09072020 - Day 3: More posers for Magu

7 die as explosion Court declines Gunmen kidnap 

rocks NPDC’s to stop probe of 

OML 40 valve 

ex-Gov 

ex-customary 

13 

Okorocha by court judge in 

station in Delta 

11 EFCC, Imo govt Abia 13 

More than 600 firms bid for Nigeria’s 57 marginal oil fields 7 

The increasingly pervasive 

use of executive orders and, 

more importantly, their 

insidious threat to 16 

constitutional democracy call 

for vigilance 

VOL. 27: NO. 64110 THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 

Day 3: More posers for Magu 

•Magu 

ESCRAVOS 

OIL THREATS: 

Okowa 

advises 

Ijaw, 

Itselkiri to 

sustain 

12 

win-win 

option 

Herdsmen 

attacks: 

ASETU 

calls for 

13 

anti-open 

grazing law 

FG starts 

2021 

budget, 

9 

targets 

Sept for 

submission 

to NASS 

•To account for 380 houses seized 

•7 vessels loaded with crude oil 

5 

•Disposal of assets worth N37bn 

•Pressure on for civilian to head EFCC 

FIRST DOMESTIC FLIGHT AFTER LOCKDOWN... 

Passengers boarding the first flight to kick-start domestic flight resumption at the Murtala Muhammed 

Airport, yesterday. The Federal Government suspended local flights operation in March to curb the spread 

of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Photo: Lawani Mikairu. 

Schools not re-opening 

anytime soon — FG 

Police arrest woman, 

73, for allegedly 

killing 83-yr-old 

6 

husband in Abia 

28 

GENCOs, DISCOs 

have failed 7 

Nigerians — Reps 

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 — 3


vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

REVIEWING ACTIVITIES OF THE POWER SECTOR —From left: Leader of the House of 

Representatives/Chairman, Adhoc committee on Investigation and Review of the activities of the Nigerian 

Power Sector, Alhassan Ado Doguwa; Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Idrsi Wase and Chairman, 

House Committee on Power, Magaji Dau Aliyu, during the Investigative hearing on Review of the activities 

of the Nigerian Power Sector, at the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 


By Kingsley Omonobi, Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Dirisu 

Yakubu 

ABUJA — 

Embattled 

chairman of 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, 

was yesterday confronted 

with more allegations. 

The Justice Ayo Salamiled 

Presidential panel 

asked him to account for 

380 houses and seven 

vessels loaded with crude 

oil which he couldn’t 

account for. The probe 

panel also grilled him on 

the disposal of assets 

worth N37 billion. 

Magu is being grilled, 

following allegations 

raised against him by 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation and Minister 

of Justice, Abubakar 

Malami, SAN. 

The panel, which started 

quizzing Magu on 

Monday after his arrest by 

detectives in Abuja, had 

also on Tuesday grilled 

him on cash discrepancies 

said to be N539 billion 

realized from sale of 

seized assets and N504 

billion declared by the 

commission. 

Both issues are part of 

the over 20 allegations 

levelled against the antigraft 

agency chairman by 

the AGF. 

Magu forcibly 

taken to Aso Rock 

This is even as a source 

close to the panel told 

Vanguard last night that 

Magu was forcibly taken 

to appear before the panel 

at Aso Villa, having failed 

to honour several 

invitations to appear. 

“That Monday, 

detectives were in his 

office to again invite him 

to appear before the panel 

but he said they should 

allow him pray, only to 

pass through the back 

door to drive out of the 

commission’s head office. 

Dictatives positioned at 

the gate outside 

immediately blocked and 

diverted him to Aso Villa 

to face the panel,” the 

source said. 

The source also said the 

President was aware of 

the complaints and 

petitions against Magu 

but asked the panel which 

had been sitting for 

sometime not to invite 

him yet. According to the 

source, the President 

wanted to give him a long 

rope for his cup to get 

filled. 

The source said it was 

in the course of 

investigating the 

allegations levelled 

against him by the AGF 

that more things were 

discovered. 

“In other words, the 

AGF’s allegations opened 

more can of worms,’’ said 

the source, who disclosed 

further that even while 

before the panel, Magu 

refused to cooperate, 

insisting that he would 

not say a word unless his 

lawyer was present. 

“This is the reason his 

lawyer was invited on 

Monday and had been 

accompanying him to the 

panel,” the source added. 

Malami’s 

allegations 

against Magu 

Some of the 

allegations made 

against Magu by the 

AGF include: 

• A l l e g e d 

discrepancies in the 

reconciliation records 

of the EFCC and the 

Federal Ministry of 

Finance on recovered 

funds. 

•Declaration of N539 

billion as recovered 

funds, instead of N504 

billion earlier claimed 

•Insubordination to 

the Office of the AGF 

•Alleged late action on 

the investigation of 

P&ID, leading to legal 

dispute 

•Not respecting court 

order to unfreeze a 

N7billion judgement in 

favour of of a former 

executive director of a 

bank 

•Not providing 

enough evidence for the 

extradition of Diezani 

Alison-Madueke 

•Alleged delay in 

acting on two vessels 

seized by the Navy 

•Alleged favouring of 

some investigators 

called Magu Boys 

•Reporting some 

judges to their 

presiding officers 

without deferring to the 

AGF 

•Alleged sale of seized 

assets to cronies, 

associates and friends 

•Alleged issuance of 

investigative activities to 

some media prejudicial 

to some cases. 

EFCC 

rudderless 

The probe provoked 

anxiety which enveloped 

the commission’s 

headquarters over who 

takes over from Magu as 

acting chairman. 

The anxiety stems from 

the fact that Magu’s 

suspension has not been 

officially communicated to 

the Head of Operations, 

Mohammed Umar who, 

according to EFCC Act, is 

the next in command to 

the acting chairman who 

should act in his absence. 

Vanguard gathered last 

night that there appears 

a jostling between the 

Head of Operations and 

the commission’s 

secretary, Ola Olukayode, 

over who should act in 

absence of the embattled 

acting chairman. 

Vanguard further 

gathered that despite a list 

of three nominees 

forwarded by the 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation and Minister 

of Justice, Abubakar 

Malami, SAN, President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

has intensified his search 

for a possible replacement 

for the suspended Acting 

Continues on Page 27 

By Olayinka Latona 

Hushpuppi's arrest, extradition over alleged fraud (3) 

Day after day, the 

image of Nigeria in 

the international scene 

continues to be destroyed. 

Hushpuppi’s case is only 

one among many. 

Cybercrime is a major 

crime and needs to be 

handled with the severity it 

deserves. I hope our youths 

will learn from 

Hushpuppi’s fall that 

crime does not pay. 

— Sam Fafiolu, Content 

Creator 

I 

don’t see anything 

wrong with the arrest 

of Hushpuppi in Dubai or 

his extradition to United 

States since he 

committed the alleged 

offences in these 

countries and apparently 

has to dance to the tune 

of foreign laws. Also this 

act will continue to mar 

our image on the 

international level. 

—Ojeniran 

Entrepreneur 

Obat, 

H ushppupi’s 

fraudulent 

activities were first 

exposed in United States 

so his extradition is 

justifiable. It is high 

time we stop glorifying 

fraud in Nigeria and the 

FG has a lot to do in 

making this happen. 

Nigerian youths deserve 

a better life, but not by 

illegal means. 

— Anorh Elvis, Corps 

Member 

There are so many 

Hushpuppis out 

there still engaging in 

all manners of evil to 

make money and should 

not be allowed to go free 

else they will keep 

raising disciples. I pray 

his judgment should 

start immediately. It is 

a pity that people like 

him are making it 

difficult for foreigners 

to trust us. 

—— Adunola Ireti, 

Designer 

Hushpuppi’s arrest 

should send warning 

to would-be and practicing 

fraudsters that crime does 

not pay. I can’t imagine 

thousands of people that 

have been sent to their 

early grave through their 

evil acts. Let him face the 

music. His bank accounts 

should be frozen and his 

Nigerian associates 

arrested. 

- O l a m i l e k a n 

Babatunde, Actor 

Hushpuppi deserves 

w h a t e v e r 

punishment he gets 

because he can’t keep 

denting our image and 

expect us to be 

clapping for him. Such 

atrocities should stop 

henceforth and 

Nigerians abroad 

should stop painting us 

black wherever they 

find themselves. 

— Ayomitide Bunmi, 

Student

6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 

Impotent man 

arraigned for 

allegedly 

‘fingering’ 

minor in Osun 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO—One Makinde 

Adeoye, 30, was arraigned 

before an Osogbo Magistrate 

Court, yesterday, for allegedly 

using his finger to sexually 

assaulted a minor. 

Makinde, who according to his 

counsel, Tunbosun Oladipupo, is 

impotent, was arraigned on one 

count bordering on sexual assault 

of a 13-year-old. 

Makinde was said to have 

indecently inserted his finger into 

the virginal of the minor, 

committing an offence punishable 

under section 360 of the state 

criminal law. 

The prosecutor, Mr Abiodun 

Fagboyinbo, said Makinde 

committed the offence on June 16, 

2020 at about 1:30 pm at Isona 

area in Ilesa. 

However, the defendant, having 

pleaded not guilty to the charge 

levelled against him, told the court 

that he is still a bachelor due to 

his present health challenges. 

Defense counsel, Mr 

Oladipupo, urged the court to 

grant his client bail on the most 

liberal term. 

Meanwhile, the magistrate, Mr 

B. Omisade requested for the 

victim’s medical report from the 

police, which was returned after 

checking the detail. 

The magistrate granted the 

accused bail in the sum of 

N200,000 with one surety in like 

sum, who must be a blood relation. 

Widow, 26 

others get 

Rotary Club 

N2m interest 

free loan 

By Elizabeth 

Osayande 

A 

widow, Mrs Juliana 

Nwokafor, and 26 other 

indigent Nigerians became 

beneficiaries of the disbursement 

of N2 million interest free loan 

launched by Rotary District 9110, 

Nigeria. 

The initiative tagged ”Mega 

micro credit scheme,” which saw 

underprivileged members of the 

club that are into small scale 

businesses in Lagos and Ogun 

states, being presented with 

N50,000 free interest loan, which 

they will pay within five months. 

At the presentation of the N50, 

000 cheque to the beneficiaries 

led by the District Governor, 

Rotary District 9110, Bola 

Oyebade, in company of 

principal officers of the club at 

Rotary Centre, Ikeja, Mrs 

Nwokafor explained the gesture 

would not only improve her food 

business, but will enable her carter 

for the needs of her four children. 

Her words: “I am a widow and 

a mother of four who is into food 

business, catering for the needs 

of my children has not been easy. 

However, on the 

recommendation of MaryKay 

Akaakar, Ikeja Rotary Club, today 

I am a happy beneficiary of N50, 

000 loan, which I will pay within 

five months without interest." 

Police arrest woman, 73, for allegedly 

killing 83-yr-old husband in Abia 

ONE Mrs Rose Uwaga has 

been arrested by Abia State 

police command for allegedly 

strangling her 83-year-old 

husband, Alhaji Isa Uwaga, to 

death in Umuahia. 

It was gathered that the two aged 

couple had a disagreement, which 

degenerated into fisticuffs at their 

residence at Ohobo-Afara 

Umuahia. 

A resident of the area said on 

condition of anonymity: “During 

the fight, the man allegedly 

grabbed a machete to scare the 

wife but the woman reportedly 

overpowered him. The machete 

fell off his hand and the woman, 

who is huge, pinned him down 

by the neck and strangled him to 

death.” 

Another account had it that the 

deceased might have slumped 

and died “out of exhaustion after 

his quarrel with his wife.” 

“Is it possible for a woman of 

about 73 years to muster the 

strength to strangulate a man?” a 

friend to the family alsquestioned. 

It was also gathered that the 

relations of the deceased rallied 

round to bury him shortly after his 

death, according to Islamic rite, 

before one of Uwaga’s children, 

Ibeabuchi, reportedly alerted the 

police. 

The suspect, who was said to 

have immediately gone into 

hiding, was later arrested and 

detained by the police. 

The Public Relations Officer of 

the command, SP Geoffrey 

Ogbonnaya, who confirmed the 

arrest of the woman, yesterday, in 

Umuahia said Ibeabuchi reported 

the matter to the police about noon 

on Thursday, July 2. 

He said the case had been 

transferred to the State Criminal 

Investigation Department for 

proper investigation. 

He also said the remains of the 

deceased had been deposited at 

the morgue “for possible autopsy.” 

TRAFFIC JAM: Gridlock from 2nd Rainbow inward Mile 2 on Oshodi-Apapa expressway, Lagos, due to 

activities of articulated vehicles, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

Couple arrested for maltreating 7-yr-old girl accused of 

witchcraft 

By Evelyn Usman 

A 57-year-old man, Joseph 

Akporugo and his wife, Janet, have 

been arrested by men of Ogun State 

Police Command for maltreating a 

seven-year- old girl, Faith Joseph, 

whom they accused of being a witch, 

in Awa-Ijebu area of Ogun State. 

Preliminary investigation 

revealed that the victim was 

Akporugo’s granddaughter. 

Her ordeal began when her father 

died and was accused of killing him 

through witchcraft. 

She was said to have been living 

with her grandfather and his wife 

since her biological father’s demise 

However, on Tuesday, she 

reportedly walked up to a policeman 

who lives on the same street with 

her and narrated how she was 

maltreated. 

According to the girl who spoke 

in Yoruba dialect, “they beat me 

every day, accusing me of being a 

witch. These wounds (pointing to 

her stomach) were inflicted on me 

by them. They put a rubber on the 

fire and placed it on my stomach 

and other parts of my body.” 

Spokesman for Ogun State Police 

Command, DSP Abimbola 

Oyeyemi, who confirmed the arrest, 

said: “The constable took her to Awa- 

•They put rubber on fire, placed it on my stomach, victim alleges 

Ijebu police station where the case 

was incidented. The DPO, CSP 

Adewalehinmi subsequently 

detailed detectives to the couple’s 

house and they were promptly 

arrested. 

"On interrogation, the couple were 

unable to justify their devilish 

maltreatment of the innocent little 

girl. 

“Meanwhile, the Commissioner 

of Police, CP Kenneth Ebrimson, has 

ordered a proper investigation into 

the matter with a view to diligently 

prosecuting the suspects.” 

The victim. 

Mr and Mrs Akporugo.


PRESENTATION—Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State (middle) and his Deputy, 

Mahdi Aliyu-Gusau (right), presenting mobility vehicles to security agencies, as part of 

efforts to improve security in the state, in Gusau, Tuesday. Photo: NAN. 

GENCOs, DISCOs have failed Nigerians 

— Reps 

By Tordue Salem 

ABUJA — The Gov. Mai 

Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary 

National 

Convention Planning 

Committee of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, has asked 

stakeholders and other members 

of the party with grievances 

to withdraw their cases 

from the courts. 

The committee asked the 

aggrieved party members to 

explore the mechanisms for 

dispute resolution as set out 

in APC Constitution 2014 (as 

amended). 

The party gave the charge 

in a statement issued Wednesday 

in Abuja and signed by its 

Deputy National Publicity 

Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena. 

According to the statement, 

the Buni-led committee “has 

recieved the formal letter from 

the Party’s National Executive 

Committee (NEC) Integrity 

Group endorsing the Committee”. 

The “NEC Integrity Group” 

had in the letter also presented 

members of its executive 

and Board of Trustees. 

The statement read: “It is 

heartwarming that majority of 

party faithfuls have adhered 

to President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s call to party members 

to withdraw court cases 

against the party. We call on 

others yet to do so to withdraw 

the cases in the interest of the 

party. “We hereby call on our 

supporters, members and 

leaders to support the caretaker 

committee by coming forward 

with any issues, grievances, 

disputations, differences 

for amicable resolution. 

“Governorship elections in 

Edo and Ondo states are 

forthcoming and we are 

poised to consolidate on our 

popular mandate. We call on 

party members to support and 

cooperate with the party in our 

preparations for these elections. 

“We deeply appreciate our 

well-meaning party supporters, 

members and leaders who 

in their different capacities are 

seeking solutions to the contestations 

within the party. The 

party particularly welcome 

the intervention of President 

Muhammadu Buhari who as 

leader of the party has contin- 

ABUJA — THE House 

of Representatives 

declared yesterday that Power 

Generating Companies, 

GENCOs, and Distribution 

Companies, DISCOs have 

failed, saying they have disappointed 

the citizenry. 

The lawmakers made the 

declaration at the inaugural 

Investigative hearing by 

the Adhoc Committee on 

Power Sector Reform held 

at the National Assembly in 

Abuja. 

Chairman of the Adhoc 

Committee and Majority 

Leader of the House, Alhassan 

Ado Doguwa, said the 

committee was inaugurated 

by the speaker, following 

a resolution of the 

House at plenary, to investigate 

and review activities 

in the power sector. He 

said: “Since then, we have 

made efforts to carry out our 

mandate genuinely and 

painstakingly. We communicated 

with experts and 

relevant stakeholders, and 

today (yesterday), we are 

hosting this hearing. 

“There is no gainsaying 

that the power sector is critical 

to our nation’s industrialisation 

and development. 

Interestingly, we are 

made to understand that 

the greatest issues bedeviling 

the sector after the 

unbundling of the defunct 

National Electric Power 

Authority, NEPA, is the inability 

to effectively transmit 

and distribute electricity 

supply across the country. 

“The inability of some of 

these institutions to meet 

the covenant obligations 

they entered into at the 

time of privatization has 

reduced the capacity to enable 

reliable and quality 

electricity supply for both 

domestic and commercial 

use.’’ 

Doguwa said the power 

sector needed more funds 

and effective gas supply 

system to meet its obligations, 

revealing that gas 

suppliers were claiming billions 

of Naira owed them. 

He also talked about 

operators complaining that 

the electricity tariffs were not 

cost-reflective. 

Doguwa noted that while 

Nigerians appreciated the 

efforts of institutions created 

from the unbundling, 

particularly the GENCOs 

which now have the capacity 

to generate over 10,000 

megawatts of electricity, it 

was becoming clearer that 

the DISCOs and transmission 

companies must do 

more to improve electricity 

supply in the country. 

“Sadly, it appears to the 

common man that there is 

hike in electricity tariff without 

corresponding increase 

in quantity and quality of 

electricity supply. This is, 

indeed, the crux of the matter 

under the mandate of 

this ad hoc committee,” he 

added. 

The Adhoc committee 

chairman said as part of 

Federal Government’s effort 

to improve the situation 

brought about by the inability 

of value chain players to 

APC Crisis: Withdraw court cases, explore our 

constitution, Buni’s C’ttee charges members 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ued to meet with party leaders 

to address some of the contestations 

that has beset the 

party recently. 

“We assure all that our willingness 

and capacity to resolve 

any contestations within 

our party is not in doubt. 

Our constitution provides several 

internal disputes resolution 

mechanisms to address our disputations. 

We must strive to explore 

them when disputes arise. 

The task of keeping the party 

unified and strong is a collective 

one”, the party added. 

Indirect Primary 

for Ondo 

Indications emerged on 

Wednesday that the party leadership 

may have adopted the indirect 

method of primary election 

ahead of the July 20 exercise in 

Ondo state. 

Although no formal statement 

has been issued to this effect, it 

was learned last night that the 

Buni-led committee has decided 

to adopt some of the decisions 

earlier taken by the dissolved 

National Working Committee 

NWC of the party led by Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole. 

meet their basic obligations, 

it invited the German government 

to help the poor 

state of power in Nigeria. 

“This is the situation that 

crystallised in what is now 

called the Siemens Intervention 

deal. lncidentally, the 

above and many other concerns 

are the reasons we 

invited various stakeholders 

and well-meaning Nigerians 

to this hearing,” he 

added. 

Earlier, speaker House of 

Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, 

while declaring 

the hearing open, said the 

power sector problems had 

led to poor supply of electricity 

over the years and 

dampened the hope of Nigerians 

for industrialization 

and overall development. “It 

is no longer news that despite 

huge investments in 

the power sector, little 

progress may have been 

made. 

‘’It is becoming increasingly, 

worrisome that successive 

governments have 

been unable to fix the issue 

of power in our country, with 

the current state of electricity 

supply apparently 

dampening the hopes of 

landmark industrialization 

and national development. 

“It is our belief that you 

shall be equipping the committee 

with ample information 

on the status of the power 

sector, next lines of action 

and the inter-play between 

major players in the 

sector,” the speaker added. 

ABUJA — The Federal 

Government says it 

plans to review the operations 

of some of its embassies 

abroad as well the Technical 

Aid Corps, TAC, scheme. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs, 

Geoffery Onyeama, disclosed 

this when he featured as the 

special guest on News Agency 

of Nigeria (NAN) Forum 

in Abuja. Onyeama said that 

the review became necessary 

due to the dwindling resources 

of the country and the harsh 

socio-economic realities occasioned 

by the Coronavirus 

(COVID-19) pandemic. 

According to him, although 

government had earlier considered 

closure of some of its 

FG condemns profiling of Nigerians 

over arrest of internet fraudsters 

By Victoria Ojeme 

ABUJA — THE federal 

government has faulted 

the international profiling 

of Nigerian citizens over the 

fraudulent acts of a few online 

scammers. 

Chairperson of the Nigerian 

Diaspora Commission 

(NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri- 

Erewa, who spoke for government 

yesterday, said the recent 

arrest by the United Arab 

Emirates Police in Dubai of 

Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, also 

known as Hushpuppi, should 

not be used as a yardstick to 

judge and stereotyping Nigerians 

excelling globally. 

News of the arrest of Abbas 

and Olalekan Jacob Ponle 

who have both been extradited 

to the US and charged in a 

Chicago court with conspiracy 

to commit wire fraud and 

laundering hundreds of millions 

of dollars obtained from 

cybercrimes had made global 

headlines lately. 

In a statement issued by 

Gabriel Odu of the Media, 

Public Relations and Protocol 

More than 600 firms bid for 

Nigeria’s 57 marginal oil fields 

embassies, the embassies are 

now to be rationalised rather 

than closed. “I wouldn’t say 

the resources have improved 

but yes we are in a process of 

trying to rationalise. 

“What we have discovered 

is that the process is actually 

more expensive closing down 

an embassy than to actually 

keep it going. “The cost is huge 

to close down, so, we had to 

revisit it. “When you put into a 

balance our interest in having 

presence in countries around 

the world to promote our 

economy, security and other 

vital national interests and our 

budgetary realities and limitations, 

we are looking at just 

rationalising those embassies 

Unit, NIDCOM, Dabiri-Erewa 

was quoted as saying “Nigerians 

all over the world are 

known to be hardworking, diligent 

and determined and succeeding 

tremendously in their 

chosen careers wherever they 

are.” 

Dabiri-Erewa made reference 

to a Nigerian, Mr Ikenna 

Nweke who was appreciated 

and commended by the 

Japanese government and the 

Police for returning a lost wallet 

with large sums of money 

and a credit card. Lamenting 

that such positives about Nigeria 

had not made headlines, 

the NIDCOM boss said: 

“Also, while the news of Hushpuppi 

was trending , a Nigerian 

in Russia, Dr Chidubem 

Obi, graduated with a 5.0 GPA, 

cleaning all established 

records in the university.’’ 

She noted that Nigerians 

unarguably were the most educated 

immigrants in the United 

States and were hard working, 

committed, determined 

and very successful in their 

career and professions. 

By Udeme Akpan 

ABUJA — THE Department 

of Petroleum Resources, 

DPR, yesterday, disclosed 

that more than 600 

companies have applied to be 

prequalified for the ongoing 

bid rounds of 57 marginal oilfields 

in the country. 

In a television programme, 

monitored by Vanguard, Mr. 

Auwalu Sarki, Director of 

DPR, said the exercise was 

important as Nigeria last conducted 

marginal field bid 

rounds in 2003. 

Engr. Sarki, who noted that 

the ongoing exercise had attracted 

widespread interest 

because of the transparent and 

credible procedures put in 

place by the agency, said: 

“First I will say that we have 

really witnessed an increase 

in bidders after the extension 

of the deadline to June 21. 

There has been almost 30 per 

cent increase in the participation. 

“If you are making a bid or 

auctioning any oil field, you 

need to get 10 people per field 

really going after the field. We 

have 57 fields and we have 

over 600 companies. So we 

can say that we are celebrating 

success so far. 

“After the extension, we are 

moving according to schedule 

and now we are in the 

phase where we do pre-qualification 

for the bidders to apply. 

Everything is going perfectly.” 

However, Vanguard’s investigation 

had shown that many 

indigenous oil and gas companies 

were not able to bid 

because of the coronavirus 

pandemic and low oil prices 

which had already compelled 

operators to slash their 2020 

capital budgets. Some chief 

executives who preferred not 

to be named, had said they 

would not be in a position to 

bid for the fields at this time. 

