Dasuki Faces 47 - count charge in 3courts

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62650

N150

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Anxiety as Police NHRC probes soldiers, Shiite clash, recover 3 more female corpses in Ikorodu 7 9 as Iran reacts

ARMS PROBE:

Dasuki faces 47-count charges in 3 courts •Mulls plea bargain, Bafarawa, Yuguda, others plead not guilty •What Buhari got from Jonathan's govt — Presidency Dasuki's haul of charges $2.1bn arms cash:

Docked before Justice Ademola Adeniyi, Federal High Court in Abuja on a 6-count charge bordering on money laundering, alleged illegal possession of firearms

 Illegal diversion of N32bn:

Arraigned Monday before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf, FCT High Court on a 19-count charge

ARMS PROBE—From right: Former National Security Adviser, NSA, to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd); former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; former Director of Finance, Office of the NSA, Mr. Salisu Shuaibu; former Director at Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Aminu Baba Kusa and former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, after their arraignment at an Abuja High Court by the Economc and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Senators shelve vacation as Buhari presents Budget, Tuesday

Diversion of N13.6bn:

Arraigned before Justice Peter Affen, FCT High Court on a new 22-count charge

•P.8 P.17

Aka Ikenga brainstorms on economic revival of South East zone See Inside C M Y K

COLUMNISTS:

SOUTH EAST VOICE

P.29 DEAR

TABIA PRINCEWILL

BUNMI

Who is your allegiance to?

Corruption vs the common good

Why is she always texting my husband?

P.19 ROTIMI FASAN

Nigeria's blood-sucking elite

P.19 OGAGA IFOWODO

The God of money and the Nigerian gods of corruption

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North, Henry Umoru, Joseph Erunke, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, & Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—AS matters stand, embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), is now facing 47-count charges before three different courts and judges in Abuja.

He had previously been docked before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering and alleged illegal possession of firearms.

On Monday, the former NSA was arraigned before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the FCT High Court on a fresh 19count charge. The charge bordered on alleged illegal diversion of about N32billion from accounts the office of the NSA operated with both the Central Bank of Nigeria and other banks, while

Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs

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C M Y K

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

AGREEMENT—From left: Viken Najarian, Specialty Project Manager, Total Nig Plc; Mr Alexis Vovk, Managing Director; Yao Yao, Managing Director, Sany Nigeria Ltd; Taiwo Shittu, Group Executive Director, Lanre Shittu Motors; Albert Mabuyaku, Corporate Affairs Manager, Total Nigeria Plc, at a lubricant supply agreement between Total Nigeria Plc and Sany Nigeria in Lagos.

Dasuki faces 47-count charges in 3 courts Continues from Page 1

yesterday, he was arraigned before an FCT high court on a new 22count criminal charge bordering on alleged diversion of public funds to the tune of about N13.

6billion.

Charged along with Dasuki are former Minister of State, Finance, Bashir Yuguda, former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Attahiru and a company the EFCC said was used to divert huge sums of money from the office of the NSA prior to the 2015 general electionsDahaltu Investment Limited. Also charged are Dasuki's Finance Director, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, a former Executive Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission, NNPC, Aminu BabaKusa, as well as his companies, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referal Hospital Limited.

On the heels of this, and wary of the intent by the former NSA to name top

Nigerian leaders who benefitted from funds domiciled in his office, the Presidency last night spoke out on what President Muhammadu Buhari got from the previous administration, apparently to set the record straight and clear his name.

Also, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has blamed the uncovered fraud in the arms probe, during the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan, to the failure of National Assembly to carry out its proper oversight functions.

Buhari got 2 SUVs, no cash from Jonathan's govt — Presidency

Following revelations that Dasuki was set to disclose the names of more beneficiaries of the funds in his office especially former leaders, the Presidency admitted that Buhari got only two Toyota Sports Utility Vehicles and no cash from

IT'S UP TO YOU

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BY AYO ADIO

EVER outsource your responsibility to God, in you he placed all the tool kits to enable you succeed. Get up and make it happen. It's up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Waking up to who you are requires letting go of who you imagine yourself to be —Alan Watts

B

EING more flexible with our expectations may require a different paradigm from the former to a new way of thinking. Rather than being rigid about a certain outcome, we open ourselves to the possibilities that answer and solutions may come to us from unexpected sources. These results may even be more than we are hoping to achieve but when we trust and learn to let go and do not try to influence the outcome. Life may just be waiting around the corner with the gifts of our dreams, beyond the wildest imagination.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

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HE crimes the hen commit during the dry season, tells on her chicks in the rainy season.

the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Buhari, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, made it clear that the gift was humanitarian gesture of President Jonathan following the destruction of his vehicles in an attack by Boko Haram terrorists in Kaduna in February 2014.

According to Adesina, one of the SUVs was armoured while the other was an ordinary one, adding that no cash was given to him, as claimed by some. Adesina said that Buhari received “nothing untoward, illegal or tending to corruption” from Jonathan before or after the attack.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to reports making the rounds, especially on internet-based media, that President Muhammadu Buhari received $300,000.00 and up to five armoured SUVs from the Office of the National Security Adviser in the aftermath of the attack on his convoy in Kaduna last year.

“We unequivocally deny that President Buhari received $300,000.00 or any monetary compensation whatsoever from the Jonathan Presidency or any of its officials, in the aftermath of that attack, or at any other time since then.

“While it is true that one armoured SUV and one untreated SUV were sent to the President in the aftermath of the attack, the vehicles were in keeping with his entitlements as a former Head of State under the Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (And other Ancillary Matters) Decree of 1999.

“Section 3, Sub Section 1 of that Decree provides that three vehicles will be provided for former Heads of State and replaced

every four years.

“There was therefore nothing untoward, illegal or tending to corruption in former Head of State Buhari and Presidential aspirant, as he then was, receiving vehicles, to which he was statutorily entitled , from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“President Buhari had in keeping with his austere, spartan and frugal disposition shunned most of his entitlements as a former Head of State, but was prevailed upon by his supporters to accept the two vehicles for his personal safety in the aftermath of the dastardly attempt to assassinate him.

“It is preposterous to think that the President will allow his acclaimed reputation of honesty and incorruptibility to be tarnished by accepting a questionable monetary compensation from a discredited regime.”

The donation of the two vehicles is said to have been made before Buhari’s inauguration last May although the attack took place in the first quarter of 2014.

It will be recalled that the embattled former NSA had listed an avalanche of top Nigerian leaders who benefitted from the funds meant for the acquisition of arms for the armed forces to contain the menace of terrorists in the Northeast.

Apart from listing those beneficiaries in his statement of defence before the court, Dasuki threatened to expose more Nigerians in and out of government who got cash and materials from the ONSA. One of his aides told Vanguard on Monday that Dasuki had given out SUVs to former Nigerian heads of state and presidents in the course of his duties, wondering why he should be vilified for carrying out his assigned duties.

The aide mentioned what each of the former presidents and heads of state got from the office of the NSA and said that the revelation would shock Nigerians when released at the appropriate time.

‘Dasuki exploring plea bargain’

Meanwhile, there were indications, yesterday, that the embattled former National Security Adviser may explore the plea bargain option. His lead counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji, broached the idea while persuading an Abuja High Court sitting in Maitama to release his client on bail pending his trial.

Dasuki who was previously docked before

Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering and his alleged illegal possession of firearms, was on Monday, arraigned before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the FCT High Court on a fresh 19-count charge.

The charge bordered on alleged illegal diversion of about N32billion from account the office of the NSA operated with both the Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions.

Equally docked over the alleged fraud was the erstwhile Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, former Executive Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission, NNPC, Aminu Baba-Kusa, as well as his companies, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referal Hospital Limited.

The funds were allegedly distributed to delegates to the Presidential Primary Election the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP held in Abuja, a process that saw ex-President Jonathan emerge as sole candidate of the party.

Similarly, the EFCC, yesterday, arraigned the former NSA before Justice Peter Affen of the FCT High Court on a new 22count criminal charge bordering on alleged diversion of public funds to the tune of about N13.

6billion.

Others that joined the ex-NSA yesterday to plead not guilty to the 22count charge were the erstwhile Minister of Finance, Bashir Yuguda, former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Attahiru and a company the EFCC said was used to divert huge sums of money from the office of the NSA prior to the 2015 general electionsDahaltu Investment Limited.

Justice Affen, yesterday, deferred hearing on their request applications till today. Shortly after Justice Affen adjourned the case before him, Dasuki was marched into another

court presided by trial Justice Yusuf, to adduce reasons why he should be released on bail pending the determination of the case against him.

Moving his bail application yesterday, Dasuki, through his lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN, maintained that the crux of charges against him revolves around his alleged complicity in financial crime, an offence he said could be determined through the plea bargain system.

“Even the law recognises the fact that we can do plea bargain”, Raji insisted.

While urging the court to grant his client bail on either self recognition or in the most liberal terms, Raji, SAN, argued that nowhere in the entire charge was it mentioned that the alleged looted funds were specifically earmarked for the purchase of arms for the military.

EFCC opposes bail for Dasuki, others

Meanwhile, EFCC, yesterday, vehemently opposed their bail applications, saying they should be allowed to remain in custody for the sake of the witnesses.

EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, urged he court to consider the potency of the proof of evidence before it, gravity of the charge, and the possible punishment the accused persons could incur upon conviction.

Saraki blames arms probe saga on poor oversight

In a related development, Dr Bukola Saraki, has blamed the uncovered fraud in the arms probe, during the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan, to the failure of National Assembly to carry out its proper oversight functions.

Saraki insisted that the legislature, which would have carried out oversight to ensure that the money appropriated for arms purchase was strictly used for the purpose it was meant for,failed in such responsibility.

6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 , 2015

Man in court over alleged rape of colleague

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS—A 27-year-old man, Micheal Agboola, was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate's Court, Lagos for allegedly raping his colleague (names withheld) within the company premises on Allen Avenue, Ikeja.

Vanguard gathered that the case was reported at the Isokoko Police Station on December 9, 2015 where Micheal, a Geographic Information System, GIS expert at the company, was detained and charged to court by the police, after obtaining a test result indicating the victim was allegedly raped.

Sources said the employer in his statement alleged that Agboola often harassed the victim but does not believe that he could rape her.

At the hearing of the case, the prosecutor, Inspector Uche Simon, told the court that Agboola was the immediate boss of the victim, as he used his position to perpetrate the act.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The magistrate, Mr. Samuel Olori adjourned the case to January 15, 2016 for commencement of the trial.

The magistrate also granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000.

How we upgraded from phones thieves to full-time robbers—Suspects

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By Esther Onyegbula

AGOS—TWO suspected car snatchers, arrested by operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, attached to the Lagos State Police Command, have revealed how they graduated from snatching phones to car robbery.

The suspects Opeyemi Aregbeshola, 25; Bola Salami, 29; and Ogunleye Lateef, 35, were arrested after the operatives tracked a stolen vehicle to the abode of the receiver at AbuleEgba area of Lagos.

According to the police, the suspects attacked the victim (name withheld) and snatched his vehicle, unknown to them the vehicle had a tracking device.

When the victim alerted the Police, the vehicle was traced to the home of the receiver Ogunleye Lateef, where he was arrested. Subsequently, he assisted the operatives in arresting two other members of the gang namely; Opeyemi Aregbeshola and Bola Salami.

One of the suspects, Opeyemi Aregbeshola , said they had planned stealing the victim’s phones, but ended up stealing the car when out of fear the victim ran away leaving his car key. “My friend, Bola, hit him on his chest

and the victim, out of fear, ran away. He left the key there, so I drove the vehicle to the person whom I sold it to. This is the first time I have been involved in robbery.”

Aregbesola, who said he had not made good money from stealing phones, disclosed that he sold the stolen car for N400, 000.

Though, he had not received the money before he was arrested by the police.

“He hasn’t paid cash. He said he was going to pay the next day.

I was arrested when he called me the following day to collect my money.”

The second suspect, Bola Salami, also said that they have been stealing phones, adding that the car was the first they were stealing. “We don’t use gun to rob.

I specialise in stealing phones, this was the first time I am stealing vehicle. I was a driver before I went into robbery. I have been a

driver for about 14 years.

Sincerely, I have made money as a driver. It is the devil that led me into robbery. This is the first time, I am married with children.”

But, the suspected receiver, Ogunleye Lateef, who had been repairing stolen phones for one of the suspects, Aregbesola , disclosed that he never knew the stolen car had a tracker before agreeing to pay N400,000 for it.

NABBED: The suspects.

9 foreigners jailed 5 years for oil theft

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—JUSTICE Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, sentenced nine foreign citizens to five years imprisonment each after convicting them for stealing 3,423,097 metric tons of crude oil from Nigeria.

Five of the convicts are Filipinos while the other four are from Bangladesh.

The convicts were intercepted by the Nigerian Navy on March 27, 2015 while they were trying to take the stolen product loaded in their vessel, MT Asteris, out of the country.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Buba convicted them on four counts in relation to the crime and sentenced each of them to a jail term of five years with an option of N20 million.

Handing down the sentence, the judge said he was satisfied that the Economic and Financial C M Y K

Crimes Commission, which prosecuted the convicts, proved its case beyond reasonable doubts.

“The case of the prosecution is as clear as the daylight,” the judge held, adding that the failure of the convicts to supply the evidence that they had lawful permit to deal in crude oil further strengthened the prosecution’s case.

The judge said the evidence of the prosecution witnesses were not controverted.

He agreed with the PW5 who stated that the product was illegally sourced in Nigeria as “the Department of Petroleum Resources confirmed to the EFCC that MT Asteris was not lincensed to deal with crude oil in Nigeria.”

The judge further stated that it was the likes of the convicts that had made Nigeria a laughing stock in the eye of the world.

He said it was not right for

anyone to deprive the country the enjoyment of its natural resources through illegal means.

Duty to send strong signal

Justice Buba said the court has the duty to send a strong signal to Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike that the country has laws and the laws are enforceable.

“It is people like the convicts that have made Nigeria a laughing stock in the eyes of the world. The court must send a strong signal that Nigeria is a nation; not a nation of booty. It is not right for either Nigerians or foreign nationals to deny this country its God-given natural resources through illegal use.”

According to him, "this court hereby sentence each of the convicts to five years term of imprisonment on count one with effect from March 27, 2015 with an option of N5 million fine.”

He also sentenced them to five years each on counts two, three

and four or a fine of N5m for each count.

He held that,”All the sentences are to run concurrently but not the option of fine. In addition, the vessel, MT Asteris, and the cargo on board are forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“For purposes of clarity, each convict is to serve five years term of imprisonment with effect from 27 of March, 2015 or a fine of N20 million for all the four counts.”

The convicts who were convicted and jailed are Axel Joseph Gibo Jabone; MD Zahirul Islam; Juanito Camireno Infantado; Suarin Fernando Alave and Gatila Jaypee Gadayan.

Others are Islam Shahinul; Islam Rafiqul; Shaikh Shibli Nomany and Rolando Jose Comendador.

Security operatives nab 6 suspected robbers in Delta

By Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH—SECURITY operatives have arrested six suspected armed robbers at Ofagbe community, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State.

The armed robbers, it was gathered, were arrested at different locations on Sunday between the hours of 9 and 10p.m., after an attack on patients and medical personnel at the Ofagbe General hospital.

It was learned that a Youth Corp doctor was among those that were injured during the attack..

Sources said men of the community ’s vigilance team stormed the hospital after they were alerted by one of the patients in the hospital. ‘’When they sighted the vigilante men, the armed robbers fled the hospital and headed towards Ibrede community and the vigilante went after them after alerting members of the vigilante team in Ibrede. ‘’Three of the armed robbers were accosted and arrested by the Ibrede vigilante team.

On their way, a hunter told the Ofagbe vigilante members that some of the armed robbers were hiding in the bush along the Ofagbe-Ashaka Road. ‘’The vigilante men went into the bush in search of the robbers and in the process, three others were arrested, ‘’ a source who craved anonymity said.

He said two cut to size guns were recovered from the hoodlums while those arrested were handed over to the police at the Ozoro d i v i s i o n a l headquarters.

Effort to reach the Divisional Police Officer of the Ozoro division proved abortive at press time but a senior officer in the division confirmed the incident.

Vanguard, WEDNEESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 7

10 feared dead, 15 injured in Onitsha auto crash

Anxiety as Police recover 3 more female corpses in Lagos

By By Olasukanmi Akoni, Esther Onyegbula & Ufuoma Tiveruahor

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AGOS—FEAR has gripped residents of Anibaba Street in Ikorodu, Lagos State, following the discovery of three more mutilated female corpses in a canal in the area.

This came barely a week after six female mutilated corpses were dumped in the area by unknown persons. The corpses which were in various stages of decomposition were discovered by residents of the area in the early hours fuelling speculations that they may have been dumped around midnight.

Mutilated corpses

The six mutilated corpses were recovered between Thursday and Sunday morning beside Bugon Filling station and Water Corporation, Awolowo Way, Ikorodu. Reports said the first mutilated corpse was found on Thursday while five others were recovered on Sunday. Some of the bloated corpse were recovered headless while the breast and private parts of others were missing.

The latest three corpses were

said to also have been mutilated and badly decomposed while their vital parts were conspicuously missing.

It was gathered that the police and officials of Lagos State Government later evacuated the corpses to an unknown place.

Meanwhile, residents of Ikorodu are now living in fear following the renewed spate of mysterious killings in and around the area.

According to sources, a lifeless and mutilated body of a young girl was found in a nearby bush in Odogunyan area of Ikorodu at 4. 30 p.m., last Monday.

Two similar bodies

Also, another two similar bodies were recovered in the early hours of Tuesday, (yesterday). The bodies were said to have been recovered and taken away by men of the Lagos State Police Command.

Confirming the incidents, Director, Lagos State Environment Health Monitoring Unit, LSEHMU, Dr Enigbokan Olakunle, said the unit on Monday, recovered the mutilated body of a female which was later taken to the mortuary.

On the fresh bodies also recovered yesterday, Enigbokan

said LSEHMU was not informed about the corpses but the unit learned that the police recovered and later took the bodies away.

Also confirming the reports, leader of the popular vigilante group known as ‘Onyabo’ Chief Kamoru Bomabata said that one of the corpses, a female was found in a canal near two hotels, (name withheld).

It was learned that the hotel harbour girls of easy virtues called prostitutes with nude dance show every night which attracts both sexes to the hotel. While assuring that his group will step up monitoring of the area, Bombata warned residents to be vigilant and stay away from keeping late nights, especially the female folk.

Rise in kidnapping, ritual killing

Sources also said that in the last six months, kidnappings and ritual killing cases have been on the increase in Ikorodu and environs. Sequel to the discovery, residents of Atele in Anibaba area of Ikorodu had complained of the foul smell oozing from the area.

Also the body of an unidentified school girl was found at a canal in Ota-Ona area with some vital parts missing.

A resident, Umoru Adisa, who lives close to the scene at Water

Corporation, Awolowo way, Ikorodu, said: “We don’t know what is happening in this community again. This morning, the police recovered two extra bodies. Between last Sunday and today, they have recovered nine bodies.

Something is definitely fishy somewhere, as this is getting out of hand. The government needs to investigate this thoroughly because we don’t know what is happening any more.”

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By Nwabueze Okonkwo

NITSHA—NO fewer than 10 persons were feared dead, yesterday, while 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries at Asaba Park, Upper Iweka axis, Onitsha, Anambra State, when a truck rammed into commercial motorbike operators, hawkers and commuters.

The incident occured very close to the same spot where 69 persons were trapped and killed in fuel tanker fire on May 31, this year.

The victims, according to the source, were behind the Asaba park on the busy Onitsha/Asaba expressway carrying out their businesses outside the park since it had been fenced by the state government The source hinted that the driver of the vehicle was said to have lost control of the vehicle on descending the expressway fromtheArmybarracksaxiswhen he had a break failure and rammed into the victims.

The identities of some of the victimscouldnotbeimmediately ascertained as efforts were on to take the dead bodies to morgues and the injured to hospitals.

Contacted, the Fegge DivisionalPoliceofficer,Mr.Rabiu Garba, confirmed the accident, adding that it was not in his area but that of the DPO in-charge of Central Police Station.

Residents worry

Other residents expressed fear, urging government to put a stop to the mysterious killings and if possible, ban the “Oro” traditional rite in Ikorodu. A civil servant who resides in the area and work in Ikeja, who did not want his name in print lamented that restriction of movement by the “Oro” adherents often hinder their freedom of movement as well as affects the economy of the area and the state in general.

However, efforts to reach the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr . Steve Ayorinde, was unsuccessful, at press time,buthisHomeAffairscounterpart, AlhajiAbdulateefAbdulakeem,urged residents of the area to stay calm as government had put a d e q u a t e infrastructure and meninplacetoensure safety of life and property.Heinformed that the police command had commenced investigation into the killingswiththeaimof apprehending the suspects to face prosecution.

Gunmen kill Rivers varsity lecturer, son in Port Harcourt

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By Jimitota Onoyume O

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H A R C O U R T — RETURNING Officer in the March 28, House of Representatives election for Obio Akpor federal constituency in Rivers State, Dr Ebirien Fubara has been killed alongside his son at their residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Vanguard gathered that the sad incident occurred weekend. Meanwhile, when contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Muhammad said, the police was not aware of

the ugly development.

The late Fubara was appointed a Commissioner in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, by Governor Nyesom Wike.

It was gathered that the assassins, who stormed his Odili Road residence in Port Harcourt, first killed his second with a rod and then went for the father, clubbing him till he fell unconscious.

Thinking that he had passed on, the assassins fled. Dr Fubara according to reports gave up the ghost on Sunday at a hospital in Port Harcourt and his remains deposited in a morgue.

He was a senior lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University, Rivers State.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Senators shelve vacation as Buhari presents 2016 Budget, Tuesday

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA— PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will next Tuesday formally present the 2016 budget to the National Assembly for subsequent scrutiny and approval.

Vanguard gathered that the Senate went into an executive session, yesterday, to give President Buhari a soft landing to enable him present the budget to the Senators.

The closed door session became imperative because the Senators were to go on vacation tomorrow and they had to come to a compromise to allow the President present the budget next week Tuesday.

A source told Vanguard that

Senate President Bukola Saraki had to plead with other Senators to allow President Buhari to appear on Tuesday.

Some Senators were said to have argued that the President should come on Friday, but the Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, pleaded with the principal officers before the meeting that Friday was not feasible for the President to appear and present the budget.

According to the source, soon after the presentation of the 2016 Budget, the Senators will go on vacation for the Christmas and New Year holidays to return next year to consider the budget.

The source said: “We will not

go on vacation on Thursday because President Muhammadu Buhari has pleaded that he will present the 2016 Budget to the National Assembly next Tuesday and we have agreed and after receiving the budget, we will proceed for the holiday.”

The Federal Government had last week proposed a national budget of N6 trillion for 2016 fiscal year, allocating 30 percent of the budget to the capital expenditure.

Addressing journalists last week, Minister of National Planning and Budget, Udoma Udo Udoma, stated that in view of the current economic realities, the Federal Executive Council,

FEC, predicated the budget on $38 of barrel of crude oil as benchmark for the MTEF. Preparatory to the presentation of the budget, President Buhari had forwarded the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP to the National Assembly where he plans to scrap kerosene subsidy.

The document indicated that the present federal administration is to borrow N1.835.88 trillion to fund the 2016 budget which stands at N6.04 trillion just as it disclosed that so far, a total sum of N350.33 billion has been recovered from misappropriated funds.

Democracy has come to stay in Africa —Buhari As Osinbajo meets NAGGW, Imperial College, London delegations

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed happiness over the sustenance of democratic rule on the African continent.

The President stated this, Monday, at the inauguration of President Alpha Conde’s of Guinea Conakry for the second term in office.

Represented by his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, President Buhari said with the conduct of peaceful elections and transitions from one government to the other on the continent, it was clear that democracy has come of age in Africa.

“It shows that democracy has come of age in Africa. All over, you can see the demonstration of peaceful elections, peaceful transitions from one government to another,” the Vice President said in Conakry, Guinea at the inauguration of Prof. Alpha Conde’s second term in office.

Buhari, at the ceremony attended by several African presidents and leaders, also noted that peaceful elections were producing the right leaders in Africa.

This, he said “points to the fact that democratic elections in Africa could produce leadership in the right way,” stressing that “ we are seeing that everywhere in Africa.”

Congratulating the people on the success of the election, he also described President Conde as “a great leader, a person who has committed himself to developing his people; a leadership that focuses on

MEETING: From left, Country Manager, Mrs Bimbola Adesanmi; Excutive Director, Imperial College London, Lesley Drake and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a meeting with Ministers on School Feeding Programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. development of infrastructure and human capital”.

Making his remarks earlier at the inauguration, President Alpha Conde expressed willingness for greater bilateral cooperation with Nigeria while seeking more support and assistance for the new administration.

Other dignitaries from Nigeria who also witnessed the event in Conakry with Vice President Osinbajo included national leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, former federal ministers, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and Mr. Demola Seriki.

Osinbajo meets NAGGW,, Imperial College, London delegations

Meanwhile, the Vice President Osinbajo, yesterday, in Abuja stated that the problem of desertification in the north was “a very urgent, dangerous trend that we should attack with a lot of fervor.”

He spoke while receiving a delegation of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW, led by its Director-General, Mr Goni Ahmed.

While commending the agency ’s documentary presentation at the meeting, Osinbajo noted that “if we

allow decertification, poverty would worsen, and we would have ourselves to blame. So, we have to take the matter very seriously.”

Also at another meeting, the Vice President received a delegation from the Partnership for Child Development, PCD, Imperial College, United Kingdom.

Led by its Executive Director, Dr. Lesley Drake, the group is providing support to the Federal Government’s Homegrown School Feeding Programme considered to be an important component of the Buhari presidency’s social investment plans in the forthcoming 2016 budget.

Nigeria loses $248m, N3.558bn to waivers in 6 yrs —NPA

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA — THE Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, said yesterday, that the country lost $248,238,305 and N3.558 billion between 2009 and 2015 to indiscriminate waivers.

This is just as the House of Representatives Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways has expressed worry over what it described as executive interference by the immediate past administration that incapacitated the House from carrying out its legislative functions.

NPA in a document it presented to the House Committee chaired by Rep Patrick Asadu, stated: “As a result of the Federal Government’s approval for 50 per cent rebate to petroleum product vessels berthing at private jetties, NPA has waived $248,238,305.80 and N3,558,148,366.98 as amounts that would have accrued as revenue from 2009 to October 2015.”

But the Acting Managing Director of NPA, Hassan Bello, failed to comment on whether the process leading to the concession of the ports was satisfactory.

Bello told the committee that NPA generated N128.213 billion between January and September 2015 and that N5,806,822,000 was remitted to Consolidated Revenue Fund.

He also said the authority generated N162.184 billion in 2014 and that N11,023,350,000 was remitted to CRF; N154.580 billion generated in 2013, with N493,895,000 remitted to CRF; N140.251 billion in 2012 while N20,713,768,000 was remitted to CFR. He enumerated some of the challenges facing NPA to include funding of required infrastructure; cost of acquisition of land and compensation for future port development, lack of reliable power supply, bureaucracy in procurement process, encroachment on port lands and insecurity of the waterways.

The members of the committee had demanded to know the position of the authority in the area of declining revenue generation, status of NPA’s property in London; profile of concessionaires and concession agreements on ports and channels.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015—9

Army/Shiite clash: NHRC sets up probe As Army lodges petition against sect panel Iranian govt summons Nigerian Charge d’Affaire

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA — THE National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, yesterday, said it had constituted a Special Investigative Panel to probe circumstances that led to the bloody clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shiite Muslim sect.

The clash, which took place during the weekend, resulted in the instant death of seven persons, with 10 others seriously injured.

A statement by the commission, yesterday, said the panel was set up by the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, following a petition lodged against the Muslim sect by the Nigerian Army and “some concerned citizens.”

The statement signed on behalf of Prof. Angwe by Mr. Lambert Okpara said: “In setting the panel, Prof. Angwe stressed the need for all the parties in the dispute to sheath their swords and assured that the commission will get to the root of the matter “The Executive Secretary noted that the country is operating a democracy which demands that institutions must act within the ambit of the law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

“In a democracy, the rule of law is supreme and it is important that we continue to remind everyone about the need to respect each others’ right.”

Angwe said the commission will thoroughly investigate the incident with a view to coming up with a report that will not only address the current issues but also assist in preventing future occurrence.

The panel made up of top management staff in legal, investigations and monitoring departments of the NHRC is headed by Mr Tony Ojukwu, Director, Monitoring Department.

The petition

Army told the NHRC that Buratai was on his way from Dutse to pay homage to the Emir of Zazzau before proceeding to Depot NA passing out parade of 73 Regular Recruit Intake, when “heavily armed sect members numbering over 500 rushed out and barricaded the Zaria Polo/Golf Road in the vicinity of their supposed shrine.

“On noticing the high profile convoy they quickly used heavy stones, logs, tyres and bonfires to block the road. All entreaties to pacify and administration of warning to the sect fell on deaf ears.

“On the contrary, they became more emboldened and demanded martyrdom with gun shots and pelting of the convoy with whatever was available to them.

“This left immediate security personnel of Chief of Army Staff with no choice than to take necessary actions in line with NA rules of engagement to clear the attack and extricate the entire

EFCC accuses Akpobolokemi of laundering N34.5bn

By Soni Daniel

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BRIEFING: The GOC 1 Mechanised Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade (left) and Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Shehu, during a press conference on the attack on Chief of Army Staff by members of the Shiite sect in Zaria, Kaduna State. Photo: Olu Ajayi. convoy.

“An interim report by the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police vide HQ NACMP/GI/300/ 167 dated December 12, 2015, is enclosed.

“The sect demonstrated absolute defiance to reason, law and order before launching the attack. The Chief of Army Staff has instituted an investigation into the incident. Furthermore, the Shiite Muslims have been contacted nationwide to let them know that the NA is not against them but was forced to respond to the brutal attack by misguided elements among them. This is forwarded for your information and necessary action,” read the complaint letter signed by Colonel F. U. Mijinyawa for the Chief of Army Staff."

Sect armed with dangerous weapons

In the occurrence report attached to the petition, Army told the NHRC that the sect that attacked Buratai was armed with “dangerous weapons ranging from long swords, knives, daggers, sticks, iron rods to catapults.”

“A few of the group members

had started crawling in the over grown grasses by the roadside towards the COAS vehicle with the intent to attack the vehicle with petrol bomb.

“Subsequently, they suddenly resorted to firing gun shots from the direction of the mosque and hauling dangerous weapons towards the troops. Despite the troops firing warning shots, the El-ZakZakky’s group continued attempting to forge towards the troops.

“The troops immediately responded in line with the Rules of Engagement (ROE) as the life of the VIP (COAS) was seriously threatened.

“Sequel to the above, about seven of the members of the group were shot dead and the COAS directed that the 10 wounded be evacuated to the Depot NA Medical Centre for treatment while all exhibit items such as swords, knives, cell phones be recovered from the scene. They were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police.”

