₦airaland Forum

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A single lady simply known as Ayo, attempted to trap a top politician in Ogun State with pregnancy in order to rope him in as husband but her plans failed in Lagos.

The lady in question resided at Silver Estate in Ejigbo area of Lagos but she met the politician in Ogun State, they became lovers and developed their relationship for some years without his wife’s knowledge.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that she got pregnant and put to bed a baby boy. But the new baby looked more like Ayo’s secret lover who was a Lebanese she had dated before she met the politician.

It was gathered that after the baby was born, the excited politician went to the undisclosed hospital in Lagos to meet Ayo and see the new baby which he thought he was the real father. It was then the whole secret got exposed and he discovered that Ayo had fooled him all the while by informing him that he had impregnated her.

It was gathered that the baby’s hairs, body and colour completely resembled Ayo’s Lebanese secret lover. The politician asked Ayo what would have been the cause as there was no sign that the baby was born by a Nigerian father.

She replied that it could be a mixture of his gene and that of her former lover who was a Lebanese. She reportedly pleaded with him to accept the baby since he had no child from his wife.

But the politician was said to have become angry, walked out of the hospital and cut every communication link he had with Ayo.

P.M.EXPRESS learnt that during the period of their relationship, the politician revealed to Ayo that he was married for several years but that his wife was unable to have a child. He explained that his wife’s chances of getting pregnant and having a child was slim because of her age and menopause.

Ayo then pretended to empathise with him and promised that she will bear a child for him. The politician then started taking care of her; rented a two bedroom apartment for her and gave her a car.

However, after being in relationship for years without any pregnancy, Ayo played fast one on him and got impregnated by her Lebanese lover who had since left Nigeria.

When Ayo eventually became pregnant, she announced it to the man who took special care of her and ensured that she lacked nothing throughout the pregnancy period. It was after she put to bed that she landed into serious problem. The politician disowned her and the baby and life became unbearable for her.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Ayo is now in dilemma on what to do and having a son without a father since the politician had disowned the baby. She was said to have also attempted to communicate with her Lebanese lover but had been unable to reach him as his friends do not have his contacts in Lebanon.

Posted By: Collins Nweze



The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) circular on dividend payout by commercial banks and discount houses has been analysed based on the performances and balance sheet positions of all lenders.

A report released yesterday by Afrinvest West Africa, an investment and research firm, showed that only six banks – Access Bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, Wema Bank and Zenith Bank- met the CBN’s minimum requirement for Capital Adequacy Ration (CAR) and Non-Performing Loans. Hence these banks are excluded from the restrictions on dividend payment.

The firm explained that many lenders will not be able to pay dividends based on their capital reserves as well as the proportion of Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) in a bid to forestall any threats to customer deposits in the system.

On the criteria that require lenders to meet the minimum Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) before dividend payout, the research firm said all the banks under its coverage, save for Unity and Union, met the minimum requirement stipulated by the CBN.

“For Unity, the current CAR (as at nine month 2017) is unavailable while Union Bank had a CAR of 13.3 per cent (below CBN requirement of 15 per cent in first half of 2017). We envisage Union’s CAR will improve by fiscal year 2017, adjusting for the capital raise of N50 billion via rights issue in 2017,” it said.

On another requirement that banks and discount houses that have a Composite Risk Rating (CRR) of “High” or a Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio of above 10 per cent shall not be allowed to pay dividend, the report said only FBN Holdings has a non-performing loan ratio above 10 per cent which should disqualify the entity from paying dividend.

“However, given the Holding company structure operated by FBN Holdings, analysts believe dividend can be paid from earnings of subsidiaries, other than the bank,” it said.

Further analysis of the report showed that banks and discount houses that meet the minimum capital adequacy ratio but have a CRR of “Above Average” or an NPL ratio of more than five per cent but less than 10 per cent shall have dividend payout ratio of not more than 30 per cent.

Under this condition, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (STI) is the only Tier-1 bank restricted to a maximum payout ratio of 30 per cent on the basis of the fact that its NPL ratio stood at 9.6 per cent in nine months of 2016.

Similarly, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Sterling and Union Bank are also restricted to a maximum of 30 per cent maximum payout ratio with respective NPL ratio above five per cent but below 10 per cent.

On the provision that banks and discount houses that have capital adequacy ratios of at least three per cent above the minimum requirement, CRR of “Low” and NPL ratio of more than five per cent but less than 10 per cent, shall save dividend payout ratio of not more than 75 per cent of profit after tax.

Under this condition, ETI is the only Tier-1 bank that is restricted to 75 per cent maximum dividend payout ratio. Stanbic is the only Tier-2 bank eligible to pay up to 75 per cent as dividend payout.

On the provision that there shall be no regulatory restriction on dividend payout for banks and discount houses that meet the minimum CAR, have a CRR of “low” or “moderate” and an NPL ratio of not more than five per cent, the report said it is expected that the Board of such institutions will recommend payouts based on effective risk assessment and economic realities.

On the policy that no bank or discount house shall be allowed to pay dividend out of reserves, the analysis shows that no Nigerian bank breached this provision.

On the requirement that banks shall submit their Board approved dividend payout policy to the CBN before the payment of dividend shall be permitted, analysts believe the CBN will ensure compliance with the set guidelines before approval of dividend payment by the banks.

It said that in light of these new guidelines and based on our analysis of the banks using their nine month 2017 results, most of the banks, especially the Tier-1 banks, such as Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank, save for FBNH, are not likely to be significantly impacted and are expected to sustain the historical dividend payment trend.

“ETI meets the regulatory requirement for CAR, but has NPL above recommended maximum by the CBN; hence a maximum payout ratio of 30 per cent is placed on the bank. For the banks affected by the restrictions, we opine more attention will be turned towards improving NPL and shoring up capital buffers in order to ensure dividend payment,” it said.

Diamond Bank has sold off its African operations for a consideration of $75.7 million (N27.3 billion) to improve its CAR buffers. Union Bank has concluded a N50 billion rights issue in order to improve its capital base.

”Furthermore, given the premium Nigerian investors place on dividend paying stocks, we believe banks will strive to improve on dividend payment. Nevertheless, we do not rule out the possibility of some kneejerk sell-off reactions by investors especially in stocks that are affected by the dividend payment restrictions. Hence, we advise that investors tread cautiously, especially ahead of the release of full year earnings,” the analysts said.

By Isiaka Wakili


President Muhammadu Buhari says all mismanaged and misappropriated national assets recovered will be sold off and proceeds paid to the treasury for the country's benefit.

He vowed that he would not allow a repeat of what happened in the 1980s when buildings and other ill-gotten property seized by his military administration were returned to corrupt officials following his ouster as Head of State.

Buhari, according to his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Malam Garba Shehu, said this on Monday in his Daura country home in Katsina State while receiving representatives of social groups in Daura Emirate.

The president said his administration would continue to pursue a robust, effective and legitimate anti-corruption campaign that safeguards the treasury and commonwealth of all Nigerians.

He assured that the All Progressives Congress-led government would consolidate on the gains and monumental achievements in the development of infrastructure across the country.

 “For most ordinary Nigerians, if you give them good roads, railway and stable electric power they will be happy to carry on with their lives.

‘‘We are doing so much for our country and we will continue to do more out of the fear of God,” President Buhari said.

On agriculture development, he promised that the Federal Government would sustain the provision of funds, improved seedlings and fertilizer to farmers to ensure that the sector remains the largest employer of labour to Nigerians.

President Buhari said the records of achievements on security, war against corruption and the revival of the economy had remained very impressive.

He expressed delight that more young people were venturing into agribusiness; while security, especially in the northeast, had remarkably changed from what he met in 2015.

Alhaji Mohammed Saleh, the spokesman of the delegations, commended President Buhari for implementing policies and programmes that have created gainful employment to thousands of young Nigerians under the Social Investment Programme.

Saleh said improved electricity supply in their communities and growing foreign reserves are clear indications of good management of the economy under the present administration.

The delegations also congratulated the President on his appointment as the continental Champion against corruption by the African Union, noting that it underscored the global appreciation of the good work he is doing in fighting corruption.

They also commiserated with the President on the recent loss of his close family members. 

The groups represented at the meeting were the Daura Emirate Coalition of Associations; the Amalgamation of Daura Emirate Political Associations; the Buhari Group; the Daura Emirate Development Forum; Women in Politics in Daura Emirate and the Daura Emirate Consultative Forum.

Posted By: Yusuf Alli



Former First Lady Patience Jonathan’s bid to settle out of court the brewing dispute over the strange payment of $11,489,069.03 into her domiciliary accounts has been rejected.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the ex-First Lady to come before a court by entering into a plea bargain in line with the laws of the land.

The agency said it would only accept a plea bargain in which the court is carried along.
Also, EFCC detectives have not been able to trace about 29 of the 31 individuals and companies which made the controversial deposits.

The development has fuelled speculations that some of the depositors are “fictitious”.
Some of the shops where the ex-First Lady visited are said to have offered to give details of how much was spent and the items bought.

The EFCC believes that an out-of-court settlement suggests that there is a dispute between two parties.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have considered the January 30, 2018 letter by Dame (Mrs.) Ibifaka Patience Jonathan; we are of the opinion that her offer of out-of-court settlement is strange and confounding as if there is a dispute between her and the EFCC.

“We are certainly rejecting the offer from the ex-First Lady because the EFCC does not engage in such a deal.

“But we prefer the ex-First Lady approaching a court for plea bargain in line with the relevant laws if she is ready to settle all issues. The terms of the plea bargain will be open to all parties before the court.

“I think she should emulate other high profile suspects who went to the court for plea bargain. We are ready to apply the laws in the interest of justice for all. We won’t oppose plea bargain.”

