₦airaland Forum

...disowns Ugochinyere’s statement

.Insists Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan must be investigated

The Coalition of United Political Parties has said it stands firmly by its letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to investigate certain politicians in Kogi State over an alleged attempt to cause mayhem in a bid to disrupt the forthcoming elections.

The CUPP, in a statement jointly signed by 19 of it’s leaders, said,  arising from a crucial meeting of Steering Committee members in Abuja, on Thursday, members passed a resolution to distance the Coalition from a statement said to have been signed by one of its spokespersons against collective decision.

The leaders of the Coalition frowned at what they described as “wicked blackmail” of Ikenga Ugochinyere by a senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, which they said, “pressured Ikenga to make the release precipitately.”

They insisted that security agencies should investigate allegations that militants were imported to join Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rally last year, among others, adding that their intervention was a patriotic one.

“The Coalition stands by everything written in that petition, including a demand for the investigation of the allegation making the rounds in Kogi State of importing Niger Delta Militants to join Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rally last year in Kogi State,” the CUPP leaders said.

They pointed out that the CUPP had its hierarchy of leadership and should not be confused as the sole ownership of a single individual, saying that “a letter signed by bonafide leaders and members of the Coalition cannot in anyway be referred to as fake.”

The CUPP leaders had, in a letter, titled: URGENT NEED TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE  POLITICIANS TRYING TO SCUTTLE THE 2023 ELECTIONS BY BLACKMAILING OUR MILITARY, signed by 15 leaders, singled out Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the alleged “number one promoter of insecurity” in the state and urged the President to direct the security agencies to act on several petitions against her.

According to the leaders of the opposition force, their intervention was necessary in view of the implications of unfounded allegations against the Nigerian military at a time the citizens should give them all the support to tame insecurity in the country at large.

They were referring to a petition to the President by a law firm called Demaki and Demaki Legal Practitioners, which they described as a sponsored blackmail by “a desperate politician or a group of disgruntled politicians hellbent on compromising the security of the state prior to the coming elections in order to give free reins to terror and thuggery in their favour.”

The CUPP frowned at the misinformation reportedly contained in the statement said to have been signed by Ugochinyere, saying no member whose signature was on the CUPP petition to the President denied appending his signature.

The statement,  titled: “WE STAND BY OUR PETITION TO PRESIDENT BUHARI ON POLITICIANS BLACKMAILING OUR MILITARY – CUPP LEADERS” reads in full: “While a recent incident of  miscommunication in the CUPP is being positively resolved,  there is also the need for the Coalition to quickly address some matters arising.

“Due to a recent development in which a Press Release was made by one of the Coalition’s Spokespersons, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, dissociating himself and the Coalition from the petition submitted by some leaders and members of the Coalition, we have deemed it fit to make clarifications about certain issues raised in that Press Release.

“Arising from a crucial meeting of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) today 2nd February, 2023 in Abuja, the Coalition’s leadership, including most members of the Steering Committee, passed a resolution affirming the position of the Coalition with regard to the Petition submitted to the presidency against politicians who have the tendency to undermine the smooth conduct of the scheduled 2023 general elections no matter which Party they belong to.

“We stand firmly by our demand for the prompt investigation and prosecution of any politician who tries by any means to cause a disruption of the election whether by blackmail, fake news or overheating the polity through dangerous propaganda by relevant Security Agencies.

“All the signatories reaffirm that we actually signed the petition in response to an earlier petition by a law firm named DEMAKI & DEMAKI in which an allegation of bribery was made against the Chief of Naval Staff. We stand by our point that our military should not be dragged into the murky waters of politics by blackmail.

“The Coalition stands by everything written in that petition, including a demand for the investigation of the allegation making the rounds in Kogi State of importing Niger Delta Militants to join Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rally last year in Kogi State.

“There is no crime in calling for the investigation of an allegation.

“All the signatories to the petition are bonafide leaders and members of CUPP and we reconfirm that none of us denied signing the petition as erroneously insinuated in the said Press Release.

“We take great exception to being labelled APC agents because we are not. The author of that Press Release did not confirm from all the signatories to get their views before making the Release as to be properly briefed.

“Mr Ikenga was undergoing a  period of mourning at the time the petition was written and couldn’t have been involved in conceiving the petition. That he was singled out by Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for personal attack on social media was tantamount to a wicked blackmail which was what pressured Ikenga to make that release precipitately.

“The Coalition has hierarchy of leadership and should not be confused as the sole ownership of a single individual.

“A letter signed by bonafide leaders and members of the Coalition cannot in anyway be referred to as fake, especially when none denied signing it. If their names had been attached without their consent and signatures forged, it was these individuals who would have raised objections and direct one of the Coalition’s Spokespersons to make a Press Release on the matter immediately and not the other way around. Most of us were not consulted before that Press Release was issued.

“The Coalition remains resolute and better repositioned to check criminal actions that have the tendency to undermine our electoral process and consequently derail our nascent democracy.

“We condemn the deployment of thugs and armed criminals by desperate politicians whoever they may be. It’s not about one or two politicians.  We demand that those found wanting in these crimes against the Nigerian State should be properly investigated and prosecuted, including those planning to rig the 2023 elections. Rigging of election is not limited to election day.

“Campaigns of blackmailing, negative propaganda against opposing candidates or government and destroying campaign materials of opponents are all threats to our democracy.

“We the members of the Coalition remain firm and resolute in our demand for a swift investigation and prosecution of individuals, including politicians who want to destabilise our current democratic process. It is a patriotic intervention.”

The management of Fidelity Bank Plc has assured customers of cash payment across all its branches nationwide.

Head of Corporate Communication of the bank, Dr. Meksley Nwagboh said this in a statement issued by the bank today.

He said: “Our customers can rest assured that we are working to meet their banking needs. All our branches nationwide are open to customers to pay in their old notes and withdraw the new notes in accordance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy on Naira redesign.

Nwagboh, therefore, enjoined customers of the bank to visit the nearest branch to carry out their banking transactions.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has put a lie to the claim made by his predecessor that he renovated a Model School built for N830m with N3b.

A statement issued in Abeokuta by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, said: "Little doubt he is called Irokunle (a house full of lies) because he is known for dishing out putrid lies all the time.

"As a governor he promised to do everything and did virtually nothing. He abandoned most of them after claiming to have paid 100 percent for them. We are known as a promise-keeping administration. We promised only what we could do and did all that we promised.

"For emphasis, we didn’t spend even N300m on any model school that he built for N26biilion with no one of them completed"

The statement added that "it is not surprising that the former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

"What is surprising is that he has upped his deceit and political shenanigans by feasting on falsehood started last week by Biyi Otegbeye, his new party's candidate.

"While Otegbeye was awe-struck by the finesse of the Gateway City Centre and put a figure of N7b on a N350m project, Amosun at the flag off of Otegbeye campaign rally lied to have completed a Model School at Kobape and slammed a N3b as renovation cost on the said school.

"The cost of converting that abandoned project is modest and not in billions despite the value it confers on the moribund school.

"It is a shame that the former governor does not know the difference between converting an abandoned project to a socially desirable Tech Hub at this age and time.

"Rather than applauding the ingenuity of Gov. Abiodun for converting the moribund model school to a functional tech hub within three weeks of assuming office, Amosun is resorting to blackmail.

"It should be noted that barely 24 hours to the mark of his 100 days in office, Gov. Abiodun launched the Ogun Tech hub in Abeokuta, the State capital.

"The conversion of the model school to a Tech hub facility was in the interest of the Gateway State.

"Gov. Abiodun will want to reiterate that his administration would complete all inherited projects capable of improving the fortunes of the people".

The statement added that: “One major interesting aspect of these Tech Hubs is that you will all recall that we have promised that any inherited projects that have bearing and will impact the development of our dear State will not be abandoned.

“Although, the facility being utilized for these Tech Hubs was initially meant for another thing, but, the fact remains that even when the facility had been largely abandoned and could not be used for initial purpose, we are converting it to the advantage of our dear State.

“Let me therefore use this opportunity to reassure the people of Ogun State that this Administration will not engage in unnecessary vendetta or self-aggrandisement. Our administration will complete all inherited projects that have the potential to benefit our people. They are funded with the commonwealth of the people of Ogun State.”

“Ours is an Administration that is irrevocably committed to good governance based on prudent public financial management towards providing a conducive environment for individual prosperity of the people of Ogun State and the wholesome development of our dear State.”

Abiodun, however, assured that the tech hub has been training hundreds of tech savvy people to become ideas incubators and tech- prenuers that are positioning Ogun State as a key center for innovations in the country

“The long term vision is to make Ogun State the One-Stop-Shop for Innovation in Africa, thereby making our dear State one of the most conducive places to build a start-up company on the continent.

"It is on that of the 15 Model Schools that Amosun laid, it is Akin Ogunpola College that remains the only one of the proposed model schools used for academic activities. After the summer camp, the school admitted pupils for the 2017 and 2018 academic sessions.

‘But in 2019, due to dwindling enrolment and the fact that it was a fee-paying secondary school that charged higher than even most private schools in the State, government had to shut down the school that negates our free policy of the government", the statement concluded.

A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has been told how Ismaila Yousouf Atumeyi, the New Nigeria People Party, NNPP Assembly Candidate in Kogi State collided with others to defraud bank customers.

He was alleged to have benefited from the fraudulent withdrawal of N681m.

At the continuation of the trial on Tuesday, the first prosecution witness, Olusegun Falola told Justice Tijani Ringim of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos how the sum of N681m (Six Hundred and Eighty-one Million Naira) was paid into Atumeyi’s business account.

Atumeyi is standing trial alongside Ngene Joshua Dominic and Abdulmalik Salau, a former employee of Union Bank Plc, on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime and money laundering to the tune of N1.4 billiom.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Falola, an Internal Auditor and Team Lead, General Investigations, Union Bank Plc, told the court that “sometime in October 2022, during the periodic internal review of accounts of customers it was observed that some accounts that were placed on No-debit were debited.

According to him, the methodology employed in debiting the said accounts was different from the accounts are being debited in the normal banking activity.

He stated further that, during the review, it was observed that beyond the few accounts that were referred for investigation, there were other numerous accounts that were being debited.

He stated that the debits on these accounts were traced to two beneficiaries, Atus Homes Limited account and Fav Oil and Gas Limited.

He told the judge that these two accounts received the sum of N681m and N1.38 billion, respectively from the account of 429 customers.”

Stating further investigations revealed that Atumeyi is the signatory to the Atus Homes Limited account, while the signatories to Fav Oil and Gas are Shuaibu Yusuf and Nurudeen.

According to him, all illicit debits on the customers’ accounts were done via internet banking on one of the bank’s platforms known as Union 360 where over 600m had been withdrawn from the account of Atus Homes Limited and over N800m withdrawn from Fav Oil and Gas.

The witness revealed that that they were able to make those fraudulent transfers because the bank system was fraudulently manipulated.

According to him, it was realised that only a person with privileged information on the bank’s information technology could have carried out such illicit transactions and the matter was reported to the EFCC for further investigation.


The Prosecuting lead Counsel Rotimi Oyedepo sought to tender the petition written to the EFCC, the correspondences between EFCC and the bank as well as the defendants’ statements of account that had been identified by the PW1.

But in a swift reaction counsel to the third defendant, Babatunde Ogunwo, objected to the admissibility of the attached statement of account on the grounds that the prosecution had not sufficiently complied with Section 84 (2) 2(4) of the Evidence Act.

Responding, Oyedepo said that the argument of the defence counsel was misconceived and also missed its target.

In a short ruling, Justice Ringim overruled the objection of the defence and admitted the evidence in exhibit.

Justice Ringim also granted the second defendant, Dominic, bail on the same terms of the 3rd defendant, as granted on January 6, 2023.

The matter was adjourned to February 2, 2023 for continuation of trial.

…says desperate politicians blackmailing Military to unleash violence



The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has sent a strongly-worded petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to investigate certain politicians in Kogi State over an alleged attempt to cause unprecedented mayhem and insecurity in a bid to disrupt the coming elections.

In a petition signed by not less than 15 leaders of the group, the CUPP urged the President to use his constitutional powers as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to ensure that politicians whose actions are geared towards making the Nigerian political space conducive for terrorists to thrive are arrested and brought to book.

In the letter, titled; URGENT NEED TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE POLITICIANS TRYING TO SCUTTLE THE 2023 ELECTIONS BY BLACKMAILING OUR MILITARY; the CUPP singled out a senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the alleged “number one promoter of insecurity” in the state and urged the President to direct the security agencies to act on several petitions against her.