Iranian govt summons Nigerian Charge d’Affaires

Meanwhile, yesterday in Tehran, the Iranian government summoned the Nigerian Charge d’Affaires to protest the clashes between members of the Shia sect and the army.

Iran’s foreign ministry called the violence between the military and followers of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) “unacceptable,” the official ISNA news agency reported, yesterday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif had earlier contacted his Nigerian counterpart Geoffrey Onyeama to express his “deep concern” about Saturday’s events in the city of Zaria.

Meanwhile, the rights group, Amnesty International in Nigeria has demanded an immediate investigation of the deadly incident.

“While the final death toll is unclear, there is no doubt of that there has been a substantial loss of life at the hands of the military,” said M.K. Ibrahim, Director of Amnesty International, Nigeria.

BUJA— A DAY after he was re-arrested in front of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, slammed two separate charges on Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and others.

In one of the new charges filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Akpobolokemi faces 40 counts of fraud and money laundering to the tune of N34.5 billion.

In the second charge filed before a Lagos State High Court, Akpobolokemi is accused of stealing N600 million. Both charges are yet to be assigned even as the embattled former NIMASA chief battles to secure his release on bail, pending arraignment in court.

Sources at the EFCC disclosed that the commission had to re-arrest the former NIMASA boss following fresh evidence of fraud.

According to sources at the commission, Akpobolokemi’s arrest was on the strength of fresh evidence that he allegedly converted N11,737,854,485 and another N816,000,000 meant for the development of the temporary site of the proposed Nigeria Maritime University, Kurutie, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, for his personal use.

Court sacks PDP Acting Chairman, Secondus Gives him 14 days to vacate office

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA —THIS is not the best of times for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, yesterday, sacked its Acting National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus.

In a judgement, yesterday, Justice Hussein Baba ordered Secondus to vacate Chairmanship seat of the PDP within 14 days.

The court order followed a suit filed by the erstwhile Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak.

The court held that Secondus assumed the headship of the party through an illegitimate process.

Justice Baba agreed with the plaintiff that the position of the Acting National Chairman of the PDP was originally zoned to the North-East geo-political zone of the country and, therefore, cannot be occupied by Secondus.

The court directed Secondus to within the next two weeks, hand over the leadership of the party to the plaintiff or any other member of the PDP from the North-East, who is worthy to pilot the affairs of the party in an acting capacity.

Gulak had in his suit, challenged the emergence of Chief Secondus as the interim leader of the party.

He prayed the court to sack the defendant, contending that by the provision of the PDP constitution and its zoning

principle, he (Gulak), was the proper person to replace the last Chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu, who hailed from the North East geopolitical zone.

Gulak, through his lawyer, Mr. Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, urged the court to dismiss preliminary objections both the PDP and Secondus filed against his suit.

The defendants had challenged the competence of the suit, even as they queried the locus standi of the plaintiff to file same.

The defendants equally challenged the jurisdiction of the high court to meddle in the domestic affairs of a political party.

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 , 2015

Lagos to collaborate with US on education, others

By Ebun Sessou

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AGOS—SPEAKER, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa has expressed the willingness of the Assembly to collaborate with the United States of America, USA in all areas.

In his speech during the courtesy visit of the Senator representing Metropolitan Atlanta’s 35th District of Georgia, Senator Donzella James, Obasa said Nigeria has a lot to learn from the US. According to him, “We believe in participatory democracy in Nigeria and freedom of speech is recognised in our country.

We are ready to work with you in all areas and we will continue to visit your country and ensure that the relationship between Nigeria and America is strengthened,” he said.

Earlier in her address, Senator Donzella James, who is a member of the US Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism as well as Education/Youth Committee revealed that she has been to Nigeria on many occasions and that she has hosted many lawmakers from Nigeria in the United States.

Pa Emereuwa is dead

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HE death of Pa John Chiaka Emereuwa of Umuosoko, Awomukwu-Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, who died on November 6, 2015, aged 73, has been announced.

Service of Songs at his Lagos residence, 11, Ayoolawe Street, Ewutuntun, Oshodi, is on December 15; Service of Songs at his home town in Abia State, is on December 28, while his body leaves Amapu Mortuary for Lying-in State at his ancestral home on December 29. He is survived by children, grand-children and relatives.

Pa Emereuwa C M Y K

SECURITY FUND: Ambode, assures Lagosians at town hall meeting •Lagos records 220 murder, 25 kidnap cases in 11 months — CP

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday assured Lagosians of his determination to judiciously utilize the resources garnered from the people for the overall well-being of the State Ambode restated his commitment at the ninth Town Hall Meeting on Security put together by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund,

LSSTF, with the theme: “Refreshing Our Security Model”.

The Governor said the town hall meeting was put together as part of efforts to continually create a platform for generation of ideas and solutions to confront security challenges facing the State, and to reassure the security agencies of the commitment of government to ensure their success.

While explaining that the N4.8 billion recently used to equip the police came from tax payers,

Governor Ambode said that under his administration, such funds generated from the public will be accounted for and utilised to safeguard the lives of those who have chosen the state as home.

On his part, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni thanked Governor Ambode for the equipment donated to the police, adding that the command had been

TOWN HALL MEETING: From left: Mr. Tunji Bello, Secretary to State Government; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Alhaji Musliu Smith, former Inspector General of Police; Mr. Oye HassanOdukale, Chairman, Board of trustees, Lagos State Security Trust Fund; Dr. Oluranti Adebule, deputy governor of Lagos State; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Dr. Abdurrasaq Balogun, Executive secretary/CEO, Lagos State SecurityTrust Fund, during the 9th town hall meeting on security at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, yesterday. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

challenged and motivated by the gesture to do more.

The Lagos State Police Command according to the CP recorded at least 220 murder, 44 armed robbery and 25 kidnap cases as well as recovered 233 stolen vehicles and items worth N1.4 billion between January and November 2015.

While reeling out the statistics of the crimes perpetrated across the state within the period under review, Owoseni said there was improvement in response time to distress calls, dominance of security space and intense investigation as well as detection of crime based in the state.

He lamented that the most prevalent crime in the state was murder, saying; “220 cases were recorded between January and November 2015 and a large number of the cases were occasioned by cult clashes and street fights.”

Owoseni noted that 27 of the cases were recorded in January while 15, representing the lowest, were recorded in March.

A brief breakdown of the crime scenes in the state showed that 26 of the cases were recorded within Area C, Surulere, followed by Area N, Ijede in Ikorodu with 25 cases.

Phase3 to celebrate clients Amaechi lauds introduction of e-clearance for flights today

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

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AGOS—THE Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi yesterday commended the aviation agencies, namely Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA and Nigeria Airspace Management Authority, NAMA, for introducing electronic clearance system for flights at the airports.

Amaechi stated this when he toured the facilities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos, in company of the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Saleh Dunoma and other aviation helmsmen.

The e-clearance system enables NAMA to identify all incoming flights and record them in real time using their tail numbers as well as recording the time they depart the Nigerian airspace.

Before the introduction of eclearance, flight clearance were processed manually, a process that has not been very effective.

The minister praised the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, the Nigerian Civil Aviation

Authority, NCAA, and the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, for prudent management of resources.

Amaechi explained that so far, the agencies’ Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, with the little amount of money they generate, have been prudent with the acquisition of safety equipment,

which had improved safety and security at airports, unlike some government parastatals in the country.

Amaechi and other dignitaries were shown graphic details of how the agencies, NAMA and NCAA process eclearance for airlines, which is done seamlessly.

BANK DEBT: Court rules on contempt suit Jan 15 the group.

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, heard a contempt charge filed against Ecobank Nigeria Limited by Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Anchorage Leisures Limited and Siloam Global Services Limited. It also adjourned till January 15, 2016 to rule on the suit.

Honeywell and its sister companies accused the bank of disobeying an earlier directive by the court that all parties should maintain status ante-bellum.

They sued Ecobank over disagreements regarding an alleged debt owed the bank by

But Ecobank’s lawyer Mr Kunle Ogunba, SAN, said the contempt proceedings was a bid to harass and intimidate the bank.

“They are stifling our existence by holding our money. My Lord cannot stifle our right to approach these courts,” he said.

Ogunba said if Ecobank had not sued, it would have been caught by the statute of limitation, adding that it would not sit and watch while it was owed “so much.”

Justice Mohammed Idris had on August 10 made an order of interim injunction restraining the bank from publishing the plaintiffs’ name as debtors.

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EST Africa’s largest independent fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications service provider, Phase3 will today mark its 12th year of excellence service in honour of its clients, stakeholders, family and friends at its grand 2nd Annual Christmas Carol and Dinner at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

With an impressive list of dignitaries, stakeholders and well wishers set to attend; the threehour event themed, “12 Seasons of Grace” will showcase outstanding performances from the nation’s finest carol singers and instrumentalists, side attractions, gift presentations, dinner and dance reception, according to a company’s spokesperson.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Stanley Jegede, maintained that the event “is an acknowledgement of God’s unquantifiable blessings to us at Phase3 including several network wins and awards; the incredible patronage of our clients who have chosen to stick by us through the years; the immeasurable commendation we continue to enjoy from industry stakeholders and the remarkable support of our families.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 11

Senate orders reinstatement of policeman suspended for 21 years

YULETIDE: Ondo labour leaders demand unpaid wages

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

By Dayo Johnson

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BUJA—THE Senate yesterday ordered the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase to, a matter of urgency reinstate, promote and pay all areas due to Sergeant Amos Olaniyan, who was verbally suspended from the Nigerian Police Force 21 years ago.

According to the Senate, the IGP must ensure that Olaniyan was fully re-integrated into the Police Force with a letter of reinstatement and apology, even as he said all his dues including promotions and entitlements be fully paid.

These resolutions were sequel to a petition presented by Senator Solomon Adeola from Lagos West on behalf of one of his constituents, Amos Olaniyan on October 6, 2015.

The petition was subsequently forwarded to the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and the Committee in the presentation of its report yesterday raised the two recommendations that were adopted by the Senators.

Adeola, while presenting the petition said Olaniyan was verbally suspended in 1994 on a

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CONCERT: From left; Director, MUSON School of Music, Mrs Marion Akpata; Deputy Director, MUSON School of Music, Mrs Edna Soyannwo; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma; Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro; Director, MTN Foundation, Mrs Aishatu Sadauki; and Lagos Zonal Control Manager, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Aninweke Okechukwu at the Donors’ Appreciation Concert organized in honour of MTN Foundation by MUSON School of Music, Lagos. baseless allegation of bribery from which an Orderly Room Trial discharged and acquitted him but the Police refused to recall him even as he was in possession of his identity card and uniform.

Reacting to the findings and resolution of the Senate, Senator Adeola, expressed joy that at last, justice has been done to his constituent who had suffered for 21 years without any redress,

added that he will always fight for the interest of all his constituents and Nigerians.

He said; “I was greatly disturbed when I saw his petition as I did not believe this could happen to any citizen of Nigeria.

“This was after he had written petitions to previous Inspector Generals of Police and the Police Service Commission and even late President

Umaru Yar’adua to no avail.”

In his remarks, Senate President Bukola Saraki, who noted that Nigerians who cannot afford legal fees should seek redress at the Senate, stressed that the Senate Police Affairs Committee would ensure compliance with the resolution and others and report back to the upper chambers in two weeks.

Why pensioners gratuities will delay — AMOSUN

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U T A — GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State yesterday, said the pensioners in the state may have the payment of their gratuities delayed due to the dwindling allocation from the Federal Government to the states.

APOLOGY

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N the Vanguard of Wednesday edition of November 23, 2011 on Page 9, we published a news item titled ‘N350M APC SAGA: AMOSUN ACCUSES DANIEL OF STEALING N87B’ in which some unpleasant statements and insinuations were made concerning the person of His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State. We have since discovered the said report to be false and hereby retract the publication.

We apologize to His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and regret the inconvenience the said publication may have caused. Once again sir, accept our apology.

— EDITOR. C M Y K

Amosun stated this at his Oke Mosan office when he met with the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ogun State chapter executives and some members.

According to governor Amosun, the meeting with the leaders of the pensioners was based on media reports that the governor owed them pension and gratuities

running into many months.

He explained that he had gone the extra mile to ensure that they (pensioners) got their monthly pension, adding that, though he had not been able to offset all their gratuities due to the dwindling allocation to the state from the Federal Government.

The governor said no bank

would lend any governor money to pay gratuities, because there “is nothing in it for them.”

Earlier, the chairman of the NUP, Ogun State chapter, Chief Kessington Odukoya, and other executive members begged the governor to increase their monthly pension since some of them still get below N5,000.

Fayose urges Buhari to stop political vendetta

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

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DO EKITI— GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to throw in the towel if he has no solution to the myriads of problems confronting the nation, saying “what President Buhari promised us is change and he

should resign if he has no clues to all these problems.”

Fayose, who advised Buhari to also keep to his election campaign promise of providing about three million jobs annually, added that it would be unfair to the people of this nation to sack anybody under any guise or fail to resolve all issues affecting the populace.

The governor described as inhuman and wicked, the plan by the President to remove the petroleum subsidy and jack up the pump price to N97, saying “This is not the change Nigerians voted for. President Buhari must fulfill all his electoral promises to the people.

Enough of these flimsy excuses,” he said.

KURE—LESS than 10 days to Christmas, workers in Ondo State have demanded from the state government the payment of all arrears of salaries and leave allowances to enable them celebrate the Yuletide.

They lamented that the nonpayment of their salaries has turned them to beggars and chronic debtors.

The workers under the umbrella of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in the state made the demand in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the union, Comrade Ekundayo Soladoye and Fatuase Clement respectively in Akure.

They appealed to the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to consider the payment of the salaries to allow the state workers celebrate Christmas with their families.

The union lamented that the state government is not sensitive to their plight, noting that the state workers have been turned to “beggars and chronic debtors following the non payment of our salaries”

Suspected cultists invade Lagos school

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—SUSPECTED cultists, yesterday, invaded Obele Senior Community School, Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State and wounded several students and teachers.

The cultists, suspected to be former students of the school were reportedly armed with dangerous weapons. They stormed the school around 2.45pm and succeeded in breaking into the premises, after which they inflicted varying degrees of injuries on both the staff and students of the school.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Edo 2016: APC gov aspirant warns against imposition of candidate

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—AHEAD of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Casley Omon- Irabor, has warned that his party would be thrown into a terrible crisis if Governor Adams Oshiomhole goes ahead to support a particular aspirant at the expense of free and fair governorship primaries.

Omon- Irabor was reacting to a recent report that there was tension in the state chapter of the APC, following the governor's alleged support for Mr. Godwin Obaseki, an aspirant in the governorship race.

The Warri activist and legal practitioner, who spoke in Benin, yesterday, while receiving an award from a non-governmental organization, The Achievers, said: “I hope Governor Oshiomhole was not quoted right when he said that all those who are aspirants to the governorship ticket on the platform of APC should go home because he had given it to Godwin Obaseki. If what the paper reported is true, then they are looking for trouble that they cannot carry.

“They should be prepared for war because this is democracy where one man cannot dictate to others. If it is true that Aliko Dangote has already told the governor of his interest in the Edo State governorship race, let me tell them that they cannot buy over

the state.

“Let me warn the governor to learn from Delta State where a former governor tried to impose a governorship candidate on the state. Not only did he lose the governorship, he lost the senatorial ticket too. If we repeat that here, there will be no election, we will be in court, in the streets and we will fight to the last man.”

However, Governor Adams

Oshiomhole, while presenting the state's 2016 budget to the House of Assembly on Monday dismissed the report on the alleged tension in the state saying that the state was the most peaceful in the geopolitical zone.

A statement by a Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, said, “The reported heightened tension in the state over alleged

endorsement of a governorship aspirant in the 2016 election cannot cause tension in the state or in the APC. “Where is the tension in the party? What are the indicators of the reported heightened tension? Who is tensed up in the party? What type of tension? You see, let’s be careful what we report so as not to plunge this state or this country into another avoidable crisis."

COMMISSIONING: L-r: Special Adviser to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Education Monitoring, Mr. Udeme Isaac Udofia; General Manager, Technical Geoscience, ExxonMobil, Mr. Mike Udoh; Vice Chancellor, Akwa Ibom State University, Prof. Eno James Ibanga and the traditional ruler of Ikot Akpaden, Edidem Akpan Akpan Ekpene, during the official opening of a N300 million Geoscience workroom donated to the School by ExxonMobil.

I didn't receive N100m from Yuguda —Odili F

ORMER governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, has denied reports that a former Minister of State for Finance, Mr Bashir Yuguda, gave him N100 million out of the money collected from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

In a statement yesterday, Dr Odili said he never had any dealings with the former National Security Adviser or Mr Yuguda, so the issue of collecting N100 million does not arise.

He explained: “As part of preparations towards the 2015 election, the PDP set up contact and mobilisation committees across the six geo- political zones and I was appointed the Chairman of the South-South mobilisation committee.

“Consequent upon this, the party, not the former NSA or Yuguda, gave the South-South Committee, through me, the sum of N100 million along with other zonal Chairmen, at the house of the National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu'azu, for the assignment. This amount was subsequently disbursed to the relevant party members from the zone for the assignment given by the party. I have the appointment

letter and terms of reference, minutes of all the meetings, signatures of all the members and the report of the zonal committee, which was duly submitted to the Party Leader.

“I reiterate for the purpose of emphasis, that I had no dealings with the former NSA, neither did I collect any money from

Yuguda. I challenge anyone who has any contrary evidence to produce it.

“I decided to personally sign this rebuttal because over the years, I had ignored various spurious and patently false reports against me because I knew that at the fullness of time, the truth would surely prevail.

“I would have similarly ignored this recent falsehood attributed to Mr Yuguda but for the fact that the uninformed are beginning to latch on this longheld false and tendentious narrative, hence my decision to rebut this with all vehemence.”

Appeal Court sacks Akwa Ibom House Speaker

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HE Court of Appeal in Abuja, yesterday, nullified the election of the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Aniekan Uko, for non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. The appellate court panel of three Justices presided over by Justice Moshood OredolaAbdulrahman, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh election in the state constituency - Ibesikpo-Asutan.

The court, which upheld the earlier decision of the Legislative House Election Petitions Tribunal for Akwa Ibom, said Uko, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was not validly

elected in the April 11 election.

It held that the election tribunal which sat in Abuja was right in nullifying the election of Uko on the basis of electoral violence and malpractices.

After the judgment, Uko said he accepted the decision of the court in good faith.

He said he would go back to the field to prepare for the rerun election.

I collected money from Jonathan for unnamed job —Metuh

By Henry Umoru

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B U JA — N AT I O N A L Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, admitted yesterday that he collected some money from former President Goodluck Jonathan to handle a job, just as he did not mention the nature of the job that was given to him and how

much was involved.

Addressing journalists yesterday, Metuh cried out that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government has concluded plans to “silence” him.

He said, “In the last seven months, as opposition spokesperson, I have been hounded, harassed, intimidated and threatened severally."

Ransome-Kuti petitions Defence Minister over conviction by Court-Martial

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RIG-GENERAL E. A. Ransome-Kuti has petitioned the Minister of Defence, alleging that other alleged subordinate officers in the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF, charged and tried alongside with him for the same offences were discharged and acquitted, whereas he was unreasonably convicted by the Special Court-Martial.

Mr Femi Falana, SAN, counsel to General Ransome-Kuti, in the petition, said: “We want to observe that the conviction and sentence passed on our client by the SCM are fundamentally wrong, unjust and illogical because the discharge and acquittal of our client on the charge of cowardly behaviour which was the tripod on which the charge of failure to perform military duty and miscellaneous offences relating to property rested, ought to have brought the whole trial to an end.

“This is because it was the dislodgement of MNJTF from Baga, Borno State, that brought the two charges of failure to perform military duty and miscellaneous offences relating to property to life. It is therefore our contention that the court having ruled that the withdrawal from Baga was legally justified, ought to have discharged and acquitted our client on the remaining charges as well.

“The obvious fact is that if troops had not withdrawn from Baga, no service property would have been abandoned and the allegation of failure to perform military duty by failing to co-ordinate troops and assets of HQ MNJTF to repel the Boko Haram terrorists attack on HQ MNJTF would not have arisen.

“It was very clear from the preponderance of evidence adduced during the trial by the prosecution and defence witnesses that HQ MNJTF Baga lacked adequate weapons to repel the attack.

Thus, the abandonment of the location after a fierce resistance by troops for several hours before their eventual withdrawal was not intentional. It was a decision taken when it became obvious that no further efforts could prevent the place from falling."

Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015—13

IYC flays alleged manhandling of ex-NIMASA boss by security operatives Kicks against alleged harassment of Tompolo

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—THE Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, yesterday, condemned the alleged manhandling of the former Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the premises of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

It also expressed concern over the alleged harassment of Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Topolo, saying, “We also call on the EFCC to have a rethink on its ill-advised invitation of Chief Ekpemupolo and the threat to declare him wanted. The IYC strongly feels that such politically motivated actions of the anticorruption agency would only succeed in heating up the polity and causing unrest in the Niger Delta region.”

The IYC also accused the President Mohammadu Buhariled Federal Government of alleged selective persecution of political enemies.

President of the IYC, Udengs Eradiri, in an interview in Yenagoa, lamented the treatment allegedly meted to the former NIMASA boss, describing the conduct of the security operatives as reminiscent of the military era.

He said: “It is the height of impunity which must be condemned by all lovers of democracy. We condemn in strong terms, the aggressive and oppressive tendencies of the security agencies against Niger Delta people and those who served in the last administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The conduct of the EFCC operatives in physically beating up and throwing Akpoboloukemi into their vehicle clearly shows that the Buhariled government is not fighting corruption but persecution of political enemies.”

He said though the IYC was not against the fight against corruption, it must be done within the ambit of the law,

respect for human rights and be all inclusive.

“What is presently playing out is selective and vindictive attack on political enemies and this must be rejected and condemned by all. We wish to warn that harassment of political enemies would not in any way aid the success of the Buhari administration's anti-corruption crusade but would only lead to

A

S A B A — GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, yesterday, said that the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, was at the vanguard of preparing Nigeria's youths, who will guarantee better future for the country.

Okowa, at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for 2015 batch ‘B’ stream 11 corps members at Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, said that the components of the orientation course would have exposed the corps members to a variety of skills, knowledge and experience that will equip them sufficiently to succeed in their future endeavours.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Festus Agas, said: “It is

C M Y K

heart warming to note that you responded to the dictates of the course with every sense of commitment and responsibility. The orientation course you have undergone lays the foundation for the other cardinal programmes of the scheme.”

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, said he asked the immediate past Head of Service of the State, Mr. Jerry Obazele, to proceed on compulsory retirement over gross negligence tending towards fraud.

Speaking during the swearing-in of the New Head of Service of the state, the Government House, Benin City, Oshiomhole said: “I am a defender of jobs. I believe experience is a value to be

Okowa told employers of labour not to reject corps members posted to their establishments but rather create the enabling environment for the young Nigerians to deliver the best stewardship that is capable of accelerating the development of the state.

Delta Dep Speaker congratulates Olu of Warri

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EPUTY Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Friday Osanebi, has congratulated His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, on his coronation as the 20th Olu of Warri.

Osanebi, in a statement, said the choice of Ogiame Ikenwoli to ascend the throne as the 20th Olu of Warri, venerates the deep wisdom, courage and resourcefulness

of the offenses, rather than harassing and intimidating and unlawful arrests.

“We are not against the fight against corruption. If you serve in public office, you must be accountable to the people and we will never as an institution support anybody who uses public office to steal public funds even as IYC is not justifying crimes, but it’s contents,” he said.

Why I removed Head of Service, by Oshiomhole

NYSC prepares youths for Nigeria’s future —Okowa

By Festus Ahon

its derailment.”

He warned that the continued arrest of these personalities could trigger instability in the region, urging President Buhari to ensure that due process was followed in handling corruption charges.

He called on the Federal Government to allow the court to prove any suspects connected in the corruption charges guilty

which the throne of the Olu of Warri is widely acknowledged for.

Osanebi urged the new Olu to dedicate himself to building on and surpassing the worthy legacies of his muchacclaimed predecessor, Ogiame Atuwatse II, by committing himself to carrying his subjects along to a new era of peace, stability and progress in Itsekiriland, Delta State and Nigeria as a whole.

celebrated, not to be punished.

But I have had to arrive at the painful conclusion that Obazele had to be relieved of his services because not only did he fail to provide leadership, he also conducted himself in a way that would have led me to approve a fraudulent claim for pensioners.

“He was appointed according to my judgment and I accept responsibility for my poor sense of judgment but I also have the courage to correct my mistake once I discovered it was a mistake.

“The responsibility of a Head

of Service is to be a superintendent over the civil service. There are many of our senior citizens who had retired from service from as far back as 1999, some even under the military and by the time I assumed office, many of these senior citizens had not received their gratuity for over a period of 12 or 13 years. The situation was compounded by the thousands of workers that were retrenched by a former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government between 2000 and 2001 and all of those people were not paid their gratuities."

14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 , 2015

FG approves commencement of Port Harcourt-Aba mass transit rail service

By Jonah Nwokpoku

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AGOS—THE F e d e r a l Government has approved the commencement of Port Harcourt to Aba mass transit train service.

The minister of transport, Chibuike Amaechi gave the approval, Monday during his visit to the Nigerian Railway Corporation headquarters in Lagos.

Amaechi will on Wednesday, December, 16 2015 officially flag-off the service in Port Harcourt and is expected to run four trips daily, from Monday to Saturday.

speaking during the visit, the minister said the federal government is interested in the development of the railway and that its priority in the sector would be construction of standard gauge rail lines.

He said: “The federal government is heavily interested in the railways.

We will focus on the standard gauge. It is critical that Nigeria is seen as one of the countries that use standard gauge. I think we have a problem, many people do not believe that the railway is functioning.

Up until I started this tour, I did not have an idea that

there are rail services going to Kano and all other places. I did not know that there were train services outside Lagos. ''So there is need for people to be aware that the narrow gauge is still functioning. At the moment, it takes between one to three days to travel from Lagos to Kano and that is not what the government wants. That is why the federal government has to emphasise the need to construct the standard gauge which is faster.”

On his part, the Managing Director, NRC, Engr.Adeseyi Sijuade said: “Railways in Nigeria has been in comatose for decades but is now back on

track and on its way to attaining greater heights.

Following progress made on the ongoing rehabilitation projects, Nigerian Railway Corporation now operates mass transit trains,intercity passenger trains, cargo trains, excursion trains and

specialised chartered trains all over the country. ''We are equally optimistic of commencing the movement of petroleum products from Lagos up North soonest to further strengthen railway relevance to the economic growth of Nigeria.”

The minister toured some of the railway facilities including: The newly-acquired $10.3 billion operational control centre; Carriage and wagon workshop; Loco diesel workshop; Loco running shed and the Iddo terminus.

CRUDE THEFT: Kachikwu’s war yields result, 20 vandals arrested

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HE war against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalization by the Minister of State for Petroleum and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has led to the arrest of 20 suspects.

The suspects were

arrested by a combined team of Nigerian Navy, the Army and other Security agencies collaborating with the NNPC/PPMC to monitor and patrol the pipelines.

According to the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, the suspects were

China-Nigeria boost cultural ties with film festival

By Japhet Alakam

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AGOS—THE C h i n e s e government has promised to partner with Nigeria government in the area of film production and promotion. This was disclosed by Chinese Consul General, Mr Liu Kan, yesterday in Lagos during an interaction with media men about the forthcoming Chinese film festival scheduled to take place in Lagos on Friday and Saturday at Hall 2, Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island.

The film festival consists of opening reception and film show. It will showcase the wonderful Chinese films that will enable the audience get a better knowledge of their Chinese history and culture, development as well as Chinese local customs and practices.

Mr Liu Kan,who stated that China and Nigeria are countries with long history and splendid cultures said “China-Nigeria cooperation in all fields is developing C M Y K

steadily, and cultural industry, film industry will be a new area of cooperation we can develop.”

The film festival according to the Consul Genral is in line with an earlier declaration by the Chinese President Mr Xi Jinping at the 6th Forum on ChinaAfrica cooperation held in Johannesburg, that China will broaden and deepen the all-round cooperation between China and Africa, and that China-Africa cooperation should not only be driven by economic and trade relations, but also by cultural exchanges.

Mr Liu Kan further stated that the film festival which is the first time China will be holding such cultural exchange in Lagos will enable the two countries to understand their different cultures.

On the possibility of cooperation between Chinese and African film industries, Mr Liu Kan stated that the cooperation between Chinese and African film industries has broad prospects.

intercepted by patrol team between the Atlas Cove and Mosimi depot.

The PPMC said the 20man syndicate was specifically smashed at the Ilado/Ilase Pipelline axis.

The PPMC said: “In line with the directives of Mr. President to ensure zero tolerance against crude oil theft and pipeline vandals, the measures put in place

by Kachikwu have started achieving positive results.

“Between the Atlas Cove and Mosimi depot, a team of Nigerian Navy, the Army and other Security agencies collaborating with the NNPC/PPMC apprehended a 20-man syndicate group which included a woman.

“These are notorious members of gang engaging in pipeline vandalization and product theft along the Ilado/Ilase pipeline axis.

“Also confiscated from the vandals are 2 Hilux trucks, with thousands of jerry cans filled with petroleum products, equipment and several generators.

“The suspected vandals have been taken into custody at the Nigerian Naval Base, Western Command, Apapa and are awaiting further interrogation.

On her part, the Managing Director of PPMC, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, said the agency in the last two weeks had recorded a lot of success along the Atlas Cove and Mosimi axis of the pipeline with renewed collaboration with security agencies.

OPENING: From right; All Progressives Congress, APC Lagos State Chairman, Otunba Henry Ajomale; Mr. Emmanuel Avielele, Group head, Retail Banking, Union bank; and Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Abdullateef at a Union Bank Opening in Ikeja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015—15

No tax receipt, no admission of pupils, students

—Abia govt

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Government said henceforth, pupils and students in both public and private primary and secondary schools would be not admitted unless they produce tax receipt of their parents.

The state Commissioner for Information, Bonie Iwuoha who announced this explained that it was the decision of the State Executive Council.

The government also directed all private and public schools to introduce skill acquisition studies in their curricula, saying it would help students develop their talents.

According to Iwuoha, the policy would also apply to returning pupils and students in January.

Iwuoha further announced that the government had also directed its ministries and agencies to henceforth, stop appointing revenue agents for the collection of revenue, warning that any agency that flouts the directive would be sanctioned.

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OBOSI CRISIS PANEL: I'm not a cultist,

traditional ruler testifies

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI —THE traditional ruler of Obosi in Idemili Nort Local Government Area of

Anambra State, HRH Igwe Chukwudubem 111 of Obosi, has told the Obosi Community Administrative Panel of Inquiry into the Obosi community crisis,

sitting in Awka, the state capital that he was not a cultist, neither was he involved in cultism.

Testifying before the panel, while led by his counsel, Chief

Anambra to employ 5,000 rice workers

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—ANAMBRA State Government says it will soon employ about 5,000 rice workers in its farms located across the state.

