08022018 - Army deploys troops to Benue, 5 other states

No preferred 

candidate 

for 2019 

— OBASANJO 

11 

Nigeria adds 

225,000bpd 

more as Bonga 

resumes 

production 8 

Reinstatement 

of NHIS boss 

won’t stop 

probe — FG 4 

** ** 

VOL. 26: NO. 63481 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 

Army deploys troops to 

Benue, 5 other states 

•Insecurity: Replace IGP now, Reps tell Buhari 

•Ask IGP to tender unreserved apology to Gov Ortom 

•Benue lawmakers want Police PRO removed 

•Senate throws out report on Benue killings, says it's biased 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi, Henry 

Umoru, Joseph 

Erunke & Emman 

Ovuakporie 

ABUJA—The Federal 

Government, 

yesterday, ordered 

immediate deployment of 

troops to Benue, Taraba, 

Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger and 

Kaduna states to contain 

insecurity in the six 

states. 

The deployment came 

following ceaseless 

clashes between farmers 

and herdsmen which 

have resulted in several 

deaths and destruction 

of property worth 

several billions of Naira. 

Meanwhile, peeved by 

Continues on page 5 

FEC MEETING... 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right), Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; SSAP on National Assembly 

(Senate) Senator Ita Enang; Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole and SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha (first left), during the 

Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting held at the Council Chambers, State House Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi 

Adeshida. 

INFLUX OF REFUGEES 

FROM CAMEROON: 

Senate summons 

Defence Minister, Ali 

14 

Pension fund Telecom 

assets hit operators to get 

N7.5trn in 19 new inter-connect 

2017 – NBS rates March 

4 

COLUMNISTS AMAECHI 44 OCHEREOME 32 GAMBO DORI 17 ADAMU 17 

Naira 

appreciates 

to N360.21/ 

$ in I&E 

Mr & Mrs 

41

2—Vanguard, 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 —3 

C 

M 

Y 

K

4—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 

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

Reinstatement of NHIS boss won’t 

from about 16-16.50 

stop probe —FG percent to 13.50 percent. 

•As Yusuf resumes today 

•It's mockery of anti-corruption 

crusade— Labour 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region 

Editor, Victor 

Ahiuma-Young, 

Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & 

Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government, 

yesterday, said the 

reinstatement of Executive 

Secretary of National 

Health Insurance Scheme, 

NHIS, Usman Yusuf, will 

not stop his probe. 

Minister of Information 

and Culture, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, who 

disclosed this while fielding 

questions from State House 

correspondents on why the 

Federal Government 

decided to upturn the 

suspension slammed on 

the Executive Secretary 

when he was allegedly 

being investigated by the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, over allegation of 

corruption, denied 

knowledge of EFCC 

investigation. 

Mohammed at the 

briefing after the Federal 

Executive Council, FEC, 

meeting presided over by 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari at the Council 

Chamber, Presidential 

Villa, Abuja, said: “I am not 

aware that the EFCC is 

investigating the recently 

reinstated Executive 

Secretary of the NHIS. But 

if that is the case, I don’t 

think his reinstatement is to 

bar any investigation.” 

Reminded that the 

National Assembly 

investigated the Executive 

Secretary, who was 

suspended by the Minister 

of Health, Prof. Isaac 

Adewole, and why he 

should say that the 

Ministry of Information was 

not aware of the EFCC 

probe, he maintained that 

he was not aware of any 

EFCC probe. 

He said: “I was precise. I 

said I was not aware that 

the EFCC is investigating 

him and that if it is true, that 

the fact that he has been 

reinstated does not mean a 

stop to it. That is what I 

said." 

FG re-appoints 

consortium of 

banks for 

Eurobond 

The Federal Government 

also announced the 

appointment of a 

consortium of banks, 

including Citi Group, 

Standard Chartered, 

StanbicIBTC, Whitten- 

Case and African Practice 

to handle the $2.5 billion 

Eurobond. 

Minister of Finance, Mrs 

Kemi Adeosun, disclosed 

this while briefing 

journalists on the USD2.5 

billion external borrowing 

for refinancing. 

The minister while 

speaking on the impact of 

the use of the proceeds of 

the USD500 million issued 

in November 2017, 

disclosed that the proceeds, 

about N162.50 billion, were 

used to redeem Nigerian 

Treasury Bills, NTBs, which 

matured in December 2017. 

She said: “The immediate 

impact was a significant 

drop in the bid rates at the 

auctions of both NTBs and 

FGN Bonds, in December 

2017 and January 2018.” 

The NTBs, she disclosed 

dropped from about 16 

percent to 13 percent 

while the Bonds dropped 

FEC MEETING: President Muhammadu Buhari (left); Minister 

for Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu (right) and other council 

members during the Federal Executive Council meeting at Aso 

Chambers, State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

Telecom operators to get new 

interconnect rate March 

By Prince 

Osuagwu 

LAGOS— TELECOM 

operators in the country 

are to get a new interconnect 

rate for termination of calls 

on each other’s network 

next month. 

Executive Commissioner, 

Stakeholder Management 

of 

Nigerian 

Communications 

Commission, NCC, Mr 

Sunday Dare, disclosed this 

at a forum where the 

commission presented the 

findings on the cost based 

study for the determination 

of Mobile Voice Termination 

rates in Nigeria, carried out 

by PricewaterhouseCooper 

PwC, in Lagos. 

According to him, the new 

interconnect rate is critical to 

Yusuf resumes 

today 

Meanwhile, normalcy 

prevailed at the premises 

of the National Health 

Insurance Scheme, NHIS, 

yesterday, following the 

reinstatement of the 

Executive Secretary, Prof 

Usman Yusuf, who is 

expected to resume today, 

even as organised labour 

and staff of the agency 

expressed shock and 

embarrassment. 

A source at the NHIS 

head office in Abuja, 

decried the manner of the 

Executive Secretary’s 

reinstatement by the 

Presidency. 

“We are embarrassed to 

read about the 

reinstatement of the NHIS 

Executive Secretary, Prof. 

Usman Yusuf, from the 

media this morning. 

“There was no prior 

communication to the 

Scheme about the 

development. That fact, 

notwithstanding, we 

anticipated his return 

the growth and 

development of the telecoms 

industry and a key 

component of the 

commercial aspects of 

interconnection among the 

network service providers. 

He said the commission 

was working towards 

ensuring the operators had 

a new interconnect rate by 

March this year. 

Dare, who represented 

Executive Vice Chairman, 

Prof Garba Umar Danbatta, 

also described interconnect 

rate as the fee an operator 

charges another for 

connecting and terminating 

calls on its network. 

Earlier, while presenting 

the welcome address of the 

EVC, Dare recalled that a 

key component of the 

commercial aspect of 

interconnection was the 

today but saw no sign of 

him. However, we have it 

on good authority that he 

would resume on 

Thursday,” the source 

noted. 

It's mockery of 

anti-corruption 

crusade— Labour 

Reacting to the 

development, organised 

labour, yesterday, expressed 

shock, contending that it 

mocked President Buhari’s 

acclaimed war against 

corruption. 

Speaking through 

Association’s of Senior Civil 

Servants of Nigeria, 

ASCSN, Labour declared 

that the recall of Yusuf was 

another dent in the anticorruption 

war of President 

Buhari-led Federal 

Government. 

In a statement issued in 

Lagos, ASCSN Secretary- 

General, Comrade Alade 

Bashir Lawal, said the action 

of the President was capable 

of being interpreted to mean 

that the government’s antigraft 

war was selective and 

designed to deal with 

specific targets. 

determination of 

interconnection rates among 

network service providers. 

He said: “Apart from the 

first interconnection rate, 

which was based on 

negotiation between the then 

incumbent operator (NITEL) 

and other operators, all other 

determinations have been 

handled by the commission 

due largely to two reasons: 

The negotiated 

interconnection rate was 

fraught with many 

controversies. 

"Secondly, and more 

importantly, there was need 

to ensure interconnection 

rates are cost-oriented in line 

with international best 

practice. 

“Till date, there has been 

four interconnect cost 

determination regimes: 2003, 

2006, 2009 and 2013. 

Civil Defence to provide 

security for FG’s cattle 

colonies — C-G 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA — THE 

Nigeria Security 

and Civil Defence Corps, 

NSCDC, said, yesterday, 

it had been mandated to 

provide special security 

for the Federal 

Government’s proposed 

cattle colonies, 

expressing its resolve to 

discharge its mandate 

creditably. 

Commandant General 

of the Corps, Abdullahi 

Muhammadu Gana, 

stated this at the 

decoration of 57 of the 

newly promoted 3,983 

staff of the NSCDC in 

Abuja, yesterday. 

He said: “We have 

been given the mandate 

to provide security to 

cattle colonies, ranches 

or whatever you may 

wish to call them. 

"Already, we have a 

5,000-strong Agro 

Rangers Squad, who are 

saddled with providing 

security for agro-allied 

investments and cattle 

colonies. 

"I am happy to say that 

we have resumed in 

some of the states and 

we have deployed 

personnel in at least 40 

farms. We are waiting for 

the Federal Government 

to establish either the 

colonies, ranches or 

reserves. We are ready 

to provide the security." 

Addressing the newlydecorated 

officers, the C- 

G urged them to see 

their new ranks as a 

challenge, urging them 

not to fail in their duties 

to the nation. 

A member of the Civil 

Defence, Fire, 

Immigration and Prisons 

Services Board CDFIPB, 

Maj. Gen. Emmanuel 

Bassey (retd), who 

represented the Interior 

Minister, Abdulrahman 

Dambazau, counselled 

those who were not 

among the newlypromoted 

not to see 

themselves as inferior. 

He said aside from 

merit and discipline, the 

issue of available 

vacancies and quota 

system was also 

considered in promoting 

the personnel. 

Metuh: Presidency has 

revealed its hands in 

his trial — PDP 

By Dirisu 

Yakubu 

THE 

Peoples 

Democratic Party, 

PDP, yesterday, took the 

presidency to task over 

comments attributed to a 

presidential aide that 

the forced arrival in court 

in an ambulance of 

erstwhile party 

spokesman, Chief Olisa 

Metuh, was a Nollywood 

act. 

The party in its reaction 

said the “hateful” 

assertion by President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

Special Assistant on 

Social Media, Lauretta 

Onochie, had inevitably 

confirmed that the 

interest of the current 

administration in the 

matter was beyond the 

bounds of seeking 

justice in its prosecution. 

The PDP, in a statement, 

by its National Publicity 

Secretary, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, 

yesterday, said the 

presidency had been 

intruding into Chief 

Metuh’s case since 

inception just to set up 

the former spokesperson 

before the judiciary. 

It said: “It is repulsive 

that a Presidential aide 

has once again intruded 

directly, with malicious 

suggestions, in a matter 

that is on judicial trial, 

thus further exposing 

that Chief Metuh’s 

travails in the course of 

the trial, may have been 

politically hatched and 

orchestrated. 

“It is instructive to state 

that Chief Metuh, whose 

spinal chord ailment has 

badly deteriorated, was 

brought to court in his 

current medical state, 

sequel to the order of the 

trial judge. 

“It is, therefore, 

irresponsible, wicked 

and an unpardonable act 

of inhumanity, for the 

presidency or any of its 

agents to mock Chief 

Metuh for obeying the 

order of court, even in his 

current state of health.” 

Lamenting that there 

was a sinister design 

against Chief Metuh, the 

PDP said it had 

information that 

government agents had 

been harassing medical 

aides and practitioners 

across the country for 

offering any form of 

treatment or assistance 

to him.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

ON BENUE KILLINGS—From left: Members of Benue State 

Caucus in the House of Representatives, Mark Gbillah, Dickson Tarkishi, 

John Dyegh and Emmanuel Udende, addressing pressmen on Killings and 

Police action during a press briefing on the Benue issue at the National 

Assembly, Abuja yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

covering Benue, Taraba, 

Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna 

and Niger states from 

Thursday, February 15 to 

Saturday, March 31, 2018. 

He said: “You may recall 

that last year, the Nigerian 

Army conducted several 

training activities for its 

personnel in different 

geopolitical zones of the 

country, in line with its 

constitutional role in aid of 

civil authority. 

“More so, Exercise Ayem 

Akpatuma has become 

more expedient due to 

upsurge in cases of armed 

banditry, kidnapping and 

cattle rustling in Kaduna 

and Niger states as well as 

other sundry crimes in 

Kogi State and herdsmen/ 

farmers clashes and attacks 

on innocent members of 

our communities 

particularly in Benue, 

Taraba and Nasarawa 

States by armed militias. 

conduct operations against 

violent criminals when 

called upon. 

“Exercise Ayem 

Akpatuma will also be 

unique as the ones before 

it, with the establishment of 

being of innocent and law 

abiding citizens have been 

deliberately factored in the 

planning of this exercise. 

“In order to ensure 

“These security 

relations, we shall make 

challenges have continued Step-Up Brigade contact phone numbers of 

unabated in these states, Headquarters in Benue, all Brigade Commanders 

despite the efforts by sister Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, public in addition to the 

security agencies to curb Kaduna and Niger states. Nigerian Army short code 


them. 

Emphasis will be placed on Information and Call 

raids, cordon-and-search Centre 193.” 

Exercise Ayem 

operations, antikidnapping 

drills, road 

Benue, Taraba, 4 others 

Akpatuma 

Sack IGP — Reps 

blocks, check-points and Lawmakers in the House 

“This exercise will be show of force, as well as of Representatives, after 

Continues from page 1 described as unbalanced planned conduct of the conducted in conjunction humanitarian activities listening to two separate 

and incomplete report. special Army operations, with other security agencies such as medical outreach. motions by Mark Gbillah 

the state of insecurity in 

tagged: ”Exercise Ayem such as Department of “It is pertinent to note that and Nuhu Damburam from 

the country, the House of Deployment of Akpatuma”, said the State Services, the Nigeria Exercise Ayem Akpatuma is Benue and Kano on the 

Representatives, troops 

exercise had become Police and Nigeria Security set to be another state of insecurity in their 

yesterday, asked 

more “expedient due to and Civil Defence Corps. 

The Chief of Army Staff, 

remarkable exercise that respective states and the 

upsurge in cases of armed “It will also afford the 

President Muhmmadu Lt. General Tukur Buratai, 

would make the nation alleged lackadaisical 

banditry, kidnapping and troops an opportunity to 

Buhari to sack the who announced the 

proud of the Nigerian attitude of the IGP, did not 

cattle rustling in Kaduna effectively checkmate the 

Inspector-General of development at a press 

Army’s determination to hesitate to pass a vote of no 

and Niger states as well as dreadful activities of the 

Police, Ibrahim Idris, conference, yesterday in 

sustain its constitutional confidence on the Police 

other sundry crimes in marauding criminal militias 

and replace him with 'a Abuja, said the troops will 

role of defending the boss. 

Kogi State and herdsmen/ perpetrating criminal acts 

more professional carry out special operations 

territorial integrity of the This development was 

farmers clashes and attacks in these states and 

officer'. 

in the affected states in 

nation as well as its sequel to an amendment to 

on innocent members of environs.“ 

This came on a day the conjunction with other 

commitment to aid the civil a prayer in Nuhu 

our communities, Major-General Ahmadu 

Senate threw out the 

sister security agencies, 

authority to bring about Damburam of Kano’s 

particularly in Benue, also said Exercise Ayem 

including the Nigerian 

peace and security in motion under matters of 

report of the Committee 

Taraba and Nasarawa Akpatuma was 

Police, Nigerian Security 

troubled areas. 

public importance on the 

on Police Affairs, 

states by armed militias.” conceptualized to dovetail 

and Civil Defence Corps 

“In this regard, members need to stop thuggery in 

National Security and 

According to him, the into real-time operations, 

among others. 

of the public, especially Kano State. 

Intelligence over recent 

special operations will be thereby fulfilling both 

Army Chief of Training 

residents of Benue, Taraba, John Dyegh (APC, 

killings in Benue State, 

conducted in 1 and 3 training and operations 

and Operations, Major 

Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna Benue), had moved that 

and scolded the 

Divisions, including objectives of sharpening 

General David Ahmadu, 

and Niger states are his prayer be amended to 

committee for writing 

Headquarters, Guards operational skills of 

who briefed the media on 

enjoined not to panic as the reflect that the IGP should 

and presenting what it Brigade, and 707 Brigade; personnel as well as 

behalf of Buratai on the 

security, safety and well- 

Areas of Responsibility, providing an avenue to 

Continues on page 41 

cordial 

civil-military 

By Bose Adelaja, 

Bartholomew Madukwe & 

Frederick Okopie 

On former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement (2) 

Reasonable persons 

cannot follow 

Obasanjo’s initiative 

because after the civil war 

till date, he has been either 

directly or indirectly, involved 

in the piloting of this 

country’s affairs. What has 

it yielded for Nigerians? 

Anyone following Obasanjo 

is making a great mistake. 

Nigeria is too big for 

that. 

Mr. Onukwulu Henry, 

Evangelist 

With Obasanjo’s membership 

in the Coalition 

for Nigeria Movement, 

it shows that the new coalition 

is the same very old brigade 

many Nigerians want 

to get rid of. He has had 

his chances more than 

many in Nigeria, this country 

does not belong to him. 

Ms. Chika Dike, 

Marketer 

Former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo did 

wonders to get the Paris 

Club write-off which did not 

translate in any critical infrastructural 

and institutional 

development. President 

Buhari should save 

himself the stress and not 

listen to those sycophants 

that are telling him to run 

for a second term. 

Ms. Emmanuella Nkem, 

Model 

To start with, the Haliburton 

and Seimens 

scandals happened under 

Obasanjo’s watch. Why 

have those Nigerians 

named in both corruption 

cases not been punished? 

How can he explain to Nigerians 

his source of wealth 

for someone who was a 

public servant virtually all 

his life? 

Mr. Japhet Emejuru, 

Self-Employed 

My worry is that this 

new party that is connected 

to Obasanjo will 

soon be over-crowded by 

Igbo politicians, very 

shameless group of people 

that never value what they 

have. All Progressives 

Grand Alliance,APGA, an 

Igbo national party founded 

by Chekwas Okorie and 

Ojukwu is there as an orphan 

abandoned by Eastern 

politicians. 

Miss Nduba Anwulika, 

Banker 

Good governance is the 

key word. With good 

governance, many, if not all 

our societal problems 

would be addressed. With 

this latest entrant into the 

field, I can confidently say 

that our brutish version of 

democracy would leap 

slightly towards positive 

evolution. Coalition for Nigeria 

Movement is a movement 

for good governance. 

Miss Ogunmuyiwa 

Omobolanle, Student

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 

2 Nsukka council staff die while 

going to get PVC for January salary 

By Chinenyeh Ozor 

TWO staff of Nsukka Local 

Government Area of Enugu 

State— a pregnant Mrs 

Josephine Obetta, and Caroline 

Ekeh—were, yesterday, crushed 

to death along Orba Road on 

their way home to get their 

Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVC, 

a prerequisite for the payment of 

their January salary. 

According to an eyewitness, “a 

tipper-lorry rammed into the 

motorbike that was carrying the 

women, while the bike man was 

trying to avoid an oncoming bike. 

The two of them died instantly.” 

Vanguard gathered that 

workers of the council were 

already spoiling for war, but for 

the timely intervention of Mr. 

George Ngwu, the Nsukka 

chapter Chairman of Nigeria 

Union of Local Government 

Employees, NULGE. 

Mr. Ngwu confirmed the 

incident, saying he calmed the 

already charged atmosphere by 

ordering for the suspension of 

the payment of salary, when the 

news of the unfortunate incident 

filtered into the council. 

Ngwu blamed the Nsukka 

council for not posting the 

circular for council workers to 

4 robbers 

shot dead 

in Sapele 

By Paul Olayemi 

FOUR 

suspected 

robbers have been 

killed in a gun battle with 

operatives of the Anti- 

Crime Patrol Squad of the 

Police in Sapele, Delta 

State. 

Delta State Police 

Command’s spokesman, 

Andrew Aniamaka, who 

confirmed the incident via 

telephone conversation 

with Vanguard, said the 

hoodlums met their 

Waterloo in the early 

hours of yesterday, when 

they invaded a brothel 

along Adeola by Crudas 

Road junction in Sapele. 

A Police source disclosed 

that the robbers, who have 

been on rampage in 

Sapele and its environs, 

have been on the Police 

wanted list for some time 

now. 

“They robbed several 

places last night and on 

getting to the hotel, men 

of the vigilante alerted the 

Police, who arrived at the 

scene. 

“On sighting the Police, 

the robbers shot at us first 

and in the resulting gun 

battle, three of the robbers 

were shot dead. 

“One of them that 

escaped with gunshot 

injuries was later caught, 

but later died.” 


bring their documents for 

verification on time. 

He added that if the circular 

was pasted before the close of 

work the previous day, possibly 

the death of the two women 

would have been avoided. 

“We all saw the directive that 

voter’s card was a prerequisite 

for verification of payment of 

salary this morning (yesterday) 

and those women were only 

trying to comply by going home 

to get their PVC when they met 

their untimely death,” he said. 

All efforts by Vanguard to 

speak with the council 

Chairman, Chief Patrick 

Omeje, on why the 

presentation PVC should serve 

as a condition for the payment 

of salary proved abortive as he 

was said to be out of town. 

By Evelyn Usman & 

Esther Onyegbula 

LAGOS—A middle-aged 

man, who has been 

‘working’ as a lawyer for 15 

years, was exposed, Tuesday, 

at a magistrate court in Ojo 

area of Lagos by his inability 

to move a motion for bail. 

The suspect, identified as 

Barrister Elisha Chris, was 

apprehended in the full 

regalia of a lawyer at Ojo 

Magistrate’s Court, where he 

attempted to stand as a lawyer 

for an accused person in a 

criminal case. 

The prosecuting counsel, 

Nnamdi Nwafor, who 

observed that the suspect 

could not move a motion for 

the variation of the bail 

condition of the accused, 

challenged his claim of being 

a lawyer. 

It was gathered that the 

challenge led to a heated 

argument, which attracted the 

attention of other lawyers and 

the court duty policemen, who 

later subjected the suspect to 

interrogation. 

The suspect, according to 

eyewitnesses, insisted that he 

is a lawyer and had been 

practising for over 15 years. 

However, on reaching Ojo 

Police Division, he opened 

up, admitting that “I am just 

a ‘charge-and-bail’ lawyer. 

What I do is to hang around 

courts, waiting for suspects 

whose cases are charged to 

court. 

“If any of them did not come 

with a lawyer, I will stand in 

as one to effect their bail. I 

have been into this for 15 

years.” 

When news of his arrest 

reached the Commissioner of 

Police, Lagos State Police 

Command, Imohimi Edgal, he 

directed that the suspect be 

transferred to the X-Squad for 

MEGA CITY, MEGA MARKET, MEGA DIRT: 

Idumota Market, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTOS: 

Ennie Sophie Oluwa (Facebook). 

Inability to move motion for bail exposes 

fake lawyer who has 15 years ‘experience’ 

Barrister Elisha Chris 

THE National Agency for 

the Prohibition of 

Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, 

has denied reports that it 

employed or hired witch 

doctors to help it fight human 

trafficking. 

A statement by Mr. Josiah 

Emerole, the agency’s Head of 

Press and Public Relations said 

what the Director-General, 

Dame Julie Okah-Donli, said 

was that the agency was 

engaging all strata of the 

society to understand their 

roles in the fight against 

trafficking in humans. 

According to Emerole, “not 

only were the headlines 

misleading, at no point did 

the Director-General say that 

the agency has employed the 

services of witch doctors or 

hired them in the fight 

against human trafficking. 

“What the Director-General 

said was that as part of the 

agency’s efforts to improve 

prosecution of trafficking 

cases in Nigeria, it is 

engaging with all strata of 

society to understand their 

roles in the fight against 

human trafficking. 

“Bearing in mind that the 

use of voodoo and 

discreet investigation. 

His education 

The suspect told operatives 

of X-Squad that he studied 

Law at Eastern Ukrainian 

University, in the former Soviet 

Union, but was unable to 

present any certificate to 

authenticate his claim. 

Preliminary investigation, 

according to Police sources, 

also revealed that until his 

arrest. the suspect had won 

several cases in court and had 

also lost some. 

Confirming the arrest, the 

command’s spokesman, Chike 

Oti, said: “He claimed he was 

more into corporate law 

practice and does little of 

litigation. 

“Barrister Chris Elisha also 

told the Police that he is a 

native of Avodim Ubakala in 

Umuahia South Local 

Government Area of Abia State. 

“He is currently undergoing 

interrogation at the X-Squad 

Section of the state Police 

Command Headquarters and 

will be charged to court at the 

conclusion of investigation.” 

NAPTIP denies employing witch d 

administration of oaths on 

victims is one of the control 

mechanisms used by human 

traffickers on their victims, 

which makes it difficult for 

victims to open up and assist 

the agency in investigation, 

NAPTIP took its sensitisation 

campaign to the Ayelala 

shrines in Edo State, where 

these oaths of secrecy are 

administered on the victims. 

“The priests in those shrines 

were made to understand the 

implication of the oaths they 

administer on the victims and 

most of them have pledged 

not to work with the human



I’m tired of this calamity, Shekau says in new video 

THE Boko Haram leader, 

Abubakar Shekau, has said 

in a new video that he is tired of 

the calamity befalling his group. 

“I am tired of this calamity; it 

is better I die and go to rest in 

paradise,” he said at the end of 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

BENIN—EDO 

State 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

Babatunde Kokumo, has 

disclosed that five policemen 

have been arrested over the 

death of a commercial bus driver 

in Benin on Tuesday. 

The policemen were alleged to 

have pushed the bus driver into 

the path of the trailer that 

crushed him to death. 

Herdsmen kill SARS Commander in Oyo 

octors to fight human trafficking 

•‘We only took sensitisation 

campaign to Ayelala shrines’ 

traffickers any longer and have 

gone as far as assisting the 

victims renounce the oaths. 

“The issue of oath taking has 

been a fundamental challenge 

faced by NAPTIP over the 

years, especially as regards 

victims’ testimony, as the 

victims believe the oaths will 

kill or harm them if they 

cooperate with us in the course 

of our investigations. 

“The agency, therefore, saw 

a 10-minute video clip. 

In the video, delivered chiefly 

in Hausa, Mr. Shekau pleaded 

with his non-combatant members 

across the country to pick up arms 

and help him fight till he drops 

dead. 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—THE Commander 

of a team of Special Anti- 

Robbery Squad, SARS, in Oyo 

State was reportedly killed by 

herdsmen as they tried 

disarming the herdsmen, who 

were terrorising residents of 

Saki. 

According to information 

gathered, the team of policemen 

had reportedly acted on a tipoff 

and moved to disarm the 

herdsmen, who have been 

terrorising residents of the area 

by robbing and raping their 

women. 

The herdsmen opened fire on 

the policemen and killed the 

Commander of the team, known 

as Sheu Magu. It occurred at 

Ogbooro, four kilometres from 

Saki. 

A source told Vanguard: “The 

killing of Supol Sheu has made 

the need to tackle the problem 

which was aimed at 

encouraging the victims to give 

their testimonies, without which 

NAPTIP cannot successfully 

prosecute the traffickers. 

“The agency had, in the past, 

arrested and prosecuted some 

of these priests for their roles 

in human trafficking, and 

therefore could not have 

employed them in fighting 

human trafficking. 

Flanked by two hooded 

armed men, Shekau said the 

latest claim by the military that 

the group had been sent 

packing from Sambisa Forest 

is false, boasting that he is still 

in Sambisa Forest and 

5 policemen arrested over commercial driver's death in Benin 

Although Kokumo did not 

confirm the number of arrested 

policemen, Vanguard gathered 

that five are currently in detention 

in connection with the matter. 

The death of the driver 

identified as John sparked 

protests in some parts of Benin, 

which led to the burning of five 

Police Hilux vans and killing of 

three other persons. 

However, the identities of the 

policemen, who were said to be 

in Police cell, are yet to be 

known. 

Kokumo said members of 

the team are currently being 

investigated and if found 

culpable, will face the law. 

He advised parents, 

guardians and community 

leaders to prevail on their 

children not to take the law 

into their hands and to allow 

Police investigations into the 

matter. 

Suspected robbers paraded by Zone 2 Police Command, yesterday. PHOTO: Esther Onyegbula. 

the issue a story. Before now, 

attacking women— especially 

in the evening and night— 

robbing and raping them is 

not news around here. 

“The Bororo herdsmen have 

always been notorious for that. 

They use their AK-47 to guard 

their cattle during the day and 

use it to commit nefarious 

activities at night. 

“The Superintendent of 

Police was a very nice, gentle 

“However, we realised that 

sensitising them will be of 

more benefit in the fight 

against human trafficking and 

in line with NAPTIP’s 

prevention strategy. 

“NAPTIP regrets the 

confusion and outrage the 

misleading headlines have 

caused and assures Nigerians 

that we are working hard to 

rid the country of human 

trafficking.” 

controls the territory. 

He said that his men will 

continue to fight regardless of 

the recent induction of 

Cameroonian soldiers into the 

Operation Lafiya Dole 

counter-insurgency force. 

According to the Police, 

“the violence by an irate mob 

and some restive youths as 

a result of the fatal motor 

accident allegedly caused by 

a Police patrol team in the 

early hours of February 6 has 

been brought under control. 

“Members of the alleged 

Police team have been 

identified, arrested and 

currently being 

investigated.” 

and well-behaved officer. He 

used to relate with civilians 

in a very civil manner. His 

death is very sad. With this, I 

believe the security 

operatives will take the issue 

of herdsmen’s attacks and 

robbery more seriously.” 

Another source said it 

started on Tuesday, when 

policemen visited a village 

to investigate a criminal 

charge against a herdsman. 

He said: “OPC, Police and 

other brave people in Saki 

are in the bush as we speak, 

hunting for the herdsmen. 

The whole thing started 

when Police arrested one of 

the herdsmen for robbery in 

Saki. 

“On getting to the village, 

the informant that led the team 

was reportedly attacked first 

and killed. One of those that 

escaped told us the herdsmen 

used their cows to surround 

them before attacking.” 

Reacting to the incident, 

Oyo State Public Relations 

Officer, SP Adekunle 

Ajisebutu, said: “It is true that 

an officer of ours was 

murdered. We have arrested 

four suspects and we are 

already investigating them.” 

N264m bribe: 

EFCC picks 

up 2 INEC 

officials from 

court 

premises 

By Innocent Anaba 

TWO officials of 

Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, Mr. 

Nwosu Christian, and 

Tijani Bashiru, were, 

yesterday, picked up and 

whisked away by 

operatives of the 



EFCC, after proceedings 

at the Federal High Court 

sitting in Lagos. 

The two INEC officials 

were arrested after 

attending their trial over 

alleged N264 million 

received from former 

Petroleum Resources 

Minister, Mrs. Diezani 

Alison-Madueke, during 

2015 elections. 

They were barely out of 

the court premises, when 

they were apprehended 

by the EFCC operatives 

and thrown into a waiting 

bus. 

No reason was given for 

their re-arrest. 

Meanwhile, at the trial 

of the two INEC officials 

over alleged N264 million 

fraud, an EFCC 

investigator, Mr. Usman 

Zakari, yesterday, told the 

court how the two accused 

received the sum through 

two banks. 

Zakari, who was the 

EFCC’s second witness in 

the matter, narrated how 

N30 million was paid into 

Nwosu Christian’s 

account by one Abdul 

Adedeji. 

The investigator also 

told the court that the 

money was not part of the 

accused person’s 

emolument and that after 

the election, the first 

accused, Nwosu, debited 

INEC account with N60 

million. 

He also informed the 

court that the second 

defendant filled a form 

directing the cashier of the 

bank for N30 million. 

Upon the closing of the 

prosecution’s case, the 

accused lawyers told the 

court that the defence will 

be filing a no-case 

submission on behalf of 

their clients. 

Consequently, the trial 

judge, Justice Idris 

adjourned the matter till 

April 7, for adoption of nocase 

submission of the 

accused persons and the 

EFCC response to the 

application.

8—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 


Nigeria produces additional 225,000 

bpd as Bonga resumes production 

•Ships one million barrels to export market 

By Udeme Akpan 

& Prince Okafor 

NIGERIA has started 

the production and 

export of additional 225,000 

barrels per day, bpd, 

following the resumption of 

operations at Bonga, which 

was shut down for 

maintenance in March 

2017. 

Investigations by 

Vanguard showed that the 

rehabilitation carried out by 

Shell Nigeria Exploration 

and Production Company 

Limited, SNEPCo, was 

completed a few weeks 

ago, thus enabling the 

company to produce one 

million barrels of oil worth 

$6.7 million at the current 

$67.00 per barrel. 

The one million barrels, 

it was gathered, left the 

Bonga terminal in a vessel 

known as Suezmax 

Narmada Spirit for the 

export market, yesterday. 

SNEPCo had earlier 

disclosed 

its 

commencement of 

turnaround maintenance at 

Bonga, executing statutory 

activities that will ensure 

continuous optimum 

operations at the deepwater 

field which began 

producing in November 

2005. 

It had stated that 

production from the field 

was shut down on March 

4, 2017, and is expected to 

resume at the conclusion of 

the exercise next month. 

A statement by Shell’s 

spokesperson in Nigeria, 

Bamidele Odugbesan, had 

stated that the shut down 

was for maintenance of the 

oil field. 

He had disclosed that: 

“SNEPCo has commenced 

turnaround maintenance at 

Bonga, executing statutory 

activities that will ensure 

continuous optimum 

operations at the deepwater 

field which began 

producing in November 

2005. Production from the 

field was shut down on 

March 4, 2017, and is 

expected to resume at the 

conclusion of the exercise 

next month." 

Managing Director 

SNEPCo, Bayo Ojulari, 

said: “This is the fourth 

turnaround maintenance 

since Bonga began 

production. 

“The exercise will help 

ensure sustained 

production and reduced 

unscheduled production 

deferments. For the Bonga 

team, this is another 

opportunity to excel, 

having won the ‘Asset of the 

Year’ Award 2016 in the 

Shell Group, followed by 

runners-up in Norway and 

Malaysia. 

“We are pleased that the 

award recognised the 

continuing collaboration 

towards optimum 

production with a focus on 

safety, cost and Nigerian 

content development which 

will be invaluable in the 

maintenance work. 

‘’The turnaround 

maintenance involves 

inspections, recertification, 

testing and repair of 

equipment as well as 

engineering upgrades with 

Nigerian companies and 

subsea professionals 

playing key roles. A major 

focus is the Bonga floating, 

production, storage and 

offloading (FPSO) vessel, 

which is at the heart of the 

oil field’s operations. 

‘’The FPSO has the 

capacity to produce 225,000 

barrels of oil and 150 

million standard cubic feet 

of gas per day, he stated. 

Bonga is Nigeria’s first 

deepwater development in 

depths of more than 1,000 

metres, and is located 

120km offshore Nigeria. 

‘’SNEPCo expanded the 

project with further drilling 

of wells in Bonga Phases 

2 and 3 and through a 

subsea tie-back that 

unlocked the nearby 

Bonga North West field in 

August 2014. Bonga Phase 

3 achieved first oil in 

October 2015. Also, the 

shutdown will result in 

shortfall of revenue to the 

Federal Government as the 

royalties, taxes and levies 

accruable to the 

government would be 

shelved within the period 

of the maintenance. 

‘’SNEPCo operates 

Bonga in partnership with 

Esso Exploration and 

Production Nigeria (Deep 

Water) Limited; Total E&P 

Nigeria Limited; and 

Nigerian Agip Exploration 

Limited under a Production 

Sharing Contract with the 

Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation 

(NNPC).” 

PRESENTATION: From left, Nigerian High Commissioner to 

South Africa, Ambassador Ahmed Ibeto; Minister of Mines and 

Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Muazu Abdulkadir; 

and Director-General, Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, NGSA, 

Mr Alex Uwegbu, during the presentation of New Nigeria Airborne 

Electromagnetic Surveys Results at African Mining Indaba, in Cape 

Town, South Africa, yesterday. 

2019: INEC partners NIGCOMSAT 

on e-collation, transmission 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA— Ahead of the 

2019 general elections, 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, has met with the 

management of the Nigeria 

Communications Satellite, 

NIGCOMSAT, to enhance 

the former’s bid to ensure 

electronic collation and 

transmission of election 

results. 

A statement by Chief Press 

Secretary to INEC 

Chairman, Mr Rotimi 

Oyekanmi, recalled that the 

INEC boss had only last 

week had a very useful 

meeting with the Nigerian 


Commission, NCC, as the 

regulator of the 

telecommunications sector in 

Nigeria. 

The statement read: “In 

continuation of consultations 

with national agencies in the 

telecommunications sector, 

INEC considers this 

interactive meeting critical to 

the success of our 

commitment to deepening 

of the application of 

technology to elections. 

"We ,therefore, appreciate 

the Managing Director/ 

Chief Executive Officer and 

management staff of 

Nigerian Communications 

Satellite, NIGCOMSAT, 

Abimbola Alale, for the kind 

acceptance of our request for 

this visit. 

“Through the NCC, we 

are reaching out to the 

telecommunications 

operators for the necessary 

connectivity to ensure that 

results of elections from each 

of the 119,973 (or 

approximately 120,000) 

polling units nationwide are 

electronically transmitted, 

including scanned images 

of result sheets. 

