Banks lose millions in daring robbery attack

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62435

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N150

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

COLUMNISTS: Empty treasury, wardrobe Justice made in allowances and redoubts of Rivers State?

•P.19 corruption •P.17

Legislators: To whom much is given and less is expected •P.19

It's shameful to import toothpick, fish, eggs, others — CBN 9

Fuel tanker tragedies: Senate summons NNPC on state of 54 refineries

Banks lose millions in daring robbery attack zLady with snake tied round her waist leads robbery gang zRaid two banks, cart away money, set vehicles ablaze zUse dynamite, charms, gunfire to scare people, escape by boat

By Evelyn Usman, Bose Adelaja & Jane Echewodo

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AGOS—DAREDEVIL armed robbers, in commandostyle, yesterday, held residents of Ipakodo area of Ikorodu in Lagos hostage for about two hours as they robbed two major banks in the area.

The scene of the robbery operation was just a stone's throw to Ipakodo Divisional Police station.

The policemen, who engaged the armed robbers, were, however, overwhelmed.

During the operation, Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs

Top: Entrances of the banks burst by the armed robbers. Below from left: A victim agonises over her loss; the exit route of the robbers and some of the cars destroyed during the Ikorodu robbery incident, yesterday. Photos: Bose Adelaja.

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POCKET CARTOON

MEETING—President Muhammadu Buhari (L) during a meeting with APC governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday night. Photo: NAN.

Banks lose millions in daring robbery attack Continues from Page 1 three persons were injured, while an unspecified amount of money was carted away from the banks. The robbers also set five vehicles ablaze and damaged an armoured tank as they escaped from the scene.

Eye witnesses’ accounts said all members of the gang wore masks and were led by a young lady of about 20 years of age.

They were said to have used guns, dynamite and charms to scare people during the operation.

It was also learned that the three persons injured in the attack were a vulcanizer, a motorcyclist and a policeman who were rushed to Ikorodu

General Hospital for treatment.

The operation The robbers were said to have arrived Ipakodo around 8.30am, announcing their arrival with sporadic gunfire and use of dynamite to scare residents, road users and bank workers while they operated unhindered till about 10:05am. They came with a dove, mortar and charms, even as the team leader suspended a live tortoise round her neck and tied a snake round her waist.

One of the robbers reportedly sat on the mortar and released the dove into the air to

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Be like a duck, paddling and working very hard inside the water, but what everyone sees is a smiling and calm face — Manoj Arora

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OMPASSION is by nature gentle, peaceful and soft, but it is a very powerful virtue. It is those who easily lose their patience who are insecure and unstable.

So, when a problem first arises, try to remain calm and humble, and also maintain a sincere attitude and be concerned that the outcome is fair. Of course, others may try to take advantage of you, and if your remaining detached only encourages unjust aggression, adopt a strong stand. This, however, should be done with compassion, and if it is necessary to express your views and take strong countermeasures, do so without anger or ill-intent.

You should realize that even though your opponents appear to be harming you, in the end, their destructive activity will damage only themselves. In order to check your own selfish impulse to retaliate, you should recall your desire to practice compassion and assume responsibility for helping prevent the other person from suffering the consequences of his or her acts.

signal commencement of operation.

Eye witnesses said the robbers, who wielded sophisticated weapons, drove to the scene in three SUVs but later escaped in a boat christened Origin Gardens, which operates Ipakodo enroute Victoria Island.

According to an eye witness, Gabriel Anayo, the robbers’ first port of call was a first generation bank, after which they proceeded to another bank and finally to the jetty where they took time to arrange their loot, removed the number plates of the vehicles they came in before setting the cars on fire.

Vehicles on fire The fire later spread to other vehicles parked at the jetty.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, and some senior officers in the military visited the scene with a promise to investigate the matter.

“We want to apply a joint, co-ordinated approach to the incident to ensure we get to the root of the matter. This is a preliminary stage and we need more time to do a thorough job,” said the CP. Sources in the area, however, hinted that the managers of banks attacked by the bandits were currently in Police custody for interrogation as residents also called on government to provide adequate security on Lagos waterways.

Yesterday’s incident is the second this month as a branch of one of the banks raided on Ijede Road, Ikorodu, was visited by robbers on Monday June 1, 2015, carting away a huge amount of money.

The robbers later proceeded to Bayeku jetty where they killed a boat operator and made away with his boat.

Eye-witnesses said the Police could not overpower the robbers because they were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the bandits.

When Vanguard visited the scene around 11am, the two jetties in the area had suspended operations for the day, while bank workers were seen discussing in

groups.

The incident which caused traffic gridlock for hours, also caused panic among residents and road users who scampered for safety but the arrival of the Police Commissioner and his entourage calmed the situation.

In a chat with Vanguard , the jetty owner, Mr Fehinti Adeola Kosoko, said he was optimistic the robbers were hiding somewhere as their boat was the type which could not operate for more than an hour.

He said: “We are into leisure and water transportation but our services were disrupted by several gunshots today (yesterday) and the first step we took was to withdraw all boats from the jetty.

"The gunshots lasted for about an hour and forty-five minutes in the banks and we were careful not to obstruct their movement should the bandits come to the jetty.

"The Police Station was also attacked by the robbers but hundreds of motorcyclists and policemen ran after them but could not catch up with them.

"The robbers were not

familiar with the jetty but they communicated in pidgin language and on getting to the jetty to discover there was no boat, they put a call across to one of their colleagues to bring a boat in which they escaped”, he said.

Kosoko said he sent a distress call to the Police but there was no response, adding that the Police were also under attack.

“The Police were also under attack, we then called the Nigerian Navy at Majidun to no avail.

The robbers’ boat was a slow moving one and I am very sure they are hiding somewhere around here because the boat cannot move too far,” he added.

The owner of a Sienna car with number plate KSF 18 AP, Madam Gbemisola Afolalu, whose car was also burnt during the operation, said: “I arrived here around 8.55am only to be greeted by gunshots and I quickly parked my car and ran for safety but by the time I came back, I discovered the car was burnt beyond recognition.

They sprayed the cars with petrol and set them ablaze.”

Policemen killed, 2 Lebanese kidnapped in Bayelsa Y

By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA— THE peace of the riverside town of Onuegbum in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was violated yesterday, as armed men stormed a nearby sand dump site, killing two policemen and abducting two Lebanese nationals.

The identity of the slain policemen attached to a construction firm, Pache, dredging sand in the area could not be immediately ascertained.

But the Lebanese were identified as Sarki Abi

Chmouli and Ibrahim Abi Pherem.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the eight invaders, armed with dangerous assault rifles, stormed the company’s dredging site a few metres away from the community at about 12.20p.m. through the waterway in two speedboats.

The gunmen were said to have repeatedly fired into the air to whittle down any possible resistance, a development that caused the workers to scamper for safety.

According to eyewitnesses, the two

policemen fired back, but were felled by the invading gunmen, who also seized the two Lebanese and escaped through the waterway.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the corpse of the slain policemen had been deposited in the morgue of Federal Medical Centre, FMC, for autopsy.

“We have alerted the marine component of the Police, the Joint Task Force and the Navy,” the police scribe said.

6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Hospital seizes 6 corpses of crisis victims over unpaid N13.5m mortuary bill zFive other victims laid to rest

By Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH—A private hospital in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko Local Government Area of Delta State, (identity withheld), has seized the corpses of six persons who died in Irri inter-communal crisis in 2002 over unpaid N13.5 million mortuary debt.

This development came as remains of five others who were killed in the crisis were laid to rest yesterday amid tears and lamentation.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the funeral service of those buried, chairman of Irri Development Union, Mr. Goddey Igorigo, said the deceased had been in mortuary since 2002.

Explaining that the body of one of the victims was taken to Oleh for burial, Igorigo said the corpses of six others were still in the mortuary of a private hospital which refused to release them due to N13.5 million debt.

He said: “We are supposed to have also buried all of them today but because we do not have money, the management of the hospital took us to court to pay the sum of N13.5 million and also demanded for the payment of N1 million damages to them.

“The matter is in court as we speak now but with the judgement so far passed, the court asked the management of the hospital to

reduce the bill. So we are begging the local government, state and federal governments to come to the aid of Irri to settle the bill so that we can bury the remaining bodies of the victims of the crisis.”

Blaming the crisis on power tussle and the divide and rule tactics of an oil company operating in the area, Igorigo advised the people of the community to keep away from

anything that could lead to a recurrence of crisis in the community.

“We should leave peacefully and forgive one another for wrongs done to us,” he admonished the people of the area.

Meanwhile, commercial activities were brought to a halt at Irri in honour of the deceased as indigenes of the community who were clad in black attires wept

uncontrollably.

In his homily at the funeral service held at the community’s town hall, Rev. Ferguson Idike stressed the need for the people to put God first in their dealings with one another.

Speaking on the theme "Vanity, Vanity, Vanity" Idike emphasized the inevitability of death and urged the people to love one another and give their lives to God.

SEASON OF HARVEST: People buying pineapples at Railway Fruits Market in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Man to die by hanging for killing 6-year-old girl

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By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—BAUCHI State High Court yesterday sentenced to death by hanging Ibrahim Idris, 40, for killing a six-year-old girl after failing in his attempt to rape her.

Idris was dragged to the court, presided over by Justice Yelim Bogoro, by the state Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Dawud Yakubu, who charged him with culpable homicide, an offence contrary to section 221 of the state law.

Dawud told the court that on September 14, 2012, the accused called the deceased, Asiya Mohammed, into his room with the intention to rape her.

He said when she refused, he used a knife to sever her head, put it in a polythene bag and threw it into a water channel.

He said the body of the deceased was recovered and taken to General Hospital, Darazo, for post-mortem examination before it was later handed over to her parents for burial.

He called five witnesses and presented the axe and knife

the accused used to cut the head of the deceased as exhibits and the witnesses testified that he made a confessional statement.

In her judgement, Justice

Bogoro said the confessional statement of the accused was direct, adding that the prosecutor proved his case beyond all reasonable doubt and sentenced the accused to

ALLEGED THREAT TO LIFE: Police

quiz Obasanjo's

in-law

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—OPERATIVES of the X Squad Unit, Lagos State Police command are currently investigating Hakeem Bello, the estranged in-law of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, over alleged engagement of military personnel to settle scores and false alarm of threat to life.

Hakeem who was married to Senator Iyabo Obasanjo was seen at the Lagos State police command last week Friday where he was reportedly quizzed following a petition written by one Mr. Sumonu Olalekan to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr.

death by hanging.

Justice Bogoro said: “I, hereby, sentence you to death by hanging, but you have the right to appeal within 30 days.”

Kayode Aderanti, allegeding that Mr Hakeem Bello brought military personnel to his property and destroyed it and also gave police false information that he is threatening his life among others.

Vanguard learned that the commissioner of police charged X-Squad to investigate the case and Hakeem Bello was subsequently invited to appear before the Police to defend himself on June 12, 2015, but Mr. Bello did not honour the invitation on that day as he sent a lawyer and his co-accused, one Idowu Adedoyin to honour the invitation.

Vanguard gathered that when Hakeem Bello

eventually reported to the police on Wednesday, June 17, he admitted using the military personnel, adding that he used them to protect the people working for him as Sumonu Olalekan and others were disturbing his workers.

He also told the police that he bought the land from one Dr Victor Olaiya and tendered some documents to back up his claim.

Sumonu Olalekan, however, told the police that Mr. Bello had earlier written a petition to the Area G police command and SARS Ikeja where he allegedly wrongly informed the police that he threatened his life and that he was an armed robber which led to his arrest on several occasions.

Police nab man, 18, for defiling 8-year-old boy

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By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State police command on Tuesday paraded an 18year-old man for having unlawful carnal knowledge of an 8-year-old boy.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Haruna Mohammed, said at the parade of the suspect in Bauchi: “On Saturday, June 20, 2015, at about 4pm, police detectives attached to Dass Division arrested one Mustapha Abdullahi, Male, 18, of Wandi District, Dass LGA, Bauchi State. “ Suspect lured an 8-yearold boy and had unlawful carnal knowledge against the order of nature.”

He said the victim was rushed to the General Hospital in Dass for medical examination, adding that the case was under investigation.

According to him, the suspect will be charged to court for prosecution as soon as investigation is concluded.

2 remanded in Kirikiri Prison over N465m fraud

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By Bartholomew Madukwe

AGOS—A Lagos High Court in Ikeja yesterday remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison two men, Alhaji Yerima Suleiman and Uwem Essien Antia, for allegedly obtaining N465 million by false pretence, from two persons, Dennis Ale and Aginwa Gladys.

The duo were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, conspiracy to forge and forgery.

According to the charge, Suleiman and Antia, with a fraudulent intent, conspired to commit felony, to wit: forgery of acknowledgment of receipt dated February 6, 2015.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 7

Plateau declares dusk-to-dawn curfew in 2 councils

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS— PL ATEAU State government, yesterday, declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government areas to curtail the spate of killings in the councils in the last one month.

The state government in a

statement by the Secretary to State Government, Mr. Rufus Bature, said: “The curfew will be indefinite until the security situation and spate of attacks is effectively checked by security operatives.”

However, Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria and Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Mr.

Emmanuel Loman, said the curfew was the last solution, having witnessed serious security threat in the two areas.

Meanwhile, Dachung Bagos, a resident, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate action to end the continued genocidal attacks which, he said, had threatened the corporate existence of citizens

in Plateau State and rendered several villages and settlements extinct, since hostilities began.

“I am strongly appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari and drawing his attention to the plight of Plateau State citizens and requesting that immediate action be taken to stop the killings,” he said.

CLEAR: A military check point was dismantled at this spot, Suaka/Kuje Junction, Airport Road, Abuja, following President Muhammadu Buhari's directive, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

NDLEA busts global hard drugs syndicate; bizman arrested

By Evelyn Usman

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PERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a popular businessman (names withheld), alleged to be leader of an international drug trafficking organisation, who recruits and sponsors couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy.

The arrest of the 37-year-old suspect reportedly followed the agency’s discovery of three laboratories used for the illegal production of methamphetamine in his home town in Anambra State.

Addressing journalists yesterday on the arrest described as the latest outstanding operational success recorded by the anti-narcotic agency, the Chairman/Chief Executive, NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, disclosed that surveillance indicated that the suspect shuttled between his country home and Isolo, Lagos State, residence.

He said: “He hides under the cover of motorcycle parts business in running a drug cell that has international affiliation.

“He specialises in recruiting and sponsoring drug couriers to China, Malaysia and Turkey.

He also pays his couriers an

zUncovers 3 laboratories zSuspect's couriers jailed in China, Turkey, Malaysia average of $5,000 per trip.

“The suspect has two Nigeria international passports and one Ghanaian passport, all bearing his photographs with different names. Two other passports belonging to suspected drug couriers were also seized.

“He hired one Raphael, who is a professional methanphetamine cook to work for him. He pays him N500,000 for his service and N700,000 for the purchase of precursor chemicals per production circle.

“The production capacity per cycle is 14kg. As a result of the indicting surveillance report, he was arrested in his home country.”

Recovered

During a search of one of the suspect’s laboratories at his house, 2.615kg of liquid methamphetamine, according to Giade, was found inside a yellow plastic jug, with another 250grammes of crystallized methamphetamine concealed in a white transparent polythene bag.

Methamphetamine laboratory equipment, which include one

approximate volume measuring scale, six heating filters, six giant conical flasks and industrial tubes and cups of sodium hydroxide, were also recovered.

Others are containers of iodine, acetone, hydrochloric acid, weighing scale, masks and hand gloves among others.

Giade said: “Also recovered from him are paraphernalia for drug concealment, similar to the ones seized with drugs at the airports and land borders.

“They include an electronic weighing scale, assorted artefacts, laptop bags, motorcycle parts, air compressors, bus and truck mirrors, araldite and paint, processed brown envelopes and impulse sealer.

“Others are transparent packing nylon and carbon paper, tower foil paper, needles, threads, super glue and many more.”

He further stated that while surveillance on the suspect was ongoing, operatives intercepted 23kg of methamphetamine along

Badagry Expressway, Lagos, en-route Cotonou, which was allegedly traced to the suspect.

Assets

Giade stated that the agency had traced some of the assets believed to be purchased with proceeds from drugs.

He said: “These included over 16 bank accounts in different banks, a piece of land located at Joy Avenue, Ajao Estate, which he reportedly bought in 2009 for N25 million and rebuilt in 2012 to a threestorey building at N90 million.

“He also bought a property at St. James Close, Ajao Estate, for 17 million and built a five-bedroom duplex on it at the cost of N25 million. He has a Toyota Venza, a Peugeot 406, a Q5 Audi four runner, and a Toyota Sienna SUV.” The suspect is reportedly standing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos, in respect of the seizures, Giade said, adding that some couriers sponsored by him have also been arrested, with some of them in prison custody in China, Turkey and Malaysia.

Motorist knocks down FRSC officer

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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BA—A staff of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Aba unit, identified as Mr. Victor Mbakaogu, has been hospitalised after he was knocked down by a motorist in front of the FRSC office along EnuguPort Harcourt Expressway, yesterday.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the FRSC official sustained injuries on his head, his jaw and other parts of the body and was rushed to a private hospital.

A senior official of the agency, who declined to have her name in print, confirmed the incident, and added that Mbakaogu had been responding to treatment, while the driver had been detained.

According to her, the officer did not stop the driver, but was standing beside the road in front of the office when the driver suddenly veered off the road and hit him.

Vanguard learned that the driver was later arrested at a nearby village by other drivers, who witnessed the incident.

Man docked over power generator theft

By Opeyemi Lepe

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AGOS—A 24 years old man, Afeez Aweda, was yesterday arraigned before Apapa Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for alleged conspiracy and stealing preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, Ojaokomo, told the court that the defendant stole one power generator valued at N17,500,00, property of one Grace Ugochi, and there by committed an offence punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate P. A. Adekomaya granted the defendant bail in the sum of N30,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter till July 22.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

House leadership: More Reps reject APC's stance zAs N-Central, S-East Reps decry marginalisation

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA— THE national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was yesterday losing grip of its members in the House of Representatives as more members and caucuses continued to revolt against the party’s stance on the appointment of principal officers.

For the second day running, Speaker Yakubu Dogara refused to read out a letter from the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on the nomination of four members as House Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip.

The difficulties of the national party were compounded, yesterday, as more state caucuses paid allegiance to the speaker with members from Yobe and Kebbi telling him that they were supportive of his actions as speaker.

Besides, APC members from the North-Central and South-East zones in a briefing yesterday flayed the Odigie-Oyegun leadership for being insensitive to the principle of federal character in its recommendations on the election of principal officers.

Normally reliable sources in the House told Vanguard that the party had written the speaker proposing Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (South-West) as House Leader, Mohammed Monguno (North-East) as Chief Whip; Alhassan Doguro (NorthWest) as Deputy Leader; and Pally Iriase (South-East) as Deputy Whip.

Details of the letter, Vanguard learnt, spurred some of the caucuses left out, like the NorthCentral and South-East to object to the party’s nominations.

Even the North-West, where a majority of the members had earlier backed Gbajabiamila, in his speakership aspiration, were said to have now abandoned him in his quest for the position of leader. The North-West members, Vanguard gathered, were opposed to the fact that the party’s stance would have left the SouthWest with the two principal positions of Deputy Speaker and House Leader and thereby leaving two other geopolitical zones without any principal office position.

A high level source in the House said, yesterday, that it was unlikely the principal officers would even emerge today even as the source ruled out Gbajabiamila from the position.

“Those who were backing him have seen reality and many of them are now going behind him to pledge loyalty to the speaker.

Even more, many of them are saying that it is not possible for his zone to get two positions while

REPS REJECT APC POSITION: From left: Hon. Zakare Muhammed; Hon. Funke Adedoyin; Hon. Ahmed Idris; Hon. Aliyu Ahmed Pategi; North Central Caucus Chairman, Hon. Ajanah Mohammed Kabir and others during a briefing rejecting the position of the APC on the purported approval of principal officers of the House of Reps at National Assembly, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. the South-South and SouthEast get nothing,” the source said.

Even more, many members, it was gathered, were also aligning with the reality of Speaker Dogara’s entrenchment and moving over to his position on issues as a way of being rewarded with favourable committee positions.

“Many members are now faced with the stark reality that committee positions are about to be shared, and members want to get favourable positions,” a top level source privy to the developments told Vanguard last night.

Solidarity call on Dogara

The Yobe members, who had almost totally opposed Dogara’s emergence as speaker, Vanguard learnt, paid a solidarity call on him yesterday where they pledged to forge along with him on his position on issues concerning the House.

N-Central, S-East Reps decry marginalisation

Members from the two zones, North-Central and South-East that would be denied office by the permutations of the party, yesterday, openly condemned their party’s stance affirming it as an act of marginalisation.

The North-Central caucus in the House led by Rep. Ahman

Pategi from Kwara State said that the party’s position was taken without consulting the caucus, adding that they were shocked when the party stated in the said publications that they arrived the decision after due consultation.

Flanked by about 20 other members from the zone, he said: “We are also amazed by the directive of the party to the leadership of the House to take necessary action on the purported choice by the party, which we see as a clear usurpation of the powers of the zonal caucuses and their members as guaranteed by the constitution and the standing rules of the House of Representatives.

“We, therefore, strongly reject the purported selection by the party which we see as being in conflict with the principle of the federal character as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic.”

He said the North-Central caucus believed that there should be fairness and equity in the selection of other principal positions of the House of Representatives following the emergence of both the speaker and deputy speaker.

“It will be inconsiderate of the party to consider North-East and South-West that had produced the Speaker and Deputy Speaker for other positions. The exclusion of two zones is not acceptable,” he said.

They said with about 40 members, they would not allow their zone to be excluded in the sharing of positions and that they would use all available legal channels to pursue their cause.

Also addressing journalists on behalf of the South-East Caucus of the APC, Rep. Austine Chukwukere, representing Ideato South/Ideato North and Rep. John Chike Okeafor, Okigwe South of Imo State, condemned the attempt to exclude the zone in the process of decision making in the House, saying: “We can’t stand here and allow the party sweep us out.”

Chukwukere stated that if the South-East was not carried along in the appointment of principal officers, her representatives would lack the moral courage to convince their constituents and the entire five states of the SouthEast that the party was fair to every Nigerian.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Northern caucus at the end of its meeting last night resolved to present Rep. Binta Bello from Gombe State and Rep. Yakubu Barde from Kaduna State for the two positions expected to be given to the North.

Buhari's ADC orders DSS operatives out of Presidential Villa zIt's part of realignment of security apparatus —Adesina

By Ben Agande

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BUJA — THE inter agency rivalry between the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army came to a head, yesterday, as the Aide de Camp to the President, Lt. Col Abubakar Lawal ordered personnel of the DSS out of the villa.

The incidenct which happened at the residence of the President at the Presidential Villa was extended to all other points that had been manned by personnel of the DSS. But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said what happened was a realignment of security around the President which entailed that members of the armed

forces would man the inner perimeter of the President's security while operatives of the DSS would man the outer perimeter.

It will be recalled that since assuming office as the President, there has been an intense rivalry between DSS personnel and the army over who is to provide close body security to the president.

Some members of the armed forces were drafted from the Infantry Corps to the villa after the inauguration of President Buhari to man all the strategic points at the villa, a move that was resisted by the DSS personnel who had constitutionally provided close body protection to the President.

The issue, however, came to a head yesterday evening when the ADC to the President ordered members of the DSS at the Presidential Villa to hand over to

men of the Nigerian Army.

The directive, however, almost caused an altercation between the army and men of the DSS whose chain of command is different.

It took the intervention of the Chief Security Officer who directed his men to “stand down,” a euphemism for complying with the directive of the ADC. According to a soldier who was present, “the ADC directed that they should hand over to us and leave the villa. We have now taken over fully as directed by the ADC and we are in charge.”

Already, military personnel have taken over all the strategic points at the villa with a firm instruction that no DSS personnel should be allowed into the villa.

This is the first time that the DSS which has the professional capability and capacity would be stripped of its constitutional responsibility of providing close bodyguard protection to the President and his immediate family.

But reacting to Vanguard enquiry, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Adesina said the action was part of a realignment of the security apparatus around the President.

According to him, what happened is a realignment of security personnel from various services, saying: ”Rumours that personnel of the Department State Services have been expelled from the Presidential Villa are unfounded. President Muhammadu Buhari has given

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015—9

It’s shameful to import toothpick, fish, eggs, sugar, wheat —CBN zGives reasons for excluding rice, others from forex zSays importers can’t access forex in any market

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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BUJA — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday said that importers of rice, cement and some other products will no longer access Foreign Exchange from CBN, banks and bureaux de change for such importation.

The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, who disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, said the measure would prevent further depletion of the country’s foreign reserves.

He said the country was spending huge amount to import things that could be produced locally, adding that the apex bank would not continue to support the importation of such items through the use of hard earned foreign exchange.

Some of the products include margarine, palm kernel, palm oil products, meat and processed meat products, vegetables, private airplanes and jets, Indian incense, tinned fish, galvanised steel sheet, roofing sheet and furniture.

He said: “Importers who may want to continue importing these goods would have to source their foreign exchange from their own private sources. The CBN will continue to be vigilant around this policy, keep reviewing the list of items as it becomes comfortable that these items can be produced locally if we apply ourselves sufficiently.

Emefiele said the CBN was forced to come up with the new policy to exclude importers of rice and 40 other items from the foreign exchange market in order to save the nation’s economy.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, he said the time has come for Nigerians to decide what must be done to realise the much-desired economic development, rather than making the nation a dumping ground for other economies of the world.

Warns banks, bureaux de change

According to Emefiele, importers of the listed items would not be allowed access to foreign exchange even from the bureau de change and any bank or bureau de change that tried infractions would be severely punished.

His words: “We will not make foreign exchange available to such importers from any market.

If you read that circular, it said ‘from Nigerian foreign exchange markets’, plural not singular.

Foreign exchange will not be provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the banks or by bureaux de change. If we find people

flouting it, luckily these people we have mentioned are under our regulation, we know how to deal with them.

“Sometimes, policy changes are forced on policy-makers as a result of exogenous shocks beyond their control. While most people do not like to be forced to do something, one of the hallmarks of effective policymaking is to be nimble and responsive when such situations arise.

“In the case of yesterday’s (Tuesday) announcement, I am happy to inform and underscore that this policy change is in line with my long-held believe that Nigeria cannot attain its true potentials by simply importing everything. At some point, we have to all decide what we really want for our country, and I believe that the time is now right for that deep and honest conversation.”

He added that CBN’s analyses of the nation’s economic situation “compelled us to believe that we needed to aggressively begin the process of feeding ourselves by ourselves and producing much of what we need in this country.”

Emefiele noted that the nation was wasting huge amounts of money importing things that could be produced locally, a situation, he said, had become a drain on the nation’s Foreign Exchange Reserves.

It's shameful we have to import toothpick

According to him, “most of you are aware of the often-quoted number of N1.3 trillion, which is what we spend on average importing rice, fish, sugar, and wheat every year.

“I am saying it is shameful that we have to import toothpick. I am saying that it is shameful for

us to import fish in sauce canned, fish in sauce and sardine. I am saying it is shameful. Before I was born palm kernel was taken out of Nigeria and taken to another country and today we go to that country and import palm oil. It is shameful.

“It is shameful that items that we used to produce in this country we now begin to import them. It is shameful and we need to stop them. That is what we are saying.

“Only last week, I met the Governor of Kebbi State and he lamented the unfortunate situation in that state. Where people, our own farmers, have committed themselves to producing rice and have produced paddy and we have paddy glut in Kebbi State today.

“As I speak, the government has spent its money buying paddy from the rice farmers,

almost close to 200,000 tons of paddy rice.

“Aside from that, Kebbi State farmers have unpurchased paddy rice close to 800,000 tons.

And yet we patronise imported rice. For our benefits, those rice imported to the country are those that have spent at least seven years in their stores and yet we have rice that is produced today in Nigeria and we are running away from them.

"The only way we can encourage people who are producing rice to go back to the farms is to do what we have done today.

“How can we keep complaining about the depreciation of the Naira when all we do as a people is to import everything from ordinary Geisha and toothpicks to even eggs? These are some of the fundamental reasons behind the bank’s recent announcement.”

He disclosed that there was already a glut in paddy rice in parts of the country, especially Kebbi State where the government had spent huge sums of money to buy off 200,000 tons from the farmers, yet they have another 800,000 tons unpurchased.

Senate leadership crisis: APC govs to intervene zSay party's views should be respected

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA — GOVERNORS of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have resolved to wade into the leadership crisis in the Senate after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to express their displeasure over what is happening in the Red Chamber.

Addressing State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Buhari, the governors of Imo and Edo states, Rochas Okorocha and Adams Oshiomhole respectively said the senators cannot continue to act in defiance of the party’s directives.

Okorocha, who first spoke, said the governors decided to meet with the President because “we are not happy with what is happening within our senators in the National Assembly. We thought we should rub minds with Mr. President and to commend him on the steps taken so far to address the issue of the economy of the nation which is totally in shambles.

"And the meeting we had with Mr. President this morning (yesterday) is more reassuring that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Despite this progress, we are worried by pockets of disagreement at the National Assembly and we resolve that we came from a

MEETING: From left, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Mr. Taiye Haruna; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Anastasia Daniel-Nwaobia and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during a special meeting on revenue generating agencies at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. party and our party’s views should be respected and we feel there is need to invite our senators into the matter and see what we can do. But we believe we came from a party and everyone should respect the party.

“What we are saying is that there shouldn’t be a winner takes it all. We should carry everyone along and accommodate others as suggested by the party.”

In his contribution, Governor Oshiomhole said what the governors discussed with the president was to emphasise the

supremacy of the party.

He said: “Basically what we are saying is that senators should adopt the position of the party because we all got elected on the platform of the party. We are not just a collection of individuals, we are a political party. And when the party has spoken, you must listen, otherwise, if it was a game of individual like golf, then individuals can go their way.

“I think it is very clear at this point that the party has a responsibility to keep the system

going. So we are progressive governors, we’ve listened to the president, we’ve discussed extensively and we are clear that the party must be supported by the senators.

"This is the way it should be and we should start on working closely. We as governors listen to the party and we expect our senators to do same. like Okorocha said, we are going to call them and explain our reasons to them.”

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

FINANCIAL AUTONOMY: Lagos CJ seeks backing of executive, legislature

By Dapo Akinrefon & Ebun Sessou

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AGOS—THE Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunlayo Atilade is seeking the backing of the executive and legislative arm of government in the state with the view to ensuring financial autonomy for the judiciary.

The Chief Judge said the call for assistance became necessary owing to the challenges it has had to contend with in the recent past.

She said the challenges were due to dearth of resource and failure of the relevant agencies to release finance as at when due to expedite justice.

Recall that Justice Atilade, had some few days ago, made a courtesy call on the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode with the view to formalising the process for financial autonomy for the third arm of government in the state.

Atilade, who was represented

by Chief Registrar, Emmanuel Ogundare, at a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said if the ju-

diciary gets the required financial autonomy, it will assist in the prompt dispensation of justice dispense justice.

According to her, “It is unfortunate that despite the fact that bills being attended by the House is normally publish before passage, the judiciary don’t normally get copies on time to make meaning-

ful contribution, urged the speaker to look into it so that they can have full contribution to it.”

In his remarks, the Lagos Speaker commended the Chief Judge for her efforts at ensuring quick delivery of justice in the state since assumption of office.

He assured the CJ that the House would look into their budg-

NEVER-ENDING TRAUMA: tTaffic gridlock on Oshodi-Apapa expressway as tanker drivers blocked the 10-lane road causing traffic standstill. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

NERC, DISCOs warned against tariff hike

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC and electricity distribution companies, DISCOs, have been warned against going ahead with the planned increase in electricity

tariff in the country, despite a subsisting order of a Federal High Court, Lagos restraining such increment.

A lawyer and plaintiff in the suit, which led to restraining order, Toluwani Adebiyi, said any attempt to increase electricity tariff will amount to a flagrant

Lagos vows to challenge Sexual Offences Bill in court

By Wahab Abdulah

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AGOS—LAGOS State government yesterday vowed to seek legal redress to compel the Federal Government to repeal offensive sections of the controversial Sexual Offences Bill 2014, if President Muhammadu Buhari eventually assent the bill.

Expressing the state government’s opposition to the controversial Bill awaiting President assent, the state solicitor general, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, said there are certain provisions in the bill which are considered “offensive, obnoxious, inconsistent and likely to increase the incidences of sexual abuse in Nigeria.”

The controversial bill is among the 46 bills hurriedly passed by the last National Assembly awaiting President’s assent.

At a press conference at the ministry of justice, Pedro who was

et at the appropriate time, with a view to ensuring the the judiciary is financially autonomous in the state.

Obasa noted that the issue of autonomy for the judiciary is not new as the issue came up during the 7th Assembly.

He, however, assured that the lawmakers would look at how the autonomy can be achieved by working with relevant agencies to get the best result.

joined by members of the state Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) , said the state which has been championing the fight against sexual violence opposed the bill because “it seeks to introduce a strange defence based on the innocent act of a child (referred to as deceit) and belief of the perpetrator that a child is above 18 years when he committed the act of defiling the child”.

Giving a scenario, Pedro disclosed the National Assembly is incompetent to legislate on general laws such as sexual offences in a federation, except for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The solicitor general said the state government would soon register its opposition through a memorandum containing “our thoughts and suggested amendments that should be considered before assent is given to the Sexual Offences Bill, 2014”.

disrespect of the judiciary and an action aimed at obstructing justice.

Adebiyi, in a statement, yesterday, in Lagos, said he was shocked to watch series of interviews on a national television granted by top officials of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, where the said officials advised Nigerians to get ready for electricity increment.

“I find that action very disrespectful of the judiciary which is currently adjudicating on a case I filed against the planned increment. Let me make it categorically clear that I shall not hesitate to file committal application against the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officers of both NERC and the distribution companies if the threat of increment is effected.

“People must learn to accord the judiciary the needed respect,” Adebiyi said.

Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos had in the suit by Adebiyi, restrained NERC and the electricity distribution companies from effecting any increment in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Adebiyi, in the suit, is seeking an order restraining the NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a meaningful and significant improvement in power supply at least for 18 hours in a day in most communities in Nigerian.

He also wants an order restraining the NERC from foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid meters not until “The meters are designed to read charges per second of consumption and not a flat rate of service not rendered or power not used.”

IGP urged to reorganize police, halt extra-judicial killings

By Esther Onyegbula

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HE Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, was yesterday urged to immediately reorganize the Nigeria Police Force, and do everything with his power to halt extra-judicial killing of suspects in police custody.

The call was made by the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria, NOPRIN, and other stakeholders at the public presentation of: “Through The Lens of The Media, Vol. 2,” and the revised Lagos State Coroner ’s Law (2007).

The event was supported by Justice for All Programme of the British Department for International Development.

The National Coordinator of NOPRIN, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said aside reorganizing the police generally, Arase should pay special attention to the Special Anti-Robbery Squads across the nation.

Nwanguma added: “The IGP should investigate all allegations of crime and abuse by the officers in charge and other personnel of SARS. He should ensure that SARS operatives are held accountable for unlawful detention, torture, extortion, extrajudicial killings and disappearances of persons in their custody.”

According to him, the act of impunity continues to characterize the affairs of the police, when officials that shoot innocent civilians are only posted around until the cases were forgotten.

He noted that police oversight agencies had also proved incapable of reining in some of these practices.

UNPAID SALARIES: FG should take over governance in Osun, Benue — LP SCRIBE

By Dapo Akinrefon

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HE National Secretary of the Labour Party, LP, Dr Kayode Ajulo has urged the Federal Government to take over administrations in Osun and Benue States following the inability of the states to pay workers salaries.

In a statement, Ajulo argued that the Federal Government

should not shy away from taking over the administration of those two states immediately noting that the actions of the governors contravened Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 constitution.

He said “The situation is very unfortunate, it is inexplicable and I am more particular in what’s happening in Osun State. Imagine owing

workers up to eight months salaries and going to nine months while some are owed 12 months pension.”

Ajulo, who is also the Founder/Chairman, Egalitarian Mission for Africa, said “This is worrisome, the situation is worse than Boko Haram insurgency and I won't hesitate to say that the situation in Osun and Benue States call for declaration of state of emergency.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 11

Ogun lawmakers groan over unpaid N312m benefits

By Daud Olatunji

Ondo set to flag off ultra-modern abattoir

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BEOKUTA—A strong indication has emerged, yesterday, that both serving and former members of House of Assembly in Ogun State have been complaining following the alleged inability of the state government to pay their six months allowances, May salary and severance allowances.

Vanguard gathered that the lawmakers affected were those that served under the 7th legislature. some of whom returned in the eighth assembly.

The 26 members of the assembly were reported to have not been paid their two million Naira sitting allowances since December till date which ran into N312 million.

Each of the lawmakers should have earned N2 million each monthly as allowances while their May salaries also remain unpaid.

They were equally expected to receive about N4 million each as severance allowance from their membership of the seventh assembly.

Some of them , who spoke with our correspondent, but, pleaded anonymity, explained that the gtate governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, had released approval

By Dayo Johnson

A

One of the access gates at the Lekki Toll Gate alternative route locked against road users by residents of Bosun Adekoya in Lagos yesterday. Photo by NAN. for payment of four months out of the outstanding allowances but without cash backing.

It was also learnt that May salaries of the members of the 8th legislature had not been paid while civil servants in the state had received their pay.

When contacted, a former lawmaker, Honourable John Obafe-

mi, confirmed that they were being owed six months allowances, May salary and severance allowances.

He said; “It is not a secret that members of the 7th legislature were being owed six months allowances. The Assembly was last paid in November and up till now,no payment has been made

as regards May salary.”

When contacted on phone the Clerk of the House, Muyiwa Adenopo declined comment.

Adenopo who returned the call he had missed when our correspondent called him ,suddenly cut off the phone once the reporter introduced himself and subsequent calls were not picked.

PDP links Ekiti APC to alleged N4.1bn fraud

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KITI State Chapter of the Peo ples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is not unconnected with how some chieftains in the APC cornered the N4.1 billion state funds allegedly diverted to the party by former governor, Kayode Fayemi.

The party also said it has incontrovertible facts and evidence of how the money was siphoned from the treasury of the state to the party when it held sway in the state.

The PDP, which spoke through the State Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said some members of the APC, who defected to the PDP, among other

people, also provided graphic details of how the money was diverted and cornered by some leaders to the detriment of others.

“When we raised the alarm about the gigantic fraud perpetrated during the previous administration, we knew what we were talking about. Discerning minds can also see the flimsy and jejune reaction given by the APC. “The APC has no defence at all. The diverted funds led to the polarisation of the party into various groups. This happened because only few of their leaders who were close to

those in authority benefited.

“Anybody who the then governor or his aide marked as ‘enemy’ he made sure they did not benefit from the money or even partake in the disbursement, this was the genesis of many groups springing up within the opposition party less than a year it left government,” he said.

According to PDP spokesman, there were five groups that had sprung up in the APC with divided loyalty to their party because of what they considered the greed of the Fayemi group.

“We are bold to say that it was this money, N4.1billion, that we are talking about that has been

Oyo pensioners protest non-payment of arrears

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BADAN—THE Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State branch has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to bail out pensioners out of the six months pension arrears owed members of the union in the state.

The union also called on the state government to improve its Internally Generated Revenue.