The source said the EFCC would soon make its position known to Mrs Jonathan counsel. “As an officer in the Temple of Justice, we know that the respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) will guide the ex-First Lady accordingly,” he said.

By Victor Azubuike


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Chaos has erupted in Rumuokoro roundabout in Obio-Akpor Local government area of Rivers State following the killing of a taxi driver by a trigger-happy policeman.

The Policeman attached to a detachment of officers escorting a Petrol Tanker reportedly shot dead the unnamed driver for obstructing their movement.

DAILY POST gathered that passengers were in the cab when the unfortunate incident occurred but none of the passengers was injured.

Eyewitnesses say the cab drivers plying the Rumuokoro axis and motor-park touts regrouped immediately after the incident.

Other commercial drivers and motor park touts responded by blocking all roads connecting Rumuokoro roundabout and threatening to unleash violence.

One of the eyewitnesses say the touts stopped Police officers reinforced from Rumuokoro Divisional Police Station from evacuating the body of the slain driver.

Another eyewitness said the touts started attacking everyone perceived to be from Northern Nigeria because they perceived that the trigger happy officer is a Northerner.

“After they have stopped the police from carrying the lifeless body of the driver, those touts started attacking ‘Aboki’ people that are pushing wheelbarrows. That was why SARS people came to stop them because they had started destroying Aboki shops too,” he said.

The development prompted more police reinforcement from the Anti Kidnapping Unit and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad to quell possible breakdown of law and order in the area.

The Rivers State Police Command is yet to respond to the unfortunate incident.

lalasticlala

Gibson Mhaka


THERE was a dramatic spectacle in Hwange’s Mpumalanga suburb when a husband caught his wife allegedly romping with a lover after he reportedly ambushed them following a tip-off from neighbours.

It is reported that Thabani Mudimba working in Mhondoro got the shock of his life when he walked in on his wife Yabani Mudimba (Nee Nyoni) in a midnight sex romp with her long time lover George Nyakabawo.

The visibly angry Thabani was reportedly in the company of police officers when he found the pair-Nyoni and Nyakabawo – busy like rabbits having sex in the latter’s bedroom.

Speaking to B-Metro, a source close to the couple said Thabani who works in Mhondoro was informed by neighbours that his wife was madly in love with Nyakabawo and that during his absence she was always going to his place for sleep-overs.

Following that tip-off and on the day Thabani caught the two lovebirds naked in bed he reportedly lied to his wife that he was going back to Mhondoro before he proceeded to a friend’s place which is close to Nyakabawo’s.

Believing that that her husband had truly gone back to Mhondoro, it is alleged that at around midnight Yabani decided to go to her lover’s place for a sleep–over not knowing that her husband lay in ambush her.

“When she left her house going to Nyakabawo’s place, Yabani didn’t know that her husband was ambushing her at his friend’s place which is also close to that of her lover. When she arrived at Nyakabawo’s house, some neighbours who were also monitoring her quickly alerted Thabani.

“Thabani in a bid to have solid witnesses to the two lovebirds’ shenanigans, he quickly went and collected two police officers who accompanied him to Nyakabawo’s house where upon storming it they found the pair naked in bed,” said the source.

After being busted, the red-faced lovebirds who were nervously shaking reportedly asked for forgiveness confessing that they had been doing it for a long time and that they had also on several occasions gone to Victoria-Falls for picnics.

The source said following the disturbing incident, Thabani who seems not to have it to forgive is reportedly in the process of filing for divorce. He had also sued Nyakabawo for adultery damages destroying his marriage.

When contacted for comment, a seemingly distraught Thabani could neither confirm nor deny the incident.

“I cannot comment on the issue now. I can only do that when we have resolved it,” he said.

Yabani could not, however, be reached for comment as her mobile phone was unreachable.

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The Nigerian Community in South Africa said on Friday that a member was stabbed during a xenophobic attack in Rustenberg, North-West Province area.

The President of Nigerian Union, South Africa, Mr Adetola Olubajo, told our reporter on telephone that the victim, identified as Desmond, was attacked on Feb. 14.

“Desmond is a Nigerian hair piece hawker in Rustenberg, North West Province of South Africa.

“He was attacked on Feb. 14 and sustained multiple injuries. He was rescued when he was about to be set ablaze after being wet with petrol,’’ Olubajo said.

He said that the Nigerian community in Rustenburg was currently living in fear as tension has heightened in the area.

Olubajo said that the union’s executive had visited the city on a fact finding tour and had already spoken to Nigerians in the area.

“Nigerians and their families told us that the situation is very dangerous and that their lives are not safe.

“They also alleged that some group of people were abducting Nigerians and requesting money to bail themselves.

“A Nigerian who couldn’t pay was murdered last month. This same group also looted businesses of foreign nationals, Nigerians in particular,’’ the president said.

Olubajo said the union could not continue to keep quiet on this criminality and xenophobic act meted to Nigerians in South Africa.

He said that there was need for the mission and government to intervene in the matter to avoid further loss of lives and properties of Nigerians.

“There is need for the Nigerian government to engage with its counterpart in South Africa. It’s not correct that those who were attacked and killed are criminals.

“Such statements are misinformation and misleading,’’ he said.
NAN

By Caleb Onwe and Regina Otokpa



Some political appointees, particularly special and personal assistants to ministers serving in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet are at daggers drawn with their principals over the nonpayment of their salaries for months. Investigations by our correspondents showed that the situation has created so much discomfort for this cadre of employees that many have been forced to live on charity and the goodwill of friends and relations.

The situation is even worse for many aides who came into Abuja recently and were hoping to settle down as “big boys”. The hard reality, New Telegraph learnt, is that many of them are still battling with accommodation issues and have been finding it hard to pay their children’s school fees and meet other family obligations.

It was also gathered that a good number of these aides have had to throw in the towel when all entreaties to get their bosses to pay them their emoluments did not yield the desired results. Our investigations also revealed that the situation was almost the same in nearly all the ministries.

In one of the ministries, it was observed that some of the aides to the minister, who were recruited as protocol officers, have abandoned their duties and were running after contractors and friends of their principal with the aim of getting some cash to pay their bills. A source in one of the ministries confided in our correspondent that some of the aides have perfected a way of cornering high profile visitors to the minister’s office, especially state governors, heads of agencies and parastatals as well as diplomatic delegations.

New Telegraph learnt that one of the contractors got two aides of a minister accommodation in Abuja. The sole aim of establishing undue familiarity with these visitors, New Telegraph learnt, was to enable them extort money from the visitors. It was also gathered that the anti-corruption posture of the present administration, especially the precautionary measures in the award of contracts and the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), were some of the factors making it difficult for the ministers to fulfill their obligations to these political aides.

“The aides are having it very tough with the stance of this administration to corruption. The ministers are not awarding ridiculous contracts to their aides and cronies as it used to be. It is even more difficult for the Personal Assistants to the ministers who are expected to be paid by the ministers.

Many of them have not been getting their allowances as and when due, and I believe it is due to lack of the flow of free money,” one of our sources said. Our correspondent also observed that in some of the ministries, the protocol aides have become very hostile to journalists and oftentimes fence them away from meeting high profile visitors of the minister, because, to them, such closeness by the media could reduce their opportunity to extract favours from the visitors. A political aide in one of the ministries, who corroborated our findings and gave a general perspective to the situation, said that the problem was widespread and not limited to a particular ministry.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said many political aides may drag their principals to court on the matter unless they were paid their wages. His words: “I think it is largely a general problem. I know of an SA (Special Assistant) in one of these ministries who has gone public with the problem he has with his boss. If you google it, you will see the skirmishes between a former PA and the minister and if you check, there were a lot of brickbats on social media. “By the letter given to the Hon. Minister, the salary of the PA is embedded in the minister’s emoluments. According to the letter, it is expected that the minister would pay his PA from his salary.

The thing is clearly stated in the minister’s letter of appointment and that is general to all the ministers. “But in this instance, the minister collected his salary and that of his PA for 23 months without giving the PA even N1. So when the guy said he wanted his money, the minister was not ready to pay him.

“Eventually, the PA got a lawyer to write him a letter, threatening to go to court. Hence, the minister paid N1 million cash to the guy and the guy gave it to the lawyer. I am sure that they are in the process of going to court now.” Other political appointees who decried the situation, blamed the development on the system. According to him, “Because we run an insincere government in Nigeria, the minister is expected to pick his SAs, but the system is silent on how these SAs will be paid.

“Before now, in the previous governments, each of these ministries sends the names of the SAs of Ministers to the agencies and parastatals under them as consultants and these agencies will pick up the salaries.
This was the standard practice. “However, under the current dispensation, some of the ministers were overzealous when they came because they had never been in government before. They came with as many as 10 SAs, but the system cannot accommodate more than six or seven.

“Some of the ministers failed to heed the early warnings that the system has a maximum capacity it can absorb and the best way to handle it was to follow the standard procedures. “In the letter given to me, it was stated that my salary will be arranged in line with standard practice and it was signed by the Hon. Minister himself.

“So eventually, when we started, we were not given any money. Each time we go to the man, he will say he is working on it. In the end, that was how we continued and as at last month (January), I have worked for about 30 months with-out any salary.” On how he has been surviving, the minister’s aide told New Telegraph that: “What happens is that sometimes people who come to the minister’s office dash us some money.

Now, I used to joke with some of my friends that we are almajiris. I learnt it is not peculiar to our ministry alone. It is happening in other places. I don’t think it is a problem of the government; it is the fault of individual ministers who refused to follow the laid down procedures.” New Telegraph also gathered that some of the ministers, particularly those who have been in government before as governors and ministers, have managed the situation better by ensuring that those working with them get their entitlements. One of the ministers told New Telegraph that he got some development partners to pay the salaries of his appointees.