Governor Willie Obiano said during a town hall meeting with stakeholders of the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance,

APGA, in Awka South Local Government Area of the state, yesterday that it was in fulfilment of his campaign promises to create job opportunities for the youths of the state, as well as invest massively in agriculture.

He said that in the next few months, the state would not only have enough rice for domestic consumption, but would export

the product, adding that there was already a cluster of investors in the state for rice production.

“We are just counting days when we shall export Anambra rice,” the governor said, adding that his administration had exceeded his campaign promise of attracting N2 billion investments yearly to the state.

Yemisi Alatise, elected Int'l Inner Wheel President

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RS. OLUYEMISI Alatise has been elected unopposed the first African International Inner Wheel President for the year 2016/2017.

She was elected by over 3,500 clubs in 100 countries of Inner Wheel world-wide.

Yemisi joined Inner Wheel Club of Lagos in 1978. As President of the Club in Lagos, she initiated the Children’s Transit Centre for Lost but Found Children at IdiAraba (the home currently houses over 60 children with an average of 15 children turn-over).

She became the District

Chairman in 1995/1996 when the foundation of the Vocational Training Centre for District 911 was laid. The Training Centre was commissioned by the International Inner Wheel president.

She was elected the National Representative/President for National Governing Board of Inner Wheel Clubs in Nigeria in 2008/2009 after serving at various executive positions.

Oluyemisi was elected a Board Director in 2010/2011, and elevated Vice President in 2014/ 15. She will assume the mantle

of the Club for 2016/2017.

Yemisi made her mark internationally through her activities in Inner Wheel Nigeria and in other countries.

Mrs. Yemisi Alatise

Ositadinma Nnadi, SAN, the traditional ruler explained that he was not involved in any activity or faction of Adike Peace Foundation, APF, and that he did own a hotel or joint were cocaine was sold or any illicit drug or hard drugs were sold or smoked.

The Igwe submitted a memo to the panel, entitled, 'Chronicles of Atrocities Committed by Adike Peace Foundation, APF, Obosi,' which was tendered and marked as exhibited 30, including petitions to Inspector General of Police, the state Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Government and other security agencies to assist in wiping out armed robbery, kidnapping, cults, gangsters, seizure of lands of families, which were sold, killing and maiming of people, as well as burning down of his fast food restaurant, all by the APF. He recalled a personal encounter with APF in 2010 during which he put up a fight against the group, when he was yet to be made the traditional ruler, with support of prominent citizens of Obosi and the victims who were brutalized, terrorized and humiliated who he led to meet the Anambra State Government before the government banned APF.

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 17

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S we know, the very con cept of corruption in Nigeria is contested. I’m surprised no one has thought of making “yam and goat” t-shirts or bumper stickers.

I recently read an article by Susan Rose-Ackerman, an American political scientist in which she writes that to defeat corruption, one must analyse and understand the link between state and society in a given country.

I was reminded of Peter Ekeh’s landmark essay “colonialism and the two publics in Africa” where he argues that colonisation created two publics in African countries, that is one “primordial public realm” where ties to groups, sentiments (often ethnic or religious) influence public behaviour.

Within this realm, culture, traditions are often the basis of morality and behaviour.

The “civic public realm”, in contrast, inherited from colonisation, is comprised of institutions with no real anchoring in the “primordial public realm”, i.e they do not necessarily correspond to our pre-colonisation beliefs or ways. The military, the civil service, the media, the police or the professionalisation of politics, are institutions and ideas which are not based on pre-colonial structures.

Interestingly, the “civic public realm”, unlike pre-colonial African constructs, has no real moral arrangement or generalised code of conduct that is efficiently sanctioned upon any breach. “Most educated Africans are citizens of two publics in the same society. On the one hand, they belong to a civic public from which they gain materially but to which they give only grudgingly.

On the other hand, they belong to a primordial public from which they derive little or no material benefits but to which they are expected to give generously and do give materially.

Colonial masters'standby Their relationship to the primordial public is moral, while that to the civic public is amoral.”

Therein lies the problem: the typical politician (or business person) believes he owes more to his village and to his “people” than to the general population or to the common good. To this one must add that the crop of leaders who came to power when African countries gained independence were often their colonial master’s standbys.

Having worked for the British or the French, many of the new African elite were in a prime position to inherit property, land, power or position from their former masters. So there was never, at any time in our modern politics or development, a level playing field where those competing for prosperity were distinguished by their talents and ideas: all that mattered was proximity to the colonials.

In truth, most of Africa’s postindependence leaders had little legitimacy outside colonisation. In today’s Nigeria, we have simply continued this trend, with proximity to a government official, as the arms scandal proves, being worth its weight in gold.

“Pervasive corruption

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Who do you owe allegiance to: Corruption vs the common good

President Muhammadu Buhari: Waging war against corruption undermines the competence, fairness, and democratic legitimacy of the modern state”, says RoseAckerman and it has been this way from the very beginning as Africans struggle between the discordant primordial and civic publics, which has made corruption part of Nigerian social interaction.

Indeed, social interactions in Nigeria are personal, subjective, peculiar to each individual as opposed to the Western society which evolved to become impersonal and impartial where the same rules (the rule of law) apply to all groups, where loyalty to one’s kin has little if not nothing to do with public behaviour. But, I refuse to believe, unlike what

Governance in Nigeria must go beyond building roads and airports to considering the welfare and wellbeing of those called to use said infrastructure

some Western academics would have us believe, that corruption is intrinsically African or that it is based on our cultural and social norms. Behaviour is learned and emerges over time. It is the breakdown of the state (under the

military in particular) and its inability to provide basic services which made politics become “ a do or die affair”, because of its huge benefits and rewards, therefore also encouraging corruption and the maintenance of clientelistic networks which provide jobs or contracts, unfortunately, at the cost of merit.

So now that we are here, how do we move forward?

Personally, I believe we need to make our “negative” traits work for us: the existing greed and opportunism within our society can create excellent entrepreneurs, if our young people’s creativity is allowed to run free. If they begin to see, under the Buhari administration that it pays to be honest and hard working, then being profit-driven becomes a plus rather than a minus. Especially once the Sheriff shows us there is a cost for being corrupt and a reward for scrupulousness and sincerity. What should those rewards be? Paying civil servants well and on time is a start, so is ensuring pension funds don’t “disappear”.

Ayo Fayose

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NE might be tempted to call him the de facto captain of the “wailing wailers” whose common denominator, by way of Femi Fani-Kayode, seems to be delusion, hubris, the spinning of tall tales and the resolute belief in conspiracy theories.

Faulting the would-be attempt to remove him as governor of Ekiti, Mr. Fayose, comparing himself to Obasanjo whom he believes he outshines, reportedly said:”I am going places, I have history to make. I am going higher and higher.

The very day Buhari’s administration faces me, his government will come down. I am a child of destiny”.

Destiny’s Child musn’t forget there is still the small matter, or alleged existence of a certain recording featuring himself, former Minister of State for Defence, Obanikoro and Service Chiefs plotting to rig an election.

Surely a child of Destiny, guilty of no wrongs, would trust in God (and justice) and therefore have no problem with the army setting up a board of inquiry to investigate the “al-

Gov Ayo Fasoye leged” (the most used word in a Nigerian journalist’s arsenal!)

But most of all, governance in Nigeria must go beyond building roads and airports to considering the welfare and wellbeing of those called to use said infrastructure.

Reducing corruption, insurgency, conflict (which doubles as competition for scarce resources) comes down to reducing poverty and creating an opportunity society.

We need to increase education opportunities and give children more to aspire to beyond becoming a local government chairman. Rather than a petroleum subsidy that enables corruption, where, according to the World Bank “over 60% of total benefits accrue to the richest 20% of households”, conditional cash transfers to the poorest Nigerians could change the face of this country.

Health care centres Imagine how many schools, teachers and health care centres could be funded with a year’s subsidy payments, or with funds recovered from corrupt hands.

Personally, I believe the President should publish the list of those accused of looting public funds.

If they care so much about their good name and reputation, they will ensure, in future, that it is not mixed up in such scandals.

Their counterparts abroad would never be accused of such horrors. Can you imagine insinuations or allegations that a former Prime Minister such as Tony Blair authorised central bank payments (tax payers money) to fund his re-election, taking money away from British soldiers fighting in Iraq? In our culture of greed, family background and connections still matter too much.

Nigerians need economic mobility and that is the only real panacea for corruption.

wrongful association or implication of its staff in the 2014 Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections. An inquiry does not “destroy democracy” or the will of the people. Quite the opposite.

If it doesn’t reveal anything untoward, then so be it but why so vehemently refuse it? It just might be that Destiny’s child is not so full of grace.

Senator Ekweremadu

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F the wailing wailers have a captain, then they must have a high priest (Olisa Metuh) and many apologists to justify and explain a defunct, dangerous religion.

Senator Ekweremadu’s comments about the economy failing because of President Buhari are lopsided at best. 16 years of PDP culminates in an unreasoned, puerile attack to distract from EFCC’s most recent findings.

One day we will talk about corruption and economic mismanagement the same way scientists talk about dinosaurs, with wonder and surprise at the vastness of what once was.

Senator Ekweremadu *Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the cohost and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari last week presented to the National Assembly the Federal Government’s proposal to spend N500 billion on the youth and other vulnerable groups in 2016.

The proposal is contained in the 2016-2018 Medium Ter m Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

According to the document the social welfare programme would be executed in phases but it did not say whether it was meant to implement his party’s campaign promise to pay each unemployed person N5, 000 monthly. It said that the scheme would also take care of the school feeding programme, cash transfer to the most vulnerable and post-National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) grant.

Commendable as the government intentions are, can Nigeria afford this at this time of broken public finance? Although the National Assembly is yet to commence

Can we afford the N5,000 stipend? debate on the issue, the programme looks haphazard and unplanned for. The mere fact that the target group is amorphous could make the programme another potential source of unrest.

Feeding primary school children across the country alone will take up the entire budget and if the government is to fulfill its campaign promise of paying N5, 000 to the unemployed, N500 billion budget might be a far cry from what is required.

Estimates indicate that there are close to 25 million unemployed Nigerians. If this government is to

pay out unemployment benefits to this group alone, it will require a budget of close to N1.5 trillion.

Where is it going to raise the funds from? A plan without a detailed source of financing is nothing but a wish-list.

The general outlook for the Nigerian economy for the next two years gives little room for exuberant social spending. The prices of crude oil could dip to $20 per barrel next year, and this could worsen the current situation whereby most states cannot pay workers’ salaries. Can the economy accommodate this now?

We understand the pressure the Federal Government is under to fulfill one of its campaign promises. Will it not be better if this money is invested in the productive sectors of the economy and create jobs for these unemployed youth? Is it not better to teach the youth how to fish rather than giving them fish? If this government starts this journey in an economy that is facing financial crisis, how far can it go?

Will this journey not create social discontent if some are left out in the cold? Before endorsing this package, the National Assembly must ensure that the criteria for determining those eligible for the programme are clearly spelt out, and that the economy is in a position to sustain it. Otherwise, we advocate for the suspension of the payment till the economy improves, while the N500 billion is put ventures that create jobs.

OPINION Edo 2016 – APC: All trees, no ‘Iroko’

By Oteghe Adams

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HERE is one prediction that is formidably incontestable: the APC is poised to win the 2016 governorship election in Edo state overwhelmingly. This projection is founded on the pristine truth that the PDP is now rapidly vegetating specie.

Despite the loud-mouthed theatrics of some so-called PDP leaders, the party is actually shallower than a mirage; the self-ascribed PDP chieftains are a bunch of relevanceseeking and legitimacy-questing actors who have taken up residency in a deflating and disappearing balloon of political illusion. The mass of the enlightened electorate of Edo state still have a clear recollection of the almost ten years (1999-2008) PDP misrule, a period that was recklessly squandered under an era often regrettably referred to as the “lost decade” in Edo state’s development history.

From all indication, APC is buoyant with an array of worthy aspirants for the election even to the extent that it could be said that the terrain is crowded. It however requires the obligation of history to remark that the landscape feels dominated by several trees, but unfortunately, none of the species currently bears the nature of an “Iroko”; there is currently no outstanding formidable giant in this forest of aspirants to constitute a landmark for prime reference.

At least five of such aspirants have been publicly and popularly acknowledged from the Edo-South Senatorial District where the gubernatorial candidate, will expectedly, be

nominated from under an APC rotational formula. Aspirants from other zones are said to be waiting to join the race. But, in no particular order, let us examine the five known ones for now. From Deputy Governor Pius Odubu to Barrister Osarodion Ogie, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi and Mr. Godwin Obaseki, APC has a potential list of flag bearers on the frontlines.

The Right Hon. Pius Odubu is a remarkably experienced politician, having spent two terms in the House of Representatives; eight years running as Deputy to Governor Adams Oshiomole plus several years of flourishing legal practice.

He is regarded as an ultimate party man, deeply loyal and adorably familiar with the political landscape.

Then, Godwin Obaseki, a guru-like personality from the world of financial consultancy and stock brokerage, currently serving as the Chairman of Governor Oshiomole’s economic team. He is viewed as one of the most intimate in the Comrade’s inner circle. Under his watch as a chief economic strategist, Edo state has undoubtedly witnessed a responsible and result-yielding economic and fiscal trajectory. Obaseki comes into public service with an indestructible spirit of new visions

Ogiemwonyi is one of the aspirants to carefully watch in our search for the “Iroko”

of thoughtful possibilities and attainment of redefined horizons for our geo-political entity.

Overall, in these times of national economic stress, coupled with the precarious character of the global oil market, Edo state would need fresh paradigms of fiscal strategies to survive and thrive. For a party on a mission to victory, the combination of Obaseki’s business world acumen and his rapidly evolving capacity at organizational politics could attract premium consideration of the APC leadership to nominate him for the 2016 gubernatorial battle.

Very significant in the array of the aspirants is Barrister Osarodion Ogie, former Chief of Staff to Governor Oshiomole; and now the Commissioner for Works in the administration. Ogie is undoubtedly one of the most trusted by the governor as a political ally with whom he has intimately related right from the Comrade Battle days at the Election Petitions Tribunal. Until recently, it was thought, in some APC circles, that Ogie could emerge as a top contender with irreversible advantages for the race.

He has been able to build respectable outreach among party members in his viable capacity as Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Works.

And now to (Rtd) General Charles Airhiavbere who is a former governorship candidate of the PDP but crossed to APC after the 2015 presidential election. In fairness to the General, he fought gallantly for his former party with huge financial outlays but immediately pledged unflinching loyalty to APC after President Buhari’s victory. Indeed, it is widely believed that Airhiavbere’s cross-

over served the APC interest during the 2015 House of Assembly Election. It remains to be seen if the General can rapidly acquire enough trust to be fully embraced as a cherished member of the APC family, particularly in a game where time is of the essence.

Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi is part of the phenomenal concept of continuous elevation of public service for achieving new possibilities. It is his idea that a people can overcome and surmount the hurdles and obstacles of their current circumstances to achieve new heights. In a state where most of the elite who have attained a level of financial comfort are less committed to economic empowerment of the broader citizenry, Engineer Ogiemwonyi is a distinguished exception. In local parlance, Ogiemwonyi has attracted to himself, the appellation of “Ogiaru” (it is doable) because the word Impossible has left his dictionary.

While serving in various top capacities in NNPC, Ogiemwonyi is known to have assisted a considerable number of Edo people.

A former Minister of State for Works, Ogiemwonyi is favourably considered among some of APC and state-wide elite as a viable aspirant.

He is, however, assessed as deficient in his ability to link up and mobilise the foot soldiers, the infantry of the party who will conduct the ground level struggles for victory.

Undoubtedly, Ogiemwonyi is one of the aspirants to carefully watch in our search for the “Iroko” among the trees on the APC gubernatorial landscape.

•Mr. Adams, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Benin city, Edo State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Nigeria’s blood-sucking elite

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IGERIA'S political elite is a conclave of vampires. They survive on the blood of their innocent victims, in this instance the blood of struggling Nigerians who have nobody but God to protect them. This elite class of political jobbers are quick to amass wealth at the expense of the struggling majority. But they are never known to give out scholarship to indigent students who need it, nor are they famous for setting up foundations or charity organisations to research some of the killer diseases that the vast majority of Nigerians are ravaged by. Not even such diseases like cancer that the jet set lifestyles of this greedy Nigerians expose them to increasingly are accorded the benefit of research grants that would ultimately be for their own good if not for all. Nigeria’s class of rich outcasts would rather travel abroad to spend their stolen wealth in the enrichment of the economies of those who already have more than enough to take care of their needs.

Yet nothing frightens and rankles more than the readiness of this elite class to make victims of Nigerians and survive on the predicament of the poor. Their

capacity for mischief has no limits, and we see this again and again in the manner they deprive others of the gains of our commonwealth. This is what we see today with the revelations pouring in of how a few Nigerians have diverted funds meant for the procurement of arms for our military into their own private pockets. The Sambo Dasuki arms deal scandal has served to show what blood-thirsty persons are most of our so-called big men and women. Without lifting a finger or breaking a sweat, they connived to turn the office of the National Security Adviser into the strong room of slush funds for all kinds of illicit causes including suspicious payments to media organisations. Dasuki was the benevolent and ever obliging Father Christmas that dispensed favours at the drop of a hat.

Let those claiming that the likes of Dasuki, Bafarawa, Dokpesi and company being currently tried for misappropriation of funds and money laundering- let those clamouring for their human rights –even when these rights have not even being manifestly denied them- let their supporters be reminded of the rights of the

hundreds of millions of Nigerians who have had to bear the brunt of the greedy antics of these big men and their associates. No life, ultimately, is more important than another even when we are not all treated equally before the law in Nigeria. No amount of alarmist cries of politicallymotivated persecution can change the fact that these people have a case to answer. Let them address themselves squarely to answering the case against them before shouting us deaf with noises of a witch-hunt.

The people in question have apparently perpetrated grave acts of economic sabotage against Nigerians, exposed them needlessly to the death machines of Boko Haram and are yet peddling the blackmail that they are victims of political persecution. The real victims in this unfolding drama of greed and pilfering are poor Nigerians who have been exposed to the insecurity of insurgent and armed robbery attacks. These are the real victims, not the rich men and women whose stock in trade is to feign ill-health once they are called upon to account for their ignoble actions. Or how else can anyone describe the deliberate exposure of defenceless

And until these concerns have been fully addressed cries of a witch hunt by those being called to account amounts to cheap blackmail

The God of money and the Nigerian gods of corruption “

T

HAT you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser on or about 17th April 2015 in Abuja dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: N750million belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria which sum was transferred to Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s bank account in favour of one Aminu Baba-Kusa purporting same to be payment for organising prayers and . . . " I read that lone charge again and again.

It wasn’t the first nor the last of the 19 charges, nor N750 million the largest of the mind-boggling figures cited in the monumental scandal of betrayal of trust, of kleptomania gone absolutely manic. But I was arrested by that charge. To pray to God, it emerges, one does not simply open one’s mouth — and kneel down, close one’s eyes, speak in tongues or utter any gibberish purporting to be the language of the Holy Spirit—and ask for the Almighty’s mercy and grace. On the contrary, prayer costs money. A mighty amount of money. And I ask: to what God did the men and women of God, the Daddy and Mummy general overseers, pastors, prophets, prayer warriors, imams, miracle-workers pray kneeling, standing or prostrating on bundles of mint-fresh naira and dollars?

No priest of an African religion is ever called to the scam of national prayers to resolve our self-inflicted political crises or any of the special prayer sessions that

Nigeria’s governments, ever big on faith but so small on works, always need, particularly at election time. So it must mean that the God to whom the N750 million prayer money was paid through his anointed servantsis the God of the two overbearing Abrahamic religions in Nigeria, Christianity and Islam. The Lord’s prayer taught by Jesus Christ makes no mention of money. The closest reference to money being in the plea, “Give us this day our daily bread,” it being understood that God the father gives it free to his children. Thus, the prayers for which National Security Adviser Dasuki—acting on behalf of President Jonathan—made all of us poor and harried Nigerians pay so dearly was the God of money, of corruption.

And it follows that if God has changed his mind about the love of money being the root of all evil, then there can be no evil. If he will take blood money—how many soldiers died because they were thrown into battle with Boko Haram literally with nothing but their uniform, how many citizens were slaughtered, grievously wounded or raped as a result

And until we begin to ask, the evil of corruption will continue to rule us an implacable deity

people to the depredations of terrorists? All the while the Goodluck Jonathan government claimed to be fighting insurgency without any result to show for it, it failed to disclose that members of that administration were involved in the business of fund diversion rather than acquiring weapons that could make our military a true fighting force.

For this reason we can’t just forget about the Jonathan administration and close the book on it as some have urged. Yes, Buhari needs to face up to his own responsibilities. But part of that responsibility is to ensure that acts of economic or political sabotage, such as the current case of misappropriation and diversion of billions of dollars for arms procurement, must be investigated.

Lives and properties have been lost on account of these. Such criminal acts cannot be overlooked in situations where even Buhari’s own performance is being hobbled as a consequence of such acts of sabotage.

Jonathan was quick to deny that he authorised release of what we now hear is about $6 billion dollars, (rather than the earlier advertised 2 billion dollars), for arms procurement.

But both his National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and his Minister of Finance and so-called Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, have admitted to the fact that funds meant for arms were in fact released. Iweala has admitted to releasing, with the authorisation of the president, over $300 Million US dollars in one instance to Dasuki for arms procurement. Dokpesi has not denied that he collected billions of Naira from Dasuki. He has only said that it was payment for an image laundering job done for

Jonathan without telling Nigerians why he should have been paid from the coffers of the NSA. Beyond the case of Dasuki, Dokpesi, Bafarawa and OkonjoIweala, there are almost weekly revelations of how Nigerians have been defrauded by persons in positions of power in the name of providing security. Yet what we’ve had and continue to have are harvests of deaths. Shouldn’t somebody account for this?

The Nigerian political elite have been known to engage in ritual acts of shedding human blood for the purpose of acquiring power. They have been known to patronise shrines where blood cuddling oaths are taken in order to undermine their enemies. But with what is been revealed now with this Dasuki arms purchase deal, our politicians have clearly moved into the realm of direct wastage of Nigerian lives in order just to make money. They sent ordinary soldiers into the battle field practically with their bare hands and call them cowards for refusing to fight. They made it possible for ordinary villagers to be kidnapped and turned into sex slaves even as they feign concern for their plight. While Dasuki and Dokpesi now seek to enforce their own rights (and their rights must surely be protected under the law), who among them showed similar concern for the rights of the soldiers mauled down in battle or villagers either killed, taken prisoners or uprooted from their ancestral land? Who speaks for this silenced majority?

Nigerians need to get to the root of this scam. They need to be assured they are not mere fodders in the greed machine of the rich and powerful. And until these concerns have been fully addressed cries of a witch hunt by those being called to account amounts to cheap blackmail.

of this “419” to shame all Yahoo boys?— then why should any of the mortal beneficiaries not do likewise?

Any ruse would do, not least ree l e c t i n g Jonathan, God’s beloved son, whose “reign” saw to the unmitigated suffering of his children in Nigeria. And so none involved in this naira-and-dollar bazaar flinched. It is all summed up by Bafawara who tells us that former minister of state for finance Bashir Yuguda calledto tell him “there is money to be given for (sic) the North-West Campaign Committee”—N600 million, in this case—”for the PDP Campaign for General Election” (sic).Yuguda “did not tell me where the money was coming from,” he adds, and “I did not ask him where the money was coming from.”

Don’t ask, don’t tell!It is bad enough that a mere adviser to the president was allowed to become the self-declared “clearing house” for arms procurement for all of the security forces. Worse is that he should then proceed to share the astronomical sums of $2.2 billion and N643 million—to say nothing of the $1 billion loan previously obtained for the very same purpose—in any way he pleased but mostly for Jonathan’s re-election. But worst of all was the total abdication of responsibility and criminal breach of trust. Starting with President Jonathan.

Dasuki has consistently said that he acted with the approval of his boss. And Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance, has released a memo which corroborates Dasuki. She, too, did not ask any questions

because Dasuki’s request for $300 million and £5.5 million was “sequel to the meeting you [Jonathan] chaired with the committee on the use of recovered funds where the decision was made that recovered Abacha funds would be split 5050 between urgent security needs to confront Boko Haram and development needs.” But knowing that she was abdicating her responsibility, she played Pontius Pilate and washed her hands off any accountability by naming the theft about to take place “borrowing” and asking that the NSA “account to Your Excellency for the utilisation of the funds.”

The sheer recklessness with which billions were distributed towards illegal ends numbs me. Can such highly placed “public servants” be so devoid of any sense of probity and responsibility? To be frittering away billions, most of it borrowed, Nigeria being nearly bankrupt at the time in question, while bare-armed or ill-equipped soldiers were being mowed down or maimed by Boko Haram? Well, God does not ask where the money came from. Neither do we any longer in Nigeria. And until we begin to ask, the evil of corruption will continue to rule us an implacable deity. That we may begin to ask, it is time our jails started receiving millionaire and billionaire thieves as their long-awaited inmates.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 21

NSE: Investors lose N109bn in two days

By Babajide Komolafe

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NVESTORS lost N109 billion on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) in the first two days of the week, following persistent declines in total value of shares listed on Exchange.

Data from the NSE revealed that the market capitalisation, which represents total value of shares on the exchange, fell by N31.1 billion on Monday and further by N78.6 billion yesterday.

On Monday capitalisation fell from N9.376 trillion to N9.344 trillion, while it fell further to N9.266 trillion.

Following the same pattern, the NSE All share Index fell from 27,631 last week to 27,205 on Monday, and further to 26,950 yesterday.

Recall that last week, the NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization depreciated by 1.31 percent to close the week at 27,269.71 and N9.376 trillion respectively.

Analysts at Afrinvest attributed the decline in market capitalisation this week to profit taking by investors on some blue chip shares. Commenting on the N78.6 billion lose yesterday, they noted, “The poor performance was majorly driven by losses in G u i n n e s s ( - 4 . 3 percent), Zenith (-3.5 percent) and Nigerian Breweries (-1.6 percent).

Consequently, market capitalization declined N78.6bn to settle at N9.3tn.

Activity level in the market also weakened at the close of

VISIT: From left: Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Engr.Adeseyi Sijuade,

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi & Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, during a visit of the Minister to the Nigeria Railway Headquarters in Lagos. trade as volume traded fell 54.7 percent to 189.3 million units although value traded rose 6.6 percent to N3.2 billion.

“All sector indices save for the Insurance index (+0.4 percent), closed in the red.

The Consumer Goods index was the biggest sector loser today (-1.0%) as price d e p r e c i a t i o n

“Investor sentiments in the bourse remained weak today as seen in the market breadth of 0.4x resulting from 14 stocks advancing against 38 declining stocks. The gainers’ chart was topped by Julius B e r g e r ( + 5 . 0 percent), LearnAfrca (+4.9 p e r c e n t ) and Unilever(+4.9percent) while Skyebank (-

9.5percent), Transcorp (-5.3 percent ) and Etranzact (-5.0 percent) were the biggest losers. The persistent dip in market performance buttresses the need for investors to stay cautious especially in the short term, even as we consider the current prices attractive for medium to long term investment positioning.”

World manufacturing output grew 2.7% in third quarter —UNIDO

By Franklin Alli, with agency report

T

HE United Nations Industrial development Organization (UNIDO) has released its -0.60 $117.50 international i n d u s t r i a l $3,336.00 -12.00 statistical database on world $14.28 -0.30 manufacturing output for the third quarter of 2015, saying it $36.82 -1.11 grew by 2.7 per cent. $35.23 -0.39 In Africa m a n u f a c t uring CURRENCY BUYING SELLING output rose by just 196.5 197 0.1 per cent.

US DOLLAR 196 296.5088 297.2652 298.0216 POUNDS In the report, 215.1296 215.6784 216.2272 EURO S h y a m 199.4505 199.9593 200.4681 FRANC U p adhyaya, 1.6209 1.625 1.6292 YEN UNIDO Chief 0.308 0.318 0.328 CFA 272.1375 272.8318 273.526 WAUA Statistician, said 30.3439 30.4217 30.4996 RENMINBI the organisation 52.2318 52.3651 52.4983 RIYAL regularly releases 28.8282 28.9017 28.9753 KRONA the statistics on 272.8712 273.5673 274.2634 SDR SSDR current growth 270.9504 271.6416 272.3328 CBN Exchange rate as at 15/12/2015 trends of global

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in GUINNESS (-4.3 percent) and Nigerian Breweries (-1.6 percent) dragged the index.

Similarly, the Banking index lost 0.8 percent consequent on sell offs in Zenith(-3.5 percent) and access (-4.3 percent). The Oil & Gas and Industrial Goods indices also followed suit, depreciating 0.6 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.

manufacturing at country and regional level, adding that for the first time in recent years, the growth trend in industrialized economies was upward compared to declining trend in developing and emerging industrial economies.

Said the report: “Manufacturing output grew by 1.5 per cent in

Manufacturing output grew by 1.5 per cent in industrialized economies, up from 0.9 per cent in previous quarter

industrialized economies, up from 0.9 per cent in previous quarter. In developing and emerging industrial economies, the growth rate dropped to 5.0 per cent, down from 5.3 per cent in previous quarter.

“Eurozone industrialized countries have further improved their growth thanks to an increase in commodity export prompted by lower energy costs and the depreciation of the euro against major world currencies. By contrast, manufacturing in the United States was upset by a stronger dollar and a consequent loss of exports.

“Lower growth was observed in East Asian industrialized economies, especially in Japan where manufacturing output fell by 0.4 per cent in third quarter of 2015. In contrast, manufacturing output rose in Malaysia and the Republic of Korea.

“Among the developing and

emerging industrial economies, China’s manufacturing grew by 7.0 per cent, which was lower rate than previous quarter.

China’s declining growth has raised concerns in other emerging industrial economies.

In Latin America, manufacturing output fell by 3.3 per cent. The largest loss was observed in Brazil, where in third quarter manufacturing output dropped by 11.0 percent.

Declines in manufacturing output to lower extent were also observed in other countries in the region, including Columbia and Peru.

Asian economies were less affected by China’s declining growth. India’s growth rate rose to 4.6 per cent in the third quarter compared to 3.7 per cent in the previous quarter.

Similarly, manufacturing output rose in Indonesia by 4.2 per cent and in Vietnam by 12.5 per cent.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Once implementation commences, it is our expectation this would facilitate access to home ownership by pension contributors while also bridging the housing deficit in Nigeria

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‘Reinsurance trends to continue into the New Year’

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HALLENGING reinsurance market trends witnessed throughout 2015 are expected to continue heading into the New Year, with the impact of alternative reinsurance capital, mergers and acquisitions, M&A, and reserving adding further uncertainty.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley have discussed the welldocumented trends witnessed in the global reinsurance market throughout 2015, warning that much of the same is to be expected during 2016.

Despite their view that “pressures on reinsurers will be somewhat lower next year,” Morgan Stanley stresses that reinsurance is still very much a buyers’ market, as competition, ample capacity, and a lack of losses continues to drive, and hold rates down.

