₦airaland Forum

Relations of dead bank account owners not linked to Bank Verification Number (BVN) have expressed concerns over the Federal Government’s order forfeit of the monies in such accounts.

Their lamentation came on the heels of the expiration, on Friday, of the 14-day interim forfeiture order which had been upheld by an Abuja High Court presided by Justice Dimgba Igwe recently.

The concerned relations of reopen dead account holders told this medium that they were already in a dilemma not knowing how they can get on with life without being able to access the monies their dead breadwinners left in various bank accounts for them. One of their frustrations according to some next-of-kins who spoke to our correspondent is the stringent requirements demanded by various banks before any next-of-kin can access the funds of their late breadwinner.

Our correspondent reliably learnt that many dependants of departed account holders have been put through excruciating experiences in their bids to obtain letters of administration to enable them access their breadwinners’ account. The painful process has also forced the affected relations to either abandon the pursuit of the letter of administration or slow it down. Our findings revealed that the situation has left huge amount of monies in such accounts running into N100 billion across the 19 commercial banks in Nigeria, in 2013. The cash now trapped in dead peoples’ accounts is said to be also on the increase.

However, lawyer and author of banking Law and Mortgages in Nigeria, Pat Anyadubalu, has described the forfeiture order as a very sad development pointing out that the affected next-of-kins would forfeit all the money in the affected accounts to the Federal Government if that court order is not vacated as soon as possible.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, had sought an interim order directing all the commercial banks to disclose/declare all individual and corporate accounts in their custody not covered by the BVN. The court, on October 18, granted the order, giving 14 days after which the fund in the accounts becomes legally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

But some next-of-kins of dead bank account owners not linked to BVN, who spoke to us from different parts of the country, told our correspondent, that for more than two years, they have been trying to meet stipulated bank requirements, to enable them access the funds their dead breadwinners left in their accounts. But due to several hurdles their efforts had not been successful. Some of them, however, said that issues of claims and counter claims in their families also made it difficult for the affected relations to secure relevant Letters of Administration required by the banks.

But in the case of Bola Adegoroye, a widow whose husband died in year 2012 without living a Will: “That is not the problem. The problem is that in some of his documents, he filled my name as the next-of-kin and in some others, our first son. So after over two years of stress, the bank has not paid us. And to make matter worse, my husband’s company paid his benefits into that account. I have been borrowing money to keep the children in school in the hope that whenever, we are able to sort out issues with the bank, I will settle my creditors. Now they are talking of forfeiture. The money in that account is my late husband’s savings. If the money is seized by government over this BVN issue as they are threatening, I will have no alternative than to withdraw the children from school. But there will be other problems of repaying the monies I have so far borrowed to take care of my five children,” she lamented.

Relating his own predicament, a widower who is also a trader in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nze Ibe Onuchia, who operated a joint account with his late wife said: “I was asked to get Death Certificate, publish her obituary in a national daily. After I had done that, I was asked to get Letter of Administration from the court. I have been on the matter for over two years. At a time, I had to suspend action on it because it was costing me money and the time to concentrate on providing for our children.

“Since my wife’s death, I have not been able to collect any money from that account where all out money was before her death. It is just by the grace of God that we have been surviving since then. Now we heard this news that government wants to seize it because of BVN. Who will do the BVN? Me or my late wife?” He queried.

“What government should do in line with its anti-corruption war, is to focus on the accounts of politicians and public servants who have not done BVN or even Yahoo Yahoo boys, not putting eyes in poor people’s monies in the bank. So is it now an offence to keep your hard earned money in the bank? I regret putting the money there.

“This BVN they are talking about now, why didn’t they talk about it when we were putting our money there? Why are they trying to steal our money in the name of BVN? This is worse than what the Gowon administration did to Biafran people who had their monies in the banks after the civil war. They seized their money and gave them 20 pounds,” he added.

The story of Abuja based Isa Rahman, whose sister and a single parent died in 2013, leaving behind two children and over N1, 000,000 in her bank account, is not different. “My late sister had N1, 000,000 in her account when she died in 2013. We were asked by the bank to produce Letter of Administration, which we have managed to get, but the bank said the name of her estranged husband was in our late sister’s initial documents with the bank.

“The man has agreed to do what is required of him so that the bank can release the money to us to take care of their children. However, he said that would be when he returns home. He is currently in Germany. “We are confused now. Does the court order imply that government will take the money my late sister saved for her children? This is demonic,” he asked.

When we approached some banks officials for comment, the bankers said it’s a regulatory requirement that next-of-kin must produce Letter of administration.

“It is not the banks’ fault that the next-of-kin should go through this stress. The next-of-kin that customers fill in the form when opening an account does not guarantee the person access to the customer’s account. It is only an indication that the person whose name appears as next-of-kin can come openly to begin the process of having access to the customer’s account. And that process is to produce a will and letter of administration as demanded by law,” one banker said.

But speaking during a recent Channels Television popular programme, Sunday Politics, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, insisted that the President Buhari-led administration would be justified should the funds in the accounts be taken over by the Federal Government. According to Obono-Obla, who also the Chairman, Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, the number of accounts yet to be linked remains alarming. “From Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) statistics, 46 million accounts are yet to be linked with BVN numbers after three years,” he said, stressing however, that he doesn’t know how much MONEY the accounts hold.

He said those who have not linked their accounts to BVN had violated a CBN policy and should have themselves to blame. “Anyone who has not complied with that directive, it means that his account is fraudulent and so whatever is there should go to the government,” he added.

According to the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), 52 million bank accounts had been linked to their BVNs as of February this year. The total number of bank accounts in the country was estimated at 70 million in 2016.

When contacted, the Central Bank of Nigeria chose not to comment on the issue. But a director of the bank said he would not blame the banks if they chose to challenge the court order.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa described as illegal, the order granting the forfeiture of funds in accounts without BVNs to the Federal Government.

Citing Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter, Adegboruwa said it was not proper to determine the rights of parties in their absence. He said the BVN was a policy decision and not “backed by law.” The lawyer also faulted the “bindingness” of the order on millions of bank customers who he said were not directly parties to the suit. He lamented that the quest to get revenue for the government should not be to the detriment of the constitutional and fundamental rights of the citizens.

“I am very well concerned about how we deploy interim orders for permanent purposes, such as to forfeit valuable assets without any or fair hearing from the person(s) concerned,” the statement read.

“I think it is improper to obtain interim orders to freeze the bank accounts of estates that are in dispute between the beneficiaries, of estates of deceased persons that are still being contested, of profits of companies that are still subject to litigation or other disputes, just to mention a few examples of the arbitrariness of these orders.

“There is nothing in Section 3 of the MONEY Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 that makes BVN a condition precedent for operating a bank account in Nigeria; nothing at all. What the law requires is verifiable identity of the customer, such as name, address, photographs, identity cards, etc.

“BVN is a policy decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a court of law should not base its orders on executive policies that are not backed by law.

“I get truly worried with the way we adopt ex parte applications to determine very serious and weighty issues of law.

“The other point is the bindingness of an ex parte order upon the whole world and upon millions of bank customers in Nigeria, who are not directly parties to the suit.

“How proper is it for a court to seek to determine the rights of parties in their absence, in view of the clear provisions of Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter?

“Why this desperation, if one may ask? I support that MONEY suspected to be proceeds of crime should be traced, isolated and forfeited if the owner cannot successfully account for it.

“But to proceed to seek to forfeit all monies in all banks meant for all customers in Nigeria on the grounds of absence of BVN is manifestly illegal.

“I therefore humbly urge the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation to review this case with a view to tempering the tenor of these rather outlandish orders.

“The quest to scoop revenue for government should not be to the detriment of the constitutional and fundamental rights of the citizens. Which is why I have been praying that these orders are not real, but rather one of the usual social media gimmicks,” he said.

Daria Media has announced two unique and ground-breaking initiatives targeted at revolutionizing journalism practice in Nigeria.

The company, which is promoted by Kadaria Ahmed, former BBC journalist, editor of 234next and host of the Channels TV talk show, Straight Talk and The Core, will be holding a 3-city journalism training for aspiring journalists. The 3 cities are Kano, where she went to school; Uyo, where she served out her National Youth Service and Lagos where she works and calls home.

The training will pay especial attention to the worrisome fake news phenomena and unwholesome PR gimmicks which have dogged the journalism practice in recent times. It will underscore the urgent need to rejuvenate the mass media towards practicing independent, competent, ethical and socially responsible journalism more than ever before especially for those reporting in/on Nigeria. It will also provide participants with a handle on how to build commercially viable and sustainable media outfits as a means of circumventing issues of ethics, professionalism and partisanship.

According to a statement from Daria Media: “The Daria Workshop Series is a training platform for budding journalists; helping them to connect to the reality of journalism practice, clear out illusions and identify their unique niche and place in the continued existence of their field of endeavour. The program will be delivered by trainers from Beyond Broadcasting, Premium Times and Daria Media.”

Facilitators will include former BBC journalist Ben Williams now with Beyond Broadcasting, a company that trains staff at Aljazeera, the BBC and many other media houses around the globe; Dapo Olorunyomi, founder of Premium Times and Kadaria Ahmed.

At the end of the training, 3 lucky female participants will become the recipients of the inaugural Mamman Marshall Scholarship for Women in Journalism. The scholarship is named after Kadaria Ahmed’s father who is described as a forward-thinking man well ahead of his times.

Continuing the statement, Daria Media added that “The Mamman Marshal Scholarship for Women in Journalism is instituted to celebrate a man, who against the grain of his time educated his daughters; giving them an advantage that sets them apart from their peers. This scholarship award, set up by one of his daughters who has risen to become a reference point, a positive image and an example against a backdrop of impossibilities and impediments in the field of Journalism; is to honour her father and his extraordinary legacy.”

To participate in the training and become eligible to earn a full undergraduate scholarship at the three participating schools; Bayero University Kano, Lagos State Univeristy and the University of Uyo, interested students can apply by visiting http://daria.media/training-programs/application-form/.

Entries open Monday November 6 and close Monday November 20, 2017.

Twenty-nine months after emerging as the Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni representing Lagos Island Constituency 1 on Monday took over his official quarters located at 3A Sasegbon Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

The House of Assembly, had last week, ejected the former occupant of the building, Hon Funmilayo Tejuosho after sufficient quit notices dating back to over two years were ignored.