The call was made in Ibadan, yesterday by the Chairman of the union, Alhaji Ganiyu Biyawo Azeez, who was represented at the occasion by the

Vice Chairman, Mr. Gbadegesin Akande, while meeting with the deputy governor, Moses Alake Adeyemo at the entrance of the state Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

While meeting with the Deputy Governor on the six months unpaid pension arrears, Akande explained that the state government owed its members between 8 to 25 months.

He, therefore, called on President Buhari to come to the assistance of the state government

and other states in the country who also owe their pensioners.

Adeyemo said it was only a bad government that would refuse to pay its senior citizens for no just reason, assuring the pensioners that Governor Abiola Ajimobi would pay them.

He said Ajimobi is currently in Abuja with other governors to meet with the president on the inability of the state government to pay workers salary and that, their message would be delivered to him as soon as he returns.

the bane of peace and unity in the Ekiti APC today. One Group sees Fayemi’s group as self-serving and symbol of greed, while the other groups detest the faction.

They also accused the group of swindling the party of the money meant for the presidential and other subsequent elections which the APC lost woefully,” he added.

Adebayo maintained that the opposition party could not defend the allegation because its leadership really soiled their hands in the monumental fraud.

FG owing Ekiti N12.2bn on road construction

Meantime, the Ekiti State Government has described as falsehood taken to the ridiculous level, claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State that the Federal Government had refunded N22bn to the Governor Ayodele Fayose led government on federal government roads construction, saying; “Ekiti State Government is being owed a sum of N12, 220,513,024.08 as at today.”

In a statement by Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, the government said; “Between 2004 and 2014, Ekiti State government spent a sum of N15, 720,513,024.08 on construction and rehabilitation of federal roads in the State, out of which N3.5bn was refunded.”

KURE—THE semi-mechanized abattoir that can handle 2,000 cows in 24 hours being constructed by the Ondo State government will soon be ready for commissioning.

The State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko said this when he led members of his cabinet on inspection tour of the facility, Dr Mimiko expressed satisfaction at the level of completion and the condition of the equipment that is expected to fast rack its commissioning According to the gover nor, the abattoir when operational is capable of handling about 2000 heads of cattle within 24hrs under a hygienic condition with state of the art facilities.

Dr Mimiko assured that as soon as the road network, which is being handled by the State Asphalt Company (OSAC) is completed, the facility would be commissioned for use.

He said “We are excited at what we have seen here, the main abattoir is working, the cold room is working, the automated part is also working.

“What we have left is to go. What we are about now completing is the road network and landscaping”.

“If you visit some of our abattoir, hardly could you eat the meat processed there. This semi-mechanised type of abattoir is what the new Ondo State needs “This is fit for Ondo State and when it starts operation, you will see how beautiful it is.”

The permanent secretary of the State ministry of agriculture, Alex Aragbaye said some of the facilities at the centre include 10 tons capacity cold room, quality control laboratory, 5 boreholes that can produce 11,000 litres of water per hour and manure dump among others.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Court restrains Wike from sacking 23 LG chairmen …As another court adjourns council chairmen's suit

By Jimitota Onoyume & Gbenga Oke

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HE National Industrial Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has restrained Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the state House of Assembly and their agents from dissolving or, in any manner whatsoever, interfering with the tenure of office of the 23 local government council chairmen in Rivers State.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, yesterday, adjourned till July 9, for hearing in another suit by the 22 council chairmen against the Rivers State Government. The case is before Justice B. Quadri.

As early as 7a.m., supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC, had taken over the premises of the Federal High Court on Station Road, Port Harcourt.

To prevent breakdown of law and order, policemen had to close one of the lanes to traffic.

The atmosphere was tense. The trial judge noted that among other things, the issues before him bordered on jurisdiction of the court and abuse of court processes and he urged parties to file their papers correctly.

He said that his attention had been drawn to moves by the plaintiffs to secure an order from the National Industrial Court in Bayelsa State.

Meanwhile, trial judge of at the National Industrial Court, Justice J. Agbadu-Fishim, made the order, Monday, following an exparte application argued by counsel to the council chairmen.

Governor Wike, Rivers State Attorney General, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, President Muhammadu Buhari, AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Inspector General of Police are defendants in the suit.

Justice Agbadu-Fishim held: “The governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Attorney-General of Rivers State and their agents are hereby restrained from dissolving, suspending, sacking terminating or in any manner, whatsoever, interfering with the tenure of office of the 23 council chairmen of Rivers State, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

At the Federal High Court, Port Hacourt, yesterday, Attorney General of the state and counsel to Rivers State Government, Emma Aguma, accused the council chairmen of abuse of court process for filing the same process before the National Industrial Court in Bayelsa State.

On his part counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, said his clients did not abuse court process as alleged by the state Attorney General.

VISIT: Secretary to Delta State Government, SSG, Mr. Ovie Agas (right); the state chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr. Norbert Chiazor (second left) and his deputy, Felix Igbekoyi, during a courtesy visit to the SSG, by Delta NUJ executive, yesterday. Photo: Nath Onojake.

Why opposition attacks Dickson, by Bayelsa PDP

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — SECRETARY of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa State, Keku Godspower, has said that Governor Seriake Dickson has come under severe criticism and attacks from opposition groups in the state because of his stringent fiscal policies.

Godspower spoke in Yenagoa when the political group, Bayelsa Renewal Movement, BRM, led by its president, Prince Awudumapu Isiki, called on the leadership of the state PDP. He said that the opposition groups were intimidated and jittery over the massive achievements of the Dickson administration and the resolution of Bayelsans to break the second term jinx by re-electing him in the forthcoming governorship election.

The PDP scribe said the critics within the opposition groups and political parties have been paid to rubbish the noticeable achievements of the current administration and pull the governor down.

He said: “The people of the state have resolved that Dickson must come back to complete his good works and that the second term

C M Y K

jinx must be broken.

“If you check, 75 per cent of all communities in the state have benefited from the current administration through building or renovation of schools and other infrastructures. Even the opposition groups know that Dickson is working and have

become jittery. We also know that no matter how hard you try, some of these people will criticize you.

Before now, the state was held hostage by cult groups and they were allowed to occupy the Government House. But Dickson came and restored sanity. The state is peaceful now.”

Earlier, president of the Bayelsa Renewal Movement, Awudumapu Isiki, said the decision of the group to pay a solidarity visit to the party was based on the rising criticism against the administration of Governor Dickson despite his monumental achievements within the last three years.

UNIBEN VC flags off construction of 500-seater lecture halls

By Simon Ebegbulem

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E N I N — V I C E Chancellor of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, has said that the completion of the 500 capacity lecture theatre and the twin 100 capacity lecture halls for the Faculty of Education will bring an end to the problem of teaching halls in the university.

He reiterated the university’s commitment to continue to provide infrastructure and conducive environment for quality teaching and research in the university. The projects also include the construction of laboratories for the institution’s

Faculty of Management Sciences and Life Sciences.

Prof. Orumwense said that the projects which are being funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND/NEEDS, were part

of the strategy to ensure that the university maintains its position as the best in Nigeria, adding that the projects would bring the institution closer to its much desired global ranking.

Commissioner designate: Okowa lauded over Safugha’s choice

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EOPLE of Ogboin-Ama community, Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, have hailed the nomination of one of their own, Mr. Newworld Safugha, as a commissioner designate by the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

They said they were not surprised by Safugha’s nomination among 11 other

names announced on the floor of the state Assembly by its Speaker, Mr Monday Igbuyah, adding that Okowa has started well by the nominations.

A member of the community and Chairman, Ogboin-Ama Political Forum, Mr.Preye Ekpebide, who spoke to newsmen, expressed joy over Safugha's nomination.

FRSC bursts fake drivers' licence syndicates in Rivers

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By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HAR-COURT— THE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has smashed the syndicates behind fake drivers' licenses in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Rivers State Sector Commander of the commision, Mr Sunny Oghenekaro, said they had intensified the crusade against fraudsters issuing fake drivers' licenses to unsuspecting members of the public in Rivers State.

Speaking, yesterday, in his office in Port Harcourt, he said that they had gone into collaboration with the Police to rid the state of fraudsters, adding that some of the fraudsters touting around revenue offices in Port Harcourt where drivers licences are issued have been arrested by the Police.

Delta community gets new President General

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HE people of Ukpedi Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have sacked the community's executive led

by Chief Samuel Akporuru.

They have appointed in their place, Mr. David Ohwimu, from Iyara in Ukpedi Kingdom, as the new President-General of the union in a caretaker capacity.

Other members of the caretaker committee which will oversee the affairs of the Ukpedi Union pending a general election include Chief July Egodomroren, from Erhuwarhen community as the vice president general; Chief Geofrey Onakemu, from Okwagbe waterside, as secretary general; Michael Oghenegueke, from Otu Ughievwen, Assistant Secretary and Mr. Kelly Okpodu from Agbohwiame, Treasurer.

Others are Mr. Daniel Kpumueki, from Iwhroku, social/publicity secretary and Mr. Christopher Duyemi, from Obi-Ayaha, among others.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015—13

Probe alleged killing of vigilante leader, Delta community urges FG

By Emma Amaize & Godwin Oghre

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GHARA—THE people of Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to investigate the killing of the chairman of the town’s vigilante committee, Mr. Benson Ogedegbe, by soldiers of the 19 Battalion, Koko.

A group of soldiers, allegedly working with a gang of criminals in the community, Tuesday, trailed and shot dead Mr. Ogedegbe, who had been a thorn on their flesh as the vigilante chairman.

The paramount ruler of Oghara, HRM Noble Eshemitan, called on the Nigeria Army to remove the Commandant, 19 Battalion, Nigeria Army, Koko, saying that the people have been living in fear since his posting to the area.

“We have been living in peace until the present commandant was posted here.

Since then, we have been in one danger or other. We want the Army and the Federal Government to remove him from here,” he said

He linked Ogedegbe’s killing to his hard stance against crude oil theft by armed security officials, saying that it was one of the killings in recent times.

“The community has been peaceful until soldiers were drafted to the town. We do not

condone criminals, the community led by the victim is known for good work and won an award from the state Police Commissioner, last year.

“The killing is an example of extra-judicial killing and impunity in the country. The killing is the dastardly act of

soldiers of 19 Battalion, Nigeria Army, stationed in Koko, Warri North council.

The community will not be cowed into allowing the kingdom to be used as a domain for criminals or ground for criminal activities,” he added.

RETIREES FORUM: From left: Managing Director, Consat Cable Network, Mr Mayo Okunola; Head, Trade and Settlement, First Pension Custodian Ltd, Mr Akin Denton; Executive Director, Finance and Investment, National Pension Commission (Pencom), Mr Samuel Balogun; Managing Director, Nigerian Life and Provident Company, Mr Wale Kolawole and representative of the Director-General of Pencom, Mr Bala Suru, during the retirees forum in Lagos, yesterday.

Gov Ayade orders payment of June salary C

ROSS River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, yesterday, ordered that the June 2015 salary of the state civil servants be paid not later than June 26.

Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mrs. Tina Agbor, in a statement, said: “The gesture is in keeping with Governor Ayade’s commitment to ensure prompt payment of salaries to all categories of the state’s work force on the 25th of every month.

“Regular and timely payment of wages to workers will, among others, enhance their welfare with the overall objectives of promoting efficiency and productivity in the civil service.”

The governor, according to the statement, urged workers to reciprocate government’s good intention by upholding good work ethics, adherence to rules and regulations and being creative at all times in the discharge of their duties.

Cross River State is one of the few states in the country that has paid its workers’ salaries up to date despite its lean financial status.

Meanwhile, work has begun on the garment factory C M Y K

proposed by the governor.

Sited on a six hectare parcel of land along the Goodluck Jonathan By-pass, Calabar, the garment factory which is one of Governor Ayade’s

industrialisation initiatives, is aimed at generating employment for the citizenry.

Upon completion, the factory is expected to generate about a thousand jobs. Similarly,

elders from the three senatorial zones have expressed excitement at the multi-billion naira road infrastructure embarked upon by the state government.

Activist advocates retraining of police

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IGER Delta activist and criminologist, Mr Omolubi Newuwumi, has called for re-training of members of the police force especially on weapon handling as well as management and intelligence gathering.

Speaking with newsmen in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, Newuwumi also reiterated his call for the merger of the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, for effective security of the nation, arguing that the Nigeria Police lacks discipline and integrity to perform effectively.

He further stressed the need to engage graduates of

criminology in security matters, saying thousands of young men and women who read criminology and other courses related to security and conflict resolution are being denied opportunities to serve their fatherland.

According to him, “These young graduates who read criminology and other related courses should be allowed to join the Nigeria police and with more sophisticated training on intelligence gathering and information technology, the police will fare better and face any security challenge that confronts it.

“There is also the need to move away from our analogue way of detecting and dealing with crime and security natters and embrace digital

technology because it is a shame that many of our senior officers in the police force cannot operate commuters.

You will be surprised to go to a police station and see that there is no light, no single commuter or even typewriter, in this modern age of technology.”

FG boosts Itsekiri fishermen with boats, other gears

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture, yesterday, boosted commercial fishing among Itsekiri communities with the provision of fishing boats, nets and other gears to fishermen in the area.

The gesture, at the request of the Igba of Warri, Chief Rita LoriOgbebor, is in fulfilment of the promise made by former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumim Adesina, when Lori-Ogbebor visited him last year.

The items distributed at the Warri Club jetty, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, include ten 40hp, four 25hp, fifteen 15hp and one 30hp Yamaha outboard engines to power 25 boats usable for various fishing activities as well as nets and floaters.

In her address to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, palace chiefs and other dignitaries present on the occasion, Chief Lori-Ogbebor said that the fulfilment of the agricultural support meant history repeating itself in the Itsekiri nation.

She said: “Twenty-five years ago, under the leadership of the Olu, we identified fishing as an area of comparative advantage for the Itsekiri nation to create gainful employment to as many of our sons as possible as a measure for strengthening Itsekiri economically and peacefully too.

“For a start, Ogiame bought some fishing boats and engines while I took charge of the day to day running and management of the project. Some of the graduates of the school proceeded for further capacity building at the Lagos Sea School.”

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

New PDP Chairman to emerge in August, PDP BoT

By Henry Umoru

assignment, get complaints from members, stakeholders, supporters, among others all BUJA—BOARD of aimed at re building the party.

Trustees, BoT of the The party also reiterated that it Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would give President disclosed yesterday that a new Muhammadu Buhari and the All Chairman for the party would Progressives Congress, APC emerge in August, just as the very constructive opposition, just Acting National Chairman, as it promised to come up with a Prince Uche Secondus has three road map for the party having months to provide such collected memoranda from leadership in acting capacity. members on how to build the Rising from a meeting in PDP. Abuja yesterday, the PDP BoT The PDP BoT also resolved at also approved an extension his meeting held yesterday at period of ten weeks for the Wadata Plaza that the National Executive Committee, NEC VISIT: From left, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Hon. Goni Lawal, Senator Ike Ekweremadu led meeting as well as other meetings and Hon. Khadija Ibrahim, during a courtesy visit to the Speaker by Yobe State caucus of the post election assessment committee to continue with its would be put on hold until the House of Representatives, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan Senator Ike Ekweremadu led post election assessment Committee rounds off its work and submit the report, with ten weeks to carry on with the job and complete it.

This has put to rest calls and speculations that NEC N ISLAMIC poet says: A believer sees his sins as meeting would hold soon. if he were sitting beneath a mountain which he fears Yesterday’s meeting may will fall on him, whilst the sinner sees his sins as if it were be the second of BoT held a fly passing his nose and he waves it off. As Ramadan outside the Presidential provides us the promise of Allah’s increased mercy, it is development, a senior shipments of the main villa, the first one outside better to use the period very well, maximise the opportunity

By Michael Eboh consultant at UK-based export grade Qua Iboe, was in 2007 when the and become a better person after Ramadan. It offers a with agency report consultant, KBC Energy unchanged from July, but meeting was held at Nicon unique opportunity to earn Allah’s pleasure. The process Economics, Ehsan Ul Haq, an extra cargo each of Hilton Hotel, Abuja and that starts now. The entire idea of fasting is definitely to get IGERIA HAS said, “This gives Agbami, Bonga, Forcados was when former President closer to God. In doing this, it must be a period of total reupstaged Saudi advantage to the complex and Yoho, and two extra Olusegun Obasanjo took dedication to Allah with increase in activities that are in consonance with the dictates of Allah while also shunning Arabia as the highest crude refiners like Reliance to buy cargoes of Brass River.

“The surplus of light over from the immediate the ways of shaytan (devil). The fasting Muslim must oil supplier to India for the superior grades of oil like sweet crude in the Atlantic past chairman of BoT, Chief ensure that the exercise goes far beyond abstinence from first time in at least four those from Nigeria at basin has weighed heavily Tony Anenih. discounted rates,” eating and drinking. It includes a change of habits that years.

Since then, the meetings Haq further projected that on the value of Nigerian This was even as oil will put you on the track of righteousness. Some of them have been holding at the grades in recent months.

Nigeria and other West trading data showed that are as follow. the country intends to African countries’ oil’s There were around 20 Presidential villa taking See not what displeases Allah: Cultivate a chaste regard, increase its crude export for share to India could unsold cargoes of June and advantage of being the restrained yourself from viewing anything that is August, despite the fact that average as much as 25 per July-loading Nigerian party in power, but now in reprehensible, or which distracts the heart and diverts it around 20 cargoes of June cent this year. crude available last week, opposition, another venue from the remembrance of God. The Prophet, said: “the and July-loading of its Also speaking, Head of although Indian demand furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on crude oil were unsold in the refinery operations at has since helped some of has to been fixed for the him be God’s curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God, last few days. The unsold Hindustan Petroleum Corp the overhang to clear,” the meeting of BoT. Speaking with Journalists will receive from Him, great and gracious is He, a faith cargoes point to the fact that , B. K. Namdeo, stated that report stated. yesterday after the meeting, In addition to losing its the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.” the country is experiencing purchases of West African As related by Jabir from Anas that Prophet Muhammad, difficulties in finding oil make sense when Indian market to Nigeria, Secretary of BoT, Senator (s.a.w) said: ‘Five things break a man’s fast, these are buyers for its crude oil, Brent’s premium over the Saudi Arabia also fell Walid Jubril said, “The despite lowering the prices Middle East price marker, behind Russia and Angola Board of Trustees is up to lying, back-biting, scandal, perjury and a lustful gaze.’ known as Dubai swaps, is as the biggest crude the task of providing Speak no evil: Guarding one’s tongue from vain talk, for the commodity. supplier to China in May, guidance not only to the Specifically, shipping less than $2 per barrel. lying, back-biting, scandal, obscenity, rudeness, wrangling official data released this executives of the party but International oil trading tracking data obtained from and controversy is beneficial; instead, occupy yourself with the remembrance of Allah and with recitation of the Quran. Reuters, yesterday, showed data obtained from Argus, week showed. to members of the national According to the report, This is otherwise termed the fasting of the tongue. The that Nigeria sold 745,200 an energy and commodity Saudi Arabia’s failure to assembly that is why we Prophet said: ‘ Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is barrels of crude oil per day news, data and analysis maintain its position in have involved ourselves fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone to India in the month of service agency, however, some markets comes very much in the revealed that provisional attacks him or insults him, let him say:”I am fasting, I am May, compared to Saudi August loading programme despite leading a strategy collaboration with the Arabia’s 732,400 barrels per fasting!” working for Nigerian crude indicates by the Organization of the National Hear no evil: Closing one’s ears to everything day.

The report further stated a probable month-on Petroleum Exporting committee to ensure that reprehensible. It has been said that listening to evil talk that Nigeria and Angola month rise in exports, Countries (OPEC) to keep there is synergy between is as bad as uttering it. That is why Allah equated the accounted for 26 per cent adding to the overhang of output high to drive out the appointments within the eavesdropper with the profiteer “(They like to) listen to of India’s total imports in unsold July cargoes competitors. national assembly. falsehood, to devour anything forbidden” (Quran 5: 42). May, up from around 15.5 struggling to find buyers.

In India, the report noted “We are calling on all our Do no evil: Keeping all organs and parts of the body per cent in April, the The report stated that that refiners have been members to remain calm away from sin: the hands and feet from acts that can vitiate highest in more than four with Bonny Light yet to switching out of long-term your fast. Also keep away from questionable food at the years, while the Middle emerge, the August contracts with Middle East and should not be programme suppliers in favour of spot disturbed that we are doing time for breaking fast, not only to stay purified from East share fell to 54 per cent loading already shows 58.6 million purchases, often African oil. all our best to ensure sanity unlawful food but also to keep you healthy. in May from 61 per cent.

Specifically, Reuters data is brought to our party.

It is meaningless to fast, to abstain from lawful food, According to the report, barrel of crude due to be "Our party is going to pick only to break one’s fast with what is unlawful. How the shift comes as the gap shipped on 64 cargoes at a showed that Reliance many of those who fast, get nothing from it but hunger between the international rate equivalent to 1.89 Industries got about a again and we are going to and thirst as a result of not being able to keep away from benchmark Brent and the million barrel per day, quarter of its oil in May rebounce. As we are doing all unlawful things that have been spelt out as capable of Middle East price marker compared with 1.97 million from Africa, the highest in so, we need their narrows, adding that the barrel per day planned in at least three years, while cooperation and without vitiating fast.

Indian Oil Corp aims to get Let’s, therefore, direct all our efforts to earn as many premium for Nigerian July, on 66 cargoes, 70 per cent of its oil needs their cooperation, I do not including seven one crude over Brent has rewards as possible and to stay away from sins. Even as million barrel shipments of through term volumes think we will succeed, let the month provides us with a chance of multiple rewards, plummeted in recent Bonny Light. compared to 80 per cent last them give us time so that the multiplication is all tied to the sincerity of our worships months, making it more The August loading year, including a deal with we can do our best to ensure attractive. and the intensity with which we carry out the ibadaat.

Commenting on the schedules, according to the Kuwait halved to 100,000 that we bring back the May Allah guide us rightly. prominence of this party." report showed 12 planned barrel per day.

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Fasting, not only about abstinence from food, drink

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Nigeria upstages Saudi Arabia as highest crude oil supplier to India

…to increase export in August despite supply glut

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C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Committal proceedings against Anambra A-G, six others reassigned to new judge

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—THE committal case against Anambra State Attorney General and six others over continued construction at Anambra International Market, Oba, was, yesterday, re-assigned to a new judge, Justice H.O. Ozoh.

The suit, HID/MISC6/ 2015, instituted at High Court of Ogidi in Idemili Judicial Division, was reassigned as the former judge handling the case, Justice Peace Otti, is engaged in other national assignment.

Briefing newsmen after the re-assignment of the matter to the new judge, counsel to the plaintiff, B.S. Nwankwo, said his client, Davirose Industries Limited, had applied to the administrative judge for the matter to be re-assigned to High Court 3, Ogidi.

The matter has, however, been adjourned to July 13, 2015, for hearing.

Move on Nigeria faults Buhari on empty treasury

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OVE on Nigeria a political action group that promotes democracy and good governance has faulted recent claims by President Buhari that he inherited empty treasury from President Jonathan. In a statement in Lagos and signed by the National Coordinator, Mr. Clem Aguiyi the group described the statement as misleading and uncharitable and wondered why the APC government will continue to lie on virtually every issue.

Mr. Aguiyi challenged the President to rise above partisan politics by making public the handover notes he received the same way President Jonathan publicized the PWC report on NNPC so that the world will know how empty the treasury is.

In faulting the claims made by President Buhari Mr. Aguiyi said the former administration as at May 29 left behind the sum of US$29billion in Foreign Reserve and $2bn in SWF. C M Y K

Okorocha blames poor finances on fraudulent political appointees

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, OWERRI

G

OVERNOR R o c h a s Okorocha of Imo State, has blamed the precarious financial health of the state on the alleged fraudulent activities of political appointees, senior staff of ministries and

parastatals, as well as local government workers.

Chief Okorocha’s position was made known in a Government House press statement signed by the governors’ Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, as fear of serious labour crisis looms in the state.

“The internally

generated revenue of the state government is about the least in Nigeria, as a result of fraudulent activities of the political appointees, senior staff of ministries, parastatals and local government workers.

My administration will deal ruthlessly with anybody caught in the act”Okorocha warned.

The governor surreptitiously indicted his administration as he claimed that his government has been paying salaries to ghost workers and dead people.

“On my tours to some of the government establishments and parastatals, particularly the Health

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, flanked by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State (left), and Governor Tanko Almakura of Nassarawa State (right), and others as he briefed correspondents after the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari, and APC governors, at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

Management Board, I noticed with dismay that most of the workers do not come to work. It appears the state government pays wrong people salaries”, the Governor fumed.

Continuing, Okorocha recalled with grief that at some of the state general hospitals he visited, “only one nurse was on duty in a hospital that has 14 doctors”.

Meanwhile, some civil servants, who spoke to Vanguard on the gover nor ’s outburst, said that he should profusely apologize to Imo people for spending public funds on ghost workers and dead people.

“How can a governor proudly announce that he has been paying ghost workers and dead people and expect us to clap for him? We are all waiting to see how the governor will recover the money from the dead people he paid”, a civil servant said.

While describing the governor’s disclosure as laughable, a female civil servant accused Okorocha of paying ghosts while the living are sick, hungry and famished.

Osakwe Industrial Cluster gives EEDC 30 days ultimatum to improve power supply

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—OSAKWE Industrial Cluster, also known as Association of Small / Medium Scale Industries, Awada Obosi, near Onitsha, Anambra State, has given Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, 30-day ultimatum to address its complaints about poor power supply and crazy bills or face legal action.

The cluster alleged that it had written severally to the Managing Director of EEDC over what it called poor and erratic power supply to the cluster, but regretted that its complaints were ignored.

The industrial cluster alleged it sent a another letter, dated February 7, 2014, complaining about the frustration it was going through due to poor electricity supply to the cluster with over 5,000 small and medium scale companies and over 15,000 workers without reply.

President General of the cluster, Mr. Johnson Okolo and General Secretary, Mr. George Chukwu, said in the letter: “It is astonishing, heart-breaking and frustrating the treatment you gave us by neglecting and refusing to reply or act on the that letter.

“The Small and Medium Scale industries are the backbone and engine of every economy, whether developed, developing or underdeveloped.

‘’Our cluster, as introduced to you, has 15,000 workers and not less than 5,000 industries, it is the most organized and most populated industrial cluster in West Africa.

“As the most populated, organized and the biggest industrial cluster in west African sub-region, you are supposed to be giving us 24 hours uninterrupted power supply to keep our machines running, but the situation is not so, special treatment should be given to us as Ikeja Industrial Estate in Lagos is being given.”

The cluster told the EEDC Managing Director that they acquired 20 units of 500kva transformer with their money which the EEDC had not refunded them, adding that adjoining residential streets to the cluster were provided with 500kva transformer by the cluster

at no cost.

“The AK 7 Feeder used by our industrial cluster is now open to residents, thereby making nonsense of the electricity supply to the cluster that cannot even heat our machine anymore, and you have blatantly refused to treat our complaints,” it said.

The industrial cluster appealed to EEDC to make Ezeiweka Road Feeder independent of adjoining residential streets and give priority status to the cluster, adding that the alleged Asaba, Delta State abandoned 33KVA line should be used to boost and improve power supply to the industrial cluster.

“If you must do load shedding, it must be from J&P, ands you must stop bulk disconnection, it is never done, we are not living, a primitive society, this is a capi-

talistic society and a macroeconomic one too. ‘’The connection was not done in block and cannot be disconnected in block, if you do it again, we shall take up a legal action against your company.

“We regret that we have to write you with these strong worded words, that show how disappointed we are with the treatment your company, EEDC, is giving us, but we urge you to be a good partner in the task of industrialization of Nigeria and not a cog in the wheel to achieving that goal.

“If we fail to get a reply and improvement within 30 clear days from the date of this letter, we shall set machinery of justice, equity and justice in motion to realize our objectives,” the industrial cluster warned.

Tribunal orders INEC to allow APGA candidate examine election materials ment of the order.

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SABA—THE Delta State House of Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba, yesterday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to allow the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate for the Oshimili North Constituency in the last House of Assembly polls, Chief Tony Azuya to inspect all the materials used.

The chairman of the tribunal,

Justice L.M. Bousini gave the order following a prayer to this effect by the counsel for the petitioner, Chike Onyemenam, SAN. The judge, who stressed the need for counsel to the parties to be time conscious, warned that any change of counsel will not stop the proceedings of the tribunal and ordered that the inspection be concluded within seven days, but not more than 10 days of date of pronounce-

The respondent in the matter, Hon. Pat Ajudua, who was in court and represented by a counsel from Akpofure Chambers, did not object to the order, neither did INEC object to the order too.

Chief Tony Azuya is seeking to be returned as the winner of the said election.

Sitting on the matter will continue on Monday, June 29, 2015.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 17 “Nigeria should be ready to face a lot of challenges. The biggest problem in my view is corruption; it is everywhere.

There is no department, no ministry that can be said to be free of corruption. There is nowhere that fraud does not take place on a daily basis. It has become embedded in the minds of people because the rulebooks have been thrown away and everybody is doing what they like. Nobody follows the rules anymore”Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Chairman of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Transition Committee.

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari (PMB), finally moved into the Aso Villa this week, signaling the real commencement of work, as leader for the change that Nigerians voted for last March.

But the portents are frightening; as if we don’t already have a foggy idea of the seriousness of the situation!

Buhari made it clear during his maiden meeting with the State House media corps, that he inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan, a country with virtually empty treasury, running into millions of dollars; and indicative of the sorry pass, even the Federal Government cannot pay salaries of its workers. A miffed PMB said it was disgraceful that all Federal and State governments were unable to pay salaries. The problem is serious, from state to state. At the beginning of last week,Kwara State Governor, AbdulFatai Ahmed, met with labour leaders in Ilorin and he put before them, two very difficult options: receive half pay or get paid fully in alternate months.

Naturally, the working people rejected the two options outright; nevertheless, the unpaid months are counting. The situation is not much different in other states, but maybe, even worse!

What is most frightening is the fact that there were far too many conflicting figures about the state of indebtedness that the previous government was leaving the country and the new administration, to grapple with. It was difficult to establish, largely because of the deliberate ambiguity that was embedded in the transition process, soon after Goodluck Jonathan lost the election. With hindsight, we can now see that the outgoing administration was petrified about discovery of what had transpired under its watch. As Alhaji Ahmed Joda pointed out in his most illuminating interview in DAILY TRUST ON

I do not envy President Muhammadu Buhari. He is taking the battle to some of the most vicious in Nigeria C M Y K

Empty treasury, wardrobe allowances and redoubts of corruption SUNDAY, of Sunday, 21st June, 2015, the Transition Committee that he headed was in theory, expected to interface with that of the outgoing government, but nothing like that happened: “we were mainly to receive the handover notes from ministries, departments and agencies of government. But we could not receive them for five or nearly six weeks after our appointment and, to that extent, our work was delayed…we were to receive the handing over notes, study them and wherever necessary to seek clarifications from wherever, whether ministers, civil servants or chairmen of boards or chief executives of parastatals. But, like I told you, we did not receive those notes on time…” The deliberate opacity in that transition process was actually employed to clothe the ugly nakedness of the maiden of state! There was too much that was wrong, as Alhaji Joda

added further: “We were told at the beginning of the exercise that the government was in deficit of at least N1.3 trillionand by the end people were talking about N7trillion; everything is in a state of collapse”. This is the true situation in our country today and this is what explained PMB’s statement that he has inherited a country with virtually empty treasury!

Nigeria is literally on life support, at least and especially, economically. This is a moment that will demand the most patriotic exertion from all sections of the Nigerian people. This is the moment that the slogan of change must begin to move into the realm of practical implementation.

The old order should begin to give way to the new, in the true spirit of commitment that PMB exemplifies.

But unfortunately, that need for patriotic sacrifice doesn’t seem to have reached some sections of officialdom, but

most especially, the National Assembly.

First, report emerged that our legislators were poised to receive wardrobe allowance totaling N8.64billion while their budget for the year was actually N150billion, which they had “graciously” reduced to N120billion. The emergence of the report of the Wardrobe Allowance especially, led to incredible levels of disgust in the country, with new videos making the rounds online, asking Nigerians to #OCCUPY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY! The insensitivity of sections of the Nigerian ruling elite to the plight of the country they are leading to perdition and the angry people at the receiving end of their depredation, makes the Nigerian ruling class, arguably, the most irresponsible in the world, certainly in Africa!

That was why the challenge thrown by the Nigerian labour movement at the beginning of this week has come at the

appropriate time. Issa Aremu, Deputy President of one of the NLC factions pointed out that “nations prosper when their leaders are willing to sacrifice; while nations fail when leaders engage in selfish self-help agenda”. He then asked equally pertinently: “should 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives gulp as much as N120billion in a year, which is twice the 2015 budget of Ekiti state…with a population of 2, 384, 212 people?” The labour leader further reminded our overpampered legislators, that: “No country can prosper with this widening gap in resource allocation between the governed and some elected government officials. And to underline the seriousness of the gathering clouds of anger in the land, Issa Aremu advised them: “The National Assembly members should take advantage of the current goodwill of Nigerians in making an amend failing which they provoke mass revolt of the people…The eighth Assembly must complement President Muhammadu Buhari in his effort to cut cost of governance fuelled by corruption, the worse form of which is outrageous pay for public office holders”.

It remains to be seen if these eminent legislators will heed and complement the genuine intentions of PMB. The antecedents of many, especially given what they have done (and still doing to states they governed), do not give room for too much hope!

That is the sense in which I keep saying that I do not envy President Muhammadu Buhari. He is taking the battle to some of the most vicious in Nigeria!

Unpaid salaries in states and pertinent questions for Buhari

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GAINST the backdrop of the “disgraceful” accumulation of unpaid salaries in Nigerian states, this week Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, met with governors in Abuja.

He warned that the days of impunity, lack of accountability and fiscal recklessness were over in Nigeria. Buhari told the governors that: “There are financial and administrative instructions in every government parastatal and agency. But these were thrown to the dogs in the past. Honestly, our problems are great, but we will do our best to surmount them. The next three months may be hard, but billions of dollars can be recovered, and we will do our best”. In truth, most Nigerians can attest to PMB’s commitment to the best interests of Nigeria and his personal sense of decency and incorruptibility. That was mainly why he was elected, and for me personally, that is why I have supported him since 2003!

PMB's sleepless nights

But in pursuit of the new direction of sanitising Nigeria, there are issues that must give PMB sleepless nights. Looking from inside his own ruling APC, how does he hope to carry

along many of the well-known party barons who are the poster boys of corruption in Nigeria? Would they be expected to back PMB’s commitment to take Nigeria in a more decent direction?

How does he pass his anticorruption agenda through the legislature, given the antecedents of leading individuals who are the Rolls Royce and Ferrari of corruption, and who, as governors for eight years, looted states that are now unable to pay workers salaries?

Will President Muhammadu Buhari seek FULL DISCLOSURE about the state of finances of the Nigerian states, to know how come many of them cannot now pay salaries? Yes allocations have dropped, up to maybe 40%; but what happened to the monies collected in the past twelve years especially? Is PMB aware of the millions that former governors have awarded to themselves as pensions? And those who have been elected to the National Assembly continue to take those criminal pensions as well as get paid as legislators!

And is he also aware that in some of those states, the pensions of these exgovernors are the MOST IMPORTANT items of expenditure? And there are

states, where these exgovernors have installed pitiable sidekicks as ‘governors’ to superintend on their behalf; they go monthly and just take away the money, leaving behind incredible levels of misery, while their own families enjoy illicit luxury abroad?

Can some of these individuals account for what they have done to their local government allocations?

These are some of the questions that would agitate PMB’s mind as we move forward.

Corrupt purchase justice

The judiciary can also become another potential roadblock for the process of change because it has become far too easy for the corrupt to purchase justice or to frustrate or pervert the process. There have been incredible cases where corrupt individuals have won perpetual injunctions while some get court judgments that say they must not even be invited for questioning or even be mentioned in the media! These are individuals who governed and looted states!

Change will not come easily to Nigeria, because there are too many vested interests profiting from the system of grand corruption that has been

the hallmark of Nigerian life, especially since the 1999 transition to civil rule. The bandits that took us to where we are today are extremely rich and influential and they occupy very strategic places in politics and the economy.

They will fight dirty to protect their turf. And there is also the realisation that PMB can only do so much in a four-year term. They can either fight dirty or simply choose to gather their strength as they have started doing with the struggle over the leadership of the National Assembly.

That way, they would work by stealth, against the process of change in the next four years, with hope that they can outlast President Muhammadu Buhari!

Or even exploit their sinecure within the system to launch a massive onslaught against the process of change!

President Muhammadu Buhari needs the support of the Nigerian people to win the war against impunity, lack of accountability and fiscal recklessness! The system as it, is not sustainable because it is not working for the majority of the Nigerian people. We cannot continue a process which allows the criminal enrichment of a few individuals whose source of wealth is directly related to their stay in power!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 THERE are hardly new reasons to adduce for the removal of fuel subsidy, except that the huge figures associated with the opaque practice are increasing in an economy that is almost on its belly. In simple terms, the burden of subsidising fuel is too heavy for the economy. The people, who the economy should serve, have their reasons for asking for subsidy.

Others insist that there is no subsidy.

However, the debates progress, it is time the country found a solution to debates on this matter which have lasted more than 30 years. Gradual removal of the subsidy has not solved the problem. The persistent corruption in the system heightens anxieties over how the country, and its peoples, would survive.

President Muhammadu Buhari says he will remove the subsidy on petroleum products. Nigeria could have stopped the annual pumping of billions of Naira into the controversial policy to stabilise the supply and price of petroleum products.

We think it is something that should still come with a lot of consideration for its general impact on the economy, which

Widening Subsidy Concerns literarily runs on petroleum products.

More than N3 trillion has been spent on subsidy payments since the botched January 2012 attempt to increase the prices.

President Buhari has already promised to use subsidy savings to fund education and social welfare. We urge the government to consult widely before deciding how to remove the subsidy in a way to serve the greatest good of the Nigerian people, and spend it to benefit all levels of our society. The subsidy regime not only worked in favour of a few privileged individuals linked to the ruling class, it also helped balloon corruption to unprecedented levels and eventually

created the impetus for regime change.

Subsidy removal should be part of a general oil industry overhaul to make it more beneficial to the common people.

The industry should throw its doors open to accommodate more investors and provide more jobs. Numerous local refining facilities could benefit from the new regime, by filling the gaps imports covered. Subsidy removal should not leave us at the perpetual mercy of fuel import cartels.

Within a reasonable period of implementation of the policy, we could see the benefits of the reforms as we did when the telecommunications sector was privatised. More choices resulted in the consumer being king.

However, a major linkage that the President has to deal with is electricity.

None of the debates about the importance of the savings from subsidy has established how electricity and transportation could be improved to save people from costly petroleum products. If electricity supply improves, new prices of petroleum products would hurt less.

OPINION Letter to President Buhari (2) Continued from yesterday's pg 18

By Adeoye Oyewo

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HIS means that the challenge will be huge and the perpetrators will fight harder than your political opponents. To start with, a politically driven promise reportedly made by you to exclude past pilferers of the wealth of the nation will set you on a wrong foot and against the wishes of those who voted for the change you promised. No responsible father will do this to his children and that is the TRUTH. How did the word restitution come into being if all evil done in the past will just be overlooked? You must seek to probe all who have stolen our commonwealth regardless of person and time he or she may have done so. While going to school, my civil servant parents paid so little fees that even when retired and having three sons in the university, they were able to cope. Today, the government investments that acted as buffers for my parents have been frittered away and or embezzled by our political and military leaders including public servants. I have had to pay exorbitantly to send my children to private universities.

