10022017 - Buhari back anytime from now: PRESIDENCY SOURCES

Labour, civil 

society groups 

protest govt's 

policies 

4 

MONEY LAUNDERING: 

Ex-ICC prosecutor 

hands off Justice 

Ngwuta's case as FG 

sets up fresh team 

CONVERSATION 

WITH 

AZU 

What does 

Obasanjo know 

about Buhari? 

2 36 

** ** 

VOL. 25: NO. 63222 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

Buhari back anytime 

from now— PRESIDENCY SOURCES 

TINUBU, 

AKANDE VISIT 

BUHARI IN 

LONDON: 

P r e s i d e n t 

Muhammadu Buhari 

(middle) receives 

APC chieftains, 

Senator Bola Ahmed 

Tinubu (right) and 

Chief Bisi Akande, at 

Abuja House in 

London, yesterday. 

Photo: State House. 

Nigeria's 

$1bn 

Eurobond 

records 

800% oversubscription 

12 

Buhari sacks Army bodyguards in Aso 

Rock; reinstates DSS operatives 

COLUMNIST: 

OWEI 

LAKEMFA 

Africa’s push back 

from the ICC 

31 

OLUBADAN: 

11 months on the 

throne, multiple 

chieftaincy battles 

SEE STORY INSIDE 

AMCON takes over Arik Air; 

airline vows to go to court 

15 

2 

Legal rights of Nigerians to 

protest against govt, by Falana 42 

By Emmanuel Aziken, 

Henry Umoru, 

Emman Ovuakporie, 

Luka Binniyat, Omezia 

Ajayi & Caleb Ayansina 

A 

BUJA— 

AMIDST 

increasing 

concerns over the health 

status of President Muhammadu 

Buhari, indications 

emerged, yesterday, 

of his imminent return 

to the country, having 

reportedly finished 

with the extended medical 

tests his United Kingdom-based 

physicians 

ran on him. 

The latest public declaration 

that the President 

is in fine fettle was given 

by Senate President, 

Dr. Bukola Saraki, and 

Speaker Yakubu Dogara 

who, in separate tweets, 

acknowledged that the 

President is in fine 

Continues on Page 5 

Mr & Mrs

2—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

$1.1BN MALABU 

SCANDAL: 

Italian prosecutors 

request 

trial of Etete, Shell, 

Eni, others 

ITALIAN prosecutors have 

requested that former 

Minister of Petroleum 

Resources, Chief Dan Etete, 

Shell, Eni and several senior 

executives of Eni, including 

the current CEO, Claudio 

Descalzi, be sent for trial over 

alleged international 

corruption offences over the 

2011 purchase of Nigerian 

OPL 245 oil block. 

They are also seeking 

separate charges against four 

senior Shell executives, 

including the current Shell 

Foundation Chairman 

Malcolm Brinded, who at the 

time of deal was head of 

Global Exploration and 

Production. 

In 2011, Shell and Eni paid 

$1.1 billion to Malabu Oil and 

Gas, a front company secretly 

owned by Mr. Etete. 

Prosecutors, according to 

online publication, Premium 

Times, have alleged that over 

$500 million went to “fronts for 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan of Nigeria” in the 

deal which deprived Nigeria 

of a sum worth 80 per cent of 

its 2015 healthcare budget. 

Former President Goodluck 

Jonathan has denied the 

allegations, saying in a 

statement that he had never 

used fronts to “seek favour or 

collect any gratification on his 

behalf.” 

“This request demonstrates 

that major international 

companies and their senior 

executives are not above the 

law. Shell and Eni look now 

to be finally facing a trial over 

these matters, and others need 

to wake up to the new reality 

where corrupt deals and the 

actions that lead to them 

cannot stay hidden behind 

closed doors." 

‘’Global Witness has 

campaigned for decades to 

carve out transparency in this 

secretive sector; this case 

proves that the age of 

accountability is dawning.” 

said Simon Taylor of Global 

Witness. 

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

FG takes over Arik Air, appoints Ilegbodu 

as new MD 

•Arik Air to challenge AMCON take-over 

•As staff express mixed feelings 

By Lawani Mikairu 

LAGOS — THE Asset 

Management Company of 

Nigeria, AMCON, yesterday, 

took over management and 

ownership of Arik Air, and 

appointed Captain Roy Ukpebo 

Ilegbodu as Managing Director, 

following the airline's 

indebtedness to the tune of N135 

billion 

Operatives 

of 

EFCC,Wednesday, invaded the 

premises of the airline and 

whisked away the Executive 

Chairman of the airline, Chief 

Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, to 

their Lagos office. 

This came as workers of the 

airline expressed mixed feelings 

over the take over of the airline, 

which has now gone into 

receivership of Mr. Oluseye 

Opasanya, SAN. 

AMCON said in a statement 

yesterday: “From all indications, 

respite may have come the way 

of Arik Airlines currently 

immersed in heavy financial debt 

burden that is threatening to 

permanently ground the airline. 

‘’For some time now, the airline, 

which carries about 55 per cent 

of the load in the country, has 

been going through difficult 

times that are attributable to its 

bad corporate governance, 

erratic operational challenges, 

inability to pay staff salaries and 

heavy debt burden among other 

issues, which led to the call for 

authorities in the country to 

intervene before Arik goes 

under like many before it. 

“The move, which clearly 

underscores government’s 

decision to instill sanity in the 

nation’s aviation sector, has also 

prevented a major catastrophe 

that would, among other factors, 

protect and preserve Arik 

Airlines as a going concern. 

‘’The development will afford 

Arik Airlines, which is the largest 

local carrier, to go back to regular 

Money laundering: Ex-ICC prosecutor 

hands off Justice Ngwuta’s case 

•As FG sets up fresh team 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA — THE lawyer 

handling the money 

laundering case for Federal 

Government against Justice 

Sylvester Ngwuta of the 

Supreme Court, Mr Charles 

Adeogun-Philips, has 

withdrawn from the suit. 

Kaduna Refinery loses N2.2bn to 

water pipeline vandals — NNPC 

By Michael Eboh 

ABUJA — THE Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, 

stated that its subsidiary, Kaduna 

Refining and Petrochemical 

Company, KRPC, was losing an 

average of N2.2 billion annually 

to illegal tapping of its raw water 

pipeline, running from Kaduna 

River. 

The NNPC, in a statement by 

its Group General Manager, 

Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. 

Ndu Ughamadu, also disclosed 

DIALOGUE: From left, Rear Admiral Janathan Ango, Chief of Defence Civil Military 

Relations, Defence Headquarters; Mohammed Babandede, Comptroller-General, Nigerian 

Immigration Service; Mrs Nike Akande, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry; Senator Sam Egwu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry and Major-General 

Daniel Ahmadu, Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Army, at the LCCI Security 

Meets Business Dialogue session in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. 

that the Kaduna Refinery was 

currently operating at 65 percent 

installed capacity, producing 1.7 

million litres of petrol, 1.7 

million litres of diesel and 

700,000 litres of kerosene daily. 

Managing Director of KRPC, 

Mr. Idi Mukhtar, explained that 

the illegal acts were committed 

mostly at Janruwa, Kamazo, 

Namaigero and Mahuta areas 

of Kaduna metropolis, which 

were the communities along the 

raw water intake pipeline Right 

of Way. 

Consequently, the 

government reconstituted a 

fresh team to prosecute the 

Supreme Court judge. 

Adeogun-Philips, a former 

prosecutor at the International 

Criminal Court, ICC, told trial 

Justice John Tsoho that he would 

no longer participate in the trial 

due to "some personal issues." 

He did not, however, adduce 

further reasons for his decision. 

Nevertheless, a source at the 

Ministry of Justice told 

Vanguard in confidence that the 

ex-ICC prosecutor was 

disappointed that the Federal 

Government decided to 

withdraw criminal charges 

against three top officials of the 

Supreme Court accused of 

diverting over N2.2 billion from 

the treasury of the apex court, 

without notifying him as the 

prosecuting counsel. 

The nine-count corruption 

charge against the apex court 

staff was struck out by trial Justice 

Abba-Bello Mohammed of an 

Abuja High Court at Jabi, 

Tuesday, following an application 

by the government. 

Following Adeogun-Philips' 

action, the government 

confirmed, yesterday, that the 

former ICC prosecutor would 

no longer appear for it in 

Ngwuta’s trial. 

Government took the action on 

a day Ngwuta, through his lead 

counsel and former Attorney 

General of the Federation, 

Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, crossexamined 

the witness, Mr. 

Linus Nwamba, who exposed 

how he spent N313 million on 

landed property. 

Nwamba, who testified before 

the Federal High Court in Abuja 

as the first prosecution witness, 

PW-1, said Justice Ngwuta gave 

him the money in cash, between 

January 4 and September 2016. 

At the resumed hearing, 

yesterday, a Principal State 

Counsel in the office of the 

Director of Public Prosecution, 

DPP, Mrs Hajara Yusuf, 

announced decision of the 

government to reconstitute a 

fresh team to prosecute Ngwuta. 

“My lord, I have been 

instructed to inform the court 

that Mr. Adeogun-Philips, who 

was the lead prosecuting 

counsel, will no longer be 

appearing in this matter." 

and undisrupted operations, avoid 

job losses, protect investors and 

stakeholder funds as well as 

ensure safety and stability in the 

already challenged aviation 

sector. 

Explaining the rationale for the 

latest intervention in Arik 

Airlines, Minister of State for 

Aviation, Senator Hadi Siriki, 

said: “We believe that this 

appointment is timely and will 

stabilize the operations of the 

airline. 

‘’This will enhance the long 

term economic value of Arik Air 

and revitalize the airline’s ailing 

operations as well as sustain 

safety standards, in view of Arik 

Air’s pivotal role in the Nigerian 

aviation sector.” 

In the same vein, Capt. 

Ilegbodu has also assured staff 

of the troubled airline and all 

other stakeholders that his 

appointment at Arik would, 

among other objectives, enhance 

the value of Arik, improve 

customer experience, and sustain 

the safety, reliable and secure 

operational history of the airline 

before all those were eroded. 

Arik Air to challenge 

AMCON take-over 

Meanwhile, Arik Air ,yesterday, 

said it will challenge its take-over 

by the Asset Management 

Corporation of Nigeria, 

AMCON. 

This was disclosed by the 

Deputy Managing Director of the 

airline, Captain Ado Sanusi, at 

the airline’s headquarters in 

Lagos. 

Sanusi said the airline had 

agreed to comply with the court 

order directing AMCON to take 

over the management of the 

airline, but that the airline will 

challenge the decision to the 

highest court in Nigeria. 

“We were served with the court 

order this morning, Arik Air will 

comply with the order. The airline 

has the right to challenge the 

order and will challenge the court 

order. We might disagree on 

certain issues, but we have 

agreed that Arik Air operations 

should continue and not be 

paralysed. We will make our 

position known to our various 

stakeholders and partners. We 

will challenge this order to the 

highest level,” he said. 

Staff express mixed 

feelings 

Meanwhile, staff of the airline, 

yesterday, expressed mixed 

feelings over the take over. While 

one of the workers, who spoke on 

condition of anonymity, said he 

saw the development coming, 

because of the manner the airline 

was being managed, another 

expressed fears over loss of jobs. 

He said: ‘’The company is 

making money, so no matter how 

much the airline is owning, it 

would have been able to honour 

its financial obligations to 

AMCON and any other creditor. 

“ I will, however, urge AMCON 

not to take any panicky measures 

by retrenching staff or downsizing 

as the company can meet its 

recurrent expenditures and make 

profit."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017—3



1.3m illicit 

weapons in 

circulation 

—Presidential 

c’ttee 

By Joseph Erunke 

ABUJA— 

THE 

Presidential Committee 

on Small Arms and Light 

Weapons, PRESCOM, 

claimed, yesterday, that over 

1.3 million illicit weapons are 

in circulation in the country. 

Chairman of the committee, 

Ambassador Emmanuel 

Imohe, disclosed this at the 

launch of the integration of 

Nigeria into the ECOWAS-EU 

small arms project, held at the 

ECOWAS Commission, Abuja. 

Imohe, who described 

Nigeria as the confluence of 

small arms and light weapons 

from Africa, also said the 

country had become the centre 

of criminals from the entire 

African continent. 

He said Nigeria was caught 

in the web of small arms and 

light weapons which he noted, 

remained weapons of choice 

for many violent criminals, 

insurgents, extremists and 

economic saboteurs. 

Banks to 

contribute 5% 

profit into new 

Agric Fund 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

A BUJA—DEPOSIT 

M o n e y 

Banks, DMBs, in the 

country are to contribute five 

per cent of their annual Profit 

After Tax to an Agriculture 

Fund, which would be used to 

vigorously pursue the current 

administration’s efforts at 

diversifying the nation’s 

economy. 

Director of Banking 

Supervision of the Central Bank 

of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Ahmad 

Abdullahi, disclosed this at the 

end of yesterday’s Bankers’ 

Committee meeting in Abuja. 

The fund, to be domiciled in 

the CBN, is to be used as equity 

stakes in agri-businesses and 

for other sectors that would 

make a success of the importsubstitution 

programme of the 

federal government. 

He said: “The Bankers’ 

Committee has taken a decision 

to come up with an initiative in 

support of the Federal 

Government's export drive by 

supporting SMEs and other 

businesses. 

"Export drive as well as, 

import substitution and so have 

agreed to contribute five per 

cent of each bank’s Profit After 

Tax to a pool of funds that will 

be kept with the Central Bank 

of Nigeria and it will be used to 

finance eligible, bankable 

projects that are meant for 

export drive or import 

substitution." 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young, Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru, 

Olasunkanmi Akoni & 

Monsur Olowoopejo 

ABUJA — ORGANISED 

labour, yesterday, at a 

protest rally in Abuja and Lagos 

against worsening hardship and 

frustration in the country, asked 

the Federal Government to 

change its style of governance 

and implement people-oriented 

policies to avert a looming social 

uprising. 

Leading aggrieved workers 

and other Nigerians, including 

some civil society allies, Nigeria 

Labour Congress, NLC, and its 

Trade Union Congress of 

Nigeria, TUC, made it clear that 

Nigerians are dissatisfied with 

the style of governance that had 

made Nigerians poorer and 

unable to cope with the hardship. 

They demanded that the 

Federal Government make 

known the identities of those that 

looted the commonwealth and 

also asked that their hands be cut 

off to serve as deterrent to others. 

The protest organised by the 

NLC, TUC and their civil society 

allies, also lamented that nothing 

much had been achieved in the 

fight against corruption. 

To drag govs to EFCC, 

ICPC over bail-out 

funds 

The protesters also disclosed 

that they would soon drag some 

of the state governors to the 

Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, and the 

Independent Corrupt Practices 

and other Related Offences 

Commission, ICPC, for allegedly 

diverting bail-out funds recently 

released by the Federal 

Government for the payment of 

workers’ salaries, arrears, 

pensions and gratuity 

Addressing workers during 

the protest rally at the Unity 

Fountain, Abuja, President of 

NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, 

said it was unfortunate that a few 

individuals had stolen the 

nation’s commonwealth, while 

noting that nothing had been 

done to bring them to book. 

Wants looters 

amputated 

Advising the government to 

VISIT: From left, Mr Kolawole Samson Ogungbe; Hajia Lami Tumaka; Mr Mac Emakpore; 

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Dr. Julie Coker; Mrs Modupe 

Ajayi-Jemibewon and Mr Nath Mayo Adediran when the Governing Board of the Jewel of 

Africa paid a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja, yesterday. 

Labour, civil society groups 

protest govt's policies 

•Want names of looters published, hands cut off 

•Plan to drag govs to EFCC, ICPC over diversion of bail-out funds 

come hard on the looters of the 

nation’s treasury, Wabba said: 

“We must not allow a situation 

where a few, because of their 

interest, will hold the system to 

ransom. 

‘’We are demanding that they 

should be named and shamed. 

We are also demanding that one 

of their hands be cut off so that 

when we see them, we will know 

that they are people that have 

stolen our money. 

Also speaking, President of 

TUC, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, said 

efforts must be made to end 

corruption in the country as well 

as promote good governance. 

On his part, Vice President of 

IndustriAll Global Union and 

General Secretary of National 

Union of Textiles, Garment and 

Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, 

Issa Aremu, said before the 

increment of petroleum pump 

prices, organised labour had 

predicted what would be the 

outcome of the government 

policy, adding that the 

predictions had come to fruition. 

Saraki reacts 

Responding, the Senate 

President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said 

it is time to go into action towards 

addressing the numerous 

challenges confronting 

Nigerians, adding that 

everybody should sit down and 

work out how to make necessary 

adjustments. 

He said: “It can’t continue this 

way, the exchange rate is high, 

cost of things in the market has 

gone high but only the workers’ 

salaries remained the same. 

When next we meet, I will tell you 

what the National Assembly has 

done to improve the living 

condition of Nigerians.” 

Protesters stopped 

from entering Villa 

But the protesters were stopped 

by security operatives from 

gaining access to the Presidential 

Villa to deliver their protest 

message to Acting President, 

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. 

The workers were stopped at 

the Federal Secretariat by heavily 

armed security operatives at about 

11.05 am and were asked to send 

a delegation to take their 

message to the Presidential Villa. 

Corruption trial: Justice Ademola earns N6.2m 

annually, FHC Registrar tells court 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA— THE Chief 

Accountant of the Federal 

High Court, Mr. Oluyemi 

Kazeem Adisa, yesterday, 

revealed that Justice Adeniyi 

Ademola of the court, who is 

facing money laundering 

charges, earns N6.2 million 

annually. 

Adisa testified as the 13th 

prosecution witness, PW-13, in 

the ongoing trial of Justice 

Ademola before a High Court 

of the Federal Capital Territory 

sitting at Maitama. 

Ademola, grandson of a 

former Chief Justice of Nigeria, 

is answering to an amended 18- 

count criminal charge alongside 

his wife, Olabowale, and a 

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. 

Joe Agi. 

He was, among other 

allegations, accused of receiving 

gratifications from Agi to the tune 

of N38.5m, including a BMW 

Saloon 320i car gift. 

At the resumed hearing of the 

matter, yesterday, the 

prosecution brought accountant 

of the Federal High Court, Mr. 

Adisa, to give insight into the 

official amount Justice Ademola 

received as salary and 

emoluments from 2009 till 2016. 

However, the witness said he 

could not give a cumulative 

amount the judge got as his 

remuneration within the period. 

“My lord, I work in the central 

office with the responsibility of 

making payments to judges, 

staff and contractors. 

“I know the first defendant in 

this matter. He came into the 

employment of the court in 2004. 

I can’t remember the exact 

month.” 

The witness told the court that 

judges are on consolidated 

salary derived from the 

Consolidated Revenue Fund. 

According to the witness, “The 

monthly salary of the defendant 

is N528, 638, 67. 00 while his 

annual income is N6, 243, 665, 

33. 00." 

Initially, the workers rejected the 

request, insisting the Acting 

President either sends a 

representative to receive their 

message or be allowed to gain 

access to the villa to deliver the 

message. 

They, however, nominated 20 

representatives from among them 

to take their message to the Acting 

President while the rest waited for 

their leaders as music of 

legendary Fela Anikulakpo Kuti, 

late Bob Marley among others, 

rent the air. 

Falana urges NLC to 

monitor bail-out funds 

In Lagos, the protesters, who 

displayed several placards to 

convey their grievances, marched 

from Yaba to Ikorodu Road, 

Mobolaji Bank Anthony and 

Obafemi Awolowo Way, enroute 

Alausa, the seat of Lagos State 

Government, chanting solidarity 

songs. 

Some of the placards read: 

“President Buhari let there be 

light; End jumbo salary for all 

political office holders; Prosecute 

all indicted persons; Jail all looters, 

no sacred cows; President Buhari 

take time to review power sector 

reform; End unpaid salary regime; 

Pay N56,000 minimum wage; Buy 

made-in-Nigeria goods and 

Patronize local fabrics, garments.” 

The Lagos protest was led by 

Vice President of the NLC, Mr. 

Amaechi Asugwani, alongside 

ace musician, Charles Oputa, alias 

Charly Boy. 

At Alausa, Lagos lawyer, Femi 

Falana, Senior Advocate of 

Nigeria, SAN, joined the 

protesters and halted normal 

business activities when they 

stormed Lagos State House for 

hours. 

Addressing the protesters 

amidst solidarity songs, Falana 

said Nigerians had been suffering, 

with no hope that the suffering 

was ending soon.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

VISIT: From left, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, President Buhari and Chief Bisi 

Akande in London, yesterday. 

Buhari back anytime from now 

—PRESIDENCY SOURCES 

Continues from Page 1 

shape. 

Also yesterday, a very 

close associate of the 

president, who had been 

in close touch with people 

around him, confirmed 

the positive news 

of his health, saying the 

President was expected 

to return any time from 

today. 

Meanwhile, President 

Buhari, yesterday, received 

two prominent 

leaders of the All Progressives 

Congress, 

APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu 

and Chief Bisi 

Akande, in London. 

The assertions came as 

the Christian Association 

of Nigeria, CAN, and 

the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, 

JNI, in separate 

calls, also urged Nigerians 

to pray for the wellbeing 

of the President, 

asserting that as a human 

being, he is also 

prone to ill-health. 

A prominent official of 

government who also 

maintains a close personal 

and family relationship 

with the President, 

equally confirmed 

the well-being of the 

President yesterday. 

“I found out from the 

family and I was told 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 

NEVER become too afraid to say ‘No‘ to people 

sometimes, learning to say no saves you quite 

a handful of unnecessary stress. 

TAKE HEART 

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482 

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the 

courage to continue that counts — Winston 

Churchill 

WE all take twists and turns in making poor 

choices in life, we can find much learning 

through these lessons or choices, there is a saying, 

“you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs”, 

but the key is to not make poor choices too often or 

remain with them for too long. Vigilance helps to 

keep the awareness sharp and affords one the 

opportunity to correct erroneous situations before it 

becomes fixed. Let problems be a place one passes 

through in learning, not a state to be, or a place to 

dwell in. The distinction is that one represents a 

place of consciousness and the other is a state of 

consciousness. Choose from your awareness a place 

of light and love. In other words, water the plant 

you want to grow, and do so with conscious 

intention. If you want to excel at something, 

whatever it is, focus, set goals, plan and manifest 

your dreams. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

A snake seen by only one man is always 

as big as a python. 

that the tests had been 

carried out and it is being 

envisaged that he 

could come back anytime 

from tomorrow (today),” 

the public official, who 

spoke on the strict condition 

of anonymity, said. 

Another senior Presidency 

source spoke in 

the same vein, saying 

there is nothing holding 

the President back, 

though he could not give 

a clear date for his return. 

The well-being of the 

President was further accentuated 

by pictures of 

the President with APC 

leaders, Asiwaju Bola 

Ahmed Tinubu and Chief 

Bisi Akande, which Vanguard 

confirmed to have 

been taken yesterday afternoon. 

In one of the pictures, 

the President was seated 

between the two party 

leaders in a sitting room 

and(above), in another, 

Buhari was sandwiched 

between the two men 

with all of them smiling 

(on cover). 

Asserting that the President 

is hale and hearty, 

Saraki in a tweet at 11:35 

p.m. on Wednesday, confirmed 

that he spoke with 

Buhari, adding that the 

President even cracked 

jokes with him during 

their discussion. 

Noting that he is happy 

to have interacted 

with the President, Saraki 

in his tweet, said: 

“Happy to have spoken 

with @NGRPresident 

@MBuhari tonight. He 

was in good spirit and 

joked about my working 

late into the night, as usual. 

- @Bukolasaraki on 

Twitter Wednesday 8th of 

February 2017, 11:35 

pm.” 

Saraki’s assertion came 

three days after Acting 

President, Yemi Osinbajo, 

also disclosed that the 

President is hale and 

hearty. 

Speaker Yakubu Dogara 

also went on Twitter, 

yesterday, to confirm 

speaking with Buhari, 

who he claimed professed 

his pains at the 

sufferings Nigerians endured 

last year and had 

as such, resolved to ensure 

a better life for the 

people. 

Dogara in his tweet 

said: “MBuhari called 

me yesterday evening. 

He talked about what the 

Executive/Legislature 

must do to ensure food 

security for all Nigerians. 

“He said he was pained 

by the suffering endured 

by most Nigerians last 

year and he is resolved 

not to let events of 2016 

repeat themselves. He 

also asked me to extend 

his best wishes to all 

Honourable members.” 

Ahead of the President’s 

return, the expectation 

was also being 

raised among APC members. 

At the national secretariat 

of the party in Abuja, 

a big banner was 

placed inside the parking 

lot with the inscription, 

“Welcome Mr. President, 

Baba, Oyoyo”, the 

banner produced by the 

National Youth Council 

of Nigeria, had pictures 

of Buhari and Youths and 

Sports Minister, Mr. 

Solomon Dalung. 

Pray for his quick 

recovery, CAN 

urges Nigerians 

Meanwhile, the Christian 

Association of Nigeria, 

CAN, yesterday called 

on all Nigerians to pray 

for the quick recovery of 

the President and his 

safe return. 

In a statement by the 

Director of Legal and 

Public Affairs, Barr. 

Kwamkur Samuel, CAN 

also called on the Presidency 

not to hide information 

from the people. 

The statement read: 

“We wish to call on all 

Nigerians to join hands 

in prayers for the quick 

and full recovery of Mr. 

President and his safe 

return to Nigeria instead 

of dwelling on the needless 

rumour on the President’s 

health. 

“President Muhammadu 

Buhari is human, 

hence subject to health 

challenges sometimes. 

CAN appreciates the 

anxiety of Nigerians to 

hear Mr. President 

speak, but sues for understanding 

as we await 

that. It is very clear that 

our leader is passing 

through health challenges. 

“We advise the Presidency 

to update Nigerians 

on how he is faring 

and the full progress of 

his recovery. 

“We call on all Christians 

and indeed, all 

God-fearing Nigerians to 

dedicate time of prayers 

for our President and the 

nation. We owe our leaders 

prayers and support 

at all times while shunning 

divisive opinions 

that only generate strife. 

“CAN also calls on Nigerians 

to give the Vice- 

President who is also the 

Acting President full support 

and prayers to lead 

well. 

“We acknowledge that 

government is a continuum. 

Hence, we call on 

Acting President, Professor 

Yemi Osinbajo to be 

bold in handling critical 

state matters and not to 

be distracted by those 

who do not wish Nigeria 

well.” 

JNI condemns 

death-wish peddlers 

The Jama’atu Nasril 

Islam, JNI, on its part, 

condemned those it said 

were wishing the President 

dead instead of 

praying for his full recovery. 

The JNI also termed 

those it said were calling 

for the resignation of Acting 

President Osibanjo 

as “callous and mischievous.” 

In a press statement by 

its Secretary General, Dr. 

Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, 

the group said: “JNI is, 

indeed, perturbed over 

the series of rumours 

making the rounds on 

the state of President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

health. 

“It should be, however, 

noted that as with every 

mortal, illness is inevitable, 

likewise life and 

death. Thus, JNI is very 

concerned about the 

pandemonium generated 

as a result of the rumoured 

illness of the 

President and the dimension 

it is unfortunately 

taking. 

‘’Does that mean he 

can no longer get ill? 

Agreed that reports from 

the Presidency stated 

that President Muhammadu 

Buhari is currently 

undergoing a cycle of 

tests as recommended by 

his doctors, hence the 

extension of his leave. 

“We must as patriots, be 

cautioned on spreading 

inaccurate information. 

More so, Muslims 

should be cautioned not 

to join the bandwagon of 

rumour-mongers. This is 

so because already some 

unpatriotic elements are 

wishing that the President 

is dead. 

Interestingly, those 

who wish him death will 

certainly not live till eternity. 

Aren’t we supposed 

to wish each other good 

well-being? Let alone, 

the President of the country? 

“Therefore, following 

the unnecessary excitement 

in the President’s 

delayed return to Nigeria, 

we implore all and 

sundry, particularly 

Muslims to persistently 

supplicate on daily basis 

for President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s safe return, 

restoration of good 

health and the ability to 

continue with the task of 

piloting Nigeria to greater 

heights with his team. 

“In the same vein, we 

are all implored to fervently 

pray for the nation, 

the Vice President, 

governors and all those 

in positions of authority, 

for Allah’s guidance in 

the discharge of their respective 

duties. 

“We nonetheless, condemn 

in the strongest 

terms those calling for 

the resignation of Professor 

Yemi Osinbajo, as the 

Vice-President, Federal 

Republic of Nigeria. 

Whatever, the intent may 

be, we see such calls as 

callous, mischievous and 

unpatriotic. 

“ Moreover, why must 

that vacuum be created 

now, if not for sinister 

motives? We, therefore, 

call on all Jumu’ah Imams 

to include the matter 

in their respective 

Friday sermons tomorrow 

(today) and beyond.”

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

Landlords, 

CDA clash 

over security 

house, gate in 

Lagos 

By Etop Ekanem 

CRISIS is looming at 

New Site Estate, 

Ijegun Imore, Oriade 

Local Council 

Development Authority, 

Lagos State, between 

Landlords Association 

and Community 

Development 

Association, CDA, over 

the alleged demolition 

of a security house and 

gate mounted by the 

landlords to check 

crime. 

Vanguard learned that 

the New Site Estate’s 

CDA, in collaboration 

with some government 

officials, Tuesday, 

allegedly demolished the 

security house and gate. 

According to 

Chairman of the 

Landlords Association, 

Prince Iyke Osuchukwu, 

“the security house had 

been there for over eight 

years now and we have 

been collecting tolls from 

vehicles bringing 

building materials to the 

estate. 

“We use the money we 

generate at the gate to 

pay security, buy diesel to 

power the street lights, 

maintenance of roads and 

other developmental 

projects. 

“But after the present 

executives of the 

landlords association 

were elected on 

December 26, 2016, the 

CDA connived with 

some people suspected 

to be government 

officials and demolished 

the house and gate we 

spent huge amount of 

money to construct.” 

Osuckukwu, therefore, 

said the landlords in the 

area would not fold their 

arms and suffer 

intimidations, adding, 

“we watched them 

destroy our security 

house and gate, but that 

will no longer be 

tolerated.” 

He, therefore, called on 

the relevant authorities to 

intervene on the matter 

before it will get out of 

hand. 

When Vanguard 

visited the New Site 

Estate Community 

Development 

Association’s office, the 

Chairman, Otunba B. S. 

Taiwo, was not available 

for comment and his 

phone was switched off 

and a text message sent 

to him was not replied. 


75-yr-old man wants divorce: My wife always 

grabbed my testicles whenever we fight 

A75-year-old businessman, 

Moshood Adedapo, has 

asked an Igando customary 

court in Lagos to end his 

marriage to Balikis for always 

grabbing and twisting his 

scrotum whenever they fight. 

Adedapo told the court, 

yesterday, that his wife, Balikis, 

with whom he had three 

children in their 20-year-old 

marriage, was threatening to 

kill him. 

He said: “Whenever my wife 

and I are fighting, she will 

quickly grab my testicles and 

start twisting them. She will not 

leave my two balls until I beg 

and cry. 

“Last week, she came to my 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

OLEH—THE family of Theo 

Moni, a nine-year-old 

kerosene explosion victim, has 

appealed to the governments 

of Bayelsa and Delta states to 

provide them with financial 

assistance to save the life of 

their son. 

Theo Moni, the survivor of the 

incident which led to the death 

of his 10-year-old friend at 

Ayama community, Ekeremor 

Local Government Area, 

Bayelsa State, February 2, is 

currently on admission at the 

General Hospital, Bomadi, 

Bomadi Local Government 

Area, Delta State. 

Narrating their ordeal to 

newsmen, the victim’s father, 

Mr. Emaka Moni, said his son, 

who sustained severe burns in 

the incident, was playing with 

friends at the front of his 

grandmother’s house when she 

(grandmother) suddenly threw 

room while I was fast asleep 

and grabbed my scrotum, 

saying I will not escape this 

time. 

“I was crying and shouting 

for help and neighbours 

rushed in to rescue me. But my 

wife refused to let go until I 

managed to bite her hands. I 

then passed out for 20 

minutes; my two balls have 

suffered in the hands of my 

wicked wife. 

“Please, dissolve the 

marriage because I may not 

be lucky next time.” 

The petitioner said his wife 

had vowed never to honour 

court’s invitation, adding 

“my wife went to my friend’s 

house and told him that I 

am sleeping with his wife, 

which is not the truth. 

“She destroyed the 

relationship my friend and 

I had built over a very long 

time.” 

He also accused Balikis of 

always cursing their 

children and the curses 

were affecting them. He 

said his wife always 

accused him of threatening 

her life. 

“If Balikis sees rat, 

cockroach or wall geckos in 

the house, she will be 

running helter-skelter, 

accusing me of sending 

them to attack her,” 

Adedapo said. 

He described his wife as a 

troublesome person, saying 

“my wife always fights with my 

tenants, friends and family; 

fighting is in her blood and she 

does not get tired,” he said 

He begged the court to end 

the marriage, saying he was 

no longer in love with her and 

that he did not want to die yet. 

The court’s President, Mr. 

Adegboyega Omilola, ordered 

the petitioner to produce 

evidence in order to continue 

with the case since the 

respondent refused to honour 

the court’s invitation and 

adjourned the case to April 4 

for judgment. 

Family of kerosene explosion victim begs Bayelsa, Delta 

govts for help 

By Abdulwahab 

Abdulah & Jane 

Echewedo 

JUSTICE 

Sedotan 

Ogunsanya of an Ikeja high 

court has sentenced a 23-yearold 

bus conductor, Joseph Robert, 

to 21 years in jail for killing 

his roommate, Kalu Kalu. 

The state government had 

brought a murder charge 

against Robert after he 

allegedly stabbed Kalu on the 

neck with a knife during a fight. 

Delivering the judgement on 

manslaughter, Justice 

Ogunsanya ruled: “The 

accused is, hereby, sentenced 

to 21 years imprisonment, 

which will run concurrently.” 

The charge was changed 

Bandaged Theo Moni. 

away a lantern that had 

exploded as she was filling it 

with kerosene. 

He lamented that the lantern 

that was being consumed by 

the flames landed on the two 

boys, setting them ablaze. 

from murder, pressed against 

him by the state, based on the 

consideration that the convict 

had no intention of killing the 

deceased. 

The prosecution, led by the 

Attorney General of Lagos 

State, Adeniji Kaseem, said 

that the convict committed the 

offence on February 2, at 1, 

Shokunbi Street, Shasha, in 

the Ikeja Judicial Division. 

The convict was charged for 

murder contrary to Section 

319(1) of the Criminal Code 

Law, Cap C.17 Vol. 2, Laws of 

Lagos State. 

According to the 

confessional statement, Robert 

and the deceased lived in a 

one-room apartment, until 

Robert decided to harbour his 

Emeka said neighbours 

and sympathisers managed 

to put out the fire on the 

children, adding that his 

son’s friend died before they 

got to the hospital. 

He called on governments 

girlfriend, Blessing, who 

was sent packing by her elder 

brother, a co-tenant. 

It did not go down well with 

the deceased, who 

complained about the girl’s 

attitude and the manner in 

which Robert took the 

matter. 

However, on that fateful 

day at about 11p.m., the 

deceased grew very furious 

over the long stay of the girl 

and threatened to throw her 

out of the house. 

The confrontation by the 

deceased resulted to a fight 

in which Robert threatened 

to stab Kalu if he dared come 

close to him. But the 

deceased called his bluff and 

went up against him. 

and public-spirited individuals 

to come to their aid, saying that 

they could no longer afford the 

materials needed for the 

dressing of the burns, which 

affected over 60 percent of his 

son’s body. 

How fight over girlfriend earned 

conductor 12 years in jail for murder 

Robert, however, stabbed the 

deceased on the neck and he 

fell. The convict, noticing that 

his room-mate was badly 

injured, rushed him to the 

hospital. But he died on the way. 

The corpse was later carried 

back to the house but the 

landlord, one Saheed, and other 

tenants decided to report the 

matter to the police. 

Herdsmen barricad 

By Perez Brisibe 

U 

G H E L L I — 

S U S P E C T E D 

herdsmen, numbering over 20, 

yesterday, blocked the Ohorhor- 

Bomadi Road, Delta State, 

attacking and dispossessing



Welder invests customer’s N430,000 in MMM; jailed for 2 months 

A 

Karmo Grade 1 Area 

Court, Abuja, yesterday, 

sentenced a 38-year-old welder 

(names withheld) to two months 

imprisonment for criminal 

breach of trust and cheating, 

bordering on failure to pay back 

customer’s N430,000. 

The welder, who resides at 

Nimasa Estate Gwarimpa, 

Abuja, said that he paid the 

money into the money 

doubling scheme, Mavrodi 

Mondial Movement, MMM. 

The judge, Alhaji Abubakar 

Sadiq, however, gave him 

N10,000 option of fine and 

warned him to desist from 

committing crime and ordered 

the convict to pay N430,000 to 

e Delta road, rob passengers 

passengers of their valuables. 

