₦airaland Forum

Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has debunked his rumoured romance with the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he remains a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dr. Uduaghan made the clarification on Saturday, at his Warri, Delta State residence, when he hosted PDP Delta South Senatorial District, meeting.

He said, “I’m happy that PDP is waxing stronger, and I want to commend leaders and members of the party in the state. We will get there by the grace of God, and we will win all the elections come 2019.”

Uduaghan spoke on the heels of the State House of Assembly elections to fill the vacuum created by the death of Hon. Udoh of Warri South one, billed for Wednesday, April 26, 2017.

He also commended the present administration in the state for partnering with the Federal Government to bring down the excesses of the Niger Delta Avengers and other militancy groups in the state.

On the downturn of economy in the state, Uduaghan lamented that due to militancy and other crisis in the state, money coming into the state’s coffers dropped drastically and enjoined the good people of Delta State to bear with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who he described as a hard working man.

Uduaghan was at the event honoured by the party leadership for performing creditably well during his tenure as the state Governor.

Okowa in his speech decried high rate of rumour mongering in the state, just as he enjoined party members to always support the government in its efforts in developing the state.

On the controversial Maritime University, Governor Okowa pleaded with the Federal Government to make the school a reality, adding that every Nigerian, who are desirous to go into marine business will be admitted.

On the issue of unemployment among party faithful, Okowa said, “I plead with the people of the state to be patient with me in the area of appointment. A lot of people will be given appointments as soon as the state’s finance improves. I’m elated that there has been peace in the state, since my assumption of office. However, I’m optimistic that the peace will be sustained by the grace of God.”

Serena Williams appears to have announced that she is pregnant, and while that is a wonderful development for her it will also have seismic impact on women’s tennis.

The world’s greatest player seemed to reveal her happy news with a simple picture on Snapchat, accompanied by a label that said ’20 weeks’.

She later deleted it, and a congratulatory tweet from the Women’s Tennis Association was also removed. Confirmation from her management was not immediate.

Williams is engaged to social media entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, who was with her in Melbourne in January. If the original posting was indeed the revelation that Williams is expecting then the ramifications are huge for the sport.

Next Monday she is due to go back to number one, despite only having played two ranking tournaments outside the Grand Slams in the last twelve months, plus the Olympics.

She has bestrode tennis like a colossus, and now it looks like she may have won the Australian Open in January while in the early stages of pregnancy.

If she is to give birth later this summer then she will surely not be seen on a tennis court for the rest of the year. Any return would not be until well past her 36th birthday, which is bound to raise the question about whether a truly great career is at an end.

The younger Williams sister has won 23 Grand Slams, is just one short of Margaret Court, who collected many of hers in an era when the difficulties of international travel often diluted the fields.

Her absence would leave the chase for the biggest prizes wide open for the likes of Britain’s Jo Konta, currently the world number seven.

The elite level of the WTA Tour is already without some of its biggest names for a variety of reasons. Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is still recovering from the effects of a dreadful assault at her home which damaged her hand.

Maria Sharapova is coming back next week from a 15-month doping suspension while Victoria Azarenka is due to return this summer after having a child of her own. Relatively recent Grand Slam winners such as Li Na and Marion Bartoli retired while Garbine Muguruza has not followed up on her French Open title of 2016.

Without Williams, who was next due to play in May’s Madrid Open, there would be a massive vacuum and a near free for all when it comes to the battle for the sport’s biggest prizes.

Sportsmail has contacted Williams’ management team for comment.

The Supreme Court has said it is ready to expedite action in the N23.7bn civil case in which over 14, 296 hapless investors’ funds are trapped in the Central Bank of Nigerian, if the chambers of Debo Adeleke and Rowland Otaru (SAN) resolve the issue of legal representation of the parties in the suit.

The apex court consisting of five-man panel and presided over by Justice Mary Ukego Peter-Odili, while adjourning further hearing till October 31, specifically noted:

“I think it is important to let your clients know that this adjournment is not at the instance of the court. It is as a result of inability of counsels on either side to reconcile their representation. We are here; we are ready to work”, the apex court ruled.

The court also observed that it had earlier ordered for the conflicting counsels to resolve who is a proper representative of the parties, stressing, “Clearly, that resolution has not happened. The matter would be further adjourned, so that some clarity made on who is representing who. Motion is adjourned till October 31, 2017 for hearing.

The investors, most of who are aged and pensioners, led by Prince Emmanuel Matiluko, between 2004 and 2005 had unwittingly subscribed to a fraudulent investment scheme put up by Nospetco Oil & Gas Ltd, each with N450,000 slot.

It was when the Federal Government listed Nospetco Oil & Gas Ltd amongst 48 companies as Wonder Banks, following the judgment of the Investment And Security Tribunal in OA/17/07, the truth of their being victims of Nospetco’ scam dawned on them.

At the resumption of the case last Monday, in Abuja when Mr. Debo Adeleke announced his appearance for 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th 10th 11th, 12, 13 and 14 investors in representative capacity of 13,737 other investors, Mr. C. W. Udeh from the chambers of Rowland Otaru (SAN) announced appearance for 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th in representative capacity of 13,737 other investors.

In few of the development, Barrister Adeleke urged the court to resolve the issue of representation, adding that he emphatically announced that the 10 people he is appearing for are doing so in a representative capacity of 13,737 other investors.

According to Barrister Adeleke, these are the investors who started the matter right from the Investment And Security Tribunal (IST).

“Our position can equally be supported by the records before the court. By all the representation, since the commencement of this matter at the Supreme Court we have been announcing our representation of 13,737.

“However, somebody who has never been a party to this matter in the name of Rowland Otaru (SAN) suddenly appeared at the Supreme Court announcing various type of figures of people he claimed to be representing. That will not be justice”, he submitted.

Reacting, Barrister Udeh observed that it was true that on November 22nd, 2016 the court ordered that both counsels should meet and resolve conflicting issue of legal representation.

“My lord, nothing could go on in this court on that day, except the same issue of legal representation”, he submitted, noting that his chambers is not averse to settlement or reconciliation.

But the apex court observed that the issue of changing counsel goes beyond settlement and asked Barrister Udeh,

“The people you claimed to be representing, are they alive? And they are available to give you instruction as to representing them? Where is the evidence of instruction that you should represent them?

In his reply Barrister Udeh told the court that he had a letter debriefing Barrister Adeleke and had also filed a motion before the court dated April 20, 2015 on the same issue of legal representation. He added that names of investors who briefed his chambers were clearly written in the motion.

He added, “They are claiming that we have jumped into this matter without due authorization. But my lords, we came into this matter, having been briefed …

The court intervened, observing that the normal practice is if a client does not want the services of a counsel, he has the legal right to engage another but must first debrief the counsel he is using before, with a written letter.

“Now, did you find out that they have debriefed the person handling their case, and whether they settled that person’s legal fees and the rest of it? Have all these things being done before you took over?”, the court asked.

Barrister Udeh replied in the positive and added that his chambers even wrote Barrister Adeleke to that effect, and showed the court a copy of the letter.

Barrister Adeleke however denied receiving such letter when the court asked for confirmation.

“No sir, I’m not aware of such letter, my lord. In actual fact, as a way of elucidating the matter, when we announced initially we were for all the investors, the then Central Bank lawyer, then stood up and said, it was not proper for us to represent all investors because they heard there were about 200 other investors.

“On the basis of this, the court directed that Mr. Adeleke should go and advertise in three major newspapers to ascertain the numerical strength of the people he is representing.

“As at that time, we advertised in Punch, Daily Trust and The Guardian, in accordance with the order of the Tribunal. It was on the basis of this we now collated 13,740, but this is at the court of IST instance and Court of Appeal.

“But while the matter was going on, my lords, during the process of collation, four of the investors, who are former members of Executive misappropriated some funds, hence, they were dismissed.

“These four are those that formed the dissident group, now engaged the services of Rowland Otaru (SAN) to represent them at the Supreme Court”, Barrister Adeleke submitted.

He added that there was no such thing as a letter of debriefing from his clients, stressing, “It is this four dismissed people that are doing that, not all the investors.

Faulting the construction of the letter purportedly debriefing Barrister Adeleke, which was tendered by Barrister Udeh during the proceeding, the apex court said it does not look too strong enough, stressing,

“It does not seem to have the kind of showing … or coming from such people; so let them do more in terms of clarity, saying keep off from representing us, so that the matter can go forth”, the Supreme Court advised.

