nation0511

Senate: 

Supreme 

Court can’t 

stop us 

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5,6,7&53 

VOL. 10, NO. 3211 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015 

There’ll be no quick fixes, says Buhari 

PRESIDENT-ELECT 

Muhammadu Buhari 

said yesterday that 

there won’t be quick fixes 

following 16 years of rot. 

He urged Nigerians to 

temper their expectations 

from his administraton due 

to take office on May 29, 

“with some justice”. 

Gen. Buhari told a 

delegation of the Northern 

•INSIDE: 

From Tony Akowe, Abuja 

Elders Forum (NEF), led by 

first and Second Republic 

Minister Alhaji Maitama 

Sule, who visited him at the 

All Progressives Congress 

(APC) campaign secretariat 

in Abuja, that his 

administration will inherit a 

huge decay. 

“The biggest message is to 

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM N150.00 

try and persuade the people 

that it is not possible to 

change the state of affairs 

now. It took 16 years and 

those 16 years, most of you 

know it better than me; 

Nigeria earned revenue more 

than what it earned from 

1914 till then. 

“You know that we used to 

have Nigeria Airways, 

Continued on page 4 

•Gen. Buhari 

Why AfDB job may elude 

Nigeria, by experts 

By Emmanuel Oladesu 

NIGERIA’s bid for the African Development Bank 

(AfDB) may fail because it is simultaneously bidding 

for the African Export-Import Bank head, it was 

learnt at the weekend. 

Out-going Minister of Agriculture Dr. Femi Adesina, who 

is a frontline aspirant for the AfDB job, is supported by 

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, who has sent former 


CBN GIVES BANKS DEADLINE TO RECAPITALISE P25 

25 NLC: END FUEL SCARCITY P5 

•DEADLY VENTURE: People scooping fuel at the site ... yesterday. 

•Fuel flowing from the burst pipeline ... yesterday. 

Vandals scoop fuel as Atlas Cove pipeline bursts 

STOR 

ORY ON 

PAGE 54 

Jonathan, ministers jittery 

as May 29 approaches 

•Jonathan ... yesterday 

‘My ministers ‘ll be persecuted’ 

THE President, ministers and 

aides seem to be jitery as the 

May 29 handover approaches. 

Dr Goodluck Jonathan told ministers 

yesterday to brace for “persecution”. 

He gave no details. 

It was all at a thanksgiving and 

farewell service in his honour at the 

Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), 

Cathedral Church of Advent, 

Life Camp, Gwarimpa, Abuja. 

He was relective – he recalled how 

good the system has been to him – 

‘ 

For ministers and aides who served 

with me ... they will be persecuted. And 

they must be ready for that persecution 

... We will all have hard times’ 

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja 

and grateful – for his achievements, 

which he said ordinary people appreciated. 

But Jonathan seemed to betray the 

nervousness that has gripped his 

cabinet since it became inevitable 

that a new administration will 

mount the saddle on May 29. 

First Lady in church 

He said his ministers would be 

persecuted, adding: “For ministers 

and aides who served with me, I 

sympathise with them; they will be 

persecuted. And they must be ready 

for that persecution.” 

Jonathan went on: “To my ministers, 

I wish you what I wish myself. 

They will have hard times; we will 

all have hard times. Our ways will 

be rough. 


•AKUME STEPS UP BID FOR SENATE PRESIDENT P9 •MARK’S MEN TIP LAWAN P60

2 

NEWS 

THE NATION MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015 

Electronic b 

iejina 

itor) 

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (second left) speaking at the inauguration of Citizens Relationship Management 

and Performance Dashboard Systems in Lagos...at the weekend. With him are: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry 

of Science & Technology, Mrs Onikepo Animasahun (left); Director-General, Office of Transforamtion,Lagos Command 

Centre, Mr Toba Otusanya (second right) and Microsoft's Senior Director (Public Sector), Middle & East Africa, Mr Yasser 

Elabd. 

•From left: Chairman, Transcorp Hotels Plc., Olorogun O'tega Emerhor; President/Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp Plc 

Group, Emmanuel N. Nnorom; Board Chairman, Transcorp Plc., Tony O. Elumelu and Director of the group, Stanley 

Lawson at Transcorp's ninth Annual General Meeting at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja...at the weekend. 

•From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, Mr. Ike Chioke; United States 

Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle; ex-Vice President and founder, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Alhaji 

Atiku Abubakar and Kano State Governor-elect, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje at the seventh convocation of the varsity in 

Yola, Adamawa State...at the weekend. 

•From left: President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Mr. Umaru Aliyu; Representative of the Lagos 

State Governor/Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde; Country President, 

Schneider Electric, Mr. Walid Sheta and President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Waheed Brimmo at the products’ 

launch by Schneider Electric at the 2015 Lagos Architects Forum in Lagos...yesterday. 

The cashless policy introduced by the Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over three years 

ago has recorded little success, despite the several 

billions of naira earmarked for the project. 

With 90 per cent transactions still cash-based 

and N20 billion lost to fraudsters in six 

months, the policy objective seems to be far 

from being met. COLLINS NWEZE captures 

the experiences of worrisome customers. 

MICHAEL Nwadike, a Lagosbased 

banker, who was on 

vacation in Las Vegas, 

United States lost $5,000 (about N1 

million) to fraudsters. “The debit alerts 

kept coming at a lightening speed. 

Within 10 seconds, 10 alerts were sent 

to my mobile phone,” he recounted. 

The fraudulent transactions, according 

to him, occurred after he used his 

debit card to book for a room at 

Venetia Hotel in Las Vegas. “The international 

syndicates picked my card 

details and perpetrated the fraud. 

They did not stop until the account 

balance read zero,” Nwadike said. 

He said attempts to call his bank to 

block the account were unsuccessful 

because of the speed with which the 

fraudsters operated. 

After returning from the trip, 

Nwadike completed a customer complaint 

form in the local branch of his 

bank but nothing positive has come 

out of it since February. 

The e-payment-related fraud continues 

to thrive both locally and internationally. 

In the shoes of Nwadike are 

thousands of customers who embraced 

the cashless policy after its introduction 

in 2010 by the apex bank 

in 2012. The policy was to ease payment 

difficulties and promote the use 

of Automated Teller Machines 

(ATMs), decongest the banking halls 

and encourage Point of Sale (PoS) 

transactions, promote web payment 

and online transfers as well as mobile 

money in bank transactions. 

Some customers have relived their 

experiences and frustration with the 

policy. 

Sunday Chukwu, an entrepreneur, 

said he had no premonition he would 

lose N120, 000 to fraudsters on a particular 

Saturday, when a customer 

bought N120, 000 worth of goods from 

him. The customer, who pleaded that 

he had no cash, had requested for his 

account details to transfer the money. 

Chukwu said: “He typed the 

number on his phone and within few 

minutes, I got transfer notification 

alert from my bank. The alert showed 

that N120, 000 had been credited to my 

account. So, he took the goods and 

went away. 

“The next working day, which was 

Monday, I went to the bank to withdraw 

the money but it was not there. 

My account officer showed me my last 

transaction detail and said that the 

alert I got did not come from the bank 

and that it was a fraud. That was how 

I lost the money and all efforts to trace 

the fraudster failed.” 

Chukwu released the goods because 

the alert showed his previous account 

balance and the new deposit by the 

customer. That, he said, was an indication 

that the fraudster collaborated 

with an insider from the bank. 

“Up till today, I have not recovered 

that money,” he told The Nation. That 

devastating experience, Chukwu 

noted, has made him to always insist 

on cash payment no matter his closeness 

to customers. 

Despite the arguments supporting 

cashless policy, there are also customers 

that have completely abandoned 

the use of e-payment channels for insecurity 

reasons. The Managing Director, 

Park and Carry Limited, Emeka 

Ekwueme, falls into this category. 

He said: “I don’t use ATMs. I make 

my transactions through cheques and 

withdrawal booklets. It is quicker and 

less-stressful. Poor network quality remains 

a major issue that reduces my 

confidence in cashless banking. Sometimes, 

you go there, slot in your card 

and nothing comes out but your account 

is debited.” 

Also, Mrs. Olatunji Alima, an egg 

distributor who has been using ATM 

since 2012 has stopped because she 

felt unsafe with it. 

“I own a boutique and I also distribute 

eggs in Lagos. I don’t feel secure 

using the device anymore because 

robbers attack ATM subscribers 

daily at the point of withdrawal,” she 

said. Alima recounted how the ATM 

once malfunctioned and how she 

spent hours waiting to make withdrawals. 

On April 18, a journalist, Victor 

Ahiuma-Young, was shot, by gunmen 

on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. He 

had been robbed by hoodlums, who 

swooped on him after withdrawing 

cash from the Sadiku branch of a new 

generation bank. He was shot in the 

thigh and hands by his assailants, who 

had trailed him from the bank. 

Ahiuma-Young was lucky. Though 

he survived, he lost the cash. 

Jeremiah Ufot, an information technologist, 

expressed reservations in the 

use of ATM and other e-payment 

channels. Admitting that the introduction 

of ATM has made banking easier, 

he identified dispensing error as one 

of its major challenges. 

His words: “The other day, I wanted 

to withdraw N20, 000 from the ATM. 

The machine debited my account but 

did not dispense the cash. I was told it 

would reverse the transaction within 

24 hours. It never did until after 21 

days,” he said. 

A cashier with SMAT Electronics in 

Computer Village, Lagos, Maureen 

Onyekachi, told The Nation that poor 

network in the use of e-payment channels 

and the 1.25 per cent charge on 

merchants’ accounts when using the 

PoS is a disincentive. 

She said the merchant fee would not 

have mattered if the network were to 

be seamless and trusted by customers. 

She narrated that on several occasions, 

customers got debit alerts after paying 

with the PoS, but at the merchant’s 

end, the transactions were declined. 

Although such hitches were always resolved 

between the customers and 

their banks, Onyekachi said they create 

doubts on the feasibility of achieving 

a viable e-payment system. 

However, the Managing Director, 

Happy Man Magnificent Ventures 

Limited, Celestine Enemuo, described 

the evolving cash-less policy as good, 

even as he blamed the skepticism on 

commercial banks and the CBN. 

According to him, the institutions 

have not created enough awareness 

and the right infrastructure for the 

project to succeed. He said many bank 

custormers have to be adequately 

educated on the need to keep their 

passwords secret. 

Electronic fraud cases 

The National Drug Law Enforcement 

Agency (NDLEA) had in February 

2013, arrested a man with 107 

units of ATM cards at the Murtala 

Mohammed International Airport 

(MMIA), Lagos. The cards were discovered 

in his luggage when passengers 

travelling to Istanbul, Turkey, 

aboard a Turkish Airline were being 

screened. It was discovered that the

THE NATION MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015 3 

ic banking: Little gains...more pains 

• Customers queuing up to withdraw cash from ATMs 

•Emefiele •Boleigha •Muazu •Otiti •Babatunde 

suspect also had two international 

passports bearing his photographs but 

with different names. 

“He had a Nigerian passport with 

the name Funsho Oladimeji 

Babatunde and a Turkish passport 

marked Kosar Kursat. Both passports 

bore his photographs. The cards 

found in his luggage are: 68 Citi 

MasterCards and 39 Citi VisaCards,” 

the NDLEA disclosed. 

The agency believed the cards were 

being used for fraudulent purposes, 

since he was neither an authorised, 

nor accredited agent. 

Also in 2014, the Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission (EFCC) 

arrested two undergraduates for an 

alleged N2.05 billion fraud at an old 

generation bank. They allegedly used 

Oracle’s ‘flexicube’ software to access 

a bank’s database and fraudulently 

transferred huge sums of money to 

several accounts. 

Experts’ explanations 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 

of Forenovate Technologies Ltd, Mr. 

Don Okereke, said cyber criminals use 

skimming and trapping devices to 

steal credit or debit card details without 

the knowledge of account owners. 

He said there have been cases of online 

account takeover, where an unauthorised 

party gains access to an existing 

account by stealing the access codes 

and conducting illegal funds transfer 

to a designated account. 

Okereke said: “In today’s increasingly-connected 

world, convenience, 

speed, technology adoption and payment 

options allow people and businesses 

to conduct online financial 

transactions with ease. 

“Fraudsters are taking advantage of 

this trend to fleece customers of their 

funds. A leading bank has been bragging 

of its capacity to open instant 

bank accounts via Facebook and even 

approve loans online. I advise banks 

not to sacrifice security and safety of 

their customers for speed.” 

Besides, Okereke said some illiterate 

bank customers are yet to get accustomed 

to the dictates of cashless 

banking and all the issues associated 

with it. 

He alleged that some discerning 

and security-conscious Nigerians deliberately 

avoid the policy because of 

the inherent loopholes. Many of these 

customers, he added, lost confidence 

in their banks after many reported 

fraud cases. 

The growing concerns over banking 

security have slowed down the acceptability 

of e-payment channels by 

bank customers. 

A recent survey by Visa International 

showed that high net-worth account 

holders neither own nor use 

ATM cards. The survey showed that 

the more the people earn, the less they 

own and use debit cards. Majority of 

the rich, the survey said, think that 

avoiding debit cards is the best way to 

stay protected from online frauds. 

A recent statistics on fraud seemed 

to have proved them right. 

In June 2013, 18 months after unveiling 

the cashless policy, 2,478 fraud 

and forgery cases involving local 

banks, valued at over N20 billion were 

reported by KPMG. 

The figure, the accounting firm said 

in its Customer Satisfaction Survey 

(CSS), represented an eight per cent 

and 200 per cent increases in volume 

and value from 2012. The global credit 

card fraud was estimated at $15 billion 

last year, making it one of the most 

significant criminal developments in 

modern times. 

The Country Manager, IBM West 

Africa, Taiwo Otiti, said the rising 

cases of fraud prompted global payment 

companies like Visa and 

MasterCard to raise the standard of 

technology deployed in the country. 

Otiti said: “The standard for Visa in 

Nigeria is the strictest in the payment 

system worldwide. Visa stipulates a 

very, very high standard for Nigeria. 

“We have seen syndicates collude 

with internal staff of banks to transfer 

funds to fraudulent accounts. The easiest 

way is to get a normal card, open 

an account and get someone internally 

to transfer funds into the account. The 

funds are withdrawn mainly through 

the ATMs.” 

Otiti explained that in other cases, 

online fraudsters could compromise a 

customer’s account by demanding his 

token. 

“They can send you a mail asking 

you to generate a token, and it will be 

unwise for you to oblige them. Remember, 

each time you generate a token, 

the system in the bank waits for 

further instruction that will come either 

from the fraudster, or from you,” 

he warned. 

He said the ecosystem for credit and 

debit card processing involves a complicated 

set of players interacting to 

process every transaction. He said that 

standards for cards vary from country 

to country and that Europe and 

most African countries use chip and 

PIN cards, while the U.S. uses 

magstripe which is susceptible to 

fraud. 

He explained that the Chip and PIN 

cards have computer chip embedded 

in the smartcard, and allows users to 

input their personal identification 

number (PIN) before transactions are 

approved. But magstripe cards do not 

need PIN but simply swiped past a 

magnetic reader before transactions 

are approved. 

CBN’s position 

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele , 

who admitted that a lot more must 

be done in the implementation of the 

cashless policy, urged stakeholders to 

reduce the use of cash across all segments 

of the economy. 

He spoke at the inauguration of the 

Payment System Vision 2020 in Lagos. 

According to him, the cashless 

policy provides safe and efficient 

mechanisms for making and receiving 

payments with minimum risks to the 

CBN, payment service providers and 

end-users. 

The CBN chief said: “To participate 

actively in the global economy, our 

payment system must be successfully 

bench-marked against the global best 

practices, as in most developed nations 

of the world. We have made some significant 

achievements so far in this 

journey, but a lot still remains to be 

done.” 

CBN’s Director in charge of Banking 

Payment Systems ‘Dipo Fatokun 

said the introduction of chip-and-PIN 

cards have led to drastic drop in ATM 

card fraud. He said the apex bank and 

other relevant institutions have been 

able to reduce frauds considerably by 

instituting ATM Fraud Prevention 

Group and the Nigeria Electronic 

Fraud Forum (NeFF). 

The groups, he explained, were 

formed by the banks to collaboratively 

share data on fraud attempts and 

proactively tackle them. 

According to Fatokun, the CBN has 

instructed banks to set and enforce the 

mandatory daily withdrawal limits for 

ATM users, while other related transactions, 

including PoS and web purchases 

are subjected to stringent limits 

as agreed and documented between 

the banks and their customers. 

He said the banks have the responsibility 

of being automatically alerted 

whenever the approved limits have 

been exceeded. 

Admitting the need to improve 

bandwidth of the telecommunications 

service providers, Fatokun said the 

CBN and the Nigerian Communication 

Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) are collaborating 

to tackle connectivity challenges. 

The director said the CBN’s directive 

mandating customers to inform 

their banks whenever travelling 

abroad was meant to monitor transactions 

in fraud-prone countries, including 

the U.S., South Africa and 

China. 

He said the banks that fail to take 

‘ 

To participate actively 

in the global 

economy, our payment 

system must be 

successfully benchmarked 

against the 

global best practices, 

as in most developed 

nations of the world. 

We have made some 

significant achievements 

so far in this 

journey, but a lot still 

remains to be done 

‘ 

appropriate measures will be liable for 

frauds committed abroad through their 

customers’ cards. 

Otiti explained what the CBN aims 

to achieve thus: “So, what the CBN has 

done is to set up security operating centres 

from where it restricts transactions 

coming from different regions, unless 

the customer informed his bank he was 

going to that region. 

“Basically, it is to mitigate fraud. 

When Europe was on the magstripe, 

there was a tremendous level of frauds 

going in the card sector. Those frauds 

have moved to the U.S. The most intelligent 

of banks will not bother you 

when you go into a country using chip 

and PIN, because it is safe.” 

Also speaking, CBN’s Deputy Director, 

Banking Supervision, Ibedu 

Onyebuchi, urged banks to recognise 

the realities of cyber fraud and 

strengthen their Information Technology 

(IT) units to protect depositors’ 

funds and boost customers confidence 

in e-payment. 

He advised lenders to discourage the 

introduction of e-payment products 

and channels without first protecting 

their customers on such platforms. 

Onyebuchi said: “We cannot continue 

to roll out e-channels without securing 

them. Transactions have moved 

from the banking halls to the e-channels. 

Therefore, we must control all aspects 

of these channels, both internally 

and externally.” 

To check insider-related frauds, the 

CBN has also called on banks to always 

obtain prior clearance on prospective 

employees before engaging them. The 

purpose, the bank said, will prevent 

the recycling of workers who had been 

indicted, sacked or dismissed for fraud 

and other acts of dishonesty within the 

industry. 

The way out 

The Group Managing Director, 

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, 

Phillips Oduoza, advised banks to 

embrace information security, warning 

that compromising the system could 

trigger collatereal damages. 

Oduoza said that no amount spent 

on banking security could be too much, 

given the dangerous consequences of 

inaction. 

The Chief Compliance Officer, Access 

Bank Plc, Pattison Boleigha, disclosed 

that fraudsters have gone ahead 

of internal control measures. He recommended 

effective collaboration 

with the police as the most effective 

way to check fraud. 

According to him, the Know Your 

Customer (KYC) policy of the CBN is a 

foundation that must be followed by 

all banks. 

“The KYC is the foundation of 

banking. Banks need to know who 

the customer is. Proper customer due 

diligence should come naturally in financial 

institutions,” he said. 

Boleigha, who spoke during a training 

organised in Lagos by his bank 

for compliance officers and the Police 

Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) personnel, 

urged lenders to always conduct due 

diligence and risk assessment on their 

customers as such will help in fraud 

control. 

The Deputy Commissioner of Police 

at the SFU, Ikoyi, Zubairu Muazu, said 

the effort of the police in fraud control 

has been yielding positive results. 

“The cooperation between the police 

and the financial sector is getting 

better, and we are doing our best to 

reduce fraud in the system,” the police 

chief claimed. 

The Biometric Project Manager at 

Nigeria Interbank Settlement System 

(NBSS), Oluseyi Adenmosun, said the 

introduction of Bank Verification 

Number (BVN) which captures customer’s 

physical features including 

fingerprints, will frustrate fraudsters. 

He said the project, which is part 

of the $50 million biometric contract 

awarded to Dermalog, a Germanbased 

IT firm, will make it difficult 

for the fraudsters to operate. 

“It will not completely eliminate 

fraud but it will reduce it to the barest 

minimum,” he said. 

The Managing Director, Unified 

Payments Limited, owners of 

PayAttitude, Agada Akpochi, explained 

that when it comes to retail 

payment, especially at merchant locations, 

fraud is not an issue in the 

country. 

Nigeria, he said, uses chip and PIN 

technology from end to end, which 

according to him, has zero fraud rates 

unless the customer’s PIN is compromised. 

On network failure, he said the introduction 

of PayAttitude, a 

contactless payment platform that allows 

transactions in both online and 

offline modes make reliance on telecommunications 

network unnecessary. 

He said that the platform, run 

in collaboration with six local banks, 

will fix all issues relating to network 

quality and make the financial system 

the ‘safest and fastest growing 

amongst emerging markets’. 

Despite the assurances and the 

CBN efforts to promote cashless 

policy, experts are worried that cashbased 

transactions still account for 90 

per cent of total payments in the retail 

industry. 

For the CEO of Financial Market 

Dealers Association of Nigeria 

(FMDA), Wale Abe, given the huge 

infrastructural gap in the country, 

nothing less was expected. 

He attributed the continuous use 

of cash for transactions to lack of operational 

PoS machines and ATMs. 

Abe said the epileptic electricity 

supply has made it impossible for 

supermarkets to use their PoS or other 

e-channels for transactions. 

The CEO, Primex Background 

Check Limited, Frank Oyorhigho, alleged 

that most bank frauds take 

place with internal connivance. 

“It is the rat inside that tells the rat 

outside that there is food in the 

house,” he said proverbially and advised 

banks to know their prospective 

employees beyond the qualifications 

and abilities. 

Banks, he said, are also expected to 

check in-between the lines - their employees’ 

attitudes, pedigree, integrity 

and where they had worked before. 

“Having enough information 

about such employee like knowing 

the guarantor and village of origin 

among others, will serve as a check 

on the employee,” he said. 

Other analysts insist stability of financial 

and customers’ confidence in 

the e-payment policy will continue 

to suffer unless the hitches facing the 

cashless policy have been tackled.

4 THE NATION MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015 

NEWS 

•From left: Bishop of Enugu Anglican Diocese, Rt. Revd. Emmanuel Chukwuma; Most Rev. Okoh; his wife, Nkasiobi; President Jonathan; Dame Patience; Executive 

Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr John Kennedy Opara and other clerics ... yesterday. PHOTO: NAN 

Jonathan, ministers jittery as May 29 approaches 

Continued from page 1 

“But we are happy the ordinary 

people appreciate 

what we did and that is most 

important. It’s not what the 

elite or the privileged few talk 

or say about you but what the 

majority of the Nigerian public 

think about your actions 

and inactions that matter. 

“We came to Abuja peacefully 

and we are returning 

peacefully. I thank the church 

and Nigerians because they 

stood by us at our most difficult 

times. 

“Even for election, we had 

people who supported us all 

over the country and for the 

success of the incoming administration.” 

Recalling how good the 

system has been to him as an 

Constitution amendment: Presidency serves 

Mark, Tambuwal Supreme Court order 

THE Federal Government 

has served the 

Supreme Court’s order 

on the leadership of the National 

Assembly to stop the 

legislature from overriding 

President Goodluck 

Jonathan’s veto on amendments 

to the 1999 Constitution. 

The service will halt moves 

today by the Senate and the 

House of Representatives to 

gazette the amendments and 

pass the alterations into law 

without presidential assent. 

According to sources, the 

court order, including the ruling 

of the apex court, was 

served on the Senate President 

David Mark and the House 

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal on 

Friday. 

It was learnt that the ruling 

was personally signed by the 

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice 

Mahmud Mohammed. 

The order specifically states 

that all the parties should 

maintain the status quo. 

“This means the National 

The APC position on probe of Jonathan’s govt 

THE APC last month decried the allegations 

of last minute looting of resources, 

hurried recruitment into the 

public service and rushed privatisation of 

key financial institutions. 

The party warned that such actions would 

have serious repercussions. 

It said though “it is true that the incoming 

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari Administration 

will not get itself bogged down by an 

band lost the March 28 election. 

The President said: “When 

I look at the whole picture of 

my life up to when I became 

the president of this country. 

And I say that if soldiers and 

police officers that have not 

received 0. 5 per cent of the 

benefits that I have received 

from the state can lay their 

lives for this country, I 

should do anything in the interest 

of Nigeria, including 

paying the supreme price. 

“As long as I live, I will continue 

to do my best for the 

state because the state has 

helped me as a person. I have 

to thank Nigerians, especially 

my state, for giving me the 

opportunity to serve as 

deputy governor and the 

country gave me the opportunity 

to serve as vice president 

and then president, first was 

to complete the tenure of the 

late president and later serve 

as president from which I am 

exiting now as a very happy 

From Yusuf Alli, Managing 

Editor, Northern Operation 

Assembly is expected to stay 

action on constitution amendments 

until the determination 

and fulfilled man.” 

Jonathan added: “I believe 

there are reasons for everything. 

Some hard decisions 

have their own cost, no doubt 

about that. That I have run the 

government this way that 

stabilised certain things; the 

electoral process and other 

things that brought stability 

into this country. They were 

very costly decisions which I 

myself must be ready to pay 

for. 

“Some people come to me 

and say this or that person, is 

he not your friend that benefited? 

Is it not your government 

that this person benefited 

from? But this is what the person 

is saying. But I always say 

worse statements will come. If 

you take certain decisions, you 

should know that those close 

to you will even abandon you 

at some point. And I tell them 

that more of my so-called 

friends will disappear.” 

He recalled that when 

Frederick W. De Klerk took the 

Supreme Court can’t stop constitution amendment, says Senate 

TThe last may not have been heard about 

the Supreme Court ruling on the amendment 

of the 1999 Constitution by the National 

Assembly. 

The Senate yesterday declared that the apex 

court is not competent to prevent the National 

Assembly from conducting its constitutional 

legislative functions including amending the 

1999 Constitution. 

Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, 

Media and Public Affairs, Senator 

Eyinnaya Abaribe, made the declaration in his 

reaction to an order of the Supreme Court which 

mandated the National Assembly to maintain 

the status quo in its quest to amend the 1999 

Constitution. 

There is also strong indication that the National 

Assembly may this week go ahead to 

gazette the amended Constitution to pave the 

way for the parliament to over ride the 

President’s veto on the Constitution amendment. 

of the substantive suit. The 

Senators and House members 

cannot in any manner gazette 

or go ahead to override the 

President’s veto,” a 

endless probe of the activities of the 

Jonathan Administration, all actions taken 

since the result of the May 28 presidential 

election was announced may come under 

the searchlight. 

Gen. Buhari himself said he would revisit 

the “missing N20b” investigation, a statement 

that elicited panic in government following 

which the audit report of the 

PriceWaterCooper (PwC) was released. 

decision to abolish minority 

rule in the Republic of South 

Africa, his wife divorced him. 

He said: “I hope my wife will 

not divorce me. But that is the 

only decision that has made 

Republic of South Africa to still 

remain a global player by this 

time. If we still had that minority 

rule there, by this time, nobody 

will be talking about Republic 

of South Africa. 

“If you take certain decisions, 

it might be good for the 

generality of the people but it 

might affect people differently.” 

The President also pointed 

out that his ministers would be 

persecuted as he hoped that 

they are prepared to face the 

situation. 

According to Jonathan, 

people will benefit more when 

the country is in good shape 

and things are going on well. 

He said: “You don’t need to 

know Mr. President or Mr. 

Governor. The issue is not 

about Jonathan or Buhari or 

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja 

Sources said that if the document is gazette, 

the two chambers of the National Assembly 

would pass the amended constitution by twothirds 

majority for it to become law. 

The sources noted that issues raised by President 

Goodluck Jonathan on the basis of which 

he withheld his assent notwithstanding, the 

parliament cannot be stopped from performing 

its constitutional duties. 

Abaribe told reporters in Abuja that it was 

wrong for the Supreme Court to stop the parliament 

from performance its legislative duties. 

Abaribe said: “The Supreme Court is wrong. 

The law does not allow one arm of the government 

to stop another arm of government from 

performing its duties. 

“The Supreme Court cannot stop us from legislating 

and if they say that the Supreme Court 

is stopping us from making laws, it is misleading 

and it amounts to misreading the powers 

of the Supreme Court.” 

Presidencial source said yesterday. 

“We have heard reports of 

plans by Senators and Representatives 

to defy the order of 

individual, President 

Jonathan said he was ready 

to pay the supreme price for 

Nigeria. 

Dr Jonathan said having received 

scholarship to study 

and having been a major 

player on the nation’s political 

landscape in the last 16 

years, including his six years 

as President, paying the supreme 

price would not be out 

of place. 

The service, conducted by 

the Primate of Church of Nigeria, 

ArchBishop Nicholas 

Okoh, was attended by 

Jonathan’s wife Patience, 

who was appearing for the 

first time in any public event 

in the country since her husany 

other person. The issue is 

how the government functions, 

stability and buoyant economy 

that will enable Nigerians to 

move forward and live happy. 

That is our interest; that is my 

prayer point.” 

He also urged religious 

groups to continue to pray for 

the peace and development of 

the nation. 

The President took the Old 

Testament lesson from Isaiah 

40: 25-31. His wife read the New 

Testament lesson from 1st 

Timothy 6:11-19. 

There was thanksgiving by 

the first family, which got a farewell 

gift. 

Prayers were said for the first 

family and the nation. 

In his sermon, the Most Revd. 

Okoh spoke on the need for all 

Christians to give thanks at all 

times, in all circumstances. 

He took the congregation 

through 1st Thessalonian 5:16- 

18, Daniel 4:17 and the book of 

Hebrew. 

Noting that President 

Jonathan gave thanks to God 

when he assumed office, he said 

the Sunday service was to thank 

God with him as he is rounding 

off his tenure. 

He said: “By God’s divine 

grace, he was chosen to be President 

after being deputy governor, 

governor and vice president. 

Whichever way you look 

at it, our God has been good to 

him.” 

“Furthermore, we thank God 


•Tambuwal 

the Supreme Court. If they 

disobey court order, they will 

be setting a bad precedent. 

Some of their leaders also risk 

being jailed if they are contemptuous 

of the court,” he 

added, pleading not tobe 

named because he is not permitted 

to talk to the media. 

Another source said: 

“Should the National Assembly 

override the President’s 

veto, the Federal Government 

may return to the apex court . 

“Once a matter is in court, 

it is subjudice to act on it. And 

Order 53 (5) of the Senate 

Standing Rules states that 

‘reference shall not be made 


Why AfDB 

chair may 

elude Nigeria, 

by experts 


Vice President Atiku 

Abubakar to South Africa to 

lobby for his candidature. 

Another Nigerian, 

Benedick Oramah, has been 

unanimously nominated as 

the President of the African 

Export-Import Bank. The 

bank has its headquarters in 

Cairo, the capital of Egypt. 

Some experts fear that 

while South Africa may back 

Adesina, Egypt may not 

support Nigeria’s bid for 

AfDB president because it 

means Nigeria will be 

heading two foremost 

financial institutions in Africa 

at the same time. 

They recall that when a 

Nigerian, Bisi Ogunjobi, 

aspired to the AfDB president 

some years back, Cairo objected 

to his bid, pointing out that 

Nigeria was already playing a 

domineering role in the African 

Export-Import Bank. 

According to the experts, 

who pleaded not to be named, 

two Nigerians, former Nigerian 

Ambassador to South Africa 

Alhaji Sheu Malami and former 

External Affairs Minister Gen. 

Ike Nwachukwu, who were 

sent to Cairo by the Federal 

Government to lobby for 


There’ll be no 

quick fixes, says 

Buhari 


Nigerian Shipping Line, 

Nigerian Railways. Where 

are they now? Where is the 

infrastructure? Consider 

what we earned between 

then and now and what we 

earned in-between and what 

is on ground. That is how 

efficiently the PDP managed 

Nigeria in the last 16 years. 

“Now we have invariably 

inherited all the problems, 

especially in the Northeast. I am 

sure that you have heard or seen 

the children recovered from the 

Sambisa Forest. Only the 

children and women are 

remaining while all the ablebodied 

men have been gotten 

rid of somehow. 

“Some have been taken to as 

far as Adamawa State to be 

resettled. A generation has been 

denied education and health 

care, infrastructure has gone. 

“You can imagine what is 

happening in the high seas 

where up to 400,000 barrels of 

crude oil which we rely on is 

stolen everyday with the full 

cooperation of those who are 

supposed to protect it. 

“The crude price has gone 

down and 90 per cent of foreign 

exchange we rely on come from 

that. So, you have to convince 

your constituencies that we 

have virtually arrived at the 

wrong time and that they have 

to tamper their expectation with 

some justice towards the 

leadership. 

“I think this has to be 

discussed, especially in the 

churches and mosques. It is 

the quickest way to 

communicate this to the 

ordinary people. Continue to 

remind them of all the things 

I said in all the states I visited. 


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08023006969, 

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NEWS 

•From left: President, 

Project Fix Nigeria 

Olusegun Kowonta 

Jr; former Secretary 

for Health Prince Julius 

Adelusi Adeluyi; 

Mrs. Eugenia Ayam 

Orhil, Director-General, 

National Agency 

for Drugs Administration 

and Control 

(NAFDAC) Dr. Paul 

Orhil, Managing Director, 

May and Baker 

Nigeria Plc, Mr. 

Nnamdi Okafor, at 

the presentation of a 

book: “The Odyssey 

of a Survivor”, written 

by Dr. Orhil in 

Lagos. 

PHOTO: ABIODUN 

WILLIAMS 

Reps to consider PIB, says Deputy Speaker Ihedioha 

THE House of Representatives 

will consider 

the passage of the 

much-awaited Petroleum Industry 

Bill (PIB) when members 

meet for plenary this 

week. 

Already, copies of the bill 

have been distributed to all 

members to study an get 

ready for clause-by-clause 

consideration of the legislation. 

Deputy Speaker Emeka 

Ihedioha broke the news to reporters 

after he led a delegation 

on a condolence visit to 

the Minority Whip of the 

Kwankwaso warns APC to act fast on 

National Assembly’s leadership 

KANO State Governor 

and senator-elect 

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso 

has advised the All Progressives 

Congress’ (APC’s) 

leadership to come out fast 

with an acceptable zoning 

formula for the National Assembly’s 

leadership positions. 

Kwankwaso, who spoke 

to reporters in his office in 

Kano at the weekend, said 

any delay could “cause confusion 

and mess up the entire 

system”. 

He alleged that the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP) 

has hired mercenaries to infiltrate 

the APC with the sole 

aim of retaining the National 

Assembly’s leadership, particularly 

at the Senate. 

The senator-elect warned 

From Osemwengie 

Ben Ogbemudia, Benin 

•’We ‘ve exposed corrupt practices’ 

House, Samson Osagie, at 

Urhokuosa, Uhunmwode, 

Edo State. 

The minority whip’s father, 

Pa Samson Osagie Imarhiagbe 

Ogbewe, has just passed on. 

Ihedioha said: “I think it 

will be most unfair for anybody 

to insinuate that the 

House is not working on the 

PIB. We have slated it for passage 

and we have mentioned 

it and we said we have to accomplish 

it before the end of 

this Assembly. 

“As we speak, copies of the 

Bill for consideration have 

been distributed to all members 

of the House to enable 

them study it so that they can 

make inputs. This week, we 

invite all Nigerians to join us 

as we take the clause-byclause 

consideration of the bill 

because we believe that the 

passage will do the Nigerian 

economy and the petroleum 

industry a lot of good.” 

He denied that the 7th Assembly 

did not tackle corruption, 

stressing that the members 

did their best in exposing 

the menace where necessary. 

Ihedioha said: “It is most 

unfair for anybody to indicate 

that we have not done anything 

about corruption. First, 

the leadership of the House 

and the 7th Assembly have 

discharged itself as a House 

that lead by example. We 

have led the House transparently 

and we have open our 

books for anybody or individual 

to appreciate how we 

•Governor: PDP has hired mercenaries to infiltrate party 

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano 

that it would be a dangerous 

trend, if the PDP is allowed 

to lead the Senate in the next 

political dispensation. 

He, therefore, insisted that 

something must be done to 

avert an impending leadership 

tussle within the APC 

over who becomes what at 

the Senate. 

Such a situation, the governor 

added, would give the 

PDP an opportunity to use its 

experience in the game to 

muster support, even from 

the APC. 

According to him, the 

APC should come out with 

acceptable guidelines for zoning. 

If delayed, the party 

might not meet the expectations 

of the people, particularly 

at the National Assembly 

level, he said. 

Kwankwaso noted the tussle 

for the House of Representatives 

Speaker in 2011 when 

Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal 

emerged Speaker. 

He claimed that Tambuwal’s 

emergence was made possible 

by members of the opposition, 

who backed him. 

The governor said the PDP 

might want to adopt the same 

strategy to retain the leadership 

of the Senate. 

The PDP as an experienced 

party in this game, Kwankwaso 

warned, might want to 

capitalise on this mistake, 

“which I know the APC national 

leadership don’t want it 

to happen because we won the 

elections and we shall continue 

to play the game as one 

have ran the affairs of the 

house and that is why in the 

7th Assembly, there is no banana 

pills. 

“We also have done everything 

that we can to expose 

corrupt practices by any 

branch of government and by 

any member of the society. 

“We have done all we need 

to do and we have asked the 

Executive to do its own part. 

If the Executive fails to do its 

own part, that is not the responsibility 

of the House and 

it’s not an indictment of the 

legislature. We have exposed 

corruption where necessary.” 

family”. 

He added: “I am one of 

those experienced in this 

game. I was a deputy Speaker 

in 1991. So, the issue of leadership 

is very important. The 

party should come out with 

guidelines, so that confusion 

can be reduced to the barest 

minimum.” 

The senator-elect said the 

May 29 handover would complete 

the circle of his administration 

and promised to support 

the incoming administration 

of Dr. Abdullahi Umar 

Ganduje. 

On media reports that he 

was lobbying to become the 

minister of the Federal Capital 

Territory, Kwankwaso said: “I 

have never discussed with anybody 

on whether I have any 

interest in any ministerial ap- 

•Kwankwaso 

pointment. I am a politician, 

who is ready to serve in whatever 

capacity my party and the 

people deem proper.” 

He thanked Jigawa State 

Governor Sule Lamido for naming 

a street after him and other 

members of the G7 Governors. 

Kwankwaso dismissed the 

petition against his election at 

the tribunal, saying: “On the 

issue of my election being challenged 

in a tribunal, it’s not 

something to worry about as 

they have no case. They are 

just wasting their time and 

we are used to their antics.” 

Akinyemi to Buhari: you ‘re wrong on your security instructions 

By Precious Igbonwelundu 

You would recall the 

events of 1975/76 in this 

country. When General 

Murtala Mohammed 

became Head of State 

in 1975 after the overthrow 

of General Gowon, 

he abolished the 

motorcade for himself, 

governors, and military 

ministers in reaction 

against what was perceived 

as the security 

excesses of the Gowon 

regime. 

FORMER External Affairs 

Minister Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi 

yesterday urged 

the President-elect, Muhammadu 

Buhari, to take his personal 

security seriously in the 

country’s interest. 

Akinyemi was reacting to 

Buhari’s statement that he has 

directed his motorcade to obey 

traffic regulations. 

In an open letter to the president-elect, 

Akinyemi urged 

Gen. Buhari to reconsider his 

decision, reminding him of security 

threats bedevilling the 

country. 

The former minister said he 

was constrained to issue the 

statement after the bomb explosion 

in Potiskum, Yobe 

State and gun attacks on 

Damaturu-Kano road at the 

weekend. 

Akinyemi stated that there 

was nowhere in the world 

where the motorcade of a President 

or Prime minister, was 

subjected to traffic regulation. 

He said: “When you announced 

on Wednesday, May 

6, that you have instructed 

your security motorcade to 

obey traffic instructions, my 

immediate reaction was to 

write you this letter. I refrained 

because I did not want to subject 

myself to the abuse on the 

social media that passes for 

criticism... 

“I changed my mind because 

of the implication for national 

security of your decision. 

“You would recall the 

events of 1975/76 in this country. 

When General Murtala 

Mohammed became Head of 

State in 1975 after the overthrow 

of General Gowon, he 

abolished the motorcade for 

himself, governors, and military 

ministers in reaction 

against what was perceived as 

the security excesses of the Gowon 

regime. 

“You were a military Governor 

in that regime. You 

would recall what happened 

next. General Mohammed was 

gunned down while his car 

was waiting at a road junction. 

“Nigeria and the world 

have become a more dangerous 

place than in 1976 when 

General Mohammed was assassinated. 

You would also recall 

the attempt on your life just 

last year when your motorcade 

was attacked in Kaduna. 

“There is no country in the 

world where the motorcade of 

a President, or Prime Minister 

or Head of State is subject to 

traffic regulations. I have just 

watched the motorcade of the 

British Prime Minister on his 

way to Buckingham Palace. 

Traffic was stopped and his 

outriders ensured that the motorcade 

was not impeded.` 

“General, it is not about 

your personal safety. It is about 

Nigerian national security. 

“You would recall the controversy 

that followed the ascension 

to the Presidency of the 

then Vice-President Goodluck 

Jonathan following the death 

of President Musa Yar’Adua 

because some people felt the ascension 

breached the principle 

of rotation. 

“In fact, this was what led 

the 2014 National Conference 

to recommend a constitutional 

provision that in case of vacancy 

in the President’s seat, a 

Vice-President from the same 

zone should serve out the term 

of the incumbent. This Sir 

shows the extent of the sensitivity 

about the seat of the President. 

“We cannot continue to take 

chances with the peace and 

stability of Nigeria and depend 

on God to bail us out. General, 

Please reconsider your decision, 

not for your sake, but for 

the sake of Nigeria.” 

NLC to Fed 

Govt: end fuel 

scarcity now 

By Toba Agboola 

THE Nigeria Labour 

Congress (NLC) has urged 

the Federal Government to 

ensure the restoration of 

regular supply of 

petroleum products. 

Speaking with reporters 

at the weekend, the NLC 

President, Ayuba Wabba, 

called on the government 

to immediately review the 

activities of its agencies in 

the oil and gas industry. 

He noted that the 

protracted dispute among 

the major stakeholders on 

the total amount owed by 

the government on subsidy 

“points to a conspiracy that 

perhaps the scarcity may 

have been ignited by those 

clamouring for the removal 

of subsidy on petroleum”. 

He said: “The scarcity 

has led to sharp practices 

with workers paying 

between N120 to N150 per 

litre at some filling 

stations. For workers 

commuting by public 

transport, they now pay 

more to get to work, even 

when there are no 

increases in salaries. 

“This painful 

experience Nigerians have 

been subjected to have 

been exacerbated by the 

embarrassing tirade 

between the fuel 

marketers and the Federal 

Government represented 

by the Coordinating 

Minister on the Economy, 

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 

on the actual amount owed 

the marketers.” 

Wabba added that the 

Federal Government owed 

the citizens the 

responsibility to stop the 

scarcity “since it is 

responsible for the 

management of the 

petroleum industry”. 

“We do not expect to 

experience any scarcity in 

any part of Nigeria 

because one of the reasons 

government gave for the 

increase in the price of 

petroleum products in 2012 

was that it will ensure 

regular supply of the 

products. 

“We will not be 

blackmailed into accepting 

the current scarcity as 

reason for another 

increase,” he said.

6 

NEWS 

THE Nigerian Communications 

Commission 

(NCC) has said the 

number of internet users on 

the country’s telecom networks 

increased to 83,362,814 

as at February. 

The regulatory body said 

this in its Monthly Internet 

Subscriber Data, which was 

obtained by the News Agency 

of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in 

Lagos. 

The data revealed that 

there was an increase of 

1,316,176 internet users on 

•President Goodluck Jonathan (fourth left); Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh (third left); Bishop of Ogbia Diocese Rt Rev. James 

Oruwori (right); the couple, Mr. George and Mrs. Jennifer George Turnah and other officiating ministers, at the wedding between Jennifer and George at St. Matthew’s 

Anglican Church, Maitama Abuja... on Saturday. 


NCC: 83m subscribers now browse on telecom networks 

KATSINA State Governor 

Ibrahim Shema was 

at the weekend honoured 

with The Sun Outstanding 

Performance Exit Award. 

The governor was honoured 

for his outstanding performance 

in governance in the 

last eight years. 

Speaking at the Eko Marquee 

of Eko Hotel and Suites on 

Victoria Island, Lagos, Shema 

thanked the Publisher/Chairman 

of The Sun and its management. 

He described the award as 

descent and honourable. 

He said The Sun has demonstrated 

capacity for sustaining 

integrity in Nigeria and in Africa. 

The governor said: “There is 

only one sun in the entire 

both the Global System for 

Mobile communications 

(GSM) and the Code Division 

Multiple Access (CDMA) networks 

in February. 

According to the data, 

82,046,638 users were recorded 

on the networks as at January. 

It showed that of the 

83,362,814 internet users as at 

February, 83,209,380 were on 

GSM networks, while 153,434 

users were on the CDMA networks. 

Also, of the 83,209,380 internet 

users recorded on the 

GSM networks in February, 

MTN Nigeria had 39,278,019 

customers browsing the internet 

on its network. 

It stated that MTN had an 

increase of 104,896 internet 

subscribers in February, after 

it recorded 39,173,123 users in 

January. 

According to the data, Globacom 

had 18,184,587 subscribers 

surfing the net with its 

network in February, up from 

17,671,405 users in January. 

It said that Globacom 

gained a total of 513,182 additional 

internet users on its 

network. 

Airtel Nigeria, it said, had 

15,894,061 internet users in 

February, as against 

14,969,924 customers recorded 

in January. 

The data showed that internet 

users on the Airtel Nigeria 

network increased by 

924,137 in February. 

It indicated that Etisalat 

had 9,852,713 of its customers 

browsing the internet in 

February, against the 

10,078,388 users in January. 

The data showed that those 

browsing the net on Etisalat’s 

network decreased by 

225,615 in February. 

The NCC data also revealed 

that the CDMA operators 

(Multi-Links and 

Visafone), had a joint total of 

153,434 internet users on their 

networks in February. 

It showed that the only surviving 

two CDMA networks 

in the country listed a loss of 

Katsina Governor Shema receives The Sun’s exit award 

NATIONAL Chairman 

of the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) Chief 

John Odigie-Oyegun has urged 

graduands of the American 

University of Nigeria (AUN), 

Yola, to join the party to rebuild 

Nigeria. 

Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke 

at the 7th Commencement for 

the university’s Class of 2015 at 

the weekend, promised them 

that the party, which takes over 

power on May 29, when Gen. 

Muhammadu Buhari is sworn 

in as president, will create opportunities 

for them. 

“I want to say and urge you 

to leave this place, leave this 

university and become agents 

of a new Nigeria. You’re most 

welcome to the real world. I am 

sure and certain you’ve been 

adequately prepared. I want to 

assure you, the fresh graduands 

that Nigeria is waiting for 

you, and the APC is going to 

from the very minute it comes 

into office, start opening the 

doors of opportunity for you 

all,” he said. 

However, the APC chieftain 

said Nigeria was passing 

through difficult times, but 

urged them to be tough and utilise 

the specialised knowledge 

By Olatunde Odebiyi 

world. This is one award that 

has no string attached; it is one 

award that is given and funded 

exclusively by The Sun Publishing 

House; it is one award 

that is given to a governor that 

is leaving office. Not one that is 

just starting or one that anyone 

can look out to for contracts or 

profit. 

“The Sun has set a pace and 

I hope that our friends, colleagues 

and those coming will 

take seriously the idea of service 

delivery that will be of service 

to humanity. 

“Wherever we are in the position 

of leadership, we should 

support and advance the 

course of this nation and its 

people.” 

He prayed that Nigeria 

would continue to enjoy peace, 

unity, progress and development. 

“This is a great nation that 

deserves decency and honour, 

our leaders must ensure dedication, 

commitment and continue 

to make the nation grow 

in the most successful democracy. 

He described the just-concluded 

elections as a watershed 

in the history of the country, 

adding that it defied all predictions 

of violence. 

He urged Nigerians to sustain 

the pervading spirit of 

peace, which, he said, would 

move the country forward. 

He thanked his friends, 

members of his family, and political 

associates for the support 

and interest in his achievements. 

Former Abia State Governor 

and Chairman / Publisher, 

The Sun, Orji Uzor Kalu, said; 

“It is at no financial cost to 

receive the award, but rather 

The Sun has paid all the bills 

for what is going on here today. 

The Sun is the only newspaper 

organisation that gives 

award without receiving any 

money from the awardee. In 

fact, I wish that the board of 

editors created cash also for 

the outgoing governor to go 

home with.” 

He described the award as 

better than ‘Man of the Year 

Award’, adding that the award 

was important because the governor 

is leaving office in less 

than 20 days. 

APC ‘ll create opportunities, Odigie-Oyegun tells AUN graduands 

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie 

gained from schooling in such 

a unique institution to proffer 

solutions to her problems. 

He said: “Let me just put a 

caveat. We as a people, as a nation, 

are going through very difficult 

times. The economy of this 

nation is near a state of collapse. 

The treasury of this nation is 

very near exhausted. These are 

hard times. And when the 

times are hard, the tough gets 

going. You are going to join us 

in proffering solution to the 

new direction, the new trajectory 

on which this nation is going 

to embark from May 29, 

2015.” 

Odigie-Oyegun praised the 

university for giving women a 

chance to excel as he noted that 

the president of the university, 

Dr. Margee Ensign, the commencement 

speaker, Mrs. Vicky 

Colbett, the valedictorian, Hephzber 

Obiorah, and the Class 

of 2015 Speaker, Marvelous 

Imabeh, were all women. 

In his speech, the chairman 

of the AUN Board of Trustees, 

Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, praised 

the founder of the university, 

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for investing 

in the institution, saying 

that despite the fees paid by 

the students, the former vice 

president still contributes about 

65 per cent of the funds used to 

run the university. 

