TUESDAY 19TH MARCH 2024

Ozekhome: One million amendments of 1999 Constitution won’t work, illegitimate document

Almost unanimously, some Nigerian

a

guarantee the progress that Nigerians crave, they said. Lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, echoed Continued on page

12

www.thisdaylive.com

Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu has told the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, that although the party was supreme, victory

was superior and more important. Tinubu, however, expressed optimism while presenting the party’s flag to the gubernatorial candidate, and his running mate, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, at the State

Personnel Tinubu to Okpebholo: Victory is Important, Presents Party's Flag to Edo Guber Candidate

names,

While inviting Edo State Women

FG Eyes $3.6bn in Historic Talent Outsourcing Initiative with Lab Four

James Emejo in Abuja

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, yesterday supervised the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ministry and Lab Four for channeling of 50,000 full-time Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) jobs to the country.

The minister said jobs generated through partnership could attract about $1.2 billion annually into the Nigerian economy over the next three years, through remuneration to the employed persons as well as unlock about $60 million to develop the BPO ecosystem through direct support to the individual BPOs.

Essentially, the MoU would be executed by the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), which was launched on the sidelines of the 2023 edition of the United Nations General Assembly to connect Nigerians to employment opportunities outside the country through two channels - physical talent export and BPO.

Uzoka-Anite said through NATEP, Nigeria could honourably export its talents in a mutually beneficial and reputation preserving way,

significantly reducing illegal migration.

NATEP is also positioning the country as an outsourcing destination of choice as it catalyses the growth and development of the micro, mini and mega BPO ecosystems and industries in the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, the minister said NATEP would ride on some strategic advantages of the Nigerian market that position the country as a service export and outsourcing destination of choice.

She identified some of these advantages to include strategic location and time zone, highly skilled workforce, cost-effective services, robust digital infrastructure, language and cultural compatibility, government support and stability and data privacy and security, among others.

She explained that by 2030, about 85 million jobs will remain unfilled globally due to skill shortages resulting in a loss of $8.5 trillion.

Uzoka-Anite said Nigeria, with a large, youthful and skillful population could take advantage of this in a way that can significantly benefit our economy.

While commending the partnership, the minister said the move was in

Naira Strengthens at Official Window over Parallel Market to

N1,597/$1, N1,600/$1

Nume Ekeghe

The Naira continued to strengthen at the official window ending on a stronger note compared to its performance at the parallel market.

The naira at the parallel market remained unchanged at N1,600 for five days. However, the official Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEM) appreciated

yesterday closing at N1,597.34 signifying a N5.41 gain compared to N1,602.75 it closed on Friday.

The daily turnover recorded yesterday was $140.45 million indicating a 2.19 per cent increase from $137.43 million, quoted on Friday.

Also, the highest spot rate yesterday was pegged at N1640, while the lowest spot rate recorded was N1,400.

line with President Bola Tinubu’s 8-point agenda on job creation, adding that it remained a crucial solution towards addressing the problem of insecurity in the country.

The minister, who also launched the NATEP Strategy document, said, “The federal Government’s message through the launch of National Talent Export Programme is clear; Nigeria is ready to become a global hub for talent exports and business process outsourcing. We have the vision and commitment and we seek the partnership and trust of Nigerians and the global community as we embark on this mutually beneficial journey."

She noted that the services industry had been a top player in the economy, consistently providing over 50 per cent of GDP over the last 10 years, averaging 51.96 per cent between 2012 and 2022, adding that the government remained committed to strengthening the industry and using it as a catalyst for job creation.

According to her, the global

talent-sourcing industry was valued at $620.381 billion in 2020 and is forecasted to reach $904.948 billion by 2027. She said with a youthful population and about three million graduates from higher educational institutions joining the workforce each year, Nigeria has the potential to provide high-quality talent for the global service export and outsourcing industry.

She said, “As a country, we have a significant value proposition for regional and global markets for the export of services. We will actively target Greenfield and Brownfield job opportunities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, among others. “We will also take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to access the African market.

The minister said as part of the strategy towards achieving the agenda for job creation, the ministry had initiated the NATEP for Nigeria, which targets to create one million jobs for

Nigerians over five years, adding that the president had endorsed the programme and approved its launch on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 2023 in New York, United States of America.

However, National Coordinator, NATEP, Dr. Femi Adeluyi, said the MoU will explore opportunities in telesales, customer service, virtual administrative assistant, marketing/ social media assistant and tech/ cybersecurity.

He said NATEP has had extensive meetings with stakeholders as well as forged strategic partnerships with the Cybersecurity Institute at Lab Four.

Cybersecurity Institute at Lab Four is an accredited, non-traditional training provider based in Memphis, United States of America with over 15 years of experience helping people start and advance their careers in the Information Technology (IT) and Cybersecurity fields. Their remote work platform is a marketplace focused on connecting skilled professionals in the world

to remote work opportunities in the West.

He said, “They are democratising BPO for small and medium-sized Western employers who want to leverage these opportunities to grow, while simultaneously providing opportunities for economic growth and liquidity in developing countries.”

Representative of the United States Embassy in Abuja, Mr. John Dunham, described the initiative as a “game-changer for Nigeria”.

He said, “The most valuable resource that Nigeria has is the talents of its population. The most exciting part of that is the rapid growth of IT entrepreneurs and experts in this country particularly among young people.

“And I am proud to see the US play its role to encourage the growth of the sector. It would be a game-changer for Nigeria; it is a leader in Africa in IT development. It does provide a lot of hope and excitement for a prosperous future in Nigeria.”

NBS: Stakeholders Insist Rebasing Labour Force Data May Demotivate Job Creation Efforts

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Some Nigerian economists yesterday argued that the recent rebasing of Nigeria’s unemployment data which saw its review from about 33.3 per cent to around 5 per cent, was capable of demotivating Nigeria’s policy makers’ push for job creation.

Speaking at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the revised methodology for the computation of labour force statistics in Nigeria in Abuja, the President Nigerian Economic Society (NES), Prof Adeola Adenikinju, argued that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has not done enough to explain the rationale

for its decision to the key users of its data.

The programme was organised by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), headed by its Executive Director, Dr Chukwuma Onyekwena and supported by the NBS.

In August last year after rebasing the calculation of labour data, the NBS put the country’s unemployment rate at 4.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 and 5.3 per cent in Q4 2022.

The new figures which elicited a lot of reactions from organised labour and other Nigerians showed a significant drop from the 33.3 per

NCC: Voice, Data Services Affected by Undersea Cable Cuts Restored

The

last week’s undersea cable cut have been restored.

On March 14, 2024, 13 African countries suffered data and voice service disruptions, following cuts in undersea fibre optics cable along the coasts of Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal, The affected countries include:

Cote d’ Ivoire, Liberia, Benin Republic, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Lesotho, and parts of South Africa.

NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organisation, which released its preliminary report last week, said out of the 13 affected countries, Cote d’ Ivoire was the worst hit, which led to severe internet disruptions that brought the country’s internet connectivity to as low as four per cent.

The report however said countries like Nigeria, Lesotho and South Africa, had low internet impact and businesses were mildly affected.

The affected submarine cables came from Europe, and passed through the East Coast of Africa. The West African Submarine Cable (WASC), African Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable and

MainOne submarine cable that have landing ducts at the shores of Nigeria, were affected by the multiple cuts.

The development disrupted internet services in Nigeria and banks, including non-financial organisatuons were unable to carry out successful transactions for few days.

But NCC, in a statement issued yesterday and signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Reuben Muoka, said services had been restored.

In the statement, NCC said: “We are pleased to announce that services have now been restored to approximately 90 per cent of operators’ peak utilisation

capacities. All operators who were impacted by the cuts have taken recovery capacity from submarine cables which were not impacted by the cuts, and have thus recovered approximately 90 per cent of their peak utilisation capacities.

Mobile Network Operators have assured the commission that data and voice services would operate optimally pending full repairs of the undersea cables as they have managed to activate alternative connections to bring back the situation to normalcy. We extend our appreciation to telecom consumers for their patience and understanding during the downtime caused by the undersea fibre cuts.”

cent for Q4, 2020 released in March, 2021 and suggested in some way that Nigeria was comparable to the US with an unemployment rate of 3.4 per cent and the UK with 4.2 per cent at the time.

But the NBS had argued that the new framework was informed by the best practices of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), stressing that in the past, it hadn’t considered anyone who worked less than 40 hours a week. This, it said, led to tens of millions being reported as unemployed in Nigeria.

But Adenikinju maintained that although there were reasons for the rebasing of the labour force data, there was need to fully explain it to decision makers.

“That story has to be told so that the policy makers are not under the illusion that we have 5 per cent unemployment. In the past, when you had 5 per cent unemployment, it's full employment. At 5 per cent you can go and sleep.

“But if there's national rate of unemployment at 5 per cent, it doesn't give the politician the push. So we need to find a way of explaining that yes, a lot of people are working, but this kind of work that they are doing is not work,” he pointed out.

On his part, a professor of economics at the University of Calabar, Uchechi Ogbuagwu, noted that there was the need for a meeting between the town and the gown to align their thinking on the new

development.

He stated that the point has to be made to policy makers that the 5 per cent does not represent the total unemployment figure in the country so as not to give them the impression that all is well with Nigeria.

“We must de-emphasise the number, because in statistics, it is not just the number, it is the meaning that you give to that number. Whenever you give that 5 per cent, you have to explain that it does not mean that Nigeria is okay.

“ They need to know that this 5 per cent is moving alongside the informal sector, indecent jobs, underpayment of people. So you must accompany it with that,” he added.

Also speaking, Senior Economist, World Bank, Osekhebhen Egbiremolen, stated that the bank needs data to work with, stressing that everything the bank does is based on evidence.

He highlighted the issues of skills mismatch wherein people with higher qualifications have to make do with what is available because the right jobs are not really available.

Earlier, Director of CSEA, Onyekwena, argued that by examining the unemployment, underemployment, labour force participation rates, and demographic breakdowns, stakeholders may identify areas of concern, diagnose root causes, and devise targeted interventions to address pressing issues and achieve long-term change.

TINUBU PRESENTS FLAG

TO OkPEBhOLO...

Alleged Terrorism Financing: Court Orders Binance to Release Data to EFCC

Anti-graft agency:

information provided by crypto platform shows total trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide a comprehensive data or information of all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Nwite made the order while

ruling in an ex-parte application filed by EFCC.

After listening to the antigraft agency's lawyer, Mr Ekele Iheanacho, the judge, who granted the application as prayed, held that "an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all

persons from Nigeria trading on its platform".

The interim order, which was granted on February 29, was to enable the anti-graft agency unravel the alleged money laundering and terrorism financing by Binance, a crypto currency exchange platform.

The ex-parte motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/259/2024, was brought pursuant to Sections 6(b),

(h), (I), 7(1), (a)(2), and 38 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended) and the inherent powers of the court.

In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Hamma Bello, an operative of EFCC, and attached to the Special Investigation

Akpabio: Our Legislative Agenda Will Enhance Standard of Living

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured Nigerians that the legislative agenda of the 10th National Assembly would bring about improvement in the standard of living of the citizenry.

Akpabio, stated this during the Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund and House of Representatives Committee on Students Loan, Scholarship and Higher Education Financing on Student Loan (Access to Higher Education), repeal and reenactment Bill 2024, at the National

Assembly complex, yesterday.

He said, "The present 10th National Assembly at its inception in 2023 set out for itself a legislative agenda whose implementation will surely bring about a tremendous improvement in the living conditions/ standards of the citizenry with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Akpabio who was represented by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his foresight and uncommon passion in supporting the students of the country with the loan scheme.

He said the scheme would address

problems of lack of funding among Nigerian students.

In amending the bill, he said the opinions of all stakeholders would be considered to have the best legislation.

Akpabio added, "I wish to urge you to freely express your views and opinions either for or against the subject of this hearing in a manner that will bring about the sustenance of our collective will to be together as a nation to call ours.

" Public Hearings are one of the primary legislative processes that offer the general public and especially relevant stakeholders the

opportunity to contribute their quota to law-making.

"There is no doubt that your views at this Joint Public Hearing will go a long way in assisting the committee make an informed recommendation (s) to the Senate and the House of Representatives respectively.

“It is this submission/recommendation of the Committees that the Senate and the House of Representatives will rely on to pass/make relevant laws for the good governance of our citizenry as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended," he said.

Ogun N5bn Intervention Palliatives Impacting Lives, Says Abiodun’s Aide

The N5 billion Ogun State Intervention Palliative meant to cushion the impact of the current economic challenges in the country is having direct impacts on the people of the Gateway State, an aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun, has said.

Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, spoke while speaking on an OGTV Current Affairs Programme “The RoundTable.”

He said that through targeted interventions, the government aims to address the current economic challenges by implementing a series of phased initiatives aimed at alleviating these burdens.

Abiodun had recently announced N5 billion intervention funds to cushion the effect of the rising cost of living and inflation in the state.

The grant, according to him, is planned to be shared as palliatives to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

Abiodun during a press conference held in Abeokuta, said his administration acknowledges the current hardship in the country, occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal and the concerns raised from different quarters regarding the rising food prices and shortages, coupled with the depreciation of the Naira.

Akinmade said: “Ogun is the first state to implement the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Bus initiative, to take care of transportation challenges. The buses are currently positioned on strategic routes in the state where people are meant to pay a token fee to cover a reasonable distance.

“Governor Abiodun has initiated

policies with direct impacts on the people. Evidence is the ongoing Educash programme that is planned to provide a one-off N10,000 education support grant for 100,000 pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools.

“The ongoing exercise is done in a transparent manner such that the beneficiaries have been full of appreciation of the gesture coming from the state government.”

According to Akinmade, 50,000 students of Ogun State origin in tertiary institutions across the country have been captured as part of the planned disbursements of N50,000 grant to each of them.

He added that the administration of Abiodun is also providing health insurance cover for over 70,000 beneficiaries to include pregnant women, children, the elderly, market women, and other members of the

informal sector.

“Pregnant women, under the Ibidero Scheme, would also be provided free pre-natal care, an additional N5,000 per birth and free post-natal care in the State Hospitals and Primary Health Care Centres,” he said.

Akinmade noted that provision would be made for food palliatives to include rice and other items for about 300,000 households across the state.

“The state government has started offsetting the backlog of inherited deductions. To this end, the government has immediately committed N500 million monthly payments towards outstanding deductions.

"It is noteworthy that we have continued to pay N10,000 transport allowance to all civil servants in the state for the last eight months," Akinmade said.

Team (SIT) of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the deponent disclosed that they had received information about some persons who were using Binance to manipulate the foreign exchange market.

Bello said their discovery followed the inauguration of the Technical Committee on Currency Stability and Forex Manipulation by the ONSA.

He said the SIT “received an intelligence stating the nefarious activities (money laundering and terrorism financing) on Binance, a crypto currency exchange platform.

“That on receipt of the Intelligence, the team began investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities of the platform.

“That the team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation, which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the naira losing its values against other currencies.

“That the damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform and they were requested to delist the naira and avail the ONSA on the activities of the Nigerians on their platform.

“That from the information afforded to the team by Binance shows that the total trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6 (twenty one billion, six hundred million dollars).

“Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 1 is a copy of the document from Binance to the ONSA stating this fact, amongst others.

“That the commission will ensure that investigation is conducted within such reasonable time.”

Bello, who said the matter was of utmost urgent public interest, said the data provided would enable the commission accomplish its investigation.

He said it was in the interest of justice to grant the application as refusal of the request would largely hamper the commission’s investigation.

Energy Transition: Kyari to Headline Plenary at CERAWeek in US

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) yesterday announced that its Group Chief Executive, Mele will be at the 2024 CERAWeek Conference which began in Houston, United States, on Monday. A statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said the GCEO will headline the plenary session titled: "Leadership Dialogue" today (Tuesday), at the annual strategic conference.

Same day, NNPC's Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan will also headline a plenary session titled: "What are the Choices for Upstream Strategies?,” the statement said.

It added that Wednesday, March 20, will be the turn of the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, who will be a Panellist on a strategic dialogue session titled: "Africa's Energy Future: Access, Investment &

Sustainability". CERAWeek is one of the largest energy conferences in the world, drawing thousands of foremost global energy industry experts and a host of other corporate and government leaders from around the world annually to Houston, United States, for a week-long conversation on the future of energy.

Organised by S&P Global, the conference has grown in recent years to accommodate new energy technologies and climate issues. The 2024 conference is expected to have participants from 90 countries and will feature 1,400 speakers. Under the theme: "Multidimensional Energy Transition: Markets, Climate, Technology and Geopolitics" the CERAWeek 2024 will explore “strategies for a multidimensional, multispeed and multi-fuel energy transition,”. This is as the global energy industry tries to respond to, and offer insight into roadmap towards, growing demand for emissions reductions and moving towards cleaner forms of energy.

iNauguratiON OF StatE-OF-tHE-art tOmatO prOCESSiNg plaNt...

NLC Cautions against Another Prolonged Strike in Varsities

Urges FG to pay withheld salaries to varsity staff SSANU, NASU industrial action disrupt academic activities, unions block University of Abuja entrance gate NAAT begins 3-day warning strike tomorrow Minister appeals to unions to call off action

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to take appropriate measures to avoid another industrial unrest the nation's tertiary institutions.

While reacting to the declaration of one week warming strike by its two affiliate unions - the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational (NASU) and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the NLC said there was no reason for the issue to degenerate into an industrial dispute.

However, the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has appealed to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and NonAcademic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) to call off their 7-day warning strike, which started yesterday.

This was just as SSANU and NASU yesterday made good their threat to shutdown federal government owned universities nationwide.

Equally, yesterday, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) issued notice of a three-day warning strike from tomorrow, over the non-payment of the four months withheld salaries of its members as directed by President Bola Tinubu.

THISDAY findings showed that academic activities in University of Abuja was temporarily halted yesterday, as the protesting Joint Action Committee, (JAC), made up of the two unions blocked all entrances to the university gates.

The protesting workers prevented both academic and non-academic staff from driving in through the university main gates which was placed under lock and key.

As a result of the strike, some scheduled examinations at the University of Abuja were shifted

However, in statement signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the labour centre urged the federal government to immediately pay the outstanding four months withheld salaries to the non-teaching staff of the universities to avoid disruption of studies.

"We join our affiliate unions, NASU and SSANU in demanding for the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of their members.

"There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place.

We recall this singular act plunged the members into indescribable

hardship.

"Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of these unions to discriminatory treatment. By so doing government is clearly courting avoidable industrial dispute," it said.

Furthermore, the NLC said at a time confidence was being restored to the public universities, the least government could do was not to engineer another strike.

It said the toll on all the parties would be unacceptably high, especially for students and parents who bear the burden of movement on the country’s dangerous roads.

"In light of this, we urge government to expeditiously pay up the outstanding. We advise government to not take for granted the maturity of these unions," it said.

Meanwhile, speaking to journalists, the University of Abuja branch chairman of SSANU, Nureden Yusuf, said the protest by the unions was to draw the attention of the federal government over the injustice done to members of SSANU and NASU in the payment of the four months withheld salaries which President Bola Tinubu approved in October last year.

He said, "We are on strike basically to draw the attention of government to the state of our universities. You may recall that one of the contentious issues why we went on strike in 2022 was the issue of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

"That agreement ought to have been renegotiated every three years and now we are 2024. Fourteen years after the last agreement, it is yet to be renegotiated.

"Also, we are talking about withheld salaries. Mr. President in October 2023 gracefully agreed that our withheld salaries during the period of strike in 2022 should be paid to us. Our counterparts in ASUU have been paid their four months salaries, we are yet to receive our salaries.

"NASU and SSANU are unions of professionals. We oil the wheel of the university system. If we're not in university, there can't be any University. Apart from teaching, any other activity that is done in the university is done by SSANU and NASU members. We provide health services to university.

"We are shutting down universities for seven days, none of our members is going to render any services. There won't be people to man the security unit, there won't be people in the university health services, there won't be water, there

won't be electricity, there will also not going to be processing of transcripts or certificates. The transport unit will also be shut down."

Also speaking, the Chairperson of NASU, University of Abuja, branch, Comrade Sadiya Hassan blamed the government for pushing the two unions to embark on the warning strike.

She also frowned at people calling the union members supporting staff, saying they are professionals in different fields that chose to be in the non-teaching sector.

Hassan, said apart from the withheld salaries the two unions have other demands like the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

Besides, she said, "We want the reconstitution of our governing councils because that has affected our members’ promotion and other issues pending since they were dissolved. Nothing is going on in the university as it ought to be.

“So we want the governing councils to come back so that things can move in the universities.

"And as we are being referred to as supporting staff, we are not supporting staff, we chose to be in the offices not in the classrooms, and that is why we are professionals in our field and we should be treated as one not as second fiddle in the system.

"So, we want the federal govern-

ment to do the needful. We don't want to go on strike, but we are being forced to do what we are doing today. So they should give us what is our rights and we will go back to our offices and render our services as we are used to do."

Also, JAC of NASU and SSANU at the University of Ilorin, yesterday, joined their counterparts in other universities in the country on the 7-day warning strike.

As early as 7. 00a.m, members of the two unions gathered at the main gate of the university at Tanke, Ilorin to mobilise the members of the union for the strike.

The development however led to little traffic grid lock at the entrance gate of the university.

Most of the students who were going to school to write their examinations pleaded with the government to do the needful as they expressed displeasure over the traffic grid lock as they have examination to write.

Speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, the National Financial Secretary of SSANU, Akanbi Mohammad Jiman, said: "You remember that last Tuesday we had our congress we told our members that the seven days ultimatum had been given to the Federal government on the issue of paying four months arrears of salaries going the directive of National body of SSANU and NASU.

"As at today, the government is yet to pay the withheld salaries and that is why we have called the congress to inform our members that the strike have commenced today and until Monday morning that is one week warning strike, after that period if nothing is forth coming, leadership of our union will have no option than to call another meeting and take decisive action.”

For his part, the Chairman, SSANU, Unilorin Branch, Falowo Olushola Naheem said: "After all deliberation, consultations and also consolidations by the national executive council of SSANU and NASU under the umbrella body of JAC of SSANU and NASU we were instructed to give the government ultimatum of seven days.

"The seven days expire today because they were put on notice that in case we did not see the alert of our withheld four months salary we don't have any other choice than to embark on seven days warning strike and the seven days warning strike start today and counting up till midnight of Sunday.”

Also speaking, NASU Chairman, University of Ilorin chapter, Mr. Bello Haruna Ibrahim, said: "Nobody is going to work and that was why all of us are here, we directed them that all of them should go back home and stay at home until the government come to our yearnings.

"The major implication is that we are going to tell the management to shift the exam by one week."

NAAT Begins 3-days Warning Strike Tomorrow

Meanwhile, NAAT has disclosed that it would begin a three-day warning strike from tomorrow, over the non-payment of the four months withheld salaries as directed by President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement declaring the three days warning strike, signed by its President, Ibeji Nwokoma, NAAT explained that the decision to embark on the warning strike was sanctioned at the union's National Executive Council, NEC, emergency virtual meeting.

The statement read: "We are constrained to notify you of the decisions of the National Executive Council (NEC) of NAAT at the end of its emergency virtual meeting held on Wednesday 13th March, 2024, it was resolved that a 3-day warning strike and a nationwide protest on the first day commencing from Wednesday 20th to Friday 22nd March, 2024 be embarked upon.

"This is to enable the union to press home its demand for the payment of withheld salaries of members of NAAT as approved by the Presidency.

Continues online

Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: Okonjo-Iweala Receives Russia's Instrument of Acceptance

Urges remaining 38 WTO members to follow suit

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The Russian Federation yesterday presented its instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva, Switzerland.

Receiving the instrument from Ambassador Nikolai Platonov, the WTO Director-General said: "I am pleased to receive Russia's instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

"Russia's formal acceptance demonstrates leadership and commitment to ocean sustainability. It brings this landmark agreement closer to entry into force, and underscores

the importance of global cooperation for the benefit of people and planet.

" I urge the remaining WTO members to also deposit their instruments of acceptance."

In his remarks,Ambassador Nikolai Platonov said: "Today, I have the honour to deposit Russia's formal instrument of acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

"This agreement is essential in terms of preventing and combating unsustainable patterns of marine capture production such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, activities in unregulated high seas, as well as in overfished stocks.

"Given that Russia is one of the major sea fishing nations, we

hope that our acceptance will also contribute to completion by other members of their domestic procedures so that the treaty can enter into force sooner rather than later.

"Such a scenario would definitely bring all of us closer to achieving the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals."

Russia's instrument of acceptance brings the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement to 72. Thirty-eight more formal acceptances are needed for the Agreement to come into effect.

The Agreement would enter into force upon acceptance of its legal instrument by two-thirds of the membership.

Adopted by consensus at the

WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva between June 12 and 17, 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world's fish stocks.

In addition, the Agreement recognises the needs of developing and least-developed countries and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations.

The Agreement prohibits support for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, bans support for fishing overfished stocks and ends subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

Wood Mackenzie: Oil Majors to Stake $125bn in Upstream Investments in 2024

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Wood Mackenzie, a leading global provider of data and analytics solutions for the renewables, energy and natural resources sectors, has projected that oil majors and other national oil companies could sanction $125 billion in upstream oil and gas projects this year.

These investments, it said will be for up to 30 projects, holding an estimated 14 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) of resources, noting in its latest analysis of upstream oil and gas projects that these are expected to reach Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) in 2024.

It explained that more projects will likely take FIDs this year, compared to last year’s 22 sanctioned upstream developments as several

projects slated for 2023 approval were delayed.

But for Nigeria, it’s still unclear what number of upstream projects will progress to FID stages as divestment by oil majors in the country which have decided to move from onshore to deepwater continue to experience regulatory delays.

Shell, ExxonMobil, Total Energies and Eni are in the process of offloading some of their onshore assets as pressure to reduce emissions as well as insecurity which add to their cost of production increase.

However, the report stated that National Oil Companies (NOCs) in the Middle East will control the most projects, while the international oil companies will prioritise advantaged deepwater resources.

It added that most advantaged

deepwater projects continue to deliver in terms of economic returns and low emission intensity, and will be the focus of FIDs for the multinationals.

According to Woodmac, most payback periods are less than eight years from FID, as operators focus on rapid execution, lower unproductive capital, and higher returns.

