03092019 - FG weighs options as another $2.3bn fine looms

MAILAFIA 

31 

You don’t ignore 

problems and they 

automatically go 

away; under 

international law, 

governments may 

change, but the 

state continues 

FG vows definitive 

measures, as 

S-African mob 

sets Nigerians’ 

shops on fire, 

kills 3 

8 

Presidential poll: S-Court 

dismisses suit challenging 

Buhari’s qualification 

UN expresses concern 9 

over high rate of 

extra-judicial killings in Nigeria 

E-DAILY 11 

My party 

was 

aborted 

for no 

reason 

—Bobrisky 

GSM data subscribers rise by 68% to 122m in H1’19 

8 

19 

VOL. 26: NO. 63888 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 

PROTEST AGAINST $9.6BN P&ID JUDGMENT... 

Protest by civil society organisations against the $9.6bn P &ID judgment against Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

FG weighs options as 

STORY 

ON 

PAGE 5 

another $2.3bn fine looms 

•$2.3bn fine over Mambilla looms in France; CSOs protest in Abuja 

•Osinbajo, Malami, Emefiele, others meet in Aso Rock 

•File corruption charges against P&ID boss, says Aondoakaa, ex-AGF 

•Agbakoba writes Buhari, seeks National Arbitration Policy 

Retired judge 

used maid’s 

account to hide 

N840m, ICPC 

tells court 13 

Our wives, 

daughters’re 

being raped, 

says Katsina 

cleric 

COLUMNISTS ODUMAKIN 17 TENIOLA 18 ARIBISALA 37 

13 

Police arrest 

1,154 

9 

suspected 

kidnappers in 

8 months – IGP 

‘German 

Police 

following 15 

clues in 

Ekweremadu’s 

attack’ 

See 

inside 

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 — 3


Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

VISIT—Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State (R) presenting a souvenir 

to the former Senate President, Sen. David Mark, during the visit of Alumni 

Association of the 3rd Regular Course of Nigeria Defense Academy, NDA, to 

the Governor, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

FG weighs options as 

another $2.3b fine looms 

By Emma Ujah, 

Clifford Ndujihe, 

Udeme Akpan, 

Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & Ediri 

Ejoh 

ABUJA — The Federal 

Government is weighing 

the best way to get Nigeria 

out of the nasty and 

embarrassing $9.6 billion 

judgement debt by a 

British court. 

The options to take were 

part of the issues on the 

agenda yesterday when 

top Federal Government 

officials, including Vice 

President Yemi Osinbajo, 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation, Abubakar 

Malami, SAN, Finance 

Minister, Zainab Ahmed, 

Central bank Governor, 

Godwin Emefiele, and 

others met in Abuja to 

review the matter as 

Nigeria faced another $2.3 

billion fine in France. 

The options include 

appealing the judgement; 

halting execution of the 

judgment; negotiating with 

Process & Industrial 

Developments Ltd, P&ID; 

and filing corruption 

charges against P&ID boss. 

• Vanguard 

gathered that President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

directed Osinbajo to meet 

with the Economic 

Management Team, EMT, 

and weigh the options 

available to the 

government. 

This happened on a day 

a Coalition of Civil Society 

Groups in Nigeria, CCSG, 

stormed the British High 

Commission and the 

Embassy of Ireland in 

Abuja to protest the $ 9.6 

billion awarded against 

Nigeria by a British court 

in favour of P & ID. 

Osinbajo, Malami, 

Emefiele others meet in 

Aso Rock 

The strategic meeting 

which was presided over by 

the Vice President, Yemi 

Osinbajo at Aso Rock had 

in attendance Nigerian 

lawyers including the 

British lawyer based in the 

United Kingdom, UK, who 

is handling the matter. 

A British court on August 

16, awarded the judgment 

authorizing P&ID to seize 

Nigerian assets anywhere 

in the world to the value of 

$9.6 billion for contract 

default. 

The Federal Government 

had earlier jettisoned the 

idea of negotiating with 

P&ID over the UK ruling 

and was said to be 

planning to halt execution 

of the judgment. 

However, Vanguard 

gathered that President 

Buhari had directed the 

Vice President to meet with 

the EMT, and weigh the 

options. 

At the end of the meeting, 

Senior Special Assistant to 

the President on Media 

and Publicity, Office of the 

Vice President, Laolu 

Akande, declined 

comments on the outcome. 

Akande said the Minister 

of Information and Culture, 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

would brief at the 

appropriate time, but the 

minister left earlier without 

briefing reporters. 

A Presidency source at 

the closed-door session 

disclosed that the meeting 

was to receive update from 

Federal Government 

lawyers on next steps to 

take. 

“We just invited our 

lawyers to update us on the 

matter and next action to be 

taken,” the source said. 

Another source told 

Vanguard: “We were 

summoned in respect of the 

judgment.” 

Asked if there would be 

light at the end of the 

tunnel, the source said: 

“Sure! We are attacking it.” 

The meeting with 

Osinbajo started in his office 

around 1.30pm. 

Before the meeting began 

at the Vice President’s wing 

of the State House, 

Minister of Justice, 

Abubakar Malami met with 

the Chief of Staff, Mallam 

Abba Kyari, who took him 

to the President’s office. 

A Presidency source 

privy to the matter, said: “It 

is most likely the AGF 

came to brief Mr President 

on the Federal 

Government’s chances and 

options. It is to guide the 

government to take the 

appropriate steps. There 

have been comments that 

the government will appeal 

the judgment. 

“There are also comments 

by the Minister of 

Information & Culture, 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

suggesting that 

government is also not 

ruling out negotiations with 

P&ID on how to resolve the 

issue. 

“The AGF’s visit may be 

part of the ongoing 

discussions within the 

government to decide on 

the immediate step to take.” 

Those at the meeting 

included Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed; the Finance, 

Budget and National 

Planning Minister, Zainab 

Ahmed; Minister of State 

for Petroleum, Timipre 

Silva; Minister of State for 

Niger Delta Affairs, Festus 

Keyamo; Group Managing 

Director of NNPC, Mele 

Kyari; and Acting 

Chairman of the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

Ibrahim Magu. 

P&ID: We are ready to 

start seizing Nigeria’s 

assets 

P&ID Ltd, the Irish firm 

that was awarded $9.6 

billion in arbitration 

against Nigeria, says it 

will continue its efforts to 

identify and seize 

Nigerian assets “to 

satisfy the debt”. 

The company said if the 

Nigerian government is 

serious about 

negotiating a settlement, 

it must do so in “good 

faith” and stop the 

campaign of “baseless 

slander and sham 

investigations” against 

its founders. 

Spokesman for P&ID 

said in a brief statement 

yesterday: “If the 

Nigerian government is 

serious about a 

willingness to negotiate 

then it must do so in 

good faith. This means 

that the Buhari 

Continues on Page 41 

By Bose Adelaja, Olayinka Latona & 

Chiamaka Uba 

P&ID $9.6bn judgment: Who should take the blame? (2) 

While I would 

have loved to ask 

why there is an external 

ruling in the affairs of the 

country, I still strongly 

believe it’s high time 

the government paid for 

some of their misdeeds. 

Who is to blame? The 

government of course! 

This contract was meant 

to even transform our 

lives and like always, we 

failed. 

-Obe Comfort 

Educationalist. 

The 

Federal 

Government is to be 

blamed. It failed to meet 

up with its own side of 

agreement with the Irish 

firm. Even though the 

FG is still trying to make 

a formal objection to the 

London Court ruling, I 

urge the government to 

please make necessary 

agreements to avoid the 

loss of $9bn cheaply into 

the hands of P&ID. 

-Adegbile Victor 

Entrepreneur 

We need to ask 

ourselves a 

question, did the past 

regimes know about this 

$9 billion or is it the 

present administration 

that exposed it? Nigeria 

should be blamed for this 

because there ought to be 

a Memorandum of 

Understanding between 

Nigeria and Britain to 

forestall this type of 

occurrence. 

-Lawal Diyahulihaq 

Student 

This is a big scam 

and a part of the 

corruption that has 

crippled the country. 

The contract was signed 

in 2010 under Yar’Adua. 

But he was ill and died 

then Jonathan became 

President and was in power 

for six years. In a 

Presidential system, the 

buck stops on the 

P r e s i d e n t ’ s 

desk. Jonathan must be 

held accountable along 

with all other officials who 

signed a bogus contract 

designed to fail from the 

very beginning. 

-Anyanwu Glory 

Amarachi 

Student 

This is all a 

fraudulent activity 

that is being carried out 

on our foreign reserves. 

International scammers 

are the source of this 

contract scandal but they 

are getting help from 

local scammers too. Lai 

Mohammed said on 

Friday that the $9.6bn 

(N3.5 trillion) is about 

20% of our foreign 

reserves. This is just 

wickedness. All we can 

do now is to hope and 

pray for the best. 

-Temiloluwa Adebayo 

Student 

I 

blame Nigeria for 

failing to provide the 

gas or install the pipelines 

it had promised to 

build. I feel the government 

should be more cautious 

about deals they 

plunge into. Nigeria is to 

be blamed for not keeping 

up to date with the 

signed contract. 

In as much as I feel 

the P$ID are just planning 

to put injuries on 

the Nigerian economy 

that is not even strong. 

-Chilaka Emmanuel 

Civil servantI

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 

3 Ondo Health 

Tech students 

docked for 

robbery, 

gang-rape 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THREE students 

of Ondo State School of 

Health Technology, Akure, 

have been arraigned before a 

magistrate’s court, sitting in 

the state capital for alleged 

gang-rape of a year one female 

student of the institution. 

The accused persons, — 

Adeboboye Damilola, Blessing 

Michael and Eyitayo 

Charles— were arraigned on 

an eight-count charge 

bordering on armed robbery, 

rape, illegal possession of fire 

arms and cultism. 

They were apprehended by 

police detectives few days after 

they committed the crime at the 

Barrister Lodge, Olofinlade 

Layout, Oda Road, Akure, the 

residence of the victim’s 

boyfriend. 

Prior this, the accused 

persons were also alleged to 

have raped a student of 

another institution, Federal 

University of Technology, 

Akure, FUTA, and attempted 

to defile another lady, 

identified as Oladele 

Damilola. 

Aside these, they allegedly 

robbed one Israel Segun and 

one Adedayo Foluso of 

money, handsets and laptops 

at gunpoint. 

Police prosecutor, 

Abdulateef Suleiman, 

pleaded with the court to 

remand them in prison 

custody. 

However, counsel to the 

second defendant and the 

counsel to the first and third 

defendants, Mr. Banjo 

Ayelakin and Mr. Olutoye 

Adeyanju, respectively, 

objected the application, 

arguing that they were 

served the application few 

hours before the court 

proceeding. 

The counsel prayed the 

court to adjourn the case to 

enable them study the 

application properly. 

But in her ruling, the 

magistrate, Mrs. Victoria 

Bob-Manuel, admitted the 

prayer of the counsel, 

adjourned the case to 

September 5 for mentioning 

and ordered that the three 

accused persons be 

remanded in police custody. 

Recall that the year one 

student of the institution was 

reportedly raped by the 

suspected cult members in her 

boyfriend’s house for turning 

down the love advance from 

one of them. 

Narrating her ordeal to 

newsmen, when the incident 

happened, the victim said “the 

three boys forcefully had their 

way to the room and raped me 

one after the other.” 

Traffic jam caused by the partial closure of Kara end on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, for ongoing construction work. PHOTO: 

Lamidi Bamidele. 

Cyber crime suspect nabbed in Benin 

by EFCC/FBI is N656m rich in Bitcoin 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN 

CITY— 

COLLABORATION 

between the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, and the United States of 

America, USA’s Federal Bureau 

of Investigation, FBI, has led to 

the arrest of a female suspected 

internet fraudster in Edo State, 

who got her cuts in Bitcoin and is 

currently a millionaire 600 times 

over. 

Head, Benin Zonal office of 

EFCC, Mhutar Bello, speaking 

on behalf of the Acting Chairman 

of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, said the 

female suspect (names withheld) 

worked in collaboration with 

foreign counterparts in the dark 

web. 

He said she was involved in 

obtaining and stealing people’s 

identification information which 

she forwarded to her American 

collaborators, who he said used 

the information to file for 

fraudulent tax return with the 

Internal Revenue Service. 

He said: “She is involved in 

obtaining people’s identification 

information, which she forward to 

her American collaborator and 

they use same to file for fraudulent 

tax return with the Internal 

Revenue Service. She receives 

her cut through Bitcoin. About 185 

Bitcoin, which by current market 

value is N656,371,490, has been 

traced to her.” 

EFCC arrests 3 others 

The EFCC Zonal head said it 

independently arrested a cyber 

criminal and two siblings 

involved in Business Email 

Compromise, BEC. 

Bello outlined their modus 

operandi as searching for victims’ 

e-mail addresses, especially 

official business e-mail addresses, 

creating a phishing link and 

compromising the process in 

order to defraud unsuspecting 

victims. 

According to him, “the three 

suspects will have their date in 

court soon. We do not want to state 

the woman’s name so as not to 

compromise investigation. The 

Commission is resolute in 

exterminating cyber crime and 

bringing to book all those involved 

in this despicable activity. 

“As part of our strategic plans 

to tackle this malaise, the Benin 

Zonal Office, since January, 

through intelligence, have been 

raiding the hideout of internet 

fraudsters in our jurisdiction— 

Edo, Delta and Ondo states. 

“These raids led to the arrest of 

113 internet fraudsters. While the 

prosecution of many of the cases 

is ongoing in court, we have so 

far secured 53 convictions in the 

period under review. Over 30 

exotic cars, charms, laptops, 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

& Daud Olatunji 

AWKA—NO fewer than 15 

persons, yesterday, lost their 

lives in auto accidents in Ogun 

and Anambra states. 

In Anambra State, where 10 

persons were killed, a trailer 

carrying building materials 

collided with two buses on the 

ever-busy Agulu Lake Bridge in 

Anaocha Local Government Area. 

Details of the accident were still 

sketchy at press time, but 

Vanguard gathered from the 

scene that the driver of one of the 

buses was among those that died 

on the spot, while the driver of 

the trailer was still in coma in the 

hospital. 

An eyewitness, however, said 

the trailer driver lost control as he 

was descending the Agulu Lake 

slope and rammed into the 

oncoming buses. 

The dead bodies have been 

deposited in the mortuary, while 

those injured were receiving 

treatment at a hospital in the area. 

The news of the accident led to 

an impromptu adjournment of 

the weekly state executive council 

mobile phones and flash drives 

were recovered from the 

suspects.” 

...clears air on 

plea bargain 

On the allegation that EFCC 

personnel forced some suspects 

to agree on lopsided plea bargain 

conditions to the detriment of the 

suspects, Bello said the 

administration of criminal justice 

has its processes that can lead 

to plea bargain. 

He added: “Any suspect you 

see us arrest has been indicted 

with one offence or the other and 

they will be confronted with the 

allegation and the opportunity 

will be given to them to defend 

themselves. 

“If at the end they agreed on 

15 die in Ogun, Anambra accidents 

meeting, with Governor Willie 

Obiano and other members of his 

cabinet rushing to the scene. 

Obiano later visited the 

hospital, where the injured 

persons were admitted and 

announced that the state 

government would construct 

speed bumps on the bridge to 

reduce the speed of the vehicles. 

Many people have also been 

rushing to the scene to identify 

the victims, just as they besieged 

the hospital to ascertain the 

conditions of those on admission. 

In Ogun... 

In Ogun State, where multiple 

accidents claimed five lives, 

seven other persons were injured 

in the accidents that occurred at 

Onigari, the border town of Ogun 

and Oyo states on the Lagos- 

Ibadan Expressway in Ogun 

State. 

No fewer than 40 persons were 

reportedly involved, comprising 

24 male adults, 13 female adults, 

two male children and one female 

child. 

Ogun State Command’s Public 

Educations Officer, Federal Road 

Safety Corps, FRSC, Florence 

their own and decide to enter 

into plea bargain, they have 

their own lawyers and their 

family members are also made 

to be involved, who will also 

meet our lawyers. They discuss 

and then agree if they are going 

to go into plea bargain. 

“Our lawyers will give them 

the terms and conditions; 

nobody signs any plea bargain 

without his lawyer; their 

lawyers have the right to reject 

whatever is placed before them. 

“We have series of cases where 

lawyers will come with their 

clients for plea bargaining and 

when we give them our 

conditions, they sometimes 

withdraw so there is nothing 

like forcing people to sign.” 

Okpe, confirmed the accidents. 

Okpe said three males and four 

females were injured in the 

accident, which involved six 

vehicles: a Toyota Corolla with 

number plates APP 675 BH ; 

brown Sienna, number plates 

MUS 932 FE, and a red truck, 

JGB 874XA. 

Also involved were a brown 

Toyota Camry with number plates 

EW909APP and two white Toyota 

Hiace: ABE 24 LG and APH 582 

AAA. 

According to Okpe, the multiple 

accidents were caused by speed 

violation, while it was raining, 

which reportedly led to loss of 

control of the vehicles. 

Okpe said victims were rescued 

to Victory Hospital, Ogere, and 

the FRSC patrol team from 

Oluyole rescued some other 

victims to UCH Ibadan. 

She added: “The bodies have 

been deposited at FOS Motuary, 

Ipara, while obstructions on the 

road as a result of the accidents 

have been cleared. 

“FRSC Ogun State Sector 

Commander, Clement Oladele, 

advised motorists to reduce 

speed during the rains.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019—7 

Bus kills 2 Post-UTME 

students, okadaman in Osun 

By Shina Abubakar 

TWO youths seeking 

admission into Obafemi 

Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, were 

yesterday crushed to death while 

returning from the campus after 

writing post-Universal Tertiary 

Matriculation Examination, Post- 

UTME, test. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

students, who were returning from 

OAU Moro Campus on a 

commercial motorcycle(okada) 

were crushed at Moro Junction 

by a luxury bus which was 

heading towards Ibadan from 

Ilesa, driving on the wrong lane, 

at 12.30p.m. yesterday. 

One of the two victims and the 

motorcycle rider were said to have 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

& Bose Adelaja 

SCORES of passengers, 

yesterday, narrowly escaped 

death when two high capacity 

Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, buses 

collided along Ikorodu Road, 

Lagos State. 

Although no life was lost in 

the incident, three passengers 

sustained injuries and were 

rushed to hospitals for 

treatment. 

According to an eyewitness, 

both buses had a head-on 

collision in the process of 

manoeuvring from crashing 

into two reckless commercial 

motorcyclists (okada) plying 

the restricted BRT corridor. 

According to Lagos State 

Traffic Management Agency, 

LASTMA, on its official Twitter 

died immediately, while the other 

victim, who was rushed to the 

hospital, later died. 

Sector Commander of the 

Federal Road Safety Corp, FRSC, 

Osun State Command, Mr. Oke 

Peters, confirmed the incident. 

Also, General Manager of Osun 

Ambulance Services, Dr. 

Olusegun Babatunde, told 

journalists that O’Ambulance 

evacuated the bodies from the 

scene. 

He added that the motorcyclists 

and another student died on the 

spot, while the other student was 

at Obafemi Awolowo University 

Teaching Hospital for medical 

treatment. 

His words: “The accident 

occurred at Moro Junction when 

a luxury bus driver drove against 

traffic and crushed the 

commercial motorcyclists, who 

was conveying two passengers 

from OAU’s campus. 

“Our Ashipa unit received the 

distress call and when it got to 

the scene, two of the victims, a 

student and the commercial 

motorcyclists, had already died. 

“The third victim, a student 

was in critical condition too, 

but had been taken to 

OAUTHC.” 

Public Relations Officer of 

OAU, Abiodun Olanrewaju 

bemoaned the accident and 

charged motorists to comply 

with traffic regulations, while 

also sympathising with 

families of the deceased. 

... as okadamen cause 2 buses to collide on Ikorodu Road 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—TWO employees of a 

laboratory company, Clina- 

Lancet Nigeria ltd,Ikechukwu 

Duru and Oluwole Olalekan, who 

allegedly stole N2million, from 

their employer, were yesterday 

arraigned before a Lagos 

Magistrate Court sitting in 

Igbosere. 

Duru 33, of 1, Onosanya Mogaji 

Close Agbonyi Ketu Lagos and 

Olalekan 33, a resident of 36, 

Agbole Street, Ijeshatedo 

Surprise Lagoon respectively, are 

facing a two count charge of 

conspiracy and stealing preferred 

against them by the Police. 

The prosecutor Inspector 

Ingobo Emby, told the court that 

the defendants committed the 

alleged offence on July 17. 

He said the incident took place 

at 3A, Babatunde Jose Street, 

handle, the collision 

happened around 7:45a.m. 

LASTMA revealed that the 

accident led to the build-up of 

traffic around the area before 

the buses were later removed 

7 children drown in Kebbi 

By Kabir DanKatsina 

BIRNIN KEBBI—SEVEN 

children have drowned in 

different rivers in Kebbi State, 

following a downpour that lasted 

over six hours on Saturday. 

Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi 

State Governor, Abubakar 

Dakingari, who disclosed the 

incident to newsmen in 

Government House, said six of 

2 employees steal employer’s N2m 

Victoria Island Lagos. 

Emby said: “The defendants 

collected the sum of N2 million 

on behalf of their employer and 

converted the company’s money 

to their own use.” 

He said that the money the duo 

stole belonged to Clina-Lancet 

Nigeria ltd. 

According to him, the offence 

committed is punishable under 

Section 411 and 287 (7), of the 

criminal law of Lagos 2015. 

The duo pleaded not guilty. 

Magistrate Mrs Are Temitope 

Bimbola granted them bail in the 

sum of N500,000 each, with two 

sureties each in like sums. 

She said that one of the sureties 

must be a blood relation, show 

evidence of tax payment to the 

Lagos state government and have 

their addressed verified. 

The case was adjourned until 

September 27, for mention. 

for free flow of traffic along the 

road. 

Recall that on August 27, a 

similar incident occurred when 

a truck had a head-on collision 

with a BRT, killing three. 

the deceased drowned in a river 

at Unashi village in Danko/ 

Wasagu Local Government 

during the downpour on 

Saturday and the other died in a 

gutter in Takalau area of Birnin 

Kebbi Local Government. 

Muazu gave the six children’s 

names as Mubarak,12; Abubakar, 

9; Yusuf, 8; Fauziyya, 8; Lifta’u, 7 

and Laminu,10; while that of 

Birnin Kebbi is Fiddausi Umar 

Makerar Gandu, aged18. 

He said: “Fiddausi died on her 

way back home in Makerar 

Gandu in Birnin Kebbi from 

Yar'yara area in Birnin Kebbi 

metropolis, where she visited her 

relations during the downpour.” 

Her father, Malam Umar 

Gandu stated that her corpse was 

found in a gutter a day after the 

rain stopped. 

Already, Governor Abubakar 

Bagudu has visited the scene of 

the incident and also visited the 

residences of the deceased, 

where he consoled the parents/ 

guardians of the children. 

He asked SEMA to assess the 

situation and report to the 

government, and also cautioned 

parents and guardians against 

neglecting their children/wards. 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

This guy is questioning the gods? 

Okay, your spiritual brother 

As long as the 

public see nothing 

If you 

wrote 

this, 

contact 

us for 

a prize


VISIT: From left, Mr. Lawrence Pwajok, Director of Operations to Nigerian Airspace Management 

Agency, NAMA; Umar Farouk, Director of Engineering to NAMA; Dr. Mrs. Anatasia Gbem, NAMA's 

Secretary & Legal Adviser; Hassan Musa, acting Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Aviation; 

Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, MD/CE, NAMA; Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation; Hajia Maira Bashir, 

Director of Human Resources to NAMA; Capt. Talba Alkali, Director Safety&Technical Policy to 

Min. of Aviation; Mr. Umoh Anefiok, Director of Finance to NAMA; Mr Paul Oki, NAMA Company 

Secretary when the NAMA management team paid a welcome visit to the minister in his Abuja 

office. 

3 killed as S-African mob sets Nigerians’ 

shops on fire •As FG vows definitive measures 

By Victoria 

Ojeme, with agency 

reports 

THREE people have been 

reportedly killed and 

many property destroyed in 

an attack on foreigners, 

including Nigerians based in 

South Africa. 

According to Adetola 

Olubajo, President of Nigeria 

Union South Africa, the 

attacks began on Sunday 

morning in Jeppestown area 

of Johannesburg, adding that 

the angry mob set a building 

ablaze in the area. 

The latest attacks came just 

days after South African 

President, Cyril Ramaphosa, 

assured President 

Muhammadu Buhari, on the 

sideline of the 7th Tokyo 

International Conference, in 

Japan, that his government 

would take steps to address 

the attacks on Nigerians to 

strengthen the relations 

between Nigeria and South 

Africa. 

But Minister of Foreign 

Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, 

did not only describe those 

behind the attacks as 

‘mindless criminals’ but also 

promised that definitive 

measures would be taken by 

the Federal Government 

against xenophobic attacks 

on Nigerians. 

Olubajo said: “The mob 

also looted several shops that 

were around the vicinity 

suspected to be owned by 

foreign nationals. But the 

Police later dispersed the 

mob and made some arrests. 

“Late in the evening of 

Sunday, September 1, a 

group of violent locals 

suspected to be Zulu hostel 

dwellers besieged Jules 

Street in Malvern, 

Johannesburg, looted and 

burnt shops/businesses.” 

According to witnesses 

living on Jules Street, the 

Zulu hostel dwellers were 

very organised and wellcoordinated 

in looting and 

burning of any shops/ 

businesses suspected to be 

owned by foreign nationals. 

Olubajo said information 

gathered by members of 

NUSA in Malvern area 

indicated that over 50 shops/ 

businesses were destroyed, 

looted and burnt overnight. 

S-African mob sets 

Nigerians’ shops on 

fire 

Speaking further, he said: 

“Also, some businesses 

owned by foreign nationals 

were looted in Germiston on 

Sunday evening. A 

Nigerian-owned Internet café 

and computer accessories 

business was among the 

looted shops in Germiston. 

“When I got the sad news 

late yesterday (Sunday) 

evening, I immediately 

informed the Police in 

Jeppestown but lots of 

damage had been done 

already. 

“The means of livelihood of 

people were looted and 

destroyed by fire overnight, 

which has left many 

Nigerians traumatised. 

“Nigerian-owned 

businesses were seriously 

affected. A car sales business 

owned by a Nigerian was 

among the several 

businesses set ablaze over the 

night. 

“Although the Police said 

that many people had been 

arrested in connection with 

the unnecessary attacks, the 

looting and burning of 

foreign-owned businesses 

continued till Monday 

(yesterday) morning. 

“We implore the security 

operatives to be proactive and 

not reactive as many long 

years hard-earned 

investments have been lost 

through looting, destruction 

and burning. Our 

government officials should 

also seriously engage their 

counterparts in South Africa. 

Onyeama promises 

definitive measures 

Reacting to the latest 

attacks, Minister of Foreign 

Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, 

promised ‘definitive 

measures’ on the matter. 

The minister in a Twitter 

post condemning the attacks, 

said: “Received sickening 

and depressing news of 

continued burning and 

looting of Nigerian shops 

and premises in 

#SouthAfrica by mindless 

criminals with ineffective 

police protection. Enough is 

enough; we will take 

definitive measures.” 

Onyeama blamed 

ineffective police protection for 

the losses suffered by 

Nigerians. 

NICASA wants 

perpetrators 

arrested 

Meanwhile, Nigerian 

Citizens Association in South 

Africa, NICASA, has called 

on the South African 

authorities to arrest and 

prosecute those involved in 

the burning and looting of 

Nigerian businesses in that 

country. 

President of NICASA, Ben 

Okoli, said prosecution of the 

culprits would serve as 

deterrent to others and 

forestall such unwarranted 

occurrence in the future. 

According to him, 

Nigerian-owned businesses 

looted and burnt include 

furniture, electronics shops, 

warehouses, mechanic and 

motor spare, parts among 

others. 

Okoli said that though the 

crisis affected other 

foreigners, what made the 

matter worse was the fact that 

it happened where there 

were a lot of Nigerian 

businesses. 

He added that a Nigerian 

had eight vehicles in his car 

lot burnt by the arsonists, 

while another had his 

warehouse containing his 16 

years investment destroyed. 

He urged the Nigerian 

mission in South Africa to 

intervene by ensuring the 

safety of Nigerians in the 

country. 

CAN to Buhari, govs: Bring more youths 

into power circles 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA —CHRISTIAN 

Association of Nigeria, 

CAN, has urged President 

Muhammadu Buhari and 

the 36 state governors to 

appoint more young people 

into circles of power, with a 

view to exposing them to the 

inner workings of 

government. 

It argued that doing so 

would prepare the youths to 

provide, in the future, effective 

political leadership at all 

levels of governance. 

Speaking at National 

Muslim and Christian Youth 

Summit in Abuja, CAN 

President, Rev Samson 

Ayokunle, lamented that no 

significant effort was being 

made to create for the youths 

the reality that the country’s 

today and future belong to 

them. 

Ayokunle, who was 

represented by Evang. 

Samuel Kwamkur, CAN’s 

Director of Legal and Public 

Affairs, said: “May I also use 

this opportunity to call on 

those in power to use their 

good offices and influence to 

bring youth into the circle of 

government not as a mean of 

empowering them only but 

also as a way of preparing 

them for future independence 

and leadership. 

“We cannot continue to say 

youth are leaders of tomorrow 

when there is no significant 

effort to expose them to true 

act of governance and 

practical leadership 

especially while we, the 

elders, are still around them. 

“As Christians, we are 

looking forward to a nation 

where the youth will truly 

understand that today and 

the future belong to them.” 

Presidential poll: S-Court 

dismisses suit challenging 

Buhari’s qualifications 

•Blasts Justice Ministry for defending 

Buhari’s certificate 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—THE Supreme 

Court, yesterday, 

dismissed a suit that 

challenged President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

eligibility to contest the 2019 

presidential election. 

In a unanimous judgement 

by a five-man panel of 

justices, the apex court held 

that the legal action that three 

citizens, Kalu Agu, Labaran 

Ismail and Hassy El-Kuris, 

filed to query President 

Buhari’s educational 

qualifications had become 

statute barred. 

The apex court held that the 

Court of Appeal in Abuja 

acted rightly when it declined 

jurisdiction to entertain the 

matter. 

It will be recalled that the 

appellate court had in a 

verdict it gave on July 12, said 

it lacked the powers to 

determine whether or not 

President Buhari committed 

perjury based on allegation 

by the litigants that he lied 

about his educational 

qualifications in the Form CF 

001 he submitted to the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, to contest the February 

23 presidential election. 

Specifically, the court held 

that the appellants failed to 

challenge the qualifications 

President Buhari claimed in 

his form within 14 days after 

he tendered it before the 

INEC, as stipulated by 

section 285(9) of the 4th 

alteration to the 1999 

constitution. 

Consequently, the 

appellate court said it had no 

cause to set-aside the 

judgement of the Federal 

High Court in Abuja, which 

had on May 2, dismissed the 

Go claim your dividends, SEC 

tells defunct Afribank 

shareholders 

By Michael Eboh 

SECURITIES 

and 

Exchange Commission, 

SEC, yesterday, directed 

shareholders of the defunct 

Afribank Plc to claim their 

dividends. 

In a statement in Abuja, 

acting Director-General of 

SEC, Ms. Mary Uduk, said 

this was part of its investor 

protection programme to 

ensure that shareholders got 

the benefits of investing in the 

capital market. 

She noted that SEC was 

making concrete efforts to 

ensure that investors got their 

dividends, saying this would 

reduce the number of 

unclaimed dividends in the 

market. 

She said: “We have 

informed shareholders of the 

defunct Afribank Plc that 

suit. 

...blasts Justice 

Ministry for 

defending Buhari’s 

certificate 

Meantime, though the 

Supreme Court upheld the 

appellate court’s decision but 

lambasted the Federal 

Ministry of Justice for 

appearing before it to defend 

President Buhari’s certificate. 

The apex court panel, 

which was headed by Justice 

Mary Odili, said it was bad 

for the ministry or the 


Federation to use public fund 

to defend a case in which 

Buhari was sued in his 

personal capacity. 

The court wondered why 

a Principal State Counsel 

from the Federal Ministry of 

Justice, Mr. Abdullahi 

Abubakar, should be the one 

to announce appearance for 

a private individual. 

Frowning on the 

development, Justice 

Muhammad Dattijo said it 

was high-time Nigeria started 

practising democracy as it 

was done in countries such 

as the United States of 

America, where he noted the 

Justice Ministry never 

appeared to defend 

numerous private cases filed 

against Bill Clinton while he 

held sway as president. 

“Clinton, in his numerous 

private litigation, never used 

government organs, but 

rather personally sponsored 

all his private cases,” Justice 

Dattijo noted. 

He warned lawyers in the 

Justice Ministry against 

embarking on actions that 

amounted to gross 

contravention of the Code of 

Conduct for public servants, 

stressing that such action 

could attract consequences. 

unclaimed dividends declared 

by the bank are being 

held in trust on their 

behalf. This will further help 

reduce the volume of 


market and boost investor 

confidence. 

“Investors that have 

unclaimed dividends are, 

therefore, advised to contact 

Carnation Registrars to 

process their dividend 

payments.” 

Uduk said the commission 

had also directed Carnation 

Registrars and Meristem 

Trustees to ensure that all 

genuine claims of beneficiary 

shareholders were 

addressed forthwith. 

She said: “Since the 

company is no longer in 

operation, these unclaimed 

dividends have to be made 

available to the rightful 

owners that are the 

shareholders.


VISIT: From left, Country Officer, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, 

Ibrahim Dikko Adamu; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. 

Babatunde Ruwase; Lead Economist for Nigeria, World Bank Group, Marco Hernandez, 

and Director General, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf during a courtesy visit to LCCI, in Lagos, 

yesterday. 

UN expresses concern over high rate 

of extra-judicial killings in Nigeria 

By Victoria 

Ojeme 

ABUJA—The United 

Nations Special 

Rapporteur for Extrajudicial 

and Arbitrary Executions, 

Agnes Callamard, has 

expressed concern over the 

high rate of extra-judicial 

killings in the country. 

The UN envoy, whose 

official visit to Nigeria ends 

today, is in the country to 

examine situations of 

violations of the right to life 

by state and non-state actors; 

the federal, state security 

strategy and the responses at 

federal and state levels to 

allegations of arbitrary 

deprivation of life. She 

arrived the country August 

19, 2019. 

HEALTH TIPS 

By Sola Ogundipe 

Safe food handling 

A critical part of healthy 

eating is keeping foods safe. 

In your own homes you can 

reduce contaminants and 

keep food safe to eat by 

following safe food handling 

practices. Four basic food 

safety principles work 

together to reduce the risk of 

foodborne illness — clean, 

separate, cook, and chill. 

Wash hands with soap and 

clean running water. Rub 

hands together to make a 

lather and scrub all parts of 

the hand for 20 seconds. 

Rinse hands thoroughly and 

dry using a clean paper 

towel. 

Sink and table surfaces 

should be washed with hot, 

soapy water.Clean sweep 

refrigerated foods once a 

week. 

At least once a week, throw 

out refrigerated foods that 

should no longer be eaten. 

Cooked leftovers should be 

discarded after four days; 

raw poultry and ground 

meats, one to two days. 

According to Callamard, 

the “overall situation that I 

encountered in Nigeria gives 

rise to extreme concern. By 

many measures, the federal 

authorities and the 

international partners are 

presiding over an injusticepressure 

cooker. Some of the 

specific contexts I examined 

are simmering. 

“The warning signs are 

flashing bright red: increased 

numbers of attacks and 

killings over the last five 

years, with a few notable 

exceptions; increased 

criminality and spreading 

insecurity; widespread 

failure by the federal 

authorities to investigate and 

hold perpetrators to account, 

even for mass killing. 

"A lack of public trust and 

confidence in the judicial 

Clean the inside and the 

outside of appliances. Pay 

particular attention to buttons 

and handles where crosscontamination 

to hands can 

occur. 

Rinse fresh vegetables and 

fruits under running water 

just before eating, cutting, or 

cooking. Even if you plan to 

peel or cut the produce 

before eating, it is important 

to thoroughly rinse it first to 

prevent microbes from 

transferring from the outside 

to the inside of the produce. 

Separate foods when 

shopping. Place raw 

seafood, meat, and poultry 

in plastic bags. Store them 

below ready-to-eat foods in 

your refrigerator. 

Separate foods when 

preparing and serving. 

Always use a clean cutting 

board for fresh produce and 

a separate one for raw 

seafood, meat, and poultry. 

Never place cooked food 

back on the same plate or 

cutting board that previously 

held raw food. 

institutions and state 

institutions more generally; 

high levels of resentment and 

grievances within and 

between communities; toxic 

ethno-religious narratives 

and ‘extremist’ ideologies, 

characterised by 

dehumanisation of the 

‘others’ and denial of the 

legitimacy of the others’ 

claims; a generalised break 

down of the rule of law, with 

particularly acute 

consequences for the most 

vulnerable and impoverished 

populations of Nigeria." 

She observed that a weak 

rule of law and its brewing 

crisis were intertwined with 

problems of a nation-wide 

population explosion and 

increased rates of extreme 

poverty which characterises 

the reality for roughly half of 

the Nigerian population. 

Callamard stated further: 

"This is exacerbated by the 

spreading environmental 

degradation and 

desertification evident 

throughout West Africa. 

"It is also fed by the 

increasing proliferation of 

small and military-grade 

weapons made readily 

available as a result of 

regional instability 

originating, according to 

some reports, from as far north 

as the Libyan conflicts. 

“These nation-wide and 

broader regional pressures 

applied against Nigeria’s 

diverse eco-politicaleconomic 

systems are 

producing localised systems 

and country-wide patterns of 

violence, many of which are 

seemingly spinning out of 

control.” 

Presidency inaugurates 

dialysis, ultra-sound machines 

at State House Clinic 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—THE 

Presidency, yesterday, 

inaugurated state-of-the art 

Dialysis and Ultrasound 

machines as well as a creche 

at the State House Clinic, 

Abuja. 

Speaking at the 

inauguration, Permanent 

Secretary, State House, Alhaji 

Jalal Arabi, said the medical 

facilities and the creche were 

set up to enhance the 

operation of the clinic. 

He said that the dialysis 

and ultrasound machines 

have since been put to use 

for the benefit of staff of the 

State House while the creche 

will benefit the families of 

medical personnel of the 

clinic. 

According to him, the multimillion 

naira medical facilities 

were procured through 

prudence management of 

scarce resources by the 

authorities of the State House. 

He said: “We thank God we 

are still able to make use of 

the little resources that we got, 

appropriated to us to make 

sure that we get the best for 

them and by extension the 

best for the society. 

“We have entered the 

dialysis unit, you have seen 

the machines we have 

procured and the people on 

it. 

“You have seen the latest 

Ultrasound machines and I’m 

sure you have heard from the 

manufacturers or suppliers - 

that is one of the best the 

world over. 

“ And of course, you have 

seen the Crèche which we 

have done and it would be of 

beneficial not only to the staff 

of the clinic – the doctors and 

their families and other 

medical health workers but to 

the generality of those that are 

coming in there. 

