36 BUSINESS DAY C002D5556 Thursday <strong>22</strong> <strong>Mar</strong>ch <strong>2018</strong> THEBAR NBA President receives US envoy at National Secretariat The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud received in audience officials of U.S Embassy on political Affairs at the NBA Secretariat in Abuja. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja Branch launches LAWNAC The Nigerian Bar Association Abuja Branch also known as Unity Branch collaborated with the Say No Campaign to formally inaugurate the Lawyers Network Against Corruption (LAWNAC) and launched Dorocorruption App on the 15th <strong>Mar</strong>ch <strong>2018</strong> @ Barcelona Hotels, Wuse heralding a brand new dawn in the Anti Corruption War of raising champions within the legal profession to action and give impetus and support to Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs), media organisation and civil societies Ezenwa Anumnu, factional chairman, Unity Branch speaking at the event. The third 60–day national action plan... Continued from page 35 Selling to Government For maximum impact in increasing the number of small businesses to which governments contracts are accessible, the BPP is expected to drive the following reform: Getting Credit The CBN in collaboration with the NCR are expected to drive the following reform, with the aim of achieving an overall impact of providing more accessible and affordable credit to small businesses: REMARK The successive launch of the NAP 1.0 to 3.0 and the successful implementation of the earlier two NAPs are a clear indication of the current administration’s determination to reform the country’s business climate and improve Nigeria’s global economic competitiveness. The gains of the implementation of NAP 1.0, which was implemented between February 21 to April 21, 2017 and NAP 2.0, which ran from October 3 to December 1, 2017 are clearly evident in the country’s legal and regulatory environment for doing business. The reforms moved Nigeria up twenty-four (24) places in the World Bank’s Enforcing Contracts In order to make considerable impact in fast tracking the resolution of small commercial claims for Small and Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”), the Lagos State Judiciary and the Kano State Judiciary are expected to promote the following reform initiatives: EoDB Index for <strong>2018</strong>, upgrading the country from the 169th position it occupied in the 2017 ranking to 145th position in the <strong>2018</strong> Doing Business Report, as well as earned Nigeria the reputation of being named among the ten (10) most reformed economies in the world in 2017. By April 5 of this year when NAP 3.0 would have run its course, it is expected that the business climate in Nigeria would have been further enhanced and the country’s position in the global rankings for EoDB and economic competitiveness would also have been improved; if all hands continue to remain on deck as regards implementation of the laudable initiatives of the Federal Government’s reform agenda. The Grey Matter Concept is an initiative of the law firm, Banwo & Ighodalo DISCLAIMER: This article is only intended to provide general information on the subject matter and does not by itself create a client/attorney relationship between readers and our Law Firm. Specialist legal advice should be sought about the readers’ specific circumstances when they arise. RIGHTSWATCH Whistleblower’s Reinstatement: CSNAC hails judiciary, demands prosecution of Okiro The CiviI Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has expressed his delight to the recently vindicated and reinstated victim of whistleblowing reprisal, Aaron Kaase, by the Police Service Commission (PSC). Kaase was reinstated via a letter dated 7th <strong>Mar</strong>ch, <strong>2018</strong> with reference number PSC/PN/173/I/195, signed by the Director of Administration/HRM at the Commission. This final action was triggered by a National Industrial Court Judgment of November 28, 2017, after almost three years of victimization, activism, advocacy, petitions and litigations for his reinstatement. In a statement issued by CSNAC and signed by its chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, the network said it is demanding the prosecution of outgoing Chairman of the Commission, Mike Okiro. The whistleblower, Kaase, had in May, 2015 exposed several fraudulent activities in the Police Service Commission (PSC) to the tune of N275 million and involving the outgoing Chairman of the Commission, in the person of Mr. Mike Okiro, recently fingered in a tapped phone discussion offering the promotion of police officers as favour and negotiation. It will be recalled that on 6th June, 2016, CSNAC petitioned President Buhari and demanded the following; recall of Mr. Aaron Kaase by the PSC, the withdrawal of spurious charges against