It said that although this year has been off to a slow start, but FID activity is expected to pick up as the year progresses.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), it said, will be the Middle East’s leader in expansion plans in terms of reserve volumes, with its offshore expansion plan.

Aside NOCs, oil majors are also set to approve large multi-billion

upstream developments.

Out of the expected $125 billion capital expenditure on this year’s projects, it noted that TotalEnergies will be the operator of two of the top five largest projects by capital expenditure.

Wood Mackenzie estimates that the French supermajor looks to reach FID on projects that would have a combined capex of nearly $30 billion, with US supermajor ExxonMobil also set to sanction its sixth floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) project.

“Up to 30 upstream projects larger than 50 million of barrels of oil equivalent (boe) could reach FID in 2024, an increase from 22 in 2023...project activity will increase this year, with a total of $125 billion in investment and the potential for

14 boe up for sanction.

“With many projects delayed or postponed, we expect operators to commit to more projects in 2024 than last year,” said Ross McGavin, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

“National Oil Companies (NOCs) in the Middle East will control the most projects, but the Majors will be busy as well, particularly as they prioritise advantaged deepwater resources,” he added.

It stated that as the number of projects rises in 2024, project break-even are projected to fall, with an associated bounce back in returns which dipped in 2023.

“The class of 2024 projects require an average of $47/bbl to generate a 15 per cent Internal Rate of Return (IRR), slightly below the class of

DHQ: T H ere'II b e m e AS ure D , Injur I ou S c on S e Q uence S F or kI ll I ng mI l ITA r Y p er S onnel

Kingsley Nwezeh, Michael Olugbode, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja, Mary Nnah in Lagos, Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa and Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Taking advantage of the full authority granted it on Sunday by President Bola Tinubu to go after killers of its men, the military high command, yesterday, declared that there would be measured but injurious response to the killing of military personnel in Okuama, Delta State, last Thursday.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) stated this in a statement by Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj-Gen. Edward Buba.

DHQ also released the names and pictures of the 16 army personnel killed by suspected irate youths on Thursday at Okuama.

Ministers of Defence, Badaru Abubakar and Bello Matawalle, while condemning the killing, said the federal government would not tolerate any threat to the country's security and sovereignty. They said the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, said there was no hiding place for the killers of the military personnel.

The senate said Tinubu’s reaction to the murder of the military men was in order, and endorsed it.

Interestingly, operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the trail of killers of the military personnel, yesterday,

denied Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and journalists access to Okuama community, when he visited to get first-hand information on the incident.

But a former military officer, Lieutenant Commander Koku Imananagha, appealed to the federal government and the military not to unleash terror on the entire community while searching for criminals.

At the same time, the umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), condemned the killing of officers and soldiers in Okuoma community, saying it is barbaric and unacceptable.

Similarly, Director General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, called on all Nigerians to stand in solidarity with the army. Ochogwu said there should be thorough investigation into the killing.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), while also condemning the killing, said it amounted to violation of the right to life and dignity of human person as guaranteed under Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Act.

DHQ, in the statement, said, "The military assures that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for the perpetrators of these dastardly act.

"Nevertheless, the armed forces, being a disciplined force that complies

with rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict and the respect for human rights, would be tempered by these provisions. We would not be led by emotions, but by the rule of law.”

Debunking claims of reprisal by the military, the statement said, “It is against this background that the military debunks all claims that the military embarked on reprisal attacks in Okuama community after the incident. The community was deserted even before troops arrived the scene.

"Importantly, those involved in peddling these misinformation, disinformation and fake news that the military had embarked on reprisal on the community following the incident, should desist from further dishonouring our fallen heroes.

"Rather, it behoves the community leaders, elders and even the people of Delta State to assist investigation to identify the perpetrators of the dastardly act so that they can be held accountable for their actions.

"It must be noted that the dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities remains unresolved. It, therefore, implies that there could be untoward activities not initiated by the military.

"Overall, there is no doubt that this is an extremely sad development and untoward activity by members of the Okuama community against troops that were there to protect them.

"We urge the public to resist the temptation of allowing any videos of the incident of the killed personnel from going viral. Their loved ones are still alive, even though they have died protecting our country and its citizens."

The defence headquarters said it would be a dishonour to the fallen heroes to allow such ugly videos of their demise go viral.

"Above all, as the military mourns, it remains ever determined to ensure safety and security of citizens across the country," the statement added.

Nevertheless, the defence headquarters released the identities of the Nigerian Army commander, three officers, and 12 soldiers, killed by attackers in the Delta community. DHQ shared their photos and names on its X account yesterday.

The deceased were Lt Col AH Ali, Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, NIGERIAN Army; Maj SD Shafa (N/13976); Maj DE Obi (N/14395); Capt U Zakari (N/16348); SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Col Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); and LCol Bulus Haruna (16NA/ TS/5844).

Others were Lal Sole Opeyemi (17NA/760719), LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290), LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653), LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191), Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079), Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911), Pte Abubakar Ali

n ew, l eg ITI m AT e c on STIT u TI on, pATH To nI ger IA ' S Solu TI on, An YAoku, SA nwo- o lu, A D eb A njo, oTH er S Decl A re will never work.”

Ozekhome said, “An illegitimate document remains illegitimate forever.”

The leaders spoke yesterday in Lagos at a national dialogue on the constitutional future of Nigeria in honour of renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze.

The forum was organised by The Patriots, a pan Nigerian group of eminent national leaders of thought, with the theme, “Lawful Procedures for Actualising a People’s Constitution for Nigeria.”

Anyaoku called for a "new legitimate constitution" to arrest the current deterioration in virtually every aspect of the country’s existence. He stressed that the 1999 Constitution lacked the kind of legitimacy expected of a constitution in a pluralistic country like Nigeria.

Anyaoku’s views were supported by Sanwo-Olu, Adebanjo, members of the National Assembly, former governors and eminent national leaders, who also demanded a new Nigerian constitution that would reflect true federalism and address the problems of the country.

They said Nigeria had two options in trying to get a truly federal constitution: either adopting the recommendations of the 2014 national confab or going for a relatively inexpensive Constituent Assembly on a non-party basis to produce a widely acceptable constitution for Nigerians.

Chairman of the Patriots, Anyaoku, said Nigeria was a pluralistic country, which had failed to develop like other

pluralistic countries in the world that had succeeded by devolving powers to the federating units.

He cited examples of pluralistic countries, such as Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Sudan, which broke up due to issues bordering on lack of true federalism.

The former Commonwealth secretary-general said for Nigeria to get a truly federal constitution it should either adopt the recommendations of the 2014 national conferences.

He said, “We go for a relatively inexpensive directly elected constituent assembly on non-party basis for producing such widely desired constitution.”

According to him, the present 1999 Constitution is not capable of addressing the myriads of challenges confronting Nigeria. He called for the adoption of the recommendations of the 2014 national conference or conduct of an “inexpensive” constituent assembly that would be nonpartisan in order to have a truly federal constitution.

Anyaoku said, "The country needs a new legitimate constitution. And the message of The Patriots, which I have the privilege to be the chairman, is quite clear that The Patriots should take this message to those in government. I like to say that The Patriots will take this message to the Presidency and to the National Assembly.

"We have had pluralistic countries that failed. Yugoslavia, for example, broke up into eight states. Czechoslovakia amicably broke up

into two states, and coming home nearer, Sudan, which has existed for centuries broke up into two states.

“So, that should teach us that Nigeria should deliberately manage her diversity. The only way we can successfully manage our diversity, remain as one political entity, is by adopting a true federalist constitution.”

He added, “First, Nigeria is a pluralistic country that is still struggling to become a nation with assured political stability and progressive socioeconomic development.

“The fact from across the world is that some pluralistic countries have succeeded in becoming nations while other pluralistic countries have failed and disintegrated. The lesson from this is that pluralistic countries, which have succeeded in becoming nations have generally practised true federalism with considerable power devolved to the federating units.

“This fact was acknowledged by our founding fathers, who negotiated painstakingly and agreed the Independence Constitution of 1960-1963.

“Our present 1999 Constitution, as amended, not only lacks the legitimacy that flows from a democratically made constitution but also has proved to be unsuitable for tackling many of the serious challenges confronting our country.

“It is a widely recognised fact that the crucial areas of the country have significantly deteriorated and continue to deteriorate.”

He said Nigeria had suffered deterioration on many fronts in the

areas of security of the citizens’ lives and property, economic well-being of the citizens, infrastructure, including roads and education and health facilities, social cohesion and social values and the sense of national unity.

"I am hopeful that we will have a listening hear in the presidency. Why do I say so, I believe we are fortunate at this time to have a president, whose democratic credentials have been very clear to me for many years. Because, the man who is now our president, Asiwaju Ahme Tinubu, was very active in the NADECO days, and he was one of NADECO representatives who visited my residence in London a number of times. I also remember how he vigorously argued the NADECO course.

"Even, after I retired as Commonwealth Secretary-General, I had the privilege of chairing a colloquium organised to mark his 60th birthday.

“At that colloquium I called for the restructuring of Nigeria. I said that from my close association of the governments of 54-member countries of the Commonwealth, one lesson I learnt is the pluralistic counties such as Nigeria succeed only on the basis of true federalism.”

In his keynote address titled: "The never-ending call for a new people’s constitution," Ozekhome described the constitution as the birth certificate and identity card of a nation.

He said the fact that a dictatorial and autocratic military junta imposed the 1999 Constitution completely

2023’s $49/bbl.

“The weighted average IRR for the class of 2024 is 23 per cent, helped by a higher liquids weighting of 57 per cent in 2024, compared to 2023’s 46 per cent and the five-year average of 51 per cent,” the firm added.

With a significant emphasis on deepwater projects and advantaged barrels, the average emissions intensity for the FID class of 2024, it said, is 13.6 kgCO2e/boe, well below the global upstream average of 21 kgCO2e/boe.

(19NA/78/2162), Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079), and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).

Killing PerpetratorsUnacceptable, Must Be Brought to Book, Say Defence Ministers

Ministers of Defence, Badaru Abubakar and Bello Matawale, yesterday, condemned in strong terms the killing of military personnel at Okuama, Delta State, saying the federal government would not tolerate any threat to the country's security and sovereignty.

A statement by the Ministry of Defence said the ministers condemned in its totality the attack on the military men, who had gone on a rescue mission from 181 Amphibious Battalion in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. They said the perpetrators of the act must be brought to book.

The statement said the ambush at Okuama, which resulted in the tragic loss of the Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt Col AH Ali, two Majors, a Captain, and 12 soldiers, along with a civilian, was a matter of grave concern.

The defence ministry stated, "This tragic incident underscores the immense sacrifices made by our servicemen and women in the defence of our nation. Their unwavering dedication and courage in the face of danger exemplify the highest ideals of patriotism and duty.

"We affirm our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the security and well-being of all Nigerians and will not tolerate any threat to our nation’s sovereignty and stability.

"Additionally, we assure the Nigerian people that every effort will be made to bring the perpetrators to justice, and we remain resolute in our pursuit of peace and tranquillity across the nation in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu."

Badaru and Matawalle reiterated the federal government's resolve to secure the country.

They said, "Our unwavering support for the armed forces and their efforts to maintain peace and stability across the country is not negotiable. We will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving lasting peace and tranquillity in every region of our dear country.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, colleagues, and

Leader, Lady Betty Okoebor, to speak on the party's readiness for the election, Tinubu reiterated that with the strong support of women, victory was assured.

''If the women say we are going to win, then we are good to go because they constitute the largest number of voters and the most dedicated,'' he affirmed. He therefore, commended the leadership of the party in Edo for their efforts towards the success of the candidates and the party.

loved ones of the fallen soldiers, as well as with the entire nation mourning this irreparable loss. We stand united in grief with all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces during this difficult time."

Lagbaja: No Hiding Place for Culprits

Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, said there was no hiding place for the killers of the military personnel in Delta State. Lagbaja tackled the Okuama community over its alleged resort to propaganda.

He said the killing of the soldiers was not only despicable but should be unreservedly condemned by all.

Lagbaja said, "Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

"This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.

“The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover up, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety.

“It is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies."

The statement by the army spokesman, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said, "There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative, they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.

"While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds.

"The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, while commiserating with the families of the officers and soldiers, who lost their lives, has directed that no stone should be left unturned until the perpetrators of this gruesome acts are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.

“Troops are determined to get to these criminals, there is certainly no

Continued on page 29

He particularly lauded Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of the state, for his exemplary leadership.

Earlier, Ganduje emphasised the unity of purpose within the party towards achieving victory in the election.

''Our candidate is soft-spoken, focused, and an achiever. He is a product that is highly marketable, and I am confident that with him as our flagbearer, we will bring Edo back to our party,'' Ganduje said.

“New projects are a lever to meet emission reduction goals, especially those focused on deepwater projects that continue to deliver on low emissions intensity and economic returns,” the consultancy firm added. Continued on page

As Govs Move to Tackle Food Insecurity

Chuks Okocha writes on the spirited efforts being taken by the 36 state

issue of food insecurity biting hard on the citizenry across the country.

Following a report by the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) Study which said about 31.5 million Nigerians may experience food and nutrition crisis between June and August 2024, Governors of all the 36 states of the federation under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) have released measures being taken to tackle the current food crisis and economic hardships facing Nigerians.

Cadre Hatmonisé is a food and nutrition insecurity study conducted by the federal ministry of agriculture and food security in collaboration with other partners including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The report may have compelled the governors to roll out their efforts at controlling the food insecurity in the country.

The report released by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) last Sunday signed by its acting head of media, Halimah Salihu Ahmed, said the governors have taken several proactive steps to counter the present food crisis as well as the inherent economic hardships.

According to the report, “In Akwa Ibom State, the government is planning to establish an agency which will buy food items in bulk and then sell them at cheaper prices to the residents.

“Towards this end, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has forwarded to the House of Assembly a bill for the establishment of the agency.”

The report quoted the governor as appealing to residents of Akwa Ibom State to be patient, while promising to sign the bill into law once it is passed by the assembly.

Eno said: “We will buy the food items in bulk and ensure that they are made available to our people at relatively lower prices. The process will be transparent. I want to thank the House of Assembly for the expeditious manner this Bill is being treated. I want to assure our people that we feel their pain and are working hard to ensure that food security for our people is guaranteed.”

In the same vein, in Kano State, the report also said government has raided warehouses where traders are suspected of hoarding food supplies.

The NGF report further stated: “In Yobe State, government banned bulk purchases of grain from local markets to stop hoarding and exports across Nigeria’s borders saying it was to “stem the tide of food scarcity and high cost of grains”.

“In Niger State, Governor Mohammed Bago

announced a ban on the mass purchase of foodstuffs from local markets. He ordered security forces to confiscate trucks carrying products in bulk and “share the food to the people”.

“In Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah said his administration will eradicate hunger and poverty in the state and unlock the rural economy through investment in agriculture and agroindustrialisation.

Mbah, who was represented by the secretary to the state government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, said this during the celebration of the 2023 World Food Day in Enugu.

The governor said the state government was intensifying efforts to grow the economy of the state from $4.4 billion to $30 billion through massive investment in agriculture by attracting investors, empowering the farmers and opening the rural economy of the state.

As governors firmly respond to the multiple consequences of a food crisis, for the masses, it may just be morning yet on creation day, the report stated.

Also, the Ekiti State Government said it has earmarked N1 billion to improve food production, especially for land preparation, driven by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s tractorization subsidy scheme, and an input supply programme to support small scale farmers.

Similarly, the government said it is also committing a whopping sum of N1.2 billion it recently got as first tranche of the World Bank-financed Livestock

to transform the livestock subsector.

According to the NGF report, in Ekiti state, the fund would be spent on empowering livestock farmers, boosting livestock productivity as well as creating a conducive environment for youths and private sector involvement in livestock businesses.

This, the NGF report said, will include revamping all veterinary clinics across the local government areas and the state veterinary hospital; development of poultry sector across the value chain from production to processing; feed formulation and artificial insemination (Al) training and support, among others.

In Zamfara state, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State hosted the Swedish Ambassador, Annika Hahn-Englund, and discussed partnership on how to grow the state economy and address the current hardships.

The report said the meeting was held with a view to creating collaboration and partnership in critical areas of the economy, build long-term relationships, and implement transformative projects to benefit Zamfara State and its people.

It said: “At the meeting, Governor Lawal assured the Swedish Ambassador of his administration’s readiness to promote collaboration and sustainable development across various sectors.

“Sweden has expressed interest in partnering with Zamfara State to build long-term relationships and implement transformative projects for the state’s people in Nigeria.”

Furthermore, the envoy pledged to offer Zamfara technical expertise in responsible mining practices, modern agricultural techniques, renewable energy infrastructure, and support in improving education and healthcare

Ahead of the second phase of the Dry Season Food Production Programme under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket, I sent out Expression of Interests to the governors of the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory, to which responses have been encouraging. Indeed, a number of governors have paid visits to our corporate headquarters here. These include the Governors of Jigawa, Katsina, Ekiti, Niger, Kebbi, and Sokoto states in furtherance of the collaboration that we are seeking for the success of the Dry Season Food Production Programme.

services.

The report also stated that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in collaboration with Governors Agbu Kefas of Taraba State; Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State; and Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State will interface with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and push for increased crop production to tackle food inflation and food shortages in Nigeria.

The report said Governor Abdulrazaq explained that the Anchor Borrowers Programme that was previously implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria did not achieve much.

He called on the Agriculture Minister to work hard to meet the food targets of government, as this was vital for the Nigerian masses, adding that state governors would work with the ministry.

According to NGF Chairman; “We could not achieve much with the CBN Anchor Borrowers programme; it was very challenging. The issue of food security is a one-stop-shop and we need to concentrate on what we are doing. We need to concentrate on what we are doing for the dry season farming.

“The Minister has come up with a programme on cassava, rice and maize and we want to engage in that programme and urgently make sure we improve on our yield and deliver to the Nigerian population.

“We want to get to a stage where we export our food. What we have now is that, because of the devaluation of our naira, Nigeria’s food is being exported to West Africa and is the cheapest in the region today.”

He explained that the governors had “come to the realisation that we have a new Ministry of Agriculture, because over the last four years, before this administration, the engagement was not too productive.

“This was because the CBN took over most of what the agriculture ministry use to do. Our trips to the ministry at that time were not fruitful. But now we have seen strong engagement and sense from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and that is why we are here today.”, Abdulrazaq stressed.

The Kwara Governor also said the governors had also noted that food in Nigeria was the cheapest in West Africa, adding that Nigeria’s neighbours were using its food to trade.

Women Judges: Changing the Narrative of Justice Delivery

Women Judges: Changing the Narrative of Justice Delivery

Quotables

‘We are the new leadership now…The responsibility that has been bestowed on us is to champion the cause of Nigeria and Nigerians, first and foremost….The unity of Nigeria is of uppermost importance to us….all our interests must be aligned, from both the Southern and Northern end.‘ - Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, APC Senator Representing Lagos East

‘This is the country’s capital, where we have foreigners and Ambassadors. I don’t understand how we can allow ‘Keke Napep’, to take over all the entire area. It’s a security risk.‘ - Nyesom

PROF MIKE OZEKHOME, CON, SAN, FCIArb, PH.D. LLD Constitutional Democracy, means a system of government, in which political and governmental power, is defined, limited and shared by a grundnorm called the Constitution, which provides inbuilt checks and balances. This column seeks to fiercely discuss constitutional, legal and political issues, with a view to strengthening, deepening and widening the plenitude and amplitude of democracy and good governance, without fear or favour.

The writer of this column, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is a Constitutional Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Notary Public and Motivational Speaker. He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigeria’s pioneer human rights league, on October 15, 1987, the Universal defenders of Democracy (UDD), in 1992, and with Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others in 1998, the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), to push out the military. In his early days, he lectured at the University of Ife. Prof Ozekhome is an author of many books. He is also a Special Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.

Erisco Boss and the Senate: A Tale of Two Bullies

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” - George Orwell

The two issues that piqued my interest last week, were the Erisco/Chioma Okoli saga, and the suspension of the Senator representing Bauchi Central, Senator Abdul Ningi, from the Senate for a period of three months. In both cases, the Police and the Senate may not want to hear what I have to say, but I will air my views anyway, in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The Erisco/Chioma Okoli Imbroglio

Must we all like Erisco Nagiko Tomato Paste (Erisco Purée)? No! At least, not according to Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2023)(the Constitution) which guarantees our right to freedom of thought (Choice). Are we allowed to hold opinions and express them on Facebook or wherever we choose to, even if what we are expressing is our distaste for Erisco Purée or any other product? Yes! According to Section 39(1) of the Constitution that guarantees our right to freedom of expression, including our right to hold opinions. I do however, concede that with the advent of social media, there are many irresponsible people who post nonsense and outright falsehoods about others that amount to libel and criminal defamation, who need to be sanctioned by the law - see the case of Oruwari v Osler 2013 5 N.W.L.R. Part 1348 Page 535 at 556 per Chukwuma-Eneh, JSC. But, how does posting your personal opinion about a product, translate to being a criminal offence, as alleged by the founder of Erisco? I saw a video in which the Erisco Founder said Chioma was trying to bully him and destroy the reputation of a company he had spent 40 years building! Really? Talk about being intolerant and melodramatic! Just because Chioma said Erisco Purée had too much sugar in it? Or was the Erisco Founder peeved and his ego bruised, because Chioma had stated in her post that she was constrained to buy Erisco Purée after she couldn’t find Gino and Sonia, meaning that she wouldn’t have considered Erisco Purée had either of the other two brands been available? After all, the Erisco advertisement on television done by the famous and well-loved Songstress, Onyeka Onwenu, testifies to the sweetness of Erisco Purée, as Madam Onyeka declares: ‘…and when you put am inside mouth, e sweet, and e dey gidigba for body’. Besides, Chioma is only one person, in a country that is alleged to have a population of over 200 million. What is so special about Chioma’s opinion? ‘Se Chioma f’ogun sè nu ni?’ (Did Chioma put black magic in her mouth?) So that, with her one statement, the whole of Nigeria would boycott Erisco Purée?

I submit that Chioma simply expressed her opinion, and this cannot be said to be cyberstalking or cyberbullying. Not only has Chioma not committed any crime, unless of course, there’s much more to the incident that we are unaware of, the expression of her opinion doesn’t even qualify as defamation which is a tort, a civil wrong.

The law cited in a post that I saw on social media, one said to be relied upon by Erisco, that is, Section 24 of the Nigeria Cybercrime Act 2015, does not exist. Erisco possibly may have wanted to rely on Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015 (CA) which prohibits knowingly or intentionally sending a message that the sender ‘knows to be false’, via computer systems or network to cause annoyance, insult, injury etc, and carries a punishment of 3 years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding N7 million or both, upon conviction. This law is patently inapplicable, to this issue. A combination of the aforementioned non-existent law (or the correct version) and the allusion by the Erisco Founder in a videoclip which was aired on our Arise TV, to a place in prison for ladies who have babies (Chioma is said to be pregnant), leads one to the irresistible conclusion that they must have had Section 24(1)(b) of the CA in mind as the offence they concocted to frame Chioma for (hoping she would be convicted and imprisoned), for letting the world know that she thinks Erisco Purée has too much sugar in it. Interestingly, the wordings at the beginning of the statute “he knows to be false” were not-so-cleverly omitted from the incorrect version of the law that was circulated, in order to make the trumped-up allegations against Chioma stick in the court of public opinion, because Chioma’s opinion, even if it is uncomplimentary, cannot be said to be a falsehood! It is her opinion, which she is entitled to, and not a twisting of any facts. Assuming, without conceding that Chioma had actually committed a crime, the element of falsehood which is required to establish this offence of cyberstalking or cyberbullying, is unproven.

It appears that if anyone is being bullied, it is Chioma, and this is unlawful. The Erisco Founder and the Police must be sanctioned, as a deterrent to ‘Big Men’ who have a penchant for using law enforcement agencies to further their unlawful activities, like the intimidation of people. The actions of Erisco and the Police for starters, smacks of false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and a gross abuse of powers by

onikepo braithwaite

onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The Advocate

“Must we all like Erisco Nagiko Tomato Paste (Erisco Purée)? No!…. Are we allowed to hold opinions and express them on Facebook or wherever we choose to, even if what we are expressing is our distaste for Erisco Purée or any other product? Yes!….It appears that if anyone is being bullied, it is Chioma, and this is unlawful”

the Police. See the case of Ogbonna v Ogbonna (2014) LPELR-22308(CA). It is sad that our Police are complicit in this illegality, and have easily allowed themselves to be used to achieve this purpose. Section 8(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 prohibits the arrest of an individual merely on a civil wrong or breach of contract, let alone the arrest of an individual like Chioma, who hasn’t committed any wrong. Also see Sections 4 & 32(2) of the Police Act 2020. See the case of Skye Bank Plc v Emerson Njoku (2016) LPELR-40447(CA) where the Court of Appeal held inter alia that Complainants who wrongly use agencies such as EFCC and the Police to violate the rights of people, must be made to pay for their actions.

To get round these provisions, simply to feed the ego of an intolerant ‘Big Man’ and satisfy his bidding, the Erisco Founder and the Police connived, going beyond the stretch of a vivid imagination, to fabricate a false allegation against Chioma, in order to try to punish her for her negative opinion of Erisco Purée, which she dared to disseminate on social media.This is unacceptable.

Senate v Senator Abdul Ningi I am quite indifferent in the issue of Senate v Senator Ningi, I do not support either of the two parties, or rather, I’m partial solely to the rule of law in this matter. While the allegations of ‘Padding’ of the 2024 Budget made by Senator Ningi against the Senate, must have been seen as some form of contempt of the Senate by the Senators, and indeed, may have sought to bring this legislative arm of government into disrepute (we also remember the Padding allegation of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin against the House of Representatives in 2016) (see Sections 21, 22 &

the suspension of an MP for 14 calendar days, to recall and replace the erring member; suspension, obviously after a thorough investigation by an independent Panel that investigates allegations, and recommends the suspension. This is unlike what obtains here in Nigeria, where once you make any allegation of financial impropriety against the Legislature, you are automatically guilty without thorough investigation. The Nigerian Legislature is the judge, jury and executioner (forget about the principle of ‘Nemo judex in causa sua’ - no one is judge in their own case) - breach of fair hearing contrary to Section 36(1) of the Constitution. We also do not have such a triggering provision in the case of a suspended member, to call for a by-election in our Constitution. See the UK Recall of MPs Act 2015. It may be just as well that we don’t have the American and UK provisions in our Constitution and laws, as I see them being subject to abuse.