Udeh however pointed out that his chambers took some steps for settlement, “We took further steps after receiving that letter, we sent a letter to Mr. Adeleke dated 11th July 2014, in which we informed that he has been debriefed and that he was welcome to work with us as a team.

In his reply, Barrister Adeleke insisted that he had not seen any debriefing letter. “The letter he (Udeh) is talking about now, is the one his principal wrote, asking whether he could come and join us at the Supreme Court.

“He did not tell us of debriefing us. I replied that he had a constitutional right to represent only four people alleged to have briefed us. These are people that we dismissed.

“They were dismissed for misappropriation of investors’ funds. So the 13,737 investors have severally disclaimed Mr Otaru (SAN) for representing them. The four dismissed investors now went to the Federal High Court that they didn’t believe in litigation”, Adeleke submitted.

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says there is no security vote appropriated to him.

On Tuesday, Abdulrazak Namdas, spokesman of the House of Representatives, said what el-Rufai published was the security budget of Kaduna and not his security votes.

But in a statement on Thursday, Samuel Aruwan, spokesman of the governor, said the state’s budget specified what was voted to security agencies and nothing was given to the governor.

He said the Kaduna’s security funding is not operated like the national assembly where everything is “opaque”.

Aruwan said if the leadership of the national assembly have security votes they should disclose what is allocated to them.

“The Kaduna state government has presented details of its security budget. What was presented represents the only security vote for the entire government,” he said.

“As the figures show, there is no security vote for the governor of Kaduna state. This may be a shock to those used to the notion of security votes as barely disguised slush funds, but we do not operate such a system in Kaduna.

“Our budgets specify what is voted as assistance to security agencies, and its expenditure is properly recorded and accounted for. These are not monies given to or spent by the governor.

“If the leaders of the NASS have security votes allocated to or personally collected by them, they might wish to disclose such. Our security spending does not operate like the NASS system of sharing public funds in such an opaque fashion that even NASS members do not know how their entire budget is broken down or what the leadership gets as its ‘running costs’.

“The figures in the pay slips presented for the Honourable Speaker are in stark contrast to the declaration by The Economist regarding the earnings of NASS members. One of the claims cannot be right.”

He said the demand of the budget of the national assembly to be public would not go away.

“However, notwithstanding the intemperate response of the spokesman of the house of representatives, the demand that the NASS budget be made public will not go away,” he further said.

“It is not personal, and there is a strong civic constituency that is demanding it. The sooner all of us in public life recognised that the game has changed, and that segments of civil society and indeed everyday citizens of Nigeria, are much more aware, astute and advanced than the state of our politics, the better for our democratic health.”

The governor’s spokesman said the people who leaked his memo to President Muhammadu Buhari should be blamed and should not be brought into the matter.

“The NASS leadership has been promising ad infinitum to publish the breakdown of the opaque, one-line budget. It should simply do so. Prompt release of the 2015 and 2016 breakdowns, along with the proposed figures for 2017, would be a good way to start,” it read.

“As things stand today, even if Mallam Nasir El-Rufai refrains from further commentary on this matter, the genie is already out of the bottle. The public will not accept a secretive NASS, or any other branch of government for that matter.”

Former Managing Director, Operations at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue has denied ownership of the large sums of money: $38,000,000,N23,000,000 and £27,000 uncovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) from an apartment in Osborne Towers, Osborne Road, Ikoyi Lagos, Lagos State.

Nnamdi-Ogbue in a statement by her lawyer, Emeka Etiaba SAN, said she was shocked as many other Nigerians at the uncovering and recovery of the said sums of money and wishes to salute the courage and efforts of the EFCC in the war against corruption.

The statement reads:

“The attention of Our Client, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue has been drawn to the news making round in the News Media to the effect that the large sums of money to wit: $38,000,000.00 (Thirty-Eight Million Dollars),N23,000,000.00 (Twenty-Three Million Naira) and £27,000.00 (Twenty-Seven Thousand Pounds) uncovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) from an apartment in Osborne Towers, Osborne Road, Ikoyi Lagos, Lagos State belong to her.

By this Press Release, we inform the public (especially the News Media) that the said sums of money and/or the apartment where the sums of money were found do not belong to Our Client.

Our Client is as shocked as many other Nigerians at the uncovering and recovery of the said sums of money and wishes to salute the courage and efforts of the EFCC in the war against corruption.

She also wishes to commend the whistle blowing policy introduced by the Federal Government in the fight against corruption which policy has resulted in large scale uncovering and recovery of monies and assets.

It is Our Client’s belief that the source and ownership of the said uncovered sums of money is known or eventually will be known by the EFCC in due course. There is therefore no need for conjecture or speculation”.

The whistleblowing policy of the Federal Government is paying off positively, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday stormed a residential building on the 7th floor of a four-bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located at 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where a humongous find of foreign currencies and naira notes to the tune of $43.4m, £27,800 and N23.2m was uncovered.

According to the report on Saharareporters, the building is owned by former PDP chairman, Adamu Muazu. A source close to the anti-graft agency has told SaharaReporters that the building belongs to Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, a former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Mu’azu was also the governor of Bauchi State in Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.

Sources close to Mu’azu have confirmed to SaharaReporters that the former PDP chairman owns the building. While in Lagos, he lives on the penthouse on the building, a source said. Other residents of the house are former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, a former Managing Director at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Godwin Obla, a senior lawyer and former prosecutor to EFCC.

The showdown between the management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) led by the Chief Medical Director (CMD), prof. Michael Ibadin, and doctors in the hospital has taken a turn for the worse as resident doctors in the hospital has written a passionate appeal to patients in the hospital informing them that the management of the hospital is making it nearly impossible for them to get productive health care services they may require.
The latest development was revealed by several patients who got a letter from the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) UBTH chapter seeking for their understanding for the almost non-existent services going on in the hospital.
A patient, Mrs. Odion Osayande, who came from Kwale in Delta State, told newsmen that she got to the hospital on Wednesday, April 12, for her consultation with a doctor in the Gynaecology department only to be served a letter informing her of the circumstances prevailing in the hospital.
“I came from Kwale to see my doctor in the Gynaecology department and noticed that patients were not being attended to. I had to make inquiries from the nurses and staff present only to be told that doctors in the hospital have not being paid and the equipment in the hospital are not working. On the last two occasions I visited for my sessions, I have always been asked to go and do my ultrasound in a facility near Ugbowo which is a distance from the hospital because the Ultrasound machine at UBTH is not working. I also found out to my surprise that I am always charged for ultrasound services which UBTH did not provide for me,” she said.
The massive infrastructural decay in the once highly esteemed University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin city Edo state which was hitherto regarded as the citadel of health care, training and research is now a shadow of itself.
Not only is the Ultrasound machine at the hospital not working, the Stem cell transplant centre in the hospital which was established with the intention of bringing smiles to the families with sickle cell patients as patients with sickle cell has dilapidated to rots and rust.
The situation is not different in the department of Radiotherapy as the radiotherapy machine which the government of Nigeria spent fortune to alleviate the conditions of many patients from several states no longer functions leading to patients to referred far and wide for such care.
The Accident and Emergency department of the hospital which was initially world class to carter for Nigerians especially travelling ones Benin where it is located been a transit town is currently operating below a standard primary health care centre.
For specialists in emergency care they are available in the A and E though poorly catered for by the hospital management but they hardly have what to work with, glucometers are not present to check sugar level, instruments to measure blood pressure are faulty and the pharmacy lacks drugs and intravenous fluids. Patients and their relatives have to cross the road to get drugs and hospital consumables. Materials for advanced care is a no go area leading to the loss of several lives lost on a daily basis.
A copy of the letter dated April 10, 2017 with reference ARD/UBTH/SEC/017/027, with the title, Passionate plea for understanding and signed by the association’s president, Dr. Eustace Oseghale and the Secretary General, Dr. Osagie Emeke, read in part:
“We write to bring to your notice the 21-day Ultimatum served on the hospital management which elapses on Tuesday April18, 2017,” listed the demands of the doctors from management as,” improvement in facilities available for patient care; provision of drugs, consumables and materials for patient care; employment of more doctors as the current number cannot provide adequate care and ensuring the adequate welfare of staff of the hospital.”
The doctors indicated in the letter that they have given management a 21-day Ultimatum following which they can no longer guarantee industrial harmony, appealed to patients and the public to prevail on the management to do the needful and prevent a full blown industrial action.
The ARD president, Dr. Oseghale said that it was, “It is a high time the general public and well-meaning Nigerians help the doctors in stopping the rot and decay in UBTH, the management should be called to order so the families with sicklers can smile, so the cancer patient does not die, so the accident victims will survive and the radiotherapy, X-ray machines and ultrasound equipment work in order for Nigerians will reduce the cost it spends on medical tourism.” He said.
This is coming following the declaration of a state of emergency UBTH by resident doctors and an ultimatum given to the hospital management by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) at the hospital last week.