The quality public schools I was privileged to go to no longer exists in practical terms.

I am happy that security of lives and property means a lot to you. Many Nigerians are not happy with our C M Y K

performance as a country in this area.

You must quickly consolidate on the gains of the former president and not only say NEVER AGAIN but make it a reality.

Nigerians must be able to live and earn their livelihood anywhere they choose as this will also drive the aggregate demand for goods and services and help the economy recover. I recall that at a younger age, I regularly drove to Maiduguri from Kano and on the way I sometimes choose to pick up anyone going in the same direction just to keep me company – it was safe to do so then. That was the old northern Nigeria which has gone into oblivion.

A good father should be accessible to all and be trusted to keep his words. He must be transparent and fair to all his children.

As president, if you become a boss, then you have left the path of CHANGE that we seek. I have titled my letter to you as father & his two daughters because it defines the very reason I voted for you along with my wife who later told me she fasted for your victory on Friday 27th

I want to conclude by agreeing with you that a good father belongs to all his children but also belongs to none

March - BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WANT FOUR MORE YEARS OF THE SAME. She wanted CHANGE desperately! I voted for you because I want a better life for my two daughters. Again the title has brought up the word father because for me that is the only counsel I have for you. I have read many scintillating write-ups advising you on how to act from 29th May and while I admire the writers understanding of our problems as a nation and marvel at their carefully thought up solutions, I do not want to go in the same direction – not minding the fact that I have also highlighted some of our core problems. My advice to you is to be a good father and nothing more.

As easy as it may sound, it is not going to be a tea party. I believe that it is only by being a good father that you can please the common man and leave a good legacy for yourself. The Bible says about a good father - he shows compassion to his children, leaves an inheritance for his children, he does not provoke his children, he trains them in the way they should go, he pitieth his children, he truly loves his children and he does not give his children stone or serpent for food. The American religious leader, lawyer and politician James E. Faust was quoted to have said “To be a good father and mother requires that the parents defer many of their own needs and desires in favour of the needs of their children”. Even as I watched you take your oath of office, I was filled with pride, joy and tears were almost rolling out of my eyes. I am so hopeful and do pray that God will help you – and I know he will if

you do not turn your back to him. I appreciate my biological father so much.

I will describe him as a man who is prepared to go barefooted for his children.

That is the president we dream of and hope that you will become for us. A good father never sleeps until his children have rest.

His all in all is focused on them and their well-being. There is nothing too big for him to do and no level too low for him to stoop in order to get them what they want. A good father is ready to put himself in the line of danger to provide for his children.

He is always sincere and truthful with his children. It is never about him or his good but only about his children and their future.

I want to conclude by agreeing with you that a good father belongs to all his children but also belongs to none. Remember the REAL person that put you in power, the one who has your Numfashi (Breathe) in his hands and to whom all mankind will be answerable at the end of the day.

Determine only to please him and all will turn out well with Nigeria and with your government. Remember that those who said Hosanna! to Jesus were also the ones who said Crucify Him! later on. Nigerians who said “Nigeria-sai Baba” today will also say the opposite if you fail to deliver. My prayer is that God will make you a good father to the nation and that you will succeed beyond our expectations.

Concluded

•Mr. Oyewo, a company executive , wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25 25,, 2015— 19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Justice made in Rivers State?

W

HEN former President Olusegun Obasanjo went on a campaign to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital in December 2007, he told his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rally: “you all know that anything that concerns Rivers State I take it personally”.

Rivers matters a lot to Nigeria, indeed, for obvious reasons.

But Obasanjo was not exactly making a patriotic speech. A few moments later, rather than hand over the flag of the party to the winner of the gubernatorial primaries of the PDP, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, he ended up giving it to Sir Celestine Omehia, a loyal party member who was in the crowd assisting to make the rally a success. It was on this occasion that Obasanjo declared Amaechi’s candidacy as having developed a “K-leg”. The outcome of it was that a person who did not win the primaries took the ticket of the PDP to campaign and win the governorship election in 2007.

Consequently, when the Supreme Court went out of normal orbit to hand over the governorship seat to Amaechi, a

person who did not ask the people of Rivers State for their votes emerged as their Governor, all because Obasanjo saw Amaechi as a threat to his economic interests in the Niger Delta. You will recall how he later begged Governor Amaechi not to go against his business interests, and Amaechi replied he would not go against anything Obasanjo acquired legitimately.

Obasanjo’s selfish meddling in Rivers politics thus sowed bad blood that is still haunting the stability and development of the state.

Between 1999 and 2003, Nigeria produced a number of very powerful state governors who sought to plant themselves as the new post-military leaders.

These included Bola Tinubu of Lagos, Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa, James Ibori of Delta and Peter Odili of Rivers. Of this lot, only Tinubu successfully established a party that has ruled under his thumb till date. He has also moved on to become the “National Leader” of the new ruling party, the All Progressives Congress , APC. The rest have lost

out, with Ibori rotting in a foreign jail.

Odili had used the proverbial stick and carrot to unite all the fractious elements in Rivers under his platform. He was also seen as the closest “ally” of President Obasanjo. Unlike Tinubu, Odili could not say “No” to any of Obasanjo’s wishes. In fact, Odili so “loved” Obasanjo that, in addition to the prominent Olu Obasanjo Way (which was used to replace an Igbo name that was there before the civil war) he also created a major by-pass and bridge in Port Harcourt and, again, named it after Obasanjo. When Amaechi came, still seething with the anger of what Obasanjo did to him, he renamed the second road after GU Ake, a former Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the PDP. Still boiling with rage, Amaechi

The vicious circle must be broken now. Let the probe of Amaechi’s government proceed in earnest. But unlike the type Amaechi organised against Odili, this one must be fair and transparent

Legislators: To whom much is given and less is expected

E

VERYWHERE, there is a negative perception of the legislator. For many people, to be a legislator is to be self-serving and perhaps even corrupt and contemptible. The legislator finds himself between the devil and the deep blue sea.

For instance, where he chooses to serve gratis or where his pay is very low, people’s conclusion would be that he must be getting a lot of “paje” (bribe) by the side.

But if his pay is too high, people’s assessment is about the same: he is regarded as a tax-eating parasite – underworked and overpaid.

People normally regard politicians, particularly legislators, the same way straight women regard prostitutes – with a sullen envy and with the confidence that if they wished to go commercial, they would do better.

Ordinarily, a man with a running stomach should be the best judge of how to bend down. But not so with our legislators who, in the face of public opprobrium, relish doing things most outrageous and ludicrous, thus playing into the hands of the people.

Quite often, legislators abdicate their responsibilities, perhaps oblivious of the fact that long years of neglect of one’s responsibility may deprive a man’s mind of flexibility and he may not realise at times that the welfare of the nation may be preserved only by methods that are hostile to one’s personal interest.

Sometimes, one sees our legislators as a bunch of unserious people. On the final day of the Seventh National Assembly, we saw how the Senate stampeded itself into galloping through 46 bills in less than 10 minutes, in the name of passage. Who did they expect to take them serious in their most unserious situation? Were they expecting us to applaud them for doing in C M Y K

ten minutes what they had four long years to do?

Obviously, one critical element in achieving a satisfactory output of legislative business is the total number of hours for which the legislature sits. For instance, the British House of Commons sits for an average of seven and a half hours per day (including the shorter Friday sessions) for the five days per week for which it normally sits.

Although the National Assembly is compelled by the Constitution to sit for a minimum of 181 days a year, nothing compels it to sit for any number of hours per day.

We have no reason to believe that the National Assembly has departed from what it was in the First National Assembly when the Senate and the House of Representatives sat for an average of 2.2 hours and 1.55 hours per day respectively, in a country where the average worker is required by law to put in eight hours of work per day.

Is it also by accident that the chambers of the National Assembly are only full on the day of inauguration while on subsequent days, the chambers are virtually empty?

In the final analysis, a legislator is judged by the quality of bills and legislative measures he introduces, not by the so-

Truly, we may never know how much they really earn in salaries and other bogus allowances, all because we run government as a secret cult

declared Odili a persona nongrata in Rivers. Odili had to hide in Abuja for most of Amaechi’s first term. Odili’s men were not allowed to freely meet anywhere in Rivers. The owner of any meeting venue discovered by Amaechi’s spies was threatened with withdrawal of his certificate of occupancy and demolition of his property.

To top it all, Amaechi constituted what he termed Truth and Reconciliation Commission and appointed a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Kayode Eso, as its Chairman. It turned out to be a mere witch-hunt against Odili, as it neither dwelt on the “truth” about the problems of Rivers State nor did it bring about the reconciliation of Amaechi and his political enemies. Odili insisted it conducted a kangaroo process, as he was not given a fair hearing to state his own side of the case. He went to court and had his indictments quashed by a Rivers State High Court presided over by Justice RI Ahiakwor.

The shoddy and jaundiced handling of the Odili “probe” made it impossible for the public to separate the fact from fiction of Odili’s alleged “looting and killings” during his tenure. The probe appeared deliberately programmed to fail because, in truth, Odili as pointed out above, was the imperial governor of Rivers State, and all the major political actors, including Amaechi, Wike, Omehia and their followers, were once enthusiastic “Odili boys” raised to their current statures on the juice of the medical doctor’s benevolence.

Meanwhile, Amaechi continued his unbridled, loose-

c a l l e d constituency projects. Every s u p e r i o r legislative measure is named after the legislator forever.The Constituency project is either for the Federal or State government and any legislator who labels same as his project is merely stealing by sign posts.

For the Politicians, it has become another day, another scandal. Not too long ago, they pre-occupied us with the N2 million per day, which the National Assembly approved for the President for entertainment as a prelude for the provision of N114,000 per day for each member of the National Assembly as lunch allowance. As at 2007, this meant some N21 billion annually down the drain! Current figures must be nearer the roof-tops.

The current scandal is on the provision of close to N10 billion for the members’ wardrobe allowance. And this is coming at a time of our greatest economic down-turn when many States are at the brink of liquidation, unable to pay staff salaries.

New figures have just been released on a few items. Each Senator will get the following allowances: N4,052,800 (Housing), N6,079,200 (Furniture), N8,105,600 (Vehicle); while each Member of the House of Representatives will get N3,970,425 (Housing), N5,955,637 (Furniture) N7,940,850.50 (Vehicle).

In the abstraction, we talk of open government. We envision jumbo pay for government officials. Truly, we may never know how much they really earn in salaries and other bogus allowances, all because we run government as a secret cult.

Today, the annual salary of an American President is $400,000 and this is known to American citizens, even those of preschool age. If the salary has to be

cannon politics. He took Rivers State to the opposition APC and provided the chunk of financing for Muhammadu Buhari’s campaigns directly from the coffers of the state. When his attempt to produce an APC governor in his state failed, the winner, Wike of the PDP, came in and announced that Amaechi and his officials went beyond “looting” the state but actually stripped the Government house of its furniture and made away with the exotic vehicles attached to officials. Pictures were seen of expensive cars with market values of over twenty million naira per unit being forcibly recovered from the premises of a “mere” Commissioner (apologies, Senator Bukola Saraki).

And now, we are back to where we met Amaechi in 2007. The new kid on the block, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, has started a probe of the Amaechi years with a view to recovering “stolen” government property. And (wait for it!), Amaechi is crying blue murder, accusing Wike of being on a “witch hunt”! Amaechi is accusing Wike of giving him a dose of the bitter medicine he (Amaechi) had served Odili. Is this Justice made in Rivers State?

The vicious circle must be broken now. Let the probe of Amaechi’s government proceed in earnest.

But unlike the type Amaechi organised against Odili, this one must be fair and transparent.

Amaechi and his cohorts must be given ample opportunities to defend themselves and possibly clear their names. Nothing less than that will be acceptable.

But those found guilty must return their loots. Then, they must go somewhere nice, smell rod and eat beans.

increased, Americans must be informed and told why. But here, everyone must be kept in the dark, guessing.

Again, accountability must be allinclusive. There is something wrong with that system in which at the end of the maximum stay of eight years in Government House, the Governor heads for jail while the legislators who gave him his annual appropriations walk our streets in unfettered freedom.

A system is a chain which can only be as strong as its weakest link. The approval of this year’s budget presupposes that the legislators are satisfied with what the governor did with last year’s appropriation.

That is an essence of legislative oversight of the administration.

In the circumstance, it is doubtful how much change President Muhammadu Burhari’s administration will bring about.

The legislators who are supposed to be the major drivers of the change we desire are clinging tenaciously to the past. “Do as I say and not as I do” is hardly the stuff of which real change is made.

In this era of change, so-called, the President knows he can no longer decree a thing and it shall come to pass. By now, we should be hearing the drum-beats from every direction – the President and his party, the National Assembly, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, etc. – signaling that what government officials get must be what the economy can sustain. Rather, the stench emanating from the National Assembly is nauseating!

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

— 21

Construction firms fault BPP, CBN on classification, debtors list

By Favour Nnabugwu

O

VISIT: From left, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Med-View Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole; Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, Deputy Managing Director, Med-View Airline, Engr. Lookman Animashaun and Head of Operations, Med-View Airline, Capt. Godfrey Ogbogu during CP Taiwo Lakanu’s courtesy visit to Med-View Airline’s Corporate Headquarters, Olowu, Ikeja, Lagos.

Maritime safety, piracy: Nigeria domesticates IMO laws

N

IGERIA has taken a major step towards concluding the process of domesticating five International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulatory instruments with the submission of the instruments of assent to five protocols of the IMO in London. This feat was achieved

$129. 30 $3,272.00

$11.41

CURRENCY BUYING

1.60 -18. 00

0.16

$64.03

-0.42

60.60

-0.41

CENTRAL

DOLLAR 195.9 196.4 POUNDS 310. 4036 311.1958 EURO 221.4454 222.0106 FRANC 211.6694 212.2096 YEN 1.5904 1.5944 CFA 0.3177 0.3277 WAUA 275. 203 275.9054 RENMINBI 31.5425 31.6234 RIYAL 52.2372 52.3705 KRONA 29.6733 29.749 SDR 276.6304 277.3364

196.9 311.9881 222.5758 212.7499 1.5985 0.3377 276.6078 31.7044 52.5039 29.8247 278.0425

CBN Exchange Rate as at 24/ 06 /15

through the collaboration of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) being the focal point of all IMO conventions in Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Transport(FMOT) in a bid to ensure that Nigeria continues to implement the various safety measures and practices as endorsed by the IMO. Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative to the IMO, Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, who presented the instruments to the IMO SecretaryGeneral, Koji Sekimizu on behalf of the Federal Government listed the instruments to include the Safety of Lives at Sea Protocol 1988 (as amended) and the Marine Pollution

This submission is borne out of the desire of the Nigerian Government to curb the menace of piracy and promote shipping activities in Nigeria

(MARPOL) Protocol of 1997. Others are the Protocol of 2005 to the Suppression of Unlawful Acts (SUA) Convention 1988, Protocol of 1988 to the SUA Convention Against Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf, and the Protocol of 1988 to the International Convention on Load Lines.

Dr Tafida noted that “this submission is borne out of the desire of the Nigerian Government to curb the menace of piracy and promote shipping activities in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea in line with international best practices.”

Responding, the IMO SecretaryGeneral expressed the organisation’s pleasure on the submission of these core instruments, particularly three of which border on Ships Standard, SUA Convention and SUA Protocol, which are significant towards prevention of piracy.

Mr Sekimizu therefore urged the Nigerian government not to relent in its war against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. On his part, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi who was represented by the Executive Director Maritime Safety and Shipping Development Capt.

Bala Agaba, noted that with the deposition of the instruments of assent, the Agency was obliged to enforce the provisions of the conventions to the letter, not only on Flag Ships but also Port State Administration.

VER 120 construction companies in the country have faulted the list of chronic debtors to be published on the orders of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as most unfair to construction companies while their monies are tied down by federal and state governments and others.

The companies also blamed the classification of companies by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) which they argued is often not reviewed to showcase companies that have moved beyond the categories.

The 126 companies under the umbrella of the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) at the 59th Annual General Meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, said the two bodies are not being fair to the construction industry.

President of FOCI, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola bemoaned the directive of the apex bank to commercial banks to publish the list of chronic debtors, said the regulator should be considerate and fair to debtors.

“We are not against it but what we are looking out for is a column that also specified how those companies are being owed.

“For instance, construction companies owe this certain amount to Bank A, Bank B this amount and so on and then they should put another column and say Federal Ministry of Works owe the same company so and so amount.”

“It will be unthinkable and very unwise and wicked if somebody should now go and tell the public construction companies are owing because it is a total blackmail that a company is owing about N600 million and the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works or Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) is owing the same company about N800 million. It is most unfair to us then because the banks are portraying the company in a bad light.”

Ogunbusola regretted that the banks did not consider that Federal Government, States, and others owe the sector over N600billion For BPP, Ogunbusola commended the Bureau for its good work but suggested a intermittent review of the categorization.

“BPP started something very good that shouldn’t stop because that is the legislative of the construction company because we don’t want a portfolio company to come and get about N10, N20 billion contract anymore.”

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Employees resist change for three basic reasons - in order of severity: they don’t get it, they don’t like it, or they don’t like you

,

,

Resistance: A stranglehold on business

BY LAUREN SIMONDS

T

he ability to adapt and change is essential to business success. But not everyone embraces change so easily. These tips can help you identify and eliminate resistance in the workplace.

Anyone familiar with the Star Trek universe knows that resistance is futile.

Unfortunately, real-life resistance to change is alive and well and often firmly entrenched in many small businesses. Common signs include ideas that never reach fruition and initiatives that go nowhere.

might not really understand what they’ve agreed to, and that quick yes can quickly turn into a protracted, passive-aggressive no.

Take the time to explain your thinking, and make that sure everyone understands the full scope of the changes and why they’re necessary.

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (24/06/15) Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N)

Central(N)

Selling(N)

195.90

196.40

196.90

308.6992 219.6627 210.148 1.5809 0.3155 275.0427 31.5546 52.2372 29.4352 275.5138

309.4871 220.2233 210.6844 1.5849 0.3255 275.7447 31.6356 52.3705 29.5103 276.217

310.275 220.784 211.2208 1.5889 0.3355 276.4467 31.7166 52.5039 29.5854 276.9202

Commod Light Crud

Natural G Sugar Coffee Cocoa

Identify the reasons Employees resist change for three basic reasons. In order of severity: they don’t get it, they don’t like it, or they don’t like you. Look for someone on your team who’s harboring at least one of these perspectives anytime you have a project,

There’s a huge difference between taking a conservative approach and failing to adapt to changes in the market, in customer needs or in technology There’s a huge difference between taking a conservative approach and failing to adapt to changes in the market, in customer needs or in technology.

Resistance on that level can have serious consequences and leave you wide open to competitors who are willing and able to adapt and capture your market share.

In an article at Small Business Computing, Rick Maurer, an organisational consultant and author of “Beyond the Wall of Resistance,” notes that workforce resistance causes approximately 70 percent of organisational change to fail.

You can fight back using these steps to identify resistance and break down the barriers to effective change.

Identify resistance Blatant criticism is an obvious sign of resistance.

However, the other side of that coin is the easy yes, and while more subtle, it’s no less dangerous. Employees or managers who agree quickly may not have thought things through thoroughly, whether out of a desire to be seen as cooperative or to avoid giving offense. Either way, they

processes or other business initiative that’s stalled.

Fix it If they don’t get it, you need to find a new way to deliver your message. Repeating yourself won’t help; they heard you the first time.

Instead, try a different approach or provide additional education or training.

If they don’t like it, chances are someone finds something about the new process frightening or uncomfortable. Look at the situation from their perspective. This can help you present the information in a way that addresses their fears or concerns.

If they don’t like you, simply be direct and ask them. You may have to press further if all you get is a polite, but evasive response.

Maurer believes these situations are usually a matter of trust. If you outrank the person or people involved, use an anonymous survey with a comment area to discover reasons behind the lack of trust. *Simonds is MD of SmallBusinessComputing.com

How to benefit from US investors visa programme

By Yinka Kolawole, with agency report

T

he US Investors Visa Programme was created by the Immigration Act of 1990 to encourage the flow of major investments into the United States to help stimulate the economy through job creation. In exchange for the investments made, the United States offers the foreign investors a variety of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa options, such as EB-5; L-1 or EB-1C. This article aims at demystifying the myths associated with the various U.S. Investor Program.

According to Dr. Martins Imudia, attorney and Director at the Centre for U.S. Immigration Services in Tampa, Florida, it is not enough to buy property in the United States to obtain investors visa. He, however, noted that if the investment in property such as house(s) or other form of real estate is substantial enough, leading to sustainable job creation,

investors' visa may be obtained.

•"Many clients have had to invest well over $0.5 million hoping to gain legal permanent residency only to come to us years later and realize that a visa is not available based on the investment. The investors or business visa categories are premised on job creation.

Therefore, buying property or other forms of investment is not enough, if sustainable jobs are not created," he said.

EB-5 Visa In order to qualify for an EB5 visa, the foreign investor must establish that he/she will be investing a minimum of $500,000 in a new enterprise, if investing in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), or $1,000,000, if investing in a metropolitan and Non-Targeted Employment Area (Non-TEA).

Starting in September of 2015 under the proposed changes to EB -5 law, the minimum investment required from foreign nationals to qualify for an EB-5 is $800,000 for TEA investments as compared to the $500,000 minimum currently required. As for non-TEA, the

minimum investment requirement would be at $1.2 million. In addition to the amount involved, the investment must create 10 sustainable jobs for citizens and green card holders.

•"What we find with the property investors is that they buy multiple houses with no path for job creation. In addition to the challenges of not being able to create jobs, investors run the risk of falling foul of the law depending on how they are paid rents or profit from the property because they do all these without any work authorisation.

Before investing in property with the ultimate goal of obtaining an immigrant visa, consult with an experienced immigration attorney," Imudia stated.

Most EB-5 practitioners are not familiar enough with a particular market to properly document funding on their own. Also, tax regimes in most emerging countries are weak, so the investor's source and path of investment funds must be carefully documented to meet U.S. requirements. By transferring money and

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 23

,

& YOU

dity de

Gas

COMMODITIES (24/06/15) Last 61.19

Change ($) +0.18

% Change +0.30

2.73

+0.01

+0.33

11.44

+0.19

+1.69

132.00

+4.30

+3.37

3,272.00

-18.00

-0.55

buying property, it may become more difficult to document the source of funds.

Potential investors must therefore work with their EB5 representatives to discern best practices for documentation.

EB-IC Visa The EB-1C visa is a good way for small or start-up overseas companies to expand their business and services to the United States. It is reserved for mid to high-level employees of multinational businesses who are being asked by their employer to move to the US. In order to qualify for a Multinational Manager or Executive Visa, an applicant must meet certain requirements – three year work period with the multinational company and specialized background.

L-1 Visa Unlike the EB-1C, an L-1 visa is a type of a nonimmigrant visa, which allows companies to not only conduct intra-company transfers of its employees from its foreign office to its United States office, but - in cases where the foreign company does not have a United States-based office - it also allows them to send executives or managers for the purpose of setting up a new one. To qualify for this, the foreign investor must show that he or she has secured the necessary location to house its new office, and that the

United States offers foreign investors a variety of immigrant and non-immigrant visa options

employee being sent under an L-1 status is someone who has held an executive or managerial position continuously for one year within the three years preceding the filing of an L-1 application. In addition, the foreign investor investing in a new office in the United States must show that the new office is one that will support an executive or managerial position within one year after the L-1 petition has been approved.

For the L-1 visa classification approval, the foreign investor need not meet any monetary investment requirements.

However, although there is no specific monetary value required for an L-1 visa, unlike an EB-5, it does not grant its holder permanent residency immediately. Over the course of some years however, the L-1 visa holder may apply for EB-1C visa and obtain immigrant visa so long as jobs are created based on a sustainable substantial investment.

Benefits of investors visa While investors ultimately obtain immigrant visas for themselves and their family members (spouse and unmarried children under 21), many investors have used the EB-5 platform to transfer technology to their home countries. The platform enables investors to incubate innovative businesses and transfer technology and resources when needed. Also, since the United States is the most desired education destination, by obtaining investors visa before children reach the university level, they are able to take advantage of lower university fees.

Decision on steps for obtaining investors' visa (whether L-1, EB-1C or EB5) requires careful review of the investor•fs immigration goals and financial resources.

It is best to consult with a qualified immigration attorney if you are seeking to enter the United States as an investor.

When we begin to think differently, we would realise that there is no just one way of doing things

,

How great companies and institutions think “If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking”…George S Patton

I

t is possible for people to have different reasons for setting up businesses. The same applies to small businesses or big corporations. Regardless of whatever reason(s) any business was established, the desire to achieve better result will always play out.

Then, again, achieving better result to most organisations is characterised by increase in profitability. Desiring increased profitability is an acceptable proclivity for organisations as a result of the services being rendered and paid for. But, the disappointing part of it is that no organisation or corporation can achieve increased profitability by mere desiring or just wishing for it except by doing things differently when others are busy with the status quo.

After hearing Steve Haines for the first time that: “you don’t need to think more, you just need to think differently”, I had a different worldview about thinking. It made me to realise that we do not need to think more (haphazardly) just for thinking sake, we need to think differently with the result in mind – we need to think strategically. The same applies to organizations, to achieve better results, we may not necessarily do so many things for our customers in terms of quantity, but we need to begin to do things differently for them. We might just focus on doing one particular thing differently for them. Few years ago during a retreat, I was discussing with an executive whose company had spent so much money on transformation, and I realised one key thing that was lacking – attitudinal change. For an organisation to think differently and achieve its transformation goals, attention must be paid to develop the right attitude of its workforce first and foremost. This is because one person with a wrong attitude can sabotage and make a mess of all the transformation effort. Yes, I know I am not

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

Thinking differently is akin to committing to make a difference writing about attitudinal change, but then right attitude is like a lubricant that will oil the wheels of “thinking differently”.

Unbelievably, and despite the fact that most organisations are doing the same thing year in year out, using the same business strategy and initiatives that have not worked, and yet they expect to have different and better results (that is impossible). With the stiff competition in the business world, if you keep doing your business the same way you have done it for five years; you will never even achieve the old results that you are used to, but rather below what you have been achieving. That goes to show that to desire improved results in all facets of business operations, we must have a paradigm shift, and that comes by thinking differently. The truth of the matter is that sometimes, we know why our organisation is performing so badly, but we are stuck to the old ways of doing things – and we are not ready to try something new.

All organisations that are stuck to the old ways of doing things that have not yielded them better results will end up becoming “Defenders of Decline” instead “Architect

of the future”( example is Apple Inc. vs. others). Apple succeeded in becoming the “architect of the future” while others are busy defending the decline, little wonder Apple’s slogan is “Think Different”.

To paint a clearer picture of what thinking differently should mean to organisations, we need to realise that in our various organisations, there are strategies that are not working, marketing initiatives that are not producing the numbers, activities that are not worthwhile and generally things that are not working for the organisation.

Thinking differently starts when we begin to question the old ways of doings that that have not yielded expected results and begin to push the boundaries and think in new ways that lead to improved results.

Thinking differently is akin to committing to make a difference. In order words, organisations that are thinking differently want to make a difference in the lives of their customers and employees. It is this commitment to make a difference that brings improved and sustainable results for the shareholders.

When we begin to think differently, we would realise that there is no just one way of doing things. Of course, it is a red signal to assume there is only one way of doing things. Employees must begin to ask optimal questions in order to have optimal answers. Questions like: why are we not achieving our desired results? Why are we not having enough customers to patronise our business? Why do our customers complain?

Are there things we are not doing well? How can we be different from the competitors? The fact is that when we blend in to what others are doing, we may not be able to stand out with a different result. That means we need to be different in all areas of our business (we need to be perceived differently and better) and that is the only time we shall stand out as an organisation of choice.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Group seeks exemption for small NGOs from FRC’s governance code

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By Babajide Komolafe

he Nigerian Philanthropy Forum has called on the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to exempt small charities and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from some of the requirements of the proposed National Non-Profit Organizations Governance Code.

Chair of the Nigerian Philanthropy Forum Mrs. Onari Duke, made this call during a consultative meeting between the FRC and diverse groups of nonprofit organizations to review the proposed “Non-Profit Organizations Governance Code”.

She said, “The proposed national corporate governance code by the FRC is commendable and timely given that there is no robust framework for charity regulation in Nigeria. However, more consideration should be given to small charities and NGOs that are solely funded with resources from the founder and not public funds. Furthermore, a closer symbiotic relationship between the FRC and Corporate Affairs Commission will enhance compliance and avoid duplication.”

The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer, FRC, Mr. Jim Obazee, Bisi Fayemi, founder of the African Women’s Development Fund; Zouera Youssoufou, the CEO of the Dangote Foundation; Parminder Vir, the CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation; Dr. Yinka Oyinlola of NLI; Shola Adeola, the CEO of the Freedom Foundation; Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi, Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGOs), and many others.

Speaking on the proposed code, Jim Obazee said that, “The aim of the FRC is to assist notfor-profit organisations to continue to develop strategies that can bring about high quality financial reporting, greater governance transparency and accountability and an empowered members engagement. If the “Non-Profits Organizations Governance Code”, is implemented, it will have significant implications on how non-profit organizations structure and govern themselves.

On his part, Oyebisi Oluseyi, Executive Director, NNNGO said that, “This consultation is coming at a time when civil society organizations in Nigeria are becoming increasingly aware and conscious of their legitimacy, transparency and accountability.

The steps taken by the FRC is a welcome development and today’s consultation provides us with the opportunity to engage on the relevance of the code to our sector and how best conversations could be extended to a broad section of civil society organizations working in the country.’’

Meanwhile, The Financial Reporting council (FRC) said that the proposed public hearing on the National Code of

BRIEFS

FG tasked to strengthen DMO, CBN to grow economy

By Ediri Ejoh

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From left, Chairman Corporate Governance, Steering Committee for The Development of The National Code Of Corporate Governance, Victor Odiase; Chair of the Nigeria Philanthropy Forum, Mrs Onari Duke; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu; Founder of the African Women’s Development Fund, Mrs Bisi Fayemi; Executive Secretary/CEO, Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Mr. Jim Obazee; CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Parminder Vir; (Back row), Executive Director, Nigerian Network of NGOs, Mr Oyebisi Oluseyi; and CEO, Dangote Foundation, Ms. Zouera Youssofou at the consultation with the FRC on the draft of the Non-profit Oganisations Governance Code held in Lagos.

This consultation is coming at a time when civil society organizations in Nigeria are becoming increasingly aware and conscious of their legitimacy

Corporate Governance will now hold on Tuesday June 30th. This follow the decision of the decision of Justice O.E Abang of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to vacate the exparte injunction restraining FRC from proceeding with the public hearing on an earlier scheduled date.

The Council in a statement announcing the new date stated, “The court vacated the order following its concurrence with the objection of the counsel to

FRC Dr Fabian Ajogwu(SAN).The Public hearing was scheduled to start on May 19,2015 before the injunction obtained by a group of shareholders who objected to certain provisions in the draft NCCG. The Public hearing will now hold in Lagos on June 30 for public and private sectors and July 2 for Not-For-Profit organisations respectively.”

Jaiz Bank sets aside N502m Haram income for charity

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

J

aiz Bank has set aside N502 million of its income which it called “haram” (forbidden) for charity, the Chairman of the bank, Alh. Umoru AbdulMutallab has disclosed.

Addressing shareholders of the bank at its 2014 Annual General Meeting in Abuja, he said that the money was earned from interest on its funds deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and that since interest was forbidden according to Sharia, Jaiz bank could not put the money to use in its operations.

“All the gains made from haram (prohibited by Islamic Sharia rules) sources have been set aside in a separate account and transferred to Jaiz Foundation for charity purposes. The statement discloses how the Non-Sharia compliant income is being dispensed with. The transfer of N592 million to Jaiz Foundation for charity purposes represents cleansing funds of pre-operations

period”, he said.

The bank has another N1.306 billion pre-operational income which is being held under the “doctrine of necessity” as approved by the CBN. Alh. AbdulMutallab disclosed that the restrictions in terms of instruments in which the Shariabased bank could invest was affecting its ability to take advantage of the Nigerian market and urged the CBN to expedite action on the “sukuk” since Jaiz cannot invest in Treasury Bills.

Sukuk refers to the Islamic equivalent of bonds. However, as opposed to conventional bonds, which merely confer ownership of a debt, Sukuk grants the investor a share of an asset, along with the commensurate cash flows and risk.

According the Chairman, only Osun State has created sukuk opportunities in the country, even as he expressed optimism that the federal and other state governments would take a cue, shortly.

He added that the bank was expecting the CBN to issue Jaiz a

National Banking Licence. It has been operating as a Regional Bank, based primarily in the North West and North East.

Alh. AbdulMutallab said there were many potential customers in other parts of the country that would like to do business with Jaiz Bank, especially in Lagos and Port-Harcourt and that his team was eager to open branches in those cities.

He added that the board and management of the bank were looking forward to a well capitalized organization which would not only operate across Nigeria but even in other countries.

The Managing Director, Mohammad Nurul Islam, disclosed that Jaiz Bank made a Profit before Tax of N157.7 million. Its total income for the year under review was N 2.94 billion.

According to him, the bank provided 1, 076 customers with N 22.2 billion in the year under review, while deposits increased

by N6.6 billion, with the same period.

he Federal Government has been called upon to strengthen public institutions like Debt Management Office-DMO, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Independent National Electoral Commission- INEC, asserting that they have capacity to grow the economy through human capital.

David Cowan, Africa Economic Citi, who was a panelist at the just held twoday Euro Finance’s 5th Conference on Treasury, Risk and Cash Management in West Africa, in Lagos, said Independent National Electoral Commission- INEC , Debt Management Office-DMO and the CBN are some of broadly functioning institutions that have demonstrated the country’s ability to grow the economy through its human capacity.”

He stressed that the country can further strengthen the institutions by appointing the right people to head new cabinet.

He noted that the cabinet will determine the extent of the presidents change mantra. ‘’In contrast to other former governments, it is apparent that the new government will be more willing to delegating responsibilities to the members of his cabinet.

“He has been talking about some of the things he will achieve in 100 day, but there is need to act quickly within the next hundred days in office by making sure that everything in place.

“From a political point of view the government must be aware that there would be challenges, he needs to build a mindset that would allow him to move on. He needs not to waste time in highlighting challenges so as not to be caught off guard.

“He must be focused in moving forward by getting his team in place and set agenda to stimulate growth rate to about six percent within the next one year.”

He added that the agricultural sector will stimulate growth in the country, as the government also needs to continue making progress with war against insurgencies.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 25

PROGRAMME: Sitting from left: Prof. Uhunmwangho Amen Victor, Provost, College of Education, Ekiadolor; Prof. Angya Charity, Vice Chancellor, Benue State University, Markurdi; Prof. Akinrinade Olusola, Provost, Anti-Corruption Academy(ICPC), Abuja; Alhaji Elelu Mas’ud Mahmud, Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin; Mr. Liman Abubakar Shinkafi, Rector, Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Zamfara. Standing; Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan, Managing Director, Executive Trainers Limited, Lagos. Standing from left: Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, Chairman ETL, Mr. Sogunro Samuel Oluyinka, Ag Rector, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu and others during the Higher Education Executive Programme held in Houston, Texas, USA.

Mobile learning technology, way forward for varsities —Experts

By Dayo Adesulu

F

or Nigerian universities and their products to compete favourably with their counterparts globally, it has been suggested by over 50 universities that there must be a strategic adoption of technology as an integral part of the teaching and learning process.

According to a group of experts and university administrators that spoke at the maiden edition of the Future Ready University Conference held at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, which drew

How scholarship scheme motivated three First Class

graduates PG. 27

Why private varsities feel cheated over TETFUND — Prof. Amusan PG. 28 C M Y K

participants from over 50 Nigerian universities, the country cannot afford to lag behind in the deployment of technology at its tertiary institutions.

The conference organised by Softcom Limited in partnership with Diamond Bank and Samsung Electronics, provided opportunities for participants to witness practical applications of mobile learning devices which are already operational at Covenant University.

Edusocial, was described as a software deployed in a tablet which makes learning sociable and exciting. It does not take away the need to go to class.

However, it makes learning more effective. Before students get to class, they can know everything they ought to know about the lecture and lecturer, such that, if coming to class for the first time, a student can know who is sitting next to him or her, know what courses are to be thought and who the lecturers are. With this App in the special tablet, lecturers don’t need to come to class before students read their notes. Students can discuss with classmates. It is total education put into one tablet.

Over 7,000 tablets have been deployed to students of Covenant University for this

purpose. With the tablet, students don’t need to go to the classroom with notebooks but with their tablets. When writing a note via the tablet, it synchronizes such that students can share notes and ideas together.

Upon getting wind of the innovation, Diamond Bank keyed into it with Diamond Account that supports students. The aim being that universities that cannot afford the device, have the bank to provide them some funds. To

Covenant University, Diamond Bank came with a $100 million technology intervention fund to support universities.

On the part of Samsung, they agreed to provide devices that are strictly configured for Edusocial. This means that the software will be deployed on Samsung devices globally.

The 7000 tabs presently used by Covenant University is strictly customized for the software. Also, for other universities that buy the idea,

Samsung has promised to do the same for them.

MTN has reiterated commitment to provide Internet facility as low as N5000 subscription for a whole year for a student. This is while Samsung, Diamond and MTN are on it. Together they form the Edusocial Future Ready Students. The brain behind this innovation is Softcom, an idea from Covenant University

Continues on page 26

UBEC urges corporate bodies to invest in education

By Caleb Ayansina

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he Executive Chairman of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Universal Basic Education (UBEC), Alhaji Umar Barau has appealed to Corporate Organizations in Nigeria to contribute their quota to the management of the education sector in the country.

Barau made this appeal in Abuja, when Rotary Club FCT chapter presented a borehole to provide drinking water and constructed eight units modern water system toilets

for pupils and staff of LEA Primary School, TungaMaje in Suleja.

We are calling on other organizations that are progressive and humanitarian minded to also contribute their quotas to the development of Education

Barau stated that the donation was fulfilling the dream of the FCTA policy through infrastructural development in the school.

He identified lack of facilities, illiteracy and lack of quality education as part of the causes of crime in Nigeria, adding that proper education is the key to growth and development of any country.

According to him, “the management of education in Nigeria today requires all to contribute and change its

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

UBEC urges corporate bodies to invest in education Continues from page 25

EMPOWERMENT: Cross section of female executives in Nigeria tertiary institutions during women empowerment programme organised by Executive Trainers Limited in Houston, U.S.A.

Mobile learning technology, way forward for varsities — Experts Continues from page 25 Alumnus.

In his opening remark, Managing Partner/CEO, Softcom Limited, Mr. Yomi Adedeji, an alumnus of Covenant University said that the Future Ready University Conference was a strategic initiative aimed at encouraging Nigerian universities, having realised that mobile learning is the future of education globally.

According to him: ‘’The vision of this conference is to educate and inspire leaders from selected universities in the country to improve education service delivery through technology adoption which will improve learning experience and boost the overall academic outcome of students in Nigeria.

Mobile learning is the future of education and we have successfully kick-started it here in Nigeria through the Covenant University Future Ready University programme.”

He said the mobile learning programme is a revolutionary portable mobile device bundled with EduSocial apps that allows students access course materials, lecture notes, case studies and university libraries via their mobile devices.