However, in the unreported case of Dino Melaye & 4 Ors v The Speaker of the House of Representatives & Ors FHC/ABJ/CS/460/2010, the Federal High Court held that the suspension of the Plaintiffs for a legislative session of one year was illegal and unconstitutional, on the ground that a Legislator cannot be suspended for more than 14 days in accordance to the Standing Orders of the House. Recall that sometime in 2010, Dino Melaye and other Representatives were suspended from the House of Representatives, for disrupting the proceedings with unruly behaviour.

My problem with aforementioned LHPPA provisions and the Melaye judgement is that, even if it is a one-day suspension of a Legislator, the people of his/her constituency are excluded and denied their participation in that Chamber. Why should they be punished for the infractions of their representative?

24(1)(a) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act 2018)(LHPPA), the suspension of the Senator or any other Legislator for that matter, for a period of three months appears to be unconstitutional. See Sections 42(1)(a), 48, 49, 90 & 91 of the Constitution.

Section 14(2)(a) & (c) provides that sovereignty belongs to the Nigerian people, from whom government through the Constitution derives all its powers and authority, and the people have a right to participate in their Government. How is this achieved? By voting in elections, and through elected representatives that form the various levels of government. Every constituency in Nigeria is entitled to representation whether at the Senate, House of Representatives or State House of Assembly. And, even if Sections 60 & 101 of the Constitution allow these legislative Houses to regulate their own procedures, their regulations, are subject to the provisions of the Constitution, and any inconsistency in them vis-à-vis the provisions of the Constitution, makes such regulations void to the extent of their inconsistency - see Section 1(1) & (3) of the Constitution.

In some countries, Parliament can suspend or even expel its members. In the case of US Rep George Santos who was expelled from Congress in December 2023, Article 1 Section 5 Clause 2 of the United States Constitution authorises the Legislature to determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, or even expel them with the concurrence of two-thirds of that House. It goes beyond Sections 60 & 101 of our Constitution, as we do not have this kind of punishment provision in ours. The UK doesn’t have a written constitution. But, in certain circumstances, in the UK Parliament, a by-election is triggered by a Recall Petition after

For instance, if law–s are debated or passed during the suspension period, the suspended constituency (suspending the representative, is tantamount to suspending the constituency) will be denied any input into the laws that will affect them. It is the Senate that confirms certain appointments; the suspended Senator’s constituents are also denied of any input in the confirmation process, hence, if the confirmation process occurs during the suspension period, and they have a legitimate concern about an appointee, they will be unable to voice it.

Additionally, Section 42(1)(a) of the Constitution provides for freedom from discrimination, and suspending Senator Ningi for three months means that his constituents will remain unrepresented in the Senate for that period of time, thereby excluding them and subjecting them to a disability that other Nigerians are not subjected to, amounting to discrimination. I therefore, submit that any rule of the Legislature that purports to deprive constituents of their participation in government, albeit through their elected Legislative representatives, is unfair, discriminatory and repugnant.

Why can’t the erring member be punished in other ways, that will affect only such an individual personally, and not the constituents? Suspend salaries, allowances and perquisites (which is what Section 21(3) of the LHPPA provides); remove the member from their Committee, fine him/her.

Conclusion

These two scenarios that I have discussed, again, affirm the penchant of government agencies or arms, to either observe the law in its breach, outrightly ignore the law, place themselves above the law or manipulate it to serve their own selfish ends. While it is basic that Section 4 of the Constitution, a document whose bedrock is said to be equity and fairness, mandates the Legislature to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Nigeria, the law makers appear to have exalted their indignation over the welfare of the people of Bauchi Central, by suspending the Senator representing them. The habit of ‘Big Men’ being able to use law enforcement agencies to oppress those who they perceive to be helpless or less connected to power than they are, is also prevalent. It is for the same reason, that Erisco has been able to unlawfully use the Police to intimidate Chioma for no reason, that some are totally against the introduction of State Police, so that this type of abuse is as minimised as possible, if there’s only the Federal Police, instead of becoming the common place order of the day all over the country, in every State Police formation.

Additionally I commiserate with the Nigerian Army and the families of the 16 slain soldiers, who were brutally murdered in very cold blood in Okuoma, Ughelli South, Delta State last Thursday, while responding to a distress call following community clashes between Okuoma and Okoloba. One really wonders, what goes through the minds of the people who commit these heinous and horrific crimes. While the murder of these gallant soldiers and fallen heroes is unacceptable, and we look forward to the capture of their killers and their prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, we plead for restraint in this matter, as it will be unfair for the innocent members of these communities to be punished for crimes they did not commit, with reprisal attacks. Instead. let us allow the rule of law to prevail.

Whether Failure to Fill Electoral Forms Can Invalidate Election

Facts

The Appellant and the 2nd Respondent keenly contested the Rivers State Gubernatorial elections of 18th March, 2023. The Appellant contested under the platform of the All People’s Congress, while the 2nd Respondent was a member of the 3rd Respondent. At the end of the election, the 2nd Respondent emerged victorious and was declared and returned as the winner with accredited 302,614 votes, while the Appellant had 95,274 votes.

Given the outcome of the election, the Appellant filed an Election Petition at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal (the “Tribunal”), challenging the declaration and return of the 2nd Respondent (by the 1st Respondent) as the winner of the election. The Tribunal however, found the Election Petition to be lacking in merit, as the Appellant failed to discharge the burden of proof to establish the allegations of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

Dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal where he sought a total of seven reliefs. The Court of Appeal also dismissed the appeal and agreed with the Tribunal. Thereafter, the Appellant appealed the decision of the lower courts to the Apex Court.

Issues for Determination

The Appellant raised four issues for determination:

(i) Whether the decision or evaluation of Exhibits GL, HB, KL, tendered by the Appellant in proof of the allegation of the non-qualification of the 2nd Respondent to contest the Rivers State Governorship Election of 18th March, 2023 by the Court of Appeal was not wrongful or erroneous and, therefore, occasioned a perverse judgement?

(ii) Whether the Court of Appeal was not in grave error when it failed to properly or correctly resolve the germane issue of the non-qualification of the 2nd Respondent to contest the election, by reason of his failure to comply with the clear provisions of Section 182(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution?

(iii) Whether the Court of Appeal’s resolution of the failure of the 1st Respondent to comply with the mandatory provisions of Sections 73(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, which ought to have invalidated the Rivers State Governorship election held on 18th March, 2023, was in the circumstance, not perverse?

(iv) Having regard to the clear and unambiguous provisions of Section 137 of the Electoral Act 2022 vis-à-vis the evidence led during trial, whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the Appellant’s complaints of over-voting, unsigned alterations, non-stamping and non-signing of results, were not proved?

The 1st and 2nd Respondent formulated three issues for determination respectively (largely identified in the Appellant’s issues), while the 3rd Respondent formulated two issues for determination.

Arguments

The Appellant argued on the first issue bordering on the infraction of Section 182(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) (the “Constitution”) that the 2nd Respondent was not qualified to contest the election, having not resigned from public service 30 days before the election. On the second issue, the Appellant argued that the lower court abdicated their responsibility, by failing to properly resolve the fundamental issue above.

Regarding the third issue bordering on giving “judicial imprimatur” to the provisions of Section 73(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Appellant argued that the 1st Respondent’s failure to keep records of election materials used in the election (in the entire Polling Units) attracted the consequence of a total nullification of the election. To the fourth issue dwelling on election officials signing and stamping Polling Units Result Sheets (Form ECA8As), the Appellant contested that the ECA8As’ were manifestly altered, filled with cancellations and not countersigned.

In reaction, the Counsel for the 1st Respondent argued that the Appellant’s issue whether the 2nd Respondent resigned from public service was res

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at abuja

On Thursday, the 25th day of January, 2024

Before their lordships

Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-ekun uwani Musa abba aji

Mohammed Lawal Garba

Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Tijani abubakar Justices, Supreme Court SC/CV/1193/2023

Between

Cole Tonye Patrick) aPPeLLaNT

And

1. Independent National electoral Commission (INeC)

2. Fubara Siminalayi ReSPONdeNTS

3. People’s democratic Party (PdP)

(Lead Judgement delivered by Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JSC)

judicata' having been determined by two courts of law in Suit No. FHC/CS/222/20222: APC v INEC & 2 ORS and Suit No. FHC/ PH/162/2022: APC v INEC & 3 ORS, and the judgements had not been appealed against. The Counsel further argued (in reaction to the second issue) that the Appellant brought forward hearsay evidence in proving what may have transpired at the polls, and urged the Court to agree that the evidence were inadmissible hearsay. Also, Counsel for the 1st Respondent argued that issue 3 was a misplaced point, because nothing in Section 73(2) Electoral Act 2022 stated that an election would be invalidated merely on non-production of records by the 1st Respondent when same is demanded.

The Counsel for the 2nd Respondent introduced the argument on suo motu which was argued in part, by the Appellant. The Counsel contended that there were no issues

“….the mere failure to fill the electoral forms or fill them properly, will not be sufficient ground to invalidate an election vide Section 134(2) Electoral Act 2022”

formulated by the lower court, little wonder why the Appellant did not point the Apex Court to the alleged new issues raised by the lower court. In sum, he submitted that the mere fact that the lower court drew attention to the lacuna or discrepancies in the Appellant’s case, did not mean the lower court raised new issues.

The Counsel for the 3rd Respondent, argued the two issues formulated. He argued that the burden of proving corrupt practices was beyond reasonable doubt, and the legal and evidentiary burden were not discharged as required by law.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale

In determining the appeal, the Apex Court adopted the four issues formulated by the Appellant. On the first issue, the Apex Court considered Section 182 of the Constitution and Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 to wit: “182 (1) No person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if –(g) Being a person employed in the public service of the Federation or, of any State, he has not resigned, withdrawn or retired from the employment at least thirty days before the date of the election.

With regard to the provision of the Electoral Act 2022: 84(12) No political appointees at any level shall be voting delegate or be voted for at any convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of

candidates for any election.

The Apex Court identified that, Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act was in relation to voting delegates or political appointees contesting primary elections. The consequence of not complying with Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, meant the primary election be treated as null and void and of no effect whatsoever. The Supreme Court distinguished this from Section 182 of the Constitution which related to disqualification of election if such participant did not resign, withdraw or retire from public service of the Federation or State, at least 30 days before the election. The term “public service” means the service of the Federation in any conceivable capacity regarding the government of the Federation, as in Section 318(1) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court applied the Ejusdem Generis rule to hold that the names listed under Section 318 are persons classified in the public service domain, thus, the omitted or excluded names are not reckoned with as public servants within the purview of Section 182 of the Constitution. PPA v PDP (2009) LPELR-4865(CA). The issue was therefore, resolved against the Appellant.

Resolving the second issue, the Apex Court found that the doctrine of res judicata was apt, having met the three elements to wit: (i) an earlier decision on the issue; (ii) a final judgement on the merits; and (iii) the involvement of the same parties or parties in privy with the original parties.

On the third issue regarding the effect of Section 73(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Apex Court as starting point, identified the wording of the statute as follows: Section 73(2) An election conducted at a polling unit without the prior recording in the form prescribed by the commission of the quantity, serial numbers and other particulars of results sheets, ballot papers and other sensitive electoral materials made available by the commission for the conduct of the election shall be invalid.

The Supreme Court held that the burden rests on the Appellant to establish that the 1st Respondent and the 2nd Respondent did not substantially comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, as to affect the results credited. BUHARI v INEC (2008) NWLR (Pt. 1078) 564. Though the provisions of Section 7(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022 imposed an onerous responsibility upon the presiding officer of INEC to ensure that every electoral form to be used at an election is properly filled and this duty is mandatory; nonetheless, the duty of establishing that the presiding officer or INEC has failed in discharging the mandatory duty imposed under Section 73(2) of the Electoral Act rests squarely upon the Petitioner. More so, the mere failure to fill the electoral forms or fill them properly, will not be sufficient ground to invalidate an election vide Section 134(2) Electoral Act 2022.

The Apex Court found that the Appellant did not prove over-voting, non-stamping, unsigned alterations. Further, it was found that out of 305 witness depositions, only 40 were adopted by the Appellant – which implied that at least 86.9% of the case set out was abandoned by the Appellant. The court held further that the Appellant’s 18 witnesses alluded to the fact that the information as to truth of events, were not things they observed themselves – this made the chunk of Appellant’s case inadmissible hearsay.

Their Lordships, therefore, unanimously dismissed the appeal of the Appellant. The judgement of the lower court, was thereby upheld.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation J. S. Okutepa, SAN, Chief A. A. Malik, SAN, M. S. Ibrahim, SAN. with Ocholi O. Okutepa for the Appellant.

Kanu Agabi, SAN, U. O. Sule, SAN. M. J. Numa, SAN with Chika Odoemene for the 1st Respondent

Emmanuel C. Ukala, SAN, S. I. Ameh, SAN, D.C. with O. J. Iheko for the 2nd Respondent. J. B. Daudu, SAN, I. A. Adedipe, SAN, Eberechi Adele, SAN, Aham Eke Ejelam for the 3rd Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR), An Affiliate of Babalakin & Co.

Nigerian Legal Awards Opens 2024 Nominations

The Nigerian Legal Annual Awards, has opened nominations for the 2024 edition. The event is designed to honour the invaluable contributions of legal practitioners to businesses across the nation.

In a statement signed by the Publisher of ESQ Legal Practice Magazine and Organiser, Nigerian Legal Awards said ‘In a year marked by unprecedented challenges, including security concerns, foreign exchange fluctuations, and global crises, the resilience and ingenuity of Nigerian businesses and legal professionals have shone through. Despite the adversities posed by the post-pandemic era and geopolitical tensions, the legal community continues to demonstrate unwavering dedication and excellence.

‘The Nigerian Legal Awards 2024 aims to set a new standard for legal service delivery in Nigeria, aligning with globally recognised benchmarks of practice.

As Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria’s legal landscape plays a pivotal role in driving economic development and safeguarding businesses. This year’s awards will highlight the remarkable contributions of Nigerian Lawyers, in advancing the economy and protecting corporate interests. To

Rensure the credibility and integrity of the awards process, stringent measures have been implemented in the nomination and evaluation stages, culminating in the selection of deserving awardees. Esteemed international legal experts and heads of Africa Practice/Business Groups from leading global law firms have been appointed as judges, bringing their wealth of experience and integrity to the adjudication process.

‘We are thrilled to announce the opening of nominations for the Nigerian Legal Awards 2024. This year’s awards will showcase the exemplary achievements of legal professionals who have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and innovation in their respective fields. We invite outstanding law firms, in-house legal departments, regulatory bodies, Government agencies, Ministries of Justice, and emerging talents to participate in this celebration of legal excellence.

‘Nominations are now open for various award categories, including Practice Based Categories for Law Firms and specialised categories for the InHouse Legal Departments. There is also the Nigerian Rising Stars Award which celebrates 40 Under 40 Lawyers, who will shape the future of the Legal Profession in Nigeria.

‘The Nigerian Legal Awards is a platform for recognising excellence in the Nigerian legal

sector. Established to celebrate the significant contributions of legal practitioners to businesses and society, the awards highlight innovation, professionalism, and dedication within the legal

profession. With a rigorous selection process and esteemed panel of judges.’

‘Human Rights Violations: Police Need More Enlightenment’, Barth Agueigbodo

The men of the Nigeria Police Force need to be trained more on human rights laws, if the current rate of human rights violations is to be curtailed in Nigeria

These were the views of the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Ikeja Branch, Mr Bartholomew Agueigbodo during a parley with a section of the press. He stressed that most Policemen have no idea about the seriousness of human rights violations, and that was the reason why he had taken

it upon himself to regularly visit the Criminal Division of Lagos Police Command at Panti, to train them on human right laws and the responsibility of the Police.

"For example, there is no provision of the law that says that you can not bail on weekends, or that someone's wife cannot bail her husband."

Agueigbodo added further that the law provides that a Lawyer must be present while a suspect is being interviewed or interrogated by the Police, but they (Lawyers)

should not reach their client or try to tell them what to say during interrogation, because this cause of action will get the Police angry with unpalatable consequences.

While calling on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to ensure that Lawyers are trained on dealing effectively with the Police, he also called on the Association to ensure that erring Police Officers are dealt with to serve as a deterrent to other Officers.

"In most cases when a Policeman is recalled for cases

of human rights violation, the Officer is normally reposted to another Division or outside the State, but, if they are made to face stiffer punishment, then it will truly serve as a deterrent."

Speaking on some current challenges facing the NBA, Mr Agueigbodo said that leadership requires great wisdom, and some current crises shouldn’t have been allowed to get to this level because they were avoidable, urging the current leadership to look deeply and apply wisdom.

‘There is No Crisis in NBA’, Promise Iwezor

A prominent member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr Promise Wobo Iwezor, has disclosed that there is presently no crisis in the NBA, but rather an in-house misunderstanding which will soon be resolved.

Dr Iwezor was speaking on the present NBA-SPIDEL crisis to a select group of journalists in Lagos during his private visit, and

further maintained that all groups within the Association are under the national executive, which is under the leadership of the NBA President, stating that the President can not single-handedly take any decision against SPIDEL.

''The decision of the NBA President, is the position of NEC. He did not take an independent decision, because he set up a Com-

mittee to take over from them.''

The former Chairman of NBA, Isiokpo Branch, further maintained that all NBA forums are under the NBA President, and it is expected of them to seek the approval of the President in all they do.

Speaking on the low attendance of the NEC meeting in Jos, the former Member of the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee, stated

that it has nothing to do with the current in-house crisis, but, rather, with the flight schedules to Jos. We are all aware of the current security crisis in the nation, and one clear fact is that there are no regular flights to Jos, and that is what affected the Jos NEC meeting attendance, it has nothing to do with the current NBA-SPIDEL crisis, Dr Iwezor further added.

Women Judges: Changing the Narrative of Justice Delivery

It was a gathering of a stellar faculty of women judicial officers and senior female Lawyers, for the Annual South-West Zonal Workshop of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN). The first in its series, this year’s Workshop which held at the Marriott Hotel, G.R.a. Ikeja, Lagos, was themed “Breaking the Leadership Barriers for Women in the Legal Profession”, and it was chaired by the President of NAWJN, Honourable Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC, CFR who also represented the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode ariwoola, GCON. Onikepo Braithwaite who moderated the first Panel session, Jude Igbanoi and Steve Aya who covered the proceedings, report

The main event was preceded with a welcome cocktail on Wednesday, where attendees and heads of courts from Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Ogun State had a meet-and-greet hosted by the Chief Judge of Lagos State. ‘There is No Gender Disparity in Lagos Judiciary’, Lagos CJ

In his opening remarks, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba disclosed that there is no gender disparity in the Lagos State Judiciary. He said that the State Judiciary is an open place where promotions are based on hard work, and the ability to carry out the task at hand is the sole determinant.

Justice Alogba said this in his remarks, as the Chief Host of the South-West Zonal Workshop of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN).

Speaking on the Theme ‘Breaking the Leadership Barriers for Women in The Legal Profession’, the Lagos CJ further said “The door has always been open in Lagos Judiciary for women, so there is no need for them to break any ceiling. If I need to approve 20 Judges and

all 20 most qualified are women, I will send their names’’.

Also speaking at the event the National President of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN) Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC, CFR said that there is still much to be done in the journey towards gender parity in Nigeria.

“There are still impediments to women becoming senior judicial officers in Nigeria despite the achievement, and we need to work hard to make sure that such is removed’’, she added.

Justice Kekere-Ekun, JSC further lauded the achievement of women in the nation's Judiciary, stressing that the achievements of these women have contributed positively to the nation's image. “Nigeria as of today has the highest number of female Judges in Africa.’’

In her welcome address, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Hon. Justice Olutoyin Ipaye in her welcome address, disclosed that the mandate for the workshop was given by the National President of NAWJN, Hon Justice Kudirat

“The Workshop emphasised the importance of Mentoring, sponsorship and the need for women seeking advancement in the legal profession to set goals....”

Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere –Ekun, JSC, CFR. Additionally, she said that the choice of March was very deliberate, given the fact that celebrations for International Women’s Day had taken place earlier on March 8th, International Women's Judges Day on March 10th, Mothering Sunday day which was held on the first Sunday of March.

That women's representation in court is very important, as women enhance the legitimacy of the court, therefore, to achieve justice, we need more women in justice.

In his remarks at the event, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, said that the Lagos State Government believes in gender equality, which is why in the State Civil Service, everybody is given equal treatment.

The Governor further stated that just like the State Judiciary, the number of female Permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service is very high.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, also a Lawyer, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the Governor further added that, it is heartwarming to be amid beautiful amazons who have broken so many barriers and jinxes in the legal profession to become accomplished Judges.

There were goodwill messages from the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, who thanked the women for their selfless and courageous service to the nation. He then wished them well, in their deliberations.

Other Associations and Bodies who attended the Workshop and sent goodwill messages, were the Nigerian Bar Association

both Lagos and Ikeja Branch represented by Mr Olabisi Makanjuola and Mr Seyi Olawumi; the Body of Senior Advocates (BOSAN) represented by Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, who delivered the goodwill message of the body. Other bodies were the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Lagos State Branch, represented by its President, Mrs Chinwe Afobi; the Academia, represented by Prof Walter Boledeoku of the University of Lagos, Faculty of Law, and the African Women Association, Nigeria, represented by its President, Mrs Caroline Ibharuneafe.

‘Judge Cases on Merit and Not Technicalities’, Says Keynote Speaker, Adefope-Okojie, JCA (Rtd)

Nigerian Judges have been urged to deliver their judgements based on the merit of the case and not on the strength of technicalities, as this will give such judgements the confidence and respect of the public, and stand the test of time, because they cannot be questioned.

This call was made by Hon. Justice Oludotun Adebola Adefope-Okojie, while delivering the Keynote Address at the first South-West Zonal Workshop of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN), hosted by the Lagos State Judiciary at the Ballroom of Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.

Speaking to the theme, Justice Adefope-Okojie said that Breaking leadership barriers is similar to breaking through the glass ceiling placed over a woman, preventing her from reaching the highest levels, regardless of her accomplishments and merit. She maintained that there are unwritten rules and decisions made under the influence of unconscious biases that stand as obstacles put in the way of women’s career advancement, in the

Women Judges: Changing the Narrative of Justice Delivery

form of strictly defined corporate policies.

“In our country, the leadership barrier in a few instances could very well be where you’re from, your tribe, your religion. Also, if you’re of childbearing age, you may face being by-passed for promotion, as few organisations want to pay salaries for women on constant maternity leave. Sexual harassment is also a real issue, encountered by not a few women on their upward trajectory. It’s because of these barriers that women are more likely to face restricted access, limited opportunities, and lower compensation which prevents them from gaining promotions or leadership opportunities.’’

The retired Court of Appeal Justice further stated the importance of breaking the leadership barriers are many, but stated provision of much-needed diversity, fresh voices, and different perspectives to the profession, leading to better decision-making, innovation, and fairness; provision of role models and mentors for aspiring female legal professionals, inspiring and motivating them to overcome obstacles and pursue their ambitions; equality of access and conducive environment for career advancement, leadership roles and professional development for women, Women’s leadership in law, identifies and addresses gender-based discrimination and ensures that specific interests and priorities are represented, and Women in leadership, because of their physiological make-up are more humane and caring. They are also generally less susceptible to corruption, thus, bringing about good governance.

While celebrating the achievement of women in the legal profession which is generally seen as a male-dominated field, Justice Okojie saluted the significant progress made with women making outstanding and remarkable strides in the legal field. and rising to various leadership positions in the various sectors of the legal profession.

“Nigeria has had and still has a significant number of women Judges and also females heading the judiciaries, right up to the Apex Court and, by God’s grace, another imminent female Chief Justice of the Federation. We also have had female Attorneys-General; we have women manning law chambers that rival the best male chambers. There are female CEOs of prominent companies and Banks, numerous Company Secretaries, Deans of Faculties, Professors, etc. Out of about 673 living Senior Advocates of Nigeria between 1975 and 2023, about 33 of them are women’’.

Justice Okojie then challenged the women to work hard and be leaders in whatever capacity they find themselves, stating that: “Leadership does not have to be the topmost position, otherwise few women will be classed as leaders. Women who have broken the glass ceiling in this context, are women who have attained a position of influence in any organisation’’.

“In breaking the glass ceiling, we often have to make choices between family and advancement at work. Your home front is very important, as there is no eventual pleasure in attaining a leadership position only to fail in the home. Once the home front is settled, half the battle is won’’, she added.

“Sexual harassment, in a few cases, may present itself as an obstacle to breaking the leadership barrier. It must be dealt with firmly, by rejection of the harassment and recourse to the Organisation’s Handbook and Procedure provided, where necessary, or a report made to the authorities. It should never be condoned, as succumbing to it may have no end and may be a recurrent feature, in the bid to sustain the position. A problem will arise, however, where the perpetrator is the employer or a person in authority. This may, in the worst-case scenario, when all else fails, painfully necessitate resigning from the institution’’.

“To break the leadership barrier, you must be the best that you can be, and it has to be intentional. Whether we like it or not, we’re in a man’s world. Except in a world of mediocrity, nobody is going to give you what you’re not able to handle’’ .Hon. Justice Adefope-Okojie further added.

Mentors, Sponsors, Family, Friends, and Patience is Important in Leadership Quest

Discussants at the just concluded first South-West Zonal Workshop of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN) stated that for women to get to the leadership positions they aspire to, mentorship, sponsorship, a supportive spouse if married, family, friends, patience, coolheadedness and above all faith in God is needed.

The discussants spoke from their experience of how they made it to their top leadership positions in the legal profession, either as senior Lawyers or Academicians or Judges, pointing out that the role of the above-mentioned elements can not be overstated.

In the first Panel session which was Chaired by Hon. Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, and Moderated by Mrs Onikepo Braithwaite, all the Panelists described their journeys to the top. Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde, the President of the Ekiti State Customary Court of Appeal, who was the only female Judge in Ekiti from 2008-2022 (there are now three other

female Judges) spoke of the need to be focused and have set mapped out goals, mentors and sponsors. Narrating her experience, she said gender based discrimination is deeply rooted in our culture and traditions, but to overcome it women, must trust God, and be patient.