But Seplat Petroleum Development 

Company Plc, had 

indicated that they would participate 

in the bid as the fields 

would enable them increase 

their production capacities. 

In a recent interview, the 

chairman of Seplat, Dr. Bryant 

(ABC) Orjiako, who confirmed 

the readiness of the 

company to invest in new assets, 

had stated: “We have not 

changed from our very long 

term plan as we are constantly 

looking at acquisition opportunities. 

FG to review size of embassies abroad, TAC 

scheme —Onyeama 

rather than outright closure – 

having a lot of smart missions. 

“We feel that would be more 

cost effective than outright 

closure,” he said. 

On the sustenance of the 

Technical Aid Corps scheme, 

the minister noted that government 

was equally examining 

its funding of the scheme. 

According to him, the 

scheme is a laudable sacrifice 

by the Nigerian government, 

which will be sustained as 

much as possible. 

“Hopefully, we will be able 

to sustain it because it is a sacrifice 

on our part; but the host 

countries also contribute 

through accommodation. 

“We will have a review and 

if we need to downsize it slightly 

because of budgetary reasons 

we will.


$9.7m, £74,000 EFCC found in my 

house given to me as gifts, 

Ex-NNPC chief, Yakubu tells court 

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

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

A Group BUJA—FORMER 

Managing Director 

of the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, 

Mr. Andrew Yakubu, who is 

facing money laundering charge, 

told the Federal High Court in 

Abuja yesterday that the 

$9.7million and £74, 000.00 the 

Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, found in his 

house in 2017 were part of monies 

people gave to him as gifts. 

Yakubu, who opened his 

defence before the trial court, said 

he received the monies in 

tranches of not more than $10,000 

and not less than £5,000. 

Testifying as his own witness, 

the former NNPC boss told the 

court that people gave him 

monetary gifts on occasions such 

as birthdays, thanksgiving 

services, and other celebrations 

he hosted after he left service. 

It will be recalled that EFCC 

officials had on the strength of a 

tip-off by a whistleblower, raided 

the Defendant’s guest house 

situated at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna 

State, and recovered alleged loot 

which was in foreign currencies. 

EFCC said it discovered the 

sum of $9.7 million and £74,000 

that Yakubu hid in a fireproof safe 

inside the house. 

Following the discovery, a 

Federal High Court in Kano, on 

February 13, 2017, issued an 

interim order that forfeited the 

recovered monies to the Federal 

Government. 

Though the anti-graft later 

preferred a six-count criminal 

charge against Yakubu who was 

GMD of NNPC between 2012 

and 2014, the trial court, on May 

16, 2019, struck out counts 5 and 

6 of the charge based on a nocase-submission 

that was made 

by the Defendant. 

Similarly, following an appeal 

by Defendant, the Abuja Division 

Buhari replaces two non-career 

Ambassadors-designate 

•As senator protests exclusion of FCT indigene 

By Henry Umoru 

THE Senate yesterday 

received a request from 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

for the replacement and 

confirmation of two non-career 

Ambassadors-designate. 

The request was contained in a 

letter read during plenary by the 

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan. 

The President sought to replace 

the earlier nomination of Mr. 

Oboro Effiong Akpabio and 

Brigadier General Bwala Yusuf 

Bukar from Akwa-Ibom and 

Borno State, respectively. 

The letter read: “In accordance 

to Section 171(1)(2)(c) and 

subsection (4) of the 1999 

Constitution as amended, I have 

the honour to forward for 

confirmation by the Senate, the 

appointment of Mr. John J. 

Usanga and Air Commodore 

Peter Anda Bakiya Gana (rtd) 

from Akwa-Ibom and Niger State 

respectively, as non-career 

Ambassadors-designate. 

“The Senate is kindly 

requested to recall my earlier 

submission of Mr. Oboro 

Effiong Akpabio and Brigadier 

General Bwala Yusuf Bukar 

of the Court of Appeal further 

struck out counts 1 and 2 of the 

charge and ordered him to open 

his defence with respect to only 

counts 3 and 4 of the charge. 

At the resumed proceeding at 

the court yesterday, the Defendant 

mounted the witness box to 

narrate his own side of the story. 

Led in evidence by his lawyer, 

Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, the 

Defendant said: “Yes my lord, I 

confirm that the monies were 

contained in a safe taken from my 

property. 

“As I stated in my statement with 

the EFCC, the money found in 

the safe, is mine. The money was 

not received in bulk. It was 

received in tranches of not more 

than $10, 000. 00 and not more 

than £5, 000. 00 pounds. 

“Substantial part of that amount 

was given to me after I left service. 

It was given to me on such 

occasions as birthdays, 

thanksgiving services, and other 

celebrations that I hosted after 

leaving my office. 

“I also hosted marriages of my 

daughters. Infact over 98% of the 

the money came from gifts. The 

purpose of keeping the money 

was to think of business ventures 

I will embark on, but it was not 

my intention to go into business 

investment without going 

through a financial institution. 

“Since the money was given to 

me unexpected, I kept the money 

in safety, in a safe, pending when 

I decide on specific business 

venture to embark on. And as 

soon as the decision is crystalized, 

the business would be funded 

through the financial institutions. 

“For over 25 years, I had reason 

by virtue of my schedule to travel 

to many parts of the world. I was 

entitled to estacodes in United 

States Dollars. Any saving I made 

during the trip, I came back and 

saved. The other 2% of the funds 

recovered from my safe was from 

such savings I made from travels.'' 

from Akwa-Ibom and Borno 

State respectively, vide letter 

dated 17th June 2020, I substitute 

Mr. Oboro Effiong Akpabio with 

Mr. John J. Usanga (Akwa-Ibom 

State). I replace Brigadier 

General Bwala Yusuf Bukar 

(Borno State) with Air 

Commodore Peter Anda Bakiya 

Gana (Niger State).” 

But coming under Order 43 of 

the Senate Standing Rules, the 

lawmaker representing FCT in 

the upper chamber, Senator Philip 

Aduda, protested the exclusion of 

a non-career Ambassador from 

the FCT. 

According to him, the only FCT 

indigene presently serving as a 

non-career Ambassador in Sierra 

Leone, Hafiz Obada, was not reappointed. 

“For the ambassadorial 

nomination for the non-career, 

nothing has been said about the 

one for FCT. It has been silent and 

we have an Ambassador who is 

already sitting in Sierra Leone, 

his name is Ambassador Hafiz 

Obada. We don’t know what 

becomes of his fate because 

other states have been told to 

remain in their stations or they 

have been re-appointed. 

BOOK LAUNCH: From left, Director, Engineering, Tech, Innovation and Infrastructure, SMEDAN, 

Engr. David Ozigi; Prof. Christine Ikpeme of Dept of Food Science and Tech, UNICAL; Ex-Minister 

for Science and Tech, Maj. Gen. Sam Momah and his spouse, Chief Christy Momah displaying copies 

of the book: Whe We Must Restructure Nigeria Now, during a media presentation of the book to 

marke Gen Momah's 77th birthday at Crystal Palace Hotel, Garki, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

COVID-19: NCAA denies Aero, Azman, Max Air 

approval to restart as airlines resume flight 

•Passengers welcome flight resumption; flights depart at intervals 

By Lawani Mikairu 

FLIGHT 

operations 

resumed in the country 

yesterday after over three months 

suspension due to coronavirus 

outbreak, as the Nigeria Civil 

Aviation Authority, NCAA, denied 

Aero Contractors, Azman Air and 

Max Air approval to fly for failing 

to meet new flight protocols. 

This is just as passengers were 

yesterday elated that domestic 

flight operations have resumed at 

the two major hubs, the Murtala 

Muhammad Airport , Lagos, and 

Nnamdi Azikiwe International 

Airport, Abuja. 

The five airlines granted 

approval to start operations 

yesterday are Arik Air, Air Peace, 

Dana Air, Overland Airways and 

Ibom Air. Arik Air started the first 

commercial flight out of Lagos, as 

only Arik Air, Air Peace and Ibom 

Air operated flights yesterday in 

keeping with the new protocol of 

flight spacing. 

To avoid crowding the 

terminals, flights are now 

operated at various intervals. 

Chairman, Nigerian Civil 

Aviation Authority, NCAA, 

COVID-19 Committee, Godwin 

Balang, had during a webinar on 

Tuesday night, announced that 

the agency granted approval to 

only the five airlines to restart 

flight yesterday. 

For unscheduled aircraft 

operators, the committee said 

Allied Air Limited, ANAP 

Business Jets and Bristow 

Helicopters had so far complied 

with NCAA regulations. 

The committee also said all 

domestic airports scored an 

aggregate 87.2 percent but noted 

that only the Murtala 

Muhammed International 

Airport, GAT; Murtala 

Muhammad International 

Airport, MM2; Mallam Aminu 

Kano International Airport and 

Nnamdi Azikiwe International 

Airport, Abuja had been given 

approval to restart. 

In keeping with the new flight 

spacing, Arik Air commenced the 

first early morning flight to Abuja, 

while Air Peace was airborne by 

10:30am for their first flight. 

At about 11 am, Ibom Air started 

their flight operation for the day. 

Overland Airways, which does 

not fly Lagos-Abuja route, will 

resume flight services, according 

to its Chief Operating Officer, 

Mrs. Aanu Benson on July 15, 

2020. 

Meanwhile, passengers who 

spoke with Vanguard expressed 

happiness that flights have 

resumed. One of the frequent 

fliers, Mr Patrick Oshoma said he 

is particularly happy because he 

does not like traveling by road. 

“The roads are not good at all. 

They are not motorable. The 

situation has been made worse 

by the current insecurity in the 

land. I can’t risk road travel. I am 

so happy I can fly to anywhere I 

want to go to. I frequent Abuja a 

NOT less than 13 soldiers of 

198 battalion were killed 

Tuesday along Damboa- 

Maiduguri highway in Borno 

State when they ran into an 

ambush laid by Boko Haram/ 

ISWAP terrorists. 

However, 17 of the terrorists 

were killed by troops of Operation 

Lafiya Dole in a counter-ambush 

attack at Damboa same day. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

soldiers of 198 battalion were on 

a clearance operation at Bulabulin 

to ensure smooth access for 

motorists when they ran into an 

ambush laid by the terrorists. 

Sources knowledgeable about 

the attack, who preferred 

anonymity, told Vanguard that 

the soldiers who were of 198 

battalion, were killed when their 

patrol vehicle ran into an 

Improvised Explosive Device 

which exploded, killing eleven 

soldiers whose vehicle was 

mangled beyond recognition by 

the impact of the explosion. 

However, confirming the 

development, the military high 

command remained silent on the 

Bulabulin ambush and the 

casualty. 

It only gave an update on the 

Damboa counter ambush during 

which 17 Boko Haram terrorists 

and two soldiers lost their lives, 

bringing total number of soldiers 

killed to 13. 

The military high command 

said: “In continuation of their 

sustained onslaught against 

remnants of Boko Haram/Islamic 

State’s West African Province 

criminals and their collaborators, 

lot,” Oshoma said. 

Another passenger who 

identified herself as Mrs Sola 

Adigun told Vanguard that 

despite the fear of Covid-19 which 

was believed to have been 

brought to the country through 

the airport, she is happy to start 

flying again. 

“ I know some people don’t want 

to come to the airport now 

because they believe that corona 

virus entered Nigeria through the 

airport. But, for me, air transport 

is still the safest mean. I don’t like 

going by road,” she added. 

13 soldiers, 17 Boko Haram/ISWAP 

terrorists killed in Borno attacks 

the gallant troops of Operation 

Lafiya Dole under the subsidiary 

operation, Operation Kantana 

Jimlan, on Tuesday, July 7, 

successfully eliminated 17 

terrorists after a counter-ambush 

along Damboa-Maiduguri road 

in Borno.’’ 

In a statement by Major 

General John Eneche, 

Coordinator, Defence Media 

Operations, the military noted 

that the troops displayed their 

combat superiority against the 

terrorists, as part of their 

heightened offensive operations 

across the theatre. 

The statement read: “Relatedly, 

on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, the 

troops of 25 Task Force Brigade 

deployed at Damboa in 

conjunction with elements of 

Sector 2 Special Forces while on 

clearance operations along 

Damboa - Maiduguri road, made 

contact with a Boko Haram/ 

Islamic State’s West Africa 

Province criminals’ ambush team 

along their axis of advance. 

“Instinctively, the valiant troops 

outflanked and engaged the 

criminals with overwhelming 

volume of fire power, forcing them 

to withdraw in disarray. 

“In the aftermath of the 

encounter, 17 Boko Haram/ 

Islamic State’s West Africa 

Province criminals were 

neutralized as several others 

were believed to have 

narrowly escaped with varying 

degrees of gunshot wounds, 

while a cache of arms and 

ammunition were equally 

captured by the gallant troops.''


:Vanguard 

News 

BRIEFING: Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami (left), being briefed 

by Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, on the 

main responsibility of the regulator to protect the customers, at the Ministry in Abuja. 

113 children abducted from Kano 

to Anambra, others – Justice Rano 

By Bashir Bello 

KANO—CHAIRMAN 

of 

Judicial Commission of Inquiry to 

probe alleged abduction of children from 

the state, Justice Wada Umar Rano, 

retd, has said no fewer than 113 children 

were abducted from Kano State in the 

last 10 years and sold to buyers in 

Anambra and other southern states. 

Justice Rano disclosed this while 

speaking with newsmen on 

implementation of recommendations by 

his committee contained in a report 

submitted to the state government. 

The retired Judge, who doubles as 

the Chairman of the Probe 

implementation committee said it was 

working on implementation of five out of 

the 46 recommendations by the 

committee to tackle future occurrence of 

the ugly menace in the state. 

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

He said the first step to curb kidnapping 

in the state was to prosecute perpetrators 

of the act while also relocating the New 

Road motor park in Sabon Gari area. 

Justice Rano also informed that the 

Kano State government had 

supported parents of abducted 

children rescued from Anambra 

State with N1 million each and pledged 

to support the children’s education from 

primary to university levels. 

FG kick-starts 2021 budgetary process 

By Emma Ujah 

ABUJA—THE 

Federal 

Government has commenced preparation 

of its 2021 budget, as the Ministry 

of Finance, Budget and National 

Planning has received anticipated 

personnel costs for next year, from 

various Ministries, Departments and 

Agencies, MDAs. 

This followed the Personnel Cost Budget 

Call Circular issued in April by the 

Minister, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, which 

gave all MDAs a June deadline within 

which to submit their personnel budgets 

to the ministry. 

The circular was addressed to the 

Office of the Chief of Staff to the President; 

Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, 

Office of the Vice President; Minister/Ministers 

of State; the Secretary to 

the Government of the Federation; Head 

of Service of the Federation; Chairmen 

of Commissions; Permanent Secretaries; 

Chiefs of Staff/Inspector General of 

Police; Auditor-General of the Federa- 

tion; Accountant-General of the Federation; 

Heads of Extra- Ministerial Departments/Directors-General/Chief 

Executive Officers of parastatals and 

agencies. 

The minister said the circular was 

issued to provide special instructions and 

guidance to ministers, heads of extraministerial 

departments and ministries 

accounting officers charged with the responsibility 

of preparation and 

submission of personnel budgets of their 

respective MDAs. 

Pam assumes duty as NCPC ES, assures on transparency 

By Luminous Jannamike 

ABUJA—NEWLY appointed 

Executive Secretary of the 

Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission 

(NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam, has assumed 

duty at the NCPC headquarters, 

promising to ensure peace and 

transparency in the agency. 

Rev Pam, who spoke yesterday during 

a hand-over event organised by the 

Commission in Abuja, promised to live 

above board and provide leadership that 

would be conformable to the mandate of 

the agency. 

According to the Executive Secretary, 

he will key into the vision and mission of 

the Commission; noting that much was 

expected of him with the new 

appointment, even as he solicited the 

support of the Christian Association of 

Nigeria to deliver on the appointment. 

He said: “I am grateful to President 

Buhari for this appointment as the 

COVID-19: P&G donates 100 

handwashing stations to LASG 

ONE of world's largest 

consumer packaged goods 

companies, Procter & Gamble (P&G), 

has continued its 'Protect Our Heroes 

Missions' with the donation of over 100 

handwashing stations and 8,000 

Safeguard soaps to the Lagos state 

government in support Nigeria 

government’s efforts against COVID-19. 

Through this donation, P&G has 

partnered with the Office of Civic 

Engagement to promote Lagos State’s 

handwashing campaign through the 

installation of the handwashing stations 

in public areas such as markets, hospitals 

and local government offices in all 

councils of the state. 

Speaking at the handover ceremony 

at Lagos State secretariat, P&G’s Senior 

Director for Africa for Global Government 

Relations and Public Policy, Dr. Temitope 

Iluyemi said: “We shall be replicating this 

gesture in other states. This is just to 

appreciate the efforts of the Lagos State 

government to curb the COVID-19 

pandemic so far. As a force for good in the 

communities where we live and work, 

P&G is honoured to partner with Lagos 

State Government through the Office of 

Civic Engagement, to promote 

handwashing in the state. 

“As you know, handwashing remains 

one of the frontline defences against 

infectious diseases, including COVID- 

19, and remains more important as people 

return to work and schools resume.” 

Also speaking, Deputy Governor of 

Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat said: 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made 

handwashing facilities more critical than 

ever. Handwashing campaign remains 

an essential component of our framework 

for COVID-19 prevention and 

eradication.'' 

Executive Secretary of the NCPC. 

‘’This is my first media address, so I 

won’t say much about the vision and 

mission of this commission until I settle 

down in my new capacity. Nevertheless, 

I want to assure everyone, especially 

President Muhammadu Buhari that I 

will not bring shame to the office. 

“We will ensure that the objectives of 

this commission are strictly followed and 

achieved. President Buhari has done well 

for the church with this appointment. I 

also believe the church will back me up 

in this appointment. We will use NCPC 

to bring peace to this country. I also 

promise my state governor, Simon Lalong 

that I will not bring shame to him.” 

Also speaking, Governor Simon 

N900bn fund: PAPS seeks probe 

of ex-administration in Zamfara 

THE Patriots for the 

Advancement Of Peace and Social 

Development, PAPS, has threatened to 

to go to court to obtain an order of 

mandamus compelling the anti-graft 

agencies to investigate the former 

administration of Zamfara State over 

alleged misappropriation and 

misapplication of over N900billion 

belonging to the state during its eight 

years administration. 

PAPS in a petition to the Economic 

and Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, Independent Corrupt 

Practices Commission, ICPC and the 

Nigerian Intelligence Financial 

Unit, NFIU, threatened to go to 

court to obtain an order of mandamus 

compelling the anti-graft agencies to 

investigate the former governor in line 

with the laws setting them up. 

The group said that in the fight against 

corruption, there should be no sacred 

cow, selective justice and favoritism and 

that Yari being a member of the ruling 

All Progressives Congress, APC and 

NCAA apologises to Jet Support Service 

for ‘erroneous suspension' 

By Lawani Mikairu 

THE Nigerian Civil Aviation 

Authority, NCAA, has apologised 

to the management of Lagos-based 

private airline operator, Jet Support 

Service. 

In what appears to be a regulatory slipup, 

NCAA had on Friday, July 3rd 2020 

issued a suspension notice of part G 

(Aircraft leasing operations) of challenger 

604 jet, owned by Jet Support Service. 

According to a statement by the 

Director General/ CEO of the NCAA, 

Captain Musa S. Nuhu, Jet Support 

5.7% of Nigerian households receive 

remittances from abroad — NBS 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Nigeria Bureau of Sta 

tistics (NBS) yesterday, said that 

six out of 100 households in Nigeria 

receive remittances from abroad. 

Nigeria received $17.57 billion in 

direct Diaspora remittances in 2019, up 

by 56.4 percent from $11.23 billion in 

2018. . 

The NBS, however, disclosed that the 

average remittance received per 

household is $224 or N84,741 while 

over 80 percent of the remittances 

received is spent on consumption. 

The NBS disclosed this in its National 

Living Standard Survey Report for 2018/ 

2019. 

The report stated: “Large share of 

households, 54 percent report receiving 

remittances: 52.7 percent receive remittances 

from someone in Nigeria and 5.7 

percent from abroad. 

“The state of Kebbi has the largest 

share of household-remittancerecipients, 

at 81.4 percent and state 

of Sokoto has the lowest number 

at only 5.6 percent. 

close to President Muhammadu Buhari 

should not be shielded from investigation. 

PAPS’s Chairman, Alhaji Sani 

Shinkafi in the petition noted that it was 

record that other former Governors 

Joshua Dariye, Jolly Nyame and just 

recently Orin Uzor Kali and many other 

former governors of the opposition 

parties were investigated or tried for 

corruption. 

It noted that Yari superintended over 

the most atrocious and highest degree 

of primitive mismanagement since the 

creation of Zamfara State in 1996 as the 

interim report of the State’s project 

verification committee, transition 

committee report, local government 

project committee report have made 

chilling, startling and significant 

disclosures to this effect. 

He said “The state government under 

Yari receives N10billion from the Excess 

Crude Account (ECA) for infrastructural 

projects across the state at 9 percent per 

annum with 20 years tenor and the ECA 

was issued as collateral.'' 

Okpe/Urhobo Forest Reserve Judicial 

Panel of Enquiry begins sitting 

THE seven-man Judicial Panel of 

Enquiry set up by the Delta State 

Government to proffer workable and 

lasting solution to the crisis between 

Okpe and Urhobo Communities over 

forest reserve encroachment, has begun 

its sitting at the Unity Hall, Government 

House, Asaba. 

At the inaugural sitting of the panel 

which was basically meant to prepare 

ground for a seamless sitting, Chairman 

of the panel, Justice Tessy Diai disclosed 

Service which is the operator of 

challenger 604 aircraft is “hereby 

suspended within the Nigerian airspace 

forthwith, pending compliance with the 

requirements of the Nig. CARs.” 

However, within 24 hours of issuing 

the suspension notice, the NCAA in 

another letter, by Captain Nuhu was 

issued to the management of Jet Support 

Services, apologizing “for the erroneous 

grounding of your Challenger 604 aircraft 

with registration G-FABO.” 

The letter further reads that “the 

suspension is hereby lifted with 

immediate effect.'' 

“The average value of domestic remittance 

is N62,492 and of international 

remittance is N84,741. More than 80 percent 

of households who receive remittance 

report using the transfers for consumption 

purposes.” 

The bureau noted that around 11.6 

percent of males and 5.3 percent of females 

are involved in wage employment. 

Among adults in Lagos the share of 

wage employed is the highest at 30.3 

percent for men and 16.8 percent for 

women. 

The survey showed that the share of 

males and females in total population is 

roughly equal: 49.2 and 50.8 percent 

respectively. 

This pattern is similar across ruralurban 

areas and across the states, 

except for Enugu state, where ratio of 

males over females is only 0.82. 

It also stated that the average 

household size in Nigeria is 5.06 

persons per family, adding, however, 

that in rural areas the size is 

higher at 5.42 individuals as 

against 4.5 in urban areas. 

that 11 memoranda were received by the 

panel from stakeholders and parties 

involved. 

Following suggestions by 

stakeholders, Hon. Justice Diai directed 

each of the 11 parties involved in the 

disputed forest reserve to submit 10 

copies of their memorandum to the 

Secretary of the panel in the office of the 

Secretary to the State Government not 

later than 10am yesterday. 

The import of this (submission of 

memorandum), according to Justice Diai, 

is to enable various parties to have 

adequate background information that 

would aid them in preparing for cross 

examination by the time the panel 

resumes sitting. 

She adjourned sitting to today, to 

enable the parties involved to have ample 

time to study the memoranda submitted 

by other stakeholders. 

The panel, which has four weeks to 

submit its report has Justice Tessy Diai 

as Chairman while Mr. Jerome Morka is 

a member cum Secretary of the panel. 

Other members of the panel included 

Prof. Abednego E. Ekoko, Sir Okey 

Ofili, Mr. Okeoghene Osiawa, ACP 

Dashuwar Abuja (representing the 

Commissioner of Police), Mr. 

WengChollom (representing the 

Director, State Security Services).


COVID-19: 

Insurers 

charg ed on 

service 

digitisation 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

L AGOS—OPERATORS 

in the insurance sector 

have been enjoined to 

digitally expand their 

operations to make their 

services more seamless. 

Chief Executive of Stanbic 

IBTC Insurance Brokers, 

Igbo Anselem stated this at 

a virtual press conference 

to mark the 2020 World 

Insurance Awareness Day, 

saying that people now rely 

more on digital tools. 

He said: “Seamless 

service is required in the 

insurance sector; that is 

what COVID-19 has thrown up. 