"While we appreciate the 

tremendous reach of the 


operators, we are equally 

aware that some of our Polling 

Units are located in places 

where 3G and 4G networks 

are not available for real time 

electronic transmission of 

results. 

“It is for this reason that we 

wish to leverage on the 

capacity of NIGCOMSAT to 

provide a wide range of 

telecommunication services. 

"In particular, your 

broadband service offers a 

tremendous flexible 

bandwidth capacity that can 

be deployed almost 

anywhere and in a short 

period of time, including 

hard-to-reach and temporary 

locations. 

"These are invaluable to the 

work of INEC. Working with 

you and in partnership with 

the NCC as well as the 


operators, we believe the 

challenges to the seamless 

transmission of results are 

not insurmountable. 

Mainstream invests 

N288.4m in host 

communities 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

M AINSTREAM 

Energy Solutions 

Limited, concessionaire of 

Jebba and Kainji Hydro 

Power Plants, has invested 

N288.414 million in its 

Corporate Social 

Responsibility, CSR, 

projects in host 

communities. 

Chairman of the company, 

Col. Sani Bello (retd), 

disclosed this at a forum 

with representatives of host 

communities around Jebba 

and Kainji Dams. 

The investments were 

made in four critical sectors, 

including education, 

health, water and power 

supply, through its 

Mainstream Energy 

Solutions Foundation. 

Col. Bello urged the host 

communities to ensure a 

peaceful environment for 

the Mainstream to operate 

with an assurance that the 

company was committed to 

providing more 

development projects for 

them. 

In his remarks, 

Managing Director, Lamu 

Audu, said his company 

was determined to lift 

people in the host 

communities from poverty 

in a shared-prosperity 

strategy. 

He said: “The idea is that 

first of all, we have to create 

a very harmonious 

relationship between the 

company and the host 

communities because 

without peace, definitely, 

our business cannot thrive. 

We also want to give back 

to the owners of the land, 

so to say, whatever benefits 

we are getting from our 

business. 

“We have to cultivate that 

kind of relationship to 

ensure that what is 

happening in other parts of 

the country, we are all 

aware of what is happening 

in the Niger Delta, which 

has significant impacts on 

Nigerian economy. 

“Considering the fact that 

the two power plants (Kainji 

and Jebba ) are two critical 

national assets, we want to 

see that there is a good 

relationship between the 

company and the 

communities. 

“We want to make them 

understand that whatever 

benefit that is accruing to 

the company will also come 

to them. As the company 

grows, they will also 

benefit. 

“If the company goes 

down, they will also lose. 

So far so good, whatever 

we have spent, I think, is 

worth the while. I can 

assure you, that is why we 

have peace around our 

facilities . 

MTN Nigeria to list its 

shares on NSE this year 

By Peter 

Egwuatu with 

agency report 

MTN 

Nigeria, 

yesterday, discussed 

plans to list its shares on 

Nigerian Stock Exchange, 

NSE, at its board meeting, 

with the aim to launch its 

Initial Public Offering, IPO, 

this year. 

The mobile phone 

operator had planned to list 

its Nigerian shares in 2017, 

as part of an agreement 

with the Nigerian 

government, but delayed 

the IPO due to market 

conditions. 

The telecoms firm has 

now revived those plans 

and is considering hiring a 

public relations firm to 

manage communications 

ahead of the listing in 

Nigeria in addition to its 

South African advisers, a 

source told Reuters. 

MTN has about 51.4 

million subscribers in 

Nigeria, which account for 

about a third of its revenue. 

“There’s a lot of 

preparation going on due 

to the listing, which is 

expected to happen this 

year,” Reuters said. 

Group Chief Executive, 

MTN, Rob Shuter, was 

attending the two-day 

meeting, which began 

yesterday. 

It will be recalled that in 

2016, the telecom firm said 

it would list its local unit on 

the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange after agreeing to 

pay a reduced fine of $1.7 

billion in a settlement with 

the Nigerian government 

over unregistered SIM 

cards. 

It has appointed Stanbic 

IBTC Capital, Standard 

Bank of South Africa, 

Standard Advisory London 

and Citigroup Global 

Markets, as joint 

transaction advisors and 

global coordinators, with 

Stanbic acting as lead 

issuer. 

The Chief Executive 

Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar 

Onyema , had said during 

the Exchange’s briefing on 

the performance of the stock 

market in 2017 and outlook 

for 2018, that it was working 

with MTN on the listing 

while the Securities and 

Exchange Commission 

(SEC) has discussed the 

IPO and how it could be 

structured.



N10m bribe allegation against Police X-Squad: 

Benue youths shut Makurdi-Gboko 

Road, protest harassment of BIRS boss 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—OVER 

2,000 youths, 

yesterday, took over 

Makurdi-Gboko Road 

protesting the alleged 

demand of N10 million 

bribe from, and 

manhandling of the 

Chairman of Benue 

Internal Revenue Services, 

BIRS, Mrs. Mimi Adzape- 

Orubibi, by a Police team. 

The angry youths chanted 

war songs and created 

hours of traffic gridlock on 

the road, bearing placards 

some of which read “Scrap 

X-Squad,” “We are tired of 

Police harassment” and 

“We demand the sack of the 

head of the X-Squad.” 

It took the personal 

intervention of the BIRS 

Chairman and the Benue 

State Police Commissioner, 

Fatai Owoseni, to calm and 

disperse the irate youths, 

who gathered on the 

platform of Coalition of the 

Harmonised Civil Society 

Organisation in Nigerian. 

Mrs. Adzape-Orubibi 

appealed to the youths to 

desist from any action that 

can aggravate the already 

tensed situation in the state 

as a result of herdsmen 

incursions. 

According to her, “the 

Police is handling the 

matter and I know that 

justice will be done, given 

the correspondence we 

have had with the Police.” 

We're investigating 

—Police Commissioner 

Reacting, the Police 

Commissioner said the 

Inspector General of Police 

never directed any 

personnel to collect money 

from government 

establishments. 

Owoseni said: “I can 

assure you that those 

involved in the said matter 

have already been moved 

to Abuja for questioning.” 

In his remark, leader of 

the youths and President 

General of Tiv Youths 

Organisation, Mr. Timothy 

Hembaor, said: “We are 

here to cry, shout, wail, 

grumble show solidarity 

and, if need be, die until 

Mr. President directs an 

investigation into the 

allegation of assault on the 

Chairman of BIRS and the 

total takeover of revenue 

collection by the Police X- 

Squad in the state.” 

SUMMIT IN KANO: From left— Convener, Arewa Research & Development Project, ARDP, 

Dr. Usman Bugaje; Founder, Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, Professor Kingsley 

Moghalu; lawyer, Mr. M. K. Abdallah and former Chairman of Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, at the Kingsley Moghalu Youth Initiative Summit in Kano. 

Report of selective praise for military: 

Shettima threatens media houses with libel suit 

By Ndahi Marama 

M AIDUGURI— 

GOVERNOR 

Kashim Shettima of Borno 

State has threatened to 

invoke the wrath of the law 

against any journalists and 

mischief-makers in the 

opposition parties he 

alleged are peddling 

Why we increased Kogi budget to N151bn 

— Speaker 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

L OKOJA—SPEAKER, 

Kogi State House of 

Assembly, Matthew 

Kolawole, has said the 

legislators decided to 

increase the 2018 budget 

proposal of the executive 

from N147 billion to N151 

billion to cater for some 

under-budgeted boards. 

He was reacting to 

insinuations that the 

executive manipulated the 

lawmakers to jerk up the 

budget. 

libelous materials against 

his government. 

His reaction came against 

the backdrop of reports that 

the governor said military 

commanders from the 

South did better that their 

counterparts from the 

North in the fight against 

Boko Haram. 

Governor Shettima made 

Kolawole, who disclosed 

this yesterday during an 

interactive session with the 

Correspondents Chapel, 

Nigeria Union of 

Journalists, NUJ, Kogi 

State chapter in Lokoja, 

said: “The decision of the 

House to increase the state 

budget from N147 billion to 

N151 was not influenced as 

being rumoured. 

“The House has the 

constitutional responsibility 

to appropriate the budget 

either to increase or reduce, 

as the case may be. 

“During the budget 

defence, it was discovered 

the threat while signing the 

state's N181.2 billion 

Appropriation Bill into law, 

yesterday. 

He said as much as he 

appreciated collective 

efforts in the ongoing fight 

and defeat of insurgents, 

some media outfits quoted 

him out of context. 

He lamented that others 

that little amount of money 

was budgeted for Kogi 

State University and 

Management Board. 

“They appealed to the 

House that more money 

should be appropriated 

for the purpose of courses 

accreditation and other 

miscellaneous needs of 

the institution. 

“N500 million was 

added for School of 

Medical Sciences; same for 

other areas that needed 

more funds. The 

importance of education 

cannot be overemphasised.” 

also blew out of proportion 

the encomiums he poured 

on the current Theatre 

Commander Operation 

Lafiya Dole, Major 

General Rogers Nicholas, 

who is an Igbo from Imo 

State. 

Shettima said: “I am 

shocked to read in some 

media outfit that I only 

recognised the gallant 

efforts of our Christian 

Army Generals and officers, 

without their Muslim 

counterparts. 

“I am now compelled to 

say that I have directed the 

Attorney General and 

Commissioner for Justice, 

Mr. Kaka Lawal, to sue any 

journalist or media 

organisation that publishes 

libelous statement against 

my government. 

“It is very unfortunate if 

anyone will come out 

through mischief and 

concoct stories that this 

government does not 

appreciate the gallant 

efforts of both our Muslim 

and Christian military 

officers.” 

Glo gives unlimited 

browsing access at Valentine 

N IGERIA’s 


company, Globacom, has 

announced a new 

promo, which allows 

subscribers to buy LTE 

smartphones at rockbottom 

prices in February 

and have access to 

unlimited browsing in 

the spirit of Valentine. 

The special Valentine 

offer—from February 5 

to19— will be available 

on the Huawei Y311 

smartphone now 

reduced to N25,000 from 

N37,000 and the Huawei 

Y511 reduced to N36,000 

from N45,000. 

According to the terms 

of the offer, subscribers 

who buy the Y311 phone 

will have access to 

3.13GB of free data 

monthly for four months, 

while those who 

purchase the Huawei 

Y511 will enjoy 4.5GB 

data for four months. 

Globacom said the 

promo will avail 

Nigerians the 

opportunity to buy gifts 

with enduring benefits 

for their loved ones. 

“The fact that the 

freebies last for four 

months means that 

SOKOTO 

State 

government has 

introduced specialised 

ambulances to deepen 

access to medical care 

and improve emergency 

service delivery across 

the 23 local government 

areas of the state. 

The 

state 

Commissioner for 

Health, Dr. Balarabe 

Kakale, told journalists 

in Sokoto, Tuesday, that 

already 300 vehicles 

Molajo urges judiciary to 

embrace electronic mail 

By Bartholomew 

Madukwe 

ASenior Advocate of 

Nigeria, SAN, Mr. 

Tani Molajo, has called 

on stakeholders in the 

judiciary and legal 

profession in Nigeria to 

ensure that the 

replacement of manual 

forms of communication 

between judges, court 

staff and lawyers with 

electronic mail is 

embraced. 

The Chief Justice of 

Nigeria, Walter 

Onnoghen, had, last 

week, said it will become 

mandatory for judges 

and court staff to 

communicate with 

subscribers can enjoy the 

non-stop browsing before 

and long after Valentine’s 

Day,” the company said in 

a statement. 

Globacom had, in the 

past, given out prizes to 

subscribers in its Valentine 

promos, including an allexpense-paid 

trip to the 

exotic Obudu Cattle 

Ranch resort in Cross 

River State. 

The current special 

Valentine promo coincides 

with the new data regime 

recently announced by the 

company. 

Globacom disclosed in a 

statement that the new 

bundles, christened 

Unmatched Data, will 

give subscribers 25 percent 

bonus across all data 

plans. 

It said: “This means that 

for new subscribers and 

those who renew before 

expiration of their plans, a 

N100 subscription, for 

instance, will fetch a total 

of 100MB; a N200 will get 

262MB; N500, 1GB and N 

1,000, 2GB. 

“Also N2,000 will attract 

a 4.5GB data bundle; 

N2500, 7.2GB data 

bundle; all figures include 

the 25 percent bonus.” 

Sokoto launches 

ambulances services 

equipped with necessary 

health gadgets and 

equipment had been 

provided in the pilot phase 

of the scheme. 

While commending 

Governor Aminu 

Tambuwal for approving 

the service, Kakale said 

though limited aspect of 

the service had been rolled 

out, the full benefit will be 

felt after the specialised 

training of para-medical 

workers was concluded. 

lawyers by electronic mail 

from July 16. 

Speaking on the 

development, Molajo 

pointed out that it will 

require a transitional 

period for training and 

familiarisation, noting that 

the new initiative will also 

require an additional 

software investment for 

prevention of security 

breaches and compromise 

of content integrity. 

The senior lawyer 

asserted that electronic mail 

form of communication, 

apart from saving time and 

transportation costs, 

reduces delays in retrieval 

of court documents and 

enables virtual filing from 

home and office.

10 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 


NCAA commences investigation into Dana 

airplane's exit door fall •Sends team to examine aircraft 

By Lawani Mikairu 

LAGOS—THE Nigeria 

Civil Aviation 

Authority, NCAA, yesterday 

commenced investigation 

into claims that the exit door 

of an aircraft in Dana Air’s 

fleet fell off as it landed at 

the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, Abuja. 

Some passengers of the 

airline’s Lagos-Abuja 

bound flight had alleged 

that the aircraft door fell off 

as the plane landed at the 

airport, claiming also that 

they noticed the door shook 

while the aircraft was in 

flight. 

General Manager, Public 

Affairs of the regulatory, 

Sam Adurogboye , said a 

four-man team had been 

raised to re-certify the 

aircraft. 

He also confirmed that 

the plane was able to fly back 

to Lagos and was currently 

at Lagos Airport. 

According to him, the 

plane would be back to 

flight operations after the 

re-certification by NCAA. 

Adurogboye said: “What 

actually happened just like 

you heard, yes the plane 

when landing and taxing, 

the emergency exit door 

came down, that was the 

report I heard and I had to 

quickly find out also. I 

found out in our system and 

I was told by Airworthiness 

that Dana Air notified them 

and they raised a four-man 

team to go and look at the 

aeroplane. The report of our 

team will confirm to us what 

really happened. 

One of the passengers on 

the flight, Dapo Sanwo, 

claimed the door panel was 

loose all through the flight 

from Lagos. 

Another passenger, Ola 

Brown, who took to his 

twitter page to vent his 

frustration said the 

experience was scary. 

Brown, who alleged that 

the exit door of the aircraft 

was unstable all through the 

VISIT: Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); Commander 

9 Mechanized Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ikeja Cantonment, Brigadier Elias Attu 

(right); General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major 

General Enobong Okon Udoh (middle); Executive Secretary/C.E.O, Lagos State 

Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun (2nd left) and Commander, 

81 Division, Military Intelligence, Brigadier General T.J Kareem (left) during 

the GOC’s courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday. 

flight, said it fell off as soon 

as the aircraft landed. 

“Flew Dana. Exit door 

was unstable throughout 

flight. As we touched down, 

it fell off. Scary stuff,” he 

wrote on twitter. I was closer 

to the front so when I heard 

the sound, (I) thought it 

was an explosion. (I) 

couldn’t quite comprehend 

that it (the door) had just 

fallen off,’’ he said. 

Reacting to the incident, 

Dana Air said a passenger 

aboard the flight must have 

tampered with the door of 

the plane. 

According to the airline, 

by design, the emergency 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS—THE Lagos 

State Government 

yesterday said it had taken 

adequate measures 

towards ensuring a healthy 

and hygienic abattoirs in 

the state, assuring that meat 

processing in the state was 

exit doors of the aircraft 

were plug-type, backed by 

pressure, which ordinarily 

could not fall off without 

tampering or conscious 

effort to open by a crew 

member or passenger. 

The airline also debunked 

reports that the seat or door 

of the said plane was 

shaking while airborne to 

Abuja. 

Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, 


Manager, Dana Air, said: 

“Dana Air’s attention has 

been drawn to some online 

publication that the door of 

one of our aircraft fell off 

after landing and whilst 

MEAT PROCESSING: LASG assures residents 

of safe, wholesome meat products 

safe and healthy for 

consumption. 


Agriculture, Oluwatoyin 

Suarau gave the assurance, 

yesterday, while reviewing 

reports of the Monitoring, 

Enforcement and 

Compliance Unit on 

abattoirs, seizure of stray 

animals, monitoring of meat 

transportation and 

regulation of veterinary 

premises. 

Also, reacting to a recent 

report of likely food borne 

diseases as a result of some 

unhygienic meat processing 

in the state, Suarau, 

debunked the report noting 

that the present 

administration took the issue 

of food security seriously 

and was leaving no stone 

unturned to ensure that 

foods and not only meats 

made available to residents 

for consumption were 

hygienic. 

Highlighting measures 

put in place by the state 

government to ensure that 

only wholesome meat and 

meat products are 

consumed in the state, the 

Commissioner said the state 

government embarked on 

upgrading of existing 

slaughter slabs across the 

state to semi mechanised 

INSECURITY: Ambode backs call 

for special military to tackle 

kidnapping, smuggling 

L 

A 

By Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

G O S — 

GOVERNOR 

Akinwunmi Ambode of 

Lagos State, yesterday, said 

his administration would 

support and scale up the 

operations of the Nigerian 

Army against kidnapping, 

smuggling, armed robbery, 

illegal oil bunkering and 

other security challenges 

within the state. 

Ambode gave the 

assurance at the State 

House, Alausa, Ikeja during 

a courtesy visit by the new 

General Officer 

Commanding (GOC), 81 

Division of the Nigerian 

Army, Major General 

Enebong Udoh. 

According to him: “As an 

administration, we have 

always said that security is 

the real major foundation of 

the economic growth of 

Lagos and it has been 

proven in the last two and a 

half years. I have had the 

cooperation of all the 

security agencies in Lagos; 

taxing in Abuja yesterday. 

We wish to state 

categorically that this could 

never have happened 

without a conscious effort 

by a passenger to open 

it.By design, the 

emergency exit door of our 

aircraft are plug-type 

backed by pressure, which 

ordinary cannot fall off 

without tampering or 

conscious effort to open by 

a crew member or 

passenger. When an aircraft 

is airborne, it is fully 

pressurized and there was By Prince Osuagwu 

no way the seat or door 

could have been ‘shaking’ HE Nigerian 

as insinuated.'' TCommunications 

Commission, NCC, 

abattoirs, such as: Ikorodu, 

Matori, Ilaje and Ejigbo, 

while the Oko Oba Abattoir 

and Lairage Complex, 

Agege have been 

rehabilitated to ensure that 

operations at the complex 

meets international 

standard. 

He stressed that to further 

ensure hygienic meat 

processing and 

distribution, the state 

government banned the 

use of commercial 

motorcycles, popularly 

called, “Okada,” for meat 

transportation within and 

outside abattoirs. 

NCC grants Zinox, one 

other Infraco licences for 

broadband provision 

yesterday, approved two 

additional Infrastructure 

Companies, InfraCos, for 

South Eastern and North 

Eastern parts of the country. 

The approval according to 

NCC was to deepen 

broadband penetration in 

the Country. 

The two new Infraco 

licencees are Zinox 

Technology Limited for 

South East and Brinks 

Integrated Solutions 

Limited for North East. 

With this approval, the 

number of Infracos licenced 

has risen to four. 

Over a year ago, 

MainOne Cable Company 

Limited, was granted 

licence to provide services 

in Lagos while IHS also got 

they have worked together 

and there has been a 

lot of collaboration and 

improvement. I want to 

also say that I am going to 

scale up the activities of 

‘Operation Mesa’ and I 

welcome the idea to set up 

new Army units that tackle 

issues that relate to 

kidnapping, smuggling 

and all the vices that we 

have. I am also very excited 

that we will soon have the 

presence of the Army in 

most of those areas that we 

are having troubles such as 

Ikorodu, Epe, among others 

so that we take security 

down to the people. 

“There is already a 

division in Badagry and I 

believe strongly that with 

the collaboration that we 

are renewing, Lagosians 

are going to benefit more 

from what we are doing 

and with the security 

apparatus in the right place 

at the right time, everybody 

can go about their economic 

and social activities and 

then we have a peaceful 

year ahead of us.'' 

licence to cover the North 

Central geopolitical zone, 

including Abuja. 

The Infraco licences are 

based on the NCC’s Open 

Access Model (OAM) that 

derive from the National 

Broadband Plan (NBP) of 

2013 – 2018. 

By provisions of the NBP, 

Nigeria is expected to attain 

30 percent broadband 

penetration by 2018. 

As part of the initiatives to 

achieve this, NCC has 

licensed a number of 

companies to stimulate 

broadband penetration. 

These include Bitflux 

Communications Limited 

(Bitflux) for 2.3 Ghz and 

MTN Nigeria for the 2.6 

Ghz licences. The 

Commission also said other 

licences are in the pipeline. 

As at December, 2017, 

Nigeria had attained 22% 

broadband penetration. 

Reverse Lekki Toll Gates hike — LAGOS ELDERS 

COUNCIL 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—THE Lagos 

Elders Council has 

appealed to the Lagos State 

Government and Lekki 

Concession Company 

Limited to reverse the 

recently-increased toll on 

Lekki toll gates in the 

overall interest of motorists 

and commuters plying the 

Epe-Lagos Expressway. 

The council also drew the 

attention of the state 

government to the heavy 

trucks parked on 2nd 

mainland bridge which it 

described as a grave 

concern to the Lagisians. 

On the toll, motorists and 

commuters in the Eti-Osa 

are held up in a traffic jam, 

lasting hours as residents 

protested and refused to 

pay the new toll fees, 

imposed on the road users 

and caused traffic gridlock 

that spread to many parts 

of Lagos Island. 

In a statement in Lagos, 

yesterday by the General 

Secretary of the Lagos 

Elders Council, Chief 

Sunbo Onitiri, the Elder 

citizens advised the state 

government and the 

concession company to 

reconsider their decision 

about the increased fees. 

According a new fee 

introduced by the 

concession company, 

which took effect on 

February 1, motorists and 

commuters will henceforth, 

pay an increment of about 

70 percent fees. Drivers 

and vehicle owners are to 

pay N200 instead of N120. 

Cars and tricycles using the 

Ikoyi Link Bridge are to 

pay

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 — 11 


2019: I have no preferred candidate 

— OBASANJO •Says Nigerians should stop being foolish 

By Daud Olatunji 

A F BEOKUTA— 

O R M E R 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo has declared that 

he has no plan of imposing 

any Presidential candidate 

on the country in 2019, 

saying he remained an 

elder statesman with a 

passion for a greater 

Nigeria. 

Obasanjo said this during 

a courtesy visit by a youth 

group from Delta State, led 

by a governorship aspirant, 

Frank Ufuoma Esanubi, at 

the Olusegun Obasanjo 

Presidential Library, 

Abeokuta. 

Obasanjo, however, 

warned Nigerians against 

repeating past mistakes 

saying the process and 

system that would produce 

leaders in the country must 

be right and inclusive. 

The former president 

urged Nigerians to do 

things differently and stop 

being foolish, adding that 

new things would be 

achieved if things are done 

differently. 

Obasanjo, who is 

championing a Third Force, 

the Coalition for Nigeria 

Movement, said the CNM 

would remain a sociopolitical 

movement, 

insisting that he would 

cease to be a member of the 

Coalition the moment it 

becomes partisan. 

He explained that the 

Movement is aimed at 

galvanizing the people to 

appreciate their interests 

and power, noting that 

transitions that had taken 

place in the country since 

independence neglected 

the people at the grassroots. 

On his letter to President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

Obasanjo said it was not 

meant to disrespect the 

office of the president or 

embarrass the president, 

but to articulate his views 

about the situations in 

the country and offer his 

MEMORIAL LECTURE: From left; Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, President, Ansar-Ud- 

Deen Society of Nigeria; Architect Taofik Agbaje, President, Jamaatul Islamiyat of 

Nigeria; Alhaji Musiliu Smith, former Inspector General of Police and Professor 

Ade Wahab, chairman of the occasion during the 25 years memorial lecture in 

remembrance of late Alhaji Sule Oyesola Gbadamosi, Otun of Ikorodu, aka SOG, at 

Ikorodu town hall in Ikorodu, Lagos on Monday. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele. 

candid advice. 

He added that his 

statement was thoroughly 

thought out and not 

frivolously issued, saying as 

a former president he could 

not hold the office of the 

president in contempt. 

He said: “In the year 2015, 

I said I would no longer 

participate in partisan 

politics. And I still stand by 

my decision. Everybody, 

irrespective of his or her 

political affiliation is free to 

come here for advice, I will 

gladly do that. I have no 

candidate, whatsoever, for 

any political office. I just 

believe that things must be 

done differently in Nigeria 

to get a different result. 

“If you study our 

transitions since the colonial 

era, they have all taken 

place without taking the 

people of the grassroots into 

consideration. So, CNM is 

about the people at the 

grassroots. It is a socioeconomic 

movement where 

youths and women, 

especially, will be given an 

opportunity to appreciate 

their interests and power. 

Unlike before, I believe we 

must put the horse before 

the cart. 

“I believe that we must not 

start to put the horse before 

the cart, before we establish 

the platform before we 

establish the system that 

would make sure we are 

not repeating the mistakes 

of the past. I believe if the 

platform and the systems 

are right, the platform and 

the system together will 

bring up. 

“And of course, there is 

nothing illegitimate in 

Nigerians wanting a 

political office at whatever 

level, but I believe when we 

continue the same thing 

that has not paid us or 

served us well in the past, 

and we expect a different 

result, I think that is out of 

foolishness. We should 

stop being foolish and try 

We can’t trace couple who 

abducted two children 

— ONDO POLICE 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—NINE days 

after a couple 

abducted two children of 

their landlady, the Ondo 

State Police Command 

yesterday accused mother 

of the children of failing to 

provide useful information 

that will aid its 

investigation. 

The Command blamed the 

mother of the children for 

making their efforts futile by 

not knowing the name of the 

tenants or having any firsthand 

information of her 

tenants after they rented the 

room from her. 

Vanguard findings 

showed that what was of 

interest to the mother of 

the children when the 

couple came looking for a 

room was the rent they 

and do things differently so 

that we can achieve 

different results from what 

we have achieved in the 

past. 

“But of course you know 

that I have no political office 

that I want to take and I 

have no candidates for any 

political offices, no 

candidate. But I believe that 

the platform must be right, 

the system must be right. 

The youths and women of 

this country must be the one 

that would bring about what 

we need to have so that we 

will not continue to do the 

same thing and expect 

different result. 

Earlier, Esanubi said his 

group’s visit to Obasanjo 

was to pay homage to him 

and intimate him on their 

resolve to heed his clarion 

call for Nigerians to come 

together under the CNM, 

for a better Nigeria. 

wanted to pay and not 

details of their identities. 

This is coming as the 

Command paraded seven 

suspected kidnappers who 

came from Zuru in Kebbi 

State. 

The suspected 

kidnappers, who were 

arrested in Owo town with 

weapons, however, said that 

they were on hunting 

expedition to the southern 

part of the country. 

The Command’s 

spokesperson, Femi Joseph 

said that the suspected 

kidnappers were arrested 

acting on a tip-off by the 

people of the community. 

On the kidnap of the two 

children, Joseph described 

their mother as careless 

even as he wondered how 

a landlady would rent out 

her rooms to unknown 

tenants. 

Why we adopted 

parliamentary system at 

LG level — AREGBESOLA 

By Gbenga 

Olarinoye 

O GOVERNOR 

SOGBO— 

Rauf Aregbesola of Osun 

State, has disclosed that his 

administration adopted the 

Parliamentary System of 

Government to deepen 

democracy, as well as 

entrench genuine 

democratic practice atthe 

grassroots. 

He said it was the 

overwhelming wish of the 

people, as stated in the 

report of the Mr. 

Gbadegesin Adedeji led 

committee on political 

reforms he set up that 

parliamentary system of 

government is adopted. 

Governor Aregbesola 

made the disclosure at the 

swearing-in ceremony for 

Councillors representing 

wards in the Local 

Governments, Local 

Council Development 

Areas, Area Councils and 

Administrative Offices, held 

at the state secretariat, 

Abere, Osogbo. 


experience in the First 

Republic will attest to the 

fact that parliamentary 

system deepens democracy 

and offers far greater 

political representation and 

governance effectiveness 

than any other system. 

He said the 

parliamentary system is 

more democratic, than the 

executive, in that the 

executive system tends 

towards dictatorship and 

absolutism since power is 

concentrated in one man’s 

hand, with little or no 

check. 

He said: “Our decision 

is not against the 

constitution. Nowhere 

did it mention executive 

or parliamentary – only 

that it must be democratic 

– and parliamentary 

system is as democratic 

as you can ever get.'' 

ATTACKS: AIG zone 2 orders 

security beef-up in Lagos, Ogun 

...As Ogun Police denies herdsmen attack 

By Daud Olatunji & 

Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

FOLLOWING a report 

of possible herdsmen 

attack in Lagos and Ogun 

states, the Assistant 

Inspector General of Police, 

AIG Zone 2, Adamu 

Ibrahim, has ordered that 

security be beefed up in 

both states to prevent such 

attack. 

This came as the Ogun 

State Police Command has 

denied reports that some 

herdsmen have taken over 

the Lagos-Ibadan 

expressway, describing the 

sponsor of the information 

as faceless. 

Ibrahim, in a statement 

signed by the Zone Public 

Relation Officer, PRO, 

Dolapo Badmos, 

yesterday, also directed 

that the Commissioners of 

Police in both states ensure 

that there is no ethnic clash 

within their states. 

He said: “Members of the 

public are hereby implored 

to go about their lawful 

activities and report any 

suspicious criminal attempt 

(aimed at) disrupting 

public peace as officers in 

both states will not relent in 

its efforts to ensure 

sustainable peace and 

security.” 

Ogun Police denies 

herdsmen attack 

Meanwhile, reacting to 

the alleged attack, the Police 

Public Relations Officer in 

Ogun State, Abimbola 

Oyeyemi said, there was 

nothing of such in the state. 

Oyeyemi, in a statement, 

said the expressway and 

the entire state were 

peaceful, advising people 

of the state to ignore the 

social media report. 

Oyo organises robotic training 

for students 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—THE Oyo 

State Government has 

said that students between 

the ages of 10 and 16 will 

benefit from the Airbus 

Little Engineer, ALE, 

robotics programme. 

The training, according 

to the Commissioner for 

Information, Mr. Toye 

Arulogun, is in conjunction 

with the Airbus Foundation 

together with its partner, 

The Little Engineer. 

The government said that 

the programme is part of 

its Oyo State Model 

Education System 

Interventions, OYOMESI, 

initiatives, stating that the 

training workshop will be 

held at five flagship schools 

commencing with Anglican 

Commercial Grammar 

School today. 

The Special Adviser to 

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of 

Education, Dr Bisi Akin- 

Alabi explained that the 

goal of the workshop is 

to encourage students to 

understand and embrace 

technology as well as 

ignite a passion that 

could grow into an 

exciting STEM career.



How my family members were 

maltreated by EFCC officials 

—Innoson 

CHAIRMAN 

of 

Innoson Vehicle 

Manufacturing, IVM, 

Innoson Group, Dr 

Innocent Chukwuma, 

Chief Executive Officer, 

CEO, of Innoson Motors, 

Innocent Chukwuma, 

yesterday told members 

of the Senate Committee 

on Anti-corruption, how 

his family members were 

reportedly maltreated by 

officials of the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

when they arrested him 

last December. 

Mr. Chukwuma said 

that his wife was slapped 

while his four-month-old 

grandson and staff members 

were tear-gassed by 

EFCC operatives after 

forcefully gaining entrance 

to his house. 

Enyinnaya Abaribe 

(Abia-PDP), had on 

December 20, a day after 

the arrest, announced at 

plenary that the 

operatives of EFCC 

slapped the wife of Mr. 

Chukwuma. 

“Another incident 

happened in his house. 

The wife asked a question; 

‘Why are you arresting 

my husband? What has 

happened?’ And they 

slapped her,” he had said. 

Confirming this 

yesterday, the Innoson 

boss said the operatives, 

“swooped on my house 

like assassins. I do not 

know any thug nor do I 

have any thug let alone 

inviting or mobilising 

them to resist my arrest. 

Rather, given the way 

EFCC men entered into 

my residence, I thought 

they were assassins." 

VISIT: Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State (middle), and a high-powered delegation from Rivers 

State during a condolence visit to his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, over the killings in Logo 

and Guma local government areas of the state, yesterday. 

PANDEF constitutes speical c’ttee to confer 

with FG on Amnesty Programme 

By Emma Amaize 

WARRI—THE Pan 

Niger Delta 

Forum, PANDEF, has set 

up a Special Committee 

on the Presidential 

Amnesty Programme, 

PAP. 

The committee, cochaired 

by two former 

governors, Air 

Commodore Idongesit 

Nkanga (retd) of Akwa 

Ibom State and Prof 

Oserheimen Osunbor of 

Edo State, is to discuss 

among other things with 

the Federal Government, 

issues pertaining to the 

Amnesty Programme and 

its continuation. 

The programme has 

witnessed some 

commotion in the past few 

days with some exagitators 

demanding the 

removal of the 

Coordinator, Brig 

General Paul Boroh (retd) 

Coordinating Secretary, 

PANDEF, Dr. Alfred 

Mulade, who confirmed 

the composition of the 

high-powered delegation 

by the national leader of 

the group, Chief Edwin 

Clark, said the decision to 

inaugurate the committee 

was taken at the last 

emergency meeting of 

PANDEF on January 25. 

Other members of the 

committee include 

Ambassador Godknows 

Igali, former Deputy 

Speaker, House of 

Representatives, 

Chibudom Nwuche, 

Chief Don Etiebet, Chief 

Timi Alaibe, Prof G. G. 

Darah, Mrs. Nella 

Andem-Rabana, SAN, 

Chief Betty Igbeyi, Col 

Tony Nyiam (retd), Vivian 

Ere-Imananagha, His 

Highness Anabs Sara- 

Igbe, Prince Maikpobi 

Okareme, Hendricks 

Opukeme, Famous 

Daunemigha and Chief 

Mike Loyibo. 

Mulade said: “Recall 

that at our last PANDEF 

emergency general 

meeting held on January 

25, at Kiagbodo, Delta 

State, PANDEF reaffirmed 

its confidence that the 

Presidential Amnesty 

Programme is a veritable 

tool for maintaining peace 

in the region and 

appreciates the work 

being done by its present 

leadership and took the 

decision to send a highpowered 

delegation to the 

Federal Government to 

discuss issues pertaining 

to the Amnesty 

Programme and its 

continuation. 

“Consequent upon the 

above, therefore, I am 

directed by our national 

leader, Chief Clark, to 

inform you of your 

nomination into this 

delegation that has been 

put together to carry out 

this assignment,” he said. 

Herdsmen attacks: Wike splashes 

N200m on displaced persons in Benue 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

PORT 

HAR- 

C O U R T — 

GOVERNOR Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State, 

yesterday, donated N200 

million to persons 

displaced by herdsmen 

attacks in Benue State, with 

a call for lasting measures 

to resolve the killings by 

herdsmen across Nigeria. 

The governor, who led a 

delegation of Rivers elders 

on a condolence visit to 

Benue State in honour of 

those killed by herdsmen 

earlier in the year, said the 

amount was to assist the 

state government in 

providing relief materials 

and medicare for those 

displaced by the crisis. 

He said: “What has 

happened in Benue has 

affected me. Look at deaths 

everywhere. Nobody is free 

again. People don’t 

understand the magnitude 

of the injury inflicted on the 

people of Benue. The 

country must sit down to 

proffer solutions to this 

menace. 

“There is no way anybody 

can justify these killings. 

There is no justification 

whatsoever. The people of 

Benue State must rally 

round their governor at this 

time. When you have a 

brother who has problems, 

you identify with him. Time 

has come when we must 

rise above party lines and 

tackle our problems.” 

He said as Christians, 

Rivers people respect the 

sanctity of human life, 

hence the visit, urging 

Benue people to be vigilant 

at all times and employ 

techniques of self defence 

to protect themselves from 

unprovoked attacks. 

Kidnapped A-Ibom PDP scribe 

regains freedom 

By Harris-Okon 

Emmanuel 

UYO—THE chapter 

Secretary of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, in Ukanafun Local 

Government Area of Akwa 

Ibom State, Ubokobong 

Thompson, has been freed 

by his abductors. 

Vanguard gathered that 

the party scribe, was seized 

by hoodlums on 

motorcycles in Ukanafun 

and ferried to unknown 

hideout, where he spent 

four days before regaining 

freedom. 

“The kidnappers had 

initially demanded for N2 

million, but it was reduced 

to N1 million,” said Essien 

Umanah, a local vigilante 

in Ikot Akpankuk, 

headquarters of the 

council. 

A family source said: 

“The victim’s brothers 

raised about N.5 million 

before he was released."



THE NIGERIA PRIZE FOR LITERATURE: Winner of the 2017 Nigeria Prize for Literature, Ikeogu 

Oke (2nd left) and his family members receive the prize award from the MD, NLNG, Tony Attah 

(3rd right), Chairman, Advisory Board, Emeritus Prof Ayo Banjo (2nd right) Deputy MD, Sadeeq Mai- 

Bornu (far right); and Commissioner of Special Duties, Lagos State, Hon. Oluseye Adedeji, representing Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode, in Lagos yesterday. 

