Thursday, March 30, 2023

ISSN: 2141 - 7199 VOL.10 NO. 445 Thursday April 6, 2023 www.nigerianpilot.com
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N200

Subsidy removal: FG More crises for LP as

gets $800m World Bank Court sacks Chairman,
loan for palliatives 19 Secretary, others 9

Treason allegation:
Obi, Datti exposed
to assassination!
Group accuses FG of exposing Peter Obi, Datti, others to assassination via treason alarm
Says Atiku, other democracy activists’ rights may be breached through unlawful arrests, detention
Warns that nothing must happen to Obi, Datti, Atiku, other civil society activists 8
Pleads that they must be protected at all times by security operatives

Minister of Women
Affairs, Mrs Paullen
Tallen exchanging
pleasantaries with
the Secretary to the
Government of the
Federation, SGF,
Mr Boss Mustapha,
while Vice President,
Yemi Osinbajo looks
on after yesterday’s
Federal Executive
Council Meeting at
the Aso Rock Villa,
Abuja

Obasanjo writes Clerk of UK Court, pleads for the Ekweremadus 8

IN THE NEWS 6 6 8 5 6

Easter: Federal Plateau House FG keeps issuing NBS: Total capital Buhari inaugurates
Government of Assembly promissory notes, importation National Council for
declares Friday, sealed over DMO raises the stood at Digital Innovation,
Monday, public Speakership alarm in spite of $1,060.73m in Q4
Entrepreneurship
holidays crisis rising debt stock 2022

FEC approves N15.3 bn for Census ICT digital devices, as Customs gets N17 bn for additional barracks 6
2 Thursday, April 6, 2023
Pilot Personality
Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo
Nigerian-born, Mr. Adewale
“Wally” Adeyemo, who was
appointed the Deputy Treasury
Secretary by the United States
President, Mr. Joe Biden, has been
within the corridors of power in the
USA in the past couple of years.
Adeyemo was appointed as the
president of the Obama Foundation
in 2019.
He had served in the administration
of former President Barack Obama
as deputy National Security Adviser
(NSA) for international economics.
He is reputed to have helped the US
combat the global economic recession
of 2008.
He played key roles in tackling the
financial crisis that hit the US under
the Obama presidency.
Adewale Adeyemo alias “Wally”
was born in 1981 in Nigeria but he
grew up in California, USA.
He graduated from the University
of California, Berkeley, with a
bachelor’s of arts, before moving to
Yale Law School, where he bagged
his Juris Doctor for further studies in
specialised law.
While at Yale, he was the co-director,
project on law and education for the
university.
Before his appointment as the
President of Obama Foundation,
Adeyemo was the Deputy Chief
of Staff at the department of the
treasury, a position he held for three
years.
He has served in various positions
at the Treasury, including senior
advisor to the chief of staff and
deputy executive secretary.
Adeyemo also worked as the chief
of staff at the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau from 2010 to 2011.
He was an editor for the Hamilton
Project at the Brookings Institution
from 2008 to 2009.
 Monday, December
Thursday, 19, 2022
April 6, 2023 33
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL

nEwspApER
NEWSPAPER wITh
WITH cOnscIEncE
CONSCIENCE

Directorate
Dennis Sami - Group Chairman/Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Mrs. Confidence Sami - Managing Director
Chuks Ohuegbe Esq - Director, Publications

eDitorial
Emmanuel Ibeleme
Emmanuel Ibeleme - Ag.- Editor, DailyDaily
Ag. Editor,
Aaron Ossai - Deputy Editor
Aaron Ossai - Deputy Editor
Okechukwu Jombo - Editor, Pilot Glamour
DEMOCRACY AND NIGERIA’S NATIONAL Kehinde Ibrahim
Michael Oche- Ag.- News-Editor
Assit. Editor, Lagos Bereau Chief

ROLE OF MILITARY OkechukwuOdaudu

Samuel
Onu Okorie
Michael
Jombo - Editor,
Oche
Pilot &Glamour
- Features
- Group Business- Ag.
Editorial Page Editor
.News Editor
FRUSTRATION
Editor

2023 ELEcTIOns
Asuelimen
Samuel OdauduOsasuyi
- Features- Group Sports
& Editorial Editor
Page Editor
Onu Okorie - Group Business Editor
A major take from the just concluded general elections is Asuelimen Osasuyi - Group Sports Editor
the fact that, there is a growing national frustration and
disenchantment with the way democracy and electoral
The role
process areof themismanaged.
being military should be us as a people
It portrays MarketiNg / SaleS
complimentary,
who are not ready fornot central
genuine in our elections It
democracy Lillian Oriala - Assistant Advert/Marketing Manager
would scare voters thereby disenfranchising Douglas Ejembi - Sales / Distribution Manager
voters David Olujide - Lagos Marketing & Circulation
The much anticipated 2023 General that has created a bunch of corrupt,
Elections in Nigeria have been inept, visionless and heartless
concluded. Winners and losers leaders at the expense of the citizens.
have been Nigeria
announced.is barelyAttwo months
least, it reason
How why canwe you have ramped
conduct up our
election
away from it’s most anticipated training in that regard, sensitization,
is on record that the exercises
elections next year; however, as usual, were and you are not courageous
a lot of engagement across, you know, enough
largely the
peaceful
credibility devoid of violence
of the outcome of the to accept the will of the people,
the formations and units is being ProDuctioN
polls has already
or conflict on a large scale. become a serious undertaken. if
especially Andit then more so to to
is contrary no your
contentious conversation.
Perhaps, that is only notable thing
articulate code of conduct for all our
selfish expected outcome? MosesNjoku
Moses Okorie
Okorie - Production/Prepress
- Production/Prepress Editor Editor
personnel, which has been done How and can
to say about
Recently, it, that is, the recent
for instance, General citizens
distributed. spend hours.and days to cast TimothyDamilola
Ademola Yusuf - Graphic-Head
Creative Editor
Lucky Irabor, Chief
Presidential National Assembly of Defence Staff, votes and elect their chosen leaders
made a revealing statement regarding
and Governorship/State Houses of and “So what, why should they act Timothy Yusuf - Graphic Head
the conduct of the 2023 General before,then
duringthe result
and after is violently
the elections,
Assembly elections
Elections. By allwere
means,notitstopped
was a red upturned?
these are being codified in the SOP
abruptly as a result
signal. There of violent
were conflict.
reports alleging How
that havecanbeena political
issued to them. actorSoestablish
it
that
Otherby issuesthe military is being
or aspects of the induced remains
ato private the duty of the commanders
army to disrupt orderly
political actors to influence the ensure that the directive, as
outcome of the
outcome of the process
elections. will be process,
indicated, chaseand the people
contents away of the from
sufficiently captured by history from polling units,tothumbprint
SOP is adhered by every personnel votes and
differentOnangles,this note,bothin order to ensure
nationally in the
the armed
result forces”, he said.
is accepted and announced? MiSSioN
professional approach to the conduct
and internationally. Already,
of the poll, the military many
has embarked WhatThe type
militaryof democracy
- not the police is this- that We are a newspaper with conscience. Our
observers,
upon including
training of it’sinternational
personnel so as leaders
preparingstealfor fullfrom the people,
involvement in next use mission is anchored on transparency,
groupstothe ensure that, the military
monitored is neutral.
the exercise year’sill-gotten
the elections? money
This is indeed
to oppressvery the accountability and democratic values.
disturbing. In the history of Nigeria’s We are committed to empower citizens
have taken positionsmedia
At the ministerial on briefing
the citizens?
elections, the military involvement
development.
organised by the presidential inAtour this juncture,
elections remains wea want
dark spotto draw with the truth they need to make informed
But acommunications
major take from team the at justthe the attention
producing of the
contrary political leaders
results. decision and be active participants in the
presidential villa, Abuja, he said democratic process.
concluded general elections is the
that the military has been training
of Many
this Nigerians
country have to the looming
reacted
fact that, there
it’s personnel is a regarding
growingthe national
conduct danger ahead.
to the report asking the defence
frustration and disenchantment
of it’s personnel ahead of 2023withpolls We are pointing
headquarters to further at the redthe
explain flag for
in order to ward
the way democracy and electoral off pressure from our leaders to see that, the the
above report. The point is that, citizens
politicians. coming elections, especially the ViSioN
process are being mismanaged. It anger is boiling
presidential election, are liketoo acritical
couldron
portraysAccording
us as a people to him, who “Ofarecourse,
not about to boil
for military over. The angst among
participation. To produce a newspaper with a unique
there will always
ready for genuine democracy. be pressure from all our youths has reached its crescendo. identity and pride that serves the public
quarters, wanting to induce security The role of the military should interest, record the history of our nation and
We dare
forces,saynot thatjustas the
a country,
military, we the Ifrather
they are be not careful, if theynotdo not
complimentary,
are notsecurity
readyforce to learn, accept
the police. And andthat’s change
central. Itfrom
wouldthisscaremanipulative
voters thereby and
its people, and make a difference when it
practicewhat
thecriminal
principles and istenets
enterprise of”
all about, selfish pattern, the
disenfranchising people
voters. could take
President matters.
he said.
democracy. Or are we? The biggest Buhari’s
their warning to the
frustration to the streets and military
to stay out of next year’s elections
gain of theHe kind
furtherof stated
democracy we are
that, “Now, the the nightmare
remains the benchmark would be regard.
in this worse than
seeing since Independence is such the #EndSARS experience.
4 Thursday, April 6, 2023

Advert
44 Wednesday January19,
Monday, December 4, 2022
2023
 5 Thursday, April 6, 2023
News
Senate adopts 2016
audit report, sustains
queries on 37 MDAs
By Olugbenga Salami
As the Senate considered the
annual report of the Auditor
General for the Federation, AuGF
on the accounts of the Federation
for the year ended December 31,
2016 on Wednesday, it sustained
indictments of 37 ministries
departments and agencies, MDAs
for alleged violation of financial
procedures.
Among the indicted MDAs, is
the Nigerian National Petroleum
Company Limited, NNPCL over
alleged failure to provide details
of crude oil delivered to Warri and
Kaduna Refineries worth about
$376, 655,589 (N102.6 billion) in the
audited year.
The NNPCL, according to the
Red Chamber could not provide
details or breakdown of what was
delivered to the the Warri Refinery
and Petrochemical Company,
WRPC and Kaduna Refinery
and Petrochemical Company,
respectively.
Presenting the report during the
plenary, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Public Accounts,
Senator Mathew Urhoghide said the
queries raised against 37 ministries,
departments and agencies, MDAs
by the Office of Auditor General
for the Federation, OAuGF over
violation of financial procedures,
were sustained while those against
43 others were vacated.
The query reads: “From the
review and examination of domestic
Crude Oil Lifting sales profile
presented for audit verification, it
was noted that several deliveries
were stated to be jointly lifted by
or delivered to Warri Refinery and
Petrochemical Company, WRPC and
Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical
Company without necessary details
or breakdown of what was delivered
to respective companies.”
“From the examination carried out
a total oil lifting of 8,399,017; billion
barrels of petroleum liquids, bbls
with a total sales values of $376,
655,589 (N102.6 billion) was stated to
have been lifted jointly by these two
companies.
“The failure to properly separate
these deliveries and charge directly
to each company makes it difficult
to reconcile and account for each
lifting.”
The Senate, therefore, upheld the
recommendation of its Committee
asking the Group Managing Director
of NNPCL, Mele Kyari to ensure
specific details of crude delivered to
the two refineries for audit.
Also among the indicted
government agencies, is the Ministry
of Information and Culture over
three unrecovered vehicles.
The query as adopted by the Senate
reads: “Audit investigation revealed
that Toyota Land Cruiser and two
Toyota Hilux pick-up vans, observed
to be missing, were in the custody of
former minister of the ministry and a
female staff in Sure-P office.
“In his response to the query, the
Permanent Secretary explained that
the Toyota Land Cruiser was an
official vehicle of the minister, High
Chief Edem Duke and he took it
away when he was leaving the
office”.
Total capital importation stood at $1,060.73m in Q4 2022 - NBS
Agency Report
National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS), has said total capital
importation in Nigeria stood d at
1,060.73 million dollars in quarter
four of 2022.
The NBS said this in its Nigeria
Capital Importation Q4 2022
report released on Wednesday in
Abuja.
The report said the Q4 figure
was lower than the 2,187.63
million dollars recorded in Q4
2021, indicating a decrease of 51.51
per cent.
“When compared to the
preceding quarter, capital
importation also fell by 8.53 per
cent from 1,159.67 million dollars
in Q3 2022.’’
It said the largest capital
importation during the period was
received from other investments,
which accounted for 65.17 per cent
House of Representatives
10th House of Reps minority caucuses
bank on large numbers for effectiveness
By Aaron Ossai and Disun Amosun
House of Representatives
members-elect under the aegis of
Minority Caucuses met Tuesday
night in Abuja to chart a united
working course to strengthen and
deepen democracy for the benefits
of their various constituencies and
Nigeria as a whole.
The meeting which was attended
by Members-elect of the soon to
be inaugurated 10th House of
Representatives from all the seven
Minority Causes agreed to protect
the interest of the Minorities and
leverage on their numbers, which
if properly harnessed will give
them a stronger say in the affairs of
the House of Representatives.
Declaring the round-table
meeting opens, its convener Rep
Fred Agbedi, a 6th-term legislator
in the green chamber (Segbema/
(691.23 million dollars) of total
capital imported in Q4 2022.
The report said this was followed
by Portfolio Investment with 26.89
per cent (285.26 million dollars)
and Foreign Direct Investments
(FDIs) with 7.94 per cent (l84.23
million dollars).
“Disaggregated by Sectors,
capital importation into the
production sector recorded the
highest inflow of 392.54 million
dollars, representing 37.01 per
cent of total capital imported in Q4
2022.
“This was followed by capital
imported into the banking sector,
valued at 255.45 million dollars
(24.08 per cent), and Telecoms
with 168.27 million dollars (15.86
percent).’’
The NBS said Capital
Importation by Country of Origin
reveals that capital from the
United Kingdom ranked top in Q4
Ekeremo Federal Constituency
of Bayelsa) urged his colleagues
to recognize the fact that the 10th
House had thrown-up the largest
contingent of Minority political
parties as against the party in
government in the history of
Nigeria.
He therefore called for the
maximization of its strength and
influence in the 10th House of
Representatives in what he called
the “Greater Majority.”
“This session is to enable us
network, interact and familiarize
ourselves as Representatives that
the results of the 2023 general
elections has thrown-up and as
such we must do everything
possible to hold on to our stance
as an all-inclusive Opposition
Caucus” Rep Abedi further
charged members.
The meeting assured the new
2022 with 455.24 million dollars,
accounting for 42.92 per cent.
The report said this was followed
by the Republic of South Africa and
the United Arab Emirates valued
at 119.31 million dollars (11.25
percent) and 116.82 million dollars
(11.01 percent), respectively.
By Destination of Investment,
it said Lagos state remained the
top destination in Q4 2022 with
600.54 million dollars, accounting
for 56.62 per cent of total capital
investment in Nigeria.
The report said this was followed
by Abuja (FCT), valued at 424.50
million dollars (40.02 per cent).
It said Categorisation of Capital
Importation by banks shows that
Citibank Nigeria Limited ranked
top in Q4 2022 with 308.72 million
dollars (29.10 per cent).
“This was followed by Standard
Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited
with 232.45 million dollars (21.91
members-elect of the active
support of old hands in the
Minority business of the House
of Representatives such as Rep
Nicholas Mutu, a member
since 1999, while other ranking
members such as the convener and
co-co-conveners, Reps Oluwole
Oke, Beni Lar and others were
present to give impetus to the new
members-elect.
Those who attend the Minority
Caucuses meeting of the 10th
House of Representatives include
members-elect from the People
Democratic Party (PDP), Labour
Party (LP), New Nigeria People
Party (NNPP).
Others are from the All
Progressive Grand Alliance
(APGA), Social Democratic
Party (SDP), African Democratic
Congress (ADC) and the Young
Progressive Party, (YPP).
per cent ) and Rand Merchant
Bank with 102.00 million dollars
(9.62 per cent).
It, however, said on an annual
basis, capital importation was
5,328.88 million dollars in 2022,
showing a decrease of 20.47 per
cent from 6,700.51 million dollars
in 2021.”
Similarly, the total value of
capital importation into Nigeria
in Q3 2022 stood at 1,159.67
million dollars from 1,731.37
million dollars in Q3 2021.
The Nigeria Capital Importation
report for Q3 2022 said the figure
indicated a decrease of 33.02 per
cent.
“When compared to the
preceding quarter, capital
importation fell by 24.47 per cent
from 1,535.35 million dollars in
Q2 2022.’’
It said the largest capital
importation in Q3 2022
was received through other
investments, which accounted
for 54.83 per cent (635.87 million
dollars).
“This was followed by
Portfolio Investment with 38.12
per cent (442.08 million dollars)
and Foreign Direct Investments
(FDIs) with 7.05 per cent (81.72
million dollars).’’
El-Rufai reinstates 1,266
teachers sacked over
competency test
Agency Report
Kaduna Governor Nasir Ahmad
El-Rufai has reinstated 1,266
primary school teachers sacked in
June 2022 over a competency test
organised by the State Government.
Kaduna Universal Basic
Education Board (KADSUBEB)
announced this in a statement on
Wednesday by its Public Relations
Officer, Hauwa Mohammed.
Mohammed explained the
teachers are to immediately
collect their reinstatement letters
from their respective Education
Secretaries.
He said: “The Kaduna State
Government has approved the
reinstatement of 1,266 primary
school teachers earlier disengaged
after the competency test in June
2022.”
“Having examined and verified
their complaints. the Government
approved the ‘ reinstatement of 392
teachers who wrote and passed the
test, 515 Central Administration
staff who are officially exempted
from the test and 298 teachers
who were verified to be sick at the
time of the test and had a valid
medical excuse backed by Doctor’s
certificate.
“Others reinstated are teachers
who were reported by their
respective Education Secretaries, to
have been victims of kidnapping or
involved in accidents.
“Finally 22 teachers were
permanently removed from the
payroll for unsubstantiated claims.
“All the reinstated teachers are
to collect their reinstatement letters
from their respective Education
Secretaries immediately”, he
added.
 Thursday, April 6, 2023 6

Police seal Plateau House of
Assembly over Speakership crisis
By Golok Nanmwa, Jos the impeached Speaker, Hon.
Abok Nuhu Ayuba had resumed
duty as Speaker of the House
As a result of the ongoing taking over the office premises
Speakership crisis, the Plateau
of the Speaker after the court
state Police Command has sealed reinstated him on Monday .
the state House of Assembly
Hon. Abok reportedly drove
Complex. into the Assembly complex a few
It was gathered that a team of
minutes before 9am on Tuesday
anti-riot police men arrived at the and then headed straight to the
Assembly Complex by 6am and
Speaker’s office in the company
barricaded the main entrance. of some lawmakers.
Our correspondent reports that
Though the police command is
Easter: FG declares 7th, 10th April Public Holidays
By Palma Ileye which were attributes and practices
of Jesus Christ, as exemplified by
his Ministry on earth.
Federal Government has Aregbesola called on Christians
declared Friday 7th and Monday
and all Nigerians to use the
10th April, 2023 which is Good occasion of this year’s Easter
Friday and Easter Monday as
celebration to pray for an end to
Public Holidays to mark this the security challenges in parts of
year’s Easter celebration.
the country.
This is contained in a press release He stated that, “security is
signed and issued yesterday
everybody’s business, I therefore
by the Permanent Secretary of urged Nigerians and Foreigners
the Ministry of Interior, Shu’aib
resident in our country to display
Belgore. a high sense of citizenship and
According to the statement,
public spiritedness by supporting
the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni the efforts of all security agencies
Rauf Aregbesola who made
in bringing peace and security
the declaration in Abuja, urged of lives and properties of the
Christians to emulate the virtues of
citizenry.”
sacrifice, togetherness, forgiveness, The Minister assured that the
kindness, love, peace and patience
Federal Government was doing
yet to issue an official statement
on the action, our correspondent
learnt that it is not unconnected
to the brewing crisis among
members of the house of
assembly.
The House is divided into two
factions, with one loyal to the
current speaker Hon Yakubu
Sanda, and the other loyal to the
reinstated Speaker, Hon Ayuba
Abok who was impeached in
October 2021.
all that is necessary to ensure a
peaceful transition of government
following the peaceful conduct of
the 2023 General election.
While wishing Christians at
home and in the Diaspora a happy
and peaceful Easter celebration,
he also enjoined them to love
their neighbours through acts of
kindness and generosity of spirit,
with the well to do sharing their
substance with the less privileged
around them.
Ogbeni Aregbesola also assured
Nigerians that the nation was
persistently on the path to greatness
while urging all to positively deploy
their creative energy for the full
realization of the coming prosperity
saying that, “There is surely light at
the end of the tunnel.”
Insecurity: Ooni charges govt on
constitutional roles for traditional rulers
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Ooni of Ife and Arole
Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan
Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has
charged the National Assembly
to carry out legislation that will
provide for the National Council
of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria
NCTRN with constitutional
roles to enable them make more
positive impacts in the security
architecture of the country.
He warned that failure to
do so; the country may not
effectively tackle emerging and
contemporary security challenges
bedeviling the country.
The Ooni who doubles as Co-
chairman of NCTRN which is the
umbrella body of all the traditional
rulers in Nigeria stated this in
Kaduna on Monday as Guest
Speaker/Royal Father during the
2023 Exercise Haski Hiyu Lecture
organised by the Armed Forces
Command And Staff College,
Jaji, Kaduna state, attended by
senior military officers drawn
from various units and formations
across the country for the lecture.
In the lecture titled “Combating
Internal Security Challenges
Through Effective Utilisation
Of Traditional Institution” the
Natural Head of the entire
Oduduwa race worldwide
attributed the high rate of crimes
and unending security challenges
to the failure of government to
assign specific constitutional roles
to traditional rulers in the country.
“Any Nation pushing traditional
rulers aside may not prosper.
We are the closest to the people
and we must be constitutionally
empowered to work together with
the government so as to take our
country to another level especially
on security matters.
“We were more relevant during
pre independence struggle and
post independence constitutional
democracy up till the end of the
first Republic in 1966.
“When the colonial people
came, they practiced indirect rule
in some parts of this country and
they could only rule over the
citizens through their traditional
rulers. In fact The First Governor
of African origin was Ooni Adesoji
Aderemi who simultaneously
reigned as the King of Ile-Ife
and same time governed the old
Western Region alongside Late
News
Obafemi Awolowo as the Premier.
This was when traditional rulers
had constitutional powers.
“Palace is the focal point.
Whenever there is a breakdown
of law and order in town, people
rush to the palace. To you the
Nigerian gatekeepers, how do you
want to do your jobs successfully
without traditional instructions?
Impossible!” Ooni said.
The Ooni who only few days ago
returned to Nigeria from a 2 week
Pan-African trip to Brazil where
he met with President Luiz Inácio
LULA da Silva in Brasilia Brazil
on Tuesday 21st before flying to
Kenya where he was hosted by
President William Ruto at the
State House in Nairobi, Kenya on
Saturday 25th March, insisted that
the traditional institution has a
vital role to play in the fight against
insurgency, banditry and other
related crimes in the society due to
their closeness to the people, and
therefore expresses the need to
enshrine roles of traditional rulers
in the constitution.
In his speech, Commandant
of the Armed Forces Command
And Staff College, JAJI Kaduna
state, Air Vice Marshal Emmanuel
Wunoh thanked the monarch
for honouring their invitation
and expressed satisfaction
with the Ooni’s speech to the
officers of the Nigerian military
who were present at the lecture
which is an annual exercise
organised by the military training
institution to cross-fertilize
ideas and strengthen inter-
agency collaboration between
civil-military and paramilitary
organisations to tackle emerging
and contemporary security threats
within their domains.
The Commandant said he is in
total agreement with the request
of constitutional roles for Nigerian
Traditional Rulers to effectively
complement efforts of the security
agencies made by the Ife monarch.
The Ooni alongside his amiable
queen, Olori Tobiloba Ogunwusi
had on his arrival at the Kaduna
International Airport on Sunday
proceeded straight to the ancient
city of Zaria on a courtesy visit to
the Emir of Zauzau HRH Mallam
Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR as a
mark of territorial honour. He was
also joined by Yoruba indigenes
residing in Zaria who had trooped
out to welcome the number one
king in Yoruba land.