“Pricing trends continue to be dampened by high levels of competition. In reinsurance, we think that the rate of decline is slowing in property, but casualty pricing is beginning to see some pressure,” says Morgan Stanley. With losses low and capital from traditional and alternative sources in abundance, competition in the global reinsurance industry has been intense in recent times.

Reinsurance capital And as highlighted by Morgan Stanley, while the flow of third-party reinsurance capital into the property arena may have slowed somewhat, helping to minimise declines, and even stabilise rates in some regions, its increasing entry into casualty business signals greater pressure on pricing in this area.

While the flow of alternative reinsurance capital providers remains strong and their appetite for reinsurance risk persists, it’s likely to continue its shift from the very competitive property lines to the less competitive, but also less understood exposures like casualty. “We have seen some alternative capital structures in casualty, but we think it is unlikely to increase materially or quickly due to the long tail nature of this line,” said Morgan Stanley.

For the capital providers themselves, while this points to potentially higher, and more stable returns than seen in the property sector in recent

months, a lack of adequate modelling, and a lack of risk knowledge could lead to greater, and unrealised exposures, something that is even more dangerous when market conditions are tough.

One of the ways reinsurers have been trying to offset declines in underwriting profits in a challenging market is through reserve releases, an area the analysts at Morgan Stanley have some concerns with.

“We would highlight that we do not think reserve releases will come to an abrupt end, but that the high extent of reserve releases seems unsustainable to us and we could see a gradual decline,” said Morgan Stanley.

With the benign loss period continuing reinsurers’ reserve buffers are beginning to diminish, particularly in the U.S., notes Morgan Stanley.

You can have your own house with part of your retirement savings

By Rosemary Onuoha

I

F you have subscribed to the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, then you have a chance of owning your own house in the future. This is because the National Pension Commission, PenCom, will soon release the guidelines on having your own house with part of your retirement savings.

The Pension Reform Act, 2014,

has introduced a provision that allows contributors seeking to own their primary homes, to apply part of their Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balances as equity contribution for residential mortgages, subject to the guidelines issued

by PenCom. Director General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu said that the Commission is on the verge of concluding the

guidelines having discussed extensively with all stakeholders including experts in the mortgage industry.

“Once implementation commences, it is our expectation this would facilitate access to home ownership by pension contributors while also bridging the housing deficit in Nigeria,” Anohu-Amazu said.

Anohu-Amazu said that the implementation of the CPS in

Underwriting business Companies have struggled to generate desirable returns on their underwriting business and, while masking this somewhat via prudent reserve releasing is common practice, the lack of large losses means firms aren’t able to replenish their reserves as they would perhaps like to, something that can really come back to bite when the next large event happens. In fact, Morgan Stanley underlines that when “normalising for the better than expected natural catastrophes and positive prior year developments, non-life re combined ratios have been moving closer to 100%.”

Looking to January 1st renewals and the analysts at Morgan Stanley expect reinsurance pricing to remain soft, with further, albeit moderated rate declines expected. Somewhat contributing to the moderated rate declines is the slowing entry of alternative reinsurance capital in recent times. “On the supply side, alternative capital growth has begun to slow down (in property reinsurance) as returns have begun to reach a level where investors are pulling back,” explains Morgan Stanley.

Send comments & enquiries to insuranceandyou@yahoo.com C M Y K

INSURAN

COOKING COMPETITION: From left, Manager, Special Channels, Honeywell Flour

Mills Plc, Mr. Godfrey Oamen; Camp Director, National Youth Service Corps, Lagos State, Mrs. Rachel Idaewor; winner, Mr. Onibiyo Joshua; and State Coordinator, NYSC, Mr. Cyril Akhanemhe, during Honeywell Pasta cooking competition, at NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

Soladoye becomes CIA's fellow

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R. Yemi Soladoye, a versatile financial services practitioner with diverse experience in banking, insurance, pension, healthcare, risk survey and consumer protection has been admitted into the Fellowship of the Charted Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria.

Soladoye was admitted during an Induction programme organised by the Institute recently.

The Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, Chief Folake Sholanke, in her keynote speech enjoined Nigerians to embrace the expeditiousness, low publicity and relationship continuity benefits embedded in Arbitration as an ADR especially in their commercial disputes.

Many eminent jurists, senior advocates and other professionals were among the Nigerians admitted into the fellowship of the Institute at the occasion.

Soladoye had his primary to higher school education at

Ibadan between 1964 and 1978, graduated from The University of Lagos in 1981 as the Best Student in the Department of Insurance, passed the Chartered Insurance Institute, of London Examination in 1983, qualified as a Fire Risk Surveyor with the Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors, Northampton, England in 1984 and passed out of the University of Ibadan in 1987 with M.Sc Degree in Banking and Finance.

Restructuring initiatives Soladoye started his Insurance career with Bendel Insurance Co. Ltd, in 1981 as Claims and Risk Surveyor, along the line worked as the Insurance Manager of Cadbury Nigeria Plc and later as the Founding MD/ CEO of Elmac Insurance Co. Ltd. Yemi established the insurance consulting firm of RiskguardAfrica Nig Ltd in 2006 and has handled projects like Financial

System Strategy 2020, Insurance Market Development and Restructuring Initiatives (MDRI) and Country Diagnostic Study of Microinsurance and Takaful in Nigeria. Through these projects, Soladoye has provided clear roadmaps and pragmatic action steps to deepen insurance penetration in Nigeria, generate about 800,000 new jobs from insurance before 2020, raise funds for projects of national development and provide cover for the high risk exposure of the low income people of Nigeria. In 2010, Soladoye founded the Insurance Consumers Association of Nigeria (INSCAN) as a conciliation medium between the insurers and their policyholders vis-a-vis compensation.

Soladoye has served on the Board of many enterprises, has passing understanding of French language and has presented over 100 papers on financial services at local and international fora.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Nigeria has achieved a worthy paradigm shift in pensions for the benefit of Nigerian workers.

“The challenge of instituting effective and sustainable pension systems remains an issue in Nigeria as well as most African countries. However, the Federal Government of Nigeria took a remarkable step in changing the pension landscape through the enactment of the PRA in 2004.”

Anohu-Amazu said, “The Act provided novel solutions to what appeared then, as intractable challenges of the old Defined Benefit Scheme. It instituted the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and established PenCom as the regulator of pensions in Nigeria.

Regulator of pensions The quest for delivering better pensions to retirees guided by experiences garnered in the ten years of implementation of the pension reform necessitated the revision of the 2004 Act. After an extensive review, stakeholder consultations and legislative scrutiny, a new Pension Reform Act 2014 was enacted, which came into effect on 1st July 2014.

“It is pertinent to note that the Pension Reform Act 2014 reenacted the fundamental provisions of the repealed PRA 2004, which include inter alia, the establishment of the Contributory Pension Scheme, uniform standards for pension

administration as well as the National Pension Commission as the sole regulator and supervisor of pension matters in Nigeria. However, there are new developments introduced by the PRA 2014, such as the upward review of the minimum rate of pension contribution and the sanctions and penalties against infractions of the provisions of the Act. “With enhanced provisions of the PRA 2014, the Commission is intensifying efforts at extending coverage of the CPS to the underserved economic

The Pension Reform Act, 2014, has introduced a provision that allows contributors seeking to own their primary homes, to apply part of their Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balances as equity contribution for residential mortgages

segments such as the Informal Sector, through the Micro Pensions initiative.

We are working at providing necessary incentives with requisite flexibility in terms of access, as to encourage informal sector works to embrace the Micro Pensions for future economic security.

“It is noteworthy that many states in the Federation have adopted the Contributory Pension Scheme and are at various stages of its implementation.

The PRA 2014 gives additional impetus for participation in the CPS by explicitly prescribing the coverage of states and local government employees, in addition to the federal public service and private sector. I would therefore like to fervently appeal to all the States and Local Governments that are yet to adopt or implement the CPS to immediately comply in order to avail their employees of the numerous benefits of the Scheme, while avoiding huge future pension liabilities.

The need for more efficiency in managing finances has never been greater than now, given the lean available public resources.

The adoption of CPS by states is one effective tool of managing finances by paying monthly pension contributions into employees’ RSAs as opposed to settling these huge liabilities at the point of retirement, being the case in the Defined Benefit Scheme.

Goldlink board to present 4-year account to shareholders

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HE board of Goldlink Insurance Plc is set to present the company ’s audited accounts for four consecutive accounting years from 2011 to 2014 to the shareholders and other stakeholders at its 19 th annual general meeting next week.

The AGM is in accordance with the approval given by the industry ’s regulatory body, National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, which, has been overseeing the operations of the company since its take-over and has successfully regulated the accounts of the company.

Also, paramount on the agenda is deliberation on the way forward for the smooth-running of the company.

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VISIT: From left, President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Kayode Okunoren presenting the council’s souvenir to Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Adewale Oshinowo, during a working visit to the commissioner at the state secretariat, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

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With enhanced provisions of the PRA 2014, the Commission is intensifying efforts at extending coverage of the CPS to the underserved economic segments such as the Informal Sector, through the Micro Pensions initiative

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Cornerstone Insurance wraps up year with four awards

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ornerstone Insurance Plc wrapped up the year with four prestigious business and community service-related awards. The honors are in recognition of the company’s exceptional strides in providing worldclass insurance solutions in a customer-focused and socially responsible manner.

First to be recognized is the company’s innovative online platform, which serves as a one-stop vending solution for customers; thereby giving them the opportunity to buy and make claims at the click of a button. The ePlatform represents significant value to insurance clients, making Cornerstone ‘The Best Online Insurance Company of the Year ’ at the 2015 Lagos Chambers of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Awards.

While addressing dignitaries and captains of the industries present at the event, the President of the Chambers; Alhaji Remi Bello stressed that the awards are to recognize, promote and celebrate private and public institutions operating in Nigeria for best business practices, growth through innovations, business sustainability and positive impact on the people and society at large. The chambers praised Cornerstone Insurance ‘for developing a first of its kind, endto-end insurance platform which provides a suitable alternative channel to the conventional outlets in the areas of online engagement, data collection and real time information dissemination’.

The channel which cuts clients’ travel time, reduce carbon footprints in the environment and reduces other attendant business cost.

The company’s position as a leading insurance solution provider was reinforced at the recently held Nigeria Technology Awards, where Cornerstone was honored as the ‘Best Insurance Com-

pany Website of the Year, 2015’. In the words of the organisers: “The aim of the event is to recognise and reward exceptional achievements in the area of technological advancement, provision of innovative and creative solutions by professionals and businesses”.

In the same vein, Halal Takaful Nigeria; the Islamic Insurance window of Cornerstone was also recognised for deepening insurance penetration through Sharia compliant insurance offerings at the just concluded annual international conference on Islamic finance in Abuja.

Just as the year draws to a close, the underwriting company was once again recognised by the Nigeria CSR Awards (SERAs 2015). The encomiums came on the heels of the company’s significant contribution to social development through the provision of safety infrastructures to accident prone schools in Lagos in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps via the ‘Safe Route to School’ campaign of the company.

Cornerstone Insurance emerged as the ‘Best Company in Community Involvement’ brushing off stiff competition from Shell, First Bank and Lafarge. The Nigeria CSR Awards is reputed to be the major promoter and force behind galvanizing businesses across various sectors and industries in Nigeria to imbibe the ethos of CSR and sustainability in Nigeria.

The company’s Group Managing Director, Mr Ganiyu Musa while receiving the award stated that the accolades are like icing on the cake, given the deep sense of fulfillment that comes from creating an enduring value for the customers. “Cornerstone customers are happy customers and going by the positive feedback we get on a daily basis, I am particularly pleased that we are winning with our customers. Nothing could be more gratifying,” Musa said.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Enyimba target Eagles coach

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IGERIA Premier League champions Enyimba have begun discussions to re-engage Eagles assistant coach Salisu Yusuf ahead of next year’s tilt at the CAF Champions League, it has been exclusively learnt.

In November, Kadiri Ikhana led Enyimba to claim a seventh Nigeria league title but the highly experienced coach may •Yususf not be the man to lead them into next year’s CAF Champions League.

Enyimba are now targeting Salisu Yusuf, who made a huge impression when he was in charge of the Aba club two years ago.

However, discussions between Enyimba and the Eagles coach have stalled after Salisu insisted he first be paid the over four million Naira they owe him when he first worked at the club.

Enyimba will also have to find a way round to how they could have the services of the Zaria-born tactician as he is contracted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as an assistant coach to Sunday Oliseh.

The coach, who has also handled Kano Pillars and El Kanemi Warriors, himself has refused to comment on the renewed interest of his former employers.

Rio Olympic gold not impossible — Amoo N

igeria’s U-23 assistant coach, Fatai Amoo has said it is not impossible for the side to recapture the 96’ Atlanta performance at the upcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Nigeria emerged winners and earned an instant ticket to the Olympics together with runners-up, Algeria and South Africa at the just concluded 2015 Africa

•Amoo

ennis: Gov’s Cup Lagos T

Sokari joins CS Sfaxien Enyimba have announced Nigeria international Kingsley Sokari has joined Tunisian club CS Sfaxien on a three and half year deal.

“Sokari has joined Tunisian club Sfaxien. He is a quality player who can only get better,” said Enyimba spokesman Farriel Allaputa, who will not disclose the financial details of the transfer.

In September, Nigeria U-23 striker Junior Ajayi joined Sfaxien.

Earlier this year, Sokari’s proposed move to another Tunisian club Esperance crashed and he returned to help Enyimba win a seventh Nigeria league crown.

The attacking midfielder has featured for Nigeria at U20, U23 and full international levels this year.

•Sokari

C M Y K

Yesufu wants sponsorship drive ers intensified for play

By John Egbokhan rmance of Ni orried by the perfo the ongoing at s •Yesufu gerian player is Futures nn Te s go La p Cu Governor ’s Tennis Club, Ongenuat the Lagos Lawn ber of the Nigeria more active and in ikan, a board mem(NTF), Bala Yesufu body must be sing the little funds they Tennis Federation tivation of individ- ous in harnestterment of the players. has called for the acpromising and dis- get for the besorship sub-team of the “The spon sponual sponsorship for saddled with the re govd ciplined players. t the backdrop of NTF should be an rs so on sp g tin Speaking agains home talents in sibility of enlis h the Sports Ministry ug six Monday’s exit of e Futures II, Yesu- ernment, throe sake of our players futh th of for d ld un ro ou st sh fir g come th ntives to sponsorin Yesutennis will bounce d fu predicted that e ITF and ATP tour- ture, give ince de ad , s” liday panies, like tax ho timistic that Nigeriback to life if mor nised locally. s op ain ga m or re re o we wh , ts ent fu en m na overcome their pres gagement of playCalling for the en c organisation of an players will di ers through perio Yesufu said “it is predicament. this Nigerian project and ts, en m na ur “I believe in to days of local players to be adeful that the good important for our with local competi- remain hope e likes of Nduka Odizor, Sadik quately engaged ganisations need to yore when th David Imonite and tions. Corporate orore for tennis by ei- Tony Mmoh, ght honour and glory to be urged to do m mpetitions in the Abdulahi brou will soon return to our ther sponsoring cotalented ones to in- our fatherlandonly a temporary setback, tennis. This is g if we country or sending to garner points”. ve will not last lon ternational circuits at the NTF are con- which I belies together to help our playWhile admitting th funds, Yesufu how- all join hand fu su strained in terms ofe tennis governing ers”, said Ye ever noted that th

W

U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

However, Amoo said for the present squad to inch closer to the golden performance of 96’Atlanta the Dream Team VI must be overhauled 100% in its entirety.

“Impossible is nothing, it’s quite possible the present squad go ahead to win gold at the upcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio as the 96’ Atlanta set performed in the years back but not under the present scenario that preceded the side campaign at the just concluded Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

“The motivation for this current squad and coaching crew is low compared with the 1996 Olympic team. “Of course, we must overhaul the team by getting the best players all over the world not overlooking some shining stars in the present squad.

“Things must changed completely in addition to total overhaul of the team as we will be meeting the world best in Rio for us to hope for a repeat performance of 96’ Atlanta golden era,” said the former Nigerian assistant coach to supersport.com.

Amoo said his side surpassed their mandate at the just concluded 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

“The first objective handed to us by the football house is the Olympic ticket we achieved the target by qualifying for Rio Olympics and we went ahead to win the championship trophy to keep something in the archives and a record for ourselves and Nigerians.

“We are fulfilled as far as Africa U-23 Cup of Nations is concerned the next is the Olympics,” said the former Sunshine Stars coach.

VOL. 1 NO 49

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Dozzy boss, wife dedicate school to late mother —Page 4

Aka Ikenga brainstorms on economic revival of South East zone ployment as well as easy development of the area.

While advocating for stronger ties between the South East and South- South geo-political zones, Iwuanyanwu lamented that no ethnic group in Nigeria believes in the unity of the country more than Ndigbo.

The Igbo believe in one united Nigeria more than any other tribe. While the Igbo have investments in all parts of the country, there is no single investment owned by a non- Igbo in Igbo land. There is no need building Abuja, Lagos and other cities when your home is under-developed.

Our people should start thinking of ways to develop Igbo land because we can’t wait for

BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE

A

BA — THE intellectual arm of the umbrella association of all Igbo cultural unions, Aka Ikenga, has held a two-day economic summit in Aba, Abia State, to proffer solutions to the dwindling economic fortunes of the old Eastern region and Delta State following the desertion of the area by big business conglomerates.

Speaking on the occasion, President- General of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike said the summit had analysed the problems facing the Igbo race with a view to proffering solutions to them and urged all stakeholders to ensure that what he described as the economically contiguous area Delta, Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa, regains its lost economic glories.

Uwazurike said that Aba was chosen for the summit because of its strategic position as the nerve centre of commercial activities in the region.

While calling on the Ministry of Labour and Employment to tackle the issue of high unemployment rate, which he said, led to the recent agitations in the South East, Uwazurike identified factors militating against the growth of businesses in the region to include: bad roads, poor power supply, multiple taxation, lack of access to finance, insecurity of businesses, unhealthy competition, poor quality of goods and nonaccommodation of the South East zone in the nation’s Gas Master plan.

According to him: “By 1990, something changed, big businesses began to desert the old Eastern region and Delta State for Lagos and Abuja. Now, we have woken up from our siesta that have created a hiatus. We must restore our economic glory and confidence in our business acumen. Never again shall we encourage very good businessmen to go to Lagos and Abuja.

In his speech, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu enjoined Igbo entrepreneurs to establish at least 20 per cent of their businesses at home to create emC M Y K

Chief Goddy Uwazurike

Uwazurike said that Aba was chosen for the summit because of its strategic position as the nerve centre of commercial activities in the region

Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Productivity

government all the time. Many years ago when I was building my head office in Owerri, somebody came asking why I was erecting such a gigantic structure in Owerri; that I should have built it on Victoria Island, Lagos. My response was that we must build our businesses to project our land and people,” he said.

Ex-President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Dr. Kate Okpalaeke, said the summit was timely and urged states in the former Eastern region to come together to form an economic block.

"Ndigbo need capital formation to restore their economic clout instead of being individualistic.

We should consolidate and identify the keys to economic prosperity and toe that part,” she said.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who was represented at the summit by the Director General, National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammad, added that Ndigbo were known for hard work and resilience, stressing that with the huge resources from the former Eastern region, people of the area had no business grapping with unemployment.

Highlights of the two-day economic summit included business sessions and lectures delivered by leading professionals in various fields

NBA honours Anambra CJ, Senator Anah, others with Life Time Achievers’ Awards ...as JUSUN strike persists in Anambra

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

Anambra Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi

NITSHA—THE Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi and Second Republic Senator, Chief Nathaniel Anah, SAN, were among distinguished personalities who bagged Life Time Achievers' Award bestowed on them by the Anaocha branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. Others award recipients included the former governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi, a retired Federal High Court judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke and the former National Commissioner, Independent

National Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Dr. Ifeyinwa Obegolu.

While Justice Umeadi received the 'Giant Strides in Judicial Development/Administration' award, Senator Anah bagged 'Giant Strides in the development of legal practice' award, just as Okeke bagged 'Meritorious Judicial service and Forthrightness' award. Obegolu also bagged 'Giant strides in legal profession' award, while former governor Obi bagged 'Government/politics within the Law' award.

The award ceremony was the concluding part of activities marking the 2015 maiden edition of Annual Bar Week/Dinner cum Award Nite of the Anaocha

Continues on Page 4

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

GIS trains 25,000 graduates, 1,000 secure jobs

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA — THE Grad uate Internship Scheme, GIS, has assembled 25,186 graduates in Anambra State for training to enable them start their own businesses.

Of the number, 68 per cent are males, while 31 per cent are females, with one per cent being vulnerable people.

Project director of GIS, Mr. Peter Papka said at the orientation training organized for the interns and representatives of firms handling the scheme in Awka that it was part of the Federal Government’s initiative to find a lasting solution to youth unemployment in the country.

Papka said that so far, 9,387 have benefited from the scheme, while over 1,000 of them have already secured jobs or started their own businesses, explaining that about 13,781 firms across the country have registered to participate in the scheme. So far, 305,780 graduates have been registered to participate in the

Participants of Graduates Internship Scheme programme.

According to Papka, GIS had keyed into the non-oil sector with a view to developing capacity and skills required to complement the oil and gas sector of the nation’s economy.

He said the initiative had culminated into a partnership with several government and nongovernmental organizations,

So far, 305,780 graduates had been registered to participate in the programme.

just as a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, had been signed on export trade promotion, creative industries, financial inclusion, ICT and agriculture.

He said the Federal Government’s funding of the scheme from regular budget clearly attested to the great prospects GIS had in facilitating the enhancement of graduates’ skills for self-

employment.

He added: “GIS is also contributing to the renewed growth of Small and Medium Enterprises and cooperative societies through increased competent and skilled manpower.”

He explained that the decision to partner with firms and organizations was part of government’s commitment towards enhancing their capacity in service effectiveness.

Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment NDE, in Anambra State, Mr. Mike Mbata, charged the trainees to use the experience and skills acquired from the training to contribute meaningfully to national development.

He told them: “This is a journey to enhance your capacity towards contributing your quota to the national economy. It is our hope that the GIS will be another initiative Nigeria will sell to the world as a way out of graduate unemployment.

"It is also our hope that the GIS interns will galvanize different sectors, especially the non-oil sector in the near future."

Uda people lament state of community school

One of the science laboratory blocks.

T

HE PEOPLE of Uda in Enugu- Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, are grumbling over the dilapidated buildings in the Community Secondary School, Uda. They said that students were withdrawing from the school in droves for other private and more expensive schools in other communities due to lack classrooms, staff rooms, laboratories and libraries among others.“ According to an indigene of the community, Mr. Anthony Eze, apart from junior secondary classes one and two, all other classes were usually merged because of a lack of accommodation in the school.

Eze said that of the seven buildings in the school, only the administrative block was habitable as the other six were not.

“We have about 700 students C M Y K

in this school, which was built by the community in 1978 and handed over to the state government.

“When we built the school, we had laboratories for most of the science subjects including physics, chemistry, biology and

agricultural science.

“However, these laboratories are no longer there because the buildings have all collapsed and all the fragile equipment lost due to lack of maintenance.

“As we speak, all the books in the library are packed in the Principal’s Office as there was nowhere to keep them.

“The JS 3 students now sit at the Examination Hall, which is the only building with its roof intact. We have been appealing to the Post-Secondary School Management Board, PPSMB, to repair the buildings to no avail,” Eze said.

"However, the state government under the administration of Sullivan Chime, had awarded a N3. 6 billion contract for the renovation of about 400 primary and secondary schools, which was not executed, caus-

ing friction between the government and the then state House of Assembly led by the former Speaker, Hon. Eugene Odo.

They said that students were withdrawing from the school in droves for other private and more expensive schools in other communities due to lack of classrooms, staff rooms, laboratories and libraries among others

Journalists bury 2 of their own same day

By Chiaka Opara OVEMBER 27, 2015, was a black Friday for journalists and lawyers in Enugu State as they buried two of their colleagues on the same day.

Those buried were Mr. Cyprian Madu and Innocent Chibueze Alumona, both lawyers/ journalists.

Madu was a veteran journalist, who worked with the stateowned Daily Star newspaper from where he also studied law to qualify as a lawyer.

Although information about Madu was scanty, Alumona

N

was born to the family of late Chief Alumona of Alor Agu in 1964.

Chibueze or Golden Voice, as he was popularly known, studied Mass Communication at the Enugu State owned Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, before he got employment with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, also before he qualified as a lawyer.

According to Chibueze’s family, he was the fifth son and eighth child of his family.

“He grew up a cheerful, vibrant, intelligent and disciplined child, who was always meticulous in all ramifications.

"He did his secondary education at the prestigious Igboeze Secondary School, Enugu Ezike, where he was outstanding in both academic and other curricular activities.

"He obtained his Higher National Diploma, HND, before he bagged an LLB (Hons) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School.

"Chibueze joined the FRCN in 1992 after a stint with the Ministry of Information, Enugu.

He was to take over as Deputy Director, Programmes, FRCN, Enugu, having occupied the post of Assistant Director, Pro-

grammes for several years before his death.

"Chibueze was instrumental to the to the establishment of Salt FM station at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State as well as the pioneer General Manager, Voice FM, Nsukka, all owned by the FRCN. "He was also a unionist, who believed in due process and “doing it right,” while he was the chairman of RATTAWU, FRCN chapter from 2003 to 2008.

"He was also, the president, Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship Int’l, FRCN, Enugu chapter." they said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 3

Andy Uba fights child mortality with Vitamin A supplement

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA — THOUSANDS of children and women of child bearing age in Anambra State are benefitting from the distribution of Vitamin A supplement and worm tablets sponsored by the Senator Andy Uba Foundation in 31 political wards selected from the three senatorial zones of the state.

The Foundation had earlier sponsored the training of 96 health care volunteers and is also sponsoring them to carry out the distribution exercise in the hard –to –reach areas of Anambra State.

Drugs for the exercise were donated by two non-governmental organizations, namely, ‘Malaria Eradication and Safe Health Initiative of Nigeria’ and ‘Shoulder for Gender Support and Development Initiative.’

A director of Andy Uba Foundation, Dr. Charles Nweke told South East Voice during the monitoring of the distribution exercise at Azia in Ihiala Local Government Area that the Foundation’s decision to make the distribution coincide with this year’s second Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week was due to the concern of Senator Uba that many parts of the state were usually not reached during the rou-

Beneficiaries of Andy Uba Vitamin A supplement at Azia Health Centre tine immunization and drug distribution by government.

The sponsorship of the exercise, he added, was in keeping with the Foundation’s desire to ensure that infant mortality and morbidity was drastically reduced in the state.

Available statistics show that there is infant mortality of 82 per 1000 among one year olds, 121 deaths per 1,000 of children

below five years and 37 deaths per 1,000 births.

According to Nweke, Senator Uba was worried about the situation and decided through his Foundation to redress it, describing the figures as unacceptable.

“This programme is not a political gimmick and the senator had promised that the exercise will be sustained,” he said.

South East Voice discovered dur-

ing the monitoring exercise that many volunteers deliberately avoided going to some communities because of bad terrain, thereby denying the target population the much needed health care services.

Some of the women, who brought their children for the exercise at Azia Health Centre, said that over the years, they only heard about the distribution of

the Vitamin A supplement and other drugs on the radio, adding that it was only when Senator Uba got involved in the exercise that their community was remembered.

Mrs. Prisca Nnadi, who brought her nine month –old baby for the Vitamin A supplement commended the chairman of Board of Directors of Malaria Eradication and Safe Health Initiative, Dr. Dennis Arobodor for attracting the Andy Uba Foundation to Azia community and urged him not to relent.

She said that with the commencement of the distribution of Vitamin A supplement and other medical inputs in their community, their children would no longer suffer malnutrition, while pregnant women would henceforth be having access to the right medical facility on a regular basis.

Coordinator of the programme in the nine centres in Azia where the programme took place, Mrs. Lillian Ukachukwu said the health centre in the area was facing a lot of challenges, and urged Senator Uba and the agencies involved in the exercise to sustain the programme in the interest of the rural people, "who do have the resources to seek for medical treatment in private hospitals."

Community Projects: Imo Assembly has failed us – CSO

BY CHINONSO ALOZIE

O

WERRI — A NonGovernmental Organisation, NGO - Centre for Citizens Integrated Development and Social Rights, CCIDESOR, has blamed what it described as “poor oversight functions,” by the

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

Francis Igata, Enugu Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

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

Imo State lawmakers over the “increase of uncountable number of abandoned projects in the state."

The CCIDESOR said that its findings between 2010 and 2014 showed that in various communities a lot of projects initiated by the state government were abandoned due to lack of oversight functions by the members of the legislature.

The Coordinator of CCIDESOR, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, who spoke for the NGO in an interview with South East Voice o n the issue said: “We wish to bring to public notice the number of abandoned projects across Imo State in the last five years.

We carried out investigations between 2010- 2014 and the report will be released to members of the public soon.

"We observed that the priorities of various communities in the state had never been captured by their representatives.

"Even where they were captured such projects were never completed. He said what necessitated the project was to draw the attention of the government to the unbelievable number of abandoned projects that could have impacted positively on the lives of rural dwellers if complet-

ed.

"It was also to use the opportunity to enlighten the members of the public on the need for the electorate to form it as a political behaviour to elect vibrant and active representatives that had the interest of their people at heart.

He also emphasized the need for the lawmakers to include their communities in the budget preparation to reduce people’s sufferings.

Ononamadu further said: "Going by the state’s population increase rate of 3.5 per cent, it is dangerous to have 28 per cent of capital projects abandonment rate and 42.1 per cent rate of

The aim for which most of us clamoured for privatization appears elusive. We thought the issue of load shedding and nonavailability of prepaid meters would be a thing of the past by now. As it is, it is dawning on us that the situation is a culture of theDISCOs to rip us off

delayed completion.

"Considering the state's poor external and internal revenue base, coupled with its outstanding huge debt profile, and the need to address the development needs of the people, spending huge state resources on projects, without completing them, was wasteful and denied the people development.

"It is not in doubt that successive administration in Imo State, during the period under review (2010-2014) had made efforts to provide infrastructural facilities for communities in the state.

"However, quite a good number of these projects end up not being completed within the projected period or completely abandoned.

"Oftentime, when completed, the quality of work is poor. The percentage of project completion and abandonment was worrisome and cannot help the state to develop at the same rate with others.

"Government did not adequately- if ever, consult communities or carry them along in order to capture their priorities, before initiating and commencing projects in the communities.

“Therefore, many of these

projects do not address or satisfy the needs of the benefiting communities, even as neglected communities engage in hypocritical praises so as to ensure that government, instead of the people have its way.

"The process of award of contracts was often not transparent and the cost of implementation was often not known, thus it was not clear whether value for money was achieved."

On possible solutions to the development challenges, he said: '’The Imo State House of Assembly should wake up to its constitutional and legislative duties and engage in oversight functions for the development of the state.