2019: South-South APC leaders adopt 

Buhari ...condemn killings by herdsmen 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—AHEAD of 

the 2019 presidential 

election, South-South All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, leaders and 

stakeholders, yesterday, 

converged in Abuja and 

unanimously adopted 


Buhari as the choice of the 

zone for second term 

tenure. 

To actualize this, the 

leaders of the party from the 

geo-political zone which 

comprises Akwa Ibom, 

Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, 

Edo and Rivers states, have 

inaugurated a South- South 

Presidential Campaign 

Committee with Governor 

Godwin Obaseki of Edo 

State as chairman, while 

other elected senators, 

members of the House of 

Representatives, states 

Houses of Assembly, 

among others, will serve as 

members. 

The meeting which lasted 

for over three hours, started 

Tuesday night and ended 

in the early hours of 

yesterday, was held at the 

Abuja residence of former 

Governor of Edo State, 

Adams Oshiomhole. 

A communiqué at the end 

of the meeting was read by 

the National Vice 

Chairman of the APC 

South-South zone, Ntufam 

Etta. 

The leaders, however, 

condemned in very strong 

terms, the letters written by 

former presidents, Chief 

Olusegun Obasanjo and 

General Ibrahim 

Babangida (retd), to 

President Buhari, saying 

that as leaders, they should 

have used the existing 

open lines of 

communication and 

dialogue. 

Killings by 

herdsmen 

The APC South-South 

caucus also condemned in 

very strong terms, the 

killings of Nigerians by 

herdsmen as they 

sympathized with the 

states, communities and 

families that have been 

affected and expressed 

confidence in the 

Presidential Committee 

headed by Vice President 

Yemi Osinbajo to find a 

lasting solution to the 

problem. 

The Communiqué was 

signed by Godwin 

Obaseki, Oshiomhole, Mr 

Chibuike Amaechi, 

Minister of Transportation; 

Pastor Usani U. Usani, 

Minister of Niger Delta 

Affairs; Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, 

Minister of State, 

Petroleum; Dr. Osagie 

Ehanire, Minister of State, 

Health; Senator Ita Enang, 

Senior Special Assistant to 

the President on National 

Assembly (Senate); Senator 

Francis Alimikhena, 

Stop meddling in our traditional matters, Uromi 

monarchs tell Edo PDP 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

B ENIN—UROMI 

Traditional Council, 

in Esan North- East Local 

Government Area, Edo 

State, has told the 

leadership of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

the state to stop dabbling 

into its traditional affairs, 

saying that the issue of the 

deposed Onojie of Uromi, 

HRH Anselm Aidonojie, 

Deputy Majority Whip; 

Senator Magnus Abe; 

Chief Don Etiebet and Mr 

Frank Kokori. 

Also present at the 

meeting were Deputy 

Governor of Edo State, 

Philip Shuaibu; Speaker, 

Edo State House of 

Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto, 

Deputy Chief Whip, House 

of Representatives, Pally 

Iriase; Peter Akpatanson; 

Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma; 

Chief of Staff to Edo State 

governor, Taiwo Akerele; 

Chairman, Niger Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC, Victor Ndoma 

Egba and former governor 

of Bayelsa State, Timipre 

Sylva. 

Also present were 

Senator Andrew Uchendu; 

former governor of Edo 

State, Professor 

Oserheimen Osunbor; 

former SSG, Edo State, 

Professor Julius Ihonvbere; 

former Minister of State, 

Federal Capital Territory 

Administration, FCTA, 

Senator John 

Akpanudoedehe; former 

Deputy Speaker, House of 

Representatives, Prince 

Chibudon Nwuche; former 

was the business of the 

entire kingdom and state 

government and not a 

political affair of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP. 

HRH Aidenojie was 

deposed on November 9, 

2016 by former Governor 

Adams Oshiomhole in 

pursuant to Section 28 (i & 

ii) of the Traditional Rulers 

& Chiefs Law, 1979 after the 

expiration of seven days 

suspension earlier 

Deputy Speaker, Delta 

State House of Assembly, 

Victor Ochei and former 

governorship aspirant, 

Umana Umana. 

Others include Great 

Ovedje Ogboru; Senator 

Ehigie Uzamere; Lauretta 

Onochie; Dr. Cairo 

Ojuogboh; Senator 

Heineken Lokpobiri, 

Senator Domingo Obende, 

among others. 

The communiqué read in 

part: “Recognising the very 

successful war against 

corruption, the effective 

degradation of Boko 

Haram, the very laudable 

agricultural and economic 

policies that have seen us 

out of recession, the 

continuing high regard for 

his person and leadership 

around the world that have 

promoted a bright new 

image for Nigeria, the 

credibility he continues to 

enjoy among the vast 

majority of Nigerians and 

among APC members, and 

the need for continuity in 

policy and programmes, 

the Caucus of the APC 

South-South Zone, 

unanimously adopted and 

endorsed President Buhari 

to run for a second term as 

slammed on him. 

However, the state 

Chairman of the PDP, Chief 

Dan Orbih, at a meeting, 

cautioned Governor 

Godwin Obaseki to stop 

playing politics with the 

traditional institution of 

Uromi and return the 

monarch to his throne. 

But Secretary of the Uromi 

Traditional Council, Chief 

Francis Ozah, the Oza of 

Uromi, warned that the 

deposition of their king was 

not a political matter. 

Nwoko lauds NDDC over 

rehabilitation of Onicha-Ugbo/ 

Ugboko Road 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—A former 

member of House 

of Representatives, 

Prince Ned Nwoko, has 

commended the Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, 

for the on going 

rehabilitation work on 

the failed portion of 

Onicha-Ugbo/Ugboko 

axis of the Abuja-Asaba- 

Onitsha Road. 

Nwoko, a native of 

Ugboko, expressed joy 

that the NDDC has 

come to the rescue of the 

communities that the 

road traversed, adding 

that the socio-economic 

lives of the people were 

adversely affected when 

the road was very bad. 

Rusticated UNIBEN students 

reject VC's offer 

By Simon 

Ebegbulem & 

Gabriel 

Enogholase 

B ENIN—THE 

rustication of five 

students by the 

management of 

University of Benin, 

UNIBEN, has taken a 

new twist as the affected 

students have rejected the 

Vice Chancellor, Prof. 

Farade Orumwense’s 

conditional offer to lift 

their suspension. 

It will be recalled that 

the students who are 

members of the 

university’s Student 

Union Government, 

SUG, were rusticated for 

allegedly leading a 

protest against increase 

in school/hostel fees. 

The embattled students 

had staged a 

demonstration on 

November 24, 2017, over 

the hike, an action the 

school's management said 

was allegedly meant to 

disrupt its 47th Founders’ 

Why there are many moribund 

industries in Nigeria —A-Ibom 

Commissioner 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu & 

Emmanuel 

Ayungbe 

AKWA Ibom State 

Commissioner 

for Information and 

strategy, Mr. Charles 

Udoh, has said the 

reason many states in 

Nigeria were littered 

with non-functional 

industries was because 

previous governments 

conceived them as an 

Noting that the 

rehabilitation of the failed 

portion was a big relief to 

communities within the axis 

and road users, he said that 

he and the Minister of State 

for Petroleum, Dr Ibe 

Kachikwu had earlier 

intervened. 

He said, “This bad spot 

was a major concern to us 

but I am very happy and 

grateful to my two brothers 

- Uche Okpuno of ULO and 

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister 

of Petroleum. 

“After discussing with 

them, we put our heads 

together and said this road 

must be attended to. Even 

without any money being 

paid to the contractor, they 

mobilized to site because of 

the urgency and importance 

of the road." 

Day lecture and 43rd 

convocation ceremony. 

Those affected included 

the SUG President, 

Osamudiamen Ogbidi, 

Justus Aidenagnon, Innocent 

Momodu, Goodnews 

Ehiabhi and Patrick 

Majekodumi. 

Vanguard gathered that a 

meeting aimed at resolving 

the issue between the 

University’s management 

and a factional leadership of 

the National Association of 

Nigerian Students, NANS, 

early in the week was said 

to have ended in a stalemate 

after the affected students 

rejected the school’s 

condition that they should 

tender apology letters to the 

school authorities before they 

can be recalled. 

Meanwhile, the Edo 

Forum of Patriots, a Benin 

socio-cultural organisation, 

has appealed to the 

authorities of UNIBEN to 

reinstate the five rusticated 

students, saying that the 

action of the authorities was 

capable of destroying the 

future of the students. 

extended arm of 

government parastatals 

and not as business 

concerns. 

Udoh who stated this 

during an interactive 

session with members of 

the Correspondents’ 

chapel, yesterday, in Uyo, 

said that it was for the 

same reason that Governor 

Udom Emmanuel’s 

government was 

partnering the private 

sector to drive its 

industrialization agenda.

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 

MURDER OF EX-PDP CHAIRMAN’S SON: 

Pregnant ‘killer wife’ loses 

fresh bid to secure bail 

....As trial begins March 19 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—AN Abuja 

High Court sitting 

at Jabi, yesterday struck 

out a fresh bail request 

by Maryam Sanda, 

remanded in prison 

custody for allegedly 

stabbing her husband; 

the son of former 

Chairman of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

Bilyamin Bello to death. 

The alleged ‘killer 

wife’ had through her 

lawyer, Mr. Joseph 

Daudu, SAN, informed 

the court among others, 

that she was already 

pregnant as at the time 

she was docked and 

remanded in prison for 

murder. 

Daudu urged the court 

to take pity on his client 

who he said would 

require proper medical 

attention at this early 

stage of her about three 

months old pregnancy. 

However, the 

prosecuting counsel, Mr. 

James Idachaba, 

opposed Maryam’s bail 

request, insisting there 

was insufficient evidence 

before the court to prove 

that the defendant was 

indeed pregnant. 

In his ruling on the 

matter, trial Justice Yusuf 

Halilu held that the fresh 

bail application 

amounted to an abuse of 

court process since the 

defendant had gone 

before the Court of 

Appeal to challenge a 

previous ruling that 

refused her bail. 

Justice Halilu noted 

that the defendant did 

not withdraw her 

pending notice of appeal 

before re-approaching 

the trial court to grant her 

the same relief. 

The judge held that it 

would amount to toeing 

“a path of destruction” to 

decide the new 

application on its merit 

when an appeal 

bordering on the same 


subject matter was still 

pending before the 

appellate court. 

The court said it was 

not in any way swayed 

by passionate plea and 

argument that was made 

on behalf of the 

defendant by her lawyer. 

“The application is 

liable to be struck out 

and it is accordingly 

struck out”, Justice 

Halilu held. 

Meanwhile, the matter 

was subsequently 

adjourned till March 19 

to enable the prosecution 

to respond to the motion 

challenging the 

competence of the 

charge and the court’s 

jurisdiction to commence 

full trial of the 

defendants. 

The prosecution had 

before the case was 

adjourned, notified the 

court that four witnesses 

were on ground to testify 

and give evidence in the 

trial. 

It will be recalled that 

the court had on 

Decemeber 14, 2017, also 

rejected plea for the 

defendant who is 

nursing a six-month old 

baby girl, to be released 

from Suleja prison on 

bail. 

Maryam was 

remanded in prison 

custody on November 

24, 2017, after she was 

arraigned on a two-count 

charge of culpable 

homicide punishable by 

death under section 221 

of the Penal Code Law. 

FUEL CRISIS: 484 truckloads of petrol 

deployed to Abuja, others 

By Michael Eboh 

A Nigerian BUJA—THE 

National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, deployed 484 

truckloads of Premium 

Motor Spirit, PMS, to Abuja 

in five days to tackle the 

perpetual crisis currently 

ravaging Abuja and other 

states in the northern 

region. 

This was even as fuel 

scarcity worsened in Abuja, 

with motorists spending 

long hours at petrol stations 

to buy the product. 

According to a schedule 

of trucks sent to Abuja and 

environs obtained from the 

INSPECTION: From left; Secretary to Kwara State Government, Alhaji 

Isiaka Gold; Kwara State governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and Project 

Manager, Arch. Kayode Makanjuola during an inspection of new Kwara 

State secretariat complex in Ilorin, yesterday. 

INFLUX OF REFUGEES FROM CAMEROON: Senate 

summons Defence Minister, Ali 

By Henry Umoru 

A Senate BUJA—THE 

yesterday 

summoned the Minister 

of Defence, Mansur Dan 

Ali, to appear before it 

and explain the reason 

Access to Justice wants CCT boss suspended 

By Abdulwahab 

Abdulah 

ACCESS to Justice, 

A2J, has called for 

the immediate suspension 

of the Chairman of the 

Code of Conduct Tribunal, 

CCT, Mr Danladi Umar 

pending the trial of the 

criminal charges brought 

against him by the 



EFCC. 

In a statement, Mr 

Joseph Otteh, the 

Executive Director of A2J, 

said Umar supposed to go 

on an indefinite leave 

pending a formal 

s u s p e n s i o n , 

notwithstanding the trial. 

According to the body, it 

was no longer tenable for 

Umar to continue in office 

as the Chairman of the 

Tribunal, saying he “has 

brought the CCT nothing 

but public ridicule and 

embarrassment which has 

done incalculable harm to 

the image of the Tribunal 

and the Judiciary in 

Nigeria.” 

The group argued that 

the CCT needed a new 

leadership that would 

•NNPC begins clampdown on erring marketers 

behind the invasion by 

large numbers of refugees 

from the Republic of 

Cameroon to some border 

communities in Cross 

River State and its 

attendant security fallout. 

The Senate also called 

restore public trust in the 

Tribunal, “provide 

purposeful leadership for 

the staff of the Tribunal and 

put the tribunal’s powers to 

effective use.” 

Beside, it called on the 

government to appoint a 

third member to make the 

CCT, meet its responsibility, 

arguing that “the failure of 

the Federal Government to 

appoint a 3rd member of the 

CCT to fill a position that 

has been vacant for many 

years now greatly 

undermines the work of 

the CCT and the fight 

against corruption.” 

Department of Petroleum 

Resources, DPR, yesterday, 

the trucks were deployed 

between February 1 and 

February 5, 2018. 

The report noted that 89 

trucks, 118 trucks, 100 

trucks, 70 trucks and 107 

trucks carrying PMS also 

known as petrol were 

dispatched to Abuja and 

neighbouring states from 

February 1 to 5, 2018 

respectively. 

Specifically, from loading 

data for February 5, the 

report stated that a total 

5.368 million litres of the 

petrol was lifted from 

depots across the country, 

with 87 trucks comprising 

on the Nigerian military 

authorities to increase 

military presence and 

intensify border patrol 

within the area to 

prevent further acts of 

trespass by the 

Cameroun soldiers, just 

as it asked the Minister 

of Foreign Affairs, 

Geoffrey Onyeama to 

liaise with his 

Cameroonian counterpart 

to secure the release of 

these innocent Nigerians 

Resolutions of the Senate 

were sequel to a motion by 

Senator John Owan Enoh, 

APC, Cross River Central 

and entitled, “Influx of 

Refugees from the Republic 

of Cameroun to some 

border communities in 

Cross River State and its 

attendant security fallout.” 

It was co-sponsored by 

Senators Rose Oko, PDP, 

Cross River North and 

Gershom H. Bassey, PDP, 

Cross River South. 

The Senate also called 

on Nigeria and 

3.77 million litres of the 

commodity lifted from the 

Lagos depot, while 26 

trucks comprising 1.05 

million litres was lifted from 

the Mosimi depot. 

In addition, nine trucks 

bearing 334,010 litres of 

petrol left the Port Harcourt 

depot, while Ibadan depot 

supplied 206,000 litres of 

the commodity for onwards 

distribution to Abuja and 

environs. 

Consequently, 3.36 

million litres of petrol borne 

by 77 trucks were delivered 

to Abuja; 30 trucks 

comprising 1.25 million 

litres of petrol were 

supplied to cities around 

Cameroun to strengthen 

the capacity of Nigeria- 

Cameroun trans-border 

security committee aimed 

at addressing emerging 

trans-border security 

issues confronting the 

two countries. 

The upper chamber 

equally urged the 

United Nations High 

Commission for 

Refugees, UNHCR, to 

intensify ongoing efforts 

aimed at protecting 

Cameroonian refugees 

and assist in their 

voluntary repatriation, 

local integration or 

resettlement. 

It similarly called 

all relevant agencies of 

government saddled 

with the responsibilities 

of managing 

emergencies such as 

National Emergency 

Management Agency, 

NEMA, State Emergency 

Management Agency, 

SEMA, to intensify their 

remedial efforts of 

providing relief materials 

to the refugees. 

Abuja; while Kogi, 

Kaduna, Minna, 

Nasarawa and Kebbi 

states received 179,000 

litres, 33,000 litres, 

235,010 litres and 317,000 

litres respectively. 

The DPR also 

disclosed that it had 

commenced a strategic 

monitoring of the 

country’s fuel supply 

situation across the 

country and also rolled 

out other initiatives as 

parts of new measures 

to end the fuel crisis 

currently ravaging the 

country. 

Zonal Operations 

Controller, Northern Zone, 

DPR, Mr. Abba Misau, said 

the monitoring would be 

conducted on a daily basis, 

aimed at ensuring that 

petrol stations got the 

product and disbursed 

same to motorists. 

He noted that the DPR 

would no longer allow 

hoarding of fuel by 

marketers under the guise 

of keeping dead stock and 

reserving the commodity for 

special customers. 

Meanwhile, the NNPC 

has stepped up the arrest 

and prosecution of erring 

marketers and fuel hawkers 

across the country. 

In a statement in Abuja, 

Group General Manager, 

Group Public Affairs 

Division of the NNPC, Mr. 

Ndu Ughamadu, said this 

was part of efforts to sanitize 

the fuel supply and 

distribution system to 

eliminate the queues. 

Ughamadu said the 

NNPC Special Task Force 

on Filling Stations 

Monitoring had made 

series of arrests including 

two filling station managers 

who diverted 66,000 litres 

of petrol and six illegal 

hawkers of petrol in Abuja. 

He said the two 

managers of Azman filling 

stations in Nyanya and 

Kuje, two suburbs of Abuja, 

were arrested after close 

monitoring by the team for 

diverting trucks of petrol 

meant for their stations to 

unknown destinations. 

He said, “They have been 

handed over to the Nigeria 

Security and Civil Defence 

Corps for prosecution. In 

addition to prosecution, the 

filling stations would pay a 

N250 fine for each litre of 

petrol diverted. The Task 

Force has also arrested six 

persons in the Central 

Business District, Abuja, for 

hawking petrol in jerrycans. 

Three of the arrested 

persons – Samila Umar, 

Atlahim Abdullahi and 

Bashir Sani – were charged 

and prosecuted at the Area 

Court, Gudu, where Justice 

Sidi Bello sentenced them 

to two-month 

imprisonment or a N2,000 

fine which they promptly 

paid. 

“The other three who 

were arrested yesterday 

(Tuesday) are expected 

to be charged today 

(yesterday).”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 — 15


By Peter Okutu 

A BAKALIKI— 

EBONYI State 

Government in 

collaboration with the 

Army, Police, and DSS 

yesterday raided an 

illegal mining site at 

Echara Unuphu in 

Abakaliki Local 

Government Area and 

arrested four Chinese 

and 16 other persons 

suspected to be illegal 

miners in the area. 

Addressing newsmen 

at the mining site, the 

Senior Special Adviser, 

SSA, to Governor David 

Umahi on Internal 

security, Dr. Kenneth 

Ugbala who condemned 

the activities of illegal 

miners across the state, 

noted that the state 

government would no 

longer fold its arms and 

allow the fortunes of the 

state to end up in private 

pockets. 

He said: “The future of 

this state is at stake 

because of the activities 

of these illegal miners. I 

have had the privilege of 

being in China and the 

Chinese don’t tamper 

with their environment 

By Nwabueze 

Okonkwo 

O NITSHA—THE 

Onitsha Chamber of 

Commerce, Industry, 

Mines and Agriculture, 

ONICCIMA has decried 

what it termed the spate of 

multiple taxation/levies in 

Onitsha, the commercial 

nerve centre of Anambra 

State, by those who claim 

to be agents of the state 

government on revenue 

generation. 

President of 

ONICCIMA, Mr Don 

Ebubeogu who made this 

disclosure yesterday 

during an interactive 

session with newsmen in 

Onitsha, lamented that 

doing business in Anambra 

State was becoming 

increasingly difficult due to 

the activities of hoodlums 

who he accused of 

extorting money from 

businessmen from the point 

of sale and purchase till 

you exit Onitsha. 

According to him, "in 

Lagos, one can move his/ 

her goods from Idumota to 

Agege or Ikeja to Lagos 

Island, Alaba to Surulere 

without anybody molesting 

you but in Onitsha, it is 

difficult to move goods in a 

Datsun Truck or motor bike 

from Main Market to 

:Vanguard 

News 

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

Illegal mining: Security operatives arrest 4 

Chinese, 16 others in Ebonyi 

no matter what the 

problem may be. With 

the type of problem 

created here in the name 

of mining, it is possible 

that this tunnel they 

created must have 

passed through 

underground to the 

Onitsha Chamber of Commerce 

decries multiple taxation, extortion 

Upper Iweka, or Ochanja 

to Ose Ekwodu and others 

due to the activities of these 

hoodlums". 

The ONICCIMA boss 

said it is pathetic that 

government failed to 

address this problem as the 

officials even deny their 

existence, adding, “but I tell 

them that government 

cannot be helpless. We 

must hold government 

accountable here. 

"If government is 

helpless, traders in 

Onitsha know how to 

Government House and 

every other place that 

Ebonyi people are 

living. 

“So, what do we 

expect? A total collapse? 

When we are living up, 

another road is under 

ground in the name of 

address their problems 

after 10 years either as boys 

Oye or Bakassi boys. They 

will engage in self help. 

These agents are 

graduating from collecting 

these illegal levies to 

snatching of bags to full 

time criminals,” said 

Ebubeogu 

He accused politicians 

who recruit these boys of 

being behind these illegal 

multiple levies because they 

create unwarranted 

revenue windows for 

themselves to extort money 

mining. There are no 

society, states and 

environment that this 

type of thing is seen. It 

is not as if they pay IGR 

and even at that, what 

type of IGR will be more 

important than the future 

of our children and the 

entire people of the 

state." 

MEETING: From left—Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Godswill 

Akpabio; National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince 

Uche Secondus; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike 

Ekweremadu; Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu 

Barde; Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Philip Aduda; 

and Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Diodun Olujimi, during a meeting 

of the National Assembly Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party and 

the party's National Working Committee at the NASS, Abuja. 

from people in the state. 

He called for the rebranding 

of Onitsha as a 

city and the people in it by 

changing their value 

system, lamenting that 

Anambra state and indeed 

the entire South East has 

the lowest moral in the 

country today. 

He said they can even 

sanitize the state and 

indeed the entire zone and 

that is why he made the 

clarion call to the media to 

partner with the Onitsha 

Chamber of Commerce to 

address the issue. 

Ugwuanyi’s support has earned Enugu most 

secure state status—CP 

…as governor presents 22 security vehicles to the command 

E NUGU—ENUGU 

State Commissioner of 

Police, Mr. Danmallam 

Mohammed has 

commended Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his 

“tremendous” support for 

the command towards the 

provision of adequate 

security of lives and 

property in the state. 

The Police Commissioner, 

who spoke while taking 

delivery of the 22 brand new 

patrol vans donated to the 

State Police Command by 

the Enugu State 

Government to enhance 

their security operations, 

disclosed that the “huge 

support” from Gov. 

Ugwuanyi’s administration 

has “resulted in the ranking 

of Enugu as the most 

peaceful and safest state in 

the country.” 

Mr. Mohammed noted 

that the security of lives and 

property and “total 

tranquility” being 

witnessed in the state was 

a deliberate action of the 

state government, stressing 

that Gov. Ugwuanyi 

strongly believes that “the 

purpose of government is 

for the security and social 

wellbeing of its citizens, as 

guaranteed in the 1999 

Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria as 

amended.” 

He added that the 

donated security vehicles 

was the latest in the series 

of support and commitment 

from the state government, 

promising that the force will 

continue to keep faith with 

the governor’s philosophy 

of zero tolerance for crime 

and his policy towards “a 

crime free Enugu State”. 

Okereke declares for 

Abia guber seat 

By Anayo Okoli 

U MUAHIA—AHEAD 

of 2019 elections, the 

designer of Nigeria 

Masterweb and Africa 

Masterweb, Chief Charles 

Okereke has declared 

interest in the governorship 

of Abia State with a promise 

to redeem the state from 

what he called "perennial 

bad governance." 

Okereke, who made the 

declaration in Umuahia, 

weekend, said reasonable 

Abia people are ashamed 

at the level of development 

the state has attained over 

the years. He lamented 

that all the industries, 

including Golden Guinea 

Breweries, Ulonna Farm 

Settlement and several 

other industries which Abia 

State was formerly famed 

for have been neglected and 

allowed to go moribund. 

He said: “We must not 

lose sight of the fact that 

Abia, God’s own State, has 

become a major scapegoat 

to bad governance, bad 

choice of leaders and 

above all, an atmosphere 

of nonchalance and passive 

carelessness from us 

towards our political future. 

“Different governments 

have ruled the state but 

the seeming inherent 

unwillingness in the hearts 

of hitherto elected leaders 

has maintained a policy of 

absolute neglect; worse still, 

few places of note, like the 

Ariaria market and the 

expressway are gradually 

becoming dump sites for 

refuse. The people as 

earlier said, are equally 

culpable due to the ‘I don’t 

care’ posture we adopted 

towards politics and 

governance.“ 

Okereke urged Abia people 

to register and get their 

PVC, saying “democracy 

has not only given us the 

right to be represented, it 

also gives us right to choose 

who represents us." 

Judges' salaries: Ohakim fires 

back at Okorocha 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

O WERRI—FORMER 

Governor of Imo State, 

Chief Ikedi Ohakim, says 

he is not surprised that 

Governor Rochas Okorocha 

prescribed psychiatric 

examination for a man who 

demanded the clearing of 

16 months salaries and 

allowances owed serving 

high court judges in the 

state. 

Okorocha had, when told 

during a press briefing in 

Owerri last Tuesday, that 

Ohakim was planning 

massive protest to press 

home the demand for 

immediate payment of 16 

months salaries and 

allowances owed serving 

judges in Imo State, replied 

that "Ohakim should be 

taken to a psychiatric 

hospital for examination." 

Ohakim, who responded 

through his Chief Press 

Secretary, CPS, Mr. Collins 

Ughalaa, said that 

"Okorocha was running his 

mouth again like someone 

THE first quarterly 

meeting of the old 

students of Esie/Iludun 

Grammar School 1976 

set comes up tomorrow, 

Saturday, February 10, 

2018. It will be hosted by 

Hon. Olayemi Olabanji, 

at the Image Gardens 

Hotel, Esie, Irepodun 

Local Government, 

Kwara State, at 10am. 

The maiden meeting 

was hosted by Alhaji 

that is suffering from verbal 

diarrhoea. 

"It is sad that Governor 

Okorocha asked that Dr. 

Ikedi Ohakim should be 

taken to a psychiatric 

hospital for examination, for 

demanding that serving 

honourable judges of Imo 

State, who are being owed 

16 months salaries, should 

be paid without further 

delay," Ughalaa stated. 

The CPS, who described 

Okorocha as "a man who 

has no respect for truth", 

equally expressed sadness 

that the governor went on 

to claim that the judges 

were not owed salaries and 

allowances. 

While recalling with grief, 

that one of the judges, 

Justice Pius Ifeanyi 

Okpara, died recently 

without being paid his 

entitlements, Ughalaa 

challenged Okorocha to 

explain why the Owerri 

Branch of Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA, 

dragged his administration 

to court, in suit number 

NICN/OW/58/2017. 

Olabanji hosts EIGS 76 set 

Kareem Shagaya in 

Ilorin in August 2017, 

while Alhaji Ibrahim 

Ajibowo hosted the 

second edition in 

November in Lagos. 

Members are expected 

to pay a courtesy call on 

the Elesie of Esie Kindom 

and a visit to the alma 

mater on Esie-Iludun 

Road, in between the 

deliberation.

Obasa’s ‘Theory’ and ‘Practice’ 

LAST week yours truly was a 

guest of the Speaker, Lagos 

State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. 

Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, at his 

Alausa office. This privilege was 

courtesy of an invitation extended to 

me by a professional senior 

colleague, Mr. Lisa Olu Akerele, who 

is a friend of the Speaker. And as with 

the saying that ‘whenever an artist 

sees a vista, he wants to draw’, it is 

equally true of journalists: that 

whenever they meet a news source, 

they want to ask a question or two. 

Well, I did not ask ‘one or two’ 

questions. I asked a dozen: ranging 

from everyday lawmaking 

processes, oversight functions down 

to the routine obligation of 

maintaining ‘harmonious working 

relationship’ with the executive arm. 

Lagos has become an excellent 

example of how disparate but 

forward thinking agencies of 

government work inter-dependently 

to bring about good governance. And 

as with virtually every sphere of 

governance and administration, the 

State Assembly, it appears, is also 

showing the way to how the executive 

and the legislature cooperate to 

bring about good governance. But 

against the backdrop of the ‘theory’ 

of mutual checks and balances, isn’t 

it contradictory, I asked him, that ‘a 

harmonious’ -rather than 

‘acrimonious’- working relationship 

is what is required to bring about 

good governance in a democracy? 

Is ‘mutual cooperation’ or ‘mutual 

opposition’ between the executive 

and the legislature an incentive to 

good governance or is it a drag? 

As a fourth time member and now 

Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. 

Obasa demonstrated excellent grasp 

both of the simple rudiments of 

legislative ‘theory’ and of the 

complex vicissitude of legislative 

‘practice’. He does not believe that a 

surfeit of executive-legislature 

cooperation necessarily translates, 

in all circumstances, to a gang-up 

against public interest. And Lagos 

he insists is an excellent, practical 

example of the incentive that can 

accrue to good governance when the 

executive and legislative arms 

cooperate with one another. Yes, a 

harmonious working relationship, 

he admitted, can be the tonic that 

feeds a ‘rubber-stamp’ assembly 

where ‘special interest’ is elevated 

above the ‘public good’, but not every 

harmonious working relationship, 

he insists, necessarily gives birth to 

a ‘rubber stamp’ assembly. 

And so as our discussion assumed 

a life of its own, it was clear that I 

was the one who was obsessed with 

‘theory’. The Speaker was concerned 

less of theory than he was of 

‘practice’. And he insists that 

lawmakers who wear the legislative 

‘shoes’ on a daily basis deal with a 

practical reality that trumps ‘theory’ 

on every encounter. Yes, he said in 

theory legislators are to make good 

laws to engender good governance. 

They are not at parliament to make 

‘good money’ for the economic 

empowerment of our constituents. 

But in reality he asked how many 

constituents worry about whether or 

not their elected representatives 

He is one of few 

Nigerian 

lawmakers I have 

met also who does 

not believe in the 

utopia of so called 

‘independence’ of 

the arms of 

government 

make good laws? But they do care 

that whenever their representatives 

come home, they do not do so empty 

handed. Now, whether this is out of 

sheer ignorance of the proper role of 

the legislator, Hon. Obasa said, or it 

is out of selfish obstinacy, is 

immaterial to the practical reality 

that a lawmaker has to do all that is 

necessary to carry his constituents 

along. 

Said Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 

“theory is all gray, and the golden 

tree of life is green”. The world of 


17 

‘legislation’ and of the ‘legislative 

process’, Obasa said is not a world 

alone of ‘theory’. It is a world both of 

‘theory’ and of ‘practice’. And that 

very often the ‘practice’ of it always 

trump the ‘theory’. It takes 

experience on the legislative arena 

he said for a politician to be weaned 

from obsession with theory to a 

necessary romance with ‘practical 

reality’. In fact, some of these 

realities, he said, can sometimes be 

rudely awakening. Like when 

constituents openly tell their elected 

representatives they prefer cash 

hand-outs to ‘projects’ as dividends 

of democracy. That ‘dividend of 

democracy’, if it will not come ‘cash 

at hand’, it is not dividend enough! 

In fact, once when he was a 

councilor Obasa said, he won a 

borehole project for his Ward. This 

was his first ‘game’, if you like, from 

the legislative hunts-field. And he 

recalled how proudly he had called 

a meeting of the youths and elders 

of his community –so they could 

decide where to cite the project. He 

said that both youth and elders 

thanked him profusely for a job well 

done. But then they also asked him a 

question: ‘who told you that this 

community wants a bore hole?’ An 

influential local cartel of water 

sellers of the community insisted he 

took the project back. They said that 

they had sent him to go and bring 

back home ‘economic’ 

empowerment for the people and not 

to come home killing the petty 

businesses that they live by. Nothing 

could have been more rudely 

awakening. Nothing could have 

trumped ‘theory’ more –than this 

kind of practical reality. 

“Einstein's space” said the 

Hungarian-born British writer 

Arthur Koestler “is no closer to 

reality than Van Gogh's sky”. This 

reality, the Speaker said is the same 

virtually everywhere. Including in 

the United States of America. It has 

nothing to do with the sophistication 

of the system, or the level of 

contentment of the people. It has 

everything to do with the universal 

human element. Constituents even 

in the United States of America are 

occasionally feted by their elected 

representatives. 

Epilogue 

The ‘legislative process’ in any 

democracy is the heart and soul of 

the democratic enterprise. It is 

tended to for the overall good of the 

entire body polity, and it is ignored 

often at great peril not only to the 

Executive arm but to the entire 

system’s operation. The‘legislative 

process’ feeds the democratic 

circulatory system from the mighty 

jugular pipe of life, right to the 

minutest capillaries of everyday 

administration. It is the most allencompassing 

of any governmental 

processes touching on virtually all 

sectors of a polity and of a necessity 

leaving no stone unturned. 

I have interacted with lawmakers 

mostly at the national level. But my 

encounter with the Speaker of Lagos 

State House of Assembly, Rt. 

Honorable Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, 

was one of the most refreshing –not 

to add- down to earth experience. 

Besides, he is one of few Nigerian 

lawmakers I have met also who does 

not believe in the utopia of so called 

‘independence’ of the arms of 

government. Neither the 

Constitution he said theoretically 

envisages that nor does the practical 

reality of ‘checks and balances’ make 

that feasible. He believes like I have 

always espoused in my writings, that 

all arms of government are interdependent 

–and mutually selfchecking. 

Buhari, Winston Churchhill and OBJ (2) 

QUITE expectedly, the missive former 

President Obasanjo posted to President 

Buhari arrived with a bang at the public 

domain. Both the traditional and social media 

were set afire immediately after. The message 

in the special statement came down hard on 

the government for failures to live up to the 

expectations of Nigerians. In fact, his 

assessment of performance of Muhammadu 

Buhari as President was so low that he asked 

him not to run for a second term of office. 

Should Buhari decide to run again, Obasanjo 

promised that he would be in the vanguard of 

a coalition to frustrate the effort. There is no 

doubt that Obasanjo was riding on the crest of 

popular opinion that had been openly 

expressed in the media. He had said so in the 

letter, ‘Wherever I go, I hear Nigerians 

complaining, murmuring in anguish and 

anger’. Over the years Obasanjo had chosen 

his time to release this kind of bomb of a letter. 

And typical of the crafty, war-tested General, 

his intervention would always surprise and 

aggravate the government and citizens alike. 

One could understand the frustration of the 

former President. He probably recalled his 

days when in 1999 he moved from Ota Farm 

into the Presidential Villa and things moved at 

a frenetic pace. There were no dull moments, 

only upheavals in the public service, in the 

National Assembly and the country at large. 

On assumption of duty from day one, Obasanjo 

hit the ground running, making all his key 

appointments and taking them all into a 

retreat where his vision and plans for the 

country were spelt out. From then on we saw 

the creation of new institutions which were 

given to fresh hands and then unleashed into 

the entirety of the Nigerian public service for 

holistic reforms in many sectors. There is no 

doubt that Obasanjo’s reform programme that 

changed the face of the nation has yet to be 

surpassed. May be it is the sense of urgency he 

ran affairs of government in his time that he 

found lacking now. He must be finding the 

ponderous and lackadaisical approach to 

governance of this administration very 

frustrating. 

It was the lot of Lai Mohammed, the 

Information Minister to give a reply to 

Obasanjo. Lai Mohammed, the consummate 

public relations man, usually self-assured, 

suave and never lacking the words to explain 

away any situation, was seen that day on 

television, stuttering and stumbling over the 

words of a script that I guess didn’t have his 

input. Displaying an unusual amount of 

obsequiousness, the Minister lamented that 

probably due to Obasanjo’s very busy schedule 

he, ‘may not have been fully availed of 

developments to the government’s efforts to 

revamp the economy, which was battered by 

the consequences of overdependence on a 

commodity as well as unprecedented pillaging 

of the treasury’. He then went to list 

achievements of the administration in spite of 

All these barbs from the 

Ota Observatory would 

have been deflected with 

ease if the government 

was seen to be proactive 

and the President was up 

and about, dousing 

tensions here and there 

the challenges they met on the ground. The 

Minister carefully avoided the accusations of 

nepotism and cronyism. Probably the 

government felt that it would not want to join 

issues with Obasanjo on these now which 

unfortunately gave credence to his assertions. 