Buhari inaugurates National Council for Digital Innovation, Entrepreneurship

By Mathew Dadiya
President Muhammadu
Buhari, Wednesday inaugurated
a 14-member National Council
for Digital Innovation and
Entrepreneurship (NCDIE) shortly
before the commencement of the
Federal Executive Council (FEC)
meeting, presided over by the
President at Council Chambers,
State House Abuja.
The council was established
based on the Nigeria Startup Act
(NSA, 2022), signed into law in
December 2022.
The National Council for Digital
Innovation and Entrepreneurship,
which is chaired by the president,
has 13 other members including
the President as Chairman, Vice
President as Vice Chairman,
and Minister of Communication
and Digital Economy, who shall
preside over the council in the
absence of the chairman and vice
chairman.
Other members are ministers
of finance, budget and national
planning, industry, trade and
investment, science, technology
and innovation, the Governor
of the Central Bank of Nigeria,
four representatives of the
startup’s consultative forum,
and one representative of the
Nigerian Computer Society, one
representative of the Computer
Registration Council Nigeria
and the Director General of the
Nigerian Information Technology
Development Agency (NITDA) as
secretary of the council.
The council is charged with the
responsibility of promoting the
development of the country’s
digital economy and providing
a supportive environment for
entrepreneurs to thrive.
It will also oversee the
implementation of the Nigeria
Startup Act 2022, which aims to
stimulate the growth of innovative
startups and small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) in the
country.
In his opening remarks,
President Buhari highlighted
the importance of the NCDIE in
driving economic growth and job
creation as well as consolidating
the gains recorded in the sector
under his administration.
He said the Act provides
incentives for startups such as
tax breaks, access to funding,
ease of doing business,
intellectual property protection,
and participation in public
procurement.
The President noted that the Act
became law after approval by the
federal executive council on 15
December 2021 and presidential
assent on 19 October 2022.
He commended the efforts of
the Minister of Communication
and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami,
and the Chief of Staff for the
achievement.
He noted the remarkable growth
of startups worldwide of over
$400 billion of venture funding in
2022. He said this was fueled by
the demand for digital services,
as people worldwide turned to
technology to stay connected,
work remotely, and access goods
and services, largely, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Buhari further noted that in
Africa, the ecosystem has been
growing at a remarkable pace.
He observed that African startups
grew to $5.4 billion in funding.
“Nigeria has been at the forefront
of this growth with Nigeria start-
ups rising from over $400 billion
between 2019 and 2022.”
 7 Thursday, April 6, 2023

FG approves N320bn for public varsities, others
By Philip Ezuma, Port Harcourt
The Federal Government has
approved N320, 345,040, 835 as
intervention funds for public
tertiary institutions in the country.
The government said the
intervention, approved by
President Muhammadu Buhari, is
for 2023.
Executive Secretary of Tertiary
Education Trust Fund (TETFund),
Sonny Echono, disclosed this in
Abuja on Wednesday during the
agency’s annual strategic planning
workshop with all heads of
beneficiary institutions.
He said the meeting was an
avenue to receive feedback and
evaluate the performances of
its intervention lines to enhance
a more robust delivery of the
agency’s mandate.
The executive secretary of
TETFund said the 2023 intervention
cycle will see each university
receiving N1,154,732,133.00;
Polytechnic – N699,344,867.00,
while each College of Education
would get N800,862,602.
He said: “I am pleased to inform
you that Mr. President has approved
the 2023 disbursement guidelines
in the total sum of N320, 345,040,
835. (Three hundred and twenty
billion, three hundred and forty-
five million, forty thousand, eight
hundred and thirty-five Naira
only). On the basis of this, each
university shall get, for the Year 2023
intervention cycle, the total sum of
N1,154,732,133.00.00:00/03:00
“This comprises N954, 732,123.00
as annual direct disbursement and
N200 Million as zonal intervention.
Similarly, each Polytechnic shall
get N699,344,867.00 comprising of
N569,344,807.00 as annual direct
disbursement and N130 Million
as zonal intervention, while
each College of education shall
get N800,862,602 comprising of
N670,862,602.00 as annual direct
disbursement and N130 Million as
zonal intervention.
News
“It is pertinent to note that this
represents the highest disbursement
to each beneficiary institution since
the inception of the Fund.”
The executive secretary said the
fortunes of the tertiary education
sector have improved significantly
under the Buhari administration.
Echono also urged Buhari, as a
parting gift to the education sector,
to give his assent to Finance Bill
2023, which provides for a further
increase in education tax from 2.5%
to 3%.

FCTA intensifies efforts for

L-R: Gwa Mohammed, Secretary, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Chioma Mordi, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director,
Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN); Tijanni Borobo, Director SCGN; Adeleke Adewolu, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder
Management, NCC and Ibrahim Dikko, Director, SCGN, during the courtesy visit to the Commission’s Head Office on Monday
FG Secures $800m World Bank grant for subsidy palliatives
Agency Report Planning, Zainab Ahmed
gave the announcement
during the weekly after the
Ahead of the planned Federal Executive Council
subsidy removal in June 2023,
meeting chaired by President
the Federal Government has Muhammadu Buhari,
announced an $800 million
Wednesday.
grant from the World Bank, Mrs Ahmed underscored
targeting 50 million vulnerable
that engagements are ongoing
Nigerians or 10 million with the newly established
households, as part of its
Presidential Transition Council
subsidy palliatives measures. (PTC) and the incoming
The Minister of Finance,
administration, to drive the
Budget and National palliative program, which
Gov Bello orders investigation into Oganenigu killings, arson
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja “The attack is barbaric though such
incident is not very frequent in Kogi
state but in 2018, one of the adjoining
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi communities experiences such an
State has ordered investigation into
attack that made the governor to
the remote and immediate causes of visit the community despite the
the herders attack on three Ogane-
difficult terrains.
Enigu communities in Dekina Local “This recent attack will be the
Government Area that claimed
end as government will not relent
10 lives and left over 50 houses until the needful are done to give
completely burnt.
the communities peace of mind.
The Governor represented by his Nobody can come to the state, kill
Deputy, Chief Edward David Onoja,
people and go back freely. We must
gave the order after an on-the-spot arrest them and bring them to book”,
assessment of the destruction at
he said.
Aloko-Ogane-Enigu, one of the three Elder David Abimaje, one of the
devastated communities.
locals and an indigene of Aloko
Bello described the killings and explained that the attackers stormed
destruction of property as barbaric
the community on Sunday, March
and inhuman. 14, morning between the hours of
He said that the investigation
6am and 7am when the people were
comprising all security agencies in preparing to go to church.
the state was aimed at putting an
Abimaje said the attackers
end to such a dastardly act of man’s who were suspected to be Fulani
inhumanity to man.
herdsmen numbering over 100,
The governor assured that the entered the community with guns
perpetrators of the heinous act would
and gallons of petrol used in killing
be apprehended and prosecuted to people and setting over 50 houses
put an end to such ugly situation as
ablaze.
he urged security agencies to swerve Giving the breakdown of
into action immediately.
includes the need for buses
among various considerations.
Meanwhile the Federal
Government has approved
the sum of 10.9 billion
naira for the supply and
installation of information and
communication technology
components for the 2023
National population census
scheduled to hold in May.
This was part of the approvals
by FEC today chaired by
President Muhammadu Buhari.
casualties, Abimaje said five persons
were killed in Aloko Ogane-Enigu,
three in Elede community and two
persons Ojuwo community.
Abimaje stated that the
communities did not have any
dispute with the herdsmen before the
killing and destruction of property.
He appealed to Kogi State
Government to take proactive
measures in finding a lasting
solution to the attack, adding that the
Sunday attack was the second time
the three communities were attacked
by the herdsmen.
Also narrating his ordeals,
Arome Atabor, a father of four said
he relocated from Kano to Aloko
Ogane-Enigu, his community six
years ago to start farming in order
to train his children but the attackers
had unfortunately burnt of his
house.
Atabor appealed to the State
Government to provide the affected
communities with adequate security
and come to the aid of the members
to enable them rebuild their houses
and sources of livelihood destroyed
by the attackers.
inter-religious peace
By Chioma Nnodim
Federal Capital Territory
Administration, FCTA, has
intensified its efforts to promote
inter-religious peace and unity in
the nation’s capital.
Speaking at an inter-faith
forum organised by FCT Social
Development Secretariat, the
mandate Secretary, Hadiza Kabir
said there was the need for the two
- dominant religions in the country
to be respected at all levels.
She said the programme
tagged ‘Peaceful co-existence and
importance of fasting’ during
Ramadan and lent would reorient
the minds of Christians and
Muslims on a lifestyle that will
make Nigerians more united.
Kabir explained that people
of both faiths must understand
and practice the teachings of the
dominant -religions to deepen
peace in the society.
She said: “Nigeria has always
been a secular state, thus the
views and ways of life of the two -
dominant religions in the country
must be respected.”
“We have always lived together
as one, we marry each other,
we attend the same schools and
we work in the same place and
environment and do so many other
Accountable justice system key
to fighting corruption – CLEEN
By Faith Awa Maji
A non-governmental
organisation, CLEEN Foundation,
has described the justice system as
a fundamental element in efforts at
addressing corruption and corrupt
practices in the country.
“A functional and accountable
justice system is key to addressing
corruption and promoting national
development,” CLEEN Foundation
Executive Director, Gad Peter, said
on Tuesday in Sokoto.
He spoke at the opening of
a training workshop on “The
Implementation of Criminal Justice
Legislations.”
He said that the programme was
being implemented in collaboration
with the Foundation’s partners and
the MacArthur Foundation.
According to him, “corruption
remains a major obstacle affecting
all sectors of the economy,” adding
that, “CLEEN
Foundation has begun the
implementation of a two-
things together. Therefore, the need
to co-exist and live together cannot
be over emphasized”
One of the speakers and a Catholic
priest with the Archdiocese of
Abuja, Rev. Robert Achiaga, said
people should create a seat for God
in their heart, and avoid issues that
will ignite crisis.
“There is a reason that God create
us to live together as humans, so we
have to respect each one’s religion.
No need to have disagreement
among ourselves. We must create
seat for God in our hearts, to avoid
the issues that will divide us.
“Pastors and Imams or religious
leaders must not only teach their
followers the theoretical aspects, but
they must practice what they teach,
that is the only way to continue
to live in peace with people from
other faiths”, he added.
Faculty member, Coach Halima
Transformation Academy,
COHATA, Fatima Idris, said people
of different faiths should always
promote peaceful co-existence by
abiding by the standard of their
religions, as it is critical to the
development of any society.
“It is the obligation of parents,
community and religious leaders to
pursue and promote harmonious
living in the society, for the sake
of the present generation and the
future one.”
year project on enhancing the
accountability of Justice Sector
actors in the mitigation of
corruption in Nigeria.
Peter said, “by this new project,
KLEEN seeks to consolidate efforts
on enhancing the implementation of
the ACJA, 2015 and deepening the
tools for accountability developed
and initiated under phase one
of its ACJA project for purposes
of improving accountability of
justice actors and transparency in
Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
“The training is building on the
gains made by CLEEN Foundation
on the administration of criminal
justice law intervention in eight
states of the country, on digitization
of court proceedings on corruption-
related cases in Nigeria.
“The overall goal of the project
is to contribute to the reduction
of corruption, promote judicial
transparency in processing
corruption cases and enhance
accountability among practitioners
in the criminal justice system in
Nigeria”, he said.
8 Thursday, April 6, 2023
NEWS
Treason allegation: Obi, Datti exposed to assassins!
Intersociety accuses FG of exposing Obi-Datti, others to assassination via treason alarm seeks clemency for
Says Atiku, other democracy activists’ rights may be breached through unlawful arrests, detention Ekweremadus
Warns that nothing must happen to Obi, Datti, Atiku, other civil society activists
Pleads that they must be protected at all times by security operatives
By Tony Oraeki, Awka
International Society for Civil Liberties
and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has
said the treason alarm by the Minister
of Information, Lai Muhammed, has
exposed the presidential candidate of
the Labour Party (LP) and his running
mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed to
all manner of danger, including
assassination.
The group announced this
yesterday in a statement signed by
its board of trustees chairman, Emeka
Umeagbalasi titled: False Treason
Alarm: Nigerian Govt Exposing Obi,
Datti, and Other Democracy Activists
to Dangers of Security Agencies’
Harassments, Jihadists’ Assassination
Plots and Cyber Criminals’ Attacks
among others.”
The group said, “The false treason
alarm raised by the winding-up
Government of Nigeria in the far
away United States of America is
nothing short of directly exposing the
presumed winner of the 25th Feb 2023
Presidential Election in Nigeria, Mr.
Peter Gregory Obi, his Deputy, Mr.
Datti Ahmed and their key supporters
and the presumed runner-up in the
Poll, Mr. Atiku Abubakar and other
key democracy activists to security
agencies’ harassment including
attacks or threats to their privacies
and properties and their fundamental
human rights to life, dignity of human
person and personal liberty such as
unlawful arrest and detention without
trial.
“The outgoing Nigerian
Government has also indirectly
exposed Mr. Peter Obi to Jihadists’
assassination or plots in order to
get him out of the way and deepen
State Jihadism in Nigeria or any part
thereof.
“Dangers further abound
indicating that the above named
political actors and democracy
activists and institutions have been
made vulnerable to attacks by
cybercriminals including dangerous
software viruses and shutting down
of their websites.”
The group maintained that
the FG’s false alarm of treason,
“clearly and gravely run contrary
to the Fundamental Human Rights
constitutionally provided to secure
and protect the affected political
actors and democracy activists:
Lives (Section 33), Personal Liberties
(Section 35), Fair Hearing (Section
36), Privacy (Section 37), Freedom of
Thought, Conscience and Religion
(Section 38), Freedom of Expression
(Section 39), Freedom of Assembly
and Association (Section 40), Freedom
of Movement and Right to Residency
(Section 42) and Freedom from
Discrimination (Section 42).
According to the statement, “These,
in addition to citizens’ rights to political
participation including rights to vote
or be voted for, are also provided in
the African Charter on Human and
Peoples’ Rights of 1981, signed, ratified
and domesticated by Nigeria in 1983.”
Continuing, the group warned that
nothing must happen to Obi, Datti,
Atiku, others, adding “The Nigerian
security agencies and their commanders
must refrain from being used by the
outgoing Buhari/Osinbajo Government
of Nigeria to falsely or criminally label
and molest defenseless Nigerians
including the named political actors and
democracy activists.
Nigeria now divided more than
civil war era – Sanusi
Agency report
The former Governor of the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammed
Sanusi, says Nigeria is currently more
divided than it was during the civil war
between July 1967 and January 1970.
He said Nigeria has been “divided
dangerously” along ethnic and
religious lines, putting the integrity of
public institutions in question.
Sanusi spoke on Tuesday at
the Third Nigerian Leadership
Colloquium in honour of the senior
pastor of Trinity House, Lagos, Ituah
Ighodalo, who turned 62.
“I don’t think Nigeria has been in a
place as difficult as this since the civil
war. We have a challenge of nation
building.
“We have a country that has been
divided dangerously along ethnic
and religious lines.
“We have an economy that is in
the doldrums, and unfortunately,
we seem to be having a dearth of
leadership among political leaders,”
he said.
The former CBN governor said, “In
DMO raises alarm, says FG keeps issuing promissory notes despite rising debt profile
Agency report
The Debt Management Office (DMO) has said
that Nigeria’s debt stock is increasing due to
a combination of several factors, including
borrowings and the continued issuing of
promissory notes by the federal government.
Director General of the agency, Patience
Oniha spoke on the country’s swelling public
debt profile on Sunrise Daily — a Channels
Television’s programme — on Wednesday.
Addressing the country’s total debt, Oniha
said several loans have been contracted from
multilateral and bilaterals, while the federal
government keeps issuing promissory notes
to settle obligations for which it does not
really have the revenue.
A promissory note is a legal instrument, in
which one party promises in writing to pay a
determinate sum of money to the other, either
at a fixed or determinable future time or on
demand of the payee, under specific terms
Obasanjo writes Clerk
of London Court,
“They must refocus their attention
on their stewardship and public
accountability over their deeds and misdeeds
in the past eight years. Nigerians had
expected the Nigerian Minister of Information
to be busy with coordination of the inter-
ministerial, parastatals and departments’
handover accountability especially since 29th
May 2023 is much around the corner.
“Therefore, Peter Obi, Datti Ahmed and
Atiku Abubakar must be protected at all
times by the security operatives to enable
them attend to and conclude their cases before
the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Nigeria must avoid being going up in
unquenchable flames”, the group stated
October 2022, speaking at the Kaduna
Investment Forum, I told Nigerians
that if anyone told them that dealing
with Nigeria post-2023 would be easy,
they should not vote for that person
and I meant it.
“No process is perfect as we have
seen in the United States and the
United Kingdom that they have made
mistakes in choosing their leaders.
But at the very least, the people know
who they are voting for. I think we
need to begin to look at the Electoral
Act much earlier than elections.
“We need to have a system where
you cannot just go to participate in
party primaries without exposing
yourself to public scrutiny. This is
what happens in the UK Labour
Party, others, the US Republican
and Democratic parties. People need
to know who they are voting for. In
other climes, they are compelled by
law to participate in public debates to
discuss issues of policy.
“You can actually get to the
presidency without Nigerians knowing
whether you have the capacity or the
vision to do the job.”
and conditions.
Oniha said although borrowing is an
accepted form to fund government activities,
there should be revenues generated to
support such.
She also said the N77 trillion debt
projections likely to be inherited before
the end of the current administration, can
be surmounted with incentives that need
to be put in place to ensure borrowings
equal balanced expenditure and sustained
revenue.
“There are new borrowings for the
budget, states, and federal government will
borrow, ways and means will be approved
and all,” she said.
“Nigeria’s debt stock is N46.25 trillion. It
includes the debt of the 36 state governments
and the federal capital territory (FCT). The
federal government is responsible for 84
percent to 85 percent of this.
“What triggers debts and why the debt
By Emmanuel Obisue
Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo,
has written a strongly-worded letter to the Chief
Clerk of the Central Criminal Court in London,
seeking clemency for embattled former Deputy
Senate President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike
Ekweremadu alongside his wife.
Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice are currently
incarcerated in the UK until the Friday, May 5 date
slated for their provisional day of sentencing after
being convicted of organ harvesting.
In his letter dated April 3 and addressed to the
Chief Clerk of the Court, Obasanjo affirmed that
while he is not ignorant of the implications of their
actions, he is pleading with the UK to consider
the warm relations it has with Nigeria, and free
the parents, at least for the sake of their daughter
“whose current health condition is in danger and
requires an urgent medical attention”.
“I am Olusegun Obasanjo, a soldier
commissioned into the British Army of the West
African Frontier Force in 1958, and rose to the
rank of a full General in the Nigerian Army. I
received the surrender of the Biafran Army at the
end of the Nigerian civil war. I was military Head
of State from 1976 to 1979 and elected President
from 1999 to 2007.
“It is with great pleasure that I write in respect
of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who I have known
for over two decades. Within this period, I have
followed and watched with keen interest, lke
Ekweremadu’s inspiring career which traversed
private legal practice and public-administration.
“Mr. Chief Clerk, I am very much aware
of the current travails and conviction of lke
Ekweremadu and his wife in the United
Kingdom resulting from their being charged with
conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year old
from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs
for their daughter. I do realise the implications of
their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and
condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane
or civilized society.
“However, it is my fervent desire that for
the very warm relations between the United
Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria; for
his position as one of the distinguished Senators
in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake
of their daughter in question whose current
health condition is in danger and requires an
urgent medical attention, you will use your good
offices to intervene and appeal to the court and
the government of the United Kingdom to be
magnanimous enough to temper justice with
mercy and let punishment that may have to come
take their good character and parental instinct
and care into consideration.
“I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have
learnt from this distressing experience of theirs
to guide their future actions or inactions so they
will continue to be outstanding members of their
community and will continue to contribute fully to
the good of the society in particular and the nation
in general,” Obasanjo wrote.
stock keeps growing is because when the
debt stock is growing, debt service also
grows.
“The debt stock is growing because
Nigeria has been running a budget deficit
for many decades.
“In good and bad times with oil prices,
we have borrowed. We have been running
budget deficits and those deficits are
funded largely by 85 percent to 95 percent
from borrowing and that is cumulative.
These are publicly available data.
“As we borrow each year, it adds up.
So, the annual budget deficits are a major
component. If you look at this year’s budget,
the budget size is N21 trillion, borrowing is
N10 trillion.
“The third part – the government has been
issuing promissory notes to settle obligations
for which it doesn’t really have the revenue.
So, that is why the debt stock has been
growing.”