Over 26 million votes were recorded for the final of the just concluded reality TV show, Big Brother Naija 2017 “See Gobee” which saw Efe emerged as winner of the 25 million naira prize money and KIA Sorento SUV.
Ebuka Obi – Uchendu, disclosed this via his twitter handle @Ebuka “Over 26 million votes. An African record. #BBNaija’’.
This comes after the top five housemates were asked to campaign for votes on Thursday, April 5, 2017 in which they stated reasons why they should be given the chance to win the game.
The Payporte sponsored show had earlier recorded over 11 million votes last week when Bally, Marvis, Debie-Rise and Tboss were up for nomination which saw Bally being evicted from the house.
The final week witnessed aggressive votes from the fans who wanted their favorites to win. This was featured with online campaigns, tours and rallies in order to canvass votes for their preferred housemates.
Campaign teams for the top five housemates took to social media to educate fans on who to vote for through the endorsed We Chat Application and text messages with hash tags trending for each housemate.
The show which came to an end yesterday saw the winner; Efe scored 57.61 per cent of the total votes closely followed by Bisola’s 18.54 per cent, Tboss’ 16.60 per cent, Debie-Rise’s 8.78 per cent and Marvis’ 1.47 per cent.

Former Miss World, Agbani Darego, has quietly gotten married on Saturday 8 April in Marrakesh, Morroco.

The beauty queen, who shared the good news on her Instagram page on Sunday, pulled a fast one on everyone as she gave no inkling of any happenings neither was the groom known to many as her date.

However, as she did not reveal the full identity of her husband, close sources confirmed that the groom is one of the retired General and billionaire T.Y Danjuma’s sons.

Agbani simply shared the picture of the wedding on her Instagram page with a simple caption, #Mrs Danjuma.

The amiable Abonnema, Rivers State-born stunning queen beat many to it as many never seen this nuptial coming.

We learnt that the Darego and Danjuma exclusive wedding had very few and privileged guests from Nigeria including one of the World’s Richest man.

Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo State) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), former Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, members of the House of Representatives, presidents of Sierra Leone and Togo football federations, high –ranking politicians, representatives of His Royal Majesty, the Olu of Warri, chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation and members of the NFF Congress were among a gorgeous crowd that turned out to honour NFF President Amaju Pinnick at a special thanksgiving in Warri on Sunday.

The special service at the First Baptist Church (Agape Community) on Palm Sunday was to celebrate and honour God for Pinnick’s victory at last month’s CAF Executive Committee elections in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the NFF supremo became only the third Nigerian ever to win a seat on the exalted panel.

Former Delta Governor Uduaghan was accompanied by his wife Roli, and there were also House of Reps’ members Daniel Beyenieju and Julius Pondi, Isha Johansen (president of Sierra Leone FA), Kossi Akpovy (president of Togo FA), Chief Solomon Ogba (president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria), Chiefs Omagbemi and Agbeluje (representatives of the Olu of Warri) and Barrister Chris Green (Chairman of NFF Technical and Development Committee).

Barr. Porbeni Ogun and Messrs Emmanuel Iba and Frank Ilaboya (FA Chairmen of Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Edo States) were also at the event, with officials of the Delta State Government and Delta State Football Association not left out.

Other high –ranking chiefs including Chiefs Ayiri Emami and Sunny Ekpiwre, Mr. Adozor Okotie-Eboh, Mr. Chris Iyere, Mr. Neville Oghene, former Nigerian internationals Edema Fuludu, Clement Temile, Chikelue Iloenyosi and Nasiru Jibril (the last two also being Pinnick’s special assistants) were also there, alongside former elite League chairman Davidson Owumi and Larry Kubeinje.

Pinnick gave all the glory to God for his steady rise in football administration, from being second vice chairman of Delta State FA to becoming a Member of the CAF Executive Committee and Member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions. He again lauded the Federal Government, the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, NFF Executive Committee and Management, NFF Congress, sports committees of the National Assembly and various individuals who supported his CAF executive committee membership aspiration.

Johansen, who also won a seat on the CAF Executive Committee at last month’s congress, thanked Pinnick on behalf of the new CAF leadership, for the huge role he played in entrenching a new order in African football administration.

Leading electronics manufacturer, Binatone Industries has launched a new fan called ‘Ital 1660’ into the Nigerian electronics market just as it is planning to formally introduce the world’s first Tower Fan with a digital music system into Nigeria and other African countries.
The Managing Director of Binatone in Nigeria, Mr. Prasun Banerjee said in a statement that the latest addition to its wide range of fans is the result of a constant desire to bring continuously better products to the Nigerian consumers.
“Binatone engaged the renowned Italian designer, Gina Gianni, to design a fan that would enhance the decor of any household and become a talking point for any visiting guest. She worked closely with the Binatone engineers to ensure that good design was paired with outstanding performance and high reliability. The result is the spectacular ITAL-1660.”
“We are so excited to have this cutting edge product brought to the African and Nigerian consumer. Products that are designed for the local needs at prices our customers can afford. The ITAL-1660 looks more like a work of art than a product and we are just three months away from launching the Music Fan, emphasizing all the more that Binatone is always looking to bring us tomorrow’s products today,” he said.
He stated that while the company believes that all products should be made to be functional and technically sound, there is no reason why that should mean a trade-off for good design and affordability pointing out that Binatone, the London based company that specialises in domestic appliances is a brand that exemplifies this.
“We have been in West Africa for over 50 years and Binatone is already a household name in Nigeria, we are known for making high quality everyday use electrical appliances, backed by a nationwide two year warranty. With the very warm tropical climate, every home in Nigeria, however small or large, needs a fan in virtually every room. From the parlor to the bedroom. Even a house with air-conditioning can benefit from adding a fan, as it will improve the air circulation within a room and can save the user money due to lower power consumption,” he added
Speaking on the outstanding qualities of the new fan, Banerjee stated that “It looks classy and elegant, some would even say royal, It is whisper quiet in its operation with outstanding air-flow, and best of all, does not cost an arm and a leg. So much so, that it will be available for you to buy at local stores throughout Nigeria”

The United Bank for Africa on Friday approved payment of final dividend of N19.9 billion declared by the bank for the financial year ended December 31, 2016.
Shareholders of the bank gave the approval at the 55th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos.
The dividend translates to a final dividend of 55k per share, against 40k per share paid in 2015.
This is in addition to the 20k interim dividend earlier paid by the bank, bringing the total dividend to 75k, against 60k declared in 2015.
Shola Aboderin, the immediate past Chairman, Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association, commended the bank for the dividend declared in spite of challenging operating environment.
Aboderin said the bank’s earnings, profit before tax and capital adequacy ratio were impressive, irrespective of economic headwinds.
He appreciated the bank for financing many projects during the period under review, noting that it had added value to Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Aboderin urged the bank’s new Managing Director, Kennedy Uzoka, to surpass the achievements recorded by the immediate past Managing Director, Philip Oduoza.
Bisi Bakare, the President, Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, said shareholders were happy with the 75k dividend declared in 2016 and urged the bank to do more in the current financial year.
Bakare said that the bank should continue to embrace cost efficient mechanism to minimise cost.
Dr. Farouk Umar, the President, Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, commended the board and management for good performance and ability to sustain dividend policy.
Umar said the board had tried to sustain the bank’s mission of creating superior value for the stakeholders, abiding by ethical standard and building an enduring institution.
The shareholder activist said that the bank’s share price was undervalued, and urged the board to ensure proper value of the share price on the nation’s bourse.
Tony Elumelu, the bank’s Chairman, said its performance in capital adequacy and risk management illustrated the board’s commitment to the best governance principles.
Elumelu said that the bank would focus on customer needs by delivering customer excellence to create sustainable shareholder value.
He added that the bank would remain committed to enhance dividend to all stakeholders.
Kennedy Uzoka, the bank’s Group Managing Director, attributed the company’s growth to culture of innovation in service and product offerings, investment in most relevant new technologies and continuous investment in human capital.
Uzoka said UBA was no longer a Nigerian bank but a Pan-African bank, the only bank that operates in USA.
He said that the bank was a fully diversified portfolio that investors should embrace all the time.
Uzoka stated that 2016 was a challenging year due to macro-economic challenges caused by foreign exchange challenge, fall in oil price and Nigerian Delta unrest.
The bank posted gross earnings of N383. 65 billion during the year under review against N314.84 achieved in the previous year, an increase of 22 per cent.
Profit before tax stood at N90.64 billion in contrast with N68.45 billion in 2015, representing a growth of 32.4 per cent.
Its profit for the year increased by 21.1 per cent to N72.26 billion from, N59.65 billion in the comparative period of 2015.