“So, I think we are good to 

go like it has always been 

going and we hope with 

what we commissioned today 

we are moving higher up 

again - that is the Next 

Level.” 

Anyone operating from 

PDP HQ is talking 

nonsense — Femi Adesina 

SPECIAL Adviser to 

P r e s i d e n t 

Muhammadu Buhari on 

Media and Publicity, Femi 

Adesina, has taken a swipe 

at Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, for saying the 

President’s trip to the 7th 

Tokyo International 

Conference on African 

Development was a poor 

and a disgraceful outing. 

Reacting via Twitter 

yesterday, Adesina said 

members of the major 

opposition party were 

“hallucinating.” 

“In PDP’s hallucinations, 

TICAD 7 was not a success 

for Nigeria, since PMB 

came back with only 

‘promissory notes'. 

“Did they think it was a 

buying and selling session? 

Wadata House must now 

be Hammer House of 

Horror, and anybody 

operating from there simply 

talks gibberish.” 

The opposition party had 

said the President failed to 

seal any meaningful 

economic agreement at the 

conference but only came 

home with an empty basket 

and pocket full of 

promissory notes. 

The party had said due 

to Buhari’s “legitimacy 

burden and overt 

impunity,” no world leader 

or international investors 

wanted to do any real 

business with Nigeria. 

“It is lamentable that 

while President Buhari and 

his party, the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, are reducing our 

nation by celebrating a 

mere pledge of $300,000 

(N108 million) from the 

Japanese Prime Minister 

and a promissory note for 

50 million euros from an 

EU Commissioner, his 

Ghanaian counterpart, 

Nana Akufo-Ado had 

sealed a deal with 

automobile giant, Toyota, to 

immediately establish a 

Toyota and Suzuki 

manufacturing plant in 

Ghana with a determined 

timeline of August 2020 for 

production. 

“The multinational had 

also signed a deal to 

establish a similar plant in 

neighboring Ivory Coast 

with a Memorandum of 

Understanding to that effect 

already signed last 

Thursday. 

“It is instructive to note 

that Toyota announced that 

it preferred to cite the plant 

in Ghana because of the 

favourable economic 

climate prevailing in the 

country; a climate, which 

has taken flight from 

Nigeria under President 

Buhari and worsened since 

the rigging of the 

Presidential election. 

“It is saddening that 

because of President 

Buhari, our nation, which, 

under the PDP had 

excelled to become one of 

the world’s fastest growing 

economies and a hub for 

Foreign Direct 

Investments, is now 

descending into a pariah 

and beggarly nation with 

no hope in sight. 

“This development 

plainly shows that the time 

is gone when world 

leaders and investors 

embraced manipulated 

elections and governments 

that do not have the 

mandate of their citizens." 

Police arrest 1,154 

suspected kidnappers in 

8 months—IGP 

THE Inspector-General of 

Police, Mohammed 

Adamu, said yesterday that 

1,154 suspected kidnappers 

were arrested across the 

country between January and 

August. 

Adamu, who made the 

disclosure during the South- 

West Geopolitical Zone 

Security Summit held in 

Ibadan, said 147 of the arrests 

were made in the South-West. 

He said 837 victims of 

kidnapping were rescued 

with 106 of such achieved in 

the South-west. 

He further said: “Between 

January and August, a total 

of 552 murder suspects were 

arrested with 66 such arrests 

effected in the South-west. 

2,015 armed robbery suspects 

were arrested with 363 of the 

figure arrested in the zone. 

“1,183 suspected cultists 

were napped, out of which 

425 were arrested in the zone. 

In relation to recovery, 1,356 

firearms of various calibre and 

descriptions were recovered 

in various intelligence-led 

operations by the Police, with 

277 of such recoveries made 

in the South-west. 

“Similarly, 21,300 

ammunition of various 

descriptions and calibre were 

recovered with the highest 

number of 5,270 ammunition 

recovered from criminal 

syndicates in the zone. 

“Also, 1,541 stolen vehicles 

were recovered across the 

country, with 482 of such 

recoveries in South-west,” he 

stated. 

The IGP said the police, in 

recent months, have 

developed capacity and 

demonstrated the requisite 

professional zeal. 

He, however, said there 

were isolated cases of 

kidnapping and armed 

robbery in the South-west, 

particularly along Benin- 

Ore-Lagos highway and 

across Ondo State. 

He said the current 

operations of the police and 

other security agencies across 

the country, particularly 

along Niger- Kogi- FCT - 

Kaduna -Katsina and 

Zamfara state have been 

successful.

10 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 

NURTW cancels national 

election over violence 

By Esther Onyegbula 

L National AGOS—THE 

Union of 

Road Transport Workers, 

NURTW, has cancelled a 

pre-presidential election 

nationwide, at the 

Southwest Zonal office of 

the union in Osun State. 

Vanguard gathered that 

the election was postponed 

to avoid any form of brawl 

among both factions during 

the election. 

It was also gathered that 

the National Treasurer of 

the NURTW at the federal 

level, Tajudeen Baruwa 

and the Lagos State 

Chairman of the NURTW, 

Tajudeen Agbede, are 

contesting for the post of the 

president of the NURTW at 

the National level 

While Mr. Olalekan 

We’ve been abandoned, wife of 

missing Customs officer cries out 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

L Basirat AGOS—MRS 

AbdulSalam, 

wife of Custom Assistant 11 

0fficer, AbdulSalam 

Rasheed, has cried out that 

more than a year after her 

husband went missing 

during an operations by the 

Nigerian Customs Service, 

NCS, Federal Operations, 

Lagos, she had been 

abandoned by the 

Customs. 

According to her, her 

husband had gone on an 

operation with his 

colleagues on April 14, 2018, 

and in the process of 

carrying out their official 

duty, they were attacked by 

smugglers around Lagos- 

Abeokuta expressway, 

shortly after the toll gate. 

She said: “My husband 

and his colleagues who 

were also attached to the 

Federal Operations Unit, 

we were told, were attacked 

by smugglers during the 

operation. He was the one 

that drove the Customs’ 

official Hilux car which was 

taken for the operation. In 

the process, the smugglers 

overwhelmed the officers 

and they had to run away. 

Because my husband was 

driving the vehicle, he was 

captured by the smugglers 

who had blocked the road. 

He was said to have been 

taken away by the 

smugglers. 

“I was forced to visit their 

office in Lagos in the 

company of members of my 

husband’s family, his 

younger brother, 

AbdulWaheed and their 

elder brother, Mr. Bolaji 

Tunji, the Special Adviser on 

Communication and 

Strategy to the former 

governor of Oyo State, 

Senator Abiola Ajimobi. 

During the visit, we were 

told that they were working 

on the matter. They told us 

that the police have arrested 

about 12 people. They said 

they have even arrested the 

owner of the smuggled rice. 

We were even shown the 

vehicle that the smugglers 

used to load the rice. The 

Salami and Mr. Akeem 

Jango, are both contesting 

for the Vice President 

position. 

Commenting on the 

development, Chairman, 

Ondo State NURTW, Adebo 

Jacob, said that the election 

was cancelled to avoid crisis 

since it was observed that 

the whole place was full of 

tension 

Jacob said: “The national 

headquarters in Abuja will 

intervene and the right 

person will be assigned the 

post.” 

Also, the Head of 

Department on Information 

of the union, Kefas 

Dogonyaro, urged all 

members to settle issues by 

going into a meeting to 

reach an agreement since 

it was observed that some 

members were aggrieved. 

rice was still inside the yellow 

van in their office in Ikeja. 

But since then, no one is 

giving us information about 

what is happening. They 

have never visited us once 

since I went there.” 

She said since her 

husband went missing, the 

responsibility for the 

upkeep of their six 

children, including their 

school fees, had been on 

her and some family 

members. 

Also speaking on the 

issue, AbdulWaheed said 

his visits to the Customs 

office had not yielded any 

result. 

He said: “I am surprised 

at the levity with which 

Customs have handled the 

matter. It is unfortunate that 

one of their operatives is 

missing and they have 

been so unconcerned about 

it.” 

In his reaction, the former 

spokesman to Oyo State 

Governor, Mr. Tunji said: “I 

think they have done the 

best they can under the 

circumstance by reporting 

to the police that has the 

power to investigate and 

prosecute. I visited the 

Commissioner of Police, 

Ogun State on the same 

issue and he assured me 

that they would do all 

that is humanly possible 

to arrest and prosecute 

all those involved." 

EXHIBITION: From left: Engr Usman Ibrahim, Chairman, Infrastucture Committee, Manufacturers 

Association of Nigeria (MAN); Ali Madugu, Vice President, MAN; Engr. Ahmed Mansur, President, MAN; 

Alhaji Hassan Adamu, Guest of Honour and Otunba Francis Meshioye, Chairman, Ikeja Branch, MAN, 

during the opening ceremony of a 3-day Made in Nigeria products exhibition in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau. 

LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY PARTIAL CLOSURE: 

Obey traffic rules, FRSC, LASTMA 

•As construction work begins 

tell motorists 

L 

A 

By Kingsley 

Adegboye 

G O S — 

MOTORISTS 

plying the Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway, yesterday, 

experienced smooth drive 

despite the partial closure 

of the road, between Berger 

and Kara Bridge, which 

began yesterday. 

This was made possible by 

the huge presence of men 

and officers of security 

agents and traffic 

management outfits drafted 

to the diversion spots to 

manage traffic. 

Our correspondent, who 

monitored the ever-busy 

expressway, observed that 

a large number of security 

operatives as well as men 

and officers of the Federal 

Road Safety Corps, FRSC, 

and Lagos State Traffic 

Management Authority, 

LASTMA, had taken 

positions at various spots 

controlling traffic into and 

out of Lagos. 

Though the traffic was 

moving slowly at the points 

of diversions, it was not 

static at any point either 

inward or outward Lagos. 

The construction giant, 

Julius Berger, had last 

Thursday announced the 

closure of a portion of the 

road for reconstruction 

which began yesterday. 

Meanwhile, the Lagos 

State Command of FRSC 

yesterday said no motorist 

will suffer during the 

reconstruction of the Lagos- 

Ibadan Expressway if all 

motorists observe lane 

discipline and road 

diversion signs. 

The FRSC acting Sector 

Public Education Officer, 

Ms. Bisi Sanusi, said the 

command, in partnership 

with other traffic control 

agencies, had taken 

measures to mitigate 

motorists’ hardship along 

the affected corridor. 

Sanusi said: “Vehicles 

will be diverted to the other 

side, but we have a lot of 

traffic control personnel on 

UNLAWFUL DETENTION: 123 Jigawa men sue 

LASG for N1bn 

LAGOS—THE 123 men 

from Jigawa State who 

were detained by the Lagos 

State Taskforce on 

Environmental Sanitation 

and Special Offences 

(Enforcement Unit) and 

later released have 

instituted a N1 billion suit 

against the Lagos State 

Government before a 

Federal High Court sitting 

in Lagos. 

The men were 

intercepted on Moshalashi 

Road, Agege in Lagos 

alongside 48 motorcycles in 

a truck, which was coming 

from Jigawa State but were 

later released. 

Abdullahi Yakubu on 

behalf of himself and the 

other men are asking the 

court to declare that the 

prevention of the applicants 

numbering 123 from 

moving into Lagos State by 

the state government 

without prima facie 

incriminating evidence 

against them constitute a 

flagrant violation of the 123 

men’s right to move freely 

throughout Nigeria as 

guaranteed by section 41 of 

the Constitution Federal 

Republic of Nigeria 1999 

the road. They are to ensure 

sanity and lane discipline so 

that no one will waste time 

unnecessarily on the road in 

and out of Lagos. The main 

thing is for motorists to 

maintain their lanes. If they 

maintain their lanes, 

everyone will be able to 

move in and out of the 

state. 

“It is a moving traffic. It 

is not a bad situation. 

There are diversion signs 

that need to be obeyed. So 

many traffic agents 

comprising officers from 

the FRSC, Police, 

LASTMA and TRACE are 

on ground to enforce 

compliance to diversion 

signs and lane discipline. 

“For any obstruction 

occasioned by break down 

of vehicles, we have FRSC 

tow trucks on ground which 

will be complemented by 

that of the Lagos State 

Emergency Management 

Authority. We will remove 

all impediments so that 

people do not spend too 

much time on the road. 

“We are assuring 

motorists that they will not 

sleep on the road because 

everything that is needed 

to be done is in place. Some 

officers would work also at 

night if traffic extends to the 

night. The corps has also 

withdrawn officers from 

other commands to join in 

the work. There will be a 

shift by our personnel on 

the corridor.” 

EFCC seeks final forfeiture of Diezani’s 

$40m jewellery 

By Innocent Anaba 

LMinister AGOS—FORMER 

of Petroleum 

Resources, Mrs. Diezani 

Alison-Madueke, 

yesterday, told a Federal 

High Court sitting in Lagos 

that the seizure of her 2,149 

pieces of jewellery and a 

customised gold iPhone, 

valued at $40 million, 

allegedly recovered from 

the Abuja home by the 

Economic and Financial 

(as amended). 

They are also praying the 

court to declare that their 

detention in the absence of 

prima facie incriminating 

evidence against them 

constitutes a violation of 

their right to personal 

liberty protected by section 

35 of the Constitution 

Federal Republic of 

Nigeria 1999 (as 

amended). 

Other respondents in the 

suit are the Lagos State 

Commissioner of Police, the 

Chairman of the task force, 

Mr. Yinka Egbeyemi and 

the Attorney-General of 

Lagos State. 

•Anti-graft agency violated 

my rights, says ex-minister 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, amounted to a 

violation of her 

constitutional right to own 

properties. 

This came as the EFCC 

asked the court to order the 

permanent forfeiture of the 

said pieces of jewellery and 

a customised gold iPhone. 

Meanwhile, the court 

after hearing argument by 

parties adjourned till 

September 10, 2019, for a 

ruling. 

The matter is before 

Justice Nicholas Oweibo. 

Praying the court not to 

make a final forfeiture order 

on the seized 2,149 pieces 

of jewellery and a 

customised gold iPhone, 

Diezani, through her 

counsel, Nnamdi Awa- 

Kalu, argued that the 

seizure of the items 

amounted to a violation of 

her constitutional right to 

own properties. 

But the EFCC, in an 

affidavit deposed to by 

Rufai Zaki, an investigator, 

insisted that the items were 

beyond Diezani’s “known 

and provable lawful 

income.” 

He averred that findings 

by the EFCC showed that 

Diezani started acquiring 

the jewellery in 2012 from 

one Bukola Oyewumi of 

Trinket Box Bespoke 

Jewellery at Ikeja City 

Mall, Alausa, adding that 

the commission had the 

details of the UBA account 

through which Diezani 

received her salary as a 

minister. 

“The respondent did not 

utilise her salary or any part 

of her legitimate income to 

acquire the assets sought 

to be forfeited to the Federal 

Government,” Zaki 

averred. 

He said a “damning 

intelligence report” 

received by the EFCC led 

to the search on Diezani’s 

house at No. 10, Fredrick 

Chiluba Close, Asokoro, 

Abuja, adding that the 

EFCC invited Oyewumi, 

who made a statement that 

she started selling jewellery 

to Diezani in 2012. 

According to Zaki, 

Oyewumi also made 

available to the EFCC 

the invoices issued in 

respect of the jewellery 

in which ‘Aunty D’ was 

written as the buyer.

My party was aborted 

for no reason 

— Bobrisky laments 

•As car dealer seizes his birthday gift 

Following the sudden disruption of 

Bobrisky’s 28 th birthday party at the 

weekend, by the Lagos State Police 

Command, the cosmetic merchant has opened 

up on the incident which has continued to 

generate reactions from different quarters. 

Though the Lagos State Police spokesman, 

Bala Elkana has already explained why the 

command swooped in on the venue of the widely 

publicized party to shut it down, the cross-dresser 

insists that the party was aborted for no just 

cause. 

“In every situation we give thanks to God. My 

party was cancelled for no reason but I still came 

out strong. My birthday would have been my 

dream day, because I planned a multimillionaire 

birthday party, but it’s sad it ended that way. The 

party was cancelled for no reason even up till 

now. All thanks to God for life”, he said. 

While counting his loss, he promised to give 

his untouched birthday cakes to any couple who 

would be wedding at the coming weekend. “This 

is the cake for my supposed birthday party which 

was cancelled for no reason. No matter what 

happen, they can’t change my golden heart. 

Please if you are doing your wedding this week, 

please come and have this cake. Its being stored 

in my freezer, so it won’t spoil. These ones too, 

they are my birthday cakes.” 

Meanwhile, the N40 million brand new 2019 

Range Rover Velar he bought for himself as 

birthday gift has been seized by the automobile 

dealer following his inability to pay off the 

balance of N3.5million. According to visibly 

angry Bobrisky, he was meant to pay off the 

balance yesterday(Monday), September 2, 2019, 

when the car has been delivered. But the dealer 

who seemed to have his reasons for reneging on 

their previous agreement, refused to release the 

car until Bobrisky settles his debts. 

Shamelessness among 

African politicians too 

shameful — 2Baba 

Afro-pop music singer, Innocent Idibia, a.k.a 2Baba 

has expressed his displeasure with the manner of 

shamelessness African politicians conduct themselves. 

While urging politicians to continue in their 

shamelessness because they would soon be held responsible 

for their actions in government, he noted that the entire 

educational system in Africa needs urgent overhauling. 

“The shamelessness among African politicians is 

becoming too shameful. You people should continue, you 

all would be held responsible for your actions soon. Our 

entire education and value system needs to change in 

Africa”, he wrote on his twitter page. 

Reacting to 2Baba’s comment, a fan stated that though 

the singer had spoken well, but he should have played his 

part by partaking in the 2017 peaceful protest which he 

later pulled out from. 

“You’ve spoken well sir, but if you 

would have came out for that protest 

things might have changed by now. 

Nelson Mandela was not scared 

see where his bravery has lead 

South Africa to”, to which 2Baba 

responded saying; “You can start 

it too my guy. who was Nelson 

Mandela before the struggle? And 

what do you think has actually 

changed in South Africa.” 

He added; “I’m 

tired of some 

idiots coming 

here to to talk 

a b o u t 

cancelling 

protest. 

Those of 

you that 

are not 

cowards, 

what 

have 

y o u 

•2baba 

done.” 

•Bobrisky 

•Tacha 

ollywood actor and media personality, Uti 

NNwachukwu, Hon. Desmond Elliot, 

Ramsey Nouah, celebrity hypeman, Shoddy, 

Mavin Record’s DJ Big N, fans and consumers, 

joined a host of other entertainers and socialites 

at the high-style celebration party to unveil 

Heineken’s new stylish 33cl cans at the 

Heineken House in Lagos. 

Also at the event were Sophie Alakija, 

Soundcity VJ, Pearl Candy, music rave of the 

moment, Joeboy, Ozuomba and Oseloka 

Mbadiwe, among other celebrities. The 

aesthetic ensemble was an initiative of the 

international premium beer brand, Heineken 

and its zest to redefine its style with a ravishing 

new design imbued with high-class credibility. 

It came as no surprise that the unveil event 

turned out to be a master collage of bedazzling 

looks, inspired by luxe streetwear and 

patchwork, bespoke fashion statements, ultraprovocative 

dresses that reflect the Heineken 

brand’s confidence, edgy style and sheer 


Stop harassing rich 

Nigerian Youths — 

Naira Marley begs FG 

Popular singer, Azeez Fashola, 

a.k.a Naira Marley, has opined 

that the reason wealthy Dubai-based 

Nigerians have refused to return to 

their home country is because the 

Federal Government has made the 

country inhabitable for them. 

According to the ‘Soapy’ rapper 

who is currently on a business trip in 

Dubai, while rich Nigerians in Dubai 

continue to lavish their wealth there, 

it would continue to contribute in 

boosting the country’s economy, while 

Nigeria’s suffer. 

However, he urged the federal 

government to desist from harassing 

rich Nigerian youths in the country 

so that they also won’t be tempted to 

relocate to another country instead 

of staying back in Nigeria to help the 

economy. 

“Nigerians are just here in Dubai 

spending money they should be 

spending in Nigeria; but they are here 

making Dubai fine. I beg the 

government to stop harassing the rich 

youths. Please let them feel at home 

in Nigeria”, he said. 

Recall that the singer was recently 

quizzed by the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission for 

allegations bordering around 

cyberfraud and other related crimes. 

Though he has been released on bail, 

the matter is yet to be resolved as the 

case was adjourned till a later date. 

•Naira 

Marley 

BBNAIJA EVICTIONS: How the 

audience voted 

•Esther 

Desmond Elliot, Ramsey Nouah, others 

celebrate at Heineken’s sleek party 

By Tolulope Abereoje 

It was the end of the road for two Big Brother Naija 

housemates, Esther and Sir Dee as they got evicted from 

the Big Brother house during the 9 th eviction show of the 

‘Pepper Dem’ Season 4 held on Sunday 1st September 

2019. 

Recall that members of Team Legends were all up for 

possible eviction after losing the nomination challenge 

last Monday. It was only Khafi (who is the Head of House) 

and Omashola (who was saved by the veto power holder, 

Ike and replaced with Cindy) that were free from eviction 

this week out of the members of Team Legends, leaving 

Sir Dee, Esther, Tacha, Frodd, Cindy and Venita at the 

mercy of audience votes. 

Scoring the highest vote was Tacha, who led with 

31.22%, followed by Cindy who got 22.03%. Frodd 

amassed 20.17% votes; Venita got lucky with 12.53% votes 

while Sir Dee and Esther got 7.74% and 6.31% respectively. 

Having scored the lowest Esther and Sir Dee became the 

13 th th and 14 housemate to be evicted from the Big 

Brother Naija Season 4 house respectively. 

sophistication. 

The green carpet had celebs 

standing out for the right reasons as 

their eye-popping slits and mani-pedi 

magic were irresistible. Selfies, mutual 

pouting and banters created the 

overriding energy at the packed venue 

specked with lustrous-looking guys 

and ladies as ushers. 

With Shoddy, touted as ‘The turn 

up king’, as compere, the show was lit 

with the Heineken House’s luxurious 

décor parading an assortment of 

glamorous chandeliers while the 

newly designed Heineken 33cl cans, 

chilled to perfection, awaited eager 

fingers on the tables. The new cans 

vertical arrangement atop the tables 

spoke of its chic elegance with tiny 

drops of water dripping along the 

sleek-bodied can to ignite orgasmic 

excitement. 

•Desmond 

Elliot


90TH BIRTHDAY: The celebrant, Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin 

Kingdom (middle); his wife (middle); The Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe (left); 

All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole (2nd 

left) and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National Leader of APC, during the 90th birthday 

celebration of Chief Edebiri, in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday. Photos: Barnabas 

Uzosike. 

FG to review projects execution in 

N-Delta —Akpabio 

By Chris Ochayi 

ABUJA—The Federal 

Government has said it 

will embark on a review of 

all projects executed in Niger 

Delta with a view to 

formulating new policies and 

programmes that will 

effectively drive and address 

the challenges in the region. 

Minister of Niger Delta 

Affairs, Senator Godswill 

Akpabio, disclosed this while 

receiving some youths from 

the region in Abuja, adding 

that the current 

administration was 

committed to change the face 

of the region. 

Akpabio said: “A critical 

assessment of the situation 

in the region will enable the 

current administration to 

assess the impact of activities 

and programmes in the 

region to enable us formulate 

new policy programmes in 

the drive to effectively 

address the challenges in 

the region.” 

He promised to visit each 

state in the region to assess 

the situation on ground and 

report back to the president. 

He also promised that 

everything will be put in 

place to ensure that the 

president commissions at 

least one key project in each 

state of the region in the next 

24 months. 

Akpabio noted that his 

appointment and that of 

Festus Keyamo, SAN, was 

not a coincidence but rather 

a deliberate policy of the 

president to appoint them as 

they are sons of the region 

and, therefore, acquainted 

with the needs and 

expectations of the people. 

Akpabio assured them that 

the president was committed 

to changing the face of the 

region and charged the 

youths to take the message 

home “that the era of crying 

and suffering is over.” 

The leader of the group, 

Youth for Peace a 

Development in Niger- 

Delta, Joseph Opuama, 

applauded the president for 

the appointment of Akpabio 

and Keyamo to rescue the 

ugly situation facing Niger 

Delta. 

C’River: Tribunal to deliver judgement in 

10 cases Sept 4 

By Ike 

Uchechukwu 

C ALABAR—The 

Election Petition 

Tribunal in Cross River State 

has adjourned till tomorrow 

to deliver judgement in the 

10 election petitions before 

it. 

The cases include suit 

number EPT/CAL/S/01/2019 

between Sen. Victor 

Ndoma-Egba, SAN, of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, and Senator Sandy 

Onor of Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, and two others. 

Others are EPT/CAL/HR/ 

03/2019 between Egbe 

Abeng Egbe of APC vs 

Michael Irom of PDP and 

two others; EPT/CAL/HR/04/ 

2019 between Victor Abang 

of APC vs Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, and 

two others; EPT/CAL/HR/11/ 

2019 between John Lebo of 

PDP and APC, Alex 

Egbonna and one other. 

Other cases, which 

judgement will be delivered 

include those involving the 

current speaker of the state 

House of Assembly, Eteng 

Williams, in suit number 

EPT/CAL/SHA/13/2019 

between him and three 

others as respondents vs 

Ujong Bob Ujong of APC; 

suit number EPT/CAL/HR/ 

12/2019 between Innocent 

Ovat vs Michael Etaba and 

two others. 

Vanguard also learned that 

suit number EPT/CAL/SHA/ 

17/2019 between Sabastine 

Anyia and other vs Dr. 

Virginia Abang and two 

others; suit number EPT/ 

CAL/SHA/19/2019 Charles 

Eni and another vs Ofem 

Nelson and two others; suit 

number EPT/CAL/SHA/24/ 

2019 between Bassey 

Asuquo and another vs 

Elizabeth Ironbar and two 

others; suit number EPT/ 

CAL/SHA/28/2019 between 

Apostle Godwin 

Ukpanukpong and another 

vs Mr. Godwin Akwaji and 

two others are to be decided 

upon. 

The judges on the panel 

are Justice Vincent Agbata as 

chairman, Ishaku Kunda, 

and Abubakar Bello as 

members. 

Bandits've taken over 

Ogoniland, monarch cries out 

from hiding 

By Egufe 

Yafugborhi 

PORT HARCOURT— 

TRADITIONAL ruler in 

Kaaba community, Khana 

Iwere platform to FG: Avoid another uproar in 

N’Delta over NDDC 

By Paschaline 

Nwandiko 

IWERE Advocacy Group, 

IAG, has called on 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari to avert what it 

described as another uproar 

in Niger Delta over the recent 

appointments into the board 

of Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC. 

The group in a statement 

by its President and 

Secretary, Samuel 

Agbogilodo and Akanire 

Tosan, said the recent 

appointments into NDDC 

board did not reflect the 

diverse ethnic composition of 

the region. 

It said: “The Federal 

Government has consistently 

politicised issues in the 

region, thereby making 

peace elusive. 

“It is obvious that the 

mission and intention of the 

current administration are 

not to provide equity, fairness, 

and peace in the region. 

“We do not see any reason 

a representative of Itsekiri 

ethnic group, the highest oil 

producer in Delta State, 

should not be considered for 

any of the positions, 

especially when these 

positions have been zoned to 

Delta South senatorial 

district. 

“We now know that Nigeria 

only understands dirty 

schemes and violence. We 

urge the Federal Government 

to immediately withdraw the 

announced list and follow 

what is stipulated in the act 

that established the NDDC 

on how members from the 

nine oil producing states of 

the federation will constitute 

the board." 

Local Government Area of 

Rivers State, Chief MSK Nule, 

said, yesterday, that bandits 

have taken over Ogoniland. 

The monarch, who cried out 

from hiding narrated the 

killing of one resident and 

another one battling for his life 

as bandits struck again, 

Sunday night, in Kaaba 

community. 

A similar attack in Kaaba 

among other Ogoni 

communities, a couple of 

weeks ago, left some persons 

dead and the palace of the 

monarch, Chief Nule burnt 

among other property. 

Lamenting the latest attack, 

the traditional ruler said the 

gunmen came in the midnight 

on motorbikes, adding that it 

has been one attack too many. 

He said: “From my hiding, 

I am told they are about 

burying the dead victim, the 

second is still lying in hospital. 

These boys have taken over 

Khana council, same way they 

have taken over the entire 

Ogoni." 

From left: Chief David Edebiri, Chief Sam Igbe; Chief 

Gabriel Igbnedion,tThe Esama of Benin Kingdom and 

others at the event. 

9th Assembly: Reformist 

agenda’ll pave way for better 

Nigeria —Elumelu 

By Festus Ahon 

ALeader SABA—MINORITY 

and member 

representing Aniocha/ 

Oshimili federal constituency 

in the House of 

Representatives, Mr Ndudi 

Elumelu, has said the 

reformist agenda of the 9th 

National Assembly will pave 

way for a better and united 

Nigeria. 

Speaking at the Asaba 

International Airport, where 

he was received by 

supporters from his 

constituency on his first visit 

after he emerged as Minority 

Leader of the House, 

Elumelu said the House 

was out to build a formidable 

country for the people. 

Elumelu, who arrived 

Asaba airport with eight other 

members of the House of 

Representatives cutting 

across Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, All Progressives 

Congress, APC and African 

Democratic Congress, ADC, 

said: “We are one family. We 

have APC, PDP, APGA, 

ADC. All of us are here, we 

are one family. 

“From the day we were 

sworn in, we became one. 

And the essence of that is for 

us to build a formidable 

nation for our people and 

ensure that the good 

dividends of democracy get 

to our people. So, we don’t 

talk about party once we are 

on the floor and that is what 

they are showcasing by 

coming here with me.” 

Expressing delight at the 

large turnout of his 

constituents to welcome him, 

he explained that the visit 

was in line with the reformist 

agenda of the 9th National 

Assembly, part of which, he 

said was the visiting of 

constituencies regularly for 

consultations on what is 

needed and to take back to 

the floor of the House. 

He said: “They are here to 

showcase their joy and 

happiness that they did not 

only vote for somebody with 

capacity, but for their son 

who has gone there to get 

something home for them.” 

Duke beg court to pay N500m 

debt owed AMCON 

By Innocent 

Anaba 

Aformer Governor of 

Cross River State, Mr 

Donald Duke, has asked a 

Federal High Court sitting 

in Lagos to allow him pay 

the sum of N537,334,360.77 

debt he owes Assets 

Management Company of 

Nigeria, AMCON. 

AMCON had on August 

8, 2019, through its counsel, 

Juliet Reeds, approached 

the vacation judge sitting 

in Lagos to take possession 

of Duke's property situated 

in Ikoyi, Lagos. 

At the resumed hearing in 

the matter, yesterday, a 

counsel who appeared for 

the embattled former 

governor, Edoigiawerie 

Omoruyi, informed the trial 

judge, Justice Nicolas 

Oweibo, that his client had 

approached AMCON to 

have the case settled out o 

fcourt, and that he had also 

promised to pay the debt. 

Counsel to AMCON 

confirmed that they had 

been approached for an 

amicable settlement and to 

pay the debt, with deadline 

of September 2, 2019. 

“In the spirit of trust and 

fairness, we will concede to 

an adjournment to enable 

us finalise the possible 

settlement,” counsel said. 

Justice Oweibo, after 

listening to parties, 

adjourned the case to 

September 11, for report of 

settlement. 


court had on August 8, 

granted an ex-parte order in 

favour of AMCON and 

United Bank for Africa to 

take over an Ikoyi, Lagos, 

property of former governor, 

Duke, over an alleged debt 

of N537,334,360.77 in the 

suit.


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

Retired Benue Judge used maid's account 

to hide N840m, ICPC tells court 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

A Independent BUJA—THE 

Corrupt 

Practices and Other 

Related Offences 

Commission, ICPC, has 

approached the Federal 

High Court in Abuja for 

permission to confiscate the 

sum of N840 million it 

allegedly traced to a proxy 

bank account, operated by 

a retired President of the 

Benue State Customary 

Court of Appeal, Mrs. 

Margaret Igbeta. 

In an exparte motion it 

filed for an order of interim 

forfeiture of the fund, ICPC, 

alleged that the retired 

VISIT—National 

Chairman of the All 

Progressives 

Congress, Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole 

( m i d d l e ) ; 

Chairman, Board of 

the Niger Delta 

Development 

Company, NDDC, 

Dr. Pius Odubu 

(right), and Edo 

S t a t e 

representative in 

the NDDC Board, 

Chief Victor 

Ekhator, when the 

new NDDC 

chairman paid a 

visit 

to 

Oshiomhole, at his 

office in Abuja, 

yesterday. 

...applies for interim forfeiture order 

Judge had, while in service, 

lodged huge sums of 

money in the fixed deposit 

account she operated in the 

name of her maid. 

It told the court that funds 

the ex-Benue State 

Customary Court President 

lodged into the account that 

was domiciled in Ecobank 

Plc, accumulated about 

N870, 321, 492.15 between 

2008 and 2019. 

The Commission said the 

order it sought from the 

court would stop Mrs. 

Igbeta, from accessing the 

money “alleged to have 

been obtained through 

fraudulent activities in the 

course of her official 

duties”. 

A statement by 

Spokesperson for the 

Commission, Mrs. 

Rasheedat Okoduwa, 

disclosed that the interim 

forfeiture application was 

brought against the ex- 

Judge, pursuant to Section 

48 (1), (2) and (3) (a) and 

(b) of the Corrupt Practices 

and Other Related 

Offences Act, 2000 and 

Section 6 (6)(a) of the 1999 

Constitution, as amended. 

“The retired President of 

the Customary Court of 

Appeal was accused of 

operating a proxy fixed 

deposit account in the name 

of her maid, one Theodora 

Atsu, with Ecobank Plc, 

where she accumulated 

N870, 321, 492.15 between 

2008 and 2019. She was said 

to have opened the account 

with her passport and the 

name of Atsu on the 5th of 

March, 2008, with an initial 

deposit of N8 million. 

“She subsequently made 

several other huge deposits 

including N123, 745, 925.57 

and N5 million, in the 

months of March and May 

2008." 

Our wives, daughters are being raped 

—Katsina cleric laments bandits' attacks 

JIBIA—AN Islamic cleric 

in Katsina State, Sabiu 

Jibia, has lamented 

atrocities committed by 

bandits during attacks on 

people of the state. 

In his sermon, Jibia, who 

is also the Imam in Jibia 

Local Government, said 

wives and children in the 

state had become victims of 

rape perpetuated by 

bandits. 

The cleric also lamented 

the desertion of villages and 

farmlands as well as the 

kidnappings in some local 

government areas in the 

state. 

According to him: “We 

are living in tough time of 

fear. Cattle meant for 

farming activities are 

rustled, wives and 

daughters are being raped 

in the presence of their 

husbands and fathers, 

while other victims are 

taken captive by armed 

hoodlums in the 

communities in Jibia, 

Tsayau, Zandam and 

Malamawa respectively. 

“People are scared to 

carry out their farming and 

business activities as their 

lives are in danger due to 

the continued banditry, 

kidnapping and cattle 

rustling. Our women and 

daughters are raped and 

held captive by gangsters. 

KOGI DECIDES: Orugun emerges ANRP candidate, 

promises to change Kogi economy 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

ENGR 

Emmanuel 

Orugun has emerged 

the governorship candidate 

of the Abundant Nigeria 

Renewal Party, ANRP, in 

Kogi State, promising to 

build an economy that will 

change the future of the 


Orugun also assured that 

he will work towards 

increasing the revenue 

profile of the state, and 

make it financially buoyant 

and self-sustaining, to end 

borrowing to run recurrent 

expenditure in 

governance. 

The governorship 

candidate, who gave the 

indication after his 

emergence as the 

candidate of the party 

through affirmation, said 

he would explored the 

“God given resources of 

kogi state” to galvanized 

development in the state. 

All the 118 delegates 

voted in favour of Orugun 

through affirmation. 

According to him, “My 

administration will build 

processing plants that will 

convert the state’s first line 

raw materials to finished 

products which will in turn 

provide decent jobs for the 

teeming unemployed 

population of the state, this 

will positively change the 

financial standing of kogi 

people. 

“Our battle for growth in 

the past 28 years has been 

seriously hampered by 

corruption. I will be 

committed to ending 

corruption in our system 

within the first year in 

office." 

Where are our traditional 

and political leaders?” 

Jibia accused the 

government of not taking 

needed action, saying the 

people of the state were 

ready to engage their 

children in the protection of 

their lives and properties. 

He called on the 

government to ensure that 

its duty to protect life and 

property was well 

enforced, adding “It is 

surprising that our leaders 

are not taking rapid actions 

on these killings and 

kidnapping. If the 

government is willing, we 

are ready to give our 

children for training and 

recruitment as security 

forces so that they can 

protect their families and 

country at large. Close 

allies of our leaders are 

charged with the 

responsibility of telling 

them the truth about the 

happenings in this country. 

If they are telling them all 

is well, they are lying. We 

are calling on our leaders 

to provide security to our 

lives and property as it is 

their fundamental 

responsibility.” 

I have ended banditry in 

Zamfara, says Gov Maradun 

By Nasir 

Muhammad Gusau 

GOVERNOR 

Bello 

Matawallen 

Maradun, yesterday, said 

his government had ended 

armed banditry that 

bedeviled the state for a 

decade within his 100 days 

in office. 

The Governor stated this 

during a phone-inprogramme 

on state radio 

station, monitored by 

Vanguard. 

He said: “When I was 

sworn in, I promised to 

make sure that insecurity 

became history. I’m now 

happy to face the people of 

Zamfara State, Nigeria and 

International community 

that, I have been able to 

quelled insecurity within 59 

days in office”. 

According to him, the 

whole world could attest to 

fact that, peace had 

returned in all the areas of 

Zamfara State, noting that, 

“the return of peace is one 

of the major achievements 

POLIO, MENINGITIS, OTHERS: Red 

Cross restrategises to save 

vulnerable children in Katsina 

By Bashir Bello 

K Nigerian ATSINA—THE 

Red Cross 

Society, NRCS, is 

restrategizing on how to 

save the lives of children 

vulnerable to polio, 

meningitis and other 

childhood killer diseases in 

seven frontline local 

government areas faced 

with security challenges in 

Katsina State. 

The diseases include 

Cerebrospinal Meningitis, 

Cholera, Neonatal tetanus, 

Acute Flaccid Paralysis, 

Measles and Yellow Fever. 

The Katsina State 

Executive Secretary, Bala 

Useini during a meeting to 

review its surveillance 

performance and 

interventions in the state, 

said it had engaged the 

services of 201 volunteers 

in the areas to identify and 

report cases for early 

treatment as well as 

reducing the likelihood of 

cases of missing children 

for vaccinations. 

According to Useini, 

“some settlements are not 

always reached during 

SIAs due to insecurity. 

Children from such 

settlements are vulnerable 

to WPV infection-paralysis. 