"They should engage their constituents during budget preparations to ensure that their priorities are captured.

The legislators should partner with members of their communities, and other voluntary and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in the area of project implementation and monitoring.

"This will provide an opportunity for citizens to participate in governance and restore citizens’ confidence in government and consolidate their hope in democracy,” he added.

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

DECEMBER 16, 2015

Dozzy boss, wife dedicate school to late mother ...plans massive scholarships for indigent people … says all successes come from God

•School building •Dozzy and wife during the dedication of the school building

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA — A philanthropist and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Dozzy Group Limited, Chief Daniel Chukwudozie is now working out modalities to give massive scholarship awards to certain categories of people in the society through his newly completed Lady Hannah Model Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools, established in honour of his late mother, Hannah Chukwudozie.

Chukwudozie, who spoke,

weekend, during the dedication of the school by the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo at Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, said the scholarship programme would take effect soon.

According to Chukwudozie, who is also the proprietor of Dozzy Plastics and Dozzy Oil and Gas: "I am happy to have completed the school and opened it in honour of my late mother and the next thing I will consider is to work out modalities to give scholarships to most of the indigent persons, who do not have access to education.

•Priests during the dedicatiion.

He recalled that his late mother had worked so hard in the Lord's vineyard that God honoured her, adding that in the life of a man or woman, what mattered most is what people say about you and not how much you have.

He added that everybody has his/her own peculiar problem which money alone cannot solve except with God. He noted that “God is so faithful that when one has a covenant with Him and keeps to his/her side of the covenant, God will not only keep His own but also honour such a person abundantly, as exemplified in my late mother's case, who his now been honoured by both God and humanity.

In his speech, a community leader, a guest on the occasion, Chief Nwabueze Umeh, commended Chukwudozie for building such schools for the people but expressed concern that governments at all levels were not doing enough to promote education in the country.

Earlier at the dedication ceremony, Bishop Nwokolo had also, commended Chukwudozie for voting such a huge amount of money to promote education, adding that no amount of honour would be too much for a virtuous mother like his, who lived a fulfilled life and died as a saint.

NBA honours Anambra CJ, Senator Anah, others Continued from Page 1 branch of the NBA which took place at Neni in the state with the theme: "Nigeria's SelfInflicted Judicial Wounds, the Calamitous Consequences of Legal Practice and SANs as the Stabilizing Guidance of Legal

Theory."

In his remarks, Justice Umeadi who was chairman of the opening ceremony, called on various heads of governments in the states to release judiciary votes to heads of the judiciary in their

areas to guarantee judicial autonomy.

Umeadi noted that a situation where the constitution provided for funds for the Judiciary but the Executive withheld such funds did not augur well for the desired

independence and advancement of the judiciary.

He attributed the incessant strikes embarked upon by the JUSUN, as was currently applicable in the state, leading to the closure of courts to

Mrs Ugwuanyi empowers 100 farmers

By UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE

T

HE WIFE of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi has empowered 100 unemployed youths, women and farmers to enhance socio-economic development in the state.

The farmers, drawn from the 17 local government councils of the state, were trained in cassava multiplication, production and processing, improved rice production, modern bee keeping and honey production and processing.

Others are snail farming, fish production and processing. The entrepreneurship/vocational training was anchored by Federal Government in partnership C M Y K

Mrs. Monica Ugwanyi

with the office of the wife of the Enugu state governor.

The governor’s wife donated starter packs including fingerlings, snails as well as big plastic containers just as she donated unspecified amounts of money to the beneficiaries to enable them to take off.

Addressing the beneficiaries of the scheme at Cooperative College, Enugu, Mrs. Ugwuanyi charged them to make judicious use of the opportunity in line with the theme, 'Empowerment for Self-Reliance and Increase Food Production.'

Mrs. Ugwuanyi noted that no nation can survive without adequate food production, adding that people are now gradually shifting attention to the agricultural sector since the downturn in oil sector of the economy.

She expressed hope that the empowerment scheme would arouse the passion of farmers towards greater height, as she looked forward to seeing Enugu State farmers exporting their agricultural produce to other countries of the world.

In a remark, the Provost of Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Prof. Justina Mgbada affirmed that the gesture would help uplift the status of farmer’s socio-economic development.

According to Mgbada, the credit for the exercise goes to Mrs. Ugwuanyi for her presence, interest and effort towards the welfare of employed youths, women and farmers in the state, urging the beneficiaries not to disappoint the office of the first lady.“

government’s insensitivity to the constitutional provisions for judiciary autonomy.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of Anaocha branch of NBA, Chris Adimora had explained that they had tinkered with the topic: "The compensatory rights of non-northern Nigerian victims of Boko Haram: The position of the law," adding that Igbo governors should make a case for the millions of Igbo refugees who were displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to Adimora, "Even though the Igbo victims are not in camps that litter northern states, does it mean that after losing their lives, goods and property, they won't still be regarded as victims of Boko Haram insurgency just because they were not in the IDP camps?"

Also speaking, Vice President of Pan African Lawyers' Union, PALU and one of the founding fathers of the NBA branch, Mr. Emeka Obegolu urged stakeholders in the judiciary to come together to make the judiciary truly independent, adding that the funds due to the judiciary should be given to it as contained in the constitution.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 25

Osimhen to seal EPL deal N

•Osimhen

igeria U-17 star Victor Osimhen has jetted out to England, where he is expected to seal a deal with a top English Premier League side, according to officials.

The youngster flew out to England from Dakar, Senegal, after he helped Nigeria win the U-23 AFCON crown.

A source close to the striker said at a time:”Everything has been agreed with an EPL club and only a crazy deal from Real Madrid will scuttle this.”

Osimhen, who netted a recordbreaking 10 goals as Nigeria won a fifth U-17 World Cup in Chile, has been linked with several top European clubs.

It was earlier reported that EPL club Tottenham Hotspur had agreed all terms with the 17-year-old striker, but his representatives later dismissed this.

Nigerian league kicks off next month

T

HE new Nigeria league sea son is scheduled to kick off next month so as to get the country’s clubs on the continent could get ready for both the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup. Speculations were rife that the new league season will only begin after the CHAN in Rwanda, which is between January 16 and February 7.

“The league will not wait for 23

players (who will make the final squad for the CHAN) to start. We need to get going so that our clubs in the Champions League and the Confederation Cup will get some matches under their belt before their preliminary matches in February,” a top official disclosed.

Today’s Nigeria Football Federation Annual General Assembly will ratify a proposed January kick-off date for the new season.

Barca to have fun against Arsenal

We´d be favourites if we beat Bayern – Allegri J

UVENTUS coach Massimiliano Allegri believes getting past Bayern Munich would represent a significant step towards winning the Champions League.

“Bayern are one of the best teams in the world,” he said. “Getting past them would make us one of the favourites for the Champions League.

“The game with Bayern is a long way off though.

For now, we will focus on the more immediate future.”

Next up for Juve is a Coppa Italia clash with city rivals Torino on Wednesday.

“We haven’t won two [successive] Coppa Italia trophies since 1959/60 so it’s a feat we are hoping to pull off,” he added.

“Both of tomorrow’s teams are in good shape

and it’s a one-off game so it will be very different from a Serie A encounter.”

Allegri is expected to make a raft of changes with striker Paulo Dybala and veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon likely to be left out.

“Paulo could be rested, he has played a lot of games recently.

Two from [Simone] Zaza, [Mario] Mandzukic and [Alvaro] Morata will play,” he said.

“Hernanes has taken part in almost all the training sessions so we’ll see if he’s fit.

Neto and Daniele Rugani will play. Juan Cuadrado did well against Fiorentina. If he doesn’t start he’ll be an important option off the bench.”

•Barcelona team

I

•Allegri

t was the Champions League draw we all expected and as Barcelona were pulled out of the hat to face Arsenal, not one single Gooner was surprised.

Speaking to Barcelona’s official website, Barca’s Technical Secretary, Robert Fernandez, said “The tie is going to be open and very tough. “[Arsene Wenger] has a very good team, magnificent players and they play good

football. We’re going to have fun.

“We have to be very sharp in the first game. It is vital to get a good result there. Their philosophy is like ours,” he added. Quite what is going to happen in the tie depends on what players Arsenal have available.

If all goes to plan (ha!) then we should have a number of key players back from injury, including Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere.

UCL: Vidal eyes Juve final Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal is relishing the Champions League clash with former club Juventus – although he admits he would have preferred to face them in the final.

He told Bild: “They are very strong. They had a few teething problems at the start of the season, but that was to be expected because they changed many players.

“I would have preferred [to have played them] in the final.”

The tie will also have added significance for Kingsley Coman, who joined Bayern on a two-year loan deal from Juve in the close-season.

“It will be a great match,” he said. “I am looking forward to it, I came to Bayern to play in these great games. “

•Vidal

CDF launches boxing ‘Potential’ V T

Minister of Youth and sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung recently visited the National Stadium, Surulere where he was received at the Tennis section by members of the Mainland Tennis Club. Vice President of the club, Mr Tochukwu Okeke makes a presentation to the minister

he Child Dignity Foundation, CDF, is set to hold the forth edition of its kid boxing development programme tagged ‘Potential.’

Billed for the Brai Ayonote Boxing Gym, National Stadium, Lagos, today, the sports empowerment project aims at encouraging children with sporting talents to pursue their dreams.

Chief Executive of the foundation, Mrs Amaka Awogu, promises that the 2015 edition of the children

boxing competition will be bigger and better to build on the successes of previous editions.

“During our first edition a female boxing talent was discovered. She is currently on scholarship with Lagos State and we are hoping that in this edition also, more talents will be discovered and scholarships awarded to them. This is in line with our objective of inspiring and supporting every child to build self esteem and achieve

prosperity with their talents.”

The event attracts top sports personalities including boxing legends and coaches like Adura Lanlehin, Obisia Nwankpa Jerry Okorodudu who have continued to function as mentors and guides for the kid boxers.

The CDF focusses on child protection, development and advocacy with commitment to the well being of children especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds regardless of gender, creed or race.

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26—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

‘Why cybersecurity law needs urgent amendment’

Rack Centre, first African firm to win DCD award

PAGE 28

PAGE 28

ICT Devt Index: Implications of Nigeria’s low ranking

By Emeka Aginam

N

IGERIA was ranked low in the 2015 edition of Information and Communication Technology Development Index, IDI, released recently by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Although the country’s IDI grew from 1.96 per cent in 2010 to 2.61 in 2015, which is still below the five percent global standard, the country was ranked 134th out of 167 countries examined.

This development, according to players in the Nigerian ICT sector has far-reaching implications for a country striving to attain digital economy in the 21st century global competitiveness.

This is even considering that among all African countries, Nigeria ranked lowest. Mauritius, which came in second, following closely behind overall first, Korea, ranked highest among African countries.

Seychelles was ranked 87th, growing to 4.96 per cent from 3.98 per cent in 2010, while South Africa was third from the continent, ranking 88th, after moving from 3.65 per cent in 2010 to 4.90 percent in 2015. Tunisia ranked 93rd, rising from 3.62 percent growth in IDI in 2010 to 4.73 percent in 2015.

The latest report by ITU put Morocco at the 99th position. The country moved from 3.55 per cent to 4.47 per cent within the last five years.

Egypt was at the 100th position, growing from 3.48 per cent in 2010 to 4.40 percent. Ghana is next at

TELECOMS:

It’s no longer business as usual, NCC warns operators ••As N1.04trn fine reduction continues to attract reactions

By Prince Osuagwu

A

HEAD of the December 31, 2015 deadline, which the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, gave MTN Nigeria to pay a N780 billion fine for refusal to disconnect some 5.1 million improperly registered subscribers on its network, the regulator is also warning all the telecom operators to get their acts right because it is no longer going to be business as usual.

The commission said it has discovered that dealing with

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the operators with kid gloves will breed impunity, capable of retarding development in the sector.

Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Mr Tony Ojobo, said that the operators should take the MTN fine as a warning against flagrantly disrespecting laid down rules and laws governing their operations in the country.

He warned that the commission would not hesitate to come down hard on erring operators, not only to protect the operators themselves, but

the subscribers and the operating environment as a whole.

“If you don’t create room for punishment," said Ojobo, it can lead to impunity. So you have to apply the law to show that you are dispassionate, not biased, but following the rule of engagement.

According to him, “there is a signal now that it won't be business as usual. We have received accolades worldwide and cannot now make a mess of ourselves back home. The way we manage this situation

sends signals outside, on how we are operating our services here. If you don’t sanction, there are consequences.

“This sanction is good for us because it will instil discipline, move our market forward, sanitise our operating environment, and also show that the regulators are alive to their responsibilities in the sense that we don’t have Continues on page 28

•President Buhari on page 28 Continues

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015—27

60 Nigerians to become millionaires through Airtel

By Prince Osuagwu

I

F all goes according to plan for Airtel Nigeria, it would have made millionaires out of sixty Nigerians, and offered 240 more an all expense paid trip to Dubai at the end of this year’s new launched Red Hot promo.

The reward initiative, which is the third in the series, will create exciting opportunities for telecoms consumers across the country as sixty Nigerians will win an amazing Emirates Holiday in Dubai for themselves and any three of their loved ones. Each of the sixty lucky winners will then choose the other three persons who will accompany them on this allexpense paid trip to Dubai.

To add to the excitement, Airtel will create sixty instant millionaires over sixty days by giving out, one million Naira in daily draws over the next sixty days.

The telco added that everyone – customers and telecoms consumers - stand a chance to win big as the promo offers lots of opportunities and prizes, including millions in airtime, smartphones and other mouthwatering prizes.

Announcing the initiative at a press conference in Lagos recently, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Mokhles, said the tel-

co is committed to connecting Nigerians to their dreams and providing credible platforms and spring boards for telecoms consumers achieve their greatness.

“Airtel’s RedHot Promo is a reward programme that seeks to excite and delight Nigerians.

It demonstrates our commitment to rewarding our customers for their continuing patronage and loyalty while also welcoming new users to our network,” he said.

To participate and win in the Red Hot promo, customers need to accumulate points by recharging his/her line, buying any TalkMore bundle, buying any data bundles, registering

Airtel will create sixty millionaires over sixty days by giving out,one million Naira in daily draws over the next sixty days

•LG OLED TV

LG promises more innovative technologies in 2016

By Laju Iren

E

LECTRONICS giant, LG has said that 2016 will undoubtedly be an exciting year for the company, as it looks to integrate the various business areas where the company currently is a player. By uniting these disparate strands, LG says that it aims to make the lives of consumers more modern, trendier, and generally better. ‘’LG will focus on remaining a trendsetter,” said General Man-

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ager, Home Appliances division, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Hyunwoo Jung.

“In the coming year, LG OLED TV will become more affordable for the everyday consumer. But because OLED is still relatively new, the manufacturing cost and purchase price has been cost prohibitive for the great majority of consumers. But now that proper infrastructure is in place, LG OLED TV is primed to break the 2000 dollar barrier,” added Jung.

LG also posits that the coming

Mr. Abiodun Adio, winner of Airtel Red Hot Promo Season 2, receiving the keys to a brand new Range Rover from Airtel officials for Access Money or even calling 141 (MAMO) With a point-based system, customers can improve their chances of winning by increasing their recharges. A higher recharge earns customers more points and puts them in a better position to win big in the promo. For instance, airtime recharge between N100 - N199 will give a customer one point, while N200 – N499 recharge will earn a customer 3 points.

A recharge between N500 N999 will give customer 10 points, while N1000 – 4999 will get customer 25 points.

To get 60 points, customers need airtime recharge of N5000 year will see HDR move out of its infancy and make further strides towards becoming the industry standard. With HDR, TVs can display an incredibly wide dynamic range of brightness, greatly enhancing color contrast ratio and making OLED’s perfect blacks appear even blacker.

In fact, by 2019 global shipments of HDR TVs are predicted to exceed 32 million, a clear indicator that the technology will have increasing appeal over the next few years.

The new LG V10 improves upon the G4’s top-of-the-line camera by adding high calibre video features and intuitive editing software that can produce professional-looking pictures and video in just seconds.

These features and the intuitive second screen make the V10 a perfect fit for today’s young social media driven consumers.

LG believes that increased reliance on smartphones will lead to changes in how the device is used, and the V10 shows how the company is looking ahead to meet future demands.

and above. Bundle subscriptions such as Talkmore, Premier Connect, data bundle, Android bundle, SMS bundle, International or Roaming bundle gets 10 points each.

Roaming bundle With just Access Money Registration or MAMO fulfillment of bundles, a customer can score 20 points, while a transaction on Access Money, MAMO call in, use of extra credit or Value Added Subscriptions like Magic Voice, Airtel Radio earns a subscriber 10 points each.

To check the points earned, customers are expected to send POINTS as text to 576. The points scored by customers are accumulated throughout the promo.The Airtel Red Hot Promo, which runs from the 4th of December 2015 to the 1st of February 2016, is open to all customers.

Recall that truck driver, Abiodun Adio, won the grand prize of a 2015 Range Rover Vogue in the Season 2, while Danjuma Ibrahim Yakubu, a National Assembly correspondent with Radio Nigeria Precious FM, in Lafia, Nasarawa State, emerged winner of the N10m grand prize in the Season 1.

Spectranet subscribers to get Double Data this season

By Laju Iren

I

NTERNET Service Provider, Spectranet 4G LTE, has commenced a special promotion to reward its loyal customers this season with a double data offer.

The company said the offer, which will run throughout the month of December, is part of the brand’s tactical activity to celebrate subscribers that express affinity with the brand.

Spectranet’s Head of Marketing, Mr. Mike Ogor, in a press release to mark the launch of the promotion recently, said that subscribers will enjoy one hundred percent bonus of renewed data within the month of December.

Spectranet’s rollover plan His words: “It is an offer that works very well with Spectranet’s Data Rollover plan. With this, any unused data accumulated during the period will be carried over to the next month

so long as the customer renews the account on time.”

The Company’s Managing Director, Mr. David Venn, value driven nature of the brand is what inspired the promotion.

He said: “We are encouraging subscribers to take advantage of building up data stored for subsequent use at a later date in the coming year without spending more but rather getting twice the data for normal price.”

“We want our subscribers to have enough data to reach out to their friends and loved ones this holiday period by staying connected with a faster connection. Spectranet 4G LTE brand positioning in the market is very strategic as a quality brand with huge consideration for the pocket of the consumers. We are very conscious of quality, as we end the 2015 year we are bonding with our consumers to have a wonderful experience at this time of the year,” he concluded.

28—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

ICT Devt Index: Implications of Nigeria’s low ranking

‘Why cybersecurity law needs urgent amendment’

By Emmanuel Elebeke

W

ITH the liberalization of the Nigeria’s telecom sector in 2001, the country’s communication landscape came alive, closing the wide gap between Nigeria and the rest of the world.

This opened up the telecom market for all kinds of technology devices, such as desktops, laptops, palmtops, handheld devices as well as software applications.

Consequently, Nigeria did not only become t echnologically savvy but also a very active nation in the cyberspace, giving rise to all kinds of online transactions, website visits, electronic shopping among other online activities.

Online fraudsters however, took advantage of the vulnerability cyberspace to perpetrate all kinds of cybercrimes. The security agencies swooped into action to save the nation from the rising wave of cyber-criminality but the absence of extant laws that specify punishment for offenders became a major challenge.

The absence of this law resulted in giving Nigeria a bad name before the international community until October last year, when the National Assembly passed the long awaited bill into law and the subsequent ascent into law by the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

However, Managing Director and CEO, Jidaws Systems

Limited, Mr. Jide Awe has faulted the new Cybercrime law, saying it lacked specifics in the implementation direction.

Awe, said proper consultation was not carried by the 7th Assembly before passing the bill into law and now requires stakeholders input to correct the lapses created in the hasty passage of the bill into law.

“My own opinion of the law is that it is necessary for us to have a full debate over the issue. We need to be very specific on who is in-charge of the implementation of the law for enforcement. It is one of the laws that did not specify a single implementation agency.”

He also faulted the law for trying to cover everything but noted that the way penalties are AWARD: From left: Director of Operations, Ezekiel Egboye, Business Devt Director, Howard Pheby, all of Rack Centre and Vice President IT Business, Schneider Electric, Arun Shenoy at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel, where Rack Centre won the 2015 Data Centre Dynamics Award for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Continues from page 26 109th position. It grew its IDI from 1.98 per cent in 2010 to 3.90 per cent in the last five years.

Other African countries ahead of Nigeria include Algeria at 113th position; Namibia 118th; Kenya 124th; Sudan 126th; Zimbabwe and Lesotho 127th and 128th respectively.

The Republic of Korea was ranked at the top of ITU’s IDI, a composite measurement that ranks the 167 countries according to their level of ICT access, use and skills. Republic of Korea is closely followed by Denmark and Iceland, in second and third place.

According to the report, the IDI top 30 ranking included countries from Europe and high-income nations from other regions including Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Canada, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Macao (China), New Zealand, Singapore and the United States. Almost all countries surveyed improved their IDI ranking this year.

Following the low ranking for Nigeria, stakeholders in the Nigerian ICT sector have

Rac irirsst African co ar d Rackk centre, ffir coyy ttoo win DCD aw awar ard

By Laju Iren

N

IGERIA’s premiere tier three data centre provider, Rack Centre, has won the Data Centre Impact award at the 2015 Data Centre Dynamics Award for Europe, Middle East and Africa, EMEA, becoming the first African company to do so.

Rack Centre was also shortlisted for the second year running in the Data Centre Modular Deployment category.

The award in the EMEA area category was announced in a well-attended gala night in

London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel at the weekend.

Organisers of the awards, Datacentre Dynamics referred to the award as the ‘Oscars’ of the data centre business. Chief Executive Officer of Datacentre Dynamics, Mr. George Rockett said: “In this complex and competitive market, there comes few greater accolades than to be awarded one of the ‘Oscars’ through the rigorous judging of an independent panel of industry experts. Past winners have included many of the worldwide brands and every

shortlisted finalist shares recognition for their exceptional performance and contribution to the market.”

Managing Director of Rack Centre, Mr. Ayotunde Coker, commenting on the award described it as “humbling to be recognised by one’s peers and colleagues in this way.

“We made a commitment to run Rack Centre as a world class facility, and according to be best standard with creative and innovative solutions supported by the best people."

reacted. While many believe that the country can leapfrog from the current stage if broadband policy, infrastructural challenges, among others were resolved, others say that Nigeria at its current state of technology development should not have allowed its ranking dip so abysmally.

Broadband challenges: President of the Nigerian Computer Society, Prof. Sola Aderoumu called for urgent push for comprehensive broadband access all over the country.

Identifying the challenges “We are calling on the FG to look at the National Broadband Plan, which is the major thing now, identify the challenges and gaps if there are, resolve them and ensure faster implementation. NCS is ready to partner with FG to actualise this”, he explained.

Also speaking, the former Information Technology Association of Nigeria, ITAN, President, Chris Uwaje said that Nigeria’s low ranking in ICT development index showed that the country’s national IT strategy was faulty.

He added that it is not working and will continue to be so until Nigeria actively promotes a Software Technology, backed by legislation .

“We need a national software Policy and legislation now. Also, we must allow IT Professionals to run and implement National IT policy and strategy”, he noted.

For the Chairman of the Africa ICT Alliance, AfICTA, Jimson Olufuye, Nigeria was ranked low principally because it is yet to attain her full potentials in the use of ICTs.

It’s no longer business as usual, NCC warns operators Continues from page 26

any preferences when our regulations are abused. What we have applied is a carrot and stick approach. The stick was the sanction, the carrot was the waiver of 25percent” he added.

The controversy surrounding the unprecedented One trillion, four hundred million Naira fine the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, slammed on MTN Nigeria for allegedly not being able to disconnect about 5.1 million improperly registered subscribers on its network, appeared settled, last week, when the regulator reduced the fine by 25 percent.

However, the commission’s decision to reduce the fine and the figure at which it arrived at, have also elicited reactions from the Nigerian public. Although, notable Information technology practitioners have refrained from making comments on the whole issue, they however, expressed optimism that the telecommunications company C M Y K

would show good corporate practice by paying the fine as reduced.

Those who pleaded to be left out of the debate, argued that the sensitive nature of the fine makes industry players’ opinion very implicating.

One of them told our reporters: "We are praying that these whole issue comes to rest. There are a lot of implications in commenting on the issue. Both MTN and NCC are very important industry stakeholders who we all do businesses with. Besides, their contributions to the growth of the sector is not hidden. So we can only pray that things are resolved amicably” Meanwhile, social commentators and avid industry watchers are not looking at those considerations. An army of Vanguard online community participants among other social media commentators who said they’ve been monitoring the issue from day one, do not want their voices lost in the whole

saga.

While some cautioned the NCC to tread softly considering MTN’s level of investment in the country, others condemned the commission for even daring to reduce the fine. For them, some foreign organisations who have their businesses in Nigeria are wont to engaging in some practices they would never attempt in their home countries and so the earlier Nigeria showed that the country was not where anything goes, the better for her business economy.

The stick was the sanction, the carrot was the waiver of 25percent

However, in defence of the fine and its 25 percent reduction, the commission said it used the carrot and stick method so that the balance already achieved in the industry will not be distorted.

According to Ojobo, “before now people have said that the reason why we have had these infractions in this industry is because the penalties were just a slap on the wrist and there was need for us to review our guidelines. And we actually discovered over time, that for some people it was easy for them to pay the penalty and get away with the infraction, so in 2011, when the decision was reached on the guidelines for SIM card deactivation, all stakeholders agreed and thought it wise to embark on such an action in the light of the security challenges we are having in the country today, and so there was a need for a kind of penalty that will be a disincentive to anyone operating in this environment to willfully commit infractions”

He stated that “after the fine, however, MTN wrote the commission, acknowledging that there has been an infraction and are now pleading for leniency from the commission. In the past we have also had people plead for leniency on their sanctions.

As at the time MTN pleaded, the NCC board has not been constituted and there was no Minister. So the authority of the president was required for such a decision to be taken in the absence of the minister, and so the commission had to notify the presidency.

“The stakeholders looked at it with all the pros and cons and reduced the fine by 25 percent.

We are aware and conscious of the level of investment MTN have made in this market; they have the largest number of subscribers, it is also important to know that Nigeria remains their biggest market. We have taken all into considerations, and that was what even informed the discussion in the first place.”

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, DECEMBER 16, 2015—29 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

My mum’s affairs embarrass me

Why is she always texting my husband?

Dear Bunmi, I noticed my husband checking his mobile phone from time to time. I had a look at it and found a text message from a woman he works with.

There wasn’t anything obscene in it, but I thought it odd she was sending him texts wishing him the best of the festive season.

I challenged him about it and he said they’d become really close friends but that nothing was going on. It turns out they have lunch together at least three times a week at a buka close to their office and often attend staff parties together.

He swears nothing has happened and that she’s just a platonic friend. I accepted what

he said because I believe men and women can be friends but had noticed he’s becoming increasingly distant. I have this feeling he discusses our marriage with her and that makes me feel uncomfortable.

Am I being silly and blaming the rift in our marriage on this when he could just be going off me? Do you think I should ask him to stop being friends with this woman if he’s not doing anything wrong?

Rolake, by e-mail.

Dear Rolake, What you’re currently experiencing is what is called emotional infidelity: It is not an actual affair because nothing

Is it possible to orgasm together?

Dear Bunmi, My boyfriend and I couldn’t keep our hands off each other and we would want to make the most of our compatibility.

He said it is possible for us to orgasm together, but it takes me a long time to get there compared to him. Do you have any tips to enhance our coming together?

Thanks!

Susie, by e-mail.

Dear Susie, The questions some of you ask could be quite adventurous ones! To help you here, I had to ask an expert who told me you’ve got two options. Your man can

slow down by stopping thrusting as he gets near climax, withdrawing and holding just under the tip of his organ for a moment until the feeling subsides. .

Or you can speed things up for yourself with lots of foreplay. It is a fact that kissing is good for you. A kiss releases stress-relieving hormones, while the extra saliva generated helps prevent tooth decay.

A minute-long tonguetwister burns 26 calories as well. So kiss away so you can relax!

Being tense is bound to prevent your getting your much-desired orgasms as early as you wish.

physical has happened. But there’s a level of intimacy here that can be dangerous for the primary relationship, in this case your marriage. It’s a fact that we’re closest to the people who know the most about us.

Your husband is investing a lot of time and energy into this ‘platonic’ relationship and it’s disturbing that he’s discussing his feelings for you with her.

Now ask yourself: If he should see you doing whatever it is he’s doing, would he be upset?

I think you’ve been remarkably tolerant sensing even your husband would grudgingly admit you wouldn’t like a lot of the conversations they have, and the intimacy.

Nothing physical has happened yet, but the likelihood is there, especially now he’s suddenly become distant as a result of this friendship. You need to sit with your husband and tell him how concerned you are about your marriage and how he feels about you. Don’t bring the friend in yet, just talk about how he’s becoming distant and ask if he’s getting what he needs from your marriage.

Then ask him why he hasn’t asked you to meet this woman if there’s nothing going on. Ask if he could invite her to the house for a drink. If it’s all above board, he won’t hesitate to take you up on the offer. If it isn’t, he’ll react like a slippery eel and come up with all sorts of reasons why it’s not a good idea. Trust your instincts.

Hopefully a direct conversation will give you some answers but be rest assured you aren’t being silly or imagining things.

Emotional infidelity is a very real threat.

She’s unfaithful with her man’s dad Dear Bunmi, My 23 years old niece is sleeping with her boyfriend’s father while the boyfriend is away studying for his masters at the university in another state. She grew up in a oneparent family and I think this is responsible for her behaviour.

When her boyfriend was studying in a near-by state, his father used to drive my niece to see him and I knew he was bent on seducing her.

Now her mum has found texts in her phone of all the type of things they were up to.

He even promised they

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might get married. His wife is down with partial stroke and my niece gives the impression of being fond of this poor unsuspecting woman. I don’t understand how she can fancy a man of almost 50 when she could have her choice of boys her own age. If this gets out, it will destroy the man’s family.

Help!

Stephanie by e-mail.

Dear Stephanie, There is tragedy in the making here and I’m sure your niece is conscious of this.

She finds happiness with a

man who, as you suggested, is in some ways the dad she didn’t grow up with. By sleeping with both father and son, she shows her insecurity.

Instead of condemning her, encourage her to talk about her choices, let her see what could be the cruel outcome of her behaviour.

She’s exploring what she needs from men. If you can, arrange for her to be with friends her own age, male and female, so she could boost he confidence.

The right guidance from you, without sounding judgmental, will make her see the errors of her way.

Dear Bunmi, I am in my thirties, married with two adorable children. I come from what you will term a ‘silver spoon’ family and have parents who were, and still are generous to their children.

The problem is our mother.

We’ve associated her with a string of boy-friends over the years; the fact that she is now a grandmother hasn’t cramped her style at all.

She has recently been associated with my husband’s uncle and this is causing friction between me and my husband.