Insurance companies need to 

digitise. Policy holders no longer 

need to come to the office to carry 

out their transactions. They 

need to know that at the press of 

the button from the comfort of 

their homes, they can buy 

insurance products, review 

purchased policies and status of 

claims all from one easy platform.” 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—THE Oyo 

Police Command has 

arrested more suspected 

ritualists in connection with 

the recent killings in 

Akinyele Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

This was disclosed by 

Fatai Owoseni, Special 

Adviser on Security Affairs 

:Vanguard 

News 

IPMAN suspends planned 

strike, as DSS intervenes 

By James 

Ogunnaike 

ABEOKUTA —THE 

Independent 

Petroleum Marketers 

Association of Nigeria, 

IPMAN, South West, 

yesterday, suspended its 

planned industrial action 

over what it described as 

incessant price increments 

as well as inconsistency in 

pricing regulations without 

consultation with 

stakeholders by the 

Petroleum Products Price 

Regulatory Agency, 

PPPRA. 

IPMAN Zonal 

Chairman, Alhaji Dele 

Tajudeen, who spoke with 

journalists in Abeokuta, 

Ogun State, said the 

suspension of the planned 

strike followed the 

intervention of the Director 

of Department of State’s 

Security Service, DSS, 

David Tuska who promised 

to intervene and get their 

grievances addressed 

positively. 

He said the DSS boss had 

pleaded with IPMAN 

Zonal executives to shelve 

the planned strike “in the 

interest of the nation” and 

as a way of honouring him 

and his office, the 

association agreed to listen 

to him. 


Impeachment plot: Ondo Assembly suspends 

dep speaker, 2 others, as majority leader resigns 

By Dayo Johnson 

A impeachment KURE—THE 

of the 

Ondo State Deputy 

Governor, Mr. Agboola 

Ajayi, took another twist, 

yesterday, as three of his 

loyalists in the Assembly 

were suspended 

indefinitely for 

unparliamentary 

behaviour. 

The suspended 

lawmakers include the 

Deputy Speaker, Messrs. 

Iroju Ogundeji, Adewale 

Adewinle and Favour 

Tomomewo, who is the only 

female lawmaker in the 

Assembly. 

Also, the Majority Leader, 

Mr. Jamiu Maito, another 

loyalist of the embattled 

deputy governor, resigned 

his position on the floor of 

the Assembly, yesterday, 

following attacks by leaders 

of his constituency for 

Ibadan ritual killings: Police 

arrest more suspects 

to Governor Seyi Makinde, 

at a Town Hall session for 

stakeholders on how to 

tackle insecurity in the 

state. 

There have been serial 

killings in the local 

government for the past few 

weeks. About five people 

including four women were 

killed by the hoodlums. 

Owoseni said: “Though 

there is no town where 

there is no sin, I can assure 

you as I speak that the 

perpetrators of the killings 

in Akinyele have been 

apprehended. 

“The Commissioner of 

Police would possibly hold 

a press conference but I can 

specifically tell you that the 

person behind it has taken 

the police to the ritualists 

and they are now behind 

the bars.” 

Owoseni, who is a former 

Commissioner of Police, 

charged the public to hold 

security matters so dear to 

their hearts. 

DONATION: From left—Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, receiving keys to the security 

vehicles from the Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Company, SNEPCo, 

Bayo Ojulari, donated to the state Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, by the Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, and SNEPCo, at Lagos House, Marina, yesterday. With them are the Community 

Relations Executive, NNPC, Clementina Arubi (second left), and CEO/Executive Secretary of 

LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun. 

•Dep gov tasks chief judge against compromise 

backing out of the 

impeachment drive. 

The development has led 

to a depletion of the pro- 

Deputy Governor 

lawmakers. 

The house during 

plenary, yesterday, 

unanimously agreed to 

suspend the three 

members “with immediate 

effect having violated the 

Rules and Standing Order/ 

Code of Conduct that can 

put the name of the House 

of Assembly in disrepute.” 

Why we 

suspended 

deputy speaker, 

others —Speaker 

At the plenary, yesterday, 

the Speaker, Mr. Bamidele 

Oloyelogun, announced 

the suspension, saying: 

“We all noted that the 

conduct of the following 

members, Iroju Ogundeji 

(Deputy Speaker), Favour 

Tomomewo and Adewale 

Adewinle are extremely 

unparliamentarily in recent 

times. 

“Their conduct is 

unparliamentarily to the 

extent of reducing the value 

of the Ondo State House of 

Assembly as well as putting 

the name of the House into 

public disrepute. 

“We all agree it has 

become clear that if we 

continue to condone this 

ugly development, the 

reputation of Ondo State 

House of Assembly will be 

damaged completely 

beyond repair. 

“We, therefore, resolve to 

take some far-reaching 

decisions. The decision/ 

resolution unanimously 

taken are as follows Iroju 

Ogundeji (Deputy 

Speaker), Favour Semilore 

Tomomewo and Adewale 

Williams Adewinle are 

hereby suspended from 

Ondo State House of 

Assembly forthwith. 

“That during the period 

of their suspension, they 

should desist from the 

premises of the Assembly, 

or any activity of the 

Assembly, forthwith. 

“That they should 

handover all government 

properties in their custody 

to the Clerk of the House 

of Assembly with 

immediate effect. 

“That all financial benefits 

and other paraphernalia of 

office accruable to them and 

their offices stop forthwith.” 

2 more members 

to be suspended 

Meanwhile, sources 

within the assembly told 

Vanguard that two more 

lawmakers would be 

suspended today. 

Assembly 

leadership was 

pressurized to 

suspend us — 

Deputy Speaker 

Speaking on behalf of the 

suspended members, the 

Deputy Speaker said that 

the leadership of the 

assembly was under 

pressure from the executive 

to suspend them. 

Maito 

constituency 

moves against 

majority leader 

It was, however, 

gathered that the Majority 

Leader, Mr. Maito, whose 

resignation letter was read 

by the clerk of the Assembly, 

Bode Adeyelu, at plenary, threw 

in the towel following attacks from 

leaders of his constituency in 

Akoko North West Local 

Government for backing out of 

the impeachment exercise. 

Leaders of the party expressed 

displeasure over his action which 

violated their directives on the 

impeachment of Ajayi. 

The leaders, which include a 

human rights lawyer, Dr. Tunji 

Abayomi, a Commissioner in the 

state, Mr. Rasheed Badmus and 

a former speaker, Mr. 

Oluwasegunota said: “Maito 

acted on his volition and his 

conducts so far do not represent 

the views and the agreed position 

of all the leaders of Akoko North 

West Local Government. 

“We, therefore, disassociate 

ourselves from his anti-party 

actions.” 

Deputy Governor 

may resign to 

avoid 

distractions, says 

loyalist 

Meanwhile, a former 

commissioner hinted that the 

embattled deputy governor may 

resign to face his governorship 

ambition and avoid distractions. 

Speaking in confidence with 

newsmen, the commissioner said: 

“We knew they were planning 

impeachment but all along, it was 

seen as a mere paperwork that 

would not come to reality because 

the Deputy Governor gave us 

confidence. 

“He kept on assuring us that 

all was well and that majority 

members of the Assembly were 

his loyalists, but we have been 

baffled. It means that there is a 

price on every politician. 

“I can tell you that the Deputy 

Governor was in firm control of 

the assembly. But our greatest 

surprise was how the Speaker 

allowed such an item on the 

Order Paper. 

“It is now clear and the best 

option is to see if we can advise 

our principal to resign and face 

his governorship campaign for 

the PDP primary.” 

Dep gov tasks 

chief judge 

against 

compromise 

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor, 

yesterday, urged the Chief Judge 

of the state, Justice Olarenwaju 

Akeredolu to uphold the integrity 

and supremacy of the 

constitution on the desperate bid 

to remove him from office through 

the State House of Assembly by 

all means possible and at all cost. 

This call was contained in an 

open letter to the Chief Judge of 

the state entitled: ‘Uphold The 

Integrity Of Your Office’, which 

was signed by his Media Adviser, 

Allen Sowore. 

The statement reads in part: 

“Like never before, as the Chief 

Judge of Ondo State, the move 

by the Governor of Ondo State, 

Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu to 

remove the Deputy Governor, Mr. 

Agboola Ajayi from office through 

the State House of Assembly 

gives you a vital opportunity to 

uphold the integrity of Ondo 

State judiciary and its 

independence. 

“This open letter is coming to 

you at this auspicious time 

because of the sacred role you 

may have to play in the 

imminent plan by the Governor 

to remove his Deputy, by all 

means, possible and at all cost. 

The government’s position is not 

hidden; it is already in the public 

space. 

“But your lordship, you have a 

name and integrity to protect. If 

there’s any time the good people 

of Ondo State need your 

integrity, it’s now. And the reason 

is not farfetched as the Governor 

has succeeded in compromising 

his party’s leadership in the 

state; the legislature. However, 

we, the people of Ondo State, still 

hold this belief that the judiciary 

is the last hope of the common 

man. 

“Your Lordship, the point here 

is that the impeachment process 

initiated by 14 members of the 

9th session of the Ondo State 

House of Assembly on 7th July 

2020, is dead on arrival. 

“This is because 

simultaneously, nine members of 

the same Assembly jointly signed 

a resolution disassociating 

themselves from the whole 

process. 

“The action of the nine 

parliamentarians implies that the 

planned impeachment of the 

Deputy Governor cannot 

proceed beyond the signed notice 

of impeachment. 

“Your Lordship, please do not 

compromise so that history will 

be kind to you. History, we say, 

will surely vindicate the just and 

the wicked will surely be 

punished.”


:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

PRESENTATION: From left—Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Screening 

Appeal Panel for Ondo State Governorship Primary Election, Sen. Uzoma Abonta; an 

aspirant, Mr. Godday Erewa, and Chairman of the committee, Senator Istifanus Gyang 

Dung, presenting a certificate to the aspirant, at the PDP Headquarters in Wuse, Abuja, 

Monday, shortly after Erewa was cleared to participate in the Ondo primaries. Photo: 

Abayomi Adeshida. 

Fears in Ondo, as doctors forcefully 

discharge COVID-19 patients 

•We're not happy going on strike —Doctors 

•It's a slight change in protocol, says Health Commissioner 

•As COVID-19 patient gives birth in Ogun 

By Dayo Johnson & 

James Ogunnaike 

AKURE—FEAR gripped the 

people of Ondo State 

following the alleged forceful 

discharge of patients at the 

Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH, 

in Akure, over the strike action of 

the doctors at the facility. 

It was gathered that following 

the strike action, all patients at the 

center were asked to vacate the 

hospital and were forcefully 

discharged. 

However, an official of the center 

stated that no patient has been 

discharged adding that only 

asymptomatic patients were 

discharged. 

Speaking in confidence, he 

said: “If you do not exhibit 

symptoms, they only give drugs 

and advice you to self-isolate at 

home. 

“The state government has 

been trying but the number of 

patients keeps increasing daily. 

We had about 76 cases on 

Tuesday, if they continue to admit 

those without the symptoms, the 

facility will be overwhelmed.” 

We’re not happy down 

tooling —Doctors 

But the National Association of 

Government General Medical 

and Dental Practitioners, 

NAGGMDP, yesterday, vowed not 

to return to work until the 

government meets their 

demands. 

The Secretary of NAGGMDP in 

Ondo State, Dr. Olasakinju 

Tunde, said: “We had through the 

congress requested that our 

members who are the COVID-19 

specialists in the Infectious 

Disease Hospital Akure continue 

to work till Thursday morning, 

2nd July 2020 in the interest of 

the general public and 

particularly confirmation of the 

COVID-19 status of Mr. 

Governor. 

“It is, however, imperative that 

our members be withdrawn 

immediately due to lack of the 

human face expected from the 

government. We are pained to 

have been made to do as such.” 

It’s a slight change in 

7 die as explosion rocks NPDC’s 

OML 40 valve station 

By Mike Eboh 

NIGERIAN 

National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, yesterday, said an 

explosion occurred at Gbetiokun, 

Oil Mining Lease (OML) 40, 

operated by the Nigerian 

Petroleum Development 

Company, NPDC, on behalf of 

the NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture. 

In a statement in Abuja, Group 

General Manager, Group Public 

Affairs Division of NNPC, Dr 

Kennie Obateru, said that the 

incident, which occurred on 

Tuesday during the installation 

of a ladder on a platform (Benin 

River Valve Station) for access 

during discharging of Gbetiokun 

production, unfortunately, 

resulted in seven fatalities. 

He explained that detailed 

investigation of the cause of the 

explosion had commenced, while 

the Department of Petroleum 

Resources, DPR, has been duly 

notified and Form 41 was being 

prepared for the Industry 

regulator as required in 

circumstances of this nature. 

He said, “The bodies of 

casualties have been 

deposited in a morgue in 

Sapele (Delta State) while 

families of the personnel 

involved are being contacted 

by their employers: Weld 

Affairs and Flow Impact, 

which are consultants to 

NPDC. All personnel on 

board the platform have been 

fully accounted for. 

“NNPC Group Managing 

Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, 

commiserates with the families 

of the bereaved, praying that 

God grants them the fortitude 

to bear the irreparable loss of 

their loved ones.” 

protocol —Health 

Commissioner 

Denying the shutting down of 

the isolation centre as a result of 

the strike, the Special Adviser and 

acting Commissioner of Health, 

Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye said: “The 

only changes are the protocol of 

managing infected COVID-19 

patients at the center.” 

“We wish to state that our 

isolation centers are open fully. 

What has however changed is the 

protocol of managing patients 

with COVID-19. 

“Before now, the protocol was 

to isolate every patient infected 

with COVID -19 in the isolation 

center but now our new protocol 

is to admit for treatment only 

positive patients with symptoms 

at the centers. 

“Other positive cases that are 

asymptomatic are to self-isolate 

under supervision in their 

suitable homes according to the 

standard and global practice”, 

Adeyeye said. 

COVID-19 patient 

gives birth in Ogun 

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old 

COVID-19 patient has 

successfully put to bed at the State 

Hospital, Ijaye in Abeokuta. 

The Ogun State Commissioner 

for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, 

disclosed this in a congratulatory 

message to the health workers 

who took delivery of the patient’s 

baby at the hospital premises. 

Coker explained that a 

dedicated team of doctors, 

midwives and other health 

workers took the safe delivery of 

the mother, who was 

asymptomatic, in the early hours 

of Tuesday without putting their 

health and others at risk. 

The commissioner said: “Yesterday, we 

were at the State Hospital to celebrate 

our doctors, midwives and others for 

taking delivery of a baby girl by an 

asymptomatic COVID-19 mother for this 

great feat. 

“It is very easy to criticize, but when 

some people do brave things such as 

these, all we need to do is to always 

appreciate them so they can be motivated 

to do much more whenever the need 

arises,” Coker said. 

Well, dont forget to add your pin 

ohh so I can thank you later 

At least, nobody is entirely useless! 

Good girl! I pity ladies who still fight over 

men!


:Vanguard News 


MEETING: From Left — Chairman, Edo APC Party Reconciliation Committee and Former 

Senate President, Ken Nnamani, Alh. Abubakar, immediate past APC National Chairman, 

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Barr. Sanusi Musa and Secretary of the Committee, Hon. 

Abdul-Rahman Kawu Sumaila during meeting of the committee with Comrade Oshiomhole in 

Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

COVID-19: Delta govt talks tough 

• Says it'll not watch individuals endanger the lives of others 

• Protest rocks Psychiatric Hospital over shortfall in hazard allowance 

• Wike dismisses Perm Sec for flouting containment protocol 

• Bayelsa adopts stiffer measures to curtail spike as fatalities hit 16 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha, Festus 

Ahon, Egufe 

Yafugborhi & Ike 

Uchechukwu, 

ASABA—DELTA State 

Commissioner for Information, 

Mr Charles Aniagwu, 

yesterday, said the state government 

would not fold its 

hands and watch individuals 

endanger the lives of others, 

disclosing that they would 

take stringent measures to ensure 

full compliance with prescribed 

protocols for averting 

the spread of COVID-19 in 

the state. 

Aniagwu, who briefed 

newsmen in Asaba, however, 

said COVID-19 was not a 

death sentence and enjoined 

the people to ascertain their 

status by going for test. 

He said some of the stringent 

measures the State government 

would take include; 

establishment of more mobile 

courts to try defaulters of the 

protocols and introduction of 

new COVID-19 guidelines to 

ensure that the spread of the 

virus was checked in the state. 

He said; "The first family of 

the state appreciates all 

Deltans for your prayers and 

the show of love. The governor 

and his family are doing 

very well; he is in very high 

spirit and he has said that all 

ongoing projects must continue. 

"Based on the increase in the 

number of COVID-19 cases, 

more stringent measures will 

be taken to ensure compliance. 

COVID-19 is real and more 

mobile courts will be established 

to try those who flout 

the protocols. 

"Also, a taskforce to ensure 

compliance will be set up and 

any hotel, bar or restaurant that 

flouts the protocols will be shut 

down. 

Edeinmene tasks 

Deltans not to relent in 

prayers for Okowa's 

speedy 

recovery 

Also, Deacon Arede 

Edeinmene, Executive Assistant 

on Political Matters to 

Governor Okowa has tasked 

Deltans not to relent in prayers 

for his boss speedy recovery 

from Covid-19, stating that 

what the governor needs most 

at this point in time was "our 

collective prayers." 

He prayed for God's guidance, 

healing from Covid-19 

for members of Okowa's family 

which he said their wellbeing 

would enable Okowa 

undistracted to continue his 

services for the people of the 

state and the nation at large. 

Speaking to journalists in his 

office at Asaba, Edeinmene 

said all Deltans need to add 

Okowa in prayers for him to 

recover on time, for him to continue 

to lead the battle against 

the spread of the virus in the 

State. 

He also, congratulated 

Okowa for attaining the age 

of 61, adding that his truthfulness 

by standing by his words 

has brought about unprecedented 

development in the 

three senatorial districts of the 

state. 

Wike dismisses 

Perm Sec for flouting 

containment 

protocol 

Governor Nyesom Wike of 

Rivers State has sacked a Permanent 

Secretary, Sunny 

Okere, for obstructing enforcement 

of Covid-19 containment 

guidelines during a funeral 

in Oyigbo Local Government 

Area of the state. 

The governor, yesterday, in 

a broadcast said, the sack of 

the top civil servant would 

deter other public servants, 

who may wish to be irresponsible 

in his administration's 

aggressive fight against the 

deadly virus. 

He said, "Burial ceremonies 

are reportedly being conducted 

in clear breach of the 50 

persons maximum attendance 

limit such that a serving 

Permanent Secretary had 

the temerity to chase away officials 

of the State Ministry of 

Health who went to enforce 

the established guidelines on 

public burials at Oyigbo. 

"As at July 8, 2020, 3871 of 

total 4573 collected samples 

have been tested with 1235 

confirmed out of which 810 

cases have been discharged, 

43 fatalities recorded, leaving 

382 active cases, including 30 

fresh infected people, undergoing 

treatment." 

On the situation following 

the relaxation of lockdown in 

Bonny LGA and Onne in Eleme 

LGA, he said the State 

Security Council has "imposed 

a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am on 

Bonny council and Onne 

Community from July 10 till 

further notice." 

He said government was 

considering opening markets 

as soon as it was satisfied that 

it is safe to do so with appropriate 

guidelines on social distancing, 

hand washing and 

the wearing of face masks 

guaranteed. 

Protest rocks 

Psychiatric Hospital 

over shortfall in 

hazard allowance 

Meanwhile, workers in the 

Federal Neuro-Psychiatric 

Hospital, FNPH, Calabar, 

Cross River State, have embarked 

on a peaceful protest 

over what they described as 

"injustice" and "discrimination" 

in the payment of Covid-19 

hazard allowance to health 

workers in tertiary health institutions. 

The workers said some category 

of staff which, include 

clinical staff, nurses, pharmacists, 

medical laboratory and 

some health assistance were 

paid 40 per cent. 

They decried that the accountant, 

environmental officers, 

the administrators, auditors 

and store keeper including 

cleaners were paid 10 per 

cent. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

workers carried placards with 

inscriptions, such as 'Covid- 

19 hazard allownace: pay the 

30 per cent allowance now,' 

'We say no to 10 per cent, pay 

us our balance now,' 'Ministry 

of Health drifting to animal 

farm' among many others. 

Speaking with Vanguard 

shortly after the peaceful protest, 

Mr Daniel Odo, Chairman 

of Joint Health Sector 

Unions, JOHESU- FNPH 

branch, said that all staff in the 

hospital were vulnerable to the 

risk of the virus. 

Odo explained that all workers 

in the hospital were health 

workers, adding that it was the 

reason why all workers of the 

hospital irrespective of rank 

were paid N5,000 as hazard 

allowance. 

Bayelsa adopts 

stiffer measures to 

curtail spike as 

fatalities hit 16 

Bayelsa State government 

says it will commence the enforcement 

of wearing of face 

masks in all public places next 

Monday as part of measures 

to mitigate the spread of the 

COVID-19 virus. 

Governor Douye Diri stated 

this at an interactive meeting 

with representatives of financial 

institutions, major 

markets including supermarkets 

operating in the state. 

Represented by his deputy 

Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, 

the governor said given 

the spike in the COVID- 

19 statistics recorded recently 

in the state, it had become 

imperative to make wearing 

of face masks and observance 

of the COVID-19 guidelines 

mandatory. 

"The state government is 

going to enforce wearing of 

face masks in public places. If 

you don't have a face mask, 

don't go near any of our markets, 

don't go near any bank 

and even the precincts of the 

bank. 

A-Ibom first Lady urge youths to shun get-rich-quick 

syndrome 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

UYO—WIFE of Akwa 

Ibom State governor, 

Mrs Martha Emmanuel, 

has advised female youths 

in the state to shun the getrich-quick 

syndrome and 

unhealthy competition. 

Mrs Emmanuel who 

gave the advice, yesterday, 

when she hosted the leaders 

of Akwa Ibom Female 

Youths at the Banquet Hall 

Government House Uyo, 

urged them to rather imbibe 

the right virtues of contentment, 

self-discipline and 

dignity. 

She frowned at the dangerous 

trends of promiscuity, 

nudity and obscene language 

being bandied on 

social media by youths, noting 

that they were not encouraging, 

and that they 

must henceforth become 

Escravos oil threats: Okowa 

advises Ijaw, Itsekiri to 

sustain win-win option 

By Etop Ekanem 

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi 

Okowa of Delta State 

has advised aggrieved 

Ijaw of Gbaramatu 

Kingdom and Itsekiri in 

the Escravos area of Warri 

South-West Local 

Government Area of the 

state to sustain dialogue 

to achieve win-win 

outcome with the Federal 

Government over 

pending demands. 

It will be recalled that 

the Gbaramatu Kingdom 

had in a statement by its 

spokesman, Chief 

Godspower Gbenekama, 

threatened to shut down 

operations of oil 

companies in its area with 

an ultimatum expiring 

tomorrow, over alleged 

Federal Government's 

refusal to address 

longstanding demands. 

Also, the Itsekiri citing 

similar demands in a 

statement by Mr 

Besidone Samuel, 

spokesman of Itsekiri Oil/ 

Gas Producing 

Communities, said if the 

Escravos Gas Revolution 

Industrial Park, Deep Sea 

Port in Gbaramatu in 

Warri South-West LGA, 

Omadino-Escravos Road 

projects were not 

kickstarted, including 

stopping the recent FGannounced 

bidding 

round for 57 marginal oil 

fields, it would shut down 

oil companies’ operations 

in Itsekiri communities. 

But addressing 

newsmen in Warri, 

yesterday, Deputy 

Governor of Delta State, 

Mr Kingsley Otuaro, who 

stood in for Governor 

Okowa, appealed to Ijaw 

of Gbaramatu and Itsekiri 

people “to rescind the 

planned shut down of oil 

operations for a win-win 

strategy/outcome which 

the change agents in the 

society. 

She thanked the group for 

its steadfast support towards 

the current administration, 

and appealed that 

the support should be sustained. 

In his remarks, the Senior 

Special Assistant to the 

Governor on Youth Matters, 

Aniefiok Iwaudofia, commended 

the current administration 

for its commitment 

the Delta State 

Government was 

envisaging in its 

engagement with the FG. 

“I personally appeal 

that the oil communities 

consider jettisoning the 

idea of shutting down oil 

operations, as a birthday 

gift to Governor Okowa, 

and to enable his team 

more time to deepen 

discussions with the 

appropriate authorities. 

“I want to thank the 

Itsekiri and the Ijaw of 

Gbaramatu for peacefully 

airing their demands for 

worldwide attention. But 

I think that resorting now 

to shutting down oil 

operations by Ijaw and 

Itsekiri in place of the 

present peaceful path 

would be seen as 

confrontational owing to 

the present financial 

situation of the Federal 

Government, which the 

Gbaramatu people 

acknowledged in their 

protest. 

“It would additionally 

cripple Federal 

Government's capacity to 

address our legitimate 

demands and erase 

outside sympathy for the 

cause. 

