10072020 - Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’

COVID-19: 

NDDC taken to task by 

Senate over N3.14bn 

14 

palliative for Police, staff 

Deregulation: 

FG never 

promised to 

keep fuel price 

permanently 

low—Minister 

12 burnt to 

8 

death in Bayelsa 

auto crash 

Buhari signs revised N10.8trn 2020 budget into law today 

6 

8 

VOL. 27: NO. 64111 FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 

Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 

7 Untouchables’ 

5 

•7 Untouchables accused of blackmail, extortion of money from suspects; 

appropriating exhibits, selling off forfeited / seized assets 

•Asked to explain role in exploits of Ag. EFCC chairman 

•Magu brought to Aso Villa at about 10:00 yesterday for more grilling 

Court 

didn’t 

decline to 

stop my 

13 

probe 

—Okorocha 

12 

Only 

agrorevolution 

can save 

us, not oil 

—AYADE 

8 

‘LUCIFER’ AND HIS CHURCH OF SATAN DESTROYED IN ABIA 

DONU...16...OWEI...17...AZU...20 

Ifekwe Udo, aka Lucifer and his Church of Satan 

which was demolished by angry residents (below left) 

at Ebem, Ohafia in Abia State, yesterday. Photos: 

Ugochukwu Alaribe. SEE PAGE 13. 

COVID-19: Govs 

worry over 

community 

spread, to ramp 

up testing 

MALTREATMENT 

OF 

NIGERIANS: 

Lebanese 

ambassador 

walks out on 

Reps 8 

•SEE 

INSIDE 

Mr & Mrs

2—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020—3


vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’ 

By Emma Nnadozie, 

Crime Editor, 

Kingsley Omonobi 

& Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA — 

Interrogation of 

embattled Acting 

Chairman of the 

Economic & Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, Ibrahim Magu 

entered Day Four 

yesterday with the 

Presidential panel led by 

Justice Ayo Isa Salami 

grilling select operatives 

of the commission. 

The operatives, referred 

to as “Magu’s Boys”, are 

said to be seven in 

number, and were grilled 

by the Presidential panel 

over their roles in the 

acting chairman’s 

exploits. 

The seven operatives, 

also pejoratively called 

“The Untouchables” were 

accused of committing 

several atrocities, 

including allegedly 

blackmailing and 

extorting money from 

suspects, appropriating 

exhibits to themselves 

and selling off forfeited or 

seized assets without 

remitting the proceeds to 

government coffers. 

The activities of the “The 

Untouchables,” according 

to sources who confided 

in Vanguard, formed part 

of the allegations in the 

memo the Attorney- 

General of the Federation 

and Minister of Justice, 

Abubakar Malami, SAN, 

forwarded to President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

Meanwhile, Magu was 

brought to Aso Villa at 

about 10:00am yesterday 

for further grilling by the 

panel. He was also 

accompanied by his 

lawyer. All the directors of 

the agency and the 

Secretary, Ola 

Olukayode, were also at 

the panel to say what they 

knew about the 

allegations against their 

boss. 

Magu threatens 

hunger strike 

Apparently seeing that 

the Presidency may keep 

him in detention 

indefinitely until he 

answers allegations made 

against him by the 

Attorney-General, 

Vanguard gathered 

yesterday that embattled 

Chairman of Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

Ibrahim Magu, may go 

on hunger strike. 

Vanguard gathered that 

some politicians and other 

wealthy Nigerian and 

foreigners who alleged 

that they were duped by 

Magu and some 

operatives of the EFCC 

are said to have started 

forwarding petitions on 

how they were coerced to 

part with huge sums of 

money and property 

under the guise of 

recovering ill-gotten 

wealth. 

Magu, still being 

interrogated by the 

Justice Ayo Salami-led 

Presidential panel along 

with seven of his aides 

reportedly got into trouble 

after information gotto the 

Presidency about some of 

his dealings both in and 

outside the country. The 

informants, according to 

sources, gave detailed 

information that prompted 

a shocked Presidency to 

immediately order his 

arrest while a presidential 

panel was set up without 

delay. 

According to sources, 

people in rarefied circles 

of power, in and outside 

the country put together 

the details and delivered 

to the Presidency, 

prompting his arrest. 

A Presidency source 

said last night that Magu 

may not be released from 

detention until he 

responds satisfactorily to 

all allegations against 

him. 

The source told 

Vanguard last night: “You 

are aware that they 

(detectives) have 

searched his house. 

Detectives that carried out 

the search combed his 

house. It was after the 

search that they arrested 

seven of his aides as part 

of the probe. 

“Justice Salami is simply 

carrying out stern 

instructions from the 

Presidency over the issue 

of Magu and it was after 

he discovered that it will 

be virtually impossible to 

grant him bail that Magu 

started threatening to go 

on hunger strike, with a 

view to drawing public 

sympathy. 

“However, it was 

learned that when the 

Presidency got 

information about his 

plans to go on strike, in 

insisted that the 

embattled EFCC acting 

chairman will not be 

released until he returns 

all the money he was 

accused of stealing.” 

Soft-landing 

bids fail 

Meanwhile, Vanguard 

gathered that frantic 

efforts made so far by 

highly-placed persons 

from various parts of the 

country close to Magu to 

seek soft landing for him 

have failed, as the 

Presidency is said to have 

insisted on carrying out 

a thorough investigation 

and getting to the root of 

the matter without 

minding whose ox was 

gored. 

Police sources hinted 

that the team of 

investigators handling 

the matter had been 

directed by the Presidency 

not to compromise their 

investigations and that 

some of them will soon be 

dispatched abroad to 

comb banks where it was 

alleged Magu stashed 

huge sums of money. 

However, the sources 

could not say whether 

Magu, a Commissioner of 

Police, is being detained 

inside a cell at the FCID, 

Zone 10, Abuja, or given 

special treatment by 

keeping him in one of the 

posh offices there. 

At yesterday’s sitting of 

the panel, a source close 

to the commission said 

the panel asked all the 

directors and sectional 

heads to submit, within 

seven days, all files of 

cases handled by the 

agency since 2015, as well 

as forfeited assets and 

cash releases. 

Tough bail 

situation 

On bail, a source told 

Vanguard yesterday that 

only the Presidential 

panel could grant him 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

bail. 

Magu’s lawyer, Toni 

Ojaomo, had said on 

Tuesday he would seek 

his client’s bail but the 

source at police 

headquarters said since it 

was not the police that 

ordered his arrest, the 

force would also not be 

involved in his bail. 

Recall that Magu is 

being detained on the 

ground floor of the Force 

Criminal Investigations 

Department, from where 

he is taken on daily basis 

to the Presidential Villa 

where he is being grilled 

by the Justice Ayo Salami 

panel. 

Vanguard investigations 

revealed that since Magu 

was arrested on the orders 

of the Presidential Panel 

which complained to the 

President about Magu’s 

disregard for its 

assignment, the 

Inspector-General of 

Police, IGP Mohammed 

Adamu, directed the 

Force Criminal 

Investigations 

Department to get him 

arrested 

The source said: “It is 

not the Force Criminal 

Investigations 

Department that is 

investigating Magu. It is 

Continues on Page 34 

VIRTUAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL MEETING —Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo, SAN, presides over virtual National Economic Council Meeting, 

yesterday in Abuja. State House photo. 

CAN's demand for reopening of churches 

By Olayinka Latona 

I 

support the call for 

reopening of 

churches. The truth is 

that though the number 

of COVID-19 cases is 

increasing, it is not 

unexpected. If other 

services have been 

allowed to reopen, 

controlled religious 

meetings must also be 

allowed. 

—Rev. Israel Kristilere 

We cannot continue 

to shutdown our 

churches while markets, 

banks, parks and malls are 

opened. 

Does it mean that if it 

takes years to continue to 

test and we continue to 

have increase in the cases, 

religious worship centres 

must continue to be 

lockdown? 

——Rev. Fr. Anthony 

Godonu 

Isupport the call by 

CAN for states to 

reopen churches. This is 

dragging on for too long 

and it is not good for 

people of faith. If there 

is any institution that 

loves and preserves life, 

it is the churches. 

—Kehinde Odebode, 

Teacher 

I 

think it is the right 

thing to do because our 

country needs prayer. If 

the churches are 

reopened, they can fight 

for us through their 

prayers. Moreover other 

places that are more 

crowded than churches 

have been reopened. 

—Bello Sofiat, Student 

Churches should not 

be reopened for 

now because services 

can’t be conducted 

without the worshippers 

mingling with one 

another. Also, how will 

the worshippers receive 

Holy Communion 

without physical 

contacts? 

—Wale Oyeleke, Trainee 

Both the goverment 

and CAN have jointly 

discussed reopening of 

churches since this 

pandemic began. CAN 

should explain to 

Nigerians why reopening 

of churches is more 

important than schools 

and relaxation centres. 

God is a spirit and can be 

called upon anywhere. 

— Femi Egbetokun, 

Businessman

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 

Magistrate 

orders labourer 

to sweep court 

premises for 3 

hours for 

stealing food 

ALife Camp Magistrates’ 

Court in Abuja, yesterday, 

ordered a 30-year-old labourer, 

Yusuf Muazu, to sweep the court 

premises for three hours for 

stealing a bowl of food and a cup 

of cold water. 

The Police charged Muazu of 

no fixed address for criminal 

trespass and theft. 

Muazu, however, pleaded 

guilty to the charges and begged 

the court for leniency. 

He said: “I plead for mercy, I 

want the court to forgive me. I 

was really hungry and I entered 

the woman’s kitchen and saw a 

pot of food and I took some and 

also a cup of water. 

Magistrate Sharon Tanko, in 

her ruling, said being hungry 

does not give the convict the right 

to commit such offence, thus 

would be punished for his crime. 

Tanko said: “The court has 

found the convict guilty of the 

offence and him being 

remorseful and not wasting the 

time of the court in admitting to 

his crime, he is hereby ordered 

to engage in three hours 

community service. 

“You are hereby ordered to pick 

up all the dirts and clean up the 

premises of Life Camp 

Magistrate's Court for three 

hours under the supervision of 

the court registrar.” 

The magistrate further advised 

Muazu to relocate to his home 

town at Kano or elsewhere where 

he can be meaningfully engaged 

to meet his daily needs. 

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP 

Peter Ejike, FCT Command, told 

the court that one Chidibere 

Lewechi of Life Camp, Abuja 

reported the matter at Life Camp 

police station on July 1. 

The prosecutor alleged that the 

defendant smartly entered into 

the complainant’s compound 

and made his way into her 

kitchen without her consent. 

He told the court that the 

defendant stole a bowl of food 

with meat from the complainant’s 

pot with a cup of cold water. 

Ejike alleged that while the 

defendant was about to leave the 

kitchen with the stolen items, the 

younger brother to the 

complainant caught him and 

held him down with the help of 

neighbours. 

He added that during police 

investigation, the defendant 

admitted to having committed the 

crime. 

12 burnt to death in Bayelsa auto crash 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

YENAGOA 

—TWELVE 

persons were reportedly 

killed, Wednesday night, in a 

ghastly motor accident along 

Tombia-Amassoma road in 

Yenagoa Local Government 

Area of Bayelsa State. 

The accident, it was gathered, 

occurred at about 8.45 pm when 

a diesel haulage truck 

conveying chippings to a 

project site at Amassoma town 

rammed into a 14-seater Mazda 

passenger bus. 

Nine of the passengers in the 

ill-fated bus were burnt to ashes 

as it went up in flames while 

three others died on arrival at 

Niger Delta University 

Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri in 

the outskirts of Yenagoa. 

An eyewitness told Vanguard: 

“The passenger bus and 

haulage truck collided and the 

bus went up in flames. Nine of 

the passengers in the bus were 

trapped and burnt beyond 

recognition. 

Scene of the accident. 

“Three persons were rescued 

from the inferno and rushed to 

Niger Delta University 

Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri 

where they later gave up the 

ghost.” 

An official of the Federal Road 

Safety Corps, FRSC, who spoke 

anonymously, confirmed the sad 

incident, saying: “The victims were 

burnt beyond recognition. When we 

arrived at the scene at about 10 pm 

there was nothing we could do as 

we met charred remains of the 

victims.” 

The FRSC official, however, said 

a preliminary investigation showed 

that the accident was caused by over 

STAY SAFE: Passengers at the popular BRT bus terminal in Oshodi, Lagos, 

washing and sanitising their hands before being allowed into the terminal to 

board a BRT bus. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. 

Suspected kidnappers kill 2 policemen in Benin City 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY —TWO 

policemen attached to the 

Managing Director of a popular 

Benin-based eatery (GT Plaza) 

were, Wednesday night, reportedly 

killed by suspected kidnappers. 

The kidnappers, it was gathered, 

made to kidnap the MD of the 

eatery, Pius Omofuma, in Benin 

City, but unknown to them, he was 

not in the vehicle, a Lexus SUV, with 

number plate Abuja RBC 517 NW. 

But the Police Public Relations 

Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, when 

contacted, yesterday, said the police 

were investigating the incident. 

Police rescue 35-yr-old 

man from kidnappers 

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police 

Command in collaboration with a 

local vigilante group rescued a 35- 

year-old man, Mr Joseph Patrick, 

from a five-man kidnapping gang 

operating at Ozege Junction in 

Ekpoma, Esan West Local 

Government Area of Edo State. 

Parading, one of the suspected 

kidnappers, Yusuf Ismaila (17), who 

Police arrest 7 suspects over bank robberies in Ekiti, 

Ondo 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi 

ABUJA—POLICE operatives 

from Force Headquarters, 

attached to Special Tactical 

Squad have arrested a sevenman 

gang that attacked and 

robbed three commercial banks 

in the South-West states of Ondo 

and Ekiti between 2019 and 

2020. 

A statement by DCP Frank 

Mba, Force Public Relations 

Officer, noted: “The gang killed 

innocent citizens, including six 

policemen and carted away 

millions of naira. 

“Investigation reveals that the 

dare-devil 

armed 

robbers,Tunbosun Ojo, 42; 

Ismaila Ojo, 25; Victor Oyeyemi, 

36; Dele Ariyo, 44; Shola 

Oladimeji, 50; Olubodun 

Folayemi, 44, and Adeniyi John, 

42, carried out the robbery of a 

commercial bank in Ile-Oluji, 

Ondo State on February 7, 2020 

where four policemen were 

killed. 

“Similarly they were also involved 

in the robbery of a microfinance 

bank in Idanre, Ondo State in 

December 2019 and a commercial 

bank at Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State where 

two policemen lost their lives. 

“Efforts are being intensified to 

arrest other members of the gang 

still at large and to 

recover other sophisticated weapons 

used in the operations. 

“The suspects will be charged to 

court on conclusion of investigations. 

was arrested when the suspects 

engaged police in a gun duel, said 

he was introduced to kidnapping 

business by his friend, Mohammed, 

who promised to give him money 

after the business. 

According to him, “Mohammed 

called me to follow him that he will 

give me money. I tied the victim’s 

mouth with clothes and we took him 

to the bush. He said the man was 

owing them money. We tied him in 

the bush and Mohammed told me 

to fetch water from the stream, as I 

was coming, I heard a gunshot and 

that was how I was arrested.” 

The victim, Joseph Patrick, said: 

“I was driving through the Ozege 

Junction and suddenly, they came 

out from the bush and blocked me, 

they tied my hands, blindfolded and 

took me to the bush, where they 

demanded N2 million from my 

family. It was my wife that went to 

the police, before the police and 

vigilante people rescued me.” 

The Police Public Relations Officer 

of the Edo State Police Command, 

DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the 

police in collaboration with vigilante 

group, Wednesday, rescued Joseph 

Patrick from the kidnappers’ den 

and arrested the suspect, who is 

helping the police with the 

investigation. 

speeding on the part of the diesel 

truck. 

“We believe the truck driver 

removed the number plate and 

escaped from the scene of the 

accident,” he added. 

Also speaking, spokesman of 

Bayelsa State Police Command, 

Asinim Butswat, confirmed the 

incident and said the scene was 

“gory and horrible.” 

Anxiety as Osun 

community 

records 2 

mysterious 

death in 4 days 

By Shina Abubakar 

O 

SOGBO—THE death of 

two people in Ejigbo 

town, Osun State within four 

days has created anxiety 

among the residents 

It was gathered that the first 

victim was murdered on 

Monday, July 6, while the 

second victim was killed on 

Wednesday, July 8. 

According to sources in 

Ejigbo community, one 

Musibau Muraina was found 

dead on Monday with his 

stomach cut open, exposing 

his intestines. 

The incident, which occurred 

at Oya’s compound in Ejigbo 

around 6:45 pm left 

neighbours bewildered as 

residents flee the community. 

Similarly on Wednesday, 

July 8, another corpse of one 

Misratu Azeez, 45, was found 

at Oloris’ compound in the 

town. 

The deceased, who was from 

Moye’s compound, was found 

dead around 10:30 am with an 

injury on her forehead. 

Confirming the incident, the 

state Police Public Relations 

Officer, Yemisi Opalola, said a 

police team had visited the two 

scenes while a suspect, 

Bamidele Aboderin, was 

arrested in connection with 

the murder of Misratu, no one 

has been arrested over the 

murder of Musibau. 

She, however, said the 

state’s Commissioner of Police, 

Undie Adie, has urged 

residents of the town to remain 

calm as police have launched 

an investigation into the 

circumstances behind the two 

deaths.


INAUGURATION: From left—Prof. Muhammad Abubakar, MD, Galaxy Backbone; Engr. Ubale Maska, 

Chairman, National Broadband Plan Implementation Steering Committee; Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, 

minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman, 

Nigerian Communications Commission; Dr. Abimbola Alale, MD, Nigerian Communications Satellite 

Limited, and Dr. Kashifu Inuwa, DG, National Information Technology Development Agency, during 

the inauguration of the Implementation Steering Committee of the National Broadband Plan (2020- 

2025), yesterday, in Abuja. 

Boko Haram relocates to N/West, 

N/Central as bandits —Defence Hqts 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi 

ABUJA—THE Military 

High Command has 

confirmed that scores of 

Boko Haram terrorists 

fleeing intense land and air 

offensive against their 

hideouts and camps in the 

North East were infiltrating 

the North West and North 

Central, emboldening 

armed banditry and other 

crimes. 

This is even as Defence 

headquarters disclosed 

yesterday that 104 bandits 

and 92 Boko Haram 

terrorists were eliminated 

during several encounters 

with troops in several 

military operations in the 

North East and North West 

in the last one week. 

The maritime component 

also de-activated 17 illegal 

refinery sites in the South- 

South, particularly at Agor- 

Illa, Warri South West LGA, 

while Operation Delta Safe 

through NNS Delta and 

NNS Pathfinder 

impounded 565,000 litres of 

suspected illegally refined 

AGO. 

The Coordinator, Defence 

Media Operations, Major 

General John Enenche, 

who confirmed the 

movement of terrorists to the 

North West and North 

Central, noted that the type 

of weaponry found with the 

bandits, such as anti-aircraft 

gun, PKT gun, capable of 

shooting down an aircraft, 

was an indication that some 

Boko Haram criminals 

might have relocated to the 

North West and North 

Central. 

“In the past, the highest 

weapon found among 

bandits was the GPMG 

guns and AK 47 rifles 

because what they are 

known for is stealing of 

cows and rams. But now, 

they are in possession of AA 

and PKT guns which can 

be used to bring down an 

aircraft. 

“It is no hidden fact that 

these are weapons used by 

Boko Haram terrorists, got 

from neighbouring West 

African countries.’’ 

Speaking on the 

withdrawal of military from 

checkpoints across the 

country, which is capable of 

opening the way for 

terrorists and bandits 

fleeing military offensives 

to freely relocate to other 

parts of the country, 

Enenche said it was due to 

complaints of Nigerians, 

especially during the 

COVID-19 lockdown. 

He, however, pointed out 

that it was an action that 

would be constantly 

reviewed and reconsidered 

since Nigerians are 

expressing concern over the 

action. 

“But other than the 

checkpoints, the military 

still conducts snap checks 

on the roads to ensure 

criminal elements don’t 

have freedom of 

movement. It is not that the 

military is completely 

withdrawn,’’ he said. 

While giving an update 

on military operations 

across the country, Enenche 

said: “The troops of 

Operation Lafiya Dole have 

continued to exhibit 

sustained resilience in the 

fight against terrorism in the 

North East zone of the 

Country. 

‘’This has been evident in 

their recent encounters with 

the BHT/ISWAP elements 

across the North East 

theatre of operation. 

During the period, troops’ 

encounters with the 

criminal elements resulted 

in the destruction of their 

structures and equipment, 

as well as the capture of 

arms and ammunition. 

“Our gallant troops also 

rescued some hostages, 

with some criminal 

elements surrendering to 

COVID-19: Cinema operators lament N22.5bn losses 

....Demand to be opened now 

LAGOS—THE Cinema 

Exhibitors Association 

of Nigeria, CEAN, 

yesterday, urged the 

Federal Government to 

speedily open the theatrical 

sector of the economy, 

including the film industry, 

to prevent what it termed 

'their imminent collapse'. 

The call by CEAN came 

as Nigerian airlines begin 

domestic operations in the 

country on Wednesday. 

The association said the 

theatrical sector of the 

economy had lost over 

US$50 million (N22.5 

billion) and more than 5000 

industry jobs, since the 

Federal Government 

imposed the lockdown in 

March, as part of its efforts 

to curtail the spread of the 

COVID-19 pandemic in 

the country. 

CEAN made the appeal 

at a meeting held at the 

Lagos State Safety 

Commission, LSSC, 

Alausa, Ikeja in Lagos. 

Addressing newsmen 

after the meeting, CEAN 

chairman, Mr. Patrick Lee, 

lamented the enormous 

financial loss suffered by 

the Nigerian film industry, 

due to the continued 

suspension of cinema 

operations, and the theatre 

as a result of the lockdown. 

Mr. Lee said: “Over 

250,000 workers, some of 

whom are directly 

employed by 58 taxpaying 

cinemas in the country, 

have been furloughed. 

Recent multi-million dollar 

investments like MX4D, 

IMAX and 4DX theatre halls with 

heavy technical equipment have 

been left to deteriorate; 

international/local creditors and 

investors are crying out for their 

money; production of films has 

been suspended, consequently 

resulting in joblessness and huge 

debts for Nollywood professionals. 

“In 2019, the sector grossed over 

N10 billion in box office earnings 

alone, with estimated total 

revenue of ¦ 35 billion. 

the troops. Within the period, the 

ground troops of Operation Lafiya 

Dole had no fewer than 17 

encounters with the BHT/ISWAP 

criminals in the North East 

theatre of operation. 

“These encounters resulted in 

the killing of 75 BHT/ISWAP 

fighters, capture of large arms and 

ammunition, as well as vehicles 

and equipment. Also recorded 

were the capture of some criminal 

elements and spies as well as 

rescue of 35 BHT captives, while 

four of their fighters surrendered 

to our troops. 

“Between June 2 and 3, 2020, 

the Air Task Force of Operation 

Lafiya Dole conducted 

comprehensive precision strikes, 

to mark the launching of its 

subsidiary Operation Long Reach 

II on the fringes of the Sambisa 

Forest in Borno State." 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

ABUJA—NIGERIA has 

achieved 40.18 percent 

broadband penetration, the 

Minister 

of 

Communications and 

Digital Economy, Dr. Isa 

Alli Ibrahim Pantami, 

disclosed yesterday. 

The minister revealed this 

while inaugurating 

Broadband Implementation 

Steering Committee, BISC, 

to accelerate the attainment 

of 70 percent broadband 

penetration target by 2025 

in Abuja. 

Pantami, who expressed 

satisfaction with the 

contribution of the sector to 

the nation’s GDP, described 

the contribution as 

unprecedented. 

“If you look at the 

contribution of technology 

to our GDP, what we have 

achieved in the first quota 

of 2020 is unprecedented, 

the contribution is 14.07 per 

cent, so this is a clear 

indication that the more 

there is proper penetration, 

the more our GDP will 

increase. 

“Part of the plan is that we 

NNPC increases gas supply to 

power sector by 19% 

ABUJA—THE Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, 

yesterday, announced an 

increase of 19.14 per cent 

in the average daily natural 

gas supply to power plants 

in April 2020. 

This translated to 788 

millon standard cubic feet 

of gas per day (mmscfd), an 

equivalent to power 

generation of 2,873 

megawatts 

Group General Manager, 

Group Public Affairs 

Division of the NNPC, Dr. 

Kennie Obateru, who 

disclosed this, based on the 

corporation’s Monthly 

Financial and Operations 

Report, (MFOR) for April 

2020, stated that a total of 

226.51 billion Cubic Feet 

(BCF) of natural gas was 

produced in April 2020, 

translating to an average 

daily production of 7.786 

BCF per day. 

According to him, the 

figure indicated an increase 

of 3.73 per cent at 226.51 

BCF, compared to the 

output in March 2020, 

adding that out of this 

figure, a total of 136.44 BCF 

of gas was commercialized, 

consisting of 36.99 BCF and 

99.45 BCF for the domestic 

and export market, 

respectively 

Out of the 1.233 BCF per 

day of gas supplied to the 

domestic market in April 

2020, Obateru explained 

that about 787.70 mmscfd, 

representing 63.88 percent 

was supplied to gas-fired 

power plants, while the 

balance of 445.31mmscfd or 

36.12 per cent was supplied 

to other industries. 

Similarly, he added that 

for the period of April 2019 

to April 2020, an average 

of 1.184 BCF per day of gas 

was supplied to the domestic 

market, comprising an average of 

677.87 mmscfd or 57.24 per cent 

of total, as gas supply to the power 

plants and 506.42 mmscfd or 42.76 

per cent, as gas supply to 

industries. 

For the period of April 2019 to 

April 2020, Obateru revealed that 

a total of 3.0823 trillion standard 

cubic feet of gas was produced, 

representing an average daily 

production of 7.857 BCF per day 

during the period. 

400 health workers test 

positive for COVID-19—MHWUN 

....Provides PPEs for members 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—NO fewer than 

400 health workers 

have tested positive for the 

dreaded coronavirus, 

National President, 

Medical and Health 

Workers Union, 

MHWUN, Joy Josiah 

Biobelemoye, disclosed 

Nigeria hits 40.18% broadband 

penetration 

....As minister 

inaugurates 

implementation 

committee 

are targeting at least 90 per 

cent of our population in 

Nigeria to get access to 

broadband, while the penetration, 

we are targeting 70 per cent. 

“This has been going on for 

sometimes; the time we started 

this, the broadband penetration 

was 31 per cent but based on the 

report released by the NCC just 

last week, the broadband 

penetration now is 40.18 per cent. 

Within that period we achieved 

almost 10% of broadband 

penetration in less than a year,” 

he stated. 

He explained that the new 

Broadband Plan 2020-2025, was 

designed to deliver data download 

speeds across Nigeria at a 

minimum 25mbps in urban areas, 

and 10Mbps in rural areas, with 

effective coverage available to at 

least 90 per cent of the population 

by 2025 at a price not more than 

N390 per 1GB of data (i.e. 2 per 

cent of median income or 1% of 

minimum wage). 

The plan, he said, was being 

tailored inline with the pledge by 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

to lift 100 million Nigerians out of 

poverty in 10 years. 

yesterday. 

He spoke on a day the 

Federal Government said 

challenges posed by the 

ravaging COVID-19 was 

overwhelming. 

The MHWUN President, 

who disclosed this during 

the flag off distribution of 

Personal Protective 

Equipment, PPEs, to state 

councils of health workers 

in Abuja yesterday, assured 

that despite the spike in 

infections, health workers 

would not relent in 

protecting the citizens. 

He noted that the 

situation on ground called 

for drastic solutions, adding 

that informed the decision 

of the union to take it upon 

itself to distribute PPEs to 

members. 

“What prompted us into 

taking the decision after 

joining others is to see how 

we can protect the citizens 

in our own little way. 

“This time we have decided to 

provide PPEs for our members 

because we have realised that 

between the time the country 

had its first index case and now, 

as at Tuesday, we have had over 

400 of our members that have 

been infected and still counting. 

“So by the time the figure rose 

to over 150, we decided that we 

also need to support our members 

while carrying out their duties so 

we came up with the plan of 

supplying 50, 000 pieces of face 

masks for distribution to the 38 

chapters of our union across the 

country,’’ he said. 

Aside from the PPEs to be 

distributed across 38 state 

councils of the union, 50,000 

pieces of face masks, 15,200 pieces 

of sanitizers, 2000 pieces of 

disinfectants and 1,200 pieces of 

hand wash are also to be 

distributed.


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

Deregulation: FG never promised 

to keep fuel price permanently 

low — MINISTER 

•Says trillions’ll be saved from subsidy removal 

By Michael Eboh 

ABUJA—MINISTER 

of 

State for Petroleum Resources, 

Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday, clarified 

the stance of the Federal Government 

relating to the deregulation of the 

downstream petroleum industry and the 

hike in price of petrol, stating that at no 

time did it promise to keep the price of 

petrol permanently low. 

The explanation is coming following 

criticisms by the Nigeria Labour Congress, 

NLC, the United Labour Congress, ULC, 

other labour bodies and trade unions 

over uncertainty in the deregulation 

policy, while they also called on the 

government to reverse the recent hike 

in the price of petrol. 

In a statement in Abuja, Sylva noted 

that after a thorough examination of the 

economics of subsidising Premium Motor 

Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, for 

domestic consumption, the Federal 

Government concluded that it was 

unrealistic to continue with the burden 

of subsidising PMS to the tune of trillions 

of Naira every year. 

This, he said, became even more 

relevant, especially as subsidy was 

benefiting in large part, the rich, rather 

than poor and ordinary Nigerians. 

He, however, maintained that the 

government was mindful of the likely 

impact higher PMS prices would have 

on Nigerians, adding that to alleviate 

this, the government was working very 

hard to roll out the auto-gas scheme 

which would provide Nigerians with 

alternative sources of fuel at a lower cost. 

According to Sylva, when crude oil 

prices were down, government, through 

its regulatory functions, ensured that the 

benefits of lower crude oil prices were 

enjoyed by Nigerians by ensuring that 

PMS price was lowered. 

He blamed fuel subsidy for the low 

refining capacity in the country, noting 

COVID-19: Govs worry over community 

spread, to ramp up testing 

By Henry Umoru 

A BUJA—GOVERNORS 

have expressed concern over the 

community spread of the coronavirus 

which has so far infected over 30,000 

Nigerians, leaving about 700 dead. 

Consequently, the governors, acting 

under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ 

Forum, NGF, urged states to ramp up 

testing in order to check the spread. 

The governors also expressed concern 

over the Federal Government’s 

deduction of money from the federation 

account to fund the North East 

Development Commission, NEDC. 

Rising from its 12th virtual meeting on 

Wednesday night, Chairman of the NGF, 

and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode 

Fayemi, in a communique, also 

announced approval of the 

recommendation of the NGF committee 

set up to interface with the Presidential 

Task Force on COVID-19 on measures 

to gradually open the formal and informal 

sectors of the economy. 

‘’LGAs with high burden of diseases 

(hotspot) have been identified and 

targeted with interventions, such as 

increased testing, and promotion of nonpharmaceutical 

intervention, including 

hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, 

mandatory masking in public and partial 

or total lockdown restricting movement. 

‘’The PTF will reach out and work with 

governors of the respective states to 

implement the strategy,’’ the 

communique read. 

Chairman of the committee and Delta 

that subsidy made it impossible to attract 

the much-needed investments into the 

refining sector. 

He said: “This is a necessary action 

taken by a responsible government in 

the overall interest of Nigerians. Indeed, 

one of the reasons we have been unable 

to attract the level of investments we 

desire into the refining sector has been 

the burden of fuel subsidy. 

“We need to free up that investment 

space so that what happened in the 

banking sector, aviation sector and other 

sectors can happen in the midstream and 

downstream oil sector. 

“We can no longer avoid the inevitable 

and expect the impossible to continue. 

There was no time Government 

promised to reduce pump price and keep 

it permanently low.” 

He called on Nigerians to ignore the 

antics of unscrupulous middlemen who 

would want status quo ante to remain at 

the expense of Nigerians. 

The minister added that in addition to 

attracting investments and creating jobs 

and opportunities, the deregulation 

policy would free up trillions of naira to 

develop infrastructure, instead of 

enriching a few. 

“Deregulation means that 

government will no longer continue to 

be the main supplier of petroleum 

products. But will encourage private 

sector to take over the role of supplier of 

Petroleum Products. 

“This means also that market forces 

will henceforth determine the prices at 

the pump. In line with global best 

practices, government will continue to 

play its traditional role of regulation; to 

ensure that this strategic commodity is 

not priced arbitrarily by private sector 

suppliers; a regulatory function not 

unlike the role played by the Central 

Bank of Nigeria in the banking sector; 

ensuring that commercial banks do not 

charge arbitrary interest rates.'' 