Mrs Fummi Quadri, SAN, on her part, spoke of the strength she got from her husband and family, which according to her, is indispensable. She took the audience through the stages of law reporting - collection of judgements, reading and editing, printing and finally, marketing. She stated that carving a niche for herself as a female in the male dominated area of law reporting, had made her name popular nationwide.

Also speaking along the same lines by underscoring the importance of mentorship and sponsorship, Prof Foluke Dada said her father and husband not only supported her, but gave her the wings to fly high as a Lawyer. She also spoke briefly, about the gender bias she experienced.

The celebrated, well-known Chartered Arbitrator, Mrs Funmi Roberts, spoke about how she had to work for a law firm for free for some years, just to be mentored and get the needed experience. She also spoke about the importance of planning, regular self analysis, and the need to be mentally sound in all that we do, urging all Lawyers, Judges, and everyone present to take good care of themselves health-wise, especially the mental side. She stressed upon the fact that judicial officers must prepare themselves mentally, for life post-retirement.

Speakers in the second-panel session chaired by Hon. Justice (Dr) Mosunmola Dipeolu, the Chief Judge of Ogun State and Moderated by Hon. Justice Efunkumbi Oyefeso, also to the audience via the same line, with Justice Olabisi Femi-Segun, stating that she got where she is today by divine providence, noting that while she knew she wanted to be a Judge, she knew nothing about getting to that position until God worked it out for her.

Also speaking, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN, a former Attorney-General of Ogun State, said what drew her to the legal profession was her deep resentment for injustice, but her first calling was French. She also pointed to divine grace for taking her to where she is today, while also giving due credit to her family.

Mrs Ajoke Layi-Babatunde spoke on the need to have a strong family support system, which is what helped her move forward.

On her part, Mrs Folashade Alli, SAN, spoke about her family background in law, and how being the daughter of a well-known Lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, gave her all the tools needed to became an excellent Lawyer. However, she too restated the role her family and friends played in getting to where she is today.

Mrs Folashade Aladeniyi, who is the current and first female NBA Ibadan Branch Chairman in close to 70 years, emphasised

“Women in leadership must be committed to working hard, smart and dedicated to service, as well as sacrifices that come with it”

the need for patience and cool-headedness, while working hard towards your goal. She also urged women in the legal profession, to assist and mentor other women who will someday take over from them.

Communiqué

THE SOUTH WEST ZONAL WORKSHOP OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JUDGES OF NIGERIA (NAWJN)

• THEME: BREAKING LEADERSHIP BARRIERS FOR WOMEN IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION

• VENUE: THE MARRIOTT HOTEL, GRA, IKEJA, LAGOS STATE

• DATE: 14TH MARCH, 2024

The Two-Day South West Zonal Workshop of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria was held on the 13th – 14th March 2024 in Lagos State.

In line with the Women in Leadership in Law (WILIL) initiative of the International Association of Women Judges, to work out effective strategies to overcome the barriers confronting women in leadership positions in the profession, the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria decided to hold workshops in the six geopolitical zones of the country, to provide a roadmap that will lead to the enhancement of women in leadership in the Judiciary and other fields of endeavour.

The South-West geopolitical zone Workshop with the theme: ‘Breaking Leadership Barriers for Women in the Legal Profession’ commenced with a welcome cocktail hosted by the Honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba.

The Workshop was in two parts: The Opening Session and the Working Session, which comprised of the Keynote Address and two Panel Sessions.

The Opening session included a Welcome Address by the Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Hon. Justice Olutoyin Ipaye; Opening address by President NAWJN, Hon. Justice K.M.O. Kekere-Ekun JSC CFR, remarks by the Chief Host, the Honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem O. Alogba.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin delivered the goodwill message of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide O. Sanwo-Olu. Goodwill messages were also delivered by the following: Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Prof Ige Bolodeoku, the Dean of Law, University of Lagos; Prof Ayo Atsenuwa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos; Hon. Justice Binta Nyako, President, International Association of Women Judges; representative of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN; President, International Federation of Women Lawyers, Lagos State Branch, President Women Lawyers Association, Lagos State Branch, and Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Lagos and Ikeja Branch.

The Keynote Address was delivered

by Hon. Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie JCA. (Rtd). It was titled: “Women in Legal Profession: Breaking the Glass Ceiling”.

Dr Chinasa Amadi delivered a brief health talk to the participants.

There were two panel sessions to discuss the theme of the workshop: Breaking Leadership Barriers for Women.

The first Panel Session was chaired by Hon. Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, JCA, and moderated by Mrs Onikepo Braithwaite.

The Panelists were Hon. Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Ekiti State; Mrs Funmi Quadri, SAN, Partner, Funmilayo Quadri, SAN & Co.; Professor Foluke Dada, Dean College of Law, Caleb University, Lagos State and Mrs Funmi Roberts, Chartered Arbitrator, The Second Panel Session was chaired by Hon. Justice (Dr) Mosunmola Dipeolu, the Chief Judge of Ogun State and moderated by Hon. Justice Efunkumbi Oyefeso. The Panelists were Hon. Justice Olabisi FemiSegun, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Ogun State; Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN, Partner Banwo & Ighodalo; Mrs Adejoke Layi-Babatunde, DCEO, Lawbreed Publications; Mrs Folashade Aladeniyi, Chairperson, Nigeria Bar Association, Ibadan Branch, Oyo State and Mrs Folashade Alli, SAN, Principal Partner, Folashade Alli & Co.

The Local Organising Committee for the Event was Chaired by Hon. Justice O. Atinuke Ipaye the HAJ1 of Lagos State Judiciary. The members of the Committee and Coordinators of sessions were: Hon. Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay; Hon Justice Josephine Adenike Coker; Hon. Justice Olajumoke Pedro; Hon. Justice Adenrera Adeyemi; Hon. Justice Iyabode Oshodi and Hon. Justice Mosunmola Balogun.

The following are the highlights of the decisions from various discussions and presentations:

1. The Workshop emphasised the importance of Mentoring, sponsorship and the need for women seeking advancement in the legal profession to set goals and embrace mentoring.

2. Both sponsorship and mentoring have been identified, as being very beneficial to propelling women upwards. However, a lot more attention is still required in the area of sponsorship.

3. The role of support of family, in attaining full potential for women in pursuit of leadership is vital.

4. Passion, zeal and resilience play vital roles in breaking barriers and attaining leadership positions.

5. Women in leadership must be committed to working hard, smart and dedicated to service, as well as sacrifices that come with it.

6. A self assessment of SWOT analysis and goal setting, are significant tools to determine and overcome barriers.

7. Societal landscape has changed, and opportunities given to women have increased. The challenge of gender bias, is gradually blurring out.

8. Women must be intentional and deliberate about mentorship, and mentorship programmes should be institutionalised.

9. A formidable way of breaking the glass ceiling, is by Women in higher places being supportive of other Women.

10. Need for mentees to actively engage in the mentoring process.

The Independence of the Judiciary in a Democratic Dispensation (Part 3)

Introduction

Another public outrage attended the ex-parte order granted by a Lagos High Court against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), restraining it from calling out workers on a planned nationwide strike to protest the hike in price of petroleum products by the Federal Government. An Abuja High Court had refused the application, because there was no genuine case of urgency. The Federal Government went down to Lagos and surprisingly, a Lagos High Court, which had co-ordinate jurisdiction with the Abuja High Court granted the order. The NLC President, Adams Oshiomhole had to tell the whole world that the order was not binding on the NLC, as it was obtained from the “Black market”. The strike went on as planned and the image of the Judiciary was worse off, and its independence seriously put in question.

Another controversial ex-parte order, was that made by a Judge in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, restraining the Governor of Anambra State Dr Chris Ngige from parading himself as Governor. The order (which, apart from the questionability of the perceived extreme urgency attending it) could not be reconciled with the state of immunity enjoyed by the Governor under the Constitution. The Governor had to borrow the “Black market” appellation from Oshiomhole. Even more controversial and outrageous ex-parte orders, were dished out by the same court on the Anambra crisis alone.

At the heart of the issue of abuse of ex-parte orders (especially in political issues), is the attendant erosion of public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the Judiciary. The ugly implications were rightly summed up by a writer as follows:

“In these instances of judicial recklessness, there was always the palpable belief that unseen hands moved the court to issue such controversial ex-parte orders. That is the meaning of the ‘black market’ reference, made by Oshiomhole and Ngige. None of them was prepared to obey a ‘black market’ order obtained outside the ‘official market’! They never obeyed and nothing happened!”

Abuse of ex-parte injunction, aside from the grave implications it has on the independence of the Judiciary, is also capable of wide scale socio-political disaster, as was the case with the annulment of the June 12 Presidential Election. The Judiciary set the key note of the disaster that followed, when an Abuja High Court presided over the late Hon. Justice Bassey Ikpeme made an ex-parte order restraining the conduct of the Presidential election.

In the popular case of Kotoye v CBN & Ors (1989) LPELR-1707(SC) the Supreme Court settled the principles governing the grant of ex-parte injunctions. Principally, the order can be made,

(a) When there is a real urgency, but not a self-induced or self-imposed urgency.

(b) Where it is necessary to preserve the res which is in danger or imminent danger of being destroyed, and

(c) Where there is a real impossibility of bringing the application for such injunction on notice, and serving the other party.

When these factors are inapplicable, a wise Judge that imbibed good judicial milk would exercise his/her discretion by turning down the application, and asking the Applicant to put the Respondent on notice. The institution has always stood against the menace

of this abuse, over the years. The former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mohammed Bello once bemoaned, “indeed, there is urgent need among some of us, the Judges, to appreciate that ex-parte injunction which was devised as a vehicle for the carriage of instant justice in proper cases, should not be converted into a bulldozer for the demolition of substantial justice, we should all realise that justice should be done to public functionaries and public institutions”.

It has also been reiterated that Lawyers equally have a role to play, in the war against abuse of ex-parte injunction. In this direction, the Hon. Justice C. P.N. Selong opined thus:

“In as much as the speech of the learned Chief Justice was directed at Judges, I beg to opine that the same caution should apply to legal practitioners, after all both Judges and legal practitioners are Ministers in the Temple of Justice. It is my humble view that an honest Lawyer who abides by the ethics of the profession, should not bring an application which is manifestly unjust”.

The need for restraint from both the Bench and the Bar on the issue was reiterated at the Annual Bar Conference, Enugu, by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Muhammadu L. Uwais, who counselled thus:

“I think it is not out of place to appeal to legal practitioners at large, to exercise more restraint in and desist

“Abuse of ex-parte injunction, aside from the grave implications it has on the independence of the Judiciary, is also capable of wide scale socio-political disaster, as was the case with the annulment of the June 12 Presidential Election”

from advising their clients to bring absurd applications to court for exparte injunctions. You will agree with me that, unless such applications are brought, the inconsiderate and reckless Judges amongst us, will not find the opportunity to embarrass the Judiciary and the profession in general’’.

It must be noted, that it is not in all cases where a Judge grants an order perceived to be wrong, that an actual case of influence arises. However, the perception of the public about justice is important - whether such perception is rightly or wrongly placed. This is because the standard of justice has always been objective: based on the notion of the reasonable man. Justice must not just be done, but manifestly be seen to be done. As one writer aptly put it:

“The role of the Judiciary in maintaining socio-political order cannot be compromised, and once the citizen believes that somebody, other than the law and his judicial conscience, tells the Judge what to say or do, then, the dangers of a system break down and institutional failure becomes real”.

Accordingly, the resolve of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to henceforth, deal with Judges who grant ex-parte orders with recklessness cannot but be supported and encouraged. Charity begins at home. The filthy Augean stable, must be cleansed.

We have concentrated on the issue of in-house cleaning by the Judiciary itself, because we realise that the most ready and devastating blow to the independence of the Judiciary in the mind of the public is usually struck by the inability of some of the Judges themselves to conduct the affairs of the Bench so judicially and judiciously, as to inspire public confidence in their independence from external influence. Even some Lawyers themselves fall into the league of those members of the public who doubt the independence of the Judiciary, on the ground of questionable judicial orders.

In this regard, Uche Onyegorocha, a Lawyer and member of the House of Representatives, while responding to a question from the press on the unpopular pronouncements of a Federal High Court Judge, said:

“I see undue influence in the whole process. I see a person that is not acting independently. Like I said earlier, I see people playing the drum for him in the bush and he is dancing on the street”.

But, beyond the question of conduct of the members of the Bench in handling cases brought before them, are more technical and political issues of political, economic/fiscal and intellectual independence. These we shall presently address.

Political Independence

The Judiciary ought to be apolitical in a democratic dispensation, to safeguard its independence. Accordingly, Judges should not only be free from political affiliation, but the system should be organised in such a manner as to ensure that a Judge does not give a decision biased in favour of a political party, especially the ruling party. Accordingly, Nwabueze identified two forms of judicial involvement in politics (that is, organised politics) as:

(a) decisions biased in favour of a ruling party, and

(b) judicial membership of political parties.

It is submitted that Nigeria’s adoption of multiparty democracy, is healthy for the protection of the ‘political independence’ of the Judiciary. The term ‘political independence’ should be understood to mean, the freedom of the Judiciary from having any form of political influence exerted on it as to undermine its independence from any individual, group or another arm of government. Nigeria should strive to refuse any attempt to reduce the country into a one-party democracy, since the political independence of the Judiciary would obviously be difficult to be achieved therein. The concept of an apolitical Judge, is utopian in a one-party system. According to Mr Justice Georges, a former Chief Justice of Tanzania,

“The concept of the Judge as neutral, belonging to no party in the multiparty democracy, can have no meaning …. Where there is one party”.

It has been argued that the involvement of the Executive in the appointment of Judges, undermines the imperatives for the freedom of the Judiciary from political influence. It is however, our view that the system of appointment under the Constitution is the best we can have at present. If more caution is employed in the appointment of Judges, no problem of want of independence would be posed by the appointment method. Nigeria is not yet ripe for election of Judges, or else the system would be thoroughly polluted by politics. (We shall look at the issue of appointment of Judges, subsequently).

Indications that a cross-section of Nigerians believe that a section of the Judiciary might have compromised their judicial oath, can be gleaned from this passage from a major national daily:

“The Chief Justice of the Federation, from indications, prefers his colleagues to stand above the fray of Nigeria’s turbulent political process. This position may have been informed by the ignominious role played by the Judiciary in the country’s chequered political history. But, despite the goodwill enjoyed by the Judiciary, due to a mature handling of suits that sought to stop the recent general elections, the (sic) a section of the bench may have unwittingly placed this third arm of government in the dock”. (To be continued)

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“We are under a Constitution, but the Constitution is what the judges say it is, and the judiciary is the safeguard of our property and our liberty and our property under the Constitution”. (Charles Evans Hughes)

Ebenezer Onyeagwu: Delivering Satisfaction to Zenith Bank Customers

Delivering superior service to customers in today’s banking sector is crucial and necessary due to the stiff competition in the market. Customer satisfaction is the lifeblood of the banking industry and has direct impact on trust and reputation. This is because a satisfied customer is more likely to trust his or her financial institution and recommend it to friends and family.

High levels of customer satisfaction reduce the likelihood of customers seeking alternative banking options. Zenith Bank Plc under the leadership of its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, is a leading financial institution in terms of customer satisfaction and has continued to take steps to retain and attract more customers.

Since his appointment as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer in 2019, Onyeagwu has continued to lead the financial institution on a positive trajectory. This has seen Zenith Bank surpass its peers in all metrics with the bank carting away numerous awards.

Onyeagwu, a strategic thinker, an inspirational leadership, an energetic banker who possesses entrepreneurial skills, is a vastly experienced banker and financial expert. He was trained in reputable institutions of learning in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and United States of America and has about 35 years industry experience.

Onyeagwu is also the Chairman of the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers in Nigeria. A graduate of Accounting from Auchi Polytechnic where he obtained the Ordinary National diploma in 1984 and Higher National Diploma in 1987, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1989 while he was still undergoing the compulsory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) post-graduation and was named a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) in 2003.

He is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Oxford, England, from where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Strategy, and certificate in Macroeconomics. He also undertook extensive executive level business education in Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School of Columbia University, the Harvard Business School of Harvard University (all in the United States) and Lagos Business School of the Pan African University, Nigeria.

Onyeagwu, joined Zenith Bank Plc in 2002, as a Senior Manager, in the Internal Control and Audit Group of the bank. His professionalism, competence, integrity and commitment to the set objectives of the bank saw him rise swiftly between 2003 and 2005, first, as Assistant General Manager, then Deputy General Manager, and eventually as General Manager of the bank. In these capacities, he handled strategies for new business and branch development, management of risk assets portfolios, treasury functions, strategic top level corporate, multinationals and public institutional relationships, among others.

As Deputy Managing Director, Onyeagwu had oversight over the bank’s Financial Control and Strategic Planning, Risk Management, Retail Banking, Institutional and Corporate banking business portfolios, IT Group, Credit Administration, Treasury and Foreign Exchange Trading, as well as general administration of the bank, among others.

He was named Executive Director of the bank in 2013, and put in charge of Lagos and SouthSouth Zones as well as strategic groups/business units of the bank including Financial Control & Strategic Planning, Treasury and Correspondent Groups, Human Resources Group, Oil and Gas Group, and Credit Risk Management Group, etc. He was named Deputy Managing Director of the bank in 2016.

He was recently named the ‘Best Banking CEO of the Year in Africa’ in the International Banker 2023 Banking Awards.

In line with its efforts to ensure customer satisfaction, the bank has been recognised for introducing several cutting-edge offerings. These innovations include the deployment of the first offsite automated teller machine (establishing an ATM in a location outside the bank’s premises in 2003), real-time online banking across its entire branch network, transaction notifications via SMS (Short Message Service) and email, an online payment gateway and QR (quick-response) code payment system.

Today, some of its internet banking solutions include the *966# Banking, which is a convenient, fast, and secure way for its customers to access their bank account and perform banking transactions via non-smartphone without internet connectivity. This

service is available to all individual account holders with any feature phones that run on the GSM platform.

Also, the Zenith Bank Mobile App enables customers to get access to their accounts 24 hours a day from wherever you are. A quick download of the mobile banking app can transform customers’ smartphone into a powerful banking tool. The Zenith Bank’s Mobile App is a dual functionality app which bundles Mobile Banking and eaZymoney.

The bank has also made it easier for customers to request cheque books, transfer funds between accounts, pay utility bills and lots more.

Additionally, the ZenithDirect is the financial institution’s 24/7 Interactive Solution Centre that provides customers world-class service and an excellent banking experience. Its services are offered through a menu-driven self-service, phone interactions, social media platforms and via live interactions (chat) with well-trained customer service executives.

Another digital solution offered by the bank is the ZENITH e-Token App, a mobile application that generates One Time Passwords (OTPs) used in the authentication of electronic transactions.

Zenith Bank had also introduced an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered Chatbot on WhatsApp named ZIVA (Zenith Intelligent Virtual Assistant), which enables customers to perform financial transactions and enjoy real-time customer service from their mobile phones.

Onyeagwu’s outstanding career has led to him receiving multiple awards, including Bank CEO of the Year (2019) by Champion Newspaper, Bank CEO of the Year (2020, 2021 & 2022) by BusinessDay Newspaper, CEO of

the Year (2020 and 2021) – SERAS Awards, and CEO of the Year (2022) – Leadership Newspaper. As Group Managing Director/CEO, Onyeagwu has led Zenith Bank to achieve tremendous feats and milestones in financial performance (including 47 per cent growth in the bank’s market capitalisation in four years), financial inclusion, corporate governance and sustainability. These efforts have culminated in several local and international awards and recognitions including being recognised as Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital, for the 13th consecutive year, in the 2022 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine; Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020 and 2022; Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria 2021 and 2022 in the World Finance Banking Awards; Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022; ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa, for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023, by the Ethical Boardroom; and the Most Responsible Organisation in Africa 2021 by SERAS Awards.

Also, Zenith Bank under Onyeagwu was recently named the “Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria” in the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023. Established in 1992 as the first of their kind, the awards recognise excellence in the global banking industry, with this year’s edition receiving a record number of submissions from banks in the regional and country awards programme that covers more than 50 regional awards

and best bank awards in 100 countries.

In terms of its financial performance, Zenith Bank remains an industry leader in most of the indices. While Zenith Bank’s full year 2023 financial performance is being awaited, its unaudited results for the third quarter (Q3) ended September 30, 2023, showed that it recorded a remarkable triple-digit growth of 114 per cent from N620.6 billion reported in Q3 2022 to N1.33 trillion in Q3 2023. The performance demonstrated the Group’s resilience and strong market share despite a very challenging macroeconomic environment. It also reflected the leadership direction Zenith Bank has been enjoying under its Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director, Ebenezer Onyeagwu.

According to the bank’s unaudited Q3 financial results presented to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), the triple-digit growth in the top-line also enhanced the bottom line, as the Group recorded a 149 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in profit before tax, growing from N202.5 billion in Q3 2022 to N505 billion in Q3 2023.

Under Onyeagwu, Zenith Bank’s profit after tax also grew remarkably by 149 per cent from N174.3 billion to N434.2 billion in the same period. The growth in the top-line arose from both interest income and non-interest income. Interest income grew in the current period by 72 per cent to N670.9 billion from N390.8 billion in Q3 2022, while non-interest income grew by 186 per cent, from N212 billion to N607.2 billion. The growth in profit was similarly attributable to the twin effects of the improvement in interest and non-interest income. Interest income increased because of the growth in risk assets as well as the effective pricing thereon.

Indeed, under Onyeagwu’s transformational leadership, Zenith Bank remains committed to prioritising customer satisfaction, which continues to give the financial institution competitive edge in the market, just as it continues to attract new customers and retain existing ones.

Email:

Chioma/Erisco Saga: When the Customer is 'Not Always Right'

The "customer is always right" is a popular slogan which gives high priority to customer satisfaction. While it might apply in some climes, the ongoing imbroglio between Chioma Okoli, and the CEO of Erisco Foods Limited, Eric Umeofia, over her 'negative' review of one of the company’s product which she posted on social media, has proven that cliche wrong. Sunday Ehigiator reports that the singular review has pitted Okoli against the Nigeria Police Force and the company, with most Nigerians now calling for boycott of Erisco Foods

Like it’s said in popular parlance, and attributed to former Uganda President, Idi Amin, “There is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech.” This easily summarises Chioma Okoli’s ordeal in the hands of the CEO of Erisco Foods Limited, Eric Umeofia.

On September 17, 2023, Chioma posted on her Facebook profile that she purchased a tin of Nagiko Tomato paste and discovered that the product contained “too much sugar”.

Replying to a comment on Facebook, she insinuated that the product was killing consumers due to its amount of sugar.

Erisco Foods released a statement describing her allegations as untrue, and she was subsequently arrested, a move condemned by Nigerians, who described it as intimidation.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) also waded into the case and summoned Erisco following the arrest.

Days later, Okoli was arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos and transferred to Abuja following a petition by Umeofia. Both parties have been in court since then.

The issue has since attracted public attention recently with many Nigerians questioning the essence of the ‘Freedom of Speech Act’ if a customer can no longer air his/her opinion and a product he/she paid to get.

The Backstory

Narrating Chioma’s ordeal, a Social Commentator identified on X as General Oluchi explained that, “Chioma posted her review

about Nagiko tomato Mix, a product manufactured by Erisco Foods, on Facebook and carried on with her day. Eric Umeofia or his company never contacted her regarding it.

“A week later, @EriscoOfficial tagged her to their post on Facebook discrediting her review. When people attacked her online, she wrote a second post to clarify herself and then tagged @EriscoOfficial, but they ignored her.

“Emperor Eric Umeofia wrote a petition to his friend the IG of Police to arrest Chioma Okoli with no investigation whatsoever. Nine days later, two policemen from Abuja and a policewoman from Lagos approached Chioma and her family at church and lured them to the station claiming that they had questions for her regarding a package she received.

“When they got there, they presented her with Eric Umeofia’s accusations, showed her the Facebook post, and wanted her to admit to running a crime syndicate that had been calling Eric on the phone to extort money from him!

“They took her phone, searched it, found nothing but withheld it saying they were waiting for ‘orders from above’ before they could let her go! A few hours later, the policemen returned and ordered another policewoman to throw Chioma in jail and then told her husband to

go home and that she wouldn’t be coming with them. Her husband slept in the car at the police station because he didn’t want to leave without his wife.

“The next day, they told Chioma that they were taking her to Abuja by air. Her husband found a seat on the same plane and booked his flight as well to follow them. When they got to Abuja, CSP Oliver began yelling and asking her who sent her to bring Eric Umeofia down and where their hideout was located. He accused her of crime and extortion. He then ordered her transfer to Asokoro police station.

“The next day, Eric Umeofia, his PA and lawyers met Chioma. Eric Umeofia told her that ordinarily, he wouldn’t come to the station; he would simply order his boys to kidnap and kill her. He said this repeatedly in front of the police, his lawyers, and PA (at least 7 people heard it).

“He then told her to write a letter indicating that she lied about the product and that she was guilty of defamation. He asked for the apology to be shared on her Facebook page, in 5 national Newspapers, and in 5 magazines and then get a bank draft of N5 billion.

“Eric Umeofia’s lawyer handed her a written statement with all that he already demanded and asked her to acknowledge it or she won’t go home. So, she did.

“Then she was given a piece of paper to write an apology to Eric Umeofia which she also did just so they would leave her alone, but Eric and his team rejected the letter. They wanted her to admit to running a crime syndicate sent to destroy his business

but Chioma refused to write such because it wasn’t true!

“They also bullied her husband to force her to do as they please. They called him a weak man etc., asking why he couldn’t control his wife. They succeeded in bullying her to copy their apology draft by herself so it would look like she wrote it herself. That was how they let her go.

“She was still threatened at different hours by anonymous callers asking her to hurry and post her Facebook apology. Eric Umeofia then began a media tour with the forced apology letter!

“Innoson (Innocent Chukwuma), and Capital Oil (Ifeanyi Ubah) tried to intervene but Eric Umeofia swore he would never leave Chioma alone!

