naijakonnect.com: 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Oando is Recuiting

The Graduate Trainee Programme is designed to develop tomorrow's leaders today and guarantee a constant stream of highly skilled and professional employees with a good understanding and commitment to the Company's vision and mission.

Subsequent to a highly competitive selection process, short-listed candidates will undergo a structured, broad-based training programme involving formal learning and on the job attachments for 12 months. At the end of the programme, successful candidates will be considered for permanent positions in the company.

Requirements:
Prospective candidates will be professional, passionate, ambitious and able to demonstrate a high level of integrity. They will be team players, who have respect for other team members and must possess the following:

Bachelors or Masters Degree with minimum of Second Class Lower Division (2.2) in any of the following areas/disciplines:

Engineering, Sciences, Social Sciences, Arts, Accounting & Business Studies
NYSC Discharge Certificate
Minimum of 3 ‘B’s AND 2 ‘C’s in WASC, SSCE OR GCE 'O' Level in one sitting, which MUST include Mathematics and English.
Age: Not older than 26 years by the 31st of December 2009.
The programme is open only to graduates who completed their Bachelor's degree studies in the last four years.

How to apply:
If you are interested, kindly go to www.brassconsulting.net/gtp and complete the application form. Also attach a copy each of your:

Bachelor's degree and
WASC/SSCE/GCE Certificates only

NB:
The deadline for submission of all applications is Tuesday, 3rd, November 2009. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted through their email address and/or by SMS to the telephone number provided.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Genesis Food Nigeria: Centre Manager

The Genesis Centre is an ultra modern, mixed – use leisure, shopping and dining complex with a distinctive and unparalleled excellence in family entertainment provision for a full day out.

The Genesis Centre is looking for vibrant individuals to join our team that exemplifies service excellence and sets the pace for others to attempt to follow.

We are now looking for a Center Manager.

We are currently looking for a dynamic, commercially aware, financially astute, business professional with strategic management skills who will drive the profitability of the centre.

You will be expected to develop the commercial and financial areas of the business, while overseeing the smooth and efficient operational management of the centre and it’s tenants.
should also have the ability to spot market trends and opportunities for growth and possess a flair for marketing and guest service.
Effective communications at all levels with tenants, employees, agents and consultants is essential.

Qualifications-
With unlimited drive, energy, creativity and a passion for the industry being the key traits for our ideal candidate, you will have at least 10 years post – NYSC experience and a proven track record within the retail sector in department store management, commercial property, or in the leisure and hospitality sectors.

If you meet our requirements and find the positions interesting, please send in an application attaching your resume including your contact and email addresses not later than two weeks from the date of this publication to: vacancy@genesisfoodsng.com

Genesis Food Nigeria: Finance Manager

The Genesis Centre is an ultra modern, mixed – use leisure, shopping and dining complex with a distinctive and unparalleled excellence in family entertainment provision for a full day out.

The Genesis Centre is looking for vibrant individuals to join our team that exemplifies service excellence and sets the pace for others to attempt to follow.

Genesis Group’s commitment to developing a world class has created a high profile opportunity for a Finance Manager to drive the finance and accounting functions of the centre.

Your brief includes monthly financial control and reporting, review of profit & loss and balance sheet accounts, analysis – highlighting business performance against budgets and forecasts, improvement of international financial reporting processes, review and enhancement of management information quality and timelines.

We required a qualified accountant with at least 5 years post – NYSC experience and strong management accounting experience gained within the retail or hospitality industry.

If you meet our requirements and find the positions interesting, please send in an application attaching your resume including your contact and email addresses not later than two weeks from the date of this publication to: vacancy@genesisfoodsng.com

Meridian Technologies: Trainer / Faculty

Meridian Technologies Ltd is a mega IT Training and Education Company representing Aptech Computer Education in Lagos.

It is an authorized Oracle University partner, a Cisco Networking Academy, Microsoft partner, CompTIA member and has authorized Prometric and Vue Testing Centres.

Meridian Technologies has been a pioneer in delivering training on latest IT technologies and has been training students on the following courses :

1. Sun Java Courses : SCJP, Sun Certified Web/Business Component Developer.
2. SQL Server, ASP.net, C#, Perl, PHP, Apache, MySql

To meet its expansion it requires the following key staff: Trainers

Computer Science Graduates with NYSC discharged certificate, 2 to 3 years experience and having International Certifications in the related technologies need apply.