Tejuosho was nominated as Deputy Speaker of the House in 2007 but was impeached in2009 for gross misconduct bordering on undermining the authority of the House as well as disrespect and violation of House rules.

Speaking while receiving the keys of the building, Eshilokun-Sanni recalled how the process started shortly after his emergence as Deputy Speaker on June 8, 2015, saying it was gratifying that the House had resolved the issue.

He said: “This building in particular was first allocated to me in 2015 after my emergence as the Deputy Speaker. I got a letter from the Clerk that the building has been allocated to me and I immediately got people from my office to go there and when they got there, they reported back to me that the place was presently occupied.

“So, I wrote to the House of Assembly that the building was occupied and a panel was set up headed by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Sanai Agunbiade to look into the circumstances behind why I was unable to occupy the official residence of the Deputy Speaker.”

He said the panel submitted its report to the House Clerk and the Speaker, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, after which the then occupant was given time to vacate the premises.

After waiting for some time, Eshilokun-Sanni said the House and the Housing Board later gave Tejuosho seven days to vacate the premises officially allocated to the Deputy Speaker.

Speaking further, Eshilokun-Sanni said: “After waiting for more than two years, this year again, I was allocated the residence and asked to move in. I went there again and discovered that the occupant was still there. I reported and about three months ago, I was told to wait till November 1, 2017 for the residence to be handed over to me.

“On November 1, I went there and still found that the occupant was still there and I reported back to the House. It was after than that the House took action. The House of Assembly specifically the Speaker and the Clerk then approved that the illegal occupant of the building be ejected,” he said.

He appreciated the parties involved, saying that the official take-over took so long because a lot of empathy, maturity, magnanimity and tenacity of purpose came into play.

The presentation of the keys officially to Eshilokun-Sanni was performed by Mr. Joseph Osho, Deputy Director and Secretary, Staff Housing Board, Head of Service; and Chief Land Officer, Ministry of Housing, Mr. Oyewunmi Bamidele, and witnessed by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Sanni Azeez as well as other principal officers of the Assembly.

As earlier warned by the Lagos state government that all properties of the state that have been illegally acquired will be retrieved, the government has finally begun process to bring culprits to book.

However, more facts have emerged over the true ownership of the 3 Sasegbon street property, purportedly being owned by Hon. Funmi Tehuosho, a former deputy speaker of Lagos state house of Assembly.

Reliable source informed that the property in question is the official residence of the deputy speaker which she occupied while she was in the position but clandestinely appropriated to his personal through a company she has a vested interest.

It was reliably gathered that many of such properties were cheaply sold and sometime outrightly given out with no recourse to principles.

On the part of Hon. Tejuosho, she was said to have ignored several letters sent to her to vacate the property for another dwputy speaker, rather she headed to the High court to prove sale of the property to her company.

The recent move by state to begin to retrieve such houses according to a source might not be unconnected to a committee formed last year to recover govt properties either illegaly appropriated by former office holders or sold at rediculous prices.

The committee is said to have submitted it’s report and not a few past and current govt officials are said to be affected

It would be recalled that Hon. Tejuosho allegedly rushed to the media to allege withchunt by the government she is also part of.

All attempts to speak with the four-time lawmaker proved abortive while telephone calls to the Lagos information and strategy Commissioner were not answered.

Diamond Bank Plc (“Diamond Bank”) – Nigeria’s fastest growing retail bank – is selling its West African banking operations in order to focus on Nigeria’s significant retail banking opportunity.

Diamond Bank has agreed to sell its operations in Benin, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal to Manzi Finances S.A., a Cote d’Ivoire-based financial services holding company. Regulatory approvals have been obtained in all jurisdictions for the transaction, which is anticipated to close before December 31, 2017.

By focusing its resources exclusively on Nigeria, Diamond Bank is poised to capitalize on the positive macro fundamentals inherent in the Nigerian market. These include Africa’s largest economy and evolving socio-economic trends driven by changing lifestyle preferences in favour of mobile delivered services, and a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Commenting on the transaction, Diamond Bank’s CEO Uzoma Dozie said: “After 18 years of building the Diamond Bank franchise in other markets in West Africa, the time has come to fully apply our resources to Nigeria. This is aligned with Diamond Bank’s strategic objective: to be the fastest growing and most profitable technology-driven retail banking franchise in Nigeria.

We are prioritizing the Nigerian market because of its vast potential. A large segment of the population is underbanked or unbanked and the use of technology and mobile banking is rising exponentially. This provides Diamond Bank with the opportunity to reach millions of people, and facilitate financial inclusion on an exceptional scale.

In addition, Diamond Bank already has a foundation for growth in Nigeria with over 15 million customers. We also have a framework in Nigeria that will allow us to scale rapidly, efficiently and cost effectively. In part this is due to our digitally-led approach which has reduced the need to have a network of physical branches to service customers.

Fundamentally this strategy stands to benefit all our key stakeholders – shareholders, customers and employees – in the immediate, medium and long term.”

As a pioneer in banking through the harnessing of technology and a digitally-led approach, Diamond Bank has already made significant strides in Nigeria in recent years.

Key Diamond Bank initiatives include supporting Nigeria’s future business leaders through its Building Entrepreneurs Today (BET) programme, improving financial inclusion by focusing on increasing female participation in the formal economy and the roll out of its Diamond Y’ello mobile banking app, which now has over 8.6 million users.

In keeping with its commitment to promote qualitative education and sustainable development in Nigeria, Keystone Bank Limited, has handed over a renovated and fully equipped Sick Bay to Dodan Barracks Primary School, Obalende, Lagos to manage remote health challenges of the students.

Speaking on the lender’s passion for investment in the education sector at the commissioning ceremony, the Divisional Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications of Keystone Bank, Mrs. Omobolanle Osotule said that the intervention is aimed at supporting the school to further improve the learning and teaching environment, thereby raising the standard of education in the country.

Osotule said: “As a bank that is committed to the development of Nigerian youths, Keystone Bank recognises education as the bedrock of sustainable development, which is why education is one of our core CSR pillars.”

“As much as education is an essential aspect of the development of any society, it is also important that children have easy access to first level healthcare while at school”.

“The initiative is part of the bank’s overall strategy to create a sustainable impact around healthcare, education, youth/women empowerment and employee volunteering. We shall continue to do more in this regard.” Osotule stressed.

In his response, the head teacher of the school, Mr Kayode Edun, thanked the Bank for the kind gesture. “We truly appreciate the efforts of Keystone Bank in giving the school’s sick bay a new lease of life. It is our prayer that the bank will continue to grow from strength to strength; and as progress is made, more initiatives like this will be implemented”, Edun said.

Keystone Bank, a technology and service-driven commercial bank offering convenient and reliable solutions to its customers has been at the forefront of various educational and Women/Youth empowerment initiatives in recent times.

The lender recently partnered with the Junior Achievers Nigeria (JAN), spearheading efforts in the furtherance of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s financial literacy drive by teaching children across the country on financial education/Independence.

…Seizes over 10 trailers of foreign parboiled rice

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service with headquarters at Ikeja, Lagos has evacuated 59 assorted vehicles with the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of one billion, seventy-six million, eight hundred and ninety-five thousand, seven hundred and seventy-two naira, two Kobo (N1,076,895,727.2) from a hidden house in Ikoyi and car marts in Festac area of Lagos state.

The Customs Area Controller of the unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba who made this known in a briefing in Lagos today said that over 40 of the vehicles were 2017 models ranging from Toyota Prado Jeeps, Lexus Jeeps, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Camry, Coaster Bus, Toyota Hiace Bus among others.

Mohammed hinted that the vehicles were currently under detention awaiting relevant Customs documents from the dealers within a grace period of one month.

According to him:“Some are even bullet proof which require End User Certificates from the Office of the Security Adviser (NSA). Investigation will reveal further on those behind the clearance of these vehicles and must face the full wrath of the law. These vehicles alone have a duty paid value of one billion, seventy-six million, eight hundred and ninety-five thousand, seven hundred and seventy-two naira, two Kobo (N1,076,895,727.2) only”.

He further disclosed that six thousand, two hundred and six (6,206) bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each which was more than ten (10) trailers, sixty-seven (67) bales of second hand clothing, six hundred (600) cartons of foreign poultry products, thirteen (13) parcels of Indian hemp, four hundred and five (405) pieces of used tyres and fifty-four (54) kegs of foreign vegetable oil were also seized.

He continued: “Similarly, two containers were also seized for contravening customs law. While one of the containers carried used fridges, 270 cartons of refined sunflower oil, 55 pieces of used gas compressors, 18 packs of juice and other assorted items as against cooking gas declared in the SGD, the other container was carrying 147 bales of printed wax and 168 of lace material as against new electronics declared in the SGD.

“These containers are seized for carrying contraband and entered under false declaration in order to beat the system contrary to the Customs and Excise Law Section 147. Also, a 1×40 container suspected to be carrying prohibited goods is under prohibition.

“It is instinctive to note that a total of six (6) suspects have been arrested relating to these 120 seizures. The Indian hemp will be handed over to NDLEA for further action”.

The Controller stated that the unit through interventions recovered one hundred and forty-four million, four hundred and thirty-three thousand, five hundred and twenty-four naira (144,433,524) from duty payments and demand notices on general goods that tried to circumvent the law at seaports, airports and border stations through wrong declaration, transfer of value, underpayment of duty accrued to the federal government of Nigeria within the weeks under review.

“Between 4th-31st October, 2017, the unit has intercepted various contraband with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One billion, three hundred and fifty-three million, six hundred and seventeen thousand, one hundred and four naira, eight Kobo (N1,353,617,104.08) only,” he added.

As the betting world continues to make Nigerians richer through their transparent involvement in genuine sports betting, fledgling Paddypaddybet.com, an upscale betting game company, after kicking off spectacularly in the ancient city of Ibadan, has now spread momentarily to other major cities of the country like Ilorin, Osogbo, Delta and Lagos, with further plans to spread to other cities in the nearest future.

Following this novel move, the company now needs more agents in all these cities to further consolidate their firm grip and existence in the fast-growing and rewarding industry, ditto the agents that will come on board to join the fray.

In the same vein, the interim General Manager of Padddypaddybet, Alexander Ezekiel, said emphatically that one of the most encouraging aspects of paddypaddybet.com is that, unlike other betting companies, ‘we give 50% on profit and empower our agents to make them happy.

