26042017 - Court grants ‘iron bail’ to IPOB leader, Kanu

for 

AFE Vanguard 

Anti graft war: Need 

for separate 

investigative and 

prosecutorial 

functions 

—Aare Afe Babalola 

CON, SAN 

40 

What did 

Abiola die of? 

In conducting 

an autopsy on 

Abiola, there 

were some 

intrigues. What 

were they? 

See Page 37. 

Jega disappointed me, says Jonathan 

Nigeria exits recession by June end — CBN gov 

APC state chairmen fault Buhari's 

appointments, as NWC, govs meet today 

9 

8 

9 

VOL. 25: NO. 63277 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 

Court grants ‘iron bail’ to 

IPOB leader, Kanu 

•To produce Jewish leader, 2 others as sureties; each to deposit N100m 

•Kanu fails to meet bail conditions, returns to Kuje prisons 

•Fayose, Fani-Fayode defy DSS to enter courtroom 

SEE STORY 

ON PAGE 5 

Nnamdi Kanu coming out of the court (top) with Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose (above), while his supporters (right) jubilate 

after he was granted bail by an Abuja High Court, yesterday: Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan. More pictures on Page 16 

Mr & Mrs 

Grass-cutting contract: Osinbajo's 

panel grills SGF, Babachir Lawal 8 

Ex- Niger Gov, Aliyu, arraigned, 

35 

remanded in Minna Prison 

COLUMNISTS DEAR BUNMI 41 ROTIMI FASAN 29 PRINCEWILL 17 

How love for good food 

inspired my growth in business 

— Okonkwo, Tetrazzini boss 36

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 — 3


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,APRIL 26, 2017—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

The Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo presents a gift on behalf of President, 

Muhammadu Buhari to Gen. Abu Muhammad, Bangledesh Chief of Amy Staff 

during his courtesy visit to the State House, Abuja, yesterday. 



By Emeka Mamah , 

Clifford Ndujihe, 

Vincent Ujumadu, 

Anayo Okoli, Chidi 

Nkwopara, 

Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri, Dennis 

Agbo, Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu & Willy 

Ezugwu 

A 

B U J A — 

EMBATTLED 

Leader of the Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPOB, 

Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who 

has been in detention 

since October 14, 2015, 

yesterday, secured bail 

from the Federal High 

Court in Abuja. 

Trial Justice, Binta 

Nyako, granted Kanu bail 

on stringent conditions 

and refused to okay the 

release of three other pro- 

Biafra agitators- 

Chidiebere Onwudiwe, 

Benjamin Madubugwu 

and David Nwawuisiwho 

are facing trial 

alongside the IPOB 

leader. 

The bail conditions 

* Produce three sureties 

including a highly 

respected Jewish leader 

* Produce a highly 

placed Igbo person 

* Produce a respected 

person who resides and 

owns property in Abuja 

* Each surety must 

deposit N100million 

* Must not attend any 

rally or grant an interview 

* Must not be in a crowd 

exceeding 10 persons 

* To surrender his 

Nigerian and British 

passports 

* Must be available for 

trial at all times 

On a day that jubilations 

and mixed reactions 

trailed the bail, Kanu, 

however, could not meet 

the tough bail conditions 

and has returned to Kuje 

Prisons, Abuja. 

The 

Federal 

Government is 

prosecuting the 

defendants on a five-count 

criminal charge bordering 

on treasonable felony. 

Justice Binta Nyako said 

her decision to release 

Kanu, who is the 1st 

defendant before the 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

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from making considerable progress. It’s up to you. 

TAKE HEART 

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482 

Because believing that the dot will connect 

down the road, will give you the confidence to 

follow your heart, even when it leads you off 

the Bwell worn path —Steve Jobs 

elieve in You: A better way to innovate your 

visions and inspire your life is to do 

something about it. Let the ‘Doing’ be the 

validation you need. Know that you can excel 

without those who refuse to support your visions, 

dreams and assignments. All you needed is the 

believe in yourself and a higher power, and the 

right support and presence you will eventually 

attract. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

When the rabit grows old, it begins to suck the 

breast of it’s children. 

court, on bail, was based 

on health grounds, citing 

an affidavit that was 

attached to the bail 

application Kanu filed 

through his lawyer, Mr. 

Ifeanyi Ejiofor. 

Specifically, the court 

held that Kanu must 

produce three sureties, 

including a “highly 

respected and recognised 

Jewish leader.” 

Apart from a Jewish 

leader, Kanu must also 

produce a “highly placed 

person of Igbo extraction”, 

as well as “a highly 

respected person who is 

resident and owns landed 

property in Abuja.” 

Each of the sureties is to 

deposit N100 million. 

Justice Nyako had in 

the course of the ruling, 

asked Kanu to tell the 

court the religion he 

believes in, considering 

that one of the bail 

conditions would include 

his production of a highly 

placed religious leader. 

“My lord, I believe in 

Judaism”, Kanu replied 

from the dock. 

“Are you a Jew?”, the 

Judge queried. 

“Yes, I am a Jew”, Kanu 

maintained. 

“Good, in that case, one 

of the sureties must be a 

highly respected and 

recognised Jewish leader. 

I must be able to know 

him. Thank God I have 

been taught how to use 

Google”, Justice Nyako 

jokingly added. 

As part of his conditions 

for bail, Kanu, was 

expressly barred by the 

court from attending any 

rally or granting any form 

of interview. 

“I must stress it here 

that the defendant must 

not attend any rally. He 

must not be in a crowd 

exceeding 10 persons”, 

the Judge warned. 

Justice Nyako equally 

held that Kanu must sign 

an undertaking to make 

himself available for trial 

at all times. 

Kanu was ordered to 

surrender his Nigerian 

and British international 

passports, even as the 

court compelled the 

Federal Government to 

return to Kanu, his 

wedding ring and 

reading glasses. 

However, Kanu’s codefendantss 

were denied 

bail by the court which 

described charges against 

them as “very serious.” 

Justice Nyako said the 

fact that she earlier struck 

out the terrorism charges 

slammed against the 

defendants did not waterdown 

the seriousness of 

the treason charge against 

them. 

She held that Kanu’s codefendants 

did not 

adduce fresh facts capable 

of persuading the court to 

release them on bail. 

Court okays shielding 

of witnesses’ identities 

In a separate ruling, 

Justice Nyako gave the 

Federal Government the 

nod to shield identities of 

all the witnesses billed to 

testify in the matter. She 

dismissed the applications 

that Kanu and the other 

defendants filed for a 

variation of an earlier 

ruling that permitted 

Federal Government to 

mask the witnesses. 

While re-affirming her 

earlier ruling, Justice 

Nyako held that the 

witnesses who are mostly 

security operatives would 

testify behind a screen or 

wear mask when the need 

arises. 

Pro-Biafra supporters 

jubilate 

Meanwhile, several pro- 

Biafra supporters went 

into jubilation after they 

heard that Kanu was 

admitted to bail. 

They sang, danced and 

engaged in a miniprocession, 

while 

chanting different Biafra 

war songs. 

Most of them waved the 

Biafran flag, others 

brandished various 

insignia from the defunct 

Republic, while a small 

group of men and women 

dressed in Jewish 

apparels kept muttering 

what seemed to be a 

prayer in the way 

believers in Judaism do. 

Fayose, Fani-Kayode 

defy DSS to enter 

courtroom 

Ekiti State Governor, 

Ayodele Fayose, was 

among dignitaries that 

stormed the court to show 

solidarity with the IPOB 

leader. 

Fayose, who wore an 

Igbo chieftaincy red cap, 

was temporarily denied 

entry into the court room, 

a similar measure that 

was also meted out to 

former Minister of 

Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani- 

Kayode. 

The action of the security 

operatives, who were from 

the Department of State 

Services, DSS, sparked off 

a mild drama, as it took 

the intervention of lawyers 

to ensure that the duo 

entered the courtroom. 

While Fayose stayed till 

the end of the proceeding, 

Fani-Kayode could not 

stay because his own trial 

was also coming up before 

Justice John Tsoho of the 

same high court. 

Fayose was in the court 

even before Kanu was 

brought in by officials of 

Kuje Prison. 

Immediately Kanu 

entered the courtroom, 

his lawyers drew his 

attention to Fayose’s 

presence. 

The IPOB leader took 

quick strides towards 

Fayose, who met him 

midway. Both men 

hugged themselves. 

Subsequently, Fayose 

left his seat and went over 

to where Kanu and his codefendants 

sat; he sat 

beside Kanu and 

discussed with him for a 

while before the trial 

Judge entered. 

After the ruling, Fayose 

told newsmen that he 

came to court to show 

solidarity to Kanu, saying: 

“I love his spirit.” 

Also in court for the 

ruling was another 

erstwhile Minister of 

Aviation, Chief Osita 

Chidoka. 

Justice Nyako, however, 

fixed July 11 and 12 to 

commence trial, just as she 

stressed that she would 

not entertain any form of 

interlocutory application 

from any of the 

defendants. 

Kanu, who was hitherto 

the Director of Radio 

Biafra and Television, has 

spent a year and seven 

months in detention. He 

was arrested by security 

operatives upon his 

arrival to Nigeria from the 

United Kingdom. 

This was not the first 

time a court okayed his 

release on bail. 

Justice Adeniyi 

Ademola of the same high 

court had previously 

ordered the Federal 

Government to release the 

IPOB leader on bail. 

Justice Ademola was 

later arrested by DSS 

operatives and 

prosecuted on18-count 

charge that was 

subsequently quashed by 

an Abuja High Court at 

Maitama. 

Continues on Page 42 

Naira Watch 

Naira falls to N374.9 in 

investor’s forex window 

*CBN sells $25m 

By Babajide Komolafe 

The naira yesterday depreciated to N374.96 

per dollar in the newly introduced investors and 

exporter foreign exchange window. 

Meanwhile the naira was stable in the parallel market 

exchange rate yesterday where the exchange rate 

remained N382 per dollar. 

The Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ), the 

Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Rate Fixing 

(NAFEX), its benchmark rate for the investors’ forex 

market, opened yesterday at N374.25 per dollar and 

closed at N374.96 per dollar. 

This represented 22.6 per cent depreciation when 

compared with the interbank exchange rate of N305.9 

per dollar for spot transactions. 

Meanwhile the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 

intervened in the new market yesterday selling $25 

million. 

Acting Director Corporate Communication 

Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, disclosed this 

in a statement stressing that the window was 

established to boost liquidity in the forex market and 

ensure timely execution and settlement for eligible 

transactions. 

According to him, transactions under the new window 

include invisible transactions such as loan repayments, 

loan interest payments, Dividends/Income Remittances, 

Capital Repatriation, Management Service Fees, 

Consultancy fees, Software subscription fees, 

Technology Transfer Agreements, Personal Home 

Remittances and any such other eligible transactions 

including ‘miscellaneous Payments’ as detailed under 

Memorandum 15 of the CBN Foreign Exchange 

Manual. It, however, excludes international airlines 

ticket sales’ remittances.

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 

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

Jonathan’s 

former doctor 

charged with 

N259m 

contract 

scam 

•‘I'm not 

guilty’ 

By Soni Daniel 

A BUJA—FORMER 

President, Dr. 

Goodluck Jonathan’s 

former chief physician, Dr. 

Fortunate Fiberesima, was, 

yesterday, arraigned before 

Justice Peter Affren of the 

Federal Capital Territory 

High Court, sitting in 

Maitama, Abuja, on a sixcount 

charge of money 

laundering. 

According to the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, charge sheet, Dr. 

Fiberesima, a former Chief 

Executive Officer, State 

House Medical Centre, 

Abuja, allegedly used his 

position as the Chief 

Physician to the President 

to award a contract for the 

supply of medical 

equipment in 2012, valued 

at N258.9 million, to a 

company in which he had 

interest. 

The defendant, who is 

said to also go by the 

name, Fortunate David 

and David ThankGod 

Fiberesima, was initially 

meant to be docked by the 

EFCC on March 7, when 

the trial judge observed 

that “all the charges 

preferred against him were 

under the ICPC Act not 

that of the EFCC” and 

consequently ordered that 

the charges be either 

amended or transferred to 

the appropriate authority 

for prosecution. 

However, at the resumed 

sitting yesterday, the 

defendant pleaded not 

guilty to all the charges 

preferred against him by 

EFCC. 

His counsel, U. B. Eyo, 

prayed to the court to grant 

his client bail on liberal 

terms. He added that the 

accused has no previous 

criminal record and he 

would always be available 

for trial. 

Y. Y. Tarfa, counsel to 

EFCC, did not oppose the 

bail application. 

Justice Affen ordered that 

the defendant continue on 

the bail conditions earlier 

granted him by EFCC, but 

ordered that the he submit 

his international passport 

to the court registrar and 

adjourned the case to 

June 6 for the 

commencement of trial. 

Bizwoman escapes from kidnappers’ den after 14 days in captivity 

By Perez Brisibe 

OREROPKE—AN Udubased 

businesswoman, 

who was kidnapped on April 

8, Mrs. Bridget Emeka, has 

escaped from her abductors 

after 14 days in their den, with 

the police arresting four of the 

suspected kidnappers. 

The victim was abducted by 

LAGOS—OPERATIVES of 

the Police Zonal 

Intervention Squad, ZIS, 

Zone 2 Command, Onikan, 

Lagos State, have arrested six 

suspected kidnappers and 

vandals said to be responsible 

for the murder of security 

operatives in Isawo, Ikorodu, 

recently. 

The suspects, Tochukwuma 

Ohanezim, 34; Oluwadamilare 

Ojo, 38; Fatai Karounwi 32; 

Akeju Adeniyi, 38; Oyebanji 

Agboola, 45, and Innocent 

Ikechukwu, 42, were said to 

have been arrested on the 17th 

of April, 2017. 

Briefing newsmen yesterday, 

Police Public Relations Officer, 

a Superintendent Dolapo 

Badmus, said the suspects 

were arrested around Ogijo and 

Ikorodu areas by detectives. 

She said two pump action 

rifles, four live cartridges, two 

pumping machines, one 

Army bullet proof vest, one 

Army cap and one Toyota 

Corona were recovered from 

them. 

According to Dolapo, four 

other suspected vandals were 

arrested yesterday with 150 

kegs of petroleum products 

and one Iveco truck with 

number plates AAA 665 XM. 

The suspects’ names were 

given as Mumbaiu Afolabi, 

Muse Akanbi, Yusuf Ajiboye 

and Ojo Ige. 

‘I’m not a vandal’ 

Speaking to Vanguard, one 

of the suspected vandals, a 

Bachelor of Technology degree 

holder from Ekiti State, 

Oluwadamilare Ojo, 38, said he 

is an oil and gas dealer and not 

a kidnapper. 

a six-man kidnap gang along 

the DSC Expressroad in 

company of her daughter and 

granddaughter. 

Giving details of her 

escape, elder brother to the 

victim, Alhaji Mumakia 

Unuagha, said: “Despite 

paying a ransom of N2 

million, her abductors 

refused releasing her until 

DONATION TO IDPs IN EDO: From left— 

International Officer, Nesta Igoudala; Edo State Chapter 

President, Toju Igbene; International President, J. O. 

Aikpokpo-Martins (Esq.), all of Green Circuit Association 

Worldwide, and Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, Co-ordinator 

of internally-displayed persons, IDPs, camp in Ohordua, Edo 

State, when members of the association donated foodstuff, 

drugs and other items to the IDP on Easter Day. 

she miraculously escaped 

from their den in Ugono 

community near 

Adagbrassa in Okpe Local 

Government Area.” 

Police story 

Confirming the incident, 

the state’s Police Public 

Relations Officer, DSP 

Andrew Aniamaka, said: 

By Bose Adelaja 

A 

woman and her son, 

aged about 12, were, 

yesterday, crushed to death 

in Bolade area of Oshodi in 

Lagos, while they were 

crossing the expressway to 

the Arena Market. 

Onlookers cried as their 

bodies laid helplessly by 

the median. Time was 

5.30a.m. 

It was gathered that the 

“The victim actually escaped 

from her abductors. But police, 

who have been in pursuit of 

the hoodlums, succeeded in 

arresting four of them. 

“I am not aware of any 

ransom, but efforts are in top 

gear towards ensuring that 

others associated with the 

incident are arrested and 

brought to book.” 

10 nabbed over Isawo killings, vandalism 

By Joseph Undu 

•I only buy petroleum products from them—Suspect 

Ojo said: “I was arrested for 

buying products got from 

vandalised pipelines. I have 

been into this oil and gas 

business for about two years. 

So far, I have made over 

N200,000 profit. 

“I used to buy my products 

with kegs and I sold with kegs. 

I have not met with the 

militants but buy my products 

from Ogijo. There are people 

there who buy from the 

militants and sell to us. 

“I was arrested when I 

went to the police station to 

bail Tochukwu Ohanezim, 

who was earlier arrested. I 

only know him as an Igbo 

man, who lives on the same 

street with me. He used to 

sell clothes to us. I do not 

know anything about the 

guns.” 

I was forced to join 

vandals—Fatai 

Fatai Karounwi, a 

primary school leaver and 

welder, said: “I am married 

with three children. One Mr. 

Fish Gbangi introduced me to 

pipelines vandalism. 

“I didn’t want to join, but he 

forced me to follow him at 

gunpoint because they needed 

my services. 

“I decided to go since we 

were both living in the same 

area and many people are 

afraid of him.Fish doesn’t give 

me good money. Sometimes 

he gives me N10,000 or 

N15,000. 

“When Tochukwu was 

arrested, one policeman went 

there to bail him. But because 

of the way they tortured him, 

he lied saying the policeman 

gave him gun. So the officer 

was arrested. 

“The policeman then said I 

was the only one that can say 

the truth. They invited me to 

come and testify and then 

arrested me.” 

Unknown woman, son killed by hit-an 

woman was the first to give up 

the ghost, while her son died 

few minutes later in a hospital. 

Eyewitnesses’ accounts said 

a commercial bus crushed 

mother and son. 

It was also learned that 

another commercial driver 

moved them away from the 

road, while effort to track down 

the hit-and-run driver proved 

abortive. 

Men of Lagos State Traffic 

Management Authority,

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017—7 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

UYO— A 25-year-old man, 

Daniel Effiong, who survived 

the latest clash between 

communities in Cross River State 

and Akwa Ibom State, has said the 

war preceded his birth. 

He is among the survivors and 

relatives of those who lost their 

lives during last Friday’s attack on 

residents of Oku Iboku in Itu Local 

Government Area of Akwa Ibom 

State by youths from Ikot Offiong 

in Odukpani Local Government 

Area of Cross Rivers State, who 

told Vanguard that government 

responded too late to the age-long 

war. 

While calling on Cross River 

State and Federal Government to 

bring lasting solution to the 

perennial boundary dispute and 

avert further killing of their people, 

some of them recounted their 

ordeals to Vanguard, yesterday. 

Effiong said: “On my way from 

the farm, I sighted five speed boats 

with heavy guns, shooting 

sporadically at people in the farm. 

I was trying to escape when they 

shot me in the leg.” 

Effiong expressed 

disappointment that much was not 

being done by government to 

settle the boundary dispute. 

He said: “After secondary school, 

I decided to go into farming. But I 

am discouraged because of what 

is happening. This war has been 

on before I was born and the 

situation is becoming worse. Some 

non-indigenes that are doing 

businesses in our community are 

moving out gradually. 

“My question is when will 

government stop this war for us? 

Is it when everybody must have 

been killed by Ikot Offiong?” 

‘I had already welcomed death’ 

Another survivor, a 35-year-old 

mother of five, Mrs. Nse Effiong 

Essen, native of Ikot Abiyak 

village, said: “I was on my way to 

the farm, but on getting to Oku 

Iboku beach, I saw Ikot Offiong 

people shooting in my direction.” 

Nse Essen, who is also a 

nursing mother of a six-month-old 

baby, added “I ran into the bush 

as everybody was running in 

different directions. Unfortunately, 

a bullet hit my arm. That was all I 


I was born into this war, says survivor 

of C-River, A-Ibom communities crisis 

d-run driver in Lagos 

LASTMA, were said to have 

rushed the boy to a nearby 

hospital where he died. Both 

bodies were then laid by the 

road median for identification. 

At press time, no one had 

come forward to identify the 

bodies before they were 

deposited at the morgue by the 

State Environmental Health 

Monitoring Unit, SEHMU. 

The woman was said to be in 

possession of a five-litre keg 

and hand bag. 

•My son left 3 children behind—55-yr-old man 

Mrs Essen 

remembered until I woke up in 

hospital. 

“When I saw their big guns, I 

considered myself dead. I thank 

God for keeping me alive to take 

care of my children. They caught 

our people unawares.” 

‘I lost my 29-yr-old son’ 

Also, a 55-year-old man Eyo 

Okon Akpan from Ikot Abiyat 

village lamented how the Friday 

mayhem claimed the life of his 29- 

year-old son, Etim Akpan. 

According to him, “my son went 

to farm but did not return home. 

Some dead bodies have been 

recovered, but the body of my son 

has not been found. 

“I feel saddened about this 

whole thing. I don’t know if I will 

ever recover from this because my 

heart is heavy. He left his three 

little children behind. 

“Since then we don’t sleep with 

two eyes closed because we have 

been receiving information that 

they will attack anytime. But they 

did not until Monday morning, 

when they came shooting again 

from the waters. 

“We are no longer safe; our 

women and children are 

constantly being killed by those 

people. They have not gone away 

because they are still hanging 

around the waters.” 

However, the community 

leaders claimed that out of 31 

persons that were killed in the last 

Friday attack, only 12 dead bodies, 

mostly young people and women, 

have been recovered, while the 

corpses of 29 persons, who also 

left to fish and farm that Friday, 

are still missing. 

Chairman Oku Iboku Clan 

Council, Elder Ability Emah, said 

women and children have been 

barred from the beach area, 

adding that the community had 

already lost so many women and 

young ones in the crisis. 

His words: “We even received 

information that they are planning 

to come in eight buses and invade 

this area. That is why you see the 

Army carrying out a stop-andsearch 

operation at the Itu-Calabar 

Mr Akpan... missing 

Bridge Head. 

“We appreciate our governor’s 

efforts geared towards 

resolving the lingering crisis.” 

Police say... 

The Police Public Relations 

Officer, Mr. Chukwu 

Ikechukwu, when contacted, 

Elder Ability Emah 

said that the police were on 

ground to ensure the safety of 

the residents. 

He added that the report 

from the District Police Officer 

of Itu, Monday evening, 

indicates that the situation 

was under control and the 

community calm. 

Some of the suspects and items recovered from them. 

By Evelyn Usman 

M USHIN—IDI-ORO 

Market and other 

adjourning markets affected by 

Monday clash between rival 

hoodlums, which left scores of 

persons injured and some 

houses destroyed, have been 

temporarily shut. 

This is just as sponsors of the 

crisis have been discovered to 

be some Lagos socialites, who 

live outside Mushin. 

At press time yesterday, 59 

suspects had been arrested in 

connection with the incident that 

paralysed commercial activities 

in the densely-populated area. 

The Commissioner of Police, 

Lagos State Police Command, 

Fatai Owoseni, who paraded 

the suspects before newsmen at 

the command headquarters, 

vowed to go after their sponsors 

irrespective of their positions in 

the society. 

He stated that the markets 

were temporarily shut to allow 

proper mop up operation, 

during which pump action 

rifles, axes, cutlasses and 

knives were discovered. 

Owoseni explained that 68 

suspects were arrested in 

connection with the fracas, but 

that during interrogation, nine 

of them, who were discovered 

not to be involved in the fight, 

were released. 

However, when the suspects 

were approached, they all 

denied culpability in the 

incident. On close observation, 

some of them were discovered 

to have tattoo peculiar to those 

Filling station 

attendant 

docked 

over boss' 

N882,000 

A 

35-year-old filling 

station attendant, 

Moses Omobamijo, who 

allegedly defrauded his 

employer of N882,000, was 

yesterday charged before 

an Okitipupa magistrate’s 

court in Ondo State. 

He was, however, 

released on N800,000 bail. 

Omobamijo, whose 

address was not provided, 

is standing trial on a twocount 

charge of fraud and 

fraudulent conversion of 

employer’s money to 

personal use. 

The prosecutor, Inspector 

Zedekiah Orogbemi, told 

the court that the accused 

committed the offence 

between April 2016 and 

March this year at a fuel 

station on the Okitipupa- 

Igbokoda Road. 

According to Orogbemi, 

the attendant stole the 

proceeds from the sale of 

petrol, which he ought to 

have remitted to his 

employer, Mr. David Kula. 

Mushin, Ijegun crises: Schools, 

Idi-Oro Market shut, 59 arrested 

of some confraternities. 

Meanwhile, schools at Pipeline 

Road, Fire Bus Stop in Ijegun 

area, were yet to resume, 

apparently for fear of a reprisal 

attack as threatened by scrap 

dealers whose colleagues were 

shot dead by members of the 

Odua People’s Congress, OPC, 

Monday. 

Meanwhile, Owoseni 

clarified that the crisis that 

broke out in the area was 

between some private security 

men and scavengers and not 

between police and scavengers 

as reported in some national 

dailies. 

He also assured that those 

behind the killings would be 

brought to book, stating that 

“we will ensure that those killed 

get justice.”

8—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 


Grass-cutting contract: Osinbajo’s 

panel grills SGF, Babachir Lawal 

•Reps plan independent probe on $43m loot 

•Senate not happy over Osinbajo-led panel — Melaye 

By Emman 

Ovuakporie, 

Levinus 

Nwabughiogu, 

Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & 

Joseph Erunke 

ABUJA — 

SUSPENDED 

Secretary to Government of 

the Federation, SGF, David 

Babachir Lawal, was, 

yesterday, grilled by 

Presidential panel 

investigating the $43 

million cash found in a 

luxury apartment at 

Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, 

Lagos, and the N220 

million meant for welfare of 

Internally Displaced 

Persons, IDPs, in North- 

East. 

His appearance before 

the panel, led by Vice 

President Yemi Osinbajo, 

came barely 24 hours after 

Director-General of 

National Intelligence 

Agency, NIA, Ambassador 

Ayodele Oke, was grilled 

for over eight hours by the 

panel. 

The SGF was quizzed on 

a day indications emerged 

that the House of 

Representatives may 

conduct an independent 

investigative hearing into 

the cash haul found in the 

Ikoyi apartment. 

Also, Senator Dino 

Melaye has said the Senate 

was not happy with the 

setting up of Vice President 

Yemi Osinbajo-led 

presidential panel by 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari to investigate 

allegations of misuse of 

funds meant for Internally 

Displaced Persons, IDPs, in 

the North-East. 


SGF was asked to explain 

his role in the management 

of finances meant for IDPs 

in Borno State, under the 

auspices of the Presidential 

Initiave for the North East, 

PINE. 

Lawal had arrived the 

Presidential Villa, venue of 

the panel’s sitting, at about 

1pm and was questioned 

for about two and half 

hours. 

Emerging from the 

meeting at 3:25pm, Lawal 

was seen walking around 

the lobby upstairs at 

Osinbajo’s office, 

apparently searching for 

someone, pulled out his cell 

phone and made some 

calls. 

Lawal, who was casually 

dressed, spotting a coffee 

brown, safari native dress, 

was later seen descending 

the stairs, fiddling with his 

phone in company of two 

aides, a policeman in 

uniform clutching a bulky 

file and another in mufti, 

following behind. 

After about 30 minutes of 

the suspended SGF's exit 

from the premises, our 

correspondent sighted the 

duo of AGF and NSA 

walking side-by-side at the 

lobby upstairs into another 

office. 

Reps plan 

independent probe 

on $43m loot 

Meanwhile, indications 

emerged, yesterday, that 

the House of 

Representatives may 

conduct an independent 

investigative hearing into 

the $43.4 million found in 

an apartment in Osborne 

Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos. 


leadership of the House has 

already endorsed a motion 

of urgent national 

importance on resumption 

from the Easter break. 

A source privy to this 

development said: “The 

motion would have been 

considered on Tuesday 

(yesterday) but for the death 

of Senator Isiaka Adeleke. 

The House may adjourn 

plenary till Wednesday 

(today), after which the 

motion will be considered, 

considering its importance 

to the economy. 

“It’s a national issue that 

should not be left to the 

Executive arm, since we 

have the statutory backing 

to expose and investigate 

corruption as enshrined in 

section 88(2a) and section 

89 of the 1999 Constitution 

(as amended),” 

Senate not happy 

2015 polls: Jega 

disappointed me, says 

Jonathan 

DESPITE conceding 

the 2015 

presidential election, 

former President 

Goodluck Jonathan was 

not comfortable with how 

it was handled by Prof. 

Attahiru Jega, former 

chairman of Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC. 

In an advance copy of 

Against the Run of Play, 

a book written by 

journalist and author, 

Segun Adeniyi, to recount 

how an incumbent lost a 

presidential election in 

Nigeria, and seen by 

online portal, TheCable, 

Jonathan said Jega 

disappointed him. 

“I was disappointed by 

Jega because I still cannot 

understand what was 

propelling him to act the 

way he did in the weeks 

preceding the election. 

“As at the first week in 

February 2015, when 

about 40 per cent of 

Nigerians had not 

collected their PVCs, Jega 

said INEC was ready to 

conduct an election in 

which millions of people 

would 

be 

disenfranchised," the 

former President said. 

Jonathan also said he 

had a meeting with Jega 

to express his 

reservations about the 

preparedness of INEC for 

the exercise, but he 

insisted that the election 

would go ahead. 

He said: “Of course, the 

Americans were 

encouraging him to go 

ahead yet they would 

never do such a thing in 

their own country. How 

could we have cynically 

disenfranchised about a 

third of our registered 

voters for no fault of theirs 

and still call that a credible 

election? 

“The interesting thing 

was that the opposition 

also supported the idea of 

going on with the election 

that was bound to end in 

confusion." 

In the book, which will 

be launched on Friday, 

Jonathan also defended 

his decision to postpone 

the election, saying it was 

for security reasons. 

He said: “When the 

military and security 

chiefs demanded for more 

time to deal with the 

insurgency, the reasons 

were genuine. 

“As at February 2015, it 

would have been very 

difficult to vote in Gombe, 

Adamawa, Borno and 

Yobe states. 

"But the moment all the 

arms and ammunition that 

had been ordered finally 

arrived, the military was 

able to use them to 

degrade the capacity of 

Boko Haram to the level 

at which they posed no 

threat to the election.” 

over Osinbajo-led 

panel — Melaye 

Melaye said the setting 

up of another committee by 

the president was not only 

a duplication of the work of 

the existing Senate 

committee constituted to 

that effect but also showed 

the president still had no 

confidence in what the 

Senate was doing in that 

regard. 

Melaye, who hailed the 

suspension of the 

government scribe by the 

president, however, said 

the setting up of the board 

of enquiry by the president 

was not necessary, since the 

Senate committee set up for 

the same purpose was 

working to conclude its 

report. 

But the senator, who 

represents Kogi West 

Senatorial District, said in 

spite of the president’s 

action, the committee was 

going ahead with its 

ongoing investigation of 

expenditure of the funds, 

with a view to submitting 

same to the president for 

necessary action. 

Why we won’t release 

ex-Gov Suswam —DSS 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA — THE 

Department of State 

Service, DSS, yesterday 

gave reasons it would not 

release former governor of 

Benue State, Mr. Gabriel 

Suswam, who had been 

in detention since 

February 25. 

The security agency, in 

a counter-affidavit filed 

before the Federal High 

Court in Abuja, said its 

investigations linked 

Suswam with the militant 

group that attacked Zaki 

Biam, a community in 

Benue State. 

Besides, DSS, in the 

counter-affidavit deposed 

to by one of its lead 

investigators, Mr. 

Abdullahi Adamu, said a 

security report it got from 

Benue State government 

stressed that the state 

would become 

ungovernable should it 

release the detained 

erstwhile governor on 

administrative bail. 

Meanwhile, Justice 

Gabriel Kolawole has 

fixed May 10 for 

Suswam’s lawyer, Mr. 

Adedayo Adedeji, to 

respond to the counteraffidavit 

which is in 

opposition to a 

fundamental right 

enforcement proceeding 

the ex-governor initiated 

before the court. 

Suswam is praying the 

court to order his 

unconditional release 

from detention, as well as 

compel the DSS to pay 

him N10 billion as 

exemplary damages for 

his unlawful incarceration 

and violation of his rights. 

He also asked for an 

order directing the 

respondents to tender a 

public apology to him in 

seven national dailies of 

very wide circulation for 

his “illegal arrest and 

detention.” 

Aside the DSS and its 

Director-General, the 

Attorney General of the 

Federation was also cited 

as a respondent in the 

suit marked FHC/ABJ/ 

CS/279/2017.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017—9 


Nigeria out of recession by June end 

— CBN gov 

•Says external reserve stands at N31bn 

•Exchange rate now hovers between N370, N380 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA— THE Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, 

Governor, Mr Godwin 

Emefiele, yesterday, 

expressed optimism that the 

present economic recession 

in the country would end 

by the end of June or latest 

by the third quarter of this 

year, based on what he 

described as emerging 

positive economic 

indicators. 

According to Emefiele, 

one of such indicators is the 

downward trend in the 

parallel market as regards 

the value of Naira against 

the dollar which has 

appreciated from as high as 

N525 per dollar to between 

N370 and N380 currently. 

Emefiele spoke with 

journalists after a closed 

door meeting with Senate 

President, Bukola Saraki, 

and the entire leadership 

of the Senate, yesterday, 

evening when he briefed 

the Senate on some of the 

issues in the forex market 

and its interventions. 

He listed other indicators 

to include reduction in the 

rate of inflation by the 

National Bureau of 

Statistics, NBS, and the 

country’s foreign reserve 

that had also risen from over 

$27 billion at the beginning 

of the recession in June last 

year to over $31 billion now. 

Emefiele said: “Actually, 

the Senate President 

invited us to come and brief 

the Senate in a closed 

session and the leadership 

about providing some 

updates about the foreign 

exchange market and you 

will all have observed that 

in the last two months, the 

CBN has been involved in 

some form of intensive 

interventions in the foreign 

exchange market. 

"This has fortunately 

resulted in a downward 

trend in the parallel market 

price of foreign exchange 

from as high as N525 to as 

low as N370. Right now, it 

hovers between N370 and 

N380. 

“I think it’s an opportunity 

for me to say that we are 

going to continue this 

intervention because the 

reserve looks very good. As 

I speak to you, our reserve 

stands at above $31 billion 

and that provides us 

enough firepower or 

ammunition to be able to 

defend the currency and we 

will do so with all intensity 

to ensure that foreign 

exchange is procured by 

everybody. 

“We have started to see a 

downward trend, even in 

prices of goods and 

commodities and you must 

have also observed that 

inflation is also trending 

downward as confirmed by 

NBS. 

"We are very much 

optimistic that by the end 

of the second quarter or 

latest third quarter this 

year, we should be out of 

recession that we are in 

right now.” 