The Ohorhor-Bomadi Road is 

a major road linking many Ijaw 

communities in Bomadi and part 

of Burutu Local Government 

areas of the state. 

Although details of the 

incident was sketchy at press 

time, sources at the community 

told Vanguard on phone that 

the herdsmen barricaded the 

road for over 50 minutes, as 

they unleashed mayhem on 

travellers. 

Acting Chairman of Ohorhor 

community, Mr. Power Oba, 

the complainant. 

Earlier, the prosecutor, 

Zannah Dalhatu, told the 

court that one Mr. Fagbo 

Tubosun of Gwarimpa Estate 

reported the matter at 

Gwarimpa Police Station on 

February 7. 

Dalhatu said that in 

October 2016, the convict 

One dead, 19 displaced in Lagos fires 

By Bose Adelaja & 

Monsuru Olowoopejo 

Astaff of the National Open 

University of Nigeria, 

NOUN, was reportedly killed in 

an early morning fire that razed 

a two-storey building yesterday 

at 7, Jemigbon Street, Apollo 

Estate, off Elebiju, Ketu, Lagos. 

This is just as a family of three 

and scores of traders were, also 

yesterday, displaced after fire 

razed their structures 

destroying goods worth 

millions of naira in Kirikiri, 

Apapa Local Government of 

the state. 

The Ketu incident was 

attributed to power surge from 

one of the flats on the ground 

floor before it spread to the 

other floor in the building. 

It was learned that the victim, 

a lady, was asleep when she was 

trapped in the inferno which 

engulfed the entire building. 

One of the occupants of the 

building was said to have raised 

the alarm, which prompted other 

neighbours to run for safety, but 

efforts to rescue the victim 

proved abortive as her flat was 

completely burnt. 

Before the arrival of the state 

emergency response units that 

were alerted as soon as the fire 

was noticed, the deceased was 

already roasted. 

The General Manager Lagos 

State Emergency Management 

Agency, LASEMA, Tiamiyu 

Adesina, who confirmed the 

development to Vanguard, said 

preliminary investigations 

revealed that the fire was caused 

by power surge. 

He said the body was 

recovered by the agency’s 

Emergency Response Team, 

ERT, and handed over to the 

State Environmental Health 

Monitoring Unit, SEHMU, 

which has since deposited it at 

the Lagos Mainland General 

Hospital mortuary. 

In related incident, it was 

gathered that a room and parlor, 

eight shops and two containers 

filled with documents were 

completely destroyed by the 

inferno that occurred at Kirikiri, 

Apapa, Wednesday. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

fire spread from a room at 2/4 

Ajose Kirikiri, Apapa Local 

Government to a company (name 

withheld) where the containers 

were kept. 

Eyewitness disclosed that the 

owners were unable to salvage 

their property, saying “I am at 

the scene and I can confirm to 

you that the structures at Ajose, 

By Ugochukwu Alaribe 

ABA—A suspected robber, 

who allegedly posed as a 

police sergeant, has been arrested 

by policemen from the Central 

Police Station, Aba, Abia State. 

Police sources told Vanguard 

that the suspect, Samuel 

Okechukwu, in company of two 

others now at large, allegedly 

snatched a Datsun mini bus with 

number plates APR 244 YH, from 

the owner, one James Eke, along 

Pound Road, Aba. 

However, luck ran out on the fake 

sergeant when the victim raised 

alarm which attracted a police 

patrol team that arrested the 

suspect, while other members of 

his gang fled. 

Parading the suspect, 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye 

Oyebade, said the suspect had 

confessed to the crime and will be 

arraigned in court as soon as 

investigations are concluded. 

He also paraded two suspects, 

Chinonso Kalu and Jude Eneh, 

who allegedly stole two power 

generating sets, property of one 

Apostle Abundant Collins of 

Akunwata Street, Aba, who 

where the fire started, were 

completely razed.” 

Confirming the inferno, the 

Director of the Lagos State 

Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, 

told Vanguard that the two 

fire trucks, filled with 10,000 

litres of water were deployed 

to the scene before the fire 

was put out. 

He noted that aside the two 

containers filled with 

told Vanguard: “I was not 

around when they stormed 

the road. But I was informed 

on phone that they 

barricaded the road about 

3p.m., and disposed 

passengers of valuables.” 

Giving details of his 

ordeal, a passenger, who 

spoke on condition of 

was given the money to 

construct water tank and 

doors. 

“After collecting the money, 

he refused to do the work and 

absconded to an unknown 

destination,’’ he said. 

The prosecutor said that 

during police investigation, 

Joshua confessed to the crime. 

documents that were gutted 

by the inferno, several other 

containers within the 

company were saved by the 

intervention of the fire 

service officials. 

The director disclosed that 

the fire service official also 

attended to fire disaster at 

Kadara Street, Ebutte-Meta, 

were lock-up shops were 

destroyed. 

EFCC raids ex-NNPC boss' 

home, recovers $9.2m, £72,000 

OPERATIVES of the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

yesterday, raided the home of a 

former Group Managing 

Director of Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, 

in Kaduna and allegedly 

recovered $9.2 million in his 

safe. 

The agents, who also 

recovered additional £72,000, 

said it was the largest sum of 

cash the commission had 

recovered in recent weeks. 

The former Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, boss had been 

arraigned by the commission 

on allegations of money 

laundering since 2016. 

Fake police sergeant arrested for robbery in Aba 

Chinonso Kalu and Jude Eneh, who allegedly stole two power 

generating sets, 

employed them as security 

guards. 

The stolen power generators 

were later recovered from the 

suspects, who confessed to the 

crime. 

anonymity, said: “It was a 

scary sight as they freely 

robbed us without fear that 

police might drive into 

them.” 

Attempts to speak with the 

state Police Public Relations 

Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, 

was fruitless as calls to his 

phone were unanswered. 

Lagos 

MD/CEO 

accused of 

N632.194m 

fraud 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—THE 52-year 

old Managing Director 

and Chief Executive Officer 

of a foods company (names 

withheld), who allegedly 

forged documents of UAC 

Foods’ purchase order and 

obtained N632.194 million, 

by false pretence, was 

yesterday charged before 

an Igbosere magistrate’s 

court, Lagos. 

The defendant, whose 

residential address was not 

given, is standing trial on a 

nine-count charge 

bordering on conspiracy, 

forgery, obtaining by false 

pretence, stealing and 

fraud preferred against him 

by the police. 

The prosecutor, Inspector 

Jimoh Joseph, told the court 

that the defendant and 

others still at large 

committed the alleged 

offence sometime in 2014. 

He said that the incident 

took place at 24b, Oduduwa 

Crescent, GRA, Ikeja, 

Lagos. 

Joseph said that the man, 

with intent to defraud, 

forged UAC Foods Ltd. 

purchase order, between 

April 11 and November 3, 

2014, and fraudulently 

obtained credit facility to the 

tune of N632.194 million 

from FSDH Merchant Bank 

Plc, at 1/5 Odunlami Street, 

Lagos Island. 

He said the defendant 

forged the document as an 

endorsement in favour of 

FSDH Merchant Bank Plc, 

in order that it may be acted 

upon or used as genuine, 

whether in Lagos state or 

elsewhere, to the prejudice 

of UAC Foods Ltd. 

The prosecutor said that 

the money that was 

obtained under false 

pretence belongs to UAC 

Foods Ltd. 

However, the defendant 

pleaded not guilty to the 

charge. 

Magistrate A. O. 

Awogboro granted the 

defendant N10 million bail, 

with two sureties in like 

sum. 

She said that the sureties 

must show evidence of tax 

payment to Lagos State 

government, be directors of 

a company, own property in 

Lagos State. 

Awogboro added that one 

of the sureties must be a 

blood relation, addresses 

verified and deposit N2 

million in the registrar’s 

account. She adjourned till 

March 8 for mention.



Low sperm 

count, cause of 

infertility 

problems 

—Expert 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

ABA— AN expert in 

Intracytoplasmic Sperm 

Injection, ICSI, Dr. Richard 

Okoye, has said that recent 

findings through in-vitro 

fertilization have proven that 

low sperm count contributes 

over 50 percent to infertility 

problems among barren 

couples in Nigeria. 

Okoye stated that the 

problem of low sperm count 

was not often detected on time 

as the cause of infertility 

because the African culture 

holds women responsible for 

infertility problems in most 

marriages. 

He pointed out that such 

assumption could be 

horrifying since a man, who 

is not aware of the problem of 

low sperm count, could 

ignorantly be waiting for the 

arrival of his wife’s 

menopause. 

Briefing journalists in Aba, 

Okoye who is the President of 

an NGO, Doctors Save A Life 

Foundation, stated that since 

2003, his foundation had been 

carrying out health 

enlightenment campaigns to 

correct the miseries associated 

with the way people manage 

their lives across Africa, as well 

as raise the level of peoples’ 

awareness about health 

technology. 

Enugu 2017 

Appropriation 

Bill passed into 

law 

By Chinedu Adonu 

ENUGU—ENUGU State 

2017 Appropriation Bill of 

N105,719,471,000.00, was, 

yesterday, passed into law by 

the Enugu State House of 

Assembly. 

When accented into law by 

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, 

the budget estimate will now 

be a working document for the 

fiscal year. 

Ugwuanyi on December 23, 

2016 presented the budget 

tagged, “Budget of economic 

recovery and inclusive 

development,” at the floor of 

the House for consideration. 

The passage of the budget 

followed a presentation of the 

report on the Appropriation 

Bill by Bismark Eneh, Udi 

South Constituency. 

Eneh said his committee did 

a thorough job and that most 

government agencies took 

their presentations during 

budget defence serious, hence 

the quick passage of the 

appropriation bill. 

S-East leadership: Ebonyi APC factions at 

war over Nnamani’s nomination 

By Peter Okutu 

A BAKALIKI-THERE 

seems to be an 

irreconcilable difference over 

the position of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, Ebonyi State chapter, 

concerning the nomination of 

Senator Ken Nnamani as the 

South-East leader of the 

party. 

Recall that the acting 

chairman of the party, Pastor 

Eze Nwachukwu Eze, had 

disassociated himself from the 

nomination, describing it as 

a huge joke. 

However, in a statement in 

Abakaliki, factional chairman 

of APC in the state, Mr Ben 

Nwaobasi, said the party was 

not in support of Pastor Eze’s 

views on Senator Ken 

Nnamani. 

He noted that Eze was not 

authorized to speak on behalf 

of the party and any 

statement carelessly made by 

him cannot stand the test of 

time and should be regarded 

as a side talk. 

Nwaobasi rebuked the 

acting chairman for 

displaying political 

hooliganism and desperation 

to the extent of making such 

comments without first of all 

getting clearance or 

permission from him or state 

working committee. 

Nwaobasi urged Governor 

Rochas Okorocha of Imo 

State and Senator Ken 

LAUNCHING: From left, Managing Partner, GroupM, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Gavin 

Duke; Group CEO, Algorithm Media, Mr. Seni Adetu and Head of Media Operations, Algorithm 

Media, Esther David-Oladoye, at the launch of Algorithm Media and announcement of its 

affiliation to GroupM. 

2 soldiers who physically assaulted 

cripple for wearing camouflage arrested 

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu 

NNEWI—THE Nigerian 

Army, yesterday, said it 

has arrested two soldiers that 

maltreated a physically 

challenged person in Onitsha, 

Anambra State for allegedly 

wearing army camouflage 

uniform. 

The victim was said to have 

been beaten up by the soldiers 

who demanded that he must 

remove the camouflage 

uniform but he resisted the 

soldiers action along New 

Market Road, Onitsha. 

A statement by the Deputy 

Director, Army Public 

Relations, 82 Division, 

Nigerian Army, Col. Sagir 

Musa, said the soldiers were 

identified through a video clip 

while maltreating the man. 

He described the action as a 

gross professional 

misconduct. 

He said: “The attention of 

the Headquarters, 82 Division 

of Nigerian Army has been 

drawn to a video clip of two 

military police soldiers 

maltreating a physically 

challenged person along New 

Market Road, Onitsha, for 

allegedly wearing army 

camouflage uniform. 

"The division has, with great 

concern, studied the video, 

identified and arrested the 

perpetrators of this gross 

professional misconduct. 

"It is our position that their 

action does not reflect the 

attitude of today’s Nigerian 

Army under the leadership of 

Lt. Gen. Turkur Yusuf Buratai. 

The action is uncalled for, 

unwarranted and is, therefore, 

condemnable by all civilized 

people/organization. 

“The soldiers have been tried 

at the unit level and referred 

to higher level for appropriate 

punishment commensurate to 

the offence committed. 

"The Nigerian Army always 

preaches tolerance, respect for 

others and peaceful coexistence. 

The Army of today 

has consistently maintained 

zero tolerance for indiscipline 

and human rights violation. 

“Whatever human right 

infraction is seen, appropriate 

sanction will be applied to 

serve as deterrence to others. 

This case would not be an 

exception.” 

Anambra 2017: 3 declare interest for IDP primary 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

AWKA—THREE persons 

have declared their interest 

to contest the governorship 

election in Anambra State on the 

platform of the Independent 

Democrat Party, IDP. 

The state chairman of the party, 

Mazi Omife Omife, who briefed 

newsmen in Awka yesterday on 

the party’s preparations for the 

election, which will take place 

later this year, however did not 

name the governorship aspirants, 

even as he assured that all the 

aspirants would be given a level 

–playing ground during the 

party’s primaries to ensure that 

the most acceptable candidate 

would emerge. 

According to him, many 

serving and former Presidents’ 

General of town unions in 

Anambra State have pitched their 

tent with the party in readiness 

for the governorship election. 

Nnamani, whose names were 

mentioned to disregard the 

publication as it is not coming 

from the right source. 

The factional chairman 

further called on all APC 

members and supporters 

across the country to 

discountenance the position of 

Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze in 

matters affecting APC in the 

South-East zone. 

2019: S-East 

leaders should 

listen to 

Obasanjo 

—Group 

By Chinonso Alozie 

OWERRI—A GROUP 

under the egies of South- 

East Youths for Good 

Governance, yesterday, 

requested that the political 

leaders in the zone should 

heed the call by former 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, that it was the turn 

of Ndigbo to produce 

President come 2019. 

National Coordinator of the 

group, Comrade Agusi 

Ndubueze, who spoke with 

Vanguard in Owerri, said he 

was surprised that some Igbo 

leaders turned down such an 

opportunity that the zone has 

been looking for and that 2019 

could be a time to negotiate 

the Igbo interest. 

He said: “We want to start 

by saying that President 

Olusegun Obasanjo was right 

in his call for Ndigbo to contest 

the 2019 presidential election. 

Whether you take it serious or 

not, he has said the reality and 

all concerned must work on it. 

“We are not also happy that 

some people left the issue and 

attacked the messenger at a 

time the Igbo are being 

relegated to the background 

politically. 

“If we continue like this, I 

do not think that we will get 

what we want in this country. 

How many Igbo leaders have 

thought it wise to go back to 

their homes and reason 

deeply on this agenda of Igbo 

presidency. 

“The Igbo should join hands 

and support each other to use 

this opportunity that is staring 

them in the face. Let us vote 

for the interest of the nation 

and not the party. The 

development of the nation is 

paramount and not individual 

interest. 

“We, therefore, urge leaders 

from the five states of the zone 

to convene a meeting of elders 

to look into this agenda, with 

a view to coming out with a 

common stand and decision 

on how to strategize ahead of 

2019 for the Ndigbo."


10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 


Waste 

Management: 

PSP operators 

have nothing to 

fear — LASG 

By Ebun Sessou 

THE Lagos State 

commissioner for 

Environment, Mr. 

Babatunde Adejare 

yesterday assured that 

the new bill that seeks to 

merge existing 

environment laws in the 

state into one will not 

send the Private Sector 

Participation, PSP 

operators out of 

business. 

He disclosed this 

during the public 

hearing on the bill. 

Reacting while fielding 

questions from 

newsmen on the 

possibility that PSP 

operatives would be sent 

out of business as well 

as destroy the local 

economy. 

The Bill is titled, ‘A Bill 

for a Law to Provide for 

the Management, 

Protection and 

S u s t a i n a b l e 

Development of the 

Environment in Lagos 

State and for other 

Connected Purposes.’ 

Stakeholders at the 

public hearing agreed 

that the bill will generate 

substantial benefit for 

the environment in the 

state and the health of 

the citizens assured. 

According to the 

commissioner, “LAWMA 

is the only authority by 

law to cart away wastes, 

but as it is today, 

LAWMA has employed 

the services of the PSP 

operators and it has no 

intention to send away 

the PSP. 

“We are generating 

above 13 metric tonnes 

of waste per day. 

LAWMA will not be able 

to cope if it handles the 

waste management 

alone. Refuse is found 

all over the place. We 

cannot send all the 350 

PSP operators out of the 

business”, he said. 

He lamented that 

some of PSP operators 

are not effective adding 

that, most of their trucks 

break down at will on the 

road. 

“There are over 10,000 

commercial areas as well 

as markets in Lagos that 

the PSP oversee. What the 

government is particular 

about is cleaner, flood free, 

and beautiful Lagos.'' 

How gunmen stormed Lagos estate 

•3 guards killed, CDA scribe, Adekoya, kidnapped 

By Evelyn Usman & 

Joseph Undu 

L AGOS—RAMPAGING 

gunmen suspected to be 

militants, Wednesday night, 

stormed Isheri North Estate 

Government Reservation Area, 

GRA, leaving in their trail the 

death of three private guards. The 

attackers numbering 20, also 

abducted the estate’s secretary, 

Mr Dayo Adekoya. 

Three other members of a 

vigilante group in the area, 

sustained varying degrees of 

injury in their attempt to confront 

the gunmen who announced their 

presence with sporadic gunshots. 

The incident, occurred barely 

five months after four landlords 

were abducted in the area. 

Vanguard learnt that the 

gunmen, believed to be militants 

that have been disturbing the 

peace of Lagosians in recent time, 

started the firing spree from the 

creeks at about 7pm. 

Members of the vigilante group 

who were said to have sensed 

trouble, reportedly positioned 

themselves strategically but they 

were still taken unawares as two 

of the gunmen scaled Adekoya’s 

perimeter fence located off 

Olusegun Tawoju Avenue, with a 

ladder, while others advanced 

through the front gate. 

Although the private guards 

reportedly put up resistance but 

their fire power could not match 

those of the abductors, as three of 

them were killed instantly. 

An eyewitness told Vanguard 

that after entering through the 

back fence, the gunmen opened 

the main gate for their colleagues. 

Thereafter, they attempted to 

forcefully open the main door 

leading into Adekoya’s sitting 

room but could not, as it was 

bullet-proofed . 

The attackers broke the burglary 

of the front door with a sledge 

hammer, and were said to have 

entered the sitting room through 

the window, from where they 

made straight for one of the rooms 

upstairs where Adekoya was. 

Thereafter, he was ushered out 

of the room and taken out through 

the window. Report said they led 

Adekoya to other buildings, to 

knock on his neighbours’ doors , 

using him to lure the occupiers to 

open up their apartments. 

Residents recount ordeal 

When Vanguard visited the 

estate yesterday, none 

volunteered to speak openly. 

Some residents were 

contemplating moving out of the 

area in order not to be the next 

victim. 

However, some of them who 

spoke on strict condition of 

anonymity stated that the gunmen 

were more than 15. 

One of them, simply called 

Chionye, said: “My family was 

having its morning devotion when 

we heard the first gun shot. We 

went on with the prayer session 

but stopped abruptly when we 

Security operatives at the scene of crime yesterday. 

discovered that the gun shots 

were right in the estate. We 

suspected all was not well. I 

wanted to go out of the balcony 

to see what was happening but 

my wife prevented me. 

‘’We had to tell the children to 

hide in safe places to avoid being 

hit by stray bullets, before we did 

same. From our hiding positions, 

we were praying. We concluded 

they were robbers and brought 

out N50,000 which was the only 

cash in the house, with the 

intention to give it to them should 

they break in to our home.” 

Another resident, who did not 

disclose his name called this 

reporter aside and said; “The 

shooting lasted for hours. They 

broke into Adekoya’s house at 

about 12 midnight. By the time 

they were taking him away 

through the same route they 

came from, I counted over 15 of 

them. Some of them wore black 

shirts and black trousers while 

some tied strings that looked like 

charms round their heads. 

“We have been warned not to 

speak with anyone so as not to 

divulge any information to their 

members who could be lurking 

around”. 

Ambode orders prompt 

arrest of culprits 

A visibly worried Lagos State 

Governor, Mr Akinwunmi 

Ambode, has directed the State 

Police Command to ensure 

prompt arrest of the kidnappers 

In a statement issued by the 

Commissioner for Information 

and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, 

Ambode directed the command 

boss, Mr. Fatai Owoseni to 

promptly arrest the perpetrators 

as well as rescue the kidnapped 

man. He informed that 

government is on top of the 

situation and is also working with 

security agencies to effect 

Adekoya’s release. 

Commiserates with families of 

killed guards 

Governor Ambode, also 

commiserated with families of the 

killed security guards. 

The statement read; “While the 

State Government commiserates 

with families of the three dead 

estate security guards, it will leave 

no stone unturned to ensure that 

lives and property of residents in 

the State are protected. 

“A while ago, the CP, Lagos 

Command of the Nigerian Police, 

confirmed that Police have 

commenced investigation as well 

as put in place necessary rescue 

operation to ensure the release of 

the victim. 

“It would be recalled that just 

last week, Governor Ambode had 

demonstrated his seriousness 

and determination to eradicate 

the menace of kidnapping when 

he signed into law the antikidnapping 

bill recently passed 

by the State House of Assembly." 

CP Lagos, Army 9th 

Brigade commander visit 

scene 

Commissioner of Police , Lagos 

State Police Command, Fatai 

Owoseni was at the estate 

yesterday with senior police 

officers comprising the Deputy 

Commissioner of Police in-charge 

of the State Criminal 

Investigation Department, Bolaji 

Salami; Commander, Rapid 

Response Squad, ACP Olatunji 

Disu; Commander, Anti- 

Kidnapping, CSP Adejobi 

Akinade and the command’s 

spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos. 

Also at the scene was the 

Commander, 9th Brigade of the 

Nigerian Army, Brigadier 

General Elias Attu . 

Speaking , Owoseni said : “The 

militants came in through the 

swampy canal, but the timely 

arrival of the police prevented 

them from getting more victims 

because they were using Adekoya 

to go to people’s houses. 

‘’That was the time we came in 

and we prevented them. They ran 

towards the swamp and as they 

were running, they were firing and 

the bullets hit some of the local 

guards. 

‘’We have also made some 

progress in our investigation 

during stop and search. We are 

quite hopeful. Both expended and 

unexpended AK-47 bullets were 

recovered. For now, due to 

porosity of the area, land owners 

should stop building homes near 

the canal until security agents put 

measures in place”, Owoseni 

advised. 

Our security team 

succumbed to superior fire 

of attackers 

— Chairman, ERA 

Reacting to the abduction of the 

Estate Residents Association 

secretary, chairman of the 

association, Mr. Remi Osijo in a 

statement issued yesterday said : 

“On February 9, 2017, a group of 

armed men numbering about 11 

stormed a home in our estate 

Isheri North, GRA, Lagos and laid 

siege to the house for about one 

hour trying to gain entrance. 

“Our security team that 

responded swiftly to distress call 

from the occupants put up a 

gallant fight but succumbed to the 

superior fire of the assailants. 

Three of our security men lost 

their lives while one of the 

residents, Mr. Dayo Adekoya was 

also kidnapped."

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 — 11 


OBSEQUIES: From left; Olumide Adejobi; Susan Adejobi; Mrs Bolajoko Adejobi, 

wife of Deceased; Oluseyi Adejobi; Olawale Adegoke and Afolakemi Adegoke 

during the funeral service and burial ceremony of Late Eden Olunowo Adebola 

Adejobi at the Church of the Lord (Aladura) Anthony Village, Lagos, yesterday. 

Photos by Akeem Salau. 

$1.8M DEBT: 

Court 

attaches 

firm's funds 

By Innocent Anaba 

LAGOS—A FEDERAL 

High Court sitting in 

Lagos, has granted an interim 

attachment of all funds and 

stakes accruable to an oil 

company, Enageed 

Resources Ltd (a member of 

Sahara Group) covering Oil 

Prospecting Licence, OPL 

274, due to non-payment of 

an alleged $1,853,028.61 

debt. 

Trial judge in the matter is 

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun. 

The court also restrained the 

Directors and officers of the 

company owned and 

controlled by three Nigerian 

businessmen, Cole Tonye, 

Shonubi Temitope and 

Odunsi Ade from receiving 

payments from 12 banks filed 

before the court, pending the 

final determination of the 

case. 

The order of the court was 

sequel to an ex-parte 

application filed and argued 

Chief Uche Obi, SAN on 

behalf of a limited liability 

company, HOBARK 

International Limited. 

In a supporting affidavit 

sworn to by the Finance 

Manager of the company, 

Godwin Eteidung, it was 

averred that Enageed 

Resources Ltd, pursuant to 

partnership with Nigeria 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC to 

production sharing contract 

covering OPL 274, the 

company executed a services 

agreement with Hobark 

company for the provision of 

Rig personnel to Enageed 

company in the Oki and 

Oluegi located at OPL 274 to 

conduct petroleum 

operations. 

ACCOUNT FREEZING: Ozekhome accuses EFCC 

of partisanship 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI—CHIEF 

Mike Ozekhome, SAN, 

has accused the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, of turning itself into 

instrument of political oppression 

and intimidation against the critics 

and perceived opponents of the 

All Progressives Congress, APCled 

government. 

The anti-graft agency had 

through an order of the court 

placed restriction on Ozekhome's 

account with the Guarantee Trust 

Bank containing N75 million 

legal fee paid by Ekiti State 

governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose. 

Speaking in Ado Ekiti 

yesterday, Ozekhome said the 

restriction placed on his account 

over allegation that it contained 

slush fund from the suspected 

Fayose’s account was a calculated 

attempt to ridicule him for 

defending the governor in the law 

court. 

The lawyer tagged EFCC as 

gradually becoming a tool to 

punish the critics of President 

Buhari’s government. 

In his words: "I can’t be ruffled 

for this action because I have not 

done anything illegal, illegitimate 

or illicit or something out of 

ordinary. 

‘’Governor Fayose paid me my 

professional fee , which was a sum 

of N75 million out of the 

humongous amount owed me 

over cases I am holding for him, 

his aides and friends. 

“I am currently prosecuting 

eight cases on his behalf. The one 

involving Abiodun Agbele and 

Zenith Bank, Femi Fani- 

Kayode’s wife and others. As a 

professional, I gave my 

professional fees but the governor 

could not pay because his 

accounts had been frozen by 

EFCC, which makes the 

governor financially strangulated. 

“But last year December, Justice 

Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Federal 

High Court unblocked the 

account. The governor transferred 

the money into my Chambers’ 

account. 

“In recent time, I had defeated 

EFCC in five different cases and 

Fayose wishes Buhari 

sound health 

•Urges Nigerians to pray for his 

quick resumption 


GOVERNOR of Ekiti 

State and chairman of 

the Peoples’ Democratic 

Party’s (PDP)’s Governors’ 

Forum, Dr. Ayodele Fayose has 

wished President 

Muhammadu Buhari sound 

health urging Nigerians to 

jointly pray to God for the 

President to get well soon so 

that he can resume work. 

Nigerians have been 

apprehensive and demanded for 

accurate information about the 

truth on the health status of the 

President because there had been 

nasty rumours about him. 

Speaking with newsmen at 

the Government House 

yesterday while he hosted the 

General Overseer of 

Champions Glory Assembly 

Church, Pastor Joshua Lasisi, 

Fayose who wished President 

Buhari sound health said: “I 

want to equally join Nigerians 

to pray for the President and 

ask God to give him good 

health.” 

Meanwhile, the governor 

advised the Presidency to 

ensure it gives accurate 

information about the health 

status of the President to 

forestall a situation whereby 

people would continue to 

Pastor Tunde Bakere and his wife Olayide . 

so it has developed a complex for 

me and they thought they could 

embarrass me. When has 

payment of legal fee become or 

translated to commission of a 

crime? 

“The transfer of money was not 

done by force, nor under false 

pretence or through the barrel of 

spread nasty rumours making 

the rounds. 

“But the best thing we 

should all realize is that the 

Presidency owes Nigerians 

accurate information about the 

situation of things,’’ he said. 

...Hails Osinbajo over 

nomination of Onnoghen 

as CJN 

Meantime, Governor Fayose 

has hailed the Acting 

President, Prof Yemi 

Osinbajo for sending the 

name of Justice Walter 

Onnoghen to the senate for 

confirmation as the substantive 

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), 

saying; “The action of the 

Acting President has saved the 

judiciary in particular and 

Nigeria in general from 

unnecessary tension.” 

The governor, who said 

Nigeria will only be great if 

institutions were allowed to 

operate without interference, 

added that; “It is better to build 

strong institutions that will run 

on their own than to rely on 

strong leaders. Look at what 

is happening in the United 

States, judgment was 

delivered and no one waited 

for President Donald Trump to 

speak before obeying the 

judgment. That is how things 

should run in a normal clime.” 

gun. The money is legitimate and 

legal. EFCC is bringing itself to 

the level of becoming the enemy 

of the people,” he stated. 

Ozekhome said he has been a 

consistent critic of Buhari’s 

government and this he said he 

did out of the passion for the 

liberation of the downtrodden 

Nigerians. 

“In every of my criticism, I had 

always proffered solutions. I have 

always spoken for the rejected, 

dejected, depressed, oppressed, 

repressed and the hapless in the 

society. So, this allegation of 

money laundering by EFCC is 

insidious, odious and invidious 

and it came from the pit of hell.” 

The lawyer said he will soon file 

a suit against EFCC for the 

reversal of the action. 

REGIONAL 

INTEGRATION: 

Fayose to host 

S-West govs 

STATE governors in the 

South-West geo-political 

zone will, on Monday, meet 

in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State 

capital, in continuation of their 

regular meetings aimed at 

ensuring regional integration. 

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti 

yesterday by the Chief Press 

Secretary to the Ekiti State 

Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, 

the meeting would be in 

furtherance of the resolve of 

the governors of the six states 

of the South-West to meet on 

a regular basis in order to 

continue to pursue a unified 

framework for tackling the 

development challenges of 

the region. 

At their last meeting hosted 

by the Oyo State Government 

in Ibadan on 21 November, 

2016, it was resolved that the 

next meeting for the Forum 

should be hosted by the Ekiti 

State Government.



Prof Ehikwe for 

burial today 

THE family of Ehikwe 

in Aliren community, 

Alisimie Agbor, Ika South 

Local Government Area, Delta 

State, has announced the 

death of Prof. Andrew Ehikwe, 

aged 66. 

Burial rites began yesterday, 

with wake-keep Mass at 

Upper Room Ministries, 

Enugu State and another at St. 

Michael The Archangel 

Catholic Church, Agbor, Delta 

State. 

His remains will be laid to 

rest at his country home in 

Aliren Community, Alisimie, 

Agbor, today, after a funeral 

Mass at St. Marks Catholic 

Church, Alisimie, Agbor, 

Delta State. 

He is survived by a widow, 

children, sister and other 

relations. 

Late Prof Ehikwe 

Nigeria’s $1bn Eurobond records 800% 

over-subscription 

By Babajide Komolafe 

THE 

Federal 

Government, yesterday, 

said that it had issued the $1 

billion Eurobond with 800 per 

cent over-subscription, as 

foreign investors demanded for 

$7.8 billion, reflecting 

investors‘confidence in the 

nation’s economy. 

In a statement yesterday, the 

Ministry of Finance said that the 

15-year bond was priced at 

7.875 per cent and will mature 

on February 16, 2032. 

According to the statement by 

Director of Information, 

Ministry of Finance, Salisu 

Dambatta: “The notes will bear 

interest at a rate of 7.875 percent 

and will mature on February 16, 

2032 with a bullet repayment 

of the principal. The republic 

intends to use the proceeds of 

the notes to fund capital 

expenditures in the 2016 

budget. The notes represent 

the republic’s third Eurobond 

issuance, following issuances 

in 2011 and 2013. 

"The notes were 

approximately eight times oversubscribed 

with orders in 

excess of $7.8 billion compared 

to a pre-issuance target of $1 

billion demonstrating strong 

market appetite for Nigeria. This 

is despite continued volatility in 

emerging and frontier markets 

and shows confidence by the 

international investment 

community in Nigeria’s 

economic reform agenda. 

“The offering attracted 

significant interest from leading 

global institutional investors. 

The notes will be admitted to the 

INC, IYC, others slam critics of Bayelsa govt over 

cattle ranch •As govt warns against politicisation of grazing area 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

Y 

E N A G O A — 

PROMINENT Niger 

Delta groups, yesterday, 

slammed critics of Bayelsa State 

Government over its decision to 

allot the Bayelsa Palm Estate for 

use by herdsmen operating in the 

state. 

The Ijaw National Congress, 

the Ijaw Youth Council, the 

Bayelsa Youth Movement and 

other groups condemned the 

position of the Niger Delta 

activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs and 

others on the government's 

decision to set aside portions of 

land for cattle grazing. 

official list of the UK Listing 

Authority and available to trade 

on the London Stock 

Exchange’s regulated market. 

The republic will apply for the 

notes to be eligible for trading 

and listed on the Nigerian 

FMDQ OTC Securities 

Exchange and the Nigerian 

Stock Exchange. 

“The pricing was determined 

following a roadshow led by 

They had accused the 

government of mortgaging the 

future of Ijaw children by its 

decision to earmark the area for 

cattle business. 

INC, in a statement by its 

Chairman, Central Zone, Chief 

Kennedy Odiowei, said there 

was no iota of truth in the claim 

and advised people behind it 

to always verify their facts. 

Conceding that Ms Briggs 

may have been fed the wrong 

information by ‘mischief 

makers’ on the reasons for 

allocating the area for the 

breeding and processing of 

cattle, INC said there was no 

Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the Minister 

of Finance, Senator Udoma 

Udo Udoma, the Minister of 

Budget and National Planning, 

Mr Godwin Emefiele, Governor 

of Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. 

Abraham Nwankwo, Director- 

General of the Debt Management 

Office, DMO, and Mr Ben 

Akabueze, Director -General of the 

Budget Office, to key global 

financial centres.” 

iota of truth in the claim that Governor 

Seriake Dickson had given 

out Bayelsa Palm Estate to cattle 

herdsmen in the state. 

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State 

Government has warned against 

the politicization of its decision to 

designate the Bayelsa Palm Estate 

as a grazing site for Fulani 

herdsmen and their cattle. 

Reacting to reports in the media, 

the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa 

State Governor on Security 

Matters, Chief Boma Spero-Jack, 

said that the security implications 

of the decision, by far outweigh the 

political consideration and should 

be treated as such.



Edo poll: Tribunal orders recount of ballot 

papers used in 4 LGAs 

By Gabriel Enogholase 

BENIN—EDO 

State 

Governorship Election 

Tribunal sitting in Benin, has 

ordered the recounting of the 

ballot papers used in four local 

government areas of the state in 

the September 28, 2016 election. 

The councils are Akoko-Edo, 

Egor, Etsako West and Etsako 

East. 

The tribunal's order was sequel 

to its overruling of the objection 

by the respondents’ counsel to the 

counting of the ballot papers, who 

had argued that although they 

were not against the application 

by the petitioners’ counsel for the 

recounting of the ballot papers, 

its mode of presentation before the 

tribunal ran foul of the Electoral 

Act. 

However, in it’s ruling, the 

tribunal held that the application 

to recount the ballot papers started 

by the petitioners’ application for 

a subpoena to Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, for them to produce the 

ballot papers, saying, “the 

application was already made. It 

was not orally made. It was only 

the application for counting that 

was made orally,” just as it added 

that paragraph 47 (2) of the 

Electoral Act 2010 as amended, 

was not of general application as 

canvassed by the respondents’ 

counsel. 

According to the tribunal, “The 

fact that the application for the 

recount of the ballot papers was 

made orally does not in our view 

make the application incompetent 

and we so hold. 

“It is important to note that the 

FG sets aside N51.4bn to create six Special Economic Zones 

By Godwin Oritse & 

Jimitota Onoyume 

PORT HARCOURT—THE 

Federal Government has set 

aside N51.4 billion to create six 

special economic zones in the 

country. 

Minister of Industry, Trade and 

Investment, Dr Okechukwu 

Enelama, disclosed this 

yesterday, while declaring open 

a stakeholders’ forum of Oil and 

Gas Free Zone Authority, OGFZA, 

in Onne, Rivers State. 

The minister, who was 

represented by his Minister of 

State, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, said 

that the provision which is 

contained in this year’s budget 

will strengthen the nation’s 

economic sector, adding that it will 

also reflect the government’s 

“recognition of free zones as 

veritable engines of growth for the 

economy.” 