His uncle’s wife is spoiling for a showdown and is trying to tar me with the same brush as my mother’s. When I eventually tackled mum about this latest affair of hers, she told me it was none of my business what she did and that I should concentrate more on my marriage.

There is no point involving dad as he’s just recovered from a mild stroke. What is more he’s always turned a blind eye to mum’s philandering. How do I get her off my husband’s uncle?

Janet by e-mail.

Dear Janet, You are not exactly talking about teenagers, you know. It takes two to tango and your parents obviously have an open marriage. You have tried your best to call your mum to order, but has your husband had a word with his uncle?

This affair will burn itself out just like other affairs your mum had in the past, but it is about time you children had a word with her.

Discretion, they say, is the better part of valour and age is not exactly on her side.

He lets our son down all the time Dear Bunmi, I fell out with my partner early last year because of his irresponsible attitude.

We have a five-year-old son who he visited at least once a month when we first separated.

Lately, he would talk to the poor boy on phone promising to visit but lets him down most of the time. The boy is now confused and my ex says he’s always too busy at work to find time to visit.

He can’t take him home either as he has a live-in-lover who doesn’t encourage my son’s visits. I’ve talked to him to find time for his son but it hasn’t helped. Should I ask him to stay out of our boy’s life? I don’t want to upset the poor boy further.

Abioia, by e-mail.

Dear Abiola,

Have you ever considered telling your man he needn’t phone before he sees his own son. Now that your son is five, have you talked to him to find out how he really feels about his dad?

Because he lives apart from his dad, their bond will take time to deepen. So encourage whatever contact they have to be together. As your son grows older and comes to know his dad better, they will develop ways of staying in touch that include regular visits as your son could be able to visit his dad unsupervised.

In the meantime, point out to your ex how much he means to his son and how much the boy needs a male influence in his life. With time, you’ll help your ex to discover the pleasure and rewards of being a good father.

Encourage whatever contact they have to be together; as your son grows older and comes to know his dad better, they will develop ways of staying in touch that include regular visits as your son could be able to visit his dad unsupervised

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

attitude which undermines our democracy. I am telling him again, the consequences of dictatorship is the fall of the dictator. It is either he threads softly and remember the same Nigerians who gave him the opportunity after several attempts.

Arms deal: Again, I want to talk about the N2.1bn arms deal. I agree with them; we should all fight corruption.

Why I'll continue to oppose Buhari, APC

Continuing with propaganda

— GOV FAYOSE GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, in this encounter, bares his mind on the setting up of a military panel headed by Maj-Gen Adeniyi Oyebade to look into the roles of the military in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti among other burning national issues. Excerpts:

•Gov Fayose: That military panel was selected for this hatchet job

By Dapo Akinrefon

H

IS take on the Military panel After I won the election, there was this effort to stop the swearing in that generated a lot of controversy. There was one story of photo-chromic military rigging and all that.

After Dr Kayode Fayemi conceded, the All Progressives Congress, APC, still went ahead to challenge it up to the Supreme Court and we still won. The Supreme Court dealt properly with the issue of impeachment and it did not raise issues of whether the elections were won or not. It talked about the issue of certificate that was raised in 2002 and it equally raised the issue of non qualification as a result of impeachment. The court dealt with it all and it was a landmark judgement already reported in all law journals. So, ordinarily, I think this should put paid to all these stories.

An online newspaper generated a report of a conversation and I came out to say that I was part of the conversation, I was the complainant in that conversation.

Why set up a military committee to look into the Ekiti and Osun elections that were adjudged to be free and fair? The Americans and international observers made it very clear that they recommend the way the Ekiti elections were run for subsequent elections.

To my surprise, I heard they set up a panel to look into activities of some military men during the

elections in Ekiti and Osun, that is their choice. To fulfil all righteousness, I sent my Attorney-General and Commissioner for Information to give them information that they may not have. For instance, they might not be privy to the observers' report. If the international community says the elections were free and fair, that the military did well, the military will be on their own if they indict their personnel because of politics.

Criticising Buhari I have been very critical of this government and I will continue to be critical of any government in Nigeria because democracy is about opposition and the government in power. I have no regrets and I am not sorry about my actions. I did not start after Buhari's election, I started before the elections.

I actually told Nigerians not to vote for him (Buhari), I made advertorials and I am still not sorry for that, I still maintain my stand because I envisaged this disobedience of court orders and dictatorship. Forget about those who rule Nigeria but we must be governed by the rule of law.

Those who promoted Buhari to be president, at one time or the other later in this country, will regret, and most of them are already regretting and suffering in silence because when you promote a lion and you don't remember to tame its claws and

jaws, one day you will end up in its stomach.

What they are doing now is that they went to Kaduna, after all submissions, they now want to say the military rigged Ekiti election. So, I want to remind them, they are on the verge of destroying democracy in Nigeria.

Call it fighting corruption but they are on the verge of destroying democracy in Nigeria.

On Kogi election: The Kogi experience is still very fresh. It doesn’t matter which party I belong to but Nigerians, their votes, and their views must be respected; a man did not participate in an election and he is the beneficiary of that election.

If a man is dead he should not enjoy democracy and votes from an election. Automatically, election came, processes followed and a winner must be announced; Wada was supposed to be announced. Now that you have equally chosen not to announce Wada I don't know how you brought somebody else who did not participate in the elections. I must commend Faleke. I am not saying he is the winner but we must commend him for standing out in the midst of this darkness.

God uses a man for a purpose in a given time. Faleke is being used for a purpose in this period of this democracy. Look at what happened in Bayelsa where the military were engaging the electorate physically. It is all over the social media. We will continue to remember Buhari for his antecedents and his current

All I am saying is that the security votes under the National Security Adviser (NSA) is part of the prerogative of the President at a given time to stabilise the country. President Buhari must be bold enough to go beyond Jonathan's tenure and let us look at all the NSA's in office in the last 16 years.

He should go a little further, the Halliburton is there why is he shying away from going there? I am telling you corruption is even higher under Buhari than ever before. We cannot continue with this propaganda and I want to say that Buhari should make public in the last 16 years, finance under the NSA. Ekiti mandate: Ekiti people gave me free mandate to govern them. I am the first person in Ekiti to be governor twice. I am the first Nigerian and Nigerian politician to defeat two incumbent governors at two different attempts. I have records when they talk they say I wore particular type of cloth what is their business. The people that I govern are very happy with me whether I wear tattered clothes.

They are hypocrites, they do something else in dark corners and another one in the open.

They made attempt to make my swearing in impossible but the people rose against them, the went to ensure I was impeached but the people rose against them, they made attempt to the Supreme Court to stop me they were stopped; they are at it again, they want to use military panel.

Would you say that the role of the military for example in Ekiti was perfect or otherwise?

I have been very critical of this government and I will continue to be critical of any government in Nigeria because democracy is about opposition and the government in power

I am not in a position to judge Ekiti election, but we have judgment, opinions about Ekiti election. The international community, the Americans phoned to congratulate me personally and they wrote, it is on their website where they recommended Ekiti election for all elections in Nigeria, the conduct, the handling by the military. They recommended it for the 2015 elections.

You expressed your view about what transpired at the military panel, a decision which you said was going to be pursued up to the Supreme Court and you tried to predict what is likely to happen to your victory at the polls, tell us who are the people behind this plot?

APC, the President himself.

That military panel was selected for this hatchet job. The same military handled the election in Ekiti and Osun. PDP won in Ekiti but APC won in Osun, heavens did not fall. They have a target, but we are waiting for them.

Now that you are perceived as the face of the opposition, are you not worried about your safety?

My brother, forget that one! This year I am 55, I will be 56 next year. If I die today, I have five sons; they will do a big party.

People will console them that your father lived an exemplary life, he was governor twice.

Military panel for hatchet job They will still move on and enjoy my wealth. Those things we fear most happen to us eventually. I am not a coward, life is not about how many years you live but what you stand to represent. Within or outside Ekiti, I don’t use siren.

I don’t carry policeman or DSS about, I don’t need them. If you come you are only wasting your time because I have nothing to hide, there is even no money for anybody to steal.

I stood to fight all through the eight years and as God would have it look, I left October 16, 2006, I came back October 16, 2014. That is instructive that God is with me. The very day the Buhari-administration faces me, his government will come down.

Any government that confronts me will come down, it will not stand the test of time. Why would you muscle everybody because we are opposed to you. I am in PDP and will never go to any other party. I am Ayo Fayose, I was governor without a godfather, I was there for three and half years before Obasanjo took me out. I am back now but Obasanjo is an expired man today, and I am still making impacts. He is expired, he goes to Aso Rock to go and beg every week, prostrating. How many times did Buhari visited him when he was president in Aso Rock? Buhari did not step Aso Rock throughout not even in Council of State meeting.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015—31

My trip to APC — Senator Adighije Obviously my period At RMAFC greatly reduced my political activities. The responsibilities at RMAFC demanded some degree of neutrality

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

H

E is remembered by political historians as the honest man of the Senate, the man who brought sincerity and truth to the fore in the face of the sophisticated twists and turns of many of his contemporaries at the time of one of the most salacious scandals to have swept through the National Assembly.

The narratives of Senator Adighije in the bribe for budget scam of 2004/5 that eventually forced the resignation of Senator Adolphus Wabara as Senate President in April 2005 was a double edged sword that he probably hates to remember.

However, in the eyes of many right minded men of the public it was the sacrifice of a man willing to project truth and sincerity in public office.

Since his eventful stint in the Senate between 2003 and 2007, not much has been heard of Senator Adighije as an attempt to return was frustrated by Senator Nkechi Nwogu, who incidentally as a member of the House of Representatives defeated Adighije and Adighije’s predecessor, Senator Bob

•Adighije Nwanunu.

But Adighije has since 2010 found himself in perhaps more productive grounds as Abia State representative at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMFAC. At the RMAFC, his

professional qualifications as a geologist have also helped him add value to the commission’s job of settling disputes between the states.

Tasked on his experience in the commission, Adighije said: “RMAFC is a mini- Nigeria where every state has a

representative.

The commissioners are all men of honour, tested and groomed in their various disciplines: former senators, House of Representatives member, ambassadors, permanent secretaries. Indeed RMAFC boast of men and women who have achieved quite a lot by way of experience. Inspite of their status, the atmosphere is that of comradeship, patriotism, cooperation and understanding.

Our motto is ‘Nigeria first’.”

On his most memorable experience, the former senator took pride in his role in helping

his native Abia State recover lost funds.

He said: “I am chairman of Indices and Disbursement committee. Under my watch, a new Indices regime for sharing of revenue amongst states and local Govt was successfully undertaken and passed unanimously. I also participated in arriving at a new Revenue Formula which is awaiting presidential nod. On a personal note, I was able to assist Abia State to get refunds for Revenue from Ishimiri oil field and the long ceded 22 oil wells.”

Is he still in politics? “Obviously my period At RMAFC greatly reduced my political activities.

The responsibilities at RMAFC demanded some degree of neutrality, since we needed to be impartial arbiters at the local, state and federal levels.

I am now in APC because the PDP especially at Abia threw democratic principles overboard.

PDP became a one man show where divergent views became ‘treasonable felony',” he said.

Continuing Senator Adighije added: “The PDP leadership in ABIA became ‘tin god’ and intolerant of any differing opinion or view. Prudent management of Resources is the key. The Buhari Administration is already blocking leakages in the Economy and this is the only way- given the diminishing Revenue sources

Making Buhari's change mantra fruitful — ADEFARASIN, OTHERS

By Charles Kumolu

H

AVING been the slogan with which the All Progressives Congress, APC, achieved tremendous success at the last general election, it is not surprising that many want to see the change mantra translate into socio-economic prosperity.

While the possibility of such national transformation would have been achieved through collaborative undertakings between the Federal Government and the citizenry, Nigerians characteristically expect much from the Federal Government in that regard.

It is against that backdrop that the issue prominently featured at this year’s edition of the annual international concert, The Experience, which was held in Lagos.

The event provided a platform for the country''s diverse people to put aside denomination, tribe, colour and gender to praise God and offer intercessory prayers for good counsel and wisdom for President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Both the pre-event activities and the forum itself were avenues

to urge Nigerians to contribute their quota in order to bring positive change to the country.

Leading the call at the forum whcih was attended by a mammoth crowd, was the convener who is also Senior Pastor of House on The Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adeferasin.

The cleric said the change slogan must not be sounded by the government alone but also by all citizen in their endeavours.

Positive change "It would be imprudent of us to consider our present circumstances as a nation as one of economic meltdown. We must begin to review our plight as divine economic redirection,” he noted, adding, “this is not the time to give up or throw in the towel; this is not the end for Nigeria; this is simply an opportunity for a renewed beginning with our best still in front of us."

Change is here: He continued: •Change is not coming.

"Change is indeed here.

Genuine transformation will begin in our lives and in our dear country when we introspectively

•Convener of The Experience, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, representative of Governor of Lagos State, Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Lola Akande and other attendees at The Experience 2015, in Lagos. consider the losses of yesterday and count the blessings of today."

Desired transformation: Continuing, he said: "The transformation we desire will not only come from the governments of our land or from beyond our shores, it must also come from our hearts; it must also come from our faith and our families. It must come from our offices, market place, streets, immediate communities and our local governments.

"Our change will begin when we realise that we are all change agents and transformation catalysts. We are in this nation to serve Nigeria with all of our hearts, with all of our strength and with all of our minds. We must transform to accomplish the change that we so fervently desire as a nation,” Adefarasin said.

Indeed, the event which was the tenth in its series showcased a number of international gospel artistes, who performed alongside their Nigerian counterparts.

Great advertisement for Nigeria One of the international artistes, Don Moen, described •The Experience•as a great advertisement for Nigeria in terms of culture and excellence in preparation and execution.

I feel like this is part of my family. It is a celebration of excellence; a first class and world class event and one of the best organized. I have been involved in it. It is a great advertisement for Nigeria,” he said.

While responding to a question an American preacher, Pastor Donnie McClurkin, said they were always eager to return to Nigeria for such programmes.

"This is the call of God and God

will continue to protect us every day. If God is worth living for, he is also worth dying for. This has a global impact, it impacts us and takes us out of our culture and our myopic ministry and we enjoy having that platform. There is no terrorist, there is no problem that God will not hold back so that the light of this gospel can shine forth,” he said.

Some of the other performers at the event were Sammie Okposo, Micah Strampley and Sonnie Badu from Ghana, The Midnight Crew, Chioma Jesus, Hezekiah Walker, Frank Edwards, Kim Burrel, Jessica Reedy, Fred Hammond and Nathaniel Bassey.

The congregation was led in prayers of thanksgiving to God•for peace during the last general election and deliverance during the Ebola outbreak by Engineer Ntiense Ubon-Israel.

32—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

WHEN a medical expert, Dr(Mrs)Abimbola Holloway, with about 35 years experience, and a seasoned lawyer, Mrs Elizabeth Akin Abiola, form a synergy, the result is a two-in-one firm which impacts society in multiple ways.

That's Quality Medicare International Limited, a preventive healthcare facility, and Care Companions Limited, a care-giving outfit that trains domestic staff and care-givers. In these separate interviews, the two Directors tell more, while also lamenting the spate of misdiagnosis in Nigeria.

We’re taking care of children, aged of busy people —Elizabeth Abiola, Director, Care Companions

By Josephine Agbonkhese

C

ARE giving for aged people isn’t yet a popular enterprise in this part of the world. Why venture into it?

The inspiration stemmed from the brief career I had in care giving while studying in England. My partners and I subsequently agreed to train caregivers and drivers who we will, in turn, send to families who require their services.

For the drivers, before placement, we carry out comprehensive medical tests, especially eye test. For the caregivers, we do hepatitis and HIV test because they take care of children and the aged.

These carers are made to understand that they are neither housemaid nor housekeepers, but professionals. So, there is the consciousness of dignity.

You’re sending strangers to people’s homes. Any security measure in place?

Of course we have forms, one of which is the guarantor form which they must fill when they come in for training. Two credible guarantors are required and we don't accept any identity card except for drivers' license, national ID, international passport or voters' card. We carry out checks on addresses to confirm authenticity, both for guarantors and candidates.

In the form also, there is a clause stating that every guarantor should be able to provide whoever he is guaranteeing for at any time.

They are also required to go to court to notarise information given us.

What categories of individuals do you consider suitable?

A major criterion is that the person must be lettered. In the case of caring for the elderly, for example, they will be required to help dispense drugs according to doctor's prescription so that the aged doesn't engage ignorantly in over-dosing.

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We are, therefore, soliciting that individuals and organisations sponsor worthy, caring relatives who are unemployed to come for training and thereafter get hired as caregivers. This is because most of the people available in Nigeria for these jobs may not be able to pay for the training.

These trained personnel remain our staff so that we will be able to control and monitor them. We have officers who go round for regular performance report and anyone who is under-performing is withdrawn from his employer and replaced. The concept is such that anybody reported thrice by

Mrs Elizabeth Abiola(left) and Dr Abimbola Holloway(right) an employer is withdrawn.

What major impact do you hope to have on aged people?

In the long run, we intend to build a home for them; a place where they will have people of like minds, socialise, go collectively on a trip or holiday and consequently have longer life spans. It could be a live-in or day centre. We also hope to relieve people of the stress of combining

career stress with caring for their aged parents.

For our staff, we hope to help secure a better future for them through our partnership with ARM Pension which will culminate in a compulsory pension scheme for them. This is pertinent because we do not want them to have nothing to fall back on upon disengagement.

The pension scheme will be

owned and controlled by them.

Many argue that women rarely succeed in partnership; do you think this can be different with Dr Holloway?

We’ve been on this for a while, meeting for lunch, dinner both in Nigeria and London.

Again, we’ve known so much about one another and funny enough, we somehow think alike.

We seek to make preventive healthcare a lifestyle for Nigerians —Dr Abimbola Holloway, Director, Quality Medicare

W

HAT inspired Quality Medicare?

I've been in practice for about 35 years though I stopped active service about 15 years ago and has since worked as a consultant.

I thought there was need for some kind of awareness about health issues via screening. Nigerians, from my experience, are not as concerned about health issues as they ought to be. Women in particular are not aware that they need to examine their breasts or do early breast cancer checks.

This inspired Quality Medicare which seeks to create awareness and diagnose.

Mrs Elizabeth Abiola actually got the inspiration for care giving and then another friend and partner in London, Dr Renu Hans, had hers for medical treatments. So, we married all the ideas together and that gave birth to Quality Medicare and Care Companions.

So, while Care Companions provides care givers and domestic staff, Quality Medicare does medical referrals, employment checks, individual screening and

much more. We have these at five different categories, including diamond, gold and bronze packages.

What happens if treatment is needed after diagnosis?

Upon diagnosis, if treatment is required, we either refer patients to "reputable" hospitals in Nigeria, India, London (that's where Dr Renu Hans comes in) or Germany, depending on the choice of the client after receiving the various quotations.

Misdiagnosis is a big issue in Nigeria presently; what edge are you coming into the industry with?

Yes, misdiagnosis is a major problem in Nigeria and its causes also are many. One, before any laboratory scientist can diagnose any ailments, you need the lab, images, and much more, apart from personal intuition. So, if for some reason the lab is wrong, it will affect the overall diagnosis of that patient, in spite of having a doctor who knows what he is doing. There aren’t many reliable labs in this country. This is why doctors too should ensure there

is a correlation between patients seen and results seen. This could help correct some misdiagnosis.

I’ve seen a patient who was diagnosed with boil in the breast when she actually had breast cancer.

So, what’s your niche?

Now, we are not coming in as a full-scale hospital but to try to diagnose conditions "before" they present themselves as a major problem that would then need treatment.

Infamous breast cancer This is because it is cheaper to prevent than to treat. An example is the infamous breast cancer which, right now, is 90% curable if detected early. But once a woman lives in denial and it becomes full blown, that's where survival chances totally diminish.

So, our own small niche is to try to prevent these issues as they arise because with medical screening, what is most pertinent is the experience of the medical personnel.

What word of advice do you have for Nigerians on preventive healthcare?

It’s important to embrace preventive healthcare because it is a life-saver. I’ve for instance had a case whereby a driver didn’t know he had tuberculosis until he started coughing blood.

He could have infected the lady he was driving. Some of them are night-blind but you wouldn’t know as an employer unless he is screened. We just have to be more aware and learn to do medical checks for our domestic staff as well.

We cannot deprive anyone a chance to employment because of any ailment but we just have to be very careful because they will be dealing with children.

For how long have you known Mrs Elizabeth Abiola and what makes you feel you both can do these together?

We’ve been friends for about thirty years. We were both in Soroptimist International, a nonprofit service organisation, for professional women. We actually share similarities in character.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015—33

NLC’s deduction of workers' salary in C-River fraudulent —NUT Chairman

By Emma Una

C

ALABAR—THERE is tension in Labour in Cross River State following the face-off between the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and three of its affiliates over their suspension by the labour body for refusing to accept the deduction of salaries of their members for the building of a Workers’ House in the state.

Elder Eyo Itam, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, in the state, flanked by his counterparts from Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Asanya Ebong and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Mr Godwin Ayendi, told newsmen, yesterday, in Calabar that the NLC officials in the state made deductions from the salary of teachers and civil servants in the state without approval of the leadership of the affiliate unions which makes such deductions illegal and fraudulent.

He said: “The leadership of NLC in the state embarked on its illegal action after fraudulently approaching and obtaining approval from

the former governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, for deduction from workers' salaries including teachers without due process and our kicking against such action is what has led to our suspension from activities of NLC in the state.”

According to the labour

leaders, the Labour House for which the deductions were made has no approved building plan, no bill of quantity or an approved cost estimate to ascertain the amount to be deducted from each worker’s salary which, it argued, was a ploy to defraud

workers in the state.

“The NLC is deducting public and civil servants’ salaries because they have access to their payroll, what about workers in the private sector, won’t they contribute to the building of the Labour House because they too are part of Labour?” he queried.

BRIEFING: From left: First Vice President of NUPENG, Comrade Eddy Ossai; NUPENG President, Comrade Igwe Achese and Ag. General Secretary of NUPENG, Comrade Joseph Ogbebor, during a media briefing by NUPENG on state of the nation, after its National Executive Council meeting in Port Harcourt, yesterday . Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Ibom Seaport: 2018 completion date sacrosanct —Gov Emmanuel

By Godfrey Bivbere

G

OVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has tasked the state Technical Committee for the Realization of Ibom Deep Sea Port, TC-IDSP, and the consultants involved in the project to ensure completion of the project by 2018.

The governor spoke in Uyo at the contract signing for the Full Business Case, FBC, and the official handover of Certificate of Occupancy during the kick-off meeting with the Transaction Advisers and Master Planners for the project.

Emmanuel assured that the state government was determined to complete the project and willing to do everything necessary to assist the various groups involved in the deep seaport to bring it to reality.

He stressed the importance of maritime to the development of the country, noting that the state government was desirous of creating the right environment for developing the economy of the state and by extension, the nation.

“Recently, Nigeria has been battling with a dwindling

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economy which over the years thrived on crude oil as a monoproduct. The fall in the price of crude oil in the international market has taken negative toll on the economy of many states including ours.

“The new wave of challenge, therefore, is for states in Nigeria

and particularly leaders, who hold the people’s mandate in trust, to arise and evolve alternative ways of achieving sustainable economic growth and prosperity as well as guaranteeing survival for its teeming populace.

“The significance of the

maritime sector to the Nigerian economy can be seen in the area of transportation, facilitation of trade and commerce, revenue generation and availability of finance, employment and job creation, and promotion of tourism," Emmanuel said.

Appeal Court upholds Amori’s election

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has dismissed the petition before it by the Delta Central senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Halims Agoda, in the 2015 general election against Senator Ighoyota Amori of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Dismissing the appeal in the unanimous judgment, Justice H. Barka, held that the use of manual accreditation was legal, adding that card readers were meant to complement manual accreditation.

Barka said, over voting could only be said to have taken place if the number of votes cast was more than what was in the voters register and “ not card readers.”

On the allegation of violence during the election, the judge said the petitioner could not prove his case and declared that “INEC complied with the electoral law in the conduct of the election of March 28 and April 25 in the Delta Central senatorial district election.”

Reacting to the judgement, Senator Amori thanked God whom he said, gave him victory at the poll and the tribunal.

Describing the judgment as total victory for the Urhobo nation, Amori thanked the people for their support and prayers during and after the election.

Ijaw youths flay EFCC's invitation of Tompolo

D

ELTA Ijaw Youth Assembly, DIYA, has condemned the purported invitation and probe of Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, on the media by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over an alleged N13 billion Marine University land issue, saying that the acquisition process followed due process.

The group cautioned the Federal Government to stop the witch-hunt of supporters of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. DIYA, in a statement in Warri, Delta State, by its President, Ebimobowei Oguma, said Tompolo did not arm twist the Federal Government on the acquisition of the land for the university project in Gbaramatu.

According to DIYA, “It is

surprising that instead of the EFCC and Federal Government to look at the process that led to the approval of the marine varsity land project which followed due process with express approval by the Federal Executive Council,

FEC, Bureau for Public Enterprise, BPE, federal ministries of Land, Transport and NIMASA, they are inviting Tompolo who was not involved in the process."

The group affirmed that

Tompolo remains an icon of the Niger Delta whose pedigree cannot be rubbished .

DIYA said more worrisome was the posture of some community leaders, who it said were willing to sell their birthright just to get enlisted into the APC.

Aginighan calls for ex-NIMASA DG's release

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT—A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Pastor Power Aginighan, has condemned the manner the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, forcefully rearrested the immediate past Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Ziakede Akpobolokemi, at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Aginighan, in a statement, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said that the action of the EFCC was embarrassing since Akpobolokemi had never refused an invitation from the security agency.

Aginighan who is a former acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, enjoined President Muhamadu Buhari to order the release of the detainee, adding that he should direct the EFCC to act within the confines of the law.

“I watched with shock, the horrific manner, Akpobolokemi, immediate past Director-General of NIMASA, was bundled into a bus by operatives of EFCC right within the premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos, shortly after the adjournment of a case against him.

“To treat Akpobolokemi who has never refused to honour an invitation by the EFCC as an unrepentant criminal raises serious concerns about the threat posed to our democracy by overzealous law enforcement agents."

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

YULETIDE: Reconstruction work begins on

GIS graduates 100 interns in Anambra

Enugu roads

By Enyim Enyim

By Francis Igata

E

O

NUGU—IN an apparent move to make good his promise during the construction flag-off of eight major roads in Enugu State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has embarked on

NITSHA — THE Graduate Internship Scheme GIS, of Nigeria, entrepreneurship training for interns in Anambra State, has graduated 100 interns with various degrees of entrepreneurship skills at its career development and entrepreneurship training centre.

Speaking at the occasion of a send-forth for the graduands in Awka, the Project Director, P.M. Papka, who was represented by Mr. Peter Enwerum said, the interns, who had passed through the 12 month programme were energized to take maximum advantage of the opportunities provided for them by the scheme which he classified into personal and social skills.

He said: “A period of 12 months of internship at that time seemed endless, yet today, its end is just around the corner. I believe that for you, the internship period has come with successes, challenges and attendant curiosities.

"It has also brought you to a crossroads where you are now able to ask yourself the question of who you have become through the process of GIS and how that prepares you for where you want to be in future.

“It was promised during the orientation training that there would be an exit training, the thrust of which is to engage you in a review of your experiences, assess your progress and plan for your entry into your planned business or career.”

reconstruction work on the designated roads to ease traffic occasioned by their deplorable conditions.

Vanguard gathered that the affected roads, which include Ameke Ngwo-Nsude Junction bypass, Ninth Mile Corner

Bypass, Dualisation of OpiNsukka Road, Abakpa Nike Road, Nike Lake Road, Ohom Orba Junction-Imilike Ani – Ezimo Uno – Ezimo Agu – Imilike - Ogbudu Aba - Obollo-Etiti – Amalla – Obollo Afor (Udenu Ring Road), Enugu Road

Crisis rocks Enugu APC over council caretaker c’ttee denied agreeing to such litigation. party to do so.

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE allegation that the Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has instituted legal action against the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, ENSIEC, and others over the plan to set up caretaker committees to run the affairs of the 17 local government areas, yesterday, took a twist as the state chapter of the party

In a letter by the APC state Legal Adviser, B.N. Nebe, which was addressed to the member of the party, who filed the suit on behalf of the party, Hyacinth Nsude, the party said that its State Executive Committee did not give the plaintiff “the authority to sue any person, body or group on behalf of the party.”

Nebe frowned at the affidavit the plaintiff deposed that he had the consent and mandate of the

Nebe informed the plaintiff that, “I am directed by the chairman of the party in Enugu State to ask you (Nsude) to withdraw without delay, the suit, which you purportedly instituted on behalf of the party without authorization from anybody to that effect.”

When contacted on phone, the state Chairman of the APC, Mr. Ben Nwoye confirmed the party’s decision on the matter.

Junction – Umuezebi- Nru Junction- University Gate Nsukka, Post Office Round-about – Odenigbo Round-aboutOgurugu Road – Ikenga Hotel Junction, Obechara Road Junction – Umuakashi Mechanic Village – Ikenga Hotel Junction, contractors had paved appreciable portions of the road.

At the Nike-Lake Road where most motorists ply through to Nsukka, the second largest urban city in Enugu State, the contractor handling the reconstruction, Setraco Nigeria Limited, had scraped the bad portions of the road between NOWAS to TJunction, paved it, which has induced free flow of traffic.

A motorist, Mr. Beloved DanAnike, expressed delight at the pace of work, and optimistic that the reconstruction would be completed in record time.

Govt must commit to affordable cure for HIV to defeat the scourge —Don

By Eric Ugbor

A

BA—A university teacher, Prof. Maduike Ezeibe, has called on government at all levels to seek and support the development of an affordable

cure which low income earners can benefit from, if the country was desirous of defeating HIV/ AIDS. Ezeibe, a researcher and lecturer at Veterinary Medicine Department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,

Umudike, Umuahia, in an interview with Vanguard said, that the political will to defeat HIV/AIDS which would bear fruit must be through making HIV/ AIDS treatment affordable to all classes of Nigerians.

He said: “To break the hold of

GOV POLL: Edo in Diaspora kick against Obaseki

L

AGOS—NDIGENES of Edo State under the platform of Edo in Diaspora, EID, have warned against the alleged plan to impose the chairman of the Economic Team of Edo State Government, Mr Godwin Obaseki as the likely successor to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Lagos, Prince Iyobosa Eweka noted that the alleged plan would not only back fire but would succeed in handing over the Government House to the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP in 2016.

He said, “The Edos in Diaspora want Oshiomole to provide a level playing field for all the governorship aspirants. Attempts to impose Obaseki in next year's poll will not only backfire but will succeed in handing over the Osadebe Government House to the opposition PDP. The rumoured move to impose an Obaseki on the Edos is bound to fail.

“Indeed, the Obaseki is a title that was given to a prosperous regent who became an administrator when Oba Ovoramen was sent on exile, sequel to the Benin massacre of

1897. He was compensated as an administrator of the kingdom and indeed made move to usurp the throne. Oba Eweka, in order to re-enact full control over his fathers kingdom honoured the rich and the urbane. The crown supersedes your wealth or commerce. We believe that the Governor Oshiomhole has been ill-advised.