•Fault deductions from federation account for NEDC 

State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, had briefed 

the Forum on steps taken to provide a 

coordinated strategy between the federal 

and state governments to ease the 

lockdown and open the economy. 

His counterpart in Kaduna State, Nasir 

El-Rufai, also provided an update on the 

implementation of the final report of the 

NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on COVID-19 

on containing the outbreak and 

responding to its adverse economic effects, 

which was presented to the Vice President 

and Chairman of the Committee, Professor 

Yemi Osinbajo, in March. 

Governor el-Rufai, who is the chairman 

of the NGF sub-Committee on COVID- 

19, informed his colleagues that the 

recommendations of the report had been 

integrated into the Nigeria Economic 

Sustainability Plan, NESP. 

He also outlined the imperatives for a 

post-COVID economic recovery, 

including a unique identity system for 

Nigeria, broadband connectivity, and 

investment in the manufacturing of 

pharmaceutical generics. 

Others are research and development, 

as well as institutional reforms for the 

National Health Insurance Scheme, 

NHIS, along the lines of PENCOM. 

The governors unanimously endorsed 

the work of the sub-committee and 

resolved to engage with the Vice 

President to facilitate states’ 

representation in the implementation 

committee of the Nigeria Economic 

Sustainability Plan. 

MALTREATMENT OF NIGERIANS: 

Lebanese ambassador walks out on Reps 

By Tordue Salem 

A 

B U J A — T H E 

Ambassador of Lebanon to 

Nigeria, Mr. Houssam Diab, yesterday 

walked out on the House of 

Representatives Committee on Diaspora 

Affairs. 

Diab was summoned by the House 

Committee, headed by Tolulope Akande- 

Shadipe, to respond to questions on the 

maltreatment of Nigerians in Lebanon, 

especially one Temitope Arowolo. 

But as the hearing was about to 

commence at about 10: 52am, the 

Lebanese envoy walked out of the room 

and shut the House’ hearing room 348 

door behind him. 

Chairman of the Committee, who was 

miffed by the development, said they 

were “shocked that the Ambassador will 

just get up and walk out on us.” 

Shortly after the development, she 

excused the media from the room and 

called for an Executive session. 

The lawmaker after the session, 

however, recanted, saying the meeting 

was cordial and that the walk-out was a 

misunderstanding. 

“It was an informal meeting because 

the Ambassador was nice enough to join 

us at the meeting. There is no law that 

says he has to be here today, but because 

he has an interest in the joint 

relationship between Nigeria and 

Lebanon, he came. 

‘’We have a lot of Nigerians in Lebanon, 

we have a lot of Lebanese in Nigeria. We 

have a relationship with Lebanon from 

the 50s. 

“This meeting today (yesterday) has 

further shown the fact that the Lebanese 

community and Nigeria stand together 

to ensure justice and respect for human 

lives is a priority and we will work together 

to bring modern day slavery to an end.” 

She also announced that the 

Lebanese government had agreed to 

release Ms. Temitope and other Nigerians 

held in the country. 

Ms. Arowolo, was in detention in that 

country for alleged attempted murder of 

her master and allegations of theft. 

“I am happy to inform Nigerians that 

Temitope will be home before the end of 

the week, and so many other Nigerians 

who want to come home from Lebanon 

will be provided the opportunity to come 

home. 

“We are also taking this opportunity 

to look at the case of a Lebanese who is 

held in Ilorin on charges of human 

trafficking to ensure that there is merit 

in the case. 

“We will continue to collaborate with 

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure 

that we have continued relationship with 

Lebanon, that our girls can go there 

legally to work and work in circumstances 

that are not dehumanizing.” 

On the the issue of the Ambassador 

walking out of the meeting, the 

lawmaker said: ‘’It was a 

misunderstanding, it was meant to be 

an informal meeting and the Ambassador 

was not aware that even when we have 

our informal meeting, it is documented. 

‘’Because of the law of diplomacy, he 

wasn’t expecting to have media there 

and it was immediately resolved that it 

was going to be an executive session. 

The Minister apologized on behalf of 

Foreign Affairs Ministry and he 

PASSING OUT 

CEREMONY: 

The Nigerian 

Armed Forces 

Resettlement 

Centre (NAFRC) 

Oshodi, Lagos, 

Commandant, 

AVM Kingsley 

Lar (right), 

presenting a 

certificate to a 

participant at the 

symbolic Passing 

Out Ceremony of 

trainees in Lagos. 

apologized on behalf of the country and 

the Embassy of Lebanon. 

“You will be invited on the day 

Temitope arrives and you will see that 

this is not eye service and not just 

Temitope. That flight is bringing in ladies 

who wanted to come home and we will 

continue to bring home those who want 

to come home. 

‘’The Lebanese government has 

promised now that it will ensure our girls 

work in very humane circumstances.'' 

Buhari signs revised N10.8trn 

2020 budget into law today 

•As Finance Minister consults NASS leadership 

on 2021-2023 MTEF/FSP 


A Muhammadu BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Buhari will today 

sign into law the revised 2020 budget of 

N10.8 trillion. 

The Minister of Finance, Budget and 

National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, 

disclosed this yesterday while briefing 

the leadership of the National Assembly 

on plans to submit the 2021-2023 

Medium Term Expenditure Framework 

and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) 

later this month. 

Ahmed, who briefed principal officers 

of the Senate and House of 

Representatives, led by the Senate 

President, Ahmad Lawan and speaker, 

Femi Gbajabiamila, said the President 

had given directives for the Ministry to 

expedite action on next year’s budget 

estimates to enable him present the 2021 

budget proposal to the National 

Assembly by the end of September this 

year. 

“This for us is a journey towards 

ensuring that the progress we have made 

as a collective to return the fiscal year to 

January – December is maintained for 

the 2021 budget as well. 

“The President has directed that we 

must deliver the budget to the National 

Assembly by the end of September,” the 

Finance Minister said. 

Ahmed, while giving an update on the 

2020 budget implementation between 

January and May 2020, stated that the 

Federal Government’s retained revenue 

was N1.48 trillion, an amount 

representing 56 percent of government’s 

target. 

She added that out of the sum 

generated as revenue, oil revenues 

accounted for N701.6 billion; non-oil tax 

revenues N439.32 billion; Companies 

Income Tax (CIT) and Value Added Tax 

(VAT) collections - N213.24 billion and 

N68.09 billion; and Customs collection 

N158 billion, respectively. 

She added: “Other revenues 

amounted to N339.51 billion, of which 

Independent revenues was N80.22 

billion. Recoveries and Stamp duty 

collected during the period are yet to be 

booked in the fiscal accounts.’’ 

On Expenditure performance for the 

same period (January – May 2020), the 

minister disclosed that N1.25 trillion was 

expended for debt service; and N1.32 

trillion for Personnel cost, including 

Pensions. 

According to her, as at the end of May 

2020, only N253.33 billion had been 

released for capital expenditure. 

Ahmed, while giving underlying 

assumptions driving the macro-economic 

parameters and targets of the 2021 – 2023 

Medium Term Expenditure Framework, 

said same was “revised in line with the 

emergent realities.” 

She said oil price benchmark for the 

2021 fiscal year was pegged at $35; and 

$40 for 2022 and 2023, respectively. 

Oil Production (mbpd) was placed at 

1.86 for 2021, 2.09 for 2022, and 2.38 for 

the 2022 fiscal year; while the Exchange 

Rate remains at N360 to USD$1. 

“Although Nigeria’s total production 

capacity is 2.5 million barrels per day, 

current crude production is about 1.4 

million barrels per day – in compliance 

with the Organisation of the Petroleum 

Exporting Countries’ production quota 

– and an additional 300,000 barrels per 

day of condensates, totaling about 

1.7mbpd,’’ the minister said. 

She added that while the World Bank 

forecasts that crude oil prices would rise 

gradually from an average of $42 per 

barrel in 2021 to $44.5 per barrel in 2022; 

and $47pb in 2023, it was also expected 

that Brent crude oil prices might average 

$41 per barrel during the second half of 

2020 and $50pb during 2021, climbing 

as high as $53pb by the end of next year. 

“The nominal Gross Domestic Product 

(GDP) is expected to increase from 

N130,836.1 billion in 2020 to N132,125.4 

billion in 2021 and then up to N138,415.8 

billion in 2023,” Ahmed said.


INEC decries dominance of 

campaign councils 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—THE Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, has 

expressed concerns over the visibility of 

campaign councils of political parties as 

opposed to having candidates and their 

party manifestos taking the centre stage 

during electioneering. 

INEC expressed its reservations in a 

statement by the National Commissioner 

and Chairman Information and Voter 

Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye. 

Noting that campaigns commenced on 

June and must end on September 17, 

Okoye urged parties comply with the 

Commission’s policy on Conducting 

Elections in the Context of the COVID- 

19 Pandemic as well as the Regulations 

and Guidelines governing same. They 

must also comply with the guidelines 

issued by health authorities. 

Tasking parties on issue-based and 

violence-free campaigns, he lamented the 

poor visibility of candidates and their plans 

*Obaseki: PDP candidate 

*Ize-Iyamu: APC candidate 

PDP, Ize-Iyamu clash over campaign funds, 

ticket 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY —THE Governorship 

Candidate of the All Peoples 

Congress, APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu 

and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

yesterday, clashed over sources of 

campaign funds for the APC and how 

Governor Godwin Obaseki got the ticket 

of the PDP. 

The PDP has accused the APC of plotting 

to secure a $500m loan from the NEXIM 

bank to prosecute the 2020 governorship 

election. 

A statement by the State Publicity 

Secretary of the PDP, Chris Nehikhare, 

said the sum “we are informed will be 

converted to a loan and the burden of 

repayment placed on Edo people. Let us 

be clear on one thing, APC has only one 

goal, and that goal is not fighting 

corruption. It is advancing its cause. 

“Investigations reveal that the APC 

National Campaign Council in 

collaboration with a director in NEXIM 

bank have perfected plans to deplete our 

common patrimony by drawing down 

$500m to prosecute the Edo election. This 

unholy arrangement is absurd, illegal and 

criminal and must be condemned by all.” 

However, the Campaign Organization 

of Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu in a statement 

by its Director of Communication and 

Media, John Mayaki, challenged Obaseki 

to confess the amount of dollars he 

allegedly paid the PDP in exchange for 

the party’s ticket instead of distracting the 

people of Edo State with videos involving 

Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State. 

He said: “It is unfortunate that Mr. 

Godwin Obaseki has continued in his 

irresponsible ways, chief of which includes 

the abuse of office and utilization of state 

purse and agencies to pursue personal 

for the electorate. 

‘’The Commission is concerned that as 

campaigns begin, campaign councils 

rather than candidates and party 

manifestos are taking centre stage. The 

election should be a contest of ideas and 

programmes for the people of Edo to make 

informed decisions for the development 

of their State.” 

Both the Governorship campaign 

councils of the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, and that of the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, have been up in arms since 

they were inaugurated, this week. 

While Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of 

Kano State who is heading the APC 

campaign council has said the party would 

isolate Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers 

State and conclude the polls, Wike who 

heads the PDP campaign council has said 

he does not operate on the same level 

with his Kano state counterpart and that 

Dr Ganduje’s money would not secure the 

APC victory in Edo. 

ambitions. 

“This irresponsibility and desperation 

flout all the principles of decorum, 

decency, and honesty enshrined and 

expected of a gubernatorial personality. It 

shows, clearly, Obaseki’s lack of character 

and good spirit. As an aspirant seeking a 

second-term return, Obaseki further casts 

himself in the negative light with this 

thoughtless act.” 

You can’t rig Edo 

election, PDP warns 

APC 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

ABUJA—THE Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, has accused the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, of plotting 

to use fabrications in a section of the media 

to arm-twist the Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, to 

manipulate the Edo state governorship 

election for their candidate, Osagie Ize- 

Iyamu. 

This is as the party said that in 

sponsoring fake reports that PDP leaders 

were putting pressure on INEC 

Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, on the 

Edo election, “the APC has further 

exposed its hopelessness over their 

rejection by the Edo people and now seeks 

to blackmail the commission.” 

In a statement by its spokesman, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, the PDP said: “Whereas 

we understand APC’s despondency over 

the soaring popularity of our party and 

candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, the 

APC is worsening its woes by sponsoring 

fabrications against the expressed will of 

the people of Edo state to re-elect Governor 

Obaseki in the September election." 

17 parties adopt Indirect 

Primary — INEC 

By Dayo Johnson & Omeiza 

Ajayi 

ABUJA—THE Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, said 

yesterday that 17 of the 18 political parties 

have disclosed their intentions to conduct 

indirect primary to pick their candidates 

for the October 10 Governorship election 

in Ondo State. 

INEC National Commissioner and 

Chairman, Information and Voter 

Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, 

who disclosed this in a statement said the 

commission has met to consider its 

preparations for the Edo and Ondo 

governorship elections. 

Okoye said: “The personal particulars, 

including academic qualifications of the 

candidates, have been pasted in the INEC 

Nasarawa Local Government Area office 

in Nasarawa State and uploaded on the 

Commission’s website. 

“A total of 17 of the 18 registered political 

parties notified the Independent National 

Electoral Commission of their intention to 

conduct party primaries for the Ondo 

Governorship election fixed for 10th 

October 2020. Only one party did not give 

any notification of its intention to conduct 

primaries for the Ondo Governorship 

election. 

“This complies with section 85 (1) of the 

Electoral Act, which makes it mandatory 

for registered Political Parties to give the 

Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any 

Congress or meeting convened to 

nominate candidates for any of the elective 

offices specified in the Act. Details of the 

political parties and their calendar of 

Congresses/Primaries (including dates 

and modes of primaries) have been 

published on the Commission’s website 

and social media platforms. 

“By Section 87 (2) of the Electoral Act, 

Political Parties have the exclusive 

discretion to determine the procedure for 

the nomination of candidates which shall 

be by Direct or Indirect primaries and all 

the 17 Political Parties notified the 

Commission of their intention to conduct 

Indirect Primaries for the nomination of 

their candidates. 

“Political Parties are reminded that they 

are required to submit a comprehensive 

list of all the delegates eligible to 

participate in the primaries at least 7 days 

before the scheduled date. 

“The INEC portal for uploading 

nomination forms will open on 21st July 

and close on at 6 pm on 28th July 2020. 

We urge political parties not to wait until 

the last day before submitting the names 

of their nominated candidates." 

It 'll produce unpopular candidate — 

Kekemeke 

Meanwhile, former chairman of the APC 

in Ondo State, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke has 

said that any other mode of primary apart 

from direct mode will produce an 

unpopular candidate. 

Kekemeke was reacting to the 

speculation that the party had adopted 

Why Northern Senatorial District should 

produce PDP candidate — Ayorinde 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—A governorship aspirant of 

the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Ondo State, Dr. Bode Ayorinde, has 

justified why the Ondo North senatorial 

district should produce the party’s 

candidate for the October election. 

Ayorinde, who was addressing PDP 

members, urged them to support his ticket 

to retain and sustain the political interest 

of the Northern senatorial district of the 

state. 

He said: “It is on record that the PDP in 

Ondo State has not fielded a candidate 

•It'll produce unpopular 

candidate, says Kekemeke 

*Mahmood: INECboss 

indirect primary for the July election. 

He said: “It gives party members a sense 

of obligation to deliver, giving them a 

moral responsibility to work for the party’s 

candidate because they were involved in 

the selection. 

“The direct primary provides level 

playing ground for all aspirants and 

therefore promotes fairness, equity and 

justice. 

“It removes the influence of money, 

eliminates cash-and-carry and removes 

‘kidnap syndrome’ whereby delegates are 

kidnapped and kept in a place. 

“Any politician who asks for the 

disenfranchisement of his party members 

is unpopular, undemocratic and should 

be rejected.” 

Dankwambo chairs 

PDP appeal panel 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

ABUJA—THE National Working 

Committee, NWC, of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, has appointed 

former Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim 

Dankwambo as chairman of the Ondo 

State governorship appeal committee. 

National Organizing Secretary of the 

party, Col. Austin Akobundu, retd, in 

a statement said the panel is mandated 

to consider appeals arising from the 

conduct of the ward congresses for the 

upcoming 2020 governorship election 

in Ondo State. 

The three-man committee is made up 

of Mr. Victor Kwon (secretary) and 

Barrister Rita Orji. 

The exercise is scheduled for 

Monday July 13, 2020 at the Party 

Secretariat, Akure in Ondo State. 

from the Northern district since the return 

of democracy in 1999. 

”This sentiment is important to 

emphasize because the other districts 

have been patronized over the years. 

”Hence, it is only right for the PDP to 

retain the rotational power shift which 

other districts have benefitted save the 

northern district. 

”To ensure the stability of the PDP in 

Ondo State, it is morally right for the party 

to allow the North to complete the current 

circle of governance which commenced 

with the present government."


:Vanguard 

News 

Dangote Sugar acquires Savannah 

Sugar, pays N13.2bn dividend 

IN a bid to enhance 

production capacity and 

further increase its market 

share, shareholders of 

Dangote Sugar Refinery, 

DSR, Plc. have given the 

nod for the formal takeover 

of Savannah Sugar 

Company Ltd (SSCL). 

Shareholders of DSR 

during their Extraordinary 

General Meeting (EGM) 

which was preceded by the 

2019 Annual General 

Meeting, voted in favour of 

merger of the two company 

as the sub-sahara Africa’s 

largest sugar refining firm 

embarked on the next stage 

of its backward integration 

plan to revolutionize the 

sugar sub-sector of the 

nation’s economy. 


company, Alhaji Aliko 

Dangote said the DSR, a 

top tier player in the 

industry with install 

capacity to produce 1.44 

million metric tones per 

annum will be leveraging 

on the savannah sugar’s 

sugarcane production 

capacity to enhance its 

production capacity. 

According to him, 

Savannah Sugar has 32,000 

hectares of land available 

for cultivation of sugar cane 

as well as milling capacity 

of 50,000 tonnes of sugar 

per annum and that upon 

the merger, further 

investments would be 

made to increase SSCL 

land under cultivation. 

Dangote explained that 

the DSR board considered 

the merger as fair and 

reasonable and believed 

that it would provide 

strategic opportunities and 

benefits for the company, 

employees and other 

stakeholders as the new 

company would be 

operating from the position 

of increased access to 

capital and then higher 

profitability. 

He listed some of the 

benefits of the merger as 

being to consolidate the 

assets, intellectual property 

rights, operations, and 

business dealings of the 

SSCL into the DSR; 

eliminate cost inefficiencies 

arising from duplication of 

resources and processes 

and improve the efficiency 

through more focused 

management of resources 

and position it as the 

biggest integrated sugar 

producer in Nigeria. 

The Chairman of the 

Company explained that 

necessary approvals have 

been given by all 

concerned regulatory 

authorities and that the merger 

would positively alter the sugar 

sectorial landscape as the federal 

government’s backward 

integration policy would be better 

implemented by the company. 

Earlier, during AGM of the 

company, a shareholder rights’ 

activist, Nona Awoh urged the 

Government to protect the 

manufacturing sector through 

incentives and promotional 

policies. 

DiamondXtra: Customers to win 

Salary-4-Life business grants 

ACCESS Bank Plc. is set 

to reward more than 

1,000 DiamondXtra customers 

with various grants and cash 

p r i z e s , 

in the second DiamondXtra quarterly 

draw of Season 12, scheduled to 

hold on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. 

Some of the DiamondXtra 

rewards for the quarterly draw 

include: Salary4Life (N100,000 

every month for 20 Years), rent 

for a year for 21 lucky customers, 

one year family health coverage 

for seven lucky customers, 

N1million business grant for six 

lucky customers, N500,000 for 15 

lucky customers, N100,000 for 

45 lucky customers, N50,000 for 

300 lucky customers, N20,000 

for 300 lucky customers and 

N10,000 for 300 lucky customers 

According to Adaeze Umeh, 

Head, Consumer Banking, 

Access Bank Plc, “We are gearing 

up for the DiamondXtra 

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

MEETING: From left—Chairman, Dangote Sugar Plc., Aliko Dangote; Ag. MD, Dangote Sugar Plc., 

Ravindra Singhvi; Non-Executive Director, Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, (SAN), and Non-Executive 

Director, Olakunle Alake, during Dangote Sugar Plc’s Extra-Ordinary General Meeting, held in 

Lagos, yesterday. 

IMPEACHMENT: Set up panel to probe 

Ondo dep gov, Assembly tells chief judge 

•9 lawmakers write chief judge, dissociate selves 

•As Ajayi warns Akeredolu against turning Ondo to banana republic 


AKURE— THE Ondo 

State House of 

Assembly, yesterday, 

directed the Chief Judge 

of the state, Justice 

Olarenwaju Akeredolu, to 

set up a seven-man panel 

to investigate allegations 

of gross misconduct 

levelled against the 

Deputy Governor, Mr. 

Agboola Ajayi. 

This came on a day nine 

members of the Assembly 

wrote to the Chief Judge 

of the state, dissociating 

themselves from the 

ongoing plans to impeach 

the deputy governor. 

Similarly, the embattled 

Deputy Governor, 

yesterday, warned 

Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu against 

turning the state to a 

banana republic by his 

desperation to impeach 

him. 

14 lawmakers have 

signed the impeachment 

notice against Ajayi, 

while nine dissociated 

themselves from the 

exercise. 

Probe panel 

The House of Assembly, 

in a letter dated July 7 by 

the Speaker, Mr. 

Bamidele Oleyelogun 

asked the Chief Judge to 

set up a seven-man panel 

to investigate the 

allegations against Ajayi. 

The letter, entitled: 

‘Request to set up a panel 

pursuant of S.188(5) of the 

1999 constitution of the 

Federal Republic of 

Ex-Ondo NMA chairman dies of COVID-19 


AChairman KURE—FORMER 

of the 

Nigeria Medical 

Association, NMA, in 

Ondo State, Dr. Michael 

Adeyeri, yesterday, died of 

COVID-19 complications 

at the Federal Medical 

Centre, FMC, in Owo. 

His death is coming a 

week after the Health 

quarterly draw this month and 

we will be rewarding more than 

1,000 lucky customers with 

various cash prizes, business 

grants, family health insurance, 

rent advance and other exciting 

rewards. It is the bank’s little way 

of rewarding its loyal customers 

and creating more value to meet 

customer needs during these 

trying times. We rewarded ten 

customers last month with 

N1million each at the monthly 

draw and we are here again to 

reward more customers in the 

quarterly draw. 

To join the winning train, all 

you need to do is keep saving if 

you have a DiamondXtra 

account already. If you don’t 

have an existing account, simply 

dial *901*5# to open a 

DiamondXtra account with just 

N5, 000 and save multiples of 

N5,000 to increase your chances 

of winning.” 

Commissioner, Dr. Wahab 

Adegbenro, died of 

COVID-19 complications 

at the same hospital. 

Sources said that the late 

NMA boss had been 

battling underlying illness 

before he contracted the 

deadly virus. 

He was reportedly taken 

to the hospital after noticing 

that he had contracted the 

virus. 

The state chairman of the 

NMA, Dr. Wale Oke, 

confirmed this to newsmen 

in Akure. 

Adeyeri’s death has 

elicited reactions from 

medical practitioners and 

health workers across the 

state. 

His private hospital, 

Shekinah Hospital, 

Alagbaka in Akure has 

continued to host 

sympathizers of different 

shades. 

Nigeria (as amended)’, 

was received in the office 

of the Chief Judge by 3:35 

pm. 

It reads: “You are, 

hereby, requested to set 

up a seven-man panel to 

investigate the notice of 

allegations of gross 

misconduct dated 7th July 

2020 by members of the 

House against Mr. 

Agboola Ajayi, the Deputy 

Governor of Ondo State. 

“By the resolution of the 

House today (yesterday), 

pursuant of S.118(3) and 

(4) of the 1999 constitution 

of Federal Republic of 

Nigeria (as amended). It 

was resolved that the 

allegations be 

investigated forthwith. 

“It is in line with the 

above that I request that 

you set up a seven-man 

panel to conduct the said 

investigations as resolved 

by the House. And the 

panel shall, as soon as 

possible, report back to 

the House.” 

9 lawmakers 

dissociate selves 

from 

impeachment 

But nine members of the 

Assembly have written the 

Chief Judge of the State, 

dissociating themselves 

from the on-going plan to 

impeach the deputy 

governor. 

The members include 

the Deputy Speaker, Mr. 

Iroju Ogundeji, Mr. 

Jamiu Maito, Mr. 

Rasheed Elegbeleye, Mr. 

Tomide Akinribido and 

Mr. Samuel Edamisan 

Ademola. 

Others are Mrs. Favour 

Tomomewo, Mr. Festus 

Akingbaso, Mr. Adewale 

Adewinle and Mr. 

Torhukerhijo Success. 

In an open letter, the 

lawmakers notified the 

Chief Judge on the plans 

by the House leadership 

to suspend some of them 

to carry out the act. 

The letter reads: “Kindly 

be informed that nine 

elected members of Ondo 

State House of Assembly 

have duly dissociated 

ourselves from the 

ongoing impeachment 

process of the Deputy 

Governor of Ondo State, 

Mr. Agboola Ajayi in a 

letter dated 7th July 2020 

to the Clerk and the Clerk 

and the Speaker of the 

Ondo State House of 

Assembly, herewith 

attached. 

“We want to state and 

confirm to your good 

office that we maintain our 

stand by dissociating 

ourselves from the 

impeachment process. We 

are not in support of the 

impeachment based on 

our conviction. 

“We are writing to call 

your attention to the fact 

that all or some of us, who 

are signatories to this 

letter, maybe suspended 

to circumvent the 

provision of the 

constitution of Nigeria, 

which we all swore to 

uphold and protect, 

including your 

honourable Lordship, as 

this will be contrary to the 

laws of the land.” 

Ajayi receives 

impeachment 

notice 

Meanwhile, the 

impeachment notice has 

been received by the 

Deputy Governor. 

A copy of the 

impeachment notice, 

addressed to the deputy 

governor, was signed by 

the Clerk of the House, 

Michael Bode Adeyelu, 

received and signed for in 

the office of the deputy 

governor on July 7. 

The notice entitled: 

‘Notice of Allegation of 

Gross Misconduct against 

Mr. Agboola Ajayi, 

Deputy Governor, Ondo 

State’ has ODHA/98/253/ 

97 on it. 

Ajayi warns 

Akeredolu 

against turning 

Ondo to banana 

republic 

Meanwhile, 

the 

embattled deputy 

governor, yesterday, 

warned the governor 

against turning the state 

to a banana republic by 

his desperation to 

impeach him. 

Reacting to the 

suspension of the three 

lawmakers, who 

dissociated themselves 

from his impeachment, 

Ajayi said the desperation 

of the governor to sack 

him would fail. 

The Deputy Speaker, 

Mr. Iroju Ogundeji; 

Favour Tomomewo and 

Williams Adewale 

Adewinle were 

suspended indefinitely by 

the House for alleged 

unparliamentary 

behaviours. 

But the deputy governor 

said the governor should 

allow the lawmakers to 

carry out their 

constitutional duties 

without interference, 

harassment and 

intimidation. 

His words: “Ondo State 

cannot be administered 

like a banana republic 

where elected lawmakers 

can be suspended at will 

because they refused to 

toe the line of the 

executives. The 

constitution is clear about 

the separation of powers 

and the process to 

commence any 

impeachment. 

“The 2/3 that the constitution 

stipulates is of the entire 

members of the Assembly, not 

just those at the plenary at a 

particular period. They cannot 

manufacture human beings.” 

We won’t leave 

APC, says 

Deputy 

Speakers, others 

Also, the Deputy Speaker, 

Iroju Ogundeji, alleged that 

both the governor and the 

leadership of the party 

instigated their suspension. 

Ogundeji, who spoke with 

newsmen, said: “We are not 

leaving the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, for the PDP. We 

would remain in the party. 

Nobody can intimidate us.”


:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

INAUGURATION: From left—Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, 

Prof. Oyewo Oyelowo; Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan; Governor Seyi Makinde; Speaker, 

Oyo House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin; Chief Judge of the state, Justice Munta 

Abimbola, and President, Customary Court of Appeal of the state, Justice Ade Aderemi, during the 

inauguration of the Family Court of Oyo State, in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Unfair labour practices: NUPENG mulls 

nationwide strike, pickets firm 

By Victor Young 

LAGOS—THE Nigeria Union 

of Petroleum and Natural Gas 

Workers, NUPENG, yesterday, 

threatened a nationwide strike 

over increasing unfair Labour 

practices by employers in the 

nation’s petroleum industry. 

This came as the union 

picketed the operational offices of 

Variant Energy Services in 

Victoria Island, Lagos, and Trans 

Amadi Layout, Port Harcourt 

Rivers State, over alleged unfair 

Labour practices. 

Speaking during the picketing 

of Lagos and Port Harcourt offices 

of Variant Energy Services, 

NUPENG’s president, Mr. 

Williams Akporeha, said: “We 

want to use this picketing to 

sound a note of warning to all 

employers in Nigeria’s oil 

industry that this is the beginning 

of series of industrial actions 

against unfair Labour practices 

across the country. We are putting 

all regulatory agencies and the 

How $70m was delivered to banker 

on Diezani’s instruction —Ex-NNPC GMD 

By Innocent Anaba 

L 

AGOS—FORMER Group 

General Manager of the 

Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, in charge of 

Crude Oil Marketing, has 

narrated to a Federal High Court, 

sitting in Lagos, how he 

delivered 12 padlocked bags 

containing $70 million to an 

Abuja-based banker on the 

instruction of a former Minister 

of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. 

Diezani Alison-Madueke. 

The trial judge in the matter is 

Justice Muslim Hassan. 

The former GMD, who is an 

Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, prosecution 

witness in the ongoing trial of a 

former Executive Director, an old 

generation bank, Dauda Lawal, 

further claimed that he delivered 

the money to the Abuja banker, one 

Charles, in the front of Dume 

Supermarket in Abuja. 

Lawal is being prosecuted before 

the court on money laundering 

charges. 

The former bank boss was alleged 

to have handled $25 million out of 

Federal Government on notice 

that we will not hesitate to declare 

a nationwide strike if these 

employers are not called to order.” 

Meanwhile, the protesting 

workers condemned the alleged 

refusal of Variant Energy Services 

to respect the path of peaceful 

negotiation, using COVID-19 

pandemic and slide in the global 

crude oil prices as part of the 

excuses to rationalize unfair 

labour practices at the expense of 

the already impoverished and 

depressed workers. 

The picketing, which Vanguard 

gathered began simultaneously 

in Lagos and Port Harcourt, was 

a fallout of NUPENG’s National 

Executive Council, NEC, meeting 

last week in Lagos. 

In Lagos, the picketing started 

early in the morning with workers 

defying the early downpour, 

displayed placards with various 

inscriptions and chanted 

solidarity songs to drive home 

their demands. 

Addressing the aggrieved 

a total of $153 million, which Mrs. 

Alison-Madueke allegedly doled 

out to influence the 2015 general 

election. 

The ex-NNPC GMD, while 

being led in evidence by the EFCC 

counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said he 

delivered the cash-loaded in bags 

to the Abuja banker, one Charles, 

in the front of Dume Supermarket 

in Abuja. 

He told the court: “My lord, as I 

can remember, shortly before the 

2015 elections, it was the norm for 

heads of subsidiaries (of the NNPC) 

to be invited for an undisclosed 

briefing of activities of their 

departments to the minister. At the 

end of such briefings, the then 

Minister of Petroleum Resources, 

Alison-Madueke, gave me a GSM 

number in respect of one Charles, 

whom I had never met, with a clear 

instruction that I should convey 12 

padlocked bags to the said Charles. 

“The source, the content and the 

purpose of the bags were not 

disclosed to me. Thereafter, I called 

the said Charles, who equally 

confirmed to me that he had been 

briefed about the message. I 

delivered the bags to Charles. 

workers, Chairman of NUPENG 

Lagos Zone, Tayo Aboyeji, said: 

“The unlawful termination of the 

employment of NUPENG 

members on the 28th of October, 

2019 in a dubious manner and in 

violation of provisions of the 

extant labour law and failure of 

the management of Valiant 

Energy Services to pay the 

terminal benefits of the affected 

workers.” 

Rainfall: Lagos 

govt warns 

residents in 4 

LGAs 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LAGOS—THE Lagos State 

Government, yesterday, 

issued a reminder alert to 

residents in four of the 57 Local 

Government Areas and Local 

Council Development, LCDAs of 

the state to be conscious of 

possible flood risks and the need 

to relocate to safe locations. 

The Commissioner for the 

Environment and Water 

Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, 

issued the warning, following 

persistent rainfalls in the state 

with likely attendant 

consequences. 

The commissioner listed the 

councils with highly probable 

flood risk to include: Lagos 

Mainland, Mushin, Ibeju-Lekki 

and Ikorodu with highly probable 

flood risks in 2020 to be highly 

conscious. 