She said: “In order to underscore 

the critical role of the Free Zones 

as drivers of economic growth, the 

Federal Government, in the 2017 

budget estimates, made a strong 

policy statement in support of the 

concept of the Free Zones by 

setting aside a special provision 

of N51.4 billion for the 

establishment of six Special 

Economic Zones, SEZs, in the 

country having recognised Free 

petitioners had in their 

paragraph 753, made it 

abundantly clear that they 

would, before or at the trial of 

this petition, apply and pray this 

tribunal to order the production 

of the ballot papers and the 

consequent recount with a view 

to showing this tribunal that the 

second respondent was not duly 

elected. 

“The first respondent did not, 

in his reply, oppose the 

paragraph. They are therefore, 

deemed to have consented to 

the recounting of the ballot 

papers.” 

The tribunal similarly noted 

that the second respondents in 

their paragraph 811, had stated 

Zones as veritable engines of 

growth for the economy.” 

She said that the Federal 

Government will continue to 

support investors in the oil and 

gas free zones in the country, 

adding that the free zone had 

Acting President visits Bayelsa 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

Y ENAGOA—ACTING 

President Yemi Osinbajo, 

will today lead a high level 

delegation of the Federal 

Government to Bayelsa State as 

part of his tour of some states in 

the Niger Delta region. 

The Acting President, it was 

gathered, is expected to visit 

Peretorugbene and Odi in 

Ekeremor and Kolokuma- 

Opokuma Local Government 

Areas of the state, respectively. 

He is expected to stop over in 

Yenagoa for interaction with 

traditional rulers, eminent 

Bayelsans and members of 

conflict resolution committees. 

The consultation and 

interactive session is scheduled 

to hold at the DSP 

Alamieyeseigha Memorial 

Banquet Hall, Government 

House, Yenagoa. 

However, the state Police 

that counting of ballot papers was 

acceptable to them provided that 

the ballot papers remained intact. 

The tribunal held that the issue 

of tampering with ballot papers 

was another issue that required 

proof. 

“What is important is that the 

second respondent had accepted 

the recounting of ballot papers. 

The third respondent in their 

paragraph 499, opposed the 

recount on the ground that 

counting of the votes only takes 

place at the polling units and not 

in court. 

“The position of the third 

respondent is not tenable in law 

because in the case of Ekeh Vs 

Enang and two others, the Court 

attracted over $20 billion 

investments to the nation and 

created about 200,000 direct and 

indirect jobs. 

On his part, Managing 

Director of the OGFZA, Mr 

Umana Umana, unveiled a road 

Commissioner, Mr. Asuquo 

Amba, in a statement by the 

command’s spokesman, Butswat 

Asinim, warned that access to the 

venue of the meeting would be 

strictly on invitation. 

Meantime, the state 

of Appeal allowed recounting of 

the ballot papers on the orders 

of the tribunal,” it said. 

The tribunal noted that it was 

on record that the tribunal had 

earlier permitted the petitioners 

to examine and scan ballot 

papers which they did. 

Meanwhile, the recounting of 

the ballot papers for the four 

local governments commenced 

about 10.55a.m., yesterday and 

was being observed by the 

three-man tribunal headed by 

Justice Ahmed Badamasi, 

counsel to the petitioners and 

respondents and journalists 

covering the tribunal. 

The recounting continues 

today. 

VISIT: From left: HRM Orhue I, Orodje of Okpe; HRM Orefe III, Ovie of Oghara; 

Chief James Ibori and HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor, Obi of Owa Kingdom, during a visit 

by Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers to Chief Ibori, in Oghara, yesterday. Photos: 

Nath Onojake. 

By Emma Amaize 

WARRI—AN ex-militant 

leader, Seiyifa 

Gbedeke, aka General Cairo, 

yesterday, said that the major 

reason for pipeline 

vandalism in the Niger Delta 

region was that some exmilitant 

leaders working at 

the Presidential Amnesty 

Programme, PAP, were 

colluding with law 

enforcement agents to 

swindle ex-Niger Delta 

agitators of their stipends. 

Gbekede, in a statement, 

map of the zone that will create 

a robust environment for 

investment. 

He expressed the hope that 

the new drive would facilitate 

"establishment of business in the 

oil and gas free zones.” 

government through the 

Information and Orientation 

Commissioner, Jonathan 

Obuebite has called on 

residents of the state to come out 

en masse to welcome the 

nation’s number two citizen. 

Why pipeline vandalism persists in 

N-Delta, by ex-militant leader 

said that both the previous 

and current administrators of 

PAP were deceptive in 

payment of stipends, adding 

that it was causing a 

misunderstanding between 

former agitators and the 

Federal Government. 

He said that by removing 

names of ex-militants that 

were included in the early 

stages of the programme in 

order to take the stipends 

meant for ex-militants, PAP 

was simply inventing 

another crisis. 

Esiso tasks Delta 

PDP faithful on 

commitment 

By Gab Ejuwa 

CHAIRMAN of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

in Delta State, Olorogun 

Kingsley Esiso, has charged 

party members to brace up for 

the task of building the party 

to reclaim power from the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

at the centre, urging members 

to be committed and support 

the state governor to deliver on 

his SMART agenda. 

He gave the charge during a 

meeting of the PDP in Okpara 

community, Wards 4 and 8, 

Ethiope East Local 

Government Area of the state 

during which Chief Mike 

Ederewhevbe was endorsed as 

political leader of the PDP 

family in Wards 4 and 8 of 

Ethiope East LGA. 

Esiso, who hails from 

Okpara, urged party faithful 

never to waver in their 

commitment to the ideals of a 

greater and better organised 

PDP as the party remains the 

best and most productive 

political party in Nigeria, 

saying that the current party at 

the centre has failed Nigerians. 

Handing over the baton of 

leadership of the ward to Chief 

Ederewhevbe, who retired 

from NNPC as a top 

management staff, Chief Love 

Ojakovo, former Commissioner 

for Finance in Delta State, 

charged the new leader to 

reach out to the lost sheep of 

the party and bring them back 

into the fold, affirming that the 

PDP offers a brighter prospect 

for engendering progress and 

development in Okpara 

community, Delta State and 

Nigeria at large. 

Madam Miller 

for burial 

tomorrow 

MRS. 

Ajurenmisan 

Miller, nee Ajatiton, 

who died on October 9, 2016 

will be buried tomorrow at 

her residence, at Korobe, off 

Koko Beach in Delta State. 

The interment will be 

followed with traditional 

burial rites at the same 

venue. She is survived by 

seven children, among 

whom is Amorighoye Miller 

of Vanguard Newspapers, 

Lagos. 

Late Madam Miller

14 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

LABOUR UNIONS' PROTESTS IN ABUJA, LAGOS YESTERDAY 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) 

protested over the parlous state of the economy in Abuja and 

Lagos, yesterday. Photos by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor, Abayomi Adeshida, 

Gbenga Olamikan, Kehinde Gbadamosi, Lamidi Bamidele & Bunmi Azeez. 

Cross section of protesters on their way to Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. 

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (right) receiving the 18-point demands by 

Labour Movement for Good Governance from the Nigeria Labour Congress 

President, Ayuba Wabba (centre) and the Trade Union Congress President, 

Bobboi Kaigama at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama (left) addressing the rally on his way to see the 

acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

Labour Union leaders presenting their 18-Point demands to Senate 

President Olusola Saraki. (centre) 

Photos by SOLA OYELESE 

Protesters at the Govt House, Alausa, Ikeja in Lagos. 

Mr. Femi Falana (left) and Dr. Akintola Benson Oke, Lagos State 

Commissioner of Establishment, Training and Pension at Lagos House. 

NLC, TUC, civil society and students protesting in Abuja. 

Protesters in Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 — 15 

Security 

operatives arrest 

5 suspects with 

4 fresh human 

heads in Ebonyi 

By Peter Okutu 

A BAKALIKI- 

R E P O R T S 

reaching Vanguard 

revealed that between 9 and 

10am of Wednesday, 5, 

suspects including a lady 

(names withheld) were 

intercepted in a commercial 

vehicle along the boundary 

between Ebonyi and Enugu 

states with 4 fresh human 

heads. 

It was gathered that the 

suspects were intercepted 

during a stop and search 

operation conducted by the 

said security operatives who 

must have been on their trail 

after the beheading of the 

victims. The location where 

the victims were beheaded 

has not yet been 

ascertained. 

A reliable source at the 

scene of the arrest observed 

that the suspects might 

have taken off from Enugu, 

heading towards Cross 

River state through Ebonyi 

state border. 

It was discovered that 

when the suspects made 

attempt to run away from 

the scene after the fresh 

human heads were 

discovered in a bag in their 

possession, the said security 

operatives shot them on 

their legs to restrain them 

from running away. 

An eyewitness who did 

not want her name in print 

revealed the security agents 

maybe operatives from the 

Department of State 

Services, DSS, as they 

adorned bullet proof vests 

with, inscription DSS boldly 

written . 

According to the eyewitness, 

the human heads 

were displayed on the 

highway before the public 

and motorists crowded 

the scene, discussing the 

incident. 

Charles Ndiomu Foundation awards 

scholarships 

THE Charles Bebeye 

Ndiomu Foundation joined 

the Federal Government and the 

Nigerian Armed Forces 

community in commemorating 

this year’s Armed Forces 

Remembrance Day, by awarding 

scholarships to children of some 

of the deceased rank and file of 

the Nigerian Armed Forces under 

the fourth edition of its Armed 

Forces Remembrance Day 

Scholarship Award Scheme. 

Although, there was no formal 

ceremony for the presentations of 

the awards this year, the Trustee 


BIAFRA: Failure to address inequity, injustice 

may make all Igbo agitators — NWODO 

By Mike Ebonugwo, 

Clifford Ndujihe, 

Gbenga Oke & 

Olayinka Ajayi 

PRESIDENT General of 

apex Igbo socio-cultural 

organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, 

Chief John Nnia Nwodo, has 

stressed the need to address 

entrenched inequity, injustice 

and discrimination, especially 

against the Igbo to ensure 

harmonious co-existence in the 

country. 

The two-time minister, who was 

elected Ohanaeze leader, exactly 

one month ago, pinned the 

raging agitation for the Republic 

of Biafra by Igbo youths on 

perceived injustice and 

discrimination meted to the Igbo. 

Noting that he had never been 

a tribalist and was president of 

the University of Ibadan students 

union, he said as Ohanaeze 

leader, he has to convey the views 

of his people as it is in order to 

...Says Okorocha, Obiano have reconciled 

get a solution for the good of all. 

He added that he witnessed the 

civil war and does not want to 

witness another civil war, hence 

the need to address the faulty 

unitary structure of the country 

that is responsible for most of the 

problems. 

Buttressing why Igbo youths 

are agitating for Biafra, Nwodo 

said most Igbo people may be 

forced to join the agitation if the 

discrimination and injustice 

against Igbo continue. 

Wondering why nothing is done 

to Boko Haram terrorists, who 

picked up arms to fight Nigeria 

and no armed Fulani herdsmen 

has been prosecuted, among 

others, he lamented that 

members of the Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPOB, carrying 

placards are gunned down even 

though they have right to freedom 

of movement and association as 

enshrined in the constitution. 

‘’Law enforcement agents 

should not dramatise to the nation 

that they are from a particular part 

of the country, confer an 

immunity on criminals from that 

part of the country and requires 

a high-handed approach to those 

who do not come from that part of 

the country. 

‘’The selective prosecution of 

criminals in our country and the 

exertion of brute force in certain 

areas of the country even without 

the apprehension of crime 

destroys the very foundation on 

which this federation is founded. 

We have increased ethnic 

consciousness within the length 

and breadth of this country and 

this has fired separatist interests,’’ 

he said. 

On the recent media war 

between Governors Rochas 

Okorocha of Imo State and Willie 

Buhari sacks Army bodyguards in Aso Rock 

...Reinstates DSS operatives 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

A BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari has 

ordered the immediate removal 

of officers and men of the 

Nigerian Army and reinstated 

operatives of the Department of 

State Services, DSS, as his body 

guards. 

It was learned that the order was 

given by President Buhari shortly 

before he proceeded on his 

annual vacation in London, 

United Kingdom, UK, on January 

19. 

The development followed a 

series of complaints by the Chief 

Security Officer, to the President, 

CSO Bashir Abubakar, who was 

said not to be comfortable with the 

soldiers protecting the President. 

It was gathered that the use of 

army officers as body guards to 

the President started soon after 

President Buhari moved into his 

official residence at the 

presidential villa, after being 

sworn in in May 2015. 

Manager to the Foundation, 

Vetiva Trustees Limited, in a brief 

statement announced that the 

Foundation would award the 

scholarship to 20 indigent but 

brilliant children of Armed Forces 

personnel who lost their lives in 

the service of the nation. 

This is an increase from the 17 

awards given in 2016. 

Vetiva Trustees Ltd's 

representative, Mrs. Theresa Orji, 

stated that since its establishment 

in 2014, the scheme’s reach has 

steadily grown both in number 

and coverage area, as all the 

recipients hail from various 

states of the country. 

But the development did not 

go down well with the DSS 

which maintained it was its 

duties to protect the President. 

It was further gathered that 

there had been a running battle 

between the former Chief 

Security Officer (CSO) 

Abdulraman Mani and the Aide 

de Camp (ADC) to the 

President, Colonel Lawal 

Abubakar on which of the 

agencies should do the job. 

While Mani insisted on the 

operatives of DSS to protect the 

President, the ADC preferred 

soldiers. 

The battle between the two 

aides led to the removal of the 

former CSO by President 

Buhari. 

Vanguard gathered that what 

informed the President’s 

decision to replace the DSS with 

soldiers was his experience in 

the hands of DSS operatives 

during his campaign. 

But a memo dated Friday, June 

26, 2015, insisted that the DSS 

officials should disregard the 

ADC’s directives. 

It was learned that the memo 

which quoted the relevant 

sections of the constitution 

empowering the DSS to carry out 

such security functions were also 

copied the National Security 

Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff 

and the Director-General of the 

DSS. 

The memo read in part: “In 

fact, the issues raised in the 

aforementioned (ADC’s) circular 

tend to suggest that the author 

may have ventured into a not-toofamiliar 

terrain. 

“The extant practice, the world 

over, is that VIP protection, which 

is a specialised field, is usually 

handled by the Secret Service, 

Obiano of Anambra State, Nwodo 

said the duo have resolved their 

differences after he pleaded with 

them. 

‘’What happened between 

Governor Okorocha and 

Governor Obiano is just a storm 

in a tea cup and it has been 

accentuated by your colleagues 

in the way they addressed it. 

They had a principled 

disagreement about a 

representation of which number 

of governors were crossing from 

one party to the other. One made 

an assertion and the other made 

a denial. The rebuttals were taken 

over by their press aides and put 

in such unpalatable light that 

embarrassed their superiors. 

When it happened, I called 

Governor Okorocha and he was 

in South Africa. He was not even 

in Nigeria at the time the 

rebuttals were issued 

instantaneously and replied and 

claimed not to have seen the 

rebuttals before their publication. 

‘’Governor Obiano, on the other 

hand, was totally embarrassed. 

He said to me, this is not my 

language. I could not have gone 

this far. I was prepared to 

discipline my staff until they 

presented a defence of the Imo 

governor's writing but they did 

not bother to contact me before 

writing those things. They felt 

they were doing me a favour. He 

said how could I discuss my 

colleague in that manner and two 

wrongs don’t make a right. 

‘’So, in the circumstance, he 

made a phone call to governor 

Okorocha and they both 

discussed it and put it behind 

them. And they have both 

respected my plea for an 

injunction that this matter should 

not go ahead and that has 

happened. We are both planning 

to have a meeting of all the South- 

East governors, which will 

discuss the basis of our 

relations,’’ he said.

16 ---- Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

Edited by EMEKA AGINAM 

President Buhari receives party leaders, Tinubu, 

Bisi Akande in London 

delighto 

President Buhari is well 

and we wish him safe return. 

Does he wear same cloth 

each time they visit? Why are 

the visitors wearing black as 

uniform and covered their 

guest in the second picture. 

AnthonyEbo 

President Buhari has 

shamed his critics. 

Wale Allen 

Why do we keep getting all 

these pictures? Mr. President 

is “hale and hearty” and I’m 

sure Nigerians are happy to 

know that all is well with 

President Buhari. 

Wale Allen staaaaaaaaaaa 

Do you want to hear the 

truth? The position of a 

President is extremely 

sensitive. The economy is 

down and I’m sure any 

uncertainty will have further 

adverse effect on the 

precarious economy. Just a 

CCT trial: FG increases charges against Saraki 

•Bukola Saraki 

UNDP @UNDP 

In Egypt, 61% girls between 15- 

17years have experienced female 

genital mutilation 

Omobola 

Johnson 

@OmobolaJohnson 

Proud to serve on the Lagos State 

Economic Advisory Comm. Be assured 

that the voice of tech unenterprising 

and innovation will be heard! 

President Buhari in London (m), with Bisi Akande (l) and Senator Bola Tinubu 

two-minute national address 

would have put to rest the 

uncertainties generated by 

Mr. President’s whereabouts 

and doused the overheated 

polity. 

Ejiofor Agada @pmmnigeria 

Despite directive, DSTV continues to 

charge for free-to-air channels in Nigeria 

Ben 

Murray-Bruce 

@benmurraybruce 

With a minimum wage of N18,000, 

the N250 million budgeted for the Vice 

President’s gatehouse can pay the 

salaries of 13,888 Nigerians! 

Elvis Eromosele @elviseroms 

staaaaaaaaaaa Wale Allen 

But Nigerians are very 

dangerous people. They look 

for trouble where there is 

Asuk 

Senate President, Saraki must 

defend himself instead of looking 

for a way out. They brought this 

to stampede him to endorse the 

30 billion dollar loan. Amaechi 

fired the shots the other day when 

he called on Nigerians to blame 

the National Assembly for the 

failure of this government 

Sunday Njokede 

President Buhari should know 

that if Saraki and others are not 

in jail before 2019 election, 

Nigerians will vote APC out of 

power. They already have 

enough evidences and charges 

against Saraki. APC government 

must go in 2019! 

ImpactK 

Fighting corruption outside 

Presidency is always with 

insecticide. No deodorant for 

you, Senate President. You may 

be considered for deodorant 

fight when Senate approves the 

bid for $30billion loan. 

TRENDING ISSUES ON TWITTER 

none. Some people 

are already claiming 

the president is 

dead. Shame on 

them all. 

BATHO 

This is to divert attention and 

continue the cat and mouse game 

with Nigerians. As I said before; 

nothing will come out of all this. 

Ade Omowest BATHO 

Have patience, Bukola Saraki 

will be convicted by CCT, lawfully 

removed as Senate President and 

picked up by EFCC to be formally 

prosecuted in a competent court of 

criminal jurisdiction. 

utali 

I said it before that this case will 

never see the light of day until 

2019. Not because Saraki is not 

guilty, but because this 

government lacks the legal ability 

to try Saraki. 

tunde008 utali 

The case has already seen the 

light of the day, that’s why we are 

talking about it now. 

Focus on what you really want! 

Jidaw List @jidawlist 

Safer Internet Day, February 7, 

2017 was a reminder that Internet 

access comes with opportunities. 

Femi Fani-Kayode @realFFK 

I commend Acting President Yemi 

Osinbajo for sending Justice 

Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for 

confirmation. This will enhance 

Frozen account: 

Ozekhome kicks, says 

Fayose paid me N75m as 

legal fees 

jorgeright 

This is one of the main reasons why I 

like President Buhari to remain in power. 

The next is to make it difficult for criminals 

to escape the law. Then to grow the 

Nigerian economy to be less import 

dependent 

STONE40 

But wait a minute. N75 milion in legal 

fees? What did you represent him for? Was 

he facing a death sentence? 

fero 

Fellow Nigerians, I am wondering what 

constitutes a legal fees? How much do you 

need or have to hire a lawyer? Are lawyers 

these expensive? How much is Fayose 

worth that he can pay N75 million and to 

balance N25m on cases in court? What are 

Fayose’s investment to support these 

largesse to lawyers? What is really the hope 

for a common man in Nigeria? These are 

questions begging for answers. 

OYEYEMI 

I doubt the integrity of lawyers these 

days. In fact, I try to imagine if they are 

lawyers or launders. Wonders shall never 

end on our land. 

AnoghenaAdoko 

So sad for Nigeria. Only God can help 

Nigeria. 

Sammy728 

People go to jail for illegal billing. Can 

you provide the public details of this 

payment. Provide facts that support work 

done or to be done. Nigerians are not fools. 

Everybody quotes fundamental human 

rights as it fits their individual narratives 

at a given time, the people have rights to 

good government. Fayose is a sitting 

governor, and a public official. The public 

deserves to know where he got that type of 

money from. 

Smancy 

My question is, is the money from 

Governor Fayose personal account or Ekiti 

State tax payer’s money? 

•Gov. Fayose 

national unity. 

*Ozekhome 

Jim Murphy @jimmurphySF 

37 Women caned in Indonesia 

in 2016, for violations of Sharia, 

including gambling. 

UNICEF @UNICEF 

“Children don’t belong on the 

battlefield, they belong to school 

where they can build a future” 

C 

M 

Y 

K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017—17

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

ANOTHER case of military 

brutality made its ignoble 

outing along New Market Road in 

Onitsha, the commercial nerve 

centre of Anambra State on 

Tuesday, February 7, 2017. This 

time, it was a couple of soldiers in 

full military gear, mercilessly 

whipping and dragging around a 

hapless, physically-challenged 

man, while a crowd of onlookers 

pleaded with them not to kill him. 

When they were done, they 

jumped into their military truck 

and sped away. The physically 

challenged man was lucky to survive 

the ordeal. His offence was 

that he was wearing a military 

camouflage uniform. The video clip 

of this dehumanising encounter, as 

usual, went viral over the internet. 

Army authorities quickly responded 

to it the following day, disclosing 

that they had already identified 

the soldiers involved in that 

show of shame. Its Director of Public 

Relations , Brigadier-General 

Soldiers’ brutalisation of challenged 

person 

Sani Usman Kukasheka, declared 

that the culprits had been identified 

and arrested, and will be dealt 

with “in line with our zero tolerance 

for acts of indiscipline and 

unprofessional conduct, especially 

in relation to violation of human 

rights”. 

The Army did well to respond 

swiftly to this unbecoming display 

by its misguided personnel, in view 

of the injury it inflicted on an institution 

which recently came under 

heavy criticism by Amnesty International 

(AI) for the alleged 

killing of over 150 pro-Biafra activists 

in the past year alone. 

Exactly one year ago, a female soldier 

and a male colleague assaulted 

a young man for allegedly 

complimenting her looks. In April 

2016, a student of Abraham 

Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo 

in Ogun State, was battered by soldiers 

for late payment of the N5,000 

surcharge imposed on students by 

the school authorities over alleged 

arson attack on school property. 

The military has increasingly been 

forced on the defensive by its 

personnel over acts unbecoming of 

well-trained officers. 

We understand the sentiment that 

drives military personnel to view 

the wearing of military camouflage 

by civilians with severe exception. 

Apart from the impersonation it 

portrays (which can be used to 

carry out crimes such as kidnapping, 

robbery and terrorism with 

the military erroneously blamed) 

soldiers would naturally not tolerate 

the disrespect and bastardisation 

of their coveted uniform by civilians 

who are not qualified to 

wear them. 

Brutalisation, however, is not the 

correct response to it. Arresting 

such individuals and investigating 

their motive for wearing military 

uniform is a better way to go. 

Nothing called for the cowardly 

action the officers took on a harmless 

crippled man, and we hope the 

military will use this case to drive 

home the message that it will no 

longer stomach the soiling of its 

image and that of the nation by its 

own personnel. 

Enough of military brutality! 

Senate vs SGF: A storm of mischief? (2) 

Continued from yesterday 

By Scot Owegbe 

THE company also attached as an 

annexure to its press release an 

acknowledged letter of the bank instructing 

it to replace Engineer Babachir David Lawal 

with Barrister Hamidu David Lawal as 

signatory to the company’s accounts. 

Contrary to the Committee’s claim, the 

company’s bank statement shows that 

Babachir ceased operating the company’s 

account even before he resigned. From which 

bank and how did the Committee then obtain 

a different statement of account? 

Importantly, Rholavision and some 

independent Non-Governmental 

Organisations, NGOs, and media houses 

also established beyond doubt that 

Rholavision was not even the company given 

the much talked about N220 million socalled 

‘grass-cutting contract’ even though 

the Senate Committee created the 

impression that the company founded by the 

SGF executed the contract. In any case, the 

sad impression created by the Shehu 

Committee that the contract was for the 

clearing of invasive grass in the IDP Camp 

was crassly misleading. The contract 

awarded to Josmon Technologies Limited, 

was for the clearing of invasive grass along 

River Kamadugu and the channeling of the 

river for irrigation to enable fishermen in 

the communities on its banks to resume their 

fishing activities and to prevent flooding in 

the communities during rainy season. 

Indeed, Rholavision was only given a 

Consultancy Services contract worth about 

N 7 million by PINE, not N220million as 

erroneously claimed by the Committee. And, 

Rholavision duly executed its N7million 

consultancy contract. This was duly certified 

and paid for in two installments. The false 

claim by the Committee tells of obvious 

But their report left a lot of 

loopholes. It even gives 

the impression that the 

Committee was afraid of 

hearing Babachir’s side 

mischief unbefitting the Senate as an 

institution. 

It is important to note that Rholavision, 

was co-opted into the project as consultants 

because of their experience in the North East, 

having been engaged in the clearing of thypagrass 

from the Hadejia/Jamaara River Basin 

in 2013 – a contract they executed for the 

Africa Development Bank, (ADB). 

If the Senate had therefore exercised a little 

patience, if not restraint, to ensure that the 

SGF and Rholavision appeared before it, this 

present storm it created from allegations that 

carry a manifest tinge of credibility questions 

would have been resolved amicably. This 

seeming intemperate approach to a critical 

Public question is what Rholavision queried. 

As they put it, “it is also very instructive that 

in spite of the very weighty and potentially 

damaging allegations being peddled about 

and against us, the Senate Ad Hoc 

Committee on Mounting Humanitarian 

OPINION 

Crisis in the North East did not bother to 

invite us to the Public Hearing to put our 

own case across despite the fact that our Head 

Office is opposite that of the Committee 

chairman, Shehu Sani”. 

Now the media is on a binge orchestrated 

by vested interests opposed to the SGF, 

feasting on the Senate Ad Hoc Committee 

report and garnishing it with more tales, 

outright lies and calculated misinformation. 

Some publications have claimed without 

verifiable evidence that Josmon Technologies 

is a front for Rholavision Engineering. Others 

allege without verifiable evidence that 

Josman paid over N195 million as kickback 

to the SGF and Rholavision. But even this 

calls for some simple reasoning. For indeed, 

if the said contract worth was about N272 

million or N220 million as variously reported 

and this contract has been fully executed and 

so certified, one cannot but wonder how much 

was then expended on execution if kickback 

alone extracted N195 million from the 

contractors. Still, in spite of these 

confounding allegations, the Committee did 

not insist that Lawal should appear before it 

or even invite the company they linked to him. 

This simply means that the committee 

released their report in a very troubling haste, 

without the extreme sense of purpose, 

maturity and a deep sense of little details 

required for a national assignment as theirs. 

This explains why dispassionate observers are 

now asking whether the Shehu Sani led Ad 

Hoc Committee sincerely wanted to confront 

Babachir David Lawal, the SGF with facts 

that could be a back-breaking moral burden 

for him or they indeed set out on a pull-himdown 

syndrome through a quasi hypothesis 

that betrays a conspiracy of biased minds. 

No question they may not have set out with 

biased minds. But their report left a lot of 

loopholes. It even gives the impression that 

the Committee was afraid of hearing 

Babachir’s side and if so, then the 

Committee lost the very soul of an impartial 

‘judge’ or ‘court’. 

As an aside, it sounds preposterous that 

the Senate, made up of very senior citizens, 

professionals and distinguished leaders, 

even thinks that it has the power to deny Mr. 

President the prerogative to continue to 

work with an SGF of his choosing – one 

who has no criminal charges against him 

in any court. Under our Constitution, the 

SGF is not one of those positions that are 

subject to Senate statutory confirmation. At 

best, the SGF is an aide of the President. 

The Senate, with the greatest respect, 

cannot compel the President to hire or fire 

persons over whom it (Senate) has no 

statutory confirmatory powers. 

Appointment to the office of the SGF is 

clearly not subject to the confirmatory 

powers of the Senate. The Senate should 

therefore deeply appreciate Mr. President’s 

response on the matter as a mark of great 

regard to it as a major institution of State. 

One is inclined to interpret Buhari’s mature 

response to the Senate as simply 

confirmatory of his good democratic 

credentials, not that he is under a 

constitutional obligation to dignify a Senate 

resolution lacking binding legal effect under 

our constitution. 

Perhaps, the haze that beclouds this report 

and the critical issue of fair hearing easily 

explain why President Buhari could not heed 

the Senate call. Because even history may 

hold a mirror for him to agonisingly see 

what may be a glaring miscarriage of 

Justice if he sacks his SGF on misty findings. 

Concluded 

*Dr. Owegbe , a public affairs analyst, 

wrote from Aladja, Delta State.


Capital market operators apprehensive over 

high yields on FGN bonds 

By Babajide Komolafe & 

Nkiruka Nnorom 

STAKEHOLDERS in the 

Nigerian capital market 

have criticised the high interest 

rate on FGN bonds saying it 

discourages investment in 

productive activities. They spoke 

at a one day seminar organised 

by the Securities and Exchange 

Commission, SEC, to deliberate 

on the implications of the 2017 

budget to the capital market. 

They also called on the federal 

government to make concerted 

effort to address inconsistencies 

in the foreign exchange regime 

as it adversely affects private 

sector operations. 

The seminar featured a 

presentation on “2017 Budget of 

Growth and Recovery: 

Relevance, Implications and 

Perspectives of the Nigerian 

Capital Market” by Mr. Afolabi 

Olowookere, Head, Economic 

Research & Policy Management 

and a panel discussion with 

Johnson Chukwu, Managing 

Director/CEO, Cowry Assets 

Limited, Mrs Ore Sofekun, 

Managing Director/CEO, 

Investment One Vencap Limited, 

Mr. Bodun Adebipe, Chief 

Consultant, B. Adebipe 

Associates Limited and Bayo 

Rotimi, CEO, Quest Advisory 

Services Limited as panelists 

According to Johnson Chukwu 

and Biodun Adedipe, with 

interest rate of over 15 per cent 

on FGN bonds and treasury bills, 

which are risk free instrument, 

nobody will want to invest in 

productive activities with all the 

attendant risks. They argued that 

the use of high interest rate 

regime to grow the economy was 

not practicable as it stifles the 

growth of Small and Medium 

Enterprises, SMEs. 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

$144.70 1.80 

$1,985.0 -8.00 

20.76 0. 00 

$21.08 

$55. 62 0.50 

$52.99 0.65 

304.25 304.75 305.25 

380.1604 380.7851 381.4099 

324. 1484 324.6807 325.2134 

304.6155 305.1161 305.6167 

2. 711 2.7154 2.7199 

0. 4777 0.4877 0.4977 

413.1599 413.8389 414.5179 

44. 2536 44. 3268 44.4 

81.1225 81.2558 81.3891 

412.6239 413.302 413.9801 

KRONA 43.5963 43.668 43.7396 

CBN Exchange rate as at 09/2/2017 

LISTING OF SHARES : From left, Alhaji Musbahu Basir, Director, Jaiz Bank Plc; Oscar N. 

Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE; Alhaji Umaru Abdul 

Mutallab, CON, Chairman, Jaiz Bank Plc and Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, Director Jaiz Bank Plc 

at the Facts Behind the Listing at the NSE. 

In a communique issued at the 

end of the seminar, the operators 

emphasized the need for greater 

synergy between the monetary 

and fiscal policies and 

elimination of silos in policy 

formulations. 

They said that public private 

partnership should be exploited 

in infrastructure development, 

arguing that unless our 

infrastructure is first developed 

by local funds, no foreign 

investors would be willing to 

bring in their funds to develop 

the infrastructures. 

On how to stimulate growth in 

the capital market, they said that 

privatization of government 

owned firms is key to stimulating 

economic activities, while calling 

on the government to specify 

specific timelines to identify 

assets that would be sold and the 

process through which they 

would be sold. “The same should 

be done through the capital 

market. This would encourage 

efficiency and scarce resources 

used to manage these assets can 

be freed up and channeled to 

critical sectors of the economy,” 

they said. 

Exploiting private 

partnership 

“Government should exploit 

private partnership in 

developing infrastructure. There 

should be proper and lingering 

framework to ensure that every 

party to this partnership are held 

accountable to their part in this 

agreement. “Foreign exchange 

regime inconsistencies need to 

be sorted out as this impacts 

private sector adversely. 

The conflict between 

monetary and fiscal policies 

needs to be resolved; there is 

need for greater degree of 

synergy and elimination of silos 

in policy formulation. 

“The Boards of SEC and other 

critical agencies in the financial 

sector should be reconstituted. 

The delay in their reconstitution 

is sending wrong signals to 

prospective investors” they 

noted. 

There is need for better 

coordination between the 

regulatory agencies in the 

financial sector – the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, the Pension 

Commission, PenCom, 

NAICOm and others,” they 

added. 

Jaiz Bank lists N36.8bn shares on NSE 

By Peter Egwuatu 

JAIZ Bank Plc, yesterday, joined 

the league of quoted companies 

as the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, 

admitted its 29,464, 249,300 ordinary 

shares at N1.25 per share, valued at 

N36.8 billion on its Daily Official List. 

The bank has also projected to pay its 

first dividend after its listing on the NSE 

in 2018, saying it is meant for all 

Nigerians and not for any religious 

group. 

Speaking on the facts behind its listing 

on the NSE, Chairman of Jaiz Bank Plc, 

Dr. Umar Abdul Mutallab said, “The bank 

is for all Nigerians and not just for 

Muslims alone. It is for all religious 

groups in the country. Our shareholders 

cut across all segments of the society. 

Any person can buy the shares here on 

the NSE. The bank is here to bring all 

Nigerians together; the only thing is that 

the bank does not pay interest on nor 

invest in anything that is regarded 

harmful.” 

In his presentation, the Managing 

Director/CEO, Jaiz Bank Plc, Mallam 

Hassan Usman said, “The bank has 

diversified investors and before listing 

has 30,000 shareholders. The 

shareholders invested based on certain 

Islamic principles. We are non-interest 

bank but not a nonprofit entity. Our 

model of banking is non interest but 

profit making. 

“Basically, we earned income in 

range of products and services that can 

broadly be classified into three 

typologies. Basically, we make profit 

from sales, partnership and lease. We 

are anticipating to have a payout ratio 

dividend to our shareholders of not less 

than 50 per cent over our current plan 

period in 2018. 

LADOL provides 

investment 

opportunity 

— UK’s DFID 

By Godwin Oritse 

THE United Kingdom, UK, 

has inspected facilities at 

the fast-growing Lagos Deep 

Offshore Logistics Free Zone 

Enterprises, LADOL FZE, in its 

quest to expand its trade and 

development activities in sub- 

Sahara Africa. Already, UK’s 

Department For International 

Development, DFID, had kickstarted 

the plans with highpowered 

representatives who 

visited the LADOL base in Apapa 

Pilotage district on Wednesday, 

on a fact–finding mission. 

The four-man delegation led by 

the DFID Chief Economist, 

Professor Stefan Dercon, was 

received by the Executive 

Director, business development, 

of LADOL, Mr. Jide Jadesimi, 

who conducted the team around 

the industrial hub. 

LADOL is currently playing host 

to the integration of a $3.8 billion 

Floating Production Storage and 

Offloading (FPSO) oil and gas 

services platform, otherwise 

known as the Egina project. The 

project was awarded to the 

Korean-based Samsung Heavy 

Industries (SHI) by TOTAL Oil 

Exploration, with LADOL serving 

as the Local Content Partner to 

SHI. Speaking with newsmen 

shortly after the tour, Dercon said 

his team’s visit was part of current 

efforts by the British government 

to encourage investment across 

Africa and Asia, with particular 

focus on developing economies. 

“We are here as part of our efforts 

to expand trade and development 

with foreign companies and 

Nigeria being a key country in 

that drive. We are particularly 

interested in knowing the level 

of investment and development 

in the manufacturing sector here 

in Lagos”. 

“The paid up capital stood at N14.7 

billion, the major shareholders with five 

per cent and above are controlling a total 

of about 65 per cent of the total share 

capital of the bank. The shareholders base 

of the bank is diversified with one foreign, 

108 institutional, 220 corporate, 26,157 

individuals, 156 joint, 6 states and 106 

local governments.” 

In his remark, the Chief Executive 

Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema said, 

“I congratulate the board and 

management of Jaiz Bank Plc on its 

successful listing on the main board of 

the Nigerian Stock Exchange. With large 

un-banked populations as well as 

established middle classes across the 

continent, which is home to numerous 

member nations of Organization of 

Islamic Countries, Africa has been 

openly touted as a target Islamic 

finance market.”