In her speech, the AUN 

President described the recent 

election as a revolution. She 

urged the graduands to plug 

into the opportunities that the 

new government would provide. 

She said: “The recent elections 

have opened that window 

of hope for all of you, for 

all of us. In fact, the peaceful 

transfer of power in Nigeria is 

nothing less than a revolution. 

It is a revolution of hope, and 

promise in a continent, most 

important country and economy. 

“I am sure all of you know 

the Founder of our university, 

His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, 

the former Vice President of Nigeria, 

played a crucial role again 

in the opening up of Nigerian 

democracy, a central role in 

helping to establish the party 

which triumphed in the presidential 

election, and effective 

opposition party in bringing 

hope and promise and prosperity 

to Nigeria. Please join me in 

thanking him. That window of 

hope has opened wide for you, 

class of 2015. So, now is the time 

to create a new Nigeria, a new 

world, a free world. You the class 

of 2015, graduates of the finest 

university in Nigeria, are about 

to enter that world as competent 

and educated adults.” 

The valedictorian, who finished 

with a Cumulative Grade 

Point Average (CGPA) of 3.99 

(on a 4.00 scale) in English, Literature 

and Language, urged 

her fellow graduands to pursue 

their passions to be successful in 

life. 

“You have to love what you 

do. I will give you the secret of 

success: passion. You know 

why? Because passion drives 

you,” she said. 

The university graduated 114 

undergraduates from the 

schools of Arts and Sciences, 

Business and Entrepreneurship; 

and Information Technology & 

Computing. There were also 26 

graduands from the postgraduate 

school who graduated with 

Post Graduate Diploma in Management 

(PGDM), Master of 

Business Administration (MBA), 

Master of Technology, Information 

Technology, and Master of 

Technology, Telecommunications. 

Former Ogun State Governor 

Gbenga Daniel, who 

chaired the occasion, described 

The Sun as a newspaper of excellence 

and prayed that the 

paper would continue to succeed 

and move from strength 

to strength. 

He congratulated and applauded 

Shema for the good 

works he has done in Katsina 

and for the turnaround in developing 

infrastructure without 

borrowing money. 

The Managing Director and 

Editor-in-Chief of The Sun, Mr. 

Femi Adesina, said the award 

was instituted to promote quality 

governance. 

He said the award was designed 

to advance quality governance 

as stepping stones to a 

great future. 

364 internet subscribers in the 

month under review, from the 

153,798 users they recorded in 

January. 

According to the data, 

Visafone recorded a decrease 

of 274 customers surfing the 

internet in February, reducing 

to 152,785 compared to the 

153,059 users in the month of 

January. 

It showed that Multi-Links 

had 649 internet users in February, 

losing 90 customers 

from the January record of 739 

users. 

Reps’ probe into 

economy stalled 

From Victor Oluwasegun 

and Dele Anofi, Abuja 

TWO months after the 

House of Representatives 

ad-hoc Committee on 

the State of Economy was constituted, 

the investigation is yet 

to begin even as the 7th House 

prepares to wind down its session. 

The Nation learnt that the 

ad-hoc committee, which is 

headed by the Chairman, 

House Committee on Legislative 

Budget and Research, 

Opeyemi Bamidele, is yet to receive 

any terms of reference 

from the leadership of the 

House through the Clerk, Sanni 

Omolori. 

Efforts by the committee to 

begin investigation by obtaining 

the terms of reference from 

the leadership has met with 

promises that it would soon be 

transmitted to it through the 

clerk. 

On March 12, this year, the 

House resolved to probe into 

the state of the nation’s economy 

sequel to the adoption of a 

motion of urgent national importance 

moved by Minority 

Whip, Samson Osagie. 

The decision was hinged on 

the fact that various figures 

were being bandied as the income 

of the country and that 

there was a need to reconcile 

the figures. 

The committee is to specifically 

investigate the earnings 

from crude oil exports and other 

revenue sources in 2014 fiscal 

year and make recommendations 

to the House within 

three weeks. 

Jonathan lost to evil 

conspiracies, says Okupe 

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja 

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election to “evil conspiracies 

within and outside the country”, the President’s Senior 

Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, 

has alleged. 

“Jonathan fought against evil conspiracies both locally and internationally 

in his bid to deliver good governance, but was unfortunately 

misunderstood by many Nigerians, who mistook his good 

nature and intentions for weakness”, Okupe said in a statement yesterday. 

He, however, stated that the President is leaving office as a fulfilled 

man who was “excellent in achievement, humility, tranquility 

and simplicity”. 

Okupe posted the message on his Facebook account, after a 

thanksgiving service held for President Jonathan at the State House 

chapel yesterday. 

“Nigerians mistook meekness for weakness, restraint for lack of 

strength, reticence for inaction, calmness for indecisiveness”, the President’s 

aide stated. He described the thanksgiving service as emotional 

for him and other friends of the President, who attended the event. 

According to him, despite losing the election, Jonathan remains 

“the greatest President Nigeria ever had” and that he “triumphed” 

because of the “inherent goodness” that God has deposited in him. 

Okupe insisted that Jonathan meant what he said and stood by 

them, even to his own detriment and to the detriment of those who 

believed in him. 

He noted that though the President lost his election, he triumphed 

because of his commitment to the peace of Nigeria, which, he said, 

made him declare that his ambition was not worth the blood of any 

Nigerian. 

Dr. Okupe advised Nigerians to pray for the continuous peace 

and stability of the country, saying: “God will guide our incoming 

leaders and endow them with the competency of His wisdom to lead 

us aright”.


NEWS 

8,900 jostle for 

15 schools 

THE Lagos State government 

at the weekend 

conducted placement 

tests for 8,700 primary 

school pupils seeking admission 

into its 15 junior model 

and upgraded secondary 

schools for the 2015/2016 academic 

session. 

The Commissioner for Education, 

Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, 

who monitored the 

exercise, said 18 candidates 

sat for the pilot computer 

based examination (CBT) in 

addition to the regular paper/pencil 

mode. 

Oladunjoye said the CBT 

has come to stay in the state. 

The 15 model colleges and 

upgraded schools include 

Model Junior College, Meiran; 

Vetland Junior Grammar 

School, Ifako Ijaiye; Model 

Junior College, Igbokuta; 

Civil Service Model Junior 

College, Igbogbo; Oriwu 

Model Junior College, Ikorodu; 

Government Junior 

College, Ikorodu. 

Others are Model Junior 

College, Igbonla; Model 

Junior College, Agbowa; 

Model Junior College Badore; 

Lagos State Junior Model 

College, Ojo; Eva Adelaja 

Memorial Junior Secondary, 

Bariga; Model Junior College, 

Kankon; Government 

Junior College, Ketu, Epe; 

Epe Junior Grammar, Epe; 

and Badagry Junior Grammar 

School, Badagry. 

Oyo moves 200,000 

commuters 

TFrom Tayo Johnson, Ibadan 

HE Oyo State government 

public transport, 

Pacesetter Mass Transit 

(PMT), has moved no fewer 

than 200,000 passengers in the 

last one month. 

PMT Acting Manager Wole 

Akinleye said this at the raffle 

draw promo to celebrate the 

second anniversary of 

Ajumose Shuttle Buses. 

He said: “The Abiola Ajimobi 

administration rebranded 

the Trans City Transport 

Company (TCTC) to PMT and 

bought 100 luxurious buses in 

2013. 

“Our buses are the cheapest 

in the state. Apart from this, it 

is free for students and civil 

servants. 

“One of the reasons we have 

decided to celebrate is to give 

back to our customers.” 

MDCAN appeals 

to striking doctors 

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan 

THE Medical and Dental 

Consultants Association 

of Nigeria (MD- 

CAN) has appealed to striking 

doctors in the University 

College Hospital (UCH), 

Ibadan, to end their 10-day 

strike. 

Arising from an emergency 

congress, the consultants 

urged the striking doctors 

and the hospital management 

to sheathe their swords 

for the sake of the patients. 

A statement by MDCAN 

General Secretary, Dr. Victor 

Makanjuola, said all the issues 

being raised by the doctors 

are legitimate. He urged the 

management to address them. 

The statement reads: “MD- 

CAN UCH Branch held an 

emergency congress to consider 

all the issues leading to 

the strike. 

“The MDCAN has set machinery 

in motion to address 

the contentious issues in collaboration 

with resident doctors 

and UCH Management. 

“We seek the kind of understanding 

of the public, as the 

matter is expeditiously resolved.” 

APC blames Fayose for Ekiti kidnappings 

THE All Progressives 

Congress (APC) in 

Ekiti State has said 

Governor Ayo Fayose 

should be blamed for the 

spate of kidnappings in the 

state. 

The party said the governor 

had failed to deliver his 

campaign promises, six 

persons, including medical 

doctors, have been kidnapped 

in the last five 

months. 

Publicity Secretary Taiwo 

Olatubosun, in a statement, 

said the kidnapping of medical 

doctors had forced medical 

practitioners to down tools. 

“We raised the alarm when 

the trend started, calling the 

attention of Ekiti people to 

the governor’s refusal to 

Lafarge WAPCO to resettle 1000 villagers in Ogun 

CEMENT Giant Lafarge 

WAPCO has agreed to 

relocate no fewer than 1000 

villagers from two communities- Oke 

- Oko and Sekoni- in Ewekoro Local 

Government Area of Ogun State. 

Also to be relocated are a number 

of deities - community and household 

gods-worshipped by the villagers. 

The two communities were found 

to be sitting on limestone belts, a 

major raw material in cement 

production. 

The affected people would be re - 

settled on 60 acres of land - referred 

to as new Oke-Oko, Sekoni. 

This followed many years of 

complaints and request by the 

villagers that mining and blasting of 

How Ondo meets salary obligations, by commissioner 

THE Ondo State government 

has explained 

how it has been paying 

workers regularly. 

Commissioner for Information 

Kayode Akinmade 

said what the state earns 

monthly is a far cry from 

what it spends on salaries and 

pension. 

Akinmade said last month, 

the state’s total earnings, including 

allocation from the 

federation account and Internally 

Generated Revenue 

(IGR), was N3.2billion. 

Salaries and subvention 

paid for the same month was 

N4billion. The commissioner 

said the government had 

to look inwarda to provide 

the N800million difference. 

He added that for the same 

month, allocation for local 

governments was 

From Odunayo Ogunmola, 

Ado-Ekiti 

fund security agencies, even 

though Fayose increased his 

personal security vote to 

N200 million monthly. 

“What is happening now is 

a confirmation of our earlier 

claim that the 19 APC lawmakers 

were targets of kidnapping 

to reduce their number 

to stall his impeachment. 

“This would have been 

done if they had attended the 

meeting at ABUAD where 

we were informed that an 

ambush had been laid for 

them,” Olatunbosun said. 

He added that the recent 

kidnappings could not be detached 

from the earlier state 

of siege and insecurity by 

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta 

the mineral deposit exposed them to 

grave health hazards, including 

environmental degradation and harm 

to their farm crops. 

Speaking at the inauguration of the 

housing facilities at the new site at 

the weekend, the Managing Director, 

Lafarge Africa (WAPCO Operations), 

Adepeju Adebajo, said the relocation 

of the “people and their deities” was 

an initiative of the company’s 

management to protect them from 

mining hazards. 

Adebajo, who was represented by 

the Manager, Ewekoro Plant, Thierry 

Terriere, said the facilities would 

house 1000 people. 

He said: “It is our hope that when 

criminals after the government 

unleashed thugs, miscreants 

and escapee-inmates 

to harass political opponents. 

“The thugs, who are still 

being lodged in the Government 

House, had in the past, 

unleashed terror on opposition 

members in every town 

across Ekiti State. 

“We have every reason to 

believe that they are the 

same criminals together 

with their colleagues from 

neighbouring Ondo State 

who are responsible for the 

kidnappings in the state,” 

Olatubosun said. 

He added: “We raised the 

alarm about the state of insecurity 

in Ekiti in the last 

six months. It was first the 

•Isolo carnival group performing at the Lagos Carnival 2015 in Lagos…at the weekend. 

‘This clarification 

became 

necessary because 

of the 

mischievous 

figures being 

bandied about 

as the state’s 

allocation from 

the Federal Government’ 

jailbreak, followed by the 

reign of robbers, next was 

the reign of thugs who 

maimed political opponents 

and now kidnappers. 

“We call on security agencies, 

especially the Acting 

IGP Solomon Arase, to revisit 

our petitions on the Government 

House thugs. They 

should be arrested and prosecuted 

now. 

“We sympathise with Ekiti 

people who were deceived 

by Fayose into believing he 

is the best for them. They 

now know better, as the difference 

between a government 

that really cared for the 

masses and a government of 

stunts and deceit is becoming 

clearer by the day.” 

PHOTO: NAN 

completed soon, the newly-relocated 

Oke-Oko, Sekoni would be our 

modest contribution to the muchsought-after 

societal advancement. 

“Needful to state, however, that the 

huge resources being committed to 

this special project is in addition to 

the yearly developmental initiatives 

we carry out in Ewekoro Local 

Government, which include bursary 

awards and training of youths.” 

The traditional ruler (Baale), Chief 

Mukaila Oginsola, lauded the 

initiative, saying it would save the 

villagers from mining hazards. 

He said: “We fought them for this 

project and they are giving us what 

we asked of them. This is very good 

and Lafarge should be commended.” 

N1.9billion and the wages for 

the council workers 

N2.6billion. 

Akinmade said the government 

had to argument that 

too, adding that it has been 

the trend for over a year. 

“There has never been a 

time that the state’s allocation 

is sufficient to pay salaries,” 

he said. 

Besides local government 

workers, primary school 

teachers, pensioners and traditional 

rulers get paid from 

the local government purse. 

“This clarification became 

necessary because of the mischievous 

figures being bandied 

about as the state’s allocation 

from the Federal Government. 

“People can ask questions 

to know the truth instead of 

misinforming the public, because 

these figures are in the 

public domain for people to 

verify. 

“What each state gets as allocation 

from the Federal 

Government is not hidden. It 

is not a secret thing. These 

figures are in the public domain 

and it is pure mischief 

for anybody or group of people 

to continually play politics 

with such a sensitive issue. 

“It is on record that Ondo 

pays the highest minimum 

wage of N22,500 to civil servant. 

Despite all is financial 

obligations, the government 

has been able to maintain 

regular payment of salaries 

and provide dividends of democracy 

to other residents. 

“The government’s mega 

school, free school shuttle 

buses, mother and child hospitals, 

Urban renewal programmes 

across the state, the 

cocoa revolution, road constructions.” 

Mobile blood 

bank centre 

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan 

THE University College 

Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, 

has inaugurated a new 

mobile blood bank centre 

to improve blood 

donation. 

The Chief Medical 

Director (CMD), Prof. 

Temitope Alonge, said it 

was a great day for the 

hospital because it had 

resuscitated and 

refurbished its blood 

bank to save lives. 

Alonge said the mobile 

blood bank cost between 

N5 to N7 million, adding 

that the vehicle will go 

into the nooks and 

crannies of the state to 

collect blood from 

voluntary donors. 

“Blood is an essential 

part of human life, it is 

key to survival and its 

absence in the body is 

equivalent to death. 

“UCH is expanding in 

terms of service delivery, 

we now have a lot of 

centres to cater for more 

people. 

Alonge said the 

hospital has three 

standard blood fridges 

which can accommodate 

between 600 to 800 pints 

of blood. 

According to him, 

donors will have the 

opportunity to know 

their health status, such 

as HIV 1 and 2, hepatitis 

B and C, syphilis, blood 

group and genotype 

before making donation. 

How OAU 

lecturer was 

kidnapped 

From Adesoji Adeniyi, 

Osogbo 

FRESH facts have 

emerged on how a 

lecturer in the 

Environmental Design 

Department of the 

Obafemi Awolowo 

University, Ile-Ife, Dr. 

Femi Omisore, was 

kidnapped on Saturday 

in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti 

State capital. 

It was gathered that 

unknown gunmen shot 

at the fuel tank of the 

lecturer’s car when his 

driver attempted to flee. 

The kidnappers were 

said to have pursued the 

lecturer, who was on his 

way to Oye-Ekiti, until 

they eventually caught 

up with him and shot his 

driver. 

According to a source, 

the lecturer’s car caught 

fire. 

The source added: “A 

car was trailing him (the 

lecturer) and his driver 

tried to escape but he 

was caught. The driver 

tried so much to avoid 

being overtaken by the 

gun men but it is painful 

that he did not succeed. 

They eventually killed 

him.” 

The chairman of the 

OAU chapter of the 

Academic Staff Union of 

Universities, Dr. Caleb 

Aborisade, said: “It is 

true. He was taken away 

and his driver was 

killed. His car was also 

burnt.” 

7


NEWS 

Teenager dies in Osun accident 

A13-YEAR-OLD girl 

was killed yesterday, 

when a car rammed 

into her mother’s shop at Ilobu, 

Irepodun Local Government 

Area of Osun State. 

The victim, who hailed 

from Ile-Olowola 

Compound, was said to be 

inside the shop when the incident 

happened. 

The driver of a gold Toyota 

Camry reportedly lost 

control and drove inside the 

shop. 

ACHIEFTAIN of the 

All Progressives 

Congress (APC) in 

Akwa Ibom State, Uwem 

Udoma, has urged the 

people of Ondo State to 

allow Akwa Ibom complete 

its managing director tenure 

in the Niger Delta 

Development Commission 

(NDDC). 

His comments followed a 

report that Ondo was agitating 

for MD. 

Udoma said subject to the 

provisions of the Act establishing 

NDDC, a member of 

the Board, other than an exofficio 

member, shall hold 

office for a term of four years. 

Udoma said the NDDC 

MD, Bassey Dan Abia, had 

only spent one year and six 

months in office, adding that 

if the present NDDC board 

From Adesoji Adeniyi, 

Osogbo 

A mob set the car ablaze 

but the driver, Gbenga Ayangoke 

(28) of Ile Iyaloja 

Compound, Erin-Osun, was 

said to have been rescued by 

the police. 

An eyewitness said Ayangoke 

lost control, veered 

off the road and knocked 

down the girl. 

The victim’s remains have 

been deposited at the General 

Hospital, Ilobu. 

‘Ondo should wait for NDDC slot’ 

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo 

is dissolved, it would still be 

the turn of Akwa Ibom to 

complete that tenure. 

According to the APC 

chieftain, unlike the chairmanship 

of the commission 

which is based on rotation 

in the alphabetical order of 

Abia; Akwa Ibom; Bayelsa; 

Cross River; Delta; Edo; Imo; 

Ondo and Rivers states, the 

MD position is based on the 

member states with the highest 

oil production quantum 

and such is to rotate among 

member states in the order 

of production. 

His words: “The report 

that Ondo may produce the 

next NDDC MD is misleading. 

Why Ondo when Akwa 

Ibom hasn’t completed its 

tenure?” 

Ogun CJ frees 37 prisoners 

OGUN State Chief Judge Justice Olatokunbo Olopade 

has granted unconditional release to 37 inmates. 

Six prisoners were freed at Ilaro, 11 at Oba, 15 at 

Abeokuta, two at Sagamu and three at Ijebu-Ode prisons. 

Justice Olopade said the exercise was shifted due to 

judiciary workers strike. 

She advised the released inmates to turn a new leaf and be 

good citizens. 

The Chief Judge revealed that the state judiciary has put 

up a Justice Fast Track Initiative Clinic in Abeokuta, Ijebuode 

and Ota High Courts to expedite action on criminal 

cases. 

Don’t be chauvinistic, Buhari told 

AGROUP, Coalition of 

Oodua Self-Determination 

Group (CO- 

SEG), has urged Presidentelect 

Muhammadu Buhari 

“not to sacrifice the goodwill 

he enjoys from Nigerians on 

the altar of ethnic chauvinism”. 

In a statement by its chairman, 

Dayo Ogunlana and 

Secretary, Eazaq Olokooba, 

COSEG said it was disturbed 

by statements credited to 

Northern leaders, such as 

Kano State Governor Rabiu 

Kwankwaso and Justice 

Mamman Nasir, insinuating 

that the North singlehandedly 

gave victory to the President-elect. 

Reminding the leaders 

that the North had voted 

massively for Buhari in earlier 

elections but could not 

make him win, COSEG said 

it was the alliance between 

the Hausa-Fulani and the 

Yoruba that produced the 

remarkable victory. 

“Let us begin by stating 

some incontrovertible facts. 

Firstly, Buhari had tried and 

failed to become president 

three times. Secondly, on his 

fourth attempt, he emerged 

president-elect. Thirdly, Buhari 

is president-elect today 

by the grace of God and the 

political sagacity of former 

Lagos State Governor Bola 

Tinubu. 

“No amount of noise and 

hyping of the so-called almajiri 

votes by some people can 

change this fact. The almajiris 

did not just start voting for 

Gen. Buhari. So what made 

the difference between Buhari’s 

past serial failures and 

his success this time around? 

“The only credible explanation, 

in our view, is the intervention 

and involvement 

of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and 

the Yoruba nation. 

“It is not natural to deny 

Asiwaju and by extension the 

Yoruba their due and to set 

them on a collision course 

with the President-elect by 

presenting them as a greedy 

lot bent on controlling the 

government.” 

The group said the task of 

revamping the economy and 

setting the country on the 

right course requires the 

contributions of those 

whose vision gave birth to 

the progressive change 

across the country. 

“We are surprised that the 

arrowhead of the alliance, 

Tinubu, is being criticised 

for seeking to ensure that the 

Southwest and its allies are 

adequately compensated for 

their efforts. 

“Our recent collective interest 

has shown that a single 

ethnic nationality cannot 

monopolise government 

and power in Nigeria. What 

does this all mean? The Yoruba 

cannot afford to dismantle 

their structures of protest 

and resistance. Sooner than 

later, those structures will be 

needed again.” 

Ekiti begins workers verification tomorrow 

•Salary payment on Wednesday 

that those verified tomorrow 

will receive their salaries on 

Wednesday; those verified 

on Wednesday will get paid 

on Thursday. 

“By Friday, 70 per cent of 

the workers would have received 

their April salary.” 

Giving details of how the 

exercise will be carried out, 

Olayinka said: “Tomorrow 

and Wednesday, staff of core 

Ministries, Departments and 

Agencies (MDAs), Health 

Management Board (HMB) 

and six local councils will be 

verified at designated venues. 

“The councils are Ado, Efon, 

Ekiti East, Ekiti South West, 

Moba and Oye. Workers of 

Ise/Orun, Ikere, Emure, Ekiti 

West, Ido/Osi, Ikole, Ilejemeje 

and Irepodun/Ifelodun, 

Gbonyin and Ijero will 

be verified on Thursday and 

Friday. 

“Also on Thursday and Friday, 

staff of Local Government 

Training School, Local 

Government Service Commission, 

Loans Board and 

Pension Board, as well as primary 

school teachers in Ado, 

Efon, Ekiti East, Ekiti South 

West, Ekiti West, Emure, Gbonyin, 

Ido/Osi local councils 

and State Universal Basic Education 

Board (SUBEB) Local 

Government Education Authority 

(LGEA) Headquarters 

will be verified. 

“Primary school teachers 

in Ijero, Ikere, Ikole, Ilejemeje, 

Irepodun/Ifelodun, 

Ise/Orun, Moba and Oye local 

governments, as well as 

all secondary school teachers 

will be verified on Saturday 

and Monday.” 

The governor’s aide added 

that verification of local 

council workers will be 

done at their councils’ headquarters, 

those under LGEA 

(SUBEB) will be verified at 

their respective LGEA headquarters. 

Secondary school teachers 

will assemble at designated 

schools in their respective 

local governments for the 

exercise. 

•Adeyemo flanked by Prof Ojerinde (left) and the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul Ganiyu Adekunle... at the weekend. 

Oke-Ogun plans to build own varsity 

THE verification of 

48,977 workers in the 

Ekiti State public serv- 

ice will begin tomorrow and 

end on Monday. Payment of 

salaries will begin on 

Wednesday. 

Special Assistant to the governor 

on Public Communications 

and New Media Lere 

Olayinka, in a statement 

yesterday, said the verification 

was to block close to 

N500 million being lost to 

ghost workers. 

“Those insinuating that the 

verification was meant to 

delay April salary are just 

playing cheap politics because 

the arrangement is such 

that the moment verification 

is concluded, salaries of those 

cleared will be paid. 

“The implication of this is 

THE people of Oke- 

Ogun in Oyo State 

have begun moves to 

establish a university. 

The homogenous area, 

covering 10 local governments 

in the northern part 

of the state, does not have a 

university. 

Worried by continued failure 

to get a government university 

cited in the area to 

meet the educational needs 

of its teeming youth population, 

the Oke-Ogun Development 

Council (ODC) set 

up a committee to facilitate 

the establishment of the university 

at the weekend. 

The committee is headed 

by a lecturer at the Obafemi 

Awolowo University 

(OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Kehinde 

Yusuf. 

The institution is to be sited 

at Agunrege community. 

At the inauguration in 

Iseyin, Deputy Governor 

Moses Alake-Adeyemo assured 

the people of the government’s 

support for the 

project. 

He also promised the government’s 

full involvement 

in the running of the university. 

“The government will certainly 

see to it that Oke Ogun 

university takes off before 

the end of its second term.” 

A don, Prof Layi Egunjobi, 

said the university as a 

growth pole often represents 

a catalyst for development in 

From Odunayo Ogunmola, 

Ado Ekiti 

•Committee set up 

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan 

any area. 

He enjoined the committee 

to be steadfast. 

“I like to congratulate the 

people of Oke-Ogun as it is 

my belief that this ideawill 

come to reality.” 

The Registrar of the Joint 

Admission and Matriculations 

Board (JAMB), Prof 

Dibu Ojerinde, said setting 

up a university is not a tea 

party. 

“We need to gird our 

loins. The National Universities 

Commission (NUC) 

has various conditions to be 

met in establishing a university. 

“These conditions will run 

AMEMBER of the Omotoso family of 

Afao-Ekiti, Mrs. Florence Aduloju, 

has said she is not a member of the 

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

The Omotoso’s family and the community 

are embroiled in a dispute over the 

demolition of its family house. 

But the Afao Development Council (ADC) 

said the building was pulled down to save 

the lives of pupils of a nearby primary school 

The ADC, which denied the involvement 

of Governor Ayo Fayose, also claimed that 

the land upon which the building stood has 

not been taken away from the family. 

Mrs. Aduloju refuted the claim of the ADC’s 

spokesman, Tope Anjorin, that she is a PDP 

Women Leader. 

into billions of naira. For 

this reason, everyone must 

be prepared to contribute 

fully.” 

The Accountant-General of 

the Federation (AGF), Otunba 

Niyi Otunla, represented 

by his Special Assistant, Yisau 

Adepoju, reminded 

them that university is a capital 

intensive project. 

Other members of the 

committee drawn from the 

10 local governments include 

Deacon S. A. Oyedemi; 

Prof D. A. Oyeleye; Matthew 

M. Ogunjimi; Bayo Toluwalase; 

Zaccheus Adepoju; 

Gbade Iyilade; Prof Oladapo 

Olaniyonu; Dr. Olusegun 

Olawoyin; Niyi Kehinde; 

Dr. Olusegun Ajuwon; Prof. 

Tunji Akande; Prof A. 

Odekunle, Princess Oyenike 

Ayoola; Kehinde Abioye; 

Remi Adegbola; Prof Gbemi 

Remi Adeoti; Mrs. Mary 

Aboyade and Prof. M. Fasasi 

Ȯthers are Prof O. Oladepo; 

Prof Babayemi; Chief 

Niran Bioku; Ola Siyanbola; 

Prof Layi Oladele;Ademola 

Ojeleye; Dr Femi Dayo 

Ajayi; Dr Diran Olabisi; Dr 

Bolanle Wahab; Dr. Seyi Ige; 

Prof Layi Egunjobi; Prof 

Dele Layiwola; Dr Bola 

Olaniyan; Prof A. Ahmad; 

Dr. Al-Azeez; Dr. Soji 

Awoyemi; Dr. Ayo I. Tunbosun; 

Dr. Caleb Aborisade; 

Dr. Stephen Ogundipe; Dr. 

Rasaq Adefabi; Muda Ganiyu; 

Mrs.Ruth Alao, Prof 

Micheal Ajayi and Prof 

Tunde Ayeleru. 

I’m not a PDP member, says family member 

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti 

Mrs. Aduloju, in a statement, said she left 

the PDP in 2003. 

She said: “My attention has been drawn to 

the allegation made by Mr. Tope Anjorin, 

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Afao 

Development Council (ADC) that I am the 

PDP Women Leader in Afao Ward. 

“To set the records straight, I left Afao PDP 

since 2003/2004, hence the insinuation that I 

am a PDP member is not true. 

“Furthermore, the Interim Chairman of 

Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Mr. 

Sunday Olowoyo is not a member of the 

Omotoso family and hence cannot take any 

decision on behalf of the family.”


NEWS 

9 



“We picked three fundamental 

problems. The first 

is security. The country has 

to be secured before anything 

can be put in place 

and then the economy. The 

fact is that more than 60 per 

cent of the Nigerian population 

is youthful and most 

of them, whether they have 

been to school or not, are 

unemployed and this is the 

biggest danger. 

“So, there must be jobs for 

these people as quickly as 

possible for us to even enjoy 

the relative peace. Security, 

getting jobs for these 

people and putting the infrastructure 

in place are important. 

Power, especially 

power, is key. 

“We have to quickly turn 

to agriculture and mining 

because that is where you 

can do the quickest work 

and get results. In other areas, 

you need to study 

them and dust all the books 

and studies and get people, 

experienced people, committed 

people and technocrats 

to come and help the 

government identify priorities 

so that with what is 

available to us, we can 

quickly make our people 

realise their hope for the 

government they have 

elected.” 

Gen. Buhari assured the 

delegation that he will do 

justice to all Nigerians irrespective 

of ethinicism or 

religion, saying: “We all 

know that whatever you do, 

without justice it will not 

endure. It is as simple as 

that. As human beings, we 

keep repeating the same 

mistakes over and over. But 

that is what makes us human.” 

Speaking on his foray into 

politics, he said: “After retiring 

as Head of State to 

prisoner, I went home and 

thought people would leave 

me alone, but they didn’t. 

ENATE Minority 

Leader George 

SAkume has started 

lobbying for his Senate 

presidency bid. 

Akume has approached 

former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, Vice President 

Atiku Abubakar, Prof Ango 

Abdulahi and former governor 

of Osun State, Olagunsoye 

Oyinlola. 

A source in Akume’s 

camp, who pleaded not to 

be named, said the lawmaker 

needed to explore the in- 

“They know I didn’t make 

money, because I made the 

stupid mistake of not allocating 

to myself a block of 

oil well in spite of being a 

former minister and former 

Head of State. I also made 

the mistake of not giving it 

to anybody around me. So, 

I sat quietly with the few 

cows I have in my farm and 

was thinking of how to contribute. 

“When I was thinking, 

suddenly, what happened 

in the Soviet Union happened 

and an empire of the 

20th century collapsed without 

a shot being fired. Everybody 

went home and 

now, there are about 18 republics 

in the old Soviet 

Union. Yesterday, they celebrated 

part of it with nostalgia. 

“That was when I came to 

the conclusion that the best 

form of government whose 

time has come is multi party 

democratic system. The 

fundamental issue is that 

election must be free and 

fair and this is our Achilles 

heel. 

“That was why I lost three 

consecutive times and went 

to court, up to Supreme 

Court up to three times. The 

issue, for me, is not that I 

was insisting that I have to 

succeed under this system. 

There is nothing that people 

have not said about my 

past even as head of state. 

“The other day, one of the 

journalists I jailed came here 

and shook hands with me 

and reminded me that I 

jailed him. The three people 

shot for bringing cocaine 

into the country, some 

of their relatives said they 

have forgiven me. That is 

part of the way we have 

travelled. 

“ I have maintained focus 

because I believe that this 

system is the best for us. If 

we can get free and fair election 

eventually, we will stabilise 

it and we will be the 

•Former Governor 

of Anambra State 

Mr. Peter Obi 

(fourth left); 

Archbishop 

Valerian Okeke of 

Onitsha Diocese 

(fifth right); Bishop 

Denis Chidi Isizoh; 

Rev Fr. Daniel 

Onuorah (left); Fr. 

Marius Obiagwu 

(second left); Prof. 

Stella Okunna; Fr. 

Patrick Omutah 

(third right); Mrs. 

Vivian Nwandu 

and Fr. Boniface 

Okafor after the 

inauguration of the 

ultra-modern 

building of the 

School of Nursing 

at St. Charles 

Borromeo Hospital, 

Onitsha...at the 

weekend. 

•Akwa Ibom State Governor-elect, Mr. Udom Emmanuel (left) and the All Progressives Congress 

(APC) member-elect for Urueffong Oruko State Constituency Asuquo Edet Archibong 

after the latter collected his certificate of return at the INEC office in Uyo. 

Minority Leader Akume intensifies bid for Senate president 

fluence of political heavyweights 

he has courted over 

the years in his bid to clinch 

the Senate top job. 

He said: “The Senate Minority 

Leader hit the road 

in what is tagged a ‘strategic 

cross-country diplomatic 

shuttle.’ 

“Senator Akume is a very 

highly regarded statesman 

in his own right. 

“If the APC is truly about 

change, that change should 

reflect in the way we do 

things, so we send a very 

better for it. “ 

Gen. Buhari said after the 

elections: “One of the reliefs 

I got was the telephone call 

I got from the President of 

the United States (Barack 

Obama). I could feel the relief 

in their voices because 

they are people of conscience. 

Forget about religion, 

colour and development. 

They are people of 

conscience because they 

have reached a stage where 

they have stabilised their 

society and they are relatively 

secured both materially, 

physically and otherwise. 

“They know we are in 

danger. Everybody was saying 

that Nigeria is going to 

the dogs in 2015, but even 

beyond our expectations, we 

have managed to go 

through and we thank technology 

for PVC and card 

readers because the whole 

exercise of writing the result, 

announcing them and 

asking losers to go to 

court does not make any 

difference. Those who defended 

the PVC and card 

reader made this change 

possible.” 

The leader of the delegation 

and Nigeria’s former 

permanent representative 

to the United Nations (UN), 

Alhaji Maitama Sule, told 

the president-elect to ensure 

justice and fair play in 

the discharge of his duties 

as president. 

He said: “You are President 

of Nigeria. You are not 

President of Northern Nigeria. 

We have come to 

congratulate you. We first 

of all thank God; what has 

recently happened to Nigeria 

is an act of God. Nobody 

can claim credit for it. 

Allah has done it for us, 

Allah has listened to our 

prayers and our pleas to 

bring about this change, a 

change for the betterment 

of all. 


strong message to all Nigerians 

that they can be assured 

of a sense of belonging, 

irrespective of where 

they come from. 

“We have produced a 

President-elect from a majority 

ethnic group, we 

have produced a Vice-President-elect 

from another 

majority ethnic group. The 

APC must be sensitive to 

the sensitivities of the minorities, 

across both divides 

of the Niger.” 

“Come to think of it, the 

‘Nsukka zone deserves Enugu ministerial slot’ 

THE Nsukka zone in 

Enugu State deserves to 

get the ministerial slot 

for the state, having never had 

the opportunity since 1999, the 

Enugu Patriotic Alliance (EPA) 

has said. 

In a statement by Emeka 

Onuigbo and Joe Onyeabo, 

President and Secretary, EPA 

criticised the reported attack on 

the Enugu State governorship 

candidate of the All 

Progressives Congress (APC), 

Okey Ezea, by the APC Southeast 

leader, Emma Ezeukwu . 

“While we wait for the official 

reaction of the APC at state 

and zonal level to Ezeukwu’s 

aggression against Ezea, we 

condemn this violent act. We 

outgoing President, Dr 

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is 

from a minority ethnic 

group. What is in stock for 

the minorities in the incoming 

administration?’”. 

The source noted that it 

was in view of that position 

that the consultations became 

necessary. 

“He was in the Southwest 

last week, where he met 

prominent national figures 

and respected political bulwarks. 

“Notable among them 

•Group condemns attack on Ezea 

as the mouthpiece of the youths 

in Enugu State view this as an 

unwarranted act,” EPA said 

The group described Ezea as 

‘a man known by many as 

humble, who has been in the 

struggle for a long time 

through opposition politics in 

an attempt to enthrone good 

governance in Enugu state and 

the country.” 

On their backing of Nzukka 

for a ministerial slot, the group 

said: “We make bold to say that 

as a matter of fact, Nsukka zone 

deserves the ministerial position. 

Since the emergence of 

this political dispensation in 

1999, no Nsukka person has 

were Obasanjo, APC National 

Leader, Bola Ahmed 

Tinubu and Oyinlola. 

“He met all the leaders in 

their homes in Abeokuta, 

Lagos and Okuku”. 

“Akume has also had several 

engagements with 

former Vice-President, 

Abubakar. 

“The backstage consultations 

have also taken him to 

Kano State Governor Rabiu 

Musa Kwankwaso who has 

also been elected Senator to 

represent Kano State, Prof 

held a ministerial position in 

the state. 

“During the tenure of 

Chimaroke Nnamani as Governor, 

the then Minister, Frank 

Nweke Jnr, was from the same 

zone as the governor. 

“When Governor Sullivan 

Chime took over, the Ministers 

have been Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, 

Barth Nnaji and Prof Chinedu 

Nebo, who are from Enugu 

East and West Senatorial zones. 

“This has been the position 

and it is expected that the next 

ministerial slot will be given 

to Nsukka zone, irrespective of 

the party in power, for justice 

and equity’s sake”. 

Ango Abdullahi, Vice- 

Chancellor Emeritus of the 

Ahmadu Bello University 

(ABU), former Inspector- 

General of Police, Ibrahim 

Coomasie and former Kogi 

State Governor, Prince 

Abubakar Audu,” he added. 

Akume is said to be getting 

silent endorsements 

from all the zones. His support, 

it was learnt cuts across 

the parties. 

“Many believe Akume is 

mature for the job,” another 

source said.


CITYBEATS 

Suspected robbery 

kingpin held 

OOPERATIVES of the Lagos 

State Special Anti-Robbery 

Squad (SARS) have ended 

the reign of a suspected car-snatching 

and armed robbery kingpin in 

Lagos and Abuja. 

Oliver Chukwuemeka a.k.a 

Mopol, 35, was arrested while on his 

way to receiving a snatched vehicle 

from a member of his gang 

in Lagos. 

A source said Oliver had been 

parading himself as an orderly and 

driver to some retired senior police 

officers to evade arrest. 

Nemesis caught up with him 

when he was found with an identity 

card belonging to a Corporal, 

following which he confessed that 

he used the card to beat security 

checks. 

His arrest, it was learnt, followed 

that of two of his agents, 

Ogunshina Akinropo, 32, an exconvict, 

and Hamzat Akeem, 23. 

Akeem claimed he was a native 

doctor before he became a 

fraudster, receiver and buyer of 

snatched cars and armed robber 

"due to financial problems." 

Oliver said: "I am from Amaesi, 

Aguata Local Government Area, 

Anambra State. I am a driver and 

Orderly to Deputy Inspector General 

of Police, Assistant Inspector 

General of Police and a Commissioner 

of Police all retired (names 

withheld). I was arrested at Sagamu 

(Ogun State) on April 16, 2015 when 

I went there to collect a snatched 

vehicle from Hamzat. I also wash 

and iron clothes for the retired police 

officers and they used to pay 

me N25,000." 

On how many cars he had 

snatched, he said: "There is one robber 

called Danjuma. He gave me 

one Honda Accord 2003 Model at 

N280,000 and one jeep for 

N480,000; I paid N400,000 only." 

‘IGP orders probe of village invasion’ 

RESIDENTS of Gerigbe Village 

in Ikorodu Local Gov- 

By Basirat Braimah 

ernment area of Lagos State 

have urged Acting Inspector-General 

of Police (IGP) to look into the 

invasion of their land by some policemen 

and hoodlums. 

Their appeal followed another attack 

on the community last Thursday 

night by some policemen from 

the Force Criminal Investigation 

Bureau (FCIB), Abuja. 

In a petition, the community is alleging 

that five residents were arrested 

and the home of High Chief 

Sanyaolu Aina was vandalised. 

A source said the police team 

By Ebele Boniface 

Asked why he was nicknamed 

Mopol and Deingenpol or Compol, he 

said: "My neighbours and friends 

always see me driving retired police 

officers and I used to wear 

Mopol uniform or cap at times. I 

live at 11, Arab Road, Kubwa in 

Abuja. I used the Corporal’s identity 

card to beat security agents on 

the highways and they even give 

me compliment as a very senior 

officer. Some policemen never 

looked at the identity card very 

well; rather they salute me." 

Akeem a.k.a Babalawo, who hails 

from Iwo in Osun State, said: "I am 

a native doctor. I inherited the 

work from my father who died in 

2011. I cure general sicknesses. I use 

oracle, ogun, herbal concoctions 

and Igbo (Indian hemp) to cure 

chronic diseases and mental problems. 

I once had gonorrhea and I 

cured myself. My house was built 

to lintel level by my late brother. I 

was the one that completed it and 

bought two vehicles - a car and a 

jeep - from the money I made from 

fraud and robbery. 

"I have a shrine inside my compound 

at Ajagba in Iwo. I also have 

an interpreter. I was an armed robber 

based in Ikorodu but when 

SARS became a threat to us, I relocated 

to Iwo and became a native 

doctor. I read it in a newspaper 

when the commissioner (Kayode 

Aderanti) advised all robbers to relocate. 

I obeyed but Mopol assured 

me that police wouldn't be a threat 

to them as he had police identity 

card and uniform as a senior police 

officer. I had earlier been arrested 

and sent to Kirikiri prison 

for armed robbery twice. It was the 

third journey to Kirikiri that made 

me to relocate to my village and I 

came back because of Mopol to solve 

my financial problem. 

claimed that it acted on orders from 

above, but the villagers are claiming 

that "the police deliberately led 

thugs, hoodlums and cultists to 

take over their land." 

A landlord, Kayode Odunbitan, 

who is the Secretary of Gerigbe/ 

Orelade royal family, alleged that 

the police team came with hoodlums, 

area boys and cult members 

about 10pm and sacked the village. 

Odunbitan said the police watched 

as hoodlums looted and raped 

women and "eventually took over 

the entire village." 

•The suspects 

"It was Oliver who called and 

asked me to go and get a vehicle 

for him. He bought Toyota Highlander 

Jeep and Toyota Corolla 2014 

Model. It was another Toyota 

Highlander he wanted for his wife 

which he wanted to receive that 

caused his arrest. I am a native doctor 

and a fraudster (419er). If one 

wants to do ritual money, I charge 

him N50,000 to commit him. I also 

do consultancy for those who seek 

something from oracles. It is an 

organised crime. One of our 

members will represent oracle 

and talk to the victim when the 

victim makes the demand. I 

charged between N500,000 to 

N700,000. To scare the victim, we 

tell him what he cannot do, like 

He urged the IGP to ensure that 

the case is investigated and that 

those found wanting are brought 

to book. 

Meanwhile, following a petition by 

the Edem law firm, he alleged, the 

IGP has instructed his monitoring 

unit to investigate the matter. 

But High Chief Aina is claiming 

that despite the IGP's orders, the 

attack on the village have not 

ceased. 

Strange people, he alleged, had 

been invading his home and his followers' 

at odd hours, adding that 

suspected hired killers have also 

been trailing his vehicles. 

bringing ten people to be sacrificed 

to the oracle and this is done 

after collecting enough money 

from him." 

Ogunshina, who is from Ilobu 

in Osun State, added: "I am a tractor 

driver. I had nothing doing and 

I joined robbers to survive. It was 

one Kingsley who gave me 

Mopol's phone number as the sponsor 

of our gang. I gave Mopol two 

vehicles in 2012. I went to Kirikiri 

prison once." 

The command's spokesman, 

Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent 

of Police (DSP) confirmed the 

arrests, adding that sponsors of 

armed robbers are more heartless 

and dangerous than the robbers; 

hence, "he is a major suspect." 

Council inaugurates committees 

THE Agege Local Government 

in Lagos State has inaugurated 

five committees 

to assist in making recommendations 

that would enhance the successful 

administration of the 

council. 

The committees with various 

terms of reference are to submit 

their recommendations this 

week. They are mandated to 

evaluate and audit non-pensionable 

staff and look into areas of 

revenue leakages and make recommendations 

on how to block 

them and improve the council’s 

revenue. 

Mrs Oluwatoyin Okulate, assisted by her husband, Brig. Gen. Gbenga Okulate (rtd) and the children of Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and School, 

at St Finbarrs College, Akoka, Lagos to cut her 60th birthday cake. 

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS 

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827 

Ikeja Electric 

explains power 

outages 

THE management of Ikeja 

Electric (IE) has attributed the 

current rate of power interruption 

across its network to low 

power allocation from the National 

Grid. 

The company made the explanation 

in a statement signed by Mr 

Pekun Adeyanju, IE Assistant General 

Manager, Public Affairs, and 

issued in Lagos. 

It quoted Mr Abiodun 

Ajifowobaje, the Chief Executive 

Officer of IE , as saying that the average 

power allocation to the company 

was 350 mega watts (MW) as 

against minimum load demand of 

1,250 MW. 

Ajifowobaje, according to the 

statement, explained that the huge 

shortfall had affected the operations 

of the company, as they had 

resorted to load-shedding. 

Ajifowobaje reassured electricity 

consumers in its jurisdiction that 

the company would ensure that the 

power allocation will be equitably 

distributed. 

He appealed for consumers’ understanding 

and promised that efforts 

had been stepped up to ensure 

repair of electrical faults. 

He decried the activities of consumers 

who connect electricity illegally 

into their premises without 

paying electricity bills. 

The IE chief said the activities of 

the vandals had impacted negatively 

on consumers’ billing system. 

“The energy allocated to an area 

is measured and people may be 

paying for the power being consumed 

by the energy thieves. 

“We have put a process in place 

to migrate individuals involved in 

this practice into our network. 

“However, we seek the cooperation 

of community leaders and consumers 

in our efforts to eradicate 

energy theft and ensure quality 

service delivery for all customers 

within the IE network,” he said. 

A committee is to look into the 

different stages of ongoing 

projects and make recommendations 

for payment. It will also 

recommend priority projects. 

The fourth committee will 

look into the state of degradation 

of local government infrastructure 

and make recommendations 

on how to uplift them. 

The last committee is to draft 

a Mission and Vision Statement 

for the local government. 

Inaugurating the committees 

at the council secretariat, the Executive 

Secretary, 

Omofunmilewa Adejombo, a 

lawyer, said the primary purpose 

of setting up the committees 

is to advance the course of 

governance and move the council 

forward. 

He said it was a joint decision 

by all stakeholders in the council 

area and therefore, should 

not be seen as a means to witchhunt 

anybody. 

Hon. Richard Osayinpeju, 

who chairs one of the committees, 

said the responsibility is a 

call to serve, particularly now 

when the allocation from the federal 

coffers is fast dwindling. 

He added that all local governments 

should start to look inwards 

on how generate funds to 

provide their people with amenities 

that will make life more 

meaningful. 

He enjoined members of the 

committees to work assiduously 

in their different capacities to 

ensure the success of the exercise.


CITYBEATS 

•The suspects 

Suspected cable vandals 

arrested 

and a push-truck with 

which they planned to 

loosen and cart away the 

power connecting cables. 

When quizzed, the leader 

of the gang, Obiesi, confessed 

that they were the 

same gang that vandalised 

and carted away the cables 

that connected one of the 

community’s transformers 

to the power grid a week earlier. 

Leader of the watchmen 

group, Mr Amodu 

Saminu, expressed satisfaction 

that they had got to 

the bottom of the cable 

theft in the community, 

adding that some of the 

youths earlier accused had 

been exonerated. 

Reuben said the cables 

stolen from one of the 

transformers were sold off 

at N5, 000 per metre, fetching 

about N300,000 for 

cables worth almost 

700,000 at N10,500 per 

metre. 

“I was shared N40, 000 

from a total booty of N130, 

000,” he said. 

THREE suspected electricity 

transformer 

cable thieves were ar- 

rested by community volunteers 

in Era Town, in the 

Oto-Awori Local Council 

Development Area of 

Lagos State at the weekend. 

The suspended vandals 

were apprehended in the 

early hours of the day before 

they could carry out 

their nefarious act. 

The suspects who gave 

their names as Henry 

Reuben, Eze Obiesi and 

Chika Okpara, were with 

industrial spanners, pliers 

THE Executive Secretary 

of Amuwo 

Odofin Local Government 

in Lagos State, 

Deaconess Modupe 

Ajibola-Ojodu, has ordered 

the closure of 

Amuwo Odofin Local 

Government Market Complex. 

The market got into the 

news following the allegation 

by the traders against 

one Alhaji Saheed Abiola 

who they accused of beating 

them whenever they 

went against his ‘so-called 

laid down rules’. 

Ajibola-Ojodu also immediately 

dissolved the 

A50-YEAR-OLD helpless 

father, Isiaka 

Yusuf, has cried out 

to kind-hearted Nigerians to 

assist him in rescuing his ailing 

son from imminent 

death. 

Yusuf visited the Lagos 

Headquarters of The Nation 

last Friday, seeking help for 

the five-and-a-half-year-old 

child, Kehinde Abdur- 

Raheem Yusuf, who needs 

N625,000 for a corrective surgery 

at the University College 

hospital (UCH), Ibadan, 

the Oyo State capital. 

“I have been running to 

every direction without any 

hope and I don’t want this 

boy to die because he has 

suffered a lot. I can only look 

up to God through publicspirited 

Nigerians,” Yusuf, 

who resides on Kilometer 2, 

Council chief closes market 

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor 

existing executives of the 

market association. 

She called for the appointment 

of a caretaker 

committee to steer the leadership 

of the market pending 

when all the thorny issues 

raised by the two warring 

parties in the market 

would be resolved. 

The Women Leader of 

the market, Mrs Catherine 

Omotoyosi had alleged that 

Abiola, popularly known 

as ‘Zyad1’ usually engaged 

in illegal collection 

of levies from the marketers 

even when he was not 

‘Save my child’s life’ 

Iseyin Road, Moniya, Ibadan, 

said. 

