BusinessDay 22 Oct 2017

10 BD SUNDAY
C002D5556 Sunday 22 October 2017
News
Panel says Abia judiciary
overstaffed, submits
report on reform
UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia
The Committee on the
Reform of the Judiciary
set up by the Abia
State Government has
submitted its report to
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, disclosing
that the state judiciary is
overstaffed.
While receiving the report,
Ikpeazu frowned at some of
the findings of the committee,
describing them as unfortunate.
Ikpeazu noted that what was
happening in the socio-political
milieu of the country called for
sober reflection.
“I see the judiciary as a sacred
institution which is not supposed
to produce persons who
are not sincere and patriotic to
the state through their attitude
to government work,” he said.
The governor commended
the committee for its dedication
in discharging its assignment on
time and promised to study and
implement the recommendations
of the committee.
While presenting the report
earlier, Umeh Kalu (SAN), chairman
of the committee and commissioner
for Justice, said that in
line with the panel’s mandate of
identifying the staff strength of
the judiciary and Court harmonisation,
it toured the 17 LGAs,
visited 31 magistrate courts, 54
customary courts and 1 customary
Court of Appeal.
He disclosed that the committee
observed falsification of age
affidavit, recruitment of 85 staff
without waiver and existence of
Udom Emmanuel, governor (middle) in a group photograph with conference of pdp state chairmen during a courtesy visit on the governor at government house, Uyo.
too many courts and magistrate
districts that were overstaffed,
among others.
According to him, some of
the committee’s recommendations
include: “That those
who falsified affidavit of age
be compulsorily retired; that
the judiciary service commission
redeploys the excess staff
to the ministries where their
services may be needed and
that lawyers among them be
assigned to judges.”
The committee further recommended
that the magisterial
districts be reduced from 43 to
17, one per LGA.
Nigeria’s request for foreign loan is in order – Varsity don
UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia
Sebastine Uremadu, a professor
in the Department
of Banking and Finance,
Michael Okpara University
of Agriculture, Umudike (
MOUAU), Abia State, has said
there was nothing wrong with
Nigeria requesting for foreign
loans, so far the money when
received, will be put to good use.
Uremadu, who was reacting
to the alarm raised by the
International Monetary Fund
(IMF) concerning Nigerian government’s
plan to source loans
to finance the 2017 budget, said
that the alarm from the IMF
was only cautionary, adding
that if the money is channeled
to investable projects, the gains
would be wonderful and far-
Ezekwem Nnabuihe
Odigbo, the newly installed
2nd President of
Rotary Club of Umuahia
North District 9142 Nigeria, has
pledged to donate educational
materials to Primary schools in
Umuahia and also plant at least
1000 trees within the district.
He also promised to create
awareness for cervical and
prostate cancer, provide one
blood bank fridge to Federal
Medical Centre, (FMC) Umuahia
and carry out blood donation
campaign in the same hospital.
In his speech during the
event which took place at the
reaching.
The Financial expert warned
against “Consumptive utilisation
of the loan, when sourced, because
that had been the bane of
previous credit facilities.”
He expressed satisfaction
with the recent appointment of
Aisha Ahmad as the deputy governor
of Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), describing the development
as a good thing to happen
to Nigeria’s economy.
The University don, who
revealed that he was a lecturer
to Ahmad at the University
of Abuja, recalled the sterling
qualities she was made of as a
student, adding that the country’s
financial policies and asset
management would receive a
boost because of her appointment,
while also canvassing
support for her.
He reiterated his earlier call
for the re-jigging of President
Muhammadu Buhari’s economic
team, arguing that if technocrats
were brought in to give the best
advice in financial policy formulation
and implementation,
the economy would rebound to
strength and profitability.
Newly installed rotary president promises to plant 1000 trees in Aba
UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia
multipurpose hall, Umuahia
North L.G.A, the Chairman of
the occasion, Chimechefulam
Emelogu Obioma encouraged
members of the Club to
strive to promote the course
of humanity in their services
and imbibe what they teach/
preach, doing it objectively so
that they would be successful
as a chapter.
He reminded those at the
event that Rotary Club only
engages those who are willing to
give out, who care about others
and the society at large.
Earlier in his valedictory
speech, the immediate past president,
Rtn. Onugu Okechukwu
Mba admitted that his tenures
as both the chapter president
and as first president of the Club
were very challenging, adding,
“but when I remembered the
promises I made during my installation,
I did not allow these
challenges to weigh me down”.
In his remarks, the Chairman
2017/2018 Installation
Committee, Rtn. Michael Chukwudi
Ibegbulam, said the Club is
poised to encourage and foster
the ideal of service as a basis of
worthy enterprise in particular,
to encourage and foster the
development of acquaintances
as an opportunity for service,
among others.
The event featured inauguration
of board of directors,
induction of new members and
presentation of awards.
400 artistes set to light up MUPAN
inauguration on October 27
No fewer than 400 Nigerian
musical artistes
have concluded arrangement
to light-up
the inauguration of the Music
Promoters Association of Nigeria
(MUPAN Lagos State chapter at
Genesis Hotels, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos
State on October 27, 2017.
Kollington Ayinla and Wasiu
Alabi Pasuma, ace Fuji crooners,
will be leading all other Fuji
musicians to the venue while
Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi will lead
Juju, and Small Doctor will be
at the forefront of upcoming artistes.
Other artistes from Gospel
Musician Association of Nigeria
(GOMA), Nigerian Association of
Juju Musician (AJUM), Islamic
Singers Association of Nigeria,
Fuji Musician Association of
Nigeria (FUMAN), Indigenous
Musician Association of Nigeria
among others and the umbrella
body of the music industry
Performing Musician Association
of Nigeria (PMAN) have all
confirmed attendance and performance.
Also, yester-years music promoters
in the state, Musical and
Instruments Hiring Association
of Nigeria, Freelance Independent
Broadcasting Association
of Nigeria, Movie Producers
Association of Nigeria, Music
Advertisers Association of Nigeria
among others are expected at
the inauguration.
Other invited dignitaries
that have confirmed attendance
include but not limited to captains
of music industry, chief
executives, hoteliers, top media
executives and many other distinguished
Nigerians.
According to a statement
from Abiodun Awogbemi, the
secretary of the association, at
this year’s inauguration, upcoming
artistes and outstanding
musician and individuals,
especially music lovers will
be in attendance to enjoy the
musicians, as well as, listen to
some up-coming artistes with
new creativity. The event, apart
from entertaining the mind is
expected to be a forum for discovering
new creative artistes, as
well as, meet and network with
experienced music promoters.
The National body of the
Music Promoters Association of
Nigeria (MUPAN), comprising of
all music promoters in Nigeria
will be inaugurating its Lagos
State Chapter and the executives
during the occasion.