The calendar of events for the 2017 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in partnership with the African Union will be formally opened on Tuesday, May 2 at a joint AUC-AFRIMA cultural conference to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The 2017 entry submission timeline for the prestigious continental awards will also be revealed at the joint conference expected to have in attendance AU officials, members of the International Committee of AFRIMA, past AFRIMA winners and nominees from Southern African, South Africa government officials, media executives in Southern Africa and other stakeholders in the creative/entertainment industry in Africa.
Speaking about the calendar unveiling and cultural conference themed “Enhancing the Creative Power of the African Youth”. Director of Brand Communication, AFRIMA, Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi, explained that the impact of AFRIMA as an awards which places premium value on the talents and their creative works keep reverberating across the continent’. This informs the carefulness and details that goes into planning our events in a way which puts the artiste and the cultural heritage of our continent first”.
“2016 was a phenomenal year for AFRIMA. The awards ceremony hosted by Lagos State of Nigeria between November 4 and 6 was a cultural fiesta with nominees and invited guests turning up in thousands for the three-day of events in Lagos. About 40 well-known Africa artistes performed at the AFRIMA Music Village to a live audience of over 25,000 and thousands more watching live from different locations in Africa”.
Ms. Tsotetsi stated further that the event slated for South Africa was timely to utilise and explore the interest shown by government and other entertainment stakeholders in South Africa in hosting 2017 AFRIMA events.
“The annual AFRIMA experience is one-of-its-kind and we are strongly driven to see this replicated over and over again in other countries. I’m very excited to say my home country is reaching out to AFRIMA purely on the merit of AFRIMA’S values and to be part of this unique awards platform that unites Africans through the joyous celebration of excellence in music”.
All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, is an iconic continental award conceptualized to celebrate the rich musical heritage of the African race. In partnership with the African Union, AU, the continental award project seeks to reward excellence in the continent’s music and media industry as well as maximally expose African tourism and culture to a worldwide audience.

A Malumfashi chief magistrates’ court in Katsina state has ordered the remand of Debora Fojo and Musa Garba, two agents of the ponzi scheme, Mavrodi Mundial Movement (MMM), in custody over alleged breach of trust and cheating.
The two were accused of collecting N429,000 to invest in the scheme.
Fojo and Garba are residents of Government Girls Secondary School Malumfashi quarters and Unguwar Danyawa village in Kafur local government area respectively.
Fojo allegedly collected N229,000 from one Sani Salisu of Unguwar Sodangi in Malumfashi to invest in the scheme, while Garba was said to have collected N200,000 from one Adamu Aliyu.
Sani Ahmed, the police prosecutor, told the court that the accused deceived the complainants with a promise that business would provide 30 percent returns within 30 days.
He said neither the original money nor the interest were returned to the complainants after the expiration of the agreed period.
Ahmed said the accused were charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating, offences that contravened sections 312 and 322 of the penal code laws.
The two accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Lawal Usman, chief magistrate, adjourned Fojo’s case till April 11, while that of Garba was moved to April 18, for mention.
He ordered that the two accused persons be remanded in prison.
About three million Nigerians invested in the scheme which crashed in December.

Coming from a family of eight with parents who were both teachers in the civil service, John Bosco Onunkwo made a decision to carve out a future for himself and with determination, focus and adhering to his Christian beliefs; he not only achieved his goal of becoming an Engineer but got employed in the oil and gas industry. Having worked in the industry and gained experience in service to humanity, he is having a New Conversation with the youths in his Anambra State to mentor them positively. In this interview, he talks about his vision for youths and sundry issues

You had a programme tagged, The New Conversation for youths in Anambra State recently, what inspired this initiative?
We started this initiative for so many reasons one of which is the numerous occurrences in the political scene whereby youths are always seen in the negative perspective. So many things have been going wrong among youths; they have experiences so many negativities in both the present and yesteryears governments. The youths are not being put into consideration in so many ways that all their youthful life is all about struggle. To gain admission into a university is struggle; to pass through the university is another hurdle and even when you finish from school there is no guarantee that you will get a job. For those in capacity building you have hope that the government will create an enabling environment but all these expectations of the youths are not being met. But instead the youths are used as thugs for election rigging and other negative things. I can tell you that the election is coming up again and they old guard will want to continue using the youths in this way; in that circle of negativity. So the inspiration comes from my wanting to stop all the ills the youths are used for; let the youths come together and discuss on the way forward. They have to come together and adopt a strategy to really actualise the saying that youths are the leaders of tomorrow. We have been deceived for a long time with that phrase. Secondly, I want to hear from every other youth and have that consensus mind how we can go out there and demand for our rights; to go out there and make something very practical and also to tell the youths that we can be taken seriously; it is doable. We want to start a new conversation that will lead to a transparent and accountable in-coming government; a new conversation where the youths can comfortably say we are stakeholders in this business and we will develop our style to make sure that the next dispensation does not grow without having the youths adequately represented. It is a conversation I have just started with the youths to sensitize them.

Talking about this new conversation, what visions do you have for the new conversation that you want to instil in the youths?
You know the youths are very volatile set of people, if you allow youths they will take laws into their hands. They youths are already going short of their shock absorbing system in terms of absorbing a lot of promises which are failed them; not having hope and the youth can achieve things in so many ways which may be destructive. Having known this we came together and agreed that the most viable tool to use to communicate with the youths to let them know that their problems lie in their hands was through this new conversation. We want the youths to know that not only that they have all it takes to get what they want; it is just for them to have that decision that they can embark on this project; it is just for them to know that youths constitute 60 per cent of the populace and their parents make up another 20 per cent and maybe minors have the rest. We want to let them know that they have the numbers to effect change either negatively or positively. So in order to avoid a situation where the youths will take to the streets to achieve their aims, we called them in to have this conversation with them to tell them that a problem identified is half solved. We want them to know that we have identified the problem so we need to guide them in pursuing their goals. That is actually what this new conversation is all about; it is about have a sit down with the youths and discuss on the way forward.

Nigeria as a country is in a state of economic recession and this poses a huge challenge to youths across the nation, what plans do you have for youths especially those from Anambra State as regards this economic meltdown?
This new conversation is among the plan in a huge strategy we are employing for youth emancipation even at this period of recession. We have a drawing board and we are assuring the youth of security; what I mean is that we are assuring them of security in their education; security in the sense of paying your school fees without incessant increments. We are giving you the hope and the vision that if we train a youth to be involved in governance under this our new conversion, the tuition should be affordable. We are looking at reducing some school fees to a standard that will be affordable. We are giving them security of a qualitative education and coming out with flying colours and a guarantee that there will be a job waiting for you or a partnership with government if you need a start-up. We are assuring you of incentives to start up your business technically, we will create an avenue where we will partner with the government through the Bank of Industry to give soft loans for you to start and not only giving you the funds but we will be there to guide you through starting up the business so you have that confidence that you are not alone and also be aware that the fund you have been given is being monitored. We want to give the youths fairness to criticize and give suggestions to how our state, our country should be governed.

You mentioned that the youth population having a healthy percentage in the demography of the country but despite having this advantage the youths are continually left out of government unlike in other places in the world where the youth are included in government, why is this so peculiar with the Nigeria system of government and what do the youths need to do to change this perspective?
This problem is peculiar because it is something that have been neglected and has become a tradition.