Displaying the boy’s medical 

records, he added: “My son 

has an unusually big head - 

bigger than his entire body as 

a result of which he could not 

sit, walk or control his head. 

His ailment, known as hydrocephalus 

in medical parlance, 

started when he was just six 

months old. Then, he had malaria 

and a doctor passed a 

drip through his head. Two 

weeks after, his head started 

growing more than his entire 

body. Since then, we have 

taken him to about 10 different 

private, traditional and 

General Hospitals before we 

were then referred to the UCH 

in June 2011. At the UCH, he 

has undergone tests and now 

another surgery is being contemplated 

to save his life.” 

11 

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827 

a member of the executives. 

Abiola had debunked 

most of the accusations. 

Speaking at the reconciliation 

meeting yesterday 

at the Local Government 

headquarters in 

Lagos, Ajibola-Ojodu 

said that the market 

would remain shut until 

all the issues were 

settled. 

She warned the warring 

parties against flouting 

her orders, insisting 

that her administration 

would not tolerate breakdown 

of laws and orders 

within the market. 

•Kehinde 

He said donations could be 

forwarded to a GTBank account, 

0151945965, which was 

opened under the name: 

Abdur-Raheem Kehinde 

Yusuf. “My contact number is 

08032854784,” he said. 

•The rehabilitated road ... yesterday 

Road gets facelift ten years after 

OSHODI-ISOLO Local 

Government 

Area of Lagos has 

rehabilitated Adekunle 

Street in Oshodi which 

had suffered damage for 

about ten years. 

The Nation learnt that 

motorists, commercial motorcyclists 

otherwise 

known as Okada riders 

and residents go through 

hardship plying the road 

especially during the rainy 

season. 

The council’s Executive 

Secretary Adeola Dawood 

Olajobi said the gesture is 

to ease traffic in Oshodi. 


road, which is an easy access 

to Mafoluku and 

Oshodi road through its 

link to Daodu Street, 

would no doubt ease traffic 

on major roads. 

Olajobi said vehicles 

would not be allowed to be 

parked or abandoned on 

the road. 

He warned those engaging 

in mechanical work 

along the road to desist. 

“More link roads,” he 

said, “would also be taken 

into consideration; though 

we were saddled with the 

responsibilities of midwifing 

the affairs of the council 

till there will be a substantive 

chairman.” 

“But by and large, the 

welfare of our people matters 

to us, hence our resolution 

to also distributed 

desks, benches and exercise 

books to all our pupils 

in the primary schools to 

enhance teaching and 

learning process,” he 

added.


NEWS 

ODSWILL Jumbo, a 

former Chief Press 

Secretary (CPS) to GRivers State Deputy Governor 

Tele Ikuru, has accused 

his principal of ordering his 

(Jumbo’s) kidnap. 

Ikuru did not answer the 

calls to his mobile; neither 

did he reply to the text messages 

our reporter sent to his 

phones yesterday. 

The former deputy governor’s 

aide spoke yesterday 

from an undisclosed location 

in Port Harcourt, the state 

capital. 

He urged security agencies 

to ensure his safety and the 

Department of State Security 

(DSS) to sanction two of its 

operatives who connived 

with hoodlums to kidnap 

and attempted to kill him. 

Ikuru was deputy to 

former Governor Celestine 

Omehia for over five months 

before he (Omehia) was 

sacked by the Supreme Court 

in its landmark judgment on 

October 25, 2007. 

When Rotimi Amaechi was 

inaugurated as governor the 

next day, he retained Ikuru 

as his deputy. 

PDP wants to 

foist opposition 

on South, says 

Emerhor 

From Bolaji Ogundele, 

Warri 

ELTA State All Progressives 

Congress 

(APC) has faulted Dthe sectional victory of its 

governorship candidate in 

this year’s election, Olorogun 

O’tega Emerhor, by 

leaders of the state Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP). 

APC described the notion 

as dubious and unfavourable 

to Nigerians. 

Delta State Governor Emmanuel 

Uduaghan, at a recent 

function at the University 

of Ibadan (UI) Trenchard 

Hall, claimed that the 

Southsouth and Southeast 

voted against Presidentelect 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

APC governorship candidates 

and legislative candidates 

as against its massive 

victory in the North. 

Emerhor faulted Uduaghan’s 

position yesterday. 

The APC candidate noted 

that the PDP, in connivance 

with some state apparatuses, 

used “fraudulent means” 

to foist its will on the people 

of the two regions. 

He said this resulted in the 

international outcry against 

the level of unethical practices 

that occurred during 

elections in the Southsouth. 

Emerhor said this informed 

the decision of APC 

candidates to file petitions 

at the Rivers, Delta and 

Akwa Ibom election tribunals. 


people of the Southsouth 

and Southeast were as 

tired as the other sections 

of the country and were 

ready to key into the 

change everyone yearned 

for prior to the elections. 

Emerhor said the region 

was robbed of the change 

they clamoured for 

through electoral malpractices. 

Disagreeing with Uduaghan, 

the APC candidate 

stressed that the people of 

the two zones were never 

allowed to vote nor were 

they allowed to express 

their preferred candidates. 

Ex-Rivers deputy governor’s aide 

alleges threat to life 

•Ikuru won’t answer calls, text messages 

From Bisi Olaniyi, 

Port Harcourt 

On March 22, this year, Ikuru 

defected from the ruling 

All Progressives Congress 

(APC) to the opposition Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP). 

Jumbo was relieved of his appointment 

on March 14 for 

undisclosed reasons. 

Jumbo, a stalwart of the 

APC, attributed his travails to 

his closeness to the party’s 

governorship candidate, Dr. 

Dakuku Adol Peterside. 

A text message was sent to 

Ikuru at 2:08p.m. yesterday to 

get his reactions to the allegations 

by his ex-aide, but he 

did not reply up till press 

time last night. 

He also did not answer his 

Etisalat line at 2:40p.m. 

On his ordeal, Jumbo said: 

HE police in Ughelli, 

Delta State has 

said it killed, last Tweek, six suspected robbers 

in Ughelli, Ozoro and Abraka 

communities. 

The suspected robbers 

were reportedly killed in 

gun battles with combined 

teams of policemen and vigilantes. 

A female member of a 

suspected robbery gang was 

shot dead at Alagba-Iyede, 

in Isoko South Local Government 

Area. 

Valuables, suspected to 

have been stolen from their 

victims, were said to have 

been found in her handbag, 

besides a locally made gun. 

The police said they arrested 

the suspected leader of the 

gang during a shootout with 

the police and vigilantes. 

Excitement as Calabar 

monorail coaches arrive 

HE construction of 

the Calabar monorail 

yesterday took a Tmajor leap towards completion, 

with the delivery of 

the passengers coaches 

Cross River State Governor 

Liyel Imoke, who received 

the coaches, said 

the project had been finally 

delivered. 

The governor said in the 

next few weeks, the rails 

would link the Summit 

Hills and Tinapa, bringing 

the business and leisure resort 

closer to Calabar metropolis. 

He said: “The monorail 

line is a project that has 

been in the books of Cross 

River State for many years. 

So, it is very gratifying for 

us to see that the trains are 

finally delivered to site and 

work is going on. In a couple 

of weeks, we will have 

this train running, linking 

Tinapa to Calabar and 

berthing at the Calabar International 

Convention 

Centre. 

“This is a realisation of a 

dream and an indication of 

growth and economic expansion, 

particularly in 

tourism, which the state is 

From Polycarp 

Orosevwotu, Ughelli 

The suspected gang leader 

was said to have confessed 

to the possession of a 

cut-to-size double barrelled 

gun at his Ogborikoko 

home in Warri. 

The suspect was said to 

have been taken to Asaba, 

the Delta State capital. 

Ughelli Area Commander, 

Alali Smart Pedro, an Assistant 

Commissioner of Police 

(ACP), addressed reporters 

at the weekend on 

the development. 

He said an eyewitness affirmed 

that a gang of three 

robbers attacked a security 

man on his way to work. 

The robbers were said to 

•Imoke inspecting the monorail coaches...yesterday 

known for. This is growth 

for business and leisure, 

which should be appreciated 

by the people.” 

Imoke said he was 

pleased that the vision depicted 

a good project, adding 

that the monorail, 

which will run across an 

artificial lake separating 

the two facilities, will be 

the newest tourism attraction 

in the state. 

He said: “As an administration, 

we will continue to 

build and strengthen that 

“At 10p.m. on May 8, some 

suspected hoodlums, led by 

the Chief Security Detail to 

the Deputy Governor, Abu 

Steve, accompanied by the 

Security Detail to his wife, Dr. 

Mina Ikuru, Peter Obidigbo, 

both operatives of the State 

Security Service (SSS), 

stormed my home at Flat 10, 

Unity Estate, Obi Wali Road, 

Rumuigbo, in Port Harcourt, 

and unleashed mayhem on 

me and my family. 

“In a Gestapo type of operation, 

they barged into my 

house, dragged me out in my 

underwear and descended on 

me with blows, guns and 

other dangerous weapons. 

While his men were dealing 

with me outside, Abu Steve 

and others ransacked my 

house, searching for Godknows-what. 

“In the course of their beating, 

kicking and hitting me 

with the butts of their guns, 

they told me that my political 

views, expressed in different 

media platforms, were 

annoying their boss (Ikuru) 

and making his new sojourners 

in the PDP wary of him. 

They said they could not understand 

how his former 

spokesman could be so outspoken 

against the party 

(PDP). 

“When they finished, they 

dumped me in the trunk of 

their car and drove off into 

the night, around 10.30p.m. 

They took me to an unknown 

forest, where they brought 

me out, marched me into the 

bush and were about to execute 

me, before a disagreement 

ensued among them. 

have stolen his gun and Simba 

motorcycle. 

The police chief said luck 

ran out on the robbers when 

they ran into a vigilance 

group and a police patrol 

team. 

Also, the police in Abraka, 

Ethiope East Local Government 

Area, under Ughelli 

Area Command, have arrested 

a suspect, Erabor Oghenero, 

for alleged car 

snatching. 

The police chief for the 

area, Erabor Oghenero, an 

Assistant Commissioner of 

Police (ACP), said the suspect 

was arrested when he 

attempted to escape with a 

Toyota Camry he allegedly 

snatched at gun point. 

The police said on May 9, 

sector. This train will further 

enhance that because it 

will be used for business 

and pleasure. I expect everyone 

to come and enjoy a 

ride of this nature that links 

the two great tourists attractions. 

“Though I may not take 

a ride on the train before 

my exit, but as we speak, 

everything has been procured 

and delivered on site. 

It is just waiting to be coupled, 

and it will be up and 

running. This will become 

Some of the hoodlums opted 

out of the assassination plan; 

instead, they insisted that I 

should be handed over to the 

police on trumped-up charges. 

“After a few minutes of 

heated argument, they decided 

for the latter option and 

threw me back into the car 

trunk and sped off. 

“Around 11p.m., they 

brought me to the old Government 

Reservation Area 

(GRA) Police Station in Port 

Harcourt and asked that I 

should be detained on the allegation 

that I stole a government 

vehicle, a Toyota Corolla 

2008 model, which is my 

assigned official car. They 

claimed that I failed to return 

the car, after I was relieved 

of my appointment.” 

Jumbo added: “By the 

morning of May 9, 2015, the 

Rivers State Police Commissioner, 

having been alerted 

the previous night of my abduction, 

demanded to know 

the details of the matter.” 

Police kill six suspected robbers in Delta 

•Suspected leader, others arrested 

his men intercepted a robbery 

gang behind a first 

generation bank on Isoko 

Road in Ughelli as they 

were robbing. 

On sighting the police and 

the vigilantes, it was learnt, 

the gang members allegedly 

opened fire on the law enforcement 

team. 

Three of the suspected 

robbers were reportedly 

killed in a gun battle while 

the others “escaped with 

bullet wounds”. 

Oghenero said two other 

robbery suspects were 

killed at Afiesere, Ughelli 

North Local Government 

Area, during a routine patrol 

in Ughelli. 

He said others escaped 

with bullet wounds. 

The police chief said his 

men killed seven suspected 

robbers in the last week. 

the newest tourist attraction 

in Cross River State. 

“If you take an aerial 

view of these facilities, I 

don’t think we have any 

site in Nigeria that can be 

compared with it, except 

maybe, the Obudu Mountain 

Resort.” 

The governor added that 

an agreement had been 

signed with the technical 

partners to train Cross River 

State indigenes to maintain 

the equipment, when 

they take over. 

Community 

urges govt to 

intervene in crisis 

From Bolaji Ogundele, 

Warri 

OGBE-Ijoh community 

leaders in Delta 

State have urged the 

government to intervene in 

the worsening Aladja/Ogbe- 

Ijoh crisis to avert a bloody 

intertribal clash. 

The community leaders, in 

a statement yesterday in 

Warri, alleged that their Aladja 

neighbours had continued 

to flout the terms of earlier 

peace agreements. 

The concerned elders, in 

the statement by three leaders 

of the Ijaw community - 

Friday Deinghan, Michael 

Oweikpodor and Comrade 

Monday Keme - alleged that 

members of Aladja community 

prevented materials for 

construction works to pass 

through the only access road 

in Aladja to Ogbe-Ijoh. 

They noted that the failure 

of the government to intervene 

might result in a bloody 

clash and a resurgence of the 

age-long rivalry between the 

two Urhobo (Aladja) and 

Ijaw (Ogbe-Ijoh) neighbours. 

The statement said: “As a 

result of these attacks, on the 

invitation of the Governor of 

Delta State, there was a meeting 

between leaders of Ogbe- 

Ijoh and Aladja communities 

at the Government House in 

Asaba. It was presided over 

by Deputy Governor Amos 

Utuama with the Commissioner 

of Police, the Director 

of State Security Services 

(SSS), the Attorney-General 

and Commissioner of Justice 

and some other commissioners 

in attendance. 

“At that meeting, it was 

resolved that Aladja indigenes 

should stop preventing 

the movement of building 

materials to Ogbe-Ijoh 

through Aladja, which is the 

only access road to Ogbe-Ijoh 

town. They also agreed that 

nobody from the two communities 

should build on the 

buffer zone between the two 

communities, as identified 

by the government.” 

Edo workers 

threaten strike 

From Osemwengie Ben 

Ogbemudia, Benin 

EDO State workers are 

poised for a showdown 

with the government 

over the planned deductions 

from their salaries for contributory 

pensions account 

as from the end of this 

month. 

They have issued a sevenday 

ultimatum to the government 

to withdraw from 

the planned deductions or 

face a protest that will cripple 

activities in the state. 

Nigeria Labour Congress 

(NLC) State Chairman Emmanuel 

Ademokun addressed 

reporters at the weekend 

in Benin, the state capital. 

The Labour leader expressed 

surprise at the letter 

issued by the Head of Service 

(HOS) to begin the deductions 

this month. 

He described the plan as 

shocking to workers. 

Ademokun cautioned that 

the Head of Service could not 

“singlehandedly pick the 

Pension Fund Administrator 

(PFA) for Edo workers” but 

should “allow due process” 

to take its course in the implementation 

of the deductions.


13

14 THE NATION MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015


NATION SPORT 

PREMIERSHIP... PREMIERSHIP... PREMIERSHIP... PREMIERSHIP... 

Hazard: Drogba convinced 

me to join Chelsea 

Everton has moved on 

from Distin - Martinez 

LAIMS Everton have 

moved on from Sylvain 

back hit out at a lack of match 

action this term. 

The 37-year-old has not 

played since January's FA Cup 

third-round draw with West 

Ham, a team he claimed to 

•Distin 

CDistin after the centrehave 

been keen on joining 

later that month. 

"I went to see the coach 

about the proposal for West 

Ham who were offering me a 

transfer until the end of the 

season," Distin told L'Equipe in 

the week. 

"The next day, he said that 

he counted on me and that I 

was part of the team. Since 

that day I haven't been called 

up once. 

"I have no idea why. We 

have not spoken since." 

Martinez accepts the 

Frenchman's frustration, but is 

unlikely to keep the veteran at 

Goodison Park when his contract 

expires in June, having 

seen England international 

John Stones flourish at the 

back this term. 

"I can understand that completely, 

Sylvain has been a 

phenomenal professional and 

a phenomenal servant to 

Everton," Martinez explained 

when asked about Distin's outburst. 

"It has been a tough season, 

but in football it happens - you 

get a young man like John 

Stones at the age of 20 that has 

performed in an incredible 

manner and developed a 

strong partnership with Phil 

Jagielka. 

"In January, Sylvain wanted 

to leave the club. In the end it 

never materialised, from that 

point on we need to look to the 

future. 

"We wish Sylvain the best 

but I don't see anything wrong 

with that situation. It is natural 

in football and a natural 

moment in his career." 

DChelsea almost three 

ROGBA convinced 

Eden Hazard to join 

years ago, according to the PFA 

Player of the Year. 

Hazard left Lille for Stamford 

Bridge in a deal worth £32 million 

in 2012 and Rudi Garcia - 

coach of the Ligue 1 club at the 

time - claimed that a phone call 

from owner Roman 

Abramovich persuaded the forward 

to join the Blues. 

However, Hazard has now 

insisted that was not the case, 

instead revealing that Drogba 

convinced him to snub rival interest 

from Manchester United 

and link up with the Blues. 

"I didn't want to go to Chelsea 

because I wanted to play the 

Champions League and they 

were sixth in the league," Hazard 

told the Daily Mirror. 

"I was convinced when they 

Manother injury crisis 

before the end of the season, despite 

seeing three players limp 

out of Saturday's win over 

Crystal Palace. 

All of Louis van Gaal's 

changes at Selhurst Park were 

forced upon him as Luke Shaw 

and Wayne Rooney were withdrawn 

before the second half 

with concussion and a thigh issue 

respectively. 

Chris Smalling also hobbled 

off in the second half after a 

week that had seen midfielder 

Michael Carrick ruled out until 

next season. 

But Van Gaal, who has had 

to juggle his options this term 

due to a spate of fitness con- 

won the Champions League in 

2012. 

"At the time, Roberto Di 

Matteo really wanted me, they 

had Juan Mata, and Oscar had 

been bought. I was told: 'You'll 

see, Chelsea will play football'. 

"Gervinho called me and said: 

'Someone's on the phone'. I 

didn't know who it was but it 

was Drogba, he wanted me to 

sign. 

"I was flattered, he was 

maybe the best striker in the 

world. In my head, I wasn't 

going to sign, but in the end I 

was very pleased with my 

choice. I didn't speak to 

Abramovich. 

"I don't know why coach 

Garcia wrote that in his book." 

Hazard has won the Premier 

League, League Cup and 

Europa League since arriving at 

Stamford Bridge. 

Van Gaal calm as 

injury issues resurface 

ANCHESTER United 

are not set to endure 

•Van Gaal 

cerns, delivered positive updates 

on all three after the 2-1 

triumph which effectively secured 

United's top-four spot in 

the Premier League. 

"[Shaw] had an elbow in his 

face and he had a bloody nose," 

Van Gaal explained. "He was 

dizzy, so -out of precaution - we 

took him off. 

"He went to hospital but I have 

a message he will fly with us 

back so I'm not thinking it's very 

bad. 

"Rooney had a dead leg, that's 

why I had to change him. 

"[Smalling] was stumbling 

and I don't think he played his 

best match so that's why I 

changed. He had cramp, you 

could see it because he was pulling 

at his toes." 

Ahave work to do despite 

moving four points clear of the 

drop zone thanks to a 1-0 win over 

West Ham on Saturday. 

Villa’s 38 points tally may already 

be enough to keep them up but 

one win from their final two games 

would make it certain. 

Sherwood said: “We always just 

look at the next one, so it is going 

to be a tough game away at 

Southampton. We will obviously 

go there and look to win. 

“Nothing is going to be easy, there 

is still a lot of hard work to be done, 

but that was a good step towards 

it. 

“Everyone is getting unlikely results. 

It's in our hands but you will 

see a few more twists and turns. 

"I talked to them about complacency 

today but I didn't see it, I saw 

a very open, attacking performance 

and then I saw a really professional 

one in the second period. 

"They are marrying it all together 

and there seems to be a real maturity 

growing. I'm pleased for them. 

“We are always up for the fight, 

I have learned that about the boys, 

but we are also showing some real 

quality.” 

Tom Cleverley's third goal in three 

games gave Villa a 1-0 half-time 

lead but the home fans then had 

to endure a somewhat nervy second 

45 minutes. 

Sherwood said: “It is natural to 

get edgy, we appreciate that. 

“It is always nervy when you are 

in the position we are in but I felt 

17 

Sherwood: Work still to do 

STON Villa manager Tim 

Sherwood says his side still 

CHRIS Ramsey has declared 

his wish to remain as head 

coach of QPR despite their 

relegation from the Premier League. 

QPR were relegated on Sunday 

following a 6-0 defeat to Manchester 

City at the Etihad Stadium, with 

a hat-trick from Sergio Aguero and 

goals from Aleksandar Kolarov, 

James Milner and David Silva seeing 

the hosts cruise to victory. 

Ramsey took over as interim 

coach following Harry Redknapp's 

resignation in February before being 

given the job until the end of 

the campaign. 

So far, Ramsey has managed just 

two wins in his time in charge. 

But, when asked if he wants to be 

the man to lead QPR next season, 

he replied: "Yes. I really do. It's a 

club I've taken to my heart." 

Turning his attention to QPR's 

sorry performance, Ramsey added: 

we limited West Ham to 

very few shots today.” 

Regarding West Ham’s 

second-half improvement, 

Sherwood added: “It is impossible 

to be that dominant 

in 90 minutes football, we 

expected West Ham to come 

out and change it a little bit. 

“But it was as comfortable 

as we could have been. We 

killed the game off, kept it at 

the right times. 

Ramsey keen to remain at 

QPR despite relegation 

•Ramsey 

•Sherwood 

"We came here with a lot of 

hope, shot ourselves in the 

foot and gave away three setpieces 

which they scored 

from. 

"On the day we didn't really 

turn up and they are a 

very good team. The boys will 

be very disappointed in the 

way they performed. We are 

really feel sorry for the travelling 

fans. 

"As you can imagine the 

dressing room is very, very 

quiet. I don't think it's a time 

for post mortems, our fate is 

what it is. 

"The club is in a rebuilding 

phase now and would have 

been anyway regardless of 

[the result] today. There are 

lots of people at the club who 

will be extremely disappointed 

in the way we conducted 

ourselves."



19 

COMMENTARY 

T 

UESDAY last week, finance minister 

and coordinator of the economy 

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, gave an overview 

of the 2015 budget earlier passed into 

law by the National Assembly. Among 

other highlights, she disclosed that the outgoing 

administration has already borrowed 

N473 billion to fund parts of the 2015 budget. 

According to the minister, the 50 per 

cent cut in revenue owing to drop in oil 

prices, the low revenue receipts from nonoil 

sources and the fact that most companies 

had yet to file in their tax returns in the 

first quarter of the year made it imperative 

for the Federal Government to resort to borrowing. 

She would add that much as the government 

had tried to reduce the level of borrowing, 

such could not be achieved this 

year due to cash flow problems. She provided 

the summary thus: “In all, the government 

expects to borrow N882bn. Out of 

this, N380bn is expected from external 

sources; the rest – N502 billion would come 

from domestic borrowing. By way of comparison, 

the government borrowed N570 

billion to fund the 2014 budget”. 

Ordinarily, the borrowing plan would 

seem a pragmatic step given the sustained 

dip in prices and more so, in the environment 

of weakening demand for the nation’s 

crude. If we expected fresh thinking or 

even a paradigm shift which the current 

crisis in our public finance dictates, the 

Jonathan administration, true to its character, 

has merely opted to plod along the old, 

easy but short-term route of digging fresh 

pits to fill extant holes. 

What options currently exist given the 

T 

HE sour experience regarding collapse 

of banks in the nation’s history 

demands vigilance at any time 

issues concerning the welfare of the 

banking sector come up. Indeed, this 

was what aroused our curiosity when 

Allan Gray Group, Africa’s largest privately-owned 

investment management 

company, in its recent report titled ‘Gray 

Issue: The sentiment pendulum’, arrived 

at an eerie conclusion concerning 

our banks. The group stated that Nigerian 

banks lenders’ performance as at 

the end of March 2015 had ebbed. The 

unsavoury consequence, as predicted, 

is that by year 2016, most serious investors 

would have lost interest in the viability 

of the banks. The panacea: the 

affected banks need recapitalisation; to 

avoid going under. 

The outfit, in its precise words stated 

‘The banks can still do better 

if they are more disciplined 

in granting loans and arresting 

the trend of non-performing 

loans, the interest on 

which could have fetched 

them good income, amongst 

other measures. In our view, 

it is by doing this satisfactorily 

that their cost structure 

can be brought down considerably’ 

EDITORIALS 

Old habits 

•How come the Fed Govt has borrowed N473bn in first quarter? 

dire financial situation? Should we be looking 

for loans to pay wages and emoluments 

of public servants? Shouldn’t we be thinking 

of how to eliminate the innumerable 

drain pipes to save billions of public revenues 

routinely frittered away – funds that 

could go a long way to settle staff liabilities? 

Wouldn’t that have been a far more 

sensible thing to do in the circumstance? 

Why the rush to borrow considering that 

the 2015 budget itself has not been signed 

into law? 

Borrowing – if we may put things bluntly 

– is not the problem. Indeed, when properly 

deployed, it can help alleviate both 

short and long-term funding gaps. However, 

in the hand of a spendthrift administration, 

it becomes a substitute to good 

thinking, an avenue for corrupt enrichment 

by unscrupulous officials, a handy quickfix 

for an administration ever so eager to 

kick fundamental problems down the road. 

Far more than the cash crunch which the 

nation currently grapples with is the more 

fundamental problem of fiscal irresponsibility 

across the board. It explains the 

Jonathan administration’s humongous 

appetite for loans even when oil prices kept 

at steady highs; it offers explanation for the 

current situation in which a departing administration 

would, under four months and 

in a transition year, spend more than 50 

percent of the entire loan sum proposed 

for the entire budget cycle. In some way, it 

would partly explain what we saw as the 

rather thin boundary between the public 

till and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 

Federal Government’s war-chest during 

the last elections. 

Scary verdict 

• CBN has to be up and doing to prevent any bank from going under 

For an administration known to routinely 

harangue state governments on fiscal responsibility, 

going as far as blocking those 

among them that have sought bank credit 

to ameliorate the current crisis, its preachment 

on fiscal responsibility must now be 

seen for what it is – hollow. 

The in-coming administration might 

want to review some of the existing loans 

to ensure that they deliver value to Nigerians. 

As for the challenge of bridging the 

revenue gaps, one of the more immediate 

options is to ensure that all revenue-earning 

agencies and parastatals pay their operating 

surpluses into the federation account. 

We have seen too many of them 

operate outside of the law for far too long. 

Aligning their operations with the demands 

of constitutionalism would not only 

be a step in the right direction, we see it as 

offering immense promises in terms of 

boosting the federation account. 

‘Shouldn’t we be thinking of 

how to eliminate the innumerable 

drain pipes to save billions 

of public revenues routinely 

frittered away – funds that 

could go a long way to settle 

staff liabilities? Wouldn’t that 

have been a far more sensible 

thing to do in the circumstance? 

Why the rush to borrow considering 

that the 2015 budget itself 

has not been signed into law?’ 

that this development creates a situation 

where “sentiment towards Nigerian 

banks has gone from positive to outright 

fear. The fear is not without reason given 

the falling oil price, likely spike in bad 

debts, political uncertainty and Boko 

Haram insurgency. It is indeed likely that 

there will be a lot of distress in the next 

year, but it is important to remember that 

what a company earns in a particular 

year generally has little bearing on the 

intrinsic value of the business; what 

counts is the level of normal earning 

through the cycle and the ability to grow 

those earnings. Financial companies are 

a little different in this regard as they 

may go bankrupt before achieving normal 

earnings. A few Nigerian banks may 

go bust or raise capital, but luckily the 

share prices are discounting this probability.” 

The above indeed calls for concern in 

view of its dire consequences on the 

economy, and more importantly, bank 

customers. The latter had suffered immeasurable 

hardships in the past when 

banks failed, which means that a recurrence 

is better forestalled. We cannot 

pretend not to be aware that the Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has taken some 

regulatory measures in this regard. We 

must quickly add though that the apex 

bank has been found wanting in the effective 

discharge of its supervisory duty 

over the commercial banks, over time. 

We also know that some of the banking 

regulatory measures put in place to 

stabilise the economy, that have provided 

succour to customers, including reductions 

in commission on turnover and 

fee element, in addition to strict foreign 

exchange control measures, could 

make it difficult for the banks to make 

higher profit. Notwithstanding, the 

banks can still do better if they are 

more disciplined in granting loans and 

arresting the trend of non-performing 

loans, the interest on which could have 

fetched them good income, amongst 

other measures. In our view, it is by 

doing this satisfactorily that their cost 

structure can be brought down considerably. 

So, the CBN should quickly do the 

needful by devising ways that would 

put banks that are in dire mess of nonperforming 

loans (NPLs) on their toes. 

Where necessary, severe sanctions 

should be meted out on negligent or 

erring banks with absurdly high NPLs. 

The routine but detrimentally systemic 

practice of re-financing of debts 

should be discouraged or stopped 

forthwith. This bad trend of robbing 

Peter to pay Paul is not healthy for the 

sector. Bank debtors that enjoy making 

debts burdensome rather than deploying 

such to create wealth should 

be made to face the full weight of the 

law. 

It should not be lost on us that the 

last bailout of distressed banks by the 

CBN cost the nation N620billion. We 

cannot afford such costly spending because 

of an avoidable banking problem, 

especially at this period when 

infrastructural development should be 

accorded priority. 

LETTER 

Buhari needs our 

support to succeed 

S 

IR: I have no doubt that the 

President-elect, General 

Muhammadu Buhari will perform 

better than his predecessors if Nigerians 

give him full co-operation and support. 

What it takes to succeed as a leader in a 

multi-cultural and ethnic society like ours 

is honesty and commitment from the part 

of a leader and support and cooperation 

from followers. 

We should understand that Buhari is 

eager to fix Nigeria for the betterment 

of all of us. We should understand that 

a lot of damage has been done to socioeconomic 

life of Nigeria. 

I know that expectations are very high 

on the president-elect to lift the country 

from her present status. Leadership is 

not an easy thing especially for those like 

the President-elect, who wants to be 

remembered as rescuer of the poor 

masses. Buhari has made of a lot of 

promises during the period of 

electioneering hence we expect him live 

up to expectations. This requires 

commitment on his part; on our part as 

followers, we need patience, co-operation 

and prayers. 

We should bear in mind that a lot of 

things have gone wrong which require 

fixing. The issue is that there are simply 

no quick-fixes to a number of the 

problems. In other words, the results of 

some of the measures that would be 

undertaken by his government may not 

be felt immediately. 

One of these critical expectations is for 

the Chibok girls to be brought back alive 

to reunite with their families. These 

unfortunate girls have been in the 

captivity of Boko Haram for more than 

a year now. As it is, we do not know if 

they are still alive although the outgoing 

government of President Goodluck 

Jonathan believes that the girls are still 

alive. 

Our education sector is also in shambles 

and needs to be fixed. We have not 

talked about the high rate of poverty and 

unemployment. All these are critical to 

our country’s socio-economic being and 

development. We should give him time 

as he takes over. We can even pray for 

his success because those are some of 

things he needs to bring changes that we 

are clamouring for. 

• Fatima Musa Badeggi 

IBB University, Lapai-Niger State 

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20 

CARTOON & LETTERS 


SIR: “Buhari has upturned the 

world, the army has sent 

Shehu Shagari’s government 

home and change has come in 1983. 

That change involved orderliness 

and discipline in Nigeria”. 

The above were the words of a 

song titled “Change ‘83" by the talented 

Ikwerre Eri Uvor musician 

late James Avunonu Wizor, alias 

Jimmy Conter, Eze Agala 1 of 

Ikwerre, released in 1984. 

This song succinctly summarized 

General Mohammadu Buhari’s first 

coming as the political leader of 

Nigeria in 1983 through a military 

coup. The first Buhari’s change was 

anchored on the ideology of discipline 

due to the monumental corruption 

that took place in the Second 

Republic. His second change is 

yet to be galvanized into an ideology. 

Meanwhile, we the ordinary 

folks are writing to suggest what 

should be the ingredients of 

Buhari’s second change. 

Many have opined that the second 

change should be anchored on 

his election promises. That he must 

deal decisively with corruption, insecurity 

and provision of development 

infrastructure. Nigerians 

strongly desire that he should deal 

with the Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation (NNPC) including 

the issues of the refineries; fuel 

scarcity, price, subsidy and importation. 

The problem of fuel subsidy 

has become a steady disgrace and 

embarrassment to Nigeria. 

Nigerians have reminded him to 

bring back his “War Against Indiscipline” 

(WAI) and that is why 

many are insisting that NNPC 

should be probed to determine 

how $20 billion got missing from 

its account as alleged by the former 

CBN Governor, now Emir of Kano. 

In fact, Nigerians are asking Buhari 

to do so many things within a short 

period because they have become 

thoroughly impatient with their 

misery largely due to bad political 

leadership. 

Besides what Nigerians want him 

to do for them, there are other serious 

things he must do for himself if 

he must succeed as president. First, 

there is a fundamental need for him 

to consciously re-examine and understand 

deeply his personality. 

Second, he needs to understand and 

know how to deal with the presidential 

template and parapherna- 

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Again, Buhari goes to school 

lia. 

The Buhari’s personality is like 

gold in the political firmament of 

Nigeria. But this gold is so raw and 

must pass through the crucibles of 

the furnace fire to bring out its finesse. 

In some way, that was what 

Tinubu, Fayemi, etc did to him: to 

rebrand or refurbish him. That 

rebranding is not done yet, he needs 

to re-examine himself more closely 

and compare who he was under the 

ANPP/CPC era and now under 

APC. This is his first school of 

change. 

The second school is how Buhari 

will handle some socio-political 

sentiments that invisibly rule the 

Office of the President. For example, 

should government continue 

to fund religious pilgrimage? 

Should the lazy party/tribal “big 

boys” continue to have their dubious 

contracts and political patronages 

to avoid wrecking the ship of 

government? How will Buhari 

handle sycophancy even in his cabinet? 

In fact, must things continue to 

be done as usual? These are some 

of the issues in the template and 

they can easily make or mar the 

presidency if not well handled. 

In Nigeria’s past, the handling of 

the template had actually made or 

marred political regimes. For example, 

it was the misreading of the 

SIR: I read Habib Aruna’s insightful 

opinion piece with 

the above title published in 

The Nation of April 26. There are yet 

grey areas not covered by his enlightening 

essay chiefly as it relates 

to the former National Chairman 

of the Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) Vincent Ogbulafor. 

Why did the former PDP chairman 

say that the PDP will rule Nigeria 

for 60 years? And why was he 

duplicitously divested of his office 

for challenging the power that be, 

truthfully as widely reported? 

I see Vincent Ogbulafor in my 

mind’s eye as an unpretentious 

statesman for recognizing the importance 

of rotational presidency - 

the same way I respect Ogbonnaya 

Onu for his loyalty and firm political 

principles. 

Back then the PDP buttressed the 

principle of rotation of elective office 

with gusto and Ogbulafor 

openly defended this principle ( a 

panacea for peace), and as reported 

- he even asked, the national leader 

of his party not to seek election - 

because he reasoned, that his ambition 

would upstage the zoning formula 

and leave many people in the 

party hot under the collar. We heard 

he was removed for that. 

The recent defeat of that party 

might not have been possible if the 

leaders had not eschewed party principles 

to settle for crony democracy 

and it is not unconnected to the cancellation 

of rotational presidency. 

In Nigeria we look at perfect or 

near perfect situations and advocate 

it for our peculiar circumstance. 

Rotational presidency is needed 

today but not forever to keep this 

nation at peace and united. 

Right now we are at, ‘let there be 

peace, cohesion and unity’ level, 

and we need to begin from where 

we are. This isn’t suggesting that 

we throw up total turkeys for elective 

office, people who are conflictridden 

political figures with no history. 

We seek nationalists who 

know the challenges of our national 

statehood and know what it takes 

to do the ‘will of state.’ 

The PDP, like Ogbulafor prophesied, 

might have ruled for so many 

years even if not up to 60 years had 

the party not underrated the APC. I 

watched the national leader prior 

template that made the Azikiwe- 

Balewa government to brutally 

suppress Western Nigeria and allowed 

the “ten percenters” have 

their way. This culminated in the 

military coup of 15 th January 1966. 

The presidential template and its 

paraphernalia did not allow Shagari 

to work as Shagari and this triggered 

the December 1983 coup that 

sent him out of office. Under the 

influence of the template, 

Babangida arrogantly annulled the 

June 12, 1993 Presidential Election 

and stepped aside. The second coming 

of Obasanjo in 1999 took the 

template for granted and this led 

him to mischievously scheme for 

Re: PDP must not be allowed to die 

to the election say on national television, 

“after this election you will 

know that the APC is overrated”. 

Had the party patched up the differences 

with aggrieved governors, 

avoided nuptials to some people 

who were only interested in fattening 

their interests, followed the 

“the rule of right,” instead of the 

“rule of might” and reached out to 

all others to win national goals instead 

of settling for the “love for 

power” and not “power to love”, 

Ogbulafor’s prophesy may have 

had firm grounds to stand. 

Imagine the power sharing arrangement 

in Delta State where PDP 

candidates from Urhobo have tasted 

power (James Ibori), Itsekiri 

(Emmanuel Uduaghan), and now 

Delta North (Senator Arthur 

Okowa). That state with this powersharing 

arrangement will witness 

peace. You follow? 

Contrast that to Rivers State, 

where you have an outgoing 

Ikwerre governor and an in-coming 

Ikwerre governor and you 

wonder why the same party as in 

Delta has different rules of engagement 

for different states. 

the ill-fated Third Term Agenda. It 

was the template that made late 

President Umaru Yar’Adua to feel 

he was stronger than Mike Tyson. I 

do not think that President 

Goodluck Jonathan understood the 

forces of the template when he undermined 

the zoning ideology of 

the Peoples Democratic Party. 

The other two factors in the template 

that nailed the PDP in 2015 

include the underestimation of 

Boko Haram and corruption. 

Buhari is an inestimable gold God 

has given to Nigeria for political 

leadership. To succeed, in the midst 

of the wide-yawning gap for good 

civil political leadership in Nigeria, 

he should go back to self school 

to study himself very well, study 

the presidential template and its 

paraphernalia and adjust himself 

objectively to the needful. This is a 

prerequisite for successfully dealing 

with corruption, insecurity and 

infrastructure gaps. 

•Okachikwu Dibia 

Abuja. 

Today supporters of the PDP are 

asking Nigerians to push the boat 

out to recognize their national 

leader as an international statesman 

for conceding victory to the 

APC in the general elections. What 

choice does any evenhanded president 

have other than to concede 

defeat in a democratic contest? 

Shouldn’t that be the standard of 

civilized democrats. It is time we 

began to promote the norm instead 

of the exception in our polity. 

How many presidents in the West 

were hero worshipped just for conceding 

defeat to the opposition? Do 

they hero worship democratic leaders 

in Botswana? 

The resignation of Adamu Muazu 

as Chairman of the PDP as advised 

by Habib Aruna is not the answer 

to the glut of problems facing PDP 

at the moment. The party members 

need to work on the philosophy of 

equity, justice and fairness - they 

must refrain from the uncontrolled 

public bickering by top wigs of the 

party which today make news headline. 

• Simon Abah, 

Port Harcourt.


COMMENTS 

F 

OR a party that emerged through a marvellous merger 

just two years ago and on the verge of ruling-party 

status at the federal level, it may seem premature to 

contemplate the life expectancy of the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) in the context of power. But such reflection 

is timely ahead of the inauguration of the incoming 

Muhammadu Buhari presidency on May 29, particularly 

because of the pronouncements on the party’s lifespan by 

political prophets. 

In other words, against the background of the 16-year 

governmental lifespan of the outgoing Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) from 1999 to 2015, can the APC rule for a longer 

period? It is thought-provoking that President Goodluck 

Jonathan, who is heading for the exit following a stunning 

electoral defeat, expressed optimism about his party’s 

chances of regaining power at the centre in 2019. Jonathan 

said to party members after receiving the report of the PDP 

Presidential Campaign Organisation at Aso Villa, Abuja: 

“We must continue to be united as a party. And continue to 

work hard so that as we move towards subsequent elections 

in 2019 and 2023, PDP will come out stronger.” 

Also, PDP National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh said: 

“In this regard, all members who have reports, grievances 

and suggestions on the way forward should transmit same 

to the Post-Election Review Committee for an all-inclusive 

roadmap in the overall effort to regain power in 2019.” 

It is possible that Jonathan’s confidence merely reflected 

ostrichism and a conscious denial of his party’s decline 

and fall, which is understandable because overexcited 

stalwarts had predicted 60 years of PDP rule. However, 

perhaps things are not so simplistic, considering the 

perspective of the Minister of National Planning, Dr. 

Abubakar Suleiman. In an interview, Suleiman said of APC: 

“I give the party just one year, it will fizzle out. APC does 

not have what it takes to stay in power for 16 years or more 

‘Now, given the vigour of APC, 

contrasted with the PDP’s loss of 

vitality, it should be easy to guess 

which of the two parties may slump 

when the going gets tough. The two 

parties will be grappling with 

unfamiliar roles. Federal power is new 

to APC, just as opposition politics is 

strange to PDP. Will it be easier for 

APC to master its new status than for 

PDP to manage its reduced station?’ 

HAVE always been fascinated by the words ‘youth’ 

and ‘used’ especially in their onomatopoetic rendition 

as they relate to the youths of Nigeria and their 

Ifathers and grandfathers who still delude themselves that 

they are young, and have refused to yield grounds for the 

young ones. 

About 25 years ago Afro-Juju superstar Shina Peters 

crooned that the dawn of the youth had arrived and the 

old should give way for the new: ‘This is the time of the 

youth and elders should not begrudge us’, he pleaded in 

a strong voice. 

Twenty-five years down the line, nothing has changed. 

If anything, the Nigerian youths had been exposed to the 

most trying time imaginable. Millions of them have been 

left wallowing in poverty as they roamed the streets of major 

cities in search of non-existent jobs and opportunities. Several 

graduates of tertiary institutions have been forced into 

crimes and criminality, and those of them who are not very 

physically daring have taken to frauds and all sorts of shady 

pre-occupation. The young women in this frustrated class 

have taken to disguised prostitution or full-blown harlotry. 

In jokes with the younger ones, I always teased that they 

are the youth, and I am the used! Of course at Septuagenarian 

age one is clearly and definitely used unless one belongs 

in the school of Enrich Ibsen’s Solness in the Master 

Builder. But today I am not joking. I am referring to a major 

issue confronting our country in the face of the Change we 

clamoured for which is due to take off come May 29. 

One of the greatest challenges the Buhari government is 

bound to confront is the issue of the restless, almost hopeless 

Nigerian youths and how they will be immediately 

rehabilitated. 

In my article titled The Vote of the Unemployed, I analysed 

how majority of those who were likely to vote for Buhari 

and damn Jonathan were the millions of unemployed citizens 

of this country. Specific reference was made of the 

teeming youths in their millions and entrepreneurs whose 

factories and plants have been forced to close shop due to 

the Federal Government’s failure to provide succour to its 

citizens. 

In a conversation with a younger colleague Dr Akinniyi 

Sowunmi last week, the highly cerebral communication 

scholar opined that while he recognized Buhari as the symbol 

of change, it was the vote AGAINST Jonathan that won 

the election for him [Buhari]. If Buhari [and the APC] would 

not like to be voted against in four years time, work must 

begin from today to prevent such eventuality. 

The youth rejected Jonathan and voted against him. 

What this means is that the Buhari government about 

How long will 

APC rule? 

as the PDP did.” He added: “How will Atiku, Tinubu, 

Obasanjo and others work together for long? It cannot last 

for long. They do not have anything in common. Many of 

the people in APC have come together for selfish interests 

and when the expectations are dashed by Buhari’s 

government, they will scatter.” 

This pessimism is not only projected by PDP hierarchs, it 

is promoted with curious enthusiasm. However, it is 

noteworthy that this viewpoint, which predated the general 

elections and dates back to the merger talks leading to the 

formation of APC, was flawed by the constitution of the 

party against all odds as well its triumph at the polls. APC’s 

record-setting performance has been described as “the first 

time in Nigeria’s political history that an opposition political 

party unseated a governing party in a general election and 

one in which power will transfer peacefully from one 

political party to another.” Remarkably, APC also won the 

majority of seats in the Senate and the House of 

Representatives in the historic 2015 elections. Apart from 

winning the presidential poll, the APC is in the saddle in 

22 states, the PDP in 13 and the All Progressives Grand 

Alliance (APGA) in one. 

Interestingly, the diversity of forces that formed APC was 

responsible for the ouster of PDP. It was a demonstration of 

the potency of collaboration that the product of the 

combination of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the 

Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria 

Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives 

Grand Alliance (APGA), was sufficiently muscular to 

overcome the PDP. 

However, APC cannot afford the luxury of resting on its 

laurels; and this is why the party must take the prophecies 

of doom seriously. The glory of its celebrated election victory 

will not be sufficient for future feats. For a party that earned 

the votes of the electorate based on its campaign for change, 

APC itself will need to change from a vote-seeking party to 

a vote-attracting party, meaning that being in power will 

demand a new imagination. 

There is no doubt that the end of the PDP era has created 

great public expectations, and all eyes will be on APC to 

live up to expectations. When power formally changes 

hands, it would be expected that the actions of APC will 

begin to speak louder than its words. Ultimately, that is the 

challenge of change. 

It is interesting to note that the PDP prophets have 

concentrated on APC’s alleged incapacity to survive, and 

glossed over the PDP’s sinking ship. One significant voice 

highlighted the necessity for soul-searching. Senate 

President David Mark was quoted as saying that the party 

was “already hemorrhaging.” Mark warned: “Unless we 

halt the bleeding and find the necessary therapy, we may 

be heading for the final burial of the party. The party is 

already comatose and we should do all we can to resuscitate 

the party rather than this unnecessary rancour and buck 

passing.” 

Now, given the vigour of APC, contrasted with the PDP’s 

loss of vitality, it should be easy to guess which of the two 

parties may slump when the going gets tough. The two 

parties will be grappling with unfamiliar roles. Federal 

power is new to APC, just as opposition politics is strange 

to PDP. Will it be easier for APC to master its new status 

than for PDP to manage its reduced station? 

Aware of the picture, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, observed that PDP “has neither 

the capacity nor the commitment to be in the opposition.” 

Mohammed declared that an opposition party needs to be 

“creative, knowledgeable, resourceful and above all 

credible,” adding, “It is not by cheap blackmail.” 

Mohammed was also quoted as saying: “This is why we 

wish to extend to the National Working Committee of the 

PDP a free orientation, just as we have offered the party’s 

spokesman a free crash course on how to be an opposition 

party spokesman. The theme of the orientation will be 

‘transiting from the ruling party to an opposition party’.” 

It remains to be seen how 2015 to 2019 will play out, how 

quickly and effectively APC can deliver the desired change 

to cement its position, and how speedily PDP can recover 

from its post-election trauma to renew and reposition itself 

for the future. How long will APC rule? Or how soon will 

PDP return? 

The youth and the used 

By Tola Adeniyi 

to take off must assign a big role to the youth who believe 

rightly that this incoming government is their own. Even 

though we are not particularly good with records and 

statistics, if proper check is made it will be confirmed that 

the youths were clearly in the majority of those who took 

the trouble to vote on March 28. 

It is unfortunate that the Nigerian youths have been 

short-changed for so long and as I lamented in my article 

titled Nigeria’s Adult Children, 45-year-olds in certain circumstances 

are still considered as youths in Nigeria. There 

are hundreds of thousands of 40-year-olds who are yet to 

find their feet in Nigeria. Many in age bracket 35-40 are 

still in tertiary institutions, jobless, unmarried and heavily 

dependent on their parents and guardians! 

This is why this article will include 50-year-olds who 

have never had any opportunity to actualise their dreams 

amongst the youth-bracket. The youth of Nigeria must be 

empowered. They must be given a big role in this incoming 

government of Change. 

This is where the Used come in. The Used in Nigeria 

have made themselves a recurring decimal. Some have 

served as governor, senator, minister, local government 

chairperson, chairman of several boards, and yet they 

simply refuse to go and yield opportunity for the young 

ones; the youth. 

It is gratifying that the President-elect had assured Nigerians 

that there would be no room for proven corrupt 

individuals in his administration. But he should go further 

to ensure that all those who have made a career of 

politics and political jobbery do not crowd the corridors 

of power in this government of Change, except in special 

cases of those who made huge contributions to the emergence 

of the new government and who in the process 

have suffered hugely in the hands of the opposition. Without 

going the whole hog of mentioning names, there are 

past governors, progressive legal luminaries and other 

top-class technocrats whose expertise will enrich Buhari’s 

government even if such individuals had held government 

positions before. 

However, the used should please take a back seat in the 

•This columnist and this column are going on vacation 

in-coming government. There are hundreds of thousands 

of top-notch technocrats amongst the Youth of Nigeria 

and they must be sought out even if they are currently in 

the Diaspora. Nigeria is blessed. Let us try the untainted 

youth who are eager to serve their fatherland even at the 

topmost level of government. We cannot afford to continue 

to deny our youths opportunities in governance. 

Our President will be 73 in December, let the bulk of 

those who will be in his administration be in age bracket 

30-50. Chief Richard Akinjide was Federal Minister of 

Education in the first Republic at age 27. M T Mbu was 

Nigeria’s High Commissioner in the UK at around age 

25. Bode Thomas was about 30 years old when he held 

sway as a Leader of the Action Group while Chief Sonibare 

achieved all his accomplishments before he passed on at 

43! 

My generation and several generations before mine had 

continued to deceive the young ones that they were the 

leaders of tomorrow. The question our restive youth are 

now asking is ‘When will the tomorrow come?’ For many 

of them the tomorrow was yet to come even 20 years after 

graduating from the university! 