“I have no issue with my aides. The few that work with me get their pay as and when due. I facilitated the payment through my networks with some international development partners in the country,” he said. On the other hand, the new comers among them were said to be reluctant following the same procedures of getting agencies and parastatals to pay their personal aides for fear that it could become an instrument of blackmail.

However, New Telegraph also learnt that this holier-than-thou attitude of the new breed ministers has not prevented them from going behind the scene to extort money from these agencies for their personal comfort while leaving their aides at the mercy of charity. In many of the ministries, political aides see their bosses as mean characters that siphons the salaries and allowances of their staff. In one of the ministries, our correspondent gathered that although the minister does not siphon the salaries of his aides and details, their “allowances are usually cornered during trips.”

As a result of the unfair treatment, an inside source disclosed, aides and security details were always complaining, adding that this could be the reason behind the constant redeployment of most of the attaches from and to the ministry. The source told our correspondent that there was a recent incident involving allowances during a trip which made the security details issue a threat to shoot one of the aides.

A 27-year-old man, Ifeanyi Ede, on Thursday appeared in a Kubwa Grade I Area Court for allegedly setting his girlfriend’s house on fire.

Ede, who lives at Pipeline Kubwa Village, Abuja, pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of criminal trespass, causing mischief by fire and criminal intimidation.

Prosecutor Idowu Lawal had told the court that Esther Yahaya of Kubwa, Abuja, reported the matter at the Kubwa Police Station on Feb. 5.
Lawal said the accused criminally trespassed into the complainant’s house and set the house on fire on the said date.

He said the complainant lost her valuables worth N94,000 in the fire.

Lawal also said the accused while in police custody, threatened the complainant.
He said the offence contravened sections 342, 337 and 397 of the Penal Code.

After taking the accused’s plea, the judge, Mohammed Marafa, granted him bail in the sum of N150,000 with one surety in like sum.

Marafa ordered that the surety must produce evidence of means of livelihood and identification.

He adjourned the matter until March 5 for hearing. (NAN)

lalasticlala

By Isiaka Wakili



The Presidency has identified corrupt practices by some state officials in its Social Investment Programmes.

The Special Adviser to the President on the Social Investment Programmes, Mrs Maryam Uwais, disclosed this to State House correspondents after after her presentation to the National Economic Council.

The presidential aide confessed that the Federal Government was weak in the monitoring of the implementation of the programmes.

She listed those corrupt practices as including shortchanging, racketeering and harassment of beneficiaries as well as exploitation of the vulnerable.

Uwais, who asked state governors for logistics, said the Presidency had engaged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as traditional rulers for monitoring.

Uwais also disclosed that the actual spending on the programmes in 2016 and 2017 was 15.8 percent of the N1 trillion appropriated, explaining: "This is the amount that has been released out of the budget appropriated for Social Investment Programme."

He stated: "We identified seven challenges relating to corrupt practices by some state officials, racketeering, taking advantage of the level of illiteracy of the women who are poor and illiterate. Their vulnerability are exploited. We pleaded with state governors to take more interest in what is going on so they can be protected. We are weak in motoring.

"So, we also asked the state governors to support us with logistics. In some communities, we can only access them through bush paths and see how they can support us with offices for their own staff and all that is required for us to operate seamlessly in the states.

"We mentioned that we are collaborating with certain organisations within the federal government which have presence in the states and are helping us with monitoring. We engaged traditional rulers. We engaged DSS.

"We engaged EFCC where fraud is involved because we really need to monitor and we also engaged the civil defence which has agreed to give us armed policemen and also armed civil defence to guard the women the day they are being paid. We ask for some assistance. For example where some of the state officials act as gate keepers. They charged the beneficiaries who apply for loans certain amount.

"So, we ask the states to take better interest and to stop those malpractices because they are actually cheating these people who are already poor.

"We ask states to facilitate the generation of BVN and opening of accounts for some of these people and also to form cooperative so that they can access our loans. For the school feeding, we ask them to fast track the commencement of the programmes in states where they haven't started.

"We ask them to assist us in screening the cooks and also training them and also strengthening the monitoring and evaluation because we keep seeing or hearing stories of what is happening and we are trying to curtail those, but because of the remoteness of some of these communities, the information doesn't come to us early enough.

"But we are encouraging everybody to give us feedback; to tell us what kind of food is being fed to the children because we have come to agreement to set menu of nutritional content required for children of that age."

She said the programmes required state governments to, among other things, provide micro loan programme ad well as support in fraud detection and prevention by local officials
Uwais said put total direct beneficiaries of the Social Investments Programmes at 7,812,201 with 1,500,000 second beneficiaries mainly as farmers and cooks.

lalasticlala

Posted By: Eric Ikhilae, Abuja


The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Thursday explained why the apex bank cannot provide information on the funds used to defray the cost of President Muhammadu Buhari’s treatment in London.

He also explained why CBN cannot provide information on how much it cost the country to keep a presidential aircraft and crew for 103 days at the Stansted Airport in the United Kingdom while President Buhari’s medical treatment lasted.

Emefiele argued that it was not within the CBN’s immediate responsibilities to provide such information.

He spoke in a reaction to a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1142/2017 filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the Incorporated Trustees of Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative (ASRADI) led by its Executive Director, Adeolu Oyinlola.

ASRADI said in the suit that the CBN and its Governor refused to honour its Freedom of Information request contained in a letter of October 19, 2017 for information on the amount released for Buhari’s medical treatment in London and the amount paid on behalf of the Nigerian government as parking fees for keeping the presidential aircraft and crew in the UK while the President’s treatment lasted.

In the suit, with the CBN, its Governor and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as respondents, ASRADI wants a declaration that the information the respondents provided it with through its letter of October 19, 2017 “amounted to a wrongful denial of information and is a flagrant violation of the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011.”

It also seeks an order compelling the respondents to furnish it with information sought in the letter of October 19, 2017, and a further order, mandating the CBN and its Governor to pay the plaintiff N10million in damages “for the wilful refusal of the 1st and 2nd respondents to release information in respect of the applicant’s letter dated October 19, 2017.”

In a supporting affidavit, Oyinlola contended that it was within the responsibilities of the CBN and its Governor to provide the requested information because they “are responsible for all foreign currency transactions of the Nigerian government or transactions involving the Federal Government of Nigeria and foreign institutions as it concerns transfer of money outside the shores of Nigeria.”

But, in their counter affidavit filed on February 13 this year, the CBN and its Governor urged the court to reject the applicant’s prayers and dismiss the suit.

They equally urged the court to vacate an earlier ex-parte order granting leave to the applicant to apply for “a prerogative order of mandamus” compelling them to provide the requested information.

By Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI


A 12-year-old girl, Faith Nwanja, has told officials of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development how she was subjected to inhuman treatment by her mistress, Mrs. Mrs. Nkechi Bartholomew.

The girl, who hails from Okoffia community in Ezza South Local Government Area, was tortured, mutilated and abandoned by Bartholomew for being too stubborn.

Bartholomew, a childless woman and seamstress adopted Nwanja and took her to Onitsha, Anambra State, when she was eight years old.

But Bartholomew allegedly disfigured the girl.

Nwanja has shocking scars and injuries all over her body, including eyes. She also has bloodied mouth and has lost one of her hands to torture.

Narrating her ordeal, the girl said her madam always tortures her with sticks, hot iron and other dangerous weapons for being stubborn.

She also alleged that Bartholomew, who hails from the same area with her, always inserts stick into her private part.

It was learnt that Bartholomew tortured Nwanja and locked her up in a dark room. She was rescued by Bartholomew’s sister and taken back to Ebonyi State.

Nwanja equally accused Bartholomew of chaining her and that she only eats once in a day which, according to her, is usually in the evening.

She said: “My madam, Bartholomew, disfigured me like this. I was a full-fledged human being when she took me to Onitsha, Anambra State. She inserted her fingers in my eyes and inflicted these injuries on me.

“In this my mouth, she usually uses stones and puts inside it. She said I don’t normally brush my teeth and since I cannot do it, I must always suffer for it.

“The husband has never beaten me; he always gets annoyed seeing me being tortured by his wife. At times, he will summon courage and quarrel with his wife because the wife is bigger than the man.

“My madam used to lock me inside a dark room after beating me up. I was taken home by my madam’s sister who told her to take me home but she refused. My madam used to tell me that nothing will happen if I die, that she will spend her money and regain freedom if she is arrested if anything happens to me.

“I was attending school in the village before she took me to Onitsha. But since four years that I went to Onitsha, I have not gone to school. I only eat in the evening every day.

“My madam used to insert stick into my private part, she says I am stubborn. After beating me up, she will bring to gallons and placed my two legs. She will tie my legs on them and insert stick into my private part.”

Head of Department, Child Development Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Godwin Igwe, described Nwanja’s torture as inhuman and degrading.

Igwe said it was contrary to the constitution of the Nigeria 1999 as amended in 2011.
He said: “No human being or child for any reason should be subjected to inhuman treatment. But this child was subjected to inhuman treatment.

“This is a pure case of attempted murder, this is a pure case of attempted annihilation, snuffing of life and debilitating. Right now, she cannot use one of her hands, she is a disabled person. The head has been mutilated, she has been disfigured.”

Meanwhile, the suspect is at large while her sister who brought the victim home has been arrested by the state police command.

Posted By: Osagie Otabor, Benin



A member of vigilance group in Obadolovbiyeyi community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Efe Igbnovia, has been shot dead by soldiers.

The soldiers were said to have released some herdsmen who were nabbed for armed robbery.

Witnesses said the vigilance group had arrested some herdsmen for armed robbery along the Benin-Abraka expressway and late Igbinovia was asked to watched over the arrested herdsmen while went after other fleeing members of the gang.