He assured that the 

downward trend in the 

parallel market in favour of 

the Naira would be 

sustained by the CBN 

through its needed 

interventions and in 

particular, through the 

policy of willing buyer and 

willing seller basis." 

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS: From left, Chairman, Rotary International 

Educational and Welfare Funds, DEWEF, Mr Niji Raji; Current District 9110 

Governor, Mr Patrick Ijehon Ikheloa; Scholarship Committee Chairman, 

Kennedy Ejakpomehwe and District 9110 Rotary Governor-nominee, Mr Kola 

Sodipo, at the scholarship awards presentation by District 9110 to recipients 

from tertiary institutions, sponsored by District 9110, in its Ikeja, Lagos Office. 

I collected N26m from NSA's office 

for Fani-Kayode, Policeman tells court 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA — Full-blown 

trial of former Minister 

of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani- 

Kayode, kicked off before the 

Federal High Court in 

Abuja, yesterday, with a 

police officer, Mr. Victor 

Ehiabhi, narrating how he 

helped the defendant to 

receive N26 million from 

Office of the National 

Security Adviser in 2014. 

Ehiabhi, who testified as 

the first prosecution witness, 

PW-1, identified himself as 

an Intelligence Operative 

with the Force Intelligence 

Bureau. 

He told the court that he 

was deployed from the 

bureau’s Very Important 

Persons Protection Unit, to 

serve as Fani-Kayode’s 

security aide, prior to the 

2015 presidential election. 

In his evidence-in-chief, 

the PW-1 said he was 

accompanied by Fani- 

Kayode’s domestic staff to 

receive the money from 

Office of the NSA at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

He said the money, which 

was stuffed inside a Ghana- 

Must-Go bag, was handed 

to him at a time the 

defendant was out of town. 

Led in evidence by the 

prosecuting counsel, Mr. 

Johnson Ojogbane, the 

witness said: “On November 

21, 2014, on that fateful day, 

my principal travelled out of 

town and he detailed me to 

be within town. 

“The gardener and other 

domestic staff were also 

around within the premises. 

The house is at Aso Drive, 

Abuja. 

“One of the gardeners, 

called Francis, called me on 

phone and told me that the 

defendant had called him on 

phone that I should 

accompany him (Francis) 

and another domestic staff, 

Esther, to the National 

Security Adviser’s office at 

the Villa. And not too long 

after, the defendant himself 

called me and told me the 

same thing. 

“The driver, named 

Kenneth, was directed to 

drive us to the venue. We 

moved to the venue at 

Suleiman Barau Street in the 

Villa. 

“While at the venue, the 

driver, Kenneth, and the 

gardener, Francis, were 

asked to stay in the 

compound while I and 

Esther walked into the 

building. We identified 

ourselves as personnel of the 

defendant. 

“The staff in the office 

asked who was Victor. I 

answered I was the one. 

They asked me to tender my 

identity card and I did. 

“The man in the office 

brought out a paper and 

asked me to endorse it on 

behalf of the defendant. The 

sum of N26 million was 

written on the document for 

the defendant. 

“I initially decided not to 

endorse the document on 

behalf of the defendant. But 

the man in the office insisted 

that since I was the 

policeman I should be the 

one to endorse the document, 

so I signed it. 

“The man in the office 

brought out the sum of 

N26m in N1,000 

denomination, and put it in 

one Ghana-Must-Go bag. 

He gave it to us, Esther and 

I, for the defendant. 

“We took it out of the office 

and beckoned on Francis 

and Kenneth to take it to the 

boot. So we departed for 

the house of the defendant 

with the money. 

“On the same day, at about 

11pm, the defendant 

returned. When the 

defendant returned from his 

journey, he acknowledged 

the money and he sent for 

us, myself, Esther and 

thanked us. 

Meanwhile, counsel to the 

defendant, Mr. Wale 

Balogun, applied for an 

adjournment to enable him 

cross-examine the witness. 

Consequently, trial Justice 

John Tsoho adjourned the 

matter till June 6. 

APC state chairmen fault 

Buhari’s ‘lopsided 

appointments’ 

•As NWC, govs meet today 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—THE Forum of 

State Chairmen of 

ruling All Progressives 

Congress, APC, yesterday, 

condemned what they 

described as the lopsided 

appointments by President 

Muhammadu Buhari since 

his inauguration in May 

2015. 

The condemnation was 

delivered after several 

hours of meeting with the 

party’s National Working 

Committee, NWC. 

Further angst on the issue 

is set to be delivered today 

after another meeting 

between the party’s 

governors and the NWC 

today. 

Addressing journalists 

shortly after the meeting, 

the party’s National 

Publicity Secretary, Malam 

Bolaji Abdullahi, said the 

chairmen actually faulted 

the reward system of the 

Buhari-led administration. 

He said: “Another issue 

that came up is the issue of 

reward system. They 

expressed concern about a 

situation where people 

Oil sector boosts revenue 

allocation to N1.4 tr in first 

quarter 2017 

By Emeka Anaeto, 

Business Editor 

L AGOS—THE 

significant uptrend 

recorded in the oil sector 

has boosted the Federal 

Account Allocation 

Committee, FAAC, to N1.4 

trillion in the first quarter 

of 2017, Q1’17, about N200 

billion or 16.7 per cent 

above the figures recorded 

and shared among the 

three tiers of government in 

the preceding quarter, 

fourth quarter 2016, Q4‘16. 

This also shows a huge 

jump of about 27.3 per cent 

ahead N1.1 trillion 

recorded in the 

corresponding period of 

2016, Q1‘16. 

The development 

followed a consistent rise in 

oil output in the past 10 

months, closing in on 1.9 

million barrels per day 

during the quarter, coupled 

with a corresponding rise 

in oil price in the 

international market, 

stabilizing at average of 

USD53 per barrel since this 

year. 

However, a month-onmonth 

analysis of the 

revenue inflow shows a 

significant dip in revenue 

allocations in the month of 

March 2017 due to a 

corresponding drop in the 

from the same family or 

the same ward were being 

appointed. This is not 

the position of NWC but 

the stand of the state chairmen. 

‘’But, we are still collating 

the positions. By the time 

we meet with the state 

governors tomorrow (today) 

we will still discuss further 

and come up with a 

position.” 

Abdullahi said the 

meeting resolved that a 

committee be set up to 

compile some of the 

grievances which would 

form the basis of discussion 

with the governors, upon 

which a position to be 

communicated to President 

Buhari would be taken. 

He said the party 

hierarchy had evolved 

ways of funding party 

activities, stressing that 

depending on states or 

Federal Governments for 

fund was no longer tenable. 

There has been a feeling 

of discontent among many 

long-suffering party 

faithful, who had accused 

the president of discarding 

the goose that laid the 

golden egg. 

February inflow to N466.9 

billion which was shared in 

March. 

January 2017 inflow 

shared in February was 

N514.2 billion, 

highlighting the impact of 

significant rises in oil prices 

shortly after production cut 

back measures taken by 

members of the 

Organisation of Petroleum 

Exporting Countries, 

OPEC, which came into 

force January 1, 2017. 

Consequently, the 

January inflow, which was 

distributed across the three 

tiers of government, 

represented the single 

largest monthly figure 

recorded by FAAC in the 

past one and half years. 

According to the data 

released by the National 

Bureau of Statistics, NBS, 

yesterday, “the amount 

disbursed last month 

comprised N290.16 billion 

from the Statutory Account; 

N40.33 billion from 

exchange gain; N60.89 

billion from Excess 

Petroleum Product Tax, 

PPT, Account; N69.21 

billion from Valued Added 

Tax, VAT, while the sum of 

N6.33 billion was refunded 

to the Federal Government 

from the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC.”

10 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 


IFE CRISIS: Monarch, 4 others for arraignment today 

By Gbenga 

Olarinoye 

O SOGBO—THE 

remaining five 

suspects, including Oba 

Ademola Ademiluyi, 

arrested in connection with 

the recent clash between 

the Yoruba and Hausa 

communities in Ile-Ife will 

be arraigned today at an 

Osogbo High Court. 

Their arraignment 

supposed to have come up 

Adeleke, 

a great 

philanthropist, 

says Jonathan 

FORMER President 

G o o d l u c k 

Dr.Jonathan has extended 

his condolences to the 

family of late Senator Isiaka 

Adeleke as well as the 

government and people of 

Osun State over the death 

of the lawmaker and former 

Governor of the State. 

The ex-president’s 

condolence message was 

communicated in a 

statement by his 

spokesperson, Ikechukwu 

Eze. 

Dr. Jonathan described 

the late Adeleke as a 

national icon and great 

philanthropist who was 

warm and lively. 

The ex-President said in 

the statement: “I received 

the news of the death of 

Senator Isiaka Adetunji 

Adeleke with a sense of 

great personal loss. It is 

hard to imagine that the 

very lively and 

warm‘Serubawon’ has 

died. 

“Though I am saddened 

by his death, I give God the 

glory for his life of 

contribution to Osun state, 

where he was the first 

civilian governor and to 

Nigeria, where he was an 

icon and to humanity in 

general because he was a 

great philanthropist. He 

will be greatly missed.'' 

before justice Kudirat 

Akano, yesterday, was 

postponed till today. 

The suspects were 

brought to court yesterday 

from Ilesa prisons but kept 

in the black maria until they 

were returned to the prison 

around noon. 

It was however reliably 

gathered that the suspects 

would now be arraigned 

today before Justice Akano. 

Meanwhile, the Judicial 

commission of Inquiry on 

Ile-Ife disturbances set up 

by governor Rauf 

Aregbesola yesterday 

continued its hearing when 

it called another set of 10 

people to defend their 

memoranda. 

Professor Muibi Opeloye 

who represent Aworera 

family claimed that one of 

the property of the family 

located at 27, Moree street, 

Sabo Ile-Ife, was burnt 

during the March 8th crisis 

which occurred at Sabo 

area in ile-Ife and 

requested for N2.1 million 

on behalf of the family to 

renovate the building. 

Also, an octogenarian 

Mrs Risikat Fadare who 

also appeared before the 

panel to defend her 

memorandum claimed that 

she lost everything in her 

room to the crisis and also 

appealed to the panel to 

assist her on compensation. 

FG, states, LGs share N467bn 

...As ECA rises to $2.487bn 

By Emma Ujah 

ABUJA—THE three 

tiers of government 

have shared the sum of N 

467.807 billion in the month 

of March. 

The amount represented 

revenue which accrued into 

the Federation Account and 

proceeds of the Value 

Added Tax for the period.. 

Briefing the press at the 

end of the Federation 

Accounts Allocation 

Committee (FAAC) meeting 

in Abuja, yesterday, the 

Accountant-General of the 

Federation, Ahmed Idris, 

said that the figure 

DEPORTED! Deportees from Libya on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, 

Ikeja, Lagos undergoing profiling yesterday. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele. 

Fayose blasts Presidency for 

expelling journalist from Aso Rock 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI— 

GOVERNOR 

Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti 

State yesterday, came 

down hard on the 

Presidency over the 

expulsion of the Punch 

newspaper’s State House 

Correspondent, Olalekan 

Adetayo from the 

represented a N429.127 

million increase over the 

amount shared last month. 

The federal government 

took the sum of N136.507 

billion (52.68%) from the 

statutory allocation, while 

states and local 

governments received 

N69.238 billion (26.72%) 

and N53.380 billion 

(20.60%), respectively. 

A total of N78.651 billion 

was raked in as gross 

revenue from the VAT as 

against N69.207 billion 

distributed in the preceding 

year, representing an 

increase of N9.444 billion. 

The federal government 

took the sum of N11.326 

billion (15%), while the 

states and local 

governments got N37. 753 

billion (50%) and 26.427 

billion (35%), respectively. 

The sum of N258.143 

billion was paid to the 

Federal Inland revenue 

Service, (FIRS) Nigerian 

Customs Service (NCS) and 

the Department of Petroleum 

Resources (DPR) as cost of 

collection, for the month.. 

The oil producing states 

also received an additional 

N193.281 billion, 

representing 13 per cent 

Derivation from oil revenue 

for the month, under review.. 

Presidential Villa, Abuja, 

describing it as a “sign of 

what is to come from a 

dictatorial government that 

desires that the media 

must only tell Nigerians 

what it wants them to hear 

and nothing more.” 

The governor, who 

condemned the action of the 

presidency, noted that he 

warned Nigerians of the 

emerging dictatorship of 

the President Muhammadu 

Buhari led All Progressives 

Congress, APC, 

government, said; “Even 

though the Punch 

Correspondent was 

recalled yesterday, owing to 

public outcry, the 

dangerous message of 

intolerance to freedom of 

expression and of the press 

was passed loud and clear.” 

In a statement issued 

yesterday, by his Special 

Assistant on Public 

By Lawani Mikairu 

L AGOS—TWO 

hundred and fifty 

three Nigerians, who were 

stranded in Libya were 

yesterday deported to 

Nigeria. 

The returnees, who were 

conveyed by a Libyan Airline 

plane comprised of 140 

adult females and eight 

children. Also aboard were 

103 adult male and three 

male children. 

Some of the deportees 

said they will never leave 

Nigeria again. One of them 

who identified herself 

simply as Mary told 

Vanguard that it was a 

miracle she returned safely 

to Nigeria as she was being 

Communications and 

New Media, Lere 

Olayinka, Governor 

Fayose said it should 

worry all lovers of 

democracy and free press 

that a journalist, who was 

only doing his job was 

subjected to humiliating 

treatment of writing 

statement by the Chief 

Security Officer to the 

President, Bashir 

Abubakar, before he was 

escorted out of the 

Presidential Villa like a 

common criminal. 

He said: “When they 

invaded the Akwa Ibom 

State Government House 

with armed men of the 

Department of State 

Security (DSS), I raised 

alarm then and I did 

warn that Nigeria was 

being returned to 1984 

when President Buhari 

ruled the country like a 

maximum ruler.'' 

sold like a piece of 

merchandise in Libya. 

According to her,” They 

were selling some of us like 

wood from one guard who 

will take us to some 

destination and again sell us 

to another who will now be 

our new owner. 

‘’That will take us again 

to some distance and say his 

contract with us had expired 

and again sell us to another 

person.” 

“If you complain , they will 

ask you if you don’t want to 

go to Europe again. My 

brother, e no easy,” she said, 

laughing sarcastically. 

This is the largest single 

batch of deportees to arrive 

Lagos airport in recent times. 

The returnees journey back 

Stop using 

women to 

mobilise 

deposits, Oba 

Akiolu tells 

banks 

By Babajide 

Komolafe 

LAGOS—OBA 

of 

Lagos, Oba Rilwan 

Akiolu yesterday called on 

banks in the country to stop 

the practice of using 

women for deposit 

mobilisation. 

He made this call at the 

World Conference of 

Banking Institute hosted in 

Lagos yesterday by the 

Chartered Institute of 

Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN. 

Oba Rilwan said: “Your 

methods and approach in 

sending single girls, 

married women to go and 

look for deposits are very 

very humiliating”. 

The Oba also called on 

the gathering of banking 

experts to brainstorm on 

how to tackle the rising 

trend of graduate 

unemployment in the 

country, adding that banks 

should provide financial 

support to graduates for 

entrepreneurship 

purposes. 

He said: “The bankers, 

the chief executive of the 

banks, should put heads 

together to see what can be 

done about all the 

graduates we are turning 

out now. I am just writing a 

paper to the federal 

government to suggest that 

last six months of the 

National Youth Service 

Corp (NYSC) scheme of 

one year, should be used 

to train graduates on ‘do it 

yourself’ projects, and this 

can be extended to include 

the last three months in the 

university.'' 

253 Nigerians deported from Libya arrive 

Lagos airport •Say they were sold like articles 

to Nigeria, as usual, was 

facilitated by International 

Oganisation for Migration, 

IOM, after the Federal 

Government asked for its 

assistance in respect of 

stranded Nigerians willing 

to return home. 

The aircraft conveying 

them landed at the Murtala 

Muhammed International 

Airport, MMIA, around 

8:10pm yesterday and they 

were received at the Hajj 

Terminal by the National 

Emergency Management 

Agency, NEMA. 

There were two medical 

cases among the deportees 

with one of them suffering 

serious burns on her face 

and the other from mental 

depression.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 — 11 

DURU: Court 

upholds no 

case 

submission 

against EFCC 

J 

USTICE Peter Affen of 

the F.C.T High Court, 

Maitama, Abuja has dismissed 

the four-count criminal 

charge preferred against 

a former member of the House 

of Representatives, Nze Chidi 

Duru, by the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, as vexatious and 

an abuse of court process. 

In a ruling delivered by the 

court on the preliminary objection 

filed by the defendant, 

the court held that the charge 

on which Duru was brought 

before it had been nullified 

and voided by a court of competent 

jurisdiction. 

In the preliminary jbjection 

filed by counsel to Nze Chidi 

Duru, praying the court to 

quash and dismiss the fourcount 

charge filed by the 

EFCC, the court declared it 

as a brief meant to embarrass 

Nze Chidi Duru. 

Justice Affen held that the 

EFCC had earlier withdrawn 

a similar charge in a Lagos 

High Court relevant to a the 

four-count charge filed 

against Duru, which the 

EFCC on its own volition, 

withdrew with a clear statement 

that there was nothing 

criminal against Nze Chidi 

Duru. 

Duru had always contended 

that this particular case, 

like the other ones brought 

against him, was an alleged 

ploy by the sacked DG of National 

Pension Commission 

and one other to allegedly appropriate 

his business, First 

Guarantee Pension Limited, 

in the last six years. 

Augustine 

varsity invests 

in Law Faculty 

edifice 

By Etop Ekanem 

AS part of efforts 

to broaden its 

educational scope and 

ensuring that Nigerians 

have access to quality 

education, Augustine 

University has earmarked 

fund for the commencement 

of its Faculty of Law edifice. 

This was stated during the 

turning of sod ceremony for 

Faculty of Law building in 

the university, at Ilara-Epe, 

Lagos State. 

Vice Chancellor, Prof. 

Steve Afolami, explained 

that the strategic crux for the 

university is to afford 

Nigerians and Africa at large 

the opportunity to have 

access to better quality 

education while having the 

development of the nation’s 

educational sector at heart. 


Exonerated Justice Ademola’s wife returns as Lagos HoS 

By Monsur 

Olowoopejo 

LAGOS—THE Lagos 

State Head of Service, 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni & Monsur 

Olowoopejo 

LAGOS—THE Lagos 

State Government has 

placed embargo on 

approval for construction of 

filling stations in all parts of 

the State till further notice, 

while a definite action will 

soon be taken on 

indiscriminate construction 

of event centres across the 

State, Commissioner for 

Physical Planning and 

Urban Development, Wasiu 

Anifowose has said. 

Anifowose, who said this 

yesterday, at the ongoing 

Ministerial Press briefing in 

Alausa as part of activities 

marking the second-year 

anniversary of Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode’s 

administration, said 

government had resolved 

not to grant construction 

permit for filling stations 

pending the inventory of 

existing ones. 

Responding to issue of oil 

spillage in Alimosho, 

Anifowose said the decision 

of government was 

necessary in view of the 

need to take proper 

inventory of the existing 

filling stations with the view 

to determining those that 

should be removed, all in a 

bid to ensure public safety. 

The Commissioner also 

said aside the fact that 

government has paid 

compensation on properties 

demolished for right of way 

for major projects, efforts are 

also ongoing to relocate 

Computer Village in Ikeja to 

world class ICT Park, 

Katangowa in Agbado/Oke- 

Odo, while efforts are in top 

gear to relocate Mile 12 

HoS, Olabowale Ademola, 

yesterday resumed work, 

barely 21 days after an 

Abuja High Court 

dismissed charges against 

Lagos embargoes approval for 

petrol filling station construction 

Market to Imota and 

Okobaba Sawmill to Agbowa. 

To clamp down on hotel 

owners, others over nonregistration 

Meantime, the state 

government on Monday 

urged hotel and club owners 

to voluntarily register with 

it to facilitate the ongoing 

classification and grading of 

hotels or risk their 

businesses being shut 

down. 

The State’s Acting 

Commissioner for Tourism, 

Arts and Culture, Hon 

Adebimpe Akinsola, who 

said this at the ongoing 

Ministerial Press Briefing in 

Alausa as part of activities 

marking the second-year 

anniversary of Governor 


administration, said it was 

important for the 

practitioners in the sector to 

key into the vision of the 

present government to scale 

up the tourism potentials of 

the State. 

…seals church for 

contravention 

Also, the state government 

has approved the sealing of 

a Lekki based Church, This 

Present House, for 

constructing without title 

documents and requisite 

building permit in 

contravention of the Lagos 

State Regional and Urban 

Planning Law 2010. 

In a statement issued 

yesterday by the 

Commissioner for Physical 

Planning and Urban 

Development, Wasiu 

Anifowose said the 

government stated that it 

would not fold its arms and 

watch a brazen 

contravention of the law. 

her and the husband, 

Justice Adeniyi Ademola. 

Mrs Ademola stepped 

down from office as HoS 

last year, to allow her 

challenge allegations 

levelled against her, the 

husband and a Senior 

Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, 

Joe Agi. 

Sources confirmed to 

Vanguard, yesterday, that 

Ademola sought Governor 


permission to return to work 

after she cleared her name 

OTODO GBAME: Court adjourns for Judgment 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A Lagos 

State High Court, 

sitting at Igbosere, has 

adjourned the judgment in 

a suit between several 

waterfront settlements and 

the Lagos State 

Government to May 25, 

over the court’s jurisdiction 

to entertain the matter. 

Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo 

at the resumed hearing of 

the matter yesterday gave 

parties 14 days to file and 

respond to written 

addresses on the issue of 

the court’s jurisdiction and 

adjourned till May 25, for 

judgment. 

The suit was filed by 33 

applicants suing on behalf 

of themselves and other 

residents of settlements 

including Otodo Gbame, 

Tomaro, Otumara, 

Orisunmibare, Oko Agbon, 

Itun Atan, Sogunro, the 

Ikorodu communities of 

Ofin, Bayeku and 

Olufunke Majidun and the 

Bariga communities of Ago 

Egun and Ebute-Ilaje. 

The respondents in the 

matter are the Lagos State 

Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice, 

from the charges levelled 

against her and others. 

In order not to create any 

vacuum, Ambode appointed 

Folashade Adesoye, to act 

during her absence. 

When Vanguard visited the 

Public Service Office, PSO, 

the premises was wearing a 

new look with the staff 

rejoicing over her return. But 

she will retire from service 

on November 10, this year 

when she would have 

clocked the mandatory 60 

years of age. 

Confirming her return, 

Commissioner for 

Information and Strategy, 

Mr. Steve Ayorinde said 

that Mrs. Ademola 

resumed yesterday 

Ayorinde said she took 

permission from the 

governor to step down so 

that she could prove her 

innocence, adding that 

since the court had 

acquitted her, there should 

be no reason why she 

should not come back to 

her duty post. 

MEETING: From left; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Chief Yetunde 

Onanuga; Chairman, MainOne, Mr Fola Adeola; Governor Ibikunle Amosun 

of Ogun State and CEO, MainOne, Funke Opeke, after the meeting between 

MainOne and the Ogun State Government in Abeokuta, yesterday. 

Buhari'll never approve humiliation 

of any journalist — PRESIDENCY 

A BUJA—THE 

Presidency has 

dismissed as sheer 

mischief, the attribution of 

the unfortunate expulsion 

of the Punch reporter Mr. 

Lekan Adetayo, from the 

Villa to the person of 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari. 

Senior Special Assistant 

to the President on Media 

and Publicity, Malam 

Garba Shehu, stated this 

in Abuja yesterday. 

Shehu, who was 

reacting to the Guardian 

Commissioner for Physical 

Planning and Urban 

Development, Lagos State 

Governor and the 

Commissioner of Police. 

“While I was going 

through the court 

processes, I discovered that 

issues of jurisdiction were 

raised,” the judge said. 

“These issues ought to be 

addressed. 

“The applicant will have 

seven days to file their 

relevant court processes 

while the respondents also 

have seven days to file their 

court processes in response 

to the applicant.” 

Newspaper’s headline 

report, entitled; 

“Memories of Decree 4”, 

said it was wrong and 

improper to use the isolated 

incident to judge the 

character of the President as 

if he was responsible for 

what happened. 

According to him, the 

President has not and will 

never approve the 

oppression and humiliation 

of any journalist in the 

course of carrying out their 

legitimate duties. 

The presidential aide 

Justice Onigbanjo 

frowned at a letter that was 

sent to him by Megan 

Chapman, an Otodo Gbame 

community advocate, details 

of which he did not make 

public. 

The applicants, through 

their counsel Friday Oteiku, 

are seeking a declaration, 

among others, that they are 

the first settlers on the land 

and are lawful residents of 

the communities. 

However the defence 

counsel and Lagos State 

Director of Civil Litigation, S. 

A. Quadri, in his submission 

said that the claimants 

“have no title documents 

to the land whatsoever.” 

explained that the 

Guardian was behaving 

like someone waiting 

eagerly to attack the 

President at the slightest 

opportunity in order to 

portray the incident as 

evidence of his alleged 

dislike of the media. 

He added that “despite 

the President 

dissociating himself 

from the unfortunate 

incident and the 

affected journalist being 

recalled, the Guardian still 

chose to go for the 

President’s jugular, 

holding him personally 

responsible for an action he 

knew nothing about.” 

Shehu noted that such 

headline was 

misleading and 

mischievous because it 

was seeking to portray 

the President personally 

in bad light, with the 

sinister purpose of 

making him look like an 

enemy of the media. 

According to Shehu, 

since he was sworn into 

office, President Buhari 

has not oppressed any 

media house or journalist 

on account of writing 

unfavourable reports about 

him or his government.


:Vanguard News 

:@vanguardnews 

I welcome EFCC’s probe 

—Nwaoboshi 

...denies forfeiture order on 12-storey building 

By Henry Umoru 

A BUJA—SENATOR 

Peter Nwaoboshi 

(PPD, Delta North), said 

yesterday, that he 

welcomes investigation by 

the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, into 

the alleged purchase of a 

12-storey building in Lagos 

and supply of equipment, 

just as he said that the 

outcome, at the end of the 

day, will clear him of 

acquiring the property 

through fraudulent means. 

Senator Nwaoboshi, who 

is Chairman, Senate 

Committee on Niger Delta 

Affairs, denied reports that 

the EFCC had secured a 

forfeiture order from a 

Federal High Court, 

Lagos, on his 12-storey 

Lagos building at 27, 

Marine Road, Apapa. 

According to the Senator, 

the anti-graft agency has 

not, in any way, secured a 

court order legalizing the 

seizure of the said property 

as erroneously reported, 

just as he said that the 

order the EFCC got from a 

Federal High Court, 

Lagos, on the property was 

an attachment and not a 

FG secures 13 % derivation mining 

revenue for states 

By Simon 

Ebegbulem 

B ENIN—THE 

F e d e r a l 

Government has said that 

it has secured 13 per cent 

derivation mining revenue 

for the 36 states of the 

Federation with a view to 

encouraging states to 

exploit that sector to boost 

their revenue generation 

capacity. 

This was disclosed by the 

Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Mines, Steel 

and Development, Alhaji 

Abass Mohammed, at a 

two-day sensitization and 

enlightenment workshop 

for stakeholders, in Benin 

City, Edo State, yesterday. 


Federal Government was 

working with state 

governors with a view to 

reviving that sector. He 

urged states to continue to 

liaise with the Federal 

Government and private 

investors to make that 

sector more profitable and 

attractive for investors. 

Alhaji Mohammed, who 

was represented by Alhaji 

Sanusi Asiru, said: “We 

have rightly identified, as 

one of our priorities, the 

need to improve our 

forfeiture order, as being 

presented to the public. 

Nwaoboshi’s clarification 

on the media reports was 

made in a statement by his 

senior media assistant, 

Onyeluka Igbonoba. 

He said: “For the purpose 

of clarification, the media 

team of Senator Nwaoboshi 

will want the Nigerian 

public to take full notice of 

the following facts: 

“That the said property 

was not seized as 

erroneously reported, but 

attached, pending 

investigation. That EFCC 

has since one month ago, 

sealed the said property 

without a court order. That 

Senator Nwaoboshi 

welcomes EFCC 

investigation into the 

alleged purchase and 

supply of the equipment." 

Court dismisses charge against 

44 IPOB members in Bayelsa 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

YENAGOA— 

A 

Magistrate's Court 

sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa 

State, yesterday, set free 44 

detained members of the 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, upholding 

the no case submission on 

the three-count charge of 

conspiracy, breach of public 

peace and unlawful 

gathering preferred 

against them by the Police. 

The detained members of 

IPOB were arrested 

sometime in October, 2016, 

while meeting at a popular 

lounge/bar in the Okaka 

suburb of Yenagoa by men 

engagement of 

stakeholders at the subnational 

level particularly 

state governments and 

communities. We realise 

that in order to give the 

of the Joint Task Force 

code named Operation 

Delta Safe and handed 

over to the Police for 

prosecution. 

Counsel to the arrested 

IPOB members, Kingsley 

Nwosu had argued before 

the court a no case 

submission, describing the 

arrest and trial of the IPOB 

members as a deliberate 

attempt to intimidate and 

violate the fundamental 

rights of the suspects to 

freedom of gathering. 

Magistrate Penawei 

Mukoro in her ruling held 

that all the accused 

persons have no case to 

answer as the prosecution 

was unable to make out a 

prima-facie case against 

them. 

states good reason to work 

with us, we need to create 

avenues for a greater 

degree of financial 

participation and revenue 

sharing."



Abandoned NDDC projects: Ex-LG boss wants 

EFCC to arrest defaulting contractors 

By Dennis Udoma 

U 

Y O — E X - 

CHAIRMAN of 

Eket Local Government 

Area, Akwa Ibom State, 

Chief Aniekan Akpan, has 

called on the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, to 

arrest and prosecute 

contractors who 

abandoned projects of the 

Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, in 

the state, if they fail to 

heed the commission’s 

two-week deadline to 

return to site. 

Akpan, who spoke on a 

live radio programme, 

“Team Nigeria” in Uyo, 

yesterday, called on the 

anti-graft agency to 

ensure that it recovers the 

billions of naira paid to 

contractors who had 

abandoned the 

commission’s projects by 

diverting the monies to 

personal use. 

He commended the 

state Commissioner for 

Works, Mr. Ephraim 

Inyang-Eyen, for keying 

into the whistle-blowing 

policy of the Federal 

Government by blowing 

the first whistle in the 

state last week, on his 

party members in the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, who collected 

contract money and later 

abandoned the NDDC 

projects during the last 

administration. 

Akpan, also thanked the 

Senator Victor Ndoma- 

Egba-led NDDC Board for 

the measures put in place 

to revamp the 

commission, especially 

the reactivation of 

abandoned projects. 

The ex-council boss, 

however, frowned at the 

way Governor Udom 

Emmanuel was running 

the state, alleging that, 

the governor was playing 

politics with the issue of 

security 

and 

industrialisation of the 

state. 

He argued that, as Chief 

Security Officer of the 

Rivers vows to deal with cultists 

who reject amnesty 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HAR- 

COURT— RIVERS 

State Government has 

warned youths in the state 

against cultism, vowing 

that it would punish any 

cultist who failed to accept 

the state government's 

amnesty programme. 

The government which 

identified cultism as one 

of the major challenges 

state, the governor has 

failed the people with the 

renewed wave of 

kidnappings, armed 

robbery and violence in 

the state, stressing that, if 

the governor receives N2 

billion monthly as security 

vote, he should take the 

responsibility of 

responsible for unrest and 

clashes in communities in 

the state, stressed the 

need to stamp it out of the 

state. 

This disclosure was 

made yesterday in Port 

Harcourt at a 2-day 

workshop on mediation 

and community 

reconciliation organised 

by Rivers State Conflict 

Management Alliance, 

RSCMA, and the Office of 

the Special Adviser to the 

Why we stopped double payment to 

ex-agitators —Boroh 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

COORDINATOR of 

the Presidential 

Amnesty Programme, 

Brigadier-General Paul 

Boroh (retd), has said that 

the culture of double 

payment to beneficiaries of 

the amnesty programme 

was against the financial 

regulations of the country 

and international best 

practice. 

To end the trend, he said 

that the old culture of 

double payment to 

beneficiaries in schools had 

been discontinued. 

According to Gen. Boroh, 

hitherto, some beneficiaries 

who collect stipends were 

also paid In-Training- 

Allowances while on the 

programme’s scholarship. 

In a statement by Media 

and Communication 

Consultant, Presidential 

Amnesty Programme, 

Owei Lakemfa, he said that 

the action amounted to 

double payment, which 

was against government 

rules. 

He said: “What I met was 

a situation where an 

amnesty beneficiary who is 

on monthly stipend, is also 

paid monthly In-Training- 

Allowance, ITA, which is 

also a sustenance 

allowance. 

“This amounted to double 

payment. It is against the 

Financial Regulations of 

the country and 

international best practice. 

But in changing the system, 

we had to carry out 

thorough biometric 

verification to match the 

stipend beneficiary and the 

scholarship beneficiary 

receiving the ITA. 

“While there are matches, 

we have made and 

subsequently stopped the 

double payments, there are 

those we have not been able 

to match due to the fact that 

they used their ‘nick 

names’ in registering for 

the amnesty while using 

their real names in 

registering in the tertiary 

institutions." 

providing adequate 

security for the people. 

He said: "Public funds 

are not meant for office 

holders to satisfy their 

personal interests,” and 

urged the people to ask 

the governor to account 

for the federal allocations 

that accrue to the state. 

LAUNCH: From left: Managing Director, Society For Family Health, 

Mr. Bright Ekweremadu; Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Lagos State 

Ministry of Health, Mrs. Moyo Adejumo; Commissioner for Health, Cross 

River State, Dr. Iyang Asibong and President, Board of Trustees, Society For 

Family Health, Prof. Shima Gyoh during the launch of Mistol tablet, in Ikeja 

Lagos. Photo;Akeem Salau. 

Governor on Conflict 

Resolution, for community 

leaders in conflict affected 

local governments. 

Speaking, the Special 

Adviser to Governor 

Nyesom Wike on Conflict 

Resolution, Chief Okori 

Abelekum, said that the 

governor had invested so 

much to ensure that peace 

returned to every part of 

the state. 

Abelekum noted that the 

governor was ready to 

punish anyone that defies 

his efforts to bring lasting 

peace in all parts of the 

state. 

He said: “Governor Wike 

has initiated several peace 

initiatives such as the 

amnesty programme for 

ex-cultists and supported 

community reconciliation 

in conflict affected areas. 

I call on all youths and 

communities that have not 

embraced the amnesty 

programme to do so 

without delay because 

there cannot be 

development without 

peace. 

“The state government 

will deal with any cultist 

who refuses to embrace 

the state government's 

amnesty. Tell them to 

accept the amnesty and 

live in peace.” 