The Buhari government is believed to want to fix the 

moment and prepare a greater future for Nigerians. If the 

future belongs to the youth, they have a right to be involved 

in that preparation. If the dinner is meant for them, 

they should be involved in its preparation and even in 

choice making regarding the kind of meal meant for their 

throats. 

The Youths should be given the opportunity to prove 

their mettle. The Used should thank God for all that they 

had had the opportunity to accomplish. And if I want to 

go with grave yard humour, I would say the Young shall 

grow and the Old shall die!!! 

The question our restive youth are 

now asking is ‘When will the tomorrow 

come?’ For many of them 

the tomorrow was yet to come even 

20 years after graduating from the 

university!

22 

COMMENTS 

PRESIDENT-elect Gen. Muhammad 

Buhari (rtd.) has been speaking variously 

on his plans to tackle corruption when 

sworn-in. This should not be a surprise given 

that the fight against the malfeasance was a 

key campaign promise of the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) under which platform he won 

the election. 

If he is hammering on this battle, it is in part 

informed by this campaign promise and the 

fact that corruption stands out as the most singular 

problem that has overtime, stunted the 

growth and development of this country. So 

whatever attention that is given to the imperative 

of waging a conclusive war against corruption 

is very well deserved. 

Apparently to keep this promise in public 

domain, Buhari has indicated his intention to 

probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation 

(NNPC) to unravel the circumstances 

behind the $20 billion oil fund which the corporation 

allegedly failed to remit into the 

purse of the federal government. He is also 

interested in investigating allegations of electoral 

malpractices by INEC officials and sundry 

security agencies. 

At another level, he has been credited with 

saying he was going to re-visit reports of panels 

set up by the National Assembly to investigate 

allegations of financial scandals in federal 

government ministries and agencies. 

Top among the reports which the Presidentelect 

intends to re-visit are the fuel subsidy 

scandal, the N255 million bullet proof cars 

scam and that of the pensions fund investigated 

by the senate. 

What can be deduced from all these, is that 

‘The fight against corruption 

must be all embracing and far 

reaching for it to achieve the 

desired result. It must permeate 

all strata of the nation’s social 

fabric. It will not only require 

very radical measures to 

discourage the feeling that government 

business is nobody’s 

business but the strengthening 

of all institutions with the duty 

to bring culprits to book’ 

HE appearance of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation 

(NDIC) at the public hearing organised by Senate Committee 

on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to 

Tdefend its quest for amendments of its 2006 Act last March has 

ignited a debate on the pros and cons of the 

proposed amendment. The debate is welcome in a democratic setup 

like ours, in that it afforded the Nigerian public the opportunity 

to know what the amendments were meant to achieve. It is remarkable 

that the media are playing a very crucial role in providing 

the public platform to air these relevant arguments. 

However, lately, some members of the anti-amendment camps 

are increasingly employing lots of spins in their narratives that 

smack of desperation. And, unfortunately, some media are being 

employed to – unwittingly — advance their evidently unhelpful 

sophistries. 

The issues that compel amendments to the Act are already in the 

public domain, but since not all members of the public will have 

the time or access to these amendments some people quickly cash 

on these weakness to dish out propaganda and twist facts. Therefore, 

those who believe that depositors need the kind of protection 

NDIC is proposing have the responsibility to refute the claims and 

set the facts straight. 

Now let us look at some of the areas of misconceptions in the 

various publications to the proposed amendments. 

The power to licence banks in Nigeria is strictly within the purview 

of the Central Bank. However, the Corporation has 

observed that banks, particularly microfinance banks (MFBs) and 

primary mortgage banks (PMBs), have closed shop shortly after 

being licensed and that some of them whose licences were revoked 

by the CBN could not even be located at their last known 

addresses after taking away depositors’ funds. Even the promoters 

could not be traced by both the NDIC and CBN. In practice, therefore, 

the Corporation is desirous of being involved in the process 

of licensing the banks, particularly in the area of carrying out “fit 

and proper persons test” in order to forestall the reoccurrence of 

events where promoters disappeared with depositors’money. 

On the power to supervise banks by the corporation without 

reference to the CBN, it should be noted that the existing provisions 

in the NDIC Act, 2006 gave the corporation powers in Sections 

27-31 to examine banks and issue reports and such reports 

were exchanged between the two institutions. Such was the practice 

until the assumption of office by the immediate past CBN 

Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in 2009, who requested 

that the NDIC and CBN should jointly examine banks and issue 

joint reports. However, the NDIC was of the view that it should 

revert to the status quo to maintain its operational 

independence. And what’s meaning of its operational independence 

if it must issue joint report? 

On the power to terminate the insurance status of 

banks, the reality is that the power to terminate the insurance status 

of any licensed bank has been in NDIC’s Act since 1988 and is 

therefore not a new proposal. However, due to the observation by 

the CBN with respect to this clause, the Corporation decided to 

Emeka 

OMEIHE 

08112662675 

email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com 

Revisiting past probes 

he does not want to leave anyone with any 

shred of doubt that he is going to pursue the 

campaign against corruption with all the seriousness 

the matter deserves. In the days ahead, 

we are likely to hear more about these cases. 

We are more likely to witness the implementation 

of aspects of the reports that have hitherto 

been in the cooler for whatever reasons. 

Similarly, more heads of those indicted by these 

reports are likely to roll. 

It is also possible that an entirely new insight 

may be thrown open in the circumstances 

surrounding these scandals. If and when these 

happen, the nation would have commenced the 

much desired fight against corruption. Without 

doubt, Nigerians are full of expectations 

on the renewed interest on the war against all 

forms of corruption. The general feeling is that 

Buhari can fight corruption. This has more to 

do with his personality rather than concrete 

evidence on the ground that the fight will be 

that easy. Buhari is seen in many circles as a 

very disciplined and selfless man. He is reputed 

to be in a position to fight corruption because 

he is not corrupt himself. So the renewed optimism 

on the war against corruption hinges 

more on his personality and reputation than 

the campaign promise of his party. How far 

this can take us, will become self evident in the 

days ahead. 

Re-visiting past probes as desirable as they 

are, may not produce the kind of results this 

country direly needs to battle the scourge to 

the ground. First, it gives the impression that 

all it takes to commence the huge war against 

corruption is taking on these probes that were 

solely recorded during the period of the outgoing 

administration of Jonathan. That would 

amount to a very circumscribed and narrow 

perspective that erroneously conveys the impression 

that corruption is all about the outgoing 

government. We can start with these. 

But corruption is more deep rooted and more 

entrenched than re-visiting past probes as has 

been touted. It would therefore amount to 

scratching the surface of the matter to nurse 

the feeling that corruption can be conclusively 

battled through such ad hoc probes. 

Yes, the fight can be kick-started by probing 

allegations of financial impropriety 

against the Jonathan government. If it takes 

having another look at some of the probes, 

so be it. After all, there must be a point at 

which the battle has to commence. There is 

no intention here to undermine the heuristic 

value of such engagements. Neither is the 

impression being conveyed that the fight can 

only commence when it is holistic in nature. 

But the real fight against corruption goes 

far beyond such isolated probes or re-visiting 

of past ones. It goes beyond the impression 

that it is all about getting even or probing 

the Jonathan administration. Yes, 

Jonathan can be probed. It is also not unlikely 

that his administration could be found wanting 

in some respects given the way our governments 

have been run overtime. It may 

not be a surprise that many of those who 

worked in his administration may have mismanaged 

public funds just as those in previous 

governments both military and civilian. 

It is even safer to presume that many of the 

functionaries past and present would score 

low when weighed on the corruption index. 

After all, we are all privy to the monumental 

scandals that pervade the oil subsidy regime 

and the pervasiveness of the scourge in all 

facets of our public life. 

amend that section from ‘’Notification’’ to ‘’Consultations’’ whenever 

such need arises. 

On the power to appoint itself as liquidator, it is pertinent to 

note that both the CBN and NDIC share responsibility for failure 

resolution. However, with respect to the appointment of the NDIC 

as liquidator, it was agreed between the CBN and NDIC that the 

provision be inserted to cater for situations where insured 

institutions, such as primary mortgage banks (PMBs) and 

microfinance banks (MFBs), would have closed shop for long periods 

and the CBN had not revoked their licences of insured institutions. 

Although the provision on appointment of NDIC as Provisional 

Liquidator had already been tested with the revocation of the operating 

licences of some MFBs, its effectiveness was very much in 

doubt, given the experience with the cases of the defunct Fortune 

and Triumph banks. It would be recalled that the NDIC was appointed 

provisional liquidator for both banks since 

2006 but, nine years later, the NDIC has not been able to carry out 

liquidation activities, such as the realisation of the closed banks’ 

assets and subsequent payment of liquidation dividends to the uninsured 

depositors of the banks involved. That was despite the 

status of the NDIC as a provisional liquidator of the banks. It is in 

this regard that the proposed amendment provided for the appointment 

of the NDIC as Liquidator simpli cita in order to ensure 

effective winding-up of the affairs of failed insured institutions. 

Curiously the anti-amendment camp and their mouthpieces are 

not mentioning the following depositor-focus amendment proposals, 

which will amount to crass naivety to oppose. 

i) Expanding Incidence for Payment of Insured Deposits To ensure that 

deposit pay-out are promptly made to the depositors of insured 

institutions where the insured institution has suspended payment 

or is otherwise unable to meet its obligations to depositors rather 

than wait until the licence of such institution is revoked by the 

CBN. The aim is to ensure that depositors do not suffer unduly. 

ii) The Corporation is proposing an amendment to its Act that will empower 

it to enforce the recommendations contained in its Examination 

Reports, thereby strengthening its supervisory capacity. This is to 

prevent a situation where a bank is examined and the same lapses 

observed in previous examinations report are repeated due to failure 

of bank management to implement the earlier recommendations 

as well as to ensure prompt corrective action is taken on 

problem banks. 

iii) The NDIC as Conservator - The NDIC is empowered through 

Section 34(a) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFIA) 

Act 1990 (as amended) to assume control of certain category of 

failing banks. However, the subsisting NDIC Act has no provision 

stipulating its status under such circumstances. The experience of 


Thus, fighting the scourge would require 

more than ad hoc measures. It would definitely 

entail a revolution of sorts. It would require a 

total overhaul of the way government business 

is run in this country. It would involve 

fundamental altering of socialization processes 

to elicit attitudinal changes that are supportive 

of civic structures. It would require positive 

dispositions to things that have to do with the 

government. Sadly, the way the government 

is perceived today, cannot conduce for effective 

battle against corruption. Governments at 

all levels still compete with primordial groups 

for the loyalty of the citizens. It is still seen as 

an avenue that needs to be impoverished for 

the benefit of the primordial groups. 

That is why it is not considered a taboo to 

steal from the government till. But the same 

people, who steal the funds of the government, 

find it difficult to tamper with the funds of their 

ethnic unions. The amoral relationship between 

the government and the individuals has to be 

tackled and redressed for the fight to have real 

meaning. 

It is this amoral relationship that in the main, 

accounts for the perception that appointment 

into key positions of government is an invitation 

to partake in the sharing of the national 

cake. The general trend in many parts of the 

country today is to deride anybody who has 

had the opportunity of occupying key government 

positions but still unable to make sufficient 

money to take care of his needs thereafter. 

Such ruinous dispositions must change. 

Since after the just concluded general elections, 

there have been copious references to 

the sharing and allocation of juicy government 

portfolios to sections of the country that massively 

voted for the incoming federal government. 

What can be juicy about these portfolios 

except the undue advantage they will be deployed 

for personal ends? That is the crux of 

the problem and the beginning of corruption. 

The fight against corruption must be all embracing 

and far reaching for it to achieve the 

desired result. It must permeate all strata of the 

nation’s social fabric. It will not only require 

very radical measures to discourage the feeling 

that government business is nobody’s business 

but the strengthening of all institutions 

with the duty to bring culprits to book. It will 

require government by example rather than 

precepts. 

The fight must not discriminate between persons 

no matter their connection with the powers 

that be. It is not going to be that easy. If 

Buhari can win this war, he would have etched 

his name in the sands of the nation’s history. 

Who is afraid of NDIC’s amendments? 

By Bashir Ibrahim Hassan 

the NDIC in such matters had shown that its status should be 

likened to that of a Conservator. Accordingly, a problem bank 

which NDIC has assumed control of should be protected from 

attachment of its assets and the assets of NDIC against the liability 

of such distressed bank. The status of Conservator should confer 

on NDIC powers that would enhance its ability to recover debts 

owed to the distressed bank, protect its assets and effectively manage 

the bank for the purpose of restructuring and rehabilitation. 

iiii) Payment of Insured Deposits even when action Challenging Revocation 

is pending in Court - The proposed amendment seeks to empower 

the NDIC to pay insured deposits to depositors of insured 

institutions whose operating licence has been revoked even when 

the litigation of the institution’s operating licence or winding up is 

still pending in court. The proposal aims to reduce the extent to 

which depositors are subjected to untold hardship anytime erstwhile 

owners of banks whose operating licences have been revoked 

take the CBN/NDIC to Court to forestall liquidation of 

their banks. Section 40(7) of the NDIC Act, meant to address the 

above problem does not prevent the institution of an application 

in court from payment of insured deposits. Rather, it regulates the 

venue for hearing such applications. Accordingly, under the current 

practice, once an application is filed and pending determination, 

payment of the insured deposits cannot be done. 

The proposed amendments would enable the NDIC to pay insured 

deposits,irrespective of such an application pending in court, 

as payment of insured deposits would be statutorily obligatory. 

The equitable doctrine of lis pendis would not operate in the face 

of statutory provisions compelling NDIC to effect such payment. 

In the event that the licence of the institution is restored, the NDIC 

would exercise its right of subrogation. 

v) Reduction of Pay-out period (Depositors’ Re-imbursement) from 90 

days to 30 days. The purpose of this amendment is to guarantee 

prompt settlement of depositors’ insured sum by reducing the 

waiting period for payment from 90 days to 30 days. That means 

that the NDIC is seeking to commence the payment of insured 

deposits within 30 days. 

I cannot see any iota of intent from the foregoing amendment 

that posits NDIC as seeking to be a parallel or coordinate regulator 

for banks. Rather these amendments are intended to strengthen 

the corporation to play its role as a responsible member of the 

financial safety-net in Nigeria working with the CBN and other 

critical stakeholders to ensure the safety, stability and soundness 

of the financial system. 

On a final note, one would like to appeal to the out-going 

7 th National Assembly to be on the side of history and Nigerian 

depositors by approving these novel and credible amendments 

that will keep Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation ahead of its 

peers. 

• Hassan is business development executive based in Abuja.


23



25 

THE NATION 

BUSINESS 

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net 

ISSUES 

Why Commodity Boards 

may return - P. 29 

News Brief 

GTBank, oil firm in 

$50m financing deal 

GUARANTY Trust Bank 

(GTBank) is concluding discussions 

with an oil firm to 

advance a $50 million loan 

to help the firm finance its 

fabrication yard project, it 

was learnt. 

–Page 26 

NDIC is seeking amendment 

to its enabling l aw 

THE Nigeria Deposit Insurance 

Corporation (NDIC) 

said it is seeking an amendment 

to its enabling law because 

the body lacks the powers 

to enforce some of its decisions. 

–Page 26 

Buhari urged to 

revamp agric sector 

A FORMER chairman, Poultry 

Association of 

Nigeria(PAN), Lagos State, 

Mr Lanre Bello, has called 

on the incoming government 

to place farming at the 

heart of its development 

plan for the sector to deliver 

commercially meaningful” 

trade gains for the 

country’s economy. 

–Page 26 

DATA STREAM 

COMMODITY PRICES 

Oil 

Cocoa 

Coffee 

Cotton 

$54/barrel 

$2,686.35/metric ton 

¢132.70/pound 

¢95.17pound 

Gold $1,396.9/troy 

Sugar $163/lb 

RATES 

Inflation 8.4% 

Treasury Bills 10.58%(91d) 

Maximum lending 30% 

Prime lending 15.87% 

Savings rate 3% 

91-day NTB 15% 

Time Deposit 5.49% 

MPR 13% 

Foreign Reserve 

$34.5b 

TRANSNATIONAL 

Corporation of Nigeria 

Plc (Transcorp) is 

demanding the refund of the 

N2 billion tax it paid to the 

Federal Government at its 

Ughelli Power plant. 

Addressing shareholders 

during the Ninth Annual 

General Meeting (AGM) of 

the conglomerate in Abuja at 

the weekend, its Chairman, 

Tony Elumelu, said the company 

had written to the authorities, 

demanding a refund 

of the money and hoped 

the letter would be accorded 

attention. 

He said they were asked to 

use a Special Purpose Vehicle 

(SPV) when they were acquiring 

the power plant to 

enjoy a tax holiday but they 

were surprised when they 

were slammed with N2 billion 

as tax payable to the 

government. 

He also told the shareholders 

that Transcorp Ughelli 

Power Plant would attain 

850megawatt (Mw) by December 

this year, adding that 

the availability of gas and 

the transmission network 

are the mitigating factors to 

be looked into. 

Elumelu said the power 

THE CEO 

‘Banks need good risk controls’ 

- P. 37 

• From left: MD FBN Insurance, Mr Valentine Ojumah; Chairman, FBN Insurance, Mrs Adenrele Kehinde; Head, Financial 

Advisory FBN Capital, Mr Afolabi Olorode, receiving the award for Africa Deal of the Year at the M&A Atlas Awards for the 

Acquisition of Oasis Insurance by FBN Insurance. 

Banks get deadline to recapitalise 

THE Central Bank of Ni 

geria (CBN) has given 

at least six banks deadline 

to beef up their capital 

base in line with the increased 

capital requirements 

under Basel II Capital Accord. 

Reliable industry sources 

said many banks have not 

met the Basel 11 capital requirement 

and will need to 

raise additional capital to 

beef up their capital base 

within the next 12 months. 

According to the sources, 

the apex bank has mandated 

the deficient banks to submit 

a recapitalization plan, outlining 

the timeline for their 

capital raising plan, to the 

apex bank by June 2015. The 

banks are expected to implement 

the recapitalization 

plan and complete their 

recapitalization plan by the 

end of June 2016. 

A leading global investment 

and finance firm indicated to 

The Nation at the weekend that 

some 10 banks have been confirmed 

to have met the capital 

By Taofik Salako 

requirements under the Basel 

11. These included Access 

Bank, Diamond Bank, FBN 

Holdings, FCMB Group, Fidelity 

Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, 

United Bank for Africa (UBA), 

Zenith Bank, Wema Bank and 

Skye Bank Plc. 

While the capital adequacy 

ratio of most banks is generally 

above the minimum regulatory 

threshold of 15 per cent, 

the adoption of Basel II implies 

additional capital as banks 

grow their risk assets. Besides, 

banks that are designated as 

systemically important banks 

(SIBs) are expected to make 

provision for additional 100 

basis points to increase their 

minimum capital adequacy 

ratio to 16 per cent as against 

the general requirement of 15 

per cent. 

The Basel II is the second global 

standards of capital adequacy 

issued by the Basel 

Committee on Banking Supervision 

under the auspices of the 

Basel, Switzerland-based Bank 

Transcorp seeks N2b tax refund from Fed Govt 

From Nduka Chiejina 

(Asst. Editor), Abuja 

for International Settlements 

(BIS), the oldest international 

financial organisation that coordinates 

central banks and 

standards for the international 

financial markets. 

The Basel Committee has issued 

three sets of the global 

standards including Basel I, 

Basel II and Basel III, which increased 

and stricter capital risks 

and exposure management requirements 

from one level to 

another. 

The adoption of Basel II 

mainly implies additional capital 

charge for market and operational 

risks. Basel II seeks 

to strengthen banks’ risk and 

capital management through 

three main areas, otherwise 

known as pillars. The first pillar 

deals with minimum capital 

requirements, the second 

pillar deals with supervisory 

review process while the third 

pillar deals with processes relating 

to market discipline. 

The pillars generally ensure 

that the greater the risk to 

which a bank is exposed, the 

greater the amount of capital 

plant was in touch with a Canadian 

company to explore 

coal power project to complement 

its gas activities in the 

power generation. “It became 

imperative to look towards 

coal as the firm realised 

N2.6 billion profit in its 

first quarter of this year, a 

performance which was described 

as a below what was 

targeted for the quarter,” he 

added. 

The reason for the first quarter 

performance was attributed 

to “blown up gas 

pipelines’’and lack of gas 

which affected revenue and 

profit. 

For the second year in a 

and required supervisory 

framework. 

Market sources said many 

banks may return to the capital 

market to source for additional 

funds in the months 

ahead to shore up their capital 

compliance and create headroom 

for loan growth. Four of 

the banks that had complied 

including Diamond Bank, 

UBA, Access Bank and Wema 

Bank, had floated supplementary 

offers to raise funds in recent 

months. UBA and Access 

Bank are yet to announce the 

subscription level for their offers, 

but most analysts said the 

offers were successful. 

A source in the know said 

banks may resort to rights issue 

to existing shareholders 

given the slowdown in the primary 

market of the Nigerian 

capital market. Public offers in 

recent period have been tempered 

by the downtrend at the 

stock market, which has in 

many instances seen share price 

at the Nigerian Stock Exchange 

(NSE) lower than the offer 

price of a primary issue. 

row, Transcorp paid out dividends 

to its shareholders in 

spite of what the conglomerate 

described as a challenging 

year. 

At the end of the meeting, 

shareholders approved a dividend 

of N1.9 billion at six 

kobo per share as well as the 

re-appointment of retiring directors. 

Elumelu highlighted the 

operational excellence that has 

guided the firm’s turnaround 

from takeover in 2010, into 

what he called “a super performer 

in the years following 

under the current leadership”. 

• Continued on page 26 

Ikeja, Ibadan 

DISCOs’ll boost 

market liquidity 

By Akinola Ajibade 

THE admission of Ikeja 

Electric(IE) formerly 

Ikeja Electricity Distribution 

Company(IKEDC) 

and Ibadan Electricity Distribution 

Company (IBEDC) by 

the National Association of 

Security Dealers (NASD) 

Over-The-Counter( (OTC) 

for trading, would benefit 

both the firms and the nation’s 

capital market, the 

Managing Director, BGL Securities 

Limited, Sunday 

Adebola, has said. 

By this, the trading of shares of 

Ikeja and Ibadan DISCOs on the 

NASD OTC platform of the Nigerian 

Stock Exchange (NSE) 

would boost the operational capital 

of the market and that of the 

power firms by billions of naira 

soon, he added. 

Adebola said NASD OTC provides 

opportunities for investors 

and listed companies to conduct 

transactions without interfacing 

with each other since transactions 

could be conducted on phones, 

adding that the idea would help 

in improving the financial status 

of power firms that were yet to 

stabilise their operations, two 

years after they bought the assets 

of the defunct Power Holding 

Company of Nigeria 

(PHCN). 

He said: ”Some companies 

were delisted from the main 

market for one reason or the other 

and moved to NASD OTC platform. 

Also, the firms would have 

the opportunity to migrate from 

NASD OTC platform to the main 

segment of the market.The idea 

is that it would serve as a window 

through which many firms 

would come to the stock market 

to grow their investments. 

“Other power firms are coming 

to the market, following the 

admission of Ikeja and Ibadan 

into the NASD OTC segment of 

the exchange. The multiplier effects 

are huge because investors 

are not only going to have opportunities 

to choose from, but 

would make more money. Overall, 

the market would be better 

for it; the reason being that there 

would be more activities in the 

market. This would impact on 

market capitalisation and the All 

Share Index.” 

Adebola said avenues had been 

created for investors in the market, 

following the provision of 

more investment windows by 

the management of the NSE. 

He said the exchange was making 

moves to bring more energy 

firms, especially oil and gas production 

and exploration outfits 

to deepen the market. 

“Globally, oil companies are regarded 

as cash crow because they 

have capacity to undertake bigticket 

transactions and further 

deepen the market where they 

are listed. With the trading of the 

shares of Ibadan and Ikeja 

DISCOs on the NASD OTC platform, 

the dream of bringing in 

more energy firms into the NSE 

would be realised soon,” he said.


BUSINESS NEWS 

GTBank, oil firm in $50m financing deal 

GUARANTY Trust Bank 

(GTBank) is concluding discussions 

with an oil firm to 

advance a $50 million loan to help 

the firm finance its fabrication yard 

project, it was learnt. 

The immediate past Executive 

Secretary of the Nigerian Content 

Development and Monitoring 

Board (NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa, 

who spoke on the sideline of the 

Nigerian Investment Forum in 

Houston Texas, United States, said 

the deal would boost the industry, 

adding that the details would not 

be discussed in order not to disrupt 

the process. 

However, he said for a Nigerian 

bank to give such a loan demonstrates 

the growing confidence the 

financial industry has in the Nigerian 

Content programme and the 

Nigerian Content Fund. 

He said in the past, banks only 

agreed to deal give out loans of 

between $3 million and $4 million, 

• Nigerian Content Fund hits $540m 

By Emeka Ugwuanyi 

adding that the highest business 

done with the local banks since the 

establishment of the Content Board 

is $5 million. With the step taken 

by GTBank, it shows the Fund has 

grown and dependable. 

He said: “We are saying that the 

GTBank is interested in giving a $50 

million loan to one of the yards that 

is developing a facility in Nigeria. 

When they consummate the deal, 

it will be a major boost for the Nigerian 

Content Development Fund. 

It means that people now have confidence 

that the Fund can underpin 

such a loan facility. 

“This fund has been dealing on 

$3million to $4 million loan. The 

maximum we have done up to now 

is the between $3million and $5 

million loan. For a Nigerian bank 

to agree to give a loan of $50 million 

on the back of a 30 per cent of 

the guarantee, it means the Fund 

has come of age. That is the exciting 

thing there. We are happy that 

today the banking industry is confident 

and trust the structure of the 

Fund so much that they are able to 

give a $50 million loan. To have 

got to that point is a maturity. I cannot 

disclose the details until the 

deal is sealed.” 

He also said the size of the Nigerian 

Contenet Development Fund (NCDF) 

is about $540 million. The Fund was 

established by the Nigerian Oil and 

Gas Industry Content Act (NOGIC 

Act), 2010 to address financial and liquidity 

challenges of the indigenous 

companies that operate within the 

Nigerian oil and gas industry. The 

Fund is built through contribution of 

one percent from every contract 

awarded to any operator, contractor, 

subcontractor, alliance partner or any 

other entity involved in any project, 

operation, activity or transaction in 

the upstream sector. It is deducted at 

source by contract awarding entities 

and paid into designated accounts 

which are kept with Custodian Banks 

under the programme. 

The Fund is structured in such a way 

that 30 per cent is meant for direct 

intervention to identify areas with 

gaps and plug loopholes through 

training, technical support, such as 

research, studies and possible temporary 

acquisition of stake, and also in 

critical intervention in infrastructure 

development, among others. 

The other 70 per cent is for commercial 

intervention. Thirty per 

cent of it is provided as partial guarantee 

on bank loans to local operators 

to grow local capacity and to 

give 50 per cent interest rebate on 

performing bank loans under the 

partial guarantee scheme. 

• From left: Head, Premium Banking, First City Monument Bank(FCMB), Mr. Aderemi Sanusi; a participant in the Dare2Dream youth empowerment 

competition, Miss. Onyeka Nwobu; Senior Brand Manager Spice TV, Mrs. Yoanna Chikezie; winner of the competition, Miss. Tolulope Balogun and Chief 

Executive, Kinabuti Fashion House, Caterina Bortolussi, at a briefing on the competition in Lagos. 

Why we are seeking amendment to enabling law, by NDIC 

THE Nigeria Deposit Insurance 

Corporation (NDIC) 

said it is seeking an amendment 

to its enabling law because 

the body lacks the powers to enforce 

some of its decisions. 

NDIC Head of Communication 

and Public Affairs, Hadi Sule Birchi, 

said the challenge reached a head, 

“particularly in the area of bank 

liquidation and pay out, “ adding 

that it was the desire to address 

these issues that prompted the Corporation 

to send the proposed 

amendments to the National Assembly, 

“ to strengthen its capacity 

to effectively discharge its mandate”. 

He told The Nation that the proposed 

amendments are in line with 

the International Association of 

Deposit Insurers’ (IADI) core principles 

for effective deposit insurance 

systems. 

“It is instructive to note that the 

Corporation has not made any 

new proposal on its functions or 

powers, but simply re-echoed 

what has been its mandate and 

powers since its inception in 

1988, aimed at ensuring safety, 

soundness and stability in the 

banking system,” he stressed. 

Bjrchi pointed out that there is 

nothing in the amendments that 

portrayed the NDIC as seeking 

to license banks the same way the 

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 

does. 

“It is noteworthy that the proposed 

amendments do not con- 

By Simeon Ebulu 

tain such proposal,” he said, 

stressing: “the power to license 

banks in Nigeria is strictly 

within the purview of the Central 

Bank.” 

Birchi, however, expressed 

NDIC’s frustration in tracing the 

locations of some CBN licensed 

Micro Finance Banks, as well as 

Primary Mortgage Banks, a situation, 

he said necessitated the 

Corporation’s request that it be 

taken into confidence during the 

registration and licensing of 

these entities. This is with a view 

to protecting depositors’ funds, 

he said. 

He continued: “The Corporation 

had observed that banks, 

particularly microfinance banks 

(MFBs) and primary mortgage 

banks (PMBs) could not even be 

located at their last known addresses 

after taking away depositors 

money. Even the promoters 

could not be traced by 

both the NDIC and CBN. In practice, 

therefore, the Corporation 

is desirous of being involved in 

the process of licensing the 

banks, particularly in the area of 

carrying out “fit and proper persons 

test”to forestall the 

reoccurrence of events where 

promoters disappeared with depositors 

money.” 

The NDIC spokesman said the 

NDIC Act, 2006 gave it enough 

powers in Sections 27-31 to examine 

banks and issue reports 

and such reports are exchanged 

between the two institutions. He 

said the Corporation would 

rather that the independence of 

both the NDIC and CBN be maintained, 

as enshrined in its enabling 

law, as against the practice 

instituted in 2009, when the the 

immediate past CBN Governor, 

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, 

requested that the NDIC and 

CBN should jointly examine 

banks and issue joint reports. 

“The NDIC was of the view that 

we should revert to the status 

quo to maintain our operational 

independence,” Birchi said. 

He pointed out that insinuations 

making the rounds that 

NDIC is seeking amendments to 

its Act to terminate the insurance 

status of any licensed bank were 

not true, adding that the provision 

is in its 1988 enabling law. 

He said the only amendment the 

Corporation seeks to make on 

this provision, in the light of the 

observation by the CBN, is to 

substitute the word ‘‘notification’’ 

with ‘‘consultation.’’ 

He said the power by NDIC to 

to appoint self as liquidator,was 

a joint agreement by both the 

CBN and the Corporation, to cater 

for situations where insured 

institutions, such as primary 

mortgage banks (PMBs)and 

microfinance banks (MFBs) 

would have closed shop for long 

periods and the CBN had not re- 

• NDIC Managing Director Umaru 

Ibrahim 

voked their licences. 

He said the provision is not 

misplaced, since both the CBN 

and NDIC share responsibility 

for failure resolution. 

Birch said it should not be construed 

that the Corporation 

through the proposed amendment, 

among others, is seeking 

to be a parallel or coordinate 

regulator for banks. 

The Corporation as a responsible 

member of the financial 

safety-net in Nigeria, will continue 

to collaborate with CBN 

and other critical stakeholders 

to ensure the safety, stability 

and soundness of the financial 

system, he pledged. 

Buhari urged to 

revamp agric sector 

By Daniel Essiet 

AFORMER chairman, Poultry 

Association of 

Nigeria(PAN), Lagos State, 

Mr Lanre Bello, has called on the 

incoming government to place 

farming at the heart of its development 

plan for the sector to deliver 

commercially meaningful” 

trade gains for the country’s 

economy. 

In an interview with The Nation, 

he urged the incoming administration 

to pursue a shared vision 

that would positively impact farm 

sector profitability and the 

economy. 

He recognised the challenges but 

called for a high level of ambition 

in the outcomes. 

According to him, investing for 

growth will require ensure food 

and farming is high up on the Government’s 

agenda from the start, 

adding that farmers are up for the 

challenge, but need the support and 

commitment of the government to 

back the industry to meet the challenges 

of feeding a rising population. 

His words: “We have witnessed 

a lot of pronouncement and government 

policies about agriculture 

but implementation has always 

been the problem. I do not intend 

to dwell on that went wrong or 

what ought to have been done in 

the past. The primary purpose is to 

suggest the way forward, particularly 

for the incoming government. 

We are naturally endowed as a 

country to excel in agricultural production. 

To achieve this feat, certain 

policies are needed to be put 

in place. 

Transcorp seeks 

N2b tax refund 

from Fed Govt 

• Continued from page 25 

He said: “Transcorp’s shareholders 

are generally long term shareholders 

and we know that in the 

past, those shareholders have lost 

money. We have our work cut out 

for us to help them recover that 

money and our focus is on planting 

seeds to grow the company 

through re-investment of profits 

among other measures.” 

Transcorp, he said, has achieved 

consistency in dividend delivery 

and corporate stability and now 

“we are turning our focus to 

growth. This AGM reiterates our 

commitment to creating sustainable 

value for all stakeholders”. 

The conglomerate’s performance 

was buoyed by gross earnings, 

which increased from N18.8 billion 

to N41.3 billion “a reflection of the 

first full year of earnings from the 

power business and the group’s operating 

profit which also grew from 

N10.2 billion to N13.6 billion in 

2014.” 

Its Group President/CEO 

Emmanuel N. Nnorom told shareholders 

that “the story of Transcorp 

is a standout among conglomerates 

in Nigeria and one that gets better 

each day. Our focus early on was 

turnaround and stabilisation and 

this year’s results reiterate this commitment.” 

For the years ahead, Nnorom said 

the conglomerate’s focus is on 

growth “from hospitality to power, 

agribusiness to energy, our ability 

to deliver in the face of strong economic 

headwinds, as we witness 

more stability in the economy, we 

will be able to perform ever better.” 

The company he said has shown it 

is on track to deliver on its growth 

and expansion plans, as it achieved 

N27.6 billion in gross profit and 

N7.7 billion in profit before tax last 

year. This is in spite of a sizeable 

exchange loss on foreign currency 

loans in the power business, capital 

market volatility, and lower average 

occupancy in the hospitality 

business.


MONEYLINK 

Sterling Bank to raise N20b fresh capital 

by some analysts that the Bank will spur us to work harder and 

would not be able to achieve its ensure that we achieve our target. 

capital raising targets this year due But we are confident we will do it. 

to regulatory headwinds, recalling But, of course, until it is done, you 

that such skepticisms were similarly 

expressed in 2013 when the we know that we will do it.” 

cannot say you have succeeded. But 

bank announced that it plans to The bank’s Managing Director/ 

raise additional capital via equity Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yemi 

issues. 

Adeola, told reporters last December 

that the bank would raise capi- 

He continued: “They raised 

doubts in 2013; they raised doubts tal this year, because, according to 

in 2014. But what happened? We him, “Capital is the tool of banking; 

banks have to continue to raise 

were successful in our capital raising. 

Their doubts are welcome; it 

TERLING Bank has said it 

plans to raise between $100 

million (N20 billion) and S$150 million (N30 billion) in Tier 2 

capital this year to fund its expansion 

plans. 

The bank’s Chief Financial Officer 

(CFO)/Executive Director, Mr. 

Abubakar Suleiman, made this 

known at an interactive session 

with the reporters in Lagos. 

He explained that the Bank was 

on track of its expansion targets 

which it unveiled in 2013 and 

would soon embark on another 

phase of its growth strategy. 

According to him, the bank has 

1.5 million customers and has been 

able to achieve over three per cent 

market share from 1 per cent a few 

years ago. He revealed that from 

84 branches in 2006, the lender’s 

branch network should hit the 200 

mark by the end of the year adding 

that it would increase the number 

of its Automated Teller Machines 

(ATMs) to 1000 by the end of this 

year. 

He also said the bank will soon 

deploy a new core banking application 

which would significantly 

boost the quality of its operations 

and service delivery. 

The Executive Director said that 

the bank’s goal was to be among 

the top five lenders in the industry 

not in terms of balance sheet size 

but in the areas of quality service 

delivery and compliance to regulations. 

He pointed out that there were 

banks with much bigger balance 

sheets which were not meeting customers’ 

expectations in key areas, 

stressing that as Sterling Bank ex- 

ACONSORTIUM of six banks 

and Unified Payments has inaugurated 

PayAttitude, an 

electronic payment scheme that allows 

transactions in both online and 

offline platforms. 

Chairman, PayAttitude, Victor 

Etuoku, announced the participating 

banks as FirstBank of Nigeria Ltd, 

Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, 

Diamond Bank, Skye Bank Plc and 

United Bank for Africa Plc. He assured 

that the lenders are commitment 

to making the project succeed. 

The collaboration with Unified 

Payments on PayAttitude is expected 

to drive innovation in service delivery, 

convenient mobile payment 

system and making Nigeria’s financial 

system the “safest and fastest 

growing amongst emerging markets. 

“PayAttitude guarantees subscribers 

the confidence and comfort of 

successful mobile payment for 

goods and services at merchant locations 

at all times, notwithstanding 

the challenges of telecommunication 

or unavailability of network 

in the merchant’s bank or the 

customer’s bank,” he said. 

Etuokwu affirmed that the electronic 

money product would be 

committed to investing in solutions 

that meet the needs of emerging 

markets particularly Africa.”The 

solutions and products being 

launched today are testimonies to 

this commitment, while adopting 

international best practices, 

PayAttitude products and solutions 

have unique features and 

functionalities that may not be available 

in mature markets and under 

existing payments scheme,” he explained. 

The offline feature of PayAttitude 

is developed to address the challenges 

of credit risk in Debit market, 

while at the same time addressing 

the challenges of poor telecommunications 

infrastructure. 

PayAttitude products are also 

Chip+PIN enabled, thereby supporting 

transactions of any value as opposed 

to the use of contact less solutions 

for only low-value transac- 

Stories by Collins Nweze 

pands and becomes a bigger financial 

institution, it will continue to 

outperform its peer group. 

“We have consistently outperformed 

our peer group and we will 

outperform the next group. We 

want to be there when it comes to 

service delivery, in terms of compliance 

to regulations and how we 

are perceived as good corporate 

citizens,” he said. 

He disclosed that the lender 

would raise between $100million 

(N20billion) and $150millon 

(N30biilion) in Tier 2 capital this 

year to fund its expansion plans. 

The CFO noted that regulatory 

headwinds, especially the hike in 

Cash Reserve Requirements (CRR) 

on public sector deposits had impacted 

banks’ profitability and restricted 

their lending capacity to finance 

economic growth. 

He argued that the amount of 

bank deposits that the CBN had 

sterilised as a result of the 75 per 

cent CRR on public sector deposits 

and 20 per cent CRR on private sector 

deposit was “unprecedented” 

and had constrained banks’ capacity 

to lend. 

He pointed out that the deposit 

with the CBN were non-earning 

adding that not only does this impact 

banks’ bottom line but it also 

prevents lenders from funding 

businesses. 

He however emphasised that 

despite the tough operating environment 

Sterling Bank was still 

committed to meeting its expansion 

targets. 

Suleiman dismissed suggestions 

Six banks, Unified Payments, inaugurate PayAttitude 

HERITAGE Bank Limited is 

committed to building a 

network of Entrepreneurial 

Leaders necessary to drive the 

growth of Micro Small and Medium 

Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. 

Its Managing Director/Chief Executive 

Ifie Sekibo said the lender 

developed and introduced wide 

range of services to address the capacity 

and financing needs of 

MSME businesses. 

“The goal of Heritage Bank’s 

MSME offerings is to build a network 

of entrepreneurial leaders 

tions.” 

Managing Director/CEO, 

PayAttitude, Agada Akpochi, said the 

platform guarantees subscribers the 

confidence and comfort of successful 

mobile payment for goods and 

services at merchant locations at all 

times. 

He reiterated that challenges of 

telecommunication or unavailability 

of network in the merchant’s 

bank or the customer’s bank will no 

longer delay transactions. “With this 

solution, transactions are authorised 

offline up to the value of the 

customer‘s mobile wallet subscription 

with the bank. To guard against 

fraud or unauthorised use, 

PayAttitude transactions are Chip 

and Pin enabled and holder’s unique 

Pin must be entered on the acceptance 

device before transactions are 

approved. The PayAttitude tag is 

carried on the mobile phone and 

suits the lifestyle of mobile phone 

users, being convenient for retail 

transactions by tapping the phone 

against the PoS terminal,” he said. 

The Group Managing Director/ 

Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank, 

Bisi Onasanya, who spoke at the 

launch of the product, affirmed that 

no doubt Unified Payments and 

PayAttitude would redefine the domestic 

payments ecosystem that had 

been plague numerous challenges. 

The bank chief, represented by 

Executive Director, Lagos and 

Southwest, Francis Shobo, said the 

lender is working to provide dynamic 

and relevant solutions that 

will improve the lifestyle of its customers 

whilst ensuring the safety 

and security of their funds. 

He noted that with the developments 

in the electronic money industry, 

it became imperative for the 

payments industry to look inward 

27 

for a solution that will guarantee 

successful retail payments of Point 

of Sale (PoS) terminals without depending 

where online real-time 

communication is not required between 

the acceptance device and the 

customers’ accounts in the bank. 

“This novel solution is consistent 

with the rich pedigree of Unified 

Payments in providing leadership 

and innovation in payments. The 

PayAttitude tag card is ready to be 

issued in selected branches and 

would be deployed in all FirstBank 

locations in due course,” he further 

said. 

Heritage Bank promotes MSMEs’ development 

PRESIDENT/Chairman of 

Council, Chartered Institute 

of Taxation of Nigeria 

(CITN), Chief Mark Anthony Dike, 

has said the institute will not fail 

in its commitment to maintaining 

and sustaining the standard of taxation 

among its members. 

Speaking during the inauguration 

of the Tax Professionals’House in 

Lagos, at the weekend, he said the 

institute is also committed to promoting 

professional ethics and efficiency 

in tax administration and 

practice. 

The institute, he said, encourages, 

promotes and co-ordinates research 

•From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo; Chairman,Chief 

Christopher Ezeh; and Executive Director, Lagos and Southwest, Ikemuefuna Mbagwu at the signing of the bank’s 

N30 billion 16.48 per cent fixed rate bond due in 2022 in Lagos ... at the weekend. 

that will drive the growth of the 

sector. This would enhance the ability 

of the MSME sector to effectively 

play its role as the engine growth 

of the economy”, he said. 

Heritage Bank’s commitment to 

leadership building in the MSME 

sector is reflected in the bank’s SME 

Clinic. “The Heritage Bank SME 

Clinic is designed to enhance the 

entrepreneurial capacity of our SME 

customers. Through the Clinic, 

Heritage Bank understands the different 

aspects of the customer’s business 

in order to identify areas 

where it can add value. As a result 

we are able to develop customised 

products and services based on the 

identified needs of each SME customer,” 

Sekibo said. 

This, he added, is complemented 

with Heritage Governance Model, 

through which the lender introduces 

Corporate Governance 

Framework to its MSME customers. 

The phase one of the scheme 

focuses company secretary services; 

auditing and assurance; accounting 

services; and tax consultancy. These 

services, he said, are rendered to 

SME customers of the bank at 

subsidised fees by network of consultants. 

Heritage Bank also developed the 

Paris Club Scheme in partnership 

with RSL Derivatives Limited. This, 

he explained, is a credit enhancement 

scheme specially designed for 

SME’s to collectively help each 

other create a platform that will accelerate 

growth and give SME’s easy 

access to funding. 

The solution provides a platform 

for SMEs to adopt best practices in 

managing their businesses and also 

enable them to access loans from 

Heritage Bank without any hard 

core collateral. 

CITN promotes standard of taxation for members 

for the advancement of taxation 

practice and administration in the 

country. 

“Right from inception, the Institute 

had been carrying out its responsibilities 

and operations from 

rented offices. No doubt this had 

affected the expansion capacity of 

the Institute as we are always constrained 

to limit our operations 

within the confines of the available 

spaces. 

“In order to address this issue, 

successive leadership of the Institute 

strived as much as they could 

to secure a permanent secretariat 

complex for the Institute. I am 

pleased to inform you that it was 

the cumulative results of these efforts 

that has metamorphosed to 

this ultra-modern edifice, named 

“Tax Professionals’ House,” he 

said. 

Speaking further, he said the land 

upon, which the building is built 

was acquired in 2011, while construction 

commenced in the later 

part of 2011 and was scheduled to 

be completed within 24 months. 

But the set date was delayed by the 

need to obtain all necessary regulatory 

approvals for the building 

project. 

The five-storey edifice has a 

capital.” 

Sterling Bank’s first quarter results 

for 2015 show that it recorded a 

Profit After Tax (PAT) of N3.9 billion for 

the period, an increase of 25 per cent from 

the N3.1 billion recorded in the corresponding 

period of 2014. Profit Before 

Tax (PBT) also rose by 14.1 per 

cent from the N3.5 billion recorded 

in the same period last year to N4.0 

billion, while non-interest income 

grew by 31.9 per cent from N6.1 

billion to N8 billion. 

ground floor that houses the Library, 

a Hall for Training and other 

social events; administrative offices; 

and council chamber, committee 

room and executive offices. It also has 

two lifts, smoke detectors and fire alarm 

system, water treatment plants, sewage 

plants, one unit 400kva generator, and 

CCTV Surveillance System among others. 

He thanked the members of the Project 

Committee for a job well done. “It is 

on record that you selflessly and 

sacrificially gave your time and energy 

including your comfort when 

necessary to ensure that CITN has 

its own permanent office,” he said.

28 

EQUITIES 

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE 

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-04-14 


DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-04-14


EQUITIES 

Auditors worry over Nigerian Ropes’ N360.5m deficit 

By Taofik Salako 

Capital Market Editor 

at the weekend showed that while the 

company recorded a healthy top-line 

with almost 169 per cent growth in 

gross profit, increased operating and 

financing expenses reversed the topline 

gains. 

Turnover rose from N340.16 million 

in 2013 to N374.11 million in 2014. Cost 

of sales however declined from 

N292.12 million in 2013 to N244.7 million 

in 2014. This nudged the gross 

profit to N129.41 million in 2014 compared 

with N48.04 million in 2013. 

However, administrative expenses 

rose from N244.65 million in 2013 to 

N252.52 million in 2014 while distribution 

expenses jumped from N2.44 

million to N16.02 million. Finance costs 

doubled from N28.75 million in 2013 

to N59.18 million in 2014. 

With these, loss before tax stood at 

N190.64 million in 2014 as against 

N198.9 million in 2013. After taxes, net 

loss stood at N204.94 million. Nigerian 

Ropes’ total assets dropped from 

N737.09 million in 2013 to N709.02 

million in 2014 while total liabilities 

rose from N892.64 million to N1.07 

billion. 

The auditors were worried that the 

negative net capital, which resulted 

AUDITORS have expressed 

concerns over the growing 

negative net capital of Nige- 

Arian Ropes Plc as the construction company 

continued to reel under intense 

pressure from operating and financing 

costs. 

Audited report and accounts of Nigerian 

Ropes for the year ended December 

31, 2014 showed that the construction 

company recorded net loss 

of N204.94 million. It had lost N223.21 

million in 2013. This pushed the negative 

shareholders’ funds to N360.49 

million in 2014 as against N155.55 million 

in 2013. 

The latest earnings report obtained 

from accumulated losses in the general 

reserves, places the company’s 

survival on the generosity of its financiers. 

However, the directors of the 

company have allayed fear over its 

going concern status. The built-up 

losses in the general reserves rose from 

N401.60 million in 2013 to N606.55 

million in 2014. 

Nigerian Ropes’ short-term loans 

stood at N311.64 million in 2014 as 

against N382.25 million in 2013 while 

long-term borrowings stood at 

N148.08 million in 2014 compared 

with N145.5 million in 2013. 

Nigerian Ropes was one of the companies 

that were recently given dead- 

29 

lines by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) 

to restructure their issued share capital to 

dilute the existing concentrated 

shareholdings of the core investors and allow 

more investments from the general investing 

public. 

The companies were in violation of the 

listing requirement, which compels companies 

quoted on the main board of the NSE 

to ensure that a minimum of 20 per cent of 

its issued shares is in the hand of the general 

investing public. 

According to the report, Nigerian Ropes 

had 13.96 per cent float and was given a 

deadline of January 7, 2015 to complete the 

capital restructuring. The NSE has not published 

any new status review on public float 

of quoted companies. 

•From Left: Mrs. Taba Peterside, General Manager and Head, Listings Sales and Retention, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Business Development, 

NSE; Mallam Bello Maccido, Group Chie Executive Officer, FBN Holdings Plc and Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited during FBN Holdings' "Facts 

Behind the Figures" forum at the NSE in Lagos 

Nigerian equities lose N109b as investors await new govt 

N 

IGERIAN equities finally relapsed 

into the negative last 

week as anxious investors 

sought to streamline portfolios while 

awaiting the policy directions of the 

new government. Quoted equities sustained 

five consecutive days of decline 

last week as moderate selling pressure 

was exacerbated by low investors’ appetite. 

Average year-to-date return at the 

stock market closed weekend negative 

at -0.78 per cent. It had opened the week 

with a modest gain of 0.15 per cent. On 

the heels of the successful conduct of 

the March 28 presidential and national 

assembly elections, Nigerian equities 

had rallied substantially with average 

gain of more than 9.3 per cent in April. 

Month-on-month market analysis 

had shown that the stock market built 

on the positive momentum that trailed 

the successful conduct of the presidential 

and national assembly elections on 

March 28 and gubernatorial and state 

assemblies’ elections on April 11 to 

regain its upbeat. Aggregate market 

value of all quoted equities, which 

opened April at N10.718 trillion, closed 

the month at N11.787 trillion, representing 

a gain of N1.07 trillion, about 

9.97 per cent. The benchmark index for 

the Nigerian stock market, the All 

Share Index (ASI), also indicated a 

month-on-month average gain of 9.3 

per cent during the period, rising from 

the month’s opening index of 31, 744.82 

points to close at 34,708.11 points. The 

ASI, a value-based index, tracks the 

prices of all quoted companies and it 

is thus directly related to market sentiments. 