Don’t you think the youths have part of the blame for not being so serious in matters of government?
They will keep having that blame because that is what the game plan is; always blame them for not being serious. An idle man they say is the devil’s workshop and the mind that is intellectually sound but financially poor cannot most times achieve its aim. We have to sit down and think about the solution. Naturally our youths have been deprived of so many things and because they have been in this condition they don’t know the way out so that is why we are coming in to show them the way out; to show them that in the shadows and valleys of death there is life. And also those things are not always what it seems in the sense that the youths have had their psyche worked on subconsciously that they will be asking can this work? We want to assure them that yes it can work. We are showing the youths the plan and strategy how this new conversation will work and the decision now lie with the youths to get on board so we actualize this project. They have to have a single mind to compete in whatever processes and procedures necessary for the formation of a government. There will be an election in Anambra State this year and there will be electioneering campaigns which normally brings out those eligible to stand for elections, we are telling the youths to come out with one mind and be part of the process; we are telling them to get their voters cards and be part of the process because that is the only way that we will tear down this walls of oppression and exclusion that we have been used to; by getting involved and queuing behind young persons with integrity and aspirations we will defeat the status quo and emerge as the leaders of the new frontier. We will definitely achieve this change. So with such conversations we are setting up a whole new level of reasoning and participation within the youths. We are telling the youths not to be discouraged and giving them all these indices and urging them to join in the fight to bring the youths out of the dark ages.

Many of the youths are not involved in political processes; they don’t register and at times don’t vote, what tool(s) are you employing to push them to get involved in this new conversation and its processes?
We just had the first discourse some few weeks back and will continue. We have a strategy to combine the new conversation with some activities that attracts the youths. In the first youth summit, we had musical artistes, Nollywood practitioners, television presenters and people in the media speak to the youths. We made it a program that will be entertaining, educating and an eye opener for the youths. The problem with getting the youths attention is that you have to offer something different with sincerity. The youths are kind of sceptical; they have been lied to all their lives; they have been deceived so your approach to them has to be sincere. We let them know that yes we know that the lies have been told yesteryears but we have to start with a new step forward. We encourage them in a continuous way; it is a continuous process; a continuous engagement; continuous reaching out to the youths and continuous sensitization to the point that they will know that that which they thought was unachievable can be achieved. It is just a matter of creating out time for them. We also bring in the God’s factor in our strategy; there is a spiritual angle to what we are doing and we make them understand that God will always reward those who continuously strive to achieve their goals.

In this new conversation what role do you think the social media has to play?
The social media is a very wonderful tool that has been helping us to work effectively. Gone are the days when you want to do a media drive and go to a media house and be told all you have to do; these days you just send this out and it goes everywhere. It is a good marketing tool and with some platforms you can dispense information at your fingertips and it is playing a major role in the new conversation we are having with the youths. Since 90 per cent of our youths are effective in social media we are going to guide them on how to use the tool very well in marketing your ideas, plans and strategies. It is a very wonderful tool and we are using it to teach youths how to use it positively.

You are the chairman of JohnBosco Onunkwo Foundation, why did you start the foundation and can you take through the achievements the foundation has recorded so far?
My inspiration for starting up a foundation was in born; I have a passion for good leadership and to serve. I asked myself how best to reach out to the people and discovered it was through service. I am a member of the Rotary Club and I remember something happened some time ago and I called some group of people and encouraged them to join Rotary Club because that is where you come to serve. The moment I started teaching people the importance of service and humanitarian work you are winning souls already. I went a step forward to start this foundation to affect my people here in Anambra State and we are still working. You see when you take all your activities to be service driven and for humanitarian cause you have gotten the password from onset. The more you do for them the more you have an urge to do more.
As a foundation we have been able to give scholarships to over 50 students in the tertiary institutions. We have also been paying school fees and registering students in post-primary schools to write their senior school certificate exams. The foundation has also been able to affect people through the provision of free health care to our teaming populace. The foundation is also partnering with Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo Foundation which is one of the foundations in Anambra which has been affecting lives positively. The foundation is building a mini hospital in my hometown and we are going to finish this hospital in a matter of weeks; we want to make sure that issues of maternal mortality is reduced to the barest so that our pregnant women and children will be well taken care of. We are also clandestinely heling the poor; it is not everything we do we talk about because we don’t want to be seen as blowing our trumpet. In my years of service I have come to understand that some people will need help from you in a quiet way and we respect that decision. The foundation is also into developing talents in sports which we have been doing for five years now sponsoring football tournaments between local governments. We map out money and make sure it is used to identify talents in sports and also engage the youths. Our mantra is to discover these talents young and then nurture them. The foundation has also gone to the church and sowing strongly into the churches and the people who benefit are also alleviated in a way. The area we are spending more funds is on health for the people in rural areas. We are serving above self and will continue doing more for the people.

What principles did you adhere to during your formative years that you would like to share?
I would start by saying I was close to God; always praying, giving thanks and supplication. I am a product of a family of civil servants and have experienced all those 0-0-1, 0-1-0 formulas in feeding and even at times we use Garri and groundnut as a meal but I preserved. I took a decision that I must get myself out of this situation and the only way out was hard work; hard work in school and hard work outside school. I became determined to study and pass through the university and let the university pass through you; being determined despite all the obstructions and distractions and focussing on the objective to secure a good result and then to secure a job or create the job you want for yourself. You have to know what you are and have and believe in yourself; here you must be original. These are my passwords to success; hard work, determination, thanksgiving because the seed of a man makes way for him and focus.

Screen sweetheart Juliet Ibrahim has been named the Global Ambassador of the 1st-ever World Kidney Cancer Day by the International Kidney Cancer Coalition, IKCC.
The announcement was made via the IKCC Twitter page on the first day of the 7th International Kidney Cancer Coalition conference which the actress cum philanthropist is presently attending in Warsaw, Poland.
The World Kidney Cancer Day, which will be an annual event, was also launched at the conference and the first edition will hold on 22 June 2017.
The Juliet Ibrahim Foundation, JIF was launched in December 2011 to start an awareness campaign about cancer of the kidney.
The JIF is aimed at helping Ghanaians, Nigerians and other West African citizens to know their status and prevent kidney cancer as well as other kidney related diseases from getting to the incurable stage.

Big Brother Naija, has announced that 2Face Idibia, Tiwa Savage and Runtown will be performing at the grand finale of the reality show.
The reality show which started on January 22, 2017, is would officially end on April 9, 2017.
The two-hour live show will produce a winner between Bisola, TBoss, Efe, Marvis and Debie-Rise based on viewer’s votes.
Big Brother Naija kicked off with a total of twelve housemates but only five of them made it to the final.
The 2017 Big Brother Naija ‘See Gobe’ edition will see the winner take home 25 million Naira and a brand new SUV Jeep.
Earlier, Romanian-Nigerian housemate, Tboss sparked reactions from Nigerians after she could not recite the Nigerian National anthem on Live TV.
Recall that entertainment heavyweights, including Mallam Yankee of The Bank, Uti Nwachukwa of Jara and a host of others have in the last week of the reality show aligned with their favorite housemates and have been campaigning for them

The President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (GCON) has felicitated with the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick over the latter’s recent election into the Executive Committee of Confederation of African Football.
Pinnick handed veteran Beninoise football official, Anjorin Moucharafou a 32-17 thumping at the 39th Congress of CAF in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 16th March, to earn the seat for West Africa Zone B in the elite club of African football’s supreme governors.
In his letter of congratulations dated 29th March, reverred billionaire industrialist and football enthusiast Dangote wrote: “Your victory at the keenly contested election did not come to me as a surprise, given your exemplary track record in football administration in Nigeria. Delta State achieved several milestones during your tenure as the Chairman of the Delta State Football Association. It was also during your tenure that Delta emerged the overall champions at the 2012 National Sports Festival held in Lagos State.
“As the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), you continued your winning streak by building bridges of understanding and encouraging dialogue as a way of resolving differences. Indeed, you brought stability into the NFF, and this has impacted positively on the Federation leading to Nigeria’s improved FIFA rankings.
“Your recent election in Addis Ababa, into the powerful CAF Executive Committee representing West Africa Zone B, is therefore an eloquent testimony of the acceptance of your visionary leadership style. You did not only get elected, but you also helped make history by supporting your candidate of choice for CAF Presidency, Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar, to clinch the top seat.
“I want you to see your election as an opportunity to project not only Nigeria’s image, but also that of Africa on the world’s stage. I wish you God’s continued guidance as you assume office.”

