. I thoroughly took the opportunity of the citizens’ cooperation to impact positively on the two states.

You governed two states as an executive officer before moving into the Senate to spend eight eventful years. How was it working in the two different arms?

As a military administrator, I had the powers to execute projects and policies. The scenario in the senate was quite different. In the Senate, I was concentrating on lawmaking and attracting federal presence to my district. In the legislature, you don’t have executive powers, so you have to collaborate with the

•Ogbeha

executive arm to get things done.

How would you respond to the assertion that you and Sen. David Mark were responsible for the frequent leadership changes in the Senate between 1999 and 2005?

I wouldn’t know what you mean by the frequent changes in the Senate. Sen. David Mark made great contributions and later went on to become a great President of the National Assembly. Whatever leadership changes we might have contributed to effecting was for the good governance of Nigeria.

How will you describe your relationship with former Senate President, late Senator

It is too early to pass judgment on the young administration.

Let us keep watching. At the right time, we would offer our modest views

Adolphus Wabara?

We had a great personal and working relationship. He was a great leader respected by many people.

But there were insinuations that you both had a frosty relationship.

That wouldn’t have been true.

People peddle a lot of rumour. I was the man involved and I am confirming it to you now that we had a great relationship and had mutual respect for each other.

There was this story that Sen. Arthur Nzeribe once pulled the carpet off your feet on the floor of the Senate. Can you recollect such act by the maverick politician?

There was nothing like that.

Those were the creations of the media. I had great collaboration with Sen. Nzeribe. He was sitting next to me in the chambers. He was my very good friend and we worked well together.

You were said to be one of the PDP leaders who opposed another term for your predecessor, Sen. Smart Adeyemi. What is your take on that?

I will not want to say anything about the issue.

Saying something would have helped to inform the Kogi West people on the role you played in the entire political intrigues.

I know it will, but I also know

that I won’t be saying anything about that. When the time is ripe, maybe I will say something on it.

How will you assess the Buhari administration so far?

It is too early to pass judgment on the young administration. Let us keep watching. At the right time, we would offer our modest views.

Sir, what were the compelling factors that drew you into the broadcasting industry?

I know that information is power. For my people to make informed choices politically, culturally, economically and socially, there is a need to get information. This is why we stepped into the industry.

Your message to the people of Kogi State as they prepare for the November 21 guber polls.

I want us to be calm, disciplined and prayerful. We can’t sacrifice peace for anything. Our people must conduct themselves in orderly and peaceful manner. Let them shine their eyes and vote for the best candidate and that candidate is the candidate of the PDP, Capt Idris Ichala Wada.

Thank you so much for speaking to us.

You are most welcome. I want to also commend Vanguard for giving the election an objective coverage. You have done a great job and must be commended for that.

26—VANGUARD, FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 6, 2015

•Tsav:

How Dele Giwa's murder file disappeared — TSAV •Gov Ortom is Senator Akume’s puppet FORMER Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, in this interview spoke on the disappearance of the case file of Dele Giwa’s murder, his strained relationship with Senator George Akume and Governor Samuel Ortom, his new assignment at the Public Complaint Commission and lots more. Excerpts:

By Peter Duru

P

RESIDENT Mohammadu Buhari recently nominated his Ministers after a long wait, are you impressed with the calibre of men and women who made that list?

As a matter of fact I know just a few of them, I don’t know most of them. But I’m sure the President must have done a lot of home work to select that team.

The bad thing about this country is that nearly every public office holder has a stain.

So let’s all wait and see how they will perform.

You were recently appointed a Commissioner at the Public Complaint Commission, how would you compare this assignment with you last job as a Police officer?

C M Y K

You see, there are lots of social and administrative injustice in this country, people don’t know that the Commission is there for them to run to in such cases.

Though, the Commission itself has not made its presence felt for people to appreciate it. But it’s a body that is termed a watch dog against social injustice. It has a huge responsibility and if they do what they should do, I think the society will be better for it.

Comparing my job as Police officer and my present responsibility, the fact is that the assignment we have here is more of social assignment, it’s more of a humane assignment. It’s is an assignment you do without seeking any benefits. You try to reconcile people, for instance, if they have grievances among themselves.

If you find out government or any organisation has cheated on a citizen, you try to intervene to resolve it without seeking any benefits. Unlike in the Police,

Yes I’m aware of what you are talking about. But the question is did Chris Omeben investigate that murder case? He was not part of; certainly not

when I reached the rank of Commissioner and I had my command, I had no interference, but when I was a junior officer there were lots of interferences. You try investigating a very good case, before making a break through somebody on top will just take the case from you and you will not hear anything about it. The reason for all that was corruption. But when you attain the rank of Commissioner of Police in charge of a state and you are honest, you’ll enjoy doing the job because when an offence is committed you ensure that it is treated accordingly in line with the dictates of the law.

But as a junior officer you might be handling a case believing that you are doing a good work, doing the case very well, a senior officer will come and take it from you and you’ll not hear anything about the matter again. I suffered and had lots of such cases.

For instance, I had the case of murder in Benin when I was Officer in Charge of General Investigations at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Lagos. The case in question had earlier been investigated by some people but they could not make any head way.

So I was given the matter to handle. I investigated and established the case and sent it the Federal Ministry of Justice. They advised that the evidence had been established to prosecute the matter but said they had no authority over a case that occurred in Bendel State of those days and that we should send the same file to the State Ministry of Justice. On getting the file, the state ministry of justice also gave us the same advise that a case had been established against the suspect.

Higher authority We took the man to court and he was remanded in custody, only to receive instruction from higher authority that we should withdraw the case, that we did not investigate the matter properly. They took it and gave it to a junior officer, and that was the last we heard of the case.

I also had the case where a senior officer exchanged cocaine with yam flour in Kano, I was given the case to investigate, I investigated it, found the officer liable, wrote a report on the case for prosecution, they took the file from me and that was the last I heard of the matter.

I had also this case of Dele Giwa for instance, the case was initially handled by a Commissioner of Police, now late, then later they gave it to me as the Officer in Charge of General Investigations at the

Force CID Lagos.

I investigated the case thoroughly well, I took statements from Gani Fawehinmi, I took statements from Ita Giwa, I took statements from Soyinka, and I also took statements from Dele Giwa’s son who received the parcel from the man who brought it.

We established a case and then I wrote an interim report to the authorities that I wanted to be given authority, because then we were under military regime, so that I can go and search the offices and residences of the people we suspected.

And when the case file went, that was the last I word of it.

But as for the job we are doing now, the law establishing the Commission says nobody should interfere with the work of the Commission, nobody must try to influence it.

You claimed that you investigated the murder case, and that you interrogated all your suspects including Kayode Soyinka, are you aware that Retired AIG, Chris Omeben is stirring controversy in the media recently with his claim of investigating the same case?

Yes I’m aware of what you are talking about. But the question is did Chris Omeben investigate that murder case?

He was not part of; certainly not. He was not part of it. As far I am concerned he never handled case.

Interim report I told you that I was given that case to investigate and I carried out all the investigations and came up with an interim report seeking authority to conduct searches at the homes and offices of the suspects and thereafter the case file disappeared into thin air.

As the officer who handled that case, I appeared before the Oputa panel to tender everything I knew about that case. If he claims he handled the case why didn’t he appear before that panel to give evidence of what he new?

So are you saying that he had no role to play in that investigation?

Yes, the then AIG Victor Pam, who later became the Gwan Gwom Jos was the one that played a role in that investigation if I may say so because he was the one I wrote my report to and who appreciated the assignment I carried out.

Why is Omeben claiming he investigated the case?

Well, maybe he saw the file and took it up to gain favour or for higher responsibility, that I don’t know, but if his claims were true why didn’t he appears before the Oputa Continues on page 27

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—27

Dickson launches out

By Samuel Oyadongha

I

T has been a busy week for the Restoration Campaign organization of the Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP in Bayelsa State, as the campaign outfit led by the party candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson intensify its community to community meet the people tour of Yenagoa, the state capital.

Yenagoa was chosen as the take off point of the community to community meet the people tour of the state in which the Restoration Campaign Organisation led by Dickson and his deputy Rear Admiral John Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd) is expected to go round the 103 wards that cut across the eight local government areas because of its unique position as the host and landlord to Creek Haven, the seat of power.

Infrastructural development Dickson and his train were received at the Yenagoa Town Hall by the paramount ruler of Yenagoa, HRH M.C Clarkson Kikile and members of his council.

Addressing the people, Dickson reiterated the determination of his administration to invest more in the infrastructural development of the capital if reelected.

An elated Dickson reiterated his affinity with people of Yenagoa, saying it was a special area to him and pledged greater commitment to the indigenes and their aspirations citing his administration huge investment in the state capital in the areas of infrastructures, which are visible for all to see.

The projects include; the first ever flyover, the world class diagnostic centre, Micro-finance bank, multi court door hall, Late Prof Dora Akunyuli drug mart, the Igbogene/AIT bypass, Traditional rulers council secretariat and the driving school.

Others are, the cultural boulevard, the police officers

mess, the road safety/Hospital junction ring road to mention but few.

Assuring his readiness to do more, if voted for second term, Dickson described the investments as historical and, therefore, solicited the support and cooperation of the people in the realization of his second term re-election bid.

“You have seen the little that we have done in spite of the tight financial situation. You have seen the investments by the Bayelsa State Government in Yenagoa. It is our thinking that by the grace of God and with the support of the people in the next term, we have to finish them. These are big projects that we have started.

A number of them are at 60 to 80% completion stage, which is excellent but we need to complete them.”

“The hard decision of starting the projects has already been taken. It is our thinking that with your cooperation, in the next dispensation; we will now work hard to finish the projects.”

According to him, “Now is the time for all Ijaws to identify with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” Dickson said, adding that

BAYELSA DECIDES

APC must not provoke violence — Dickson campaign

By Emem Idio

T

•Dickson: Seeks reelection “Yenagoa communities have been active supporters of the party since 1999.”

He expressed confidence in the support of the people ahead of the December 5 and enjoined the generality of the people to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its flag bearer, Timipre

Sylva, ahead of the election because they do not mean well for the state.

He specifically recalled the era when Sylva was in charge of the state accusing his administration of lawlessness, violence, excessive borrowing without justification and gross leadership ineptitude.

Bayelsa Councillors forum endorse Dickson re-election

By Samuel Oyadongha

S

ERVING and former councillors in the 105 wards across the eight local government areas in Bayelsa state under the aegis of Bayelsa State Councillors Forum have endorsed the re-election bid of the state governor and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Mr Seriake Dickson.

Dickson, who expressed gratitude to the councillors for their resounding endorsement and support during a meeting with the forum at the Banquet Hall, Government House Yenagoa, reiterated that the All Progressives Congress, APC, stands no chance in winning

the December 5, governorship polls.

He expressed appreciation for the vote of confidence passed on him, noting that their support would spur him to do more exploits in the development of the state.

Dickson, who noted that even key opposition members were endorsing him, disclosing that more endorsements will still come as the election approaches.

Describing the councillors as critical builders of democracy, he charged them to mobilize the people at the grassroots and ensure that they deliver their wards, units and local government areas in the coming election.

“APC does not stand a chance in Bayelsa state, the sooner the APC at the national realised that anything they do is a wasted effort the better for them. Federal might does not vote. We (PDP) have 105 councillors, 21 House of Assembly members, three senators, 5 House of Representatives members, 8 local government chairmen and a performing governor, while the APC has none,” the governor boasted.

The governor charged them to mobilise their people at the grassroots and take charged of their units and communities on the Election Day and ensure that they cast and protect their votes.

Earlier, the chairman of the Bayelsa state Councillors s

HE Restoration Campaign Organisation of Governor Seriake Dickson re-election has called on the federal government to provide adequate security during the electioneering campaigns and on December 5, stressing that it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election in the state.

The Director –General of the organisation and the member representing Sagbama/ Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Fred Agbedi, who stated this during a press conference to unveil the campaign itinerary, expected to commenced on Friday with visit to Brass Local Government Area, further task the All Progressives Congress, APC, to also go about their campaigns peacefully devoid of violence and aggression.

Agbedi, who was flanked by the Deputy Directors for Administration, Operations, Media and publicity, Mr.Talford Ongolo, Claudius Enengesi and Jonathan Obuebite respectively, noted that the call for adequate security became imperative because of attacks on the convoy of the governor by thugs suspected to be APC supporters in Yenagoa.

How Dele Giwa's murder file disappeared — TSAV Continues from page 26 panel. Nobody invited me to that panel, I went there on my own even though I was threatened. The man just want to generate attention. What I’m saying is that if he is insisting, the press should invite the both of us to thrash the matter so that the world will know who is telling the truth.

It’s claimed that you have been so hard on the Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration in Benue state just like you were on the C M Y K

George Akume’s government.

What necessitated your posture?

Look, I’ve said it several times and I want to say it again, during the time of Akume as Governor, he started off and we were friendly until he stared doing things that were wrong.

There was general impunity, people were doing anything without being checked, there was a lot of corruption.

Contracts were given without execution. When Suswam came in I started against him

too, I thought that since Akume brought him he was going to do the same thing.

Support for Suswam It was when he deviated from him that I stop because he was always taking advise.

So, Akume did very badly, but when Suswam deviated from him I decided to support Suswam. However, when Governor Samuel Ortom came,

and you know the circumstances under which he came, he came in and he started doing the bidding of Akume.

Every key appointment is made

by Akume.

He is like a puppet and he is doing Akume’s bidding, that is why I’m angry over the whole thing. They have threatened me, but I don’t care, anytime it pleases God to take my life I’ll go. What has taken my father and mother away should not scare me. I regard their threat as empty.

He came in and is talking about probe, he is not talking of his own programme. They reported Suswam to the EFCC, why can’t they wait to see the outcome of the probe panels they instituted before doing that. If they attend any occasion it’s Suswam has stolen, in church or burial, it Suswam has stolen. Why can’t he start his programmes. Benue people are not interested in what has passed, they want to know what he can do for them. That is what interests them.

28—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Inside story of Kogi bail out politics

By Kingsley Fanwo

O

NE of the topical issues in many strata of the society in Kogi State today is the discourse on bail out, or rather, the politics of the bailout fund.

The bailout fund as originally intended by the presidency was a financial intervention to help states to pay accrued salaries to their workers. While state civil servants in Kogi State do not have much problem with salaries being owed not more than one month, local government staff are, however, in a different frame. Many of them have continued to receive salaries in percentages, a situation that has damaged grassroots economy.

For over a year, Local Government Councils have been unable to pay full salaries to their staff. It is thus not surprising that many council staff find it hard to provide for the basic needs of their families.

The gory situation is best captured by the narration of a council staff who spoke to Vanguard recently.

“As the breadwinner of my family, it is pathetic that I can’t even provide for the needs of my immediate family. I took a loan to send my daughter to the College of Education and I am now paying compound interest due to my inability to repay the loan”, he said.

Financial stability Where the Councils Missed the Road In the days of the oil boom with strings of windfalls, Local Government Areas in Kogi became rich.

With lack of proper planning to secure their financial stability and provide for the needs of the populace, the Local Government Councils entered a recruitment spree. The wage bills of the councils were loaded to the detriment of the provision of social amenities to the people.

At inception, the administration of Capt. Idris Wada moved to restore sanity to the system. Verification panels were set up to look into the ugly situation of bloated labour force in the Local Government Councils. The revelations included the fact that many “staff ” of the councils were permanently resident in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and other

2015: KOGI DECIDES

•Wada states across the country.

It was also discovered that many staff in the Local Government Areas were improperly employed. With the councils in debt running into billions over payments made to ghost workers and

Despite repeated denials by government, it is believed that the November 21 governorship election is having a negative effect on the release of the bailout

the dwindling oil revenue leading to shrinking allocations, it became practically impracticable to pay salaries. In order to avoid the total collapse of the economy of homes, the councils resorted to percentage payment.

The Bailout Option So, following the intervention of President Buhari earlier in the life of the administration, the bailout facility was worked out to allow states access to long term loans to pay the backlog of salaries.

Kogi State became one of the applicants as the state administration announced that the big chunk of the bailout fund will go into settling salary arrears in the local councils since there was no such pressure at the state level.

It is believed that over N45 billion will be needed to address the arrears owed the council “workers”.

The Political Perspective: The euphoria that greeted news of the bailout is fizzling out gradually as the State Government battles to receive the funds.

Despite repeated denials by government, it is believed that the November 21 governorship election is having a negative effect on the release of the bailout.

The opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress has been accused of blocking access to the bail out in order to ensure workers are not paid before the election. To this end, analysts contend, the PDP will be at a disadvantage in the election.

However, APC chieftains in the state are of the opinion that the PDP is planning to use the funds for the election. With the ensuing antagonism on the bailout, the civil servants and the citizenry are left in the lurch.

Don’t sell your cards to PDP agents, Audu warns Kogi electorate

T

By Kingsley Fanwo

HE Director General Audu/Faleke Campaign Organization, Comrade Daniel Isah, has advised the electorate not to sell their voter cards to anybody especially government agents.

He accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of going round the state, buying up voter’s card from the electorate for a token, saying such move will not save PDP from defeat onNovember 21.

Isah described the said the action of PDP agents as evil and criminal which was aimed at disenfranchising the people who have rejected their government of failure and maladministration.

“When you sell your card you are selling your future and progress. PDP leaders don’t care for you, so if you give them your card, your future has been mortgaged,” he said.

He called on INEC and the law enforcement agencies to commence investigations into the matter and arrest the culprits involved in the act, no matter how highly placed.

The DG promised to make names of suspected card buyers available to the police and INEC for prosecution.

•Audu:APC candidate

I want to build a new Kogi with agriculture — Ozigi

By Kingsley Fanwo

M

R. Emmanuel Enesi Ozigi, the governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Congress has promised to revamp the economy of the state through agricultural revolution if given the mandate to govern the state.

Ozigi stated this in an exclusive chat with Vanguard, Wednesday, at Okene during a Ward-to-Ward tour of the Local Government by his campaign team. He said he has a blueprint to make Kogi a leading agro-economic state within three years.

It is about planning and collaboration with relevant agencies and the organized private sector. My team has a blueprint for the agricultural revolution of Kogi State.

“We have identified our areas of

C M Y K

economy every year.

The governorship candidate urged the canvassers to invest their time into working for a future that is guaranteed, assuring them of performance if voted into Lugard House.

....as Change Ambassadors root for Audu

A

Rocket science “When politicians talk about jobs creation, many of them have no faint idea of how to go about it. They just use it to play on the intelligence of the unemployed youths who are desperately in need of jobs.

“Creating jobs is no rocket science.

strength as a state, our areas of comparative advantage. Our survey has shown that we could generate over N500 billion annually through the commercial production of rice, cassava and cashew. Poultry farming is capable of adding billions of naira to our

•Ozigi:PPA candidate

CAMPAIGN group, Change Ambassadors has appealed to the people of Kogi State to vote massively for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the upcoming governorship election in the state, Prince Abubakar Audu.

The group said Audu is the messiah that can lead the state out of her present state of economic malaise.