Delta approves six-
lane road by river
Niger waterfront
By Anastacia Eluwa, Asaba
Delta state government has
approved the construction of
a waterfront by river Niger in
Asaba as well as a six-lane dual
carriage road leading to it.
The Commissioner for
Information, Mr Charles
Aniagwu disclosed this while
briefing newsmen on some of
the decisions reached at the State
Executive Council (Exco) meeting
by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in
Asaba on Tuesday.
According to him, the council
also Okayed approval for
compensation to owners of
buildings and other properties
on the right of way amounting to
about N1.1 billion.
“Before now, we have seen the
need to develop the waterfront
here in Asaba. We also need to pay
compensation to those who own
lands by this waterfront; which
is from this axis (Government
House) to the Anwai River.
“We are also going to construct
a six-lane dual carriage road for
us to be able to drive straight to
the waterfront. All these were
approved at today’s Exco,”
Aniagwu stated.
The commissioner said the
installation of renewable energy
(solar) in government hospitals
across the state was equally
approved to mitigate energy
challenges in the medical facilities.
“We know that our facilities,
especially the hospitals are having
challenges of inadequate power
supply and the cost of running
diesel generators has also
“Consequent upon this
development, we have decided
to embrace renewable energy
sources; this time around, the
solar energy to ensure we have
power in our hospitals,” he said.
He listed other approvals given
by the state Exco to include the
construction of the second phase
of Umunede/Ogwashi-Uku
Road, otherwise known as the
Old Lagos/Asaba Road and the
construction of the perimeter
road of the Asaba International
Airport, Asaba.
Flooding: Anambra lauds UNICEF over PHCs’ renovation, equipping
By Tony Oraeki, Awka
Anambra state government
has commended United
Nations International Children’s
Emergency Fund, UNICEF for
its various intervention projects
targeted at supporting flood-
affected communities in the post-
flood recovery efforts.
The Executive Secretary, State
Primary Healthcare Development
Agency, ASPHCDA, Pharm.
Chisom Uchem was particularly
grateful to UNICEF for the
renovation of nine selected Primary
Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in
flood-ravaged areas of the State,
as well as donation of medical
equipment.
The PHCs’ renovation for post-
flood response was facilitated
by UNICEF through funding
from the Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency,
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Gov Bala appoints former Deputy Gov to head Transition Committee
By Umar Sa’id Moh’d, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed of
Bauchi State has on Wednesday
inaugurated a Transition
Committee that would review the
performance of his administration
in its first term as well as to provide
roadmap for another four years of
his government.
Inaugurating the Committee
at Government House Bauchi,
Gov. Bala
2023 Easter Celebration: Osun Govt ofers free train ride for indigenes
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
In order to make life easier for
his people, the Governor of Osun
State, Senator Ademola Jackson
Nurudeen Adeleke yesterday
approved free train ride for Osun
indigenes in Lagos and other
South West States willing to
celebrate Easter festival with their
families in Osun state.
In a release signed by the
Spokesperson to the Governor,
SIDA, and the Central Emergency
Response Fund, CERF.
The renovated PHCs in five
LGAs were Umunankwo PHC,
Akiliozizor PHC, and Ogbakuba
PHC, all in Ogbaru LGA, Oba PHC
in Idemili South LGA, Ugbenu
PHC and Ebenebe PHC in Awka
North LGA; as well as Eziaguluotu
PHC in Anambra East LGA,
Umueze-Anam PHC, and Iyiora
Abegbu PHC in Anambra West
LGA.
Some of the medical/hospital
equipment donated include; Stand
infusion, double hook-on castors,
and hospital standard bed with
mattress, labour/delivery bed
with access, hospital bed screen
on castors, emergency trolley, and
drawers among others.
Speaking during a supervisory
visit to the benefiting PHCs in
Anambra West and Awka North
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Governor Bala Mohammed said
it is also expected to identify the
challenges recorded in various
Ministries, Departments and
Agencies before the setting up of
the new administration.
Bala Mohammed noted that
members of the Committee were
selected from across the 20 local
government areas with the former
Deputy Governor, Arch. Audu
Sule Katagum as Chairman while
the Governor’s Principal Private
Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the
Imole free train service will depart
the Iddo-Terminus in Lagos on
Thursday, April 6, 2023, by 10am
with stop-over at designated train
stations in Ogun and Oyo States to
pick passengers, and is expected to
arrive at the Nelson Mandela Park
Train Station at Osogbo by 6p.m.
The return trip from Osogbo to
Lagos will be on Monday, 10th
April by 10am.
The release stated that the Imole
respectively, Uchem said the
visit was to monitor status of the
renovation of the PHCs as well
as facilitate delivery of medical
equipment to the facilities.
She said, “The ongoing PHC
renovation and delivery of hospital
equipment will strengthen the
morale of community members on
their commitment toward matters
relating to their health.
“This will however extend to
using the existing community
structures in building up
resilience to mitigate the impact
of emergencies on their health
systems.”
Health Specialist, UNICEF Enugu
Field Office, Dr. Ifeyinwa Anyanyo
lauded government’s efforts and
support of their activities through
provision of enabling environment
for the interventions to thrive.
“State Ministry of Health
(SMOH) and ASPHCDA have
Secretary, Pharmacist Sama’ila
Burga will serve as Secretary of the
Committee.
Other members of the
Committee according to the
Governor include Commissioners,
Local Government Caretaker
Committee Chairmen as well as
Heads of Ministries, Departments
and Agencies.
Gov Bala registered his
appreciation for the opportunity
given to him by the electorates
free train service is designed to
provide relief to citizens of the
state travelling home to celebrate
with their loved ones, adding that
the administration of Governor
Adeleke will not relent in offering
free train service for indigenes
during festive periods.
The release therefore, enjoined
citizens to avail themselves of this
opportunity to visit the state and
celebrate with their families and
loved ones.
been key towards facilitating
availability of relevant State
Programme Managers in
providing technical support to fast-
track interventions, programme
planning, implementation and
monitoring.
“The support of the government
has also been critical in convening
community stakeholders at various
stages of community engagement
and participation,” she said.
Also on his part, Contractor
in charge of renovation at
Comprehensive PHC Umueze-
Anam, Anambra West, Engr.
Emmanuel Okoye disclosed
that the centre was among those
affected by the 2022 flooding.
He said, “We are making
appreciative progress and
hopefully, in the next week we
should be able to deliver the job
which was given to us by UNICEF
and the state health sector.”
9
News
in the state to serve the state for
a second term and assured that
he would consolidate on the
achievements recorded by his
administration.
Speaking on behalf of the
Committee, the Chairman, Arch.
Audu Sule Katagum appreciated
the Governor for the appointment
and expressed commitment to
ensure a successful transition.
The Committee has three weeks
to submit its report.
Court sacks LP
National Chairman,
Secretary, Treasurer,
others
By Kenneth Atavti
A High Court of the Federal
Capital Territory FCT has issued
an order restraining the National
Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr
Julius Abure, National Secretary,
Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim and two
others from parading themselves
as National Officers of the party.
Others stopped from parading
themselves as National Officers
are the National Organizing
Secretary, Mr Clement Ojukwu
and one other.
Justice Hamza Muazu issued the
restraining order on Wednesday
in Abuja while ruling in ex-parte
application argued by a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Chief
James Ogwu Onoja.
Onoja had in the application
informed the court how the
restrained national officers
allegedly forged several
documents of the FCT High
Court to carry out unlawful
substitutions in the last general
elections.
Among the documents were
the receipts, seal and affidavits
of the Court to carry out criminal
activities.
The senior lawyer who tendered
several documents confirmed
to the Judge that the Chief
Registrar of the Court wrote the
Labour Party to disown several
documents used for the alleged
criminal activities by Abure and
three others.
Onoja said that following
their indictment by police
investigation, the four people are
to be arraigned in court adding
that warrants for their arrest have
already been obtained.
In a brief ruling, Justice Muazu
held that the application and the
supporting affidavits have a good
case for the request to be granted.
The Judge subsequently ordered
that the four people should
immediately stop parading
themselves as National Officers of
the Labour Party.
10 Thursday, April 6, 2023

Politics
Politics Complete
constituency
projects before end
of tenure, group
advises lawmakers 11

NEWS INTERVIEWS COMMENTARIES ANALYSES FEATURES

Kogi PDP Stakeholders again urge Atiku to stop party list manipulation
By Okechukwu Jombo
Kogi state peoples
Democratic party PDP
stakeholders has again
called on Vice President
Atiku Abubakar to
intervene in the alleged
manipulation of list
of delegates for the
Governortorial primary
of the party
PDP party chieftain
Faruk Adejo Audu who
led other party stalwarts
to a press conference in
Abuja said
“Our major opponent
in the election is our
party itself, the people in
this national Secretariat
and some leaders of the
party who are notorious
for peddling interests.
We were very happy
that our flagbearer, has
responded to allegations
and criticisms that he
is not behind those
manipulations
. He has said that he’s
not involved with the
manipulations and that
he has no preferred
candidates in Kogi state
governorship race but
Atiku
he must go beyond
those words.
We know that Sen.
Abdul Ningi is his boy.
We shall not agree that
Abdul Ningi will come to
Kogi state and run away
with result sheets and
begin to write strange
names as delegates. If
he doesn’t know then
we are telling him that
the person responsible is
Abdul Ningi and Ningi
is his boy.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
as our flag bearer is
the leader of the party
today. Atiku Abubakar
should call Abdul Ningi
or anyone to order today
for the right thing to be
done.
This is what pushed
Peter Obi out of PDP and
this cost us so much in
this election. If Peter Obi
were in PDP, whether
he was running mate or
not, we would not have
lost Eastern Nigeria,
which was naturally our
catchment area. They did
a delegate election and
this Secretariat changed
the names of delegate
list of Anambra state,
and Peter Obi faces with
disgrace in that election,
because strange people
were brought into the list
in Anambra state, Peter
Obi left the PDP and today
we are at the mercy of the
court and INEC.
If you go and manipulate
the Congress list, so that
you can award easy victory
to one of the candidates,
what do you intend to do
with the tickets.
When you manipulate
crudely in such a one single name among
primitive manner, what
do you intend to do with
the tickets. Who will
come and work for you
when you didn’t win the
primary
Possibly there could be
an agreement between
them with some people
that they don’t want PDP
to win our state, that
could be the only reason.
The person they are going
to give the ticket will use
be trading and collecting
money from people, the
he will be pocketing the
whole money and at the
end of the election, he will
be richer than he went in”
On Appeals Committee:
he said “What we have
discovered so far is that
integrity does not work
when it comes to party.
We do not believe that
Appeals Committee has
the capacity to reject the
will of Atiku Abubakar.
All we are asking for
is that Atiku Abubakar
should in the name of
God, should go beyond
denial and ensure that not
delegates in changed. The
names allocated to Dino
is 185. That is the known
ones. If you want to give it
to Dino, then don’t sell the
forms” He stressed

My Statement On INEC’s Uploading Of Results Twisted – Lai Mohammed

By Agency Report
Minister of Information
and Culture, Lai Mohammed,
has refuted an online report
credited to him that the
Independent National
Electoral Commission
(INEC) deliberately withheld
the real-time upload of
presidential election results
from polling units.
Making clarification on
Wednesday, in Washington
DC, while reacting to the
report published on some
online platforms, Mohammed
said it was “irresponsible and
reckless” to deliberately
twist his statement.
Mohammed said
his statement was
unambiguous and it was
wrong for any media
platform to have twisted it,
to serve its own interest.
His words: “This is
irresponsible and reckless
journalism. The truth of
the matter is that one of
the major problems in the
polity today is a section of
the media.
“These are people who
cannot just believe that
the Labour Party or the
opposition did not win the
election.
“They convinced
themselves that the All
Progressives Congress
(APC) will lose the election.
As a result of this, there is
nothing you want to say or
do, they will find a way to
twist it and make it what
they want it to look like.
“What I said was that,
during the election, there
was a technical glitch and
as a result of this and for
INEC to protect the data,
it suspended uploading of
the results.
“INEC immediately set
up a technical team to look
into what went wrong and
simultaneously floated
another platform.
“Of course, Premium
Times has its agenda.
They inserted the word
“deliberately” and omitted
the phrase that it was in
order to protect the sanctity
of the data.
“They make it look like
INEC deliberately refused
to upload the results.”

Governor-elect Alia vows to broker peace between Fulani, Benue residents

By Lanre Oloyede
Benue State Governor-elect,
Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on
Wednesday, said he would
broker peace between Benue
residents and Fulani herders
community when sworn in as
governor.
The governor-elect, who fell
short of stating that he would
revisit the anti-open grazing
policy already in place,
wondered where the Benue
and Fulani community fell
apart, leading to endless crisis
and loss of lives.
He made the pledge
when he visited President
Muhammadu Buhari in the
Presidential Villa Abuja, in the
company of former governor
of the state, and current
Minister of Special Duties,
George Akume.
Alia described the recent
election that produced him as
largely transparent, attributing
the feat to President Buhari.
According to him, there are
no perfect elections anywhere,
but the Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC, may have succeeded
in conducting a near-perfect
election which could be built
upon going forward as a
nation.
Nigerian Pilot recalls that
Fr. Alia, on the platform of
the ruling All Progressive
Congress, APC, emerged
victorious in the just
concluded gubernatorial
election in the state.
 Thursday, April 6, 2023 11
Politics
Complete constituency projects before end of tenure, group advises lawmakers
By Golok Nanmwa,Jos
Group operating under
the aegis of Nigerian
Legislative Watch, has
advised members of the
9th National Assembly
to complete all ongoing
constituency projects
in their constituencies
before the expiration of
thier tenure.
Executive Director of
the group Ms Amina
Abdullahi, gave the
advice in a statement on
Wednesday in Jos.
Abdullahi, who
accused the lawmakers
of colluding with
Ministries, Department
and Agencies (MDAs),
called on the incoming
10th national assembly
to toe the line of honour
when inaugurated.
‘’We have notice per
time the non patriotic
conduct of some
legislators in Nigeria in
terms of subverting the
confidence reposed on thwart the proper execution draw the attention of the projects and bringing it to the country being robbed
them by their distinct of constituency projects. general public and the public glare. by its elected officials . “
constituency in the ‘’The persistent infractions reputable legislators to She called on MDAs ‘’We call the attention of
face of non execution, by lawmakers and some ensure the completion of who collude with some the general public to join
non-completion, government officials in the constituency projects,’’she legislators to execute us in this drive toward
shoddy completion and execution of constituency said. shoddy projects for the ending the diversion or non
diversion of constituency projects most be condemn The executive interest and benefit of the completion of constituency
projects originally meant by all well meaning director commended all Nigerians projects in any part of the
for the constituency they Nigerians in the interest of the Constituency and ‘According to her “We country.
represent. putting the country on a Executive Projects call on the members of the ‘’Our interest is to mold
‘’The Nigerian progressive path. Tracking Initiative incoming 10th assembly the Legislative arm into
Legislative Watch have ‘’So, the leadership of of the Independent to brace up we and ensure a meaningful vehicle for
it on good authority that the Nigerian Legislative Corrupt Practices and the right thing is done achieving the required
some legislators have Watch with its National other Related offences when they come on board national progress and
found it convenient to secretariat in Abuja, have Commission (ICPC) for because we will no longer development,’’she further
collude with MDAs to unequivocally resolve to tracking constituency fold our arms and watch added.

Why I want to be Senate President – Ndume

By Lanre Oloyede
Ali Ndume, a former
Senate Leader and senator
representing Borno
South Senatorial district,
has disclosed why he’s
contesting to become the
next Senate President.
In a statement on
Wednesday, the Borno
South Senator kicked
against zoning of
the Senate President
seat, stressing that the
fairness of the zoning
arrangements would race for Senate Presidency
determine the outcome of his because of my experience.
pursuit. “The APC leadership
He faulted the decision of did not take any position
the APC to insist on zoning during the presidential
arrangements for positions primary election. Aspirants
in the National Assembly from all geopolitical zones
while such was ignored participated in the exercise.
during the presidential “Senators should be
primary election. allowed to choose a
According to Ndume: competent person among
“Subject to the position of the them that has adequate
party (APC), and the fairness legislative and managerial
of such arrangements, I experiences to lead the
intend to throw my hat in the Senate.”

10th NASS: Parliamentary Group endorses Senator Abdulaziz Yari for Senate President
By Kenneth Atavti
The Parliamentary
Lobby Network in Arewa
(PARLNETWORK) has
thrown its weight behind
Senator Abdulaziz Yari for the
race of Senate Presidency in
the 10th National Assembly
for rapid development of
Nigeria.
The National Convener
of the Group of Principal
Parliamentary Aide, Hon.
Salisu Sabo, who made
the Endorsement in a
press statement issued in
Abuja, said another strong
contendant has joined the
race.
Hon. Salisu Sabo, said
Senator Yari is not only
the most qualified for
the exalted office, but
committed to national
development among the
aspirants.
According to him, the
party’s leadership and its
President-elect, Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu should without
hesitation affiirm Senator
as Senate President for
credibility.
Harping on national
interests of peace, stability
and unity, Yari be appointed
with the position of the
Senate President.
The National Convener
specifically described
Senator Yari a seasoned
leader who is not only
widely respected by
political leadership of
Nigeria, but also a man
known on the basic
principles of inclusivity,
collective prosperity, and
consultative leadership.
“Senator A.A. Yari is not
only known as a green horn
in the Executive leadership
of Nigeria. To a very large
extent, he is also revered
as a leader who naturally
commands respect,
and recognition for his
Parliamentary leadership
prowess, and for his awe-
inspiring ability to manage
people of all ages, social
and political strata.
“But most importantly
because of his wealth of
experience in the Senate,
leadership skills and good
relationships with all parts
of the country spread across
all the state capitals of the
federation,” he declared.
12
Politics
Hon. Gagdi meets Abia Governor-elect, gets
backing of over 100 new member-elect
By Aaron Ossai
As the race for House
of Representatives
Speakership position
gathers momentum up,
a front runner in the
race, Hon. Yusuf Adamu
Gagdi has commenced
open consultations with
relevant stakeholders
across party lines as he
met with the Abia State
Governor-elect, Dr Alex Gagdi
Otti in Lagos to sell his
candidacy.
This is coming after the the Plateau State House
Senate moves to
establish FCT Sports
Commission
By Olugbenga Salami
Senate on Wednesday set
machinery in motion for the
establishment of a sports
commission in the Federal
Capital Territory, FCT, just has in the past weeks
like some state governments. toured round some states
Towards this end, a bill
for an Act to establish the
FCT Sports Commission,
sponsored by Senator Philip
Aduda (PDP FCT), has scaled
through the second reading
on the floor of the upper
legislative chamber.
Senator Aduda said that
the commission, when
established will be charged
with the responsibility of
administering, encouraging
and developing sports and
games in the FCT.
He added that the the
bill, if assented to by the
president, will encourage the
development, organization
and participation in sports in
Abuja
The lawmaker further
informed that the commission
will co-ordinate and integrate
efforts to raise the standard
of performance in sports as
well as promote co-operation
with other sports bodies,
their physical fitness and
general well-being.
The commission is also
expected to organize, assist
financially the participation
in sports at inter-state,
national and international
levels, provide and maintain
sports centers and facilities
for the training of Nigerians
as instructors and organizers
of sports.
Senator Aduda further
stated that the bill will
bring FCT sports to be in
line with international best
practice in the areas of sports
administration.
After deliberation, the
bill is referred to Senate
Committee on Sports for
further legislative actions
and to report back in four
weeks.
former Deputy Speaker of
of Assembly, rounded
off a series of private
engagements with the
ruling Party leaders
and caucuses across the
country seeking their
support.
Hon. Gagdi, having
been described by many
stakeholders as a man who
moves with less noise,
across the federation with
lawmakers and party
members drumming
support for the lawmaker.
During the state tour, he
was accompanied by 12
Honourable members.
Speaking to Journalists
in Abuja on Wednesday,
Hon. Gagdi who
currently chairs the
House Committee on
Armed herdsmen intensify attack in Benue, kill 6 in Apa, Otukpo LGAs
By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
BARELY two days after suspected
armed herdsmen invaded a
church, killed one worshipper
and abducted three others in
Logo Local Government Area, the
pastoralists have struck in Apa
and Otukpo Local Government
Areas, killing six people.
The communities said to be most
ravaged by the attack in Apa Local
Government Area include Ikobi,
Ugbobi, Atakpa,Akpete, Edikwu,
Oiji, Ijaha, Odugbo and Omogidi.
According to sources, scores,
including a traditional ruler, Chief
Elaigwu Adanu, were killed in
a spate of days as a result of the
attacks.
Report from Igbobi in Apa
LGA indicated that the suspected
herders stormed the community
and shot indiscriminately at
the villagers and abducted a
community leader who was later
killed.
The National Chairman of
Ikobi community development,
Akpoko Eche told newsmen in a
telephone chat that the suspected
herdsmen had been terrorising the
area since January this year.
Eche who is also a legal
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Navy said he has taken
the consultations across
party lines, meeting
with stakeholders of
opposition parties with
a view to building a
consensus ahead of the
June inauguration.
He disclosed that in
just two public outings
between Tuesday and
Wednesday, he has scored
a milestone getting the
support of Dr. Otti and
those of other Labour
Party members-elect.
Speaking further, the
lawmaker also said he
moved from Lagos to
the Coal City of Enugu,
South East Nigeria where
he met with the Labour
Party Governorship
Candidate, Chief Chijioke
Edeoga and other party
stakeholders, as well as
Members-elect from the
practitioner said, “There was
an attack at Igbobi community
which is adjacent to Ikobi, the
community leader was adopted
and killed along with two other
persons.
“The attackers are suspected
herdsmen, if you like call them
bandits or unknown gunmen
whatever they are but they are
killers. Infact they started this
way back on 17th of January this
year, so it is a renewed attacks.
“It has been a routine, almost
every year at this dry season
they come back and attacked
people, maimed and raped
women and destroy their farm
crops and houses.
“So it has been a routine all
this while.But this year’s own
is colossal because they have
wiped out almost 20 villages if
not more.
Also the paramount ruler of
Idoma nation, His Royal Majesty,
John Elaigwu has raised the
alarm of incessant killings of his
subjects by suspected herders.
In a statement issued through
his media aide, Onuminya
Odoba, the royal father said,
“There have been a series of
state.
“In as much as I’m
aspiring to be the
speaker of the House
of Representatives for
the 10th Assembly. I
equally want to follow
the modus operandi of
my campaign strategy
where I have itinerary
of activities and by the
special grace of God in
the next two weeks, I
will unveil to you the
array of commitment
and activities that I’m
going to do in addition
to what I have done
so far, which is silent
consultation with all
stakeholders of different
platform in terms of
political parties and
citizens of this country
that have a stake in
decision making of
whom becomes the
speaker.
“Yesterday I a lot of things motivated
commenced my public
engagements in which
I visited Lagos to meet
with the Governor-
elect of Abia State
and members of the
Labour Party. Abia
has seven members
from the Labour
Party in the House of
Representatives. From
there I flew to Enugu
coordinated hostilities and
violent attacks within the
farming communities of Benue
South, especially but not limited
to Apa/Agatu corridor.
“The assailants are suspected
herdsmen and cattle rearers
who visit farms with hundreds
of cows, destroying crops, and
livelihoods, maiming, raping,
and killing innocent citizens
forcing many to leave their
ancestral homestead.
“These recent attacks which
have claimed not less than 75
lives and displaced thousands
from their homes and businesses,
unfortunately, brutally claimed
the life of the Chief of Igbobi in
Apa LGA yesterday, 3/4/2023”,
the statement read in parts.
But the Miyeitti Alla Cattle
and Breeders Association of
Nigeria, MACBAN in the state
said those carrying out attacks
on Apa LGA were not known to
them.
The association scribe,
Ibrahim Galma who spoke
to newsmen on the phone on
Tuesday said, “We don’t have
people (herdsmen) in Apa we
don’t know them we don’t have
to engage and have
interaction with the
state party chairman
of the Labour Party, as
well as the governorship
candidate of the Labour
Party in Enugu state.
“Engaging a Governor
who has a majority
in the House of
Representatives in terms
of members-elect is
important. Particularly
in the House of
Representatives,
yesterday was the first
public engagement I
had but silently I have
visited 24 governors
across the country but
since I have commenced
the public engagement, I
will increase the speed.
“Going forward,
you will see more of
my interactions with
stakeholders across the
country. On motivation,
me, this is my second
time in the House of
Representatives, even
the first time I was able to
sponsor 12 bills among
them Mr. President was
elected to six. Check and
see if you can find any
member that has funded
12 bills out of which six
have been assented to.”,
he added
their leaders and we don’t know
where they come from.
On the attack in Otukpo LGA,
a local who identified himself as
Sunny told newsmen on phone
on Wednesday that the herders
launched attack on Umogidi,
Entekpa Adoka District in
Otukpo Local Government Area
of Benue State.
According to Sunny, “Those
herders came into our village
yesterday (Tuesday) evening and
they shot sporadically which led
to people to flee the community.
At the time they left, three dead
bodies were recovered.”
He added that one of the boys
killed was a PDP agent in the last
election.
When contacted, Chairman of
Otukpo local government, Hon.
Bako Eje confirmed the attack
and the killing of the three.
He explained that herders
had been terrorising the people
of the area since the past one
month.
His words: “For over a month
now, they have been terrorizing
our people in that axis, from
(Igili) to Umuogidi across
Enetekpa ward.
 Thursday, April 6, 2023 13