Monarch lauds ex-Edo Speaker 

on peace initiative 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

B ENIN—THE 

Aidonogie of 

South-Ibie Kingdom in 

Etsako-West Local 

Government Area of Edo 

State, Alhaji Kelvin 

Danesi, has attributed 

the relative peace now 

existing in the kingdom 

to the former Speaker, 

Edo State House of 

Assembly, Mr. 

Zakawanu Garuba, who 

he said used legislative 

tool to rectify the lacuna 

in the chieftaincy law of 

the kingdom. 

He stated this 

yesterday, when he 

conferred a chieftaincy 

title of Ogieanavhe of 

South-Ibie on the former 

speaker, who also serves 

as board member of 

Securities and Exchange 

Commission, SEC, as 

part of activities to mark 

PHEDC donates drugs, cash to 

Calabar viewing centre victims 

By Ike 

Uchechukwu 

C ALABAR—PORT 

H a r c o u r t 

Electricity Distribution 

Company, PHEDC, 

yesterday, donated 

drugs, cash and other 

items to victims of the 

Calabar viewing centre 

electrocution incident at 

the University of Calabar 

Teaching Hospital, 

UCTH. 

Regional Manager of 

the company, Mr Joseph 

Aikowe, said that the 

gesture was to fulfil the 

promise made by the 

Group Managing 

Director when he visited 

the hospital. 

He said that the 

money, which amount 

was undisclosed, was for 

the patients’ feeding. 

Other items donated 

Pa Okobia for burial 

PA 

Frederick 

Okobia, 79, of Owa 

Alero, Ika North East 

Local Government Area, 

Delta State, is dead. 

Service of songs takes 

place tomorrow at Oye 

Road, Owa Alero while 

interment follows on 

Friday after a funeral 

service at St Michael 

Anglican Church, Owa 

Alero. He is survived by 

the South-Ibie day. 

He recalled that 

several years after his 

enthronement as the 

Clan Head of the 

community, he found it 

difficult to preside over 

the kingdom due to 

frequent crisis which 

result in killings and 

destruction of property 

among kinsmen. 

He attributed the crisis 

to the disagreement 

between the two ruling 

houses in the kingdom, 

which were laying claim 

to the throne. 

He said, “To solve the 

logjam, Mr. Garuba, as 

a member of Edo State 

House of Assembly 

mobilized his colleagues 

to remove the lacuna by 

amending the South-Ibie 

Chieftaincy Law which 

the then Governor of Edo 

State, Chief Lucky 

Igbenedion signed into 

law." 

include honey, 

beverages, gloves, 

bottles of water and 

standing fans. 

Aikowe said: “We are 

here to make some 

donations to the hospital 

management that will be 

transmitted to the 

patients for their 

wellbeing. 

“Even though the 

government has 

promised to offset the 

bills, as a responsible 

organisation, we felt it 

was necessary for us to 

play our part in 

alleviating the sufferings 

of the people affected by 

this incident." 

Chief Medical Director 

of UCTH, Dr Thomas 

Agan, appreciated the 

gesture and promised to 

ensure that the items 

were fully used for the 

benefit of the patients. 

his widow, children and 

grand-children. 

Late Pa Okobia

14 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 

Why we hired foreign PR 

consultants — ADEOSUN 

MINISTER 

of 

Finance, Kemi 

Adeosun, has explained 

why her ministry hired 

Africa Practice, British 

public relations and 

strategic communications 

consultants. 

The minister had earlier 

been accused of wasting 

the country’s resources by 

hiring a British PR 

consultant at $2 million per 

month at official rates. 

Reacting to the 

allegations, Adeosun said 

they were “false and 

malicious.” 

She told TheCable that the 

ministry hired Africa 

Practice — alongside 

Banwo and Ighodalo, 

Citibank, Standard 

Chartered Bank — for 

international work on 

Nigeria’s recently tapped 

Eurobond, which was 

oversubscribed. 

Adeosun said the details 

of the deal are all available 


to the public, adding that it 

was approved by the 

Federal Executive Council 

(FEC). 

“Africa Practice was 

engaged for international 

work on Eurobond for the 

next three years alongside 

Citibank, Standard 

Chartered, and Banwo and 

Ighodalo,” Adeosun said. 

As against the reported 

N610 million per month, 

Adeosun said Africa 

Practice was hired at N25 

million per year or N2.083 

per month. 

She said her ministry and 

the hired partners have 

succeeded in raising $1.5 

billion for the country, with 

more to come. 

Adeosun added that 

Africa Practice was present 

at the just concluded World 

Bank, IMF meetings in 

Washington DC as part of 

the assignment of 

interfacing with 

international investors. 

GCE registration starts 

on Friday — WAEC 

THE West African 

Examinations 

Council, WAEC, has 

announced that it will 

commence registration for 

the General Certificate 

Examination (GCE) 2017 

for private candidates on 

Friday. 

The examination body 

disclosed this on its official 

tweeter handle, 

@waecnigeria. 

A screen shot of the 

registration information was 

also shared in the tweet. 

It read: “This is to inform 

intending candidates for the 

WASSCE for private 

candidates 2017 that 

registration begins on 

Friday this week. 

“Candidates are 

expected to pay a 

registration fee of 

N13,950 at any of the 

approved banks or any 

accredited agents to 

obtain the registration pin 

and information VCD. 

“Normal registration 

period is from Friday 

April 28 to June 28. After 

obtaining registration pin, 

candidates should log on 

to www.waeconline.org 

for registration. 

“Candidates should also 

note that the registration 

procedure has been 

designed to accommodate 

biometric features that will 

be used for validation at the 

exam centre.'' 

Stanbic IBTC records N18.6bn 

profit before tax in Q1 

By Nkiruka 

Nnorom 

STANBIC 

IBTC 

Holdings Plc has 

announced 78 per cent 

increase in profit before tax, 

PBT, to N18.6 billion from 

N10.2 billion for the first 

quarter ended March 31, 

2017. 

The result, presented to 

the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE, showed 

that the PBT rose by 106 per 

cent to N16.1 billion, as 

against N7.8 billion in 

March 2016. Gross 

earnings stood at N47.0 

billion, representing an 

increase of 35 percent over 

the N34.8 billion recorded 

in the comparable period of 

last year. Total assets went 

up 11 percent to N1.2 

trillion from N1.1 trillion in 

December 2016. 

Speaking on the result, 

Mr. Yinka Sanni, Chief 

Executive Officer, Stanbic 

IBTC Holdings, said, “I am 

delighted to announce 

another strong 

performance for the first 

quarter of 2017 following 

the recent release of our full 

yaer 2016 results. Stanbic 

IBTC Group achieved 

significant growth in profit 

after tax by over 100 per 

cent, despite the 

challenging trading 

environment which was 

characterized by challenges 

with FX liquidity, difficult 

credit environment and 

an increasing cost of 

operations.” 

Senate holds valedictory session today 

in honour of late Senator Adeleke 

•Saraki urges senators to always relax because of stress 

By Henry Umoru, 

Emman Ovuakporie 

& Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—THE 

Senate will today 

hold a valedictory session 

for late Senator Isiaka, 

Adeleke (APC, Osun 

West), who died last 

Sunday. 

The Senate observed a 

minute silence in his 

honour, just as the 

lawmakers in honour of 

their deceased colleague, 

suspended all other 

businesses at yesterday’s 

plenary and subsequently 

went for the signing of the 

condolence register. 

This is as the House of 

Representatives also 

yesterday adjourned 

plenary as a mark of respect 

to honour the late Senator 

Adeleke. 

Late Senator Adeleke was 

until his death, chairman, 

Senate committee on 

Capital Market, and a 

member, Senate committees 

on FCT; Marine Transport; 

Defence and Establishment 

and Public Services. 

The adjournment of 

yesterday’s plenary, 

followed a motion by Senate 

leader, Senator Ahmad 

Lawan. 

According to Lawan, it is 

the practice of the National 

Assembly to always show 

respect to a deceased 

member by adjourning 

plenary. 

Senator Lawan said: “Mr 

president, distinguished 

colleagues, it is the practice 

and convention of this 

Senate and, indeed, the 

National Assembly, to 

always show respect and 

honour our dear colleagues 

by adjourning our plenary. 

“I will, therefore, move 

that because of the death of 

our colleague which took 

place early morning on 

Sunday that this Senate 

observes a one minute 

silence and, thereafter, 

adjourn till tomorrow, April 

26, 2017. 

“Tomorrow ( today) by the 

grace of God, our colleagues 

will have the opportunity to 

pay tributes to our departed 

colleague in a valedictory 

session. I, therefore, move 

that we observe a one 

minute silence and then 

adjourn thereafter.” 

Senator Philip Aduda 

(PDP-FCT) seconded the 

motion. 

In his remarks, President 

of the Senate, Bukola 

Saraki, who agreed that a 

valedictory session be held 

in honour of the late 

Adeleke, urged his 

WORLD MALARIA DAY: From left; Special Adviser on Health to Ogun State 

Governor, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe; Executive General Manager, Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. 

Vincent Nadi; Commissioner for Health, Ogun State, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye and 

representative of Group General Manager Nigerian Petroleum Investments 

Management Services (NPIMS) Mrs. Evelyne Ejidoh during a malaria elimination 

programme sponsored by Total and NNPC-NAPIMS and other partners to mark 

the World Malaria Day in Abeokuta, Ogun State yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State. 

colleagues to ensure they 

dressed appropriately. 

A minute silence was held 

in honour of the deceased 

and a condolence register 

was opened for lawmakers 

to write their tributes. 

After signing the register, 

Saraki described the death 

of Adeleke as shocking to 

all the lawmakers. 

“I have known him for 

many years. He was a very 

patriotic, grassroots 

politician who had great 

love for his people. He was 

very friendly in the 

chambers and loved by 

everyone. His contributions 

to our debate were that of a 

statesman. He was a true 

Nigerian,’’ he said. 

On his part, Senate Chief 

Whip, Olushola Adeyeye, 

APC, Osun Central, urged 

senators to live their days 

well and apply their hearts 

to wisdom. 

He said: “There is only 

one life and when it 

expires, all you get from 

anybody is a minute 

silence. 

Also speaking, Sen. Binta 

Masi (APC-Adamawa) said 

the deceased was a very 

good fellow, adding ‘’we 

will miss him because he 

has created a vacuum; 

death is inevitable.’’ 

She prayed God to grant 

the family peace and the 

fortitude to bear the loss. 

Similarly, Sen. Monsurat 

Sunmonu (APC-Oyo) 

described the late Adeleke 

as an epitome of humility. 

Meanwhile, the House of 

Representatives yesterday 

adjourned plenary as a 

mark of respect for the late 

Senator Isiaka Adeleke 

who joined his ancestors at 

the weekend. 

Before the adjournment, 

the speaker, Yakubu 

Dogara, allowed a few 

members to make tributes 

to the late lawmaker. 

Speaking in an emotion 

laden voice, the Deputy 

Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, 

stated that the late senator 

became the governor of 

Osun State at the tender 

age of 37 years when his 

mates were still grappling 

to find their feet. 

The late Adeleke, who he 

said was close to his family, 

visited his father about 48 

hours before he died, 

adding that Adeleke came 

and saw but couldn’t 

conquer because of death. 

He described the senator 

as a trailblazer who 

towered above others in the 

field of politics, business 

and philanthropy. 

He said: “Adeleke was 

the son of a former senator 

who became governor at a 

tender age of 37 when 

many of his contemporaries 

were still trying to find 

their way in life.'' 

ASSBIBI directs bankers to ‘whistle-blow' 

cash racketeers in financial sector 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

L 

A G O S — 

ASSOCIATION 

of Senior Staff of Banks, 

Insurance and Financial 

Institutions, ASSBIFI, 

yesterday directed 

members to be actively 

involved in whistle-blowing 

on persons known to be 

involved in the practice of 

cash racketeering to save 

the financial sector from 

liquidity crisis 

beleaguering the system. 

The body also pleaded 

with the anti-corruption 

agencies to intensify efforts 

in preventive activities by 

working with financial 

system operators and 

regulators to ensure that 

access to such cash was 

prevented at the 

commercial banks and the 

CBN 

ASSBIFI in a statement 

by its National President, 

THE trial of Senate 

President, Bukola 

Saraki, earlier postponed 

from April 18 to April 25 

has again been shifted till 

the 27th of this month. 

Saraki is facing trial on 

an 18-count charge for 

alleged false declaration 

of asset at the Code of 

Conduct Tribunal, CCT. 

The trial which began in 

Mrs Oyinkan Olasanoye, 

said: “As a responsible 

association, if all such 

funds were in the banking 

system today, the liquidity 

position would be different.'' 

Again, Saraki’s false asset 

declaration trial postponed 

September 2015, has in 

recent times suffered 

setbacks mainly at the 

instance of the 

prosecution. 

Shortly before the 

previously adjourned date 

of April 18, the Code of 

Conduct Tribunal issued a 

statement saying the matter 

was postponed following a 

request by the prosecutors.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY , APRIL 26, 2017—15

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 


UPSURGE IN CRIME: Ikpeazu promises N1m reward for 

whistleblowers 

By Anayo Okoli 

U MUAHIA— 

FOLLOWING the 

new upsurge of violent 

crimes, especially 

kidnapping in Abia State, 

particularly in Aba and its 

environs, Governor 

Okezie Ikpeazu has 

introduced a reward 

system to tackle crime as 

he announced a N1 

Million reward for useful 

information to track down 

criminals in the State. 

Ikpeazu also announced 

that the N1 million reward 

would be extended to any 

security team that arrests 

heinous criminals just as 

he appealed to residents of 

Aba and the state at large to 

partner with government 

and security agencies by 

providing useful 

information that would help 

in dislodging the criminals. 

Governor Ikpeazu also 

identified cross border 

criminals from 

neighbouring states and 

local gangs as being 

responsible for the new 

wave of armed robbery and 

kidnapping in Aba, vowing 

that “all criminal elements 

will be taken to justice or 

chased out of Aba and Abia 

state within a very short 

time”. 

He promised to re-launch 

“Operation Jubilee” with 

additional mobile police 

officers and soldiers to fish 

out and punish criminals. 

He said the state is ready 

to procure additional 10 

vehicles and body armor 

equipment to enhance the 

operational efficiency of 

security agents in the state. 

Ikpeazu also 

commended security 

agencies in the state for 

"making Easter Sunday 

and Monday black days for 

some of the men of the 

underworld at Aba who met 

their waterloo”, saying that 

those criminals captured 

alive were already giving 

useful information to the 

police that would help 

security agents to arrest 

their fleeing colleagues. 

“I have taken a look at the 

criminal records of the state 

Jonathan's campaign manager, Onyeabor, defects 

to APC 

By Dennis Agbo 

E 

N U G U — 

COORDINATOR 

of the 2015 Goodluck 

Jonathan presidential 

campaign organization in 

Enugu state, Chief Rex 

Onyeabor, has defected to 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

Until his defection to the 

APC, Onyeabor was a 

member Board of Trustees, 

BOT, of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, and 

at one time, an acting 

National Secretary of the 

party. 

Performing his official 

defection at his country 

home, Ugbawka, Nkanu 

East local government area 

of Enugu state, Onyeabor 

said he was cross-carpeting 

to the APC because the 

PDP was not likely to 

survive it’s present 

leadership crisis. 

He said: “Apart from 

being former national 

secretary, I was BOT 

member which is the 

highest advisory body in 

PDP and I attended a lot of 

meetings, virtually every 

meeting, reconciliation 

meeting." 

in the last 10 years and 

came to understand that it 

is always on the high side 

during the rains and since 

the rains started early this 

year, we have decided to 

change our pattern of 

fighting crimes. 

“I have also noticed that 

because of the porous 

border we have with some 

neighboring states, 

FG seeks banks' support for economic 

recovery, growth plan 


VICE PRESIDENT 

Professor Yemi 

Osibanjo yesterday called 

on banks in the country to 

support the Economic 

Recovery and Growth Plan 

(ERGP) of the federal 

government. 

He made this call while 

speaking at the World 

Conference of Banking 

Institutes hosted in Lagos 

yesterday by the Chartered 

Institute of Bankers of 

Nigeria (CIBN). 

Represented by the 

Special Adviser to the 

President on Economic 

Matters, Dr. Adeyemi 

Dipeolu, Osibanjo said: 

“We expect that the banking 

anything that happens in 

their states has a spill-over 

effect in our state and this 

has made us to change our 

strategy in crime fighting. 

“In that effect, we have 

decided to re-launch 

‘Operation Jubilee’ which 

will soon take off with 300 

men and we are going to 

equip them with all 

necessary logistics to do 

and financial sector would 

support the national 

economic recovery and 

growth plan.’ 

“As most people already 

know, we recently released 

our economic and growth 

plan and its objective is to 

achieve sustainable 

inclusive growth and 

achieve a growth of 7 per 

cent per annum by 2020 by 

focusing on core principles 

growth on global economy 

existing constraints and 

working in partnership 

with the private sector. 

“The banking and 

finance sector has a key role 

to play in supporting our 

dream. The banking sector 

is critical to the 

implementation of our 

their work well, including 

10 new vehicles for their 

take off”, the governor said 

Ikpeazu assured that all 

information to the dedicated 

special phone number and 

email address to be given 

to the public would be 

treated with strict 

confidentiality and the 

informant 

immediately. 

IPOB LEADER, NNAMDI KANU IN COURT YESTERDAY. Photos by Gbemiga Olamilekan. 

rewarded 

plan. The private sector is 

expected to play a major 

part especially through 

public private partnerships. 

The banking and the 

financial sector will be 

leading sources of 

private capital expected 

to complement 

government investment. 

“We expect that the 

banking sector support 

development financing 

by utilising the central 

bank of Nigeria MSME 

fund. 

"The reality is that the 

huge sums of money 

involved in illicit 

financial flows which is 

contributing to rising 

inequality often happens 

through the financial 

system." 

Kanu and others just out of the court. 

Some supporters of IPOB. 

Jubilating supporters of IPOB after hearing the 

bail verdict. 

Kanu brandishes a traditional insignia outside court premises after he 

was granted bail. 

Kanu outside the court premises after the court verdict, surrounded by 

his supporters and security agents.

IN Nigeria, public 

lynching is often the 

consequence of mass 

frustration at an unjust system. 

Mobs frequently take the law 

into their own hands and 

jungle justice is far too often 

the only recourse of the poor 

when the institutions meant to 

guaranty law and order or fight 

injustice are themselves 

compromised. 

There have been too many 

stories published of late to 

recount them all: the images of 

children set ablaze for petty 

theft contrast in the most brutal 

of ways with the celebration of 

corrupt men and women guilty 

of stealing so much more. 

Indeed, the desperation and 

dehumanisation caused by 

abject poverty have enabled a 

society where it is easier to 

attack the poor and 

downtrodden who are of equal 

status as oneself than face up 

to the colossuses who have the 

weapons of the state at hand. 

However, the masses whom 

many politicians view as 

disposable, in reaction to 

today’s poor economy seem 

less amenable to the empty 

promises or showy lifestyles of 

those who consider themselves 

their masters. Once popular 

politicians are being stoned 

and heckled and one must 

wonder why the connection 

between poverty and violence 

(if understood or 

acknowledged by those in 

power) is yet to be acted upon. 

Internet and 

social media 

Why do we believe that 

unemployed, desperate, angry 

young people who have access 

to the rest of the world through 

the internet and social media, 

who see their counterparts 

abroad living fairly decent lives 

in societies that recognise their 

humanity and provide 

adequately for their needs, 

would continue, for all eternity, 

to support leaders who live 

large while they struggle 

endlessly? 

There are some who’ll claim 

that mob attacks are purely 

political in nature, that is 

instigated by jealous, envious 

political opponents, rivals who 

are hell-bent on displacing 

incumbents and upsetting 

election results or calculations 

but that is only part of the story. 

The real issue is systemic. 

Contrary to other nations 

where serious economic plans 

Kemi Adeosun 

THE Minister of Finance 

has attempted to 

reassure Nigerians by stating 

that the money recovered by 

the EFCC will not be re-looted 

as all funds are kept within 

one same account and 

reconciled. 

Unfortunately, this does not 

fully explain what happens to 

recovered properties nor does 

it deal with the rumours that 

individuals either within the 

EFCC or politically-connected 

persons are allegedly able to 

purchase said properties at 

Mob attacks and revolutionary mind-sets 

•President Buhari 

and measures have succeeded 

one another, Nigeria is one of 

those few countries where 

poverty has been steadily on 

There is hardly 

anything 

revolutionary about 

many of the leaders 

at the helm of 

affairs in Nigeria; a 

pro-people stance in 

public often hides 

anti-people 

activities under the 

cover of darkness 

the rise while at the same time 

a particular class of political 

adventurers, both military and 

civilian, have seen their 

personal fortunes sky rocket. 

How long do we think this will 

continue to be acceptable to the 

masses? 

Every so often in the media, 

from former governor Peter 

Obi, to the former Central Bank 

•Kemi Adeosun 

preferential rates. In all we do 

in Nigeria we continue to 

court disaster. 

of Nigeria and now Emir of 

Kano, Sanusi Lamido, some 

current or former government 

appointee makes would-be 

revolutionary remarks which 

are more to do with common 

sense than anything quite 

novel or even incendiary. If not 

for our penchant for 

“alternative facts” (a tradition 

in Nigeria which predates 

Donald Trump’s expression) a 

lot of the so-called explosive 

declarations of many of our 

favourite politicians should be 

considered as obvious, the 

same as the solutions to many 

of the often-stated and restated 

problems. 

It is time we began to fear that 

one day, the masses will want 

to do away with not only those 

they see as directly responsible 

for their condition but also the 

elite who appeared friendly to 

their cause but either didn’t try 

hard enough or care deeply 

enough to help push for real 

change. 

We don’t seem to realise the 

Yakubu Dogara 

NE must wonder at the 

Osincerity of the 

declarations made by many 

public officials. The Speaker of 

the House of Representatives, 

Yakubu Dogara, was quoted as 

saying during an interview: 

“What is the legacy we are 

leaving behind? What are we 

achieving? That’s the thing 

that gives me nightmares 

sometimes.” 

If the idea of a failed legacy 

gives him nightmares, why 

didn’t the House and the 

Senate confirm Magu? 

That could have been the 

beginning of creating said 

legacy. The process that led to 

Dogara’s own emergence as 

Speaker, which was contrary 

to party wishes at the time, also 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 —17 

danger of our present situation. 

The people of Mali, currently 

battling jihadism and religious 

extremism linked to high levels 

of poverty, political 

manipulation and false 

prophets who seduced the poor 

into the possibility of an Islamic 

revolution to cure poverty and 

•Sanusi Lamido, Emir of Kano 

injustice, also believed they’d 

left their military past far 

behind them. In Nigeria, we 

love to applaud anyone who 

comes out to tell us that which 

we already know, that we are 

failing as a country, that we are 

corrupt, backward etc., 

especially if the speaker is rich 

or of a certain social standing. 

But where is the action? 

Of course, in the case of the 

Emir of Kano, he isn’t a 

governor and has no control 

over the implementation of 

state budgets on healthcare, 

education, infrastructure, etc. 

So, he does stand out to a 

certain extent for telling 

Northern governors and the 

political establishment some 

home truths in regards to 

using religion as an excuse for 

the blatant refusal to 

modernise and develop. 

After all, countries like 

Malaysia and Egypt which are 

Muslim countries have far 

higher socio-economic 

development indices than 

seemingly falls short of the 

idea of "legacy”. 

He went on to say: “The only 

thing that frightens me is if this 

eighth assembly which, by 

virtue of the grace of God, I 

have been called to lead, is 

unable to leave landmark 

achievements; that is what 

bothers me and prevents me 

from sleeping”. 

Reading this is like being in 

a sort of alternate universe. A 

House that refuses to publish 

its budget or account for funds 

meant for constituency 

projects, one where its 

principal leaders were 

accused of budget padding 

(without any evidence 

tendered to prove the 

contrary), where the Senate 

Nigeria. The trouble is that 

Sanusi won’t be the first or the 

last to tell Nigerians what they 

already know about the issues 

plaguing the North and 

Nigeria as a whole. 

Politicians will grumble in 

response to the issues raised, 

seek to discredit him or anyone 

else who attempts to have a 

real conversation then 

continue on their 

empowerment projects, 

awarding a few motorcycles 

and sewing machines here and 

there, fooling themselves into 

believing this can make a real 

difference. 

Will we wait till the ranks of 

the varying mobs across the 

country swell and consume us 

all before we do something? 

There is hardly anything 

revolutionary about many of 

the leaders at the helm of affairs 

in Nigeria. A pro-people stance 

in public often hides antipeople 

activities under the 

cover of darkness. Now, the 

Buhari administration is facing 

perhaps its final public 

relations and accountability 

test. 

Public relations and 

accountability test 

What will happen once the 

Osinbajo-led panel finishes its 

deliberations regarding the fate 

of the former Secretary to the 

Government of the Federation 

and the DG of the Nigeria 

Intelligence Agency who’ve 

been accused of corruption? 

Will the Buhari administration 

be truly revolutionary and 

push for punishment of these 

former appointees if they are 

found guilty? 

A negative answer to this 

question could send the 

country into a frenzy and 

precipitate further violent 

action. It could also mark the 

end of something, the end of 

all hope in a man many 

believed would be our saviour. 

This was supposed to be 

Nigeria’s last chance at 

redemption. What the future 

holds if we don’t seize this 

chance is too scary to 

contemplate. The masses will 

not take disappointment lightly. 

Not this time. 

•Yakubu Dogara 

President is on trial for false 

declaration of assets…. What 

legacy does this involve pray 

tell? 

Tabia Princewill is a 

strategic communications 

consultant and public policy 

analyst. She is also the cohost 

and executive producer 

of a talk show, WALK THE 

TALK which airs on 

Channels TV.


The Directorate of States Services, 

DSS, the Independent Corrupt 

Practices Commission, ICPC, the 

Economic and the Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, and 

Nigerians will not forget the trimester 

of this year in a hurry. 

These security and anti-graft 

agencies of the Federal Government, 

which had thrived on media 

trials of suspects lost four out 

of five cases in open courts. 

The losses prompted President 

Muhammadu Buhari to draft the 

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo 

who was once an Attorney General 

of Lagos State, to help halt 

further damage to the Federal 

Government’s anti-corruption 

fight. 

The EFCC lost its cases against 

Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on account 

of the N75 million money 

found in his account paid him by 

Governor Ayodele Fayose as legal 

fees. It also lost its bid to 

block the $5.9m lodged in the account 

of former First Lady, Dame 

Worrisome losses of anti-graft cases 

Patience Jonathan. Both were 

lost for lack of convincing evidence. 

The DSS which had, in October 

2016, raided the residences of 

some judges and arraigned them 

for prosecution on allegations of 

corruption also lost its case 

against Justice Adeniyi Ademola 

in a case prosecuted by the Office 

of the Attorney-General of the 

Federation, which we consider a 

serious embarrassment to the Federal 

Government. 

The Independent Corrupt 

Practices Commission, ICPC, 

capped the show of unenviable 

performance by losing a case 

against Elder Godsday Orubebe, 

former Minister of Niger Delta 

Affairs, charged with failure to execute 

a contract for the East-West 

Road in Eket and embezzling 

N1.97bn. The ICPC withdrew the 

case after sheepishly admitting 

that the funds were never released 

to Orubebe by the Federal Government. 

These unfortunate losses 

strengthened the hands of those 

who have accused government of 

witch-hunt. Either by accident or 

design, these individuals were 

linked to the Jonathan regime or 

perceived to have acted in their 

defence. 

The uneventful manner in which 

these cases were lost is not a 

good idea of what a serious antigraft 

war is all about. It casts 

doubts on the Buhari regime’s 

preparedness and ability to fight 

it to a logical conclusion. There 

can be no serious anti-graft war 

without diligent prosecution. 

Diligent prosecution requires 

tenacity of purpose, close attention 

to evidence gathering, assemblage 

of credible witnesses as 

well as deployment of committed 

and experienced prosecutors. 

Anti-graft war is a serious. It is 

not mere theatrical show and 

media hype which have been the 

hallmarks of our anti-graft efforts 

since the days of former 

President Olusegun Obasanjo. 

It is, however, gladdening to 

note that President Buhari is beginning 

to spread the sweep of 

the war to elements within his 

government. We urge him to ensure 

unbiased probes. This will 

renew the hope and expectations 

of Nigerians that the anti-graft 

war will be fought without fear 

or favour to logical conclusions. 

OPINION 

Edo PDP: Refugee of the Appeal court 

By Oteghe Adams 

THE current scenarios on the political 

terrain of Edo State are deserving of 

penetrating and unflinching attention. Indeed, 

this article could well have been titled ‘’ Edo 

PDP in the theatre of Appeal Court’’, or the ‘’ 

locus classicus of obstruction Vs progress in 

Nigeria polity’’. Consequent on the resounding 

verdict of the Election Tribunal on Friday, April 

14th, the defeated governorship candidate of 

the fractured Edo State PDP (Ize-Iyamu) has 

been ‘threatening’’ that he would appeal the 

judgment. Ize-Iyamu reportedly told supporters 

in his campaign office after the tribunal’s 

verdict that he might actually go all the way to 

the Supreme Court, if he so desires. 

Some distinguished citizens and leaders of 

state have since then appealed to Ize-Iyamu to 

humbly accept the verdict of the tribunal. It is 

my unmistakable prediction that Ize-Iyamu 

will go on appeal, and he should if he so desires 

to exercise his constitutional rights under the 

nation’s electoral laws. However, such a 

decision has absolutely nothing to do with any 

meritorious cause or public service mission. 

The outcome of the candidate’s journey on the 

appellate terrain is a foregone conclusion: Edo 

people will be subjected to another round of 

bagatelle and masquerading acrobatics staged 

as serious legal disputation. The rapidly 

dissipating base of the PDP will hold on the 

dope of hope being pumped by the candidatethey 

will be deflated and disappointed at the 

end because there was no foundation of justice 

in the quest from the onset. 

If one were to offer a counsel, the candidate 

should not have even gone to the election 

tribunal initially-but once Ize-Iyamu began 

such a journey on a precariously and seemingly 

vain glorious slippery slope, it is now 

The PDP and its candidate 

may proceed to the Appeal 

court if they so wish 

unnecessary, and perhaps impossible to stop 

the litigant from cascading into an inevitable 

abyss of his own making. Why should a party 

that was fully aware that it woefully lost an 

election proceed to the tribunal to squander 

the collective time of Edo people and to make 

mockery of itself as a political party? So 

miserable was the case presented by PDP’s team 

that the tribunal judges were collectively and 

pointedly repugnant of the vexatious nature of 

Ize-Iyamu’s petition. Perhaps, the leadership 

of Edo PDP could draw from the words of 

wisdom of their colleague across River Osse 

who lost an election in Ondo State. Eyitayo 

Jegede , a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in his 

own right and the PDP governorship candidate 

in the recent election had a more humble, a 

healthy and selfless acceptance of reality. 

Jegede did not attempt to use his knowledge of 

law to create a corrosive and heated 

atmosphere in Ondo State, he resisted the 

temptation to blame external parties for the 

failure of the PDP in the contest and also adopted 

an endearing philosophical and publicoriented 

frame in the circumstance. With a 

statesmanlike and patriotic demeanor, Jegede 

was quoted as saying’’ …I offered myself to 

serve, not because of self seeking desire but 

because of the goal to serve’’.’’ If the goal is to 

serve and to work, why should I go to the 

extreme to foist myself on the people’’, so the 

Ondo PDP candidate declared. Jegede’s voice 

carries the profile of honour and dignity-he 

reflects the character of a leader who knows 

when ‘enough should be enough’ in the 

collective interest and advancement of the 

society. 

For Edo PDP governorship candidate and its 

leadership, the story and stance is shamefully 

and abominably different. If the PDP and Ize- 

Iyamu were to go on appeal, the action would 

in real term be the third leg in their battle and 

race against Democracy. First, the party 

attempted to scuttle and negate the legitimately 

expressed wishes of Edo people by mass 

disseminating absolutely false results on 

September 28th, 2016 on the date of electionthe 

diabolical intention was to inflame anarchy 

and civil disorder in a most risky gamble from 

which the PDP thought that the party could 

benefit. 

Having failed with the desperate attempt at 

manipulating and fictionalising the results, 

PDP rushed to the election tribunal. The three 

judges unequivocally and unanimously 

dismissed PDP and Ize-Iyamu’s petition. In a 

remarkable instance regarding allegations of 

non-compliance with electoral laws, the 

tribunal said that the ‘’ petitioner and the PDP 

called witnesses but have no evidence to back 

their claims’’. The tribunal also described the 

petitioners complaints of over voting as ‘’…hot 

air with no value in the argument’’. All through 

the ruling, nearly all the supposed major 

grounds of Ize-Iyamu’s petition was punctured 

for deficit of credible evidence and solid basis 

in law. 

The PDP and its candidate may proceed to 

the Appeal court if they so wish as the mass 

majority of Edo people have already constituted 

their own jury of history. The citizenry is 

travelling in a different direction. They are 

closely watching what is now obviously a self 

aggrandizing and precarious game of 

perpetual obstruction by one party. On the other 

side, around their neighbourhoods, Edo people 

are witnesses to the genuine efforts of a 

governor that is actively engaged in the 

rehabilitation of nearly 100 kilometers of inner 

city roads to ease commute for the citizenry. 

The youths of Edo State are enthused with 

credible hope as they are being registered for 

the take off stage of various projects for 

thousands of respectful jobs. Plans are 

reportedly being perfected to get Benin 

Technical College running again as a location 

for nurturing internationally certified skilled 

manpower in various fields. A fabrication 

village for maturation and modernisation of 

technical skills is being contemplated by 

Obaseki’s administration. There is progressive 

momentum in the arena of boosting the states’ 

profile as a national leader in green revolution 

and agribusiness. 

*Mr. Adams, a political commentator , wrote 

from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 — 19 

World Banking Conference: ECOWAS single 

currency under fire 


WEST African countries 

have been advised to 

abandon the proposed common 

currency and rather leverage on 

digital financial technology to boost 

trade within the region. 

Author of the book on ‘The Future 

of Banking” and acclaimed 

trend-watcher, Mr. Adjiedj Bakas, 

gave this advice while delivering a 

keynote address at the World Conference 

of Banking Institutes hosted 

in Lagos yesterday by the Chartered 

Institute of Bankers of Nigeria 

(CIBN). 

The launching and take off of the 

West African single currency, 

known as ‘Eco’ has been postponed 

four times, in 2003, 2005, 2009 and 

2015, due to the inability of the 

West African countries to comply 

with all the four primary convergence 

criteria simultaneously and 

on sustainable basis. 

The convergence criteria include: 

A single digit inflation rate; fiscal 

deficit of not more than four per 

cent; deficit financing not more 

than 10 per cent of the previous 

year’s tax revenues; and gross external 

reserves that can give import 

cover for a minimum of three 

months. 