Meanwhile, the NUC representative, Deputy Director eLearning, Engr Kayode Odedina at the event affirmed that everything about the globe presently is electronic. He said that NUC is always open to anything that will assist Nigerian universities adding that one of its key mandates is to ensure the production of globally competitive graduates, so that second class upper graduates in Nigeria are equivalent to any anywhere in the world.

According to him, “In NUC, we now have dual mode degree education, the conventional which is the classroom setting and the department of open and distance education that assists us in leveraging in the new global order.

“We have already developed guidelines for distance and open education. While we regulate universities, the delivery of education rests squarely on the universities.

So, it is not out of place that 50 universities were invited and NUC is here.”

Odedina who urged all universities to go global maintained that "We expect universities to follow global trends.” He disclosed that there are presently six universities including the Open university, that are already going global by what they are doing with ICT in their various institutions.

Odedina while applauding universities which have adopted ICT to boost communications, urged them to consistently upgrade their ICT adding that electronics is the fastest evolving discipline in the world. Undermining the challenges with the driving of ICT, the Engineer urged every institution to make up its mind on what they want to do without considering the availability of fund and electricity to drive ICT. Speaking in the same vein, social critic, university administrator and entrepreneur, Prof. Pat Utomi averred that the adoption and deployment of technology is a

The mobile learning programme is a revolutionary portable mobile device bundled with EduSocial apps that allows students access course materials, lecture notes, case studies and university libraries via their mobile devices

great opportunity for Nigerian tertiary institutions to leapfrog the numerous challenges confronting higher education in the country.

Utomi, who delivered a key note address titled, Tertiary Education: Key drivers, Challenges and the Role of Technology, listed some of the challenges confronting tertiary education in Nigeria as; poor infrastructure, lack of competent teachers, high cost of quality education and lack of practical relevance of tertiary curriculum.

Meanwhile, using Covenant University as a case study, its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Ayo, noted that technology has transformed the learning process in the institution He said: ‘’Technology is an integral part of life at the Covenant University. It is an important part of our curriculum. We have also made sure that the university deploys it into as many of our activities as possible. Right from the admission process to payment, lecture delivery in the classroom, teleconferencing to engage our partners all over the world and most importantly equipping our laboratories with state of the art technology that will place us at the same pedestal with any world-class university anywhere in the world, we are proud to say that we do not compromise when it comes to deploying ICT.” In his address, the Managing Director of Intel Corporation West Africa, Mr. Olubumi Ekundare, stressed the importance of making Nigerian tertiary institutions ICT complaint. He decried the situation where 1 in 10 students own a PC and 3 in 10 students have occasional access to a PC. He said: “Today, a paltry five percent of our universities have computer infrastructure for scientific research. Only 20 percent of our tertiary institutions have digitised their academic records while 30 percent have digitised their admin and records."

face to meet the current realities.

“We are here today not to glorify and to praise Rotary club of Abuja for its achievements in 2014, but for its current feat and achievements in 2015 having donated a borehole to provide portable drinking water and constructed eight units modern water system toilets for pupils and staff of LEA Primary School, TungaMaje.

“Based on this, we are calling on other organizations that are progressive and humanitarian minded to also contribute their quotas to the development of Education in the FCT. “UBEC has a motto; ‘Education for all is responsibility of all.’ Let us join hands together to invest in the education of our children for guaranteed future.”

While presenting the project to the school, President of the Rotary Club FCT chapter,

Barr. Ezenwa Anummu said the gesture was the club’s support to ensure a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.

He explained that the projects were done from resources commuted by members with the support of like minds in line with the club’s objective of supporting communities.

Responding to the gesture, the Head mistress LEA Primary School, Tunga-Maje, Mrs Ugwanyi Christiana, thanked the club while urging other Nigerians to emulate the club toward development of education in Nigeria.

“Let me use this medium to tell you that, in 2014 Abuja rotary club renovated two blocks of class rooms and provided 100 pieces of pupil’s furniture, and today we have water and toilets for staff and student.”

Christiana, however, stated that the donations are part of the club’s programme to adopt a school with this year’s theme, Basic Education and Literacy.

Educationist makes case for teaching of History, Culture in schools

By Tare Youdeowei

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he Administrator of ChildVille Schools, Ogudu, Lagos, Mrs. Ajijola Alokolaro, has advocated the re-introduction and teaching of History and Culture in schools, noting that this will help in developing a total child, as well as deepening appreciation of Nigeria’s history and culture among them.

Alokolaro, made this call during the public presentation of Agho Obaseki, a stage play about the history of ancient Benin Kingdom, held at the Muson Centre, in the Onikan area of Lagos.

Decrying that most children are ignorant of the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria, the educationist affirmed that the play became imperative as part of the school’s strategy to reversing the ugly trend.

Her words: “History and culture of a people are two important elements that should not be handled with levity or else such people will lack direction. The present generation of Nigerian children know a lot about the history and culture of the western world but have a very poor knowledge of the

history and culture of their fatherland, which is a misnomer.

“Beyond equipping our students with acting and stage skills, staging of the play is also directed at ensuring that students of Childville School have a deep sense of Nigeria’s history and diverse culture.”

She added that “No nation or people can preserve its culture without deliberate action. ChildVille School is really excited at this privilege of advancing and preserving the nation’s historical and cultural heritage. Therefore, the exercise is also another means of discovering the innate ability of some of the students, which needs to be nurtured into becoming an asset that could profit them and the society at large in the long run.’’

Written by Don Pedro and directed by Gboyega Jerome, the play Agbo Obaseki is about the ambitious man Agbo Obaseki of Benin Kingdom who had power dumped at his door step by the British after the fall of Benin in 1897 and Oba Ovonramwen N’Ogbaisi was exiled to Calabar. The emergence of Agbo Obaseki was in total disregard of the Edo traditional hierarchy.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 27

REALISTIC UNIVERSITY TUITION:

Matters arising (2)

Agbami scholarship beneficiaries during their graduation at the University of Ibadan.

How Agbami scholarship scheme motivated 3 first class graduates

By Dayo Adesulu & Kelechukwu Iruoma

S

ince the inception of the Agbami scholarship scheme in 2009, over 100 beneficiaries from various Nigerian universities have graduated with First Class Honours or its equivalents.

The recent breakthroughs were made in University of Port Harcourt, Uniport, where three Agbami Scholarship beneficiaries made First Class Honours, attributing the achievement to the scholarship programme, which they claim was a motivating factor towards their success.

The Agbami Medical and Engineering Professionals Scholarship Programme (AMEPS) instituted by Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited, a chevron company and its co-venturers in the Agbami fields which include: Famfa Oil Limited; Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; Statoil Limited and Petroleo Brasileiro Nigeria Limited, has been an avenue and platformwhere the standard of education across the country is being raised.

Speaking to Vanguard Learning at the Convocation Ceremony, an Agbami beneficiary, Tunji Fadoyeni who graduated from the Department of Gas Engineering with a total GPA of 4.51 revealed: “Agbami scholarship motivated me in reading. When you get something like that, there is this motivation you get from it, that was what sustained me till I graduated. Agbami scholarship is one of the reasons why I am coming out with first class today. The scholarship gave me the motivation and encouragement to do more academically.”

Ugochukwu Samson, who graduated with a total GPA of 4.50 from the Department

of Petroleum Engineering, stated that the scholarship improved his academic performance, adding that, he never wanted to lose out from the scholarship that was why he kept reading voraciously.

“Having your school fees paid as at when due gives you the motivation to read more, because you are not under financial stress. It actually motivated me to study more and it helped in solving so many problems”, said Eminaho Efenwegbe, a graduate of Petroleum Engineering with a total GPA of 4.56.

Efenwegbe who got the nd scholarship from 2 year noted that he found it difficult to pay his tuition fees early and get the necessary text books when he was in first year, adding that the scholarship made his tuition fees available in time and he was able to buy text books in time and get other necessary materials needed for the semesters. He also stated that he was able to acquire some skills like computer programming with the grant.

Tunji who also won the scholarship in 2 nd y e a r noted: “Agbami really did a lot towards my success today

School fees paid as at when due gives you the motivation to read more, because you are not under financial stress

because back then I normally had to wait for my parents to get me money for my text books and also pay my school fees, but when I got it, it was more like something I could do without asking them. When you get something like this and report back to your parents, they feel proud of you. My parents were so happy and they encouraged me.”

He further stated that he had to tell his parents to stop sending him money, b u t should use the little they have to cater for their (parents) needs at home, adding that without the scholarship, he would not have achieved many things he wanted to while in school.

“I get my books ready before the semester starts and Agbami scholarship helped me achieve that.

Before school resumes, I already have all books and materials set.” He said.

Ugochukwu who said he was almost discouraged, but his moral was boosted by the grant he received.

According to him, “At some point I became discouraged, but I persevered. I kept on reading and studying hard.

My course mates were encouraging. We read and studied together. And I was determined” Stating: “The grant really helped a lot.

Because it is not every time you receive such amount of money. They paid annually, a #100,000 thousand and it is usually paid early. They pay it at the right time. I usually use the money to purchase books and some other relevant materials that are used for studying. It was really helpful.”

He said they are certain things you would want to do with money and you cannot ask your parents for such money, noting the fund actually covers for those

Continues on page 28

“In consonance with his calling and disposition, he should line up behind seemingly [underlining mine] powerless conscience in its struggle against conscienceless power, as [Ben] Bruce has surprisingly done.”

Prof. Kayode Soremekun, NOUN UNIVERSITY, PUNCH, June 2.

2015, p 29, in an article titled ‘Ben Bruce, Akinnaso and Noam Chomsky”.

In the first part of this series, I had predicted that Professor Niyi Akinnaso, was asking for an avalanche of rejoinders, even hate mail, in response to his articles asking for upward review of tuition and other fees in Nigerian universities – presumably, public universities; since private universities don’t need anybody’s advice. Private businesses determine their own price, which as any economist knows, is the synonym for things like tuition, fees, levies etc. There might have been others, but the first rejoinder to come to my notice is the one mentioned above and it can, in many ways, serve proxy for all the

when the tuition fees prevailing now were agreed in the past.

Why should those social maladies now become the reason for ignoring an urgent problem? Are we supposed to wait until Nigeria is corruptionfree and when there is more equitable distribution of wealth?

Even, Prof knows that will amount to waiting for ever.

At any rate, with respect to the monopolization of resources by few elected and appointed officials, Prof needs to be reminded about two facts of life.

First, Joseph De Maistre, 17541821, already told us that “Every nation has the government it deserves.” If we have allowed selfish individuals to rule us for almost sixty years, while calling them Your Excellency, Distinguished Senator, Honourable Member, etc, we deserve the consequences of our collective servitude. Second, Albert Camus, 1903-1960, reminded us that, “There is no equality in the world of power, the masters calculate, at a usurious rate, the price others that will follow. It of their own blood.” has summarized all the (VANGUARD BOOK OF arguments which have QUOTATIONS p 195). To always been made whenever the issue of The level use an expression by late Bob Marley, “we stand raising tuition fees is on around and look” as the the national agenda. In of Revenue Mobilisation fact, Soremekun’s entire Allocation and Fiscal argument consists of a lot poverty Commission, RMAFC, of contentious submissions here is the greatest collection of which could be reduced to daunting “Prodigal Sons” ever one word – DON’T. produced by any nation However, that “don’t” give public officials position rests on a number o u t r a g e o u s of outright fallacies and remuneration packages some half-truths, mingled which have left little for with accepted “truths”. education – which is a Permit me to start with the capital intensive statement quoted above, undertaking. Along the which comes from the last paragraph of the article. Implied, way, a Minimum wage law was but not stated, is the fact that the passed under which rich states matter of appropriate tuition in (Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Nigerian universities is part of the Delta, Bayelsa, Kano) paid the class struggle involving the same insane emoluments as “masses” and the “wealthy” – in poor states (Ebonyi, Ekiti, other words, the “Haves and Plateau, Nassarawa, Gombe) Have-nots” (Miguel de Cervantes, and their governors were/are at 1547-1616). According to him, “the liberty to appoint a lot of level of poverty here is daunting.” parasites.

While grinding poverty is a reality Meanwhile, the iron laws in Nigeria, it would amount to of economics, which respect stretching the truth to breaking nobody, continue to operate. point to assert that the matter of From the time the current tuition university education affects those fees were approved till now, living on less than one dollar a day. prices of all inputs to university The real truth is that those living operations have gone up by over in abject poverty seldom send their 200%; salaries also went up – kids to school; so university not to talk of the cost of fuel to education for their kids is their last power generators. Which of concern. Invariably, people like these other prices waited for the Soremekun had often used the poor to obtain justice or for more masses as an alibi on a matter like equitable distribution of wealth this which concerns only the before being adjusted upwards middle class and the upper income in the face of prevailing groups. There is a bit of intellectual economic realities? The slight of hand involved in that.

Nigerian Labor Congress, NLC, Corruption in public service, is again talking about as well as the situation where “a Minimum Wage increase – few elected officials monopolise despite the fact that the NLC the resources of the country, living represents a tiny minority, less a champagne life while a majority than five per cent, of Nigerians of Nigerians live below a dollar a and they exclude those living day”, have always been used as a in grinding poverty who will reason for delaying addressing the also suffer from the inflation issue of realistic tuition. Here induced by across the board again, Soremekun is only half wage increases. Would they right. Yes, the condition he paints wait until justice is done to undeniably exists, but they existed everybody? It is doubtful.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

How Agbami scholarship scheme motivated 3 first class graduates Continues from page 27

Fadoyin Tunji Thompson, 1st Class

Aliezi Ugwochukwu Sampson, 1st Class

Why we are tackling students' phobia for mathematics

By Tare Youdeowei

B

othered by the phobia school children have for numbers and numerals, the Mathematics Laboratory Limited (MLL), Friday, launched the Naija Mathematics Olympiad, an online platform for mathematics practice and testing for junior and senior secondary schools in Nigeria.

At the launch in Lagos, Director of MLL, Andrew Akhigbe, disclosed that; ‘’The problem we seek to address is the perennial problem associated with mathematics anxiety and the general phobia for numbers by students of junior and senior secondary schools.

“Our ultimate goal is to replace mathematics anxiety and phobia for numbers with a love for the subject and

numbers in general for increased problem-solving skills in the digital age.”

Akhigbe who said the online solution is a practice, test and reward model, explained that “Firstly, students go online and learn every aspect of Mathematics. Secondly, students can take the test under strict examination conditions and monitor their progress through continuous assessment. Thirdly, students can schedule themselves to take a Mathematics Olympiad and determine where they stand in relation to other smart students at the local government , state and national level. Winners, schools and their teachers would be rewarded at the end of the exercise.

“At the moment, national exams like WASSCE, UTME and others are now Computer-

Based Test (CBT). So, if a child knows how to take test at age 10, when he starts taking CBT exams like WASSCE and UTME, it won’t be an issue to him or her. In this exam, there are three things at stake.

“One, the questions changes, the answers to the question differs and the third platform is to reward the students, teachers and the school. Based on what the students have learnt and all the tests they have done, they should always be prepared for an external examination,” he said. He added that “There is also an insurance package by Mutual Benefit that guarantees a fixed amount for every student on the program, in the event that the child loses his sponsor and can’t continue. So, it’s a robust platform for kids to come and

Why private varsities feel cheated over TETFUND — Amusan

By Ikenna Asomba

P

ERTURBED by the non inclusion of private universities in accessing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Vice Chancellor, Adeleke University (AU), Ede, Osun State, Professor Oluwole Amusan, has said that private universities cheated.

Recall that in 2011, the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan introduced TETFUND as an intervention agency for managing, disbursing and monitoring the education tax to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria to improve their standards.

Speaking at a World Press Conference, in the university’s Administrative Block , to herald its forthcoming convocation in September, Amusan argued that since they assist government in

providing education to the populace like their counterparts in public universities, there is urgent need for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, to reconsider their years of appeal and include them in accessing the fund.

He said: “The issue of TETFUND has been in contentious debate for quite some time now. As the Vice Chancellor of Adeleke University, we feel cheated. We believe private universities should have access to TETFUND, just like public ones. One of the reasons is because private universities assist government in providing education to the populace. If we are doing this, why should we be denied the funds that ought to assist institutions in carrying out responsibility that government is suppose to address. “Again, you will discover that private organizations and firms contribute to the source of

TETFUND through taxation. If the source also comes from private organizations, it is morally wrong to deprive private universities from assessing that fund. This is the stand of private universities in Nigeria, because this issue is always debated and it has been our major concern for long. I can say openly that on June 30, we are meeting again at Abeokuta and the major issue to be discussed is accessibility of TETFUND to private universities. We feel cheated and we think the new government should have a rethink about this.”

Pointing however, that the institution will be holding the maiden edition of its convocation, this September, Amusan, said the university which derived its name from the founder, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, was given license by the National Universities Commission (NUC), on March 7, 2011.

things. Adding, “Your parents can buy basic text books, but if you tell them you need additional text books, they will be reluctant.

The fund covers for such extra expenses.” He said A female beneficiary who also graduated from the Department of Gas Engineering with a total GPA of 3.73, that is a second class upper division, Odiem Ay o n o a d u described the scholarship grant as a very innovative idea, adding that the scholarship impacted positively in her academic.

According to her “In terms of money wise, I was able to save, I was able to get text books, even before my parents will send the money to me. It also helped me to pay my house rents.

I’m really grateful and honoured to be a partaker of such opportunity. It helped me through my years in school.”

She also encouraged those who are currently beneficiaries, to keep on working hard in order to continue enjoying such scholarship opportunity because it doesn’t come often.

The graduands, however, encouraged Star Deepwater and its coventurers to continue the goodwork and increase the number of beneficiaries that get this scholarship, adding that, beneficiaries who do well in school should have the opportunity to get employed by the Multinational companies.

According to Efenwegbe, “We hope we can get something better from something like this. If the help they

really looking forward to get a job from one of the multinational companies like Chevron and I am hoping to assist and impact positively in the industry.”

Speaking to Vanguard Learning, the coordinator of the Agbami Scholarship in Uniport, D r.

Ovet Afajenue, a lecturer at the Department of Fine Art and Design said that Star Deep Water Petroleum and its coventurers have been impacting positively on Uniport students through the scholarship, adding that they currently donated a 1000 DG generator to the University.

He noted that “Most companies and NGOs try to encourage students to achieve high scholarship education. With this, some of the indigene students and those working hard on campus are being assisted and it also creates competition in the University for Academic Excellence.”

Adding, “Some students are intelligent but they don’t have finance to maintain it, but the scholarship helps them a lot.”

He encouraged the institutions to try and employ their beneficiaries who have done well academically in

v a r i o u s institutions.

According to him, “I believe that at the end of their education, Fo r some of these students should scholarship be invited for programmes interview. That to be will encourage them more. sustained When they there should finish, they should be able be an officer to work with the in every companies.”

He suggested institution that for who can be in s c h o l a r s h i p programmes to charge of be sustained scholarships there should be an officer in of companies e v e r y and NGOs institution who can be in charge of scholarships granted to us helped us in of companies and NGOs. He coming out with good a l s o u r g e d U n i v e r s i t i e s grades, Ithink they should administrations to always give us an opportunity to send letters of gratitude to work with them.”

Star Deepwater Petroleum Tunji, who is currently ‘ and its co-venturers and serving at the university of itsthat institute scholarship Uyo in Akwa Ibom said, programmes every year.

“Immediately I finish, I am

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 29

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG successrecipe2009@gmail.com www.worldlightbearersint.com 08035095243

Getting rid of the cancerous killer-worry!

A

From left: Rector Institute of Management and Technology, Ugep, Cross River State, Dr William Pedley and Deputy President, Nigerian–British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Prince Dapo Adelegan at the NBCC Business round-table in Lagos.

WAPA hosts students, make case against child marriage

By Glory Ekwenuya

I

n its determined effort to provide a platform to put an end to child marriage and ensure that all stakeholders work relentlessly to make sure that negative social practices imposed by culture on children are eliminated, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund, formerly United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has hosted school students in Lagos State at the Women Development Centre, Agege, Lagos to celebrate the Day of the African Child.

Speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and

Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Omobolanle Ogunmola said this is the era where parents need to be committed to the welfare of their children to eliminate the negative social practices militating against their growth and development, as she added that they must stand up against the inhuman treatment of children and all harmful traditional practices.

Her words: ‘’Child marriage should be discouraged and before a child is given out to marriage, they should be 18 years old and fully developed.

To put an end to child marriage, there should be awareness; letting the public know that it is an abuse.

Parents should let their children have their rights to education. The Permanent Secretary of WAPA in her

address said “Never shall the blood of innocent African Children be spilled for demanding their rights”.

Similarly, the Child Protection Specialist UNICEF, Mrs Roselyn Akinroye said, ‘’UNICEF is about protecting children’s rights as regards education, ensuring that children have access to learning materials, quality teachers and also ensuring that the state government does what is right to promote the right of the child, as such child marriage is unacceptable”.

Meanwhile, the Director Public Defender Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Omotola Rotimi, who emphasized on the protection of children said; “There are various laws that protects the rights of a child and ensure that in any matter, the interest of the child is paramount”.

Teachers besiege Maltina Teacher of the Year website

A

s entries for the newly launched Maltina Teacher of the year award draws to a close, organisers say they have recorded a deluge of entries as teachers rush to meet the deadline. Reports from collation centres of the Maltina Teacher of the Year across the country indicates that scores of secondary school teachers are enthusiastically submitting entries for the coveted award.

This is coming even as Kufre Ekanem, the Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc. has hinted that collection and submission of application forms/entries may be extended to give opportunity to every qualified teacher to compete for the coveted prize. He stated that interested candidates can obtain hard copies of entry forms from designated

collection and submission points scattered all over the country as contained in flyers, posters and other below-theline (BTL) advertising materials being circulated across the country. He added that candidates can also download the application forms from the Maltina www.maltinawebsite, nigeria.com, complete the application and upload to the site or return a printed copy of a completed entry form via the company’s postal address: Nigerian Breweries, P.M.B. 12632, Marina, Lagos.

According to Mr Ekanem, entries for the competition will be subjected to an intensive selection and judging process by an external independent panel of judges which has been constituted to ensure transparency, credibility and objectivity of the exercise. The

5-step evaluation process of the entries received, he noted, will result in 37 state and FCT champions, from among which would emerge the Maltina Teacher- of- the- Year 2015.

“We hope that through this initiative, we can inspire this nation to accord our teachers their deserved credit and bring back respect to the teaching profession in Nigeria, “Ekanem said.

Maltina Teacher of the Year is designed to reward outstanding teachers who have distinguished themselves in the teaching profession in Nigeria. The Award will reward outstanding Nigerian teachers who have developed innovative strategies and teaching techniques as well as contributed to the advancement of education in Nigeria.

N evaluation was carried out about worry and it reveal thus; Things that never happen-40%; Past things that can’t be changed by worrying30%; Needless health worries12%; Petty worries about unimportant matters-10%; Real legitimate worries-8% of which 4 percent are things about which nothing can be done and only 4% of the things that most people worry about can be changed.

The word worry is derived from an old Anglo-saxon word meaning to strangle or choke.

When you engage in worry you strangle your power to change or positively influence the situation. When you worry you choke your body ’s immune system which makes you vulnerable to all kinds of illness, from colds and flu all the way up to life-threatening diseases and infections. In fact, medical experts have asserted that worry gives birth to cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and ulcers and arthritis.

Dr. George W. Crile reveals, “We fear not only in our minds but in our hearts, brains and viscera that whatever the cause of fear and worry, the effect

settles. Worry is useless; most of the things we tend to worry about never happens and worry does not change or improve anything. Worry has no gain but losses. Worry could be likened to sitting on a rocking chair. Sitting on a rocking chair is a stagnated motion; it takes you nowhere.

Worrying is being busy but not effective. Worry is a fast forwarded race to the grave.

Worry robs the mind of clarity, accuracy and creativity.

A worry free life is a life that knows peace and ease. To be free from worry, begin by writing down all your worries and evaluate them, analyze it.

See it for what it is. The next step is to determine the worst possible thing that could happen as a result of this situation. Write it down. After that tear the paper with all your worries and the worst possible outcome and throw it in a

To be free from worry, begin by writing down all your worries and evaluate them

can always be noted in the cells, tissues, and organs of the body”. A scientific expert on length of life conducted a study of some 450 people who lived to be one hundred years of age. His studies revealed that these category of people lived long for the following reasons: (1) They kept busy (2) They used moderation in all things. (3) They ate lightly and simply (4) They got a great deal of fun out of life (5) They were early to bed and early up (6) They were free from worry and fear, especially fear of death (7) They had serene minds and faith in God. Worry is meditating on the problem. Worry feeds on fear.

When your mind is dominated by faith thoughts-worry dies.

When your mind is dominated with fear- worry becomes your master. Fear is a shadowy representation of false evidence. The entrance of worry into the human mind is the exit of peace. When peace is eroded by worry, stress

waste basket.

Write down everything good happening in your life that you are grateful for; count your blessings. Give thanks to your Creator for His blessings. Then write down the actions you can take to avert or minimize the worst possible

outcome; focus on the solution.

Get busy working on the solution; be proactive. Think boldly and Act boldly.

Someone once said, “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid. Emerson counseled, “Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.”

Trust God and live a day at a time. Remember, yesterday ended last night and today is a brand new day. Begin each day on a clean slate. When you awake in the morning, imagine that you are full of God and He is helping you.

Go into the day with Godconsciousness and talk positively. Stay away from toxic people; people who have a negative outlook on life.

Don’t worry about the past, it is in the tomb. Don’t worry about the future; it is in the womb. You cannot do anything about the tomb and womb but you can do something about the NOW! Live in the present and maximize it and you sure will influence the quality of your future in the womb.

30— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

RESEARCH & DEVT developed from two local edible plants. I formulated the tubers into a type of powder to make fufu in order to satisfy the swallowing habit of our people because that is one of the major problems of some diabetics; they just cannot afford not to swallow so I was trying to create something for them.

Researcher comes up with diabetics meal flour

By Ebele Orakpo

D

iabetics may soon have something to smile about as one of their major fears is the difficulty in sticking to their diet regimen, forsaking their favourite dishes especially as it

concerns carbohydrates.

A lecturer/researcher in the Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr. Henrietta Ogbunugafor has come up with what she calls Diabetic meal flour which she says will

AUN announces new study-abroad windows

H

ighly motivated students who seek experience and active responsibility beyond Nigeria have been offered opportunities to do so as the American University of Nigeria (AUN) has created new study-abroad windows for them.

Speaking at the information session organized to throw more light on the programs of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance (GLAA), AUN President, Dr. Margee Ensign, said the opportunities will be open from September 2015.

The GLAA is an alliance of 27 liberal arts universities, including AUN, in 15 countries.

The Great Lakes Colleges Association, GLCA based in Michigan, USA, coordinates GLAA activities and projects and was instrumental to its formation in 2009. The Alliance’s programs are financed with the support of the Endeavor Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The opportunities include a minor in Globalization Studies, a Global Scholar Program, and another window open on the platform of Association of American International Colleges & Universities (AAICU), a leadership organization whose members provide responsible delivery and quality assurance of American higher education outside the US. Under the first two, students will spend a year abroad in two different universities that are GLAA members.

“All three programs prepare students for leadership and personal effectiveness in our interconnected world through a study of topics of global focus that transcend national C M Y K

borders,” Dr. Ensign said.

She emphasized that although the programs are hosted by the International & Comparative Politics Department of AUN, they are open to all students who are interested in an immersive study of real-life global problems.

Also speaking at the briefing, Academic Vice-President, Prof. Charles Reith said AUN has been working very hard with other GLAA universities to ensure a unique learning experience for all participating students. He said students from AUN will not pay any extra tuition fees to participate in any of the programs.

GLAA Faculty Advisor at AUN, Prof. Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob said: “Students enrolled in the Globalization Studies will take some specified courses in Economics, ICP, CMD, NES and any other course that meets specified learning outcomes, and also spend a year abroad in any two GLAA universities in the US, Europe, or Asia. On completion, students will obtain a Minor in Globalization Studies in addition to their major.”

For the Global Scholar program, Jacob said students interested in the program will choose research topics of global interest and work with relevant faculty members to develop the research.

They will then proceed to any two relevant GLAA varsities to further the research through experiential and immersive learning.

AUN is the only memberuniversity of GLAA and AAICU in sub-Saharan Africa.

* Dr Henrietta Ogbunugafor satisfy the cultural eating habit of swallowing. In this chat with Vanguard Learning in Awka, she speaks on what led to the research and the advantages of her formulation over others, noting that all the raw materials are available locally.

Excerpts: What informed the research?

The formulation has to do with solving one of the problems of our immediate community. One of the main problems facing the society today is increased prevalence of diabetes, with the associated amputations, stroke and death. So in this research work, I tried to solve this problem using some tubers around us that are found to have the ability to lower blood glucose.

Diabetics meal (fufu) flour is a functional food product

Some diabetics just cannot afford not to swallow so I was trying to create something for them

Advantages over other anti-diabetic products: It is non-synthetic, provides basic nutritional and therapeutic needs, satisfies cultural eating habit of swallowing, lowers blood glucose levels, high fiber content, reduces appetite, controls body weight and elevates high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol.

Therefore, it has nutritive as well as therapeutic benefits based on research results.

We are working to adapt these tubers to suit the Nigerian condition and make it possible to replace things like our usual cassava fufu, pounded yam, garri, etc. We hope it will eventually be in the market soon.

Availability: The tubers are very common here but they are often neglected.

The good news is that the raw materials - plants and packaging materials - are all cheap and available locally.

OGF organises 4th edition of Mathematics is Simple competition

By Simon Adewale

O

ur Generation Foundation, a nonprofit-oriented Christian group, organised the th 4 edition of Mathematics is Simple competition; solving of mathematics without the use of calculator in Yewa, Ogun State.

This edition started with the preliminary stage with over 100 schools in attendance and a total of 995 students.

The grand finale of the competition held on June 10 at Yewa Egbado College, was competed keenly by the best 10 students from various schools.

The bi-annual competition is to inspire the love for mathematics, to solve mathematics without the use of calculator and reward for hard work amongst Senior Secondary School students. At the end of the contest, Master Olatunde Semilore of Ambassadors College, Ota, came first with a score of 72.4. Master Anyaegbunam Obinna also from Ambassadors College scored 71.2 to come second while Miss Ogbu Deborah from Scholars Universal Sec. Sch, Ota, rd clinched 3 position with 65.4 score.

In her opening speech, Mrs Gbonjubola Odumusi (wife of the convener) urged students to see the competition as a challenge and motivation to improve themselves, adding that the competition is part of preparation for greatness, so students should plan and prepare for it.

All the participating schools, winners and best mathematics teachers were awarded with gift items, textbooks and cash. The special guest for the occasion was Mr. A.K. Adesina (State Chairman, Mathematics Association of Nigeria), Mr. Enitan and Mr. Falola (representatives of Yewa Egbado College, Ilaro, and Mrs. Osholekun, representative of the Prinipal of Ambassadors College and others.

Westminster College graduates excel abroad •Partners with Plymouth varsity

By Alade Aromashodu

W

ESTMINSTER College, Lagos, recently hosted representatives of Plymouth University, United Kingdom (UK), in a bid to to form a good working relationship and to be part of the College success, especially in the organisation of one year University Foundation Programme of the school.

Speaking on the provision of the Plymouth University, for any Nigerian graduates from

C M Y K

the institution, Mr Stuart Rennie, a representative, reiterated that the University create opportunity for Westminster University Foundation graduate that also completed three years degree course in the university to apply for placement to work in any company in UK and earn money. He went on: “Plymouth University is very much viable one that has placement for undergraduate by giving skills for academic publication.”

Reacting to challenges

of Nigerians on UK Visa, Mr. Rennie noted that “Once a student has an offer letter from Plymouth University and W e s t m i n s t e r Foundation’s process letter to study at the University (Plymouth), and has money in a bank account to cover the tuition fee, then, the Visa is straight forward,” Rennie said.

In his own submission, Chief Johnson Barovbe, Managing Director, Westminster College, requested from the representatives, to

automatically admit successful students of Westminster University Foundation programme into three year degree courses in the Plymouth University to read Engineering, Law, Business Administration, Economics, Accounting and other courses in the institution.

He said: “Westminster College has been graduating students for the past 12 years and most of the students are now medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants and university lecturers.

“One of the students, Miss Adepeju Olabimtan, now a practicing lawyer in Nigeria, became the first African student to be president of the Student Union in the University of

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 31 Buckingham, UK in 2010.

“Many Westminster University Foundation Programme’s students, leave Nigeria to study in the UK, Canada, USA and Hungary Universities for courses in Law, Engineering, Medicine, Architecture, Accounting and Business Administration,” Barovbe enumerated.

He further opined that,

none of the Foundation students has failed to secure a place after successful completion of the programme, saying, “through the University Foundation programme, we have produced lawyers, engineers, accountants and medical doctors; the medical students goes to university in Hungary,” Barovbe said.

Keys to success in life, by Chukwu

By Tare Youdeowei

I

N a bid to help humans the world over at being successful in life, Mr Chukwunyere Chukwu has written the 82 page guide titled You are a Success, published by

Silas Chukss Global Publishers.

Backed with personal experiences to lend credence to the guiding points in each chapter, the six chapters; Prayer, Fasting, Faith, Wisdom, Courage and Success, give detailed steps to building a spiritual life that eventually leads to positive success.

Describing success, “Success in Christian perspective is the ability to be driven by the Holy Spirit in both the physical and the spiritual realms,” the author provides the characteristics of successful people; fear God, Trust God and acknowledge him, work hard and serve God with their wealth.

However, before success, prayer, fasting, faith, wisdom and courage need to be equitably blended.

On prayer Chukwu provides the implication of Prayer to believers as; miracles, protection, promotion, realising potentials within, overcoming temptation, prosperity, compassion and mercy. He highlights benefits of prayer as seeing issues in the right perspective and building courage to pursue success.

Giving the chief impact of prayer as boundless miracles, Chukwu illustrates that Fasting is a time of total consecration to God and it quickens getting prayers answered.

Listing time, dedication, prayerfulness and love as the guidelines to fasting, the author emphasizes the essence of faith.

The author conclusively implores; “Today, you too can be a successful, just take the right steps enumerated in this small book and you shall become successful” The book which is basically to educate readers on the tenets of christendom and applying the tenets to achieve success in all facets of life, depicts an improvement in the writing ability of the author.

Sentence structure and general use of words are more mature and well constructed than his first book Are you Ready.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

NAF gives awards to excellent students

By Nkiruka Nnorom

T

PARTNERSHIP: Mr Stuart Rennie, Plymouth varsity representative (left) with Chief Johnson Barovbe, Managing Director of Westminster College.

HE Nero Asibelua Foundation ( NAF) has rewarded outstanding students and pupils of some schools who excelled in this year’s NAF Best Student Awards with different cash prizes in commemoration of the 2015 Children’s Day Celebration.

A N50,000 cash prize was shared by three

brilliant kids of each school visited.

Accordingly, the school, pupils and management staff of Whanyinna Nursery and Primary School, Makoko, Lagos, popularly known as Makoko Floating School, played host to a team of five representatives of Nero Asibelua Foundation led by Vivian Asibelua (Mrs.), who doled out cash prize of N50,000 to three pupils in the school.

The overall best student

Deadline extended for Maltina Teacher of the Year Awards

O

RGANIZERS of the recently launched Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative have announced the extension of the deadline for submission of entries for the innovative awards.

This announcement is coming on the heels of appeal by secondary school teachers across the country for more time to enable them file their

entry for the coveted prize worth over N50 million.

Disclosing the extension in date in Lagos on Monday, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc. on behalf of Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund stated that “submission of entry has

been extended to Friday July 17th 2015.

“We have extended deadline for the submission of entries for Maltina Teacher of the Year because of the overwhelming appeal by teachers across the country who pleaded for the extension. This initiative is for teachers, we believe it is just fair for us to take their

interest into consideration. As a company, we always listen and take the voice of the people into consideration in our decision making process,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has commended the company for initiating the project. According to

Reforming educational system, key to poverty alleviation

By Ediri Ejoh & Midred Ibrahim

U

NTIL we address and reform the educational system in the country, we stand the risk of never getting out of poverty. This is according to analysts in the sector.

This assertion was made at the 8th annual lecture, of Wilson Badejo Foundation, tagged Nigeria: Entrenched Poverty and the Growing

C M Y K

Under-Privileged Class: What Blue Print for Positive Affirmative Change.

In his keynote address, the guest speaker, Prof.

(Deacon) Edward Oyewo of the faculty of law UNILAG, said there is need to tackle and go back to the basicS of our education and reform the system.

According to him, “Not until we go back to the basics of our education and reform our

educational system, we stand the risk of never getting out of poverty.

This is because one of the greater resources that God has given to man is our mind.

“But unfortunately we have forgotten this and have made irrelevant the educational system in Nigeria to the extent that our current educational system, particularly our primary and secondary school level, is just breeding out mass

illiterates.

“This is unlike the days when we are been put rightly to work on lexis and structure that will carry you for life in our primary schools.”

He argued that “ we must get to the point where we need to tell ourselves the truth. We have been eyeing the much concentrated establishment of universities here and there, what happened to our polytechnics and technical education?"

the union, Maltina Teacher of the Year will not only help in improving teaching conditions and the education sector generally, it will go a long way in restoring the pride of teachers and the dignity of the teaching profession in the country.

The union which announced its endorsement of Maltina as its official drink at all occasions recently, reiterated its commitment to the success of the social investment project.

Making the declaration on behalf of the union at the launch, the Acting Deputy General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Chief Wole Oyeniyi stated that “Maltina has taken the lead in bringing back the lost glory of the teaching profession. It is the first time that an organization is putting up a project of this magnitude for teachers in Nigeria.

of the year was awarded a cash prize of N25,000, the second best received N15,000, while the third best kid went home with N10,000.

Another three brilliant students from Alimosho Local Government, Great Learners Academy were awarded cash prize of N50,000,having had the highest percentage in their just concluded examination.

Speaking during the visit, the founder of NAF, Nero Asibelua said: “This is to encourage the pupils that there is reward for hard work. Every African child is a generation of hope for great change.”

He noted that more people would benefit from the project, saying that the foundation is ready to take the programme across the 36 states of the country. “ To the helpless Nigerians in the slum, in our streets and colleges, don’t get weary, because NAF is moving closer to you wherever you are.

“We have series of project which will inspire great avenues for spreading love to the helpless. One person at a time," he said. Asibelua, has over the years, silently been in the charitable cause, supporting widows and widowers, awarding scholarships to deserving students and expending his resources on humanity.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015—33

Thinking outside the box: New approaches to old demons

Okiro and a failed blackmailing scheme were awarded the training contracts

By Thomas Adegoke

By Bolaji Akinyemi

I

N The Nation (Thursday, June 18, 2015, p9), two stories caught my attention. One story was titled “Navy destroys 21,000 litres of refined PMS in Akwa Ibom”and the other was titled “JTF smashes 32 illegal refineries in Warri”.

These two stories are not in isolation. This approach has been the standard solution to the problem of illegal refineries. The problem is that it is not a solution. The supposed solution has become the problem in itself. What an anomaly. In the present state of scarcity of refined PMS, we destroy refined PMS, not because it is fake, because if it is fake, nobody will buy, and if nobody buys, nobody will produce it.

Let me broaden the issue.

The department of Customs regularly burns smuggled articles of clothing and food which have not expired.

The action by Customs comes out of the same policy box of destroy, destroy and destroy as practiced by other government agencies.