The CUPP leaders said, as a major opposition voice since its formation in August 2018, the Coalition had been consistent in opposition activities, which tends towards the advocacy for free, fair and credible election, adding that CUPP members had the patriotic duty to address issues that might affect the overall wellbeing of the country regardless of the political party involved.

The opposition body faulted an earlier petition by a law firm called Demaki and Demaki Legal Practitioners, allegedly written to discredit the Military and the Chief of Naval Staff, saying, “It is not difficult to see through the shenanigans of the petitioners that it was a sponsored blackmail by a desperate politician or a group of disgruntled politicians hellbent on compromising the security of the state prior to the coming election in order to give free reigns to terror and thuggery.”

In its petition, the CUPP specifically said that Akpoti-Uduaghan had in late 2022 organised a campaign rally at Okene, Kogi Central Senatorial District, and allegedly imported Niger Delta militants into the state for nefarious activities, wondering why security agencies had not invited her till date.

On an earlier petition, which they said was questionably filed by a law firm that had allegedly been hired by promoters of terrorism, the CUPP warned the present administration not to allow unscrupulous politicians defame the military to pave the way for anti-democratic and criminal acts being planned ahead of the elections.

The CUPP petitioners make bold to state that the petition from the lawyers is a blackmail because Commander Akalezi had been dealing with terrorists, who had been going about terrorising Kogi State, its environs and, particularly, Ebira indigenes.

It says it is a petition written in bad blood with no iota of credible substance.

“As lawyers, the petitioners know exactly what the due process of law they should apply if their petition has any merit whatsoever. If what they are alleging has any modicum of truth, they ought to have gone to court to enforce their fundamental rights.


“What they are after is to get the Navy Special Forces disbanded so as to enable them unleash their gangs of bandits on Kogi State and its environs or use them as political thugs during the coming elections in order to compromise the election and force themselves on the people of Kogi State at gunpoint. The government must never succumb to such a blackmail,” it stated.

The CUPP leaders reminded the President that he narrowly missed being a victim of the nefarious onslaughts of the said criminals when he visited Kogi State recently.

“We know that it was a politically motivated attack to score political points by heartless politicians who don’t mind shedding blood simply for the purposes of political blackmail,” they stressed.

“For instance, the law firm alleges that the Chief of Naval Staff has been financially induced by the Governor of Kogi State without any strand of proof. He who alleges has the onus of proof hanging on him. It can be observed that no such proof was attached to the petition because it’s a mere object of blackmail,” they added.

The CUPP therefore urged the President to take prompt action on the highlighted issues “before political desperados make good their plans to truncate the 2023 elections through active promotion of insecurity.”

The law firm in question had, according to the opposition body, been apparently hired by some politicians to defend terrorism acts, by implicating “the Executive Governor of Kogi State, his Chief of Staff and a Naval officer by the name Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi and his men.”

FULL TEXT
“Your Excellency, as you well know, the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has been a major opposition voice since its formation in August 2018 and we have been consistent in our opposition activities, which recently have tended towards free and fair election advocacy.

“Late last year, one Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, organized a campaign rally at Okene, Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State. We gathered from reliable sources who are residents of the area that the whole of Okene and envron were filled with Niger Delta militants imported into the state by Mrs Natasha who is contesting for the Senate to represent Kogi Central. This was a brazen display of thuggery firepower and a sign of the violence to come during the election proper. How and why the security agencies allowed such a flagrant breaking of the law against illegal firearms possession remains a mystery to us.

“Till date, there is no record of Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan having been invited for questioning despite outcries by residents about the intimidating presence of those armed Niger Delta militants.

“It is in this respect that, irrespective of the Party that those alleged belong, we have a patriotic duty to address a petition sent to your office by a law firm called DEMAKI AND DEMAKI LEGAL PRACTITIONERS about some heinous crimes happening in Kogi State which allegedly involve the Executive Governor of Kogi State, his Chief of Staff and a Naval officer by the name Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi and his men.


“First, it is not difficult to see through the shenanigans of the petitioners that this was a sponsored blackmail by a desperate politician or a group of disgruntled politicians hellbent on compromising the security of the state prior to the coming elections in order to give free reins to terror and thuggery in their favour. We are convinced that this is part of a grand scheme of antidemocratic elements to scuttle the 2023 general elections by creating wide distrust and disaffection against the military with the sole purpose of blackmailing the military alongside their own perceived political enemies for reasons best known to them.

“Mr. President, we are aware of the considerable sacrifices being made on a daily basis by the officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces to confront terrorists, kidnappers and bandits who have been making life impossible for Nigerians for some time now. Your good self narrowly missed being a victim of the nefarious onslaughts of these criminals when you visited Kogi State recently. We know that it was a politically motivated attack to score political points by heartless politicians who don’t mind shedding blood simply for the purposes of political blackmail.

“Many state governments, as a measure of support for the efforts being made at the federal level, have also initiated homegrown security measures in collaboration with the police, the armed forces and sister security agencies with the fundamental purpose of defeating insecurity and criminalities. In states where these measures are yielding results as being witnessed in Kogi State and a few others, the criminals are being decimated to the discomfort of those sponsoring insecurity in our country.

“This is exactly what is playing out currently in Kogi State that resulted in this frivolous petition sent to your office. It is sponsored by those who want Kogi State back to the dark days of anarchy where warlords, bandits and gangs held sway.

“We call for total disregard of this blackmail and immediate arrest and investigation of its sponsor(s) on the following grounds:

“It is a blackmail couched as a petition. For instance, the law firm alleges that the Chief of Naval Staff has been financially induced by the Governor of Kogi State without any strand of proof. He who alleges has the onus of proof hanging on him. It can be observed that no such proof was attached to the petition because it’s a mere object of blackmail.

“We make bold to state that this blackmail was informed by the fact that it seems Commander Akalezi is a terror to those rascals who have been going about terrorizing Kogi state, its environs and, particularly, Ebira indigenes. It is a petition written in bad blood with no iota of credible substance, we make bold to say. As lawyers, the petitioners know exactly what the due process of law they should apply if their petition has any merit whatsoever. If what they are alleging has any modicum of truth, they ought to have gone to court to enforce their fundamental rights. What they are after is to get the Navy Special Forces disbanded so as to enable them unleash their gangs of bandits on Kogi State and its environs or use them as political thugs during the coming elections in order to compromise the election and force themselves on the people of Kogi State at gunpoint. The government must never succumb to such a blackmail.

“Mr. President, we urge you to direct the Police and the Department of State Services to act on the several petitions against the number one promoter of insecurity in Kogi State, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been employing various blackmailing tactics to promote insecurity in Kogi State especially. It is on record that she has been engaging in active advocacy for the release of terrorism suspects from lawful custody. A particular case of reference is that of her personal thug, Shafiu Ibrahim. Despite having established a premafacie case of involvement in terrorist activities against Shafiu Ibrahim by security agencies, Natasha has been going about blackmailing the government to get Shafiu off the ongoing investigations against him.

“We have a strong suspicion that it’s the same Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who is behind this untenable petition with the aim of rendering Kogi State and about Ten (10) adjoining states vulnerable to insecurity as the elections approach. Enough of this blackmail by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan because her preoccupation is to consistently apply criminal misinformation as an instrument of election campaign which has harmful implications for national security.

“We wonder aloud why the Police and DSS have yet to act on those petitions against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, which has allowed her to continue to do more damage as the elections come closer.

Mr. President, kindly use your good offices to take prompt action on these matters before political desperados make good their plans to truncate the 2023 elections through active promotion of insecurity.”

The Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, January 27, 2023, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Charles Emmanuel Afaha, a former staff of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, before Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

According to a statement from the anti graft agency, the convict was arraigned on October 13, 2018 on an eleven-count charge bordering on forgery and he pleaded “not guilty”, setting the stage for the prosecution to prove its case. The prosecution, through its counsel, T. N. Ndifon called five witnesses and tendered several exhibits which were admitted in evidence.

Delivering judgment today via Zoom, Justice Okeke said that “the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of forgery against the defendant in all the counts.

Before the sentencing was given by the court, S. S. Aribido, who held the brief of T. N. Ndifon, made an application to the Court, praying the Court to order that Afaha restitute the sum of N22, 848, 450. 00 to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron. However, Mfon Ben, the defence counsel, prayed the court “to exercise mercy in sentencing him”.

Afaha was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each count without an option of fine. The sentencing runs concurrently from the date of arrest. The Court also ordered that the convict shall restitute the sum of N22, 848, 450. 00 to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria which will serve as condition for his release upon the completion of his time in prison.

One of the counts on which the defendant was convicted reads: “That you, Charles Emmanuel Afaha “M” on or about the 20th of October, 2016 at Oron, Akwa Ibom State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did forge a document to wit: Obinco Enterprises (Nig) receipt No. 0897 dated 20/10/2016, in the sum of N3, 384, 100 (Three Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand, One Hundred Naira only), purported to have been issued by Obinco enterprises (Nig), with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M, 17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) and punishable under Section 1 (2) (c) of the same Act”.

Afaha was arrested following a petition from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, alleging fraud and misappropriation of public funds by the convict.

Investigation revealed that the convict, who worked in the Procurement Department of the Academy, made several retirements of cash advance and also received huge sums of money from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron’s account into his personal account for the execution of non-existent projects. These funds were retired by Afaha with several invoice receipts attached to the Retirement of Cash Advance memos, signed by him.

Further investigations also revealed that the said invoice receipts attached to the Retirement of Cash Advance memos by the convict, which amounted to N22, 848, 450. 00 (Twenty-two million, Eight hundred and forty eight thousand, four hundred and fifty naira) were all forged by Afaha.

The First Bank of Nigeria will be open for operation on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29, January, 2023 to enable customers to deposit their existing naira notes.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, said that the 31 January deadline it announced for the validity of the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes remains.

As a result, First Bank has encouraged its customers to deposit the current naira notes to the bank before it becomes banned on Tuesday 31 January, 2023.


Here’s the notice from the bank:

“This is to notify the general public that all our branches will be open on Saturday and Sunday just to receive cash.

“All old Naira notes of series 200, 500, and 1000 will cease to be in use from the 31st of January.

#NewNotes #NairaNote #YouFirst.

Thank you

Senate asks CBN to extend deadline to July 31

Meanwhile, the Senate has urged the central bank to extend the deadline for the exchange of old naira notes to July 31, 2023.

Worried by the insistence of the apex bank that there would be no such extension, Senator Sadiq Umar, moved a motion on the floor of the red chamber, demanding the extension to July 31.

Most senators who contributed to the debate overwhelmingly embraced the extension, citing scarcity of the new notes both in the banks and at the various ATMs across the country.

The president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, put the prayers in the motion to vote and the lawmakers voted in support of the extension of the deadline from January 31 to July 31.

Senators during debate on the motion by Umar said the new notes were not enough in circulation, warning that if the deadline was not extended, there would be chaos in many parts of the country.

The lawmakers also expressed dismay that the CBN had insisted on the January 31 deadline despite public outcry.

George Sekibo (Rivers) and Adamu Bulkachuwa (Bauchi) urged the parliament to devise means to force the CBN to extend the deadline.

Sekibo said the CBN governor had repeatedly shunned the National Assembly against the extant law directing him to brief the parliament periodically on its monetary policies.

Adamu Aliero (Kebbi) and Hassan Hadejia (Jigawa) said the deadline, if allowed to stand, would crumble rural economy, as millions would lose their money.

“Many people, especially in states could not get their old notes exchanged for the new ones. The suffering is excruciating. People are spending long hours queuing in banks without success,” Aliero said.

Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti) said the policy seemed to be targeted at addressing the influence of money in elections, urging the CBN to look beyond the 2023 polls.

The Senate, therefore, asked the CBN to extend the deadline by six months to allow Nigerians especially those in rural areas more time to change their old notes.

The Red Chamber also urged the CBN to compel deposit money banks to open a naira exchange windows for those without bank accounts.

The Senate President assured that the National Assembly leadership would ensure that the resolution was implemented by the CBN.

He said, “There are no banks in many local governments. Most people transact business in cash. The CBN should look at the hues and cries of ordinary Nigerians who have laboured hard to earn legitimate money.”

...assures Dapo Abiodun of victory, vows to end fuel scarcity, incessant strikes, if elected


The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday revealed that the scarcity of fuel currently being witnessed across the country as well as the unavailability of the new naira notes are a ploy to scuttle the February 25 and March 11 general elections.

Tinubu made this revelation in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during his ongoing presidential campaign tour while assuring that he will win despite the attempt to sabotage the election, noting that his administration would put an end to the issue of strikes in the university system, if elected.

Speaking during his campaign rally, at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, Tinubu promised that his administration would also introduce a student loan programme that will ensure no Nigerian student is unable to complete his or her education because of school fees.