1. Sun Java Courses: Candidate should hold international certifications in SCJP, SCBCD & SCWCD and should have very good exposure and experience in delivering training on advanced Java technologies. The candidate should have good technical skills on the following modules :

All modules covered in SCJP (Sun Certified Java Programmer)
All modules covered in SCBCD (Sun Certified Business Component Developer)
All modules covered in SCWCD (Sun Certified Web Component Developer)
2. Programming, Database & Open Source Technology Courses: The candidate should be having very good technical skills on all of the following modules: SQL Server, ASP.net, C#, Perl, PHP, Apache, MySql

Candidates with additional certifications in other IT technologies than stated above will be preferred. IT training experience of more than 3 years will be an advantage.

Candidates must be dynamic, technically oriented, possess excellent communication skills and be willing to work on weekends.

After initial screening, short-listed applicants must qualify technical tests before being recruited.

The position offers a challenge of working with major international IT brands and offers a competitive salary package, performance based incentives, continuous training and an exciting long term career.

As the positions are based at Lagos, candidates residing currently in Lagos will be given preference.

Interested candidates should apply with their CV and passport photograph to career@meridian-nigeria.com.
Deadline is 24th October 2009.

FHI: Senior Monitoring / Evaluating Officer

Family Health International (FHI) is dedicated to improving fives, knowledge, and understanding worldwide through a highly diversified program of research, education, and services in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, reproductive health, and infectious diseases.

In collaboration with national governments, local communities and leading research institutions, FHI delivers services and conducts research in reproductive health, and other infectious diseases to improve the lives and well-being of some of the world’s most vulnerable populations

FHI is recruiting for a Senior Monitoring and Evaluating Officer

The Senior Monitoring and Evaluating Officer, under the supervision of the Associate Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, will assist in the design, implementation and supervision of the LAFIYA Management Information System (LAMIS) at national, zonal, and facility levels, and the creation and use of associated analysis products.

Responsibilities-
Ensure that LAMIS meets intended reporting and data output requirements for USG and Government
Provide technical assistance for the development and implementation of a systematic data analysis process of data outputs from the LAMIS, and linking the LAMIS to the DHIS
Coordinate and supervise the deployment of the LAMIS system to new sites as identified by the Director, M&E
Support the Zonal M&E teams in carrying out their local M&E activities
Provide technical assistance to partner M&E units and to the Government M&E counterparts
Coordinate all related research activities and contribute to FHI publications

Requirements-
MPH or similar degree in monitoring and evaluation or a related field (a Bachelors degree will be considered with 5-7 years experience)
At least 3 -5 years experience in M&E in reproductive health or HIV/AIDS programs in developing countries
Experience working on the development and implementation of a patient level health management information system
Sound knowledge of statistics and epidemiology
Experience working with local partners, including local NGOS and CBOS
Knowledge of the local context is essential and familiarity with USAID programs preferred

How to Apply-
Interested applicants should forward their suitability statement (application) and resume (CV) as a single MS Word document to: MandEjobs@ghain.org for Monitoring and Evaluation Department vacancies.
Deadline is 24th October, 2009.

FHI: Monitoring and Evaluating Officer

FHI is now recruiting for a Monitoring and Evaluating Officer

The zonal Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, under the supervision of the zonal Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and Zonal Manager, and with technical oversight from the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, will be responsible for implementing monitoring and evaluation activities for the zonal office.

Requirements:
MBBS/MD and MPH or similar degree with 1–3 years experience in monitoring and evaluation in reproductive health or HIV/AIDS programs in developing countries
Experience working with local partners, including NGOs and CBOs and knowledge of the local context
Familiarity with USAID programs is preferred

How to Apply-
Interested applicants should forward their suitability statement (application) and resume (CV) as a single MS Word document to: MandEjobs@ghain.org for Monitoring and Evaluation Department vacancies.

Deadline is 24th October, 2009.

FHI: Community Health Specialist

FHI Nigeria: Community Health Officer

FHI: Senior Inventory & Assets Officer

Thursday, October 15, 2009

CBN rolls out list of five troubled banks’ debtors

A LONG list of bank debtors – over 600 names in all – was rolled out last night by the Central Bank.