As an agent, if you bring in an impressive amount of money in your first three months, you stand a chance of winning additional mouthwatering prizes.

The fast-improving company that recently unveiled a Nollywood actress, Eniola Ajao, as its Face and Brand Ambassador, has added another prominent showbiz personality. Fuji maestro, Taiye Currency to its ambassadorial list, just as more entertainment industry players are in the pipeline to join this exclusive list of paddypaddybet ambassadors.

The prospective agents can get in touch with the company through its website, Paddypaddybet.com, for more details.

As part of its commitment to the growth and socio-economic development of Nigeria’s creative industry, Heritage Bank Plc has partnered with the organizers of the International Festival of Contemporary Dance (IFCOD) to host the second edition of One Language, a musical production of intrigue, dance and drama.

The essence of the musical production is to unite humanity across the world and it was staged at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos over the weekend following its successful debut in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital in 2016.

Heritage Bank is supporting the creative industry because of its significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product of the country. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said recently that the industry contributed more than $16 billion to the newly rebased GDP of the country in 2016.

Mr. Chibuike Agu, Head of Content and Digital, Heritage Bank said the bank partnered with the organisers of IFCOD because dance and drama connect with the heritage of the Nigerian people, remarking that dance is one of the diverse ways of reflecting the culture of a people and depicts culture in its entirety.

In her address of welcome, Mrs. Elo Inyeinengi-Etomi, the Convener of IFOCD, said “IFCOD is you and I, it is our shared pain and joy. It is our struggle to be heard and seen. It is the realization of our dreams. It is the realization of kindred spirit. It is us speaking one language.”

She said IFOCD as a platform meant different things to different people, adding that “it is a means to empower youths, a medium to share our story, a haven for talent, a place for rehabilitation and social integration, a connection hub, an interdisciplinary melting pot and pure gift of life.”

Mrs. Etomi said IFCOD came into being because of her aspiration for people to appreciate the performing arts not only as a form of entertainment but also as a tool of socio-economic development.

In a goodwill message, Mr. George Etomi, said IFCOD has continued to raise the level of cultural awareness through dance and drama by presenting ‘One Language’ and ‘Dance of the Rivers’ in Lagos at a time when the ‘centre of excellence’ was celebrating its 50 years of existence.

He also noted at a time when the political space was heated up with various interpretations of ‘restructuring’ it was somewhat fortuitous that ‘One Language’ is a dance drama that sends a powerful message about people common origins and destiny as humans.

Mr. Etomi said, in the One Language musical production, “if we searched deep, we are one people united by one language while ‘Dance of the Rivers’ tells the story of the origins of the modern Ijaw people who travelled along the River Niger from the Futa Jallon Mountain to their present abode in Rivers State.”

Also speaking, Mr. Segun Adefila, director of the One Language Dance drama, said One Language is about the different people in the world speaking one language in triumph and tribulation, joy and sorrow, hunger, anger and laughter which have no ethno-sectarian leanings.

They all share the same basic human traits and define humanity even in the face the pervading cruelties that stare them in the face.

The director said, “One Language explores among other things, the human themes of love, loss, misery, and ultimate human victory in unity,” adding that dance, music, spoken words and multimedia projections are finely juxtaposed to give the viewer and listeners, a total theatre experience that will linger on in their minds.

The choreographer of the project, Mr. Victor Erebifa PHULU, popularly called ‘Sir Vic,’ is a veteran dancer, dance teacher and a dance judge of high repute with more than 25 years’ experience in African and Nigerian dances.

For the past couple of weeks, the buzz has been around town for the #ILoveDrinks Campaign. We all love drinks, don’t we? From fruit juices and water to non-alcoholic beverages, exotic wines and alcoholic drinks, the wide range of options is simply mind blowing. Now, imagine all these options and much more under one roof at an event packed with loads of fun, interactive and educative sessions, and you have the International Drinks Festival!

This ground-breaking event is set to be the largest gathering of drinks’ consumers, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers. If you look closely, you’ll find that you belong to one of these categories, so this event is for everyone! This event is for YOU!!!

With a host of activities planned for the three-day festival including the exhibition, master classes, drinks summit, beer village, cocktail mixing sessions, comedy, music, giveaways and much more, its one event you can’t afford to miss! Come and Explore. Experience. Enjoy.

Date: Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd December 2017

Venue: Federal Palace Hotel, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos

Time: 10AM – 6PM daily

This event is FREE to attend. Skip the queues and register ahead at www.internationaldrinksfestiva l.com or register at the venue.

The Exhibition

This is a great opportunity for you to sample from over 200 brands of the widest range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages you’ve ever seen! There will be LOTS of product tastings and great discounts. Drink the best smoothies, cocktail and more you’ve ever tasted in our small business pavilion and get educated from different drink brands.

The Summit

With the theme ‘Where Drinks Means Business’, the Nigerian Drinks Summit will explore the business side of drinks manufacturing, distribution and retailing in Nigeria. This summit will attract over 500 delegates and 50 professionals from all sectors in the local and international drinks industry.

Drinks of Naija

Local drinks such as Palmwine, Kunu, Zobo, Fura Da Nono, Chapman, Soya Milk and more will take the center stage at the ‘Drinks of Naija’ segment. If you think you know all there is about local Nigerian drinks, you’re about to be blown away by the variety and tasty options here.

The Masterclasses

There would be masterclasses and training for intending entrepreneurs in the Drinks Industry during the Festival. This event is specially for people who are, or want to go into the business of manufacturing or selling drinks. It would provide the opportunity for mentorship and one-on-one interactions with experts in different areas of the local and international drinks industry. Consumers also have the opportunity to learn about their drinks directly from the manufacturers.

The Entertainment

It’s going to be fun all the way with lots of music, games, food, and fun activities to entertain all guests at the event. As a special side attraction, world renowned Flair bartenders Tomek Malek and Marek Posluszny from Europe will be entertaining guests with their electrifying routines that take cocktail mixing to a whole new level!

The Beer Village

One major attraction of the International Drinks Festival is the Beer Village which will hold every day of the Festival. Guests will experience different types of great beer from various brands that will be participating in this entertaining event. There would be free tastings and amazing prizes to be won.

#ILoveDrinks

Become an ambassador for the ‘I Love Drinks’ Campaign and get a lot of perks from promoting this campaign on your platforms and within your networks. Go ahead and send a DM to the @drinksfestlagos Instagram page stating your intention. It’s as easy as that!

The International Drinks Festival is organized by Balmoral Group, Nigeria’s foremost event company. It is set to attract over 15,000 guests and promises to be quite an experience!

Observers are beginning to query what has happened to the $300m foreign facility obtained by indigenous auto manufacturing group, Innoson Vehicle manufacturing (IVM) in 2016 for the local production and supply of a minimum Set-Top Boxes to support the FG’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) project being handled by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
We gathered that the amount was part of Innoson Group partnership with a Consortium of Chinese Investors to pump in $1billion into Nigeria information technology sector of the economy; to include 400 million Nigeria’s DSO Project Digital Satellite TV station and additional $600 million covering other important sectors.

Recalls that in October 2016, the public relations & media assistant at Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe quoted the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, that he had on Monday, October 25, received the consortium of Chinese Foreign Investment Group led by Liu Baoju, a deputy minister of Communist Party of China in Shandong Province where the deal was discussed.

Osigwe noted then that visit which comes as one of the gains of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to China will attract a foreign investment of 1Billion USD.

He further gave a breakdown of the investment as currently agreed by the Chinese Consortium as follows; “Financial foreign investment credit facility of $300million USD for local production and supply of a minimum five to eight Million (5-8million) Set-Top Boxes to support the Federal Government of Nigeria Digital Switch Over (DSO) project being handled by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission in order to meet the deadline switch of June 2017.”

“Financing foreign investment of $100million to establish the latest technology and biggest DTH (Direct-To-Home) Digital BING Television Station across all states of Nigeria.

“In addition, the two above immediate investment is being followed by another 600 Billion USD investment in which negotiations is almost fully concluded with our strategic partners to cover the following areas of Nigerian economy; Smart City (CCTV camera) using cloud computing total solution that is known as E-Policing to cover the whole landmass of Nigeria.

Many who remembered the news of the facility access October last year are calling on the government to find out what happened to the $300m which was specifically accessed with manufacturing STBs in view.

President Muhammadu Buhari will soon appoint more ministers into his cabinet. He will also make fresh board appointments in response to his party members’ demands.

President Buhari gave hints of the new appointments in a speech delivered Tuesday to the national executive council of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja.

The President has 36 ministers, with 14 of them being ministers of state. He doubles as the full minister of petroleum.

He said he was working with a trimmed cabinet to avoid waste but said he would be shifting ground soon.

The “compressed federal executive council,” he said, “will be expanded to bring in more supporters at Federal Level, with fresh ideas to be injected into the government”.

He did not indicate whether he will do a cabinet reshuffle.

“Last year I said we would re-constitute the Boards of Parastatals. I must regret the fact that we have not done so, for many reasons.

“Some of us in this meeting may know I had given instructions since October 2015 for this exercise to start. But there have been inordinate delays through several Committees in an attempt to get the balance right and to make sure all parts of the country are equitably represented.

“On the other hand I am keenly aware that our supporters are very eager for these appointments to be announced. By the Grace of God these appointments will be announced soon. Especially now that the economy is improving, we will have the resources to cater for the appointees,” he said.

A Lagos Division of the Lagos State High Court has dismissed a N50 million suit brought against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by telecommunication giant, Globacom.

The judge, Wasiu Animashaun, in his judgment also awarded N150,000 legal costs against Globacom and its head of marketing, Ashok Israni, to each of the three respondents.

Joined as respondents in the suit are the EFCC; Emitac Mobile Solutions; and Kadiri Thomas, an EFCC investigator.

“There is a reasonable suspicion that an offence of obtaining by false pretence has been committed,” said the judge.

“A reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed is a justification to infringe the right guaranteed under Chapter IV of the Constitution.

“Consequently, I hold that the originating notice of motion dated July 19 fails and is hereby dismissed with N150,000 costs in favour of each set of the respondents.”

Mr. Israni and Globacom had filed a suit against the EFCC and a Dubai-based firm, Emitac Mobile Solutions, before the court, seeking to stop the investigation on a petition written against it by the firm.