Speaking on the theme of the 

conference, “Re-thinking the future 

of banking and finance and lifelong 

learning”, Bakis said that a single 

currency is not good for the region 

given the diversities of the cultures 

and economies of the countries in 

the region. He added that single 

currency idea was no longer expedient 

in the light of current trends 

in digital finance and the experience 

of Europe with the ‘Euro’. 

Speaking further to Vanguard on 

the sidelines of the conference, 

Bakis stated: “The single currency 

is not good because the countries, 

$129.50 0.00 

$1,825.00 0.00 

16.25 0.01 

$51.78 0.18 

$49.38 0.15 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 305 305.5 306 

POUNDS 392.1995 392.8425 393.4854 

EURO 327.021 327.5571 328.0932 

FRANC 305.7644 306.2657 306.7669 

YEN 2.7977 2.8022 2.8068 

CFA 0. 4754 0.4854 0.4954 

WAUA 413.9555 414.6341 415.3127 

RENMINBI 44.2822 44.3553 44. 4283 

RIYAL 81.3247 81.458 81.5913 

SDR 415.0745 415.755 416.4354 

KRONA 43.957 44.0291 44.1011 

CBN Exchange rate as at 25/04/2017 

CONFERENCE: From left, Mr Andrew Davis, International Banking Professional Institutes; 

Mr Adjiedj Bakas, keynote speaker, World Conference of Banking Institute (WCBI) and Founder 

Trender Office; Mr. Ade Adeyemi, Group CEO, Ecobank Transanational Inc, Lome, Togo; Prof. 

Segun Ajibola, FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria; 

Mr. Tay Luan, FCIB, Executive Director, Australia New Zealand Institute; Mr. Temitope 

Odukoya, Partner, West Africa Corporate Finance Leader, Deloitte (Nigeria); Dr. Mrs Olateju 

Abiola Somorin, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; Mr. 

Colin Morrison, President, European Banking & Financial Services Training at the WCBI, yesterday. 

the cultures and the economies are 

too different, like in Europe, to melt 

it down in one currency. 

“So every country should keep 

its own currency or its own 

economy. What you can do is to use 

the block chain technology of the 

bitcoin, to create a parallel currency 

for trade. So let’s say if Nigeria 

wants to export something to Zambia, 

you can use that parallel currency, 

which today is in US dollar. 

NB to seek shareholders approval for 

conversion of cash dividend to scrip issue 

By Peter Egwuatu 

NIGERIAN Breweries, NB Plc, yes 

terday, said it will seek shareholders approval 

at its forth coming Annual General Meeting 

(AGM) to convert their cash dividend to ordinary 

shares. 

The Managing Director/CEO, NB Plc, Mr. 

Nicolaas A. Vervelde, who disclosed this to Vanguard 

at the sideline of the company’s Pre-AGM 

press briefing in Lagos stated: “We want to consolidate 

on our balance sheet and so we will seek 

shareholders approval for the conversion of a proposed 

final dividend to scrip issue. 

“We are going to pay 100 per cent of our net profit 

to our shareholders as dividend. So the shareholders 

are expected to get N20.5 billion as the 

final dividend, having received an interim dividend 

of N1.00 per share. So, the total dividend 

declared by the company for the financial year 

2016 is N28.4 billion, translating to N3.58 per 

share.” 

But today you can create another 

currency and that is the nice thing 

about the blockchain technology, 

you can keep on creating currencies.” 

Financial services can create 3m jobs in Nigeria — MGI 

By Prince Okafor 

MCKINSEY Global Institute 

(MGI), yesterday, said that 

financial services within Nigeria’s 

digital economy could add $88 billion 

and create over three million 

new jobs over the next 10 years. 

MGI is a worldwide business and 

economic research arm of McKinsey, 

established in 1990 to develop a 

deeper understanding of the evolving 

global economy. 

In a communication to the Federal 

Ministry of Industry, Trade and 

Investment, the Institute also indicated 

that potential gains of the 

digital economy will be manifest in 

digital accounts, payments, mobile 

money, health and educational services 

and other sectors of the 

economy. 

Speaking at the first ministerial 

meeting of the United Nations 

Conference for Trade and Development 

(UNCTAD) e-Commerce 

week in Geneva the Minister of 

Industry, Trade and Investment, 

Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, who 

led Nigerian delegation to the 

meeting stated: “The ministry is 

developing ‘Smart Nigeria Digital 

Economy Project’ and that the objective 

is to solve efficiency problems 

and create leap-frog opportunities 

in the economy, improve competitiveness 

and foster technology 

development and innovation more 

generally.” 

He also said that “The Smart 

Nigeria Digital Economy Project is 

Nigeria’s response to an area of 

intense economic and technological 

activity by Nigerian youths, 

where there is a growing pool of 

talent.” 

Vervelde said the price for the scrip issue will 

be N130 per share, adding that “if approved by 

shareholders it will increase their shareholding, 

but it will also not affect share capital of the company.” 

When asked why some of its newly introduced 

products are not seen in the market, Vervelde 

explained that there were some challenges regarding 

their production in terms of securing 

foreign exchange, forex. 

He stated: “We will intensify effort to get those 

products distributed widely as some of the challenges 

are being overcome. We are doing over 40 

per cent local content, we plan to grow it to 50 per 

cent and thereafter move to 60 per cent.” 

Commenting on its financial year ended 2016, 

the NB boss said: “The year was challenging with 

dwindling government revenue, high exchange 

rate, high rate of inflation, increase in foreign debt, 

low oil prices, disruption to oil production and 

foreign exchange scarcity.” 

Company 

registration: 

SMEs no 

longer need 

hiring lawyers 

By Yinka Kolawole 

AS part of the reforms intro 

duced in the Nigeria’s business 

environment under the 60-day 

Action Plan executed by the Presidential 

Enabling Business Environment 

Council, PEBEC, prospective 

small and medium enterprises 

(SMEs) business owners may no 

longer enlist the services of lawyers 

or any third party in registering 

businesses. Also a direct registration 

would take not more than a day 

after all documentations are submitted, 

as against 10 days before 

now. 

The Council, established by President 

Muhammadu Buhari is 

chaired by Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo. 

Also as part of the reforms, the 

council directed that prospective 

business owners can now search 

on Corporate Affairs Commission 

(CAC) portal for a chosen business 

name to avoid duplication of names 

and prevent selection of prohibited 

names, which usually delayed approvals. 

These were some of the highlights 

of a report presented by the Council 

at the end of the 60-day action plan, 

according to a press statement by 

Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant 

to the President on Media & 

Publicity, Office of the Vice President. 

According to the report, CAC has 

introduced single incorporation 

form (CAC1.1) to save time and reduce 

costs while the agency has 

introduced document upload interface 

on its website to enable e-submission 

of registration documents. 

According to the report, PEBEC 

listed “Dealing with construction 

permits, Getting electricity, Registering 

Property, Getting Credit and 

Paying Taxes,” as some of the areas 

where the Council has recorded 

progress in the past 60 days. The 

report also highlighted the completed 

reforms on the “Entry and 

Exit of People,” indicator which includes 

Simplified Visa-on-Arrival 

process, Infrastructural improvements 

at the Abuja airport, and the 

new Immigration Regulation 2017. 

It also indicated that the completed 

reforms are being closely monitored 

to ensure diligent implementation 

with minimal disruption while pending 

reforms are being escalated to 

ensure completion in the coming 

weeks. The Council emphasised that 

with the conclusion of implementation 

of the action plan, “the next phase 

would involve deepening existing 

reforms; completing and implementing 

pending initiatives; engaging 

with the public; validating completed 

reforms and kicking-off mediumterm 

reforms.

20—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26 , 2017 — 21 

•Research 

RECESSION: Scientists task policy 

makers on research funding 

By Emmanuel Elebeke 

WITH the crash in oil 

prices and invariably the 

nation’s economy, it is evident 

that if money had been spent on 

research and development, 

particularly in food security, we 

would have been reaping the 

benefits now, and the outcome 

would have served as a buffer for 

the crash in oil prices. Hence, 

poor funding of research and 

development in the country has 

been a major setback in the 

nation’s march towards economic 

rejuvenation. 

This declaration was made by 

biotechnology scientists at the 

march for science in Abuja in 

commemoration of World Earth 

Day. 

To make Nigeria self sufficient 

in food production and achieve 

sustainable economic growth, the 

experts reasoned that research 

and development must be 

adequately funded for the 

economy to leapfrog out of the 

present economic depression. 

For them, the time to adequately 

fund research, innovation and 

technological advancements is 

now. 

Speaking at the event, 

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of 

Science and Technology, Mrs. 

Balema Wakama said Nigeria can 

overcome its present economic 

challenges by ensuring inclusive 

support for science, innovation 

and modern technology. 

“Nigeria lives in the age of 

science, as such, needs to 

collectively support science to 

improve the livelihood of its 

citizens. Every life is dependent 

on scientific inventions, 

innovations and modern 

technology. 

“Science has modernized our 

lives in agriculture, medicine, 

environment, education, 

industry, electricity, aviation and 

mostly information, for both the 

developed and developing 

nations. Modern science, 

awakened by the continuous and 

hard work of outstanding 

scientists and researchers, has 

resulted in scientific advances of 

the highest international 

standard.” Wakama said. 

In her remarks, Director 

General, National Biotechnology 

Development Agency, NABDA, 

Prof. Lucy Ogbadu said that with 

increased funding in science and 

technology, Nigeria can 

guarantee high productivity of 

goods and revive global 

Nigeria’s policy 

makers need to 

invest in young 

minds as it 

concerns 

research grants 

as this will lead 

to the 

promotion of 

the economy 

competitiveness and technology; 

“Any nation focused on making 

monumental improvement in 

development must first invest 

massively in the science and 

technology sector. However, due 

to the poor awareness of citizens 

about the role of science in nation 

building, we are several steps 

backward. Government, as well 

as the private sector, must begin 

to show more commitment in 

science, innovation and 

technology, so as to actualise the 

diversification plan of the present 


“It is also to show more 

commitment to science in line 

with the diversification drive for 

job creation, economic growth 

and improvement in the area of 

the quality of lives of its citizens. 

Government should invest in 

science, support science, engage 

in science , because it is the key 

driver of economic growth and it 

is the only thing that can make 

us realize our change agenda.” 

Prof. Ogbadu implored. 

Country Coordinator, Open 

Forum for Agricultural 

Biotechnology, OFAB, Dr. Rose 

Gidado said with the increasing 

population in the country, 

Nigeria can no longer afford to 

continue doing things the old 

way but embrace modern 

technology to boost food 

production across the country. 

Her words; “To fast track the 

process, there is need for 

government to pay more 

attention to research and 

innovations. The population is 

growing and we need to focus 

on food production. The only way 

we can achieve that is by calling 

on government to pay more 

attention to research and 

development as it concerns 

research funding, funding of 

research institutes and all 

agencies of government that can 

bring that to light.” 

Harping on the need to invest 

in young minds, a 

biotechnologist, Dr. Abdurasak 

Ibrahim, urged; “Nigeria’s policy 

makers need to invest in young 

minds as it concerns research 

grants as this will lead to the 

promotion of the economy." 

129,000 digital TV migrants face blackout in Jos 

By Marie-Therese Nanlong 

JOS - 420,000 set top boxes 

distributed during the pilot switchover 

from analogue to digital transmission in 

Plateau State would experience blackout 

unless users pay N1,500 access fee, the state 

Commissioner for Information and 

Communication, Nazif Muhammad has said. 

The commissioner said, Monday, that the 

set top boxes are programmed to work for 

free for a year as government had paid the 

subscription fees for the year, after which an 

access fee of N1,500 per annum was to be 

paid by users. He recalled that the state, 

which was the first in the country to migrate 

from analogue to digital transmission on April 

30, 2016, had provided 200,000 set 

top boxes free of charge to the 

people of Plateau, adding that 

those who did not get the free set 

top boxes bought theirs from 

distributors at a subsidized fee. 

According to him, “The idea 

was to give free television services 

to those who had received or 

bought the boxes for one year. It 

is almost one year and we deem 

it necessary to inform the general 

public that by the end of this 

month, 129,000 boxes will have 

total blackout unless they are 

recharged. 

“By next month a total of 32,047 

set top boxes will have a total 

blackout and this will continue on 

a monthly basis depending on the 

number of set top boxes that are activated 

in that particular month. This exercise will 

continue till November, 2017 when a total 

of 420,000 will be blacked out because over 

420,000 boxes have been activated in the 

state. 

“Users should know that when they 

experience blackout it is not that the set 

top box or television set is spoilt but because 

they have not been recharged. Members 

of the public would soon be informed when, 

where and how to recharge, as distributors 

are working on the processes of recharging,” 

Muhammad implored. 

He advised the people not to take their 

boxes to technicians for repair when they 

are experiencing black out to avoid damage.

22— VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 

TRANSPARENCY: NCC, FIRS in 

joint c'ttee for proper accounting 

By Tare Youdeowei 

TO improve the level of 

efficiency in tax management 

and revenue generation through 

deployment of technology, the 

Nigerian Communications 

Commission, NCC, and the Federal 

Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, 

recently set up a revenue quality 

assurance committee for the 

telecommunications sector. 

This was the highpoint of the 

discussions between Executive Vice 

Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar 

Danbatta and Chairman, FIRS, Mr. 

Babatunde Fowler, after a courtesy 

visit of Fowler to the NCC 

Headquarters, as disclosed by 

Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Tony 

Ojobo in a statement. 

“Specifically, the joint committee, 

with four members each from the two 

organisations, is to examine and 

suggest ways through which a high 

level of transparency can be attained 

via technology in tax management 

for FIRS and the returns from Annual 

Operating Levy, AOL, for the NCC. 

The committee is to also see how 

staff matters, including payments, 

By Laju Iren 

TELL us about your start up. 

What do you do and what was 

the inspiration behind it? 

2kmarket.com is a unique and 

budget sensitive online market place 

in Nigeria. We provide a platform 

where sellers whose products cost 

N2999 and below can sell those 

products to a wide range of buyers. We 

afford buyers/shoppers the luxury of 

shopping for very affordable and yet 

authentic products from the comfort of 

the homes or offices. 

Basically, we reach out to sellers with 

products within our price range and 

bring them on board. We also allow 

these sellers (be they local sellers with 

ingenuous products or sellers who 

already trade online) to reach out to 

us and sell on our platform. We are 

inspired by the struggles of the 

everyday Nigerian buyer and seller 

especially since Nigeria went into 

recession. It is our desire to provide 

quality and pocket friendly items to 

are addressed. It is also to audit the 

states and proffer what benefits are 

accruable to them in terms of taxes 

collected. It is expected to work out a 

recommendation to facilitate the type 

approval of telecommunications 

equipment that can be used for a 

transparent assessment of the 

operators’ revenues,” the statement 

declared. 

During the visit, Prof. Danbatta 

disclosed that the NCC has expressed 

serious concerns over the shutting 

down of Base Transceiver Stations, 

BTS, in the states indiscriminately 

without recourse to the Commission. 

“This is worrisome as it undermines the 

capacity to provide telecom services, 

thereby denying consumers quality 

services.” 

Danbatta cited the Resolution of the 

National Economic Council on Multiple 

Taxation, Levies and Charges on ICT 

Infrastructure in Nigeria dated March 

21, 2013 saying the document is very 

clear on the issues of multiple taxation, 

levies, as well as Right of Ways, among 

others. “Help us propagate the 

provisions of the policy to the Joint Tax 

Board.” Danbatta said. 

On the other hand, Chairman FIRS, 

If you’ve ever shopped online, you know how much of a 

turn-off outrageous prices can be when you have a budget in 

mind. That was the reason why founders of 2kmarket.com., 

Kelechi Nwaozuzu and Emeka Nwadibie created a platform 

where sellers whose products cost N2999 and below can sell 

those products to a wide range of buyers. Excerpts: 

budget. 

A local seller might have a product that 

is priced at N1500 but because they are 

located somewhere deep inside the 

market, their products are labelled 

“cheap” or “low quality”; sadly, it is 

common practice for that exact same 

product to be sold in a “high class” store 

at a price that is up to five times the price 

the local seller is offering. 

Our aim is to correct that myopic mindset 

and afford sellers the opportunity for the 

products to be seen. 2kmarket.com has 

identified these problems and we are 

determined to solve it by providing a 

platform that serves as a win-win situation 

for buyers and sellers both. 

What challenges have you faced? How 

did you overcome them? 

Every startup has its fair share of 

challenges and we are certainly not left 

out. Since our launch on January 15, 

2017, we have been striving to create 

awareness. 

In a country like ours that is blessed 

with many promising entrepreneurs and 

businesses, it is all too easy to get lost in 

the ocean. It certainly has not been easy 

•Prof Umar Garba Danbatta 

Fowler, said his concerns stem from the 

fact that MNOs do not remit the Value 

Added Tax already charged as at when 

due, “while some decide when they will 

remit it but the law stipulates that such 

taxes must be remitted to the FIRS 

between 20 and 21 of each month. 

Some have not fulfilled the annual 

returns.” 

Danbatta, however, said that the NCC 

sees collaboration with FIRS as a 

decision in the right direction. “This 

underscores what President 

Muhammadu Buhari said recently 

about the collaboration of intergovernmental 

agencies which saw to 

the timely completion of the Nnamdi 

Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja 

ahead of schedule.” 

2KMARKET: Meet the 

startup founded with users’ 

budget in mind 

buyers and a 

competitive 

platform for 

sellers. For 

buyers, it is 

often not so 

easy to have to 

navigate from 

shop to shop 

and place to 

place trying to 

buy choice 

items that fall 

within their 

getting the good news out that such a 

platform exists. Gaining the trust of 

Nigerians has also been a challenge. 

Some people are skeptical about the 

quality of products we have to offer and 

others may not be willing to patronize us 

because of experiences they had with 

other platforms in the past. At 

2kmarket.com, we understand that 

nothing good comes easy and we will 

keep pushing until our goals are 

achieved. 

Share some success stories 

Creating a platform like ours that cares 

for the everyday Nigerian is in itself a 

success story. Every new order placed is 

celebrated as a success because it takes 

us one step closer to our goals. 

The number of sellers we have is 

increasing daily and our social media 

platforms are being utilized effectively. 

We have had many offers for 

partnerships. Generally, we can say that 

our growth game has been strong and 

we can only give glory to God. 

Does Nigeria have an enabling 

environment for startups? Please share 

from experience 

Although the Nigerian environment is 

not ideal, depending on how well this 

environment is utilized, startups can 

thrive. Nigerians tend to embrace change 

a bit slower than usual (as we are 

currently experiencing) but once we do, 

we immediately adapt and create an 

enabling environment. 

There will be trying times, but our 

environment is somehow designed to 

always provide a way out. It’s entirely 

up to the start up to deal with the 

challenges that come and come out as a 

success. 

Spam messages 

account for 15% SMS 

sent globally 

—Truecaller 

By Emeka Aginam 

DESPITE global regulations, a latest 

study by Truecaller, a caller 

identification application, has revealed 

that spam SMS accounts for 15 percent 

of all SMS messages sent globally. 

Accordingly, this represents 1.2 trillion 

spam messages each year. 

This is even as Truecaller and Google 

have come together to improve video 

calling for millions. 

The strategic agreement is expected to 

integrate Google Duo, a high quality 

video calling service, within the 

Truecaller app. This will add a crucial 

communications layer that strengthens 

the value of Truecaller’s wildly popular 

dialler, caller ID, and spam blocking app 

already used by more than 250 million 

users globally. 

In the same vein, Truecaller has 

announced a completely new redesign 

of the Android app which now has a 

broader array of features like; instantly 

seeing who is sent you a text message to 

filter spam messages and flash 

messaging which allows you to send 

quick pre-defined messages to any 

Truecaller user notifying them of distress, 

that you are on your way, your location, 

or that you have reached home. 

Speaking on the new features, Nami 

Zarringhalam, Co-founder and CSO of 

Truecaller, said; “From the beginning we 

have worked relentlessly to build a 

product that helps simplify 

communication for consumers across the 

globe, and help them address important 

needs such knowing the identity of those 

calling, and blocking unwanted numbers. 

With valuable partners like Google, we 

are excited to take the next step in our 

journey, bringing all your mobile 

communications under one roof and 

giving you the safest, most efficient, and 

most convenient experience possible 

without having to switch back and forth. 

International Girls in ICT 

Day set for tomorrow 

By Sylvia Anikwe 

THE International Telecommunications 

Union, ITU, will tomorrow 

gather over young female technology 

enthusiast in Geneva to celebrate this year’s 

Girls in ICT Day. 

The day highlights the value of women in 

the field of information and communications 

technology (ICT), and seeks to attract more 

girls to the increasing career opportunities 

of this expanding field. Each year, girls and 

young women around the globe join together 

at hundreds of events to demonstrate their 

technology skills and to expand these. 

A highlight of this year’s event, being 

celebrated on April 27, will be a speed virtual 

international gathering of girls in Geneva, 

Vilnius and Beirut through a shared game 

application and video link. This will enable 

them to explore ICT together in a live and 

interactive format. 

Each location also has its own fun-filled 

activities. Local school girls in Geneva will 

demonstrate the new digital skills they 

learned in activities leading up to Girls in 

ICT Day and meet women mentors from the 

tech sector. In Vilnius, girls will enjoy a 

robotics workshop, practical demonstrations 

of virtual and augmented reality, and 

witness a presentation of winning projects 

from Lithuania’s biggest annual robotics and 

technology competition, ROBOTIADA.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017— 23 

•Different types of low cost websites 

How to build small business website 

By Tare Youdeowei 

IN the business world; 

be it small, medium 

or large scale, a website 

is a marketing tool, an adjunct 

store and an information 

desk. It is similar 

to the proverbial hitting of 

two birds with a stone. 

In this case, it is several 

stones. Where a business 

owner is able to get a great 

website, it will draw more 

customers than a potpourri 

of mainstream or conventional 

media, advertising 

and marketing platforms. 

That said, every small 

business owner needs to 

have a good website, to 

among other things, boost 

sales and drive profit. Be 

you a fruit seller, tailor, 

food services provider or 

a hair stylist, you need a 

website. Here are steps to 

building and maintaining 

a website for your small 

business. 

Website 

platforms 

If you already have a 

website, you could double 

check to ensure you got it 

right the first time. 

1. Have a design in 

mind 

Your small business website 

needs to have a purpose. 

Is it for selling, 

broadcasting your services 

or serving your customers, 

prospective or otherwise? 

You also need to 

take competition into consideration 

as you draft 

your purpose. 

2. Hire professionals 

or do it yourself 

Do not hire cheap website 

designers, because 

you will end up with a 

cheap looking website. 

Your website is the face of 

your business, it is the 

last place you should cut 

corners. If hiring professionals 

is out of reach, 

build the website yourself 

using established off-theshelf 

tools. Simply typing 

‘how to build a website’ 

on any of the search engines, 

should get you 

started. It shouldn’t be so 

difficult since you have 

an idea of what you want 

to the website to look like. 

Do it yourself website 

platforms always have 

easy templates that make 

the entire process a lot 

easier. If that doesn’t 

work, hire a vetted professional 

web developer. 

A website can be pricey 

but it will be worth the investment. 

3. It’s not a day’s job 

Whether you build your 

website yourself or hire a 

developer, a good website 

will take time. This is 

not because the actual 

construction is tedious 

but developing content 

and having it fit nicely, 

takes time. When the site 

is up, you will still have 

to keep updating content. 

If you already have 

a website for your business, 

you need to take 

note of this; always keep 

content updated. 

4. Keep it short and 

simple 

When having a website 

developer build a site or 

you are building it yourself, 

bear in mind that a 

lot of people have a short 

attention span when on 

the internet, and as such 

keep content on the site 

short and simple. Busy 

websites distract visitors 

to your site. Too many 

adverts have the same 

effect too. As much as 

possible, have a neat, 

tightly organized website. 

Use headers, short 

While creating 

your website, 

make sure it 

loads properly 

on mobile 

phones, as most 

customers or 

prospective 

customers, 

spend more 

time on their 

mobile phones 

paragraphs and bullet 

points to highlight important 

information. Most 

importantly, keep visitors 

clicking with strong calls 

to action. Study what the 

competition is offering 

and how they are offering 

it. 

Another reason to keep 

it short and simple is for 

mobile optimization. 

While creating your website, 

make sure it loads 

properly on mobile 

phones, as most customers 

or prospective customers, 

spend more time on 

their mobile phones than 

on laptops or desktops. 

5. Website visibility and 

accessibility 

This is where search 

engines come in. They 

are your small business’ 

doorway to the world and 

your soon to be teeming 

customers. If your website 

doesn’t pop-up at the 

first few keyword searches, 

new customers will 

never know your business 

exists. 

If your website is properly 

designed, continuously 

updated and mobile-friendly, 

it should be 

relatively easy to find on 

search engines. 

You can however, improve 

it by inputting descriptive 

keywords in the 

content of the site, such 

as hair stylist, fashion designer, 

or a variety of 

words that best describe 

your business. Use them 

intermittently so that 

when they are looked up 

in search engines, your 

site will pop-up as one of 

the top 10. 

6. Feedback 

Ensure you create a review 

section and encourage 

your customers to use 

it. Search engines will 

consider the amount of 

feedback your business 

receives when they compile 

their rankings. 

Also, if your goods or 

services are good quality, 

you will get good feedback. 

This will endear prospective 

customers to your 

product or service because 

a good number of people 

go to the review section 

before patronizing your 

business to be sure they 

are making the right 

choice or falling for a 

scam. 

7. Analyse your site 

Search engines have an 

analytics function, do well 

to use them to know what 

aspect of the site to do 

away with, upgrade or focus 

on. More information 

will only help you make 

better decisions. They 

also change search criteria 

sometimes, be in the 

know and adjust your 

website appropriately. 

Hopefully, with these 

steps you can augment 

your small business, but 

most importantly see your 

business website as an extension 

of the business itself.




•Baking soda 

•Grout in tiles 

Maintaining 

grout in tiles 

can be easier 

than you think 

THERE is no doubt that 

tiles in homes can be 

beautiful and durable, 

especially when the grout is 

properly cleaned and 

maintained. Grout in tiles can 

make the house look untidy, 

unattractive and dirty, causing 

it to lose its durability. 

Grout can be difficult to keep 

clean. As homemakers, if you 

do not consciously make it a 

duty to clean it regularly, it can 

change to an unpleasant 

colour, contrary to your initial 

taste. 

For those wondering what 

grout is, grout is the mixture of 

water, sand, and cement that 

keeps tiles in place. Grout lines 

easily pick up dirt and stains, 

and before you know it, they 

turn from white to brown or 

even black. It is even worse 

when you are unfortunate to 

hire inexperienced tillers who 

may fill the tiles with lots of 

grouts. 

You may not have control on 

who lay the tiles especially 

when you are a tenant, but you 

have responsibility of looking 

for a better way to keep your 

house shinning and attractive 

all the time. 

Before you begin to clean the 

grout, do your regular cleaning 

process of wiping down 

counters or sweeping and 

mopping floors. This will get 

all the top layer of scum off, and 

make your work a bit easier. 

Materials 

•Baking Soda 

•Vinegar 

•Hydrogen peroxide 

(optional) 

•Spray bottle 

•Grout brush or scrub brush 

(a toothbrush works as well!) 

•Small bowl 

Different mixtures for 

cleaning grouts 

Baking soda and vinegar 

mixture: In a bucket or large 

bowl, mix seven cups of warm 

water, 1/2 cup of baking soda 

and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. 

Allow to mix completely, so the 

•Grout in tiles 

•Vinegar 

baking soda is dissolved. Pour 

the mixture in a spray bottle to 

make it easy to mist the dirtiest 

areas specifically, and for 

storage. 

Vinegar and water 

solution: Fill your spray bottle 

with a 1:1 solution of vinegar 

and water and spray the work 

area generously. Let the 

solution sit for about five 

minutes, then follow up with 

a grout brush or a scrub brush. 

If you don’t have one of these, 

a toothbrush works in a pinch. 

Baking soda and water: In 

a small bowl, make a paste with 

baking soda and water. Dip 

your toothbrush or grout brush 

in the paste and work it into 

the grout. Spray the area with 

your vinegar + water solution. 

The vinegar will cause the 

baking soda to bubble up and 

will start to work away that nasty 

soap scum. Use your brush and 

get all the way into the grout 

lines to remove buildup. Rinse 

with warm water. 

For tough grout stains, try 

hydrogen peroxide: If it is 

mold or mildewed grout, 

hydrogen peroxide is a game 

changer. 

Making a 

baking soda 

Spray it on the stain and let it 

sit for a few minutes then go to 

work on it with your scrub 

brush of choice. You might have 

to repeat this step a few times 

if it is a tough stain. If repeated 

efforts still don’t make the stain 

disappear, try making a baking 

soda and hydrogen peroxide 

paste. Apply the paste to the 

grout lines, let it sit, scrub and 

rinse with warm water. 

You don’t have to do this 

every day but two to three times 

each week will make a major 

difference. Maintenance is the 

key to every good looking thing 

you admire in life. Don’t wish 

to have your house look like 

somebody’s. Maintain what 

you have and others will wish 

they have your house. 

Items 

Prices 

Basket of Tomatoes N5,500 

A bag of Pepper (Rodo) N 6,000 

A bag of Long pepper N6, 500 – N7000 

A bag Onion (white) N18, 000 – N20, 000 

A bag of Onion (Red) N15, 000- N18, 000 

50kg of long grain Rice N15,000 

A derica of long grain Rice N280 

50kg of short grain Rice. N15,500 - N15,000 

A derica of short grain Rice N300 

A crate of egg N1,100 - 1,200 

A bag of Olotu beans N 35,000 

A bag of Oloyin N32,000 - N33,000 

A bag of Yam Flour (Elubo) N45, 000- N65,000 

A bag of Gari (Yellow) N19, 000 - N20,000 

A paint bucket 

N800 - N900 

CONSUMER WATCH A place that makes you plan ahead 

Items 

Prices 

A bag of Ijebu Gari N15,000 - N16,000 

A paint bucket 

N800-N900 

25 Litres of Vegetable Oil N14, 000-N14,500 

10Litres N6, 500-N 7000 

25 Litres of Palm Oil N10, 500 - N11,000 

5Litres of Palm Oil N2,200 

Salt 

N80-N150 

Noodles- 70g 

N1500- N1800 

Spaghetti (1packet) 

N190-N200 

Macaroni(1packet) 

N120 

Semovita (10kg) N2,800- N2, 900 

Pampers (cartons of 8) N3, 400 

Seasonings 

N110 – N500 

Tomatoe paste (2,200g) N1200-N1500 

Tomatoe paste (Medium) N550-N700 

Items 

Prices 

Tomatoe paste(small) 

N150-N350 

Tomatoe sachet (a roll) N250 –N300 

Pack of toilet roll (48pieces) N1800-N2, 300 

A Satchet of milk 

N30-N50 

A Sachet of beverage 

N45-N50 

Toothpaste 

N250-N270 

5 Litres of Kerosine. N1,200 

12.5kg. Cooking gas N4, 500 

Yam (1 tuber). 

N400- N800 

Ugwu Leaf (a bundle) N3, 500 – N4, 000 

A dozen of tied Ugwu Leaf N1,800, 

Moin-Moin Leaf (a dozen) N800, 1 pack- N100 

Carton Titus ice Fish N19,000 

1 Carton of Kote ice fish N16,200 

1 Carton of Sawa iced Fish N10, 000, 1Kg-N600

HOMEMAKERS 

Process of making Ogi (pap, akamu) 

OGI is a cereal 

pudding from Nigeria, 

typically 

made 

from maize, sorghum, 

or millet. Ogi is household 

meal mainly for breakfast but few 

people take it anytime of the 

day. It is also one of the 

recommended meals that 

growing children graduate to 

from breast milk. Despite the 

love for ogi, many homemakers 

do not know how to prepare it 

and many who are interested, 

cannot go through the process 

of making it. They forget that the process 

of whatever we take in matters for our wellbeing. 

Processing ogi takes a lot of water and 

one should be careful on the source. That 

is why buying ogi outside can be 

dangerous to health. Traditionally, the 

grains are soaked in water for up to three 

days, before wet milling and sieving to 

remove the husks. The filtered cereal is 

then allowed to ferment for up to three 

days until it sours. It is then boiled into 

a pap, or cooked to make a 

creamy pudding. It can be taken 

with Moin Moin or Akara. 

You will need: 

1.5kg dry corn 

Lots of water 

Tools 

Chiffon cloth: for separating the wet corn 

starch (akamu/ogi/pap) from the shaft. 

Big and small bowls. 

Process 

1. Wash the dry corn thoroughly and 

soak in a generous quantity of cold water 

for three to four days. Do not refrigerate it 

because it is important that some kind of 

fermentation takes place. 

2. Wash the corn and change the water 

daily. 

3. On the third or fourth day, wash 

and mill. I suggest, the third or fourth day 

because some corns become soft enough 

to be milled by the third day. Bite into it to 

check if it is soft enough. If not, allow to 

soak for one more day. Add a generous 

quantity of water to help your blender. In 

Nigeria, heavy duty grinders are used for 

this purpose. 

4. Drape the chiffon cloth over a big 

bowl and tie it up. The bowl should be big 

enough to accommodate the ogi and the 

water you’ll use to rinse it and then some. 

5. Sieve the milled corn, rinsing as 

necessary untill you are left with only the 

shaft. It is advisable to rinse small 

HEALTHY LIVING 

Maintain good hygiene for your family 

••as Meningitis spreads in Nigeria 

ACCORDING to type C for which there is 

reports, a deadly shortage of vaccines. 

meningitis outbreak that As homemakers, though 

started spreading a the best way to prevent the 

couple of months ago, has bacteria is through 

killed more than 400 vaccination but because of 

people. World Health the shortage of vaccines, 

Organisation has also maintaining good 

said the type of hygiene for your family 

meningococcal through regular hand 

meningitis is a bacterial washing is the immediate 

form of meningitis which solution. 

is a serious infection of How? 

the thin lining that •Wash your hands 

surrounds the brain and before, during, and after 

spinal cord. 

preparing food. 

The issue of concern •Before eating food. 

now is that the •Before and after caring 

predominant type of for someone who is sick. 

meningitis causing this •Before and after 

outbreak is meningitis 

quantities of the corn at a time so that you 

will not be overwhelmed. 

6. When you’ve rinsed all the milled 

corn, blend the shaft and rinse again if 

you think you can get more akamu from 

it. This may be the case if you used a 

kitchen blender. This won’t be necessary 

if you used the heavy duty grinders in 

Nigerian markets. 

7. When done, take off the chiffon cloth 

and set the mixture of water and akamu 

aside to settle for at least three hours. 

8. After about three hours or when you 

notice that the water is clear, decant the 

clear water and pour the rest of the 

mixture into the muslin bag. 

9. Tie the bag and keep it in such a 

way as to let the water drain from the ogi. 

10. When you notice that the water has 

drained off, tie the bag tighter and leave 

to continue to drain the water. Repeat the 

process as the water drains till no more 

water drains off. 