"Saboteurs want to scuttle the election, they are hoarding the new naira notes and creating artificial fuel scarcity. Don't be bothered, we shall be victorious.

"No matter how they try to scuttle the election, the saboteurs will fail. Even if they keep away the new notes and hoard the fuel, we shall vote and be victorious", he said.

On the students loan, he explained that he would put in place, a student loan policy, which will ensure that nobody will drop out of school because of school fees.

"Nobody will have to repeat one class for eight years and not graduate, we are too smart, we are brilliant, we are courageous, we will make a four year course will be a four year course," he said.

While also adding that the forthcoming general election is a revolution that would reshape the country, he noted that his administration would do all it can to ensure that the price of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol is bearable for all Nigerians.

"We are going to use our PVC to claim our mandate, even if they say that there is no fuel, we will walk to vote, let your mind be at rest, we will vote and I will win

"This election is a revolution, they are saying that petrol will be expensive, they say it will become two hundred Naira per litre, let your mind be at rest, we will bring the price down," he said.

Tinubu who also called on the people of the state to go all out and claim their Permanent Voter's Cards still left at various offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, said that they would be able to ensure his victory if they make it their duty to claim their permanent voter's card.

He however assured that the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun on March 11 is guaranteed.
Raising the governor's hand to the admiration of the crowd, Tinubu said: "there's no need giving him flag, he is going for reelection and he is winning, Dapo Abiodun's victory is guaranteed".

Earlier, Abiodun assured that the presidential candidate of his party that the votes from Ogun state would be a100%, adding that Tinubu is the best deal for the country at this period.

Abiodun who also called on the people of the state to go all out and claim their permanent voter's cards, noted that the candidates of the All Progressives Congress are the best of other candidates available in the country.

The Egba Economic Summit, a socio-economic group in Ogun State, will on Tuesday hold an engagement forum for party legislative candidate in Ogun Central at the Centenary Hall, Abeokuta beginning from 10am.

According to a release signed by the Vice President of the body, Mr Chris Oluyinka Coker, enjoined all party candidates, patriotic and knowledge driven citizens to attend the Forum to avail themselves of the opportunity to meet and set agenda for future leaders in the society.

Topical contemporary issues affecting Egbaland including bills that will come up in the 10th Assembly and how to engender laudable constituency projects for the prosperity of all will be discussed at the Forum.

The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo is the Royal Father of the Day while the Chairman of QNB Mall, Mr. Ayo Biobaku, is expected as Chairman of the event.

The Egba Economic Summit (EES) is a body of professionals, intellectuals and captains of industry committed to Advocacy, Engagements and Affirmative Actions for Economic and infrastructural development in Egbaland and prosperity of all.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has confirmed that Captain Warredi Enisuoh, is currently under investigation but the case is unrelated to oil pipeline security or his role as Head of Operations in Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

“Enisuoh is under investigation in an alleged case of Money Laundering involving the criminal dissipation of funds in an account held by him but which is the subject of longstanding investigation by the EFCC.

“As an official of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Enisuoh is being prosecuted alongside former Director General of the Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi for fraudulent conversion of various sums of money belonging to the Agency.

“In the course of that investigation, over $420,000, suspected proceeds of illicit activities, was traced to an account held by him. The Commission had obtained a Court Order to freeze the account and preserve the funds, but Enisuoh in 2018 secured an Order of the Court of Appeal to lift the freeze Order. However, the Court of Appeal did not find in favour of Captain Warredi Enisouh that the funds in issue were not proceeds of unlawful activities.

“The Commission received intelligence that Enisuoh dissipated the funds reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of his unlawful activities within three days in May, 2018. He was on the Commission’s watch-list until January 19, 2023, when he was taken into custody. A remand notice was duly filed to keep him, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“He is cooperating with the investigation, and has already returned $100,000 to the account.

“The Commission is a critical stakeholder in the fight against oil theft and has demonstrated this by successfully prosecuting perpetrators of such heinous crime. It will therefore not take any step to frustrate the determination of the government to fight oil theft and sundry offences,” a statement released by the commission read.

...continues re-election campaign with commissioning of Itori township road, lock up shops

.To revisit the case of 75 Coronet Obas as he backs Amosun’s brother for re-election


The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday continued his re-election campaign with a visit to Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state, where he assured that the ongoing reconstruction of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway would be completed within the next 18 months.

The assurance came as the governor commissioned the Itori Township Road in Ewekoro Local Government, while lamenting the deplorable state of the very-important road and the lukewarm attitude of the Federal Ministry of Works towards road.

This is coming on the heels of the governor’s assurance that he will revisit the case of the 75 coronet Obas and a deft political move to back the re-election bid of his predecessor’s brother.

Noting that motorists and other road users plying the Lagos-Abeokuta road will soon begin to smile, the governor explained that his administration will also be embarking on the construction of affordable housing units in the local government, while disclosing that his administration in the next few months would be able to reach an agreement with the federal government on the reconstruction of the road.

“We are coming to build affordable housing units in this local government. This is a very strategic local government and we should have affordable housing units here, this is an industrial local government.

“By the grace of God, between now and the next 18 months, this your road will wear a new look. You know that I have done everything humanly possible to fix this road, it is a federal road, just like Sagamu-Abeokuta, Epe-Ijebu-Ode and Agbara-Atan roads.

“The question to ask is; why is this the only road we have not been able to do anything.
The answer is simple: the Federal Government insisted that the road is under contract and we should not touch it.

“We’ve done everything. We’ve negotiated with them, we’ve put money on the table, saying we want to partner with you, our people are suffering on this road, we cannot sit down and appear like we are an irresponsible administration and watch our people suffer in vain.

“I am sure that in the next few months, we will reach an agreement with the federal government, and that will bring respite to our people,” he said.

Abiodun also urged the residents of the town to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC ), which are now at various wards across the state, saying that is only way to ensure the continuation of developmental projects in the state.

Governor Abiodun, who noted that governance shouldn’t be about sentiments, said that voting the right set of people into office is extremely important for a better Ogun State and the country as a whole.

He thereafter, in what many people have tagged a deft political move, announced his support for the re-election bid of Hon. Yusuf Amosun, a brother to his political rival, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Ade Akinsanya, who noted that the commissioning of the Itori township road was a promise made and kept by the present administration, added that the Itori township road would also serve as a bye-pass for the ever busy Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

Adesanya further noted that residents and motorist who ply the road are assured of social economic development, particularly to ease transporting of farm produce and other goods to neighbouring towns of Ifo, Sango and some parts of Lagos State.
He added that in order to prevent flooding, the road was furnished with covered drains on both sides to discharge the run of water appropriately, as well as serve as side walk.

The Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Ogun Central Senatorial District, Alhaji Afolabi Salisu while commending party faithful for coming out in large numbers to receive the governor and his campaign team, disclosed that he is confident of victory for the party during the general elections.

The Olu of Itori, Oba Abdufatai Akamo while commending the Governor for embarking on the infrastructural development of the town and the state as a whole, disclosed that the Progressive Obas Forum of Ogun Central are solidly behind the second term ambition of the Governor.

On the assurance that his administration will look into the issues of the 75 Coronet Obas, he made it clear that the matter was inherited by his administration.

Abiodun made this known during a stopover at the palace of the Olu of Itori, where he noted that his administration will also look into the matter concerning Baales in the state.

He said: “All the issues that you have raised concerning our Baales and coronate Obas, I have listened to.

“I know that there is the issue of the 75 coronet Obas that we inherited that has been controversial. I am looking into it and very soon, something will be done, but we will be doing it in phases”, he noted.

The immediate past governor, Ibikunle Amosun had elevated the 75 chiefs to minor obas at the twilight of the last administration, but on assumption of office, Abiodun set up a committee, which reviewed and recommended that the promotion of the traditional rulers from Baale to Obas be reversed.

Governor Abiodun while advising that positions of president, governor or members of the legislative Chambers shouldn’t be filled based on sentiments, noted that their is no comparison between the candidates of the All Progressives Congress and other political parties.

Abiodun also called on the traditional rulers and their subjects to vote for continuity in the state, while making case for the emergence of Yusuf Amosun as member of the State House of Assembly representing Ewekoro; Hon. Isiaka Ayokunle Ibrahim as member; House of Representative for Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency and Alhaji Afolabi Salisu as a Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District.

The Governor noted that the emergence of Yusuf Amosun as the House of Assembly candidate for Ewekoro State Constituency was done in good faith, and that his emergence wasn’t based on sentiments or vendetta.

Abiodun further called on the traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the importance of having PVC. He said that the people of the local government can only give him and his team a nod for a second term if they all go out and get their PVCs.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has summoned . Haleems Nigeria Limited, for allegedly defrauding her financier of N436.3m earmarked for the execution of a building contract awarded by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

Upon securing a contract for the construction of 500 units of houses at Karshi FCT, Abuja, in May 2021, Ms Tejuosho reportedly approached Emmanuel Suku to partner with her as a financier and asked him for an initial advance fee of N300m and another N136.3m paid in tranches to her personal and company accounts.

According to Suku, he was entitled to 30 per cent of the contract deal valued at N4.47 billion per the agreement of his partnership contained in a police investigation report.

However, he was aghast when he eventually discovered the project had been at a standstill through WhatsApp video call he had with his brothers at the site.

“That no work has been done on the project site since the groundbreaking ceremony. An uncompleted gatehouse structure and two (2) shipping containers were seen on the site. There were, however, no workers, equipment and building supplies seen on the site,” a police investigation report signed by a police commissioner, Mohammed Yakubu, said.

He later learnt the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry had withdrawn the project from Ms Tejuosho and her company for breaching the terms of the contract.

When confronted with the findings, Ms Tejuosho “could not give a satisfactory account of how she spent the money” and began making moves to flee the country to evade accountability to her financier.

A further investigation into her financial accounts showed how the businesswoman had lavished the project’s funds on four exotic cars worth N150m luxury shoes and bags, designer watches, a soundproof generator for her house and other electronic items worth millions purchased from Cash ‘N’ Carry store.

From the project funds, Ms Tejuosho also doled out scholarships to 30 students attending Espam Formation University in Cotonou, Benin Republic, where she serves as a chancellor.

Her statements of account also showed that she wired several millions of naira to one Ifeoma Vivienne Obilor, an interior decorator to love-vendor her residence in Peace Garden Estate, Sangotedo, Lagos with tasteful furniture worth a fortune.

A chunk of Ms Tejuosho financier’s funds was traced to one Royal Apparel, said to be her staff, with Heritage Bank account number 5100351905 which had received N200 million in tranches.

The police commissioner recommended Ms Tejuosho’s prosecution after establishing a case of advance fee fraud, criminal diversion of funds, criminal breach of trust and cheating against her.

The matter with suit no FCT/HC/CV/589/2022 has been adjourned till January 25, 2023, for further hearing.

Shock as court frees Akwa Ibom YPP guber candidate, Sen Albert jailed for corruption


Controversy has trailed the decision of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to grant bail to Obong Bassey Albert Akpan, governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), and serving Senator for Uyo Senatorial District, who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for corrupt practices.

Recall that Sen. Albert was on Thursday, December 1, 2022 sentenced to jail by the Federal High Court in Uyo, following a successful prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Albert, a former Commissioner for Finance Akwa Ibom State, was said to have received from Jide Omokore , a BMW X5 (Bulletproof) worth N50 million.

In December 2012 another Infinity QX 56 (bulletproof) worth N45 million was also received from the same source.

Again, in November 2013, he received a Toyota Landcruiser V8 (bulletproof) valued at N40 million and in March 2014, he received a Range Rover, valued at N40 million; in September 2014, another Toyota Hiace High Roof bus valued at N27 million was received from the businessman.

Additionally, he is alleged to have received at different times between 2012-2014,Toyota Hiace High Roof buses valued at N16 million and six units of Toyota Hilux vehicles valued at N36 million.

The EFCC which was investigating money used for the 2015 elections, spotlighted one Jide Omokore, who was suspected as a conduit through which illegal funds were used for elections.

While interrogating the businessman, he had mentioned his numerous transactions with Obong Bassey Albert, who by this time had become a Senator.

The EFCC on June 24, 2019 arraigned Sen. Albert at the Federal High Court, Uyo and the case has been ongoing since then despite several chronic delays by Sen. Albert’s team.

While the case was ongoing at Ikeja, Sen. Albert, through his lawyers, filed a preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the court.

They prayed the court as follows, “There is nothing in the proof of evidence that suggested that any aspect of the alleged crime against the first defendant was committed outside Akwa-Ibom State and in Lagos State.