The witness said a group of armed men in military uniforms arrived in a Honda car marked AP 641 KTN and fired at Igbinovia after which they set the arrested suspects free.

A member of the community, Mr. Henry Osemwengie, said that the vigilance group had earlier arrested about six herdsmen for robbery and took to the Ugbekun police station.

Osemwengie said, “Two of the herdsmen were caught. Igbinovia was asked to stay.

Before then, the police had been called to come and pick them (herdsmen) because that is what we normally do. Suddenly, a red Honda car with about four of them putting on military uniforms carrying AK47 rifles came and started shooting.

“Igbinovia shouted that he had been shot. When the other people (vigilantes) came back, they discovered that Igbinovia was already down. They (armed men) killed him and went away with two robbers. Robbers, most of whom are Hausa, usually operate there. They keep their cows by the side, block the road and start robbing.”

Cousin of the deceased, Mr Onaghise Willson said his late brother was allegedly shot by the men in military uniforms before taking some of the arrested armed herders to the hospital for treatment.

Members of the community however stormed the Benin Central hospital to mob some the arrested suspects but were by the police.

State commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Makinde Iskil said some persons have been arrested.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, who confirmed the incident said, “The herdsmen were alleged to have blocked the expressway. Two of them are with the police undergoing interrogation.

On the alleged killing of the vigilante by armed men in military uniforms, Kokumo said, “That is an allegation we are investigating. Actually, one of the vigilance members died in the course of duty.”

Spokesperson for the 4 Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army, Capt. Mohammed Maidawa, said troop deplored to Ologbo for pipeline protection received a tip off from locals closed to their location of suspected armed robbery activities.

He said the troop mobilised to the scene and engaged armed men at the scene but unfortunately one person who was later identified as member of the vigilante was killed.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the vigilante group also response to a distress call on the robbery operation.

The vigilante started demonstration but the situation has been brought under control,”

By Eugene Agha,



The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has given a 24-hour ultimatum to officials of unauthorised government agencies to vacate the seaports or risk being arrested.

The directive is in line with a new order issued to NPA by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

PEBEC directed NPA to ensure strict compliance to the October 26, 2011, presidential directive on agencies permitted to operate in the ports.

The NPA, therefore, reiterated that only eight federal government agencies were allowed to operate and have physical representation at all port locations in the country.

General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of NPA, Abdullahi Goje, in a statement, said the agencies allowed representation at the ports were: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Police; Department of State Security (DSS); Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Port Health and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should remain at the ports.

The directive stated that other agencies not mentioned in the list should remain outside the ports premises as the Nigerian Customs Service, which is the lead agency for inspection of cargoes, had developed standard operating procedures to facilitate their seamless operation.

“The NPA remains committed to the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to enhance the ease of doing business in the country and the improvement of conditions under which business is carried out in all ports across the country.

“The NPA solicits for the kind support of all agencies and stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector towards actualising the noble goal of making Nigeria a destination of choice for all legitimate businesses,” Goje said.

The affected agencies include National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), among others.

Success Nwogu, Ilorin


Some youths in the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday protested against the rumoured plan by the Senate President , Dr Bukola Saraki; his former special adviser on Special Duties and Parliamentary Affairs , Alhaji Moshood Mustapha ( popularly known as MM); and other associates of the Senate President to defect from the All Progressives Congress to the PDP.

The youths , on the sidelines of a media briefing by a PDP group , Face of Change , displayed placards that expressed their opposition to the rumoured defection.

Some of the placards read: ‘ No to Bukola Saraki and cronies in the PDP , ’ ‘ MM defection is a liability , ’ ‘ PDP exco, shine your eyes , ’ and ‘ PDP gov ticket is not for sale . ’

The state Coordinator, Face of Change , Alhaja Kubrat Abdullateef, however, said in an interview with journalists in Ilorin , the Kwara State capital , that the protesters were only expressing their personal views , adding that they were not part of the conference .

She said , “ What we are trying to do is that we do not want a repeat of what had happened in the past when Bukola Saraki planted his cronies in our party and we had a very rancorous primary. We are guarding against that and we do not want a repeat of that . Those who are carrying placards , that is their personal opinion . ”

Abdullateef lamented the action of some members of the party , which she said , bordered on anti - party activities .

She said , “ With the spate of incidents over the last couple of weeks , it seems the party is apathetic to anti - party (activities ). As much as we welcome new members into our party , it is important to highlight the fact that there is a laid- down process that allows one to be a member of our party . ”

The state Secretary of the PDP , Mr. Gidado Alakawa , said the party was not against the entry of new members or the return of former members , adding that new members and returnees must however abide by the constitution, process and procedures of the party .

He also stressed that the protesters were only expressing their democratic rights, adding that the party leadership did not have the power to reject new members.

“Everything we do in this party follows certain procedures and rules. To that extent , there is always this opportunity for free entry and free exit .

There should not be anything personal about people coming into the party . Generally , people that want to come to the party are free to come as long as they are ready to work with the rules and regulations that guide entry into the party .

“ There are rules that govern any form of re- admittance of any former member of the party , who for whatever reason left the party and is now coming back into the party . It is not for the party leadership to say who must not come in or who must come in.

“ Beyond that , the party already has a structure and the structure is working along with the constitution. So those people saying they do not want X , Y to come into the party , that is their opinion but the party leadership will do whatever they can to work in line with the constitution and in line with the desire of the majority of our people to be sure the party wins in all elections. ”

lalasticlala

Bolaji Adebiyi in Abuja


There would be turmoil in the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Muhammadu Buhari declines to seek a second term of office, the National Organising Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso, has warned.

Izunaso spoke to THISDAY Monday and said the political intrigues that would follow the president’s refusal to contest the 2019 presidential election would not only divide the APC but would also smash and cause it to lose the general election.

“It would not be in the interest of the party and Nigeria for President Buhari not to run,” he said firmly, adding: “The consequence would be unimaginable as all the big wigs that have been hibernating would come out and fight to the finish.”

He said the president should, therefore, waste no further time in declaring his intention to run.

According to him, “President Buhari should come out and run. If he declares today that he would run, it would be a popular decision and it would unite the party and galvanise it into action.”

Although the president has not stated clearly his political future, his body language fuels speculations that he intends to make a second bid for the presidency next year.

THISDAY had reported exclusively that Buhari was putting together his campaign machine, reappointing his 2015 campaign director-general, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, to lead the fresh charge for 2019.

But as there was no official disclaimer of the report, two former leaders of the country, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, in separate statements, earlier in the year, asked Buhari to step down in 2019, accusing him of underperformance in his three years in the saddle.

The president’s silence on his 2019 move had been feared to cause disquiet in the APC as some ambitious power players in the party might, in their strong push for Buhari’s slot, pull down the house.

Izunaso agreed with this possibility, saying as the national organising secretary, he was in a position to know the undercurrent of the power struggle in the party.

“I think if the president declares today, it would rest the simmering power struggle, unite and refocus the party to retain power in 2019,” he said.

Izunaso disagreed with the views of Obasanjo and Babangida that Buhari had underperformed, saying the president had done creditably well.

According to him, “The president has performed exceedingly well. When we came into office, we promised three things: improve security; revive the economy; and fight corruption.

“The president has taken these three head on. He has fought Boko Haram to a standstill; pulled the economy out of recession; and corruption is on its knees right now.”

Asked if he did not consider the rampaging herdsmen as a new form of security threat that has become a serious concern to Nigerians, he said: “That is not exactly a new development. It is an inheritance that President Buhari is tackling with vigour. You know the president prefers to do than to talk.”

lalasticlala

By Hussein Yahaya,


[img]https://images.dailytrust.com.ng/cms/gall_content/2018/2/2018_2$large_FG_abandoned_multi-million.jpg[/img]


The multi-million naira electricity turbines bought by the Federal Government in 1982 for the hydro-power project at Ikere Gorge dam in Iseyin, Oyo State, have since become obsolete, Daily Trust can report.

Daily Trust learnt that the turbines were bought during the Shehu Shagari administration in 1982 from a German company and have been abandoned at the dam since then.

The turbines were expected to produce electricity that would benefit several host communities in Oke-Ogun area of the state. Some of these communities still battle with erratic power supply while some don’t even have access to power supply till date.

When this reporter went to the dam site last weekend, it was observed that the turbines now rot away in a shed erected over 36 years ago.

The dam’s Project Manager, Engineer Akingbade Sunday Isaac, told Daily Trust that the dam, presently being managed by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, was built when Olusegun Obasanjo was military head of state to, among other functions, produce not less than six megawatts of electricity.

He, however, said the electricity components of the dam were only brought to the dam in 1982 during the Shehu Shagari era.

Our reporter observed that the turbines, said to have cost the then government millions of naira, as far back as over three decades ago, were still laying waste where they were kept since then.

Engineer Akingbade told Daily Trust that the turbines were now obsolete and could not be used for the purpose they were procured again.

One of the reasons he gave was that there are numerous new developments in hydro technology that have rendered the old turbines useless. He added that aside from that, the company that manufactured the turbines in Germany had since packed up so even if the equipment were installed, getting its parts would pose a serious problem.

The project manager insisted that the turbines are a waste at the moment, adding that for the project to become a reality, new sets of turbines have to be imported for the dam. 

Residents of Iseyin, the town that hosts the dam in Iseyin LGA of Oyo State, decried successive government’s attitude to the optimal functioning of the dam, which experts said is one of the biggest in the country.

Malam Ganiyu Isah, a resident of one of the settlements near the dam, said the dam environment itself is in total darkness while the turbines that are meant to generate electricity for the host communities are rotting away where they were dumped over 30 years ago.