“Innoson advised him to make Chioma an Ambassador of his brand, and kill the story but he refused claiming that Nnewi businessmen are after him and they used Chioma so she will become a scapegoat.

“On January 9, 2024, Nigerian Police invaded Chioma’s home and ransacked everywhere in search of what they couldn’t disclose to her and her family. They came at 6 am and left at 6 pm but found nothing. Chioma’s life is in danger and I’m asking all Nigerians to put sentiments aside and imagine themselves in her shoes. She needs your support!”

Eric Umeofia’s Justification

In an interview with Arise TV, Umeofia announced an N5 Billion lawsuit against

Chioma/Erisco Saga: When the Customer is 'Not Always Right'

Chioma. Umeofia was seen dramatically analysing how the lady tried to kill his brand by criticising his product.

He made it known that before the incident, he had a lot of orders from China but had been affected because of the lady’s criticism. He stated that N5 Billion was too small for him to collect from the lady for the offence.

He likened his company’s face-off with Chioma to the incident involving Mmesoma Ejikeme, a 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate who circulated a fake examination result, and also described the event as a case of “the weak oppressing the big”.

Umeofia claimed Nigerians have continued to “attack him” on the issue the same way they attacked the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Boards (JAMB) in June 2023, when Mmesoma claimed she had scored 362 in the UTME exams.

“If you don’t like it (Nagiko Tomato Mix), buy another one. But because she is determined [sic]. People tell her not to destroy this product… She said it’s a lie… he will abuse you [sic]… people should go and read what she (Chioma) posted, to show you that she is determined to kill us. So, why must I leave her?

“I have credit lines of $15 million from two customers and now it is suspended from China because they said I am not likely to pay them the credit if they give me.”

Umeofia added that he was still expecting Chioma to post an apology letter she had written before her release on her Facebook page.

“If she doesn’t post it (the letter of apology) there, we are going for the N5 billion. Even that is small money for me to ask from her.

“$30 million, do you know how much it is? I will tell you, that for the past five years, I have never had any credit facility in Nigeria. No loan.”

Police Insist on Prosecuting Chioma

In a recent development, the Nigerian police have reiterated their decision to prosecute Chioma, alleging her online commentary on Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste violates the Cybercrime Act of 2015.

The police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known through a statement on Thursday, March 7, 2024, advising Chioma to cease bail jumping and submit to the judicial process for resolution.

According to the police, initial investigations have revealed significant evidence suggesting Chioma’s involvement in breaking existing laws, especially concerning the appropriate use of cyberspace.

According to him, “The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to upholding the rule of law in the Erisco Tomato matter. The involvement of Mrs. Chioma warrants scrutiny as she stands accused of violating some salient parts of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 as preliminary investigations conducted have unearthed compelling evidence indicating Mrs. Chioma’s alleged role in the violation of extant laws, particularly those related to the proper use of cyberspace.

“This case in point underscores the necessity of enforcing existing legislation, including the Cybercrime Act, to counteract the current spate of violations of the Act and the spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media.

“It is vital to reaffirm that the Nigeria Police is poised to enforce all laws without fear, favour, or sentiments in its commitment to ensuring justice and transparency for all citizens.

“We therefore advise the suspect to cease the continual jumping bail and turn up in court, as a neutral arbiter, to determine the matter, and allow justice to take its course."

Call for Support

According to reports, the case was filed in Abuja instead of Lagos State where Chioma resides and that requires a lot of money to travel back and forth. Forthwith, Chioma’s Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Inibehe Effiong, on his X handle, has called on wellmeaning Nigeria to contribute and show support toward Chioma’s ordeal.

According to him, “At the instance of Mrs Chioma Edoka Okoli and her husband and based on inquiries from members of the public

on how they can support Chioma’s cause, we are constrained to launch a Legal Defense Fund campaign to enable us to prosecute and defend the three lawsuits arising from the review made by Chioma on Facebook on the Nagiko Tomato Mix manufactured by Erisco Foods Limited.

“Account Details: Fidelity Bank Plc,

Account Number: 6326255286, Account

Name: Chioma Blessing Edoka, Account Type: Savings

“Recall that in September 2023, Chioma made a review on her Facebook account on the sugar quantity in the tomato product after she purchased it from the market. She was later arrested and detained by the IGP Monitoring Unit.

“This fundraising campaign has become imperative given the dimension that the case(s) has assumed.

“Chioma’s current residence is no longer safe for her and her family. She recently became pregnant and also has little children to care for. It is important to state that her residential address was publicised in the media by the CEO of Erisco Foods Limited. The siege laid on her house on January 9, 2024, demands that she relocate to a more secure environment.

“Thus, part of the legal defence fund will be used to immediately secure a new accommodation for Chioma and her family. There are several court cases related to this matter.

“The first case is Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/470/2023 between the Inspector General of Police and Chioma Edoka Okoli pending in Abuja. The second case is Suit No: FHC/L/ CS/2164 between Chioma Edoka Okoli V. Erisco Foods Limited & 6 Others, in which we sued Erisco and the police to enforce Chioma’s fundamental rights.

“The third case is a civil suit which we have been informed has been filed by Erisco Foods Limited at the Lagos State against Chioma for alleged defamation.

“Whenever we are served with the suit filed by Erisco at the High Court of Lagos, we shall file a counterclaim (counter sue) against the company for their repeated defamatory statements against Chioma.

“They have publicly accused her of belonging to a criminal syndicate and collecting money from competitors to damage Erisco products. These allegations are malicious and false and we intend to ventilate our grievances in court.

“Another line of action that we are exploring is to seek redress over the publication of the residential address of Chioma in the media by the CEO of Erisco, Chief Eric Umeofia. Doxing is a grave infringement of Chioma’s

right to privacy. It is also contrary to the Nigeria Data Protection Act, of 2023.

“We are also considering filing fresh suits against Erisco and the Police over the siege at her residence on January 9, 2024, which lasted for over 10 hours.

“Chioma is a victim of abuse of police powers. The fact that the IGP’s office is directly involved in this oppression makes it more worrisome.

“We, therefore, appeal to conscientious and patriotic Nigerians and public-spirited organizations to contribute to the Legal Defence Fund to enable Chioma to urgently secure a new accommodation and defend herself in the different court cases.

“The cost of flights from Lagos to Abuja, coupled with hotel accommodation, for Chioma and her counsel to attend the Abuja case alone is very high. It has already cost us reasonable resources.

“It will cost millions of Naira to relocate Chioma and her family and also take care of the legal expenses. She is not in a position to afford these. Despite her financial impediments, we believe that justice is worth pursuing and we intend to fight to a logical conclusion.”

Coalition Stages Walk for Chioma Okoli Civil Society Groups last week staged a walk tagged #Istandwithchiomaokoli in the Ikeja area of Lagos State, in solidarity with Chioma Okoli, a pregnant mother of three children, who has been embroiled in a legal battle with the manufacturer of Erisco Foods, after posting a review of one their tomato paste products on Facebook.

The walk, tagged, #IStandWithChiomaOkoli, set off from Kadiri Street, off Oregun Road, Ikeja, Lagos by 8 a.m.

The coalition, comprising Enough is Enough Nigeria, Purple Women Foundation, and Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC), held the walk over the bully by the Nigeria Police Force for reviewing Erisco Foods tomato product.

While inviting all Nigerian consumers, including He4Shes, to join the walk, the organisers said the event is being held as part of the activities to mark the 2024 International Women’s Month.

It was reported that some Nigerians on X had also threatened to boycott all Erisco Foods products for allegedly bullying and intimidating Mrs Chioma Okoli, a female customer who was arrested for giving the tomato product of the company a negative review.

Nigerian police last week asked Chioma Okoli to show up to allow justice to take its course in the matter involving her and Erisco Foods Limited.

In January 2024, policemen on the alleged orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, invaded the residence of Okoli in Lagos State.

It was reported that the police team from Abuja who claimed to be acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police moved to re-arrest Okoli without serving any court

order authorising them to do so.

Also in January, Okoli’s Lawyer disclosed that Okoli had received N1.9 million in donations from Nigerians for legal fees.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Thursday, reaffirmed the commitment of the police to “upholding the rule of law in the Erisco Tomato matter.”

Social Media and the ‘Freedom of Speech and Expression’

The term ‘freedom of speech and expression’ includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.

Freedom of speech is understood as a multi-faceted right including not only the right to express or disseminate information and ideas but also the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas.

The value of freedom of speech and expression lies within social interactions. The 2011 Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression is a strong statement of the importance of freedom of expression on the Internet.

The Rapporteur emphasises the need for clear rules, in contrast with the arbitrariness he observes today, which allows for increasing surveillance and monitoring of communications

However, the freedom of speech and expression does not confer on the citizens the right to speak or publish without responsibility and the legislature may enact laws to impose restrictions on the right to speech and expression on several grounds.

Social media is open to misuse as well, as several cybercrimes can be easily committed through social media. This justifies the State to regulate online content in the interests of the public at large, the necessity of which cannot be denied.

Article 19(3) of the ICCPR for instance, imposes restrictions on the following grounds, “for respect of the rights of reputations of others and protection of national security, or public order, or public health or morals.”

Nigeria’s constitutional framework on freedom of opinion and expression and other associated rights to freedom of conscience and thought as well as the freedom of the press complies with international standards.

Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria provides inter alia that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information without interference …”

Notably, the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act (2011) in Nigeria has enhanced the enjoyment of rights to freedom of information thereby strengthening people’s right to opinion and expression.

However, a global fundamental challenge in need of urgent resolution in the digital age is how to protect human rights and freedom on the internet and Nigeria is no exception, as the Chioma Vs Erisco Foods saga has further proven that.

TRIBUTE

Gov Peter Mbah: Still a Disruptive Innovator at 52

Another year around the sun is always something to celebrate. And when an outstanding personality, a star, completes this existential course, there is even more reason to revel. Incidentally, a folk who cares little for mundane revelry achieved this milestone a few days ago.

He is His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the governor of Enugu State. Dr. Mbah, who turned 52 on March 17, 2024, is significantly defined by his controlled kinetic energy. He also clearly revels in pushing new frontiers.

Governor Mbah, circumspect international maritime lawyer, suave business mogul-cum-key energy sector player, financial analyst, astute public administrator and philanthropist of note is an inimitable visioner and leader. Arguably powered by a quartet of forces - unique vision, an unrelenting drive to succeed, providence and careful planning, the ascendancy of the soft-spoken Mbah to the state, regional and national stages demonstrates the power of unrelenting focus and courage.

It’s no secret that today, Enugu State, Nigeria, Africa and the world stand on the brink of substantial disruptions - and of considerable opportunity - as new governance and business models challenge traditional playbooks.

As it were, only tested pathfinders with vision, knowledge and courage can provide the critical leadership to ensure both political stability and progression. And this is Governor Mbah’s forte where a disruptive environment meets a bold, focussed, disruptive innovator.

Today, at a vigorous 52 years of age, Governor Mbah is no less a child of providence. He wields political power and influence with alluring humility and exemplary focus. With his life’s trajectory, he has demonstrated that faith, law, business, administration, politics and philanthropy fundamentally address transformation of the human condition for good.

The governor has also demonstrated that he is a personality and leader not swayed by extraneous emotionalism and parochial sentiments but one driven by principle. He has made it clear that he is not the kind of professional who stays tamely at the receiving end of received policy prescriptions.

He covets knowledge-driven innovations, proactive engagement with stakeholders and policy makers, fluid operating environments and sure-footed action. These dimensions have been boldly mirrored in the nimble leadership of his several pacesetting entrepreneurial entities and most importantly, his sweeping political and development engagements in Enugu State currently and beyond.

Against this backdrop, it’s hardly surprising the disruption he has instigated to compel growth in Enugu State. With less than a year in the saddle as governor, Dr. Mbah has impacted four critical governance arenas. These include security, potable water, road infrastructure and education. A key component of altering the regressive narratives is by deploying disruption.

The exploitative sit-at-home scenario which bled the state and the region’s economy has been swept off and normalcy restored. Monday businesses have returned to their former status, tourism and adequate hospitality businesses are back and bubbling, normal nightlife has returned as well, while people can go about their Monday businesses and at night, sleep with their two eyes closed.

For over 20 years, Enugu State has had the problem of a lack of pipe-borne water. But Governor Mbah made a daring promise of giving water to Ndi Enugu within 180 days. He fulfilled this promise with practical and visible indices and pipe-borne water is now flowing in Enugu State.

On road infrastructure, within one year, Governor Mbah has awarded over 1000 kilometers of road in Enugu State, Enugu Urban is being transformed. Virtually all the roads within the city are undergoing constructions, rehabilitations and renovations according to its conditional

demand with the COREN principle of quality assurance control.

According to Governor Mbah, “The 2024-2026 Multi-Year Budget is named Budget of Disruptive Economic Growth. This is because it is structured to drive growth in a markedly different pattern than we had attempted to do hitherto. This departure from the usual is most apparent in two main areas.

“First, our approach to basic education where we are bringing into effect our cut-off programme through the development of the 260 model schools to which I had earlier alluded. These schools are unique, not only in the fact that they will house the entire basic school classes from creche to JS3 but also in terms of the significant changes we are making to the curriculum of the children, where we will be infusing new subject areas like Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, to mention but three.”

It is a given that a powerful vision pulls in ideas, people and other resources. It creates the momentum and will to make change happen. It inspires individuals, diverse complementary organizations and institutions to commit, to persist and to give their best. Enlisting this enduring philosophy, the unassuming governor has essentially changed the traditional narrative of governance in Enugu State,

with barely a year in the saddle.

But who really is this youthful politician who has been thrust on the biggest stage of his development-hungry state?

Dr. Mbah, born March 17, 1972, hails from Owo in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. A product of the Army Children’s School, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he passed his First School Leaving Certificate with distinction, he subsequently gained admission into Owode High School, Owode Egba, Ogun State, where he obtained his Senior Secondary School Certificate in 1992.

Going forward, he left Africa for tertiary educational pursuits, graduating in Law at Uk’s University of East London (UEL), obtaining a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degree, in the Upper-Class Division in 2000. While at the University of East London, he was elected President of the Students Law Society between 1998 and 1999.

From 1999 to 2000, Peter was Member, Students Representative Council of the UEL, as well as Member of the School of Law Board, where he represented the final year students. He won the first prize of the University of East London Mooting Competition and led the university’s team to the International Negotiation

Competition. He was later called to the Nigerian Bar, having earned the Barrister-at-Law (BL) from the Nigerian Law School.

For his postgraduate studies, Dr. Mbah acquired a Master’s degree in Maritime and Commercial Law from the Lagos State University in 2004 and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the IESE Business School, Barcelona, University of Navarra, Spain. He attended the Chief Executive Programme at the Lagos Business School, Post Graduate Diploma programme in Strategy and Innovation at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Always hungry after self-improvement, he attended numerous other executive programmes in leading business schools across the world, including the Stanford Business School and Harvard Business School.

Since his graduation from the university, Dr. Mbah has distinguished himself in entrepreneurship and business innovation. Besides founding Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd., from an almost zero worth and nil reckoning in the corporate world, he sits atop the board and management of Pinnacle Pointers, a real estate and hospitality company. His business and professional interests traverse import trade, oil and gas sales and distributions, maritime logistics and public service.

A Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of numerous successful companies, he also sits on the boards of several establishments. Before Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd., he had earlier founded the Peter Mbah Investment Limited, a trading firm that served as the sole Nigerian representative to International Oil Corporation (IOC) based in Fresno, California, USA.

He also founded GILPEL Industries Ltd., a trading company involved in the import and sales of domestic electrical appliances, as well as Focus International Schools, a world-class Primary and Secondary school based in Lagos.

Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd. entered the Nigerian oil and gas industry in 2008 as a late entrant but has gained pre-eminence through revolutionizing petroleum product handling by significantly reducing costs and turn-around time of operations. The company’s ultra-modern Offshore Petroleum Products Intake and Off-take Facility in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, is the first of its kind in West Africa, boasting of one offshore mooring system and 300,000,000-ltr capacity of petroleum storage.

Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd. also operates another storage facility and jetty in Warri, as well as a fleet of trucks and a network of retail petroleum service stations with branches across the country.

Dr. Mbah’s first foray into public service was between 2003 and 2007 when he served first as the Chief of Staff in the administration of His Excellency, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, and subsequently as the Enugu State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development. As a testament to the uncommon innovation he made in the state’s fiscal operations, the NewsWatch magazine’s special edition of July 3rd, 2006, aptly described him as “a man ahead of his time”.

He is also the founder of Peter Mbah Foundation (PMF), a non-profit, non-political, humanitarianoriented organization aimed at improving healthcare and standards of living in rural communities. PMF has since built a 40-bed hospital in Enugu State, built several kilometers of rural roads, defrayed hospital bills for countless patients in hospitals across the country and funded the education of numerous students through the Foundation’s scholarship programme. He is also a member of the Governing Council of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.

Dr. Mbah who has deservedly swept several prestigious newspaper awards for leadership and excellence this year, is happily married in a union blessed with children. He is a Fellow of the Certified Institute of Public Administration and Management, (CIPM), a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and holds an honorary Doctorate degree in Political Science from the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu. He is a member of the Lagos Yacht Club and the Enugu Sports Club.

Happy birthday to the disruptive innovator.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria’s self-reported crude oil production figures to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was underwhelming in February, but rose 9 per cent year-on-year, a THISDAY review of data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has shown.

Production was curtailed in almost all of the country’s oil terminals including; Bonny, Brass, Qua Iboe, Forcados, Excravos, Odudu, Tulja-Okwuibome, among several others.

But despite the fall in output from 1.42 million barrels per day in January to 1.32 million bpd in February, year-on-year, an analysis of historical data from the NUPRC showed that total combined output for January and February rose from 75.44 million barrels in 2023 to 82.55 million barrels in the same period this year.

A breakdown indicated that while Nigeria only succeeded in drilling 39.26 million barrels and 36.18 million barrels in January and February respectively last year, it however produced a higher figure of 44.44 million barrels and 38.34

million barrels in the first two months of this year.

However, Nigeria’s reduced output in February through direct communication did not come to industry observers as a surprise.

The Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Osagie Okunbor, had warned that despite the rising oil output in Nigeria, production still remained fragile.

Speaking at the recently concluded Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja, specifically on February 29, Okunbor stated that at least seven vandalised

points had been discovered on the critical Soku line around Rivers state in February, which may negatively impact production for the month. Recall that in the heat of the Niger Delta Avengers’ attacks on pipelines in the region in 2016, they had also blown up the Bonny-Soku export line, citing the need for increased attention from the federal government.

Okunbor stated that while the NUPRC and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) should be lauded for the noticeable improvement in export figures, especially in January, they must not let their guards down.

“January (2024) was good. In that

month, we supplied the highest quantity of gas to NLNG, 1.7 Bscf/d, compared with our contractual 1.8 Bscf/d. That is the highest we have achieved in any month in the last three years.

“Again, I thank the NUPRC and the NNPC, but we should not rest. Things have started to unravel. In February, we woke up to learn of seven vandalised points on the Soku line,” he added. Oil theft and oil assets’ vandalism remain Nigeria’s biggest problem in the industry in the immediate term, with the NNPC repeatedly saying that without additional investment, it could hit over 2 million bpd

immediately from February’s 1.32 million bpd, if the menace is halted or reduced to the barest minimum.

“It is very obvious that despite all the integrity issues with our pipelines and our facilities, we have capacity beyond 2 million barrels per day without doing anything.

“But today, we are struggling to meet the budget estimate of 1.6 million bpd. The core issue here is that no one will produce oil, knowing full well that he cannot dispose of it, and that’s why no one is putting money into it.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has stated that developing countries have the capacity to generate over $10 billion in export revenue from banana annually.

The United Nations food body also stated that the income from growing banana could account for up to three quarters of the total monthly household income for smallholder farmers.

The FAO Director-General, Mr. QU Dongyu, highlighted the importance

of banana in several aspects at the fourth Global Conference of The World Banana Forum (WBF), to discuss an array of challenges faced by banana producers, including the impacts of the climate crisis, high energy and fertilizer costs, and the spread of the destructive Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) disease.

According to Dongyu, “Bananas are among the most produced, traded and consumed fruits globally, with more than 1000 varieties produced worldwide they provide vital nutrients to many populations.”

He noted that the banana sector

is particularly significant in some of the least developed and low-income food-deficit countries, where it has contributed not only to household food security as a staple, but also to job creation and income generation as a cash crop.

He pointed out that the conference is aimed at finding ways to boost the banana sector, which faced several constraints including high costs of transportation, energy, and inputs, in particular fertilizer prices, and the spread of diseases such as TR4.

“In response to the various constraints, the sector should turn

these challenges into opportunities through close collaboration by partners across the banana sector,” the FAO director general said.

He called for all stakeholders to work together to boost investments and adopt more sustainable production practices.

The FAO boss also noted that inflation has reduced the purchasing power of consumers, placing bananas under an increasing competition from various tropical fruits.

“Better market access will require substantial investment of resources,

including financial,” he said.

He added that the spread of diseases is a big concern in the sector, recalling that in 2019, TR4 reached several countries in Latin America after many years of spreading worldwide.

“As the Cavendish variety, which forms the bulk of banana exports, is vulnerable to the disease, the variety diversification should be a key strategy to ensure the future of banana trade,” he recommended.

Dangyu lamented that banana producers also face the daunting challenge of climate change,

increasingly frequent droughts, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters have badly affected the Latin American and Asian producers who account for more than 95 per cent of the global banana trade.

“The agricultural sector is both a contributor to, and a victim of, climate change and we have consistently argued that rapid and forceful actions by all stakeholder groups are needed to address it,” he urged.

World Bank Commits $40m Grant to Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa

The World Bank has approved $40 million in its quest to advancing Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and addressing critical gaps in climate resilience and food security in Africa.

Indeed, CSA is an approach that aimed at transforming agrifood systems towards green and climate-resilient practices.

It focused on sustainably increasing productivity, adapting to climate change, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The $40 million grant in International Development Association (ISA) is a new financing

allocated to Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centers through the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and would facilitate the validation and dissemination of CSA technologies and methods in four countries in Africa which include, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal and Zambia, which represented various agro-ecological zones vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

In a statement obtained from its website, with this operation, farmers and livestock keepers would be equipped to predict and prepare for climate-related events more effectively, along

with improved access to climate advisories directly connected to actionable response measures.

It stated, “This will enable communities to protect their livelihoods and the environment more successfully,” World Bank stated.

The World Bank Regional Director for Sustainable Development, Chakib Jenane, said that the bank is committed to working closely with its partners to ensure that farmers and other stakeholders benefit from innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by climate change.

Jenane stressed that climate-

Housing Minister Charges Real Estate Developers on Professionalism

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has charged the new leadership of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) to be committed to professionalism in efforts to provide affordable housing for Nigerians

Dangiwa stated that the realisation of the President Bola Tinubu’s vision can only be possible through active involvement and collaboration of associations like REDAN.

The minister gave the charge when he received the new leadership of REDAN led by its President, Akintoye Adeoye during a visit to his office.

REDAN serves as the principal agency and umbrella body of

the organised real estate sector developers involving both public and private sector in the housing delivery in Nigeria.

Dangiwa explained that the association plays an impactful role in shaping the future of housing and urban development in Nigeria, adding that the ministry aims at transforming the landscape of housing in

Nigeria by driving historic housing reforms and increases access to affordable housing for Nigerians.

Speaking earlier, the president of REDAN, Adeoye said that the association would engage, collaborate and partner with the ministry to better the housing sector, and ensure regulation that will bring sanity in the sector.

smart agriculture is essential for enhancing food security and economic development in a sustainable manner.

The World Bank said that the

A former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Prof. Billy Okoye, has unveiled two books: “Dynamics of Petroleum Products Marketing” and “Insight into Crude Oil Marketing” in Abuja.

At the event in Abuja, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, stated that the writing of the books depicted the quality of human beings that have gone through the national oil company.

He recommended the book to both the local and international players, who may want to know what it takes to run the sector in a country like Nigeria.

“That’s something to be proud of. So we at NNPC are indeed very proud that one of us is not only sharing knowledge that has over the years been with the rest of us,

aim of its Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project is to strengthen the capacity of governments, regional organisations, farmers,

and other relevant stakeholders and enhance access to and use of climate information services and validated climate-smart agriculture technologies in Africa.

but also something that can grow for a very long time in the academic world and also in the world over,” Kyari added. Also speaking, the author, Okoye, who is now the Coordinator, Oil, Gas and Energy Marketing at the University of Abuja Business School, said the books aim to offer a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics, the challenges, and strategies involved in marketing commodities.

He stated that the books provide insights into refining processes, pricing mechanisms, political influences, fuel subsidy issues, and the ongoing energy transition processes as well as a comprehensive framework for navigating the complexities of petroleum products marketing.

“ By offering practical insights and analytical perspectives, this book aims to equip readers with the knowledge and tools

needed to navigate the volatile and ever-changing world of crude oil marketing,” he added.

Also speaking, the Chief Host and Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, said that Nigeria needs more opportunity for universities to bring about ideas that will resolve some of the gigantic problems in the oil sector.

In his remarks, Executive Vice President, NNPC, Olalekan Ogunleye, stated that the books will equip readers with the knowledge needed to navigate the broad and often unpredictable nature of crude oil marketing.

Chief Executive Officer, Damat and Sons Limited, Mr Damat Abdullahi, while reviewing the technology, said the application would help people to determine product availability at preferred destination for refuelling.

New REA Chief Executive, Directors Assume Office in Abuja

The new leadership of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu, has assumed duties in their respective offices at the

Abuja headquarters of the organisation.

The new leadership includes: Abba Aliyu, Acting Managing Director; Ayoade Gboyega Executive Director, Corporate

Services; Abdullahi Umar, Executive Director, Technical Services and Doris Uboh, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF). Also, Olufemi Akinyelure

TCN Commissions 100MVA Power Transformer in Kano

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has officially commissioned a new 100MVA 132/33kV power transformer at its Dan Agundi Transmission Substation in Kano State.

The transformer commissioning, a statement from the organisation said, would significantly boosts the capacity of the Dan Agundi transmission substation by 80MW, providing a vital increase in power supply capability.

Procured under the TCNWorld Bank power project, the transformer, which was delivered earlier this year to the substation, was installed by a TCN contractor.