On the roll of multi-billion debts are frontline businessmen, corporate giants and manufacturers as well as notable politicians. They are directors of the debtor companies.

The apex bank, in a statement issued by its spokesman Mohammed Abdullahi, noted that the list is for the un-performing loans of N100million and above in Bank PHB, Wema Bank, Spring Bank, Unity Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) as at June 30.

The list is published in an advertorial inside this paper today.

The CBN had on October 2, 2009 fired the Chief Executive Officers of Equitorial Trust Bank, Spring Bank, and Bank PHB. It ordered Unity Bank Plc to recapitalise before June 30, next year. WEMA Bank was also directed to recapitalise.

The statement reads: " In furtherance of the efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to assist the banks affected by the outcome of the recent CBN/NDIC Special Examination, we publish herewith the list of non-performing loans of N100m and above for Bank PHB, Spring Bank, Unity Bank, Wema Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank as at June 30, 2009."

The list cuts across the various sectors of the economy – oil and gas, import and export, construction and many others.

There are states and local governments. A minister is listed.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Tony Anenih is listed alongside Osahon Asemota as directors of Mettle Energy and Gas. The company is owing SpringBank N2.6billion.

Industrialist Kola Daisi is listed as director of National Lottery.

Labour Minister Prince Adetokunbo Kayode is said to be owing Bank PHB N122million. But the minister said last night: I’m not owing the bank. I have taken them to court in the last seven months before the reforms in the banking.

"It was a loan to buy shares. I was persuaded. They offered N80million to buy shares. I paid 20% of the loan. Ever since I have not seen a share certificate not to talk of dividend. They are owing me because my money is still with them."

Igbinedion University, which belongs to the Esama of Benin, Sir Gabriel Igbinedion, is on the list. He is listed as a director.

Former President Atiku Abubakar is also listed in one of the directors of a debtor-company. So are the Vaswani brothers, who have been deported for alleged unwholesome business practices.

There are also former Wema Bank boss Adebisi Omoyeni, politician Fasawe and Kola Abiola, son of the late Chief Moshood Abiola.

Former presidential aspirant Prof. Pat Utomi is listed.

On the list are companies belonging to many prominent businessmen, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Otunba Mike Adenuga Jnr, Femi Otedola and Emeka Offor.

According to the CBN, Dangote Industry Ltd that is jointly owned by Aliko Dangote, Sani Dangote and Bello Dangote owe Equitorial Trust Bank N1,968,998,820.81.

Conoil Plc, of which Adenuga is a director, owes ETB N19,866,448,948.32 as at June 30.

Otedola’s firm, Zenon Petroleum Gas Ltd, owes Bank PHB N5,660,099,295.54 as at June 30.

Offor’s company, NIMEK Investment Ltd, owes Bank PHB N678,349.40 as at October 5.

Mr. Cletus Ibeto of Ibeto Petrolchemical Industry is owing Spring Bank N1.1 billion. Ibeto Cement is owing N1.7billion.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri, will today relocate to Lagos for debts recovery.

A source said last night: "Mrs Waziri might storm Lagos with over 100 operatives.

"The list was handed over to the EFCC chairman on Wednesday evening by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

"On the basis of the list, the EFCC chairman has mobilised her operatives to shift base to begin the recovery of these debts. About 100 operatives might be involved.

"So, our team is moving to Lagos on Thursday. We hope the debtors will cooperate and pay up."

BANK PHB

•Ankara Overseas
10,948,141,375.19
•Cogipar Nig Ltd 3,573,092,889.77
•Delta Steel Ltd 4,078,178,535.66
•Falcon Securities Ltd 16,718,149,032.05
•Futureview Securities 3,606,149,329.46
•Gitto construzioni 4,187,899,087.96
•Springboard Trust 3,583,121,315.91
•Westcom Tech 8,116,050,052.49
•Zenon Petroleum 5,154,041,716.86

WEMA BANK

•Akwiwulease Acct-Elf 1,803,142,057.19
•Dekit Const. Limited 1,096,760,175.25
•Fernandes Patricks
5,521,161,627.00
•Frontage Com. Ltd. 1,003,549,473.22
•Global Fleet Acct 1,981,885,496.35
•Global Fleet Loans Acct 1,264,918,929.48
•Independent Sec. Ltd. 1,430,416,967.55
•Indept Securities Ltd 20,586,679,793.00
•Joseann Global Res.
3,636,250,623.81