Before proceeding further, let me make one thing clear. I am all for destruction of goods which are inimical to human health. But my position derives from my ownn days of youth. People growing up in this country in the fifties will recall fake goods from Japan and India flooding the Nigerian market. At that time, the best pen in the market was made by the British and called Parker. The Japanese copied it and called their own P.arker (pronounced the same as the British one).

Indian goods were also inferior copies of the original British ones. Their countries did not crack down on these inferior factories. Today, nobody will laugh at the Japanese or Indian technology.

Abroad, when the FBI, CIA, banks, multinational companies etc were and are confronted with the evil of hackers, they just went ahead to employ them to help them build up their own hacking capability and anti-hacking defenses.

Here, we would put them in jail, and on completion of their sentences, they would be let loose on society.

Hardly an informed solution.

At the end of the second world war, both the United States and the Soviet Union raced to capture German Scientists, not to imprison them but to use their talents and expertise in developing their armament capabilities. The United States was lucky to get its hands on DR von Braun and his scientific collaborators who had helped Adolf Hitler to develop the V-rockets that rained chaos and

destruction on Great Britain. The huge rockets that launched the United States space programmeand that eventually landed men on the moon were developed by von Braun and his team.

We as Nigerians lost one opportunity after the civil war. Truth be told, the Biafranmilitary establishment developed some rudimentary indigenous military technology that we could have built upon. Pettiness and lack of vision, and some might say vindictiveness, robbed us of that chance to build on the Biafranachievements. It was not by oversight. It was deliberate. I remember vividly my conversation in 1975 with a high ranking Federal military official when I brought the American experience to his attention and came up with suggestions as to what Nigeria should do with Biafran the achievements. He threw me out of his office not with an indifferent disposition but with venom that shocked me.

Now, what do we have?

We have a Defense Industrial Complex established by an Act of Parliament in 1964 that is a national disgrace. Set up around the same timeas the Brazilian one, our progress is laughable.

While Brazil produces planes and sophisticated military equipments which it even exports to both developing and developed countries, our Chiefs of Naval Staff turn up with pomp and pageantry to accept hand me down used coastal vessels from the United States. India has just launched INS VIKRANT its own home built aircraft carrier. We achieve so little and celebrate so much.

Still on the naval front, let me briefly return to an old hobby horse of mine. From 1975 when I assumed duty as Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, and whenever I have had the chance, I have advocated the setting up of a Coastal Guard separate from the Nigerian Navy. Each time this issue had come up, the Nigerian Navy had weighed up anchor and

I am suggesting that the clothes and the food should be donated to orphanages, homes for the old and the motherless

gone into battle formation against it. Finally and fortunately, the 2014 National Conference adopted the idea. My intervention for now is not on that issue but on the need to set up a n E X C L U S I V E ECONOMIC ZONE NAVAL COMMAND to police our exclusive economic zone that is being ravaged by fishing trawlers from the Asian continent. In fact, what the Asian trawlers are doing, the manner of finishing and the quantity being finished amount to economic warfare against Nigeria and other West African coastal states.

We should learn the right lesson from our history. The first time we were stung militarily was during the Nigerian civil war when our usual military suppliers refused to sell us the weapons we needed. The second time was/is during the war against the Boko Haram, when again they refused to sell us needed military equipment.

Our forefathers had a saying: “if you trip over a stone the first time, that is bad luck. If you trip over the same stone the second time, that is carelessness. The third time, over the same stone, then it either stupidity or a curse”.

So, what is the way forward?

We should stop burning and destroying as a policy.

Licenses have been given over the years for people to build refineries and apart from Dangote who is in the process of building one, others have not utilised their licenses.

And yet, here are Nigerians who obviously understand the rudimentary process of producing refined PMS and instead of encouraging them, we punishthem. Even if on the short run, the government continues its policy of seizure of this PMS, instead of burning the PMS, it could be distributed free of charge toOkadas and private public vehicles in exchange for lowering of fares by beneficiaries.

So let us regard building up our own domestic technology as a priority and startpursuing policies towards that end. That will involve encouraging, not persecuting the enterprising but rudimentary scientists and entrepreneurs.

As for Customs burning of smuggled goods including clothes, and unexpired foodstuffs in a country of starving widows, starving orphans, motherless babies homes and homes for the elderly, not to talk about the starving and deserving poor, it not only does not make sense but on a liberal interpretation of the law, it may amount to a violation of international humanitarian law. I am suggesting that the clothes and the food should be donated to orphanages, homes for the old and the motherless. I am also suggesting that NGOs which are prepared to run free foodcentres for the poor should also be beneficiary of the food release from Customs.

R

ETIRED Inspector-General of Police Mr. Mike Okiro, hit the nail on the head over the hullabaloo regarding the N275.5 million election fund fraud. He asserted that the whole scheme was an attempt to blackmail him.

Any dutiful and objective appraisal of the issues arising from reports over the matter cannot but agree with Okiro that the Principal Administrative Officer in the Press and Public Relations Unit of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr. Aaron Kaase, was really out to blackmail him for intentions that had nothing to do with the public interests of Nigerians.

It is difficult to fault the genuine accounts of Mr. Okiro on this matter when he asserted, at a press conference, in Abuja on June 8, 2015, that “the PSC spent N217.3 million of the money and that the remaining N132.6 million was returned to the commission’s project account.”

His traducer, Mr. Kaase, had claimed, in his petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), that “the money was part of the N350 million collected by the PSC for monitoring conferences and training of staff ahead of the March/April general election.”

As any rational mind must be able to attest, an Okiro-led PSC out to defraud the government would not have left a balance of the money in a special account of the PSC. If the intention was to embezzle public funds, the N132.6million, left in a special account of the PSC, would have ended up in the private bank accounts of Mr. Okiro and other high officials of the PSC. Again, Mr. Okiro made the point that “because the approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) came late, we were able to conduct only a one-day training, and the PSC staff were paid their allowances and daily travelling allowance (DTA) for the exercise and their entitlements for the journey to the states for the monitoring.”

Mr. Kaase had said “that instead of the four-day approval granted by the Bureau of Public Procurement, a mock training of two hours was conducted at Northgate Hotels Limited, Mararaba, Nasarawa State instead of Kano State.”

However, an objective appraisal of the two positions stated here shows that while Okiro is right, Mr. Kaase is wrong.

If approval for the trainings were granted only a few days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, was it still feasible to conduct a four-day training exercise? Of course, it does not take any superior intellect to appreciate the fact that the only reason a balance of N132.6 million was left in a special account of the PSC was because a four-day training exercise was reduced to one.

In all honesty, no sensible mind will take Mr. Kaase seriously, when he suggested that the entire N350 million was shared amongst the following companies which were simply fronts for Mr. Okiro’s financial empire; Bobec & Associates (N95,525,000.00), Direct Knowledge Consult Limited (N95,000,000.00) and Tzone Communications Limited (N85,000,000.00).

In a situation where the approval from the BPP meant awarding the training contracts through the selective bidding process rather than the public bidding process, was the right thing to do not that of awarding the contracts to known and registered contracting companies with the PSC? Mr. Kaase would have had a case if he had shown that the companies that

were not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and also did not meet the registration requirements for participation in contracting endeavours emanating from the PSC. As long as Mr. Kaase has failed to show that the companies that got the PSC training contracts were not qualified to embark on the endeavours they handled for the PSC, his claim that Mr. Okiro abused the powers of his office by awarding the training contracts to his girlfriend and cronies showed he was on an idle mission, rather than attempting to expose corrupt practices at the PSC. In any case, what point did Mr. Kaase set out to make when he claimed that “Okiro has failed to refund the money granted for the other three days in his request letter?” If, as things are becoming clearer by the day that there is a N132.6 million balance from the N350 million in a special project account of the PSC, what kind of money refund is Mr. Kaase talking about? Is Mr. Okiro expected to refund monies already paid to the contracting firms to conduct the oneday training exercise? Is Mr. Okiro required to repay the funds he had already deployed to paying for the allowances and DTA of the PSC staff who travelled to the states to monitor police performance, during the 2015 general elections? What really is the problem for which Mr. Okiro is being antagonised by Mr. Kaase?

It is even patently mischievous that just immediately after stating that “Okiro has failed to refund money granted for the other three days in his request letter”, Mr. Kaase attempts to buttress his assertion by insisting “an example was when he (Okiro) collected the sum of N3,601,000.00; his Police Orderly, Insp. George Todonu collected the sum of N1,131,000.60, to attend the conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police from 25th - 28th October, 2014 in Orlando, Florida, USA, and the Nigeria/Ireland International Forum, which held in Dublin, Ireland on the 28th of October, 2014 without attending none”!

Pray, how do events that took place in October 2014 in the USA and Ireland serve as an example of Mr. Okiro’s fraudulent mismanagement of N275.5million intended for the training of PSC staff for monitoring the performance of police personnel during the 2015 general elections in Nigeria?

Is this mix-up in Mr. Kaase’s narrative not the result of a convoluted thinking, arising from a pathological hate campaign to drag the image of Mr. Okiro to the mud? If Mr. Kaase cannot cite a single evidence of Mr. Okiro’s benefit from the N350 million he claimed the PSC sourced from the National Security Adviser (NSA), it would be safe to conclude that he was out to ridicule and embarrass Nigeria, and should, therefore, be dealt with accordingly for his unpatriotic act.

In the final analysis, the point just has to be made that Mr. Kaase’s tantrums against Mr. Okiro, in the name of idle petitions to the ICPC and the EFCC over the alleged mismanagement of the sum of N350 million, remains a failed blackmailing scheme. There is nothing in the petitions against Mr. Okiro that should warrant the ICPC and the EFCC wasting their scarce resources in the name of investigating the mismanagement of funds earlier earmarked for training monitors and monitoring of police officers engaged for the 2015 general elections.

Mr Adegoke wrote from Abuja

34—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Nigeria/US extradition treaty: What the law says

By Dayo Benson & Abdulwahab Abdulah

O

NGOING attempt by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to extradite Senator Kashamu Buruji to the United States of America over drug related offences has engendered legal fireworks between both parties.

However, the treaty under which the NDLEA is seeking to extradite Senator Kashamu dates back to 1931 when Nigeria was still a colony of the United Kingdom. The actual treaty was between the UK and the US. Automatically, Nigeria was bound by the treaty because it was a colony of the UK as at then.

At Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the treaty became a statute of general application as was the case with all laws inherited from the colonial masters. Since then, it has been part of the nation’s legal system.

After the military incursion into politics in 1966, there was an Extradition Decree of 1967 which later became Extradition Act, and it validated the existence of the treaty.

According to the treaty the “contracting Parties engage to deliver up to each other, under certain circum-

ment. stances and conditions stated in the 6. Child stealing, including abanpresent Treaty, those persons who, doning, exposing or unlawfully being accused or convicted of any of detaining. the crimes or offences enumerated in 7. Abduction.

Article 3, committed within the 8. Procuration: that is to say the jurisdiction of the one Party, shall be found within the territory of the other procuring or transporting of woman or girl under age, even with her Party.” consent, for immoral purposes, or of a Specifically, Article 3 of the Treaty woman or girl over age, by fraud, provides offences for which extradithreats, or compulsion, for such tion can be granted. The Article states: purposes with a 1. view in either Manslaughter, case to gratifying Nothing in the Act administering the passions of drugs or using another person gives the court the instruments provided that powers to question with intent to such crime or procure the offence is punthe discretion of the miscarriage of ishable by imHon. Attorney-Genwomen. prisonment for at 2. Rape. least one year or eral in those matters 3. Unlawful by more severe carnal knowlpunishment. edge, or any 9.

Bigamy. attempt to have unlawful carnal 10. Maliciously wounding or knowledge, of a girl under 16 year of inflicting grievous bodily harm. age.

11. Threats, by letter or 4. Indecent assault if such crime or otherwise, with intent to extort money offence be indictable in the place or other things of value. where the accused or convicted 12. Perjury, or subornation of person is apprehended. perjury.

5. Kidnapping or false imprison-

Akarigbo to testify in Isara Obaship tussle —Pg 37

We're poised to fight for independence of the judiciary —Yesufu —Pg 37

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13. Arson.

14. Burglary or housebreaking, robbery with violence, larceny or embezzlement.

15. Fraud by a bailee, banker, agent, factor, trustee, director, member, or public officer of any company, or fraudulent conversion.

16. Obtaining money, valuable security, or goods, by false pretences; receiving any money, valuable security, or other property, knowing the same to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

17. -(a) Counterfeiting or altering money, or bringing into circulation counterfeited or altered money. (b) Knowingly and without lawful authority making or having in possession any instrument, tool, or engine adapted and intended for the counterfeiting of coin.

18. Forgery or uttering what is forged.

19. Crimes or offences against bankruptcy law.

20. Bribery, defined to be the offering, giving or receiving of bribes.

21. Any malicious act done with intent to endanger the safety of any persons travelling or being upon a railway.

22. Crime or offences or attempted crimes or offences in connection with the traffic in dangerous drugs.

23. Malicious injury to property, if such crime or offence be indictable.

24. -(a) Piracy by the law of nations. (b) Revolt, or conspiracy to revolt, by two or more persons on board a ship on the high seas against the authority of the master; wrongfully sinking or destroying a vessel at sea,

Continues on page 35

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 35

Nigeria/US extradition treaty: What the law says Continues from page 34 or attempting to do so; assaults on board a ship on the high sea, with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

25. Dealing in slaves.

Extradition is also to be granted for participation in any of the aforesaid crimes or offences, provided that such participation be punishable by the laws of both High Contracting Parties.

In Article 4, “the extradition shall not take place if the person claimed has already been tried and discharged or punished, or is still under trial in the territories of the High Contracting Party applied to, for the crime or offence for which his extradition demanded.

“If the person claimed should be under examination or under punishment in the territories of the High Contracting Party applied to, for any other crime or offence, his extradition shall be deferred until the conclusion of the trial and the full execution of any punishment awarded to him.”

According to Article 5, “The extradition shall not take place if, subsequently to the commission of the crime or offence or the institution of the penal prosecution or the conviction thereon, exemption from prosecution or punishment has been acquired by lapse of time, according to the laws of the High Contracting Party applying or applied to.”

Also, Article 9 stipulates that : “the extradition shall take place only if the evidence be found sufficient, according to the laws of the High Contracting Party applied to, either to justify the committal of the prisoner for trial, in case the crime or offence had been committed in the territory of such High Contracting Party, or to prove that the prisoner is the identical person convicted by the courts of the High Contracting Party who makes the requisition, and that the crime or offence of which he has been convicted is one in respect of which extradition could, at the time of such conviction, have been granted by the High Contracting Party applied to.”

In an appeal filed before the Court of Appeal in Lagos by one George

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

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• President Buhari, Nigeria

• President Obama, US

Chidebe Udeozor against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which lead judgement was delivered on June 9, 2004 by Justice Dongban Mensem, the issue of extradition treaty between Nigeria and United States of America was one of the four grounds of appeal.

In the case, Udeozor said there was no treaty but the Court affirmed its existent because it has become part of Nigerians laws.

According to the second ground of appeal in the case, the appellant said the trial Judge erred in law “ when he held that the word ‘may’ as used in section 20 of the Extradition Act is permissive and not mandatory and that the section applies only to commonwealth countries which America is not part of.”

Udeozor (appellant) request was made by the diplomatic representative of the Embassy of the United States of America Abuja, for his surrender.

The appellant was charged with the offences of conspiracy to commit involuntary servitude, harbor an illegal alien, and encourage an illegal alien to come to, enter and reside in the United States.

Also, Udeozor was accused of

involuntary servitude and harbouring an illegal alien for financial gain at the United States District of Maryland.

Dwelling on the issue of who has power to grant or make orders as regards extradition request, the court held that: “Section 20 actually reposes the responsibility and powers to ascertain the conditionality for acceding to an

In the case of Senator Kashamu Buruji, the Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the NDLEA and the Attorney General of the Federation from taking any step that could jeopardize the outcome of an appeal filed by the Federal Government on the matter

extradition request on the AttorneyGeneral not on the Court.

“By the provisions of the Act, the Hon. Attorney-General, who is the Chief Legal Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has the discretion to exercise the power. Once he has ascertained that there exists an offence which falls within the Extradition Act, and he so orders, the duty of the court is delineated, the court is circumscribed to question the exercise of discretion by the Hon. AttorneyGeneral.

“Only upon cogent and compelling reasons challenging the proper exercise of such powers may the court inquire into the manner of its exercise.

The powers of the Attorney-General in this issue is similar in extent as when the Hon. Attorney-General initiates a criminal proceedings or enters a nolle prosequi in a criminal matter. The court does not question that exercise.”

The court noted that the general rule is that extraditable crimes must be those commonly recognised as malum in se (acts criminal by their very nature) and not those which are malum prohibitum (acts made crimes by statute).

Explaining the interpretation of section 6 (1) and (2) of the Extradition Act, the court stated that it is the duty of the Attorney-General to receive the request for the surrender of a fugitive criminal in Nigeria, adding that Section 6 (2) of the Act reposes the discretion in the Attorney-General to signify to the court that such a request has been made and he does that only after he satisfies himself on the basis of the information accompanying the request, that the provisions of section 3 (1-7) are met.

“Nothing in the Act gives the court the powers to question the discretion of the Hon. Attorney-General in those matters. The trial court was therefore right in presuming regularity in the performance of an official duty. In the absence of any serious challenge to the proper exercise of discretion by the Hon. Attorney-General for the Federation, the Court must uphold the official integrity of the Hon. AttorneyGeneral, and presume that he carried out his duties as prescribed by section 6(1) and (2) of the Act,” the court maintained.

Meanwhile, in the case of Senator Kashamu Buruji, the Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the NDLEA and the Attorney General of the Federation from taking any step that could jeopardize the outcome of an appeal filed by the Federal Government on the matter.

36 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

NBA-SBL holds conference

Cleric urges lawyers to deal with injustice in society Special guest of honour at the event, the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr, Alfred Martins HE Catholic Bishop of Sokoto commended the lawyers for their Diocese, Most Revd Dr. Matthew contributions to development of the Hassan Kukah has urged lawyers to Archdiocese and the country.

The President of Nigerian Bar stand against injustice in the country.

He made the call at a Dinner and Association, NBA, Mr. Augustine Award night organised by the National Alegeh, SAN at the event, commended Association of Catholic Lawyers, lawyers for their contributions to the development of the Church and the NACL, Lagos Archdiocese.

Speaking on Faith, Law, Justice and country. He assured that the NBA will Human Rights, Dr. Kukah charged the always stand for the truth and the poor lawyers to rise for human rights by no matter whose Ox is gored.

Former President of NBA Dr. Olisa fighting injustice in the country.

He said: “If the Supreme Court does Agbakoba, SAN, called for the revival of the vibrancy of the not develop certain Catholic Secretariat reflexes to handle certain like the days of Rev. cases, we may have Father George wonderful letters in the Ehusani and Dr. constitution but they will When we Hassan Kukah as never have life in them. secretaries in the You cannot be a catholic answer these Secretariat.

He priest without being questions assured that the concerned about the lawyers were always social question.” correctly, then there and willing to He commended the we have deploy their human lawyers for their contributions to the commenced our resources for national development. development of the journey The lawyers used the Church and the Nigerian occasion to honour State and urged other some of their own who professionals to emulate have made the lawyers by coming tremendous and together to deploy their valuable contributions professional skills for the to the development of development of the law and the legal country. profession.

President of NACL, They include: Justice Lagos Archdiocese, Mr. Chukwuma Ezeala in his address, Centus Nweze of the Supreme Court, said: “We all need to rejig our NBA; President, Alegeh (SAN); Mr. approach to issues, that whenever we Emeka Ngige, SAN; Mrs. Anthonia are saddled with responsibilities, we Akinlawon, SAN. Holy family Catholic Church, Festac should ask ourselves what the expectations of the people are, what Town received the corporate award this are the resources to do the needful, year because of the consistency of its whether the resources available will be members in meeting attendance, adequate for the job and what are the regular holding of legal clinic in the Parish, regular visits to less privileged stumbling blocks ahead?

“When we answer these questions homes and consistency in holding its correctly, then we have commenced our elections every two years since its existence. journey,” he said.

The Section on Business Law of the Nigerian Bar Association, SBL-NBA, recently held its annual conference in Lagos. The event had in attendance, lawyers within and outside the country.

L - R : Former Chairman SBL, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, V i c e President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo a n d Chairman SBL, Mr. A s u e Ighodalo

By Innocent Anaba

T

Lagos NBA to honour Fashola at law week

F

ormer Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) will be among the eminent legal personalities to be honored by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, during its Law Week which holds June 24-26 at the MUSON Centre.

According to the Law Week Committee: “One of the reasons for honoring Fashola is because he has always been one of us. He is a member of this branch and he responds whenever we call on him. Now we are welcoming him back.”

Former NBA President, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, is expected to chair one of the sessions, while Rtd. Justice Amina Augie will chair another session.

The event would also host highly supportive and active Bar Elders to an Elders’ Nite in Ikoyi.

Adding to the events for the Law Week, Vanguard Law and Human Rights gathered that high-octave allcomers Variety Nite/Karaoke/

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Cocktail Party would hold on June 26 to wrap-up the the event.

At a media briefing, the branch’s Law Week Committee said it was set to throw light on the challenges quacks and other practitioners pose to lawyers and the justice sector by infiltrating the legal profession.

“The week will kick-off on June 24, 2015 at the MUSON Centre, Lagos with a Keynote Address on “The Future of the Legal Profession: Protection from Exploitation. With over 30 confirmed Speakers/Panelists and Discussants comprising the cream of Nigeria’s legal profession, this year’s Law Week promises to be intellectually stimulating and professionally rewarding. The repertoire of break-out sessions are as encompassing as the topics, including sessions on Labour Law, Insolvency Law, Capital Market Practice, Tax Law and ADR/Simulation. Some ‘unusual’ practice areas have been added to this rich collection, namely Medical Law and Media/Sport Law,” the committee added.

L-R: Former G e n e r a l Secretary NBA, Dele Adesina, SAN; f o r m e r President NBA, Chief W o l e Olanipekun, SAN, Mr. Akin Osinbajo and Dele Adesina Jnr.

L-R: Asst Secretary NBA Ikeja branch, M r .

Adeyemi Abijo, Dr. D o r n Enamhe and NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, SAN. L-R: Mr. Paul Ogbole, Pioneer Chairman SBL, Mr. George Etomi and Chairman NBA Abuja branch, Mr. Elachi Agada.

L-R: Mr. T u n d e Busari, S A N , General Secretary NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe and Chairman N B A Conference Planning Committee, Otunba Dele Oye.

(L-R): Prof Animi Awah, Director of Studies, NIALS; Mr Adefolu Osindero, Manager, Legal, NLPC-PFA Ltd.; Mr Olusoji Asaolu, Manager Investment/Research, NLPC-PFA and Ezekiel Chiejina, group head of operations, Capital Express Holdings Ltd.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 37

Akarigbo to testify in Isara Obaship tussle

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

O

ba Michael Sonariwo, the Akarigbo of Remo, has been listed to appear on June 30 as a witness in the ongoing suit instituted by Prince Adetayo Odunsi to challenge the nomination of Albert Mayungbe to the stool of Odemo of Isara, Remo.

The claimant, prince Odunsi had prayed the court to dismiss the counter claim of the defendants praying the court to confirm him as the Odemo of Isara, Remo with punitive costs.

Joined as co-defendants in the suit are the head of the ruling house, Prince Obafemi Awoyade; Secretary, Remo North Local Government; Oliwo of Isara, Chief Ajibowu Ogunfowodu; Apena of Isara, Chief Jimoh Soyombo; Chief Ladipo Ogunyemi; Ogbeni Odi of Isara, Chief Olajubu Osibote; Ekeji Asipa Odi, Chief Tunde Kalejaiye; Asipa Odi of Isara, Chief Owuye Logba.

Others are Ekeji Asipa Odi of Isara, Chief Efuwape Sotikare; Olori Emo of Isara, Chief Bashiru Awoniyi; Ekeji Olori Emo of Isara, Chief Korede Ogunwole; Asipa Emo of Isara, Chief Nosiru Sodipe; Ekeji Asipa Emo, Chief Adewole Sopitan; Governor of Ogun State; Executive Council of Ogun State; the State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as second to 18th defendants respectively.

Prince Odunsi in his motion had contended that the fact that the first defendant was named a surety during his search for job does not translate that he is

a prince or that they are both from same ruling house or give the first defendant the right to participate in the selection process for the vacant stool.

Already the pre-conference trial (PTC) of the suit has been fixed for June 30, 2015 by the trial judge, Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora of Sagamu High Court, Ogun State. The stool of Odemo of Isara, Remo

had remained vacant since eight years ago after the demise of the former ruler of the ancient town, Oba (Engr.)

Idowu Onadeko.

The Akarigbo, who is one of the four witnesses listed by the claimant, has already filed an affidavit before the Sagamu High Court, Ogun state.

It was said the paramount ruler, Oba Sonariwo, had earlier raised an objection to the nomination of Mayungbe by the king makers, in a letter dated April 12, 2011 addressed to the Caretaker Committee, Remo North Local Government, who he alleged is not of a royal blood in response to the enquiry of the Remo North Local Government who sought his consent on the nomination of Albert Mayungbe. The monarch believed he should not have been nominated and subsequently declined to give his consent to the choice of Mayungbe purportedly by the Erinsiba/Ayoledoye Ruling House. He had pointed the grave objection raised by one Prince Olufemi Omoyele who is alleging the first defendant to be an Odi, which he said was “well founded”.

In In his 32 points statement of claim, Prince Odunsi , who is a direct descendant of the late Oba Oyemade Mayungbe and progenitor of Erinsiba-Ayoledoye Ruling House averred that he is the one lawfully entitled to the stool of Odemo of Isara-Remo.

Giving a chrological order of the obas produced by the ruling house, he averred that their progenitorwas Rosanlu, also known as Erinsiba and that “Rosanlu begat Oyetade who in turn begat Oyemade, also known as Mayungbe alias Ayoledoye” adding that Mayungbe had four wive which Arobo was the third wife.

The claimant averred that as at the time

Mayungbe, alias Ayoledoye, married Arobo, who hailed from Akure, she came with a malechild by name Ogunsakin from her earlier marriage and that when he later became king, he accommodated Ogunsakin in the palace in his lifetime.

The claimant averred that when Oba Oyetade Mayungbe ascended the throne, “in order to differentiate Ogunsakin, his stepson and an outsider, from other children in the palace, he made Ogunsakin an “Odi” meaning a servant to the king.

He averred that under Yoruba custom and tradition applicable in Isara-Remo, an “Odi” is not a member of a ruling house and can never qualify for nomination into the stool of Odemo of IsaraRemo” and that Ogunsakin also served as “Odi” to Oba Poke, the successor to Oba Oyetade Mayungbe.

To buttress his claim, he averred further that “Ogunsakin begat Oyekunle who in turn begat the first defendant and that upon the death of Ogunsakin, Oyekunle, his son, the father of the first defendant, also served as “Odi” to two successive Obas in IsaraRemo, the late Oba Samuel Akinsanya and late Oba Adeboboye Osideinde”.

He further averred that the selection of the first defendant as Odemo-elect “ is wrongful and should be declared null and void on the ground that he is not a member of ErinsibaAdyoledoye Ruling House but a lineage of past Odis in IsaraRemo and thus not qualified for nomination as a candidate for the Odemo of Isara chieftaincy.

Odunsi sought seven prayers and orders against the defendants: “ a declaration that the first defendant is not a member of the ErinsibaAdyoledoye Ruling House and therefore not qualified to contest for the stool; that under native law and custom applicable in Isara and Remoland generally, an Odi (servant of the king) or any of his descendants is not qualified to contest for the stool of Odemo of Isara.

We're poised to fight for independence of the judiciary —Yesufu •Faults Amnesty International on Boko Haram

By Charles Kumolu CHAIRMAN League of Patriotic Lawyers, LPL, Abubakar Yesufu in this interview says that everything must be done the judiciary to be truly independent in this dispensation. Yesufu, who was one of the 22 lawyers Chief Gani Fawehinmi led to defend the late M.K.O ABIOLA in the famous case of Supreme Court Judges vs Concord Press also spoke on other issues.

The League of Patriotic Lawyers was in the forefront for the campaign for change, a mantra that earned President Muhammadu Buhari his mandate. Are you satisfied with the way the administration is taking off?

President Buhari is on course, but we still expect a more proactive approach on the issue of terrorism, corruption, fuel problem among other issues.

Nigerians are a bit impatient. I think this is understandable after the enthusiasm that followed his election. But we still need to be patient and hopeful. We at the League of Patriotic Lawyers will

hold him accountable for every details in his manifesto. We urge Nigerians to just relax. The economy is in dire straits. Buhari needs surgical operation in the economic sphere if we must kick start this economy. What we are concerned about is the signal Buhari is giving to us. If what the signal means is that he will not revisit corrupt practices of the past, I think there should be a rethink. He ran as anti-corruption man and a man of integrity. It was on that basis that we campaigned for him. There is no way he can carry out his programmes without correcting the mistakes of yesterdays. We are not talking about the punitive aspect of fighting corruption; we are talking of recovery and discontinuity of corrupt practices.

Amnesty International recently indicted top members of the military for alleged human rights violation. Do you really think the report reflects the true state of the war on terror in Nigeria?

This is a war we must fight and win. It is also wrong for Amnesty International to indict our military

for fighting Boko Haram insurgents. This is unfair. Our Generals, retired or serving are doing a good job. The league would not permit anything that will dampen our enthusiasm. I commend President Buhari’s bid to form a rainbow coalition at the sub region, continental and global level. A hydra-headed problem like Boko Haram needs a broad based coalition or allies to defeat.

Recently, you were sighted with Buruji Kashamu’s lawyer during attempt to extradite Kashamu.

Did you appear in his defence?

I was in Justice Abang’s Court as a friend of the court (Amicus Curiae) in defence of the rule of law. The league was jolted at the attempt to muzzle the rule of law.

Six days in the house of a Nigerian, despite restraining order by the court is shameful.

Our criminal justice has no place for “House arrest.” It is illegal and wrongful. Thus Kashamus house arrest for six days is wrongful.

That attempted extradition was done at the behest of the Americans. We advised Kashamu’s lawyer to initiate criminal proceedings against the

•Yesusfu security operatives for contempt.

The extradition bid failed in the United Kingdom, it has not been appealed. I don’t want to believe that the Americans are in a voyage of discovery of a pliable legal system. They seem to have found one in ours. We condemn that six days siege at Kashamus house and commend the trial judges Justice Abang (a victim of serial unwarranted attack by unscrupulous elements in recent times). We shall no longer tolerate our judiciary being intimidated by anybody. We are now poised to fight for the independence of the judiciary. Only one method abound where you can seek redress after a ruling or

judgment, that is by appealing.

Not petition or frivolous innuendos.

But the Attorney General of the Federation recently said that the UK government did not exonerate Kashamu?

That is being economical with the truth. The man spent four years in the UK fighting his extradition; the option that is viable and consistent with legal practice is for them to appeal that extradition bid that failed. Who soever that is interested can appeal. It could be the Americans, federal government or the UK government.

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

By Emma Ujah Abuja Bureau Chief

Y

OUR predecessor has accused you of a witch-hunt as exemplified in the forceful evacuation of a vehicle belonging to his former commissioner. Why? You can recollect that after our inauguration we went into Government House and we told the whole world, first of all, that there was no handover note. If there was a handover note that would have guided you to say look this is where we started and this is where we ended; these were the things that were given to people as a kind of parting gift or whatever. We later learnt that the Government House had been looted. There was just nothing.

The last government said that I sent people to take those things away so that I would award contracts for the replacement. I said I didn’t need to carry anything away before I award contracts. So the issue of removing those ones so that I will go and award contracts is not correct.

Why we are retrieving vehicles Now we got information that most of the Government House vehicles are scattered here and there. First of all we got information that most of these vehicles were kept somewhere at Trans Amadi and we sent security men and we discovered vehicles were parked there.

Security men helped us to recover those vehicles; it was all over the news. We also got information that a Lexus bulletproof 570 was parked at the house of a former commissioner. We reported to police that one of the Governments House vehicles was at the house of the former commissioner and it was not the vehicle she was using in her office.

As a commissioner she can’t use a bulletproof vehicle, a Lexus for that matter which is not less that N60 – 70 million. So we sent in the security men to go and retrieve the vehicle.

Initially she said on phone that it was given to her as a parting gift and I said no problem but there should be record to show that this was given to you as a parting gift but we didn’t get such records because they didn’t handover anything to anybody.

She later said it was her husband that bought the vehicle. We said if it is your husband that bought it we have no problem, you can come with the particulars of the vehicle that your husband bought to prove that the vehicle was your husband’s vehicle.

When I came in here last week I went to Bank of Industry Building and the former Liaison Officer here, not knowing I was around had one of the vehicles we were looking for so we sent the ADC and he retrieved the vehicle and they brought the man and I said ‘Sir why do you have to go away with government vehicles?

Is there any paper that says it was given to you’ and he said no and I told him to go and get all the papers and as I speak to you one or two weeks after the papers are yet to be brought here.

They said monetization

it

was

•Amaechi: Wike has turned into a Nollywood actor

•Wike: Security men helped us recover those vehicles

The truth about my battles with Amaechi — WIKE THE empty treasuries at the federal and in many states of the federation is no longer news.

The challenge before President Muhammadu Buhari is how to deliver the promises made to the electorate. In this interview, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State explains how he has decided to tackle the challenge of providing infrastructure for the people of his state, as according to him, the people did not vote for him to be giving excuses. He also spoke on a wide range of issues including the rancour between his administration and the immediate past government of ex-governor Rotimi Amaechi and why he has decided to complete projects started by the last administration. Excerpts: It is not correct, there is nothing like monetisation policy there. Let me explain what monetization means.

As a minister, no vehicle was bought for me in the ministry.

Whatever thing had to be given was built into your salary, even housing. So where did they buy these cars? I worked there so how can anybody say that? The point is very clear. If you didn’t handover anything to me and I am getting information that this is where our vehicles and properties are am I not in the position to see how I can recover those vehicles?

On the former governor saying we were out to witch-hunt. Witch-hunt for what? Is this the first time that official Panel of Enquiry has been set in Rivers state? When he set the panel of enquiry was it also a witchhunt?

Nobody was there to explain anything to us. If he had worked with the transition committee, his commissioners would have been asked one or two questions but no transition committee was set up by

government.

Even police ceremonial vehicle the governor denied us. We had to go to Ondo State to borrow Ondo State ceremonial vehicle. Where in this country will you say that inauguration ceremony wasn’t funded by any state? Government is not a personal thing. As you leave today the other person will also leave tomorrow so there is nothing like witch hunting anybody.

The last administration claimed to have handed over to you. It said the Permanent Secretary of the Government House gave you a handover note.

That is not correct. Let’s go to the national level; when the president was handing over did he just handover just the villa? Didn’t he handover the entire structure, the system from one ministry to the other, stating where they started from and to where they are now?

Then you can ask one or two questions. The Permanent Secretary

never one day handed anything to me, that is even the Government House. I am not talking about the Government House, I am talking

Government is not a personal thing. As you leave today the other person will also leave tomorrow so there is nothing like witch hunting anybody

about the government of Rivers state.

So when you say handover I am not the governor of Government House, I am the governor of Rivers State so you can’t handover to me and say Government House; no! That is not correct.

What is the state of finance of Rivers state?

From what the AccountantGeneral gave me, first of all, we have what we call the government account and the government account was zero. The other ones are ministries’ accounts and I can tell you in ministry of works two days to our inauguration they were collecting 10, 10 million, 200 million to go and build curves, roads. So I called the perm sec and I said perm sec you mean you people gave someone contract and you paid him cash of 200 million and he said ‘oga I refused but there was nothing I could do. It is so funny.

The last administration claimed it left N7 billion in the coffers. Did you see the N7 billion?

They say they kept N7 billion, how could you have kept N7 billion and you are owing salary for how many months, what is the N7 billion doing there?

Continues on page 40

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015—39

N15bn owed to Zenith bank Governor Amaechi in his valedictory address to Rivers people announced the loans owed to various banks. I will herein reproduce the excerpts of that speech “Today, Rivers state is the least indebted state with a loan portfolio of N17.7 billion to banks owed as follows: Agriculture loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria – N2 billion; Zenith bank plc - N15.7 billion.”

This was the status as at May 27th. The repayment for the loans is via an irrevocable standing order and so will have reduced as at today

•Semenitari: Wike's government lied

Rivers govt not telling the truth — Semenitari, Amaechi’s Information Commissioner Mrs. Ibim Semenitari was Commissioner for Information in the Chibuke Amaechi administration. She responded to issues raised by Governor Nyesom Wike in his interview with newsmen in Abuja last Monday. Excerpts:

R

ECOVERY of Vehicles I find it strange that Mr. Wike says that I was contacted by security agencies. It might have been necessary that he provides proof of such contact. I am also shocked that he conveniently failed to acknowledge that it was an 8 year old car and that it was not factory proofed.

He also failed to state that it was given to me after several threats to my life because of my job description and that this isn't strange as he himself as chief of staff was aware that there are political office holders who are allotted official vehicles from Government House as the need or circumstances may dictate.

Over and beyond all this, can Mr. Wike please confirm if as commissioner I am entitled to leave with the official cars used during my tenure and if indeed he as Chief of Staff and later Minister of State did so?

However I shall for purposes of clarity rehash the main thrust of my earlier statement: At no time was I contacted by the Rivers state government or any of its agents or anyone purporting to be working for it with regards to any car in my possession.

The Vehicle was allocated to me duly and I would definitely have responded to any queries were

any raised The vehicle, which I clearly stated belonged to my husband, was a Range Rover jeep. At no time did I claim that the Lexus jeep belonged to my husband.

My property was damaged and my home forcefully entered into by persons who claimed to be Government House Police without any legal authorization.

It therefore would not be wrong for Mr. Wike in good faith and for reasons of justice and fairness to apologise for the vandalisation of my property by agents purporting to act on his behalf.

As a citizen of Rivers State I do have a right to protection from a person sitting as Governor of Rivers State regardless of my political affiliation or my voting pattern.

N150 bn owed Ministry of Works contractors Rt.Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi inherited a state that was comatose and in dire need of infrastructure. Years of militancy and criminality had forced government and business in Rivers State to a standstill. He therefore embarked on land reclamation in our riverine communities and the massive construction of roads, bridges and interchanges all over Rivers State. Realizing that there is a direct link between state of

infrastructure and the growth rate of any economy.

It is to the credit of the Amaechi administration that by the time he was leaving office, he had completed 90 per cent of the Phase 1A of the Rivers State Monorail, completed two major interchanges, two flyovers, 25 bridges, and five shore protection projects. He also completed 890 kilometres of the on-going 1,424 kilometres of road projects across the state. There are over six land reclamation/shore protection projects at Andoni, Opobo, Buguma, Abalama, Olumbie/ Owukiri Island, and Oba-AmaOkrika.

Out of the roads completed, some of these were federal roads for which the Rivers State Government was owed N108 billion.

Mr. Wike as Minister of State for Education was among those who prevented former President Goodluck Jonathan from paying the Rivers State Government back these funds. It is on record that other states like Akwa Ibom and Abia received repayment for the federal roads they constructed.

As at when Governor Amaechi was leaving office, the debts owed the contractors in the Ministry of Works, which were for ongoing road projects totalled N44. 942 billion.