In a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Lokoja, the group carpeted the Wada administration for non-performance and neglect of the welfare of civil servants in the state.

The statement reads: “Having reviewed the state of our economy and infrastructure, we have come to the conclusion that Prince Abubakar Audu is the anointed messiah sent to liberate the state from the misrule of the PDP. “As far as we are concerned, Capt Idris Wada has failed to better the lots of Kogites. Audu has done it before and we hope he will take us to the next level”.

The group urged members to campaign vigorously for APC to enable the party achieve its set objective for the development of Kogi State.

VOL. 1: NO. 17

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 , 2015

By Dapo Akinrefon

T

HE Pan-Yoruba sociocultural organization, Afenifere was formed as a rallying point for the Yoruba people.

It is instructive to note that Afenifere has been in existence since ‘Egbe Omo Oduduwa’ days, which was formed by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

There is no gain saying the fact that Chief Awolowo was the unannounced leader of the Yoruba race during the Nigeria’s struggle for independence.

After Awolowo’s demise, the mantle fell on the late Adekunke Ajasin, who led Afenifere from 1987.

With Ajasin exiting the scene, Abraham Adesanya was elevated as its leader and Chief Bola Ige as deputy leader.

Other founding members were Pa Onasanya, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Adegbonmire, Okurounmu Femi, Ganiyu Dawodu, Olanihun Ajayi, Olu Falae, Adebayo Adefarati, Alhaji Adeyemo and Ayo Adebanjo.

Discernible efforts Upon Awolowo’s death in 1987, his followers, who came to be known as Awoists made discernible efforts to emulate Awolowo in words and action.

Indeed, some of them still wear the Pa Awo fila (cap) till date.

In fact, to resolve any controversial issue, the leaders would always quote Awolowo or recall how the late sage resolved a similar issue or what he would have done if he were alive.

And so, the Awoists, who congregated in Afenifere remained a closely knitted and united political unit.

The split: In 2008, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) was formed, perhaps with the stated intent of reuniting the feuding factions, but as an alternative to the faction headed by the older generation of leaders.

In November 2008, a faction of Afenifere in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, installed Chief Reuben Fasoranti as the group’s chairman.

But some renegades revolted against the emergence of Fasoranti saying that they did not accept move.

C M Y K

: E R E F I N E AF

s g n i h t Are ? t r a p a falling

•Awolowo: Founded Afenifere

Upon Awolowo’s death in 1987, his followers, who came to be known as Awoists made discernible efforts to emulate Awolowo in words and action

A founding member of the Afenifere and staunch Awosit, Chief Adebanjo, had announced that a meeting of Afenifere had been fixed for Ijebu-Igbo, in 2008, to ratify Chief Fasoranti as the new leader of the group.

The Afenifere Renewal Group had described the proposed Ijebu-Igbo meeting and

ratification of a leader as “a recipe for another round of sabre-rattling, factional squabbles and abandoning the vision of the founding fathers of Afenifere for personal quarrels, inward throwing of punches and open rounds of acrimony.

According to ARG, “It is a weather-beaten path that has

IN THIS EDITION

Afenifere' ll bounce back — BUCKNOR-AKERELE

Pa Fasoranti’s grouse

substantially distracted from confronting the challenges facing the Yoruba nation. We must put on record that the late leader of Afenifere, Senator Abraham Adesanya, spent the last five years of his active life resolving internal disputes among his followers till he collapsed in the middle of the crisis and never recovered.

“To resume that line of action six months after his death, would appear to us as dancing on the grave of Adesanya, whose last earthly regret, was not leaving one united Afenifere behind, like Awolowo and Ajasin did. For us in the Afenifere Renewal Group, it is

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

LAGOS STATE

F

Afenifere is the real Afenifere.

ARG is just a group that was brought in to destabilise Afenifere for political

By Clifford Ndujihe

ORMER Deputy Governor of Lagos State and a stalwart of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, has asked those who say that Afenifere is no longer relevant in the affairs of the Yoruba Nation, to have a rethink.

Reason: ‘’We are a resilient people and we don’t give up when we fight for just causes until we triumph.’’

Bucknor-Akerele, who described leaders of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) as fake Awoists, spoke to Vanguard on the backdrop of the resignation of Afenifere Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti (who has accepted to withdraw his resignation) and comments

by ARG Chairman, Hon. Wale Oshun, enjoining all Yoruba patriots to rally round the ARG to promote, protect and ensure the development of Yoruba people.

Reconciliation summit Oshun said in a statement: ‘’The statement by our elder, Chief Reuben Fasoranti that the Afenifere he led has derailed has confirmed our worst fears of what we had always known since the IITA reconciliation summit of 2006. The failure of that summit provided the groundswell for the reluctant emergence of Afenifere

•Akerele-Bucknor

Afenifere' ll bounce back — BUCKNOR-AKERELE Renewal Group. ‘’Afenifere has now clearly exhibited itself as an out of touch institution whose lack of

rudder has led to a total derailment from the fundamental values upon which it was built. Chief Fasoranti’s

exit as the leader of Afenifere is a clear indication that the organisation has come to roost.

‘We in Afenifere Renewal Group had seen the need for a renewal of Afenifere movement, anchored on the original philosophy of our late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as the legitimate voice of Yoruba people, providing the visionary, selfless and altruistic leadership that our people and land require and deserve.’’

Reacting to Oshun’s comment, Bucknor-Akerele said: ‘’That is absolute nonsense. How can they say that the ARG will pursue the philosophy of Pa Awo? All the while they never went to pa Awolowo’s house to attend the meetings called by Mama Awolowo. It was when Mama died that they showed up. They are fake Awoists.’’

On comments that Afenifere is dead with the emergence of

the Afenifere Renewal Group, she said: ‘’That is not true.

Afenifere is the real Afenifere.

ARG is just a group that was brought in to destabilise Afenifere for political purposes.’’

The senators also picked holes in comments that since Afenifere supported former President Goodluck Jonathan in the last election that with his loss, Afenifere has lost political relevance and clout in the South-West. ‘’That is absolute nonsense. It is just like when Awolowo was supposedly defeated with the 12 two-third people said Awo was almost dead. Awo is more alive today than at any other time.

Afenifere are very resilient people, they don’t give.

Afenifere was part of NADECO, they fought for democracy in this country, I was part of that group. Therefore, you can say we don’t give up, we are fighters. We believe that when our cause is just that we will triumph in the end just like democracy triumphed in the end after our struggle.’’

Bucknor-Akerele also dismissed as balderdash impressions that since most Afenifere leaders are in their 70s and 80s there may be nobody to hand the baton of leadership to in the near future.

"There are young people in Afenifere, who have been very vocal and who no doubt will eventually take over the leadership of the group,’’ she assured.

AFENIFERE: Are things falling apart?

Continues from page 1 a big tragedy that while a Barrack Obama was able to spend just two years to mobilise America for change, we spent the last eight years of our lives settling crisis,” the Afenifere renewal group stated.

And Fasoranti throws in towel Perhaps a repeat of the crisis that led to the polarisation of the group is Fasronati’s throwing in the towel.

Fasoranti’s recent resignation of his position left many tongues wagging with some analysts saying that all is well with Afenifere.

Fasoranti, who became the leader of the group after the death of Adesanya, said he had ceased being the chairman of the organization.

In the letter addressed to the Secretary General, Seinde Arogbofa, he recalled a brief history of the group from its formation in 1951 under the leadership of the late Awolowo.

But beyond that, Afenifere under the leadership of Fasoranti was perceived to have suffered a number contradictions as several of its C M Y K

members found new voices in different political parties.

The emergence of the All Progressives Congress and the anti-confab posture of some Yoruba leaders, from the South West, did not help the Afenifere agenda.

Aside this, Afenifere then faced harsh criticisms from some Yoruba leaders for expressing their support for Jonathan.

group was formed to serve as an umbrella to be used to actualize the dream of a great nation and the Yoruba race.

“Over the years, Yorubas have tried to focus on a common goal.

Chief Awolowo tried to ensure

Support for Jonathan Fasoranti’s letter read: “Considering my age, efforts and selfless dedication to my country, my state (Ondo), my political parties, my past leaders and my members in Afenifere both in Nigeria and in Diaspora, I hereby wish to inform you all that I have decided to step aside as leader of our great organization Afenifere”.

In the letter which was also copied to other leaders of the group such as Ayo Adebanjo, Lanihun Ajayi, Olu Falae, Supo Sonibare and all state chairmen of Afenifere, the octogenarian noted that the

Afenifere is an organisation made up of intelligent people. We cannot rush to action in this kind of situation. We are still consulting and I will inform you about the outcome of our consultation

the oneness of our people with a lot of efforts, notwithstanding the challenges he faced in the process. Unfortunately, he passed on without actualising this dream,” Fasoranti said.

“I joined Afenifere from inception with the following leaders of our race, Pa Onasanya, Alhaji Ganiyu Daodu, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sir Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Sam Sonibare, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire and so on. The mantle of leadership fell on Late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and subsequently Pa Adesanya and then my humble self.

“As events have been unfolding in the past few years, the focus and goals of the founding fathers of our great organization ‘Afenifere’ were gradually eroded.”

While he lamented that the erosion of the common focus and goals of the organisation equally made it difficult for members to work in unity, he said “several efforts were made to ensure the actualization of the Afenifere goals, but it appeared that we have not succeeded in achieving this”.

“This is basically due to

reasons best known to our members individually.”

Fasoranti also dwelt on the national conference, stating that the adoption of the national conference report had always been a focus and goal of the Afenifere group even long before the confab was set up by the last administration.

Besides, he said the group’s backing of President Goodluck Jonathan was not a mistake.

Public insinuations “The support of a leader who promised to implement this report was therefore not a mistake and inevitable despite all public insinuations,” he said.

A source within Afenifere, who confided in Vanguard, expressed optimism that the hullabaloo within the group would be laid to rest soon.

The source told Vanguard that there was no rift whatsoever in the organisation but attributed the decision of their former leader to step down due to illness and old age.

Corroborating this, Chief

Continues on page 3

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 3

EKITI STATE

Pa Fasoranti’s grouse

By Dayo Johnson

V

ANGUARD findings showed that the resignation of the fourth leader of the group actually has more to do with disloyalty and undermining of his leadership by some members.

It was reliably gathered that Pa Fasoranti, who will clock 90 years next year was not happy when he discovered that some members allegedly from Ogun State were purported to have started holding clandestine meetings with a leader of the All Progressives Congress APC with the alleged intention to float a new party ahead of 2019 general election.

amongst were said to have prevailed on him to rescind his decision but the octogenarian politician was pressurized by his Children to step aside to avoid being ridiculed.

Fasoranti reportedly drew the attention of the founding fathers to the issuance of statements on behalf of the group by some members without his approval.

Some leaders of the group it was gathered have not forgiven Fasoranti for allegedly supporting the second term ambition of the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A source said if the

General election Pa Fasoranti was said to have been pained by the development that notable members of the group would attend meetings in Akure and also in Lagos on how to undermine his leadership.

It was also learnt that many of the leaders hardly attend the group’s meetings in Akure, the country home of Pa Fasoranti but prefer to meet with other people in Lagos.

He was said to have raised the issue of disloyalty and undermining of his leadership by some leaders with other founding fathers of the group.

The likes of Pa Adebanjo, Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Falae

Pa Fasoranti was said to have been pained by the development that notable members of the group would attend meetings in Akure and also in Lagos on how to undermine his leadership

•Fasoranti support for the former President were thrown open most members would have raised some pertinent questions against the move.

Another source said: "Fasoranti did not want to remain a figure head leader because some people are trying to undermine his leadership.

“ I think what he has done is honorable. Nobody should castigate him for that. When a father discovers that his children have decided not to listen to the voice of elders the best thing is to leave them alone.’’

Efforts to speak with Pa Fasoranti were unsuccessful.

Also a visit to his Ijapo

residence in Akure, was not fruitful either.

It was however gathered from one of his aides that he was indisposed.

The core leaders of the group met at the country home of Pa Fasoranti in Akure to sort out the internal wrangling and chart a new course.

AFENIFERE: Are things falling apart?

Continues from page 2

When Ajasin was weak, he asked Adesanya to act.

When Adesanya took ill, we appointed him (Fasoranti) as leader

Seinde Arogbofa, a leader of the group, said: “He (Fasoranti) is old. He is 89. That is why he resigned. Papa Ajasin and Adesanya did not attain that ripe old age. Pa Fasoranti said the youths don’t listen to elders again and that they behave as they like.

Nothing unusual When Ajasin was weak, he asked Adesanya to act. When Adesanya took ill, we appointed him (Fasoranti) as leader. There is nothing unusual about his resignation. We have no crisis.

The man has been sick of late.

He just left the hospital a few days ago. The job is rigorous.

We hold a lot of meetings. Go C M Y K

•Adebanjo and Ajayi: Staunch Awoists and read his statement.

“We will meet and appoint a new leader. When we get to the

meeting, we will attend to the vacancy. When we meet, we will appoint a new leader. I

can’t tell you how a new leader will emerge until we meet.”

I know Papa anchored his resignation mainly on old age.

We should not see what has happened as what has never happened; there is nothing new in it.

“We should be calm and begin to think and strategise on how

to make and move the organisation forward.

“We will put heads together and set a new course for the group as we did when Pa Adesanya was old and could not go ahead.”

“Afenifere is an organisation made up of intelligent people.

We cannot rush to action in this kind of situation. We are still consulting and I will inform you about the outcome of our consultation. ‘’We were shocked by the action, because Baba Fasoranti never discussed with me before he took his decision, despite the level of our closeness.

“I don’t know what he meant by disloyalty of members because he didn’t discuss with me before he took his decision, but I know the issue will be resolved soon”

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

ONDO STATE

By Dayo Johnson

T

HE sack of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP member of the House of Representatives representing Ilaje/ Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, Ondo State Hon Kolade Akinjo by the National Assembly and House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in the state was a big blow that has unsettled the ruling party in the state.

The party was literally mute because the verdict to say the least was unexpected.

But all their defense fell like pack of cards and the distinguished member of the House of Representatives was kicked out.

Infact, the verdict made its leaders including Governor Olusegun Mimiko to ponder on where they got it wrong which necessitated the judgment.

The member of the National Assembly was sacked principally, according to the tribunal, because he had one foot in both PDP and the Labour Party and therefore did not fulfill constitutional or statutory requirements to qualify him for the election.

Although the Secretary to the state government Dr. Rotimi Adelola has promised that the appointment is ongoing many party members are agitated that government is buying time because of paucity of funds to pay political appointees.

d

Political appointees However, the candidate of the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, Lucky Ayedatiwa had approached the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election asking for the nullification of the March 28, 2015 election. Ayedatiwa through his Counsel, Yinka Orokoto argued that Akinjo was not qualified for the election as he did not obtain a waiver from the necessary organs of the PDP before contesting for the election.The candidate also argued that the respondent did not score the highest number of lawful votes for him to be the representative of the people of the Federal constituency.

The tribunal Chairman Justice Ojobor Ogar therefore nullified the election even as it agreed that Akinjo's election was valid by reason of substantial compliance with the provision of the electoral act and that he was duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election but that he was not a PDP C M Y K

•Sacked PDP House of Rep member in Ondo. Hon Kolade Akinjo

How Rep's sack destabilises Ondo PDP member as at the time he contested the March 28, 2015 election.

It would be recalled that Akinjo was the Labour Party LP candidates in the byelection which took place in 2014. The election was declared inconclusive by INEC but the LP went to the Federal high court seeking for the declaration of Akinjo as the winner of the election.

After much horse trading the then PDP candidate Adewale Kukute later agreed. To an out of court settlement.

Akinjo was later to emerge the candidate of the PDP after the LP merged with the party.

But the tribunal Chairman in his verdict said that the PDP membership card was not signed by the ward chairman and secretary of the party, an indication that he was not a member of the PDP as at the time he contested and won the election.

Ogar declared that “ we found as a fact, even though the first respondent (Akinjo) purportedly said he joined the PDP more than one month before the schedule congress of the party, he did not comply with the due

process of registration as a member of the PDP by registering at the ward level.

"We also found as a fact that even Akinjo purported to have joined the PDP on the 28 October 2014, he still executed a Court process on behalf of the LP( a Party he was supposed to have left).

This can only mean that he had one foot in each of the parties, namely PDP and LP. “This cannot be a contemplation of the constitution or statutory requirement that states that the candidate to contest election must be a member of a political party and be sponsored by that party.

“We found therefore that Akinjo's contention that he was granted waiver to contest election into any office as of no moment since only a duly registered member of a party can enjoy the privilege of a waiver. “ Accordingly, we were unable to agree with learned counsels to the respective respondents that the issue of membership, nomination and sponsorship of a candidate for election is the internal affairs of a political party for which the petitioner who is not member of the PDP could

challenge for want of locus standi. “ Finally, we found that the petitioners succeeded in establishing their case that the first respondent was at the time of the election into the House of Representatives for Ilaje/ Ese-Odo Federal

Infact, the verdict made its leaders including Governor Olusegun Mimiko to ponder on where they got it wrong which necessitated the judgment

Constituency not qualified to contest the election. The same election is therefore nullified.

The tribunal therefore ordered that fresh election be conducted by INEC to fill the vacant position.

Meanwhile, the two political parties have faulted the verdict.

While the PDP through its Publicity Secretary Banji Okunomo said that the tribunal had no business speaking on matters touching on internal affairs of the party let alone deciding that the party’s candidate in the last election was unqualified. “ It is within the competence of the PDP to present candidate for election. The issue is an internal affair of the party. “ We will not agree with the tribunal. We will go to appeal court optimistic that we will get justice. “ The People of Ilaje/ Ese odo gave their mandate to Kolade Akinjo and not for the the tribunal to decide otherwise. We know that God in heaven is the ultimate Judge and he will judge the matter appropriately.

Constitutional procedure But the opposition Party the APC said that the tribunal based it’s judgment on the fact that Akinjo did not follow constitutional Procedure in joining the PDP. The party said that Akinjo was haunted by his participation in the 2014 byelection where he flew the flag of the LP. It further said that the tribunal ought to have considered the huge amount of money that would be required to go for fresh election and declare the opposition party candidate the winner of the election.

“We are looking at the judgment as if the tribunal only wants to give a grace to the PDP by ordering for a fresh election because it was not the fault of the electorate, INEC or other political parties who participated in the election but that of the PDP who fielded a LP member as its candidate.

“Therefore there was nothing stopping the tribunal from declaring APC candidate as the winner because the March 28 election in which the PDP failed to present candidate and the APC who came second ought to have been declared winner."

The party vowed to challenge part of the tribunal ruling at the Court of Appeal.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NPVEMBER 6, 2015 — 5

OYO STATE

SHIP N A M IR A H C W OYO NURT

s t n a w o y k o T t n e m e t a t s n i re d e t n e m e l p m order i

ordered his dustrial Court In al n lhaji Lateef io at N e w years ago, A SINCE th fe a t en m dg Chairman of in a ju an embattled reinstatement o, ky To ed ll ca tate has been larly sport in Oyo S Akinsola popu an Tr d oa R of court order. nion entation of the the National U em pl im e th r fo confidence in cally he restated his fighting franti d, ar e gu n Va h it ww uhari, the Vic In this intervie uhammadu B M t n of de i si ob re m P d or Abiola Aji the judiciary an jo and Govern ba n si O f. ro P t, Presiden Oyo State.