These children need to be 

protected against paralysis 

from Polio. Vaccine (OPV/ 

IPV) is very effective in 

protecting children against 

the state will celebrate 

during the 100 days 

anniversary.” 

Matawalle also apart 

from security, his 

government had provided 

potable water supply to 

Gusau and its environs, 

saying “ Provision of 

potable water supply, 

construction of township 

roads in Gusau, providing 

state of the arts equipments 

to both Radio and 

television stations in the 

state, awarding of five 

billion naira contract for the 

rehabilitation and 

construction of primary 

schools are among the 

major achievements the 

government will celebrate.” 

The governor informed 

that the international cargo 

airport project would be 

flaged off during the 

celebration of his 100 days 

in office, adding that 

arrangements had been 

concluded to send 200 

students abroad to study in 

various universities across 

the globe. 

polio virus infection. Due to 

issues of security 

challenges in the affected 

councils, many cases of the 

diseases there have not 

been reported for early 

treatment or missing cases. 

“To this end, we engaged 

about 201 volunteers from 

the councils because they 

were from the areas and 

have better knowledge of 

the terrain in the councils. 

The volunteers would also 

have informants in the 

councils who will assist 

them in locating children 

suffering from the six 

diseases."

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 

Groups hail Antai's 

appointment into NDDC 

board 

SOME youth groups 

have hailed the 

appointment of Victor 

Antai into the board of 


Development Commission 

(NDDC.) They said the 

appointment would 

promote peace and bring 

development to the region. 

In separate messages 

of congratulation to the 

new appointee the Oro 

International Youth 

Forum and Akwa Ibom 

Integrity Youth 

Foundation said with a 

grassroots politician like 

Antai at the helms of 

affairs of the 

Commission in the state, 

youth restiveness would 

be a thing of the past. 

The Oro International 

Youth Forum in a 

message by the 

President, Christian Bassey 

Nyong, said Antai “as an 

astute politician, a sterling 

administrator and effective 

leader, your service as a 

State Commissioner was 

equally glorious and 

satisfactory to the Oro 

people. 

“We are grateful to the 


President of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, 


Buhari for appointing a 

grassroots politician with 

a heart of gold as NDDC 

Board Member and 

based on your pedigree, 

we believe that you will 

contribute effectively to the 

development of the region 

and help to further develop 

the Oro Community and 

Akwa Ibom State at large.” 

On its part, the Akwa 

Ibom Integrity Youth 

foundation said “We are 

particularly grateful to the 

President and Commander 

in Chief of the Armed 

Forces of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, 


Buhari for finding an 

illustrious son of Akwa Ibom 

State worthy to occupy this 

exalted position to 

reposition the region for a 

more rapid development. 

The groups also 

congratulated the Minister 

of Niger Delta Affairs, 

Senator Godswill Akpabio 

and expressed optimism 

that the Niger Delta region 

would witness a new lease 

of life with him at the helms 

of affairs at the ministry. 

Benue seeks help over 6,000 Cameroonian 

refugees •State varsity shut over students' protest 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

BENUE State 

Government yesterday said 

no fewer than 6,000 

Cameroonian refugees 

were being sheltered at 

Ikyogen Cattle Ranch in 

Kwande Local Government 

Area, LGA, of the state. 

The Executive Secretary 

of the Benue State 


Agency, SEMA, Mr. 

Emmanuel Shior, said the 

refugees were initially 

sheltered in Abande and 

Agbatse communities of 

Kwande LGA in 2017, but 

later moved to Anyake 

community on the advice of 

the Ministry of Interior. 

According to him, “We 

have been managing them 

there and their population 

keeps increasing because 

we keep receiving what 

we call walk-ins or new 

arrivals but at the moment 

we have about 6,000 

Cameroonian refugees at 

Anyake settlement area. 

''But again following the 

concerns of the host 

community and other 

partners with respect to the 

need of the refugees and 

to give them more space 

for farming and other things 

to assist their sources of 

livelihood the governor 

approved that they be 

relocated from Anyake 

community to Ikyogen 

Cattle Ranch. 

“That land is owned by 

government and it is vast 

enough to accommodate 

them and even more 

because the security 

challenge in southern 

Cameroon that compelled 

them to flee their country to 

Kwande is still there and 

they are moving in droves 

to Benue. So we want to 

have more space to 

accommodate them. Since 

2017 till this time it has been 

an onerous task on the part 

of Benue State government 

given that the state 

government is also saddled 

with the challenge of IDPs 

situation. 

“The financial burden is 

very huge, we have 

appealed to the federal 

government through the 

National Commission for 

Refugees, Migrants and 

Internally Displaced 

Persons for support. They 

have supported quite 

alright especially in the area 

of provision of food. They 

have also helped in the area 

of data but that support is 

not enough because the 

number keeps increasing. 

“We are also appealing to 

National Emergency 

Management Agency, 

NEMA, to come in. Part of 

NEMA’s mandate is to also 

cater for refugees and not 

IDPs. There are promises 

that they will extend their 

support to the refugees 

situation also in Benue. We 

have continued to interface 

with UNHCR which is the 

leading supporter in the 

humanitarian crisis. We are 

also working with a host of 

other 

agencies.'' 

humanitarian 

Benue varsity shut over 

students’ protest 

In another development, 

the management of Benue 

State University, BSU, 

Makurdi has ordered an 

indefinite closure of the 

institution following 

yesterday's protest by 

students who also 

barricaded the entrance of 

the university demanding a 

review of the school’s 

grading system. 

A statement by the 

Registrar of the institution, 

Dr. Mfaga Modom also 

directed all the students to 

vacate the campus on or 

before 4pm yesterday. 

While lamenting the 

action of the students, the 

Registrar in the statement 

said, “management of 

BSU is aware of the 

grievances of students, 

especially as it relates to 

the Five Point Grading 

System. 

“It is in recognition of this 

that the BSU Senate 

constituted a Committee to 

consider the appeal by the 

students for the 

recalculation of their 

previous results from Four 

Point Grading System to 

Five Point Grading System 

and submit its 

recommendations. 

“The Committee 

requested and received 

memoranda from the 

University community 

including the Students; met 

severally and its report is to 

be considered at the 

forthcoming meeting of 

Senate scheduled for 

Thursday, 5th September, 

2019. Students must 

acknowledge the fact that 

the University had already 

complied with the directive 

by the National Universities 

Commission (NUC) by 

reverting to the 5 Point 

Grading System with effect 

from the 2018/2019 

academic session. 

“In the interim, the 

University Management 

met the students and 

informed them of the efforts 

of Senate and appealed for 

their patience to enable the 

Committee complete the 

assignment. Management 

also, through the Dean of 

Students issued a circular 

informing the students of its 

efforts. 

“The closure of the 

University gates by students 

on account of this issue is 

therefore unwarranted.'' 

SOUTH WEST SECURITY SUMMIT WITH IGP 

The South West Zone Security Summit held at Int'l Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTOS: DARE FASUBE. 

From left; Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Political Matters 

From left, Deputy governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Ogun State Deputy Governor, and Strategy, Hon Babatunde Oduyoye; Governor Seyi Makinde of 

Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Inspector General of Police, Oyo State; Mr Shina Philips of the IGP's Office (International Assessor 

Mr Mohammed Abubakar Adamu; Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola; Ondo State Deputy , Security Watch Africa); FPPRO, DCP Frank Mba and Inspector 

Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi and Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi. 

General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu. 

DIGs Taiwo Lakanu (left) and Abdulmajid Ali. 

Afenifere Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin and 

Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba, Chief Gani Adams. 

From left; Owa Obokun of Ilesa, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran; Alawe of 

Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi; Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos; Olubadan 

of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.


Insecurity: Asadu commends 

Ugwuanyi, plans summit 

By Dennis Agbo 

German Police 

following 

clues in 

Ekweremadu’s 

attack 

E NUGU—MEMBER 

representing Nsukka/Igbo- 

Eze South federal constituency in 

the House of Representatives, 

Patrick Asadu, has commended 

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of 

Enugu State for taking various 

proactive and strategic steps he 

said have helped to enhance 

security of lives and properties in 

Enugu State. 

Asadu, who condemned attacks 

by herdsmen and other criminals, 

also disclosed that he was 

planning a security awareness 

campaign and summit for his 

constituency. 

In a statement yesterday, the 

federal lawmaker conveyed 

condolences to the bereaved 

families affected by the criminal 

attacks and paid glowing tributes 

to Governor Ugwuanyi for his 

commitment to tackle security 

challenges in the state. 

On the planned security 

awareness campaign and summit 

for Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South 

constituency, Asadu said: “This is 

our community policing strategy 

that primarily aims to complement 

and key into the excellent plans 

of our hardworking governor in 

securing our state. 

“The summit is intended to 

periodically engage individuals, 

households, hamlets, villages, 

communities, development 

centres, local government areas 

and beyond to understand and 

own up the security master-plan 

of the state government and 

equally to discuss and harness 

the people’s indigenous ideas to 

support and safeguard their 

areas.” 

Lists of security measures 

According to Asadu, who is 

chairman House of 

Representatives Committee on 

Waterways, “it is on record that 

since the mindless killings began, 

Governor Ugwuanyi has taken 

many proactive steps to nip the 

oddities in the bud, the type of 

pre-emptive measures he took 

prior to the attack in Uzo-Uwani. 

“Again, he only recently 

summoned an emergency 

security council meeting to assess 

the current security situation in 

the state as a way to proffer 

effective curtailment measures. 

“His government has also 

commenced the clearing of 

bushes along the major highways 

to expose the hideouts of 

kidnappers and other criminals. 

To his credit too, he has approved 

the employment of 1,700 Forest 

Guards, an action which won him 

praises from even his colleagues 

in the South-East Governors 

Forum. 

“Only last week, the governor 

gave approval for the purchase 

of 260 security vehicles fitted with 

communication gadgets and the 

same number of motorcycles for 

AGRO RANGERS: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (2nd left), and State 

Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Everestus Obiyo (3rd 

left), inspecting a Guard of Honour during the inauguration of the Command’s Agro Rangers 

Special Squad to handle herders/farmers issues in the state, yesterday. 

distribution to the 260 electoral 

wards in the state. 

“I equally praise the governor 

for appointing the former 

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. 

Ogbonna Onovo, as a security 

consultant because he will bring 

his experience and deep 

knowledge to enhance security in 

our state.” 

Asadu used the opportunity to 

By Peter Okutu 

ABAKALIKI—THE Election 

Petition Tribunal sitting in 

Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, 

yesterday, upheld the electoral 

victory of Governor David Umahi 

of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

during the March 9 governorship 

election. 

Peoples Democratic Movement, 

PDM, candidate in the election, 

Chief Ajah Agha had petitioned 

the Tribunal on what he termed 

“unlawful exclusion of his name 

in INEC’s ballot paper,” accusing 

PDP and its candidate of being 

behind the development. 

The sitting, which took place at 

the state High Court premises, 

had Justice A. B. Abdukarim 

presiding among other legal 

luminaries. 

Delivering his judgement, 

Justice Abdukarim dismissed the 

petition by PDM for lack of merit. 

Chairman of the tribunal 

quashed the case, saying ”PDM 

did not submit the name of their 

candidate to INEC when they 

were supposed to do so. Your party 

sent names three days after 

closure of submission, according 

to finding. 

“Also, your party did not 

organise primaries to produce a 

candidate according to INEC 

guideline. Therefore, your 

petition lacks merit.” 

welcome the new state 

Commissioner of Police, Ahmed 

Abdulrahman, thanking the 

Inspector-General of Police, 

Mohammed Adamu for the 

decision to post a new 

Commissioner to the state. 

Meanwhile, the federal 

legislator also calls on the Federal 

Ministry of Aviation to commence 

the immediate rehabilitation of the 

Reacting to the ruling, Deputy 

Governor of the state, Dr. Kelechi 

Igwe, described the judgement as 

victory for democracy and called 

on Ebonyi people to support the 

Governor Umahi-led 

administration in the state. 

He said: “We are pleased with 

today’s ruling. It is victory for 

democracy and for all Ebonyi 

people. The governor is 

determined to ensure the 

development of the state and 

human capital development. We 

congratulate the governor, PDP 

and indeed Ebonyi people for this 

victory.” 

Also, member representing 

Ishielu and Ezza North Federal 

Constituency(Ebonyi State), in 

the House of Representatives, 

Anayo Nwonu, congratulated 

Governor Umahi on his victory at 

runway of the Akanu Ibiam 

International Airport, Enugu, as 

a necessary step that will ensure 

its completion in December. 

He also urged the Federal 

Government to apply the same 

zeal and speed it deployed in the 

rehabilitation of Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, Abuja, to 

Enugu Airport, to achieve same 

standards. 

Tribunal upholds Umahi’s election 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

ONITSHA—NO fewer than 

1,172 cases are currently 

pending in all the magistrate 

courts in Anambra State. 

The state Chief Judge, Justice 

Ijem Onwuamaegbu who 

disclosed this at Okpoko, Ogbaru 

Local Government Area, while 

commissioning two magistrate’s 

courts in the area, noted that 666 

cases out of the number are from 

the tribunal. 

Nwonu noted that the tribunal’s 

judgement was a true reflection 

of the wishes of Ebonyi people. 

In a statement by his media 

office in Abakaliki, the lawmaker 

noted that he was not surprised 

about the governor’s victory 

owing to the general acceptance 

and popularity, which Umahi’s 

administration is enjoying in the 

state. 

He said the petitioner’s 

decision to challenge the outcome 

of the election was a nullity as 

Umahi’s election was adjudged 

by all observers as credible, free 

and fair. 

Nwonu also commended the 

PDP and the entire people of 

Ebonyi State for their continuous 

supports and cooperation for the 

present leadership in the state. 

Okpoko community alone. 

Flanked by some 

Administrative Judges of the state 

High Court, Justices M. N. O. 

Okonkwo and M. N. A. 

Maduechesi, Onwuamaegbu 

stated that the need to have the 

courts became imperative in view 

of the large number of cases at 

the entire Ogbaru Magisterial 

District. 

Onwuamaegbu advised 

litigants and residents of Okpoko 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—THE Police in 

Germany have disclosed 

that they were investigating 

the attack on former Deputy 

Senate President, Ike 

Ekweremadu, by members of 

the Indigenous Peoples of 

Biafra, IPOB, in 

Nuremberg, Germany, 

about a fortnight ago. 

Disclosing this in an 

interview with a journalist, 

Ruona Meyer, at the police 

headquarters in 

Mittelfranken, Germany, 

the First Chief 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

R o b e r t 

Sandmann, confirmed the 

involvement of the 

Polizeilicher Staatschutz, a 

German police department 

that covers politicallymotivated 

crime, in the 

investigation, noting the 

need to exhaust the political 

clues to the assault on the 

lawmaker. 

He said: “Within the 

Mittelfrank Police, 

responsibilities are 

organised in such a way 

that where clues may 

indicate political 

motivations in an incident/ 

crime, then the special 

department for politicallymotivated 

crimes always 

takes over the investigation. 

“Also in the prosecutor’s 

office, a special department 

is involved in such 

investigations.” 

In a statement yesterday 

by the Media Aide to 

Ekweremadu, Uche 

Anichukwu, Mr. Sandmann 

who explained that four 

suspects had been clearly 

identified from the video, 

while police was working to 

identify more culprits, said: 

“Immediately after the 

incident, the police initiated 

all necessary measures for 

punitive action. 

“Furthermore, an 

experienced investigator 

from the department of 

politically motivated crimes 

took over, for further 

investigations.” 

1,172 cases pending in Anambra magistrate’s courts 

to always maintain decorum 

whenever they were in court. 

According to her, “you should 

conduct yourselves within the 

ambits of the law and be rest 

assured that with the calibre of 

judges and magistrates we have 

in Anambra State, you will get 

justice.” 

On the plea by one of the 

lawyers, Tony Chukwu for a high 

court to also be given to Okpoko, 

she said it would be looked into.


LUNCHEON: From 

left;Lion Abdulganiyu 

Adediji, Multiple 

Council Chairperson, 

International 

Association of Lions 

Clubs; Lion Lekan 

Babalola, immediate 

past District Governor, 

District 404B 1; Lion 

Eboreimo Bernard, 

District Governor, 

District 404B 1 and his 

wife Linda Eboriemo 

during the public presentation 

and fund raising 

luncheon for Lions 

projects held in Ikeja, 

Lagos. 

How Oshiomhole rescued Benin, by Esogban 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN CITY—THE 

Esogban of Beni 

Kingdom, Chief David 

Edebiri has lauded the 

national Chairman of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole describing 

him as his son who did not 

not disappoint him when he 

was governor of Edo State. 

Edebiri stated this while 

making remarks to mark 

his 90th birthday which the 

celebration formally ended 

yesterday. 

OMPALAN counsels Ihedioha over loot recovery 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

PORT HARCOURT—AS 

the disagreement between 

the Imo state Governor, 

Hon. Emeka Ihedioha 

and his predecessor, Sen. 

Rochas Okorocha over 

some looted funds and 

property takes dangerous 

dimension, the chairman of 

Imo State caucus of the Oil 

and Solid Minerals 

Landlords’Association of 

Nigeria, OMPALAN, 

Bishop Udo Azogu has advised 

the state Governor to 

thread with caution on the 

ongoing recovery of Government 

property allegedly 

under the custody of 

Senator Rochas Okorocha 

and his family members. 

In a statement on Sunday, 

Bishop Azogu said 

since the Governor had 

petitioned the two anti-graft 

agencies viz: the ICPC and 

Oshiomhole had praised 

Chief Edebiri for adopting 

him as a son and 

supporting his emergence 

as governor and promised 

he would use any 

available opportunity to 

empower people from Benin 

Kingdom and the state in 

general. 

Edebiri said "Before his coming 

as governor, Benin City was a 

large village community but 

when Oshiomhole became governor, 

he brought life, he brought 

civilisation because Benin for the 

first time know what is called 

EFCC to investigate the 

former Governor of Imo 

State and members of his 

family, which have commenced 

ernest investigation 

on the strength of the 

petitions before them, the 

onus lies on the Governor 

to allow the anti-graft 

agencies do their job and 

come out with their verdict. 


EFCC had questioned 

Avwenaghagha emerges 1st President 

of Rotary Club of Saba Gateway 


ASABA—A Director in 

the Delta State 

Ministry of Oil and Gas, 

Mr Aweka Avwenaghagha 

has been elected as first 

President of the Rotary 

Club of Asaba Gateway, 

District 9141 with a promise 

to embark on projects that 

would add value to human 

walkways. 

"He constructed superior roads, 

roads that will last many many 

years. In my own case, the road 

that he constructed along my 

street, German contractor told me 

that it is 50 years guaranteed if 

maintained. He did not disappoint 

me as a governor" 

Oshiomhole had in a speech 

recalled how Chief Edebiri before 

the last general elections helped 

solved problems within the APC. 

He said "Chief Edebiri speaks 

truth to power, never afraid, never 

bending it, it doesn’t have to be 

convenient, he simply says it. I 

Sen. Okorocha, his wife and 

daughter resulting in the 

sealing off of a sizable portion 

of their vast properties 

in Imo State. 

The OMPALAN chairman 

noted that the security 

situation in Imo State is 

spiraling out of control, 

hence the need for caution 

by all sides to the imbroglio. 

He called on the Governor 

to disband immediately the 

lives. 

The installation of 

Avwenaghagha who is also the 

sole candidate of Odukpor ruling 

House for the position of Ovie of 

Idjerhe clan in Ethiope West local 

government area, was performed 

by the Charter President, 

Rotarian Adekola Abiodu, supported 

by the District Governor 

nominee, Rotarian Andy 

N-Delta group lauds Buhari on signing 

of electricity contract 

By Elizabeth 

Uwandu 


FOLLOWING the 

recent signing of an 

electricity contract with the 

German company, Siemen 

to put an end to the 

perennial electricity crisis in 

the country, the Joint 

Association of Niger Delta 

Youth Forum, JANDYF has 

applauded President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

describing the feat as a 

forever achievement. 

Stating the need for all 

Nigerians irrespective of political 

party affiliation to support the 

president on the bold step taken 

to end decades of electricity 

calamity in the country, the 

group said with the signing of 

the contract with a reputable 

German firm believed to be one 

of the best electricity solution 

provider in the world, it has 

become more obvious the good 

intention of the president to 

develop or build a new Nigeria 

of quality infrastructure. 

In a separate statement, the 

National President and Legal 

Adviser of the group, Hon Mark 

Wariota Ikpuri and Barr 

Olushola Iyogun, who spoke to 

our correspondence at the end 

of its leadership committee 

meeting in Benin, Edo State, said 

the group has watched the other 

events of the government, the 

cleanup of Ogoni in Rivers State, 

construction of the second Niger 

bridge, appointments from the 

Niger Delta and come to the conclusion 

that the president is a 

man who truly wants to bring the 

country out of the woods. 

Explaining that the group is a 

sociopolitical association that 

embraces members of different 

political parties and non-politicians 

alike, Ikpuri said it’s aimed 

at providing support services to 

government in terms of idea generation 

just as he cited some of its 

past proposals to government, the 

proposal for the creation of Niger 

Delta Ministry with the Office of 

Special Adviser to the president 

on amnesty attached to it. 

am forever indebted to the Omo 

N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, the institution 

of the Oba of Benin, 

the paramount traditional ruler 

of Edo land. You guided me, you 

prayed for me and by the grace of 

God I left without issues. I remain 

committed everything that 

is within my discretion to do to 

uplift this great kingdom and uplift 

and creat opportunities for men 

and women of this kingdom I owe 

it as irreducible minimum duty 

to do so because this kingdom 

has been great, this kingdom has 

been kind and generous to me." 

Jasper Ndubuaku committee 

for recovery of Government 

property for what he called its 

lawless behaviour in order to halt 

the state’s imminent collision 

course with anarchy. 

He pointed out that the recovery 

of Government property 

committee appears to be doing 

a hatchet job against the immediate 

past Governor of Imo 

State, Owelle Rochas 

Okorocha and his family. 

Uwejeyan, amid cheers from 

other Rotarians, friends, family 

members and well wishers. 

The elated Rotarian Aweka 

Avwenaghagha, who is the 

Director of local content and 

promotion, Delta State Ministry 

of Oil and Gas and a fellow of the 

Institute of Chartered Mediators 

and Conciliator, said he would 

vigorously pursue the core 

mandate of rotary club 

international which is giving help 

to the needy in the society. 

Rotarian Avwenaghagha who 

highlighted some projects he 

intends to embark upon within 

this rotary year, appealed to 

colleagues and well wishers to 

fellowship with him to actualize 

the dream., 

He said he will concentrate 

more on the rotary foundation of 

complete eradication of polio in 

the society which has remained 

the flagship project of rotary 

international. 

The District Governor 

nominee, Rotarian Andy 

Uwejeyan who also delivered a 

goodwill message from the Delta 

State Commissioner, Ministry of 

Oil and Gas, Chief Emmanuel 

Amgbadugha, asked all to 

embrace the work of rotary clubs 

as putting smiles on the face of 

others is a divine responsibility. 

Deutsche CEO to invest 15% 

monthly net pay in bank's shares 

DEUTSCHE Bank's (DBKGn.DE) chief executive Chris 

tian Sewing will spend 15% of his monthly net salary buying 

the German lender's shares starting in September, a regulatory 

filing showed on Monday. 

The filing makes official a pledge Sewing made in July, when 

he announced a major restructuring of the bank. 

Sewing said at the time he would invest a "substantial amount" 

of his fixed salary in the bank. The CEO, who is shaking up 

Deutsche Bank to try to revive its profitability, said in July he 

wanted to put his money where his mouth was. 

Sewing will buy roughly 21,250 euros ($23,681.00) in shares 

around the 22nd of each month through to the end of 2022, the 

filing said. That would result in a total investment of around 

850,000 euros, based on monthly purchases up to the end of 

2022. 

Global stocks slip on tariffs, 

Argentina hit by capital controls 

GLOBAL markets remained subdued on Mon 

day after the United States and China imposed 

new tariffs on each other, while the spotlight returned 

to emerging-market risk as Argentina imposed capital 

controls. 

Argentina's international dollar bonds dropped to 

record lows, its financial stocks tumbled and risk premia 

shot up after President Mauricio Macri re-imposed 

capital controls on Sunday as the country battled 

to avoid its ninth sovereign default. 

The about-face by Macri, who had previously lifted 

many protectionist practices of his predecessor, Cristina 

Fernandez de Kirchner, came after the government 

failed to stem heavy investment outflows and to 

shore up its tumbling currency. 

MSCI's All-Country World Index, which tracks 

shares across 47 countries, was down 0.04% on the 

day. 

S.Africa's Old Mutual to buy back 

$158m more shares 

OLD Mutual Ltd will launch its second share 

buyback of the year on Sept. 3, South Africa's secondlargest 

insurer said on Monday after posting a 10% rise in 

half-year profit. 

The company will buy back up to 2.4 billion rand 

($157.51 million) worth of shares subject to market 

conditions. 

"The board believes that the share price is trading at a 

discount to its intrinsic value and is of the view that a share 

repurchase programme will deliver longer term 

incremental value to shareholders," Old Mutual said. 

In the past few years, the 173-year-old company has 

broken up an international conglomerate structure to 

return to its roots as an African financial services group 

with its primary listing in Johannesburg. 

Shareholders had hoped this homecoming would bolster 

the value of the group's stock, but instead it has dropped 

amid a damaging public dispute with sacked Chief 

Executive Officer Peter Moyo. 

Dutch Ministry to support small 

scale farmers in Nigeria 

DUTCH Ministry of Agriculture has disclosed it 

plans to support small scale farmers everywhere, particularly 

in Nigeria to achieve financial freedom. 

Agricultural Assistant Policy Officer, Kingdom of the 

Netherlands, Mr.Brian Udoh, disclose this during the regional 

consultative meeting on popularising the National 

Agricultural seeds act in Lagos, organised by the Nigerian 

Economic Summit Group (NESG) in collaboration with 

the National Agriculture Seeds Council (NASC) and the 

Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA). 

Udoh, representing the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, 

stated that his country is very focused on helping small 

scale farmers everywhere, particularly Nigeria achieve financial 

freedom. 

He stated that, "seeing how farmers from other countries 

are progressing, it is sad to see Nigerian farmers suffering." 

He pledged the support of his ministry and charged the 

NASC to continue its consultative meeting and ensure that 

farmers get all the information they need about the agriculture 

seeds act. 

While delivering a presentation on "Understanding the 

National Agricultural Seeds Council Act, 2019", 

Mr.FolarinOkelola made it known that the mission of the 

NASC is to transform the Nigerian seed system into a leading 

seed industry in Sub-Saharan Africa worthy of generating 

foreign exchange, a key employer of labour and also 

a place that contributes positively to the Nigerian economy. 

He revealed that a lot of seed production is done by a lot 

of people ignorantly, and that led to the implementation of 

the Seed Act, Section 19 which states that "a person shall 

not engage in seed production, processing, marketing or 

importation for commercial purpose unless the person is 

registered under the NASC Act." 

He revealed that the NASC is setting up a centre for excellence 

of seed accreditation and plant variety protection 

in West Africa, and has been identified as the first in awarding 

seed certification to registered businesses. 

Some stories credited to Reuters

Republic of bandits 

These bandits strike at will, 

maim at will, destroy lives and 

property — Governor Bello 

Masari of Katsina (April 2019) 

I 

HAVE always had this 

friendly exchange with my 

brother, Adeyinka Olumide 

Fusika, SAN, for some years 

now that Nigeria is a failed state, 

but he would always tease me 

that lawyers are still going to 

court and judges are ruling on 

disputes. I don’t know whether 

the learned silk has seen the 

image of Katsina Governor, 

Aminu Bello Masari and a gunwielding 

bandit after His 

Excellency finished a closeddoor 

round table with bandits 

in the home state of the 

President and Commander-in- 

Chief of the Armed Forces of 

Nigeria this past week. 

The meeting with 

representatives of bandits 

terrorising the eight front line 

local governments in the state 

was a condescending session to 

find a lasting solution to 

incessant attacks and 

kidnappings in the state. 

Incessant 

attacks 

The meeting which was held 

at the State Secretariat had 

different stakeholders in 

attendance which 

included heads of security 

agencies, the Deputy Governor, 

Alhaji Manir Yakubu; 

traditional rulers and districts 

heads led by the Emir of 

Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin 

kabir Usman; Secretary to the 

State Government, Alhaji 

Mustapha Inuwa; Transition 

Committee Chairmen of the 

affected front line local 

government areas; 

representatives of Miyeti Allah 

and Fulani herdsmen. 

It was gathered that 

attendance of the 

representatives of the bandits 

was made possible by the recent 

amnesty declared for the 

bandits by the North West 

Governors at a recent meeting 

held in the state. Masari stated 

that the insecurity rocking the 

affected LGAs in the state has 

become embarrassing to both 

the state government and 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

who is also an indigene of the 

state. 

The meeting, according to the 

governor, is expected to go a 

long way in restoring peace, not 

only in the affected LGAs, but 

also the entire 34 LGAs in the 

state. He said: “We are ready 

•Bandits...terrorising states in the north 

to dialogue with the bandits and 

are ready to go anywhere they 

invite us, because we are not 

afraid to meet anybody to end 

this problem. As a leader, I must 

find solution to the problem so 

that if today I die I will know 

how to defend myself before 

God. I will not allow this to 

continue; enough is enough. I 

have directed the security 

operatives to take all necessary 

measures to change the 

narrative on insecurity in the 

state, by any means necessary.” 

It is interesting that the 

The first direct 

signal we got that 

this is no longer a 

country was from 

Governor Nasir 

El-Rufai of 

Kaduna State 

shortly during the 

start of this 

dispensation 

governor was holding dialogue 

with bandits two months after 

the criminals requested for a 

session under an administration 

that has refused to take a look 

at the reports of the 2014 

National Conference in four 

years or facilitate a meeting of 

leaders across the country that 

daily descends into the abysmal 

edge of the precipice. All 

dissenting voices come under 

hammer in Nigeria except 

bandits who are treated 

specially! 

The leader of the bandits, 

Malam Idris Yahaya, during an 

arranged meeting with 

newsmen near a primary 

school in Dankolo Village, 

Sabuwa Local Government Area 

of Katsina State two months ago 

said his members were tired of 

violence and suffering from 

deprivation imposed on them 

by the local security vigilance 

groups in the area. He said the 

peace pact recently entered into 

between the local communities 

and the bandits to achieve 

uninterrupted farming 

activities, was what prompted 

the meeting with the media. 

He said: “We are tired of 

violence. Again, we have 

discovered that the real 

benefactors of this violence 

include highly placed 

government officials and 

security personnel, who will 

want it to go on for their 

pecuniary benefits. We want 

Governor Masari to talk directly 

to us.” 

Masari has talked to them 

directly and they are still 

wielding their weapons of 

violence in a way that captures 

the total victory of criminals over 

the Nigerian state. 

I recall the beautiful review of 

Kunle Ajibade’s What a 

County! done by my friend, Prof. 

Wale Adebanwi, at the Muson 

Centre years back. After a 

profound racing through the 

book and raising poignant 

questions such as Nigeria 

being a country where thieves 

headhunt for chairmanship of 

anti-corruption agency, he 

declared that Ajibade’s book 

should have been titled Not A 

Country! 

The first direct signal we got 

that this is no longer a country 

was from Governor Nasir El- 

Rufai of Kaduna State shortly 

after this dispensation started. 

While fielding questions from 

some reporters in his office on 

December 2, 2016, El-Rufai 

stated that his government had 

traced some violent, aggrieved 

Fulani to their countries and 

paid them to stop the killings 

of Southern Kaduna natives and 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 3 2019 —17 

the destruction of their the law usually caught up with 

communities, saying that the them and they turn jelly before 

renewed violence was carried the temple of Justice. That was 

out by bandits. 

the end of Ejigbadero, 

He said: “For Southern Lawrence Anini, Shina Rambo, 

Kaduna, we didn’t understand et all. But in the dispensation 

what was going on and we of “we against them”, bandits 

decided to set up a committee are now being pampered in a 

under Gen. Martin Luther way that suggests that: “if Niger 

Agwai (retd) to find out what Delta boys got Amnesty, our 

was going on there. What was bandits deserve same 

established was that the root of treatment.” 

the problem has a history Beko Ransome-Kuti must be 

starting from the 2011 postelection 

having a belly-laugh wherever 

violence. 

he is now. In the last days of 

“Fulani herdsmen from across his life, whatever discussions we 

Africa bring their cattle down had with him on Nigeria had a 

towards Middle Belt and standard response: “Nigeria o 

Southern Nigeria. The moment le work.” (Nigeria can’t work ). 

the rains start around March, No way as presently constituted 

April, they ! 

start moving ...Seme Border 

them up to go Users of the borders between 

back to their South West Nigeria and Benin 

various Republic have been subjected 

communities to untold hardships since the 

and countries. closure of the borders. Students 

Unfortunately, from Badagry who daily cross 

it was when the borders to school and return 

home are having a hellish time 

of it. Legitimate business 

people are crying daily. 

The reason for the closure, 

according to President Buhari, 

is that the borders are being 

used to smuggle rice into the 

country and instead of firing his 

Customs boss for not being able 

to stop smuggling, he has 

decided to make the people 

suffer this way. 

Yet, we have not heard the 

closure of the Niger border 

where illegal arms and 

undesirable aliens daily make 

their ways into the country. 

These double-standards stink! 

they were 

moving up 

with their 

cattle across 

Southern 

Kaduna that 

the elections 

of 2011 took 

place and the 

crisis trapped 

some of them. 

Some of them were from Niger, 

Cameroon, Chad, Mali and 

Senegal. Fulanis are in 14 

African countries and they 

traverse this country with the 

cattle. So many of these people 

were killed, cattle lost and they 

organised themselves and came 

back to revenge. So a lot of what 

was happening in Southern 

Kaduna was actually from 

outside Nigeria. 

“We got a hint that the late 

Governor Patrick Yakowa got 

this information and he sent 

someone to go round some of 

these Fulani communities, but 

of course after he died, the 

whole thing stopped. That is 

what we inherited. But the 

Agwai committee established 

that. We took certain steps. We 

got a group of people that were 

going round trying to trace 

some of these people in 

Cameroon, Niger Republic and 

so on to tell them that there is a 

new governor who is Fulani like 

them and has no problem 

paying compensations for lives 

lost and he is begging them to 

stop killing. 

"In most of the communities, 

once that appeal was made to 

them, they said they have 

forgiven. There are one or two 

that asked for monetary 

compensation. They said they 

have forgiven the death of 

human beings, but want 

compensation for cattle. We 

said no problem, and we paid 

some. As recently as two weeks 

ago, the team went to Niger 

Republic to attend one Fulani 

gathering that they hold every 

year with a message from me.” 

Nobody asked El-Rufai to 

produce the killers he was 

doling cash to and Masari 

meeting with bandits has now 

confirmed the new profile of 

criminals in Nigeria. When we 

had a country and there were 

criminals who terrorised society, 

...Islamisation includes 

Salafisation? 

The charge against El- 

Zakzaky’s IMN by the Federal 

Government of planning the 

1979 type of Iranian revolution 

in Nigeria to islamise the 

country would have ended the 

whole argument about the body 

language of the present 

government suggesting an 

islamisation plot. 

Cynics are pointing out, 

however, that if indeed IMN has 

such a plot, it may just be that 

all the government has against 

it is the idea of a Shiites 

islamisation that is anathema to 

the Salafs. 

For those who think all 

Muslims hold same beliefs, 

here it is. The Shiites are 

members of the branch of Islam 

that regards Ali as the successor 

to Prophet Mohammed and 

reject the first three caliphs. 

They are the dominant sect in 

Iran. The Salafs also known as 

Sunni are the first three 

generations of Muslims. 

Salafis today consider the 

earliest practice of Islam to be 

the purest form of the religion 

and are the most prominent in 

Saudi Arabia. The Sunnis detest 

the Shiites and the sectarian war 

has been playing out in Nigeria. 

This is why cynics hold that 

the rejection of alleged 

islamisation plot by Shiites may 

just be that the Salafs are not 

comfortable with Shiites. They 

would want to know if this 

rejection of Islamisation plot by 

Shiites also includes any such 

agenda by the Salafs. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


THE spate of ethnic profiling and 

hate speeches rocking the social 

media should worry all well-meaning 

Nigerians because it not only diverts 

attention from the real dangers facing 

the country, it also shows that the 

destination to national unity is still 

very far off. 

Over the past weekend, the US 

Federal Bureau of Investigations, 

FBI, released statements that some convicted Nigerian criminals in 

suspected Nigerian criminals caught foreign countries with a view to 

violating their laws are about to be casting slurs on rival ethnic groups. 

brought to book. 

The Federal Government, while 

The FBI indicted 80 Africans lamenting that these criminal 

suspected to be internet fraudsters indictments and convictions constitute 

(out of which 77 were Nigerians). “a double blow” on Nigeria’s 

Apparently because of attempts to international image, affirmed that it 

ethnicise the report, some groups would cooperate “all the way” with 

“retaliated” by going into the archives these countries to sanction Nigerians 

to unearth the story of another group who have violated their laws. 

of 23 Nigerians executed some time President Muhammadu Buhari 

in 2017 over drug-related offences. government’s stand is 

Unfortunately, Nigerians have understandable because it falls within 

developed the unwholesome attitude the purview of its anti-graft agenda. 

of name-checking suspected or We also stand on the same page, 

Tackling our international criminals 

provided that all efforts are made to 

ensure that they are given fair, 

humane and expeditious trial. 

Back home, we can do ourselves a 

favour by strengthening internal 

efforts to curtail activities of these 

criminals and bringing them to book 

before they drag our image to the mud 

in the international arena. 

When we neglect to do enough inhouse 

we will always be forced to 

cooperate with foreign countries to 

see that our nationals are subjected 

to their laws, to the detriment of our 

country’s image. 

We should also hold foreign 

countries (which collaborate with our 

crooked leaders to hide the stolen 

resources of the country within their 

economies) to account. 

They are complicit in creating the 

conditions that force the youths to 

resort to crime due to lack of 

adequate opportunities to earn a 

decent living within our economy. 

These conditions that predispose 

our youths to crime must be tackled 

head-on. 

It must be stressed that Nigerians 

are not criminals any more than the 

nationals of other countries. 

We call on Nigerians to stop ethnicprofiling 

of one another because in 

doing so, we are only cutting off our 

noses to spite our faces. 

Unfortunately, it is the youth who will 

inherit the leadership of this country 

in the near future that engage in this 

odious behaviour due to the negative 

narratives they inherited from their 

fathers, elders and leaders. This must 

stop. 

WHEN President Muhammadu 

Buhari, GCFR, submitted his list of 

ministers to the Senate on July 23, the 

nominee on the list most discussed was 

Major General (retired) Bashir Salibi 

Magashi. His critics were forced to ask: 

Why Bring Magashi? While his admirers 

equally asked: Why Not Magashi? 

The 69-year-old retired General was 

discussed not for his present political role 

but for his past military role. We are talking 

in the context of the past role General 

Magashi had played; but things have 

changed now and the years must have 

matured him. Definitely the General 

Magashi of 1993, I presume, is no longer 

the General Magashi of 2019. Ageing, it is 

now clear, is part of maturational process 

that all our organs go through. 