They urged the court to restrain the anti-graft agency, and Mr. Thomas from making any enquiry and criminalising a civil contract it had with the foreign firm. They also demanded N50 million as damages for the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Israni.

The plaintiffs further argued that the issues between the telecommunication company and the foreign firm were purely ”contractual and a framework agreement clearly provided modalities to address any disagreement.”

But according to Emitac Mobile Solutions, Globacom failed to pay it $6.6 million being the balance for the provision of Blackberry Solutions (BIS) to Glo’s mobile users and, as a result, caused the winding up of its Nigerian operations and retrenchment of 95 per cent of its staff.
The firm also accused Globacom of making it render service to it under false pretence.

On its part, the EFCC said it was only performing its statutory obligation based on a petition of fraudulent practices levelled against the telecommunication company.

The Jupiter Hall of Four Points by Sheraton in Victoria Island, Lagos was bursting at its seams this Monday, October 30, 2017 as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama on Day 2 of the much talked about COSON Week, engaged the nation’s intelligentsia, experts on intellectual property and drivers of the Nigerian creative industry at the 2017 COSON Lecture. Present were several eminent Intellectual Property lawyers, teachers and students of law and serious practitioners in the Nigerian creative industry. Among those present were the Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; immediate past president of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria, Prof. Bankole Sodipo; immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Prof. Adebambo Adewopo SAN; Dean Faculty of Law, University of Lagos; Ms. Iyabode Oshodi, representing the Attorney-General of Lagos State; human rights activist and Commissioner in NDDC, Mr. Ogaga Ifowodo; eminent IP lawyer, Mr. Rockson Igelige, etc

Mr. Onyeama, who before being appointed Minister was Deputy Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Geneva based agency of the United Nations, spoke on “Intellectual Property Rights in the New Global Knowledge Economy” a subject with which he is clearly at home. He poured encomium on the COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji for his forcefulness and consistency in promoting the intellectual property cause in Nigeria and across the continent.

The minister did a thorough examination of the intellectual property landscape across the world, the trade related aspects of intellectual property (TRIPS) and the role of IP in the World Trade Organization (WTO). He was clear that without a firm appreciation of the role of intellectual property in economic development, the Nigerian economy will not reach its optimum.

Mr. Basil Udotai, thoroughbred lawyer, intellectual property expert, technology wiz and Managing Partner, Technology Advisors undertook a forensic and systematic breakdown of the relationship between respect for intellectual property and economic advancement of several nations.

Chairman of the Lecture, the nation’s undisputed father of Intellectual Property, Emeritus Professor, Egerton E. Uvieghara, the first ever Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission and teacher of many lawyers across Nigeria called for a full fledged Ministry of Intellectual Property because of the key role that Intellectual Property must play in the development of the country. Both Mr. Onyeama and Mr. Udotai received standing ovations for their deep presentations.

A panel of experts consisting of Mr. Obi Asika, COSON Board Member & Co-Founder, Cabal Entertainment; Mr. Mena Ajakpovi: Lawyer, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law; Mr. Obi Ezeilo, Zonal Manager, Nigerian Copyright Commission and Mr. Emeka Mba, former DG, National Film & Video Censors Board and former DG, National Broadcasting Commission thereafter debated the issues as they relate to the Nigerian situation. Led by Mr. Udota, they sought to chart a way forward for Nigeria.

Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) Chief Tony Okoroji who is one of the continent’s most renowned voices and thinkers on Intellectual Property Rights, moderated the lecture. Okoroji, the former president of PMAN and author of the celebrated book, ‘Copyright & the New Millionaires’ said that never before had a group of such brilliant minds been assembled to dissect an issue which the country urgently needs to understand, so as to ensure real growth in the nation’s economy.

The COSON Lecture followed the spectacular ‘COSON in the Church’ which took place at Trinity House, Victoria Island on Sunday, October 29, 2017.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, on Friday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari has “derailed” barely two years in office, but blamed the Peoples Democratic Party for obstructing the president’s efforts to make Nigeria better.

“There is no doubt that we have derailed because we are not doing what we say we want to do,” The Nation reported Mr. Ali, a key ally of Mr. Buhari, as saying.

He quickly held the opposition party responsible for Mr. Buhari’s failures, saying PDP loyalists occupy as many government offices as members of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Today, with all sense of responsibility, I want to say that we have 50 percent of PDP in our government. How can we move forward with this load? How can we achieve our target with this load?” Mr. Ali said.

His comments came when he opened a new office for the Buhari Support Organisation in Abuja.

The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalung, whom The Nation reported was at the event with Mr. Ali, also supported the Customs’ boss comments, praising him for displaying uncommon courage.

“It requires very courageous people to come out and say these things are wrong,” Mr. Lalung said, adding that other APC governors have also complained to Mr. Buhari about the influence of non-party members to the detriment of those who worked for the party’s success in 2015.

Mr. Ali’s comments came two days after the administration blamed the PDP government under President Goodluck Jonathan for the scandalous reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, a former head of pension reform task force.

Mr. Jonathan swiftly reacted to the statement, signed by Garba Shehu, saying it spoke to the “uncoordinated and rudderless” turn Mr. Buhari’s government had taken.

A spokesperson for the PDP, Dayo Adeyeye, did not immediately respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ requests for comments about Mr. Ali’s attacks Friday night. But political analysts see the Customs chief’s comments as particularly instructive given his closeness to Mr. Buhari.

“These comments should worry all members of the Buhari administration because of where they’re coming from,” said Gbola Oba, a political analyst and automobile expert. “Mr. Ali is one of the strongest allies of the president.”

Consequently, Mr. Oba said the ball has now been punted back to Nigerians to draw their conclusions about the Buhari government.

“He’s half-right and half-wrong,” Mr. Oba said. “It is not in doubt that Buhari government has failed as his close ally has disclosed, but they cannot blame others for their failures.”

In blaming the PDP, Mr. Ali said Mr. Buhari had failed to implement the winner-take-all tactics.

“Let me say that in the course of the jihad of the Prophet Mohammad, anytime they go out for a battle, they come back with loot, but this loot, as far as my own research told me is not distributed to everybody, but to those who took the sword and faced the enemies,” he said in apparent allusion to the contribution of APC members to the party’s victory in 2015 elections.

The election saw the emergence of Mr. Buhari as the country’s president, 30 years after he was deposed as a military head of state.

Mr. Buhari defeated Mr. Jonathan, ending PDP’s 16-year grip on the central government.

But the administration has suffered huge blows about two and a half years on, especially in areas of social and economicchallenges and even the in the war against corruption.

Mr. Ali said things would have been brighter for the government if all key positions in government had gone to loyal members of the APC.“But I must confess here that we have been infused by people who were not part of this journey and these people are the ones that call the shots today,” Mr. Ali said. “That is why we are derailing. If we had the right people who had the vision and have been there in and out, I believe that we will not be going the way we are going today.”

Analysts could not immediately understand how Mr. Ali arrived at his conclusion that the opposition has a lot of say in Mr. Buhari’s government.

This is because Mr. Buhari did not appoint anyone from the PDP or any other opposition party in his cabinet ; unlike President Umar Yar’Adua who convened a government of national unity by inviting opposition parties into his cabinet as a way of moving past election season bitterness.

“The truth is that Nigerians know better: PDP is no longer in government,” said political analyst Victor Okhai.

Mr. Okhai, a career criminologist, said the only association PDP has with the APC government was the decision of the now ruling party to admit many PDP loyalists into its folds shortly after it was formed in 2013.

“When the APC was formed in 2013, the party’s leaders started poaching PDP bigwigs,” Mr. Okhai said. “By the time the country went to poll in 2015, many of the APC leaders were serving PDP governors and federal lawmakers.”

Mr. Okhai said it was unsurprising that the APC has failed within two years like the PDP through its 16-year rule.

“Of course, the PDP was a failure, so the APC has also failed because the party was created based on the foundation and resources of the PDP,” Mr. Okhai said.

Notwithstanding, the criminologist said the APC must take responsibility for its failures, drawing an analogy from a newly-hired coach of a football team.

“When a team hires a new coach, it is expected that the new coach will make immediate changes that will guarantee success,” Mr. Okhai said. “You cannot say because you inherited bad players you couldn’t perform, especially when resources had been provided for new players.”

‘No coincidence’

Coming barely two days after Mr. Shehu’s blame, Mr. Oba said Nigerians might be witnessing a key campaign slogan of the APC as 2019 approaches.

“The other day it was Garba Shehu and today we have Mr. Ali, this could very well be one of their main campaign slogans,” Mr. Oba said.

“The APC will blame the PDP for infiltrating its government to constitute a major impediment to new changes,” Mr. Oba said.

He, however, said such claim would be a tough sell to Nigerians, who are becoming increasingly aware of “insulting political gimmicks by politicians.”

“They gained power by blaming the PDP, I strongly doubt if Nigerians will let them remain in power by blaming the PDP,” Mr. Oba said. “Nigerians would no longer tolerate politicians passing the buck and spewing insults at their intelligence.”

Mr. Ali, who coordinates the Buhari Support Organisation, implored members of the group to remain steadfast in their quest for good governance.

“I will, therefore, ask my colleagues of the BSO to go back to the study room. This is a commission, but it is also the beginning of the fight for good governance,” Mr. Ali said.

Three suspects, including the Director of De-Sholy Filling Station, Agbara, on Badagary Express way, Lagos, Wednesday, have been arrested over alleged illegal bunkering and vandalization of NNPC pipeline.

The suspects who are cooling their feet in the custody of the Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering, Force Head Quarters, Annex, Lagos are Director of De-Sholy filling station, Agbara, Mr. Shola Afolabi, his manager Siyanbola Sunday and his supervisor, Adeniran Yemi.

A security source claimed that the suspects who were specialists in pipeline vandalization went to their nefarious duty, vandalized NNPC pipeline at Alimosho axis at odd hours on October 24, 2017 and syphoned petroleum product (PMS) into their truck.

THEMOMENTNG learnt that the suspects loaded the oil product about 45,000 litres into a truck No NLG 321XS and headed towards Badagry Express road.

Acting on tips off, The Inspector General Task Force team led by Superintended of Police (SP) Igbinazaka Ugowe of Anti-pipeline vandanlization, Force Annex, Headquarters, Obalende Lagos, moved into action and intercepted the suspects at DE-SHOLY filling station, Agbara Express way, Lagos with the truck discharging the product.