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petition wednesday summoned Diamond Bank Plc over the sacking of 300 staff.
It followed a petition by the aggrieved staff, which was earlier submitted by their Counsel, Stephen Ofagbor to the House.
The lawmakers had summoned the bank to appear before it to provide explanation on the matter.
The bank didn’t however turn up at the meeting wednesday.
Essentially, the petition alleged that the “retrenchment was unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, unwarranted, null and void” and called on the bank to reverse its decision.
Ofagbor said the affected staff have taken several steps towards their reinstatement or payment of their terminal benefits, including a demand letter from their solicitor, but all to no avail as the bank rebuffed all overtures.
He added that the affected persons were not given the opportunity to repay the loan as scheduled and are being charged interest on the unpaid balance, which they would not be in a position to pay except they are recalled or paid their redundancy benefits.
He said: “Each of the retrenched staff entitlement is based on rank and number of years served and they have been seized of all the particulars of each of them for purposes of computing their individual entitlement.
“The action of Diamond bank has caused the affected persons enormous hardship, psychological trauma, great embarrassment and above all stigmatisation.”
He added that unless adequately redressed, the situation portends great risk to the bank employees and the industry in general.
Nevertheless, Chairman of the committee, Nkem Abonta, however Adjourned hearing to May 7, 2017 to enable the committee further communicate with Diamond bank.

Unity Bank Plc wednesday announced its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2016, showing a drop in profit after tax (PAT) by 53 per cent to N2.184 billion from N4.689 billion in 2015.
However, the bank recorded gross earnings of N84 billion, seven per cent higher than N78 billion recorded in 2015. The gross earnings were driven largely by growth in transaction-based income.
Despite the high inflation in 2016, the bank reduced its operating expenses by three per cent from N29 billion to N26 billion, reflecting a significant step by the bank in maximising derived benefits through the efficient allocation of resources and cost containment initiatives embarked upon by the new management.
The bank attributed the lower bottom-line partly to high impairment charge of N35 billion in 2016, compared with N27 billion charged in December 2015.
The bank grew its deposit liabilities by 14 per cent from N231billion recorded in December 2015 to N264 billion in December 2016, indicating effect of increased customer confidence, renewed customer care and the emerging innovative products rolled out during the year.
Commenting on the result, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Unity Bank, Tomi Somefun said: “The key performance indicators point to increasing resilience in the face of challenging economic headwinds that characterised the operating environment in 2016.
“Despite the harsh operating environment, the bank remains stable having driven strategic choices to inspire greater market confidence and leveraging cost optimisation strategies, presence in the Northern markets which served as a bulwark, just as the deepening of our presence in Lagos /Southwest also balanced its outlook in the Southern markets. The proactive steps and efficiency gains arising from major business decisions produced encouraging results that elicited double digit growth in deposit portfolio of the bank during the year.
“The direction for the bank in the coming years is to diversify the earnings base and target growth in double digit territory by aggressive pursuit of new business opportunities in the retail & Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) businesses, agribusiness, financial inclusion, digital banking, increase portfolio mix and drive more traffic to our channels with strong collaboration from our institutional and financial investors that are poised to add a new phase of business revolution to our growth model.”
To support this strategic objective, the bank is actively in the process of raising significant capital to leverage increased resources to expand its operations and improve existing technology infrastructure.

GREY is reentering Nigeria with immediate effect, having appointed Centrespread, a large independent advertising communications groups, as its affiliate in that market. The Centrespread Group, which operates from offices in Lagos and Abuja, will rebrand as Centrespread GREY.
WPP, the world’s largest global media and communications agency network, made the announcement during the week. It is meant to signal another critical step in GREY’s growth strategy of developing its networks in fast growing and important markets and sectors in the in Africa. The Centrespread Group will focus on developing a strong local GREY presence in Nigeria and is a further move in GREY’s expansion in key African markets.
“The GREY Group ranks among the world’s top advertising and marketing organisations, with an enviable global footprint,” comments Kola Ayanwale, Centrespread CEO.
“GREY’s credentials and achievements are impressive and their unique positioning of ‘Famously Effective’ resonates with the same values that have shaped Centrespread into one of Nigeria’s most-successful integrated marketing communications agencies over the last three decades. The decision to take on the exciting opportunity of reestablishing GREY in Nigeria and across the continent is one that is met with great enthusiasm by both parties, and we look forward to being an integral part of the continued global success of GREY,” he said.
As a full service, through-the-line communications group, Centrespread has been operating since 1982 and employs about 200 staff in its seven business units. Today, Centrespread is made up of all-inclusive integrated marketing communications units which include Centrespread Advertising; DKK, a full service agency offering a range of marketing communications; Interactive Communications, a digital media and online reputation management agency; Pure Activation, a below-the-line agency focused on presence branding and activations; PR Redline, a public relations and reputation management agency; KontactPoint, an out-of-home channel company and Mediamore, a media specialist agency.
“Africa is the continent of opportunity for future-focused clients,” says James R Heekin, chairman and CEO of GREY Group. “We are delighted to partner with Centrespread, a world-class marketing organisation, and look forward to what we’ll accomplish together in Nigeria and beyond in the coming years.”
Nirvik Singh, chairman and CEO of GREY Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, is confident and energised by the new partnership: “The most-important outcome of this exciting partnership is the association with talent and expertise that will reignite our efforts in establishing a dynamic Nigerian presence for GREY and will also allow us to truly focus on serving international clients across the African continent.”

Citizen Omamuzo Utomajiri from Uro-Irri, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State presented his two wives traditionally Sunday March 26th to the joy and admiration of his people. Omamuzo, 39 years old, says he is very happy over the development saying he has derived more joy, happiness and comfort since the day he presented his wives.
He revealed that he is presently a father of six adding that by God’s grace he will have more children because age is on his side and the wives are solidly behind him. He opened up in this interview…Excerpts:


When did you marry your two wives traditionally?
We got married traditionally, Sunday, March 26, 2017 at my village, Uro-Irri.

What are your wives’ names?
Thesenior one is Mrs Janet and the junior one is Osiemu Utomajiri.

Before now how many children do you have?
The senior one has four children while the junior one has two.

Do you hope to have more?
Yes, possibly four more children.

Why did you decide to present them traditionally? I mean what motivated you to formally get married to them this way?
I did it because I just want to know whether they truly love me and to also know if they are happy with themselves.

How was the party? Was there a large turn out?
In fact, when I saw the large turnout of people then I knew the two of them are happy with each other.

Before now, were you living together?
Yes, we have been staying together. The senior one takes care of this place I sell planks while the junior one takes care of where I am selling building materials.

Are they from the same village with you?
No, we are not from the same area. The senior one is from Oweh while the junior one is from Uro-Irri my home town.

You know in Africa, traditionally such women tend to envy each other, so how did they receive your suggestion of getting married to them traditionally?
Truly, I approached the senior one first and she agreed likewise the junior one too. The reason why I married them is to make sure that I am comfortable and I don’t look out again for other women.

Are your parents still alive?
No, Pa. Utomajiri, my elder brother who is like a father to me, consented to the traditional marriage.

Are you the first person to perform this kind of marriage in your place?
For now I am the first person in my village who escorted two wives.

How have you been able to attend to them sexually?
That one no be problem at all. Me I be fire for fire! Truly, NEPA no dey take light for my side. I can meet them twice every night if I want to and the women are ever ready. In fact there is no definite date of meeting any of them. I can visit any of them at any time because they live in the same house with me, though in different flats.

Do you enjoy them?
Why, they enjoy me and I too enjoy them and because of their readiness at all time that is why I decided to marry them. Truly, dem dey satisfy me well well! They make me not to go outside to mess up myself with other women.

How many of your children are in school?
Five of them are in both primary and secondary schools

So how do you cope with their wellbeing?
In this situation there will always be peace if you are not cheating on any of them. You give them their feeding money accurately and when it is due. Even the school fees are no problem at all. Three of them are in secondary school while two are in primary school.

What was the reaction of your friends when you told them about the traditional marriage?
In fact, they were all happy. They called me different names such as, Oza vudu, Opure, Jogodo; Oza mamo etc.

How has it been since last Sunday (March 26) when you presented them traditionally?
I can see that your body and your wives’ skins are shinning; what is the secret? Actually, there is change. You can see that the two women are happy. Remember, there won’t be happiness if you have not paid their bride price but are very happy because I have fulfilled all righteousness.

Which food do you like most?
I love oghwo soup (native soup) and pepper soup, including yam and plantain. This food gives me power to work hard.