According to Bello, the four 

listed Local Government areas 

will witness more high-intensity 

rainfall between now, July and 

September. 

He also listed the 14 local 

governments with probable flood 

risks to include: Lagos Island, 

Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Ikeja, 

Kosofe, Eti-Osa, Apapa, Ojo, 

Oshodi/Isolo, Agege, Ifako Ijaiye, 

Badagry, Surulere and Ajeromi- 

Ifelodun. 

Bello said: “I, therefore, urge 

residents to desist from clogging 

drainage channels with refuse 

especially those already cleaned up 

recently. The unpatriotic act of some 

residents is putting the lives of those 

working on the drains in danger." 

Broke girl looking for airtime! 

Did you call it, EBA, and e no 

answer you?


:Vanguard News 


According to him, kidnapping 

is a crime 

against the state and its 

consequences are 

weighty as he called on 

those involve in the kidnap 

saga of the four Setraco 

Road Construction 

workers to do the needful 

and allow the captives 

to reunite with their families. 

He lamented that some 

youths chose to be antidevelopment 

agents, 

stressing that "At a period 

like this, when the 

Ijaw nation, elders and 

youths are calling and 

encouraging State and 

Federal Governments to 

link our coastal communities 

with roads to the 

hinterland, few unscrupulous 

ones are discouraging 

government not to 

strive in our areas." 

He noted that the activities 

of these miscreants 

were inimical to the 

growth of the society and 

dragging the Ijaw nation 

and areas where the 

crime happened, backward. 

VISIT: Deputy 

Governor of 

Bayelsa State, 

Sen. Lawrence 

Ewhrudjakpo 

(left) presents a 

souvenir to 

representative of 

the Controller- 

General, Federal 

Fire Service, 

T h o m p s o n 

Mohammed, 

during the 

latter’s visit to 

the governor’s 

office, in 

Yenagoa. Photo: 

NAN. 

Oil fields: Adegboruwa, others urge FG 

to discontinue bid 


WARRI—A Niger Del 

ta group, Concerned 

Ilaje Coastal Communities 

in Warri South-West Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State, yesterday, urged the 

Federal Government to discontinue 

the ongoing 57 

Marginal fields bidding, 

until their sons and 

daughters are given what 

rightfully belongs to them 

in the interest of peace. 

The Ilaje Coastal Communities 

in a statement by 

Prince Abayomi. Ogunfiyimi, 

Akin Ojamani, 

Adewale Adesuyi and 

Ebu-Olu Adegboruwa, 

SAN, Chairman, Secretary 

and PRO respectively 

in Warri, said, "Our 

sons and daughters 

should be given their 

rightful place in both government 

parastatals as 

well as multinational oil 

and gas companies operating 

within our domain." 

The communities 

vowed to join forces with 

their Itsekiri and Ijaw 

brothers of Ugborodo and 

Gbaramatu Kingdoms to 

completely shutdown all 

oil facilities in Warri 

South-West Local Government 

Area of Delta 

State, if their request is 

jettisoned. 

The statement said, 

"Your Excellency, Ilaje 

people cannot continue 

to live in excruciating 

pains of this grossly marginalized 

and neglected, 

impoverished and deprived 

area. 

"We also wish to advise 

our Itsekiri and Ijaws 

that this time around, we 

shouldn't involve greed 

because we suffer same 

ecological and environmental 

hazards of exploration 

and exploitation 

operations from Multinational 

companies. 

"In fact, Itsekiris and 

Ijaws should join hands 

to fight this battle together 

instead of fighting 

ourselves. We will be at 

the losing end if we because 

of greed allow the 

Federal Government to 

divert any projects from 

our land to the Northern 

part of this country. 

"Your Excellency, we 

earnestly await your positive 

response to the 

above subject matter to 

avert crisis in the Oil and 

Gas Industry," the statement 

said. 

They noted that their 

people have been grossly 

marginalized, sidelined, 

deprived and 

sidetracked in the areas 

of employments in the 

multinational oil companies 

and government establishments. 

It added, "Our sons 

and daughters are not 

being considered always 

where we have lived for 

over 280 years" despite 

their contributions to our 

God given natural resources 

which is the economic 

stay of the nation 

without gaining anything 

in return." 

I have no regrets suspending Oshiomhole —Oshawo 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase & 

Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY—THE 

man who suspended 

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, 

former National Chairman 

of the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, from his Ward 

10 in Etsako West Local 

Government Area of Edo 

State that led to series of litigations 

culminating in the 

dissolution of the National 

Working Committee, NWC, 

of the party, Stephen 

Oshawo, yesterday, said, 

he has no regrets moving 

against Oshiomhole. 

He said when Oshiomhole 

was governor of the 

state, his pension was not 

paid for eight months but 

that the payment was restored 

within one month of 

Governor Godwin Obaseki's 

assumption of office. 

He spoke when he received 

an Award of honor 

from the Chief Executive 

Officer of Mega House Entertainment, 

Goodluck Ogbeide. 

He said: "I am very happy 

for the award. This 

award means a lot to me. It 

means that I should continue 

to do what I have done 

that warranted this award 

because I believe in truth, 

transparency and also 

eliminating godfatherism. 

"What gave me the mind 

to do what I did was that I 

was there before and now I 

am here. And that I know 

the different between there 

and here, I decided to 

cleave to now, which I 

know is the modern life of 

today. You know, this government 

believes in development 

and in the masses. 

"The truth is that, when 

the former government 

(Oshiomhole) was in 

power as the governor of 

the state, I was an insider, 

I was the chairman in 

ward 10. I suffered many 

things and nobody knew 

me or recognised me. 

"As a chairman of the 

party to the governor of 

the state, I couldn't receive 

my gratuity as a 

pensioner and as a chairman 

to Oshiomhole 

council, when he was 

still the governor of the 

state, I was not able to 

get my pension for eight 

months but when Obaseki 

came in, it didn't take 

him up to a month, he 

paid my gratuity and not 

only me but all the pensioners 

in Edo State." 

Only Agro-revolution can save us, not oil 

— Ayade 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

CALABAR — GOV 

ERNOR Ben Ayade 

of Cross River, has said 

that only aggressive investment 

in agriculture 

will revive as well as sustain 

Nigeria's economy 

from the effects of COV- 

ID-19 not crude oil. 

Ayade, yesterday, in 

Calabar during the 

launching of Ogoja rice 

investment exhibition 

2020, added that youths 

of the nation need to invest 

more in the nation's 

agricultural sector rather 

than roam the streets looking 

for white collar jobs 

that hardly exist. 

The governor represented 

by Commissioner for 

Commerce ,Mrs Rosemary 

Archibong stressed 

that agro-economy is now 

the new oil, adding that 

oil was now drying with 

dwindling global prices. 

"Agricultural revolution 

, massive investment in 

agriculture is the only way 

Nigeria's economy can be 

boosted to survive the 

post COVID-19 era. With 

oil drying up and dwindling 

price globally, agriculture 

is now the new oil 

and the only way out. 

"The future of Nigeria's 

economy no longer lies 

on its oil as it used to be 

in the past but on agriculture 

and new billionaires 

are certainly going to 

emerge from the agricultural 

sector. 

"With massive investment 

in agriculture, poverty will 

become a thing of the past 

and more employment opportunities 

created in the 

agricultural sub-sector that 

will bring direct foreign investment, 

foreign exchange 

and invariably create 

employment for the 

teeming youths." 

Earlier, Chief Executive 

Officer/ CEO, SANTUS- 

COM Agro-hub(Owners of 

Ogoja rice) Chief Ofana 

Santus, stressed that with 

investment in rice farming, 

the sky was always the limit 

for any individual who ventures 

into the sector. 

He said that those who 

invest in the rice farming 

venture should be sure of 

getting about 40 percent on 

returns. 

Wike delivering quality projects, 

despite reduced allocation 

—Rivers monarch 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT—A 

monarch in Rivers 

State, His Royal Highness, 

Eze Oziri C. Oziri, 

has said that Governor 

Nyesom Wike was providing 

quality projects to 

the state, despite a reduction 

in the monthly federal 

allocation and Internally 

Generated Revenue, 

IGR. 

Oziri, Ohia Che-Eni II 

of Rumuola and Nyeweli 

Rumuola Clan, Obio/Akpor 

Local Government 

Area of the state, in statement 

in Port Harcourt, 

noted that the governor 

was fulfilling his promises 

to the state. 

He said: "We have noted 

that despite the reduction 

in funds from the Federation 

Account and the 

state government's internally 

generated funds, 

the governor has positively 

impacted on lives in all 

local government areas of 

the state. 

"The attention given to 

the state capital, Port Harcourt 

City is quite amazing. 

Port Harcourt and 

Obio/Akpor councils are 

gradually being restored 

to the Garden City Status 

of yester years. 

"The construction of the 

three ongoing flyovers in 

Port Harcourt and Obio/ 

Akpor will help ease traffic 

on the major Port Harcourt/Aba 

Express Road 

and Port Harcourt/Owerri 

(kwerre) Road. We are 

excited and happy with 

these developments." 

Alubeze demands release of 

abducted construction 

workers in Delta community 

ASABA—LEADER of 

Burutu Local Government 

Council Legislative 

Arm, Delta State, 

Mr Joseph Alubeze, has 

demanded the unconditional 

release of four abducted 

road construction 

workers at Torugbene 

community in the council. 

The four road construction 

workers work for 

Setraco, a multinational 

construction giant. 

They were whisked 

away two weeks ago by 

gunmen into a speed 

boat after several gun 

shots were fired at the 

Torugbene axis of the 

ongoing Tuomo/Torugbene 

road in Burutu. 

Alubeze, who spoke to 

journalists, in his office, 

condemned the activities 

of the youths, who he 

described as antidevelopment 

agents and do 

not like to see the light. 

He advice them to set 

the captives free unconditionally 

and turn a 

new leaf for the growth 

of the society at large.


:Vanguard News 


COMMISSIONING: From left—Munirudeen Bakare, Babaloja of Araromi Oredegbe, Lewis Market, 

Sandgrouse, Lagos; Dare Adeyeri, President, Rotary Club of Lagos; Bola Oyebode, District Governor, 

Rotary Club of Lagos, District 9110; Ayo Banjo, Past President, Rotary Club of Lagos, and Ehi Braimah, 

Past President, during the commissioning of Water Project with treatment plant, at Sandgrouse Market, 

Lagos Island, by Rotary Club of Lagos District 9110. 

We're afraid to confront Lucifer, Church of 

Satan founder —Abia community residents 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

U MUAHIA—RESI 

DENTS of Ebem, Ohafia 

town in Abia State where 

the Church of Satan was located, 

yesterday expressed 

their joy following its demolition 

by irate youths, 

claiming they were afraid 

to confront the founder because 

of alleged possession 

of evil powers that could kill 

anyone who challenged his 

activities. 

The Church also known 

as Assemblies of Light 

Bearer Greater Church was 

founded by a young man 

identified as Ifekwe Udo. 

He was alleged to have 

converted some youths of 

the area to his church by 

assisting them with motorcycles 

for commercial business 

(Okada) and other 

forms of empowerment. 

Udo , popularly known as 

Lucifer, was also said to 

have continued terrorizing 

the Ohafia community as 

no one dared to challenge 

him. 

Anambra North traditional rulers back South 

to produce next gov 


AWKA—AS political 

parties prepare for 

the Anambra State governorship 

election in 2021, 

the Council of Anambra 

North Traditional Rulers, 

has declared its support 

for Anambra South Senatorial 

Zone to produce 

the next governor of the 

state. 

In a communiqué after 

their meeting at Nteje by 

the chairman of Anambra 

North Chapter of the 

Anambra State Forum of 

Traditional Rulers Council, 

ASTRC, Igwe Victor 

Awogu and Secretary, 

Igwe Simeon Chidubem, 

said, “We wish to disassociate 

members of the 

Anambra North Chapter 

of Anambra State Traditional 

Rulers Council from 

the newspapers publication 

wherein some traditional 

rulers were purporting 

to be speaking for Ndi 

Igwe Anambra North opposed 

the rotation/zoning 

of the office of the governor 

of Anambra State. At 

no time other than June 

6, 2020, did Ndi Igwe Anambra 

North discuss and 

take a position on the rotation/zoning 

of the office 

of the governor of Anambra 

State. 

A youth leader in Ohafia, 

Egwu Ibem, told Vanguard 

that "everyone in Ohafia 

knew Ifekwe Udo did not 

mean well for Ohafia community 

with the nature of 

activities he was involved 

in. He was a bad influence 

on the community, especially 

our youths. Some of 

the youths started joining 

him because he was empowering 

them with motorcycles 

for Okada business. 

There are reports that he 

used charmed (juju) on his 

followers. He also established 

a brothel in the community. 

However, nemesis caught 

up with Lucifer as he was 

arrested by the Police in the 

state for violating the protocol 

on COVID-19. 

Following his arrest, 

youths of the community 

summoned courage and 

stormed the church demolishing 

the various images 

located in the compound. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

Ebem community erupted in celebrations 

as the various graven 

images were being demolished. 

Court didn't decline to stop my probe —Okorocha 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

OWERRI—THE former 

governor of Imo State, 

Senator Rochas Okorocha, 

yesterday said it was not 

true that the Federal High 

court in Abuja, refused to 

stop the probe panels on his 

administration. 

Okorocha who is representing 

Imo West senatorially 

district, spoke in Owerri, 

through his Special 

Adviser on Media, 

Sam Onwuemeodo. He 

was reacting to reports that 

the court declined to grant 

Okorocha's request seeking 

to halt the probe panels 

looking into his administration. 

Okorocha argued that 

what transpired at the court 

was that the judge extracted 

an oral undertaking 

from the representative of 

the Imo state, Attorney General, 

Mr. Joseph Matthew, 

that the probe panels would 

not sit again as far as the 

matter before it brought by 

Okorocha is yet to be decided 

by the court. 

The former governor 

among other things said he 

moved to court to stop the 

probe panels set up by the 

immediate past administration 

of Emeka Ihedioha, because 

their activities were 

laced with blackmail and to 

destroy his achievements 

for eight years. Okorocha 

said he was also not happy 

that the probe was used as 

tool to get at his family 

members. 

According to Okorocha, 

"Quickly, we want to state 

that, the Court presided 

over by Justice Ahmed 

Mohammed did not decline 

or refuse to stop probe 

of Senator Rochas Okorocha 

by EFCC and the Imo 

State Government. If that 

report was to be true, the 

court would not have again 

adjourned to Tuesday, July 

14, 2020 when the court 

would decide on the 

orders, sought by Okorocha. 

"The most exciting thing 

that happened in the court 

on Wednesday, July 8, 

2020, was that, the Judge 

extracted oral undertaking 

from the lawyer that represented 

the Attorney General 

of the State, Mr. Joseph 

Matthew, that the panels 

would not sit again during 

the pendency of the matter. 

"Following this undertaking 

by Barr. Matthew, 

the Judge then directed 

that all the parties in the 

matter should not do anything 

that would tamper 

with the rex of the matter. 

The import of this directive, 

does not require interpretation. 

"And what prompted the 

Judge to give this directive 

was that Barr. Matthew, 

for the Attorney 

General of the state had 

told the court that the panels 

had stopped sitting." 

“We affirm that it is the 

turn of Anambra South 

senatorial zone to produce 

the next governor of Anambra, 

for two terms of 

eight years starting from 

March 16, 2022, in keeping 

with the position already 

taken in 2007, by 

ASTRC and re-echoed on 

March 5, 2020, by Anambra 

State Elders Forum. 

“We commend the state 

government under the 

leadership of Governor 

Obiano for his effective 

management of the affairs 

of the state since 2013, but 

lay particular emphasis on 

the spectacular capacity 

so far demonstrated in the 

containment of COVID- 

19 pandemic.” 

COVID-19: Ngige seeks global aid 

for Africa on teleworking, human 

capital devt 

A BUJA—NIGERIA 

yesterday appealed 

for international aid and 

stimulus package for Africa 

to enhance technological 

infrastructure and 

human capital development 

needed to achieve a 

better human centred future 

of work in the COV- 

ID-19 pandemic period 

and afterwards. 

Speaking through the 

Minister of Labour and 

Employment, Senator 

Chris Ngige, the federal 

government made the appeal 

while speaking on 

behalf of the African region 

at the Constituent's 

Day of the Global Summit 

on COVID-19 and the 

World of Work, organised 

by the International Labour 

Organisation, ILO. 

Delivering the Nigeria/ 

Africa position at the summit 

attended virtually, 

Ngige noted that the pandemic 

had been described 

as one of the most dangerous 

challenges of the 

world by the United Nations 

scribe because of the 

severe health and associated 

socio-economic consequences 

over the first 

half of 2020. 

In a statement Ngige 

through his Media Aide, 

Emmanuel Nzomiwu, he 

acknowledged potentials 

of the African region, 

which accounts for about 

17 percent of the world's 

population and 60 percent 

of uncultivated arable 

land, but with only 

three percent of the global 

Gross Domestic Product 

(GDP). 

According to him, "almost 

all institutions have 

been subjected to intense 

pressures, exposing our 

common vulnerability and 

need for one another. Africa's 

swift response to the 

pandemic holds lessons 

for other regions as reported 

cases is lower than 

Odiogor for 

burial 

A 

former Foreign Editor 

at Vanguard 

newspapers, Hugo 

Odiogor, is dead. He died 

at the age of 59, after a brief 

illness. There will be a 

Service of Songs, at his 

home in Ikoko Quarters, 

Onicha Ugbo in Delta 

State, on the evening of 

Tuesday, July 28, 2020. This 

will be followed by his 

interment on Wednesday, 

July 29 at 11am.. 

•Late Odiogor 

was feared, even as many 

countries complained of 

lower testing challenges. 

Our shared challenge 

now is how to blend proportionally 

these responses 

to achieve a better human-centred 

future of 

work in line with our 

Centenary Declaration 

last year and overcome 

the long term effects on 

governments' across regions." 

Ngige stated that Africa 

as the youngest and fastest 

urbanising continent 

hosting over 24 million 

people, more than China 

and India combined, aims 

at generating full productive, 

inclusive and decent 

work opportunities with 

emphasis on young people. 

He noted that "The future 

of work is here. It is for us 

to determine how to make 

it better. Teleworking is 

now a new normal to 

drive the various economies 

globally, which 

makes internet services 

imperative in Africa, 

opening up and 

strengthening economic 

sectors for skill acquisition 

and technological 

innovation. 

"We are determined to 

continuously improve, 

reinforce and strengthen 

technological infrastructure, 

enhance policy coordination, 

improve ease 

of doing business, 

among others, to take the 

full advantage of teleworking 

and nurture human 

capital development. 

"Our priority is to draw 

commitment to making 

decent work a reality for 

African youths skill development, 

create technological 

pathways in 

nationally endowed economic 

sectors, such as 

tourism and Agriculture 

as part of immediate 

post COVID-19 recovery 

plan." 

ASP Ogwa 

dies at 58 

ASSISTANT Superin 

tendent of Police Ikechukwu 

Ogwa is dead. He 

died at the age of 58, after 

a brief illness. His remains 

will be committed to mother 

earth in his country 

home, Ike-Onicha, Onicha-Ukwuani, 

in Ndokwa 

West LGA of Delta State tomorrow. 

He is survived by 

the widow and other relations. 

•Late Ogwa

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 

Graze in schools, farms, 

incur govt's wrath, Obiano 

tells herdsmen 

VISIT: Commadant of Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarhan (2nd 

left) and Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence, Sen. Aliyu Wammako (right), during 

an official visit of the committee to NDA in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

COVID-19: NDDC under attack by Senate 

over N3.14bn palliative for police, staff 


ABUJA—THE 

Senate, 

yesterday, took a swipe at the 

Interim Management Committee, 

IMC, of Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, over revelations 

of a large sum of money spent so far 

that runs into billions of naira. 

The Senate condemned IMC over 

the N3. 14 billion the commission gave 

as relief funds to its over 4,000 staff 

and police commands of the affected 

nine states. 

The ad-hoc committee also read 

from the document how the IMC of 

UAC 

restaurants 

donate 

products, face 

masks to 

health workers, 

traders 

MR Bigg’s, alongside the 

premium UAC 

Restaurants Pizza brand, 

Debonairs Pizza has donated food 

and face masks as part of its 

corporate social responsibility 

initiative to connect with frontline 

responders -health workers 

and traders within Lekki-Ajah 

axis in Lagos to mark the first 

combo store anniversary situated 

in Northwest filling station in 

Lekki, Lagos. 

The Ikota Primary Health Care 

Centre, Lekki and Orisunmibare 

Olumegbon Market, Ajah were 

two public places visited yesterday 

by Mr Bigg’s and Debonairs Pizza 

team to donate the products and 

face masks. 

Responding to the visit, the 

Officer-in-Charge/Assistant 

Director of Nursing, Mrs. Cecilia 

Oluborode said it was pleasing to 

receive a corporate organization 

in her facility. “We are excited to 

have you and also identifying with 

us. Government cannot do it 

alone, therefore, we are grateful 

and appreciative,“she added. 

The Iya Oloja of the market, 

Mrs. Maryam Lawal thanked 

UAC Restaurants’ team for 

identifying with the market. She 

implored other stakeholders to 

emulate Mr Bigg’s and Debonairs 

Pizza by giving back to their 

customers and the people within 

their operating environment to 

enable them weather the hard 

occasioned by the pandemic. 

NDCC donated another N475 million 

to the Inspector General of Police, 

Mohammadu Adamu, for facemasks 

and hand sanitisers, bringing the total 

amount expended as COVID-19 

relief for NDDC staff and the Police to 

N1.5 billion. 

The Senate spoke during the 

Investigative public hearing by the 

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi 

(APC, Ekiti North) led Ad-hoc 

Committee probing alleged financial 

recklessness to the tune of N40 billion 

by IMC. 

Speaking in Abuja, Senator 

Adetunmbi, who relied on documents 

submitted to the committee by the 

NDDC, revealed how the allowance 

was shared with one staff receiving 

N10 million as “palliative” for COVID- 

19 

Ṫrouble started for the Prof. 

Kemebradikumo Pondei -led IMC of 

NDDC, when the Senate Ad-hoc 

Oborevwori, Macaulay, Ogorugba, Okwagbe 

rejoice with Okowa @ 61 

By Festus Ahon, 

Ochuko Akuopha 

& Simon Adewale 

ASABA—SPEAKER 

of 

Delta State House of Assembly, 

Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, has said 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the state 

remained consistent and diligent in 

serving the state and nation. 

Oborevwori in a statement to 

felicitate with Governor Okowa on 

his 61st birthday, said:”I send warm 

greetings to our amiable and Godfearing 

governor, Okowa, on his 61st 

birthday. 

“At 61, I salute your courage and 

boundless energy that you have 

brought into leadership and 

governance, especially the focus on 

people-orientated development. 

“As such, I join members of the 

State Executive Council, family, 

friends in celebrating this visionary 

leader, who has over the years 

contributed to the development of the 

state at various levels, including 

serving as Commissioner for Health 

at one time, Commissioner for Water 

Resources at another time and also 

as Commissioner for Agriculture and 

Natural Resources.” 

Also, Director-General of Warri, 

Uvwie and Environs Development 

Agency, WUEDA, Mr Ovuozourie 

Macaulay, said the footprints of 

Governor Okowa in the sands of time 

are bold and visible to all with 

accomplishments in politics and 

governance. 

Felicitating with the governor on 

Committee queried why huge 

amount of money was given to staff of 

the commission as relief for COVID- 

19 pandemic. 

In his remarks, Adetunmbi 

expressed worry on why N10 million 

was given to a single staff as COVID- 

19 relief fund without such a person 

testing positive for the virus. 

He said: “From the financial 

statements or documents forwarded 

to this committee from your office as 

regards expenditure incurred 

between October 29, 2019, and May 

31, 2020, money expended on 

COVID-19 pandemic relief are mindboggling. 

“Of the total expenditure of 

N81.495 billion spent by both the IMC 

led by Mrs Gbene Nunieh as 

Managing Director between October 

29, 2019, and February 18, 2020, and 

the current IMC led by Prof Pondei 

between February 19, 2020, and May 

his 61st birthday, Macaulay in a 

congratulatory message, said though 

the birthday was once a year, he 

celebrates the governor every day 

because of his vision and inspiring 

leadership of the state. 

The former Secretary to the State 

Government, SSG said: “Your 

footprints in the sands of time are bold 

and visible to all, with 

accomplishments in politics and 

governance of gigantic note." 

Also, chairman of People’s 

Democratic Party, PDP, in Isoko North 

LGA, Delta State, Prince Godwin 

Ogorugba, yesterday, described 

Okowa as a dedicated leader whose 

knack for integrity and fidelity in public 

service has continued to attract 

encomium, honour and goodwill to 

the people of the state. 

Valentine Chime appointed 

Vodacom Business Nigeria's MD 

THE board of Vodacom 

Business Africa (Nigeria) 

Limited has appointed Valentine 

Chime as Managing Director for its 

operations. 

As Managing Director, Valentine 

will drive the company’s vision of 

becoming Africa’s leading cloud and 

digital service provider, bringing to 

market a very relevant suite of next 

generation technology solutions in 

the fields of Edge AI, SD-WAN/NFV 

and Cloud. 

The company will be hosting an 

Artificial Intelligence Virtual 

31, 2020, N3.14 billiion was spent on 

COVID-19 pandemic as relief funds.” 

However, in their separate 

explanations, Pondei and acting 

Executive Director (Project), Dr Cairo 

Ojougboh, defended the various 

expenditure, saying they were made 

in the best interest of the commission 

and Niger Delta community at large. 

Defending the expenditures, 

Ojuogboh who explained that the 

money was meant for the police 

command in all the nine states in 

Niger Delta, said most of the 

expenditure was inherited debt, 

pointing out that the IMC did not 

award any fresh contract. 

He also accused the Chairman of 

the Senate Committee on NDDC, 

Peter Nwaoboshi and another Nelson 

Agbamoshe from the House of 

Representatives of using their 

positions to corner contacts for 

themselves. 

Ogorugba, in a congratulatory 

message on behalf of the party in the 

council, said: “Your Excellency, you 

are famed for your passion for integrity 

and fidelity in keeping to your 

promises hence you earned the 

sobriquet ‘Ekwueme'. 

On his part, the Esama of Ukepidi 

kingdom, Olorogun Okeimute 

Okwagbe commended Governor 

Okowa for his genuine commitment 

to the socio-economic well-being of 

all Deltans during the governor’s 61st 

birthday anniversary. 

Okwagbe, in his massage to 

Okowa, said the governor had every 

cause to thank God Almighty for His 

benevolence on the occasion of his 

61st birthday anniversary and his 

quick recovery; that the governor had 

impacted positively on the lives of 

Deltans through his human capital 

development. 

Conference at the end of the month 

to showcase its innovative solutions. 

“Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) 

Limited is well-known and very 

respected in the industry, and I look 

forward to taking up this mission. 

COVID-19 has accelerated digital 

transformation, and we are perfectly 

positioned to deliver intelligent 

connectivity through seamless 

delivery of cloud and digital services 

and technologies to our clients. We 

are about simpler, seamless 

solutions.I look forward to building 

on this and growing the business,” 

he said. 

A 

W 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

K A — 

GOVERNOR 

Willie Obiano of Anambra 

State has ordered 

herdsmen who had 

formed the habit of 

grazing in schools and 

farmlands to stop it 

forthwith, warning that 

they would be incurring 

the wrath of the state 

government if they 

continued to disobey the 

order. 

At a meeting with the 

state 

Deputy 

Commissioner of Police, 

DCP Maiyaki Baba, the 

leader of Cattle Breeders 

Association in the South 

East, Alhaji Giddado 

Sidikki and some 

traditional rulers in the 

state, Governor Obiano 

warned the cattle 

breeders to vacate the 

premises of schools, 

including tertiary 

institutions, with 

immediate effect or get 

arrested. 

It is a common site to see 

cows competing for space 

with students and workers 

in school premises during 

working hours, leading 

sometimes to destruction of 

property and school farms. 

The governor, who spoke 

through his Senior Special 

Assistant, SSA, on security, 

Mr. Ostar Christopher 

observed that the activities 

of herders in the state were 

becoming worrisome. 

According to him, despite 

the previous warnings to 

the herders to guard their 

cows, they had continued 

to be a menace to crops, 

farms and even university 

environments in the state, 

adding that it was the level 

of the destruction by the 

herders that prompted the 

marching order from the 

state government to the 

cattle menace committee led 

by the State Police 

Commissioner, John Abang 

Olatunji Dare's 

brother, Omololu 

dies at 69 

OMOLOLU 

Kola- 

Dare, a veteran 

journalist and brother to 

popular columnist, Dr 

Olatiunji Dare, is dead, 

aged 69. He died on 

Tuesday, July 7, 2020. 

He was survived by a 

widow, children, 

grandchildren, a sister and 

a brother, Olatunji. 

to be up and doing. 

At the meeting, five 

traditional rulers who 

participated raised the 

alarm that the situation 

was becoming 

unbearable, noting that 

no amount of 

compensation could 

equate the losses, 

including loss of human 

lives in many 

communities. 

The monarchs, Igwe PN 

Ezeamama of Enugwu 

Umuonyia, Igwe Pius 

Omachuonu of 

Olumbanasaa , Igwe 

Chika S. Uchime, of 

Ufuma, Igwe B Okeji of 

Omasi and Igwe A.I 

Ofoebe of Ifite Ogwari, who 

were members of the cattle 

menace committee, 

expressed worry over the 

destruction of lives and 

property by the herdsmen 

in their communities. 

“There is need for the 

committee to stop further 

destruction in the various 

communities, especially 

this farming season,” the 

monarchs pleaded. 

Onyeose for 

burial 

AUGUSTINE Onyeose 

(a.k.a Ishi-Akpan) of 

Ogbeidibon Quarters, Abavo 

Central, Ika South LGA of 

Delta State is dead, aged 72. 

Burial takes place today at 

his residence, Oseh Street, 

Orikeze Avenue, Agbor Obi, 

Delta State after a funeral 

mass at St. Patrick Catholic 

Church, Agbor Obi. 

He is survived by a widow, 

children and in-laws, 

including Mr. Chukwudi 

Aliemeke, Principal Assistant 

Registrar, College of 

Education, Agbor. 

SIR Michael Anwuri, 

65, of Anwuri Wori 

Royal Family of Mgbuelia 

Rundele, Emohua Local 

Government Area of Rivers 

State is dead. 

He will be buried today 

at Ndele, Rivers State after 

a funeral service. He is 

survived by his widow Dr 

Adesuwa Anwuri, children 

and grandchildren.



IFELL in love with Classics 

– ancient Greek and 

Roman literature, history, 

philosophy and mythology – 

as a child. Latin was my 

favourite subject at school; 

and I’ve never forgotten the 

following question, which 

appeared in the Satires of 

Juvenal, the Roman poet who 

made his mark in the first and 

second centuries after the 

birth of Christ: “Quis custodiet 

ipsos custodes?” It means: 

“Who will guard the guards 

themselves?” or “Who will 

watch the watchmen?” 

Juvenal had mundane 

domestic matters in mind 

when he penned these now 

immortal words; but they are 

now used more generally to 

refer to the fact that it can be 

difficult to control people in 

positions of power or trust 

(politicians, bureaucrats, 

tyrants, judges, legislators and 

journalists, for example) and 

hold them accountable. 

Juvenal’s question also 

frequently features in 

discussions about police 

corruption. Which brings me 

to the sordid Ibrahim Magu 

saga. 

The Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

was established to investigate 

thieves. But it seems that some 

of these “guards” are no better 

than those they are supposed 

to catch. Ibrahim Magu – a 

high-ranking police officer 

who has been Acting 

Chairman of the EFCC since 

2015, has just been relieved 

of his job. 

Magu is facing a 22-count 

charge of masterminding the 

diversion of N39 billion worth 

of recovered funds, fraudulent 

sale of assets seized by the 

EFCC and other serious 

infractions. These accusations 

are outlined in a memo by the 

Attorney General and a DSS 

report. 

The All Progressives 

Congress, APC, President, 

Muhammadu Buhari, has 

replaced Magu with 

Mohammed Umar, another 

senior police personage who 

used to be the EFCC’s 

Director of Operations. 

•Ibrahim Magu, detained EFCC acting chairman 

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? 

Predictably, the Opposition 

is smacking its lips in glee as 

it watches this unsavoury 

drama unfolding and is 

demanding that Magu be 

prosecuted with immediate 

effect. 

In a statement issued by its 

National Publicity Secretary, 

Kola Ologbondiyan, the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

observed (I paraphrase) that 

Magu’s downfall has proved 

that the APC government’s socalled 

fight against corruption 

is totally fake. 