They were said to have been arrested at the scene of the crime with the driver of the truck, one Ola Adeyemi.

Nigerian musicians have declared full support for the peace, unity and progress of the Nigerian nation.

Speaking at a very crowded press conference on Tuesday at COSON House in Ikeja, the brand-new headquarters of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman of COSON said, “If you leave here with nothing else, please leave with this statement: In the 2017 COSON WEEK, Nigerian artistes declare full support for the peace, unity and progress of the Nigerian nation.

We do not want Nigeria dismembered or balkanized. We do not want war in our country. We wish to work for stability in our land so that Nigerian men, women and children can pursue their dreams in peace and harmony. We are not unaware of the challenges that confront our nation. We however believe that the challenges are best addressed without the tribal and religious hatred that is being spread around and without the spilling of the blood of any Nigerian”

At the conference which was called to give updates on the forthcoming COSON Week which begins on Sunday, October 29 with eight different big events, on eight different days at eight different venues in Lagos, Chief Okoroji said, “You would have noticed that at no event of the COSON Week are entry tickets sold. No income is being generated despite the massive human, organizational and material sacrifice being deployed to execute the COSON Week. The COSON Week is therefore fully dedicated to the well-being of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the former president of Performing Musician Association of Nigeria (PMAN), “When other nations in our continent have been challenged, Nigerian entertainers have intervened forcefully. We believe that Nigerian entertainers from every tribe, with our millions of fans, have a key role to play in stabilizing the nation and healing the wounds that have threatened our unity and almost driven us to the brink of disintegration.

Chief Okoroji reeled out the names of an array of Nigerian top artistes who will thrill Nigerians at each of the various events, exclaiming, “please tell Nigerians that we are ready to deliver unprecedented fun and excitement at each of the 8 mega events of the 2017 COSON Week”

The COSON Week begins on Sunday, October 29 as Nigeria’s most admired gospel music stars from across the country throng Trinity House in Victoria Island for the red carpet national day of music, prayer and supplication to the Almighty called “COSON in the Church”. The nightingales will be joined by Nigeria’s most respected ministers of the gospel in an unparalleled show that will be broadcast live by several TV networks to all corners of the globe.

Next day Monday, October 30 at Four Points by Sheraton also in Victoria Island, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, will engage the nation’s intelligentsia, experts on intellectual property and drivers of the Nigerian creative industry at the 2017 COSON Lecture.

Other events of the COSON Week include ‘COSON in the Streets’ on Tuesday, October 31, the ‘COSON Green Ball’ at MUSON Centre on Wednesday, November 1, the ‘COSON All Stars Table Tennis Blow-Out’ at Rowe Park Yaba on Thursday November 2, ‘COSON in the Mosque’ at Surulere Central Mosque on Friday, November 3 and ‘Children’s Day at COSON House’ at the COSON House Arena, Ikeja on Saturday, November 4.

The COSON Week climaxes with the show of all shows, ‘the COSON Song Awards’ on Sunday, November 5 with the nation’s glitterati and paparazzi on parade at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island. The Awards ‘Red Carpet Fantastico’ begins at 5.00 pm and everybody should now know that the only way to describe the COSON Song Awards is wow!

As the 2017 regional convention of Jehovah’s witnesses continues around the world, parents have been urged to take personal interest in their children and protect them against the danger of sexual abuse.
During this year’s convention, with the theme ‘’Don’t Give Up” held at the weekend, delegates were urged to be mindful of the danger of child abuse and the need for parents to take practical steps to protect their children.
Highlighting the topic, ‘’safeguard your children from what is evil’’, the speaker stated that sexual abuse ‘’is a frightening and unpleasant reality in today’s world’’.
He noted that God has given parents the primary responsibility of protecting their children against any form of abuse warning that in most cases, child molesters are someone the child already knows and trust and not strangers.
Enumerating what parents could do to protect their children; he urged parent to look out for the five signs namely;(1) If someone singles out your child for special attention with gifts or offers free babysitting or private outings with your child;(2) If someone is overly physical with your child, perhaps through excessive displays of affecting, playful wrestling or inappropriate tickling.
Others are;(3) If a relative has unsupervised access to younger siblings stepchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews or grandchildren;(4) if your child has association with others in places that are beyond your vision, such as on a school bus, in the backseat of vehicle, at sleepovers and social gatherings in auxiliary rooms and at recreational areas, such as playgrounds and swimming pools and(5) If your child has unsupervised use of the internet or social networks.
While parents should not be suspicious everybody around them, yet, they must learn how typical abuser operate and safeguard their children against abusers.
The speaker urged parents to be actively involved in their children’s activities, friendships, schoolwork and be good listeners when conversing with them.
The speaker urged parents to teach their children sex education warning that children who are ignorant about sex are much easier for molesters to fool.
He urged delegates to take advantage of the video ‘’Become Jehovah’s friend- protect your children” and use it to initiate training about how anyone attempt to touch him or her inappropriately.
Parents were urged to train their children regarding what are proper displays of affection, the importance of wearing modest clothing and the need for others to respect their privacy.
Reading Proverbs 22:3 that says ‘’ the shrewd one sees danger and conceals himself. But, the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences’’, the speaker tasked parents to be keenly involved in activities around their families.
‘’Although you cannot fully control your teenager’s cell-phone use, you can make sure that he or she knows your rules—as well as the consequences for breaking those rules. Remember, too, that as a parent, you have the right to monitor your teenager’s cell phone’’, he added.
Parents were told to appeal to their teenager’s sense of goodness and set good examples by not watching images and Web sites that could be viewed as unsavory or illegal.
Speaking about the convention, Afolabi Odeyemi, said ‘’the convention helps witnesses strengthen their Christian brotherhood and create opportunity for them to meet and associate with Witnesses from other congregations or even from other lands’’.
‘’Through interesting talks, symposiums, and reenactments, we learn how to do God’s will in our life. We are encouraged when we hear the experiences of those who are successfully meeting the challenge of living as Christians in these difficult times’’.
The convention series that started on May 19, 2017, is simultaneously held in select venues around the world and will continue through early 2018.
Admission to each event is free and no collections are taken.
The program is divided into 52 parts and will be presented in a variety of formats, including brief discourses, interviews, and short videos.
Additionally, one segment of a three-part feature film entitled Remember the Wife of Lot will be shown each afternoon.
The dates and locations for each convention can be found on the Witnesses’ official website, jw.org.
Our convention this year will benefit both Witnesses and non-Witnesses because it promises to empower individuals not only to keep enduring but also to cope with challenges productively.”

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has urged African leaders to go beyond rhetoric and offer value to their people, saying that democracy would serve no purpose if it cannot advance the welfare of Africans.
Osinbajo gave the advice yesterday when he declared open the 48th Session of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (African Region) holding at Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Addressing the assembly, he said, “The power and responsibility for rewriting the story of Africa lies in our hand. We will be charlatans of the worst order if our leadership does not secure the future for our people while providing for the presence. Going forward, our guiding principles as a people should be such that treat an attack on democracy in any African country as an attack on democracy in every African country”
Noting that the legislature and the executive have a duty to the people and must ensure harmony and stability for the system, the Vice President stressed that even when the two arms of government agree; it must not appear a conspiracy against the people.
Osinbajo stated that the 2063 African renaissance target as projected by the session proceeds on the strength of the confidence that the 21st Century is Africa’s century.
While observing that the continent has made sterling strides in all fields of human endeavour and has its goods and services in markets across the globe, the Vice President added that in spite of some interspersed hiccups, Africa is gradually mastering the art of democracy.
“We must, however, accept the sobering reality that there is yet a long way to go. Presently, the challenge for us has not been in planning but in implementing; not in debating but in doing. What we have not been able to consistently do is to put action behind our words and visions. Any however we look at it, time is not on our side. Whether we do something or nothing, 2063 will arrive and in what state shall it meet us?”
Osinbajo further asked African leader to begin to pay more than lip service to the issue of regional integration in Africa regretting that ease-of-doing-business is still a major challenge in the continent.
“Africa is splintered into 55 economies while other continents are coming together as individual economic blocs just like the European Union. This is key to seamless cross-border interactions and enterprises among the nations of Africa”.
In his welcome address, the host governor, Rochas Okorocha called on the parliamentarians to legislate free education in every African country.
He said, “To deny a child the right to education because his parents cannot afford it should henceforth not be the norm. I urge you all to legislate free education in respective African country. No matter how poor the country is, with little sacrifice, it can be done.”
He continued, “The story of Africa has been one of poverty, frustration and that of a people whose destiny is yet undiscovered. We have one of the largest populations of despondent youths across the world. Education must therefore be given its rightful place in Africa, if our youths must get any foothold in the global space to rewrite their history. ”
Okorocha called for the culturization of democracy in Africa to reflect the character of Africans. “we must carefully fashion a brand of democracy that can work for us better.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on African leaders to speak ‘with one voice’, independent of foreign influence, to achieve economic integration, development, peace, and security on the continent.
The President stated this while speaking at a bilateral meeting with President Alpha Conde of Guinea on Friday night in Istanbul, Turkey.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, in a statement quoted Buhari as saying that the leaders should learn from history to effectively tackle conflicts, violent extremism, and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
The two Presidents, who met on the margins of the ninth D8 Summit in Istanbul, exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
President Buhari assured his Guinean counterpart, who is also the current Chairman of AU that Nigeria would continue to strengthen its engagement with all AU member states to address current security challenges in restive areas such as South Sudan and Libya, and the political crisis in Togo.
In his remarks, Conde praised Nigeria’s leadership on the continent, particularly President Buhari’s great job on anti-corruption and his strong voice on African issues at the international stage.
The Guinean leader stressed the need for Guinea and Nigeria to accelerate economic cooperation, particularly in the natural resources sector, where Guinea boasts of 25 per cent or more of the world’s known bauxite reserves.

Former banker with Unity Bank PLC, Mrs. Remilekun Ogunwole, has been arraigned before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja for alleged forgery and fraud.

Mrs. Ogunwole was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on a 3-count charge for allegedly forging documents and defrauding a customer to the tune of N14 million.

The first count of the charge stated that, between the months of March 2014 and August 2014, as a staff of Unity Bank, the suspect allegedly transferred the sum of N14, 450,000 (fourteen million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira only) fraudulently from Zamzalim Enterprises account for her own use, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 364.