Previously, the substation operated three units of 60MVA capacity transformers. However, following the fire incident that resulted in the damage of one transformer and had partial effects on another,

the substation’s capacity was reduced to just one 60MVA transformer.

“TCN has since initiated

efforts to repair the partially affected transformer. Amidst challenges in gas supply for power generation, leading to

low generation output, load allocation to the Dan Agundi Transmission Substation stands at 30MW.

takes over as Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP).

A statement from the organisation said the chief executive and his lieutenants took over on Tuesday last week. It said Aliyu arrived the premises of the agency in company with all the three new executive directors and was received by some of the directors in the agency.

According to the statement, they have since continued

to provide guidance to the agency towards delivering on its mandate of providing electricity access to unserved and underserved areas across the country.

The new MD previously served as the Head of NEP at the REA, overseeing the implementation of a $550 million facility, with $350 million from the World Bank and $250 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Italy’s Eni has said it would embrace transition by creating separate units specialising in carbon capture and bio chemicals, adding to already existing renewable energy and biofuel subsidiaries.

The four units would eventually attract investors or be listed on the stock exchange under the group’s so-called satellite model, Reuters reported.

“This is our strategy to energy transition, creating

units that can generate value and attract investors... instead of relying on subsidies,” said Eni Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi talking with journalists at the end of a presentation to analysts.

Earlier this year Eni signed a deal with Energy Infrastructure Partners under which the Swiss investment fund bought a minority stake in the group’s low-carbon unit Plenitude, valuing the subsidiary around 10 billion euros including debt.

Ahe global container shipping market faces overcapacity in the coming years and the rates paid by customers have fallen to an unsustainable level, Maersk Chief Executive, Vincent Clerc, has told the group’s annual meeting of shareholders.

Maersk last month warned that container shipping overcapacity would hit profits this year, in contrast to the record earnings achieved in the wake of the pandemic.

“Freight rates have fallen

significantly since the good years of 2021 and 2022, and have fallen actually to an unsustainable level,” Clerc said.

German rival Hapag-Lloyd separately, has said the global oversupply of container ships and the crisis in the Red Sea will force it to cut costs in 2024, adapting sailings and ports following an 83 per cent fall in net profit. Container rates jumped in December and early January as vessel attacks in the Red Sea forced companies to redirect

ships away from the Suez Canal to a much longer journey around Africa, but have since faded as available capacity still exceeds demand.

An influx of new container ships last year added 9 per cent to the industry’s global capacity, which is expected to increase by another 11 per cent this year and a further 7 per cent in 2025, Maersk said.

In contrast, Maersk’s fleet has remained constant in size in the same period, a report by Reuters said.

FG, IFAD Partner to Promote Inclusive Agri-Food System Transformation

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are partnering to promote agri-food system transformation

for smallholder farmers’ empowerment. According to them, the move is aimed towards addressing unprecedented challenges facing the global food system.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar

ADVAN Accuses ARCON of Breaching Private Entity Rights

The Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) has again condemn the ongoing industry reforms, embarked upon by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), describing the Advertising Industry Standards of Practice (AISOP), as a document seeking to ‘unconstitutionally regulate contractual relations between private entities’.

The association, in a statement, tagged: ‘Travesty of ARCON Regulation ‘, stated that the launch of the document (AISOP), generally acclaimed by other critical stakeholders, as the best thing to have happened to the industry in recent times, was the beginning of ‘a journey of the most turbulent and divisive times in the Nigerian Marketing Communications Industry’.

According to the association, instead of providing a minimum standard in terms of commercial activities of agencies, advertisers, media houses, advertising services

providers and stakeholders, AISOP actually ‘sought to unconstitutionally regulate contractual relations between private entities’.

It claimed that besides the AISOP document not accommodating ‘a single contribution presented by the association.,’ the new ARCON Law also has several provisions that are clearly unconstitutional, and which, it argued, is causing great concern for the industry.

“A major item that has stood out for stakeholders is that ARCON is now allowed to set up a tribunal that would hold ‘trials’ for any person or organization that contravened the provisions of the ARCON Law. This is an extremely concerning development, because Nigeria as a democratic entity has clear separation of powers between the different arms of government. A regulatory body for advertising cannot set up a tribunal with powers to hear, try, deliver judgment and sentence, as such is clearly a violation of the constitution of the nation, “it stated.

Kyari, at a meeting with the Associate Vice-President, IFAD, Dr. Donal Brown, in Abuja to announce plans to organise an agriculture and food security summit later in the year, said that the summit is aimed at bringing together a diverse community of organisational partners and strategic stakeholders representing the

public, private and social sectors.

Kyari said that stakeholders would be committed to making innovation and new technologies for Inclusive Agri-Food System Transformation and Smallholder farmers’ empowerment.

He said: “Nigeria is committed to working closely with IFAD on Inclusive AgriFood System Transformation

and Smallholder farmers’ empowerment.

“Also, our commitment to partnership with IFAD on Innovative Finance for Food System is evident in our participation in the United Nations Food System Stocktaking moment in July 2023.”

Earlier, Brown reiterated IFAD’s continued support

Nigerian female Agripreneurs are set to win grants of up to $300,000 in the 2024 Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA).

WAYA is a prestigious award scheme that recognizes female agripreneurs demonstrating remarkable Innovation and business excellence in agricultural value chains. The awards did not only celebrate their remarkable achievements, but also rewards them with grants of up to $300,000.

The event held in honour of trailblazing women who are at the forefront of inclusive agricultural transformation, across the country and continent, brought together women in agribusiness and influential leaders at various policy levels to amplify messaging on the urgency of investing in women to accelerate progress in the agri-food sector.

WAYA in a release, said, “since 2021, the awards have been distributed across three categories; Young Female Agripreneur (for those under the age of 35

Sunday Ehigiator

Leading Edtech and talent development startup, Quantum Analytics has attained a significant milestone by securing accreditation from the American Council of Training and Development (ACTD), which strengthens its position as a leading provider of professional technology training programs on a global scale by allowing it to operate across 90 countries

In a statement, it revealed that Quantum Analytics is known for its innovative approach to tech education, offering boot camps to individuals from diverse backgrounds across more than 60 countries.

Quantum Analytics has established itself as a leader in tech education and talent development with over

years and have demonstrated innovation and leadership in business), Female Agriculture Tech Innovator (those championing technological advancement in agribusiness) and, Outstanding Value Adding Enterprise (for female-owned agribusinesses that are increasing the economic value and/or consumer appeal to agricultural products), with the coveted Grand Prize Winner being the overall winner of the competition.”

Speaking at the event, AGRA’s lead for Gender Integration and acting director for the Youth, Gender, and Inclusiveness Division, Ms. Winnie Osulah said, “we received over 1,500 applications from women across 38 African countries in 2023. As we open the awards again this year, we expect to receive at least 500 applications in each category and continue our efforts to honour the relentless efforts, creative ideas, and outstanding leadership by women in the agri-food sector.”

50,000 alumni in its network and partnerships with over 2000+ global tech recruiters.

Speaking about the development, the company’s founder, Osagie Jonathan, said, “This recognition underscores Quantum Analytics’ commitment to excellence in training and development

“We are honoured to have received this prestigious accreditation from the American Council of Training and Development (ACTD). At Quantum Analytics, we intentionally empower our students with the skills they need to succeed in the technology industry. This accreditation is a testament to our unwavering dedication to excellence and will enable us to scale our global operations further, “he said.

to the Federal Government. He said that Nigeria was one of IFAD`s strongest partners and his missions is to strengthen and deepen the partnership.

Brown said that some of the key projects which Nigeria had identified have had significant impact at improving production.

SAA-Nigeria, Liberia Plans Summit to Revolutionise Africa’s Seed Sector

The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in Nigeria and the Liberian Government have announced plans to organise a two-day business summit that would revolutionise Africa’s seed industry.

The summit with the theme, “Building a Harmonised Roadmap for Seed Sector Transformation,” is scheduled to hold on March 25 and 26,

2024, in Monrovia, Liberian. It is targeted at establishing an economically sustainable seed system for priority crops like rice, cassava, maize, soybean, and aquaculture. Agricultural development agencies, researchers, and policymakers from Liberia are organising a summit to draw a seed road map for the West African country.

The consortium included the Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICSII) project of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), AfDB-funded Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) of IITA, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in Nigeria and the Liberian government.

The County Director of SAA-Nigeria, Godwin Atser, said factors limiting growth in Liberia’s agricultural sector include the underdeveloped seed sector charaterised by poor quality seeds, a weak seed regulatory framework, a struggling research system for variety maintenance, and a feeble private sector participation in the seed system.

Temiloluwa Floats Scholarship for Young Nigerian Students

As a way of stemming the decline of education in Nigeria, marketing strategist and business developer, Temiloluwa Solomon is set to launch the Efiko Initiative, which seeks to reward academic excellence and promote education. Solomon in a statement said the scholarship scheme would revive the burning desire of students

for knowledge and show them that academic excellence is still very rewarding.

Solomon expressed that growing up he enjoyed scholarships from primary school level tosecondary school level, “And I know how proud it made me. I know how relieving it was for my parents. I know

how motivated it gets me to keep doing more, proving that I deserve it. Over time, I’ve become an avid lover of intelligence and academic excellence. And I love to see it well rewarded. In my own little and personal way, I’ve been able to lend help concerning tuition across different levels. But

now, I’m making it official by launching the Efiko Initiative.” Expressing further, Solomon noted that with Efiko, there’s a lot to unpack. From educational outreaches to online quizzes that allow young students to learn, have fun and get rewarded while at it to scholarships, both local and international.

FCCPC: Unregulated AI May Exploit Consumers, Pose Cyber-security Risks

The acting Executive ViceChairman/Chief Executive, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, has said expressed concerns that the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country’s consumer landscape, if not regulated, would result in unintended consequences including privacy concerns, exploitative practices, limited access and cyber-security risks.

Speaking at a media briefing to commemorate the World Consumer Rights Day, with the theme, “Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers,” he said in rapidly evolving digital landscape, the proliferation of AI presented both opportunities and challenges for consumer

protection.

He noted, however, that recognising the Nigerian consumer landscape and its inherent challenges, the commission acknowledges the pivotal role of AI in shaping proactive strategies to safeguard consumer rights and interests.

According to him, these include predictive analytics, personalised recommendations, fraud detection, automated customer support, privacy protection, fair pricing, transparency and product quality assurance.

Abdullahi, nonetheless, said addressing the concerns and potential devastating effects of AI required proactive regulatory measures, ethical guidelines, and stakeholder collaboration to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly, transparently, and in

the best interest of consumers.

He said, regulatory interventions would ensure that AI technologies served as tools for empowerment rather than sources of exploitation.

Besides, he said the commission was worried about rapidly rising price of food in the country as witnessed in most countries of the world, adding that the FCCPC remained actively engaged in combating these challenges to ensure fair pricing and protect consumers’ interests.

He said, “As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, permit me to state that FCCPC is also concerned with other prevailing issues bedeviling consumers in Nigeria, particularly the rapidly rising price of food, as in most other nations of the world.”

LAPO MfB Announces Support for ‘NextechCzar Incubation Program’

Sunday Ehigiator

LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited, has announced its support for the NextechCzar Incubation Program, themed, ‘Entrepreneurship in Nigeria’, and facilitated by the Moolu Venture Lab.

The induction ceremony, held over the weekend, was marked by the presence of esteemed industry figures, including the founder of LAPO MfB, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, and the CEO of Moolu Venture,

Mr. Prince Ogbonna, offering insights and inspiration to budding entrepreneurs.

Sharing his perspective at the ceremony, Ehigiamusoe emphasized on the importance of visionary business-building.

According to him, “Innovation and conscious business practices are pivotal in shaping the future of entrepreneurship. We are committed to nurturing the next generation of tech entrepreneurs who will drive positive change in Nigeria and beyond.”

Also speaking, Ogbonna articulated the objectives of the 16-week incubation program, highlighting its two tracks, Early Stage and Growth Phase.

He expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We aim to empower young African founders to develop impactful solutions to local challenges. With the support of LAPO Microfinance Bank, we are fostering an ecosystem conducive to innovation and growth.”

Parallex Bank Launches Uyo Branch in Grand Style

Parallex Bank Limited, a fastrising commercial bank in Nigeria, has made a significant stride in its expansion efforts with the grand launch of its Uyo branch in Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday, marking a pivotal moment in the institution’s mission to provide limitless banking experience to Nigerians. The colourful inauguration event had in attendance esteemed members of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council, led by the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Deputy Governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi, and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Udeme Otong, among others.

Chairman of the Board of Parallex Bank, Dr. Adeola Phillips, expressed the bank’s commitment to transforming the banking landscape in Nigeria through strategic partnerships and customer-centric initiatives.

Highlighting the institution’s

remarkable journey from microfinance to commercial banking, Dr. Phillips announced plans for further expansion, as three more branches will be launched soon. She commended the governor and the people of Akwa Ibom State for the warm welcome and assured the governor of the bank’s readiness to support the government’s ARISE agenda.

Dr. Olufemi Bakre, the Managing Director, shed light on Parallex Bank’s customer-centric approach and groundbreaking digital solutions, emphasizing the institution’s unwavering commitment to transparency and value enhancement. He highlighted the effortless account opening process facilitated by the Parallex Bank App and underscored the appealing benefits including free transfers and competitive interest rates tailored for retail customers.

The Managing Director

expressed gratitude towards the state governor for his pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of a Parallex Bank branch in Uyo. He credited the governor for nurturing and endorsing the idea of Parallex Bank in Uyo, heralding it as the dawn of limitless banking experiences for the state and its populace. He declared that Uyo natives and residents now have the liberty to initiate bank account setups with their preferred numbers, avail themselves of 150 free transfers to other accounts monthly, and engage in banking activities devoid of unwarranted charges.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, pledged the government’s support for Parallex Bank’s endeavours in the state, emphasising the importance of collaboration in driving economic empowerment and growth for small and medium enterprises.

PAL Pensions Affirms Support for Clients Retirement Plan

Funmi Ogundare

Pal Pension has expressed its commitment to towards elevating living standards and eradicating the need for reliance on extended family members during retirement amid the country’s current challenges.

This, the organisation states, will achieve both for the informal and formal sectors.

The Acting Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sa’ adu Jijji explained that PAL Pensions stands firm in its mission to forge a brighter tomorrow for all Nigerians through client-centric approach, planning, empowering partnership among others.

According to him,” at PAL Pensions, our clients are paramount. We pride ourselves on fostering relationships built on trust, transparency, and unwavering dedication. “From the bustling streets of Lagos to the vibrant markets of Kano, PAL Pensions is there, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to realise their aspirations.”

By understanding the importance of planning for the future, he stated that the organisation encourages everyone to consider the advantages of transferring their Retirement Savings Account (RSA) to PAL Pensions, adding, “by choos-

ing PAL Pensions, individuals can benefit from streamlined administration, efficient service delivery, and tailored benefits designed to ensure a secure retirement.”

Jijji, said the transfer window offers Nigerians a distinctive chance to seize control of their financial destinies, adding it believes in securing a worry-free retirement for all.

The MD noted that through efficient service delivery, PAL Pensions enables clients to focus on building brighter futures and that personalised retirement plans and support demonstrate the commitment to each client’s empowerment.

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage)

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $81.30 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $79.70 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Stock Market Down N238.55bn on Profit-taking in MTN, 26 Others

The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) depreciated by N238.55 billion to begin the new week on investors’ profit-taking as decline in the prices of MTN Nigeria Communication Plc and 26 others drove the market into the red territory.

The NGX All-Share Index declined by 0.4per cent to close

at 104,663.34 basis points, as the Month-to-Date and Yearto-Date returns moderated to +4.7per cent and +40per cent, respectively.

Also, market capitalisation dipped by N238 billion to close at N59.178 trillion from N59.416 trillion the market opened for trading.

Analysing by sectors, the NGX Insurance Index added three per cent and NGX Bank-

ing Index gained 2.5per cent, while the NGX Industrial Goods and NGX Oil & Gas indices closed flat.

The NGX Consumer Goods Index was down by 0.4per cent, the sole loser for yesterday.

However, market breadth closed positive, as 27 stocks gained relative to 18 losers.

Associated Bus Company emerged the highest price gainer of 9.86 per cent to

close at 78 kobo, per share. NEM Insurance followed with a gain of 9.77 per cent to close at N7.30, while Livestock Feeds advanced by 9.68 per cent to close at N1.70, per share.

Nigerian Exchange Group rose by 9.55 per cent to close at N24.10, while Thomas Wyatt Nigeria appreciated by 9.34 per cent to close at N1.99, per share. On the other side, McNichols led others on the

losers’ chart with 9.30 per cent to close at N1.17, per share. DAAR Communications followed with a decline of 8.97 per cent to close at 71 kobo, while UPDC shed 7.89 per cent to close at N1.40, per share.

MTNN lost 7.58 per cent to close at N247.50, while Regency Alliance Insurance depreciated by 5.13 per cent to close at 37 kobo, per share. The total volume traded

went up by 32.34 per cent to 287.446 million units, valued at N10.801 billion, and exchanged in 9,077 deals. Transactions in the shares of United Bank for Africa (UBA) led the activity with 46.232 million shares worth N1.190 billion. GTCO followed with account of 35.350 million shares valued at N1.651 billion, while Transcorp traded 21.506 million shares valued at N325.986 million.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF MARCH /18/24

Thisday Afrinvest Index up 0.25%

Thisday Afrinvest 40 index gained 25bps to print at 4,552.01 index points on the back of price uptick in UBA (+4.7%), WAPCO (+0.6%), and ETI (+8.4%). Cumulatively, these stocks account for 11.2% of the index.

Bears Resurface ASI down 0.4%

Yesterday, the local bourse opened the week in negative territory to halt a 10 day bullish dominance as losses in MTNN ( 7.6%), GTCO ( 3.7%), and DANGSUGAR ( 3.7%) dragged the NGX ASI lower by 0.4% to 104,663.34 points. As a result, YTD return declined to 40.0% (previously 40.5%), while market capitalisation fell by 0.4% to ₦59.2tn. Activity level improved as volume and value traded rose by 32.3% and 115.8% to 287.4m units and ₦10.8bn respectively.

Bullish Sector Performance

Performance across sectors within our purview was bullish as four indices gained, while two lost. Leading the gainers, the Insurance and Banking indices rose 3.0% and 2.5% respectively due to buy interest in MANSARD (+7.8%), NEM (+9.8%), UBA (+4.7%) and ETI (+8.4%). Following suit, the Industrial Goods and Oil & Gas indices gained 3bps and 1bp respectively due to price uptick in WAPCO (+0.6%), CUTIX (+5.8%) and ETERNA (+0.3%). Conversely, selloffs on MTNN ( 7.6%), CHAMS ( 3.6%), DANGSUGAR ( 3.7%) and NB ( 1.0%) dragged the AFR ICT and Consumer Goods indices down 3.0% and 0.4% respectively.

Outlook

Investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth, weakened to 0.12x from 0.40x in the prior session as 27 stocks advanced, 18 declined, while 75 closed flat. Today, we anticipate a bearish market on the back of weakened investor sentiment.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

EffEctivE implEmEntation of Education policy on thEir minds...

L- R: Deputy Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Prof. Bala Zakaria; The Executive Secretary (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi; National Co-ordinator, Digital Resource Centre (UBEC), Prof. Bashir Galandaci and Dean State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB),Prof. Raheem Adaramaja, during the meeting with the (SUBEB) on the effective school programme implementation in Abuja ... yesterday PHOTO:

Nigeria-Benin Republic Strengthen Diplomatic, Economic Relations

Propose strengthening of Customs union, personnel exchange by apex banks

ndubuisi francis in Abuja

Nigeria and Benin Republic have begun high-level meetings to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations, with a proposal for the West African neighbours to enhance bilateral trade between them, and implement measures in other areas relating to trade harmonisation.

In a statement, the Federal Ministry of Finance stated that the development was disclosed during a post-mortem meeting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, after the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, returned from leading Nigeria’s

delegation to the neighbouring country for a high-level meeting on boosting bilateral trade relations.

The statement which was issued by the Head, Press and Public Relations in the Finance Ministry, Helen Oby Chukwu, disclosed that while in Benin Republic, the host President, Patrice Talon granted a brief audience to the Nigerian delegation where he urged the ministers from both countries to give the bilateral meeting the desired impetus already established by himself and his Nigerian counterpart, President Bola Tinubu.

"During the high-level meeting, the Beninois government made presentations on enhancing the

bilateral trade between Nigeria and the Benin Republic and their position regarding implementing measures in other areas relating to trade harmonisation.

"Some of the key issues in the proposal were the strategies for strengthening the Customs Union between the two countries, establishing a relationship of trust through collaboration, joint training, and personnel exchanges between the respective Central Banks, and, most importantly, deepening the legal framework applicable to facilitate debt recovery.

"To achieve these frameworks, the Beninois side proposed the creation of a permanent

joint technical committee with extended powers that will seek the implementation of ministerial consultations on the enforcement of the bilateral agreement, political anchoring and establishment of a clear and transparent governance structure among other channels of implementation," the statement said.

It revealed that after the presentation, Benin's Minister of Finance and the Economy, Mr. Romuald Wadagni, reiterated the significance of embodying the firm resolve of the two countries’ presidents in ensuring the strengthening of trade relations. He added that setting up a technical committee would serve as a one-stop shop for handling

Eko Disco Improves Power Supply in Lagos with New Injection Substation at Surulere

peter uzoho

In furtherance of its commitment to improving power supply across its franchise areas, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has inaugurated a 2 X 20 MVA injection substation located off Randle Avenue, Surulere, Lagos.

The project, which was inaugurated at the weekend, came on the back of the utility company's need to balance and distribute power effectively and efficiently to the people of Surulere and its environs.

EKEDC said the substation which was the first of its kind in Nigeria, with a 20 MVA rating, would bring relief to other substations around Surulere and would in turn improve the power supply in the area.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun said: "Our collaboration with EKEDC alongside other stakeholders had been pivotal in bringing the project to fruition."

Gbajabiamila added, "We have demonstrated what can be achieved when public and private entities join forces with a shared purpose.

"As earlier mentioned, one of the two units of the 20MVA Injection substation was facilitated during my tenure as Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives to restate further our commitment to the

improvement of electricity supply in our community.

"I commend the automobile technicians of Randle Mechanic Village for their understanding and cooperation in allowing us to put this facility in a section of their workshop.”

He further noted that President Bola Tinubu was committed to ensuring improved electricity supply nationwide.

He said the Tinubu’s administration was in constant interface with

the stakeholders in the power sector towards addressing the multifaceted challenges impeding the stable supply of electricity.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Directors of EKEDC, Dr. Dere Otubu appreciated the people of Surulere for their steadfastness, tenacity and patience.

He said, “EKEDC stands for improving the quality of lives of its customers by providing reliable, sustainable, and safe electricity supply. This is our commitment to

all our customers, and we believe that this infrastructure will help us to meet with this commitment to the good people of Surulere and Lagosians.

“Rest assured that we will not rest on our oars but intensify this commitment to distribute power consistently, reliably, and safely to the people.”

He also mentioned that the Agbara community was next in line to get their project inaugurated soon.

Business Hallmark Announces Programme for Prince Emeka Obasi's Memorial Lecture

The management of Business Hallmark Newspaper Group and the Prince Emeka Obasi Memorial Foundation (PEOMF) have jointly announced activities to mark the 60th posthumous birthday and second year anniversary of the passage of its late publisher, Prince Emeka Obasi.

A statement by the management said activities for the posthumous birthday and memorial of its late founder would start with a public lecture at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Adeola Hopewell, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The lecture is planned to hold on Thursday, 25th April 2024. Other activities lined up for the day include the formal unveiling of the Prince

Emeka Obasi Memorial Foundation and the presentation of the curated works of Prince Emeka Obasi by the foundation.

A commemorative church service would thereafter be held on the Sunday, following the lecture at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of God Parish, Aromire, off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos.

“A visioner, serial entrepreneur, author, public relations and policy expert, and above all, a family man, Prince Emeka Obasi transitioned to glory on March 15, 2022.

“A graduate of English and Literary Studies from the University of Calabar, Calabar, ‘The Prince,’ as he was fondly called, took to

journalism as his profession and earned a mark for himself therein, founding several newspaper titles, including Hallmark, National Mirror, Extra and Business Hallmark Newspapers.

“A consummate man of ideas, Prince Obasi equally created such profound forums as Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC), organisers of the prestigious Zik Prize in Leadership Award Scheme; The Mohammed Bello Endowment; The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation; The Queen Amina Foundation; The Yakubu Gowon Centre; and The National Arts Foundation,” the statement added.

joint issues related to Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. In his response, Edun appreciated the Beninoise government for the audience and hosting of the meeting. He equally appreciated President Patrice Talon's moral support and enthusiasm, adding that the political will demonstrated so far was beyond question.

He further stated that the task at hand was to seek efficient means of implementing the ideas of the leaders of both countries.

The minister, therefore, proposed that the finance ministers of Nigeria and Benin head the proposed permanent committee.

The Nigerian delegation also consisted of the Charge d’ Affaires

a.i, Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou, Ambassador Saidu N. Tiggi, and the Comptroller of Customs, Seme Command.

On the Beninoise side were the host Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Shegun Adjadi Bakari; the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Ms. Assouman Shadiya; the Minister of Justice and Legislation, and the Beninoise Director General of Customs.

Nigeria continues to strengthen its cultural, trade, and economic relations with the Republic of Benin, especially in customs border patrols, financial integration of payment systems between the two countries and the harmonisation of regulations along the borders.

New Amnesty Boss Assumes Duty, Pledges Not to Disappoint

michael olugbode in Abuja

The new Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Office, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has assumed duty at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

The Technical Assistant to the former Interim Administrator, Mr Ita Henshaw, handed over the notes to the Otuaro in a brief ceremony in Abuja on yesterday.

In his speech, Otuaro said that he will not betray the trust reposed in him by the president and the National Security Adviser (NSA).

He said his mission in the Amnesty Office is to render quality service to the Niger Delta region and the nation, stressing that there would be no room for failure.

Otuaro asked the members of staff to be focused and give him the requisite cooperation to move the establishment forward.