By Theodore Opara 

Boulos rolls out 

Super Carry vans 

THE first two Suzuki Super 

Carry vans were recently 

delivered to a customer, Mr Tony 

Ofoman, owner of Rodinia 

Hotels. Tony had chosen the Van 

versions, the fabrication of which 

were designed, created and 

manufactured at the Boulos 

factory in Ikeja, Lagos. 

Olusegun Adekoya, Quality 

Control Manager Boulos 

Enterprises said: “There was a 

real buzz in the factory, we 

fabricated the van units under 

sixteen hours. As production 

steps up and we become more 

familiar with the process the 

manufacturing time will 

decrease. “It was great to see 

them drive out, as made in 

Nigeria means made by 

Nigerians,” he added. 

Designed for 

Nigerian roads 

In her remarks, Mrs. Titi 

Olodun, Marketing Manager of 

Boulos explained that the 

Super Carry van now in its 12 th 

generation is the most tried and 

trusted 1 ton van in the world, 

sold in 192 countries since 1961. 

“It is also one of the most 

reliable in the world and here in 

Nigeria the launch price at N4.1 

million is about two million naira 

less than any other competitors”. 

She further disclosed that the 

pick-up version will be available 

only on special order, adding 

that the van and refrigerated 

units will be the best sellers. 

Powered by Suzuki 1.2 litre 

petrol engine which is also fitted 

to the Suzuki Swift, Vitara, 

Splash, Baleno and Kizashi, the 

engine is very reliable to the 

extent that other manufactures 

buy the it from Suzuki for use in 

their vehicles. 

The suspension has been 

especially designed for Nigerian 

roads, raising the ride height to 

a level that allows the vehicle to 

•Land Rover Bar team 

tackle water impediments and 

settle on the trailing arms and 

leaf spring suspension without 

bottoming out. 

The Super Carry is backed by 

a comprehensive warranty and 

dealer service representation 

across Nigeria. The Marketing 

Manager disclosed that Boulos 

stocks over $5 million worth of 

spare parts for its products at any 

given time, so there is never a 

worry for spares. 

“This moment marks the 

continuation of more than 57 

years of representation of 

SUZUKI in Nigeria by Boulos 

Enterprises,” she said. 

Affordable artworks: Kia partners Arthouse, showcases 

Africa’s artists 

IN a bid to bring the most 

affordable art auction to the 

teeming enthusiasts of creativity 

and ingenuity, Arthouse is 

showcasing a collection of 

seasoned and contemporary 

works of art by emerging artists, 

modern masters, and Africa’s 

most prominent artists at the 

Affordable Art Auction slated for 

tomorrow at Kia showroom, 

Victorial Island, Lagos. 

The event is aimed at attracting 

seasoned collectors and first-time 

buyers to avail the opportunity 

of owning an artwork at an 

affordable price with all artworks 

estimated below One million 

Naira. 

Kia has over the years 

partnered Arthouse to present a 

meld of astonishingly curated 

works of art and beautifully 

designed cars that makes its 

showroom a destination for 

collectors and enthusiasts of not 

just cars, but also modern art and 

design. In this edition, the 

collections are all scaled to a more 

Boulos Super Carry van built in Nigeria 

affordable and accessible price 

point to allow many an art 

enthusiast own striking artwork 

with in-depth emotional 

connection that accentuates their 

love for art. 

The Affordable Art Auction aims 

to engage emerging markets and 

the rise of a new collector base. 

“We particularly look to focus on 

building a network of local clients 

to create a more self-sufficient 

market, and we hope that the 

auction will attract both seasoned 

collectors and first-time buyers. 

This edition of the Affordable Art 

Auction showcases emerging 

artists, many of whom are being 

Land Rover Bar launch fast racing boat 

LAND Rover BAR have 

launched the boat they 

believe will make sailing history 

when it competes at the 2017 

America’s Cup. One of the 

fastest, most technically advanced 

craft on the water has been 

presented at auction for the first 

time, alongside leading modern 

masters and Africa’s most 

prominent artists —all scaled to 

a more affordable and accessible 

price point. Through this auction, 

we seek to open more 

opportunities for artists in Nigeria 

to sell their work and create new 

audiences to appreciate and 

interact with contemporary African 

art” Kavita Chellarams, CEO, 

Arthouse Contemporary Limited. 

One of the facets of Kia Motors 

Nigeria business operations that 

really differentiate it from other 

industry players is the adjoining 

synergy between the aesthetics of 

developed with Jaguar Land 

Rover engineers with one aim: 

to let a British team take home 

world’s oldest sporting trophy for 

the first time. 

Launched in Bermuda, the boat 

was named ‘Rita’ by Sir Ben 

Ainslie’s wife Lady Georgie 

Ainslie and daughter Bellatrix. 

The name has a winning 

pedigree – Sir Ben has used it 

throughout his career. 

BAR shared the engineering 

skills used by Jaguar Land Rover 

to create its newest models. 

Aerodynamic, self-learning car, 

artificial intelligence and virtualmodelling 

technologies are all 

helping the boat to go faster. 

Jaguar Land Rover( is the UK’s 

largest investor in automotive 

research, development and 

engineering spending billions 

on new product creation and 

innovation, the partnership with 

Land Rover BAR enables the 

engineers to up-skill and practice 

new methods in different 

environment and platforms. 

its car designs and partnering with 

Arthouse to host exhibitions of 

contemporary artworks curated by 

Africa’s widely renowned and 

seasoned artists. 

“Our partnership with Arthouse 

contemporary in the affordable 

art auction is an extension of our 

appreciable passion for 

creativity,” explains Sandeep 

Malhotra, Chief Commercial 

Officer, Kia Motors Nigeria. And 

that birthed the partnership with 

Arthouse contemporary to 

constantly bring to the fore a 

collection of art that appeals to 

emotions and stirs passion. 

“This process of two-way 

engineering and our wider 

STEM programme across the 

business has enabled us to 

develop, learn and provide our 

capabilities to the BAR team. We 

developed industry-first 

aerodynamic testing to support 

the wingsail design which you 

can see on the final boat here 

today,” said Tony Harper, 

Director of Research at Jaguar 

Land Rover. From the success of 

this project, and with our 

knowledge of analysis and 

construction of light-weight 

vehicles, we have also 

supported the structural design 

of the daggerboards – the 

surfboard-style structure 

underneath the boat that allow it 

to fly and keep it stable when out 

of the water.” 

Each light-weight daggerboard 

needs to bear 2,400kg, the 

equivalent of a new Land Rover 

Discovery, so their job on the boat 

is crucial.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 —21 

Kia siblings sweep iF Design Awards 

KIA has won three 

prestigious iF Design 

Awards for the outstanding 

design of its latest vehicles. The 

Niro hybrid crossover, Optima 

Sportswagon and all-new Rio 

supermini have all received 

prizes for product design. 

2017 is the eighth consecutive 

year in which Kia has received at 

least one iF Design Award. The 

latest hat-trick of prizes brings the 

manufacturer’s total number of iF 

award-winning models to Peter 

Schreyer, President and Chief 

Designer of Kia Motors 

Corporation, commented, “These 

latest iF Awards are recognition 

for our excellent global design 

team. 

All three models, on which the 

Kia design centers in Korea, 

Germany and the United Stated 

cooperated closely, are highly 

important for our brand. With the 

Niro and the Optima 

Sportswagon, Kia has pushed 

into new market sectors, and has 

carved out a distinctive position 

in both segments with innovative, 

attractive design. 

With the new generation of the 

Rio we have given one of our 

global best-sellers a significantly 

changed, more mature character. 

The Kia Niro marries the practical 

advantages and aesthetic appeal 

of a compact crossover with a 

sleek appearance, differentiating 

it from more conservatively 

designed hybrid models, and 

giving the car a unique presence 

as the world’s first hybrid 

crossover. 

The Optima Sportswagon, Kia’s 

first-ever D-segment tourer 

engineered exclusively for the 

European market, offers a striking 

exterior design and high quality 

Dodge Demon, birth of world’s fastest muscle car 

AS Dodge continues its 

weekly teases of what 

will likely be the world’s 

fastest muscle car (taking the 

throne of the 707-hp Dodge 

Hellcat), a couple of things 

have been revealed about the 

Demon. 

First, the Dodge Demon 

(which is owned by Fiat 

Chrysler ( FCAU) ) will be the 

first-ever factory production auto 

with street legal drag tires. As a 

result of the extra wide treads, 

the Demon will sport some 

aggressive-looking side fenders. 

It will cburn out 900 

horsepower. 

The Demon — and all its 

wonderful specs — is scheduled 

to be unveiled at the New York 

International Auto Show in April. 

Meanwhile, the Demon will 

weigh about 215 pounds less 

than a Hellcat, reported Motor 

Authority. 

A Hellcat weighs in at about 

4,448 pounds. To cut the weight, 

Dodge has reportedly removed 

the passenger front seat and rear 

bench seat. Dodge has also 

interior, with the added 

practicality and appeal of a tourer 

bodystyle. 

Kia’s third prize-winner in 

2017, the all-new Rio, goes on 

sale this quarter in Europe, and 

offers buyers a bold new design 

and a modern, efficientlypackaged 

cabin with the latest 

Hankook Tire declares 860.1m euro profit 

HANKOOK 

Tire 

announced its global 

financial results for the fourth 

quarter of 2016 with consolidated 

sales of 1.295 billion Euros and 

an operating profit of 192.2 

million Euros. The company 

reported total sales revenues of 

5.163 billion Euros and an 

operating profit of 860.1 million 

Euros for the total fiscal year 

2016. 

Hankook Tire• fs achievement 

is attributed to continuous 

Original Equipment, OE, supply 

for models of global premium 

automobile brands based on 

Hankook Tire• fs global top tier 

technology and product quality. 

An increased sales volume in 

the Replacement Tyre segment, 

especially in the Ultra High 

Performance Tyre (UHPT) 

segment including sales of 

winter tyres in Europe added up 

to a consistent upward trend. 

Furthermore, Hankook Tire 

managed to secure balanced 

growth through also increasing 

Original Equipment sales in the 

Chinese market. 

Especially, revenue from 

UHPT sales accounted for 33.5% 

of the total sales in the fourth 

quarter, marking a 0.7% increase 

in comparison to the same period 

of last year. With regard to 

2016• fs total sales, the sales 

revenue of UHPT comes to 

34.5%.With this year• fs goal of 

•All new Kia Rio 

reaching global sales revenues 

of KRW 7.22 trillion, Hankook 

Tire plans to focus on expanding 

sales in the UHPT segment as 

well as in the OE segment for 

new premium car models in 

order to strengthen its brand 

value. 

•Dodge Demon rear view 

introduced the Demon Crate, a 

special equipment pack that 

turns the car from a regular street 

ride into an all-out drag-strip 

infotainment and safety 

technologies. 

The longer bonnet and more 

vertical C-pillar give the new car 

a more purposeful and 

aggressive stance, with a driverorientated 

dashbo-ard which 

provides an innovative and 

ergonomic design. iF Design 

Award 2017: over 5,500 products 

from 59 countries submitted 

Since it was launched in 1953, 

the iF Design Award has become 

one of the world’s most important 

prizes for excellence in design. 

The award has its origins in the 

‘ F o r m g e r e c h t e 

Industrieerzeugnisse (Good 

demolisher. 

Dodge claims the crate will 

boast 18 parts that set the car 

up for the drag strip, including 

Industrial Design) product shows 

initiated by the Hannover Messe, 

and is now one of the world’s 

largest design competitions. 

The iF Design Award is 

presented in seven categories 

(Product, Packaging, 

Communication and Service 

Design, Architecture, Interior 

Design and Professional 

Concepts). The new Kia models 

have been honoured in the 

Product Design category. In 

2017, companies from 59 

countries submitted 5,575 

products to be judged by an 

independent international jury of 

58 design experts. 

performance parts, track tools, 

spare wheels and something it 

calls the “Demon Track Pack 

System.”


Iyanya signs record deal with 

Jay Z’s Roc Nation? 

By Benjamin Njoku 

THERE are indications that Mavin Records latest 

artiste, Iyanya, may have hooked up with Jaz 

Z's Roc Nation. The singer jetted out of the country 

last week, in the company of Director of 

Communications, Temple Management Company, 

Terfa Tilley-Gyado, as they headlined an 

entertainment panel at the Africa Business 

Conference, which held at the prestigious 

Georgetown University, Washington DC. 

Iyanya who is still in New York, apparently decided 

to use one stone to kill two birds as he has joined his 

label mate, Tiwa Savage, to sign for Roc Nation. He 

teased fans and the media with photos, indicating 

that he may be signing a new deal with Jay Z’s Roc 

Nation. 

In some of the photos he posted on his Instagram 

page, Iyanya was captured sitting on the same sofa 

that Tiwa Savage sat on, in July 2016, when she 

signed her management deal with the New York 

based company. The “Kuru kere” crooner who took 

to his Instagram page to spill the beans, wrote, 

“iyanyaBuilding a brand new music nation with 

@thetemplecompany X @rocnation X 

@mavinrecords #Up2something,” 

But when contacted to confirm the new deal, 

TMC, media officer, Femi Salawu said, “We will 

provide a detailed press release in due course.” 

He, however, added that “TMC and Mavin 

Records are focused on building bridges globally 

for the benefit of our talents. Both companies’ 

primary objective is to continually maximise the 

opportunities in the African continent as well as 

explore and develop new frontiers across the 

globe. 

“Strategic international partnerships are key 

in achieving these objectives aimed at raising 

the profile of Mavin’s talents and our other 

talents. As the world is a global village, we are 

positioned as global players in the industry in 

bridging all divides globally.” 

Iyanya 

By Anozie Egole 

DMW signee, Dammy 

Krane has floated a nonprofit 

making outfit called the 

Amin Foundation. The singer 

VETERAN 

actress, 

Victoria Inyama, is back 

to adorn your darling screens 

Dammy Krane floats 

Amin Foundation 

revealed this, weekend. 

According to Krane, the 

organization is 

embarking on an 

anti-malaria 

campaign which 

renders help to 

children and old 

people. 

He said,"The 

A m i n 

Foundation has 

been running 

for a while now 

and we have 

been running 

an anti-malaria campaign; 

giving free mosquito nets and 

conducting malaria tests for 

children and elderly ones. 

However, I have decided to 

organize my first music concert 

tagged, Amin Concert to 

officially launch the 

foundation. I believe the 

concert is the best way to 

launch the Amin Foundation 

and pass the raise awareness 

of what we do, while providing 

quality entertainment to my 

fans," he said. 

Speaking further on the life 

span of the foundation, Dammy 

Krane noted that the 

foundation is structured in a 

way that will outlive him as he 

hinted his desire to hold the 

Amin Concert annually, 

adding that the concert will 

help the NGO to continue with 

the good work it has set out to 

do as well as fund future 

projects. 

Actress, Victoria Inyama 

returns in new romance movie 

By Rotimi Agbana 

once again. The sensational actress who 

rose to fame after her role in the popular 

TV series, Ripples, has been away from 

the make-believe craft for some years but 

recently decided to return to her first love 

as she stars in a new and exceptional 

romance drama titled Talking Dolls, an 

unpredictable kaleidoscope of drama, 

thriller and suspense, carefully built up 

to a climatic epic finale. The drama has 

a breath-taking build up that sees two 

colourful but opposite characters, 

Daniel .K. Daniel & Belinda Effah, 

become love birds, losing far beyond 

their expectations. 

The star studded movie which was 

produced by Marc Adebesin and 

directed by Sukie Oduwole, features top 

Nollywood stars such as award-winning 

actor, Daniel K. Daniel, Belinda Effah, 

Tamara Komboye, Mofe Duncan, Mike 

Olaribigbe (Mikes Comedy), Yetunde 

Oduwole, Kunle Oladeji, Feona Mali, 

Natalie Deadman, Marie Gomez-Sarkis, 

Olukunle Fawora & Victoria Inyanma. 

Talking Dolls is an intriguing story that 

also addresses societal issues, sex abuse 

and their shortcomings. It was shot in 

the heart of London, Kent and Essex and 

is due to be released in U.K, Ghanaian 

and Nigerian cinemas in the second 

quarter of 2017”, said the assistant 

producer of Talking Dolls, Mr. 

Olasukanmi Ojo. 

Lagos PMAN petitions 

police over threat to life 

By Bose Adelaja 

Lagos State chapter of Performing 

Musicians’ Association of Nigeria PMAN, Mr. Kareem 

Osoba, has petitioned the assistant inspector-general of police 

(AIG), Zone 2 Command, over alleged threat to his life by 

the erstwhile national president of the association, Mr. Pretty 

Okafor. 

In the petition dated January 27, 2017, Osoba stated 

that a meeting of the state chapter of the association 

scheduled to hold on January 18, 2017 at an event place 

in Yaba could not hold as members were denied access to 

the venue allegedly on Okafor’s instruction. 

According to him, the meeting was rescheduled to the 

association’s secretariat also at Yaba and while it was on 

going, the former president allegedly sent a message 

threatening to kidnap him and keep him in an 

underground cell for three months. 

Speaking with newsmen at his Sabo, Yaba, Lagos office 

on Tuesday, the PMAN boss fondly called Kabiyesi, 

explained that Okafor has ceased to be the national 

president of PMAN having lost a re-election to another 

candidate but has continued to parade 

himself as one and whoever to play along 

with him is allegedly 

threatened. 

Osoba added that 

he has 

continued to 

r e c e i v e 

several threat 

messages 

from the 

f o r m e r 

president and 

therefore 

urged prompt 

intervention 

of the police, 

noting that 

life has no 

duplicate and 

a stitch in 

time 

nine. 

saves 

•Pretty Okafor


Safety gadgets: MWUN slams terminal operators 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

PRESIDENT General of the 

Maritime Workers Union of 

Nigeria, MWUN, Tony Nted 

Emmanuel, has slammed terminal 

operators and dockworkers for 

incessant accidents at the port 

over protective safety gadgets. 

The MWUN boss, who disclosed 

this in Lagos, said some 

of the terminal operators do not 

provide dockworkers with the 

needed safety gadgets when 

working at the port which is a 

contravention of the concession 

agreement. 

He noted that the union would 

no longer take it lightly with any 

terminal operator that failed to provide 

dockworkers with the required 

safety gadgets in the event 

of any work place accident. 

The union leader also faulted 

some of his members who were in 

the habit of not wearing the safety 

gadgets given to them by their terminal 

operators, and warned that 

such dockworkers were in danger 

of losing their entitlements should 

t an accident occurs while performing 

their lawful duties. 

Terminal 

operators 

He said, “the union is not sleeping, 

we are not blaming the terminal 

operators alone, and sometimes 

we also blame our members. Most 

times 70 percent of the blame goes 

to terminal operators, especially 

when people are working in a hazardous 

environment, you need to 

give the workers the necessary 

safety gadgets to work. 

“The safety officers of each terminal 

operator also need to give 

the workers pep talk, enlighten 

them before they commence work. 

They should also ensure that nobody 

gets drunk before coming to 

work which is very common with 

our people. Some of them will be 

at the gate where they will get 

drunk and when you are drunk 

you will not be able to manage 

yourself, you will not know what is 

happening around you. 

“When there is an accident on 

board the vessel, we take pro-ac- 


DIRECTOR General of the 

Nigerian Maritime Administration 

and Safety Agency, 

NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, 

has restated the commitment of 

the present management to reform, 

reposition, restructure and 

reorganise the agency. 

Peterside made this assertion 

while briefing the chairman of the 

NIMASA governing board, Gen. 

Jonathan India Garba (retd.) and 

other members of the board in Port 

Harcourt during the 

familiarisation tour of the governing 

board of the agency. 

He noted that in spite of the 

minor challenges that come along 

with every change agenda, management 

of the agency, with the 

support of the governing board 

would ensure that NIMASA is 

Chairman of the Board of NIMASA, Gen. Jonathan India Garba (retd.) and Executive Director, 

Maritime Services, Mallam Gambo Ahmed, at the conclusion of the tour of facilities under 

the apex maritime agency in Lagos yesterday. 

tive measures immediately, we 

bring in the P&I club (an international 

insurance club in the global 

maritime industry). You know there 

are some accidents that happen that 

the workers would insist on going 

for native treatment instead of going 

to the hospital and you know 

Ex-Minister faults conversion of MAN, Oron to university 

repositioned to revitalise the economic 

enhancing activities of the 

maritime sector. 

He said, “NIMASA is the 

agency of government charged 

with the responsibility of advancing 

the maritime sector by regulating 

shipping, promoting indigenous 

participation in shipping 

and ensuring that the ocean is 

clean and safe for shipping activities. 

The implications of these 

mandates are that we have responsibilities 

for maritime safety 

and security; seafarers’ standards; 

marine environment management; 

search and rescue, ship 

registration and an added responsibility 

for the Cabotage Act 

that was passed in 2003. 

“Our principal mandate is to 

restructure, reposition, reorganise 

and reform NIMASA and make 

it a foremost maritime administhat 

with native, when you come 

back and you bring your bill they 

will tell you we do not know about 

it.” 

On the forthcoming elections, he 

assured that they would do everything 

within their power to make it 

free and fare. He noted that de- 

By Godfrey Bivbere & 

Abigail Ezeh 

FORMER Minister of Inte 

rior, Capt. Emmanuel 

Ihenacho, has faulted plans by 

the Federal Government to convert 

the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, 

MAN, Oron, in Akwa 

Ibom State, to a university, warning 

that it would defeat the purpose 

for which the institution was 

established. 

Speaking with Vanguard in an 

interview in Lagos, Ihenacho, a 

frontline maritime industry leader 

and chief executive officer of Genesis 

Worldwide Shipping, explained 

that what was needed 

was a re-orientation of the institution 

in line with the International 

Maritime Organisation, 

IMO, specifications. 

He noted that with a re-oriented 

institution running on a curriculum 

in line with the IMO, Nigeria 

can start exportation of seafarers 

to countries in search of 

maritime labour at a competitive 

rate. 

He said that conversion of the 

maritime institution to a university 

would de-market the graduates 

who would no longer be able 

to work on board ships because 

they would not be deemed qualified. 

Ihenacho said, “It has to be 

orientated correctly. Try and understand 

what Oron is. Oron is 

supposed to be an institution that 

trains mariners. The qualifications 

that mariners have and acquire 

to work on board ships does 

not require a university degree, 

they are International Maritime 

Organisation, IMO, accredited 

and with STCW qualification, they 

are called tickets, that is what we 

call them in the industry but if 

Dakuku assures on re-structuring, repositioning of NIMASA 

tration in Africa because we have 

no reason not to be number one 

in Africa. Of every 100 cargo 

heading to Africa 65 would come 

to Nigeria and in this regard we 

must ensure that our maritime 

sector remains vibrant.” 

He said that bold steps had 

been taken to automate the processes 

of NIMASA and make the 

zones semi-autonomous by devolving 

powers to them in order 

for stakeholders to conclude every 

transaction at the zonal level. 

The zones have also been upgraded 

as directors now head 

each of them. 

In his response, Gen. Garba 

assured the management of the 

governing board’s support, stating 

that the board will use its will 

to ensure that NIMASA becomes 

a major maritime voice in global 

shipping. 

spite the various petitions against 

him, his leadership will not be distracted 

but will continue to work to 

ensure that capable people take 

over from the present leadership 

that will be leaving office next 

month after the elections. 

you have a situation where 

people say because of politics, we 

want Oron to be a degree awarding 

institution, you have changed 

the orientation because the person 

who comes out of Oron and 

has a B.Sc degree is not qualified 

to work on board the ship 

anymore. 

“So first and foremost, they have 

to get people who understand the 

training programme for producing 

seafarers and then you have 

to orientate people should that 

institution to produce or train 

The qualifications 

that mariners 

have and 

acquire to work 

on board ships 

does not require 

a university 

degree 

people according to IMO’s STCW 

standards. If you do those two 

things, then you make provision 

for sea time experience for them 

when they come out of Oron, then 

you have to project it to say well; 

these people we are training will 

go on board Norwegian ships for 

instance. 

“Then you can have an understanding 

with Norwegian ship 

owners where you can supply 

them very well trained Nigerian 

seafarers. I use Norway as an 

example; it can as well be any 

other maritime country that wants 

to get maritime labour at a competitive 

rate.’’ 

Cabotage: Nigerian 

economy losing 

greatly to nonimplementation 

— SIFAX boss 


THE Nigerian economy is 

losing growth due to nonimplementation 

of the Cabotage 

law, which adversely affects the 

capacity of the maritime industry 

to maximise its contribution to the 

nation’s economic growth. 

Executive Vice Chairman of 

SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, 

who made this known in Lagos, 

noted that the law which was 

designed to primarily deepen the 

participation of Nigerian maritime 

practitioners in the international 

maritime business and give them 

more stakes in the local maritime 

industry has not produced the 

desired result. 

The Cabotage law makes 

provisions for domestically 

owned and Nigerian registered 

vessels to have exclusive 

opportunity of engaging in the 

domestic coastal carriage of cargo 

and passengers within the coastal 

and territorial inland waters of 

Nigeria. This is presently not a 

reality in the maritime sector. 

Afolabi lamented that the law 

which contains vital sections that 

aims at empowering Nigerians 

to achieve more in the maritime 

sector thereby adding more value 

to the economy has been 

neglected. 

A statement by the corporate 

affairs manager of SIFAX, 

Muyiwa Akande, stated that, the 

SIFAX Group boss said a critical 

portion of the law, the Cabotage 

Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF, 

came into being with the 

promulgation of the Coastal and 

Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 

in 2003. He said it was included 

in the law that the fund would be 

derived from two percent 

deductions of every contract 

awarded and the funds would be 

used to help grow the capacity of 

the indigenous ship owners and 

also provide financial assistance 

to Nigerian operators in the 

domestic coastal shipping in order 

to acquire vessels. He noted that 

in reality, a lot of problems have 

bedeviled the implementation of 

the law. 

He appealed to the Federal 

Government, through the 

relevant agencies, to take a second 

look at the law and expedite 

action on its implementation for 

the benefit of the industry and the 

country’s economy. 

Recall that operators had 

complained about domination of 

the domestic maritime business 

by foreign ship-owners despite 

the law restricting that area of 

business to Nigerian shipowners. 

“With more than 30 years 

of experience in port 

management and support 

services in shore bases across the 

country, we will leverage on our 

competency and continue to 

partner with government and 

relevant stakeholders to deliver 

great value to the Nigerian 

economy the provision of best-inclass 

logistics services,” Afolabi 

said.

24 --- Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

Minister kick-starts tour of tourist sites 

By Jimoh Babatunde 

THE Minister of In 

formation and Culture, 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

kicked-started a 

tour of tourist sites in the 

country with a visit to 

the spectacular Owu Waterfall 

in Kwara State 

weekend. 

The Minister, who was 

accompanied by representatives 

of the local 

community in which the 

Waterfall is located, and 

officials of the Kwara 

State Ministry of Culture 

and Tourism , described 

Owu Waterfall as 

one of the wonders of 

nature, saying the government 

is now looking 

toward natural assets 

like the waterfall with a 

view to developing them 

for economic benefits. 

“We are all awed by the 

awesomeness nature of 

the Almighty. You can’t 

begin to wonder where 

is the source of this water 

and what I found 

most enticing and really 

baffling is the louder we 

From Left: Accountant, Kwara State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Alhaja 

Salawu Awawu Funmilayo; Secretary,Owa-Onire Central Planning Committee, 

Mr. Sunday Akanbi; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Kwara State, Alhaja 

Iyabo Jolade Adewuyi; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; 

General Manager, Tourism Board Kwara State, Mr Taye Alabede; Permanent 

Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Kwara State, Dr. Rhoda Ajiboye and 

Special Assistant to Kwara State Governor on Culture and Tourism Mr. Femi 

Adebayo, when the M\inister visited Owu Waterfall in Kwara State on Sunday. 

shout, the more the volume 

of the waterfall. 

This is one of those natural 

assets that we have 

been bestowed with and 

there is no country that 

has this kind of assets 

that will not be able to 

exploit it for economic 

benefit,” he said. 

Alhaji Mohammed 

underscored the 

dearth of infrastructure as 

one of the major challenges 

confronting tourism development 

in Nigeria, but 

expressed optimism that 

the revitalization of the 

Presidential Council on 

Tourism (PCT) will bring 

about synergy within the 

government to surmount 

the challenge. 

“Fortunately we have 

been very busy trying to 

revitalize the Presidential 

Council on Tourism because 

tourism is not a 

stand-alone ministry. 

Without the cooperation of 

other ministries such as 

Power, Works and Housing 

- because you need to 

provide road, electricity 

and security - you cannot 

actually have a vibrant 

tourism industry. 

“ I am happy I came here 

personally today and I 

have seen it and at the 

next meeting of the Steering 

Committee of the PCT, 

we will actually put this 

across,” he said. The Minister 

promised to liaise 

with his counterpart in the 

Ministry of Power, Works 

and Housing to give priority 

to the construction of 

the 7-kilometer access 

road to the waterfall. 

He also commended the 

Owa-Onire Community 

and the Kwara State Government 

for encouraging 

tourists to visit the Owu 

Waterfall through the facilitation 

of access and the 

provision of security. 

The Tour Guide , Mr. 

Akanbi Sunday, who 

chronicled the history of 

the Owu Waterfall, 

thanked Alhaji Mohammed 

for being the firstever 

Minister of Information 

and Culture to visit 

the waterfall. 

NTDC: 55 years and 

still jogging 

In its 55 years of existence, Nigerian Tourism 

Development Corporation NTDC, is still 

jogging, having strayed from its objectives. The 

Corporation has had its own fair share of success 

and failures. Perhaps, NTDC has come a long way 

and made its own remarkable and unremarkable 

footprints in the sands of time, headed by 15 Chief 

Executives. 

When the former Director General, Sally 

Mbanefo, was appointed in 2013, Nigerians had 

high hopes that finally an eminently qualified 

personality had come to do a great job in the sector. 

As she assumed the mantle of leadership of 

Nigeria’s apex tourism body, she promised to sell 

Nigeria’s diverse domestic tourism appeal and 

unique natural configurations on the continent of 

Africa and the global world by developing domestic 

tourism as the foundation for attracting 

international tourists. 

But our excitement was tampered by realities. I 

deduce that she did not pass the ‘ultimate test’ 

like some of her predecessors. The plain truth is 

that she was after all, not the expected ‘messiah’ 

to put Nigeria on the global tourism circuit. 

As the clock ticked backwards, many people 

clamoured for or anticipated Sally Mbanefo’s 

removal from office. Reasons were truck full. In 

Nigeria, everybody else is an expert in somebody’s 

job. Nigerians are a stomach load of antagonism. 

The people complain about the government, the 

government complains about the people. The result 

is an unending nightmare. 

And it came to pass, the sledger hammer 

descended on Sally Mbanefo the very day she 

presented an excellent paper (NTDC Stakeholders 

Forum) on Day Two of Nigeria Tourism Investors 

Forum and Exhibition NTIFE 2016, in Sheraton, 

Abuja. Sally Mbanefo had just unleashed the stuff 

she is ‘expertise’ at. And after she was hinted that 

she had just been removed from office, brutally 

bruised, she made for the exit door. The shock 

overwhelmed her. It takes courage to bow out 

unceremoniously. I later walked up to her and 

demanded her lecture notes for onward distribution 

to participants at the event. She managed a smile, 

“Fidel, I poured everything from my head” she said. 

However, shaky as the grounds of the allegations 

against Sally Mbanefo, some Nigerians still hold 

the view that her removal from office is a 

culmination of high level drama in the corridors of 

power. Emphatically, the story of NTDC has 

continued to be that of challenges, travails and 

failures. 

Can we see clearly now? If you have new light, 

you will change height. All success stories start with 

a vision, and every successful vision are based on 

strong pillars. If, indeed, tourism is an activity of 

global economic importance and significance, then 

we expect the NTDC new helmsman, Mariel Rae- 

Omoh, in the coming years, with her wealth of 

experience to re-position Nigeria as the number 

one tourism destination in Africa, re-invent the 

Nigeria’s tourism industry, grow the tourism value 

chain and work closely with all key stakeholders 

along the value chain. 

These facts underline an important point: Gold in 

its natural form is of no value except when it is 

refined. As a stakeholder, do I think there is much 

in all these for you and me? Do I see Nigeria’s rich 

tourism potentials translate into real wealth? 

I don’t want to answer any questions. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Foreign Airlines notify FG of unwillingness 

to operate from Kaduna Airport 

Stories by Lawani 

Mikairu 

FOREIGN Airlines 

have started giving 

notification to the federal 

government of their 

intention not to operate 

from Kaduna airport after 

the closure of Nnamidi 

Azikiwe International 

Airport, Abuja for repair 

works on the runway. The 

airport will be closed for six 

weeks with effect from 

March 8. 

The foreign airlines had 

earlier told the Minister of 

State, Aviation, Senator 

Hadi Sirika, during the 

stakeholders meeting the 

minister called in Abuja to 

address all issues relating 

to the proposed closure, 

that they will not operate 

from Kaduna Airport 

because of security concern 

in Kaduna State. The 

government has been 

making frantic efforts to 

allay the fears of the airline. 

Safety and security 

challenges 

British Airways has just 

notified the federal 

government that it will not 

•Senator Hadi Sirika, 

Minister of state, 

Aviation 

operate from the Kaduna 

Airport during the closure 

of the Abuja Airport. Other 

airlines like South African 

Airways, SAA, Lufthansa, 

KLM-Air France had earlier 

said they would not operate 

from Kaduna citing safety 

and security challenges. 

British Airways Country 

Manager, Mr. Kola 

Olayinka, had said the 

airline plans to assess its 

best options for its 

customers during the 

closure period of the 

runway. Olayinka said, "I 

can confirm that BA will not 

be operating to Kaduna 

during the planned closure 

of the Abuja Airport. 

"Many factors were 

considered before this 

decision was reached, 

major ones are concerned 

about the safety and 

security of our passengers 

as well as difficulties 

around some key 

operational issues. We are 

currently evaluating all 

options for our customers 

planning to travel at that 

time and we will be 

reaching out directly to 

them for information about 

their trip”. 

He further explained that 

catering services as well as 

“adequate technology were 

not in Kaduna including 

simple technologies like the 

Common User Terminal 

Equipment among others”. 

South African Airways is 

reported to have written a 

letter, signed by the acting 

chief commercial officer, 

SAA, Mr. Aaron Munetsi, 

to the minister of state for 

aviation, Senator Hadi 

Sirika informing him that it 

would cease flight 

operations to Abuja on 

March 6, 2017 days before 

the closure of the airport. 

Med-View Airline seeks cooperation 

between airlines, immigration 

THE Managing Director 

of Med-View Airline, 

Alhaji Muneer Bankole, 

has called for cooperation 

between the airlines 

operating in Nigeria and 

the Nigeria Immigration 

Service as both are the first 

contacts people coming to 

Nigeria meet. He added 

that whatever impressions 

the people take away from 

their interactions with these 

two bodies go a long way 

to shape the impression 

about Nigeria. 

Immigration service 

Bankole made this 

remark during the sendoff 

ceremony organized by the 

airport command of the 

immigration service for the 

outgoing assistant 

comptroller general, Mrs 

Chizoba Dibi, in Lagos. 

He also said such 

cooperation will facilitate 

pocessing of passengers 

documents at the airports 

and cut down delays and 

the amount of time both 

passengers and airlines 

spend at the airports. 

While commending the 

outgoing comptroller for 

her understanding and 

cooperation while she was 

at the Lagos Airport, he 

prayed that she should 

continue her good works 

until she attains the 

pinnacle of her career. 

Interacting with aviation 

reporters after the event, 

the MedView managing 

director disclosed that plans 

were on to expand the 

airline operations to 

anglophone countries 

within the West African 

subregion in the next 

couple of months. 

Bankole said the airline 

would expand its coast to 

Dakar (Senegal), Conakry 

(Guinea) and Abidjan 

(Cote D’Ivoire) in the next 

two months, noting that the 

airline has already 

commenced Lome (Togo) 

route. He also said 

MERIDIANA 

Fly, 

Italy’s fastest 

growing airline has 

reaffirmed its commitment 

to the Nigerian and 

Ghanaian markets by 

confirming both routes in 

their summer schedule for 

2017. 

According to Mr 

Kingsley Ezenwa, Media 

and Communications 

Manager, Dana Air, 

“Supported by Ghana’s 

first affiliated global 

aviation advisory firm Dre 

Aviation and one of 

Nigeria’s leading airlines 

Dana Air, Meridiana Fly 

entered into the West 

African market with an 

iconic Boeing 767-300 

series aircraft, and a 

superior on-time 

performance rate of 99.5 

percent. The airline is 

pleased with the successrate 

it has recorded within 

arrangements have reached 

an advanced stage on the 

commencement of the 

francophone countries. 

According to Bankole, “We 

started with Anglophone 

and we are commencing in 

the next two months to 

expand to the francophone 

cities like Dakar, Conakry 

and Abidjan. We are already 

in Lome and in the next 

quarter, we want to be in 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

Meridiana Fly reaffirms 

commitment to Nigerian, 

Ghanaian markets 

its short entry. 