Benue civil service has collapsed, Gov-elect Fr Alia worries
By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
The governor-elect
of Benue State, Rev.
Fr. Hyacinth Alia has
lamented how the state
defeated in all forms,
saying that life of civil
service has collapsed and
being in Intensive Care
Unit (ICU) but that he has
come to infuse life into it
and keep it moving.
Fr Alia also said that
Benue being an agrarian
state is capable of feeding
the nation, assuring that he
would revive agriculture
when he assume office.
Speaking to State House
correspondents after
meeting with President
Muhammadu Buhari at
the Presidential Villa,
Abuja, Fr. Alia said that he
was at the seat of power
on a friendly visit.
The governor-elect
bothered that workers in
the state are being owed
Alia
backlog of salaries, pension
and gratuity.
Asked whether he will
probe the governor Samuel
Ortom led administration,
against the backdrop of
his letter to the Benue
Investment Property
Company, warning them
of financial transactions with
the incumbent governor, Alia
said:
“I haven’t looked at the
books, so I wouldn’t want to
be quite preemptive. Once I’m
sworn in, I know that what the
good people of Benue want is
progress and development.
And there’s so much that
we need to put on track for
things to work. Benue state
is an agrarian zone and so
we must focus on agriculture
and upgrade it.
“Benue is very capable of
feeding the whole nation,
so we are not just the food
basket of the nation by name
and I am hoping that we will
up our game in agriculture
and take care of the rest as
well.
“It is sad that the life of
civil service in the state is
near collapse, it’s in the ICU,
so I just need to get in there
and infuse life in it and keep
it moving.
“We have a lot of backlog
of unpaid salaries, pensions
and gratuities. So, already I
got much on the desk to keep
a good focus on and I remain
hopeful that I am going to do
just that.”
Alia, who was elected
on the platform of the All
Politics
Progressives Congress
(APC), commended
President Buhari for making
a firm decision for the
elections to take place.
He noted that although
people were expecting a
perfect election, it may
not have been perfect but
a number of areas in the
country recorded a near
perfection in the outcome of
the results
According to him, “For
someone to feel that we
have never made the stride
in the right directions I think
that would be flaw of logic.
So, we have done so much
and I remain quite grateful.
My visit is a solidarity visit
and President leaves office
in a matter of months, I
came to wish him well. He
has done so much for the
nation. Remember, I am a
Catholic priest and I prayed
for all of us too and shared
the blessings with him too.”

‘Happy Hour’ concept not encouragement for laziness – Akwa Ibom senator-elect
By Okechukwu Jombo
The senator-elect for Akwa
Ibom South Senatorial
district, Dr. Ekong Sampson,
has said that the idea
behind ‘Happy Hour’ as
propounded by the state
governor-elect, Pst Umo
Eno, was not in any way an
encouragement for laziness
and indolence, but for those
who work hard and need a
rest.
Recalled that the ‘Happy
Hour’ proposition by the
Akwa Ibom Eno, during
his recent media interaction
in the state, had been
widely misrepresented
and misinterpreted in the
social media space, with
many linking the concept
as an open declaration for
alcoholism and revelry.
Speaking on Tuesday
while cutting the tape to
commission and open the
doors to Posh Events and
Party, a multifaceted event
planning outfit located
in Uruan Street, Uyo, the
senator-elect said the
concept of the ‘Happy
Hour’ was actually a call
for people to arise and
get something doing after
which they can spare
some time to unwind,
as is observed in most
developed societies.
He said “Happy hour
simply means imbibing the
philosophy of hard work
and then, a deserving rest.
It’s truly for those who
work hard”.
Dr Sampson lauded
the progenitors of the
outfit, Mr and Mrs
Ndiana Thompson, for
imbibing the true Dakkada
spirit preached by the
state Governor Udom
Emmanuel and Eno in
setting up the facility,
adding that the venture
would continue to grow
in leaps and bounds into
other subsidiaries.
Responding, the host,
Ndiana Thompson lauded
Dr Sampson for always
identifying with the
progress and development
of his people. He expressed
appreciation to the Senator-
elect for sparing time to
grace the launch, despite
his busy schedule.

Kwankwaso says 2023 presidential election didn’t reflect people’s will

Kwankwaso said the
election could have been
cancelled if it had taken place
in a more advanced country.
The New Nigeria Peoples
Party (NNPP) presidential
candidate, Senator Rabiu
Kwankwaso, has claimed
that the just-concluded
presidential election didn’t
reflect the choice Nigerians
made at the poll.
The former Kano State
governor finished a distant
fourth in the race as Aswiaju
Bola Tinubu of the All
Progressives Congress (APC)
ran away a winner with over
8.7m votes.
The Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku
Abubakar, finished second
while his Labour Party
counterpart, Peter Obi
finished third in the hotly-
contested election.
But, speaking at the first
post-2023 election meeting
of the NNPP National
Executive Council, on
Thursday, March 30, 2023,
Kwankwaso argued that
the election could have
been cancelled if it had
taken place in a more
advanced country.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said the election
“is not a reflection of the
minds of Nigerians,”
while condemning the
ruling APC for allegedly
manipulating the process
to its advantage.
Kwankwaso, who led
the NNPP to win one
governorship seat as well
as several state and national
assembly seats despite
joining the party less than
a year before the elections,
charged members and
leaders of the party to work
harder ahead of the 2027
election cycle.
Kwankwaso’s words:
“We have four years to
reposition the party to
deliver positive change to
Nigerians.
“We joined this party
barely one year ago, but
with the performance we
have seen, I believe we
should all congratulate
ourselves.
“We have done well
and what is even more
important is that almost
everybody now believes
that the NNPP is a party for
the future.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Immediately after this
election, some people
visited me to say that now,
we have seen the light and
before 2027, they are going
to join our party.
“The challenge of the time
is very critical because this
is the first time in the history
of this country where we
have a party, especially
after the establishment of
the two parties across the
country, that within the
shortest possible time, had
this kind of popularity
based on the integrity, hard
work and commitment to
this country.
“I believe it is time we
congratulate ourselves
and also tighten our
seatbelts to go back to our
constituencies and work
much harder.
“I also believe that
now, we have more
years to strategize and
push forward the party
so that more people are
accommodated as members
and leadership at various
levels of the party; even
in terms of number and
quality so that Nigerians
can have the opportunity to
have a positive change that
our party, the NNPP stands
for in this country.”

The pilots who ejected underwater and lived
On 13 October 1954, a Royal
Navy aviator called Bruce
MacFarlane took off from the
deck of the British aircraft carrier
Albion, somewhere in the
Mediterranean. Moments later his
plane plunged into the water in
front of the ship.
MacFarlane was flying a heavy
and powerful aircraft called the
Westland Wyvern, an attack
fighter powered by an enormous
engine, which drove two contra-
rotating propellors at the front
of the aircraft, each spinning in a
different direction.
The Wyvern had had a troubled
development and had only
entered service the year before.
Albion’s cruise, which had started
in September, had identified a
serious problem. Taking off, the
Wyvern would be subjected to
high g-forces which momentarily
starved the engine of fuel, causing
what is known as a “flame out”.
The Wyvern, weighing more
than seven tonnes without fuel or
weapons, was not a natural glider.
During this first deployment,
several Wyverns were lost off the
bow of the carrier after taking off.
But MacFarlane’s accident was
something different.
Despite being powered by
propellors, the Wyvern was a
product of the jet age, and was
one of only a few non-jet aircraft to
feature an ejection seat – vital for
pilots whose aircraft plummeted
into the water just a few seconds
after coming off a carrier’s desk.
MacFarlane had no time to
activate his seat before his Wyvern
plunged into the water and the
24,000-tonne aircraft carrier bore
down onto the submerged plane.
The ship cut the submerged
Wyvern in two as it ploughed over
it. He waited for what must have
Thursday, April 6, 2023
been agonising seconds for the
carrier to pass before he was able
to jettisoned the plane’s canopy.
Then he pulled the handle… and
nothing happened.
MacFarlane pulled the handle
again, and this time the seat
exploded into action. According
to a report on the incident in
the aviation website Hush-Kit,
the pilot “now found himself
tumbling in the maelstrom of
water under the Albion’s hull.
As if that wasn’t enough, he soon
realised he was being dragged
deeper under the water”.
It continued: “Somehow, able
to free himself from the tangle of
webbing that was his parachute,
he then discarded his dinghy pack
and began to rise agonisingly
slowly towards the surface.”
MacFarlane used his seat in
a way the designers had never
intended, and became the first
ever pilot to successfully eject
from an aircraft underwater.
Ejector seat technology was in
its infancy at the time, and only
a few dozen successful ejections
had taken place by this point.
The seat’s designers, a British
company called Martin-Baker,
had not even considered whether
the seats would still work in such
conditions.
“You don’t want to eject
underwater because essentially,
you’re turning your aircraft into
a bomb,” says Joe Coles, Hush-
Kit’s editor. “The explosive charge
dissipates into the atmosphere
normally.” Pilots who eject from
the water’s surface have a whole
set of other challenges, including
the disorientation of suddenly
being underwater, and a chance
of decompression injuries – the
“bends” – if they rise to the
surface too quickly.
“In the 1950s the early carrier jets
are using really terrible engines
and they’re just falling out the sky
all over the shop, flopping off the
deck with insufficient power,”
says Coles. The high accident rate
of many of these aircraft spurred
development of improved
ejection seats more likely to save
lives.
The Westland Wyvern had
serious engine problems caused
by the high g-forces encountered
when launching off a carrier
(Credit: Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
The Westland Wyvern had
serious engine problems caused
by the high g-forces encountered
when launching off a carrier
(Credit: Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
Martin-Baker eventually built
a version of its Mark 6 seat
specifically for the carrier-based
Blackburn Buccaneer. “The
idea is that you get compressed
air to do the work – you don’t
want explosives underwater,”
says Coles. “So, with the Mark
6, you blast the canopy off with
compressed air, and you push the
pilot up with compressed air.
“When the aircraft reaches a
certain depth underwater, the
aircraft knows it’s there and
initiates the underwater escape
procedure… the plane knows
and it’s like, ‘Right let’s get this
guy out. We don’t want to be
underwater’.”
MacFarlane’s escape was
followed, a decade later, by a US
Navy aviator’s successful ejection
from an A-7 fighter which had
landed incorrectly during a night
exercise and left hanging off the
edge of the deck, its tail hook
caught on the landing wire. The
pilot, Russ Pearson, later wrote
for the naval magazine The Hook
(via The Ejection Site): “In less
than a heartbeat, the plane was
precariously perched on the edge
of the flight deck… To eject now
would be suicidal – the trajectory
of the ejection seat’s rocket motor
would send the seat skipping
across the water like a flat rock on
a farm pond.”
The A-7’s engine cycled down
until it was moving too slowly to
maintain electrical power. “The
plane tumbled off the flight deck
and plunged downward some
60ft [18m] prior to impacting the
Pacific – the sensation was like
falling into a black hole,” Pearson
wrote.
US Navy training had taught
pilots that the average plane
would sink 10ft (3m) every
second, and they would only
have about 10 seconds to escape
before it was too late. Hudson
pulled the handle and was blasted
into the dark water, the force
knocking the oxygen mask from
his face. Disoriented, he struggled
to work out up from down – and
was saved by the flickering lights
of landing torches the carrier’s
flight-deck directors had thrown
into the water. Pearson was
almost dragged back under by
his partially opened parachute
and only managed to inflate his
life preserver by bracing against
his plane, which was floating just
underneath the surface.
Another decade later, a third
pilot – this time from India –
also managed to escape from
his downed aircraft after it had
crashed into the sea after taking
off. Such incidents, however,
remain very rare.
If you want to see just how
difficult it is to eject from an
aircraft underwater, this US Navy
instructional video from the 1960s
shows the process. The calm tone
14
Life
of the narrator’s script belies the
incredibly stressful situation,
as a pilot ejects from a dummy
cockpit in a test tank surrounded
by rescue divers. Interestingly,
the video warns pilots not to eject
from their aircraft if it is floating
on the surface – the ejection seat
technology wasn’t safe to use
from a stationary aircraft (so
called “zero-zero”), unlike recent
models. The video says falling 80ft
(25m) onto water is no different to
falling from the same height on to
concrete – a chilling thought.
The video’s fireside-chat tone
is at odds with footage of a pilot
escaping in slow motion from the
submerged cockpit (“The forces of
ejection might cause a momentary
blackout… immediately upon
collecting your wits, disconnect
yourself from the seat.”). Though
pilots would have been connected
to an oxygen supply – and not
having to struggle free holding
their breath – the video shows
just how difficult it would be
for pilots to separate themselves
from the seat.
In November 2021, the pilot of
one Royal Navy F-35B fighter had
to eject very close to a carrier soon
after take-off (possibly because
protective engine covers had not
been removed before launch). The
F-35B features a system which
automatically ejects the pilot if it
senses it is about to hit the surface.
It’s a much more sophisticated
version of a system used in a
Soviet jump jet called the Yak-
38, which entered service in the
1970s. The Yak was similar to the
Harriers used by the UK and the
US but had a less powerful, less
reliable engine. If either of its lift
jets malfunctioned, or the plane
rolled more than 60 degrees, the
pilot was automatically ejected.
 Thursday, April 6, 2023 15
PROPERTY

Al Hilal to tempt Messi with £350m-a-

year contract offer

Osimhen has one

eye on Red Devils
Oshoala, Oparanozie, 21 others hit Antalya
camp for Haiti, New Zealand
16 Thursday, April 6, 2023

Sports
Oshoala, Oparanozie, 21 others hit
Antalya camp for Haiti, New Zealand
By Asuelimen Osasuyi
Star forwards Asisat Oshoala
and Desire Oparanozie have
arrived in the camp of Nigeria’s
senior women national team,
Super Falcons ahead of two
friendly matches in the Turkish
city of Antalya.
Serial award-winner Oshoala
has not played for the nine-time
Osi
eye
African champions since the
Women Africa Cup of Nations
finals in Morocco nine months
ago, while barnstorming
forward Oparanozie is linking
up with the squad for the first
time since the Aisha Buhari
Cup Tournament in Lagos in
September 2021.
The arrival of the two respected
markswomen generated
positive vibes at The Sense De
Luxe Hotel camp of the Falcons,
ahead of Friday’s clash with
World Cup debutants Haiti at
the Emir Sports Complex.
Also in camp now are
goalkeepers Chiamaka
Nnadozie, Inyene Etim and
Yewande Balogun, defenders
Onome Ebi, Glory Ogbonna,
Tosin Demehin, Rofiat Imuran
and Ashleigh Plumptre,
midfielders Toni Payne,
Christy Ucheibe, Ngozi Okobi-
Okeoghene, Regina Otu,
Deborah Abiodun and Halimatu
Ayinde, and forwards Esther
Okoronkwo, Gift Monday,
Rasheedat Ajibade and new
invitee Vivian Ikechukwu.
Only defender Michelle Alozie
and forwards Jennifer Echegini
and Uchenna Kanu, all based in
the United States of America,
were still being expected as of
Wednesday evening.
The Super Falcons have
snatched back their winning
mentality following the defeat
of World Cup-bound Costa
Rica at the Revelation Cup
Tournament in Mexico City in
February, and will be in great
mood for Friday’s clash with
the Haitians.
World Cup co-hosts New
Zealand will be next in line for
the Falcons’ fire on Tuesday,
at the Mardan Sports Complex
also in Antalya.

Ladipo blames NFF for Super Eagles,
U-23 poor outing
By Ifeanyi Marcus, Lagos
Following the poor results posted by the
Super Eagles and the U-23 national team,
President General of Nigeria Football
Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo has put
the blame on the door steps of the football
house accusing them of not doing enough to
move the country’s football forward.
The Super Eagles a fortnight ago
scandalously lost 0-1 to Guinea Bissau in
an AFCON qualifying game in Abuja while
their U-23 counterparts got beaten by Guinea
Conakry 2-0 in Rabat, Morocco in the second
leg of their final qualifying fixture for the
Africa U-23 Cup of Nations and Ladipo
believes the poor results would have been
avoided if the football house has taken the
issue of developmental football serious.
“It’s unfortunate that Nigeria is now
struggling against teams that we were
walloping in the past and the most
unfortunate thing is that these teams now
come here to beat us which is the highest
disgrace and we at the Supporters Club are
sad about it.
“The NFF must take the blame because
they refuse to embrace developmental
programme. How can one explain that
we went to the World Cup in 1994, won
Olympic gold in 1996 not talking about
Nations Cup which we’ve won three times
and the various age grade competitions and
suddenly everything went down which is
an indication that something is tactically
wrong with our football.
“Part of the problem is that the NFF
thought they will be using the same crop of
players all the time without realizing that
age is catching up with many of them and
there is no proper replacement.
Ladipo was also of the opinion that
Nigeria should start believing in local
coaches and liaise with National Institute
For Sports to produce quality coaches who
will be saddled with the responsibility
of identifying talents that abound in the
country even as he recommended the sack
of Coach Salisu Yusuf for outliving his
usefulness.
Remo Stars fine N1.75m for breaching NPFL’s rules
Remo Stars football team would have to pay a
fine worth over N1.75 million according to the
Nigeria Professional Football League’s Interim
or choose to appear before a disciplinary panel. Also, the
penalty must be paid within seven business days.
A statement from the IMC read, “For breach of Rule
Management Committee (IMC). B8.21 which is failure to adequately secure match officials
Naija News recalls that the IMC started before, during and after the match leading to the assault on
investigating Remo Stars on Monday after an one of them, the club was fined N500,000 and also directed
assault on a match official during a league game to pay N250,000 to the said Official, Ukah Ndubuisi as
between Remo Stars and Gombe United on compensation.
Matchday 12. “For breach of Rules C.11, three points and three goals
Remo Stars’ general manager, Ekene Adams, were ordered to be deducted from the total points and goals
and other members of the club allegedly assaulted
accrued to the club for the assault on the match official while
the referee on Sunday which forced the league Mr. Ekene Adams identified as the attacker has been banned
game to be suspended at halftime and concluded from all NPFL activities for the rest of the season”.
on Monday. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
After the investigation, Adams and Remo Stars
were found guilty of assaulting the referee and
breaching other rules of the league. Hence, the
IMC suspended the manager for the rest of the
2022-2023 season. While the club was slammed
with a fine worth N1.25 million, and deduction of
three points, and three goals.
According to Davidson Owumi, the NPFL’s
Chief of Operations, who also signed a summary
jurisdiction notice against the Ogun-based club
on Wednesday, the club was also found to have
broken Rule B13.21 by causing disturbances and
interruptions that forced a league game to be called
off, hence, they have to pay another 500,000 fine.
In line with Regulation C.26 of the league, Remo
Stars must submit a written response to the IMC’s
decisions within 48 hours of receiving the notice,
 Thursday, April 6, 2023 17

Sports

imhen has one

e on Red Devils
By Asuelimen Osasuyi
Super Eagles of Nigeria and
Napoli of Italy forward, Victor
Osimhen adjudged to be one
of Europe’s hottest prospects, is
reported to have favours a move
to English giants Manchester
United.
Osimhen is currently enjoying
one of his best seasons to date,
having netted 25 goals in 29
games in the 2022/23 campaign.
The former Golden Eaglets red
hot form has summoned a number
of Europe’s top clubs to keep tabs
on his situation in Naples, with
the Red Devils believed to be the
desired destination.
According to journalist Ben
Jacobs, Osimhen was close to
joining United a couple of years
ago and that he now has one eye
on joining the Premier League
giants.
“When you sign a player and
invest a big fee, which is what
Napoli did, they want a financial
return if they’re to let the player
go.
“But Osimhen dreams of the
Premier League. And I think
Manchester United is more likely
than Chelsea at this point because
Osimhen’s always had one eye on
Manchester United.
“He actually nearly joined them
before moving to Napoli, but did
not because he was not convinced
he did get the game time.”
However, another renowned
agent, Andrea D’Amico has
hailed Nigerian star Victor
Osimhen as the best striker in
the world.
The Italian also stated that
Paris Saint-Germain, PSG, will go
all out to secure the services of
the Napoli striker if Lionel Messi
leaves the French giants for the
Major League Soccer, MLS, at the
end of this season.
D’Amico believes that Osimhen
is better than Manchetser City
marksman Erling Haaland who
is considered by some to be the
best out-and-out striker in the
world.
“Right now, he is the best
striker in the world, even better
than Haaland. But assessments
regarding the market will be
made in the summer.
“I think he won’t lack options,
especially in England even if
PSG can’t be underestimated,
because they could lose an
important player in attack. I think
Messi will go to Miami, but this is
only my feeling.”
.His contract with Napoli will
expire in 2025 having joined the
club from French side OSC Lille for
a club-record fee of €70 million.
100 athletes to represent Nigeria
at World University Games
By Ifeanyi Marcus, Lagos
About 100 students from various
Universities across the country will
represent Nigeria at this year’s World
University Games holding in China in
July this year.
They will participate in seven
sports namely; athletics, swimming,
badminton, judo, taekwondo, table
tennis and tennis.
According to the Acting Secretary
General of NUGA, Chidiebere Ezeani,
In order to enhance ‘Team Nigeria’
outing at the games, the Nigerian
University Games Association
( NUGA) has appointed Red
Sapphire and Integrated Marketing
Communication to source
sponsorship and partnership for the
country’s contingent ahead of the
for
Games.
He said the deal with the company
will add value to the team as they
prepare for the student’s global
sporting event noting that they’re are
expected to coordinate media, public
relations and marketing strategy for
NuGA’s participation at the Games
billed for Chengdu, China.
Over 10,000 athletes from more than
170 countries are expected to compete
for honours at this year’s edition of the
World University Games.
The Games is a multi- sport event that
takes place every two years bringing
together student athletes from around
the world to compete for honours in a
variety of sports.
Meanwhile, as part of preparation
for the Games, the Committee of Vice
Chancellors of Nigerian Universities
comprising of 221 Federal, State and
Private Nigerian Universities led
by Professor Yakubu Ochefu were
hosted by the Chinese Ambassador
to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun in
Abuja where he promised them
that Nigerian contingent will be
treated to the best form of Chinese
hospitality during the Games.
Ighalo leads race
for Golden Boot
award in Saudi
League
By Afolabi Johnson
Forgotten Super Eagles and Al-Hilal striker,
Odion Ighalo is in the race for the Saudi
Professional League Golden Boot Award with
Al Nassr’s Talisca .
Ighalo bagged a brace to fire Saudi Arabia
Pro League title chasing Al Hilal to a 0-2 win
over Al Fahya on Tuesday April 4 and took his
goal tally to 16 goals five ahead of Cristiano
Ronaldo who has 11 goals for Al Nassr.
The Nigerian forward has now scored four
goals in his last two games for , Ighalo scored
both goals as Al hilal beat Al Khaleej in their
last Saudi Arabia Pro League game.
Against Al Fahya, Ighalo opened the scoring
with a neat strike in the additional minutes of
the first half to gift Al Hilal a 0-1 advantage at
the break.
Again, it was Odion Ighalo who found the
back of the net for 0-2. That was enough to
seal a third consecutive win for Al Hilal who
sit third on the Saudi Arabia Pro League table.
Ronaldo and team mate Talisca both scored