By Ola Ajayi

T

HE state NURTW had inaugurated another set of executive committee to run the affairs of the union for another term of four years, but you have been raising eyebrows, what is the problem?

I thank you for your observation. There are lots of problems and not mine alone, but the problems of the union and its members , majority of whom are my supporters.

Let me first of all correct an impression about the said inauguration and to declare as you might read on the pages of newspapers that anything done in that regard is a nullity.

As far as I’m concerned, what has been happening in the union over four years ago is nothing but an aberration. In my own view which is heavily supported by law, what they have been having in the union and which was currently reestablished by the way of the so-called inauguration was caretaking.

Caretaker committee The union has been put under the directive of caretaker committee and when you are appointed a caretaker, you are just an interim which our people in Yoruba-land once described as ‘Fidi he’. It is a temporary thing and at the appointed time of Almighty Allah, the interim tenure will be over.

Could you explain what you mean, because, nobody ever mentioned that those in the saddle were there as caretaker committee?

If nobody has ever mentioned it to you, let it be on record that I, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola Oloruntoki popularly called ‘Tokyo’ said that Oyo State chapter of NURTW is being run C M Y K

In my own view which is heavily supported by law, what they have been having in the union and which was currently reestablished by way of the socalled inauguration was caretaking

by caretaker committee and that has been the pattern for over four years now.

Let me now tell you why. Our union was said to be proscribed in 2011 shortly after the present administration of Sen. Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi came into being for its first term and the executive committee being led by me was said to have been dissolved.

The matter was taken to court and the judgement came out in my favour. I didn’t want to go into long story about what happened before the said proscription.

I don’t know how long you have been in this state, but the problem predated the administration of my brother, Ajimobi and I have been in and out of court on different occasions.

The beauty of it all is that I have never lost any of the cases challenging the injustice being meted to me, but, I have been persistently denied the

•Alhaji Lateef Akinsola opportunity to enjoy the fruits of my struggle. All the court judgements are in my custody and I will just quote from one of them for you by Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division on 26th of November 2012 in Suit No: FHC/IB/CS/ 61/2012 in which she said that “the judgement given in favour of Alhaji Lateef Akinsola has not been held to be a nullity by any court of law.

It is a settled law that a judgement subsists until it is set aside and an aggrieved person who has not appealed against a judgment stands no chance of saying the court lacked jurisdiction.

Just last year, 2014, an appeal against this judgment was struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.

It was based on all these verifiable facts and evidences that the Inspector General of Police was last year advised on the need for me to enjoy my mandate and an end be put to infringement of my fundamental human rights through a letter with Ref. No. CB: 3514/X/LEG/ FHQ/ABJ/ VOL.24/15 dated 5th August, 2014 signed by ACP Y.S Abubakar on behalf of the Commissioner of Police in charge of Legal/Prosecution Section, Area 10 ,Garki Abuja submitted among other submissions that “the judgement of the Federal High

Court Ibadan ,Oyo State in suit no; FHC/IB/CS/30/12 on 25th of May ,2012 is valid subsisting and enforceable; that the said judgment not having been set aside by an appellate court, must be enforced”. So, if I tell you that I’m the substantive Chairman of NURTW in the state today and that anybody laying claim

So, if I tell you that I’m the substantive Chairman of NURTW in the state today and that anybody laying claim to such position is only a caretaker, I have law at my back

to such position is only a caretaker, I have law at my back.

In a recent newspaper interview, Oyerinde said you had been expelled from the union, how do you react to this vis-a-vis your claim to leadership of the union?

He is saying what he does not know anything about. He is not a driver by profession in the first instance, he was pushing trucks at Agbeni Market before I employed him as a security guard in my house.

So, who is he to now claim that I had been expelled from the union he did not belong to ab-initio? What does he know about NURTW in the state? He is a jester.

How do you explain the claim that you have been barred from approaching the court again on this matter?

I don’t blame him because he is a person of low intelligence.

When a judgment given has not been implemented, will the beneficiary of the judgement fold his arms? No. Those who know more than him as reflected in the letter quoted above just last year August authenticated the relevance of my case up till now and until we get justice.

The court has spoken and everybody, including him is bound by it and if there is need to seek for the court’s intervention again, we will not hesitate because we believe in the rule of law rather than resorting to self-help, the result of which is anarchy.

Executive committee But, are you sure all these things you are saying are known to the state governor and the President of the union, Alhaji Najeem Yasin in Abuja?

There is nothing hidden to any of them. Alhaji Yasin was trying to be clever by half. He was the one that proclaimed the so called executive committee as having been due for another term without any election whatsoever.

There was no place the members of the union gathered to either vote or affirm the so called executive for another term and because he is aware of all the litigation and the indisputable fact that the law backs my claim to the chairmanship seat, neither he nor any substantive member of the executive council from Abuja could come for the last swearing-in exercise.

Instead, you journalists reported that a former chairman of our union in Kwara State came to perform the unlawful duty. The governor too was said to have sent a Permanent Secretary to the programme, that is to show you the quality of the programme.

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

ONDO STATE

•Oluropo: Father of the Ooni-elect

Rotary club uplifts Abeokuta’s less privileged

By Daud Olatunji

disclosed: that the club discovered the physically challenged girl, Tomiwa during its first visit to her school .

He said “a young lady Tomiwa, the parents are not financially organised and her mother has some mental issues too.So, we believed

T

HE Rotary Club of Nigeria brought smiles to the face of four -year old girl, Tomiwa Bamgboye, who lost her two legs in a domestic accident.

Tomiwa, a nursery two pupil of CAC School, Lantoro, Abeokuta was called out in the presence of her colleagues and having crawled to the front she was carried on the wheel chair donated by Rotary Club of Abeokuta.

Vanguard gathered that, Tomiwa was not born with the disability , she was a victim of domestic accident.

The two legs were said to have been amputated following the severity of the injury sustained.

When approached for a brief interview, Tomiwa said she would love to be a tailor in the future.

Whereas, Vanguard gathered that she has been given scholarship by Rotary Club to the University level.

When asked about her parents’ occupation, Tomiwa said her father was a police officer and her mother was a pleasant farmer.

Further checks by Vanguard revealed that her mother was said to be suffering from mental illness.

Most of the pupils in attendance wore tattered uniforms to their schools while some walked

C M Y K

•Tomiwa Bamgboye

barefooted.

A visit to some schools in Abeokuta which include St Peter Claver ’s nursery and primary school 1 and 11,Itesi and Christ Apostolic Church school Lantoro showed that most students there were with tattered uniforms .

Some pupils were without sandals while some wear frayed sandals and slippers to the schools.

The pupils who spoke with our correspondent said their parents could not afford to

buy them uniforms and other school materials.

Some of the teachers also hinted that they were fed up with the attitude of some parents to their wards.

This situation, according to the President of Rotary club of Abeokuta, Gbenga Taiwo prompted the club to intervene by sowing some uniforms and buying sandals for some of the indigent pupils.

While distributing the materials to the pupils in those schools, Taiwo

That is why the Club volunteered that the club is going to make sure that we take care of the girl which ever level she wants, even, up to University level, and that is our word for it and we are going to stand by it

that is too much for the family.

“That is why the Club volunteered that the club is going to make sure that we take care of the girl which ever level she wants, even, up to university level, and that is our word for it and we are going to stand by it.

“And the rotary service is a continuous service.Tomiwa Bamgboye is a project of Rotary Club Abeokuta.

“Rotary Club of Abeokuta is a member of Rotary International and we belong to district 1110 Nigeria, and in Nigeria we have many districts.

“We have some areas of focus,one of the areas of focus of Rotary International is basic education and literacy, economic and community development, water and sanitation, disease prevention and treatment as well as conflict resolution and peace Promotion.These are the areas of Rotary International.

“The government will do the little they can do and our service organiser will do our own too.

“Rotary Club has done a lot by trying to identify those areas and making sure that people are taken care of.

Rotary Club donated an incubator to Federal Medical Centre Idi-Aba, Abeokuta and we are going to some hospitals soon in the next two or three month, so people will benefit from services of Rotary Club.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 7

EKITI STATE

By Rotimi Olaleye

J

UST as the preponderance of rape and other gender based violence are eliciting concern among security agencies and gender movements across the country, facts are beginning to emerge on why the menace that is debasing womanhood are on the upward swing, despite much legislation put in place to check the scourge.

Ekiti state is no exception, as the crime ranks among the highest in the state, Mr Alberto Adeyemi, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, told Vanguard that from January this year to October alone, 29 rape cases and defilement of underaged have been recorded. He added that all the offenders had been charged to court, yet none of them has been sentenced.

A situation, the feminist movement in the state described as not only worrisome but dangerous.

Ekiti prides itself as one of the states in the federation with laws that protect women and children from all forms of abuse. As far back as 2011, the state had enacted gender-based violence prohibition law to complement the already existing laws that prescribed a minimum of 7 years to a life sentence for offenders.

Psychological trauma Despite the stringent laws, yet it beats the imagination of many in the state that the obnoxious crime still remains very rife.

At a public lecture organised by the Women and Children Development and Health Research Initiative (WCDHRI) in Ado Ekiti recently, experts and security agents identified reasons why offenders still prowl the streets seeking for their prey, while their victims still suffer psychological trauma in silence.

To Adeyemi, the Police Public Relation Officer, victims are not helping matters, some for fear of stigmatization, preferred to keep quiet, while some would appeal to the Police to withdraw the matter midway, because of intervention from some quarters.

According to the Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers in the state, Mrs. Rita Ilevbare, “it is very common to see perpetrators using traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and influential people in the society to beg the victim and her family not to prosecute offenders.”

She also posited that weak C M Y K

Rapists on the loose in Ekiti

•Governor Fayose: Not a laughing matter legal sanction, has been making offenders to escape the full weight of the law, “Rape victims in Nigeria face hostilities from family, friends and the society, it is unfortunate that the perpetrator who should be ashamed, stigmatized and ostracized is let off the hook while the victim is subject to a second round of violence.

Most victims will rather choose to suffer in pain and anguish due to the social stigma attached to rape.

She said further that the inaction of the police was not helping matters, because “the Police is not adequately equipped both in human and material resources to effectively investigate rape cases.

gender-based violence in parts of the country.

Prof. Aina of the Centre for Gender and Development Studies, Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado Ekiti said, “poor public awareness on the existence of legislation and policies against gender based violence” was responsible for the increased incidence of the crime in Ekiti.

She said Nigerians must admit that gender-based violence occurs and that “ we

must understand that it affects us all” so as to be able to collectively tackle the scourge.

The President of WCDHRI, Dr. Pius Idowu Adeojo said the female gender had been vulnerable to sexual violence globally, stressing that “rape is the most devastating, allpervasive form of gender based violence with both short and long term effects.”

Dr. Adeojo said WCDHRI was therefore out “to sensitise the community about rape and methods of prevention, to educate the members of the society on the actions to take and procedures to follow in the period immediately following rape or sexual assault and to challenge the cogs in the wheel of procedures that prosecutes sex offenders and to provide an outlet for care, support and justice for victims of rape.”

despite the severity of the offence of rape and the call at different fora for strict punishment for the offender, the courts rarely impose the maximum punishment of life imprisonment

Justice for victims

Forensic evidence Apart from the absence of laboratories at most police stations to preserve forensic evidence, the attitude of police officers to rape victims is very appalling.

While a university don, Professor Olabisi Aina, noted that lack of social and cultural commitment to fight against gender-based violence was part of the contributing factors to the menace.

She also said lack of political will and weak technical support for the implementation of laws, fuels the recurring case of rape and

He called on government, non-governmental organisations and all stakeholders “to work in unison to prevent all forms of sexual abuse/violence and offer assistance to victims of sexual abuse or rape.”

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Gender Empowerment and Social Development, Mrs. Olayinka Ogundayomi, commended

WCDHRI for the public lecture to sensitise Nigerians on rape and sexual abuse and said her ministry and other stakeholders had recorded successes at eradicating rape in our society.

Ogundayomi noted that the ministry had recorded “one conviction while five other cases are still pending in law courts.”

She added that survivors of the crime had been given support thorugh the state’s “Gender Based Intervention Scheme and integrated back to the society.”

She charged the people of the state not to keep quiet when the crime occurred, saying when people failed “to react with equal display of disgust, we unwittingly encourage this act to become further entrenched in our daily lives.”

Ilevbare, concluded by quoting Justice Nwali Ngwuta of the Supreme Court; “I think that the severity of punishment for rape, with particular reference to statutory variety, should rank next to capital punishment,” adding that having carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 years, with or without her consent or having carnal knowledge of a girl with unsound mind should be treated with all the seriousness it deserves.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

OGUN STATE

LASG embarks on tax war •Shuts 6 firms over N18.73m tax, also 7 others

T

HE Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, during the week sealed six companies for failure to remit N18.73 million personal income taxes of their workers to the state government.

The Assistant Head of Distrain Unit of the LIRS, Mrs Oluwalomona Ekosanmi, disclosed this in Lagos after an enforcement exercise.

Ekosanmi, who led the enforcement team, said that the affected companies had tax liabilities of between 12 months and six years.

Ekosanmi urged firms operating in the state to regularly remit personal income taxes of their workers to the service to avoid any embarrassment and disruption that would come with distrain.

“Tax-payment is a civic responsibility of everyone because it is a major source of government’s revenue and also the only means government can provide the basic amenities for its citizens to improve their living standards,” she said.

Meanwhile, some of the affected companies complained of unfair treatment from LIRS, saying that the service did not notify them before coming to close their premises.

Ekosanmi, however, said that LIRS usually sent two letters of notice to the defaulting companies before they embarked on the clamp-down exercise.

According to her, LIRS sends tax liabilities demand notice and notice of intent to the affected companies as required by the Personal Income Tax Act (Amendment) of 2011.

Statutory obligation “Each of the letters that we sent to the companies was received and acknowledged by any of the companies’ staff or the management of the firms.

“So, for some of the companies to say that LIRS did not notify them before coming to seal their premises is not an excuse.

“Normally, firms are not even supposed to wait for anybody to remind them of their statutory obligation of remitting taxes to the government of the land where they operate,” she said.

The team leader said that the enforcement exercise would continue until tax-payers imbibed the culture of voluntary tax compliance.

The affected companies includes an oil and gas firm, a paint manufacturing firm, an electrical firm and a conglomerate, among others.

Meantime, the state’s Internal Revenue Service two weeks ago also shut down seven companies C M Y K

dwindling oil price in the international market.

The Chairman of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, Mr. Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, disclosed this in a statement issued after a meeting with the agency’s staff, stressing the need to capture more people in the state’s tax net so that its internally generated revenue (IGR) could be used to cushion the effect of the shortfall.

He explained that the expanded tax net would enable the government continue to provide corresponding development projects in the state, thereby advocating willful compliance by Lagosians with tax remittances as against tax audit presently in practice.

He described the tax audit system as avoidable, unnecessary and waste of human resources that could be channelled into other areas of growth if tax payers embraced remitting taxes without being compelled.

Human resources

•Governor Ambode: Goes tough on tax evaders for failing to remit about N58.8 million personal income taxes of workers to government.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the Head of the Distrain Unit of the LIRS, Folasade CokerAfolayan, announced this in Lagos.

Coker-Afolayan, who led the enforcement team, said that the companies were sealed during a state-wide tax enforcement drive.

She said that the affected companies’ tax liabilities covered between one and four years.

According to her, the enforcement will continue until

The Lagos State Government said about 3.5 million of its residents were currently guilty of tax evasion, which it said, absolutely violated the country’s 1999 Constitution and other extant legal instruments

companies and workers imbibed the culture of voluntary tax compliance.

“Tax evasion is a crime and it is a serious crime to evade tax for so many years.

“Tax payment is also a civic responsibility for everyone because that is the only way government can provide the necessary infrastructure for the citizens and also improve their standard of living,” she said.

Coker-Afolayan also urged companies to remit the personal income tax of their workers promptly to avoid closure of their business premises.

She said that LIRS usually followed due process by notifying companies severally before shutting down defaulting ones.

She also said that a notice of intent had been sent to the affected companies in accordance with the Personal Income Tax Act amendment 2011.

“As to whether they received the notices or not, that is purely an internal matter of the companies,” she said.

Coker-Afolayan advised companies operating in the state to remit their taxes promptly and not to wait until government enforced the tax laws.

Meanwhile, some of the affected companies accused the state government of not giving them a fair hearing on the alleged

tax issues.

They also said that the LIRS enforcement approach was barbaric and inimical to business growth and economic development.

They urged the state government to establish a quasilegal body for effective resolution of the allegations levelled against operating business concerns.

3.5 million evade tax in Lagos The Lagos State Government said about 3.5 million of its residents were currently guilty of tax evasion, which it said, absolutely violated the country’s 1999 Constitution and other extant legal instruments.

The government added that it determined to capture the 3.5 million tax evaders in the state’s tax net while lamenting the continual decline in allocations from the Federal Government and

He pointed out that the state “has eight million taxable Lagosians. But only 4.5 million are so far captured in the tax net of the state government, which means about 3.5 million Lagosians are still tax evaders.

“We will ensure that those who are yet to be captured in the state’s tax net will be brought in. I can assure you that within the next six months the IGR of the state will have increased proportionately,” Ogunsanwo said.

He said the leadership of LIRS would henceforth leverage on the use of technology to ease the process of revenue collection and also reduce if not eliminate some perceived bottlenecks that could be resolved with the use of technology.

He also urged officials of the revenue agency to always make civility their watchword in the daily discharge of their responsibilities, maintaining that the ethical demand of tax collection “is premised on broadening tax net without causing unnecessary hardship to the tax payers.

THE TEAM EDITOR: Adeleke Adeseri 08054682557 (sms only) CORRESPONDENTS: Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Dapo Akinrefon Daud Olatunji Olasunkanmi Akoni Rotimi Ojomoyela Monsuru Olowoepejo

Ibadan Osogbo Akure Lagos Abeokuta Lagos Ekiti

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—29

Bob Marley declared fourth highest earning dead celeb ...as US high court rejects appeal on use of his image

By Benjamin Njoku with agency reports

L

EGENDARY reggae star, Bob Marley is making headlines after 34 years of his exit as he was listed among Forbes' richest dead celebrities yet again.

The list was released on a day, the United States Supreme Court rejected an appeal from clothing companies claiming legal rights to sell shirts with the image of the reggae icon.

The iconic reggae singer moved up one place from last year to take fourth place on the list of highest-earning dead celebrities.

Annual earnings Marley reportedly raked in a cool $21 million over the past year, one million more than he earned last year. In addition to his music, much of the late singer's annual earnings came from the Marley Beverage company, producers of the drink Marley's Mellow Mood and House of Marley, makers of the eco-friendly audio and lifestyle

products bearing the entertainer's name.