Will your community give you a chieftaincy title for achieving this feat?
If I want, they will give me. They call me Otiego noriodo (he who work hard for money will always get it). I also love playing with children, so almost everybody in the community loves me.

What is the source of your happiness?
I derive joy and happiness from the way we are living. We eat from the same pot. There is no discrimination because we love each other and respect each other view. My common advice is that you love both women, always call their attention and tell them what you have in mind. Don’t discriminate between them. There will be problem if you don’t love them equally.

Mother of Canadian-based Nigerian singer, Stephanie Otobo, who accused the pastor of the Omega Fire Ministry, Auchi, Johnson Suleman, popularly called Apostle Suleman, of having amorous relationship with her. In this interview explained why she apologised to Mr. Suleman, the formative years of her daughter, the allegation her daughter had marital introduction with Mr. Suleman, and other issues…Excerpts:


You travelled to Auchi to attend a church service where you also apologised to Apostle Johnson Suleman. What prompted you to do that?
I did that because of my daughter, (and) because I am a mother. The way I am seeing her is not the way I brought her up. And all those her character is not giving me happiness which I want to put an end to. That is why I went to Auchi.

Did anybody threaten to arrest or kill you before you went there?
No, nobody threatened me. It is because I am a mother. When I saw what was going on, the day you people came to the market I said I wanted to go and meet the man of God to apologise so that we can put an end to the matter. Because I know my daughter. I did not bring her up this way and the way she is behaving is not normal. So, I said I want to go and beg the man of God to forgive her so that this matter can die off. Because I cannot continue with this (and) the way I am seeing it, I don’t want anything of such to happen again. Nobody threatened to kill me or prompted me to do so. I went there on my own to apologise to man of God.

I am asking because shortly after that church service, your daughter said on Instagram that you were threatened to go to Auchi.
No, I was not threatened. I am a mother. I cannot continue to see her in that manner. She has been saying all sort of things. We are not happy and that is why I went to apologise. I went there alone; nobody threatened me.

That implies that your daughter lied?
Yes, because what she is saying is not true.

How old is your daughter?
I don’t want to answer that.

Don’t you think your daughter is old enough to take responsibility for her actions?
What I am still saying is that they should pardon her and the matter should just go down like that. They should forgive this matter because they’ve been manipulating her because this is not her real self. She was not behaving like this before. It seems all those lawyers are manipulating her, using her to say all this rubbish and bringing all this things out. So I begged that this matter should die down now because this is not my real daughter. I believe somebody must have been manipulating her. All those lawyers (and) all those her friends are using her. This is not the way I brought her up because I brought many children up. They are not behaving like this. Somebody is brainwashing her, polluting her mind and that is what is making her to do all this things that she is doing now.

You are accusing a lawyer for doing that?
Yes, all those lawyers are using her to get their own names. They should leave my daughter alone. They should leave my daughter out of this matter. I am still talking about all those lawyers, they should leave my daughter alone.

Can you mention names?
I don’t know them but I believe that all those lawyers supporting her are using her. I am begging the government that they should leave my daughter alone. They should release my daughter from what they are doing to her.

Do you know the lawyer they call Festus Keyamo or any lawyer from his chamber?
I don’t know him and any lawyer from his chamber though they call me but I don’t know them.

When the lawyers called you, what were they telling you?
They asked me whether they came to arrest me or they forced me to say all those things when they came to my market. They also asked whether I was tortured. They came and said they want to ask me about my daughter, (but) I told them that I want to go and beg the man of God myself to die down the matter. That is what every mother will do. I don’t want to see my daughter destroyed. That is why I am saying that all those lawyers should leave my daughter and bring her out of this matter.

You said you were going to beg the man of God, what were you afraid of?
Well, we begged the man of God that he should forgive my daughter. You know when you call somebody a man of God, he can go to any length. So I don’t want the man of God to go to any length, to do any evil prayer because when we heard of it that time, this pastors’ association (South-South chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria) praying all their sorts of things. I cannot sit down here watching my daughter like that. That is why I said I want to go to the source to beg that man. Nobody tortured me. I went alone. I entered vehicle from Sapele to Auchi.

So, was it the first time you went to Auchi?
No, I have been to Auchi before.

She (Stephanie) said Apostle Suleman held marriage discussions in the pastor’s office. Is it true?
No, it is not true, nothing like marriage, I did not go there for marriage. No woman goes to collect dowry. That one na abomination.

Did she ever tell you that she was pregnant?
No, she never told me.

Did she ever tell you that she was stooling blood for a year?
No.

So, when you heard about all these things, what was your first reaction as a mother?
I really want to see that they bring my daughter back to me. I wanted her to come back to me that moment. I did not see her and that was why I said I was looking forward to seeing the man of God so that I can beg the man of God to forgive her (and) to cancel all this matter.

Have you made any attempt to reach her so that you discuss with her?
No.

When she was growing up, what kind of child was she?
She is not wayward, that is why what is happening is surprising me. Somebody is behind this matter because she was not like that before. She is a good child. She loved me and I love her. So, along the way, I don’t know what happened; that is why I said they are manipulating her, using something against her and I want every Nigerian to help me to pray, pray for her that God should deliver her.

Do you know what she does in Canada where she lives?
She was going to school before (and) she is a musician.

Does she send you money?
Before she dey send me money sometimes.

What do you do for a living?
I am a business woman.

How many children do you have?
Dem plenty, even the one I born, the one I no born, through herself I brought many of her friends up.

Now if this matter goes to court, are you ready to go to court to testify?
I don’t want to go to court, that is why I said they should cancel the matter.

Do you have any advice for mothers?
Well they should bring up their child in the way of God.

Do you know anybody who is against your child and who is polluting her against the man of God?
I don’t know anybody. Na the lawyer wey make her dey talk all this bad word. The lawyer should leave my daughter alone.

Life can be brutish. Periodically, it forces change on you, ridding you of delusions of grandeur, life makes you abandon established stereotypes and false sense of worth too, it makes you discard illusions. Ask Benny Peters.
Once upon a time, Peters’ name easily popped up on the list of the movers and shakers of the Nigerian oil sector. He commanded affluence and his name caused doors of opportunities to swing wide open. But his reign as one of the princes of the oil and gas business came to a screeching halt when former President Goodluck Jonathan bowed out of office and President Muhammadu Buhari took over.
Since President Buhari became the President of Nigeria, many of the numerous oil barons the Nigerian oil and gas sector once boasted seem to have faded off the socio-economic scene. One of the big boys in the oil and gas sector and boss of Aieto Energy, Benny Peters, has become quite scarce. He seems to have abandoned fame to embrace anonymity.
However, EFCC has declared him wanted. According to the report on EFCC website, “The public is hereby notified that Mr. Benedict Peters, whose photographs appear above, are wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Dark complexioned Peters is wanted in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy, diversion of funds and money laundering. He hails from Abakiliki LGA of Ebonyi state. His last known address is No. 8B Agodogba Avenue, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos”.
However, we learnt Benny is owing GTB and Zenith billions of naira. How the banks would recover their money is a story for another day.

Multimillion dollars debts to banks, gas producers and Korean Electricity Power Company (KEPCO) have constituted a major threat to operations and survival of largest power generation company in Nigeria, Egbin Power Plc. Egbin doubles as biggest single power generating station in Africa with an installed capacity of 1320 megawatts consisting of six units of 220MW each.

Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Dallas Peavey stated that the high debt profile of the company was worsened due to nonsettlement of N100 billion debt, which the Federal Government owes it. “We owe the gas companies and have others like our technical partners (KEPCO) to pay, and importantly our lenders, the banks. “Eventually these unbearable business operating circumstances and conditions would shut us down any moment if it persists. That is the simple but bitter truth,” he said.

He said Nigeria is heading towards another blackout by next week as liquidity, transmission and gas supply issues worsen the company’s operations. Peavey made the disclosure during an interactive session with energy correspondents in Lagos yesterday.

The plant, he added, was also being forced to gradually shut down due to adverse effect of grid instability that endangers its turbines. On the long list of challenges to the company was the inadequate gas supply to generate at optimal capacity, as well as the huge debts owed the company by federal government-owned Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) and Market Operators.

He said: “Egbin power plant is one of the biggest single power generating stations in Africa, with an installed capacity of 1320 MW consisting of six units of 220MW each. “Following the conclusion of the government’s privatisation exercise in November 2013, the consortium formed by the partnership between New Electricity Distribution Company and the Korean Electric Power Corporation (NEDC/KEPCO) acquired Egbin Power Plc.,” he noted.