“I really don’t understand how we behave in this country. We bought equipment for a large amount of money but installing the equipment for the purpose they were meant for has been a problem for over three decades. It is unfortunate,’’ he said. 

Malam Ganiyu said apart from the failed power aspect of the dam, there is no portable water from the dam to the host communities.

“Let me tell you, apart from the fishing aspect of the dam, the project is a total failure as far as we are concerned here,” he added. 

The dam’s project manager, however, disagreed with that position, saying only the power aspect of the dam project could be said to be a failure so far.

He agreed, thought, that the host communities don’t have access to portable water but blamed the development on the Oyo State government, which he claimed failed to reticulate water from the dam to the various communities in the Oke-Ogun area of the state.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who reportedly visited the dam shortly after the turbines were shipped to the site in 1982, was said to have been moved to tear when he re-visited the dam late last year and saw the turbines still lying where they were kept 36 years ago.

Ogbeh recalled that as the then Minister of Communication, he was at the dam in 1982 when the Federal Government bought the equipment to complete the project but regretted that over three decades on, the turbines were yet to be installed.

According to Ogbeh during the visit: “I remember that we visited the dam in 1982 and brought the required turbines to complete the project, I almost wept when I visited the dam in Iseyin and still met the turbines lying fallow without being fixed.

“It is very sad that the dam has been idle since 1982. This is how we have been wasting our various resources that landed us in the present economic woos.’’

When Daily Trust inquired from the project manager why the turbines were not installed after over three decades, he attributed the ugly situation to the political instability in the country as well as paucity of funds.

But an expert in the hydro power sector, Engineer Ahmed Afolayan, disagreed with the project manager for blaming paucity of funds, wondering why government that spent such amount to procure the turbines from Germany would complain of funds for installing them.

He blamed the situation to frequent changes in government since then as well as government officials’ attitude towards completing projects not started by them.

On how the project can be brought back on track, the expert suggested that the Federal Government involves private investors and buys new turbines for the project since the old ones may no longer meet the present technological demands.

The project manager of the dam had also earlier identified private sector involvement as the only realistic way that the project can be fixed.

“Government cannot do everything alone. It must invite the private sector and non-governmental organisations to render a helping hand if the project is to be fixed any time soon,” he suggested.

On what the present government is doing to fix the project, the project manager said the Federal Government has identified the dam as among five in the country earmarked to generate hydro power.

He said a government delegation from Abuja recently visited the dam for a survey with a view to fixing the hydro project.

The Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Suleiman Adamu, had earlier lamented the proliferation of abandoned projects under the ministry by previous administrations including the bad state of the country’s dams.

He has vowed not to embark on new projects during his tenure until the abandoned projects, including the dams, are attended to.

Consequently, the minister had put in place a ministerial advisory committee with experts in the water sector to advise the Federal Government on how some of the abandoned projects can be fixed.

Posted By: Yusuf Alli, Abuja


Governors are yet to identify with the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) – former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s antidote to Nigeria’s leadership quandary.

CNM had claimed that 13 of the 36 governors would embrace it.

But with the exception of a southern governor whose commitment is “fluid”, no governor has joined the movement,
The Nation learnt.

The development is said to be troubling some of the coordinators of the organization, which Obasanjo hopes could transmit into a party.

According to sources, the seeming stability in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the prospect of a sustainable reconciliation in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have made some of the governors to have a rethink on CNM.

It was also learnt that time constraint accounted for the avoidance of the coalition by the governors and most members of the National Assembly.

The governors are said to prefer fighting for survival in their parties than taking a gamble.

Although the CNM is banking on a likely implosion in APC, the permutations are said to be “not working” right following the consolidation of the party’s strength in the Southwest especially in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun states.

A PDP governor, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “We believe there is no basis for going to a new movement when we have a virile party.

Most of our governors,who are eligible for second term, may get automatic ticket. So, what is the basis for teaming up with CNM.

“Nobody wants to leave a known party for the unknown and risk his political career.

CNM cannot fly in spite the fact that its ultimate target is to turn into a political party.

“Their target is to produce a party, which will be a hybrid of PDP, APC and lesser parties.

“In fact, technically, if you look at their plan, there is no time for any effective movement against APC other than adopting PDP which the CNM does not want.

“Obasanjo’s coalition is already tackling APC on socio-economic problems facing the nation. PDP is ready to benefit from the consequences of their Cold War.”

The source added: “I think there is a PDP governor whose position is fluid on CNM but we are watching him. We may end up expelling him from the party.”

A source in APC said: “We are preoccupied with reconciliation and consolidation of our strength in many states. We have heard rumours of some governors defecting to CNM and PDP, but none of them has signed up for Obasanjo’s coalition.

“There is no doubt that some of our leaders, governors and lawmakers are unhappy; we will try to reconcile our differences because allowing irreconcilable division will affect all of us.

It was learnt that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan might not join forces with Obasanjo in CNM.

He reportedly told his associates that he preferred to remain in PDP.

A source close to the ex-President said: “His Excellency, Dr. Jonathan, told us that he believes in the leadership of Obasanjo and he respects him a lot but he won’t join any movement outside PDP.

“So far, this is where we are at present. We are focusing on how to strengthen the PDP, which has a good chance of returning to power in 2019.

“We are working on our vision bordering on the reconstruction of Nigeria for better.”

Our correspondent spoke to CNM spokesman Akin Osuntokun at about 7:53pm. He promised to return the call but he never did until this paper went to bed.

LINUS OOTA, Lafia

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/AF-190x300.jpg


The abominable intimacy between 44-year-old Viashima Titus Ukegi, indigene of Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and his daughter has burst into the open as the teenage girl is now pregnant.

Ukegi’s wife, Cecilia Torkwase, died soon after giving birth to their daughter, Mary Doosur Ukegi in 2001, as a result of complications that arose from the prolonged labour that lasted one week.

With no formal education, Ukegi’s engaged himself in farming and supplemented his income with petty trading carried on through his store. Following the death of his wife, Ukegi’s mother took up the responsibility of nursing and raising baby Mary in her room until she was about five years, when she herself also died.

After the death of his mother, Ukegi relocated the daughter to his own part of the family house and the two shared the room until she attained puberty and moved out to another room. Ukegi, as Sunday Sun gathered, did not enrol Mary in school but rather confined her to doing domestic chores and looking after the shop.

As Mary continued to mature physically, the devil planted the evil seed of lust in the mind of her father, who began to desire her in an inordinate manner. And one night, he made the move to have carnal knowledge of the daughter, an act that was repeated after the first time.

Sunday Sun reporter met the father and daughter in Kadarko, Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State as they were heading to Daudu in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State for safety due to the incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen on their village.

While wiping away tears, she told the sordid story of how the father impregnated her: “Before this thing happened, if anybody had said to me that a father and daughter could engage in this type of relationship I would have said that person must be sick. Now the result of what happened has filled me with shame and destroyed my life.

“Ever since I have been living with father from childhood, I have never seen him with a woman friend and he did not make any effort to remarry after my mother died. He always had a good harvest and made money, but he never sent me to school. But he gave me good care and insisted that I should not have any problem; he used to tell me how good my late mother was to him.

“We were very close like a normal father and daughter, and I thought he was taking care of me as a father but somehow he became attracted to me. Then, one evening, after taking my bath, I tied my towel around my armpit, to cover my breast and my waist. As I walked through the palour to my room, he looked at me in a particular way and called me to come close. He said he noticed a mark on my neck. When I went close, he touched my breast and said something funny. He used to say funny things to me.

“All through that day, which was a Sunday, he was indoors. Later that night when I was about to sleep, he came to my room with biscuits and a bottle of coke and insisted that we take it together. As we were drinking the coke, he began to touch me all over my body as we were sitting together on the bed.

“It was very confusing and I tried to suppress my feelings. He told me how he felt about me and I was shaking. Somehow, I knew that what was about to happen was wrong. He said he was in love with me but didn’t know how to disclose it to me. He said that he was delighted that we were together.

“Then he kissed me for the first time while running his hand over my body. Suddenly he pulled off his trouser and attempted to enter me, because I was still a virgin. It was strange and the pain was very much. He took my Vaseline and rubbed on my private part and tried again. He pressed hard and then deflowered me. The pain was so much that I did not come out for about three days. He consoled me and gradually the pain went away.

“From then on we kept meeting regularly and each time he wanted to have sex with me, I would tell that we were committing sin. Despite knowing that loving my father in this way was completely wrong, the sex was very passionate.

“After I had sex with my father, I knew I was totally in love with him. It was amazing. We both knew it was wrong but we thought we could keep it a secret. My dad made me feel important, he told me how clever, funny and pretty I was, he worshipped me and it was the best relationship I had ever had.

“If he went somewhere I would become so excited to see him. We were just like any other couple, apart from the fact he was my father. Eventually I missed my period and before I knew it, I was three months pregnant. Before people in the village could notice what happened, he took me to his friend in Kadarko and warned me not to abort it. He enrolled me to learn tailoring. In fact, he wanted me to deliver the baby and he kept checking on me regularly in Kadarko where I was learning tailoring before the invasion of the area by herdsmen and we decided to relocate to Daudu, Guma LGA for our safety.”

In her private moments, Mary would wonder if she should give birth to a baby belonging to her father, but since he insisted, she had no choice and allowed the pregnancy to grow and it is now five months.

At the IDP camp set up at the old local government secretariat, Awe, where Ukegi is currently residing, he spoke with Sunday Sun : “As I speak to you, I feel like my whole world has crumbled before me. It is like a nightmare I wish I would wake up from. How can this be happening to me in real life? It was a terrible thing that in my mind I was like I was seeing my late wife. My daughter had very good shape, well structured, and reminded me of her mother and I was feeling bad that one day somebody will enjoy her, so I decided to take my own share and that resulted to pregnancy.