“The world has been 

watching the 

commendably peaceful 

protests by Gbaramatu 

Ijaw and the Itsekiri, over 

pending demands. It has 

noted the unfair 

deprivation of the 

Modular Floating 

Dockyard (MFD) for the 

training of students of the 

Nigerian Maritime 

University, Okerenkoko. 

The demand for Escravos 

Processing Zone (EPZ) 

or Gas Revolution 

Industrial Park project is 

a legitimate quest to 

benefit from oil industryfunded 

by their oil." 

towards the development of 

Akwa Ibom youths. 

"In the history of youth 

politics in the state, we've 

never had a group of female 

youths until the gender 

friendly administration 

led by Governor Udom Emmanuel 

came into office and 

provided a platform for all 

female youths to excel. This 

is highly commendable," he 

said.


:Vanguard News 


INAUGURATION: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle), General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the 

Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Lasisi Adegboye (3rd right), former Governor of old Anambra State, Sen. Jim Nwobodo (3rd left), his 

wife, Pat (2nd left), State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Greg Nnaji (right), Chairman, Enugu South Local Government 

Area, Hon. Monday Eneh (2nd right) and Brig. Gen. Samuel Bitrus, during the inauguration of 14 Bay Bailey Bridge across Nyama 

River, at Amechi, Enugu South LGA, yesterday. 

NSCDC commences investigation as 

gas explosion kills 5 in Imo 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

OWERRI—THE Imo 

State Command of the 

Nigeria Security and Civil 

Defence Corps, NSCDC, 

yesterday, said that it has 

commenced investigation 

into the gas explosion at 

Umuoma Nekede in Owerri 

West local government 

which was said to have 

killed five persons. 

The command's state Public 

Relations Officer, PRO, 

Chimesiri Lowell confirmed 

this to Vanguard in 

Owerri, adding that based 

on preliminary investigation, 

the explosion occurred 

during the discharging of 

gas products of Tiengo 

Gas plant last week. 

The PRO said the 

NSCDC commandant, Raji 

Ibrahim, had visited the 

scene where they got a report 

based on which they 

are now carrying out their 

investigation to ascertain 

the actual number of those 

affected. 

This is as community 

sources told Vanguard that 

five persons died but 

NSCDC said it was told 

that four people died. 

The PRO also said they 

discovered that the owner 

of the gas station is now at 

large and at the time of the 

visit, nobody was seen at 

the gas plant. 

According to NSCDC: "A 

source we met on ground 

said that four people died 

in the explosion. 

"They were discharging 

gas and in the process, 

there was leakage and incidentally 

there was fire 

and it exploded to the 

neighboring houses. When 

Gunmen kidnap ex customary court judge in Abia 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

UMEN, MUAHIA—GUN 

yesterday, kidnapped 

a former customary 

court judge in Abia State, 

Chief Godwin Mejuru, at 

Okeikpe, headquarters of 

Ukwa West council area. 

Vanguard gathered that 

Mejuru was on his way to 

Obehie town when the 

gunmen seized him at 

Okeikpe along the Azumini- 

Obehie road. 

we got there, we could not 

find anybody. 

"The deputy governor, 

Placid Njoku had visited 

the place and even condemned 

the citing of the 

gas plant in a residential 

area. He condemned it completely. 

"On our side, the Nigeria 

Security and Civil Defence 

Corps, NSCDC, investigation 

has commenced. 

We are trying to 

get the owner of the gas 

plant because so many of 

the staff are at large. Our 

investigation among other 

things is to know what really 

caused the incident." 

Court declines to stop probe of ex-Gov Okorocha 

by EFCC — Imo govt 

ABUJA—THE Abuja Di 

vision of the Federal 

High Court, yesterday, declined 

request by former 

governor of Imo State, Rochas 

Okorocha for an interim 

injunction to stop the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, and 

panel of inquiry that was set 

up by the state government, 

from further investigating alleged 

financial infractions he 

committed while in office. 

Okorocha who is currently 

the Senator for Imo West, 

in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/ 

CS/558/2020, is praying the 

court to direct the EFCC to 

halt its investigation into all 

the petitions that were submitted 

against him by Imo 

State Government. 

He applied for a declaration 

of the court that having 

reported the alleged financial 

infractions said to have 

Family sources said that 

the kidnappers were yet to 

contact the family raising 

fears about the safety of the 

former customary court 

judge. 

Mejuru who was described 

by the residents of 

Obehie town as peace loving 

and easy going. 

According to a resident of 

Obehie town who spoke to 

Vanguard; “Chief Godwin 

Mejuru is an easygoing 

and peace loving person. 

Who could have plotted 

been committed by him during 

his tenure as governor 

of Imo state between May 

2011 and May 29, 2019, to 

the EFCC, and the anti-graft 

agency having commenced 

investigation, •"it is unlawful, 

illegal, null, void and of 

no effect for the Attorney 

General of Imo State, which 

made the report to the EFCC 

in the first place to also, and 

during the pendency of the 

said investigation, set up the 

Commission or panel of inquiry 

to investigate the same 

financial improprieties already 

being investigated by 

the EFCC". 

Ex-governor Okorocha 

contended that allowing both 

EFCC and the panel of inquiry 

to investigate him at 

the same time on the basis 

of the same set of facts and 

report, is unconstitutional 

and against the spirit of double 

jeopardy. 

While EFCC and the Attorney 

General of Imo State 

were cited as 1st and 

2nd Defendants, listed as 

3rd to 48 Defendants in the 

matter are 10 members of the 

Justice B.C. Iheaka-led 

probe panel on contracts 

awards from May 2006 to 

May 2017; members of the 

Justice Florence Duroha 

Igwe-led Judicial Commission 

on Lands and Related 

Revenue leakages: Chartered Institute of Taxation pledges to 

assist Umahi 

By Peter Okutu 

AChartered BAKALIKI—THE 

Institute of 

Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), 

Abakaliki & Society District, 

yesterday, pledged to assist 

Ebonyi State Government to 

plug all revenue leakages in 

the state. 

against him? We only 

heard that he was returning 

to his residence at 

Obehie town. Nobody 

knows how the incident 

happened. Maybe, he ran 

into the kidnappers on the 

road. We pray they release 

him unhurt.” 

Efforts made to get the reaction 

of the Police Public 

Relations Officer, Abia 

State Command, SP Geoffrey 

Ogbonna was unsuccessful 

as the time of filing 

this report. 

Matter; members of the panel 

to investigate the activities 

of ISOPADEC; members 

of the panel to investigate 

the status of the newly established 

Tertiary institutions; 

members of the investigative 

committee for financial transactions 

in Imo State; Committee 

for the Review of appointments 

recruitments and 

related matters from 2015 till 

date and the Committee for 

the investigation of LGA. 

Ebonyi State Auditor General 

for Local Government, 

Barr. George Ukpai disclosed 

this yesterday in 

Abakaliki, shortly after the inauguration 

of the state 

branch of CITN and his investiture 

as the poineer 

Chairman. 

Ukpai, said the institute 

was going to assist those in 

charge of revenue generation 

in the state to introduce 

internal controls that would 

help safeguard the generated 

revenue for government. 

Ukpai added that the institute 

would also embark on 

capacity building programmes 

to enlighten the 

tax-paying public on the 

need to voluntarily pay tax, 

adding that, tax payment 

was a civic responsibility required 

of every good citizen 

of Nigeria. 

According to him, through 

tax education and enlightenment, 

we would be able 

Herdsmen attacks: ASETU 

calls for anti-open grazing law 

• Accuses SE govs of being insensitive to 

rural farmers' plight 

By Anayo Okoli & 

Chinonso Alozie 

E NUGU—FOLLOWING 

the incessant destructive 

activities of herdsmen to the 

rural farmers in Igbo land, 

the leadership of the association 

of South East Town 

Unions, ASETU, has renewed 

its call on the South 

East governors to cause their 

Houses of Assembly to urgently 

enact anti-open grazing 

laws, saying that their 

rural farmers are no longer 

safe in their farms. 

According to ASETU, the 

menace of the herdsmen has 

inflicted much hardship on 

the rural farmers who no 

longer go to their farms for 

fear of being attacked by the 

herdsmen. 

Besides, ASETU has raised 

fear that the situation would 

likely lead to famine in their 

communities as the farmers 

have abandoned their farms 

out of fear for their lives, saying 

that if nothing urgent is 

done, their situation would 

get worse. 

According to the President 

General of the association, 

Chief Emeka Diwe, ASETU 

has written to both the governors 

and the Houses of 

Assembly over the need to 

enact a law banning open 

grazing in the zone but none 

of them showed interest by 

even a reply to the letters. 

Diwe lamented the attitude 

of the governors and the lawmakers 

over the plight of the 

rural farmers who he said 

now live in fear and on the 

brink of facing famine. 

The President General said 

that governors and lawmakers 

do not know and feel the 

pains of the rural farmers inflicted 

on them by herdsmen 

because they live and operate 

in the comfort of government 

houses maintained 

with tax payers’ money. 

Diwe said: “On anti-open 

to secure voluntary compliance 

to tax payment. 

He also advocated for a 

proper training of those in 

charge of revenue generation 

to achieve the desired 

result. 

"Plugging loopholes in revenue 

generation is part of the 

capacity building programme 

that is going to be 

embarked upon by the institute. 

One thing that happens 

in finance and administration 

is that when people are 

not aware of a number of 

things, so many things go 

wrong. 

"We strongly believe that 

those staff who are involved 

in revenue generation on 

behalf of government should 

be properly trained on what 

to do. And we are going to 

assist those that are on the 

line of revenue generation to 

introduce internal controls 

that will help to safeguard 

the generated revenue for 

government. 

grazing law we stand. Our 

farmers have abandoned 

their farms due to incessant 

attacks by herdsmen. No rural 

farmer is safe now; the 

herders are everywhere in 

our rural areas. We are afraid 

that famine is knocking on our 

doors because of the destructive 

activities of these killer 

herdsmen. 

“They not only destroy 

crops, they attack, rape, maim 

and even kill the farmers. That 

is why most farmers have 

abandoned their farms and 

this is not good for our people 

because hunger will soon 

knock on our doors as we are 

on the brink of facing famine. 

“We have written the governors 

and the Houses of Assembly 

on the need for the law 

banning open grazing. But 

none of them replied us. We 

followed it up with a reminder, 

yet no response. We don’t 

blame them because they are 

enjoying the comfort of the 

Government Houses, they 

don’t feel the pains the rural 

farmers are going through in 

the hands of these herdsmen.” 

He urged the governors 

and lawmakers to take the issue 

of anti-open grazing law 

serious to save the lives and 

livelihood of the rural farmers. 

INC sends official 

letters to Igbo 

monarchs, hunters 

over herdsmen 

Also speaking yesterday, the 

President of Igbo National 

Council, INC, Chilos Godsent, 

said it has sent out official 

letters to monarchs in 

Igbo nation for the quick implementation 

of the operation 

lion walk against killer herdsmen. 

The INC president made 

this statement in Owerri, adding 

that it’s one step towards 

bringing in other stakeholders 

into the business of protecting 

their environment. 

"When there are loopholes 

fraud and pilferage are 

bound to occur. So, our attention 

is going to be nipping 

that in the bud. Closing those 

loopholes is the first thing, 

because it is only when that 

opportunity is created that 

fraud or pilferage will arise. 

"Take for instance, if the collection 

of revenue in the state 

is fully automated, such that 

you have no contact with anybody 

and then, all tax payers 

are documented on the 

tax payers data base; if you 

have a database of all tax 

payers in the state, it becomes 

easier for a tax administrator 

to send demand notices to 

the various tax payers you 

have at the database. 

"And so, you have no contact 

with them. All tax payment 

would be made directly 

into the government designated 

account. With that, 

you have no contact with cash 

and the issue of pilferage or 

irregularities will not arise."


COVID-19: 

Bola-Ige’s daughter 

er, , others seek 

review of law against suicide attempt 

…say more cases are recorded during coronavirus pandemic 

By Ebunoluwa Sessou 

Late Bola-Ige’s daughter, 

Mrs. Funso Adegbola, Head of 

Department, Clinical 

Psychology Department, 

Federal Neuro-Psychiatric 

Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Tayo 

Ajirotutu, and United States 

based Child, Adolescent and 

Adult Psychiatrist, Dr. Stella 

Bassey-Okoronkwo among 

others have disclosed that 

more cases of suicide are 

recorded during COVID-19 

urging view of law punishing 

those who attempt suicide. 

While calling for more 

awareness on mental illness in 

Nigeria, they maintained that to 

forestall occurrences of suicide 

attempt, especially during the 

coronavirus pandemic, there is 

need to educate people even as 

suicide incidents continue to 

rise on a daily basis. 

They also urged government 

at all levels to ensure schools 

have either psychologist, 

counselor or mental health 

practitioner on their staff list 

adding that religious bodies 

should also create a mental 

health unit manned by mental 

health experts at their religious 

centers in order to reduce the 

rate of suicide in the country. 

Speaking at the inaugural 

virtual meeting of a nongovernmental 

organization, 

Suicide Is No Solution, SINS, 

with the theme: Talking Suicide 

1.0: Causes, Signs and 

Prevention", the experts called 

for the review of the law 

punishing individuals who 

attempt suicide stressing that 

such individuals needed care 

and support instead of 

prosecution. 

While maintain that there 

should be adequate training for 

counselors in schools and 

religious organisations to 

manage the youth especially 

those with depression signs that 

could lead to suicide. 

A lawyer andFounder and 

Chief Executive Officer, The 

Vale College, Ibadan, Mrs. 

Funso Adegbola, advocated 

that the section of the law that 

stipulates prosecution for 

attempted suicide should be 

repealed, calling on 

psychiatrists association, 

health professionals, Nigeria 

Bar Association, NBA, and 

interest groups to join hands to 

ensure that the law is repealed. 

She stated that individuals 

who attempted suicide should 

Ibiyemi Faturoti 

Suicide on the move 

Mrs. Funso Adegbola 

go for mental rehabilitation 

and not prison, stressing that 

shortage of psychiatrists in 

Nigeria should be addressed as 

their services are needed and 

mental health professionals 

should be less stigmatized. 

Also, Head of Department, 

Clinical Psychology 

Department, Federal Neuro- 

Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, 

Lagos, Dr. Tayo Ajirotutu, 

lamented that although suicide 

has been on for decades 

especially in the past four years 

in Nigeria but has escalated 

during the current COVID-19 

pandemic. 

Calling for more education 

and enlightenment on suicide 

among Nigerians, the 

psychiatrist noted that with 

SINS initiative, individuals 

with suicidal tendencies and 

signs are expected to seek 

intervention through experts, 

urging religious organisations 

and schools to train 

counselors on required skills 

to counsel people with 

depression. 

According to him “Suicide 

begins with thoughts and 

behaviors and it is the second 

leading cause of death 

especially among the youths. 

The signs include someone 

either talking about killing 

himself, feeling of 

hopelessness, loneliness and 

rejection or having no reason to 

live and low self-esteem. 

Financial factors, traumatic 

reasons, prolonged stress, 

relationship and education 

issues, inability to meet targets, 

issues at work, home or 

religious organisations are 

other causes of suicide.” 

Ajirotutu warned that the 

issue of suicide cannot be 

confidential as family members 

and mental health experts must 

be involved, saying “If you want 

to kill yourself, identify why you 

want to, and look for another 

way out rather than taking your 

own life.” he said. 

In her own submission, a 

United States based Child, 

Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist, 

Dr. Stella Bassey-Okoronkwo 

called for more awareness on 

mental illness in Nigeria, 

saying suicide incidents have 

continued to rise especially 

during COVID 19. 

Bassey-Okoronkwo stressed 

that mental health awareness 

is such that people with such 

illness must be given the right 

counseling 

and 

recommendation. 

According to her, “People 

struggling with depression, 

drug abuse, alcohol use 

disorders and anxiety have 

higher incidence of 

contemplating suicide in the 

USA. 

"We lose over 800,000 

people yearly globally to 

suicide and we lose a lot more 

during late spring and early 

summers in the USA", she said. 

The SINS Project Lead, Mrs. 

Idy Toye-Arulogun, said the 

meeting was to increase the 

awareness level and better 

understanding of suicide 

amongst Nigerians with a view 

to reducing and eliminating to 

the barest minimum, the 

incidence in the country, 

saying that the meeting has 

helped to educate SINS 

volunteers and people on the 

causes, signs, and prevention 

of suicide. 

Sharing her experience, 

Mrs, Ajoke Okonu, who 

contemplated suicide at the 

age of 16, said she starting 

fighting the thoughts since she 

was 4 years old. But, as much 

as she would loved to take her 

own life, her mother's love 

kept holding her back. 

“I wanted to take my life as 

a result of my parent’s broken 

marriage. I was physically 

abused, molested and when I 

could no longer hold it, I held 

the knife in the kitchen 

several times but my mother’s 

love held me back. I did not 

commit the crime for the love 

of my mother", she said. 

In her own submission, the 

Co-Founder, LePhare 

Consultants, Mrs. Ibiyemi 

Faturoti, urged anyone 

contemplating suicide to 

know that there is someone 

out there that cares and who 

is ready to help, noting that 

suicide should not be 

considered as an option 

during life’s struggles. 

LASG takes over welfare of COVID-19 

underage mother, , child 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni also extolled the 

professionalism of the hospital 

LAGOS State Ministry of for saving both the mother and 

Youth and Social child and for the quality 

Development and Lagos healthcare delivery provided 

State Health Management for the duo. 

Agency, LASHMA, are He therefore, urged parents 

collaborating to support a-16- to always take good care of 

year old mother, identified as their children especially the 

Aishat who delivered a baby girl female folks who are very 

and later tested positive for susceptible and vulnerable to 

COVID-19. 

different vices in the society. 

The gesture followed a video Speaking on the incident, the 

that went viral on the social Permanent Secretary, Mrs. 

media last week about the plight Yewande Fadulugba restated 

of the underage mother and the commitment of the 

baby who are currently in ministry and the state 

Gbagada Isolation centre. government to the safety of 

According to the every child in Lagos State 

Commissioner for Youth and regardless of tribe, location or 

Social Development, Mr Segun status. 

Dawodu, the mother and child She urged residents to 

will be placed in an appropriate always call the attention of the 

shelter where adequate care will Ministry to social welfare 

be given to them. 

issues or get in touch with the 

While commending the Ministry through its Child 

welfare team who took Aisha to Protection Help line on 

Government Hospital where she 09077333426 and 

delivered her baby, Dawodu 08172457792. 

Idy 

Toye-Arulogun 

Also, the Acting General 

Manager, LASHMA, Dr. 

Emmanuella Zamba, said that 

the agency would also enroll 

both the mother and child at 

any of the Lagos State Health 

Scheme, LSHS, and facilities of 

their choice closer to the 

residence provided by the 

ministry. 

Zamba said that the cost of 

registration and medical care 

would be taken care by the 

LASHMA, adding that both 

mother and child are free to 

access medical care 

immediately the mother is 

tested negative and 

discharged from Gbagada 

Isolation Center. 

Zamba called on interested 

individuals to reach the 

agency via 0800- 

ASKLASHMA or 

09013991981 and pay 

insurance premiums for the 

vulnerable in the state, 

revealing that a family plan is 

N40, 000 while individual 

plan is 8,500 per annum.


13 students get N16m from NSE 


IN its readiness to 

strategically bring more 

Nigerians to read and 

practice engineering 

advocacy and to grow the 

practice of the profession in all 

its ramifications, Nigerian 

Society of Engineers, NSE, gave 

scholarships worth 16 Million 

to 13 best overall students that 

sat for the 2020 UTME 

Examination. 

The Scholarship which will 

cover tuition fees is expected 

to be created with a trust fund 

account for five years and will 

be warehoused and managed 

by an independent committee. 

In his address the President 

of NSE, Engr. Babagana 

Mohammed FNSE, at the 

unveiling of 2020 Unified 

Tertiary Matriculation 

Examination Best Brains in 

Engineering ceremony held at 

NEC Building in Lagos 

recently, disclosed that 

scholarship is in twin criteria 

of selection. First were 

outrightly best overall 

performers in terms of scores 

recorded by students at the 

2020 UTME examination. 

And Geopolitical Merit 

Consideration which is cash 

backed scheme with 

modalities clearly spelt out. 

He explained that the five 

years scholarship was given to 

the students to choose their 

preferred local universities. 

His words: “The society is at 

the vanguard of the drive to 

create the talents and 

workforce that will transform 

the nation. Saying, “We must 

light up tomorrow today. 

“If we fail to take affirmative 

action’s to support, inspire, 

promote and indeed remove 

the barriers to knowledge and 

skill driven society, we would 

not consider ourselves 

successful. We must therefore 

intervene when and where we 

should. 

“In fact with more of these 

direct collaborative, non - 

governmental, motivated 

interventions and schemes, we 

will lay the foundation for a 

tech savvy generation that will 

be capable of competing with 

and besting their peers from 

other parts of the globe. 

“It is our sacred 

responsibility to position the 

Engineering profession and 

future workforce to be in a 

position to play a critical role 

in our evolving Society where 

technical skills and creativity 

will be highly sought after. 

“The seeds for Nigerian and 

indeed African technological 

transformation and 

breakthrough need to be 

planted and nurtured today. 

“Science can amuse and 

fascinate us all, but it is 

Engineering that changes the 

World. 

“The Engineer has been, and 

is, a maker of history. 

Scientists study the World as it 

is, Engineers create the World 

that has never been. The way 

to succeed is to double our 

failure rate. 

“We are all aware of our 

challenges today. They are all 

easy to see because we do not 

lack sight. What we lack and 

need , is the foresight and the 

power to envision what 

tomorrow will look like and 

steps and measures that are 

required to mitigate the 

drawbacks in order to advance 

our nation. 

“We also plan to launch a 

mentoring program called 

“Bridging the Gap “with this set 

of students as the first 

beneficiaries. They will be 

assigned mentors that will 

ensure that they stay focused 

and disciplined throughout the 

duration of their studies. 

“This scheme will be 

launched next month. The 

specific date will be announced 

later. This scholarship and 

mentorship scheme marks a 

clear departure from the past. 

It is an attempt by the 

engineering profession to have 

a handshake with the society 

through parents, guardians 

and pupils", he explained. 

He however enjoined 

Nigerians especially the 

professionals in engineering to 

support the scheme with their 

time, talent and substance 

whenever it is needed. 

L-R: President, The Nigerian Society of Engineering (NSE), Engr. Babagana Mohammed; UTME Best 

Candidates, Master Osom Akan Awesome (scored 353); Miss Ojuba Mezisashe (359), Master David 

Nwobi (363); and Miss Agnes Egoagwuagwu (365); during the unveiling of 2020 UTME Examination 

Best Engineering Candidates, held at National Engineering Centre Building, recently 

NEVER has there been 

a time in history when 

women’s rights have 

been so radically glorified than 

now. Rights laws and groups 

dedicated to the female cause 

in various parts of the world 

have done greatly in 

amplifying the voices of 

vulnerable women in our 

generation. Even in Nigeria, 

abused women don’t lack 

needed attention from 

numerous rights groups, 

except, of course, the abuser 

is a fellow woman! 

Violence on 

Women by Women 

This situation is not obscure 

especially in a typical Nigerian 

home where two “mighty” 

females exist: “Oga Madam” 

and the Maid. You can always 

tell who the maid is from a 

distance. She’s oftentimes a 

relative or a paid domestic 

staff usually between the ages 

of 5 to 18 (and above). 

She’s the most unkempt in 

the house whose sole duty is 

keeping the house tidy. She’s 

the early riser who spends her 

free time doing chores she was 

paid to do. Her efforts are 

never good enough and her 

mistakes are always deliberate 

before the eyes of Madam. She 

has no human rights; only 

privileges and would most 

times pass for a scape goat, a 

punching bag and even a sex 

slave. 

Recent cases have revealed 

the torture now inflicted on 

maids qualify for scenes found 

in horror movies. 

Of the numerous cases was 

that of a 10 year-old girl who 

was allegedly bathed in 

steaming hot water, pressed 

with a hot iron by her madam 

and left with untreated burns 

after she was accused of 

beating up her children. 

In 2019, an 11 year- old from 

Awka, Anambra State was 

allegedly assaulted and fed 

with human dungs and 

cockroaches by her madam 

Professionalism, structure, key ingredients for employing a Nanny — Expert 

Opinion 

Maid brutality in 

Nigeria: Crimes on 

women by women 

By Okiemute Abraham 

before she was rescued by an 

activist. 

The lockdown did worse to a 

19 year-old Benue maid, Joy 

Adole, who was allegedly 

tortured to death by a Lagos 

couple and hung to the ceiling 

after they claimed she stole a 

pack of noodles. 

Most recently was the case of 

10 year-old Nneoma Nnadi 

who escaped death by its 

whiskers in Enugu after she was 

tortured by her guardian with 

a pressing iron, had pepper 

inserted into her private part, 

had nails driven into her head 

twice and was locked up in a 

toilet. 