The $21 million earned by Marley over the last year may seem a lot, but is only a mere drop in the money pool when compared to the figure grossed by the highest dead earner on Forbes' list.

The top spot is occupied by none other than the King of Pop , Michael Jackson. The late singer holds the number one position for yet another year, raking in a cool $115 million over the past year. The main drivers of Jackson's afterlife fortune include the Vegas Cirque du Soleil show - Michael Jackson One - the Mijac Music catalogue, recorded music sales and half of the Sony /ATV publishing empire.

From the King of Pop to the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley. Presley came in at number two on the list, earning $55 million. Cartoonist Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts character, is number three on the list with earnings of $40 million, while legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor completes the top five

•Bob Marley with a $20-million earning over the last year.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press, earlier in the week reported how the United States Supreme Court let a lower court ruling stand that merchandisers used Marley's likeness to sell clothing at Wal-Mart, Target and other stores without permission from the reggae legend's children.

The report stated that Marley's children control the rights to the reggae star's image through a company called Fifty-

Six Hope Road Music. The company sued rivals A.V.E.L.A. and others in 2008, arguing that their sales of the late reggae singer's merchandise violated federal trademark law. A federal court ordered the companies to pay more than US$1 million in profits and damages.

The court agreed citing evidence on a Lanham Act claim made by the plaintiffs that consumers were confused about who endorsed the merchandise. The Lanham Act protects against false advertising and trademark infringement.

Seyi Shay stuns in the ‘Corruption of Eve'

By Juliet Ebirim

T

•Seyi C M Y K

OP Nigerian songstress, Seyi Shay recently released stunning new photos in a photo editorial called “The Corruption of Eve”. This photo editorial was directed by fast rising photographer, Remi Adetiba and was shot at the Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos.

The photo editorial was recently showcased at the 2015 edition of the Lagos Photo Festival among a select iconic photographs that are of symbolic stature in Nigerian music. The 'Corruption of Eve' reconstructs the story of the fall of man in a more modern light with Seyi Shay staring as the first woman “Eve”.

There are four major scenes

in this photo editorial; the first depicts Adam and Eve in the innocence of their nakedness.

Seyi Shay is dressed in a flowy, ethereal gown, whose nude tone closely matches her skin colour to give a less obvious interpretation of Eve’s nudity.

In the second scene, we witness the dramatic emergence of the serpent, played by a striking male model in a full snakeskin suit, seducing Eve and tempting her with the forbidden fruit. The final scenes depict Eve fleeing the garden after succumbing to the serpent’s proposal. Her innocence is lost and she can no longer remain in its purity. She is dressed in gorgeous, movementfriendly garments with leaf prints/appliques signifying

her covering her nakedness.

The photo editorial ends with Eve, having fully accepted her fall from grace; she is seen in a luxury car (ostensibly in the present day), wearing a sexy snakeprint dress. She and her corrupter are now one.

“The Corruption of Eve” is a slide show that tells a strong and engaging story with every photo linking sequentially like pieces to a puzzle. The songstress was recently signed by international music company, Island Records and she has announced she will be releasing her debut album "Seyi or Shay" on November 13, 2015.

The story of "The Corruption of Eve" is on display at Miliki Lounge in Victoria Island, Lagos.

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Don Jazzy storms Rome for ‘Gentleman’s Wager II'

By Juliet Ebirim

M

ULTIPLE award-winning producer and founder of Mavin Records, Don Jazzy recently signed a deal as Johnnie Walker Joy Ambassador for Nigeria. He attended the premiere of the 'Gentleman’s Wager II' movie premiere in Rome, with global joy ambassador and Oscar-nominee Jude Law, as well as highly influential media professionals from different parts of the world.

Don Jazzy was treated to a luxury welcome dinner hosted by Oscar-nominee, Giancarlo Giannini and veteran Grammy Award winning artist, Tom Jones and a drinks reception, with an exclusive tasting of Johnnie Walker Blue Label hosted by Oscar-nominee, Jude Law. In true Johnnie Walker Blue Label luxury fashion, Don Jazzy arrived at the drivein cinema for the premiere of the 'Gentleman’s Wager II' in a luxury classic car driven by the star himself and was among the select few to watch the 'Gentleman's Wager II' movie for the first time.

The 'Gentleman’s Wager II' stars Oscarnominated actors Jude Law and Giancarlo Giannini who were accompanied by acclaimed Chinese actress, Zhao Wei. The film continues with the friendly rivalry theme between Jude Law and Giannini Giancarlo as seen in the first Gentleman’s Wager movie.

The sequel to the Gentleman’s Wager centres on Jude Law trying to win a gorgeous classic Delahaye 135s vintage racing car, a Walker heirloom, which has been in the

•Don Jazzy family since the late 1930s. The classic car is sought after

by Law who attempts to win it through a race to one of Formula One’s iconic tracks – Monaco. The film which premiered worldwide on 31st of October, is part of Johnnie Walker’s “Keep Walking’ mantra which uses the strap-line ‘Joy Will Take You Further.’

MTN scoops exclusive caller tune rights of Adele’s upcoming single

*Adele

M

TN, in collaboration with content aggregator, “Content Connect Africa” and Just Music has clinched a landmark deal that gives it the exclusive rights to Adele’s much-anticipated single entitled “Hello” which was released on October 23, as a caller ring back tone.

During the advertisement break of the popular reality television series “British X Factor”, which was aired on Sunday, October 18,Adele

teased fans with snippets of the much-awaited album.

This is the first time ever that Adele has sanctioned the use of her music through this format. “Hello” is the single taken from Adele’s highly anticipated new album etitled ‘25’ set for worldwide release on the 20th November this year. ‘Hello” launches as an exlusive Caller Tune on MTN on Friday 23rd October in South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda and will be exclusively

available to MTN subscribers for downloading on MTN’s music platforms, customers will be able to download it by dialling *123*53# at 50 per week.

According to Larry Annetts, Sales and Marketing Executive for MTN South Africa, “MTN is pleased with the securing of these rights, in collaboration with Content Connect Africa, as it gives expression to MTN’s ongoing commitment to promoting music as an art form. MTN has a proud track record of promoting the development of music on the continent, and our collaboration with renowned artists such as Mafikizolo, Mi Casa, Nigeria’s Praiz, Tiwa Savage, Davido and Don Jazzy, amongst others, is indicative of our quest to use our expansive footprint to give our customers the best musical experience.” Adele is the first woman in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have three simultaneous top 10 singles as a lead artist, and the first female artist to simultaneously have two albums in the top five of the Billboard 200 and two singles in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100.

BoI partners Daily Times on Miss Nigeria Beauty pageant

I

N continuation of its support for the entertainment industry, the Bank of Industry, BoI, is partnering Daily Times of Nigeria in the forthcoming Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant, taking place on November 7, at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

Already, Managing Director of BoI, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa has inaugurated a three-man panel for the 39th edition of the show. The panel which will be implementing BoI's partnership with Daily Times includes Mrs Betsy Obaseki, Managing Director, BOI Investment and Trust Company; MrsCynthiaNwuka,GroupHead, Creative Industry and Ms MarianFrancisHart,Head,CustomerCare Department.

The group, according to a statement from the Bank, is conducting a business plan competition to be entered for by the short-listed contestants at the boot camp, in Lagos, between 2nd and 3rd of November, 2015.

The contestants were trained on Monday, on how to articulate and prepare a business plan. During the session, the participants were guided by the list of the 35 SME clusters that BOI is paying priority

*Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa attention to.

The project is part of the Bank’s offering of a single digit loan for the creative industry. The entries were screened overnight by the panel while the contestants later on, defended their entries during an interactivesessionwiththepanelists on Tuesday, with a view to selecting the best bankable business idea that would be financed by BOI from its own funding lines or any applicable matching/managed fund. The Bank's MD is expected to make a presentation to the eventual winner of the business idea on Saturday evening, during the Grand Finale of Miss Nigeria 2015 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

Gospel singer, Columbus Chikwem admonishes colleagues

*Columbus

N

IGERIAN-born United Kingdom based gospel singer, Columbus Ikeh Chikwem has stressed the need for gospel singers in Nigeria to live up to their calling.

According to him, the genre has suffered compromise by practitioners, owing to hardship and prevailing cases of corruption in the country. He posited that “With the right attitude ,gospel musicians can rise up and speak against it and perhaps point the society to the right direction.”

The Imo State-born gospel singer believes that gospel music has the potential to impact good morals and religious tolerance that has become the bane of the society.

“Gospel in Nigeria has come a long way. The genre has maintained its path and track record, despite challenges.

Nigerians are predominantly God-fearing people and so

gospel music is readily appreciated. Gospel music is a very powerful tool for the much desired change in Nigeria. We know the country is bedevilled with corruption but with the right attitude gospel musicians can rise up and speak against it and perhaps point the society in the right direction.”

“Because of the crowded nature of gospel music now I honestly think a lot has been thrown overboard, and because of economic hardship, in a bid to break even, most artistes try to sing what listeners want to hear,” he said. On his music, Chikwem explained that his most recent tracks were borne out of his life experiences and the relevance of his spiritual encounters. He says; “Being born again was not anything I ever envisaged or intended to do, but was inevitable for my spiritual trajectory.

“My born again experience put me on the path of destiny. The current tracks are basically testimonies of God’s saving grace upon my life and serves as a source of encouragement to listeners. My target is for all hurting souls. Similarly, he informs that he cries to God every day to enable him to write, sing songs that will bring healing, deliverance, hope and encouragement to the world.” “ The album coming out soon is a 10- track audio/video CD, which is produced and mastered in the UK.”In November, Chikwem’s album will be ready for release online and in audio/video CD.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 31

StarTimes unveils Kanu Nwankwo as brand ambassador

By Richard Udofia Apparently trying to boost brand image,one of Africa’s leading digital TV providers, Startimes has unveiled football Icon, Kanu Nwankwo as its new brand ambassador.

The 3-year partnership deal indicates that the former African footballer is the new face of StarTimes PayTV across 12 African nations where it presently operates, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, DRC, Uganda and others.

Mr. Jack Liu, Chief Executive Officer of StarTimes Nigeria, explained that his company chose the football legend because of his fame and acceptance across Africa.

“Given Kanu’s successes in international football, his popularity is not limited to Nigeria alone but cuts across Africa. Kanu is an inspiration to everyone as his success represents a true African story; rising to success against all odds. He is a star the man next door can relate to” he said.

Nwankwo would be supported by another exinternational, Jonathan Akpoborie who was also appointed as sports programmes’ strategist and celebrity guest analyst on live

shows. Akpoborie will feature as technical sports analyst on various StarTimes live sports broadcast shows dishing out insightful analysis and commentaries.

Kanu, on his part, appreciated the digital cable network for considering him worthy of being the company ’s ambassador.

“I am very happy to support and promote the StarTimes brand as its ambassador in Africa. My goal is to see Africa fully migrated to •Kanu Nwankwo d i g i t a l television

My goal is to see Africa f u l l y migrated to digital television broadcasting

by June 17, 2017

broadcasting by June 17, 2017 and I am glad to partner StarTimes in achieving this,” he stated.

According to him, the advent of StarTimes marked the slash in paytv charges in the country, bringing digital broadcasting to the masses.

He also promised to bring more feathers to the cap of the network as it gears towards digital migration by 2017.

StarTimes currently holds

the exclusive broadcast rights across Africa for Bundesliga, Serie A and League 1.

It currently broadcasts exclusively the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile showing from October 18 through November 8.

Akpoborie while reading Nwankwo Kanu’s profile said: “He’s Africa’s most decorated footballer player, with a large collection of accolades from Premier Leagues across Europe and FIFA competition.

“Standing tall at 6’5, Kanu, a football striker chose football as a profession and began to play at that level as early as age fifteen.

“With Arsenal FC (England), he created a following of one of the biggest football fans followership in Nigeria and indeed Africa.

“He is also a two-time UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and works to help children in dire circumstances”.

Meanwhile the Director NTA-Star Tv Network, Mr. Maxwell Loko described Kanu as an inspiration to everyone as his success represents a true Africa story; rising to success against all odds.

Could the Lenovo Yoga Flex be the best of both worlds?

By Princewill Ekwujuru & Laju Iren

W

ITH the rise of the tablet barely a decade ago, many would have thought that the world would be singing the dirge of the personal computer by now. But nothing could be farther from the truth; the world needs PCs and the world wants tablets. Hence, many people simply use them both and have one or two mobile phones to booth. That way, you get all the devices you want…but not the way you want it.

Transferring your data from one device to the other, plus the additional stress of carrying all those devices coupled with the financial strain of purchasing them, kind of beats the purpose of convenience.

So when the two -in-one computers, which act as tablets as well as PCs cropped up recently, many breathed a sigh of relief. But these two-in-ones came with some limitations that caused them not to reach their maximum potential as either PCs or Tablets.

Intel Corporation, Lenovo and Microsoft say that they have been able to exceed the limitations of the two-in-one, with the recently released Lenovo Yoga Series representing the best of both worlds.

Intel Nigeria’s country manager Mr. Bunmi Ekundare said: “The PC keeps evolving, keeping us more and more amazed at what technologies can do. Sometime ago, people said PCs were dead, but they came back reinvented. This is because of companies like Intel and partners like Lenovo and Microsoft.”

Intel’s Multinational Accounts Director, Maurizio Riva said that the partnership between the three multinational giants is reinventing the notebook with the two-in-one category. His words: “We have been through a multi-year journey to re-invent the notebook. We have an easier more adaptable touch screen, a more brilliant 1920 by 1080 display, a thinner screen and a lighter, more responsive device with an eight-hour battery life.”

Speaking at the event, Regional Manager PCG, East and West Africa, Lenovo, David Caleb, explained: “We want to make sure that users are aware of the several advancements in technology that brings the flexibility of modern life to full view, and also show the •Lenovo Yoga exciting experiences offered by 2in1 devices, with our Lenovo Yoga Series being the perfect example.”

On his part, Consumer Channel Group Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Mark Ihimoyansaid: “Microsoft continues to empower every individual and organisation on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft and its device partners are delivering a new wave of Windows 10 device innovation, with special designs The PC keeps and components that light up Windows 10 evolving, experiences that will delight customers.

The campaign also unveiled Lawyer cum Tv keeping us personality, Mr. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, as its new more and more ambassador. Speaking on the device, he said: amazed at what “Flexibility is something that should come to mind when this device is mentioned. I have owned a Yoga technologies for quite sometime and I can say that the experience has been quite unique. Whether I use it as a PC or a can do tab, I find it pretty cool.”

OLX, others sue for safer e-commerce

By Laju Iren & Richard Udofia

I

T is becoming more and more obvious that Nigeria has moved beyond just paying lipservice in its efforts to make ecommerce more secure across the country. Both in the public and private sectors, this common thread is very evident.

It was no surprise therefore that at a recent conference organized

by Mobile Monday Nigeria, MoMo, a global community of mobile industry developers, designers and influential individuals who facilitate crossborder business cooperation and development gathered to discuss the theme: “Making E-commerce more secure in Nigeria”.

Leading online classified ad company, OLX was also on hand to partner with MoMo to play its own part in e-commerce security.

According to the company’s Country Manager, Lola Masha “the partnership with MoMo is to further enhance OLX commitment to keeping the site safe and secure for its users.”

Masha also added that “working closely with the Nigeria Police Force, OLX has been able to catch two scammers on the site showing our dedication to keeping OLX users’ safe and ensuring that every user experiences a smooth transaction on the site”.

F

u r t h e r m o r e , Managing Director, CR Services, JameelahAyedun, described the development as a new vista for online retailers in Nigeria. She opined that OLX is championing the way by empowering OLX users to conduct more accountable business transactions. She said, “We are delighted to partner with OLX towards providing a safe and secure way through which more people can transact business online.”

Speaking on the partnership, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Mr. Charles Okafor stated that “the Nigerian Police Force is actively working with OLX to ensure online offenders (scammers) are caught and brought to justice.” He also commended OLX on their dedication to keeping their site safe for Nigerian citizens.

Other speakers at the event were Manager, Strategy and Alliances Interswitch, Ope Adeoye; CEO/CTO INITS Limited, Femi Taiwo; and MD/ CEO, CR Services, Jameelah Ayedun.

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

LUTH DOCTOR’S DEATH:

Concerned Women Voices demands independent autopsy Late Dr. Hestianna IdiodiThomas

Late Dr. Idiodi-Thomas with her husband and children

By Esther Onyegbula & Gabriel Olawale

A

COALITION of women rights organisation and professional women under the aegis of Concerned Women Voices, CWV, has called for an independent autopsy into the unresolved puzzle surrounding the death of Dr. Hestianna Idiodi-Thomas, a Consultant paediatrician with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. According to the Executive Director of ACTS Generation for Violence against Women, Mrs. Laila St. MatthewDaneil, in the face of numerous unanswered questions surrounding the death of Dr. Mrs Hestianna Idiodi-Thomas neither Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, nor LUTH are in the best position to carry out the autopsy as they are both involved.

“We hereby called for an independent autopsy and coroner ’s inquest to be carried out. They cannot sit C M Y K

and judge on one of their own. Based on this, we hereby call for thorough unbiased police investigation into the questionable and violent death of this young female doctor. We are specifically calling for the constitution of an independent group of pathologist, if possible from outside Lagos state, to conduct a fresh autopsy on the Late Dr. Hestianna Idiodi-Thomas corpse”.

“We are not interested in hearsay and speculations but the facts. We do not want the truth to die with Dr. IdiodiThomas. We want her dead body to tell the true story of what happened in her home that fateful night/morning,” She added.

Matthew-Daneil alleged that the facts available is obvious that the unfortunate incident occurred at her residence and that Dr. Babafemi Thomas, her husband was the last to see her alive (the night before) and the first to see her fatally injured in the early hours of

the morning.

“It is also on record that she was rushed to the hospital by her husband, Dr. Babafemi Thomas where she was declared dead. Also her colleagues at the hospital said she had a fractured skull and her head was swollen and recognizable. Up on till three days before the incident, colleagues of hers said she was at work. Some patients whose children she treated and operated upon have commended on her dedication to work and her cheeriness”.

Also speaking, Josephine Effah- Chukwuma of the Project Alert, said that with these facts available, Concerned women Voices have the following questions

to ask: “If Dr. Idiodi-Thomas was indeed a “psychiatric patient” how sick was she?

And why was she still allowed to treat patients (sick children) up until three day before her death? As a husband, care giver and a medical doctor living with a psychiatric patient”, didn’t Dr. Babafemi Thomas think he has the responsibility of ensuring that all doors are carefully locked and the keys kept away to prevent possible suicidal acts as being projected her?

As a medical doctor and husband to a mentally sick person, what conscious effort did Dr. Babafemi Thomas take to ensure that the wife comes to no harm, and that she was seeking medical attention?

Why are there three versions out there as to how she committed suicide?

Version one says: she jumped from the balcony.