Over a life time everybody changes 

inwardly as well as outwardly. The mind 

too changes although the petty pace at which 

we creep from day to day often keeps most 

of us unaware of how even during adulthood 

mental functions continue to evolve as we 

grow older. 

The Nigeria of 1993 is no longer the 

Nigeria of 2019. There have been 

developments. I am told General Magashi 

should have been a minister four years ago. 

His coming to the cabinet now has two 

advantages. He is a retired military officer 

and the only retired military officer in the 

cabinet and he has to keep the esprit de corps 

flag flying to his former Commander-in- 

Chief who happens to be his boss and 

President now. 

Secondly, he has known President Buhari 

for over 40 years in politics and in the 

military and that qualifies him to be an 

OPINION 

All eyes on Magashi 

automatic member of the President’s inner 

caucus unlike the new arrivals. General 

Magashi is lucky in that the service chiefs 

and the Chief of Defence Staff were once 

under him in rank unlike his predecessor, 

Brigadier-General Mansur Mohammed 

Dan Ali (60) from Zamfara State, who was 

commissioned in 1984 and retired August 

30, 2013 before being appointed in 

November 2105 as Minister of Defence. 

At the time Brigadier Dan Ali joined the 

Army in 1984, General Magashi was 

already commanding 192 Mechanised 

Battalion before he became military 

secretary that year. For example, the Chief 

of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Yusuf 

Buratai from Buratai village of the 29 

Regular Course enrolled in the Nigerian 

Defence Academy in January 1981. By 

appointing him Minister of Defence without 

ministers of state, President Muhammadu 

Buhari has reposed his full confidence on 

General Magashi. 

All eyes will be on General Magashi. 

General Magashi is going to be under severe 

pressure from his colleagues, both serving 

and retired military 

officers. There is going 

to be so much 

expectation on him. 

At present he is a 

politician. He is from 

Kano State, the largest 

political constituency in 

the country with 44 

local governments. 

Kano has 24 members 

in the House of 

Representatives. Like 

Lagos, Kano State has 

two ministers, General Magashi and Alhaji 

Muhammed Sabo Nanono (73) who 

belongs to many brackets - a farmer, 

university lecturer, politician and former 

chief executive of the defunct African 

International Bank Limited. 

General Magashi is going 

to be under severe pressure 

from his colleagues both 

serving and retired military 

officers 

In 2002, General Magashi was legal 

adviser to the All Nigeria Peoples Party, 

ANPP. In April 2007, he was Kano State 

governorship candidate of the Democratic 

Peoples Party, DPP. At that time, President 

Muhammadu Buhari was of the ANPP. 

In the gubernatorial election in April 

2007, General Magashi lost to Ibrahim 

Shekarau who had 10,077,751 votes. The 

last we heard about Major General Magashi 

was on March 30, 2015 when he resigned 

as national chairman of the party and 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

handed over to Chief Garshoon Benson. 

Before the resignation, he implored 

members of the DPP nationwide to vote for 

Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the 

APC in the presidential election. Let us look 

at the profile of the General. 

Major General Bashir Salibi Magashi 

was born on October 1, 1949. He is a lawyer 

and a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, 

ABU, Zaria. He holds a national award of 

CFR. He is married with children. He was 

educated at Gidan Makama Primary 

School, Gwale Senior Primary School and 

Barewa College, Zaria. He attended the 

Nigerian Defence Academy, Zaria from 

1969-1971; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 

1980-1983; Nigerian Law School, 1983- 

1984; Young Officers Course, Jaji; 

Command and Staff College Course 1; 

Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic 

Studies, Kuru; School of Infantry, Quattaj, 

Pakistan; Humanitarian Law School, Italy, 

cr: Company Commander, 6 Battalion; 

Adjutant 1, Guards Battalion; Second-in- 

Command, 4 Guards Battalion, Epe; 

Commander, 93 Mechanised Battalion; 

Commander, 192 Mechanised Battalion; 

Deputy Military Secretary II, 1984-1985; 

Deputy Military Secretary I, 1985-1987; 

Officer, 2 Mechanised Brigade, Ibadan, Oyo 

State,1987; Cadet Brigade Commander, 

1988-1990; Brigade Commander, 7 

Brigade, 1990; Military Governor, Sokoto 

State, 1990-1992; Brigade Commander 15, 

ECOMOG Brigade, September 1992; 

Commander, ECOMOG, July 1993; 

Commander, Brigade of Guards, 1993- 

1996; General Officer Commanding 2 

Mechanised; member of the Provisional 

Ruling Council, April 1996. 

Continues next week

GSM data subscribers rise by 

68% to 122m in H1’19 

•As broadband subscriptions rise 163% 

•MTN to become payment services bank 

By Prince Osuagwu, Elizabeth 

Adegbesan & Juliet Umeh 

The number of active 

subscribers for data (internet) 

services on Global System for 

Mobile (GSM) communication 

rose by 68 percent to 122 million 

in the first half of 2019 (H1’19). 

This is against 39 million 

subscribers recorded in the first 

half of 2018. 

Similarly, the volume of 

broadband subscription rose by 

163 percent to 64 million from 25 

million during the review period. 

The term broadband commonly 

refers to high-speed internet 

access that is always on and 

faster than the traditional dialup 

access. 

Vanguard analysis of latest 

telecommunication industry data 

from the Nigerian 

Communications Commission 

(NCC) showed that on the 

number of mobile subscribers on 

GSM for July 2019, MTN 

Nigeria remained the biggest 

player with a subscriber base of 

65.3 million (37.4 percent) while 

Airtel Nigeria followed with 46.8 

million subscribers (26.8 

percent), Globacom Nigeria with 

46.7 million subscribers (26.7 

percent), and 9mobile had the 

least subscribers with a 

subscriber base of 15.7 million 

(9.0 percent). 

Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria has 

unveiled a mobile money transfer 

service, taggedYello Digital 

Financial Services, YDFS. The 

service is targeting those without 

bank accounts. 

The telco also disclosed plans 

to become a payment services 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$93.30 1.40 

2,124.00 0.00 

$11.17 - 0.04 

$58.67 -0.58 

$54.78 -0.32 

306 306.5 307 

372.861 373.4703 374.0795 

337.824 338.376 338.928 

309.6539 310.1599 310.6659 

2.8795 2.8842 2.8889 

0.4973 0.5073 0.5173 

418.4792 419.163 419.8468 

42.7915 42.8619 42.9323 

81.5891 81.7224 81.8558 

419.1588 419.8437 420.5286 

45.2984 45.3725 45.4465 

20.0748 20.1076 20.1404 

CBN Exchange rate as at 02/09/2019 

bank once it obtains approval 

from the Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN). It also launched a superagent 

network service named, 

MoMo Agent in Abuja. 

The MoMo Agents will 

immediately begin providing 

safe and accessible money 

transfer services to underbanked 

and unbanked people 

across Nigeria. 

MTN says with the launch, it 


is contributing its quota to the 

ongoing efforts to accelerate 

CBN’s drive for financial 

inclusion. 

Chief Executive Officer, MTN 

Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman said: 

“The launch of the MoMo Agent 

is significant to us and 

demonstrates our commitment to 

enhancing Nigerians’ access to 

financial services.” 

From left: Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Yemi Odubiyi; Group 

Head, Agric Finance & Export, Bukola Awosanya; and Chief Marketing Officer, Ibidapo Martins, 

all of Sterling Bank during the press conference to flag off Agric Summit Africa in Lagos. 

Border closure not a sustainable solution 

— LCCI 

By Naomi Uzor 

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry, LCCI, has said that 

the closure of Nigeria’s border in the 

South West area does not 

offer a sustainable solution 

to smuggling, rather it only 

penalizes small players in 

the informal sector. 

In a chat with Vanguard 

over the weekend, the 

Director General of LCCI, 

Mr. Muda Yusuf, said the 

Chamber believe that 

Nigeria should be more 

strategic and tactical in 

dealing with problems of 

this nature, adding that, 

there is need to develop the 

culture of tackling the 

causes of the problems, not 

fighting the symptoms. 

This, he said, is the way to 

solve a problem sustainably. 

Yusuf said, “One of the 

critical challenges we face 

as a nation is that of weak 

state institutions. This is 

what has manifested in the 

escalation of the 

phenomenon of 

smuggling. It is regrettable 

that innocent citizens that 

are struggling to make a living are 

now being made to pay the price 

for lapses of ineffectual institutions 

of state. The truth is that 

government agencies at our 

borders have not lived up to their 

mandates. It is impossible for the 

scale of smuggling being reported 

to take place without the 

connivance of state officials at the 

borders. The starting point in 

dealing with this problem is to get 

the state institutions to do their job. 

Border closure does not offer a 

sustainable solution. It only 

penalizes small players in the 

informal sector. 

“It also disrupts the supply chains 

and exports transactions of many 

big firms that do business across 

the sub region. The cost of this 

closure to businesses is evidently 

phenomenal and would be in 

billions of naira. It also has 

implications for the confidence of 

investors as well,” he said. 

Investors scramble for UBA shares as price 

up by 6% 

By Peter Egwuatu 

Investors in the stock market, 

yesterday, scrambled for the 

shares of United Bank for 

Africa, UBA, Plc following the 

release of its half year, 2019, 

HI’19, financial results which 

show impressive growth among 

key performance indicators. 

Consequently the bull run on 

the shares led to the hike in 

price by six percent to close at 

N6.20 per share from N5.85 

with investors trading 14 

million units of the bank’s 

shares worth N86 million. 

Trading activities resumed the 

week on the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE with bargain 

hunting in Nestle Nigeria 

(+5.9%), Cement Company of 

Northern Nigeria, CCNN 

(+9.8%) and UBA (+6.0%) 

pushing the All Share Index 

(ASI) up 14 basis points , bps 

to 27,565.14 points while Year 

to Date, YtD loss eased to - 

12.3%. 

Meanwhile, UBA’s H1’19 

results showed that profit 

before tax rose by 21 per cent 

to N70.3billion from 

N58.1billion in the similar 

period of 2018, just as the Profit 

after Tax also improved to N56.7 

billion, a 29.6 percent growth 

compared to N43.8 billion 

SEC tells 

defunct 

Afribank 

shareholders 

to claim 

dividends 


The Securities and Exchange 

Commission, SEC, yesterday, 

directed shareholders of the 

defunct Afribank Plc to go and 

claim their dividends. 

In a statement in Abuja, Acting 

Director General of SEC, Ms. 

Mary Uduk, said this is part of its 

investor protection programme 

and as well as ensure that 

shareholders get the benefits of 

investing in the capital market. 

She noted that SEC was making 

concrete efforts to ensure that 

investors get their dividends as 

this would reduce the number of 


market. 

She said, “We have informed 

shareholders of the defunct 

Afribank Plc that unclaimed 

dividends declared by the bank 

are being held in trust on their 

behalf. This will further help 

reduce the volume of unclaimed 

dividends in the market and boost 

investor confidence. 

“Investors that have unclaimed 

dividends are therefore advised 

to contact Carnation Registrars to 

process their dividend 

payments.” 

Uduk said the commission has 

also directed Carnation Registrars 

and Meristem Trustees to ensure 

that all genuine claims of 

beneficiary shareholders be 

addressed forthwith. 

“Since the company is no longer 

in operation, these unclaimed 

dividends have to be made 

available to the rightful owners 

that are the shareholders. That 

will go a long way in boosting 

investor confidence in the market. 

That is why we are calling on 

them to take advantage of this 

opportunity and claim their 

dividends,” Uduk said. 

The statement noted that SEC 

had also directed investors in the 

defunct Skye bank Plc to claim all 

outstanding dividends declared 

by the bank which were being 

held in trust on their behalf. 

The SEC also at the time 

directed Cardinalstone Registrars 

and STL Trustees to ensure that 

all genuine claims of beneficiary 

shareholders of Skye Bank were 

addressed forthwith. The 

Commission noted that these 

were part of its investors’ 

protection programme to ensure 

that shareholders got the benefits 

of investing in the capital market. 

achieved in the corresponding 

period of 2018. The profit for the 

first half of the year, translated 

to an annualised return on 

average equity of 21.7 per cent. 

According to its results filed 

with the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, UBA recorded a 14 

percent year-on-year rise in 

top-line, with gross earnings of 

N293.7 billion, compared to 

N257.9 billion recorded in the 

corresponding period of 2018. 

Analysts say that this 

performance emphasises the 

capacity of the Group to deliver 

a strong performance through 

economic cycles in spite of the 

overall challenging business 

environment.






It was painful watching my brother die of 

cancer at 32 

By Chioma Obinna & Chinelo Azike 

ONCE upon a time, Non-Communicable Diseases, 

NCDs, such as cancer, diabetes and High Blood 

Pressure were quite uncommon among Nigerians, to 

the extent that not too many people were aware 2019 of the 

existence of such ailments. 

The few cases recorded happened among the aged 

population. Today, however, the situation is different. 

High Blood Pressure, cancers, kidney disease, heart 

defects, diabetes among others are now order of the day 

among Nigerians of all ages. Cancer in particular is a 

big killer. 

Almost daily, one Nigerian dies of one form of cancer 

or the other. The World Health Organisation, WHO, 

estimates that 116,000 new cases of cancer and 41,000 

cancer-related deaths were recorded in Nigeria in 2018. 

With cancer becoming a major source of morbidity and 

mortality in Nigeria, poverty and lack of a supportive 

system continue to fuel untimely deaths. 

Good Health Weekly spoke with Mr. Abdulganiyu 

Olalekan Kazeem who lost his 32- year- old brother, late 

Ibrahim Idowu, to cancer,(Leukaemia)a few months ago, 

even after the family had run from pillar to post and 

exhausted all they had. Excerpts:. 

UNDOUBTEDLY, the 

death of a loved one 

will forever remain 

indelible in the hearts of 

families and friends. For 

many, it has no 

comparison. Losing a loved 

one or a younger one is an 

experience no one wants 

to imagine. It is like a book 

you don’t want to open. 

Watching your younger 

brother suffer pains that 

have no definite solution is 

heratbreaking. It leaves 

everyone helpless and 

afraid waiting for doom’s 

day. 

This was the situation, 

Abdulganiyu and his 

siblings faced while their 

late brother, Idowu, 

struggled with leukaemia 

(cancer of the blood). He 

died of the ailment at 32, 

leaving two children 

behind. 

With pain in his voice, 

Abdulganiyu opened up 

on the struggle that started 

as Typhoid. It was a tale of 

the battle well fought but 

lost due to lack of financial 

assistance. 

He betrayed emotion as 

he narrated to Good 

Health Weekly, how he 

watched his brother die on 

23rd of July, 2019. 

“Our family spent a 

fortune. We spent all that 

we had but could not save 

him at a youthful. he left 

behind two children,” he 

lamented. 

It all started in January 

2019 as Typhoid fever but 

little was it realised that 

within six months, Idowu 

would be history and his 

children orphaned at the 

ages of 6 and 3. 

As a typical Nigerian, 

Idowu battled with the 

illness through all means 

possible. 

“My brother battled 

Lagos targets 1m new birth registrations in 

Typhoid for months. The 

protracted nature of the 

illness got the family 

involved, especially, when 

his wife ran away to 

Ghana. At a point, we got 

him about three nurses to 

treat him at home but all to 

no avail.” 

His brother’s sickness 

took another dimension 

when his wife, the mother 

of his two children 

abandoned him and the 

children. 

“My brother has to 

struggle with his illness 

and children’s upkeep. 

The family was also 

Abdulganiyu Olalekan Kazeem 

By Chioma Obinna unacceptable that Nigeria the pharmaceutical 

W 

is dependent on imported industry. 

ORRIED about and donor aid to satisfy the “For us in the industry, 

N i g e r i a ’ s essential medicines needs our ambitious goal is to 

overdependence on drug of the rapidly growing develop and grow a viable 

importation and donor population, while local and globally competitive 

funds, the Pharmaceutical facilities are abysmally local pharma 

Manufacturer’s Group of under-utilised, 

manufacturing sector and 

Manufacturers Association Ayebae who spoke this is the reason we all 

of Nigeria, PMG-MAN, during the 5th Nigeria have gathered today. 

says nothing short of Pharma Expo 2019, Nigeria along with some 

national sufficiency and explained that if nothing other African countries 

medicine security could is done, Nigeria would be signed the African Free 

take the country out of the exporting jobs to other Continental Area 

woods. 

countries, and importing Agreement, AFCTA, to 

Such measure would not poverty, exerting pressure benefit from the AFCTA, 

only guarantee an end to on foreign reserves, and we must do more to 

the incidence of extreme giving window for falsified, position the Pharma 

poverty, but ensure healthy substandard and Industry such that Nigeria 

living, promote sustained counterfeit medicines does not end up a 

and inclusive economic among others. 

dumping ground for 

growth and productivity He argued that if pharma manufacturing. 

and sustainable Nigeria is to attain selfsufficiency 

and ensure government should 

We propose that the 

industrialisation, according 

to the UN Sustainable medicine security, prioritise the local 

Development Goals, SDGs deliberate radical policy pharmaceutical industry 

1,3, 8 and 9. 

must be put in place as well from the perspective of 

The Chairman of the as an enabling business medicine security and 

PMG-MAN, Dr Fidelis environment created by national sufficiency. It will 

Ayebae who gave the the government to also prepare Nigeria to 

assertion, said it was promote, protect and grow take advantage of the 

— Abudulganiyu Kazeem 

affected. It was such a 

stress that I don’t pray for 

anyone. When there was 

no change in his 

condition, we decided to 

take him to a private 

hospital where he was 

diagnosed of anaemia.” 

Sadly, Idowu’s transfer 

to a private hospital was 

like an eye-opener to the 

family as doctors that 

handling his case 

discovered he had 

anaemia, (shortage of 

blood) with 12 per cent 

Packed Cell Volume, 

PCV. 

Abdulganiyu recalled 

the troubles to get five 

pints of blood for 

immediate transfusion 

“We paid N15,000 for 

each pint of blood in the 

private hospital.” 

Sadly, his ailing brother’s 

condition did not change 

and he was reffered to the 

General Hospital Ifako, 

Ijaiye where a full blood 

count test revealed that 

Idowu had cancer of the 

blood. 

Unfortunately, the 

hospital could not handle 

the case and he was 

referred to LASUTH. 

Abdulganiyu was in shock 

about the news that his 

younger brother had 

cancer. 

“I was pained. I felt bad 

because I was told it cannot 

be cured. My mother and 

father are still alive. How 

would I break such news 

to them and that my 

brother was dying? It was 

not easy for me. I decided 

not to tell them. 

“For six months of 

managing him at 

LASUTH, we spent N1.5 

million. I was with him all 

through. Family members 

contributed and it was a lot 

of stress. 

Among all cancers, I 

learned that leukaemia is 

deadly and I kept asking 

doctors what was the 

problem. They didn’t know 

the cause or the cure. 

“When there was no more 

money, I went to the doctors 

and asked for a medical 

report to show that my 

brother had leukaemia. 

With that report, I wrote a 

letter requesting 

assistance to the Lagos 

State Government and 

took copies of the letter to 

the Governor’s office, 

Deputy Governor’s office, 

and the Ministry of Health. 

They collected the letters 

but we did not hear from 

them until the boy died. 

“It was painful watching 

my brother die without 

assistance. I wish I could 

have done more to save 

him. My father and I were 

with him in the hospital,”,” 

he narrated amidst tears. 

Further, Abdulganiyu 

narrated how their father 

cared for the sick Ibrahim 

while he ran around 

buying drugs, submitting 

or collecting test results and 

other things required. 

“Since the day I was told 

he had incurable cancer, I 

was not happy and have 

been believing God for a 

miracle. If we had money 

he would not have died. 

We would not have left 

him like that. So we tried 

our best. 

Abdulganiyu appealled 

to Nigerians to help save 

patients suffering from 

leukaemia by donating 

blood voluntarily without 

financial inducement. 

“Most blood banks in our 

hospitals are empty but 

when people donate blood 

freely, patients who need 

it will be saved.” He also 

urged the government to 

subsidise treatment for 

people living with cancer 

as many are dying 

because of money. 

National sufficiency, medicine security will guarantee SDGs in 

Nigeria — PMG-MAN 

Trade-related Aspects of 

International Property 

Rights, TRIPS, Flexibility 

window of WTO when 

domesticated. 

He urged President 

Buhari ed government to 

take full advantage of the 

Trade-related Aspects of 

International Property 

Rights flexibility by setting 

up Committee on National 

Medicine security, 

CONMS, to rejig and reinvigorate 

the industry with 

radical policies. 

He added that the radical 

policies should focus on the 

establishment of 

pharmaceutical 

manufacturers expansion 

and expansion of the 

intervention fund of N300 

billion, increased 

patronage by government, 

enforcing executive order 

003 faithfully , zero per cent 

tariff for pharmaceutical 

raw and packaging 

materials and retention 

tariff on imported finished 

products local pharma has 

the capacity to produce 

and increase funding for 

NAFDAC among others. 

On his part, High 

Commissioner of India, 

Shri Abhay Thakur said 

Nigeria should learn from 

India, added that the key 

to success has been 

affordable solutions in 

machinery, health, 

agriculture among others. 

He said the country is set 

to become the world’s fifthlargest 

manufacturing 

economy by the end of 

2020. 

Abhay Thakur said India 

provides cost-benefit 

advantages in all area of 

engineering, from 

machinery manufacturing 

and technology services, 

machine tools, material 

handling equipment, 

process plant equipment 

and electrical machinery 

among others to enhance 

self-sufficiency 

medicines. 

in


Phamatex decries low patronage of local pharma industry 

By Sola Ogundipe & 

Chioma Obinna 

THE low patronage of 

the local pharmaceutical 

industry in Nigeria has been 

described as one of the biggest 

threat to its survival. 

Industry watchers say urgent 

steps need to be taken to boost 

the fortunes of the industry so 

as to boost its potential. 

A stakeholder in the 

industry, Prince Christopher 

Nebe, decried low patronage 

of local pharmaceutical 

manufacturing companies by 

the government. 

Nebe who is the Managing 

D i r e c t o r , 

Phamatex Industries Limited, 

disclosed that despite 

establishing a world-class 

pharmaceutical plant, the 

company is currently 

producing at 30 per cent 

below capacity. 

According to Nebe, most 

pharmaceutical 

manufacturing companies are 

not breaking even today due 

to lack of encouragement on 

the part of the government and 

the Nigerian society as they 

prefer foreign-made drugs to 

locally produced ones. 

Nebe urged the Federal 

government to create enabling 

environment for the efficient 

and effective operation of 

pharma industries. 

Speaking during a forum 

with the Health Writers 


HEWAN, Nebe called on 

government at the top to, 

among other things, provide 

soft loans, ensure zero percent 

on import duties as all raw 

materials are imported. 

He argued for an end to 

epileptic power supply. 

He added that for a 

manufacturing company to 

function effectively here and 

manufacturing with diesel, 

the company will be 

consuming like N12 million 

every month. We need 

electricity. 

“We have a power plant but 

there was a time the Niger 

Delta has a problem and we 

started running on diesel. 

“We have invested in 

Nigeria; it is left for the society 

to appreciate it and for the 

media to promote it. You can 

have everything but if 

nobody knows about it, you 

cannot function well. 

“We are lagging behind 

due to lack of encouragement. 

Most Nigerians prefer 

foreign drugs than the one 

locally made not even 

knowing that the 

manufacturing indices here 

are better than those abroad. 

We have all the standard 

equipment. Our lab ranks 

among the best in this 

country and labs determine 

everything because they are 

the policeman of every factor. 

This is an edifice in that needs 

help. 

“Manufacturers are not 

assisted or encouraged. 

There is no electricity to 

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No one should suffer hair loss — VINCI 

By Gabriel Olawale 

THE Managing Director 

of Vinci Hair Clinic, 

Africa Region, Ayo 

Otubanjo has pointed out 

that no Nigerian deserves 

to suffer hair loss or retain 

the status of being bald. 

Hair loss is a common 

condition that affects most 

people at some time in their 

lives and millions of 

Nigerians, suffer from 

permanent or temporary 

hairloss. 

Thyroid disease, 

anaemia, protein deficiency 

and low vitamin levels are 

common medical causes of 

hair loss.Otubanjo said a 

free hair consultation 

service has commenced in 

Lagos and Abuja as part of 

the clinic’s Corporate Social 

Responsibility, CSR. 

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By Cynthia Alo 

Stakeholders in the 

insurance and 

pension sectors 

have appealed to operators 

in the two sectors to be 

sensitive to the needs of 

their customers by creating 

products that meet their 

specific needs. 

The stakeholders, who 

spoke at the 4th annual 

conference of the National 

Association of Insurance 

and Pension 

Correspondents, 

NAIPCO, in Lagos, noted 

that both sectors are not 

employing the right mode 

to encourage potential 

customers as well as to 

sustain existing ones. 

While speaking, General 

Secretary of the Federation 

for Informal Workers 

Organization of Nigeria, 

FIWON, Mr. Gbenga 

Komolafe stated that most 

solutions for the micro 

pension customers are not 

practicable and as such the 

industry could continue to 

witness low patronage. 

He said: “The informal 

sector is very huge and the 

rate at which micro 

pension is evolving 

is alarming. The 

Commission do not 

understand the nature of 

the informal sector. There 

is a poor perception about 

how those operating in the 

informal sector is 

approached and convinced 

on buying into the scheme. 

We need traditional means 

of sensitization because the 

people might not 

understand the kind of 

advert that is being 

churned out. Storytelling 

will go a long way. 

“Also, the sector must 

work on the best mode of 

contribution to get people 

As part of its quest 

to bring financial 

empowerment to the 

fore, AXA Mansard 

Pensions Limited, a 

pension fund 

administrator, has 

charged all Nigerians 

on the need to plan in 

earnest towards 

retirement in order to 

avoid old age poverty. 

Speaking to 

newsmen recently, the 

Chief Executive Officer 

of AXA Mansard 

Pensions, Dapo 

Akisanya, gave the 

charge while 

emphasising the 

importance of 

discussing the topic of 

retirement planning. 

Akinsanya said, “Old 

Stakeholders advocate need 

focused products in pension, 

insurance sectors 

•from left: Mr. Bode Opadogun, Managing Director, FBN General Insurance/representative of Chairman, 

NIA; Mr. Babatunde Phillips, Head, Benefits, National Pension Commission (PenCom); Mrs Ronke Adedeji, 

President, Association of Pension Fund Operators of Nigeria; Mohammad Ahmad, former Director General, 

PenCom, and Mr. Leo Akah, representing the Acting Commissioner for Insurance, during the 4th edition of the 

National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO) National Conference in Lagos. 

to contribute regularly so 

that we don’t end up with 

the kind of situation we had 

with Nigeria Social 

Insurance Trust Fund, 

NSITF, where some 

people just contribute at a 

period and after some time 

they won't be able to sustain 

the contribution because of 

a particular circumstance 

like loss of jobs, nature or 

change of job. And the 

money will be lost for a while 

and they won't care about 

going back to make their 

‘Nigerians should plan ahead to 

avoid old age poverty’ 

age is one of the 

neglected themes of our 

society. Everyone is 

aware of it, everyone 

knows it will happen 

one day, but it is still one 

of those topics many shy 

away from. Regardless of 

how we shy away from it 

though, we will all get 

old. Therefore, there is 

no need to avoid the topic 

or bury one’s head in the 

sand.” 

He said that older 

people are more 

vulnerable, and also face 

a higher probability of 

living in poverty, adding 

that the world is 

experiencing improved 

life expectancy and an 

ageing population, 

which means the 

claims or even continuing.” 

Also speaking, Chairman 

of the occasion and former 

Director General of the 

National Pension 

Commission, PenCom, 

Mohammed Ahmad said 

that there is need to wholly 

engage the customers. 

He said, “We must 

understand the industry we 

are operating in. it is 

important to have more 

engagements so that we can 

bring the stakeholders to 

come and talk to us because 

proportion of older 

people continues to rise. 

He said, “Many times, 

with old age comes a 

decline in capacity for 

work and, therefore, 

income-earning ability. 

This is coupled with 

potentially higher 

expenditure on health 

care and other essential 

services, increasing the 

likelihood of older 

people becoming and 

remaining poor. Older 

people are particularly 

vulnerable to the effects 

of economic change, 

and those without 

savings, assets, or the 

capacity to generate 

income, are among the 

least able to withstand 

economic shocks. 

if we don’t understand the 

industry, we cannot serve 

the industry. We need to 

understand the reality, 

appreciate the sector and 

particularly our perception 

of the sector. You cannot 

interact or engage an 

industry that you do not 

have a clear 

understanding. The mode 

of contribution needs to be 

sustainable.” 

Stressing the need to 

work on the incentives in 

the micro pension space, 

Ahmad said: “This is very 

important because if I must 

do business with you then 

what is my benefit? It 

should not be because the 

regulators have made it 

compulsory or that am 

forced but because I want 

to do it.” 

Also speaking in a 

presentation titled ‘Micro 

pension plan as financial 

inclusion tool’, Actuarial and 

Chartered Insurer, Dr. Pius 

Apere proposed a method 

to weigh the capacity of 

individuals in the informal 

sector on a weekly basis to 

ascertain how much they 

can afford to put away 

before embarking on a 

retirement plan. 

On the way forward, 

Apere said that flexibility of 

contributions will 

encourage small and 

frequent contribution. 

He also noted that 

allowing for withdrawals 

before retirement will create 

incentives, stressing 

that the provision of IT 

infrastructures will increase 

the rate of mass 

registration. 

Also speaking, 

Managing Director of 

FCMB Pensions, Misbahu 

Yola said that there is a 

huge gap of unreached 

potential customers that 

can make a change in the 

industry and restated the 

need to design products 

to suit certain types of 

people. 

He said: “Micro pension 

plan is not just meant for 

artisans, we have a 

potential market of 

politicians, pastors, 

entertainers, stewards. 

This is a huge market that 

we can tap into. Many 

of them do not have any 

form of retirement plan 

and you will agree with me 

that a time will come when 

they will eventually retire 

and need something to fall 

back at.” 

Also, President of 

Pension Fund Operators 


PenOp, and Managing 

Director of Leadway 

Pensure PFA, Mrs. Ronke 

Adedeji said that selling 

the micro pension scheme 

is a gradual process that 

requires creativity and 

innovation. 

According to her, the 

industry must leverage 

technology to reach out to 

many Nigerians in the 

years to come while 

warning that there is need 

to manage expectations 

and improve on means to 

reach out to the rural 

areas. 

NSE lifts 

suspension 

on Royal 

Exchange 

shares 

By Cynthia Alo 

Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE, 

said it has lifted the 

trading suspension 

placed on the shares of 

Royal Exchange Plc. 

Royal exchange was 

among the 11 listed 

companies placed on 

suspension for noncompliance 

with Rule 3.1 

relating to filing of 

accounts and treatment 

of default filing and the 

rulebook of the 

Exchange. 

The rule states 

that, “If an Issuer fails 

to file the relevant 

accounts by the 

expiration of the cure 

period, the Exchange 

will send to the Issuer a 

‘second filing deficiency 

notification’ within two 

business days. After the 

end of the cure period, 

it would suspend trading 

in the Issuer’s securities 

and notify the Securities 

and Exchange 

Commission (SEC) and 

the market within 

twenty- four hours of 

the suspension.” 

In a statement 

announcing the lifting of 

the suspension, the 

NSE said, “Royal 

Exchange Plc, which 

was one of the 11 

companies that were 

suspended, has now filed 

its audited financial 

statement for the year 

ended December 31, 

2018, to the Exchange. 

“In view of the 

company’s submission 

of its audited financial 

statements and in 

pursuant to Rule 3.3 of 

the default filing rules, 

which provides that the 

suspension of trading in 

the issuer’s securities 

shall be lifted upon 

submission of the 

relevant accounts 

provided, the Exchange 

is satisfied that the 

accounts comply with all 

applicable rules of the 

Exchange.” 

It further stated that 

the Exchange would, 

thereafter, also 

announce through the 

medium by which the 

public and SEC was 

initially notified of the 

suspension.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 —27 

Estate Surveyors seek role in 

assets declaration of public officers 

…Say we have method for true reflective values 

By Chris Ochayi 

In a bid to invoke 

transparency, the 

Nigerian Institution of 

Estate Surveyors and 

Valuers NIESV, has asked 

the Code of Conduct Bureau 

CCB, to include the services 

of its members and services 

of Estate Surveyors and 

Valuers Registration Board 

of Nigeria ESVARBON, in 

the process of assets 

declaration by public 

officials in order to arrive at 

true reflective values of such 

assets. 

The Principal Partner of 

Lansar Aghaji & Co, Lansar 

Aghaji, who made the call 

in a statement in Abuja, said 

the profession was better 

placed to prevent public 

officials from exploiting the 

loophole while declaring 

their assets 

He therefore, advocated 

that there was need for a 

valuer’s certification in asset 

declaration of public office 

holders, adding that by 

allowing public officials to 

value their assets without 

involving a professional 

valuer would create a 

loophole which is capable of 

defeating the need for an 

asset declaration form and 

enhancing the very corrupt 

practices the government 

intends to curb. 


current method of asset 

declaration employed by 

the CCB is not capable of 

providing a true reflection 

of public officials’ assets, 

insisting that the 

government is missing out 

on important information as 

a result of their valuation 

technique. 

He said, “The main reason 

for introducing asset 

declaration to our public 

officials is to further ensure 

transparency, reduce 

conflicts of interest and to a 

great extent reduce the 

possibility of abusing the 

public office. By allowing 

public officials to value their 

assets without involving a 

professional valuer, we have 

already created a loophole 

which is capable of 

defeating the need for an 

asset declaration form and 

enhancing the very corrupt 

practices we intend to curb. 

“How do we prevent public 

officials from exploiting this 

loophole while declaring 

their assets? Well, the only 

way forward is to make it 

binding on all public 

officials to submit their asset 

declaration form with a 

valuation certificate or 

report from an estate 

surveyor or a valuing firm 

that is duly registered under 

the Nigerian Institution of 

Estate Surveyors and 

Valuers NIESV, and Estate 

Surveyors and Valuers 

Registration Board of 

Nigeria ESVARBON. 

“With an attached 

valuation certificate or 

report, we can be assured 

that the evaluation 

procedures are not 

circumvented and all the 

variables (some of which 

•Housing Estate 

are; the date of the valuation, 

the basis of the valuation, 

the location of the valued 

property and its 

depreciation/appreciation 

rate) are dully considered by 

a valuer before value is 

placed on an asset.” 

Aghaji recalled that, “In a 

bid to invoke transparency, 

earn the citizens’ trust and 

fight corruption (in its many 

forms), virtually all the 

countries of the world 

provide a structured 

medium for ensuring that 

elected, appointed, recruited 

or contracted public officials 

make their assets known to 

the public. For Nigeria, 

public officials are expected 

to do so within 30 days of 

picking the Asset 

Declaration Form. 

“Being the norm, whatever 

information acquired via 

this declaration is made 

available to the public for 

further scrutiny if the official 

is a high-level official. 

Otherwise, the declarations 

are made confidential until 

there is a need for it. For 

Nigeria, the Code of 


A 

Nigerian real estate 

firm, Wisdom 

Kwati City, said it has set 

aside N6 billion for the 

commencement of its pilot 

housing projects in Abuja 

and Adamawa state. 

In a statement in Abuja, the 

company said it has entered 

into a partnership with five 

foreign firms and secured 

the full corporate offer of 

about $9 billion for the 

construction of smart city 

estates across the 36 states 

of Nigeria and Abuja. 

The Chief Executive 

Officer of the Karabow 

Group, Mr. Wisdom Kwati, 

disclosed that some 

indigenous companies had 

also invested N2 billion into 

the project so far, adding that 

the company is set to 

disburse about $500 million 

directly to begin work on its 

Conduct Bureau CCB, is the 

body charged with the 

responsibility of issuing 

public officials the Asset 

Declaration Form and 

making sure they stick to the 

guidelines while filling it. 

“The current method of 

Asset declaration employed 

by the Federal Government 

of Nigeria, is it capable of 

providing us with a true 

reflection of our public 

officials’ assets? Is the 

government missing out on 

important information as a 

result of their valuation 

technique? Is the Asset 

Declaration Form serving 

the intended purpose? Are 

there loopholes in the 

procedures for filling this 

form? We will attempt to do 

justice to these questions as 

we proceed. 

“The current declaration 

form issued by the CCB gives 

our public office holders the 

responsibility of listing their 

assets (including those of 

their spouse (s) and children 

under the age of 18) and 

giving it a value. Does 

anyone know how they 

arrive at the value they give 

to their property? Are all the 

parameters involved in 

valuing a property duly 

considered before the value 

is fixed? And most 

importantly, who is the 

professional fixing these 

values? 

“NIESV and ESVARBON, 

and their members are the 

only professionals vested 

with the power of evaluating 

properties and placing value 

on them after a careful 

consideration of virtually all 

the variables that 

determines the market value 

of such assets. 

Real estate firm secures $9bn, invests N6bn in 

Abuja, Adamawa housing projects 

sites. 

Kwati noted that the firm 

has secured materials worth 

N6 billion for the 

commencement of the pilot 

projects in Abuja and 

Adamawa, stressing that the 

firm has concluded plans to 

commence construction as 

soon as the rains cease, 

hopefully, from September 

this year. 

He said, “Currently, for 

Wisdom Kwati City, we are 

in partnership with five 

global firms. We have 

secured the full corporate 

offer for the project worth 

about $9 billion. Apart from 

the fact that we have spent 

N10 billion in securing our 

land in Lagos, Abuja, 

Adamawa , Akwa-Ibom, 

Calabar, and Kaduna, we 

have most of our 

engineering drawings on 

ground also. 

“Most of them are ready 

for approval in some of the 

states where we have 

secured lands. But currently, 

we are beginning from 

Abuja and Adamawa state 

simultaneously. These are 

pilot projects. 

In Abuja, we are 

delivering about 15,000 

housing units. We have 

about 105 hectares of land 

in Lugbe 1 Extension, just 

beside River Park and 

behind Dunamis church. It 

is just two minutes drive 

from the airport road. In 

Adamawa state, we have our 

land on 50 hectares at 

Namtari, Numan Road, just 

after welcome to Yola. 

“We have secured 

materials worth N4 billion 

for about 100 units of mixed 

apartments in Abuja. We 

have also secured about N2 

billion worth of materials 

for bungalows in Adamawa 

Tinubu Estate Trustees 

ask Court of Appeal to 

set aside ruling on Ijora 

land dispute 


The Trustees of the Estate of late Madam Iyalode Tinubu 

have asked the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos 

to set aside the ruling of a Lagos High Court on the 

disputed Ijora land. 

Justice Wasiu Animashaun of the lower court had in a 

ruling of January 23, 2019 dismissed the appellant’s 

counter claim filed on June 8, 2017 in suit N0, M/5/2009 

on the ground that it was an abuse of court process. 