Ondo government put Sunshine Stars, Queens up for sale

Ondo State-owned Sunshine Stars
and Sunshine Queens, are for sale
according to the state’s commissioner
for youth and sports development,
Bamidele Ologunloluwa.
In an interview with Crest FM
in Akure, Ondo state capital,
Ologunloluwa said Sunshine Stars
and Sunshine Queens who are
currently competing in the Nigeria
Professional Football League and
the Nigeria Women’s Professional
Football League respectively, will be
sold to interested parties at the end of
the 2022-2023 season.
The sports commissioner asserted
that the clubs needed to be privatized
for proper management, which might
entail the government either fully
ceding control of the clubs or forming
a partnership with investors.
According to Ologunloluwa, the
club will be sold to any company or
individual with a proven track
record.
He claimed that no one had
shown interest in the clubs at
the moment and that the club
was not currently in the market
to prevent distractions since the
season is still ongoing.
“The government is saying we
need the club privatized, that
way the government may be
funding the club, but it’s not
going to be one 100%. Then the
private organizations can come
in and partner with the club”,
the commissioner said.
“If a club like Manchester
United for example says there
is a club in Ondo State called
Sunshine Stars and we want to
have them as our feeder ’s team,
are you saying we are not going
to sell? We will sell immediately.
a brace on Tuesday in their 5-0 away win at
Al-Adalah.
Ronaldo gave his team the lead from the
penalty spot in the 40th minute of the game
after Al-Amri was fouled in the box.
“Not because we didn’t like
Sunshine Stars, because it is
even good for us as a state, it
is good for the boys, for sports
development, because the
government has no business in
business.”
He added, “We just registered
a company now; Ondo Sports
Limited, Sunshine Stars FC,
Sunshine Queens, Risings Stars
put together.
“At the end of the season,
we are going into full-fledged
privatization. It is better for us
as a state, but some people don’t
understand this. Once it happens,
they will thank Mr. Governor.
“People need to understand
that if the right company takes
over Sunshine Stars, there will
be more jobs, nothing like losing
a job.
18
Sports
Al Hilal to tempt Messi with
£350m-a-year contract offer
Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal
are determined to sign
Argentina superstar Lionel
Messi.
The World Cup winner is
out of contract at Paris Saint
Germain in the summer.
Messi, who is likely to
U17 AFCON: Golden
Eaglets to embark
on training tour of
Germany
Nigeria Football Federation
has concluded plans to
have Golden Eaglets
embark on a training tour
of Germany ahead of the
2023 U17 African Cup of
Nations
The 5-time World
champions are among
the 12 countries that will
participate in the biennial
competition slated to hold
in Algeria.
The team under coach
Nduka Ugbade has been
camping in Abuja training
and playing a series of
warm-up games to put the
team in shape.
The Nigerian football
authority is already
working to obtain German
visas for the players and
the technical crew.
leave PSG, may also get
an offer from his longtime
former club Barcelona.
Per Fabrizio Romano,
Messi will be offered £350
million-per-year to join Al
Hilal in Saudi.
He would earn even more
Arsenal open talks with
Frankfurt for Lindstrom
Arsenal have opened talks
with Eintracht Frankfurt
for Jesper Lindstrom. The
young winger has been
impressive this season
and has been watched
consistently by the
Gunners.
Arsenal have
approached Eintracht
Frankfurt about
Lindstrom’s situation
and availability.
It’s suggested the
Germans will sell for
£35m.
Lindstrom, 23, has
scored nine goals and
added four assists in
31 games this season.
Eintracht Frankfurt sit
sixth in the Bundesliga.
The winger has stated
previously of being a big
Liverpool fan.
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Man United made bid
for Amrabat
The agent of Fiorentina
midfielder Sofyan Amrabat
admits a summer move is likely.
It’s been revealed Manchester
United made a late attempt for
the Morocco World Cup hero in
January, while Barcelona and
Liverpool also asked Fiorentina
about a price. However, the
Viola insisted Amrabat would
not be sold in midseason.
Now agent Mohammed
Sinouh says he believes that
a transfer could happen this
summer.
“We received more than
one offer during the winter
window. Including one from
Manchester United, but the
negotiation was not completed.
The president of Fiorentina
(Rocco Commisso) refused to
let him leave at that moment.
He represented a value to the
team, especially after what he
did in the World Cup,” he told
Kora Plus.
“The future? Right now we
have no offers for the summer.
But Fiorentina will listen to the
bids. It’s a promise we got from
the president after he rejected
bids during the winter transfer
market.”
Luis Enrique, De laPena in
London for Chelsea job
with Chelsea directors impressing
them with his assessment of the
squad.
The Independent says he
successfully sold a clear vision
than his rival Cristiano for the team and is now due in
Ronaldo, who nets £177 London to meet with Chelsea
million per year from Al- chiefs face-to-face. He is expected
Nassr. to be accompanied by agent and
Messi would be joining former Barca teammate Ivan de la
Ronaldo in the same league Pena.
for the first time since 2018 Enrique, 52, explained his
if he chooses Al Hilal. plan to establish a high-intensity
Luis Enrique is due in London for system at Stamford Bridge, keen
talks over the vacant manager’s job
to utilise the young players in
at Chelsea.
The former Barcelona and Spain
Chelsea’s squad.
The former Barca striker
coach is a free agent after leaving the
La Roja job at the end of the World
announced only last week an
ambition to return to management
Cup.
Enrique has already held talks
with a move to the Premier
League.
Chelsea to include Pulisic in
offer for Felix
Chelsea are keen to deal in
permanently Joao Felix from
Atletico Madrid.
Despite only arriving in
January, Felix has done enough
to convince Chelsea to seek an
outright transfer, with his loan not
including a permanent option.
Knowing Manchester United
are also interested, Chelsea
hope to convince Atletico to sell
the Portugal international by
including a player in their offer.
The Daily Mail says Chelsea are
willing to include Christian Pulisic
in their proposal.
Given his form, Atletico are
seeking around €100m for Felix
and Chelsea will seek to drive
down their valuation by including
USA captain Pulisic in their bid.
Pulisic’s deal runs to 2024.
19
victoronuoko@gmail.com
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. (Sen.) Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora (2nd right), receiving plaque of NIPSS from the Leader of Delegation/Directing
Staff, AIG Dasuki Galadanchi (right) Hon. Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh (2nd left) and Permanent Secretary
Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Mrs. Monilola Udoh (left), at the Strategic Institutions Study Tour to FMSTI by Participants of the Senior Executive
Course (SEC) 45, 2023 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, yesterday.
Industrialization, Roadmap to National Devt - Mamora
By Eunice Orike
Minister of Science, Technology
and Innovation, STI,Dr. Adeleke
Olorunnimbe Mamora has said that
nations all over the world strive
towards the zenith of industrialization,
climate change mitigation and security
for sustainable development and
growth.
Mamora stated that the nations
are leveraging on the new energy
Order-Green House energy being
embraced by the world empowering
their industrial activities with Green
As World Bank grants Nigeria $800m for
palliatives on petroleum subsidy removal
By Eunice Orike
Minister of Finance, Budget and
National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has
said that the Federal Government has
received $800 million from the World
Bank to provide palliatives to Nigerians
after removal of petroleum subsidy.
Zainab Ahmed, said this to journalists
on Wednesday after the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) meeting in
Abuja. She said the $800 million would
be the first tranche of palliatives to be
disbursed through cash transfers to
about 50 million Nigerians who belong
to the most vulnerable category of
society, The Minister said the Federal
Government had a register of 10 million
households to be taken care of after the
subsidy removal.
“The 10 million households is
BU$IN€SS
ECONOMY
House energy policy which is catalyst
in reducing the menace of climate
change.
The Minister said this during the
visit by the Participants of the Senior
Executive Course SEC, 45 2023
National Institute for Policy and
Strategic Studies NIPSS,held in Abuja
recently.
Mamora explained that Climate
change is a universal issue which every
Country is impacted upon by effect
of industrialization and deployment
of policy measures, to mitigate the
challenges of climate issues.
equivalent to about 50 million
Nigerians. But we also have to raise
more resources to enable us to do more
than just the cash transfers and also
in our engagements with the various
stakeholders. The various kinds of
tasks that we have to do go beyond the
requirement of just giving cash transfers.
Labour, for example, might be looking
for mass transit for its members. So,
there are several things that we’re still
planning and working on, some we can
start executing quickly, some are more
of medium-term implementation.” She
expressed the federal government’s
determination to end the subsidy in
June. The minister said the federal
government was engaging the
Presidential Transition Council (PTC)
and the incoming administration to
with drive the palliative programme.
Thursday, April 6, 2023
&
INSIDE
BUSINESS
Minister of
State for
Budget, Agbah
celebrates
Oshiomhole at
71 20
According to the Minister, meaningful
achievement in industrialization,
climate change and security, would be
achieved if there is sincere commitment
on the application of STI intervention
programmes.
Mamora also said that the Ministry, as
a national custodian of all innovation
matters in Nigeria is poised to transform
developmental paradigm of the country to
knowledge driven industrial hub in Africa
and reference point in the world.
He further said that the Ministry has
made commendable and sustainable FG harps on the
contributions to indigenous industrial
development towards climate adaptation use of standard
and mitigation.
Speaking, the Minister of State, for
Science, Technology and Innovation,
methods
Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh said that the in fertilizer
interest of the Participants of the Senior
Executive Course 45 2023 to interact with production 21
the Management of the Ministry will
enable them to inform the public on the
importance of STI in industrialization and
climate change mitigation.
To this end, Chief Ikoh stated that the
report of the participants of the course will
improve the knowledge inputs and outputs
of various Parastatals, Departments,
and Agencies of government and public
towards green energy revolution and
industrialization which will ensure speedy THE TEAM
socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Onu Okorie - Business Editor
Mrs. Monilola Udoh said that FMSTI is
working assiduously to ensure delivery Kehinde Ibrahim - Money&Capital Market
on the mandates of its seventeen Agencies,
especially in the areas of Industrialization, Palma Ileye - Tourism
Climate change mitigation and Energy
Security in Nigeria and the world in
general.

Minister of State for Budget, Agbah celebrates Oshiomhole at 71
By Onu Okorie
Minister of State for Budget
and National Planning, Prince
Clem Ikanade Agba, has
described a former Edo State
Governor, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole as a dependable
leader in the political struggle
to build a better Nigeria.
L-R, Team Leader Accounting Department, Nigerian Defence Academy(NDA) Kaduna Mr Emmanuel Bamiteko, Lecturer
Accounting Department NDA Dr S.G Joshua and Director Market Development Department, Securities and Exchange
Commission Mr Nestor Ikeagu during the Educational Visit of Nigerian Defence Academy(NDA) Kaduna to the SEC in Abuja
yesterday
FOU ‘C’ intercepts Pangolin, hard drugs, arrests 13 suspects By Kehinde Ibrahim, Lagos allow the excise regime to run its
By Kehinde Ibrahim, Lagos
THE Nigeria Customs Service,
Federal Operations Unit, Zone
’C’ has intercepted five sacks of
pangolin scales, hard drugs and
other contraband worth over
N2.758 billion and arrested 13
suspects.
The Acting Comptroller,
FOU ‘C’, DC Kayode Kolade,
disclosed this while addressing
newsmen during his maiden
press conference in Owerri,
on Wednesday, said that the
Unit also recovered the sum of
N61.467 million from demand
notices raised based on some
infractions discovered, making
a cumulative sum of N2.819
billion within the months under
review.
Kolade who assumed office
on the January 25, said that
the seizures were among his
significant achievements,
saying the Unit also arrested 13
suspects in connection with the
seizures within the period of
January 25 to March 25, 2023.
However, he listed other
seized contraband to include
398 sacks of cannabis sativa
popularly known as Indian
hemp weighing 8,756kg and
2,308 compressed parcels of
same Indian hemp 1kg each
totaling 2,308kg.
“Others were 26 cartons of
CMC Cough Syrup with codeine
100mg containing 2,600 bottles;
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Agba, in a letter, dated
April 4, 2023 to the former
National Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress, APC,
on the occasion of his 71st
birthday, said the occasion
provided an opportunity
to “celebrate you and the
leadership ideals that you
persistently and consistently
MAN backs FG’s decision to halt
N10/litre excise duty on beverages
three units of exotic vehicles all
bulletproof; 931 jumbo bales of
second hand clothing; 484 bags
of smuggled rice; 31 cartons of
various medicaments including
four rolls of ZH tramadol
containing 40 packs; 32 jerry
cans of PMS (25litres each) and
540 pieces of used pneumatic
tyres,” he added.
He said that the successes so
far recorded were in line with
his management mandate
which includes: blockage of
all revenue leakages, trade
facilitation and intensification
of anti-smuggling operations at
various entry points; seaports,
land borders, and Airport
within the Unit’s areas of
jurisdiction in the south/south-
South/East zone.
“After reviewing and
re-jigging our operational
modalities based on the
approved Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP), the unit
lived up to its responsibility
by intercepting various
contrabands with a duty paid
value (DPV) N2.758 billion
between January 25 to March
25, 2023 making it my two
month score card.
“Similarly, based on our
intervention we recovered the
sum of N61.467 million from
demand notices raised based
on some infractions discovered,
making a cumulative sum
of N2.819 billion within the
exemplify.”
The letter, entitled: “Birthday
Greetings” reads: “I heartily
rejoice with and congratulate
you on your 71st birthday,
which comes up today, April 4,
2023.
“This occasion provides
an opportunity to celebrate
you and the leadership ideals
months under review.
“Remarkably, the five sacks
of pangolin scales weighing
413.1kilograme and the
11,064kg of the Indian hemp are
the highest if not arguably the
first seizure of such endangered
species and hard drugs in the
history of Federal Operations
Unit Zone C,” he said.
According to him, effort
towards combatting the
illicit trade on endangered
species is to ensure that
such animals don’t go into
extinction. Hence, he said
Nigeria; a signatory to CITES
(Convention on International
Trade of Endangered Species)
categorizes the scales under
absolute prohibition making
its importation or trade illegal
globally.
He called for improved
serenity and cooperation of all
stakeholders and the general
public to kindly and humbly
comply when stopped for
search and show mutual
maximum respect to field
officers and the Service in
general.
He promised that his officers
would always act professionally
while performing their
statutory responsibilities based
on the approved Standard
Operating Procedures (SOP)
with a touch of a human face
especially as the festive period
nears.
that you persistently and
consistently exemplify.
“You have remained a
dependable leader in the
political struggle to build a
better Nigeria, with our dear
Edo state, where you served as
governor for eight years (from
2008-2016) as a linchpin.
“Your patriotism to Nigeria,
THE Manufacturers Association
of Nigeria (MAN) has applauded
the federal government on its
decision to halt the increase in excise
duty on alcoholic, non-alcoholic
beverages and tobacco.
In a statement made available,
Director General, MAN, Mr Segun
Ajayi-Kadir, also commended the
government’s decision to allow the
2022 – 2024 Federal Government
Sectoral Roadmap to run it’s full
course.
Recall that in the 2021 Finance
Act to fund the 2022 budget, an
excise duty of N10 per litre on
all non-alcoholic, carbonated
and sweetened beverages was
introduced.
Ajayi-Kadir noted that the
apprehension in the concerned
sector necessitated a follow-up
visit to the Minister of Finance,
Budget and National Planning
by a delegation of MAN led by
its President, Otunba Francis
Meshioye, and the outcomes allayed
the fears of MAN.
He stated: The association is
gladdened by the assurances of the
Minister that the 2023 Fiscal Policy
Guidelines and the reconsideration
of the Finance Act 2023 have been
concluded and would be released
immediately.
“In specific terms, she assured
that the guidelines would not
include the proposed increase in
excise duty on Beer, Wines and
Spirits, Tobacco and Non-Alcoholic
Beverage in 2023, but rather
20
Business
which you first demonstrated
about two decades ago as
President of the Nigeria
Labour Congress (NLC),
remains unassailable. The
same goes for Edo, in whose
environment, you have
continued to positively
intervene for the development
of our people and the growth
of the state.
“I must place on record your
monumental contributions
to the growth of our great
party, the All Progressive
Congress (APC), which you
led as national chairman from
2018-2020. You did not only
lead the party to victory in
the 2019 presidential election,
but you also ensured that the
party’s candidates emerged
as presiding officers in the
National Assembly.
“Today, as senator-elect for
Edo North Senatorial District ,
God has decided to order your
political pathway through
the Senate, whose leadership
positions you helped the APC
to fill in 2019 with the right
candidates, and I believe it is
for a purpose that will soon
manifest.
“I pray that the Almighty
God will continue to
strengthen you as you do not
tire in providing dependable
and sharply-focused
leadership to us in Edo State
and others across the country
who look up to you for
inspiration.
full course from 2022 to 2024 as
programmed in the Roadmap by
the Federal Government in 2022.
“This comes as a huge relief to our
members across the federation and
will signpost the administration’s
support for the sustenance of
manufacturing in Nigeria on this
score.
“Furthermore, MAN received the
understanding of the government
on the introduction of 0.5%
Import surcharge, which is meant
to fulfill Nigeria’s obligations
to the continental agreement in
the implementation of Africa
Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA) agreement, as well as the
promised intervention on resolving
the logjams in the interpretation of
the Tin Plate, HS Code 7210. 12.00.00
with the Nigeria Customs Service.
“From the foregoing, the
association views the Federal
Government’s move as one that
will encourage our members
who are currently struggling with
unprecedented low sales, forex
squeeze, inadequate electricity
supply and multiple taxes and levies
from the three tiers of government.”
Upon the proposed introduction
of the sugar tax, MAN had
warned that a new tax imposed
on carbonated drinks and others
would be counter-productive and
urged the government to devise
other means of generating revenue
rather than inadvertently stifling
the productive sector which was
already struggling.
21
FG harps on the use of standard
methods in fertilizer production
By Palma Ileye
Federal Government through
the Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development, FMARD, has
harped on the need for the use of
analytical equipment methods
and standards in the production
of fertilizers and agro chemicals.
Permanent Secretary, FMARD,
Dr Ernest Umakhihe, during
a Stakeholders workshop
organised yesterday by Farm
Inputs Support Services, FISS,
Department of the Ministry, in
Nasarawa State, stated that it
emphasizes on the accuracy,
sensitivity, specificity and
reproductivity of test methods
employed by laboratories and
research institute in fertilizer
production.
Umakhihe encouraged the
participants to harness the
information received during the
workshop to enhance fertilizer
production for the growth of the
nation’s economy through the
sector.
He also through the Director,
FISS, Kwaido Mohammed
Sani appealed to stakeholders,
Customs WMC gets 4 patrol boats;
intercepts N110.2m contrabands
By Kehinde Ibrahim, Lagos
The Western Marine Command
of the Nigeria Customs Service
(NSC) said it has received
additional four operational boats to
further combat smuggling on the
waterways.
Controller of the command,
Comptroller Oduadu Salefu who
disclosed this at a media briefing
in Lagos on Tuesday said the boats
consisting of two-gun boats and
two logistics boats were received
from the Customs management on
March 28 and April 3rd 2023.
He said a total of seven boats
have been procured for the
command adding that three other
watercrafts are being expected
from the manufacturer next week.
He said, “These are newly
acquired gun boats ready to rid
smugglers of their activities on the
waterways. We have taken delivery
of four and we are expecting three
more by God’s grace. We have
never received these kinds of boats
in such quantity to a command.
“I want to use this opportunity
to thank the Comptroller General
who has continued to provide all
necessary support and logistics
for our operations, for this we are
grateful; and assure CGC of our
unrelenting fight against these
economic saboteurs.”
Comptroller Salefu said the other
two seagoing vessels namely: MV
Group of Nine and MV Customs
Pride will soon sail again to support
the command’s existing fleets in its
anti-smuggling patrol.
He said some personnel of
the command are currently
undergoing training with the
laboratory operators and
institutes to adhere to the
standard practices in improving
the fertilizer value chain.
Also, speaking during the event,
Deputy Director, FISS, Ishaku
Ardo Buba, who represented
Director, FISS, Kwaido
Mohammed Sani while noting
the importance of fertilizers
stated that as the name implies is
a nutrient that was responsible for
the acceleration of plant growth
and it has become necessary
to organize the workshop for
laboratory operators, producers
and institutes to harmonize
the various systems and
methodologies used in the
production of fertilizers in the
country.
Kwaido said that the roles of
stakeholders, laboratories and
institutes in fertilizer production
to achieve it set goals in the
highly lucrative industry and
to the FISS Department, cannot
be over emphasized while
acknowledging their importance
in bridging the gap in ensuring
food security and supply.
He stated that in view of
Nigerian Navy on maritime safety
and security to further equip them
to man and operate the vessels.
He explained that the two
seagoing vessels are currently
under repairs and would soon be
deployed to the high seas.
Meanwhile, the command said it
recorded 15 various seizures with a
cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV)
of N110million within the first
quarter of the year.
Giving a breakdown of the
seizures, he said it included. 1,519
bags of 50kg-size foreign parboiled
rice; 8,825 litres of Premium Motor
Spirit (PMS) contained in 468 kegs
of 25 liters each.
Others he listed as 700 pairs of
foreign-used shoes; 20 used foreign
ladies’ bags; 88 cartons of Caro
White Cream (bleaching cream),
50 pairs of expired tyres, three
outboard boat engines and one
water pumping machine.
He said the items were seized
at various intervals following tip
offs and routine patrol by officers
within the period under review.
“In line with the responsibilities
conferred on the NCS by the
provisions of the Customs and
Excise Management Act (CEMA),
Cap C45 Laws of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria LFN 2004 as
amended, the command continues
to suppress smuggling along the
South-Western waterways and
Creeks.
“All actions of our operatives
are in line with the provisions of
Sections 149 (Power to vehicles/
ship) and 158 (Power to patrol
freely) of the Customs and Excise
Management Act (CEMA) Cap
C45 LFN 2004 as amended”.
Thursday, April 6, 2023
their critical roles, the Ministry
desires to achieve its prime
targets, particularly in the
implementation of the National
Fertilizer Quality Control Act
and regulating the industry
which has become necessary to
keep a close relationship so as to
share experiences and expertise
as well as collectively ensure the
efficiency and effectiveness of the
fertilizer sector.
He said that because of the
increase in the nation’s population
the use of fertilizers has become
imperative as the land does
not increase in its yields hence
the only way to improve and
increase farm outputs was in the
intensification of agriculture using
good decisions in agricultural
practices, fertilizers and other
agro products.
Saying that as a result of these
and the importance of fertilizer,
many operators have come into
the system, both those with
efficient technicalities and those
with out adequate knowledge of
fertilizer production therefore, the
Hon.Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola,SAN (middle), flanked by Director Highways, North Central Zone, Engr. Bola
Aganaba (left) , and Director Highways, Bridge Construction (North), Engr. Olusegun Akinmade (right), as he speaks with journalists during
the inspection of the Loko - Oweto Bridge across the River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States on Tuesday
ITPN hails Maiwada’s appointment
as new National PRO Customs
By Palma Ileye
Institute for Tourism
Professionals of Nigeria,
ITPN, has congratulated CSC
Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada over
his appointment as the National
Public Relations Officer of the
Nigerian Customs Service,
describing the appointment as
well deserved.
In a letter of congratulations
to CSC Maiwada, copy of which
was made available to newsmen
in Abuja yesterday, President
of the Institute for Tourism
Professionals of Nigeria, Chief
Abiodun Odusanwo observed
National Fertilizer Quality Control
Act was put in place to regulate
activities of producers, laboratory
operators and everyone involved
in fertilizer production.
“Fertilizers as the name implies
is a nutrient that increases yields
and is responsible for plants
growth, because of the importance
of it as a nutrient as the food we
eat, that’s how plants eat it.
“It has become particularly with
our increase in our population
we have to use fertilizers as the
land doesn’t increase its yields
and the only way we can improve
and increase our yields is in the
intensification of agriculture that is
using good decisions such as good
agriculture practices, fertilizers
and other agro products.
“As a result of the importance
of fertilizer, many operators have
come into the system, both those
that know about the technicality
and those with out adequate
knowledge on the technicalities of
fertilizer production. Because of
the benefits they are getting from
it.
that the appointment of
Maiwada to the exalted position
of the National Public Relations
Officer was a testimony of his
pedigree and track record of
excellence as a consummate
season officer of high repute in
the Nigerian Customs Service.
Odusanwo urged him to bring
his wealth of experience to bear
in the discharge of his duties as
demanded by the new office.
He noted that the Inter-
Ministerial Organizing
Committee of the National
Tourism Transportation Summit
and Expo of which Maiwada
is a Member, and the Institute
Business
“Many have taken it as a
business and not everyone has
the same mindset in business,
some people are just there to
maximize profits so there are a lot
of operators both the genuine and
ingenune ones hence the National
Fertilizer Quality Control Act
to make sure that anybody that
comes on board, is properly
documented, certified so that we
can check their operations.
“That is the essence of the Act,
and that is the only way we can
check them as the numbers of
players in fertilizers production
increase on a daily basis, the
producers, manufactures,
suppliers, importers,” he said.
He explained that, “the National
Fertilizer Quality Control Act,
came in view because of the rise
in poor standards in production
of fertilizers. It took us 25 years
to realize this objectives. And the
laws guiding fertilizer production
is so stringent and it carries a lot
of punishments and pnalities
informs of fines, imprisonment.
for Tourism Professionals of
Nigeria, have full confidence
in him to perform creditably
well in his new appointment
which was approved by the
Comptroller General of NCS,
Rtd. Col. Hameed Ali.
While wishing the new
National Public Relations
Officer of the Nigerian Customs
Service God’s guidance in the
discharge of his duties, ITPN’s
President said that the country
looks up to him for better image
laundering for the Nigerian
Customs Service and better
service delivery for the good of
the national economy.