Meanwhile, because the 

Vice President’s name has 

Bluntly put, this 

APC 

administration is 

full of folks who 

cannot by a long 

shot be described 

as Virgin Marys, 

Archangel 

Gabriels or 

pristine Islamic 

icons of rectitude 

been dragged into the murky 

fray, the PDP Youth Alliance, 

PDPYA, is calling for Professor 

Osinbajo’s resignation. 

The former PDP governor of 

Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, 

has also jumped on the anti- 

Magu bandwagon and asked 

security agencies to tighten 

the noose around him and 

ensure he doesn’t escape. 

I must confess that when I 

heard that Magu had landed 

in deep poo and was 

struggling to defend himself, 

my first reaction was supercynical 

to put it mildly. And I 

asked myself the following 

questions: 

“Who has Magu upset? Why 

is he being punished for 

doing what so many other 

senior government guys and 

gals are getting away with 

doing? 

Superior-level 

guards 

“OK, so Magu may turn out 

to be a dodgy guard who 

deserves to go to prison, but 

is every single one of the 

superior-level guards who are 

pursuing him with a 

vengeance any better than he 

is? And while they are 

hounding Magu and 

sanctimoniously claiming to 

be protecting the public purse, 

who is watching and 

investigating them?” 

Bluntly put, this APC 

administration is full of folks 

who cannot by a long shot be 

described as Virgin Marys, 

Archangel Gabriels or pristine 

Islamic icons of 

rectitude…people who are 

visibly richer now than they 

were when they entered the 

corridors of power. 

As I write, details of how 

billions of naira were 

allegedly siphoned at the 

Upper Benue River Basin 

Development Authority, 

UBRBDA, a Federal agency 

in Yola, Adamawa State, have 

emerged. 

The Transparency 

Monitoring Group’s Mission 

Head, Kabiru Garba, has 

wondered why anti-graft 

agencies – the Independent 

Corrupt Practices and other 

related offences Commission, 

ICPC, as well as the EFCC - 

are turning a blind eye and 

refusing to look into it. 

The Transparency 

Monitoring Group has also 

queried the National 

Assembly for remaining silent 

despite allegations of 

monumental fraud involving 

budgetary irregularities 

reported at UBRBDA. 

This country is seething and 

heaving with steaming 

cesspits of unchecked sleaze 

that the authorities slyly 

overlook. 

Almost every ministry, 

parastatal, geopolitical zone, 

state capital, town and local 

government area is 

unrepentantly hosting several 

sleazy scams that transform 

the people who are running 

Nigeria into tycoons and 

deprive ordinary citizens of 

funds that are desperately 

needed for schools, hospitals, 

power sector reform, etc. 

We hear hair-raising 

rumours about the military 

mandarins who have been 

entrusted with privileged 

spots at the pinnacles of the 

army, air force and navy – 

betraying their increasingly 

disillusioned juniors and the 

Nigerian people by stealing 

cash meant for defence 

activities and personnel 

welfare. It is all so damned 

depressing. 

The reason nothing is done 

about such flagrant abuses is 

that so many big boys and 

girls have their hands in 

various cookie jars. 

If you are merrily sharing illgotten 

gains with miscreants, 

you aren’t going to be a good 

guard and discipline or arrest 

them, are you? 

Unless, of course, your 

partners in crime get too big 

for their boots and insult you 

or renege on the sharing 

formula!!! 

And before my PDP friends 

delightedly agree with me, 

they should please tell us, 

hands on heart and Bibles or 

Korans - whether they 

themselves are as pure as the 

driven snow when it comes to 

money matters! I certainly 

don’t recall Nigeria being an 

oasis of financial probity 

during the 16 years when the 

PDP was in charge. 

Anything goes here. Federal 

and state legislators do not 

provide the protections they 

were elected to provide. Too 

many judges, journalists, law 

enforcement operatives, etc, 

collude with nationdestroyers. 

The Presidency’s 

moral outrage is highly 

selective. 

Nigeria is a country that has 

no real guards. 

Ei mihi! (woe is me in Latin). 

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details attached.

Men who gave humanity a 

humane face 

CHRIS Otokito, 37, is not 

known in Nigeria. He is not 

a famous actor, singer, boxer, 

businessman or millionaire. 

However, he has been honoured 

at least thrice within three weeks 

by the British establishment on 

the two prevailing universal 

issues: the coronavirus pandemic 

and the Black Lives Matter, BLM, 

protests. He and four of his 

friends have also had good 

mentions in world media and 

received 

universal 

commendation for teaching 

humanity how to be 

compassionate. 

Otokito, a bank manager in 

London and martial arts and 

fitness trainer, is the son of 

Anthony H. Otokito, a Nigerian 

who 44 years ago, left his 

Otuokpoti, Ogbia home in 

Bayelsa State in search of the 

proverbial golden fleece in 

Britain, and naturalised. 

While Britons during the 

coronavirus pandemic outrage 

were under lockdowns and people 

feared for their lives, Otokiti and 

his wife, Eleanor, were going 

through the streets of Croydon 

and the train station providing 

and distributing food to the 

hungry, especially the elderly, and 

assisting the needy. The city on 

June 30, honoured Chris for his 

ByJEROME-MARIO UTOMI 

JUST like history which has a way of 

repeating itself, the sudden wave of 

ultimatum issued to the Federal 

Government in a space of one week by two 

oil-producing communities in Delta State, 

as well as another by two Niger Delta region 

agitators, should be a source of worry to all. 

These communities are: the Omadino 

Federated Communities, an umbrella body 

for Itsekiri communities in Delta State; and 

the Gbaramatu Kingdom, a major 

contributor to the economy of the nation 

and one of the prominent kingdoms among 

the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta, located 

in Warri South West Local Government Area 

of Delta State, Nigeria. The two groups of 

agitators include the 13 Niger Delta militant 

groups, former beneficiaries of the Federal 

Government’s amnesty programme, 

organised under the aegis of the Coalition 

of Niger Delta Agitators, CNDA, and Niger 

Delta ex-militants, under the auspices of the 

21st Century Youths of the Niger Delta and 

Agitators with Conscience, 21st CYNDAC. 

The reason for the nation to feel worried 

is simple. If such threat is allowed to grow, 

it will again portray us as a nation that has 

not learned any useful lesson from 

history, mark the commencement of 

another vicious circle of chaos, damage the 

nation’s fragile economy that is crude oildependent 

and fundamentally sweep away 

President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent 

claim that the Federal Government has 

restored peace in the Niger Delta region 

through sustained engagement of youths, 

opinion leaders and other stakeholders. 

A peep into their demands reveal that 

Gbaramatu Kingdom wants President 

Buhari to address the marginalisation meted 

out to them by the oil companies. Among 

other demands, they also seek 

an immediate halt on the current process 

“incredible” work during the 

pandemic. Croydon City Mayor 

Humayun Kabir told Otokito the 

city was honouring him: “ …for 

your hard work, compassion, 

commitment and sheer 

dedication to go above and 

beyond throughout this crisis”. 

However, it was the protests that 

drew universal attention to him 

and his heroic friends. As the BLM 

protests gathered strength in 

Britain, the far-right White 

Supremacists decided to hold a 

counter-rally on June 13. The 

latter wanted a violent 

confrontation under the guise of 

defending ‘national monuments’. 

It promised to be a day of bloody 

fights and the police mobilised for 

the inevitable clashes. 

Otokito and four of his friends, 

Lee Russel, Jamaine Facey, Pierre 

Noah and Patrick Hutchinson, 

who are into mixed martial arts, 

decided that they could not be 

absent from the rally. They 

decided to use their skills to 

protect the BLM demonstrators 

against the expected far-right 

attacks. Otokito said the five were 

a band of brothers: “We’re all 

from similar backgrounds, we’re 

all from the same community and 

the streets of London. Same south 

London background, same 

morals, same principles. We’re all 

Niger Delta region in a season of threats 

of bids for 57 marginal fields and coming 

up with new modalities, where competent 

companies owned by Gbaramatu indigenes 

will be given right of first refusal. This 

demand, however, comes with a threat to 

shutdown petroleum operations in their 

communities in the next 10 days (out which 

six days has been spent), if the development 

is not addressed. 

On their part, the Omadino Federated 

Communities, an umbrella body for Itsekiri 

communities in a simialr petition 

dated Tuesday, June 30, signed by Roland 

Oti Yomere, Chief Priest of Omadino 

and spokesman for the Federated 

Communities, and addressed to President 

Buhari, accused the present administration 

of gross marginalisation of its people. They 

want the President to address their ten-point 

demand as failure to comply within nine 

days will lead to a shutdown of crude oil 

production activities in the locality. 

At about the same time, the 13 Niger Delta 

militant groups, in a joint statement signed 

by their leaders and made available to 

newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, 

threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire 

agreement and resume hostilities in the 

region because of President Buhari's 

continued refusal to address the thorny 

issues of marginalisation of the Niger Delta 

in terms of appointments in the oil and gas 

sector particularly the replacement of the 

group managing director of the Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, 

with a national from the region. 

In a similar style, CYNDAC on Saturday, 

July 5, frowned at the Federal Government’s 

delay in reaching an agreement with the 

Pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, for 

a critical and holistic look towards a 

peaceful resolution of the myriads of 

problems facing the region, and again 

warned of renewed hostilities in the region, 

if the Federal Government fails to 

fathers, we all have our families 

as well - we’re trying to set an 

example.” 

Facey in taking to his Facebook 

page to mobilise for the protests, 

wrote: “You couldn’t be bothered 

to be there when you were asked 

to help the future generations. So 

do not comment now that the 

outcome doesn’t fit your 

narrative." Hundreds of racist 

protesters led by the Britain First 

far-right group gathered at 

Parliament Square. They did not 

waste time carrying the fight not 

just to the anti-racism protesters, 

but also the police. The battles 

started from the Houses of 

Parliament and Trafalgar Square 

spilling into the streets close to 

Whitehall towards Chelsea. 

As the battles became fierce, the 

BLM protesters caught a 

bloodied man, dragged and threw 

I wonder why 

Nigerians are not 

holding up Otokito as 

an example of who we 

are; why Africans are 

not celebrating these 

five men for giving 

humanity a humane 

face 

him down the steps near the Royal 

Festival Hall. Then they advanced 

for further attacks. Otokito and 

his four friends realised that the 

man, later identified as 55-yearold 

delivery driver, Bryn Male, 

was in mortal danger. 

Instinctively, they formed a 

protective shield round him as the 

protesters hit them in an attempt 

to get at their target. 

Otokito said having read the 

situation correctly he and his 

implement the 16-point agenda as 

submitted by PANDEF few years ago. 

Conversely, before believing the above 

position by Mr. President that there was 

peace in the region, a statement by the 

spokesperson of Gbaramatu Kingdom for 

the Traditional Council of Chiefs, Chief 

Godspower Gbenekama JP, perhaps brings 

more tragic recognition of reality that took 

place in the kingdom. 

It also reveals how clear it has become 

that the Federal Government is doing far 

more than devastation of the hopes of the 

people of the region. The kingdom, the 

statement noted, is constrained to write to 

the president on issues that have previously 

been made known to the government via 

various forms and at different times to the 

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, 

especially during his visit to the Kingdom 

in January 2017. It recalled that Gbaramatu 

Kingdom has kept to her end of the social 

contract that enabled the end of the previous 

dangerous era of agitation that was 

prevalent in Gbaramatu Kingdom, and has 

led to a situation where “Gbaramatu is one 

of the safest places to live, do business and 

visit in Nigeria, despite government’s refusal 

to treat them fairly. 

It further lamented that the Omadinor- 

Excravos road project which was started, 

and would have led to greater peaceful 

coexistence and dramatically improved 

economic and more cordial relations 

between the Ijaws and Itsekiris of Warri 

South and Warri South-West neighbouring 

local governments has been put on indefinite 

hold under this administration. While 

submitting that nowhere is this 


friends knew that they stood little 

chance protecting Mr. Male 

against the surging crowd; it was 

at that point Hutchinson took the 

decisive step of scooping the half 

conscious Mr. Male from the 

ground. He said of that decisive 

moment: "They (his four friends) 

created a barrier around him, and 

I was the last one to come in. I 

scooped him up into a fireman's 

carry and marched him out with 

the guys around me, protecting 

me and shielding me and 

protecting this guy from getting 

any further punishment. I had no 

other thoughts in my mind apart 

from getting to safety…I could 

actually feel strikes and hits as I 

was carrying him; so these guys 

were probably taking some of that 

themselves on their person.” 

Mr. Noah, a teacher said: "If we 

didn’t (help) I wouldn’t like to 

think what would have happened 

to the poor guy. We wanted to save 

his life and save the Black Lives 

Matter campaign as well.” 

Mr. Male realising that he 

owed his life to the five men said 

through his 21-year-old son, 

Harry Male that he would want 

to meet and thank his rescuers. 

The British establishment is 

already doing that. Most major 

news channels featured and 

celebrated men who did not 

hesitate to come to the rescue of 

an adversary, thereby teaching 

that all lives matter, including that 

of a man who does not share such 

cherished truth. 

The five were invited to the 

House of Lords where they were 

received by Michael Hastings, 

Baron Hastings of Scarisbrick. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq 

Khan, sent the men a 

commendation letter dated June 

19, 2020 in which he wrote: “I 

want to thank you for the 

incredible humanity you showed 

during a day marred by violence, 

This threat is neither by 

accident nor the first half of a 

reoccurring cycle but rather 

the beginning of something 

new 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

desecration and racism displayed 

by right-wing extremists. I know 

your intentions were not to be seen 

as heroes but your actions 

demonstrated the very best of us 

and were the antithesis of the hate 

and division the right-wing 

extremists were determined to 

sow.” 

Famous American Civil Rights 

leader, Reverend Al Sharpton, 

called Hutchinson on television 

to say: "I saw what you did, and it 

warmed my heart. I had just come 

from a demonstration the day 

before, and had done several 

speeches and what I had tried to 

articulate you did in one 

gesture…You demonstrated that, 

without opening your mouth, 

without any drama or without any 

press notices, and I want you to 

know, you put the movement in a 

keener perspective than anything 

those of us that’s been out there 

could say or do… You’ve done a 

tremendous thing, because we’re 

not marching out of hate, we’re 

launching out of love for 

everybody, and if we become 

infected by the rancour and the 

hatred that we’re fighting, then we 

become the replacements, not the 

reformation or the answer.” 

As they soaked in well-deserved 

praise and commendation across 

the globe, Otokito said what he 

and his friends did sent “a 

different narrative to how the 

image of a Black man is usually 

painted…we went down to make 

a change and make a difference. 

And it’s only going to happen if 

everyone stands up together and 

does that.” 

I wonder why Nigerians are not 

holding up Otokito as an example 

of who we are; why Africans are 

not celebrating these five men for 

giving humanity a humane face 

and pointing to all races, the path 

to universal emancipation. 

marginalisation more glaring than in the 

abrupt abandonment of the multi-billion 

dollar Export Processing Zone, EPZ, Gas 

Revolution Industrial Park, Ogidigben and 

Deep Sea Port Project, Gbaramatu Project 

that would have created thousands of direct 

and indirect jobs. 

Certainly, a striking tragedy deepened by 

the awareness that it was 

avoidable particularly when one 

remembers that this threat is neither by 

accident nor the first half of a reoccurring 

cycle but rather the beginning of something 

new. And, looking at the recent declaration 

by the Social and Economic Justice 

Advocacy, SEJA, a Lagos based nongovernmental, 

that the Nigerian state has 

not treated the Niger Delta well, it is obvious 

that the protests by the communities is 

justified. 

It noted the African Commission’s wellconsidered 

decision in the celebrated 

SERAC vs. Nigeria’s case, finding the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria in gross 

violations of 2, 4, 14, 16, 18(1),21 and 24 of 

the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ 

Rights, ACHPR, and therefore 

recommended a total clean up of the 

polluted Ogoni and other adjoining 

communities in addition to taking 

preventive remedial and compensatory 

measures to improve economic and social 

outcomes for the Ogoni community. SEJA 

in a statement was particularly not happy 

that all available indicator points to the fact 

t h a t t h e 

Federal Government environmental 

legacy project which is the clean up of Ogoni 

is failing and lagging behind because 

Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation 

Project, HYPREP, handling the Ogoni 

cleanup lacks the capacity to conduct a 

proper cleanup. 

Continues online: www.vanguardngr.com 

•Utomi, a media consultant, wrote from 

Lagos


THE Christian Association of 

Nigeria, CAN, this week renewed its 

call for the reopening of worship 

centres in Lagos and Ogun states 

which remained shut on the orders 

of the state governors despite the 

Presidential Task Force on COVID- 

19’s earlier easing of the closure. 

The two states are among the 

highest-risk areas in the federation. 

As at Wednesday, July 8, 2020, Lagos 

State alone carried 11,670 out of the 

nation’s total 30,249 confirmed 

infections. 

The state, and metropolitan Lagos, 

boast the largest concentration of 

worship centres, particularly of the 

Christian and Muslim faithful in the 

country. 

The CAN, in a statement on Tuesday 

titled: “Reopen All Churches Now: 

Enough is Enough” could not 

understand why Lagos and Ogun 

governments would allow markets 

and airports to reopen, and even 

contemplate the partial reopening of 

Why reopening of worship centres is dicey 

schools and yet keep worship centres 

under lock and key. 

The plight of the religious 

community over the temporary 

closure of their places of worship is 

understandable. 

At no other time in living memory 

had such a measure been imposed for 

any reason. 

These worship centres are also 

places where millions of Nigerians 

earn their daily bread. When members 

of the laities are barred from 

attending services, the clerics and all 

categories of workers in these 

religious organisations find it difficult 

(as has been the experience in the past 

three months) to feed their families. 

There are also other revenueyielding 

ventures that churches in 

particular had established to support 

their missionary efforts within their 

premises. These include schools, 

lodgings, restaurants and specialty 

shops. These also had been shut. 

Those who depend on them for their 

livelihood have lost their jobs. 

The fact is that the religious 

organisations are in the same 

category as citizens who earn their 

living in typically crowded spaces like 

schools, stadia, bars, clubs and others 

which have remained barred from 

reopening for business. 

But, unlike the religious groups 

which could always improvise through 

virtual congregations and still expect 

support from their flocks, schools, 

clubs and stadium-based businesses 

have been wholly abandoned to their 

fate. 

Our fear is that reopening the 

worship centres now could further 

worsen the situation. Even people 

who have continued to observe 

general self-isolation from crowds 

would have the virus brought home 

to them. The July 8, 2020 issue of The 

New York Times reports that the 

reopening of churches in the US led 

to new spikes in infection rates. 

We plead with religious 

organisations to hang on for a little 

while to enable scientists and medical 

professionals understand this 

pandemic a little more. Once some 

dependable remedies are available, it 

will become safer to reopen worship 

centres and schools, especially in an 

endemic zone like Lagos. 

The safety of worshippers is 

paramount. 

OPINION 

Moral regeneration as a desideratum for national development 

By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE 

NIGERIA, a nation of nations, is an 

immensely blessed country, what 

with its abundant human and material 

resources. For example, beneath our soil 

lie such national resources as tin-ore, 

bauxite, limestone, crude oil and others. 

It has equable weather conditions and 

vast arable land, which are incentives 

for the practice of mechanical 

agriculture. In addition to these, Nigeria 

has millions of graduates who possess 

both theoretical knowledge and skills in 

diverse areas of human endeavours. 

And it is humans with knowledge and 

skills that can drive developmental 

initiatives in any country. 

So, why is Nigeria still stuck in the 

mud of underdevelopment for all its 

human and material resources? The 

answer is not far-fetched. Leadership 

crises is at the root of our national 

malaise. It should be noted that we have 

not got it right, politically, since our 

attainment of political independence in 

1960. And there is a nexus between good 

political leadership and national 

development. 

For example, without the patriotic and 

good political leadership offered by the 

Singaporean leader, Lee Kuan Yew, 

Singapore would not have achieved 

economic prosperity and technological 

development. It takes good and 

visionary political leadership for any 

country to leapfrog to the zenith of 

economic and technological 

advancement. No country can rise above 

the visions, dreams and aspirations of 

its national leader. For example, in the 

First Republic, when we practised 

cabinet system of government, Chief 

Obafemi Awolowo, who tended towards 

the left, executed welfarist policies with 

success in the Western Region. Many 

people who benefited from his free 

education policy are contributing 

effectively to Nigeria’s development 

today. 

However, First Republic politicians 

were men who set store by the 

acquisition of knowledge, probity, fealty 

and ideologies. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, our 

governor-general in the First Republic, 

was a well-read man, who wrote books. 

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was the 

premier of the Western Region then, was 

very versed in law, metaphysics and 

other fields of study. The first prime 

minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Tafawa 

Balewa, could hold his own when it 

came to splitting hairs over intellectual 

matters. More than all these, most First 

Republic politicians were men of probity. 

After the collapse of the First Republic, 

and until 1999, the leadership of Nigeria 

alternated between despotic military 

regimes and inept corrupt democratic 

governments. The military boys, who 

ruled Nigeria, always portrayed their 

governments as corrective regimes. But, 

sadly, they rolled back the development 

of Nigeria by decades. 

The beret-boys, who overthrew the 

civilian government of Alhaji Shehu 

Shagari in 1983, suspended the 

Constitution and enacted decrees, which 

had retroactive effects. The Buhari-led 

military government of 1983-85 trampled 

on our fundamental human rights in its 

efforts to right the wrongs in our polity. 

Gen.Ibrahim Babangida’s ascension to 

power via a military coup coincided with 

the onset of the erosion of moral values 

in Nigeria. His military regime was a 

bad influence on millions of Nigerians. 

So, many people stopped setting store 

by probity, honesty, tolerance, 

righteousness and holiness. 

However, in our political annals, the 

dark goggle-wearing Sani Abacha 

remained the worst military officer ever 

to rule Nigeria. He combined 

sanguinary proclivities with unbridled 

rapacious kleptomania. Not only did he 

steal Nigeria blind, he also reportedly 

killed some members of NADECO who 

opposed his continued leadership of 

Nigeria. Till now, the Abacha loot is still 

being repatriated to Nigeria from foreign 

The panacea to our 

national ills lies in 

effecting moral 

regeneration among us 

banks. That is proof of the high 

magnitude of his plunder of our national 

treasury. 

So, Nigerians popped champagne, ate 

turkey and were sucked into the vortex 

of celebration following our country’s 

transition to civil rule in 1999. But, sadly, 

since the inception of the Fourth 

Republic in 1999, and till now, Nigeria 

has not realised its vast potentialities. 

She is still called the Giant of Africa; 

however, she is a giant which has feet 

of clay. Yet, Nigeria has the human and 

material resources to take over the 

leadership of Africa. Sadly, our country 

is hamstrung and handicapped by bad 

political leadership. 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

It is sad that those, who are elected 

into exalted political offices in Nigeria 

perceive their occupation of those high 

offices as open sesame and licenses to 

make good for themselves by looting our 

collective financial tills. Now, many past 

governors in our dear country are still 

being hounded by EFCC for the financial 

crimes they perpetrated while in office. 

They bled Nigeria dry to satisfy their 

lust for material things. Even the 

governors who are presiding over the 

affairs of their states are neglecting 

issues besetting their states while 

they’re busy looting their state 

treasuries. 

So, the reason behind Nigeria’s 

pitiable condition is that we are still 

experiencing the erosion of moral/family 

values in Nigeria. A good leader who 

offered good leadership to the people 

will be the butt of jokes if he leaves office 

impecunious. Here, we valorise, lionise, 

and eulogise people with ill-gotten 

wealth; however, a man of probity, who 

is poor, is ridiculed. That’s why we have 

scoundrels without scruples running our 

affairs today. 

The panacea to our national ills lies in 

effecting moral regeneration among us. 

So, these three agents of socialisation, 

namely: religion, family, and school 

should play pivotal roles in effecting 

moral regeneration among us so that we 

can raise children who have positive 

morality-code and knowledge. When 

they assume leadership positions in the 

future, they’ll offer us good leadership 

based on their morality-code, probity 

and fealty. 

•Okoye, a poet, wrote from Uruowulu- 

Obosi, Anambra State

COVID-19 restrictions drive up mobile 

transactions 365% in 5mths 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

RAND 

98.95 0.00 

2,221.00 0.00 

11.87 -0.21 

42.44 -0.85 

39.80 -1.10 

360 360.5 361 

451.944 452.5717 453.1994 

406.368 406.9324 407.4968 

382.4498 382.981 383.5122 

3.3473 3.3519 3.3566 

0.5075 0.5175 0.5275 

422.2018 422.7882 423.3746 

51.3279 51.3997 51.4714 

95.9693 96.1026 96.2359 

21.1889 21.2184 21.2478 

CBN Exchange rate as at 09/07/2020 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The value of mobile Interscheme 

transactions rose by 

365 percent, year-on-year (YoY) 

to N853.7 billion in the five months 

ending May 31st, from N183.7 billion 

in the corresponding period 

of 2019. 

This huge growth, the highest in 

three years, according to mobile 

money agents was due to the restrictions 

in movement and visit 

to banking halls occasioned by the 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

Mobile Inter-scheme refers to 

transactions through the agent 

network of the 26 licensed Mobile 

Money Operators (MMO) in Nigeria. 

The 365 percent YoY growth 

recorded by mobile interscheme 

transactions in the five months 

ending May 31st, dwarfed, 46 percent 

and 17 percent, YoY, growth 

in the value of Point of Sale (PoS) 

and Nigerian Interbank Settlement 

System (NIBSS) Instant Payment 

(NIP) transactions during the 

same period. 

Furthermore, the mobile transactions 

performance represents a 

540 percent increase when compared 

with the 57 percent YoY 

growth recorded in the corresponding 

period of 2019. 

Explaining the factor behind the 

triple digit growth, President, Association 

of Mobile Money and 

Bank Agents in Nigeria 

(AMMBAN), Victor Olojo said: 

“The growth is due to the COVID’19 

pandemic. The fact is that 

COVID’19 actually disrupted a lot 

of things and at the same time it 

also promoted and paved room for 

new growth and increases in businesses.” 

He however noted that the restrictions 

impacted some agents 

negatively, saying, “Not all mobile 

money and bank agents are actually 

smiling because of the 

lockdown. We have agents that are 

located in the central business areas 

who had to shut down because 

they were situated in places like 

markets where they were asked to 

shut down. 

“There are also agents who are 

operating within residential areas, 

local suburbs, and local market 

areas. They were also able to make 

the greatest gains.” 

Olojo however noted that notwithstanding 

the phenomenal 

growth, mobile money agents encountered 

some challenges as a 

result of the restrictions. 

He said: “There were quite a number 

of challenges that agents faced 

during the period. They had issues 

of cash rebalancing; don’t forget 

that banks were not operating during 

the period of the lock down. So 

it was really difficult accessing cash. 


CIIN members 

have witnessed 

increased growth 

in intellectual 

capacity 

– Efekoha 

So we had to work out an indigenous 

model to address the problem of access 

to cash. What we did was identify 

businesses that were operational 

that moment. So instead of going to 

the banks to rebalance, we walk to 

pharmacies or filling, (fuel ) stations 

who were operational for rebalancing. 

So the arrangement we had was 

to transfer funds to them through 

NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) and 

they in turn give us the cash equivalent.” 

From left, Outgoing Acting Director General Securities and Exchange Commission 

Ms Mary Uduk, Director General, SEC Mr Lamido Yuguda, Incoming Executive 

Commissioner Legal and Enforcement , SEC Mr Reginald Karawusa and Incoming 

Executive Commissioner Operations SEC Mr Dayo Obisan during the resumption 

of the New Management of SEC in Abuja 

Champion Breweries returns to profitability 

as costs reduce 

By Peter Egwuatu 

Champion Breweries Plc has le 

veraged on reduced costs of 

production in her efforts to return 

to profitability. 

The Company, which held her 

44th Annual General 

Meeting, AGM using virtual 

platform, said, “Results 

of such efforts have 

positively impacted on 

production and sales of 

her brand portfolio in the 

reporting year.” 

Addressing shareholders 

who participated effectively 

in the virtual AGM, 

Chairman, Dr Elijah 

Akpan said, “revenue 

grew to N6.9 billion from 

N4.8 billion; operating 

proût changed its narrative 

from a negative position 

of N223 million in 

2018 to the positive position 

of N241 million and 

the comprehensive proût 

was N96 million as against 

a loss of N165 million in 

the previous year. 

“Our investment in 

power generation by way 

of utilization of gas has begun 

to pay-off as 

signiûcant savings have 

resulted as well as improved 

efficiency in our mode of 

operation in recent times”, he said, 

while assuring the Board’s resolute 

in working with Management on 

strategies to grow the business and 

lean on the shareholders’ continuous 

support towards the capitalization 

of the company.” 

Elijah told shareholders that the 

Company is now on the path of 

portability as demonstrated in the 

results. “The Board will commence 

work on the establishment of Dividend 

Policy with an expectation 

of implementation within the soonest 

practicable time”, he assured. 

He lamented the harsh operating 

environment occasioned by the 

COVID-19 pandemic. “There have 

been widespread reports of supply 

shortages of pharmaceuticals and 

manufactured goods due to factory 

disruption in China, with many areas 

seeing panic buying and consequent 

shortages of food and other essential 

grocery items. The restrictions on 

public gathering would remain a 

threat to our consumer market during 

the year” he said. 

COVID-19: Egbin prioritises steady power 

er, , staf 

aff f safety 


THE Management of 

Egbin Power Plant, has 

given insight into how it has 

so far maintain steady power 

supply to its customers and 

safety of its employees since 

the beginning of COVID-19 

pandemic, saying uninterrupted 

power supply and 

staff safety is its priority, 

A statement by the Chief 

Executive Officer, CEO, of the 

plant, Paul Harriman said the 

Company’s seamless business 

continuity plan and its 

proven safety machinery 

had continued to drive its 

high performance levels and 

By Rosemary Onuoha 

The Chartered Insurance 

Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, 

said that there has been increased 

growth and development 

in the intellectual capacity 

of members in the last two 

years. 

The Institute also witnessed 

improvement in its training infrastructure 

which is the College 

of Insurance and Financial 

Management. 

President of the CIIN, Mr. 

Eddie Efekoha, whose tenure 

will elapse on Wednesday, 

15th July, 2020, disclosed this 

as part of his achievements in 

office for the last two years. 

Efekoha who stated this in an 

interview noted that foremost 

on his agenda, was ensuring 

that professional members of 

the Institute acquired cutting 

edge skills that match up with 

global standards and enables 

them to compete favourable 

with their counterparts in 

other sectors, adding that he 

is satisfied with achievements 

he recorded in the last two 

years at the helms of affairs of 

the Institute. 

He said, “I only planned for 

one year tenure but as fate will 

have it and also as necessitated 

by the turn of events, I reluctantly 

accepted to serve for the 

second year. 

“While the relationship between 

the Institute and the CII 

UK was strengthened and 

among some of the fruits therefrom 

were revision of syllabus 

and the domestication of CII 

textbooks which were 

launched in June 2020, the 

Institute’s Mentorship 

Programme was actualised with 

the organisation of an inaugural 

bootcamp where industry 

leaders shared experiences 

with young professionals with 

the aim of inspiring them to 

strive for greater achievements. 

“Furthermore, the College has 

become the focal point for human 

capital development for 

insurance industry in Nigeria. 

This is evidenced by the partnership 

between the College 

and National Insurance Commission 

(NAICOM) which resulted 

in the first ever Insurance 

Directors Conference and recently 

in the Actuarial Development 

Programme. Hence, the 

Institute, more than ever before, 

effectively delivered on its 

statutory duties during my tenure. 

employee well-being at Egbin, 

one of Africa’s largest power 

generation companies. 

Harriman said the deployment 

of the company’s safety 

protocol in response to the 

COVID-19 pandemic had paved 

the way for zero disruption at 

the power plant which provides 

a quarter of power generated 

in Nigeria. 

According to him, in addition 

to virtual operations, employees 

who had to run the plant in 

person remained in full compliance 

with all safety precautions, 

helping Egbin maintain 

an optimal generation capacity 

in the first half of the year. 

He said “From the basic precautionary 

measures and 

protocols advised by the 

NCDC and WHO to Egbin’s 

in-house protocol, we have 

the situation under control 

at the plant. Prior to the 

pandemic, we had a remarkable 

safety record of 

over 3.7 million man hours 

with zero Loss Time Injury, 

LTI, and this positive 

record continues amid the 

pandemic. 

“The company’s employees 

have not been compelled 

to remain within the 

premises as a result of the 

pandemic, contrary to recent 

misleading media reports.”

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 — 17 

Will Trump go if he loses? 