Version two: the husband found her in front of their bedroom door: and version three, she jumped from the water tanker? How come other neighbours didn’t hear

a fall or big sound that could have attracted them to come out? “ she questioned.

It will be recalled that after the death of the deceased, social media was agog with reports of suspected acts of domestic violence that resulted in the death of Dr. Mrs Hestianna IdiodiThomas,consultant pediatrician with Lagos U n i v e r s i t y Te a c h i n g Hospital, LUTH. The reports stated that the late doctor was rushed into the accident and Emergency ward in the early hours of Tuesday October 13th with injuries on her head and other bruises.

At the hospital she was declared dead. While the social media and the print media reported suspected acts of domestic violence as having led to the young doctor ’s death, speculations attributed to the Nigerian Medical Association and the Medical Women Association stated that it was a case of suicide. The speculations said Dr Idiodi Thomas was a psychiatric patient, who did not seek medical attention.

Ambode tasks parents on inculcating morality in children

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

W

IFE of Vice President, Mrs Osinbajo, and wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode have stressed the need for instilling the right virtues in children from the home front as a catalyst for rebuilding of the country on a sound footing.

The duo spoke at the 2015 Arise Women Conference which held recently, at the City of David Parish of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Victoria

Island in Lagos Osibajo said the vision of her present status came ten years ago, advocated the need for women and indeed everyone to be serious and committed to the things of God. She also used the occasion to remember those in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the country, and women selling their children because of poverty, and prayed for God’s intervention.

Ambode, who spoke at the 2015 Arise Women

Conference which held recently, at the City of David Parish of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Victoria Island in Lagos, said it is important for women to teach their children virtues of honesty, morality, hard work and good character.

Women, according to Ambode, occupy a sensitive and strategic place in the life of any nation, and so, it is important for them to inculcate right virtues in their children Continues on Page 33

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—33

Ambode tasks parents on inculcating morality, honesty, hardwork in children Continued from Page 32

S

he is only 1 3 years old yet is addicted to sex.

She sleeps with boys and girls in her school as well as men in her neighborhood.

She sleeps with her brother and invites her younger brother to watch. She says she finds it difficult to stop. She was introduced to sex at the age of 11, by her uncle. She is not alone. Many children are being abused in their homes, by people who should be protecting them from harm. Predators do not have regard for age. They could be somebody ’s father, uncle, cousin, neighbor, teacher or your domestic staff.

At times, the abuse goes on for long periods of time while the child suffers in silence, probably afraid of speaking out as a result of the threat from the abuser.

How can we keep our children safe at home?

There are no fool proof ways to keep your child safe but there some steps you can take to prevent your child from being abused. Set and respect boundaries and ensure every ones right to privacy is enforced. As parents you need to enforce your own rights to privacy in personal matters like sleeping, bathing and at the same time respect your child’s rights to such privacy, depending on the age of the child. Teach your child about a good touch and a bad touch and when a child is reluctant to get close to an adult or another child, respect that child’s decision. Teach your child the correct names of the body parts as this enables the child to understand his or her body and also report any touch that can lead to sexual abuse. Explain the difference between respect and blind obedience. Let a child know she can say No to an adult especially when it concerns her body.

Know who your child is spending time with and watch out for inappropriate behavior among her friends. Let your child know you are available for them at anytime. This is easier said than done.

Many parents are busy making a living that there is hardly time for good communication with their children. It is only when the child has been abused that they make changes in order to spend time with them. When they talk to you, please listen and take action. Do not shut them up even if the questions they ask are “difficult” questions. Remember, if you do not talk to them, they are talking to someone else, maybe on cyber space.

Next week: How can you recognize a potential child abuser?

beginning from the home front.

She said the family mirrors the society and that explains why nations all over the world largely reflect the quality of respective families that make up the country.

“As women and managers of the home front, all eyes are on us, to take good care of our husbands; and bring up our children in the fear of God. We must teach them the virtues of honesty, morality, hard work and good character. This is for them to grow up to become productive and God-fearing citizens, for the good of our society,” she said.

Ambode, who was honoured at the conference as Ambassador alongside the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, said that though poverty remains a challenge arising from unemployment and underemployment, women must open their eyes and grab emerging opportunities for more prosperous and meaningful living.

She said, “Though the economic

situation in the country remains challenging, the task of running our homes effectively in most cases is even more daunting. As women and home keepers, we must learn to be strong and resilient in the midst of all this.

This, we can achieve by maximising all commercial and economic opportunities and other forms of empowerment that come our way,” Mrs. Ambode counseled.

Also, the keynote speaker at the conference, Rev. Catherine Onwioduokit from Ghana, in her presentation, urged women to submit to their husbands always and be the true pillar of their homes.

She also prayed for a time when all that will be heard about Nigeria will not only be about corruption, but good news of giant strides.

On her part, Convener of the Arise Women Conference, Pastor

(Mrs.) Siju Iluyomade said it was a thing of joy for her that many women of great influence are now emanating from the church, and that they are equally not ashamed to publicly identify with God. The Women Arise Conference which started seven years ago is a platform to bring wealthy people to help the poor and show women how to live.

The women behind the conference use the platform to carry out humanitarian activities such as free skill acquisition for young women, free health care delivery and advocacy, renovation of schools and establishment of schools, among others.

Her Excellency, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, Wife of the Governor of Lagos State (5th on the left row); Pastor Siju Iluyomade, the Convener of ARISE Women o (middle); Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the Vice President (6th on the right row); Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, wife of Kwara State Governor (5th on th right row); Mrs Yemisi Suswan, wife of former Governor rd of Benue State (4 on the right); Mrs Abimbola Fashola, wife of former Governor of Lagos State (3 on the right); Mrs Olagunsoye, wife of nd former Governor Osun State (2 on the right); Chief Kemi Nelson, APC Women Leader, Lagos State; former deputy governors of Lagos State, Princess Orelope-Adefulure and Princess Sarah Sosan; wife of the former president of Nigeria, Mrs Bola Obasanjo; and Hon Abike Dabiri at the 2015 ARISE WOMEN conference at the City of David Church, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Alimosho LG awards women, others for excellence

A

limosho LGA recently awarded 55 heroes in the LG, among who were women from the Nigerian police force, L ASTMA and other parastatals who had done the community proud. For these people, community service is not about lip service but seeing a need and filling the gap. Participants of these awards were picked on merits and not referrals. These awardees were chosen in their local governments for their excellence performance towards the growth and development in

their communities regardless of their age, sex or positions. In celebrating the members and residents of the Alimosho LCDA through awards, individuals and corporate bodies are being encouraged to put in more effort in ensuring the growth of the community.

Speaking at the event, Femi Dasilva (chief coordinating officer) stated that “At Alimosho LG, we felt the desire to give our community a voice. We have given these awards for community development. We felt

that we needed to do something to inspire people to be committed to community development and one of the ways we could do this was to reward those who had been doing so much for the community.

We want to ensure that people are more committed to community developments at the grassroot level. We strongly believe that if people are committed at the grass root, a lot of development will happen in the nation.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 , 2015—35

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway:

The Amosun Intervention

By Soyombo Opeyemi UST as literature mirrors the society, the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway mirrors Nigeria.

Indeed, the fall of Nigeria is fully reflected in the collapse of Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway. That highway is the shame of the Nigerian nation. One wonders what the successive governments did or failed to do that resulted in the ruin of the most economically strategic road in the country.

Lagos/ Ibadan motorway is the blood that runs in the veins of Nigeria. It is the life wire of the nation. It is arguably the busiest in West Africa, conveying men and materials from the sea port of Lagos, the commercial hub of the nation, through Ogun State, the emerging industrial capital of Nigeria, to other parts of the federal republic.

Time is life; it’s no surprising we waste lives on the highway on a daily basis. How did we descend to this level? The most important road pockmarked with craters; horrible sights of vehicles nearly submerged or simply packed up in flooded valleys and puddle-filled gullies created by neglect; pathetic scenes of market women with babies on their backs leaving behind their merchandise at the mercy of the elements or standby merchants of death while seeking safety for their souls. What a come-down for the nation!

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Economic haemorrhage This caricature of a road, which has been a source of stress, sorrow, agony, trauma and death to thousands of commuters that ply it daily belongs to the federal government. The nation has lost billions if not trillions of naira over two decades due to the prostrate state of the highway. And the economic haemorrhage continues from government to government.

But why should Ogun State government be pilloried on account of the carnage and humongous man-hour loss that have become the permanent features of the highway? Why should a new government of President Muhammadu Buhari be made to carry the can; worse, for a government that inherited an empty federal till from the last spendthrift administration, which emptied the nation’s treasury to prosecute the 2015 elections?

At exactly 10:00pm on Tuesday, Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, led members of his cabinet and top echelons of the bureaucracy to some of the portions of Lagos/Ibadan highway that have brought life, directly and indirectly, to a standstill across the country. The intensity of the governor ’s exasperation could be felt as he

mobilised men and materials to these derelict sites on the highway earlier in the day. Yet, at this time of cash crunch! “The suffering on that road is beyond human tolerance,” he said plaintively.

Amosun and his team inspected the progress of work by the state’s Ministry of Works, empathised with commuters who had been in the traffic for lamentable hours and those that resorted to trekking even at that late period of the day. Some, I later gathered, reached home by 4am the next day!

His earlier decision to go in the day was shelved in order not to compound an already horrendous situation. As you read this, palliative work is in progress on the road. This intervention is not an isolated one. Indeed, Ogun State expends about N400 million almost on monthly basis on palliative works on all the federal roads scattered across the state. From Lagos - Ibadan highway to Atan-Agbara road, from Owode-Ilaro motorway to Sagamu-Ikorodu road, SagamuOre Expressway and from LagosAbeokuta highway to AbeokutaIbadan road, it is the same story of the governor spending the scarce resources of the state in rehabilitating completely failed portions of federal roads, because residents don’t differentiate between federal and state roads.

And for political reasons, even those who know the difference pretend not to know!

Over 70 per cent of Lagos Ibadan motorway is located within Ogun State. The state shares the longest border with the Republic of Benin. It hosts various religious organisations and their millions of followers across the country every week or month. Indeed, it is the gateway to Nigeria. Such a state deserves a special status on account of pressures that are exerted on its territory by all compatriots and foreigners.

The redeeming feature is that we now have a new federal government that is prudent in financial matters. According to Governor Amosun, the president is very much aware of the state of the road, indeed the appalling

Ogun State expends about N400 million almost on monthly basis on palliative works on all the federal roads scattered across the state

Ogun State governor, Amosun

President Buhari state of all federal roads in Nigeria. As the new central government takes stock and settles down, there is no doubt that the synergy between Ogun and federal authorities will hasten the pace of the reconstruction of the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway to the eternal relief of Nigerians and Nigeria.

Ultimately, my oft-stated position over the years remains tenable: “It is cheaper for states to own these federal roads. For instance, the ongoing repair work on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos has continued to consume avoidable administrative costs. The Minister of Works and other f e d e r a l officials who come all the way from Abuja to supervise and inspect the road will certainly c o l l e c t allowances running into millions of naira, whereas it would have amounted to a routine duty for the Lagos Commissioner for Works and other officials.

And when you consider that the Abuja officials will have to do the same thing again and again in all the 36 states of the federation, the preventable wastage of taxpayers’ money stares you in the face...

Contiguous states to these federal roads will naturally collaborate to reconstruct and maintain them at far cheaper costs than moving money and officials first from Abuja to the regional office, and

from the regional office to the states.

There is so m u c h wastage of public funds in Nigeria.”

And as it happens, for the Ogun State cabinet members and top government functionaries that accompanied the governor to Warewa, Arepo, etc. it was just a matter of routine. But imagine how many millions of naira in out-of-station, hazard, etc. allowances that would have been incurred by the federal purse if they had come from Abuja to inspect the road!

I believe we also need prayers in this country. Why is it now that we have a President Muhammadu Buhari that is committed to good governance and accountability that we are confronted with paucity of

cash? Why has the price of oil chosen this momentous time to plummet to this level? Even if the new government achieves complete diversification of the economy, will it fructify overnight, in one, two or three years? Why should it be at this time that we have a highly conscientious and honest central government that we should have this kind of financial situation as a country?

So we need prayers in this country.

Meanwhile, Senator Amosun should not be deterred by the campaign of calumny but remain focussed on delivering the dividends of democracy to the masses who trooped out in their thousands to reward him for a good term.

•Soyombo writes from Abeokuta via densityshow@yahoo.com

36 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2015—37

FLOOD: Delta govt calls for Nigeria/Cameroon joint commission As Farouk donates water purifiers to Delta

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—WORRIED by the perennial flood in the country, the Delta State Government has called for a Nigeria/Cameroon joint commission to find a lasting solution to the menace of flood which often results from the release of water from dams in Cameroon Speaking through its Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Mr. Chika Ossai, the government lamented that the release of water had become a threat to Nigeria’s national security which could only be effectively checked through joint efforts by both governments.

The commissioner, who spoke in Asaba, expressed sadness over the three deaths recorded in the state as a result of flood, saying: “For us as a state, we will continue to work for our people to be comfortable; but the Federal Government can work out the solution because, as a state, we cannot discuss with the government of Cameroon on this issue. Also, we know that we are not the only state in the country that is affected by the flood. We were affected most because of the water emptied into the ocean through our coastal communities.

Assuming the Cameroonian authority is using the release of water from Langdom dam as a weapon against Nigeria, it is destabilizing our people with deaths and massive displacements.

“We cannot continue to live in fear, praying that Cameroon should not release water. If there is a joint commission, both governments can bear the burden of the effects of the flood on our people. The two countries can find a lasting solution to the flood.

Imagine the trauma, the pains, the uncertainties and the fear on our people because the flood.

There should a be stop this annual harassment using flood which can be controlled. We are

not at war and we are preparing camps for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs because of the effects of water being released by another country. There has to be a solution and the earlier the federal government acts, the better, before the water becomes another weapon to terrorize our people.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of Greenwork Matters Limited, Alhaji Idi Farouk, has donated 200 units of water purifiers to the state to facilitate the provision of

potable water for its citizens affected by flood.

Presenting the water purifiers, Farouk said his decision was informed by the need to provide good drinking water for the victims.

According to him: “We found out that the biggest problem we have in terms of drinking water is contaminated water and these filters can purify water, no matter how dirty it is, it guarantees 99 per cent purity.”

SYMPOSIUM: From left:Deputy Editor-in-Chief, BrandiQ Magazine, Mr. Agbo Agbo; guest speaker, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; chief host, Apostle Hayford Alile and the Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Desmond Ekeh, at the 2105 BrandiQ Magazine symposium at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos.

NLC crisis: Oshiomhole meets factional leaders

By Victor AhiumaYoung

G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday met with factional leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Benin City, Edo State, to find solution to the protracted crisis rocking the NLC since March this year.

The meeting, which was still on at the time of this report, Vanguard gathered, became necessary following seeming inability of the Hassan Sunmonu-led seven-man reconciliatory committee, comprising three members each from the feuding groups, to find a headway to the leadership crisis.

The first and only meeting of the reconciliatory committee after its inauguration on August 19, was stalled by disagreement over sharing of positions, among others, to form an all inclusive leadership as agreed at the Adams Oshiomhole and other veterans brokered August 9, reconciliatory meeting in Abuja.

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Vanguard gathered that Comrade Oshiomhole, arguably the most popular and effective NLC president of recent times, is said to be worried over the lingering crisis especially after the August 9, Abuja meeting.

The governor is hoping to ensure that NLC leaders put the current crisis behind them and forge ahead to confront the exigencies of the time.

At the meeting held in the first week of October in Lagos, when the issue of all inclusive government and harmonizing of positions came up, a source at the meeting had tod Vanguard that “the Wabba-led faction said there are some offices that are vacant that could be filled from the Ajaero-led group. But the Ajaero faction rejected this and insisted that there must be a clear case of harmonization process.

However, the Wabba group said members want to go and seek mandate from their principals.

Similarly, the other group said members also reported back to their principals.”

The source also added that before the meeting was adjourned, it was also reemphasised that both factions

should continue to work together.

Isoko youths urge Okowa to complete UghelliAsaba road

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By Ephraim Oseji

OUTHS in Isoko have appealed to the Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to complete the Ughelli-Asaba dualisation road project that was started eight years ago by the immediate past government of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Operating on the aegis of Isoko Youths Renaissance Front, IYRF, the youths spoke during a visit to the Special Projects Director in the state,

Chief Sunny Onuesoke. They appealed to Okowa to ensure the completion of the project which seemed to have been abandoned after the expiration of Dr Uduaghan's tenure.

The road is divided into three segments. Segment ‘A’ is from Ughelli to Aradhe in Isoko North. Segment ‘B’ runs from Aradhe to Ossissa in Ndokwa West and Segment ‘C’ is from Ossissa to Asaba, with three contractors handling each.

Speaking through their leader,

Mr. Austin Oloku Esajabor, the youths said the failure to complete the project had cost indigenes of Isoko communities both economical and social harm, lamenting that the road had become a death trap and many innocent people had lost their lives as a result of accidents on the bad road.

According to him, hoodlums had taken opportunity of the bad road to waylay and rob motorists of their belongings.

Urhobo youths task Itsekiri on peace

By Simon Adewale

U

RHOBO National Youth Movement, UNYM, has urged Itsekiri youths to allow peace to prevail pending when their alleged marginalization among others, will be resolved amicably.

UNYM, in a statement by its president, Mr. Alex Idu, stressed the need for peace, insisting that the new board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, just assumed office and required time to look into all the grievances of the Itsekiri and other host communities of oil and gas in Delta state.

He called on the aggrieved groups to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue for peace to reign, noting that it was only a peaceful environment that could bring development and urged DESOPADEC to urgently look into host communities’ grievances to address them.

Delta LG councillors accuse Majority Leader of removing mace

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LEVEN out of the 20 councillors in the legislative arm of Ughelli South Local Council, Delta State,have accused the Leader of the House, and one other councillor of removing the mace of the house in a bid to stop the house from its regular sitting.

They appealed to the state Commissioner of Police to immediately the councillor to order.

Briefing newsmen at the council's secretariat in Ughelli yesterday, the councillors issued a 48- hour ultimatum for the House Leader to return the mace or face sanctions.

Speaking on behalf of the councilors, Mr. Sunday Apah representing Jeremi 3 said: “When we noticed that the mace was missing; we accosted the Sergeant at Arms who told us that the mace was removed from the store by the Majority Leaderand two others promising to return it the next day."

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

I'm still

I'll meet you at Appeal Court, Gov Ikpeazu tells Otti

TRIBUNAL:

committed to Biafra struggle

By Anayo Okoli

—Uwazuruike

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U

MUAHIA—ABIA State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu said he is not bothered over the plan by the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to appeal the judgment of the tribunal which upheld his election.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Ugochukwu Emezue, Governor Ikpeazu said he would be willing to meet Otti and his party at the Court of Appeal and even the Supreme Court if he so desires.

According to the governor, after defeating him at the election, the rerun and at the tribunal, there was nothing to be afraid of.