One could read from the Minister’s 

demeanour that may be Obasanjo had hit the 

bullseye, as darts players would say. 

I was not surprised that the Minister omitted 

to confront the accusation of nepotism and 

cronyism. I again raised the issue with my 

senior colleague whom I discussed with earlier 

and he was quick to tell me that, ‘nepotism is 

at the heart of the Presidential system of 

government. So long as the entire country 

entrusted its destiny into the hands of one 

person, then he should be given free hand to 

use whosoever to get the job done’. I came away 

from the discussion that the issue of nepotism 

had defied 

rectification even 

in the older 

democracies. 

In the United 

States a much 

older democracy 

they have been 

grappling with 

the issue for a very 

long time since 

when John 

Adams, the 2nd President (1797-1801) decided 

to appoint his son John Quincy Adams as an 

ambassador. This son later also became the 

6th US President (1825-29). In recent times, 

President John F Kennedy (1960-63) appointed 

his brother, Robert, as Attorney-General and 

we are all aware of the shenanigans in the 

Trump Presidency today where the daughter 

Ivanka holds an official position in the White 

House as a Special Assistant to the President 

and her husband Kushner is also a Senior 

Adviser to the President. Even though there is a 

US Federal anti-nepotism statute 1967, they 

circumvent it by not claiming salary for the 

job. 

In Latin America and the Asian democracies, 

the Presidential system in many instances just 

became a licence for the emergence of 

dynasties whereby sons succeeded fathers or 

husbands were succeeded by their wives. In 

South Africa, President Zuma just made an 

unsuccessful attempt to manoeuver his former 

wife to succeed him after his two terms. Here 

in Nigeria it is common practice in the state 

administrations. We have a farcical situation 

in one of the states where the brother-in-law to 

the Governor is the Chief of Staff in the 

Government House while the wife, the sister of 

the Governor, is a Commissioner and cabinet 

member. 

In any case, Obasanjo who is now 

sermonising against nepotism would not be 

exonerated from its taint. As my senior 

colleague pointedly asked, ‘when his daughter 

was made a commissioner during his 

Presidency in his home state, Ogun, and later 

even became a Senator, which grumpy old man 

wrote a letter to him? And mind you all the 

time Obasanjo was in the State House, the 

place was swarmed with his buddies, unofficial 

advisers of all hue, Nigerians and foreigners 

alike who all had serious inputs into policy 

making and implementation. You recall 

Andrew Young who served the United States 

as Ambassador to the United Nations in the 

late 1970s. He was virtually a permanent 

resident in the Presidential Villa. It is all part 

of the crony circle that Obasanjo is now 

shedding crocodile tears about’. 

In any case, all these barbs from the Ota 

Observatory would have been deflected with 

ease if the government was seen to be proactive 

and the President was up and about, dousing 

tensions here and there. It is incredible that the 

President allowed local issues of herdsmen and 

farmers to fester and become a rallying point 

of his opponents who have readily utilised it to 

woo even some of his ardent supporters 

particularly in the Middle-Belt states. The sour 

relationship with the leadership of the National 

Assembly is yet to be sorted out which affects 

not only approvals of appointments from the 

President but even more crucially the annual 

national budget which had always been very 

late in the year since the beginning of this 

administration. Obviously this affects the 

performance of the public service to no end. 

What should worry the supporters of the 

President should be the complacency tinged 

with a dose of cockiness within the government 

circle and the APC. There is a feeling of 

entitlement pervading their consciousness that 

since the Nigerian Armed Forces have 

degraded the Boko Haram and reclaimed all 

the lost territories they have the second term in 

the pocket. The government and the APC also 

believe that having Buhari as a leader with his 

integrity still unspoiled that they have the best 

brand to re-present to the country in 2019. 

Nevertheless Obasanjo’s letter must be a wakeup 

call to both the Presidency and the APC to 

get their acts together and make amends if 

they want to return to power after the first term. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


ONE of the high points of the just 

concluded 30th African Union, AU, 

Heads of State and Government 

Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 

was the special recognition of six 

member countries by the African 

Leaders Malaria Alliance, ALMA - an 

alliance of 49 African countries 

working to end malaria on the 

continent by 2030. 

For reducing malaria cases by more 

than 20 per cent from 2015 to 

2016, Madagascar, The Gambia, 

Senegal and Zimbabwe received the 

2018 ALMA Awards for 

Excellence while Algeria and Comoros 

were similarly honoured with the same 

Awards for being on-track to achieve 

more than 40 per cent drop in malaria 

by 2020. 

The ALMA Scorecard for 

Accountability & Action tracks progress 

and drives action on malaria control 

and elimination, and are chosen by an 

independent committee of experts in 

Sustaining the war against malaria 

health, academia, and the private 

sector. 

It was not surprising that Nigeria was 

missing on the list of top performers. 

According to new data from the 2017 

World Malaria Report, World Health 

Organization, WHO, publication 

presented at the AU Summit, Nigeria 

constitutes 27 per cent of malaria cases 

worldwide and has the largest funding 

gap in malaria elimination in Africa. 

The nation currently faces a financial 

gap of N504 billion, $1.4 billion, 

required to implement its national 

malaria strategy by 2020. 

Out of 30 African countries analysed 

in the report, Nigeria alone accounts 

for 53 per cent of the $1.3 billion 

funding gap for essential commodities 

that include 76 per cent of the funding 

gap in Artemisinin Combination 

Therapy, ACT, and 86 per cent of the 

funding gap for Rapid Diagnostic Test 

kits, RDTs. 

For sheer numbers and threat to 

human life, Nigeria is hardest-hit by 

malaria even in the face of availability 

of simple cost-effective preventive 

measures, including consistent use of 

long-lasting insecticide treated 

mosquito nets, and anti-malaria 

treatment for pregnant women. 

W h i l e a p p l a u d i n g 

sustained progress by other countries 

against malaria, a big lesson for 

Nigeria is the need to 

prioritise domestic funding and 

efficiently utilise available donor funds 

to expand access to life-saving antimalaria 

tools, improve data 

surveillance and strengthen the health 

systems. 

The other lesson is exemplary 

leadership. The place of Nigeria in the 

malaria elimination campaign should 

be more decisive because the world has 

moved on to set more ambitious but 

achievable elimination goals for 2030. 

It is unacceptable that Nigeria 

continues to shoulder a significant 

proportion of the world’s malaria 

burden while more countries have 

moved or are moving towards 

eliminating the disease. 

Nigeria cannot afford to take its 

eyes off malaria. There should never 

be room for complacency if malaria is 

to be effectively tackled and eliminated. 

The fight against malaria can be won if 

everyone at all levels is involved, from 

the Presidency to the community. 

By Chukwudi Enekwechi 

THE history of mass murder of Jews in 

the Concentration camps by the 

German Nazi (Third Reich) has once more 

come into focus following a deliberate effort 

by some politicians and historians mostly 

Israelis, to rope the state of Poland into the 

atrocities despite evidences to the contrary. 

From the beginning, let us establish the 

fact that the Poles have never denied there 

was a holocaust, but the clarity they insist 

must be made is that though there were cases 

of anti-semitism and even secret 

collaboration with the Nazzi occupier, these 

did not have the sanction of Poland as a 

state. 

In fact, Poland as an underground state 

during the war repudiated any 

maltreatment of the Jews during the Nazi 

occupation. In fact, such acts of betrayal 

against the Jews was met with a death 

penalty under the secretive and reclusive 

Polish government of the infamous 

occupation of Poland by the Nazi Germany. 

As a deliberate effort to put the record 

straight Poland is seeking an ‘amendment 

to the IPN Law to eliminate from public life 

in Poland and abroad the attribution of 

responsibility or co-responsibility to the 

Polish nation or state for Nazi crimes by the 

Third Reich despite facts proving otherwise’. 

In 2017, the Polish authorities identified 

cases that use the term “Polish Death Camp” 

by foreign media. The amendment is 

intended to prevent individuals or group of 

persons from slandering the Polish state, but 

this is without protecting isolated 

individuals who had on their own carried 

out murderous activities against the Jews. 

Therefore, the hostile reaction of 

OPINION 

Revisiting ‘Nazi death camps’ in Poland 

representatives regarding the new law is 

uncalled for and needless. First, the 

amendment of the law does not debar a 

public conversation or healthy debate about 

the holocaust. 

Why then should there 

be a direct or indirect 

reference to Poland as 

taking part in the 

holocaust despite 

glaring evidence to the 

contrary 

The draft law has been in the public 

domain for over fifteen years and this 

necessitated and open and wide consultation 

on the new law. As a matter of fact, the 

Standing Committee of Ministers adopted 

the draft on June 3, 2016 and the first 

reading took place on October 6, 2016. 

A typical example of the consultations that 

took place in the course of seeking an 

amendment to the law is that on July 15, 

2016 a meeting was held between high 

ranking representatives of the Poland 

Ministry of Justice which was responsible 

for coordinating the amendment, and the 

Ambassador of Israel, Anna Azari, who 

made some remarks about the draft. 

The result is that the opinions of various 

stakeholders, institutions and organisations, 

including the Israeli embassy were included 

in Act 55a paragraph 3 which guaranteed 

the freedom of academic and artistic 

activities in the amendment. 

Furthermore, during meetings between 

the leadership of the Ministry of Justice with 

representatives of the Israeli embassy 

including Ambassador Azari which took 

place on July 6 and October 7, 2017, the 

embassy did not comment on the 

amendment of the IPN law. This can be 

interpreted as acquiescence or agreement. 

In furtherance of their diplomatic 

understanding’’ Poland and Israel had on 

November 12, 2016 issued a joint 

declaration condemning the use of false 

terminology and memory codes such as 

“Polish death camps’’. This implies that 

Israel signed the statement knowing of the 

IPN law. So there is no ambiguity or 

confusion as to intendment of the new law 

ab-initio. 

There is need to ask the question why the 

Germans set up a death camps in the 

conquered territory of Poland? Out of the 

six million Jews living in Europe before 

WWII, three million of them were domiciled 

in Poland and the German Nazi found it 

convenient to assemble for extermination 

using their lethal gas chambers. So there is 

no question about the role of the German 

Third Reich in the atrocities committed 

against the Jews living in Poland and other 

parts of Europe in the holocaust. 

Why then should there be a direct or 

indirect reference to Poland as taking part 

in the holocaust despite glaring evidence to 

the contrary. Such deliberate attempt to 

smear the image of Poland as responsible 

member of the international community 

must not be allowed to stand. It must be 

vehemently debunked and the record put 

straight. That is what this piece seeks to 

achieve. In December 1942, the leadership 

of the Poland underground state set up a 

body specifically designed to help Jews in 

dire need. 

It was named the Council for the Aid to 

Jews, with the code name ‘’Zegota’’. This 

was the only such organisation in the 

German occupied Europe. And let’s not 

forget that during the war, Poles and Polish 

Jews shared similar fate as both were victims 

of Germany’s criminal policies and 

aggression by hostile neighbours. It suffice 

to say that population of Poland diminished 

by 18 percent and apart from three million 

mln Jews killed by the Germens, another 

three million who lost their life were Polish. 

To put it in proper perspective and to 

support Poland’s position of non-culpability 

in the Holocaust, Szewach Weiss the former 

Israeli Ambassador to Poland and former 

head of the Knesset said:’’ I will like young 

Jews to be told the truth- that in many 

European countries there were governments 

collaborating with Germany: France, 

Norway, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, but 

there was no Polish state cooperating with 

Hitler. This Poland was a glorious exception 

in Europe. There were never any Polish 

extermination camps. None.’’ 

Need I say more? 

*Mr. Enekwechi, a journalist wrote from 

Abuja.

Pension fund assets hit N7.5trn in 

2017 — NBS 

•53.8% invested in FGN Bonds 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan the third quarter of 2017. 

N 

The data revealed that of the 

IGERIA Bureau of more than 7.8 million members 

Statistics (NBS) registered under the pension 

yesterday said that the scheme in Q4 2017, 3.4 million 

nation’s pension fund assets members were from the public 

grew by N351 billion to N7.5 

trillion in the fourth quarter of 

2017 (Q4 2017) 

The Bureau disclosed this in 

its Pension Asset and 

Membership Data report for 

the fourth quarter of 2017. 

The report however revealed 

that that N4.04 trillion 

representing 53.81 percent of 

the pension funds assets were 

invested in the Federal 

Government of Nigeria (FGN) 

Bonds, while 15.38 percent 

amounting to N1.18 trillion 

went into Treasury Bills (TBs). 

The statistics further showed 

that N672.23 billion or 8.94 

percent was invested in 

domestic ordinary shares, 

N626.3 billion or 8.33 percent 

in banks, while N262.49 

billion or 3.48 percent was 

invested in corporate bonds. 

“FGN Bonds has the highest 

weight percentage of 53.81 

percent of the total pension 

fund assets and closely 

followed by treasury bills with 

15.68 percent weight and 

domestic ordinary Shares with 

8.94 percent weight while 

agency bonds have the least 

with 0.08 percent weight,” the 

report stated. 

By Babajide Komolafe 

NBS further disclosed that 

F 

the Pension Asset and RSA SDH Merchant Bank 

Membership Data for the yesterday released its 

fourth quarter reflected that economic outlook for 2018, 

7.82 million workers are highlighting adjustment in 

registered under the pension electricity tariff, adjustment in price 

scheme compared to 7.71 of petrol and the crisis in the middle 

million registered workers in belt as threats to achievement of 

single digit inflation. 

Among other things, 

the company projected 

$122.70 -0.15 

3.16 percent Gross 

Domestic Product 

$2,040.00-1.00 

(GDP) growth rate, 

N345 per dollar 

$13.74 -0.10 

exchange rate, decline 

in inflation rate to 

single digit and stock 

market growth rate of 

$66.77 -0.09 

27.43 percent for 2018. 

63.15 -0.24 

Speaking at the 

media presentation of 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

the FSDH Economic 

and Financial Market 

Outlook (2018-2022), 

titled, “Strong Growth 

Prospect with Downside 

Risks”, Head of 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

304.8 305.3 305.8 

423.5501 424.2449 424.9397 

376.5194 377.1371 377.7547 

325.0507 325.5839 326.1171 

2.7915 2.796 2.8006 

0.559 0.569 0.579 

443.5169 444.2444 444.972 

48.4185 48.4984 48.5782 

81.2757 81.409 81.5423 

444.307 445.0358 445.7647 

50.9716 51.0552 51.1388 

25.3133 25.3548 25.3964 

CBN Exchange rate as at 7/02/2018 

sector while 4.4 million 

members were from the private 

sector. In the public sector, 

1.9 million were from the 

federal government while 1.5 

million members were from 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 — 19 

state government. 

“Participants within the age 

distribution 30-39 years have 

the highest percentage 

composition closely followed 

by participants within the age 

bracket of 40-49 years and 50- 

59 years while participants 

above 60 years have the least 

percentage composition”, the 

Bureau stated. 

UNVEILING: from left, Joseph Mekiliuwa, Divisional Head, Sales and Business Development, 

Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Eric Idiahi, Board Member, CSCS Plc, Haruna 

Jalo-Waziri, MD/CEO, CSCS Plc, and Syed Khrrum Zaeem, Head, Transaction Banking, Nigeria 

and West Africa, Standard Chartered Bank during the unveiling of CSCS 3-year strategic Plan 

in Lagos . 

FSDH highlights threats to single digit 

inflation in 2018 

Research, FSDH 

Merchant Bank, Mr. 

Ayodele Akinwunmi 

listed three major risks 

to single digit inflation 

in 2018. 

He said: “Number 

one is adjustment to electricity tariff, 

with the parameters that are meant 

to determine the tariff, we actually 

have exceeded it. The electricity 

tariff has two critical factors namely: 

the gas price and the exchange rate. 

That is why the tariff we have in 

that sector now is no longer cost 

reflective. 

“There is a need for them to 

increase it and if they do there will 

likely be more investment that will 

come to their sector. Once 

investment comes in you and I can 

get at least 20 hours electricity in a 

day across the country and when 

that happens it may increase the 

Consumer Price Index.” 

“Number two is the adjustment 

to premium motor spirit (PMS). We 

cannot over flog this. We hear what 

all of them are saying across the 

country that the price of PMS 

landing cost is far higher than 

where the price is. If we are not 

going to pay subsidy on PMS it 

means that that price has to be 

adjusted up a bit. 

“And of course the rising crisis in 

the middle belt, the Niger or Benue 

state, which is a food basket in this 

country and if these issues are not 

tackled on time it may likely lead 

to food shortage. It is a recipe for 

food shortage which will make food 

prices to go up.’’ 

Customs intercepts goods worth N1.7bn in January 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

THE Federal Operations 

Unit, FOU, Zone A of the 

Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has 

generated into the federation 

account N1.7 billion as Duty Paid 

Value, DPV from seized contraband 

goods, under declaration and 

concealment by smugglers and 

importers in the month of January. 

Customs Area Controller, CAC of 

the Zone, Mohammed Uba Gbarba, 

said the seized items include 31 

luxury vehicles, 14 trailers of foreign 

per boiled rice, 1,652 cartons of 

frozen poultry products, vegetable 

oil, Indian Hemp, second hand 

cloths amongst others. 

The Customs boss explained 

that the detained vehicles 

include four Rolls Royce, one 

Porsche Panamera, one 

Jaguar, one Bentley, two 

Lexus Jeep, two Mercedes 

Benz G Wagon, one Toyota 

Land Cruiser, five Toyota 

Corolla, seven Mercedes Benz 

amongst other. 

He noted that the 31 

vehicles alone have a DPV of 

Power Africa 

supplies 

technical 

equipment 

support to 

EKEDC 

By Ediri Ejoh 

IN line with its mission to 

boost power supply in Nigeria, 

the Power Africa, a U.S. 

Government-led initiative 

coordinated by the United States 

Agency for International 

Development (USAID) yesterday 

supplied some technical equipment 

to the Eko Electricity Distribution 

Company (EKEDC). 

The development was aimed at 

boosting the logistical and technical 

foundation of the company. 

The official delivery of the items 

was performed yesterday at Eko 

Disco Corporate Headquarters in 

Marina, Lagos. 

Speaking at the delivery 

ceremony, Chairman of the Board, 

Eko Disco, Mr. Charles 

ItseMomoh, expressed satisfaction 

on the positive outcome of the 

partnership between the two 

bodies, adding that the choice of 

EKEDC as one of the beneficiary 

for the USAID partnership would 

go a long way in building a new 

culture of excellence that has been 

the focus of the core investors of 

the company since 2013. 


partnership would add much more 

value and produce more dividends 

than envisaged. 

Representative of USAID/Tetra 

Tech, Mr. Gela Kereselidza, said 

the equipment supplied would 

serve as a big support for the 

attainment of performanceimprovement 

goal of the 

partnership. 

He noted that the performance 

of Eko Disco, so far, has been 

encouraging and USAID was 

convinced that the choice of the 

company for the partnership was 

not a wrong decision. 

Gela pointed out that the two 

units of state-of- the art Zera Test 

System among the equipment 

would help reduce Aggregate 

Technical, Commercial and 

Collection (ATC&C) losses in the 

company. 

It was gathered that apart from 

the Zera test system, other 

equipment expected to be supplied 

include 500 hundred DT statistic 

meters with all accessories (CTs, 

Switchers, Boxes and etc) to boost 

metering efficiency and billing 

accuracy. 

N1.42 billion. 

The Customs boss said some of 

the vehicles were intercepted at 

Ijebu Ode expressway, while the 

others were evacuated at various 

raids in Parkview Estate, Victoria 

Island, Banana Island, Alhaji 

Bankole Crescent Ikeja and Tola 

Adewunmi Street Maryland, Lagos. 

He also disclosed that the DPV 

for the rice, 10 bags of Indian Hemp, 

159 bales of second hand cloths and 

vegetable oil were N103.6 million, 

N960,000, N5,724,000 and 

N4,063,500 respectively.


By Peter Egwuatu 

Two players in the 

Nigerian retail and 

hospitality industry, 

VEEDA Nigeria and EPOS 

Solutions, at the weekend 

signed a partnership that 

would see both 

organisations working 

together to deliver 

superior inventory 

management solutions to 

small and large scale 

companies in the 

country. 

In a statement, Managing 

VEEDA, , EPOS partner to boost business operations 

Director, VEEDA 

Nigeria, Mr. Bill 

expressed delight at the 

prospect of the 

partnership helping to 

revolutionise the 

conduct of businesses 

through cost reduction 

and improved efficiency. 

"The partnership would 

provide platform for 

customised complete 

solutions delivery to 

retail & hospitality 

businesses with 

exceptional customer 

service across the 

country," Bill said. 

Chief Executive Officer, 

EPOS Solutions, Kayode 

Ayansola, said the 

partnership would 

guarantee smooth 

business operations and 

ensure healthy returns 

on investment by 

helping to improve 

corporate efficiency. 

"We are happy with this 

partnership as it ensures 

core product software is 

running on an industryleading 

hardware system 

in Nigeria. We are also 

confident that it would 

guarantee smooth 

business operations for 

our clients," Ayansola 

said. 

Industry watchers who 

witnessed the ceremony 

said they were hopeful 

that the new partnership 

is capable of assisting 

many troubled small 

businesses to overcome 

the challenge of internal 

breaches that lead to 

revenue losses and 

collapse. 

The VEEDA brand is 

famous for its range of 

Smart Point of Sale (PoS), 

Smart PoS scale, 

Thermal Printers, 

Barcode Printers, Mobile 

Printers, Barcode 

Scanners, Cash drawers 

and consumables. Its 

sales network has 

matured to include 

growing outlets in 

Nigeria, the rest of Africa, 

Asia and Europe. 

EPOS Solutions is the 

exclusive partner to 

EPOS NOW, United 

Kingdom's number one 

inventory management 

platform currently 

deployed by over 

30,000 retail businesses 

in over 103 countries. 

LSETF disburses ses N4.1bn to 4,762 

applicants 

*Allocates 16% to tech startups 

Getting business 

loans from banks (7) 

Diamond Bank 

By Yinka Kolawole 

The Lagos State 

Employment 

Trust Fund 

(LSETF) said it has 

successfully disbursed 

N4.1 billion loans to 

4,762 applicants as at 

the end of 2017, even as 

it has provided 16 

percent of its allocation 

to tech startups. 

Figures obtained from 

LSETF shows that a total 

of N4.9 billion loans 

were approved for 

disbursement to 6,548 

applicants out of which 

N4.1 billion was actually 

disbursed to 4,762 

applicants. 

A breakdown of 

allocation of the 

approved loans 

revealed that N1.99 

billion loans have been 

approved to applicants 

in the Micro Enterprises 

(ME) category, out of 

which N61 million has 

been disbursed to 

trained applicants to 

start-up their own micro 

enterprises. For 

businesses operating 

within the Small and 

Medium Enterprises 

(SME) space, N2.91 

billion was approved. 

The beneficiaries of the 

loan scheme 

created 

3,180 jobs 

a c r o s s 

different 

sectors as at 

end of last 

y e a r , 

according to 

LSETF. 

Meanwhile, 

after the 

successful 

launch of the 

MSME loan 

scheme, 

LSETF in 

December 2017 

commenced program of 

initiatives to support 

technology-based 

entrepreneurship and 

tech startups in Lagos 

State, with the launch of 

Lagos Innovates, a set 

of programs aimed at 

making it easier to build 

a successful tech startup 

in the state. 

"The funding of tech 

startups in the LSETF 

scheme has enabled the 

Lagos State government 

to participate actively 

through investment in 

the local ICT market. 

LSETF has provided 16 

percent of its allocation 

to tech startups. By 

focusing on tech 

startups, LSETF will act 

as a channel to expand 

and accelerate the 

business growth in this 

sector as well as 

increase employment 

opportunities. 

"LSETF has created a 

program specially to 

help Innovation Driven 

Enterprises (IDEs), of 

which technology 

entrepreneurs make up 

a large percentage. 

Technology startups 

and technology startup 

founders will have 

access to the different 

programs under Lagos 

Innovates. These 

programs will range 

from physical 

workspace vouchers to 

hub loans and a wide 

range of other 

programs. 

"This initiative bears 

vital importance to the 

growth 

and 

development of 

entrepreneurs in the 

knowledge-based 

economy. 

Besides, these new 

structures and strategies 

are being explored and 

formulated by the Lagos 

State government to 

help technology-based 

SMEs grow and to offer a 

promising future within 

the global marketplace. 

In this case, 

techpreneurs will be able 

to expand themselves to 

compete in this 

borderless world, while 

adding value to their 

communities to achieve 

sustainability," LSETF 

stated. 

This is a continuation of the series on 

Diamond Bank's offers for small businesses 

which we started three weeks ago (every 

Thursday). 

Diamond Bank has a number of loan products 

packaged specially for small businesses, which 

they refer to as 'Emerging Businesses'. We have 

discussed in full the first one they call 'Emerging 

Businesses Revolving Loan'. 

Last week we began discussing the second one 

they call 'Emerging Businesses Vehicle and Asset 

Financing' loan designed to get your business on 

the road to expansion with the opportunity to 

purchase vehicles and other fixed assets to 

facilitate your business growth. 

We had noted some basic features of the loan 

as well as the variety of assets/equipment eligible 

for the loan. 

Additional features of the loan package include 

the tenor which the bank says could be up to 

three years. 

The bank also said that its interest rate is 

competitive but no fixed rate. It is believed that 

you can equally negotiate the rates. And the 

bank says that there are no hidden charges, a 

claim you may have to verify. 

The bank says it would give the loan beneficiary 

access to its financial advisory services at no 

extra cost. 

You can choose to pay back the loan before 

expiration without penalty, meaning you can 

reduce your total cost of the loan by early 

repayment. 

Diamond Bank's Emerging Businesses Vehicle 

and Asset Financing loan is meant for its business 

customers. But it requires the prospective 

beneficiary to maintain a minimum of three 

months banking relationship with the bank 

before applying for the loan. 

It is necessary to obtain further details about 

this loan package from any Diamond Bank 

branch. 

Next week we’ll discuss Diamond Bank's 

Installmental Loan package offered under the 

bank's overall portfolio of Emerging Businesses.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018—21 

Facebook reports revenue enue growth for SMEs 

using its Apps 

By Destiny Eseaga 

An Economic Impact 

Study conducted by 

Facebook in partnership with 

Morning Consult Brand 

Intelligence has revealed the 

growing importance of digital 

platforms to Small and 

Medium Scale Enterprises 

(SMEs) in Nigeria. 

The report shows that 91 

percent of businesses using 

Facebook, WhatsApp and 

Instagram to trade said they 

recorded increase in demand 

for their goods and services, 

both home and abroad. 

The study which surveyed 

over 1,000 SMEs across a 

number of sectors including, 

Technology, Services, 

Manufacturing, Retail and 

Healthcare, revealed 

interesting insights into 

usage, 

potential 

opportunities for local 

businesses and the 

effectiveness of social media 

as a growth tool. 

Commenting on the 

research, SMB Sales 

Manager, EMEA, Abi 

Williams, said: "With rising 

access to the internet across 

Nigeria and the low cost of 

smartphones, digital platforms 

such as Facebook's family of 

Apps have become incredible 

mechanism to build 

communities and foster 

relationships. With more 

SMEs leveraging digital tools 

to communicate and engage 

with existing and potential 

customers, there have never 

been so many opportunities 

to maximize growth and 

connect with relevant 

customers locally and 

globally." 

According to the study, 82 

percent of entrepreneurs said 

that they used Facebook for 

business purposes with 60 

percent highlighting their 

usage as several times a day. 

68 percent believed that the 

platform have had a positive 

impact on their local 

community with 56 percent 

saying that it has helped to 

create jobs and economic 

opportunities locally. On 

financial impact, 64 percent 

explained that their profit 

margin increased 

significantly. 

Meanwhile, 89 percent 

maintained that they used the 

platform because they are 

able to attract customers in 

other countries thus 

increasing 

sales 

opportunities for them. 

The report confirmed that 

69 percent of respondents 

agreed that they used 

WhatsApp to provide 

information to their 

customers several times in a 

From Left: Nigeria Bottling Company, NBC Benin Plant Manager, Irene Ugwoke, 

Chairman, NBC Board of Directors, Ambassador Segun Apata presenting the Coca-Cola 

Crystal glass bottle to H.E Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State in Benin, Edo state. 

day while 74 percent said 

they use the messaging 

platform to address the 

challenges they have in the 

area of finding and working 

with their suppliers. 70 

percent said they use the 

service to increase revenue 

with 51 percent believing that 

it has helped to secure 

funding for their business. 

In the case of Instagram, 66 

percent disclosed that the 

platform has helped them to 

address the challenges of 

finding and working with 

suppliers with 45 percent 

saying that they have been 

able to secure finances for 

their businesses. 

10,000 SMEs 

set for 

e-Business fair 

Over 10,000 Small and 

Medium Scale 

Enterprises (SMEs) are 

expected to attend this 

year’s edition of SME 

eBusiness fair organised 

annually by Connect 

Nigeria. 

Scheduled to hold in Lagos 

next month, the fair is 

reputed as one of the largest 

gatherings of SMEs in Africa. 

According to a statement 

from the organisers, 

participants can explore the 

many business prospects 

available 

while 

entrepreneurs can learn the 

skills they need to grow their 

businesses in today’s techdriven 

world. 

“Since inception in 2011, 

the event has been 

dedicated to promoting 

business for SMEs, assisting 

Nigerian businesses achieve 

global competitiveness, 

empowering thousands of 

business owners, start-ups, 

and aspiring entrepreneurs, 

enabling them to fast-track 

the growth of their 

businesses. 

N550bn export facilities: 

NEXIM invit 

vites SMEs in South-East, Delta states to access funds 

By Yinka Kolawole 

The Nigerian Export- 

Import Bank (NEXIM) has 

invited export-oriented 

Small and Medium 

Entrepreneurs (SMEs) in the 

South-East and Delta States to 

access the N500 billion 

Export Stimulation Facility 

(ESF) and the N50 billion 

Export Development Fund to 

boost their businesses, create 

By Princewill Ekwujuru 

Nigerian Breweries Plc, 

NB, makers of Goldberg 

lager beer, said it is taking its 

Isedowo campaign to Oyo 

State to empower successful 

artisans with grants of 

N300,000 each to grow their 

business. 

Isedowo is an 

interventionist scheme 

where participants are 

expected to showcase their 

business ideas and how it will 

impact the society. 

The scheme is part of the 

Goldberg brand affinity with 

the people of the Southwest 

beyond culture and tradition. 

jobs, and contribute to the 

foreign exchange revenue 

earnings of the country. 

The facilities were made 

available to NEXIM Bank last 

December by the Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for 

lending at a maximum of 9 

percent interest rate. The 

funds were designed to 

redress the declining export 

credit to SMEs and reposition 

the non-oil sector to increase 

NB to empower artisans 

in Oyo through Isedowo 

100 artisans across the South 

Western region will benefit 

from the scheme. 

Portfolio Manager, 

Mainstream Lager and Stout 

brands, NB, Mr. Emmanuel 

Agu, said through Isedowo, 

Goldberg has demonstrated 

an unwavering commitment 

to improving the businesses 

of artisans in the South-West, 

as finance for investment 

and expansion has been a 

major challenge to most of 

them. 

"Isedowo has also reduced 

the rate of unemployment in 

the region as the grants have 

led to job and wealth creation 

in the region," Agu stated. 

its contribution to the country's 

revenue generation and 

economic development. The 

improved export financing for 

non-oil exporters is to enable 

them to upscale and expand 

their businesses and improve 

their competiveness. 

Managing Director/CEO of 

NEXIM, Mr. Abba Bello, made 

the call, at a one-day seminar 

on "Leveraging NEXIM Bank 

Facilities to Unleash Export 

Potential", organised by the 

bank and SME Centre in 

Enugu. 

A statement made available 

to Vanguard noted that Head 

of the Bank's Enugu Regional 

Office, Mr. Chinedu Moghalu, 

who represented the MD, said 

the funds are made available 

to NEXIM by CBN at a time the 

bank had decentralized its 

operations to all the regions 

of the country for easier 

accessibility of its products 

and services to maximum 

impact. 

He stated: "NEXIM Bank is 

determined to ensure these 

funds achieve the desired 

impact of triggering non-oil 

export development, growth 

and economic progress in line 

with its mandate as the Trade 

Policy Bank of the Federal 

Government and the 

applicable CBN guidelines for 

the implementation of the 

facilities. The overall aim of the 

ESF and EDF is to lower 

the costs of Nigerian 

exporters so that their 

products can be priced at a 

level where they can 

compete with other 

products around the world." 

Moghalu urged eligible 

export-oriented companies 

in the Southeast and Delta 

States with permissible 

transactions under the 

schemes to participate in 

the funding scheme by 

submitting proposals for 

consideration through the 

financial institutions of 

their choice or directly to 

NEXIM Bank. 

The representative of 

Enugu State Governor and 

Special Assistant on SME 

Development, Anayo Agu, 

noted that the programme 

has come at the right time. 

"The opening of NEXIM 

Bank Regional Office for 

the Southeast and Delta 

States in Enugu, and the 

invitation to the SMEs to 

access affordable non-oil 

export facilities, will 

address the missing link in 

the efforts of various 

governments in the region 

to derive maximum 

benefits from their 

investments in the SME 

value chain, especially in 

agriculture and other nonoil 

sectors," he stated.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018



MDAs flout Buy -Made-in-Nigeria goods 

orders -- Labour 

Stories by Victor 

Ahiuma-Young 

FEW days ago, 

Minister of State 

for Industry, Trade 

and Investment, Hajia 

Aisha Abubakar, Senior 

officials of the Ministry, 

Director General, Nigeria 

Textile Manufacturers 

Association, Managing 

Director, BOI and other 

stakeholders, were guests 

of the National Union of 

Textile, Garment and 

Tailoring Workers of 

Nigeria, NUTGTWN, at 

the Union's national 

secretariat, Kaduna. 

Among others, the 

meeting centered around 

revival of the 

manufacturing sector in 

the country, particularly 

the textile sub sector. 

In a presentation at the 

meeting, General 

Secretary of the Union 

and Vice President, 

IndustriALL Global 

Union, Comrade Issa 

Aremu, lamented that 

despite President 

Muhammadu Buhari's 

directive, Ministries, 

Departments and 

Agencies, MDAs, have 

refused to patronise 

locally made goods, in 

this case, fabrics. 

Aremu is of the opinion 

that had the MDAs been 

patronizing made-in 

Nigeria products as 

directed by President 

Buhari, it would have 

gone a long way in 

boosting local production. 

He contended that 

there would not be 

development without 

industry, saying: "The 

point cannot be 

overstated. There cannot 

be development without 

industry. Only industry 

can provide sustainable 

jobs and living wages and 

necessary revenues for 

government to provide the 

needed infrastructure for 

development. For a 

diverse country like 

Nigeria, Industry is also 

a unifier. There was once 

a Nigeria in which we 

have textile industry in all 

the geo-political zones of 

the country. This is why 

our union is a Pan- 

Nigerian. 

"For Africa to meet the 

Sustainable Development 

Goal 2030, especially 

SDG 9 dealing with 

industry and innovation, 

African continent must 

President of NUTGTWN, Comrade John Adaji, Minister of State for 

Trade, Industry and Investment ,Hajia Aisha Abubakar, and General 

Secretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu, during the Minister's visit 

to the Union's National Secretariate, in Kaduna. 

innovate and 

industrialize. Africa must 

copy 

China's 

industrialization drive 

which has within 20 years 

moved over 500 million 

people out of poverty 

through sustainable 

employment and wageled 

manufacturing and 

industrialization. Africa 

must make what it 

consumes, otherwise it 

will be consumed by the 

rest of the world." 

Challenges 

While commending the 

executive orders issued by 

the Federal Executive in 

line with the promise of 

President Buhari on the 

ease of doing business, 

saying "Of special 

importance to textile 

industry is the order 

mandating Government 

agencies to spend more 

of their budgets on locally 

produced goods. This 

singular order would help 

in the recovery of the 

textile and garment 

industry if complied with. 

"We acknowledge and 

commend the Federal 

Government of Nigeria 

for launching the 

Economic Recovery and 

Growth Plan, ERGP. 

However, it is surprising 

the National Cotton, 

Textile & Garment, CTG, 

policy was not built into 

the ERGP. The 

government should 

ensure 

the 

implementation of CTG 

policy as adopted by the 


since 2014. The major 

highlight in that policy is 

that we must ensure that 

there is uninterrupted 

electricity supply to textile 

industry, as well as other 

manufacturing industries. 

"Inspite of the efforts by 

the Federal government, 

the textile industry is yet 

to revive. Only recently, 

the industry recorded 

about 700 direct job losses 

due to retrenchment in 

some of the remaining 

factories. There is high 

influx of counterfeit and 

smuggled goods due to 

weak enforcement of 

import prohibition policy. 

The Federal government 

should do what is being 

done on rice importation 

to textile. We need a 

Special Task Force against 

smuggling just as on 

Rice." 

Low patronage 

According to 

NUTGTWN's scribe, 

Union ends industrial action against Bristow 

Helicopters, Caverton 

By Lawani Mikairu 

THE 

National 

Association of Aircraft 

Pilots and Engineers , 

NAAPE, has called off its 

industrial action against 

Bristow Helicopters, and 

Caverton Helicopters . 