Women, We Need 

To Talk! 

The percentage of violence 

on women by women in Nigeria 

is gradually gaining a 

disturbing momentum. Even 

though these cases resurrect 

on very rare occasions, it still 

doesn’t negate the fact that 

there are thousands of Joys 

and Nneomas scattered 

around the country presently, 

fighting for their lives and 

hoping to leave their misery 

alive. 

What is even more disturbing 

and ironical is the fact that 

these same women who have 

their rights heavily guarded 

choose to conveniently deny 

others theirs. A typical 

scenario of the biblical 

unmerciful servant who was 

forgiven of a greater debt but 

chose to harass his own debtor. 

The world is way past the 

barbaric era of slavery and 

even though hiring a domestic 

staff in Nigeria is not unlawful 

(unless the person is below 18 

years) no human has the right 

to dehumanize another. 

Is your help a burden? 

Relieve him/her of their duties. 

Do you have anger 

management issues? Don’t hire 

a help or be ready to face the 

wrath of the law. Overall, the 

Golden Rule: Do not do unto 

others what you would rather 

not have them do to you. 

PROFESSIONALISM and structure are key 

ingredients to consider when employing a 

Nanny and it is also a critical part of child 

development and work in partnership with parents 

to help children thrive. 

Founder, the Nanny Academy, Amara Agbim 

during the institute’s tenth anniversary celebration 

disclosed this saying; most trained Nannies 

understand the value of contracts and the need to 

respect them. 

To achieve this level of professionalism, deep 

training which penetrates to achieve a mindset shift 

is preferred over sandwich training packages. 

Giving insight to this, Agbim identified some 

challenges facing the growth and development of 

this essential social service industry. She said it is 

wrong for employers to think that individuals take 

to the profession due to lack of gainful employment 

or any other work to do. 


According to her, “Children are not always easy to handle 

so we should do away with thinking that It is an unfortunate 

truth that most nannies work in childcare because they 

couldn’t find a “real” job. It is not true that they take to the 

role because they’re looking for something simple and don’t 

strive for anything more out of laziness”, she said. 

Speaking on why malpractices should not be allowed to 

discourage professionalism, a recruitment manager, Robert 

Half, Chichi Okiche said, “With a trained Nanny, you do not 

have to worry that they will take the place of parents. 

“A trained Nanny understands that parents are the primary 

caregivers of their children and are available just to help assist 

parents to provide a nurturing environment for children. As 

long as parents are able to create the time to bond with their 

children despite being away at work or even being a stay at 

home Mum, children will always know who their parents are 

and love them for it”, she said. 

Amara Agbim


PRESIDENT Muhammadu 

Buhari is governing Nigeria 

by fiat. In a practice alien to 

previous civilian presidents, he is 

using executive orders to take farreaching 

actions. Since assuming 

office in 2015, Buhari has issued 

10 executive orders. So proud is 

he of such instruments that the 

Presidency said in a document 

marking his administration’s fifth 

anniversary: “The Buhari 

administration has, since 2017, 

issued a number of landmark 

Executive Orders.” 

But are executive orders intended 

for “landmark” actions that have 

extra-constitutional or extrajurisdictional 

implications? Are 

they designed to take the form of 

law-making by the executive? Or 

to usurp the functions of other 

arms of government? Of course, no! 

According to Black’s Law 

Dictionary, Executive Orders are 

designed “to direct or instruct 

actions of executive agencies or 

government officials”. As one 

scholar also puts it, an executive 

order “is a type of written 

instructions that presidents use to 

work their will through the 

executive branch of government”. 

But such presidential directives 

are subject to constitutional and 

statutory constraints. 

Executive orders are an 

American invention. But their 

reach is so limited that Congress 

and Federal Courts have struck 

down several executive orders for 

exceeding the scope of the 

president’s authority. Recently, the 

US Supreme Court voided 

President Trump’s executive order 

seeking to deport young 

immigrants because it violated the 

Administrative Procedure Act, 

which says that a government 

action cannot make policy that is 

“arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of 

Abuse of executive orders: Nigeria 

is being run like a dictatorship 

discretion or otherwise not in 

accordance with the law.” 

The Nigerian Constitution 

doesn’t expressly refer to the use of 

executive orders. Those who justify 

its use do so on the basis that 

Section 5 of the Constitution says 

that “the executive powers of the 

Federation … shall be vested in the 

President”. But the same Section 5 

also says that the exercise of the 

“executive powers” is “subject to 

the provisions of this Constitution” 

and “to the provisions of any laws 

made by the National Assembly”. 

So, no executive order purportedly 

issued pursuant to the so-called 

Section 5 power can directly or 

indirectly add to, or subtract from, 

the Constitution or any existing 

statute. 

Yet, recently, the Attorney- 

General and Minister of Justice, 

Abubakar Malami, justified the 

president’s use of executive orders 

by saying their aims were, among 

others, to “complement existing 

legislation” and “ensure 

constitutional compliance”. But 

executive orders will overreach as 

an implementing legislation 

without an enabling power or 

legislative oversight. In the UK, 

ministers legally implement 

provisions of primary statutes 

through statutory instruments. But 

A journey so far in governance 

By ALLISON ABANUM 

NATURE, a ruthlessly effective force, is a 

perfect example of the undeniable 

parallel drawn between time and quality. A 

maize plant takes a relatively smaller time to 

germinate, mature and bear fruits. It produces 

lovely corn cubs useful in so many ways in its 

season. The plant itself dries away in hope that 

the field is cleared again to be inpregnated 

with new seeds carrying the hopes of the next 

harvest. A mango plant on the other hand takes 

very a long time to germinate, mature and 

become a full grown tree ready to bear fruit. 

Often times this is quite frustrating for a farmer 

that doesn’t understand the marvelous process 

unfolding before him. 

In due time, the mango tree brings forth 

delicious fruits also useful in its season but 

more importantly the tree itself still stands tall 

and even still growing in size and vigour, only 

needing to bloom again and again in due 

seasons. This is due to the work done 

underground by nature, which took a 

considerable time before launching out a plant 

that would have strong roots capable to stand 

the test of time and various conditions. 

The Douye Diri-led government of Bayelsa 

State understands this relationship between 

time and quality and only trusts the good 

people of Bayelsa to be that farmer that 

understands the unfolding process. There is 

assurance of a superb work going on 

underground to facilitate a manifestation of 

quality results that will stand the test of time. 

Quality is never an accident; it is always the 

result of high intention, sincere effort, 

intelligent direction and skillful execution; it 

represents the wise choice of many alternatives, 

according to William A. Foster. Surely it is 

upon this premise that Governor Diri has 

chosen to leave a legacy of carefully planned 

and executed projects. This need has 

necessitated profitable dialogue with investors 

from various industries to make them see why 

Bayelsa is best for beneficial investments. 

Although these moves are getting increasingly 

such instruments must be 

scrutinised and approved by 

parliament before becoming law. 

Surely, if executive orders are not 

just administrative directives for 

government agencies and officials 

but have implications for 

individual rights, separation of 

power, federalism, etc, then they 

The increasingly 

pervasive use of 

executive orders 

and, more 

importantly, their 

insidious threat to 

constitutional 

democracy call for 

vigilance 

tasking considering the challenges being faced 

at the moment, the government is unrelenting 

and there are indications of the positive 

coming out of these talks as Bayelsa prepares 

to be open to a world of immense opportunities 

and development. 

One basic prerequisite for investment, 

growth and development is security. Governor 

Diri understood this priority early on; that is 

why checkmating the problem of insecurity 

was one of the first play made on the chess 

board of governance. The security status of 

the state has improved tremendously in such a 

short time. Reduction in crime and violence is 

a testimony clearly given. Upon resumption 

of office, the governor in his inaugural speech, 

clearly stated the need and moved for 

reconciliation of any and all aggrieved bodies 

for the good of the state. This was made 

practical as he has used his position to facilitate 

reconciliation between clashing clans, 

communities and bodies within the state. 

Indeed, this administration has shown it is 

not just all bravado but well equipped for 

action. For instance, the timely intervention of 

the governor brokered peace between 

Agudama and Akenfa communities following 

serious quarrels over land matters. The 

government through the chief of staff, Chief 

Benson Agadaga, also mediated between a 

community in Ekeremor local government 

and a neighboring community in Delta State 

which were on the verge of serious communal 

crisis. The swift intervention of government in 

the clashes between cult groups in the evirons 

of Agudama-Epie community, is another 

show of commitment to a safer Bayelsa as he 

succeeded in extinguishing brewing tension 

and unrest in the area, with the masterminds 

arrested. 

The administration moved to improve the 

Doo Akpor, the state owned arm of the police 

force, by providing some security hardware 

and stipends to boost morale; it followed up 

with the donation of buses and financial support 

to the Bayelsa State vigilante service to help 

must be subject to legislative 

oversight or capable of being 

struck down by the courts. But, in 

Nigeria, executive orders are never 

scrutinised by the legislature and 

hardly ever challenged in court. 

Yet, the increasingly pervasive use 

of executive orders and, more 

importantly, their insidious threat 

to constitutional democracy call 

for vigilance. 

President Buhari has embraced 

this American invention called 

Executive Order with gusto. Yet, he 

has shown little regard for the US 

Supreme Court’s view that such 

orders cannot be used to make 

policy that is “arbitrary, 

capricious, an abuse of discretion 

or otherwise not in accordance 

with the law”. 

Of course, not all of President 

Buhari’s executive orders are 

outside the normal scope of such 

instruments. For instance, 

Executive Order 1 of 2017, which 

requires Ministries, Departments 

and Agencies, MDAs, of the 

Federal Government to act 

transparently and orders “all 

related MDAs at the airports” and 

“all agencies currently physically 

present in Nigerian ports” to 

merge or harmonise their 

operations, is a proper executive 

order: a policy directive by the 

Federal Government to its MDAs 

on how to carry out their functions. 

But most of Buhari’s executive 

orders are not just administrative 

directives; they have far-reaching 

constitutional implications and 

either trample on individual rights 

or undermine separation of power 

or federalism. For space constraint, 

let’s consider two of such egregious 

orders: Executive Order 6 of 2018 

and the latest Executive Order 10 

of 2020. 

In 2018, President Buhari issued 

Executive Order 6 freezing all 

assets of individuals facing 

corruption allegations or charges. 

Reacting to the order, the Nigerian 

Bar Association said Buhari’s use 

of executive orders in criminal 

matters amounted to “decreemaking”! 

Later, a Federal High Court 

clarified the legal position. It held 

that the president had the power 

to issue Executive Orders “on 

carry out their duties effectively. Peace and 

stability are magnets for investments and 

development all of which will surely manifest 

in due time. The growth and development of 

people is the highest calling of leadership. 

Governor Diri has made it clear that he is not 

interested in building powerful people but 

powerful institutions. This clearly indicates a 

yearning for quality and long-lasting works 

that will stand the test of time. 

Many will agree that the given the current 

global challenges, this is indeed a tricky and 

hard time to be in charge of anything 

whatsoever. But where others only see 

stumbling blocks, strategic leaders see 

opportunity to impact. The governor has 

seemingly chosen to toe this path as evident in 

his moves to put smiles on the face of Bayelsans 

through social and civil service reforms, 

The Diri-led administration is 

interested in getting the best 

hands to carry out infrastructural 

projects intended to create 

employment, ease livelihoods, 

generate revenue and foster 

development 

human capacity development and welfare 

management. 

This is demonstrated in the allocation of 

plots of land to 1000 civil servants. And despite 

various unwanted court case distractions from 

aggrieved parties, this administration has 

refused to be derailed in carrying out its given 

mandate and fulfill promises made in its 

campaign manifesto where the governor 

clearly mentioned that he wants to promote 

welfare, prosperity and ultimately make 

Bayelsans happy and rejoice. The civil service 

reforms that has ensured prompt payment of 

salaries and gratuities owed retirees is the first 

step to fulfilling the promises. 

With the current pandemic ravaging the 

world, the administration has assured that 

quality tests, quality control measures and 

decisions are being worked on to drive the 

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routine administrative matters”, 

provided such orders “do not step 

on the toes of legislative and 

judicial powers under the 

constitution.” But that’s precisely 

what Executive Order 6 did by 

seeking to freeze “looters’ assets” 

without a court order. So, the court 

modified the executive order and 

directed that those enforcing it 

“must, at all times, obtain a court 

order before seizing any asset”. But 

what does the fact that Buhari 

could even contemplate using an 

executive order to seize assets 

without a court order tell us? Well, 

it shows an authoritarian streak! 

Which brings us to Executive 

Order 10 that purports to 

implement Section 121(3) of the 

Constitution, which grants 

financial autonomy to state 

legislature and state judiciary but 

doing so in a way that utterly 

undermines the principles of 

federalism. Essentially, Executive 

Order 10 places obligations on 

state governments and turns 

Federal Government agencies and 

officials – Attorney-General and 

Accountant-General – into sheriffs 

against them! And it does so not 

through a statute or a 

constitutional amendment, but an 

Executive Order! 

It was recently reported that after 

state governors pointed out the 

constitutional anomalies in the 

executive order, President Buhari 

suspended its implementation 

“pending further consultations.” 

But why did he issue such a 

perverse order in the first place? 

Over the past five years, Buhari 

self-servingly vetoed nearly 50 bills 

passed by the National Assembly. 

Yet, he enjoys exercising arbitrary 

law-making powers without 

legislative scrutiny. Unchecked, 

that’s a slippery slope to 

dictatorship! 

infrastructural revolution mapped out for the 

state. Being one who understands the 

relationship between time and quality, the Diriled 

administration is only interested in getting 

the best hands to carry out these infrastructural 

projects intended to create employment, ease 

livelihoods, generate revenue and foster 

development. Policies and works that will last 

the test of time and provide maximum benefits 

even to generations to come are on the offering. 

Indeed Bayelsa State is set for greater things. 

The locomotive of qualitative projects and 

works is already set in motion as seen in the 

commencement of construction work on the 

Tombia-Etegwe Flyover project aimed at 

boosting connectivity and ease of movement. 

The government through the Government 

House chief of staff has also hinted of 

proposals for a railway that will move from 

Agge Seaport to Kano in the North, with the 

belief that such massive project has the 

potential to engage over three thousand 

workers in the state in gainful employment. 

It is often said that patience is a virtue and 

one that is often rewarded greatly. To enjoy 

long lasting and durable benefits of good 

governance, strategic planning and the right 

hands need to be on the plough going forward. 

Indeed the actions taken so far speak volumes 

of a government constantly on the drawing 

board, setting up a system strong and durable 

enough to withstand the pressures ahead. 

Peace, security, social welfare and a stable 

environment are non-negotiable terms for 

sustainable development. The Diri-led 

government has a clear understanding of this 

fact. It is upon these important provisions that 

the hope of the emerging prosperity is 

anchored. The future is indeed bright. Like 

diamonds that take considerable time and 

work under immense pressure beneath the 

earth before manifesting as the precious 

material we cherish, the energy, dedication, 

time and work Governor Diri and his team 

are putting in at the moment is sure to bring 

forth a glorious Bayelsa State soon. 

•Abanum, a social commentator, wrote 

from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

What Edo 2020 reveals 

about Nigeria's democracy 

ON September 19, Edo electorate will 

perform their civic duty of deciding, 

in the words of David Easton, the late 

Canadian-born American political scientist, 

who will authoritatively allocate the state’s 

values in the next four years. This exercise 

is important particularly in a representative 

democracy. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s 

democracy is like a sailboat in tempestuous 

waters with no appetite, not to talk of a 

demonstrable ability, for self-righting its 

palpable failings. 

What is happening in Edo State typifies 

the flaws of our leadership recruitment 

process. Until Friday, June 19, 2020, the 

governorship candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, who happens to be 

the incumbent governor of Edo State, 

Godwin Obaseki, was a member of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC. Yet, he was 

given a waiver and handed the party’s 

governorship ticket four days later in a 

primary election that was no more than a 

coronation. In fact, the PDP primary was 

postponed from Saturday, June 20, to 

Tuesday, June 23, in a bid to create a window 

of opportunity for him to negotiate himself 

into the shelter provided by the PDP 

umbrella. Three bona-fide aspirants, 

including Kenneth Imansuagbon, a legal 

practitioner who said he used the past 16 

years to work on his ambition to serve Edo 

people, were muscled out of the race. 

The scenario in APC is not different. Pastor 

Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to the 

Edo State Government, who had a bright 

chance to become the APC governorship 

candidate in the 2016 election was muscled 

out when the then governor, Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole, swore never to allow 

that happen. Instead, he foisted Obaseki, his 

protégé, on the party and railroaded him to 

power. When Oshiomhole, as APC national 

chairman, fell out with Obaseki, he went 

back to Ize-Iyamu, spruced him up in a new 

robe, and ultimately handed him the APC 

governorship ticket on a platter of spiteful 

politics. Now, in all these maneouverings, 

the people who are only supposed to be seen 

but not heard, didn’t count. They were put 

in a leash while the godfathers with 

elephantine egos ran 

riot. The implication is 

that even before the 

election proper, the 

leadership recruitment 

process has been so 

badly compromised 

leaving the people with 

no choice whatsoever. 

But what is even more 

Truth be 

told, 21 years 

after, 

Nigeria’s 

democracy is 

completely 

broken 

instructive and speaks to 

the malignancy of the country’s democracy 

tumour is penchant to behave as if words no 

longer matter. While canvassing votes for 

Obaseki in 2016, Oshiomhole denounced 

Ize-Iyamu as being unworthy of public 

office. 

“It is true we found ourselves in the region 

of politics working together, but I never gave 

him government job,”Oshiomhole said of 

Ize-Iyamu during an APC campaign rally in 

Benin. I kept him busy, let him be holding 

midnight meetings which he is used to. Ask 

him, since he was the director general of my 

campaign organisation, why did I not 

appoint him into government? We kept him 

away, nothing near government circle, no 

access to public fund,” Oshiomhole said. 

He was even more trenchant in his 

criticism at another rally. “We are liable if 

we say anything that is libelous,” he told a 

fawning crowd. “I bear full responsibility in 

my personal capacity. I waive my immunity 

and declare as follows before God: That Ize- 

Iyamu … went to school; he finished his 

primary school, I haven’t seen the 

testimonial but he finished. He then went to 

University of Benin to read law and two years 

later, he was rusticated. Why? He poured acid 

on the body of another student. Today, that 

student is deformed for life. His manhood 

has been destroyed and he 

cannot raise a family. That is 

his credential and that is why, 

he could not go to law school. 

That is why although he read 

law, he is not a barrister. Now, 

because of crisis of identity, 

he went to carry a Bible to say 

he is a pastor, a born again. 

That is okay, he has to 

continue to pray for the sins 

he committed.” 

The Edo PDP equally disparaged Obaseki 

as a certificate fraud. “I have had Oshiomhole 

refer to him as a technocrat and the candidate 

has described himself as one,” Dan Orbih, 

the then chairman of PDP in the state, said 

of Obaseki in August 2016. Here with me is 

the school certificate he used to gain 

admission to the University of Ibadan. In this 

result, he did not pass economics, yet he calls 

himself head of economic team. In the same 

certificate, he made P7 in English and failed 

mathematics. He claimed he entered the 

university the year he left secondary school. 

How could he have gained admission with 

such result? The result was not even good 

enough for any form of preliminary studies. 

This can only mean that Obaseki forged the 

certificates to gain admission. It is obvious 

that the man has no academic qualifications 

as he had only three credits,” Orbih said. 

Sadly, the APC, which defended Obaseki’s 

certificates in 2016, later deployed the same 

controversy to disqualify him in 2020, and 

the PDP, which started the controversy, is now 

defending him. So, what will Oshiomhole 

tell Edo people about Ize-Iyamu as campaign 

starts - that he lied four years ago? Will he 

blame them for being naïve in believing their 

governor then? Some people are already 

saying that it does not matter, using John 

Lyly's "All is fair in love and war" proverb to 

hedge their argument. War, they insist, 

falling back on Carl von Clausewitz’s thesis, 

is politics by other means. But is that correct? 

Shouldn’t there be integrity in politics? 

Shouldn’t the words of political leaders on 

the hustings be believable? 

Political 

space 

As if that is not bad enough, Ize-Iyamu and 

four others are standing trial over an alleged 

N700 million fraud. The prosecutor is the 

Nigerian state superintended by the selfsame 

anti-corruption APC government. APC 

apologists say it does not matter because Ize- 

Iyamu is now in their camp. Really? Yet, 

Olisa Metuh, the former PDP spokesman is 

serving a seven-year jail term since February 

for the same offence of fraudulent receipt of 

N400 million from the office of the former 

National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo 

Dasukui. On Monday, Mr. Ifedayo 

Abegunde, the immediate past Secretary to 

the Ondo State Government, alleged in a live 

radio programme in Akure that Rotimi 

Akeredolu, an APC governor, didn't win the 

2016 governorship election. According to 

him, Akeredolu lost the poll to the PDP 

candidate, Eyitayo Jegede. 

Narrating how he and other political 

juggernauts arm-twisted the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, INEC, into 

declaring Akeredolu winner of an election 

he lost, Jegede said: “Akeredolu didn’t win 

the election in 2016 but we made it 

possible for him to become governor. We 

were the pillars behind him and we will 

not support him again. He will lose this 

time around.” Yet, he is still walking the 

streets freely. Will the party once again 

snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in 

Edo on September 19 as they did in Ondo 

four years ago? 

Truth be told, 21 years after, Nigeria’s 

democracy is completely broken. Each time 

I think about what is happening in the 

political space in the name of democracy, I 

remember what Maurice Iwu, former INEC 

chairman, told me in an interview in 2014. 

“The political elite are so bent on holding 

all of us to ransom. They are so bent on 

making sure that Nigeria doesn’t work. 

They are so bent on making sure that the 

will of the people is never realised,” he 

agonised. “It is a cabal. They are into a 

bubble of their own. Nigerian politicians 

are rotten. They are just rotten. I am not 

saying some of them are rotten. I am saying 

Nigerian politicians are rotten.” 


Wearing of face mask now compulsory for 

business owners, staff—Amuwo Odofin LG chair 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS—CHAIRMAN of 

Amuwo-Odofin Local 

Government Area, LGA, 

Engr.Valentine Buraimoh, 

has mandated business 

owners and staff operating in 

the area to always wear face 

masks or risk sanction. 

He said the measure is in 

compliance with the 

directives of the COVID–19 

Presidential Task Force, PTF, 

as a pre-cautionary measure 

to containing the ravaging 

COVID-19 pandemic, as well 

as flatten the curve of the virus 

in Lagos which is the 

epicentre of the country. 

Buraimoh who gave the 

order on Wednesday, at the 

flag-off of a 4-day sensitization 

programme in the local 

government area tagged: 

Post COVID- 19 Safety 

Protocols Training for 

Business Owners in Amuwo- 

Odofin Local Government, 

said the move is aimed at 

creating awareness for the 

business communities 

operating within the area. 

Speaking at the flag-off of 

the event held in the local 

government Secretariat, in 

FESTAC, Buraimoh, urged 

the business operators 

present “to complement the 

efforts of the government by 

ensuring that COVID-19 is 

defeated by observing safety 

protocols at your various 

business environments, 

shops, companies and 

establishments.” 

“Henceforth, kitting your 

staff and company officials 

with face masks are 

mandatory in all business 

endeavours in Amuwo 

Odofin Local Government, 

as well as attending only to 

customers, clients and 

buyers who wear face 

masks.” 

Edo 2020: Federal might can't stop Obaseki, 

says Diaspora Connect 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY—A group; 

Edo Diaspora Group 

yesterday said Governor 

Godwin Obaseki and his 

Deputy, Comrade Philip 

Shaibu would win their 

second term bid under the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, despite fears in some 

quarters that federal might 

may come to bear in the 

election. 

The group yesterday 

flagged off its campaign for 

Obaseki hodling a rally in 

major markets across Benin 

City. 

Speaking at the Aduwawa 

market, spokesperson of the 

group; Comrade Stanley 

Osakhuenorkhodin said 

Obaseki has done enough to 

merit the vote of Edo people 

for his second term. 

He said: “I strongly believe 

that this umbrella body that 

covers all Edos in diaspora 

will deliver Obaseki. We are 

going to ensure that our 

campaigns continue until we 

hear the final whistle because 

we are aware that some 

group of persons from the 

other divide who know that 

they are no longer enjoying 

the will of Edo people, believe 

that they can only achieve 

their aim through rigging. 

Some of them are boasting 

that we will deploy federal 

might, I am glad today to say 

that President Muhammadu 

Buhari is a man who has 

promised the entire 

Nigerians that he will adhere 

by the rule of law. I hope that 

rule of law prevail but the 

truth is that regardless of 

whatever they want to do, we 

will confront them and we will 

deliver. As Edo people, we 

will stand firm and we know 

that by the grace of God 

almighty I want to use this 

opportunity to tell Edo people 

that in campaign such as this, 

you must be ready not just to 

vote but to also defend your 

vote. “


ONE of the factors that have been 

feeding the myths surrounding the 

raging coronavirus pandemic is the 

unusual rate at which it has affected 

the upper strata of our society. 