Not pleased with the lower court’s decision, the Trustees 

in the appeal filed through their attorney, Adamakin 

Investment and Work Limited are praying the appellate 

court to set aside the entire ruling of the lower court made 

on January 23, dismissing the appellant’s counter claim 

filed on June 8, 2017 in suit N0, M/5/2009. 

In the appeal, the Trustees are asking the appellate court 

for an order reinstating to the cause list of the lower court, 

the counter-claim in the same suit dismissed by the lower 

court. 

They are further praying the court for an order for the 

trial of their counter claim before another court within 

the same jurisdiction as constituted before the lower court. 

The Trustees also prayed the Court of Appeal to stay 

further proceeding in the matter pending the determination 

of the appeal, contending that going ahead with further 

proceeding in the matter will foist a situation of helplessness 

on the Appeal Court and render the appeal nugatory. 

In an affidavit in support of the appeal and deposed to 

by one Ayoyinka Roberts, a legal practitioner at Reliance 

Solicitors, Lagos, the appellants are contending that the 

lower court erred in law when it held that they were 

precluded from bringing an action against Oba Abdul- 

Fatai Aromire, Chief Fatai Suleiman, Prince Olayiwola 

Oluwa, (5th to 7th respondents), following the provision 

of section 16 of the limitation law (Cap L67) Laws of Lagos 

State by stating that for the 37 years of litigation before 

competent court of law, forms part of the limitation period 

against them despite acknowledging that the said 

litigation ended with the Supreme Court’s judgment 

delivered on April 3, 2009. 

But the respondents have argued that the counter 

claimant’s action was an attempt to re-open the issue 

litigated upon in the previous suit, which amounted to 

abuse of court process. 

They also noted the period of time that litigation in the 

previous suit took, right from the high court to the supreme 

court, stressing that the counter claimant and 6th 

defendant in the suit are caught by the principle of 

Estoppel by conduct, having not joined the previous suit 

that lasted 37 years in court, despite having constructive 

notice of the pendency of the suit. 

Building Collapse: Nigerian Society of 

Engineers calls for stiffer penalties 

By Naomi Uzor 

The Nigerian Society of 

Engineers NSE, 

has called for stiffer 

penalties on owners of 

collapsed buildings and 

the project handlers in the 

country, especially where 

loss of lives is involved. 

Disclosing this at the 

August breakfast meeting 

of the Nigerian American 

Chamber of Commerce 

NACC, themed “Building 

Collapse and the Need for 

Re-Certification”, the 

President, NSE, Engr. 

Adekunle Mokolo, said 

stiffer penalties will serve 

as a deterrent to the 

practices of carefree 

developers in the country. 

“The menace and havoc 

that collapsed buildings 

have caused in our society 

cannot be over 

emphasized. The rate at 

which promising lives and 

our country future hopes 

are being cut short due to 

our collective negligence 

and lack of care is so 

worrisome that one begins 

to imagine if any 

meaningful value is 

attached to human lives” he 

said. 

Mokolo who was 

represented by Mr. Olusoji 

Olagunju, noted that 

building collapse in 

Nigeria has become a 

regular occurrence, every 

occurrence results in 

casualties, fatalities, 

material loss, financial 

wastages and severe 

property damage. 

“Buildings are expected 

to have certain features 

that make them attractive 

for many uses. This may be 

residential, commercial, 

institutional, educational, 

and industrial to meet 

people’s purpose of needs” 

he stated. 

He said it is high time 

governments at various 

levels begin to enforce 

building regulations and 

necessary legislations, 

build their staff capability 

by equipping building 

approval and control 

agencies with the 

experienced professionals 

and ensure that only 

structural drawings 

prepared and endorsed by 

registered structural 

engineers are approved for 

construction. 

The President of NACC, 

Otunba Oluwatoyin 

Akomolafe, said the rate of 

building collapse in the 

country has become so 

disturbing that various 

accusations and counter 

accusations are the order 

of the day. 

Akomolafe who was 

represented by the Vice 

president of NACC, Mr. 

Ehi Braimah said the 

major issue is the building 

owners, who always look 

for the cheapest ways of 

building even before 

formal approval.

28—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, , 2019 

VOL. 1: NO. 206 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 

Edo IDP camp sells off relief 

materials to procure drugs 

•Epidemic looms, as IDPs lack anti-biotics, anti-malaria drugs 

•...as Doctors’ Time-Out launch deworming programme 

A cross section of the IDPs 

(above) and some of them 

singing/dancing (right). 

EDO... HEARTBEAT 

OF THE NATION 

By Alemma-Ozioruva 

Aliu 

OHOGUA—THERE is 

fear of an epidemic 

outbreak at the 

Internally-Displaced Persons, 

IDP, camp run by the International 

Christian Centre for Missions, 

ICCM, for victims of Boko Haram 

insurgents at Ohogua, Ovia 

North-East Local Government 

Area, Edo State, following severe 

shortage of essential drugs, 

sanitary pads, food and other 

necessary items. 

NDV learned that authorities of 

the camp now sell available food 

items to buy drugs for the sick 

inmates with the hope that more 

food items would come 

later, rather than allow 

inhabitants to remain sick 

without drugs. 

Edo State government had, in 

past four years, assisted in the 

building schools, provision of 

shelter and food for the 4,000 

inmates, but when NDV visited 

the facility last week, the situation 

was clearly unusual, as a feverish 

IDP, Dairus, said there was no 

drug to treat him. 

Troubled, the Administrator of 

the camp, Pastor Folorunsho 

Solomon, disclosed that selling 

some foodstuff was the only 

option available to him at the 

moment. 

His words: “One night, we had 

to go and look for N400,000 to get 

malaria drugs; we had to sell part 

of what has been donated to us to 

buy drugs for our inmates.” 

SOS to FG, Edo govt 

He added: ”We appreciate the 

Edo State government and we 

have been praying for it to 

succeed and continue the good 

work Governor Obaseki is doing 

in the state. However, as he is 

developing the state, we want to 

bring to say our camp is part of 

this state. 

“A lot of our inmates have got 

admission, some are studying 

medicine, law, different courses 

in several universities in the state, 

including the state-owned 

university and the cost is 

enormous for us to bear alone. 

”This year alone, we have more 

than 100, who scored above 

JAMB cut-off mark and a lot of 

them will go for post-UME 

examination. So I am appealing 

to them to come and help these 

children. I believe if those who 

want to go to school get education, 

it will help them and ultimately 

the communities they come from.” 

He asserted: “We are also 

appealing to the Federal 

Government to support us. It 

should also give scholarship to the 

children so that those who want 

to go to school will be able to go. 

“I know there are enormous 

challenges bedevilling the 

country and we thank the Federal 

Government for what it is doing 

to curtail the insurgents; we pray 

for more success in this regard.” 

Doctors Time-Out intervenes 

Some groups, in the midst of the 

challenges, have continued to 

support the displaced persons. 

Among them is a nongovernmental 

organisation, 

Doctors Time-Out, which visited 

few days ago to deworm the 

occupants, provide other medical 

assistance and take over the 

training of eight students from 

primary and secondary school. 

President of Doctors Time-Out, 

Dr Osezua Oamen, told 

journalists: “What made us to 

come here to mark our fourth year 

anniversary is because of the 

unpalatable situation here. Most 

of the children here are orphans 

and others do not know where 

their parents are. So the situation 

is quite disheartening. 

“Being doctors, we are 

humanists. This is one charity we 

do and it is called Doctors’ Time- 

Out. That is, you take time out of 

your busy schedule to sit with your 

friends and relax. But while doing 

that, you think of how you can 

better your society. 

“In this place, they need all the 

help they can get. So we did a 

need assessment and, in our little 

way, we picked eight 

persons: four in the primary 

school and four in the secondary 

school. They are made up of two 

boys and two girls from each level, 

and decided to take care of their 

schooling from now on. 

“Education here is free, but we 

want to be responsible for their 

books, uniform, sandals and other 

needs, and we hope to take them 

to the their tertiary education so 

that they can realise whatever 

potentials they have.” 

15 bags of rice, 

per meal... 

Responding on behalf of the 

management, Pastor Evelyn 

Onigie lauded the initiative of the 

doctors, but appealed for more 

support from the public. 

She said: “Thank God for the 

deworming these doctors are 

doing. As we speak, we do not 

have anti-malaria drugs or 

antibiotics. You can see many 

young girls here. So, we need 

sanitary pads, and we need soap 

for bathing, disinfectants. 

“Everything that is good for 

people out there is needed here. 

We appeal to people, individuals, 

NGOs, churches to help us. 

“We have more than 4,000 

inmates here and feeding is a big 

deal. For a meal, we cook 15 bags 

of rice. If we are to make eba, we 

use 10 bags of garri (50kg each); 

it has been really enormous.”



The $9 billion judicial scam 

against Nigeria (1) 

ON Friday August 16, Mr 

Justice Butcher of the London 

Admiralty Court awarded a recordbreaking 

US$9.8 billion against the 

Federal Government of Nigeria, 

FGN, for breach of contract 

involving a shadowy off-the-shelf 

company, Process and Industrial 

Development Limited, PI&D. 

Christopher Butcher QC is reputed 

to be among the most formidable 

judges in England today. A first class 

graduate of Magdalene College 

Cambridge, he is also a Vinerian 

Scholar and Prize Fellow of All Souls 

College Oxford, with a doctorate 

from King’s College University of 

London, to boot. But his judgement 

is flawed. 

The award grants the claimants 

leave to seize all of Nigeria’s 

commercial assets at sea and on land, 

including ships and oil tankers, gold 

deposits, shares, bonds, securities, 

real estate and Central Bank reserves 

owned by our government. This may 

well go down as one of our worst 

debacles ever, comparable only to 

the 2009 loss of the strategic Bakassi 

Peninsula at the World Court. The 

latter was presided over by a French 

jurist, Gilbert Guillaume, whose 

country had strategic neo-colonial 

interests in the oil-rich Bakassi 

Peninsula. We stood no chance 

whatsoever. 

I now understand why Bonaparte 

By YUSUF IDRIS GUSAU 

ZAMFARA State was carved out of the 

old Sokoto State 23 years ago. Largely 

agrarian, it stood out as an agricultural hub 

for the whole of the North West Zone with 70 

per cent of its populace living and farming in 

rural areas. Prior to its elevated position of a 

state, Zamfara was a proud producer of grains 

of high quality due mainly to its rich fertile soil 

encased between sedimentary rocks. 

This envious position informed decision 

makers of colonial era to extend a rail line up 

North that cut Gusau, the state capital, into 

two halves, terminating at Kaura Namoda - a 

commercial city itself that links Niger Republic 

through Jibia in Katsina State. 

This railway line covering several kilometres, 

assisted greatly in moving grains and other 

farm produce, including cotton and groundnut, 

to the Lagos Port sea-bound to the United 

Kingdom, Nigeria’s colonial master at the 

time. This in no small measure assisted greatly 

to power its industrial revolution. Where there 

are farmers, there are herders, as their lives 

intertwine, each one needing the other for 

support. For decades that cordial relationship 

existed with each one respecting the territorial 

integrity of the other. 

Zamfara was a model of peace until recently 

when land for farming activities became a 

scarce commodity and livestock rearing 

became a risky investment. Tempers flared, and 

what ensued later, though an expected social 

phenomenon, degenerated from few fiscuffs 

to deadly skirmishes. There was no love lost 

between farmers and cattle herders. Zamfara 

became a theatre of war of some sorts, details 

of which are already in public domain. It will, 

however, linger in our memory for some time 

to come. 

Thank God Almighty, we are now in 

celebratory mood that a responsible and 

responsive government is in place, which came 

had such contempt for mere lawyers. 

Greedy lawyers will enthusiastically 

mortgage their county if the fees are 

attractive enough. The late Judge 

Teslim Olawale Elias, a former 

President of the ICJ and by far our 

greatest jurist ever, warned us to avoid 

taking the matter to The Hague. But 

our greedy lawyers only saw dollars 

and gave the wrong advice to the then 

military government. As a 

consequence, we lost forever the most 

strategic naval outpost on the South 

Eastern corridor of our great 

country. 

Today, the dogs are returning to 

their own vomit. Philosophers of 

history tell us that history repeats 

itself, first as tragedy and second as 

farce. In 2010 PI&D signed a Gas 

Supply and Processing Agreement, 

GSPA, with the Federal Ministry of 

Petroleum Resources, FMPR, in 

respect of the accelerated gas 

development project in Nigeria’s 

OMLs 67 & 123. The objective was 

to build a facility to process raw gas 

into lean gas to be used to generate 

electrical power. The company was 

to build a gas facility wholly at its 

own expense but was to export the 

by-products - methane, propane, 

hydrogen sulphides and nitrogen - 

for a profit. The government on its 

part would lay gas pipelines and other 

relevant infrastructure while 

delivering gas to the processing plant. 

What RUGA means to Matawalle 

about through divine intervention. Zamfara 

of today is unlike what it was eight years ago; 

eight years of neglect, indecision and 

misgovernance. Chronicling this eight years, 

though not the subject of this discourse, will 

not be dismissed outright because they 

underpinned what ought to have been done if 

only the powers that be then had listened to 

wise counsel and tailored their policies to 

reflect the needs of the ordinary people of 

Zamfara. That, they failed to do but pandered 

to elite proclivities. 

Today Dr. Mohammed Bello Matawalle is 

the Governor of Zamfara State, a state with a 

proud motto of "Farming is Our Pride". Not 

one given to unbridled ambition, Matawalle's 

journey to Gusau Government House began 

in 1999 when he contested and won a House 

of Representatives seat for Bakura/Maradun 

Federal Constituency. He knew what he wanted 

and what was needed to be done. 

He approached them with patience and 

dogged determination until the ultimate prize 

was had - to govern a people he loves the most. 

He saw right from the onset that his 

predecessors won’t leave any endearing and 

positive legacy. His prediction came to pass: 

the 20 years of Senator Ahmed Yarima down 

to the Abdulaziz Yari administrations 

accorded lip service to the welfare of the rural 

populace who were the movers of the state’s 

economy through farming. With solid 

minerals buried under its soil, Zamfara also 

had potential to be great. Harnessing these, 

though, were done half-heartedly through illconceived 

policies which exposed the rural 

populace to attacks by bandits. 

Bandits and cattle rustlers were on countless 

murderous campaigns to illegally exploit the 

precious metals the state is endowed with. The 

gory details of what transpired is a subject of 

another day. What is of importance for us here 

is how Matawalle has hit the ground running 

After two years of no-show, in 2012 

PI&D took the matter to a London 

arbitration tribunal, claiming 

damages for breach of contract. 

They argued that, in failing to build 

the required pipelines, the 

government failed to fulfil its part of 

the bargain. Meanwhile, they 

themselves had not made the first 

move by way of building the plant. 

They claimed to have made several 

futile attempts to engage with the 

government in finding a practical 

way out of the impasse. The years 

2010-2012 were among the most 

difficult in our country. President 

Umaru Yar’Adua was afflicted with 

life-threatening illness throughout 

his presidency from May 2007, 

dying in a Saudi hospital in March 

2010, precisely around the time the 

contract was supposedly signed on 

his behalf by his Petroleum Minister, 

Rilwan Lukman, who was himself a 

sick man. 

On May 3, 2015, at the tail end of 

the Goodluck Jonathan 

administration the company wrote 

You don’t ignore 

problems and they 

automatically go 

away; under 

international law, 

governments may 

change, but the state 

continues 

expressing willingness to accept a 

settlement of US$850 million. Note 

again the timing. According to a 

spokesman for the erstwhile 

administration, Reno Omokri, 

President Jonathan did not feel 

comfortable making such a 

payment on the eve of his departure 

for fear that it might grossly be 

misunderstood. I imagine that he 

would have asterisked the issue in 


his hand-over notes to President 

Muhammadu Buhari when he took 

over on May 29, 2015. 

Buhari is not a statesman who 

could master his own brief; being 

more of a latter-day Caliph who 

prefers to leave the tiresome business 

of governing to his grateful 

subalterns. It took him a good six 

months to form a cabinet in 

November 2015. As a consequence 

there was no Attorney-General and 

Minister of Justice in place when, in 

July 2015, the tribunal awarded 

PI&D US$1.9 billion in damages. 

The three members of the tribunal 

were Lord Hoffman, Anthony Evans 

and Bayo Ojo, one of our former 

attorneys-general. 

Lord Hoffman QC is a retired judge 

and a recognised London arbitrator. 

A former Rhodes scholar from South 

Africa, Leonard Hubert Baron 

Hoffmann was one of the most 

influential Law Lords on the British 

legal firmament. But he is also 

known to be controversial; 

occasionally prone to delivering 

judgements that raise eyebrows. 

Would it also be fair to speculate that 

Lord Hoffmann might have been 

desirous of making a punitive award 

against Nigeria commensurate with 

the $5.2 billion (negotiated down to 

$3.2billion) that our NCC lumbered 

on South African telecoms giant 

MTN? Sir Anthony Evans is a former 

Lord Justice of Appeal and also Chief 

Justice of the Dubai International 

Financial Centre Court. They are 

hardly the type to be sympathetic to 

Nigeria. 

Former Attorney-General Bayo 

Ojo SAN was said to have delivered 

a dissenting opinion, arguing that 

the award should never have 

exceeded $250 million. Being a 

former Attorney-General of Nigeria, 

he should have recused himself. They 

might have placed him there merely 

to give a semblance of fairness. I 

would have preferred someone like 

Fidelis Odita, QC, SAN, arguably 

since he assumed the mantle of leadership of 

the state on May 29 this year. At various fora 

he stated his resolve to end the unending 

farmer-herder crises once and for all. An 

opportunity knocked on his door with the 

announcement of the RUGA initiative. 

To the Zamfara governor the innovative idea 

could not have come at a better time. To him, 

RUGA means the upliftment of millions out of 

poverty through harmonious living between 

those who till the land and their counterparts 

who tend to livestock. An idea that fits perfectly 

with his programmes even if the rest of the 

country chooses to reject it for sinister political 

reasons. 

Under a programme of action, his 

government plans to construct dams and 

canals to serve as watering holes for animals 

To Matawalle, RUGA means 

uplifting millions out of poverty 

through harmonious living 

between those who till the land 

and their counterparts who tend 

to livestock 

as well as dry season farming through 

irrigation. The dams will also provide potable 

drinking water consisting of 12 hand pumps 

and four solar powered motorised boreholes 

that will provide 5000 litres of water daily. The 

Matawalle RUGA initiative is proposed for 

launch on an earmarked 100 hectares expanse 

of land to provide, among other social 

amenities, primary and secondary schools and 

an Islamiyah. 

For the promotion of healthy living the 

RUGA initiative will provide a 30-bed hospital 

and a veterinary clinic for livestock 

vaccination. The state-of-the-art hospital shall 

consists of a surgery, pharmacy, laboratory, a 

theater and an antenatal, women and children 

departments. Commerce will also enjoy a pride 

of place within this 100-hectare land to be 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

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the greatest financial and capital 

markets legal luminary in Britain. 

On January 31, 2017, the tribunal 

rendered a final award of US$6.597 

billion against us. The figure was 

revised upwards ostensibly based on 

calculation of seven per cent interest 

effective from March 20, 2013, 

leading to a total figure of US$9.8 

billion. Lawyer for the claimants, 

Andrew Stafford QC of the London 

chambers Kobre & Kim, was quoted 

as saying that his client is 

“committed to vigorously enforcing 

its rights, and we intend to begin the 

process of seizing Nigerian assets”. 

Brendan Cahill, the key principal, 

blamed our government for failing 

to fulfil their part of the contract, 

thereby aborting the purported 

objective of “bringing electricity to 

millions and helping Nigeria reach 

its full potential”. 

From the word go, the Buhari 

administration smelt a rat. The 

erstwhile PDP administration, if 

truth be told, was deeply mired in 

grand larceny such as we had never 

seen before in the oil sector. 

According to London’s Royal 

Institute of International Affairs, our 

treasury was losing something like 

$1 billion per month from oil theft. 

The excesses of people like former 

oil minister Diezani Allison- 

Madueke stank to the high heavens. 

Try as we may, we cannot deodorise 

the stench of those years. This 

explains why the current 

administration thought to distance 

itself from the case. 

But it was a big mistake. You don’t 

ignore problems and they 

automatically go away. Under 

international law, governments may 

change, but the state continues. For 

better or worse, a government 

inherits the assets and liabilities of 

its predecessors. The government 

rightly argues that the scale of the 

award is not only odious, it is 

ruinously extortionate. 

Continues next week 

boosted with 140 lock-up and open shops. 

Matawalle believes an egalitarian society 

can only materialise if a people are guided by 

the tenets of their faith. In the original Sharia 

implementation format, mosques were built 

in every village and hamlets; beautiful edifices 

they were as masjid but lacking in 

knowledgeable worshippers. The purpose was, 

therefore, defeated. Little wonder majority of 

bandits and cattle rustlers were not only 

illiterate but steeped in ignorance of their 

professed faith. Masjids will henceforth be not 

only centres for prayers but learning. 

Lack of which was the reason to the bandits 

human life meant nothing. Matawalle is 

changing the narrative. Parents, both male and 

female, including their children and wards, 

will be taught what it’s to be a Muslim. Aside 

that, they will be taught vocational skills to 

manage their environment and take advantage 

of such facilities as a modern abattoir, dairy 

production centres and a small scale hides and 

skin processing plant. 

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, 

is an old saying. Matawalle believes in it too. 

To this end, he intends to revive the good old 

Fulani Sharo. Lest we forget, a maiden edition 

was staged during the recent Sallah festivities 

in Gusau, the state capital. Guests from far 

and wide graced the occasion. The governor 

has since announced it will be an annual event. 

To cap it all the vast expanse of land housing 

the RUGA will be connected to the national 

grid for constant power supply. 

You bet this new city in the making will be a 

marvel to behold. A grass band is proposed to 

be planted around the area that will germinate 

within 16 weeks for animal feed, and for 

aesthetic beauty. The weather elements will be 

taken care of as best as possible with the 

settlement being covered with shelter belts. To 

Matawalle this is the beginning of reinventing 

Zamfara State. And the job has just begun. 

•Gusau is the Director-General, Press 

Affairs, to the Zamfara State Governor. 

C 

M 

Y 

K



NEMA trains Delta, Edo, Bayelsa 

workers in flood management 



A SABA—WORRIED 

by the devastating 

effect the impending flood 

may have on Delta, Edo and 

Bayelsa states, the National 


Agency, NEMA, has 

organised a training 

workshop for its staff in 

those states to build their 

capacities in crisis and 

disaster management. 

Speaking during the 

training workshop entitled 

“Re-engineering the 

Agency for Effective and 

Productive Disaster 

Management,” the 

Functioning Head of Edo 

Operational office, Mr. 

Ifeanyi Omeje said, the 

essence of the annual 

retreat was to build the 

capacity of staff in line with 

global best practices in 

handling disaster 

situations. 

Omeje said, “Disaster 

management is a multi 

faceted discipline that 

touches on every aspect of 

human endeavor. 

Therefore, there is need for 

stakeholders’ collaboration 

so as to foster an effective 

and efficient response to 

disasters when they occur.” 

Also, Coordinator of the 

retreat and a deputy 

director in the agency, Engr. 

Musa Zakari, said: “We 

held the retreat to discuss 

how to manage crisis before, 

during and after it occur. By 

so doing, crisis can be better 

managed and there would 

be less litigation as we will 

be very responsive to 

emergencies.” 

Saying that the Federal 

Government has 

demonstrated political will 

and has committed a 

percentage of the Ecological 

Funds to aid the agency 

realise its goals, Zakari told 

the participants to be 

focused. 


training exercise was being 

held in each zone of the 

federation to identify 

peculiar challenges and 

address them holistically. 

BAD ROADS: Rep calls for FG 

intervention in Delta 

W ARRI—THE 

m e m b e r 

representing Sapele, Okpe 

and Uvwie Federal 

Constituency in the House 

of Representatives, Efe Afe, 

has enjoined the Federal 

Government to reconstruct 

the deplorable Adeje section 

of theWarri-Sapele-Benin 

Express road in Delta State. 

Afe, who spoke on the 

heavy traffic caused by the 

failed portion of the road, 

expressed dismay that the 

oil-bearing Delta State does 

not deserve such a 

deplorable road, especially 

"as it connects the South- 

South zone to other part of 

the country." 

The lawmaker asked the 

NFPI faults South-South govs 

on NDDC appointments 


THE Nigeria Female 

President Initiative, 

NFPI, a pro-democracy 

group, has countered the 

position of South-South 

governors on Federal 

Government nominees for 

appointment into various 

positions on the Board of 


Development Commission, 

NDDC. 

A statement by NFPI 

Coordinator, Mr. Felix 

Akpoyibo, questioned the 

rationale behind the 

governors’ opposition to the 

nominations, describing 

same as unwholesome, 

selfish and opposed to the 

well-being of the people of 

the Niger Delta region 

where the governors, over 

the years, have 

strangulated the NDDC 

from carrying out its 

mandate. 

The group pointed out 

that 

President 

Federal Government to 

direct FERMA as a matter 

of urgency to reconstruct 

the road and not to patch 

it. 

According to him, 

“Patching the failed portion 

of the Warri-Sapele-Benin 

Expressway will not help 

matters as heavy trucks 

loaded with diesel, fuel and 

other petroleum products 

regularly pass through the 

busy road.” 

Afe said the dilapidated 

road had caused a lot of 

pains and losses to 

members of his 

constituents, stressing that 

economic activities have 

been affected by the 

deplorable road. 

Muhammadu Buhari has 

the constitutional right to 

nominate board members 

to any federal agency such 

as the NDDC with or 

without considering inputs 

of the governors. 

Akpoyibo saluted the 

courage of Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta 

State, in refusing to identify 

with other governors of the 

region that are opposed to 

Buhari’s nominations for 

NDDC Board. 

His words: “NDDC is not 

a local government council 

where governors control 

funds. President Buhari’s 

choice of the nominees was 

done in good faith for the 

interest and development 

of the ordinary people of 

the region. 

“Gone are the days of PDP 

when South-South 

governors dictated who 

becomes what in NDDC 

and expect returns on 

investment from their 

choice nominees.” 

Police ordered to produce detained 

journalist, Jalingo in court 

By Emma Una 

CALABAR—A Cross 

River State High 

Court sitting in Calabar, 

yesterday, granted an 

application by Atah 

Ochinke, counsel to Agba 

Jalingo, Cross River online 

journalist, who has been in 

police detention for over 

two weeks for him to be 

produced in court on 

Wednesday (tomorrow) to 

explain why he should 

continue to be kept in 

detention. 

Trial judge, Justice Franca 

Isoni, held that in 

compliance with the state’s 

law, the Criminal Justice 

Administration law signed 

into law by the Governor 

Ben Ayade's government in 

2017, which demands that 

a suspect must be arraigned 

within 24 hours of his or her 

arrest or be granted bail 

while investigation is 

ongoing, Jalingo should be 

brought before the court. 

The court also ordered the 

Police to be served through 

substituted means since the 

court’s bailiff has not been 

able to serve them with the 

suit. 

Speaking, Ochinke said 

the police have been 

evading service of suit and 

that the order granted by the 

court will enable him send 

the suit through courier 

which they (Police) cannot 

reject or claim ignorance of. 

He also stated that the 

charge handed by the police 

to his client while still in 

their detention does not 

amount to arraignment 

since he was not taken 

before any court where the 

charges were read to him. 

The matter was adjourned 

to Wednesday, for the police 

to produce Jalingo in court. 

Meanwhile, the 

Committee for the Defence 

of Human Rights, CDHR, 

has called for the 

unconditional release of the 

journalist, Jalingo. 

CDHR President, Mr 

Malachy Ugwunmmadu, 

in a statement noted that the 

charge against Agba was 

just filed on August 30, 2019, 

several weeks after his 

adoption without a detention 

•As CDHR calls for Jalingo's 

unconditional release 

order and in violation of his 

rights to liberty and 

movement under Ss. 34&40 

of the 1999 Constitution 

respectively. 

Ugwunmmadu said: “The 

charges filed are clearly by 

private legal practitioners 

who did not disclose 

their sources of authority in 

filing charges against Mr. 

Jalingo either as police 

officers or legal practitioners 

acting on behalf of the CP 

or IG except their claim as 

“Legal/Prosecution“ 

whatever that means. 

“I do not think they are 

W O R K - L I F E 

BALANCE: From left 

Peter Rufai, ex-Super 

Eagles International and 

T o u r n a m e n t 

Ambassador, Remita 

Corporate Champions 

Cup (RC3); John Obaro, 

Managing Director, 

SystemSpecs; Achenyo 

Obaro, Creative 

Director, MitiMeth and 

Deremi Atanda, 

Executive Director, 

SystemSpecs at the grand 

finale of the 2019 RC3 

Tournament in Lagos on 

Sunday. 

sufficiently covered by the 

Supreme Court authorities 

in FRN vs Osahon(2006)2 

S.C (Pt.11); (2006)5 

NWLR(Pt.973)361 or the 

earlier case of Sunday 

Olusemo vs COP (1998) 11 

NWLR. Assuming without 

conceding that they’re also 

police officers(who are also 

legal practitioners) their 

situations are made 

worse in terms of filing 

and prosecuting those 

charges by virtues of 

S.106 of the ACJA 2015.'' 

Wike seeks federal, state govts' 

partnership to fight oil theft 


GOVERNOR Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State has 

called on the Federal 

Government to come out 

strongly to partner the 

states to fight oil theft. 

Speaking during a 

courtesy Visit by by Konrad 

Adenauer (German 

Foundation) with Mr 

Andreas Lammel and Dr 

Joachim Pfeiffer of the 

German Federal 

Parliament, yesterday, at 

Government House, Port 

Harcourt, Wike reiterated 

that oil bunkering has 

continued to worsen 

because of the participation 

of security agencies. 

He said: “The issue of oil 

theft, some of the security 

agencies are part of it. 

When you see oil 

bunkering, the security 

agencies are involved. 

They are fully involved. If 


comes strongly and partner 

the states, you will find out 

that we will be able to solve 

some of the problems. 

“Also, we have the 

problem of politicisation of 

security. It is unfortunate in 

this country.” 

Wike said that the security 

framework of the state was 

negatively affected by oil 

majors patronising cult 

groups for surveillance jobs. 

He said that the Rivers 

State Security Council took 

a decision in liaison with the 

oil majors to stop the 

patronage of cult groups for 

such jobs. 

“We have told oil majors 

to patronise official state 

security agencies and stop 

patronising cult groups for 

surveillance jobs. This is 

because part of the problem 

is the oil majors continued 

patronage of cult groups,” 

he said. 

He called for collaboration 

with the German 

Government and the 

German Foundation in the 

fight against insecurity. 

Earlier, Country 

Representative of Konrad 

Adenauer (German 

Foundation) , Dr Vladimir 

Kreck said the visit was 

aimed at advancing 

economic development in 

the country. 

He said: “We have been 

providing support for the 

democratic development of 

Nigeria since 2001. In 

Rivers State, we have been 

providing capacity building 

for lawmakers and security 

agencies.” 

He said the foundation 

invited two German federal 

lawmakers to Nigeria to 

acquaint themselves on the 

economic development 

programmes of the country. 

Also speaking, a German 

federal lawmaker, Andreas 

Lammel said the main 

objective of the visit was to 

understand the economic 

development process and 

discuss oil production 

and development in 

Rivers State. 

Beware of fraudsters, Bayelsa monarch tells 

new NDDC director 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

Y founding ENAGOA—THE 

chairman, 

Bayelsa State Council of 

Traditional Rulers, King 

Joshua Igbugburu has 

counselled the new 

Executive Director, Finance 

and Administration, EDFA, 

of Niger Delta 


NDDC, Mr. Maxwell Oko, 

to maintain his integrity 

and good name throughout 

the period of his service in 

the commission. 

Igbugburu said he was 

confident that Oko will 

deliver, if he refused to be 

hoodwinked by fraudsters 

whom he said were killing 

the commission. 

This came as the 

president, Ijaw Youths 

Council, IYC, Pereotubo 

Oweilaemi challenged 

Oko not to disappoint those 

who believe in his 

forthrightness and ability to 

effect changes in the 

NDDC. 

Igbugburu expressed 

optimism that with Oko’s 

appointment, there is 

“hope that funds meant for 

the development of the 

Niger Delta and 

warehoused in the NDDC 

will henceforth be 

judiciously managed.”


Abia Poly workers threaten 

strike over salary arrears 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

U MUAHIA— 

WORKERS at Abia 

State Polytechnic, Aba, 

have threatened to embark 

on strike over 16 months 

arrears of salaries owed 

them. 

The workers, on the 

platform of Joint Council 

of Senior Staff Association 

of Nigerian Polytechnics, 

SSANIP, and Non- 

Academic Staff Union, 

NASU, stated that it had 

given the management of 

the institution from Friday, 

August 30, to Friday, 

September 12, to pay the 

16 months outstanding 

salaries owed them since 

May 2018. 

In a statement by 

chairman, SSANIP, Chris 

IN line with the interim 

recommendations 

submitted by the 

Administrative Panel set 

up to look into the remote 

and immediate causes of 

the challenges facing 

Olabisi Onabanjo 

University Teaching 

Hospital, OOUTH, Ogun 

State Governor, Prince 

Dapo Abiodun, has 

approved the immediate 

recruitment of resident 

doctors for the health 

institution. 

To be recruited are 

doctors, nurses, 

pharmacists, laboratory 

scientists and all other 

categories and cadres of 

healthcare professionals. 

Prince Abiodun ordered 

that advertisement should 

be immediately rolled out 

in all departments where 

manpower shortage 

exists, adding that 

recruitment should take 

immediate effect. 

In a statement by the 

Nwachukwu and 

chairperson, NASU, 

Aforole Chidinma, the 

workers also demanded 

the payment of all union 

check-off dues, 

promotion arrears as 

well as cooperative 

funds without further 

delay. 

The workers further 

urged the management 

to shelve any plan to 

downsize staff until all 

salaries are paid. 

The statement warned 

that the workers will 

embark on an indefinite 

strike if the demands are 

not met at the expiration 

of the ultimatum. 

Contacted, Public 

Relations Officer of the 

Polytechnic, Mrs 

Chinyere Eze refused to 

comment on the issue. 

Ogun commences 

recruitment at OOUTH 

By Chinonso Alozie 

IMO State government 

yesterday, said it is 

investigating the funds 

that accrued to Imo State 

Oil Producing Areas 

Development 

Commission, ISOPADEC, 

in the past eight years. 

Managing Director of 

ISOPADEC, Anthony 

Okwuosha disclosed this 

to newsmen in Owerri 

through his Special 

Adviser on Media, 

Collins Ughallaa. 

According to 

Okwuosha, the oil 

communities have been 

faced with a plethora of 

challenges which include 

Chief Press Secretary, 

Kunle Somorin, the nineman 

committee chaired 

by Dr. Yemi Onabowale, 

Chief Medical Director 

of Reddington Hospital, 

advised government to 

recruit competent 

medical doctors to fill all 

the manpower shortage 

at the teaching hospital. 

The governor had 

frowned at the infrastructure 

and staff deficits 

when he visited the 

hospital in June. He had 

also promised to return 

the tertiary healthcare 

facility to its past glory. 

While inaugurating the 

committee, he charged 

members to assess the 

operational modalities of 

the hospital and to 

suggest how to improve 

the standard in tandem 

with acceptable 

universal standard for 

medical training, 

research and tertiary 

health care services. 

Imo govt to probe ISOPADEC 

environmental 

degradation, insecurity, 

youths restiveness, 

unemployment, poverty 

and lack of amenities. 

According to the 

statement, “ISOPADEC 

is leaving no stone 

unturned in addressing 

the challenges the new 

management and board 

inherited in the oilproducing 

communities. 

“Despite initial 

challenges following the 

rot the government met 

upon assumption of 

office, the commission is 

doing a lot in line with 

its mandate and in 

keeping with the 

Rebuild Imo Agenda. 

We’re endangered in Benue, Ndigbo cry out 

By Dennis Agbo 

E NUGU—IGBO 

communities in 

various parts of Benue 

State, particularly in Gboko, 

have raised the alarm that 

their lives were no longer 

safe in the state, following 

spates of targeted 

kidnappings and murder 

of Igbo in the state “by 

native gangs, suspected to 

be herdsmen and bandits.” 

According to prominent 

members of the Igbo 

community in Gboko, led 

by a businessman, Chief 

Nnolim Okafor, “there is no 

week an Igbo person is not 

kidnapped or murdered in 

Benue State and we have 

been subjected to paying 

millions of naira in 

ransoms. 

“We can no longer do our 

businesses freely for fear of 

being kidnapped or 

Udu leaders disown statement indicting PSML 

By Agbonkhese Oboh 

LEADERS of Udu 

communities, host to 

Premium Steel and Mines 

Limited, PSML (former 

Delta Steel Company), 

Ovwian-Aladja, has 

disowned a statement 

credited to them, allegedly 

indicting the management 

of PSML of assets 

stripping, declaring that the 

statement was cooked up by 

enemies to discredit the 

new management. 

In a statement by Elder 

Otto Ogbiruveta, 

President-General of 

Aladja community, and 

Chief Matthew Uparan, 


Ovwian community, the 

murdered. Since January, 

we have had over 50 Igbo 

persons kidnapped and 

some murdered in coldblood 

by bandits and 

suspected herdsmen.” 

Speaking at a press 

briefing in Enugu 

yesterday, Nnolim said all 

efforts to get the security 

agencies and Benue State 

government to address the 

matter have fallen on deaf 

ears, adding “Igbo in 

leaders said: “The report 

was laced with mischief, 

libellous content and the 

height of destructive 

political tomfoolery concocted 

to whip up sentiments 

against the good intention 

of PSML management and 

delay the process of 

resuscitation of the plant. 

“They said the host 

communities, led by Mr. 

Ellias Dogene, President- 

General of Aladja 

community and Chief 

Matthew Uparan, 


Ovwian community, as 

well as Emmanuel 

Kpomanefe, President- 

General of Ekete 

community made some 

complaints of assets 

Benue State are being 

systematically decimated 

and our businesses are 

gradually being ruined by 

these kidnappers and 

bandits.” 

One of the businessmen, 

Mr. Ikem Ani, also 

lamented that Igbo in 

Benue have been 

subjected to untold 

hardship and security of 

their lives is no longer 

guaranteed. 

IMO @ NBA CONFAB: From left— Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Imo State, Mr. 

Ndukwe Nnawuchi(SAN); Special Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Naeto Chikwe, and Imo State Liaison Officer 

in Lagos, Anthony Abili, during the 2019 NBA annual general conference in Lagos. 

Acknowledge my projects, 

Okorocha tells Ihedioha in Imo 

By Chinonso Alozie 

O WERRI—THE 

immediate past 

governor of Imo State, 

Rochas Okorocha 

yesterday, called on 

Governor Emeka Ihedioha 

to recognize his 

(Okorocha) projects and 

their economic benefits to 

the people of the state at 

home and the Diaspora. 

Okorocha spoke in 

Owerri through his Special 

Adviser on Media, Sam 

Onwuemeodo, while 

urging the governor to 

open the international 

cargo airport built in his 

time as governor. 