In the second count, it was stated that, Mrs. Ogunwole allegedly committed the fraud through the forgery of the letterhead of Zamzalim Enterprises, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.

The last count alleged that the suspect dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N14, 450, 000 (fourteen million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira only) belonging to Zamzalim Enterprises by converting it to personal use, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 308, punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code.

Initially, the defence counsel, Mr. Lawrence Alabi, had raised a preliminary objection, asking the court to dismiss the matter arguing that it was beyond the Commission’s jurisdiction but the ICPC counsel, Efanga Imaobong Eyo, argued against it and the presiding judge overruled the objection.

The suspect pleaded not guilty to the 3-count charge and an application for bail was made by her counsel which was not opposed by ICPC counsel.

The presiding judge granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million and a surety who must be an influential person, resident in Abuja and owning a landed property, in addition to submitting her driver’s license and international passport to the court.

The case has been adjourned to 22nd November, 2017 for commencement of hearing.

For the second time in one week, aggrieved pensioners in Edo State yesterday trooped out to protest the non-payment of their pensions, daring the state government to arrest them for demanding the arrears of pensions and gratuities spanning between five to 42 months.

Adorned in red apparels with banners of various inscriptions, mats, mattresses and others, bedding materials as well as chairs and benches, the protesters also sat at the centre of the road close to Orhopota Hall of the host Oredo Local Government Area in Benin, the state capital.

The retired elderly men and women had accused the state government of insensitivity and for peddling lies to members of the public that it had paid of all their entitlements.

The protest caused chaotic situation within the city centre with several hours of gridlock even as motorists drove in opposite directions for possible escape, which delayed workers and school children while businesses were crippled in the process.

It will be recalled that the Edo State government through the Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Gladys Idahor, had on Wednesday warned that it would no longer fold its arms to watch mischief makers instigate pensioners into embarking on needless and stage-managed protests, in order to put the state government in bad light and undermine efforts at resolving the pension issue.

The protest was coming ahead of the planned bogus one year anniversary of Governor Godwin Obaseki which was billed for November 12.

According to the statement signed by the Head of Service Mrs. Gladys Idahor, the government said it was not only committed to clearing the backlog of pension arrears, but also instituting a new regime where retiree’s entitlements were not delayed.

Idahor added that not less than N6.2 billion had so far been paid to retirees between January to September this year, noting that the protest on Monday, October 16, was an orchestration by some disgruntled elements and their political allies designed to undermine the effort of the state government to sustainably resolve the pension issue once and for all.

The spokesperson for the angered pensioners, Mr. Gabriel Osemwenhkai, told newsmen that; “We have been carrying out this agitation for quite a long time even before the exit of former governor, Adams Oshiomhole. There were lots of forces; we have the remote and immediate. The immediate cause of this our action was that Mrs. Gladys Idador, the Head of Service of Edo State misfired by going to the air (radio and television) to announce that we are one; that if we come out again to agitate that she was going to arrest all of us.”

Rescue officials have disclosed the identity of the man who jumped off the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge into the Lagos lagoon on Friday, October 20.
He has been identified as Oluseyi Adekunle, Channels TV reports.
His identity was uncovered after his ATM card and other items were recovered from the scene of the incident by rescue officials comprising of the Lagos Waterways Authority, the state emergency management agency and the marine police, who had rushed to the scene in an attempt to rescue the victim.
We learnt that the man who appeared to be on his way to work, dropped his bag before taking the plunge into the Lagoon.
The marine police and other officials rushed to the scene to rescue the victim but were unsuccessful in their attempt.
After a four-hour search without any success, they called off the search operation.
Though the reason behind Adekunle’s plunge into the lagoon is still unknown, the authorities have begun investigating the probable cause of his actions.
We had earlier reported that there is commotion on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge after a man jumped from the bridge into the Lagos lagoon.
TheMomentng learnt officials of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Marine Police and other stakeholders rushed to the scene to rescue the victim immediately they were informed about the incident.
This is not the first time an individual will be taking a plunge into the lagoon.
A similar incident occurred when a medical doctor identified as Allwell Orji jumped to his death from the third mainland bridge into the lagoon.

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange, JSE, on Thursday suspended trading in the shares of Nigerian oil company, Oando.

The suspension came after an order by Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, prompted the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, to suspend the embattled company on Wednesday.

According to a notice by the JSE seen by us on Thursday, the suspension was effected based on a correspondence between the Nigerian bourse and JSE.

“The Company has received communication from its primary listing, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have issued a directive to immediately suspend the trading of Oando shares, a directive to which the NSE has complied,” the JSE said in its notice.

“The JSE has accordingly suspended trading of the Oando shares with effect from 09:00 a.m. SA time, pending clarification following the review of subsequent correspondence received on 18 October 2017 from the NSE and SEC and will provide a full statement of the Company’s position as soon as possible.”

In its response on Wednesday to the suspension by the NSE, the management of Oando plc said it was still reviewing documents sent to it by the NSE, and SEC.

In its suspension notice, Tinuade Awe, General Counsel and Head of Regulation at the NSE, said the full suspension is effective for 48 hours from Wednesday to Friday, after which it would commence a technical suspension until further directive.

Ms. Awe also affirmed that in the 48-hour period commencing Wednesday, there will be no trading in the shares of Oando Plc, adding that from Friday, investors will be able to trade in Oando Plc’s shares but such trading will not result in any movement in the price of the shares.

Apart from the Nigerian bourse, Oando is listed in Johannesburg and Toronto.

Oando has in recent time been enmeshed in crisis.

A group of aggrieved shareholders had attempted to disrupt its Annual General Meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State over allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the management of the oil firm.

The irate shareholders also called for the removal of Wale Tinubu, the company’s Group Chief Executive Officer.

Commenting on the crisis rocking the oil firm on Wednesday, Oando said it would “provide a full statement of the company’s position as soon as possible”.

…. Reports profit before tax of N150.03Billion

Guaranty Trust Bank plc has released its unaudited financial results for the 3rd quarter ended September 30, 2017, to the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges.

A review of the 3rd quarter performance shows positive growth across all key financial metrics and improved strategic positioning of the brand. Despite non-recurrence of significant FX revaluation gain during the period, the Bank reported an impressive Profit before tax of ₦150.03billion, representing a growth of 9% from ₦137.99billion recorded in the corresponding period of September 2016. Increase in PBT is primarily from 36% growth in interest income.

The Bank closed the third quarter ended September 2017 with Total Assets of ₦3.213trillion and Shareholders’ Funds of ₦581.91billion. The Bank’s loan book contracted by 10% from ₦1.590trillion recorded in December 2016 to ₦1.428trillion in September 2017 due to conscious effort to de-risk the balance sheet and unwinding (pay-down) of trade obligations.

In terms of asset quality, the Bank’s non-performing loans remained low at 3.93% with adequate Coverage ratio of 212.7%. Cost of risk moderated to 0.53% from 3.66% of comparative period of September 2016. On the backdrop of this result, Post-Tax Return on Equity (ROE) and Post-Tax Return on Assets (ROA) stood at 30.81% and 5.29% respectively.

Commenting on the Bank’s financial results, Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director/CEO said that, “Given the progress we made in the first half of the year, we came into the second half with the objective of remaining focused on our core strategy of serving the full value chain of our customers’ needs whilst maintaining high standards of customer service.

He further stated that “As the Bank continues to drive innovation around mobile technology, we will continue to enhance our digital channels in order to make it easy for our customers to use and access our products and services, whilst positioning our Bank as a platform for enriching lives that provides customers with benefits beyond banking.”

Guaranty Trust Bank has continued to report the best financial ratios among all Financial Institutions in the Industry. Post-tax return on equity (ROE) of 30.81% and a cost to income ratio of 37.59% is a clear evidence of the efficient management of the Banks’ Assets. Overall, the Bank has enshrined its position as a clear leader in the Banking Industry. In due recognition of the Bank’s leading role in Africa’s Banking Industry, owing to its world class corporate governance standards and excellent service delivery and innovation, GTBank has been a recipient of numerous awards over the course of the year.

These include but not limited to Best Bank in Nigeria and Best Bank for SMEs in Africa from Euromoney Magazine, African Bank of the Year from African Banker Magazine, Best Bank in Nigeria and Best Bank for CSR in Africa from EMEA Finance Magazine, Best Corporate Governance from Ethical Boardroom Magazine, Best Banking Group and Best Retail Bank from World Finance Magazine.

The presidency has clarified the statement by the World Bank President, Jim Kim, that President Muhammadu Buhari asked the bank to focus its development efforts on “northern regions of Nigeria.”

“In my very first meeting with President Buhari he said specifically that he would like us to shift our focus to the northern regions of Nigeria and we’ve done that,” said Mr. Kim, who has led the World Bank since 2012.

Mr. Kim’s statement on Thursday has elicited a lot of criticisms of the president with some Nigerians accusing of favouring the northern part of the country, where he is from, ahead of the remaining.

The presidency, in a statement by Mr. Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, however, explained that what the president meant was the North-east region that has been devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“The truth of the matter is that President Buhari, right from his first week in office in June, 2015, had reached out to the G-7 in Germany that Nigeria needed help to rebuild the North-east, which had been terribly devastated by insurgency,” Mr. Adesina said.

The Boko Haram insurgency has caused about 100,000 deaths and millions of people displaced since 2009, according to official estimates.

Read Mr. Adesina’s full statement below.

Those who specialize in a deliberate twisting of information have wailed and raged endlessly on the news item credited to the World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, who disclosed in Washington DC, United States of America, that President Muhammadu Buhari had requested a concentration of the Bank’s intervention efforts in the northern part of Nigeria, particularly in the North-east.

The ignorant and mischievous people, who twist everything for their vile purposes, are making it seem that it was a calculated attempt to give the North an unfair advantage over other parts of Nigeria.

The truth of the matter is that President Buhari, right from his first week in office in June, 2015, had reached out to the G-7 in Germany that Nigeria needed help to rebuild the North-east, which had been terribly devastated by insurgency. He said the country would prefer help in terms of rebuilding of infrastructure, rather than cash donation, which may end up being misappropriated. In concert with Governors of the region, a comprehensive list of needed repairs was sent to the G-7 leaders.