It is this factor that led many to the 

unfounded and dangerous notion that 

COVID-19 is a “big man’s disease”. 

The disease entered Nigeria through 

people who were infected while on 

trips to foreign lands. The first major 

casualty was Mallam Abba Kyari, 

President Muhammadu Buhari’s late 

Chief of Staff who succumbed on April 

17, 2020, a few weeks after returning 

from a foreign trip. 

Since then, many highly placed 

Nigerians have died from the disease, 

the most recent being the immediate 

past Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji 

Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi. 

COVID-19 appears to have 

particularly targeted the seats of 

power across the country. Apart from 

the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the 

governors of Oyo, Bauchi, Kaduna, 

COVID-19 invasion of Government Houses 

Ebonyi, Delta, Abia and Ondo states, 

along with many deputy governors 

and other top state officials, have been 

infected. 

Many government officials who 

have been at the forefront of the 

gallant efforts to curtail the spread 

and give palliatives to the lessprivileged 

have sadly become infected 

in the line of duty. Our hearts go out 

to all of them. We wish them quick 

recovery. 

This fight against the pandemic has 

forced governors and state officials 

to fight for the people in a way they 

have never been seen to do before. 

We salute them as part of our 

frontline health workforce. 

In the midst of a pandemic like 

COVID-19, government officials are 

exposed because of the highlyinteractive 

nature of their daily 

routines. 

This is even more so in states which 

are faced with major elections such 

as Edo and Ondo states. In such 

situations, the social distancing rule 

is almost impossible to implement. 

We believe that government officials 

can take better steps to protect 

themselves, family members, aides 

and others who see them regularly. 

Officials should submit themselves for 

routine testing. This is how the various 

football leagues in Europe are able to 

resume and carry on with their 

businesses with minimal risk. 

Officials should also adopt the 

virtual meeting strategy that has 

become the order of the day all over 

the world. 

We don’t see why infection will not 

reduce within Government Houses if 

standard protocols are observed in the 

daily conduct of governance. 

The Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, should team up 

with the Nigerian Centre for Disease 

Control, NCDC, to evolve safer ways 

to conduct campaigns and elections. 

We must explore safe ways of living 

our democratic lives in spite of this 

pandemic. 

Our democracy cannot be locked 

down because of the coronavirus 

pandemic. 

OPINION 

Abiola Ajimobi’s widow and the politics of death 

By KINGSLEY ALUMONA 

IT would be unnecessary to dwell on the 

circumstances surrounding the demise of 

the immediate-past Oyo State governor, 

Senator Abiola Ajimobi. I would be reflecting 

on the way his death has been dragged into the 

circus of politics by some persons who should 

be respectfully mourning him. Unfortunately, 

the senator’s widow, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, 

was at the centre of the media storm that 

disturbed the sensibility of the public during 

the funeral of her husband in Ibadan on June 

28. 

The other actors in the melodrama were 

Governor Seyi Makinde and his deputy, Rauf 

Olaniyan, and Oyo State politics was the stage 

of the show. When I saw the online video and 

reports that portrayed Mrs. Ajimobi’s tantrum 

at the funeral, I was disappointed but not 

surprised. I understand Mrs. Ajimobi’s loss, 

but that does not authorise her to berate the 

governor and his deputy, especially on camera. 

There are other appropriate ways of expressing 

these emotions. Not on her husband’s funeral. 

It seems Mrs. Ajimobi is critically vocal like 

her late husband. In the video, she brought to 

the fore the appalling culture of entitlement 

that has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigerian 

politics and government. Is it in the Constitution 

that a serving governor must contact the 

spouse of a former governor in the event of 

illness or death? Though courtesy may demand 

that, it is not compulsory. 

Hear Mrs Ajimobi: “After he (Ajimobi) died, 

not even you, Mr. Deputy Governor, called. 

You should have sent a text message… I’m a 

wife of a politician. I don’t pick numbers I 

don’t know… Everybody is going to die...” Had 

it been that she answered the phone call, aware 

of the deputy governor’s phone number or not, 

what would have been her narrative? On the 

other hand, as regards the senator’s illness and 

death, there were speculations that Governor 

Makinde tried contacting Mrs Ajimobi on 

several occasions, even through other means 

and persons, but she allegedly chose not to 

oblige. 

Given the highly delicate political situation 

rocking the late senator’s political party 

during his illness, the secrecy surrounding his 

illness and the controversies associated with 

his death, any prudent opposition government 

would not be quick to issue official statements 

that could be misunderstood or misinterpreted. 

Mrs. Ajimobi was right in the video when 

she said: “We should allow God to guide us in 

whatever we do… I don’t want any 

controversy.” But few days after the interment 

of the senator, the controversy was aggravated 

by the senator’s daughter-in-law, Fatima 

Ganduje-Ajimobi, who also doubles as the 

daughter of the Kano State governor. Mrs 

Ganduje-Ajimobi, through her social media 

handle, said Governor Makinde can never 

surpass Ajimobi’s achievements. Without 

mincing words, the Ajimobi family and their 

in-laws are, consciously or unconsciously, 

making the death of Senator Ajimobi more 

controversial than that of the former chief of 

staff of President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba 

Kyari, over some mundane politics. 

If that was not enough, one week after the 

senator’s funeral, the Oyo State deputy 

governor and some commissioners of the state 

were prevented from entering the venue of 

eighth day Islamic ‘Fidau’ prayer for the 

deceased. The late Ajimobi’s spokesperson, 

Bolaji Tunji, said the event was strictly a family 

affair. “Everything happened within a spate of 

10 minutes,” he said, adding that the deputy 

governor arrived at the venue after the prayer 

had started and that no one was aware that he 

was coming to the prayer. On the other hand, 

there were reports that the deputy governor’s 

aides introduced their principal to the 

policemen and members of other security 

agencies manning the gate, but the aides were 

told that the gate had been locked and that 

Mrs. Ajimobi was in possession of the key. It 

seems the drama between the Ajimobi’s and 

the Oyo State government is just getting 

started. 

I read Mrs. Ajimobi’s poetic tribute to her 

husband in the newspapers. I rate her high on 

that poetic rendition. In the tribute entitled 

‘My hero, my soul mate is gone’, she wrote: 

“You were not only my husband, you were my 

father, brother, friend and lover… We were 

married for 40 years and they were the best 

years of my life.” I find it difficult to reconcile 

We hope the grievances and 

misunderstanding between 

the two contending parties 

would wane with time 

Mrs Ajimobi’s actions at her soul mate’s 

funeral with this moving tribute. Perhaps, if 

she reviews that video in the future, she would 

be filled with angst. 

One of the areas the late senator did not 

perform well as a two-term Oyo State governor 

(2011-2019) was in the health sector. Dr. Festus 

Adedayo, one of his media aides during the 

late senator’s first tenure as governor, in his 

June 28 Sunday Tribune column article, faulted 

him for this. Hear Adedayo: “He (Ajimobi) 

must be regretting while he was stuck in those 

machines of the Lagos hospital that he didn’t 

make Oyo a health tourism destination as he 

did for road infrastructure.” 

Governor Makinde contracted coronavirus, 

but he did not abscond from the state for 

treatment. He fought and defeated the virus in 

the state. Mrs. Ajimobi wanted to know the 

kind of politics Makinde was playing. This is 

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it - politics and leadership by example. But 

when the senator contracted the same virus, 

he opted for one of the best hospitals in Lagos 

- that makes the public ones he was in charge 

for eight years look like abandoned abattoirs 

- and did not make it there, unfortunately. In 

Physics 101, Sir Isaac Newton tells us that 

actions and reactions are equal and opposite. 

Interestingly, this law is applicable to politics, 

life and death. 

The demise of Senator Ajimobi exposed 

many things unsaid and undone in Oyo State 

and Nigerian governments. That death is a 

private matter. Government only caters for the 

living. Mrs. Ajimobi rightly said in that video 

that “life is short”. So, there is no need wasting 

time and energy on the dead. If the dead could 

speak, he would not be happy that his ‘soul 

mate’ is inheriting his enemies or making 

enemies out of his friends. 

The late senator, just like any other person, 

got nothing short of what fate had in stock for 

him. But while death is the end of earthly life, it 

is a necessary transition into another form of 

life and existence. We hope the grievances and 

misunderstanding between the two contending 

parties would wane with time, and everybody 

would move on for the betterment of the state. 

Mrs. Ajimobi was quoted to have said: “We 

are all working for the growth, development 

and progress of Oyo State. Although our party 

may be different, we are working for the same 

goal.” 

The United States media entrepreneur Ted 

Turner said: “Know what I want them to put 

on my tombstone? Do not disturb.” The late 

senator was a good man in his own way and 

right, and he would be remembered according 

to his deeds. The least anyone could do is to 

disturb his tombstone with frivolous politics. 

May the soul of Senator Abiola Ajimobi find 

peace in the great beyond, and may the 

Almighty grant his family, friends and the Oyo 

State government the fortitude to bear the loss. 

•Alumona, a social commentator, wrote from 

Ibadan


08152060944 

FIDA, NCWS, others attack Ayade 

over Ikpeme 

By Ebunoluwa 

Sessou, Victoria 

Ojeme & Fortune 

Eromosele 

INTERNATIONAL Federation 

of Women Lawyers, FIDA, 

Nigeria; Women in Politics and 

National Council for Women 

Society, Nigeria, amongst others 

civil society organizations, have 

described the refusal of Cross Rivers 

Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade and 

members of the state House of 

Assembly to confer Justice Akon 

Ikpeme as the Chief Judge of the 

state, as gross injustice. 

In separate interviews with 

Vanguard Law and Human Rights, 

the groups cautioned that such 

injustice should be condemned and 

not be allowed in a decent society. 

Speaking with Vanguard, FIDA 

Nigeria President, Rhoda Tyoden, 

disclosed that despite repeated 

advice, Prof. Ayade and the 

members of the state Assembly 

have remained insensitive to the 

issue. 

Decrying the refusal of Ayade to 

concede to voice of reason, Tyoden 

said: “We are talking about 

someone who has been deprived 

of her rightful entitlement. 

Governor Ayade should as a matter 

of urgency, confer Justice Ikpeme 

as the Chief Judge of the state. 

“He should not be rigid in his 

decision. He should not tell us that 

there is nothing he can do about 

that. Denying her right is grossly 

injustice and discrimination. She 

started her career and she has 

attained the position of an acting 

Chief Judge of the state and yet 

the State Assembly and the 

Governor refused to make her the 

substantive Chief Judge. I do not 

know what else to call that rather 

than injustice and discrimination. 

“The judiciary as an arm of 

government should be respected 

and I do not know how else one 

can convince him to do the right 

thing. Justice Ikpeme has paid her 

due and should be given the 

position. Her foundational right has 

been breached because she is a 

Nigerian and being a woman, she 

has served and was found worthy 

to act as the Chief Judge of the state. 

She should not be denied her right 

at this time as the substantive 

Judge.” 

This shouldn’t happen 

at this age — Shoda 

On her part, NCWS Nigeria 

President, Dr Gloria Shoda, 

described the reason given by the 

state assembly for the refusal to 

confirm Justice Ikpeme’s 

appointment as laughable. 

She said, “The most senior judge 

in the state, Justice Ikpeme, who 

ought to be appointed as the chief 

judge in accordance with the 

Nigerian Constitution and legal 

tradition, has been disqualified by 

the state assembly allegedly 

because of her family ties with 

neighboring Akwa Ibom state. 

“The governor has instead 

nominated the second most senior 

judge, Maurice Eneji, to replace 

Justice Ikpeme as acting chief 

judge- an action which lawyers, 

women in high positions, in the 

country described as preposterous. 

“She was born in Calabar, Cross 

River, when Akwa Ibom was a part 

of Cross River. She is married to a 

man from Cross River, and has 

been working for decades as a 

judicial officer, including being a 

director of public prosecution, and 

a judge in Cross Rivers. 

“There is no reason the state 

House of Assembly would reject 

Ikpeme the Chief Justice position 

of the state as she fits and qualifies 

for the position in all ramifications 

and should not have been 

rejected.” 

Shoda suggested that Ikpeme 

may have been denied and refused 

the position because she is a 

woman. 

According to her, “We are really 

wondering why she was denied 

being made a chief judge in Cross 

River. She is the most qualified 

and we do not know whether it’s 

because she is a woman. We are 

trying to see what we can do. We 

don’t know why a woman is 

getting to the peak of her career 

and is supposed to take over from 

a man and someone will say the 

woman is not qualified and that 

she can’t take over the seat. 

“That’s another kind of corruption 

that is happening in this country. 

It is very worrisome because this 

is not a political appointment but a 

professional terrain. This is a 

woman who has risen through the 

ranks and when it is time for her 

to gain from her hard work, 

Someone that is 

a chief judge and 

has all the 

necessary 

qualifications to 

attain the 

position of being 

a chief judge. It is 

very clear to us 

that she was 

denied because 

she’s a woman 

somebody is saying it is a man that 

will take over. 

“If she has risen to that position, 

can we now say she’s not qualified? 

Why is that it is at the peak of her 

career that they said she can’t 

occupy the office? If they have a 

concrete reason let them come up 

with it. They don’t have any reason 

apart from the fact that she’s a 

woman. Are we still in the Stone 

Age that we would be asking 

ourselves how can a woman rule 

us? 

“Are we still in that age in 

Nigeria? We ought to have passed 

that stage. If we are still in this 

stage, then we have a long way to 

go. We are beckoning on the 

*Justice Akon Ikpeme 

President to wade into this situation 

so that it can be stopped.” 

She was denied the post 

because she’s a woman 

LEGAL experts converged 

on a webinar to critically 

examine the inevitability, 

constitutionality and suitability 

virtual court proceedings in 

Nigeria. 

The webinar which was 

convened by Alliance Law Firm 

had the theme ‘Virtual 

Proceedings – Pros and Cons’ 

and it was moderated by the 

Principal Partner of the firm, 

Uche ValObi, SAN. 

The lead speaker, Justice 

InyangEkwo of the Federal 

High Court gave a perspective 

from the Bench and submitted 

that court proceedings have 

become inevitable, not only 

because of the COVID-19 

pandemic, but also because that 

is where the rest of the world 

is heading now. 

Mrs. FunkeAdekoya SAN 

spoke from the angle of using 

virtual proceedings in 

arbitration. She pointed out 

that arbitrators had used virtual 

proceedings long before 

COVID-19 and clearly 

distinguished between online 

hearings and virtual hearings. 

In her view, Nigerian lawyers, 

especially those in litigation 

need to take advantage of the 

huge possibilities that virtual 

court proceedings is 

presenting. This will ensure 

that lawyers no longer have to 

take risky trips from one part 

of the country to other to 

appear in various courts. 

She opined that Nigeria 

should look beyond COVID-19 

and jump at the opportunities 

that virtual proceedings offer. 

That judges actually confessed 

that they had a better view of 

witnesses during virtual 

proceedings. She also noted 

that although there would 

— Ifendu 

Speaking in the same vein, 

President, Women in Politics, Mrs 

Ebere Ifendu said: “This is a 

woman who is qualified for this 

position. It is so clear and even the 

constitution is so clear on that. This 

is somebody who lived all her life 

in Cross River State, whose father 

worked and retired in the civil 

service. She lived there and she 

was born there and this was given 

before Akwa-Ibom was removed 

from Cross River state. 

“It is really a shameful thing 

because Nigeria is still thinking the 

way we ought not to be thinking. It 

is an injustice against her. It is an 

injustice to every woman in this 

country because you either choose 

your place of birth or your 

husband’s name. 

“For example, Okonjo Iweala 

was a minister in this country and 

she represented Abia State, her 

husband’s state, while she is 

naturally from Delta State. This is 

something that can happen 

anywhere, it depends on the 

political will. That is where I have 

a problem with the governor of 

Cross River state. It is really a minus 

to his government. 

“It is quite obvious that she was 

denied this post because she’s a 

woman. Someone that is a chief 

judge and has all the necessary 

qualifications to attain the position 

of being a chief judge. It is very 

clear to us that she was denied 

because she’s a woman”. 

Alliance prepares Nigerian lawyers 

for virtual court proceedings 

*Uche ValObi, SAN 

always be infrastructural 

challenges, like power 

outages, internet 

connectivity, etc, but such can 

be tackled subsequently. 

However, Professor Fidelis 

Oditah QC, SAN opined that 

Nigerian lawyers must be 

ready to shaft away from the 

usual challenges and 

recurrent complaints of 

breaching constitutional 

provisions. He said Nigerian 

lawyers are too obsessed with 

the provision of Section 36(5) 

of the 1999 Constitution that 

stipulates that all court 

proceedings must be held in 

public. He said ‘I don share 

that view.’ He further noted 

that other challenges include 

lack of cooperation between 

judges, lawyers, litigants and 

court officials, resulting in 

excessive delays. That 

judges have allowed 

themselves to be 

handicapped by their refusal 

to exercise their full powers 

in case management of their 

cases. 

Pinheiro SAN broke his 

submissions into three 

segments, what do we do? 

Perception of what a court 

should be and how come we 

are dealing with virtual 

proceedings? 

He submitted that there is a 

preponderance of opinions 

that court proceedings at all 

levels should now go virtual. 

He further expressed surprise 

that Nigeria continues to 

bicker over the idea when it is 

clear that it is the only way to 

go now. Citing examples from 

Indonesia, Syngapore and 

Kenya, he concluded that, 

withvirtual proceedings, cases 

will move faster and number 

of awaiting trail inmates will 

be greatly reduced. Pinheiro 

SAN further noted that 

Practice Directions which 

presently guide virtual 

proceedings are actually 

constitutional. That whatever 

is not expressly prohibited in 

the Constitution is impliedly 

permitted. 

Awonikoko SAN submitted 

that there is no doubt that 

Nigeria has everything it 

takes to ensure that virtual 

proceedings become 

entrenched in our justice 

delivery system. 

From another jurisdiction, a 

foreing perspective was 

offered by Mr. YashKulkami 

QC. He pointed out that for 

years now he had conducted 

a lot of arbitral proceedings 

across the world virtually and 

with very satisfactory results. 

He encouraged participants to 

consider the various portals 

available for virtual 

proceedings and choose the 

best and most reliable. He 

suggested that the Zoom App 

works well in most 

jurisdictions. 

C 

M 

Y 

K





PDP lacks strategy, resorts to 

mudslinging — Ize-Iyamu 

By Gabriel Enogholase 

BENIN GOVERNOR 

SHIP candidate of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Edo State, Pastor Osagie 

Ize-Iyamu, yesterday, described 

as shameful and lack 

of tact, the PDP’s decision to 

field the man it had roundly 

condemned as a non-achiever 

as governor of Edo State. 

In a statement in Benin City, 

by Mr. John Mayaki, Director 

of Communication and 

Media, of his Campaign Organisation, 

Ize-Iyamu said it 

was confusing that “today, the 

PDP is singing Godwin 

Obaseki’s praises, claiming 

he is the almighty, the saint, 

the blameless after parading 

him as a failure, who deceived 

the courts and Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, with counterfeit 

credentials. “The same PDP 

dragged Obaseki before a 

judge, pointing out the inconsistencies 

in his academic 

records, seeking judicial order 

to stop him from assessing the 

government corridors. 

“Today, the PDP says Obaseki 

has initiated programmes 

and policies in Edo State, 

when only a few weeks ago 

before their tax collectors 

were settled, the party branded 

the embattled governor a 

complete failure who reversed 

the growth and development 

of Edo State. 

“The naked truth is that the 

Teachers back Obaseki for second term 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY —THE Ni 

geria Union of Teachers, 

NUT, in Edo State, yesterday, 

commended Governor Godwin 

Obaseki on the reforms 

in the education sector and 

has pledged its members’ support 

for his reelection bid and 

that of his deputy, Mr. Philip 

Shaibu. 

In a statement by its chairman, 

Pius Okhueleigbe and 

Assistant Secretary-General, 

Moni Itua, the NUT hailed the 

governor’s uncommon and 

unprecedented transformation 

of basic and technical education 

in Edo State in three 

years of his administration, 

urging residents to support the 

governor and his deputy to 

consolidate on the achievements 

recorded in their first 

tenure. 

*Obaseki: PDP candidate 

The NUT said: “Governor 

Obaseki came tops as the 2019 

Best Governor in Nigeria due 

to his uncommon and unprecedented 

transformation of 

basic and technical education 

in Edo State within three years 

of his administration, which 

also received and has continued 

to receive both national 

*Ize-Iyamu: APC candidate 

PDP has neither plan nor strategy 

for winning this election 

or to lead Edo State. They, 

therefore, resort to the only one 

thing that works for failures: 

excuses and mudslinging." 

and international commendations 

and adoption. The 

award was never a purchased 

one but given by a very reputable 

teachers organisation to 

a very responsive, foresighted, 

humane, people-centered and 

knowledge-driven governor. 

“For the 2019 World Teachers 

Day National Award bestowed 

on Governor Obaseki, 

which was twisted in the 

said publication, the Union 

wishes to emphasise that a 

very diligent and painstaking 

exercise of screening/evaluation 

was carried out by its constitutionally 

empowered 

Award Committee (as contained 

in Article 10(vii); in 

Abuja vis-à-vis the use of stringent 

benchmarks for determining 

who wins the annual 

Award amongst all the governors 

nominated." 

Why power of incumbency won’t 

help Akeredolu — Kekemeke 


A Chairman KURE—FORMER 

of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

in Ondo State and a governorship 

aspirant, Mr. Isaac 

Kekemeke, said yesterday, 

that the power of incumbency 

would not help Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu during party’s 

primary. Kekemeke, a former 

Secretary to the State Government, 

who spoke with 

Vanguard in Akure said that 

the power of incumbency is a 

two-edged sword. 

He said: “Although the constitution 

allowed two terms, an 

incumbent must work for and 

earn a second term. The power 

of incumbency is a doubleedged 

sword, which could be 

an asset or a liability.” 

On zoning in the election, 

he said: “I am not a fan of zoning. 

I believe that at all times 

the best person should be allowed 

to serve. “Since 1979 

when we were still in the old 

Ondo State, all the zones have 

contested in every election. At 

election time, the people 

would make political calculations 

and say this zone has 

had it, let this other zone have 

it. Since 1979 Ondo State has 

had six governors. 

“Three have come from the 

north and they have done 12 

years and three months. One 

has emerged from the South 

and he did five years and nine 

months and one from the central 

and he did eight years. For 

me, whoever is the best should 

be allowed to serve.” 

On whether he could step 

down for another candidate 

or accept to be a running mate 

*Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Isaac Kekemeke: 

Both APC aspirants 

should the situation arise, 

Kekemeke said: “I will not step 

down for anybody or be a deputy 

governor. I have a vision, 

a mission, aims and objectives, 

a programme which we want 

to use to set up a government. 

“Stepping down is not an 

option, being somebody’s 

deputy is not an option. I am 

the first chairman of the party. 

I am not doing this for fun.” 

SDP is positioning itself as a 

viable alternative, says Agunloye 


AKURE—AHEAD of the 

October governorship 

election in Ondo State, no 

fewer than five aspirants from 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC and the Peoples Democratic 

Party, APC, are romancing 

with the Social Democratic 

Party, SDP. 

Deputy National Chairman 

(South) of SDP, Dr. Olu Agunloye 

confirmed this 

to Vanguard in an interview 

in Akure. 

Agunloye, however, said the 

aspirants must abide by the 

party’s laid down procedures 

to be accommodated in the 

party. 

He said: “We have about 

five people and we have spent 

out the procedures for them. 

One of them spoke with me 

recently asking for another 

meeting, so you can understand 

the structure and it is not 

as if we have a ticket somewhere. 

“We have told those that 

came to us how they go back 

to their ward and the process 

they will start from their 

wards. 

“We will be fair to them, we 

will be honest to them and we 

are trying to stop all those shenanigans 

associated with political 

parties because we had 

that for too long in Nigeria 

and it is not working.


40 YEARS AFTER: What we miss 

about Ooni Aderemi — FAMILY 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO—THE history 

of mankind is embedded 

with the tale of great men, 

whose imprint on the sands of 

time remain limitless and 

unforgettable. 

The Yoruba race and indeed 

the black race is endowed with 

a legend, whose achievement 

is likened to an indelible mark 

that traverse generations. 

Oba Adesoji Tadeniawo 

Aderemi, the 49th Ooni of Ile- 

Ife, is such a personality. 

Fifty years ago, he ascended 

into the palace’s ceiling, 

according to Yoruba tradition, 

where he watches over and 

protects the race. 