11. Tie the bag for the last time and place 

some weights on it to squeeze out the last 

trace of water. 

12. Leave it like this overnight so that 

the akamu will have the classic sour taste. 

Again, do not refrigerate it. 

13. The next day, bring out the akamu 

from the bag, cut it up into single-use 

chunks, place in containers (bowls or 

plastic bags) and put in your freezer till 

you are ready to use it. If you don’t have 

freezer, keep in bucket with tight lock and 

add water to cover the ogi but the water 

should be changed regularly to avoid 

being spoilt. 

Your ogi is ready for preparation! Just 

boil water, mix the quantity you want to 

drink with ordinary water and make sure 

you get a smooth paste before you add 

boiled water. Just go on to set the table 

and place a plate of Akara (beans balls) 

beside it for breakfast. You can add sugar 

and milk just like the way you take custard. 

treating a cut or wound. 

•After using the toilet. 

•After changing 

diapers or cleaning up a 

child who has used the 

toilet. 

•After blowing your 

nose, coughing, or 

sneezing. 

•After touching an 

animal, animal feed, or 

animal waste. 

•After handling pet 

food or pet treats. 

•After touching 

garbage. 

•Avoid overcrowding. 

Sleep in well ventilated 

places. 

•Reduce hand 

shaking, kissing 




‘Who is the presidency?' 

LAST week the Muhammadu 

Buhari administration took a 

major step in shaking off the odour 

of corruption that has been swirling 

around it since Babachir Lawal, 

erstwhile Secretary to the 

Government of the Federation, was 

implicated in a scandal surrounding 

the award of grass cutting contract 

in the Internally Displaced Persons' 

camp. The grass cutting contract 

was a scheme under the Presidential 

Initiative on the North-east, PINE. 

A company in which the suspended 

AGF had interest was a beneficiary 

in award of contracts under PINE. It 

was this apparent conflict of interest 

that pitched the Buhari 

administration against critics of its 

so-called anti-corruption war. Asked 

to explain his involvement in this 

affair, Mr. Lawal scoffed at his critics 

including members of the National 

Assembly, particularly the Senate 

whose summons to appear before it 

he ignored. Although, he would later 

try to put a spin on his arrogant 

refusal to appear before the Senate 

but the damage had already been 

done at this point. Lawal’s action was 

one in a series of arrogant displays 

to constituted authorities by 

members of the inner circle of 

relations and close associates of 

President Buhari. 

But his action in awarding a 

contract to a company in which he 

had interest was one Nigerians were 

not prepared to ignore and they plied 

President Buhari with questions that 

were beginning to show his 

administration up as one that was 

strong in fighting corruption only 

where his opponents were concerned. 

As Shehu Sani, a senator from 

Kaduna framed the issue, the 

president fights corruption with 

insecticide where his opponents are 

concerned. But where the searchlight 

turns on his supporters, especially 

those around him, the president fights 

corruption with deodorants, the 

senator said. And it was in the process 

of fighting corruption with 

deodorants that the president set up 

an administrative panel under the 

headship of the Minister of Justice 

and Attorney General of the 

Federation, Mr. Malami, to 

investigate the allegation against 

Lawal. 

The panel cleared him of the 

allegations, prompting the president 

to write to the Senate insisting on 

the integrity of his man. But 

convinced that Lawal had a case to 

answer, Nigerians never stopped 

asking questions of the president 

and of the manner he took side with 

Lawal. The behaviour of the former 

AGF was diluting the anticorruption 

rhetoric of the 

Administration and the president 

needed to act. While he was yet 

vacillating the odour of corruption 

around the presidential corridors 

was further worsened by the 

discovery of N13 Billion in a socalled 

operational base of the 

Nigerian Intelligence Agency. 

Although Ayodele Oke, Director 

General of the NIA, claimed 

ownership of the booty, he is having 

a tough time convincing Nigerians 

that neither the executive arm of 

government, the presidency nor 

somebody close to it has something 

to do with the discovered funds. It 

was in the heat of all this that the 

suspension of the AGF and the DG 

of NIA was announced. 

And Babachir Lawal, the ousted 

Secretary to the Government of the 

Federation asked the question which 

forms the title of this piece when 

cornered by reporters with news of 

his suspension from office. “Who is 

the presidency?” he asked. Mr. Lawal 

chose to be as literal-minded as 

possible in order to save face and 

avoid questions about his removal 

Lagos: Emerging global best practices in governance 

By Akinola Benson-Oke 

IT was the popular author and human 

resources executive, Albert Low, who said: 

“Instead of suppressing conflicts, specific 

channels should be created to make these 

conflicts explicit, and specific methods should 

be set up by which the conflict is resolved.” 

This quote succinctly describes the raison 

d’etre of the Joint Negotiating council, JNC. 

The existence of the JNC and the modalities 

for its functioning constitute a unique model 

for attaining and maintaining industrial peace 

and harmony in Lagos State. The harmonious 

relationship between the administration of Mr. 

Akinwunmi Ambode, the Executive Governor 

of Lagos State and the various trade unions in 

the Lagos State Public Service is an eloquent 

testimony to the relevance, importance, 

competence and strategic indispensability of 

the JNC. 

It is on this note that I heartily welcome you 

all to the Year 2017 first bi-annual Lagos State 

Public Service JNC meeting. As a matter of 

fact, this meeting is complementary of another 

similar meeting where, by the initiative of the 

Governor, the representatives of the JNC meets 

with the representatives of the government on 

a quarterly basis to identify and discuss issues 

of utmost importance to the most valuable 

resource of the Lagos State Civil Service, that 

is, the exceptionally capable officers of the 

Lagos State Public Service. 

I wish to call your attention to the need for 

all stakeholders in the Human Resource and 

Industrial Relations arm of the Lagos State 

Public Service not to rest on their oars. In order 

to sustain the existing atmosphere of industrial 

harmony in Lagos State and in order to 

transform such harmony into even greater 

productivity, there are certain values that we 

must continue to live by. 

One of these values is the value of being 

proactive. This calls for all stakeholders to be 

dedicated to preparing for, intervening in, or 

controlling an expected occurrence or 

situation, especially a negative or difficult one. 

The JNC must continue to exhibit this value by 

identifying and bringing to the attention of the 

appropriate bodies, all matters that may 

degenerate or fester into unmanageable crisis. 

Another value is the value of committing to 

a perpetual regimen of training and re-training 

of skills. In today’s world in particular, high 

premium is placed on the possession of soft 

skills. These are the skills that are not taught in 

Success in the world 

today necessarily calls 

for people who play 

well with others and 

can effectively work 

as part of a team 

While the 

machinery of 

governance can 

run without the 

physical presence 

of the president, it 

cannot continue on 

that lane 

indefinitely 

formal schools but are essential to real life 

success and productivity. For a long time, it 

was considered impossible to learn soft skills. 

Now, the good news is that, like any skill, soft 

skills can be learned. 

And there is better news. The better news is 

that boosting soft skills not only gives officers 

a leg up on a new job or a promotion, but these 

skills also have obvious applications in all areas 

of a person’s life, both professional and personal 

and ultimately contribute to the efficiency and 

effectiveness of organisations which we are 

currently enjoying under the able leadership 

of GovernorAmbode in Lagos State. 

The JNC should also commit to the 

promotion of the indispensable value of team 

work in labour and government relations.The 

Public Service will become more effective and 

from office. He pretended not to 

understand what reporters in the 

presidency meant when he 

questioned them about the source of 

the information on his sack which 

they attributed to the presidency. 

Much is however being made of his 

remark. Some see as denigrating to 

the presidency if not the president 

himself. I don’t think that is the case. 

What seems apparent from the 

exchange between him and the 

reporters is that Mr. Lawal was 

embarrassed and he wanted to 

wangle his way out of the jam in 

which he had found himself. Of 

course, the presidency in simple 

terms is the entire gamut of human 

and non-human machinery, indeed 

the bureaucracy surrounding the 

office of the president, including the 

office of the vice president. 

But what is of interest to me right 

now is the unintended implication 

of Mr. Lawal’s remark, his 

personalisation of the issue. He 

could as well have rudely asked who 

or where is the president if his sack 

had been attributed to the president? 

This question has become very 

germane with renewed concerns 

about the health of the president. 

Nigeria seems to be running on autopilot 

with the machinery of 

government grinding on without the 

President. This can work but only for 

a while before something gives. Since 

his return from his medical vacation 

abroad, President Buhari has 

increasingly kept out of the public 

glare. This is clearly because he is 

yet to get over the ailment that took 

him abroad. Aside one or two brief 

appearances, the president has rarely 

been seen in public. He has not been 

regular at state functions which he 

continues to delegate to his deputy, 

Yemi Osinbajo. Recent images of the 

president show him to be very 

emaciated and weak. Indeed I felt 

efficient if we all rededicate ourselves to the 

value of team work and collaboration. Success 

in the world today necessarily calls for people 

who play well with others and can effectively 

work as part of a team. According to 

LyneSarikas, the MBA Career Center Director 

at Northeastern University: “That means 

sometimes being a leader, sometimes being a 

good follower, monitoring the progress, 

meeting deadlines and working with others 

across the organisation to achieve a common 

goal.” Let us always remember that the 

government and the JNC are ultimately on 

the same team. 

The JNC should also continue to cherish the 

value of encouraging the making and 

documentation of critical observations. 

Because the world is fast changing and issues 

are becoming more complex, the people in 

charge of important organisations must be 

able to observe and critically assess the impact 

and consequence of developments as they arise 

and, sometimes, even before they arise. 

Larry Buhl pointed out that it is not enough 

to be able to collect data and manipulate it, 

one must also be able to analyze and interpret 

it. What story does the data tell? What questions 

are raised? Are there different ways to interpret 

the data? Thus, instead of making demands 

simpliciter, today’s realities call for both parties 

to jointly consider the implications of, and 

modalities for implementing, the demands. 

We must also bear in mind that the delivery 

of value to citizens is the fundamental objective 

of any democratically-elected government. In 

today’s world, however, the delivered value 

must be delivered per excellence. This is chiefly 

because citizens have become sophisticated 

and exposed to the standards of governance in 

other climes such that their expectations have 

been conditioned to demand and insist on 

compliance with global best practices at all 

levels of governance. Meeting these 

expectations is the central challenge for 

sorry and pained for him seeing his 

photograph on television during a 

Jumat prayer at the Presidential 

Villa two weeks ago. 

I was not surprised thereafter to 

hear Nasir el Rufai, Governor of 

Kaduna State, advising Nigerians 

to stop their do-gooder visits to the 

Villa to allow the president 

recuperate fully. Yet the matter looks 

more serious than one of someone 

recuperating. What seems obvious 

and which should concern everyone 

is that the president is still ill. We 

should be concerned enough to ask 

ourselves if it’s proper or in the 

interest of the country to allow the 

president to go on with what now 

seems the punishing schedule of 

governance when he appears 

critically ill. It is clear he returned 

home to stem the mounting tide of 

questions about his health and the 

propriety of remaining as president 

or claiming to be well after a 

prolonged absence from home on 

health grounds. It is in this context 

we all need to examine Babachir 

Lawal’s question about who is the 

presidency. 

While the machinery of 

governance can run without the 

physical presence of the president, it 

cannot continue on that lane 

indefinitely. It is a misnomer to talk 

of a presidency without a president. 

Let us worry therefore about the 

apparent disappearance of President 

Muhammadu Buhari from 

governance and the deeper 

implications of this for the security 

of the country. The President needs 

more time to take care of his health 

and he cannot do that holed up in 

the secret confines of Aso Villa. Is 

there a way that power can be 

temporarily ceded to his deputy while 

he takes time to get better because it 

is obvious he does not want to resign 

or “step aside”? 

governments in the developing world. 

Thankfully in Lagos State, we have a 

government that has boldly embraced this 

challenge and is, in fact, executing a reasonedout 

plan to transform governance and its 

processes in such a way that the ever-changing 

and complex expectations of citizens can be 

admirably met. Led by His Excellency, 

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the present 

administration in Lagos State is poised to 

examine those areas, processes and institutions 

and practices that need to be overhauled or 

remodeled in order to achieve this end. The 

Public Service must, therefore, commit to 

aligning with global best practices. 

With firm focus on delivering value to the 

people of our dear Lagos State, Governor 

Ambode has since recognised that one of the 

most effective ways to ensure that officers of 

the Lagos State Public Service are positioned 

to deliver value is to invest in improving their 

skills and knowledge. To this end, a number of 

trainings have been approved and delivered 

to ensure that officers of the Lagos State Public 

Service are positioned to favourably compete 

with officers from other states and able to meet 

the challenges of today’s world across the 

globe. 

Most of these trainings have focused on the 

development of work ethics, soft skills and 

leadership essentials that will improve 

productivity. Soft skills have everything to do 

with one’s attitude. Attitude is so important 

that most other coveted attributes flow from it. 

Shawn Ashmore says your “style is a reflection 

of your attitude and your personality.” Hans 

Selye opined that “adopting the right attitude 

can convert a negative stress into a positive 

one.” Maya Angelou, the famous poet wrote 

that, “if you don’t like something, change it. If 

you can’t change it, change your attitude.” 

Continues Online @www. 

vanguardngr.com 

•Being a keynote address delivered by Dr. 

Benson-Oke, Lagos State Commissioner for 

Establishments, Training and Pensions at the 

opening of a two-day workshop recently. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


VOL. 1 NO 53 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 

PRISONS REFORM: 

Archbishop Okeke 

flags off N29m skill 

acquisition centre in 

Onitsha prisons 

such a facility, but the church 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

deemed necessary to do so in 

ONITSHA - THE N29 

partnership with the 

government to enable the 

million skills acquisition 

country move forward. 

center project for Onitsha 

prisons being proposed by the 

The Archbishop who noted 

that the N29 million project 

Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese 

which would cover only the 

was, weekend, flagged off by 

the Catholic Archbishop of 

structures, with the exclusion 

of solar energy and equipment, 

Onitsha Ecclesiastical 

Province, Most Rev. Valerian 

Maduka Okeke. 

Performing the flag-off 

The state 

ceremony during his routine government 

pastoral visit to Onitsha 

would equip the inmates, the Archbishop of 

prisons, Archbishop Okeke 

Onitsha Ecclesiastical 

noted that the centre is center and 

province, Archbishop Valerian 

expected to house a technical 

provide enabling Okeke urged Christians to live 

workshop for all skill set a 

Christ-like lives anchored on 

school for distant learning and environment for a 

love for one another. 

all types of trades. smooth take off 

The cleric said because God 

He noted that the essence of 

embarking on such a gigantic of activities in the 

fulfills promises, Christians 

should endeavour to stand by 

project was to ensure that the centre 

their words, even as he also 

inmates would learn all the 

urged the followers of Christ to 

trades while serving their 

always strive to follow Christ in 

various jail terms so that when noted that the project which is words and in action no matter 

they come out, they become expected to be completed the circumstances as it is the 

useful to themselves and to the within a year, would be funded only way to showcase their love 

society. He said that though it by the Archdiocese. 

for God. 

is the responsibility of the Earlier in a homily during a He later presented the 

federal government to provide confirmation mass for the inmates with cooked food, 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

AWKA- IT was indeed a 

day of glory for the second 

republic governor of the old 

Anambra State, Chief Jim 

Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo at the 

eighth convocation of the 

Anambra State-owned 

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu 

Ojukwu University, Igbariam, 

•Nwobodo being decorated. Standing with him are Governor where he was awarded an 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Professor Barth Nnaji 

honorary doctorate degree by the 

institution. Accompanying 

Nwobodo to receive the award 

were a who-is-who in Enugu 

State, led by the Enugu State 

governor, Chief Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi, who arrived with a 

large number of aides. 

Others in Nwobodo’s 

entourage include former 

Minister of Power, Professor Barth 

Nnaji, former Minister of Interior, 

Chief Dubem Onyia, Senator 

•Nwobodo, other awardees with former Governor Peter Obi Azu Agboti, Senator Anthony 

C 

M 

YK 

Archbishop Okeke standing at the entrance of Onitsha Prisons and bidding farewell to inmates 

after his visit on Easter Sunday. 

beverages, a live cow and other 

food stuffs which he said 

should be distributed equitably 

to the 787 inmates some of 

whom are serving various jail 

terms, while others are 

awaiting trial. 

In his speech, the Chief of 

Staff, Government House, 

Awka, Professor Joe Asike who 

represented Governor Willie 

Obiano at the ceremony, noted 

that the state government 

would equip the center and 

provide enabling environment 

for a smooth take off of activities 

in the centre. Asike who 

commended the church for 

contributing immensely 

towards the success story of his 


Earlier, the Deputy 

Comptroller of Prisons in 

charge Onitsha, Ibrahim 

Usman had commended Okeke 

for his regular visits to the 

prisons with gift items. He, 

however, appealed to the cleric 

to caution the prison and non 

prison officials for smuggling 

hard drugs into the compound 

for the inmates. 

In his vote of thanks, the 

Chaplain of the Maximilian 

Kolbe Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Pius 

Continues on page 31 

Day of glory for Nwobodo at Ojukwu Varsity 

Agbo, Senator Osita Izunaso, 

who is the national organizing 

secretary of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Mr. Emma 

Enenkwu, the national vice 

chairman of APC, Dr. George 

Moghalu, national auditor of 

APC and the party’s 

governorship aspirant in the 

November 18, 2017 election, Mr. 

Hyacinth Ngwu, the APC 

publicity secretary for the South 

East and Lolo Queen Nwankwo, 

the party’s woman leader. 

Creating an enabling 

environment 

Others were Chief Gbazueagu 

Nweke Gbazueagu, a former 

governorship aspirant in the old 

Anambra State and a chieftain of 

APC, Major General Sunday 

Ugwu (rtd), Chief Eugene Eneh, 

Sir Edward Nkwegwu, Dr. Ben 

Nwoye, Enugu State chairman 

Enugu Catholic 

University moves 

to revive old tunes, 

protect patency 

rights — Pg. 31 

of APC, Chief Gogo Nwakuche 

and his wife and Professor 

Manny Aniebonam, president 

of AFRIHUB. 

The clergy was led by 

Monsignor Nwamadi, who 

represented the Catholic Bishop 

of Enugu Diocese, Most 

Reverend Callistus Onaga, while 

the traditional rulers present 

were Nwobodo’s monarch, Igwe 

Ogbodo Okorie of Amechi 

Awkunanaw and Igwe Greg 

Ugwu, of Attakwu Akegbe. 

Nwobodo said he was happy 

to be recognized by a university 

named after the Chukwuemeka 

Odumegwu Ojukwu, adding that 

the award had given him an 

opportunity to associate with the 

alumni of the university. He 

said: “It is our hope that this 

university will create enabling 

environment for learning and 

research where the products 

Continues on page 31

Enugu Catholic University 

moves to revive old tunes, 

protect patency rights 


ENUGU- Godfrey Okoye 

University, GOU, a 

Catholic University in Enugu, 

as a way of consolidating 

learning in arts has been 

organizing seminars, drama, 

music and dance concerts. 

The university, last week, also 

brought the President of World 

Creators’ Society, WCS, Prof. 

Alain Souloumaic to Enugu to 

commence intervention on 

Nigeria’s intellectual property 

protection, promotion and 

mediation. WCS is an 

international body which 

promotes free creation through 

standard protocol compromises 

and licencing facilities. 

Vice chancellor of the 

university, Rev. Prof. Christian 

Anieke said that the Creafree 

is all about protecting the 

inventions, innovations and 

creativity of Nigerians to make 

sure that what they produce are 

published and protected. 

We will continue to fight for 

the rights of individuals so that 

they are not stolen. We will look 

at the challenges of patency in 

protecting their rights to 

inventions. We will equally 

look at how the National 

Day of glory for Nwobodo at Ojukwu Varsity 

Continues from page 30 

would be equipped and 

empowered to contribute to the 

growth of our society and country. 

"We all know the power of 

education and its transformative 

impact on the lives of individuals, 

family and communities. 

Education is the foundation of 

any development and for this 

reason, we call on governments 

at all levels, alumni and 

communities to invest heavily in 

education as a means of gaining 

employment, creating wealth, 

raising the standards of living 

and escaping poverty. It is the 

surest way to empower the next 

generation.” 

Going down memory lane, 

Nwobodo recalled that he 

founded the then Anambra State 

University of Technology, 

ASUTECH, with multi campuses 

in Abakaliki, Awka and Nnewi, 

expressing happiness that all the 

campuses had morphed into 

three independent universities 

namely, Enugu State University 

of Technology, ESUTH, Nnamdi 

Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, 

and Ebonyi State University, 

EBSU. 

As a former teacher, Nwobodo 

Assembly could wade into it," 

said Anieke. 

The visiting intellectual 

property protection expert, 

Prof. Souloumiac said they will 

train people to manage the 

creabook where every inventor 

or artiste's creation would be 

hosted. "It’s a refuge where 

creators can be protected. All 

dominant music today came 

from Africa and Africa is the 

cradle of may culture. We will 

meet different artistes in their 

groups, we can even protect 

dance even though it’s much 

more difficult. We will 

document and we will mediate 

in conflicts and resolution. 

Reviving of old 

tunes, culture 

“We will protect drama, poetry, 

creative writing, literature and 

arts. The Godfrey Okoye 

University will train the artists," 

said Souloumaic. 

In the project, the university 

is also partnering with Centre 

for Black and African Arts and 

Civilization, CBAAC, to revive 

old tunes, culture and arts 

which seem to be fading from 

Nollywood movies. 

Director General of CBAAC, 

Dr. Ferdinand Anikwe said his 

said that being in a school 

environment usually gave him a 

nostalgic feeling, adding that he 

still had fond memories of his 

time in the classroom. He also 

said that Anambra, being his 

original state, the award by a 

university in the state meant so 

much to him and promised to 

We have to work 

hard to get the 

heart of our people, 

irrespective of the 

political party they 

belong to 

assist the institution in any way 

possible. 

The vice chancellor of the 

university, Professor Fidelis 

Okafor said Nwobodo was 

recognized in appreciation of the 

giant strides he made as the 

governor of old Anambra State 

and had continued to contribute 

•World Creators’ Society, WCS, Prof. Alain Souloumaic (l), Vice 

chancellor of the Godfrey Okoye university, Rev. Prof. Christian 

Anieke and another don at the event 

agency embraced the Programe 

in line with Nigeria’s 

economic diversification to a 

It’s a refuge where 

creators can be 

protected. All 

dominant music 

today came from 

Africa and Africa is 

the cradle of may 

culture 

creative economy, through 

tourism, protection of artiste 

works and cultural promotions. 

"Creafree will protect the 

rights of artistes in Nollywood, 

to the development of Nigeria in 

other capacities, including 

serving as a senator and a 

minister of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria. 

The vice chancellor also recalled 

that the greatest period of the 

famous Rangers International 

Football Club of Enugu was 

when Nwobodo served as its 

chairman and recalled that his 

footprints were noticeable in all 

parts of the old Anambra State, 

which presently comprise of 

three states of Anambra, Enugu 

and Ebonyi. 

No reason for 

Igbo to be quarreling 

After being decorated by the 

vice chancellor of university, the 

pro chancellor, Professor Chendo, 

Mrs. Nwobodo and the governor 

of Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi, the ceremony shifted 

to the country home of Senator 

Ndii Obi, the secretary of the 

caretaker committee of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. 

The attendance at the reception 

also expanded to include the 

traditional ruler of Awka 

Kingdom, Obi Gibson Nwosu 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017— 31 

According to Anikwe, the 

essence was to revive the old 

tunes that were very deeply 

engrained in the psyche of the 

people with a lot of messages 

and core values to present to 

the Nigerian society. 

The organizers recommended 

that musical tunes like that of 

Celestine Ukwu, some of Osita 

Osadebey, Mike Ejiagha, 

Paulson Kalu, Victor Uwaifo, 

Sunny Ade, Victor Olaiya, 

Ebenezer Obey, should be 

translated into children’s 

rhyme to enable the instructors 

in the school prepare them to 

grow in African culture and 

core values and also prepare 

young people to dance very 

well. 

The event witnessed dancers 

from St. Patrick’s College, 

Ogbete, Enugu, called Mass 

Servants. They were 

sophisticated, displaying 

beautiful dance steps, 

wonderful dancing patterns 

and one of the dances was 

Igede, Igede eji be onye 

ubiam, which represents the 

pre-colonial socio-cultural 

anthropology of the Igbo and 

the way people were 

categorized in the society. 

the musicians and other artists 

because they have since 

complained that their works are 

pirated. We need to reorganize 

our cultural kingdom so that 

every other thing will follow. 

The biggest cultural and 

historical exhibition all over the 

world was FESTAC 77 and 

that’s why we are making its 

40 years aniniversary from May 

to December this year and 

many countries have indicated 

interest to come to Nigeria and 

tour our cultural sites," said 

Anikwe. 

As part of the preparations for 

celebrating FESTAC’77, 

CBAAC D-G, Anikwe, has been 

at the Godfrey Okoye 

University Enugu, where he 

performed different functions, 

among which was 

a programme titled “Old Path 

to Revival: Music and Dance”, 

a partnership between CBAC, 

and Godfrey Okoye University. 

and many titled men in Awka. 

Members of the APC, PDP and 

APGA also attended in great 

numbers and their common 

language was how to make the 

Igbo nation great politically and 

economically. Though Nwobodo 

belongs to the APC, he made it 

clear during the reception 

hosted by Obi that his interest 

was to unite the Igbo, 

irrespective of their political 

leanings. 

He said: “Igbo must unite. We 

have to work hard to get the heart 

of our people, irrespective of the 

political party they belong to. The 

problem we have in Igbo land is 

that we do not love ourselves. We 

don’t even respect our leaders. 

There is no reason for Igbo to be 

quarreling among themselves 

and we pray that God will give 

us someone who will unite us.” 

Various speakers at the 

reception praised Nwobodo for 

his contributions towards the 

development of Igbo land. 

Senator Obi said Nwobodo, as 

governor, left a great landmark 

in many parts of the old Anambra 

State andrecalled that he made 

politics an interesting game 

during his period. 

Archbishop Okeke 

flags off N29m skill 

acquisition centre in 

Onitsha prisons 

Continues from page 30 

Nwankwo expressed delight 

that the chaplaincy is so 

blessed that it is the only place 

where the Archbishop visits 

three times a year with gift and 

cash donations. 

Fr. Nwankwo, therefore, 

prayed God to give the 

Archbishop good health and 

long life to enable him fulfill the 

good works he started inside 

the prison which is total 

transformation because 

according to him, once the 

Archbishop is alive and healthy, 

he would surely fulfill his 

promises, as a man of his word. 

Highlights of the occasion 

included the presentation of a 

merit award to the Archbishop 

by the youth wing of Arewa 

Consultative Forum. 

THE TEAM 

Supervising Editor: 

Chioma Gabriel, Lagos 

(08052201257) 

Editor: 

Emeka Mamah, Enugu 

email: 

emekemamah@yahoo.com) 

Anayo Okoli, Umuahia 

Vincent Ujumadu, Awka 

Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri 

Peter Okutu, Abakaliki 

Chimaobi Nwaiwu, 

Nnewi 

Nwabueze Okonkwo, 

Onitsha 

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba 

Enyim Enyim, Onitsha 

Chinoso Alozie, Owerri 

Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka 

Eric Ugbor, Aba


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

GEMINI: Venus, Mars and Pluto at work today will 

influence many of you to give more time to mattersof-the-heart, 

especially physical side of it. 

CANCER: Love is in the air but if care is not taken, 

members of your opposite sex you see as your superiors 

(or boss) may become entangled. Watch it. 

LEO; Influence of the Moon today actually wants 

you to work hard but if you ignore love, you’ll not be 

able to concentrate on what you are doing. Friends 

will drive your fun-seeking vehicle along social circles. 

VIRGO: Some of you will be falling in love for the 

first time. And those of you who are old in the act will 

have rare excitement and satisfaction. Money can 

come in. 

LIBRA: You will find it relatively difficult to ignore 

love as attractive members of your opposite sex may 

go out of their way to gain your attention. 

By Richard Eromosele 

IF you are very 

observant you will 

see that the back of 

the onion is always 

peeling off, why is it 

so?The truth is that 

onions recognise 

that in order to 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

Lessons of the 

Onions 

survive, it must let go 

of some things. In its 

overall interest, the 

onion gave out its 

outer layer so that 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

the greater part of its 

body can live. This is 

a lesson to humans. 

We can’t have it our 

way all the time. 

Therefore, we must 

let go of some things 

in order to get other 

things.The point is, 

we win some and 

loose some.Life is all 

about give and take. 

Think about it. 

By Kola Fayemi 

SCORPIO: Powerful emotional feelings may overwhelm 

some of you and make you crave secret affair 

(with your subordinates?) It’s important you don’t 

allow scandal. 

SAGITTARIUS: Better opportunity to make money 

may come your way but those who want your affection 

and vice versa, may not allow you to concentrate fully. 

Take advantage of the opportunity to establish friendship 

with influential people. 

CAPRICORN: Most of the exciting happenings are 

within your base of operation. And healthy relationships 

may start between you and other members of 

your work force. Take the initiative. 

AQUARIUS: When it comes to passion/romance, 

you fare well. And on a day like this when love is in 

the air, you can’t be left in the cold. Don’t be selfish 

please. 

PISCES: Financial success may be what you want to 

celebrate with members of your opposite sex who unexpectedly 

arouse your passion. 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

ARIES: Many will desire you strongly today but 

you’ll equally attract the green-eyed monster called 

jealousy especially from your established relationship. 

Movement and communication will do the magic 

TAURUS: Romantic Venus and sexy Mars are bringing 

influences of money, friendship, real love and 

leadership to earth’s inhabitants. What do you want? 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date e and place of birth th to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

What is wrong with me? 

Dear Joshua, 

I have written you many letters without response, I 

hope I will be lucky this time around. Whats your e- 

mail address? 

Although, I am interested in my financial affair and 

will like to know what awaits me in the future as the 

ups and downs are giving me concern, what I want 

you to tell me is: Who is working spiritually against 

my marriage? I have married four times. Why? 

Sandra, Aba. 

Dear Sandra, 

If you have spiritual warfare, it is in your financial 

affairs. You were endowed with special ability to make 

money for both yourself and other people. 

However, three things can militate against your finances 

namely; inability to hold on to your gains for 

too long (miscalculation) jealousy and occultic manipulation 

by those who are green with envy. 

Yet, whatever happens, dire financial misfortune is 

not meant for you, especially if you heed advice from 

your star; your being spiritual will assist you. 

Fortunate placement of the Moon and Venus in Libra 

and Sagittarius endowed you with charming and magnetic 

personality which will make it easier for you to 

attract members of your opposite sex who will be willing 

to make you happy. But after sometime, your hidden 

aggressive personality and tendencies to worry will 

come out to the resentment of members of your opposite 

sex. 

Some other times, you promise more than you can 

deliver. Then yours is a jealous soul (yes everybody 

was born with jealous traits) but yours is extraordinary 

and if you have reason to doubt the other person, 

you may not be able to forgive. 

The summary here is that there’s not much spiritual 

aspect working against you here but your too strong 

or powerful personality is what you will need to work 

on: if at all you have problem with love. One sure bet 

is members of your opposite sex cannot do without 

your magnetic pose. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa



Patience Jonathan now free to access 

$5.8m bank account —COURT 

By Innocent Anaba 

FORMER Nigeria’s 

First Lady, Mrs. 

Patience Jonathan, is now 

free to access her account 

with Skye Bank Plc, where 

she housed an alleged $5. 

842, 316. 66 million, as the 



EFCC, has withdrawn its 

application for stay of the 

judgment of a Federal High 

Court, Lagos, which 

unfroze the account. 

Trial judge in the matter, 

Justice Mojisola 

Olatoregun, had on April 

6, 2017, unfroze Mrs. 

Jonathan’s account with the 

said bank, after her lawyer, 

challenged EFCC for 

joining her in a suit that she 

was not a party, and urged 

the court to unfreeze his 

client’s account. 

Not satisfied with the 

unfreeze order, the EFCC 

filed an application for stay 

of execution of the unfreeze 

order and also appealed the 

lower court's decision. 

The two applications, 

according to EFCC 

counsel, were dated April 

6, and filed on April 7. 

However, at the resumed 

hearing of the matter, 

yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer 

informed Justice 

Olatoregun of the agency’s 

intention to discontinue the 

two applications, though he 

did not give any reason for 

the withdrawal. 

Upon the withdrawal of 

the two applications, lawyer 

to Patience Jonathan 

confirmed the service of the 

application for withdrawal 

by the defendants. 

He equally informed the 

court of his intention to 

withdraw Form 48 (notice 

of Committal to prison) and 

Form 49 (Committal to 

prison), which he said were 

filed against Skye Bank Plc, 

in anticipation that it fails 

to obey the order 

unfreezing Jonathan’s 

account. 

Upon the submissions of 

both counsel, Justice 

Olatoregun granted the 

withdrawal of EFCC’s two 

applications, and Patience 

Jonathan’s Form 48 and 

Form 49. 

It will be recalled that 

sometime last year, 

following an application by 

the EFCC, Justice 

Olatoregun ordered that the 

Edo pensioners protest 42 months 

pension arrears 

By Simon 

Ebegbulem & 

Gabriel Enogholase 

PENSIONERS 

in 

Edo State, yesterday, 

in Benin, protested the 

non- harmonization of their 

pension since 2008. 

The pensioners, who 

protested peacefully to the 

Government House, were 

also unhappy over the 

non-payment of their 

pension in the last 42 

account of the former First 

Lady housing the sum of 

$5, 842, 316. 66 and 

domiciled with Skye bank 

Plc, be frozen on the 

ground that the money was 

suspected to be proceeds of 

crime. 

Also affected by the said 

order are five limited 

liability companies that had 

a total sum of N7, 418, 829, 

290.94 billion. The five 

companies are: Finchley 

months. 

Spokesman of the 

pensioners, Mr Michael 

Umogbai, accused the state 

government of being 

insensitive to their plight, 

despite several promises it 

had made to settle them. 

Umogbai recalled that the 

state House of Assembly 

had in December 2016 

approved about N3 billion 

to clear the pension arrears. 

“As I speak with you, 

some of us, especially those 

NUPENG National Treasurer emerges 

ULC Chairman 


Young 

N ATIONAL 

Treasurer of 

Nigeria Union of Petroleum 

and Natural Gas Workers, 

NUPENG, Mr Williams 

Akporeha, has emerged the 

Chairman of United Labour 

Congress of Nigeria, ULC, 

Delta State council. 

Akporeha, who was the 

state Chairman of Nigeria 

Labour Congress, NLC, 

before it was engulfed in 

crisis after the National 

Delegates Conference, 

NDC, in 2015, was 

returned unopposed to 

emerge the pioneer 

Chairman of ULC among 

other elected state council 

executives at its maiden 

state congress attended by 

delegates drawn from the 

over 20 affiliate industrial 

unions of ULC that held in 

Warri. 