Oniha identifies
reasons Nigeria’s
debt stock is
growing
By Onu Okorie
Director-General Debt
Management Office
DMO Patience Oniha has
disclosed that Nigeria’s
debt stock is increasing as
a result of a combination of
three major reasons.
Arising from the Channels
Television’s Sunrise Daily
interview monitored in
Abuja, the DMO boss
explained that Nigeria has
been running a budget
deficit for decades.
According to her,
“Nigeria’s debt stock is
N46.25trn. It includes
the debt of the 36 state
government and the
Federal Capital Territory.
The Federal Government is
responsible for 84% to 85%
of this.
“What are triggers and
why is the debt stock
growing because when the
debt stock is growing, debt
service also grows.
“The debt stock is
growing because Nigeria
has been running a budget
deficit for many decades. In
good and bad times with oil
prices we have borrowed.
We’ve been running budget
deficits and those deficits
are funded largely 85 to
95% from borrowing and
that is cumulative. These
are publicly available data.
“As we borrow each year,
it adds up. So, the annual
budget deficits are a major
component. If you look at
this year’s budget, budget
size is N21trn, borrowing is
N10trn.”
She also stated that several
loans from multilaterals
and bilaterals have been
contracted, while the federal
government continues to
issue promissory notes
to settle obligations for
which it does not have the
revenue.
Borrowing, according to
the debt management boss,
is an acceptable method
of funding government
activities, though revenue
should be generated.
She noted that when
money borrowed are
judiciously utilised to
stimulate growth, revenue
will be generated to offset
the debt.
She added that Nigeria had
contracted several loans in
the past from multilaterals
like the World Bank, the
African Development
Bank and bilaterals like
Germany, India, China and
disbursements are going
on.
“The third part – of a pacesetter among the 53
government has been
issuing promissory notes to
settle obligations for which
it doesn’t really have the
revenue. So, that is why
the debt stock has been
growing.”
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Easter special petrol: Biu takes Commanding Officers
to ensure safety on highways across Nigeria
By Onu Okorie
Towards ensuring a safe and
smooth 2023 Easter celebrations,
the Corps Marshal, Federal Road
Safety Corps ( FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu
has tasked Commanding Officers
to ensure full deployment of staff
for maximum visibility, prompt
removal of obstructions and ease of
movement on all highways across
the country. This is in line with
the operational guidelines of this
year’s special patrol scheduled to
commence from 6 to 12 April, 2023.
He further stated that the
objectives of the special operations
are reduction in Road Traffic
Crashes, Road Traffic Fatalities
and Road Traffic Injuries; prompt
response to road traffic crash
victims; unhindered engagement
in purposeful public education and
enlightenment and speedy removal
of obstructions from the highways,
among others.
The Corps Marshal assured
members of the public that in
achieving the objectives of the
special operations, the Corps
will combine the engagement
of the motoring public through
purposeful and impactful
public education programmes,
strengthening of surveillance
Senior Manager, Investor Education Division Securities and Exchange Commission Addressing Students Government Day Secondary School Karu Abuja on Capital
Market during the SEC Commemoration of Global Money Week2023 at GDSS Karu in Abuja, last week
NEITI becomes first EITI member to own permanent office
By Onu Okorie
Executive Secretary of the
Nigeria Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative NEITI, Orji
Ogbannaya Orji has disclosed that
Nigeria has assumed the position
members of the global Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative
(EITI) by becoming the first to own
its permanent office.
He stated this during the official
unveiling of NEITI office complex
located at Wuye District in the
activities to regulate unprofessional
excesses, sustained effective patrol
operations as well as adequate
monitoring on the highways.
To this end, the Corps would
carryout aggressive enforcement
including conducting over 200
mobile court operations, with the
aim of checking the following
offences:
Speeding and Dangerous
Driving/Overtaking, L a n e
indiscipline/Route violation, Road
Obstructions, Use of Phone while
Driving, Overloading, Seatbelt/
Child restraint Use Violations,
Passenger’s Manifest Violation,
Operation of mechanical deficient
and rickety vehicles, Latching and
Twist-Locks Violation, llegal use of
the Spy Number Plates.
To achieve this, over 743 patrol
vehicles, 184 administrative
vehicles, 92 ambulances, 23 tow
trucks and 144 motorbikes are
being deployed as part of the patrol
logistics.
Furthermore, reflective jackets ,
traffic cones, tyre pressure gauges,
a number of extricating machines
and digital breathalyzers are part
of the tools set aside for the special
operations.
Added to the above is, a total of
23 Help Areas have been mobilised
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on
Tuesday.
Orji said the movement of the
office was a milestone achievement
that has brought an end to the
agency’s 18 year’s dependency
on rented accommodation, which
constituted a huge challenge to
NEITI operations over the years.
The NEITI House located at
Danladi Kifasi Street, Wuye District
Abuja has operational offices for the
management and staff, Conference
and meeting rooms, a Data Centre,
library and other facilities.
to ensure prompt removal of
obstructions, and rescue operations
during the period. This, he said, is
in addition to the 15 traffic control
camps which would be dedicated
solely to identifying traffic
gridlock areas to be manned by
our personnel on 24/7 basis during
the Easter Celebration.
For effective monitoring and
prompt response, the Corps has
put in place a Situation Room at the
National Headquarters to monitor
the activities across the country,
collate and process information
for dissemination to relevant
commands and stakeholders as the
case may be.
This is in addition to the activation
of 28 Road Traffic Crash Clinics
and 53 Zebra points located along
the major routes which would be
covered by 92 ambulances that
would be fully utilized to respond
promptly to cases of rescue and
convey injured victims to hospitals
for more professional attention.
He also directed the
Commanding Officers to liaise
with other strategic stakeholders
within their operational areas
to secure the needed moral
and logistics as well as security
support. He identified some of the
stakeholders as Military formations
Orji who was visibiy elated
during the occasion expressed
the appreciation of the Board
and management of NEITI to
President Muhammadu Buhari for
the support of his administration
towards acquisition of the office
building.
He said the NEITI House would
serve not only as a Centre for the
promotion of Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiatives in Nigeria,
but also a center for the advancement
of transparency, accountability
and good governance, multi
Business 22
Business
(enroute or resident); the Nigeria
Police (enroute or resident); DSS
(enroute or resident); the Nigeria
Immigration Service; the NSCDC
(enroute or resident).
Others are Federal Ministry of
Works and Housing; National
Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA); State Traffic Management
Agencies; State owned NGO’s
ambulance Services providers;
National Network on Emergency
Rescue Services (NNES); Federal
Road Maintenance Agencies and
Federal Fire Service.
On the overall preparedness of
the Corps for the special operations,
the Corps Marshal has expressed
optimism that Nigerians would
as usual, cooperate with members
of the Corps and other security
agencies as well as volunteers who
would come out to assist the Corps
in traffic management during the
period, stressing that with the
massive deployment of personnel
and logistics and the envisaged
public support, the celebration
would be a huge success.
While reassuring the motoring
public of FRSC’s renewed vigour
towards entrenching sanity on
the roads, the Corps Marshal also
wishes all Nigerians safe and
successful Easter celebrations.
stakeholders collaboration,
research, civic engagement and
knowledge development on
extractive industries reforms.
According to him, “The
NEITI House will also provide
the conducive environment to
strengthen constructive dialogue,
broaden discussions with
governments, extractive companies,
civil society organisations, the
media development partners
and the public who constitute
NEITI’s key stakeholders in the
implementation of its mandates.”
23 Health
Illicit Drugs Production: NAFDAC Joins
Forces With Other Agency To Fight Menace
D
rug trafficking is a
highly profitable
commercial activity
and remains a core
business for organised crime
groups across Nigeria Blessing
Bature Writes.
Drug trafficking is a global
illicit trade involving the
cultivation, manufacture,
distribution, and sale of
substances that are subject to
drug prohibition laws.
Most jurisdictions prohibit
trade, except under license, of
many types of drugs through
the use of drug prohibition
laws.
The think tank Global Financial
Integrity’s Transnational Crime
and the Developing World
report estimates the size of
the global illicit drug market
between US$426 and US$652
billion in 2014 alone.
With a world GDP of US$78
trillion in the same year, the
illegal drug trade may be
estimated as nearly 1% of total
global trade. Consumption of
illegal drugs is widespread
globally and it remains very
difficult for local authorities to
thwart its popularity.
Understanding the reality of the
Nigerian drug market requires a
holistic approach, following the
supply chain from production
and trafficking to distribution
and sales.
The National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration
Control (NAFDAC), in
collaboration with National
Drug Law Enforcement Agency,
(NDLEA), and Nigeria Customs
Service has on Thursday in
Lagos pledged to join forces to
fight the menace of Narcotics
and drug abuse among Nigerian
Youths
The Agencies amongst other
stakeholders in the health sector,
have vowed to collaborate in
the fight against illicit drug
production, trafficking, and use,
and in curbing related organized
crime.
The pledge was made on
Thursday in Lagos at the
launch and dissemination of
the 2022 Annual Report of the
International Narcotics Control
Board (INCB) and Precursors
Report 2022.
The Director General,
Thursday, April 6, 2023
NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola
Adeyeye described narcotics
and psychotropic substances
as indispensable for the relief
of pain and suffering and that
they are controlled within
the framework of the three
international conventions as
they possess abuse liability and
produce dependence in users.
‘’They are classified not on
chemical nature but on the
potential for abuse and the need
for medical use of the substance’’,
she said, adding that one of the
In some instances, NDLEA
has arrested and prosecuted
some traffickers of controlled
and narcotics substances
intended to be diverted to
illicit uses’
control objectives is to ensure
availability solely for medical
and scientific uses while
minimizing the possibility of
diversion to illicit channels
and abuse.
According to her, the policy
thrust of the Agency is to
ensure availability, access, and
rational use while preventing
illicit use and abuse. The
international drug control
conventions, she added, are
thus interpreted to mean
improved access to controlled
medicines to enable countries
to meet their drug needs.
In other to ensure adequate
availability of controlled
medicines, the NAFDAC boss
disclosed that the Agency in
conjunction with the Federal
Ministry of Health carried
out two quantifications of
narcotics and estimation of
psychotropic substances and
precursors in 2017 and 2019.
She said the results of these
surveys provide the evidenced-
based estimation of our national
annual requirements for these
substances and enable the
country to develop measures
to achieve that delicate balance
between access and control.
‘’According to the 2018
National Drug Use Survey,
the prevalence of any drug
use was 14.4% or 14.3 million
people between the age of 15
and 64 years’’, she said, noting
that this is comparatively high
compared with the 2016 global
annual prevalence of 5.6%
among the adult population.
Prof Adeyeye pointed out
that the challenges arising from
drug supply and consumption
are not restricted to people
who use drugs but have wider
health, social and economic
consequences on the family,
community, and country.
The report, she stated further,
revealed that Cannabis is the
most commonly used drug,
stressing that an estimated 10.8
percent of the population, or
10.6 million people, had used
cannabis in the past year with
the average age of initiation of
cannabis use among the general
population put at 19 years.
‘’Cannabis use was 7 times
higher among men (18.8 percent
among men vs. 2.6 percent
of women), while the gender
gap in the non-medical use of
pharmaceutical opioids (such
as tramadol) was less marked’’,
she said.
She, however, said that
Nigeria will not support the
trend of legalization of cannabis
for non-medical use as Nigeria
lacks the financial capacity to
fight cultivation, production,
CONTUEN FROM PAGE 26

Illicit Drugs Production: NAFDAC Joins Forces With Other Agency To Fight Menace
and illegal use of the
substance.
The non-medical use
of Cannabis, according
to Prof. Adeyeye,
contravenes the
United Nations Single
Convention of 1961,
which classifies cannabis
as a highly addictive
substance.
‘’The Nigeria Indian
Hemp Act, as well as the
NDLEA Act prohibit the
cultivation, production,
distribution, sales, and
use of cannabis and its
extracts or derivatives for
medical or non-medical
purposes’’.
She commended the
United Nations Office on
Drug and Crime UNODC
for the assistance and
support to the country
in the fight against
illicit drug production,
trafficking, and use,
Thursday, April 6, 2023
and in curbing related organized
crime.
‘’We also appreciate INCB for
the support to NAFDAC towards
enhanced regulatory control
of narcotics and psychotropic
substances’’.
Speaking in the same vein, the
Executive Chairman of NDLEA,
Brigadier General, Buba Marwa,
Rtd. decried what he described as
an upsurge in the abuse of cannabis
amongst Nigerian youths with its
attendant negative effects on society.
He disclosed that the NDLEA to
address this problem conceptualized
War Against Drug Abuse WADA
which was launched by the Nigerian
President, Mohammadu Buhari on
June 26, 2021.
General Marwa who was
represented by Mrs. Victoria
Ekase, noted that NAFDAC has
been ensuring that controlled drug
essential for human survival are made
available for use where necessary
in line with the requirements of
INCB, adding that NDLEA on its
Health
part collaborates with NAFDAC in
ensuring that the measures put in
place to prevent diversion of such
medicines and substances to illicit
use are adhered to.
‘’In some instances, NDLEA has
arrested and prosecuted some
traffickers of controlled and
narcotics substances intended to
be diverted to illicit uses’’, he said,
noting with dismay that It’s quite
worrisome that chemicals intended
for research and industrial purposes
are finding their way into illicit drug
manufacture.
‘’This is the area that NAFDAC
and NDLEA need to deepen
collaboration to ensure that such
unwholesome acts are eliminated’’,
he said, adding that the launch
of the precursor report will go a
long way to complement national
efforts in this regard.
General Marwa pledged that
NAFDAC and NDLEA will
continue to collaborate with
major stakeholders at all levels to
develop an efficient value-chain
24
and support system that will
ensure access to narcotics and
controlled substances for medical
and strategic purposes while
preventing diversion for illicit use.
‘’I sincerely hope that the global
launch of the report will enhance
the integration and cooperation
amongst stakeholders in ensuring
effective implementation for the
overall benefit of society.
The Comptroller General of
the Nigeria Customs Service,
Col. Hameed Ibrahim Alli, Rdt.
was represented at the event
by Ag. Assistant Comptroller
General, ACG, A.N Dappa, also
commended NAFDAC, observing
that NAFDAC and NDLEA
have been most wonderful. He
pledged the loyalty and support
of the customs service in the task
of ridding the nation of illicit
drugs. ‘’We have always been in
partnership, and we will continue
to work in close partnership with
you’’, he said.
25
Law & Society
Ex-Convict, 17 Others Convicted for Internet Fraud
By Kenneth Atavti
The Ibadan Zonal Command of
the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, has secured
the conviction and sentencing of
a serial internet fraudster and ex-
convict, Olayinka Ridwan Olatunji
to two years imprisonment and a
fine of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred
Thousand Naira) before Justice
Demi Ajayi of the Federal High
Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State for
internet- related fraud.
Olatunji had on October 21, 2022,
been convicted and sentenced to
one year imprisonment by Justice
Uche Agomoh of the Federal High
Court, Ibadan, Oyo State for a
similar offence.
Also, seventeen (17)
cybercriminals were convicted
and sentenced various jail terms
before Justices Ladiran Akintola,
Mohammed Owolabi, Iyabo Yerima
and Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo
Sexual Harassment: ICPC Arraigns Lecturer
By By Kenneth Atavti
The Independent Corrupt
Practices and Other Related
Offences Commission, ICPC,
has arraigned a lecturer of
the Tai Solarin University
of Education (TASUED)
for demanding sexual and
monetary gratification from a
female student of the institution.
The defendant, Dr. Balogun
Olaniran was brought before
Justice Osinuga of the Ijebu-
Ode High Court, sitting in Ijebu
Ode, Ogun State by ICPC on a
one-count charge for violating
Section 8(1) (a) of the Corrupt
Practices and Other Related
Offences Act, 2000.
ICPC Counsel told the court
how the defendant, Dr. Olaniran,
while being the Head of
Department of Religious Studies
at TASUED sometime between
October and November 2021,
demanded for sexual benefit or
the payment of N100,000 from a
female student with a promise
to alter her academic grades.
Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of N725m,
Banana Island Property Linked to Ex-NIMASA
By By Kenneth Atavti
Justice Tijani Ringim of the
Federal High Court sitting
in Ikoyi, Lagos has ordered
the interim forfeiture of
the sum of N725,345,897.77
and a property situated at
Plot J 37A 218 Close, 2nd
Avenue, Banana Island,
Ikoyi, Lagos linked to
Patrick Akpobolokemi, a
former Director-General
of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety
Agency, NIMASA.
The Judge gave the Order,
following a motion ex parte
filed and argued by the
Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Moving the application,
counsel to the EFCC,
Bilikisu Buhari, submitted
that the money was
“reasonably suspected to
be proceeds of an unlawful
State High Court and Justices
Olugboyega Ogunfowora and A.A.
Babawale of the Ogun State High
Court, sitting in Abeokuta.
The convicts are Oyeyemi
Lukman Oluwaseun, Salaudeen
Yunusa Olamilekan, Sadiq Adekola
Ahmad, Ali Akorede Omosebi,
Adebola Ayomikun Adetosoye,
Toheeb Olalekan Adeleye and Aliu
Sodiq Alabi.
Others are Oyesanya Oyekole
Olakunle, Adekunle Damilare,
Olalekan Habeeb Aremu, Adeagbo
Toyeeb Tola, Fabiyi Lukumon
Ayo, Tobiloba Isiah Seyi Adams,
Akinrinola Saheed Abiodun,
Nwaoha Christian Israel Adetola
and Hassan Nofiu Ayomide.
The convicts were prosecuted by
the EFCC between March 6, 2023
and March 30, 2023 on separate one
count charge each. They all pleaded
“guilty” when the charges were
read to them.
Consequently, prosecution
counsel, Akorede Olushesi, Musa
Part of the charge reads, “…..
within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court, corruptly
demanded for sexual benefit
or payment of the sum of
N100,000 for himself from …
(name withheld), a female
student, on account of a favour
to be afterwards shown her
in the discharge of his official
duties as a lecturer and Head of
Department of Religious Studies
at the Tai Solarin University of
Education, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode,
to wit, offering to alter her
academic grades from fail to
pass in courses with codes EDU
311 and EDU 312”.
The defendant, Dr. Olaniran
pleaded not guilty when the
charge was read to him.
The trial judge, Justice Osinuga
admitted the defendant to bail
of N500,000 with a surety in like
sum. The surety must provide
evidence of 3 years tax clearance
and evidence of means.
The matter was then
adjourned to 11th of May 2023
for commencement of trial.
activity.”
Buhari also argued that the
property was “reasonably
suspected to have been
acquired with proceeds of
an unlawful activity.”
The EFCC counsel
further prayed for an order
directing the EFCC to
publish the interim Order
in a national newspaper to
enable anyone interested in
the properties sought to be
forfeited to appear before
the court to show cause,
within 14 days , “why the
final order of forfeiture of
the said properties should
not be made in favour of
the Federal Government of
Nigeria”.
Justice Ringim, in granting
the application held that “I
find merit in this statutory
application and same is
granted as prayed.”
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Abubakar
Galandanchi, Modupe Akinkoye,
Chidiebere Okoli, Oyelakin
Oyediran, Mabas Mabur, Lanre
Suleiman and Samsudeen Bashir
reviewed the facts of the cases,
tendered several documents
that were admitted in evidence
and urged the courts to convict
and sentenced the defendants as
charged.
Omosebi, Adetosoye and Adeleye
were convicted and sentenced
to one year imprisonment while
Court Sends Five Internet Fraudsters to Jail
By By Kenneth Atavti
Five internet fraudsters -
Bright Obaro, Christopher
Lawani Igbinosa, Osagie
Hope Godstime, Divine
Uche and Osagie Junior
- has been convicted and
sentenced to prison by
Justices Efe Ikponmwonba
and M Itsueli of Edo State
High Court sitting in
Benin City.
They were arraigned by
the Benin Zonal Command
of the Commission on
separate one count charges
bordering on fraudulent
impersonation, retention
of proceeds of crime,
intent to defraud and
possession of fraudulent
documents.
The charge against
Osagie Junior reads, “That
you, Osagie Junior (m)
sometimes between 2020
to 2022 in Benin, Edo State
within the jurisdiction of
this Honourable Court
did take possession of
EFCC Arrests 17 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Makurdi
By By Kenneth Atavti
Operatives of the
Makurdi Zonal Command
of the EFCC, on April 1,
2023 arrested seventeen
suspected Internet
fraudsters in Makurdi,
Benue State.
The suspects are
Emmanuel Ikechukwu,
Agbo Lawrence, Emmanuel
Oyesanya, Adekunle, Fabiyi,
Adams and Ahmad were convicted
and sentenced to six months
imprisonment but they were given
an option of N50, 000.00 (Fifty
Thousand Naira) fine each.
Also, Akinrinola was sentenced
to one year community service
while Oyeyemi and Alabi
were sentenced to six months
community service each. Olalekan
and Adeagbo were convicted
and sentenced to four months
the sum of N21,723,755.59
(Twenty One Million,
Seven Hundred and
Twenty Three Thousand,
Seven Hundred and Fifty
Five Naira, Fifty Nine
kobo) knowing that same
represent proceeds of your
criminal conduct to wit:
cybercrime and thereby
committed an offence
contrary to and punishable
under section 17(b)
Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission
(Establishment) Act 2004”.
Upon arraignment
the defendants pleaded
guilty to their respective
charges, prompting the
prosecution counsel, K.Y.
Bello, I. K. Agwai, Al-amin
A. Ibrahim and Ibrahim
Falsal to ask the court to
convict and sentence the
defendants accordingly.
However, counsel to the
defendants pleaded with
the court to temper justice
with mercy as they were
Victor, Joseph Adoyr
Ameh, Olamide Timothy,
Augestine Adalache, Izuka
Justin, Boniface Dudoo,
Udechukwu Benedict and
Emmanuel Igbo.
Others are Favour Nwokdi,
Christian Nwgia, George
Maaki, Yina Terseem, Wilson
Egwoba, Isaac Ukange and
Precious Tseaa.
community service each.
Furthermore, Nwaoha, Osibanjo
and Hassan were convicted
and sentenced to two months
community service each while
Salaudeen was convicted and
sentenced to a fine of N40,000.00
(Forty Thousand Naira).
The Courts ordered that the
convicts restitute their victims and
forfeit all items recovered from
them to the Federal Government of
Nigeria.
first time offenders who
had become remorseful
for their actions.
Justice Ikponmwonba
convicted and sentenced
Obaro, Godstime and
Junior to three years
imprisonment with an
option of Two Hundred
Thousand Naira fune,
while Igbinosa bagged
three years imprisonment
or a fine of One Hundred
Thousand Naira. Justice
It Uche to two years
imprisonment or a fine of
Two Hundred Thousand
Naira.
Justice Ikponwonba also
ruled that the balance of
N25,786.15 domiciled in
Sterling Bank belonging
to Osagie Junior and
phones recovered from
the defendants be
forfeited to the Federal
government of Nigeria..
All the defendants are to
undertake in writing to be
of good behaviour.
They were arrested
following actionable
intelligence.
Items recovered from them
include mobile phones,
ATM cards, Laptops, Lexus
RX330 and Toyota Camry
cars.
The suspects have made
useful statements and will
be charge to court soon.
 Thursday, April 6, 2023 26
Law & Society
N50m Bribe: How A/Court Jails Chinese
Nationals 6 Years for Fraud
T
By Kenneth Atavti