The Egbin boss said that the effect of the debt has become worse for the company owing to the fact that it is owed N110 billion. “We have made massive investments in making the plant readily available to generate electricity sustainably, but unfortunately, we can’t break even due to the gross inefficiency in the value chain. “The government guarantees to pay us for every megawatt we generate and sell to NBET, but they have not done that.

“We just got paid for the month of December 2016, three months later and we were only paid a paltry 28 per cent out of the total 100 per cent of the verified and accepted invoice for that month. “That is how the outstanding debts kept accumulating for three and half years now.” On transmission, Peavey said the company had reached 1,100MW while the installed capacity is 1,320 MW, adding that the grid could not take the power because of the capability issues within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) system.

“We are constrained and limited to generate about 350MW daily due to both TCN system operations and inadequate gas supply issues. “So, 70 per cent of our output is lost because available power can’t be evacuated. When you get good news from TCN that you can increase your generation, we will be faced with not “enough gas” and when there is gas, you have TCN issues.

So, you have one, you don’t have the other. “Let me be honest, if Egbin fails, it’s going to be dark as Egbin provides close to 30 per cent of Nigeria’s power. So, let the required intervention be completed and urgently too. However, the Egbin turbines are ready to light up Nigeria,” Peavey said.

The Federal Government says it will soon clampdown on Nigerian millionaires and billionaires who evade payment of tax.

Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun decried that several millionaires and billionaires in the country did not often pay tax, describing it as a shame.

Adeosun spoke at the 9th Colloquium to mark the 65th birthday of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress, APC, national leader in Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Tuesday.

According to her, the Federal Government would come up with a new tax regime whereby the big guns in the society would be made to pay tax willy nilly.

She lamented that many Nigerian entrepreneurs had developed the habit of not paying tax, saying that one of the strategies the current administration of President Muhammdu Buhari intended to use in boosting the country’s revenue was through tax mobilization.

“It is a pity that Nigeria has one of the lowest tax regime ratio globally at 6 percent. The only country that is lower than us is Oman. We have so many wealthy entrepreneurs, who have managed to develop habit of not paying tax, we need to correct that,” she stated.

Adeosun recalled that when the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu introduced tax regime in Lagos, he became unpopular, but that today, ‘’when we see the infrastructure, I don’t think anyone will blame him for his action.’’

“I take this opportunity to reach out to the millionaires, billionaires and trillionaires that you will hear from me soon. It is shame that we are one of the largest owners of crude oil, but we cannot enjoy the revenue from it. Oil has proven that it would be an unreliable source of revenue. The price is unstable,’ she added.

The minister explained that the economic challenge facing the country required multiple strings of revenue, assuring that the country would soon be out of the economic recession.

She also disclosed that the Federal Government was already copying the Lagos template to revive the economy.

To make the economy productive, he said the Federal Government recently released N1 trillion for capital expenditure, adding that measures were being taken to bring about multiple streams of revenue.

“The economic template we copied from you (Lagos) is now being implemented for economic recovery of the country and we are not ashamed to say it. The impact of that template is that many of the states are now copying it especially in the area of IGR,” Adeosun said.

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/03/28/tax-evasion-fg-goes-nigerian-billionaires-dont-pay-tax/

Following its sale to new investors, Keystone Bank on Tuesday announced the appointment of Alhaji Umaru H. Modibbo and Mr. Hafiz Bakare as board Chairman and acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer respectively.

The lender also announced the appointments of Mrs. Yvonne Isichei as Executive Director as well as Mrs. Titilayo Tairat Adebiyi and Mr. Bulus Bunken Dan-Habu- as Non-Executive Directors.

A statement from the lender’s Head, Corporate Communications, Omobolanle Osotule, said the new board is a transitional governance arrangement, which follows: “the successful conclusion of the divestment of Keystone Bank Limited by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which culminated in the Completion Meeting of 23 March 2017 and the formal handover of the bank to the Sigma Golf-Riverbank Consortium (the Consortium).”

According to the statement: “The transitional governance arrangement, which will take effect from the 1st of April 2017 is subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria. By the 31st of March 2017, the current board of the bank (including the MD/CEO, Mr. Philip Ikeazor) would have fully disengaged, except for Mr. Bakare and Mrs. Isichei, who will continue as part of the transitional governance board.”

Modibbo started his working career as a Commercial Officer in the then Gongola State Civil Service, and would later join the Gongola State Investment Company Limited where he rose to the rank of Senior Investment Executive.

A 1983 graduate of Business Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Alhaji Modibbo qualified as a Chartered Stockbroker in 1991 and was elected to the Council of The Nigerian Stock Exchange from 1993 to 1996. He is currently a member of the Investors Protection Fund (IPF) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

He founded Sigma Pensions Limited, and served as its Managing Director/Chief Executive from 1st February 2011 to 31st October 2016.

Hafiz Bakare is currently the Executive Director, Corporate Bank & Treasury at Keystone Bank Limited also overseeing the Lagos & West Directorate. Before his appointment to the Board of Keystone Bank in July 2014, he was running a management consulting and capacity development firm he founded with the objective of assisting organisations across different sectors to deliver sustainable value in an increasingly challenging and dynamic environment.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday said nothing has changed its earlier resolve to return President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 general elections despite his recent health challenges.
The national Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said this in a chat with Daily Independent.
He noted that his earlier statement that the party leadership will plead with Buhari to contest the 2019 election irrespective of his health situation has not changed.
Oyegun said if the president accepts to contest “that will be the greatest sacrifice he will be making for the progress, growth and stability of this country and Nigerians will be the ultimate beneficiary of that decision.”
Recall that President Buhari recently returned to the country after over 40 days in the United Kingdom where he was treated for an ailment.
Upon his return, the president during a meeting he had with government officials said he had never been that sick in his life.
He had said, “I couldn’t recall being so sick since I was a young man, including in the military with its ups and downs.”
Odigie-Oyegun, however, added that while he and other patriotic Nigerians will persuade the president to run, “the decision on whether to seek re-election or not is ultimately his.”
He noted that as a retired military officer, President Buhari is not afraid to sacrifice his health for Nigerians, saying that is the orientation he has had all his life even as a military officer.
He said, “The President Buhari I know is not afraid to sacrifice his health for the progress of this country. On my part and other progressive-minded Nigerians who mean well for this country, we will beg him to run again in 2019 because there is still a lot of work to be done.
“Four years, even eight years is not enough to redress the damages that have been done over the years. However, the ultimate decision is his but Nigerians will be the greatest beneficiaries if he accepts the challenge.”

Disc Jockey (DJ) Kingsley Amhas and Nathaniel Iyayi, a Rapper have emerged winners of the grand prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250,000) in the Goldberg Excellency Tour competition for DJs and free style artistes in Benin City, Edo State.
The competition in Edo languages which was organized by Goldberg, also known as “Your Excellency,” was held at the Play, House, Okhoro road, Benin City, from March 24 to 25, 2017. It was part of efforts at promoting the culture of the people of Edo State in line with Goldberg’s 3-point agenda of culture, respect and enjoyment.
The competition which started with audition of five DJs, thirteen rappers and four singers was later streamlined to five, comprising of a DJ and rapper as a team for the finale on March 25, 2017.
The second position with the cash prize of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000) was won by DJ Eze John, nicknamed Viroxz and Markuz Obasehan; while DJ Bright Osaromore and Destiny Okoedo, also known as Black G, claimed the third position and settled for the One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000) on offer for the slot.
The other two teams, DJ Amandin Osahenrunwen (Amando) and Okungbowa Endurance (Spanky B) as well as DJ Egualeona Daniel and Endurance Isaac got Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) each.
Speaking at the finale, the Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Agu, said the Goldberg Excellency Tour is aimed at promoting the rich culture of the people of Edo State through traditional DJ and Free Styling competition. He said the tour which kicked off in Abeokuta, moved to Ilorin, Ikare Akoko and Ado Ekiti before the edition in Benin City, and that the next place on the agenda is Oyo town in Oyo State.
According to Agu, the Goldberg Excellency Tour is coming on the heels of the unveiling of Goldberg lager beer as “Your Excellency” in 2016 and it is in line with the brand’s unique credentials that position it in a class of its own, away from its peers in the market.