General Secretary of 

NAAPE, Comrade Aba 

Ocheme, who confirmed 

the development, said: "We 

have signed an agreement 

with the management of 

Caverton, and the strike has 

been called off. For Bristow, 

we will still be meeting with 

the management today, to 

iron out some issues 

affecting our members. But 

in the interim, we have 

directed our members to 

resume at their duty posts 

so that operations can 

continue, " he said. 

Recall that Bristow and 

Caverton Helicopters 

operations were last week 

grounded by NAAPE 

members protesting 

perceived unfair and 

discriminating labour 

practice by the two 

companies. NAAPE had 

asked all its members to 

withdrawn their services to 

the firm. 

Also, all affiliates of United 

Labour Congress of 

Nigeria, ULC, in solidarity 

with NAAPE, including 

Nigeria Petroleum and 

Natural Gas Workers, 

NUPENG, agreed to 

withdraw all services 

rendered by companies 

particularly supply of 

aviation fuel. 

Reacting to the closure of 

their operations, the 

management of Bristow 

Helicopters had said the 

union's industrial action 

commenced without due 

notification to Bristow and 

that is a violation of the 

relevant labour laws. 

According to Mr 

Abednego Galadima, 

President, NAAPE, the 

shut Bristow Group would 

be indefinite until all the 

issues in contention had 

been equitably resolved. 

Recall that Bristow and 

NAAPE have been in a 

frosty relationship for over 

four years now. Within this 

period, not a single labour 

issue has been completely 

"There is low 

patronage inspite of the 

Executive Orders issued 

by the Federal Executive. 

The challenge is for the 


ensure that its 

Ministries, Departments 

and Agencies make the 

executive orders a reality 

in patronizing locally 

produced textiles. The 

police and Customs 

department should stop 

buying officers uniforms 

from Bangladesh and 

China, when the 

surviving textile factories 

can produce at home. 

There should also be 

sustainable industrial 

policy in place for the 

country. All the things 

that led to the death of 

our industries can be 

traced to inconsistent 

industrial policy. There 

should be a sustainable 

industrial policy 

emphasising the need to 

add value to cotton rather 

than importing finished 

goods or textiles from 

abroad 

"As much as possible, 

we must ensure 

availability of raw 

material. It is an irony 

that Nigeria today is 

facing the problem of 

cotton. There should be 

abundant production of 

cotton locally. We have to 

give incentives to local 

farmers or cotton growers 

to see the need to 

produce raw materials, 

as well as food crops." 

resolved. "Not even 

several interventions by 

the Federal Ministry of 

Labour and Employment, 


Interior, and the Nigerian 

Civil Aviation 

Authority,NCAA, have 

succeeded in resolving 

any of the issues. 

We consider this 

shameful situation to be 

a sad and sorry tale of 

failure of industrial 

relations by both parties", 

Galadima revealed. 

He said some of these 

perennial disagreements 

with the management of 

Bristow Group include: 

Marginalisation of 

National Pilots and 

Engineers and Expatriate 

Quota Abuse. 

Labour seeks 

effective 

industrial law 

for workers 

SEngineering 

TEEL and 

Workers Union of 

Nigeria, SEWUN, 

has called on the 


to ensure that laws on 

industrial accidents 

are implemented for 

victims to get their 

benefits. 

Mr Umaru 

Osbuade, SEWUN’s 

Deputy President, 

spoke on why some 

occupational accident 

victims did not get 

a d e q u a t e 

compensation when 

injured. 

According to 

Osbuade, “there is a 

labour law on how to 

compensate a worker 

who is injured at 

work, but it is not 

implemented. But 

some companies, 

especially those 

owned by expatriates, 

are guilty of 

abandoning any 

worker that sustained 

injury at workplace. 

The workers are the 

problem because 

many of them are 

engaged without 

proper conditions of 

service. The workers 

accept anything 

because of 

unemployment rate. 

“Secondly, when 

there is any issue and 

it is taken to the 

appropriate official, 

the issue is delayed 

until the victims are 

forced to walk away. 

Also, the expatriate 

companies do not get 

the right advice from 

their legal partners 

on how to 

c o m p e n s a t e 

workers.” 

Osbuade stressed that 


Labour must ensure that 

when such cases were 

brought before them, 

steps should be taken for 

the victims to get quick 

justice. 

He, however, said it 

was inhuman to abandon 

an injured worker, 

saying that workers 

should join the labour 

union to ensure that their 

rights are protected. 

Osbuade said that, “If 

a worker suffers 

workplace accident and 

it is reported to the right 

union, the union would 

declare a trade dispute 

with the company until 

compensation is paid.”


By Josephine Agbonkhese 

What started out as a fantasy 

in the heart of just one 

woman barely two years ago, is 

today a source of great joy and 

pride for a nation and its 

continent at large. 

For the first time ever, Nigeria, 

a country with an average 

temperature of 77 degrees 

Fahrenheit in its coldest 

month—which, by implication 

has never known winter—will be 

participating in the 2018 Winter 

Olympics beginning this Friday, 

February 9, in South Korea. 

Thanks to four of its own, Seun 

Adigun, Akuoma Omeoga, 

Ngozi Onwumere and Simidele 

Adeagbo, all in the Diaspora, 

who are making this happen. 

The four girls who stormed 

Nigeria last week remain the 

rave of the moment. 

“The recently-formed 

Bobsled & Skeleton 

Federation of Nigeria has 

undergone the ritual of 

complete registration 

for the Winter 

Olympics. It is 

because these girls 

have made it 

happen that we 

took this on,” 

disclosed Chief 

Tunde Popoola, 

Secretary- 

General of 

the Nigeria 

Olympic 

Committee, in 

a telephone interview with 

Woman’s Own. 

Popoola who described the 

girls as an epitome of patriotism, 

said: “First of all, I see them as 

patriots and a people with 

immense love for their country. 

They have been very 

courageous and determined in 

their quest. So, even without 

them winning, I see them as 

heroes. If every Nigerian 

emulates that spirit and displays 

that kind of courage, 

determination and patriotism, 

we will get the Nigeria of our 

dream.” 

Coincidentally, all four 

women share some similarities: 

they have been professional 

track and field athletes, and all 

four have remained strongly 

connected to their roots even 

though they were born and bred 

abroad. 

The genesis: From sand 

to ice 

Impressed and inspired by 

some track-to-bobsled converts, 

Adigun, a three-time Nigerian 

National Champion and a twotime 

African Continental 

Champion who represented 

Team Nigeria at the 2012 

London Games, resolved to try 

•Akuoma Omeoga 

Winter Olympics, 

here we come! 

bobsled for herself in 2015, 

eventually earning a spot on the 

U.S. national team same year 

after only three months of 

training. She claimed a gold 

medal in less than one year and 

soon began to dream of having 

Nigeria compete in bobsled at 

the Winter Olympic Games. But 

there was a glitch for the 

Chicago-born who currently 

resides in Texas, and that was 

the fact that Nigeria neither had 

an active bobsled programme 

nor practised bobsled sport in 

any way. The burden therefore 

moved her to create a bobsled 

programme for Nigeria from 

scratch. With the recruitment of 

two other female Nigerian- 

American athletes she knew, 

•Simidele 

Adeagbo 

•Seun Adigun 

Omeoga and Onwumere, 

Nigeria’s first-ever bobsled team 

was formed in the United States 

of America. 

The 2017 Doctorate degree 

holder in Chiropractic/Master of 

Science holder in Exercise and 

Health Sciences, secured the 

consent of the Nigerian 

Government and soon, the 

Bobsled & Skeleton Federation 

of Nigeria was established in 

Nigeria, headed by Chief 

Solomon Ogba, and then her 

team finished the five qualifying 

races necessary to earn a spot 

in the Olympic bobsled 

competition. 

“This is my gift for my country. 

Success would be a legacy that 

would allow others to emulate 

•Ngozi Onwumere 

...as the dancing quartet heads for bobsled gold 

my path,” Adigun whose threewoman 

bobsled team qualified 

for the Winter Olympics late last 

year, said. 

Adeagbo retires from 

retirement 

But that dream of seeing 

others emulate her did not take 

long to happen. Hearing of 

Adigun and her team soon 

forced a Canada-born US-bred 

woman of Nigerian descent, 

Adeagbo, to end a nine-year 

retirement as a professional 

athlete to become a Winter 

Olympian in the sports of 

Skeleton Sled. Adeagbo, a fourtime 

NCAA All American and 

Continues on Page 26 

Gombe women cry out over multiple miscarriages 

...as Global Rights presents report 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

ABUJA- GOMBE women 

from a community called 

Miaganga in Akko Local 

Government Area of Gombe 

State, have cried out over 

multiple miscarriages, 

blindness and paralysis from 

coal mining activities by a 

mining giant. 

The women who spoke 

through their leader, Zachariah 

Ronah, during the presentation 

of report by an international 

organisation, Global Rights 

Nigeria, with theme: To Coal or 

Not To Coal: A Power Question, 

in Abuja, said they have been 

experiencing various health 

challenges that have even led 

to death of their family members 

due to pollution of the air, the 

only water source and their 

land. 

Ronah further stated that the 

women are now afraid to deliver 

their babies in the community. 

As soon as they take in, they 

leave the community to safer 

communities to deliver their 

babies before returning to their 

homes. 

She said farming which they 

rely on for livelihood, has been 

affected, thereby compounding 

the problem. She said newborn 

babies are having health 

challenges transferred to them 

by their mothers during 

pregnancy. 

According to her, only one 

woman was employed as cook 

Continues on Page 26 

UK pledges 

support for 

Nigerian 

women’s 

involvement in 

politics 

....pushes for 

passage of 

gender equality 

bill in Nigeria 

BY: Victoria Ojeme 

ABUJA: The British 

Government has pledged 

to support Nigerian women to 

be actively involved in politics. 

The UK Special envoy on 

gender equality, Joanna 

Roper, stated this in an 

interview with Vanguard 

in Abuja. 

Roper said that she 

had met with the 

Senate President, 

Bukola Saraki 

who she said 

pledged support 

on the passage 

of the gender bill 

by the National 

Assembly 

She said seeing 

more women in 

politics in Nigeria was 

a priority to the UK 

Government. 

“Nigeria and UK will work 

together on gender equality 

and others. 

“Twelve states in Nigeria have 

had their national plan on 

gender equality and this 

shows that UK and Nigeria 

can work together on it,” she 

said. 

According to her, the British 

Government is keen on women 

getting involved in politics in 

Nigeria. 

She said that the British 

government would help in the 

area of implementation of 

national action plan designed 

for it. 

“This could be easily done 

through the national plan at 

the state level, and a lot of 

efforts had been made in this 

regard. 

“I think conversation has 

started over it because that is 

where we could make impact; 

it is a work in progress. 

“Where we will be more 

concerned is in the area of 

female political participation 

and helping women to be part 

of mediation and conflict 

resolution,” she said. 

She added that “when women 

are involved in peace 

negotiation there is 35 per 

cent more likely to last 50 

years or more 

“I think everybody recognises 

the importance of women in 

negotiation,” she said. 

She said that UK budgeted a 

total 250 million pounds for 

conflict, security and stability. 

The fund, according to her, is 

what the British Government 

made available for security 

and conflict resolution, 

Roper said that she had earlier 

met with the Senate President, 

Bukola Saraki and had 

pledged to support the 

passage of gender equality 

bill.


By Sinmisola Sode 

Meghan 

Markle, 

American actress and 

humanitarian born on August 

4, 1981 to Thomas Markle, a 

Caucasian and Doria Ragland, 

an African-American, had a 

relationship with actor and 

producer, Trevor Engelson in 

2004 after which they got 

married on September 10, 

2011 and divorced in August 

2013. Since June 2016, she 

has been in a relationship with 

Prince Harry, who is fifth in 

line to the British throne. 

Prince Harry and Markle met 

on a blind date that a mutual 

friend set up. The press began 

to report the relationship in 

October 2016. On November 

8, 2016, the British royal 

family’s communications 

secretary released an official 

statement that addressed the 

“wave of abuse and 

harassment” directed toward 

Markle. The statement spoke 

to the sexism, racism and 

defamatory stories directed at 

Markle, including an 

unspecified “smear on the 

front page of a national 

newspaper”. It urged the 

press to “pause and reflect” 

before driving these 

storylines. Her engagement to 

Prince Harry was announced 

on November 27, 2017. By 

then, she had met Queen 

Elizabeth II, Harry’s paternal 

grandmother, several times. 

The 

engagement 

announcement prompted 

much comment about the 

possible social significance (or 

insignificance) of Markle 

becoming a proudly mixedrace 

royal. 

There is so much public 

scrutiny on Markle as she is 

set to become a member of the 

royal family. This is because 

she is black, she’s a foreigner, 

has been divorced, is in the 

entertainment industry and 

she is older than Prince Harry. 

But then she is not the first 

female to be married into the 

royal family with these 

...as four Nigerian women take Africa to Winter Olympics 

Continued from page 25 

triple jump record holder for the 

University of Kentucky, 

competed in her last major track 

and field competition in June of 

2008. She qualified at Lake 

Placid in New York on January 

11, this year for the 2018 Winter 

Olympics. The skeleton is a 

winter sliding sport in which a 

person rides a small sled, known 

as a skeleton bobsled or sleigh, 

down a frozen track while lying 

face down. 

Women greater than men 

in sports 

Continuing in his exclusive 

interview with Woman’s Own, 

Popoola, who expressed no 

surprise at the fact that Nigerian 

women will go down history as 

the first African athletes to 

participate at the Winter 

Olympics, said: “Women have 

achieved more than men in 

sports in this country when it 

comes to medals. Start from 

athletics and look at football; do 

you know how many 

championships those girls have 

won in Africa? Women are really 

features 

Is Meghan Markle the 

Reviews on some of her features that have received so 

•Meghan Markle 

•Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 

The first black queen 

Queen Sophie Charlotte of 

Mecklenburg-Strelitz , wife of 

King George III who was 

queen from 1761 till her death 

in 1818 was black and of 

mixed race. Charlotte, born on 

the 19th of May as the eighth 

•Chief Tunde Popoola 

doing well more than men in 

sports; except that their lifespan 

is always very short due to the 

fact that they have to go home 

and have children. A man can 

actually go longer in active sports 

than a woman; maybe that is why 

some people think men are 

better than women in sports.” 

He regretted that women 

have over the years been 

unequally rewarded for their 

child of Prince of Mirow, 

Germany, Charles Louis 

Frederick and his wife, 

Elisabeth Albertina of Saxe 

Hidburghausen was a direct 

descendant from Magarita de 

Castroy Sousa, a black branch 

of the Portugese Royal House. 

She was the first black queen 

•Omeoga, Adigun and Onwumere 

achievements in sports in the 

country, saying, “I believe 

everyone should be treated 

equally irrespective of sex. 

When you also look at the 

Agenda 2020, you will see that 

we are talking about parity and 

50/50 in everything we do all 

over the world. So, whatever 

reward goes to menfolk for their 

achievement, should also go to 

womenfolk.” 

Uneasy ride 

True to Popoola’s description 

of Africa’s first Winter 

Olympians as courageous and 

of England. Queen Charlotte 

maternity hospital, Charlotte 

town and many other places 

still carry her name in honour. 

Queen Charlotte was a 

patroness of the arts and an 

amateur botanist, who helped 

expand Kew Gardens. 

George III and Charlotte had 

15 children, 13 of whom 

survived to adulthood. She 

was distressed by her 

husband’s bouts of physical 

illness and insanity, which 

became permanent in later life 

and resulted in their eldest 

son’s appointment as Prince 

Regent in 1811. 

The divorcee turned 

duchess 

Duchess of Windsor, Wallis 

Simpson met King Edward in 

1936. Though she was 

married, they had a love affair 

•Adeagbo 

determined, it 

is worthy to 

state that as 

much as their 

feats might 

a p p e a r 

admirable to 

everyone, the 

journey to the 

W i n t e r 

Olympics 

hasn’t been all 

rosy for the foursome. 

At the early stage when the 

trio of Adigun, Omeoga and 

till she divorced her husband on 

the 3rd of May, 1937. Edward who 

became king in January 1936, 

abdicated the throne on the 10th 

of December 1936 and left for 

France where he married Wallis in 

June 1937 following her divorce. 

Prince Albert, Duke of York, brother 

to Edward went on to assume the 

crown and took the royal name of 

George VI. King George gave his 

brother, Duke of Windsor which 

made Wallis the Duchess of 

Windsor though she was never 

granted the formal ‘Royal 

Highness’ title because the Church 

of England at that time didn’t 

permit divorced persons to remarry 

while their spouses are alive. And 

being King then, Edward was the 

head of the Church of England. 

His parents also neither attended 

the wedding nor gave their 

blessings, but things are much 

different now especially since the 

Church of England changed the 

rule to permit divorcees remarriage 

while their spouses are alive in 

2002. 

The royal entertainer and 

celebrity 

Hungarian-American actress and 

socialite, Zsa Zsa Gabor became 

the Duchess of Saxony after her 

marriage to Frederic Prinz von 

Anhalt, earning her the royal title 

of Princess von Anhalt. Born Sari 

Gabor on February 6, 1917 had 

been married several times before 

her final marriage to the Duke 

which lasted till her death on 

December 18, 2016. Her sisters 

were actresses Eva and Magda 

Gabor. Gabor began her stage 

career in Vienna and was 

crowned Miss Hungary in 1936. 

She emigrated from Hungary to 

the United States in 1941. 

Becoming a sought-after actress 

with “European flair and style,” 

Onwumere first took up the challenge of 

making Nigeria part of the snow and ice 

competition, as recent college graduates 

with minimal savings, they had no money 

to fund their training. They thus started 

a crowdfunding campaign with the 

slogan, “We proudly welcome winter to 

Nigeria,” 

The crowdfunding campaign received 

attention from international media outlets 

and money started rolling in, but not 

enough to initially afford a new sled and 

runners, which can cost upwards of 

$50,000. Instead, they continued 

practising on a running track with the 

“Maeflower,” and competed with a 

rented sled. 

The Maeflower is a makeshift 

wooden bobsled built by Adigun. 

For Adeagbo too who has been 

practising on her own with neither a 

trainer nor coach, the journey to 

qualifying for the Winter Olympics has 

also been arduous. Skeleton racing, in 

the first place, is a difficult sport to 

prepare for, especially if one lives in 

Johannesburg where she now lives— and 

is always a continent away from any ice 

track. 

Despite not knowing much about the


first black royal? 

much attention from the public 

she was considered to have a 

personality that “exuded charm 

and grace.” 

Outside her acting career, Gabor 

was known for her extravagant 

Hollywood lifestyle, her glamorous 

personality, and her many 

marriages. In total, Gabor had nine 

husbands, including hotel 

magnate, Conrad Hilton and actor, 

George Sanders. She once stated, 

“Men have always liked me and I 

have always liked men. But I like 

a mannish man, a man who knows 

how to talk to and treat a woman 

— not just a man with muscles. 

Foreigner becoming royal 

Emma McQuiston was born in 

1986 in London to Suzanna 

McQuiston, an English socialite, 

and Chief Oladipo Jadesimi, a 

Nigerian oil magnate who is the 

executive chairman and founder of 

Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics 

Company, LADOL. McQuiston has 

a half-sister by her father, Amy 

Jadesimi, who serves as the chief 

executive officer of LADOL. 

Through her mother, she has a 

half-sister, Samantha 

McQuinston, and an older halfbrother, 

Lain McQuiston, who is 

the husband of Viscount 

Weymouth’s aunt, Lady Silvy 

Xerne Thynne. McQuinston 

served as a bridesmaid in her halfbrother 

and Lady Thynne’s 

wedding and has known her 

husband since she was four years 

old. She was head girl at Queen’s 

Gate School and later attended 

the University College London to 

study art history. After university 

education, she studied classical 

acting at the London Academy of 

Music and Dramatic Art. 

McQuiston and Viscount 

Weymouth announced their 

engagement in November 2012. 

They were married at Longleat 

sport of skeleton, Adeagbo did so well at 

the tryouts organised by the Nigerian 

Bobsled and Skeleton Federation in 

Houston, Texas, US, leveraging on 

everything she already mastered back in 

her track and field days. The first time she 

ever touched a skeleton sled was on 

September 12, 2017, but by January 11, 

2018 as mentioned earlier, Adeagbo had 

successfully scaled through the various 

qualifying races and won her place in 

history as one of the first four Nigerians 

and Africans to ever compete in the Winter 

Olympics. 

Nigeria’s continued participation 

Speaking on the possibilities of the 

country’s continued participation at the 

Winter Olympics, Popoola who 

emphasised that Winter games like the 

bobsled, can be practised in Nigeria, 

assured that going forward, the country 

House, the family estate in 

Wiltshire on June 8, 2013. 

Upon her marriage, 

McQuiston became 

Viscountess Weymouth. The 

wedding ceremony was not 

attended by the groom’s 

parents, Alexander Thynn, 

7th Marquess of Bath and 

Anna Thynn, Marchioness of 

Bath. His father boycotted the 

ceremony after a feud with the 

Viscount over changes made 

at Longleat. His mother was 

banned from the ceremony by 

the Viscount after repeatedly 

making racist remarks 

regarding McQuiston. 

Viscountess Weymouth is the 

first black viscountess in 

England. When her husband 

succeeds his father as the 

Marquess of Bath, 

Viscountess Weymouth will 

become the first black 

marchioness in British 

history. She stated that she 

has experienced racism and 

prejudice from other members 

of the British nobility. 

Viscountess Weymouth gave 

birth to her first child, The 

Honourable John Alexander 

Ladi Thynn, on 26 October 

2014 by surrogacy at a 

private clinic in West 

Hollywood. The couple had 

another child, The 

Honourable Henry Richard 

Isaac Thynn, on 30 December 

2016. The use of a surrogate 

was due to health problems 

that Viscountess Weymouth 

was suffering from. The 

children’s paternal 

grandmother, The 

Marchioness of Bath, is 

banned from visiting the 

children due to her racist 

will ensure it continues to be 

represented at Winter 

Olympics. 

On whether Adigun, 

Adeagbo, Omeoga and 

Onwumere will be supported 

financially by the Nigerian 

government, he admitted that the 

aspect was still being addressed 

but that certainly, they will be 

given necessary support. He also 

assured Woman’s Own of the 

presence of Nigerian delegates at 

the once in a four-year event. 

In his closing counsel to the 

four Olympians, Popoola said: 

“They should just go for gold. They 

already have the drive, energy and 

determination and nobody can 

encourage them more. 

•Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 

remarks. 

Age is just a number even 

in royal relationships 

Camilla is the eldest child of 

Major Bruce Shand and his 

wife, Rosalind Cubitt, the 

daughter of Roland Cubitt, 3rd 

Baron Ashcombe. She was 

raised in East Sussex and 

South Kensington, and 

educated in England, 

Switzerland and France. She 

worked for different firms in 

central London, most notably 

the decorating firm, Sibyl 

Colefax & John Fowler. 

Camilla, born in 1947 and 

The NPA has given Intels 

Nigeria a two-week 

ultimatum to remit an 

outstanding $48 million that 

ought to have been paid into 

the maritime agency’s treasury 

single account in 2017. 

Speaking during an interview 

with CNBC Africa, Hadiza Bala 

Usman, the agency’s managing 

director, said Intels’ notice of 

termination will stand if the 

company failed to settle its debt. 

“I am giving Intels a possible 

two-week window to provide 

payment, two weeks from now, 

following which the notice of 

termination will not be 

withdrawn,” she said. “One of 

the issues we have had with 

Intels is their non-compliance 

with the TSA. As you are 

aware, the Nigerian Government 

instituted the treasury single 

account which is the account that 

all revenues of government need 

to be paid into,” she added. In 

Gombe women cry out over multiple miscarriages 

Continued from page 25 

by Ashaka Cement Company since 

they started operation in the area. 

In his remarks, the Community 

head of Maiganga, Chief Kilanga 

Mela Dakachi, accused the mining 

company operating the coal mine, 

Ashaka Cement Company, of not 

showing concern about the 

condition his people have been 

subjected to despite laying their 

complaints through writing 

and physical visits to the 

management. 

According to him, due to 

the pollution from the mining 

site, they have not been 

cultivating their land in the 

past eight years, about which 

they have written to 

appropriate ministries and 

agencies, detailing their 

Prince Charles, born in 1948 

reportedly met in mid-1971. 

Though they both belonged to 

the same social circle and 

occasionally attended the 

same events, they were 

formally introduced to each 

other at an event by a mutual 

friend, Lucia Santa Cruz. They 

became close friends and 

eventually began seeing each 

other, which was well known 

within their social circle. As 

the relationship grew more 

serious, Charles met Camilla’s 

family in Plumpton and he 

introduced her to some 

members of his family. In 2005, 

The NPA-Intels saga rolls on 

…as Hadiza Bala Usman gives payment deadline 

plight, but no response yet. 

“Even our water bodies have 

been polluted, while the only one 

we depend on is the Gwalgu Gaje 

stream is also polluted. As a 

result, we have lost our children, 

wives and family members. Most 

of the people are grappling with 

eye problems including children, 

and some are blind now. There is 

a child called Bibi Siadu, a fouryear-old 

girl who currently suffers 

•Hadiza Bala Usman 

September, Justice Minister, 

Abubakar Malami asked the 

NPA to void the boats’ pilotage 

agreement it has with Intels. 

Intels, a logistics and facilities 

services provider in the 

maritime and oil and gas 

sectors, was co-founded by 

Gabriele Volpi, an Italian 

national, and former Vice- 

President Atiku Abubakar. 

from partial paralysis, and that 

has affected her movement, and 

there are other children 

suffering one ailment or the 

other because their mothers 

drank from the polluted stream 

during pregnancy which have 

affected them now”, Mela said. 

In her presentation of the report, 

the Country Director, Global 

Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu-Teru, 

lamented the appalling health 

condition in Maiganga 

it culminated in a civil 

marriage at Windsor 

Guildhall, which was followed 

by a televised Anglican 

blessing by the Archbishop 

of Canterbury, Rowan 

Williams, at St. George’s 

Chapel, Windsor Castle. As 

Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla 

assists the Prince of Wales on 

his official duties. She is also 

the patron, president and a 

member of numerous charities 

and organisations. Since 1994, 

she has taken action on 

osteoporosis, earning honours 

and awards. She has also 

raised awareness in areas 

including rape and sexual 

abuse, literacy and poverty. 

Malami said the agreement, 

which has allowed Intels to 

receive revenue on behalf of 

NPA for 17 years, violates 

sections 80(1) and 162(1) and 

(10) of the Constitution. 

After last year’s incident where 

the NPA pronounced the Intels 

contract void, Intels reached out 

to the NPA, and we assumed 

the negotiations led to an 

agreement on how it would 

comply with the TSA to settle 

whatever backlog existed. The 

public is not privy to such an 

agreement if it exists. However, 

as the management of the NPA 

has come out to request a final 

settlement of outstanding 

amounts, Intels will have to 

comply or produce counter 

facts that will show that the 

agreement was different from 

this settlement option. 

It is advisable for all interested 

parties to await this before 

making further comments and 

decisions on the issue. 

community, which include 

increase in gastrointestinal 

diseases, unexplainable stomach 

ache and typhoid and 

appendicitis, increased 

miscarriages in both human and 

domestic animals, increased 

respiratory diseases, persistent 

dry coughs, nasal congestion, 

asthma and chest pains, bloody 

urine, especially in dry season, 

increased ocular irritation due to 

coal dust and smoke.


Frequent change of our electoral laws unhealthy—Afolabi, SAN 

By Innocent Anaba 

Mr Hakeem Afolabi, Senior 

Advocate of Nigeria, in this interview 

speaks on the suspension 

of Abia State Chief Judge 

by the state governor, mode of 

appointment of Judges, conflicting 

decisions of courts in 

electoral cases and sundry issues. 

Excerpt: 

How do you see the suspension 

of Abia State Chief Judge 

by both the legislature and 

executive in the state? 

Well, as far as I am concerned, 

the event in Abia State 

is very unfortunate at this 

present moment of our constitutional 

development. 

It is also unfortunate that the 

Chief Law Officer of that state 

should have known better and 

advised the government appropriately, 

and not to mislead 

the government. The provision 

of the constitution of Nigeria is 

very clear as to the procedure 

for removing a judicial officer. 

Removal or suspension is an 

aspect of discipline of a judicial 

officer and the reality on 

ground is that the process can 

only be initiated by the National 

Judicial Council, NJC. 

Before now, whatever doubt 

anybody might have had about 

the procedure for removing or 

suspending a Chief Judge in 

the federation was laid to rest 

by the decision of the Supreme 

Court in the celebrated case of 

Justice Elelu Habib vs. Gov of 

Kwara State. 

That was a case in which a 

sitting Chief Judge was removed 

on the advice of the 

State House of Assembly who 

passed a resolution supported 

by two third majority of members 

of that State House of Assembly 

and the governor purportedly 

removed the Chief 

Judge from office. The matter 

went to court and the court was 

afforded the opportunity to interpret 

that aspect of our constitution 

and came to the conclusion 

at the Supreme Court 

that no Judge or Chief Judge 

for that matter, can be lawfully 

removed from office without 

the input of the NJC. 

If you alleged any misconduct 

against any judicial officer or 

you’re saying that a judicial officer 

of a caliber of a CJ is not 

in a position to discharge his 

function and responsibility associated 

to that office, it is the 

NJC that will first investigate 

such complaint and come to a 

conclusion on it. It is only when 

the NJC has agreed that the allegations 

raised against the CJ 

are valid that it will then recommend 

to the governor of a 

state for necessary action to be 

taken in removing the CJ from 

office. 

In that wise, the State House 

of Assembly will now pass a 

resolution asking the governor 

to remove the CJ. 

With the subsistence of that 

judgment, I said it is very unfortunate 

that the Attorney-General 

of Abia State could not advise 

the government appropriately 

because they cannot feign 

ignorance as the Chief Law 

Officer about the existence or 

subsistence of that judgment of 

the Supreme Court. 

Also, the man who made himself 

available to be appointed 

as the acting CJ should be 

guilty of complicity in the process 

of contravening or violating 

the constitution of Nigeria 

because a Judge of his caliber, 

the number two Judge in the 

state cannot feign ignorance of 

the provision of the constitution 

as being interpreted by the Supreme 

Court that what they 

were doing in purporting to remove 

the CJ was an illegality. 

He shouldn’t have 

presented himself or made 

himself available to be 

appointed as CJ. 

I think I am with the NJC in 

the steps they have taken so 

far in suspending the man 

who was appointed as the 

acting CJ in the place of a 

substantive CJ that was on 

suspension. 

There have been criticisms of 

the mode of appointment of 

Judges. Are you satisfied with 

the mode of appointment of 

Judges as enshrined in the 

constitution? 

Well, that is one of the problems 

which we have in our constitution. 

We are supposed to 

be practising a federal system 

of government in which we are 

supposed to have a Federal 

Government and a State Government. 

In a normal scheme 

of things, a body established 

for the federation particularly 

the federal agency, should not 

be responsible for the process 

of appointment of Judges for 

states. 

Why should we have a central 

body like the NJC being the 

only organ that can recommend 

the appointment of judicial officers 

in states of the federation? 

It is an anomaly in a federal 

system but that is the reality we 

are being confronted with under 

our federal constitution. 

Maybe those who are calling 

for restructuring and the need 

to amend the constitution can 

find a way of visiting that aspect 

of our constitution as to the 

idea of giving power to a federal 

agency controlling the appointment 

of Judges in the 

states but until that is done, it 

will continue to be the reality 

on ground. 

How do you view the call by 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, 

boss, Professor Mahmood 

Yakubu, that the Chief Justice 

of Nigeria should address the 

spate of conflicting judgments 

on electoral cases? 

The charge about the need for 

the judiciary to look into the 

complaints about conflicting 

decisions have always been 

*Mr Hakeem Afolabi, SAN 

You see, 

we are a 

set of people 

that 

seem not 

to even 

understand 

ourselves 

there. I recall this particular 

case of Odedu vs. INEC although 

Niki Tobi (JSC) of 

blessed memory was a panelist 

to the Court of Appeal in 

which he even suggested the 

need to be having conferences 

and the need for them to tabulate 

their decisions so that if a 

division gives a pronouncement 

on a particular matter, other 

divisions would have a benefit 

of those reasons because 

they might have similar thing 

in their jurisdiction or division 

so that they will be properly 

guided. 

It is quite unfortunate when 

you see different opinions, or 

contradictory opinions being 

rendered by the Appeal Courts. 

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, 

CJN, will have to initiate measures 

to see in what ways we 

can overcome these challenges 

Ȧre you in support of an 

amendment to the Electoral 

Act by the House of Representatives? 

You see, we are a set of people 

that seem not to even understand 

ourselves. 

It appears to me that it is only 

in Nigeria that for every election, 

we must have a new Electoral 

Act. I am beginning to 

wonder what exactly the problem 

is, with our system. 

Prior to 1979, we had a military 

decree which ushered in 

the 1979 election of former president 

Shehu Shagari, before 

the election of 1983, they did 

another legislation in 1982. By 

and large, when we hacve elections 

coming, why must we 

keep amending our electoral 

laws? I am not saying we cannot 

amend if the situation warrants, 

maybe there have been 

some lapses that we saw in the 

previous election which we 

need to correct but, there must 

be a limit as to the number of 

times or occasions we would 

just be amending our laws. 

The electoral laws in Nigeria 

by now should have become 

institutionalised as far as I am 

concerned. We should have 

reached a level of perfection. 

But, in our system, the so 

called legislators, with due 

respect to them, are the ones 

who have gone out to the 

fields and saw what 

happened, and to a greater 

extent they will always want 

to come back to introduce 

legislation to take care of 

exigencies which they believe 

might work against them and 

I will give you a classic 

example. 

When the case of Amaechi 

and INEC was done by the 

Supreme Court in 2007 and 

the apex court came up with 

a decision that Amaechi in the 

eyes of the law was the person 

whom PDP actually 

sponsored for the election and 

was declared to be the winner 

of the election. 

Now, almost immediately 

after that decision, the 

National Assembly introduced 

an amendment to say 

anybody who did not 

participate in all the processes 

of the election cannot be 

returned as the winner of that 

election. 

By beginning to introduce a 

legislation purposely to defeat 

the reasoning of the Supreme 

Court in Amaechi and INEC 

because Amaechi and INEC 

had gotten a regime that to 

some extent, checkmated the 

excesses of political parties; but 

for their own selfish interest 

(because they know that they 

might find themselves in a situation 

which existed before 

Amaechi and INEC was decided 

and foreclosed the possibility 

that somebody they have 

edged out will have an upper 

hand in court), so, they introduced 

an amendment along 

that line. 

That is a classic demonstration 

of selfishness on the part 

of our political class and even 

the National Assembly. It is one 

amendment too many, as far as 

I am concerned, it portrays us 

as being unserious. What exactly 

is wrong with the 2006 

Electoral Act? What is that 

thing that is wrong with 2010 

Electoral Act that every now and 

then, when election is coming, 

we must amend our laws? 

How do you see the bill 

signed into law by the President 

granting members of the 

National Assembly immunity 

from litigation for actions taken 

in plenary? 

I don’t see any big deal about 

it. Normally in every clime, the 

legislators while discussing issues 

on the floor of the Parliament 

should not entertain any 

fear that whatever is the area 

of discussion can be subject 

matter of an action outside the 

Parliament. 

I think such a law would 

seem to embolden them and be 

quite supportive of their drive 

or responsibility as a law-making 

body. Before now, if there 

was an issue to be discussed, 

the legislator had it at the back 

of his or her mind that look, if I 

say this, can it not result to action 

or defamation? 

But when you now have legislative 

immunity, you can come 

around to say anything, or a 

witness can come around to say 

anything which is deemed to 

be correct before the Parliament 

without any fear of somebody 

suing him for libel outside.


The Thrills and Frills of 

Christmas III 

By Awa Kalu, SAN 

In the previous 

installments of this piece, we 

have seen that very often, a simple 

journey by bus or indeed, any 

other means of transportation, may 

lead to a result that carries varied 

legal consequences. Again, great 

reliance will be placed on our 

imaginary journey in an akpuruka 

bus. The presumption is that that 

grade of bus is quite often, not in 

a road-worthy condition and it 

would, in our hypothetical context, 

be fair to assume that putting such 

a bus on the highway in the busy 

season of Christmas will amount 

to negligence. 

As Anderson B. noted in the 

leading case of Blyth v. 

Birmingham Waterworks Co. 

(1843 - 60) All E.R. Rep. 478, 

“Negligence is the omission to do 

something which a reasonable 

man, guided upon those 

considerations which ordinarily 

regulate the conduct of human 

affairs, would do, or doing 

something which a prudent 

and reasonable man would not 

do.” Broken down in legal 

shorthand, a person will be 

held liable in an action 

founded in negligence if the act 

complained of results from a 

breach of duty owed by the 

defendant to the plaintiff. The 

presumption, in that 

connection, is that a duty of care 

was owed the plaintiff and a 

breach of that duty had 

occurred. A third element upon 

which liability is founded is that 

damage to the plaintiff had 

resulted from that breach. Lord 

Wright, in the well known case of 

Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co. v. 

McMullan put it beyond doubt 

that negligence is not created 

simply by absent mindedness or 

carelessness when he held that 

“in strict legal analysis, 

negligence means more than 

heedless or careless conduct, 

whether in omission or 

commission; it properly connotes 

the complex concept of duty, 

breach and damage suffered by 

the person to whom the duty was 

owing.” It is always a question of 

fact, in most cases, whether or not 

a duty of care is owed by one 

person to another. In some other 

cases, the duty of care situation 

and its breach may be presumed 

from the circumstances 

That law is based 

on public policy, 

and the 

application of the 

law depends on a 

consideration of 

all the facts in the 

case 

surrounding the event which has 

happened. 