Also, during a trip to Washington in 2015, and many other engagements that followed, President Buhari sought the help of the World Bank in rebuilding the beleaguered North-east, which was then being wrested from the stranglehold of a pernicious insurgency. It was something always done in the open, and which reflected the President’s concern for the region.

Those ululating over the disclosure by the President of the World Bank should be a bit reflective, and consider the ravages that the North-east has suffered since 2009, when the Boko Haram insurgency started.

Schools, hospitals, homes, entire villages, towns, cities, bridges, and other public utilities have been blown up, laid waste, and lives terminated in excess of 20,000, while widows and orphans littered the landscape. The humanitarian crisis was in monumental proportions.

President Buhari simply did what a caring leader should do. He took the battle to the insurgents, broke their backs, and then sought for help to rebuild, so that the people could have their lives back. Should that then elicit the negative commentary that has trailed the disclosure from the World Bank? Not at all, except from insidious minds.

President Buhari has a pan-Nigerian mandate, and he will discharge his duties and responsibilities in like manner. Any part of the country that requires special attention would receive it, irrespective of primordial affinities, which narrow minded people have not been able to live above. This President will always work in the best interest of all parts of the country at all times. Let ethnic warriors sheathe their swords.

Controversy has continued to trail the appointment of a Deputy General Manager in Diamond Bank as a new Deputy Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The lady at the center of the controversy, Aishah Ahmad was said to be a DGM in Diamond Bank before she was ‘hurriedly promoted’ as an Executive Director of the bank before her new appointment.
According to reliable informants, Aishah was a DGM in the bank on Tuesday 3rd October, 2017 and by the morning of Wednesday, 4th October she was quickly appointed as ED in the bank and immediately appointed as Deputy Governor of the CBN same Wednesday evening.
We were told that ordinarily the CBN only accepts from Executive Director (ED) cadre as Deputy Director.
It was alleged in some anonymous posts on the social media that Aishah’s promotion to the position of Executive Director at Diamond Bank Plc was rushed a few hours to the announcement of her name as the nominee to replace Sarah Alade, who retired from the bank as deputy-governor (economic policy) in March 2017.
The message read: “We have a new Deputy CBN Governor by name Aishah Ahmad. An erstwhile DGM (Deputy General Manager), she was appointed an ED (Executive Director) in Diamond Bank Wednesday evening and before the staff got home same Wednesday, they learnt of her appointment as CBN Deputy Governor. CBN typically accepts only Executive Directors for that position.”
Those who oppose her appointment as CBN Deputy Governor argued further that she was promoted overnight at CBN to meet this requirement and because she is just 40, it was also argued that she is too young for the coveted office.
Sources revealed that Aishah is close to senior players in the banking industry and that her elevation must have been influenced by some of the players.
Sources revealed that the woman’s appointment was made to fill the slot of the bank as other banks such as Zenith Bank and First Bank have reportedly filled their slots in the apex bank.
We were reliably informed that the memo nominating Aishah for deputy-governorship was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari on February 20, 2017 with Alade set to retire after spending 25 years at CBN.
The memo allegedly remained untreated as the president battled with health problems for months.
Meanwhile, in Ahmad’s CV, she said she was promoted ED at Diamond Bank in May 2017 — three months after her name was sent to the president for the CBN vacancy.
The Diamond bank board reportedly only confirmed her elevation on the eve of the announcement of her nomination by the president.
The curious case of her promotion might not have been helped by the fact that she was a deputy general manager previously, meaning she skipped being general manager. Although in the private sector double promotions are not unusual, the circumstances surrounding her case would raise suspicion that it was meant to beef up her resume.
Diamond Bank, the last employer of Aishah Ahmad, reportedly gave a dodgy response when asked to respond to widespread claims that Ms. Ahmad was promoted executive director on the same day she was appointed to the top CBN post.
Rather than make a categorical comment on when Mrs. Ahmad was raised from her position as Deputy General Manager to Executive Director, Mike Omeife, Head of media Relations at the bank, was quoted to have said that she had been executive director at the bank “for a while”.
“He maintained that based on her wealth of experience, she is qualified to be appointed to the new position,” said a source.
However, the CBN Act does not require that an appointee to that position must be an executive director of a bank, and it is not clear why she had to be controversially upgraded.
Section 8 sub-section 1 of the CBN Act 2007 states, among others, that: “The Governor and Deputy Governors “shall be persons of recognised financial experience and shall be appointed by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate.”
Some commentators argue that Ms. Ahmad’s expertise may not be the kind of skills needed at the CBN.
We learned that the woman is better known for overseeing privilege banking, securing accounts from high net-worth individuals, and providing private client services to wealthy customers. Her understanding of economic policies remained unclear.
Abdul Mahmud, an Abuja-based attorney, reportedly said of the appointment, “That she replaces Sarah Alade as Deputy Governor of CBN in charge of economic policy- monetary policy, financial market, etc, before her retirement, makes her catapult curious.
“With a background in accounting and professional training in consumer banking, you would ask: what was her appointor thinking? She is not a monetarist, there is nothing in her CV that shows that she is nuanced in monetary economics,” he said.
Aishah is expected to assume duty as CBN deputy governor immediately after her confirmation by the Senate.
Until her appointment, Mrs. Ahmad, a holder of Master of Science, M.Sc degree in Finance & Management from the Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom (2006-2007) and a Master of Business Administration, MBA in Finance, University of Lagos (1999-2001), was the executive director (Retail Banking) at Diamond Bank Plc.
She is the chairperson, executive council of Women in Management, Business and Public Service, WIMBIZ, a Nigerian non-profit organization focused on issues affecting the interest of women professionals in business, particularly those promoting leadership development and capacity building to engender growt.
Checks revealed that details of the bank’s annual report showed that as at December 2016, Mrs. Ahmad held the position of Head, Consumer and Privilege Banking.
The two executive directors listed in the report are Chizoma Okoli, Executive Director Business Development, and Chiugo Ndubisi, Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer.
Similarly, in its quarterly reports for March and June 2017, the names of the two aforementioned officials remained as executive directors.
We also gathered that Sulieman Barau, CBN’s deputy governor (Corporate services); Okwu Joseph Nnanna, CBN deputy governor (Financial system stability) were never ED before their appointments.
Observers believe that the Aishah’s appointment is a bad precedent and that it is a matter of time before “every reasonable person in the industry would realise the folly in the appointment.”

FOX Network Group (FNG), owners of the FOX television channels, has denied that it has any agreement with new pay-television service provider, TSTV, to carry its channels in Nigeria.

The position of FNG was made known in a statement issued on Thursday. The statement, signed by Jeremy Griesel of Jeremy Griesel Communications on behalf of FOX Network Group Africa, TSTV’s advertisement of FOX channels on its platform is inappropriate.

“Despite advertised claims regarding FOX channels, FOX does not have any agreement with TSTV regarding distribution of channels, but remains confident that TSTV will normalise the situation prior to the launch of its service to ensure the consistency between platform content claims and subscriber expectation,” FOX said.

TSTV had similarly been the subject of two disclaimers issued by Turner Broadcasting System Europe, which distributes American news channel CNN, and beIN, the Qatar-based entertainment and sports content owner. Both wrote to TSTV to desist from making claims it had agreements with them to redistribute their respective content and threatened legal action if it does not.

They also warned against the use of their logos on any of TSTV’s promotional materials. The new pay-television provider has been forced to move the commencement of its commercial operations to November 1, a whole month after it promised to roll out. Sales of its hardware also appear to have been suspended.

Nigerian government has directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to terminate the boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement that the agency has with Intels Nigeria Limited, a company co-owned by former vice president Atiku Abubakar.

Government says the contract with Intels, a leading integrated logistics and facilities services provider in the maritime and oil and gas logistics sectors of the country, was void ab initio.

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), in a letter dated September 27, 2017 to the Managing Director of the NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, said that the agreement, which has allowed Intels to receive revenue on behalf of NPA for 17 years, violates the Nigerian Constitution, especially in view of the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of government.

Intels, also co-owned by Mr. Gabriel Volpi, an Italian national who also has Nigerian citizenship, will lose several millions of dollars in the cancelled deal.

In the maritime industry, pilotage is compulsory for all ships of 35 metres overall length or greater unless a valid Pilotage Exemption Certificate is held by the ship’s master.

In return for the service, ship owners/companies are required to pay a pilotage fee, which Intels collects on NPA’s behalf and retains 28 per cent of the revenue as commission for the services rendered.

In the memo obtained by Thisday, Malami stated that the agreement violates Sections 80(1) and 162(1) and (10) of the constitution, and wondered that the parties – NPA and Intels – did not avert their minds to the relevant provisions when they were negotiating the agreement in 2010.

Section 80(1) of the constitution states: “All revenues or other moneys raised or received by the Federation (not being revenues or other moneys payable under this Constitution or any Act of the National Assembly into any other public fund of the Federation established for a specific purpose) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.”

Section 162(1) states: “The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called ‘the Federation Account’ into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation, except the proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the armed forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry or department of government charged with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

While sub-section 10 of the same section states: “For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, ‘revenue’ means any income or return accruing to or derived by the Government of the Federation from any source and includes: (a) any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any law; (b) any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any property held by the Government of the Federation; (c) any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of shares or interest held by the Government of the Federation in any company or statutory body.”

In the letter titled: “Request for Clarification of Conflict Between Executed Agreement and Federal Government Treasury Single Account Policy,” the attorney general said: “I refer to your letter dated 31st May 2017, ref: MD/17/MF/Vol.XX/583 in respect of the above subject matter wherein you sought clarification on the legal issues implicated by the continuous implementation of the Managing Agent Contract Agreement dated 11th February 2010 executed between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Intels Nigeria Limited for the provision of boats pilotage operations, in the light of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Treasury Singe Account (TSA) policy.

“Upon my review of your letter under reference and the relevant agreements, I have been able to conclude inevitably that the terms of the agreement as agreed by parties and the dynamics of its implementation which permits Intels to receive revenue generated on behalf of NPA ab initio, clearly violates express provisions of Sections 80(1) and 162(1) and (10) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). It is thus curious that parties did not avert their minds to the above provisions of the constitution whilst negotiating the agreement.

“The inherent illegality of the agreement as formed has since been expounded by the TSA policy issued by the Head of Service of the Federation on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria directing all ministries, departments and agencies to collect payment of all revenues due to the federal government or any of her agencies through the TSA.