AFTER three and a half 

years of his presidency, 

US President Donald Trump 

appears to have exhausted all 

surprises in the bag, except, 

of course, the next one. And 

that next one could be the big 

one: Will Trump leave the 

White House if he loses the 

Presidency on November 

3? Discussions about it first 

started in hushed tones and 

offline chats. But as poll after 

poll predicted a bleak future 

for Trump, discussions about 

his reaction to a possible 

defeat were forced into the 

open. 

The tide might yet change. 

As it stands today, however, 

things are not going well for 

Trump’s reelection dream - 

and the problems have been 

largely self-inflicted. His 

compulsive lying and 

dysfunctional presidency; his 

catastrophic mishandling of 

the coronavirus; and his racebaiting 

and divisive politics, 

among other calamities, have 

diminished any economic 

gains on his watch and left him 

fighting for his political life. 

Read-outs from the White 

House log files give the 

impression that Trump has 

been having virtual meetings 

with Paul Biya, Teodoro 

Obiang Nguema Mbasogo 

and other notorious sit-tight 

leaders around the world on 

the dark art of political 

survival. If he pulls this off, he 

would top the class. There’s 

nothing the Deal-Maker-In- 

Chief hates like losing and he 

hated losing long before he 

even became president. By 

some accounts, between 2009 

and 2016 when he first ran for 

president, he tweeted the 

word “loser” 170 times, often 

wielding it with extraordinary 

delight and pleasure at those 

who fell out or disagreed with 

him. 

Loser Trump? 

With the US presidential 

election only four months 

away, “loser”, reckoned by 

some as one of Trump’s most 

frequently used 20 words, may 

be coming back to haunt him. 

And from the auguries, it’s not 

if the word would come to 

haunt him, but how Trump 

would take the aftermath that 

has sent tongues wagging. 

It’s like a slow motion of 

what might have happened in 

2016 now playing out. Before 

he was eventually and 

surprisingly announced 

winner by Electoral College 

vote in the election against 

Hillary Clinton that year, 

Trump was already saying the 

election was rigged, signalling 

that he might not be prepared 

to concede defeat. 

As he was slipping in the 

polls and thrashing about in 

debates, Trump told a 

campaign rally, days to the 

election in West Palm Beach, 

Florida: “This election will 

determine whether we remain 

a free nation or only the 

illusion of democracy.” He 

suggested that the system 

was, “in fact controlled by a 

small handful of global special 

interests rigging the system. 

Our system is rigged.” 

Even though FBI’s James 

Comey fatally wounded 

Clinton by flip-flopping over 

her email server problem, 

Trump still feared that the 

“system” was rigged against 

him by “crooked Hillary” and 

her gang, especially the 

mainstream media. 

To be fair, Trump was not the 

first presidential candidate to 

express concern over the 

integrity of the US electoral 

system. Al Gore’s nasty 

experience with the 

controversial Florida vote 

recount in 2000 was the first 

real glimpse that the world’s 

democratic Cinderella, also 

harboured its own 

shenanigans. But the spectre 

of a potential showdown and 

transition chaos over disputed 

election results were never so 

In three and a half 

years of Trump, we 

have seen actions that 

make banana 

republics look good 

and dictators look 

benign 

real as they were four years 

ago. Trump seemed poised for 

broke. 

He later fell silent after he 

was declared winner, even 

though minorities in many 

states, especially Republican 

ones, continued to complain of 

gerrymandering and voterregistration 

obstacles that 

made – and still make – it 

difficult for them to vote. 

Old ghost 

In spite of Trump’s 

gratuitous silence, however, 

the ghost of the systemic 

rigging which he complained 

about came to haunt him in 

form of allegations that 

Russian hackers had, in fact, 

rigged the elections for him. 

Now, we’re back where we 

started. On June 22, Trump 

tweeted, “Rigged 2020 

election: Millions of mail-in 

ballots will be printed by 

foreign countries, and others. 

It will be the scandal of our 

times.” Even though election 

experts in the US have 

dismissed Trump’s fears, the 

point is not what he fears, but 

what his fears could mean for 

the upcoming election. 

In an interview in June, 

Daily Show’s Trevor Noah 

nailed it when he asked 

Democratic presidential 

candidate, Joe Biden, whether 

he thought Trump might step 

down and leave the White 

House quietly if he loses. 

I don’t think anyone ever 

asked any presidential 

candidate in the US such a 

question before. It’s the type 

of question reserved by US 

journalists for politicians in 

banana republics where the 

only thing that is certain is 

that elections deliver results 

written by incumbents, who 

out of benevolence or for 

window-dressing occasionally 

allow opposition candidates 

to run. 

But in three and a half years 

of Trump, we have seen 

actions that make banana 

republics look good and 

dictators look benign. You 

could see from the look on 

Biden’s face as he tried to 

answer Noah, that the 

question did not come to him 

as a surprise, even though it 

made him uncomfortable. 

Biden agreed that Trump 

might not leave, if he loses; 

he would not go down without 

a nasty fight. And then he 

talked about how military 

officers may be obliged to 

“escort him out of the White 

House with great dispatch”, 

if he refuses to go. If that 

sounded like an adversary’s 

fantasy, then you missed the 

article last week by Timothy 

E. Wirth and Tom Rogers, 

entitled: “How Trump could 

lose the election and still 

remain US President.” 

Sit-tight pathways 

The article highlighted two 

major pathways by which 

Trump could obstruct the 

outcome of the election or the 

transition, if he loses. One is 

by suppressing voter turnout 

with the purging of 

registration rolls; and two, 

and more dangerous, is by 

using his emergency powers 

to investigate claims of 

systemic rigging, especially 

in the swing states and keep 

the investigations going 

beyond the statutorily 

permitted date of December 

14. In this quango, it doesn’t 

look like Congress or the 

courts can offer much redress. 

Some have challenged the 

article as an ingenious 

attempt by Democratic 

sympathisers to paint Trump 

in the worst light possible. But 

the president’s Olympiansize 

ego, his mortal fear of 

losing, not to mention his 

desperation to retain power, 

including seeking help to do 

so from the Chinese as 

documented in John Bolton’s 

new memoir, all point to a 

man who would bring down 

the roof rather than go down 

alone. 

Trump’s use of troops and 

horse-riders to tear-gas and 

disperse peaceful crowds of 

protesters in June, and his 

threat to invoke the 213-year 

Insurrection Act to quell 

unarmed marchers across the 

US are not mere presidential 

tantrums. They are ominous 

dress rehearsals to set the 

house on fire if he loses. 

In the mouth of Trump, wolfcrying 

is not just to call 

attention. It’s a double-edged 

sword. He uses it for defence 

when he’s under siege and is 

smelling defeat; he attacks 

with it to destabilise and 

wrong-foot his enemy. 

Whatever he is up to this 

time, the world can almost be 

sure that this president won’t 

go away, quietly. “Loser 

Trump” are strange words in 

Trumpistan. 

Vigilance and citizen 

firewall are key. This 

president might just have 

something bigly up his 

sleeves. 

LASIEC fixes Lagos council polls 

for 2021 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LAGOS—THE 

Lagos 

State Independent 

Commission, LASIEC, has 

scheduled the conduct of election 

into the 20 Local Governments 

and 37 Local Council 

Development Areas, LCDAs in 

the state for next year at a yet to 

be determined date. 

The Chairman LASIEC, Justice 

Ayotunde Phillips (retd) disclosed 

this during an inspection tour of 

the electoral offices in various local 

government areas of the state in 

company of other commission 

members. 

The first phase of the inspection 

tour took the Commission 

members to Eti-Osa, Iru/ Victoria 

Oharisi hails Okowa at 61 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—THE 

member 

representing Ughelli North 

Constituency II in the Delta State 

House of Assembly, Prince Eric 

Oharisi, has described Dr Ifeanyi 

Okowa as a trust worthy governor, 

who is committed to the wellbeing 

of all Deltans. 

Oharisi, who is the Chairman, 

House Committee on Science and 

Technology, in a statement in 

Asaba on the 61st birthday 

anniversary of the governor, said 

the birthday celebration was 

another milestone not only to 

Okowa’s family but to 

government and people of Delta 

State. 

Emphasizing the sad incidents 

of the COVID-19 pandemic of 

Deltans becoming job creators 

under Okowa —Othihiwa 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

O Assistant LEH—SPECIAL 

to Delta state 

Governor on Political Matters, Mr. 

Collins Othihiwa, has lauded 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his 

empowerment and job creation 

programs which he said has seen 

Deltans becoming financially 

independent and jobs creators. 

Othihiwa, in a congratulatory 

message to the Governor on his 

61st birthday anniversary, 

described Okowa's achievements 

as huge and towering. 

Saying that the Okowa's 

visionary leadership had placed 

the state on a path of endless 

Island, Lagos Mainland, Yaba, 

Ikeja, Onigbongbo, Ojodu, 

Oshodi/Isolo, Amuwo Odofin, 

Alimosho, Igando/ Ikotun and 

Egbe/ Idimu. The tour is 

scheduled to continue to other 

council areas next week. 

Speaking during the on- the 

spot assessment, Philips, who was 

represented by one of the 

Commissioners, Dr. Bunmi 

Omoseyindemi, said the inspection was 

imperative to ascertain the functionality 

of the offices and equipment as part of 

the preparation for the next year council 

poll. 

He explained that the inspection was 

also a fact-finding visit that would enable 

the commission to generate a 

comprehensive report on the physical 

state of the offices of the commission at 

the local government Headquarters. 

which the governor is marking the 

day from isolation, Oharisi said 

no pandemic can deny Deltans 

the joy of the goodness of God. 

The lawmaker prayed God to 

take control over the challenges 

facing the first family of the state 

and to grant the governor, wife 

and daughter speedy recovery. 

Oharisi on behalf of his 

immediate family and the people 

of Ughelli North Constituency II, 

felicitated with Governor Okowa 

on his birthday anniversary and 

prayed God to shower him and 

his household with more grace. 

The lawmaker enjoined Deltans 

to sustain their unflinching 

support to the governor as he 

strives to leave a lasting legacies 

that will outlive generations. 

Economic prosperity my top- priority 

—Oba Lawal 

By Gabriel Olawale 

LAGOS— NEW king of 

Iru Kingdom, Oba AbdulWasiu 

‘Gbolahan Lawal, yesterday said 

that his reign will continue to 

prioritize economic prosperity of 

Iru land and the unification of the 

larger Oniru royal families. 

He urged all sons and 

daughters of Iru royal families to 

join hands with him towards the 

realisation of his vision for the 

kingdom. 

According to a statement 

released by the Private Secretary 

to the King, Hakeem Akintoye said 

that the Oniru is not interested in 

mundane things amidst the 

reported bickering, the vision of 

Oniru of Iru land is the continuous 

growth in leaps and bounds of the 

kingdom that remains one of the 

economic nerve-centres in 

Lagos. 

There is no doubt that the future 

of Iru Kingdom continues to be 

bright and promising, the 

ascension of Oba Lawal marks 

the start of the next phase of the 

journey into that future with 

initiatives that would develop 

Iruland. Many parties are just 

uncomfortable with the fact that it 

is no longer business as usual, 

said Akintoye. 

He noted that under his 

kingship, the future of Iru 

Kingdom looks bright and 

promising, given such a rich 

leadership credential especially 

in the public sector that Oba 

Lawal has brought to bear on the 

kingship. 

opportunities and possibilities, he 

lauded the Governor's 

commitment to infrastructural 

development of the state which 

has greatly increased the 

economic opportunities and 

possibilities to both indigenes and 

investors 

He enjoined all Deltans to 

continue to support the Okowa's 

administration and policies for a 

greater interest of the state saying 

it is a collective responsibilities of 

all to support the government to 

succeed at all levels. 

He prayed to God almighty to 

grant the governor and his family 

protection, long life and 

prosperity.

21–Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 

MAKURDI BOAT MISHAP: 

Nobody told us our children would be ferried 

across River Benue — mothers of victims lament 

•as police recovers 14 corpses 

Stories by Peter Duru, 

Makurdi 

MOTHER of the nineyear-old 

Mary Adegizi 

who died in the recent boat 

mishap that claimed 26 lives in 

River Benue, Mrs. Detini 

Adegizi, has lamented that she 

was not told that her daughter 

would be ferried across the river 

for the church programme. 

Also Mrs. Ruth Bulus, a 

mother who lost two children, 

15 years old Rejoice and 14 

years old Miracles, in the 

disaster, claimed she was not 

informed that her children 

would be taken across the River 

for the meeting. 

The victims were said to be 

children and wards of Mobile 

Police personnel of the MOPOL 

13 in Makurdi and were 

members of the youth wing of 

Evangelical Church Winning 

All, ECWA, Adeke Makurdi. 

Combined 

choir service 

They were crossing the river 

from Agbor, Innyongu area of 

Wadata to a village in an island 

opposite Kwaghter called Ole- 

Gabu for an annual church 

retreat for youths’ and children 

known as (New Life for All) 

Sabo Rai in Hausa parlance, 

when the boat which they were 

travelling in capsized 

midstream due to overloading. 

Speaking separately to Arewa 

Voice on her ordeal, Mrs. Detini 

Adegizi, mother of nine years 

old Mary said the deceased was 

the third of her four children. 

“She was a primary four pupil 

and my only daughter. They 

were going for a combined choir 

service to sing songs. But 

nobody told me that they would 

be taken across the river. If I had 

known that they would be taken 

across the river I wouldn’t have 

allowed her to be part of it. 

They attend the programme 

every year; I have never allowed 

her to accompany the youths to 

that programme because she 

was too small to embark on such 

a trip across the river. 

“This time they told me that it 

was to be held at Wadata and 

not across the river; that was 

•Nine-year-old Mary Adegizi 

why I allowed her to accompany 

them when she started crying 

that she wanted to be part of the 

group. That is how I lost my only 

daughter in a helpless situation 

We do not want to die in IDPs camps, aged Benue IDPs cry 

to FG, President Buhari 

THERE is no gainsaying 

that Benue State has in the 

last two and half years been 

home to over 480,000 internally 

Displaced Persons, IDPs, who 

fled their ancestral homes 

70-year-old Tyo Kosu 

82-year-old Kase 

Duwegh 

Mrs. Detini Adegizi 

in the middle of River Benue. I 

believe the operators of the boat 

should be called for questioning 

on the decision to cram all the 

children in the boat instead of 

following the herdsmen crisis 

that broke out on January 1, 

2018. 

From that date till now, it has 

been tales of woe for the people 

who have had to cope with 

72-year-old Akombu 

Ikyohl 

Mrs. Ruth Bulus 

taking them across the river 

twice,” she added. 

On her part, Mrs. Ruth Bulus 

who in her passionate 

expression of grief said her two 

living in IDPs camps in very 

difficult conditions and 

surviving on handouts from the 

state government, public 

spirited individuals and 

organisations. 

The ordeal of the IDPs who are 

housed in about 22 official and 

unofficial camps located across 

the state has continued to 

worsen each passing day. 

Many people believe that the 

severe physical and mental 

sufferings of the aged in these 

camps calls for urgent 

intervention of the Federal 

Government. And this it should 

do by ensuring the return of 

peace in the crisis-ridden 

communities so that the IDPs 

can return to their ancestral 

homes where they would spend 

children, Rejoice and Miracle, 

who were both JS3 students of 

Devine Love Secondary School 

would not have been part of the 

Continues on page 21 

the very last part of their years 

on earth and their eventual final 

resting places. 

For majority of them who 

spoke to Arewa Voice at the 

Daudu and Abagena IDPs 

camps both in Guma and the 

outskirts of Makurdi local 

government areas of the state, 

it is only when that is done that 

they would reckon that the 

Federal Government is serious 

with its promise to rebuild their 

destroyed homes and also 

ensure that armed herders are 

stopped from sneaking into 

their communities to unleash 

mayhem on their families. 

For several of the aged IDPs, 

most of who are within the ages 

of 70 and 90 years, their 

Continues on page 23


•Fulani women selling fresh cow milk in Lakweme community, Gombe State, yesterday 

TETFUND: Kogi Poly warns contractors, secures N.9b projects 

By Boluwaji Obahopo 

LOKOJA - Acting Rector, Kogi 

State Polytechnic, Dr. Salisu 

Usman, has decried the high level 

of abandoned projects in the 

institution, warning that such will 

no longer be tolerated. The rector 

has also advised contractors 

handling projects for the state 

polytechnic to maintain highest 

standards in the execution of the 

contracts to avoid 

being blacklisted. 

Dr. Usman spoke in 

Lokoja during the presentation 

ceremony of “award letters” to 

the contractors who emerged 

victorious after competitive 

bidding process for seven Tertiary 

Education Trust Fund, 

TETFUND, projects to be 

executed for the institution 

He noted that the era of 

abandoned projects syndrome 

COVID-19: Apprehension in 

Nasarawa as AG tests positive 

By David Odama 

LAFIA—FEAR has gripped 

governnent officials in 

Nasarawa State as the Attorney 

General and Commissioner for 

Justice, Dr. Abdulkarim Kana, 

was, yesterday, confirmed 

positive to COVID-19 virus. 

Confirming the incident to 

AREWA VOICE TEAM 

Editor: Soni Daniel 

Correspondents: 

Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin 

Bashir Bello, Kano 

Aliyu Dangida, Dutse 

Umar Yusuf, Yola 

Ibrahim HassnWuyo, Kaduna 

Peter Duru, Makurdi 

Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos 

Abdul Murtala, Kano 

Femi Bolaji, Jalingo 

David Odama, Lafia 

Charly Agwam, Bauchi 

Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja 

Andy Asemota, Katsina 

had gone forever, advising the 

contractors to comply strictly with 

the bill of quantities in order to 

avoid collision with the 

management. 

“It is lamentable the plethora of 

abandoned projects doning the 

landscape of the polytechnic. I 

am determined to change the 

narrative for the school to have 

value for its money for the benefits 

of humanity and the institution. 

The TETFUND is magnanimous 

with the school by approving the 

construction of seven legacy 

projects which is aimed at 

enhancing teaching and learning; 

I, therefore, urge the contractors 

to exhibit highest level of 

professionalism in the execution 

of the projects. 

“On assumption of office barely 

three months ago, I did promise 

to utilise my contacts to bring 

functional developments to the 

journalists in Lafia, the state 

Commissioner for Health, Yahaya 

Ahmed, said the Justice 

Commissioner tested positive to 

the virus after undergoing 

screening by the NCDC. 

He said: “I can confirm that. 

However, he is in self-isolation at 

home and is in a stable and clear 

condition. We are taking care of 

him.” 

The Attorney-General who is 

also a member of the state task 

force on COVID-19 reported to be 

conscious of the pandemic by 

observing its safety rules like daily 

wearing of facemask, washing of 

hands and usage of hand sanitiser. 

Meanwhile, the state has a total 

of 234 confirmed cases of COVID- 

19, with 113 recoveries and a 

total of eight deaths so far 

recorded. 

It would be recalled the state 

chairmanin of the Nigerian 

Medical Association, NMA, had 

tested positive to the virus last 

week. 

institution which culminated in 

approval of these seven projects 

for the polytechnic,” he said. 

Usman warned contractors 

against repeat of the ugly 

situations that led to the 

abandonment of some projects in 

the school without 

useful explanation from those 


ORGANISED Labour in the 

nation’s communications 

industry, has raised the alarm that 

Nigeria Postal Service, NIPOST, 

is at a risk of losing no fewer than 

15,000 workers into the 

unemployment market over 

alleged recent takeover of its 

primary duty to produce and issue 

stamp by the Federal Inland 

Revenue Services, FIRS. 

Senior Staff Association of 

Statutory Corporations and 

Government Owned Companies, 

SSASCGOC, who raised the 

alarm in Abuja, yesterday, issued 

a 21-day strike notice to the 

Federal Government to put things 

right or face a nationwide strike 

by its members. 

General Secretary of 

SSASCGOC, Ayo Olorunfemi, 

said at the briefing: “The FIRS 

on June 30, 2020 against any 

known law produced and 

launched its brand of adhesive 

stamp, thereby hijacking and 

taking over the function of 

NIPOST. It is illegal for FIRS to 

produce and issue stamp to denote 

duties when it can be procured 

from NIPOST. If this is allowed to 

go on, the usurpation of the main 

duty of NIPOST will lead to about 

15,000 job loss. As a union, we will 

not accept this as there is no known 

law that gave FIRS powers to 

produce stamps. Everybody knows 

the situation in the country today. 

I insist, NIPOST will lose nothing 

less than 15,000 workers and 

when you look at that, the 

Kaduna declares emergency in 

water, sanitation sector 

By Ibrahim Hassan 

THE Kaduna State 

Government has declared a 

state of emergency in the Water, 

Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH, 

sector, to enable it attain the 

national 

goal 

of making Nigeria Open 

Defecation Free, ODF, by the year 

2025. 

In a statement signed by the 

Special Adviser on Media and 

Communication, Mr. Muyiwa 

Adekeye, yesterday, the 

government also noted that the 

state of emergency will enable 

the state to build on the success 

of the Sanitation, Hygiene and 

Water in Nigeria, SHAWN II, 

programme. 

The special adviser said that 

significant progress was being 

recorded in ridding the state of 

open defecation, adding that 

"Jaba Local Government Area 

has been validated by UNICEF 

as having attained ODF status.” 

Adekeye said: "As at May 2020, 

2,269 communities in the state 

have attained UNICEF ODF 

status. This was achieved 

through the implementation of 

relevant WASH projects and 

consistent sensitisation of 

communities. Steps are being 

taken to achieve state-wide ODF 

concerned in the handling of 

those contracts, noting: “The era 

of abandoned projects has gone 

forever in the institution. The 

previous experiences with the 

contractors will not be tolerated. 

We are determined to ensure that 

any kobo spent on projects must 

be accounted for to the letter." 

‘Nobody told us our children would be 

ferried across River Benue' 

Continued from page 21 

team if she were told they 

would be taken across the river. 

She said: “I was at home 

when they left the house. All 

they told me was that they were 

going for combined choir 

practice at Sabongida Wadata. 

They did not tell me they were 

to cross the river; I was not told. 

I wouldn’t have allowed them 

go because it is dangerous, 

especially with the increased 

level of water in the river at this 

time of the year. 

“They took our children in a 

boat without life jacket in an 

overloaded canoe and wasted 

status across the 23 local 

government areas. 

The state government places 

priority on the provision of clean 

and safe water and promotion of 

basic hygiene. 

"These are central to delivering 

quality health care and life 

expectancy which are important 

human development indices. 

Also, water and sanitation are 

very critical in preventing killer 

diseases like cholera, Lassa fever 

and typhoid, as well as Covid- 

19." 

The special adviser disclosed 

that the state’s Rural Water 

Supply and Sanitation Agency, 

RUWASSA, rehabilitated 110 

boreholes across Kaduna State 

in 2019, with funding from 

UNICEF. By May 2020, 

RUWASSA has rehabilitated 

another 216 bore holes in various 

communities across the state. 

In addition, local artisans were 

trained and provided with tool 

kits to assure future repairs of the 

boreholes, enhance community 

participation and ownership as 

well as the sustainability of the 

installations.” 

The statement promised that 

Kaduna State government will 

continue to invest in human and 

material resources to eliminate 

open defecation. 

Adekeye who noted with 

gratitude UNICEF’s role in 

helping Kaduna State to achieve 

ODF status, added that the UN 

body has been a very supportive 

ally in that effort. 

The special adviser further said 

that: ‘’Kaduna State looks 

forward to building on the gains 

of the SHAWN II programme 

and attaining a vital sustainable 

development goal". 

Stamp duty: 15,000 jobs at risk in 

NIPOST, labour raises alarm 

multiplier effect on the economy 

and the saturation of 

unemployment market, you will 

know that it will be a catastrophe 

waiting to happen and we have 

said we will not allow that to 

happen. 

“To this end we are calling on 

the Federal Government to 

facilitate an urgent meeting 

between NIPOST, FIRS, 

SSASCGOC and other 

stakeholders to arrive at an 

amicable resolution. Failure to do 

this within 21 days from today 

(Wednesday) July 8, 2020, the 

Union shall have no other option 

than to direct all its members in 

NIPOST to withdraw their 

services. It is very painful that 

while other nations are protecting 

and developing their postal 

services and making maximum 

use of the services for 

advancement, Nigeria is busy 

doing things that will kill its own. 

“It should be noted that both 

NIPOST and Federal Inland 

Revenue Services are statutory 

corporations for which this Union 

has jurisdiction to organise their 

staff. Therefore, our position must 

always be balanced according to 

the laws of the land. That is why 

we are insisting that both 

organisations must develop a 

synergy that will enhance higher 

productivity in the area of stamp 

matter." 

their lives. Even their leader 

also died. This is just too much 

for me to bear,” she said as she 

wept. 

Meanwhile the Police Public 

Relations Officer, Deputy 

Superintendent, DSP, 

Catherine Anene in a statement 

said 14 bodies had so far been 

recovered from the river by the 

search and rescue team 

comparing Marine Police 

personnel and local fishermen 

stationed at Ijaha community in 

the outskirts of Makurdi where 

some parents gathered to 

received some of the bodies so 

far recovered.


COVID-19: Plateau rural 

communities improvise to 

get running water 

By Marie-Therese Nanlong, 

Jos 

THE need for personal 

hygiene could be said to 

be as old as man. Even in the 

primitive age, humans found 

ways of keeping themselves 

clean and neat. 

Basically, everyone has been 

taught to always wash hands 

after certain daily activities like 

before and after eating, after 

using the toilet, among others. 

But many, especially in rural 

communities, see this ritual as 

either a waste of time or scarce 

resources, especially in areas 

where water supply is very 

minimal or scarce. 

However, diseases, like the 

ravaging COVID-19 in 

contemporary times, have 

brought to fore the urgent 

necessity to continue with the 

age-long tradition of hand 

washing even in the rural 

setting because it is one of the 

preventive measures against 

the disease. 

We do not want to die in IDPs camps, aged Benue IDPs cry to FG 

Continues from page 21 

immediate desire is to go back 

to their ancestral homes with 

their families and not die 

shamefully in IDPs camps. 

In one voice, they 

acknowledged that relative 

peace had returned to parts of 

the state following the 

intervention of the military 

operation code-named 

Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS. 

But they observed that armed 

herders were still launching 

attacks on their communities 

and confronting the troops. 

They appealed to President 

Muhammadu Buhari and the 

Federal Government to give 

attention to their plight by 

fulfilling the promise of 

rebuilding their homes and 

helping them return to their 

farms that were either taken 

over by armed herders or 

destroyed by the same 

marauders. 

Among these aged IDPs is 70- 

year-old Tyo Kosu who fled Tor 

Kula village in Guma LGA with 

his three wives and eight 

children since 2018. He said: 

"My community is still not safe 

but we want to return home, I 

don’t want to die here. 

“The Federal Government 

should urgently come to our 

aid. They promised to rebuild 

our destroyed homes; they 

should please fulfill that 

promise so that we can go back 

home and return to our farms.” 

On his part, 85-year-old blind 

Utoo Damsa who fled Umenger 

village also in Guma LGA with 

To curb the spread of the 

disease in Plateau State, 

women in rural communities 

who have no access to running 

or pipe-borne water received 

training on ways of 

improvising to ensure their 

households wash hands under 

running water. 

Apart from 

COVID-19, 

frequent hand 

washing is good 

for one’s personal 

hygiene 

The training which focused 

on how to construct a local 

running water system for 

frequent hand washing was 

conducted for the women in 

different Plateau communities 

under the Social Investment 

Programme, SIP. With the 

increasing number of 

confirmed cases of COVID-19 

the help of this children and 

aged wife, said: “The only help 

I desire is for the Federal 

Government to rebuild our 

home and stop herdsmen from 

coming into our communities, 

so that I can go home and die 

peacefully.” 

Also homesick is 72-year-old 

80 year old blind Utoo Damsa 

82-year-old Zuzu Ato 

disease in 

the State 

a n d 

frequency 

of rainfall, 

r u r a l 

women now 

activate the 

skill to wash 

their hands. 

Explaining 

t h e 

mechanism, 

a 

beneficiary 

of the 

training, 

A woman using the local hand-washing mechanism in Zabolo village. 

Esther 

Yusuf, from Jingir in Bassa 

Local Government Area of the 

State said the construction is 

simple as two sticks are fixed 

stick. The rope with the jerry 

can is also tied to the end of 

another stick which is partly 

suspended on the ground. 

firmly apart in the ground, Upon stepping on the 

another stick hinged on the 

two and a four or five litre jerry 

can containing water with tiny 

holes on the lid is then 

fastened to the top stick and 

soap tied to a corner of the 

suspended stick, the rope 

drags the jerry can upside 

down and in the process spills 

the water out for hand 

washing. The water stops 

whenever the person removes 

Akombu Ikyohl who fled from 

Umenger village with his four 

children. She said she was tired 

of living a pitiable life in the 

IDPs camp and wondered why 

the Federal Government 

abandoned them to their fate 

“but paying attention to IDPs 

in other parts of the country". 

And she had queried thus: 

"Why, what is our sin?” 

Same was the position of 89- 

year-old Magagh Chabo who 

had lived in the camp for three 

years with her three children 

and several grandchildren after 

fleeing Umenger village. 

Speaking with so much pain 

she said: “My only request is 

that they should not allow me 

die here in the camp.” 

For 72-year-old Fagagh Zaki 

who fled Tor Kula village with 

his seven children and wife 

from his ancestral home, life 

Chukchi Tartyo, 70 

years old 

89-year-old Magagh 

Chabo 

had not been the same for 

members of his family. 

“The state government is 

catering for us but the Federal 

Government should rebuild 

our homes and chase armed 

herders way from our villages 

so that we can go home where 

we can die peacefully. I don’t 

want to die in this camp; that 

is my plea,” he added. 

This is also the sentiment of 

75-year-old Silvernus Uwachi 

from Kaseyo village, 82-yearold 

Zuzu Ato also from Kaseyo 

and 82-year-old Kase Duwegh 

from Tse Akwu Mbagwen, all 

in Guma LGA, who 

passionately appealed to the 

Federal Government to help 

them return to their ancestral 

homes to enable them enjoy the 

last moments of their lives and 

not die shameful deaths in IDPs 

camps in a “foreign land”. 

Ukir Awunnna, 71 

years old 

his/her leg from the 

suspended stick. 

This improvised running 

water system is being 

constructed at homes and other 

public places in rural 

communities as residents say 

it has helped them in the fight 

against germs, especially as 

children now wash hands 

properly before meals. 

Rose Bawa from Zabolo in the 

same local government area 

added that: “The training has 

been very useful and many 

people have started learning 

how to construct it because it 

cost almost nothing to 

construct, apart from getting 

some sticks, ropes and jerry 

cans.” 

She stated that the one for her 

household is mounted at her 

gate and everyone coming into 

her house will wash his/her 

hands before entering her 

house, and her neighbours 

have been assisted to construct 

theirs for their respective 

households. 

She maintained that water 

needed for the jerry can is 

fetched from local water 

sources like wells, rain and 

boreholes, while encouraging 

other rural dwellers to all learn 

how to construct it so that they 

could mount it in front of their 

houses and other places for 

use. 

Also, Musa Umaru, another 

rural dweller further urged 

citizens to key in and construct 

the hand washing tool in their 

homes because, according to 

him: “Apart from COVID-19, 

frequent hand washing is good 

for one’s personal hygiene.” 

It was, however, confirmed 

that many homes across rural 

communities are mounting the 

tool in front of their homes to 

encourage regular hand 

washing. 

It is hoped that this humble 

effort would be rewarded as 

COVID-19 is being battled not 

only in Plateau and Nigeria 

but the world at large.







Police kill taskforce member, 

another in Abia 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

U MUAHIA—TWO 

persons were, 

yesterday, shot dead in Aba, 

Abia State, as Policemen 

shot dead a member of the 

taskforce of the state Board 

of Internal Revenue, BIR, as 

they allegedly attempted to 

stop the taskforce from 

impounding a car. 

It was gathered that a 

passerby, who was also hit 

by a bullet fired by the 

Nigeria hits 40.18% broadband penetration 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

ABUJA—NIGERIA has 

achieved 40.18 percent 

Broadband penetration, the 

Minister of Communications 

and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa 

Alli Ibrahim Pantami has 

said. 

The minister revealed this 

on Thursday, while 

inaugurating Broadband 

Implementation Steering 

Committee, BISC, to 

accelerate the attainment of 

70 percent broadband 

penetration target by 2025 in 

Abuja. 

Pantami, who expressed 

satisfaction with the 

contribution of the sector to 

the nation’s GDP, described 

the contribution as 

unprecedented. 

“If you look at the 

contribution of technology to 

our GDP, what we have 

Rivers: Promoters of violence shouldn't 

escape justice, Abe tells security agencies 

PORT HARCOURT— 

FORMER Senator 

representing Rivers South- 

East Senatorial District in 

the National Assembly, Sen. 

Magnus Abe, has called on 

security agencies in the 

country to immediately 

apprehend and bring to 

book the promoters and 

architects of violence in 

Rivers State. 