The EFCC on June 24, 2019 arraigned Sen. Albert at the Federal High Court, Uyo and the case has been ongoing since then despite several delays by Sen. Albert’s team, until his eventual conviction in December last year.

Although many had thought that the conviction would bring closure to the case and that Sen. Albert would duly be committed to prison custody pending possible quashing of the conviction by a higher court, it came as a surprise when the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt which he approached after his conviction, granted him bail.

The High Court, presided over by S.I. Mark, in its decision on December 28, granted Senator Albert bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum, on account of ill health.

The Senator, it is understood, has since met the bail conditions and has been released, a development that has kept many wondering whether a person convicted by a Federal High Court can be granted bail by another High Court.

The question many have raised, among others, is what could have warranted the grant of bail pending an appeal?

A question has also arisen with respect to how a High Court in Rivers could grant bail to a person convicted by another High Court in Uyo.

Meanwhile, E. S. Oriere, a lawyer and rights activist, has written to Prof Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), requesting that Senator Albert be disqualified from participating in the Akwa Ibom State governorship election.

According to the Abuja based lawyer in the letter to INEC chairman dated December 22, “this request is predicated on the conviction of Mr. Akpan by the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo on December 1, 2022 for money laundering offence in FRN V. ALBERT BASSEY (CHARGE NO. FHC/UY/59C/2019).”


He noted that The request is made pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) of section 182 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), which disqualifies a person under a sentence of imprisonment or a person convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or fraud from contesting election to the Office of Governor of a State.

Quoting the relevant sections of the constitution for ease of reference, Oriere noted that the said section stipulates-

“182 (1) No person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if –

“(d) he is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or any other offence imposed on him by any court or tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such a court or tribunal; or

“(e) within a period of less than ten years before the date of election to the office of Governor of a State he has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of the contravention of the code of Conduct;”

There are wide spread speculations that the judiciary has been compromised at the highest level with the EFCC literarily barred from challenging the bail. Either this is true or not will be made bare in the cause of time and how all the actors react to the potentially destructive turn of events in Nigeria’s judiciary and anti-crime authorities.

Query: Monarchs must respect constituted authority, not play God -Prominent Ebira leaders


Prominent indigenes of Ebira land in Kogi State have flayed their traditional ruler, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, for allegedly disrespecting the offices of President Muhammadu Buhari and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, saying that monarchs must respect constituted authority and should not play God.

They alleged that the monarch had snubbed Buhari and Bello when the former visited Kogi on Thursday December 29, 2022 to commission some landmark projects executed by the current administration in the state.

The indigenes noted with disappointment how the current Ohinoyi had allegedly consistently assumed the position of a “permanent antagonist” to the current government in the state by words and actions, stressing that the monarch had totally derailed from the purviews of the assigned roles of his office by taking sides in politics in his words and deeds, instead of being neutral and playing father to all as a traditional ruler.

They made their positions public in a statement on Monday, titled: “Ohinoyi’s Query Is Perfectly In Order”, co-signed by Isa Ozi Salami, OFR, Ohiotenyete of Ebiraland and President, Nigeria Institute for Industrial Security; and HRH Salihu Abdullahi, Ajimasi Idu Eyire Uhuapa Ebiya and Secretary, Ebira Peoples Human Rights Defence, Okene.

While throwing their full weights behind a recent query given to the Ebiraland monarch for allegedly disrespecting the offices of the President and Governor, the Ebira leaders noted that “there has been no regime in Kogi State that has not queried Alhaji Ado”.

According to them, the monarch’s activities have allegedly been rubbishing the exalted throne, which he occupies, unlike his forebears who had conducted themselves with grace, honour and dignity deserving of the exalted office they occupied.

The indigenes said this just as they called on the current administration in the state to implement the court judgement granting Uhuodo community autonomy and entitling them to a separate Ohi stool in Okehi Local Government, while urging the government to make eligibility to the Ohinoyi stool exclusive to Ohis only.

They specifically described the traditional ruler’s action against President Buhari and Governor Bello as “untenably reprehensible, to say the least.”.

The Ebira indigenes have therefore asked the Kogi State Government to take necessary actions against the monarch should he fail to respond to the official query issued to him within the stipulated period, saying government must not allow its sanctity of authority to be violated in such a brazen manner without consequences.

“However, should the Ohinoyi refuse to answer the official query issued to him within the stipulated timeframe, we call on the state government not to hesitate to do the needful promptly, following due process. Heavens will not fall.

“If nothing is done to redress this situation, it means Alh Ado Ibrahim is above everybody, including the Government. Today, none of our six Ohis find his private house safe and conducive to attend meetings or functions, yet he is reluctant to shift venue for meetings to the ultra-modern Ohinoyi’s Palace. We have no dynasty in Ebiraland and can never accept an imposition,” they stated.


See the full text below:

OHINOYI’S QUERY IS PERFECTLY IN ORDER

Our attention has been drawn to a recent query sent to the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim.

First, we want to state clearly that in situations such as this, facts and not sentiments should be the benchmark of interrogation. It is a known fact that a state government, through the office of the Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs regulates the activities of monarchs throughout Nigeria and the latter are subject to the authorities of government that they are expected to collaborate with to ensure peace and smooth running of the society.

Monarchs at all levels are expected to be politically neutral by playing father to all and are never expected to be partisan in all their activities. But this has not been the case with the current Ohinoyi. We have closely watched his conduct for sometime now and discovered that he has totally derailed from the assigned roles of his office.

His activities have been rubbishing the exalted throne which he occupies unlike his forebears who had conducted themselves with grace, honour and dignity deserving of the exalted office they occupied. They not only adhered to laid down traditional and government rules formulated to guide their duties, they also refrained from playing to the gallery and they did not position themselves as opposition to the state government needlessly.

Awwal Ibrahim, former elected Civilian Governor of Niger State; now Emir of Suleja; Gen. Abu Ali, former Military Governor of Bauchi State, now Etsu Bassa-Nge; Gen. Sani Sami, one time military governor of Bauchi State, now Emir of Zuru; and Gen Bashar, one time military governor of defunct Gongola State, now Emir of Gwandu, are good examples of those who sit in their current revered stools with grace and comportment.

But the current Ohinoyi has consistently played needless politics with the revered stool and has assumed the position of a permanent antagonist to the current government in the state by words and actions, the latest of which was the unprecedented disrespect to a sitting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, when he visited the state on Thursday December 29, 2022 to commission landmark projects.
This is more telling as one of the landmark projects to be commissioned was the new, ultramodern palace built for the Ohinoyi.

But the monarch decided to snub the President and his host, the governor of the state, Governor Yahaya Bello. This is in spite of the fact that the entire Ebiraland had tried to swallow the fact that he has been ruling, absurdly, from his private residence for years. Worse still, he expected the President to come to him in his private residence, as some of his apologists have ignorantly posited. This argument has only worsened his case as an arrogant ruler with little or no respect for a sitting President, much less the Governor.

The Ohinoyi’s action was untenably reprehensible, to say the least. The Ohinoyi must realize that nobody, including a monarch, is indispensable. Actions such as this by a monarch of his status are capable of leading to unpredictable consequences that may affect the peace and security of the state as disgruntled elements can draw from this example to embark on thoughtlessly aggressive activities that may impact negatively on Ebiraland and the state at large. Anyone that the society looks up to for guidance cannot afford to bring the historic throne he occupies to disrepute.

No responsible government or governor can tolerate such irresponsible and awful misconduct from any monarch under any guise. That is why we unequivocally and unwaveringly support the query issued to the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim. There has been no regime in Kogi State that has not queried Alhaji Ado. In the case of Governor Yahaya Bello, this is his second query!

We are currently conversing with all well meaning sons and daughters of Ebiraland, both at home and in the Diaspora, and will come up with a wider communique on the ugly development soon.

However, should the Ohinoyi refuse to answer the official query issued to him within the stipulated timeframe, we call on the state government not to hesitate to do the needful promptly, following due process. Heavens will not fall.

If nothing is done to redress this situation, it means Alh Ado Ibrahim is above everybody, including the Government. Today, none of our six Ohis find his private house safe and conducive to attend meetings or functions, yet he is reluctant to shift venue for meetings to the ultra-modern Ohinoyi’s Palace. We have no dynasty in Ebiraland and can never accept an imposition.

The sanctity of government authority must never be allowed to be violated in such a brazen manner without consequences. Monarchs must stay within their assigned roles without endeavoring to play God with reckless impunity.

They are custodians of culture and societal values. They must not be the ones to destroy those same values without recourse. We stand firmly with the state government on this particular incident and the steps it has taken so far. And we have spoken the minds of most genuine sons and daughters of Ebiraland, who overwhelmingly stand with the state government on this.

Conclusion
We implore our dynamic governor to kindly implement the court judgement granting Uhuodo community autonomy and entitling them to a separate Ohi stool in Okehi Local Govt.

The government should amend the law to make eligibility to the stool of Ohinoyi exclusive to Ohis only, to exclude money bags from capturing our stool again. The stool should never be available to the highest bidder while doggedly sticking to the existing rotation order.

Wherever any local government harbours more than one Ohi, the chairmanship of the local government traditional council should rotate every two years among the Ohis. This will underscore our belief that clans are equal.

A kingmakers committee should be created for the Ohinoyi stool, consisting of equal nominees of each Ohi’s kingmakers council.
This will make ascension simple, all embracing and credible by sanitising the process.

The Ohinoyi as father figure should only chair the Area Traditional Council and not any local government traditional council.

The ban on traditional festivals should be abrogated so that local government can control them and earn revenue accordingly, making their peaceful observance easier to monitor.

Signed:

1. Isa Ozi Salami, OFR
Ohiotenyete of Ebiraland & President, Nigeria Institute for Industrial Security.

2. HRH Salihu Abdullahi, Ajimasi Idu Eyire Uhuapa Ebiya & Secretary, Ebira Peoples Human Rights Defence, Okene.

High-power politics and intrigue are currently ongoing at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as to the fate of the top boss of the apex bank.

On one hand is the ultimate search for who replaces Godwin Emefiele, the embattled Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor who is currently fighting tooth and nail to secure his job from his place of ‘asylum’.

It has been gathered that the plot to get rid of Emefiele has assumed a new dimension.

Recall that on Monday, December 19, 2022, the Department of State Services had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to arrest and detain Emefiele for his involvement in terrorism financing and economic crimes.

Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the High Court denied them the order insisting that the DSS did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims that Emefiele was involved in the alleged offence.

Ironically, Emefiele battle started after the CBN announced plans to change the naira notes ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Nigeria’s political and business elites were said not to be comfortable with this, more so when the CBN pegged withdrawal limits at N100,000 N500,000 daily for individuals and organisations respectively.

Two invitations from the House of Representatives were ignored by Emefiele who explained that he was unable to honour their summons because he was part of the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari who was on an official trip to the United States at that time.

Sensing the powers that be would stop at nothing to ‘tarnish’ his image just to send him packing and put in their own lackey at whatever cost, Emefiele has decided to fight back at the campaign of calumny launched against him by the DSS.

While Emefiele battles for his life and job, the intrigues behind how his possible replacement will emerge is slowly unfolding.

One of the contenders for Emefiele’s job, Aisha Ahmad has allegedly been fingered in a scheme that undermines her boss and eventually overthrow him.

She is being accused of shortchanging the nation in the sale of a financial institution (Union bank) that has generated a lot of controversy. Her role has been described by anti-corruption campaigner as criminal and deserving of a steep inquiry and potential prosecution.

The bank which was reportedly worth trillions was sold for peanuts to powerful and vested interests who have the connection and clout to allegedly make her the CBN governor.

Explaining her reason for selling the bank at a giveaway price, Ahmed not only denied that the sale was grossly undervalued, she claimed that the buyers were asked to pay back over N1.2 trillion that was injected to rescue the bank and keep it running for years.

The repayment is expected to span a 25-year period.

While picking holes at the circumstance surrounding the sale, human rights layer, Femi Falana said: “The bank was worth N1.9 trillion according to expert evaluation. Selling it for N50 billion is a criminal act that should not be allowed to stand. They have no intention of recovering the public funds from the president’s cronies they transferred the assets to, that’s why they came up with the joke of 25-year repayment plan.”

Falana reiterated that Ahmed’s claim that the buyers who he says are the ‘president’s crones’ would repay N1.2 trillion is 25 years was a fig leaf aimed at closing further discussions about the bank’s sale.

Ahmed has been on the path of being groomed to become the governor of CBN as far back as 2016 when she was quickly appointed an executive director at the defunct Diamond Bank plc and seconded immediately to the CBN, in a preparation for such a time as this.