However, where the accused and 

his accuser seem to be partaking in 

an event which ordinarily would 

not receive the blessings of the law, 

the courts would be most reluctant to 

infer a duty of care. 

Accordingly, in the equally well 

known case of Ashton v. Turner (1980) 

By Bartholomew Madukwe 

Renowned lawyer, Prince 

O. Williams-Joel, has 

said certificate of statutory 

or customary right of occupancy 

is not conclusive evidence of 

any right or valid title to a land. 

Speaking at the launch of his 

book, entitled Compilation of Articles 

on Law & Property in Nigeria: 

Simplified, in London, Prince 

Joel noted that investors do not 

know or understand their rights 

on land/property matters before 

acquisition, noting that it will be 

3 All E.R. 870 where a participant in 

a crime was injured through the 

careless driving of his friend with 

whom he was fleeing from a 

burglary scene in which both had 

participated, it was held that no duty 

of care existed. The trial Judge was 

emphatic on this matter when he 

enunciated the principle in rather 

lucid terms. He said that “The law 

may in circumstances not recognise 

the existence of a duty of care by 

one participant in a crime to another 

participant in the same crime, in 

relation to acts done in connection 

with the commission of that crime. 

That law is based on public policy, 

and the application of the law 

depends on a consideration of all 

the facts in the case. I have come to 

the conclusion that a duty of care 

did not exist between the defendant 

and the plaintiff during the course 

of the burglary and during the 

course of the subsequent flight in 

the get-away car.” 

Having regard to the 

akpurukaness of some of the buses 

which ply our highways, it is quite 

a matter of conjecture, what the 

courts would do should a 

passenger, seeing the rickety 

condition of such a bus, enter same 

in circumstances where such a 

passenger may be called an 

attachee. You need to recall, as 

had been previously explained, 

that attachment passengers do 

not normally have any 

contractual connection with the 

bus owner even though in normal 

cases, such passengers board at 

the instance of the driver. The 

peculiar question which 

inevitably will arise, is whether 

a bus driver owes any duty of 

care to the attachee. 

wise to contact a real property 

law firm with great expertise 

when buying a land or property. 

His words: “It must be noted 

that certificate of statutory or 

customary right of occupancy, issued 

under the Land Use Act, 

1978 cannot be said to be conclusive 

evidence of any right or 

valid title to a land. It is, at best, 

only evidence that is accepted 

until being challenged and proven 

otherwise.” 

On the book, the lawyer, who 

has over 15 years of experience 

in real estate, said it describes 


Arights activist and 

lawyer, Mr Francis 

Moneke of Human 

Rights and Empowerment 

Project Ltd/Gte, has dragged 


Buhari and the Attorney 

General of the Federation 

before a Federal High Court 

sitting in Abuja, challenging 

the non recourse to federal 

character principle in the 

appointment of key and 

strategic security, intelligence 

and law enforcement chiefs by 

the current administration. 

The matter is before Justice 

Mohammad. 

Moneke through his 

counsel, Mr Ikenna Okoli, is 

contending in the suit that 

“The pattern of appointments 

of key and strategic security, 

intelligence and law 

enforcement office holders, 

clearly shows favouritism and 

nepotism on the part of the 1st 

Respondent in favour of the 

people from the Northern part 

of the country where he comes 

from, against me and people 

from the Southern part of the 

country, especially the South 

east, where I come from.” 

He averred that “It is 

obvious to me that as a citizen 

of this country, I am at a 

disadvantage in getting any 

benefit or official 

appointment, especially a 

security or law enforcement 

appointment, in the Federal 

Certificate of statutory is not evidence of any right ----- Joel 

Actvist drags FG to court over 

lopsided appointments in key security 

organisations 

realities of land/property acquisition, 

ownership and rectifies 

misguided notions about financing 

property investment in the 

country. 

The book, published by Prince 

Joel & Associates Press is a compilation 

of writings and publications 

of his works can be found 

on ibejulekkilawyer.com. It 

equips readers, as the thriving 

real estate sector in Nigeria is not 

without its peculiarities and 

emerging trends, which has 

thrown up the necessity for an 

assemblage of resource materials 

in the real estate practice. 

Law page Cartoon 

Government owing to this 

manifest inclination of the 1st 

respondent towards favouring 

people from the North in that 

regard. 

“I am aware that nepotism 

and tribalism are species of 

corruption, which jeopardise 

fairness, objectivity and equity 

and that when employed as an 

official strategy in government 

it compromises inclusivity, 

effectiveness, efficiency, 

professionalism, competence, 

the spirit of national unity and 

sense of belonging,” he 

averred. 

He is consequently asking 

the court to declare that the 

1st respondent, in making 

appointments into key security 

and law enforcement chiefs 

and positions in Nigeria, is 

obligated to comply with the 

Constitution by ensuring that 

as far as possible, all regions/ 

geo political zones are 

represented and that no region/ 

geo political zone is patently 

discriminated against. 

* A declaration that the 

consistent appointments made 

by the 1st Respondent into key 

security and law enforcement 

offices and positions in Nigeria 

are unfairly skewed in favour 

of people from the Northern 

part of the country, and 

amounts to a systematic 

discrimination against the 

Applicant and people of the 

Southern part of the country, 

especially the South east by 

reason of their ethnicity, and 

amounts to a violation of the 

right to freedom from 

discrimination guaranteed 

under Section 42 (1) & (2) of 

the Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria. 

*An order of perpetual 

injunction restraining the 1st 

Respondent whether by 

himself, officers, agents, 

privies or otherwise 

howsoever from further acts 

of discrimination against the 

Applicant and the entire 

South east geo-political zone 

in subsequent appointments 

into security and law 

enforcement offices and 

positions in Nigeria. 

EDITORIAL 

Innocent Anaba 

( Head) 

Wahab Abdulah, 

Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

Dayo Benson 

(Supervising 

08056180119 

dayobenson@yahoo.com

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018


32--Vanguard, 


Boko Haram: before we rejoice 

OVER the past weekend, the 

Nigerian Army announced 

it had “completely defeated” Boko 

Haram, the Islamist insurgents 

wracking the North East, 

especially Borno State. Did I hear 

you say “again?” That was exactly 

what fell out of my mouth when 

the Theatre Commander of 

Operation Lafia Dole, Major 

General Rogers Nicholas, 

surrounded by his troops, made this 

announcement that ought to set off 

celebrations throughout Nigeria. 

Before I go on, let me reflect 

briefly on the way an elated 

Governor of Borno State, His 

Excellency Kashim Shettima, put 

it at a Townhall he held for the 

military and security agencies at 

the Government House, 

Maiduguri. He declared: 

“Interestingly, these 

accomplishments were made 

possible by an Igbo from Mbaise, 

Imo State. The Operation Lafia 

Dole has been able to penetrate all 

corners of Sambisa Forest and 

chased Boko Haram away.” 

Ordinarily, it should not matter 

where the leader of the “final” 

onslaught against the fiendish 

agents of darkness comes from. 

The Boko Haram war, like all wars 

that nations fight to keep their 

citizens safe, is a collective effort 

of all patriotic Nigerians. That an 

Igbo man from Mbaise led its 

finale should be non sequitur. After 

all, other heroic commanders and 

troops from other ethnic 

backgrounds took the campaign 

to the point where General 

Nicholas and his men/women 

delivered the “final” stroke. We 

cannot forget the supreme 

sacrifices of great warriors like 

Col. Abu Ali from Kogi State, 

whose death in action in 

November 2016 brought tears to 

millions of eyes. 

But I understand what 

Governor Shettima intended by 

his reference to “an Igbo from 

Mbaise, Imo State”. The 

“Governor General” of Northern 

Nigeria wanted to stress the point 

I made above, which is that there 

ought not to be anything ethnic or 

political about the war against 

Boko Haram. Perhaps, he wanted 

to remind the so-called Arewa 

Youths who issued the Igbo a “quit 

notice” during the pro-Biafra 

rallies six months ago, that it was 

someone from among the Igbo 

that led to the “end” of the terrorists 

who have been killing their 

Lagos and customer centricity 

By Akintola Benson-Oke 

IN a recent publication, PwC, United 

States, asked and answered a germane 

question as follows: “What does a customercentered 

organization look like? It’s an 

organization that considers the customer in 

everything it does, from procurement to 

deployment to the entire customer experience. 

It also speaks to its customers in their own 

language and makes it easy for them to align 

their goals with the mission at hand.” 

Going further, the publication noted that, 

“Many government agency executives have 

important messages to deliver, and the success 

of their communications is crucial to the 

agency’s success. Senior executives need to 

deliver effective mass communications to the 

agency employees, concerned citizens, and 

other stakeholders while maintaining 

impeccable standards that live up to the everincreasing 

scrutiny of today’s communications 

environment. There are empirical methods 

that drive successful communications which 

agencies can seek out now.” 

Specifically, many studies show that a 

customer-centric culture drives superior 

service and value for customers resulting in an 

experience that creates customer satisfaction 

and advocacy. This in turn drives exceptional 

organizational performance in terms of 

productivity, new product/service success, 

innovation and financial performance. 

Now, he further noted that government 

departments and public service organizations 

have clearly defined missions to provide a 

service to their constituents. Each reports to a 

government official who is part of a central, 

state or local government that represents a 

community – much of which is made up of 

customers that experience the service. Poor 

experience leads to complaints, that in turn, 

ultimately affects votes for public officials if 

service is consistently bad. 

Finally, he rightly noted that, “public service 

organisations that do not understand their 

customers’ changing needs, or worse, don’t 

care about their customers, will receive 

complaints that require additional resources 

kinsmen and destabilising the 

North. He obviously made the 

point to promote brotherhood 

among Nigerians. 

That being said, we must admit 

that all of us have been grossly 

irresponsible with this Boko 

The APC Federal 

Government gave 

“defeat” a new 

meaning. It no 

longer meant the 

total annihilation of 

a military threat. It 

became a child that 

dies and 

reincarnates or 

ogbanje” 

to solve. This creates stress for both employees 

and customers and takes resources away from 

their core roles. The momentum and 

complexity of global change are challenging 

all organizations, including government 

agencies, to move faster, work smarter, use their 

resources more effectively and think further 

ahead.” 

Indeed, and more than ever before, 

governments at all levels have an opportunity 

to dramatically change the nature of their 

interactions with citizens. The emergence of 

new tools, technologies and methods offers a 

unique chance to secure the bond between the 

public and those who serve them. 

Stakeholders should begin 

by building a customer-first 

culture of government service 

with customers as the primary 

focus of interactions 

And as noted by Pedro Nava and David Bieir, 

“there is growing recognition that government 

can offer services attuned not to an alphabet 

soup of government bureaucracy but to the 

realities of life, with pathways for engagement 

around events such as the birth of a child or 

registering a new car. Equally important, the 

massive data collected by government can be 

made available openly to allow the private 

sector to create useful new products and 

applications, as it already has done with GPS 

technology.” 

For example, one obvious area is that of 

digital and connected services. Gavin Mee, 

Senior Vice President at Salesforce, wrote that: 

“Today, businesses across the board understand 

that customers want to access their services at 

any time, from any device and location. 

Connected citizens have the tools and the 

confidence to control how and when they 

engage services. What is more, these new forms 

of engagement are not just helping brands to 

deliver an even greater customer-centric 

service; they are unlocking new revenue 

streams in the private sector.” He then asks the 

following question: So why not do the same in 

government? 

Haram mess. The politicians and 

religious leaders in Northern 

Nigeria, especially Borno State, 

created this monster through their 

marginalisation of the poor and 

lowly classes. They refused to 

educate the children of the poor. 

They chose instead to keep them 

in darkness. Forces of darkness 

used religion to capture their 

minds and use them to destroy the 

little progress already made. 

When the Boko Haram war 

started, our collective 

irresponsibility went through the 

roof. Some Nigerians adopted the 

attitude of “let them kill 

themselves, na dem-dem”. Sadly, 

this unfeeling attitude was 

reflected at the highest level of 

governance. That allowed the 

insurgency to spread to the point 

where the Chibok Girls were 

abducted in April 2014. Some 

Northern leaders hungry for 

power by all means worsened 

matters. They at first denied Boko 

Haram existed, warning that the 

anti-terror military campaign 

(then ably led by General Azubuike 

Ihejirika) was “a declaration of 

war against the North”. 

But when they finally admitted 

the reality of Boko Haram, they 

promised to flush them out within 

six months if voted into power. 

When they realised their dream in 

May 2015, they took on Boko 

Haram frontally. But rather than 

wilt, Boko Haram killings 

intensified. In spite of the rising 

body count the Minister of 

Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, 

declared them “technically 

defeated” in December 2015. The 

APC Federal Government gave 

“defeat” a new meaning. It no 

longer meant the total 

annihilation of a military threat. 

It became a child that dies and 

reincarnates or ogbanje”. 

“Defeat” was brutally 

bastardised at the altar of cheap 

propaganda. 

The Federal Government, the 

Army and the Borno State 

Government stubbornly 

maintained that Boko Haram 

“no longer occupied any 

territory in Nigeria”. I wondered 

aloud whether the insurgents now 

lived in the air from where they 

continued their attacks. Since 

then, in addition to the Chibok 

Girls, the terrorists also 

ambushed and abducted three 

members of an NNPC oil 

exploration team near Gaidam, 

Yobe State in July last year. 

This is the same question that the 

administration of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, 

is asking every officer and stakeholder in the 

Lagos State Public Service. For instance, it has 

been noted that the public sector could easily 

emulate the private sector’s use of technology 

in order to meet the ever-increasing citizen 

expectations and boost commercial viability. 

But many authorities, saddled with legacy 

systems which are no longer fit for purpose, 

are today struggling to take advantage of 

modern technology. And some authorities rely 

on outdated communications channels, many 

of which only operate during standard 

government office hours. 

Following their survey of a global 

governmental attitude to customer-centri 

drives, Pedro Nava and David Bieir concluded 

that, “in short, what we are seeing at all levels 

of government, here and abroad, is the 

beginning of a real revolution in the way public 

services can be delivered to the people and 

businesses that rely on them.” 

It would then appear that the next task is to 

consider how the Lagos State Public Service 

can build on these observed global best 

practice and domesticate the learning 

outcomes. I am confident that this trainingwill 

address this all-important issue. In any case, it 

is my view that the following strategies will be 

central to any effort to ensure that the Lagos 

State Public Service adopts a positive change 

in perspective and orientation by adopting 

more extensive customer-centri policies and 

practices. 

In the first place, stakeholders should begin 

by building a customer-first culture of 

government service with customers as the 

primary focus of interactions. This can be 

achieved by meaningfully consulting with 

citizens about their needs and experiences. 

In the second place, efforts should be made 

to organize government to make its 

interactions simpler and easier by 

experimenting with new digital and other 

techniques and service-delivery tools. The 

Lagos state Public Service should make better 

use of open data and behavioural economics. 

In the third place, the Lagos State Public 

Service should be prepared to work proactively 

with current government employees while 

recruiting new workers who understand why 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Something still puzzles me. In 

December 2016, the Army 

announced it had defeated Boko 

Haram at their “Camp Zero” base 

in Sambisa Forest. Their flag was 

brought to Aso Rock for President 

Muhammadu Buhari to admire. 

Now, we are being told that Boko 

Haram has been flushed out of 

their “Camp Zairo” base! I thought 

they did not occupy any territory? 

Did they flee “Camp Zero” to set 

up “Camp Zairo”? if so, how can 

that amount to a defeat? Or, are 

“Camp Zero” and “Camp Zairo” 

one and the same thing? If so, 

we’ve been lied to again! 

I will not yet rejoice at this 

“complete defeat” of Boko Haram 

until the remaining Chibok Girls 

and the oil workers are brought 

home or accounted for. I will not 

yet rejoice until the leaders of the 

insurgency, especially Abubakar 

Shekau, are killed, captured alive 

or their bodies or whereabouts 

accounted for. I will not rejoice 

until the killing of innocent 

Nigerians stops and the displaced 

persons return to their devastated 

communities to live happily ever 

after. I will not rejoice until the 

effort to rebuild Borno and North 

East can proceed uninterrupted. 

The war that destroyed Syria will 

change Europe forever because of 

the surge of migrants. The fall of 

Muammar Gaddafi of Libya 

helped Boko Haram because of the 

flow of sophisticated arms and 

influx of hardened foreign fighters. 

In that case, we should stop calling 

the Boko Haram insurgency a 

“dem-dem” affair. Yoruba would 

say: ti wan-ti wa. It is ours. 

As for the “complete defeat” of 

Boko Haram, I withhold my 

celebration, for now. 

customer-centric government is essential. 

Digital-savvy younger graduates are a rich 

source for this new workforce. 

Finally, it is important to regularly measure 

citizen satisfaction. As noted by McKinsey and 

Company, “transforming service delivery 

begins with understanding citizens’ needs and 

priorities. 

Identifying which services citizens find most 

problematic and measuring the extent of that 

dissatisfaction is one way governments can 

prioritize areas for improvement.” Three 

guiding principles have been developed to 

ensure that citizen satisfaction measurement 

efforts generate accurate, actionable insights: 

a)Let citizens tell you what matters most, but 

avoid asking them directly. Asking people 

which aspects of service delivery are most in 

need of improvement—the time required to 

resolve a request versus the politeness of staff, 

for example—is unlikely to yield accurate 

results. Most people will say every aspect is 

equally important. So rather than asking 

citizens to rank the importance of different 

drivers of satisfaction, ask them to rate each 

service (for example, the overall process of 

applying for a parking permit) across the 

drivers. This method provides more reliable 

insights into users’ needs and priorities. 

b)Identify natural break points in customer 

satisfaction. Striving for zero wait times and 

one-click transactions across the entirety of 

government services is likely to prove both 

unrealistic and costly. Government leaders can 

find a balance between delivering high-quality, 

responsive services and managing resources 

effectively by using citizen-satisfaction metrics 

to determine acceptable service levels. One 

way to do that is by identifying break points— 

the point at which delays or service shortfalls 

cause customer satisfaction to drop 

significantly. 

c)Combine public feedback with internal 

data to uncover hidden pain points. Combining 

customer-satisfaction information with 

operational data—call-center volumes and 

number of in-person visits, for instance—can 

yield additional insights, beyond what citizens 

state explicitly via surveys and other feedback 

channels. 

Dr. Benson-Oke, is Lagos State commissioner 

for Establsihments, Training &Pensions.



We forgive IBB, OBJ for telling Buhari truth 

—N-Delta agitators 

By Emma Amaize 

Y ENAGOA— 

NIGER Delta 

agitators say they have 

forgiven former 

Presidents Ibrahim 

Babangida and Olusegun 

Obasanjo for their past 

infractions against the 

youths of the region 

because of their 

fearlessness in speaking 

the truth and asking 


Buhari to restructure the 

country. 

Wike preaches peace as EBF adopts 

candidates for NBA elections 


G OVERNOR 

Nyesom Wike of 

Rivers State has urged 

members of the Eastern 

Bar Forum, EBF, of the 

Nigerian Bar Association, 

NBA, to remain united in 

order to achieve their 

objectives and meaningful 

development for the South- 

East and South- South geopolitical 

zones. 

Wike stated this while 

declaring open the 

quarterly meeting of the 

EBF in Port Harcourt, 

Rivers State. 

He said: “Unity in the 

EBF is very necessary. 

From what I have seen in 

this country, you have no 

option but to remain united. 

Even if you are cheated, 

remain united because 

unity is the key for you to 

achieve whatever you want 

to achieve. Please whatever 

you are doing, speak with 

one voice, whatever it takes, 

take decisions that will help 

you though it may not be 

comfortable for everybody. 

“They speak of colony. 

Well, I don’t know what that 

They also urged all 

Nigerian youths to forgive 

the two former leaders for 

speaking truth to power. 

Speaking under the 

auspices of 21st Century 

Youths of Niger Delta, the 

agitators, in a statement 

by their spokesperson, W 

O I Izon Ebi, said: “We 

applaud General IBB and 

General OBJ for their 

boldness for the love of 

Nigeria and the youths.” 

They, meanwhile, 

cautioned the Chief of 

Army Staff, Lt- General 

means, I have not seen it 

before. We have a lot of 

environment problems 

here. We have pollution, we 

have no grass here, so if 

the cows drink our water, 

they will die. We have the 

Atlantic Ocean here. If they 

like they can lay pipes and 

take the water to wherever 

they like, but for colony, no, 

I don’t know what that is. 

They say that if you speak, 

Amnesty: IYC lauds move to flush out 

ghost names 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

W ARRI—IJAW 

Youth Council, 

IYC, Western zone, has 

hailed the clean up exercise 

going on at the education 

desk of the Amnesty Office 

to rid the programme of 

alleged ghost names and 

related corrupt acts. 

Spokesman of the 

Western axis of the body, 

Mr Kenekeredi Napoleon, 

in a statement in Warri, 

Delta State, yesterday, said 

Tukur Burutai, over his 

planned re-launching of 

Operation Crocodile 

Smile 3 and Python 

Dance 3, saying they will 

not accept unprofessional 

military action from 

Nigerian soldiers. 

The agitators said: “We 

urge all Nigerian youths 

to forgive IBB and OBJ 

and take the message 

because they are part of 

the problem of Nigeria 

and now they have 

realized themselves to say 

the truth because they are 

you die, if you don’t speak 

you die. So why not speak 

and die. After all, those who 

don’t speak die early,” Wike 

stated. 

The meeting endorsed 

candidates for the 

forthcoming NBA elections. 

The endorsed candidates 

include: Chief Arthur Obi 

Okafor for the position of 

NBA President, Stanley 

Chidi Imo, for First Vice- 

that the ongoing 

reformation would flush out 

ghost names benefiting 

from the educational 

opportunities of the 

amnesty programme. 

He said until recently, 

there were allegations that 

funds meant for the 

education of youths of the 

region under the amnesty 

programme were diverted, 

adding that with the new 

development, the 

educational package of the 

amnesty programme 

would make its desired 

close to the creator to 

answer for their mix-up. 

Their sins are forgiven for 

this single act of courage 

and boldness to speak the 

truth for the love of 

Nigeria and the future of 

Nigerian youths. 

“It is now left for General 

Buhari to do the needful 

to restructure the country 

because every father will 

always like to give their 

children a future. What 

does General Buhari 

want to be remembered 

for? We leave the question 

for him to answer because 

everything has been 

exposed,” they said. 

CONFERENCE: 

From left: Mr. 

O y e w o l e 

Oyewunmi, District 

Governor 404B1 

Nigeria; Dr. Naresh 

A g g a r w a l , 

International 

President, Lions 

Clubs and Mr. 

Gbolagade Adebisi, 

Multiple Council 

Chairperson, 

Multiple District 404 

Nigeria, at the just 

concluded 23rd All 

Africa Conference 

held in Lome, Togo. 

President, Sabastine Anya 

for Welfare Secretary, Uju 

Mary Chukwuma-Okafor 

for Treasurer, Emeka 

Anosike, Financial 

Secretary, Mr. Seth 

Nwokolo for the office of 

Assistant Publicity 

Secretary and Mr Nnamdi 

Eze for Legal Adviser. 

The candidates emerged 

after the screening exercise 

conducted by the Forum’s 

Screening Committee. 

impact. 

They lauded Major 

Kesiena Mowari (retd), 

Head of the Education and 

Logistics Desk at the 

Amnesty Office for the 

reform, saying that he 

should drive it to its logical 

end. 

The youths further urged 

the Amnesty Office to 

accommodate more youths 

of the Niger Delta region 

in the university 

scholarship scheme, noting 

that it would reduce 

militancy and related 

challenges in the region. 

Butchers union drag Edo govt, 

3 others to court 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

BENIN—EDO State 

chairman of the 

National Butchers Union of 

Nigeria, Mr Ikponmwosa 

Orhue and the 

Incorporated Trustees of the 

union have dragged Edo 

State Government and 

three others before the 

National Industrial Court 

sitting in Akure, Ondo 

State, over the declaration 

of Mr Akhere Odijie as the 

chairman of the union in the 

state. 

Other defendants in the 

suit are Mr. Taiwo Akerele, 

Chief of Staff to Governor 

Godwin Obaseki, Akhere 

Odijie and Edo State 

Attorney General and 


Prof Yinka Omoregbee. 

FG urged to fish out financiers of 

herdsmen/farmers clashes 

By Festus Ahon & 

Ochuko Akuopha 

U YO—PRO- 

FESSOR of 

Agricultural and 

Development Economics, 

University of Uyo, 

UNIUYO, Akwa Ibom 

State, Professor Gabriel 

Umoh, has urged the 


urgently halt the spate of 

violence unleashed on 

innocent citizens by fishing 

out sponsors of the 

herdsmen. 

Prof Imoh said the only 

solution to the frequent 

killing of innocent citizens 

Senator collaborates with NDE 

to train youths in Delta 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

A SABA—SENATOR 

James Manager has 

collaborated with the 

National Directorate of 

Employment, NDE, to train 

234 youths drawn from 

Itsekiri, Ijaw, Isoko and 

Urhobo ethnic nationalities 

that make up Delta South 

senatorial district, in various 

trades. 

The week-long training 

held in Asaba, the state 

capital, covered poultry, 

animal husbandry, 

piggery, fish farming, 

cosmetology and makeup 

artist, among others. 

Speaking during 

training, Manger noted 

that with a population of 

about 180 million persons 

in Nigeria, youths of the 

country could no longer 

look up to government for 

employment. 

Represented by the 

member representing 

In the suit by their 

counsel, Mr Olayiwola 

Afolabi, the plaintiffs are 

asking the court to declare 

that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd 

defendants have no power 

to give recognition to the 

3rd defendant as the Edo 

State branch chairman of 

the union in view of the fact 

that he was not the elected 

chairman of the state 

chapter of the National 

Butchers of Nigeria and as 

such, the recognition was 

null and void. 

The plaintiffs also want 

the court to a declare that 

the letter dated December 

7, 2017 emanating from 

the office of the 2nd 

defendant on behalf of the 

1st defendant and in favour 

of the 3rd defendant is ultra 

vires, null and void and of 

no effect. 

by armed herdsmen was to 

unmask sponsors who 

armed the herdsmen with 

sophisticated assault rifles 

and bring them to face the 

laws of the land. 

Speaking in an interview 

with Vanguard in Uyo, 

yesterday, Umoh, who is 

also the Director, Centre for 

Wetland, University of Uyo, 

condemned the murder of 

Nigerians in cold blood by 

the herdsmen. 

He lamented the inability 

of the government at all 

levels to perform their 

constitutional role of 

protection of lives and 

property of the citizens. 

Bomadi constituency in 

Delta State House of 

Assembly, Mr. Kenneth 

Preyor, the senator said: 

“The workforce between 

the age of 15 and 64 is about 

80.5 million persons. Out 

of this, 18.4 million are 

unemployed and the 

universities keep turning 

out graduates into the 

labour market. 

“The trend now is selfreliance, 

get something 

doing, be trained in a 

specific field so that you can 

also be an employer of 

labour.” 

The state Coordinator of 

NDE, Mr Francis Aninye, 

said that they just finished 

the training of 1400 people 

in cosmetology, adding: 

“Anybody thinking that he 

will continue to depend on 

government is just 

deceiving himself. The best 

thing is for them to acquire 

the skills and later establish 

on their own with the help 

of the senator.”



PRESENTATION: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle), with his deputy, Mrs. 

Cecilia Ezeilo (2nd left); the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward 

Ubosi (left); and the state Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed (2nd right); and 

other officials of the government, during the presentation of 22 brand new patrol vans to the 

Nigerian Police Force, Enugu Command, at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday. 

Tension in Imo as oil communities condemn 

Okorocha's amnesty to Don Waney's men 

By Chinedu 

Adonu 

ENUGU—LEADERS of 

Awara Court Area, 

comprising Awara, Asaa 

and Obile communities 

have condemned the recent 

amnesty granted to 

members of Don Waney's 

gang by the Imo State 

Government. 

In a statement made 

available to journalists, the 

leaders questioned the 

rationale behind the 

amnesty to these same 

militants who were recently 

declared wanted alongside 

their leader, Don Waney for 

the January 1, 2018 killings 

in Omoku, Rivers State. 

Coordinator of the group, 

Mr. Ifeanyi Isife who 

signed the statement 

recalled that the 

Commissioner of Police, 

Chris Ezike visited Assa, 

Obile and Awara oil 

producing communities in 

Ohaji/Egbema Local 

Government Area of Imo 

State and discovered that 

everybody in the 

community had deserted 

because of the proximity 

between these 

communities and Omoku 

community in Rivers 

State. 

The statement read: 

"Thus, the commissioner 

had alerted the state 

government on the need to 

provide security in these 

communities. It took the 

combination of the 

commissioner of police and 

concerned citizens of the 

communities to bring in 

security made up of SARS, 

anti kidnap, anti cult and 

mobile men who did a good 

job, killing and arresting 

the cultists many of whom 

are in prison for murder, 

arson, robbery and 

unlawful possession of fire 

arms. 

"It's important to highlight 

that some of these people 

had taken the state 

government amnesty in 

2016 and yet defiled it to 

commit these atrocities. 

Kudos to the security 

agencies who brought 

normalcy to the area which 

caused people to return en 

masse last Christmas. 

"Recently, some enemies 

of the community decided 

to bring back a group of 

these unrepentant cultists 

to the community. And this 

met stiff resistance but since 

they are highly placed, they 

had their way and there is 

serious tension in the 

community now. But kudos 

to the security personnel 

whose presence is still 

being felt. 

"The situation got worse 

about a month ago when 

some people arrested 

confessed that they took off 

from one of the 

communities in Awara to 

commit the January 

1st, Don Waney killings in 

Amoku." 

Okorocha's planned mock primaries 

in APC generate heat 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

O 

W E R R I — 

GOVERNOR 

Rochas Okorocha's desire 

to conduct mock primaries 

for loyalists of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, wishing to stand for 

any elective office, has 

started generating a lot of 

heat within the party. 

Respondents on the issue 

told Vanguard yesterday 

that the planned exercise 

would be null and void and 

of no effect, if the governor 

goes ahead to conduct the 

mock primaries. 

A party official from one 

of the 27 local council areas 

of the state, who spoke on 

strict condition of 

anonymity yesterday, said 

that "mock primary is alien 

to APC Constitution. 

"This man (Okorocha) 

does a lot of weird things 

with impunity. How can he 

start talking about mock 

primaries, when we don't 

have such a thing in the 

party constitution? This is 

worrisome", the officer said. 

According to the man, 

there was a strong belief 

that the governor wants to 

use it to hoist his preferred 

candidates. 

"Governor Okorocha has 

said in different fora that 

the people will choose 

candidates for the various 

public offices, but some of 

us know that the planned 

mock primaries is a subtle 

way of hoisting his 

preferred candidates for the 

various public offices", the 

man said. 

Another APC stalwart, 

Agunwa Emeka Nzeribe, 

also condemned the 

planned mock primaries. 

"In the Nigerian Electoral 

Act, passed by the National 

Assembly, there is no 

section of it that supports 

the purported mock 

primaries, which Governor 

Okorocha wants to embark 

on", Nzeribe said. 

ITF gives start-up packs to NISDP 

trainees 

By Dennis Agbo 

E NUGU—THREE 

hundred trainees in 

the National Industrial 

Skills Development 

Programme, NISDP, have 

received start-up packs to 

commence their trades in 

Enugu state. 

The recipients who were 

trained in Tailoring and 

Fashion Designs; Welding 

and Fabrication; Plumbing 

and Pipe-Fitting, were 

given sewing machines 

and other equipment 

related to their different 

trades. 

In addition, the trainees 

said they had received 

stipends during Christmas 

and new year celebrations. 

Director General of 

Industrial Training Fund, 

ITF, Sir Joseph Ari said the 

NISDP is a programme of 

the agency aimed at 

contributing to federal 

government's policy of job/ 

wealth creation and poverty 

alleviation by equipping 

youths with skills for 

employability and 

entrepreneurship. 

Ari who disclosed that the 

NISDP programme will 

benefit 11,000 trainees 

across Nigeria, noted that 

the decision to provide the 

start-up packs was informed 

by ITF's tracking and 

monitoring which revealed 

that if supported with startup 

pack, 90 per cent of the 

trainees will become 

successful entrepreneurs 

and employers of labour. 

Abia House invites AG over 

swearing-in of Acting CJ 


U MUAHIA—THE 

Abia State House of 

Assembly has invited the 

State Attorney General and 


Chief Umeh Kalu, SAN, to 

appear before it to explain 

why he misled Governor 

Okezie Ikpeazu into 

swearing-in the wrong 

person as Acting Chief 

Judge following the 

suspension of Justice 

Theresa Uzokwe by the 

House. 

Recall that the National 

Judicial Council, NJC, 

reversed the action of the 

Governor, saying that 

Justice Obisike Orji who 

was sworn-in as the Acting 

Chief Judge was not the 

proper person to act. The 

council went further to 

suspend Justice Obisike 

Orji for accepting to be 

sworn-in, knowing that he 

was not the most senior 

Judge in the hierarchy, a 

rule, respected and guided 

jealously in the judiciary. 

Worried by the 

embarrassment the action 

has caused the State and 

the Governor, the House 

decided to invite the 

attorney general who is the 

chief law officer, to come 

and explain why he did not 

advise the Governor 

properly. 

Meanwhile, the House 

has recommended the sack 

of the suspended Chief 

Judge of the State, Justice 

Theresa Uzokwe, saying 

that she failed to appear 

before the House 

Committee that sat over the 

petition written against her. 

However, in compliance 

with NJC’s directive, 

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, 

Monday, swore-in Justice 

Onuoha Kalu Ogwe as 

Acting Chief Judge of the 

state. 

Swearing-in Justice 

Ogwe, Governor Ikpeazu 

explained that there was no 

under current in the 

decision of the Government 

except to stabilise the 

judiciary which should not 

be left without a head. 

Denigration: OYC declares 

Uwazuruike persona non grata 


U MUAHIA— 

OHANAEZE 

Youths Council, OYC, has 

berated the founder and 

former leader of the 

Actualisation of Sovereign 

State of Biafra, MASSOB, 

Chief Raph Uwazuruike, 

over his alleged 

denigration of the Igbo race, 

saying that they have 

declared him persona non 

grata in Igbo land. 

Also, two other Igbo 

groups, the Igbo People’s 

Congress and the Igbo 

Aborigines have lambasted 

Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, 

accusing him of acts of 

treachery and mischief. 

Reacting to the 

denigration of Ndigbo 

credited to Uwazuruike, 

Ohanaeze Youths Council 

expressed utter 

disappointment over the 

alleged utterances credited 

to him. 

In a statement signed by 

its National President, 

Mazi Okechukwu 

Isiguzoro, OYC, described 

the report credited to 

Uwazuruike as “misguided 

and ridiculous.” 

It said: "The leadership of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth 

Council Worldwide, with 

deep shock read the 

misguided and ridiculous 

statement credited to the 

leader of Biafra 

Independent Movement, 

BIM, and former MASSOB 

leader, Chief Ralph 

Uwazurike, calling the 

great Igbo tribe as a foolish 

tribe. 

"After reading his 

vituperations against 

Ndigbo, we resolved as 

follows: that it is a sacrilege 

and an abomination that the 

so called freedom fighter 

who rose to the height of 

leading the Igbo nation, is 

now a saboteur fighting his 

root openly without shame. 

“That as part of our effort 

to cleanse this mess from 

Chief Ralph Uwazurike, 

we have declared him 

persona non grata in Igbo 

land and he should vacate 

immediately from where he 

resides to perhaps, Kano 

where his paymasters are 

residing. And failure to do 

this, he will have himself 

to blame. 

"Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth 

Council worldwide will 

strip Chief Ralph 

Uwazurike naked 

anywhere we catch him, if 

he fails to vacate Igbo land 

immediately. This will 

serve as example to other 

Igbo elders who are trying 

to mortgage Igbo land to 

their Fulani paymasters 

ahead of 2019 elections. 

"OYC will henceforth not 

tolerate any elder’s 

rascality in the South East. 

It was Uwazurike who 

deceived many Igbo youths 

and Ndigbo from 

participating in the last 

population census, which 

today makes us a minority 

in the Nigeria project. We 

believe that today, nemesis 

has caught up with him."

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

SCORPIO: Even if you continue to work under pressure 

via increased workload, you will have good results 

to show for your efforts today. Be steadfast. 

SAGITTARIUS: Better than yesterday. And the more 

co-operative you are today the better for you. Those of 

you travelling for love are in for an exciting day. 

CAPRICORN: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings 

at work are for a progressive day to the betterment 

of your finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead. 

AQUARIUS: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity 

to assert yourself to the administration of others. 

Both love and financial success can be yours with 

efforts. Reason with your tried and trusted friends. 