He assured that he is not in the Amnesty Office to pursue personal gains even as he urged the members of staff to embrace his principle. Otuaro promised to bring the programme closer to the people

He said: “I thank Mr President for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve at this time. I need everybody’s cooperation here to take this programme to greatness.

“My appeal here is as from today we should back the crowd and face the job. I need everyone’s cooperation so we don’t disappoint the president, the NSA, the people of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as

a whole.

"I believe in this country. Everything about me is in this country and it is also in the Niger Delta. This assignment is for our people, for the country and for humanity. We are bringing the programme closer to the people. We will not use it to pursue things that are abstract.

“We will streamline whatever that we know that is giving us the load to provide excuses, we must streamline some things and we’ll work together.

“I will not disappoint my people, I will not disappoint Mr. President and NSA who gave me this appointment. I am not here to pursue personal goals, I am begging everybody to be on same with me. This is a serious time we are going to spend here, so I will make everything short. I thank everybody, we will get used to ourselves as time goes on.”

President Bola Tinubu had approved the appointment of Otuaro as administrator of the programme last Thursday.

Otuaro holds a PhD in Comparative Politics & Development Studies; an MSc in Public Administration, and a BSc in Education.

He had previously served as a top-level executive of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with experience across multiple sectors, including infrastructure development, security, environmental remediation as well as oil and gas.

Flag-OFF OrIEntatIOn PrOgrammE OF thE InstItUtE OF CaPItal markEt stUdIEs...

Labour Party Lashes Own Reps, Says They Have Failed as True Ambassadors of The People

Warns lawmakers to respect party’s supremacy or face disciplinary action

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Labour Party, yesterday, took a swipe at its members in the House of Representatives, saying they had failed to be true ambassadors of the people.

Labour Party leadership, which took exception to calling for an extension of time on its March 27 national convention, however, threatened to discipline its House of Representatives caucus.

House of Representatives caucus of the Labour Party, in a statement by its leader, Hon. Afam Ogene, had weekend called for an extension of time for the national convention to give room for more consultation among stakeholders before holding the exercise.

Ogene said the party needed more time to put its house in order, make proper and wider consultations and make effort to bring every stakeholder on board, before it would go ahead with such an important party event.

Besides, the caucus also complained about the change of venue from Benin to Umuahia, the Abia State Capital.

But in a statement, yesterday, by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party said, "We, therefore, advice our lawmakers to desist from rushing to the press on party matters. Party internal matters must remain and kept internal matters.

"The party will not hesitate to discipline any party member, who will not respect the supremacy of

the party. The party is prepared to defend its ideology and constitution at all times irrespective of whose ox is gored.

"We want to assure our party members that the leadership is continuing with our consultations with stakeholders at all levels to ensure that free, fair and rancour free convention is held."

The party said the lawmakers were expected to be knowledgeable about its constitution.

It dismissed the position of Ogene and the caucus to the effect that it was unconventional to conduct the convention before state, local government and ward congresses.

“By this statement from Hon. Ogene, it is pertinent to point out that he is very unknowledgeable as it relates to the provision of the constitution of the party under which he was elected.

"We had expected, even though he is coming from the background of PDP and APC, he should not mistake the APC and PDP constitutions to that of the Labour Party. We would like to educate him to note that as the other parties' constitutions are different, so is the Labour Party.

"In line with Article 15:1-4 of our party constitution, there is no equality of tenure. While the Ward, local government and state executives have three years tenure, the national executive has four years tenure.

"As at the moment, party executives in over sixteen states are subsisting because they have conducted their congresses. We had

expected Hon. Ogene to read the constitution of the party before making public comments against the party," it stated.

Labour Party said the leader of the caucus was the alter ego of the party, who should defend the party policy and programmes in the national assembly.

"And for him to say that the House of Representatives caucus was not informed about the convention is clearly a mischief taken too far," it said.

Accordingly, the party noted

that, "For the records, the House of Representatives through the caucus leader was duly informed about the coming convention. We are aghast at the kind of politics Hon. Ogene has chosen to play. It is therefore very unhealthy for him to rush to the press to misinform our members.

"We had expected him to be a liaison between the party leadership and the national assembly and as a leader he claims to be to help in ensuring that peace reigns in the party at all time.

"We are also shocked that members of the House of Representatives elected under the Labour Party are always quick to rush to the media whenever we make major decisions.

“This is against the background that they have never risen to the occasion as members of the Labour Party in the House who are supposed to be the voice of the people and speak truth to power, in spite of the numerous challenges the country is going through.

"Again, considering the sacrifices made by Nigerians in electing these

Labour Party legislators, we had expected them to be the Ambassadors of the People. It appears that they seat at the national assembly for themselves alone. It is obvious that it is only when it concerns the party that they flex muscles.

"They need not be told of the persecution the party leadership has been undergoing in the hands of the government in power as a result of their election into offices and yet, they have no qualms in bringing the party to opprobrium at any given opportunity," the statement stressed.

Obi Calls for Total Review of 2024 Budget

Seeks reallocation of resources Nasarawa governor urges ex-Anambra governor to support Tinubu

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has again intervened in the lingering allegation of budget padding, but this time, called for a review of the 2024 budget.

Obi, who stressed the need to adequately utilise the nation’s resources, however, called for a reallocation of the resources.

This was as the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has called on the former Anambra State governor, to support President Bola

Ahmed Tinubu to succeed in his task of governing Nigeria.

The senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, had alleged that the 2024 budget was padded with N3 trillion.

Ningi, who also resigned his post as chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, said “huge damage” was done to the north in the 2024 budget and called for an urgent review.

But Obi, who had earlier called for an investigation of the allegation, has sought a review of the budget as well as a reallocation of resources for result.

Writing in a post on X, he stated, “Having followed the controversies trailing the 2024 budget, and having read some of the budgetary provisions and allocations of resources, I wish to respectfully appeal for a total review of the entire budget.

riskiest countries to live in.

“A report by the globally respected publication, Financial Times, on March 12, 2024, described Nigeria’s kidnapping racket as a sign of a failed state. With all of these happening in our nation, how then can we attract foreign investors, & retain the confidence of local investors?

“We have become one of the hungriest nations in the world and one of the most difficult nations in the world to live in, with food prices constantly going out of the reach of most Nigerians.

“Power supply is abysmally poor and Nigerians are now mostly in total darkness as over 60% are without power supply. Even those in perceived privileged areas now go for days without power supply.

our nation and re-allocate resources to these very critical areas.”

But Sule who sought Obi’s support when he paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Lafia, added that his call was based on Obi's experience, competence and capacity.

"While thanking you for your kind words sir, I would also call on you to, because I know you have the experience, the competence and the capacity, support Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order for us to be on the same page.

Following the assurances of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on data security, industry stakeholders have called on the organisation to strengthen the National Identification Number (NIN) verification exercise, in order to protect citizens’ data.

The stakeholders expressed worry about the development where licensed agents for NIN verification will create their own API calls and provide services to ‘sub agents’ unknown to NIMC.

They stated that such ‘sub agents’ are allowed to carry out NIN verification on behalf of the registered agent.

They said such development will not only breach citizen’s data, but will compromise national security.

Reacting to the worries of the industry stakeholders, NIMC, in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, assured industry stakeholders and all Nigerians of the protection of citizens’ data.

According to the statement, NIMC is aware of an alleged breach of citizens' data by a private organisation, XpressVerify.

Part of the statement read: “The commission wishes to state that it offers NIN verification and other services through licensed partners. However, XpressVerify is not one of

the commission's licensed partners.

“We express our gratitude to our media partners and the whistleblowers for bringing this to our attention and wish to assure Nigerians and legal residents that there is no data breach of any sort and the citizens' data is safe and secure in the Nigeria’s national identity database.

“The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote has promptly ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter to find out if any of the commission's Tokenisation verification agents has in any way breach the licensing agreement either directly or through any of their sub-licensees,” the organisation said.

“The executive and legislative arms should initiate an immediate review of the budget as it is still in early days of implementation in order to enable them do urgent virement of resources to critical areas.

“The nation’s resources should adequately be appropriated to critical areas like security, fighting poverty and solving the challenges of hunger and food insecurity, power supply, especially considering the difficult times that we are in.

“In the past one year, about 7000 Nigerians have been kidnapped, with about 700 kidnapped in the last three weeks, not withstanding the violent crimes and killings that occur in every part of the nation, which must have included us in one of the world’s

“A 2022 Energy Progress Report designated Nigeria as the country with the largest number of people lacking access to electricity with 92 million of its over 200 million population living without electricity.”

He added that, “about 80 percent” of Nigeria’s primary healthcare centres are not functional, adding that the cost of medical treatments and medicines have gone beyond the reach of most Nigerians.

“We now hold the enviable position of having the highest number of out of school children, with about 20 million out-of-school children. We need to take our children off the streets and give them access to basic education,” he said. Obi, therefore, called on the executive and legislative arms to “consider the many challenges facing

"I'm calling on you to have the opportunity always, he is your friend, he is your colleague, we were all in Lagos together and I am sure you will be able to contribute your own quota even without the whole world knowing what you have contributed," the governor maintained.

Sule noted that the country's challenges could not be resolved by only one person, hence he was sure that the LP presidential candidate had contributions to make just as he was doing in Nasarawa State. His words: "Before politics, you and I have been in the private sector, while I was in the African Petroleum. I was in Dangote Group as CEO and we were looking for money and all of that. Our relationship is beyond politics.

"You are going round the country to cushion the effects of the economic hardship, that's what everybody is doing. And that is what Mr President Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is also doing.

Kogi-born Omolade Saliu Appointed to IBM’s Distinguished Engineer Status

To serve as the firm’s Chief Data Scientist, guide its AI technical competence

emmanuel addeh in Abuja

IBM has announced the appointment of Omolade Saliu, an Ayetoro-Gbede Kogi-born scientist to the position of its ‘Distinguished Engineer’, one of the highest technical achievements in the global technology company.

IBM is known for its hardware and software products, including computers, servers, storage systems and networking equipment. It also provides consulting, technology and business services, such as cloud computing, data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Managing Partner and Canadian leader at IBM in Canada, Craig Eaket, who broke the news of Omolade and Cynthia Unwin’s

appointments, expressed his excitement over the development.

“I'm thrilled to announce the appointment of Omolade Saliu and Cynthia Unwin to the position of IBM Distinguished Engineer. The DE designation is one of the highest technical achievements in IBM.

“I have had the privilege of working with Omolade and Cynthia for many years and have seen them in action in front of clients where they differentiate IBM Consulting with their technical leadership.

“The process to become a DE is rigorous, but one that demonstrates a clear path for our technical leaders in IBM Consulting,” he stated.

Saliu will serve as IBM Consulting Canada's Chief Data Scientist,

guiding the company’s AI technical competence through generative AI and foundation-models-based solutions, the company added.

“Leveraging watsonx and strategic partner platforms, Omolade will help deliver enhanced value for our clients by infusing generative Al across all our service lines and industry domains.

“He will lead the governance of AI assets and accelerators for market differentiation and expedited delivery in Canada,” the firm stressed.

According to IBM, the new appointees have distinguished themselves and have as well as well demonstrated what it described as exemplary leadership.

It added: “Please join us in

congratulating and welcoming our new Distinguished Designers & Distinguished Engineers. The IBM Distinguished Designer and Distinguished Engineer are executive appointments and are amongst our company’s highest technical honours.

“They are thought leaders and hands-on technologists & designers, selected through a rigorous corporate wide nomination and review process in recognition of outstanding, sustained technical achievement of significant global impact as well as demonstrating exemplary leadership.

“We are excited and we congratulate our newly appointed class of 2024 IBM Distinguished Designers

Bandits Abduct 87 in Yet Another Fresh Attack on Kaduna

John shiklam in Kaduna

Bandits have abducted some 87 People in yet another fresh attack on Tantatu community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The attack occurred barely 48 hours after 14 people were abducted in a similar one on Dogon Noma

community also in Kajuru LGA.

The bandits, who were said to be in large number invaded the community at about 10pm on Sunday.

They were said to have broken into some shops and looted foodstuff.

Usman Stingo, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Kajuru constituency,

APC FCT Stakeholders Allege Abandonment By Wike

onyebuchi ezigbo in Abuja

Some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have protested alleged exclusion of party members from appointments by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike.

The stakeholders accused the minister of literally importing all his cronies in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Rivers State into FCT and giving them juicy appointments.

Addressing journalists at the NUJ Secretariat in Abuja, the Convener, Abdulwahab Ekekhide and CoConvener, Obaje Omobolaji David, said the party members welcomed the appointment of Wike as the FCT Minister with high hopes.

He however, regretted that such hopes were being dashed by the minister's refusal to engage the party members, who were working tirelessly to reposition the party

structure in the capital city.

He said they had expected that the minister being a seasoned politician would empower and strengthen the party to winning ways.

Ekekhide said, "The reverse became the case and even worse as recent appointments have shown that the minister wants to finally kill and bury the party. His agenda, we don't know, we will resist any further attempts to ridicule the party,” he said.

Ekekhide said the reason why the APC in the FCT always lost elections was because the ministers always imported strangers who did not belong to any political ward, polling unit or have voting rights/ influence in the FCT as appointees of government.

He said that most of these appointees usually traveled to their various states during elections, thereby leaving the FCT dry.

confirmed that 87 people were abducted during the attack.

Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the Kaduna state police command, confirmed the attack but could not confirmed the number of people abducted.

He said police personnel had been deployed to the area to track down the criminals.

In the last three weeks 465 people have be abducted in Kajuru and Chikun LGAs.

On March 8, over 287 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA primary school at Kuriga, Kaduna State were abducted

by bandits, triggering national outrage.

The bandits reportedly invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State that Thursday, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.

The incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.

The women were kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State while fetching firewood in the bush.

and Distinguished Engineers in IBM Consulting,” IBM explained.

On the other hand, Unwin, it said, will serve as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Canadian Platform Engineering Services team reporting to Leila Kariman, Partner, Platform Services Practice Leader.

As a Distinguished Engineer, IBM said her focus will be on developing

high quality, repeatable delivery quality across its Canadian accounts.

“Cynthia is an experienced technical architect, specialising in Site Reliability and Delivery Quality. Over the past few years, she's been successfully involved in multiple project recovery challenges. She also served as CTO for the Bell Canada Account,” the firm pointed out.

NAPTIP Arraigns Abuja Hospital, Four Staff for Organ

Michael olugbode in Abuja

An Abuja-based private hospital, Alliance Hospital and Service Ltd and four of its staff, have been arraigned by National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP) on an 11-count charge bordering on alleged involvement in organ harvesting

They were all charged in contravention of Section 20 (3) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

Reading their charge at their arraignment yesterday, Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, said between February and May of 2023, the accused allegedly played a part in the harvesting of the kidneys of three young males including two minors.

In their plea, the defendants, Emmanuel Muyiwa Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, Dr Christopher Otabor, Dr Aremu

Harvesting

Abayomi, and Alliance Hospital pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge preferred against them.

Upon taking their plea, the trial judge, Keziah Ogbonnaya, granted the defendants bail ahead of commencement of trial on May 6th.

Among the bail conditions was that all four defendants report at the Abuja office of NAPTIP daily from Tuesday 19th March, except on days of hearing of the matter. They were also ordered to deposit their travel documents.

Counsel for NAPTIP and Director Legal and Prosecution, Hassan Tahir, did not oppose the defendants bail application by their counsel, he however, prayed the court for accelerated hearing to lay the matter to rest, a prayer which the judge granted.

Tahir, who later spoke to journalists, said: “Everybody is entitled to bail and it is a bailable offence so we don't want to waste time opposing bail, it will be unnecessary for us to waste time opposing bail.”

HURIWA Challenges Tinubu to Name, Shame, Prosecute Sponsors of Terrorism

to

chuks okocha and alex enumah in Abuja

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has challenged President Bola Tinubu to name, shame and prosecute the sponsors of terrorism, saying it was becoming clearer that forces of anti-democracy funding the activities of terrorists had upped their game.

It, however, counselled the Tinubu-led government not to allow itself to be blackmailed into giving in to the illegitimate demands of those out to protect and promote

detained journalist, Segun Olatunji

terrorists and their evil acts.

The rights group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, noted that the latest kidnapping of villagers in Kajuru, Kaduna State could be one amongst their game-plans to force Tinubu into accepting their deal.

HURIWA said in the light of the above concerns, the federal government should as a matter of priority and national interest name, shame and commence the prosecution of sponsors of terrorism and terrorists.

He stressed that exposing the funders of terrorists would mark

the best first step to destroying the sophisticated network of terrorism franchises in Nigeria. The group noted that the patrons of the terrorists has started using mass abductions of villagers and school children as bargaining chips to advance their advocacy for the establishment of the Amnesty programme for Fulani terrorists as is being canvassed by some northerners.

Meanwhile, HURIWA has demanded the immediate release of the Editor of FirstNews online newspaper, Mr. Segun Olatunji, by the army.

Olatunji was reportedly taken away by armed men in Army uniforms at the weekend.

HURIWA, in a statement specifically called on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to release forthwith or state publicly why Olatunji is being held.

The group expressed worry that once again, Nigeria has returned to the dreaded days of the late General Sani Abacha type of media repression and the abductions of media practitioners.

9th Edition of thE GrEEn financE confErEncE...

L-R: President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Dr. Kenneth Opara; Director, Development Partnership Department, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mobolaji Onimole; Deputy Managing Director, AGF West Africa, Sibi Lawson; Group Chief Executive Officer, African Guarantee Fund, Mr. Jules Ngankam; and Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, at the 9th Edition of The Green Finance Conference, themed: The Role of Africa’s Private Sector in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in Lagos... yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

DHQ: T H ere'II

g mILITA r Y Per S o NN e L hiding place for them.”

Senate Supports Tinubu’s Order to Military

The senate said the armed forces needed maximum cooperation, prayers and support at this trying period, as they conducted operations all over the country to restore peace and stability in troubled locations.

Part of the statement by the upper chamber read, "We salute the courage of the departed military men as they have paid the supreme price performing the ultimate act of service to the nation.

"The senate leadership and all distinguished senators of the 10th Senate condemn this attack and convey their deepest condolences to the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army, officers and men of Operation Delta Safe as well as the families of all the personnel who have lost their lives.

"We, consequently, support the President, the Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu's charge to the security authorities to smoke

robbed it of its legitimacy, credibility and acceptability, as it did not represent the nation’s identity card, covenant and the supreme will of the Nigerian people.

According to him, the neverending call for a new constitution arose from a recognition of the inherent fundamental shortcomings of the present 1999 Constitution. He added that mere amendments to or replacements of the constitution under sections 8 and 9, would be akin to merely applying a superficial remedy to a deep-rooted ailment.

"It simply cannot and will not work. I humbly submit, as I have done since the year 2000, that one million amendments multiplied by another million amendments, with the addition of yet another million amendments, will never work.

“Merely chopping off the branches of a tree without cutting off the taproot will never kill such a tree. It is akin to merely treating the symptoms of a serious disease.

"Just as one cannot cure cancer with medication meant for minor skin conditions, the need for a new beginning is dire. This is because the process and procedure for crafting a new constitution must be democratic and all-inclusive, as they are more important than the contents of the constitution themselves.

“The simple reason is that it is such procedure or process that confers legitimacy, credibility and acceptability on the supreme document called constitution."

Ozekhome added, "Democracy must be rooted in the constitution. The people should be given a clear voice and mandate to manage the affairs of the nation, through appropriate measures of free and fair elections, and checks and balances.

out the undesirable outlaws, who put off the glowing lights of those promising officers and men.

"May their souls rest in immortal peace."

Oborevwori Visits as Military Bars Media

Operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the trail of killers of the military officers, yesterday, barred journalists from accessing Okuama community, following the visit of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.

The journalists were prevented from accessing Bomadi en route Okuama community, when Oborevwori visited to get first-hand information on the incident, four days after the killing of the soldiers and civilian.

The JTF operatives barricaded the major entries to Okuama with armoured personnel carriers thereby preventing vehicular and human traffic, including journalists, from gaining access to the community.

Heavily armed security personnel were seen moving around Bomadi

“The people should be given the rights of access to information, participation in decision making process and access to justice.

"Democracy needs to take significance over politics in Nigeria, and oust the current practice of election malpractices, which prevent free and fair elections. Democracy and rule of law need to be revived once again in Nigeria, and that cannot be done merely by amending the present constitution.

“Rather, the present constitution must be discarded with, and a fresh, new constitution created through a referendum of the people as midwife by the NRC enacted into law by the NASS.

"One cannot amend a bad document; it is simply not possible. An illegitimate document remains illegitimate forever.

“The present Nigerian constitution is a child of bastard and nothing can cure it. Even one million amendments multiplied by another million amendments can never cure the present constitution of Nigeria of its original sin of its illegitimacy.”

In his speech, Sanwo-Olu said it was pertinent that the country reverted to true federalism. He wondered how federal agencies would dictate to the state how to administer resources in the state.

“How will a federal agency dictate how to run the river on Ozumba Mbadiwe? How will they dictate to the state on how to take care of residents in the state?” he asked.

He said he would do all within his power to ensure the return of Nigeria to a true federal state, adding that the conversation around the making of a new constitution should be driven further.

Sanwo-Olu stated, "If eminent

but were not harassing residents seen standing in front of their houses and stores.

THISDAY, however, gathered that socio-economic activities had since been paralysed as residents could no longer carry out their businesses.

The governor had to alight from his official car at the point of the barricade and walked a distance to the office of the JTF, where he had a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the military led by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jammal Abdussalam.

After the meeting, which lasted about an hour, Oborevwori got into his vehicle and left Bomadi without accessing Okuoma community, where there was alleged destruction of buildings by the soldiers. He also did not brief the media on the outcome of the meeting before leaving the troubled community, where people, including indigenes, were prevented from accessing.

Don’t Go After Community, Ex-officer Urge

Nigerians; people who have used better parts of their time serving this country, have a conversation and we cannot take it forward and make sure that we have a complete solution, then we are wasting our time.

“Given the number of people that are here, we should make this conversation very effective. Many speakers have said that it is not the National Assembly that will make those amendments and it makes a lot of logical sense.

“It is for the National Assembly to constitute a law where people will come together and make those amendments themselves.

“I am a willing convert. Whatever we need to do now, there are so many serving and former governors here, let us make the changes that we desire and let the soul of Professor Ben Nwabueze rest in peace because this is something that he fought for over 60 years of his life. And we are still here talking about it.

“We have the opportunity to make those changes now and I stand here to say to you that we are willing to work with you to make those changes."

Former governor of Sokoto State and serving senator, Aminu Tambuwal, expressed sadness that the country had found itself in a conundrum.

“It is unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this conundrum, however, conversations like this provided by a platform like The Patriots gives and proffers a way out of the conundrum,” Tambuwal stated.

He assured of his support for the process that will enable the promotion of the bill for the establishment of the referendum commission.

A former military officer, Lieutenant Commander Koku Imananagha (rtd), appealed to the federal government and the military to not descend on the entire community while going after alleged criminals. Imananagha said this while appearing as a guest on the Arise TV Morning Show.

Imananagha, an indigene of Odi, had witnessed a similar attack during the Odi massacre, an attack carried out on November 20, 1999 by the Nigerian Armed Forces against the predominantly Ijaw town of Odi in Bayelsa State following a clash between two communities in the Beyelsa.

He stated, “The occurrence in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State brings about bad memories. Surprisingly, we suffered the same in Odi town in Bayelsa State in 1999. That is why I am pained to hear this kind of story again 25 years after that of Odi.

“It was not easy at all because when it happened both the military and also the community suffered. The military suffered its losses and then there was destruction in Odi community, nothing was spared

Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, pleaded with the National Assembly to reject the call for the review of the 1999 Constitution. Attah charged the lawmakers to make a new constitution for the country.

Former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on his part, said, “We all agree that our constitution is faulty. What we should do is to work on what everybody has been saying.

“The outcome of this colloquium should be taken to the National Assembly and don’t stop at that, we can seek an audience with the president and all the ethnic groups. We have been on this since. Some of our elders died fighting for this. We should take this step and I am sure we will get there.”

Equally speaking, former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, enjoined The Patriots to seek an audience with President Bola Tinubu to secure his buy-in.

“Members of The Patriots need to sit with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure his buy-in. Governor Sanwo-Olu should lead them to the president, he is a true advocate of federalism, so, he wouldn’t need too much convincing,” Ibori added.

Adebanjo also called for implementation of the 2014 national conference recommendations, which, according to him, represented how the people of Nigeria wanted to be governed considering the representation of the people from different parts of the country that attended the national conference.

He said what Nigeria needed was a brand new constitution and not the amendment of the current constitution, which the National Assembly was about to embark on.

in the community. So when this happened in Okuama, last week, my mind returned to what happened to us in Odi.”

Imananagha appealed to the federal government and the community to be cautious of their actions at the moment.

He stated, “My advice now is that as it happened in Odi, this one is so similar, and so authorities should not allow it to be the usual pattern. Let them completely obey the command of the President and Commander-in-Chief and go after the killers and not everybody in the community.”

While recalling further that in the Odi case, it was the entire community that they went after, Imananagha advised that this time around, the military should go after the killers only and the community should cooperate with the military in the bid to fish out the culprits.

Act Barbaric, Unacceptable, Says IYC

Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) condemned the killing of the soldiers on a peace mission to Okuoma, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.

IYC called on the military top hierarchy to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter with a view to bringing the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice.

A statement by IYC spokesman, Binebia Princewill, described the Okuama incident as an unacceptable evil act that must not be swept under the carpet, as bringing the culprits to book would serve as a deterrent to others.

It stated, "It is very unfortunate that people will dare to have the impetus and temerity to invade and attack soldiers on a peace mission to resolve the lingering communal battle between the people of Okuama in Ughelli South and their brothers from Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State. To us, this is not only barbaric but also unacceptable.

"As Council, we are calling on the military top hierarchy to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter with a view to bringing the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. This is an evil that must not be swept under the carpet as bringing the culprits to book will serve as a deterrent to others."

However, IYC frowned on the method being used by soldiers in the search for the perpetrators, as sources from the communities reported that many innocent people had been killed and their bodies cremated in the onslaught.

The statement tasked the military not to go out of the rules of engagement and be professional in their operations.