However, the market has shown 

tepid performance this month as investors 

worry over mixed earnings 

reports and policy directions of the 

new government. Aggregate market 

value of all quoted equities dropped 

last week by N109 billion to N11.678 

trillion as against its week’s opening 

value of N11.787 trillion. The ASI also 

•FBN Holdings’ shareholders get 3.26b bonus shares 

indicated a week-on-week decline of 

0.92 per cent to close at 34,388.21 points 

compared with its opening index of 

34,708.11 points. The decline was due 

entirely to depreciation in share 

prices. 

Price analysis showed that 45 stocks 

depreciated while 32 stocks recorded 

various gains. A total of 116 stocks 

closed flat. 

Total turnover stood at 1.58 billion 

shares worth N20.15 billion in 23,279 

deals, indicating increased level of 

activity against total turnover of 1.17 

billion shares valued at N11.96 billion 

that were traded in 17,769 deals 

two weeks ago. 

Financial services sector accounted 

for about 69 per cent of aggregate 

turnover volume with a turnover of 

1.09 billion shares valued at N8.99 

billion in 13,220 deals. Conglomerates 

sector followed with a turnover 

of 227.84 million shares worth 

N920.62 million in 1,082 deals. Consumer 

goods sector placed third 

with a turnover of 121.86 million 


deals. 

The trio of United Bank for Africa 

Plc, Transnational Corporation 

of Nigeria Plc and Access Bank 

Plc were the most active stocks, 

jointly accounting for 678.96 million 


deals, representing 42.85 per cent and 

16.11 per cent of the total equity turnover 

volume and value respectively. 

Also traded during the week were a 

total of 1.39 million units of Exchange 

Traded Products (ETPs) valued at 

N31.49 million executed in 47 deals 

compared with a total of 11,737 units 

valued at N1.799 million traded in 15 

deals two weeks ago. 

On the debt market, a total of 4,569 

units of Federal Government Bonds 

valued at N4.97 million were traded 

in two deals last week compared with 

a total of 330 units of Federal Government 

Bonds valued at N370,698.04 

traded in two deals two weeks ago. 

Meanwhile, a total of 3.26 billion 

ordinary shares of 50 kobo each were 

added to the outstanding shares in the 

name of FBN Holdings last week. The 

supplementary listing was due to a 

bonus issue of one for 10 shares declared 

by the board of the company. 

The new listing raised FBN Holdings’ 

total outstanding shares to 

about 35.9 billion ordinary shares of 

50 kobo each. 

“The development in the markets 

reflects the mixed corporate earnings 

performance of quoted companies 

and the conflicting macroeconomic 

signals which leave investors at sea 

regarding market direction and appropriate 

investment decisions. 

Headwind factors of rising consumer 

prices, fiscal austerity and consequent 

weaker consumer spending powers, 

as well as uncertain fiscal direction 

of political transition have veiled the 

improving dynamics in the polity 

and commodity prices,” analysts at 

Afrinvest Securities stated in their 

weekly market review. 

According to analysts, the modulation 

the markets await is a successful 

transition to a new government 

on May 29 and more importantly, a 

stable fiscal environment which is 

consequent on the policy pronouncements 

of the incoming government. 

Analysts noted that while the risk 

factors are evident, recent positive 

signals indicate a short to medium 

term attractive valuations for securities. 

However, analysts said the sustained 

decline last week might give 

way to a modest rebound this week 

as bargain-hunters return to take advantage 

of undervalued stocks. 

“We anticipate a likely rebound in 

the market in the week ahead, albeit 

marginally, given sustained improvement 

in global oil prices and 

relatively cheap valuation of key 

counters in the market. Therefore, 

we advise investors to take strategic 

position in fundamentally sound 

stocks,” Afrinvest stated. 

Union Bank focuses on retail business to drive growth 

U 

NION Bank of Nigeria (UBN) 

Plc would focus on growing 

and optimising its retail bank- 

ing business in the months ahead in 

order to sustain overall growth and 

deliver better return for the current financial 

year. 

In a strategy preview for the remaining 

three quarters, the management 

of the bank said the focus going forward 

will be on retail banking and cost 

efficiency. 

Managing director, Union Bank of 

Nigeria (UBN) Plc, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, 

said the bank had focused on delivering 

critical operational and technology 

initiatives in the first quarter of this 

year, including completion of its migration 

to Oracle Flexcube UBS 12.0. 

He noted that the migration to Oracle 

Flexcube UBS 12.0, the latest version 

of the Flexcube banking platform, is 

expected to eliminate previous system 

redundancies and enable faster customer 

service and turnaround times 

in the branches once full integration 

has been achieved by mid-year. 

“Going into the rest of the year, as 

our new platform enhances efficiencies, 

the bank will focus on growing 

the retail business with a revamped 

product portfolio, enhanced marketing 

communication and an evolving 

branch network, which will include 

four of our, high-tech, self-service 

banking centers, Bank of the Future 

(BOTF). At our BOTF centers, customers 

can open and fund their accounts 

instantly using self-service kiosks 

and ATMs, and also get product information 

and one-on-one customer 

service using interactive screens,” 

Emuwa said. 

He pointed out that the bank had 

started this year on a strong footing 

with 13 per cent growth in gross earnings 

and 11 per cent increase in profit 

before tax. 

Chief financial officer, Union Bank 

of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, Mrs. Oyinkan 

Adewale said the first quarter performance 

was a further demonstration 

that the bank would continue to translate 

its operational efficiency improvements 

into strong financial results. 

She added that the bank would continue 

to focus on sustaining the positive 

trend in its cost to income ratio, 

while utilizing the balance sheet more 

efficiently to take advantage of opportunities 

in defined segments of the 

economy where it expects to see increased 

activity this year. 

Interim report and accounts of the 

bank for the first quarter ended March 

31, 2015 showed profit before tax of 

N4.9 billion as against N4.45 billion 

recorded in comparable period of 

2014. Total comprehensive income 

also rose by 17 per cent from N4.8 

billion in first quarter 2014 to N5.6 

billion by first quarter 2015. 

The bank’s balance sheet size inched 

up to N957 billion by March 2015 as 

against N921 billion recorded by the 

end of the year ended December 31, 

2014. Net loans and advances also rose 

by 16 per cent N350.1 billion by March 

2015 as against N302.4 billion in December 

2014. Customer deposits grew 

by six per cent to N539.4 billion in March 

2015 as against N507.4 billion by December 

2014.

30 

ISSUES 


To take storage 

and marketing 

burden off farmers, 

and ensure 

availability of raw 

materials for 

manufacturers, 

experts are calling 

for the 

re-introduction of 

Commodity 

Boards. Coming at 

a time the Federal 

Government is 

focusing on the 

non-oil sector to 

diversify the 

economy, this 

could be the tonic 

to stimulate the 

growth of the 

agricultural and 

industrial sectors, 

writes Assistant 

Editor OKWY 

IROEGBU- 

CHIKEZIE 

F 

OR operators in the manufacturing 

and agricultural sectors, particularly 

farmers, fear of post-harvest 

losses is the beginning of wisdom. Many 

of them have had their fingers burnt after 

suffering heavy losses as a result of the 

absence of storage facilities for agricultural 

products after harvest. 

Not a few experts believe that losses recorded 

by farmers can be greatly minimised 

if the government can buy the excess 

farm produce from farmers through 

the Commodity Board to stabilise prices 

and also avoid losses due to the absence 

of storage facilities to store harvest products. 

President, Lagos Chamber of commerce 

and Industry (LCCI), Alhaji Remi Bello, 

is one of them. While throwing his weight 

behind the reproduction of Commodity 

Boards, he recalled that Commodity 

Board, at the best of times, promoted the 

production of quality produce to meet 

with the quality standards of manufacturers 

and encouraged raw material availability 

for industries. He said the nation 

is in the woods because of poor attention 

paid to agriculture and local food processing 

due to poor storage and poor quality 

produce. 

To underscore his call for the return of 

Commodity Board, Bello narrated his 

experience “When the government encouraged, 

for instance, the planting of cassava 

l plunged into it, but because l had 

no space to store produce, I stopped. If l 

had a place to store my produce until the 

selling price is good, I would have continued 

with the business, but because the 

Commodity Board regime has been 

stopped, the business collapsed,” he said. 

The LCCI chief argued that glut is not 

good for any business. “It is only when 

you have good price that the business will 

be sustainable,” he emphasised, blaming 

the discontinuation of the Board on abuse 

of the process. Besides, the aim of the pro- 

•Cocoa House 

Why Commodity 

Boards may return 

gramme was frustrated by operators, a situation 

that left government with no option 

but to suspend it. He recalled that Commodity 

Board, at its height of glory, regulated 

the price of produce, ensured quality of products 

to meet the specification of manufacturers 

both locally and internationally to get 

the desired output. 

Public Affairs Consultant, A.G. Leventis 

Group, Mr. Mahmud Othman, also said the 

Commodity Board recorded some achievements 

when it was operational. He said, for 

instance, that the board as a government 

agency, had checks and balances; it guaranteed 

multiple buyers from all over the 

world and ensured standards and rules of 

• Continued on page 31


31 

ISSUES 

Why Commodity Boards may return 

•Continued from page 30 

engagement accepted world-wide. 

Othman relieved the success of the Northern 

Nigeria Marketing Board and the Cocoa 

Board in the Southwest, which helped farmers 

to produce agricultural products, liaise 

with foreign buyers and guaranteed standard 

graded products. He said Commodity 

Board in its hey days ensured that farmers 

produced cash crops to standard specification 

of countries who bought different farm 

produce according to their needs. 

“The boards set prices for the three different 

grades of produce, grade 1 -3 and there 

was no case of sub-standardisation of products 

from the country because from the onset 

the parameters are set,” he recalled. 

Othman further noted that the Commodity 

Board served both the seller and the 

buyer. “The seller is exposed to the international 

market and encouraged to produce to 

global standards through government assistance 

in terms of training, ready market, 

equipment acquisition, quality specifications 

and standards. On the other hand, the buyer 

is assured of quality produce and sustainable 

supply. He is also sure that he will not 

be cheated by spurious sellers,” he explained. 

Othman, who made a case for the return of 

Commodity Board, pointed out that those 

who are against its re-introduction citing 

corruption of the process by the operators, 

should have a rethink. He said with a focused 

government determined to deliver on 

its mandate, the issue of corruption of the 

system would be eradicated. He cited what 

happened during the Buhari/Idiagbon military 

era when price control boards arrested 

and tried petty traders who sold above the 

regulated price of milk and other provisions. 

He said if the leadership in the centre was 

sincere there was nothing it set out to achieve 

that it couldn’t achieve. 

A policy and economic analyst, Mr. Bala 

Zakka, also lend his voice to the call for the 

return of Commodity Board. According to 

him, an arrangement that allows the government 

buy the excess farm produce from 

farmers through the Commodity Boards to 

stablise prices and also avoid losses remains 

a win-win for both government and farmers. 

He noted that the arrangement would 

not only move the agricultural sector forward 

but also encourage the growth of Small 

and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). 

Govt muted the idea 

The renewed clamour for the return of 

commodities marketing boards enjoys the 

support of the Federal Government. Recall 

that Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, 

Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, earlier 

hinted that the Federal Government intended 

to re-introduce commodities marketing 

boards to ensure that farmers got adequate 

prices for their products. 

At the opening session of the Growth Enhancement 

Support (GES) for registered cocoa 

farmers in Ondo State recently, the minister 

said the board would be private sectordriven 

and would perform all the functions 

that the defunct marketing board performed 

before it was scrapped in 1986, except buying 

and selling. Adesina said the GES was 

initiated to remove middlemen from the sale 

and distribution of fertiliser and chemicals. 

The Minister noted with concern that marketing 

of agricultural produce had become 

an all comers’ affair since the scrapping of 

the cocoa marketing board. The development, 

he said, had left farmers at the mercy 

of merchants. He said the government 

would start the programme with two commodities 

boards of cocoa and cassava, adding 

that some foreign experts had been invited 

based on their experiences on the 

project. 

How the boards operated 

• Bello 

•Mrs Akande 

•Othman 

‘Through the 

establishment of 

commodity boards 

needed infrastructure 

will also be established 

in rural areas especially 

those where the cash 

crops are grown and 

packaged. The 

agricultural sector will 

thrive more and more 

jobs created if the 

sector is made 

attractive for 

youngpeople and fresh 

graduates who see 

farming as odious and 

not attractive’ 

‘The boards set prices for the three different 

grades of produce, grade 1 -3 and there was no 

case of sub-standardisation of products from 

the country because from the onset the 

parameters are set’ 

Commodity Marketing Boards were established 

in 1977 by the Federal Military Government 

under the Ministry of Agriculture 

and Cooperatives to take care of specific 

crops such as cocoa, rubber, roots and tubers, 

etc Food imports were limited, but crop 

production for exports was intensified during 

the period of liberalisation. There were 

six Commodity Boards. They include Nigerian 

Cocoa Board, Nigerian Groundnut 

Board, Nigerian Cotton Board, Nigerian 

Palm Produce Board, Nigerian Rubber Board, 

and Nigerian Grains Board.Their headquarters 

were located in Ibadan, Kano, Funtua, 

Calabar, Benin, and Minna. 

These Boards interfaced with farmers and 

brought stability in their operations and also 

served as interventionist agencies, especially 

for cash crop farmers, ensuring that their 

produce were bought from them by government. 

This is to control the prices. In some 

other cases the Board arranged overseas trading 

partners to buy the produce as they ensured 

that it is produced to the highest quality 

and specification of the buyers. 

On its part, the government provided necessary 

tools, such as tractors, scale, jute bags 

and gamalin to treat pests in the farms to 

encourage small scale millers to farm and 

harvest with minimal loses. 

Agriculture extension workers were also 

used and young men and women given elementary 

training in the application of pesticides 

and fertiliser to both cash and arable 

crops. They were later deployed in the various 

farm settlements where they assisted 

rural farmers who largely toiled for subsistence. 

The initiative, no doubt, boosted produce 

and income to the farmers as well as the 

government, which was able to build infrastructure, 

such as roads, schools and health 

care facilities to make the transportation of 

products easier and ready for either local 

manufacturing or export. 

While these may have prompted renewed 

calls for the return of Commodity Board, 

there are those who do not support its reintroduction. 

For instance, while acknowledging 

that Commodity Board recorded 

some measurable success when it was operational, 

a former Minister of Industry, 

Chief Nike Akande said she prefers the incoming 

administration to fashion out a new 

policy that will not only enhance the productivity 

of farmers with all the benefits inherent, 

but also the manufacturing sector to 

have access to raw materials needed for the 

industries. 

Akande said she is an apostle of buy-Nigeria 

and that she promoted same as a minister. 

She, however, said she will prefer new 

ideas and innovations to move the nation 

forward without recourse to the past. 

For National Vice President, Nigerian Association 

of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, 

Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. 

John Udeagbala, the private sector is the engine 

of every economy and whatever that is 

needful to create an enabling environment 

should be done. He advised the government 

to work with the private sector before coming 

out with any policy, insisting that without 

the support of the private sector policies, 

no matter how attractive, would not 

work. 

He said the poor delivery of the out-going 

administration and by extension, the manufacturing 

sector, was largely because the organised 

private sector was not carried along 

in most of the policies rolled out for them. 

Boards as vehicle to boost 

industrialisation 

Since mid-last year when the price of crude 

oil started tumbling, causing major upsets 

in the nation’s finances, Federal Government’s 

new, strategic thinking has been to 

explore opportunities in the non–oil sector 

of the economy. The overall objective is to 

diversify the economy by reducing the country’s 

heavy dependence on proceeds from 

oil. To achieve this objective, experts say that 

agriculture must be accorded priority. Besides, 

there has to be massive investment in 

the export sector by ensuring that value is 

added to raw materials before exportation. 

This, The Nation learnt, is part of the 

planned integrated support for local manufacturing 

and by extension the agricultural 

sector. The idea is to stem wastages for farmers 

occasioned by the lack of storage facilities 

and also provide ready raw materials 

for local industries. 

To deliver on this overall objective, analysts 

and experts are now calling for the reintroduction 

of Commodity Board to serve 

as safety net where government will take 

the burden of storage and marketing from 

farmers while ensuring the steady inflow 

of locally available raw materials for the 

manufacturing sector. 

For farmers, a Commodity Board, according 

to experts, is particularly necessary. Their 

argument is that for the reforms in the agricultural 

sector to succeed, farmers need to be 

assured that whatever they produce will be 

taken up by the government, prices stabilised 

and wastages eliminated. They noted that the 

reform and sustenance of the Board is necessary 

to stimulate the chain of production from 

the farm to the markets. 

Besides, farmers need to be protected by 

the government against importers who will 

want to use the country as a dumping ground. 

They also need the support of a sophisticated 

engineering industry to produce the machines 

and equipment they need to guarantee 

the crops and livestock they grow to reach 

the high quality standards. 

Incidentally, this is where manufacturing 

comes in. To achieve all these, experts canvass 

for a robust policy for the manufacturing 

sector with strong emphasis on local content. 

This is why they urge the government 

to encourage the use of available local products 

in place of the imported alternatives. 

In such a scenario, the agricultural and the 

real sector will be revamped and the much 

needed foreign exchange will be earned as 

the international market would have confidence 

in dealing with a government agency 

rather than individuals. They will also be confident 

that the quality specification on the 

produce is real and not counterfeits. 

Through the establishment of commodity 

boards needed infrastructure will also be established 

in rural areas, especially those 

where the cash crops are grown and packaged. 

The agricultural sector will thrive more 

and more jobs created if the sector is made 

attractive for youngpeople and fresh graduates 

who see farming as odious and not attractive.


33

34 

BUSINESS 

MOTORING 


The new KIA Sorento assembled in Nigeria, is redesigned with a sleeker, more sculpted exterior; it has a wider stance and 

longer wheelbase for even more versatile cabin space with available seating for up to seven. Kia Motors Nigeria unveiled the 

Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) at the just concluded Lagos Motor Show last week. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports 

• KIA officials inaugurating vehicle 

KIA unveils locally 

assembled Sorento 

THE 2015 Sorento guarantees comfort. 

It has a spacious cabin with clean, 

modern styling. It is driver-focused, 

featuring a 14-way power-adjustable driver’s 

seat. From Nappa leather seat trim to the 

quality soft-touch materials, the Sorento is 

premium comfort everywhere you go. 

With a different beat, the KIA brand of 

vehicles has continued to exceed the 

expectations of customers in the world over, 

KIA Motors Nigeria has brought to the public 

and teeming customers the iconic all new 

2015 made-in-Nigeria Kia Sorento delivering 

on its promise to locally produced Kia 

vehicles in the country. 

For over a decade now, Kia has remained 

the leading Korean brand in Nigeria by 

offering the best in class cutting-edge 

technology at an affordable price. 

The all-new Sorento, showcased for the first 

time at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in October, 

has continued to reel in different awards 

globally for its outstanding and iconic 

automotive technology which include the 

prestigious iF product design award and 

reddot award 2015. The Sorento unites the 

classic poise of an SUV with a premium look 

and feel that is particularly tangible in the 

cabin. It offers the very highest design quality 

and excellent value for money. 

It is one highly stylised, modern utility 

vehicle with improved handling and dynamic 

power. 

With the available Dynamax All-Wheel- 

Drive (AWD) system, the Sorento delivers a 

smooth, refined drive even on rough roads. 

It presents two engine trims to fully customise 

your experience. Engines range from the fuelefficient 

2.4-liter 4-cylinder with its 

impressive performance to the 3.3-liter V6 

AWD which offers 5,000-pound towing 

capacity. 

The third-generation Sorento Sports Utility 

Vehicle (SUV) received the ‘Top Safety Pick’ 

award by achieving a ‘Good’ rating in every 

one of the IIHS’s demanding tests, thanks to 

an even stronger body shell and a wide array 

of passive and active safety equipment. 

This is the latest accolade from a globallyrespected 

crash safety organisation – the allnew 

Sorento has already been awarded the 

maximum five-star crash safety rating by Euro 

NCAP. The car’s passenger compartment 

came in for particular praise for remaining 

stable in the event of a collision, and offering 

good protection for passengers of different 

physiques, no matter where they were seated 

in the car. 

The Sorento is among the safest models in 

its class and received accolade from IIHS – a 

highly respected vehicle safety institution. 

Comparing the new Sorento to its 

predecessor, the mid-size SUV improved its 

‘Photochemical Oxidants Creation Potential’ 

(POCP) by nearly 13 per cent. POCP 

measures the amount of smog created by a 

vehicle’s manufacturing process and by the 

vehicle itself throughout its life. 

The new Kia Sorento is a stylish and 

practical SUV with exceptional versatility and 

practicality. The smoother, swept-back profile 

and deeply sculpted surfaces give the Kia 

Sorento a lithe, elegant appearance. The 

spacious interior follows the horizontal lines 

of the overall design concept and delivers a 

luxurious look and feel with top-quality 

materials throughout the cabin. 

The new Kia Sorento, which comes with 

seven seats, has a longer wheelbase and 

provides more passenger room than its 

predecessor. The luggage area is larger, and 

thanks to the sliding, 60:40-split seat row it is 

even more versatile, holding up to 1,732 litres. 

It has a powerful and efficient 270 ps engine 

with four-wheel drive fitted with Kia’s new 

Dynamax All-Wheel-Drive system with 

torque vectoring. High-tech specifications and 

a range of premium features including the 

rear camera and smart parking system that 

makes it easy to manoeuvre and park. Smart 

• The Sorento 

Key entry with Push Button Start makes it 

outstandingly easy to get in and drive the 

sporty Sorento. 

Mood lamp, led combination rear lamp and 

illuminated Door Scuff adds to the interior 

luxury feel of the SUV. Other unique features 

that make the Sorento stands out for other 

SUV in the country with its six speed 

automatic drive and a touch screen sound 

system with six premium surrounding 

speakers. Aligning with Nigeria’s densely 

populated urban centres that are 

characterised with traffic logjams; the 

Sorento Eco Mode helps minimise the fuel 

consumption. 

The structure of the new Sorento is 

significantly stronger, thanks in large part 

to the more widespread use of ultra-high 

tensile steel (UHTS). The previousgeneration 

model was made up of 24.4 per 

cent UHTS, while the body shell of the new 

model consists of 52.7 per cent UHTS, aiding 

the integrity of the car’s core structure in the 

event of an impact and also improving 

torsional rigidity by 14 per cent. 

The new Sorento also boasts a range of 

safety assistance technology. The new 

model’s standard-fit Vehicle Stability 

Management (VSM) system ensures the car 

remains stable when simultaneously 

braking and cornering, particularly on lowgrip 

surfaces, by carefully controlling both 

the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and 

electric motor-driven power steering. Both 

systems are activated as soon as the car’s 

sensors detect a loss in traction, helping the 

driver to remain safely in control of the 

vehicle.


THE NATION 

BUSINESS 

JOBS 

+ 

+QW21J 

VB NM. 

•Farm tractor...needs farm engineers 

The renewed focus on the agricultural sector will create job opportunities in various sections of 

the industry. But with the dearth of agricultural engineers, opportunities abound for this category 

of people, who are expected to play a pivotal role in the agricultural transformation initiative, 

writes MUYIWA LUCAS. 

Agric revolution opens opportunities 

eral aspects of farming and its allied sectors. 

For instance, in preparing the farmland 

for planting, soil engineers are useful, 

while fabrication engineer are required 

to produce farm tools and implements 

of the right dimension for harvesting 

to avoid loss of produce. They are 

equally an important part of the food industry 

as some work for processing companies 

to develop efficient processes for 

better products. 

There are five major areas of specialisation 

for agricultural engineers: farm structures, 

mechanical power, electrification, 

soil and water conservation, and food enfor 

engineers 

THESE are interesting times for agri 

cultural engineers in the country. 

The Agric Transformation Agenda 

(ATA), an important component of the 

Transformation Agenda of the outgoing 

President Goodluck Jonathan’s 

adminsitration, has given a new drive 

which has induced a push for modern and 

mechanised farming to ensure food security. 

The push for food security is however being 

threatened by the dearth of professionals 

such as agricultural engineers in 

the value chain. 

The engineers work on various areas of 

the sector, from production, to processing, 

packaging, land use, equipment construction 

and maintenance, seed improvement, 

biofuel development and many others. 

An agricultural engineer is involved in the 

production and processing of food commodities 

for national and international markets. 

He adds value to seeds for the production of 

goods for export, ensuring that they meet 

international standards. To achieve optimal 

performance, farmers acquire purpose-built 

machines, which can only be maintained by 

an expert. This equipment are used for canning, 

freezing and drying. Running these 

machines to attain the desired efficiencies 

requires the competencies of agricultural 

engineers. 

Beyond this, they analyse operations, new 

technologies and methods to increase yields, 

improve land use, and conserve resources, 

such as seed, water, fertilisers, pesticides and 

fuel amongst others. 

To this end, farmers and other stakeholders 

in the sector agree that more agricultural 

engineers are needed to help them adopt 

new farming practices and equipment usage. 

Agricultural engineers are useful in sev- 

•Continued on page 36


JOBS 

Agric revolution opens 

opportunities for engineers 


gineering. 

The revolution in the sector also 

comes with huge research works. 

Thus, institutions such as the Federal 

Institute of Industrial Research, 

Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos employ the 

services of agricultural engineers 

in its research and development 

unit. The institute, it was gathered, 

however, prefers employing Doctoral 

Degree (Ph. D) holders because 

such category of people are 

expected to provide solutions to a 

variety of problems through research. 

While the bulk of their 

work is in the laboratories, they 

also do outdoor work at times, visiting 

farms and rural areas. 

The demand for agric engineers is 

expectedly, encouraging more tertiary 

institutions to offer courses in 

the field, thereby trying to bridge 

the gap in the growing demand for 

specialists in the field. Most universities 

run a Bachelor of Science programme 

in agricultural engineering 

of five academic sessions during 

which the students are exposed to 

industrial training over a 12-month 

period. The training period is broken 

into three parts of first and second 

three months, and six months. 

The first industrial attachment is undertaken 

during the vacation period 

at the end of the second year. The 

second training comes during the vacation 

period at the end of the third 

year, while the last one is for six 

months, which starts at the beginning 

of the second semester of the 

fourth year and lasts till the beginning 

of the following academic session 

when the students return to 

school for their final year work. 

But stakeholders, experts and curriculum 

developers, have canvassed 

that because of the importance of the 

sector, and the strategic role of agric 

engineers, the course curriculum 

needs to be reviewed to expand the 

entrepreneurial potential of agricultural 

engineering graduates. 

The Managing Director, Beam Support 

Services, a firm of agricultural 

and farm input providers, based in 

Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mr. Morufu 

Siyanbade, noted that an agricultural 

engineer is at the heart of farming. 

According to him, farmers need the 

support of a sophisticated engineering 

industry to produce the machines 

and equipment they need to 

guarantee the crops and livestock 

they grow to reach the high quality 

standards they must achieve to get 

top market prices. Also, he said farm 

machinery and equipment manufacturers 

require engineers of the highest 

level with the right skills to deal 

with structures, mechanisms, control 

systems, hydraulics and electronics, 

as well as having an interest and 

appreciation of farming systems and 

other relevant industry sectors. This 

is because the design and operation 

of manufacturing systems used in 

•Minister of Agriculture and Rural 

Development,Dr.Akinwumi 

Adesina 

‘An agricultural engineer is at the heart of farming. Farmers need 

the support of a sophisticated engineering industry to produce 

the machines and equipment they need to guarantee the crops 

and livestock they grow to reach the high quality standards they 

must achieve to get top market prices’ 

• Supervising Minister of Labour 

and Productivity, Alhaji Kabiru 

Turaki 

the agricultural industry rely on 

sound engineering principles. 

This is why farm equipment making 

related firms look for engineers, 

who specialise in design, 

production and supply of quality 

machines and integrated systems 

processing of agricultural produce 

and waste materials. Some companies 

have equally developed systems 

for food processing, such as 

drying processes, distillation, or 

long term storage. In most instances, 

they work in close collaboration 

with farmers, visiting their 

farms, including crops and livestock 

farms, servicing a wide variety 

of related industries, as well as 

manufacturing concerns and governments. 

Most tasks of an agricultural engineer 

are completed outdoors, but 

there is office work, too. For instance, 

during the day, time is dedicated 

to designing projects, such as 

helping to plan a new type of grain 

silo, improving existing models of 

threshing equipment, or creating 

a new method of grain harvesting. 

There are agricultural engineers, 

who design animal housing units, 

or might work on bettering a 

slaughter-slab to make it more hygienic. 

Others test soil for chemicals, 

improve waste disposal and 

monitor water quality to ensure 

that natural resources are protected 

and not exploited. Some agricultural 

engineers work in universities, 

educating newcomers into the 

field, while others write for farming 

publications. There are more 

chances for agricultural engineers 

to travel to other countries where 

they can help give advice on farming 

practices and showcase their 

equipment. 

The Nigerian agricultural sector, 

Siyanbade said, provides ample opportunities 

for engineers, even 

though the current system of training 

agricultural engineers is inadequate 

for the sector’s potential for 

revenue creation or development 

of skills. 

And with many states striving towards 

increased agricultural 

mechanisation to boost food production, 

leading to demand for the 

latest technologies and innovations 

that improve farm operating 

efficiencies, the need for better coordination 

between agricultural 

engineering education and work 

cannot be over emphasised. 

Now, it is on record that one of 

the most important technological 

advances in agricultural engineering 

has occurred- the use of applied 

enzymes. Agricultural engineers 

use applied enzymes to make 

healthier food products. These are 

positive trends that are creating job 

opportunities for agricultural engineers, 

and which will continue 

to ensure that there is a huge demand 

for their services. 

MOVERS AND SHAKERS 

• Donahue 

CAREER MANAGEMENT 

WORKPLACE motivation is 

one of those interesting 

things. We think it should 

just drop out of the sky like magic 

but it never really does. We also 

don’t really think about how to create 

motivation for ourselves. 

However, we really can create it 

with the right tools. 

First, let’s get on the same page 

about what motivation is. Motivation 

is what causes you to take action. 

Clearly, you’re at work so you 

do have some motivation because 

your action is going to work and performing 

your job. What we are talking 

about is feeling engaged and inspired 

about the actions you do take. 

Let’s look at some of the tools you 

can use to get fully engaged and 

motivated in the workplace: 

Satcom Direct gets regional director 

By Olu Oyeniran 

Change 

There’s nothing like changing 

things to really get the juices going. 

You don’t want to change 

things just for the sake of changing; 

however, you want to change 

things that don’t work well. 

With that, you must have a vision 

of what the right outcome 

would be and then you apply your 

steps to create the action for change. 

Goals 

Many times, the lack of motivation 

is due to a lack of direction or 

goals. Sit down and figure out what 

would really get you up in the 

morning and make that your goal. 

Having a goal isn’t enough, 

though. It has to be a goal that you 

Satcom Direct, a provider 

of satellite voice 

and broadband data solutions 

for flight deck and 

cabin communications, has 

appointed Derek Donahue 

as Regional Director for Eastern 

Europe, Middle East and 

Africa (EEMEA). 

He is based in the Dubai, 

UAE office, and he assumes 

his new role immediately. 

He is responsible for managing 

the Satcom Direct offices 

in Moscow, Dubai, and Cape 

Town, in addition to marketing, 

sales, support and operational 

activities in the extended 

region of Eastern Europe, 

the Middle East and Africa. 

The Dubai office, which 

opened in2013, has built 

an impressive portfolio of 

elite clients across the 

Middle East from the 

VVIP, government and 

business aviation sectors 

who are using the full 

range of Satcom Direct 

products, technical training, 

support and satcom 

system consultation services. 

yearn for or have some emotions 

about. Once established, put together 

a plan for how you will 

achieve your goals. Keep in mind 

SMART for goals = Specific, Measurable, 

Actionable, Resonate, Time 

bounded if you really are going to 

shot for something worth having. 

Be accountable 

The vast majority of us want to 

do things but we’re really lazy 

about doing them. It’s often easier 

to diet or workout with someone 

because we have a person that is 

looking for us to perform. Find 

someone to hold you accountable 

to yourself and be willing to trade 

off the favor. 

In his new role, Donahue 

will continue to expand 

this region’s client base, in 

addition to strengthening 

Satcom Direct’s footprint 

in the emerging markets 

of Eastern Europe and Africa. 

“This is an exciting time 

for these regions. They 

each present their own set 

of opportunities and with 

Satcom Direct’s extensive 

product portfolio we can 

provide definitive solutions 

for each market. We 

focus on providing extensive 

support for our customers, 

having a local 

presence to support our 

global service means we 

can truly understand the 

customer’s requirements 

and meet their needs for 

airborne connectivity,” 

said Donahue on working 

in the region. 

Donahue will report into 

Chris Moore, chief commercial 

officer for Satcom 

Direct International, who 

said, “We are pleased to 

have a regional director 

with Derek’s capabilities 

Clean up your own internal litter 

We all have baggage, but sometimes 

we have so much of it cluttering 

up our life that it bogs us 

down and we fail to see what’s possible. 

Creating a clutter-free physical 

work environment also gives 

significant push to get on with 

work at hand. 

Surround yourself with the right 

people 

Yes, your mother was right… it 

is important to hang out with the 

right people. In this case, hang out 

with people who are inspired and 

motivated as it will be contagious. 

Research the issue 

Find out from others what motivates 

them. In the process, you may 

hear something that would really 

be great for you. Don’t be afraid to 

copy what works. 

leading our EEMEA region. 

The Middle East has 

embraced the Satcom Direct 

presence, and we expect 

to see exceptional 

growth with Derek at the 

helm.” 

Donahue was educated at 

University of Massachusetts, 

Boston and Eastern 

Florida State College 

where he graduated in 

Electrical Engineering. 

His experience supporting 

Satcom Direct with its international 

growth means 

he is well positioned to 

support Satcom Direct’s 

development in the 

EEMEA regions. 

Seven tips on creating workplace self-motivation 

Cop an attitude 

Motivation creates more motivation. 

Look for it and it will be there. 

We often get hung up about our ability 

to control things in the workplace. 

The one thing we can control is our 

attitude and approach to various 

workplace challenges. Change your 

perception or paradgme. You will see 

how things are different, even with 

the same facts! 

These tools for workplace motivation 

are simple to do which 

means there is nothing but you 

holding you up from trying them. 

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, 

EkiniConsult & Associates. 

He can be reached on 

Jobsearchhow.com.ng 

Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).


THE CEO 

How can banks 

achieve results and 

enhance profit? It is 

by improving their 

risk management 

framework, says 

Taiwo Otiti, Country 

General Manager for 

IBM West Africa, 

covering Nigeria, 

Ghana, Sierra Leone 

and other emerging 

markets in 

Anglophone West 

Africa, in this 

interview with 

COLLINS NWEZE. 

‘Banks need good risk controls’ 

37 

IBM recently hosted a ‘Solution Jam in 

Lagos’, which attracted banks, financial 

sector regulators and other stakeholders. 

What was it all about? 

The ‘Solution Jam’ was all about banking 

in Nigeria. We did a banking day for 

stakeholders. There were different topics we 

wanted to bring to bear, especially for risk 

managers or people in risk control/internal 

control units in the banking sector, who 

manage risk basically. 

There are different types of risks we manage 

around the world, such as credit risk, 

and controls. We are not just managing controls, 

but having the ability to put processes 

in place to achieve best results. We are also 

putting in risk management framework in 

place in terms of consultancy. When you put 

that framework in place, then how do you 

put in tools to manage and control those 

risks? And then, what are the tools you need 

to manage these risks going forward, and 

also ensure that from Basel II and Basel III 

point of view, which are international standards, 

and also localising certain things that 

are our own type of risks? How do you manage 

systems that monitor it, take data from 

all works of the organisation from treasury, 

to operations, to risk management, to general 

services and assets to Information Technology 

risk, and to credit risk, like loan defaults, 

to policies in place. And also how do 

you monitor those policies? 

Now, is it just about guiding the banks or 

there are technologies, or solutions, that 

need to be deployed to achieve the best results? 

They are. Besides, it is not just about technology, 

but adding that framework. Otherwise 

why are you automating, when you 

don’t have a framework? It means you are 

saying, in terms of our risk appetite, our 

default rate on a particular loan type, must 

not go beyond this point. So, those are 

framework you have to put in place because, 

not adhering to them will affect your capital 

at the end of the day. Again, besides, the 

fraud happening in your branches, how do 

you mitigate and put a process around them? 

So, we take feeds from everywhere and put 

thresholds and rules in those systems. Banks 

are big now, and you cannot throw bodies 

at them, you have to throw automation. You 

start with a framework, and based on that 

framework, you put systems, controls and 

procedures around it. 

What exactly are you doing with the banks? 

It is not just banks. Good risks and controls 

are not just for banks. They are also for regulators 

that manage their own industries. For 

instance, we are talking about how does the 

Central Bank of Nigeria manage risks? How 

does Nigeria Interbank Settlement System 

manage risks? Even when you go into manufacturing, 

they are also risks, they also have 

their own type of framework based on the 

kind of business they do. 

Are you incorporating risk management 

frameworks into the concerned companies? 

We work with them, because we also have 

a consulting arm. We look at the automated 

• Otiti 

tools that will help you do those things and 

ask what are the business processes 

reengineering that you might do, that will 

help the organisation better mitigate some 

of those risks? 

The equipment is basically what you use 

to do your business. For instance, in a risk 

policy you might say, you want bulletproof 

doors in your branches to mitigate against 

armed robbery. Those are some of the framework 

we can develop. 

What is the feedback from banks, regulators 

and other stakeholders you are selling 

the idea to? 

It is part of international standards and rating 

agencies also look at some of those 

framework. Where you don’t have a framework, 

they score you low. Now, lets go to 

the telecom industry. Are there specific issues 

you are addressing in that sector? In the 

sector we do things like revenue assurance, 

where you just not look at processes, but at 

how do we get data out of cell sites, switches 

and co, to see what is going on around people. 

For instance, if you make a call now, 

and someone clones same number and starts 

getting your calls, we have ability to block 

such numbers. 

Does it mean that when we see such occurrences, 

it is not system failure but interference 

with the system? 

It is not about interference. There are syndicates 

whose work is to deploy technology 

into cloning numbers. So, we used to see 

that in the era of 090, but the GSM is a bit 

more sophisticated, but remember you can 

port the number from one SIM to the other. 


38 

THE CEO 


‘Banks 

need good 

risk 

controls’ 


Sometimes, it is internal fraud. We have the 

ability to find out who primed or moved 

that particular SIM. So, we are able to stop 

that internal fraud emanating from people 

embedded in the organisation. 

Is it similar to what happens when Automated 

Teller Machine (ATM) cards are 

cloned? 

There is no cloning of ATM cards, most of 

them are internal fraud that happens when 

someone primes a card, and attaches it to an 

account number. That is it. A lot of issues in 

Nigerian banking are internal. But we can 

also, based on our analytics and tools, know 

who did what. Sometimes, they steal people’s 

identities to do it, but we can also see 

who primed that card, because the laws are 

there. 

Why do you think that Nigerian companies 

need IBM? 

I think we are very different from others, 

the way we are set up. We do consultancy 

and IT services management.We can run 

your hardware, and have a lot of hardware 

that fit into key sectors of the economy. We 

run major infrastructure. We have massive 

knowledge in different matters, and we are 

much more wider. We also do a lot of research 

and development. Again, hard ware 

is jut about 10 per cent of our income now. 

We are much wider. 

What roles can big data play in the 

globalised world? 

With big data, you can predict if one can 

default in loans or not based on previous 

actions. Human beings are always evolving, 

but based on things you are seeing, 

you can adjust your risk appetite. Analytics 

allow you to have a better view of customers 

and because you can understand 

this, you can develop a suitable products 

and services. 

Data has always been there, but it has to 

be well utilised. Data is the next resource 

that will drive the global economy. The 

challenge here is that we have not started 

mining data. IBM’s ambition in Nigeria is 

to help government to better manage data 

that will help companies grow. Data storage 

is also key. Decision should be driven 

by data. If you don’t have data on how you 

run your businesses, you are likely to 

make mistakes. 

The ability to access and make sense of 

huge volumes of information, often in realtime, 

is fuelling the Big Data phenomenon 

and transforming every industry, government, 

profession and society. All kinds of 

previously unattainable data sources are 

helping clients transform their operations. 

IBM customers can now take advantage 

of mobile analytics today via the cloud to 

give front-line employees — who are inundated 

with information but often lack 

business insight – the collaborative tools 

to help them make better decisions. 

There is a CBN policy specifying that 

bank customers travelling abroad should 

inform their banks, especially when they 

want to use their electronic cards in those 

countries. How do you see the policy, and 

does it intend to check fraud? 

Yes. You know that standards for cards in 

the world are different. For Europe and 

most of Africa, they are using the chipbased 

cards. Go to America, it is magstripe 

which is susceptible to fraud because it can 

be easily cloned. 

So, what they have done is set up security 

operating centres, saying that if a transaction 

comes from this region, if I have not 

told my bank that I am going to that region, 

block that transaction and contact us. 

Basically, it is to mitigate fraud. When 

Europe was on the magstripe, there was a 

tremendous amount of fraud in the card 

sector. Those frauds have moved to 

America, and America has started to 

change their system, because it is very expensive 

for them to change their system. 

They have started the process. That is why 

• Otiti 

the banks are now saying tell us that you 

are going somewhere. The most intelligent 

of banks will not bother you when you go 

into a place where they are using chip and 

pin. Some banks, once they see it is a 

magstripe transaction, they will stop it. It 

is actually to protect you. 

There was a customer, who did transaction 

in the US, and immediately, he made 

payment, within 24 hours, more than N1 

million was taken from his account by 

fraudsters. What do you think might have 

happened? 

It is because they are using magstripe. 

There are many unresolved cases. The 

magstripe can be easily cloned, but we are 

using chip and pin. Although Nigeria uses 

chip and pin, but when you travel to 

America, you are using magstripe, because 

you are there. When you do a transaction 

in Nigeria, it is chip and pin, but when 

you travel, say to the United States, it is 

magstripe, because the transaction centre 

uses magstripe. Magstripe will eventually 

go away, that is why people are saying, 

inaugurate security operating centre, so 

that you monitor where the cards are used. 

If it comes from American geography, or 

certain geography where they are using 

magstripe, stop it. Some people say, they 

don’t care if it is a chip and pin, or 

magstripe, just tell us you have gone to 

Dubai, or any country, if you do not tell 

us, we are not going to approve the transactions 

you do in those countries. 

What do the banks do when you tell them? 

They just unlock the block because it is 

an anti-money laundering software monitoring 

processes. 

Money laundering is rampant in Nigeria 

because of corruption. Is there something 

your company is doing to assist the government 

or other stakeholders put a check 

on it? 

I don’t believe that it is only in Nigeria 

that money is laundered. I think the issue 

in Nigeria is that we are just turning a blind 

eye to it. Look at Nigeria Financial Intelligence 

Unit (NFIU) and Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission (EFCC) and 

‘There is no cloning of ATM cards, most of 

them are internal fraud that happens when 

someone primes a card, and attaches it to an 

account number. That is it. A lot of issues in 

Nigerian banking are internal. But we can 

also, based on our analytics and tools, know 

who did what. Sometimes, they steal people’s 

identities to do it, but we can also see who 

primed that card, because the laws are there’ 

data collection, those data on daily basis 

go to banks and EFCC. Every bank has a 

limit and the system downloads all suspicious 

transactions which are electronically 

sent to EFCC and CBN. It is just for us to 

start doing enforcement. It is for us to put 

analytics on all those data. You can see the 

trend. 

You have to understand that banks are 

constantly evolving, and we can see a trend 

in social media, everyone wants to bank 

online. We need to unify a lot of things 

like setting of Interswitch. Banks can compete, 

but need to put achieve system 

interoperability. 

What is IBM’s investment on big data 

like? 

IBM has invested $24 billion to expand 

its Big Data & Analytics portfolio through 

R&D and acquisitions, and underscores 

the vital role that the Big Data phenomenon 

continues to play in transforming 

industries and professions. 

It’s estimated that 2.5 quintillion bytes of 

data are created every day from sources 

such as email, posts to social media sites, 

digital pictures and videos. At the same 

time data is exploding, mobile devices 

have become much more pervasive. 

IBM customers are taking advantage of 

mobile analytics today via the cloud to 

give front-line employees — who are inundated 

with information but often lack 

business insight – the collaborative tools 

to help them make better decisions. Staying 

on top of processes, having the relevant 

information at hand, and soliciting feedback 

from others are time consuming tasks 

– and in a traditional environment, this 

may take days or even weeks to accomplish. 

IBM is poised to win in the Emerging Big 

Data Market even as the market for data 

and analytics is estimated at $187 billion 

by 2015. Big data and analytics serves as 

the “silver lining” of IBM’s core business 

initiatives today it’s woven throughout our 

entire portfolio of products, services and 

industry expertise. 

In fact, business analytics is now nearly 

a $16 billion business for IBM. You may 

recall that was the original target for 2015, 

but IBM has already taken our 2015 objective 

for business analytics revenue up to 

$20 billion. 

More than $24 billion invested to date to 

build IBM’s capabilities in Big Data and 

analytics, including $7 billion in organic 

investments and $17 billion of gross spent 

on more than 30 acquisitions. 

What is IBM’s view on cyber security as 

it relates to risk management? 

Cyber security is just one of the risks that 

you have to manage. Because if you start 

having leakages through cyber it will 

negatively impact on your image, and a 

reputational risk. We are one of the biggest 

companies in terms of security in the 

world. 

The explosion of data in the global world 

is real. To what extent is that happening in 

Nigeria and are there ways to check it and 

what measures are needed to address the 

challenge? 

I think it is already happening in Nigeria. 

The thing is how do we capture the data 

and start making sense out of it. The thing 

is what are they saying about my banks 

and what do I do about it? Banks can begin 

to interpret information and make insights 

out of it will do better. There is need for 

banks to embrace corporate governance 

and good internal processes. 

Several people still want to do online 

banking but for the rate of breaches. What 

do banks need to do to achieve the desired 

trust? 

Education is needed. Some of the banks 

are using secured token, and you cannot 

remove money without the secured token. 

If you write your password somewhere 

where people can see it and also place your 

secured token carelessly, people can take 

your money and there is nothing any bank 

can do. You put yourself at risk and not 

the bank. 

So, there are various checkpoints that 

banks have put in to mitigate fraud. But it 

is also dependent on their customer to safeguard 

his information. 

But, as I told you, some of the risks you 

are seeing, are also internally generated 

from the banks themselves. If a syndicate 

infiltrate a bank, it is possible that they 

link your account to someone else’s profile 

and do the transactions. But if you have 

the right systems in place, you can mitigate 

around that. We have solutions that 

ensure you don’t move money within internal 

accounts.


Taxation 

Administration of withholding tax (11) 

39 

HE organizations making the payments are required 

to withhold tax from such payments and 

pay over the withheld amounts to their respective Trelevant Tax Authorities within 30days of receipt of payment 

or credit by the person or entity suffering the Tax. 

The relevant tax authorities to receive the WHT tax transactions 

made by companies is FIRS and for individuals and 

unincorporated bodies subject to Rules of Residence is SIRS 

or FIRS. 

PERSON LIABLE TO DEDUCT WITHHOLDING TAX 

The payer of withholding tax in respect of any of the activities 

covered under the withholding tax regime shall include 

company (Corporate or non-corporate), Government 

Ministries and Department, Parastatals, Statutory bodies, 

Institutions and other established organization approved 

for the operations of Pay As you Earn System. 

WHO IS TAXABLE 

• All Persons, Companies etc. who’s Incomes are liable to 

income tax, are subject to Withholding Tax. 

• However, exempt entities like Educational Institutions, 

Government Ministries, Parastatals and other Agencies of 

Government, are Agents for the collection of WHT. They are 

required to deduct WHT on any payment made to a taxable 

body and remit same to the relevant tax authority. 

WITHHOLDING TAX IMPLICATION ON FOREIGN 

TRANSACTIONS 

Non Resident Companies/Enterprises 

The Revenue practice is that non-resident companies are 

not empowered to deduct any type of WHT. These categories 

of enterprises are practically outside the regulatory 

monitoring and control of the FIRS. It will be impracticable 

for Revenue office to inspect the accounting books of these 

companies in order to confirm due deduction and remittance 

of WHT. 

Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) 

Transactions that are ordinarily not liable to tax in Nigeria 

are not liable to WHT in Nigeria. Thus contracts and 

supplies of goods and services performed entirely outside 

Nigeria by non-resident individuals are not liable to WHT. 

Nigeria has treaty agreements with about eight (8) countries 

and these countries are granted a reduced rate of WHT 

deduction, usually at 75% of the generally applicable WHT 

rate. 7.5%. These countries include UK, Northern Ireland, 

Canada, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and 

Romania. 

PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT (PE) PRINCIPLE EX- 

ISTS UNDER NIGERIA TAXATION 

The rules construe a PE where: 

• The company has a ‘‘fixed base’’ in Nigeria. 

• The company operates in Nigeria through a dependent 

agent authorized to conclude contracts or deliver goods on 

its behalf, 

• The company is executing a turnkey project in Nigeria, 

or 

• The operation between the company and its Nigeria 

affiliate does not appear to be at arm’s length. 

• ‘‘Fixed base’’ implies some degree of permanence and 

will include: 

• Facilities, such as a factory, office, branch, mine, oil or 

gas well 

• Activities, such as building, construction, assembly or 

installation 

• Provision of services in connection with the activities 

listed above. 

PRINCIPLES OF PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT 

• The rules construe a Permanent Establishment where: 

• The company has a ‘‘fixed base’’ in Nigeria. 

• The company operate in Nigeria through a dependent 

agent authorized to conclude contracts or deliver goods on 

its behalf, 

• The company is executing a turnkey project in Nigeria, 

or 

• The operation between the company and its Nigeria 

affiliate does not appear to be at arm’s length. 