APGA National Chairman, Victor Oye while addressing the party supporters after the governorship election judgment which they lost, had described the judgment as a rape of justice and said that they would appeal against it up to the Supreme Court.

But Emezue said what the tribunal did during its judgment was to reaffirm the mandate the people of the state gave to the governor during the April 11 governorship election and that the governor was not losing sleep over the decision to appeal by APGA. Dr. Alex Otti, he said, should not allow emotions and sentiments to push him to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and advised him to “rather channel his resources to other areas as he will surely fail at any of the higher courts.

“If Otti has the interest of the state at heart, he should then go and sleep after losing at the tribunal and the election proper”, Emezue said.

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

NITSHA—LEADER of the Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has charged his Igbo kinsmen to always disregard counter views or opinions expressed by the Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha with regard to the current efforts

by MASSOB to actualize an independent state of Biafra.

He said that such counter- views or opinions always expressed by Okorocha against the actualization of Biafra “portends him as a common saboteur to the Igbo cause.”

In a statement to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra State made on his behalf by MASSOB’s National Deputy Director for Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, Uwazuruike stated that although Okorocha had the constitutional right to express his opinions or views on any matter including that of MASSOB and Biafra actualization, he has no capacity to decide or determine what happens in Igboland.

According to the statement, “Okorochaisaidingandabetting the All Progressives Congress, APC-ledFederalGovernmentin the continued marginalization of Ndigbo. He is also financing the central mosque near the GovernmentHouse,Owerri,Imo State to the detriment of our people.”

Emezue also urged the National Chairman of APGA to mind his choice of words when speaking on the judgment.

“The National Chairman of APGA should mind his language and stop disparaging the judges of the

MINISTERS: Okorocha commends Imo

Senators for supporting Anwuka

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By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—THE Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has commended the three senators from the state for “the patriotic role they played in seeing that the ministerial nominee from the state, Prof.

Anthony Gozie Anwuka, went through the screening and confirmation of the Senate without any hitch”.

The three senators in question are, Senator Hope Uzodinma for Orlu zone, Senator Samuel Anyanwu for Owerri zone and Senator Athan Achonu for Okigwe zone.

The governor, who stated this while speaking to journalists in Owerri, also said that the way the Senate handled Prof.

Anwuka’s screening and

confirmation showed that there was no opposing voice from any of the senators from the state.

“The action of the Imo Senators was, and still is, an indication that they had put the interest of the state and her people above political party interests”, Okorocha said.

The Governor also opined that the screening and confirmation of Prof. Anwuka’s nomination was an interesting one, adding that it was one of the easiest carried out by the Senate as the three Imo Senators gave their cooperation in the interest of the state.

He debunked the rumour making the rounds in some quarters that he gave some

ngoing animosities between Saraki and the top echelons of the APC easily inspire public dubiousness about the sincerity of his prosecutors. His guilt or innocence is, consequently, a matter for conjecture and incredulity. Mr Darlington Ehondor, Journalist.

financial inducements to the three Senators, before they acted patriotically in favour of Professor Anwuka.

“The truth is that such falsehood died on arrival because the amount bandied by the rumour peddlers is very ridiculous because if the senators had wanted to take money for that purpose, they would have talked about hundreds of millions”, Okorocha reasoned.

While describing the report as “totally false”, Okorocha however recalled that a journalist sought to know if he induced the Senators before Anwuka was cleared.

He also recalled that he told the journalist that he would like the key politicians in the state to come together to support President Muhammadu Buhari to enable the state gain from the government at the centre.

Group flays attacks on Gov Ugwuanyi

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By Francis Igata

NUGU—A socio-political advocacy group under the aegis of Centre for Reform Education Initiative, CREI, yesterday, took a swipe at political detractors of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who were behind the recent smear campaign in the media against the state government over the Prado Jeeps allocated to Enugu State House of Assembly members from the government house vehicle pool.

The group in a statement to newsmen signed by its

Executive Director, Hon. Chinwe Ugwu, described the antics of the governor ’s opponents as immoral, unfounded and a failed calculated attempt to unjustly ridicule the office of the governor, stressing that Ugwuanyi had made personal sacrifices aimed at saving the cost of governance in the state.

They maintained that Governor Ugwuanyi meant well for the state and has discharged the duties of his office diligently with all sense of discipline, prudency,

accountability and transparency, adding that their plot has failed as the people of the state are at home with the policy direction of the governor and his humane style of leadership.

The group which revealed that the detractors have concluded plans for more media onslaught, stated that it would not sit down and watch while a few selfish individuals blackmail the governor and his administration over an unfounded allegation which the Labour Unions have retracted and tendered an unreserved apology for.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

O

tribunal; they should go home and prepare for another election instead of blaming their failure on the judges.”

On Saraki’s trial at Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT

I

think what Saraki is do ing is indefensible. He ought to have gone to the CCT to defend himself, and if he fails, then he could appeal whatever verdict the CCT delivered. This is how most court systems work civilised. Mr Kazeem Aremu, Self Employed.

I

n this Saraki’s case, the lead judgment struggled to apply the law and some of the arguments are farfetched. I would like to see how the Supreme Court will react to this decision.

The appellate court's judgment in my view was a saner decision. Mr James Onyinye, Unemployed.

S

araki’s integrity has been called into question by accusations of corruption and dishonesty in his assets declaration; it is morally reprehensible that he retains his twin positions of senator and senate president. Miss Ebereke Kelechi, Student.

T

he oppression in the land must be stopped.

Nothing is more oppressive and depressive than failure of the law to run its natural course. Justice can never be selective.

The process only needs to be fair and transparent.

Miss Constance An wulika, Model.

S

ince Saraki wanted to be one of the leaders in the government of Change, he must be thoroughly searched. Buhari, the first leader, has been searched.

Osinbajo, the second leader, has been searched. Why will Saraki, the third leader, avoid search? Mr Umar Abdulkadir, Worker.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 , 2015—39

Dealers lament illegal importation of footwear

By Evelyn Usman

D

EALERS in footwear in Lagos State have called on Nigeria Customs and Immigration Service to nip in the bud activities of some illegal immigrants who allegedly import contraband goods, particularity footwear, into the country.

The Federal Government had, in 2007, placed a ban on the importation of footwear into the country, with a view to encouraging local manufacturers.

But dealers in footwear at the Trade Fair complex, along Lagos/Badagry expressway, alleged that some Chinese were still importing contraband goods into the country despite the ban, an action they described as outright flouting of the country’s law on importation.

These items, according to the traders, flood the market, thereby preventing them from marketing their locally manufactured footwear.

When Vanguard visited Trade Fair market yesterday, most of the traders lamented poor sales owing to what they described as infiltration of shoes and sandals from China.

One of the traders, Obasuyi Ehiagwina, said: “Apart from importing items termed contraband into the country, they connive with some banks and individuals to open accounts that will facilitate the importation of these items.

"They know what the law says concerning visitors to the country and owning a bank account, but they have deliberately decided to violate the law, as they connive with some unscrupulous Nigerians to violate the law.

Facility upgrade:

Apapa Club shops for N1bn

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PAPA Club, established since 1930, is planning N1 billion facility upgrade to reposition to present day realities, its building reminiscent of colonial era.

Bedevilled by infrastructural decay, the club has decided to undertake a fund raising activity to achieve its planned renovation.

Mr. Samuel Okosun, who represented the President of the club, Dr. Martin Enebeli, said the facilities include, but not limited to the main hall which was built in 1930, the ultra modern swimming pool built in 1970, as well as a lawn tennis and squash courts.

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Nigerians yet to feel Buhari’s change mantra —TUC

Plateau varsity laments dearth of funds

•As construction firms mull staff reduction

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA — NATIONAL President of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, said yesterday that five months after President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office, Nigerians were yet to feel the change mantra.

This came as Julius Berger Nigeria Plc announced plans to downsize its workforce due to government’s indebtedness to construction companies in the country.

Kaigama, who spoke while addressing construction workers at the 10th Triennial National Delegates Conference of the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, CCESSA, in Abuja, said government should know that the change mantra of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, was not just going after

corrupt officials.

According to him, for the change mantra to be meaningful in the country, there should be job security in the companies and security of lives and property. He said it was only when these were done that Nigerians would know that change had started.

He also said security should not be left to security agencies alone as everybody had roles to play in ensuring that lives and property were protected.

Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria limited, Engr.

Detlev Lubasch, noted that going by the present economic realities in the country and the huge indebtedness construction companies were facing, such companies were unable to meet up with their financial obligations.

Lubasch, who was represented by a staff of the Human Resources unit, Moses Anietie, said: “Comrades, our industry is in dire straits, occasioned by non-payment for ongoing and already completed

jobs.

“As you all know, the construction industry is majorly engaged by the governments: federal, state and local, with little patronage from corporate entities and private individuals.

In view of this, any distortion in the income equilibrium of our major clients will definitely affect the income and cash flow of the construction companies “As a consequence of this, construction companies are unable to sustain the existing structures in terms of meeting its obligations to staff and subcontractors. lt, therefore, became imminent that there must be staff reduction as well as other cost saving measures.

In his welcome address, the national president of CCESSA, Comrade Augustine Etafo, advised President Buhari to keep to his campaign promises and guard against appointing persons of questionable characters into his government.

J

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

OS—Vice-Chancellor of Plateau State University, PLASU, Bokkos, Prof. Doknan Sheni, has said the institution needed about N4.5 billion to develop its much needed infrastructure which will assist students and lecturers get the best of treatment..

The vice-chancellor, who stated this while addressing journalists at Bokkos, yesterday, said already, the university authorities had communicated need and presented its request to the institution’s proprietor, Plateau State government.

He said: “This university is a young one that is in dire need of funds for the desired transformation and development in order to catch up with other institutions.

“If not for TETFUND, it would have been so bad for us as a university, in term of infrastructural development, as virtually most of the buildings here are erected by TETFUND. Since the inception of the university, the best we ever had from the past government as subvention was N1 billion.

“One of the major challenges of the institution is funds. We need over N100 million monthly for running to run the university successfully."

Transition

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AWARD: From left: Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Emeka Oparah, receiving ATCON Merit award for Airtel Nigeria from Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, at the ATCON 21st anniversary dinner, in Lagos.

ZACCIMA, traders union at loggerheads over CBN loan

By Salisu Maradun

G

USAU — THE battle line appears drawn between Zamfara State Traders Union and the state Chamber of Commerce over alleged diversion of money given to the traders on loan by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Speaking to journalists at a press conference in Gusau, yesterday, chairman of the traders union, Alhaji Hamza Suleiman, said the money was released by the CBN to traders to enable them conduct their business activities, but lamented that the money was diverted by the officials of the state chamber of commerce.

Suleiman regretted that the chamber diverted the money advanced to the traders thriough the state’s investment company, describing the action as an injustice.

He said: "We had a meeting with the managing director of the state Investment Company, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, who told us that the company released the money secured by the state government as loan from the CBN for the traders union.”

He stressed that the traders had registered with the chamber and applied for the loan since last year, wondering why the chamber refused to inform them of any development up to the time the

loan was released and collected.

He lamented that despite efforts by the traders’ associations over the matter and the existing good relationship between the chamber and the union, the chamber failed to inform them about the receipt of the funds.

Contacted for comment, the Director-General of the state Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ZACCIMA, Alhaji Lawal Tsafe, denied collecting the loan, adding that the chamber did not receive any money for that purpose from the state investment company.

ASTOR Nelson Obinna Anene, an alumnus of the University of Calabar and a pastor with Gospel Church of Christ, Lagos, is dead. He passed on at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, on October 15, 2015, after a brief illness.

According to the burial arrangement announced by the family, praise worship/ testimony night will take place today by 6pm at his family compound, Umuota Village, Obosi, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State.

His body will lie in state at the family compound tomorrow, while interment follows.

He is survived by his younger brother, Austin Anene of Verbatim Magazine, Abuja, among other relations.

Late Nelson Anene

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

FIRST CONSULTANT: From left— CMD, First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri; Dr. Ada's husband, Mr. Igonoh Godwin, and Dr. Fadipe Emmanuel, during a briefing on celebration of ebola survivors and staff of FCMC. PHOTO: Oscar Ochiogu.

KPMG SEMINAR: From left— Transport Coordinator, Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility, NIAF, Mr. Kayode Khalidson; MD/CEO, ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment Ltd, Opuiyo Oforiokuma; Head, Power and Infrastructure, StanbicIBTC Capital Ltd, Paula Coetzee; former Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State, Ayo Gbeleyi, and President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Engr Kashim Ali, during KPMG's seminar on Developing Transport Infrastructure in Nigeria and West Africa, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

P H O T O FESTIVAL: Ace

p h o t o g r a p h e r, Kelechi Amadi-Obi (left) and Senior M a r k e t i n g M a n a g e r , Consumer Business Group, Huawei Nigeria, at the 1stMobile phone photography exhibition by Huawei P8, during the Lagos Photo Festival in Lagos.

COPA 2015: From left— Regional Commercial Director, Nigerian Bottling Company, Ltd., Dan Fratila; Director, Lagos State Sports Commission, Nunayon Travih; Isolo community representative, Seun Dejo, and Franchise Manager, Lagos and West, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Satyajit Ram, during a handover ceremony of COPA Coca-Cola 2015 materials to various communities in Lagos.

C M Y K

AWARD: From left— Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Iju-Ifako branch, Mr. Peter Arowojobe; Mr. Tunde Bello, Publisher, Ifako-Ijaye Post magazine, and Yetunde Ogunkoya, during the presentation of Ifako-Ijaye Hall of Fame award to Arowojobe in Lagos.

STRONGBOW: From left— Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Kufre Ekanem; Senior Brand Manager, Strongbow, Mrs Ngozi Nkwoji; Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Nichola Vervelde; his wife, Clementine, and Senior Strategy Manager, Mr. Tony Agenmonmen, during the launch of Strongbow Golden Hour Consumer in Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

FOMWAN HIJRAH: From left— Mrs Safiat Adeaga, Mrs Khairat Ajao, Alhaja Rahamatalai Kamorudeen, past Amirah Surulere; Alhaja Rashidat Oyesoro; Alhaja Tawakalita Adamson, Assisatant Dawah Officer, and Mrs Rashidat Oladele, all of Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN, Lagos State Chapter, Surulere, during their walk to mark Hijrah 1437. PHOTO: Shola Oyelese.

PRESENTATION: From left— Brand Manager, Munro Glucose D, Nkechinyere Nwachukwu; distributor and car winner, Nwabueze Mbaigwe; National Sales Manager, Paul Omekwe, and Branch Manager, Aba, Festus Ihenesekhien, at the presentation of cars to distributors by Brian Munro in Aba.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 41

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 43

C M Y K

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

EBOLA: I had concerns, but they didn’t affect our intimacy — Godwin Igonoh THE safe delivery of a baby by one of Nigeria’s Ebola Survivors, Dr. Ada Igonoh, may have taken scientists by surprise, as they earlier maintained that survivors of such highly deadly diseases like Ebola hardly conceive. Further, it is reported that even Ebola survivors conceive, they have very serious challenges and difficulty carrying the pregnancy for nine months. It was also said that such people find it difficult to deliver the baby safely. However, studies are yet to understand why this happens.

While Nigerians continue to celebrate the birth of the Igonoh baby, described as a divine gift, Vanguard spoke to the man who made the difference when Dr. Igonoh was down with Ebola – Mr Godwin Igonoh.

Full of appreciation for the Nigerian media and the management of First Consultant Hospital Godwin Igonoh, Ada’s husband, spoke to our correspondent revealing that Ebola did not affect his intimacy with his wife even though he initially had some concerns.

Excerpts: •Mr. Godwin Igonoh

By Chioma Obinna

wasn't really worried.

What was your reaction when she was confirmed Ebola positive?

It wasn't funny. People say what they like in the news, but so much of what you see in the news is streamlined so that you can publish. They cannot tell you everything. So many things happened at the background with our experience with Ebola, and only God saved us.

I lost 20kg in two weeks and I could not eat. I couldn't understand the situation. My mother died in 2002; there I was again, dealing with the possibility of my wife's death.

And every day I went to Yaba, I would hear that this or that person just died.

Imagine when I heard on CNN that a female doctor died, and I turned to Aljazeera and it was a male doctor that died. So the question then was who really died? I drove all the way to Yaba to confirm. Firstly of all,

H

OW did you deal with the concerns you had initially?

For me, I read so much online but not all information in the internet is correct. So I had to take time to talk to people who knew more, like the Chief Medical Director of First Consultant Hospital, Dr Benjamin Ohiaeri.

He made himself very accessible so I could put a call across to him and ask my questions. Then, the things he told me I researched them online and found out from credible institutions and doctors that have spoken. I found out that those things were actually true.

So having First Consultant available served like a library of experience and knowledge.

That was how I dealt with the concerns that I had.

Morning sickness Once the concerns were taken care of, it was a lot easier for everything to fall in line.

What was your reaction when you learned she was pregnant?

I was not really sure. I asked, are you sure? Please check again. Pregnancy means a lot to women and men. Both want to have kids.

She said she was sure she was pregnant. I was excited also but I managed my excitement throughout the process. The morning sickness starting coming, she is also a doctor so she helped to explain things to me. I also went online and read them up.

She being a doctor helped, I think is good to marry a doctor because she would help you understand in the layman's language what's really going

BIRTH: Dr Ada Igonoh and her baby at the Greater El-Monte Community Hospital, California, USA. on. First Consultant played a vital role in our lives because they keep helping us understand what needs to be done.

Were there challenges during the pregnancy?

She travelled at 28 weeks.

When she was here, we had regular appointments at First Consultant often. A lot of things were managed and it was quite a peaceful pregnancy even though there were worried that they needed to take measures that nothing goes wrong.

Were you scared getting intimate after she was certified Ebola free?

I was not really scared because research shows that men are more at risk because they said semen in the testicles could retain the virus for a while so they advised men to abstain from sex. But they said there was no known history of women retaining the virus. But we actually gave it a few months after she was declared Ebola free. After some time, I felt like...what is the big deal? I am already in the same house with her, so it could be either way.

Fluid contact is inevitable between couples. For me, I

I lost 20kg in two weeks and I could not eat. I couldn't understand the situation. My mother died in 2002; there I was again, dealing with the possibility of my wife's death

when I heard that on the news, I called the hospital, but her lines were off. I called the matron; she said she was not on duty. The matron called another matron that was on duty who said she (Ada) was fine.

So you could see all the emotional pressure and stress that I went through. At a point, it became difficult to handle.

But I think crisis is a time you need to dig deep to find a reason to stay positive. For me, being a Christian I dug deep and held on to God. How did you face the challenges of discrimination?

As an employer, it is going to be tough but you need to distinguish yourself. My wife had Ebola they may be careful but when it comes down to money if I pay, you won't refuse to work for me because my wife had Ebola it does not make sense. Again, it brings to the fore the issue of what really matters.

I attended a meeting where people were criticising people that had Ebola and I was there.

But they never knew. They went through all the motions then I told them that my wife had Ebola and they were all shocked.