Senator Okorocha, who 

currently represents Imo 

West Senatorial District, 

asked Ihedioha to allow 

judges use the ultramodern 

Justice Oputa 

High Court Complex built 

by his administration. 

According to the release, 

“Governor Emeka Ihedioha 

should be advised by wellmeaning 

Imo citizens to 

open the Imo International 

Cargo Airport built by the 

former governor, Rochas 

Okorocha’s administration 

for operations, which the 

Vice President, Professor 

Yemi Osinbajo, 

commissioned. 

“Opening of that airport 

has become increasingly 

necessary following 

Federal Government’s 

moves to close Enugu 

Airport for renovation. 

“Although Okorocha built 

the cargo airport, it does not 

belong to him but to Imo 

people whose money in the 

first place, was used in 

financing the project. 

“The governor should 

look beyond Okorocha and 

see what the state and her 

people stand to benefit if 

the cargo airport is opened 

for operations. 

“The governor should 

also be advised to allow 

judges or the state judiciary 

move to the ultra-modern 

Justice Oputa High Court 

Complex which the Chief 

Justice of the Federation, 

Justice Ibrahim 

Muhammad, described as 

the best across the nation. 

“It is also proper to advise 

Governor Ihedioha to move 

the Police to the new Police 

Headquarters and the 

prisons to the new Prisons 

Headquarters built by 

Okorocha's administration 

along Aba Road. 

“Ihedioha should equally 

be asked to open the two 

fly-overs built by Okorocha 

which he closed few days 

after his inauguration and 

also reduce the rate of 

playing politics with 

projects that have direct 

bearing with the people.” 

stripping against PSML. 

“Nothing could be further 

from the truth. Dogene is 

the Manager, Community 

Affairs to PSML and 

couldn’t have signed any 

statement indicting his own 

place of work. Besides, 

Elder Otto Ogbiruveta is 

the President-General of 

Aladja. This contradiction 

alone is enough to put a lie 

to the entire piece. 

“Also, the President of 

Udu youths is Emmanuel 

Esiefarienrhe and not 

Freeborn Ovwemejepha, 

who purportedly made a 

statement indicting PSML. 

“Esiefarienrhe, who is 

from Aladja, denied authorising 

any statement regarding 

assets stripping.”


CONVENTION: From left, Mrs Folashade Adegoke; Dr Samson Adewale Adegoke, Guest Speaker; 

Dr Adejoke Alayande, President, Ogbomosho Sons and Daughters in North America, Oba Francis 

Olusola Alao, Olugbon of Igbon, and Olori Adedoyin Alao, during the 24th Annual Convention of 

Ogbomosho Sons and Daughters in North America, OSDNA, New Jersey, USA, Sunday. 

My business as a gov was to spend 

money, says Yari 

IMMEDIATE 

past 

governor of Zamfara State, 

Abdulaziz Yari, has dared 

anyone with evidence of 

corruption against him to 

present it, declaring that while 

in office, his business was to 

spend money for the 


its people. 

Yari gave the challenge 

when leaders of All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

in the state visited him at his 

in Talata Mafara residence in 

Zamfara on Sunday. 

According to him, “I 

challenge anyone who says I 

personalised government 

property or funds within and 

outside the country while as 

governor to come forward and 

expose me. As a governor, my 

business was to spend money, 

which is what I did, but that 

was in line with the 


for the benefit of the good 


"We, as true believers, know 

that any action that comes for 

or against us is from Allah and 

those who think they can 

neutralise, break or bring us 

down cannot succeed. 

“When we first won elections 

in 2011, we had no 

government at either federal, 

state or local government 

levels and we consolidated 

this with our second term in 

office, so I know that hope 

cannot be lost now that we 

have government at the 

centre, at the local 

government and at the wards 

levels. 

“I prayed to Allah in 2011 

not to support me if my 

administration will not benefit 

my people, having served two 

successful terms means that 

Allah has been with us that is 

why l wants to assure you that 

we shall come out stronger 

than before.” 

A transition committee set 

up by Governor Bello 

Matawalle had alleged that 

Yari misappropriated N251 

billion but the former governor 

denied the allegation and 

accused the new 

administration of witchhunting 

him. 

OML25: Rivers communities seek UN’s support to 

stop return of Shell 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

THE host communities of 

Oil Mining Lease, 

OML25, in Kula Kingdom, 

Akuku-Toru Local 

Government Area of Rivers 

State, Offion-Ama, Belema 

and Ngeje, have called on 

the United Nations, UN, to 

intervene in their struggle 

against return of Shell 

Petroleum Development 

Company, SPDC, to operate 

the shut oil field. 

The community made this 

call when a former 

Commissioner of 

Information and 

Communications in Rivers 

State, Dr. Austin Tam- 

George, led a team of civil 

society delegations on a factfinding 

visit to the oil field 

shut two years ago and the 

host communities. 

Speaking on behalf of the 

Offion-Ama Council of 

Chiefs, Chief-elect, Chief 

Mpakabuari Welsch, called 

on the UN to intervene in 

the struggle, adding that the 

communities do not want 

Shell’s return. 

Welsch noted that SDPC 

had operated the oil field for 

a period of 40 years and had 

not left any developmental 

imprint in the area, stressing 

that the communities still live 

in total neglect. 

He expressed worry that 

the residents, who were 

predominantly fishermen/ 

women had been chased out 

of business, noting that the 

waters and the environment 

had been destroyed. 

He said: “This is the third 

time we are shutting down 

this facility because of 

SPDC’s neglect. We have 

entered into Memorandum 

of Understanding, MoU, 

with them for over three times 

and they have not 

implemented any." 

However, Dr. Tam-George, 

urged the community to 

maintain peace and not to 

resort to violence in their 

quest for justice. 

NDDC appointments: Ijaw group condemns 

govs' interference 

By Gab Ejuwa 

DELTA Ijaw Political 

Machineries has 

condemned the interference 

of governors of oil-producing 

states in the recent 

appointments of some 

persons into Niger Delta 


NDDC, board by President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 


governors of the oilproducing 

states had at a 

meeting last Thursday in 

Abuja rejected the 

composition of the board of 

the NDDC and some 

appointments made into the 

board of the commission by 

Buhari. 

But in reaction to action of 

the governors, Delta Ijaw 

Political Machineries in a 

statement by its National 

Coordinator, Mr. Stanley 

Garry said it was the 

prerogative of the president 

to appoint persons of his 

choice to man positions of 

authority in federal agencies, 

parastatals and boards. 

He said: “President Buhari 

has stated it clearly that it is 

only the Ministry of Niger 

Delta Affairs that has the 

controlling authority to 

supervise the affairs and 

activities of the NDDC. So 

governors of oil-producing 

states have no powers to 

nominate persons for Mr. 

President. He is the only one 

who has the privilege to do 

so.” 

The group expressed 

support for the appointment 

of Dr. Pius Odubu and Mr. 

Bernard Okumagba as 

Chairman and Managing 

Director of NDDC 

respectively. 

Canadian hospital partners 

Viewpoint Hospital on services 

to Nigerians 

ACanadian Specialist 

Hospital, CSH, is 

partnering Viewpoint 

Hospital, Gwarinpa, Abuja, to 

bring world class medical 

service to Nigerians. 

CSH, a multi specialty 

hospital located in Abu 

Hail,Dubai began operations 

in 2004. 

The seven-storey facility 

with more than 30 medical 

specialties and sub specialties 

offers world class and expert 

medical services to patients 

from all over the globe, 

including Nigeria. 

Mr. Anoop Achuthan, 

Head of Business 

Development of the hospital, 

"Canadian Specialist Hospital 

started our service in 

association with Viewpoint 

Hospital Opposite Ritman 

Hotel, Gwaripa FHA, Abuja 

from April 2019. This will help 

Nigerians to avoid travelling 

abroad for medical needs. 

"Every month CSH will 

send their expert doctors in 

various specialties like 

cardiology, orthopaedics, 

general surgery, neuro 

surgery etc to Viewpoint 

Hospital in Abuja. 

"CSH will try to provide 

insurance coverage for 

Nigerians for their healthcare 

needs. As part of CSH 

activities, we offer free 

surgeries to patients who 

cannot afford the cost in 

association with the NGOs." 

Ban armed herdsmen in 

S-South, PANDEF tells govs 

By Emma 

Amaize, Regional 

Editor, Niger Delta 

A SABA—PAN-Niger 

Delta Forum, PANDEF, 

the mouthpiece of traditional 

rulers, leaders and 

stakeholders of the coastal 

states of Niger Delta, 

yesterday, asked South-South 

governors to stop the 

movement of armed 

herdsmen in the region like 

their South-East counterparts 

did, few days ago. 

Reacting to claim by some 

Northern leaders that South- 

East governors had no 

powers to ban inter- state 

movement of herders, the 

regional group, in a 

statement, by National 

Secretary, Dr Alfred Mulade, 

said the decision of the South- 

East governors was in order. 

“The South-South 

Ugbolu Oliza new yam festival 

begins 

AS the the celebration of 

2019 annual new yam 

festival by the people of 

Ugbolu Oliza community in 

Oshimili North Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State begins, the traditional 

ruler and Diokpa Isi of the 

community, His Royal 

Majesty, Christopher Amon 

Okonkwo, yesterday, 

performed the official 

pronouncement of Ika-nze 

ceremony to declare the 

beginning of a one-month 

activities to mark the 

celebration of the new yam 

of the people of Ugbolu Oliza 

community. 

Speaking at his palace, 

Diokpa Isi Amon Okonkwo 

told newsmen that the 

occasion would also be used 

by his subjects to thank God 

and the ancestors for a 

bountiful harvest and good 

governors should take a cue 

from the South-East 

governors and toe the same 

path,” it said, saluting the 

governors for their good 

intention and courage. 

According to PANDEF, “it 

is a decision well taken to 

safeguard the lives and 

property of the South-East 

people from herdsmen, who 

bear dangerous weapons. 

“Open grazing and an 

unhindered movement of 

herdsmen constitute security 

risk, especially when the 

Federal Government is 

unable to arrest any of these 

AK-47- bearing herdsmen, 

who kill and destroy innocent 

and defenceless Nigerians. 

“You do not expect a state 

governor to keep quiet and 

condone killings of his 

people by herdsmen whom 


cannot deal with.” 

Tension in Delta community 

over ploy to form 

independent monarchy 

UGHELLI— TENSION 

is brewing among 

indigenes of Ewu kingdom in 

Ughelli South Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State over moves by some 

persons from the kingdom to 

form an independent 

monarchy from the domain. 

Meanwhile, some 

indigenes of the kingdom on 

the aegis of Ewu Clan 

Development Union, ECDU, 

yesterday, vowed to protect 

and keep Ewu kingdom as a 

united entity against ploy to 

carve out any monarchy from 

it. 

The indigenes of the 

kingdom in an open letter to 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

affirmed that Ewu kingdom is 

made up of 17 towns closely 

knitted under the traditional 

and customary authority of one 

king addressed as the Ovie 

of Ewu kingdom. 

The letter by ECDU 

President-General and 

Secretary, Prof. Arthur 

Ekpekpo and Pastor Edewor 

Egedegbe respectively read 

in part: “The vexatious aspect 

of the self declaration by this 

subject is that in every 

ramification, he is not qualified 

to be an Ovie (king) in Ewu 

kingdom as the ascendancy 

to the royal throne of the Ovie 

of Ewu is well regulated by a 

time hallowed tradition. 

“The declaration of 

Gbaregolor town as a 

kingdom is selfish, over 

ambitious and unilateral 

attempt to break up the 

indivisible and united 

kingdom of Ewu. We the 

undersigned shall resist him 

through lawful means. 

“We refused to take laws 

into our hands but rather 

imploy you to use your good 

office to call this individual 

to order to renounce his self 

appointed Ovieship of 

Gbaregolor town and 

respected title of Justice of 

Peace as a person who is a 

security threat cannot hold 

such a hallowed title.” 

health in the years ahead and 

enjoined all indigenes of the 

community at home and in 

diaspora to make themselves 

available and participate in 

the celebration which will also 

show case the rich cultural 

heritage of the people of the 

community. 

Also speaking, a 

community leader and 

spokesman of the community 

(Onu Diokpa), Chief 

Nnayelugo Obiokolo, stated 

that the new yam festival was 

a significant aspect of the 

culture and tradition of the 

people of Ugbolu Oliza, 

being one of the foremost 

agricultural producing areas 

in the country, adding that 

the ceremony will also 

afforded interaction among 

the citizens and visitors as 

well as afford the opportunity 

for socio-economic 

development of the 

community.

36—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMEBER 3, 2019 

SMS only: 08088693107 

Email: ebellistic@yahoo.co.uk 

We don’t have leaders 

but political office holders 

— Bishop Nissi 

Bishop Joshua Nissi is the co-coordinator, New Testament Life 

Mission with headquarters in Lagos. In this interview with Vanguard, 

Nissi who says he knows the history of every government that has passed 

through this nation, what they did and what they failed to do since 1965, 

speaks on various issues concerning Nigeria and the way forward. He 

says Nigeria's problems are as a result of ethnicity, religion and selfishness 

and her ability to handle her issues will determine whether she can be 

relevant in the scheme of things globally. Excerpts: 

By Ebele Orakpo 

Was this the Nigeria you 

grew up in? 

While growing up, things 

were quite different. I was 

about 7-8 years old when the 

civil war started. I know the 

history of every government in 

this nation, what they did and 

what they failed to do. In terms 

of technology, we are better off 

now but we had better life then 

in terms of security, unity and 

oneness. Apart from the civil 

war, Nigeria was quite united. 

But today, we are so divided, 

quite unfortunate! It worsened 

in the past 10 years because 

pockets of individuals and 

ethnic groups as well as 

religious affiliations started 

becoming a nuisance in the 

system, creating a lot of unrest 

and making life more difficult 

for the citizens. Most people 

now talk about themselves and 

their tribes and not Nigeria 

because they feel 

marginalised. People are more 

interested in their tribesmen; 

we have more sectional 

leaders today. 

Leadership 

We don’t have leaders in 

Nigeria; we only have political 

office holders. A leader is 

responsible for the success of 

the people and everything rises 

and falls with the leader so 

when the leaders concentrate 

more on their own tribes, there 

is a serious problem. 

Unfortunately, it seems Nigeria 

got independence prematurely 

and that is why we are the way 

we are. Under colonialism, we 

were like slaves and when we 

got freedom prematurely, we 

did not know how to handle it. 

The late Dr. Myles Munroe 

wrote a book on the Burden of 

freedom. We got freedom and it 

became a burden because we did 

not know how to handle it. When 

privileged slaves handle the 

affairs of a nation, because they 

never saw freedom or wealth, 

they kept everything for 

themselves and never showed 

interest in the people. So we 

need to re-educate ourselves and 

revisit values. 

When that is done, people will 

know what it means to be a 

successful nation. Nigeria is 

wealthy but it is in the hands of 

a few so out of the about 200 

million people, (we don’t know 

our exact population because of 

the way it is configured, so that 

an interest group can claim to 

be more populous than the rest). 

We have always had cabals in 

Nigeria and it’s getting worse. 

They grab everything, arrogate 

power to themselves and 

perpetuate themselves in power. 

I am glad there is more 

awareness now than before. 

Insecurity 

Insecurity in Nigeria requires 

very pragmatic approach which 

unfortunately, the various 

governments did not take head 

on. I believe government is not 

totally oblivious of the 

perpetrators but they may be 

sacred cows; some people 

in leadership may be part 

of it, so it’s a moral 

burden. However, if the 

leaders want a solution, 

it's not difficult. Find out 

the real perpetrators and block 

their supplies and support, cage 

those who are here and pick up 

those who are behind it. Once 

these ones are taken, those on 

the street can only work for a 

while and get tired because they 

will no longer have support. 

Intelligence-gathering 

I am not a security expert but 

my little exposure in 

management tells me that 

security is more of intelligencegathering 

than carrying gun and 

blocking roads. They have 

suffered us so much and we have 

not seen what has come out of 

it. What they need is information. 

I travelled for over 12 hours by 

road in the US and there was no 

single road block. Even through 

the night, you won’t see a 

policeman stop anybody. It 

shows they work. 

Prejudices 

If government is sincere, 

some nations have gone 

through what we are going 

through so they can borrow a 

leaf from them but sometimes 

either out of pride or other 

prejudices, they fail to do so. 

For instance, if Israel offers to 

help and you are pro-Middle 

East, you won't want anything 

to do with those who can help 

you because of these 

prejudices. 

Farmers/herders clashes 

With the farmers/herders 

clashes, serious hunger is 

coming because people cannot 

farm. Government must do 

something about it. I know they 

know what to do. Ruga, cattle 

colony, ranch etc. won't work. 

Cattle rearing is a personal 

business so government should 

only create an enabling 

environment for all,whether 

cassava, oil palm or grains 

farmers or those rearing 

animals,and not by sponsoring 

any particular set of farmers. If 

you want cattle rearers to live 

in ranches (by the way, 

anybody can rear animals), 

they should open it up and not 

continue to perpetuate the 

same type of people, believing 

that the rest can’t do it. I know 

about the farming system in 

South Africa. We don’t hear of 

these clashes there. Meat is 

surplus in South Africa, 

America, Europe and Asia. 

How many herds of cattle do 

we have in Nigeria? India 

alone has much more than 

Nigeria and they don’t eat up 

their crops. I believe that if we 

If the leaders want 

a solution, it's not 

difficult; find out the 

real perpetrators 

and block their 

supplies and 

support, cage those 

who are here and 

pick up those who 

are behind it 

have a more exposed, balanced 

and broad mindset, we will 

solve the farmer/herder 

problem. People are using the 

herders, they have not always 

been like this. In my state, Kogi, 

people no longer go to farm but 

if you must go, you must not 

go alone so that if anything 

happens to you, someone can 

report it. People are being killed 

daily. 

Education sector 

I believe government should 

upscale the standard of 

education, make more funds 

available to the sector. People 

who are informed will get better. 

Most people become suicide 

bombers because they are not 

exposed so the perpetrators 

capitalise on their ignorance. You 

can’t make me a suicide bomber 

because I have people I know I 

am pivotal to their progress in 

life so why should I kill myself 

in one single transaction and 

•Bishop Joshua Nissi 

they pay money which I don’t 

know how it will be spent? 

Economy 

We have to get the best of 

brains who can give us the 

blueprint on the way forward for 

the economy so that we won’t be 

having terrible economic 

depression. Of course all over 

the world, there are problems 

economically but it is the one 

that concerns us that matter most. 

You must be alive first before you 

can talk about global peace. Our 

ability to handle our own will 

determine whether we can be 

relevant in the scheme of things 

globally. 

Religious leaders 

The religious leaders should 

teach people the truth. Honestly, 

our problems are being 

escalated because religious 

leaders are not doing the proper 

thing. I do my best to preach the 

truth. If we all preach the truth, 

tell people that it’s not all about 

getting rich; you must be 

interested in the general 

progress of people. What will you 

gain if you own everything and 

others own nothing and you are 

idolised as a small god in your 

community? Let more people 

live a good life, even if they 

don’t have surplus and be a 

factor that is making it happen 

instead of impoverishing them 

through embezzlement and 

oppression. 

Reserved ones 

I believe there are pockets of 

people who are reserved that 

God wants to use for this 

assignment because God will 

not leave us without a remnant, 

otherwise, there will be no 

hope. We'll keep enlightening 

our people that the collective 

success of the nation is better 

than the success of a few 

individuals. When you are the 

only very rich man in an 

environment, you are at risk 

because they see no reason 

why you alone should be having 

everything when others have 

nothing. That is why you buy 

bullet-proof car for almost 

N100m. Won't you come out of 

the car? That’s rubbish! 

If we don’t arrest the situation, 

life is going to be more difficult 

for the rich in the next few years. 

Kidnapping is on the rise; it’s 

wrong and ungodly but we 

created the environment for it. 

Mr. A who probably didn’t 

have school cert becomes a 

member of the House of Reps, 

earning over N30m a month 

and Mr. B who was his school 

mate and was always leading 

the class, has been holding one 

job for ages and can’t boast of 

N150,000 a month, a big 

problem has been created. 

There's no reason why these 

people should be overpaid and 

promptly too, while those who 

are working hard for about 35 

years, can’t save N150,000 and 

many are owed for as long as 

one year. In my state, some 

people have not been paid for a 

year and some people’s salaries 

have been cut by 30 per cent. 

Altruism 

If we have people who are 

altruistic, the nation will 

develop. I pray that God will 

raise people who are interested 

in the welfare of others. Buhari 

told us that he belonged to 

everybody and to no one. We 

thought he was altruistic but 

down the road, we discovered 

it was just to create an 

impression in people’s minds. 

Balance 

We are praying that God will 

gradually replace those who 

don't have the interest of the 

nation at heart with those who 

will develop the nation. We 

must be delivered from this 

hostage by God's grace so our 

young ones who have the 

interest of the nation at heart will 

come in. I am not advocating that 

only youths will lead the nation 

because we need some level of 

experience and the benefit of 

hindsight to be able to get things 

working well. Everything must 

be balanced. 

How does the church handle 

security issues? 

Well, we can carry it to an 

extreme, but I believe that God 

is our ultimate protector. You 

won’t see any security here, it 

looks stupid but because I have 

nothing to hide and have not 

offended anybody, I don’t go 

with escorts. I have no secret 

deals anywhere with anybody. 

But again, I'm not against 

putting up a little bit of checks. 

We are vigilant but more than 

that, we pray because even if 

you keep 10 policemen here, if 

real terrorists come, they can’t 

stop them. Once we are under 

God's shadow, we are covered. 

I believe in balance; while we 

keep an eagle eye, we make 

sure we don’t overdo it because 

sometimes when you bring too 

much security around you, 

people know you are protecting 

something. Where I live, the 

people said we should gather 

money and get a police station. 

We did and that was when 

armed robbers started attacking 

us almost every night so some 

of us had to start taking other 

security measures, including 

dogs; I don’t like dogs but I have 

no choice. We keep praying for 

God to help us because dogs 

can’t stop real armed robbers.

Cows are now more important than 

human beings in Nigeria 

IN the Bible, Jesus cast a 

legion of demons out of a 

demon-possessed man. However, 

he cast the demons into 2,000 pigs 

nearby. Immediately, the pigs ran 

over a cliff, fell into the sea and 

drowned. When the villagers heard 

about this miracle, they were not 

pleased. How could 2,000 pigs be 

destroyed just in order for one 

“useless” man to be delivered? As 

far as they were concerned, 2,000 

pigs were far more valuable than one 

demon-possessed man. 

Therefore, they came to Jesus and 

pleaded with him to please leave not 

just their town, but their region. His 

presence was obviously too costly for 

them. 

Cows and men 

In the past four years, Nigerians 

have been confronted with the 

dilemma of cows being more 

important than men. Fulani 

herdsmen attack farms wielding 

AK47 rifles; and they kill the rightful 

owners for the sake of obtaining 

feeding grounds for their cows. 

Presidential spokesman, Femi 

Adesina, even went as far as advising 

Nigerians that it is better to give up 

their lands than be killed. This only 

seem to suggest that when push 

comes to shove, the government 

would rather protect the cows of the 

Fulani herdsmen than protect the 

lives of farmers and their families. 

How did we get here? How did 

we come to this pass? How did we 

so lose our humanity in Nigeria? It 

was a long time coming but we 

finally arrived at a calamitous 

destination. We got here through an 

insidious but systematic disregard 

for human life. We got here because, 

over the years, we have become a 

stone-hearted people who have no 

regard for our fellowmen. We don’t 

care what happens to Nigerians and 

don’t even seem to care what 

happens to us. 

We put in office people who rob us 

blind. We celebrate armed robbers 

and pen robbers. Our heroes are 

murderers and charlatans. We hail 

those who don’t care a hoot whether 

we live or die. 

Official neglect 

A few years ago, the government 

passed a legislation criminalising 

homosexuality in Nigeria without 

regard for the implication of this for 

fighting the scourge of HIV/ 

AIDS. After South Africa, Nigeria 

has the highest number of people 

living with HIV/AIDS in the 

world. Who cares if by criminalising 

homosexuality, homosexual patients 

are discouraged from seeking such 

medical treatment as are available 

locally? Let them die; and if they 

don’t, we can certainly stone them to 

death if we ever discover they are 

homosexuals. 

The Boko Haram go to churches 

to kill Christians. Christians go to 

church prayer-meetings to kill their 

enemies. Atheists go to babalawos 

to negotiate death-sentences for their 

rivals. It is no longer a big deal to 

hear ofi herdsmen killing the 

innocent, or of area-boys executing 

jungle-justice in our streets. It is now 

all par for the course. 

Let us face it: there is no regard 

for human life in Nigeria. In 

Nigeria, we love life but promote and 

encourage death. We lavishly 

celebrate births, but disregard 

children after they are born. 

The Israelis would move heaven 

and earth to protect and defend the 

life of one 

Israeli. But 

governments in 

Nigeria don’t 

give a damn 

whether a 

Nigerian lives or 

dies. Over three 

m i l l i o n 

Nigerians were 

slaughtered in a 

three-year civil 

war; and yet 

there is no 

national 

memorial 

commemorating 

our loss. The 

victims are 

gone, what else 

is new. 

Murder 

incorporated 

How much is 

a human-being 

worth in 

Nigeria? Not 

more than the 

cost of a hearty 

meal in a 

“Mama-put.” If 

you want 

someone killed, 

you don’t have 

to break the 

bank. You can 

get a contractkiller 

for as little 

as N1,000 and 

the job will be 

done. The list of 

unresolved 

murders is so 

long, you begin 

to wonder what 

exactly the 

Nigeria Police is 

doing. From 

Dele Giwa, to 

Alfred Rewane, 

to Anthony 

Ikhazoboh, to 

Bola Ige, to 

Harry Marshal, 


to Funso Willams; to Olakunri 

Fasoranti, Nigerians continue to get 

slaughtered without any reprieve. 

If someone were to kill you today, 

the only people who may blink an 

eye are members of your 

household. Even they may be more 

concerned with sharing your 

property than with prosecuting your 

killers. As people come ostensibly 

to commiserate with your relatives 

about your death, so would they be 

asking if they can have your 

spanking stereo system. 

When I was living in a block of flats, 

our “maiguard” got drunk one night 

and was killed by a hit-and-run 

driver. His friends sent a delegation 

to the tenants, saying they needed 

money to send him home for 

burial. We contributed money and 

gave it to them. But as we watched 

from the window, they gathered 

round and shared the money among 

themselves. Who cares? The man 

is dead. 

Medical deaths 

By the law of averages, if you are a 

Nigerian the chances are high that 

you will be dead before your 40 th 

birthday. It is amazing how many 

people kick the bucket after 

proverbially “brief illnesses”. We 

have hospitals where doctors can go 

on strike for months, while the 

government dilly-dallies. Indeed, 

hospitals are places where Nigerians 

go to die. If a relative of yours has to 

undergo surgery in Nigeria, it is time 

for fasting and prayer. 

You can even go to a hospital for 

vaccination against a disease and 

end up dead from that very disease 

because of an overdose of the 

vaccine. That is what killed my only 

sister, Yemisi, at the tender age of 18. 

It should be against the law in 

Nigeria for government officials to 

seek medical treatment abroad for 

any ailment whatsoever. Let them 

improve the medical facilities here 

at home or face the music with 

everyone else. 

We keep discovering new ways to 

send people to early graves. We sell 

fake drugs, knowing they can either 

Our heroes are 

murderers and 

charlatans; we 

hail those who 

don’t care a hoot 

whether we live 

or die 

kill the sick or ensure that they live 

like vegetables. We pile up rubbish 

in the streets, not caring that this 

makes us prone to diseases. We 

pump oil out of the Niger Delta 

without regard for the pollution of 

the environment. The oil companies 

know they can get away with murder 

in Nigeria, doing things in our 

country that would bankrupt them if 

they dared to do them at home. 

Wasted lives 

In Nigeria, we produce children, 

without sparing a thought for how 

they would be cared for. You can 

have a messenger in an office, 

earning N18,000 a month; 

nevertheless, he is the father of 12 

children. How does he expect to 

take care of them? He does not! He 

expects them to take care of him. 

From an early age, he distributes 

some among his relatives. He sends 

out the “leftovers” as sellers of 

chewing-gum and groundnuts on the 

streets. They become street-urchins 

and beggars required to make daily 

returns to him. What does it matter 

if they grow up to be kidnappers and 

armed-robbers? 

Because human life is disregarded, 

a whole segment of our population 

still cannot read and write in this day 

and age. Because we have no regard 

for life, our policemen are as equally 

likely to shoot you and kill you as 

they are to protect you. If you are 

more fortunate, they might arrest you 

merely for walking on the streets and 

lock you up for 10 years without 

trial. 

How many men have you ever 

heard of going to jail for raping 

women in Nigeria? It is not because 

Nigerians are not rapists like others, 

but because in Nigeria rape is no big 

a deal. Neither is marrying underaged 

girls. That actually happens to 

be the preferred pastime of our 

distinguished politicians. 

University lecturers go on a strike 

for six months. Nobody seems to 

care that this constitutes wasted 

months or years in the life of hapless 

students. In serious countries, such 

neglect might be enough to bring 

down a government. Not in Nigeria. 

We all know our university 

education is largely useless anyway. 

Most graduates in Nigeria cannot 

write a sentence of English correctly 

without “firing bullets”. What does it 

matter if they waste time while 

lecturers and the government stare 

each other down? Everyone knows 

when they graduate, they will waste 

even more time looking for nonexistent 

jobs. 

Nobody cares 

In our cities, you can go to work in 

the morning and find a dead man 

lying on the street. When you come 

back in the evening, you are likely to 

find him still there. Nobody really 

cares. Nobody cares that, as a result 

of being the highest users of 

generators in the world, we are killing 

ourselves with the fumes. Nobody 

cares that our women are dying by 

the tens of thousands from ingesting 

the smoke from cooking with 

firewood all day long. 

Nobody cares that our orthopedic 

hospitals now have glorified “Okada 

wards,” full of people maimed and 

crippled by naira-drunk 

motorcyclists. Nobody cares that 

our flea-markets and supermarkets 

sell expired foods and our so-called 

pure water is responsible for the high 

incidence of typhoid. 

When they discourage the smoking 

of cigarettes in the West because of 

medically-proven research that it 

causes a lorry-load of deadly 

diseases, the tobacco industry finds 

a high-growth market in Nigeria 

with every encouragement from our 

easily-bought legislators. 

Our mechanics put fake spareparts 

in our cars, not caring a hoot if 

that makes us vulnerable to 

accidents. In Nigeria, if you are not 

killed while driving on the road, you 

can be killed while walking on the 

sidewalk because the Okada-rider 

or the “Keke Marwa” driver does not 

believe the sidewalk is reserved for 

pedestrians. 

Corruption deaths 

Can you imagine it if the missing 

Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 

had been a Nigerian plane full of 

Nigerians? Would the Nigerian 

government have been particularly 

bothered to spend money in search 

of the plane? After all, what are 239 

missing Nigerians in a country of 170 

million? 

There are so many Nigerians; we 

are easily expendable. Even if the 

government were to budget funds to 

search for the missing plane, it would 

not be amiss for some public officials 

to pocket the money. After all, the 

people are already dead. Why waste 

time and money looking for the dead? 

When the livelihood of a hapless 

street-seller was confiscated by 

government officials, she appealed 

to the governor of her state who was 

put in office to seek her wellbeing. 

“What will I do now?” she 

asked him in earnest. The governor’s 

response has become a national 

anthem of Nigerian officialdom. 

He said to her: “Go and die.”


Oil price remains low despite OPEC's intervention, 

others•Bonny Light hovers at $59.68, $0.32 below budget benchmark 

By Udeme Akpan 

THE price of crude oil, 

including Nigeria's Bonny 

Light, remained low in the 

volatile global market, despite the 

efforts of Organisation of 

Petroleum Exporting Countries 

(OPEC), in achieving market 

stability. 

A survey of the London oil 

market showed yesterday, 

indicated that the prices of Bonny 

Light, Brent and OPEC Basket, 

dropped from $60.53 to $59.68, 

$60.50 to $59.25 and $60.30 to 

$60.24, respectively. 

Despite the poor market 

situation, OPEC disclosed that 

it would continue to work 

towards market stability for the 

interest of oil producers and 

consumers. 

In a report obtained by 

Vanguard, OPEC stated: "The 

Joint Ministerial Monitoring 

Committee (JMMC), has 

reviewed the monthly report 

prepared by its Joint Technical 

Committee (JTC) and recent 

developments in the global oil 

market, as well as near-term 

prospects in 2019 and 2020. 

"The JMMC noted the overall 

conformity of 159% in July 2019 

was 22 pp higher than in June 

2019, and the average conformity 

of 134% since January 2019 was 

the highest to date in 2019. This 

high level of overall conformity 

has offset uncertainty in the 

market due to on-going 

economic growth worries. 

"The JMMC underscored the 

growing importance of the 

Declaration of Cooperation in 

supporting oil market stability, 

which along with on-going 

healthy oil demand so far has 

arrested global oil inventories 

growth and should lead to 

significant draws in the second 

half of the year. The JMMC also 

noted that, going forward, the 

forecast for oil market 

fundamentals by major 

forecasters remains robust in 

2019 and 2020. 

"The JMMC urged all 

participating countries in the 

DoC to continue their strive in 

achieving full and timely 

conformity with voluntary 

production adjustments based on 

the decisions of the 176th 

Meeting of the OPEC 

Conference, 1 July 2019, and the 

6th OPEC and non-OPEC 

Ministerial Meeting, 2 July 

2019." 

However, in his recent address 

at the OPEC Secretariat, Ban Kimoon, 

former UN Secretary 

General, stated: "OPEC has 

always sought to undertake its 

activities in strict conformity with 

the UN's principles and 

purposes. Indeed, the OPEC 

Secretariat has been a regular 

participant in meetings of 

various institutions and agencies 

of the UN, particularly the UN 

Conference on Trade and 

Development (UNCTAD), the 

World Bank and the 

International Monetary Fund 

(IMF). 

"Over the years, OPEC has 

actively participated in UN 

sponsored climate change 

negotiations, particularly 

through its observer status at the 

'Conference of the Parties' to the 

United Nations' Framework 

Convention on Climate Change. 

I know Mr. Barkindo has been 

a veteran of these negotiations. 

As leader of Nigeria's technical 

delegation to the UN climate 

change negotiations since 1991, 

Mr Barkindo contributed to 

producing the UNFCCC and the 

Kyoto protocol. He served as 

Chair of the Group of 77 and 

China at the UNFCCC and was 

elected to serve three terms as 

Vice President of the Conference 

of the Parties - COP13 (Bali, 

Indonesia), COP14 (Poznan, 

Poland) and COP15 

(Copenhagen, Denmark), 

where he chaired the opening 

session attended by more than 

100 heads of state and 

government. 

"Clearly, OPEC is an 

intergovernmental organisation 

which takes the principles of 

multilateralism seriously. And 

this has been seen in the 

'Declaration of Cooperation' and 

'Charter of Cooperation' that you 

have agreed with 10 non-OPEC 

oil producing countries. Under 

this initiative, 24 countries have 

come together to work for 

sustainable oil market stability in 

the interests of producers, 

consumers and the global 

economy. 

"We live in a world where the 

concept of multilateralism is 

under attack. However, the long 

experience of the UN and OPEC 

has shown that the peoples of 

the world stand to gain more by 

working together, respecting all 

nations, under a rules-based 

order. Therefore, I encourage 

you to continue your outreach 

activities. Keep working with 

others and strengthen the 

relationships you already have. 

Listen to consumers. Promote 

dialogue. Respect all points of 

view. Reach consensus. These 

goals underpin your 'Charter of 

Cooperation' and I am 

particularly pleased of your 

commitment, under the Charter, 

to intensify efforts on "improving 

the environmental credentials" of 

this industry, a theme which I 

will return to later." 

LPG off-takers 

commend NLNG 

for supplying 

350,000 of 

tonnes yearly 

DPR begins digital measurement to check under-dispensing 


THE Department of Petroleum 

Resources (DPR), has, 

commenced the gradual phaseout 

of manual measurements of 

fuel at petrol stations, during its 

enforcement activities, with the 

introduction of a digital 

measuring device to detect 

sharp practices by petrol filling 

stations across the country. 

Addressing newsmen in Abuja 

after conducting a surveillance 

of petrol stations, Zonal 

Controller, Abuja Office of the 

DPR, Mr. Buba Abubakar, said 

THE average price 

of Organisation of 

Petroleum Exporting 

countries, OPEC’s basket 

of fourteen crudes in the 

past one week averaged 

$59.73 compared with 

$60.05 recorded the 

previous week. According 

to OPEC’s calculation, the 

highest price of crude was 

recorded on August 29, 

2019, which averaged 

$60.24 per barrel, while 

the lowest price for the 

period under review 

averaged $58.18. 

.Oil rig 

the agency has identified three 

focal areas in its quest to restore 

sanity in the downstream 

petroleum industry. 

Abubakar identified the digital 

measuring device as Seraphin 

can, noting that this was a 

significant improvement on the 

previous device which was 

analogue. 

He noted that with the digital 

measuring device, DPR 

officials would provide the exact 

quantity of the commodity 

being dispensed to motorists by 

fuel pumps in petrol stations. 

He further listed the three 

areas of interest of the DPR to 

include diversion, hoarding 

and under-dispensing. 

"We are going to look at 

diversion, hoarding and underdispensing 

very well because 

they are cheating the public in 

terms of under-dispensing. We 

are going to look at these three 

things and we are going to 

sustain our surveillance on 

petrol stations," he said. 

Abubakar added that the DPR 

LIQUEFIED Petroleum Gas, 

LPG off-takers in Lagos have 

lauded the Nigeria Liquefied 

Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), for 

increasing domestic supply of LPG, 

also known as cooking gas, from 

250,000 tonnes to 350,000 tonnes 

yearly. 

Rising from its recent meeting in 

Lagos, the LPG off-takers, noted 

that the increased supply has 

culminated in domestic market 

stability and relatively lower prices. 

In a statement obtained by 

Vanguard, the off-takers stated that 

since 2007, the NLNG has 

demonstrated adequate 

commitment to flooding the market 

with LPG. 

It stated: "The intervention, which 

is in line with the company's vision 

of helping to build a better Nigeria, 

has significantly contributed to the 

stimulation and development of the 

domestic LPG market in Nigeria, 

thus, making it more affordable to 

consumers. 

"Domestic LPG off-takers are 

made up of 33 buyers approved by 

the NLNG Limited to take gas 

through the Third Party Access 

(TPA), in some designated 

terminals within a guided 

engagement with three depot 

owners, who also double as buyers. 

"The off-takers, including Nigeria 

Product Marketing Company 

(NPMC), Hyson Nigeria, and 

NNPC retail, take their volumes 

through the PPMC jetties at 

Apapa, which had TPA to all buyers 

ostensibly due to the lower logistic 

cost of receipt while a few of them 

receive products through the Lister 

jetty." 