She is being backed to become the CBN governor by a group led by Abu Funtua, a prominent son of Alhaji Isa Funtua, the late longtime friend of Buhari and a former member of his administration’s ‘cabal’.

If Funtua’s scheme does materialise, then she would become the first female CBN governor in the history of Nigeria.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday flagged off his re-election campaign in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of the state, with a promise not to relent on his developmental strides.

The governor, who is seeking a second term in office on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was accompanied on the campaign tour by chieftains of the party, led by a former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

Launching the campaign in the company of some senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly candidates, the governor and the campaign train moved round Afon, Ilara and Imeko communities, where they were received by a mammoth crowd that had been adjudged unprecedented in the history of campaign rallies in the local government.

The train also paid homages to traditional rulers in the area, where they sought and received royal blessings.

The rally however recorded a new feat as some party faithful went home with various empowerment tools and household items after a raffle draw.

In his speech, Governor Abiodun promised to continue to fulfil his pledges which he is known for, while asking the electorate to encourage him with their votes.

He equally appealed to the people to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the poll, pledging that his administration will establish a technical college and a school of agriculture in Imeko.

The governor also promised to address the challenges of bad roads within the local government area, assuring the people of his administration’s readiness to reconstruct the Abeokuta-Afon road.

He said: “I will commence the reconstruction before the end of the election to boost the socio-economic development of this area.

“We reconstructed Oke-Ola road here within stipulated period. We have been doing our projects without making noise and we will not stop doing things that make our people happy”, he said.

Abiodun further canvassed votes for all APC candidates, especially the party’s presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he said is the best among the lot.

“We have constructed at least one road per local government since we came into power. The last time we witnessed such was during the administration of Chief Olusegun Osoba.

“We will not relent in doing more for the people of the state. I urge you to collect your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVCs) to enable you participate in tbe elections.

“The deadline for collection is January 15th. Please encourage one another to participate actively in the electoral process for continuity.”

On his part, former Governor Osoba explained that his trip to Imeko-Afon local government area was homecoming, recalling that it was his administration that put electricity in the region.

Adding that he can vouch for the competence of the Governor Abiodun, the veteran journalist called on party faithful to genuinely work towards the success of the APC at the polls and also encouraged the electorate to vote for the party’s candidates at all levels.

“I am happy to be here again because I brought electricity to the entire region during my tenure. This is homecoming for me. I told Governor Abiodun to emulate me and he’s doing that. I am convinced that he’s capable, so let us vote for him and all APC candidates,” Osoba emphasised.

…says Police already performing role



Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), on Thursday, said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ought not to have been in existence, insisting that the Commission currently operates outside the Constitution.

According to Agbakoba, since the EFCC is a creation of the National Assembly, it does not have the powers to interfere with the activities of state governments.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who made the call at a press conference held in Lagos, insisted that the 1999 Constitution only provides one Police Force for Nigeria, adding that since the Anti-graft agency was not a branch of the Police, it could not perform its functions.

He pointed out that the EFCC was a federal establishment created by the National Assembly, adding that under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, the powers of government are divided into two: the Federal and the state.

“So the question would be, if the EFCC is created by the Federal Government can it then prosecute state offences?

“The Supreme Court in many of its decisions have held that federalism means two autonomous and independent governments and if that is correct, the EFCC does not have the right to go to the state and examine their accounts.

“Anybody can read section 46 of the EFCC Act and Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution. Section 36(12) states that all offences must be defined and when you now read Section 46, you ask yourself if it complies with Section 36(12) because it does not.

“So part of the prayers I would seek in court is that EFCC ought not to exist in the first place because it is not a branch of the police and that the job done by the EFCC is the same one being done by the Police Special Fraud Unit.

“My other prayer would be whether the National Assembly can make laws for the federation and to what extent can the National Assembly which is an arm of the Federal Government make laws authorising a federal agency to exercise powers as if it were a state agency.

“So all these contradictions should make the presidential candidates tell Nigerians what they are going to do about the Constitution because it is defective,” Agbakoba stated.

The human rights lawyer, however, said that he was not fighting the Commission as he was one of the greatest supporters of the rule of law and the fight against corruption, noting that the real issue was about the failure of the security agencies to obey the rule of law.

Agbakoba, however, said as a demonstration of his goodwill towards the anti-graft agency, he was ready to engage the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, in a dialogue session on the issue.

The former NBA President said, “I do not believe that the EFCC understands the law that set them up because as a lawyer myself, I was a bit confused, as I discovered that the 1999 Constitution is structurally defective.

“I now understand why some people are saying that the country must be restructured. Whoever wrote this Constitution designed it for Nigeria to fail because, on the one hand, it seems to authorise the EFCC to interfere in state’s affairs while on the other hand, it does not.”

Agbakoba had lambasted the EFCC last December over its recent actions against the Kogi State Government.

The Auditor General of the Federation has alleged that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited headed by Group Managing Director, Mele Kolo Kyari, exported 17.877 million barrels of crude without proper documentation in four years.

In a report published on its website, the AuGF revealed that the product valued at over $1trullion dollars was exported by NNPC between 2016 and 2020.

He also faulted the NNPC for appointing two Pre-Shipment Agents and one Monitoring and Evaluation Agent in 2017 knowing fully well that President Muhammadu Buhari had canceled the appointments of all service providers two years earlier.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation was also indicted for making payments of N73 billion to PIAs and MEAs for inspection and monitoring of oil and gas exports.

AuGF noted that the payments were without budgetary provision and violated Section 80(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

Ope Babalola, Managing Director of Webb Fontaine Nigeria spoke to reporters in Lagos on the sidelines of a recent conference in Lagos where said some allegations of his company's server failure as untrue. Babalola described the port community system run by his company in Benin Republic and other countries as an efficient platform to integrate stakeholders in the port system




Congratulations on the award. What does it mean to you, and what role will it enable you to play in the maritime industry?

The award is important to us, firstly because it is from the maritime industry. Even though our main role is to facilitate trade, trade cannot be facilitated and cannot happen without the maritime industry.

The second reason why it is important is that the journalists association is made up of one of the most well-informed people in the country; they know what happens in the industry and who the players are. So, for them to recognize the work that we have done, it is very important to us.

While we celebrate, there have been some concerns for freight forwarders concerning your services, ranging from server issues and other breakdowns. What can you tell them?

Firstly, I think the first thing we need to be able to do with them is to have a discussion with them, because there is no way our servers could break down. I see the stories and read them in the news, and sometimes I am quite disappointed to hear these accounts because we get there and see that nothing is wrong and there is no truth to the news.

And sometimes, these just come from poor research. So, I would prefer if we could get more accurate reporting on what is going on.

There are several things that can go on at the ports and the offices, and not all should be termed server breakdowns. Our servers and networks are always up and running over 99% of the time, so let us do a little bit better in reporting.

Based on what you just said now and your analysis, can you say that some of the officers that handle this software are not properly trained?

They are well trained; they undergo extensive training for years, and they are very knowledgeable when it comes to what they do. Many of them will also be surprised at the turn of the reports too. As technology evolves, so do training needs, and these will continue to be met

Talking about automation, a lot is happening from the Customs end, regarding modernization, the e-Customs project and all. And I know very well that Web Fontaine works with them closely on some of these projects. However, there are concerns about what would be left for your company to do when Customs fully integrates its automated platforms.

Customs in Nigeria already operates a paperless and automated system, and it covers all the agencies that are involved in the country's trade cycle.

There are a few that are not yet fully integrated, like the NPA, but we’re hoping that when they get their own automation done, we can work together so that, between the Customs and Ports’ automation, everything will go smoothly.

Web Fontaine actually runs a port community system in the Benin Republic and several other countries, which integrates all the agencies involved in the trade cycle to make it all automated and functional. And those countries are really enjoying the best of everything, so I see no reason why we cannot do the same in Nigeria.

So you’re saying that not all the agencies in Nigeria’s maritime industry have been automated?

NPA is under the Ministry of Transport, NCS is under the Ministry of Finance, and Trade is under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which means you have three different ministries sometimes with different objectives and goals or areas of focus and opinions on what is the best way to advance Nigeria’s trade and commerce.

Their focus might be a little bit different, but I think there is a very important need to put all of them together so that there is a single focus and drive toward a one-stop shop for proper automation.

I would say we already have 90% of that in the Customs-based single window, which you can check out online at trade.com.ng to see the agencies involved. Those that aren’t should just join so that we can make everything work together.

You said earlier that your servers barely break down, but have there been any disruptions to your service recently?

I think that if you were in the press, you’d have seen the House of Rep's decision to carry out auditing, which we are happy to cooperate with them on. That way, we will be able to find out what exactly the problems are, and find solutions to them.

Why the 2022 edition of DECEMBERISSAVYBE by FirstBank wasn’t just about the excitement



By Farouk Mohammed

The 2022 edition of “#DecemberIssaVybe” by FirstBank, Nigeria’s premier financial institution, has stood the test of time as it yet again created exciting opportunities for individuals and families to come together to celebrate the end of the year.

The listed events promoted by the Bank birthed memories that will be hard to fade off one’s mind for many years.

From Culturati to Beeta Arts Festival Abuja, Koffi Tha Guru Unorthodox, Duke of Shomolu Production’s Encore, Our Duke Has Gone Mad Again and Ufok Iban, FirstBank had fun goers granted opportunities to relive many exciting moments. These had many people memorably end 2022 as they were able to see their favourite act perform Live for the first time.

Other activities supported were: Joromi: The Musical Concert; Osamede, Awo and Ufok Iban by Duke of Shomolu Productions, Kizz Daniel Live in Concert, Asake Live as well as Vibe on the Beach, featuring Nigeria’s musical sensation Big Wiz and many others.

In order to expose fans to make the most of these experiences, FirstBank organized several contests on social media as many followers won VIP tickets for the concerts.

The campaign provided a range of memorable homecoming experiences, particularly for the ”I Just Got Backs” (IJGBs) as the DecemberIssaVybe created a platform for these individuals to come together and celebrate their homecoming.

Undoubtedly, the heights of the campaign included the Kizz Daniel Live in Lagos concert held on Saturday, December 17th at the Eko Convention Center, then Asake’s on Friday, December 23rd at the same venue. Vibes on the Beach featuring Big Wiz (Wizkid) on Friday, December 30th at Landmark Beach, Oniru, Lagos also added spice to the excitement.

In addition to providing these memorable experiences, FirstBank also demonstrated its commitment to its stakeholders by generously rewarding attendees with the sum of 1 million naira. This act of generosity further showcases the bank’s dedication to supporting the arts and enabling memorable experiences for its stakeholders.

The decision to reward some attendees with this sum highlights the bank’s commitment to going beyond functional products and benefits for its stakeholders and providing unique and exciting experiences. Overall, the “#DecemberIssaVybe” campaign is a testament to FirstBank’s commitment to supporting the arts and providing enabling opportunities for its stakeholders.

The bank’s dedication to going beyond functional products and benefits for its stakeholders and providing these types of enabling experiences sets it apart in the industry and solidifies its position as a leader in not just directly supporting the arts and entertainment industry but economically impacting its value chain.

Anyone not following the Bank is surely on a long thing but hey, it is never too late as there are still many excitements the Bank creates on its social media ecosystem via @firstbanknigeria (Instagram); @FirstBankngr (Twitter) and First Bank of Nigeria Limited (Facebook).

2023 will surely be another back-to-back hit as the financial giant creates more memorable fun for its customers and followers.

Culled from Okay NG

Aggrieved staff of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, recently stormed the state House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, to protest against what they termed “inhuman treatment” by the management of the agency led by its Executive Chairman, Ayodele Subair.

The protesters, who were in their large number, brandished branches of leaves in solidarity in a peaceful demonstration.

They marched from the LIRS office in Alausa to the state House of Assembly. The aggrieved staff accused the management of several offences which include: Maltreatment of staff with contempt and neglect, lack of promotion, lack of incentives, gratuity, among others.

According to one of the protesters who preferred anonymity, “We generate the highest revenue for the state government but it’s a shame that the LIRS management has been treating us with contempt.”

Another protesters who simply gave his name as Kayode, stated: “In the last 10 years that I have been working in this agency, I have only been promoted once.

“My own is even better, there are some senior colleagues here who have only been promoted only once despite spending between 15 and 20 years as staff of this agency “

Another staff who would not want to be mentioned, stated: “The only thing we look forward after leaving this place is only our contribution to the pension fund.

“After that nothing in form of incentive. The allowances are not forthcoming and they do not care about our welfare.”

The protesters were not attended to as of press time by members of the state House of Assembly.

However, it was gathered that an aide from the office of state Head of Service, had addressed the protesting staff urging them to return to work as an emergency meeting has been slated for Tuesday, November 8, 2022, to look into their complaints with a view to resolving the issues.