he Sokoto
Division of the
Court of Appeal,
had on march
31, 2023 convicted
and sentenced two
Chinese nationals, Mr.
Meng Wei Kun and
Mr. Xu Kuai, to 6 years
imprisonment on two
of a three count charge
bordering on conspiracy,
money laundering and
attempted bribery to
the tune of N50 Million
brought against them
by the Economic and
Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.
In a unanimous
judgment delivered
by Justice Abubakar
Mahmud Talba on the
appeal of the EFCC
against the judgment
of a Federal High
Court, Sokoto which
discharged and acquitted
the respondents, the
appellate court found
the respondents guilty
of counts 1 and 2, and
sentenced both to 3years
imprisonment each of the
counts, with an option of
N10 Million fine on each
count.
Justice Talba held that
the EFCC had proved
counts 1 and 2 of the
charge before the Federal Amo
High Court beyond
reasonable doubt but
agreed with the lower
Court on count 3 and
accordingly struck it
out on the grounds fiction by the trial judge He concluded by saying commit an offence to wit: without going through
that a similar charge who created doubts in his that, “ the respondents are making cash payment of the a financial institution
was pending before the mind while discharging Chinese and an offence of sum of Fifty Million Naira made a cash payment of
Sokoto High Court. his responsibilities. this gravity in their home (N50,000,000.00) which the sum of Fifty Million
According to Justice “Without doubt the trial country attracts the death sum exceed the amount Naira (N50,000,000.00)
Talba, “the respondents judge grossly misconceived penalty yet here they are authorised by Law without to one Abdullahi Lawal
are charged with that no offence was corrupting our Country. going through a financial the then Zonal Head of
conspiracy and making committed. The Courts of the Federal institution and thereby Economic and Financial
a cash payment in “Conspiracy is a distinct Republic of Nigeria will committed an offence Crimes Commission
excess of the threshold offence even if the not condone corruption contrary to Section 18(a) Sokoto which exceeded
provided by the Money commission of the actual in any way; as President of the Money Laundering the Five Million Naira
Laundering Prohibition offence is aborted, and in Muhammadu Buhari Prohibition Act 2011 as (N5,000,000.00) for the
Act 2011 ( as amended the instant case there exists has said “if we don’t kill amended in 2012, and purpose of compromising
in 2012) to Abdullahi positive cogent inescapable corruption, corruption will punishable under Section an ongoing investigation
Lawal (then zonal head evidence the offence was kill Nigeria”. 16(2) (b) of the same Act”. involving the company
of EFCC Sokoto) which committed” Count one reads: “That Count two reads: “That China Zhongao Nigeria
was established beyond Justice Talba therefore you Mr. Meng Wei Kun you ,Mr. Meng Wei Kun, Ltd and you thereby
reasonable doubt before held that the appeal was adult, male, and Mr. Xu adult, male and Mr Xu Kuai committed an offence
the lower Court but “immensely meritorious” Kuai adult, male, on or adult, male on the 11th contrary to Section 1(a)
surprisingly the trial and convicted and about the 11th day of May, day of May 2020 at about of the Money Laundering
Judge summersaulted sentenced the Chinese 2020 in Sokoto within 2200hrs at Kasarawa Area, Prohibition Act 2011 as
in his judgement and nationals to 3years on each the Jurisdiction of this Airport road Sokoto State amended in 2012 and
recanted. of the two counts with an Honourable Court (Federal within the Jurisdiction of punishable under Section
“I regret to say that option of N10 Million fine High Court) did conspire this Honourable Court 16 (2) (b) of the same
the judgment is like a each on each count. amongst yourselves to (Federal High Court) Act”.
27
Metro
Man jailed for
rape of minor in
Kwara
By Eunice Orike with Agency
Kaiama Division of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defense Corps,
NSCDC, Kwara State Command,
has arrested Hussain Kamilu, 35, of
Ado village, Bani, Kaiama LGA, for
alleged rape of a minor.
Hussain was arrested on the
April 2, 2023, for the alleged rape
of Mariam Suleiman, 15, at Adogo
village, in Kaiama LGA.
Spokesman of the command,
Ayeni Olasunkanmi, disclosed
this in Ilorin on Tuesday that the
suspect was alleged to have taken
the victim on a bike to an unknown
place where he sexually molested
her and threatened her never to tell
anyone.
However, Mariam eventually
gained the courage to report
the case at the NSCDC Kaiama
Division on April 1, 2023.
“She reported that she had
been psychologically affected by
the alleged action of the suspect.
Thereafter, the suspect was arrested
on the 2nd of April and after
investigation, he confessed to the
offences,” the spokesman added.
He said the suspect was later
taken to court on April 3 for
prosecution before Magistrate
Abubakar Ahmed Boro at the
Magistrate Court, Kaiama,
where he was summarily tried
and sentenced to one year
imprisonment for criminal trespass
with an option of fine and one year
imprisonment for intimidation,
Police arrest kidnappers over murder
of village head in Niger
By Gowon Emakpe with Agency Report
Niger State Police
Command has arrested
two suspected kidnappers
connected to the killing of
the village head of Gusasse
in Bosso Local Government
Area, Mallam Abubakar
Yahaya, after collecting a
ransom of N1.5 million.
It could be recalled that
on March 15, 2023, at about
11 pm suspected gunmen
attacked Gusasse village
through Maikunkele.
According to the Niger
State Police Command Public
Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu
Abiodun, the assailants shot
Abubakar Yahaya, the village
head, and kidnapped his
daughter to an unknown
destination.
Abiodun, who spoke in
Minna, said the hoodlums
recently invaded houses of
victims in Barkuta, and Sabon-
Gari in Beji, Bosso LGA, where
they shot dead one Manir.
He stated that the
kidnappers further abducted
one Alh. Hassan Gusasse, and
macheted Chairman Gan-
Mamman of Miyeti Allah in
the area.
He explained:
“Consequently, based on these
recent incidents in Beji and its
environs, Police operatives
attached to FIB tactical squad
arrested the two suspects
AMAC Taskforce vows to prosecute illegal revenue collectors
By Chioma Nnodim
Taskforce Chairman for
revenue monitoring, inspection
and enforcement in Abuja
Municipal Area Council, AMAC,
Mr Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, has
warned all fake revenue collectors
in the council to relocate or face the
full wrath of the law as it will not
be business as usual for them.
This was made known to
Journalists in a press statement
issued by the Senior Special
Assistant Media and Public Affairs
to AMAC Chairman, Kingsley
Madaki
Addressing Journalists shortly
after the inauguration of the
taskforce by the Executive
Chairman of AMAC, Hon.
Christopher Zakka Maikalangu,
Yusuf said that the taskforce will
not joke with delivering on its
mandate as it is poised to block
all revenue leakages in order to
provide basic amenities to residents
of the council.
He said: “The mandate of this
taskforce is to ensure that we block
all revenue leakages in AMAC.
We won’t joke with anything that
has to do with delivering on our
mandate. We want to tel l all illegal
revenue collectors that we’re fully
ready to come after them. We will
ensure there are prosecuted. We
will protect the revenue of AMAC
tax payers. We want an AMAC
that whatever you are paying as
revenue, it should in turn work for
you. We can no longer condone a
situation whereby our revenue is
based on a tip-off on March
31, 2023.”
The suspects are Risku
Suleiman, 34, and Haruna
Umar, 20, who both hail from
Kupa village in Garatu, along
Bida Road.
Abiodun further disclosed:
“During interrogation, Risku
confessed that he had been
committing cattle rustling
with his father, one Suleiman
Aga’ala who was convicted
for cattle rustling in Angwan-
Maireke village, in Beji.
“He further confessed that
he (Risku) conspired with
his friend, Umar Awara from
Lokoja, who equally invited
eight others from Zamfara
[namely] Idrisu, Shadai, Yeli,
Yusuf, and others presently
at large, with the said Haruna
Umar.
“He said the syndicate is
responsible for the death of
the village head, and that N1.5
million ransom was collected
for the release of his daughter
recently, while the same
amount was also collected
for the release of Alh. Hassan
Gusasse. ”
The police spokesman
added that an effort is
ongoing to arrest Umar
Awara and other members
of the syndicate while those
arrested will be arraigned
in court for prosecution as
soon as the investigation is
concluded.
Thursday, April 6, 2023
diverted into private pockets.
“For anybody who has paid
revenue, it is expected that
government should work for the
person. Anything sort of that is
illegal and fraudulent. This time
around, we are working closely with
all machineries. As I speak with you,
we have constituted a mobile court
where we will use legal means to
address these revenue leakages.
“We want to warn clearly that
anyone who goes about saying he
is representing AMAC or collecting
revenue without permission from
AMAC or paying cash to individuals
will be prosecuted. Both the person
who has paid or received cash will be
penalised. If we come to you and we
realise you have been collaborating
with illegal revenue collectors
by paying less in cash and short-
changing AMAC, you will pay twice
and still be prosecuted.
“This time around, we are
going all out. We want an AMAC
where the money we collect as tax
will serve the people in return.
In communities, some of the tax
payers are expecting good roads,
electricity, water, healthcare, among
other basic amenities. Imagine
one person stopping people from
getting dividends of democracy or
what they are supposed to enjoy
from government. It is very bad, it
is criminal and the people will be
treated as such. To tay payers, we
need your full cooperation so that
we can be able to serve you better as
AMAC.
“Whoever has cut corners or has
L-R: Vice chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Hon. Nasir Usman flanked by chairman, taskforce enforcement on
Revenue Monitoring and Inspection, Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf (left), and taskforce secretary, Kingsley Madaki (right)
with the taskforce team in Abuja, yesterday.
Police arrest notorious armed robber in Imo
By Gowon Emakpe with Agency Report
Operatives from the Imo State
Command’s tactical team have
arrested a 23-year-old notorious
armed robbery suspect identified
as Igbonagwam Osinachi of
Umuchoke Obazu Mbeiri Mbaitoli
LGA.
Thus was made known to
Journalists in a press statement by
the Police Public Relation Officer,
ASP Henry Okoye in Owerri on
Tuesday.
The statement reads, “Acting on
the directives of the Commissioner
of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed
Barde PSC(+) to continuously mop
up illicit firearms and stem down
the tide of Insecurity in the State,
operatives of the Command’s
tactical team on credible intelligence,
been underpaying AMAC, they
should go back and balance it. We
will not tolerate or condone that. We
will still prosecute you by taking you
to the authorities according to the
powers conferred on us. So, people
who have been underpaying AMAC
and thinking they are playing smart
by not harmonising the revenue, they
should go back and do the needful.
“It is important that we send this
warning. For those who have paid
in cash and the money has not gotten
to AMAC, better collect your money
from whoever you have given it to
and pay into AMAC account. We
will not take it lightly with anybody.
This is a very serious job. We have
been given all necessary mandate.
We will go round. We will come to
you. All we need is your evidence
of payment. That will make us your
friend and in return, we will give you
satisfactory services.
“You should pay into AMAC
account as stated in your demand
notice. It is a copyright where nobody
is permitted to open an account on
behalf of AMAC. So, any demand
notice you see that does not have
AMAC account, something is wrong
with that, so don’t pay any money to
anybody that is not from AMAC.”
Also speaking, Mr Ndudi Ezekiel
Chidi Esq. AMAC Taskforce Legal
Adviser, said that payment of
revenue has been harmonised,
especially for hotels, filling stations
and banks, unlike the previous
administrations where extortions
were the order of the day.
He said: When this administration
arrested a notorious armed robbery
suspect named, Igbonagwam
Osinachi ‘m’ 32yrs of Umuchoke
Obazu Mbeiri Mbaitoli LGA, Imo
State.
“In the course of the investigation,
the suspect confessed to the crimes
he has committed with his gang
members at large, revealing their
identity and criminal hideout
situated at the littoral land of
Nworie River Bank, Owerri.
“Based on his confessions,
the inquisitive and determined
operatives embarked on a thorough
search of the hideout and recovered
three locally made pistols and one
live cartridge used in perpetrating
their nefarious activities in the state.
“Concerted efforts are on top
came into power, we did a lot
of reforms. There were a lot of
illegalities with the previous
administration, in the sense that
many people appointed themselves
tax or revenue consultants. All they
needed to do was to go to UTC, Sky
Memorial and other places to print
receipts for revenue with account
numbers embedded in the demand
notice. They would steal people’s
money. Some will pay them in cash
or to their private bank accounts.
“However, when we came in, we
reformed the system by changing
the demand notices. The demand
notices have security codes that if
they are presented, you will know
they are from AMAC. We went as
far as changing colours and adding
security features into the demand
notices just to ensure the money
comes into the pocket of AMAC.
We went further to harmonise some
grey areas in terms of hotels, filling
stations and banks.
“Before that, we had a lot of tax
accruing to banks which every Tom,
Dick and Harry, with their concocted
demand notices will go there and
demand money. At the end of the
day, it became cumbersome for banks
to see funny taxes. Therefore, the
Executive Chairman of AMAC, Hon.
Christopher Zakka Maikalangu,
in his wisdom, did harmonisation
in terms of ensuring all money
accruable to banks is collected by
one revenue consultant. So, if you go
there to collect any revenue accruable
to banks, you will be held liable and
you will be punished accordingly.
gear to arrest other members of his
gang at large. The suspect(s) will be
arraigned in court upon completion
of a diligent investigation.
“The CP while commending
the operative for a job well done,
urged them to sustain the tempo
in stemming down the tide of
insecurity until all criminally
minded elements are flushed out
from the state.
“Moreso, he appealed to well-
meaning residents of the state to join
hands with the security agencies
in the crusade against crimes and
criminality and encouraged them
to report the same to the nearest
Police Station or via the Command’s
emergency lines 08034773600 or
08098880197 or 08145235444.”
 Thursday, April 6, 2023 28

email: nnodimglory@gmail.com
Metro
Abuja businessman
distributes food
Traders protest as FCTA moves to Court orders Kano
man to kill his
items, cash to over
200 widows
demolish UTC complex In Abuja rooster for disturbing
neighbours
By Chioma Nnodim discover that the fence of the complex was
By Chioma Nnodim
demolished contrary to the court order that By Bimbo Adenrele
Traders in the popular UTC market all parties should maintain status quo on
Chief Executive at Area 10, Federal Capital Territory, the case. Kano magistrate court has
Officer, Blake Resort, FCT, Abuja, on Tuesday staged a protest “In 2021 we had the course to go to ordered one Isyaku Shu’aibu
Abuja, Mr Uzochukwu barricading the main entrance gates of the court to douse the tension that was rising who owns a rooster notorious
Akunedozi, has Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, and between us and the market management. for its loud crows to slaughter
distributed food items the FCTA secretariats, calling on the AMAC It took us by surprise that on the 25th of it.
and FCT administrations not to go ahead December 2020, we came to the complex Two neighbours of the
as well as cash gifts to with the planned demolition of the market. and discovered three billboards erected by
over 200 widows in appellant filed a complaint
It was gathered that the traders staged Urban Shelter that they want to remodel with the court claiming that
the Federal Capital the protest after officials of the FCTA’s the market.
Department of Development Control “And from that 2020, they have not been the rooster ’s relentless crows
Territory, FCT, to disturbs their sleep and peace
mark his birthday. stormed the market in the early hours of relating with us, but rather they have been
Tuesday and demolished its perimeter fraudulently relating with our tenants of the neighbourhood.
The food items fence, preparatory to the demolition of the who are traders in the market. And they In a ruling on Tuesday, April
include bag of rice, entire complex. even gave the FCT Minister the wrong 4, the Magistrate Halima Wali
vegetable oil, sachets The protesters, in their hundreds, carried impression that they have been discussing gave Shu’aibu the order to
of tomato paste, placards with inscriptions, ‘Leave UTC with us. slaughter his rooster on Friday,
among others. market alone,’ ‘Stay away from UTC “Then the Department of development April 7, 2023.
market, we do not want to remodel’ ‘UTC control came and wrote quit notice on One of the plaintiffs, Yusuf
The items were is the best market in FCT’ ‘Minister come March 30, and our lawyer wrote to them to
presented to the Muhammed, of Ja’en quarters
to our rescue’ ‘People depend on us to remind them that the case is in court. And
widows on behalf survive,’ among others. we thought the matter has ended, only for told the court that the rooster ’s
The chairman of the association of shop us to come this morning and saw that the relentless crowing was an
of the celebrator, by infringement of his right to a
the Senior Special owners, Mr. Godfrey Ojarikre, explained fence to the complex has been removed,”
that they woke up on Tuesday morning to he said. restful sleep.
Adviser to Chairman, Shu’aibu, who admitted that
Abuja Municipal his rooster has a knack for
Area Council, AMAC, crowing loudly, prayed the
on Community court to stay the judgement
Development, Mr until Friday.
Yunusa Ahmadu The magistrate, convinced by
Yusuf, in Abuja. the complainants’ argument,
According to Yusuf, ruled that the cock should be
“Mr Uzochukwu caged and slaughtered on 7th
of April.
asked me to mobilise Meanwhile, a Magistrate
not less than 200 court in Enugu reportedly
widows from different awarded the sum of N150,000
communities in the in damages to a man in
FCT to celebrate with his suit against a lady who
him on the occasion dishonoured an agreement.
of his birthday. The woman had received
“With the little N3,000 from him as transport
God has blessed him fare on the premise that she
on our land, he has will visit him, but she failed to
decided that he is show up.
He then dragged her to
going to touch lives court for obtaining money
of people. under false pretenses and
“Presently, over she was ordered by the chief
200 widows are here magistrate to pay him N150k.
and we are trying to
manage the situation
Man arrested for harvesting skulls in The petitioner told the court
that after he sent her the
because we know
how the economy has
graveyard in Ogun money, she switched off her
phone.
skull in his bag and his digging tools. The case was shared by a
been biting hard on By Chioma Nnodim
The Onipokia of Ipokia, Oba Yisa
the masses. lawyer known on Twitter
Middle-aged man identified as Olaniyan confirmed the incident to
“However, everyone Gbesemehan Dewanu Solomon has Journalists. as @egi_nupe, who said the
been arrested for exhuming human According to the monarch, the magistrate awarded damages
will go home with against the lady to serve as a
something, some will skulls from graves in Ipokia area of suspect has been handed over to
Ogun State. the police and investigation has deterrent.
go back with cash It was reported three months ago commenced immediately. He wrote; “A court in
grants, while others that dead bodies could no longer rest Oba Olaniyan appealed to the Enugu has reportedly set a
will go home with the in peace in the ancient town of Ipokia Ogun State police command to do good precedent by awarding
food items,” he said. as unknown ritualists invaded the everything necessary to fish out the damages of 150k against a
On her part, a town to dig graves for skulls. accomplices of Solomon and those lady. She was given 3k as
At the last count, residents of Ipokia buying the skulls from him, saying, transport fare to visit a guy
widow, Mrs Hanatu lamented that over 50 skulls had been “we must get to the root of this matter
Garba, appreciated removed from graves by ritualists and everybody involved must face and after collecting the money,
the celebrator and who operated under the cover of the law, no matter who they are.” she switched off her phone and
the organisers for darkness. The traditional ruler further refused to visit him. Infuriated
Without depending on the police and disclosed that human skulls were by her action, he reported and
remembering them sued her for deceit.
other security agents, the community recovered from the man’s house when
and for their kind leaders rose up in an effort to get the it was searched by the police. In the judgement, the
gesture. She prayed culprits arrested. Contacted, the Ogun State Police magistrate held that the
for long life for the It was learnt that their efforts paid Public Relations Officer, Abimbola lady’s action was deceitful
celebrator, adding off on Tuesday when Solomon was Oyeyemi, promised to revert. and awarded the sum of
that the food items arrested in the night in Idologun. Meanwhile, police sources who 150k against her to serve as
The suspect was about to dig a grave confirmed the arrest to Journalists,
she received would when he was nabbed by residents and said the suspect is still being deterrence to others with such
go a long. was reportedly apprehended with a interrogated. deceitful behavior.”
 Thursday, April 6, 2023 29