Sale of power projects For the records, the Government of Rivers State under Dr. Peter Odili made substantial investment in Electric Power related Projects with the aim of mitigating the malaise of inadequate power supply.

The projects included generation (Omoku and TransAmadi 1), transmission and distribution interventions. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on assumption of office recognized the importance of improved electric power supply in the socio-economy regeneration of the State. At the time Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi assumed office, of the 350 Megawatts (MW) total capacity generation assets invested by the State, only 70MW (equivalent to about 20 per cent) was available.

With enthusiasm, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi ramped up the efficiency to 77 per cent availability including injecting another 360MW Green Field Generation Project at Afam, of which 180MW has been commissioned and is in commercial operation.

To mitigate the swing in efficiency and its debilitating impact on the economy, the State Government sought private sector operators and sold 70 per cent equity stake in the power generating assets’ company to NG Power HPS. For the transaction, the State Government adopted the same

At no time was I contacted by the Rivers State Government or any of its agents or anyone purporting to be working for it with regards to any car in my possession

model as the Federal Government in the sale of the Egbin Power Plant. The sale was at a price per MW higher than all the privatization MW rate done by the Federal Government.

The proceeds from sale of the equity in the power generating assets’ company was captured as income in the 2014 Appropriation Law and deployed into funding capital projects as appropriated.

Salaries of Civil Servants All civil servants received their March salaries while payment for April salaries had commenced by the time the administration was winding down. Again I reproduce for the avoidance of doubt, excerpts of Governor Amaechi’s valedictory speech in this regard. “As at today, we have commenced the payment of April salaries and parastatal pensions.

We have made the requisite provisions and expect all salary payments to be concluded as funds are received.”

Refuse contractors Waste management contractors were being owed N1.6bn amounting to four months of arrears as at when Governor Amaechi left office. Instruction for the payment of N488 million was with Zenith bank as at the 27th of May. Sharks/Dolphin/Angels The three clubs, Sharks, Dolphins and Rivers Angels were in arrears of seven months by the time Governor Amaechi left government. Before leaving office Amaechi approved the payment of seven months arrears to the teams but this was held back along with approved payments that the banks did not pay. (Recall that there were funds available for this payment but Mr. Wike had directed all banks doing business with the Rivers State government not to honour its payment instructions.) Until revenue receipts began to thin down from the federation account, the Rivers state government was paying N50million every month as welfare package for the teams.

No handover notes There is no truth in this as all commissioners and heads of MDAs submitted their handover notes to the Secretary to State Government who forwarded same to the Head of the State Civil Service as is appropriate.

Governor Amaechi also directed the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr. Tele Ikuru to be the liaison between the outgoing administration and the incoming one. Engr. Ikuru as Deputy Chairman of the state Executive Council and second man in government had all facts necessary to brief the incoming administration. He also had unfettered access to Government House and to every commissioner and heads of Ministry Department or Agency Commission of Enquiry We would like to believe Mr. Wike that this is not a witch hunt but his actions and body language speak differently.

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Treachery and boxing in Benue House THE appointment of a just defected PDP member as deputy majority leader of the Benue State House of Assembly triggered a fight that has put the legislators to shame.

By Peter Duru

T

HE crisis that bedevilled the Benue State House of Assembly reached an embarrassing level two days ago when members, divided along party lines engaged each other in a free for all.

Prior to Tuesday’s brawl, the 30 member House which is made up of 15 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 14 All Progressives Congress, APC, and one Labour Party, LP, legislators had been enmeshed in a leadership tussle since its inauguration two weeks ago.

The crisis stemmed from the fact that some members of the majority PDP were alleged to have connived with the APC to deny their party the advantage of the slight majority they have to produce the speaker which went the way of the ruling APC. Shortly after the inauguration, the 30 member legislature had gone into the election of its two presiding officers, the Speaker and his Deputy, which was done through secret balloting.

At the end of the voting which was overseen by the clerk of the House, Hon. Terkimbir Ikyange of the APC polled 17 votes to

defeat Domnic Ucha of the PDP who polled 13 votes.

However, the position of Deputy Speaker went to James Ejembi of the PDP representing Okpokwu state constituency.

The outcome of the leadership election left tongues wagging about a mole of the APC in the ranks of the PDP. The PDP family in the state was in perplexity over what they described as the •Members of Benue State House of Assembly engaged in a brawl

The announcement immediately sparked off shouting matches between the APC and PDP members which resulted in a physical combat between Adanyi and Martin Aza of PDP both Makurdi representatives

“treachery and sell out” of three of its members leading to the unanticipated defeat of its candidate.

While the APC were basking in the euphoria of the victory, accusing fingers were being pointed at some members of the PDP who were labelled “big time traitors”.

Following the election, the House adjourned its sitting only to resume last week and was confronted by a letter from Hon. Nick Eworo representing Obi state constituency which was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker.

Eworo had claimed that he was

The truth about my battles with Amaechi — WIKE Continues from page 38 For two months they haven’t paid salary; April and May they haven’t paid. Shark, Dolphins and Rivers Angels were owed 8 months. I had to give them their money last week it was just this morning the permanent secretary said he is paying all the civil servants today Monday). So how can you say you kept N7 billion? Four months refuse contractors where not paid and the whole Port Harcourt was filled with refuse and you said you kept N7 billion. The N7 billion is to do what with it now? And you owe refuse contractor for four months, sharks, dolphin and Rivers angel 8 months, pensioners haven’t been paid up till now since February. If you find any money anywhere it was because we started raising alarm by 26th, 27th of May. Some banks in order for us not be angry with them had to stop some cheques in fact there was one money of N700 million naira, two Skye Bank cheques that didn’t go through because we raised an alarm.

Even by 28th of May money was being taken out of some government accounts; how do you justify that?

Frankly speaking looking at ministry

of works alone of the contracts that were awarded the debt is not less than N150 billion.

Just Ministry of Works only I am not talking of Ministry of Health and the others but the one he said he owes Zenith bank is about N15 billion so we are negotiating with Zenith Bank. Zenith bank was deducting 1.5 billion every month but we said no, that will be too much for us, we are just coming. What is the allocation that they will be taking N1.5 billion every month? So we are talking with the bank on how to review it.

It has been alleged that there was a deal for you to be remitting money to Mrs. Patience Jonathan monthly. Is it true?

In this country we don’t have respect for leadership. It is very ridiculous for anybody to say that I and the former first lady had a pact to be remitting money. It is rather very unfortunate. What can I give to the (former) First Lady? She is from Rivers State, she wanted her husband’s party to win (gubernatorial election in) Rivers State and looked at all the people who were running for the election and said who can actually make her husband’s party

to win Rivers State and said Mr. Z can do it and decided to support Mr. Z, then it becomes a bad thing? I can’t understand this country.

You were here when they said I was giving her $2 million. It is so ridiculous. That is why we don’t respect leadership.

Can you say that to wives of other presidents? Can anybody even say that now to Buhari’s wife- that a minister is giving her $2 million. It is very unfortunate that people just wake up and say anything they like.

Our own democracy is unlimited freedom. Very unfortunate indeed!

No pact whatsoever.

Recently you sacked 374 polytechnic staff. What happened?

It is not correct. Let me tell you what happened. The moment I was announced as the winner of the election, we started hearing that they were doing massive employment at the Rivers State Polytechnic and the Rivers state University of Science and Technology.

I told my people, don’t worry.

Even if they backdate the employment letters, it is not possible to backdate the payrolls. So what

defecting from the PDP to the APC because the leadership of the party at the local government level had expelled him, maintaining that he decided to defect to the ruling APC in order to secure a platform in the House.

Though his claim had been debunked by the PDP which accused him of allegedly forging the expulsion letter to suit the whim of the APC. Following the claims, counter claims and accusations, the Speaker adjourned the sitting of the House to the June 23 to enable the House elect other principal officers of the Assembly.

On that basis, the PDP headed for the courts to declare the seat of Hon. Eworo vacant in line with the provisions of Section 109 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, the issue of the defection of Hon. Eworo from the PDP to the All APC took precedence.

At the sitting, Iaana Jato of the PDP representing Katsina-Ala, East raised a constitutional point based on section 109 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he said stated clearly that once a member of a legislative house defects to another party, he automatically loses his seat.

His observation was however overruled by the Speaker, Mr. Mr Terkimbi Ikyange.

Meanwhile, the APC in a letter read by the Speaker, selected Mr. Benjamin Adanyi, member representing Makurdi North as its preferred Majority Leader.

In the said letter, the party also selected Mr. Eworo who just defected from the PDP to the APC as the Deputy Majority Leader while Mr. Titus Uba was selected as the Majority Whip.

The announcement immediately sparked off shouting matches between the APC and PDP members which resulted in a physical combat between Adanyi and Martin Aza of PDP both Makurdi representatives.

The fight erupted mainly because the PDP members were

of the view that they had 15 members in the house including Eworo who claimed that he joined APC last Thursday.

On the purported expulsion of Eworo, the PDP members insisted that they had written the House on the matter but the Speaker refused to read the content of the letter on the floor of the House which further angered the PDP members.

In his ruling, the Speaker said that the explanations of the PDP did not convince him to act in the contrary.

He, therefore, said that the selection of the above mentioned principal officers was sustained and asked the PDP to go to court to seek an interpretation of the constitution.

In his reaction to the ugly development, Hon. Eworo who observed that he was in the eye of the storm, insisted that he had defected to the APC and urged his former party to seek a judicial interpretation of the matter.

On his part, Kester Kenge of Logo constituency, decried the development noting that if not addressed properly, the House could remain in anarchy until the right thing was done.

Reacting to the development, former Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Tsav, described it as a shame and disgrace to the people of the state.

Tsav said, “its a big shame indeed, before this time we knew that PDP had majority in the House and we expect that the position as expressed by the electorates will be respected.

“Unfortunately we heard that the APC went and influenced some PDP members in order to create what we see happening, it’s all prearranged and it is indeed unfortunate.

“The ugly development is unacceptable, if the Senate is presently in crisis over Senator Akume and his group and in his home state similar crisis is playing out, it’s nothing but a shame and also highly condemnable.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015—41

Preparedness is key to emergency response — UNICEF scribe (2) the crisis and then when the crisis comes, they know the stakeholders that they worked with and they can immediately work better in the response. But if they did not have that mechanism for preparedness, structure that is addressing the challenges of monitoring and implementing things that they have planned, then it will be almost impossible to achieve them when the crisis starts.

By Chioma Obinna

H

ow we have fared in terms of Emergency response We still have a long way to go.

We are much better as we have been in the last 10 years. Since the flood in 2012, a lot more preparedness has taken place.

National Emergency Agency has become stronger. They now have Zonal offices even at state levels where the risk is high.

We have identified successfully with them high- risk states. They have positioned themselves closer to the people in those states. As we are speaking now, flood awareness campaign is going on in the flood risk states. So you can expect that even if we have the kind of challenges we had in 2012, we are unlikely to lose as many lives or as many properties

Everyone in the world that has been to the camps has seen a National Emergency Management Agency that has taken full responsibility

• Mr. Sonji Adeniyi, UNICEF M&E. as we lost in 2012 due to improved preparedness.

Infrastructure There is need to make available Infrastructure that manages emergency with or without emergency. Spend more time in preparedness, set up those state Emergency Management Agencies and use them as an

agent of communication before the crisis.

The Agencies should be able to enlighten people on the risk in the environment. For instance, to avoid flood, you need to clear the drainages, expand water channels, and remove structures that are obstructing water flow.

They can be busy doing all of these, preparing the schools, the hospitals and everybody ahead of

Challenges in the IDP Camps As more and more camps are opening the response is getting better. And more support is coming from faith-based organisations, Civil Society organisations, and other international and national NGOs that are providing support in the camps that we have at the moment. I would not say that the challenges are enormous but I will say that the standards are a challenge. Because globally there is a standard we need to follow because there is an amount of water per person per day, amount of food per day, sanitation per day for the period that they are there, those services are not being

followed to the latter now but responses is going on.

Government response in the camps Presently, humanitarian response has been fantastic.

Everyone in the world that has been there must have seen a National Emergency Management Agency that has taken full responsibility. They may not have gotten it right n terms of the actual standard that supposed to be followed.

There is also what is called National pride in doing things the Nigerian way, so it s not necessary that we adhere too strictly to the guidelines that we may not have the cost to handle. For instance, if international standard say 50 people should use a latrine facility and we have 70 to 80 people using the latrine facility, it does not mean that we are completely out of process, it simply means that we can only construct 50 latrines in 8,000 displaced camps.

It does not mean that we are not aware of that standard but that is what our money can cover at that particular period. I would say we have done extremely well.

You could score them 70 percent.

If they had more technical support, resources, and more time to prepare may be they would have done better than that.

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It works within a few minutes. If you prefer a penis sleeve, take the Cock Extender Sleeve. It is our skin color too so it blends in. And for the supplement, take Rhino 5 or X Again Platinum Enhancer – Uche That is all for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08053911233 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

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42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Edo 2016: BLF backs Oshodin, Imansuangbon for gov

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—AHEAD of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, the Benin Liberties Forum, BLT, has thrown its weight behind the aspiration of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof.

Osayuki Oshodin.

It also said that it would support the aspiration of Mr. Ken Imansuangbon as governor of the state.

In a statement in Benin, yesterday, by Prince Gregory Igbineweka, the forum said that they were supporting either of the two for the governorship race because they would be able to recover all oil wells belonging to the state from other states as well as clamp down on cultism and thuggery in the state.

He said: “The state has not experienced the level of cult related violence as was seen between April and May 2015, which prompted the Presidency to deploy full police operations

Delta gov poll: Tribunal to rule on preliminary objection June 30

By Festus Ahon

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S A B A — D E LT A State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Asaba, has fixed June 30 for ruling on the preliminary objections by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the petitions brought by the All Progressives Congress, APC, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN and Labour Party, LP, challenging the election of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa in the April 11 governorship election.

Three petitions before the tribunal are challenging the declaration of Dr. Okowa of the PDP as winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The petitions are by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor of the APC; Mr. Paul Isamade of ACPN and Chief Great Ogboru of Labour Party, LP. At the resumed hearing of preliminary objections the lead counsel to Emerhor, Chief Thomson Okpoko, SAN, in his argument prayed the tribunal not to go through the prehearing, adding that it was a waste of time of the tribunal.

in Benin City.

“To severe our state from this hub of violence and injustice over our appropriated oil wells, we have therefore, resolved to extract commitment from Professor Oshodin and Mr Imasuagbon as a basis of our full mobilization and logistics support for their emergence as candidates and subsequent

election at the poll.

“From the antecedents of these administrators, we have no doubt that they have almost equal capacity to bail our state out of these situations. Such assurances must be in writing and be published for the reading public to see, so that we can hold them accountable for their social contract.

“Our appeal is directed formally to the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labor Party and Social Democratic Party to consider one of the candidates in the overall interest of Edo people, or else, we will mobilise against them in the 2016 election,” the statement said.

MEETING: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (middle) and other APC governors during their meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Tuesday.

Itsekiri oil producing communities in Edo allege marginalisation

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By Ikenna Asomba

EADERS of Itsekiri oil producing communities in Edo State, namely, Ajamimogha, Ajoki, Kolokolo, Ajatiton and Ikara, yesterday, lamented what they described as their continued marginalisation over the years by successive administrations in the stata, despite being the major area that makes the state one of the oil producing states in the country.

Leaders of the communities, under the aegis of Leaders Forum of Itsekiri Oil and Gas Producing Communities, LFIOGPC, have meanwhile called on the state governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, to change their situation, urging him to compel the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to give urgent attention to their communities in terms of infrastructural development.

In a statement by its President, Samuel Ireokane, they said: “As a matter of fact, we have not witnessed a situation where the state or local government officially commissions government project in these communities, despite being key oil and gas communities, which makes the state to be regarded as one of the

oil and gas producing states in Nigeria.

“Non-oil and gas producing communities in the state are benefiting more than us, making our situation to be like the goose that lays the golden egg, but yet circumvented in the benefits and dividends due to them in the scheme of things. This is very pathetic because we suffer the

environmental degradation and destruction of our aquatic lives.

“Furthermore, the NDDC and Edo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, EDSOPADEC, were created to drive the development of these oil and gas producing communities in the state, but rather than concentrate on developing the affected communities, the communities have not received a single infrastructural project from them."

Defectors to APC have no electoral value —Bayelsa PDP

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa State, yesterday, described as a “show of shame” the recent gale of defections of some of its prominent members to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

The PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Osom Makbere, said that the defectors have no electoral value.

According to him, the PDP was not disturbed by recent cases of defection of perceived men of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Makbere, who spoke to newsmen in Yenagoa, said: “It is rather unfortunate that these fair weather politicians are taking undue advantage of the loss of the PDP at the centre to reposition themselves as APC members so as to curry favour and attract patronage from the APC leadership.

“Those who claimed to have decamped from the PDP due to purported lack of proper governance were beneficiaries of the magnanimity of the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson, which appointed them to senior sensitive positions."

A-Ibom Assembly seeks FG’s intervention in Calabar-Itu highway

U

By Chioma Onuegbu

YO—MEMBERS of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly have called on the Federal Government to speedily intervene in the dilapidated Calabar-Itu highway.

Mr. Mbosowo Essien, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, in a statement, said that the lawmakers stressed the need to reclaim the affected area of the road before it gets worse as the heavy rains set in.

The statement said that the member representing Itu state constituency, Idongesit Ituen, moved the motion during its sitting which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Aniekan Uko. The House expressed fears that the state could be cut off completely if nothing was done in the next few days to fix the road considering its level of dilapidation.

Delta IPMAN slams local tabloid over alleged falsehood

I

NDEPENDENT P e t r o l e u m Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Warri branch, has berated a local tabloid, based in Delta State, over allegations of fraud and sharp practices levelled against the Warri depot.

IPMAN described as baseless, unfounded and blackmail, reports credited to the newspaper which had filed a case against PPMC and the Depot Manager before a Federal High Court in Warri.

Although the case has since been dismissed for lack of substantial evidence, IPMAN Chairman, Chief Emoefe, in a statement, said that it was foolhardy for persons behind the report to make unverifiable allegations without concrete facts to back their claims.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015— 43

Rights group, others laud Buhari on dismantling of military check-points

By Austin Ogwuda & Anayo Okoli

A

RIGHTS group, Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged, Centrep, has described the recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari dismantling all military checkpoints across the country as a welcome development and one of the best decisions taken so far by the Federal Government.

This came as an Abia Statebased group, Asa Leaders of Thought, ALT, commended the President for the decision.

Centrep, however, called for proper training as well as funding of the police to enable them discharge their statutory function of maintaining law and order.

The group in a statement, yesterday, by its Executive Director, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, said: “It is, indeed, an aberration for soldiers who are trained to defend our territorial integrity and ward off external aggression to be engaged in the maintaining of internal security.

“We believe that the duty of maintaining law and order, and internal security in a country lies with her police force as policemen and women are trained to be civil to the populace while discharging their statutory duties of maintaining internal security, but the soldier’s training and orientation is to kill.

“Little wonder the nation had in the past experienced cases of extra-judicial killings of innocent Nigerians at various military check-points nationwide and in the hands of security outfits like the Police/Military joint patrol teams set up by various state governments to maintain internal security in their various states.

“These Police/Military joint patrol teams often consist of police, army, navy and air force

personnel who have acquired different trainings and orientations. ‘’The above arrangement was not only a chaotic one that took the lives of many innocent Nigerians in the process under the guise of ensuring internal security, but same was pure madness.

“Apart from the fact that many of the military checkpoints across the nation were death traps, innocent Nigerians were on a

daily basis harassed, maimed and sometimes subjected to various kinds of corporal punishments at these check-points.

Meanwhile, Asa Leaders of Thought, ALT, in Aba, Abia State, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari on his directive to the military high command to disengage soldiers from check-points in parts of the country, describing the decision as a right one made at the right time.

The group also called on President Buhari to quickly restructure the police and train them to be effective.

In a statement in Umuahia by Chief Ralph Egbu and Dr. Ikechi Ajuziogu, National President and National Secretary, respectively, the group told President Buhari that restructuring the police would make them to step away from the old order of human rights abuse of citizens, extorting money and leave criminals to have a field day.

2 docked over alleged theft of N212,500

By Precious Akubueze

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AGOS—TWO men were, yesterday, arraigned before Apapa Magistrate's Court, Lagos, for alleged theft of N212,500.

The defendants, Ahmed Ibrahim, 28, and Lekan Sule, 27, of no fixed addresses, are facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Supol Olu Ojaokomo, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on June 18, 2015, at Alaba Oro Bus-Stop, Apapa, Lagos.

He also said the defendants stole the sum of N122,500 cash,one Blackberry hand-set valued at N65,000, and one Nokia 101 hand-set valued N25,000, totalling N212,500, property of one Olawole Omotayo.

According to the prosecutor, the

offences are punishable under sections 409 and 285 of the criminal laws of Lagos State Nigeria 2011.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The magistrate, Mr. P.A Adekomaya granted the defendants' bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties in like sum. He adjourned the case till July 22,2015.

Ukwa calls on Ikpeazu to integrate them into his devt project plans

By Eric Ugbor

A

BA—THE Joint Youth Council of Ukwa in Abia State has called on the state government to extend the ongoing road reconstruction projects in Aba and Umuahia to Ukwa.

It also called for the revival of all moribund industrial, tourist and agricultural sites, including Ogwe Golden Chicken Farm, Abia Palm (Nig.) Ltd, Akwete Weaving Industry and the Azumini Blue River in Ukwa.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued in Aba after the group’s mid-year congress at

Umuebulungwu-Asa in Ukwa West Local Government Area.

Signed by four of its members, including Mr. Kingsley Okadigbo, National Leader and Mr. Paul Udechukwu, Director Bureau for Information and Strategy, the communique said their people of Ukwa East and Ukwa West local government areas had been neglected by previous administrations, despite its contribution of crude oil to enrich the state.

The group claimed that Ukwa communities had always suffered lack of good roads, potable water, adding that infrastructure, where it existed, had been allowed to

go moribund, in spite of their complaints.

The group also appealed to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to give urgent attention to ObohiaOhuru-Aba Road, Ohanku-Aba and Ogwe-Obokwe-Uratta junction roads respectively.

The group whose interest is the protection and projection of the economic, cultural and sociopolitical interest of Ndi-Ukwa, also wanted government to build a new power step-down for them from Afam power station.

It also condemned the relocation of prestigious Asa High School to a mere primary school block and the conversion of its premises to a military barrack.

UNESCO to participate in Aba Reading Project — Ambassador

By Eric Ugbor

A

BA—MR. Chibuike Mokwe, a UNESCO Youth Peace Ambassador, has promised to ensure the body participates in future editions of Enyimba Reading Project.

Mokwe, who disclosed this during the first edition of the Enyimba Reading Project in Aba, Abia State, said UNESCO would encourage every programme aimed at reinvigorating reading culture in the youth.

He said with the people’s response to the project in its first edition, it would be easy for UNESCO to participate in subsequent editions, beginning from the next edition holding in 2016.

He said: “This is the first time we are hosting this kind of project in Aba, but I am sure it has great prospects, although people, especially youth in Aba, prefer to make money through business than to read.

“There are a lot of challenges in organizing this kind of programme, challenges like getting funds, organizing the young people, time to scout for sponsorships, among others. Most corporate bodies did not readily accept to support this project, but we have made progress.

“Next year will be better.

This is just the take-off and I am encouraged by the turn-out. By next year, UNESCO will be here to support the Enyimba Reading Project."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On merging EFCC, ICPC & reduction of 42 ministries to 19

I

nstead of merging ministries, President Buhari should reduce the remunerations of political appointees in charge and other running costs, to ensure effective supervision and not to give three people's work to one.

-Miss Lizzy Popson, Student

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nder the past administration, there were a total of 26 federal ministries and 39 ministers, both senior and junior. If Buhari would have 17 senior ministers and 19 ministers of state, that is a good reduction. -Mr. Jaiyeola Timmy, Freight-Forwarder

W

e tried to merge everything since 70's based on Northern ideology, but with no visible achievement. Look at aviation, agriculture,among others today, and see how well we have done in thiese sectors for the last four years. Miss Chimezie Ezembu, Worker

M

any of our ministries today are places where many just show up without putting in a day’s job. Many employees run personal businesses within official hours and on the other hand, are the problem of ghost workers. -Mr. Stanley Okafor, Businessman

I

t can no longer be that way you used to do it. Get ready for a change for good.

Some civil servants are idle because they have not got enough functions in their departments to keep them busy. This is what I can say on this subject. -Mr. Peter Ekpo, Worker

I

f over-bloated salaries and the number of those manning these ministries are not reviewed downward in accordance with reality facing us as a country, does it matter how many ministries? I think we need to call a spade a spade here. -Miss Kubura Aremu, Model

44 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Buhari urged to revisit pipeline surveillance contracts

JUDICIAL CORRUPTION: Over 64 judges punished btw 2009 and 2014 — CJN

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

E

FFURUN—THE Urhobo Unemployed Youths Movement, a group campaigning for employment opportunities for Urhobo youths has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reexamine the contracts awarded for the protection of petroleum pipelines and other oil industry facilities in the country.

While addressing newsmen yesterday, in Effurun, Delta State, the group, through its President, Comrade Francis Onokpasa, condemned the present rationale behind the award of such contracts, claiming that the process had been bastardised by ethnicity, nepotism and politics on the part of the previous government as most of the contracts were awarded to the Ijaws with nothing reasonable left for the Urhobos and other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta.

He said: “Urhobos are oil producing like Ijaws and it is highly erroneous to give the impression that Ijaws own all or even majority of the oil wealth of Niger Delta.

Most of the oil pipelines from many other oil producing ethnic nationalities in Delta and even parts of Bayelsa pass through Urhobo land.

“Can you imagine that apart from the Ijaws who have been favoured over us as if there are no oil facilities in Urhobo land, the former government even awarded a mouthwatering contract to the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, to protect pipelines in Yoruba land simply because OPC campaigned for PDP?” While calling on President Buhari to immediately look into contracts awarded in the sector, Onokpasa, however, urged Urhobo youths threatening to attack oil facilities “to be patient and give President Buhari’s government a chance to do justice to all ethnic groups in the region in the interest of peace and progress of Niger Delta.”

BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday, said that the National Judicial Council, NJC, had between 2009 and 2014, punished over 64 judges that were found to have compromised the standard of justice in the country.

The CJN, who made this disclosure at a seminar that was organised by the anti-corruption commission of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Abuja yesterday, said it was regrettable that allegations about corrupt judicial officers and staff now make headline news on a more frequent basis.

He also bemoaned the fact that senior lawyers are also being accused of allowing themselves to be used as conduit pipes for the corruption in the judiciary.

However, the CJN maintained that the level of corruption in the judiciary is very minute when compared with what obtains in other organs of governance.

He said: “Although I will not behave like the proverbial ostrich and hide away from the reality that some judges and judicial staff are indeed complicit in corrupt practices, however, I must assert that corruption within the Judiciary is only imbibed by a minute minority”.

Noting that as at 2014, there were a total of 1020 judicial officers serving in the Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria, with 7000 others in the lower courts, the CJN used the fact that only 64 of them were indicted over sundry acts of corruption within a spate of five years to buttress his point.

“Therefore, corruption in the

WAKE-KEEP: From left; Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; widow of the deceased, Mrs. Anubis Cruzata Williams, children, David and Samantha, during the Christian wakekeep for the former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, Chief Shina Williams held at the Cinema Hall, June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta...yesterday.

Judiciary having regard to the number of Judges and the number of those accused of corruption, the percentage is very low.

“While the judiciary has been in the spotlight of recent public scrutiny, we continue to take active steps towards sanitizing the Bench.

Where petitions are received in respect of judicial officers, they are promptly investigated via internal

procedures put in place by the National Judicial Council and where found culpable such Officers are disciplined in accordance with the said established procedures.

The theme of the NBA anti-corruption seminar was “The Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria: The Way Forward”.

In his address, the National

NAFDAC seals Lagos warehouse over unregistered products, unhygienic premises Vanguard gathered that the large

By Chioma Obinna

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A G O S — N AT I O N A L Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC has closed down a warehouse

belonging to H & H Integrated Nigeria Limited following illegal importation and housing of 49 unregistered food products and non-adherence to good hygienic practices in Lagos.

MfB begins operations in Delta community zPledges excellent services

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N furtherance of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policy of boosting the rural economy under its National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) document, the apex bank has approved the operation of Vibrant Microfinance Bank Limited, Issele-Azagba, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking at a sensitization forum held ahead of the takeoff of the bank on July 1, 2015 at the palace of the Obi of IsseleAzagba, the bank’s Board of Directors Chairman, Dr. Peter I. Ejiwe chronicled the journey from the first meeting of the promoters to when CBN granted the final approval to operate the MFB on May 27, 2015. “The journey was not an

President of the NBA, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, decried that despite the establishment of anti-corruption agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission [ICPC] and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC], he said the nation appears to be helpless in its fight against corruption.

easy one, but we thank God Almighty that we are there. This is our bank. We must patronise it and guard it jealously,” he added Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director of the Microfinance Bank, Mr. Nnamdi M. Chizea told the audience that the bank was an idea whose time has come, adding “Our people can now have access to formal financial services such as savings, loans, local funds transfer services, microinsurance etc. Our pensioners can receive their pensions at IsseleAzagba and would no longer travel to Asaba, Ogwashi-Uku or IsseleUku to receive their pensions.

Chizea further said “Our parents can now receive money sent to them by their children here at Issele-Azagba. We shall deliver all such money to our aged parents who cannot come to the bank.''

He urged the indigenes and residents in Issele-Azagba to patronize the bank, saying ''We are ready to delight them with excellent customer service.''

The Obi of Issele-Azagba, HRM Agbogidi Obi Francis Jideuwa Ijeh II, in his remarks called on all the stakeholders to come to the assistance of the bank and his community to make the bank impact positively on his subjects as quickly as possible. ''I know that governments have roles to play. The Federal Government, through its various agencies has a role to play and non governmental organizations, and donor agencies too have roles to play. I call on all of them to come to the assistance of Vibrant Microfinance Bank Ltd, IsseleAzagba, particularly in the area of developing the bank’s infrastructure and building the capacity of her workforce'', the monarch said.

warehouse located at No 30 Iman Dauda Street, Eric Moore, area of Lagos was sealed following a tip off and intelligence report which revealed that the company was involved in importation and storage of illegal food products, particularly snacks commonly consumed by children.

The company was also accused of flouting good hygienic practices as most of the products were stored in dirty environment and out of its 50 different brands of products, only one was registered.

Some of the 49 unregistered products which are largely biscuits products for children include; Mr. Magic Soft Candy, Cracker soda biscuit, milk chocolate wafer roll, non-dairy creamer, H&H fruit Juice, Coklat pasta, sprite candy, Yummy H&H, chewing gum, Power milk cookies, henna Tatton bubble gum, twins crisp roll, non diary tea creamer, musical bracelet candy, stick candy milky, mix fruits flavour chewing gum, champion chocolate and others.

NAFDAC’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Investigation and Enforcement, Mr. Babatunji Omoyeni told journalists that the warehouse was storing products in an unkempt manner, adding that estimated 1.5 million cartoons of various unregistered products running into millions of naira were uncovered.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015—45

Lagos State, Deputy Governor; Mr. Babatunde Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State, and Alhaji Inuwa Abass, representative of the Emir of Kano, at the seventh K. O. Tinubu Memorial Ramadan lecture in Lagos.

VISIT: From left— Mohammed Suleh-Yusuf, Head, Government & Community Relations; Abdul Adegbuyi, Director, Network Operations, both of Etisalat Nigeria; Mr. Solomon Arase, Inspector General; Matthew Willsher, Chief Executive Officer, and Damian Udeh, Manager, Compliance, both of Etisalat Nigeria, during a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General in Abuja.

WOMEN OF VISION: From left— Nkiru Adekoya, Business Partner/Director, Tiffany Amber; Folake Coker, Founder/Artistic Director; Ayona Trimnell, Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Diamond Bank Plc, and Aisha Ahmad, Head, Retail Directorate, during the bank’s Women of Vision forum in Lagos.

NAFDAC/STAKEHOLDERS: From left— Pastor Akinwunmi Adedeji, Ag Director, Chemical Evaluation & Research; Mrs Stella Denloye, Director, Laboratory Services, representing the DG, NAFDAC; Rev Benjamin Haruna, Deputy Director, Port Inspection, NAFDAC, and Engr Edris Abdullai, Asstistant Director, Federal Ministry of Environment, at a stakeholders' meeting at the National Ozone Office of Federal Ministry of Environment and Chemical Regulatory Agency, NAFDAC, with refrigerant importers in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

VISIT: From left— Femi Williams, Managing Director-Designate, Chams Plc; Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh, Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion; his wife, Nkasiobi; Professor Oladapo Afolabi, member, Board of Directors, Chams Plc, and Most Revd. Professor Adebayo Akinde, Archbishop of Lagos Province, during a visit to Chams.

OLD BOYS: From left— Akin Dawodu, Chidi Nwanya, Sanya Adeyemi, Otunba Dele Olapeju, Principal, Kings College; Lucky Idike, Jnr; Oloye Obatoyinbo, Niran Williams, Victor Okobi and Chukwuma Oyeka, during a visit by old boys of the college.

RAMADAN LECTURE: From left— Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule,

LAUNCH:

From left— Mrs. Efua Edeh, Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, JAN; Mrs. Simi Nwaogugu, Chief Executive Officer, HOD Consulting; Oare Ehiamua, Mr. Steve Iwenjora, Vice-President, and Ogedi Onyeama, all of African Capital Alliance, during the launch JAN's Alumni Association in Lagos.

C M Y K

PRESENTATION: From left— Saheed Quadri, representative of the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State; Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu, Chairman of the occasion; and Okechukwu Nwanguma, Coordinator, Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria, NOPRIN, at the public presentation of NOPRIN's publication, Through the Lens of The Media, Vol.2 and the reprinted Lagos State Coroner's Law, in Lagos.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY 5 THURSDAY,, JUNE 25, 201 2015

Ogogoro: Growing anxiety as consumers defy ban despite deaths

By Jude Njoku, Jimitota Onoyume, Samuel Oyadongha, Dayo Johnson, Davis Iheamnachor & Imem Idio

•Black market sales boom

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T all started two months ago at Ode-Irele, a community in Ondo State where over 20 people allegedly lost their lives after drinking a locally distilled gin popularly called ‘Ogogoro’.

The illness leading to the deaths were initially thought to be the Ebola Virus Disease or similar virulent infectious disease.

The dust generated by the Irele deaths had hardly died down when another round of deaths caused by contaminated Ogogoro occurred, this time in Rivers State.

The Rivers deaths started at a popular dog meat joint in Woji, a community in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State where friends of a yetto-be- unmasked Chikobi celebrated his new chieftancy title. Although he bears an Igbo name, Chikobi is said to be an indigene of Ogun State. Vanguard Features, VF, learnt that Chikobi brought the illicit gin to the joint operated by one Mr Friday Dickson and his unsuspecting guests who were apparently used to the spot, consumed the locally distilled gin without knowing that there was death in the liquor.

At the last count, no fewer than 71 persons have allegedly died in various parts of Rivers State as a direct result of their consumption of the contaminated gin. In a bid to stem further deaths, the Federal Government through the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, slammed a ban on further production and sale of the locally distilled gin. But this has not gone down well with both producers and sellers of the favourite drink of most people in the Niger Delta.

Low patronage of joints in Rivers State Since the confirmation of over 71 deaths in Rivers State following the consumption of a killer Ogogoro, the drink has ceased to be a ‘hot cake’ in most parts of the state. The demand for the local gin C M Y K

Ogogoro distillery-cum-depot nosedived, especially in the places where deaths were recorded.

VF visited some affected communities and found out that most shops where the gin is sold, have been closed down as the consumers appear to have taken a summer holiday.

The Community Development Committee, CDC, Chairman in Woji, Dr. Brian Ogbonda explained that since the ugly incident, ogogoro addicts have become more responsible.

Many people have stopped drinking, although there are people that Ogogoro has taken over their lives, they cannot stop drinking it, so they are still taking it secretly

Chief Brain who is also the Secretary Woji Town Council said: “This is the first time this community is experiencing this kind of ugly situation. But from our investigations, we found out that the deaths were caused by the consumption of a poisonous product. I can’t establish if it was poison or dangerous chemical. The Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo has visited the community to see things for herself. She came to our hall and the families of the victims were invited for the meeting.Also in attendance was the only survivor who is now blind.

“She promised that the state government will do something to help the families of the deceased and the only survivor. She also advised the people to desist from consuming Ogogoro for now. After the incident, many people have stopped drinking, although there are people that Ogogoro has taken over their lives, they cannot stop drinking it, so they are still taking it secretly,” he said.

Healthy lifestyle returns “Most Ogogoro drinkers

Continues on page 47

Mr. Nelson Okon, one of the survivors of Ogogoro tragedy in Woji

Vanguard, THURSDAY 5 —47 THURSDAY,, JUNE 25, 201 2015

Ogogoro: Blind survivor happy to be alive continued from page 46 in our community are now getting fat because they have stopped drinking the harmful Ogogoro. It drains the blood; that is why anyone who takes a lot of it does not have good health. All the people who have stopped drinking it have begun to come back to life,” he posited. Continuing, Chief Brian said: “Following the incidents, the community constituted an Ogogoro monitoring team, made up of the youth body and the Community Development Committee, CDC. We tasked them to go round the community and find out those that sell Ogogoro and report them to the police.

Immediately this announcement was made, all the sellers went into hiding.

Even those who put Ogogoro in roots and sell cannot be seen in the community again.

All of them have escaped from the community. We are working with the police although no person has been arrested. But there are those we saw and we told them to vacate or we call the police.

Immediately they disappeared.

“Generally, some people are coming back to life, some are beginning to add weight.

Some of them that drink and misbehave have all changed.

They are now becoming responsible again. We have not seen anybody staggering on our streets again. They have stopped because there is no Ogogoro to drink. I think this occurrence has brought sanity and made some people to responsible again.

“I think that particular Ogogoro was not rampant in the community. It was just brought to only that joint otherwise we would have recorded more deaths because a whole lot of people use Ogogoro either for taking herbal roots or just for luxury,” the CDC chairman said.

Blind survivor happy to be alive The only survivor among those who drank the gin, Mr. Nelson Okon, from AkwaIbom State, said although he is now blind, he is happy to still be alive.

Nelson who broke down in tears while speaking to VF said: “God is so faithful for sparing my life. I have a heavy heart to even talk to anybody on what I am facing.

It is not easy to be in this condition, but it is well,” he said, as he tried to find the way back to his room.

But his cousin, Miss Precious Asuquo who has C M Y K

*Some individuals in Bayelsa protesting against the ban on Ogogoro

Dr. Brian Ogbondah, the CDC chairman of Woji and retary Woji Town Council been taking care of him since the incident said he (Nelson) is faring well.

“He is taking his drugs.

The doctor instructed that he should always sleep after taking the drugs. He is taking his medication regularly.

When he accepted that he took the gin, we swung into treatment immediately, although he lost his sight totally. He has already started faking medication before government’s intervention. I asked him to come over and stay with me because of his present condition. He has also submitted his data to the

Sec-

government,” she explained.

In Idu-Ekpeye, a community in Ahoada East LGA, six adults allegedly died after consuming contaminated gin, although the Rivers state Ministry of Health put the death toll at four. The indigenes said they were frightened the more when a respected native doctor (spiritualist) in the area identified as Meeting Olodhi also died after drinking the Ogogoro.