Meanwhile, the Public Affairs unit of LIRS could not be reached as of press time for reaction.

However, one of the officials when contacted, declined to make any comment, saying unauthorized staff are not allowed to make comments on issues concerning the agency.

The protesters later dispersed to their various destinations after several hours of demonstration without being attended to by government officials.

In 1984, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wrote a song called “Do they know it’s Christmas.” It was a charity song whose sole intention was to help raise money to support Ethiopians groaning from the 1983-1985 famine.

Gathering a group of UK and Irish musicians under the umbrella of “Band Aid,” Geldof and company recorded the song in one day in November 1984. They released it on December 3, 1984.

Bob Geldof’s ambition was not lofty. He hoped the song would do well enough to raise £70,000 for the humanitarian cause. Instead, the song climbed to number 1 on the UK Charts and lasted five weeks. It sold a million copies in its first week of release in the UK and then sold 2.5m copies in the US between December and January 1985.


The single sold 11.7 million copies worldwide. It raised £8 million and led to the making of a much more successful charity song, “We are the World.”

Thirty-eight years later, as I read uplifting stories and glowing testimonials of joy from the ongoing Glo festival of Joy promo, I am reminded of that song which, like a drop of water in a lake, sent its ripples far and made a huge impact.

Nigerians are buzzing with joy, their faces are plastered with smiles and the colour of their joy is Green, all thanks to the proudly Nigerian telecoms company, Globacom.

Launched on November 1, 2022 the “Glo festival of Joy” promo was coming a year after the hugely impactful “Joy Unlimited Extravaganza” promo during which hundreds of Nigerians received amazing prizes with the top winners going home with Kia Rio cars.

This year, Globacom wanted to up the ante. The brief from the top was to make sure the prizes were “Gidigba”, which is naija-speak for sturdy, huge, impressive, and significant.

Now, for a company that gave out cars the previous year, how does it go one up on that? How do you make Nigerians know that it is Christmas in a big way?

Globacom served the notice of its intent on November 1 when it unveiled details of its 2022 annual end-of-year promo. Dubbed “Glo Festival of Joy” promo, the company said it would run from November to January. During that period, lucky subscribers would be “eligible to win fantastic life-changing prizes.”

The prizes include 20 houses, 24 brand-new cars, 100 generators, 200 sewing machines and 1,000 rechargeable fans, amongst others. To win, voice and data subscribers have to dial a dedicated short code number *611# and recharge between N3,000 and N15,000 (voice and data during the promo period).

But to win the grand prize of 20 units of 3-bedroom houses, subscribers must make data subscription(s) of at least N20,000 during the promo period to be eligible.

It seemed too good to be true. How do you spend N20,000 on data recharge and become a landlord? That was what Glo was promising, and as if to assuage the skepticism of nay-sayers, Globacom, in a statement announcing the start of the promo explained the reason behind their mind-blowing promo offerings one they have emphasized from their very beginnings with a Go-To-Market strategy that was clearly pro-people.

“Empowerment is encoded in our DNA, and this year we are set to empower thousands of Nigerians with prizes that will change their lives with a never-before-experienced promo.”

So it is all about empowering Nigerians and giving them a reason to smile as this year ends. The “Festival of Joy” promo is Globacom’s way of helping Nigerians answer the question posed by that song 38 years ago – Do they know it’s Christmas?

Now thanks to Globacom, nineteen years old Ibrahim Akindele, 200-level Science Laboratory Technology undergraduate of the Ekiti state university, surely knows that it’s Christmas, has emerged as the first winner of a 3-bedroom house in the ongoing promo.

At the house presentation, Mr. Akindele said, “I was in disbelief. I thought it was just someone playing pranks.”

Mrs. Adeife Abiodun-Adeyemi first to win a brand-new car in the promo expressed similar sentiments. The 34 year old event planner said she was pleasantly surprised even though she has always been a loyal Glo subscriber. “I am happy that my loyalty to Globacom over the years has paid off.”

For almost one month now, Nigerians taking part in the ongoing “Glo Festival of Joy promo” have been pinching and trying to slap themselves awake as they are announced winners of life-changing Gidigba prizes.

The story has been the same from Ibadan to Ijebu-Ode, Abuja to Lagos and as the Glo Festival of Joy promo train rumbles across the nation into fresh new cities, in the following days and weeks, lucky Glo subscribers will remember for years how a proudly Nigerian company changed the complexion of this year’s Christmas for them and their loved ones.

Toni Kan is a former Head of PR at Globacom.

The Lagos State government, through its agency, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA) has shut popular club, Quilox for not obtaining sound permit.

Quilox is located on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street in Victoria Island.

It will be recalled that LASEPA recently gave increased decibels and sound permits for activities during the festive period, whereby neighbours are notified and officials will be around to prevent excessive noise pollution.

LASEPA has been harping on maintaining peace with neighbouring communities during the Yuletide season.

…details later

AMJON 2022: Nigeria must meet global standards to realise Blue Economy potentials -Stakeholders

https://themomentng.com/2022/12/20/amjon-2022-nigeria-must-meet-global-standards-to-realise-blue-economy-potentials-stakeholders/


…As NSML, NPA, NIWA, NDLEA, Webb Fontaine, others bag AMJON Excellence Awards

The 2022 AMJON Conference and Awards came to a vintage climax on Monday at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja as industry leaders chat the way forward in paper presentations as deserving awardees were celebrated.

Setting the ball rolling was one of the awardees, the MD, MNLG, Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed who praised AMJON for organising such big a forum of egg-heads in the industry to proffer solutions on ‘Maximising the Blue Economy through Automation’.

According to him, Nigeria has come of age in making port process less cumbersome and seamlessly profitable.

He added that there are standards to meet not peculiar to Nigeria.

The Blue Economy, he said has to be actualised through technology efficiency in all sectors of the economy.

“For Nigeria to realise it’s potentials, all effort must be pulled together to strengthen all agencies, institutions of government and the private sector and emulate the goings on in other worlds.

In a paper presented by the Executive Chairman National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), thanked AMJON for assisting the agency in forming a formidable force against Drug peddlers.

Marwa who was represented by Dr. (Mrs) Omolade Faboyede, director seaports operation, NDLEA, noted that the fight against drug barons and cartels in Nigeria and the world over is formidable and said, “in every four drug abusers, there is one woman”.

She called on well meaning Nigerians to join the fight against drug menace in schools saying even secondary schools, students have started smoking and inhaling dangerous drugs to the detriment of their future.

Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) in its address, ex-rayed the importance of making the Ports and it’s users free from fraudulent practitioners and insisted that the NSC has been in the forefront of ensuring that Nigerian Ports are the best in the world through efficient and prompt evacuation of cargoes which engenders ease of doing business.

NSC Executive Secretary Hon. Emmanuel Jime was represented at the AMJON Conference by Mr. Sam Anyanwu director corporate communication and strategy.

One of the highlights of the conference was an award presented to one of Webb Fontaine as the Most Innovative ICT firm in Nigeria in 2022.

In his good will message, the Managing Director of Webb Fontaine, Mr. Ope Babalola expressed gladness over the theme of the conference and further said that the award given to his company will further push the ICT company to do more in port technology, security and prompt cargo evaluation and evacuation.

The highpoint of the conference was presentation of AMJON Excellence Award to 14 deserving industry leaders.

On Nigeria’s Water transportation, the MD of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu who was represented by the director marine services, NIWA, Engr Ororo.

He said that the agency has been doing a lot to ensure Nigeria’s waterways are mapped out, dredged and free to convey goods on barges through the riverine areas.

Engineer Joseph Ororo said that NIWA has made it and still forging ahead to ensure the transportation of heavy goods through the roads are meaningless and stopped in Nigeria.

He said NIWA’s activities over the years had created a leeway towards bringing products to the Onitsha Port through barges and wants Nigerians to know that emphasis on conveying products through the roads to cities connected to riverines will soon be a thing of the past.

Secretary General of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu who was represented by his media adviser, Mr Ismail Aniemu, in his goodwill message thanked AMJON his transformational efforts at MOWCA. He wished the association well.

On its part, the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, represented by Barr. Mrs. Yemisi Oyinlola, general manager, corporate and strategic communication, gave a vivid account of how the government had so far upped the ante in port operations in Nigeria.

According to her, the ports have had and still having credible and sustainable innovations and development owing to efficient administration.

He disclosed that all ports in Nigeria are going through reconstruction and concessions aimed at sustaining and incorporating the private sector to further sustain the growth and productivity.

The conference which was highly successful touched on vital areas of maximising the blue economy championed by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh who was represented at the event by Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, director of special duties of NIMASA. He extolled AMJON for keeping the theme of blue economy in the front burner of national discuss.

He also urged all sectors to keep fine tuning the blue economy to engender seamless implementation.

AMJON’s 14 deserving awardees are Hon Emmanuel Jime executive secretary /CEO of Nigeria Shippers Council NSC.

In recognition of his pragmatic leadership and contributions to the maritime industry and Nigeria at large, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) conferred on him the award of Pragmatic Maritime Leadership Award 2022.

Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA): For his transformational leadership at the NPA, the Nigeria maritime industry and the economy at large, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) conferred on him the ” Excellent Leadership Award 2022.

Chief Henry Njoku Vice Chairman CRFFN Governing Board: For his professional and leadership qualities, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) conferred on him the Excellent Maritime Personality Leadership Award 2022.

Chief Dr. George Moghalu, Managing Director National inland Waterways Authority (NIWA): For his sterling leadership and contributions to the Nigeria economy and humanity, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) honours him with the Dynamic Public Servant Leadership Award 2022.

Dr Paul Adalikwu, Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA): The Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in recognition of his numerous contributions to the development of the maritime industry, Nigeria and humanity in general, honours him with the Dynamic Maritime Leadership Award 2022.

Mr. Babatope Fajimirokun aka Simtop National President, WABOTAN:
For his dogged and professional prowess to liberate and make the waterways transportation business in Nigeria a booming business, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) confers on with the award of Nigeria Waterways Transportation Personality of the Year Award 2022.

Comptroller Al-Bashir Hamisu Customs FOU Zone B: In recognition of his efforts in revenue generation and anti-smuggling activities in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), honours you with the Excellence in Service Award 2022.

Lagos National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA): For your great and developmental strides in the Lagos Area Office of NIWA, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON),.

Mr. Roland Ekama Publisher Daily Focus News Online Nigeria:
In recognition of his contributions to news value contents and national development of journalism. AMJON honours him as the Most Industrious Personally Award in 2022.

Mr Ismail Aniemu, Publisher, Journal Magazine and Journal Ng Online:
In recognition of his contributions to the development and growth of upcoming media practitioners and exemplary leadership roles to the development of the maritime industry through outstanding news reportage. AMJON honours him as pioneer president of the association with Maritime Media Leader of the year 2022.

Dr Abdulkadir Ahmed, Managing Director, NLNG Shipping Management Ltd (NSML):
In recognition of his efforts in unquantifiable philanthropic feats and unparalleled seafaring services in Nigeria, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), confers the award of anti drugs enforcement in Nigeria.

Brig Gen Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman NDLEA:
In recognition of his unrelenting and exceptional feats in fighting the menace of drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) confers on the Award of Excellence for Anti Drug Enforcement in Nigeria.

Engr. Sarat Braimah administration has brought so many innovations to bear at the Lagos Area Office of NIWA, which has in turn increased the stakeholders confidence in waterways transportation in the Lagos axis.

In fact, at Lagos NIWA is the heart of interpretating and promoting NIWA activities in Nigeria.

It was based on these great strides and development in the Lagos Area Office of NIWA, the Association of Maritme Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in its 2022 Annual Conference and Awards held on Monday 19th December 2022, gave the Lagos NIWA office award 2022 for the Most outstanding Area office in Nigeria.

https://themomentng.com/2022/12/18/kogi-agbakoba-lambasts-efcc-says-commission-guilty-of-breaking-rule-of-law/


...seeks commitments from presidential candidates to sack officials engaging in media trial

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has lambasted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over what he described as unwarranted media trial of the Kogi State Government as regards the fresh case against a nephew of the Governor and the previous N20 billion bail-out controversy.

Agbakoba, who spoke at a press conference on “The Rule of Law in Nigeria Today”, held in Lagos on Sunday, specifically noted that the EFCC was turning itself into a one-man Robin Hood riot gang, which must not be allowed.

According to him, how a state spends its money should not be the business of the anti-graft agency.

While accusing the EFCC of impunity, he said that assuming it was the Commission’s business to inquire how the state spends its money, would it still be its lawful business to investigate it?