In his acceptance speech, 

Akporeha thanked the 

delegates for the 

confidence reposed in his 

leadership ability and the 

overwhelming support. 

He disclosed that 

arrangements were already 

in place to inaugurate 

local government 

councils of the ULC with 

a view to encouraging and 

building a sense of belonging 

to ensure that every 

worker is organised, mobilized 

and protected. 

“One of the initiatives of 

the ULC is to take 

leadership to the grassroots 

because we strongly 

believe that the power to 

succeed in our collective 

struggle for workers' 

welfare and improved work 

place conditions resides 

with the people,” he said. 

Top Homes Limited, Aribawa 

Aruera, Magel resort 

Limited, AM -PM Global 

network Limited, Pansy 

Oil and Gas Limited and 

an account belonging to 

one Esther Oba, with sum 

of $429, 381. 87. 

The order was sequel to 

a further and better affidavit 

in support of the ex-parte 

summons sworn to by 

Abdulahi Tukur, an 

investigating officer with 

the EFCC. 

BRIEFING: From left: Mr. Steve Ayorinde, Commissioner for 

Information and Strategy; Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, Commissioner for 

Agriculture; Mr. Ganiu Sanni, Special Adviser on Food Security and Dr. 

Olayiwole Onasanya, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, during the 

Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the 2nd year in office of Mr. Akinwumi 

Ambode, Lagos State Governor, by Ministry of Agriculture, in Alausa, Ikeja, 

Photo: Bunmi Azeez. 

•As Obaseki assures on payment of pensioners 

from the local governments, 

are owed arrears of up to 

42 months. The 

government has also 

refused to harmonize 

pension in the state since 

2008. 

“I retired as a local 

government worker in 1996 

and I can tell you that while 

some of us still receive N2, 

000 as monthly pension, our 

counterparts in other states 

receive about N40, 000,” he 

said. 

Meanwhile, Edo State 

Governor, Mr. Godwin 

Obaseki, has vowed that the 

state will no longer rely on 

bail out funds or the 

monthly allocation accrued 

from the Federation 

Account to pay pensioners 

and worker’s salaries in the 

state. 

The governor, who was 

reacting to the pensioners' 

protest, yesterday, noted 

that as elders who have 

contributed their quota to 

the service of their councils, 

they deserve their 

pensions, regretting that 

local government 

authorities have failed to 

utilize their funds properly 

in the areas of payment of 

pensions to their workers. 

Pioneer Bayelsa MILAD, Philip 

Ayeni, is dead 

THE first Military 

Administrator of 

Bayelsa State, Philip 

Ayeni, is dead. Mr. 

Ayeni, a retired naval 

officer, died on Thursday 

after a protracted illness. 

Bayelsa State 

Governor, Mr Seriake 

Dickson, has already 

condoled with the family 

of the deceased. 

A statement by 

Dickson's Chief Press 

Secretary, Daniel 

Iworiso-Markson, said: 

"The Bayelsa State 

governor has condoled 

with the immediate 

family, the government 

and people of Ekiti State 

over the untimely 

passing of Navy Captain 

Philip Oladipo Ayeni 

(retd). 

“Navy Captain Ayeni, 

who was the pioneer 

Military Administrator of 

Bayelsa State when it 

was created by the 

administration of Late 

Head of State, General 

Sani Abacha in October, 

1996, died last Thursday, 

after a protracted 

illness." 

Sapele Athletic Club to increase 

sporting competitions 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—NEWLY 

elected President 

of Sapele Athletic Club, 

SAC, Delta State, Mr, 

Sanusi Kayode, has 

promised to improve the 

infrastructure and 

sporting competitions in 

the club. 

Speaking during the 

official presentation of the 

newly inaugurated 

executive committee of 

the club to stakeholders, 

Kayode solicited support 

for the activities of the club 

in order to reposition the 

first athletic club in Nigeria 

which was founded 

in 1913 to actualise its 

objectives. 

The club has Engr. Victor 

Enukpere as Vice 

President; Mr Kenneth 

Onojaife- General 

Secretary; Mr. Kingsley 

Oghoro, Assistant Gen 

Secretary; Prof. Nyerovwo 

Tonukari, Treasurer; Mr 

Austine Ivwighreghweta- 

Membership Secretary; 

Mr. Babatunde Jegede- 

Social secretary; Mr Tony 

Ubah- Bar secretary; Mr. 

Michel Amani- Sports 

secretary and Mr Bola 

Alli- House member. 

32 soldiers get new houses in 

Cross River 

By Ike 

Uchechukwu 

C ALABAR—THE 

13th Brigade of the 

Nigerian Army, Calabar, 

Cross Rivers State, 

yesterday, handed over 

keys to a block of 32 flats to 

soldiers at Akim Army 

Barracks in Calabar. 

The project which was 

initiated by the 

Commander of the 

Brigade, Brig-Gen. Bulama 

Biu and supported by the 

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. 

Tukur Buratai, commenced 

in November 2016 and so 

far, 116 ,68 flats have been 

completed in the first and 

second phases with 48 to 

go in the last phase. 

Speaking with journalists 

after handing over the keys 

to the beneficiaries, Biu 

noted that the COAS was 

interested in the welfare of 

soldiers. 

According to him: “The 

situation was that of total 

loss of hope before the 

inception this project, as 

soldiers had lived under 

very terrible conditions for 

decades. No one ever 

believed that the soldiers' 

living standard could 

improve." 

Delta PDP chieftain lauds 

Okowa 

THE Chairman of 

Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, in Udu Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State, Prince Sam 

Ughwujowhovwo, has 

described Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa as a gift to the state, 

stressing that his kind is 

rare. 

Prince Ughwujowhovwo 

told newsmen in Udu that 

the governor spread 

development projects 

equitably and 

demonstrated unbiased 

leadership even when the 

party did not do well in the 

last elections in the council 

area. 

He listed the governor’s 

achievement in Udu to 

include appointments, 

human capital 

development, provision of 

roads, school buildings and 

the Udu Harbour Market, 

adding that Udu people 

have resolved to support 

PDP in the next general 

election in appreciation of 

Governor 

performance. 

Okowa’s



PRICELESS GIFT: From left, Francis Michael, Programme Manager, Eye Care at Tulsin Chanrai 

Foundation, TCF; Henry Ogu, Wetheral Road, Cherubim Junction Branch Manager of First City 

Monument Bank, FCMB; a beneficiary, Regina Nwoke of Eziama Ezeanuro, Nkwere, Imo State; Dr Nor 

Tshering, Ophthalmic surgeon; Chikwendu Ebika, another beneficiary and Louis Ibe, Head, Corporate 

Affairs and Media Management, FCMB, at the Priceless Gift of Sight programme/free eye screening 

and surgery sponsored by FCMB in partnership with Tulsin Chanrai Foundation of India, at Nkwere 

Local Government Area Headquarters, Imo State. 

Tension in Enugu community over 

alleged herdsmen shootings 

•As MASSOB asks southern lawmakers to reject grazing bill 


E 

N U G U — 

APPREHENSION has 

enveloped Neke and other 

communities in Isi-Uzo 

Local Government Area of 

Enugu State as suspected 

herdsmen continued 

sporadic shooting from 

Monday night to 

yesterday. 

A native of Neke 

community, Mr. Chidi 

Odoh, who spoke with 

Vanguard, confirmed the 

shootings, saying it started 

since Monday night at 

Ndiagu Umuegwu, an area 

between Neke and Obollo 

communities. 

“I heard the gunshots not 

more than five minutes 

ago. They have been 

shooting there since last 

night but our people have 

mobilized to go there,” 

Odoh said. 

Security Adviser to 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi, Gen. Fred Eze 

(retd), however, said the 

situation was not that bad, 

based on the interim report 

he received. 

Eze said it could be 

herdsmen moving from the 

North to Ebonyi state, 

adding that he has 

mobilized the army and the 

Divisional Police Officer at 

Ikem to the scene. 

He said: “Based on the 

interim report before me, 

there is no cause for alarm 

and security operatives 

have been dispatched to the 

area. I spoke with the 

leader of herdsmen in Isi- 

Uzo, who told me he has 

directed the herdsmen to 

leave Neke." 

Contacted, Caretaker 

Committee Vice Chairman 

of Isi-Uzo Local 

Government Area, Mr 

Samuel Ugwede, told 

Vanguard that they were 

moving with security 

personnel to the area. 

MASSOB asks 

Southern lawmakers 

to reject grazing bill 

Meantime, the 

Movement for the 

Actualization of the 

Sovereign State of Biafra, 

MASSOB, has pleaded 

with national assembly 

members from the 

southern part of the country 

to reject the grazing bill 

currently on the floor of 

both chambers of the 

assembly. 

MASSOB, under the 

leadership of Comrade 

Uchenna Madu, said it has 

advised and warned 

southern members of 

national assembly over the 

subtle dangers of the 

grazing bill. 

Deputy Leader of 

MASSOB, Chief 

Ikechukwu Ekwe, in a 

statement said: “Your land, 

when taken, shall be 

assigned to herdsmen who 

shall use it for grazing 

purposes. 

“They shall bring cows to 

the land and you shall lose 

the land permanently to 

those Fulani cattlemen. 

“The National Grazing 

Reserve Council would 

have the power to take 

away your land from you 

anytime they want and pay 

you whatever they want as 

compensation, even when 

you don’t want to sell, and 

remember that for you to get 

compensation, you must 

have documents showing 

or proving ownership. 

“MASSOB implores the 

people of Biafra and 

Oduduwa to rise and reject 

this Bill. It is a subtle design 

to mortgage the future and 

survival of our people. 

“The people of Biafra and 

Oduduwa must do every 

thing possible to compel 

our national assembly 

members to desist from 

passing that bill into law." 

Re-award mining leases to us, 

Ugwuanyi tells FG 

E 

N U G U — 

GOVERNOR 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of 

Enugu State has appealed 

to the Federal Government 

to consider revoking all 

dormant licences or leases 

to the mining fields in the 

state and re-award them to 

the state government to 

operate. 

Gov. Ugwuanyi assured 

that the state government 

has the capacity and glut 

of investors who are eager 

and well equipped to 

commence mining 

operations in the state. 

The governor spoke when 

Minister of Mines and 

Steel Development, Dr. 

Kayode Fayemi; the 

ministry’s Minister of State, 

Bawa Bwari Abubakar, and 

other top officials of the 

ministry paid him a 

courtesy visit at the 

Government House, 

Enugu. 

The minister and his 

team were in Enugu State 

on an inspection tour of 

mining sites as well as to 

interact with mining 

stakeholders in the state, 

with a view to revitalizing 

the solid mineral sector in 

line with the 

diversification policy of the 

government. 

Gov. Ugwuanyi, while 

appreciating the Federal 

Government’s initiatives on 

reviving the solid mineral 

sector, frowned at the 

unpleasant situation in the 

mining industry in the state 

basically caused by “the 

nonchalant and 

uncooperative attitude of 

owners of mining leases 

and licenses for solid 

minerals in Enugu State,” 

who he said “are virtually 

unknown to the state 

government.” 

He said: “ I am sure you 

are aware that, apart from 

coal, Enugu State is 

endowed with other 

minerals such as 

limestone, sandstone, 

lead, zinc and gas. It must 

however interest you to 

know that mining leases 

or licenses for most of 

these minerals, covering 

almost every part of 

Enugu State, were 

awarded and have been 

held for years by 

companies that have 

shown little or no interest 

whatsoever in exploiting 

or extracting the 

minerals." 

Earlier in his remark, 

Fayemi, who appreciated 

Gov. Ugwuanyi’s 

transformational agenda 

in Enugu State informed 

the governor that they 

were on a nationwide tour 

of the country’s mining 

assets, particularly as it 

affects the South Eastern 

region. 

He added that another 

aim of the tour was 

basically to look at the 

abandoned coal mines in 

the state such as 

Onyeama and Okpara 

mines, with a view to 

revitalizing them. 

Stakeholders dissatisfied 

with INEC’s CVR strategy 


E 

N U G U — 

STAKEHOLDERS in 

Enugu State that attended 

the Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, sensitization 

meeting, yesterday, 

preparatory to the 

Continuous Voters 

Registration, CVR, 

resuming tomorrow, said 

they went home dissatisfied 

with the strategy. 

Some of the stakeholders 

complained that questions 

they raised were not 

answered satisfactorily. 

One of the questions they 

raised is the proximity of the 

CVR at the local 

government headquarters 

to the rural dwellers that 

would require travelling 

long distances to be 

registered. 

A cleric, Venerable 

Emeka Ezeji, made case 

for the physically 

challenged persons, who 

cannot get to the CVR 

centres and also for 

mobilization of the Igbo as 

against the sentiment for 

agitation for Biafra republic 

that hitherto prevented the 

agitators from participating 

in Federal Government 

functions. 

A traditional ruler from 

Uzo-Uwani Local 

Government Area of the 

state complained that the 

exercise was being carried 

out in rainy season when 

his people were in the farms 

and would not return before 

3pm each day. 

Responding to some of 

the questions, INEC 

Administrative Secretary in 

the state, Dr. H.C 

Aniemena, pleaded with 

the stakeholders to help 

mobilize their people for the 

registration, noting that the 

exercise would be taking 

place in all the 774 local 

government councils in the 

country. 

Aniemena said the 

shortcomings were not 

peculiar to Enugu State, 

promising to pass their 

observations to the INEC 

headquarters for 

improvement at next 

exercise. 

78 Ebonyi communities 

blame low school enrolment 

on ignorance, poverty, others 

By Peter Okutu 

A BAKALIKI—NO 

fewer than 78 

communities in Ikwo, Izzi, 

Afikpo South, Ezza North, 

Ivo and Ishielu Local 

Government Areas of 

Ebonyi State, yesterday, 

identified ignorance, 

poverty, peer group 

influence, unemployment, 

get rich syndrome, personal 

decision, poor child 

spacing, early marriage as 

some of the factors 

militating against the rate 

of enrolment of Ebonyi 

children in schools in the 

state. 

Other factors included 

distance of home from 

school, lack of interest, 

polygamy, hawking, 

payment of unaffordable 

fees in school and 

dereliction of duties on the 

part of teachers. 

Recent surveys carried 

out by some educational 

institutions in the country 

indicated that there are 

more children out of school 

than those attending 

classes in Ebonyi State. 

These factors were 

identified following a 

community dialogue 

initiated by the United 

Nations International 

Children Education Fund, 

UNICEF, in collaboration 

with Universal Basic 

Education Board, UBEB, of 

Ebonyi State government to 

curb the ugly trend of poor 

enrolment affecting the 

state, especially in the rural 

areas. 

The community members, 

who were drawn from 

School Based 

Management Committees, 

SBMC/PTA, women 

organizations/mothers 

associations,youth 

associations, community 

leaders/town union 

executives, faith-based 

organizations, x-rayed the 

reasons for the poor 

enrolment and proffered 

possible solutions to the 

problem. 

In a chat with Vanguard 

at Urban Primary School, 

Ndufu-Echara community 

in Ikwo Local Government 

Area of the state, a 

representative of a civil 

society organization 

covering UNICEF activities 

in Ebonyi State, Miss 

Abigail Okpebholo, who 

expressed dissatisfaction 

over the poor enrolment of 

Ebonyi children in schools, 

noted that with the 

community dialogue 

initiative introduced by 

UNICEF through Ebonyi 

State government, the 

situation would soon turn 

around for the better. 

“By this dialogue, we are 

getting closer to the locals. 

They are the ones 

identifying the problems 

and giving solutions, and 

as such, it will increase the 

number of children to be 

enrolled in schools," she 

said



Ex-Niger Gov, Aliyu, arraigned, 

remanded in Minna Prison custody 

By Wole 

Mosadomi 

M 

I N N A — 

IMMEDIATE 

past governor of Niger 

State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, 

and his former 

commissioner and Chief of 

staff, Umar Nasko, were 

yesterday arraigned by the 



EFCC, before a Minna 

high court on a six-count 

charge of corruption among 

others 

A 95-count charge was 

earlier preferred against 

him before it was reduced 

to six by EFCC. The charge 

includes dishonestly 

converting to personal use 

money belonging to Niger 

State, amounting to about 

N5 billion. 

Babangida and Nasko 

were brought into the court 

room at about 8.40a.m. by 

EFCC, led by its lead 

counsel, Gbolahan Latona 

and three other lawyers. 

The accused persons 

pleaded not guilty when 

the charges were read to 

them by the presiding 

judge, Justice Aliyu 

Maiyaki. 

The court, however, stood 

down for 30 minutes, after 

commencement of the case, 

to enable counsel involved 

to compare notes on oral 

application by EFCC to 

amend its charges. 

On resumption of 

proceedings, counsel to the 

first and second accused, 

Ayodele Oladeji and 

Mamman Mike Osuman, 

did not object to the 

amended charges. 

The first count charge 

accused the duo of 

NLC to Kogi gov: Pay salaries, 

release protesting students 


Young 

THE Nigerian Labour 

Congress, NLC, 

yesterday, asked Kogi State 

Government to pay backlog 

of salaries owed workers, 

instead of harassing and 

detaining protesting 

students of state-owned 

tertiary institutions. 

President of NLC, Ayuba 

Wabba, in a statement said: 

“The right to peaceful 

protest is guaranteed by the 

constitution, the highest 

law of the land and should 

not be abridged by a 

governor or anyone. 

“Detained students 

should, therefore, be 

released immediately and 

committing illegal act of 

criminal breach of trust in 

2015, contrary to Section 97 

of the Criminal Code. 

The second charge is of 

withdrawal of N540 million 

for personal use, contrary 

to Section 111 of Penal 

Code and punishable 

under Section 104 of same 

code. 

Also, the former governor 

was in the third count 

charge accused of 

dishonestly converting to 

personal use over N1.725 

billion, belonging to the 

state government, contrary 

By Ben Agande 

K 

A D U N A — 

GOVERNOR 

Kashim Shettima of Bornu 

State, yesterday, said the 

state would be different in 

unconditionally, else the 

entire labour movement 

with its civil society allies 

will mobilise against the 

state without further notice. 

“We advise the Governor 

of Kogi State not to test the 

will or the resolve of the 

Nigerian workers to see 

through the task of 

preserving democracy in 

the state. We find it 

necessary to state that 

tertiary institutions owned 

by the Kogi State have 

been on strike for over six 

months over unpaid 

salaries. 

“In the said period, the 

students took it upon 

themselves to mediate 

between the workers and 

the government. 

to Section 311 of Penal 

Code punishable under 

Section 304. 

Youths protest 

Despite the heavy 

security presence within 

the court premises, many 

pro-Babangida supporters, 

mostly youths, took over the 

major roads leading to the 

court premises with 

different placards in 

support of the former 

governor. 

The former governor, 

who was picked up by the 

anti-graft agents from his 

the next six months when 

all the development 

projects he had put in place 

began to manifest. 

Addressing the Summit 

for the Security and 

Development of Northern 

“Whereas the workers 

were ready to make 

concessions, the 

government refused to shift 

ground. The impact of the 

strike on all the parties has 

been great, with the 

students worst hit. 

“We find it saddening that 

instead of commending the 

students for their initiative 

and patriotism, the state 

government elected to 

criminalise the peaceful 

protest. 

“We advise Governor 

Yahaya Bello to pay, 

without further delay, 

outstanding salaries and 

pensions, and negotiate 

with striking workers 

instead of intimidating or 

incarcerating students.” 

Abuja home three weeks 

ago, arrived the Minna 

High Court 11, presided 

over by Justice Aliyu 

Maiyaki at exactly 

8:40a.m. in a black Toyota 

land cruiser SUV with 

number plates NPF 

6914C. 

The judge, after 

listening to the 

arguments from both 

prosecution and defence 

counsel, ordered the two 

accused to be remanded 

in Minna Prison custody 

till May 3 for the ruling 

on the bail application. 

PARTNERSHIP: From left—Regional Sales Manager, West Africa, 

Charles Iyo; Product Manager, West Africa, Tosin Omodayo; Managing 

Director for Africa, Seydou Kane, and Sales Director for Africa, Malvin 

Naicker, all of Eaton Electrical at the stakeholder engagement session for 

partners in Lagos. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. 

Give us 6 months, Borno 'll 

be different—Gov Shettima 

Nigeria, organised by the 

Sir Ahmadu Bello 

Memorial Foundation, 

SABMF, in Kaduna, 

Shettima said his 

government was 

investing massively in 

girl-child education, job 

creation for the youths 

and 

women 

empowerment to set an 

agenda of progress and 

development for the state. 


recent resort to suicide 

bombings by the 

insurgents was a clear 

indication of waning 

powers and desperation. 

According to him, “we 

have crossed the Rubicon; 

we now want to tow the 

path of growth and 

development. 

Boko Haram basks in 

the glory of attacking soft 

targets, but the monster 

has been decapitated.” 

In his remarks, the 

former governor of 

Adamawa State, Murtala 

Nyako, said the summit 

should have taken place 

immediately after the Civil 

War to serve as agenda 

setting for the North. 

UI-ASUU's call for JAMB 

Registrar's resignation faulted 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

I LORIN—THE 

Academic Staff Union 

of Universities, ASUU, 

University of Ilorin, 

UNILORIN, branch, 

yesterday, flayed call by 

University of Ibadan 

branch of the union for 

the resignation of the 

Registrar and Chief 

Executive Officer of Joint 

Admission and 

Matriculation Board, 

JAMB, Professor Ish’aq 

Oloyede, from office, 

saying the call lacks 

credibility. 

In a statement in Ilorin 

by ASUU Chairman, Dr. 

NYSC mobilises 300,000 

graduates annually—DG 

By Suzan Edeh 

BAUCHI—NO fewer 

than 300,000 

graduates are mobilised 

annually for the National 

Youth Service Corps, 

NYSC, programme in its 

over 40 years of 

existence, the Director- 

General, Brigadier 

General Suleiman 

Kazaure, has said. 

The NYSC DG spoke at 

an opening ceremony of 

the 2017 Batch ‘A’ preorientation 

workshop, 

entitled Evolving 

Strategies to Meet the 

Challenge of Increasing 

Corps Population in 

Bauchi. 

Nigerian firm launches 

underwater tech 

LEADING integrated 

oilfield servicing 

company, RusselSmith, 

has introduced Eddylyft, 

a pulsed current testing 

technology deployed to 

test for corrosion under 

insulation, CUI. 

Vice President of the 

company, Sooravan 

Tharmalingam, who 

disclosed this yesterday, 

described the new 

technology as having 

real-time C-scan 

imaging, fast acquisition 

with of data with grid 

charting and dynamic 

scanning modes, in 

addition to flexibility with 

long cables and use of 

extension pole. 

He said: ‘’The 

technology also presents 

advantages in time 

management and cost 

efficiency. Unlike other 

existing solutions, 

Eddylyft is designed to 

perform fast dynamic 

scans. 

‘’Pulsed Eddy Current 

Usman Abdulraheem, and 

Secretary, Dr. Mary Lewu, 

the union said: “We have 

no doubt in our minds that 

Professor Oloyede will 

succeed. 

“Thus the recent call by 

the University of Ibadan 

branch of ASUU for his 

resignation, lacks credibility, 

amounts to bad belle 

and outrightly laughable. 

“All negative actions and 

commentaries of UI-ASUU 

cannot dim the ever 

shining star of Professor 

Oloyede because this 

workaholic is too 

committed to achieving 

excellence in every 

assignment and will not be 

distracted.” 

He said the essence of 

the workshop was to 

review the previous 

orientation course with the 

intention of indentifying 

best practices and 

challenges to chart a way 

forward in the conduct of 

the next orientation 

exercise. 

In his address at the 

occasion, Governor 

Mohammed Abubakar 

reiterated the commitment 

of his administration 

towards the security of 

NYSC members serving in 

the state and assured them 

of a conducive atmosphere 

that would make their 

service year in the state a 

memorable one. 

Testing is one of the few 

Non-Destructive Testing, 

NDT, methods that uses 

electromagnetic induction 

as the basis to detect 

discontinuity in conducting 

materials.” 

Burial 

PA Roland Ekokotu, 

87, is dead. Burial is 

Saturday, April 29 at his 

home town, Agbarha-Otor, 

Ughelli North, Delta State. 

Next day, Sunday, is a 

memorial/special 

thanksgiving service at 

God’s Kingdom Society, 

GKS, Service Hall. He is 

survived by a widow, 

children, grand and greatgrandchildren 

among who 

are Dr. P. A. Ekokotu, Mr. 

Residence Ekokotu, and 

Mrs Gladys Evbodi.


WHAT was your 

upbringing like? 

I am from a small village 

called Ojoto in Idemili South 

Local Government Area of 

Anambra State. I had my 

Nursery and Primary School in 

Aba after which I proceeded to 

Port Hacourt for my Advanced 

level. I went to business school 

in London and came back to 

join my family business. I am 

very happy that the business 

has grown today despite the 

harsh business environment in 

Nigeria. My growing up was 

very tough because, at the age 

10, my father died. 

That was in 1979. So I was 

literally brought up by my 

mother without a father. With 

sheer determination to succeed 

in life despite all the pressures 

of life and shortcomings I was 

able to make it in life. As a child 

without a father, it can be really 

tough and unimaginable. Also, 

focus and doggedness have 

been my rock and foundation. 

Amazingly, I am the last among 

six siblings of four boys and 

two girls. I am the last but not 

the least. My father was a king 

in my community before he 

died. Although I knew little 

about him at age 10 and I 

believe he was a noble man of 

integrity. My mother attested 

to that and that also 

contributed to the success 

story of my business today. 

On intergrity, hard work, 

role models 

Honestly, there are several of 

them. But my mother is the 

number one person because 

she moulded my life to be selfreliant 

and to be independent. 

I am not yet accomplished but 

I see myself as someone on the 

right part and direction. Again, 

I have a few people to look up 

to as the source of inspiration. 

Generally, I can’t say that 

someone was instrumental to 

my rise but I have a few , who 

I still look up to. I read and 

study a lot. I try to develop 

myself through knowledge 

WITH CHARLES KUMOLU 

How love for good food 

inspired my growth in 

business — Okonkwo, 

Tetrazzini Founder 

THE man, who pioneered the Tetrazzini brand in Nigeria, 

Mr. Donatus Okonkwo in this edition, discusses his life as 

someone who lost his father at a tender age, was nurtured by 

his petty-trading mother and eventually turned his family 

business into a leading brand. Apart from being the CEO of 

Tetrazzini, Okonkwo, who has exclusive franchise for Miss 

Intercontinental World and its CEOs in all 54 countries in 

Africa, is making impact in the oil and gas sector, financial 

services, agriculture and life coaching among others. One of 

the inspiring things about him is that the entrepreneurship 

passion he developed early while growing up in Aba, has 

continued to yield successes since he returned to Nigeria 

from the United Kingdom so many years ago. 

gained from leadership 

development everywhere. I 

read a lot of John Maxwell 

books, He is a very strong 

Leadership Coach and I am 

also inspired by spiritual 

materials from a very 

prominent American preacher, 

Morris Cerullo. He is also a 

teacher of leadership. I get a 

lot of strenght from reading his 

books. 

My mother was a petty trader 

back then. She is a very 

determined person who can 

virtually do anything to move 

on with life and that was what 

she did to see us through life 

after the death of my father. She 

taught me determination, 

sincerity, integrity hard work 

I don’t see 

material things 

such as money, 

houses or 

physical 

acquisitions as 

achievements 

and self-contentment in life. 

Tetrazzini is a leading name 

in the food industry, how did 

you bring the outfit this far? 

Tetrazzini today is a global 

brand. We have successfully 

diversified into many areas. 

Consistency is key to our 

success. If you are consistent 

in doing the right thing, you 

will achieve success. It is a 19- 

year old story. We have always 

considered building a Nigerian 

brand that will make global 

impact. And in that process, we 

came up with Tetrazzini as a 

business and brand. It is a 

vision we conceived and we are 

seeing it becoming strong and 

a brand to reckon with. We love 

food and I mean good food. 

That was why we started to 

•Okonkwo 

08131143342 (sms only) 

make food for commercial 

purpose in a small quick 

manner that people will desire 

to buy. 

Having distinguished 

yourself in business, what 

lessons do you think can be 

drawn from your experience 

? 

There are so many lessons to 

be learnt. One of it is that we 

at Tetrazzini can actually beat 

our chest and say that through 

consistency and doing the right 

thing, we have achieved more. 

And I am convinced that people 

can also achieve a lot through 

consistency and doing the right 

things. However, I can 

categorically say that I have not 

achieved much as I wish to. But 

I will say that I am happy to 

have brought happiness in the 

lives of some people, who I 

helped to succeed in their 

endeavours or enterprises. I 

don’t see material things such 

as money, houses or physical 

acquisitions as achievements. 

But what I really consider as 

achievements are those people 

I have touched and transformed 

their lives. I have rally touched 

several lives in this country. 

That, I have done through 

investment in education by 

PERSONALITY ETHICS 

•I believe so much in 

consistency 

•Mentoring people on 

the right path is my core 

area of interest 

• I like to be called a 

mentor instead of a role 

model 

•I care about 

determination, sincerity, 

integrity, hard work and 

self-contentment 

midweekpersonality@gmail.com 

building schools and award of 

scholarships. I consider my 

investments in education as too 

important because of the role 

education plays in our lives. 

I rebuilt a school, Ojoto Boys 

Secondary Schoool in my town, 

Ojoto. The school was 

neglected from by the state 

government. This school only 

had 35 students during its 

ailing period but after I rebuilt 

it, there are more than 600 

students learning in the school. 

This is what I call an 

achievement. You can imagine 

what would have happened to 

more than 565 new students if 

I had not rebuilt the school. 

Global 

brand 

These testimonies are what 

I call achievements. Touching 

lives and helping people build 

themselves are issues of 

priorities to me. 

What are those things that 

have kept you on track in your 

business pursuits? 

Challenges are enormous. 

We are still on it and still 

defending our positions and 

establishment in building a 

strong brand. But our 

resilience, long-suffering, 

perseverance and tenacity 

have kept us. We have kept 

moving and getting stronger 

every day. 

It is also about consistency, 

focus energy and strong push. 

Tetrazzini is already a global 

brand as an eatery outlet. 

Besides, the brand, we are 

diversifying. We are not 

relenting because of our 

resilience, and we will trudge 

on. Currently, we are in the oil 

and gas downstream sector. 

Today, Tetrazzini is into real 

estate development by creating 

strong reliable properties for 

both commercial and 

residential purposes. 

Tetrazzini is also into agro and 

allied products because we are 

interested in agriculture which 

is one of our main sources of 

resources in the food industry. 

We are also into financial 

services. We provide financial 

consultancy and business 

management to start-ups and 

businessmen. We are moving 

slowly and steadily to create 

that formidable brand that we 

have always envisaged. 

We see the food we sell as a 

product of our consistency and 

articulate efforts. Tetrazzini 

group is a global brand that has 

to come to stand the test of time 

among equals. Tetrazzini Food 

Plc has become a public 

liability company with almost 

a thousand shareholders. It 

was built from a scratch and has 

now become a company that is 

quoted on the Nigeria Stock 

Exchange. We are very sure 

that with the efforts of our 

dedicated team we will get 

there. 

On values 

Ethics are the things I teach 

as a Life Coach. I teach people 

about mentorship. I am 

concerned about inspiration 

and influence. Mentoring 

people on the right path is my 

core area of interest aside my 

other business pursuits. I like 

to be called a mentor instead 

of a role model because I 

mentor people particularly 

young people. I counsel them 

through services to actualise 

their dreams and aspirations in 

life. 

We have four cardinal values 

in Tetrazzini which is always 

our watchword, values are what 

we cherish the most because 

we want to be above average 

all the time. We see integrity 

as one of our core values. 

Saying what you mean is what 

we call integrity. Whatever it 

may cost you to do what you 

say, be prepared to bear the cost 

for the sake of integrity. 

On ambition to govern 

Anambra State 

My vision for Anambra State 

is to actualize its full potentials. 

I am in the race because I want 

Anambra to get its full 

potentials and rightful place in 

the polity. It is sad that what 

we see is just mismanagement 

and total neglect of basic facts 

about sustainable development 

and growth. It is a state that 

possesses the largest chunk of 

billionaires in Nigeria, yet you 

see poverty ravaging and 

bringing the state to a sordid 

situation. 

You can never see a viable 

industry in the state while all 

the billionaires are living 

outside the state developing 

other places. I believe that once 

the economic light is beamed 

on Anambra, these billionaires 

from Anambra state will come 

home and invest.

A call to national service: The MKO Abiola autopsy 

By Edward Attah 

WHEN Chief M.K.O 

Abiola, the acclaimed 

winner of the nullified June 12, 

1993 presidential election died in 

detention in Abuja in July 1998, 

the military had been in the 

process of sorting themselves out 

of government. I was invited by the 

government to participate in 

conducting the autopsy. It is 

required by law that an autopsy 

be carried out on a person that dies 

in custody. 

I received a phone call in my 

home in Uyo from Commissioner 

of Police, Abuja, who on giving me 

the information and telephone 

invitation, informed me of the 

possibilities for transportation, 

including flying from the Mobil 

airport in Eket. A short time before 

the call, Professor Etim Essien, the 

haematologist and former director 

of the Nigerian Institute of 

Medical Research, had informed 

me that he had let the people in 

government service know that I 

was back in the country. The call 

was, therefore, not a mystery to me. 

I preferred to travel to Abuja by a 

regular commercial flight from 

Calabar. I also advised the 

commissioner of police on the 

authorisation for a coroner’s 

autopsy. 

The personality of the deceased 

and the circumstances made this 

autopsy of great interest to the 

nation and the international 

community. The events that 

predated the demise of Chief 

Abiola in detention have been well 

documented in the media and 

books. General Sani Abacha’s 

dictatorship had been total, and 

did not accept the advice, 

persuasion or suggestions of 

anyone, including the most revered 

persons in the world. Nigeria thus 

became a pariah state. 

Winner of 

the election 

He had seized power on 

November 17, 1993 and would 

permit no compromise or 

negotiation with the aggrieved 

civil populace. In the middle of 

1994, one year after the election 

of June 12, 1993, Chief M. K. O. 

Abiola, widely perceived as the 

winner of that election although 

annulled by the previous military 

ruler, publicly declared himself the 

elected president of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria. Upon this, he 

was apprehended and locked up 

by General Abacha in 

circumstances that were reported 

as severe. 

The political activities of the 

government such as a 

constitutional conference went 

hand in hand with the killing of 

critics and imprisonment of a 

former military head of state and 

other top military officers on 

charges of plotting a coup. Then, 

suddenly General Abacha died on 

June 8, 1998. 

His death brought General 

Abdulsalami Abubakar as the 

head of state, and an amazing 

change in the direction of the 

government. General 

Abdulsalami promptly freed 

political detainees. The changes 

Late Chief MKO Abiola. 

Late General Sani Abacha. 

he effected were surprising, 

considering that the two leaders 

came from the same stable, 

namely, the Nigerian Army. 