Wednesday January 4, 2023 Advert

29
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 29

Nato’s border with Russia doubles as Finland joins
Finland has become the 31st
member of the Nato security
alliance, doubling the length of
member states’ borders with Russia.
The Finnish foreign minister
handed the accession document
to the US secretary of state who
declared Finland a member.
Then in bright sunshine in front of
Nato’s gleaming new headquarters,
Finland’s white-and-blue flag
joined a circle of 30 other flags.
Finland’s accession is a setback
for Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
He had repeatedly complained
of Nato’s expansion before his full-
scale invasion of Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony
Blinken said by attacking his
neighbour, the Russian leader had
triggered exactly what he had
sought to prevent.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry
Peskov warned that Russia would
be “watching closely” what
happens in Finland, describing
Nato’s enlargement as a “violation
of our security and our national
interests”.
A military band played Finland’s
national anthem followed by the
Nato hymn. Beyond the perimeter
fence a small group of protesters
waving Ukrainian flags chanted
“Ukraine in Nato”, a reminder
of why non-aligned Finland had
asked to join along with Sweden in
May 2022.
Finland shares a 1,340-km (832-
mile) eastern frontier with Russia
and after the war in Ukraine began
Helsinki chose the protection of
Nato’s Article Five, which says an
attack on one member is an attack
on all.
In effect, it means if Finland
were invaded or attacked, all Nato
members - including the US -
Darya Trepova: Russia cafe bomb suspect charged with terrorism
A suspect in the killing of pro-war
Russian blogger Vladlen Tatarsky
has been charged with terrorism,
Russian officials say.
Darya Trepova was taken to a
Moscow court on Tuesday after
her arrest the previous day in St
Thursday, April 6, 2023
would come to its aid.
Russia’s invasion prompted a
surge in Finnish public opinion
towards joining Nato to 80% in
favour.
“It is a great day for Finland,”
said Finnish President Sauli
Niinisto, proclaiming a new era
for his country. Finland would be
a reliable ally and its membership
would not be a threat to anyone,
he said. “Security and stability are
those elements which we feel very
strongly; if people can live in secure
stable circumstances that’s the basic
element of happy life.”
“This will make Finland safer
and Nato stronger,” said Secretary
General Jens Stoltenberg earlier,
describing it as a proud day for him
and the alliance.
“President Putin had a declared
goal of the invasion of Ukraine to
get less Nato along its borders and
no more membership in Europe,
he’s getting exactly the opposite.”
US Secretary of State Antony
Blinken said he was “tempted to
say this is maybe the one thing we
can thank Mr Putin for, because he
once again here has precipitated
something he claims to want to
prevent by Russia’s aggression”.
Finland brings with it a well-
equipped and trained, active armed
force of about 30,000. It can also call
on 250,000 reserves.
It also provides a challenge for
Nato to help keep its long border
with Russia secure, but it is already
being included in Nato’s latest
defence plans to keep the alliance
secure.
Sweden’s application has for
now become stuck, with Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
accusing Stockholm of embracing
Kurdish militants and allowing
Petersburg.
Prosecutors are expected to
ask the court for her to remain in
detention.
Tatarsky was killed on Sunday
in a blast in a cafe in St Petersburg
where he was due to give a talk.
Foreign News
them to demonstrate on the streets.
Hungary is also yet to approve
Sweden joining.
As he handed over the accession
document to Mr Blinken, Finnish
Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto
said he had a very important initial
task: “The task is to give to you for
the deposit also our ratification for
Swedish membership.”
Mr Stoltenberg said the most
important thing was that Sweden
joined as soon as possible and the
Finnish president said he looked
forward to welcoming his Nordic
neighbour at Nato’s next summit in
Lithuania in July.
Helsinki’s journey to accession
More than 30 people were injured.
In a video released by the
authorities on Monday - most
likely recorded under duress - Ms
Trepova was heard admitting she
brought a statuette to the cafe that
later blew up.
has lasted less than a year, and
Tuesday’s ceremony coincides
with the 74th anniversary of Nato’s
founding in 1949.
“Finland’s a terrific ally, very
capable, shares our values and we
expect a seamless transition into
its proper seat at the table,” US
ambassador to Nato Julianne Smith
told the BBC.
The Kremlin said that Russia
was being forced to take counter-
measures to ensure its own
security, tactically and strategically,
but pointed out it had never had
disagreements with Helsinki in
the way that Ukraine had become
“anti-Russian”.
But the 26-year-old did not
say she knew there would be an
explosion, nor did she admit any
further role.
Russia’s Investigative
Committee, which looks into
major crime, said she had been
charged under the criminal code
with “a terrorist act carried out
by an organised group causing
intentional death” and the “illegal
possession of explosive devices
by an organised group”.
It said it was recommending to
the court that she be remanded in
custody.
The committee added that
it had evidence the attack was
organised by Ukrainian security
services with the help of jailed
Russian opposition leader Alexei
Navalny’s Anti-Corruption
Foundation.
But Kyiv presidential adviser
Mykhailo Podolyak described the
blast as part of a Russian “internal
political fight”.
Tatarsky (real name Maxim
Fomin), aged 40, had been
attending a patriotic meeting
with supporters in the cafe as
a guest speaker late on Sunday
afternoon.
A video circulating on social
30
Meanwhile, Defence Minister
Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that
Russia’s short-range Iskander-M
ballistic missile system had been
handed over to Belarus and was
capable of carrying nuclear as
well as conventional weapons.
Some Belarusian fighter jets were
also capable of carrying nuclear
weapons, he said.
Jens Stoltenberg said Nato had
not yet seen any changes to Russia’s
nuclear posture that would require
any change by the alliance. He
added there would be no Nato
troops stationed in Finland without
the consent of the government in
Helsinki.
media showed a young woman in
a brown coat apparently entering
the cafe with a cardboard box.
Images showed the box being
placed on a table in the cafe
before the woman sat down.
Another video showed a statue
being handed to Tatarsky.
Tatarsky was a well-known
blogger with more than half a
million followers, and had a
criminal past.
Born in the Donetsk region of
eastern Ukraine, he said he joined
Russian-backed separatists when
they released him from jail, where
he was serving time for armed
robbery.
He was part of a pro-Kremlin
military blogger community that
has taken on a relatively high-
profile role since Russia’s full-
scale invasion of Ukraine began
in February 2022.
Tatarsky is among those who
have gone so far as to criticise the
Russian authorities, slamming
the military and even President
Vladimir Putin for setbacks on
the battlefield.
But on Monday, he was
awarded the posthumous Order
of Courage by Mr Putin.
31
Trump indictment: A simple guide to what it means
Former US President Donald
Trump is being charged with a
crime in relation to a payment he
made to a porn star.
The man who spent four years
in the White House will be
fingerprinted, could be given a
mugshot photo and then brought
before a judge on Tuesday.
This is happening as he
campaigns to become president
again, in the 2024 election.
Here is what the case is about.
What is the latest news?
On Monday, Mr Trump travelled
from his Florida home to New York
City ahead of his arrest and court
appearance on Tuesday.
A new lawyer, Todd Blanche, is
expected to join Mr Trump’s legal
team ahead of his arraignment.
The former president is expected
to be released on bail by the court
Why the Wisconsin Supreme Court election matters
Millions of dollars are flooding
into Tuesday’s race to elect a judge
in Wisconsin. Why has an election
for a supposedly independent
position become such a bitter
political battle?
This is the most expensive court
race in US history, but there’s more
at stake than just $40m: whoever
wins a spot on Wisconsin’s Supreme
Court could tip the scales on some
of America’s most pressing issues.
The state’s top court has the final
say on what laws go into effect, and
is currently equally split between
three liberal and three conservative
candidates.
The side that wins a majority will
determine the fate of key issues
including access to abortion and
voting rights in the state.
The court could also be called
to decide on any challenges to
the 2024 US presidential election
results. In 2020, a single vote by a
justice blocked an effort by then-
and will return to his Mar-a-Lago
home on Tuesday evening before
addressing supporters at 20:15 local
time.
A jury in New York last week
voted to indict Mr Trump, which
means they believed there was
enough evidence to bring criminal
charges against him.
We don’t yet know what those
charges are, but his lawyers have
said he will plead not guilty.
But for weeks the jury has been
hearing evidence about a payment
made to buy the silence of a porn
star called Stormy Daniels.
It happened before the 76-year-
old was president, just prior to the
2016 election which he won against
Hillary Clinton.
What is a US grand jury?
What is Trump accused of?
Stormy Daniels says she had
President Donald Trump and his
allies to overturn his defeat in the
swing state.
“That majority on the court has
more power than the governor,
more power than the assembly
or the senate,” Brian Schimming,
the Chairman of Wisconsin’s
Republican Party, told the BBC.
That’s why unprecedented
attention - and campaign spending
- is focused on the 4 April run-off
between Judge Janet Protasiewicz,
the liberal candidate, and Justice
Daniel Kelly, her conservative
opponent.
The result of the race may be clear
by Tuesday evening.
The Wisconsin race has cost
nearly $42.3m (£34m), according
to campaign finance watchdog
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign,
triple the previous national record.
Since 20 March, when they had
to start mandatory disclosures,
Ms Protasiewicz’s campaign has
Thursday, April 6, 2023
an affair with Mr Trump in 2006,
which he has always denied.
In 2016 she tried to sell her
account of what happened to the
media. Mr Trump’s lawyer, Michael
Cohen, paid her $130,000 (£105,000)
to keep quiet. That kind of payment
is called hush money.
That is not illegal but what has
got Mr Trump into trouble is how
Mr Cohen’s reimbursement was
recorded in his accounts. He is
accused of falsifying his business
records by saying the payment was
for legal fees.
As it happened just before
Americans were due to vote, it may
also violate laws about payments
that help an election campaign.
There will now be a trial where
Mr Trump will make his case, but
we don’t know when that will be.
He has denied any wrongdoing
spent just shy of $12m, while her
opponent Mr Kelly’s campaign has
spent a little more than $2.2m. But
it was third-party organisations
whose spending on things like
advertisements tipped this race
into overdrive, with $15.3m spent
for Mr Kelly, and $11.3m for Ms
Protasiewicz.
Democratic and Republican
parties have been their biggest
contributors, as well as interest
groups and wealthy political
donors from both sides.
Matt Rothschild, executive
director of the Wisconsin
Democracy Campaign, said
changes to election laws have
allowed people from outside the
state to spend unlimited amounts
on campaigns.
“In a real democracy, we
shouldn’t have a tug of war
between a handful of billionaires on
the left and a handful of billionaires
on the right,” he said.
and says the charges are politically
motivated.
What happened between
Stormy Daniels and Trump?
Who is the prosecutor charging
Trump?
Is Trump going to jail if found
guilty?
The most likely outcome at the
end of this legal process is a fine
but there is also a chance he could
be sent to prison.
If any of the charges are serious
- what in the US is called a felony
- then Mr Trump would face a
maximum of four years in prison.
But legal experts tell the BBC
that time behind bars is unlikely.
Can Trump still run for
president?
Yes, there’s nothing in the
US constitution to prevent Mr
Trump from continuing his
Judicial elections are the norm
for state courts in the United States.
According to the National Center
on State Courts, nearly 90% of all
state judges are elected, either to
win their initial seat or to be re-
elected. In Wisconsin, the supreme
court election is technically meant
to be non-partisan. Both candidates
insist they will remain independent
during their 10-year term and
simply follow the law. But on a host
of hot-button issues, the battle lines
are clearly drawn.
“In a polarised political climate,
leaning into salient wedge issues
can be an effective way for
candidates to generate attention
and support - including financial
support,” said Professor Robert
Yablon, from the University of
Wisconsin Law School.
“The old expression that ‘all
politics is local’ increasingly seems
to have it backwards: today,
even local elections often become
Foreign
election campaign now he is being
charged.
Even if he was imprisoned, he
could theoretically still run for
president and win an election.
But there are practical
considerations.
A prolonged legal fight and a
trial will be a major diversion from
a presidential campaign - in time
and energy, and the scheduling of
election rallies.
Wasn’t Trump investigated
before?
Yes. He faced two major inquiries
by Congress when he was
president, called impeachments,
but was acquitted by the US
Senate both times.
Now he has left office he can no
longer be impeached but instead
can be indicted and faces a number
of criminal investigations.
nationalised,” he added.
After the US Supreme Court
overturned Roe v Wade in June
2022, ending the nationally
protected right to abortion, laws
surrounding the procedure fell to
individual states.
What is US Supreme Court ruling
on abortion about?
In Wisconsin, this meant a law
from 1849 came back into force.
One of the strictest in the country, it
bans abortion in nearly all cases, the
only exception being to save the life
of the mother.
Judge Protasiewicz has put the
effort to overturn that law at the
forefront of her campaign.
In her primary night victory
speech, she took aim at her
conservative rival: “I’ll be running
against someone who doesn’t
think that women get to make their
own reproductive choices. I will
guarantee you that my opponent, if
elected, will uphold the 1849 ban.”
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ISSN: 2141 - 7199 VOL.10 NO. 445 Thursday, Thursday,
February 6,April
20206, 2023 www.nigerianpilot.com

Last Line
“Any nation pushing traditional rulers aside may not prosper. We are the closest
to the people…we must be constitutionally empowered to work together with
government…to take our country to another level especially on security.”
-Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi calling for constitutional roles for traditional
N200 rulers in Nigeria.

NEWSPAPER WITH CONSCIENCE

Will the 10th Senate

endure the ordure?
Austin Isikhuemen
Guest Writer
There was once a governor from the South
East. His two-term tenure in the era when
illegal thumb-printing was rife and all
manner of abracadabra were commonplace
was going to end. It was alleged that his
methods and handling of the state’s resources
were going to leave huge gaps that might
require his being called to explain where
all the Naira notes went to. His choice of a
successor turned out to be another person
whose alleged soiled hands were already
under investigation for issues to do with
links to unexplained state funds as well.
The governor carefully chose his Chief
of Staff whose first name is the same as his
own surname. But there was a problem.
His chosen successor was under EFCC
investigation and under arrest. A plan was
hatched to get him sworn in at all cost. After
all, once sworn in, immunity will kick in.
With eight years assured after swearing in,
by the politics of that era, the EFCC top shot
would even be out of office and the trail turn
cold by the time the second rape of God’s
own State would end.
To ensure the successor-to-be sworn in
remains loyal to him, a lot of frightening,
even gory, oath-taking were said to have
been carried out at the famous Okija Shrine
popularised by Chris Ngige. There was an
insurance policy of sort. The details of these
alleged shenanigans were catalogued in
the Tell Magazine of June 14, 2017. Figures
like N40billion and N5.6billion were freely
mentioned in that Tell story. The videos of
the successor, bound with ropes and made
to drink some concoction, surfaced later but
were claimed by the successor to have been
manipulated. Nigerians knew better and
Abians did make some protest noises at the
time to no avail.
The unprecedented swearing in took
Nigerians by surprise. A well laid out
subterfuge and clever maneuver that
involved a handshake across the Niger
presented Abians and Nigerians with a fait
accompli. A Lagos High Court had let the
successor-to-be off the hook by granting
him bail from EFCC custody a few days to
the general swearing-in planned for May 29,
2007. Cunning sitting Governor Orji Uzor
Kalu immediately flew to Lagos and swore
Orji in on May 26, 2007, three clear days to
the statutory inauguration date and handed
over Abia State to his man Friday in Lagos
State! Immunity kicked in. Theodore Orji
became ‘His Excellency’ and could not be
arrested anymore till he is out of power. That
could be four or eight years later. It turned
out to be eight. Inquiry into the alleged
involvement of the new governor in financial
scams in Abia State came to a halt.
It is the strange story of Nigeria that these
two interesting characters eventually ended
up in the Senate, Nigeria’s retirement home
for ex-governors. They are there to make laws
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for the good governance of Nigeria. Yes, good
governance! The reasons we are where we are
not hard to find. A lot of water has passed under
the bridge since then. The 2023 elections were
expected to usher in a meaningful change that
will put Nigeria on a growth and development
trajectory. The legislature is expected to be
robust, make good laws and carry out vigorous
oversight to ensure good governance and better
the lives of Nigerians. The leadership of the
Senate is expected to play a critical role in this
process. So is the Executive and Judiciary.
The battle for Senate President is in top gear
and various senators have indicated interest
in the top job. The President of Senate plays
a critical role in guiding deliberations during
law making and oversight on the other arms of
government. Anyone coming to that role with a
lot of baggage from his past and present, whose
election’s win is doubtful, whose intellect is
suspect, and whose credibility has many grey
areas can only bring ordure to the hallowed
seat of the presiding officer. What is more, for
one who recently told the nation that it is not
yet time for his people to vie for the highest
office in the land, it is patently self-serving that
he now suddenly claims it is HIS TURN to be
Senate President!
Meaning, it was because of his desire to get
the senate president position for HIMSELF
that he decided to rubbish his people and zone
by painting the very best candidate to have
sprung for his zone in colours he did
Nigerians deserve,
for the position of
the Senate President
of the 10th Senate, a
man with character,
integrity, competence
and a burning desire
to make a positive
impact on the lives
of Nigerians through
effective legislation;
a man who can look
the President in the
face and say “no, Mr.
President, this route
will hurt Nigeria
not deserve. Like a dullard in class telling the
Principal not to make the most outstanding all-
round student Senior Prefect because he wants
to be made a janitor! What he did not know, or
perhaps is incapable of discerning, was the loud
guffaws his attack on Obi caused in the polity.
You know what it means when Nigerians say
“look at this one!” The Letter Writer of Anambra
played a similar role during the campaigns and
recently saw who the people really love when a
simple man without an entourage entered the
hall where he was doing his first year image
laundry in Awka.
For the new Senate President, who by
tradition should be a ranking member, the
past legislative contributions ought to be
interrogated. Which bills has he sponsored and
how many passed the Senate’s scrutiny and
eventually became laws? What impact has
those laws made on the welfare of Nigerians
and good governance of Nigeria? What is
his voting record especially on bills of great
importance to Nigerians which were killed on
the Senate floor? Has the Senator issues with
EFCC that have been swept under the carpet?
How clean are his records at his previous
roles?
The next Senate President must be a man
that unites Nigerians and not one with a
predisposition to lie or take a different route
once his bread is buttered. Nigerians deserve,
for the position of the Senate President of the
10th Senate, a man with character, integrity,
competence and a burning desire to make
a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians
through effective legislation; a man who can
look the President in the face and say “no, Mr.
President, this route will hurt Nigeria.” Not one
that would continue the “yes sir, master sir” of
the last four years. We need a Senate President
that will be original and not copy the Executive
by saying “it is my turn” because someone
else had said so; one that can speak the official
language of our government business and
not make the global audience snigger at us by
saying “someone was killed to death.”
Is the 10th Senate ready to endure the
ordure of someone with putrefying baggage
as their presiding officer? Would that serve our
purpose? Do we need another rubber stamp
when the last one has left us with N77trillion
albatross? Should the upper legislative
chamber sacrifice quality and character for this
ridiculous “it is my turn” manifesto that one
senator just delivered? Would it not serve us
better to have a senator who is not necessarily
the most ranking take the slot knowing that
he will bring competence and rigour to the job
of presiding over legislation and providing
altruistic oversight over government
business?
Are we incapable of recognising that having
a leadership peopled by baggage carriers
hurts our progress and image in the comity
of nations? Are we going to take steps that
exasperate Nigeria’s friends and likely to
make them take steps to leave us to swim in
our self-created morass? Are we again going to
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, tainted as
it is? The choice is ours to make.
*Isikhuemen can be reached via auxtynisi@
yahoo.com
Tiger Woods
targets 87th
Masters
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods says he still has a chance to win the
Masters even though his mobility isn’t where he
would like it to be.
Only Jack Nicklaus, who in 2019 overcame back
surgery to carry off one of the sport’s greatest
comebacks, has more Green Jacket titles (6) than
Tiger Woods (5).
Woods finished 47th last year, 14 months after
making his professional golf comeback following a
high-speed car accident.
Ahead of the 2023 Masters Tournament which
will kick off on April 6 at Augusta National,
Georgia, the 47-year-old American golfer said,
“Whether I am a threat or not who knows.
“People probably didn’t think I was a threat in
2019 either but that turned out OK. Before my back
fusion, I didn’t know if I was ever going to play the
game at any kind of level.
“I was able to do that and come back and play
and I happened to win a major along the way and
with the accident, it has been a tough road.”
Tiger Woods is the seventh golfer to win the
Masters Tournament twice at Augusta National in
2001 and 2002.
One of the most famous shots in the tournament
history, his chip-in on the par-three 16th in 2005,
served as additional proof of his spectacular
accomplishment.
Two years after suffering significant back
surgery, his victory in 2019 defied the odds as he
completed an 11-year wait to win a 15th major.
The seriousness of the injuries he experienced in
2021 and their long-term effects, had caused him
to contemplate that the 87th edition of the Masters
Tournament might be his final Masters.
However, Tiger Woods is happy with his
progress after his most recent appearance at the
Genesis Invitational in February, where he finished
45th, despite being conscious that his right leg’s
condition limits how he plays and practices.
“Last year I didn’t know if I was going to play
again and for some reason, everything came
together and I made the cut which was nice,” he
said.