“I actually wanted her to abort it but she did not tell me on time and I did not notice. She told me after about three months or more and I entertained fears that trying to abort it may be dangerous and I decided to take her out of the village to Kadarko, enrolled her to learn tailoring and then deliver the baby there, but the herdsmen have displaced people in the area and she has moved to Daudu to meet one of my relations.

“Any time I reflect about my affair with her, I feel very bad but the damage has been done. I didn’t want to take further risk that would take her life. The daughter of one of my brothers committed abortion and died from the complication. So I learnt a lesson from that ugly experience. Moreover, her mother died after giving birth. I know that what I did was wrong but my daughter did not put any serious resistance when all this started which paved the way for the devil to come immediately.

“So I have decided that she should deliver, then I will take care of the child while she goes back to continue her training and from there she can get married. I have decided not to marry because any time I think about it, it reminds me of my late wife, so I want to respect her even in her grave. But what happened is unfortunate, but it has happened and God will have a way of taking care of it.”

But another man in the camp, who is from the same village with Ukegi, who claimed to be his brother and friend revealed that his late wife was pregnant before she got married to him.

The friend, Donald Ageebe, 46, said Ukegi had serious problems getting married when he was coming up as a young man. He explained further: “All his age mates got married very early in the village but he had that problem. We didn’t know what the problem actually was; any girl he approached would reject him. So his wife was two months pregnant before she got married to him, we all knew it then and he was not the only one. So many young people in the village got married through such means and we used to joke about it by saying that the person bought a new torch with battery intact.

“So we are convinced that is his reason for doing that wicked act, but that is up to him. That is all I know about it. We knew the wife was pregnant when he married her. She was forced to marry him because the person that impregnated her denied and ran away. So, her parents for fear of shame compelled the girl to marry Ukegi who was at the moment desperate to marry.”

Though Ukegi has denied that his lustful desire for the daughter was not driven by the fact of his not being biologically connected to Mary, he has insisted that it was the result of a terrible mistake. He confirmed that his late wife was actually pregnant before she married him but stressed that it was the norm in the village.

“I was not the only person in the village who married that way and those children are still there till date as legitimate and biological people of that area, it was just a mistake. I hope other people in my situation will realize this thing cannot be a one-off thing. And have the courage to overcome their feelings, walk away and not act on the devil’s promptings to do this kind of thing like I did,” Ukegi said, regret written all over him.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved that contest for its 2019 presidential ticket is open to all interested party chieftains. There are many stakeholders eying the choice ticket for now but our correspondent forays into the political credentials of six top of them.

Barring any last minute change of decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria will on February 16 and March 2, 2019, witness another milestone in its political history by holding the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

Sequel to this, politicians have commenced serious politicking ahead of the polls as political parties across the country begin moves to field candidates for various offices.

The PDP, the leading opposition party, is not left out of the scheme as its bigwigs have expressed their determination to take active part in the process to reclaim power.

Unarguably, the new crop of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has the herculean task of leading the party into the elections and ensuring that it regains its lost glory.

The PDP has already reached a decision that in order to ensure a transparent process and get the best candidate, none of its organs, including the National Working Committee (NWC), Board of Trustees (BoT), National Executive Committee (NEC), National Assembly Caucus (NAC) is allowed to align with any of the presidential aspirants, meaning the floor should be left for all to contest.

This decision was taken by the NWC and PDP governors at a meeting held last week in Asaba, Delta State.

Similarly, other organs of the party not recognised by its constitution such as the PDP Governors’ Forum, Ex-Ministers’ Forum, Ex-Governors’ Forum and others are also not allowed to make any attempt at imposing any aspirant on the party. Here are the six heavyweights.


Ahmed Makarfi

Makarfi served for eight years as governor of Kaduna State and did another eight years at the Senate thereafter. He later became the PDP National Caretaker Committee chairman during the intense leadership crisis which lasted for 14 months.

Though the party said its organs would not manipulate the process, insiders say Makarfi is being anointed by some governors for the presidential ticket.

The purported anointment was premised on the belief that Makarfi would be a veritable candidate considering his track record as governor and at the Senate, including his towering credentials in the management of the PDP crisis which subsequently saw Senator Ali Modu Sheriff thrown out by the Supreme Court.

Makarfi was said to have tackled religious and ethnic violence that sprang up during his reign as Kaduna governor. His outstanding performance in the state brought him to limelight at the national level and since then, his profile has continued to rise.

Insiders say the ex-governor who has maintained low profile after he handed over the office of PDP national chairman to Prince Uche Secondus, is likely to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate for 2019.

Makarfi had on January 30, 2017 said on a television programme in Lagos that he would consider contesting for the presidential election in 2019 if the party considered him fit.

“If my party considers me fit to be its presidential candidate, I would definitely think about it,” he said.

A source close to him confided in our correspondent: “He will contest the election. He is one of the few credible men in our party to pick the nomination form. He is a man of integrity, so he has confidence in the PDP.”


Atiku Abubakar

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, has remained determined to take a shot at the presidency. He recently employed a campaign tool that would earn him acceptance. The strategy of restructuring Nigeria, pundits say, is specifically aimed at winning votes in the South-south and South-east if given the presidential ticket.

Atiku who recently dumped the APC for the PDP apparently to seek the presidential ticket, contested the 2007 presidential election on the platform the defunct Action Congress (AC) after realizing that he could not get the PDP ticket because of his frosty relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He also contested the presidential ticket with former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. He later dumped the PDP for the APC and contested the 2015 presidential ticket with Buhari but lost.

The actions, body language and utterances of the Waziri Adamawa are enough to show that he is still eyeing the presidency. But while he returned to the PDP just a few months ago, he would be required to get a waiver from the party before qualifying to run for any election and this is something not forthcoming.

Analysts say Atiku, a man with deep pocket, would also have to contend with the governors and other stakeholders in his bid to get the ticket.

Insiders say Atiku would have had a soft landing if a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran who contested the chairmanship at the party’s December 9, 2017 National Convention had won the election. It was believed that Adeniran was his preferred candidate, considering that both of them were founding members of the party and “better understand” what the PDP stands for.


Sule Lamido

Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State and one of the founding fathers of the PDP, has also indicated interest in the party’s ticket for 2019.

Lamido, who is seen to be passionate about the PDP, believes that his emergence as the party’s candidate would give hope to Nigerians. While the party was suffering in other climes after its defeat in 2015, it was thriving in his home state of Jigawa to the extent that some members of the ruling APC reportedly defected to the PDP.

The ex-governor was a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic and a leading member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Third Republic. Lamido was also a Foreign Affairs Minister between 1999 and 2003 during the reign of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.


Malam Ibrahim Shekarau

Shekarau is former governor of Kano State and ex-minister of Education. He had worked relentlessly during the 14-month legal battle within the party under the aegis of PDP Ex-Ministers’ Forum.

Already, the ex-governor has consulted those that matter in the party including former president Goodluck Jonathan on his ambition. Like Lamido, Shekarau has also officially written to the PDP on his intention to vie for the presidency.

He is seen as one of those serious about the PDP regaining power in 2019. He is also seen by many as a force and potent factor to reckon with. After Atiku’s return to the PDP in November last year, Shekarau in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust through his media aide, Sule Ya’u Sule, said, “I believe the issue of allowing him (Atiku) to secure the party’s ticket on a platter of gold does not even arise.

“As far as I am concerned, the issue of contest on the platform of the PDP is a level playing ground for everybody. Each and every member is free to test his popularity and political weight when the time comes.

“Although we would welcome him back to the PDP, the issue of getting the party’s ticket is left for the delegates to decide in the national convention. I am committed to my political ambition and will pursue it to its logical conclusion.

“I will not feel threatened by Atiku’s return to the PDP. Of course, being an influential politician and a former vice president for that matter, his return to the PDP will add value to the party, but that will not threaten my political ambition at all.”


Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo

Dankwambo is a second-term governor of Gombe State. Our correspondent learnt that the governor, who is said to have performed well in his state, started nursing the ambition since the PDP lost power in 2015 and its then National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, threw in the towel on May 20, 2015.

But while Nigerians await the governor’s formal declaration, so many groups have sprung up campaigning for him in the media and asking the party to grant him the ticket.


Senator David Mark

David Mark is a four-time serving senator and ex-senate president. He is a former military governor of Niger State and an experienced politician. During his reign as senate president, Mark brought stability to the Senate sequel to his diplomatic way of handling issues and situations on its floor.

The lawmaker has maintained sealed lips over the contest but our reporter gathered that so many groups have submitted letters to his office calling on him to run. It was learnt that other support groups have submitted proposed names and what they intend to do for him in the build up to the PDP primaries.

While findings by our correspondent revealed that the six political heavyweight politicians are not ready to quit the PDP as a platform for the Obasanjo’s newly ‘invented’ Coalition for Nigeria, it is left to be seen how the top contenders would slug it out at the primaries.

By Ismail Mudashir, Isiaka Wakili & Musa Abdullahi Krishi 



he delay in expanding the federal cabinet by President Muhammadu Buhari 100 days after he made the disclosure has been traced to five factors, sources close to the president have said.

Sources at the Presidency, National Assembly and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) say as soon the factors are addressed, names of nominees would be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

The president disclosed his intention to expand the cabinet on October 31 last year during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC.

Buhari who described the council as compressed, pledged to accommodate more supporters and inject fresh ideas into the cabinet following an improvement in the country’s economy.

However, 100 days after that, nothing has been heard on the subject, and no letter has been transmitted to the Senate in this regard.


Fear of backlash

The first reason for the delay, according to Presidency and Senate sources, is the fear of a backlash that would arise since it would lead to the sack of some of the current ministers.