Yet, his image reverberates 

around the world being a 

trailblazer in different spheres 

of life. 

Oba Aderemi was described 

as a legend and colossus. 

Having dignified the revered 

traditional institution, political 

space and lived a live of 

service for the 90 years he 

lived, the monarch raised the 

bar in public service. 

A highly principled leader 

with finesse, he dominated the 

traditional institution and 

political space without 

jettisoning the integrity of one 

institution against the other. 

Renowned for his vibrant 

contribution to debate, Oba 

Aderemi was a torn in the flesh 

of the colonial masters. 

He served in the highest 

organs of government from the 

colonial era to pre-and postindependent 

Nigeria. From 

being a minister in the cabinet 

under the MacPherson 

Constitution to becoming a 

Governor General in the 

defunct Western Region, he 

was involved in all 

constitutional conferences that 

led to the attainment of 

independence by Nigeria in 

1960. 

Born in Ile-Ife to the family 

of Osundeyi Gbadebo and 

Adekunbi Itiola, the monarch 

lost his father when he was 

just eight years old, thus his 

upbring fell on the shoulders 

of his mother. 

Oba Adesoji exited mother 

earth to the terrestrial space on 

July 3, 1980 after reigning for 

50 years as the Ooni of Ife. 

Missing a father and 

mentor 

Prince Owoade Aderemi 

during the 40 years 

commemoration anniversary in 

Ile-Ife, said the family is 

taking solace in the 

monumental legacies of the 

late monarch but his memories 

would forever remain with 

them. 

He noted that their father 

would always be happy with 

them, especially for holding 

the family together and the 

unity in Ile-Ife. 

He said: “I am sure that our 

father would be so happy in 

the world beyond to realize 

how great and united his 

family is after five decades. As 

princes and princesses, we 

have done a lot to develop Ile- 

Ife and I wish to state that we 

shall continue to be active in 

the growth of our beloved city." 

Speaking for the 

grandchildren, Mr. Segun 

Omoworare described the late 

monarch as an epitome of both 

traditional and political 

leadership. 

“While on the respected 

throne of Oduduwa, Baba 

served Nigeria in several 

political capacities including 

being among the first set of the 

country’s Ministers and 

Governor of the then Western 

region. He was among the 

nationalists who fought a great 

fight for the nation’s 

independence and we are so 

proud to be his descendants", 

Omoworare said. 

Emulate Ooni Aderemi 

— Ooni Ogunwusi 

The present Ooni of Ife, Oba 

Adeyeye Ogunwusi urged 

public office holders to thread 

the footpath of the late 

monarch in a bid to serve the 

country and understand the 

depth of selfless service to 

humanity. 

“I wish to implore our 

politicians across the country 

to look deep into the life, time 

and accomplishments of Sir 

Aderemi and learn great 

lessons of servant leadership. 

He was selflessly committed 

to the development of the 

country. 

“Among several tangible 

virtues to be emulated from 

the good life of Sir Aderemi is 

the good name he left behind 

which still speaks volume till 

date. Houses, cars and other 

material gains of life will 

surely fade away while one’s 

name remains in the book of 

history forever. 

“Today, the ancient city of 

Ile-Ife and indeed the entire 

human race is proud to have 

had Sir Adesoji Aderemi whom 

we shall continue to celebrate. 

Plans are underway to 

immortalize him and I have 

discussed it with members of the 

family.” Ooni Adeyeye said. 

The immediate past 

Governor of Osun State, 

Oba Adesoji was a 

philosopher who 

became king and a 

king who ruled like 

a philosopher, one 

remarkable aspect 

of his reign was his 

association with 

Chief Obafemi 

Awolowo 

•Late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi. 

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola 

described the late Ooni as a 

philosopher king, whose 

passion for education, justice and 

peace help build an egalitarian 

society in the old Western region. 

"Oba Adesoji was a philosopher 

who became king and a king who 

ruled like a philosopher. 

"One remarkable aspect of his 

reign was his association with 

Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Their 

iron sharpened iron, producing an 

explosive era of wisdom, maturity 

and people centred leadership, not 

just in Ife but throughout the 

region and their sphere of 

influence. 

"The first was in education. he 

knew the value of education and 

so personally championed 

education development in his 

domain. On account of this, he 

largely, if not singlehandedly, 

spearheaded the established of 

Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife. 

Leveraging on his relationship 

with Chief Awolowo, he also got 

the University of Ife (now Obafemi 

Awolowo University) in the 

ancient city. 

"Secondly, he stood for justice 

and approximated the general will 

of the people. In the political crisis 

that engulfed the Western Region 

beginning from 1962, he never 

wavered in staying the course of 

justice. He stood solidly behind 

the people. 

"Lastly, his reign was peaceful. 

Ife had peace all around during 

his reign and he was able to 

consolidate indisputably his 

spiritual headship of the Yoruba 

race. 

"Oba Adesoji inherited a great 

throne, but with hard work and 

personal influence, he made the 

throne even greater. He became 

known far and wide and his 

influence grew all over the world, 

particularly among the Diaspora", 

he said. 

On behalf of the Ife traditional 

council, the Obalufe of Ife, Oba 

Idowu Adediwura extolled the late 

Ikorodu families threaten legal 

action over alleged contemptuous 

broadcast 

By Henry Ojelu 

LAGOS—TEN prominent 

families in the Igbokuta 

community in the Ikorodu area 

of Lagos State have threatened 

to sue the management of a 

Lagos based radio station over an 

alleged unverified and 

contemptuous broadcast. 

In a letter to the radio station 

through the law firm of Destiny 

Takon & Co, the families 

Aderemi for opening Ile-Ife and 

its environs to immeasurable 

economic and social benefits. 

“Because of Ooni Aderemi, Ile- 

Ife is known and respected as 

the genuine source of human 

race. Baba lived a life of love 

which I want us all to emulate 

because we have not only come 

here to celebrate but also to learn 

lessons from a life well spent", 

he stated. 

Ondo Ambassadorial nominee: 

Ekimogun Roundtable backs Akinkugbe 


AKURE—A group, the 

Ekimogun Round Table 

in Ondo State has described 

the appointment of Nimi 

Akinkugbe, as Ambassadorial 

nominee for Ondo State, as a 

plus to the state and the 

nation. 

While lauding President 

Muhammadu Buhari on the 

appointment, the group said 

Nimi Akinkugbe “is a 

resourceful person that will do 

the nation proud." 

The secretary of the group, 

Olusola Akinbinu, however, 

condemned attempts by 

individuals or groups to deny 

her of her fundamental 

human Rights. 

Akinbinu said: “Akinkugbe 

is eminently qualified by 

virtue of her academic and 

career achievements and also 

her state of origin which is 

Ondo. 

“Nimi is happily married to 

Yinka Akinkugbe, a native of 

Ondo Kingdom in Ondo West 

Council Area of Ondo State 

and has over the years 

displayed very outstanding 

philanthropic gestures towards 

Ondo State people home and 

abroad. 

“Nimi’s contribution to the 

comprising of Malolagbe, Sonaya, 

Oni, Ayala-Bello, Ayeni, 

Ashole, Kuye, Jigan, Osunloye 

and Akinrele, alleged that the 

station on May 23, broadcast an 

announcement warning the 

public to desist from buying 

properties from them. 

The families also claimed that 

the broadcast falsely and 

mischievously stated that all land 

in Igbokuta belonged to the 

Ogunbanwo family whereas 

there are persisting civil and 

criminal litigations on the subject 

matter. 

Part of the letter reads: “In your 

haste to broadcast your 

ponderous, reckless and onesided 

announcements, you 

denied your selves the 

opportunity of knowing that one 

of the parties In Suit No IKD/32/ 

2008, notably Mr. Wahab Arernu 

Ajala-Bello, has since filed a 

pending appeal before the Court 

of Appeal in suit No. CA/L/ 

802M/2013, against the 

judgment of Abiru J (As he then 

was) 

“You also by your haste to go to 

town with your announcements 

under review, denied your selves 

the opportunity of knowing that 

the remaining parties In Suit No. 

“(IKD/32/2008, notably, the 

Akinreles and 2(Two) other Ajala- 

Bellos, had since filed a pending 

application before the High Court 

of Lagos State, praying the said 

court to set aside its own decision, 

because it was obtained by fraud. 

“Equally of note is the fact that 

members of the Ogunbanwo 

family, notably, Mr. Tajudeen 

Nasiru, Olayiwola Nasiru, 

Selimotu Dauda and the Surveyor 

they fraudulently procured to 

forge a Survey Plan for them, to 

represent that a Survey Plan over 

1(One) plot of land situate at 

Agura, Ikorodu, Lagos, related to 

the whole land of Igbokuta, are 

facing criminal prosecution by the 

Economic And Financial Crimes 

Commission (EFCC), at the High 

Court of Lagos State in Charge 

No. lD/3802C/2017, for fraud, 

forgery and alteration.'' 

growth of our community is also 

worthy of commendation. 

“Hence, by undisputable 

implication, she is by right of 

marriage, an indigene of Ondo 

kingdom in Ondo State, and a 

resourceful person to represent 

Nigeria.” 

The group cited the case of 

Osun State-born Senator 

Folasade Grace-Bent, who 

represented Adamawa South in 

the National Assembly in 

2007. 

“Apart from Akinkugbe’s 

academic achievements, which 

stands her out, she is equally 

fit to represent Ondo State by 

virtue of marriage which is in 

accordance with the amended 

Federal Character Commission 

Act of 2017. 

“Section 2, Part II of the 

Federal Character Commission 

(Establishment, etc) Act, 

(Amendment Bill), 2017 gives 

married women the option of 

choosing the indigeneship of 

their fathers or husbands. 

“lt is undeserving to 

discriminate against women, 

and their rights in this modern 

age. 

The group noted that “ We can 

tell the world that she is our 

Amazon and every lover of good 

development in Ondo state is 

happy with her nomination.

By Ola Ajayi & Deola 

Badru 

IBADAN—FLOODING has 

become a recurring decimal 

in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo 

State. 

It occurred in 1955, 1963, 1964, 

1978, August 31, 1980 and 

August 26, 2011. Though, there 

were minor ones, they were not 

as deadly as the ones that 

occurred in those years. 

Ever since that of August 1980 

and the recent one in 2011, 

residents in the city especially 

those who live close to the river 

or waterways shiver whenever 

there are signs of rainfall. 

Just as it happened in the past, 

another similar flood disaster 

happened again about a week 

and half ago leaving on its trails, 

tears and heavy losses. 

The heavy rain which started 

at about 3.30pm did not stop till 

late in the evening. 

Places that were worse-hit are 

Olodo, Oke-Ado, Onipepeye, 

Gbekuba, Apata and Omi-Adio. 

At Omi Adio, farmlands and 

fish-ponds were submerged. 

Earlier, the state government 

had dredged some rivers and 

streams in preparation for the 

heavy rains. 

The dredging apparently had 

impact as it reduced the 

devastating effect the flooding 

could have caused. 

Victims recount loses 

One of the affected residents 

at Olodo Rafiu Ololade, a trader, 

said, "The rain started drizzling 

until it became heavier and 

continued for many hours. There 

was no casualties here yet, but 

we don't know what will happen 

when the large volume of water 

flows away. 

"All our property including 

electrical appliances, furniture, 

food items, clothes, were swept 

away. 

EDITOR: Dayo Johnson (08033509763) 

Deputy Editor: Dapo Akinrefon 

08023844928 (sms only) 

CORRESPONDENTS: 

Ola Ajayi 

Ibadan 

Dare Fasube 

(Photo) 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Ekiti 

Monsuru Olowoopejo Lagos 

Adeola Badru 

Ibadan 

Shina Abubakar 

Osogbo 

James Ogunnaike 

Abeokuta 

A man looking dejected after salvaging some of his belongings from his flooded room. 

Photo by Dare Fasube 

Flood leaves trail of tears, 

losses for Ibadan residents 

"We saw some animals floating 

on water. We heard also that some 

parts of Ososami and other areas 

were submerged." 

At Olodo, some houses and 

churches were submerged and 

property worth millions of naira 

lost. 

Mrs Florence Adeleke, a 

resident, called on the State 

government to intensify efforts at 

bringing lasting solution to the 

nagging flood disaster. 

Gov Makinde makes 

drainage master plan 

In order to address the issue of 

flooding, apart from dredging 

about 64 rivers within the city, the 

Governor Seyi Makinde directed 

the execution of a drainage 

masterplan under the Ibadan 

Urban Flood Management 

Project within the next 18 months. 

He also said victims of flooding 

would soon be relocated. 

The governor, who gave the 

directive while on an on-the-spot 

assessment of the flood affected 

areas of Ibadan said that the 

measure would help prevent 

perennial flood disaster in the 

state. 

The governor, on a tour of the 

areas including Oke- Omi, 

Ikumapayi, Olodo and 

Onipepeye Bridges at Sawmill 

all in Ibadan on Wednesday, 

added that he has directed the 

Local Chairmen in the areas to 

begin work on the affected 


immediately on it. 

“IUFMP is already dredging 

the river. The remaining thing 

is just to put a properly sized 

bridge across it and we will do 

that. 

“By the time we are able to 

get all the projects under the 

IUFMP executed, the issues of 

flood will be dealt with and it 

is only then that the rainy 

season will not be any problem 

for us. It is work in progress 

and I believe that, in the next 

18 months, there will be 

appreciable improvement and 

our people can sleep with their 

eyes closed even if it is raining 

heavily. 

"On structures obstructing the 

waterways, we will have to take 

some of them out. At the main 

road at Olodo, some people 

already moved out by 

themselves. So, the government 

will enumerate such properties 

and then see how we can 

relocate people there.” 

The governor also enjoined 

the people to desist from actions 

capable of aggravating 

flooding, including dumping 

of wastes in river channels and 

waterways, which he said may 

result in the blockage of 

drainage and river channels. 

He urged people living close 

to flood-prone areas to vacate 

the areas to avoid loss of lives 

and valuable properties to the 

flood, promising that his 

administration will continue to 

give succour to those affected 

by flooding. 

He said: “Palliative is 

general. We are faced with a 

pandemic and we are also 

faced with an economic 

meltdown. So, palliative is 

something that is continuous 

for all the people," he said. 

Some of the places visited 

by the governor included 

Garage Olodo, Ikumapayi, 

Oke Omi, Omi River, Under 

Bridge Onipepeye and 

Sawmill, all within the Ibadan 

metropolis. 

bridges immediately. 

A statement by the Chief Press 

Secretary to Governor Makinde, 

Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the 

governor as further declaring that 

the Ministry of Environment 

should enumerate the properties 

affected by the flood at Olodo area 

with a view to relocating some of 

the residents to other areas. 

He said: “Like we can see out 

there, the bridge is undersized. 

There is a drainage master plan 

for Oyo State under the Ibadan 

Urban Flood Management 

Project, IUFMP, this has been 

identified and I think we have 

to keep taking them out one at 

a time. So, I have asked the local 

government chairman to write 

for approval, and work will start 

SEVEN YEARS AFTER: Court resolves Obalufon chieftaincy stool tussle in Sepeteri 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—AFTER seven years 

of legal tussle over a 

chieftaincy stool of Sepeteri in 

Saki East Local Government area 

of Oyo State, the State High Court 

has ordered that the Omiwole 

Ruling House should present the 

next king of the ancient town. 

Since the death of Oba Karimu 

Oyesiji on April 23, 2013, there 

has been royal battle among the 

three major ruling houses in the 

town. 

The ruling houses in 

contention for the Obalufon 

chieftaincy stool are Omiwole 

Oladosun, Adeola and Alao 

Alatise. 

Princes Omiwole Oyinwola 

Imuraina and Omiwole Oyeleke 

Moruff representing Omiwole 

ruling house have dragged the 

Governor of Oyo State, 

Commissioner for Local 

Government and Chieftaincy 

Matters, Attorney General and 

Commissioner for Justice, Oyo 

State, the Alaafin of Oyo, and five 

others to court asking the court 

to declare that it is the turn of the 

family to present the new king. 

Alhaji K. A Adegoke 

represented the claimants; 

Fasomo Falola, counsel for the 

4th and 6th defendants; while 

Habibu Giwa held the brief of A.Y 

Aderogba for the 9th and 10th 

defendants. 

After both parties had 

concluded their case, the court 

which was presided over by 

Justice Ezekiel Olayinka Ajayi, 

the court held that the Omiwole 

Ruling House and not any other 

family should present the next 

candidate to the vacant stool of 

traditional ruler (Obalufon) of 

Sepeteri ,a town in Saki East 

Local Government area of Oyo 

State. 

The court said a 1959 

Chieftaincy Declaration made 

pursuant to section 4(2) of Chiefs 

Law of 1957 and approved on 

26 October, 1959 is subsisting, 

valid and the contents thereto are 

the customary law and practice 

duly accepted and recognized by 

all and sundry in Sepeteri”. 

Justice Ajayi also held that 

Justice Ajayi also 

granted an order 

commanding 1st to 4th 

defendants to write 

another letter to Prince 

Omiwole Oyinloye 

Imuraina, the current 

head of Omiwole 

ruling house, 

requesting them to 

meet and nominate a 

candidate to fill the 

vacant stool of 

Obalufon of Sepeteri 

though Adesola family may be in 

existence in Sepeteri, the only 

three ruling houses recognized 

by the people of Sepeteri and the 

Chieftaincy declaration regarding 

the filling of the vacant stool of 

Obalufon approved on 26th 

October, 1959 and registered on 

28th October, 1959 are Omiwole, 

Adeola and Alao Alatise ruling 

houses. 

The judge further granted the 

order quashing and setting aside 

the letter written on behalf of the 

4th defendant dated 26th July, 

2013 by Prince A. O. Apanpa ref. 

no SELG/T/112/88 to an 

unspecified family head of 

Omiwole ruling house, Sepeteri 

requesting Omiwole family to 

meet and nominate candidate to 

fill the vacant stool of Obalufon 

of Sepeteri having been wrongly 

delivered and not directed to a 

specific head of family. 

Justice Ajayi also granted an 

order commanding 1st to 4th 

defendants to write another letter 

to Prince Omiwole Oyinloye 

Imuraina, the current head of 

Omiwole ruling house, 

requesting them to meet and 

nominate a candidate to fill the 

vacant stool of Obalufon of 

Sepeteri pursuant to the said 

chieftaincy declaration of 

Sepeteri.” 

“An order of this court is granted 

quashing and declaring null and 

void the letter written by Mr. M. 

O Akano dated 25th October, 

2013, ref. no. CB. 141/25/9/ 

vol.11T/54, purportedly to have 

been written on behalf of the 

commissioner for local 

government and chieftaincy 

matters when in truth and fact 

there was no commissioner to 

approve as at 14th October, 2013 

up till time the letter with 

ref.no.CB.141/25/9/vol.11T was 

written and same being in 

conflict with the provisions of 

chieftaincy declaration of 1959 

recognized to fill the vacant stool 

of Obalufon of Sepeteri.” 

On the counter claims of the 

4th, 9th and 10th defendants, the 

judge said: “Due to my 

reasoning in the course of of this 

judgment that exhibit L4 is valid 

and subsisting, it follows that the 

counter claims are caught up by 

the statute of limitations and the 

counter claimants are barred 

from instituting any proceeding 

in respect of the course of action 

that arose in 1959.” 

“It is in the light of above that 

the counter claims of the 4th, 9th 

and 10th defendants are 

dismissed. Judgment is 

accordingly entered in favour of 

the claimants but against the 

defendants”. 

“A declaration is granted that 

by the rotational order as 

enshrined in the Chieftaincy 

Declaration aforesaid regarding 

the stool of Obalufon of Sepeteri 

is Omiwole ruling family not any 

family”, the court ruled.


Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 9 , 2020 —27 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

PROTEST—Workers of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital during a peaceful protest to demand 

the full payment of 40 per cent COVID-19 hazard allowance approved by the Federal Government for 

staff who were paid only 10 per cent of the allowance, in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday. Photo: 

NAN. 


Continues from Page 5 

Chairman of the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC. 

This was even as a 

source disclosed to 

Vanguard last night that 

President Buhari, 

yesterday, gave the Head 

of Operations at the 

EFCC, Mohammed 

Umar, the nod to assume 

headship of the anti-graft 

agency in the interim, 

pending conclusion of 

security checks on some 

names brought to him for 

consideration. 

Umar, a Deputy 

Commissioner of Police is 

the second most senior 

officer at the EFCC and 

Magu’s second-incommand. 

It was gathered that 

Malami was initially 

opposed to the idea of 

allowing Umar to hold fort 

in the absence of Magu, 

stressing that as Head of 

Operations of the agency, 

he played a key role in 

some of the official 

infractions he complained 

about in the memo to 

President Buhari. 

Multiple sources 

confirmed to Vanguard 

that Malami’s position 

was backed by some 

members of the Federal 

Executive Council, as 

they preferred to rather 

allow Secretary of the 

EFCC, Ola Olukayode, 

who is not a police officer, 

to superintend the affairs 

of the agency, pending 

the outcome of ongoing 

probe into activities of the 

Commission under 

Magu. 

“The argument was that 

since the allegation was 

that most of the alleged 

rot in the EFCC was 

perpetrated by a team of 

selected police officers 

referred to as ‘Maguboys’, 

it would not be wise 

to allow a police man to 

take over Magu’s office. 

“They noted that some 

of the needed proof of 

evidence could be 

covered up under esprit 

de corps, saying it would 

be better to allow a neutral 

person head the 

commission in the 

Naira depreciates to N460/$ 

in parallel market 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Naira yesterday depreciated to N460 per 

dollar in the parallel market. 

According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange 

rate platform of the Association of Bureaux De 

Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the parallel 

market exchange rate rose to N460 per dollar from 

N459 per dollar on Tuesday, indicating one naira 

depreciation of the naira. 

Similarly, the naira yesterday depreciated by 25 

kobo in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window rose to N386.75 per 

dollar yesterday from N386.50 per dollar on Tuesday, 

translating to 25 kobo depreciation of the naira. 

However, the volume of dollars (turnover) traded 

in the window fell sharply by 88 percent to $11.96 

million from $103.37 million on Tuesday. 

interim, pending 

conclusion of the ongoing 

investigation by the 

Justice Ayo Salami-led 

panel”, the source told 

Vanguard on ground of 

anonymity. 

Meanwhile, attempt by 

Vanguard to get Malami’s 

reaction proved abortive 

as he neither answered 

calls placed to his line nor 

responded to text 

messages. 

One of his aides told our 

corespondent around 

7:30pm that his principal 

was still at the 

Presidential Villa and was 

yet to return from the 

Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, meeting. 

It will be recalled that 

Malami had in an earlier 

memo to President 

Buhari wherein he 

highlighted about 22 

alleged sins of Magu, 

recommended three 

persons to head the 

EFCC. 

The AGF had assured 

President Buhari that his 

nominees have all it takes 

to drive the anticorruption 

war home. 

Top on Malami’s list of 

possible replacement for 

Magu is a retired Deputy 

Inspector-General of 

Police, Mohammed Sani 

Usman, who is believed to 

have been vetted by 

President Buhari for the 

job. 

Others according to 

reports not disputed by 

the AGF, included the 

current Commissioner of 

Police for the FCT, Bala 

Ciroma. Ciroma had 

previously served as the 

EFCC Head of 

Operations. 

Malami was said to have 

also pointed out a retired 

Assistant Inspector- 

General of Police, AIG, 

from Kebbi State, as a 

good candidate for the 

EFCC top job. Besides, 

President Buhari was said 

to have also considered a 

retired Commissioner of 

Police in Niger State, Ms. 

Diseye Nsirim-Poweigba. 

Malami insisted that 

Magu was no longer fit to 

retain his position as the 

anti-graft czar, accusing 

him of sundry infractions 

ranging from alleged 

diversion of recovered 

assets, insubordination 

and gross misconduct. 

He had earlier decried 

Magu’s alleged refusal to 

transmit some sensitive 

criminal case-files to his 

office, notwithstanding 

the fact that the EFCC is 

under the supervisory 

watch of the Federal 

Ministry of Justice. 

Family allowed 

to visit Magu 

Vanguard also gathered 

yesterday that on the 

ground floor of the 

Federal Criminal 

Investigation Department, 

FCID, Area 10, Abuja, 

where the EFCC boss is 

being held, his family 

members are allowed to 

visit him. 

Recall that DIG Agbizi, 

in charge of FCID, was 

ordered by IGP, 

Mohammed Adamu to 

arrest the EFCC boss after 

he refused to honour 

invitation of the Justice 

Ayo Salami’s panel to 

defend himself , following 


against him by the AGF. 

As was the case on 

Monday and Tuesday, 

journalists were again 

barred from gaining 

access to the venue of the 

meeting. 