‘‘Fixed base’’ implies some degree of permanence and will 

include: Facilities, such as a factory, office, branch, mine, oil 

or gas well Activities, such as building, construction, assembly 

or installation Provision of services in connection with 

the activities listed above. 

OTHER TYPES OF INCOME NOT LIABLE TO WHT 

• Companies operating within the Free Trade Zones/Export 

Processing Zones 

• Insurance premium 

• Turnover/Income from Dealership or Distributive trade 

• Telephone Bills are not subject to WHT 

APPLICATION OF WITHHOLDING TAX 

Sections of CITA and PITA that provides for the deduction 

of withholding tax at the applicable rates below. 

Types of payment 

Applicable rates 

Companies Individual 

Dividends, Interest, Rent 10% 10% 

Directors Fees 10% 10% 

Royalties 15% 15% 

Commission, Consultation, 10% 5% 

Technical, Service Fees 

Management fees 10% 5% 

Construction/Building Contracts 5% 5% 

Contracts, other than outright sales 

and purchase of goods in the 

ordinary course of business 5% 5% 

Returns & Remittance 

Tax Returns are filed monthly with evidence of remittance 

and a detailed schedule of taxable transactions. 

Submitted schedule should show the following details: 

Name of supplier Address Nature of Invoice payment 

Amount Rate @ Y% Tax 

Service Date Date 

• Returns for corporate suppliers should be filed within 

21 days from end of month of transactions. 

· Returns for non –corporate suppliers should be filed 

within 30 days from end of month of transaction. 

• In practice, tax returns are filed in the same month they 

occur. 

• Tax deducted should be remitted to the revenue in exchange 

for a receipt of payment. 

• Tax is payable in the currency of the qualifying transaction. 

Following payment and filing of returns, the revenue processes 

credit notes for the suppliers on whose income tax was 

deducted. 

• Credit notes can be used in applying for tax credit against 

current and future tax liabilities (i.e. where it is not final tax) 

• Remittances are due to either federal or state tax authorities. 

Remittances due to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS): 

• Corporate entities, 

• Non-resident individuals, 

• Members of the armed forces and police, 

• Resident of Abuja, 

• Foreign officers. 

Remittances due to state internal revenue service (SIRS): 

• All other individuals / partnerships resident in the state. 

• PAYMENT ON CURRENCY 

Section 64B of CITA empowers the tax authority that withheld 

tax must be remitted to the tax authority in the currency 

in which the deduction was made. This means that 

transactions made in foreign currency are to be remitted in 

the same currency and that the tax so withheld is to be remitted 

in the same currency. Simultaneously penalty for 

default would also be calculated in the same currency. 

• HOW TO CLAIM WITHHOLDING TAX CREDIT 

(CREDIT NOTES) 

A taxpayer from whom tax has been withheld is expected 

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Samuel Ogungbesan 

to gain withholding tax credit notes from the relevant tax 

authority via the deducting organization. All withheld taxes 

are forwarded to the tax authority, which in turn records the 

credit against the tax payer’s account, with a schedule containing 

details of the contract or service, on which basis the 

tax authority issues a credit note. Assessed tax and related 

charges are usually entered as debits in the taxpayer’s tax 

account, while he is expected to pay only the difference between 

his assessed tax and withholding tax credit at the time 

of filing their own returns. 

• It is this credit note that a taxpayer uses as a set off 

against tax assessed within that year or if unutilized within 

that year can be applied based on the taxpayer request to 

transfer the credit balance in that year to offset or reduce 

debit balance of another year. 

• In cases where there is an excess charge of WHT on a 

taxpayer, the 2007 amendments to CITA (Section 63 (7)) have 

even further empowered FIRS to refund proven excess withholding 

tax to any taxpayer within 90 days of filing a claim. 

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 

OFFENCES 

• Failure to withhold tax or 

• Failure to remit or late remittance of the tax withheld 

• Non remittance of the tax withheld within the time limit 

stipulated by the Revenue. 

PENALTIES 

a. For Companies 

A fine of 200 percent of the tax not withheld or withheld 

but not remitted, plus interest at the prevailing commercial 

rate. 

b. For Individuals & other Organizations 

A fine of the higher of N5,000 or 10% of the amount of tax 

due, plus the amount of tax deductible , or withheld but not 

remitted, plus interest at the prevailing commercial rate. 

• Interest on Savings Account of less than N50, 000 paid 

by a Bank, is not subject to WHT. 

The WHT system has come to stay since it is a veritable 

source of revenue to Government. It enhances the collection 

efforts of Tax Authorities and it ensures that revenue is generated 

in advance. It is therefore imperative that the system 

should continue to be improved upon in the light of modern 

tax administration procedure. Usually an advance payment 

of tax provides information that an income source has been 

identified through a third party. Such information being 

provided by the payer should be readily available for use in 

accessing a potential taxpayer. Field officers should always 

be ready to follow up on such information.

40 

THE NATION MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015


41


MONDAY MAY 11, 2015 

THE NATION 

POLITICS 

43 

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net 

Since the beginning 

of the Fourth 

Republic, 

impeachment has 

been an instrument of 

political witch-hunt. B 

ut, the rapidity with 

which it is occurring 

as the country 

marches towards the 

May 29 handover 

date is a curious 

development. 

RAYMOND MORDI 

and LEKE 

SALAUDEEN 

chronicle the 

developments. 

THREE weeks to the end of the current 

dispensation, some governors and 

Speakers of Houses of Assembly are 

battling to escape impeachment. From Minna, 

Katsina, Enugu, Kebbi, Akure and Ado Ekiti, it 

is a battle of wits between the executive arm of 

government and the legislature. 

According to experts, the framers of the constitution 

conceived the impeachment weapon 

as an antidote to check the excesses of welders 

of political power, particularly those who are 

entrusted with the people’s mandate. But, the 

way it is being used, it appears that politicians 

are eager to settle scores over the recent general 

elections. 

Niger 

In Niger State, the impeachment drama is still 

festering. The state has been in political turmoil, 

following moves by 19 out of the state’s 27 lawmakers 

to impeach the Governor Babangida 

Aliyu. The lawmakers are angry because the 

executive has not released money for overheads 

since the beginning of the year. 

To pave the way for Aliyu’s impeachment, 

the lawmakers moved a motion for the sacking 

the Speaker, who is believed to be the governor’s 

staunch ally in the House. The lawmakers 

went ahead to impeach Speaker Usman 

Adamu and three other principal officers, as a 

precursor to impeaching the governor. 

Hon. Jacob Gana, representing Lavun Constituency, 

who seconded the nomination of 

Hon. Isah Kawu as the new Speaker, told the 

House that the refusal of the leadership to show 

up last Tuesday after it was agreed from its executive 

meeting on Monday has caused them 

some embarrassment and therefore, the leadership 

must be removed. 

The members had defied a police barricade 

to gain entrance into the legislative chamber. 

Indication that crisis was in the offing surfaced 

as early as 7:30am when all roads leading to 

the Assembly complex were closed to both human 

and vehicular traffic, with over 200 armed 

policemen and other security agents keeping 

vigil and preventing everybody from gaining 

entrance into the complex. 

In a swift reaction, the impeached Speaker, 

Usman, disclosed that he had obtained a court 

order restraining the House from taking the 

action. He said the action was in violation of 

the court order. According to him, they disobeyed 

the order to impeach him after 1am 

against the rules of the House, saying that the 

target was to serve Governor Aliyu an impeachment 

notice. 

He explained that the lawmakers wanted to 

remove the governor because they had not been 

given overhead and constituency allowances 

since the beginning of this fiscal year. “As far 

as I am concerned, I am still the Speaker and 

•Aliyu 

Politics of impeachment 

•Dakingari 

the impeachment is null and void. I have not 

been accused of financial misappropriation; it 

is because the executive has not released overheads 

since the beginning of the year. Don’t be 

surprised that impeachment notice is served on 

the governor of Niger State tomorrow; the governor 

should be prepared.” 

Meanwhile, the assemblymen are yet to serve 

Governor Aliyu notice of his impeachment proceedings. 

Katsina 

In Katsina State, an impeachment threat is 

hanging over Governor Ibrahim Shema’s head. 

Fifteen members of the House of Assembly 

have threatened to commence impeachment 

proceedings against Governor Ibrahim Shema. 

The lawmakers vowed to serve the governor 

an impeachment notice by next Monday when 

they resume sitting over his poor handling of 

state’s finances among other impeachable offences. 

Spokesman of the 15 members, Danlami Kurfi 

told accused Shema of spending public funds 

without recourse to laid-down procedures. 

Kurfi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) 

member representing Kurfi, said the assembly 

members were determined to find answers to 

expenditures that included the N33 billion local 

government funds, selling of state houses 

in Katsina and Abuja, and SURE-P vehicles by 

the state government. 

He accused the governor of failing to present 

audited state finance report to the state assembly 

as required by law, insisting that the move 

by the House was to ensure that things are done 

•Chime 

•Fayose 

‘ 

‘Three weeks to the end of 

the current political 

dispensation, several 

governors and speakers 

across the country are 

battling to save themselves 

from the impeachment 

threats before the expiry of 

their tenure. From Minna, 

Katsina, Enugu, Kebbi, 

Akure and Ado Ekiti, it is a 

battle of wits between the 

executive arm of government 

and the legislature 

’ 

in line with the provisions of the constitution. 

He stressed that some of the legislators, comprising 

mostly those that defected to the APC 

and some others aggrieved within the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP), had met and were set 

to serve the governor an impeachment notice. 

Kurfi, who is also the member-elect for 

Dutsinma/Kurfi Federal Constituency, said it was 

only proper to raise the above questions as Katsina 

is greater than any one individual. “Issues have 

been raised and questions need answers from the 

executive arm of government,” he said, adding 

that it was not out of place to commence impeachment 

proceedings against Shema over his way of 

handling the affairs of the state. 

Enugu 

In Enugu State, 15 members of the House of 

Assembly, led by the Speaker, Hon. Eugene 

Odo, commenced impeachment process against 

Governor Sullivan Chime, alleging financial 

misconduct. 

The 15 members, who convened in the legislative 

chamber, amid tight security, put forward 

allegations of forgery, inflation of funds for state 

project execution and unlawful acquisition of 

public landed property. 

The legislature/executive face-off in Enugu 

is coming against the background of the refusal 

of the House to approve the Governor’s request 

for N11 billion, as contained in the 2014 Supplementary 

Budget. The Clerk of the House, 

Christopher Chukwurah, was directed to communicate 

their resolution to the governor. 

However, there was a twist in the drama 

when eight members of the House loyal to the 

Governor sat, impeached the Speaker, Hon. 

Eugene Odoh, and shot down the House indefinitely. 

Despite his impeachment by the eight members 

of the House, the ‘impeached Speaker’, 

Hon. Odoh, said that the 15 lawmakers would 

continue with the impeachment process on 

Tuesday, insisting that the Governor had been 

duly served. 

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government said 

it is unaware of any impeachment process 

against Gov. Chime. The Chief Press Secretary 

to the Governor, Mr. Chukwudi Achife, described 

the action the 15-member faction of the 

assembly as null and void. “No impeachment 

notice has been served on the governor; we 

must get that straight,’’ he said. 

The Governor-elect, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, 

has called on the two factions of the state assembly 

to sheath their swords and return to status 

quo for the amicable resolution of the contending 

issues. 

The reconciliatory meeting, which was attended 

by members of the two groups, as well 

as a former Senate President, was held behind 

closed doors on Tuesday. Full details of the 

meeting were not made public. But, a reliable 

source said they were asked to follow legal 

means to settle the dispute. 

The drama in Enugu is not coming as a surprise. 

Governor Sullivan Chime, a second term 

governor who would be bowing out on May 

29, is someone who has been credited with a 

lot of achievements, particularly in the area of 

infrastructural development. But, he has always 

been accused of high handedness. 

Kebbi 

Twelve out of the 24 members of the Kebbi 

State House of Assembly have served a notice 

of impeachment on Governor Saidu Dakingari 

for alleged gross misconduct in the performance 

of his official duties. 

The 12 lawmakers had earlier impeached the 

Speaker, Mohammed Shalla and his deputy, 

Mohammed Ja’afaru. A former Speaker, Habib 

Jega, who was impeached in November 2014, 

was elected as the new Speaker. 

Among the six impeachable offences listed 

against Dakingari are: That the governor violated 

Section 5(1) (a) of the Kebbi State Budget 

Monitoring and Price Intelligence Bureau Law, 

2006, which stipulates that a retired civil servant 

should be appointed Chairman of the Bureau. 

But, the governor appointed a serving 

permanent secretary. 

The lawmakers also accused the governor 

of obtaining a loan facility to the tune of 

N2billion from Micro Small and Medium Enterprises 

support Fund without obtaining approval 

from the Assembly; and that it continues 

to work with Local Government Councils 

whose tenure has expired since September 

2014; and that the governor misappropriated 

the sum of N1, 800, 862,672 state funds. 

Analysts observed that Dankigari’s popularity 

has been on the decline since he was re-elected in 

2011. It was learnt that he had stepped on the toes 

of many prominent politicians on whose back he 

rode to power in 2007. He has fell out with leaders 

like Senator Adamu Aliero, Senator Muhammadu 

Magoro, Barrister Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Senator Atiku 

Bagudu and many others who had defected from 

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All 


44 THE NATION MONDAY MAY 11, 2015 

CAN the Supreme Court validly 

dismiss a case when it 

has not been formerly argued 

by parties? 

A governorship aspirant in Akwa 

Ibom State, Hon. Imo Udo, has petitioned 

the National Judicial Council 

(NJC) praying that his dismissed 

case be heard on its merit. 

He is challenging Governor 

Godswill Akpabio’s qualification to 

run for the 2011 governorship primaries. 

Udo’s case was “dismissed” on 

April 20 without parties adopting 

their written arguments. 

The former Akwa Ibom State 

House of Assembly member served 

as Commissioner for Youths and 

Sports and Special Adviser on Political 

and Legislative Matters to 

former Governor Victor Attah. 

In 2011, he aspired to run for governors. 

But, his problems began 

when he was asked by the screen- 

•Olanusi 

• Omirin 

‘ 

‘ 

The decision to review the unexplained dismissal of my 

case be done by the first panel dismantled without complaint 

and/or petition from either of the parties or by another panel 

of justices who were not in the first or second panel 

’ 

A former Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Imo Udo, who ran against Governor Godswill Akpabio during 

the 2011 governorship primaries, has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to direct the Supreme Court to re-list his case challenging 

Apabio’s qualification to participate in the primaries after it was allegedly “dismissed” without being heard. JOSEPH JIBUEZE writes. 

Akwa Ibom governorship aspirant 

raises alarm over ‘dismissed’ case 

ing panel to prove his membership 

of the Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP). 

It took the intervention of the PDP 

Screening Appeal Panel in Abuja to 

clear him to contest for the primaries. 

On the day of the primaries, he 

was told by the state chapter that 

only Akpabio was cleared to contest. 

He again petitioned the PDP national 

secretariat, which ordered 

another primary election, in which 

Udo scored only one vote. 

Udo alleged that Akpabio was not 

qualified to contest the primary election 

because he did not pay tax for 

the three previous years in line with 

the PDP’s guideline that an aspirant 

must have paid tax to be qualified 

to contest, except where exempted. 

Udo sued Akpabio at the Federal 

High Court, claiming that the defendant 

did not show proof of tax 

payment, nor was there evidence 

New wave of impeachment grip states 

Shittu noted that the Nigerian Constitution needs some of its sections 

properly interpreted. He said the constitution needs to clarify 

what specific actions should amount to gross misconduct as the allegation 

has been widely used as a tool to settle scores 


Progressives Congress (APC). 

The political leaders in the state 

had expected the governor to defect 

to the APC along with them, but he 

refused to join the ship. His indifference 

to the political trend in 

Kebbi State was responsible for his 

defeat when he contested for Kebbi 

North senatorial seat on the platform 

of the PDP at the just concluded 

general elections. 

Dankigari went through a lot of 

challenges during campaigns, a 

situation many considered as selfinflicted 

because of the way he was 

relating with people. Despite the 

strong wind of change in the state, 

Dakingari had refused to toe the 

popular line. 

But, the governor had described 

the impeachment move by some 

members of the State House of Assembly 

as illegal and unconstitutional. 

By this act, the purported 

members have pre-empted the decision 

of the Kebbi High State High 

Court. These members aim to cause 

disaffection and truncate the 

smooth transition of government 

following the recent election. He 

added that the government would 

continue to recognise Mr Shallaas 

Speaker of the Kebbi Assembly. 

Ondo 

The fresh wave of impeachments 

commenced when former Ondo 

State Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi, 

was impeached by the state House 

of Assembly on Monday, April 27, 

2015. The Assembly, in the impeachment 

notice, accused the 

deputy governor of gross misconduct, 

including financial misappropriation, 

absenteeism from official 

duties and causing disaffection in 

the state cabinet. 

But, Olanusi was obviously paying 

for his decision to defect from the 

Peoles Democratic Party (PDP) to the 

All Progressives Congress (APC), 

two days before the March 28 presidential 

elections. 

In his reaction, the embattled 

former deputy governor had described 

the impeachment as a huge 

joke. Speaking through his lawyer, 

Oluwole Kayode, hours after the 

former Commissioner for Agriculture, 

Lasisi Oluboyo, was sworn in 

as the new deputy governor, Olanusi 

reminded the lawmakers of an April 

23 court order that the status quo be 

maintained in respect of his office. 

The APC also condemned 

Olanusi’s impeachment, noting that 

the process of his removal violated 

provisions of the impeachment 

clause in the 1999 Constitution. The 

party said the decision of the state 

House of Assembly was a contempt 

of court that ordered all parties to 

maintain status quo in a suit the 

deputy governor filed before he travelled 

out to challenge the plan to impeach 

him. 

The party’s National Vice Chairman 

in charge of Southwest, Chief 

Pius Akinyelure, faulted the impeachment 

in a statement issued in 

Lagos, noting that the decision of the 

state assembly, which acted as 

Mimiko’s rubber stamp, would not 

stand. 

Meanwhile, the APC has appointed 

Olanusi as a member of the 

party’s Board of Trustees (BOT. His 

appointment as a BOT member took 

effect from July 4, 2014. According 

to the party’s National Executive 

Committee (NEC) in a letter signed 

by its Secretary, Mai Bala Buni, 

Olanusi’s appointment, which took 

effect from July 4, 2014, would be 

for four years. 

Ekiti 

Efforts to impeach Ekiti State Governor, 

Ayodele Fayose, have so far 

not succeeded. But, 19 All 

Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers 

led by factional Speaker 

Adewale Omirin is not giving up. 

Ekiti has not known peace since 

then, because the APC lawmakers 

have been making frantic efforts to 

impeach Fayose, who has been employing 

one intrigue or the other to 

avoid being removed. As a result, 

governance has suffered. 

Ekiti has been embroiled in crisis 

since November 20, 2014, when a 

seven-member caucus of the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ekiti 

State House of Assembly impeached 

the Speaker, Omirin, and his deputy, 

Tunji Orisalade. The crisis in the assembly 

has resulted in a running battle 

between Governor Ayodele 

Fayose and the 19 lawmakers. 

Prior to October 16, 2014, when 

Fayose was sworn in as governor on 

the platform of the PDP, the APC 

had 25 out of the 26-member Assembly, 

while the remaining one member 

belonged to the PDP. However, 

•Udom 

that he had been exempted from the 

payment of personal income tax. 

As the case was being heard, the 

judge withdrew, claiming that he 

was accused of being Udo’s 

“friend.” A new judge took over and 

held that the court had no jurisdiction 

to determine the case. 

Dissatisfied, Udo appealed to the 

Court of Appeal, Calabar. 

But Akpabio raised three grounds 

of objection: that Udo had no locus 

standi; that the matter was not 

justiceable because it was not within 

the provisions of Section 251(1) of 

the 1999 Constitution; and that the 

issues were pre-primary election 

matters and therefore within the 

domestic capacity of the party to resolve. 

The appeal court resolved two issues 

in Udo’s favour and one in 

Akpabio’s. 

Resolving one of the issues against 

Udo, the court held that for his complaint 

to be justiceable, it ought to 

have occurred the day the primary 

election was held. 

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, in 

the case of Ukachukwu vs PDP, held 

last January 31 that the issue of eligibility 

is justiceable under the Electoral 

Act 2010, and that the whole 

exercise of a primary election was 

’ 

at Fayose’s inauguration, six APC 

members announced their defection 

to the PDP. 

But, the governor met a legislative 

brick wall from the remaining 19 

APC lawmakers when he sought to 

dissolve and reconstitute the executives 

of 16 local councils appointed 

by his predecessor, Dr. Kayode 

Fayemi, of the APC. The governor 

also couldn’t get the lawmakers to 

approve his list of commissionernominees 

and special advisers, 

among other requests. 

The political face-off took a new 

twist when the seven PDP legislators 

announced Omirin’s removal as 

Speaker. Also removed was 

Adetunji Orisalade, the deputy 

Speaker. The seven members have 

since been making laws for Ekiti after 

Fayose had succeeded in hounding 

the 19 APC members out of the 

state until they returned last week. 

Interestingly, after months of challenging 

the legality of their removal 

in court, Omirin and Orisalade on 

April 7, 2015 dropped the suit. The 

notice of discontinuance coincided 

with the APC lawmakers’ return to 

the state to commence the impeachment 

process against the governor. 

But, one stumbling block or the other 

had prevented Governor Fayose 

from being impeached so far. 

All efforts to resolve the crisis by 

the Ekiti State Council of Traditional 

Rulers and the Ekiti Council of 

Elders had failed. The latest effort by 

Ekiti leaders, led by Chief Afe 

Babalola (SAN), to resolve the lingering 

political crisis between 

Fayose and the 19 lawmakers suffered 

a setback, as the lawmakers did 

not attend the parley. 

The APC lawmakers that had 

served impeachment notice on 

Fayose stayed away from the meeting 

citing security reasons and asked 

Fayose to answer alleged allegations 

of constitutional breaches already 

served on him. They also argued that 

not an event but a process; therefore 

wherever there was a contentious 

issue, the court could hear it. 

With this precedent in mind, Udo 

took his case to the Supreme Court 

last January 24, praying the court 

to disqualify Akpabio and to overrule 

the Court of Appeal. 

However, the case was not listed 

for hearing until about a year later 

despite several requests by Udo’s 

lawyer that it be listed. 

When the case came up last December 

17, the court adjourned it 

till April 20 with parties agreeing 

that a bench judgment would be delivered 

that day after arguments by 

counsel. 

Udo said he was shocked when, 

on April 20, a new panel was set 

up to hear the case. No reason was 

given for disbanding of the previous 

panel. 

In the petition to the NJC, which 

he also copied the President-elect 

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Udo 

said the new panel allegedly refused 

to hear the case, but instead 

dismissed it without arguments 

being taken. 

• Continued on page 45 

the issue in contention was more than 

their salaries and allowances, which 

Fayose had stopped since last year. 

A legal practitioner, Wahab Shittu, 

said that Nigeria’s democracy cannot 

grow if the practitioners are not 

willing to be democrats. He said this 

when reacting to the impeachment 

brouhaha in Enugu on a television 

programme. 

Reading from the constitution, Mr 

Shittu stated that the simple interpretation 

of the constitution means 

that both factions of the Enugu 

House of Assembly have erred in the 

manner they have gone about their 

intentions. 

While the eight lawmakers trying 

to protect the Governor by impeaching 

the Speaker cannot possibly be 

taken serious because they are not 

up to two-third of the House members, 

the 15 trying to impeach the 

Governor have also acted against the 

constitution. 

According to him, those who have 

served the Governor an impeachment 

notice cannot proceed except 

from the premises of the legislative 

house and their impeachment notice 

is not binding if not served to all 

members of the House. 

Having stated few constitutional 

breaches already noticed, he stated 

that since the 15 lawmakers have 

been prevented from convening in 

the assembly, insisting on impeaching 

the Governor, if done in another 

location, would be unconstitutional. 

He also berated the Police for preventing 

lawmakers from gaining access 

into the assembly premises. He 

wondered why political officers 

should be prevented by the Police 

from performing their duties in a democracy 

when it is the duty of the 

Police to protect democratic institutions. 

Shittu noted that the Nigerian Constitution 

needs some of its sections 

properly interpreted. He said the 

constitution needs to clarify what 

specific actions should amount to 

“gross misconduct” as the allegation 

has been widely used as a tool to 

settle scores. 

Nigeria needs to strengthen two 

key institutions; the judiciary and the 

Police, Mr Shittu said, adding that 

“if these two institutions are 

strengthened and act professionally 

all these impunity will stop”.

THE NATION MONDAY MAY 11, 2015 

‘ 

The Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adetunji Orisalade, 

spoke with ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA on the crisis rocking the legislative 

arm and why the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers shunned a 

recent peace meeting brokered by Ekiti elders. 

‘APC legislators can’t trust Fayose‘ 

WHAT is your interest in 

the Ekiti crisis? I’m Rt. 

Hon. Orisalade Adetunji 

Taiwo, the Deputy Speaker, Ekiti 

State House of Assembly and I was 

constitutionally and unanimously 

elected on the 6th day of June, 2011 

by the whole House of 26 members 

as no one, including the then two 

PDP members who were around 

during the exercise, objected to same. 

But, the information in the news 

is that you have been impeached? 

That is sheer bunkum and an illegality 

par excellence. You see Nigeria 

is not a jungle but a civilized 

country operated under prescribed 

laws and we have a constitutional 

Democracy. The Legislature which 

is part of the tripartite constitutional 

frame – work is under the constitution 

as well which provides for its 

existence and operations. Specifically 

section 92 of the Constitution 

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 

1999 (as Amended) provides for the 

offices of the Speaker and the 

Deputy Speaker of the State House 

of Assembly and their removal by 

its sub-section 2 paragraph C which 

prescribes two – thirds of members 

of the House of the Assembly and 

not those present by way of emphasis. 

So, under no circumstance can a 

group of seven members remove me 

or the speaker. It is a nullity ab initio 

and cannot stand. 

In the eyes of the Law of the land 

as expatiated in the constitution, I 

still remain the Deputy Speaker and 

Dr. Adewale Omirin the Speaker of 

the Ekiti State House of Assembly 

without a break in service or office. 

But, why all these problems in 

the Ekiti House of Assembly? 

Thank you very much. The problem 

is really unfortunate but it is 

traceable to Mr Ayo Fayose who have 

unenviable antecedents as far as governance 

is concerned. He already had 

a mindset before coming back to Ekiti 

and that is to rule the state without 

being questioned by anybody or cocoordinating 

Authorities. This is the 

reason why he wanted both the legislative 

and judicial Arms emasculated. 

The present situation of the 

other two Arms of Government are 

not mere coincidence or accidents, but 

were well planned and technically orchestrated. 

Even the Exco., that he sits 

over, just a handful of three cronies 

who cant say a single word or question 

his impunity. He gave an example 

of his mission when he invaded 

the Court even as Governor-elect and 

so he came heading for the Assembly 

after being clothed with power. 

Why has the problem lingered so 

long? 

Well, we the G-19 as major 

stakeholders in the Ekiti Project do 

not want to cause chaos in Ekiti and 

would rather sacrifice our privileges 

and comfort to ensure peace and that 

is why we refrained from using similar 

tactics as he is using. Nobody has 

a monopoly of violence you know, 

but we are interested in the welfare 

and well-being of our people who 

are passive players on the political 

landscape. He is a very good commander 

of the mob and in a place 

where the mob rules, the people are 

coalesced and suborned per force, 

against their freewill. That is why 

you equally have an unexplained silence 

amongst the Elders, Elites Traditional 

Rulers etc. Most of what is 

ascribed to them are conjured and 

prepared from the Governor’s office 

and they dare not raise a voice. 

Why is his high popularity leading 

to electoral victory? 

May Fela Anikulapo-Kuti rest in 

There is what is called Government Magic and that is exactly 

what we are witnessing. And what happened on 21st of 

June, 2014 are in this categories and I am sure you have heard 

of the Electoral Scandal nicknamed the Ekitigate 

•Orisalade 

peace. There is what is called Government 

Magic and that is exactly what 

we are witnessing. And what happened 

on 21st of June, 2014 are in this 

categories and I am sure you have 

heard of the Electoral Scandal nicknamed 

the Ekitigate. Fayose and his 

Co-passengers in that infamy knew 

what they did to win the Election. The 

mere fact that there was no proof at 

the Tribunal does not detract from the 

fact that election does not represent the 

will of Ekiti People, irrespective of the 

verdict of the Supreme Court. With 

the greatest respect to the jurists, they 

are men and remains fallible. Their decision 

is on the Law as it is and as 

placed before them, but the outcome 

of that Election may not be right for 

all purposes and forever. 

The Yorubas captured it very well 

in the saying: “Aje ke lana, Omo ku 

loni, tani o mo pe Aje to ke lana, lopa 

omo to ku loni je. (The witch cried 

yesterday and a child died today and 

who does not know that it was the 

witch that cried who was responsible 

for the Child’s death!!). This is to 

say that it is not every situational result 

that is subject to proof. But I know 

history is being written and one day 

in history, the electoral mystery 

would be resolved and clearly revealed 

by the insiders themselves. 

Fayose is a product of political contrivance 

and would soon expire like 

all NAFDAC products 

Your group shunned the peace 

moves. What is the solution to the 

crisis? 

Yes we shunned it because of our 

Safety and some of the facilitators 

may not be impartial and well- meaning. 

We hinted that we are at Ikere- 

Ekiti and should be picked by the 

Security Agents at the Ondo/Ekiti 

Boundary, but we were advised not 

to pass through the Streets of Ado 

•Fayose 

Ekiti which would take us to the 

Venue in forty minutes, but to go and 

take some bushy Areas that would 

take two and half hours to the Venue. 

We suspected something fishy along 

that Route. Why with the 200 Policemen 

stated to have been arranged for 

the meeting, can we not transverse 

through Ado – Ekiti within 40 minutes? 

Our people whose mandate we 

still have are not displeased with us, 

it is only Mr Fayose’s arranged and 

recruited mob that have been out on 

rampage in the State and giving a 

false impression that all Ekitis are 

with him in this reign of impunity 

and desecration of the Constitution. 

Let me come to the solution. It is 

very simple. By virtue of the recent 

decision of the Supreme Court in 

SC/643/2014 Ifedayo Sunday 

Abegunde versus Ondo State 

House of Assembly and others delivered 

on the 17th day of April, 2015 

Fayose’s Agents of disruption in the 

Ekiti State House of Assembly, that 

is the six members of the APC who 

defected to the PDP on the 16th day 

of October, 2014, are no longer members 

of the House of Assembly as 

they have lost their seat automatically 

on that same day. A fortiori all 

they had participated in since that 

day are null, void and of no effect. 

The Elders facilitating the peace 

move are well aware of this judgment 

and they should be able to tell them 

pointedly that they are no longer 

members of the House. That is the 

plain truth. The Governor should be 

made reopen the Courts in Ekiti State 

and to obey and respect the constitution 

of the country. He must equally 

be compelled to refrain from using his 

personal security and the official ones 

from hounding and intimidating us 

and other APC Members. These are 

the solutions to the lingering crisis. 

•Kaduna Central senator-elect Shehu Sani (L), welcoming the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NUTRW), 

Kaduna Branch, Alhaji Alhassan Hamua during the visit of the executive council of the NURTW to the senator-elect in Kaduna. 

Right is the Deputy Chairman of the union, Alhaji Ibrahim Bala. NAN 

‘ 

•Akpabio 

‘ 

“Was it legally tenable 

for two panels to 

consider one case, 

when no petition or 

protest greeted the 

first panel by Hon. 

Justice W. N. 

Onnogen? What is the 

remedy for the appellant 

whose case was 

dismissed without 

being heard on merit 

’ 

My case against 

Akpabio, by Udo 

45 

• Continued from page 45 

“The case was not heard on merit 

but was dismissed by coercion,” the 

petitioner said. 

He urged the NJC to cause a review 

of the Supreme Court decision 

of April 20 “that dismissed my case 

through coercion, intimidation, undue 

interference and without being 

heard.” 

He prayed the NJC to cause his 

case to be heard and decided on its 

merit and in the interest of justice. 

Udo added: “The decision to review 

the unexplained dismissal of 

my case be done by the first panel 

dismantled without complaint and/ 

or petition from either of the parties 

or by another panel of justices who 

were not in the first or second panel. 

“The would-be panel decision 

should be deemed and relied upon 

as if it was taken on the 20th day of 

April 2015 – a decision of the Supreme 

Court of the 17th December 

2014.” 

The appellant wondered why the 

case was delayed from last January 

till December 17, and why the panel 

of justices would suddenly be 

changed on the morning of April 20, 

a date fixed for adoption of written 

addresses. 

“Was it legally tenable for two panels 

to consider one case, when no 

petition or protest greeted the first 

panel by Hon. Justice W. N. 

Onnogen? What is the remedy for 

the appellant whose case was dismissed 

without being heard on 

merit?” Udo asked. 

Asking the NJC to revisit the case, 

he said: “It may be safe to restore 

the public confidence in judiciary 

through appropriate steps being 

taken in the instant injustice inflicted 

on me, the appellant.” 

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), 

Justice Mahmud Mohammed, in his 

response to Udom’s request that the 

case be heard earlier than April 20, 

expressed his “inability to overrule 

or otherwise interfere with a determination 

of any panel sitting at the 

Supreme Court.” 

The letter, signed by the CJN’s 

Senior Special Assistant Hadiza 

Sa’eed, urged Udo’s lawyer to apply 

for an accelerated hearing. 

Udo said it came as a surprise to 

him that a new panel could be set 

up to hear the same case. 

The appellant’s prayers at the Supreme 

Court were: “A declaration 

that the First Defendant (Akpabio) 

is not qualified to contest the re-run 

primary election of the Second Defendant 

(PDP) held in Akwa Ibom 

State on 15th January, 2011 for the 

purpose of electing the party’s candidate 

for the office of the Governor 

of Akwa-Ibom State having regard 

to the provisions of Article 17.1 

of the Constitution of the Peoples 

Democratic Party and paragraphs 

14, 15 and 16 of its Electoral Guidelines 

for Primary Elections, Electoral 

Act, 2010 (as amended) and the 

Constitution of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). 

“A declaration that the submission 

of the name of the first defendant 

to the third defendant by the 

second defendant as its candidate 

for the office of Governor of Akwa- 

Ibom State during the gubernatorial 

election held in April, 2011 is in flagrant 

violation of Article 17.1 of the 

Constitution of the PDP and paragraphs 

14, 15 and 16 of its Electoral 

Guidelines for Primary Elections, 

Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) 

and the Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as 

amended) and is null and void. 

“A declaration that the plaintiff is 

the only candidate validly nominated 

to contest the governorship 

election of April, 2011 on the platform 

of the second defendant for the 

office of the Governor of Akwa- 

Ibom State having regard to the provisions 

of Article 17.1 of the Constitution 

of the PDP and paragraphs 

14, 15 and 16 of its Electoral Guidelines 

for Primary Elections, Electoral 

Act, 2010 (as amended) and the 

Constitution of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). 

“An order declaring/returning 

the plaintiff as the winner of the 

January 15th 2011 re-run Akwa 

Ibom State Primary Election of the 

Second Defendant, and aforitiori the 

legitimate candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party for the Governorship 

election of 26th April, 2011 in 

Akwa Ibom State having regard to 

the provisions of Article 17.1 of the 

Constitution of the Peoples Democratic 

Party and paragraphs 14, 15 

and 16 of its Electoral Guidelines for 

Primary Elections, Electoral Act, 

2010 (as amended) and the Constitution 

of the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). 

“An order setting aside the purported 

nomination of the first defendant 

by the second defendant 

and the acceptance of the nomination 

of the first defendant by the 

third defendant as governorship 

candidate of the second defendant 

for Akwa Ibom State...”



47

48 

NATION SPORT 

Inzaghi: I can take 

Milan to the top 

•Inzaghi 

Afootball once again 

C Milan are likely to 

miss out on European 

next season but head coach 

Filippo Inzaghi believes he 

remains the right man to lead 

i Rossoneri "back to the top". 

That was the opinion he 

offered after his side's 2-1 win 

over Roma on Saturday. "I am 

the first to be disappointed," 

Inzaghi said on the club's 

official website. "But if I am 

given the chance, I will take 

Milan back to the top. We need 

consistency and unity. We 

have taken a bit more time 

than expected, but if we're able 

to do this, we will go back to 

the top." 

The Rossoneri won for the 

first time since April 4 and 

halted a three-match losing 

streak with goals from Marco 

van Ginkel and Mattia Destro, 

Bcriticised by club 

AYERN Munich coach 

Pep Guardiola has been 

favourite Lothar Matthaus as 

speculation continues to link 

him with clubs including 

Manchester City. 

Since wrapping up the 

Bundesliga title, Bayern have 

lost their Champions League 

semi-final first leg 3-0 to 

Barcelona, gone out of the 

DFB-Pokal on penalties to 

Borussia Dortmund and lost 

league games to Bayer 

Leverkusen and Augsburg. 

And Matthaus told Sky 

Deutschland: "Guardiola has 

already said that their season 

is over and he's been rotating 

his team so much that he's 

unsettling the team. 

"His team no longer has the 

stability they had for over 

eight months, enchanting 

football fans up and down 

Germany. 

"It seems the players are 

losing a bit of belief in the 

coach, and he hadn't expected 

that.'' 

Given Bayern's recent results 

and behind-the-scenes 

players on loan from Chelsea 

and Roma respectively. The 

win was Milan's 11th of the 

campaign and lifted the them 

to tenth in the standings. 

"We have a precise identity 

in our playing style," Inzaghi 

said. "Against Roma, we 

weren't just about sitting back 

and breaking on the counter 

attack. We played football and 

deserved to win." 

Milan are well adrift of the 

European places, which 

means their focus is on 

finishing the campaign 

positively in the hope they 

can carry strong form into 

next season. Inzaghi's team 

visit Sassuolo next before 

hosting UEFA Europa League 

hopefuls Torino on 24 May. 

The Rossoneri end the 

campaign at Atalanta on 31 

May. 

Matthaus: Players 

losing belief in Pep 

problems, he could be 

allowed to leave the Bavarian 

club. The 44-year-old still has 

a contract until 2016, but talks 

over an extension are not due 

to take place until after the 

season has ended. 

A recent fall-out with the 

club's long-standing doctor 

Hans-Wilhelm Muller- 

Wohlfahrt, who stepped 

down from his position as a 

consequence, has seen 

Guardiola lose his hitherto 

untouchable status among 

club bosses. 

•Guardiola 

EUROPEAN... EUROPEAN... 

Verratti: I want 

PSG stay 

•Verratti 

ARCO Verratti says 

he has no interest in 

Germain despite being 

heavily linked with a move 

away from the French capital 

this summer. 

The Italy international has 

grown into one of the highestrated 

central midfielders in 

world football since signing 

for the Parisians three years 

ago for an estimated £8 

million from Serie B side 

Pescara. 

His performances this 

season have garnered 

rumoured interest from the 

Mleaving Paris Saintlikes 

of Juventus and Bayern 

Munich, with the Bundesliga 

champions alleged to be 

plotting a big-money move 

at the end of the season. 

However, the PSG star has 

warned off bidders by 

insisting he is loving life 

under Laurent Blanc, with the 

club needing just one point 

from their last two games to 

retain the Ligue 1 title 

following Friday's 6-0 

steamrolling of Guingamp. 

"I am very happy here," 

Verratti told Telefoot. "I have 

the total confidence of my 

coach, my team-mates and my 


club. To continue growing as 

a player, this is the place I 

want to be." 

In addition to putting PSG 

supporters' fears he might 

depart at ease, Verratti also 

lauded the quality of star 

forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic 

and Edinson Cavani. 

"They are fantastic players," 

the 22-year-old added. "We 

are fortunate to have players 

of their ability in our team. 

They can score at any time, 

which is hugely important to 

our successes." 

Lyon's shock 3-0 defeat to 

Caen on Saturday left Herbert 

Bale not getting passes - agent 

•Bale 

GARETH Bale's Real 

Madrid team-mates' 

refusal to pass to him 

regularly in games is behind 

the Welshman's slumping 

form, according to his agent. 

The Wales international has 

scored in just two of his past 

18 Real outings, one of which 

saw his early strike dwarfed 

by Cristiano Ronaldo's fivegoal 

haul in a 9-1 destruction 

of Granada. 

Bale has come in for criticism 

from all quarters, with pundits 

and Real fans alike venting 

frustration at his recent 

performances. 

Real face a huge uphill battle 

to overhaul Barcelona at the 

top of La Liga and need to 

overturn a first-leg deficit to 

Juventus in order to reach the 

UEFA Champions League 

final. 

But Bale's representative 

Jonathan Barnett said 

involving the world's most 

expensive player more in 

games could be the answer, 

rather than criticising his lack 

of impact. 

"Real have to work with 

Gareth and pass the ball to 

him more," Barnett told The 

Telegraph. "Give him more of 

the ball and let him show 

everybody what he's good at. 

"He's going to be the best 

player at Real Madrid when 

his team-mates work with him 

and help him. Hopefully Real 

will come to terms with this." 

'We will 

suffer in 

Munich' 

- Enrique 

ARCELONA coach Luis 

Enrique said he is still 

Bpreparing for a tough 

90 minutes, despite his side's 

significant lead in their UEFA 

Champions League semifinal 

with Bayern Munich. 

The Bavarian giants are in a 

rut, going scoreless in their 

past three fixtures - all losses 

- heading into their second 

leg against Barca at the 

Allianz Arena, a tie in which 

they trail 3-0. 

Bayern lost 1-0 at home to 

Augsburg in the Bundesliga 

on Saturday, but Luis 

Enrique said - despite not 

watching the match - the 

German champions still 

showed their qualities after 

losing Pepe Reina to an early 

red card. 

"They played more than 70 

minutes of the game with one 

player fewer, but they had the 

80 per cent of the possession. 

Finally they lost, but I didn't 

see the game," the Barca boss 

said, after seeing his side go 

four points clear in La Liga. 

Luis Enrique said Bayern's 

significant deficit does not 

ensure Tuesday's fixture will 

be stress-free for the Catalan 

club. 

"I know we will suffer in 

Munich," he said. 

"I have no doubt about that 

and neither do my players, 

because they are a strong 

rival. 

"It looks like it is difficult 

for them to win the semifinals, 

but they could do it 

against Porto in the quarters. 

"So we cannot think it will 

be easy to progress through. 

"It is a game we want to 

win, we will compete, we will 

have to defend and it will be 

difficult against Bayern." 

•Enrique


51

52 

SHOWBIZ 

• Bob Marley 

T 

HIRTY four years after his death, the 

memory of Robert Nester Marley 

lives on. It has always been that 

way since the Jamaican born global 

reggae star succumbed to cancer at a Miami 

hospital in the USA on May 11, 1981. 

Today, rather than dim, Marley in death 

has assumed legend status. 

Bouncer Wale 

Babalola turns 

music promoter 

By Ovwe Medeme 

NIGERIAN born bouncer, Wale 

Babalola has floated his own music 

promotion outfit, Fathia Promotion 

and Entertainment, based in the Washington 

DC, United States. Wale, who dumped 

his job as a bouncer and body guard to float 

the promotional outfit revealed that he has 

worked for some clubs and some society 

bigwigs in the US. 

According to him, his new outfit organises 

concerts, promotes musicians and provide 

entertainment consultancy.The Nigerian 

artistes he had promoted include 9ice, Wasiu 

Alabi Pasuma, Olamide, K1, Sule Alao 

Malaika among Others. 

He speaks with The Nation on how he discovers 

the artistes he is promoting. “I always 

travel to Africa especially Nigeria to 

scout for good artistes and I arrange their 

trip to the US for performances. Sometimes 

I collaborate or arrange with other promoters 

either in the US or in Nigeria,” Babalola 

stated. 

Meanwhile, his publicist, Wale Adeoba has 

By Joe Agbro Jr. 

May 11 is now globally recognised as 

Bob Marley’s Day. A day observed by 

playing the songs of the reggae maestro. 

In Effurun, Delta State, RasOrbada 

Clark, a Brazil-based Nigeria hospitality 

guru and CEO of BemVindo Hotel and 

• Wale Babalola 

revealed that Fathia Promotion and Entertainment 

is planning a big show in Nigerian 

later this year. He said; “We have started 

plans to throw a big show in Nigeria come 

December. Right now, we are reaching out 

to potential sponsors who might be interested 

in supporting us.” 

P.Scholes, Uloma out of Nigerian Idol 5 

T 

WO more contestants, P.Scholes and 

By Joe Agbro Jr. 

Uloma, have been evicted out of the 

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi 


Remembering Marley, 34 

years after 

Suites is among those out to celebrate 34 

years of the legend’s passing in the country. 

Speaking recently, Clark said the intention 

is to revive reggae music in Delta 

State. 

Marley’s influence on the black race and 

Africa is unquestionable. And songs such 

as Africa United, Exodus, Redemption Song 

and Zimbabwe bear testimony to that fact. 

“Certainly, Marley’s music has potency 

and a commitment which goes far beyond 

simple entertainment,” said Fred Zindi, 

a professor at University of Zimbabwe, in 

the April edition of Forbes Africa. “He 

now enjoys a special place in Third World 

culture; an artist who directly identifies 

with the black African struggle,” he adds. 

Today, would Marley cringe at what 

Zimbabwe has become? And while his desire 

to have marijuana legalised is beginning 

to bear fruit as many western countries 

are championing decriminalising the 

drug, with his native Jamaica also having 

a similar aspiration, his lamentation 

in So Much Trouble In The World perhaps 

remains the same. 

“There is still so much trouble in the 

world,” said Los-Angeles based-Neville 

Garrick, Marley’s friend and art director 

who created covers for some of Marley’s 

albums. “If you looked at the footage on 

CNN of what was happening here, you 

could say ‘nothing change, nothing 

strange.’ Bob’s music is as relevant as it 

was 30 years ago. He never wrote throwaway 

lyrics; he wrote what I call splices 

OLUMUYIWA Olofinkuade 

Olajide, known as Jazzman 

Olofin, who recently announced 

his return to the music scene, has said that 

he is coming with loads of projects. 

The artiste, also the CEO of Jazzman 

Olofin Entertainment, revealed that he 

will be dropping an album before the 

year runs out. He is also said to be presently 

busy with the development of a new 

television programme, the content of 

which he is yet to reveal. 

Speaking recently in an interview with 

HipTV, the artiste said that he is trying 

to study the trend in the industry at the 

moment before dropping the album. The 

album release, he says, will be preceded 

by the release of his singles. 

His new single, OmoAiyee according to 

the artiste is the first of a series of new 

songs that will be released. 

Jazzman, known for his collaboration 

with celebrated Juju music star, 

AdewaleAyuba, on a song titled Raise the 

Roof, used to be a member of the popular 

hip hop group, X Appeal along with his 

former partner, Lexy Doo back in the 

early 2000s. 

of life.” 

Clips of his life are expected to be featured 

in a new musical, Marley written 

and directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah. 

Scheduled to premiere on May 13 at Center 

Stage, Baltimore, US, with a YouTube 

star in the title role and a large number of 

seasoned, New York-based cast, Marley 

which has been planned for over one year 

is backed by outside investors and the 

producers are headed by Chris Blackwell, 

the British founder of Island Records, the 

dynamic label that signed Marley in 1973. 

Born on February 6, 1945 in Nine Mile, 

Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, to Norval 

Sinclair Marley and Cedella Booker, Bob 

lived there till he was 12. He and his 

childhood friend, Bunny Wailer, played 

music at Stepney Primary and Junior 

High School. At 12, he moved to 

Trenchtown. In 1963, Bob Marley, 

Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Junior 

Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry 

Smith, now in a musical group, experimented 

with various names – Teenagers, 

The Wailing Rudeboys, The Wailing 

Wailers, and finally The Wailers. 

Their single Simmer Down for the 

Coxsone label became a Jamaican hit in 

February 1964 and sold an estimated 

70,000 copies. 

In 1966, Marley married Rita Anderson. 

He had three children but would 

have 11 children listed as his on the family 

website. 

Jazzman Olofin has hands full 

host of energetic performances to the admiration 

of the judges and fans alike. 

fifth season of the ongoing Nigerian 

Idol TV Reality Show, season five. By their In addition to Sther, six other contestants 

eviction, the two contestants have lost the remain in contention for the top prize. 

chance to win the highly coveted N7.5m They include Ogunmoyero Modolowamu 

prize money and other prizes. 

(Dolu), Oyinkepreye Deborah Toun 

Show anchor, Illrhmz announced their (Preye), Godson Goodluck (Classic 

names during the weekly eviction show Tunez), Ogunrombi Kunle (K-Peace), 

held at the OMG Dream Studios, Lagos at Adigwe Brenda Ada (Brenda), and Esethe 

weekend. 

Amadasun Imuetinyan (Nex2). 

This brings the number of evictees to five The seven altogether will face further 

after three others namely Prime, Modele eviction via public voting process to determine 

the eventual winner of the N7.5 

and Ayoka were evicted last weekend. 

The duo, alongside Sther, polled the million cash reward, a brand new car, a 

least number of votes and were accordingly 

expected to exit the Show, but the Universal Music label and some high-end 

recording deal worth N7.5 million with 

judges threw at Sther a lifeline to stage a devices. 

comeback to the show. 

Nigerian Idol season 5 is sponsored by 

Sther’s journey on the Show appears to Etisalat Nigeria, Payporte, Cool Fm, 

correspond with the proverbial cat with Tantalizers, Cadbury Nigeria, Zaron, 

nine lives. The Port Harcourt-based tomboy 

emerged as the face of the Show’s Suites. It airs on terrestrial and satellite 

Dabur Toothpaste, So-Klin, ORS and Ellis 

themed transformation after putting up a TV stations on Saturdays and Sundays. • P.Scholes • Uloma 

• Jazzman Olofin


53 

NEWS 

Five babies delivered in Sokoto IDPs camp 

F 

IVE babies were delivered 

at the Internally 

Displaced Persons 

(IDPs) camp at Kalambaina, 

Sokoto State, last 

weekend, the National Emergency 

Management Agency 

(NEMA) said yesterday. 