IPCR Calls for Thorough Investigation

The Institute for Peace and Conflict

Resolution (IPCR) called on all Nigerians to stand in solidarity with the army and insisted on thorough investigation of the killing of the 16 soldiers in Okuama.

Director General of the group, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, said, “At this time, there is need for total civilian support for the nation's military, condemning the killings of 16 soldiers,” which he described as very sad.

“We are praying fervently and working for peace in our country, to encourage and attract development, some persons are out there perpetuating violence,” he said. Ochogwu added that the killing of the officers and soldiers, who were on a peace mission, had portrayed the country in bad light at a point when President Bola Tinubu was trying to curtail insecurity.

He stated, “To achieve the Renewed Hope of Mr. President, all hands must be on deck to bring our long awaited hope to fruitfulness. But the killing of our soldiers in Delta State is a new low if we have to tell ourselves the plain truth at this point in time, when almost all the regions are facing one form of insecurity or the other.”

Killing Violates Right to Life, Says NHRC

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) condemned the killing of the 16 military personnel at Okuama, Delta State, saying it violated their rights to life and dignity.

Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, in a statement, yesterday, rejected the practice whereby aggrieved individuals and groups took laws into their hands, attacking and killing law enforcement agents. Ojukwu lamented that such behaviours occasioned human rights violations and distrust.

The statement said, “To this extent, it specifically amounts to violations of the right to life and dignity of human person as guaranteed under Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), and other international instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.

“Furthermore, everyone is entitled to life and security of their person under section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended). These senseless killings of security agents, which has been going on in several parts of the country, are not acceptable.

“Citizens must engage and collaborate with the Law Enforcement Agents (LEAs) by providing them with the necessary information that will assist them in fishing out those behind these heinous and dastardly acts and ensure that they are prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law.”

ALL FOR HUMANITY …

L-R: Vice-President, Sisters in Deen Foundation Orphanage, Hajia Binta Adisa; Member, Hajia Yinka Kareem; President, Dr. Nurat Akinlabi-Babalola; Treasurer, Hajia Abisola Dina, and Welfare Secretary, Hajia Basirat Oladosu, during the 3rd Annual Ramadan Lecture themed: Expansion for Greater Positive Impact and Fundraising organised by Sisters in Deen Foundation Orphanage held in Lagos ...recently–

Gunmen Kidnap, Murder Monarch in Bauchi, Man Butchers Wife in Ondo

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and Fidelis David in akure

The Village Head of Riruwai in Lame District of Bauchi Emirate in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Mr. Garba Badamasi, has been murdered by gunmen.

THISDAY checks revealed that the village head was earlier

kidnapped by gunmen who invaded the village on Friday, March 15, 2024.

In another development, a man identified as Odechukwu Sunday has allegedly attacked his wife with machete in Akure, the Ondo State capital, leaving her with deep cuts on her arms and body.

The gunmen in Bauchi were

PAMO Varsity Cautions against Cultism, Drug Abuse

PAMO University of Medical Sciences has warned its students against involvement in cultism, drug abuse and other vices within and outside the school campus.

The acting Vice Chancellor of PAMO, Prof Christie Mato, gave the warning in her address during the university 7th matriculation ceremony held yesterday at the school premises in Elelenwo, Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

THISDAY recalled that PAMO University, a private institution of learning established about seven years ago, has convoked three sets of graduands, with one set of medical doctors that graduated in December 2023.

Speaking further, the vice chancellor, who formally admitted the new undergraduates for the 2023/2024 session, said the institution has a total of 797 students in all the levels, adding that the school matriculated 198 students as new intakes.

Enugu Trains Youths on Digital Skills

The Enugu State Government has initiated youth empowerment programmess in various skills such as digital and technology know-how as part of efforts to empower youths to compete nationally and globally as well as create jobs and eradicatie poverty in the state.

The State Governor, Peter Mbah, who paid a visit to the Enugu SME AltSchool Training Programme centre, one of the training hubs in the state organised by the Enugu SME Centre in partnership with AltSchool Africa and Copen Academy, to train Enugu youths in Fullstack Software

Development, said the trainings were part of his promises to upskills 40,000 youths annually.

Represented by the Secretary to the state Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, Mbah explained that the digital training was one of the programmes run by the Enugu MSME office and the digital economy team, aimed at equipping young people with relevant skills to enhance their productivity and make them self-reliant.

Addressing the students, the governor urged them to justify the time spent in training and make the most of it for personal and societal advancement.

said to have shot sporadically in order to scare away residents before carrying out their criminal act. Our correspondent further

gathered that the gunmen went straight into the palace of the late village head and abducted him to an unknown location

without getting in contact with anybody.

The late Badamasi was said to have spent one day in captivity

with the kidnappers before he was gruesomely murdered and his body dumped around the village.

Kaduna to Spend N11.4 bn on Second Batch of Palliatives

The Kaduna state government has commenced the distribution of the second batch of palliatives with 128 trucks of rice and maize worth N3.4 billion to the less privileged. Govermor of the state, Senator Uba Sani, disclosed this

yesterday during the flag-off of the distribution.Sani said the second batch of the palliatives will gulped N11.4 billion.

Sani said 200,000 households and approximately one million people are expected to benefit from the programme.

“I am happy to inform you

that today we are commencing the distribution of 128 trucks of rice and maize worth N3.4 billion to the poor, vulnerable and underserved citizens of Kaduna state.

“We are targeting 200,000 households, and approximately one million persons,” the governor said.

The governor said few days after his assumption of office, he signed an executive order on financial inclusion to address the exclusion of the poor and vulnerable from financial services to ensure that they benefit from social intervention programmes of the state and the federal governments.

Tinubu Commended for Reconstruction of Road, Bridge Destroyed in Civil War

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been commended for continuing the reconstruction of the road that linked Abia State with Imo State, including the component bridge that was destroyed during the civil war.

Hon, Sam Onuigbo made the commendation on Sunday in a press conference in Umuahia following “positive reports” he received on the state of works on the federal road linking Abia to Imo and the one linking it to Akwa Ibom State.

The Ubakala-Umunwanwa-Udo Adobi-Achingalli Road has been

You are Acting PDP’s

A group, the Arewa Initiative for the Defence and Promotion of Democracy (AIDPD), has faulted the position of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on the suspension of the erstwhile Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), Senator Abdul Ningi, over the budget

in a state of disrepair since the civil war ended in 1970.

With the destroyed bridge left unattended to, it has been a herculean task to access Imo State from the south-eastern end of Umuahia South Local Government.

But Onuigbo said that he was happy that things were changing for better as the progress of work

on the road was satisfactory while a section of the bridge has been completed.

He said: “Electioneering has come and gone and this (Tinubu) administration should be commended for maintaining admirable momentum to complete the road projects awarded by the last administration.

Script on Ningi, Group Tells ACF

padding controversy.

The Senate had last week suspended Ningi, who is a ranking lawmaker,over his allegations aired on the BBC Hausa Service that the 2024 budget was padded to the tune of N3.7 trillion.

However, ACF condemned the

suspension of the senator, who is representing the Bauchi Central on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the red chamber.

Reacting to ACF’s claims, AIDPD’s Spokesperson, Tasiu Haruna, said contrary to the claims of the forum, the Senate

conducted a fair and transparent investigationinto the matter, with the suspended lawmaker given the opportunity to defend himself. Haruna said: “In the last two weeks, we have followed the allegation by Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central on the 2024 budget and the uproar trailing it.

Court Adjourns Country Club Leadership Tussle for Report of Service

Wale Igbintade

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 2, 2024, for further hearing in a dispute over the leadership of the Lagos Country Club.

The Judge’s decision followed an application for adjournment by defence counsel, Dr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), to enable the defendants file responses to the plaintiffs’ originating summons and motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

In the suit marked FHC/L/ CS/301/2024, the president of the club and nine others had on February 23, 2024, via an ex parte motion filed by their lawyer, A. B. Ogunsusi, obtained an interim injunction restraining the defendants form dissolving

the management council of the Lagos Country Club. The order also restrained the defendants from inaugurating a caretaker committee as replacement pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory application.

BDAN Advocates Conducive Environment, Regulatory Framework

The Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN) has for called for efforts aimed at ensuring a conducive legal framework and regulatory environment that promotes innovation, stability, and growth within the financial sector.

BDAN made this call when its chairman, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi, undertook an advocacy visit to the

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru in Abuja.

The visit, which was iºn line with BDAN’s Advocacy Agenda, underscores the association’s commitment to fostering collaboration with stakeholders

in the banking industry, including the legislative arm responsible for legislation and oversight functions.

BDAN in a statement signed by its Chief Executive, Adebukola Orenuga, noted that it recognises the pivotal role of regulatory bodies and legislative institutions in shaping the banking landscape and that BDAN’s advocacy efforts aim to

ensure a conducive legal framework and regulatory environment that promotes innovation, stability, and growth within the sector.

According to the statement, “During the advocacy visit, discussions revolved around policy review and the importance of collaboration between the Banking industry, the legislature

Guzang Brand Expresses Commitment to Preserve African Fashion

Ugo Aliogo

Guzang brand has expressed commitment to preserve African fashion, stating that Afrocentric fashion is more than just a visual delight; it is a phenomenon that evokes a deep sense of connection and pride.

The company said each piece

does not only enhances people’s appearance but also resonates with their roots, regardless of where they wear it, noting that with every wear an individual puts on it helps to bestow honour on their heritage, express their identity, and showcase their innate creativity.

Speaking at the evolution

of Africa’s Fashion Industry night which is Guzang’s first offline experience recently, the Founder, Idelle Taye, stated that the fashion industry is the ready solution to the challenges of the continent.

Taye expressed her desire to showcase the rich depth and incredible diversity of African

fashion and prints, extending beyond the runway to include photography and newer platforms.

She also stated that: “The continent of Africa is a gem, and I consider it an honour to be on this journey where we rediscover the craftsmanship and heritage of African fashion.”

Ekanem, Itsekiri to Battle Cameroonian Eseme for the Sprint Gold Today

Nigeria’s dominance in sprint in the continent will be tested today in the men and women’s 100m final at the ongoing 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana.

Nigeria’s duo of Consider Ekanem and Itseoritse Itsekiri will fly the country’s flag in the final of the men’s sprint to know the fastest

man in the 100m event.

New boy on the block, Consider Ekanem, was not under any pressure to produce the 10.37seconds that got him a ticket to the final. He beat Ghana’s Aggreh Barnabas to the second spot. Barnabas ran 10.42 seconds while Bibi Noa Jerrel of

Mauritius was third with 10. 47 seconds.

Experienced Itseoritse Itsekiri kept his cool in the third semi-final heat, which saw two expulsion after false starts, to run 10.29 seconds. It was the second fastest time in the semi-final heats and it seems the man to beat in the men’s 100m is Cameroonian Emmanuel Alobwede Eseme, who clocked 10.23 seconds

Earring to the final race of the event today.

In the women’s sprint, Olayinka Olajide and Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan must figure out how to handle Gambia’s Gina Bass who had the fastest time in the semi-final an 11.37 seconds effort. Bass is the defending 200m champion from Rabat 2019.

Her semi final race was the

fastest, with Madagascar’s Claudine Njarosoa finishing 11.59 behind Bass and Ghana’s Mary Bokye third with 11.64 seconds. Olajide was first in her heat racing to 11. 46 seconds.

Eyakpobeyan also finished top in her heat with 11.67 seconds. Based on their credentials coming to the African Games they must be having more gas in their tanks to to make it a Nigeria 1 and 2 in the final.

In other events of the day, Esther Joseph Elo ran 51.81 seconds in the women 400m heats to establish herself as the favourite to clinch

the title.

Nigeria’s other runners Brittney Ogunmokun and Easter Okon Peter also qualified for the semi-final.

Ogunmokun ran 53.53seconds in her heat while Okon Peter secured the first position in her heat with 53.17seconds in the men’s race Chidi Okezie ran a relaxed race of 45.89s as a season opener in the men’s 400m.

He leads Dubem Nwachukwu who got edged in 46.29s in his heat and Sikiru Adeyemi in 46.72s into the semi finals.

Custodian Investment Plc has announced the second edition of the Custodian Classic, set to take place at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Club in Lagos from Thursday, March 28th to Saturday, 30th, 2024. The event has a total prize purse of N20

demonstrated "exceptional cooperation" with the Premier League during the process.

The reasoning for the four-point deduction has been outlined in the commission's written findings.

Forest were set to be hit with a

six-point deduction - three points for the initial breach and a further three for the size of the breach - but their "early plea" and "cooperation" saw that reduced to four points

The league's rules state any appeals process should "conclude

no later than and if possible, some time before 24 May" - five days after the season finishes.

Forest lost an average of £3m across 2020 and 2021 with a further £40m loss in 2022 and £52m in 2023, amounting to a total of £95m.

NOT LAUGHING MATTER...

commented at the role the Custodian Classic plays in enhancing the tour’s stability and fostering player development. The transition to Lakowe Lakes Golf Club, as host of the event signifies the tour's evolution.

For the first time in recent times, Egypt’s Omar Assar has displaced Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna as the bestranked African player in the world.

According to the 2024 Week 12 Ranking released by ITTF, Assar who made it to the last 16 of the just concluded Singapore Smash coupled with his victory over Aruna at the 2023 African Games in Ghana, jumped five steps up to occupy the 17th spot in the ranking while Aruna dropped down by eight steps to 19th in the world.

Assar wanted to equal Aruna’s 2023 quarterfinal record at this year’s Singapore Smash but a clever display by Indian legend Sharath Achanta halted the Egyptian dream as the Indian veteran ran away with a 3-0 win to prevent Assar’s quarterfinal run. But Assar’s Round of 16 feats was enough to improve his world rating as the Egyptian returns to the pinnacle of the ranking in Africa

after he surrendered the top to the Nigerian some months back.

Also, former world number one, Fan Zhendong of China has been displaced by compatriot Wang Chuqin after the left-handed Chinese star defeated France’s Felix Lebrun to emerge as the new champion of the Singapore Smash at the weekend.

Also, German legend Timo Boll has started climbing the ladder of the ranking after his impressive quarterfinal feat at the Singapore Smash to rise to 26th place in the ranking, while Indian legend Achanta also moved up the rating to occupy 34th place in the world. Despite dropping to 27 in the world, Dina Meshref still remains the best ranked African female player in the world while her compatriot and 2023 African Games champion – Hana Goda moved up by two steps to occupy 28th place in the latest ranking.

Two second-half goals from Adaobi

Okah and Chiamaka Okuchukwu guided the Falconets of Nigeria to victory against the Crested Cranes of Uganda in the women’s football event of the African Games.

As the defending champions, this will mark Nigeria's fourth final appearance in six editions since women's football was introduced to the African Games in 2003 in Abuja.

Nigeria will now take on either hosts Ghana or Senegal in the Gold medal match.

After a goalless first half, the

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

A road runner from Plateau State, Nyango Gyang has won the highest prize money of N1million in the maiden Anambra State Marathon competition organised by Thanos Charity Foundation.

The marathon which consisted of a 40.2 kilometre road race which started from Onitsha to Awka the state capital had over 1,000 athletes from all over the country in contest.

Gyang emerged winner after completing the race in 2hrs, 26 minutes, beating other marathoners in the race.

President of Thanos Charity Foundation, Mr Ugochukwu Ifeanyi, told journalists that the aim of the event was to identify sports talents in the state, and give them platform to showcase their talents to the world. He said the Foundation is determined to improve sporting activities in Anambra State as a way of supporting

African Games defending champions left it late before they went past the Ugandans.

Substitute Okah Adaobi broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, before another sub, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, doubled the advantage a minute to full time.

The East Africans put up a big fight, but in the end the class of the Nigerian girls came through.

The Flying Eagles failed to reach the semifinal of the men’s football event of the African Games after they lost 3-2 to Senegal in a final group game.

the Soludo administration, adding that the foundation is in partnership with the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Commerce and Wealth Creation as well as the Ministry of Health, to realise this. He said the foundation aims to beat the records of Lagos City Marathon adding that the best talents would be handed over to the Anambra State government to be trained and would represent the state at the National Sports Festival.

Gyang beat two others marathoners, Ismael Sadjoh and Selengwe Constance who finished second and third respectively for the N500,000 and N300,000 respectively.

Winner of the competition, Nyango Gyang who spoke to journalists said he was happy that the competition was thrown open for all people without restriction to only Anambra Indigenes.

He promised to register for the next edition and even perform better.

Media Aide to Senator Abdul Ningi

“Curiously, Senator Ningi has not stressed in his media campaign the fact that he is a member of the Senate Appropriation Committee, which anchored the processing of the national budget in Parliament. So he is familiar with the document, its content and processing more than many of his colleague senators. Why did Ningi wait that long (two months, seven days) after the Bill had been signed into law, to hire a consultant (for N30m) to scrutinise it?” --MediaAideto SenatePresident,OlaAwoniyi,queriesNingi’smotiveforhisbelatedbudgetscrutiny.

TUESDAY WITH REUBEN ABATI

abati1990@gmail.com

The Casualties Of Okuama

The casualties are not only those who are dead/They are well out of it/The casualties are not only those who are dead/Though they await burial by installment/The casualties are not only those who are lost/Persons or property, hard as it is/To grope for a touch that some/May not know is not there/The casualties are not only those led away by night/The cell is a cruel place, sometimes a haven/Nowhere as absolute as the grave/The casualties are not only those who started/A fire and now cannot put out/Thousands/ Are burning that have no say in the matter/The casualties are not only those who are escaping/ The shattered shall become prisoners in/A fortress of falling walls/The casualties are many and a good member as well/Outside the scenes of ravage and wreck/They are the emissaries of rift/ So smug in smoke-rooms they haunt abroad/They do not see the funeral piles/At home eating up the forests/They are wandering minstrels who, beating on/The drums of the human heart, draw the world/Into a dance with rites it does not know./The drums overwhelm the guns../caught in the clash of counter claims and charges/ When not in the niche of others left/We fall/ All casualties of the war….” – John Pepper Clark, The Casualties (1970)

These prefatory lines are taken from J.P. Clark’s “The Casualties” (1970), a most poignant poem written by one of the masters of the genre in Nigerian literature on the civil war of 1967 -70. Clark’s lines are simple and clear enough; relevant as they were in 1970, they remain just as relevant today, 54 years later, as they offer an apt description of the tragedy that occurred in the coastal community of Okuama in Delta State on Thursday, March 14, and the aftermath of that slaughter of 17 (initially reported to be 16) soldiers who were reportedly on a peace mission. The fact that we have to go back to a 1970 poem speaks not simply to the eternity of good literature, but more to the fact that indeed the civil war is yet to end. We remain perpetually in a state of war and we are all as the poet says, “casualties”. Both the men and women in uniform, sworn to defend the integrity, and sovereignty of Nigeria, as well as ordinary civilians are trapped in the vortex of centrifugal forces and fault-lines which again and again, result in tragedy and anarchy. No one is safe. When a people turn against the same men who have been assigned to protect them, there can be no stronger proof of the failure of the state. The murder of four officers and 13 other ranks in Okuama is as President Bola Tinubu has pointed out, in a personally signed statement, “a direct attack on our nation”, and further, an affront on the very values that make us human. Murder was not enough for the killers, they reportedly went ahead to dismember some of their victims, and harvested their organs in what points to modern-day cannibalism and sheer cruelty.

I am however shocked to no end by the kind of conspiracy theories that have been thrown up by some interested parties with necrophilous prejudices of their own. The most shocking is the suggestion that the men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion asked for their own death because they went to the community without permission from the traditional rulers and elders of Okuama. Or that the soldiers and their commander openly took sides with the Ijaw-Okoloba community in a land dispute with Okuama, hence they were

not about to make peace. One spokesperson for Okuama has in fact alleged that the soldiers stormed the community and killed three persons, shot at anything on sight, and that the tragedy that followed was because angry youths of the community decided to fight back. Other persons who claim to know the politics of the area very well also argue that the soldiers in that area of responsibility, to use a military phrase, are corrupt and that the people know this for a fact and that is why the youths do not respect them. Within 72 hours after the murder, there were reports that Okuama had been besieged by unknown soldiers who set the entire community ablaze. These same unknown soldiers are said to be patrolling the creeks. The people of the community have fled towards Ughelli. They have become refugees away from their own land. Okuama is a ghost town. I have again heard some concerned parties arguing that the reprisal is unacceptable, because when soldiers are killed in the North, as in Niger state for example, Nigerian soldiers do not engage in reprisal killings, but if one soldier is killed in the South South, hell breaks loose as was the case in the Ijaw town of Odi, Bayelsa State on November 20, 1999.

I ask: how does any of these theories and arguments justify the cold-blooded murder of soldiers who were on active duty? Such views can only be expressed in a country that is on the brink of failure. The conflict between Okoloba (Ijaw) and Okuama (Urhobo) communities was said to have been caused by a dispute over land. Leo Tolstoy has asked “How much land does a man need?” in a short story of the same title written in 1886. But here in Africa, so much sentimental value is attached to land, not a little blood has been shed over the centuries for it. In Nigeria, conflict over land is at the centre of perennial communal border clashes, indigene/ settler acrimony and farmer-herder conflicts turning the entire country from the coast to the savannah into a vast theatre of war. What should bother us is why the military, whose functions are properly defined in Section 217 (2) of the 1999 Constitution and the Armed Forces Act of 1994, would end up settling land disputes

between communities! We have complained endlessly that there must be a limit to the use of the Nigerian military for police work. Nigeria has become so insecure, the internal war has gone on for so long, that soldiers now man check-points across the country. It is even not unusual to see soldiers in uniform providing security at weekend, “owambe” parties or serving as bodyguards to the rich. Familiarity breeds contempt. In other countries, soldiers are respected for their service to the nation. I once saw a group of Marines arriving at an airport in the United States. Everyone at the airport lounge stood up and applauded them – a grateful people appreciating those who defend the sovereignty of their country. It is unfortunate that here in Nigeria, we kill our own soldiers. This is strange and unacceptable. The children of those soldiers have now become fatherless, their wives have become widows, their families have lost their loved ones. “All casualties…”

Those who argue that there would have been no reprisal if the soldiers had been killed in the North forget that the main issue is the erosion of human values in our country. We share a common humanity but the hardship and bad politics in Nigeria have robbed us of a sense of what it means to be human, hence the spread of violence, criminality and impunity from North to South, East to West. Those who seek to play politics with everything, including murder, are casualties of primordial emotions. They forget that there was a similar reprisal by unknown soldiers in Zaki Biam on October 12, 2001, when soldiers went to avenge the killing of their men in that community. The revenge mission was titled “Operation No Living Thing”. Some people claim that Zaki Biam is not Northern enough, and that is precisely the problem with Nigerians. We are too divisive. Just as the murder of soldiers is wrong and must be condemned, reprisal killing, resort to extra-judicial killing and jungle justice is also condemnable. No one, soldier or civilian, has any right to take the laws into their hands. The fact that jungle justice rules the land is indeed why we are all victims. The people of Odi, whose houses were razed, and their women were raped, and the people of Zaki Biam who were openly executed have not recovered from the horror of that experience. Okuama community in Delta state may never recover from the scorched earth attack inflicted on it. No citizen should be subjected to such agony.

Where is the Delta State government? In a statement issued by Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, Acting Director of Information, Defence Headquarters, we were told that the matter had been reported to the Delta State Government. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori would later condemn the killings as “despicable” and promise that the state government will take “all necessary measures” to protect lives and property in the state. What could those necessary measures possibly be? The Land Use Act (1979) vests the ownership of land in state Governors as trustees, but in the event of land-related conflicts, state Governors are either totally helpless or even complicit as they surreptitiously try to defend the interests of their own ethnic groups. Conflicts in Delta State over the years have been far beyond the capacity of the Governors. It will be no different with Oborevwori, who himself needs as much help as the people. If he had any ideas about what to do, the tragedy at Okuama could have been prevented. The conflict must have been

brewing over time until it reached a boiling point. President Tinubu has written as follows: “I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen heroes, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished. The incident, once again, demonstrates the dangers faced by our servicemen and women in line of duty. I salute their heroism, courage and uncommon grit and passion.” He added: “The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.” Certainly, the President struck the right notes of empathy; signing the statement personally as President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is also a good gesture that matches the gravity of the problem. Morale must be very low among the troops - to be killed by an enemy on the battle-field is occupational hazard, but to be slaughtered at home by the same people they have taken an oath to protect and defend is worse. The families of the 17 fallen soldiers deserve every support that they can get, including counselling. We mourn the fallen heroes: Lt. Col. AH Ali, Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion, Major SD Shafa, Maj. DE Obi, Capt. U Zakari, SSgt. Yahaya Saidu, Cpl. Yahaya Danbaba, Cpl Kabiru Basir, LCpl. Bulus Haruna, LCpl. Sole Opeyemi, LCpl. Bello Anas, LCpl. Hamman Peter, LCpl. Ibrahim Abdullahi, Pte Alhaji Isah, Pte Clement Francis, Pte Abubakar Ali, Pte Ibrahim Adamu and Pte Adamu Ibrahim. The President has called for “justice”. The investigations and arrests being carried out by the Defence Headquarters must result in a situation whereby the long arm of the law catches up with those who killed the soldiers, those who inflicted jungle justice on the community and destroyed lives and properties, those who caused the conflict between the two communities of Okuama and Okoloba, and any person(s), be they chiefs, youths or ordinary indigenes who may be trying to profit in whatever form from the crisis.

The investigation must also address certain cogent questions: what was the peace mission all about? Who authorized the deployment of troops and under what circumstances? How did the youths of Okuama get the sophisticated weapons with which they waged war against Nigerian soldiers? Why is it that the soldiers could not defend themselves? How equipped were they, even on a peace mission, military work requires an advance knowledge of the threat situation at a chosen destination or is that not so? And how on earth did soldiers become involved in a land dispute? It would perhaps be advisable to set up an independent panel of inquiry, and for the military to review the scope of the involvement of its personnel in the Niger Delta. The Okuama narrative is at best a developing story, “caught in the clash of counter claims and charges.” In order not to keep ending up as “casualties”, the people of Urhobo Ewu Kingdom and the Ijaws along the Forcados river must learn to live together in peace. And as for the rest of us, the instructive question is: who really is safe when armed soldiers are killed so easily by irate youths? I guess not even the dead who are also now being kidnapped from cemeteries by graveyard bandits.