SPRING BANK

•Netlink Digital 4,821,168,438.27
•Mofas Shipping line
3,053,633,054.57
•Baywood Continental 2,743,349,386.22
•Watyem-dks Ent. Ltd 2,556,930,297.06
•National Sports Lottery 2,369,131,266.17
•Mettle Energy & Gas
2,065,661,421.09
•National Sports Lottery 1,752,069,645.19
•Nsl Lotteries Mgt Ltd 1,479,913,736.58
•Victoria Con. Int. Ltd. 1,589,076,946.68

UNITY BANK

•Alpha Property & Dev 1,818,468,256.89

•Kola Abiola 1,405,198,221.31

•Waziri B. Mustapha 1,108,642,692.45

•Albarka Air Service 1,066,240,164.19

•Mbogason Int’l 943,327,039.24

•Sage Int. Nig. Ltd 1,055,028,853.94

•Acct-Gen. Plateau 865,695,994.50

•Okefena Limited 804,535,075.19

•LG Joint Acct (Bauchi) 676,232,072.60

ETB

•Conoil plc 19,866,448,943.32

•BYSJ project account 5,972,498,005.67

•Dangote Ind Ltd 1,968,998,820.81

•Globe Motors Holdings 3,031,530,569.82

•Hotel Excel Limited 1,244,241,246.48

•Bauchi State Govt 224,331,897.09

•Formosa Bottling Co. 1,027,057,797.66

•Michelle Nig. Ltd 1,021,487,383.38

•Igbinedion University

841,987,562.18

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

ASUU-Fed Govt dispute‘ll be over in two weeks, says Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said all outstanding issues in the industrial dispute between the Federal Government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will be resolved within the next two weeks.

Oshiomhole, who brokered a truce in the industrial face-off, said: "The future of Nigeria was at stake. Everyday lost in academic is a day lost forever."

He hoped that education will be strengthened.

Speaking when the newly-elected Executive and members of the Edo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited him, Oshiomhole noted that the nation’s future depended on credible elections.

He urged reporters to be factual and objective during elections.

Oshiomhole regretted that journalists were in the forefront in the fight for a better society but no one fights for their welfare.

Earlier, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Adewumi Faniran, said the crisis in the chapel has been resolved.

He praised Oshiomhole for brokering the truce in the Federal Government-ASUU face–off.

Also yesterday, The University of Calabar branch of ASUU urged students not to hurry back to school following the two-week suspension of the union’s nationwide strike.

It advised students to remain at home and monitor developments on the suspension of the strike, to ensure that "they do not rush to school only to move out again if the strike has to resume’’.

The branch Chairman, Dr. Chike Ekeopara, said in Calabar that the advice became necessary, because the ongoing negotiations were not conclusive yet.

"It is true we are back at work, but I won’t advise the students to come back now, because government may disappoint and we will resume the strike.

"The wise thing for them to do now is to remain at home and monitor what happens during and after the two weeks,’’ he said.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Uncertainty as students, lecturers returns to campuses

Activities pick up at UI, UNILAG

Virtually all public universities were yet to come back to life yesterday despite last Friday’s suspension of lecturers’ strike.

The classrooms remained empty, even with the presence of some members of staff and students.

From University of Lagos (UNILAG) to University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State to University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), Ogun State to University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), there were no academic activities.

At UI, economic and social activities, however, picked up, with the return of workers and students.

Students, who returned to school in anticipation of resumption of academic activities, were disappointed. They could not gain access to lecture rooms.

When our correspondent visited UI, most offices were opened but the classrooms were shut, forcing lecturers to their offices.

The institution’s branch of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), however, said universities could witness uninterrupted academic calendars henceforth, if government commits itself to the new agreement with the labour unions.

UI SSANU Chairman Mr. Jonathan Omolona thanked the public for supporting the workers, stressing that they enjoyed enough sympathy from Nigerians throughout the struggle.

His words: "Let me express my appreciation to them because they stood by us; they prayed for us and they were agitating on our behalf. So, we appreciate them. We are not praying this struggle will repeat itself. The strike will not raise its ugly head on the university campuses. At least, for the next five years, we might have a smooth calendar and that will go a long way to help the country.