Speaking to newsmen in 

Lagos, Dre Aviation's, Mr 

Paul Bassam Saade said “A 

prudent approach was 

taken by Meridiana when 

entering these highly 

competitive markets but we 

have demonstrated stable 

operations and a growing 

commercial presence for 

them in West Africa and 

they are pleased with the 

results" 

Paul added that "based 

on the feedback from our 

guests, we have also 

rescheduled the flight 

times which now means a 

late evening departure 

from Lagos which arrives 

in Italy's Milan Malpensa 

Airport early the next day, 

allowing our Nigerian 

passengers to onward 

connect onto Meridiana 

services into Europe and 

beyond.



BRIEFING: From left: Special Adviser to the MD/CEO, Skyway Aviation 

Handling Company Ltd, SACHOL, Eseosa Ekena; GM, Corporate 

Communications, Mr. Basil Agboarumi; MD/CEO, Mr. Rizwan Kadri; Sales 

and Marketing, Mr. Adigun Olaniyan and GM, Cargo Services, Boma 

Ukwumna, during the briefing on the company’s activities, at the Murtala 

Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. 

MEDICARE/DONATION: Mr. Peter Onoriobe Smith, founder/chairman, Peter's 

Mission for the Less Privileged (middle), DSP Airobwodion Solomon (3rd left) and 

others, during the free medical care and donation of items to the Warri Prisons by 

the mission in Warri, Delta State. 

Peter's 

Mission 

donates 

medical 

materials to 

Warri prison 

inmates 

By Tare Youdeowei 

WARRI—THERE was 

jubilation by inmates 

of Warri prison recently 

when free medical care, 

pumping machine, 

detergents and cash 

donations were given to 

them by Mr Peter Onoriobe 

Smith, founder/chairman of 

Peter mission for the less 

privileged. 

While making the 

donations, Mr Peter stated 

that taking care of the 

inmates should be a 

collective responsibility of 

the society at large. 

He said his is on tour of 

prisons in Delta State and 

promised that Warri prison 

will also benefit from other 

humanitarian gestures like 

skill acquisition training, 

free books, among others. 

According to him, “the 

only way people can 

showcase what they are 

doing to improve humanity 

is by reaching out to the less 

privileged in the society." 

He maintained that most 

of the facilities in the prison 

are in dire need of repairs 

while calling on the 

National Assembly to make 

legislation that will 

establish independent 

body for the management 

of prison facilities in 

Nigeria. 

Speaking, DSP 

Airiobwodion Solomon of 

the Warri prison 

commended the mission for 

extending their 

humanitarian work to his 

command. He said the 

donation was timely as the 

pumping machine will 

enhance easy flow of water 

in the prison.

FRIDAY EVENTS 

with AKINWUNMI IBRAHIM 

akinwunmiibrahim30@gmail.com / 08139074278 

Top political associates, as well as business leaders and friends thronged the 

Recreational Centre, in the ancient city of Ibadan, to commiserate with a former 

Senate Majority Leader and Ibadan High Chief, Sen. Teslim Folarin, following 

the final burial of his mother, Alhaja Sidikat Abebi Folarin, who died sometime 

in August last year at the ripe age of 98. The colourful occasion was a life well 

spent for the Folarins as it is recorded in pictures below. 

•From left, First lady of Oyo State, Florence; the Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi 

and son of the deceased, Sen. Teslim Folarin. 

•Chairman, DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi (left) and 

former Governor of Oyo State, Sen. Rasheed Ladoja. 

•Former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala (left) and former 

Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro. 

•Chief Adebayo Akande and wife, Chief (Mrs.) Nike. 


Day Enugwu Ukwu community dealt 

unemployment upppercut 

By Chike Okeke 

THERE are a few 

members in the National Assembly 

who have genuine reasons to be in the 

Assemblies to serve their people. They see 

politics as a call to national service. One 

such public spirited politician is Hon. 

Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo who 

represents Anaocha, Njikoka and 

Dunukofia Federal Constituency in the 

House of Representatives. 

In the past six years, his name has 

become a household name in Anambra 

State. He has experienced the various 

twists and turns in his political career, 

winning every election contested but 

denied his hard won victory through 

machinations and intrigues. It was same 

experience in the 2015 General elections 

where, though he won convincingly, 

defeating his opponents in every polling 

boot with very wide margins on votes, but 

his opponent was declared winner. It was 

only through the instrumentality of 

Almighty God that the Elections Petition 

Tribunal gave him his deserved victory. 

A man with transformational agenda to 

provide service to humanity, his quest for 

professionalism and specialisation routed 

him to many trainings, conferences and 

exhibitions round the world which 

included value world conferences in 

Amsterdam, value engineering exhibition 

in China, buffaloes fire fighting equipment 

exhibition in the USA, oil and gas 

exhibition in Germany, chemical spill 

cleaning pump exhibition in Sweden, etc. 

A giant stride towards excellence has 

earned him series of awards including 

Peace Ambassador Award from Port 

Harcourt Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry, Award of Excellence from Rotary 

Club of Port Harcourt, Igbo Youth 

Congress Award, etc. At the Iguaro 

ceremony in his home town, Enugwu 

Ukwu, Anambra State on January 7, 2017, 

he was conferred with the chieftaincy title 

of Onyendozi 

( t h e 

Reconciliator) 

of Enugwu 

Ukwu na 

Umunri. 

Since his 

swearing in, he 

has moved 

three motions 

in the House. 

The first was a 

motion to 

mandate the 

H o u s e 

Committee on 

Environment 

and Habitat to 

His Dozie 

Nwankwo 

Foundation has 

become very 

popular for its 

far reaching 

impact on 

indigenes and 

inhabitance of 

Anambra State 

liaise with the 

Federal Ministry of Environment to 

include contracts to control gully erosion 

in Enuagu, Uruogbo and Osili Villages 

in Enugwu Ukwu in Njikoka LGA, Udu 

Donka (Agulu Nanka) and Haba Agulu 

erosion sites, Adazi Nnukwu gully 

erosion site, Enuabo village, Obeledu 

erosion site, Dunukofia Nkwelle 

Umunnachi and Ukpo erosion sites in 

the Supplementary Federal budget for 

2016. The motion was unanimously 

carried and the House resolved 

accordingly. The House further urged 

the Ecological Fund Office to take 

measures aimed at controlling the 

menace, urged the National Emergency 

Managment Agency (NEMA) to, as a 

matter of urgency send relief materials 

to victims of the erosion. The House 

Hon. Nwankwo test riding one of the 

motorcycles at the event. 

further mandated the Committee on 

Environment and Habitat to urgently 

visit the affected sites. 

He also called the nation’s attention to 

the fact that the health centres and 

facilities in his constituency have been 

abandoned and are in bad infrastructural 

state. They include University of Nigeria 

Teaching Hospital Comprehensive 

Health Centre, Abagana, Nnamdi 

Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital 

Centre for Community and Primary 

Health Care Ukpo and the UNIZIK 

Community Medicine/ Primary Health 

Care Centre and Diagnostic Cemtre 

Neni. 

Having moved the motion to this effect, 

the House urged the Committee on 

Health Care Services to ensure the 

rehabilitation and equipping of the 

medical centres and that the three 

Federal Health Centres in the 

Constituency are functioning with 

adequate staff and personnel. 

Free medical 

consultation 

His Dozie Nwankwo Foundation has 

become very popular for its far reaching 

impact on indigenes and inhabitants of 

Anambra State during its medical 

outreach which is held every year, the 

most recent being on December 12, 

2016. Free medical consultation and 

treatment, ophthalmology examination 

and treatment including surgery and 

provision of medical glasses and dental 

treatments/surgeries are regular features 

of the outreach. 

However, the most enduring impact 

thus far was made in his constituency 

on Saturday 10th December, 2016 at Obu 

Umunri Palace, Enugwu Ukwu. This was 

his Women and Youths Empowerment 

Programme. On that day, Hon. 

Nwankwo distributed six salon cars, 

over 150 tricycles (Keke napep) and 

hundreds of Sewing machines, grinding 

machines, textile fabrics, hair dryers, 

motor cycles were distributed among 

many indigenes and inhabitants of all 

the towns in the three local governments 

that constitute his federal constituency. 

A number of wheel chairs were also 

distributed to the physically challenged. 

*Mr. Okeke, a political analyst, wrote from 

Awka, Anambra State.


OLUBADAN: 

Eleven 

months on the 

throne, 

multiple 

chieftaincy 

battles 

Association’s position: But, 

the Ibadan Joint Traders 

Association, faulted the purported 

removal of the Iyaloja of 

Ibadanland, describing it as a 

mere tissue of lies and a 

calculated effort by some 

disgruntled elements in the 

association to cause confusion, rift 

and enmity among the traders. 

Speaking on behalf of the group 

in a joint stakeholders press 

conference which held at the 

Association House, Labaowo 

market, the secretary of the board 

of trustees, Prince Waheed 

Apanpa, accused Alhaji Dauda 

Oladepo of being the mastermind 

of the manipulations. 

Alhaji Apanpa said: “As you are 

all aware, there have been various 

write-ups, news both on the 

traditional and social media as 

regards the purported removal of 

Chief Mrs. Labake Lawal as the 

Iyaloja of Ibadanland. 

Association to 

cause confusion 

• Oba Saliu Adetunji: 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland 

OYO STATE 

By Ola Ajayi 

GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi 

of Oyo State did everything 

necessary to ensure the 

installation of Oba Saliu 

Adetunji as the 41 st Olubadan 

of Ibadanland on March 4, 2016. 

Even in the face of stiff resistance 

from another contender to the 

throne, Chief Adebayo Oyediji 

and other members of Seriki line, 

the governor stood firmly with 

the monarch. The relationship 

was so cordial that the monarch, 

in recognition of the 

immeasurable contribution of the 

governor to his enthronement, 

honoured the governor and his 

wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, as 

Aare and Yeye Aare of 

Ibadanland respectively. 

But, some chieftaincy titles 

which the monarch conferred on 

some people and his attempt to 

remove Chief Mrs Labake Lawal 

as Iyaloja of Ibadanland and 

replace her with another 

candidate, Alhaja Iswat Abiola 

Ameringun may have created a 

cold war between the monarch 

and the governor. While the 

monarch believes he has 

absolute powers as far as`the 

traditional institution is 

concerned, the governor feels the 

Olubadan-in-council should get 

his approval before any 

appointment or promotion of 

chiefs is made. 

The government has insisted 

that: “There are laid down rules 

and regulation guiding the 

emergence and installation of a 

traditional chief, as enshrined in 

the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State of 

Nigeria, 2000, CAP 28. Although 

Section 20 (1, 2 and 3) regulates 

such appointment, Section 20 (1) 

specifically reads, “Subject to the 

provisions of this section, the 

governor may approve or set aside 

an appointment of a recognized 

chief." 

The Iyaloja 

politics 

The strained relationship 

became public knowledge few 

weeks ago when the monarch had 

finalized preparations to appoint 

a new Iyaloja. But, the new 

appointment was reportedly 

thwarted by the state government 

by ensuring that security agents 

were stationed there to prevent the 

monarch from installing the new 

Iyaloja. According to information 

gathered, Chief Mrs Labake 

Lawal, the deposed Iyaloja had 

refused to relinquish the title 

saying she did not do anything 

wrong to warrant being removed 

in such an inglorious manner. 

Determined to fight her cause, 

the embattled Iyaloja had involved 

eminent personalities both from 

within and outside Ibadan to 

prevail on the Olubadan to desist 

from instal the Ameringun as her 

replacement. According to the 

Olubadan’s palace itinerary for 

that day, seven people had been 

listed for conferment of chieftaincy 

titles. While the remaining six 

were installed, the new Iyaloja to 

be installed went back home 

without being conferred with the 

title. Vanguard gathered that the 

heavy presence of uninvited 

security agents surprised Oba 

Adetunji who reportedly called a 

former president to brief him 

about the unusual presence of 

security men in his palace. The 

former president was said to have 

called the governor to ask what 

was happening and advised him 

While the monarch 

believes he has 

absolute powers as 

far as traditional 

institution is 

concerned, the 

governor feels the 

Olubadan-incouncil 

should get 

his approval before 

any appointment or 

promotion of chiefs 

is made 

to be careful with the traditional 

institution. While this was going 

on, the state Commissioner of 

Police, Mr. Sam Adegbuyi, 

suddenly appeared at the palace 

to see the Olubadan behind 

closed doors. 

After the meeting, the monarch 

reportedly rescinded his decision 

to reduce tension by putting on 

hold the installation of the new 

Iyaloja. A palace source who was 

not authorised to speak on the 

matter said he didn’t know those 

who changed the mind of the 

Olubadan, but added that “they 

were strong enough to prevail on 

him (Olubadan).” 

Thorough 

investigation 

Before the eventual removal of 

Iyaloja, the monarch had set up 

a committee to look into the crisis 

rocking the Ibadan Market 

Traders Association. The action of 

the monarch was necessitated by 

the numerous market leaders 

who stormed his palace to discuss 

the controversy that propelled 

them to ask for her removal. At 

that stage, the Olubadan 

explained that the Iyaloja issues 

deserved thorough investigation 

noting that a committee of three 

neutral people would be 

constituted. 

According to him, thorough 

investigation into the matter 

would return peace to the market 

place and strengthen the unity 

and cohesiveness of the traders 

who have been polarised. They 

were, therefore, asked to handover 

their petition and all relevant 

documents to the secretary to the 

Olubadan-in-Council. It was after 

the report of the committee that 

the monarch announced her 

removal. 

Ibadan Joint Traders 

"Let me state that, it was all a 

lie, a calculated effort by some 

disgruntled elements in the 

association to cause confusion, 

rifts and enmity among the 

Ibadan Joint Traders Association. 

Two, the news also goes further 

to turn the backs of the Iyalode 

and Iyaloja of Ibadanland against 

each other. This is another big lie 

and fruitless effort to stage a coup 

in an age like this. 

"Let me first state here that the 

Iyaloja can never and will never 

look the Iyalode in the face, she 

represents an institution that is 

sacred and the Iyaloja, Chief Mrs. 

Labake has always looked to her 

as a mentor, mother and 

counsellor in all ramifications. 

How can someone wake up and 

announce the dethronement of a 

chieftaincy title conferred 

legitimately by the highly revered 

Olubandan-in-Council on 

somebody else with impunity and 

disregard? 

“Therefore, going by the 

enormity of the accusation and the 

aim of bringing the traders into 

disrepute and at loggerheads with 

Ibadan traditional institution, I, as 

the secretary of the board of 

trustees of the association and 

with the consent of the market 

leaders and stakeholders.” 

He further stated that: “It was 

alleged by these disgruntled 

elements that Chief Mrs. Labake 

Lawal mismanaged the finances 

of the association, hence Oladepo 

group resorted to personally 

malign and destroy her through 

the social media. We then asked 

where whose interest? 

“It was all a calculated effort to 

stage a coup and just because 

Continues on page 29


• Family of the late Oladipupo 

•The slain Oladipupo 

How breadwinner was killed in 

Ekiti land dispute 

•Wife, father of victim lament 

EKITI STATE 


ATHREE year-old land 

dispute between Ayede and 

Itaji communities in Oye Local 

Government Area of Ekiti State, 

has finally claimed a victim, Seyi 

Oladipupo, a 44 year-old farmer 

and father of four, a situation that 

has placed his young family in 

state of agony. 

Seyi was shot dead by a yet to 

be identified chief from 

Orisumbare community, who 

escaped the moment the deed 

was done. The wife of the 

deceased, Mrs. Oladipupo 

Folake, 35, told Vanguard that the 

alleged killer of her husband has 

thrown the family into downward 

spiral of grief and mourning. 

The sad news: Narrating 

how she learned about her 

husband's death, the young 

widow, who fought back tears 

intermittently, said, “I was at the 

sawmill doing my petty trading, 

buying and reselling some fire 

wood, when the director of the 

sawmill suddenly drove down to 

the sawmill that day and asked 

one Okada man to take me home, 

saying there seems to be some 

trouble in Ayede. 

"So I went with the man but 

while we were near the general 

hospital in Ayede, my husband’s 

elder sister called to inform me 

that my husband was wounded 

with a gunshot and had been 

rushed to the general hospital. So 

I headed straight to the hospital 

and when I got there I became 

very anxious when I saw many 

people there and demanded to 

see him but the nurses there said 

he wasn’t in a condition where I 

could see him. A nurse actually 

felt concerned with the way I was 

behaving at the hospital and took 

me behind the doors to see him. 

He was shot below his groin and 

had lost a lot of blood. 

The burden and urgent need 

for help: “We have four children, 

our first born is about 15 years old 

now and in secondary school. The 

last is just about two years old. 

My husband has been singlehandedly 

taking care of all of us 

because I don’t have a job. I have 

school certificate and also 

completed a grade 11 teaching 

programme but because I haven’t 

got a job, I have been fetching 

fire wood at the sawmill to sell. 

“I make very little money doing 

that and that was why all the 

family responsibility was 

shouldered by my late husband. 

Now that the whole responsibility 

of taking care of the four children 

has become mine, I need urgent 

help from the government and 

other well-meaning people so I 

can take care of these children.” 

Demand for justice: Folake, the 

young widow described her 

husband as a peace loving 

person, who could never hurt a 

fly, and wondered why such 

cruelty could be visited on her 

family, she said the security 

This is an unjust 

killing and the 

government should 

ensure he gets 

justice so that his 

soul can rest 

peacefully 

agents must do all they can to 

bring the assailant of her husband 

to justice. “I also want the 

government to ensure that my late 

husband gets justice. This is an 

unjust killing and the government 

should ensure he gets justice so 

that his soul can rest peacefully," 

she said. 

Premonition about 

husband’s death: "That 

morning before my husband 

went out, I had asked him if he 

would eat pounded yam and he 

agreed. I told him I didn’t feel 

like eating pounded yam and he 

gave me money for my breakfast. 

I had prepared our children and 

they went to school. While I was 

peeling the yam, he told me that 

he was searching for something 

in our wardrobe and also 

informed me that the community 

had sent them on an errand. He 

didn’t tell me the details of the 

errand. He appeared to be in a 

hurry and was rushing to get what 

he was looking for. 

"The moment he told me that 

the community had sent them on 

an errand I became very disturbed 

and something within me told me 

to dissuade him from going and 

I called him by his daughter’s 

name, saying Baba Deola, please 

don’t go to the place, my heart 

says you shouldn’t go. But he 

didn’t say anything. So I 

continued peeling the yam. 

Premonition and 

prayer for husband 

"After a while, I heard him kick 

start his motorbike and he was 

gone. I still felt that premonition 

about where he was going and I 

prayed for him. I eventually 

prepared the pounded yam for 

him and set the table so that he 

could eat whenever he returned 

but I never knew that would be 

the last time I would see him.” 

Government must punish the 

killer of my son 

The octogenarian father of the 

deceased, Pa Babatunde 

Oladipupo, agonised over over 

the killing of his son, told 

Vanguard that government must 

punish the killer of his son. 

“Please tell government to punish 

the killer of my first-born and only 

one who has been taking care of 

me since I lost my wife.” 

According to th deceased’s 

aunt, Mrs. Abejide Comfort, last 

frantic efforts to save the deceased 

by rushing him to the Federal 

Medical Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, 

failed because she could not reach 

other relatives on time. She 

described the deceased as easygoing 

and a gentle man. “He 

didn’t have time for any idleness, 

he was the first-born of his father. 

And it took a lot of time after their 

marriage before his parents had 

Continues on page 30 

OLUBADAN: Eleven months on the 

throne, multiple chieftaincy battles 

Continues from page 28 

Chief Mrs. Labake put the 

interest of the members at heart, 

protecting their interest and not 

allow the scavengers, hawks and 

self centred people to have their 

way to loot and cart away the 

Association's money, he resorted 

to acts of brigandage and lost his 

soul to the devil. 

At a time when accountability, 

transparency, equity and justice 

are being preached to push our 

nation forward which Chief Mrs. 

Labake Lawal epitomizes, Dauda 

Oladepo is the opposite," he said. 

The Baale of Ejioku Brouhaha: 

Though the installation of Baale 

of Ejioku, Prince Bashiru 

Adesina, has been settled 

amicably after the intervention of 

a lawmaker, it initially created 

some brouhaha as the state 

government nullified his 

installation. 

The message of the state 

government was conveyed by the 

Commissioner for Local 

Government and Chieftaincy 

Matters, Mr. Bimbo Kolade, 

expressing government’s 

displeasure at the development, 

which, he said, contravened laid 

down rules guiding the 

appointment of Part II recognized 

chiefs. 

The ministry said its October 17, 

2016, letter to 

Lagelu LG, which 

was received by 

the Director, 

Administration 

and General 

Services, Mr. 

Kolawole Popoola, 

mandating it to 

provide certain 

documents as 

proof that the due 

process had been 

followed, was yet 

to be complied 

with. 

Kingmakers' 

meetings 

In the letter, the ministry had 

requested the LG to provide a 

“public notice issued by the LG 

on the vacant stool; certificate of 

appointment issued by the 

kingmakers (in respect of the 

chosen candidate); as well as the 

attendance sheet listing those that 

attended the family and the 

kingmakers’ meetings.” 

The letter by the ministry’s 

Director of Chieftaincy Matters, 

Mr. Zaccheaus Jayeola, also 

mandated the LG to submit the 

letter written by the LG conveying 

the approval of the state 

government to the next ruling 

house to fill the vacant stool. 

The last may not have been 

heard on the issue as the state 

government has resolved to 

ensure that activities in the 

traditional council follow due 

process. 

Baale of Olode’s removal: 

Another chieftaincy title that 

caused a stir in the ancient city of 

Ibadan was the deposition of 

Baale of Oloode in Oluyole Local 

Government, Chief Lukman 

Ilufemiloye Alao and installation 

of a new person, Odeyemi Wasiu. 

The manner of his removal was 

so shocking to Chief Alao, who 

had claimed that he didn’t do 

anything to warrant removal from 

office, that he quickly approached 

the court to seek redress. 

But, he and his family members 

got the beating of their lives when 

he attempted to serve the court 

process on the defendants. The 

beating was so serious that he 

was rushed to the Adeoyo 

Medical Hospital, Ibadan for 

treatment. 

The injured community ruler 

who also had his SUV Lexus car 

vandalised recounted his ordeal 

on hospital bed saying he had 

gone to Olode village where his 

subjects were to tell them that he 

had got a court injunction 

challenging his removal when the 

thugs descended on him and his 

family members. 

He said: "Apart from my car that 

was vandalised, they collected 

N150, 000 cash I had on me, gold 

necklace, wristwatch, gold ring 

and my shoes." 

Explaining how the thugs 

swooped on him, he noted, “I had 

gone to the community, where I 

reside to paste a court injunction 

•Baale Oloode in the hospital 

I got challenging my illegal 

removal as Baale when thugs 

started chasing my car. They 

started the chase from Fatusi but 

my car broke down and thugs 

with many motorcycles pounced 

on me, my wife and younger 

brother who were with me in the 

car.We were beaten but because I 

was the target, I was heavily 

beaten. I was thereafter rushed 

to the Olubadan's palace to show 

the king what they had done to 

me before I was eventually taken 

to the hospital. 

“My removal was illegal 

because I was never informed, 

called or even showed any 

evidence or petition written 

against me before the news 

filtered around town. 

"Although, I would be willing 

to abide by whatever decision or 

judgment of the court, but I have 

decided to challenge my removal 

in court to prove that if indeed 

there was evidence of wrong 

doing against me, I would have 

been summoned to the palace, 

stripped of my title and my 

certificate of title conferment 

withdrawn from me, but that was 

not to be,” he said. 

The suspects were thereafter 

arraigned in court.


OGUN STATE 

By Daud Olatunji 

ACCORDING to the National 

Bureau of Statistics 2016 

national youth survey report, 

approximately 56 per cent of 

youths of working age, who are 

between 15 and 35 years are 

either unemployed or underemployed. 

Both states and the 

Federal government were facing 

the serious challenges of 

employment which many people 

have described as a time bomb 

that might explode anytime soon 

except urgent and proper steps 

are taken. 

Apparently irked by the rapid 

rate of the menace of 

unemployment mostly among the 

youth, Ogun State Governor, 

Senator Ibikunle Amosun, his 

predecessor, Otunba Gbenga 

Daniel as well as bank chiefs 

have provided the way out. While 

Amosun and some bank chiefs 

addressed youth in all the local 

government areas of the state on 

how to curb lingering 

unemployment, his predecessor 

in a separate programme also 

meant for youth reiterated the 

need for paradigm shift. 

Governor Amosun, who spoke 

at the opening ceremony of a twoday 

youth convention, held in 

Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, 

quoted a World Bank report that 

unemployment had not 

decreased since 1999 and, that in 

particular, youth unemployment 

has been on the rise. 

Employers 

of labour 

According to Amosun, both the 

Federal and State governments 

must come up with policies that 

would help in making the youths 

employers of labour, the youths 

need the full support of the 

governments to turn commercial 

ideas into marketable businesses. 

He said: "Unemployment 

among the youth is put at 35.9 

per cent, which when compared 

•Gov Amosun: governor of Ogun State 

Amosun, Daniel, others chart way out 

of youth unemployment 

with national overall 

unemployment of 21.1 per cent 

is significantly high. To ensure 

that there are enough jobs for our 

youth today and for those that will 

enter the labour market in 30 

years, there must be a deliberate 

policy to support our youth in 

setting up their own companies; 

we must equip them to earn their 

own wages. The good news is 

that our youths are ready to be 

their own bosses. 

“So our focus at this youth 

convention is to show young 

people the many ways they could 

go. During and after this 

programme, we will work with the 

participants on acquiring the 

skills, tools and support necessary 

to become employers of labourwho 

knows, they may as a result 

of this youth convention be our 

future billionaires. To arrive at this 

envisaged future, we must assist 

our youth to translate commercial 

ideas into marketable businesses." 

He submitted that there must 

be a deliberate policy to support 

the youth in setting up their own 

business and equiping them to 

earn wages in order to put the 

population, which he put above 

that of entire countries like 

France, UK, Italy and Argentina, 

to use. Amosun identified key 

sectors of agriculture, housing, 

ICT, commerce and industry, 

environment sports, 

entertainment and hospitality as 

alternatives to the teeming Ogun 

State youth. 

The governor said World Bank 

report had shown that agriculture 

is 11 times more effective at 

reducing poverty than any other 

sector in sub-Saharan Africa. He 

explained that the country is 

•Gbenga Daniel: former governor of Ogun 

State 

blessed with 50.4 million hectares 

of uncultivated arable land 

usable for agriculture and 263 

billion cubic metres of water to 

assist all year round farming. 

Encourage best brains — Daniel 

In his remarks, Otunba Gbenga 

Daniel while meeting with the 

organisers of an inter-tertiary 

institutions debate competition 

tagged JawJaw Africa, who paid 

him a visit in his Sagamu 

residence, urged the stakeholders 

to encourage nest brains in the 

country. 

He urged the government to 

create a platform for the young 

and talented people in the 

country, saying, “the American 

military for instance, adopted a 

friend of mine who we went to 

university together. We call him 

Brain-Box. He is one Akinwade, 

a professor. While he was in UI, I 

was in Lagos and he was such a 

brilliant student. As soon as 

America discovered that he is a 

good material, they seized him. 

In fact, he cannot travel out of 

America because he is more or 

less the brain behind most of their 

projects and not only that, they 

give him everything he needs to 

be comfortable. So, they created 

opportunities for people out there. 

“Part of what we did but were 

misunderstood was when we 

went out to the streets and started 

picking up the boys who were 

actually like security threats and 

risks and I remember that I did 

march them to Abeokuta sports 

complex and created a boxing 

ring and I said look, why are you 

disturbing the peace of the state? 

Go and be boxing yourselves, if 

you box well you can become an 

international boxer. 

African 

music 

That is because the legends in 

boxing did not fail us and there 

is nothing that you do that you 

cannot make it as long as you do 

it well and along the line, you 

also notice that, we do not only 

encourage the arts but we had a 

band that we put in the system 

and encourage people to sing. 

"In the same way, where you 

have people who are comedians, 

musicians, artists and so on, in 

Nigeria, we have not placed 

enough premium on people who 

are using their brain to add value 

to the society. Once upon a time, 

no one listened to African music 

but the times have changed." 

Meanwhile, some banks chiefs 

such as the co-founder of 

Guaranty Trust Bank, Fola Adeola 

and the chairman of First Bank 

Plc., Ibukun Awosika, have 

challenged Nigerian youths to be 

self-reliant by engaging in 

entrepreneurial activities instead 

of relying on white collar jobs that 

are not available. 

How Ekiti land dispute killed 

bread winner 

Continues from page 29 

him. His aged father, Pa 

Babatunde Oladipupo, is still in 

shock about his death. The 

octogenarian is still finding it 

difficult to believe he has lost 

Seyi, his first-born. 

“Seyi was the only one taking 

care of his aged father as he and 

his family have been living with 

the aged father. We plead with 

the government to kindly get a 

job for his widow so that she could 

take care of their young children,” 

he said. 

First son of the deceased, 

master Oladipupo Seyitan, who 

is in JSS two in Ayede Grammar 

School, recalled that his father 

had vowed to assist him become 

a soldier in future by sponsoring 

his education to that effect. “Now 

that he is being killed, I don’t 

know who will help me become a 

soldier in future," the young boy 

lamented. 

How it all started: 

Meanwhile, since the killing of 

Seyi a pall of darkness and 

ominous silence has descended 

on the two communities of Ayede 

and Itaji. The two towns which 

are about 45 minutes drive from 

the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, have 

been under security siege, as a 

detachment of policemen were 

seen guarding the Onitaji palace 

which is barely two kilometres to 

Ayede town. 

Oladipupo was allegedly shot 

on Egan farmland, a land which 

has been a subject of three-year 

dispute between Itaji and Ayede 

communities. The deceased had 

led a team of youths assigned by 

the Attah of Ayede, Oba Mumuni 

Orisagbemi, on the morning of 

January 31, to remove some poles 

allegedly erected on their land by 

the people of Itaji. 

• The Onitaji of Itaji: Oba 

Adamo Babalola 

Speaking with Vanguard, one 

of the youth leaders in Ayede, 

Segun Ajayi, described the 

erection of the pole on their land 

as a clear breach of the boundary 

line, stressing that the act enraged 

the youth of Ayede, who marched 

to the palace of Oba Orisagbemi 

to register their protest. 

He said the monarch ordered 

the team of youths to remove the 

• Attah of Ayede: Oba 

Mumuni Orisagbemi 

poles which was seen as an 

encroachment on their own land 

by the people of Itaji. 

Ajayi claimed that the chief who 

shot Seyi, allegedly now at large, 

had invaded them on Egan land 

while after they had removed the 

poles. He said,“Seyi and I usually 

lead others to the land when 

issues like that arises. We had 

been told to find out about the 

land five days earlier. We were 

not sent to go and fight anybody 

but were instructed to remove 

some poles the people of Itaji had 

erected on our portion of the land. 

We were not also armed. We got 

to the place and removed the 

poles encroaching on our portion 

of the land as we were instructed. 

“It was then some boys came 

around and they were escorted 

by policemen. Those were the 

people who had used the poles 

to encroach on our land. So we 

were deliberating on how we 

would all come to our monarch to 

resolve the issues and how the 

police would escort us to the 

town. That was when a chief of 

Orisumbare came, armed. I was 

the first to tackle him, I reminded 

him that the land in dispute was 

between Ayede and Itaji and did 

not concern him who hails from 

Orisumbare town. He replied me 

by saying I should be silent and 

that he was on his land which was 

given him by the monarch of Itaji, 

Oba Adama Babalola.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017—31 

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Africa’s push back 

from the ICC 

THERE are heated debates 

in Africa and in diplomatic 

circles across the globe over the 

January 31, African Union, AU, 

Assembly's decision that African 

countries carry out a collective 

withdrawal from the Hague-based 

International Criminal Court, 

ICC. Although the decision is 

technically non- binding but it 

carries a lot of weight and may 

sound the death knell for an 

international body that is 

essentially, a neo-colonial 

institution with 34 African 

countries as members. 

The courts are theoretically 

objective but in reality, can be used 

to pursue political ends. In the case 

of the ICC, since its inception in 

2002, all the ten cases under 

investigation/trial and the three 

under preliminary investigation 

are on Africa except the 

preliminary investigation in 

Georgia. The Georgia case is a 

fight back by the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organisation, NATO, to get 

Russia indicted for the August, 

2008 nine-day war with Georgia. 

The ICC, even when in a tokenist 

manner, it drew its two Chief 

Prosecutors; Luis Morano Ocampo 

from Argentina, and his successor, 

Fatou Bensouda from Gambia, 

remains essentially a Western 

Court; run, funded and controlled 

by Europeans. The Europeans 

provide the logistics, the prisons 

and 63 percent, or about two thirds 

of the ICC budget. In fact, five 

European countries; Germany, 

United Kingdom, Italy, France 

and Spain provide 44 percent of 

the funds. The ICC also receives 

money from unnamed 

international corporations, 

individuals and other entities 

which are most probably 

European and American. 

Ten of the twenty two judges in 

the ICC from 2003-2009 were 

Europeans. Africa had four judges, 

Asia and Latin America/Caribbean 

had three each while Oceania and 

Canada had one each. From 2015 

to-date, eight of the eighteen ICC 

judges are European, four Africans 

while Asia and Latin America/ 

Caribbean have three each. Four 

of the eight Presiding Judges in the 

on-going cases involving African 

countries, are European. This 

includes Italian Justice Cuno 

Jakob Tarfusser who is sitting in 

judgment over former President 

Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d’Voire. 

Also, while the ICC is a court of 

last recourse; after the national, 

regional and continental courts, it 

is used as the first. There is also the 

fact that the United Nations 

Security Council has never 

referred to the ICC, cases of crimes 

against humanity, war crimes and 

genocide by non-Africans such as 

the Western crimes perpetuated 

against Iraq. That war led by 

Britain and United States was 

predicated on the falsehood that 

Iraq not only had weapons of mass 

destruction, but was also on the 

verge of using them, and that it was 

a supporter of AL Qaeda. Based 

on this, over 165,000 Iraqi civilians 

were directly killed and over 

230,000 other civilians have died 

due to indirect effects of the war 

including starvation, lack of water 

and healthcare. 

If President Walker Bush cannot 

be dragged before the ICC because 

African 

institutions 

including our 

courts might be 

weak, but we 

cannot 

strengthen them 

by ‘out sourcing’ 

justice to Europe 

Washington does not sign such 

international treaties like the 

Rome Statute, at least former 

British Prime Minister, Tony Blair 

who led that conspiracy with Bush 

should have been in prison in the 

Hague. But all those involved in 

those crimes are non- African. This 

is also the reason why those who 

destroyed, and carried out war 

crimes in Afghanistan and Libya, 

and are today bombing civilian 

areas including social 

engagements in Yemen, are not 

investigated. 

It is indeed difficult to fathom 

how Africa could have put its faith 

in the hands of the inheritors of 

those who wiped out the 

Aborigines in Australia, the 

Indigenous Indians in America, 

exterminated Latinos to get at their 

gold, carried out genocides in 

Namibia, Congo, Algeria and 

Kenya. How can people who 

carried out massacres in 

Guernica, Spain and in June 1999, 

deliberately bombed civilian 

areas including television and 

radio stations, bridges and 

factories in Serbia killing 528 

civilians, preach to us about war 

crimes? 

The White supremacists in South 

Africa were intelligent enough to 

spare the lives of Nelson Mandela 

and his comrades and kept them 

in prisons under their control. 

When they needed dialogue, they 

turned to them for negotiations. In 

the case of Africa, our leaders are 

so myopic that we deliver our 

Presidents like Laurent Gbagbo 

to European jails over which we 

have no control. If tomorrow, Cote 

d’Voire needs Gbagbo to assist in 

the peace process, it will have no 

way of returning him to Abidjan. 

They did worse with former 

President Charles Taylor of Liberia 

whom Africa pleaded with to forgo 

his mandate and go to exile in 

Nigeria, only for them to betray 

and hand over Taylor to 

Europeans in a contrived trial over 

the war in Sierra Leone. Taylor, no 

matter the evidence he produces, 

is already adjudged guilty. 

The ICC has also tried to 

destabilise African countries; its 

indictment and international hunt 

for Sudanese President Omar al- 

Bashir is nothing but an attempt 

at regime change. In the process, 

it has sought to destabilise Africa 

by aborting the AU Assembly in 

Malawi after pressurising pliant 

President Joyce Banda to attempt 

arresting a sitting African 

President. It tried it again in the 

2015 AU Assembly in 

Johannesburg. But rather than 

again abort an AU Assembly, the 

South African Government told 

the EU and its ICC contraption to 

go to hell; it ensured the Assembly 

held, accorded President Bashir the 

customary African protection and 

saw him safely back home. 