Agbakoba made his opinion known just as he called on all the 18 candidates contesting in next year’s presidential election to clearly state their commitments to the rule of law and the war against corruption.

“The EFCC for example plays a very strong role in the anti-corruption strategy of Nigeria but they are also one of the institutions most guilty of breaking the rule of law,” he said, stressing that candidates must make commitments to Nigerians to sack any government official who violates the rule of law, deliberately disobeys court orders or engages in media trials.

According to the former NBA President, the Supreme Court recently said in one of its judgments that the EFCC could not be a jack of all trades and that they should concentrate on what the law empowers them to do under Section 46 of their Act.

He said, “Like the current trending case where the EFCC arrested some people in Kogi State on allegations of money laundering, I believe that case should not be the business of the EFCC, at all. Is it their business how Kogi spends their money? Even if it is their business, is it their lawful business to make that enquiry?

“The Supreme Court has recently said in one of its judgments that the EFCC cannot be a jack of all trades and that they should concentrate on what the law empowers them to do under Section 46 of their Act.

“It is not the duty of the EFCC to be chasing the Kogi State Government and threatening to storm the State House to seize documents or harass the Accountant-General of the state.

“What the EFCC is currently doing is turning itself into a one-man Robin Wood riot gang. That must not be allowed and that is the impunity that I refer to.

“My advice to the EFCC is that whatever they want to do, they should remember that there is a law that created them and they must also remember that Section 46 of the EFCC Act had stated and narrowed down their functions and in a case where they want to expand their functions, they must go to the National Assembly to do so.

“If I were the lawyer to the Kogi State Government, what I would do is to go to court and tell the court that as a result of the Supreme Court judgment, the EFCC does not have the power to demand that we should provide documents or give them our accounting books.

“If we have lost money, we are the ones to complain and if we are not complaining or we are complicit in any fraud, then the appropriate agency to handle it is the ICPC or the state House of Assembly.

“So the candidate (2023 election candidates) must tell us what they are going to do with all these agencies because we need to know if they are going to allow the EFCC to continue to engage in media trials and carry on as the attack dog of the Federal Government against other arms and levels of governments.”

On the 2023 election, Agbakoba noted that, although some of the candidates had released their manifestoes, their positions on how they would tackle corruption and also relate with the various anti-corruption agencies were not well spelt out.

He said the present state of the rule of law in Nigeria was very precarious and the country needed a revolution to make it the bedrock of governance.

According to him, the reason the stand of the candidates must be known is that most of the investigating agencies have abandoned their duties to the EFCC.

He said, “It is a big problem because it appears as if it is nobody’s job and the EFCC has somehow taken over the responsibility of all other agencies, thereby overreaching itself.

“I believe that the EFCC is overburdened with too much responsibility. I recently saw the EFCC Chairman, Bawa on television saying that the Commission is auctioning forfeited properties seized from convicted criminals, which should not be his job.

“I challenge anybody to tell me anywhere in the world that an agency with the same functions as that of the EFCC does three distinct jobs of investigation, prosecution and disposal of seized or recovered assets.

“I believe what the EFCC should do is to face investigation, as is done by similar agencies around the world. The commission is not an agency that is capable of effectively prosecuting cases. This is the reason they do not win most of their cases in court.

“I will strongly recommend that the prosecutorial power of the EFCC should be transferred to a new National Prosecution Agency. The Department of Public Prosecution in the Federal Ministry of Justice could be carved out and made independent to perform this role.”

“We also need a new body that will deal with recovered assets and other proceeds of crime so that the EFCC can face its primary function of investigating financial and economic crimes,” Agbakoba added.

https://themomentng.com/2022/12/18/webb-fontaine-wins-most-innovative-ict-trade-solution-provider-2022/


Nigeria’s foremost maritime Information and Communication Technology (ICT) trade solution provider, Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited, has emerged Nigeria's ‘Most Innovative ICT Trade Solution Provider 2022’.

The award according to a statement by the Association of Maritime Journalist of Nigeria (AMJON), organisers of the Annual AMJON Conference and Awards will be conferred on the meritorious company on Monday, December 19th, 2022 at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, and Lagos State

The statement disclosed that the company was nominated for the award because of its impeccable reputation in contributing to national economic growth through reliable ICT solutions that supports trade for government and private institutions in the country.

AMJON President Paul Ogbuokiri said Webb Fontaine’s value-adding innovations like the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) and other solutions have helped the Nigeria Customs Service to attain annual trillion naira revenue collections since 2017.

He stressed the importance for the survival of the Nigeria economy, the reported support the company is giving to not less than 14 agencies of the Federal Government with transparent revenue generating and efficiency promoting trade solutions for different sectors.

Ogbuokiri also said that recent feats that promote a sustainable blue economy in the Nigerian maritime sector like Customs cargo tracking being tested in Lagos and seamless integration of the Lekki Deep Seaport with Lagos Free Trade Zone are indeed laudable feats.

He further said that the company’s provision of the ICT backbone for Nigeria’s first automated deep blue seaport in Lekki and the LFZ is a worthy trade master stroke.

According to him, this will engender transparent faster ship turnaround time and assurance of cargo, crew and vessel security using the Webb Fontaine solutions within one of West Africa’s largest and business trans-shipment hubs.

https://themomentng.com/2022/12/18/webb-fontaine-wins-most-innovative-ict-trade-solution-provider-2022/


Nigeria’s foremost maritime Information and Communication Technology (ICT) trade solution provider, Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited, has emerged Nigeria’s ‘Most Innovative ICT Trade Solution Provider 2022’.

The award according to a statement by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), organisers of the 2022 edition of Annual AMJON Conference and Awards will be presented on the meritorious company on Monday, December 19th, 2022 at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The statement signed by the chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr Kelvin Kagbare disclosed that the company was nominated for the award because of its impeccable reputation in contributing to national economic growth through reliable ICT solutions that supports trade for government and private institutions in the country.

Reacting to the award to the company, maritime expert and publisher of Journal Magazine, Mr. Ismail Aniemu said Webb Fontaine’s value-adding innovations like the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) and other solutions have helped the Nigeria Customs Service to attain annual trillion naira revenue collections since 2017.

He stressed the importance to the survival of the Nigerian economy, the reported support the company is giving to not less than 14 agencies of the Federal Government to achieve transparent revenue generation.

Aniemu also said that recent feats that promote a sustainable blue economy in the Nigerian maritime sector like Customs cargo tracking being tested in Lagos and seamless integration of the Lekki Deep Seaport with Lagos Free Trade Zone are indeed laudable feats.

He further said that the company’s provision of the ICT backbone for Nigeria’s first automated deep blue seaport in Lekki and the LFZ is a worthy trade master stroke.

According to him, this will engender transparent faster ship turnaround time and assurance of cargo, crew and vessel security using the Webb Fontaine solutions within one of West Africa’s largest and business trans-shipment hubs.

…withdrew case to avoid embarrassment

Documents have emerged indicating why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) withdrew its celebrated case against Kogi State Government on a N20 billion salary bail-out fund alleged to have been fixed by the state government.

The EFCC had, last August, accused top officials of the Kogi State Government of diverting the N20 billion bailout loan channeled through Sterling Bank and fixing same with the bank instead of using the funds for the purpose for which it was meant.

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Kingsley Fanwo, had, however, strongly rebuffed the EFCC, insisting that the funds were judiciously utilised as stipulated for salaries, wondering how funds that had been disbursed could still be fixed.

However, despite its earlier claims of hard evidence on the alleged diversion of the funds, the EFCC by mid October, 2021 went to court to discontinue the case for the forfeiture of the alleged N20 billion it claimed was fixed in Sterling Bank.

Documents emerging have shed some light on why the EFCC might have made a quick turnaround on the issue.

In a letter written by Sterling Bank to the Kogi State Commissioner for Finance, dated September 1, 2021, titled, RE: REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION REGARDING CERTAIN ALLEGED TRANSACTIONS WITH YOUR BANK BY THE KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC)”, the Bank, which said it was “surprised and dismayed at the media narration surrounding the transactions, said, “In the light of the above submissions, permit us to respond to your enquiry as follows:

“The Kogi State government does not currently operate or maintain a fixed deposit account with Sterling Bank.

“There is no mandate letter from the Kogi State government to open account number 0073572696 with Sterling Bank.

“Sterling Bank account 0073572696 is an internal (mirror) account operated by the Bank for purposes of managing the Kogi State salary bailout facility.”

Another crucial evidence that seems to have completely changed the narrative was the affidavit deposed to by the Chief Compliance Officer of Sterling Bank, Muktadir Jaiyeola, with the Managing Director of the Bank as 2nd applicant, in a suit on the matter filed at a Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on December 1, 2021.

The affidavit came upon repeated invitations by the Kogi State House of Assembly to the bank to clear the air on the allegations by the EFCC against the government.

Sterling Bank, in the affidavit, sighted by this paper, contrary to the claims of the EFCC, indicated that the Kogi State Government did not fix any N20 billion with it and confirmed that the funds alleged to have been fixed were fully disbursed to several beneficiaries at the instance of the Kogi State Government.

In Paragraph 12 of the affidavit, the Bank said, “At the direction of the Kogi State Government, payments were made from Kogi State Government Salary Account to several beneficiaries between the 23rd July 2019 and 25th July 2019 and the entirety of the Kogi State Salary Bail out intervention fund in the sum of NGN20 Billion was fully disbursed at the instance of the Kogi State Government.”

Frowning at repeated invitation sent by the state House of Assembly to the Managing Director, asking him to appear in person, the Bank further exonerated the state government.

In Paragraph 23 of the affidavit, the Bank reiterated that there was nothing like a fixed deposit account opened by the Kogi State Government for the bailout fund as stated in its September 1, 2021 response letter to the state.

“There was no mandate to open the alleged fixed deposit account;

“The Kogi State Government did not operate a fixed deposit account;

“The account referred to as a fixed deposit account is an internal account operated for the purpose of managing the bail out facility,” Sterling Bank said.

Following the cold trail in the investigations into the alleged diversion of the bail-out fund, the state government, through the Commissioner for Finance, Mukadam Asiru Idris, in a letter dated 24th November 2022, almost a year after an initial letter to the CBN to clear the air, reminded the bank to clear the air over the issue and make its investigations public, but it reportedly got no response till date.

The Kogi State Government alleged, on Thursday, that the fresh media trial by the EFCC was in continuation of the Commission’s “Destroy Kogi” agenda, having met a brickwall with its “bailout fund plot.”

AMJON Conference/Awards 2022: Marwa, Bello-Koko, NIWA MD, Ismail Aniemu, Webb Fontaine, others for honour

As NPA, NSC, NIMASA, NDLEA present papers

Organisers of the 2022 edition of the Annual AMJON Conference and Awards have disclosed that barring any last minute change, the iconic event is set to honour the foremost leaders of the industry and prominent stakeholders.

They include; the Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the high performing Managing Directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mohammed Bello-Koko and Dr. George Moghalu respectively.

Also for honour at this year’s event holding at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja are the Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, foremost ICT Service provider to the Nigerian Customs Service, Webb Fontaine and the National Patron of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA)/Vice Chairman of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) High Chief Henry Njoku.

A statement signed by the President of the Association, Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri disclosed that one of the highpoints of this year’s event is the honouring of the pioneering president of the Association, Mr. Ismail Aniemu and another hard working journalist in the industry, Mr. Roland Ekama. The former for his exemplary leadership roles and contribution to the development of the maritime industry, and the latter for his dint of hard work and transformational stories that has continued to endear him to industry leaders and stakeholders.

Mr. Ogbuokiri noted that the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive officer of Nigerian Shippers Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, Comptroller Albashir Hamisu, the CAC, FOU Zone B Kaduna are among many other top industry leaders that will be honoured at the event which will be chaired by the President of ANLCA, Chief Tony Iju Nwabunike.

He disclosed that the Conference which has the theme “Maximizing Nigeria’s Blue Economy Through Automation”, will host the industry’s best public and private operators for advancement of the sector.

According to the President of AMJON, the 2022 conference is planned to be the biggest event to be held by the vibrant Nigerian Maritime press this year as stakeholders are excited and expectant more than ever before to benefit from discussions at the conference.

Chairman Organising Committee for the Conference, Mr. Kelvin Kagbare disclosed that the event is billed to be the gathering of the crème de la crème in the maritime, transport, Oil and Gas, Business moguls as well as political bigwigs in Nigeria

Operators from the allied transport and logistics chain sub-sector are also expected at the conference which has been a subject of discussion among stakeholders for weeks.