"Our elders at home cannot stay aloof. They should educate the political leaders on the implication of that choice. We shall resist this seriously.’’

HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, the government should be committed to finding an affordable cure for the disease. Nigerians need to be told that the best way to control HIV/AIDS was to develop an affordable cure so that even the low income patients can privately treat themselves.”

Ezeibe said that existing antiretroviral medicines do not lead to permanent cure of HIV/AIDS because “their molecules are so big that they are unable to reach virus 'hidden' inside the cells.

“But the Nigerian Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy, HAART, the medicinal synthetic aluminummagnesium silicate (Antivirt), which is made of nanoparticles reach HIV and HIV-infected cells anywhere in the body and unmask HIV in cells and then mops them out.”

The Professor further argued that seeking for lasting cure from HIV/ AIDS through vaccines would be a futile endeavour that could backfire at the end.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On President Buhari's fight against corruption

T

he instrument that holds Nigeria together is a fraud that cannot be sustained and we cannot operate outside the dictates of UN. For me, this is just how I feel about this fight against corruption in Nigeria. Mr. Chinekwu Naboth, Worker C M Y K

P

resident Buhari should remember the pensioners, especially those who have not been paid their gratuities for the past three years, and let this axe on corruption fall on them because many retirees are dying. -Mrs. Tina Uyovbukerhi, Businesswoman

I

t is good that this government is ready to step on toes but whose toes would they step on before, if not the people they know and they eat together with, who else? Will his fighting corruption step on me who cannot eat three square meals a day? -Mr. Eriduluh Joseph, Self Employed

T

he way this administration always uses corruption matters to fool Nigerians is a game they have played well. The greatest corruption is that they told me it will be one dollar to one naira, one meal for each student ev-

eryday. Change! -Mr. Newton Egharevba, Worker

P

resident Buhari’s fighting corruption is good for the country but he should make sure no corruption takes place in his government because after his exit from office, the probe that will come up will be suicidal. -Mr. Ajibola Olajana-Davis, Self Employed

I

f President Buhari likes let him step on heads to carry out his one point agenda of anti-corruption.

But let it cut across PDD to APC, to even those who say they have retired from politics and those who have not been in politics too. -Mr. Ojie David, Architect

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 35

Yuguda spent N91bn security vote in 8 yrs — BAUCHI GOVT

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State Government has said that the past administration of Isa Yuguda received and squandered N91 billion security vote in eight years.

The revelation is coming on the heels of promise by the state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, that the days of lack of accountability and financial recklessness in the management of resources were over in the state.

In a statement by the Special Assistant to the Bauci State Governor on Media and Communication, Yakubu Mohammed, yesterday, it said that more facts had emerged on security related expenditures by the former governor.

The statement said that between 2007 and 2015, the sum of N91 billion was released as security vote requirements with the highest spending of over N17 billion in 2013.

“For 2007, over N1 billion, over N6 billion in 2008, 2009 gulped over N8 billion. N10 billion was spent in 2010 while over N14 billion was released for the year 2011. Other releases of over N11 billion, N16 billion and N4 billion were for 2012, 2014, 2015

respectively.”

The statement added that the facts were released and certified by the state’s Accountant General, Abubakar Gabi.

Meanwhile, Governor Abubakar, who spoke during a courtesy visit by the members of consultative council of the

Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Bauchi State chapter at the Government House vowed that his administration will block all financial leakages that was prevalent during the previous administration in the state.

He said: “My administration took over a government that was

wrecked because nothing was working in the state. I met a backlog of unpaid salaries, which I borrowed to pay workers. I decided to reduce my salary and expenses of the Government House by 50 percent to reduce financial wastage. There is no money to waste in my government, even a sheet of paper must be accounted for.''

PARLEY: From left; Managing Partner, Paul Osaji & Co Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mrs. Angela Ikade; former President, American Society of Appraisers (ASA), Leslie H. Miles Jr; Founder, Paul Osaji & Co, Paul Osaji, and an state surveyor and valuer, Kevin Ofili, when some estate surveying and valuation practitioners in Nigeria, liaised with the ASA to obtain international certification in plant and machinery valuation practice in Lagos.

State GUSAU—ZAMFARA governor, Abdulaziz Yari,

has urged contestants for the forthcoming local government area elections in the state to be of good conducts before and during the election in order to achieve the desired goals.

He also urged the people of

the state to continue to remain law abiding citizens so as to encourage the government to deliver on its promises on developing the state.

Addressing the party ’s supporters, who gathered at the trade fair complex in Gusau for the official flagging off of campaign for the forthcoming elections in the

state, Governor Yari explained that his administration will not condone dishonesty and disobedience, adding his government will give priority to peace as breaching of the peace would not be tolerated.

“There is no compromise on this. We cannot fold our aims and allow some few individuals among us create

problem for us. Peace anywhere in the world is what is mostly needed, because without peace, one should forget not only development, but his day-today activities,” he added.

He charged the contestants to conduct themselves decently and allow every eligible voter to vote.

Faleke loses steam as Kogi West pledges support for Bello

By Kingsley Fanwo

T

HE political camp of Mr James Faleke, Kogi State Deputy Governor-elect has been depleted as leaders of his Kogi West have declared support for the governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The leaders, numbering about 50 said, they decided to congratulate and work with the governor -elect because of their belief in his capacity to bring development and unity to the state.

The group, under the leadership of Clarence Olafemi and Senator Dino Melaye said, that the people of Kogi West have agreed to abide by the supremacy of the party.

Also, the Kogi West leaders frowned at the refusal of Faleke to accept the deputy governorship, saying Kogi West C M Y K

By Ndahi Marama

M

AIDUGURI—THE three-day orientation programme organised by the Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, for Youths, interns and firms’ Representatives ended yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State, with a call on the trainees to explore any possible opportunity available to them.

Head, Information and Communications Technology of the Scheme, Mr. Lassa Ptilapari, who described the training as fruitful, noted that the skills acquired by the participants would place them in a position to contribute meaningfully to national development.

...As FG reaffirms commitment to scheme

By Tare Youdeowei

LG POLLS: Be of good conduct, Yari tasks aspirants

By Salisu Maradun

Graduate trainees urged to explore all opportunities as GIS ends in Borno

leaders have already initiated a process of replacing Faleke in the event he carries out his threat of not attending the January 27, 2016 swearing-

in ceremonies in Lokoja.

The group urged the component units in the state to liaise with the governor-elect to ensure that the people were

united, saying the present scenario was an opportunity for the people to show strength in the cultural and political diversity of the state.

Kogi rural dwellers lament alleged exploitation by DISCOs

By Kingsley Fanwo

R

URAL dwellers in Kogi State have cried out over what they termed, “the exploitation” of consumers by Electricity Distribution Companies.

They alleged that the power distribution company covering Kogi has been serving them exorbitant bills even as power was barely provided.

Our reporters who visited Odo Ere, Iyamerin and Igbaruku, all in Yagba West Local

Government Area was told how the company has been collecting money for unprovided services.

At Igbaruku, a middle aged primary school teacher who simply identified herself as Mrs. Adeyemi told Vanguard how electricity consumers were being exploited in the area.

She said, “As you can see, we barely have electricity here. At times, we may not even have electricity supply for two weeks, yet, the electricity distribution company will

come with bogus bills.

“What we don’t know is how they generate their bills. How can you ask an old woman who didn’t see light for 21 days in a month to pay N3000 for what she did not use? This is the highest level of corruption.

Where are we going in Nigeria?

“We are using this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Ministry of Power to intervene and save us from this daylight robbery by the electricity distribution companies. They are killing us.''

T

HE Project Director, Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, Mr. P.M Parka, has reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment to the scheme and urged both firms and interns to justify the gesture for the betterment of the country.

Mr. Parka stated this while declaring open a workshop organized by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Career Development and Entrepreneurship skills training for in terms in Delta State in Asaba.

Represented by Ngozi Okonkwo of Project Implementation unit, Mr. Parka said that the 12 months of internship for the graduates where they pay them stipends monthly was aimed at enhancing their personal and social skills that they acquire, leading to self-discovery as well as work skills, which are necessary for them to make a head way in their working or business life.

According to him, the interns would be trained on evaluating the job market and understanding the process of recruitment, tips for preparing and uploading their CV on a CV portal, methods for effective entrepreneurship development, interviews, salary negotiations and employment offers and selecting their career, building and monitoring career growth.

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

UNVEILING: From left: Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, MD/CEO, Private Sector Healthcare Alliance of Nigeria; Dr. Eddy Agbo, Chairman/CEO, Fyodor Biotechnologies; Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Dr. Nnenna Uzoigwe, Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme; Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health; Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, Director, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, AIG Grace Okudo, Head of Medicals, Nigeria Police Force; Mr. Emmanuel Umenwa,Chairman/CEO, Geneith Pharmaceuticals, at the unveiling of First Global and NAFDAC accredited Fyodor urine Malaria test, in Abuja.

DRAW: From left: Salewa Adebayo, Product Promotions, GTBank; Oyinade Adegbite, Senior Manager, Communication and External Affairs; Sam Atteh, Assistant Manager, Regulation and Monitoring, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, and Adeola Ogunyemi, Divisional Head, Retail, Lagos Island at the GTBank Mini Cooper car raffle draw in Lagos.

IWUDE IJESHA FESTIVAL: From left: Member, Iwude Ijesa festival planning committee, Loruniyi of Ijesaland, Chief Ayo Agbede; Chairman, Iwude Ijesa planning Committee, Loofosan Ifosan Ijesa, Chief Olu Falomo, and Erelu Adewale Bolarinwa, during the 2015 Iwude Ijesa Festival press briefing in Lagos.

GLO LAFFTA FEST: From left: Glo ambassador, MI; Glo subscriber and guest, Abah Jane, and Deputy Manager, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Nigerian Communications Commission, Fred Adogo, at the Glo Laffta Fest comedy show in Makurdi.

C M Y K

AWARD/DINNER: From left: President, Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria, Ladi Balogun, Founder and Group Managing Director, Interswitch and winner of the 2015 HBSAN award for General Management, Mitchell Elegbe and Non-executive Director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Adedotun Sulaiman at the 2015, HBSAN black tie dinner and awards in Lagos.

AWARD: From left: Specialist, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Chukwuweta Uriah; Founder, Social Enterprise Report and Awards, SERAs, Dr. Ken Egbas; Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs. Oyetola Oduyemi; Chair, SERAs Awards Jury, Indira Kartallozi and Officer, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Rose Makinwa at the SERAs Awards 2015 where Etisalat emerged first runner up, Best CSR in Nigeria in Lagos.

CEREMONY: From left: Oshodi District Overseer, Rev. Ben Taiwo, Agege District Overseer, representing the General Overseer and the Board, Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev. David Ibidun, Ajao Estate Zonal Superintendent, Rev. Dom Ofuya, Rehoboth Church Senior Pastor, Rev Deji Oluwafemi and his wife, during the chartering ceremony of Foursquare Gospel Church, Rehoboth, Ajao Estate, Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left: Adeola Awesola, Sales Manager, Operator and Online, Alcatel Onetouch Nigeria and Central Africa, one of the winners of the Alcatel Onetouch online promo, Faustina Ibemere, and Gbenga Adegboye, Sales Manager, Open Retail, at the presentation of prizes to winners of the Alcatel Onetouch promo in Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 37

C M Y K

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Agboyi - Ketu residents get touch of care, healing

By Chioma Obinna

A

GBOYI, a riverine area located in one of the suburbs in Lagos State, recently witnessed an unprecedented crowd at the quarterly 'Touching Lives' programme for the poor organised by Mothers of Nations International Organisation Outreach.

The residents who trouped out in their thousands to meet with their visitors at the river bank, where they were informed of a free distribution of spiritual and physical food, drugs and a rare opportunity to access free medical treatment by high profile medical personnel.

Some of them left their homes out of curiosity. But to the amazement of all, the distribution was true. A visit to the community revealed an obvious lack among the people. More pathetic sight is the struggle for the items.

But their benefactor, the President, Mother of Nations International Organisation, Rev. Mother Edith Daniel was on hand to maintain decorum that there was enough food, drugs, medical doctors, pharmacists and a handful of nurses to attend to everyone. That announcement brought the needed relief to hundreds of helpless Nigerians.

Hosted by St Barnabas Church, Agboyi, Ketu, Alapere, Lagos, the people benefitted from spiritual healing. Medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, Ministers of God and counsellors from Nigeria and outside the country works of life were on ground.

The quarterly programme which has been on for years was targeted at the less privileged Nigerians in the hard to reach areas. The last train of the outreach was in Makoko area of Lagos where over 1,000 residents were freed both spiritually and physically.

The satisfaction for the President, Rev. Edith Daniel is that, what she was unable to do over 25 years ago, she has been able to fulfil God’s purpose for her life.

Recounting how she was motivated into establishing the outreach, she said, "I ran away from this work for over 25 years but eventually God arrested me to do it. I came into this work through divine prophesy.

OUTREACH: Cross section of members of Mothers of Nations International Organisation during their Ketu- Alapere medical outreach recently in Lagos.

God used one Rev John Akinyemi from Ibadan to bring me back to God purpose for me, which is touching lives. Another pastor God used was, Bishop Chidi Odinaka who saw me in his church and

screamed and the Lord directed him to get a young virgin to release seven bottles of anointing oil on my head," she narrated.

Daniel, said the mission of the outreach which comprises women ministers from

different denominations was to touch lives and put smiles on the faces of people, said during every outing they prepare for over 1000 people.

She further disclosed that Mothers of Nations mission was also to pray for presidents of nations as well as help the needy. " Apart from the distribution of food items such as rice, clothes, shoes among others, the people of the community benefitted from free medical screening for High Blood Pressure, diabetes, eye tests and distribution of eye glasses,” she said.

Responding, the Chief Host who is also the St Barnabas Anglican Church, Vicar's wife, Agboyi, Mrs. Patricia Louis described the gesture as an act of God. According to her, getting down to people who are really in need is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Relating her experience in the community, she said: "It has not been easy when you mix with people with diverse religious belief. But knowing what you are out to do you do it with all courage which is the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Lamenting the unhealthy life style of the people she said: “Here, you see a lot of people smoking and drinking all sorts but I am fulfilled coming to this other side of Agboyi community. If you are not determined you may derail.”

Potable water: SFH launches WaterGuard Plus

By Sola Ogundipe

W

ATER, water everywhere but not a drop is safe to drink. This adaptation from Sam Coleridge's "Ryme of the Ancient Mariner" depicts the situation of potable water in the country today. In most parts of the country, there is no reliable network infrastructure that delivers clean pipe-borne water to homes, and for a large number of households, the only source of water is from polluted rivers, lakes unsafe wells or questionable pipe water supplies.

Data from the Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, NDHS 2013, reveal that 41 percent of Nigerians have no access to safe drinking water. An estimated 43 percent of these deaths are children under five years old while over 88 per cent of diarrhoea cases in the country are

attributed to unsafe water and poor sanitation.

Worried by the challenges of obtaining potable water coupled with the high number of cases of water-related ailments in the country, the Society for Family Health, SFH relaunched the new WaterGuard Plus.

At the official launch in Lagos last week, the Managing Director, SFH, Mr Bright Ekweremadu, worried that everyday many people fall sick from water-related ailments several of which are easily preventable.

"In communities where there is no safe drinking water, water and hygiene related illnesses cause a host of problems including; poor education because sick children are routinely absent from school and adults miss economic opportunities perpetuating the circle of poverty," he said.

Regretting that clean point-of-use water

has continued to elude Nigerians, especially amongst the largely rural, poor and vulnerable populations, he noted that the impact of water, hygiene and sanitation falls disproportionately on women and girls who are the main carriers of water.

"The quality of the water we drink is directly linked to the quality of our lives.

Providing easy access to clean water for families and communities, will improve their health improving the living conditions and economic status for families and communities. It would be recalled that in November 2004, SFH introduced WaterGuard - a liquid point-of-use water purification product that gained ground quickly and prevented illnesses and deaths from water and hygiene related causes. Ekweremadu said the new WaterGuard Plus, is an improvement on the WaterGuard brand.

Your life in their hands -- Anaesthetists in Owerri

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HIS week Anaesthetists from all over Nigeria are gathered in Owerri for their annual conference. For a start the word " anaesthesia " itself is a mouthful, not only for patients, but for other doctors as well.

What does it mean? In simplest terms, anaesthesia means......no sensation. This is not the same as analgesia...which means "no pain". During anaesthesia, all sensation, including pain, is (supposed to be) lost.

History records that an early Anaesthetist, whilst giving a new gas for a dental extraction, ended up putting both the patient and the dentist to sleep. He then pulled out the tooth himself and quietly left the room, leaving the two people there to wake up and wonder what had happened. Some go back to Biblical times to observe many times where a supposedly "deep sleep" was induced in certain people. You can even go back right to the beginning of creation, according to the Bible, where "Adam was put into a deep sleep and a rib taken to create Eve".

What do they do?

In many parts of the developed world the role and importance of Anaesthetists has been long recognised and the specialty is highly respected. Developments in anaesthesia has facilitated the ingenuity and success of today's highly complex surgical procedures.

Sensation, that is used to be rendered to zero using gases, can now be totally suppressed using intravenous methods alone. Nerves of the body can be located and injected with medications that block their activity and block pain. It is now even possible to visualise these nerves by bouncing sound waves off them, thereby increasing C M Y K

doctor@lagospainclinic.com accuracy and reducing complications.

I owe my entire career to the great teachers I had at the University of Ibadan thirty years ago.

These were skilled and dedicated men and women who imbibed a clinical and professional dignity to a fledgling specialty which, at that time, commanded little accolades.

In the technology of the developed world, it was a surprise to them in the UK that my 'basic" Nigerian training could shine. What I find, see and experience on my return home now is a bit different.

The decay in health infrastructure has dealt Anaesthesia a devastating blow. Residency training as a whole is, according to the residents themselves, in disarray. I am befuddled to see a junior doctor, coming out of NYSC, being pushed into a career of (perceived) need, rather than one of personal choice. I see hitech anaesthesia machines, dispensing anaesthetic gases long been condemned in other countries, still being administered to Nigerians, because of cheap cost. All this has impacted on surgical services. It has affected morale and effectiveness of Anaesthetists. It has affected delivery of

care to Nigerian patients.

This group of doctors meeting in Owerri, working silently, without many of the drugs and facilities I had abroad, without applause, deserve a little, just a little, more support from all stakeholders.

Perinatal and maternal mortality in Nigeria remains among the highest in the world. People die from complications of basic surgery; complications like bleeding and infection. If material and human resources were to be directed at our peri-operative services, Nigeria's health indices will improve immediately and significantly.

The WHO published recommendations in 2009 to curb the rising incidence of death and mishaps in surgeries around the world. Over half of their ten suggestions is under the control of anaesthesia.“Anaesthetists have great expertise in peri-operative services.....ie before, during and after the actual operation.

Anaesthetists were the original, and still remain, the pioneers of Intensive Care. Over 75 percent of doctors who specialise in Pain Medicine in the USA, and nearly all of them in the UK, are Anaesthetists.

As the Anaesthetists gather this week in Owerri, they need to look inwards too. The NSA needs to, not only reevaluate the training of its residents and the retraining (CPD) of Consultants, they must also regulate and monitor ethics and standards within the specialty.

The role of this small, seemingly unglamorous (I disagree), but vital medical specialty, cannot be underestimated in any healthcare system.

Your (physical) life is truly in their hands.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 39

Staff of Skye Bank presenting their relief materials to the internally displaced persons in Nasarawa State

Skye Bank employees donate to IDPs

H

UNDREDS of employees of Skye Bank Plc. from various branches and regions across the country, in the spirit of the season that preaches giving and sharing, converged in the nation’s capital city, and neighbouring Nasarrawa State to associate with thousands of IDPs who were forcefully displaced from their abodes in the far North-East region of the country.

The concerned staff of Skye Bank through the Bank’s ‘Employees Volunteer Initiative’ set up four years ago, converged in search of the exiled displaced persons who are scattered across the country.

The gesture which was widely applauded by members of the public, was the first of its kind among all the financial institutions operating across Nigeria.

The long trip embarked on by the enthusiastic Skye Bank’s employees led by the Skye Bank GMD/CEO, Timothy Oguntayo to the new abodes of the IDPs in Ptegi, Kuje Area Council of Abuja and Karshi area of Nasarawa State, started at about 7am, on Sunday, November 1 2015.

After about two hours journey to the remote village of Karshi, the employees who dressed in White T-Shirts and Jeans, commenced off-loading of trailer-loads of relief materials made up of 2,000 bags of rice; 2,000 bags of Indomie noodles; beverages; blankets; tooth paste; pampers; semovita; sanitary pads; among others worth over N20 million. Through the scheme, the bankers from the top echelon of the institution to the least, voluntarily and generously donated various sums of money into the pool, in demonstration of the uncommon goodwill, to the underprivileged in the society.

At the New Karshi’s Emir’s Palace, over 1,500 C M Y K

IDPs including men, women and children took turns to receive various gift items, with the assistance of officials of two supervising Community Based Organisations (CBOs), namely: LikeMinds Project and Orbus Global Solutions.

After spending several hours with the IDPs, the delegation embarked on another trip to Ptegi in Kuje Area Council of Abuja, where hundreds of men, women and children from the insurgence-ravaged Chibok community of

Borno state lay their heads.

Despite the heavy rain that started few minutes on arrival at the Ttegi camp, the elated Skye Bank staff, embarked on the offloading of the truck-load gift items. The agile Executive Director Abuja/ Northern Directorate, Mr Idris Yakubu, took the lead in carrying some 50kg bag of rice while other staff including ladies, joined the able-bodied colleagues and beneficiaries to fasttrack the process of offloading.

Integrity for leadership group lauds UN human rights day

I

NTEGRITY for Leadership and Sustainable Empowerment Initiative, an NGO collaborating with the United Nations system, weekend, marked the Universal Human Rights Day in Asaba. Speaking at the Forum, the national coordinator of the NGO, Rev. Chuwkudi Eke, said the day was set aside by the United Nations system to create more awareness about the need to protect fundamental human rights as well as find common grounds of understanding between business interests and human rights defenders and agitations of indigenous people whose lands and human capital are exploited. For the celebration of this year’s human rights day, the NGO dwelled on the theme: Dialogue as the bridge between business and human rights.

Eke who commended the Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, for inviting him and enabling his organization to participate in the just concluded fourth Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, said “One of the lessons learnt during

the conference is the need for continuous dialogue in ensuring the guaranteed protection of human rights; while at the same time enhancing the ability of business groups and corporations to grow; without compromising the capacities and rights of present and future generations to provide for their individual needs. The essence of this Forum, therefore, is to reinforce the importance of human rights in business.”

In his address, Chief A.K. Osawota, chairman of the occasion, stated that without good laws and enforcement mechanism of the law, the cry for the government and corporate organizations to maintain human rights laws is farfetched. Barr. Osawota, therefore, called for a truly independent Judiciary to enforce the laws for Human Rights protection.

The keynote speaker at the event, Professor Benjamin Okaba, who is the immediate past Provost of Delta State University, Oleh campus, while lecturing on the topic, “Dialogue as Bridge between Business and Human Rights” explained that the event fostered the opportunity to reinforce linkages between business and human rights worlds.

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

NEMA officials distributing reliefs materials to displaced persons at an IDP camp in Yola

Amazing stories from Yola that defy Boko Haram bombs Stories by Mike Ebonugwo

D

UE to intermittent attacks, including suicide bombings, from Boko Haram insurgents, major parts of Nigeria’s NorthEaststatesofBorno,Yobeand Adamawa are generally perceived as often haunted by the spectre of deathanddestruction,andtherefore, no-go-areas. This is why Yola, the Adamawa State capital, which until lately was largely a haven of refuge for residents and the internally displacedorthosefleeingthehorrors of terrorists attacks, is now regarded as highly endangered on account of some suicide bombings recorded there.

Evidences that the people are no longer at ease are not far seek.

Obviouslypromptedbyrecentsuicide bomb attacks as well as security measuresintroducedbythemilitary authorities, the populace appear more security consciousness in response to the perceived fear that danger, as represented by the Boko Haram messengers of death, could belurkingaroundthecorner.Which is why one found it puzzling on arriving Yola on a Friday to see Muslim worshippers being frisked orscannedbeforebeingallowedinto mosques until the imperative of the action dawned. Same pre-emptive safetymeasurealsoapplytoChristian worshippers before entering their churches.

Days before, suicide bombers, believedtobeBokoHaramterrorists, C M Y K

had hit a mosque in Yola, leaving manypeopledeadandseveralothers injured. A similar attack at an Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in the state capital also took anotherhightollinlives.Otherpublic places, including markets, have not been spared as the serial suicide bombers seek for the next target.

Part of the disturbing picture is the large army of IDPs accommodated at different camps in Yola. Some of the less fortunate of these were condemned to roaming the streets as mendicants They are seen as livingvictimsandconstantreminders of the human tragedy of an insurgency that defies logic and understanding.

Bombsornot, lifegoeson But the good news is that, from every indication, the narrative of this unfortunate development does not portendinitsclimaxatriumphofevil.

First is the blunt and courageous refusal of the people to bow to the blackmail of terror. Life for them, it would appear, goes on regardless of anyperceivedthreatofbombattacks.

Indeed,butforthesecuritymeasures introducedfortheirsafety,mostpeople in Yola go about their activities with scant betrayal of fear that their environment harbours a possible threattotheirlives.Thisexplainswhy there has not been reports of mass exodus of people from Yola. Even non-indigenes have not been

displaying any hasty desire to leave as exemplified by two brothers from the South Eastern part of Nigeria, EmmanuelandIkechukwuIbe.The duo who hail from Abia State said they have lived in Adamawa State forovertwodecades,whichincludes schooling and working there.

Emmanuel,ateacherwhodescribed Yola as his second home, said the bombblastsinthecityarenotenough to scare him to relocate to the East.

Headdedthus:“Adamawahasbeen one of the most peaceful states of the Federation before the Boko Haram insurgency.Thepeoplearepeaceful and accommodating to the nonindigenes, even as they do not discriminate outrightly on the basis of tribe or religion, except in some

But the good news is that, from every indication, the narrative of this unfortunate development does not portend in its climax a triumph of evi

caseslikeinthecivilservice.SoIhave nocausetorunawaybecauseofbomb blasts. After all, death is a necessary endthatwillcomewhenitwillcome whetheryouliveintheNorthEastor theSouthEast”.

As for Ikechukwu: “To talk of leaving Adamawa State because of bomb blast or Boko Haram is not at all in my agenda. As a Nigerian, everywhere or any part of Nigeria, not only Adamawa State, is a home to me. I can live and conveniently mix with any other tribe in Nigeria notmindingourculturalandreligious differences”. IK, as he is popularly known, added that death is in the handsofGod.‘’WhetherintheNorth, West,Eastorelsewhere,oneissurely bound to die when the time comes,’’ he re-stated.

Mr. Tobis Harrision, a resident of Yola, who hails from the Niger Delta part of the country also expressed a similar sentiment. Harrison, owner of one of the major private pharmaceutical firms in Yola, also affirmed that the place had long become a home to him, adding that his belief in one Nigeria prompted him to pick a wife from Adamawa and they are blessed with four children.

“For me to think of running away fromAdamawabecauseoffrequent bomb blasts will be childish. People who ran away at the heat of the insurgencyin2014,especiallythose of the South-East and South-South, have all returned back. There is no

causeforalarmbecauseitisonlyGod that gives life and can take it when He wishes”, he concluded philosophically.

AUN’s humanitarian and development response: But particularlyremarkableistheheroic and commendable humanitarian response of the American University of Nigeria, AUN, Yola to the immediate needs of the suffering IDPs and other impoverished members of its community. Moved by the pathetic plightoftheIDPs,especiallychildrenand women among them, the AUN which prides itself as a development university responded with a humanitarian initiative to care for them as part of its community work. According to AUN president, Margee Ensign, for over 18 months, the institution has been taking care oftheseunfortunateindividuals

most of whom are very hungry women and children, adding that at theheightoftheBokoHaramattacks ‘’wehadabout76,000peoplewewere feeding’’. President Ensign was particularly disturbed by the sight of thousandsofchildrenbeggingonthe streets of Yola because they lost their parentstoBokoHaramattacks.

Humanitarian programme ‘’Aboutsix,eightmonthsago,Iand some of my staff members and my driver...We just got tired of driving and seeing these kids begging. So, we said let’s try and do something about it. We started small, about one meal a day...We hired some local women to help with the one meal a day.....So it’s called feed and read.

Wehaveupto125kids.’’Thetakeoff ofthishumanitarianprogramme,she informed,wasmadepossiblebyAUN Continues on page 41

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 41

On Atiku’s day of honour, a case for free, universal education F

ORMER Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is certainly no stranger to the honours podium. In fact, it can be said that he is one of the most decorated Nigerians alive, having been so often honoured within and outside the country that he probably may have lost count of the number of awards he had garnered. A man of many parts, his wide range of awards were given as special recognition for his significant achievements in political, business and humanitarian causes.

Atiku was recently in the limelight and the centre of media attention once again as another opportunity for special recognition and celebration beckoned. Precisely on Friday November 13, 2015, the highly accomplished political leader and business man was in Yola the Adamawa State capital to give out his three daughters in marriage, just as his son also got wedded same day. It was an event that drew the high and mighty in the country, including President Muhammadu Buhari, to Yola.

Not even the threatening shadow of a Boko Haram suicide bomb attack could dampen the joy of the moment. And in fact, the joy did not end there.

The following day, November

Atiku Abubakar, his wife Titi and BoT Chairman, Akin Kekere-Ekun 14, Atiku once again took the centre stage to be honoured as the American University of Nigeria, AUN, which he founded marked its 10th Founder’s Day and Commissioning Ceremonies. Although the Founder’s Day, according to AUN President Margee Ensign, presented the opportunity to honour and celebrate all of students, faculty, and staff who created the accomplishments of AUN’s first decade, it was mainly to honour and thank the institution’s Founder, Atiku Abubakar, whom she described

as a great Nigerian, for making ‘’all of this possible’’.

Major highlights of the grand

We must persuade federal, state, and local authorities to provide universal, free, and valuable

ceremony was the colourful parade of honour students and deserving staff members as they took turns to receive their awards.

Speaking after being honoured, Alhaji Atiku had reflected thus: ‘’In a way it is difficult to believe that this is the 10thFounder’s Day of this dream we call AUN, the American University of Nigeria, Yola. The years have passed rather quickly. But they have been very memorable, challenging and rewarding years. That we have turned this wilderness, in the middle of nowhere, so to say, into this high

Amazing stories from Yola that defy Boko Haram bombs Continues from page 40 Founder and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who kindly made funds available for that purpose. The basis for this, can essentially be traced to a peace initiative established four years ago, long before things got serious. According to PresidentEnsign,undertheaegisoftheAdamawa PeaceInitiative,API,whichisabuildingpartnerof theuniversity:‘’Wetrytoprotectvulnerablechildren in our community, to educate them, give them potentialforemployment,maybegivethemsome hope.ThePeaceInitiativehastrainedover15000 youngpeople.Wecandocumenttheyoungpeople associatedwiththeAPI...ImustsayI’mmostproud of that because somehow we kept these young people educated and full of hope. I think we have a model in Yola for how you deal with youth unemployment,lackofeducation,lackofhope.....’’.