PISCES: You can make it a successful day with positive 

approach on your part. You will be in a better position 

to defuse tension within your working arena. Try to 

be more ambitious. 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 -- 35 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART —ELLA RANDLE 

“Most Good relationships are built on mutual trust and respect”- 

Mona Stephen- 

To consciously acknowledge the divinity of another is to show 

respect to others irrespective, through our actions we can 

choose to lift others. This can be translated into charitable 

gestures where we accept people for who they are, we learn to 

let go of things that no longer serves us and welcome change 

for the better. Be nice. Whatever you do in life comes back 

eventually. Being nice is good returns but more significantly, a 

prerequisite to practicing wholesome spirituality. -Ella 

Randle- 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

If you are 

filled with 

pride, then you 

will have no 

room for wisdom. 

~ African 

proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

ARIES: Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition 

and/or competition come your way but, if you give 

in to diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today. 

TAURUS: Pressure that came your way suddenly will 

give way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your 

course. The more financially ambitious you are today, 

the better for you. Be steadfast. 

GEMINI: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument 

or discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic 

come to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy 

your love life. 

CANCER: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive 

to the administration of others. Then those who’ve 

been resisting secret love may slip suddenly and become 

excited. 

LEO: Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting 

from the influential people will be enough to see you 

through. Yet, the more cooperative you are the better. 

VIRGO: Your creativity quotient within your working 

arena will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you 

keep official issues secrets from your challenges at work. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

LIBRA: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the 

needed opportunity to look through windows of the world 

and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days 

is predicted for lovers today. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF TAURUS 

RULER = LOVE AND MONEY RELATED VENUS. 

QUALITY =FIXED. 

ELEMENT=EARTH. 

SYBOL = THE BULL. 

GROUP = FEMININE. 

ZODIACAL NUMBER = 5TH 

Taurus although, second sign of the zodiac, is the first 

of the earth signs, and that means leadership ability especially 

when it comes to reckoning with who is who 

among people that have staying power and those that 

can be regarded as serious minded (hard workers) and 

practical set of peop1e.Through Venus C its’ ruler, Taurus 

rules money, movable possessions, and steadfastness. 

That is why Taurus born people hate whatever can lead 

to or be regarded as insecurity and they are good managers 

of both money and other material related resources. 

You appear cool headed and like true Taurus, you can 

exhibit ability to be patient and the degree of perseverance 

in your inner Cself is truly high. However, if anybody 

takes you for granted or try to take undue advantage 

of you, he/she will be surprised with the level of 

resistance and/or resentment you will show. 

With the influence of Taurus in you, you are more of a 

person with powerful personality with strong determination 

to wear both oppositions and obstacles out of 

your way via renewed struggle and consistency. You see, 

people that do not really understand you may label you 

as an obstinate and excessively stubborn person. In 

fairness to them, there is some degree of stubbornness in 

you, however, if you rightly or wrongly think that failure 

is starring you at face, the bull in you can induce you to 

act like all head no heart type of a person. 

Taurus element is earth, its’ quality is fixed and its’ 

symbol is the bull. That is why they (Taurus born persons) 

attach importance to money and security. In fact, 

financial crisis can lead to despondency for Taurus born 

people. 

Earth connection makes you a practical person who 

will work very hard and patiently too. Native, of earth 

signs are cautious and reliab1e and they will rarely day 

dream. The quality of Taurus which is fixed makes it 

easy for you to always see your important projects to 

logical conclusion. Because of your unwillingness to 

change your mind unnecessarily, some people will call 

you a rigid person, but nobody can rightly accuse you of 

laziness. In-fact, fixed quality of Taurus is another indication 

of reliability in your horoscope. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa


BENUE KILLINGS: From left, Members of Benue State Caucus in the 

House of Representatives, Adamu Antono, Dickson Tarkishi and Benjamin 

Wayo, addressing pressmen on killings by herdsmen and Police action at 

National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan 

LAUNCHING: From left, Timilehin Lajubutu, Marketing Coordinator, 

Pinkberry Nigeria; Antoine Zammarieh, Managing Director, Eat’N’Go 

Limited; Weny Wu, Marketing Director, Pinkberry International and Amalia 

Sebakunzi, Marketing Director, Eat’N’Go Limited, during the launch of 

Pinkberry Frozen Yoghurt, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau. 

LAWSAN CONVENTION: From left, Detutu Ajibodu, Centre Manager, 

Women at Risk International Foundation, WARIF; Adebayo Osojie, President, 

Law Students Association of Nigeria, LAWSAN; Dr. Kemi Da-Silva, Founder, 

WARIF; Abdurrahman Ahmed El-Marzuq, Vice President LAWSAN, and 

Tamilore Sowunmi, Vice President, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, at 

WARIF Through the Arts Initiative, LAWSAN 2018 Convention in UNILAG, 

yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau. 

BRIEFING: Inventor of motor with solar power that charges home 

appliances, generator that uses chips and street light with solar panel, Michael 

Friday (middle) displaying invented products while President, Innoville 

Business Group, Daysman Oyakhilome Woghiren (left), and others look on 

during the test-run of the products, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan


japhdave@yahoo.com 

08066625505 

Mabiaku, Sadare, other Nigerian Jazz 

lovers salute Hugh Masekela 

*as Inspiro dedicates 2018 Lagos Int'l Jazz festival to Masekela 

By Japhet Alakam 

As the world and many 

governments, 

corporations and jazz 

lovers all over the world 

poured encomiums on the 

father of Hugh Masekela, 

Nigerian Jazz musicians and 

lovers were not left out as 

they joined them in 

celebration of the South 

African Jazz legend who 

passed away recently. 

The event which was a 

musical tribute for the 

international jazz icon, music 

legend and father of South 

African Jazz, was organised 

by Othello’s, a leading 

upscale hospitality outfit in 

Lagos and powered by 

leading marketing and 

activations company, Inspiro 

Productions, organisers of the 

annual Lagos International 

Jazz Festival. 

The event which was well 

attended featured tribute 

session, performances by 

leading musicians, raffle 

draw and others, afforded 

Jazz lovers the opportunity 

to pay homage to the great 

musician and celebrate his 

exploits in music. 

Present on the band stand 

that night were Jazz Master 

& Director of The SPAN 

Academy of Jazz & 

Contemporary Music - 

Bright Gain, top Jazz 

trumpeter & educationist - 

Biodun Batik, ace Jazz 

trumpeter - Taiwo Clegg, 

multi-instrumentalist & 

performer - Seun Olota, 

FemiSide, the Afrojazz/ 

highlife trombonist, leading 

Jazz trumpeter - Kwitee, fast 

rising saxophonist - Darex 

and a host of others. 

The event themed: White 

and black and baddest, was 

a tribute session as part of 

Othello’s monthly hangout 

event and the performances, 

speeches, experiences and 

more, were shared by various 

people who in one way or the 

other had been influenced or 

impacted by Hugh 

Masekela. The live 

performances were 

interspersed with tributes to 

the great man, his music and 

impact. Jazz impresario, 

Ayoola Sadare, CEO of 

Inspiro Productions and 

founder/festival director of 

the Lagos International Jazz 

Festival, spoke glowingly 

about his encounter with Bra 

Hugh Masekela and contact 

over the years and also 

announced the dedication of 

the Lagos International Jazz 

Festival in April 2018 to Hugh 

Masekela. Dede Mabiaku, 

popular musician and 

protégé of Afrobeat founder, 

•Nigerian Jazz stars, Bright Gain, Taiwo Clegg, Darex, Biodun 

Batik, Kwitee and Femiside performing at the event 

Fela Kuti, spoke passionately 

on how over the years, Hugh 

Masekela had become a 

father to him; his connection 

and many visits to Nigeria. 

Others like Biodun Batik 

spoke along the same line and 

many more followed. The 

beautifully decorated and 

Tribes...Omatseye’s poetic reflections on Nigeria 

One of the qualities of 

good writing is that it 

evokes emotions, connects 

things and tells a story that 

the reader can relate to. 

These are some of the traits 

that Sam Omatseye, 

newspaper columnist, poet 

and essayist possesses that 

qualify him as one. And this, 

the renowned writer and 

author of My name is Okoro, 

demonstrated in his latest 

book, Tribe and Prejudice, a 

collection of poems. 

In the 63-page book 

published by Origami, 

containing 30 poems, the 

poet in his characteristic 

manner of handling issues 

takes a passionate, honest, 

descriptive, lyrical and 

reflective look on diverse 

issues in Nigeria. 

The poet opens with the 

poem, Tribe and Prejudice, 

which incidentally is the title 

of the book. In it, Omatseye 

looks at the city of Lagos, the 

melting pot of old, where 

people from different tribes 

come and mix up and what 

has become of it now, 

highlighting a number of ills, 

including nepotism and 

tribalism that have become 

permanent afflictions across 

the land. The poet also 

recalls the effects of the love 

lost in relationships as seen 

in events that transpired 

before the 2015 governorship 

election in Lagos, and how 

the Oba allegedly 

threatened non-Yoruba that 

fail to vote for his anointed 

lighted outdoor venue had 

images of the legend dotting 

the space. 

At the well attended event, 

guests were received with 

exotic cocktails and light 

refreshments before the 

performance kicked off with 

Rapha, the comedian 

candidate, should see the 

lagoon as their next home. 

The poet, also took the 

readers down memory lane, 

where he listed some other 

areas in Nigeria where 

tribalism and its attendant 

prejudice showed its ugly 

head. They include Delta, 

where the supremacy battle 

between the Ijaw, Urhobo, 

and Itsekiri is still raging; 

the Ife and Modakeke case 

in Osun that raged for years 

until peace returned. The 

actions of the Niger-Delta 

militants 

and that of 

the Boko 

Haram 

insurgents 

are also 

issues the 

poet took 

a second 

look at. 

Other 

poems 

include, 

Strangers 

Invocation; 

A s a b a 

Massacre, 

G i r l 

Bomber; 

Corruption; 

Almajiri, 

Tyranny; 

Obama in 

Kenya; 

Orlando; 

The Sham I am; For 

Mohammed Ali; The 

Immigrant; Evil Pot; 

Confessions of Executive 

Rogue; The Statue; The 

Vultures and others. 

In Strangers Invocation, 

•Dede Mabiaku paying tribute to Hugh Masekela 

compering the event. 

Amongst the many dignitaries 

and guests at the event 

included the German Consul- 

General, Ingo Herbert, a 

delegation from South Africa 

led by their Vice-Consul, 

Political, Mr. Mbedzi and 

representing Mr. Steve 

Ayorinde, Lagos State 

Commissioner for Tourism, 

Arts & Culture was Mr. Frank 

Legunsen of the same 

ministry. Other guests were 

Mr. and Mrs Pretty Okafor of 

PMAN, JazzMan Olofin, 

which is dedicated to the late 

Suzanne Wenger, Omatseye 

describes his visit to the 

Osun River with awe and 

reverence. 

In Asaba Massacre,1967, 

the poet took the reader to 

the horrendous event or the 

unreported genocide, the 

murder of about 1,000 boys 

and men of Asaba at the 

wake of the Civil War by 

soldiers of the Nigerian 

Army. Was it how it was 

supposed to be? he asked. 

“They should have told us/It 

was not a 

welcome 

party/But a 

farewell/We 

would have 

c o m e 

prepared,” 

he laments. 

A p a r t 

f r o m 

historical 

events, the 

Tribe and 

Prejudice; 

Sam 

Omatseye; 

Parresia 

Publishers; 

2017; 

PP.63 

poet also 

had time for 

s o m e 

current 

issues like 

the Almajiri 

phenomenon, 

the Awo 

statue at 

Alausa, 

Lagos and 

corruption 

and its effect 

on the country and others, 

were given adequate 

attention in the collection. 

Is the poet a Christian or 

not, this cannot be answered 

as the poet had words for 

people that believe in 

witchcraft and how they 

Bayode Olaiya representing 

his father, Dr. Victor Olaiya, 

Muyiwa Moyela, former GM, 

Metro FM, Cordelia Okpei, 

amongst others. 

The tribute session rounded 

off with a raffle draw and the 

prizes were for guests to win 

Othello’s 5 Days Of Valentine 

package of a three-course 

dinner for couples during the 

Valentine period. Five lucky 

winners emerged from the 

exercise. 

operate in Evil Pot, and at the 

same time, affirming the 

supremacy of God in another 

poem, Kaleidoscope. 

It was not all about woes 

and woes, some glorious 

moments such as the victory 

in the Under 17 World Cup 

Final in 2015 was also 

celebrated in the poem, A 

Mexican Tear. 

In his comments about the 

collection, Executive Editor 

of TheNews/PM News, Kunle 

Ajibade describes it as 

“passionate, honest, 

descriptive, lyrical and 

reflective.” 

Psalm Okpe’s 

new book, Double 

Your Results, for 

launch 

The official launch/ 

presentation of a new 

book, Double Your 

Results,written by Apostle 

Psalm Okpe, popularly 

known as Flying Bishop of 

Fresh Oil Ministry 

International, an itinerant 

preacher, is scheduled to 

hold on 11th February 2018 

at 111, Egbeda Road, 

Orelope Bus Stop, Lagos. 

The launch which will be 

attended by many 

dignitaries across the nation 

will have Bishop Isaac 

Idahosa of Illumination 

Assembly ministering. 

Double Your Results, an 

inspirational and 

motivational book is a 

masterpiece and a product 

of rivers and wells of 

inspiration.

38—Vanguard, 


C 

M 

Y 

K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018—39 

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews 

NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

Workers vow to stall UNN matriculation 

N SUKKA—FRESH 

protest yesterday 

rocked University of 

Nigeria, Nsukka, as the 

Joint Action Committee, 

JAC, of the university 

vowed to stall the 2018 

matriculation of the 

university, over nonpayment 

of allowances 

owed universities across 

the country. 

In a peaceful protest 

yesterday at University of 

Nigeria, Nsukka, workers 

numbering over 2000 

chanting solidarity songs 

marched to faculties of the 

university, warning staff 

and students to disregard 

the planned matriculation 

slated to hold next 

Saturday in the university. 

Addressing workers of the 

university, JAC chairman, 

Mr. Paul Erua said the 

scheduled matriculation 

would not hold as Senior 

Staff Association of 

Nigerian Universities, 

SSANU, Non Academic 

Staff of Universities, 

NASU and National 

Association of 

Technologies, NATS, that 

made up the Joint Action 

Committee have been on 

national strike for the past 

one month over non 

implementation of the 

MoUs, which the national 

body of JAC signed with 

Federal Government for 

three consecutive times but 


reneged to implement it 

since 2009. 

Erua noted that there was 

no going back on the strike 

until the government do the 

needful by paying the 

allowances, adding that the 

management of the 

university of Nigeria, 

Nsukka went ahead to fix 

a date for the university 

matriculation, when 

workers are on strike, using 

the method of divide and 

rule to force workers to the 

side of the management. 

"We are warning all 

faculty officers of the 

university not to attempt 

engaging themselves to the 

so called matriculation as 

JAC would not hesitate to 

sanction any of her 

members found involved in 

the matriculation on 

Saturday February 10th 

2018,“ he said. 

He said that the strike was 

total and would not be 

sabotaged by any faculty 

officer no matter how 

highly placed, explaining 

that students should ignore 

the matriculation, as most 

of the first year structures 

have not been given 

registration numbers, while 

majority of the students 

were still grappling to pay 

school fees and others 

together with the UNN 

compulsory laptop per 

student of the university. 

"SSANU, NASU and 

NATS are more relevant 

than management of the 

university, in that respect 

we can not succumb to 

threats and cheapen the 

unions that has been in 

existence before the arrival 

of Prof. Benjamin Ozumba 

as vice chancellor of the 

university," he said. 

Mr. Erua noted that the 

vice chancellor using all 

manner of antics, had 

arrested him twice, without 

any cogent reasons to justify 

the arrests, noting that the 

strike is a national issue, 

while the Vice Chancellor 

Prof Ozumba decided to 

take it personal. 

"Police recently invaded my 

house around 3pm, pulled 

down my window and 

forced themselves in, tear 

gased my house and my 

wife fainted, while I was 

bundled away with my two 

sons, who were later 

released, while I was taken 

to Enugu State 

Commissioner of Police, 

Danmallam Mohammed 

who brokered peace, but 

the vice chancellor bluntly 

refused to adhere to it.


By Simon 

Ebegbulem 

BENIN CITY—THE 

Benin Court has 

dismissed a N100 million 

suit filed by one Mrs 

Oghosa Ejemai, against 

the immediate past 


Transport in Edo state, Mr 

Isimeme Iriogbe, saying 

that the claimant failed to 

prove her case of alleged 

assault and battering she 

filed against the latter 

beyond reasonable doubt. 

Mrs Ejemai who is a 

trader along Mission Road, 

Benin City, had on the 27th 

of April, 2016 filed a suit 

against, Mr Iriogbe, who 

was then the Commissioner 


Court dismisses N100m suit against 

ex-Edo Transport Commissioner 

for Transport, alleging that 

officials of the Ministry led 

by Mr Iriogbe, stormed her shop 

and destroyed her goods. 

Adding that she was beaten up 

and in the process lost her 

pregnancy. But Justice 

M.N.Asemota in her ruling, 

declared that the goods which 

were siezed by members of the 

MInistry were due to the fact that 

the claimants goods were 

blocking the walkways which she 

said was against the law. 

On the allegation that she was 

battered by the defendant which 

led to her losing her pregnancy, 

the Judge declared that the 

¨failure of the claimant to tender 

in evidence the video clip which 

was necessary or vital to prove 

her case of assault and battering 

in the face of outright denial by 

the defendant is fatal to her case. 

"From the foregoing, I am of firm 

view that the claimant has failed 

to prove by the preponderance of 

evidence that she was assaulted 

by the defendant and his team 

on the day in question. Haven 

reviewed the pleadings vis a vis 

the evidence adduced by the 

parties as a whole, I am of the 

considered view that the 

defendant and his team of officials 

acted within the confines of the 

law. 

"In all I hold that the claimant 

has failed to prove her case 

against the defendant as required 

by law. The claimant´s case fails 

in its entirety and it is accordingly 

dismissed. I award the sum of 

N30,000 only as cost in favour of 

the defendant¨ the judge 

declared. 

We'll make private schools 

unattractive in Borno—Gov Shettima 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

M AIDUGURU— 

BORNO State 

Governor, Kashim 

Shettima has vowed to 

make private schools in the 

state unattractive to the 

children of the state. 

The governor made the 

vow while speaking on the 

celebration of the defeat of 

Boko Haram by the 

Nigerian military. 

He said his 

administration is currently 

building 34 mega schools 

that can accommodate 

between 1000-1200 

students and the targets are 

principally, the orphans of 

Boko Haram. 

The governor said he 

was determined to uplift 

the standard of education 

in the state to such a level 

that will make private 

schooling unattractive like 

in Rwanda. 

‘‘We are building 34 

mega schools that can 

accommodate between 

1000-1200 students. Our 

targets are principally, the 

orphans of Boko Haram. 

So, we want to bring in 

students from the 

neighborhood and join 

them with the victims of 

Boko Haram and give 

them some sense of 

belonging. 

‘‘There are some estates 

we are building across the 

state. Our people in the 

North are the poorest of the 

poor and Boko Haram came 

to make things worse," the 

governor said. 

Governor Shettima, who 

underscored the importance 

of education in nation 

building, said he has 

obsession for education and 

that he would stop at nothing to 

achieve his goal. 

He said: ‘‘My obsession is all 

about education. You can call me a 

crazy man, so be it. I owe nobody 

any apology. I am crazy about 

education because education is the 

greatest game changer." 

Delta 

Assembly: 

Private 

healthcare 

centre bill 

passes 2nd 

reading 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—A bill for a law 

to regulate the 

Registration, Establishment, 

Operation, Conduct, 

Supervision and Inspection 

of Private Health Care 

Centres in Delta State and 

for other matters connected 

therewith has passed first 

reading on the floor of the 

state House of Assembly. 

Lead sponsor of the bill, 

Chief Alphonsus Ojo, 

representing Ukwuani 

constituency on behalf of 

himself and nine others, 

presented the bill for first 

reading during, yesterdays 

plenary presided over by the 

Speaker, Chief Sheriff 

Oborevwori. 

The motion for the first 

reading of the bill, seconded 

by the Chief Whip of the 

House, Mrs Pat Ajudua, 

Oshimili North and was 

unanimously adopted. 

The second reading of the 

bill has been slated for 

March ‘1, 2018. The House 

at plenary took the third 

reading of the Delta State 

Statistics bill after clause by 

clause, session by session, 

page by page scrutiny of the 

report on the bill by the 

committee 

on 

Establishment, Ethnics, 

Privileges and House 

Services. 

The 30 sections bill was 

painstakingly scrutinized at 

the Committee of Whole 

chaired by the Speaker, 

Oborevwori, who 

commended members for 

their commitment at 

ensuring the making of 

quality laws for good 

governance of the state. 

Also commending the 

contributions of the members 

on the bill, Oborevwori said 

very important amendments 

were made during the 

Committee of Whole.



Benue, Taraba, 4 others 

Continues from page 5 

be replaced by a more 

professional police officer. 

The Speaker at this point, 

said “if we amend, it all 

means we have passed a 

vote of no confidence” and 

the response was a 

thunderous yes! 

Before the amendment 

move by John Dyegh, most 

of the lawmakers, who 

spoke on the state of 

thuggery in Kano, had 

appealed for peace to reign 

in Kano. 

Damburam, leading the 

debate, had argued that 

“thuggery in recent times 

in Kano has really impeded 

law and order in the state 

as Police and other security 

operatives turn blind eyes 

to what is happening 

around them. 

“This development is 

dangerous to democracy 

and it’s worrisome that a 

ranking lawmaker is at the 

top of such a situation." 

In his contribution, 

Kolawole Gabriel (PDP, 

Ondo), said “thuggery can 

only be curtailed if the 

youths are gainfully 

employed 

and 

unfortunately if you are not 

in the ruling party, you are 

prone to attack." 

The ayes have it 

Ali Madaki (APC, Kano), 

in his view, pointed 

accusing fingers at the IGP, 

saying ”he is the cause of 

lawlessness across the state 

as he seems to be aiding 

them." 

House Whip, Alhassan 

Ado Doguwa, however, 

spoke against the position 

of his colleagues, claiming 

that ”without any fear of 

contradiction, your position 

on this matter was 

mischievous, misleading 

and misinforming the 

House.’’ 

He was greeted by a 

thunderous No! No! by his 

colleagues, who equally 

warned that his choice of 

words were not 

honourable. 

Kingsley Chinda (PDP, 

Rivers), citing Order 9, Rule 

7 of the House, demanded 

NAIRA WATCH 

By Adaeze Okechukwu 

that the Whip should 

withdraw such words “as 

they were unparliamentary. 

But Doguwa continued, 

insisting that he would not 

change his choice of words. 

The presiding officer, 

Yakubu Dogara, after 

listening to all the 

submissions, put it to a 

voice vote and the ayes 

carried the day. 

Earlier, Mark Gbillah 

under matter of National 

Importance, entitled: 

"Motion on The 

Derogatory Statement By 

the Police PRO Against An 

Executive Governor of a 

state and the seeming 

unwillingness of the IGP 

to recognize and enforce 

a constitutionally enacted 

law by the legislative arm 

of Government", had an 

overwhelming support. 

After close to an hour 

debate on the issue, the 

House resolved that the 

constituted House 

committee on the recent 

killings and insecurity 

should further investigate 

the IGP’s utterances, 

outside apologising to 

Governor Ortom. 

The lawmakers also 

asked for the immediate 

removal of the Force PRO. 

Pally Iriase (APC, Edo); 

Hassan Saleh (APC, 

Benue); Kingsley Chinda 

and others contributed 

meaningfully to the 

debate. 

Benue Reps on 

Police PRO 

In a related 

development, the Benue 

State caucus in the House 

of Representatives, 

yesterday, warned the 

IGP to steer clear of 

politics and restrict 

himself to the role of 

maintaining law and 

order. 

Spokesman of the 

Caucus, John Dyegh 

said: “Jimoh Moshood’s 

tirade against the 

governor is hate speech 

and, therefore, a criminal 

act. 

“We condemn and reject 

the calls for the 

resignation of Governor 

Naira appreciates to 

N360.21/$ in I&E 

The Naira yesterday appreciated to N360.21 per 

dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window 

of the foreign exchange market. 

Data from the Financial Market Dealers Quote 

(FMDQ) showed that the indicative exchange rate 

for the window dropped to N360.21 per dollar, 

yesterday, from N360.31 per dollar on Tuesday, 

indicating a 10 kobo depreciation of naira. 

Meanwhile, the volume of dollars traded in the 

window fell by 22 percent to $166.58 million yesterday 

from $212.31million on Tuesday, prompting the 

appreciation of the naira. 

Vanguard investigation revealed that Naira 

remained stable at N364 per dollar in the parallel 

market for the fourth consecutive business day. 

Samuel Ortom by the 

Nigeria Police, as openly 

canvassed by Jimoh on a 

national television. 

“Governor Ortom has 

done excellently well to 

protect the lives and 

property of all residents of 

Benue State within the 

limits of his powers and 

the provisions of the 

Constitution of the 

Federal Republic of 

Nigeria. 

“We therefore, stand 

with Ortom and support 

the full implementation of 

the anti-grazing law as 

the only panacea to 

resolving the perennial 

herdsmen attacks on our 

farmers and communities 

and a peaceful coexistence 

of all residents/ 

inhabitants of Benue 

State. 

Senate throws out 

committee report 

Meanwhile, the Senate, 

yesterday threw out the 

report of its Committee on 

Police Affairs and 

National Security and 

Intelligence over recent 

killings in Benue State, 

saying it was unbalanced 

and incomplete. 

According to the Senate, 

the report failed to unfold 

the failings of the Nigeria 

Police in curbing the 

killings in Benue and 

many other states. 

Consequently, the 

Upper Chamber asked 

the committee to do a more 

balanced and objective 

report for Senate’s 

consideration. 

It asked the committee, 

headed by Senator Abu 

Ibrahim (APC, Katsina 

South), to take 

testimonies from the 

governor of Benue State, 

Samuel Ortom, who was 

massively indicted by the 

report and report back in 

one week. 

It was particularly not 

happy that the committee 

members failed to reach out 

to the governor to get his 

own views, even after the 

panel had met with the 

Inspector-General of Police, 

Ibrahim Idris, who spoke 

against Ortom. 

Soon after Senator 

Ibrahim presented the sixpage 

report where he 

highlighted the 

‘achievements’ so far 

recorded by the Police IGP, 

than other senators took 

him up, describing the 

report as biased, 

unbalanced and 

incomplete. 

His colleagues came 

down hard on him when 

Senator Ibrahim asked the 

senators to commend the 

IGP for his efforts after the 

Benue crisis. 

What was submitted to the 

Senate was based mainly 

on the testimony of Ibrahim 

Idris, just as the report 

blamed the recent 

disturbance in Benue on 

the Anti-Open Grazing Bill 

passed by the state. 

Zuma holding transition talks with 

ANC leader 

AFRICAN National 

Congress (ANC) 

leader Cyril Ramaphosa 

said on Wednesday he is 

holding direct talks with 

Jacob Zuma over a transition 

of power, in the strongest 

indication to date the 

South African president 

will step down after years 

of scandal. 

Zuma, in power since 

2009 and beset by corruption 

allegations, has been in 

a weakened position since 

Deputy President Ramaphosa 

replaced him as ANC 

leader in December. Ramaphosa 

has talked of a transition 

of power since he took 

over as leader of the ANC. 

The 75-year-old Zuma 

has been South Africa’s most 

controversial president 

since the end of white-minority 

rule in 1994, overseeing 

a tumultuous nine years 

marked by economic decline 

and numerous allegations 

of corruption. In a 

statement, Ramaphosa said 

he and Zuma began the 

talks on Tuesday night and 

hoped to conclude their discussions 

and report back to 

country “in coming days” - 

the first official confirmation 

of the talks between the two 

leaders. 

Ramaphosa said the process 

was an opportunity to 

conclude the matter without 

causing discord in the country. 

“We will be able to communicate 

further on President 

Zuma’s position as President 

of the Republic once we 

have finalised all pertinent 

matters,” Ramaphosa said. 

“This is a challenging 

time for our country. Both 

President Zuma and myself 

are aware that our people 

want and deserve closure. 

The constructive process we 

have embarked on offers the 

greatest opportunity to conclude 

this matter without 

discord or division.” 

He said following 

progress made at the talks 

between him and Zuma, 

the ANC pushed back an 

urgent meeting scheduled 

for Wednesday evening of 

its national executive - 

which has the power to instruct 

Zuma to resign. 

The delay increased speculation 

that a deal for Zuma 

to resign had been ironed 

out. Times Live, an online 

news service, quoted sources 

as saying Zuma would 

resign as soon as a list of 

preconditions had been finalised. 

Ramaphosa said he was 

aware that the uncertainty 

surrounding Zuma’s position 

was a cause for concern 

for many South Africans, but 

was confident of reaching 

an outcome to unite the 

country. 

The former union leader 

has said he does not want 

to humiliate Zuma but has 

been lobbying behind the 

scenes for him to step down 

early. 

Missing Nigerian masterpiece found 

in north London flat 

A 

missing Nigerian 

masterpiece has 

been found in a “modest 

north London flat”. 

Ben Enwonwu’s 1974 

painting of the Ife princess 

Adetutu Ademiluyi, 

known as Tutu, became a 

symbol of reconciliation 

after the Nigerian-Biafran 

conflict. 

Saudi grants airspace approval for flights to Israel 

SAUDI Arabia has 

granted for the first 

time permission for Air 

India flights headed to 

Israel to use its airspace, 

the Israeli daily Haaretz 

reported. 

The decision, which 

will be implemented in 

March, means that the 

flights from New Delhi to 

Tel Aviv would be shortened 

by two and a half 

hours. 

Merkel’s conservatives 

and SPD clinch deal 

G 

E R M A N 

Chancellor 

Angela Merkel said on 

Wednesday her conservatives 

had made painful 

concessions to the 

Social Democrats (SPD) 

to secure a coalition deal 

that should give Europe’s 

powerhouse a 

new government after 

months of political paralysis. 

In a move that heralds 

a shift in Germany’s 

euro zone policy, the 

SPD will take the finance 

ministry, a post held until 

recently by conservative 

Wolfgang Schaeuble, 

widely loathed in the 

euro zone’s indebted periphery 

during his eightyear 

tenure for his rigid 

focus on fiscal discipline. 

SPD leader Martin 

Schulz, who now needs 

his party’s grass roots to 

approve the deal in a 

postal ballot, said this 

week that the SPD had 

ensured the coalition 

would stop “forced austerity” 

and set up an investment 

budget for the 

euro zone. 

The new route, Haaretz 

said, means that the airline 

would reduce fuel 

costs and sell cheaper 

tickets to passengers. 

The Saudi government 

had banned flights headed 

to Israel from using its 

airspace for 70 years. 

While it is no secret that 

private jets can fly from 

Saudi and other Gulf airports 

to Israel, they 

could not use the direct 

The painting is expected 

to sell for £300,000 at 

auction - a record for a 

modern Nigerian artist. 

Booker Prize winning 

novelist Ben Okri called it 

“the most significant discovery 

in contemporary 

African art in over 50 

years”. 

“It is a cause for celebration, 

a potentially transforming 

moment in the 

world of art,” he added. 

Mr Enwonwu, considered 

the father of Nigerian 

modernism, painted 

three versions of Tutu. 

All three went missing 

after his death in 1994. 

The whereabouts of the 

other Tutu paintings remain 

a mystery. 

Giles Peppiatt, director 

of modern African art at 

auction house Bonhams, 

made the discovery after 

he was invited to appraise 

artworks at a “modest 

north London flat”. 

Mr Peppiatt said he is 

regularly asked to appraise 

versions of Tutu, 

which turn out to be copies. 

The appearance of the 

original painting is “a momentous 

event and we 

expect it to generate enormous 

interest,” Mr Peppiatt 

said. 

It is not known how the 

piece came to be in north 

London, and the owners 

have requested anonymity. 

route and had to make a 

stop-over in Amman airport 

first. 

The move is seen as a 

nod to India’s Prime 

Minister Narendra 

Modi’s influence in the 

region, who is expected 

to land in the occupied 

West Bank on February 

10. Last year, he became 

the first Indian premier 

to go to Israel on an official 

state visit.

42 --- Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 

Experts unveil free 

UTME past questions 

on SuccessBox online 

•As best 10 candidates to get N1m each 

By Dayo Adesulu 

IF plans by ‘SuccessBox’ 

to ensure that over one 

million JAMB candidates pass 

with distinctions in the 2018 

UTME come through, then it 

would be appropriate to say that 

the National Universities 

Commission, NUC, and 

universities should prepare to 

expand the existing 800,000 

admission spaces. 

The Chief Executive Officer, 

Chronicles Software 

Development Company Limited, 

Mr. Oluwakoyejo Oluwatosin 

during the official launch of 

‘SuccessBox’ in Lagos, told 

journalists that their mission was 

to ensure over one million JAMB 

candidates pass the UTME with 

distinctions. 

According to him, to achieve this 

objective, his team have built a 

world class online test and 

examination preparation platform, 

to ensure it accommodates the 

two million candidates projected 

by JAMB to take this year’s 

UTME. 

Array of past 

questions 

He explained that the master 

class 

platform, 

(www.successboxonline.com) 

was developed with the students 

in mind, adding that its mobile 

responsive feature has been 

configured to ensure students 

have a sleek and seamless user 

experience when engaging with 

the application from their mobile 

phones. 

Oluwatosin who said that the 

era of attending a tutorial class 

before examination is gone, noted 

that the online website has a large 

array of past questions bank where 

the students can choose and 

practise extensively for free. 

He said: “Our features of the 

platform includes; four test 

categories to choose from (Speed, 

Standard, Randomize and UTME 

Simulator), regulated timer 

controls, instant score feedback, 

question review functionality, 

performance analytics and lots 

more. 

“Visit Succeessboxonline.com, 

register and then begin to 

practise, its 100 per cent free.” 

Besides the free online self 

practice platform for past 

questions, he disclosed that his 

team of experts would be setting 

up SuccessBOXLive JAMB 

Revision Class which will be 

streamed live and made available 

for free to all prospective 

candidates. 

This, according to him, will be 

anchored by very experienced 

instructors who have mastered the 

art of helping students excel in 

JAMB examinations over the 

years. 

One of such instructors, he 

noted, is Mr. Adams Adebola 

of Adams Tutorial College and 

The top 10 

students will be 

selected using a 

combination of 

test and taskbased 

activity 

within the 

platform that 

uses a point 

system 

Mr. Jide Benson, HOD of English 

Language who will be taking 

Mathematics, Physics and 

English Language on the 

platform respectively. 

By Elizabeth Uwandu 

SPECIAL Adviser to 


Buhari on Social Protection, Mrs. 

Maryam Uwais, has revealed that 

over 500,000 unemployed 

graduates will be empowered in 

the N-Power programme 

designed to engage unemployed 

graduates,while 5.5 million 

school children will enjoy free 

meal from the National Home 

Grown School Feeding 

Programme (NHGSFP). 

Mrs. Uwais made this known 

at a media interaction with senior 

journalists recently in Lagos. 

Quoting the National Bureau of 

Statistics' current 18.8 per cent 

unemployment rate, Mrs. Uwais 

said 82 million Nigerians live 

below poverty line which 

translates to 42.4 per cent of the 

entire population. 

*From left: Dee Dawkins-Haigler; Founder, Felix King Foundation/Winner, Trinity University’s 

Humanitarian Awards of Georgia Honorary Citizen (Goodwill Ambassador), Felix King and Dr. 

Jacqueline Mohair, Founder/Chancellor, Trinity International University of Ambassadors, during 

the presentation of awards to King in State of Georgia, USA. 

He said: “We will be providing 

a real time table similar to that of 

the football leagues where users 

can see their various positions in 

a subject basis related to other 

users on the platform. This will 

create a healthy competition 

among users of the platform as 

each will like to be crowned 

champion of the Subject League 

he/she is in.” 

Meanwhile, in his desire to 

build the spirit of excellence in 

students, the organisation has 

designed a N10 million 

scholarship scheme for the top 10 

students every year. 

He said: “As part of our tenth 

year anniversary, we have 

pledged the sum of N10 million 

in scholarship to the top 10 

She said: “10.5 million Nigerian 

children are out of school and 20 

per cent of the world’s out-ofschool 

children are in Nigeria. 

The National Home Grown 

School Feeding Programme 

(NHGSFP) will see 5.5 million 

school children fed with nutritious 

meals. There are also secondary 

beneficiaries of the programme 

such as the cooks whom we pay 

directly and farmers who supply 

the foodstuff.” 

The Special Adviser disclosed 

that “Every minute, 6.8 million 

Nigerians enter the 

unemployment market and 

Nigeria needs to ensure that 11.9 

people are graduated out of 

poverty per minute, to escape 

extreme poverty. Today, Nigeria 

has a deficit of 6.8 people every 

minute. We need inclusive 

growth which will enable 

students 

on 

Successboxonline.com platform. 

This year’s edition is tagged 

SuccessBOX Mega Excellence 

Awards.” 

“The top 10 students will be 

selected using a combination of 

test and task-based activity within 

the platform that uses a point 

system. The top 10 students will 

then emerge and be presented 

with their scholarship prize 

money of N1 million each at the 

SuccessBOX Mega Excellence 

Conference & Awards in August 

this year. 