The Chairman said deserving and patriotic Nigerians who are working hard to reposition and change the narrative in the different sectors of the Nigerian economy shall be honoured at the conference

Traditionally and in line with AMJON conference schedule, there shall be paper presentations by Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Government agencies and Organisations such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON),

Keynote speakers are; the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gen Buba Marwa (rtd) and the Managing Director NLNG Ship Management Limited, Dr Abdulkadir Ahmed.

Mr. Ogbuokiri who assured that this year’s conference will be mother of all conferences implored stakeholders in the industry to participate fully as very germane issues affecting the industry will be dissected and a way forward charted for the Nigerian economy.

Speaking on the business opportunities in the Maritime, Transport, Oil and Gas and other sectors of the economy, the AMJON President said policy formulation and execution of developmental programmes by key Agencies of the Federal Government were factors that shall be x-rayed at the AMJON 2022 conference.

“There is so much that could be achieved if we get our national policies right and resources deployed to harness the huge potentials that remain fallow across sectors,” Ogbuokiri said

By Michael Abu

For a party that is increasingly turning itself into a third force in Nigeria, Wednesday December 14, 2022 appeared to be a day of reckoning for the Labour Party as it was forced to call a suspension on its presidential campaign rallies.

The party in an announcement said the scheduled presidential campaign rallies in Ekiti and Ondo States had been put on hold.

The suspension came after what many have described as the fiasco on Tuesday of the campaign rally in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

Before the Lokoja fiasco, the Labour Party with its horde of trenchant supporters popularly known as Obidients had been everywhere, especially on social media, announcing themselves as the new face of politics in the country.

In postponing the rallies in Ekiti and Ondo States scheduled for December 15 and 16 respectively, the party, in an announcement on its official twitter page, said, “Due to some unavoidable and unusual circumstances beyond control, our earlier scheduled Presidential Campaign Rally in Ekiti & Ondo for 15th and 16th December, 2022 are hereby POSTPONED. New date will be announced. We regret the inconveniences caused by this.”

What those unfortunate circumstances were, were, however, not made known.

It is nevertheless open to guess that after basking in the momentum and enthusiasm from mostly youths in previous rallies and on social media, Kogi appeared to puncture the narrative of a surging national party. After boisterous rallies in Owerri, Ibadan and a few other states with tens of thousands of supporters, Lokoja, Kogi State appeared to have disconcerted the Obidients.

So what may have accounted for the derailment of the Labour Party rally in Kogi?

Officials of the party have sought to blame bureaucratic procedures in the arrangement for the township stadium from the Kogi State Government.

Dr Shina Byron-Fagbenro, Director of Operations in the Obi-Datti Movement, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, a day after the uncelebrated rally, confessed that the rally was not well attended. He also sought to blame a number of logistic considerations in part due to the overzealousness of some government officials for the failure.

It is, however, worthy of note that he acquitted the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and by that measure, the State Government, of allegation of sabotage as alleged in some quarters.

“I can assure you that the governor said that he didn’t know that we were being delayed,” he said.

However, what he didn’t say was that in Kogi State, the arguments that had fuelled the Obidient movement appeared not to have found traction.

With a populace apparently satisfied with the good governance that they have benefited from the Yahaya Bello-led administration, it was not difficult to understand why the new gospel propagated by the Labour Party failed to find grip in the hearts of the people of Kogi State, especially the youths.

Against the new narrative of the New Kogi State that is now the cynosure of critical analysts, the gospel of change that has been central to the Obidient Movement appeared to have fallen flat. It was definitely not surprising, given the radical transformation of Kogi State in the last seven years in virtually all sectors of endeavour.
Even the opposition in the state know that the Governor has set a new pace in the development of Kogi State, which his successors must work very hard to keep up with.

With the health infrastructure being boosted through the 300-bed reference hospital in Okene, the Specialist Hospital in Lokoja and ultra modern Prince Audu Abubakar University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba, it is not surprising that Governor Yahaya Bello is set to turn Kogi State into a centre for medical tourism. That aspiration apparently resounds with the Obidients’ chant of turning from consumption to production at least in the area of medical services.

Remarkably, as the news of the Labour Party campaign rally fiasco emerged in national news reels, it was accompanied with the fact that Kogi State had emerged the Best Performing State in the World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, outshining 10 other states assessed for the project’s Community-Based health project.

The state government received the Certificate of Achievement as Best Performing State: Community-Based Nutrition Service Delivery (NSA Performance +DLI) at the 6th ANRIN Implementation Support event, held in llAbuja.

Such awards and honours for Kogi State, including the World Bank’s SFTAS award for fiscal transparency and accountability, have been the hallmark of the New Kogi State under Governor Bello with even more honours accruing in education and security, among others. It was as such not surprising that the message of the Obidient Movement did not find traction in Kogi State.

Even more as an ancillary is the fact that the Obidient Movement has drawn most of its support from the youth population. However, Governor Bello is the National Youth Coordinator of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council. So for the youths of Kogi State who have found pleasure in the Governor, the resonance of the message that has fueled the rallies in other states appeared not to have found bearing with them and hence their apparent lack of concern when the Labour Party presidential campaign berthed in Lokoja.

Michael Abu, a seasoned journalist, was the Chief Press Secretary of Arch. Yomi Awoniyi, former Deputy Governor of Kogi State

Stolen and looted artefacts from the Benin Kingdom are finding their way home.

After decades of insistent cultural diplomacy pursued by organisations like the Benin Dialogue Group, the art loving Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and the reigning Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, European and North American institutions are finally on board the restitution and return train.

Most of the objects, said to number well over 5,240 and domiciled in 131 museums, universities and collections across 20 countries have been the subject of fierce contestations regarding the manner of their plunder and dispersal. Most of the art works were pillaged as spoils after the so-called punitive expedition of 1897.


President Emmanuel Macron of France was first to set the stage for what has become a movement. Speaking at a 2017 event in Burkina Faso, Macron had declared that a means was to be devised for temporary or permanent restitution of African heritage because as he affirmed “I cannot accept that a large part of cultural heritage from several African countries is in France,”

Germany became the first country, five years after Macron’s declaration to fire the first salvo with the return of two afterfacts in July 2022. A month later an agreement was signed between the German and Nigerian governments. The signing according to an Al Jazeera report was “done on Thursday [August 25, 2022] between the Foundation of Prussian Cultural Heritage (SPK) and Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) to transfer their ownership from the Ethnological Museum collection in Berlin to Nigeria.”

The agreement which has been described as the “the most extensive transfer of museum artefacts from a colonial context to date, covers 512 objects which ended up in Berlin in the aftermath of the 1897 looting.”

A few months later in October as reported by Artforum, “the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art on October 11 officially ceded ownership of twenty-nine Benin bronzes to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria.”

On Monday, November 28, 2022 The Horniman Museum which was founded by social reformer Frederick Horniman a vigorous campaigner for the creation of the British Welfare State, followed suit with the transfer of ownership of 72 artefacts pillaged from the Benin kingdom in 1897. This was done in an elaborate ceremony attended by the Edo state governor, officials of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) as well as chiefs from the Oba’s palace.

As these agreements are signed and the objects make their way home, the question of where they will be housed and how the public can access them has come up time and again.

This question demands consideration in view of the fact that over the years, most of the European and North American institutions have made the case that Nigeria and its cultural institutions and museums lack the requisite cultural infrastructure to keep and preserve and support these artefacts.

But many Nigerians from government officials to artists and writers believe that the question is moot.

Victor Ehikhamneor, world renowned Nigerian artist and restitution activist acknowledges the sentiment. “That’s one of the most used excuses for western institutions not to return stolen and looted artefacts. The question to ask is how old were these works when they were stolen and taken away and as a corollary how were they taken care of in the palace before they were taken away? Because what we fail to realize is that some of these works were already about 300 years or thereabout before they were stolen.”

Mr. Ehikahemnor’s answer is important for context because when the palace was sacked in 1897, one of the bronze plaques taken and which is now on display at the Horniman museum dates back to the time of Oba Orhogbua who reigned between 1547–1580 and must have been over 300 years old by the time of the punitive expedition. If there was no proper method of preservation would they have been in good enough shape to be plundered?

Continuing, Victor Ehikhamenor poses a question. “Who says we cannot take care of these works and who determines how a particular work should be taken care of? Every time, they want us to view things from a Eurocentric perspective. The truth is the works have to be returned and luckily we have new museums coming up like the planned Benin Royal Museum and others like the Edo Museum for West African Art (EMOWAA). Bring them back and let us worry about how they will be taken care of.”

Ike Anya, medical doctor and author of the forthcoming book, Small by Small: Becoming a Doctor in 1990s Nigeria says he is not surprised by the returns and push back. “I remember a visit to the Horniman Museum a few years back and how I was impressed by how they had curated the artefacts from Benin, situating them alongside contemporary Nigerian displays like a replica of a street side stall from 1980s Nigeria. I also remember that the director of the Horniman very much recognised the case for returning these artefacts and was keen to engage the local British-Nigerian community in the process. I recognise the concern and it was one which I shared until my friend Victor Ehikhamenor put me right one day. I had asked him, “but if they return them where will they be kept?” And I have never forgotten his response which shifted my view remarkably ‘let them be returned to the place from which they were taken. Let the sun that used to beat them and the rain that used to fall on them continue to beat and fall on them.’ I believe the example of Horniman will spur others to do the same.”

And to address and support Victor Ehikhmenor’s point, there are a number of institutions being built to support these artefacts.

The Benin Royal Museum is promoted by the monarch, Oba Ewuare II while EMOWAA which is working in partnership with NCMM is being promoted by a private trust as a self-sustaining ecosystem in West Africa to support heritage, craftsmanship, and contemporary arts. The EMOWAA pavilion is designed by Sir. David Adjaye OBE.

When operational, these two institutions would complement the already existing Benin City museum and provide not just a home but a place where the works can be accessed.

This is important because when we speak of infrastructure it extends beyond just the physical space to encompass the facilities and programmes that will provide context for the works and enhance scholarship while acting as a bridge for understanding the past and how it informs the present.

Duke Asidire, a foremost and leading contemporary artist from Nigeria acknowledges that the questions around housing and access are valid. “Regarding where they will keep them? I am aware of the building of the private EMOWAA museum and The Palace of the Oba of Benin is also planning the Benin Royal museum and preparing to take custody.”

In an email response to a question on whether this was a consideration during negotiations, Horniman museum responded with “any questions about Nigerian infrastructure, and the future care and presentation of the returned objects, should be directed to the NCMM.”

Returning to Mr. Ehikhamenor’s arguments, it is apposite to quote the opening lines of a piece by the Financial Times describing the Benin City Museum – “Approaching the Benin City National Museum in Nigeria’s southern state of Edo — paint peeling, lawns weathered, stranded within a busy roundabout — there is no credible hint of the treasures inside.”

With 18 museums in existence and with the Benin Royal Museum and EMOWAA imminent, the returning artefacts will be well taken care of.

The 2022 edition of the Annual Conference of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) has been slated to hold on December 19, 2022 at the prestigious Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja

The Conference with the theme “Maximizing Nigeria’s Blue Economy Through Automation”, is expected to host the industry’s best public and private operators for advancement of the sector.

According to the President of AMJON, Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri, the 2022 conference is expected to be the biggest event to be held by the vibrant Nigerian Maritime press this year as stakeholders are excited and expectant more than ever before to benefit from discussions at the conference.

Chairman Organizing Committee for the Conference, Mr. Ismail Aniemu disclosed that the event is billed to be the gathering of the crème de la crème in the maritime, transport, Oil and Gas, Business moguls as well as political big wigs in Nigeria

Operators from the allied transport and logistics chain sub-sector are also expected at the conference which has been a subject of discussion among stakeholders for weeks.

The Chairman, OC said deserving and patriotic Nigerians who are working hard to reposition and change the narrative in the different sectors of the Nigerian economy shall be honoured at the conference

Traditionally and in line with AMJON conference schedule, there shall be paper presentations by Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Government agencies and Organizations such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), NLNG, NDLEA, among others.

The president of AMJON, Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri has stated that the conference will be mother of all conferences this year as dignitaries from the National Assembly have indicated interest and assured AMJON of their presence at the conference.

Mr. Ogbuokiri therefore charged stakeholders in the industry to participate fully very germane issues affecting the industry will be dissected and a way forward charted for the Nigerian economy.

Speaking on the business opportunities in the Maritime, Transport Oil and Gas and other sectors of the economy, the AMJON President said policy formulation and execution of developmental programmes by key Agencies of the Federal Government are factors that shall be x-rayed at the AMJON 2022 conference.

“There is so much that could be achieved if we get our national policies right and resources deployed to harness the huge potentials that remain fallow across sectors,” Ogbuokiri said.