An attempt by a 

journalist to park his car 

in the car park of the old 

Banquet Hall venue of 

the meeting was resisted 

by a security officer at the 

gate. He was advised by 

an official in charge of the 

vicinity to make use of 

other car parks. Another 

reporter who attempted to 

access the press gallery, 

was also politely turned 

back at the gate. 

A Presidency source 

had said on Tuesday that 

the probe was an 

affirmation that nobody 

under the present 

administration was above 

scrutiny. The source had 

also explained that the 

interrogation of the antigraft 

boss was being done 

to give him the 

opportunity to clear 

himself of the weighty 


against him. 

Vanguard gathered that 

Magu was brought to the 

venue at about 11:14am 

from the Force Criminal 

Investigation Department, 

FCID, building where he 

had been held since 

Monday. He was also 

joined by his lawyer at the 

panel for interrogation. 

Prosecute 

Magu — PDP 

Meanwhile, the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

has charged the Federal 

Government to prosecute 

suspended acting 

chairman of the Economic 

& Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

Ibrahim Magu. 

The party said Magu’s 

indictment reinforces its 

position that the muchhyped 

war against 

corruption by the EFCC, 

under his watch, has been 

a huge scam by corrupt 

individuals to cover the 

plundering of public 

resources, harass political 

opponents, intimidate 

and extort money from 

innocent Nigerians. 

In a statement signed by 

Kola Ologbondiyan, its 

spokesman, the PDP 

alleged that “the 

revelations of diversion 

of recovered funds and 

fraudulent sale of assets 

seized by the EFCC 

among other sleaze, as 

detailed in the memo by 

the Attorney-General and 

Minister of Justice, as well 

as the report of the 

Department of State 

Services, DSS, on 

Magu’s activities, have 

further exposed the racket 

that the fight against 

corruption had become 

under the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, 

government.” 

It added that “the 

development has also 

exposed why corruption 

has worsened under the 

Buhari administration, as 

documented by credible 

international 

organization, including 

Transparency 

International, TI. 

“It is a big 

embarrassment to our 

nation, that the head of 

anti-corruption agency in 

an administration led by 

the African Union, AU, 

anti-corruption champion 

and which prides itself on 

zero tolerance for 

corruption, is being 

dragged into allegation of 

looting recovered funds 

and other barefaced 

frauds. 

“Now that the racket has 

been exposed, the onus 

lies on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

clean his Augean stable by 

not sweeping the matter 

under the carpet or 

seeking to provide soft 

landing for the indicted 

EFCC boss and shield 

him from prosecution. 

“What Nigerians expect 

at this moment is for 

President Buhari to 

enforce the law by 

directing relevant 

agencies to commence 

actions that would lead to 

Magu’s prosecution in the 

court. 

“Anything short of this 

will not be acceptable to 

Nigerians.” 

COVID-19: Abuja Court 

convicts Lebanese, seals hotel, 

nightclub in Maitama, Wuse 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA: A Federal 

Capital Territory FCT 

Mobile Court has 

ordered the sealing of 

New Yorker Nightclub 

and Lounge, located in 

the highbrow Maitama 

District of Abuja as well 

as Agape Nightclub 

and Lounge, Wuse II, for 

allegedly operating 

during curfew hours, in 

contravention of the 

COVID-19 Regulations, 

2020. 

The court sitting at the 

Eagles Square presided 

over by Magistrate 

Idayat Akanni also 

convicted two Lebanese, 

Wassim Soofau and 

Fawaz Ali, who are 

operators of New Yorker 

NightClub; and 

Adeniran Matthew and 

Julius Inanemoh, staff of 

Agape Nightclub 

respectively. 

While the two Lebanese 

feigned ignorance of the 

Covid-19 Regulations, 

the other two suspects 

pleaded not guilty to the 

allegations against 

them. 

However, the 

Magistrate, found them 

guilty and fined them to 

the tune of N10,000 each, 

for conducting business 

and engaging in social 

gathering within the 

premises of the 

nightclubs, during 

prohibited period. 

The convicts were 

apprehended by the FCT 

COVID-19 enforcement 

team during curfew 

hours.


08052202308 (sms only) 

Schools not re-opening anytime 

soon — FG 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA — The Feder 

al Government yesterday 

said that Nigerian 

schools will not reopen any 

time soon until it is safe to 

do so because of the COV- 

ID-19 pandemic. 

The Federal Government 

also said that the West African 

Examinations Council, 

WAEC, cannot determine 

the resumption date 

of schools for Nigeria. 

The Minister of Education, 

Mallam Adamu Adamu 

stated this while briefing 

State House correspondents 

at the end of the 7th 

virtual Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, meeting presided 

over by President 

Muhammadu Buhari at the 

Council Chamber, Presidential 

Villa, Abuja. 

Mallam Adamu said that 

final year students preparing 

for the Senior Secondary 

Certificate Examination 

(SSCE) will not be allowed 

to return to school contrary 

to what had earlier been 

believed because it was not 

yet safe. The Minister said 

he would prefer that Nigerian 

students lose an academic 

year than expose 

them to danger. 

He appealed to states that 

have announced resumption 

of schools in their states 

to reconsider their position 

so as not to jeopardize the 

lives of the students. 

Recall that this year’s examination, 

administered by 

WAEC, was postponed indefinitely 

in April after it 

was earlier scheduled to 

commence in May because 

schools were shut down 

across the country in a bid 

to contain the spread of the 

coronavirus disease (COV- 

ID-19). 

However, Minister of State 

for Education, Chukwuemeka 

Nwajiuba, announced during 

a media briefing on Monday, 

July 6, 2020 that the exam 

will now take place between 

August 4 and September 5. 

But commenting on the proposed 

reopening of schools for 

academic activities, Adamu 

said: 

“I don’t know whether you 

journalists are misquoting the 

Minister of State for Education 

or maybe quoting what 

WAEC said and made it into a 

story. Schools under the supervision 

of the Federal Ministry 

of Education will not be 

opened on August 4 or anytime 

soon. Our schools will 

only open when we believe it’s 

safe for our children and that 

is when the situation is right, 

not when the incidence of the 

infection is going up in the 

nation. I just want to make it 

clear. 

“We will not open soon for 

examination or for any reason, 

unless it is safe for our 

children. WAEC will not determine 

for us what we do. 

Schools will remain closed. 

“Yesterday (Tuesday), we 

called on stakeholders who 

will tell us the situation and 

the way it should be done for 

•WAEC can’t determine resumption date, 

says Education Minister, Adamu 

it to be safe. While the meeting 

was going on, WAEC announced 

that they are starting 

examinations. Let’s see who 

they are going to start with. 

“I will also like to use this 

position to ask those states that 

have already announced (reopening). 

I appeal to them, I 

think it is not safe. I feel responsible 

for all children, not 

just those who are in Federal 

Government-controlled 

schools. Please let’s save our 

children from this. 

“One infected child is 

enough to infect a whole class. 

When they close from class 

they go into the dormitory, this 

is not the right time to open 

schools. I appeal to the states 

that have already announced 

to reconsider it.” 

When asked if Nigeria will 

be the only country to miss out 

of the WAEC examinations, he 

said: 

“Me, as Minister of Education, 

if given the chance, don’t 

mind Nigeria losing a whole 

school year than exposing our 

children to danger. WAEC is a 

parastatal of the Ministry of 

Education, they cannot determine 

for the government what 

it does.” The Minister also 

said that FEC approved an 

agreement between the Kaduna 

Polytechnic (KADPOLY) 

and an investor to renovate 18 

blocks of student hostels. 

“The contract which is a 15- 

year concession at the cost of 

N744,264 million, is under a 

Renovate Operate, Maintain 

and Transfer (ROMT) arrangement. 

“It will take one year to construct 

the hostels, after which 

the contractor will run it for 

15 years within which they will 

recover what they have sunk 

into the project. 

“There are 18 blocks of hostels 

and each room in a block 

will house four students. The 

total number of students to be 

housed will be 4,032.” 

• A Solar-Powered Automated Hand Washing Station 

developed by the Faculty of Engineering, Lagos State 

University, LASU, Ojo. 

COVID-19: NUC engages foreignbased 

Nigerian scientists on 

biomedical research 

By Joseph Erunke 

THE National Univer 

sities Commission, 

NUC, has engaged Nigerian 

foreign-based researchers on 

biomedical research as part 

of its efforts in getting a cure 

for Coronavirus disease in the 

country. The nation's universities' 

regulatory body is pursuing 

this through the Nigeria 

Diaspora Biomedical Research 

Group. 

The aim, according to the 

commission, which disclosed 

this in Abuja through its Deputy 

Executive Secretary, Dr 

Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf, is to 

build the capacity of Nigerian 

scientists on biomedical research. 

Speaking during an event 

to herald the inaugural summit 

of the Nigeria Diaspora 

Biomedical Research Group, 

Dr Ramon-Yusuf said the partnership 

being facilitated by a 

Nigerian scientist at the University 

of Florida, USA, Prof. 

Folakemi Odedina, was also 

aimed at training the researchers 

on grant-writing 

proposals to access funds at 

the Tertiary Education Trust 

Fund, TETFund, and other 

research-funding agencies 

globally. 

According to him, the partnership 

was one of the numerous 

efforts by NUC to explore 

opportunities through collaborations 

within and outside 

Nigeria to build the capacity 

of Nigerian scientists on research. 

He said the partnership 

would forge relationships on 

sabbaticals support and bidirectional 

faculty exchange 

between Nigerian academic 

staff as well as staff of the various 

collaborating universities 

abroad, particularly the University 

of Florida. He lamented 

that the Nigerian university 

system had been battling the 

problem of research capacity 

and had, therefore, been exploring 

different avenues to 

enable it build capacity both 

at institutional and professional 

levels. “So in this regard, 

this three-day summit has 

three main components, the 

first one which is ongoing as 

we speak is the pre-summit 

biomedical research training 

workshop. Research capacity 

is quite low in our system, just 

as we have challenges with 

research infrastructure. 

“So the overall objective of 

this strategic alliance between 

the Nigerian university system 

and Nigerians in the Diaspora 

and in fact including 

people who are not Nigerians 

we are trying to harness our 

network so that we can have 

an opportunity to train our 

people in terms of research 

grant writing, research techniques,” 

he said. 

COVID-19: Labour demands compensation 

for family of dead worker 

*As workers lay siege to firm 

Stories by Victor 

Ahiuma-Young 

THE ongoing industrial 

dispute between the 

managment of a manufacturing 

company in Sango 

Ota, Ogun State, Nycil limited, 

and organised labour 

over plans to sack workers, 

has taken a new twist. 

Organised labour in the 

sector is now demanding 

compensation for the family 

of a worker who allegedly 

died while on duty. 

The worker; Saka 

Haruna,allegedly lost his 

life where he had gone to 

give his wife money for 

upkeep after the company 

allegedly forced them to 

stay at work for 48 hours 

because of the lockdown. 

He was said to have died 

outside the company's premises. 

Aggrieved workers led by 

National Union of Chemical 

Footwear Rubber Leather 

and Non-Metallic Products 

Employees, NUCFR- 

LANMPE, and Chemical 

and Non Metallic Products 

Senior Staff Association of 

Nigeria, CANMPSSAN, 

have since Monday last 

week been picketing the 

company over plans to sack 

workers. 

Organized labour has 

rejected the plan , contending 

that it is a wrong timing 

because of the negative 

consequences of COVID- 

19. 

Since then, workers and 

their leaders have laid siege 

to the company. 

Addressing the protest- 

...World leaders, employers, labour meet 

on work environment — ILO 

MORE than 50 Heads 

of State and 

government, as well as 

prominent global 

employers’ and trade 

union leaders are meeting 

on COVID-19 and the 

World of Work. 

According to the 

International Labour 

Organisation, ILO, the 

online discussion which 

started Tuesday, July 7, will 

end today July 9, 2020. 

Representing all regions, 

the leaders will address the 

summit via video 

messages. 

UN Secretary-General, 

Antonio Guterres will also 

deliver an address, as will 

the heads of a number of 

UN and international 

agencies. 

The meeting is the largest 

ever online gathering of 

workers, employers and 

governments. 

Participants are 

discussing how to address 

the economic and social 

impact of the pandemic, 

ing workers on Tuesday, 

July 7, President of NUC- 

FRLANMPE, Goke Olatunji, 

demanded for compensation 

for the family of 

Haruna, arguing that he 

lost his life during working 

hours. 

The late Haruna who 

hailed from Edo State, was 

reported killed in an accident 

at the Sango Ota Tollgate 

end of Ogun State. 

Olatunji said the young 

casual worker was among 

employees the management 

allegedly forced to 

work for 48 hours non-stop 

during the COVID-19 lockdown 

by the Federal Government. 

He said “He had left the 

company after getting some 

stipend, to give N3,500 to 

his wife for family upkeep, 

so that they could eat during 

the lockdown. He 

called the wife to meet him 

at the Sango Ota Tollgate 

to give her the money, but 

he was killed in an accident. 

He never made it 

back to work. 

“The unfortunate thing is 

that the management did 

not send condolences to the 

family, or observed a 

minute silence for the dead 

worker. As a union, we do 

not discriminate between 

casuals and permanent 

workers. We will do all 

within our powers to ensure 

that the family of the deceased 

worker got compensation 

due to them.” 

He called on the federal 

government to come to the 

which has laid bare the 

extreme vulnerability of 

millions of workers and 

enterprises. 

The Global Summit is 

examining a range of 

issues, including: How to 

promote full and 

productive employment in 

this new environment? 

What needs to be done to 

address the massive 

vulnerabilities in the world 

of work made evident by 

the pandemic? Which 

workers require particular 

support and attention? 

How to position the 

reduction and elimination of 

poverty as central objectives 

of the recovery process? 

How the international 

community can come 

together with real common 

purpose and rededicate 

itself to the delivery of the 

UN’s 2030 Agenda? 

The first stage of the global 

summit took place 1-2 July, 

with a series of virtual 

regional events covering 

Africa , the Americas , the 

aid of the workers who had 

been subjected to series of 

humiliation and anti labour 

policies by the company. 

40 hours work 

On his part, CAN- 

MPSSAN President, Segun 

David, contended that the 

International Labour Organization, 

ILO was against 

what happened to the late 

Haruna , adding “The normal 

working period is 40 

hours in a week, but these 

workers did the work for two 

days. Even after that, the 

management who made 

over a billion profit as at January 

told the workers that 

they have to go home with 

half salary. They have sacrificed 

their annual leaves 

until next year and work 

overtime without pay to get 

full salary. Despite that the 

management still wants to 

sack them and now employ 

casuals. The company has 

been the best in the industry 

under foreigners and we 

were happy when a Nigerian 

bought it, but it has been 

tales of woes and hell for the 

workers. We will not allow 

our members to be maltreated 

or laid off without due 

process, hence we will continue 

to resume here every 

day until the management open 

the gates." 

Efforts to reach the chairman 

or the Managing Director of the 

company proved abortive. The 

chairman, Adetola Adebayo did 

not answer his calls while the 

Managing Director who earlier 

said the company was ready 

for peaceful resolution of the crisis 

last Monday could not be 

reached. 

Arab States , Asia-Pacific and 

Europe and Central Asia . 

Representatives from 

governments, employers, 

workers, and academia, 

discussed the huge costs of 

the COVID-19 pandemic to 

their economies, labour 

markets and societies, and 

how different countries have 

responded. 

Highlights from the 

regional events were featured 

during the first global event, 

on 7 July, along with 

interviews with International 

Labour Organisation, ILO 

Regional Directors. 

Addresses from Heads of 

State and government and 

prominent global employer 

and trade union leaders were 

delivered on 8 July – Global 

Leaders Day . 

Today, ILO Constituents’ 

Day – ministers, workers’ 

and employers’ leaders from 

ILO member States will 

reflect on the previous days’ 

events and discuss the 

implementation of the ILO 

Centenary Declaration for the 

Future of Work in the context 

of the pandemic.

Finidi demands 

salary 

guarantee as 

condition to 

coach in NPFL 

Former Super Eagles 

winger, Finidi George 

said he was more than 

ready to work with any Nigeria 

Professional Football League 

club, only if they can guarantee 

a regular payment of his 

wages. 

•Finidi 

Finidi, won the European 

Champions League with Ajax 

in 1995. 

He was also an African 

Nations Cup winner with 

Super Eagles in 1994. 

Having finished his career in 

Spain, he obtained a UEFA 

coaching badge, but his 

desire of coaching any of the 

national teams has not materialised. 

“It is not that I’m not willing to coach any team in Nigeria but for me, 

if I have to coach, there must be guarantees. 

“I have to get a guarantee that salaries will be paid and that players 

will be taken care of. I wouldn’t want problems in the area of payment 

of salaries and traveling conditions,” Finidi told 

NigerianFootballer.com. 

Before moving to Europe Finidi played for Sharks of Port Harcourt 

now Rivers United and defunct Calabar Rovers. 

•Fury 

Tyson Fury has kindly given 

financial support to the cut 

man who helped deal with the 

awful injury he sustained in his 

fight with Otto Wallin to help him 

through the coronavirus 

pandemic. 

Jorge Capetillo was in Fury’s 

corner for the Wallin fight in Las 

Vegas in 2019 where the Gypsy 

King suffered a serious cut above 

his right eye in the third round 

before grinding out a victory on 

points. 

The cut produced enormous 

amounts of blood that threatened 

to derail Fury’s boxing comeback 

but Capetillo was crucial in 

stemming the flow to help him go 

on to victory. 

It was so serious that Fury was 

even unable to fulfill media duties 

following the fight as he was 

admitted to hospital so that 

medical experts could take a look. 

He clearly has not forgotten the 

role Capetillo played in helping 

him win that fight though and has 

been willing to support him 

financially during the 

coronavirus pandemic that forced 

him to close his gym. 

Speaking to Sky Sports, 

Capetillo revealed: ‘He is still 

Fury sends 

cash to help 

cut man who 

saved Wallin 

fight 

very grateful. When he knew we 

were locked down because of 

Covid-19 and my gym was closed, 

he texted me and said: “Is there 

anything I can do to help?” 

‘He is still taking care of me. He 

sent me money. I was supposed 

to be with Jessie Vargas in New 

York on March 14 but the fight was 

cancelled and I came home with 

empty pockets. 

‘He (Fury) said: “I’ll sort out 

some money for your family so 

you can be good”. He is a great 

man, so humble. He had the time 

to ask how I was doing with my 

family during this crisis.’ 

Fury was so grateful at the time 

that he also gave Capetillo a 

bonus for his fight-saving work. 

The Mexican spoke to TMZ in 

the wake of the fight about his 

night’s work and the bonus he 

received from Fury. 

‘It was a big tub of Vaseline! It 

was so deep man, I tried to hide it 

a little bit so the doctors didn’t see 

it,’ he said. 

Tottenham midfielder Eric 

Dier has been given a four- 

•Pogba 

•Pogba 

Serbian outfit Partizan 

Belgrade are demanding 

a transfer fee of •15 million for 

•Tyson 

•Umar 

Ricky Hatton has pleaded with the 

boxing authorities to save Mike 

Tyson ‘from himself’ as the recentlyturned 

54-year-old plots a comeback 

to the ring. 

Iron Mike has been talking up a 

return to the sport for the first time since 

2005 and has been hard at work in 

training sessions throughout the 

lockdown period. 

But the Hitman believes that, despite 

Tyson’s impressive efforts at getting 

back into shape, he should not be 

anywhere near a return to boxing 

having just turned 54 last week. 

Speaking on this week’s Gary 

Newbon’s Sports Show, he said: ‘I’ve 

met Tyson on many occasions and we 

all know the history with Tyson but it’s 

Tottenham’s Dier given fourmatch 

ban for confronting fan 

match ban and fined £40,000 for 

climbing over seats to confront a 

fan after a match in March. 

The incident happened after 

Spurs were knocked out of the 

FA Cup at home by Norwich. 

The Football Association ban 

rules the 26-year-old out of all but 

one of Tottenham’s remaining 

Premier League fixtures. 

Dier has also been warned 

about his future conduct by the 

FA. 


Madrid to launch fresh 

bid for Pogba 

Real Madrid are contemplating whether to revive their interest 

in Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba. 

At a time when the coronavirus pandemic will reduce 

spending in the transfer market, Pogba has made an 

impact alongside Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford. 

However, despite it being increasingly likely that the 

World Cup winner will continue his stay at the Premier 

League giants, it appears that one long-term admirer 

is not prepared to give up on his signature. 

According to Get French Football News, Real boss 

Zinedine Zidane would back a renewed effort to 

tempt United into a sale. 

The report suggests that Rennes’ refusal to part 

ways with Eduardo Camavinga may have led to 

the latest development. 

Although Pogba only has one year left on his 

contract, United have the option of extending his deal by a 

further 12 months. 

Partizan put 

15m price 

tag on Umar 

Nigeria forward Sadiq Umar. 

The Nigeria youth 

international is reportedly 

attracting interest from 

Manchester United and 

Monaco after scoring 19 goals 

in 39 matches across all 

competitions this term. 

Umar only joined Partizan 

permanently from Roma in 

January after impressing 

during the first six months of 

his loan. 

Sports to resume with non 

combat sports – Dare 

Plans have reached an 

advanced stage to have 

Five 

substitutes 

may stay in 

Premier 

League next 

season 

The five substitutes rule could 

be here to stay for next 

season as football’s law makers 

IFAB consider keeping it in play. 

Managers have been allowed to 

make five changes rather than 

three since football resumed. 

It was set to be a short-term rule 

change with the motivation being 

player welfare following the return 

of competitive games following a 

length lay-off. 

But, according to the Athletic, 

IFAB are ready to carry the rule 

over into the 2020/21 season, which 

could also have preparation 

hampered given the current 

campaign’s late finish. 

Leagues were given the option 

as to whether they wanted to be 

part of the new rule change and 

the Premier League jumped on 

board in June. 

The mid-season change has not 

been universally well received by 

every club though, especially those 

with lesser resources who feel as if 

more changes favours the top 

sides. 

Let’s save 

Tyson from 

himself, Ricky 

Hatton pleads 

inspiring, like Tyson Fury, to see where 

he has come from to where he is today. 

He has come on tenfold.’ 

But he then preached caution over 

an incredible comeback after 15 years 

in retirement. 

‘I hope he’s taking the micky with 

his talks about making a comeback’, 

he continued. 

‘For his age he looks fantastic in that 

gym - but he’s still 50-plus and I don’t 

want to see any of my heroes get hurt. 

Ibrahimovic: I’m player, coach, 

president of AC Millan 

•Ibra 

Nigerian sports back on stream 

post Covid-19 with non combat 

sports like table tennis, lawn 

tennis, track and field set for 

early return. 

Speaking on the Voice of 

Nigeria Issues in the News, 

Youth and Sports Development 

Minister Mr. Sunday Dare 

said, "We hope that our athletes 

can get back to action soon 

with non combat sports. 

Although no date has been set, 

but we must submit to the 

Covid-19 protocols in line with 

the practice all over the world. 

We have submitted our 

protocol and hopefully, our 

athletes would soon be back to 

compete." 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he 

was everything to Milan, 

and could have helped the club 

to win the Seria A if he had 

started the season with the 

Italian giants. 

The 38-year-old striker is still 

having an impact in Italy’s top 

flight and took his goal tally in 

his latest Milan stint to six when 

he scored from the penalty spot 

against Juve in Milan’s 3-2 win. 

They are now fifth on the table. 

Ibrahimovic told DAZN: “If I 

was here from the beginning of 

the season, we would have won 

the Scudetto!” 

Ibrahimovic has been hailed 

as a role model for his Milan 

team-mates and added: “I am 

president, coach and player, but 

they only pay me as a footballer.” 

The former Sweden 

international is out of contract at 

the end of the season, however, 

and he acknowledges he may 

not appear in front of a full San 

Siro again. 

“There is still a month, so let’s 

see,” Ibrahimovic said amid 

growing speculation head 

coach Stefano Pioli will be 

replaced by Ralf Rangnick. 

“There are things that we 

cannot control.



Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

Sudoku 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

Across 

1 Situated (6) 

4 Fleet of ships (6) 

8 Automaton (5) 

9 Faint (4,3) 

10 Excess (7) 

11 Armed (anag) (5) 

12 Currently (2,7) 

17 Fragrant kitchen herb (5) 

19 Narrow-edged tooth (7) 

21 Precisely (7) 

22 Approach to a house (5) 

23 Poem with fourteen lines (6) 

24 Remained (6) 

Down 

1 Read attentively (6) 

2 Canadian province (7) 

3 Praise highly (5) 

5 Remainder (7) 

6 By oneself (5) 

7 Harvest season (6) 

9 Future generations (9) 

13 Artist’s mixing board (7) 

14 Give evidence (7) 

15 Convent head (6) 

16 Chum (6) 

18 Blemish (5) 

20 Military trainee (5) 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have 

two of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine 

lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block 

(nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means 

that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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09072020 - Day 3: More posers for Magu

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