A Presidency source who doesn’t want to be named said: “The president is in a tight corner because automatically any minister he drops at this period when everybody is preoccupied with election matters, becomes his enemy.

“Whether you like it or not, the minsters, including those initially considered as novices in politics, have attained a high degree of popularity in their respective states. They are now stakeholders that you need to reckon with.”

Corroborating this view, a senate source said despite the shortcomings of some of the ministers, they have created a sort of an ‘empire’.


Presidency: Buhari will act at his own time

But in an official response, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Nigerians should wait until Buhari expands his cabinet as promised. He said in an interview with our correspondent yesterday that Buhari was not forced to make that promise.

“When a president has said he would do something, the onus is on us to wait until he does it, particularly when that president is not a frivolous person. We know that President Buhari is painstaking, and nobody forced him to come out to say that he was going to expand the cabinet,” he said.


Budget defence

However, other sources attributed the delay to the ongoing budget defence at the National Assembly.  President Buhari had on November 7 last year presented the 2018 budget proposal to the lawmakers.

The presentation was done a week after the president declared his intention to expand the cabinet. The sources said the president was of the view that since the proposals were made by the present set of ministers, they should be allowed to finish defending it at the National Assembly. 

An APC senator faulted the link to budget defence, describing it as blackmail and lie. He said it was the nature of the government to act at a snail pace.

“It is the nature of the government epitomized by the president. That’s the way he does his things, very slow. You can’t change him. Remember how long it took him to release the board appointments and yet you see the embarrassment that we were exposed to,” he said.

The lawmaker said the earlier, the better for the president to expand the cabinet for him to appease aggrieved party echelons.


Lack of funds

Another reason adduced for the delay is lack of funds for implementing the expansion. A lawmaker close to the  president said the delay was as result of lack of allocation for the expansion.

“You aware that the cabinet expansion will lead to the creation of new ministries to accommodate the new ministers that will be appointed. The president wants each of the ministers to have a portfolio. But the unfortunate thing is that funding of the additional ministries was not captured in 2017 budget which is being implemented,” he said. However, one of his colleagues described the argument as weak, saying   the president during his announcement of the expansion said funds to accommodate more cabinet members was available.


Weekly FEC briefing

The newly introduced weekly briefing at Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings by ministers is said to be another factor delaying the expansion.

Since last month, ministers have been, during the weekly FEC meetings, giving accounts of how their ministries utilised the funds received so far.  This is believed to be one of the major ways the president is assessing the performance of his ministers with a view to arriving at the best way of reshuffling the cabinet. Until this process is completed, it was gathered, new ministerial nominations may not be announced.


Bola Tinubu’ reconciliation team

Party sources said the appointment of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by the president to lead his reconciliation team may further delay the cabinet expansion.

One of the sources said though the grudge of Tinubu on ministerial appointments is being addressed by the president, aggrieved stakeholders won’t hesitate to raise the issue as it affects them when the reconciliation exercise commences.

“I’m sure in the course of Tinubu’s reconciliation work the issue of ministerial appointments will come up. Saraki, Kwankawso, Wamakko and all those who played key roles in 2015 were not consulted  when the ministers were appointed in 2015. Nominees were picked from their states without their input,” one of the sources said.


No longer an issue

Another source close to the presidency said nobody is even talking about the issue anymore.

“Initially, it was like a talk of the town in the party, but I can tell you that nobody even talks or cares about it now. I can’t really say what’s happening to the issue,” he said.

A member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the APC blamed the president for the delay, saying, “As a leader you can’t just make such a serious statement when you are not prepared.

“Is it that after making that statement he was asked not to do the expansion again? It is just like when you tell me that you are going to Kaduna and I see you somewhere else. Having taken him six months to constitute the first executive council, it may take him similar time to expand the cabinet. The question is; what is his habit as to decision making? Go- slow,” he said.

lalasticlala

Posted By: Kelvin Osa Okunbor


A gang of robbers on Thursday night swooped on an Air Peace plane while preparing for takeoff at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

The incident occurred at about 7.35 pm on Runway 18 Right (A1) of the airport, the airline said Friday.

It said suspected bandits opened the cargo hold of the aircraft.

Spokesman for the company, Chris Iwarah said the crew observed the development and insisted on thorough security of the Abuja – bound flight after the incident.
Iwarah said the carrier’s crew acted in line with the high safety standards of the airline.

He expressed appreciation to “all our wonderful guests on board Flight 7138 for their support, patience and cooperation throughout the precautionary security checks conducted by Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) squad, Federal Airport Authorities of Nigeria Aviation Security and our security team after suspected thieves opened the cargo hold of our aircraft.”

Pilot-in-Command, Capt. Adesola Arasi was said to have contacted the control tower “when he was alerted by the light that came on in the cockpit suggesting that the cargo hold was opened for about 15 seconds and immediately shut.”

He added: “In line with our high security standards and the huge value we place on the lives of our guests and crew, Capt. Arasi insisted on having EOD squad check Flight APK 7138 before takeoff to be doubly sure nothing was deposited in the cargo hold by the suspected thieves to endanger the lives of our guests and crew.

“Our guests, who were fully briefed of the development by the pilot-in-command, were advised to disembark from the aircraft and board an Air Peace bus while the joint security operation by EOD, FAAN AVSEC and our security team lasted. The Lagos-Abuja flight was cleared by the security experts after exhaustive screening of the aircraft lasting about 30 minutes.

“The flight eventually took off at 9.30pm and safely landed in Abuja at about 10.23pm. Our satisfied guests commended the professionalism of Capt. Arasi and his team as well as the high safety standards of Air Peace.”

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Posted By: Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa



[quote]The Police Force Headquarters has launched an investigation into its personnel’s attitude to work.

The probe it was gathered was aimed at solving the problems of lazy, unprofessional and mischievous policemen in the system.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Mr. Rasheed Akintunde, who dropped the hint in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday, when he toured the state formation said there was no room for indolence in the police force.

He said measures had been put in place to address indolence and poor output among the officers and rank-and-file as part of the ongoing reforms in the system.

Addressing the personnel in the state’s police command, Akitunde urged them to be passionate in the jobs boasting that policing is the best profession in the world.

Akintunde, said that a study by the police headquarters indicated that only slightly above 20 per cent of the policemen in the country were active and working.

He said that the police introduced measures to ensure that the other 80 per cent complement the hardwork of the active personnel for effective policing in the country.

He said: “The funniest thing is that only 20 per cent of the police personnel are the ones working, the rest are just there.

“Talking about 20 per cent working; if you look at it well, every ‘big man’ wants his own security, they want 30 men to secure them instead of supporting the whole community by saying we should give resources for police to do the work so that the environment will be secured. They only want security for themselves.

“Even religious leaders want personal security. So after all that, we find that it’s only 20 per cent remaining to guard other places. Even for government’s commission too, they can load 20 units for it whereas they need only seven, so that’s why the 20 per cent comes in.

“That is why when a DPO visits a station, he identifies those people and starts using them. You go to the Area Command, it is the same thing, the CP, it is the same.”

The AIG explained that effective community policing must be hinged on a three-pronged pillars of sound integrity, hard work and professionalism and urged officers and men of the command to love their job.

He said: “You must satisfy three conditions to police well. First, you must have sound integrity, your integrity must not be in doubt. You must not bring those bad things into the job.

” The second thing is that you must be hardworking. Policing is not for the lazy persons. You must be ready at all times because you can be called upon at any hour of the day.

“The other part is that you must be professional. You must know what you are doing. Police job is very difficult for those people who don’t have integrity, who are not hardworking and who are not professional but very simple for a man who have these principles.

“The job is the best; let us put in our best. We are not supposed to be seeing other agencies doing our work if we are doing it perfectly. Agreed, we lack some equipment we are supposed to use. What I am appealing to you is that let us wake up so that we can beat our chest as policemen and say l can do this and that.

“But where we are lazying about; you see some of us running from pillar to post, looking for possible posting, looking for money that is not there.”

In his remarks,, the Bayelsa state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Don Awunah, thanked the AIG on his building visit but complained that the 4,000 police personnel in the state were inadequate to police Bayelsa due to its deltaic nature.

Awunah said that though there were some pockets of criminal activities in the state, statistics showed that Bayelsa remained the safest state in the zone at the moment.

Awunah said despite the challenge of shortage of personnel, the command under his supervision introduced high visibility policing with human face.

He stated that the new system was adopted in collaboration with the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Tactical Strike Force, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Serious Crimes Unit and the Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit.

The Commissioner highlighted some challenges facing the command to include manpower, logistics, working tools and accommodation.

lalasticlala

Suspected herdsmen engaged men of the 707 special forces brigade of the Nigerian Army, Makurdi, Benue state in a gun battle on Tuesday.

Olabisi Ayeni, spokesman of the brigade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

He said the suspects were plotting to attack a fish farm belonging to Samuel Ortom, governor of the state.

Ayeni said two of the attackers had been arrested.

“Troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade, Nigerian Army, on a routine patrol along Gbajimba – Iyiodeh road in Guma LGA of Benue State on Tuesday 6 February 2018 arrested two Fulani militia who were suspected to be planning a dangerous mission,” he said.

“The troops sighted a group of these people while on their daily patrol. The militia who were suspected to be converging, possibly for an attack on Governor Ortom’s fish farm and other innocent citizens were about to be approached for questioning when they opened fire on the troops who later engaged them.

“When the troops accosted the herdsmen, they opened fire on the troops, who in turn engaged them in a shootout.

“In the course of the shootout, some of the herdsmen fled the area while two were arrested and handed over to the police.”

Benue has been a flashpoint of violence, especially between farmers and herdsmen.