Expression of power Until now you never knew my wife had Ebola but now you know you are looking at me differently. Before now, you have criticised people that had Ebola and talked about probably keeping them at bay pending when we are sure they are free.

Reactions on news of baby's birth When I heard my wife just delivered, because it is something I rehearsed, what do I do is the question I asked myself. I see having kids as an expression of power by couples because with much power comes great responsibility.

I always managed my excitement with the sense of understanding that there is a responsibility that comes with having kids. And that is what we really want to focus on. If you live in the euphoria that you have a child without actually preparing to take responsibility to be on ground to support that child to add to the society then you missed it.

When they told me she had a baby safely, I said yes, we need to get to work because she is going to need parents that are reliable and dependable and can teach her integrity. So for me, beyond the excitement, basically I try to remind myself that now you have a child you have to be responsible enough to do more than usual.

Why did she go overseas to have the baby?

We all know that government is doing enough but we have lot to do in the country's health sector. I think it is only fair if you can get the best from the other side you can go and get it.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 45

Ahmadiyya, NASFAT extol leadership style of Sultan

T

HE Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria has extolled the visionary and proactive leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and Head Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.

In the same vein, the leadership of Nasru-LAHI-LFATIH Society has also praised the Sultan for his outstanding leadership which according to it has engendered harmony and peaceful co-existence among all faiths in the country.

Both organisations stated this after a separate courtesy visits to the Sultan in his palace recently.

The Amir of the Jamaat, Dr Mashuud Adenrele Fashola who extolled the exemplary leadership qualities of the Sultan, said “it was heart warming that the Sultan ensured that Ahmadiyya has

a Mosque in the seat of caliphate located along Wammako road. The Supreme head of the Muslims in Nigeria ensured that there was no discrimination of any kind against the Jamaat in Sokoto.”

He continued: “the Sultan has been a very receptive to all Islamic groups and ensuring a level playing field to all, in his quest for peaceful propagation of Islam and the unity of Nigeria”.

He said the Sultan appreciate the tremendous efforts of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community globally and in Nigeria in particular in the areas of peaceful propagation of Islam more importantly provision of quality and qualitative Islamic literature for dawah in various

languages, both international and indigenous."

However, the leadership of Nasru-Lahi-l-Fatih Society, NASFAT led by the Board of Trustees Chairman, Alh. Abdullateef Wale Olasupo recently paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Sheikh Sa‘ad Abubakar III in his palace.

The occasion afforded the delegate the opportunity to commiserate with the Sultan over the recent tragedy in the Holy land where over 200 Nigerian Muslims lost their lives with over 500 missing The organisation also disclosed that arrangements are on-going on the society’s biennial conference scheduled to hold in December 2015 as well as the 21st anniversary of the society coming up in the first quarter of 2016.

In his response, Sultan appreciated NASFAT for

...the Sultan has been a very receptive to all Islamic groups and ensuring a level playing field to all, in his quest for peaceful propagation of Islam and the unity of Nigeria

bringing about religious harmony in the country just as he expressed happiness for the visit He therefore advised the leading Islamic organisation to remain focused in the task of ensuring unity and love among Nigerians.

Meanwhile, NASFAT also organized a Special Dawah Workshop in conjunction with Islamic Education Trust (IET), Minna tagged Train the Trainers Workshop. The lectures most of whom were drawn from IET, Minna took the participants through series of Dawah issues to further enhance their understanding of Islam.

Mourn death of Emir of Borgu Meanwhile, the Jamaat equally condoled the family of the late Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, Kitoro 111, and the entire people of Borgu, Niger State over the death of the Emir recently.

The organisation prayed Allah to grant the late Emir Aljanah Firdaus while also urging the people of Borgu kingdom, to take solace in Allah as He gives and takes life at the appointed time.

Dr Mashuud Fashola recalled that the late Emir ’s visit to the World head of the Ahmadiyya community in London as well the grand reception accorded the world Islamic leader in Borgu kingdom in 2008, adding that with one of Ahmadiyya hospitals located in New Bussa, the late Emir was supportive of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.

“The entire leadership and membership of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria therefore commiserate with the Late Emir ’s family, royal chiefs, friends, the entire Borgu Kingdom and Nigeria as a whole. We believe the incident was an immeasurable and irreparable loss to you all, and we pray Almighty Allah will grant you all the fortitude to bear the loss and make his demise a source of increased blessings.”

N A S FAT also commiserated with the Sultan as well as the people of Borgu Kingdom, Niger State over the death of the Emir.

From left: A delegate from Sokoto Branch, Engr Kamil Bolarinwa, NASFAT President; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa‘ad Abubakar III; Abdullateef Olasupo, Chairman NASFAT BOT, Alh. Abdullahi Gbade Akinbode, NASFAT Chief Missioner, Alh Sheriff Yussuf, Immediate past NASFAT President, Engr.

Abdullahi Mohammed, NASFAT Vice President II during NASFAT's visit to the Sultan of Sokoto recently.

Dr. Nurudeen Lemu, Coordinator, (right) and participants at the NASFAT Special Dawah Workshop held in conjunction with Islamic Education Trust (IET), Minna recently.

NASFAT children during a march past celebrating 1437 Hijra anniversary at Lagos State Secretariat Mosque Extension, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, recently.

ASK Y OUR IMAM YOUR On Aqeeqah Is it true that when a male child is born, two goats or rams are have to be sacrificed and only one when a female is born. I have heard and noticed this among some people in our society, Is it Islamic to do that?

Answer: In the first place, there is no difference between a male and female baby during the Aqeeqah rites. So, the rites are fundamentally the same. After 7 days from the birth of a new baby (boy or girl), the baby’s hair is shaved and its weight in measured and the money equivalent is paid to poor as charity. It is recommended to sacrifice a ram the same day, prepare food and distribute to neighbours, friends including the poor and needy.

If you have the means to sacrifice more than one ram, merely for sufficiency, it is not out of place but there is no discrimination as to two for male and one for female babies. Those who practice that may not know, it is our duty to inform them that the Prophet never approved any such thing on the basis of sex difference. Mainly, these rituals are to bless the baby. There is no discrimination in the amount of blessings required for babies.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015—47

Drama, as Saraki's lawyers walk out on tribunal while Saraki held sway (SERAP) has called on Continues from Page 5 legal assistance.

“Mr. Chairman, I find myself in a new terrain.

Firstly is the fact that my lawyers walked out on me.

I need time to go and beg them to come back and in any event that they refuse, I need to look for best hands to defend me. I need to ask them why they did what they did today (yesterday). If they refuse to come back I will then know where to go from there,” Saraki pleaded.

While not opposing Saraki’s plea, the prosecutor, Jacobs, urged the court to adjourn the matter till either today or next week for trial, saying “ what happened yesterday is a demonstration of the bad legal advice the defendant has been receiving since this matter started”.

His application did not go down well with Saraki who pleaded with the tribunal to adjourn the matter for one month to enable him make wide consultations with a view to procuring quality legal services.

After listening to Saraki’s plea, Justice Umar, declined to grant one month adjournment on the matter, even as he adjourned the case till November 19 for hearing.

Nevertheless, Justice Umar berated Saraki’s legal team, saying “the action of the defendant’s team smacked of disrespect”.

Saraki was accompanied to the tribunal yesterday

by Senators from both the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Among the lawmakers that stood by him yesterday included the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, Dino Melaye, Bath Nnaji, Andy Uba, Shehu Sani, James Manager, Danjuma Goje, Abdullahi Adamu, Stella Odua, Adamu Aliero, John Eno, Mao Ohuabunwa, Abdulaziz Nyako, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, among others.

Specifically, Saraki was in the charge before the CCT, marked ABT/01/15 and dated September 11, 2015, alleged to have falsely declared his assets, contrary to the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l requirement.

He was accused of deliberately manipulating the assets declaration form that he filed prior to his assumption of office as the Senate President, by making anticipatory declaration of assets, as well as, operated foreign bank account while in office as a public servant.

The offence was said to have been committed

as a governor.

He was also accused of breaching section 2 of the CCB and Tribunal Act, an offence punishable under section 23(2) of the Act and paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Government, among other offences, alleged that Saraki, claimed that he owned and acquired No 15A and 15B Mc Donald, Ikoyi, Lagos, through his company, Carlisle Properties Limited in 2000, when the said property was actually sold by the Implementation Committee of the Federal Government landed properties in 2006 to his companies, Tiny Tee Limited and Vitti Oil Limited for the aggregate sum of N396,150,000, 00.

He was alleged to have made false declaration on or about June 3, 2011, by refusing to declare Plot 2A, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, which he acquired between 2007 and 2008 through his company from the Central Bank of Nigeria for a total sum of N325,000,000, 00.

Similarly, Saraki was said to have refused to declare No1 Tagnus street, Maitama, Abuja, which he claimed to have acquired in November 1996 from one David Baba Akawu.

Some of his alleged offences while in office as governor, which are said to be punishable under section 15(1) and (2) of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, were allegedly committed between October 2006 and May 2007.

His actions were classified as a gross violation of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

SERAP wants NBA to probe Saraki’s lawyers on walk-out

Meanwhile, SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project

the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to “urgently investigate the conduct of lawyers to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, for walking out on the Code of Conduct Tribunal after the tribunal refused their application for stay of proceedings.

The organisation said that “It is the role of Sakari’s lawyers to serve their client’s best interests but in doing so they should not act in a manner that would put the administration of justice and the society’s confidence in the judicial system and the fight against corruption at risk.”

In a statement signed by SERAP's executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni the organisation said that, “Walking out on the Code of Conduct Tribunal for simply and correctly applying Section 305(e) of the newly enacted Administration of Criminal Justice Act is disrespectful. It offends the basic rule that lawyers should act with integrity and professionalism, maintaining his or her overarching responsibility to ensure civil conduct.

“SERAP believes that a lawyer’s duty to the court is a fundamental obligation that defines a lawyer ’s role within the adversarial system.

Lawyers should at all times act to promote the rule of law and the public’s confidence in the administration of justice and not be seen to undermine it or facilitate an infringement of the law.

“As we have seen many times, without the rule of law, the rule of the jungle takes hold and the economically and socially vulnerable fall victim to the strong and nobody is safe.”“Senior lawyers especially have a responsibility to act as the guardians of the rule of law by contributing to a strong judicial and legal system which is crucial to a well-functioning democracy and which in turn is necessary to satisfactorily prevent and combat years of official corruption in the country.”

Cleric tasks Ibusa on peace

By Tare Youdeowei

A

Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Frank Idayi, has enjoined the people of Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State to close ranks for peaceful coexistence.

He made the call while delivering a sermon at an interdenominational thanksgiving service held at Kefas Park Ibusa as part of activities lined up for the 20th anniversary

celebration of the Obuzor Institution and Ofala celebration of Obi Louis Nwoboshi.

Rev. Fr. Idayi, who was accompanied by clergymen drawn from various churches, said: “It is time for every true son and daughter of the community to join hands with the traditional ruler, Obi Louis Nwoboshi and his chiefs in their bid to bring peace and development to the town.”

48 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

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IDONOGBOJA —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Otemu Rose, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Idonogboja Ajovi Otemu Rose. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Correction of Date of Birth

AKPOBASAHA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Okareme Peace, now wish to be known and addressed as Akpobasaha Okareme Peace. All former documents remain valid. General Public please take note.

NOHENSE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nohense Joy Osariemen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osaigbovo Joy Osariemen.

All former documents remain valid. General Public please take note.

I, Erhivwode Eguono Precious was born on 26th February, 1982 as against 27th January 1983 and 26th February, 1985 that appears in some of documents. All former documents remain valid, Uniport, any authority and general public to take note.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 49

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OHABASIRIM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ohabasirim Amarachi Nancy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ihesiulor Amarachi Nancy. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to certify that Omoba Avwerosuo, Omoba Benjamin And Ikperha Avwerosuo Benjamin is the one and same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as Ikperha Avwerosuo Benjamin. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

JOSEPH

I.—I,

formerly known and addressed as Joseph I. Yongo, now wish to be known and addressed as Yongo D. Joseph. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation name

of

FOLORUNSHO—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Folorunsho Mobolaji, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Ojo Mobolaji Oluwakemi.

All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Addition of name

UDECHUKWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Udechukwu Mary C., now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obodoefuna Mary C. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name

IKUOPENIKAN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikuopenikan Olabisi Oluwagbebemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Williams Olabisi Oluwagbebemi. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name

SHOLANKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Sholanke Adebola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Sorunke Segun Adebola.

All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

E K E D AY E N — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Sandra Ekedayen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sandra Jokoh.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

LINUS—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Linus Amarachi Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nweke Amarachi Mary. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public please take note.

OMOISI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omoisi Doreen Oghenetejiri, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Moses Uduak Oghenetejiri.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to inform the authority of UBA Plc and the General Public that I operate an account with the above named bank.

That the name Timi Obudu and Timiebi Pigha are one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and the General Public should please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to inform the authority of Eco Bank, UBA Plc and the General Public that I operate an account with the above named banks. That the name John Warri and Timi Sanzu are one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank, UBA Plc and the General Public should please take note.

E y a m e k w a r e Akpoghwarhe, Eyamekware Ezekiel And Eyamekware E z e k i e l Akpoghwarhe is the same and one person but now wish to be known and addressed as Eyamekware E z e k i e l Akpoghwarhe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

This is to certify that Mrs Ejaife Aghogho Jane and Mrs Ejaife Ogheneruese Jane is the same and one person but now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ejaife Aghogho Jane.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

This is to inform the general public that E r h i y o m a Oghenerukevwe now wish to be known and addressed as E r h i y o m a Oghenerukevwe Maxwell. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MAHAMADOU— I, formerly known and addressed as Mahamadou Kassoum, now wish to be known and addressed as Muhammed Kazum.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ERIRI—I, formerly

ROHIAH—I, formerly

known and addressed

known and addressed

as Enakeno Becky

as Rohiah Brihgt, now

Eriri, now wish to be

wish to be known and

known and addressed

addressed as Dibie

as Keno Becky Jombo.

Bright. All former

All former documents

documents remain

remain valid. General

valid. General public

public please take note.

please take note.

OBIEH—I, formerly

public please take note.

A D E S A N YA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Adesanya Adedayo Adekemi, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adedayo Adekemi Okewale. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to inform the authority of Eco Bank, UBA Plc and the General Public that I operate an account with the above named banks. That the name Masuke Agrowell, Felix Asuke and Masuke Agrowell Felix are one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank, UBA Plc and the General Public please take note.

JOHNSON—I, formerly known and addressed as Chibuzo Johnson, Now wish to be known and addressed as Chibuzo Damien Onyeka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to inform the authority of First Bank Plc (Udu Branch), FCMB (Water Resources Branch) and the General Public that I operate an account with the above named banks. That the name Omimi Happy Aghogho and Aghogho Orukpe Happy is one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, FCMB and the General Public should please take note.

IRUBOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uche Zenith Irubor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uche Zenith Joseph. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OJETU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojetu Stella Abheyia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omem Stella Abheyia.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ELUMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eluma Isioma Stella, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ochei Isioma Stella. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

E H I G I AT O R — I , formerly known and addressed as Isaac Ehigiator, now wish to be known and addressed as Isaac Copeland. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKPOMIEMIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akpomiemie Edith, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oghenegueke Edith. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKAGBARE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okagbare Oghale Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Edijana Oghale Mary. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWAGU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Stella Chikaodili Nwagu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Stella Chikaodili Ayankunle. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ODAJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odaji Monica, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ighoejereimzu Monica Oviri. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

FAGBEMI—I, formerly known, called, addressed and referred to as Mr. Fagbemi Oluwasegun Olumide now wish to be known, called, addressed and referred to as Mr. Olasoji Oluwasegun Olumide. All my former documents bearing my former names Mr. Fagbemi Oluwasegun Olumide remains valid.

Authorities concerned especially the general public should please take note for record purposes.

Confirmation of Name

Confirmation of Name

Confirmation of Name

This is to confirm that the name Omuenarhe David is the same person as Joseph David, but now wish to be known and addressed as Joseph David. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FAGBEMI—I, formerly known, called, addressed and referred to as Mr. Fagbemi Temitope Ayodeji now wish to be known, called, addressed and referred to as Mr. Olasoji Ayodeji Princewill.

All my former documents bearing my former names Mr. Fagbemi Temitope Ayodeji remains valid.

Authorities concerned especially the general public should please take note for record purposes.

This is to confirm that the names Owaa Chikaodili Ugwu is the same person as Owaa Chikaodili Upkabi, but now wish to be known and addressed as Owaa Chikaodili Upkabi. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Nig. Plc (Mam Branch Sapele) and General Public please take note.

This is to confirm that the names Ahmed Dabia Abudullahi, Ahmed Nuhu Abudullahi and Ahmed Nuhu Dabia Abudullahi is the same me, but now wish to be known and addressed as Amed Dabia Abudullahi.

All former documents remain valid. United Bank for Africa Plc and General Public please take note.

FABIAN-AGU—I, formerly known as Fabian-Agu Nneka Rophina, now wish to be addressed to as Mrs Nwokocha Nneka Rophina. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

ODOWU —I, formerly known and addressed as Odowu Felix and Lord Agbuke, now wish to be known and addresses as Odowu Tarry Ejih. That some of my bank documents bears the name Odowu Felix, some bears Lord Agbuke which some bears Odowu Tarry Ejih All authorities concerned and the general public should please take note for record purposes.

EDET—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Edet Idorenyin (Hope) Rankin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Idorenyin Udoaka Johnson. All former documents remain valid. EKEDP and general public please take note.

FADIPE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fadipe Ruth Folusho, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anisere Ruth Folusho. All former documents remain valid.

Obafemi Awolowo University and general public please take note.

known and addressed as Miss Franca Obieh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Franca Odebala. All former

documents

remain valid. General

FAGBEMI—I, formerly known, called, addressed and referred to as Miss Fagbemi Oluwatosin Odunayo now wish to be known, called, addressed and referred to as Miss Olasoji Oluwatosin Odunayo. All my former documents bearing my former names Miss Fagbemi Oluwatosin Odunayo remains valid.

Authorities concerned especially the general public should please take note for record purposes.

Onyemekihan Ifeanyi Wilson and Ikogwe Ifeanyi Wilson is the same and one person but now wish to be known and addressed as Onyemekihan Ifeanyi Wilson. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Vanguard CLASSIFIED EZIEFUNA—I, formerly known and address as Miss E z i e f u n a s Nnkechinyere now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. C h u k w u a n u Nkechinyere Sandra.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

TOCHUKWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Ugwu Joseph, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Ugwu Joseph Tochukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZEILO—I, formerly known and addressed as Ezeilo Paschaline Ogechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Maxtriple .M. P a s c h a l i n e Ogechukwu.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWOYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwoye Njideka Rita now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chiekweilo Njideka Rita. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHIAMA—I, formally known and addressed as Miss Chiama Chikaodili Elizabeth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ani Chikaodili Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

NWOSU—I, formally known and addressed as Mr. Nwosu Christain Somadina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Ugochukwu Christain Somadina. All former documents remains valid, general public take note.