He said security agencies 

should be allowed to carry 

out their responsibilities to 

our nation without 

hindrance, including the 

arrest of those behind the 

June 21, 2020 threat to 

unleash violence and 

destroy Rivers State. 

Abe, in a statement he 

personally signed, said as a 

country, Nigeria cannot 

indefinitely tolerate 

lawlessness, rascality and 

impunity, as the greatness 

of any nation corresponds 

with the hard work and 

sacrifice of its citizens. 

"Nigerians must be 

prepared to put in the hard 

work and sacrifice that is 

required to build Nigeria 

and we must condemn the 

unacceptable with one 

voice. 

“In the words of Boris 

Johnson, “No ifs, no buts”. 

We must show zero 

understanding and 

police, along Asa road, later 

died at the hospital. 

Trouble was said to have 

started in the area when the 

taskforce team was said to 

have accosted a bread seller 

who allegedly uses a private 

car to sell bread. 

Eyewitnesses told 

Vanguard that the 

policemen were invited by 

the bread seller after he 

declined to ‘settle’ the 

taskforce team who 

attempted impounding his 

car for using a private car 

achieved in the first quota 

of 2020 is unprecedented, 

the contribution is 14.07%, 

so this is a clear indication 

that the more there is proper 

penetration, the more our 

GDP will increase. 

“Part of the plan is that we 

are targeting at least 90% 

of our population in 

Nigeria to get access to 

broadband. While the 

penetration, we are 

targeting 70%. 

“This has been going 

on for sometimes; the time 

we started this, the 

broadband penetration was 

31% but based on the report 

released by the NCC just 

last week, the broadband 

penetration now is 40.18%. 

Within that period we 

achieved almost 10% of 

broadband penetration in 

less than a year,” he stated. 

He explained that the 

new Broadband Plan 2020- 

tolerance for evil that is 

capable of destroying our 

country. What is wrong is 

wrong, what threatens our 

public peace should be 

punished. 

"Those promoting hatred 

Halt Evwreni killings, Ughere tells 

FG, Delta govt 

U GHELLI— 

TRADITIONAL 

Prime Minister of Evwreni 

Kingdom, Ughelli North 

Local Government Area, 

Delta State, Chief Joshua 

Ughere, has called on the 

Federal and the State 

Governments to halt the 

killings in the kingdom. 

He also called for the 

"proscription of the Evwreni 

community vigilante team 

so that a new one can be 

set up." 

Reacting to the murder of 

Sylvester Adjogbe in the 

community, Ughere urged 

security agents to 

investigate the recent 

killings in the community, 

particularly that of Mr. 

Sylvester Adjogbe, and 

bring the perpetrators to 

book. 

Enjoining all illustrious 

sons and daughters of the 

kingdom to come together 

and step into the matter and 

for the sale of bread. 

A struggle was said to 

have ensued as the police 

fired sporadic shots which 

hit a member of the 

taskforce as well as a 

passerby. The taskforce 

member died on the spot 

while the passerby was 

said to have gave up the 

ghost at the hospital. 

The incident, Vanguard 

gathered, angered the 

youths who had mobilized 

to attack the policemen, 

but a combined team of 

Mopol men and Soldiers stormed 

the area and dispersed them. 

2025, was designed to 

deliver data download 

speeds across Nigeria at a 

minimum 25Mbps in 

urban areas, and 10Mbps 

in rural areas, with effective 

coverage available to at 

least 90% of the population 

by 2025 at a price not more 

than N390 per 1GB of data 

(i.e. 2% of median income 

or 1% of minimum wage). 

The plan, he said is being 

tailored inline with the 

pledge by President 

Muhammadu Buhari to lift 

100 million Nigerians out 

of poverty in 10 years, 

adding that the plan will 

accelerate the aspiration of 

the country, as it leap frog 

with the rest of the 

developed world towards 

the widespread 

deployment of 5G 

technologies, even while it 

is yet to achieve significant 

4G coverage and adoption. 

and violence in our society 

should be punished, the security 

agencies must be allowed to carry 

out their responsibilities to our 

nation without hindrance. We 

should not just lead, we must lead 

by example." 

proffer solutions to the 

contentious issues, he said 

the community has not 

known peace since a 

traditional ruler was 

allegedly wrongly installed 

in the kingdom. 

He said he had expected 

the indigenes of the 

kingdom to learn from the 

crisis which broke out in the 

community in 2000 where 

so many people were killed 

and many fled the 

kingdom. 

He said: "Unfortunately, it 

was what happened at that 

time that is rearing it's ugly 

head in the community 

again. 

"The ancestors of the 

kingdom should be 

appeased for all the wrongs 

that were done in the past 

so that we can correct them. 

The traditional stool that 

was wrongly put in place 

should be looked into and 

reversed."


DAODU 

I, formerly known as Daodu 

Temitope Omotayo, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. Ariyo 

Temitope Omotayo. All 

former documents remain 

valid. General public please 

take note. 

NWOSU 

I, formerly known as Prisca 

Ngozi Nwosu, now wish to be 

known as Prisca Ngozi Iwunze. 

All former documents remain 


take note. 

TORKAA 

I, formerly known as Torkaa 

Richard, now wish to be known 

as Torkaa Atsen Richard. All 



take note. 

OGWU 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Ogwu Mercy Nonyelum, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Jude 

Mercy 

Nonyelum 

henceforth. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General Public, to whom it may 

concern should please take 

note. 

DURU 


Chisom Perpetua Duru, now 

wish to be known as Mrs 

Chisom Perpetua Obi. Former 


General public take note 

OVIE 

My name was wrongly written 

as Kolagbodi Kinston Ovie, 

instead of my correct name 

Kolagbodi Samuel Ovie. All 



take note. 

OBIANUZIE 


Obianuzie Jennifer Oluchi, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. 

Nwanya Jennifer Oluchi. All 



take note. 

OLUCHUKWU 


Confidence Mmesoma 

Oluchukwu, now wish to be 

known as Mrs. Odozor 

Confidence Mmesoma. All 



take note. 

OKOH 


Okoh Ebere Mercy, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. Benson 

Lucky Ebere Mercy. All 



take note. 

OSAGIE 

This is to confirm that the name 

Sylvester Osagie and Osagie 

Sylvester belong to one and same 

person. I now wish to be known as 

Osagie Sylvester. All former 

documents remain valid. BANK, 

general public and all relevant 

Authorities please take note. 

RASHEED 

I, formerly known as Ganiyat 

Olaide Rasheed, now wish to 

be known as Ganiyat Olaide 

Isiakaalao. All former 


General public please take 

note. 

AKADIDI 

I, formerly known as Akadidi 

Betty Ebhomazino, now wish 

to be known as Omonaiye 

Akadidi Ebhomazino. All 



take note. 

UBAH 


Idorenyin Sunday Ubah, now 


Celestina Bassey Etim. All 


valid. MDCAN-UCTH and the 

general public should please 

take note. 

ONYEISI 

I, formerly known as Ojene 

Violet Onyeisi, now wish to 

be known as Ojene 

Ozuluonye henceforth. All 


valid. General Public, to whom 

it may concern should please 

take note. 

ADEMOLA 

I, formerly known as Grace 

Imezor Ademola, now wish to 

be known as Grace Imezor 

Steven-Anslem. All former 


General public please take note. 

ADELEKE 

I, formerly known as Adeleke 

Kabirat Mosunmola, now wish 

to be known as Olajide Kabirat 

Mosunmola. All former 



AJUNAM 


Ajunam Cynthia Nwakaego, 

now wish to be known as Mrs. 

Adigwe Cynthia Nwakaego. All 



take note. 

UKPE 

I, formerly known as Ukpe 

Enobong Friday, now wish to 

be known as Okorigbo 

Enobong Samuel. All former 



note. 

OBED 

This is to confirm that the 

name, Obed Sandra Nneka and 

Siwekwu Comfort Nneka refer 

to me. I now wish to be known 

as Siwekwu Comfort Nneka. 



take note. 

WORMA 

I, formerly known as 

Uchegbulem Roseline Worma, 

now wish to be known 

as Uchegbulem Roseline. All 


valid. BANK, general public 

and all relevant Authorities 

please take note. 

AKINLEYE 

I, formerly known as Aramide 

Boluwatife Akinleye, now wish 

to be known as Aramide 

Boluwatife Elegbede. All former 



note. 

NWAFOR 

I, formerly known as Charles 

Emeka Nwafor, now wish to be 

known as Charles Emeka 

Godwin. All former documents 

remain valid. General public 


CLARKSON 

I, formerly known as Obinna 

Edward Clarkson, now wish to 

be known as Obinna-Clarkson 

Edward Mubula. All former 



note. 

NMERI 


Nmeri Sandra Oby, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. 

Okenkwor Sandra Oby 



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may concern should please 

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AJAYI 

I, formerly known as Steven 

Ajayi, now wish to be known 

as Steven Anslem Ajayi. All 



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NWOHU OB 

I, formerly known as Nwohu 

Barthlomew Chima, now wish 

to be known as Francis 

Barthlomew Chima. All former 



note. 

EZEOKE 

I, formerly known as Ezeoke 

Augustina Ukamaka, now wish 

to be known as Uzoaga 

Augustina Ukamaka. All 



take note. 

AJALA 

I, formerly known as Tolulope 

Marvellous Ajala, now wish to 

be known as Tolulope 

Marvellous Teko. All former 



note. 

BAADOM 

I, formerly known as Baadom 

Beatrice Tombari, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. Iyefaa 

Beatrice Tombari. All former 



note. 

ONWUBIKO 

I, formerly known as Chinyere 

Lesley Onwubiko, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. Chinyere 

Lesley Anayo Ekwuwe. All 



take note. 

OKITI 


Okiti Rita Ufuoma, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. Nwabuwa 

Rita Ufuoma. All former 



note. 

EKU 


as Eku Ruth, instead of my 

correct name Efemini Ruth. 

Former documents remain 


take note. 

ENEDE 

I, formerly known as Eleleziel 

Loveth, now wish to be known 

as Mrs. Enede Loveth 



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NZEKWE OD 

I, formerly known as Nzekwe 

Peace, now wish to be known 

as Ifeakachukwu Peace Nneka. 



take note. 

FEYIJIMI 


as Miss .M. Maclean Feyijimi 

Maria Macle, instead of my 

correct name Feyijimi, Miss 

Maria Maclean. All former 



note. 

AKUDIKE 

I, formerly known as Akudike 

Augustina Nkiru, now wish to 

be known as Augustina Nkiru 

Chukwu. All former documents 



ZUBAIR 

I, formerly known as Zubair 

Abdul-Azeez, now wish to be 

known as Subair Abdul-Azeez 

Oluwatobi. All former 



note. 

NWODO 

I, formerly known as Nwodo 

Obinna Victor, now wish to be 

known as Okafor Victor 

Obioma. All former documents 



EBUKA 

I, formerly known as Ebuka 

Emmanuel Cheteze, now wish 

to be known as Cheteze 

Emmanuel. All former 



note. 

NNANNA 

I, formerly known as Medilyn 

Nyemaovuchi Nnanna, now wish to 

be known as Medilyn Nyemaovuchi 

Mpi. All former documents remain 

valid. Authorities of Rivers State 

Ministry of Education, Port 

Harcourt, University of Port 

Harcourt and general public please 

take note. 

ADEGOKE 

I, formerly known as Adegoke 

Joy Jolaade, now wish to be 

known as Taiwo Shukurat 

Jolaade. All former documents 



SOLOMON 

I, formerly known as Danjuma 

Solomon, now wish to be 

known as Danjuma Chindo. All 



take note. 

IGBENOBA 


Josephine Igbenoba, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. Emeghai 

Josephine Ejime henceforth. 


valid. General Public, to whom 

it may concern should please 

take note. 

RICHARDS 


Victoria Amarachukwu 

Richards, now wish to be 

known as Mrs Victoria 

Amarachukwu Omoregie. 

Former documents remain 


take note. 

ARISEKOLA 

I, formerly known as Arisekola 

Oyindamola Blessing, now wish 

to be known as Arisekola 

Oyindamola Victoria. All 



take note. 

OTTI-AGHA 


Otti-Agha Nnedinma 

Danielle, now wish to be 

known as Mrs. Ofoh 

Nnedinma Danielle. All former 



note. 

BALOGUN 


Balogun Shola Fatimo, now 


Oremosu Fatimo Shola. All 



take note. 

ADOYI 

I, formerly known as Joseph 

Godswill Adoyi, now wish to be 

known as Joseph Godswill 

Ogwuche. All former 



NGAMANYI 


Ngamanyi Pascal Tientcheu, 

now wish to be known as 

Chigozie Pascal Orji. All 



take note. 

EZEDOM BASSEY 


Bassey Patience Akpanekpo, 


Egbah Patience Akpanekpo. 



take note. 

INUSA 


Inusa Eunice Jerry, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. Elendu 

Eunice Jerry. All former 



note. 

CLETUS 


Verniumbe Tornyor Cletus, 


Verinumbe Tornyor. All 



take note. 

EHIWARIO 

This is to confirm that Ehiwario 

Hana, Nwanturu Anna, Nwanturu 

Ehiwario and Anna Ehiwario refers 

to one and the same person, now wish 

to be known as Anna Ehiwario 

henceforth. All former documents 

remain valid. General public, to whom 

it may concern please take note. 

OKEKE 


Maria Nkeiruka Okeke, now 

wish to be known as Mrs Maria 

Nkeiruka Onyejide. All former 


General public take note. 

JOSEPH 


as Joseph Omikunle, instead of 

my correct name Joseph 

Abolarinwa Omikunle. All 



take note. 

NWACHOKOR 

I, formerly known as Sarah Ese 

Nwachokor, now wish to be 

known as Teteri Ese. All 



take note. 

MUSILIU 

I, formerly known as Musiliu 

Tukuru Taiwo, now wish to be 

known as Tukuru Musiliu 

Taiwo. All former documents 



MBACHU 

My name was wrongly 

captured on my BVN as 

Mbachu Edith Chika, instead 

of Mbachu Edith Chikamnele. 


valid. Access Bank and the 

general public please take note. 

CHUKWUMA 

I, formerly known as Mrs. 

Vivian Tizheik Chukwuma, 

now wish to be known as Miss 

Vivian Tizheik Iyaye. All 


valid. BANK, general public 

and all relevant Authorities 


EJIKE-ONWUDINJO 

EZEDOM 

I, formerly known as Ejike- 

Onwudinjo, Chinazom (Mrs), 


Okey-Umeh Chinazom 

(Miss). Former documents 


take note.

CHANGE OF NAME 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020—31 

UGWU GOLDEN WAYII LAWRENCE PREYE EZEOBATA 

I, formerly known as Ugwu I, formerly known as Miss Blessing I, formerly known as Wayii I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Preye I, formerly known as Miss 

Ujunwa Chimaobi, now wish to Ipregha Golden, now wish to be Tambari Friday, now wish to Marian Lawrence, now wish to Zuofa, now wish to add Ezeobata Ngozi Angela, now 

be known as Chukwuma known as Mrs. Blessing Ipregha Aye- be known as Wayii Justice 

be known as Mrs. Gijo Beatrice to my names, which 


Biedomoye Marian. All is now Preye Beatrice Zuofa. 

Ujunwa Chimaobi. All former Dikuro. All documents bearing my Friday. All documents bearing 

Nwoke Ngozi Angela. All 

documents bearing my former All documents bearing my 

documents remain valid. former name remain valid. General my former name remain valid. name remain valid. General former name remain valid. 


General public, please take public and all relevant authorities General public and all relevant public and all relevant General public and all relevant valid. The general public should 

note. 


authorities please take note. authorities please take note. authorities please take note. please note. 

JAMES 

AFAHOKOR 

ONAJITE 

AGHOGHO 

ODOGWU 

JOMO 

I, Godwin Mfon James hereby confirm I, formerly known as Afahokor I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Aghogho I, formerly known as Odogwu I, formerly known as Miss 

that my name was wrongly written as Alexander Oghenevwegba, Edafeudubre Tobore Onajite, Elizabeth, now wish to be 

Ebiyerinkabo-Ere Monica, Jomo Annabel Tejiri, now wish 

Godwin Uzoma James in my BVN, 


now wish to be known as now wish to be known as known as Mrs Elizabeth Kigho 

to be known as Mrs Epete 

now wish to be known and 

Andaye Ebiyerinkabo-Ere 

Afahokor Alexander Obaro. Tobore Onajite. All former Tobore. All former documents 

Annabel Tejiri. All former 

addressed as Godwin Mfon James. 

Monica. All former documents 


All former documents remain valid. 

documents remain vaild. remain vaild. General public remain vaild. General public documents remain vaild. 

General public please take note. vaild. General public take note. General public take note. take note. 

take note. 


ETELI 

EGHAGHARA 

HARRY 

OBI 

EDAFERUEKE 

EREROBE 

This is to certify that the names, I, formerly known as I, formerly known as lhinosen I, formerly known as Miss Obi I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known and 

Ambrose Eteli, Ambrose A. Eteli 

Edaferueke Abigail and Miss addressed as Miss Faith Eneta 

Eghaghara Kevwe, now wish Harry Salami, now wish to be Patience Joy, now wish to be 

and Ambrose Akinete Mac-Eteli refer 

Edafe Abigail, now wish to be Ererobe, now wish to be 

to one and same me. I now wish to be to be known as Odjugo Kevwe. known as Ihinosen happy known as Mrs. Efe Patience known as Mrs. Ijeh Abigail known and addressed as Mrs. 

known as Ambrose Akinete Mac- All former documents remain Salami. All former documents Joy. All former documents Oghenekparobor. All former Faith Eneta Allen-Ovrawah. 

Eteli. All former documents remain 

documents remain valid. All former documents remain 

valid. General public please remain valid. General public remain valid. General public 

valid. General public please take 

General public please take valid. General public please 

note. 

take note. 



note. 

take note. 

IKPEZE 

MADUEMEZIA 

IKPEZE 

UCHENWE 

TOLEFE 

OMENE 

I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known and addressed I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Ikpeze addressed as Miss Maduemezia as Miss Ikpeze Obianamma addressed as Miss Uchenwe addressed as Miss Tolefe addressed as Miss Omene 

Onyekachi Francisca, now wish 

to be known and addressed as 

Isioma Vivian, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs. 

Chiwetalu, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs. 

Mercy Nwamaka, now wish to 

be known and addressed as Mrs. 

Pamela Dumebi, now wish to 

be known and addressed as Mrs. 

Diana Oghenevarho, now wish 

to be known and addressed as 

Mrs. Okoye Onyekachi Maduemezia-Okelue Isioma Igbokwe Obianamma Enegide Mercy Nwamaka. All Jibunor Pamela Dumebi. All Mrs. Obi Diana Oghenevarho. 

Francisca. All former Vivian. All former documents Chiwetalu. All former former documents remain former documents remain All former documents remain 

documents remain valid. remain valid. General public documents remain valid. valid. General public please valid. General public please valid. General public please 

General public please take note. please take note. 

General public please take note. take note. 

take note. 

take note. 

ADIBE 

I, formerly known and addressed as 

ITEIRE 

I, formerly known and addressed as 

EDUN 

I, formerly known and addressed 

TINAYA 

I, formerly known and addressed 

NNACHI 

This is to confirm that the names Nnachi 

AZUKA 

This is to confirm that the names 

Miss Victoria Kenechi Adibe, and Miss Iteire Randa, and Miss Iteire as Edun Oritsetseyisan Ramsey, as Uzokwe Chioma Tinaya, 

Azuka Ogechukwu Kelvin and 

Uchechukwu Francis and Nnachi Friday 

Eshone Junior Ogechi refer to one 

Miss Adibe Vivian Kenechi, now Oreromena Randa, now wish to be now wish to be known and now wish to be known and refer to one and the same person. I now 

and the same person. I now wish to 

wish to be known and addressed as known and addressed as Mrs. addressed as Edun Ramsey addressed as Uzokwe Chioma wish to be known and addressed as Nnachi be known and addressed as Azuka 

Mrs. Victoria Kenechi Orakposim. Miranda Oreromena Frank-Odibo. Oghenehriwe. All former Nneka. All former documents Uchechukwu Francis. All former Ogechukwu Kelvin. All former 

All former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. remain valid. General public documents remain valid. General public documents remain valid. General 

General public please take note. General public please take note. General public please take note. please take note. 


public please take note. 

ODAGUZO 

AKURUYA 

OKONO 

KALU 

OYALADE 

EGUNLUSI 

I, formerly known as Odaguzo I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Kalu I, formerly known I, formerly known 

Chibueze Michael, now wish to 

Cynthia Omawumi Akuruya, 

Okono, Nkoyo Godwin, now Chinyere Mary, now wish to be as Miss Adiza Michelle as Miss Victoria Damilola 


be known as Okoronu Chibueze 

wish to be known as Mrs Umoh, known as Mrs Chinyere Mary Oyalade, now wish to be Egunlusi, now wish to be 

Cynthia Omawumi Osakwe. All 

known as Mrs. Adiza Mbachu. known as Mrs. Victoria 

Michael. All former documents 


Nkoyo Ekemini. All former Ndukwo. All former documents 

All former documents remain Damilola Oyeleke. All former 

remain valid. General public valid, general public please take documents remain valid, remain valid. General public 

valid, general public please documents remain valid, 


note. 

general public please take note. please take note. 

take note. 


AWOTOYE 

EHIMARE 

IMOKE 

EMMANUEL 

AYOBAMI 

UGWU 

I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known I, formerly known as Olarinde I, formerly known as Miss 

Ronke Abigail Awotoye, now as Miss Blessing Ofureh Dorcas Opeyemi Imoke, now as Emmanuel Felicia 

Christiana Chinagorom, now 

Olawale Ayobami, now wish 

Ehimare, now wish to be 

Chinecherem, now wish to be 


wish to be known as 

wish to be known as Mrs Dorcas 

to be known as Olarinde 

known as Mrs. Blessing Ofureh 

known as George Felicia 

Christiana Chinagorom Ugwu. 

Mrs. Ronke Afuye. All former 

Aigbiremonlen. All former 

Opeyemi Ajibade. All former 

Chinecherem. All former 

Akorede Olawale. All former 


documents remain valid, documents remain valid, documents remain valid, documents remain valid, documents remain valid, valid, general public please 

general public please take note. general public please take note. general public please take note. general public please take note. general public please take note. take note. 

ADAMS 

UMEH 

IROHAM 

EGEMUKA 

NWABUISI 

IGINA 

I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Iroham I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss Nwabuisi I, formerly known as Igina 

Adams Oluwatosin, now wish Umeh Miracle Chiamaka, 

Egemuka Joy Adaku, now 

Jennifer Ijeoma, now wish to 

Roselyne Ogadinma, now wish to Ola Perry, now wish to be 

to be known as Mrs. Okenice 



be known as Mrs. Nwankwo 

be known as Odo Jennifer Chidinma Duru Joy Adaku 

known as Igina Oladipo Pere- 

Iwunze Miracle Chiamaka. All 

Roselyne Ogadinma (Nee 

Oluwatosin Adams. All former 

Ijeoma. All former documents (Nee Egemuka). All former 

Buinte. All former documents 


Nwabuisi). All former documents 

documents remain valid, 

documents remain valid. The 

valid, general public please remain valid, general public 

general public should please remain valid. The general public remain valid, general public 

general public please take note. take note. 


take note. 

should please take note. 


ANYEBE-PETER OKAFOR ALOH 

ERHIEGHA 

ORAKWE 

ANJORIN 

I, former known as Eunice I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Mrs. 

I, formerly known as Erhiegha I, formerly known as Orakwe I, formerly known as Miss Anjorin 

Eyiminu Anyebe-Peter, now Okafor Ijeoma Comfort now Aloh, Nneamaka Irene now Oghenetega, now wish to be 

Obianuju Ifeyinwa, now wish Rashidat Ajibike, now wish to be 

wish to be known as Eunice 

wish to be known as Mrs. Orji wish to be known as Mrs known as Mrs. 

to be known as Mmadubugwu known as Mrs. Sebiomo Rashidat 

Ijeoma Comfort Sylvia. All Nwifuru-Fidelis, Nneamaka Oghenekohworho 

Eyiminu Sammy-Njar. Former 

documents bearing former Irene. All documents bearing Oghenetega. All former 

Obianuju Ifeyinwa. All Ajibike. All documents bearing my 

documents remain valid. First names remain valid. The former names remain valid. documents remain valid. documents bearing my former former name remain valid. Tescom and 

Bank and General Public please general public should take The general public should take General public please take name remain valid. General 

Lagos State Government, and general 

take note. 

note. 

note. 

note. 

public should take note. 

public should take note. 

OBASI 

MODU 

ONYEJEKE 

EVWIENURE 

OKON 

GEDE 

I, formerly known as Obasi I, formerly known as Modu I, formerly known This is to confirm that the names, I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known, called and 

Evwienure Oghene-Ochukome Onome, 

addressed as Miss Gede 

Agolm, now wish to be known Bunu, now wish to be known as Onyejeke Marcel 

Idongesit Duke Okon, now 

Evwienure Ogheneochuko, Evwienure 

Ekpoakerezimene Rita. Now 

as Chima Sylvester Isaac Obasi. 

Nwachukwu, now wish to be 

as Mohammed Bunu. All other 

Ochuko, Evwienure Ogheneochukome, wish to be known as Mrs wish to be known, addressed 

known as Ugboaja Marcel Evwienure Ogheneochukome Azakiri refer Idongesit Duke Edighienyong. and called Mrs. Ambah 

All other documents remain documents remain valid. 

to same me. I now wish to be known as 

Ekpoakerezimene Rita. All 

Nwachukwu. All former 



Evwienure Ogheneochukome Azakiri. All 


documents bearing my former 

documents remain valid, former documents remain valid.General valid, general public please name remain valid. General 

take note. 

note. 

general public please take note. public please take note. 

take note. 

public please take note. 

IBHAKHOBOH NGO-MARTINS 

OJEZUA 

IGBARAGO 

ONUWAJE 

NWAJIAKU 

I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Miss Ngo- I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Mrs. I, formerly known as Onuwaje I, formerly known as Nwajiaku 

Ibhakhoboh Blessing 

Ojezua Laruba, and 

Martins Valerie Awele, now wish 

Igbarago Eseohe Osaro, now Aro Sylvester, now wish to be Chismag, now wish to be 

Isibhakhomhen, now wish to 

Agazuma-Ojezua Laruba, am 

to be known as Mrs Valerie the same person, henceforth wish to be known as Itua Eseohe known as Amoma Aro known as Nwajiaku Chismag 

be known as Oseghale Blessing 

Isibhakhomhen. Former Awele Adio. All documents now wish to be known as Mrs Osaro. All former documents Sylvester. All former Raphael. All former 

Agazuma Laruba, all former 

documents remain valid. remain valid. General public 

documents remains valid, 

remain valid. General public documents remain valid, documents remain valid, 

General public please take note. please take note. 

general public take note. please take note. 

general public please take note. general public please take note.


By Theodore Opara 

THE all new Mercedes 

Benz GLS sport utility 

vehicle has once again raised 

the bar in its segment, 

flaunting new attributes like 

never before. Apart from 

being luxury personified, the 

new GLS is now more 

specious, refined, faster with 

arrary of safety features. 

Announcing the arrival of 

the new GLS, Mr. Mirko 

Plath, chief operating officer 

of Weststar Associates Ltd., 

representatives of Mercedes- 

Benz in Nigeria, said the GLS 

is Mercedes-Benz’s largest 

and most luxurious SUV. It 

offers more of everything: 

more space, more comfort 

and indeed more luxury. 

Since it was first introduced 

in 2006 as the GL, the 

Mercedes-Benz GLS has 

dominated markets for large 

sized luxury SUVs all over the 

world. This new generation 

of the GLS pushes the bar even 

higher, living to its title as the 

S-Class of SUVs. The all-new 

GLS makes its debut in 

showrooms in Nigeria, 

courtesy of Weststar 

Associates Limited, 

authorized general 

distributor of Mercedes-Benz 

in Nigeria. 

The all-new GLS stands out 

with highlights like EQ Boost, 

an all-new 4MATIC that 

ensures great agility on the 

road and strong performance 

off the beaten track, and key 

comfort features like; the 

Mercedes-Benz User 

Experience (MBUX), 

electrically adjustable seats 

throughout as standard and 

a generous amount of space 

especially in the second row. 

The exterior of the all-new 

GLS is luxurious and larger 

than life. It comes with a more 

superior presence in 

comparison to its predecessor, 

thanks to a larger wheelbase 

at 3135 mm. The impressive 

proportions and the long 

bonnet also underscore the 

power and presence of the 

new GLS. The nearly upright 

radiator grille, the prominent 

chromed skid plate, and the 

bonnet with two power domes 

are key features of the unique 

exterior design. Multibeam- 

L AND 

Rover 

will celebrate 

the arrival of the 

New Defender 

in Africa with a 

110-minute 

special online 

streaming event 

promising 

informative discussions, 

interesting news and in depth 

looks at an icon reimagined for 

the 21st century. 

Xola Ntshinga has been 

enlisted to lead the show and 

the well-known sports presenter 

will take viewers on a journey 

through various segments 

exploring the Defender’s 

historical importance and its 

rebirth as an adventure vehicle 

for the digital generation. 

All-new Mercedes-Benz 

GLS arrives, flaunts new 

attributes 

Mercedes-Benz GLS 

LED headlamps come as 

standard with a total of 112 

LEDs per headlamp in the new 

GLS. The new GLS also 

comes with up to 23-inch 

wheels as well as a refined 

selection of rim designs. The 

optional panoramic sliding 

sunroof gives a fascinating 

sense of freedom as it bathes 

the interior in a pleasantly 

bright ambience. 

Inside the all-new GLS 

elegant aesthetics are 

highlighted with leather 

appointments as standard. 

The instrument cluster and 

media display (2 x 12.3-inch 

as standard), are housed 

behind a shared continuous 

glass surface to form a large 

free-standing screen. There is 

a touchpad in the center 

console as a further means of 

controlling many vehicle 

functions. The ambient 

lighting impressively 

illuminates the dashboard, 

with optical fibers coursing 

throughout the cockpit. The 

four rectangular air vents are 

prominently embedded in the 

trim element. As a typical 

feature of off-roaders, there 

are two prominent grab 

handles on the center console 

trimmed with ARTICO manmade 

leather. There is also a 

new sport steering wheel with 

a striking, sculptured spoke 

design. 

The longer wheelbase of 

the new GLS means there’s 

more space, especially in the 

second seat row, which can 

furthermore be electrically 

adjusted front and back by 10 

cm. There is more leg room 

in both the second and third 

Land Rover to reveal where new Defender came from 

Bryan Habana, who fell in 

love with the New Defender 

when he witnessed it driving 

onto the field after the 

Springboks took the Rugby 

World Cup final in Japan last 

year, will join the discussion and 

dig deep into the vehicle’s 

advanced technologies. 

Jaguar Land Rover South 

Africa and sub-Sahara Africa 

Managing Director Richard 

Gouverneur will introduce the 

New Defender to guests and 

Kingsley and Ross Holgate, who 

will make an important 

announcement during the 

show. 

Humanitarian adventurers 

Kingsley and Ross Holgate 

share a deep love for Defender, 

having owned 15 of them since 

the early 1970s. Defenders have 

played integral roles in assisting 

the Kingsley Holgate 

Hyundai Genesis G80 

Foundation to deliver aid to 

millions of people in need in 

every African country and 

beyond. The father and son will 

weigh in on the New Defender’s 

capabilities, share some first 

impressions and tell some 

fascinating stories about their 

experiences with previous 

Defenders on many incredible 

expeditions. 

The screening will be divided 

Hyundai, LG team up on 

Electric Vehicle 

WITH demand for EVs growing, Hyundai Motor 

Company and LG Chem are jointly sponsoring the “EV 

& Battery Challenge” (EVBC), a global competition to identify 

up to 10 EV and battery start-ups for potential investment and 

collaboration. New Energy Nexus, the international start-up 

support organization, will manage and facilitate the 

competition. 

With the automobile industry’s increased focus on 

development of more eco-friendly vehicles, specifically EVs, 

the demand for high-performance, high-efficiency batteries is 

greater than ever before. Hyundai has gained prominence in 

the global market with a comprehensive portfolio of EVs. 

Hyundai Motor Group is planning to deploy 44 eco-friendly 

models by the year 2025, including 23 EVs. The chosen startups 

will have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with 

Hyundai and LG Chem, to develop proof-of-concept projects 

while leveraging the sponsors’ technical expertise, resources 

and laboratories. The global competition offers start-ups the 

opportunity to showcase their respective innovative 

technologies and unique business models. Through the EVBC, 

the three sponsors aim to identify and secure core technology 

capabilities that will bring more value to their customers. 

seat rows. The EASY-ENTRY 

function, makes it easy to get 

into and out of the two 

individual seats in the third 

row. The third row has fully 

fledged seats that are suitable 

for people up to 1.94 m tall. 