him; and providing security for him and his family, based on threats to his life. The actions of CSNAC attracted legal threat, political harassment and propaganda against our group and Chairman. A legal firm under the instruction of Mr. Okiro threatened legal action against our group for supporting Mr. Kaase and our demand for prosecution of Okiro. Apology and retraction of allegations against Okiro were demanded. We remained steadfast, consistent and unwavering and called the bluff of Mr. Okiro and his libel threat. Fictitious and discredited ‘NGOs’, renown for being at the beck and call of corrupt public officers, were mobilised to attack our Network and the Chairman without success. Though, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in its August 6, 2015 report confirmed all the facts and allegations in Mr. Kaase’s petition and demanded the refund of all the funds in- CPC welcomes increase in excise duty on tobacco, alcoholic products The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on Tuesday identified with the Federal Government’s recent increase in excise duty on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, stressing that it will serve as a measure to reduce the risks of abuse and disease. Similarly, the Council also applauded the Buhari administration’s consideration for consumers in “granting a 90-day moratorium, and periodic incremental adjustments to ensure appropriate balance between personal consumer choices and the public interest”. The Council’s Director General, Babatunde Irukera, who made these assertions in a statement issued on Tuesday evening in Abuja, commended “President Muhammadu Buhari for his strong leadership in addressing this vital consumer issue in a manner that is consistent with prevailing global practices”. Irukera stated that though “CPC protects the rights of all consumers, and their prerogative to make personal lifestyle choices”, it however “encourages responsible consumption in all circumstances, particularly of products that may potentially have adverse effects or possibly modify behaviour in a fashion that may be harmful or inconvenient to the consumer, or others. “The Council notes that this policy Mike Okiro volved, the Police Service Commission had suspended the whistleblower on 21st May, <strong>2018</strong> for exposing the fraudulent activities of PSC Staff, especially the Chairman. CSNAC, in line with the mandate of our Network, petitioned ICPC on August 25, 2015, demanded the prosecution of Mr. Okiro based on violation of Sections 16 and 25 (1) (a&b) of ICPC Act and Section 58(4(b)) and 5(a-c) of the Bureau for Public Procurement Act. The ICPC had since arraign Mr. Emmanuel Ibe, the Director of Finance and Administration of the Police Service Commission before his Lordship Justice C.N Oji of the FCT High Court on a 9 count charge. Yet to summon the course and charge Mr. Okiro who was the approving authority in the alleged crime. The Police, under the influence of Mr. Okiro had severally concocted, trumped up charges against Mr. Aaron Kaase. The same charges were filed at three different courts by the police. After the Courts consecutively struck out charges against the Whistleblower, CSNAC on June 1, 2017 wrote to the Attorney General of the Federal through the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution to demand the intervention of the AGF in taking over the spurious prosecution of Mr. Kaase from the Police and Mr. Okiro. “While we continue to demand for the prosecution of Mr. Okiro as provided in the law, we salute the courage of the Judiciary, through the National Industrial Court under Justice R. B. Hastrup for upholding the rule of law, enforcing the rights of Mr. Kaase and putting an end to tyranny. We once again salute Mr. Kaase for standing by the truth and confronting the vicissitude of whistleblowing with the courage and resilience of a fighter, to the point of victory.” Babatunde Irukera was the product of consensus pursuant to broad stakeholder engagement and is motivated in large part by the Federal Government’s desire to reduce the risks of abuse and disease that may be associated with consumption of these products”, he submitted. According to him, the federal government’s approach would foster consumer confidence, provide regulatory clarity and prioritize safety, all of which, he said, reinforce the mandate of the Council. The director general added: “The Council insists that all producers, particularly of the products subject of this revised excise duty must take appropriate steps, including full disclosures, to promote responsible consumption, responsive, transparent and accessible consumer complaint resolution mechanisms to protect and satisfy consumers”.
Thursday <strong>22</strong> <strong>Mar</strong>ch <strong>2018</strong> C002D5556 BUSINESS DAY 37
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