Apart from Olodhi, other victims of the contaminated drink were identified as Justice Udeh, Vincent

•An Ogogoro joint after it was closed down Ogbobula and Ada Philemon.

A resident of the community, Mr. Hope Enyiula told VF two more people died after drinking the gin.

The paramount ruler of IduEkpeye community, Chief Grant Owukori who spoke at his palace said: “Olodhi (the native doctor) had hosted a friend from Bayelsa State on May 29. The man volunteered to go to the market to buy a

bottle of gin. When the man returned, he came back with a bottle of beer for himself saying that he will not take the gin because of his health.”

Owukori further explained that the guest quickly left immediately he drank the beer on the excuse that he was going to attend a meeting at home.

To be continued

48 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today; Unless you are more careful matters-of-the-heart may cause avoidable trouble the way your career/business can suffer temporarily.

LIBRA; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; It is important you don’t exhibit aggression unnecessarily.

Here is a day when secret love is capable of bringing serious pressure. Try to be very diplomatic.

SCORPIO; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Your concentration level is not perfect and if you take bad advice from friends you would be misled. The more practical you are the better for you.

SAGITTARIUS; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Unnecessary aggressive approach on your part along your career/business lines will back-fire more than you imagine. Graceful expression is what you will need.

CAPRICORN; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Happenings within your working arena can bring minor provocation but it is just a passing trend. Travelling for love will bring more challenges than expected.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

T is not uncommon to I find man reeling out a catalogue of why he could not do anything. It is an a b n o r m a l condition, he will say. But if we must face the truth, man

Is any condition normal? will be nothing without challenges confronting him.

Do you think God couldn’t provide everything for us?

Why do you think

TERROR MUDA

God commanded us to have dominion over all things? Everyone of us have a huge sense of satisfaction

in “Never say goodbye”

anytime we overcome a major challenge. That is the joy.

There is no normal condition anywhere. But the condition will be normal when the man is normal.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Male members of this Star sign will need to watch their libido while female must not ignore their sex-life. Beware of joint ventures with those you don’t know.

PISCES; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; It is not compulsory you take to aggressive re-action to those within your base of operation who are not as perfect as you. Protect your spouse.

ARIES; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Watch what you eat and drink today. This is the wrong time to engage in unnecessary heated argument.. Romance at work may bring disappointment.

TAURUS; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Trying to influence matters-of-the-heart with money will not give you the desired result. Any way it is a day you will need to be more careful with money.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; It is important you are more careful while trying to pass judgement on people within your base of operation because you too may be wrong.

CANCER; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Taking a pleasure drive or movement may bring more than anticipated responsibility. Keep away from whatever can not be placed above board today.

LEO; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; /9 If you allow friends to force their ideas on you financially or on matters-of-the-heart, you would be the loser. Express yourself gracefully.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What should I know?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua Kindly tell me where the Moon was placed when I was born and other things I should know about my star.

Awoniyi, Ogun.

Dear Awoniyi, What space can take will be given here-under. Your natal Moon was in Aries.

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Preponderance of cardinal quality in your chart is an indication of GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY together with innate ability to attain prominence on one hand, on the other hand, exaltation of intellectual related Mercury in Aquarius at positive angle to both lucky Jupiter and Uranus (the planet of genius) in Libra pointed to a person with higher pitch of intelligence.

Action loving Mars as the final dispositor of your horoscope ( that’s most influential planet at home when you were born) will most times induce you to strongly desire importance with likeness for quick results; actually long promise without concrete action will bore you easily.

Equally 60 percentage of push-full influence in your chart means that the best for you is to go after your needs and wants.

Combination of all the placement and aspects formed within the planets when you were born are pointers to you as a person with balanced personality with little bias for good spiritual life. And you believe in disciplinarian life style.

Placement of your natal Sun and Moon in compassionate Pisces and self conscious Aries respectively are indications of your being mainly a Piscean and partly an Arian, however as Aries is also your Stellium sign, both basic characteristics of Pisces and Aries are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015—49

ELECTION TRIBUNAL:

Anambra PDP, Reps candidate concede defeat at pre-trial

A

WKA—FIRST Anambra Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Nayai Aganaba, has expressed shock over the decision of candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Nnamdi Eze, to concede defeat to his opponent, Mr. Dozie Nwankwo, of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the March 28, 2015 election for Anaocha/Njikoka/ Idumukofia Federal constituency.

PDP and Nnamdi Eze confessed that APGA's Dozie Nwankwo actually won the election .

The dramatic concession, which elicited wide laughter in court, came up when the second and third respondents to the petition, Dr. Eze and PDP respectively, admitted that a polling unit by polling unit computation of all the valid votes clearly showed that Mr. Nwankwo won the election by a wide margin, hence he should have been returned elected.

Crisis brews in Abia community over new monarch

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—CRISIS is brewing at Eziama in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State over the appointment of a new monarch when their traditional ruler, Eze Isaac Ikonne, is yet to be dethroned.

Vanguard gathered that in the twilight of former Governor Theodore Orji’s administration in the state, Eziama-Ama-Aha was carved out of the present Eziama autonomous community where one Chief Udodiri Sunday was made the Eze-elect.

In a petition by Chiefs Ogbonna Nkoro, Matthew Ohuonu, Nwokonma Ukomadu and Nze M.I Ahukanna, heads of the four kindreds that make up Eziama, the community said it never applied to the state government to carve any other community out of Eziama since the autonomous community, as currently constituted, was too small for another one.

Bloodbath looms as RTEAN, MTUN/AOWAN crisis deepens in Anambra

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—BLOODBATH is looming in Anambra State, following the lingering crisis between members of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, and Motorcycles Transport Union of

Nigerian/Autobike Owners Association of Nigeria, MTUN/ AOWAN, over failure to agree on a sharing formula The crisis, according to a source, started as a result of failure by the two groups to agree on modalities to merge, and share proceeds in the ratio of 50-50, as allegedly agreed initially.

According to the source, RTEAN, which claimed to be a

mother union to all transport associations in the country, having been registered under the trade union acts of 1978, but registered its presence in the state in 2014, had approached MTUN/ AOWAN to work out modalities to merge and work as a team, sharing profit and losses equally.

The two unions, the source stated, agreed that working together as a team would be better

FORUM: From leftt, Prof. Pat Utomi, Political Economic and Management Expert, Mr Mteto Nyati, MTN Group Chief Enterprise Officer, and Mr. Michael Ikpoki, Chief Executive Officer MTN Nigeria, during the Inspiring Business Growth in Africa forum by MTN Nigeria in partnership with CNN, Tuesday, at Ikoyi, Lagos. Photo; Kehinde Gbadamosi

since MTUN/AOWAN was already on ground, collecting government tolls from commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists.

Both parties had reasoned that if RTEAN started collecting its own tolls from the same motorcyclists and tricyclists, the operators would begin to complain of multiple taxation.

Consequently, they agreed to merge, collect the same amount of tolls from the payers and share their profits and losses equally, since both of them were grounded in transport business.

To make their merger a reality, they were said to have instructed a lawyer to prepare an agreement on the basis of equal share to be signed by both parties to buttress their point.

However, when the agreement was prepared on the basis of equality, MTUN/AOWAN allegedly refused to sign its own column, saying since their members were already on ground before the arrival of RTEAN in the state, the sharing ratio should be 60-40 in favour of MTUN/ AOWAN. Vanguard gathered that when it became obvious that the proposed merger had collapsed, RETEAN went into the field to test its prowess, collecting tolls but were allegedly confronted by MTUN/AOWAN which led to last week’s bloody clash between the two parties. Members from both sides sustained injuries during the fracas.

Collaboration with other security agencies has reduced crime in Aba —POLICE

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—POLICE Area Commander in Aba, Abia State, Peter Wagbara, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, has said the police was working with other security agencies to reduce crime in the city.

Wagbara, who spoke at an interagency security forum in Aba,

attributed the recent successes recorded in the 2015 general elections and the fight against kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes to the efforts of the forum.

“We successfully managed the enormous challenges posed by the 2015 general elections where there were threats to kill people or burn down INEC offices. ‘’We rose to the challenge,

except in Isiala Ngwa South local government area where the INEC office was burnt; we put in our best and ensured that the threats were surmounted. We will always work together in combating crime in Aba.” While adding that the forum had continued to sensitize traditional rulers and other leaders to establish security watch groups in the communities,

Wagbara insisted that they were already on top of emerging trends in kidnapping and armed robbery which were being tackled through increased patrol of all the 17 local government areas of the state The Area Commander disclosed that security agencies had the capacity to respond to distress calls within their areas of operation within two minutes of

PHC implementation lowest in S/E – EU

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—SOUTH-EAST geo-political zone has been rated lowest in the implementation of Primary Health Care, PHC, among the

six-geo political zones in the country by the European Union, EU, as at June 17, 2015.

Speaking at the South East advocacy meeting on the establishment of PHC in Awka, the team leader of EU SIGN

Project, Dr. Goli Lamiri, explained that the criteria adopted by the National Health Act and Primary Health Care system, which government agencies must develop for effective quality PHC to the grass root, were used in the

Enugu CP averts intended protest by LG employees over non-payment of salaries

By Austin Ogwuda ENUGU—ENUGU State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Adamu Mohammed, has successfully averted an intended protest march on the streets of Enugu by local government workers over nonpayment of salary and alleged

non-remittance of check off dues.

The police commissioner brokered peace by pacifying the aggrieved local government workers who called at the state police headquarters to pour out their grievances before the police boss.

Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Enugu

State chapter, led by Comrade Kenneth Ugwueze and executive officers, had, Tuesday told the commissioner that the state government was owing them salaries and leave allowances.

They also complained about non-remittance of deducted union dues by some local government council officers.

assessment of the states’ performance.

The criteria, he said, included a strong management and governance system, effective legislation, funding of the PHC, minimum service package and mobilization of human resources required to deliver services to communities.

According to Lamiri, the team is in Anambra State to support the South East, in partnership with the NPHCDA, to establish and strengthen the PHC boards in the three states of Ebonyi, Abia and Anambra for the common good of the people and PHC system.

Though PHC implementation programme started in 2004 with two pilot states of Enugu and Jigawa and later Ekiti, only that of Jigawa was sustained.

50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Reps direct IG to investigate killings in Delta communities

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, tasked Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, and other relevant security agencies to urgently investigate the killing of two indigenes of Ogume and Afor communities of Delta State by suspected herdsmen.

The House also resolved to investigate allegations of malpractices by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, over crude oil swap contracts.

The resolution came following a motion by Mr. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, representing Ndokwa/ Ukwani federal constituency of Delta State on the killing of the two persons and gunshot injuries sustained by 10 others on June 15.

He noted that prior to the attack, a meeting was held between the communities and the herdsmen during which the herdsmen were told to herd their cattle in areas that had not been cultivated.

Ossai said destruction of farm crops through grazing activities of the herd, the alleged ceaseless raiding and carting away of tubers of yam from the communities’ barns and the raping of women were the reasons the communities decided to request the herdsmen to relocate.

He said rather than comply with the request to relocate, the herdsmen allegedly ambushed and brutally murdered the two indigenes and inflicted gunshot injuries on the other 10 persons.

He also claimed that assault rifles and other sophisticated weapons were used “in the unprovoked and unwarranted attack.”

The House, presided over by Yakubu Dogara, urged the IG and all the relevant security agencies to investigate the incident with a view to bringing the culprit to book.

SARPA: From left— Abimbola Odubiyi, Deputy Chairman; Daniel Das, Coordinator; Jon Abass, Chairman; Ernest Edgar, Deputy Chairman; and Jerry Ehanmo, Secretrary, newly-elected executives of Southern African Revenue Protection Association, SARPA, Nigeria branch in Port Harcourt.

Senate Leadership: Ndume defeats Lawan in mock poll

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—EFFORTS to resolve the crisis over the choice of principal officers of All Progressives Congress, APC, ran into a stalemate yesterday night, even as Senator Ali Ndume defeated Senator Ahmad Lawan in a mock poll.

At the end of marathon meetings, party members from the North-East caucus of the party insisted on pushing forward their choice of Senator Ndume over the party ’s preferred Senator Lawan as Senate Leader, which was zoned to the North-East.

The insistence of APC North-East senators was despite efforts, including an intervention by the immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark, to break the logjam in the ruling party, which had seen senators aligned to Senate President Bukola Saraki reject the party’s list of candidates for the four principal offices on offer to the party.

Vanguard gathered that a list of the names of four senators chosen by the party, which had been with the Senate President, would have been announced alongside that of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senators today, but for the last minute rejection of Lawan by APC North-East caucus.

Principal Offices

APC, being the party with majority senators in the Red Chamber, is expected to produce Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip while the opposition PDP on

zPrincipal officers may emerge today the other hand, would produce Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.

At a mock poll conducted by senators of the North-East APC fold, Senator Ndume, representing Borno South, led Lawan, APC, Yobe North, with nine votes to two.

Mock poll fall-out

However, the poll was quickly dismissed by Lawan who said he was not part of it as he had no knowledge of the purported exercise.

The strong insistence by Senators Lawan and George Akume, who were not at the mock poll, not to recognise the outcome of the exercise and subsequent protest by his supporters against it, as well as reported personal phone call to Saraki by Senator Mark to handle the situation with caution, forced Senator Saraki, to immediately convene another meeting of APC senators.

Also at the mock election earlier, Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District, Professor Olusola Adeyeye, was unanimously endorsed by the South-West caucus of APC in the Red Chamber as the Chief Whip of the eighth Senate.

The need to have a senator from the South-South geopolitical zone among the principal officers had also led to the emergence of the Senator representing Edo North, Francis Alimikhena, as the Deputy Whip, during the mock poll.

His emergence was against the view of APC national leadership, which had initially nominated the senator representing Katsina South, Abu Ibrahim, as Deputy whip.

Vanguard gathered that it was resolved at an enlarged meeting with the governors, Monday night, that the only senator from the South-South should have the position.

Abu Ibrahim’s emergence as Deputy Whip would have a u t o m a t i c a l l y disenfranchised the SouthSouth geo-political zone from having a representative in the senate leadership.

Adeyeye’s name was on the list of principal officers approved by APC leadership as contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President and signed by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun, Tuesday.

North-East caucus

Vanguard gathered that 11 out of the 13 senators from the North-East, during their caucus meeting, voted in favour of Senator Ali Ndume as the Senate Leader.

The party had zoned the position to the North-East, but named Senator Lawan who lost out in the race for Senate President as its preferred candidate.

Also, the party’s choice for the post of Deputy Senate Leader, Senator George Akume, was said to have been rejected by the North-Central caucus of the party, who claimed that since one of

them had emerged as the Senate President, it would be fair and just to allow another zone take up the position.

Consequently, the North-West caucus also met, yesterday, and endorsed the candidature of Senator Ahmed Sani-Yerima, APC, Zamfara West, as the Deputy Leader.

‘Am not aware of any election’

When contacted, Lawan, dissociated himself from the election conducted by the NorthEast caucus, stressing that he would align himself with the position of the party.

He said: “I am not aware of any election. The party had spoken, it is now left for the Senate President to make the announcement.”

Earlier, at the floor of the Senate during plenary session, the move by leadership of APC to nominate party men for the remaining four leadership positions of the Senate meant for the party was rebuffed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun had on Monday, June 22, after series of meetings with the entire 59 APC senators in the senate, forwarded a written letter to the Senate President, in which Senators Ahmad Lawan, Yobe North, was nominated to be given the position of Senate Leader, while George Akume, Benue North-West, was recommended for the post of Deputy Senate Leader.

Others were Senator Olushola Adeyeye, Osun Central, nominated for Chief Whip and Abu Ibrahim, Katsina South, as Deputy Chief Whip.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015—51

Edo APC defends Oyegun against bribery allegation

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—EDO State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed, as a figment of the imagination of the authors, reports of bribery allegations, purportedly levelled against the National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun, by governors of the party.

State Publicity Secretary of the party, Godwin Erhahon, who spoke on the issue, yesterday, said: “The publication is a figment of the imagination of the author. We in Edo State, have been able to read the statement of the governors and the national chairman and there was no spelt-out allegation or call for resignation.”

According to the report , the eight APC governors, including Governor Adams Oshiomhole, were alleged to have held a meeting with the national chairman, where they expressed their displeasure over his “collecting gifts from Senator Bukola Saraki before the election, while pretending to” be in support of the party’s decision to cede the Senate Presidency to Senator Ahmed Lawan.

Although the National

Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had refuted the claims, Erhahon insisted that the state chapter of the party had assessed the outcome of the meeting, which he said did not border on the said allegation.

He said: “In any case, who can bribe the national chairman and what for? The emergence of the current Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives was something that was not expected. It took everybody by

surprise and the governor took his own position.

“Everybody is also aware that President Mohammadu Buhari told everyone to calm down and ensure that the matter was not allowed to break the party. So, at what level will bribery come in?”

KWA Ibom State Government, yesterday, said that the statement by All Progressives Congress, APC, on Governor Udom Emmanuel to declare his assets, was an admission of its acceptance that the governor was rightly voted into office by majority of the people of the state.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Ekerete Udoh, in a statement in Uyo, said “Let me on behalf of the five million people of Akwa Ibom State thank the APC for finally agreeing that elections did take place in Akwa Ibom State on April 11, and that Mr Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was massively and overwhelmingly voted into office as the governor of our dear state.

With this acknowledgement, I hope the APC can now join hands to build our state and support the programmes of the Emmanuel administration.

“Shortly after Governor Emmanuel was sworn-in, he hit the ground running and to show a total dedication to his main campaign promise of rapid industrialization, he has already set up a technical

C M Y K

By Festus Ahon

T

BRIEFING: From left: Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman, Heirs Holdings Limited, Mr. Tony Elumelu,; CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Parminder Vir and Group Director, Strategy, Heirs Holdings, Dr. Wiebe Boer, during a press conference held in Lagos yesterday.

A-Ibom SSG tells APC to join hands with Emmanuel

A

Shun divisive reports, Delta SSG urges journalists

committee for the realization of the Ibom Deep Seaport, made up of thorough-bred professionals, with the deadline for the completion put at 2018.

“APC should be worried over the deplorable conditions of

the citizens in states the party controls such as Osun, where workers have been owed salaries for months and the condition of living is dire, instead of manufacturing lies in an otherwise peaceful and tranquil state like Akwa Ibom

State, where Governor Emmanuel stays awake late into the night working on areas to surpass superior performance, and bring home the beacon,” the state added.

Inokoba challenges Dokubo-Spiff’s appointment as Bayelsa PDP acting Chair

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA — Suspended Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa State, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), has dragged the party before the state High Court, challenging the appointment of Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, as acting Chairman of the state PDP. The fresh suit is before the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri.

Inokoba in the suit is asking the court to nullify the appointment of an acting chairman as it was contrary to

the relevant sections of the PDP’s constitution.

There are two cases before the court on the issue YHC/86/ 2015 filed on June 15, 2015 and YHC/80/2015 filed on June 8, 2015.

The cases were filed after an earlier one was withdrawn.

In the new suits, Inokoba is praying the ourt to declare the action of the PDP Disciplinary Committee headed by Mr. Cleopas Moses null and void for contravening the party’s constitution.

Inokoba, is also seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st to 10th defendants which

includes Governor Seriake Dickson and AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kemasuode Wodu, from making any further investigation into alleged misconduct against him pending the determination of the substantive suits.

Meanwhile, Col Inokoba (rtd), has alleged that the life of his lead counsel, Dr.Sylvanus Abila, is under threat.

He said that Dr.Abila now receives strange calls on his GSM phone lines and is being trailed by certain unknown faces in Yenagoa.

HE Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr Ovie Agas, has tasked journalists to shun divisive reports and give prominence to issues that would promote peace and unity among the people.

Agas, a Mass Communications graduate and trained journalist, said sensationalism and falsehood have no place in journalism as an agent of social renaissance.

Speaking during a visit by the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, led by its chairman, Norbert Chiazor, the SSG said negative reporting was detrimental to a multi ethnic state like Delta, which required cohesiveness, tolerance and spirit of oneness to thrive.

He noted that jaundiced reporting could cause intercommunal hatred and hostilities and urged the media to play a unifying role by ensuring c o n s t r u c t i v e engagement.

He advised journalists to be more ethical and professional by ensuring that their stories were properly authenticated, balanced and objective for the credibility of their medium and personal integrity.

Agas pledged that Delta State Government would meaningfully partner journalists for the actualisation of the five-point development agenda of the Okowa administration tagged SMART. Earlier, the Council Chairman, Norbert Chiazor thanked the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for the wise choice in appointing, Mr Agas as SSG and described him as an outstanding mass communication scholar and administrator poised to make the state proud.

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

By Prisca Sam-Duru

I

F you’ve ever watched the behind the scenes of any movie, be it local or international, you would discover among other things, that the cast, irrespective of their level of professionalism, usually miss their lines or bust out laughing at some point, resulting in the retake of that particular scene. You would be surprised to find out that just a scene could be retaken several times before the director is satisfied.

It is amazing how pupils and students of Childville School, Ogudu GRA, Lagos, end up reenacting best-selling plays by renowned Nigerian authors, without missing their lines. Not even the applause, laughter or noise from the capacity filled hall, distract them from delivering and making both their school and crew members proud.

Since the maiden edition of the schools’ stage play, which began with Professor Chinua Achebe’s Things all Apart, and in the second year, Professor Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not To Blame etc, The Childville School has not fallen short of thrilling their large audience with outstanding outings.

The 2015 edition of the annual performance which took place last Friday, June 19th, at the Agip Recital Hall of the Muson Centre, Lagos, saw the children, entertaining Lagosians with a pulsating performance of Don Pedro Obaseki’s, Agho Obaseki. And as usual, the play was directed

•A scene from Agho Obaseki, at the Muson Centre, Lagos

Agho Obaseki... The Childville in panoramic display of Benin cultures by veteran stage director and teacher, Gboyega Jerome. With the stage well designed by the duo of Felix Kolawole and Kehinde Kalejaiye, to clearly distinguish the colonial masters’ territory from the Benin

With songs, dances and traditional attires of the Benin kingdom, the play brought out the beauty in African cultures

Kingdom, songs, dances and traditional attires of the Benin kingdom, and continuous use of proverbs, Agho Obaseki brought out the beauty in African cultures.

Following the fall of Benin kingdom in 1897 to the British resulting in the exile of Oba Ovoramwen N’Ogbaisi to Calabar, the British transfered power to Obaseki, the ambitious chief of the Benin kingdom instead of crowning the heir to the throne, Aghobasimwin.

Obaseki traded history with ambition in total disregard for the rule of law that places so much respect on seniority. 17

Years of Obaseki's reign, was marked by conflicts and intrigues.

The play which had about 75 cast, also exposes the resistance put up against the British especially through maintenance of the people’s culture. At some point the Reverend sister who is being used by the British to get the loyalty of the people lamented that after Sunday worship, the people go back to their shrines.

Obaseki, played by Ayomide Adejuwon, who turns into a stooge of the British, begins ruling the people with an iron fist. He maltreats his subjects just to please the colonial

Etisalat calls for entries for 2015 literary prize

By Prisca Sam-Duru

C M Y K

Curtain falls on 2015 Creative Writing Workshop

By Tare Youdeowei & Mildred Ibrahim

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E

tisalat Nigeria, organisers of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, has announced the call for entries to the 2015 edition of the Prize.

The literary prize which is in its third year, is the first ever Pan African prize that celebrates debut African writers of published fiction.

The prize accepts submitted works which must be a writer ’s first work of fiction over 30,000 words, and published within the last 24 months. Etisalat Prize will also launch the online based flash fiction prize later in the year to engage the rising stars of fiction.

This year ’s judges are Nigerian Journalist and literary critic Molara Wood, Kenyan Writer Zukiswa Warner, while Ghanaian Writer and Professor of English, Ato Quayson serves as Chair of the judging panel.

masters to ensure he is crowned King of the Benin.

After eating, he washes his hands and wipes them on the head and body of one of his messengers. He judges matters between spouses and without giving the man the privilege of a fair hearing, divorces them and takes the woman as one of his wives.

Little wonder Obaseki had 8 wives while the Oba had only two.

As fate will have it, Her Majesty betrays Obaseki and Aighobasimwin, acted by Iniobong Inyang, who is the rightful heir to the throne is crowned king.

R-L: Omolara Woods, Mathew Willsher, Wanner and Francesco Angelou at the briefing in Lagos.

The winner receives a cash prize of £15,000 in addition to a fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia under the mentorship of the award-winning author, Professor Giles Foden. The winner will also receive a sponsored three-city book tour while the two other shortlisted writers will receive a sponsored two-city book tour to promote their books.

In order to encourage publishers to accept works by

first time writers, the Etisalat Prize for Literature supports publishers by purchasing 1000 copies of the shortlisted books for distribution within the continent.

Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher told newsmen that “The Etisalat Prize for Literature serves as a platform for the discovery of new creative writing talents out of the African continent, adding that “The prize is designed to foster writing in Africa, bring exciting new African writers to the attention of a wider audience, and promote the reading culture.”

he annual Nigerian Breweries/Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop came to a grand close on Friday, June 26, 2015 with a Literary Evening at the Oriental Hotel Lagos.

The 2015 edition of the workshop which commenced on Tuesday June 16, 2015 trained 25 aspiring writers on different perspectives to the art of storytelling. It took the form of a class where participants were assigned a wide range of reading exercises, as well as daily writing exercises by facilitators led by Nigeria’s celebrated international writer, Chimamanda Adichie and co-facilitated by Kenya’s Caine Prize winner Binyavanga Wainaina and Norway’s culture administrator and director of the Oslo House of Literature, Aslak Sire Myhre.

Since its inception in 2009, Nigerian Breweries has sponsored the Creative Writing Workshop in partnership with Farafina Trust. The Workshop has helped discover and sharpen literary skills in Nigeria. It has trained over 120 creative writers and has featured several international writers. The list of international writers include; Jeffery Allen, a Professor of English at Queens College of the City University of New York and an instructor in the Writing Program at The New School. Robert Spillman, Editor of Tin House, a ten-year-old bi-coastal (Brooklyn, New York and Portland, Oregon) literary magazine and others.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 53

Being real in ‘Original self’ – Babalola experience

By Chris Onuoha

By Prisca Sam-Duru

T

ELLING life stories through visual perspective can be intriguing.

Perhaps, this accounts for reason this Oshogbo trained artist Babalola Lawson, whose latest effort, built up in his 5th solo exhibition which opened from June 6 to June 22 at MoorHouse in Ikoyi, speaks more of it.

The former dancer with strong passion for painting made good of his focus, dropped other interests and pursued painting vigorously which has brought him to limelight in the visual art circle.

In his 18 piece pen and ink acrylic base paintings on canvass, Lawson lavishly explored the medium to express his innate creative ingenuity, hence, aptly titled ‘Original Self ’.

Having participated in several group and solo exhibitions both local and international, Lawson is not relenting in making bold statements with his unique style, although the traditional motifs are visible in his works as a sign of an Oshogbo protégé.

The works on display depicts an absolute pull out from the known Oshogbo style. And having trained under Rufus Ogundele and Femi Johnson at Oshogbo school, Babalola believes that artists are trained to create a signature style while leveraging on the mentors’ tutelage. Lawson said he draws inspiration from things within his sphere; political, social and general interest topics.

“In this exhibition, I tried to break out from old Oshogbo art to the modern. I created my own style from what I learned from the Oshogbo school and people appreciate it a lot.

Some collectors and curators encouraged and inspired me by noting that for me to be different from the pure traditional Oshogbo art form, it is wonderful and good. I tried to modernize art by fusing new elements, to depict the change of time. My medium is pen, ink and acrylic base colours in stylization. You can also pick the Oshogbo influence from my work especially the motifs but the rest of the representations are my style and creation.

There is no personalized dominant colour in my work except as they appeal to me when focusing on the message I am trying to pass on - green for vegetation and life, blue for peace and orderliness while red and hot colours depicts violence, moral decadence and bloodshed”, he said.

“Out of several works on display, one particular painting is of interest titled, ‘creatures of the night’. The work is about

Danmaraya Jos: Exit of iconic folk musician with Agency reports

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•One of the works by the artist people with double character who when you tends to trust them, turns out to be fake, dubious and unfriendly. It also reflects the decadence among young ladies who comports and behaves well at daytime but turns to be ‘flower of the night’ at dark time.

The concept elicits societal ills, and the message therein construes change of orientation and life perception towards a positive change in the society.”

Babalola who also spoke on critical issues concerning the creative industry said, “It’s sad to note that we don’t have a functional art museum in the country which will help artist to showcase their works.

When you compare Nigeria with other parts of the world,

Out of several works on display, one particular painting is of interest titled, creatures of the night

•Babalola Lawson you see that our existing museums are like store house for dumped artifacts and not a hub for art works. Even other African countries dazzle me with their museum culture which attracts tourists from Europe and America.

In my view, I would strongly encourage the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to look inwards and reposition our museums with a good art village where art can flourish uncensored. Having given credence to tourism as one of the economic boosters, art is the platform under which tourism flourishes. If the right person is appointed as minister of art and culture, I mean, a practicing art person, not an administrator who may not understand the plights and basic needs of artist, then situation in the art sector will change for good.”

ly about the Unity of the North and of one Nigeria.

“We shared many moments.

He was to me a brother and a friend. I am devastated. But I am proud he lived a very useful life, transforming society through music and silently through Islamic endeavours.

He was a recipient of the National Honours of MON, OON and United Nations Peace Medal.”eriki Adinoyi in Jos According to Salihu, the musician’s last known public performance was at the Peoples Democratic Party’s fund-raising dinner in Abuja before the 2015 general election, “where he performed brilliantly and earned handshakes of the then President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and other dignitaries at the event after his performance.

Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has expressed shock over the sudden demise of the late musician In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs Turaki Hassan, Dogara said the North and indeed Nigeria has lost one of its most talented sons.”Danmaraya‘s sudden death came to me as a shock and I want to use this medium to condole with the Danmaraya family, the government and people of Plateau State and all Nigerians over this irreparable loss”, the statement added.

According to the speaker, late Danmaraya has written his name in gold in the annals of Nigeria’s history as a talented musician, peot and a philosopher.

HE news about the passing of Adamu Wayya, best known as Danmaraya Jos, one of Nigeria’s foremost Hausa musicians, poet, philosopher and philanthropist, broke last week, robbing the entertainment industry of yet another icon.

Dan Maraya Jos, who was aged 69 was born Adamu Wayya in 1946 as a Nigerian Hausa Griot best known for playing the kontigi. Dan Maraya Jos, whose name means “The Little Orphan of Jos”, was born in 1946 and Died Saturday, 20 June 2015 in B’ukur, near Jos in Plateau State, Nigeria. His Islamic name is Adamu, but his father died shortly after his birth and his mother died while he was still an infant, hence the name by which everyone knows him.

Dan Maraya’s father was a court musician for the Emir of Bukur, who took Dan Maraya under his care when his parents died. Dan Maraya showed an early interest in music and came under the influence of local professional musicians. During a trip to Maiduguri while he was still a pre-teen, he was impressed by musicians there and made a kuntigi, a small, singlestringed lute, with which he has accompanied himself ever since.

“Like most professional musicians, the mainstay of Dan Maraya’s repertoire is praise singing, but Dan Maraya singles out his personal heros rather than the rich and famous. His first, and perhaps Like most professtill his most famous song is sional musicians, “Wak’ar Karen Mota” “Song of the Driver’s Mate” in praise the mainstay of Dan of the young men who get pasMaraya’s repertoire sengers in and out of minivan buses and do the dirty work of is praise singing, changing tires, pushing brobut Dan Maraya ken down vans, and the like.

During the Nigerian Civil War, singles out his perhe composed numerous songs in praise of soldiers of the fedsonal heros rather eral army and incorporated than the rich and vivid accounts of scenes from the war in his songs. famous He is also famous for numerous campaigns against the practice of families arranging marriages for their daughters rather than allowing them make their choice of life partners.

His demise was announced by his close friend and associate, Mallam Ladan Salihu, a zonal director at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria at about 4 pm on Saturday.

“He died in Jos after a protracted illness. When I visited him two weeks •Late Dan Maraya Jos ago, he spoke passionate-

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Tanker drivers partner FRSC to minimise accidents

By Godwin Oritse

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HE Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has concluded plans to partner Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, with a view to reducing accidents on the roads.

PTD President, Mr. Salimotu Oladiti, disclosed this at the end of a national summit on haulage operations in Sokoto.

According to Oladiti, a plan to have both tanker drivers and the leadership of the union get continuous training on how to manage haulage business has been put in place.

He said: “There will be an on-the-job training and retraining of our members and a continuous leadership training for our leaders.”

TECH TOUR: From left— Ade Akinlade, Enterprise Account Manager; Jean Panc-Pinto, District Sales Manager, Print and Personal Systems, PPS, Africa, both of Hewlett-Packard, HP; Nike Animashaun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Lagos State; David Rozzio, Commercial Director, Middle East and Mediterranean Africa; and Emmanuel Eze, Public Sector Account Manager, both of HP, at the opening of HP Technology Tour 2015 in Lagos.

FUEL TANKER TRAGEDIES: Senate summons NNPC on state of refineries

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA— MOVED by cases of fuel tanker

tragedies across the country, which have led to loss of lives and property, Senate yesterday summoned the management of Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation, NNPC, to appear before it to explain the state of the nation’s refineries.

The Senate has also urged the Federal Government to revamp the existing refineries as well as create the enabling environment for private refineries, just as it asked the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to organise regular training for tanker drivers to reduce, to the barest minimal, the rate of tanker tragedies on the country’s highways.

These were some of the resolutions reached by senators during contributions to a motion by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Lagos East, on fuel tanker tragedies at yesterday ’s plenary session.

According to the Senate, “NNPC will be summoned to come and give account of the state of our refineries and all such structures and Federal Government must create the enabling environment for private refineries to be established and thrive.”

The motion, according to Senator Ashafa, was cosponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos Central; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Abia South; Senator Philip Aduda, FCT; Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Osun West; Senator Adeola Solomon Olamilekan, Lagos West and Senator Bukola Saraki.

A minute of silence

The senators, who observed one minute silence in honour of those that have lost their lives in tanker accidents across the country, said the spate of

fuel tanker explosion on the highways was getting serious by the day and once again raising the questions about what had become of the rail-line projects of past administrations as an alternative route to Nigerian highways.

According to the senators, within the space of one week, four fuel tankers accident occurred in Nigeria’s two major cities, claiming lives and destroying property.

They cited the Onitsha case, which claimed over 70 lives at Upper Iweka, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State and that while the inferno raged, men of the fire service arrived late at the scene.

In his contribution, Senate President, Bukola Saraki described the motion as timely and germane as it concerns loss of lives and property.

He stressed that it had become imperative for the Federal Government to create the enabling environment for the private sector to key into establishment of refineries as it would help to address the problems associated with the oil sector.

Senator Saraki, however, said if the problem must be solved, the downstream sector which comprises NNPC, refineries, among others must be deregulated.

Earlier in the motion entitled Tanker Tragedies on Nigeria’s Highways, Senator Gbenga Ashafa had said that the Senate, “notes with serious concern the spate of fuel tanker explosions on our highways, which is getting curious by the day and once again raising the questions about what has become of the rail line projects of past administrations as an alternative route to Nigerian highways.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 55

BOKO HARAM: FG probes Amnesty

International's allegation against military A

The permanent secretary, however, said that consistent with the State of Emergency imposed on the three states worst-hit by Boko Haram, namely Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, the military had some powers.

According to him, the state of emergency empowered the military to arrest, interrogate and detain any civilian actively involved in terrorist activities.

“In Nigeria, as in other regions

BUJA—THE Federal Government has constituted an investigation panel into allegations leveled against the Nigerian military by Amnesty International.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bulus Lolo.

Lolo, in the statement, described the allegations leveled against the military as “serious.”

“Due to the magnitude of the allegations, the President Buhariled government is looking into the report with a view to establishing the fact of the matter.

“The government has, therefore, instituted an investigation and assures that there will be no cover-up,” he said.

The permanent secretary also said that the military, conscious of its constitutional mandate, had undertaken an ongoing investigation into the allegations of wrongdoing by its personnel.

Lolo said the military, in line with its training, ensured the highest level of professionalism by its officers in the conduct of its operations.

He pointed out that the Nigerian military operations, both internally and internationally, had earned it well-deserved respect.

where terrorists have unleashed their evil acts without respect for morality, extreme measures are sometimes required to contain extremism.

“It is a well-known fact that Boko Haram respects no laws at all, including sacred religious laws that the group claims to cherish.

“We find it nonetheless very worrisome that Amnesty International has yet to

comment on the horrendous, mindless and ruinous activities of Boko Haram.”

Lolo noted, however, that “indeed, the victims of Boko Haram’s despicable activities deserve justice and sympathy.”

According to him, the Federal Government is deeply concerned about the rights and the safety of all Nigerians adding, “it will ensure that the culprits are brought to book."

OPENING: From left, Amodu Yusuf, new Business Manager, Mopheth Group, partners of Adidas Nigeria, John Raoul (Skales), and Kunle Oyegade, GMD, Mopheth Group, at the opening of the GRA Ikeja Adidas outlet, in Lagos, yesterday.

‘Global cyber-crime now worth $1trn' Sullivan identified the

By Prince Osuagwu, in Sullivan said: “They actors in the hacking have Limpopo, South Africa software

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IMPOPO (SOUTH AFRICA)—GLOBAL internet security hackers are growing a negative cyber-crime market estimated at over $1trillion dollars.

This is even as the internet security market itself is valued at about $95 billion with a compound Growth Rate, CAGR, of 8.4 per cent between 2015 and 2018.

Cisco’s Head of architecture and engineering for emerging markets, Mr Den Sullivan made the revelation yesterday at the One Africa Partner Forum in Limpopo, South Africa.

Sullivan who delivered a paper titled: “Serious about security: Cisco security innovations fuel growth” said that hacking has become a big industry.

He said: “I think the term industrialization is the perfect description for what is going on in the market.

It connotes the mechanization, the sophistication of a highly organized adversary.”

business as nation states, hacktivists and cyber criminals, whose focus are government to government hacking and country to industry hacking.

Hacktivists are anonymous groups who use their social and political agendas as the motivation for their hacking while cyber criminals have achieved some level of sophistication that is unparalleled in history.

development and quality teams, they own every piece of security software in the market and develop very effective evasion techniques to exploit vulnerabilities. All of these adversaries are well financed; intelligent, sophisticated and very motivated. This is what we are up against.

“I think the figure of $95 billion estimated security market falls far short of the

true opportunity, but it is a market where Cisco is truly going big. We have hired over 1, 000 engineers in this field in the last few months and we are still hiring more engineers.

“Back in the 90’s, attacks were very simple - viruses and worms, and web defacing but today, the attackers have been increasing their sophistication, to the extent thatourcustomersarefacingapps or the advanced persistent, targeted threats.”

Smile Communications powers Metrotaxi with free WiFi

By Emeka Aginam

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A G O S — 4 G / LT E broadband provider, Smile Communications Nigeria Ltd, has activated free WiFi in over 200 Metro-taxis in Lagos.

The feat is consequent upon the consummation of the partnership between Smile Communications and popular auto service firm, Metro-taxi.

The Chief Marketing

Officer, Smile Communications, Mrs. Alero Ladipo, who spoke at the official announcement of the partnership described the feat as a partnership designed to redefine life style among Metro-taxi passengers.

She said the partnership was in line with Smile’s philosophy as the broadband provider of choice in Nigeria and will enable

the teeming customers of Metro-taxi to fully benefit from the internet world.