All rear seats can be folded 

separately or at the same time 

with the single touch of a 

button to create a level 

loading area in the boot of 

the GLS with a capacity of up 

to 2400 liters. 

into five topics covering 

heritage, design, tech, 

capability and purpose, and 

each segment will offer 

numerous interviews, short 

films and inserts to paint a 

complete picture for viewers on 

where the New Defender came 

from, how it was developed and 

what it will offer customers in 

Africa. 

CHANGE OF NAME 

EVWRENI 


Evwreni Oghenevwegba Laura, 

now wish to be known as Mrs 

Fasasi Oghenevwegba Laura. 


valid, general public please 

take note. 

AMANKEM 

I, formerly known as Doris 

Adaku Amankem, now wish to 

be known as Nwankudu Doris 

Adaku. All former document 

remain valid general public 

take note 

OKEJOTOR 

I, formerly known as Okejotor 

Elizabeth Edirin, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. Okejotor 

Elizabeth Edafe. All former 



OMODION 


Omodion Kate Ngozi, now 


Okolie Kate Ngozi. All former 



AMADASUN 


Amadasun Omoruwa, now 

wish to be known as Mrs Ophi 

Juliet Omoruwa. All former 


general public please take note.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020—33 

PIGB: Stakeholders in cautious 

optimism 

By Sebastine Obasi 

There is much anxiety and 

cautious optimism 

over passage of the much 

awaited petroleum industry 

governance bill (PIGB) as the 

month of June comes to an 

end. 

This is based on promises 

made by government officials 

that the PIGB will be passed 

this June. The Speaker, House 

of Representatives, Femi 

Gbajabiamila had in February 

during a courtesy visit by a 

delegation of the Experts 

Advisory Panel of the Nigeria 

Natural Resource Charter 

assured that the PIGB will be 

passed before the end of June. 

He said: “The legislature 

needs to work with you. We 

need to work together. Oil 

and gas is an integral part of 

our economy. It remains the 

mainstay of our economy, and 

so we have to work together 

to protect it. “It requires us to 

work with those who 

understand the nuances of 

that sector. For the oil and gas 

industry to develop, there has 

to be a symbiotic relationship. 

You have the knowledge and 

we have the capacity to make 

it happen. “PIGB is on the 

front burner. We intend to start 

the process soon. We’re 

hoping that by June, we’ll be 

able to see the light at the end 

of the tunnel. 

Stakeholders'' 

concern 

However, industry 

stakeholders have continued 

to express cautious optimism 

as they await the passage of 

the bill. Dr. Frank Ihekwoaba, 

Chief Finance Officer, Eroton 

Exploration and Production 

Company Limited, while 

expressing caution, stated that 

the PIGB will follow public 

sector model that rewards 

effort as opposed to rewarding 

result. “That the National 

Assembly is still struggling to 

muster up the energy to pass 

a PIGB is basically extreme 

procrastination that ensures 

Nigeria will remain 

moribund, archaic, 

unaccountable and non 

competitive. That’s who we 

have been, who we are, and 

who the inaction ensures 

Nigeria remains. In that state 

of anomie, a few benefit while 

the majority languish as 

usual. 

Professor Wumi Iledare, 

Director, SPE Africa Region, is 

optimistic the bill will be 

passed. “PIGB at the end of 

June is plausible because all 

the work was completely done 

in the last assembly. Nigeria 

has much more to gain if PIGB 

is passed. It will enhance 

transparency and 

accountability and improve 

investor’s perception. It would 

expunge the amorphous 

governance of the oil sector with 

a distinctive commercial, 

regulatory and policy 

institutions. It will make 

institutions more apolitical with 

well defined criteria to select 

board members based on 

experience and competence 

for value addition. 

“There will be interconnectivity 

of the value chain in terms of 

effective regulatory framework 

with no room for price control or 

subsidy along the value chain. 

PIGB establishes institutions to 

enforce fiscal policy and 

regulations effectively, equitably 

and ethically, in terms of revenue 

collection 

ethically, in terms of revenue 

collections, lease administration, 

corporate and community 

responsibility,” he added. 

Corroborating Iledare’s 

submission, Bank-Anthony 

Okoroafor, immediate past 

Chairman, Petroleum 

Technology Association of 

Nigeria, PETAN, believes the bill 

will be passed as promised. “It will 

be passed. If the right PIB is passed, 

it will bring fiscal clarity to our 

industry. Oil is being discovered 

everywhere and we need to put 

our acts together. Investment will 

go to areas with better fiscals 

clarity. We have lost a lot of 

investment by this decade that the 

PIB has not been passed,” he 

stated. 

For Dr. Chambers Oyibo, 

former Group Managing 

Director, Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC 

and Chairman/Chief Executive 

Officer, Prime Energy Resources 

Limited, the circumstances are no 

longer the same. “Oil prices are 

very low now. If our legislators are 

serious about passing the PIGB, 

they must have done a lot of work 

on it. The law that regulates the 

most important industry in 

Nigeria shouldn’t take more than 

18 months. Our legislators don’t 

seem to know the impact of 

making this law as it affects the 

citizenry who have been waiting 

endlessly. Can you imagine how 

long it has been from the regime 

of former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo to President 

Muhammadu Buhari? He asked. 

About the PIB 

The concerns of the 

stakeholders, no doubt stem from 

the fact that the bill originally 

known as petroleum industry bill, 

PIB, has been in the works for close 

to two decades, 

as it was first introduced in the 

National Assembly in the Year 

2000, thereby making it easily the 

bill that has spent the longest time 

under our bi-cameral legislative 

bodies. Having suffered a setback 

in the 7th Assembly, it was decided 

that a new approach would be 

adopted to facilitate its passage 

and signing into law. The bill was 

subsequently unbundled into 

several segments by the 8th 

National Assembly, which was 

aimed at making it easier for the 

less-controversial aspects of the 

bill to have easy passage while the 

more controversial aspects are 

dwelt more upon. The Petroleum 

Industry Bill (PIB) was therefore 

split into four parts, namely: 

Petroleum Industry Governance 

Bill (PIGB), Petroleum Industry 

Administrative Bill (PIAB), 

Petroleum Host and Impacted 

Community Bill (PHIB) and 

Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill 

(PIFB). In January 2018, the 

Petroleum Industry Governance 

Bill was passed by the House of 

Representatives. This marked a 

significant milestone in the journey 

of replacing the obsolete 

Petroleum Act (1969), as the 

Senate had earlier passed the 

PIGB in May, 2017. Some of the 

underlying principles include: 

Effective and capable institution, 

clear roles and accountabilities, 

transparency and ease of doing 

business. Core objectives in the 

PIGB include: i. To provide a one 

stop shop Regulatory Authority; 

ii. To provide functional 

commercial entities; iii. 

•Timipre Silver 

Discretional powers abolished; 

iv. Improved technology and 

innovation; v. Clarity of roles and 

accountabilities; vi. Create 

efficient and effective governing 

institutions with clear and 

separate roles in the Petroleum 

Industry; vii. 

Establish a framework for the 

If the right PIB is 

passed, it will bring 

fiscal clarity to our 

industry. Oil is 

being discovered 

everywhere and 

we need to put our 

acts together 

creation of commercially 

oriented and profit driven 

petroleum entities that ensures 

value addition and 

internationalization of 

petroleum industry; viii. Promote 

transparency and accountability 

in the administration of the 

petroleum resources of Nigeria; 

ix. Create conducive business 

environment for the petroleum 

industry operations. 

Disappearing Opportunity 

There has been a flight of new 

investment opportunities from 

Nigerian to our neighbour’s in 

Ghana, Angola and Equatorial 

Guinea who have more defined 

laws and governance structure. 

Experts estimate that the country 

looses approximately 

$15million annually in lost 

investment due to loss of investor 

confidence in the industry. The 

passage of the bill will engender 

investor confidence in the 

industry and attract more 

Foreign Direct Investments. 

Post COVID-19 Oil Economy 

With oil prices hitting an all 

time low as a result of price 

wars between Saudi Arabia 

and Russia as well as reduced 

demand occasioned by the 

COVID-19 pandemic, it is 

apparent that oil dominance 

as an energy source of choice 

in the post COVID-19 

economy will be challenged. 

The time is therefore ripe to 

streamline the number of 

MDA’s involved in the 

governance structure in the 

Nigerian Oil and Gas 

Industry, which conforms to 

the overall target of the 

Government in reducing cost 

of governance based on 

current realities and scarce 

resources. A single 

regulatory body would ensure 

end to end project cycle 

approval which will greatly 

reduce transaction cost, 

eliminate regulatory 

competition and 

enhance value 

maximisation. It will also 

promote the Executive Order 

001 on Ease of Doing Business 

in Nigeria. 

“Why we are investing in 155,000-tonne 

palm nut cracker plant’’ 

By Jimoh Babatunde 

THE owners of an 

Agro firm, Golden 

Seed Fats and Oils has 

explained why they are 

taken the bold step of investing 

in a 155,000- 

tonne capacity palm nut 

cracker plant in the 

South-South region. 

Mr Lanre Sam- 

Akinkunmi, Co-Founder 

and Chief Executive of 

the firm, told newsmen 

during a media briefing in 

Lagos that the company 

had also opened a 

100,000-tonne palm kernel 

shell milling plant. 

Sam-Akinkunmi noted 

that there had been a gap 

in the Crude Palm Oil 

(CPO) production chain 

majorly as a result of nonavailability 

of cracker 

equipment in the country. 

According to him, the 

stand-alone factory is a 

Foreign Direct Investment 

(FDI) in equity fund 

between him and his Co- 

Founder and Executive 

Director, Mr Ilkin Shahverdiyev 

from Turkey. 

“The company is currently 

focused on edible 

oils and primarily focused 

on the palm kernel oil 

value chain. 

“Our 155,000 tonnes per 

annum capacity of palm 

nut cracker is largest in 

West Africa; 100,000 

tonnes palm kernel shell 

plant; 15,000 tonnes of 

palm kernel oil and 

20,000 tonnes of palm kernel 

cake. 

“We are currently working 

with 2,000 smallholder 

oil palm farmers under 

the aegies of Nigerian 

Palm Producers Association 

and the Oil Palm 

Growers Association of 

Nigeria (OPGAN). 

“Golden Seeds is helping 

these farmers with 

social investments such as 

pre-financing for operations, 

harvesting, milling 

operations and after production. 

We offtake at an 

agreed rate beneficial to 

the farmers 

“We had to bring in significant 

FDI when we realised 

the huge gap in the 

palm nut cracker segment 

of the sub-sector. 

“Because of the capacity, 

we have begun the process 

of generating our 

energy to ease the burden 

on the community,” Sam- 

Akinkunmi said. 

He said the firm had 

done these in Ondo, Edo 

and some parts of Delta 

States where producers 

were majorly located to 

aggregate from them who 

produced in small quantities, 

saying that they 

were grouped to increase 

volume during offtake. 

The Co-founder also 

noted that the firm was 

working at integrating its 

carbonisation stove to be 

launched in September to 

process palm kernel 

shells to charcoal to service 

the cement industry. 

“All our value chain development 

have a target. 

For the palm kernel oil, 

we are targeting the soap 

production industry. 

“For the palm kernel 

shells, we are looking at 

the cement industry while 

the palm kernel cake is 

targeted at the pig meal 

industry in Turkey, Dubai 

and Oke-Aro pig farm in 

Ogun. 

“Sixty per cent of pig 

meal is palm kernel cake 

which is cheaper than 

soya bean meal. 

“We will also grow our 

palm oil production because 

of the growing demand 

for soap, vegetable 

oil, margarine and others. 

Whereas, all these products 

have over 60 per cent 

palm oil content. 

“We have a lot in out kitty; 

like the refinery we 

intend to build. So, our 

venture into this sector 

will be a win-win situation 

for both the Federal, 

state, processors, farmers 

and everyone across the 

value chain,” he said. 

Sam-Akinkunmi highlighted 

some of the challenges 

in the sector as 

unavailable key moratorium, 

low interest rate finance 

and others. 

He applauded Federal 

Government’s land border 

closure policy which 

had channelled a lot of 

investments to the palm 

oil sector. 

Agric: IFAD-VCDP rates 

Ebonyi best among participating 

states in Nigeria 

By Chukwuemeka Opara 

THE International 

Fund for Agricultural 

Development (IFAD)- 

assisted Value Chain Development 

Programme 

(VCDP) has rated Ebonyi 

the best among its participating 

states in Nigeria. 

Alhaji Garba Bala, the 

new National Programme 

Coordinator of IFAD- 

VCDP, gave the commendation 

when he visited 

Chief Moses Nome, Commissioner 

for Agriculture 

and Natural Resources, 

as part of his familiarisation 

tour of the state. 

Bala said that Ebonyi 

distinguished itself by its 

18-page document that 

showcased all its completed 

projects and another 

four-page document that 

showed its ongoing 

projects. 

“The Ebonyi office will 

commence new projects 

by the end of July as over 

N500 million will be released 

to it for effective 

project implementation,” 

he said. 

Bala said that Ebonyi 

was the second state being 

visited after Niger 

since he assumed office on 

June1. “I, however, urge 

the state government to 

expedite action on the 

payment of its counterpart 

fund as it is very important 

and meaningful 

to the programme. 

“The state government, 

particularly the 

governor, has shown 

great enthusiasm in revolutionalising 

agriculture 

and has collaborated 

effectively with us to 

achieve set goals. 

“It should, however, be 

understood that the 

counterpart funds in 

question are in arrears as 

the government has offset 

current ones. 

“Government is, however, 

a continuous process 

and government 

does not belong to any 

individual whether past 

or present, it is the same 

Ebonyi,” he said. 

He said that the programme 

had effectively 

taken steps to cushion 

the effects of COVID-19 

on its benefiting farmers 

across the country with 

the provision of items 

such as protective wears, 

face masks, sanitisers, 

chemicals and other palliatives. 

The state commissioner 

said he was gratified 

but not surprised to hear 

that Ebonyi was the best 

performing state in the 

country on IFAD-VCDP 

programmes.



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DEVELOPING LOCAL TESTING KIT FOR COVID-19—From left: Representative of the 

Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Abdulhadi Abdullahi; Director-General, National 

Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Alex Akpan; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, 

Alhaji Muhammed Sabo-Nanono; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; and 

representative of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Awal Muhammed, during a 

news conference on validation of RNA Swift Extracting Kit for a ground breaking development in science 

and technology in the country, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’ 

Continues from Page 5 

the Presidential panel 

that is investigating him. 

It is the Presidential 

panel that can say if 

Magu should be granted 

bail.” 

Leadership 

vacuum 

The issue of leadership 

vacuum festered at the 

commission’s head office 

yesterday, as no one is 

acting for the embattled 

acting chairman, as there 

had been no official 

communication from the 

Presidency on who 

should act. 

It was learned yesterday 

that jostling for the 

leadership of the 

commission continued 

yesterday as powerful 

forces are said to be 

rooting for FCT Police 

Commissioner, Bala 

Ciroma. 

Recall that the panel 

confronted Magu with 

fresh allegations at 

Wednesday’s sitting, as 

he was asked to account 

for 380 seized houses, 

seven vessels loaded with 

crude oil and disposal of 

assets worth N37 billion. 

Allegations 

against Magu 

Some of the allegations 

made against Magu by 

the AGF include: 

•Alleged 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 

Naira depreciates to N464/$ 

in parallel market 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N464 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 N464 per dollar from 

N460 per dollar on Wenesday, indicating four naira 

depreciation of the naira. 

Meanwhile, the naira yesterday appreciated by 25 

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

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window dropped to N386.50 

per dollar yesterday from N386.75 per dollar on 

Wednesday, translating to 25 kobo appreciation 

of the naira. 

However, the volume of dollars (turnover) traded 

in the window rose by 111 percent to $25.19 

million from $11.96 million on Wednesday. 

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. 

Magu’s 

response to 

allegations 

Responding to the 

allegations made against 

him by the Department of 

State Service, DSS, under 

Lawal Daura, in a letter 

addressed to the AGF, 

dated December 21, 2016, 

the EFCC chief, Ibrahim 

Magu, had said: 

“I most respectfully refer 

to your letter referenced 

HAGF/EFCC/2016/Vol.1/ 

23 dated 19th December, 

2016, asking me to 

respond within 48 hours 

to the allegations 

contained in a report 

written by the Department 

of State Service, DSS, and 

which provided the basis 

for the non-consideration 

of my confirmation on 

December 15, 2016, by the 

Senate. 

“Having carefully 

considered all the issues, 

I hereby present a pointby-point 

response as 

follows: 

Missing EFCC 

files 

“It is true that my 

residence was searched 

on the orders of Mrs. 

Farida Waziri, shortly 

after she succeeded 

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as 

Chairman of the EFCC 

and some documents 

relating to cases under 

investigation were found 

in my house. At the time 

of the raid, I was yet to 

formally hand over to my 

successor, Umar Sanda, 

as head of the Economic 

Governance Unit. 

“My schedule at the 

time warranted that I work 

round the clock and it was 

impossible to conclude all 

assignments without 

working at home. The 

documents found in my 

house were actually found 

in my office bag where I 

kept documents relating 

to investigations. 

“I was in the process of 

handing over and it 

would be wrong to 

suggest that I willfully 

kept the Commission’s 

files at home. 

Nevertheless, the 

incident was thoroughly 

investigated by the Police 

as I was placed on 

suspension without pay 

for 20 months. But in the 

end, I was reprimanded, 

recalled and promoted to 

Assistant Commissioner 

of Police. 

“It is important sir, to 

draw your attention to the 

fact that some of us that 

worked closely with 

Ribadu were victimized 

after his exit. And my 

ordeal was orchestrated as 

punishment for being the 

chief investigative officer 

for most of the high-profile 

cases involving politically 

exposed persons, some of 

whom became very 

influential in government 

at the time. 

Return to EFCC 

under Lamorde 

“I was Assistant 

Commissioner of Police in 

Charge of Operations at 

the Anambra State Police 

Command when I was 

recalled to the EFCC in 

2012. 

“I did not lobby to return 

to the EFCC. It is 

preposterous for anyone 

to suggest that I was 

recalled to do a hatchet job 

for Lamorde as alleged in 

the DSS Report. My job 

schedule as Deputy 

Director, Department of 

Internal Affairs, under 

Lamorde, was simply 

handling issues of 

professional 

responsibility in the 

Commission. I had no 

inputs in core operations 

duties of the Commission. 

Tenancy of 

official residence 

“I live in the official 

residence of the 


Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission 

(EFCC). This 

accommodation, contrary 

to the report of the DSS, 

is not my private home, 

neither was it rented and 

furnished for me by 

Commodore Umar 

Mohammed (rtd). It was 

rented and furnished by 

the Ministry of the 

Federal Capital Territory 

through the Abuja 

Metropolitan 

Management Council, 

under the Safe House 

Scheme. 

“It is also false that the 

house was rented for 

N20million per annum 

and furnished for 

N43million. The entire 

cost for both two-year rent 

and the furnishing of the 

house is N39.628million. 

Details of the 

transaction are contained 

in the contract award 

letter and payment 

schedule which are 

attached to this letter. 

Expensive air 

travels 

“Honourable Minister, 

the claim that I have a 

penchant for expensive 

air travels in a private jet 

belonging to Commodore 

Mohammed is baseless 

“The two times I can 

High profile/ 

dual lifestyle 

“The allegation that I 

live a flamboyant lifestyle 

is also surprising to me. 

While it is true that I did 

travel first class on 

Emirates Airline to Saudi 

Arabia for Umrah, this 

action to the best of my 

knowledge, did not 

contravene the directive 

of Mr. President on First 

Class travels as suggested 

by the DSS Report. 

“My trip to Saudi Arabia 

was a private journey to 

perform my religious 

obligation and it was not 

financed with public 

funds. More importantly, 

my decision to fly first 

class was not borne out of 

quest for luxury but 

compelled by necessity. 

“The trip was made 

during the last ten days 

of Ramadan and other 

classes of ticket were not 

available. I had no other 

choice. That I flew first 

class in one instance is not 

enough evidence to 

suggest an extravagant 

lifestyle as alleged by the 

DSS Report. It is also not 

enough to suggest a dual 

personality. 

“Any one that has 

associated closely with me 

will attest to the fact that I 

am not known for 

ostentatious living. And 

my new office as acting 

chairman of the EFCC has 

not changed this. 

Relationship 

with 

Commodore 

Mohammed 

Umar, retd 

“Sir, it is important to 

situate my relationship 

recall travelling in with Commodore 

Commodore Umar’s Mohammed Umar (rtd), 

aircraft, were on a trip in proper perspective. 

from Kano to Abuja, and Our paths crossed when 

Abuja to Maiduguri. In we became members of 

the first instance, I had the Presidential 

gone to Kano on an Committee on the 

official assignment with investigation on arms 

two of my directors, and procurement. 

Mohammed who was on “He was instrumental in 

his way back to Abuja getting some of the 

offered us a ride in his jet. information that helped 

“The second occasion the committee make 

was when I was going to significant breakthroughs 

see my sick mother in in its assignment. 

Maiduguri. These, for Beyond that, the 

me, were harmless relationship between 

gestures as we were both Umar and myself is one 

members of the of professional 

presidential investigative acquaintance, devoid of 

committee on arms issues of conflict of 

procurement. 

interest. 

“At the time I had no “So, it comes to me with 

knowledge that he was shock, the imputation by 

under investigation for the DSS that we have a 

any alleged crimes. “mutually beneficial 

Claims that I flew in relationship”. This 

Mohammed’s jet to appears suggestive that 

Maiduguri in company of Mohammed and I were 

the Managing Director of involved in activities that 

Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi could be said to be 

Okonkwo is false. I have untoward. I certainly have 

never flown in a private no knowledge of such 

aircraft with any activities. 

managing director of any “The claim that EFCC 

bank, let alone one that documents, including 

was under investigation EFCC letters addressed 

by my agency. I have no to the Vice President and 

personal relationship being investigation 

whatsoever with him. Continues on Page 35


MULTI-BANKS' ROBBERY SUSPECTS—Seven suspected robbers of Ekiti 

and Ondo banks' robberies being paraded by the Police at the SARS Head 

Office in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 

Untouchables’ 

Continues from Page 34 

reports on the activities of 

Emmanuel Kachikwu and 

his brother Dumebi 

Kachikwu, were found in 

his home during a search 

by the DSS came to me as 

a surprise. 

“If that is correct, he 

should be made to 

disclose how he came by 

such documents. I never 

discussed my official 

duties with him let alone 

give him documents 

pertaining to 

investigations being 

conducted by the 

commission. 

“Interestingly, 

Mohammed was detained 

for several months by the 

DSS. In all those months, 

did he claim that I 

mandated him to commit 

any crime or that I was an 

accomplice to any crime? 

If there is any such claim, 

I will wholeheartedly like 

to be confronted with the 

allegation. 

“It is interesting to note 

that when Mohammed 

was eventually charged to 

court, the charges against 

him were money 

laundering and illegal 

possession of firearms, 

and nothing related to my 

purported “shady” 

relationship with him. 

Perceived 

reluctance to 

arraign Vice- 

Marshall 

Adesola 

Amosun 

“The DSS Report that 

the reason EFCC delayed 

the arraignment of a 

former Chief of Air Staff, 

Air Vice Marshall Adesola 

Amosun, was because 

Mohammed never 

wanted Amosun to be 

prosecuted is astonishing. 

Anyone familiar with the 

EFCC under my watch 

knows that I perform my 

duties with the highest 

sense of responsibility. 

“The reason Amosun 

was not arraigned when 

the likes of Alex Badeh 

and Umar were arraigned 

was because he 

cooperated with the 

Commission in terms of 

assisting the process of 

recovering the proceeds of 

crime. 

“Indeed, among the 

suspects arrested over the 

arms procurement 

scandal, he was most 

cooperative. The 

Commission recovered 

N2.835billion cash from 

him, aside from property 

worth One Billion Five 

Hundred and Eighty One 

Million Naira 

(N1,581,000,000), Two 

Million One Hundred 

and Fifty Thousand 

United States Dollars 

($2,150,000) and One 

Million Pounds Sterling 

(£1,000,000). 

“Since a key focus of the 

investigation was to 

recover as much proceeds 

of crime as possible, the 

Commission took its time 

to ensure it had recovered 

what was possible before 

arraigning the suspect in 

court. This had nothing to 

do with the wish of any 

individual. Moreover, the 

suspect has since been 

arraigned before a court of 

competent jurisdiction. 

Alleged vendetta 

against Stanley 

Lawson 

“The suggestion by the 

DSS Report that Stanley 

Lawson, a former Group 

Executive Director of the 

Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation 

(NNPC) was placed on a 

watch list, to settle scores 

with him is strange. 

“It may interest you to 

know that I do not know 

Stanley Lawson 

personally and could not 

be settling personal 

scores by framing 

somebody that I do not 

know. Lawson’s 

encounter with the EFCC 

is in relation to the 

investigation into the 

mismanagement of $118 

million public funds for 

electioneering campaign 

involving former 

Petroleum Resources 

Minister, Diezani Alison- 

Madueke. 

“It was discovered that 

he made payment of 

$25million into Fidelity 

Bank and also facilitated 

the purchase of Ogeyi 

Place Le Meridien Hotel 

in Port Harcourt for Mrs. 

Alison Madueke, for 

which he collected Ninety 

Four Million Five 

Hundred and Sixteen 

Thousand Naira 

(N94,516,000) as 

commission. Lawson was 

arrested and he made a 

refund of the N94.5million 

traced to him. He was 

never placed on any 

watch list. 

Work through 

Police cronies in 

EFCC 

“I do not understand 

what the report meant by 

working with cronies. If 

what was implied is that I 

have preferred officers 

that I work with and who 

go about their work in 

unethical manner, my 

response is that nothing 

of such exists in the 

EFCC. 

“Officers who work with 

me know that the easiest 

way to lose your job is to 

be found to be involved in 

unethical or corrupt 

activities. Indeed, when I 

assumed office as acting 

chairman, my first action 

was to return police 

officers with integrity 

issues back to the Nigeria 

Police Force. 

“If the DSS finds that 

there are police officers in 

the EFCC who are 

working closely with me 

and have properties that 

their incomes cannot 

support, the Service is at 

liberty to expose them. 

Conclusion 

“Honourable Minister, 

Sir, I invite you to take 

notice of the fact that the 

DSS authored two 

separate vetting reports 

on me, one referenced 

SV.114/3 addressed to the 

Clerk of the National 

Assembly and the other 

referenced SV.114/3 

addressed to the Senior 

Special Assistant to the 

President on National 

General. While one of the 

reports advised the 

Senate against my 

confirmation, the other 

asked it to favourably 

consider my confirmation. 

The two reports 

emanating from the same 

agency raise questions of 

sincerity and motive. 

“You will want to find 

out why they came up 

with two conflicting 

reports on the same 

subject on the same day. 

It is important to note that 

in all this, I was not given 

the opportunity of fair 

hearing. 

“Above all sir, I am 

persuaded by my 

conviction in my 

innocence that in all the 

issues supposedly raised 

against me, no one has 

accused me of receiving 

gratification to act against 

my conscience or the 

interest of the country. 

“I have attached to this 

letter all supporting 

documents and materials 

that would enable you 

arrive at fair position on 

all the issues raised.” 

Osinbajo writes 

IGP, wants 

‘false’ allegations 

linking him to 

Magu funds 

investigated 

Assembly Matters 

(Senate). 

“Both letters were dated 

3rd October, 2016, and 

signed by the same 

Officer, Folashade Bello, 

on behalf of the Director- 

Meanwhile, Vice- 

President Yemi Osinbajo 

has petitioned the 

Inspector-General of 

Police, Mohammed 

Adamu, over allegations 

linking him to funds 

allegedly stolen by anticorruption 

chief, Ibrahim 

Magu. 

An online platform had 

published that Mr Magu 

embezzled over N39 

billion and gave Mr 

Osinbajo N4 billion to 

secure soft-landing. 

The report claimed that 

unnamed sources within 

the panel investigating 

the suspended EFCC boss 

“exposed the vice 

president’s involvement 

in the scandal.” 

“Specifically, Magu was 

said to have mentioned a 

N4 billion that he released 

to the VP based on 

directives the very day the 

president left the country 

for the United Kingdom 

on medical treatment,” 

part of the report read. 

Osinbajo in a letter to the 

IGP through his lawyers, 

Taiwo Osipitan, on 

Wednesday said the report 

was untrue and 

defamatory. 

He also copied the 

Attorney General of the 

Federation, Abubakar 

Malami, in the letter. 

The lawyer asked the 

IGP to investigate the 

allegations and if the 

purveyor was found 

guilty, the police should 

initiate criminal 

proceedings against Mr 

Ude and his platform to 

restrain them from future 

‘false publications’. 


LAGOS — Hajj operators 

in the country and other 

stakeholders in the tourism 

industry as well as 

intending pilgrims 

lamented the collateral loss 

suffered as a result of the 

Saudi ban on international 

hajj this year. The ban came 

as measures to contain the 

spread of the ravaging 

plague, (Covid-19) world 

over. 

This year, precisely, July 

28 to August 4, only 10,000 

pilgrims including 

expatriates in Saudi Arabia 

will perform hajj. The 

annual event usually 

attracts over 2.5million 

Muslims across the globe. 

Active tour operators, hajj 

entrepreneurs and pilgrims 

who spoke to Vanguard said 

the development has 

brought immeasurable loss 

in their businesses, halting 

their investments for a 

whole year. 

Lamenting the fate of their 

investments, they said, they 

have paid and made hotel 

reservations for their clients 

which runs into millions of 

naira, booked tickets with 

airlines and paid bills to 

other service providers in 

Saudi Arabia in advance, 

ran media advertisements, 

paid workers and other 

overhead cost in 

anticipation of a profit out 

of the hajj operations which 

never came. 

They also said that the 

services already paid for in 

Saudi Arabia will not be 

refunded because they are 

also affected by the plague 

but will be brought forward 

to next year’s hajj 

operation. 

Similarly, some intending 

pilgrims also shared their 

pains describing it as huge 

spiritual loss, while hajj 

workers who lost their jobs 

bemoaned the devastating 

effects in their lives as the 

hajj businesses grind to a 

halt for a whole year. 

It’s immeasurable loss 

—Alhaji Abdullateef 

Ekundayo 

Alhaji Abdullateef 

Ekundayo of Al-Firdaus 

Hajj & Umurah service said 

private tour operators in the 

country have lost billions of 

naira. According to him, 

money have been spent on 

advert placement in the 

media, License fee, Office 

space, salaries and other 

over head cost are running 

into several millions of 

naira. 

“We accept what 

happened as the will of 

God. In fact we have lost a 

lot of money. During the 

preparation, we have paid 

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Billions lost in 

Nigeria, S-Arabia 

over Hajj ban 

By Ishola Balogun 

some deposits in Saudi 

Arabia; we have also made 

tangible commitment to the 

airlines. Yet, most of the 

airlines are not ready to 

return cash; rather they are 

promising to give us 

vouchers to use any time 

after the pandemic. The 

same with the hoteliers in 

Saudi Arabia where we 

have paid for 

accommodation. They are 

not willing to return cash. 

We have also spent so 

much on logistic which we 

cannot get back. We have 

done adverts on radio and 

on social media but we 

have talked to our clients 

and majority of them have 

decided to register for the 

2021 hajj. That is what we 

are doing now. We are also 

talking to NAHCON to 

help us talk to the Federal 

government to assist us in 

ameliorating the huge loss. 

“In south west alone, the 

losses are running into 

billions of naira. A lot of us 

had earlier paid fully for 

Ramadan Umurah and we 

could not go. We also know 

that businesses in Saudi 

Arabia especially the 

hoteliers are grossly 

affected too, so returning 

cash becomes difficult. The 

only thing is that your 

money is not lost, it is with 

them and you can use it for 

the services you paid for 

next year. The last time 

some of were estimating the 

loss of private tour 

operators in the state alone 

is running to N250million. 

We’ve refunded all our 

clients—El-Mustaqeem 

Travels 

Alhaji Moshood 

Kamorudeen of El- 

Mustaqeem Travels, & 

Tours, Shaki, Oyo State 

said: “Our service is a 

religious act and that is why 

we are different from the 

conventional tour 

operators. So, we believe 

the pandemic is from Allah 

and it will return to Allah. 

The cancellation affected us 

greatly though because we 

have never heard that 

during our time, but we 

accept it. So the effect is that 

we don’t have business to 

do this year, not only that 

what we have expended on 

the business this year in 

terms of license fee, advert 

on the media, office space 

payment and its overhead 

cost are not quantifiable. It 

is a great loss. We have 

refunded all the money we 

collected from people long 

before now, because I had 

earlier envisaged it will end 

up this way. Even all what 

we collected for Umurah, I 

have refunded all to my 

clients.