NEMA Assistant Head for 

Sokoto Zonal Operations 

Office, Mr Thickman Tanimu, 

told reporters that they are 

three girls and two boys. 

He said two were delivered 

on May 7, on transit to 

Sokoto; two on May 8 and 

one on May 9. The mothers 

and children were hale and 

hearty, he added. 

Tanimu said 2,000 IDPs, 

including the new babies, 

were evacuated by the agency 

from Geidam in Yobe State 

on Wednesday, May 6, to 

Sokoto State. 

He said nearly 80 per cent 

of the affected people were 

from Kebbi State while the 

others were from Sokoto 

State. 

Taminu said: “They were 

earlier displaced due to insurgent 

activities in Doron- 

Saraki backs 

Kwara govt to 

outlaw thuggery 

From Adekunle Jimoh, 

Ilorin 

AFORMER 

Kwara 

State governor, Senator 

Bukola Saraki, 

has said he will support the 

state government to outlaw 

lawlessness and restore 

peace to trouble spots. 

The senator representing 

Kwara Central spoke yesterday 

against the backdrop 

of the recent fracas in Ilorin, 

the state capital, when he 

paid a condolence visit to 

victims of the street disturbances. 

Saraki had donated N3 

million to heads of the five 

families, whose homes were 

torched during the fracas at 

Agbarere and Ita-Ajia areas 

of Ilorin. 

At Agbarere Quarters, the 

heads of the five families 

said three persons died and 

several property destroyed. 

Saraki gave each affected 

family N500,000 while the 

head of the family at Ita-Ajia 

also got N500,000. 

The senator also donated 

N250,000 to the Magaji-Aare 

of Ilorin, Alhaji Aremu Subair, 

whose vehicle was vandalised 

by the hoodlums. 

He said: “On the basis of 

that, whatever needs to be 

done - either law or executive 

action - I am sure the 

state will do that. We will 

support anything that will 

ensure the sustainability of 

this level of peace and tranquility. 

Baga in Borno State and they 

fled to Gegeme in Difa State, 

Niger Republic, as refugees. 

“However, they were also 

unfortunately deported back 

to Geidam in Yobe State, after 

an insurgent attack at 

their IDPs camp in Niger Republic. 

“It was from Geidam that 

the IDPs were screened by 

NEMA and security agencies, 

and the agency evacuated 

them to Sokoto.” 

He said the affected persons 

from Sokoto State had 

almost been evacuated by the 

state government to their 

towns and villages in the 23 

local government areas. 

Tanimu regretted that the 

IDPs from Kebbi State were 

reportedly “disowned” by 

Governor Saidu Dakingari. 

He was quoted as saying 

that the IDPs from his state 

were not indigenes of the 

state and might be insurgents. 

The governor had also reportedly 

set up a committee 

to screen the IDPs from the 

state at the Sokoto State camp 

before evacuating them. 

Kwara baby’s ‘kidnap’: Police detain 

70-year-old woman 

A-70-YEAR-old woman 

is in the custody 

of the Kwara State 

Police Command for allegedly 

kidnapping a threeyear-old 

baby. 

The victim, whose name 

was given as Fatiah Mustapha, 

was declared missing 

on March 25. 

The police gave the suspected 

kidnapper’s name as 

Zenab Alabi. 

The command’s spokesperson 

Ajayi Okesanmi, an 

Assistant Superintendent of 

HERE were 63 unaccompanied 

children 

and six expect- Tant mothers among the 

people rescued from the 

Sambisa Forest in Borno 

State, who are in camp in 

Malkohi, Yola, Adamawa 

State, the National Emergency 


(NEMA), said yesterday. 

MBATTLED Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu 

and impeached Speaker Adamu Usman have 

moved to persuade members of the House of As- 

Esembly to stop further impeachment in the Assembly. 

The duo reportedly sought help from a former Head of 

State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and a first-class monarch 

to make the lawmakers drop their impeachment 

moves. 

The face-off between the lawmakers and the former 

Speaker and other principal officers, on the one hand, is 

perceived to be a cold war. 

Their relationship with the governor had taken a new 

turn. The governor and the Speaker are now seeking judicial 

protection to keep their offices. 

Our correspondent learnt that the monarch summoned 

the lawmakers from his zone to his palace to placate them 

to rescind their decision on the impeached Speaker. 

•Some of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Northeast at their camp in Sokoto...yesterday PHOTO: NAN 

One killed as Fulani herdsmen invade 

Benue community 

NE person has been 

confirmed dead and 

10 others injured at OIkyoawen’s Moon Ward in 

Kwande Local Government 

Area of Benue State, when 

suspected Fulani herdsmen 

attacked the village. 

An eyewitness told our 

From Uja Emmanuel, 

Makurdi 

reporter that the suspected 

Fulani herdsmen stormed 

Ikyoawen at 1pm yesterday 

when most of the villagers 

From Adekunle Jimoh, 

Ilorin 

Police (ASP), confirmed the 

arrest of the suspect yesterday 

in Ilorin, the state capital 

Ḣe said the victim had 

been released to her parents. 

Addressing reporters, a 

relative of the girl’s mother, 

Mrs. Maryam Abdulganiyu, 

said the girl was found at a 

Most of the children are 

severely malnourished and 

have eye infections, 

NEMA’s Director-General 

Muhammad Sani Sidi, said. 

He assured, during a visit 

to the camp with the 

United Nation Resident 

Coordinator in Nigeria, 

Mr. Daouda Toure, that the 

rescued women and chil- 

had gone to Jato Aka Market. 

Allegedly armed with sophisticated 

weapons, the invaders 

set 20 houses ablaze, 

shot and killed a resident. 

worship place, popularly 

called Ori-Oke, at Basin area 

of the metropolis. 

She said the suspect initially 

claimed that the missing 

child was her grandchild 

but later said she 

found her wandering about 

and she picked her up, using 

her to collect alms 

around town. 

Mrs. Abdulganiyu said the 

septuagenarian claimed that 

she used the proceeds from 

the alms to feed and buy 

wears for the child. 

She added that on Thursday, 

May 7, Mallam Isa, the 

grandfather of the victim, 

saw the 70-year-old woman 

with the girl. 

“He told one elder on the 

mountain that the girl in the 

hand of the woman that was 

coming to the mountain was 

the cause of his coming to 

the place to seek spiritual 

help on how to locate her 

whereabouts.” 

63 unaccompanied kids rescued from Sambisa Forest 

dren would receive social, 

psychological and health 

support before they are reintegrated 

with their families. 

Sidi said the agency had 

engaged tailors to sew at 

least five sets of clothes for 

each of the rescued women 

and children because most 

of them had only the 

Impeachment: Abdulsalami, Emir plead for Aliyu, Speaker 

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna 

He was also said to have pleaded with them to stop 

further impeachment moves against the governor. 

The royal father pleaded with the six of the nine lawmakers 

from his zone to forgive Aliyu and Usman. 

He reportedly urged them to allow the two men complete 

their terms. 

The first class ruler was said to have begged the lawmakers 

to note that “to err is human and forgiving, divine”. 

The source at the meeting said the Emir was shocked 

when the lawmakers reeled out their grievances, including 

non-release of legitimate allowances to the Assembly 

since January, the inability of the principal to ensure 

the welfare of members and other workers and the continued 

occupation of the Assembly complex by armed 

policemen. 

The Kwande Divisional 

Police Officer (DPO), who 

declined to speak on the 

matter, confirmed the attack. 

He said security men had 

been deployed in the area, 

adding that normalcy had 

returned to the village. 

clothes they wore. 

He said a mobile clinic 

had been deployed for 

medical screening to identify 

those who need treatment, 

while the agency, in 

collaboration with UN 

agencies, had mobilised a 

team of experts in psycho 

trauma counselling and 

medical doctors to provide 

medical care to the rescued. 

Taure told the rescued 

women and children that 

the world and their families 

had missed them, adding 

that the UN agencies 

would support the Nigerian 

government in providing 

their needs to facilitate 

their reintegration with 

their communities. 

He said the UN had directed 

its relevant agencies 

to provide the needed assistance 

and support to 

them. 

Infant feeding, children’s 

clothes, diapers and sanitation 

items have also been 

provided to 21 nursing 

mothers. 

‘Intervene in 

Benue/Taraba 

crisis’ 

From Blessing Olaifa, 

Assistant Editor, Abuja 

A NON-governmental 

organisation (NGO), the 

G20 Club, Abuja, has urged 

the Federal Government to 

intervene in the violence 

between the Tiv of Benue 

State and the Jukun of 

Taraba State. 

The group also urged 

Benue and Taraba state 

governments to reintroduce 

the Joint Security Task 

Force (JSTF) to check 

incessant hostilities in their 

border communities. 

The clashes, which have 

claimed scores of lives and 

property worth millions of 

naira, erupted in the last 

two weeks, following 

disagreements between the 

two major tribes in the two 

neighbouring states. 

In a statement at the end 

of its emergency meeting 

in Abuja at the weekend, 

members of the group 

condemned the fresh 

hostilities in the communities. 

Tent classes 

for IDPs kids 

THE Yobe State Emergency 


(SEMA), in partnership with 

the United Nations Children’s 

Fund (UNICEF), will 

set up tent classes for children 

in Internally Displaced 

Persons (IDPS) camp. 

The SEMA Director of 

Planning, Relief and Disaster 

General, Alhaji Bulau 

Geidam, spoke yesterday in 

an interview with the News 

Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 

in Damaturu, the state 

capita. 

Geidam, who is also the 

Administrator of IDPs 

camp, said the measure was 

part of effort of the state 

government to ensure that 

children in the camp acquire 

basic education. 

He said the agency was 

targeting to enrol 2,600 

children in the IDPs camp 

for the programme, adding 

that more facilities would 

be created to accommodate 

additional children.

54 

NEWS 


•The Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra State, Mr. Sunday Ajayi (middle), Rev. Fr. Patrick Okafor (fourth left) and Rev. Fr. Cajetan Obiekezie (fourth right) and other officials 

of the FRSC after a thanksgiving mass to mark the end of the United Nations Decade of Action at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Amawbia, Awka... at the weekend 

Pipeline vandalised 

in Arepo, Atlas Cove 

FEARS of worsening fuel crisis were rife yesterday as 

suspected vandals ruptured pipelines in Arepo, Ogun State, 

and the Atlas Cove in Lagos. 

Detectives on a surveillance mission captured scenes of a 

tragedy waiting to happen, with scores of suspected vandals 

scooping petrol gushing out of the ruptured pipelines at Akimbo 

Village in Atlas Cove, Lagos, and Arepo in Ogun. 

A video recording obtained yesterday showed petrol gushing 

out at the site of a ruptured pipe at Arepo, spreading across a 

wide expanse of land in streams and gullies. 

Past pipeline explosions in the area had claimed hundreds of 

lives. Long queues remained at many fuel stations at the weekend. 

Some were selling petrol at N145 per litre, instead of the official 

N87. The development has raised questions about the multi-billion 

naira contract that the Federal Government recently signed with 

ex-militants and self determination groups to take over the 

protection of the pipelines from the Police and the Nigerian 

Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) since April 27. 

Those in charge of the areas where pipelines were ruptured 

yesterday were expected to have received a two-month payment 

of N9.3billion through the Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation (NNPC) amid fears that the contract could be 

terminated by the in-coming government. 

Appeal Court overrules 

order winding-up Afribank 


THE Court of Appeal in Lagos has nullified an order of a Federal 

High Court, ordering the winding-up of Afribank Nigeria 

Plc, saying the case be reassigned to another judge for retrial. 

Sequel to a petition by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation 

(NDIC) that Afribank be wound-up since its license had been 

withdrawn by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the trial court on 

July 2, 2012, issued an order winding-up the bank. 

The lower court’s order was issued despite the fact that the case 

between parties was fixed for mention and there was a pending suit 

challenging the CBN’s action. 

The decision of the trial court did not go down well with 

Afribank’s shareholders, who instituted an appeal at the appellate 

court for the setting aside of the lower court’s ruling. 

In the appeal filed before the Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo 

led panel, the appellants, Igbrude Oke, Rasak Mumini, Akinsanya 

Sunday, Suleiman Babatunde, Igba Olatomide, for themselves and 

other Afribank shareholders, averred that the trial court erred in 

law when it gave the wind-up order, on a day a matter was fixed for 

mention. 

They prayed the appeal court to determine whether it was open 

to the lower court to strike out the appellants’ hearing notice of 

preliminary objection to the competency of the suit and/or entertain 

the petition comprised in the suit without any prior notice to the 

contrary, on a date in which the suit was expressly and specifically 

fixed for mention, by the court. 

Arguing that the lower court had earlier given a ruling to the 

effect that: “There are suits that may be prejudiced”, the appellants 

urged the appellate court to determine if the judgment was valid, 

since the said ruling was not set aside before the order given. 

They argued that they had drawn the court’s attention that there 

were pending cases against the take over of Afribank, which would 

be prejudiced if the lower court goes ahead to wind-up the bank. 

The appellants averred that on February 2, 2012, the trial court 

adjourned the case for mention despite being informed of pending 

applications, including a preliminary objection. 

When the matter came up on February 2, the court, the appellant 

alleged further, adjourned the case for mention to April 2, as well as 

July 2, 2012. They claimed that in the absence of the shareholders’ 

lawyer on July 2, 2012, the trial court proceeded to hear the argument 

on the petition and preliminary objection and wound-up the bank. 

The Nation man loses dad 

THE death has been announced of Mr. Frank Esezobor, father 

of Mr. Godfrey Iriogbe of The Nation’s advertisement 

department. 

The late Esezobor died on April 27. He was 76. He is survived 

by wife, children and grand children. 

Burial arrangements, according to Mr. Iriogbe will be announced 

later by the family. 

Jonathan leaving solid economic 

legacies, says Okonjo-Iweala 

PRESIDENT Goodluck 

Jonathan is leaving a 

solid economic legacy, 

Minister of Finance Dr Ngozi 

Okonjo-Iweala said yesterday. 

According to her, in spite of 

the various challenges facing 

the country, the economy will 

not collapse. 

The Minister spoke in an interview 

according to a statement 

by her Special Adviser on 

Communications, Mr. Paul 

Nwabuikwu. 

She said: “Despite the economic 

challenges the country 

is facing, the Jonathan administration 

is leaving some solid 

ACHIEFTAIN of the Peoples 

Democratic Party 

(PDP), Buruji Kashamu, 

hass spoken of how he uncovered 

alleged plot by the United 

States (U.S.) to abduct and 

transfer him to the country for 

trial over his purported complicity 

in illicit drug deals. 

Kashamu, now a senatorelect, 

representing Ogun East, 

said a Senior Advocate of Nigeria 

(names withheld), who is 

“very close” to the Attorney 

General of the Federation 

(AGF), Mohammed Adoke 

(SAN), leaked the plot to his 

lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, on a 

flight from Lagos to Abuja. 

He said this in a letter to the 

National Human Rights Commission 

(NHRC), in which he is 

seeking the commission’s intervention. 

Kashamu, in the letter, written 

for him by Oluyede, also alleged 

of plot to eliminate him by 

some political enemies. 

He also mentioned the 

name of the Acting Inspector 

General of Police (IGP), Solomon 

Arase, in the alleged plot. 

Former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo had, in a December 

2013 letter to President Goodluck 

Jonathan, alleged that 

Kashamu was wanted in the 

U.S. for his purported complicity 

in drug related offences. 

Kashamu, who denied the 

allegation, later initiated a N20 

billion libel suit against Obasanjo 

before the High Court of the 

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 

Abuja, over the allegation. 

The trial judge, Justice Valentine 

Ashi, on the basis of the 

suit, stopped Obasanjo from 

publishing and selling his book 

- “My Watch,” which Kashamu 

claimed contained similar 

allegations. 

economic legacies for the incoming 

Buhari government. 

“So the allegations that the 

economy is in ruins are absolutely 

untrue. 

“The significant achievements 

in several sectors attest 

to this. We cannot take away 

the fact that the Jonathan administration, 

in spite of the 

challenges caused by 50 per 

cent decline in the price of oil, 

has made a clear and measurable 

difference in many important 

areas and anyone who 

says nothing has been done 

and nothing is being left behind 

is being very unfair to facts and 

to history. 

“Attempts to rewrite history 

will not stand. You cannot just 

wipe the slate clean for political 

reasons. We are not perfect 

but no one can take away the 

fact that we are leaving some 

good legacies behind.” 

The minister also advised 

politicians and opinion leaders 

not to make negative calls on 

the state of the economy because 

negative and incorrect 

comments on the economy can 

have negative impact on the exchange 

rate and the stock market 

in addition to reducing investor 

confidence. 

“These negative and unsubstantiated 

comments are not 

wise because they can lead to 

what we do not want for the 

economy. 

“There is nothing wrong 

with factual assessments of the 

economy; I have always told 

Nigerians the truth about the 

economy. But sweeping and 

negative statements are not in 

the interest of the country. 

“The statements being made 

by some personalities about 

the economy collapsing are not 

only incorrect they are also potentially 

dangerous,” she said. 

How I uncovered plot to abduct me, says Kashamu 

•Senator-elect petitions NHRC 

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja 

The court lifted the restraining 

orders against Obasanjo on 

April 15, with the substantive 

case still pending. 

Part of the letter by Kashamu 

reads: “On a flight to the 

Federal Capital, Abuja from 

Lagos sometime in October 

2014, a colleague and friend of 

our principal partner, R. A. 

Oluyede, a Senior Advocate of 

Nigeria (SAN), who is also very 

close to the AGF, informed Mr. 

Oluyede of the tremendous 

pressure that Chief (Olusegun) 

Obasanjo was bringing upon 

the AGF for the extradition of 

Prince Kashamu and that, in 

one discussion between the 

AGF and Chief Obasanjo, witnessed 

by him (the SAN), Chief 

Obasanjo had boasted that he 

was making arrangements with 

some U.S. officials in the region 

to have Prince Kashamu abducted 

and flown in a private 

plane to the U.S. 

“He advised that Mr. 

Oluyede tell Prince Kashamu, 

known widely to be his client, 

to be very careful. Prince 

Kashamu’s enquiry about this 

information revealed that indeed, 

there had been moves 

made by U.S. officials within 

the region, to secure the assistance 

of the head of the INTER- 

POL division in Nigeria, Mr. 

Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector 

General of Police, for the 

arrest and delivery of Kashamu 

to the U.S. officials for 

transportation to the U.S. without 

following the due process 

required by the Nigeria Extradition 

Act. 

“Mr. Kashamu’s informant 

revealed that Arase has confirmed 

that one Donna Chabot 

approached him in January 

2015. The said Ms Chabot is an 

Attache, Department of Homeland 

Security, Immigration and 

Customs Enforcement at the 

American Embassy route Des 

Almedies BP 49 Dakar Senegal 

and requested that INTERPOL 

Nigeria assist in the abduction 

of Kashamu for the purpose of 

his forcible transportation to the 

U.S. to face trial before Judge 

Norgel.” 

“The discussion between 

Mr. Arase and Ms Chabot revealed 

that it has become quite 

clear that the U.S. authorities 

have no hope of extraditing 

Prince Kashamu from any 

country in the world in view of 

the failure of the identification 

evidence available to them, 

which has been discredited and 

rejected by the English court. 

“Prince Kashamu has also 

revealed that on the 4th of April 

2015 at about 2pm, he received 

a call from a Nigerian security 

officer, who he had agreed to 

keep anonymous in any proceedings. 

“The said security officer 

stated that he had called to 

warn Prince Kashamu that arrangements 

were almost completed 

for his abduction and 

forcible transportation to the 

U.S. by U.S. security officials in 

the sub-region under the supervision 

of the Head of the FBI, 

West Africa Office, stationed in 

the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, one 

Ahamdi Uche. 

“The entire operation is being 

coordinated from the Homeland 

Security office in Washington 

DC and they have links 

with security apparatus in Belgium, 

Republic of Benin, Senegal, 

Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Conakry, 

England, Germany, all 

countries they believe that 

Prince Kashamu might visit and 

from where they want to be 

ready to abduct him. 

“The moving minds behind 

the operation are Stevan Bunnell, 

the General Counsel of the 

Department, acting on the instigation 

and with support of 

Chief Obasanjo. The two are 

the approving officers for the 

project of effecting Prince 

Kashamu’s abduction, using 

Ms Chabot of the Homeland 

Security office in the Dakar, 

Senegal U.S. Embassy and Mr. 

Ahamdi Uche of the FBI, West 

African office in the U.S. Embassy 

in Abuja. 

Funeral for 

Madam Olubuse 

THE Olubuse royal family 

of Ile-Ife and the Disu 

family of Lagos have 

announced the death of their 

mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, 

great-greatgrandmother, 

sister, cousin 

and in-law, Princess Edith Folasade 

Aina Adefarakan, who 

died on Friday, April 10 at 90. 

There will be a wake and service 

of songs on Friday May 22 

at the family compound, 16–20, 

Igbo-Agbo Street, Ile-Ife by 

5pm. 

Funeral service will hold on 

Saturday, May 23 at The African 

Church Cathedral, Itakogun, 

Ile-Ife by 10am. 

Interment will be at her residence, 

Halleluya House, Off 

Oramfe Road, opposite OAU 

Teaching Hospital Phase 2, Ilesa 

Road, Ile-Ife and reception 

of guests follows at the School 

of Nursing ground, Teaching 

Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife.


55



FOREIGN NEWS 

500 migrants 

rescued off 

Indonesia shores 

ABOAT carrying 

about 500 members 

of Myanmar’s 

Rohingya Muslim 

community has been 

rescued off northern 

Indonesia. 

The boat - with many 

women and children on 

board - was stranded in 

waters off Aceh province 

when it was 

rescued. 

Myanmar - formerly 

known as Burma - 

refuses to recognise 

Rohingya as citizens 

and hundreds of 

thousands have fled 

persecution in recent 

years. 

Their main escape 

route has been the 

jungle border with 

Thailand, but many 

have also fled by sea. 

“We received a report 

from fishermen this 

morning that there were 

boat people stranded,” 

Aceh provincial rescue 

chief Budiawan told 

AFP news agency on 

Sunday. 

“We despatched 

teams there and evacuated 

469 migrants who 

are Rohingya from 

Myanmar and Bangladeshis. 

So far, all of 

them are safe,” he 

added. 

Rohingya Muslims 

have been fleeing 

sectarian violence in 

Myanmar for many 

years. 

In December, the UN 

passed a resolution 

urging Myanmar to give 

access to citizenship for 

the Rohingya, many of 

whom are classed as 

stateless. 

ASAUDI-LED coalition 

rained down 

missiles in Yemen 

from Friday into Saturday, 

an intense attack that a U.N. 

official called a breach of 

international humanitarian 

law. 

The Saudis admitted that 

the latest attack against 

Houthi rebels in Yemen — 

130 airstrikes in a 24-hour 

period — included the targeting 

of schools and hospitals. 

The hospitals and 

schools that were hit functioned 

as weapons storage 

sites, coalition spokesman 

Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri 

said in a statement. 

The operations were 

“targeting headquarters of 

the Houthi leaders,” Asiri 

said. 

Taliban downed Pakistan chopper 

carrying diplomats 

AMILITANT video 

purports to show Taliban 

fighters with a 

surface-to-air missile, claiming 

they used a similar one 

to shoot down a Pakistani 

helicopter carrying 

diplomats.The video, obtained 

by The Associated 

Press, includes a message 

from the Pakistani Taliban 

claiming they fired a missile 

from a distance of 3 kilometres 

(1.9 miles) to down the 

helicopter Friday.”The missile 

hit the tail rotor,” a written 

message in Urdu says at 

the video’s start.The crash 

killed the ambassadors to 

Pakistan from the Philippines 

and Norway and the 

wives of the ambassadors 

from Malaysia and Indonesia, 

as well as three Pakistani 

crew members. Twelve 

passengers, many of them 

diplomats, 

were 

injured.Military officials 

could not be immediately 

reached Sunday. Previously, 

Pakistan said a technical failure 

caused the crash and dismissed 

an earlier Taliban 

claim 

as 

opportunistic.However, the 

surface-to-air missile shown 

in the video appeared real. 

In the video, a masked militant 

discusses the missile’s 

parts, while another portion 

shows what appears to be a 

hand-drawn picture of how 

a missile can strike a helicopter’s 

tail rotor.The video was 

released late Saturday via 

militant websites and corresponded 

to other messages 

distributed by the Pakistani 

Taliban, though the AP could 

not independently verify it. 

Militants in Afghanistan and 

Pakistan do have access to 

surface-to-air missiles.A later 

Taliban statement Sunday 

said fighters’ missile hit the 

rotor as the helicopter 

turned, saving it from being 

destroyed in mid-air.”No 

•Local residents clear the rubble from the ruins of their home in Bhaktapur, Nepal...at the weekend 

U.N. accuses Saudi-led coalition of 

violating international law 

Civilians had been 

warned ahead of time to 

leave the cities of Sadaa, Maran, 

Albiqaa and the border 

area between Saudi Arabia 

and Yemen, Asiri said. 

In addition, the coalition 

spokesman accused the 

Houthi rebels of manning 

checkpoints that prevented 

civilians from leaving, in effect 

using them as human 

shields. 

That rationalization for 

Friday and Saturday airstrikes 

was rejected by Johannes 

Van Der Klaauw, the 

U.N. humanitarian coordinator 

for Yemen. 

“The indiscriminate 

bombing of populated areas, 

with or without prior 

NEPAL: PICKING UP THE PIECES 

warning, is in contravention 

of international humanitarian 

law,” Van Der Klaauw 

said in a statement. 

The U.N. official said he 

was especially concerned 

about the airstrikes on Saada, 

“where scores of civilians 

were reportedly killed 

and thousands were forced 

to flee their homes after the 

coalition declared the entire 

governorate a military target.” 

He also restated that “all 

parties must avoid using 

populated areas as launching 

grounds for attacks.” 

The Saudis say they want 

to restore the Yemeni government, 

a key U.S. ally in 

the fight against al Qaeda, 

which was kicked out of the 

capital by the rebels earlier 

this year. 

But behind this explanation 

lies the influence of Iran 

in the region. The Saudis see 

the Iranian-backed Houthis 

as a threat, analysts say. 

The Yemen conflict has 

claimed more than 1,400 

lives since mid-March and 

nearly 6,000 people have 

been injured, Van Der 

Klaauw said. 

Before the latest round of 

airstrikes, two Houthi officials 

said the coalition 

dropped leaflets warning 

that the Saudis would consider 

the entire governorate of 

Saada as an enemy military 

zone starting Friday night. 

EU draws up plans for military attacks on migrant boats 

T 

HE European Union 

has drawn up plans for 

military attacks in Lib- 

ya to try to curb the influx of 

migrants across the Mediterranean 

by targeting the trafficking 

networks. It is to 

launch a bid on Monday to 

secure a UN mandate for 

armed action in Libya’s territorial 

waters. 

Britain is drafting the UN 

security council resolution 

that would authorise the mis- 

sion, said senior officials in 

Brussels. It would come under 

Italian command, have the participation 

of around 10 EU 

countries, including Britain, 

France, Spain, and Italy, and 

could also drag in Nato although 

there are no plans for 

initial alliance involvement. 

On Monday, Federica 

Mogherini, the EU’s chief foreign 

and security policy coordinator, 

is to brief the UN security 

council in New York on 

the plans for a “chapter seven” 

resolution authorising the use 

of force. The British draft is 

believed to call for the “use of 

all means to destroy the business 

model of the traffickers”. 

This would entail having EU 

vessels in Libyan territorial 

waters, including the Royal 

Navy flagship HMS Bulwark – 

currently in Malta – and deploying 

helicopter gunships to 

“neutralise” identified traffickers’ 

ships used to send tens of 

thousands of migrants from 

sub-Saharan Africa and the 

Middle East on the short but 

highly risky voyage from the 

Libyan coast to the shores of 

southern Italy. 

An MoD spokesperson said: 

“Working closely with Italy and 

EU partners, HMS Bulwark and 

three Royal Naval Merlin Helicopters 

are providing wide ranging 

search and rescue capabilities 

in the Mediterranean, already 

rescuing over 100 people. 

matter if the Pakistani government 

accepts it or not, it 

doesn’t bother us,” the statement 

said. “God willing, we 

will carry out (more) such 

attacks.”Pakistani security 

forces have been battling 

militants in the country’s 

northwestern tribal regions 

bordering Afghanistan for 

the past several years. That 

fighting took on a new urgency 

after a Taliban attack 

in December on a military 

school killed 150 people, 

many of them children.The 

helicopter’s crash site Friday 

in Naltar is several hundred 

kilometres (miles) from the 

North Waziristan tribal 

area, where fighting recently 

has been focused. 

PHOTO: REUTERS 

AThe remarks by 

Faisal Mekdad were 

published Saturday 

in his weekly column for 

the Lebanon-based Al- 

Binaa newspaper. 

U.S. officials say the program 

is part of a broader 

effort to build a force capable 

of fighting Islamic State 

extremists - not President 

Bashar Assad’s forces. Officials 

said Thursday the 

training started in Jordan 

with about 90 rebels. The 

program will expand to 

training sites in Turkey, 

Saudi Arabia and Qatar, 

with 400 fighters completing 

the prescreening process. 

Mekdad said Washington 

is better off helping 

those who are fighting terrorism, 

instead of cooperating 

with what he said 

were terrorists. His government 

refers to all armed 

opposition as “terrorists” 

and accuses Turkey and 

Saudi Arabia of aiding 

them to undermine Assad. 

“In doing so, the United 

States is supporting terrorism, 

and is complicating 

conditions for a political 

solution in Syria,” he 

wrote. “The United States 

Poland votes in 

presidential 

election 

57 

P 

OLAND is voting for 

a new head of state, 

with President 

Bronislaw Komorowski 

hoping to win a second term 

in office. 

Opinion polls put him in 

the lead, but if no candidate 

wins more than 50% of the 

vote there will be a second 

round. 

Mr Komorowski took office 

five years ago after his 

predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, 

died in a plane crash. 

The president has limited 

powers, but is head of the 

armed forces and can veto 

new laws. 

Mr Komorowski, 62, is an 

independent allied with the 

centre-right Civic Platform, 

which has been in government 

since 2007. 

His main challenger is 

Andrzej Duda, from the 

right-wing opposition Law 

and Justice party, which is 

led by former President 

Kaczynski’s twin brother, 

Jaroslaw. 

Rock musician Pawel 

Kukiz looks likely to gather 

protest votes, but has trailed 

the leading pair in opinion 

polls. 

During a period of tension 

with Russia over the 

unrest in Ukraine, President 

Komorowski says he has 

promoted stability. 

“Poles have a need for 

normality, for peace, for security 

and for order,” he said 

at his final rally on Friday. 

“I hope that accord and 

security will win.” 

The presidential vote 

comes ahead of parliamentary 

elections this autumn, 

and may give pointers to 

Civic Platform’s chances of 

retaining power. 

If no candidate wins more 

than 50%, a second round 

will be held on 24 May. 

A total of 11 candidates 

are on the ballot paper 

Syrian official lashes out over 

U.S. training of rebels 

should put its hand in the 

hands of those countries that 

want to fight terrorism instead 

of putting its hands in 

the hands of terrorists and 

those supporting them.” 

Many among the rebels 

have also criticized the program, 

calling it a drop in the 

ocean that would not change 

realities on the ground. 

Syrian rebels have been 

pleading for international 

help - particularly weapons 

- ever since the uprising 

against Assad’s rule that began 

in 2011 devolved into an 

outright civil war. Moderate 

rebels have long said that 

the West’s failure to bolster 

their forces helped fuel the 

rise of militants like the Islamic 

State group. 

Assad’s forces, backed by 

Shiite fighters from Lebanon’s 

Hezbollah and by 

funding and arms from Iran, 

have suffered significant recent 

losses in the south and 

north. Assad vowed recently 

to make a push to regain 

lost territories. 

On Saturday, Syrian TV 

said five civilians were 

killed when rebels shelled a 

government-controlled district 

in the disputed northern 

city of Aleppo.

58 

FOREIGN NEWS 

Parallelism in 

electoral 

outcomes: UK, 

Israel and 

even U.S. 

FTER all the hooplas and anxiety over 

last Thursday’s Parliamentary Election 

A2015 in the United Kingdom, the pollsters 

must by now still be biting their finger-nails, 

wondering what really went awry in what they 

had predicted will be the closest race in the 

country’s electoral history in many decades. 

Conventional wisdom had the political 

haymakers talking about a ‘hung parliament’, 

beating their chest again as to the issues on 

ground and the political exigencies under which 

they flourish. Most pre-election polls suggested 

a neck-and-neck at the end of polling, but this 

did not happen. 

Prime Minister David Cameron himself took 

a well-calculated risk of calling for the general 

elections under the Fixed-Term Parliament Act 

of 2010. There is the heavy shadows of 

lackadaisical support, at worst, suspicion of the 

European Union’s utility for the greater interest, 

if not outright threat, for the continued economic 

development , which according to Cameron, 

the European Union members pose to the 

United Kingdom through its liberal 

employment opportunities for the unemployed 

across the region. This earned him the X word 

as in xenophobia from former Prime Minister 

Tony Blair. 

Anyway, the come has now become and Ed 

Miliband of the Labour Party and Nick Clegg of 

the Liberal Democratic Party are both licking 

their wounds as both have quickly resigned their 

position as leaders of their respective parties. 

When the chips finally came down, Cameron 

–led Conservative Party coasted home with 331 

out of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, 

thereby securing a comfortable parliamentary 

majority for the party for the first time since 

1992, not worrying any more about any unholy 

alliance with Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democratic 

Party with which the Tory has been in a political 

marriage of convenience in the past five years; 

Merkel in Moscow to mark end of WWII 

GERMAN Chancellor 

Angela Merkel has 

attended a wreath- 

laying ceremony in Moscow 

to commemorate the Russians 

killed during World 

War Two. 

Mrs Merkel and other 

Western leaders skipped a 

military parade in Red 

Square on Saturday over tensions 

with Ukraine. 

Russian President 

Vladimir Putin said yesterday 

that a Ukraine peace deal 

was progressing, despite 

problems. 

In an apparent conciliatory 

sign after boycotting the 

military ceremony on Saturday, 

the German chancellor 

flew to the Russian capitalyesterday 

to lay a wreath at the 

grave of the Unknown Soldier, 

close to the Kremlin. 

Mr Putin, in a press conference 

after talks with Angela 

Merkel, said that a peace 

deal agreed in Minsk in February 

was moving forward. 

“Things have become more 

peaceful but there are still 

problems,” he added. 

Mrs Merkel said Russia’s 

annexation of the Crimean 

peninsula had caused “a serious 

setback in our relations”. 

“However history teaches 

us that we must do anything 

possible to resolve conflicts, 

however, difficult they 

may be, peacefully and 

through dialogue,” she added. 

Germany played a key 

Global Focus 

DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor 

sms 08134230367 

daborgu@gmail.com 

call them political strange bed-fellows if you 

may. The Labour party came up with 232 seats 

and Scottish National Party winning 56 of the 

59 seats is now giving greater impetus to leader 

Nicola Sturgeon desire for independence 

referendum for her native Scotland. 

Now there is an uneasy calm within the 

chieftains of the European Union with the 

resounding victory of Tory and Cameron 

renewing his lease on 10 Downing Street for the 

next five years. He has promised to throw his 

country’s continued membership of the EU to a 

nation-wide referendum come 2017; saying he 

is neither necessarily nor adamantly anti-EU 

but he wants major concessions for the UK which 

will include exclusion from the currency Euro, 

not flooding British job market with jobless 

Eastern European immigrants and many more 

concessions. On its part the EU seems not so set 

for any major tinkering with its working 

constitution right now which might shake its 

foundation to its very rubric. But time will tell. 

For now the outcome of the UK Election 2015 

has spared the nation the harrowing horsetradings 

which generally characterise hung 

parliaments in that part of parliamentary 

electoral process with its antecedents for 

instability in government - forming coalitions. 

Still on developments in government 

formation and political party coalitions, look 

no any further than to Israel where elections 

had taken place over seven weeks ago and the 

business of government formation barely scaled 

through at the last minute 12 midnight deadline 

set forth in the Jewish nation’s constitution 

for last Wednesday. 

Israeli news organizations reported last 

week that ‘Mr. Netanyahu had yielded to a 

fringe party, Jewish Home’s demand for the 

Justice Ministry, which the party could use 

to weaken the Supreme Court, emphasize 

Israel’s Jewishness and restrict leftist 

advocacy groups.’ 

•Mr Castro stopped in Rome to meet the Pope on his way back from Moscow 

role negotiating the Minsk 

ceasefire agreement, which 

stipulated an immediate and 

full bilateral ceasefire and the 

withdrawal of heavy weapons 

by both sides. 

However, the deal has 

since been violated many 

times. 

Saturday’s parade was a 

chance for Russia to show off 

its military might 

Russia staged its biggest 

ever military parade on Saturday, 

to mark the 70th anniversary 

of victory over Nazi 

Germany, with thousands of 

troops marching across Red 

Square and new armour on 

display for the first time. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, 

President Pranab 

Mukherjee of India and UN 

PHOTO: REUTERS 

Now there is an uneasy calm 

within the chieftains of the 

European Union with the 

sounding victory of the Labour 

Party in UK and Cameron 

renewing his lease on 10 

Downing Street for the next 

five years. He has promised to 

throw his country’s continued 

membership of the EU to a 

nation-wide referendum come 

2017; saying he is neither 

necessarily nor adamantly 

anti-EU but he wants major 

concessions for the UK 

Having won 30 seats out of the 120-seat 

legislative chamber called Knesset at the 

March 7 elections, Prime Minister Benjamin 

‘Bibi’ Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party was 

gloating all over the place then, only to take 

the full gamut of the constitutionallyallowed 

six weeks before he can secure a 

ruling coalition to form a government at 

the last minute. 

Apart from Nigeria’s Governors Forum 

Presidential election of May 2013, at which 

forensic and algorithm permutations have 

to be deployed to determine whether the 

majority of 19 scored by Rivers Governor 

Rotimi Amechi is more or less than the Plateau 

State Jonah Jang’s 16 votes or Ekiti State House 

of Assembly where presently seven members 

are legislating for bolekaja Governor Ayodele 

Fayose’s government, as ‘ majority’ over 19 

honourable members, nowhere else can, as in 

Israel, be chest-beating for winning 30 in 120- 

seat parliament and call itself a majority. Yet 

Secretary General Ban Kimoon 

were among more 

than 20 world leaders who attended 

the event. 

But most Western leaders 

stayed away in protest 

against Russia’s role in eastern 

Ukraine and its annexation 

of Crimea last year. 

President Putin seemed to 

shrug off the Western boycott 

of the military parade. 

“Everyone we wanted to see 

was here,” he said in televised 

remarks on Saturday. 

Relations between Germany 

and Russia, which 

share strong economic and 

trade links, have reached a 

low point over the Ukraine 

crisis and subsequent EU sanctions 

against Moscow. 

CUBAN President Raul 

Castro has said he was 

so impressed by a 

Vatican audience with Pope 

Francis that he might return 

to the faith he was born into. 

Mr Castro praised the 

pontiff’s wisdom, adding: “I 

will resume praying and 

turn to the Church again if 

the Pope continues in this 

vein.” 

He thanked the Pope for 

brokering a rapprochement 

between Cuba and the US. 

The communist leader 

had stopped at the Vatican 

after attending Russia’s 

World War Two Victory 

Day in Moscow. 


Taliban downs Pakistan 

chopper carrying diplomats 

AMILITANT video 

purports to show 

Taliban fighters 

with a surface-to-air missile, 

claiming they used a similar 

one to shoot down a Pakistani 

helicopter carrying diplomats. 

The video, obtained by 

The Associated Press, includes 

a message from the 

Pakistani Taliban claiming 

they fired a missile from a 

distance of 3 kilometres (1.9 

miles) to down the helicopter 

Friday.” 

The missile hit the tail rotor,” 

a written message in 

Urdu says at the video’s 

start.The crash killed the ambassadors 

to Pakistan from 

the Philippines and Norway 

that is the intricate nature; call it the beauty of 

coalition building in parliamentary 

democracy, which is predicated on intense 

lobbying and jostling for key ministerial 

positions before the coalition- builder can 

coalesce fragmented, sometimes ideologically 

incongruent strange bed-fellows all in an 

attempt to form a government. It could be 

tricky and messy; sometimes a game of 

political chess in which heads of deep party 

political ideologues could be sacrificed on the 

platter of negotiating expediency. But at the 

end of the day, as Niccolo Machiavelli will 

rightly remind us in his classic The Prince, the 

end justifies the means. 

Attaining the highest office in the land, any 

land, sometimes have differing intervention 

modalities that can turn night into nightmares. 

We still remember the United States of 

America’s 2000 Presidential elections between 

Vice President Al Gore Jr of the Democratic 

Party and George W. Bush of the Republican 

Party. 

America’s electoral laws require a winner 

in the Presidential Election, not only to secure 

the majority of the popular vote but more 

importantly to secure majority of what is called 

the electoral vote. Call it the night of the 

political long-knives. The major news 

networks kept announcing exit polls and at a 

time some declared Al Gore Jr winner only 

for them to denounce such almost 

immediately. It will eventually end up at the 

door steps of the Nine Wise Men( and women, 

of course)-The United States Supreme Courtafter 

re-counts of the Florida votes were 

stopped ‘in the interest of the nation’, thereby 

giving Bush Jr a contentious win with a total 

popular vote of 50,456,002 and electoral vote 

of 266 whereas Gore with popular vote of 50, 

999,, 897 could not pull through the electoral 

vote of Florida ending short with 271 electoral 

votes, thus denied the tenancy to the most 

powerful address in the world 1600 

Pennsylvania Avenue-The White House in 

Washington D.C. 

All these are lessons learnt in different 

societies when it comes to electoral matters 

and procedures. As Nigeria continues to 

receive kudos all over the world over the 

outcome of our Election 2015, it only behoves 

us to put our experience in perspective by the 

winners being magnanimous in victory and 

losers proud and humble, knowing full well 

that they’ve had a good fight and can come out 

another day to give another shot at any office 

they so desire. 

See ya. 

The Catholic Church has 

maintained ties with Havana 

since the 1959 revolution. 

The Pope will visit Cuba 

on his way to the US in September. 

For Pope Francis, the restoration 

of relations between 

the US and Cuba - 

agreed during secret talks at 

the Vatican - has been a major 

diplomatic achievement, 

says the BBC’s David Willey 

in Rome. 

The US had imposed a 

trade embargo after Cuba’s 

revolution, which it began 

to lift late last year. 

After the 50-minute pri- 

and the wives of the ambassadors 

from Malaysia and Indonesia, 

as well as three Pakistani 

crew members. 

Twelve passengers, many 

of them diplomats, were 

injured.Military officials 

could not be immediately 

reached Sunday. Previously, 

Pakistan said a technical failure 

caused the crash and dismissed 

an earlier Taliban 

claim as opportunistic. 

However, the surface-toair 

missile shown in the video 

appeared real. In the video, 

a masked militant discusses 

the missile’s parts, while 

another portion shows what 

appears to be a hand-drawn 

picture of how a missile can 

strike a helicopter’s tail rotor. 

Pope Francis inspires Cuba’s Castro 

towards Church 

vate audience on Sunday, Mr 

Castro told reporters: “The 

pontiff is a Jesuit, and I, in 

some way, am too. I studied 

at Jesuit schools.” 

After suggesting he might 

turn again to the Church, he 

added: “I mean what I say.” 

Both Mr Castro and his 

brother, revolutionary leader 

Fidel Castro, were baptised 

as Roman Catholics, but most 

Church activities were suppressed 

after the revolution. 

Francis will be the third 

Pope to travel to Cuba, following 

visits there by John 

Paul II in 1998 and Benedict 

XVI in 2012.


FOREIGN NEWS 

Super Typhoon Noul makes landfall in 

Northeast Philippines 

S 

UPER Typhoon 

Noul roared over 

the northeastern 

Philippines yesterday, 

prompting evacuations and 

warnings of flooding and 

landslides in the mountainous 

region. 

The storm, referred to as 

Dodong in the Philippines, 

hit land Sunday afternoon 

at the northeastern tip of 

the island of Luzon, near 

the small town of Santa 

Ana, according to PAGASA, 

the Philippine government 

agency that monitors the 

weather. 

Noul’s outer bands had 

lashed Luzon’s eastern 

coast through the afternoon 

as it drew nearer, packing 

maximum sustained winds 

of about 260 kph (160 mph) 

and gusts as strong as 315 

kph (195 mph). 

“The wind and the rain 

are just steadily building up 

and they have been for the 

last couple of hours,” said 

storm chaser James Reynolds 

from Santa Ana as the 

storm approached. 

Authorities said they relocated 

more than 1,200 residents 

of vulnerable areas to 

evacuation centers ahead of 

the typhoon’s arrival. 

PAGASA had issued its 

highest storm warning for 

the northeastern part of Cagayan 

province and islands 

off its coast, as well as lower 

level warnings for the wider 

region. It said the super 

typhoon could bring flash 

floods and landslides. 

In Santa Ana, a town of 

about 30,000 people, fishermen 

brought in their boats 

earlier in the day, and businesses 

boarded up their windows, 

Reynolds told CNN. 

“People here are taking it 

very seriously,” he said. 

Over roughly two days, 

Noul could dump as much 

as half a meter (20 inches) of 

rain on some areas, almost 

the same amount that London 

gets in a year, said meteorologist 

Pedram Javaheri. 

The affected region is far 

more sparsely populated 

than urban areas farther 

south. 

The rough seas caused by 

the storm prompted many 

ships to take shelter in ports, 

leaving more than 5,000 

people stranded across the 

nation, according to the national 

disaster management 

agency. 

While Noul has been 

menacing the northeastern 

Philippines, Mount Bulusan 

has been spewing ash in 

southern Luzon. 

Farmers in Luzon were 

hoping the storm would 

weaken while still providing 

much needed rains after 

a dry spell in the region, 

according to the charity 

World Vision. 

Situated in a vulnerable 

part of the Pacific, the Philippines 

experiences an average 

of 20 typhoons a year, 

five of them destructive, according 

to the Asian Disaster 

Reduction Centre. 

59 

Young girls present 

the Queen with 

flowers after the 

service in 

Westminster Abbey 

on the final day of 

70th anniversary 

commemorations of 

VE Day...yesterday 

PHOTO:AFP 

South Africa’s opposition elects first 

black leader 

S 

OUTH Africa’s main 

opposition party, the 

Democratic Alliance 

(DA), has elected its first black 

leader. 

Mmusi Maimane, 34, succeeds 

Helen Zille, who resigned 

unexpectedly last 

month. 

He faced party chairman 

Wilmot James for the job, and 

was elected at a party conference 

in Port Elizabeth. 

The DA has long battled 

perceptions it is a white party 

representing those who benefited 

from apartheid, the BBC’s 

Andrew Harding says. 

The party increased its 

share of the vote in the 2014 

elections, but has struggled to 

present itself as an alternative 

to the ANC, who have governed 

South Africa since the end 

S 

COTTISH First Minister 

Nicola Sturgeon 

has called for new tax 

and welfare powers to be devolved 

to Scotland as a “priority”. 

Ms Sturgeon told the BBC 

such powers would allow the 

Scottish government to grow 

the economy. 

She added that she had spoken 

“briefly” to Prime Minister 

David Cameron but more 

discussions were required. 

Ms Sturgeon also said her 

party now provided the main 

opposition at Westminster. 

Labour, with 232 MPs, are 

the official opposition but Ms 

Sturgeon claimed her party, 

which gained 50 MPs on 

of apartheid. 

Ms Zille herself has suggested 

the party needs a black leader 

if it is ever to unseat the 

ANC, our correspondent adds. 

Mr Maimane’s supporters 

have been dancing and singing 

praise for him outside the 

party congress 

She told the Citizen newspaper 

she was “relieved” to no 

longer be leader, but would 

continue to campaign for the 

party. 

“I will do what the new leadership 

would like me to do 

without trying to lead from 

behind and interfering,” she 

said. 

Mr Maimane has advanced 

quickly in the party, only joining 

the DA in 2009. 

Critics say he is too young 

and inexperienced to break the 

ANC’s grip on power. 

Who is Mmusi Maimane? 

•Born 1980, in the Soweto 

township of Johannesburg, 

where Nelson Mandela lived 

for many years 

•Studied at universities in 

South Africa and Wales, holding 

Masters Degrees in theology 

and psychology 

•Met his wife Natalie, a 

white woman, at church, telling 

iol.co.za “it took time to 

accept stereotypical responses” 

•Speaks six languages 

•Spends his weekends 

preaching in a Johannesburg 

church 

•Worked in business consultancy 

before entering politics. 

Scotland leader demands more power 

Thursday, was the one 

putting pressure on Mr Cameron’s 

Conservative government. 

The SNP is the third largest 

party in the UK despite 

only standing in Scotland. 

It took 56 of the 59 seats in 

Scotland, reducing Labour to 

just one MP when they had 

previously had 41. 

Elsewhere in the interview, 

Ms Sturgeon was asked 

whether a UK government 

offer of full fiscal autonomy - 

the devolution of all tax and 

spend powers - within two 

years would be a “good deal” 

for Scotland. 

She replied: “It would be 

the responsibility of the Scottish 

government and our MPs 

down in the House of Commons 

to make sure we get a 

good deal.” 

She said any move towards 

full fiscal autonomy created 

“questions” around issues 

such as how much Scotland 

contributed towards reserved 

areas such as defence, and how 

much Scotland would pay towards 

UK debt interest payments. 

“We have not got into the 

details of those discussions,” 

she added. “My starting point 

is that Scotland’s voice has to 

be heard.” 

She said any move to full 

fiscal responsibility would 

take several years to imple- 

Yemen Houthi 

rebels accept 

Saudi truce plan 

SAUDI Arabia has offered 

a five-day truce starting 

on Tuesday, to allow the 

delivery of humanitarian 

supplies. 

The air raids have killed 

at least 1,400 people - mostly 

civilians - in recent weeks, 

the UN says. 

The Shia Houthi rebels 

from northern Yemen 

launched an offensive last 

year and now control much 

of the country. 