Some of the security personnel deployed in the state have been killed in their bid to restore normalcy.

On Wednesday, the army listed Benue among the six states where it would launch a 44-day operation to tackle insecurity.

When he visited Nasarawa earlier inm the week, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security operatives to arrest those perpetrating violence in the country.

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Anna Okon


The Federal Government has announced that it is set to empower a special task force that will remove trucks / trailers from the Apapa - Oshodi Expressway to make access into the Apapa ports easy .

It said the committee on road decongestion would ensure that trucks / trailers were not allowed to block the port access roads .
This was part of the agreement that the government reached with the Maritime Workers Union to make them to suspend their planned strike .

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr . Chris Ngige , Ministry of Transportation , Ministry Power, Works and Housing and the Nigerian Ports Authority had on Tuesday reached the agreement with the union , which led to the suspension of the strike , according to reports by Shipping Day News.

During the meeting , the union leaders expressed concerns about the slow pace of work on the road , and called on the contractor to speed up the work .

The union also called on the government to discourage further establishment of new tank farms in port area .

Another measure agreed on was the collaboration between the government and the concessionaires to ensure movement of containers by rail .

The union also called for more efforts in the completion of trailer park project where trucks could be accommodated .

The agreement read, “The collaborative efforts of Federal Ministry of Transportation through the NPA , Federal Ministry of Works , Power and Housing , Dangote and Flour Mills on the two kilometre Wharf Road are noted . However , these efforts have not been very appreciable as only 10 per cent of the work has been done till date .

“ The meeting therefore called on the lead project company , Dangote , to speed up action in terms of galvanising human and material resources to see that they meet the timeline of the completion of the project in spite of unforeseen challenges . The Federal Government should pursue vigorously the policy of non - establishment of new tank farms in the port areas.

“The sanitary conditions of the surrounding and roads to the ports should be the social corporate responsibility of the NPA and the authority should do the needful to remove the refuse within three months to avoid endangering the lives of workers and port users . ”

It added , “The collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the concessionaires at the ports in terms of movement of containers by rail should be strengthened so that there is no pillage of trailers on access road to the port.

“ The establishment of 340 capacity trailer park by the FMPW & H is a step in the right direction and noteworthy but the meeting appeals that the final stage of the shoreline protection work be completed before the end of the second quarter of 2018 .

“ A total reconstruction of the major access roads to Tin Can Island Port area from Liverpool Road via Coconut via Sunrise to Mile 2 road should be undertaken urgently and in this direction , the FMoT through the NPA is to synergise and consummate the project before the end of the second quarter of 2018 .

The FMPW & H which has already captured the road to the Tin Can Island Port in its 2018 budget should also do the same for roads leading to other ports nationwide . ”

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Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja, with agency report


The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, is proposing increased tariff for cigarette and alcohol.

Her proposal is in line with the implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), one of the instruments of harmonising member states to strengthen its common market agreed upon on October 25, 2014.

In a memo sent to President Muhammadu Buhari and seen by TheCable, Adeosun suggested that a two-part tariff be approved for tobacco products.
A two-part imposes two types of import levies on the same item.

Adeosun suggested a 20 per cent “ad valorem” tariff and a specific tariff of N1 per stick be placed on cigarettes and tobacco products.

She also suggested that a specific tariff of 35 kobo per CL be placed on beer and stout, N1.50k per CL on wines, and N2 on spirits and other alcoholic beverages.
Ad valorem tariff is levied as a fixed percentage of the value of a commodity.

According to the minister, this was a recommendation made by the Tariff Technical Committee (TTC), which is chaired by the ministry of finance with members from ministries of industry, agriculture, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Office of the Secretary to the Government and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

“Further to the request, the chief of staff to Mr President requested for my views on the matter. As a result of this, the TTC deliberated on the subject and recommended for an upward review of excise rate on tobacco and alcohol, taking into consideration their health implications and revenue potential,” she wrote.

“In addition, it also recommended the introduction of a specific rate of excise on alcohol including beers and a mixture of ad valorem and specific rate excise structure on tobacco products in ECOWAS member states.

“In line with the recommendations of the TTC, I wrote and requested your excellency’s consideration and approval for the proposed revised rates of excise on alcohol and tobacco, vide letters: FMF/OHMF/TA/1/2017, dated October 30, 2017 and FMF/PHMF/ALCOHOL/1/2017, dated November 8, 2017.”

In November, Adeosun told the ECOWAS financial council of ministers that the federal government was working on policies to increase taxes on tobacco and alcohol.

In 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called for increased taxes on tobacco products to discourage its use.
Nigerians smoke about 20 billion sticks of cigarette yearly, according to Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health.

Nigeria is also said to be the highest alcohol-drinking country in the world.
Meanwhile, Adeosun yesterday also declared that the Nigerian economy is increasingly attracting huge interest from foreign investors, noting that the momentum was occasioned by huge spending on infrastructure by the government.

She noted that such interest would translate into massive investments, culminating in the creation of jobs and a reduction in the poverty level in the country.

The minister spoke at the headquarters of the ministry in Abuja while playing host to a delegation of about 20 investors drawn from various countries and continents who are in Nigeria to discuss investment opportunities.

She said the huge investment which the federal government is making on infrastructure projects across the country was attracting fresh investments into the country.

The minister told the delegation led by a one-time finance minister. Dr Shamsudeen Usman, that in 2017 alone, the sum of N1.2 trillion was released for capital projects.

According to her, one of the cardinal focus of the current was to address the infrastructure deficit in the country through targeted spendings at projects that would unlock the economic potential of the country.

The minister noted that it was an auspicious time for investors to be in the country.

In her words, “It’s a great time for investors to be in Nigeria. For us, it’s a more better time now than last year because finally we think that we are beginning to address through deliberate policies, some of the most stubborn problems that have held back Nigeria’s growth.

“We have gone through a very difficult adjustments but we are seeing that the macroeconomic fundamentals are much more positive and the outlook is that they will remain positive.

“The goodness is that the narrative that we have been adopting around the reason for our reliance on oil we have actually beginning to take steps in terms of reducing our benchmark price by keeping it low, allowing us to rebuild some of our buffers.

“Our budget is predicated on lower oil price, and for me, we are discussing on revenue because we think that is the missing part of the Nigeria jig-saw.

“We always want to increase our tax-to-GDP ratio from six per cent to an initial target of ten and the long term goal is to be around the 15 to 20 per cent range,” she said.

The economy, she added has started seeing the impact of the expanded budget of the federal government with massive infrastructure investments in power, roads, and rails.

“Our commitments in solving the infrastructure challenges in Nigeria is firm because we think that is what would unlock growth in agriculture, and solid minerals and make us move away from our over reliance on oil,” she stated.

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CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A 42-year old married man, Adewale Fajemiloye has landed in trouble after he was implicated by a 16-year old girl who told his wife that she had slept with him severally in their compound.

The incident happened at Unity Close, Eruwen area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The parents of the victim did not take the revelation lightly as they alleged that Fajemiloye had abused and defiled their daughter at a very tender age. The parents then reported the matter to the police and Fajemiloye was arrested.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that Fajemiloye had lured the victim with gifts when his wife was not around and defiled her in 2016.

And since then, he had been sleeping with her until recently when his wife discovered and informed the victim’s parents about what had been happening.

It was then that the victim informed Fajemiloye’s wife what had transpired between her and her husband whom she accused of raping her and warned her not to reveal it to anyone.

He was charged before Ikeja Magistrates court for defilement.

He pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi granted Fajemiloye bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 28 February, 2018.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that if the suspect was found guilty after trial, he may spend up to 10 years in prison for the alleged offence.

A LOVE triangle ended tragically when an 18-year-old woman from Harare committed suicide by downing poison after her sister discovered that she was bedding her husband under her nose.

The tragic incident occurred last week when the teenager, Farai Chirara from Ushewekunze area in the outskirts of Harare, ran away from home before committing suicide by drinking poison after receiving death threats from her sister, Memory Mojoko, accusing her of bedding her husband Obvious Mudemba.

The deceased teen, had been staying with the couple, who are both teachers, while waiting for her A’ Level results when her sister started suspecting an affair between the former and her husband resulting in her running away from home.

A relative who spoke on condition of anonymity said when Farai ran away from home Mujoko started sending her messages insulting her with vulgarities and threatening her with unspecified action accusing her of wrecking her marriage.

The relative said Farai went on to drink poison and was rushed to Parirenyatwa hospital by other relatives where she died just after admission.

“It is sad that Memory pushed her sister to committing suicide after sending her messages insulting and threatening her.

Farai went to stay with the couple while waiting for her A’ Level results. During the long holiday, it is suspected that she started bedding Mudemba who is her sister’s husband.

“When Mujoko got wind of the illicit affair she started insulting and threatening Farai with unspecified action. Farai fled home and found sanctuary at a relative’s place where she later committed suicide by drinking poison.

“She died on Friday (last week) morning at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals,” said the relative.

The relative added that Farai’s relatives are baying for Mudemba’s blood accusing her of causing their daughter’s death.

“When Mudemba went to Parirenyatwa to check on Farai, he was threatened by the girl’s relatives and they chased him away.

What is worrying is that the couple should have resolved the matter amicably because Mudemba might have taken advantage of the girl considering that she was an adolescent,” said the relative.

Contacted for comment, Mudemba confirmed the incident but could not give further details.

“Did you talk to Farai’s parents and hear what they have to say about the issue.

Please talk to them first and I will give you my side of the story. Besides it is not me involved but my wife so talk to her also,” he said.

Mujoko refused to entertain the media.

“Who is this? Please you are talking to the wrong person,” she said before hanging up and subsequently switching off her mobile phone.

Farai’s parents could not be reached for comment.