The ICC also tried a coup in 

Kenya by seeking to try and 

convict incumbent Kenyan 

President Uhuru Kenyatta and 

Vice President William Ruto. This 

was over the 2007-2008 postelection 

violence after then 

incumbent President Mwai Kibaki 

was declared winner over 

challenger, Raila Odinga, a Luo. 

What was intriguing is that 

Kenyatta and Kibaki were in the 

same party as former President 

Arap Moi from the Kalenjins 

whom they are accused of killing 

in the Rift Valley. All these show 

that the ICC and such Westerninfluenced 

tribunals essentially 

undermine the sovereignty of 

Africans and are new tools for recoloniszation. 

This is not to say there are no 

crimes against humanity in Africa, 

but this holds true for the entire 

world, and Africa must be allowed 

to bring its criminals to justice. 

African institutions including our 

courts might be weak, but we 

cannot strengthen them by ‘out 

sourcing’ justice to Europe. The 

AU Hybrid Court in Senegal tried 

and convicted former Chadian 

President Hissen Habre for war 

crimes, demonstrating it can 

bring the strong to justice. We have 

the African Court of Justice and 

Human Rights whose jurisdiction 

the AU is striving to expand to 

cover crimes against humanity; 

rather than build neo-colonial 

institutions like the ICC, the world 

should assist Africa build strong 

institutions that can guarantee 

social justice. For African countries 

which lost the debate on ICC at 

the AU, they should abide by 

collective decisions rather than 

break ranks. It must be Africa first! 

On visionary leadership and institutional effectiveness 

By Akintola Benson 

THE need for ensuring and 

assuring the efficiency and 

effectiveness of public institutions has never 

been greater than now. In a dynamic age 

of constant changes, it is widely agreed 

that institutions must have clearly-defined 

missions that are relevant to the needs and 

aspirations of its stakeholders. Following 

this, the human capital at the helm of 

leadership in these institutions must have 

the courage to envision a future that 

realises the attainment of the defined 

mission of the institutions. In order to 

actualise the vision, however, leaders must 

be trained to possess both the hard and 

soft skills that are fundamental for success. 

This is where training becomes quite 

germane. 

The Anglia Ruskin University clearly 

articulates the benefits of strong leadership 

skills as follows: “In order to make the most 

of your proficiency in the workplace, it is 

important to develop your leadership skills. 

Whilst talent and a good work ethic will 

take you to a certain level, learning how to 

lead will get you to the top of the tree. 

Those who can lead know how to make 

important decisions that affect both 

themselves and people across the 

business, without deferring to anyone else. 

This is an absolute necessity for getting 

ahead within business – as long as you 

can prove the decisions you made were 

the right ones…” 

That observation is profoundly true as it 

relates to the benefits of leadership skills 

for the leader. It is also crucial to briefly 

comment on how the acquisition of the 

right skills will positively impact on the 

effectiveness of institutions. One of the 

foremost business strategy thinkers in 

modern times, is credited as profoundly 

observing that “leadership is the most 

influential and critical element of all 

It is in order to ensure that 

competent, visionary and 

effective leadership 

abound in massive 

measure in the Lagos 

State Public Service that 

the State Government has 

accorded sufficient 

attention to leadership 

training 

businesses. Effective leaders have the 

necessary tools and skills to inspire and 

impact their teams allowing firms to run 

competently and smoothly. As a good 

leader, you should understand the mission 

statements, objectives, actions plans and 

goals of the company to be able to lead 

your workforce into realising them.” 

This is pretty true. Only strong and 

trained leaders can envision the right and 

appropriate future for organisations. 

Where leaders do not possess the attitude, 

aptitude and skills that are relevant for the 

times, they become fundamentally flawed 

in any attempt to craft a beneficial and 

compelling vision for their organisations. 

And, as we all know, in the absence of 

vision, the people perish as the institutions 

become rudderless and their journey 

becomes one without a map. 

Trained, visionary and, therefore, strong 

leaders will also beneficially impact their 

organisations by being able to inspire the 

people in the organisation to 

enthusiastically buy into the vision crafted 

by the leadership. There is no effective 

leadership without a mobilised and 

enthused followership. A strong leader 

who resolutely believes in the vision of the 

organisation will magnetically attract 

followers who will join the movement to 

fulfill the mission and realise the vision. 

This calls for the presence of excellent 

communications and relational skills in the 

leaders of organisations. Acquisition of 

these skills will stand leaders in good stead 

in their commitment to ensuring the 

effectiveness of their respective 

organisations. 

In today’s world, an effective leader 

must be able to act as a communication 

champion and a sense giver rather than 

just as an information processor; he/she 

must be able to use key elements of 

effective listening and understand why 

listening is important to communication; 

he/she must be able to utilise candor to 

appropriately to improve communication 

effectiveness, and recognise and apply the 

difference between dialogue and 

discussion; he/she must be equipped to 

incorporate metaphor and storytelling into 

leadership communications, select an 

appropriate communication channel for 

the message and effectively use social 

media and non-verbal communication. 

Furthermore, and perhaps, most 

essentially, he/she must be able to 

effectively communicate during times of 

stress or crisis. 

Trained leaders also know how to 

manage their own and other people’s time 

effectively. Being able to do so is critical 

when it comes to making the most of the 

leader’s time in the office and not 

becoming overwhelmed. Furthermore, it 

also ensures that the trained leader’s team 

completes everything it is supposed to do. 

Additionally, benefits that leadership 

skills can bring include the ability to 

resolve conflict, the ability to negotiate 

effectively for the benefit of the 

organisation, the aptitude to innovate and 

the skill to communicate quickly and 

effectively. 

It is in order to ensure that competent, 

visionary and effective leadership abound 

in massive measure in the Lagos State 

Public Service that the State Government 

has accorded sufficient attention to 

leadership training. No matter the 

profundity of any government’s vision, 

without a competent and professional 

public service, it will amount to nothing. 

So, the Ambode administration is widely 

acclaimed to be doing well partly as a result 

of its huge investment in the training of 

all cadres of leaders in the state public 

service. 

Dr. Benson is Commissioner , Lagos State 

Ministry of Establishments, Training and 

Pensions. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

32---- Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

TAURUS; If you take to aggression, your ego would be 

deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being cooperative 

in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble. 

GEMINI; Those willing to put you to shame one way 

or the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things 

today. It’s good to secure support of your spouse. 

CANCER; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times 

and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order 

to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please. 

LEO; Your concentration level and determination are 

the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect 

your senior colleagues and protect your image. 

VIRGO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you 

just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance 

to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident 

prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its 

agents today. 

By Richard Eromosele 

WE are living 

in a society 

where might has 

come to be accepted 

as right. 

A society where 

men of brain takes 

the back seat while 

those with brawn 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

Who is a strong man? 

takes the driver’s 

seat. 

If the truth must 

be told, no matter 

how strong a man 

appears to be 

physically, if he 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

lacks wisdom he 

can not go very 

far in life. 

You need wisdom 

to think, you 

need wisdom to 

plan , you also 

need wisdom to 

execute your plan. 

All these does not 

really involve application 

of physical 

strenght. 

There is a place 

for the physical 

man but the strong 

man is the one full 

of wisdom. 

By Kola Fayemi 

LIBRA; Serious thought may be giving to matters of 

the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures 

of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable 

trouble. 

SCORPIO; If you back your financial plans with 

concrete and positive actions things’ll go according to 

your desire. If you fail to realise importance of your 

spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; 

aren’t you tired of crisis? 

SAGITTARIUS; Your intelligence, competence and 

level of concentration may today bring you envy, which 

you don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative 

form but. 

CAPRICORN;. The Moon highlights your Solar second 

house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true 

love with money, you’ll be disappointed. 

AQUARIUS; The. Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you 

new confidence and with new supports from the powersthat-be, 

it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, 

especially with the veterans within your base of operation. 

Yet you will be lucky today. 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

PISCES; Better days are ahead of you but, you will 

today need to do away with non-productive argument 

and/or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now. 

ARIES; If what you’re doing today’ll depend on 

tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even 

things may not go according to your personal plans today. 

Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far 

future carefully now. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

What’s my career? 

Dear Joshua, 

I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly 

tell me everything about myself, especially my finance 

and career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should 

I do to make it happen quickly. 

Johnbull, Abuja. 

Dear Johnbull, 

There are indications of financial success for you but 

you can not change what Almighty God Has designed for 

you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked in 

your letter) Certainly however no failure for you. 

Mercury B the planet of education and Accountancy, 

together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in 

Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to 

both Accountancy profession and the academic world. 

Truly you did not make wrong choice of career. 

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not 

be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. 

Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very 

comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of 

place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because 

you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money 

spinning vocation for you include writing either along 

your line or for film making industry; it is important you 

exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your innerself. 

Yes your dream of becoming A Professor will come 

to reality. Politics is another area you are not looking at 

now but will surely come. Do you say why? Because 

Aquarius is equally political. 

Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born 

is all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to 

make money. And as it was at positive angle to disciplined 

Saturn, you are not giving to serious frivolity. One major 

challenge here is envy by others but you will eventually 

overcome. Another source of challenges is your love life 

which looks not totally balanced. 

Basically you are a family minded person. You are 

equally loving and caring. But sometimes your love of 

freedom get better off you to the resentment of your closer 

partner(s).Then some other times it is other party’s fault 

making love-business very interesting. And unless you 

are more careful and determined you may marry more 

than once. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa



Maritime Varsity: Call Peterside to order, IYC 

tells FG 

By Emma Amaize 

WARRI—THE Ijaw Youth 

Council, IYC, has called 

on the Federal Government to 

call the Director-General of 

Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA, Dr Dakuku 

Peterside, to order, saying his 

statement that the agency would 

not fund the Nigerian Maritime 

University, NMU, Okerenkoko, 

Delta State, was incongruous 

with government's policy. 

IYC, in a statement by its 

spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, 

said: "The statement was made 

in bad faith and calculated to 

aggravate the volatile security 

situation in the Niger Delta 

region. The Federal 

Government should call its 

appointees such as Dr. Peterside 

to order in the interest of peace 

in the Niger Delta region. 

“In the first place, NMU, 

Okerenkoko, was an initiative 

of the agency, a budget of N2 

billion was made available for 

its take-off by NIMASA and 

even recently, during the public 

hearing by the Senate, on the 

bill seeking to establish the 

university, the Executive 

Director, Finance and 

Administration of NIMASA, 

expressed the readiness of the 

Wike berates fed agencies over alleged political blackmail 

By Aniema Umoh 

RIVERS State governor, 

Mr Nyesom Wike, has 

berated federal agencies for 

being involved in alleged 

desperate political blackmail 

against the state for the purpose 

of slowing down its rapid 

development. 

Wike said that agents of the 

Federal Government were 

unhappy that Rivers State, as an 

opposition state, was leading in 

terms of projects execution. 

He spoke, yesterday, at 

Government House, Port 

Harcourt, when he granted 

audience to the Norwegian 

Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens- 

Peter Kjemprud. 

He said: “Don’t bother about the 

politicking. As an opposition state, 

when you are doing well in terms 

of project execution and good 

governance, the Federal 

Government blackmails you to 

drive away investors. 

“We are focused on our goal of 

developing our state. Therefore, 

we shall continue to partner 

foreign and national investors to 

develop Rivers economy.” 

He urged the Norwegian 

Government to partner Rivers 

State Government in the setting 

up of ship building company, 

assuring that investing companies 

will receive tax relief. 

The governor also called for 

agency to fund the institution. 

“Furthermore, section 16 of 

the NIMASA Act enjoins the 

agency to set aside five percent 

of its revenue for the 

development of manpower in 

the maritime sector, which 

include the Maritime 

Academy, Oron and Maritime 

University, Okerenkoko. 

“In the light of these facts, 

one begins to wonder whose 

partnership in the area of 

agriculture, saying that Rivers 

State will provide the enabling 

environment for commercial 

agriculture investors, both in 

fishing and crop production. 

Earlier, the Ambassador of 

Norway to Nigeria, Jens-Peter 

Kjemprud, said that Norway will 

support human capital 

Xmas rice allegedly tears Delta APC apart 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—DELTA North 

senatorial district 

chairman of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Mr George 

Okafor, has been suspended for 

allegedly misappropriating the 

last Christmas rice meant for 

members of the party in the area. 

The suspension of Okafor, who 

was also accused of anti- party 

activities, is contained in a letter 

addressed to the state chairman 

of the party and jointly signed 

by eight out of the nine local 

government party's chairmen in 

the district. 

Meanwhile, Okafor, who 

spoke to Vanguard on the 

development, said he was yet 

to receive any suspension letter, 

adding that all the allegations 

levelled against him were borne 

out of mischief and malice. 

The council's party chairman 

also accused Okafor of allegedly 

collecting N10,000 from the 

council for transportation of the 

interest Peterside is serving by 

his contradictory statement 

that the agency would not fund 

the Maritime University. We 

are surprised that while the 

Federal Government through 

the Vice President’s office, is 

working very hard to restore 

peace to the Niger Delta 

region, Peterside, who ought 

to be part and parcel of the 

process is making statements 

development and technology 

transfer in her relationship with 

Rivers State. 

He said: “I will be supportive 

of any project that will enhance 

the economic development of 

Rivers State wherein Norwegian 

companies will be involved.” 

He assured the Rivers State 

governor of summits that will be 

rice in the letter which was 

endorsed by six council 

secretaries of the party out of 

nine. 

Dismissing his purported 

Ijaw celebrate J. P. Clark 

By Tare Youdeowei 

IJAW Monitoring Group, 

IMG, has described the 

conferment of Honorary 

Doctorate (Doctor of Letters) 

on Emeritus Professor, J.P 

Clark, by the University of 

Lagos as a testament of 

another remarkable milestone 

to one of the greatest sons of 

Niger Delta. 

In a congratulatory 

message by Comrade Joseph 

Evah, on behalf of the Ijaw 

of Niger Delta, he stated that 

Professor J.P. Clark is a titan 

that will ever remain in the 

memory of the ivory tower 

and beyond. 

to truncate the peace 

process.” 

Describing his position as 

condemnable, the IYC 

reminded Peterside that he 

is not the first Director 

General of NIMASA and 

would not be the last and at 

the end of his tenure as 

Director General, NIMASA, 

he would return home to 

Opobo.” 

PRESENTATION: Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu (left), representing Governor 

Godwin Obaseki; Wife of the governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki (right); Project Manager EDO-SACA, 

Hajia Marietu Binkola (2nd right) and Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly Dr. Justin Okonobo, 

during the presentation of income generating equipment to people living with HIV/AIDS in Benin. 

beneficial to the state in the 

areas of fish farming and the 

development of a sound 

aquaculture. 

The Norwegian Ambassador 

added that Norway would also 

collaborate with Rivers State 

Government in the areas of 

energy, ship building and 

manpower development. 

suspension, Okafor said the 

party has a constitution, adding 

that councils' party chairmen 

have no power to suspend a 

senatorial district chairman. 

“We are proud that 

Nigeria’s first Professor of 

English emerged from 

Ijawland and today bestrides 

the world like a colossus. 

“We are proud that the 

younger generation inspired 

by the great works of 

Professor Clark has 

produced other first class 

intellectuals to prove to the 

world that the best brains are 

also found in our homeland.” 

The Ijaw urged the Federal 

Government to name the 

National Arts Theater, Lagos 

after Prof. Clark in honour of 

the “world renewed literary 

saint.” 

NYSC D-G goes 

tough on 

unwarranted 

travelling by 

corps members 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

D 

I R E C T O R - 

GENERAL of 

National Youth Service Corps, 

Brig-Gen. Suleman Kazaure, 

has warned corps members to 

avoid unnecessary journeys 

during their service year. 

Kazaure expressed fears 

over kidnapping of corps 

members in Rivers State, 

stressing that the menace was 

rampant in the state. 

Kazaure gave the warning 

at the Permanent Orientation 

Camp of the NYSC in Nonwa/ 

Gbam Tai, Tai Local 

Government Area of the state, 

while addressing 2974 Batch 

B Stream II corps members 

during a tour of the facilities 

at the camp. 

Kazaure warned corps 

members not to move alone to 

lonely places and not to leave 

their places of service 

indiscriminately, adding that 

no corps member should do 

anything that will expose him 

or her to the risk of being 

kidnapped by bandits. 

Kazaure said: “Pay close 

attention to the skill 

acquisition programmes 

going on in the camp. The 

programmes you go through 

in the camp are arranged to 

guide you through the 

challenges you will encounter 

during the service year. 

“After the orientation 

programme, you will be 

posted to different 

communities. Respect the 

culture of your host 

communities. Avoid 

unnecessary journeys and 

night parties." 

Aginighan's 

father-in-law for 

burial 

THE remains of Late 

Captain Maxwell 

Edougha, the nonagenarian 

father-in-law of a former acting 

Managing Director of Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, Pastor 

Power Aginighan, will be laid 

to rest at his family compound, 

Eyemieghan/Teiseimor 

quarters, Esanma, in Bomadi 

Local Government Area of 

Delta State today, after a 

funeral service. 

This is contained in a 

statement by England 

Edougha England. 

Late Capt Maxwell 

Edougha, aged 90, is survived 

by two wives and children. 

Pastor Aginighan described 

his father-in-law as a father, 

friend, teacher and a 

compatriot in the struggle for 

improved living conditions for 

the Ijaw in the Niger Delta.



FCE Okene 

receives full 

accreditation 

of courses 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

L OKOJA—THE 

National Commission 

for Colleges of Education, 

NCCE, has granted full 

accreditation in all the 24 

NCE programmes 

presented by Federal 

College of Education 

Okene, Kogi State. 

Provost of the college, Dr. 

Iyela Ajayi, who disclosed 

this to newsmen, yesterday, 

attributed the success to 

adequate preparation, hard 

work and commitment on 

the side of the 

management, staff and 

students of the college. 

According to him, “only 

very few tertiary institutions 

in the country can record 

this type of success in 

accreditation of academic 

programmes. Among all 

the Federal Colleges of 

Education in the country, 

our institution is the only 

college that recorded full 

accreditation for all the 

academic programmes 

which of course 

represented 100 percent.” 

Ajayi, who commended 

the NCCE accreditation 

team for taken their time to 

go round the college for the 

purpose of the exercise, 

hinted that the institution 

was also expecting another 

accreditation for the 

undergraduate courses of 

the college. 

He, however, charged the 

staff and students of the 

institution to sustain the 

existing peace in the 

college, assuring that he 

will continue to prioritise 

their welfare 

He said: “It is my hope 

not to owe any staff, before 

I complete my tenure as the 

Provost of this college. I do 

not joke with staff welfare. 

Despite the current 

economic recession I still 

strive hard to pay them all 

their allowances to 

encourage them to improve 

in productivity.” 

How to fight recession with soil, water resources—FUTA Don 

By Oboh Agbonkhese 

A 

call has been made to 

Nigerians and government 

at different levels to take 

adequate care of soil and water 

resources as a way out of the 

current economic recession and 

food shortage. 

Professor Michael Alatise of the 

Department of Agricultural 

Engineering, Federal University 

of Technology, Akure, FUTA, 

made the call while delivering the 

80th inaugural lecture of the 

KPMG'S SHAREHOLDERS' SEMINAR: From left— Partner, Audit 

Services, KPMG, Mr. Kabir Okunlola; member, Nigeria Shareholders' Solidarity Association, 

NSSA, Mr. Akanji Kashimawo; President, NSSA, Chief T. A. Adesiyan, and Partner/Head, 

Audit Services, KPMG, Mr. Tola Adeyemi, at the KPMG shareholders' solidarity association 

audit committee seminar for NSSA in Lagos, yesterday. 

Masterminds of Southern Kaduna 

crisis'll be prosecuted—el-Rufai 

By Kenneth Ehigiator 

L AGOS—GOVERNOR 

Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna 

State, yesterday, vowed to 

prosecute masterminds of the 

Southern Kaduna crisis, which 

has claimed lives and 

properties, adding that failure 

of law enforcement by 

successive governments in the 

state is responsible for the 

recurring nature of the crisis. 

The governor, who spoke at 

an interactive session with 

newsmen in Lagos, said: “No 

one has been prosecuted by 

successive governments in the 

state since this crisis started 37 

years ago, except the one that 

involved Gen. Zamani Lekwot. 

“Remember Babangida’s 

government arrested Lekwot 

and some other persons for the 

same crisis; they were 

sentenced to die by hanging, 

but along the line, their 

sentences were converted to jail 

terms but the state government 

never prosecuted anybody 

since the problem started in 

1980.” 

Governor el-Rufai said his 

government will not fold its arms 

and allow those benefiting from 

the crisis to continue with their 

evil trade, noting that the crisis 

was not necessarily religious in 

nature, but largely ethnic. 

...on payment to herdsmen 

On allegation of paying 

compensation to trans-border 

Fulani herdsmen affected by 

institution, on the topic 

Harnessing Soil and Water 

Resources: The Engineer’s 

Power Pack for Sustainable 

National Food Production. 

Alatise declared that “if soil 

and water resources are 

properly harnessed, it can bail 

Nigeria out of economic 

recession, create jobs for our 

virile youths and ensure food 

security.” 

The don said to boost food 

production there must be, 

among others, soil classification 

the post-election violence in 

2011, the governor said his 

government merely 

implemented 

the 

recommendation of General 

Martin Luther Agwai’s panel set 

up by the administration of late 

Governor Patrick Yakowa. 

He said the late governor’s 

death put paid to the process of 

enthroning lasting peace in the 

area, which his government had 

to embrace. 

He noted that over a thousand 

herdsmen were killed during the 

post-election violence, adding 

that he decided to implement the 

recommendation to forestall 

further attacks on Southern 

Kaduna communities. 

He said the crisis had 

continued to fester, even after the 

32 warring communities in the 

area had signed the Southern 

Kaduna Peace Declaration in 

March 2016, because those 

studies in the eight different 

hydrological zones of the 

country; government must to 

acquire land for would-be 

farmers, while individual 

peasant farmers should own 

their farms in the areas of 

operations of the basins for a 

reasonable fee. 

In his address, FUTA's Vice 

Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi 

Daramola, who chaired the event 

commended Professor Alatise, 

describing him as an innovative 

teacher, researcher and leader. 

profiting from it had not been 

dealt with. 

el-Rufai said: “We arrested a 

lot of the sponsors of the crisis 

who are benefiting from it. We’ll 

place them before the court and 

if the judge chooses to free 

them, I would have done my 

own part of seeking to protect 

the people.” 

Governor el-Rufai, who 

promised to release in two 

weeks a comprehensive report 

on the crisis since 1980, said the 

state government had actually 

articulated a three-pronged 

solution to the crisis to finally 

nip it in the bud. 

This, according to him, 

includes the imposition of the 

curfew to stabilise the area 

through deployment of strong 

military presence, prosecution 

of masterminds and peace 

building. 

Taraba govt owes N9m gratuities; 

denies owing pensioners 

By John Mkom 

JALINGO—TARABA State 

government has said it is not 

owing pensioners, but 

N9,699,931.48 gratuities to 

genuine retirees. 

Chairman, Taraba State 

Pension Board, Mr. Nuhu Abel, 

made the revelation in a 

programme, Face the Press, 

organised by the Senior Special 

Assistant to the Governor on 

Public Matters, Emmanuel 

Bello. 

The board chairman, who was 

at the briefing with the Chief of 

Staff to the governor, Rebo 

Usman, said contrary to reports, 

the board was not owing any 

pensioner in the state. 

He said: “We are not owing 

pensioners in the state. What I 

can tell you categorically is that 

we have an upstanding 

gratuity of about 10 months 

worth N9,699,931.48, which we 

are yet to clear.” 

Corroborating the claim, 

Usman said every sensitive 

government would settle 

salaries of civil servants and 

pension to pensioners before 

looking into the issue of 

gratuity. 

He said: “Maybe whoever 

claims to be a pensioner in 

Taraba State and has not been 

paid did not show up for the 

recent pensioners verification. 

“I challenge anybody, who 

has been cleared at the exercise 

that has not been paid, to show 

up with his or her facts.” 

Adamawa 

dedicates 

Friday, 

Sunday to 

pray for 

Buhari 

By Umar Yusuf 

Y OLA—GOVERNOR 

Mohammed Jibrilla of 

Adamawa State has 

announced that the state 

will, today and Sunday, offer 

special prayers in mosques 

and churches for the speedy 

recovery of President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

Governor Jibrilla, who 

spoke at the end of the state 

weekly executive council 

meeting, observed that any 

leader required prayers no 

matter his or her health 

status. 

He said: “President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

needs the prayers of Nigerians 

to enable him pilot the 

affairs of the country 

effectively. This, we have 

been doing even before he 

travelled for his vacation 

and we will not relent. 

“As the Governor of 

Adamawa State, I deserve 

special prayers from my 

people to enable me 

accomplish the dreams of 

governing the state well.” 

Elumelu 

retires as 

non-executive 

director of 

AFC 

AFRICA 

Finance 

Corporation, AFC, a 

leading pan-African 

multilateral development 

finance institution and 

project developer, has 

announced the retirement of 

Mr. Tony Elumelu as nonexecutive 

director from its 

Board, after nine years, with 

Mr. Victor Osadolor, Deputy 

Managing Director of UBA 

Plc announced as his 

replacement. 

Elumelu, Chairman of 

Heirs Holdings, 

represented United Bank for 

Africa, UBA, Plc on the 

Board of the agency. 

AFC said in a statement, 

yesterday, that Elumelu was 

a founding director and the 

first Chairman of the 

Corporation’s Risk and 

Investment Committee, 

which he chaired for nine 

years. 

Reacting to the development, 

Dr. Sarah Alade, 

Chairman of AFC, said: “I 

am grateful for the notable 

contribution Mr. Elumelu 

has made throughout the 

nine years he has served on 

the Board of AFC.”

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017—35 

In call with Putin, Trump 

denounces nuclear treaty 

IN his first call as 

president with 

Russian leader Vladimir 

Putin, Donald Trump 

denounced a treaty that 

caps U.S. and Russian 

deployment of nuclear 

warheads as a bad deal 

for the United States, 

according to two U.S. 

officials and one former 

U.S. official with 

knowledge of the call. 

When Putin raised the 

possibility of extending 

the 2010 treaty, known as 

New START, Trump 

paused to ask his aides 

in an aside what the 

treaty was, these sources 

said. 

Trump then told Putin 

the treaty was one of 

several bad deals 

negotiated by the Obama 

•To meet Canada’s Trudeau on Monday 

administration, saying 

that New START favored 

Russia. Trump also 

talked about his own 

popularity, the sources 

said. 

The White House 

declined to comment. It 

referred Reuters to the 

official White House 

account issued after the 

Jan. 28 call, which did 

not mention the 

discussion about New 

START. 

It has not been 

previously reported that 

Trump had conveyed his 

doubts about New 

START to Putin in the 

hour-long call. 

New START gives both 

countries until February 

2018 to reduce their 

deployed strategic 

nuclear warheads to no 

more than 1,550, the 

lowest level in decades. 

It also limits deployed 

land- and submarinebased 

missiles and 

nuclear-capable 

bombers. 

During a debate in the 

2016 presidential 

election, Trump said 

Russia had “outsmarted” 

the United States with 

the treaty, which he 

called “START-Up.” He 

asserted incorrectly then 

that it had allowed 

Russia to continue to 

produce nuclear 

warheads while the 

United States could not. 

A hotel room at Jacks Motel on Chef Menteur New Orleans East is shown after the 

roof was torn off in the aftermath of a series of tornado left trees, power lines, 

homes and businesses leveled, in New Orleans. REUTERS 

China moves to stop taking organs 

from prisoners 

THE World Health 

Organization says 

China has taken steps to 

end its once-widespread 

practice of harvesting 

organs from executed 

prisoners but that it’s 

impossible to know what is 

happening across the 

entire country. 

At a Vatican conference 

on organ trafficking this 

week, a former top Chinese 

official said the country had 

stopped its unethical 

program, but critics remain 

unconvinced. 

In an interview 

Thursday, WHO’s Jose 

Ramon Nunez Pena said 

he personally visited about 

20 hospitals in China last 

Germany to boost migrant 

deportations 

GERMAN Chancellor 

Angela Merkel is set 

to unveil plans to 

significantly increase 

deportations of failed 

asylum seekers. 

The measures include 

allowing access to asylum 

seekers’ phones and Sim 

cards to verify their 

identities and increasing 

the amount paid to 

year and believes the 

country has reformed. But 

he acknowledged that it 

was still possible “there may 

still be hidden things going 

on.” China has more than 

1 million medical centers, 

although only 169 are 

authorized to do 

transplants. 

Nunez Pena said he had 

seen data including organ 

transplant registries and 

was convinced the country 

was now shifting away 

from illegally harvesting 

organs. 

“What is clear to me is 

that they’re changing,” he 

said. “But in a country as 

huge as China, we can’t 

know everything.” 

Iran warns of dark days in 

case of attack by US 

IRAN has stepped up its 

war of words with the US, 

with an influential adviser to 

the supreme leader 

threatening the Trump 

administration with “dark 

days to come” in case of a 

military attack on his 

voluntary returnees. 

Migration has become a 

heavily politicised issue in 

Germany ahead of 

elections later this year. 

An asylum seeker killed 

12 people at a Berlin 

Christmas market in 

December. The case of Anis 

Amri, who Tunisia refused 

to take back after his 

asylum bid was rejected, 

has increased pressure on 

Mrs Merkel’s government. 

country. 

In an exclusive interview 

to Al Jazeera, Ali Akbar 

Velayati, foreign-affairs 

adviser to Ayatollah Ali 

Khamenei, said 

“Washington does not dare 

to carry out its military 

threats against Iran”. 

“The Americans know 

very well that Iran and its 

allies in the region would 

retaliate very hard, that will 

make America face dark 

days to come,” he said. 

In the past week, the US 

has imposed new sanctions 

on Iran over a missile test. 

Velayati said Iran’s policies 

in the Middle East would not 

change, “therefore[President 

Donald] Trump and the 

American administration 

must get their stuff together. 

EU pledges $80 million aid to 

Gambia 

THE European Union 

pledged 75 million 

euros ($80 million) on 

Thursday to Gambia’s new 

government, two years after 

suspending aid due to 

human rights abuses by 

former President Yahya 

Jammeh. 

The EU froze 33 million 

euros in aid to Gambia, one 

of the world’s poorest 

countries, after Jammeh’s 

government introduced a 

tough law against 

homosexuality in late 2014. 

Adama Barrow, who 

defeated Jammeh in a 

December election, has 

pledged to respect human 

rights and rebuild foreign 

relations. Jammeh refused 

to accept the election result 

and went into exile last 

month after regional forces 

entered the country. 

Following a meeting with 

Barrow in the capital 

Banjul, the EU 

commissioner for 

international cooperation 

and development, Neven 

Mimica, said the aid 

package would to be used 

to increase food security, 

rebuild roads and boost 

jobs. 

“The visit is a clear signal 

of the EU’s readiness to 

provide immediate 

financial and technical 

support to the democratic 

process in The Gambia,” 

Mimica told reporters. 

The EU is also preparing 

a medium-term assistance 

package of 150 million 

euros, he said. 

Jammeh took power in a 

1994 coup and his 

government established a 

reputation for torturing and 

killing opponents - charges 

he denied. He repeatedly 

fell out with the EU, 

expelling its charge 

d’affaires in 2015. 

A weak economy and 

political repression in the 

West African country has 

made it one of the 

continent’s leading sources 

of migrants trying to reach 

Europe by sea despite a 

population of only 1.9 

million. 

…Regional force’s mission extended by 

three months 

A West African military 

operation that pressured 

Gambia’s long-time leader, 

Yahya Jammeh, to step 

down and flee into exile has 

had its mandate extended 

by three months, the office 

of new President Adama 

Barrow said on 

Wednesday. 

Barrow won a Dec. 1 

election but Jammeh, who 

had ruled since seizing 

power in a coup in 1994, 

refused to step down, 

forcing his opponent to be 

sworn in at the Gambian 

Embassy in neighbouring 

Senegal last month. 

Barrow immediately 

asked regional bloc 

ECOWAS for assistance 

and West African troops 

quickly crossed into 

Gambia from Senegal, 

giving mediators the 

necessary leverage to 

negotiate Jammeh’s 

departure. 

“President Barrow is glad 

to inform the general public 

that the standby force 

ECOMIG has integrated 

itself into the security and 

military fabric of the 

country,” the president’s 

office said in a statement. 

“The Standby Force has 

had its mandate extended 

by three months subject to 

renewal.” 

A senior United Nations 

official said late last month 

that Barrow had requested 

that the 7,000-troop strong 

ECOWAS force’s mandate 

be extended by six months. 

200 cars missing in 

Ghana’s presidential fleet 

GHANA’S 

new 

government is trying to 

track down more than 200 

cars missing from the 

president’s office, a 

government spokesman has 

said. 

The ruling party counted 

the cars a month after taking 

power following victory in 

December’s elections. 

After previous transfers of 

power, state-owned cars have 

SOUTH AFRICA: Punches 

thrown at State of Nation 

address 

PUNCHES have been 

thrown in South Africa’s 

parliament as radical MPs 

tried to disrupt the State of 

the Nation address by 

President Jacob Zuma. 

Members of the radical 

Economic Freedom Fighters’ 

party (EFF), all dressed in 

red, scuffled with security 

guards who ejected them from 

the chamber.Mr Zuma had 

twice got to his feet but was 

shouted down by EFF MPs. 

Previous addresses by Mr 

Zuma have been marred by 

protests and brawls as MPs 

demanded his resignation. 

The president has been 

dogged by corruption 

allegations for more than a 

decade. 

On Thursday, there were 

raised voices and chaotic 

scenes as Speaker Baleka 

Mbete tried to deal with 

repeated interruptions and 

procedural questions from 

MPs at the parliament in 

Cape Town. 

Members of another 

opposition party, the 

Democratic Alliance, then 

walked out. 

Despite further interruptions, 

President Zuma 

eventually resumed his 

address. Mr Zuma had 

angered some MPs ahead of 

his speech by ordering the 

deployment of about 440 

troops to maintain law and 

order in parliament on the 

day. Opposition parties 

condemned the decision as 

a “declaration of war”. 

been seized from officials 

who did not return them. 

A minister in the former 

government said the implied 

allegation of wrongdoing by 

his colleagues was false. 

Former Communication 

Minister Omane Boamah 

told the BBC’s Thomas 

Naadi that this was “a 

convenient way for the new 

government to justify the 

purchase of new vehicles”. 

Ghanaian radio station 

Citi FM reported that the 

president has been “forced 

to use a 10-year-old BMW” 

as a result. 

In making the statement 

Mr Arhin revealed the 

president’s office was meant 

to have more than 300 cars 

but he did not divulge the 

purpose of these vehicles. 

Nana Akufo-Addo from the 

the New Patriotic Party won 

the Ghanaian presidential 

election at the beginning of 

December, taking power 

from John Mahama, of the 

National Democratic 

Congress. 

Twitter advertising revenue falls after 

Trump buzz fails to drive growth 

TWITTER Inc (TWTR.N) 

reported on Thursday it 

had more active users than 

a year earlier but lower 

advertising revenue, 

disappointing investors 

with its failure so far to 

translate fans such as U.S. 

President Donald Trump 

into more dollars. 

Investors punished the 

company’s shares, which 

fell 11.7 percent to $16.53 

in morning trading. 

Advertising revenue in 

the fourth quarter 

declined 0.5 percent yearover-year 

to $638 million, 

Twitter said, and the 

company said that 

advertising revenue 

growth would continue to 

lag user growth during 

2017. 

Total revenue grew just 

1.0 percent to $717.2 

million, missing analysts’ 

average estimate of $740.1 

million, according to 

Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.


FORMER 

President 

Olusegun Obasanjo will 

officially be 80 in March and 

there are many who think he 

is hyperactive for his age. 

He is probably one of the 

busiest former presidents with 

a schedule that combines half 

a dozen foreign travels each 

month with countless domestic 

trips filled with meetings, 

speeches and plenty of 

mischief in between. 

He has visited President 

Muhammadu Buhari in Aso 

Rock four times and I know a 

publisher who has threatened 

to carry a placard on 

Obasanjo’s fifth visit – that is, 

if he even gets to hear of it. 

Like him or hate him, you 

ignore Obasanjo at your peril. 

What he says is just about a 

good political bellwether as 

when he says it. Every 

president from General 

Ibrahim Babangida to former 

President Goodluck Jonathan 

carries Obasanjo’s stripe in his 

butt. 

Buhari’s may just have been 

delivered: When Obasanjo 

asked the Igbo to run for the 

presidency in 2019, I asked 

myself where that was coming 

from. It wasn’t as if he was 

hosting Ohanaeze or the 

association of Igbo traders in 

Ogun State and needed to say 

something to please them. He 

was not even on a visit to any 

South East state. 

He was hosting the Ogun 

State chapter of the Christian 

Association of Nigeria (CAN) 

in Abeokuta. Pitching for an 

Igbo presidency when 

Obasanjo, a regular visitor to 

Aso Rock, knew that Buhari 

was just approaching midterm, 

seemed awkward. 