“The objective of the presidential directive (TSA policy) in exercise of the executive powers of the president under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was in furtherance of the spirit and intent of Sections 80 and 162 of the constitution and to aid transparency in government revenue collection and management.

“NPA being an agency of the federal government is bound by the TSA policy and has not howsoever been exempt therefrom. Due to the constitutional nature of the TSA, where there is a conflict between the TSA and the terms of the agreement, the TSA shall prevail.

“Therefore all monies due to the NPA currently being collected by Intels and any other agents/third parties on behalf of NPA must henceforth be paid into the TSA or any of the sub-accounts linked thereto in the Central Bank of Nigeria (information of the account will be communicated in due course) in accordance with the TSA policy.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the agreement for the monitoring and supervision of pilotage districts in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria on terms inter alia that permits Intels to receive revenue generated in each pilotage district from service boat operations in consideration for 28% of total revenue as commission to Intels is void, being a contract ex facie illegal as formed for permitting Intels to receive federal government revenue contrary to the express provisions of Sections 80(1) and 162(1) and (10) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates that such revenue must be paid into the Federation Account/Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“In the premise of the above, the conflict between the agreement and the TSA policy presents a force majeure event under the agreement, and NPA should forthwith commence the process of issuing the relevant notices to Intels exiting the agreement which indeed was void ab initio.”

You will recall that in 2014, Atiku disclosed how he co-founded Intels.

His words: ”Of all the businesses into which I would venture, the most successful and the most lucrative would be a small oil services company I established with an Italian business man in the early 1980s.”

“I met Gabriel Volpi when he was working at Apapa Ports in 1982. The Genoa, Italy-born Volpi was a director in MED Africa, a shipping company.

“Volpi suggested we go into oil and gas logistics. He knew Nigeria’s future was in oil and gas. We registered the Nigeria Container Services (NICOTES), operating from a container office at Apapa Ports. I was not involved in the running of the company.

“NICOTES relocated later to the Federal Lighter Terminal in Port Harcourt when the business began to grow. The company, now known as INTELS (Integrated and Logistics Services), has grown into a multi-billion naira business providing over 15,000 jobs in Nigeria and other African countries, and paying hefty dividends to its shareholders.”

Remi Tinubu, senator representing Lagos central, says women are turning to drugs because their husbands are not making them happy.
Tinubu said this on the floor of the senate while contributing to a debate on a motion to check the rising menace of drug abuse among youth, especially in northern Nigeria.
Baba Kaka Bashir, senator representing Borno central, and 40 lawmakers sponsored a bill on drug abuse.
“Nigerian men need to do a lot in taking care of their wives and showing care,” Tinubu said.
“Who is supposed to take care of the family? If she is not happy, if she is not being emotionally cared for, she would resort to whatever is available and I think Nigerian men a lot to do in that respect.
“We know that children are good at resorting to a lot of vices. So, for me when it comes to prayers I want to make a suggestion about drug rehabilitation centre.
“I have always advocated and I believe across Nigeria we should have drug rehabilitation centres so that children can quickly check themselves in.
“This is something that is not available so that some children might just stop and decide that ‘I’m tired of this life, how do I get help’. Help should be accessible to them.”
Earlier, while moving the motion, Bashir said the abuse of drugs is a challenge faced by the youth in the northern part of the country.
“Research has shown that Kano and Jigawa states consume more than three million bottles of codeine syrup daily, as abusers take up to 3 to 8 bottles daily,” he said.
“The abuse of prescriptive drugs and cough syrups had been thought to be a problem, typical in the north-western part of the country, investigations have shown an incredible spike in drug-abuse in Borno state and the north-east ravaged by Boko Haram.
“The increasing abuse of cough and prescriptive drugs, among the youth and women across the 19 northern states in the country, has resulted’ in meaningless deaths, rendered them largely unproductive and has devastated many upper and middle class families’ in northern Nigeria.
“Several reports about young girls in tertiary institutions in northern Nigeria, who have taken to an alarming abuse of the codeine cough syrup, which is often taken, mixed with a soft drink.”
The senate further urged the federal government to partner with relevant stakeholders to create a holistic measure in fighting drug abuse in the country particularly in the north.”
The upper legislative chamber also urged the National Food and Drug Agency (NAFDAC) to embark on a sensitisation campaign on the dangers of drug abuse.

Seven pastors of the Believers Love World Ministry a.k.a Christ Embassy Church are reportedly engrossed in a scandal after they allegedly attempted to force a member to use his N2.5m music recording contract that he had with the church to sow seed.

However, the member, Ikwan Onwuka declined to sow any seed with the money and they therefore refused to pay him despite the fact that the General Overseer, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome directed the pastors to pay him.

He thereafter headed to the High Court for the court to order the church to pay him and joined the pastors who were referred as directors in the contract in the suit. The seven pastors were Evangelist Kathy Oyakhilome, Pastor Tom Obiaze, Pastor Linda Okocha, Pastor Ose Oyakhilome, Pastor Mary Owase, Pastor Shola Olubode and Deacon Emeka Enene.

The High Court sitting at Igbosere in Lagos Island has ordered that Christ Embassy Church should pay Onwuka N64m damages for cheating him, with the interest accrued from the money.

We reports that Onwuka who was a church member entered into a contract agreement with the Believers Love World Music production section of the church about four years ago to produce music for the label. He was considered for the contract not only because he was an active member of the church but he also qualified for the job.

According to the plaintiff, he did not bargain high for the contract sum as against what he would have done if it was outside the church. The agreement was signed by the pastors who wanted him to use the same money to sow seed. He said he had used all his money to produce the music, handed it over to them, they removed his brand, put the church’s brand and sold millions of the copies.

However, trouble started after the church had sold the albums, made millions of Naira and he demanded for his own money as agreed. It was at that point that they started giving flimsy excuses and asked him to donate the money to the church as seed. He said he declined and reported the matter to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome who directed the pastors to pay him the money. They did not pay him but rather blocked every access for him to meet Pastor Chris again,so he then went to court.

We gathered that the trial dragged on for three years until this year when the court gave judgment in his favour.

We reports that in the judgment delivered by Justice O.A. Williams, the court ordered the church to pay him the amount including the interest accrued from the debt they owed him on the contract. The trustees did not appeal the judgment by the time the appeal period elapsed and he now wants the execution of the judgment to recoup his money from the church.

When our correspondent contacted one of the trustees who is also sister to Pastor Chris, she said they were arranging to pay him the initial money to avoid Pastor Chris knowing that they did not pay the money as he directed.

Your churches are business centres

The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, has said that there is no Godliness in the decision by some churches in the country to have as many branches as possible.
Churches in going after as many branches as possible, do so in an effort to bring the gospel of the Lord closer to the people.
But condemning such multiplicity of branches, the patriarch of the Lagos Catholics described such branches as “mere business centres,” insisting that there is indeed no godliness in planting churches in close proximity.
The Cardinal, who was fielding questions from our correspondent on how to restore sanity and peace in the country against the backdrop of current threats to national unity, noted that the mushrooming of such churches has not elicited commensurate level of godliness across the land.
His words: “In order to bring us together and to get sanity back into this country, the fear of God must be number one. Nigerians of today don’t care a hoot about God. For example, I heard that one of my colleagues, (Pastor Enoch) Adeboye, said that he would love to build churches everywhere so as to make it easy for worshipers to walk to them. But for me, that is a useless statement. How can you say you will build churches everywhere? What kind of churches are you talking about?
“Look at traffic in Lagos for example, and those who are pastors are traders and a good number of them are business men. Such churches in most cases are more like business houses!
“Look at the number of churches springing up in Lagos. If the Muslims start building mosques like that, does it show that Nigeria is a religious country? Every day we hear of killings and other things that we were not hearing before.
“We can’t even walk on the streets freely. You have to be watching yourself left, right and centre to know who the man coming behind you is. It wasn’t like that before. Churches must ensure that there is fear of God.
“And I’m just telling you that those churches that he is talking about are just business centres. They rented houses and in order to make more money, they license them. They pay their dues to the bosses in the churches, every one of them. Some of them, I have three or four examples, they can’t pay their own house rents. Yet every Sunday, they gather in the house there and say they are opening churches.
“The landlord there says; ‘give me my rent, if you can’t pay then get out.’ You see the trouble? Whereas people who can pay who are really, sincerely looking for houses to rent can’t get any to rent. These are some of the things. One must think twice; and I don’t think that God wants us to serve him with force,” Okogie stressed.
Also commenting on Cardinal Okogie’s comments, Venerable Seyi Pirisola of the Anglican Communion, said: “I won’t say that all churches are business centres. I have not read it, but if Baba Okogie said that, then he knows what he is talking about. You know he is an eminent scholar.
“Evidently, that is a sweeping generalisation. Some are giving out the word, but it doesn’t mean I will make that generalisation. I won’t say all of them are business centres. I won’t criticise him because he is an elderly person; he must have his reason for saying that but for me, I don’t share that one with him.”
For his own part, Lagos-based cleric, Rev James Akinadewo, explained that Jesus commanded that the gospel should be preached all over the world. “So churches must preach the gospel all over the world; but it must be done rightly.”
He, however, noted that the Bible also says “that in the end time, people will be lovers of money”.
“That is why church planting and preaching the word of God must be done rightly,” he added.
Every effort to get reaction from RCCG’s Assistant General Overseer, Pastor Johnson Odesola, proved abortive. However, his Public Relations Officer at the Throne of Grace Headquarters of the church, Pastor Ola Akinsola, said that he cannot speak on behalf of RCCG.
“Pastor Odesola is the person empowered to speak for the church. Just send him a text, and then call him later. Today is a very busy day for Pastor Odesola because today is Holy Ghost Service. If he does not see you today, you have to be patient till tomorrow, (Saturday). He does not even have time for himself or anybody. It is a very busy day for all the pastors in Redeemed. Send a message first and then keep calling. Just keep calling, keep trying,” he said.
Our correspondent called repeatedly till press time but could not get Odesola to speak. But a highly placed female member of the church said it is not true that RCCG branches are business centres.
“That is not true. They have never forced anybody to give money to God. It is when worshippers see the glory of God, that is when you know that this church deserves this. Nobody will force you to give offering.
“There are some people who do not go to church but when they listen right inside their homes, from there they can give their lives to Christ. When a church is within a walking distance, people can easily walk in there to worship without stress,” she said.