The Saudi-led coalition 

aims to restore the government 

of exiled President Abdrabbuh 

Mansour Hadi - 

who fled the rebel-controlled 

capital, Sanaa, in February 

Ȯn Friday Saudi Arabia 

offered the five-day truce 

starting on Tuesday - but 

warned that it would respond 

to any violations. 

Early yesterday, the 

rebels’ al-Massirah TV channel 

said they would “deal 

positively with any efforts, 

calls or measures that would 

help end the suffering”. 

A spokesman for renegade 

Yemeni troops allied to 

the Houthis has already said 

they fully accepted the proposal. 

On April 21 the Saudi-led 

coalition announced an end 

to its bombing campaign in 

Yemen, but resumed air 

strikes within hours. 

The Saudi-led coalition 

has been carrying out air 

strikes for the past six weeks.

60 

NEWS 

Senate Presidency: Mark loyalists back Lawan 

as Ekweremadu forms alliance with Saraki 

•Mark, Ekweremadu part ways over Senate Presidency 

THE jostle for Senate 

Presidency heightened 

yesterday with many 

loyalists of the outgoing Senate 

President David Mark 

backing the Chairman of the 

Senate Committee on Public 

Accounts, Senator Ahmad 

Lawan. 

Also, there were indications 

that Deputy Senate President 

Ike Ekweremadu might form 

an alliance with Senator 

Bukola Saraki also a strong 

contender in the race. 

The alliance according to 

sources, is to support Saraki 

for Senate President with 

Ekweremadu retaining his 

seat on the condition that he 

will deliver the PDP Senate 

Caucus votes for the ex-Kwara 

State governor. 

The Presidency is however 

having reservations on the 

“romance” between 

Ekweremadu and Saraki. 

Investigation by our corre- 

to any matter on which a judicial 

decision is pending in 

such a way as might in the 

opinion of the president of the 

Senate prejudice the interest 

of parties thereto.” 

A Senator said the National 

Assembly will be guided by 

national interest and not “judicial 

ambush”. 

The lawmakers, it was learnt, 

are to meet on options to override 

the President’s veto “because 

these amendments are 

just too fundamental to be 

halted as a result of judicial 

process”, he said, adding: 

“By Tuesday, we will be 

able to take a decision. We 

know the National Assembly 

leadership will guide us accordingly.” 

A principal officer of the 

Senate, who pleaded not to be 

named because of what he 

described as the “sensitivity” 

of the matter, said: “We learnt 

the ruling of the Supreme 

Court has been made available 

to our leadership. 

“Since it is a legal matter, 

we will seek advice on the 

next line of action.” 

Following disagreement on 

amendments to the Constitution, 

the Attorney-General of 

the Federation applied to the 

Supreme Court for an order 

of interlocutory injunction restraining 

the lawmakers from 

taking any further step towards 

passing the Constitution 

of the Federal Republic of 




Ekweremadu is tagging along 

with Saraki is to protect the 

South-East from being 

schemed out of power in the 

new government. 

“Ekweremadu believed the 

Igbo must not play second 

fiddle despite the fact that 

they did not vote for APC. 

Saraki relies on this bait to 

woo Ekweremadu to his side. 

“Another factor goading 

Ekweremadu into an alliance 

with Saraki is that if the 

former governor becomes the 

Senate President, the PDP 

may have a pedestal to start 

its revival agenda.” 

A government source said: 

“The presidency has some reservations 

about the understanding 

or alliance between 

Ekweremadu and Saraki 

more so when the former had 

been saddled with a responsibility 

of managing Post- 

Election Review Committee of 

the PDP. 

A close ally of Ekweremadu 

said: “All I am aware of is that 

both Lawan and Saraki have 

had talks with Ekweremadu. 

If the Deputy President of the 

Senate is working out an alliance 

with Saraki, I will have 

to find out.” 

Constitution amendment: Presidency serves Mark, 

Tambuwal Supreme Court order 


“Nobody expected that the 

elections will be peaceful; 

nobody expected that the 

elections will not lead to the 

disintegration of the country. 

By the grace of God, the 

elections were held peacefully. 

We are living in peace 

with one another by the 

grace of God. Power will also 

be handed over to you by the 

grace of God and we’ll be living 

peaceful thereafter by the 

grace of God. 

“On many occasions, I’ve 

called for a revolution but I 

made it quite clear that I was 

not calling for a violent or 

bloody revolution. I wanted 

From Yusuf Alli, Managing 

Editor, Northern Operation 

spondent revealed that some 

loyalists of the President of the 

Senate met secretly at the 

weekend and opted to work 

for the emergence of Lawan as 

the head of the eighth Senate. 

It was learnt that at the session 

in Abuja, Mark’s loyalists 

said Lawan will ensure what 

they termed “continuity of the 

legacies of the outgoing Senate 

President than any other 

aspirants. 

A high-ranking Senator, 

who spoke with our correspondent, 

said: “We (loyalists 

of Mark) met for about three 

hours and after exhaustive 

deliberations, we have opted 

for Lawan for a “seamless 

transition and continuity of 

the legacies of the outgoing 

Senate President. 

“We looked at the three candidates 

and we discovered 

that Lawan has an edge in all 

the criteria we spelt out. 

“So, most of us in PDP 

might vote for Lawan whose 

loyalty, humility and ability 

to the system cannot be 

doubted at any time. Lawan 

is not perfect, we realised that 

with the onerous responsibility 

of the Senate Presidency, 

he can overcome any leadership 

challenge.” 

The source added: “If you 

look at the emerging politics, 

it was the North -West that 

first endorsed Lawan. This is 

a signal that the Presidentelect 

might be disposed to the 

North-East producing the 

next President of the Senate. 

“When leaders, like Governor 

Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rauf 

Aregbesola, Ibrahim Gaidam, 

Abiola Ajimobi, ex-governors 

Sani Yerima, Bukar Abba 

Ibrahim, and others are queuing 

behind Lawan, there must 

be some merit in the aspirant. 

But Saraki camp is giving 

Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) 

Act, 2015 into law, pending 

the final determination of the 

suit earlier filed before the 

court. 

Jonathan vetoed the 

amendments to the constitution 

in a seven page letter to 

the Senate President and the 

House Speaker. 

The President listed some 

errors noticeable in the 

amendments. They are: 

• Non-compliance with 

the threshold specified in Section 

9(3) of the 1999 Constitution 

on amendments; 

•alteration to constitution 

cannot be valid with mere 

voice votes unless supported 

by the votes of not less than 

four-fifths majority all members 

of National Assembly and 

two-thirds of all the 36 State 

Houses of Assembly; 

•right to free basic education 

and primary and maternal 

care services imposed on private 

institutions; 

•flagrant violation of the 

Lawan a hard fight following 

a fresh alliance bewteen the 

Deputy President of the Senate, 

Chief Ike Ekweremadu 

and Saraki. 

A reliable source added: 

“Ekweremadu and Saraki 

have held talks. From preliminary 

discussions, the Deputy 

President of the Senate may 

part ways with Mark on the 

choice of the President of the 

eighth Senate. 

“The Saraki camp has offered 

to retain Ekweremadu 

as the Deputy President of the 

Senate if he can deliver the 

block votes of PDP to the exgovernor. 

“The latest alliance may be 

a replica of the politics of how 

the outgoing Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, 

Aminu Tambuwal and his 

deputy, Emeka Ihedioha became 

the leaders of the House 

in June 2011. 

“One of the reasons 

doctrine of separation of 

powers; 

•unjustified whittling down 

of the Executive powers of the 

Federation vested in the President 

by virtue of Section 5(1) 

of the 1999 Constitution; 

•30 days allowed for assent 

of the President; and 

•limiting expenditure in default 

of appropriation from six 

months to three months. 

The others are: 

•creation of the Office of 

Accountant-General of the 

Federation distinct from the 

Accountant General of the 

Federal Government; 

•empowering National 

Economic Council to appoint 

the Accountant-General of 

the Federation instead of the 

President; 

•allowing the National Judicial 

Council (NJC) to appoint 

the Attorney-General of 

the Federation rather than the 

President; and 

•unwittingly whittling 

down the discretionary powers 

of the Attorney-General of 

the Federation. 

•Clan Head of Okpokpo in Igede,Benue State, Chief John Okponyo (right) giving an item of office to the new AD’Igede III in 

Anambra, Chief Matthew Omenka (left), during his installation as the head of Igede in Onitsha ... at the weekend. With them are 

members of Igede Development Association, Anambra Chapter. PHOTO: NAN 

a kind of revolution led by 

Mahatma Gandhi, non-violent 

bloodless revolution. A 

revolution is a change of attitude. 

“Glory be to God that having 

listened to our prayers, 

he gave us somebody who 

has a good record of being a 

man of God, truthful, a man 

of integrity, a man of discipline. 

I’ve always said that 

when you were a military 

leader, you instilled discipline 

into our society. You 

fought corruption and you 

gave Nigeria a sense of direction. 

“I am sure you will not 

compromise your principle 

but you’ll bring justice, wisdom 

and diplomacy. I’m 

sure you’ll not compromise 

your principle, be the same 

Buhari that gave the country 

a sense of direction when he 

was a military leader. This 

time around, I’m sure, Allah 

will be with him to correct 

the ills of the past. 

“All we have to do is to 

pray for him that Allah will 

give him the courage and 

knowledge to carry out his 

responsibility and may Allah 

give him advisers that will 

advise him to take right decisions 

at all time. 

“Sir, I know it was easy 

when you were a military 

leader and what made it easy 

was justice. With justice, you 

can rule Nigeria well. Justice 

is the key, irrespective of 

tribe, religion and race; justice 

must be done to whosoever 

deserves it. 

“I have always known you 

to be a man of justice and I 

ask you to please continue, 

don’t change or compromise 

justice for anything. 

“Mr President-elect sir, we 

know what we have gone 

through, I will ask you not 

to discriminate against any 

part of Nigeria but I’ll urge 

you to do justice to all parts 

of Nigeria. Justice that will 

bring about peace and stability 

that’ll lead to the development 

of Nigeria.” 


for the contributions you have 

made to our development in 

your tenure. Generations unborn 

will read about 

Jonathan.” 

“Nigeria will need you. Africa 

will need you. The international 

community will need 

you. You are not expired. The 

whole of Nigeria is now your 

political party,” he added. 

Former Minister of Information 

Prof. Jerry Gana, who has 

served in all governments 

since the Gen. Babangida administration, 

also thanked God 

for what He has done through 

President Jonathan for Nigeria. 

He said: “You have deepened 

democracy, the trains are 

moving again and you have 

brought hope again to Nigerians.” 

“Mr. President, you don’t 

Why AfDB 

chair may 

elude Nigeria, 

by experts 


Ogunjobi met a brick wall 

because the Egyptian 

government complained that 

Nigeria could not occupy the 

presidency of the two 

continental banks at the same 

time. 

According to a source, 

Nigeria should lobby Egypt 

more, instead of concentrating 

attention on South Africa, 

which may not raise objection 

to Adesina’s bid. 

Said the sourve, who also 

sought anonymity because he 

is not permitted to talk to the 

media: “South Africa is not our 

problem. Egypt is our 

challenge. In terms of 

contributions to the AfDB, 

Nigeria has the highest share or 

equity holding, followed by 

Egypt. When Nigeria and 

Egypt are not together on a 

cause, it gives room to smaller 

countries. Egyptians are not 

happy with Nigeria, which has 

been playing domineering role 

in African Export-Import Bank 

in the last 20 years. 

“The question is: Is Nigeria 

aware that a Nigerian is 

contesting for the presidency of 

the Afrex Bank for the second 

time in 20 years? Can Nigerians 

be bidding for the presidency 

of two African institutions in 

the same year, despite the 

strength of Egypt in both 

institutions? Should we not be 

talking to Egypt, instead of 

South Africa?” 

Another expert, who gave an 

insight into the politics of 

selecting AfDB and Afex Bank 

presidents, said Egypt may 

rally some friendly countries to 

demand for concessions from 

Nigeria before supporting 

Adesina’s bid. 

He added: “The idea of the 

African Export-Import Bank 

took off from Nigeria, which 

had a Nigerian Export-Import 

Bank moderated by the Central 

Bank. Nigeria nominated its 

first President, Christopher 

Edordu, a very intelligent 

technocrat and financial guru. 

But, when his term expired, he 

had wanted to seek for an 

extension after 10 years. He 

finally handed over to Mr. Jean- 

Louis Ekra from Ivory Coast. 

“Since Egypt felt that Ekra 

was not properly elected, he 

was not allowed to operate in 

Egypt. Therefore, he relocated 

to Nigeria. The Ministry of 

Finance was aware of this. 

Edordu remained as a 

consultant. Now, his former 

Personal Assistant, Oramah, is 

being sponsored for the Afex 

President. Do you think Egypt 

will agree?” 

There’ll be no 

quick fixes, 

says Buhari 

know what you did for many 

Nigerians, for conceding that 

defeat at that point in time is 

worth celebrating. You are 

now a hero for Africa.” He said 

Minister of Power Prof. 

Chinedu Nebo also highlighted 

the good qualities 

Jonathan brought to bear during 

his tenure. 

Also at the service were Secretary 

to the Government of 

the Federation, Senator Anyim 

Pius Anyim, Chief of Staff to 

the President Jones Arogbofa, 

Senator Emmanuel Paulker 

and Senator Hope Uzodinma. 

There were also ministers and 

other top government functionaries.


NEWS 

EFCC arraigns ex-bank boss, others 

for alleged N2b fraud 

AFORMER 

Chairman 

of Wema Bank 

Plc, Olapade Mohammed, 

was at the weekend 

arraigned before a Federal 

High Court in Lagos for 

alleged N2 billion fraud. 

Mohammed alongside 

two former senior management 

staff of AKS Steel Nigeria 

Limited, Tony Obinwa 

and Sanni Mohammed, 

were docked before Justice 

Okon Abang by the Economic 

and Financial 

Crimes Commission 

(EFCC). 

The trio were alleged to 

have stolen the money belonging 

to AKS Steel, which 

Olapade also chaired and 

laundered same to the 

United Arab Emirates 

(UAE) and India through 

various banks, including 

Diamond Bank, United 

Bank for Africa (UBA), defunct 

Spring Bank, 

Ecobank, Unity Bank, as 

well as Intercontinental and 

Equitorial Trust Banks. 

They were said to have 

transferred the money 

through one company, 

Three Brothers Concept Nigeria 

Limited, without AKS 

Steel’s board resolution. 

The trio, who were said 

to have committed the offence 

between 2006 and 

2009, are facing 32 count 

charges under the Money 

Laundering (Prohibition) 

Act, Criminal Code Laws of 

the Federation, and Miscel- 


‘The trio allegedly stole and converted 

to their use, the company’s 

N1.2 billion, while Olapade was 

said to have fraudulently diverted 

another $500, 000 (USD) for his 

use’ 

laneous Offences Act, 2004. 

According to the EFCC, 

the trio allegedly stole and 

converted to their use, the 

company’s N1.2 billion, 

while Olapade was said to 

have fraudulently diverted 

another $500, 000 (USD) for 

his use. 

The EFCC also alleged 

that the accused forged various 

documents, which they 

submitted at the Corporate 

Affairs Commission (CAC) 

with the aim of committing 

monumental fraud, including 

the company’s board 

resolution dated October 31, 

2005, adding that the trio 

unilaterally increased three 

250 thousand shares of AKS 

Alloy PVT Limited. 

It also claimed that the accused 

by their actions, reduced 

the status of Shinning 

Star from majority 

shareholder in the joint venture 

company of AKS Steel 

Nigeria Limited, and filed 

the ‘fraudulent’ resolution 

at the CAC on January 17, 

2006. 

They however pleaded 

not guilty to the charges and 

were admitted to bail in N20 

million with two sureties 

each in like sum. 

The sureties, according 

to the judge, should produce 

three years tax evidence, 

must own landed property 

in Lagos, and should deposit 

their title documents to 

the court, which must be 

confirmed by the Deputy 

Chief Registrar of the Court. 

They were subsequently 

remanded in custody, pending 

the fulfillment of their 

bail conditions. The matter 

has been adjourned to June 

22 for trial. 

Efforts by the accused 

persons to quash the 

charges against them was 

foiled by the trial judge who 

had earlier dismissed two 

separate applications they 

brought to that effect. 

They had contended that 

the charge against them 

were unknown to the law 

and sought its dismissal on 

technical grounds. 

The accused persons 

also alleged that the antigraft 

agency had exonerated 

them of the offence through 

a letter addressed to a former 

Nigerian Bar Association 

(NBA) President, Wole 

Olanipekun (SAN). 

Denying their prayer, 

Justice Abang ruled that 

mere typographical error in 

a criminal charge was not 

enough to dismiss the 

charge. 

He said: “I disagree with 

the learned counsel for the 

accused persons that the 

counts were unknown to 

law. They were charged for 

money laundering and 

mentioning the wrong section 

in the charge and year 

cannot, in my view, invalidate 

the charge.” 

Justice Abang also ruled 

that the EFCC was empowered 

to re-investigate an alleged 

crime that has not 

been decided in court, adding 

that he was satisfied 

with a new report of investigation 

conducted by the 

EFCC, which was contained 

in the further exhibit 

attached to the charge. 

Glo hosts Youth Corps members to party 

T 

ELECOMS giants 

Globacom at the 

weekend hosted 

members of the Batch ‘A’ of the 

National Youth Service Corps 

(NYSC) posted to Lagos . 

They were treated to an 

evening of fun and entertainment 

at the party which marked 

the beginning of the Batch ‘A’ 

service year. 

It was attended by a large 

number of the corps members 

at the Orientation Camp at Iyana-Ipaja, 

Lagos. 

The visibly excited corps 

members were seen arriving at 

the venue of the party, clad in 

their white sportswear clinching 

to cameras and taking photographs 

with Glo ambassadors. 

The party which began 

at 7 p.m. lasted till about 10pm, 

shortly before the light out. 

Music oozed from the line array 

speakers as the corps members 

filed into the venue, some 

of them in pairs. 

Globacom Business Director, 

Kunle Akanmu said Globacom 

was delighted to be part 

of the corps members’ orientation 

camp activities and that the 

party was aimed at celebrating 

the beginning of their service 

year which it believed, 

would be successful and rewarding. 

“As the 2015 NYSC Batch 

‘A’ service year begins, we 

urge you to be good ambassadors 

of your various institutions 

and brace yourselves 

up for the challenges ahead. 

At Globacom, we believe that 

the youth are the future leaders 

of this great nation, and 

we are optimistic that, with 

the training you have received 

in your schools, you 

will make the nation proud 

in your various places of primary 

assignment,” Akanmu 

said. 

Glo Ambassador and Nigeria’s 

biggest comedy export, 

Basketmouth anchored 

the event, unleashing ribcracking 

jokes in his usual 

characteristic manner, and 

had the guests roaring with 

laughter. Hip hop super star, 

Wande Coal was also on 

ground to thrill the guests. 

He expectedly put up an exhilarating 

performance to 

make the evening a memorable 

one.

62 

SPORT EXTRA 

Grassroots table tennis 

to debut on Lagos Island 

THE maiden edition of 

Oguns Table Tennis 

Championship for Primary 

and Junior Secondary 

schools on Lagos Island has been 

earmarked for the month of May. 

Students from 30 primary 

schools, 10 Junior secondary 

schools and 20 trainers are expected 

to participate in the 

grassroots table tennis championship 

which has been fixed for 

Christ School,Lagos Island. 

In a chat with the NationSports, 

Chairman of Oguns Investment 

Nigeria Limited, Waheeed 

Usman Ogunbiyi, he stated that 

sponsoring a table tennis championship 

on Lagos Island was 

borne out of a passion to engage 

the youths resident on the Island 

in sports in order to gradually 

eradicate the vices associated 

with kids living in the area. 

Ogunbiyi who is involved in 

several charitable gestures stated 

that he derives pleasure in putting 

smiles on the faces of people 

especially the less privileged in the 

society. According to him, he 

hopes that the kids would take a 

good advantage of the opportunity 

to excel in the ping-pong 

game. 

He said: “I am not sponsoring 

the competition to make 

money or to become popular 

but for the love I have for young 

players and that is why I want 

to channel my resources to 

grassroots where young players 

will engage themselves 

throughout the period of the 

competition,” he said. 

Ogunbiyi also advised the 

participating teams to embrace 

the spirit of sportsmanship 

throughout the competition. 

El-Kanemi compounds 

Lobi Stars' woes 

LOBI Stars are still searching 

for their first win of 

the season after drawing 

0-0 at home to El-Kanemi Warriors. 

Lobi gave the duo of Valentine 

Ifesinachi and Ifeanyi Jonah 

their debut but it was old boy 

Douglas Archiv who twice 

came close to giving Lobi Stars 

the lead. 

In the 15th minute he narrowly 

missed target and he also 

had a well struck effort blocked 

by El-Kanemi shot stopper 

George Michael who had little 

ENYIMBA International 

FC was held to a 

goalless draw by Giwa 

FC in the battle of Elephants 

in Aba on Sunday. 

The match between both 

sides ended 0-0 in the 2013/ 

14 Nigeria Professional Football 

League season. 

The Jos based side have 

now gone six matches without 

a defeat in the eight-week 

old elite league. 

The People's Elephants went 

into the week eight match on 

the back of a two-nil loss to 

Gabros FC in Nnewi. 

to do in the first half. 

John Huan and Obioma 

Arinze also came close for the 

host with Huan particularly 

proving a handful for the El- 

Kanemi back-line. 

Lobi Stars won a penalty three 

minutes into the second half but 

Huan stepped up and blazed his 

effort way over the bar much to 

the frustration of the home fans. 

The bench of Lobi Stars responded 

by throwing in 

Barnabas Imenger and immediately 

he added bite to thee forward 

line and Moses Bunde 

narrowly missed a chance after 

Imenger's good work. 

He combined nicely with Ajia 

but when he got the return ball 

he failed to beat George Michael 

before El-Kanemi missed a glorious 

chance to steal all three 

point. 

Demba Malik could have 

snatched all three points for the 

visitors but despite having the 

goalkeeper at his mercy he surprisingly 

failed to hit the target. 

That miss summed up the most 

meaningful action of the game 

as Lobi Stars are left searching 

for their first win of the season. 

Stubborn Giwa frustrates 

wasteful Enyimba 

The hosts had the chunk of 

possession but lacked the cutting 

edge to beat the visitors. 

A late miss by Peter 

Onyekachi summed up a bad 

afternoon for the six-time 

league champions. 

At the blast of the final 

whistle, Giwa FC celebrated 

as if they had won the 

league. 

Enyimba FC have now accumulated 

12 points from a 

possible 24 with Giwa FC 

claiming 15 from a possible 24 

after the end of match day 8 

in the NPFL. 


Jose: I 'll miss Gerrard 

C 

HELSEA 

heaped praise on 

Chelsea manager Jose 

Mourinho following Sunday 

night’s 1-1 draw in the Premier 

League. 

On his last appearance as a 

player at Stamford Bridge, 

Gerrard scored Liverpool's 

equaliser, but the Reds 

couldn't find a second goal 

that they needed to win and 

keep alive their hopes of finishing 

in the top four. 

In the build-up to the 

match, Mourinho described 

manager 

Jose Mourinho has 

said that he will 

"miss" Steven Gerrard 

when the Liverpool skipper 

leaves for Los Angeles 

at the end of the season. 

Gerrard scored the 

equalising goal on his final 

appearance at Stamford 

Bridge on Sunday night 

before receiving a standing 

ovation from both sets 

of fans when being substituted. 

Mourinho is known to 

have been interested in 

signing Gerrard for 

Chelsea, Inter Milan and 

Real Madrid, and the Portuguese 

boss was keen to 

express the "respect" he 

has for the former England 

captain. 

"To get an ovation at 

Stamford Bridge is special 

for Steven Gerrard, we 

have lots of respect for the 

top guys. I will miss him," 

Mourinho told Sky Sports 

News. 

"I want my league to be 

always the best league, I 

want my league to have 

always the best players." 

John Terry got the opening 

goal at Stamford Bridge 

in a match that saw 

Liverpool's Champions 

League hopes all but 

ended with two games of 

the season remaining. 

Gerrard labels Mourinho the best manager in the world 

LIVERPOOL captain 

Steven Gerrard has 

'Liverpool 

lacked 

quality against 

Chelsea' 

LIVERPOOL boss 

Brendan Rodgers has 

admitted that a lack of 

finishing cost his side during 

their 1-1 draw with Chelsea. 

The Reds saw their hopes of 

a top-four finish all but ended 

at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 

as they shared the spoils with 

the newly-crowned Premier 

League champions. 

John Terry gave the hosts an 

early lead before Steven 

Gerrard got the Merseysiders 

level towards the end of the 

first half. 

"I think we got off to an 

awful start. A disappointing 

goal from our perspective. We 

got ourselves back into the 

game, a good header from 

Stevie was well worked and 

I thought in the second half 

we were outstanding, we just 

lacked that bit of quality in the 

final third," Rodgers told Sky 

Sports News. 

Liverpool play their final 

home game of the campaign 

on Saturday when they welcome 

Crystal Palace to 

Anfield. 

• Gerrard celebrates with his team-mates after 

scoring in his last game against Chelsea before 

joining LA Galaxy in the summer 

Gerrard as his favourite enemy 

and also revealed that he 

tried to sign the midfielder on 

several occasions. 

When asked about 

Mourinho, Gerrard told Sky 

Sports News after yesterday's 

game: "I have huge respect for 

him. He's the best manager in 

the world in my opinion. 

"I would have signed for 

him on three occasions if I 

wasn't such a big Liverpool 

fan. He's the reason my head 

was turned on a couple of 

occasions but he knew why I 

couldn't do it, because I love 

Liverpool Football Club. It always 

means more when you 

win for your people." 

By scoring yesterday, 

Gerrard became Liverpool's 

second-highest scorer in the 

Premier League with 119 

goals and also the club's top 

scorer this season with eight. 

Joshua beats Zumbano in second round 

NIGERIAN-BORN Anthony 

Oluwaseni 

Joshua made it 12 

knockouts from 12 fights by 

beating Raphael Zumbano 

Love in Birmingham. 

Olympic champion Joshua, 

25, floored the Brazilian, 34, 

in front of American heavyweight 

Kevin Johnson, whom 

he will fight on 30 May in Lon- 

• Joshua 

• Mourinho 

NNIGERIAN-BORN 

Switzerland international 

Innocent 

Emeghara could be out of action 

for the remainder of 2015 MLS 

season following a knee operation. 

Emeghara underwent surgery 

to repair a torn meniscus 

Wednesday and he is now expected 

to miss four to six 

months, according to the club. 

The San Jose Earthquakes forward 

got injured last week Friday 

in a league game against 

don. 

Love failed to beat referee 

Phil Edwards' count when 

knocked down one minute 

and 21 seconds into round 

two. 

"I'm feeling more confident 

with every fight and looking 

forward to fighting this man," 

said Watford-born Joshua. 

"I don't mind how many 

rounds Kevin and I last in London 

as long as we put on a 

good show for the fight." 

Johnson, 35, said he expects 

an "easy" fight when he faces 

Joshua at the O2. 

Joshua, in his 12th professional 

bout, made light work 

of Love, who had been 

stopped only three times before 

Saturday, at 

Birmingham's Barclaycard 

Arena. 

Emeghara out for rest of the season 

Real Salt Lake FC. 

San Jose Earthquake coach 

Dominic Kinnear said he did not 

know what really happened to 

the striker. 

“We’re still trying to figure it 

out ourselves,” Kinnear told 

MLSsoccer.com. 

"There was no contact. He just 

ran and stopped and felt a pull. 

The sad thing is he’s never had 

surgery. He came here completely 

healthy and, sadly, we’re 

going to miss him for a good 

chunk of the season now.”


SPORT EXTRA 

Ike Uche hails Kalu’s goal 

IKECHUKWU Uche took to 

Twitter to celebrate with his 

brother, Kalu Uche, for scoring 

against Atletico Madrid in 

the La Liga on Sunday afternoon. 

The older of the Uches netted 

just after the hour mark to give 

Levante a one - goal lead but ex 

Liverpool and Chelsea striker 

Fernando Torres hit the back of 

the net ten minutes from time 

to bring the scoreline to 2 - 2. 

RESULTS 

GLO PREMIER LEAGUE 

FC Taraba 3-3 Gabros FC 

Enyimba 0-0 Giwa FC 

Bayelsa Utd 2-2 Dolphins 

Lobi Stars 0-0 El-Kanemi 

Akwa Utd 0-0 Wikki Tourists 

Sunshine 2-0 Shooting Stars 

Abia Warriors 2-0 Kwara Utd 

Kano Pillars 2-0 Sharks 

Rangers 1-0 Heartland 

Warri Wolves 4-1 Nasarawa 

England - Premier League 

Man City 6 - 0 QPR 

Chelsea 1 - 1 Liverpool 

Italy - Serie A 

Chievo 2 - 2 Hellas 

Cesena 2 - 3 Sassuolo 

Palermo 2 - 3 Atalanta 

Udinese 1 - 4 Sampdoria 

Empoli 2 - 3 Fiorentina 

Parma 2 - 2 SSC Napoli 

Lazio 1 - 2 Inter 

Spain - Liga BBVA 

Levante 2 - 2 Atletico 

Villarreal 1 - 0 Elche 

Almeria 1 - 2 Malaga 

Germany - Bundesliga 

Paderborn 1 - 3 Wolfsburg 

FC Cologne 2 - 0 Schalke 04 

France - Ligue 1 

Lens 0 - 1 Montpellier 

Saint Etienne 5 - 0 Nice 

Netherlands - Eredivisie 

Alkmaar 3 - 2 NAC 

Ajax 3 - 0 Cambuur 

Groningen 0 - 1 Zwolle 

LEVANTE 2-2 ATLETICO MADRID 

“Congratulations brother, 

nice goal! Felicidades hermano, 

buen gol! #KaluUche,” Ike 

Uche posted on Twitter. 

The Villarreal forward did 

not make the squad that 

faced Elche on Sunday 

evening due to a knee complaint. 

Between them, Kalu and 

Ikechukwu Uche have 

played 39 games in the Spanish 

top flight, scoring 11 goals. 

Wolves devour Miners 

CAF Confederation 

Cup campaigners, 

Warri Wolves were 

ruthless as they thrashed 

Nasarawa United 4-1 on 

Sunday evening. 

The Seasiders showed class 

against the Solid Miners at 

the Warri City Stadium in 

the week eight Nigeria Professional 

Football League 

match. 

As early as the quarter 

hour mark, Dream Team 

striker Oghenekaro Etebo 

was halted when was 

through on goal in the penalty 

area, prompting the 

match referee to point to the 

spot. 

The young forward buried 

the spot kick with ease in the 

17th minute. Five minutes 

later, Etebo was guilty of a 

criminal miss with net at his 

mercy. 

Wolves ran rings round 

the visitors and increased 

their tally four minutes before 

the half hour mark. 

Gbolahan Salami finished 

off a brilliant move after inter-changing 

passes with 

Freedom Omofoman. 

Joseph Eyimofe then compounded 

the woes of Baba 

Ganaru's wards when he 

scored two minutes to the 

end of the first half. 

Etebo should have had a 

brace seven minutes after 

recess, but he was wasteful. 

There was hope for the 

Solid Miners when reliable 

attacking midfielder Esosa 

Igbinoba pulled one back for 

them. 

Any hope of a likely comeback 

was dashed by the excellent 

Omofoman who also 

registered his name on the 

scoresheet in the 81st 

minute of entertaining football. 

Bayelsa held at home 

BAYELSA United twice 

came from behind to force 

visiting Dolphins to a 2-2 

draw in a Glo NPFL game decided 

at the Samson Siasia Stadium 

in Yenegoa. 

The first half appeared to be 

drawing to a 0-0 conclusion until 

the 33rd minute when Dolphins 

took the lead following a 

error by Paul Godwin in goal for 

Bayelsa United. 

The former Enyimba shot stopper 

flapped at a harmless corner 

kick from Chidiebere Okoli leaving 

Emeka Atuloma with the 

simplest of all tap in to put Dolphins 

in the lead. 

The goal sparked Bayelsa back 

to life and they almost twice restored 

parity only to be denied 

by Dolphins Godwin Anyalogu. 

Both teams had chances in the 

second half to alter the scoreline 

but failed to take it with the goalkeepers 

proving their mettle in 

both instances. 

Godwin gathered Omo 

Johnson's weak effort for Dolphins, 

while Anyalogu narrowed 

the angle forcing substitute 

Eric Frimpong to shoot wide 

for Bayelsa United. 

Frimpong made atonement for 

•Ike Uche 

KANO Pillars returned to 

winning ways with a 2- 

0 victory over Sharks FC 

on Sunday. 

The champions, suffering an 

indifferent start to the season 

unlike previous season, failed to 

break down a resilient Sharks 

team with top scorer Moses 

Ekpai particularly wasteful. 

Ekpai wasted a free header off 

a cross from Azeez Shobowale 

to give Pillars the lead and will 

be grateful Daniel Joshua failed 

to give Sharks the lead when he 

was through one on one with 

Mohammed Yusuf in goal for 

Pillars. 

Two minutes after the restart 

• Kalu 

Pillars back to winning ways 

his loss with a strike in the 56th 

minute to draw Bayelsa level but 

a brilliantly taken goal from 

Chidiebere Okoli put Dolphins 2- 

1 ahead 10 minutes later. 

The second goal from Dolphins 

deflated the host as the frustration 

of going behind for the second 

time got them throwing rash 

tackles and picking up cards for 

the foul. 

However just as it appears Dolphins 

were running away with 

all three points Uchechukwu 

Onyedikachi 25 yard effort took 

a wicked deflection on it's way 

to goal wrong footing Anyalogu 

to bring scores to 2-2. 

Ekpai thought he has given Pillars 

the lead only for his effort to 

be rules out for offside. 

Ezekiel Mbah finally gave Pillars 

the lead this time around correctly 

so as his connection from 

a through ball from Shobowale 

broke the deadlock. 

Pillars had to wait till three 

minutes to the end of the game 

to score their second and once 

again the lively Shobowale got 

the assist for Adamu Hassan to 

score. 

A huge sigh of relief was visible 

on the face of under fire Pillars 

manager Okey Emordi after 

the centre referee brought an 

end to the proceedings. 

Heartland performed 

well, says Onuh 

HEARTLAND head 

coach, Erasmus 

Onuh-Ollotah has 

declared his players performed 

creditably well in 

the defeat at Enugu Rangers. 

The Naze Millionaires 

were piped 0-1 by oriental 

neighbours, Enugu Rangers 

in the Glo Premier 

League match day 8 encounter 

at the Nnamdi 

Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. 

Former Sharks’ marksman, 

Onoriode Odah second 

half lone goal proved 

adequate to hand the Flying 

Antelopes the maximum 

three points in the 

hotly contested and hyped 

clash. 

Onuh-Ollotah said his 

wards gave good account 

of themselves as the encounter 

could have been 

anybody’s day. 

“Of course, I’m not disappointed 

at all in the 0-1 

loss to Enugu Rangers, the 

players adhered strictly to 

pre-match instructions. 

“They played very well, 

I think they gave good account 

of themselves. The 

encounter could have been 

anybody’s game good for 

Enugu Rangers it ended in 

their own favour. 

“We’ll go back home to 

continue the fight to stay 

afloat, there is absolutely 

nothing to feel ashamed in 

this game,” said the 

former Sunshine Stars 

coach to supersport.com. 

The defeat at neighbours, 

Enugu Rangers leaves the 

Owerri outfit total earnings 

at 12 points from possible 

24 in the eight-week 

old Nigerian top flight. 

The former ABS gaffer 

now has to fight for 10 

points in the remaining 

four matches to keep his 

job at Heartland as mandated 

by the management. 

AHAT-TRICK from 

Manchester City 

striker Sergio Aguero 

helped condemn Queens 

Park Rangers to relegation 

from the Premier League ton 

Sunday night. 

The West Londoners made 

the trip to the Etihad Stadium 

knowing that only a victory 

would do if they were to 

avoid suffering the same fate 

as fellow strugglers Burnley, 

but they have gone down in 

disappointing circumstances 

having shipped six unanswered 

goals against last 

season's champions. 

The writing was on the wall 

for Chris Ramsey's side as 

early as the fourth minute 

when Aguero broke the 

deadlock. After he had 

evaded numerous challenges 

on his way into the QPR box, 

the Argentine then lifted the 

ball over an advancing Robert 

Green. 

A second City goal followed 

with 32 minutes played 

when Aguero was fouled on 

the edge of the area, with the 

subsequent free kick being 

converted by left-back 

Aleksandar Kolarov. 

It prompted a positive response 

from the away side, 

but their best chance of getting 

back into the game was 

spurned eight minutes before 

the break as Leroy Fer hit the 

crossbar from close range, before 

Bobby Zamora headed 

the rebound into the hands of 

City goalkeeper Joe Hart. 

Coming out for the second 

half, QPR required three goals 

to live to fight another day, 

but the game was put out of 

reach just four minutes after 

the restart. 

Yun Suk-young failed to cut 

out David Silva's forward 

pass which sent Aguero 

through on goal and, having 

committed Green off his line, 

the City striker rolled the ball 

into the bottom corner of the 

net. 

63 

Man City’s six goals 

relegate QPR 

His hat-trick was completed 

from the penalty spot in the 

64th minute after Silva had 

been fouled by Matty Phillips. 

This strike took his tally in the 

Premier League this term to 

25 goals and was also the 

former Atletico Madrid 

player's sixth goal in five outings 

against the R's. 

Five minutes later, he 

turned provider as James 

Milner tapped in from inside 

the six-yard box for his seventh 

goal of the campaign, 

the midfielder's best return in 

a city shirt. 

Despite being five goals to 

the good, City refused to let 

up in the closing stages and, 

with three minutes left, they 

completed the scoring when 

Silva rounded Green to score 

after he had been released by 

a flicked pass from substitute 

Wilfried Bony. 

However, Pellegrini has 

praised striker Sergio Aguero 

following his hat-trick in their 

6-0 thrashing of relegated 

Queens Park Rangers. 

The hosts were dominant in 

the first half as goals from the 

Argentine forward and 

Aleksandar Kolarov put 

them in firm control of the 

match. 

Aguero scored twice after 

the break to seal his treble, 

while James Milner and 

David Silva also got on the 

scoresheet to help City confirm 

their place in next 

season's Champions League. 

Pellegrini told Sky Sports 

News after the game: "I think 

for Sergio Aguero it is really 

important to score. 

"He wants to be the top 

scorer this season but I think 

it's also the way he is playing. 

He is working a lot more during 

the game, moving more 

and receiving more balls." 

Aguero's hat-trick at the 

Etihad means that he has 25 

Premier League goals - five 

ahead of nearest rival Harry 

Kane. 

• Aguero blows kisses towards the Manchester City supporters 

after scoring his second goal with a low, drilled shot 

after the interval 

Dike gives San Antonio 

Scorpions first win 

NIGERIA international 

Bright Dike 

was the match win- 

ner for his USA NASL team 

San Antonio Scorpions 

when they beat Carolina 

Rail Hawks 1-0 on Saturday. 

The FC Toronto striker 

who is on loan at the club 

gave his team their first victory 

of the season in his second 

game for the side and 

he told AfricanFootball.com 

he is looking forward to 

more goals. 

San Antonio Scorpions 

have four points from five 

games now. 

Dike has endured a torrid 

time at Toronto after a longterm 

injury and the move to 

San Antonio is expected to 

get him more playing time at 

least.

MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM 

DURING the election campaigns, she was 

in battle gear. Not her ankara dress 

beneath a head-tie that mocks the 

humility of a villager. Some may see her 

dressing as part of her armoury though. But 

her fiery tongue is her battery of attack. Her 

opponent is dapper, if not so brilliant. The 

two hotshots threw potshots at each other. 

War is about propaganda, and elections in 

Nigeria are like going to war. Ngozi 

Okonjo-Iweala, with her usual gusto debated 

former Central Bank governor 

Chukwuma Soludo on the state of the Nigerian 

economy. 

In spite of his exterior of objectivity, 

Soludo seized an opportunity not only for 

redemption but revenge. Since he fell flat as 

a governor candidate and retreated into 

oblivion, he had been looking for a chance 

to bait the PDP brass. 

Okonjo-Iweala, on the other hand, wanted 

a moment not only of triumph but of 

triumphalism, to give the former vicar of 

our money the Mayweather treatment. With 

her vintage scarf and emphatic diction, she 

wanted to pulp Soludo into a PacMan of finance. 

Now we know who packed a punch. 

Soludo said things were pretty bad. Ngozi 

said things were on course, and a rosy horizon 

emblazoned the future. 

Last week, we had our confession. She said 

we have already borrowed close to half a 

trillion Naira to fund our recurrent expenses, 

like salaries, paying rents, etc. This 

is barely a quarter into the 2015 budget year. 

So, we have it. Ngozi lied to Nigerians 

then. To be charitable, she probably did not 

know the facts then, or she knew it differently 

at the time she squared off with the 

central banker. Even in her vicarious confession, 

she did not show the humility of 

contrition. She threw jibes at governors, thereby 

blaming others for her own inadequacy. 

So the scores are in. Soludo won, Ngozi lost 

the ball. But winning is not what we are about in 

this matter. We should be bothered about our 

economy, and where we are headed as a nation. 

What has happened to this country in the past 

half a decade? Not long ago, oil price soared to 

its acme at about $110 per barrel. We spent a 

trillion Naira a year on defence when Boko Haram 

held sway and other trillions went into a number 

of sectors, including education, works, presidency, 

payment of bills, etc. We did not save for 

the rainy day. We did not account for the money 

that flooded out of our purses. 

We expected things to be rosy permanently. 

We expected the fat years to burst with juices 

forever. Suddenly like the prophecy of Joseph 

that went unheeded, the lean years fell on us. 

We had no answers as the oil price fell precipitously. 

Some are happy that Jonathan did not win. If 

he won, Ngozi would not have been forced to 

RIPPLES 

PASTOR ABSCONDS WITH CHURCH 

MEMBER’S N10MILLION–News 

SURE THE PASTOR ‘LL BLAME THE 

DEVIL WHENEVER HE’S ARRESTED 

COMMENT 

& D 

SAM OMATSEYE 

IN 

TOUCH 

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) 

Twitter: @samomatseye 

make a public confession of her government’s 

recklessness and profligacy. We would have kept 

borrowing and burrowing with a good face into 

a crash. Just like the crash that hit the west 

when Obama took the sceptre as United States 

president. That was the case with Greece 

when the bank Goldman Sachs worked with 

a consortium of finance houses to manipulate 

the loans and covered up the dreary situation 

until all that was left were stiches. The 

rich do not live on stitches. 

Today, Greece is paying for the lies of 

those years that the locust ate. Many Greeks 

have left their country and close to a quarter 

of the population don’t have jobs. They are 

now cajoling and blackmailing Europe to 

bail them out of the iniquity of their past. 

A big task has fallen on Buhari now. We 

know that recklessness boils down to corruption. 

So many sinners have taken part in 

this party of rapine on our patrimony. They 

have stolen us dizzy, and some of them are 

either looking for how to distort the books 

or flee. 

Buhari has assured Jonathan that he has 

VOL 10 NO 3211 

•Winner, Informed Commentary (DAME) 

•Okonjo-Iweala 

NIGERIA’s power sector has gotten 

more exciting since privatisation even 

if it may not have become more efficient. 

Hardball has suddenly learnt that electricity 

is such a huge subsector complete with 

its own broad spectrum of lexicon. 

For instance, hitherto, I did not know 

about MYTO: Multi-Year Tariff Order. The 

way Dr. Sam Amadi (NERC) bandies this 

MYTO matter about, you would think he 

speaks about a sacred order of some hooded 

knights. But it’s all a bogey to increase tariff 

without commensurate service. You must 

have heard about NBET: Nigerian Bulk Electricity 

Trading. This is supposed to be a 

market where electric energy is bought and 

sold. 

Of course you know about GENCOS and 

DISCOS. These refer to companies that generate 

and distribute power. There are a fewer 

other registers emanating from Nigeria’s 

highly vibrant but ineffectual power sector. 

But one concept that has been of eternal fascination 

to Hardball is “embedded” power. 

In the technical sense, this means electricity 

generated outside the national generation 

grid which is loaded into the grid. 

But today, Hardball speaks of a different 

kind of embedded power, the kind of power 

that you never see or know its source yet it 

& DEB 

EBATE 

Let them pay 

•Soludo 

TODAY IN THE NATION 

The two parties will be grappling with unfamiliar 

roles. Federal power is new to APC, just as 

opposition politics is strange to PDP. Will it be easier 

for APC to master its new status than for PDP to 

manage its reduced station?’ FEMI MACAULAY 

‘ 

Our money stolen in the 

past few years amounts to 

trillions, given our budgets 

and work not done. I 

am not calling for revenge, 

but restoration. It is about 

restitution, not retribution. 

We should save the nation 

from the crime more 

than from the criminal. It 

is not about saving a 

brother but about being 

our brother’s keeper 

’ 

nothing to fear. But I wonder if that statement 

itself can hold our broken dam. If we 

have to wage a war on corruption, we have 

to stop the bleeding. But we cannot close our 

eyes on the recent past, especially when the 

government’s recent activities still bear significance 

on today’s life. 

Some people have stolen our money, and 

so we want our money back. I am not interested 

in how many years a man goes to jail 

for stealing our money in the past half-decade. 

I say past half decade because it will be 

meaningless to go back indefinitely. But we 

should address the recent past, partly because 

we experienced the greatest devastation on our 

resources under Jonathan. 

All we need is to look at the various contracts 

and see what work was done and not done. We 

should do the math and ask for the money of 

HARDBALL 

Prof. Nnaji vs. 

EEDC: impunity of 

embedded power 

is there and you feel its impact daily. Worse, 

it is a waif of a power; a wicked ghost that is 

hard on doing you in slowly yet you are 

helpless. Embedded power is the power of 

impunity at its most cynical and devious 

pivot. 

It is cruel irony that embedded power is the 

very undoing of Professor Barth Nnaji, 

Nigeria’s immediate past Minister of Power. 

An engineering scholar of international repute 

and a laureate of numerous US awards 

in Design, Engineering and Robotics, Nnaji 

was invited home to bring his intellect to 

bear on the growth of his motherland by 

former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Until 

he was ignominiously yanked off the cabinet, 

he was regarded as the best minister of 

the Goodluck Jonathan administration. 

He was said to be the architect of the current 

power reform which became mired after 

he was chucked out. But Nnaji was not 

only disgraced out of office, the Jonathan 

administration unleashed a vicious kind of 

what is not accounted for. If the work is for N2 

billion and it is evident that only N200 million 

work has been done, we should ask that the job 

be completed at a certain specified period and 

ask for the accounts and where the balance of the 

money is. If the contractor cannot account for it, 

that person must either by cajolery or force of 

law or plea bargaining made to give us the balance 

of the money. If it means selling the Dubai 

mansion or the South African estate or the private 

jets, they must realise that we want the 

money. 

We are in a bad place as a nation. We don’t 

want to look like the futile dance of the forest in 

Wole Soyinka’s play, where the past could not 

save the future. The past is in our hands, and we 

need to act with boldness. There are many poor 

who cannot feed, and many ignorant who want 

good schools. Many die who could have lived 

with a little help with this drug or that dialysis 

machine. We have the Second Niger Bridge to 

build and many homes that need power at night. 

Our money stolen in the past few years 

amounts to trillions, given our budgets and work 

not done. I am not calling for revenge, but restoration. 

It is about restitution, not retribution. We 

should save the nation from the crime more than 

from the criminal. It is not about saving a brother 

but about being our brother’s keeper. 

We need systematic approach lenient to those 

who cooperate and ruthless to those who huff 

and run. 

Getting our money is not about forgiveness. 

Getting our money should be a public matter 

and the stigma and opprobrium should stick to 

the thief. The word thief is mild. They are robbers. 

The American outlaw, Jesse James, once 

caviled at being described as a thief. The offended 

bandit said he was not a thief but a robber, an 

armed robber. He belonged to a great class of 

evil doers rather than the petty aberration of a 

common criminal. James always came to mind 

whenever GEJ’s “stealing is not corruption” is 

referenced. GEJ was dodgy and hypocritical. 

Jesse James did not conceal his daredevilry. 

We should not forgive. This is no time for Christian 

mercy. It is a practical way to show mercy 

for the suffering millions who are victims of corruption. 

If we look at it as revenge, we shall miss the 

point, though. It should not come across as punishing 

a group, tribe or region, but individuals 

who violated public trust. After the First World 

War, the Europeans of the Allied nations called 

for revenge or what was called reparations. Some 

yelled that they should bleed the Germans till 

their children squeaked. It followed a revenge 

policy that alienated Germany, gave birth to a 

false prosperity known as the Locarno Honeymoon 

and later the Great Depression. Ultimately 

came the revanchist rise of Nazi Germany. The 

Second World War ended that sanguinary hour. 

We need the money not to punish the thief but 

to save the poor and a crawling nation. 

•Hardball is not the opinion of 

the columnist featured above 

embedded power on him perhaps with the intent 

to either drive him out of town or out of 

his mind – or whichever comes first. 

Prof. Nnaji was so traumatised he had to 

cry out recently. In an article to national 

newspapers (“Travails of Aba Power Project”) 

he lamented how the Jonathan administration 

through Enugu Electricity Distribution 

Company (EEDC) unleashed brute power on 

his project in Aba. 

In a nutshell, the Federal Government had 

in 2005 granted him an agreement to build 

Aba Integrated Power Project (AIPP) to serve 

Aba metropolis. Working in collaboration 

with the Aba business community, USAID 

and banks, Nnaji built world-class power 

generating, transmitting and distributing 

facilities in Aba to serve as a model for other 

cities. 

But in repudiation of its agreement with 

Nnaji, the Federal Government again 

concessioned Aba to EEDC in a most cruel 

show of power. Till today, Nnaji has been 

running from pillar to post, incurring huge 

bank costs and suffering untold mental 

torture. Why has the underperforming EEDC 

concession made under controversial 

circumstances blocked the Aba Power 

project? The Southeast must be big enough 

for one disco. 

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 08034505516. 

Editor Daily:08111813080, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, 

Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO

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