36 —Vanguard 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, , 2020 

THE Muslim Ummah of 

South West Nigeria, MUS- 

WEN, has said mosques cannot 

continue to remain locked up 

perpetually in the present circumstance, 

urging scholars and 

experts under the auspices of 

notable Islamic umbrella organizations 

such as the Nigeria Supreme 

Council for Islamic Affairs 

(NSCIA), the Muslim Ummah of 

South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), 

the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) 

to put heads together and come 

up with the best ways to maintain 

meaningful acts of worship 

in the atmosphere of “the new 

norm”. 

This is contained in a communiqué 

issued at the end of a webinar 

on “Covid-19: Effects and 

Muslims Responses” to access 

views of Islamic Scholars and 

other experts on the fallout of the 

ravaging Pandemic held recently 

Ṫhe document signed by MUS- 

WEN Executive Secretary/CEO, 

Professor Muslih Tayo Yahya 

said the webinar was meant to 

access views of Islamic Scholars 

and other experts on the fallout 

of the ravaging Pandemic. 

The group observed: “The consequences 

of “COVID-19” have 

been devastating in many ways, 

the Pandemic has taken many 

lives and the lockdown has prevented 

the Ummah from many 

acts of ‘Ibadah for which Allah 

SWT had promised lots of reward 

in this world and in the Hereafter, 

but nevertheless, it has kept 

families together, discouraged 

unnecessary external interactions 

and at the same time forced 

believers to learn new ways of 

reaching out to distant relations 

and the rest of the Ummah to 

share knowledge and exchange 

views equally beneficial to the 

Ummah in this world and in the 

Hereafter. 

“Apparently, the “COVID-19” 

experience has turned out to be 

a trial from Allah in the manner 

He the Almighty had indicated in 

the Qur’an, to enable believers 

learn lessons of Iman (faith), 

Ikhlas (Sincerity of purpose), 

Taqwa (Consistent consciousness 

of Allah) and of laying less 

emphasis on materialism in the 

process of living and pursuit of 

livelihood. Persistent sins of man 

and deviation from the ways of 

Allah might have kindled this situation 

as a punishment from Allah. 

The group in its recommendation 

said: “The United Nations Organization 

(UN), the World 

Health Organization (WHO) and 

all regional international organizations 

in the world should endeavor 

to interact in matters of 

politics, economy and culture in 

ways that would promote world 

peace and encourage working 

together for the greater benefit 

of humanity and desist from creating 

atmospheres of unhealthy 

rivalry and mutual suspicion. 

“Governments, Religious and 

Social organizations and the citi- 

DhulQadah 18, 1441 A.H. 

Mosques can’t continue to remain locked 

— MUSWEN 

•Urges NSCIA, JNI, scholars to come up with 

solution 

THE Permanent Secre 

tary and Executive Secretary 

of the Adamawa State 

Muslim Pilgrims Welfare 

Board, Malam Salihu Abubakar 

recently held an interactive 

session with journalists 

where he announced 

that the Board had fixed August 

10 for the commencement 

of refund of deposits to 

those intending pilgrims of 

the aborted 2020 Hajj who 

requested for it. 

Malam Salihu Abubakar 

said the Board took the decision 

after consultations 

with key stakeholders, including 

the intending pilgrims, 

who had made deposit 

for the Hajj. 

He said all those who wish 

to seek for refund should 

write to the Executive Secretary 

through their local 

government schedule officers, 

adding that those who 

would want to roll their deposits 

until 2021 pilgrimage, 

could do so, and assured 

that their deposits were safe 

with the Board. 

The Permanent Secretary 

and Executive Secretary 

maintained that those who 

have started payment but 

are yet to make full payment 

of the N1.459 million fare 

zenry should all see “COVID- 

19” as a common enemy and 

work individually and collectively 

to tackle its menace with 

a view to ensuring that it does 

not constitute a permanent 

threat to safety and the economic, 

spiritual and social well being 

of the human society. Scholars 

and experts under the 

auspices of notable Islamic umbrella 

organizations such as the 

Nigeria Supreme Council for 

Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the 

Muslim Ummah of South West 

Nigeria (MUSWEN), the 

Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) 

should put heads together individually 

and collectively and 

come up with the best ways to 

maintain meaningful acts of 

worship in the atmosphere of 

“the new norm”. 

“Every individual should 

take personal responsibility 

to protect themselves against 

“COVID-19” by observing 

with every sense of seriousness, 

the recommended preventive 

measures advised by 

governments and experts; 

governments should however 

ensure that the health-care 

centres have adequate facilities 

to promptly handle fresh 

cases, while frantic efforts 

continue towards finding 

lasting remedy to the Pandemic. 

“Before mosques and other 

worship places are declared 

safe for use by worshippers, 

regular sanitization 

of such places by fumigation 

and the provision of 

hygiene enhancing equipment 

should be jointly provided 

as a matter of responsibility, 

by governments and 

worship groups to ensure 

that such places do not only 

remain open to worshippers 

but are visibly safe. 

“Every family should imbibe 

the spirit of 

togetherness, learn to 

permanently avoid unnecessary 

interactions through social 

parties and gatherings, 

and make the best of the new 

and safe ways of interaction 

even in learning and 

trading. 

“Prayer remains the sword 

and shield of the believer; all 

believers should be constant 

in prayers and supplication, 

seek forgiveness of Allah, 

desist from evil deeds and 

show kindness to one 

another in order to attract the 

mercy and blessings of 

Allah. 

Oh Allah, forgive our sins 

and guide us to the most appropriate 

remedy to the 

ravaging “COVID-19” and 

enable us to gather in Your 

holy places to worship You in 

ways most pleasing to You. 

We e ‘ll commence refund Aug ug 10 

— Bauchi Pilgrims Board 

before the cancellation, can 

complete it if they wished to 

secure their seats. 

BARKA JUMAH 

Be exactly what your traducers don't want 

“Be thoughtful and prayerful!“Be skilled at loving 

other sojourners, be good of heart, and be always 

a cheerful giver. 

“True givers are the tormentors of evil souls who 

hibernate in d crannies of our surrounding earth. 

“Believe it always that those who stand in your 

path lack confidence in their own worthiness, and 

can't stifle your ordained fabulous life. 

“ Failed persons as these try hard to rummage d 

peace of others but never can harm those with 

firm faith who stand by Allah, and whose kind 

deeds are unique, pure and exceptional. 

“May Allah empower us to hope fervently with 

a heart of pure faith that claim us all from the 

confused brokenness of life that only can frighten 

us, but that we have conquered by our powers 

of faith that eternally preserve each of us in Allah's 

loving arms and His everlasting peace. 

Happy jumat. — Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, OON 

Muslim SoulMates 

Do you seek a Muslim life partner? 

Are you a Muslim? Are you searching for a soulmate for 

marriage? Send your profile as published below, contact 

telephone, and photo, to isholaism@gmail.com or on whatsapp 

08036688535. Names and contact numbers will not be published. 

Profile 401: A male Muslim, 38, from Kogi State based in 

Warri wants a God fearing Muslimah between 25-30 as wife. 

She must be able to read the Quran and teach children. 

Profile 402: A male Muslim, widower with two kids, wants 

a God fearing Muslim lady between 30-35 years as wife. She 

must be literate and religious. 

Profile 403: A Muslim male, 42, sailor, divorced with one 

kid, wants a God-fearing Muslimah for marriage. Preferably, 

between 25-30. 

Profile404: A Muslim male, 53, employed, based in Lagos 

wants an hijaby sister and for marriage as second wife. 

Profile 405: A Muslim male, 33, working with private organisation 

in Delta Ste, searching for Muslim lady from any 

part of Nigeria or outside between 22-30 of age. She must be 

business oriented and be ready for marriage. 

Reflection 

Be mindful of the people you allow into your inner 

circle. Make sure you’re familiar with every one of 

them. Make sure the people in your boat are rowing 

in the same direction as you are. Remember, it’s better 

to be alone than to be with those who’ll jeopardise 

your Hereafter! — Mufti Menk 

Bauchi state Governor Sen. Abdulkadir Bala Muhammad receives Chairman/ 

CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle 

Hassan, with his entourage including Commissioners (PPMF, Operations & 

PRSILS), a Board Member, Alhaji Abba Jato, Commission’s Ag. Secretary, Heads 

of Hajj Development Levy Projects, States and Zones, SA-Technical to CEO during 

a courtesy visit to the governor and inspection of the state State Muslim 

Pilgrims Welfare Board Hajj Camp Project site, Wednesday.

DhulQadah 18, 1441 A.H. 

What Muslim World league, scholars say 

on animal slaughter for food 

FOOD plays an important 

role in our religious life and 

how we prepare food represents 

a key tenet of our faith. Throughout 

history, bans on the religious 

slaughter of animals for food have 

been used to try to limit the migration 

of individuals from certain 

religious groups. The first such 

ban on religious methods of animal 

slaughter for food occurred 

in Switzerland as a response to 

Jews fleeing the pogroms of Russia 

during the nineteenth century. 

Similar bans were introduced 

in the lead up ta World War II, 

marginalizing Jewish communities 

across Europe. 

Today, Muslims are increasingly 

the targets of such legislation. 

For example, we have seen bans 

proposed by the Far Right in the 

Netherlands following migration 

from the Middle East of primarily 

Muslim individuals. 

None of these bans are justified - 

whether they target the halal food 

of Muslims, the kosher food of the 

MURIC hails Ogun bill on traditional rites 

•Wants other states to do same 

Abill that will allow tradition 

al rulers to be installed or 

buried after death according to 

their faiths has gone through the 

second reading in the Ogun State 

House of Assembly. The bill 

which is known as HB No 36/OG/ 

2020- A Bill for a law to provide 

for the Preservation, Protection 

and Exercise by the traditional 

rulers of their fundamental 

Rights to be installed and buried 

according to their Religions or 

Beliefs and for other related matters 

is being sponsored by Hon 

Akeem Balogun, representing 

Ogun Waterside State Constituency. 

In a press statement issued by 

the Muslim Rights Concern (MU- 

RIC) on Tuesday, 7th July, 2020 

and signed by its Director, Professor 

Ishaq Akintola, the human 

rights group described the bill as 

long overdue, consistent with the 

spirit of democracy and a sine 

qua non for freedom of religion. 

“We hail Hon. Akeem Balogun 

for sponsoring the bill that will 

allow traditional rulers to be installed 

or buried after death according 

to their faith. We equally 

commend those lawmakers who 

supported it. This bill is long 

overdue, consistent with the 

spirit of democracy and a sine 

qua non for freedom of religion. 

MURIC also urged State assemblies 

in Lagos, Oyo, Osun, 

Ondo and Ekiti to also introduce 

the same bill and pass it into law. 

He said: “Apart from being 

anachronistic, traditional system 

is characterised with tyranny, 

intolerance and dictatorship. 

It is time to liberate the kings and 

the citizenry in Yorubaland. 

“The imposition of only one religion 

(i.e. traditional religion) 

jews, or both. And any such ban 

violates core principles of what 

Europe should stand for. While 

freedom of religion is inscribed 

as a fundamental right throughout 

the democracies of Europe, 

it is meaningless without allowing 

individuals and communities 

the freedom to practice their 

religions. We respect Belgian 

sovereignty and the right of its 

regions to promote social cohesion, 

but urge them to rethink 

these bans. Targeting the religious 

practices of minority 

groups in this way can only 

harm relations between communities 

and undermine social 

cohesion. 

This week,when the European 

Court of justice decides whether 

the Belgian bans on the religious 

methods of animal slaughter 

for food are legal, it must take 

into account the historical intentions 

of such bans, and consider 

the precedent being set. If the 

Belgian bans are upheld, the 

during installation and burial on 

all Yoruba Obas is an infringement 

of their Allah-given fundamental 

human rights. It is like life 

imprisonment for them. 

Yoruba kings have the right to 

choose the manner of their installation 

and no one has the 

right to cut a king off his brethren 

in faith. 

“Besides, the world is changing 

and Yorubaland cannot afford 

to maintain an archaic and 

anachronistic system particularly 

when such erodes the liberty 

to enter into covenant 

with one’s Lord regarding how 

he will rule his people and how 

he will meet his Lord in the 

Hereafter. These are 

fundamental issues which no 

homo sapien should be deprived 

of. 

“In this regard, we 

commend traditional rulers 

who have expressed their 

opposition to the outdated 

system. For instance, the 

Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, Oba 

Sikiru Adetona, has rejected 

the old system and declared 

his desire to be buried 

according to his religion 

(Islam) whenever he dies. Oba 

Adedapo Tejuosho, the Osile of 

Oke-Ona Egba, has also been 

installing the Oluwo and other 

chiefs with anointing oil as a 

born again Christian. 

“In law, only the state government 

on the advice of the 

state commissioner of police 

can impose curfew on a town. 

Even then, such imposition 

must be based on adverse 

security report. But traditionalists 

will not listen. 

They force everyone to stay 

indoor and disorganize social 

message that the Court is sending 

to minority religious communities 

in Europe is clear: They are 

not welcome. We cannot expect 

religious communities to stay in 

Europe and thrive as contributing 

members of their societies, if 

the very act of their food consumption 

is to be treated as a 

crime: We urge the court to take 

into account the needs of religious 

communities in its judgment, and 

the interests of building a Europe 

of diversity and inclusion. 

and economic activities at 

will. The lives of women in labour 

during such unlawful curfews 

are endangered while students 

who have examinations 

stand the risk of failure. 

The forceful conversion of 

children of their deceased 

members to the traditional faith 

is another ugly dimension which 

reveals their dictatorial 

propensity. 

“MURIC therefore welcomes 

the new bill with open arms. It 

will clip the wings of traditionalists 

particularly their gymnastic 

religiosity. However, we charge 

law enforcement agents to ensure 

that the bill operates successfully 

when it becomes law. It 

is one thing to enact a law but it is 

another thing to ensure that it is 

obeyed. 

"Vanguard, 

FRIDAY, JULY 10, , 2020 — 37 

NASFAT births HAVEK leadership academy 

•Set to produce 1,500 value-based young leaders 

in first 1yr 

LEADING Islamic society Nasrul–lahi—li Fatih (NASFAT) 

has announced the birthing of HAVEK Leadership Academy. 

The academy has been established to teach leadership 

skills, address mindset issues as well as develop exceptional 

leaders based on sound Islamic values and ethics. 

HAVEK, crafted from Haven of Knowledge, is an incorporated 

entity focused on developing minds based on Islamic leadership 

principles and is expected to bridge the gap of nonavailability 

of Islamic ethics, values and culture-based leadership 

schools and programmes in Nigeria. It is a NASFAT initiative 

established to produce exceptional young leaders based 

on Islamic ethics, values and skills for a sustainably progressive 

world. According to the pioneer Chair of HAVEK Mr. Niyi 

Yusuf, the academy is a deliberate initiative of NASFAT aimed 

at honing and producing responsible young leaders based on 

global best practice and Islamic principles in governance, 

ethics and values for a very desirous future that guarantees 

sustainable and impactful leadership. 

Speaking further, Mr. Yusuf mentioned that HAVEK is guaranteed 

and envisioned to integrate a combined curriculum of 

management, leadership development, missionary, entrepreneurship, 

citizenship and vocational training skills towards 

breeding well-grounded, resourced, committed, diligent and 

God-fearing leaders for the future. It is hoped that HAVEK will 

soon become the most respected leadership development academy 

in Nigeria and beyond, following in the footsteps of NAS- 

FAT. More importantly, contributing to the growth and development 

of ethical based and principled driven leadership thus 

positively contributing to the creation of a better world. 

The academy is reported to have an ambition of training 

1,500 young leaders in its first year and 1,000,000 by the end 

of its 10th year of operations in 2030 through its various virtual 

and offline programmes including certificate courses, seminars, 

workshops, conferences, periodicals, articles, journals 

and book readings focused on Leadership and Islamic ethics. 

HAVEK’s operations will be managed by a team of experts 

with the support of a governing board of highly respected and 

tested leaders across the private-public sector and missionary 

including Sesan Kareem, Mr. Fatai Olayemi, Alhaji Alaba 

Olalekan, Alhaji AbdulLateef AbdusSalam, Hajia Shereefah Ajibola-Adeola, 

Alhaji Abdurrahman Abdulwahab, Dr. Rahmat 

Adetutu Adisa, Dr. Nasir Raji Mustapha and Alhaja Foluke 

Abdulrazaq in its quest to becoming a leading leadership development 

center in Africa. 

Chairman Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fathi Society (NASFAT), 

Kaduna branch, Engineer Muhyideen Alimi Yusuf 

(right), presenting sewing machine to Halima Ibrahim 

Suleiman (2nd left), while the chairman, Zakat 

committee, Malam Abdulrazaq Zulukalaini (left) 

looks on at the 2020 NASFAT Zakat Distribution to 

the needy in Kaduna yesterday, Photo: Olu Ajayi. 

Some of the beneficiaries at the presentation of 2020 NASFAT Zakat distribution 

to the needy to start business, in Kaduna yesterday, Photo: Olu Ajayi.


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

TAURUS: Although matters-of-the-heart may give 

you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you 

would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. 

This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within 

your working arena. 

GEMINI: Those of your who are red-blooded for 

romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. 

Happenings within your social circles must be taken 

more seriously. 

CANCER: Confrontation may come your way in the 

circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. 

Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day 

like this. 

LEO: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to 

be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work 

favourably for you to the betterment of your finances. 

VIRGO: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and 

exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care 

is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment 

of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy 

day. 

LIBRA: Whatever anybody says or does, you will have 

both your say and way. Venus and Jupiter may tempt 

some of you to embrace illicit (or secret) romance within 

your base of operation. 

SCORPIO: Venus and Jupiter at positive angles may 

tempt you to join some of your friends who are already 

onboard of merry making train. Watch your health. 

SAGITTARIUS: Good luck will smile at many and 

induce love of luxury merry making and romantic 

liason. Genuine lovers will need to be on guard against 

deceit from new admirers. 

CAPRICORN: Both financial success and emotional 

satisfaction are closed to you than before. Those of you 

travelling because of maters-of-the-heart are in for an 

exciting romantic day Those ambitious career-wise will 

succeed after few struggles. 

L E I S U R BE 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

Be kind. We never know what people are going 

through. Show compassion because life happen 

to everyone — Take Heart Quotes— 

We grow by lifting others. When we care about people. 

It’s like bringing a light when needed. The more you 

help others, the more they will want to return the favour. 

Anyway, do so 

without thoughts of rewards. — Ella Randle 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

You become 

wise 

when you 

begin to 

run out of 

money. 

~ Ghana 

By Kola Fayemi 

AQUARIUS: Many members of your opposite sex will 

go out of their ways to attract your romantic interest. 

This is the wrong time to engage on unnecessary 

argument. 

PISCES: If you priority is love, much of it would come 

your way as desired. But here is a better day for more 

ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody 

to deceive you over money. 

ARIES: Those of you with secret admirers within your 

working area will have the needed opportunities to 

make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to 

deceive others. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” 

“HOT” 

By A.O.OLAIDE 

ASTROLOGICAL our date and place of COUNSELLING 

birth to the Astr 

tr 

Send your dat 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

What is my luck? 

Dear Joshua, 

I am deeply interested in Astrology: and the way you 

analyse people is great, keep it up. Kindly tell me 

whatever you think I should know about my life together 

with my luck, social life and my lucky number. 

Emeka, Abia. 

Dear Emeka, 

Thank you for your words of encouragement. Too 

many things are important but I think what both your 

immediate and far future have for you must be revealed 

to you so that you will be prepared. 

Mars in Aquarius together with Uranus are pointers 

to an active social life. The more influential social circle 

you belong to, the better for you. You’re the cool-headed 

type beloved by many but once your anger manages to 

fly off, it can be very difficult if not dangerous; it’s 

because of your natal Pluto. Yet they keep coming your 

way. 

Saturn can not help forcing challenges on your way, 

luckily for you however, you have what it takes to live 

up to the challenges. And as Saturn will never deny it’s 

worthy native the deserved success, it also gives 

recognition. 

Saturn or no Saturn, good relationship bet Mars and 

lucky Jupiter when you were born, are green tumb for 

WEALTH; you will be wealthier more than having liquid 

cash; nobody can stop your becoming wealthy. 

Best colours for you include YELLOW, golden, black 

but not coconut white. Your sleeping posture should be 

on East/West axis with your head to the West. 

5 is your destiny number, 9 is your ambition, 8 is 

your expression, your other numbers are 1, 6, 7 & 11. 

Thus, they are as superior as listed. 

Between now and your 52th year on earth (three and 

half years) women, money, youngster will greatly 

feature in your life and a few publicity cum commercial 

success equally indicated for you. 

However come your 53th year (around that period) 

tough challenges which will border on stiff competition, 

avoidable accident, treachery and money will come 

your way. 

Although it sounds somehow, it’s the needed tonic for 

and or pillar for an endless cycle of success that will 

follow. Therefore whatever can be shaken to the 

foundation or be uprooted by that time should not be 

initiated now. 

The future is truly brilliant for you. 

VIRGINIA 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

HOME & ABROAD 

By Lawrence Akapa

Chukwueze, 

Villarreal keep 

Europe dream alive 

with Getafe win 

Samuel Chukwueze was on 

parade for Villarreal when 

they locked horn with Getefa in 

Wednesday’s Spanish La Liga 

game at the Coliseum Alfonso 

Perez. 

Chukwueze kept his place in the 

team as Villarreal bounced back 

from their home defeat to 

Champions Barcelona at the Elmadriga 

last weekend. 

Chukwueze who has been 

linked with a move to Atletico 

Madrid however, partnered 

Gerardo Moreno upfront in 

Villarreal’s 4 – 4 – 2 system. 

The 21-year-old struggled in his 

new role all night and was unable 

to find the back of the net before 

he was replaced in the second 

half. 

However, two late penalties 

from Santiago Cazorla and 

another 93rd-minute strike from 

Ruben Pena sealed the three 

points for the yellow submarines. 

Hugo Duro came off the bench 

to score for Getafe who were 

missing Oghenekharo Etebo 

because of injury. 

Rivers Angels debunk Oluehi, 

Nwabuoku transfers 

Rivers Angels has debunked 

reports linking their players 

Tochukwu Oluehi and Evelyn 

Nwabuoku with Spanish Reto 

Iberdrola club Pozoalbense. 

Oluehi 

Manuel Pellegrini is to take 

over as manager of Real 

Betis next season, the Spanish 

club have announced. 

The former Manchester City, 

West Ham and Real Madrid boss 

will succeed Rubi, who was 

sacked by the La Liga outfit last 

week, as full-time coach. 

The 66-year-old Chilean, who has 

been out of the game since leaving 

West Ham last December, has 

agreed a three-year deal at the 

Benito Villamarin Stadium. 

A statement on the club’s website 

read: “Real Betis have signed the 

Chilean manager Manuel 

Pellegrini to lead the team from 

next season. 

“Real Betis have appointed a 

coach of a high level and big 

international prestige to elevate 

the performance of the first team 

in a three-year project.” 

Pellegrini won the Premier 

League title with City in 2014 

during a three-year spell at the 

Etihad Stadium that also included 

two League Cup triumphs. 

He had previously led Real 

Madrid to second in La Liga and 

both Villarreal and Malaga to the 

Musa 

It was reported that the Super 

Falcons players had signed 

contracts with the Spanish club on 

Wednesday. 

Reacting to the news Thursday, 

Rivers Angels have claimed the 

Spanish team is yet to make 

contact with them over the 

possibility of signing the players. 

The club said in a statement that 

both players remained bonafide 

members of their squad. 

In the statement, made available 

to Sports Vanguard, the club 

maintained, “As of Thursday, July 

9, 2020, Nwabuoku and Oluehi 

remain bonafide players of Rivers 

Angels FC with existing contracts 

with us. 

“Neither the said club nor its 

representatives have contacted 

anyone from here and hearing that 

they have announced the signing 

of our players is highly 

disrespectful and unethical.” 

Pellegrini confirmed as new 

Real Betis manager 

latter stages of the Champions 

League. 

After a stint with Hebei China 

Fortune he returned to England 

with West Ham in 2018 but was 

sacked earlier this season after 18 

months in charge. 

Betis are currently 13th in La 

Liga. Alexis Trujillo, who oversaw 

a 3-0 win over Osasuna on 

Wednesday, will remain in charge 

for the final three matches of this 

season. 

Musa is ‘biggest’ 

Eagles player for 

now, says Babayaro 

Former Super Eagles defender, Celestine 

Babayaro has said that current captain of 

the national team, Ahmed Musa was the 

only big game player in the Super Eagles squad 

at the moment. 

The former Chelsea and Newcastle defender 

said that Musa who plays for Al Nassr of Saudi 

Arabia, still had a lot going for him at the 

highest level. 

Already there are reports that the fast-playing 

Super Eagles captain could make a return to 

mainstream Europe in the summer. 

Babayaro, who was part of Nigeria’s 1996 

Olympics-winning squad said Musa had 

always proved that the team could depend on 

him during big games, especially given the fact 

that most of the players in the squad were 

relatively new to international football. 

“Musa has been around for a long time despite 

his young age. He was lucky to have come into 

the team at an early age,” Babayaro said, 

adding, “he has been in the team since 2012 

and what I have noticed about him is that he 

scores in big games where the pressure is heavy. 

“At two different World Cups, we have seen 

him come alive during key games even in the 

qualifiers. In the present Super Eagles setup, 

he is the only big game player as the rest are 

relatively new to international football.” 

Ligue One 

player arrested 

for masturbating 

in public 

*Risks one year jail, 

€15,000 fine 

Ligue One footballer Farid El 

Malai has been taken into 

custody for a second allegation of 

indecent exposure. 

Having already been charged with 

sexual exhibition following a 

complaint that surfaced in May, the 

Angers winger has been accused of a 

further two flashing offences and has 

been called into questioning by the 

local authorities, as per Ouest France. 

The 23-year old spent time in police 

custody on Wednesday morning, 

before returning to training for an 

afternoon session. 

His lawyer told Ouest-France that 

their client “reiterates his most 

sincere apologies to the women he 

may have upset by his inappropriate 

behaviour.” 

The Algerian international was 

already facing a court hearing over a 

first instance of alleged public 

indecency. 

It was reported that El Melali was 

seen ‘masturbating in the courtyard 

of his block of flats while looking at a 

woman who lives on the ground floor.’ 

He had suggested he thought he was 

alone in the courtyard. 

Neighbours of the woman alerted 

police after the incident took place 

and local police then arrested the 

former Paradou AC player. 

A further investigation has been 

ordered following a second separate 

instance where El Malali exposed 

himself to the same victim, with the 

footballer now set to appear a court 

on August 25. 


Rohr not under pressure to beat 

England to Saka 

Super Eagles manager, Gernot 

Rohr is in no pressure to beat 

England to the 

services of Arsenal 

wonder kid, 

Bukayo Saka 

The 18-year old is 

still eligible to play 

for the Eagles 

h a v i n g 

represented 

England at the 

youth level. His 

form for Arsenal 

Saka 

Italian Serie A sides AC Milan 

and Fiorentina have expressed 

an interest in signing Super 

Eagles defender Ola Aina this 

summer. 

Torinogranata.it claimed that the 

two clubs have joined Premier 

League sides West Ham United 

and Everton in the race to sign the 

Nigerian. 

Aina joined Torino permanently 

for € 10m last summer after 

impressing on loan in the 2018- 

19 campaign. 

But, this season, the Nigerian 

international has not been 

impressive which means the 

Turin based club could be willing 

to consider offers for the 23-yearold. 

Everton and West Ham have also 

been linked with Aina in the past 

but Torino are not willing to accept 

anything less than the € 10m they 

paid the Blues. 

Aina has made 25 league 

appearances for Torino this 

has sparked off calls for his 

invitation to play for Nigeria. 

Reports say Nigeria have already 

established contact with Saka’s 

representative who also manages 

the affairs of Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina 

and Joe Aribo who have all shifted 

their allegiance to Nigeria and 

have featured for the Super Eagles 

since last year. 

Saka was even invited by the 

Nigeria Football Federation, NFF 

to watch the botched 2021 AFCON 

Super Eagles match against Sierra 

Leone before it was cancelled. 

The NFF has shown the 

desire to have Saka play for 

Nigeria but their desire has 

not been matched by that of 

the Super Eagles coach, 

Rohr who, although 

admitted he was a fan of the 

Arsenal young lad, wants 

Saka to show interest of 

playing for his fatherland, 

rather than force or lure him 

to play for Nigeria. 

After his experiences with 

Fikayo Tomori, Tammy 

Abraham and Phillip 

Billing who used interest 

from Nigeria to gain 

attention from England and 

Holland respectively, 

where they are now full 

internationals, Rohr wants 

to tread gently over Saka. 

Milan, Fiorentina join chase 

for Ola Aina 

Anthony Joshua is 

set to have another 

mandatory challenger 

- adding a further 

stumbling block to the 

two-fight deal which 

has been agreed in 

principle with Tyson 

Fury. 

All eyes are on the 

much-anticipated 

clash between Joshua 

and Fury, which would 

currently see all the belts in the 

heavyweight division on offer. 

Error! Filename not specified. 

The pair have already held talks 

Rangers to rest late George' jersey number 

Management of Rangers 

Football Club at an 

emergency management meeting 

yesterday, announced the 

retirement of the jersey number 

'15' worn by late Ifeanyi George 

before his sudden death in March, 

2020. 

The G.M/CEO of the Enugu based 

club, Davidson Owumi made this 

disclosure to Rangers Media 

stressing that the action was in 

honour of the great services 

rendered to the club by late 

George. 

"After a lengthy deliberation by 

management, we came to a 

conclusion to rest the jersey 

number worn by our late attacker, 

Ifeanyi George, for the whole of 

next season as a mark of respect 

and honour for his services to the 

club," stated Owumi. 

This gesture, Owumi said, "Was 

to further cement the good 

relationship we had with late 

Ifeanyi George while defending 

the colours of Rangers on the field 

of play just as plans were in top 

gear to make the insurance 

benefit cheque presentation to the 

family left behind by the player a 

campaign and averaged 1.3 

tackles, 1.5 interceptions, and 1.3 

clearances per game. 

However, it remains to be seen if 

any of these sides would be 

willing to coffer out the € 10m 

Torino is demanding for his 

signature. 

Aina 

Joshua, Fury bout faces fresh 

stumbling block 

grand event since it was the first 

of its kind in the country. All 

thanks to the sports loving 

governor of the state, Rt. Hon. 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his approval 

of the insurance policy for 

registered players and officials." 

Recall that late Ifeanyi George 

scored his last goal for Rangers in 

a CAF Confederations Cup 2019/ 

2020 match day 6 group A 

encounter against Egyptian side, 

Al-Masry which ended 1-1 draw 

in jersey number 15 inside the 

main bowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe 

stadium in Enugu. 

Joshua-Fury 

and arranged a two-fight deal in 

principle for 2021 with the 

monetary split between the 

fighters agreed. 

But there is still plenty standing 

in the way of the fights with 

Joshua facing IBF mandatory 

challenger Kubrat Pulev and Fury 

facing another rematch with 

Deontay Wilder later this year. 

Provided the pair both win those 

fights, Fury will have another 

mandatory challenger for his WBC 

belt with Dillian Whyte waiting 

over 1000 days for his world title 

shot. 

Joshua also has another 

mandatory challenger for the WBO 

belt in the form of Oleksandr 

Usyk, with the former 

cruiserweight king set to fight 

Dereck Chisora in 2020.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

Sudoku 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

Across 

1 Occasionally (9) 

6 Plant juice (3)s 

8 Two times (5) 

9 Various (anag) (7) 

10 Eminent (7) 

11 Spanish wine (5) 

12 Money chest (6) 

14 Perplex (6) 

18 Disrobe (5) 

20 Observed (7) 

22 Milan opera house (2,5) 

23 Rub out (5) 

24 Colouring substance (3) 

25 Souvenirs (9) 

Down 

1 Devilish (7) 

2 Damp (5) 

3 Quiver (7) 

4 Lots and lots (6) 

5 Cut off (5) 

6 Behave ostentatiously (4,3) 

7 Italian city noted for ham (5) 

13 Envisage (7) 

15 Deers’ horns (7) 

16 Incessant (7) 

17 Crazy (6) 

18 Substantial (5) 

19 Mischievous trick (5) 

21 Soft white limestone (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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08027767834; 01-4544821. Abuja office: 7, Dambata Close, Area 7, Garki, 09-2921024. Ikeja office: 73, Awolowo Way. V.I. Office: Murplus Plaza, 27, Sanusi Fafunwa Street. Asaba: 21, Anwai 

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10072020 - Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’

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