What does Obasanjo know? 

I began to connect the dots. 

Just a few days earlier, Buhari 

had travelled abroad on 

“medical checkup” and annual 

vacation. The circumstances of 

his trip were rather unusual. 

In a news report announcing 

the trip, for example, 

Vanguard of January 19, 2017, 

reported that “the President 

had since the week been 

performing the functions of his 

office mostly at his official 

residence located within the 

precincts of the Presidential 

Villa, rarely spending dutiful 

hours in the office.” 

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross 

Rivers, who visited the week 

the President travelled didn’t 

know where Buhari was when 

he arrived at the Villa. He 

thought the president was in 

the office only to be turned back 

at the office gate and directed 

to his residence. 

Was it likely that Obasanjo 

knew more than he was letting 

on when he advised visitors 

from CAN led by Bishop 

Tunde Akin-Akinsanya that 

Igbos should prepare for 2019 

one week after Buhari travelled 

on health grounds? 

Things became even more 

complicated after the 

Presidency issued a statement 

to explain why Buhari would 

no longer return after ten days 

(not counting weekends) as 

What does Obasanjo know 

about Buhari? 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

had been earlier announced. 

And I’m not necessarily 

talking about Buhari’s death 

rumour or Obasanjo’s claim 

Long before 

the president 

travelled, 

pictures of him 

in the press 

said more than 

a thousand 

words, so why 

frame him as a 

modern day 

Eisenhower? 

that he had been a victim of 

such rumours at least 12 times. 

I’m talking about the contest 

between the president’s right 

to privacy and the public’s 

right to know. 

In an attempt to manage a 

delicate situation by saying as 

little as possible on why 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo 

Buhari could not return on 

Sunday, the Presidency 

committed several blunders. 

What was the point in saying 

Buhari was held back by “a 

cycle” of further tests after ten 

days when any adult, 

especially above the age of 50, 

who has ever reported ill to a 

hospital knows that ticking off 

a cache of tests and receiving 

information about when the 

results would be available are 

among the first things 

provided after admission? 

Long before the president 

travelled, pictures of him in 

the press said more than a 

thousand words, so why frame 

him as a modern day 

Eisenhower? 

Why give the impression that 

the president was in Nigeria 

House, putting his feet up and 

having photo ops with special 

guests from Nigeria and yet he 

was too busy to wave at scores 

of ordinary Nigerians who 

were dying to hear his voice 

just outside the door? 

Information Minister, Lai 

Mohammed, is right that 

Buhari is a victim of his 

transparency. It was precisely 

because of his credentials as 

an honest man who means 

well for the country that he was 

voted to power. 

He symbolises a different 

approach to governance and 

was not shy to speak his mind 

occasionally. In March 2010, 

after late President Umaru 

Yar’Adua had been hidden 

from the public for nearly three 

months, for example, Buhari 

rebuked the Federal Executive 

Council for failing to initiate 

Yar’Adua’s impeachment on 

grounds of incapacitation. 

Of course it’s a stretch to 

compare Buhari’s health 

status with Yar’Adua’s at this 

time, but the cat-and-mouse 

game over his health status 

has not done his anticorruption 

posture and moral 

stature any good. 

Even if he returns by the 

next flight – and we pray he 

does hale and hearty – his 

reputation has taken a major 

blow from the mishandling of 

his medical leave. 

When Buhari was voted to 

power nearly two years ago, 

voters knew as damn well as 

the candidate did, that at 74, 

age had taken its toll and 

managing his health was 

going to be a concern. Yet, he 

won. Voters preferred him to 

a younger opponent who 

seemed incapable of doinig 

the job even if he was 20 years 

younger. 

A presidential source has 

said what is happening today 

is a long shot from what 

happened to Yar’Adua. We 

hope and pray so, not just for 

the sake of the president but 

also for the sake of the country, 

which we love. 

One Yar’Adua era 

trauma is enough 

But the present auguries are 

a needless reminder of that 

best forgotten era. When we 

hear things like, “I speak with 

my brother everyday,” “the 

president is hale and hearty,” 

“I’m in touch with Buhari’s 

doctor,” “the president is 

waiting for one more test 

result,” and yet not a word 

from the man himself, that is 

disturbing. 

And then, to complicate 

matters, Obasanjo on the eve 

of his 80th birthday and formal 

opening of his presidential 

library, makes a pitch for an 

Igbo president. 

I don’t like the smell of this 

coffee: It’s an inconceivable 

contradiction that a president 

who ran on a ticket of 

openness and transparency 

should be hidden indefinitely 

behind the veil of an ailment 

he did not bring upon himself. 

And the only government 

work these days is how to 

manage an open secret – 

containing what most people 

think they know Obasanjo 

knows about Buhari. 

What is going on? 

Ishiekwene is the MD/ 

Editor-In-Chief of The 

Interview and board member 

of the Paris-based Global 

Editors Network


IKULAYI 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Ikulayi 

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wish to be known and 

addressed as 

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valid. General public 

please take note. 

PAUL 

ULY 


addressed as Chikere 

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to be known and 

addressed as Chikere 

Paulinus Onwukwe. 

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ALAKIJA 


addressed as Alakija 

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ACHI 


addressed as Achi 

Omenebele Mercy, 

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LUKE 

Confirmation of Name 

This is to confirm that the 

name Ikechukwu Luke 

Ifediora and Ikechukwu 

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OKITO 



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C h r i s t i a n a 

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I, formerly known as 

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OK 

OROGUN 



Orogun Favour 

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OLADIRAN 



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OKEKE 



Lilian Chioma Okeke, 



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AMOO 



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Amoo is the same person 

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RAMONI 



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ADEKEYE 


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UKPANI 



name Ukpani Udoka 

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OBOREH 


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UKONU 



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note. 

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OKOL 

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Omoraka. All former 



take note. 

UFUOMA 

BEECROFT 

MARY 


addressed as Osanebi 

Mary Obianiberi, now 


address as Osanebi 

Jovita Obianiberi. All 





JOSEPHINE 


addressed as Iki 

Emetyoma Josephine, 

now wish, to be known 


Omejoghare 

Josephine. All former 



take note. 

OVERSEA 


addressed as Oversea 

Elvis, now wish to be 


as Jonathan Akposieye 

Elvis. All former 



take note. 

NWAMOLOR 

Confirmation Of Name 

This is to notify the 

general public that 

Nwawolor Ijeoma and 

Ijeoma Paul is one and the 

same person now to be 

known and addressed as 

Nwawolor Ijeoma. All 


valid. Zenith Bank PLC 

and general public take 

note. 

GERALD 

We, formerly known and addressed as Gerald Ifeanyi 

Gerald of Umueze-awala village , Ihiala in Ihiala L.G.A: 1. 

Gerald Ifeanyi Gerald, 2. Livina Amauche Gerald, 3. 

Mcdavis Chinonso Gerald, 4. Prisca Chinaza Gerald, 5. 

Franklin Chidera Gerald, 6. Kingsley Chibuike Gerald, 7. 

Paschalin Chiemerie Gerald, now wish to be known and 

addressed as Okani Ifeanyi Gerald, 1. Gerald Ifeanyi Okani, 

2. Livina Amauche Okani, 3. Mcdavis Chinonso Okani, 4. 

Prisca Chinaza Okani, 5. Franklin Chidera Okani, 6. 

Kingsley Chibuike Okani, 7. Paschalin Chiemerie Okani. 

All former documents remain valid. General public please 

take note. 


addressed as Omene 

Ufuoma, now wish to 


addressed as Omene 

Lofty Ogheneruemu. 






Beecroft Taiwo 

Adetoun, now wish to 



Ashiru Taiwo Adetoun. 




PAUL 


addressed as Obi Paul, 


and addressed as Obi 

Paul Ifeoma. All former 




CHANGE OF NAME 

JOEL EDIKU IDOZE 

IGBOGI 

Reconciliation Of Name 

That the names Joel 

Agbiyofe Joyce, Oladimeji 

Joyce and John Agbiyofe 

Joyce refer to one and the 

same person who now 

wishes to reconcile all my 

names to bear Oladimeji 

Joel Joyce Agbiyofe. All 


valid. Eco Bank, First Bank 

and the general public 

should please take note. 



Happy .O. Ediku, now 



Happy .O. Offor. All 




take note. 


addressed as Idoze 

Samuel, now wish to 


addressed as Samuel 

Udeze. All former 





addressed as Miss Igbogi 

Ayebabomo Glory, now 



Enebeli Ayebabomo Glory 

Chelsea. All former 


River State Ken Saro 

Wiwa Polytechnic Bori, 

NYSC and general public 


ALEX ABIGHEH ORANEBO OCHU 


addressed as 

Akpobodor Sunny 

Alex, now wish to be 


as Akpobodor Sunny. 


remain valid. First 

bank and general 

public take note. 



Pearl Oghenerukevwe 

Abigheh, now wish to 



Pearl Oghenerukevwe 

Dafiaghor. All former 


valid, any authority it 

may concern and the 

general public to take 

note. 



Oranebo Favour 

Ifeyinwa, now wish to 



Paul Basil Favour 

Ifeyinwa. All former 


valid, Banks and 

general public to take 

note. 


addressed as Ochu 

Margaret Adaoma, 



Ubigho Margaret 

Adaoma. All former 



take note. 

ABRAHAM OMOYIBO SAMUEL ELENDU 


addressed as Igben 

John Abraham, now 


addressed as Igben 

John Awinayerin. All 





addressed as Omoyibo 

Ruth now wish to be 


as Obire Ruth 

Oghenevwaire. All 





addressed as Stella 

Chima Samuel now 


addressed as 

Ogbevino Chigozie 

Stella. All former 



take note. 



Chinazom Doris 

Elendu, now wish to 



Chinazom Doris 

William. All former 



take note. 

EDIGBE EZEJIOBI METUH EKWEMUO 



general public that Edigbe 

Ajiri Queen and Ajiri 

Adumein is one and the 

same person now wish to 

be known and addressed 

as Edigbe Ajiri Queen. All 


valid. Post Primary 

Education Board, Asaba. 

General public take note. 



Nkechi Sandra 

Ezejiobi, now wish to 



Nkechi Sandra 

Anazodo. All former 





addressed as Metuh 

Uche Vivian, now wish 


addressed as Offiah 

Uche Vivian. All 






E k w e m u o 

Nkechinyere Lucy, 

wish to be addressed 

as Mrs. Orjichukwu 

Nkechinyere Lucy. All 

other documents 



SOCHIMA UWAYAH IBIDAPO JIMMY 



Sochima Chinyere 

Eneh, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Charity 

Chinyere Eneh. All 






Uwayah Glory 

Ukponmwan, now wish 



Ehigiator Glory 

Ukponmwan. All 





addressed as Olubiyi 

Ibrahim Ibidapo, now 


addressed as Olubiyi 

Ibrahim Adebayo. All 






Jimmy Queen, now 



Okotete Queen. All 




NWOBI PRINCE LUCKY YEBRIFA 


addressed as Nwobi 

Ozioma Ruth, now 


addressed as Nwagwu 

Ozioma Ruth. All 


remain valid. NYSC, 

Imo State University 

and general public 



addressed as 

Umiaghwa Obus 

Prince, now wish to be 


as Umiaghwa Obus 

Godstime. All former 





addressed as Allo 

Lucky Edafe, now wish 


addressed as 

Oreosaviro Wisdom 

Edafe. All former 






Olaere Yabrifa, now 



Olaere Yabrifa 

Lokpobiri. All former 




OKOWA ONIAH CHUKWUDI ADIOHWO UDOH 



M a r i l y n 

Dumkelechukwu 

Okowa, now wish to be 


as Mrs Marilyn 

Dumkelechukwu 

Okowa-Daramola. All 






Grace Ifeyinwa Oniah, 


and addressed as Mrs 

Grace Ifeyinwa Eriki. 


remain valid. Swiss 

Golden Team PZ and 

the general public 



addressed as Ash 

Chukwudi Ashiegbu, 



Darlinton Ashiegbu 

Chukwudi. All former 






Success Adiohwo, now 



Success Agori. All 






general public that the 

name Tommy Ezekiel 

Udoh and Udoh 

Ezekiel is one and the 

same person, now wish 


addressed as Tommy 

Ezekiel Udoh. All 



public take note.

AZAH 



Azah Onakowho 

Gillian, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Ukpebitere 

Onakowho Gillian. All 




AMATOBI 

Confirmation of name 

That my full name is 

Amatobi Josiah 

Chukwunonye, as written 

in my BVN and Amatobi 

Josiah as written in my 

account. That the name 

Amatobi Josiah 

Chukwunonye and 

Amatobi Josiah belong 

to no other person than 

my humble self . All 




CHUKWUMA 



Chukwuma Uloma 

Sandra, now wish to 



Onyereibe Uloma 

Sandra. All former 


valid. Nigeria Police 

Force and general 


note. 

OMASHOR 



Omashor Nonyenim 

Geraldine, now wish 



Arisukwu Nonyenim 

Geraldine. All former 




CHISOM 


This is to confirm that 

the names Chisom 

Henry Ikejiaku and 

Kike Henry Chisom 

refer to one and the 

same person. I now 


addressed as Chisom 

Henry Ikejiaku. All 




note. 

ENAFENIH 


a d d r e s s e d 

as Enafenih 

Edwin, now wish to be 

known and address 

as Enaefe Edwin. All 





SALIHU 

Correction Of Name 

My name was 

erroneously entered 

a s S a l i h u 

Musbahu, instead 

of Kayode Saliu 

Musibau, now wish to 

be known and address 

as Saliu Musibau. All 





PEDRO 


That my name is 

Ohagwam Chidi Pedro, 

as it appears in some of 

my documents while in 

some documents it bears 

Ohagwam Chidi. That 

this name Ohagwam 

Chidi Pedro and 

Ohagwam Chidi belong to 

one and the same person. 



public and first bank 


AMOS 



Blessing Amos, now 



Blessing Isaac 

Egbua. All former 




ALEXANDER 



Juliana Alexander, 



Eboigbe Juliana. All 




note. 

AKADICHI 



Akadichi Franca, now 



Alika Franca. All 




PETER 


This is to confirm that 

the 

names 

Iyiegbuniwe Peter and 

Iyiegbuniwe Peter 

Uzor refer to one and 

the same person. I now 


addressed as 

Iyiegbuniwe Peter. All 




note. 

OGODO 



O g o d o 

Oghenerukevwe 

Rukky, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Okoi Rukky 

Oghenerukevwe. All 





DAD 

ADA 



Dada Esther 

Owelegba, now wish 


address as Miss 

Omaike Esther 

Owelegba. All 






BOMA 



Cheetham - West 

Tamunowanate Boma, 



Mrs. Lolo – George 

Tamunowanate 

Boma. All former 




MEYIWA 


addressed as Lube 

Meyiwa James, now 

wish to remove 

Meyiwa, to be known 

and addressed as Lube 

James. All former 



public and to whom it 

may concern to please 

take note 

NDINEMENI 



Onyinye Ndinemeni, 



Okorodudu Onyinye. 




ANNA 



Onwuegbuzie Anna, 



Azubuike Anna. All 




EDET 


addressed as Ben Eno 

Edet, now wish to be 


as Eno Edet Ben. All 




MADUEKE 



Madueke Sophia 

Ijeoma, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Otuechere 

Sophia Ijeoma. All 





ABIGAIL 

OR 



Edirinverere Ochuko 

Abigail, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Wesley 

Ochuko Abigail. All 





UBANI 



Eunice Kris Ubani, 



Eunice Akudo 

Lezorgia. All former 




JOSEPH 


This is to correct that my 

full name which is 

sometime abbreviated as 

Orimogunje Dare Joseph, 

instead of Orimogunje 

Oludare Joseph. I now 


addressed Orimogunje 

Oludare Joseph. All 


valid. The general public 

and to whom it may 

concern to please take 

note 

AMADI 



Ichechi Victoria Amadi, 



Ichechi Victoria 

Olawale. All former 




CYNTHIA 



Cynthia Kalikwu, now 



Kalikwu Chiamaka 

Emmanuella. All 




OKOR 

OROBOH 

OBOH 



O k o r o b o h 

Happiness, now wish 



Omoni Happiness. All 





OBOTUKE 


addressed as Obotuke 

Oghenegare, now 


address as Obotuke 

Saturday. All former 




take note. 

VWIOKO 


addressed as Vwioko 

M a r i a m 

Eruayehwurhe, now 


address as Olori 

Mariam Eruayehwurhe. All 






NWIGWE 



Ogochukwu Cynthia 

Nwigwe, now wish to 



Ogochukwu Cynthia 

Okonkwo. All former 




OMO 


This is to correct that my 

name Omo Abraham 

Victary and Omoregie 

Patrick Victory refer to one 

and the same person.I 


addressed Omoregie 

Patrick Victory. All former 


The general public and to 

whom it may concern to 


OSSAI 



Ossai Adaeze, now 



Adaeze Ehiedu. All 




GLAMOUR 


addressed as Ogbovoh 

Glamour, now wish to 


addressed as Ogbovoh 

Othuke Michael. All 




EFEJUKU 



E f e j u k u 

Magdalene, now wish 



Erueyin Efejuku 

Magdalene. All former 




take note. 

IHOHI 



Ihohi Okiemute 

Joy, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Eyefia Ovoke 

Okiemute. All former 




take note. 

LUCKY 


addressed as Ogbolu 

Lucky, now wish to be 


as Ogbolu Marvellous 

Chukwuneku. All 





OBI 



Maureen Onyekachi 

Obi, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Maureen 

Onyekachi Hincks. 




ILOH 



Justina Uchechukwu 

Iloh, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Justina 

Uchechukwu Ofokile. 




NWANU 

ANUA 



Okonjo Anthonia 

Nwanua, now wish to 



Anthonia Egbeyon 

Okonjo. All former 




GODDAY 


addressed as Uac 

Godday, now wish to 


addressed as Umukoro 

Godday. All former 




OMOSEHIN 


a d d r e s s e d 

as Omosehin Samson 

Julius, now wish to be 


as Gbebomene 

Samson Julius. All 





INYANG 



Inyang Udo 

Kalu, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Enyidiya 

Kalu. All former 




take note. 

OKEY 


My name was 

erroneously used in my 

driver’s licence as Okey 

Okechukwu, instead 

of Thankgod Okechukwu 

Nwajagu, now wish to be 


as Thankgod Okechukwu 

Nwajagu. All former 


The general public should 

please take note.



ELVIS 



name Louis-Kogba 

Akpotozor Elvis and 

Okogba Elvis refer to the 

same person, now wish to 

be known and addressed 

as Louis-Kogba 

Akpotozor Elvis. NYSC, 

Union Bank and general 

public should please take 

note. 

TOCHI 


addressed as Miss Tochi 

Eunice Nwachukwu, now 


address as Mrs. Nwadike 

Eunice Kenneth. All 


valid. Heritage bank and 



NASUF 

Correction of name 

My name was wrongly 

spelt as Raliya Kolo 

Nasuf, instead of 

Raliyat Yusuf Ibrahim. 

I now wish to be known 

and address as Yusuf 

Raliyat Ibrahim. All 





ISAH 


addressed as Mr. Isah 

Kazeem Eric, now 


address as Mr. Isaac 

Kazeem Momodu. All 





BENI 

I, formerly known 


Hope Ejiroghene 

Beni, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Hope 

E j i r o g h e n e 

Erhieyovwe. All 




ABAYOMI 



Abayomi Ilemobayo, 



Ebiniyi Ilemobayo 

Alaba. All former 




ANIH 



Esther Ijeoma Anih, 



Esther Uchenna 

Nwachukwu. All 




MFON 



Idorenyin Udeme 

Mfon, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Idorenyin 

Aniebiet Affresse. All 





ANYANWU 

ANWU 



Chisom Nmaezi 

Anyanwu, now wish to 

be known and address 

as Mrs. Chisom 

Nmaezi Jerome 

Ijeakhena. All former 




take note. 

ERINLE 


addressed as Erinle 

Joy Olamide, now 


a d d r e s s 

as Omotehinse Joy 

Olamide. All former 




take note. 

OSIFO 



Rose Gift Osifo, now 



Rose Gift Okwagbe. 




IKPEFUA 



Lilian Ofure Ikpefua, 


and addressed as Mrs 

Lilian Ofure 

Ajebokun. All former 




EDOJAIMONI 



Edojaimoni Uyoyou 

Mercy, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Olodu 

Uyoyou Mercy. All 




note. 

AJUBE 



Cassandra Iyoroebi 

Ajube, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Atsimene 

Ajube Cassandra 

Iyoroebi. All former 




Who is importing arms into Nigeria? 

By Anthony Olubunmi 

Okogie 

IT was reported, a few days 

ago, in almost all national 

dailies, that the Nigeria Customs 

Service seized 49 boxes 

containing 661 pump action rifles 

unlawfully imported into 

Nigeria. The rifles were said 

to have been concealed in a 

container of steel products and 

other merchandise. Three 

suspects were said to have been 

arrested. According to retired 

Colonel Hameed Ali, the 

Comptroller of Customs, the arms 

were cleared at the port with the 

assistance of two customs officers 

who have since been 

apprehended and are now being 

investigated. 

This is the latest in the series of 

unlawful importation of arms into 

Nigeria, and it raises a number 

of issues. First, who are those 

behind unlawful importation of 

arms into Nigeria and what are 

their intentions? 

Unlawful importation of arms: 

At a press conference, in which 

Colonel Ali triumphantly reported 

the arrest of three suspects, he 

also informed the Nigerian public 

that a team of customs officers on 

intelligence patrol had, on 

Sunday, January 22, 2017, along 

the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in 

Lagos, intercepted a truck whICH 

registration number he gave as 

BDG 265 XG, purportedly conveying 

the arms in a container whose 

number he gave as PONU/ 

825914/3. Such news would 

have been sweet in the ears but 

for the fact that nothing was said 

of the owner of the truck and 

nothing was said of the owner of 

the container. 

Playing to 

the gallery 

That raises further questions: in 

whose name was that truck 

registered and in whose name 

was the container registered? 

Are they registered in the same 

name? Have their owners been 

investigated? When shall they 

and their foot soldiers appear in 

court? 

Not to raise these and related 

questions, and not to address 

them, will leave us where we have 

always been, that is, a place 

where a criminal act is committed 

but there is neither trial nor 

conviction nor sanction, a country 

where criminals are phantoms, a 

strange land where there are 

crimes but no criminals. That is 

why the triumphant account of the 

Comptroller of Customs comes 

close to another episode playing 

to the gallery. 

But there is another issue to be 

raised, and that is, whatever 

happened to intelligence in this 

country? Newspapers reported 

that the Comptroller of Customs 

informed Nigerians that 

impounding the truck containing 

the unlawfully imported arms and 

the apprehension of three men 

suspected to be involved in the 

•Anthony Cardinal Okogie 

crime of unlawful importation was 

the achievement of a “roving team 

of the NCS’ federal operations 

unit, while on intelligence 

patrol”. But on closer scrutiny, 

this advertisement of prowess is 

in fact an advertisement of 

colossal but recurring failure of 

intelligence. A dictum has it that 

prevention is better than cure. 

Intelligence is crime prevention. 

Nigeria’s security agencies—the 

Customs in this case, the Police, 

the Army, to mentioned but 

these—have repeatedly 

demonstrated their ineptitude 

when it comes to preventing acts 

that are inimical to security. The 

Police arrives at the scene of a 

crime after the crime and after the 

departure of the 

perpetrators. The Directorate of 

State Security neither locates nor 

arrests makers and users of 

Improvised Explosive Devices 

before they strike. The Police and 

the Army were only deployed to 

Southern Kaduna after massacre 

The Comptroller 

General’s assessment 

should give sleepless 

nights to discerning 

minds. For this, in fact, 

is by accident or 

design, another of 

many instance S.0of 

abysmal failure of 

intelligence 

of Nigerian citizens. Nigerian 

Customs officers fail to do their 

work at the ports only to mount 

roadblocks on highways at spots 

where stopping your vehicle 

would constitute a danger to other 

road users. But the Comptroller 

of Customs wants Nigerians to 

believe that what his officers have 

done is a heroic accomplishment 

of a “roving team of the NCS’ 

federal operations unit, while on 

intelligence patrol”? In his 

words, “This feat was no doubt 

commendable and represents the 

new normal in the service, where 

most officers and men are on a 

daily basis ensuring that 

illegalities are not allowed 

unchecked.” For this, he 

lauded his officers, saying, “I 

commend the FOU Zone A 

Comptroller, all officers and 

men involved in this great 

seizure.” 

Locking the stables after 

the horses have escaped: 

The Comptroller General’s 

assessment should give 

sleepless nights to 

discerning minds. For this, 

in fact, is by accident or 

design, another of many 

instance of abysmal failure 

of intelligence. It is best 

described as locking the 

stables after the horses have 

escaped. Colonel Ali spoke 

with candour about the 

obvious when he said, as 

reported in the dailies, that unlawful 

importation of arms into 

Nigeria “is even more 

unacceptable considering the 

fragile security situation in some 

parts of the country.” But, 

precisely because of this 

precarious security situation, the 

Customs and other security 

agencies in Nigeria need to act 

in ways that demonstrate that 

they are able and willing to secure 

our beloved Nigeria and its 

peoples. The high level of 

insecurity in our land is no longer 

news. It has led to the death 

of many innocent Nigerians. 

Deadly 

weapons 

From the Niger-Delta to the 

North East, passing through the 

Middle Belt, there is so much 

bloodshed. People are 

abducted in broad daylight, in 

their homes and on the streets. 

Guns are openly used before, 

during and after elections in this 

country. Everything shows that 

Nigeria is saturated with deadly 

weapons, and these weapons are 

in the hands of people who are 

ready to innocent Nigerians. 

The three men who have been 

arrested and the customs officers 

under investigation are 

suspects. They are innocent 

until proven guilty in a properly 

constituted court of justice. If 

indeed they are guilty, they may 

be errand boys. But let’s look 

beyond suspects. Let’s go look 

for those who sent them on their 

deadly errand. In the midst of 

high level of insecurity, this 

recurring decimal of unlawful 

importation of arms is 

symptomatic of the wild and 

savage politics of Nigeria. 

Being in government is 

synonymous with access to 

Nigeria’s wealth. Some are 

ready and willing to kill in order 

to be “elected” or appointed. 

That is why successive classes of 

political office holders have 

demonstrated a lack of political 

will to deal with the situation. 

Rather than fail to be in 

government, many of our 

politicians would prefer to make 

the country ungovernable. Like 

the proverbial mouse who cannot 

eat the nuts, they will scatter the 

nuts. 

•Anthony Cardinal Okogie is 

Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 --- 41 

It’ll be suicidal 

for INEC not to 

register Mega 

Party 

— ENGR. SANI 

ENGINEER Yagbayi Sani, who hails from 

Niger State, is the Protem National 

Chairman of the new mega party, Action 

Democratic Party, ADP. 

In this interview, the convener of the ADP 

boasts that the Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC will register 

the new party and after that, it will win the 

2019 Presidential election. Excerpts: 

By Henry Umoru 

YOU led other members of 

your association to INEC 

recently to submit your 

documents for registration. Are 

you sure that the electoral 

umpire will register your 

association to become a party? 

Let me tell you that it will be 

suicidal for INEC not to register 

us because the fact of the matter 

is will APC be here today if INEC 

did not register it? They won’t be 

there, which means that 

Nigerians are watching to know 

whether this is the INEC they 

can trust. 

Democratic 

structures 

I am not sure we are doing 

anything wrong, what we are 

trying to do is to deepen 

democracy, it will even help the 

present government. We are 

even expecting INEC at our 

head office for inspection, 

preparatory to the registration of 

the party. 

Why did you decide to form 

another party when you have 

some 60 parties already in 

existence. Don’t you think that 

the number of political parties 

in the country is too much? 

The constitution of the country 

allows free association and it also 

gives individuals rights to 

contribute their quota in any way 

possible especially if you have a 

developing society like ours and 

especially when you look at the 

democratic structures that we 

have and given the fact that the 

main structures we have today 

are weak. In fact, I am not sure 

Nigerians still have confidence 

in those parties. You said there 

are many parties. Well, there are 

many parties but we are different. 

This one is a movement, whose 

time has come. We are a party 

whose idea has come, we are not 

like any other party. 

You said Nigerians have lost 

confidence in the parties, does 

that include the ruling All 

Progressives Congress, APC? 

Yes. In fact, Nigerians have lost 

confidence in those parties. So, 

for us, it is a call to duty that we 

should rescue the political stage 

from imminent collapse. 

Is your party a progressive 

party, a democratic party or a 

conservative one? 

You can call us progressive. We 

are progressive in the sense that 

we want to deepen democracy. 

We don’t think democracy in this 

country, as it is now, is properly 

The PDP does not 

have a centre of 

attraction and that 

is why they could 

not manage the 

litigations they 

were having 

situated. Even the executive is 

not as democratic as it should be. 

So, we are coming to deepen 

democracy. When you have 

democracy, the issue of whether 

it is progressive or conservative 

or whatever is immaterial. You 

can say that our leaning is 

•Sani: Nigerians have lost confidence in APC 

towards being progressive to 

ensure that the democratic tenets 

are allowed to really have a say. 

Why the APC got it wrong is that 

they were just after power. 

Otherwise they would have been 

responsive to the needs of the 

people. 

Where are you going to draw 

the bulk of your membership 

from. Is it from the North, 

North-Central, South-South or 

South-West? 

The dynamics of politics today 

has changed. Ours is a 

movement whose time has come. 

So, the idea of where we draw 

our membership from is just 

begging the issue. I don’t know 

whether you have watched or 

you know what happened before 

APC came to being. Why didn’t 

you ask them then where they 

were drawing their membership 

from? 

We already knew that time that 

they had five governors from the 

South-West, they had one from 

the North and they were banking 

on the street popularity of Buhari 

in the North. 

Street popularity 

of Buhari 

That was the configuration at 

that time but today you have even 

a better environment in the sense 

that the governors that you are 

talking about, who probably are 

in PDP today, are in total disarray 

and for the PDP to come together, 

you now have to look at the 

factors that will force them to 

come together. 

PDP may soon bounce back by 

ending its political quagmire 

and if that happens where do 

you hope to draw your members 

from? 

This question is speculative 

because of the contending forces. 

If you are familiar with the 

reasons PDP is going through 

what they are going through, it 

is not just the issue of litigation. 

It is also the issue of the party 

that lost the centre of attraction. 

Right now? 

Not just right now. You know 

the PDP has lost political power 

and the party in power, the APC 

will do everything possible to 

remain in power being their arch 

enemy. You know the PDP was 

able to hold together because 

they had power. They have lost 

political power now and I am not 

sure there is a centre of attraction 

anymore. I am also sure that the 

APC, which sees the PDP as 

enemy number one will not allow 

them. 

Centre of 

attraction 

When I say do everything 

possible, I mean that the bulk of 

those who formed the APC are 

from the PDP. The PDP does not 

have a centre of attraction and 

that is why they could not 

manage the litigations they were 

having. There’s nobody to call 

anybody to order and largely it 

is a very indisciplined party. 

If you say there is no attraction 

for the PDP, what of the APC 

which has been receiving lots of 

defectors in recent weeks? 

These are not people that can 

go back to their constituencies 

and tell anybody to join them and 

they will listen. 

Mere mention of APC in some 

places will create anger between 

the proponents and the people. 

So, the party has really lost 

followers. Those defecting to join 

them are just individuals, who 

are just looking for business and 

business is not about masses. 

The masses are looking for 

something different, something 

they can associate with, not 

individuals running from one 

party to the other to take positions 

or contracts. So, those moving to 

the APC now are people looking 

for something and the party also 

knows that they are joining them 

to take whatever they can get. 

What about the situation in the 

South East where bigwigs keep 

defecting to the APC? Looking 

at the North too, it looks settled 

for the APC. 

There are two different things 

here. You have to be able to 

separate the two. Why do you 

have political parties? You have 

political parties to win elections 

but the parties in existence have 

lost appeal. Even the APC 

They are still in power you 

know… 

Yes, they are still in power but 

the power rests with the people 

and the people have lost faith in 

that party. Today, we are creating 

a vibrant environment so that 

they will also become better. 

Maybe our coming will help 

them to also become better and 

to also manage their party affairs 

more efficiently. It is really in the 

interest of the government of the 

day to ensure they have a vibrant 

opposition; to keep them on their 

toes and I am quoting even the 

National Chairman of the APC, 

Chief John Oyegun. 

All-inclusive 

government 

He was quoted to have said that 

he will welcome mega party 

because it will keep them on their 

toes, which is better for our 

democracy and even for this 

government. 

But can we really say that the 

main agenda of your party is to 

get power in 2019? 

I have told you that we are 

coming to deepen democracy. 

Our aim is to deepen democracy. 

So, we are not coming for the sake 

of grabbing power. No! 

You know that when APC came 

they were very resolute on 

grabbing power 

No, you don’t take power for 

its own sake. You must have a 

reason for doing what you are 

doing and our agenda, if you look 

at our party’s main principle, you 

see all-inclusive government, 

empowerment of young people 

and also party supremacy. All of 

these are missing in the present 

government. They are not in the 

government we have had. How 

can you say that somebody who 

is an elected governor, who was 

produced by the party, is now the 

leader of the party? It is finished. 

You have finished the party and 

the party is gone. 

You said that PDP has no 

rallying point, who are the 

rallying points in your party? 

The masquerades are the 

people. They are the 

masquerades. When we come 

out in our large number as we 

are doing now, you will see the 

masquerades.


The legal right of Nigerians 

to protest against government 

By Femi Falana 

BY a letter dated 21 st May 

2003, the All Nigeria 

Peoples’ Party had requested 

the Inspector-General of Police 

to issue police permits to its 

members to hold unity rallies 

throughout the country to 

protest the rigging of the 2003 

elections. The request was 

refused by the police chief 

without any reason. The ANPP 

decided to hold the rallies. 

The first rally which held in 

Kano on the 22 nd of September 

2003 which was attended by 

General Muhammadu Buhari 

and other leaders of the ANPP 

was violently disrupted by the 

police on the ground that the 

organizers had not obtained a 

police permit. 

The ANPP and 10 other 

opposition political parties 

instructed our law firm to 

challenge the constitutional 

validity of police permit for 

rallies in Nigeria. In the suit 

filed at the federal high court 

it was contended that 

provisions of the Public Order 

Act requiring permit for rallies 

were in conflict with the 

fundamental right of 

Nigerians to freedom of 

assembly and freedom of 

expression. In defending the 

action the police counsel 

maintained that the rally was 

stopped because it was not 

authorized by the Inspector- 

General of Police. 

Fundamental right of 

Nigerians to freedom 

In dismissing the defence of 

the Police the trial judge, 

Chinyere J. held that police 

permit was inconsistent with 

sections 39 and 40 of the 

Constitution and Article 11 of 

the African Charter on Human 

and Peoples’ Rights Act (Cap 

A9) Laws of the Federation of 

Nigeria, 2004. 

According to the learned trial 

judge said “I am therefore 

persuaded by the argument of 

Mr. Falana that by the 

combined effect of sections 39 

and 40 of the 1999 Constitution 

as well as Article 11 of the 

African Charter on Human 

and Peoples’ Rights, the right 

to assemble freely cannot be 

violated without violating the 

fundamental right to peaceful 

assembly and association. I 

also agree with Mr. Falana 

that violation can only be done 

by the procedure permitted by 

law, under section 45 of the 

Constitution, in which case 

there must be a state of 

emergency properly declared 

before these rights can be 

violated.” 

Even though the trial court 

confirmed that the governor of 

each state was the appropriate 

Nigerians protesting against worsening ecomonic situation 

in the country. 

authority to grant permit 

under the Act the trial court did 

not hesitate to declare illegal 

and unconstitutional the 

provisions of the Public Order 

Act which require permit for 

public meetings and rallies. 

Consequently, the court 

proceeded to grant an order of 

perpetual injunction 

“restraining the Defendant 

(the Inspector-General of 

Police) whether by himself, his 

agents, privies and servants 

from further preventing the 

Plaintiffs and other aggrieved 

citizens of Nigeria from 

organizing or convening 

peaceful assemblies, meetings 

and rallies against unpopular 

government measures and 

policies.” 

Completely dissatisfied with 

the judgment the Inspector- 

General of Police appealed to 

the Court of Appeal. On a 

critical perusal of the Public 

Order Act, Olufunmilayo 

Adekeye J.C.A (as she then 

was) said that ‘’there is 

nowhere the name of the 

Inspector General is 

mentioned in connection with 

the issuance of permit for the 

purpose of conducting 

peaceful public assemblies. 