She informed that at a point during the IDP crisis,thecommunitywasstretchedbeyondlimits.

Thisisbecauseofanestimated405,000IDPswho sought refuge in Yola, only 15,000 were accommodatedatthedesignatedIDPscamps.‘’I don’t know how they have done it ....What the university has done through the API is to make suretheyhavefoodandmedicine,’’shesaid,while expressing pride at what was achieved in the process.

But she is also worried that there’s a feeling and thinking in Nigeria that it is over. ‘’Maybe the worst of the violence is over; I pray it is, but we still havehundredsofvery,veryhungry,needypeople here in Yola, who left places you don’t want to see, I have seen it twice in the Northern part of this country...I have seen the devastation, destruction ofinfrastructure;theschoolsareburnt,churchand mosquesburnt. ‘’Theycan’tgohome,mostofthem; so they’re still here with us. And now the government says they’re closing the camps in

•AUN president, Margee Ensign.

December...Thatmeansthosethatarelefthave nowhere to go.

So, that’s still a big challenge,’’ she said. But she was impressed that Nigerians had responded to the situation by opening their hearts and their homes to take care of these people, adding that it was a huge model Nigerians should be proud of.

As part of this response process, the AUN through its API peace building partner, last September launched a N1 billion Insurgency Intervention Fund to help provide basic necessities to thousands of displaced people and to assist them return to their homes when the situation is conducive for doing so. The Fund which demands the participation of public-spirited individuals and corporate bodies, is envisaged to be a major boost to the on-going AUN-API empowered process of helping ‘’thousands of vulnerable Nigerian youths obtain an education, develop valuable life skills and resist recruitment by Boko Haram’’.

Explainingwhythepeacebuildinginitiative

is dear to her heart, Margee who is the chair of the API, said it agrees with her educational philosophy. ‘’People are asking, why is this university so involved in this community (humanitarianproject),isn’titakindofdistraction fromeducation?ButIvieweducationfromwhat we are doing,’’ she said and recommended it as a model for other parts of the country. She did not stop there. ‘’This university is a development university.

And that’s our primary mission....And the way we have chosen to implement that vision, is to say first of all without peace you can’t progress as a city... So we brought together all the membersoftheAdamawaPeaceInitiative...all the bishops, all the imams, the community leaders...

Similar indicators They are the ones we have been working with for the past four years,’’ she informed, adding: ‘’We live in a state where 77 percent of the population can’t read and write. There are otherpartsofthecountrywithsimilarindicators’’.

She also said people cannot participate effectively in the development process if they cannotreadandwrite.‘’So,thechallengeshere are huge: health, education, infant mortality; the indicators are really frightening,’’ she said butaddedthatAUN-APIinitiativewasanideal modeltorespondtothesituation...Sheargued that if the university can apply this form of educationusingstudentsandfacultytoimprove the lot of the poor kids in the community, the same model can also be applied in similarly afflictedcommunitiesinotherpartsofthecountry to make things better.

quality centre of learning, character moulding and community service is truly amazing. I thank all those who have contributed in one way or another to the immense progress already made here. In that period we have transformed many lives not only of the students and staff who have traversed these campuses but also those in the local community and beyond. ‘’My dear friends, I have a dream that our Academy and our University will continue to grow and prosper, but in my dream, they are surrounded by thousands of public and private schools and universities that share our civic commitment, that emulate our thirst for knowledge, and that compete for the best and brightest students. Because those students they deserve to have a choice, and because there are too many problems for us to solve, and because we can’t solve them and have a future unless our youth believe they can build one.’’

He also used the opportunity to solicit ‘’the support not just AUN, but education reform.

Education reform We must persuade federal, state, and local authorities to provide universal, free, and valuable basic education; we must convince lawmakers, teachers, and unions to encourage competition among schools; and we must encourage government and the private sector to give public universities the leeway, and the ways and means to catch up with their international peers.’’

The former Vice President also reflected on the challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgents and a dwindling economy, just as he expressed satisfaction at the response of the university to continue operate in spite of these. ‘’The journey has certainly been bumpy. We have faced numerous challenges, with each year bringing its unique challenges.

Looking back, however, I am relieved that we have braved another challenging year since the last Founder’s Day. The insurgency in the North East, which has had devastating effects on thousands of people, tested our resolve – but it also confirmed that we the AUN community can respond to mistrust and cruelty with care and love. ‘’Looking ahead, there are still plenty of clouds, but they pale in comparison to the silver lining on the horizon. Insecurity is still pervasive, but the terrorists are no longer growing in strength, thanks to the sacrifice and commitment of the security and intelligence services, the decisive leadership of the senior defence staff and their Commander-inChief, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the support and cooperation of the local communities and regional allies, including Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.

C M Y K

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Why I plotted fake robbery—Maid

By Esther Onyegbula

O

PERATIVES of the State Investigation Bureau, SIB, Lagos State Police command, Ikeja, last week, arrested two members of a family for robbery. The suspects identified as Gloria Chuks, 20, and her elder brother, Solomon Chuks, natives of Ebonyi State, were arrested in Lagos after one of the stolen items was traced to their hideout.

According to reports, Gloria was employed as a house help through a recruitment agency last three months by her boss who lives at Ikorodu, to work with the family.

Recruitment agency The plot: It was learned that on the fateful day, Gloria called her boss who had gone to work and alerted her that three armed robbers broke into the house and made away with everything including phones, I-pad tablet, laptops and some other valuables.

•The maid and her brother Thereafter, her boss reported the case to the police who carried out investigation and found out that one of the tablets was still being used. The tablet was traced to a hideout and one of the suspects arrested turned out to be the senior brother to their maid identified as

Solomon Chuks.

Confession of suspects: The maid who was suspected to have connived with her brother to rob her masters house, Gloria Chuks, confessed to the crime.

“I am from Ebonyi state. I did what I did because of my mother

who is very sick. This is the second place I worked as a maid.

The first family I worked with r e s i d e s around Cele Ijesha. I had to quit when I lost my step m o t h e r because I travelled home.

Before I stole those things, I told my boss that my mother is very sick and she should help me but she did not do anything about it. So, I called my brother and asked him to meet me at a bus stop where I handed over a bag to him and asked him to sell everything and give the money to my mother for her treatment. Later,

T

HE burden of former House of Representatives member from Enugu state, Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, may have multiplied as a Deputy Commission of Police at the Force Investigation and Intelligence Bureau, Force headquarters, Abuja, (names withheld) has slammed the former lawmaker with a N500 million legal suit for damages on his person and character.

Joined as co-defendant in the suit is Ozomgbachi’s counsel, Ody Ajike, said to be the author of the grievous petition.

Charges of conspiracy, forgery and perjury: The exlawmaker, Ozomgbachi, is presently facing charges of alleged conspiracy in forgery, impersonation and perjury at the Enugu state High court in a matter connected with his struggle to get back to the

House of Representatives against the incumbent member for Udi/Ezeagu Federal constituency, Hon. Dennis Amadi.

The forgery case was heard at the court of Chief justice of Enugu on December 9th 2015, where Ozomgbachi and two others did not show up, prompting the Judge to suspend issuing of bench warrant till the next adjoined date of December 17, 2015.

New petition: Ozomgbachi’s new woe, sources intimated Crime Alert, was brought about by an alleged petition on November 9, 2015, to the Deputy Inspector- General of Police at the force Criminal Investigations Department, where it was alleged that the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, at the FCIID falsified two documents; Federal DPP advice/ recommendation dated October 16, 2015 and the Police Report

Different phones When I got there, she gave me a bag. She asked me to take them to my mother. When I asked her what was inside the bag, she said she was in a hurry; that she can’t talk now.

So, I took the bag back to my elder sister ’s place where I passed the night. I was still there when the police called me to return the bag or they will detain my sister. It was then I opened the bag and saw different phones, several I-pad tablets and other valuables. The police did not arrest me. I came to the station personally because I am innocent. My only regret is that the maid in question is my own younger sister.“

authorities on notice on November 16, 2015, and the lapsing of 7 days’ grace period he gave Ozomgbachi and his lawyer dated November 18, 2015, to retrieve the said petition with an apology.

Query for DCP: In the documents obtained over the matter by Crime Alert, the police chief was purportedly queried by his superiors where unkind words were noted against him which further aggravated his anger and caused more damage to his reputation.

Falsification: Police Chief, ex-lawmaker, battle in court over N500m damage suit

By Faith Ake

I scattered the house to make it look like it was actually a robbery attack before I called my boss to tell her that three armed robbers broke into the house and made away with everything.”

I am innocent: In his defence, her senior brother, Solomon Chuks said; “I don’t know anything about this thing. It was my sister, Gloria that called me to come to the bus stop close to where she works as a maid.

Forged documents

•IGP Solomon Arase dated September 18, 2015 against Ozomgbachi and in favour of Dennis Amadi to commence criminal prosecution against him at the said Enugu high court.

Call for officer’s probe: In the petition against the police chief through a counsel Ody Ajike, the petitioner urged the police authorities to subject the police officer to probe and maximum punishment, citing

different exhibits to drive home his allegation.

DCP files suit: Irked and feeling disparaged, slandered and being brought to ridicule and opprobrium, the police chief lodged a five Hundred million Naira suit at an Abuja high court against Ozomgbachi in a suit no Cv/406/15 that was filed on December 8 2015.

The DCP filed the suit after he had put the Police

In reply to the petitions, the DCP stated clearly that he couldn’t have forged the Federal DPP’s legal advice/ recommendation to (FCID) legal department, Abuja, nor the Police report and that neither the Federal DPP nor the police has accused him of forging those documents.

Police investigation: The Police X-squad in their investigation has asked Ozomgbachi to substantiate his accusation by producing the said forged documents, which as it was learnt, he is yet to produce.

The police investigation is still on-going as no date has been fixed for hearing of the N500m suit.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 43

By Chidi Nkwopara, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Francis Igata & Nwabueze Okonkwo

BIAFRA: We'll not stop the

T

•MASSOB to BIM: We'll expose Uwazuruike •I20 CD members protest against JTF road blocks in

HE ARROW-HEAD of Biafran Independence Movement, BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has taken a swipe at some Igbo elite that denigrate the group’s quest for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra.

In another development, worried by comments discrediting the over one month well attended non-violent demonstration for the release of detained Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu, allegedly emanating from BIM, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday, vowed to resist any distraction that may stall the actualization of Biafra.

MASSOB was reacting to a statement reportedly credited to Chief Uwazuruike, which it described as a calculated attempt by BIM to discredit and blackmail the new MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu.

Meanwhile, about 1,120 members of Campaign for Democracy, CD, South East branch, yesterday, took to the streets of Onitsha and its environs, Anambra State in protest against the blockade of some major roads by men of Joint Task Force, JTF, comprising the Police, Army, Navy and Civil Defence drafted to ensure security during the protests by pro-Biafra agitators.

'Attempt to plunge Lagos into crisis' Similarly, ahead of tomorrow’s purported rally by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in parts of Lagos, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, warned anyone planning to hold a demonstration in the state under any umbrella to discontinue such an attempt to plunge the state into crisis, noting that the state will not take kindly to such a nefarious plan.

On his part, Chief Uwazuruike, while fielding questions from journalists in Owerri, Imo State, reminded his traducers that they had gone very far in the Biafra struggle and would not stop the agitation despite the palpable challenges facing them.

“Since the establishment of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, we have been fighting to the Igbo cause. Governor Rochas Okorocha was given the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship ticket in my house. We also helped to instal the current President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. We have also helped a number of other persons in varying ways but what we get in return is shameful,” he said.

He recalled that when the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was successfully installed, the South East governors refused to recognise

agitation —Uwazuruike Onitsha, environs •IPOB plans rally for Dec 16, 17 in Lagos •Steer clear of Lagos, APC warns protesters ....Police, security agencies at alert

COMPETITION: From left, Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs; Ms. Akiyode Funlola, Director Licensing and Authorization, both of Nigerian Communications Communication, NCC; Mr. Asogwa Chijioke Peter, (student of University of Nigeria, UNN, 3rd Prize Winner of NCC Essay Competition; Robert William Middlehurst, Vice President International/ Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat; Abdulkareem Abdulhakeem, (student of University of Ilorin), 2nd Place Winner; Prof. Umar G. Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, NCC, and Mr. Odonoekuma Onyebuchi, (student of UNN, and Winner of the competition, at the award ceremony, in NCC Headquarters, Abuja. him but MASSOB stood its ground and defended him.

“Whether the Igbo elite accept this or not, MASSOB was instrumental to all these. We have played leading roles in Igboland and we are still playing leading roles in the area. They know that we shall still play leading roles when we eventually have the Biafra of our dream,” he insisted.

Saying that the group was now a serious factor in Igboland, Chief Uwazuruike, however, expressed regret that Igbo sadly fight and trample on their fellows when they succeed in getting what they want.

“We dictate the pace, but those kicking against us do not know what Biafra really stands for and how resolute we are in actualizing it. The police burnt our office at Okigwe, but I declined to reconstruct it because I want it to remain as one of the monuments of the struggle,” Uwazuruike said.

We are non-violent On the occupation of the group’s Freedom House at Okwe, Uwazuruike explained that although he allowed the dissidents to use it, the occupants can be flushed out with ease.

“Those occupying the Freedom House are there at my mercy, but I know that if in the attempt to flush them out and somebody dies, can we honestly say it does not amount to violence? We are non-violent and we are determined to remain so despite provocations," he said.

Meanwhile, MASSOB challenging the BIM leader, in a statement by its National

Secretary, Ugwoke Ibem, said: “The distractions, false impression and blackmail by BIM will not distract, frustrate or hinder our leader from our consistent and determined spirit of non-violence Biafra actualization and continued push for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

“The release of Kanu is paramount in MASSOB agenda now. We are not deterred about blackmail, negative impression being circulated by Uwazuruike’s BIM. BIM claim that they have evidence of where Uchenna Madu collected millions of Naira to stop Biafra demonstration.

MASSOB challenges BIM to disclose the evidence in three days or we shall expose the secret documentation of all Uwazuruike’s atrocities, sabotage, deviation on Biafra actualization.

“The new leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu has never collected any money from Federal Government. This is lie. He spent two years with Uwazuruike in Department of State Security, DSS detention, Suleja and Keffi prisons from 2005-2007 before Uwazuruike was released.

Uchenna spent another two years before his release. As the closest officer to the former leader (Uwazuruike), Uchenna has vowed to expose all Uwazuruike’s dealings with Nigeria's government under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in the EzuRiver case, the death of Chief Innocent Ogbuehi (former Umuahia MASSOB leader).

"MASSOB under Uchenna Madu will continue in non-violent agitation with other genuine pro-

Biafra groups,” it added.

Military presence unacceptable to us' Meanwhile, the CD, South protest came on a day human right groups, including CD celebrated the 67th Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as they urged the Federal Government and law enforcement agents to respect human rights of Nigerians.

Some of the road blocks, according to CD ,were mounted at Niger Bridge Head by Chukwemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu plaque, Upper Iweka flyover, Onitsha, Owerri by Metallurgical Training Institute near Onitsha, Old and New Oba junction roads, Nkpor expressway Junction and Old Nkpor road Junction.

The protesting CD members led by their South East Chairman, Uzor Uzor and Anambra State Chairmen, Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme, converged at Uga Junction, Fegge Onitsha, from where they marched through Zik's Avenue, Owerri Road, to Awka Road and back to Uga Street, Fegge.

Placards wielded by the protesters had inscriptions such as 'Military presence unacceptable to us,' 'Security agents allow people to make their Christmas shopping,' 'Businessmen and women, traders coming into Onitsha to do business are being punished,' 'We have peace in Anambra before JTF men came to Onitsha,' 'Onitsha is calm, IPOP and MASSOB are no more protesting, Army Police, Navy go back to your barracks to allow people go about their businesses,'

'FG withdraw JTF from Onitsha,' 'Four four hours in traffic gridlock is not a laughing matter,' 'People are staying four hours in traffic gridlocks because of unacceptable military check-point,' among others.

Delivering lecture after the protest, to mark the 67th Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Uzor and Ezekwueme, reiterated that the protest was aimed at expressing their dissatisfaction with the presence of the JTF men on the roads, thereby causing economic hardship to the residents of Onitsha.

Stay clear of Lagos —APC Meanwhile, ahead of tomorrow’s purported rally by IPOB, in parts of Lagos, the state chapter of APC, has warned anyone planning to hold a demonstration in the state under any umbrella to discontinue such an attempt to plunge the state into crisis, noting that the state will not take kindly to such a nefarious plan.

APC in a statement by its Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said considering the heightened security challenges the state was facing, it would be fool-hardy for any group to hide under the guise of protest to compromise the security of the state and be allowed such a privilege.

This came as IPOB in a statement, yesterday, on its Facebook page disclosed that it would be embarking on a Lagos Mega Rally/Protest slated for December 16 and 17, 2015.

IPOB said: “The Rally which will kick-off on the morning of December 16, will see us march from axis of the city via Alaba Int’l market down to Mile 2 on the first day of the protest after making a stop over at Trade Fair Int’l market complex to intimate our people over there about the rally.

“The second day of the rally will see us visiting several Embassies and High Commissions in Victoria Island and Ikoyi axis of city to deliver our protest letter as well as Amnesty Int’l and United Nations offices.

“We shall be demanding for the unconditional release of director of Radio Biafra and TV, Nnamdi Kanu and all other Biafrans in the custody, as well as a right for selfdetermination during the March/ Protest.”

However, the APC warned that it will not sit idly and allow politically sponsored hoodlums masquerading as Pro-Biafran protesters or any group whatsoever, to compromise security in which the state has invested hugely in recent times.

It asked those behind the plot to arrest themselves as the security agencies, led by the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni have vowed to deal ruthlessly with anybody or group found to be involved in such protests, and expressed the hope the law enforcement agencies in Lagos will not be tested during this time.

“As a party that governs Lagos, it will be derelict of us to watch a group of politically-sponsored hoodlums tamper with the tight security system that has been effortlessly put in place by the state government to combat.

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 45

Olympians oppose blanket ban on doping nations T

HE World O l y m p i a n s Association (WOA) has called blanket bans on competitors from dopingtainted nations “unjust” and called for urgent action to ensure clean athletes are allowed to participate in major sporting events.

The Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) was suspended last month following a report by the

World Anti-Doping Agency ’s (WADA) i n d e p e n d e n t commission that exposed widespread, systematic statesponsored doping and related corruption.

Russian athletes are therefore set to miss the world indoor athletics championships in the United States in March and face a race against time to be cleared to

Blatter attempts to turn FIFA against itself

S

EPP Blatter sought to turn Fifa’s member associations against its own ethics committee on Tuesday night after comparing it to “the Inquisition” in a letter to all 209 of them.

Blatter wrote to each national federation ahead of a hearing on Thursday to determine whether his 17year reign as president of football’s world governing body ends in disgrace.

Fifa’s head judge, HansJoachim Eckert, will decide

by Monday whether Blatter and Michel Platini have breached its code of ethics over a £1.3 million payment that is also the subject of a Swiss criminal investigation.

compete in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.

The WOA, without mentioning Russia specifically, released a statement supporting the rights of clean athletes.

“We believe banning clean athletes is unjust and that sport and its many fans will ultimately pay the price as they will miss the opportunity to see their clean heroes compete at the highest level,” WOA President Joel Bouzou said in a statement on the body’s website.

Ogba hails Ambode for reviving Lagos Marathon

A

•Blatter His letter to member federations read: “I am bewildered by the insinuations and allegations brought against me by the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee.”

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba has commended Lagos State g o v e r n o r, Akinwummi Ambode for the rebirth of a world class marathon in Lagos.

The details of the 42km marathon sponsored by Access Bank were disclosed last weekend and it was much more of a relief to athletics officials and runners

P

•Okowa Delta Gov. C M Y K

who felt pained by the demise of the Lagos half marathon.

“We thank Governor Ambode, who not only embraced the idea, but he is working round the clock to ensure its success.”

Ogba urged Nigerians who are mistaking the culture of marathon running with usual track and field to cure their ignorance by doing a

Continues from BP

Pinnick hails appointment of Okowa as Delta sports boss on the success attained by RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has commended Delta State Government for the appointment of Tony Okowa as the chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission (DSSC).

Also on the new board of the sports commission is Neville Bekederemo, a former personal assistant to the former DSSC chief.

Others include, one of the pioneers of female football

Kenya’s Joyce Zakary and Jamaica’s Christine Day competition at the IAAF world championships.

in the country, Elder Eddington Kuejubola and Chinenye Daphne.

Pinnick who is the immediate past chairman of the DSSC said yesterday that the appointment of Okowa amounts to ‘putting a round peg in a round hole’ and that he is going to build

the state in Nigerian sports.

“Tony Okowa is the right choice for the job. We are all living witnesses to the marvelous job he did as Chairman of Delta Force. I strongly believe that he is going to build on the success attained by Delta State in sports generally,” observed Pinnick.

Benitez

Continues from BP on Dec. 8 was his first successfully converted free-kick in over six months, per Goal.com.

However, the 30-yearold reportedly left the room when the Madrid manager suggested he undergo a biometric study in an attempt to improve his strike-rate from dead balls, per Jose Felix Diaz of El Chiringuito (via the Irish Independent).

Since Benitez’s installation as manager at the Bernabeu in the summer consistent

Google search on marathon and its benefits to host cities.

“Marathon is not about a Nigerian winning or not. However, I will be delighted, if a Nigerian win in Lagos and go on to win elsewhere, but it is more than that. New York, Dubai, Berlin, Boston, Paris, Durban, Accra and several other marathons are not won by their

Mikel

managed only nine games for Chelsea this season.

Mikel also made just six starts in Chelsea’s Premier League titlewinning campaign last year due to being pushed to the sidelines by firstchoice defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic.

And according to

Turkish outlet Takvim, Galatasaray are now planning to make contact with Chelsea in the coming days to try and agree a fee for the 28year-old. Mikel who places in the Super Eagles has come under threat.

Mikel’s current deal with the Blues runs until 2017 but the club are unlikely to offer him a new one and could take

Eagles

Continues from BP expected to join the rumours have circulated team when they shift of a divide between Ronaldo and the their training to South Spaniard, per Ed Malyon in the Mirror.

The former Liverpool boss is unlikely to have Continues from BP the Premier League this enamoured himself further to Ronaldo by season, which sees the suggesting he needs to defending champions improve his free-kick languishing just one point taking. But he arguably outside the relegation zone following their 2-1 has a point.

Though the three-time defeat to the Foxes last Ballon d’Or winner has night.

But Lampard admits developed a unique freekick style and has scored Chelsea must snap out of some staggering goals in their slump, insisting: “It has to change right now. his career.

Whether it’s attitude or

Africa. They open their 2016 CHAN campaign against Niger on January 18 in

Lampard performance or something else, it has to change.”

The New York City midfielder cannot see owner Abramovich rushing to dismiss Mourinho, who came out and said he felt ‘betrayed’ by his players following the defeat at the King Power Stadium, but believes the Russian will be concerned.

citizens, but the one day event generate thousands of jobs in the host cites, millions of dollars are made, London Marathon is the biggest one day event for raising money for charities in the world, it is in the Guinness Book of Records, I urge Nigerians to seek information before making comments” advantage of Galatasaray’s interest next month.

Fellow Turkish side Besiktas have also registered their interest in signing the midfielder, with club president Fikret Oman admitting that they could come back in for the player they tried to sign in the summer.

“We were ready to sign Mikel last summer. And we could enter the race again over the winter break,” Oman said.

K i g a l i . Tu n i s i a a n d Guinea are the other teams in their first round group.

“He’s probably looking at it very closely.

Obviously we’ve been here before with Chelsea when managers change midway through the season,” Lampard told Sky Sports.

“I don’t know how many times you can do that. We had some good results from doing it before but we had a different set of players at that point.’’

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46 — WEDNESDAY, Vanguard Vanguard,, DECEMBER 16 , 2015

Fred banned after failing drugs test

Four Nigerians hit Gov’s Cup second round

By John Egbokhan

T

HE game of defeats which swept through Nigerian tennis on Monday receded yesterday as three hoe talents made amends for their counterparts failure by qualifying for the second of the International Tennis Federation-sanctioned Governor ’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

First to book his place in the second round, which holds today, was Sylvester Emmanuel had to raise his game to the highest level to defeat a stubborn Russian Alexei Filenkov in two sets, 7-6, 7-5.

Emmanuel will now play tournament’s eight seed Fabien Reboul of France for a place in the quarterfinal. It is a match that most Nigerians will be watching with rapt

attention as they hope to see one of their own reach the semifinal, the first of its kind in this year’s Futures.

Also through to the second round is home boy, Joseph Imeh, who defeated American Anderson Reed in three sets 6-

2, 1-6, 6-3 , to set up a meeting with third seed fro Zimbabwe, Takanyi Garanganga.

Joining Imeh and Emmanuel in the second round is Umaru Balami, who conquered Ghana’s Pascal Ziyab Alome in

two sets, 6-3, 7-5 The journey continues for Moses Michael, who defeated Albert Bikom in their first round match and is now set for a tough tussle with men’s singles top seed Aldin Setkic from Bosnia.

B

Fred

Veterans laud U-23, console Keshi T

HE Association of Sports Veterans, Nigeria have congratulated the National U-23 Football team for not only qualifying for the Olympics in Rio next year, but also for winning the African Championship.

“Ordinarily we would have been very contented that you qualified us for the Olympics, but to go ahead and win the competition was an icing on the cake” said the Veterans President, Chief Jonathan Ogufere.

In a media release signed by Secretary General of the body, Veteran Paul Bassey, the Presi-

dent said, there were fears in the land that we may not qualify, after narrow escapes in the hands of Mali and Egypt but at the end of the day, the Nigerian spirit rose to the fore. “…..we all had our fears, especially after those two matches and the explosive cracker against host Senegal, but at the end, the Nigerian Spirit of never say die triumphed” wrote the tested football Administrator and one time West African Football Union President.

The Veterans also thanked the Sports Minister for helping to calm

off the field nerves that guaranteed a smooth sail in the final game. “ While saluting the Nigeria Football Federation for another feather on its cap, we urge them to build on this foundation by making sure that the country is adequately represented in Rio. “Nothing should be left to chance as we make to repeat the 1996 feat in Atlanta.” The Veterans President concluded.

In another development, the Veterans have commiserated with Coach Stephen Keshi on the loss of his dear wife.

The President in a tele-

phone conversation prayed the Almighty to give the coach the fortitude to bear the loss which he described as “unfortunate and very sad “ We know the role which she played in your life, that of the kids and the family, one that helped to stabilize you, right from the time you were a player to the time you rose to the pinnacle of your career as National team coach, that is why we mourn her transition at a time she was expected to reap the fruits of her labour. We pray her soul sweet repose in the bosom of the most high” the Veterans prayed.

RAZIL international Fred has been suspended for year after failing a drugs test.

The Shakhtar Donetsk star, 22, tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide during last summer ’s Copa America.

The banned substance, usually taken for cardiovascular problems, is a known masking agent for performance-enhancing drugs.

Fred has six caps for his country and started twice before Dunga’s side flopped to a disappointing quarterfinal defeat at the tournament in Chile.

The ban, issued by South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL, is backdated to July 26 and applies to all matches sanctioned by the federation.

Fred will still be eligible to play for Shakhtar and Brazil unless FIFA decide to apply the penalty across all competitions.

The midfielder has repeatedly protested his innocence, is expected to appeal the decision.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 — 47

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015

Benitez quarrels with Ronaldo over free-kicks R

AFAEL Benitez has reportedly put his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo in

CHAN 2016: Eagles camp bubbles T

•Oliseh

WENTY one players have so far reported to the Super Eagles training camp in Abuja ahead of next month’s CHAN in Rwanda, officials have said. And the players have started training, under the supervision of assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf and goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu. Team official Patrick Pascal said last night they expected the other

five invited players to join.

The absentees will include U23 stars Usman Mohammed and Bature Yaro as well as Rangers defender Matthew Etim, who only this past weekend got married.

Pascal further said they started training yesterday.

The squad are due to depart soon for South Africa before they will fly to Rwanda for the

CHAN. Coach Sunday Oliseh who is still recovering from illness is Continues on Page 45

further jeopardy by suggesting the Portuguese superstar undergo studies to improve his free-kick accuracy.

Ronaldo’s set-piece goal in Real’s 8-0 drubbing of Malmo in the Champions League Continues on Page 45

•Ronaldo

‘Gala’ table $8.5m for Mikel

S

UPER Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel is most likely to join Turkish giants Galatasaray during the winter transfer window.

Reports in Turkey stated that Galatasaray have tabled $8.5m (about N1.7b) for Mikel who has Continues on Page 45

Don’t sack Mourinho, Lampard begs Abramovich

F

RANK Lsmpard has told Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich not to sack Jose Mourinho – but admits things must change following defeat

to Leiecester.

The club’s all-time record goalscorer has been baffled by Chelsea’s problems in

Continues on Page 45

Enyimba to drop Ikhana for Yusuf —Pg.24

SO LONG••• Mikel set to leave Stamford Bridge in Jauary.

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Boredom (6) 5 Undergo (6) 8 Sham (8) 9 Pain (4) 10 Border (3) 12 Skilful (5) 15 Stray (3) 17 Donkey (3) 18 Vase (3) 19 Noise (3) 20 Recognised (5) 21 Pull (3) 22 Wrath (3) 23 Stretch (3) 24 Ocean (3) 26 Fear (5) 29 Decay (3) 33 Idol (4) 34 Plea (8) 35 Robust (6) 36 Account (6)

DOWN 2 Weird (5) 3 Jot (4) 4 Booby-trapped (5) 5 Precipitous (5) 6 Insipid (4) 7 Anaesthetic (5) 10 Hell (5) 11 Madness (5) 12 Enquired (5) 13 Elicit (5) 14 Adjusted (5) 15 Go in (5) 16 Correct (5) 25 Happening (5) 27 Shrill (5) 28 Performer (5) 30 Exterior (5) 31 Acid (4) 32 Jump (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Damp 4, Pod 6, Made 8, Corner 9, Insist 10, Top 12, Catch 14, Brook 15, Hello 18, Severe 20, Wreath 24, Tenor 26, Crate 28, Erase 30, Pep 32, Bitter 33, Latent 34, Oral 35, Win 36, Crew.

DOWN: 2, Aroma 3, Panache 4, Part 5, Drip 6, Miser 7, Distort 11, Oil 12, Cos 13, Her 16, Let 17, Own 19, Earlier 21, Roe 22, Erratic 23, Hue 25, Ewe 27, Total 29, Since 30, Prow 31, Plan.

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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C M Y K