NWAENYI—I, formally known as Mrs. Nwaenyi Chinwe Celestina, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Ofomata Chinwe Celestina. All former documents still remain valid, N.Y.S.C, banks and general public take note.

UBAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ubah Omerebere Precious Martha, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. Mrs. A k a c h u k w u , Omerebere Precious.

All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

MOJU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olaye Augustina Moju, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olaye Augustina Pessu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OROH—I, formerly known and addressed as Oroh Stanley Ufuoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Trevor Derek Bryan. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name: This is to inform the authority of Eco Bank and the General Public that I operate an account with the above named bank with the name Njoku Peter and some of my documents are bearing Ajoku Peter And Ajokubi Chigozie Obumeke. That all the above mentioned names are one and the same person. i.e. Ajokubi Chigozie Obumneke. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank and the General Public should please take note.

OJO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojo Mercy Idikachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Harrison Mercy Durugbor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ORIERO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ewomazino Onome Oriero, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ewomazino Onome Akpovino. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NSIRIMOVU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nsirimovu Felicia Oronne, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ichenwo Felicia Oronne. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHUKU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chigor Lilian Chuku, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chigor Bamidele Ibiyemi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogu Ozioma Chinwendu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agomuo Ozioma Chinwendu.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ECHENDU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Echendu Faith Uzoamaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Asibe Faith Uzoamaka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NJOKU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Njoku Edith Amarachukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyekwere Edith Amarachukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IBIORIKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibiorika Lucy Nyengierefaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aliu Lucy Nyengierefaka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NNUBIA—I, formerly known and addressed as Tina Nnubia, now wish to be known and addressed as Nwadigo Earnestina.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZINNE —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezinne Nzekwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ezinne Nzekwe Okoloani. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EJIOGU—I, formerly known and addressed as Ejiogu Ikechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Ejiogu Victor Ikechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

M M E G WA — I , formerly known and addressed as Mmegwa Kelechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Melford kile Kelechi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IBOROMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Dawata Opubo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Dawata Boma Lokoson. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

GODWIN—I, formerly known and addressed as Pamo Otulu Godwin, now wish to be known and addressed as Pamo Geoffrey Kelvin. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria and general public please take note.

EZE—I, formerly known and addressed as Eze Chibuenyim Nwokocha, now wish to be known and addressed as E z e d i n a c h i C h i b u e n y i m Nwokocha. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ISMAILA—I, formerly known and addressed as Abdullahi Ismaila, now wish to be known and addressed as Abdullahi Ismaila Suleiman. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Correction of name

BOLARIN —We, the underlisted family hereby give notice of change of name from the former names to our new names respectively; I formerly known called and addressed as 1. Mr Sunday Oke Bolarin, 2. Mrs Olufunmilayo Omorinola Bolarin, 3. Miss Oluwaseyi Michelle Bolarin, 4. Miss Abimbola Samantha Bolarin, 5. Miss Oluwamayowa Emmanuella Bolarin, 6. Miss Anjolaoluwa Hannah Bolarin, now wish to be known called and addressed respectively as; 1. Mr DAVID OLUWABAMISE ADEGOKE, 2.

Mrs OLUFUNMILAYO OMORINOLAADEGOKE, 3. Miss OLUWASEYI MICHELLE ADEGOKE, 4. Miss ABIMBOLA SAMANTHA ADEGOKE, 5. Miss OLUWAMAYOWA EMMANUELLA ADEGOKE, 6.

Miss ANJOLAOLUWA HANNAH ADEGOKE. All former documents remain valid. General Public please take note.

OKOLAI—I, formerly OHAEGBULAM—I, known and addressed formerly known and as Miss Hannah addressed as Ohaegbulam Perfect, Okolai, now wish to be now wish to be known known and addressed and addressed as as Mrs. Alabo Aye Ohams Ifeoma. All Omiela. All former former documents documents remain remain valid. General valid. General public public please take please take note. note.

Confirmation of name N N O N Y E — I , This is to confirm that formerly known and the name Okus Pristine Precious, addressed as Nnonye Onyolu Okuchukwu K e n e c h u k w u Precious, refers to one Kenneth, now wish to and the same person as Onyolu be known and Okuchukwu Precoius. addressed as But now wish to be I k e c h u k w u known and addressed K e n e c h u k w u as Mr. Onyolu Okuchukwu Precious.

Kenneth. All former All former documents documents remain remain valid. General valid. General public public please take please take note. note.

NDUKUBA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ndukuba Theodora Kelechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Innocent Theodora Kelechi. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps and general public please take note.

UDOH—I, formerly known and addressed as miss annabel udoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mary-Anne Udoh. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLUGBEMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omolara Beatrice Olugbemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omolara Mohammed Sabo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

The correct spelling of my name is Orode Ejiro but was wrongly spelt as Orode Esiro on my Driver’s Licence. I hereby state that Orode Ejiro and Orode Esiro refer to one and same me. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

YOU CAN BOOK YOUR ADVERT AT: TRINITY MALL, 79/81 OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA. CALL: 08028289689, 08035449960, MURPHÝ'S PLAZA, 27, SANUSI FAFUNWA STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND. CALL: 08038092373, 08033163424

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 51

Rio Olympics: Nigeria targets 2 million visitors

A

T least two million people are expected to visit the Nigeria House at the forthcoming 2016 Olympic Games slated to take place in Rio, Brazil.

President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel revealed this yesterday in Abuja during the inauguration of

the Rio 2016 Nigeria House Committee.

Inaugurating the committee, Director General of the National Sports Commission(NSC),Mallam Al-Hassan Yakmut said the House was part of the core principles of putting Nigeria at par with other countries.

He said the House was open to all adding that it will

be accessible to tourists, observers and athletes who may want to socialize with others after a hectic sporting engagement.

“As part of the 208 affiliates of the Olympic family, it is important for Nigeria to be properly represented at a big event like the Olympics which is also the biggest sporting event.

Ronaldo Continues from BP Cristiano Jr “doesn’t need a mother, just me — having a father is enough”.

This determination could be put down to arrogance, but Cristiano “never really got to know” his dad, Dinis, before his death ten years ago.

With Dinis “drunk nearly every day ”, Cristiano was closer to mum Dolores. Yet he is painfully aware she wanted to terminate her pregnancy when she was expecting him.

Dolores confesses: “He was a child I wanted to abort. God didn’t want that to happen and I was blessed because of that and God did not punish me.

“Sometimes Ronaldo makes fun of me saying,

‘You didn’t want me to be born. But now you see I’m here helping all of you’.”

Cristiano refuses to name his lad’s mother, but speculation over her identity is rife. While it definitely isn’t his thengirlfriend, supermodel Irina Shayk, many people believe he paid for a surrogate.

Talking openly in the film, titled Ronaldo, the normally private star says: “People speculate I was with this girl or another, or there was a surrogate mother. I have never told anyone and never will.

“When Cristiano is grown up I will tell him what I did, what I felt, everything that went through my mind. Some children never get to know their parents, nei-

Eagles Continues from BP third in Africa with their number 30 on the ranking with Cape Verde (32), Senegal (39), Tunisia (41), Cameroon (51), Congo (52), Guinea (53), DR Congo (55) completing Africa’s Top 10 in that order.

Egypt (57) and Nigeria are on numbers 11th and 12th respectively.

Meanwhile, Belgium top the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for the first time in history.

FIFA.com says Les Diables Rouges (The Red Devils) have jumped two places on the November edition to replace previous leaders Argentina (3rd, down 2) and world champions Germany (2nd, unchanged).

The biggest climbers in the top ten are Chile (5th, up 4), while England (9th, up 1) and Austria (10th, up 1) have each made slight progress. This is the first time that Belgium, Chile and Austria have ever reached such heights on the global ladder.

Six teams have leapt by

ten places or more in the top 50 this month, namely Turkey (18th, up 19), Bosnia and Herzegovina (20th, up 10), Ecuador (21st, up 10), Republic of Ireland (42nd, up 12), Paraguay (47th, up 14), and Serbia (49th, up 14). Four teams have improved their ranking by over 30 places: Chad (136th, up 39), Cyprus (76th, up 38), Sao Tome e Principe (157th, up 36) and Turkmenistan (121st, up 34).

The composition of the top 50 for November 2015 shows little change, with the AFC gaining two teams through Korea Republic (48th, up 5) and Japan (50th, up 5) and Africa losing two, Cameroon and Congo each having dropped three places to 51st and 52nd respectively. The other confederations have the same number of teams as last month, with the regional composition of the top 50 now looking as follows: UEFA: 31; CONMEBOL: 7; CAF: 6; CONCACAF: 3; AFC: 3; OFC: 0.

ther mother nor father.

Having a father is enough.”

Despite her early doubts about motherhood, Dolores brought up the boy who now earns £550,000 a week — second only to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi — and regularly looks after Cristiano Jr. Dolores says of her grandson: “He doesn’t have anyone apart from his father and me, so he does spend a lot of time with me.

“I am not bothered who the mother is. I just want to give my grandson love and educate him as Ronaldo asked me to.”

On her decision to encourage her son’s football skills she adds: “I sent him to Lisbon as a 12year-old. I felt I abandoned him.”

The last FIFA/CocaCola World Ranking of 2015 will be published on 3 December and could see Belgium take the ‘Team of the Year’ title, should they retain its top spot. The ‘Mover of the Year ’ will be awarded to the team which has gained the most points in 2015. Current contenders for this are Turkey (up 430 points), Chile (up 331 points), Wales (up 330 points) and Austria (up 319 points). However, with various matches and qualifiers due to take place over the coming weeks, the positions are still all to play for.

A total of 172 international ‘A’ matches have been taken into account in the November edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, bringing the total number of matches evaluated so far this year to 840. Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2016 (50 matches) and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia (66 matches) played a significant role in some of the major changes to this month’s installment.

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 53

C M Y K

54 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Mourinho: Chelsea fans are amazing

C

•DOWN BUT NOT OUT...Arjen Robben rounds Arsenal keeper, Peter Cech to score Bayern Munich's first goal in their 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal in the champions league match Wednesday night.

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho says he has never received greater support than the “amazing” reception given to him by fans during the Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho’s future at the club has been questioned, with the defending champions 15th in the Premier League.

But Blues fans sang his name throughout Wednesday’s dramatic 21 victory.

“I have no other way to thank them than to give everything I have, which I do always,” said the Portuguese.

Willian’s late free-kick clinched a much-needed victory over the Ukrainian champions, sparking huge relief at a nervy Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have lost six of their first 11 league matches this season.

UCL: Cech adamant Arsenal still in the race B

EATEN five times on a humbling night in Munich, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech says the London club can still qualify for the Champions League last 16 despite being bottom of Group F with two games left to play.

The 5-1 defeat by Bayern Munich, coupled with a late winner for Greek side Olympiakos Piraeus against Dinamo Zagreb means Arsenal must win their last two games and hope for the best.

“You (need to) win two games and we need to make sure that the head to head against Olympiakos is in our favour,” former Chelsea keeper Cech told

Arsenal’s website (www.arsenal.com).

“Then you can go through.”

While Cech makes the equation sound relatively simple, Arsenal’s destiny is not in their hands.

RGANISERS of the Aba Marathon slated for December 20 have revealed that this year’s edition will be fun filled even as the prize monies have been increased.

The marathon, which is the brainchild of Eziuche Ubani, journalist turned legislator, the Aba Marathon has grown from its humble beginnings to become a top

•Ubani

by Olympiakos already.

Bayern top the group with nine points, followed

by Olympiakos (9), Dinamo (3) and Arsenal (3).

“Everything is possible.

We have two games to

play, we have to regroup and continue fighting until the last minute,” Cech added. “You need to make sure that you recover and move on to the next one. It was not a day we wanted.”

GTBank Masters Cup draw holds in Lagos

By Jacob Ajom

D

RAW for the 2015 GTBank Masters Cup held in Lagos yesterday at the Ansar ud-Deen Girls High School, Itire with representatives of the sponsors and all the

Aba marathon promises fun and thrills for runners

O

The Gunners must beat Zagreb in their next fixture, hope Olympiakos lose to Bayern on the same night and then go to Greece on the final match night and win by two goals, having been beaten 3-2 at home

meet in the calendar of marathoners and athletics buffs in Nigeria. The winner of the national and international edition will get $5000. The second place will take home $4500... third place $4000, fourth $3,500.

For Aba residents participating in the 2015 edition, the winner will smile home with ¦ 200,000, second place ¦ 160,000, third ¦ 150,000.

According to one of the meet managers, Adebayo Oluseye the 2015 edition will retain all the features that make Aba Marathon the nation’s number one marathon and incorporate other new features this will make this edition one that will be etched in the memory of the athletics family and sports lovers in general for a long time.

participating schools in attendance.

Formerly called Heritage Cup, the GTBank Masters Cup competition is open to premier secondary schools in Lagos. The schools are spread across public, missionary and private schools.

Twenty one boys and 12 girls secondary school teams were involve in the draw.

In the mate category, which St Gregory’s are the defending champions, the teams were drawn into four groups of four teams each.

Only one group had five teams.

The defending champions, St Greg’s are

in Group E, alongside ANDROA International School, CMS Grammar School and Greensprings Schools. Runners up in the

last edition, St Fimbar’s College are in Group B with FGC Ijanikin, Crisland College and Whitesand College.

TRADER, Chukwumerije Ubaka has won the sum of N6 million on the coupon of Winners Golden Bet. Ubaka, who hails from Abia State, said though he had been playing the sports betting game a long time, he switched to Winners Golden Bet in April this year.

“I selected 12 straight wins from international friendlies, champion-ship and the Premier League.

Benzema to face charges over sex tape

R

EAL Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been charged by the French courts for ‘complicity to blackmail’ his France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.

Benzema, 27, will now appear before a judge, and is prevented from meeting the victim - Valbuena - or the other people charged in the case. He is under ‘judicial supervision’.

He arrived at a police station in Versailles on Wednesday, spending the night in custody, and is now under formal investigation.

Benzema denies he is a culprit, and instead, a victim of the blackmailers.

Benzema mentioned the tape to the midfielder during a France training session in early October, according to French media.

Ighalo eyes more goals for Watford the season. “Hard work and

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•Ighalo

ATFORD striker, Odion Ighalo stated that he is fighting to keep himself fit and scoring for the English premier league side as they face Leicester away this weekend.

Igho, received a knock in their 2-0 win against West Ham last weekend. He scored both goals to take his tally to seven so far in

Trader wins N6m on Winners Golden Bet

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Mourinho also had to deny there is a player revolt at the club, and has been criticised for his behaviour.

But the Blues fans have been unwavering in their support for a man who has led them to eight trophies in two separate spells as manager.

“I had the moment when I came back to the club and we played the first match at home to Hull City and the way the stadium welcomed me was amazing but not comparable with this,” said the 52-year-old.

From the onset, my instincts told me that I would win from this particular set. “When the game was about two matches left, I knew I will win because the last two games were between Arsenal and Everton on one side and PSG and St.Etienne on the other. At this point I knew it was just a matter of time’’, Ubaka said when he was presented with the cheque of N6m by the

General Manager of Winners Golden Bet, Mr. Ayowole Sajimi.

Ubaka said he was glad when his ticket won. “I was very happy, I just said thank you Jesus. On how he wants to spend his largesse, he disclosed that he will invest on his building materials business. “I’m a building material merchant and I intend to invest more in this business.”I am surprised with the prompt

dedication has brought me this far and I don’t want to get carried away with anything. I want to keep working, learning everyday and be crucial in front of goal. ‘ In the first half I suffered a knock in my left leg and I had an opposition player trying to hurt me but at the end It wasn’t at all serious, Its just dead-leg but I’ll be back.’

payment of my winning. I can’t believe it when I received the alert that my accounts has been credited with N6m.I do not expect to be paid so fast, “ Ubaka said. General Manager Sajimi reiterated Winners Golden Bet’s commitment to prompt payment of winnings, adding that the leading sports betting company in Nigeria places high premium on the importance its customers derived to the survival of the business.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 — 55

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

My son doesn’t need a mum... just me — Ronaldo S

UPERSTAR footballer Cristiano Ronaldo could never be accused of lacking confidence.

But behind the barechested goal celebrations and flash supercars is a man whose fractured relationship with his alcoholic father drives his determination to raise his own son in his image.

In a new documentary the Real Madrid ace insists five-year-old HULK— Ronaldo and Cristiano Jnr.

UNITED WE STAND — Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets celebrate one of their goals in their 3-0 demolition of Brazil in the semi-final of the U-17 World Cup in Chile.

FIFA Rankings:

Continues on Page 51

Eagles in free fall

Inside Ighalo: We must push hard against Leicester — Pull-out

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•Oliseh

HE fortune of Nigeria on the monthly Coca-Cola FIFA World Rankings witnessed a further downward trend as the Super Eagles did not only lose seven places, but failed to make Top 10 on the African continent.

Nigeria, who were on number 52 in October, fell to 59 in the latest ranking made public by FIFA on Thursday. While the likes of Cape Verde climbed nine places, from 41 in October to 32 in November and DR Congo climbed five

places, from 60 in October to 55 in November, star studded Nigerian team failed to make positive impact on the world ranking.

Ivory Coast dethroned Algeria from their number one spot in Africa as the North

African team lost seven places in the latest ranking. Algeria were on number 19 last month, but dropped to 26 this month, while the Ivorians are 22 in the latest ranking.

Ghana’s Black Stars are

Continues on Page 51

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Child (3) 6 Creep (4) 8 Customer (6) 9 Modern (6) 10 Lair (3) 12 Outcoming (5) 14 Avarice (5) 15 Leaf (5) 18 Instrument (6) 20 Simply (6) 24 Long (5) 26 Essential (5) 28 entice (5) 30 Astern (3) 32 Pursue (6) 33 Recluse (6) 34 Discharge (4) 35 Craving (3) 36 Consider (4)

DOWN 2 Throw (5) 3 Defile (7) 4 Nurse (4) 5 Rotate (4) 6 Encounter (5) 7 Hide (7) 11 Epoch (3) 12 Cur (3) 13 Beverage (3) 16 Attempt (3) 17 Meadow (3) 19 Regular (7) 21 Skill (3) 22 Scoffed (7) 23 Still (3) 25 Sprite (3) 27 Apportion (5) 29 Cost (5) 30 Crooked (4) 31 Lean (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Sense 7, Devil 8, Urban Tuni 12, Eat 13, Aimed 15, Donated Headed 19, Wed 20, Deleted 23, Avid Dome 26, Cajoled 30, Wit 31, Decent Bridged 37, Money 38, All 39, Droop Asked 41, Tenet 42, Speed.

10, 17, 25, 34, 40,

DOWN: 1, Belie 2, Sited 3, Eluded 4, Said 5, Dreaded 6, Later 9, Bat 11, Cowered 13, Ahead 14, Magic 16, Net 18, Devoted 21, Dozen 22, Deity 24, Dawdled 27, Jig 28, Demote 29, Crash 32, Coped 33, Never 35, Ilk 36, Drip.

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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