The off-takers stated: "If any offtakers 

is complaining of 

marginalisation may be they have 

peculiar issue with NLNG or have 

allotted Annual Contract Quantity 

(ACQ) that they are about or 

completely lifted and going 

through a waiting period to allow 

NLNG approval for additional 

volumes." 

had conducted an audit of retail 

stations in Abuja and environs, 

which had led to the sealing of 

10 filling stations. 

He said: "We are going into the 

ember months and that is why 

we have audited the retail 

stations to make sure that they 

are up and doing. And out of 

the over 320 stations that we 

have in Abuja, we discovered 

that 10 were not performing up 

to the required standard. We 

sealed all the 10 of them and 

when we went there today we 

discovered that five have 

upgraded to the standard set by 

DPR and they were unsealed. 

"So, right now, I want to tell the 

marketers that we are going to 

sustain our surveillance and 

they should be very careful in 

what they are doing. We have 

come to realise that marketers 

are cheating the public by 

under-dispensing products. So 

we are going to take a critical 

look at these three highlighted 

items and, of course, we will 

sustain surveillance." 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Bauchi: When a leader’s word is his bond 

By EMMA AGU 

WHAT makes history so unforgiving is 

that those who forget its lessons are 

often brutally reminded of their idiocy, by 

experiencing the misfortunes that bedeviled 

their forebears. While the correlation between 

the plight of Nigeria’s pensioners and the 

country’s stunted growth may not be easily 

perceptible, nothing suggests that a country 

that permits the scale of humiliation and 

injustice to which retired workers are exposed, 

can expect to enjoy prosperity in peace, 

notwithstanding the overflow of natural and 

other resources. One does not need to be a 

soothsayer to realise that, by virtue of the sordid 

neglect to which senior citizens who diligently 

served Nigeria are subjected, like the 

proverbial Sword of Damocles, a huge moral 

incubus will continue to overhang the country 

until justice is done. 

All over Nigeria, at all levels of government 

and even the private sector, retirees gnash their 

teeth as they wait endlessly for either their 

gratuities or pensions. Paradoxically, while 

they wait, the younger generation for whom 

they sweated and toiled, the politicians, civil 

servants and the rest of us, mindlessly plunder 

the collective patrimony, always claiming the 

absence of funds, to settle legitimate 

entitlements of patriots who served their 

country with distinction and utmost loyalty. It 

is as painful as it gets; the depth of betrayal, 

the death of conscience; the imperiling of hope 

and the murder of the future. 

In spite of their trauma and endless betrayals, 

these elder citizens continue to live on hope; 

that every new administration would live up 

to its campaign promise, of breaking the jinx 

of non-payment of pensions and gratuities. 

Each time, they are disappointed. 

The pattern of their humiliation cries to 

heaven for restitution. Perennial verification 

exercises; dubious biometrics that produce 

questionable 

data bases; 

excruciating 

long distance 

travels to Abuja 

(in the case of 

Federal 

employees) 

that further 

impoverish the 

retirees; 

debilitating 

and agonising 

wait on queues 

under the 

sweltering heat 

of the sun, 

Governor Bala 

Mohammed has 

demonstrated 

that a leader’s 

word should be 

his bond and 

that, in line with 

his inaugural 

speech mantra, 

under him, hope 

has come 

summarise the 

plight of our elder citizens. Some succor has 

been brought by the new pension scheme. But 

it has not eliminated the scourge that afflicts 

our elder citizens. 

It is against this background that the frontal 

approach of the Bauchi State Government, to 

the problem of gratuities, should be celebrated 

as a reassuring shift from the painful 

insensitivity of past leaders and a veritable 

model for every state government. Last August, 

the Bauchi State Government announced the 

setting aside of a monthly charge of N100 

million, for the payment of the gratuities of 

state workers and another N100 million for 

local government retirees, until all such 

outstanding liability it inherited is completely 

settled. 

This may look like a drop in the ocean 

compared to the N27 billion liabilities it 

inherited. However, such a view will fly in the 

face of the evidence, the starting point being 

that, by swiftly commencing the settlement of 

the gratuities, the State Governor, Senator 

Bala Mohammed is living up to the pledge he 

made, in his inaugural speech that he will 

promptly redress the plight of the elder citizens. 

His words were unmistakable, loud and clear. 

Lamenting the plight of the retired workers, 

he described his election as “a victory for the 

senior citizens, the patriots who have been 

denied their legitimate entitlements in terms 

of pensions and gratuities and who, for one 

moment, are left to wonder whether the section 

of our first national anthem that assures, that 

the labours of our heroes past shall never be 

in vain, was inserted in error” (his emphasis). 

He then pledged that “…immediate steps shall 

be taken, through a committee that will 

comprise all stakeholders, to devise ways and 

means of ensuring regular payment of 

gratuities while offsetting outstanding 

liabilities”. The good news is that, in today’s 

Bauchi and in keeping with Governor Bala 

Mohammed’s promise, gratuities and 

pensions are paid as at when due; outstanding 

liabilities are being offset while salaries are 

paid as from the 26th of the month. 

In decent societies where governments are 

alive to their responsibilities and where 

entitlements of citizens are not treated as 

favours, these actions of the Bauchi State 

Government cannot count as being 

spectacular. But in Nigeria, where the 

provision of amenities such as pipe borne 

water and roads earn government officials 

awards and national honours, Governor Bala 

Mohammed is demonstrating that his 

national honour of Commander of the Order 

of the Niger CON, is predicated on service 

delivery and contribution to national 

development. 

Service 

delivery 

There is no doubt that the beleaguered senior 

citizens of Bauchi State are mindful of the 

fact that neither has the government used the 

hefty debt portfolio of N150 billion, it 

inherited, as an alibi to renege on its pledge 

nor has it compelled them to sign a dubious 

forfeiture agreement whereby they receive only 

a percentage of their entitlements. Yet, the 

monthly receipts of Bauchi State pale into 

insignificance compared to the monthly 

receipts of some states that continue to deny 

or delay their indigenes their entitlements, for 

unsustainable reasons. 

If retired workers in the state have taken the 

monthly release in good faith, it should be 

understood within the context of this paradigm 

shift, this jinx-breaking initiative by the Bala 

Mohammed-led Administration in the state. 

That was exactly the position of the Chairman 

of the Bauchi State chapter of the Nigerian 

Union of Pensioners, NUP, Alhaji Habu Gar. 

Gar was in order when he remarked that 

although the N100 million set aside appeared 

‘paltry’ compared to the total outstanding, 

nobody would be talking about accumulated 

entitlements if previous administrations in the 

state had taken Bala Mohammed’s approach. 

By imploring his colleagues to exercise 

patience, Alhaji Gar has demonstrated the 

kind of reciprocity that ought to undergird 

stakeholder engagement as the government 

wades through the miasma of anti-people 

policies and actions that it inherited. 

To some state governors elsewhere, here is 

the catch: there will never be enough money 

to do everything, settle the entitlement; but 

with the right moral gumption, out there, there 

is always enough courage, a rich pool of 

wisdom, to re-order priorities in such a way 

that human values take precedence over 

exhibitionist projects. Besides, it amounts to a 

betrayal of the people’s trust to renege on 

campaign promises, under the guise of 

insufficient funds. 

By fulfilling his pledge to place the settlement 

of workers emoluments on first charge, 

Governor Bala Mohammed has 

demonstrated that a leader’s word should be 

his bond and that, in line with his inaugural 

speech mantra, under him, Hope has come. 

•Agu, a former MD of the Champion 

Newspapers, wrote from Abuja


Tribunal sacks PDP Rep 


O Election 

SOGBO—THE 

Petition 

Tribunal sitting in Osun 

State, hearing petition 

against the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

candidate for Ede Federal 

Constituency, in the 

February 23 general 

elections, yesterday, 

cancelled elections in 12 

polling units across four 

local government areas as 

a result of over voting. 

The Tribunal, presided 

over by Justice Eyo Ita, 

subsequently nullified the 

election of Mr. Bamidele 

Salam, after resolving all 

the relief sought by the 

petitioner against him 

(Salam). 

It ordered a rerun in the 

units because after 

cancellation of elections in 

units where over voting 

was established, the 

margin of victory between 

the winner and the 

petitioner, Mr. Adejare 


Bello of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, was lesser 

than the number of registered 

voters in the affected 

units. 

The tribunal is also 

nullified the election of the 

state lawmaker 

representing Ede-North 

state constituency, Mr. 

Babajide Kofoworola, 

which was challenged by 

Daud Akinloye of the APC. 

It, therefore, cancelled the 

results from the twelve 

units and order fresh 

election in the units. 

Reacting to the 

judgement, Mr. Salam 

urged his supporters to 

remain calm, saying “We 

are not dismayed however, 

because the mandate as 

freely given to me by the 

people and stamped by 

God cannot be stolen by any 

man. Our victory at the 

February 23 House of 

Representatives poll is 

sacrosanct and this minor 

setback will only sweeten 

the taste of victory in our 

mouths.” 

Akeredolu’s son has no link with 

revenue agency — Ondo govt 

*As IGR grows from N700m to N1.5bn 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE Ondo 

State government’s 

Internally Generated 

Revenue, IGR, has 

increased from N700m to 

an average of N1.5billion 

monthly just as it refuted 

claims that Governor 

Rotimi Akeredolu’s son was 

involved in the revenue 

agency of the state. 

In a statement by the 

Senior Special Assistant to 

the Governor on Media 

and Publicity, Ojo 

Oyewamide in Akure, the 

state government said: “We 

have improved from N700 

million to an average of 

N1.5 billion monthly.” 

Oyewamide, who was 

reacting to a report by a 

governorship aspirant of 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Mr. Banjo 

Ayiloge said: “Although, 

the state is yet to attain her 

target, it is heartwarming 

to inform the public that the 

State IGR is no longer 

crawling.” 

The state government 

said it was unfortunate that 

“Ayiloge is not interested in 

the productivity of the 

revenue generation 

agency and commendable 

feat it has achieved within 

the last two years. 

“Rather, the former 

Commissioner for 

Information mischievously 

elected to play politics by 

falsely linking Governor 

Akeredolu’s son with the 

now vibrant organization. 

“This is preposterous and 

most unexpected of an 

elder whose passion for self 

aggrandizement has 

overshadowed reasoning.” 

AA chairman docked over 

alleged forgery of INEC 

document 


O 

SOGBO— THE 

National Chairman of 

Action Alliance party, AA, 

Mr. Kenneth Udeze, was, 

yesterday, arraigned before 

an Osogbo Magistrate 

Court over alleged forgery 

of the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, 

document used for the 

party’s governorship 

primary election in July 

2018. 

The accused was 

arraigned on four count 

charges bordering on 

conspiracy, alteration and 

forgery. 

The charge reads in part: 

“You Kenneth Obidiche 

Udeze and others at large 

did conspire among 

yourselves to commit felony 

to wit forgery/making false 

statement to public officers/ 

altering and thereby 

committed an offence 

contrary to section 516 of the 

criminal code cap 34 laws 

of Osun state 2002. 

“That you did forged 

INEC documents and seal 

and present same as 

genuine without lawful 

authority to INEC during 

the gubernatorial primary 

election of Action Alliance 

in Osun state and thereby 

committed an offence 

contrary to section 465 and 

punishable under section 

467 of the criminal code cap 

34 volume 2laws of Osun 

state 2002.” 

The prosecutor from the 

office of Assistant Inspector 

General, AIG zone X1, Mr 

James Famuyini, disclosed 

that the accused person 

committed the offence 

sometimes in the month of 

July 2018. 

Meanwhile, the accused 

pleaded not guilty to all the 

four count charges levelled 

against him by the police. 

Defence colony, Mr. 

Wemimo Animasahun, 

urged the court to grant his 

client bail in self 

recognition, noting that he 

is a lawyer, with 15 years 

experience at the bar. 

INSECURITY: IGP, S’West govs approve 

deployment of Special Forces 

*OPC, Miyetti Allah, security agencies to work together 

By Ola Ajayi & 

Deola Badru 

IBADAN—THE Inspector 

General of Police, Mr. 

Mohammed Abubakar 

Adamu and the governors 

in the six South West States, 

yesterday, approved 

deployment of Special 

Forces to check rising wave 

of criminality in the zone. 

This came as 

stakeholders at the South 

West Security Summit 

organised by the IGP 

agreed to set up a committee 

that would include the 

police, Oodua People’s 

Congress, OPC, Miyetti 

Allah Cattle Breeders 

Association, MACBAN and 

the citizens to discuss the 

modalities on reduction of 

kidnapping, banditry and 

other social vices. 

Unlike the previous 

Security Summit held 

earlier in June, when all the 

six governors were in 

attendance, only Governors 

of Oyo and Osun States, 

Engr. Seyi Makinde and 

Gboyega Oyetola 

respectively, were present. 

Governors of Ogun, 

Lagos, Ekiti and Ondo 

States were represented by 

their deputies. 

While reading the 8- 

paragraph communiqué, 

drafted after the marathon 

session, Governor 

Makinde, who was the 

host governor, said: “The 

Inspector General of Police 

has approved the 

deployment of Special 

Forces to be commanded by 

the Commissioner of Police 

who will lead a SWOT team 

to support the crime 

fighting initiative of the 

States’ Commissioners of 

Police. 

Makinde said: “The 

Executive Governors of the 

South West geo-political 

zone have made 

commitments towards 

provision of more 

serviceable, fast moving 

patrol vehicles in support of 

crime fighting which shall 

be launched in the no 

distant future to 

complement the available 

fleet. 

“The traditional rulers 

have promised to join 

hands with the police to 

take the ongoing fight 

against the heinous crimes 

to the doorstep pf the 

criminals. 

“The Oodua People’s 

Congress, OPC, has 

equally agreed to partner 

with the police in fighting 

crime to the lowest ebb.” 

Aerial surveillance 

They also agreed to 

deploy the Closed Circuit 

Television, CCTV, to 

strengthen the security in 

the zone. 

The communiqué reads: 

“Aerial surveillance of flash 

points across the South West 

geo-political zone is to be 

sustained. 

“In order to give effect to 

the community policing 

RECONSTRUCTION—The Kara end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway 

was partially closed to traffic to give way for on-going reconstruction 

work by Julius Berger, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. 

vision of the Nigeria Police 

Force, Community Policing 

Officers, CPO, will be 

recruited from all the 

communities in which they 

reside. This will 

complement the police in 

law enforcement functions 

within their localities by 

performing low risk and 

non-sensitive functions. 

OPC, Miyetti Allah 

collaboration 

“It is agreed that the 

committee consisting of 

policemen, other security 

agencies, the OPC led by 

Iba Gani Adams, Miyetti 

Allah and the citizenry 

should be set up in each 

state to further discuss 

modalities for reduction of 

crimes and criminality as it 

affects the States.” 

Though, the meeting was 

fixed for 11am, the 

governors and the deputy 

governors walked into the 

hall some minutes past 

12noon. 

Roll call 

Prominent Yoruba 

traditional rulers, who 

attended the meeting, 

include the Ooni of Ife, Oba 

Eniitan Adeyeye 

Ogunwusi; Olubadan of 

Ibadan land, Oba Saliu 

Adetunji; the Alake of 

Egbaland, Oba Aremu 

Adedotun Gbadebo, and 

Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan 

Akiolu. 

Others are Olugbo of 

Ugbo kingdom, Oba 

Frederick Obateru 

Akinruntan; Ataoja of 

Osogbo, Oba Jimoh 

Olanipekun; Soun of 

Ogbomoso; Oluwo of 

Iwoland, 

Oba 

AbdulRasheed Akanbi and 

the Aare Ona Kakanfo of 

Yorubaland, Iba Gani 

Adams, who arrived the 

International Conference 

Centre, University of 

Ibadan early. 

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba 

Lamidi Adeyemi was 

conspicuously absent but 

he delegated a member of 

Oyomesi (kingmakers) 

Yusuff Akinade, Bashorun 

of Oyo. 

Elder Statesmen, leaders 

of the different sociocultural 

groups, Senior 

Officers and personnel of 

the Nigeria Police Force and 

other Security agencies 

from the geopolitical zone 

were at the meeting. 

Security roadmap 

unveiled 

Earlier in his opening 

address, Governor 

Makinde disclosed that in 

the next few days,” we shall 

unveil a security roadmap 

that would focus on 

improvement on security 

infrastructure, awakening 

the security consciousness 

of our people, encouraging 

robust partnership of nonstate 

actors, such as the 

traditional institutions, 

volunteers, and other wellmeaning 

residents of the 

State.” 

He said: “The overall 

objective of our 

intervention is to ensure 

safety and security of our 

people, reduce the fear of 

crimes, as well as ensure 

that all residents of Oyo 

State and investors can go 

about their lawful 

endeavour without let or 

hindrance. 

“The security and welfare 

of the people shall be the 

primary purpose of 

government. We consider 

this sacrosanct. 

“The Inspector-General 

of Police, as we patiently 

wait for you to discuss the 

issues and unveil the 

strategies to be engaged in 

addressing the 

deteriorating state of 

security in the South West 

Geopolitical Zone, we are 

hopeful that the measures 

will meet the much 

anticipated yearning of our 

people, which is a safe and 

secured South West. 

Nowhere is immune 

to security challenges 

— Akeredolu 

In his remarks, the 

Deputy Governor of Ondo 

State, Mr. Adegbola Ajayi, 

who represented Governor 

Rotimi Akeredolu said: 

“There is nowhere in the 

world that is immune to 

security challenges.” 

Ajayi said: “The Ondo 

State Government is aware 

of security challenges and 

has put some measures in 

place in order to guarantee 

the security of lives and 

properties of residents and 

visitors. The measures 

taken by the government is 

also to ensure a conducive 

environment for investors 

willing to invest in the 

State. 

“The Ondo State 

government has purchased 

vehicles that will be given 

to security agencies. The 

Ondo State with other five 

states of the southwest; the 

DAWN commission are 

trying to engage our local 

vigilante and collaborate 

with security agencies. 

This cannot be achieved 

without involving our 

traditional rulers who are 

the custodians of our 

culture; who know 

everybody in their 

communities. We are doing 

all of this so that we can 

sleep and close our two 

eyes.” 

Don’t play politics 

with security 

— Monarchs 

On his part, Oba 

Ogunwusi advised all the 

governors in the zone to 

shun politics when it comes 

to security. 

Also speaking, the Oba of 

Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, who 

said the security agencies 

should contact him for the 

magic wand to unravel the 

security challenges, added 

that he preferred 

community policing to state 

police. 

Ibadan drop crowns 

for Olubadan 

Meanwhile, all the new 

kings promoted by the 

immediate past governor of 

Oyo State, Senator Abiola 

Ajimobi, appeared without 

their crowns to the 

ceremony. 

In fact, Governor 

Makinde, while 

acknowledging them called 

them high chiefs which 

they didn’t object to.


MEETING —From left: Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timiprye 

Sylva; Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and 

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during a meeting 

on the Process and Industrial Development liability at the Presidential Villa, 

Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

FG weighs options as another $2.3b fine looms 

Continues from Page 5 

Administration must 

acknowledge the reality 

of the rulings of the 

independent Tribunal 

and the English 

Commercial court, desist 

from its campaign of 

baseless slander and 

sham investigations 

against P&ID and its 

founders and instead 

appoint an authorized 

party to enter into real 

negotiations. The 

coming days will tell if 

the Nigerian 

government is serious, 

or if this is simply 

another delay tactic. In 

the meantime, P&ID will 

continue its efforts to 

identify and seize 

Nigerian assets to satisfy 

the debt.” 

Nigeria risks another 

$2.3bn fine in France 

Meanwhile, another 

possible $2.3 billion fine in 

arbitration is hanging over 

Nigeria in France as a 

result of controversies 

surrounding the Mambilla 

power project in Taraba 

State. 

The $5.8 billion Mambilla 

hydro-power facility is 

being stalled over 

unresolved legal and 

funding crisis involving the 

Nigerian government and 

a local content partner, 

Sunrise Power and 

Transmission Company 

Limited, SPTCL. 

In documents seen on 

Monday by online portal 

TheCable, SPTCL is 

making the following 

claims for being excluded 

from the final contract: 

Wasted expenditures:Over 

$100 million; loss of profit 

as content partner: $565 

million; loss of the 

commission due by 

Sinohhydro to Sunrise: 

$855 million; loss of profit 

that would have been made 

through the resettlement 

contract: $525 million; and 

loss of reputation: $25 

million+. 

Like the P&ID controversy 

where Abubakar Malami, 


Federation (AGF), was 

alleged not to have made 

efforts to negotiate while 

the legal proceedings were 

ongoing, the 3,050- 

megawatt power project 

also suffered a similar fate. 

Leno Adesanya, chief 

executive officer of SPTCL, 

said the company was 

sidelined in the project by 

the Ministry of Power in a 

series of petitions to 

President Buhari, Vice- 

President Osibanjo, 

Malami, and Babatunde 

Fashola, former minister of 

power. 

SPTCL, which claimed to 

have been awarded the 

build, operate and transfer 

(BOT) contract in 2003, said 

some “vested interests” in 

government had, in 2017, 

signed another contract 

with three Chinese 

companies, Sinohhydro 

Corporation of China, 

Naira appreciates to N 

362.73 /$ in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The naira yesterday appreciated to N362.73 

per dollar in the Investors and Exporters 

(I&E) window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the I&E window dropped to 

N362.73 per dollar yesterday from N362.93 per dollar 

on Friday, translating to 20 kobo appreciation for 

the naira. 

The volume of dollars traded on the window rose 

by 150 percent to $75.13 million from $186.91 million 

on Friday. 

However, the naira was stable at N358.8 per dollar 

in the parallel market 

China Ghezouba Group 

Corporation of China and 

China Geo-Engineering 

Group Corporation, to form 

a joint venture for the 

execution of the project. 

The local content partner 

had accused Abba Kyari, 

Chief of Staff to the 

President, of taking the 

unilateral decision to 

remove the company from 

the contract. The company 

also accused Fashola of 

reneging on his promise to 

support the project. 

As a result, SPTCL 

dragged the Federal 

Government and its 

Chinese partners before 

the International Chamber 

of Commerce (ICC) in 

Paris, France, over an 

alleged breach of contract. 

Adesanya claimed the 

company had spent 

millions of dollars with 

financial and legal 

consultants to raise about 

$6 billion for the execution 

of the project, yet the 

company has suffered a lot 

over the years “through 

improper administrative 

interruptions and 

interventions.” 

The China Exim Bank, 

which is expected to 

provide 85 per cent of the 

joint funding with the 

Federal Government for 

the Mambilla project, 

insisted on compliance 

with due process and terms 

of the November 2017 

engineering, procurement 

and construction (EPC) 

contract signed with the 

partners before releasing 

funds. 

On July 24, 2017, 

Malami wrote a letter to 

Osibanjo, the then acting 

president, recommending 

that SPTCL be 

accommodated as a local 

partner in the project. 

“Sunrise Power and 

Transmission Company 

Limited should be 

engaged as Local Content 

Partner on the Mambilla 

Project as a means of 

accommodating its prior 

contractual interests on the 

project,” Malami wrote. 

A few weeks later on 

August 17, 2017, Malami 

backtracked, saying he 

issued the previous 

opinion on the project 

based on the limited 

materials provided at the 

time. 

He said there was no 

requisite Federal 

Executive Council, FEC, 

approval for the project. 

But Malami’s claim was 

challenged in another letter 

by Gbolahan Elias, a senior 

advocate of Nigeria (SAN), 

who said there was no 

statute as at 2003 when the 

contract was awarded to 

SPTCL requiring the 

consent of the FEC before 

a letter of award could be 

validly issued. 

Petition to Buhari 

In a petition written to 

Buhari on November 18, 

2018, Adesanya asked the 

president to save the 

project, conceived in 1982, 

from further controversy. 

Fashola, in a statement 

issued last January by his 

Spokesman, hakeem Bello, 

accused Adesanya of trying 

to destabilise the Mambilla 

project. 

“Nothing is more further 

away from the truth than the 

claim that the loan 

negotiations have stalled 

since 2017 because of an 

attempt to utilize $600 

million (equivalent of 

N219 Billion) from the 

3,050MW hydropower 

project for a “pet project” 

not hitherto considered by 

the Federal Executive 

Council. 

“There is currently no 

budgetary provision or 

cash provision of $600 

million or the N219 Billion 

in any budget of the 

Federal Government for 

the Mambila Project. 

Therefore you cannot 

attempt to divert what does 

not exist.” 

Investigation by 

Vanguard, showed that 

Leno Adesanya and 

Fashola were not the best 

of friends when Fashola 

was still in the Power 

ministry. 

In a telephone interview 

with Vanguard, yesterday, 

Fashola’s spokesman, 

Hakeem Bello said: “Since 

Mr. Fashola has been 

assigned to the Ministry of 

Works and Housing, he 

might not be in a position 

to comment on the subject.” 

In another telephone 

interview, the permanent 

secretary, Ministry of 

Power, Mr. Louis 

Edozien said: “I cannot 

speak with you without an 

official letter. When I have 

your letter, we will respond 

officially.” 

CSOs reject $9.6 b 

judgment against Nigeria, 

say it’s fraud 

Hundreds of CCSG 

demonstrators defied early 

morning showers to stage 

a rally at the gate of the 

British High Commission 

and later at the Embassy of 

Ireland, located at Negro 

Crescent, off Euphrates 

Street, Wuse II, in Abuja. 

They protested against 

the judgment of the British 

Commercial Court 

awarding $9.6 billion to 

P&ID, owned by Irish 

citizens — Michael Quinn 

and Brendan Cahill over a 

case of alleged breach of 

gas contract obligation by 

the Nigerian Government. 

In his address at the 

High Commission, 

President of the group, Mr. 

Bassey Etuk, said that the 

entire gas deal and the 

judgment that awarded 

$9.6 billion in favour of P & 

ID was a fraud and 

therefore rejected by 

Nigerians. 

He said in a Letter of 

Protest read at the gate of 

the British High 

Commission, Plot 1137, 

Diplomatic Drive, Central 

Business District, Abuja, 

that the judgment was a 

miscarriage of justice 

against the sovereign 

interest of Nigeria. 

His words: “We consider 

the judgment as a travesty 

of justice, disrespect to the 

sovereignty of the Nigerian 

Government as the case is 

not supposed to be heard 

in a foreign country outside 

the country where the said 

irregularity was committed. 

“We also consider it as 

deliberate effort to deter the 

efforts of the Nigerian 

Government towards the 

fight against corruption. We 

are strongly opposed to this 

judgment. 

“As a civil society 

organization, the Coalition 

of Civil Society Groups is 

the umbrella body of over 

5,000 civil society 

organizations in Nigeria, 

established to promote 

accountability and good 

governance and to ensure 

we have a responsive 

government where rights 

and privileges of the 

citizens are adequately 

respected.” 

The President said that the 

judgment given by a 

British court against 

Nigeria was capable of 

destroying a longstanding 

relationship between 

Nigeria and Britain. 

According to him: “The 

16th of August, 2019 

judgment delivered in a 

case instituted by P&ID 

against the Government of 

Nigeria on the Gas Supply 

Processing Agreement 

with- NNPC, is in bad light 

and is capable of destroying 

a wholehearted 

relationship built over the 

years between the Nigerian 

and British governments. 

“More so a tribunal in 

London in July 2015, ruled 

that Nigeria should pay the 

sum of US$850 million 

notwithstanding an out-ofarbitration 

agreement 

“We consider the 

judgment as an error and 

a miscarriage of justice 

considering the following: 

The company P&ID did not 

initiate any move to build 

the gas processing plant to 

refine natural gas, which it 

signed to build. 

“The company never 

conducted 

an 

Environmental Impact 

Assessment which is a prerequisite 

to any industrial 

activity in Nigeria and also 

a global practice. 

“The Company (P&ID) 

has not been able to show 

capacity or any core 

competence in handling 

gas projects of such 

magnitude. 

“There are convincing 

evidence that the contract 

didn’t follow due process 

and thus doesn’t warrant 

any breach of contract; it is 

disheartening to observe 

the questionable 

commitment and resolve of 

the tribunal sitting in UK to 

go ahead with the 

judgment despite being 

served the court ruling in 

Nigeria which gave the 

Federal Government of 

Nigeria the leave to review 

the contract due to 

irregularities found in the 

way and manner with 

which the contract was 

signed. 

“While we appreciate and 

respect the responsibility 

and duty of courts, we frown 

at the steps taken by the 

company (P&ID) and the 

Tribunal in UK towards the 

dispute involving Nigerian 

Government and P&ID. 

“Thus we use this 

medium to express our 

dissatisfaction to this illegal 

process and lack of due 

recognition of our 

sovereignty as a nation and 

the interest of the Nigeria 

people. 

“On the strength of the 

above, we demand that the 

Judgment by the 

Commercial court in the UK 

court is set aside as it is 

evident that the Judgment 

is ill-motivated and 

undermines the 

sovereignty of Nigeria. 

“Nigerian Government 

and the P&ID should go 

back to the position of the 

Arbitration Tribunal in July 

2015 where it concluded 

that Nigeria should pay the 

sum of $850 million 

notwithstanding an out-ofarbitration 

agreement.” 

Agbakoba writes Buhari, 

seeks executive order on 

national arbitration policy 

To avert a recurrence, a 

former president of the 

Nigeria Bar Association, 

NBA, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, 

SAN, yesterday wrote 

President Buhari on the 

need for an Executive 

Order on National 

Arbitration Policy. 

The letter read: “I refer to 

the recent enforcement 

order of US$9,000,000,000 

(Nine Billion US Dollars) 

made against Nigeria, by 

an English High 

Court,which was based 

upon an arbitration award 

secured by a company, 

Process and Industrial 

Developments Limited 

(P&ID). This monumental 

award secured by a foreign 

company against Nigeria 

has grave far-reaching 

implications for the country, 

considering that it 

represents almost 20% of 

our foreign reserves, and 

25% of our national budget. 

“I write purely out of 

concern for national 

interests. This incident 

would have been 

avoidable, if the advocacy 

for a National Arbitration 

Policy had been embraced 

over 20 years ago. 

“We recommend an 

immediate and urgent 

audit as we are aware that 

there are a significant 

number of arbitrary awards 

made against Nigeria. 

“A National Arbitration 

Policy promotes national 

interest by ensuring that the 

resolution of disputes 

between Nigeria and 

foreign investors in relation 

to government contracts will 

be determined by 

institutional arbitration 

mechanisms, which will 

Continues on Page 42


FG weighs options as another $2.3b fine looms 

Continues from Page 41 

have the seat of arbitration 

in Nigeria. Please note that 

some countries have 

already enacted National 

Arbitration Policies. 

“Going forward, I suggest 

that we establish a National 

Arbitration Policy, 

represented by an 

enactment of an Executive 

Order that will commence 

the process and procedure 

of creating the policy. This 

will ensure that Nigeria’s 

interests are protected in its 

commercial relationships 

with foreign investors.” 

FG should file 

corruption charges against 

P&ID boss — Ex-AGF 

Also, former Attorney- 

General of the Federation, 

Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, 

SAN, has advised the 

Federal Government to file 

corruption charges against 

representatives of P&ID for 

entering into a sham 

contract with some 

unscrupulous Nigerians. 

The former AGF said this 

during an interview with 

Sunrise Daily on Channels 

Television on Monday. 

“Everyone involved must 

face the law, including the 

foreigner. You cannot do 

this in the United States,” 

he said. 

He said the contract with 

P&ID was illegal ab initio 

May 3, 2015: P&ID offers to settle the 

dispute with the Nigerian Government for 

$850mm. President Goodluck Jonathan 

indicates they are handing over the 

negotiations to the incoming Buhari 

Administration. 

May 29, 2015: Muhammadu Buhari is 

sworn in as the 15th President of Nigeria, 

but fails to appoint a cabinet for five 

months. 

July 17, 2015: The Arbitration Tribunal 

found in favour of P&ID (i.e. – the Liability 

Award). The new Buhari Administration 

did not make any attempts at settling or 

negotiating with P&ID and did not make 

any effort to challenge the decision. 

November 11, 2015: Attorney General 

Malami was sworn in November 11, 2015, 

just under three months after the Liability 

Award. 

May 27, 2016: The Arbitration Tribunal 

wrote to the Nigeria Government 

confirming that: “As the parties will be 

aware from Procedural Order No 12, the 

Tribunal has decided that the seat of the 

arbitration in England. It follows that the 

Federal Court of Nigeria had no jurisdiction 

to set aside its Award.” Neither Attorney 

General Malami, nor any representative 

of the Buhari Administration did anything 

in response other than continue with the 

proceedings, thereby tacitly accepting the 

analysis of the Arbitration Tribunal. 

June 24, 2016: Having failed to set aside 

the Liability Award by falsely claiming the 

seat of arbitration was in Nigeria; not 

England, Attorney General Malami wrote 

personally to the arbitrators to say “my 

office has taken over the handling of the 

above arbitration on behalf of the Ministry 

of Petroleum Resources.” He asked for and 

obtained an extension of time to file a 

defence to quantum, and appointed his 

own legal team in place of the Ministry of 

Petroleum Resource’s legal team. 

August 30-31, 2016: The Quantum 

Hearing (i.e. – the amount of damages 

payable) takes place in London. Attorney 

General Malami’s legal team conducted 

Nigeria’s defence at the quantum 

hearing. Expert witnesses as to quantum 

were called to give evidence and were 

cross-examined. 

because it was not approved 

by the Federal Executive 

Council, adding that there 

was no budgetary provision 

for such a contract. 

Aondoakaa, who was the 

AGF from 2007 to 2010, also 

stated that no such contract 

was ever brought before 

executive council which 

means it was unlawful from 

the onset. 

He, therefore, advised the 

government to tackle the issue 

from the root since illegality 

cannot be the foundation of a 

legitimate contract. 

The former minister said if 

fraud could be established in 

the matter, the contract could 

be voided. 

Aondoakaa said the contract 

was in contravention of the 

Infrastructural Regulatory 

Commission Act and Public 

Procurement Act. 

“This happened in secrecy. I 

contacted the D-G (Director- 

General) of the Infrastructural 

Regulatory Commission and 

he was also shocked. 

Everything that is coming to 

us now is shocking. Ignorance 

of the law is no excuse. If you 

are a foreign country coming 

to Nigeria, you ought to know 

the law. You ought to know if 

the contract was appropriated 

in the budget,” the former AGF 

argued. 

He said the President himself 

has no power to unilaterally 

approve contracts without 

recourse to the Federal 

Executive Council. 

Timeline of a debacle 

The former AGF said 

Section 5 of the Constitution 

as well as Sections 2 and 3 of 

the Infrastructural 

Regulatory Commission Act 

are clear on this. 

“The President doesn’t have 

the power to give even 

anticipatory approval,” 

Aondoakaa said, adding that 


ought not to negotiate with 

P&ID because doing so could 

validate the fraudulent 

contract. 

“If you are alluding to 

fraud, you cannot negotiate 

at the same time with them,” 

the former AGF said. 

“Fraud can vitiate a valid 

contract,” he added. 

Aondoakaa further 

questioned parts of the 

contract which he described 

as invalid. 

“Part of the contract has to 

do with Bakassi which was 

part of Cameroon by 2009. 

So, I wonder whether they 

expected Nigeria to enter 

into a contract on behalf of 

another sovereign nation,” he 

said. 

FG should explore all 

legal means – Kola Adesina 

THE Chairman of the 

Egbin Power Plc, Kola 

Adesina, has cautioned the 

Federal Government to, as a 

matter of urgency reach a 

compromise to rescue the 

nation’s economy from 

collapse. 

After the Quantum Hearing, Attorney 

General Malami instructed his lawyers to 

request a standstill agreement, which 

would take effect from the date of the 

Award. 

January 31, 2017: The Arbitral Tribunal 

issued a final award, ordering Nigeria to 

pay P&ID $6.5 billion plus $2.3 billion in 

uncollected interest as of March 2018. 

February 17, 2017: The Award on 

Quantum was delivered to the parties on 

February 17, 2017. Despite the 60-day 

standstill having been agreed by P&ID, 

Attorney General Malami made no attempt 

to negotiate with P&ID during the 60 days 

following the handing down of the 

Quantum Award. 

April 28, 2017: After the 60 days had 

expired, Attorney General Malami 

instructed his lawyers to write to P&ID’s 

lawyers and explained that “The delay 

was occasioned by the bureaucracy of the 

Federal Government in a bid to determine 

a reasonable strategy after receipt of the 

Arbitral award.” The Attorney General’s 

lawyers added: “we now have the 

authority of the Vice President of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria to meet with 

the Claimant to negotiate the Terms of the 

Arbitral award.” 

In the lead up to the judgment by the 

English Commercial Court, Attorney 

General Malami allowed the time for 

acknowledging service in both the United 

States and London to lapse without filing 

any response. In both jurisdictions, 

Nigeria’s lawyers Curtis Mallet had to 

apply for ex post facto extensions of time 

and make the necessary apologies and 

explanations to the court. 

In London, a senior Curtis Mallet partner 

explained that the Claim Form was 

“immediately filed and not passed up the 

chain of command” at the Ministry of 

Justice. The partner pleaded that “the delay 

was neither deliberate nor intended to be 

disrespectful to the Court.” 

In the US, Curtis Mallet explained that 

the deadline was missed because they 

were in the process of being formally 

retained by the Nigerian Government and 

had been instructed to inquire about the 

potential for a settlement 

Brexit: Election to hold October 

if MPs block no deal 

THE government is ex 

pected to table a motion 

to hold a general election 

on 14 October if it is 

defeated by MPs opposed 

to a no-deal Brexit today. 

Boris Johnson said he did 

not want an election, but 

progress with the EU would 

be “impossible” if they 

won. 

Tory rebels are joining 

forces with Labour to bring 

a bill designed to stop the 

UK leaving the EU on 31 

October without an agreement. 

It would force the PM to 

request a delay to 31 January 

2020 in that event. 

Speaking outside No 10, 

Mr Johnson insisted that 

with MPs’ backing, he 

would be able to achieve 

changes to the UK’s current 

Brexit deal - negotiated by 

Theresa May and rejected 

three times in the Commons 

- at an EU summit on 

17 October. 

But he said if MPs voted 

to block no deal they 

would “plainly chop the 

legs out from under the UK 

position”. 

The PM said there were 

“no circumstances” in 

which he personally would 

ask Brussels to delay Brexit 

and UK negotiators 

must be allowed to get on 

with their work without interference 

from Westminster. 

“I don’t want an election 

and you don’t want an election,” 

he added. 

“Let us get on with the 

people’s agenda, fighting 

crime, improving the 

NHS, boosting schools, 

cutting the cost of living, 

and unlocking talent and 

opportunity across the entire 

United Kingdom.” 

Faced with Mr Johnson’s 

promise to leave the EU on 

31 October, with or without 

a deal, a number of 

MPs have come together 

across party lines to try to 

prevent the latter outcome. 

They are expected to put 

forward legislation on 

Tuesday under Standing 

Order 24 - a Commons rule 

which allows urgent debates 

to be called. 