She said: “Smile Communications Nigeria Ltd is uniquely famous for its transformative objective of using the best and most innovative technologies to provide its customers with high quality, easy to use and a f f o r d a b l e communication services.”

Covenant varsity graduates 1,315; 104 make first class

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A N G O - O TA — COVE N A N T University, Ota, Ogun State, yesterday, said that it would graduate a total of 1,315 students, with 104 bagging First Class Degree.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Charles Ayo, said this at a media briefing ahead of the institution’s 10th convocation.

Ayo said the event was for the award of first and higher degrees in various disciplines in the institution.

He said that of the 1,315 students, 610 others would be graduating in the Second Class Upper Division, while 510 will be graduating in the Second Class Lower Division.

According to him, 91 others would be graduating in the Third Class Division.

The VC said that the institution would also be graduating 135 postgraduate students during the ceremony.

He said that the number of this year ’s first class graduates was an improvement on the 82 the institution produced at the 2014 convocation.

56— VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 25 , 2015

Obama reassures France

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France denounces US spying on presidents T

HE French government has denounced as “unacceptable” reports that the US wiretapped current leader Francois Hollande and former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the office of the French president said it “will not tolerate any acts, which jeopardise its safety and the protection of its interest”.

“Commitments were made by the US authorities,” the Elysee Palace said in a statement, referring to promises by the US in late 2013 not to spy on France’s leaders.

“They must be remembered and strictly respected.”

The statement followed a meeting of France’s defence council called by President Hollande in response to the release of the documents by WikiLeaks on Tuesday.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has also summoned the US ambassador to France, Jane Hartley, for a

•Mitterrand Wednesday afternoon meeting to discuss the report.

Opposition leader Marine Le Pen also said the wiretapping incidents prove that the US is not an ally of France, and called for suspension of trade talks with Washington DC. French newspaper Liberation and the Mediapart website reported on Tuesday that the spying spanned 2006 to 2012, quoting documents classed as “Top Secret” which include five reports from the US National Security Agency based on intercepted

Pope supports separation

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OPE Francis said yesterday that it may be “morally necessary” for some families to split up, marking a change of tone in the Catholic Church’s attitude to troubled marriages.

“There are cases in which separation is inevitable,” he said during his weekly general audience, with a message hoping to encourage greater compassion in the Church ahead of a highly anticipated global meeting on family life in October.

“Sometimes, it can even be morally necessary, when it’s about shielding the weaker spouse or young children from the more serious wounds caused by intimidation and violence, humiliation and exploitation,” he said.

Francis said there were many families in “irregular situations” and the question should be how to best help them, and “how to accompany them so that the child does not become daddy or mummy ’s hostage.”

Greece bailout meeting continues today

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ITH major differences remaining between Greece and its creditors, eurozone finance ministers cut short a meeting on Greece’s proposals to avoid a default and planned to meet again today.

Before the finance ministers’ short meeting, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had held long talks with key creditors but apparently failed to reach a compromise over what kind of reforms the country should make in return for

much-needed loans.

Greece has promised mainly tax increases to achieve budget savings, whereas the International Monetary Fund would like more spending cuts. Tsipras rejected the creditors’ suggestions.

“The Greek side is unable to agree on such a course,” a Greek government official said after Tsipras assessed the proposals, which included fresh cuts in public sector payrolls and a timetable to scrap a pension safety net fund.

•Sarkozy communications.

The most recent document is dated May 22, 2012, just days before Hollande took office, and

•Hollande reveals that the French leader “approved holding secret meetings in Paris to discuss the eurozone crisis.

.S. President Barack Obama reaffirmed in a phone call with his French counterpart Francois Hollande yesterday Wa s h i n g t o n ’ s commitment to end spying practices deemed “unacceptable” by its allies.

The presidents’ conversation, announced

by Hollande’s office, came after transparency lobby group WikiLeaks revealed on Tuesday that U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) had spied on the last three French presidents.

The latest revelations of espionage among Western allies came after it emerged that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) had spied on Germany and that Germany ’s own BND intelligence agency had cooperated with the NSA to spy on officials and

companies elsewhere in Europe.

“President Obama reiterated unequivocally his firm commitment ... to end the practices that may have happened in the past and that are considered unacceptable among allies,” the French president’s office said.

Hollande had earlier held an emergency meeting of his ministers and army commanders and the U.S. ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry. interests,” an earlier statement from the president’s office said, adding it was not the first time allegations of U.S. spying on French interests had surfaced.

A senior French intelligence official will travel to the United States to discuss the matter and strengthen cooperation between the two countries, Hollande’s office said.

NATO rules out arms race with Russia T

HE head of NATO said yesterday the alliance would not be forced into a new arms race with Russia but that what he called Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine had compelled it to strengthen its defenses.

The United States announced plans this week to station tanks and heavy weapons in NATO member states on Russia’s border, shortly after President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would add 40 missiles to its nuclear arsenal.

“We will not be dragged into an arms race, but we must keep our countries safe,” NATO SecretaryGeneral Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at the start of a meeting of alliance defense ministers.

A Russian official last week accused NATO of pushing Russia into an arms race by stepping up its military activity around its borders, not least in the formerly Soviet Baltic States.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, attending his first NATO ministerial meeting, said on Tuesday the Baltic states - Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia - as well as Bulgaria, Romania and Poland had agreed to host the U.S. arms and heavy equipment.

It was one of a range of steps the United States and NATO are taking to reinforce allies in eastern Europe after Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region last year and what NATO says is Russia’s military support for separatists in eastern

Ukraine.

Stoltenberg said the U.S. decision to store

heavy weaponry in eastern Europe was a defensive measure and

rejected suggestions that it could be a provocative step.

Hillary Clinton riding high in latest poll

H

ILLARY Rodham Clinton is on track to become the first woman president of America, according to a WallStreet Journal/NBC News poll.

The poll was taken earlier this month in the days following Mrs. Clinton’s first official campaign rally. The results show that she is favored to win both the Democratic primary and the 2016 presidential election.

Three-quarters of Democratic primary voters said Clinton was their top pick to win the primary.

Her closest Democratic rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders got just 15 percent in the poll.

Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley were picked by less than 5 percent of respondents.

Ninety-two percent of Democratic primary voters said they could see

themselves supporting Clinton.

•Hillary Clinton

Boston bomber shows remorse, gets death sentence

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N a startling turn, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev rose to his feet and apologized to the victims and their loved ones for the first time yesterday just before a

judge formally sentenced him to death.

“I am sorry for the lives that I’ve taken, for the suffering that I’ve caused you, for the damage that I’ve done — irreparable damage,” the 21-year-old

college student said in his Russian accent, breaking more than two years of public silence.

To the victims, he said: “I pray for your relief, for your healing.”

Pakistan heatwave death toll climbs to 800

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HE death toll from a severe heatwave in southern Pakistan is edging towards 800, with the threat of more deaths to come as temperatures remain unseasonably high for the fourth consecutive day, officials said.

At least 775 people have died of heatstroke, dehydration or other heat-related illnesses in Karachi, the country’s

largest city, since Saturday, according to government figures.

“The mortuary is overflowing, they are piling bodies one on top of the other,” said Dr Seemin Jamali, a senior official at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the city’s largest government hospital.

“We are doing everything that is

humanly possible here,” she said, adding that since Saturday, the JPMC had seen more than 5,000 patients with heat-related symptoms. Of those, 384 patients had died, she said.

“Until Tuesday night, it was unbelievable. We were getting patients coming into the emergency ward every minute,” she said.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 25 , 2015 — 57

Al Shabah breaches Ramadan, bombs Emirati officials in Somalia A

car bomb targeting a bulletproof vehicle carrying diplomats from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has killed at least 12 people, including four Somali soldiers, in Mogadishu.

Local officials said that the Emiratis were unharmed.

In a statement to released yesterday, the armed group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for yesterday’s attack in Mogadishu. “We targeted a vehicle carrying the enemies of Somalia,” Abdulaziz Abu Muscab said.

Muscab later told the Reuters new agency that the attack targetted UAE nationals. They were military trainers, Hussein Afrah, a Somali military officer, told Reuters, confirming the intended targets were not hurt.

The explosion happened near a defence ministry hospital and

•Stranded Palestinians at Gaza border.

Egypt opens Gaza crossing for third time in a month

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•Al Shabaab breaches the holy month of Ramadan. heavy gunfire was heard soon afterwards. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as civilians fled through nearby alleys while soldiers fired in the air to prevent a crowd from gathering. Civilians carried victims to nearby hospitals.

“The explosion was very heavy and it destroyed the pick-up

truck,” said Hassan Bile, an eyewitness.

Nick Kay, the United Nations envoy to Somalia, condemned the “utterly cruel” attack, saying he had spoken to the UAE ambassador, Mohamed Al Osmani, who was not harmed in the explosion.

Al-Shabab has vowed to step up attacks against

the government of Somalia during the month of Ramadan. Since the start of Ramadan, there have been at least 10 assassinations in the capital targeting government officials.

Somalia has been wracked by instability since the collapse of Siad Barre’s hardline regime in 1991.

Al Bashir: S/African court seeks indictment of Zuma

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•Al Shabaab addressing supporters in Khartoun.

South African court yesterday urged prosecutors to consider criminal charges over the government’s failure to prevent Sudanese President Omar Bashir from leaving the country in defiance of a court order.

Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on genocide charges, flew out of Pretoria last week after attending a meeting of

Ebola cases persist in Guinea, Sierra Leone

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the African Union despite a judge’s ruling barring his departure.

Judge Dunstan Mlambo said in the Pretoria High Court that if the government ignored the principles of the rule of law and its constitutional obligations, democracy would collapse. The government has argued that because Bashir was attending a summit of the African Union he had immunity from arrest.

But the judge, presenting reasons for the court’s order barring Bashir’s departure, disagreed.

“The Rome Statute (of the ICC) expressly provides that heads of states do not enjoy immunity under its terms,” he said.

ESPITE hopes that where the Ebola outbreak who have come into conthe deadly Ebola was first reported in tact with Ebola but have outbreak could soon be March 2014. Impending not been identified, they contained in West Africa, presidential elections go to another village and it shows no signs of abat- could make it even worse. only then develop the “Ebola is on the rise symptoms of Ebola and ing in Guinea and may be flaring up once more again because of popu- then contaminate othin Sierra Leone as peo- lation movements. Peo- ers.” ple are flouting rules lim- ple move from one place iting travel meant to stop to another,” said Dr. Amadou Talibe, an Ebo- UN peacekeepers face new sex it.

The election in Guinea la response team worker abuse claims in CAR in October adds a new in Dubreka, 30 kilomHE U N p e a c e tral African Republic layer of worry for Guine- eters (19 miles) north of keeping contin- are accused of sexualans and health workers, capital, Conakry. “People gent serving in the Cen- ly abusing street chilwith some residents saydren in Bangui, a UN ing that campaign spokesman has said. events, in which people UN Secretary-Genercrowd together, shouldn’t al Ban Ki-moon’s be held yet. spokesperson The deadly virus, which Stephane Dujarric said has killed over 11,100 the latest incident was people mostly in West Afthe third case of alrica in its worst outbreak leged child sexual ever, has been stamped abuse involving peaceout in neighboring Libekeepers in the CAR to ria, but is hanging on have surfaced in recent stubbornly in Guinea, •Team of health workers in Dubreka, near Conakry. months.

T

GYPT opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip Tuesday, a Palestinian official said, allowing the delivery of cement supplies into the badly destroyed territory.

The move, which also allowed Palestinians to leave and enter Gaza, came almost a year after the outbreak of a bloody and destructive 50-day war between Israel and militant organisation Hamas, with tens of thousands of homes still in ruins.

Egyptian authorities have now opened the crossing three times during the last month, mak-

ing officials in Gaza hopeful that Cairo might ease restrictions on movement to and from the coastal enclave.

Until last year, Palestinians were able to leave via Rafah, but since October the frontier has been closed as Cairo struggles with a growing insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula, for which it partly blames Islamist militants in Gaza.

Restrictions across the border have also been tight since the 2013 overthrow in Cairo of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, whose Muslim Brotherhood organisation is an ally of Hamas.

Eritrea protects UN investigators

S

WITZERLAND has given police protection to three UN investigators into Eritrea’s human rights record after a top official said they had received threats on the streets of Geneva and at their hotel.

The security measure was put in place on Wednesday, a day after the UN commission started a two-day testimony before the Geneva-based council on Tuesday.

Joachim Ruecker, the president of the council, said on Tuesday that the investigators had been subjected to “ various threats and acts of intimidation in their hotel and in the streets since their arrival in Geneva”.

He did not give details but said security had been

redoubled, Eritrea’s police had been contacted and security measures had been taken to ensure the council meeting could go on “with calm and dignity”.

Sheila Keetharuth, one member of the commission, said the threats were “specific” but declined to give details.

A Reuters witness saw Swiss police guarding the team even though the meeting was held within the United Nations compound in Geneva.

The inquiry ’s report published earlier this month showed human rights violations in Eritrea that may amount to crimes against humanity, including extrajudicial killings, widespread torture and enforced labour.

Mozambique, Angola mark 40 years of independence from Lisbon

M

OZAMBIQUE and Angola this year mark four decades of independence from Portugal, with robust economic growth rates buoyed by abundant natural resources giving the southern African nations reason to celebrate.

A prime investment destination following the recent discovery of huge natural gas and coal deposits, Mozambique will be the first to mark its freedom on Thursday.

Meanwhile Angola, Africa’s second-biggest crude oil producer, will

commemorate its independence anniversary on November 11.

In a sharp contrast to the long civil wars that ravaged both the ex-colonies — pitting Marxist regimes against guerrillas backed by apartheidera South Africa -– they recently saw an influx of Portuguese job seekers.

Even as an AK47 automatic rifle adorns the multi-coloured Mozambican national flag, relations between Lisbon and Maputo are now “excellent”, says Portugal’s ambassador Jose Augusto Duarte.

58— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Transfer Talks...Transfer Talks...Transfer Talks...

Stoke fans want Moses to stay on S

TOKE City fans have made it clear they wish to have Nigeria forward Victor Moses back at the Britannia Stadium next season on a permanent deal.

In an opinion poll on Vital Stoke, 80% of them said they hope Victor Moses becomes a Stoke player permanently.

The Nigeria international played on loan last season at the Britannia

Stadium, where he scored four goals in 24 games.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is yet to decide on the winger’s future and his wage may also be stumbling block to a permanent deal.

Latest reports suggest Stoke will be happy to swap goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to Chelsea with Victor Moses and some cash coming in the opposite direction.

Real Madrid plot £21m bid for Arsenal’s Koscielny

R

EAL Madrid are preparaing a €30m (£21.5m) bid for Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny according to France Football.

Bernabeu boss Rafa Benitez sees the experienced French international as a possible replacement for Sergio Ramos (Via Daily Express) though Arsene Wenger is sure to fight off any move for Koscielny.

The 29 year old is arguably Wenger’s most consistent defensive performer and a player who also brings out the best in centre-back partner Per Mertesacker.

Arsenal signed Koscielny from Lorient in July 2010 and he has made 201 appearances for the North London side and is a pivot-

al member of an Emirates Stadium side that is beginning to turn the corner.

•Moses

Inter, Juventus battle for Salah

I

TALIAN giants In ter Milan and Juventus are both keen on tying up deals for Chelsea attacking duo Mohamed Salah and Juan Cuadrado, according to Tuttosport.

Salah, who impressed during the second half of last season on loan at Fiorentina, has been attracting serious interest from Inter boss Roberto Mancini.

Sportsmail understands Inter have offered £1.4million for a season-long loan plus £15.6m to make Salah’s move permanent in June 2016.

The 23-year-old’s representatives are due to meet with Fiorentina on Wednesday though as

Wes een on Samm estt Brom k keen Sammyy Ameobi loan

'T

HE Baggies’ already have Victor Anichebe and Brown Ideye in their squad and they may have to settle for a loan deal for a third Nigerian and Newcastle United forward Sammy Ameobi.

Former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is eager to add better attacking options to his squad and has identified Sammy Ameobi as a suitable player, according to media

reports.

Though Ameobi has been offered new contract by Newcastle, but his future remains uncertain as the 23year-old forward wants a club where he will get more playing time so as to actualise his dream of playing for Nigeria.

Everton, Wolves and Burnley are also interested in signing him.

He played on loan at Middlesbrough in February 2013.

they try and persuade the Egyptian to join the club on a permanent basis, amidst rising interest from elsewhere.

Stuttgart confirm signing of PSV goalkeeper

B

UNDESLIGA club VFB Stuttgart have confirmed the signing of PSV Eindhoven keeper PrzemysBaw Tyton.

The move comes after the German club’s previous keeper Sven Ulreich moved to Bayern Munich. The 28 year old has signed a two year deal at the Mercedes Benz Arena.

This is what the Polish stopper had to say about his move,”I am delighted to be at VfB – it’s a fantastic club with amazing fans and a long tradition. I want to prove my quality here and earn further caps with the national team based on my club performances.”

Schalke complete Caiçara signing

S

CHALKE’S hunt for a new right-back is over, as they have confirmed the signing of Brazilian Júnior Caiçara from Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad.

The deal was completed after a meeting between the two clubs on Monday. He has cost the Royal Blues around €4.5 million and he has signed a five-year contract. He will wear the number 3 shirt.

There was plenty of interest in the 26-yearold, despite him signing a new two-year deal with Ludogorets in December. Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen had been linked with him, as had Europa League winners Sevilla.

He played a full part in Ludogorets’s first Champions League campaign last season, and made 83 appearances for the club after

•Salah

•Ameobi

‘Ireland players were not paid $10,000 the AFA was unable to not to hurt Messi’ stump up a $5m insurance

T •Caicara signing from Brazilian side Santo André in 2012.

Schalke had in the market for a right-back, particularly as Atsuto Uchida had an operation knee in his native Japan earlier in the

month, and could potentially miss the start of the season.

Caiçara is the second major signing the club have made this week, following the arrival of Johannes Geis on Monday.

HE Football Associa tion of Ireland has denied a report in Argentina claiming Republic of Ireland players were allegedly paid $10,000 each to prevent injuring Lionel Messi during a 2010 friendly in Dublin.

The FAI, in response to the allegations in La Nacion, has called the report baseless and is taking legal advice: “The Football Association of Ireland completely refutes the allegations made about the Republic of Ireland v Argen-

tina friendly match in La Nacion as baseless. The match in question was organised by Kentaro and announced by press release prior to the World Cup play-offs in 2009. We are consulting our legal advisers in relation to the article and will be taking further steps.”

La Nacion alleges that the friendly was suggested by Julio Grondona, who was head of the Argentine FA at the time and a close ally of Sepp Blatter, “to calm Ireland down” but when

fee for Messi, who should have been on a pre-season tour in China with Barcelona, Grondona suggested making the payment to the Irish players.

•Messi

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 59

Kaduna to host Eagles, Pharaohs AFCON 2017 clash

T

HE Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna will host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Pharaohs of Egypt, scheduled for Wednesday, March 23, 2016, the NFF announced yesterday.

Officials have also confirmed that work will be undertaken on the pitch of the stadium, as well as a couple of other areas that need to be improved before the clash with the seven – time Africa Cup of Nations winners. The match comes up in exactly 40 weeks.

Nigeria and Egypt share top spot on the Group G table, with the

•Keshi

Pharaohs ahead on one goal advantage, following their 3-0 whiplash of Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in Cairo, in penultimate weekend’s opening matches. A day before, the Super Eagles had beaten Chad 2-0 also in Kaduna.

The Eagles’ next match in the series is away to Tanzania in the first week of September, before the double-doseon-the-trot with the Pharaohs, who have missed all three past Africa Cup of Nations finals, including the 2013 finals that Nigeria won in South Africa.

NFF General Secretar y, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, explained on Wednesday that the Federation will henceforth decide international match venues well in advance in order to afford host cities enough time to work on the facilities to be used for such matches.

In line with the new policy, the NFF has also announced that the first leg of the 2016 Olympics qualifying match between the Super Falcons and the Senior Women National Team of Equatorial Guinea coming up on Saturday, July 18 will be played in Port Harcourt.

Enyeama Continues from BP against Chad.

“I respect my country and those in charge of our football, which is why I find the whole thing strange,” he said.

“As the captain I only raised our concerns about the venue before our game which didn’t go down well with the football authority.

“I was told to apologise for my comments, which I did immediately and they told me that’s fine.”

But the 32-year-old, who is the Super Eagles most capped player with 101 appearances, denies he failed to reply to messages from the NFF seeking an explanation for his comments.

“I only received a letter cautioning me about it [my comments] and to avoid a repeat of such,” he told BBC

Sport.

“Personally, as it was resolved in-house I thought that was the end of the matter.

“But I only found out about a disciplinary hearing in the media but I didn’t get any letter to that effect.”

The Lille player could face a lengthy ban for his comments which the NFF feels broke its recent code of conduct signed by the players as well as his failure to attend Tuesday ’s hearing.

The NFF executive board will have the final say on any punishments, on a date yet to be decided.

It has also been confirmed that the Super Eagles will play their next home 2017 Nations Cup qualifier against Egypt in Kaduna next March.

Adebutu pledges support for Wheelchair basketball

A

LOOSENING UP: Super Falcons players jog after a training session.

Ngozi Okobi joins Spirit!

S

UPER Falcons’ delectable midfielder Ngozi Okobi has sealed a move to American Women’s Soccer League club, Washington Spirit FC. The 21 –year old joins fellow Super Falcons Francisca Ordega, who had been on the books of the American club before the 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, and defender J o s e p h i n e Chukwunonye, who was snapped up in the middle of the tournament.

Okobi, formerly of Delta Queens, started her national team career with the U-17 team at the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in 2008, and was also in the

Nigeria U-20 team to the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan and the U-20 said that reached the final of the same tournament in Canada last year.

Highly skillful and intelligent, Okobi was also in the Falcons squad that won the African Women Championship in Namibia last year, and was the only Nigerian player named Live Your Goal Player of the Match (MVP) at the Women’s World Cup in Canada – in the Nigeria/Sweden match.

Another Super Falcons’ midfielder, Halimatu Ayinde has signed for American Women’s Soccer League side, Western New York Flash.

GTBank Masters Cup: Final tomorrow

T

HE Finals of the G T B a n k Masters Cup season 4 comes up tomorrow, at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

The Competition, which is for first generation colleges and private secondary schools in Lagos State, had 28 participating schools this season.

Over 160 goals have been scored so far in both male and female categories.

In the male final, it will be a battle of the Catholic missionary schools as St. Gregory’s College Ikoyi tests its might with the equally

Onigbinde Continues from BP young talented players who can be wellgroomed under the right atmosphere and functional development programmes, capable of propelling them to win the World Cup. “Up to date, I have not come across a meaningful and f u n c t i o n a l developmental programmes for football in this country. All I have seen out there are pretences.

“We can only get it right when we sit down and think of a programmes to always fall back on,” he said.

The former Green Eagles’ coach chided

Nigerians for blaming the coaches and players for the flop by the Flying Eagles and the Falcons.

Both teams were ousted from at the group stages of World Cups in New Zealand and Canada.

“We are unfair to these people because they are victims of a societal problem and failure at developing football in the right way,” he said.

Onigbinde, who did his first coaching course in 1961, said he had written several papers on how to develop football in the country, with the first in 1965.

“I wrote a paper in 1965 on how to develop football in Nigeria, which was about 50

memberof the P e o p l e s Democratic Party of Nigeria, representing Remo Federal Constituency in the house of representative, Ladi Adebutu Kessignton has pledged financial commitment to the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball team qualification for the 2016 RIO Olympics.

The Nigeria Wheelchair basketball team will, in September, participate at the Olympics qualifier holding in Algeria.

years ago. And since then, I have never stopped talking, granting interviews or presenting papers but nothing seems to have changed,” he said.

According to him, the development of sports in the country will contribute immensely toward the nation’s growth.

He said with the development of sports in the country, youth restiveness and social vices would be reduced to the barest minimum.

Onigbinde said that crimes in the country were juvenile-centered, and when youths were positively engaged in sports, the rate of crime would reduce.

prominent St. Finbarr ’s College, Akoka. Both schools will be playing to lift the trophy for the first time since its inception Queens College Yaba and Ansar UD Deen Girls High School Itire will slug it out in the female final. It will be a repeat of last year ’s finals between defending champions, Queens College and Ansar UD Deen Girls High School.

Liverpool Continues from BP is subject to a medical, which will take place after he returns from Chile, where he has been playing for Brazil in the Copa America.

Firmino, who has scored 47 goals in 151 games for Hoffenheim, becomes the Reds’ second most expensive player.

The Anfield club made Andy Carroll their record signing when he joined them for £35m from Newcastle in 2011.

They also paid Southampton £25m for Adam Lallana in 2014, and have already brought in Burnley striker Danny Ings, goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, defender Joe Gomez and midfielder James Milner this summer.

The Reds have so far resisted two offers from Manchester City for England forward Raheem Sterling.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

CHILE 2015 COPA AMERICA

avourit es ttag ag Bolivia v Peru: Gareca shrugs of offf ffa ourites P

ERU coach Ricardo Gareca has been quick to dismiss talk that his side are favourites for their Copa America quarterfinal with Bolivia.

Ricardo Gareca insists Peru will not take Bolivia lightly when they meet in today’s Copa America quarterfinal in Temuco.

The two sides qualified for the last eight as runners-up from their respective pools, Peru finishing second behind Brazil in Group C while Bolivia came through from Group A, eliminating Ecuador in the process.

But the teams come into the game on the back of starkly contrasting results.

Peru held Colombia to a goalless draw in their final match, while coach Gareca’s opposite number Mauricio Soria opted to rest four of his players for their clash with Chile.

It did not pay off as the hosts ran out 5-0 winners and Soria subsequently took responsibility for the defeat after making the alterations.

The coach is expected to recall the rested quartet of Miguel Hurtado, Edward Zenteno, Danny Bejarano and Damian Lizio.

•Gareca C M Y K

Coutinho trains with reserves RAZIL’S squad B were given a day off last Monday to recharge

•CELEBRATION...Peru National team players in celebration mood again against Bolivia today.

“Rabona” man Rojo see Colombia as ideal rivals F

ACING a Colombia side who like to attack will force Argentina to play their best soccer in the Copa America quarter-finals, left back Marcos Rojo said.

Argentina have shown indifferent finishing in their three group matches, Lionel Messi included. They have struggled to break through defensive opponents and eked out 1-0 wins over holders Uruguay and Jamaica after a 2-2 draw with Paraguay.

They meet Colombia, who scraped through in third place in their group despite a 1-0 win over Brazil, at the Pacific coastal resort of Vina del Mar on Friday (2330 GMT) for a place in the semi-finals of the world’s oldest active i n t e r n a t i o n a l tournament.

“Colombia are tough rivals but more open than the teams we’ve faced so far,” Rojo told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday night at Argentina’s base camp.

“On paper these are the rivals that suit us, although you’ve got to play the matches but we have a lot of faith in our game,” the Manchester United defender said.

•Rojo

batteries and relax after their victory over Venezuela last Sunday.

When they returned to training on Tuesday, the starters from that game were given light duties, with the exception of Philippe Coutinho who participated in more intense drills with the reserve players.

The Liverpool midfielder had been withdrawn in the second half against Venezuela, a match in which he was making his return to the team following an injury sustained before the competition. He needs, therefore, to regain a level of match-fitness, which explains his training yesterday as an attempt to ready him to start against Paraguay in Saturday’s quarter-final.

Mar tins: Bolivia ha Martins: havve a ‘good chance’ of reaching S-final

B

OLIVIA striker Mar-celo Martins has compared Peru to four-time world champions Italy ahead of their Copa America quarter-final meeting in Temuco.

The 28-year-old Changchun Yatai player believes Peru, who finished third at the 2011 tournament, are a side who defend well but who will gladly punish Bolivia.

“They are a team that resemble Italy, who will score goals if you let them,” he told El Diario newspaper.

“They’ve progressed by playing very well and they have players who can hold the ball up.”

Martins is quietly confident Bolivia, runners-up on home soil 18 years ago, can reach the semi-finals.

“We are surprised we’ve reached the knockout stages but we have done so because this Bolivian team have shown a dramatic improvement,” he said.

“The odds of either side winning this match are the same, and it will be hotly contested. We have a good chance.”

Bolivia beat Ecuador and drew with Mexico to accrue enough points to finish second to Chile, who would hammer

them 5-0 in the final Group A game.

Peru were runners-up in their own group, with a victory over Venezuela and a goalless draw with Colombia securing four points and a last-eight berth.

•Martins

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 61

No player can hold us to ransom – Siasia • Issues Friday deadline to Mohammed, others

H

EAD Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia has read the riot act by giving all invited home -based members of the Flying Eagles team that went to New Zealand, Friday 26th June as deadline to report to the team’s camp or forget about the invitation.

Expressing anger at the attitude of the players to the invitation, Siasia said he cannot understand why players who called to beg for permission to see their families and rest a little would fail to report to camp after the one week grace he granted.

“No player can hold the nation to ransom.

This attitude of theirs is unprofessional. When the players arrived from the U-20 World Cup, they called me to beg for a grace period to rest a little, which I did, and they promised to report after one week. It is now more than one week and

•Nwamkpa

•Siasia none of them is around.”

Siasia disclosed that the Friday deadline is to give the players the benefit of doubt.

It would be recalled that Coach Siasia had invited Captain Musa Mohammed, strikers Godwin Savior and Taiwo Awoniyi and goalkeeper Dele Alampasu who are

AAG: Nwamkpa warns over poor preparation

O

BISIA Nwamkpa, a former Commonwealth Welterweight boxing champion on Wednesday decried the nation’s poor preparation towards the forthcoming 11th All Africa Games to hold in Congo Brazzaville.

The Games are scheduled to run from Sept. 4 to Sept. 19.

Nwamkpa told NAN that there was no significant arrangement in place to show that the country was preparing

Bewarang tasks NFF, LMC on coaches sack

By Jacob Ajom

P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Bitrus Bewarang has called on the Nigeria Football Federation and, in particular, the League Management Company to halt the rate at which Nigerian club coaches were being sacked.

No fewer than five coaches have lost their jobs in the 14 week-old season and at the rate the trend is unfolding, more are bound to follow.

Franklin Howard was the first to go after 3SC sacked him for ‘nonperformance’, then Rangers kicked out Kelechi Emeteole, Solomon Ogbeide lost his job at Bayelsa and Erasmus Onu was also asked to go by the management of Heartland.

Bewarang frowned at the manner the coaches were being kicked out of their jobs without paying them C M Y K

based at home to report to camp on Monday 22nd June, while the overseas-based players Kingsley Sokari, Musa Yahaya, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon have been given until two weeks to the African U-23 Championship qualifier against Congo billed for Port Harcourt on July 19.

off. “While we cannot stop them from sacking their coaches, clubs must respect their contractual obligations to these coaches. They should be paid off, if they have to go,”Bewarang said.

“The Nigeria Football Federation and the League Management Company must, as a matter of urgency look into the fate of these coaches.”

Apart from the case of job insecurity, Bewarang also frowned at the return of violence to match venues. “What is happening?” he asked. “The fans are becoming unruly, in the name of supporters,” the Nigerian coaches boss said, observing that “Gbenga Ogunbote was forced out of Sharks by club supporters while only last week, Kadiri Ikhana was manhandled by fans in Ibadan. This has to stop and the LMC can see to this.”

for major continental Games.

“I must express my disappointment at the way the sporting authority has been going about the Games. We have two months to be in Congo Brazzaville and it is obvious that nothing is happening.

“This edition of the AAG did not take us unawares; the authority knows that the Games hold every four years and we have been taking part in previous editions.

“I am sure that our budding boxers are not happy at this sad situation, because they are going to compete with countries that have been preparing for the past three years,” he added.

He added that the National Sports Festival (NSF) could have served as the appropriate buildup for the Games but it was postponed.

“The NSF is a competition that brings past and current champions of various sports across the nation together to defend their title and have chances of making the AAG trials.

“Up till now, no date has been fixed for the festival and it’s supposed to be an open festival, which could have played a major role toward the preparations for the AAG,” he said.

Nwamkpa, who was also a former head coach of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, advised the National Sports Commission to do the needful before it was too late .

62 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 — 63

•Murray

•Serena

•Federer

Nadal seeded No 10 for Wimbledon, with Andy Murray No3 R

AFAEL Nadal has tumbled eight places in the Wimbledon seedings to No10 and that exposes the two-times champion to the possibility of playing a top-eight player in the quarter-finals.

It is a perilous situation for the 29-year-old Spaniard, who went out in the fourth round last year as the second seed when Nick Kyrgios announced his arrival with a stunning performance.

Nadal is having one of his toughest seasons after recovering from a wrist injury and appendicitis late last year and enduring five defeats on his favoured European clay this summer, the most painful his exit at the French Open in the quarter-finals against the world No1 Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic lost in the final at Roland Garros, which his conqueror there, Stan Wawrinka, thinks will make him more dangerous at Wimbledon.

Andy Murray holds his world ranking of No3 in the seedings, behind Djokovic and Roger Federer, who lost to the Serb in a compelling 2014 final.

Depending on Friday’s draw and first-week results, Murray could play either of the injured contenders Kei Nishikori or Milos Raonic, the struggling Tomas Berdych or the ever-present David Ferrer in the quarters. He would probably meet either Djokovic or Federer in the semi-finals.

When Murray won the title in 2013, seeded No2, he looked to have been handed a dreadful draw – until Federer and Nadal C M Y K

•Nadal

•Sharapova

Becker worried about tennis’ future were shock early losers.

Murray lost to Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals last year but was readjusting to both the loss in March of his coach Ivan Lendl, as well as turmoil in his camp, as his longtime friend Dani Vallverdu and conditioner Jez Green complained about not being consulted over the appointment of Amélie Mauresmo as Lendl’s successor.

They left the Murray camp soon afterwards, Vallverdu joining Tomas Berdych, who lost to Murray in a tense quarter-final at the Australian Open and is seeded sixth here.

Wawrinka, who lost in his second match at Queen’s last week, is seeded No4 for the first time, in line with his ranking after winning the French Open; Nishikori, who had to retire during a match at

Halle last week, is at No5; Raonic, nursing an injured foot, is at No7; and Ferrer is at No8, with not much form to show for it.

It is Nadal’s slide to No10 that creates the most interest. If he can rediscover some form, after another shock early exit at Queen’s, he could cause mayhem in the draw.

Another player dealing with a setback is the Australian Bernard Tomic, who has been seeded outside the crucial top 24 at No27, just below his world ranking, which means he could face one of the top eight seeds in the third round.

The same possibility awaits his compatriot, the world No30 Kyrgios, who withdrew from the Nottingham tournament through illness and is guarding an elbow

injury, but still leapfrogs Tomic for Wimbledon to No26.

Tomic and Kyrgios both made the quarter-finals last year after upset wins – the first teenagers to get that far since Boris Becker in 1986.

There were no real surprises in the women’s draw, with the world No1 Serena Williams top of the pile again, ahead of the defending champion Petra Kvitova. Eugenie Bouchard, who has had a miserable season and retired with an abdominal injury during her match against Belinda Bencic at Eastbourne on Wednesday, drops to No12.

Maria Sharapova, hit by illness in Paris and not seen at Queen’s in support of Dimitrov, is seeded at No4, and could be the semi-final roadblock for either Williams or Kvitova.

T

ENNIS’ popularity might take a hit once Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal announce their retirements given the lack of consistent challengers, according to former world number one Boris Becker.

Neither player is showing signs of considering retirement but Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion, feared that the sport could not carry on with just Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray who, together with Nadal and Federer, are termed the ‘Big Four’.

These four have dominated men’s tennis for the past decade, sharing 41 of the last 48 Grand Slams.

“I think the men’s side is in a very healthy state,” said the 47-year-old Becker who is currently coaching world number one Djokovic.

“We have an increase in popularity from over 10

years ago and the numbers are staggering.

“But the question has to be asked: what if Roger decides to quit or Rafa is not coming back? It’s impossible to carry on with only Novak and Andy.”

Federer is currently ranked number two and will target a record eighth Wimbledon crown when the 2015 tournament starts on June 29.

Nadal, meanwhile, is a 14-time Grand Slam winner but has fallen to 10th in the rankings, his worst in a decade.

He has also been seeded 10th for Wimbledon which is his lowest at the tournament.

Becker mentioned that Australian youngsters like Nick Kyrgios, who famously upset Nadal at Wimbledon last year, and Thanasi Kokkinakis had good personalities and were exciting to watch.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

Kaduna to host age 59 P Eagles, Pharaohs AFCON 2017 clash I did not shun NFF — Enyeama V

I N C E N T Enyeama has explained that he was not officially asked to attend a Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disciplinary committee sitting on Tuesday.

The NFF feels that

Enyeama was in breach of its code of conduct.

The goalkeeper made “uncomplimentary remarks” about security in Kaduna ahead of June’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier

Continues on Page 59

How Nigeria can win World Cup — Onigbinde

A

ROCK SOLID — Super Falcons defender, Ngozi Okobi (r) on duty for Nigeria. She has been signed by Washington Spirit FC

Ngozi Okobi joins Spirit! — P.59

former FIFA/CAF I n s t r u c t o r, Adegboye Onigbinde, says the panacea for Nigeria’s declining performance at the World Cup will be the establishment of a functional football developmental programme.

Onigbinde said in Ibadan yesterday that most players presently in the national teams were relatively unknown because they did not emerge from discernible football developmental

programmes.

According to him, Nigeria have many

Continues on Page 59

•Enyeama

Liverpool sign Brazil striker in £29m deal L •Firmino

IVERPOOL have signed forward Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim on a fiveyear deal for a fee of about £29m.

The 23-year-old’s deal Continues on Page 59

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S ANSWERS YESTERDAY'S

ACROSS 2 Strict (5) 7 Ration (5) 8 Gemstone (5) 10 Detest (5) 12 Exist (3) 13 Student (5) 15 Melodious (7) 17 Pressed (6) 19 Males 20 Storm (7) 23 Finished (4) 25 Weary (4) 26 Ordained (7) 30 Owing (3) 31 Run off (6) 34 Skill (7) 37 Cash (5) 38 Fuss (3) 39 Undress (5) 40 Bequeath (5) 41 Cut (5) 42 Avarice (5)

DOWN 1 Presage (5) 2 Blemish (5) 3 Pill (6) 4 Chamber (4) 5 Versus (7) 6 Vapour (5) 9 Curve (3) 11 Creased (7) 13 Guide (5) 14 Prodded (5) 16 Observe (3) 18 Dishearten (7) 21 Giant (5) 22 Tearful (5) 24 Tree (7) 27 Hint (3) 28 Death (6) 29 Outspoken (5) 32 Managed (5) 33 Measure (5) 35 Strange (3) 36 Agitate (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Angle 7, Beer 8, Abrupt 9, Taint 11, Rod 13, Ram 15, Ewer 16, Tap 18, Mere 19, Worried 20, Crop 22, Tuna 23, Tactful 25, Eyed 27, Had 28, Fete 30, Did 31, Dud 33, Seedy 36, Clutch 37, Evil 38, Yearn.

DOWN: 1, Below 2, Art 3, Gnu 4, Eat 5, Pry 6, Spear 10, Near 11, Rescued 12, Devoted 13, Reduced 14, Menaced 16, Tooth 17, Proud 18, Net 21, Pad 24, Face 26, Yield 29, Tunic 32, Sty 33, Shy 34, Era 35, Yen.

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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