For the 2017 UTME, Master 

Tosin Alabi from Deeper Life High 

School who scored 337 by 

practising with Successboxonline 

5.5m pupils, 500,000 unemployed graduates to 

benefit from NSIP Programmes 

economic recovery and growth of 

the country. We researched and 

found 26 attempts at economic 

growth in the past but the 

problems with the past 

programme has been 

implementation as federal and 

state governments scuffled over 

who has control of the 

programme. N-Power is a job 

creation and youth employment 

programme and our targets are 

500,000 unemployed graduates; 

100,000 artisans; eight regional 

innovation hubs for one million 

primary and secondary students 

which offers access to computer, 

training in animation, coding and 

programming.” 

She explained that the 

Government Empowerment and 

Enterprise Programme (GEEP), 

is another programme designed 

for zero-interest loan scheme for 

was rewarded with N1 million 

cash. Moreover, Learn Nigeria, 

one of SuccessBox's leading 

sponsors has agreed to invite the 

top 50 students on the online 

platform for a pre-qualify tests, 

where the top 20 will get an allexpense 

paid SAT preparatory 

programme geared towards 

empowering smart Nigerian 

students for scholarship 

admission to American 

universities. 

Oluwatosin who is passionate 

to see student succeed 

academically urged all the media, 

organized private sector, telecom 

companies and all stakeholders 

in education to join hands with 

him to create a better society by 

“Empowering Students to Excel” 

over 1.2 million Nigerian artisans, 

traders, market men and women, 

as well as women cooperatives. 

Said Uwais: ‘’It was discovered 

that 70 per cent of MSMEs in 

Nigeria cannot access loans and 

financial support for business 

growth. GEEP works with 

cooperatives to assist MSMEs, 

and the Bank of Industry (BOI) 

manages it by verifying the 

membership of the cooperatives 

through BVN. Those who default 

in payment, according to her, get 

blacklisted and prevented from 

further loans. Her words: "GEEP 

targets 1.66 million micro, small 

and medium enterprises. 

Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) 

is the fourth programme and it is 

designed to support one million 

of the most vulnerable and 

poorest Nigerians. CCT targets 

1 million poorest households.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 --- 43 

*From left: Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga, founder of City of Knowledge Academy, Ogun 

State and winners from Supreme Education Foundation Schools, Magodo, Lagos. 

Early detection, cure for dyslexic student is 

key to academic performance – Expert 

By Dayo Adesulu 

AN expert in dyslexia has 

said that though 

dyslexia affects 20 per cent of 

every population with quite high 

percentage being children, there 

is hope for them. 

Director of Dyslexia Nigeria, 

Dr Adrienne Dikolo, who spoke 

with some journalists during the 

official launch of its centre in 

Lagos said that if dyslexia is 

detected and addressed at the 

early stage, such children could 

turn out to a successful people. 

“Dyslexia is a sort of disorder 

that affects the skills required for 

reading, writing and spelling. It 

is actually a special learning 

disability that affects about 20 per 

cent of any population,” she 

explained. 

According to her, many people 

with dyslexia have gone on 

during their life time to 

accomplish great things. 

SERIAL entrepreneur 

and philanthropist, Felix 

King Eiremiokhae has been 

bestowed with the Honorary 

Georgia Citizen for his charity 

works in Nigeria through his 

foundation, Felix King 

Foundation. 

The honour from the State of 

Georgia, which took place in 

Capitol building, confers on 

him the Goodwill 

Ambassadorship for the state 

and according to the Secretary 

of State of the State of Georgia, 

Brain P. Kemp, the honorary 

citizenship affords him the 

privilege to travel to other 

states,and to nations beyond 

the borders of the USA, or 

wherever he may hereafter 

travel or reside with the ease 

and privileges of a citizen. 

The resolution for the honour 

She pointed out that people like 

Henry Ford (Ford), Steve Jobs 

(Apple), Thomas Watson (IBM), 

Thomas Edison (General 

Electric), William Hewlett (HP), 

John Chambers (CISCO), 

Tommy Hilfiger (Designer), Ted 

Turner (CNN) and Walt Disney 

were dyslexic, but however, 

came tops in their careers. 

Dikolo who noted that Dyslexia 

Nigeria is a training and 

screening center where it trains 

teachers to tackle dyslexia, 

explained that the centre will train 

teachers to recognise and identify 

dyslexia and be able to remediate 

dyslexia in schools where they 

have the opportunity to make a 

difference. She added that “the 

difference is usually made 

between the ages of 0 and eight 

years.” 

She said: “Currently, we are 

working with Dyslexia 

International, but here in Nigeria, 

we will undertake screening and 

was Senate resolution 608 

moved by senators Gloria 

Butler of the 55th and Seay of 

the 34th and adopted in the 

Senate on January 23, 2018. 

Part of the resolution read “it 

is abundantly fitting and 

proper that the outstanding 

accomplishments of this 

remarkable individual be 

appropriately recognised. Now 

be it further resolved by the 

Senate that the members of the 

body commend Felix King 

Eiremiokhae for his many 

valuable contributions on 

behalf of those in need and 

extend best wishes for 

continued support.” 

Reading the proclamation on 

the Senate Capitol in the State 

of Georgia, Gloria Butler, 

Senator representing District 

assessment of the children. Once 

we do the screening, we can then 

design an intervention programe 

that will work for the child because 

dyslexia is a continuum, it goes 

from mild to severe. While some 

children have mild dyslexia, others 

have severe dyslexia. 

“At any point in time, the facility 

we have can train up to 30 

teachers, but we equally have other 

training programmes where we 

can go to schools to train teachers. 

We also do off-site training, where 

we will get a much bigger space 

to train a much bigger crowd of 

teachers. 

“We are ready to train teachers 

as long as they are ready to be 

trained. What makes us unique is 

that I choose to say that 98 percent 

of teachers have never even heard 

of the word dyslexia. They don’t 

know what it is. So this is the first 

organisation that is undertaking 

distain training for teachers in 

Nigeria. 

State of Georgia, Trinity varsity, honours Felix King 

with Georgia Citizen Award 

55 of the state described Felix 

King as a philanthropist 

extraordinary. 

According to her, King 

started his Foundation in 2015 

without enlisting the support of 

people and institutions other 

than out of his personal savings 

and his wife. She said that the 

Foundation’s key objective of 

giving hope to the poor and 

vulnerable widows and their 

children in communities across 

Nigeria by transforming their 

lives from despair to hope 

through different programmes 

such as business start-up 

initiatives, farm aids 

programme, free food 

distribution, educational grant 

and medical aids are in line 

with the principles the people 

of Georgia live by. 

CKA Computer Contest: 

SEFS comes tops 

By Oghenefego Obaebor 

BAMIDELE Sharon, 

Folayemi Oladunni and 

Lotan Hery, all of Supreme 

Education Foundation 

Schools, Magodo, Lagos 

have won the maiden edition 

of the City of Knowledge 

Academy (CKA) computer 

competition held at its 

campus in Ogun State. 

In a stiff contest between 16 

primary schools, Supreme 

Education Foundation School 

defeated other schools to 

claim the first prize. 

Master Lotan Hery said: 

"We won because we were 

determined. I did my best and 

did not underestimate myself. 

We practised a lot by 

sacrificing our after-school 

hours for practice. It has paid 

off because the 90 minutes 

spent after school to practise 

was not in vain. 

"After the normal school 

hours, we met at the ICT lab 

to practise. 

"Initially, when I saw other 

contestants, I felt nervous 

and scared but I believed in 

myself that I can do it." 

On her part, Miss Folayemi 

Oladunni, said that when the 

positions were called from the 

LAGOS State University will 

hold a three-day expertstudded 

national workshop on 

grant-writing and administration 

next week, from February 12 – 

14, 2018. 

The workshop is set against the 

backdrop of the quantum 

transformation of the Nigerian 

tertiary education system which 

has seen a great increase in the 

number of universities with 

public and private-owned 

institutions locked in some 

healthy competition. The 

phenomenal rise has also 

engendered a struggle for scarce 

resources for the management of 

the institutions and a hunger for 

innovative ways to meet the 

shortfall. 

The workshop focuses on the 

deficit of research capacity and 

TGM education organises roadshow for 

Nigerian students 

By Kelechukwu Iruoma 

IN its quest to ensure that 

Nigerian students seeking 

admission abroad get the 

prerequisite, TGM Marchnata, an 

education agency based in Lagos, 

Nigeria, is organising a roadshow 

for prospective students to meet 

with top universities across the 

globe to discuss study abroad 

options. 

Tolu Adeusi, the agency’s 

operation director and principal 

consultant at a media briefing in 

Ikeja told journalists that 40 

last to the third and her 

school was not mentioned, 

she knew her school was 

going to win. 

Meanwhile, during the 

competition, founder of City 

of Knowledge Academy, Mrs 

Mosun Belo-Olusoga, noted 

that the purpose of the 

competition was to catch 

pupils young in the 

knowledge of information 

communication technology. 

She said: ‘’For us, we are 

very passionate about ICT 

and that is why we have won 

all the competition we had 

entered, adding: "We believe 

that digitisation is the future 

of the world." 

According to her, anybody 

who does not know how to use 

the computer cannot go far. 

She stressed that computer 

knowledge helps in the 

business world in every 

undertaking. 

She said: "It is about 

catching them young. Once 

the primary school students 

know about the computer, it 

makes learning easy for them 

when they get into secondary 

school and after school. We 

are here to give moral support 

and tell students that the sky 

is their limit." 

LASU holds grant-writing, admin 

workshop 

motivation in our universities with 

a view to building the capacity of 

our academics to attract research 

grants through sharing 

information with international 

and national resource persons on 

research grant-writing, academic 

network-building and university 

administrative support for grant 

management. 

The workshop has as its 

objectives, the creation of 

awareness on the need for 

practical nurturing and 

harnessing of untapped research 

potentials of Nigerian academics 

and universities; contribution to 

the development of a culture of 

research grant-writing and 

administration in Nigerian 

universities; assistance to improve 

the quality of academic and 

student experience in Nigerian 

universities. 

institutions will be coming from 

the United Kingdom, US, 

Canada, Australia, Ireland, 

Germany, China and the United 

Arab Emirates, among others, to 

discuss scholarships, scholarship 

opportunities and post-study 

opportunities at the roadshow. 

He said, “We will help place 

students in universities of their 

choice so that they can get the 

opportunity they desire. This is 

a very important time to come 

around and speak with the 

university representatives and to 

discuss scholarship options and 

other added advantages.”


Killer herdsmen and counter narratives 

By Ikechukwu Amaechi 

IT was Thomas Hobbes, the 17th 

century English philosopher, 

who in his seminal work, Leviathan, 

put a magnifying lens on what he 

termed "the natural condition of 

mankind." 

All humans are by nature equal 

in faculties of body and mind, he 

argued, and therefore, "during 

the time men live without a 

common power to keep them all 

in awe, they are in that condition 

which is called warre … of every 

man against every man," a natural 

condition he elucidates with the 

Latin phrase bellum omnium 

contra omnes (war of all against 

all). 

“The life of man” in the state of 

nature, Hobbes famously wrote, 

is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, 

and short.” 

In the state of nature, security 

was impossible for anyone, and 

the fear of death dominated every 

aspect of life. Being rational, man 

sought to reverse this nihilistic 

status quo. 

Therefore, since in the state of 

nature “all men have a natural 

right to all things,” to assure 

peace, men must give up their 

right to some things, and Hobbes 

went further to assert an 

individual’s transfer of some of 

his rights to another is offset by 

certain gains for himself. 

At the societal level, the mutual 

transfer of individual rights to a 

body called government becomes 

a social contract and Hobbes 

argues further that this contract 

is the basis for all collective moral 

order. 

Right to self-preservation 

Yet, it does not detract from the 

natural right to self-preservation, 

which in any case is the basis for any 

contract. When a government, by 

omission or commission, defaults in 

safeguarding lives, man’s survival 

instinct comes to the rescue. 

Hobbes who lived between 1588 

and 1679 made these observations 

long ago when there was no country 

called Nigeria. 

Unfortunately, the 21st century 

Nigeria epitomizes Hobbes’ state of 

nature because of the government’s 

miserable failure to live up to its 

contractual obligation of ensuring the 

safety of lives and property of the people. 

Apologists of the President 

Muhammadu Buhari-led government 

will, typically, dismiss this position at best 

as hyperbolic, an exaggeration, or worse, 

the ranting of the nay-Sayers. But those 

holding the wrong end of government’s 

abdication stick know what it means to 

live in a state of nature painted 

graphically by Thomas Hobbes. 

The unlucky ones are buried in mass 

graves, mere numbers without identity. 

Many of those who count themselves 

lucky simply because they are still alive 

are in camps for internally displaced 

people in their own country. They can 

neither go back to their ancestral homes 

nor access their farmlands. They live in 

perpetual fear. The Benue villages that 

were attacked on New Year day remain 

inaccessible to both the police deployed 

there and residents who fled. 

For those who live in the frontlines of 

this asymmetric war waged by Fulani 

herdsmen, life in 21st century Nigeria 

has become “solitary, poor, nasty, 

brutish, and short.” 

As Nigerians, we must be worried, 

more so when government’s counter 

narrative is added as an extra 

ingredient into the already deadly 

brew. It is frightening that the 

government is not only doing nothing 

to stop the bloodbath but also 

deliberately pushing out a 

narrative that is patently false 

with the sole purpose of 

wheedling the unwary. 

The brazen attempt by 

government officials to make 

villains out of victims while 

beatifying scoundrels who have 

made life hellish for fellow 

citizens is beyond comprehension. 

For instance, why would 

President Buhari admonish 

Benue leaders in the wake of the 

bloodbath in the state 

orchestrated by herdsmen to try 

and restrain their people (the 

victims) by accommodating fellow 

countrymen (the villains) “in the 

name of God.” 

The implication of this plea is 

that the president believes 

herdsmen are victims in this war 

of attrition. 

Taking a cue from his principal, 

the Minister of Defence, Mansur 

Dan-Ali, on Thursday, January 25, 

pointedly blamed the passage of 

anti-open grazing law in some 

states as the cause of the killings 

by the herdsmen. 

Briefing journalists at the end 

of a meeting of security chiefs 

chaired by President Buhari, the 

minister urged Nigerians to learn 

to accept foreigners. 

“Whatever crisis that happened 

at any time, there has to be remote 

and immediate causes,” he said. 

“What are the remote causes of 

this farmers/herders crisis? Since 

independence, we know there 

used to be a route whereby these 

cattle rearers use. 

“Cattle rearers are all over the nation, 

you go to Bayelsa, you see them, you go 

to Ogun, and you see them. If those 

routes are blocked, what happens? These 

people are Nigerians, it’s just like you 

going to block river or shoreline, does 

The blood of the 

innocent flowing 

like a river across the 

country bears 

witness that the 

president is not up 

to scratch in 

discharging that 

responsibility 

that make sense to you? 

“These are the remote causes. But what 

are the immediate causes? It is the grazing 

law. These people are Nigerians, we 

must learn to live together with each other; 

that is basic. 

“Communities and other people must 

learn how to accept foreigners within their 

enclave, finish!” 

Saying this after attending a security 

meeting presided over by the president, that 

couldn’t have been his personal opinion. 

It was the opinion of the security 

apparatchik and their commanderin-chief. 

Is it then any surprise that none of 

these murderers has been arrested? 

Rather than disarming the herdsmen 

who are openly brandishing their 

lethal weapons, the defence minister 

would want vigilante groups and 

forest guards disarmed. 

Is the minister of defence saying 

that in the 21st century in a country 

supposedly governed by law, rather 

than going to the court to enforce 

abridged rights, the herdsmen have 

the right to murder anyone who 

stands in their way? 

Then, the Inspector General of 

Police, Ibrahim Idris, who last 

month described the Benue 

killings as “a communal clash,” 

on Friday, February 2, told 

Nigerian senators who launched 

an inquiry into the attacks, that 

anti-open grazing law enacted by 

Ekiti, Benue and Taraba states 

was the reason for the killings. To 

him, therefore, the only solution 

to the crisis is the suspension of a 

law legitimately enacted. 

But the government is being 

economical with the truth. For 

instance, the Open Grazing 

Prohibition and Ranches 

Establishment Law of Benue 

State in particular was an attempt 

by Benue people who felt 

abandoned by the government in 

Abuja at finding a solution to the 

herdsmen rampage. The carnage 

preceded the law, which only 

came into effect in November 

2017. 

Since 2013, more than 50 

attacks linked to herdsmen were 

reported in states as far flung as 

Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, 

Adamawa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ekiti, 

Ondo, Zamfara, Kaduna, Edo, 

Plateau, among others. 

More than 500 residents 

killed in Agatu 

In February 2016, more than 500 

residents were killed in Agatu, 

Benue State. Government officials 

claim that more than 100,000 villagers 

are currently living in several IDP 

camps across the state. 

In any case, if the bloodbath is 

punishment for the anti-open crazing 

law, what is the justification for the 

killings in states that don’t have the 

law? 

Yet, the presidency blames the 

media for its self-induced murky 

perception miasma. 

On Friday, February 2, the same 

day ICP Idris amplified Buhari’s 

mindset at the Senate, Garba Shehu, 

the president’s media aide launched 

a broadside at the media accusing 

journalists of “sinking deeper and 

deeper into the mesh of hate speech.” 

As a Nigerian, it is extremely 

difficult to rationalise federal 

government’s position on the 

carnage. 

As Hobbes rightly observed, the 

fact that a people went into a social 

contract, renouncing the right to kill 

another in exchange for not being 

killed, in no way negates their natural 

right to self-preservation, which in 

any case is the first law of nature. It is 

even more so where the government 

wilfully repudiates its own obligation 

as it is evident in the extant case. 

When Garba says President Buhari 

has the primary duty of protecting 

life and property of all Nigerians, 

he is stating the obvious. 

But when he adds “and that is 

what he has been doing in Benue 

and across the country,” many 

Nigerians will beg to disagree. 

The blood of the innocent flowing 

like a river across the country 

bears witness that the president 

is not up to scratch in discharging 

that responsibility. 

Ikechukwu Amaechi, is MD/ 

Editor-in-Chief, TheNiche on 

Sunday newspaper, Ikeja, Lagos, 

Nigeria. 

Letter to Buhari: Obasanjo is a 

living saint, detractors, let him be! 

By Olorogun Oviri O. 

Okwagbe 

" Everyone wishes to have truth 

on his side but not everyone wishes 

to be on the side of truth" 

- Richard Whatley 

IT is a truism that anyone who 

elects to preach or stand by the 

truth, usually also stands to be 

condemned, regrettably, even by 

some of the very informed. 

In all ramifications and by all 

measurable political yardstick, 

former President of Nigeria, Chief 

Olusegun Matthew Aremu 

Obasanjo, possesses the capacity to 

comment or recommend who he 

deems fit or more suitable, or 

otherwise, to occupy the revered seat 

of the President of Nigeria. 

What we should always understand 

and remember is that the highly 

cerebral octogenarian, said that 

whatever he posited in his very 

articulate Special Press Statement, 

was simply his personal opinion - his 

right, propelled by his burning and 

truthful desire to see a president who 

will truly revive the fortunes of our 

dear country. 

It is, therefore, infuriating as it is 

galling to see the heavy duty 

controversy that has trailed a gentle 

Baba's well-intended prescription for 

the good of all Nigerians. This 

shameful and unfortunate outcry is 

disappointedly oozing out from 

almost all quarters including the 

academia, among technocrats and 

even the clergy, just like in the open 

marketplace. 

If we agree that the current political 

and economic setbacks in the country 

require people with extra courage and 

the spirit of savvy-negotiator, to rescue 

the Nigerian state, directly or 

indirectly, then let us recognise and 

It is, therefore, 

infuriating as it is 

galling to see the heavy 

duty controversy that 

has trailed a gentle 

Baba's well-intended 

prescription for the 

good of all Nigerians 

imbibe the import of OBJ's statements. 

We should also recognise the fact 

that Baba has seen it all - a retired 

Army General, former Head of State, 

former two-term civilian President, a 

consummate political master strategist, 

a lover of education, a former United 

Nations adviser, a Nigerian, African and 

world leader, a high-level board member 

of advisers on mediation across climes, 

former this, former that and, more 

significantly, a renowned authority of 

international repute, in political and state 

matters, among many other titles. 

It is OBJ's inalienable right to express 

his desires and aspirations, just as he is 

entitled to articulate his displeasures and 

fears, anyhow he deems possible in so 

far as that liberty is exercised within the 

ambit of the law. That is why, I, together 

with several millions of Nigerians both 

at home and in the diaspora, judging 

from Chief Obasanjo's pedigree and longlasting 

experience, totally and 

unequivocally believe in what he is 

saying. After all, he wrote a similar letter 

to the immediate past President, Dr. 

Goodluck Jonathan and eyebrows 

were not raised, even as a fellow party 

man. Or, are they saying that the Otta 

chief does not have the freedom to 

say that the kite he used to fly no longer 

appeals to him and therefore seeks a 

change? 

This is a man with a pan-Nigerian 

Former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo. 

spirit and who does not believe in 

ethnic mobilization. Few years ago, 

this same man, against ethnic 

sentiments and seemingly 

insurmountable odds, projected a 

Northerner and a Niger Deltan for 

president and vice president of 

Nigeria respectively. Yet, heaven did 

not fall. 

This is a leader whose experience, 

influence, wisdom and outreach is 

second to none. A man who is only 

trying to avoid a situation where 

Nigeria will be up for sale under 

President Muhammadu Buhari who 

has gradually become incapable of 

whetting the appetite of Nigerians and 

who is unable to meet the 

expectations of hopes raised in 2014/ 

2015 during his electioneering 

campaigns. 

A sad symptom of 

insensitivity 

Therefore, the act of some people 

picking holes in Obasanjo's well 

meaning advice is, to me and 

according to the same OBJ, " a sad 

symptom of insensitivity and and 

callousness". What can be more 

sancrosanctly apt than the sagacious 

admonition of Baba Iyabo where he 

opined in his letter that he, "only 

appeal(s) to brother Buhari to 

consider a deserved rest at this point 

in time . . . . President Buhari does not 

necessarily need to heed my advice. 

But whether or not he heeds it, Nigeria 

needs to move on and move forward." 

He went further to counsel all of us 

that, "We cannot just sit down 

lamenting and wringing our hands 

desperately and hopelessly." And 

courageously stated, among other 

things, that "poverty, insecurity ... and 

widening inequality are very much 

with us today." 

True or false? Up OBJ! 

As quickly as possible, let us be 

reminded that Chief Obasanjo has 

practically nothing to lose if Nigeria 

gives in. He also has enough in his kitty 

to manage his remaining years on 

earth and could decide to be less 

concerned in whichever way Nigeria 

heads. But nay! One thing is to talk and 

another is to talk wisely and truthfully 

too. In my highly considered opinion, 

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo should be 

commended for his boldness and 

thoughtfulness. Hundreds of thousands 

who harbour same opinion like him 

prefer to be be mute, or at best, murmur 

and not be heard, even when some have 

nothing to lose, in the manner that the 

late Afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo 

Kuti described Nigerians as "suffering 

and smiling". 

Nigerians must learn to be 

appreciative when high standard public 

relations is being freely offered. We must 

thank and continue to thank Baba 

Iyabo for being so outspoken on the 

path of truth. It is indeed honourable. 

And should ordinarily be encouraged. 

Long may he live, in sound health of 

body and mind. Gladly, already on the 

sands of time, he is a living saint. 

Therefore, fellow Nigerians, let us let 

him be. 

Olorogun Okiemite Oviri 

Okwagbe, a public analyst wrote 

from Warri, Delta State.


L-R: General Manager, Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Mr. Yusuf Ali, Senior 

Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Sports, Mr. Adeyinka Adeboye 

and Senior Brand Manager, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Segun 

Ogunleye at a Media Seminar on the Marathon in Lagos refreshed by Aquafina 

and 7Up..Yesterday. 

Access Bank/Lagos City Marathon: Organisers, 

journalists brain storm 

With only a few days to 

the 2018 Access 

Bank/Lagos City 

Marathon, organisers and 

sports journalists yesterday 

discussed how best to give 

coverage to the event. 

This is against the 

background of the 

numerous complaints by 

sports journalists in the 

coverage of previous races 

in 2016 and 2017. The 

organisers, aiming to 

deliver a world standard 

event in line with global 

practices have promised to 

make the marathon race 

which is in its third year, a 

worthwhile event. 

Speakers at the session 

held at the Teslim Balogun 

Stadium yesterday 

include Lagos State Sports 

Council chairman, Mr. 

Kweku Tandoh, general 

manager of the Access 

Bank/Lagos City 

marathon, Yusuf Alli and 

veteran sports journalist 

and Group Sports Editor of 

Vanguard Media, Tony 

Ubani. 

“There are so many 

things we have taken for 

granted in the past. These 

things are not tenable in 

world marathons and we 

must have to follow 

standards,” Alli stated 

Mr. Tandoh urged 

journalists to report 

positively on all aspects of 

the race. 

FIBA delegation completes mission to Nigeria 

By Jacob Ajom 

The FIBA delegation on 

a fact-finding 

mission to Nigeria over the 

crisis rocking the Nigeria 

Basketball Federation has 

rounded off its work after a 

closed door meeting with 

By Ben Efe 

Nigeria’s chances of 

winning medals 

in athletics at the 

Commonwealth Games is 

getting slimmer, as two of 

the country’s brightest 

prospects are a major doubt 

for Gold Coast 2018 billed 

for April 4-15. 

Former junior athletes, 

Divine Oduduru and Tobi 

Amusa who are currently 

making waves in the indoor 

season, due to engagement 

with their various 

institutions in the American 

NCAA, will not be coming 

for the Games. 

Oduduru a student at the 

Texas Technology 

University last week broke 

Francis Obikwelu’s 200m 

indoor record with a 

performance of 20.18 

seconds and this week he 

ran a 6.66 seconds in the 

60m dash; it was the second 

officials of the Nigeria 

Olympic Committee in 

Lagos yesterday. 

The delegates, however, 

remained mum after the 

meeting as they refused to 

talk to the waiting sporting 

press outside the NOC 

building at the National 

Oduduru, Amusan to miss 

Commonwealth Games 

fastest time in his school’s 

all time best performances. 

Amusan studying at the 

University of Texas El Paso, 

is also doing well on the 

boards. Last week she did 

7.90 seconds in the 60m 

hurdles. 

“I am not sure Oduduru 

and Amusa will be available 

due to their engagement in 

the NCAA. Blessing 

Okagbare might only be 

running the relays she is 

not going to do the sprints. 

“ And here at home 

basically apart from 

Patience Okon-George we 

don’t have any of the 

home-based athletes that 

have met the Games 

Standards. It is only special 

sports athletes I am sure 

will guarantee us medals 

at the Games,” said 

Enefiok Udo-Obong 

Nigeria Olympic 

Committee athletes rep. 

Stadium, Lagos. 

Confronted for his views, 

leader of the team, 

Alphonse Bile, who is FIBA 

Executive Director, Africa 

declined comments. He 

only directed journalists to 

meet the NOC Scribe, 

Tunde Popoola who 

obliged. 

Popoola said, “they have 

been taking all the 

comments the stakeholders 

have made, they will now 

go back and report to the 

FIBA board for a final 

decision. The delegation 

has been objective, sincere 

and forthright in their 

mission and have been 

able to assemble all the 

information they have been 

hearing on the crisis and 

got to the root of the matter.” 

Popoola said that with 

the seriousness 

demonstrated by FIBA so 

far, a quick end to the 

stalemate in the NBBF 

crisis was in sight as the 

world basketball ruling 

body is desirous to see the 

game develop in the 

country. 

“The delegation 

disclosed that FIBA is 

ready to assist the 

development of Basketball 

in Nigeria,” Popoola 

added, pointing out that 

FIBA can only come in 

when there is stability in the 

system.


Sanchez bags 

16-month 

suspended 

prison sentence 

Escapes jail, 

fined £525,000 

Alexis Sanchez has been 

handed a 16- 

month prison sentence for 

tax fraud in Spain. 

Manchester United’s 

new signing accepted the 

punishment for defrauding 

the tax authorities of 

£900,000 during his time at 

Barcelona. 

Sanchez, 29, will not 

have to go to prison 

because it is his first offence 

and the sentence is less 

than two years. 

But the Chile star, who is 

the highest paid player in 

the Premier League, on 

£350,000 a week, must pay 

a fine of £525,000 in 

addition to the tax he owed 

on image rights earnings 

over his three years at the 

Nou Camp. 

•Sanchez 

NFF mourns as 

Mgbolu passes 

on 

The Nigerian Football 

family was again 

thrown into mourning 

yesterday after news 

spread of the death of one – 

time image –maker of the 

Nigeria Football 

Federation, Mr. Austin 

Mgbolu. Mgbolu, who 

served as public relations 

officer of then NFA between 

1993 and 2001, was a highly 

conscientious, energetic 

and dedicated professional 

and left giant marks for 

predecessors to follow. 

Reports said Mgbolu had 

a major surgery last month 

and appeared to have 

regained good health, 

before complications early 

on Wednesday morning led 

to his being rushed to the 

hospital where he died. 

“This is very sad. I pray 

that God Almighty will 

protect the family and loved 

ones he has left behind and 

give them the fortitude to 

bear this big loss. 

“He was a thorough 

professional who did his job 

to the best of his ability and 

even as an analyst on 

television, he was forthright 

and provided wise counsel 

for the advancement of the 

Nigeria game. 

•Late Mgbolu 

•Rohr 

NFF, Nike 

unveil Eagles’ 

jersey in 

London 

The Super Eagles’ 2018 

World Cup kits 

have been unveiled by 

Nike and the Nigeria 

Football Federation (NFF). 

Nike is the official kits 

sponsor of Nigeria’s 

national teams. 

The sportswear 

manufacturer presented 

the kits to the NFF at a 

ceremony in London on 

yesterday. 

The Super Eagles’ World 

Cup jersey was modelled 

by Arsenal forward Alex 

Iwobi while Sophia 

Omidiji modelled the 

Super Falcons’ kit. 

The kits had some 

similarities with the 

jerseys Nigeria wore at 

their World Cup debut in 

1994 in the United States 

of America. 

That should evoke some 

nostalgia as the Eagles 

were barely minutes away 

from reaching the 

quarterfinal against 

eventual finalists Italy in 

the USA. 

The Eagles were kitted 

by Adidas for the 2010 and 

2014 editions of World 

Cup. 

Rohr picks two CHAN 

Eagles for World Cup 

Super Eagles coach 

Gernot Rohr has 

picked two players 

from 2018 CHAN to be 

part of his World Cup 

preparations – goalkeeper 

Ikechukwu Ezenwa and 

central defender Stephen 

Eze. 

“Rohr has decided to pick 

Ezenwa and Eze for his 

World Cup preparations 

and it is now up to the two 

players to fight for a place 

in the final squad to Russia,” 

a top official disclosed. 

Nigeria reached the final 

of the CHAN in Morocco, 

where they lost to the home 

team. 

Ezenwa was already 

widely tipped for Russia 

2018 after his five-star 

displays in more recent 

World Cup qualifiers 

against Cameroon and 

Russia 2018 World Cup 

Zambia. 

He also enhanced his 

high ratings with 

superlative displays at the 

CHAN in Morocco. 

He is expected to soon 

recover from a knee injury 

he suffered in Morocco. 

Stephen Eze, on the other 

hand, has for months been 

on the radar of Rohr since 

the CHAN qualifiers in 

Cotonou last year. 

The effective giant central 

defender, who is already 

bound for Bulgarian club 

Lokomotiv Plodiv, played 

every minute as Nigeria 

reached the championship 

game at the CHAN in 

Morocco. 

Plateau United 

goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye’s 

chances may have been 

undone by the 4-0 spanking 

Nigeria suffered in the 

CHAN Final after his Manof-the-Match 

performance 

against Sudan in the semifinal. 

•Messi 

'MESSI ‘LL 

BE DEADLY' 

Nigeria, Iceland and the fact that he cannot Messi was excused to return 

Croatia should be arrive as exhausted at the to his club by the coach 

wary because World Cup as he was four from a November friendly 

Argentina coach Jorge years ago,” Sampaoli said against Nigeria, which the 

Sampaoli has said he at a press conference. Eagles won 4-2. 

expects Lionel Messi to be “The plan is for him to But even in Brazil, a ‘tired’ 

on killer form for the World make the most of the rest Messi scored four goals 

Cup as he would have been periods so as to be 

including a brace against 

fully rested, which was not physically and mentally fit Nigeria as Argentina went 

the case at Brazil 2014. and in top shape for the all the way to the final 

“We talked about his World Cup.” 

against Germany. 

current situation, and about It would be recalled that 

The Confederation of 

African Football 

(CAF) has officially released 

the cash entitlements of all 

teams that participated at 

the 5th African Nations 

Championship in Morocco, 

with second –placed 

Nigeria to earn the sum of 

$400,000 and not $750,000 

as widely touted. 

Official figures have now 

shown that hosts and 

champions Morocco will 

pocket the sum of $750,000, 

with silver medallists 

Nigeria to earn $400,000 

and semi finalists Sudan 

(eventual bronze medallists) 

and Libya to pocket the sum 

of $250,000 each. 

The four teams that 

crashed out at the quarter 

final stage, Namibia, 

Zambia, Angola and Congo 

will each be $175,000 

richer, while the third 

placed teams in each of the 

four preliminary groups 

will get $125,000 each. 

The fourth –placed teams 

in each of the four groups 

will smile to the bank with 

$100,000. 

“CAF has spread the 

monies in such a way that 

each of the 16 participating 

teams at the finals would 

benefit. No team has 

received its share yet, but 

once the finance and audit 

people conclude their work 

in a number of weeks, the 

teams would be paid,” NFF 

President Amaju Pinnick, a 

Member of both the CAF 

Executive Committee and 

the CAF Emergency 

Committee said. 

Conte to pocket £26.7m, if 

Chelsea terminate contract 

Chelsea under-fire 

coach, Antonio 

Conte could earn as much 

as £26.7m in compensation 

if Chelsea decide a 

managerial change is 

required in west London as 

the Italian only penned a 

new deal with the club 

during the summer. 

Chelsea want to give 

Conte the chance to try 

figure the 

situation out, 

and also don’t 

want another 

costly pay-off, 

but there is 

also the issue 

of the best 

possible 

replacement. 

The hierarchy 

•Faleye 

Eagles to earn $400,000 as 

CAF clarifies on CHAN cash 

By Solomon Nwoke, 

Port Harcourt. 

he indoor sports hall of 

T Alfred Diete-Spiff 

Civic Centre, venue of the 

2018 Africa Wrestling 

Championships came alive 

yesterday as the much 

publicized African Wrestling 

Championship began with 

the cadet events in the Greco 

Roman style of wrestling. 

Host country, Nigeria is 

maximizing it’s hosting right 

as it is presenting athletes in 

all the weight categories to 

ensure a successful outing. 

As at the last count, 16 

countries were on ground for 

the event while some 

countries were still expected 

to arrive before the end of the 

opening day. 

Adequate security has been 

want to wait until the clean 

slate of the end of the 

season, when they can also 

make a clearer decision on 

the next man, but have 

naturally been considering 

options. 

There is now widespread 

expectation there will be a 

mutually-agreed parting of 

the ways at the end of the 

season and, even though 

that has been threatened by 

recent results, it is a 

solution that both 

parties would prefer. 

Napoli’s 

Maurizio Sarri 

and former 

Barcelona boss 

Luis Enrique 

are currently 

the leading 

candidates. 

•Conte 

Messi ‘turned down 

£88m-a-year offer from 

Chinese Super League’ 

Lionel Messi turned down 

the chance to become by far and 

away the best-paid player on the planet last 

summer when the Chinese Super League 

failed in an attempt to coax him from 

Barcelona. 

According to Mundo Deportivo, officials 

from the big-spending division extended an 

offer in the region of €100million-ayear 

(£88m) to the Argentine, a wage 

that would have seen him take home 

£1.7m every week. 

Africa Wrestling Championship rolls 

off with Greco-Roman cadet event 

provided for all the 

contingents in and around the 

championship venue by the 

Nigeria Police Force, the 

Nigeria Army and the 

Nigeria Security and Civil 

Defence Corp. 

President, Nigeria 

Wrestling Federation (NWF), 

Dr Daniel Igali said that the 

federation has taken 

measures to ensure a 

successful competition. 

He said, “ Everyone is safe 

both at the hotel and 

competition venue. We have 

worked so hard in preparing 

ahead for this competition”. 

The tournament is 

featuring cadet, junior and 

senior events and it is in 

accordance with the new 

rules by the United World 

Wrestling which took effect 

early this year.


47 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 

Sudoku 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’SOLUTION 

ACROSS 

1 Skipper (7) 

5 Tentacled sea creature 

(5) 

8 Horrify (5) 

9 Cambridge college (7) 

10 Fox-hunting cry (5-2) 

11 Deluge (5) 

12 Cure (6) 

14 Doubting apostle (6) 

18 Bush (5) 

20 Accumulated (7) 

22 Inane (7) 

23 Lifeless (5) 

24 Assistants (5) 

25 Incensed (7) 

DOWN 

1 Section of a book (7) 

2 Of a pope (5) 

3 Assuaged (7) 

4 Idea (6) 

5 Inflexible (5) 

6 Alike all over (7) 

7 Wood nymph (5) 

13 Deserved (7) 

15 One of the senses (7) 

16 Calmed with drugs (7) 

17 Sickness (6) 

18 Capital of Bulgaria (5) 

19 Floating markers (5) 

21 Take an oath (5) 

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. 

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.

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