Such divergence in governance 

hardly ever occurs in civilian 

administrations, one supposes, 

because the laws and rules of the 

game are more or less followed. 

However, Chief M. K. O. Abiola 

who was still in detention one 

‘Abiola, 60, a 

businessmanpolitician, 

suffered 

from a narrowing of 

the arteries and had 

an enlarged heart; 

the autopsy, 

performed by 

doctors from Britain, 

Canada and the 

United States found 

no traces of poisons 

or toxins’ 

month after General Abdulsalami 

assumed power also suddenly died 

on July 7, the day on which he was 

due to be released. As a Muslim, 

his body had to be released for 

interment in the shortest possible 

time. 

At the briefing by the Director of 

the State House Clinic, Dr. (later 

Professor) Sadiq S. Wali, I was 

informed, as had been announced 

in the media, that pathologists 

from outside the country had been 

invited to take part in the autopsy. 

The Ahmadu Bello University 

pathologist, Dr. (later Professor) 

Abdulmumini Rafindadi, had been 

appointed and I would lead the 

host Nigerian team of two. The 

Gen. Abdulsami 

Abubakar (retd). 

panel of pathologists would be 

chaired by the Toronto coroner, Dr. 

James Young. The Head of State, 

General Abdulsalami Abubakar, 

had as I understood taken the 

decision in view of the immense 

importance of this death, that 

interest group, national and 

international, could invite 

pathologists to participate in 

performing the autopsy so long as 

the family and the personal 

physician of the deceased 

accepted. 

We assembled in a military air 

transport facility in Abuja in the 

night of July 10 to receive the body 

after I had met with the civilian 

minister of internal affairs and 

received the coroner’s order for the 

autopsy. We then proceeded to 

Lagos where the autopsy was to be 

carried out. The arrangements by 

Dr. Wali, working with the 

personal physician of the 

deceased, Dr. Ore Falomo and the 

representative of the Nigerian 

Medical Association were 

impeccable. The logistics for 

transportation were, of course, 

military. 

Arranging for the home 

pathologists, the family of the 

deceased and Nigerian 

professional interest groups to 

assemble in Abuja for the body, and 

arriving in Lagos under the cover 

of night into a military facility 

succeeded in keeping at bay what 

would have been a large crowd of 

media people. On assembling with 

the foreign pathologists at the 

autopsy venue in Lagos, we were 

informed at about midnight that 

yet another pathologist from 

abroad representing an 

international human rights group 

had arrived at the airport. 

The chairman of the panel, Dr. 

James Young, having met with the 

foreign pathologists and decided 

on the procedure for conducting 

the examination, sent us the home 

pathologists of procedure on a 

piece of paper. I suppose this was 


Assistant Secretary of State for 

African Affairs, Ms Susan Rice had 

been present at the death of Chief 

M. K. O. Abiola. 

This struck me as a right and 

timely advice and exercising my 

authority, I stopped the bus. Upon 

quick consultation with Dr. 

Rafindadi, I invited all to the 

conference hall of the examination 

facility for the meeting. The hall 

was spacious and suitable. This 

incident reminded me once again 

to take seriously the counsel of the 

young, and I was particularly 

grateful for it. There might have 

been no end to this autopsy if the 

meeting had been held at the 

American Embassy. 

At the end, it was commented 

that the examination would 

normally have been concluded at 

that point in any of the countries 

of the participating pathologists, 

as the findings were commonly 

seen in sudden deaths. This 

included Nigerian in sudden 

deaths which occur in those that 

have adopted the western high fat 

diet. 

However, in the particular 

circumstance it was decided to 

carry out toxicology examination 

of the tissues and body fluids in the 

forensic laboratory in Toronto, 

Canada. It had been reported that 

the deceased had been served tea 

when his designated carer had not 

been present. I signed the release 

of the samples for toxicology 

investigation to Dr. Young to be 

carried out in the Toronto forensic 

laboratories in Ontario, Canada. 

not intended to 

offend but it did 

not appear to be 

very polite. Dr. 

Rafindadi and I 

took it in good 

measure. I sent 

the piece of paper 

back to him with 

a polite note 

stating, ‘Please, 

can we discuss 

this?’ 

I then signed 

my name with my 

Canadian 

qualifications 

showing me as a 

Fellow of the 

Royal College of 

Physicians of 

Canada in the 

year 1970. This probably struck a 

chord with Dr. Young as 1970 was 

a watershed year for the fellowship 

in Canadian medical 

specialisation. It was the last year 

of two levels of specialisation in 

which the Fellow was higher than 

the Certificant. Dr. Young then 

came over and we had a 

pathologists’ conversation, and 

together arranged things 

satisfactory. Our position as the 

hosts was established. 

The medical examination 

started at 2.00 am with all the 

interested parties present, the 

family of the deceased represented 

by his personal physician. The 

facility venue was first-rate. One 

foreign pathologist had brought in 

an autopsy technician with 

excellent equipment which 

facilitated the work. The 

examination was detailed and 

painstaking, even of normal 

organs and tissues and every 

person present was shown the 

tissues and every abnormal 

finding. A description was made 

and recorded to the satisfaction of 

all. 

The evidence of serious and 

death-causing hypertensive and 

coronary artery diseases affecting 

the heart was obvious, with 

pinpoint narrowing of the arteries 

of the heart and marked 

thickening and enlargement of the 

heart. The meeting place of the 

participant after the examination 

to review the findings and reach a 

conclusion might have been 

something of a problem as the 

American Embassy bus that had 

conveyed the American 

pathologists picked up all the 

foreign participants, aiming to 

hold the final review meeting at 

the American Embassy. 

The bus was about to drive out 

of the examination venue when one 

of the Nigerian participants 

walked up to me, knelt down and 

introduced himself as the president 

of the Nigerian Medical 

Association. Dr. George Okpagu 

whom I had not recognised, had 

graduated from University of 

Calabar at the time that I was the 

provost of the College of Medical 

Sciences there. He advised that 

holding the meeting at the 

American Embassy might create 

an uncalled for problem. This was 

because some members of the 

American government, namely 

Ambassadors Williams Twadell 

and Thomas Pickering and the US 

Toxicology 

investigation 

We the home pathologists 

completed our report to the 

coroner showing that the death was 

due to the seen natural causes, and 

that toxicology examination was 

also being carried out. 

The findings of this autopsy were 

made public the following 

morning at an international press 

conference in Lagos presided over 

by the panel chair, Dr. James 

Young. All the pathologists that 

had participated in the autopsy 

were present at the press 

conference. 

It took the busy press more than 

two days to discover where the 

autopsy had been performed and 

about fortnight to know the name 

of the home pathologists. 

Gratefully, this meant that neither 

Dr. Rafindadi nor I was put on 

media or public pressure. 

Meanwhile, the day following the 

autopsy, a Lagos pathologist was 

in a national daily newspaper with 

his photograph and all, seemingly 

contradicting every finding and 

conclusion of panel. 

Noticeably, the press did not take 

him up on the matter. Dr. Young, 

on completing the toxicology 

examination, released the final 

report by the international experts 

on the autopsy of Moshood Abiola 

at a press conference in the 

Canadian capital Ottawa on 

August 12, 1998, concluding that 

Chief Abiola died of natural 

causes. ‘Abiola, 60, a businessmanpolitician, 

suffered from a 

narrowing of the arteries and had 

an enlarged heart. The autopsy, 

performed by doctors from 

Britain, Canada and the United 

States found no traces of poisons 

or toxins.’ 

•Attah, a Fellow of the Royal 

College of Physicians of Canada 

was former provost of the College of 

Medical Sciences of the University 

of Calabar


‘Joshua can end 

Klitschko’s career 

at Wembley’ 

WLADIMIR Klitschko’s career will be 

over if he loses to Anthony Joshua, 

warns big brother Vitali. 

Vitali claims Wladimir will have to quit if 

he is beaten for a second successive time by 

Joshua. 

Wladimir has refused to say if he will retire 

if he loses, insisting he is not looking any 

further than Saturday’s showdown with 

Joshua at Wembley. 

Vitali, 45, who retired in 2012, feels it will 

be impossible for the former world 

heavyweight king to continue at 41 on the 

back of two defeats. 

“Wladimir right now is focusing on the 

fight,” the Ukrainian told Sky Sports’ Behind 

the Ropes. “He knows from this fight a lot 

depends on his future and his career. 

“It’s the time to think about stopping and 

not fighting anymore, or continuing his 

career. 

“Wladimir knows he has to dominate. Not 

to wait, to come in and show his 

performance. No other way. He knows that, 

I talked to him, many times. He knows that 

already well. 

“Everything, his future depends on him, 

and that’s why if Joshua loses the fight, he 

has a lot of space, because of his age. He 

has a next time to fight, to try to be the world 

champion. 

“Wladimir doesn’t have a second chance. 

That’s why we expect full concentration from 

him and, of course, a good result.” 

•Joshua 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

Guardiola wants Dele Alli in 

record transfer deal 

MANCHESTER City boss Pep Guardiola 

wants to sign Tottenham star Dele Alli in a 

world record deal this summer, according to 

Barcelona legend Xavi. 

The 21-year-old England ace is being tracked by 

Europe’s elite, including Real Madrid. 

And Xavi has revealed ex-Barca chief Guardiola 

is looking to snap-up the PFA young player of the 

year to help bring trophies back to the Etihad. 

Spurs would demand a world record fee eclipsing 

Paul Pogba’s £89m switch from Juventus to 

Manchester United last summer. 

Bale out of Champions League semi-final 

•Could miss rest of La Liga season 

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has been 

ruled out of both Champions League semifinals 

with Atletico Madrid with calf injury and 

could miss the rest of the title run in. 

The winger is in a race against time to play again 

this season after his grade 2 calf tear - with the La 

Liga campaign set to finish on May 21, just four 

weeks away. 

Madrid said in a statement: “Following the tests 

carried out on Gareth Bale by the Sanitas Medical 

Services, the player has been diagnosed with a grade 

2 injury in his left calf. His recovery will continue to 

be assessed.” 

The Welshman was rushed back for El Clasico at 

the week end after damaging his calf against Bayern 

Munich in the Champions League first-leg. 

New Sunshine Coach, Austin Eguavoen 2 nd from right and Ike 

Shorunmu(2 nd left) during their unveiling in Akure yesterday, 

Spanish World Cup winner Xavi said: 

“I speak with Pep, and I know he 

thinks it is important to sign 

English players. 

“I am sure in the summer 

he will look also across 

Europe for players to 

improve the squad, but also I 

expect him to look in The 

Premier League as well. 

At the moment the best 

English player there is and 

also one of the best in Europe 

is Dele Alli. 

•Gareth Bale 

... Morgan not fit for clash 

Sunshine task Eguavoen to save club from relegation 

Newly 

appointed 

Sunshine Stars of Akure 

coach Austin Eguavoen has 

been saddled with the 

responsibility of making sure 

the Akure-based club do not get 

relegated from the Nigeria 

Professional Football League. 

Eguavoen was unveiled 

yesterday as Sunshine Stars 

new coach to be assisted by his 

former Super Eagles teammate 

•Wenger 

Arsenal need perfect 

run-in to finish in top four 

ARSENE Wenger insists Arsenal will “fight like mad” to finish in 

the top four. They face Leicester at the Emirates tomorrow night as 

one of their games in hand on their rivals for the Champions League 

places. 

Gunners boss Wenger admits the FA Cup semi final win and 

switching to a back three formation has changed the mood, made 

them better defensively and given them new belief after their poor 

recent run. 

Wenger said: “What it did was got the focus on the players on 

something that is concrete to forget anxiety and a little bit of 

uncertainty. 

“Sometimes when a team doesn’t do well, just focusing on something 

different helps to focus on something that might be better. We realised that 

we have to fight like mad to come back and win our games. 

“The top four is open - but what it demands from us is consistency in the 

results now until the end of the season. It’s still possible, but that means 

we’ll maybe have to have a perfect run-in. 

“It looks like we will have to win all our games. That has to be the 

Boss Craig Shakespeare had hoped it was cramp but he will now be 

without the centre-back for today’s clash at the Emirates Stadium. 

He said: “Unfortunately Wes won’t make it. He has just overstretched his 

hamstring. It hasn’t gone into a full blown pull but we have to be mindful. 

So as a precaution he is out then we will look towards Saturday.” 

Midfielder Nampalys Mendy is also now sidelined for the rest of the 

campaign after having an operation to finally resolve his long-term ankle 

problem. 

Mendy, a £13million signing from Nice last summer, has made just nine 

appearances this season after initially injuring his ankle in the 0-0 home 

draw with Arsenal in August. He has not played since February. 

“Unfortunately Papy Mendy had to have an ankle operation,” Shakespeare 

added. 

Ike Shorunmu. 

The former Super Eagles 

coach signed a short-term deal 

till the end of the season with 

an option to extend it. 

“Today (Tuesday) we 

unveiled Austin Eguavoen as 

our new coach on a short-term 

deal until the end of the 

season,” Sunshine Stars media 

officer Wahab Bankole said. 

“The terms of the contract are 

that he must make sure Sunshine 

are not relegated and also we have 

a decent outing in the Federation 

Cup. “We decided to appoint 

Eguavoen because we believe he has 

the experience. He has coached in 

the Nigerian league before and we 

believe he has what it takes to deliver 

for us.” 

Sunshine Stars are 17th in the 

NPFL table with 31 points from 18 

matches.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017— 39 

SIX Nigerian trade partners of 

Philip Morris Limited, lived 

their dreams recently when they 

found themselves savouring the 

experience of watching a live match 

in England and having a tour of 

Stamford Bridge, the home ground 

of Chelsea Football Club (CFC) and 

the eight largest ground in the 

Premier league. For them, it was 

indeed, a dream come true. 

Given that Stamford Bridge is the 

home of Chelsea Football Club (the 

CFC) where football legends like 

Nigeria’s own Super Eagles 

Captain, John Mikel Obi, retiring 

Chelsea FC Captain, John Terry, 

African legend Didier Drogba 

among many other notable soccer 

stars honed their skills in 

preparation for entertaining their 

fans across the world on regular 

basis, it would always be a 

remarkable and exciting 

experience for any football follower 

to step on such grounds. 

To heighten the excitement and 

make it more memorable, the trade 

partners got a full celebrity 

treatment as they were conducted 

round Stamford Bridge. Due to a 

change in the EPL schedule, the 

earlier planned match between 

Arsenal and Leicester City, current 

EPL champions was postponed. 

Not deterred by this, PML’s agent 

worked assiduously to get new 

tickets to the FA Cup quarter final 

game played between Arsenal 

Football Club and Lincoln City at 

the Emirates Stadium. 

The lucky six were drawn from 

the six geopolitical zones in 

recognition of the business done 

•Klitschko 

PML thrills trade partners 

with EPL experience 

PML trade partners at the Emirates Stadium relishing EPL experience 

with PML, and rewarded with 

an all expense return trip to the 

United Kingdom, live football 

experience, a guided tour of 

London and other thrilling 

experiences for 3 three days. 

While the businessmen and 

woman were relishing the 

experience, the trip coordinator 

Andrew Donnelly, the 

Commercial Director, Philip 

Morris Limited on discerning 

that most of them were fans of 

the CFC, promptly arranged 

to enrich the experience with a 

visit to Stamford Bridge. 

“We set out to delight our 

trade partners with world-class 

footballing experience, because 

the game of football is a sport 

most Nigerians are passionate 

about. So we wanted to connect 

with our partners through their 

passion point,” Andrew 

Donelly said. 

Fields to referee 

Joshua/Klitschko 

showdown 

DAVID Fields will referee this 

weekend’s blockbuster bout 

between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir 

Klitschko. The pair finally take to the 

ring on Saturday night in front of 90,000 

fans at Wembley stadium. 

The appointment of the referee had 

been seen as pivotal to the bout with 

American Fields given the nod. 

Fields has been an official for 17 years 

and has overseen over 200 bouts, 

including Bernard Hopkins against 

Sergey Kovalev. 

His most recent match was Ricky 

Lopez’s victory over Pablo Cruz in 

March. Legendary referee Joe Cortez 

believes he is the ideal choice for the 

Wembley showdown. 

“He’s a big guy, a very strong referee 

and there should be no problems with 

him at all,” he told the Telegraph. 

“He’s very experienced, and has 

always done a great job. He’s a great 

choice.” 

The judges at ringside will be Don 

Trella and Steve Weisfeld from the 

United States and Nelson Vazquez of 

Puerto Rico. 

Kwesé TV brings 2018 

W/Cup to Africa 

Kwese TV has secured 

exclusive free-to-air (FTA) 

rights for sub-Saharan Africa 

(excluding South Africa) to telecast 

the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup 

and the 2018 World Cup in Russia. 

Kwesé will broadcast the 

tournaments through its pan- 

African FTA channel Kwesé Free 

Sports (KFS) currently Africa’s 

largest FTA channel which boasts 

a potential audience in excess of 

100million. 

African viewers who would 

otherwise not have seen football’s 

greatest showcase will be able to 

view it live on KFS! 

In addition to its exclusive FTA 

rights Kwesé has also secured nonexclusive 

Pay-TV rights for sub- 

Saharan Africa excluding South 

Africa. Kwesé’s broadcasting rights 

will include coverage on all Kwesé 

platforms including TV online and 

mobile platforms. 

“There is no doubt that the FIFA 

World Cup is a highlight for sports 

fans all over the globe and Africa is 

home to some of the game’s biggest 

fans. With exclusive rights to 

broadcast the tournament free-toair, 

we are staying true to our 

intention to deliver the best 

sporting programming to as many 

people as possible across the 

continent”, said Joseph Hundah, 

President and Chief Executive 

Officer, Econet Media. 

9,000 Schools for Milo 

Basketball championship 

By Solomon Nwoke 

MORE than 9,000 schools from across the federation and the 

Federal Capital Territory (FCT)Abuja will fight for honours in 

the 19 th Milo Secondary School Basketball championship. The state 

preliminaries dunk off from 27 th April to 25 th May, 2017 in four 

geographical groupings known as conferences. 

This was disclosed yesterday by the Managing Director and Chief 

Executive of Nestle Nigeria Plc Maurice Alarcon who said that the 

longest running basketball championship in the country has continued 

to grow bigger. 

Alarcon noted that the number this year marked an increase from 

8,349 schools that competed last year. He underlined the essence of the 

tournament as providing opportunities for the development of young 

Nigerians (boys and girls), and imbibing in them qualities that include 

perseverance through hardship, courage to overcome fear, ability to 

work as a team, self-belief, respect and leadership. 

“At Nestle, we are committed to positively impacting on millions of 

children in Nigeria through sports, especially basketball.” 

Winners Golden Bet 

introduces global jackpot 

By Jacob Ajom 

WINNERS Golden Bet has introduced a new product into its menu 

with stakers given an opportunity to take part in the global 

jackpot. They have a chance to win the jackpot in addition to their 

regular winnings. Other products, according to officials of the company 

include the virtual football game, dog race, etc. 

The company also announced the acquisition of a new satellite which 

will enhance the clarity of signals and agents would not need to get 

internet to access the signals. 

Addressing the press in Lagos Monday, chairman of Winners Golden 

Bet, Honourable Idowu Obasa informed that whoever wins the global 

jackpot will be paid in Euros. “We are waging in all countries where El 

Bet is operational and because we are in a competitive market we have 

to introduce this product as a direct response to the numerous complaints 

we get from our customers.” 

He continued, “we offer a large selection of sporting events, 

particularly in popular football leagues matches, virtual games and 

their pre-match bet types ranging from a single bet to multiple bet lines 

on a slip. 

“Above all, the Live Bet! offers our customers opportunities to predict 

what happens next during live football matches. All one needs to do is 

enter his sport type and league of interest, and one will have all the 

options on display.” 

C 

M 

Y 

K


RECENTLY the prosecution 

of some corruption cases 

suffered setbacks with the 

discharge or acquittal of the 

accused persons. This 

development has attracted 

comments and criticism from 

various quarters. While opinion 

is obviously divided on the 

correctness of the specific judicial 

verdicts, there appears to be a 

consensus of sorts on the need 

for improvement in the 

prosecution of criminal cases by 

Law enforcement agencies. 

Indeed the President is reported 

to have directed the Vice 

President to impress upon all 

agencies concerned a need to 

improve their prosecutorial 

capabilities. The Vice President 

in turn called a meeting attended 

by the National Security Adviser, 

Babagana Monguno; Attorney 

General of the Federation, 

Abubakar Malami (SAN); 

Director General of the 

Department of State Services, 

Lawal Daura; the Inspector 

General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; 

acting Chairman of the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, Ibrahim Magu; 

and the Chairman of the 

Independent Corrupt Practices 

and Other Related Offences 

Commission, Ekpo Nta where 

the matter was reported to have 

been extensively discussed. 

Inter agency 

cooperation 

Many reasons have been 

given for the poor showing of the 

prosecution in several high 

profile cases. While a prominent 

Legal Practitioner identified 

official negligence and lack of 

inter agency cooperation by the 

federal ministry of justice, the 

anti-graft agencies and the State 

Security Service as a cause, a 

former President, Chief 

Olusegun Obasanjo blamed the 

development on the failure of the 

EFCC and other agencies to hire 

seasoned lawyers to handle the 

prosecution of their cases. 

Without a doubt these are strong 

arguments. However in my view 

there is a fundamental problem 

underlying the poor results being 

experienced by law enforcement 

agencies in the sphere of 

prosecution and this simply is the 

fusion of investigative and 

prosecutorial powers. 

Seperation of investigative 

and prosecutorial functions 

Section 12 of the EFCC Act 

Cap E1 provides for the 

establishment of special units of 

the Commission including the 

Legal and Prosecution Unit. By 

virtue of Section 13(2), the said 

Legal and Prosecution Unit is 

saddled with the power of 

prosecution of offenders under 

the Act. For the avoidance of 

doubt the Section reads as 

follows: 

“(2) The Legal and 

Prosecution Unit shall be 

charged with the responsibility 

for – 

1. Prosecuting offenders 

under this Act; 

2. xxxxxxxxx 

3. xxxxxxxxx 

1. xxxxxxxxx 

In a similar manner, Section 

6(a) of the Corrupt Practices and 

other related offences Act 2000 

President Buhari's call for effective prosecution of 

corruption cases: 

Need to separate investigative and 

prosecutorial functions 

in the following words also 

confers investigative and 

prosecutorial powers on the 

ICPC: 

“6. It shall be the duty of the 

Commission – 

1.Where reasonable grounds 

exist for suspecting that any 

person has conspired to commit 

or has attempted to commit or has 

committed an offence under this 

Act or any other law prohibiting 

corruption, to receive and 

investigate any report of the 

conspiracy to commit, attempt to 

commit or the commission of such 

offence and, in appropriate cases, 

to prosecute the offenders; 

The effect of the above is that 

both the ICPC and the EFCC 

have powers not only to 

investigate but also to prosecute. 

However, it is a well-documented 

fact that the powers of 

investigation and prosecution do 

not always go well together. Where 

an investigator is also expected 

to prosecute, there is a danger 

that he may not be objective in 

his investigation and that his 

eventual decision to prosecute 

may not be the product of a well 

thought out process. The need to 

appear to be working and thereby 

prosecute at all costs may 

outweigh considerations such as 

the adequacy of investigations 

and evidence garnered against 

a suspect. 

In recent times, the EFCC in 

particular has been criticised for 

its seeming hurry to announce the 

discovery of huge amounts of 

cash without proper investigation 

as to the identity of those who hid 

the cash where they were found. 

Critics argue that the EFCC 

should have continued a 

surveillance of the site and wait 

for anyone either bringing more 

money to the location or 

attempting to move the money. It 

has therefore been argued that 

pressure on the EFCC to deliver 

on the anti corruption drive of the 

government may actually be 

leading it to making critical 

mistakes thereby jeopardising the 

chances of effective prosecutions. 

It was considerations such as 

the above that led to the 

establishment of the Crown 

Prosecution Service in England. 

In 1978, faced with problems not 

too dissimilar from those being 

encountered by Nigeria at the 

moment, a Royal Commission of 

Criminal Procedure was set up 

in England. The reports of the 

Commission published in 1981 

came up with three main 

criticisms of the system at that 

time. These were: 

1.The Police should not 

investigate offences and decide 

whether to prosecute. The officer 

who investigated the case could 

not be relied on to make a fair 

decision whether to prosecute. 

2.Different police forces around 

the country used different 

standards to decide whether to 

prosecute. 

3.The Police were allowing too 

many weak cases to come to court. 

This led to a high percentage of 

Judge directed acquittals. 

Explaining the rationale behind 

the findings of the Commission, 

Dr. Destina Kyprianou in an 

article titled ‘Comparative 

Analysis of Prosecution System 

(Part II): The Role of Prosecution 

Services in Investigation and 

Prosecution Principles and 

Polices” stated as follows: 

“The maintenance of an 

investigator-prosecutor divide 

was central to the report which 

led to the establishment of the 

Crown Prosecution Service…The 

investigator-prosecutor divide 

was premised on the belief that if 

the prosecutor becomes involved 

in the investigation of a case, then 

the prosecutor may become 

committed to a particular line of 

inquiry and loose objectivity in 

assessing that case.” 

I believe the criticism made by 

the Royal Commission in 

England are also applicable to 

Nigeria. Whilst Nigeria has one 

Police force in theory, the reality 

of the matter is that the functions 

of that Force have been greatly 

eroded by several law 

enforcement agencies such as the 

EFCC, ICPC, NDLEA, FRSC to 

name a few. Therefore, the 

situation of different police forces 

using different standards to 

prosecute is also now applicable 

to Nigeria. 

By fusing investigative and 

prosecutorial powers in the EFCC 

and the ICPC, the lawmaker has 

in my view placed an 

unnecessary burden on both 

bodies. In stating this I am not 

unmindful of the fact that by the 

provisions of Section 12(1)(a) of 

the EFCC Act that the General 

and Assets Investigation Unit is 

also created separate from the 

Legal and Prosecution Unit. 

However, by the general 

provisions of the Act, both units 

are still under the Commission 

and are subject to the control and 

direction of the Chairman of the 

Commission. I believe a system 

in which the law enforcement 

agencies are limited to 

investigative duties will greatly 

aid the performance of their roles 

in the criminal justice system. A 

system can be developed in which 

they will seek guidance from the 

office of the public prosecutor at 

any stage of the investigation 

where such advice or guidance 

is needed. 

This is particularly more so in 

modern times where the 

commission of such crimes as 

money laundering have gained 

much sophistication as to require 

legal advice in the investigation 

of persons suspected to have 

committed them. This explains 

why the Federal Bureau of 

Investigations (FBI) in the United 

The maintenance 

of an investigatorprosecutor 

divide 

was central to the 

report which led to 

the establishment 

of the Crown 

Prosecution 

Service 

States of America does not 

prosecute persons suspected to 

have committed crimes. A 

statement on its website reads as 

follows: Although the FBI is 

responsible for investigating 

possible violations of federal law, 

the FBI does not give an opinion 

or decide if an individual will be 

prosecuted. The federal 

prosecutors employed by the 

Department of Justice or the U.S. 

Attorneys offices are responsible 

for making this decision and for 

conducting the prosecution of the 

case. 

If a possible violation of federal 

law under the jurisdiction of the 

FBI has occurred, the Bureau will 

conduct an investigation. The 

information and evidence 

gathered in the course of that 

investigation are then presented 

to the appropriate U.S. Attorney 

or Department of Justice official, 

who will determine whether or not 

prosecution or further action is 

warranted. Depending on the 

outcome of the investigation, 

evidence is either returned or 

retained for court.” 

I believe that Nigeria can adopt 

a similar system. To make it 

effective, the government can 

increase the offices of the Federal 

Directorate of Public Prosecution 

to cover existing police and law 

enforcement boundaries as exist 

in Nigeria at the moment. In 

addition to the efficiency which 

this would bring to the 

investigative duties of agencies 

such as EFCC and ICPC, it will 

also create more job opportunities 

for Nigerians. Furthermore a 

separation of functions will ensure 

that the investigator does not 

loose objectivity in assessing 

cases before charging suspects to 

court. In addition, the following 

has also been acknowledged as 

advantages for such a separation. 

1.Accountability – Separating 

the two functions and investing 

them in different bodies will bring 

about accountability in the system 

as this will ensure a system of 

checks and balances in the 

process of investigation, 

indictment, prosecution and 

conviction. 

2.Fairness to the accused – 

Where there is a separation of the 

duties of investigation and 

prosecution, there will be 

increased likelihood of fairness to 

an accused who will by this 

development be shielded from 

unfair persecution or even 

prosecution. 

3.Efficiency – There will be 

increased efficiency in the overall 

administration of criminal justice. 

Need to cultivate dedicated 

pool of public prosecutors 

Nigeria has at the Federal level, 

the office of the Director of Public 

Prosecutions. This is also 

replicated in the Ministries of 

Justice of all the states with their 

own Directorates of Public 

Prosecution. Furthermore, EFCC 

and the ICPC also have their own 

prosecution units. However, 

experience has shown that the 

EFCC and the ICPC occasionally 

instruct private legal practitioners 

to conduct prosecution. While I 

do not doubt the competence of 

such private legal practitioners, I 

believe that if left unchecked the 

practice may deny prosecutors 

being paid by tax payers the 

opportunity of honing their 

prosecutorial skills. Prosecution of 

financial crimes including money 

laundering requires expertise not 

just to investigate but also to 

prosecute. Such expertise can 

only be best acquired through 

constant involvement in 

prosecution. I therefore advocate 

intensive training of a dedicated 

pool of public prosecutors to 

handle prosecution of matters 

bothering on the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission 

Act and the Independent and 

Corrupt Practices and Other 

related offences Act. This is 

indeed the practice in most other 

jurisdiction in which public 

prosecutors are given adequate 

training in specialized areas of the 

law such as organized crime, 

human trafficking, sexual abuse 

etc.

My girl’s gone off sex! 

Dear Bunmi, 

I’m the general manager of a 

fairly big supermarket and I’m 

currently tempted to stray with 

some of my sales reps as sex with 

my girl is virtually non-existent. 

We’ve been together for about 

three years and at the beginning, 

we couldn’t get enough of each 

other. 

Much as I didn’t expect that 

kind of frenzy to last for ever I 

didn’t bargain for it to be nearly 

extinct either. It looks as if I’m 

the one doing all the running and 

I get nothing in return. 

When I try to get her in the 

mood, she’s full of excuses. She’s 

either too tired or just doesn’t feel 

like it. Then we argue and she 

sulks. 

We currently live together and 

I keep telling her I want our 

relationship to be full of intimate 

moments. But there’s still no 

change. I get plenty of flirtatious 

remarks from my sales girls, so it 

would be easy to help myself. I 

must admit that I’m tempted to, 

purely for sex. 

The fear of mixing business 

with pleasure is the current 

hindrance. 

Haunted by his dead wife’s memory 

Dear Bunmi. 

My current boyfriend compares 

me to his late wife in 

everything even sex. I’m 29 

and he’s 38 and he tragically 

lost his wife four years ago 

through a car accident. He has 

three children aged between 

four and 10. We met a year 

after he lost his wife and have 

been discussing marriage in 

the last six months. As a result, 

I virtually live with him 

though I still have my flat. I 

now help look after his children 

with the help of a relative 

of his. 

I thought he was over her 

death but it seems I’m wrong. 

He’s talking about her more 

than ever. 

The worst time is when 

we’ve just had sex. I find oral 

sex a bit off-putting but he 

talks about how she loved it 

and the things she used to do. 

It is awful. The trouble is I 

feel I can’t now complain 

since I’d kept quiet for a while 

now. As things are, I have to 

put up with a large picture of 

her in the bedroom too. 

He says it’s for the kids and 

I’d feel guilty if I asked him 

to remove it. He’s told me that 

he still misses her and sometimes 

feel guilty for starting a 

relationship soon after her 

death. I’m starting to feel like 

nothing but a glorified babysitter 

to his children. 

Henrietta, bye-mail. 

Unfortunately, my girl doesn’t 

think we have a problem. How 

can I make her realise I need 

intimacy in our relationship? I’m 

30 and she is 27. 

Dipo, by e-mail. 

Dear Dipo, 

Your girl must know in her 

heart that things aren’t right with 

your sex life, especially since it 

was once active. Her problem 

could be that she’s not sure of 

how to tackle the problem. Do you 

think she’s getting enough fun 

All I want now is just sex 

and satisfaction from sex with 

you? 

Maybe it’s about time you put 

more efforts into pleasing her. 

Have a talk with her that doesn’t 

result in a shouting match to see 

if this can be resolved. 

On the other hand, it could also 

be that you’re focusing on the sex 

without realising that getting a 

girl in the mood starts with doing 

your share of things in the house. 

You’re both too young to be 

having relationship problems, 

especially in the sex department. 

Much as I didn’t expect that kind 

of frenzy to last for ever I didn’t 

bargain for it to be nearly extinct 

either. It looks as if I’m the one 

doing all the running and I get 

nothing in return. 

When I try to get her in the mood, 

she’s full of excuses 

Dear Henrietta, 

This is a tricky problem but 

your man needs to separate 

his sense of loss from your 

relationship. It’s only natural 

he should have fond memories 

of a wife with whom he 

had three children. But you 

need to agree times when he 

can talk about his wife and 

times when he should focus 

on the two of you, especially 

Dear Bunmi, 

I’m 32 and in-between girlfriends. 

My first girlfriend 

was so troublesome, it was a 

relief when she finally left 

even though we have a son. 

She’s put me off a permanent 

relationship for now and I’m 

thinking of going to a prostitute 

whenever I need a quick 

fix. Like the saying goes: bodi 

no be wood! 

A friend has promised to 

take me to a joint where you 

meet ‘decent’ girls and as 

long as I play safe by using 

a condom, and don’t get emotionally 

involved, what’s the 

harm? It’s become a bit of an 

obsession with me and the 

longer I put it off, the more it 

stays on my mind. My only 

fear is that if I start, I might 

be hooked to the point of not 

wanting a good relationship. 

Patrick, bye-mail. 

during intimate moments in 

the bedroom. 

If you find her picture in the 

bedroom intimidating, why 

not suggest he puts it in the 

children’s room? You need to 

meet him half-way with his 

sexual preference. 

If you find oral sex revolting, 

maybe you should encourage 

him to teach you how 

to be comfortable with it. 

Dear Patrick, 

You’re kidding yourself and 

you know it. If it is a quick fix 

you really need, the answer 

lies in your own hand. 

Masturbating should do the 

job nicely but as you’re already 

obsessed with the idea 

of visiting a prostitute, there 

is a strong chance that after 

the first ‘fix’ you might get 

hooked. Not to talk of the danger 

you might be exposing 

yourself to if your condom 

splits. 

I would keep my distance 

from your type of friend if I 

were you. 

In the meantime, give yourself 

time to get over your current 

resentment over women 

enough for you to appreciate 

the joys of a meaningful relationship. 


Can I trust this returnee boyfriend 

Dear Bunmi, 

I’m a 28-year-old single 

mother of an adorable son. 