The bill, which has now 

been published by Labour 

MP Hilary Benn, 

would force the PM to request 

a Brexit delay to 31 

January 2020 unless MPs 

had approved a new deal, 

or voted in favour of a no 

deal departure, by 19 October. 

Tory rebels - who include 

former ministers and 

prominent backbenchers - 

have been warned that 

those who support the legislation 

face being expelled 

from the party and 

deselected. 

But leading figures, including 

ex-Justice Secretary 

David Gauke, have 

insisted that despite the 

threat, they will press 

ahead and - in their words 

- put the “national interest” 

ahead of their own. 

Burkina Faso convicts two generals 

over deadly 2015 coup 

TWO senior allies of 

Burkina Faso’s deposed 

former president 

Blaise Compaore were 

sentenced to 10 and 20 

years in prison, respectively, 

for organising a 2015 

coup attempt against a 

transitional government. 

A military court handed 

General Gilbert Diendere 

a 20-year prison 

term on Monday on 

charges of murder and 

harming state security. 

General Djibrill Bassole, 

accused of treason, 

was given a 10-year prison 

sentence. 

“This is a victory for the 

Burkinabe people, a victory 

for democracy and the 

rule of law,” said Prosper 

Farama, a lawyer for people 

injured in the coup attempt. 

“Only the people, by 

their legitimacy, confer 

power.” 

The coup fizzled out 

within a week after armybacked 

demonstrators attacked 

the rebels’ barracks. 

Fourteen people 

were killed and more than 

300 wounded during the 

unrest. 

Diendere and Bassole 

were the leading figures in 

a 19-month trial of 84 people 

accused of the attempted 

overthrow of 

Burkina’s transitional 

government. 

The coup was mounted 

by an elite unit of the 

army, the Presidential Security 

Regiment (RSP), on 

September 16, 2015, less 

than a month before scheduled 

general elections. 

Compaore fled to Ivory 

Coast in 2014 after 27 

years in office marked by 

assassinations and mounting 

public discord. 

He was forced out by a 

revolt sparked by his attempts 

to extend his grip 

on power, and a transitional 

government took the 

helm. 

Diendere, 60, who had 

been Compaore’s righthand 

man and a former 

head of the RSP, became 

the head of the coup-makers’ 

governing body, the socalled 

National Council 

for Democracy. Bassole, 

62, was a foreign minister 

under Compaore. 

Both had denied the 

charges. But the prosecution, 

which had sought life 

sentences, said the pair had 

been instrumental in the 

events. Diendere was “the 

main instigator in the 

coup” and Bassole “helped 

to prepare [it]”, said military 

prosecutor Pascaline 

Zoungrana. 

Greece moves hundreds of 

asylum-seekers from 

crowded island camp 

GREECE 

began 

moving hundreds 

of asylum-seekers on 

Monday from a camp on 

the island of Lesbos that 

holds around four times 

the number of people it 

was built for. 

More than 11,000 refugees 

and migrants, most 

of whom have fled war or 

poverty in the Middle 

East, Asia or Africa, are 

holed up at Moria in Europe’s 

biggest migrant 

camp. 

Some 635 people, mostly 

families, boarded a 

passenger ship on Monday 

for facilities in northern 

Greece and more 

were due to leave later in 

the day. 

Moving asylum-seekers 

from island camps to 

the mainland is part of 

government measures 

announced on Aug. 31 to 

deal with the rising numbers. 

All of Greece’s five formal 

island camps are over 

capacity. 

Moria, which is a disused 

military base, has 

been criticised by humanitarian 

organisations for 

its squalid living conditions. 

It currently holds the 

highest number of people 

in three years and violence 

is not uncommon. 

An Afghan boy was 

killed in a fight there last 

month and women have 

told aid groups they often 

feel unsafe. 

Greece is Europe’s 

main gateway for Syrian, 

Afghan and Iraqi asylum-seekers, 

and accounts 

for more than half 

of the 56,000 migrants, 

who have landed on the 

Mediterranean’s northern 

shore this year. 

The numbers are small 

compared to the nearly 

one million people, who 

fled to northern Europe 

through Greece in 2015, 

as a deal between the 

EU and Ankara in March 

2016 all but cut off the 

flow. 

But they have still piled 

pressure on Greek facilities. 

About 7,000 people 

landed on Greece’s 

shores in August, the 

highest number since 

the deal was signed. 

Last Thursday alone, 

more than a dozen boats 

arrived with around 600 

migrants, prompting the 

government’s Council 

for Foreign Affairs and 

Defence to hold an emergency 

session. 

To curb the influx, 

Greece also plans to 

tighten its border controls 

and speed up deportations 

of rejected 

asylum-seekers.

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

CANCER: YOUR best bet today is to seek important cooperation 

of influential people and that of your spouse/ 

partner. The more legal conscious you are, the better for 

you. 

LEO: IF others want you to conclude an important financial 

transactions that can possibly be done today, you’ll 

need to say no and go ahead as tomorrow may not be as 

conducive as today. 

VIRGO: IT’S important you don’t take things and people 

for granted now because they may not be as co-operative 

tomorrow as they are now. Be more loving. 

LIBRA: ALTHOUGH there seem to be an air of understanding 

within your working arena today, tomorrow’s fullmoon 

may turn the whole thing the other way. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 


“Life is constantly evolving. Think about how far you’ve 

come. You’re not the same person you were a year ago, a 

month ago, or even yesterday. “-Take Heart Quotes- 

Life isn’t about a single moment of great triumph and attainment. 

It’s about the trials and errors but more significantly 

the decision to get it right with actions that yields a greater 

understanding of being better than our previous self. 

-Ella Randle- 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

If your cornfield 

is far 

from your 

house, the 

birds will eat 

your corn. ~ 

Congo 

SCORPIO: HERE is an exciting day that will climax tomorrow. 

After a long time, others will see how passionate 

you can be even in love. Don’t gamble, please. 

SAGITTARIUS: IF your desire is to make money today, 

you will need to be less emotional and prepare for domestic 

challenges tomorrow. Enjoy your love life. 

CAPRICORN: GOOD relationship between the moon in 

Capricorn and lucky Jupiter in your star sign will bring 

you good opportunities. Be less argumentative. 

AQUARIUS: THIS is your day when things will go according 

to your plans. Financial success indicated but if 

you wait till tomorrow, opposition’ll bring disappointment. 

PISCES: THE moon in your star sign that encourages 

you to be as assertive are likely to oppose you tomorrow. 

Try to be more friendly. 

ARIES: HAPPENINGS within your working arena should 

be taken more seriously now or else, avoidable trouble 

would start tomorrow. Again, it’s important you are more 

practical about your health. Be more loving. 

TAURUS: EVEN, if friends and others are helpful and 

pledging loyalty today, they may be forced and get on your 

nerve tomorrow when effects of full-moon’ll come to play. 

GEMINI: WHATEVER can lead to avoidable trouble tomorrow, 

either at home or along your career/business lines, 

should be well taken care of today. Be very open. 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

By Kola Fayemi 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astrological 

Counselling, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos 

I DREAMT OF BEARD. WHY? 

Dear Joshua, 

I was born March 17, the year 2000. God willing I will 

graduate as a Pharmacist very soon. Both my father and 

mother are good influence on me. Some people say they 

have no option than to love me and take me more seriously 

as their only child. Truly I am doing well and have 

no reason to entertain fear. However, Recently I became 

worried because of a particular issue that keeps featuring 

in my dream. More than three times I dreamt of 

growing beard. 

I became scared and told my mother about it, then my 

mother started asking me many questions about so many 

things that I have not heard about before. Questions like 

; do you attend any meetings, do you eat their meat, how 

many of you are in the group and many other questions. 

What surprised me more is her strange attitude when I 

told her that nothing of such is happening to me. At that 

point I got no other option than to tell my father. And my 

father was so calm and dismissed my mother’s claim 

that I am probably a WITCH. My father took me to his 

Pastor friend who equally disagreed with my mother 

after praying for me. He said I should endearvour to 

become closer to my God. 

But to be honest I am worried and I don’t know what to 

do to put an end to this nightmare of growing beard in 

my dream. I am a virgin and both my father and mummy 

are encouraging me to keep it as a special gift to my 

would be husband on my wedding night. And I have 

made up my mind to keep it After my father noticed that 

my mind is agitated he advised me to write you. My 

questions are why am I growing beard in my dream and 

what does it mean, how can I stop it, or could it be that I 

am a witch ? 

Esther, Lagos. 

Dear Esther, 

You are not a ,member of coven witches and wizards 

group. If a girl a girl dreams of having beard, it indicates 

LOVE affairs and much happiness. You are having this 

dream constantly because you are struggling to say no to 

what your Star willing for you ; concerning early marriage 

According to your Star it is important you choose 

your life partner between your 18th and 20th year. 

Luckily for you you will soon become a graduate, Among 

many boys trying to lure you into love affairs choose one 

you truly love who will agree with your terms concerning 

religion and notion of NO SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE. Do 

not tell him anything about your Virginity status ; if he 

ask you tell him to wait till your wedding night. With the 

positive influence hovering over you, if he is the choosing 

one for you by God, he would be as faithful as you want. 

Yet you should not prolong your wedding after you NYSC 

programe. I wish you best of GOOD LUCK. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa

44— Vanguard, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 

Being the concluding part of 

the Buba Galadima interview 

which was first published 

yesterday. 

We have drones 

They have been talking for 

the past five years but where 

are the results? It's deception 

that we are practising in 

Nigeria. Are you satisfied with 

what is happening? Anybody 

who is not should joint the 

fight. 

What exactly are you 

expecting the government to 

do that it is not doing? 

I'm not expecting that 

anything good should come 

out of this government. 

Nigeria will continue to sink 

deeper and deeper under APC 

because they have no idea of 

how to run a modern 

government. And the people 

caused this by allowing the 

government to rig itself into 

office. So, we are paying for 

our cowardice. 

There is a government in 

power and anything done 

outside the constitution will 

create problems. The people 

are powerless for now. 

Who told you the people are 

powerless. Didn't you see 

what Boko Haram has done? 

We have been 

fighting Boko Haram and 

the military has said over and 

over again that it has 

defeated Boko Haram and 

yet, they took over two local 

g o v e r n m e n t s 

in Borno recently. What is 

that telling you? We don't have 

a responsible government. 

Buhari didn't want to hear 

about El-Zakzaky but 

the Shi'ítes forced him to 

release him and take him to 

India. 

But El Zakzaky was rearrested 

when he returned to 

Nigeria 

But didn't they go to India? 

You think the government was 

not arm-twisted by the 

protests of the Shi'ites before 

they allowed them to go? You 

think the voices of Nigerians 

that spoke were drowned? 

Why can't we use the same 

voice to bring about good 

governance for all us. 

What is it about 

El Zakzaky? 

El Zakzaky didn't do 

anything outside the law of 

this country. The law of 

Nigeria permits freedom of 

speech and freedom of 

worship. You can even choose 

not to believe in God but you 

are still a Nigerian. Why 

should anybody decide that 

El Zakzaky's kind of religion 

is a bad one? Who are they? 

Are they God? Are they the 

judge? Who decides who is a 

better Muslim? Is 

it Buhari's advisers or God? 

Let me tell you something 

Attacks on leaders part of 

democracy 

— BUBA GALADIMA (2) 

you don't know about 

El Zakzaky. Buhari's government 

is being used by external 

forces on world politics 

between Saudi Arabia and 

Iran. So, they collect money 

from Saudi Arabia to do what 

they want and those that Saudi 

Arabia does not like, the 

Shi'ites are being subjected to 

suffer because of Saudi Arabia. 

And now, tell me, if Iran and 

Saudi Arabia have issues 

politically or religiously, what 

business of Nigeria is it? Why 

should we take sides? 

Do you think the issue 

of El-Zakzaky is over? 

Let's wait and see. They rearrested 

his wife. So, let's see 

what is going to happen. 

What will be the recipe for 

peace? 

We have to get rid of a bad 

government and put in 

another one through the ballot 

box. That is what we ought to 

have done. It is when Nigerian 

leaders know that they can be 

removed and replaced that 

they can do what Nigerians 

want. That is why I 

wanted Buhari removed 

through the ballot box. 

He is still the choice of 

Nigerians 

He's still a choice? We 

proved beyond reasonable 

doubt in court that he didn't 

get majority votes. Nigerians 

must stand up for this right 

and should not be intimidated 

because people are holding 

transient positions in 

government. Nigerians should 

speak up. If someone was 

arrested because he spoke up, 

will 200 million Nigerians be 

arrested for speaking up? 

That will not be 

possible. Sowore and his 

group are just a handful of 

people that could easily be 

intimidated. But will they 

intimidate the whole 

Nigerians? That will not be 

possible. 

Nigerians are dying for 

drugs overseas and being 

arrested for internet scam 

overseas... 

It is when Nigerian 

leaders know that 

they can be 

removed and 

replaced that they 

can do what 

Nigerians want. 

That is why I 

wanted Buhari removed 

through the ballot 

box 

All these are happening 

because we don't have a 

responsible government, we 

don't have a sensitive 

government. United States can 

go to war because of one of its 

citizens arrested, not even 

killed anywhere else. Why not 

Nigeria? But when these 

Nigerians are guilty, then, 

there is no protection for them. 

You do not protect a guilty 

man. 

Nigerians will continue to 

suffer until we say enough is 

enough and elect genuine 

leadership that would solve 

our problems. Then, we will 

call it El dorado. 

Why should Nigerians be 

afraid of one man that got into 

power through their own 

votes? If South Africans were 

cowards, wouldn't Apartheid 

still be there? If Nigerians don't 

fight for what is right, the 

world will only watch. 

And now, it is the world 

speaking against Nigeria. 

America is denying Nigerians 

visa and increasing visa fees 

and we are keeping silent in 

the face of tyranny. Nigerians 

have to stand up and fight for 

themselves. We can't just be 

confined to the comfort of our 

homes and offices and expect 

things to change. If 

the Shi'ítes didn't 

demonstrate and didn't lose 

lives, Buhari would not have 

released El Zakzakyfor 

treatment in India. So, nothing 

good comes easy. We have to 

work for it. 

Must blood be shed for 

things to be good in Nigeria? 

Everything that has a 

beginning must have an end 

including lives. We either die 

fighting or die on our beds 

when the time comes. 

You talk tough as if nothing 

cows you, as if you are not 

afraid? 

Afraid of what? That I will 

die? I've been lucky severally. 

And death I know is a 

necessary end and I tell you, 

nobody and nothing can cow 

me. We must speak up against 

injustice. Not only me but all 

of us or we keep suffering for 

our silence. 

After the presidential 

elections, you allegedly 

wanted to announce the 

results and then, you 

disappeared. Where were you 

and what happened then? 

Didn't I go to the tribunal to 

talk? I did. You shouldn't be 

starting this all over. 

It's subjudiced. I have spoken 

before the tribunal and I have 

just told you that going by the 

votes, 

PDP 

defeated Buhari hands 

down. We defeated him even 

in Northern Nigeria and he 

knows it. 

It is believed you have 

something against Buhari 

I have nothing personal 

against Buhari. In fact, I 

supported him more than any 

other 

person. 

I supported Buhari through 

2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 

election cycles. I only switched 

on 

to 

supporting AtikuAbubakar in 

2019 because of injustice 

in Buhari's administration, 

lack of inclusiveness and 

failure of the administration to 

secure Nigeria. You should 

know that I fought all the 

previous governments since 

1999 because of injustice. 

We made good promises to 

Nigerians, including justice, 

inclusiveness and to secure 

the country which he has 

failed to do. It has always 

being part of my characteristics 

to fight injustice. 

But Buhari knows how to 

use power; that was why he 

muscled out PDP in 2019 

PDP didn't win elections in 

2015. It lost in 2015, just 

as Buhari lost in 2019 but has 

retained power. But Jonathan 

is a good man. He lost the 

election and quietly left but the 

other lost and forced himself 

on the people. So, that is left 

for the judiciary to do what is 

right because the judiciary is 

on trial. Everybody is looking 

at the judiciary and everybody 

knows Buhari lost the 

elections. What are they going 

to tell us? That Buhari won 

the elections technically? We 

are waiting for the judiciary 

and the world is waiting too.“

Vanguard,TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019—45 

PDP PRIMARY: Alaibe, Okoko deny luring 

delegates with fake bank alerts 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

FRONTLINE governorship 

aspirants of the People’s 

Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Timi 

Alaibe and Pastor Keniebi Okoko 

have dismissed as untrue claims 

by the state leadership of the 

party that they were sending fake 

bank alerts to delegates in a bid 

to buy their votes ahead of today’s 

primary of the party. 

Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, 

Cleopas Moses, had in a 

statement, Sunday night, 

accused the duo of sending fake 

bank alerts to some delegates. 

Both aspirants, in a separate 

statements, yesterday, dismissed 

the allegation as smear campaign. 

Alaibe in a statement by his 

campaign organisation Admin 

Secretary, Prof Seiyefa Brisibe 

titled: “This Is No Longer 

Politics,” said: “We have been 

informed of a damning statement 

issued today by the Bayelsa State 

Chairman of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, Chief Cleopas 

Moses, to the effect that our 

Principal, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe 

and another aspirant, Kenebi 

Okoko, were sending fake bank 

alerts to some delegates in a bid 

to buy their votes in the forthcoming 

primary election of the 

PDP. 

“As a campaign organisation, we 

find it difficult to believe that this 

extremely criminal allegation is 

coming from the chairman of PDP 

in Bayelsa State. We assume that 

there is a mistake somewhere. 

How would any reasonable 

person wake up to utter this kind 

of evil allegation against 

responsible fellow human beings? 

“While we allow our lawyers to 

study the legal implications of this 

obviously irresponsible and 

careless allegation, we need to 

state that there is no truth in it 

whatsoever. The burden is on 

those making the allegation to 

provide evidence when the time 

comes. 

“We believe this is dirty politics 

taken too far. Someone does not 

need to go to this extreme just to 

win an election. This allegation 

is an equivalent of bloodshed for 

the sake of politics and must not 

be ignored by those whose 

responsibility it is to ensure that 

it doesn’t happen. 

“We had promised from the 

beginning to run a decent 

campaign for this race. And we 

have not deviated from that 

promise. We have been 

irresponsibly attacked and 

rubbished. But we choose to keep 

our sanity by focusing on the 

campaign and not allowing 

anybody to distract us. We believe 

that politics is a game of superior 

ideas and not a-do-or-die affair.’’ 

Also, Keniebi Okoko in a 

statement said he had never been 

associated with fraudulent acts 

•Alaibe and Okara: PDP governorship aspirants 

and threatened to seek redress in 

court. 

He said: “My attention has 

been drawn to a statement by the 

chairman of PDP in Bayelsa State, 

Mr Moses Cleopas, accusing me 

of sending fake bank alerts to 

some unnamed delegates. 

“As usual, we would have 

ignored such rambling as an 

attempt to portray me in bad light 

in the eyes of my teeming 

supporters within and outside 

Bayelsa, who are banking on me 

to create a new and sustainable 

future for this state when I become 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

ELDERS and chieftains of 

the PDP have advised 

delegates to settle for the 

aspirant of their choice and 

shun any attempt by powerful 

forces to impose one on them. 

The Bayelsa PDP elders and 

stakeholders gave the advice, 

yesterday, in Abuja. 

They warned against 

By Emem Idio 

ONE of the leading PDP 

governorship aspirants, 

Architect Reuben Okoya, has 

tasked the party on the need 

to conduct transparent 

primaries and being fair to all 

the aspirants. 

Okoya, who stated this 

when he featured at the 

Correspondents’ Media 

Forum for Governorship 

Aspirants in Yenagoa, urged 

the delegates and party 

stakeholders to look critically 

at all the aspirants, vote 

without emotions and choose 

the best for the party. 

He said for the party to win 

the November 16 

Governorship poll in the state, 

the party must select the best, 

adding that the electorates are 

governor. 

“But coming from no less a 

person than the chairman of our 

great party, the PDP, it behoves 

on me to respond to this grave 

allegation by one who ordinarily 

should be an umpire in this 

political game. 

“Let it also be stated very 

clearly that we do not believe that 

the chairman is acting with the 

backing of our dear Governor, 

Seriake Dickson, whose love for 

the PDP and the Bayelsa people 

has never been in doubt. The 

governor we know will never 

support this level of impunity. 

“First, as a pastor with a strong 

family name to defend, I have 

never and will never engage in 

this kind of act which the 

chairman, who has thrown all 

decorum to the wind, is publicly 

accusing me of. 

“In my 13 years as a private 

businessman, I have never been 

accused of any fraudulent activity. 

I have built my reputation with 

my own sweat and any attempt 

by anybody, including Cleopas, 

to smear that image will be 

resisted." 

Pick candidate of your choice, PDP elders, 

stakeholders enjoin delegates 

imposition, pointing out that 

any attempt to arm-twist and 

manipulate the primary will 

be resisted, adding that an 

imposition would not augur 

well for the party. 

They were of the opinion 

that manipulating the primary 

will only give room for the 

emergence of unpopular 

candidate, which if not 

checked, will factionalize the 

party in the long run. 

One of the elders, who 

cautioned Governor Dickson 

against endorsing one of the 

21 candidates as being 

speculated noted that the 

PDP National Chairman, 

Prince Uche Secondus had 

been saying that there would 

not be imposition of candidate 

and the era of godfatherism 

was over in the party. 

Be transparent and fair to all aspirants, Okoya urges PDP 

•Okoya 

becoming knowledgeable and 

bold to vote for the best 

candidate. 

Okoya said: “I want the 

delegates and the party elders 

and stakeholders to be bold 

and select somebody who will 

represent Bayelsa State as 

governor without emotions 

because we are at crossroads 

and we need to do the right 

thing. 

“The party must ensure that 

the primaries are transparent, 

free and fair and that 

everybody is treated equally. 

PDP should ensure that the 

primaries are rancour free so 

that the candidate that 

emerges will be one that the 

delegates and stakeholders 

have voted for. I am praying 

and hoping that the primaries 

follows the same path like the 

Port Harcourt Presidential 

Convention and every 

aspirant will fall in line once 

the primary is free and fair. 

“It is my hope that I emerge 

the candidate and face the 

other side (APC). It is very 

critical that PDP brings forth 

the best because if we don’t we 

stand the risk of losing the 

November 16 governorship 

election.” 

Why I want to 

govern Bayelsa 

— OKARA 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

AHEAD of today and 

tomorrow’s governorship 

primary of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa 

State, Secretary to the State 

Government, Pastor Kamela 

Okara, has promised to make the 

state a model of economic success 

in Africa, if elected. 

Asked why he is aspiring to 

govern Bayelsa, Okara said: 

“With the deepest sense of 

responsibility and with a passion 

to serve the best interests of 

every Bayelsa man, woman and 

child; and all those who live and 

work in Bayelsa State, I have 

decided to seek the nomination 

of the PDP to become the 

Governorship candidate in the 

November 2019 election in 

Bayelsa State. Party primaries 

will hold on the 3rd September 

2019. As a result I have been 

actively involved in speaking to 

leaders, stakeholders, elders and 

delegates of our party sharing 

my vision to make Bayelsa State, 

the model of an African economic 

success.” 

For a state that still requires 

huge physical development 

across sectors and in the throes 

of economic expansion beyond 

oil, Okara said he is poised to 

open up the economy for more 

private sector participation. 

Okara’s backers claim that 

none of the other 20 PDP 

aspirants can be regarded as 

having considerable name 

recognition and political stature 

as the Bayelsa SSG. 

Said one of them, Peter Ebiripo: 

‘’Of all the major candidates, 

none has the credential of Pastor 

Kemela Okara in terms of plans, 

grand vision, propriety, 

credibility, ability, courage, 

intellectual and professional 

acumen of Pastor Okara, the 

immediate past Secretary to the 

Government and a leading light 

of the Bayelsa Restoration Group. 

‘’Who is really the best to 

continue with the key 

programmes of the current 

administration that are positively 

changing the fortunes of the state 

and the governing party, than a 

man that had been part of a team 

that is reconstructing the socioeconomic 

and political landscape 

of the oil-rich state where the 

citizens had been the raison 

d’etre and centrepiece of 

governance? 

‘’Pastor Okara, apart from his 

successful law career, was also 

commissioner for Trade, Industry, 

and Investment from 2014 to 

2016 in Bayelsa and reappointed 

by the governor on his re-election 

in 2016 was elevated as the 

Secretary to Government. He 

combines a robust private sector 

and public sector experiences 

that are needed to build the state 

to a model economy. In terms of 

understanding the 

administration of the state in 

areas of human and material 

resources, Pastor Okara towers 

higher than other PDP aspirants 

who are more or less professional 

politicians.’’


Joshua 'disillusioned' ahead of 

Ruiz rematch, says Hearn 

FORMER heavyweight 

boxing and Olmpic 

champion, Nigerian-born 

Briton, Anthony Joshua has 

reportedly admitted to losing the 

passion for a sport that has 

enabled him to reach his ultimate 

career heights. 

As he prepares for his crucial 

December 7 rematch against 

Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr 

the in the historic town of Diriyah 

in Saudi Arabia, the British 

champion admitted that he needs 

to “get the passion back”. 

Joshua suffered a shock 

seventh-round knockout to Ruiz at 

2019 Remita Cup: Unilever 

edges Nestle to title 

UNILEVER has lifted this year's Remita Corporate 

Champions Cup (RC3) trophy after edging out 

Nestle in the final match which was decided at the 

Yabatech Sports Complex on Sunday. The match, which 

was enjoyed by a near-capacity crowd, was as tactical 

as it was exciting. 

Fans of corporate football witnessed endless 

entertainment at the grand finale, as Unilever team 

converted four penalty kicks to deprive former 

champions, Nestle of the dream of lifting the new 

Koenig Trophy for the first time after a goalless draw 

in regulation time. 

Unilever defeated Friesland Campina and IHS 

Towers en route the final while Nestle bested First 

City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Union Bank to make 

the final of the RC3, a tournament regarded by pundits 

as the Champions League of corporate football due to 

eligibility granted to winners and runners-up of 

sectoral championships. 

Madison Square Garden in New York 

on June 1, his first career defeat in 23 

fights. 

That loss cost him the WBO, WBA, IBF 

and IBO world titles, which he had 

systematically and diligently collected 

during a dominant span between 2016- 

2019. 

Now, as he attempts to rebuild his 

reputation as a champion and wrest the 

belts back from Ruiz, the Briton has cut 

a sorry figure with the comments he has 

made, particularly in his vitriol towards 

former world heavyweight champion, 

Lennox Lewis. Despite Lewis’ longstanding 

support, Joshua called him a 

“clown” who he does no respect. 

•Joshua 

I'll help budding sport's talent 

rise to stardom — Ned Nwoko 


ONE of Nigeria's foremost philanthropists and sports 

lover, Prince Ned Nwoko, has said Delta State is a home 

of sports, promising to continue to promote sports and assist 

budding sports talents in the State to showcase their skills 

and rise to stardom in their chosen sport. 

Nwoko, who stated this while addressing newsmen after 

performing the kickoff ceremony of a football scouting trial 

held at the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba, said, "What we 

are doing here is trying to identity budding footballers, 

sponsor their training and assist them to get contracts in 

football clubs in Europe where they could fully showcase their 

football skills and rise to stardom". 

The 3-day trial organised by 60 Goals Global and sponsored 

by Ned Nwoko Foundation, is to identify potential football 

talents and assist them to get contracts in football clubs in 

Europe and it involves participants from all the amateur 

football clubsides in Delta State. 

Morocco 2020: Official calls 

for early camping for Para 

powerlifters 

THE Vice-President, Para Powerlifting Federation of 

Nigeria (PPFN), Ruel Isiaku, says there is the need 

for early camping and adequate training for athletes 

to perform optimally at the 2020 All African Para Games in 

Morocco. Isiaku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 

on Monday in Lagos that adequate training and early 

release of funds for camping by the Federal Government 

would boost athletes’ performance. 

The Moroccan capital, Rabat, will host the first ever 

African Para Games, which will act as a Tokyo 2020 

Paralympic Games qualifier in some events. 

“If the para athletes who will represent Nigeria are 

properly trained and camped early, it will boost their 

performance. 

“We are doing our best but we want government to release 

funds on time so that athletes will be put in camp. 

“Before they go to camp they have to go on trial, those 

qualified will be called to camp. 

“They need to be called to camp and get prepared on 

time; when they are in camp, they will be monitored, in 

the last competition that we went in Kazakstan, their 

performance was not too good. 

Nigeria's Iganmu FC win 

U-12 Soccer World Challenge 

THE Iganmu Football Club have emerged the winners 

of the Under-12 Junior Soccer World Challenge which 

was decided Sunday in far away Osaka, Japan. 

The Lagos based team, which represented Africa in the 

annual soccer tournament, defeated Guangzhou R&F 

Football Club from Germany 1-0 in the final match played 

at the Panasonic Stadium in Osaka, Japan to lift the 

championship's trophy. 

It had earlier defeated Osaka FC 2-1and Bayern Munich 

Junior team 1-0 at the semi final and quarter stages 

respectively. 

The championship was competed for by 32 teams drawn 

from Europe, China, South Eastern Asia, USA, Africa and 

Japan. The competition, which is being sponsored by 

TOYOSHAMA & CO LTD and H.I.S in Japan, is an annual 

event where future football stars are discovered by scouts. 

Iganmu Football Club is an indigenous team fully owned 

and financed by a Japan based Nigerian, Mr. Abayomi 

Egbayelo born and brought up in Sari Iganmu, a community 

in Apapa Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) 

of Lagos State.

FIFA shortlist: 

Once again Ronaldo, Messi , Van 

Dijk vie for ‘The Best’ awards 

Cristiano Ronaldo, 

Lionel Messi and 

Virgil van Dijk 

have, once again, been 

named as the final three-man 

shortlist for FIFA’s ‘The Best’ 

men’s award. 

The same trio were 

nominated for UEFA’s Player 

of the Year, with Liverpool’s 

Van Dijk becoming the first 

defender to win the award at 

the Champions League draw 

ceremony held in Monaco, 

France last week. 

Real Madrid midfielder 

Luka Modric won the award 

last year, beating Ronaldo and 

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah 

Lukaku wants 

strong action 

against racist 

fans 

Belgium and Inter Milan 

striker, Romelu Lukaku 

yesterday made a plea to 

football federations and social 

media platforms to do more to 

fight racism after he was 

subjected to racist abuse in 

Sunday’s 2-1 Serie A victory at 

Cagliari. 

Playing only his second 

match in Italy after his move 

from Manchester United, 

Lukaku appeared to be the 

target of monkey chants from 

the home crowd at the Sardegna 

Arena as he prepared to take 

the decisive penalty. 

Several black players have 

suffered online racist abuse in 

recent weeks, including 

Manchester United’s Paul 

Pogba and Chelsea’s Tammy 

Abraham and Kurt Zouma. 

“Many players in the last 

•Ronaldo, Dijk, Messi 

to the prize. 

Pep Guardiola is among the 

contenders for The Best Men’s 

Coach award after guiding 

Manchester City to the 

English domestic treble last 

season. 

Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp is 

also nominated after taking 

the Merseysiders to a sixth 

Champions League success. 

Mauricio Pochettino, whose 

Tottenham side were beaten 

by Liverpool in the 

Champions League final, 

completes the nominations. 

Manchester City and 

Liverpool were also 

represented in The Best 

Goalkeeper category, with 

Brazilian duo, Ederson and 

Alisson nominated along with 

Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter 

Stegen. 

USA internationals Megan 

Rapinoe and Alex Morgan are 

nominated for The Best 

Women’s Player. The duo 

scored six goals each at the 

Women’s World Cup in France 

for a share of the Golden Boot. 

Jill Ellis and Phil Neville 

are in contention for the 

Women’s Coach of the Year. 

Ellis guided USA to World 

Cup success while Neville’s 

Lionesses reached the semifinals. 

month have 

suffered from 

racial abuse. I did 

yesterday too,” 

Lukaku said on 

Instagram. 

“Football is a 

game to be 

enjoyed and we 

shouldn’t accept any form of discrimination that will 

put our game in shame. 

“I hope the football federations all over the world 

react strongly on all cases of discrimination. 

“Social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, 

Facebook) need to work better as well with 

football clubs because every day you see at least 

a racist comment under a post of a person of 

colour. We’ve been saying it for years and still 

no action. 

“Instead of going forward 

we’re going backwards ... As 

players, we need to unify 

and make a statement 

on this matter.” 

Omeruo pulls out of 

Nigeria, Ukraine friendly 

•Omeruo 

Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo has confirmed that he would not be available 

for the Nigeria/Ukraine friendly billed for September 9. 

The Leganes defender said he needs time to settle down and concentrate on winning with 

his team as well as clear up his work permit which is still pending in the Spanish home office. 

“Yes, it is true I will not be part of the match because my work permit is still in the process 

here in Spain,” Omeruo told brila.net: 

“It is an important process I need to get done for me to continue to play in the Spanish La 

Liga and also concentrate more on my game. So, I will miss the match against Ukraine. 

“All the same, I wish my teammates the best of luck in the match.” 

Leganes have lost their three opening games of the Spanish LaLiga, however, Omeruo is 

hopeful that the club will find its level. 

“We are having a rough start to the season having lost three matches now, but we are 

hopeful we will fight back,” he said. 

“Last season, we also started slowly before we picked up the momentum that got us to a 

comfortable position on the table. 

“I believe in my team and I know we will certainly pick up the challenge and get back to 

winning games.” 


Ndidi dreams 

top six with 

Leicester 

City 

Super 

Eagles 

star, Wilfred 

Ndidi has stated that 

his ambition is to 

finish in top six with 

Leicester City and 

•Ndidi 

earn a ticket for the 

2020 European soccer contest. 

Ndidi returned to the squad 

after missing two games and was 

outstanding as Leicester beat 

Bournemouth 3-1 last weekend to 

make it two wins and two draws 

out of four games. 

“Top six? I would say top three 

[is possible] but we have to get the points out of the games before 

we can place ourselves at the top.” Ndidi said on Sky Sports. 

The Nigeria international is currently studying business and 

management at the De Montfort University (DMU) as he aims 

to broaden his academic knowledge. 

The midfielder, who has made three appearances for the King 

Power Stadium outfit this term, will hope to help his side outwit 

Manchester United on September 14. 

Arsenal legend, Ian Wright 

has backed Liverpool’s 

Senegales striker Sadio Mane 

for fuming with Egyptian teammate 

Mohamed Salah for noth 

passing the ball to him during 

Saturday’s game against 

Burnley. 

Mane was clearly furious 

when he was substituted in the 

Reds’ 3-0 Premier League win 

Olympic 

Qualifier: Super 

Falcons top 

guns to face 

Algeria 

•Oshoala 

Though the Super 

Falcons hold a 2-0 

advantage over their Algeria 

counterparts, the team 

coaches are set to field top 

players like Asisat Oshoala, 

Francisca Ordega and 

Rasheedat Ajibabe against 

the Algerian women. 

The match would be played 

by 4.00pm today at the 

Agege Stadium, Lagos and 

Falcons coach Thomas 

Dennerby stressed the need 

to test his big name players 

now as they are most likely 

going to play Cote d’Ivoire, 

who beat Mali 3-0 in Bamako 

in the first leg. 

Other players on ground for 

the clash include Ngozi 

Ebere, Osinachi Ohale and 

Ngozi Okobi/ 

An own goal and a strike 

by Amarachi Okoronkwo 

sealed the fate of the 

Algerian women in the first 

leg and in today’s tie they are 

most certainly going to run 

into a brick wall. The Super 

Falcons played last in the 

Beijing 2008 Olympics and, 

according to a Nigeria 

Football Federation source, 

the team need to pull all stops 

to be in Tokyo 2020. 

Mane, Salah feud stretches 

back, says Wright 

•Klopp won’t intervene 

FIBA World Cup: How 

we were able to beat 

Nigeria — Garino 

Argentina's small forward at the ongoing FIBA 

World Cup in China, Patricio Garino has said 

they beat Nigeria 94-81 yesterday after listening to 

their coaches who told them to check the fast pace of 

Nigeria's D'Tigers. 

Garino, who also blamed D'Tigers poor three-pointer 

shooting for their second consecutive loss which has 

left them third in the group with just two points, said 

knowing that the Nigerians were huge and athletic 

and had pace, “We needed to stop their first breaks”. 

“We did a great job by listening to the coaches. Their 

(Nigeria) three-pointer shooting was not good. We 

controlled the game. the big difference was the big 

guys they did a good choice", he said. 

Also reacting after the game, Argentina coach, Sergio 

Hernandez said that he knew that the Nigerian players 

were very strong and could run the floor and therefore 

“One of the best things that (we) did was to stop their 

first break in the third quarter”. 

His opposite number, Coach Alex Nwora said he was 

very proud of his team despite the loss because “This 

is a very young team that does not have experience 

but if they stay together, we can do a lot more. 

We are still one of the best teams in Africa in my 

opinion but we have not yet shown it. I thought it 

would be this time but obviously we still have some 

things to improve”. 

over Burnley. 

The forward felt Salah 

should have passed to him on 

a couple of occasions rather 

than take a shot himself. 

As if supporting Mane, 

Wright unearthed some 

footages from last season where 

Salah did not pass to Mane 

when he was in a better 

position. The clips from the 

clashes with Tottenham and 

Huddersfield were shown on 

Match Day 2 and Wright said 

Mane was right to be annoyed. 

“I think when you look at 

how angry [Mane was], he’s 

seething. I think that’s 

something that goes back, 

that’s not something after four 

games that you’re that upset, it 

goes back, you can see how 

angry he is,” Wright said. 

Speaking on the issue 

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp 

stated that there was nothing 

to address thus: “I could 

describe five or six situations 

where everyone thought, “pass 

it, pass it, pass it” and then he 

scored. 

“So, that is the freedom of the 

player. The boys have to make 

these decisions: pass the ball, 

don’t pass the ball. ‘We can 

make this mistakes. You can 

lose the ball and mis-kick the 

ball or sometimes you cannot 

see your team-mate. ‘ 

Jordan Henderson insisted 

all was quickly forgiven 

between the forwards. Mane 

and Salah were said to be in 

good spirits in the dressing 

room after the game, as 

Liverpool picked up another 

vital win.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

ACROSS 

1 Upper-case letter (7) 

5 Drink made from apples 

(5) 

8 Norwegian dramatist (5) 

9 Curling lock of hair (7) 

10 Tell a story (7) 

11 Young sheep (5) 

12 Hinder (6) 

14 Crazy (6) 

18 Go and get (5) 

20 Came in (7) 

22 Paper-folding art (7) 

23 Scrounge (5) 

24 Simple song (5) 

25 Ghastly (7) 

DOWN 

1 Wine from Tuscany (7) 

2 Difficult question (5) 

3 Large mug-like vessel (7) 

4 Place where food is kept (6) 

5 Inland waterway (5) 

6 Predicament (7) 

7 Religious observances 

(5) 

13 Lover of one's country 

(7) 

15 Observed (7) 

16 Interminable (7) 

17 Zestful enjoyment (6) 

18 Inundation (5) 

19 Weighty (5) 

21 Wild West show (5) 

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. 

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news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.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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