Such application is to be 

forwarded to the Governor 

within forty-eight hours of 

holding such. The Governor 

may delegate his powers 

under the Act to the 

Commissioner of Police of the 

State or any superior police 

officer of a rank not below 

that of a Chief Superintendent 

of Police as applicable to this 

case in hand.” (See All 

Nigeria Peoples Party & Ors. 

v. Inspector General of Police) 

However, on the 

fundamental right of Nigerian 

citizens to assemble freely and 

protest without any inhibition 

whatsoever, Adekeye JCA 

proceeded to hold that “Public 

Order Act should be 

promulgated to compliment 

sections 39 and 40 of the 

Constitution in context and 

not to stifle or cripple it. A rally 

or placard carrying 

demonstration has become a 

form of expression of views on 

current issues affecting 

government and the governed 

in a sovereign state. It is a 

tread recognized and deeply 

entrenched in the system of 

governance in civilized 

countries – it will not only be 

primitive but also retrogressive 

if Nigeria continues to require 

a pass to hold a rally. We must 

borrow a leaf from those who 

have trekked the rugged path 

of democracy and are now 

reaping the dividend of their 

experience.” 4 

Recalling that the British 

colonial regime had 

introduced and imposed the 

Public Order Ordinance to 

stop the Nigerian people from 

protesting against foreign 

domination and exploitation 

Justice Adekeye was 

When public 

rallies were 

similarly banned 

in Abuja last year 

the BBOG 

members ignored 

it and continued 

their protests. 

Other aggrieved 

groups equally 

defied illegal 

police ban on 

public protests 

compelled to ask “...how long 

shall we continue with the 

present attitude of allowing 

our society to be haunted by 

the memories of oppression 

and gagging meted out to us 

by our colonial masters 

through the enforcement of 

issuance of permit to enforce 

our rights under the 

Constitution?” 

On the fear usually 

expressed by the Police that a 

rally might be hijacked by 

Femi Falana, SAN. 

hoodlums leading to a breach 

of the peace the Court was of 

the view that “If as speculated 

by law enforcement agents 

that breach of the peace would 

occur our Criminal Code has 

made adequate provisions for 

sanctions against breakdown 

of law and order so that the 

requirement of permit as a 

conditionality to holding 

meetings and rallies can no 

longer be justified in a 

democratic society.” 

Amending the Public 

Order Act 

In his contribution to the 

leading judgment of the Court, 

Muhammad JCA confirmed that 

police permit is alien to a 

democratic society when he 

reiterated that “In present day 

Nigeria, clearly police permit has 

outlived its usefulness. Certainly 

in a democracy, it is the right of 

citizens to conduct peaceful 

processions, rallies or 

demonstrations without seeking 

and obtaining permission from 

anybody. It is a right guaranteed 

by the 1999 Constitution and any 

law that attempts to curtail such 

right is null and void and of no 

consequence.” 

In view of the aforesaid judicial 

pronouncements the authorities 

of the Nigeria Police Force have 

recognized the fundamental right 

of Nigeria to protest peacefully 

without police permit. Hence, in 

the Nigeria Police Code of 

Conduct it is stated that police 

officers shall “maintain a neutral 

position with regard to the merits 

of any labour dispute, political 

protest, or other public 

demonstration while acting in an 

official capacity.” Based on the 

Code the police did not disrupt 

the rallies convened by the Save 

Nigeria Group in 2010 to protest 

the seizure of power by a cabal 

when the Late President Umaru 

Yaradua was on admission in a 

foreign hospital. Although the 

rallies had culminated in his 

emergence as Acting President of 

the Republic, Dr. Goodluck 

Jonathan later turned round to 

deploy battalion of soldiers to stop 

the January 12, 2012 mass 

protests against the removal of 

fuel subsidy. 

About a year later, the regime 

dispatched armed thugs to attack 

and disperse the BBOG members 

in Abuja for reminding the State 

of its responsibility to free the 

abducted Chibok girls. As if the 

barbaric attack was not enough 

the Nigeria Police Force banned 

public protests in the Federal 

Capital Territory. The illegal ban 

was successfully challenged at 

the Federal Capital Territory High 

Court in the unreported case of 

Hadiza Bala Usman &Ors v 

Commissioner of Police & Anor. 

(Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/1693/2014 

of 30th October, 2014). In 

upholding our submissions the 

court held that “it is wrong for the 

counsel to the Respondent (IGP) 

to insist that the Applicants must 

obtain Police Permit before they 

can gather together for their 

peaceful protests.” 

When public rallies were 

similarly banned in Abuja last 

year the BBOG members ignored 

it and continued their protests. 

Other aggrieved groups equally 

defied illegal police ban on public 

protests. In the circumstance, the 

National Assembly was 

compelled to amend the Public 

Order Act in line with the 

judgment of the Court of Appeal 

in IGP v ANPP (2008) 12 WRN 

65. Thus, section 94 (4) of the 

Electoral Amendment Act, 2015 

states that “Notwithstanding any 

provision in the Police Act, the 

Public Order and any regulation 

made thereunder or any other 

law to the contrary, the role of the 

Nigeria Police Force in political 

rallies, processions and meetings 

shall be limited to the provision 

of adequate security as provided 

in subsection 1 of this section.” 

Incessant disruption of 

public meetings and rallies 

by the police 

In conclusion, since democracy 

admits of freedom of expression, 

the right of Nigerians to hold 

protests, marches, rallies and 

demonstrations for or against the 

government should no longer be 

enjoyed at the whims and 

caprices of the ruling class. 

Therefore, the incessant 

disruption of public meetings and 

rallies by the police and other 

security agencies should always 

be resisted by the Nigerian 

people. As any of the 

fundamental rights guaranteed 

by the Constitution can only be 

abridged or restricted by a 

procedure permitted by law, a 

police officer who has information 

that any rally or demonstration 

may lead to a breakdown of law 

and order is advised to apply for 

a an injunctive relief in a 

competent court of law. 

To be continued.

Jumadal Awaal 12, 1438 A.H. 

Hijab: A must for Muslim ladies 

AS a demonstration of 

modesty and obedience to 

Allah, Muslim girls and women 

wear head coverings called 

“hijabs,” particularly when in 

public. Q24:30-31. For Muslims, 

wearing a headscarf is not only 

about religious expression, it is 

strictly religious obligation; and 

if the constitution freely provides 

for freedom to exercise one’s faith 

according to section 38 (1) of the 

1999 constitution, then where lies 

the tolerance so claimed by non- 

Muslims? Muslim women 

observe hijab (covering the head 

and the body) because Allah has 

told them to do so. 

Allah, the Almighty says in the 

Holy Quran: “O Prophet, tell your 

wives and daughters and the 

believing women to draw their 

outer garments around them 

(when they go out or are among 

men). That is better in order that 

they may be known (to be 

Muslims) and not annoyed...” 

(Quran 33:59) 

It is a good identity because a 

Muslim woman adhering to the 

injunction of Allah is not only 

carrying out the commandment 

of Allah but also making a 

statement about her identity. 

Anyone who sees her will know 

that she is a Muslim and has a 

good moral character distinct 

from the half naked ladies who 

have only abused a culture of 

decency and morality in the way 

to turn out in the public. 

Culture of decency 

and morality 

Many Muslim women who 

cover are filled with dignity and 

self esteem; they are pleased to 

be identified as a Muslim 

woman. As a chaste, modest, 

pure woman, she does not want 

her sexuality to enter into 

interactions with men in the 

smallest degree. A woman who 

covers herself is concealing her 

sexuality but allowing her 

femininity to be brought out. 

Nigeria is not the only country 

where discrimination against the 

hijab wearing women exists but 

it becomes so tensed in this 

society merely because of the 

intolerance of many non- 

Muslims. They see Hijab as a 

threat to their religious 

evangelism, 

It is not about civilisation like 

many critics of Hijab are wont to 

say, it is about obeying your 

creator and exhibiting your self 

identity as a Muslim. 

“Say to the believing man that 

they should lower their gaze and 

guard their modesty; that will 

make for greater purity for them; 

and Allah is well acquainted with 

all that they do. And say to the 

believing women that they 

should lower their gaze and 

guard their modesty; and that 

they should not display their 

beauty and ornaments except 

what must ordinarily appear 

thereof; that they should draw 

their veils over their bosoms and 

not display their beauty except 

to their husbands...” [Noble 

Quran 24:30-31] 

These verses from the Quran 

contain two main injunctions: 

A woman should not show her 

beauty or adornments except 

what appears by uncontrolled 

factors such as the wind 

blowing her clothes, and the 

head covers should be drawn so 

as to cover the hair, the neck and 

It is a good identity 

because a Muslim 

woman adhering to 

the injunction of 

Allah is not only 

carrying out the 

commandment of 

Allah but also 

making a statement 

about her identity 

the bosom. 

Islam has no fixed standard as 

to the style of dress or type of 

clothing that Muslims must wear. 

However, some requirements 

must be met. The first of these 

requirements is the parts of the 

body which must be covered. 

Islam has two sources for 

guidance and rulings: first, the 

Quran, the revealed word of 

Allah and secondly, the Hadith 

or the traditions of the Prophet 

Muhammad (peace and 

blessings be upon him) who was 

chosen by Allah to be the role 

model for mankind. The 

following is a Tradition of the 

Prophet: 

“Aisha reported that Asma’ the 

daughter of Abu Bakr came to 

the Messenger of Allah (peace 

and blessings be upon him) 

while wearing thin clothing. He 

approached her and said: ‘O 

Asma’! When a girl reaches the 

menstrual age, it is not 

properthat anything should 

remain exposed except this and 

this. He pointed to theface and 

hands.” [Abu Dawud] 

The second requirement is 

looseness. The clothing must be 

loose enough so as not to 

describe the shape of the 

woman’s body. One desirable 

way to hide the shape of the body 

is to wear a cloak over other 

clothes. However, if the clothing 

is loose enough, an outer 

garment is not necessary. 

Thickness is the third 

requirement. The clothing must 

be thick enough so as not to show 

the color of the skin it covers or 

the shape of the body. The 

Prophet Muhammad (peace and 

blessings be upon him) stated 

that in later generations of his 

Ummah there would be “women 

who would be dressed but naked 

and on top of their heads (what 

looks like) camel humps. Curse 

them for they are truly cursed.” 

[Muslim] 

Another requirement is an 

over-all dignified appearance. 

The clothing should not attract 

men’s attention to the woman. It 

should not be shiny and flashy 

so that everyone notices the 

dress and the woman. In 

addition there are other 

requirements: Again, and very 

important, women must not 

dress so as to appear as men. 

“Ibn Abbas narrated: ‘The 

Prophet (peace and blessings be 

upon him) cursed the men who 

appear like women and the 

women who appear like men.’” 

[Bukhari] Women should not 

dress in a way similar to the 

unbelievers. 

Cross section of women during a programme to sensitize other 

Muslim ladies on wearing of hijab. 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 --- 43 

Barka Jumah 

Endure challenges 

Endure all challenges with faith that stoke the 

virtues of righteous living which secure earthly bliss 

and space in paradise. Always do good deeds that 

worthily offer help to the weak who remain helpless, 

alone and lonely. May Allah lend to you and your 

family the grace that sustains infinitely joyous 

triumph. 

Happy Jumah. —Adewale Adeeyo, OON 

Vanguard Muslim SoulMate 

Last week, Profiles 73 and 90 

got hooked. Barakallahu Fihi: 

PROFILE 91: A Muslim male, 45, Shails from Kogi State 

with knowledge of Quran and hadiths, a practicing and 

devout Muslim needs a Muslim lady, single or divorced between 

40-42 years of age. She must be literate and ready for marriage. 

Profile 92: A Muslim male, trader, single and 38 years of age, 

desires a Muslim lady not more than 35 years of age for marriage. 

She must be literate and enterprising. 

Profile 93: A male Muslim, 44, from Osun State, genotype AS, 

fair complexioned wants a female Muslim between 28 to 35 years 

for marriage. She must be fair complexioned with genotype AA. 

Profile 94: A 27-year-old female Muslim, based in Akure, 

employedwith genotype AA is seeking a practising Muslim male 

between 29-33 years of age as husband. He must be gainfully 

employed or financially ready. 

Profile 95: A Muslim man, Lecturer working in Adamawa, 33 

years of age and 6ft tall seeks a pius Muslim lady as second wife. 

She may be from Adamawa, Taraba, or Gombe between 18 and 25 

years of age. She needs not be employed. 

Profile 96: Muslim male, 41, 6ft tall, dark and working as a civil 

servant, desires a Muslim lady who is ready for marriage. she 

must be literate and ready for marriage. 

Profile 97: A Muslim male, from Osun State, 43 searching for a 

Muslim lady between 20-35 as second wife, preferably from the 

South West. 

NACOMYO calls for creation of religious 

affairs ministry 

NACOMYO calls for creation of Ministry of Religious 

Affairs National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations 

NACOMYO has advocated for the establishment of Ministry of 

Religious Affairs or Agency that will regulate and monitor the 

activities of religious preachers in the country, stating that licensing 

of religious preachers in the country will check their excesses and 

an an antidote to hate preachings and inflammatory utterances that 

tend to undermine the fragile peace in the country. While noting 

that such agency exists in certain parts of the country, it stressed the 

need to empower and strengthen them to enable them carry out 

such function, and towards making the preachers to be refined, 

disciplined and apply decorum in calling people to the way of God. 

The appeal is coming on the heels of hate preaching and inciting 

statements credited to a prominent clergy in the country and who is 

under investigation. 

NACOMYO noted that religion is taking a new trend, capable of 

causing Nigerians to take up arms against themselves. It called on 

government to rise to the occasion and take proactive initiatives at 

stemming the tide and averting religious crises in the overall interest 

of nationhood. 

It renewed its call for the resuscitation of Nigerian-Inter Religious 

Council (NIREC) and with more vigour as a means to checking 

religious bigotry, intolerance and to ensuring interfaith cooperation 

and collaboration for development. 

NACOMYO also emphasized the need for caution and restraint 

on the part of stakeholders and especially those at the helm of 

affairs,asking them to eschew sentiments and be ‘part of the solution’ 

rather than being ‘part of the problem’. 

Sultan, Aregbesola, others pray for Nigeria 

THE Osun Muslim Community will on Sunday hold a 

national prayer session in honour of Dr Sakariyau Babalola, 

Deputy President General of Nigerian Supreme Council for 

Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). 

This was contained in a statement issued Wednesday in Ibadan 

by Alhaji Femi Abbas, a spokesperson for the Muslim Ummah of 

South West Nigeria (MUSWEN). 

The event billed to hold in Osogbo would have in attendance 

the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of NSCIA, Alhaji 

Sa’ad Abubakar, as well as Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun. 

Also expected at the prayer session are Islamic scholars from 

South West Zone as well as Muslim organisations and groups. 

The statement said that this was the first prayer session that the 

Osun Muslim Community would be holding for Babalola who 

also doubles as the President of MUSWEN. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

44 --- VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

FOLLOWING the rejection 

of stay of execution on the use 

of Hijab with school uniform in 

Public schools in Lagos state by the 

Court a few days ago, the Muslim 

Rights Concern (MURIC) has said 

any school authority who disallows 

female Muslim students or pupils 

from using hijab risks being jailed 

for contempt of court. 

The Director of the group, 

Professor Ishaq Akintola who 

described the rejection as “bold, 

convincing and reassuring, in a 

statement to Vanguard said the 

judgment has cemented people’s 

faith in the judiciary as the last hope 

of the common man. 

Asiyat Abdul Kareem (through 

her father), Moriam Oyeniyi and 

the Muslim Students Society of 

Nigeria had won appeal of case 

CA/L/135/15 against the Lagos State 

Government on 21st July, 2016 

when all the five judges of the 

Lagos Appeal Court approved the 

use of hijab in Lagos public schools. 

The state government immediately 

approached the Supreme Court to 

appeal the case and also sought a 

stay of the execution at the Appeal 

Court. 

MURIC however appealed to the 

state government to allow sleeping 

dogs to lie. “There is a limit even 

for official ego. There must come a 

time when government scoops to 

allow the general will to prevail. But 

the law is on the side of the general 

will this time. 

“A government installed via 

democratic process cannot afford to 

disrespect a court judgment. This 

latest decision is legally binding and 

Lagos has no choice. Afterall, it is 

the center of excellence. 

According to Akintola: “The 

honourable path is for the center of 

excellence to walk its talk. The state 

government must instruct the 

Jumadal Awwal 12, 1438 A.H. 

Now the die is cast, disallow hijab, risk 

jail, MURIC warns 

Ministry of Education to tell school 

principals to allow female Muslim 

children to use hijab in public 

schools. 

“Without being immodest, we 

assure all and sundry that we know 

our rights. Any school authority who 

disallows female Muslim students 

or pupils from using hijab risks 

being jailed for contempt of court. 

We have been patient enough. Our 

children have listened to us. They 

eschewed violence. They obeyed the 

rules of decorum. Now the die is 

cast. 

“Muslims have been accused 

severally of resorting to 

spontaneous violence even though 

they have always been provoked. 

But the case is different this time 

PUPILS in Lagos State 

primary and secondary 

schools are now free to wear hijab 

pending the determination of the 

appeal at the Supreme Court, Amir 

(President), of the Muslim Students’ 

Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos 

State Area Unit, Dr Saheed Ashafa, 

has said. 

Dr Ashafa said this against the 

latest judgment of the Court of 

Appeal which struck out the motion 

seeking an injunction to stop the use 

of hijab in Lagos by the state 

government. 

Ashafa said the implication of the 

judgment is that pupils can continue 

to wear hijab to primary and 

secondary schools in Lagos State 

unless the Supreme Court gives a 

contrary verdict. 

Dissatisfied with judgements of 

the Court of Appeal delivered on 

Thursday, July 21, 2016, which gave 

approval to 

Muslim 

female pupils 

to wear the 

hijab on their 

s c h o o l 

uniforms, the 

s t a t e 

government 

proceeded to 

the Supreme 

Court to 

challenged 

the judgment. 

It also 

applied for a 

Amir, MSSN Lagos State Area Unit, Dr Saheed 

Ashafa and National Amir of MSSN, Muhammad 

Jameel 

around. Lagos Muslims went to 

court instead of going violent and 

the courts have decided. Lagos 

government must allow the law to 

take its due course. 

“Nigerians and indeed the rest 

of the world must see this as a test 

case for democracy and the rule of 

law in Lagos State. We want to 

know how democratic are our 

democrats? To be or not to be? That 

is the question. Whether Lagos will 

respect the courts and allow the 

students to use hijab as ordered by 

the court or whether the 

grandstanding, the stigmatization, 

the oppression and persecution will 

continue is left to be seen. The world 

is watching, Akintola stated. 

Muslim pupils now free to wear 

hijab in Lagos —MSSN 

stay of 

execution of 

the Appeal 

C o u r t 

judgment. 

The stay of 

execution was 

raised by the 

Government 

in the case 

(CA/L/135/15) 

of Lagos State Government vs 

Miss Asiyat AbdulKareem 

(through her father), Miss Moriam 

Oyeniyi and Muslim Students’ 

Society of Nigeria. 

A three-man panel comprising 

Justices M. L. Garba (presiding), J. 

S. Ikyegh and U. Ogakwu, gave 

the ruling, citing a pending appeal 

by the state at the Supreme Court. 

The panel agreed with the state that 

the apex court was the proper place 

for the application to be heard. 

Justice Garuba said: “An appeal 

has been entered at the Supreme 

Court, you can’t expect us to transmit 

it to the Supreme Court. You have 

to withdraw the application. The 

application before us has to go. The 

application is hereby struck out.” 

Wearing of hijab 

to schools 

Ashafa in an interview after the 

hearing said, “We give thanks to 

Allah for making us victorious again. 

This simply means that pupils can 

continue to put on the hijab. “We 

urge the Government to respect this 

verdict and warn teachers against 

further harassment of our pupils for 

wearing hijab to schools. 

Also, MSSN lawyer Hassan 

Fajimite said the ruling implies that 

there is no more restriction on the 

use of the hijab in Lagos schools. 

Fajimite said: “Before now, we 

were conceding to the fact that once 

an application has been is filed, for 

instance in terms of an application 

for injunction pending an appeal 

or stay of execution of a judgment, 

we are constrained or obliged to 

respect that action and refuse to 

exercise our rights under the 

judgment that we have won. “That 

application is now gone and from 

this moment, no such restriction, 

nothing is stopping any Muslim 

pupils from using hijab for now. 

Humanity First donates relief 

materials to IDP’s 

AN international humanitarian organisation Humanity 

First International, Canada in collaboration with its 

counterpart in Nigeria Donates relief Materials to the internally 

displaced persons, IDP’s, victims of Boko Haram insurgence in 

the North-East of the country. 

The relief Materials worth N2million comprises household 

items, clothes, and foodstuff présentéd to IDP’s at Kuchingoro, 

airport road Abuja on Saturday by the Chairman Humanity First 

International, Nigeria, Dr Yakeen Habeeb. 

Dr Habeeb who is the Deputy Head, Naib Amir, Ahmadiyya 

Muslim jamaat Nigeria, in a statement said the donation was in 

fulfillment of the promise of the international humanitarian 

organisation last year to the IDP’s at Dunrumi, Abuja. 

The Humanity First International was established under the 

directive of the world Head of the Ahmadiyya Community, late 

Hazrat Tahir Ahmad to cater for the needs of the vulnerable and 

victims of conflicts and natural disasters. 

Ahmadiyya commences work on university project 

THE groundbreaking of Minaret International University, MIU, 

sponsored by Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria has commençed 

in Ikirun, State of osun, South West Nigeria. 

The epoch event was performed by the Amir (Head). Dr. Mashhud 

Fashola recently with some members of the Amila, traditional rulers, 

eminent personalities of Osun extraction in attendance. 

Minaret International University, when fully completed is poised to 

producing disciplined, righteous, skillful and creative graduates. 

Both the agricultural and university Projects have received the gracious 

approval and blessings of World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim 

Community , His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad. 

While addressing hundreds of indigenes of Ikirun, the Amir said MIU 

would be a unique, standard and decent higher institution of learning that 

would devoid of cultism, indecency and immoral acts. He said the products 

of the institution need not look for jobs after graduation as they would be 

groomed into becoming self-reliant with professional science and technical 

know-how. 

Dr. Fashola said that MIU Agricultural Enterprise starts immediately in 

line with the directive of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, adding that it will 

provide additional source of income to facilitate the University project. 

He further stated that admission into the University would be on merit 

only, irrespective of religions, languages and ethnic differences. He said 

the objective of Ahmadiyya Community is to reform the world. He however 

said constant prayers from all and sundry would help for a successful 

University project, adding that the Jama’at would welcome contributions 

of people to the agricultural project through purchase of shares. 

His Royal Majesty, Oba Olayiwola Olawale Adedeji II, the Akinrun of 

Ikirunland lauded the gesture to establish MIU at Ikirun and promised 

the moral supports of all Ikirun indigenes to the project. 

Oba Olayiwola Olawale Adedeji II, who was full of happiness, said 

MIU tuition fee would be affordable even to the poor while the institution 

would provide jobs for Ikirun people and the graduates would be exceptional 

in all ramifications. He said these were in line with the prior discussions 

he had with the leadership of the Jama’at. 

The University Consultant, Prof. Ayo Omotayo of the Lagos State 

University said that MIU will be one of the best Universities in a short time. 

He therefore requested for the full supports of the citizens and members. 

He requested everyone contribute meaningfully to the project. 

Congratulating the people of Ikirun for being the host community, Prof. 

Omotayo stated that University is a change agent in any society which 

usually provides employment opportunities for the indigenes. He urged 

the indigenes to be more kind and accommodative to workers on the 

University site. 

From left: Olori Ikirun Land, Madam Easter Abimbola Olawale; 

Circuit President, Abuja, Dr Lateef Busari; Akirun of Ikirun Land, 

Oba RaufOlayiwola Olawole, Adedeji 11; Amir, Ahmadiyya 

Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr Mash’hud Adenrele Fashola; Oloyan 

of Oyan, Oba Kilani Adekeye; Chief Imam of Ikirun Land, Alhaji 

Yinusi Balogun; his Naib, Alhaji Rabiu Salaudeen; Naib Amir 

South West, Barr. Abdul Azeez Alatoye and General Secretary, 

Alhaji Abbas Iromini, during the groundbreaking ceremony of 

the Minaret International University of Ahmadiyya in Ikirun 

Osun State. 

C 

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017— 45 

Nigeria’ll silence Cameroon, S/Africa – Rohr 

NIGERIA coach 

Gernot Rohr has 

said he expects his team 

to go past South Africa at 

home in June on their 

way to qualifying for the 

2019 AFCON and also 

maintain leadership over 

Cameroon in the World 

Cup qualifiers resuming 

in August. 

Rohr’s Eagles are 

drawn against South Africa, 

Libya and Seychelles 

for a place at the 

2019 AFCON in Cameroon. 

Nigeria welcome 

Bafana Bafana in June to 

get the AFCON qualifiers 

going. 

“Nigeria cannot miss 

the AFCON again because 

it’s a big tournament 

to celebrate African 

football. I hope we will be 

there at the next tournament,” 

he said. 

“But to do that we have 

to eliminate South Africa, 

who are a good team. We 

need a good preparation 

Rohr 

FIFA ranking 

Continues from Back Page 

Ivory Coast who crashed 

at the first round at the 

2017 AFCON lost 13 

steps to place 47th in the 

world and 9th in Africa, 

a step behind Ghana who 

like Nigeria, gained nine 

places to occupy the 45th 

position in the world. 

Even at this leap, they 

are seventh in Africa behind 

Egypt, Senegal, 

Cameroon, Tunisia, Congo 

DR and Burkina Faso. 

The Indomitable Lions, 

who silenced the Pharaohs 

to win their fifth African 

title, are the biggest 

climbers in Africa, moving 

up 29 places to occupy 

number 33 in the world, 

though third in Africa. 

The second biggest African 

climbers are Gabon 

who moved 21 places to 

now occupy 21st spot in 

Africa but 87th in the 

world. 

Argentina lead the 

world ranking with 1635 

points, followed closely 

by cross-country rivals 

Brazil in second and 

reigning world champions 

Germany in third 

place. The next Fifa ranking 

update will be announced 

on March 9. 

and organisation. We will 

have two friendly games 

next month and we have 

the possibility to test some 

new players and be together.” 

He also spoke on the 

World Cup double header 

against Cameroon 

billed for August 28 in 

Uyo and September 2 in 

Limbe. 

“The AFCON was a 

good tournament in Gabon 

and there were some 

good teams. The best 

team won the competition. 

We are interested in 

this team because we 

play them in the World 

Cup qualifiers,” he said. 

“We’re happy for Cameroon, 

but we have to beat 

the African champions. 

But our game will only be 

in six months and a lot of 

things could happen during 

that time,”he 

stressed. 

CAF Champions League: Rangers target away 

win in Bechar 

Ifeanyi Ubah 

Continues from Back Page 

them. 

Business mogul 

Ifeanyi Ubah said he is 

in football for business 

and he has identified the 

Chinese Super league 

as the biggest outlet for 

emerging world talents. 

“We don’t want to be 

left out of this revolution 

in world football. We 

want to sell our players 

to clubs who find them 

good enough to play in 

the Chinese Super 

League,” he said. 

Only last year Ifeanyi 

Ubah sealed a massive 

partnership deal with 

top English Premier 

League side West Ham 

United. 

MEDIA PARLEY... From Left; Mr Emeka Enyadike, Africa Football Manager Supersport. 

com, Mr Johnson Ivase, Gotv Marketing Manager, Multichoice Nigeria 

Limited, Mr Chidore Bede-Nwokeye, Marketing Manager Supersport, and Martin 

Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice during the FA Cup Media 

Parley by Multichoice last Wednesday at Victoria Island Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde 

Gbadamosi 

NIGERIA champi 

ons, Enugu 

Rangers, have set sights 

on victory away as they 

play as guests of Algerian 

side, JS Saoura in the 

first leg of the preliminary 

round clash of the 

Total CAF Champions 

League today in Bechar. 

The Flying Antelopes 

as they are nicknamed 

and seven-time Nigeria 

champions left their 

base with a 30-man contingent 

in search of the 

vital win, to make the 

second leg a mere formality. 

Captain Matthew Etim 

is upbeat they are ready 

for the task in the northwestern 

Algerian city of 

Bechar, JS Saoura, who 

are not regular campaigners 

in the continental 

club championship. 

“We are indeed very 

glad to be selected to 

defend the colours of 

Rangers on the continent 

and hopefully we 

shall not disappoint. Victory 

is what we are targeting 

and I believe that 

we have all it takes to 

achieve our target in Algeria. 

“We know that 

they are a good side but 

we are better”, stated 

the defender who only 

had his first game in the 

1-0 loss to neighbours, 

F.C IfeanyiUbah in a 

matchday six encounter 

of the Nigeria Premier 

League. 

Team Manager, Amobi 

Ezeaku, said, “Rangers 

is physically, mentally 

and psychologically 

prepared for this encounter 

and victory is 

The deal will among 

other things, see the 

North London club establish 

a top football 

academy in Nigeria and 

take some players of FC 

IfeanyiUbah on trials. 

This has already started 

yielding fruits according 

to the oil magnate 

FC IfeanyiUbah are 

fast emerging as one of 

the top guns in Nigeria 

after they won the Federation 

Cup last year 

and will feature in the 

CAF Confederation 

Cup. 

On Sunday afternoon 

in Nnewi, the club will 

tackle Al Masry of Egypt 

in the first round, first 

leg of the Confederation 

Cup. 

our target in Algeria. We 

are fully motivated for 

this battle”. 

Rangers coach Imama 

Amapakabo will be 

banking on the sharp 

reflexes of Ghanaian 

shot stopper, Nana Bonsu 

with the defensive 

experiences of Senegalese 

import, Pape Ousmane 

Sane, Orji Kalu, 

Ugwu Uwadiegwu, 

Mathew Etim, Chidiebere 

Okolie and Chizoba 

Amaefule while Christian 

Madu, Godwin 

Aguda, Obinna Nwobodo, 

Charles Henlong, 

Chiamaka Madu will be 

saddled with the task of 

screening the middle of 

the pack as Bobby Clement, 

Osas Okoro and 

Ocheme Edoh probes 

the rear guard of the Algerians 

for the goals. 

Costa attributes goal-scoring spree 

to Drogba 

DIEGO Costa has 

paid tribute to 

Chelsea legend Didier 

Drogba for inspiring his 

goal spree with the 

league leaders. 

Costa smashed 20 

goals two seasons ago to 

shoot the Blues to title 

success following his 

£32million move from 

Atletico Madrid. 

Drogba, voted Chelsea’s 

greatest player by 

supporters five years 

ago, was at the club during 

Costa’s first season. 

The Ivory Coast striker, 

who clinched 12 major 

trophies at Stamford 

Bridge, was back last 

weekend to see Costa 

help crush Arsenal and 

keep the club nine points 

clear at the top of the 

Amapakabo 

table. “I have always 

seen Drogba as the example 

to follow in terms 

of a centre-forward,” 

said Costa. “He was 

strong and scored loads 

of goals and he was a 

quality player. 

“Just watching him 

train helped me. Just 

seeing him, I was 

amazed. This is because 

— and I’m not making 

this up at all — I specifically 

used to watch 

Chelsea [before he 

joined], who are obviously 

a big club, just to 

see Drogba. “He was famous 

and everyone 

would talk about him. I 

even liked watching him 

when he played for the 

Ivory Coast. 

In an interview with 

Chelsea TV, the Spain 

international detailed 

Iheanacho’ll 

regain his 

place in 

Guardiola’s 

squad –Rohr 

KELECHI Iheana 

cho will fight his 

way back into Pep Guardiola’s 

plans - despite the 

arrival of Gabriel Jesus, 

Super Eagles coach, Gernot 

Rohr insists. 

Rohr revealed he has 

spoken with the 20-yearold 

striker, who has been 

left out of Manchester 

City’s last four matchday 

squads. 

He’s only started nine 

games all season - four in 

the Premier League - and 

that is despite Sergio 

Aguero missing seven 

games through suspension. 

While Aguero’s position 

has come under scrutiny 

following Jesus’ stunning 

start to his City career - 

the impact on Iheanacho’s 

first team chances has 

been largely overlooked. 

But Rohr is convinced 

the forward has the mental 

strength to rise to the 

challenge. 

“I am sure Kelechi will 

come back to this team,” 

Rohr 

told 

Africanfootball.com. 

“He’s a fighter, he has a 

good fighting spirit. 

“This player is a good 

athlete and he has a good 

mind. I have spoken with 

him and he will come 

back. 

“He’s a young player, 

so sometimes he plays, 

sometimes he doesn’t. 

And for a big club like 

Manchester City, you 

can’t play all the time. I 

believe he will come back 

to play for City again.” 

Guardiola has unveiled 

his new-look forward line 

of Jesus, Leroy Sane and 

Raheem Sterling in recent 

weeks - describing it as 

the ‘future’. 

how Drogba showed no 

ego and offered plenty 

of advice when it became 

clear he would be 

cast in a supporting 

role, leaving him to revel 

in the company of a 

player he had long admired. 

“I have always seen 

Drogba as the example 

to follow in terms of a 

centre-forward,” Costa 

said. “He was strong and 

scored loads of goals 

and he was a quality 

player. 

“Just watching him 

train helped me. Just 

seeing him, I was 

amazed. This is because 

- and I’m not making 

this up at all - I specifically 

used to watch Chelsea 

[before he joined], 

who are obviously a big 

club, just to see Drogba.

C 

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46 ---- Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017


Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 

FIFA ranking: Nigeria moves again 

•Egypt best in Africa 

DESPITE their ab 

sence at the 2017 

Africa Cup of Nations, 

the Super Eagles moved 

nine places up in the 

monthly rating announced 

on Thursday 

Nigeria moved up to 

the 42nd position in the 

latest Fifa global rankings 

released yesterday. 

The Super Eagles were 

ranked 51st in January 

rankings but this month, 

they moved a staggering 

nine places up despite 

their absence at the Africa 

Cup of Nations 

staged in Gabon while 


AFRICA TOP 10 

Egypt 

Senegal 

Cameroon 

Tunisia 

DR Congo 

Burkina Faso 

Nigeria 

Ghana 

Cote d’Ivoire 

Morocco 

Champions 

League: 

Rangers target 

away win in 

Bechar 

Costa attributes goal-scoring 

spree to Drogba —P.45 

Nigeria’ll silence 

Cameroon, -P.45 

S. Africa –Rohr 

WELLDONE BOY: Drogba and Costa 

TODAY'S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can 

have two of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also 

nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a 

bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 

through 9. This means that no number can appear twice 

in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division 

or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

CHECKED: Ahmed Musa(r) stops a South African opponent during a previous encounter. 

Ifeanyi Ubah eyes China millions 

•Ready to sell top players to CSL 

OWNER of NPFL 

side FC IfeanyiUbah, 

Patrick Ifeanyi 

Ubah, has revealed he is 

currently in talks with 

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS 

two Chinese clubs to sell 

top Nigerian talents to 


ACROSS DOWN 

3 Stadium (5) 1 Allure (5) 

9 Bargain (6) 2 Afresh (5) 

10 Property (6) 3 Beer (3) 

11 Era (5) 

4 Reiterate (6) 

5 Channel (4) 

12 Bar (4) 

6 Tree (3) 

15 Evil (4) 7 Implicit (5) 

17 Smallest (7) 8 Cap (5) 

20 Child (3) 13 Illness (7) 

21 Soar (5) 14 Ship (5) 

23 Encounter (4) 16 Amend (7) 

25 Jetty (4) 18 Adored (5) 

26 Stream (5) 19 Vitality (3) 

28 Insect (3) 22 Jockey (5) 

30 Guard (7) 24 Can (3) 

33 Detail (4) 27 Edit (6) 

35 Speed (4) 28 Ventilated (5) 

36 Custom (5) 29 Cogs (5) 

38 Involve (6) 31 Nautical (5) 

39 Sausage (6) 

32 Weird (5) 

40 Symbol (5) 

34 Nimbus (4) 

36 Strike (3) 

37 Brown (3) 

ACROSS: 1, Compel. 5, Blinder. 9, Yield. 10, 

Sunken. 11, Alcove. 12, Dense. 14, Piste. 26, 

Pedal. 29, Ache. 30, Her. 32, Dire. 33, Harem. 

35, Turbot. 36, Novice. 37, Sever. 8, Dodged. 

39, Wedged. 

CAF Champions League matches today 

KampalaC (Uga) vs Primeiro de Agosto (Ang) 2pm 

Saoura (Alg) vs Enugu Rangers (Nig) 7pm 

NPFL 

Enyimba 1 Akwa Utd 0 

ABS 1 MFM 0 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS 

DOWN: 1, Cosmos. 2, Minute. 3, Eyed. 4, 

Lined. 5, Blast. 6, Idle. 7, Doomed. 8, Reeked. 

13, Noisier. 15, Attic. 16, Haste. 18, Cited. 19, 

Debar. 21, Due. 22, Asp. 24, Panted. 25, 

Shared. 27, Diving. 28, Legend. 30, Hated. 

31, Refit. 33, Hose. 34, More. 

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 

01-4544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com 

Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01—4548355, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

10022017 - Buhari back anytime from now: PRESIDENCY SOURCES

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