I’m currently involved with a 

man who is very nice to me 

and my son and I love him. 

The problem is that my ex has 

come back into my life. He 

was my first true love and we 

were together for over four 

years, we had the child together. 

Now he wants us to 

get back together and I’m 

afraid I might love him more 

than my current boyfriend. 

The problem is that he has 

two sides, he’s loving, caring 

and a lot of fun to be with 

most of the time, but he’s also 

a skirt-chaser. I’m really confused 

as I don’t want to make 

a mistake by getting back with 

him, only to regret it. 

Jacqueline, bye-mail. 

My daughter needs to be brought 

down to earth! 

Dear Bunmi, 

My 30-year-old daughter 

has taken herself into the 

world of the high and mighty 

to such an extent that I hardly 

knew her any more. She’s 

married to a very successful 

car merchant and lives in a 

very big house on the Island 

in Lagos. She has highachieving 

friends and is talking 

like them. This was the 

same person who gave me 

hell when she was growing 

up. 

By the time she was 20, 

she’d had a couple of abortions 

and was always hanging 

around men, drinking and 

smoking. She’s obviously 

Raped by my ex! 

Dear Bunmi, 

For 18 months, Greg and I 

had a very strong relationship 

and the sex was great. 

Unfortunately, and for no 

reason, I fell out of love with 

him and had to break things 

off. 

He was really devastated in 

spite of the fact that I let him 

down as gently as I could because 

he was very nice to me. 

I’m now in another relationship 

and happy. Some few 

weeks ago, I met Greg at a 

lecture and he invited me to 

his flat for a drink. Since we 

both remained good friends, 

I went with him. 

He told me he had a few 

girlfriends and I was genuinely 

happy for him. I’d 

scarcely touched my drink 

when he was all over me. I 

was shocked. He pinned me 

to the couch and started having 

sex with me and hurting 

me “in the process. I asked 

him to stop several times, but 

he didn’t until I was able to 

Dear Jacqueline, 

A woman in love with two 

men needs to be extremely 

careful. Allow yourself to get 

to know this new man in your 

life better but encourage your 

ex to have a good rapport 

with his son. 

As time goes on, it will become 

clear whether he can 

love you unconditionally or 

not. Just as you once had to 

accept that he’d played away 

with other women, he will 

need to accept that you continue 

to sleep with your man. 

But is this what you really 

want?’ In the end, you might 

discover that you love neither 

of them in any way that will 

last. Deep love is committing 

to only one person, unconditionally. 

brushed all these under the 

carpet now. The last time she 

was at my place, she went on 

and on about wanting more 

children. She already has two 

and her husband wants more. 

I was so fed up with her 

moaning that I asked if her 

failure to get pregnant didn’t 

have something to do with her 

past wild life and the abortions 

she had in the past. If 

looks could kill, I would have 

died instantly from the look 

she gave me. Now I’m very 

upset by the rift between us. 

She’s my daughter, but her 

phony life-style is cracking me 

up. Chi, bye-mail. 

free my hands and grab him 

round the throat to get him off. 

He showed no remorse 

whatsoever and had the guts 

to tell me I shouldn’t find 

lovemaking with him so repulsive 

since we were once 

lovers. 

He still wants us to be 

friends. What I can’t understand 

is why a man who was 

once a gentleman could turn 

into a brute. 

Taiye, bye-mail. 

Dear Taiye, 

By going with your ex to his 

flat knowing both of you 

would be alone must have 

sent the wrong signal to him. 

You did the dumping and he 

obviously hasn’t forgiven you 

for that. 

It is important that you get 

this emotional trauma behind 

you and be wary next time 

you decide to go to any single 

man’s apartment alone - 

especially if sex might be on 

the cards. 

Share your problems and release your 

burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, 

Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, 

Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk


Continues from Page 5 

Justice Nyako had in a 

ruling on March 1, struck 

out six of 11-count charge 

the Federal Government 

initially entered against 

Kanu and the others on 

the premise that they were 

not supported by the proof 

of evidence adduced 

before the court. 

The Judge held that 

none of the six charges 

established a prima-facie 

criminal case against any 

of the defendants. 

She said the fact that 

IPOB was not an 

organisation registered in 

Nigeria did not make it an 

illegal society. 

Kanu’s family rejects 

bail conditions, says no 

going back on Biafra 

agitation 

Immediately after the 

court ruling, the family of 

the IPOB leader rejected 

the bail conditions with 

the father, His Royal 

Highness, Eze Israel 

Kanu, and his wife, 

Ugoeze Sally Kanu, 

saying Kanu should be 

released unconditionally. 

Both parents and their 

daughter, Chinwe, 

faulted Justice Binta 

Nyako on the bail 

conditions. 

Speaking to reporters at 

Isiama Afaraukwu, 

Umuahia North Council, 

Eze Israel Kanu said 

while the family was 

happy over the bail 

granted their son, they 

rejected the bail 

conditions. 

According to the 

monarch, the bail 

conditions were like 

giving something with 

one hand and taking it 

with the other hand, 

saying that the IPOB 

leader must be set free 

without any condition 

attached. 

“The Federal 

Government should 

release my son 

unconditionally. The 

world should judge if the 

bail conditions are 

proper”, the monarch 

said. 

He explained that he 

was happy when he 

received the news that his 

son had been granted bail 

by the court but was 

taken aback by the 

conditions attached to the 

bail. 

Eze Kanu was not 

happy with Justice Nyako 

for asking the IPOB leader 

to produce a Jewish 

leader as surety and 

wondered why a court of 

competent jurisdiction 

would demand for a 

citizen of another country 

to come and stand as 

surety in Nigeria. 

Flanked by his wife, 

Ugoeze Sally and 

daughter Chinwe, the 

monarch also faulted 

other bail conditions 

given to his son, 

including that a Senator 

from the South East 

should provide a 

whopping N100 million 

bail bond. 

Corroborating her 

husband’s position, 

Jubilant supporters of IPOB in Owerri, Imo State, yesterday. 



Kanu’s mother noted that 

if her son eventually 

returns home, she would 

advise him not to 

abandon the agitation for 

the restoration of Biafra, 

insisting that without 

Kanu’s activities, the 

world would not have 

known about the problem 

of Biafrans in Nigeria. 

“No retreat, no 

surrender; God will 

deliver Biafra as He 

delivered Israel,” she 

said. 

IPOB too.. 

Also yesterday, the 

IPOB picked holes in the 

bail conditions. 

IPOB, in a statement by 

its Media and Publicity 

Secretary, Mr. Emma 

Powerful said that its 

leader did not accept the 

bail conditions given to 

him, just as he dismissed 

the bail as unacceptable 

unless the other detained 

members of IPOB were 

also granted bail and with 

feasible bail conditions. 

IPOB said: “It is 

unacceptable to the entire 

members of IPOB 

worldwide that the 

presiding judge, Hon. 

Justice Binta Nyako 

attached conditions 

towards the release of our 

leader, Mazi Nnamdi 

Kanu. The conditions are 

not feasible and possible. 

“The bail conditions are 

probably designed by 

politicians, who are afraid 

of our leader’s popularity. 

These are inhuman, nonfeasible, 

childish and 

stringent for any 

reasonable person or 

group to accept, and we 

say no to that. While we 

say no to the bail 

conditions, IPOB 

worldwide commends 

those who put pressure on 

Nigerian Government and 

her judiciary to grant bail 

to our leader. 

“We salute people like 

the Ekiti State Governor, 

Mr. Ayodele Fayose and 

well meaning sons and 

daughters of Biafra Land, 

who were in court to show 

solidarity with IPOB and 

its incarcerated leader 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We, 

however, say a big shame 

to South East Governors 

and politicians who 

because of their ignorance 

of what IPOB stands for, 

have refused to identify 

with us. 

“They and the 

government holding him 

are oppressors and are 

always afraid of our 

leader’s popularity. Their 

plan is to cage him 

through the childish, 

funny and unacceptable 

bail conditions they gave 

him in court. We are not 

excited, we demand the 

release of our members 

detained with him.” 

Jubiliation in Umuahia, 

Port-Harcourt 

In Imo State, yesterday, 

the ever busy MCC/Uratta 

Road and other 

communities in Imo State, 

were taken over by scores 

of IPOB loyalists, who 

were celebrating Nnamdi 

Kanu’s bail. 

The spontaneous 

jubilation, drew a large 

crowd of ardent 

supporters of the Biafran 

sovereignty in Imo. 

They carried various 

Biafran insignia, 

including flags, caps, 

shirts and banners, as 

they sang victory songs 

and danced happily on 

the streets. 

Some other jubilant 

loyalists in Owerri, were 

seen distributing free 

drinks in some of the 

joints Vanguard visited 

before going to press. 

One of the 

demonstrators, Chike, 

who spoke to Vanguard as 

they celebrated, said: “We 

are celebrating the release 

of one of our own, who has 

been incarcerated for 

several months. I am only 

praying that the bail 

granted him this time, 

won’t be treated like the 

previous ones, especially 

as the present Federal 

Government hates the 

rule of law with passion.” 

Speaking also, a woman 

who simply identified 

herself as Mrs. Sylvia 

said they were not 

particularly concerned 

with the bail conditions, 

even as she described 

them as “stringent and 

draconian.” 

“I am a mother. I know 

how it feels to have a 

loved one locked up 

endlessly by traducers. I 

do not know why the 

High Court Judge does 

not want Nnamdi Kanu to 

be seen among more than 

10 persons or talk to the 

press about his 

experience in captivity”, 

Mrs. Sylvia said. 

In Port-Harcourt, 

hundreds of pro Biafrans 

shutdown the Obigbo end 

of Port Harcourt-Aba 

Road as they celebrated 

news of the bail granted 

Nnamdi Kanu. 

Passengers heading to 

Aba in Abia State on that 

road were stranded as 

most of them had to come 

down from their vehicles, 

trekking some distance to 

board vehicles that had 

already passed the huge 

traffic snarl created by the 

jubilant pro Biafrans. 

It was also a tough time 

for police men from the 

Obigbo Police station 

drafted to control the 

traffic. 

Meantime, the pro 

Biafrans danced,singing 

solidarity songs. Some 

who spoke to Vanguard 

expressed hope that the 

concept of a Biafra nation 

would come to be. 

Bail conditions too 

stringent – Ikedife, 

Amechi 

Also reacting to the bail 

conditions, former 

President-General of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. 

Dozie Ikedife and First 

Republic Minister of 

Aviation, Chief 

Mbazulike Amechi, 

described the conditions 

as too stringent and 

wondered how the court 

expected Kanu to meet 

those conditions. 

Ikedife said: “It is good 

that they have granted 

him bail. This is what I 

have been demanding for 

a long time. The next 

thing we expect them to 

do is to dispose of the 

charges brought against 

him one way or the other. 

They detained him for a 

long time and the 

question is, are they 

going to compensate him 

for long incarceration? He 

ought to have been 

released a long time ago, 

but those who kept him in 

detention did so for 

reasons only they can 

explain. Besides, the bail 

conditions are stringent. 

Is Kanu going to get all 

these people to surety 

him? Where will he find 

the three people listed as 

those to surety him?’’ 

Also speaking to 

Vanguard, Chief Amechi 

said: “Granting bail to 

Nnamdi Kanu was long 

overdue. He is a prisoner 

of conscience and they 

incarcerated him this long 

because he is an Igbo 

man. The conditions 

given him to meet are 

very unkind. He should 

have been granted bail 

unconditionally. And how 

do they expect him to get 

people with the kind of 

money mentioned to 

surety him?” 

Ohanaeze, Eastern 

Consultative Assembly 

reject bail conditions 

Similarly, the Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo and the Eastern 

Consultative Assembly, 

ECA, rejected the bail 

conditions, which they 

said are not 

implementable. 

President General of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo and 

former Minister of 

Information, Chief Nnia 

Nwodo and the Deputy 

Leader of the ECA, Chief 

Marie Okwo spoke 

during separate 

telephone interviews with 

Vanguard in Enugu. 

Nwodo said the 

conditions attached to the 

bail were superfluous and 

cannot be implemented, 

pointing out that it was 

unconstitutional to ask 

Kanu not to make 

speeches, grant 

interviews or stay in a 

crowd exceeding 10 

persons as conditions for 

his bail. 

He said: “We welcome 

the bail given to him but 

we reject the conditions 

attached to his bail. The 

court cannot in the 

process of granting him 

bail deny him his basic 

rights of speech and 

association. 

The conditions are 

superfluous. No court can 

ask anybody not to express 

his views or opinions or 

not to associate with 

people. Freedom of 

speech and association 

are guaranteed in the 

1999 Constitution of 

Nigeria and you cannot 

ask a man not to exercise 

such rights especially 

when they do not have 

criminal undertones. The 

whole thing is 

superfluous.” 

We are happy but 

— MASSOB 

The Movement for 

Actualization of Sovereign 

State of Biafra, MASSOB, 

in its reaction, said its 

members are joyful but 

that other pro-Biafra 

detainees in various 

places in Nigeria should 

also be released. 

Leader of MASSOB, 

Uchenna Madu said: 

“Thousands of MASSOB 

members are in jubilant 

celebration over the bail 

granted to Mazi Nnamdi 

Kanu of IPOB. We always 

identify with true 

representatives of Biafra 

and genuine struggle for 

the liberation of the 

people of Biafra. The bail 

granted to our brother 

today is a sign of light 

triumphing over 

darkness. It is a 

motivational factor that 

Biafra will always 

triumph.’’ 

Speaking, MASSOB 

National Director of 

Information, Comrade 

Edeson Samuel, said: 

“killing cannot stop us 

from pursuing the 

independent state of 

Biafra. MASSOB is 

rejoicing with IPOB and 

all Biafrans over the bail 

granted Nnamdi Kanu by 

the Federal High court 

Abuja. It is a very good 

development. 

“We commend the judge 

for the bold step she took 

in delivering the 

judgement. An Igbo 

adage says that truth must 

definitely prevail. Nigeria 

cannot hide the truth 

forever.." 

Okorie, Ukoh, IPAC 

react 

National Chairman of 

the United Progressive 

Party, UPP, Chief 

Chekwas Okorie, while 

reacting to Kanu’s bail said 

it was a welcome 

development. 

‘’The UPP received with 

joy the news that the 

Federal High Court at 

Abuja has admitted to bail 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We 

welcome 

this 

development, although 

we would have preferred 

an unconditional bail, 

which is what he has 

always deserved. The 

courts have always 

granted bail to Nnamdi 

Kanu but the Nigerian 

Government, the accuser 

and plaintiff always 

denied him freedom to the 

utter embarrassment of 

the civilised world. 

‘’We urge the 

government to save 

Nigerians further anxiety 

by releasing him from 

detention without further 

delay. ‘We further urge the 

government to take steps 

to drop all charges 

against Nnamdi Kanu 

and other prisoners of 

conscience. This will 

reduce avoidable tension 

in the polity. This is the 

path of wisdom. Nigeria 

will be better for it,’’ he 

said 

Chairman of South East 

caucus of Interparty 

Advisory Council, IPAC, 

Prince Emeka Okafor, 

while welcoming the bail, 

rejected the conditions 

attached to it, saying it 

amounts to denying Kanu 

his fundamental rights. 

He frowned at the bail 

conditions given by the 

Judge, saying that the 

Judge has deliberately 

denied him some of his 

fundamental human 

rights.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 — 43 

•Sheriff •Okowa •Makarfi 

DELTA: APC, PDP flex muscles 

AN otherwise local contest in Delta State has put politicians of all hues in the country on edge as they 

size up the consequences of the unfolding crises in the two major parties on their immediate political 

objectives 

By Emmanuel Aziken, 

Political Editor 

THE chairman of the 

mainstream faction of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP in Delta State, Barrister 

Kingsley Esiso, was 

yesterday morning, locked in 

a strategic meeting and 

could not speak much when 

asked about his preparations 

for today’s make or mar Warri 

1 State constituency byeelection. 

“We are on the field 

working,” he said in a tone 

reflective of the confidence 

he had going into the 

forthcoming battle that is set 

to give a national 

interpretation to the weight 

of the factions in the 

opposition PDP and also in 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

When asked about who he 

was working for, the 

chairman jovially but 

spiritedly asked that the 

question be deferred to 

Thursday, after the election. 

The bye-election is a test of 

might between the Senator 

Ahmed Makarfi, led 

mainstream which claims to 

have the loyalty of the 

grassroots and the Senator 

Ali Modu Sheriff faction of 

the party, which has the 

ensign of the party in the 

offices of the election 

management body, the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC. 

Ahead of today’s election, 

the mainstream of the party 

in Delta met in Warri last 

Saturday for what was 

dubbed a senatorial meeting 

under the chairmanship of 

the Delta South PDP 

chairman, Prince Emmanuel 

Amgbaduba. 

The attendance was a roll 

call of the leading political 

gladiators in the area and 

was boosted by the presence 

•Daibo 

of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

and his predecessor, Dr. 

Emmanuel Uduaghan. Also 

present were the deputy 

governor, Barr. Kingsley 

Otuaro, the senator 

representing the district, 

Senator James Manager, 

members of the House of 

Representatives and state 

legislators from the district. 

The first of the three-part 

resolution read at the end of 

the meeting was to back 

Okowa for a second term. 

“That the Delta South 

Senatorial District is happy 

and satisfied with the 

performance so far of the 

Governor, His Excellency, 

Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa 

and hereby, passes a vote of 

absolute confidence on him 

and equally endorses him 

for the 2019 general 

elections as the candidate of 

the party.” 

Officially, the meeting did 

not discuss the issue of the 

state constituency election as 

a participant disclosed that 

it would have been out of the 

way for the party to discuss 

the issue given that the 

mainstream of the party does 

not have a candidate. 

•Emiko 

That the Delta 

South 

Senatorial 

District is 

happy and 

satisfied with 

the 

performance so 

far of the 

Governor, His 

Excellency, 

Senator Dr. 

Ifeanyi Okowa 

However, the fact that the 

meeting took place in Warri, 

political pundits believe, 

was to serve as a show of 

force by the Okowa 

mainstream and to send a 

signal to political rivals 

contending against it. 

Original APC 

founders 

The official PDP candidate, 

Mr. Ojere Edeyibo who is 

backed by the Sherif faction 

is contending against APC’s 

Mr. Stanley Emiko and 

Accord’s Princess (Mrs.) 

Shola Daibo, who is an aunt 

to APC’s Emiko. 

Mr. Emiko is backed by 

APC godfather and 

billionaire businessman, 

Ayiri Emami who joined the 

party in 2015 after he fell out 

with the PDP mainstream as 

represented by Okowa. 

Emiko emerged as APC 

candidate despite strong 

opposition by original APC 

founders in the state and the 

decision to present him was 

taken by some national 

officers led by the national 

chairman, Chief John 

Odigie-Oyegun. However, 

party leaders told Vanguard 

yesterday that the bitterness 

has now been put aside as 

everyone was now working 

for the candidate. 

The PDP mainstream, 

according to multiple 

sources is projecting 

Princess Daibo, on the 

platform of Accord, the 

political party through which 

the Delta PDP had in the past 

used to rebel against the 

national PDP. 

The backing of the PDP 

mainstream, it was claimed, 

has transformed Daibo as the 

candidate to beat. “We have 

not done it once, but we have 

done it several times,” a PDP 

leader from the constituency 

said yesterday. The most 

memorable occasion when 

Accord came handy was in 

2007 when the mainstream 

PDP in the state used the 

party platform to re-elect 

Senator Patrick Osakwe as 

senator for Delta North after 

the wife of the then national 

chairman, Dr. (Mrs.) Maraim 

Ali had taken the PDP 

Senate ticket for the district 

for herself. Osakwe trounced 

Mrs. Ali in that election to 

the utter embarrassment of 

the PDP national leadership. 

PDP chieftains aligned to 

Governor Okowa are hoping 

to repeat the same feat today. 

However, they will have to 

operate within the 

constraints of the 

determination of new 

entrants in the APC to 

upturn the apple cart. The 

new APC chieftains led by 

Ayiri want to use the election 

to prove to those in Abuja 

that they are in control of the 

party in the state. It is thus 

no surprise that the election 

has become an animated one 

with emotions and intrigues 

at every turn of the way. 

Emotions and 

intrigues 

The PDP mainstream is 

equally challenged by the 

presence in its fold of what 

some allege as moles 

especially those who are 

disgruntled over the 

emergence of Okowa as 

governor and are openly 

aligning against the "PDP's" 

preference for the Accord 

candidate. Some of them 

including a prominent state 

legislator from Delta South 

who remained in the PDP after 

Ayiri left have through 

Facebook postings been 

openly campaigning for the 

APC candidate, a development 

that gave insinuations about 

the political intentions of a 

former governor of the state 

who had been seen as their 

political benefactor. 

How the election goes would 

inevitably realign political 

interests. A victory for the 

Accord candidate without the 

collaboration of INEC and 

security agencies now in the 

control of the APC would be 

damming for the aspirations 

for the new defectors from the 

PDP to the APC and the APC 

national leadership. A victory 

for the APC would, however, 

put Ayiri on the ascendancy 

and raise his profile in Abuja.

44 --- VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 

Bombshell! Enyeama won’t 

captain Eagles again — Rohr 

COACH of the Super 

Eagles, Gernot Rohr 

won’t be stripping John Obi 

Mikel as captain of the 

team even if former captain 

Vincent Enyeama returns to 

the team. 

Enyeama’s possible 

return to the team has been 

severally discussed due to 

doubts surrounding the 

fitness of first choice 

goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, 

who could miss the rest of 

the season owing to an 

injury picked up three 

weeks ago. 

Speaking on the issue, 

Nigerian journalist Osasu 

Obayiuwana said Rohr told 

him, he has met with 

Enyeama and among other 

stuffs discussed, he told the 

former captain who quit the 

team in controversial 

circumstances, that he has 

to respect the structure of the 

team the way it is now. 

“So, do some people feel 

that Enyeama cannot 

come back and realised 

that things have 

changed?. Surely he 

would like to to a fourth 

World Cup?, Rohr wants 

him back, because he has 

told me that”, Osasu said. 

“But on condition that 

he is ready to accept the 

place and role that he, 

Rohr, gives him. 

Enyeama still our best 

goalkeeper. I think that is 

not in doubt, right? “. 

Madrid line up Low for Zidane 

MADRID’s defeat to FC Barcelona in 

Sunday’s El Clasico has damaged 

Zinedine Zidane’s credit level at the 

Santiago Bernabeu and a trophy-less 

season for the club could see the French 

coach dismissed (as was the case with Carlo 

Ancelotti following a season in which 

Madrid failed to secure a major honour in 

2015) come the end of the current 

campaign 

The forthcoming Champions League 

games against Atletico Madrid now take 

on a different dimension with the late 

Messi goal at the Bernabeu securing top 

spot for the Catalan side in the table with 

just five rounds of fixtures outstanding 

(despite the club from the capital having a 

game away to Celta in hand). Qualifying 

for the Cardiff final is now deemed as 

imperative by Real Madrid club directors. 

Club insiders have already speculated 

about future candidates with German 

national team boss Joachim Löw in pole 

position despite him having a contract with 

the DFB to oversee Die Mannschaft 

through to 2020. Chelsea coach Conte and 

Artgintine Mauricio Pochettino are other 

names that have been linked with a move to 

the Spanish capital. 

Benítez puts Ashley on notice after 

Newcastle are promoted 

RAFAEL 

Benítez 

had no sooner 

secured Newcastle United’s 

return to the Premier 

League than he subtly 

reminded Mike Ashley, the 

club’s owner, that he is most 

certainly not prepared to 

settle for second best next 

season. 

Asked whether he 

expected still to be in charge 

at St James’ Park in August, 

Newcastle’s manager 

smiled before offering a 

teasing reply. “You never 

know,” he said after the 4-1 

home victory over Preston 

North End, who finished 

with 10 men, had earned 

automatic promotion. 

“That is football. I am 

really pleased to be here, 

and really happy and proud 

for everything we have 

achieved. Hopefully we can 

put in the foundations for 

something that will be a 

guarantee for the future. 

The fans have been 

amazing with me, their 

loyalty means everything. 

Having this city behind you 

means everything; they 

should have a top team. 

That is why I decided to stay 

[after relegation in 2016], 

and now I am even happier 

than before that I made this 

decision. I am really proud 

and really pleased. 

“Now is the time to enjoy 

what we have done. But then 

I must make sure we do the 

right things. We have to 

prepare everything to be 

strong enough for the 

Premier League.” 

Int’l friendly: Germany confirms talks with Nigeria 

SUPER Eagles coach, Gernot 

Rohr says a host of friendly 

games have been lined up for the 

team later in the year, to help them 

in competitive games. 

Nigeria will be heavily involved in 

AFCON 2019 and World Cup 2018 

qualifiers later in the year, starting 

from the AFCON qualifiers against 

South Africa on June 10. 

LA Liga’s authorities 

have given Real 

Madrid captain Sergio 

Ramos a one-game 

suspension for the tackle 

on Lionel Messi that 

earned him a red card in 

Sunday’s Clasico. 

Ramos was shown a 

straight red by referee 

Workers Day: Ajaero, Achese 

set for soccer battle 

I 

t won’t be all talks and no actions as Nigerian workers 

join their counterparts in the world to celebrate this 

year’s Workers Day. 

Indication to this effect emerged early this week 

following the conclusion of plans by labour officials to 

organize a soccer novelty match that would see the 

Comrade Joe Ajaero led National Union of Electricity 

Employees (NUEE) doing battle with Achese’s National 

Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers 

(NUPENG). 

The novelty match billed for Sunday April 30 would 

kick off by 3 pm at the Legacy Pitch of the National 

Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. 

Already test games to put the team in 

shape for more daunting and challenging 

games have been arranged, with coach 

Rohr eager to test a host of players before 

using them in competitive games. Rohr 

confirmed talks are underway to play two 

friendly games in France, where the team 

are expected to hold a training camp later 

in the year, revealed talks are underway 

for a high profile friendly game with the 

German national team. 

Ramos gets one match ban for Messi tackle 

Alejandro Hernandez 

Hernandez after leaping 

in two-footed at 

Barcelona star Messi, 

who jumped out of the 

way to avoid serious 

contact. 

The official’s match 

report said the defender 

used “excessive force” in 

“knocking over his 

opponent,” though 

Madrid appealed and 

provided written 

evidence and video 

footage to say this did not 

accurately reflect what 

happened. 

US submarine arrives in South 

Korea as envoys meet 

AUS submarine has 

arrived in South 

Korean waters, while envoys 

from the United 

States, Japan and South 

Korea met in Tokyo to discuss 

rising tensions 

with North Korea. 

Pyongyang reportedly 

marked the 85th anniversary 

of the founding of its 

military on Tuesday by 

conducting a large artillery 

drill. 

South Korea’s Yonhap 

news agency, citing a 

South Korean government 

source, said there 

were signs that North 

Korea’s military carried 

out the live-fire exercise 

in areas around the city 

of Wonsan on its east 

coast. 

South Korea’s defence 

ministry could not immediately 

confirm the report. 

At a “national meeting” 

of thousands of senior 

military and civilian officials 

the day before, Pak 

Yong-sik, North Korea’s 

defence minister, reiterated 

that the country is 

ready to use pre-emptive 

strikes or any other measures 

it deems necessary 

to defend itself against 

the “US imperialists”. 

North Korean leader 

Kim Jong-un did not attend. 

It was not known 

how he was marking 

Tuesday’s anniversary. 

North Korea often 

marks significant dates 

by displaying its military 

capability and has conducted 

five nuclear tests 

on such occasions in the 

past. Pyongyang 

launched a missile one 

day after the 105th birthday 

of late founder Kim 

il-Sung on April 15. 

Robbers steel $40m from vault in 

Paraguay 

A 

gang of dozens of 

armed robbers have 

stolen several million dollars 

from a vault in Paraguay, 

in what local officials 

are dubbing the 

“robbery of the century”. 

Initial estimates placed 

the cash haul at around 

$40m, but a spokesman 

Stop letting rapists marry 

their victims, Middle East 

activists demand 

SEVERAL Middle 

Eastern countries 

are facing growing pressure 

to close legal loopholes 

that allow rapists to escape 

punishment by marrying 

their victims. 

Jordan and Lebanon have 

taken recent steps to end 

such laws, which often date 

back to the colonial era and 

have been condemned by 

rights groups as archaic and 

inhumane. 

On Sunday, Jordan’s cabinet 

moved to abolish a law 

that lets rapists avoid prosecution 

if they stay married 

to their victim for at least 

three years — a proposal 

endorsed by King Abdullah 

and expected to be ratified 

by parliament. 

Leila Hamarneh, Director 

of Projects at the Ammanbased 

Arab Women’s Organization, 

described the 

mood among activists in Jordan 

Tuesday as optimistic 

and expressed confidence 

that other countries in the 

region would follow suit. 

“It’s not just that this article 

was ugly, but there is 

now new hope that something 

good will be done for 

women,” Hamarneh told 

CNN. 

for Prosegur, the private 

security company targeted 

in the raid, denied 

these reports. Authorities 

did not release any information 

on how much 

money was stolen. 

The culprits, who police 

said were from Brazil, 

killed one police officer 

during the Monday raid 

in Ciudad del Este, the 

South American country’s 

second-largest city. 

Officials said three civilians 

were injured in a 

blaze of gunfire and 

torched vehicles during 

the three-hour attack. 

Three robbers were 

killed hours later in an 

ensuing gun battle with 

Brazilian police across 

the border, the Paraguayan 

Interior Ministry 

said. 

Five members of the 

gang were arrested in 

Itaipulandia, 50 kilometres 

north of Ciudad del 

Este, the ministry added. 

Le Pen’s father criticises her presidential 

campaign 

FRENCH far-right vet 

eran Jean-Marie Le 

Pen said on Tuesday his 

daughter Marine, who faces 

centrist Emmanuel Macron 

in a May 7 presidential 

runoff, should have campaigned 

more aggressively 

for Sunday’s first round, following 

the example of 

Donald Trump. 

With 7.5 million votes, 

Marine Le Pen beat the National 

Front party’s previous 

election record on Sunday 

but failed to pip pro-EU 

Macron to the first place. 

The intervention by her 

father follows her announcement 

on Monday that she 

plans to step back from dayto-day 

management of the 

far-right party he founded 

ahead of the runoff and 

marks the latest tussle between 

the two of them over 

its future direction. 

“I think her campaign was 

too laid-back. If I’d been in 

her place I would have had 

a Trump-like campaign, a 

more open one, very aggressive 

against those responsible 

for the decadence 

of our country, whether left 

or right,” 88-year-old Jean- 

Marie Le Pen told RTL radio. 

Nigerians can now get UK Visa on 

same day of application 

BRITISH 

High 

Commissioner to 

Nigeria, Mr. Paul 

Arkwright, has said that 

his embassy has reduced 

the maximum time for all 

classes of visa application 

by Nigerians. 

He said this while 

speaking at the 40th 

anniversary of the 

Nigerian British Chamber 

of Commerce, NBCC, in 

Lagos. 

Arkwrigh said the new 

services will enable 

Nigerians get their UK 

visa on the same day or 

within five days of 

application. 

His words: “We have 

introduced a same day 

visa service – at a cost – 

for visas in Nigeria,” 

Arkwright said. We have 

also introduced a service 

that means you get a visa 

within five days, at a lower 

cost than the same day 

process. 

“Our turnaround time for 

all other visas is 15 days. 

The key thing, however, is 

that all visitors to the UK, 

whether they are from 

Nigeria or anywhere else, 

must respect the law and 

the length of time their visa 

says they can stay in the 

UK.




Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 

‘Joshua 

can end 

Klitschko’s 

career’ 

P.38 

TODAY'S PUZZLE 

•Enyeama 

Sudoku 

Bombshell! 

Enyeama 

won’t captain 

Eagles again 

— Rohr 

•Rohr 

*Madrid line up Low for Zidane 

*Benítez puts Ashley on notice after Newcastle are promoted 

*Int’l friendly: Germany confirms talks with Nigeria 

*Ramos gets one match ban for Messi tackle 

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS 

DETAILS 

ON P.44 

ACROSS 

2 Void (5) 

7 Adhesive (4) 

8 Spoil (6) 

9 Entice (5) 

11 Fish (3) 

13 Pouch (3) 

15 Sign (4) 

16 Fixed (3) 

18 Irritation (4) 

19 Frighten (7) 

20 Compassion (4) 

22 Den (4) 

23 Fundamental (7) 

25 Emporium (4) 

27 Performed (3) 

28 Present (4) 

30 Speak (3) 

31 Free (3) 

33 Intended (5) 

36 Part (6) 

37 Bar (4) 

38 Late (5) 

TODAY’S MATCHES 

NPFL 

Lobi v Shooting 4 pm 

FCIU v Pillars 4 pm 

Tornadoes v MFM 4 pm 

Akwa v ABS 4 pm 

El Kanemi v Rivers 4 pm 

Nasarawa v Wikki 4 pm 

Abia Warriors v Rangers 4 pm 

Gombe v Katsina 4 pm 

Plateau v Remo 4 pm 

Sunshine v Enyimba 4 pm 

Arsenal v Leicester City 7:45pm 

Middlesbrough v Sunderland 7:45pm 

Crystal Palace v Tottenham 8:00pm 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

EPL 

LA LIGA 

Bale 

out! 

P.38 

Barcelona v Osasuna 6:30pm 

Leganes v Palmas 7:30pm 

Valencia v Real Sociedad 7:30pm 

Deportivo v Real Madrid 8:30pm 

DOWN 

1 Despondency (5) 

2 Wager (3) 

3 Point (3) 

4 Equipment (3) 

5 Agent (3) 

6 Shrub (5) 

10 Excuse (4) 

11 Range (7) 

12 Demolish (7) 

13 Vessel (7) 

14 Enchanted (7) 

16 Sober (5) 

17 Trample (5) 

18 Sick (3) 

21 Yelp (3) 

24 Quote (4) 

26 Custom (5) 

29 Inflexible (5) 

32 Gain (3) 

33 Encountered (3) 

34 Tune (3) 

35 Attempt (3) 

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. 

ACROSS: 1, Threat 5, Sacred 9, Voter 10, 

Ripped 11, Virgin 12, Raged 14, Seal 17, Yen 

18, Cede 20, Hated 22, Order 23, Gesture 24, 

Began 26, Belie 29, Oral 30, Ale 32, Pill 33, 

Field 35, Dubbed 36, Darted 37, Tenet 38, 

Reeked 39, Reared. 

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS 

DOWN: 1, Thrash 2, Repeat 3, Aver 4, Today 

5, Seven 6, Arid 7, Rugged 8, Dinner 13, 

Gentile 15, 

Eager 16, Legal 18, Creep 19, Devil 21, Den 

22, Orb 24, Border 25, Gamble 27, Litter 28, 

Eluded 30, Aided 31, Elder 33, Fete 34, Date. 

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.

26042017 - Court grants ‘iron bail’ to IPOB leader, Kanu

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