"Some of our leaders that are sending their children to Ghana and other neighbouring countries would now know that we have a stable calendar so they will ask their children to stay at home. Then, they too will feel concerned for whatever we are agitating for without going on strike."

Academic activities were yet to be in full swing at OAU. Returning students were also not allowed to stay in the hostels because there was no light.

Some final year law students were, however, seen receiving lectures.

The Chairman of the UNN chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Aselem Ibeanu, said in Nsukka that lectures could not start immediately because the students had not returned to campus.

"We are ready to start lectures but are we going to teach empty classes?

"It is unfortunate that students who have been pressurising us to call off the strike are yet to come back," he said.

Ibeanu said the strike would be fully called off as soon as the government and ASUU signed the necessary documents.

"ASUU has resolved its misunderstanding with the government, what remains is the signing of documents,’’ he said.

Kelvin Okoh, a student of the department of Physics, said some students were not in a hurry to return to school because ASUU said the suspension was for two weeks.

"We do not know if after two weeks, ASUU will continue with the strike.

"No student will like to come back to campus after two weeks and be asked to go home again.

"Government and ASUU should make it clear to the students that the strike has been called off without putting two weeks clause on it," he said.

There were partial academic activities at UNILAG where students of Chemical Engineering were taught.

Many of the students were excited to return to school.

An official at UNILAG’s Information Unit, Mr. Wale Olasunmade, said students resumed yesterday.

"We have resumed. Our students are back and lecturers are working," he said.

But some students of UNIABUJA were denied entry into the campus.

The securitymen only allowed 400 level and 500 level students into the institution after screening.

The securitymen turned back students of 100, 200 and 300 level students. The security officer, in charge of the mini-campus of the university, said the screening was to control the flow of students.

The official, who pleaded anonymity, said the 400 and 500 level students were allowed into the campus to enable them complete their project work and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) arrangements.

"The crowd will be difficult for us to control if we allow all the students in, considering the fact that academic activities have not started.

"Other trade unions in the university are still on strike; the libraries, business centres as well as other offices are still under lock and key.

"So, our resolution to screen them is to give room for law and order in the institution since academic activities have not started," he said.

Some students called for sincerity in the negotiations between the ASUU and the Federal Government.

Mr. Boni Okoh, a 400 level Economics student, said it would be difficult for students to return to school since ASUU was suspending the strike for only two weeks.

"I am very sure that most students will not come back because of fear of what step ASUU will take at the expiration of the two weeks.

"It will be painful to pack your load and come back to school and after two weeks you are back home again because of the same problem," Okoh said.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Arshavin desperate to stop Hiddink from Chelsea

Arsenal star Andrey Arshavin doesn't want to see Russia coach Guus Hiddink return to Chelsea.

The Arsenal midfielder has launched a campaign to keep Hiddink with Russia for the next few years.

Russia’s captain has two motives. He doesn’t want London rivals Chelsea to be a stronger force in the next few years, as he’s sure Hiddink’s return to Stamford Bridge would benefit the Blues.

Arshavin said: "I want Guus to stay, all the players are begging him to stay. In fact, the whole of Russia is desperate for him to continue working here.

"His charisma and understanding of us, has given Russian players a big boost. I hope he will be convinced it is better to sign a new contract with us."

48 lawyers for SAN interview

Forty-eight lawyers are being considered for the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title.

The public has been given till Friday to comment on the integrity and competence of the lawyers.

A statement yesterday by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary, Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), Usman Musale, listed the shortlisted candidates as: Rotimi Jacob, Orji Nwafor Orizu, Dorothy Udeme Ufot, Chuwkuma Ekomaru, Joe Ojo Abrahams, Patrick Ocheja Okolo and Olusina Sofola, Mike Ozhekhome, Offiong Bassey Offiong, Akinlaja Moses, A.J. Owonikoko, Adekunle Ogunba, Oluwemimo Ogunde, Fredson Chijoke Okoli, C.O. Toyin Pinheiro, and O.O. Ojutalayo, among others.

The interview date is yet to be announced.

No fewer than 126 lawyers, 19 from the academics and 117 advocates applied for SAN last year.

After the screening and the interview, 61 advocates and three academics were found to have met the criteria for the award. Twenty-six were eventually appointed.

The appointment raised the number of SAN to 300

SAN is conferred on legal practitioners of not less than 10 years’ standing and who have distinguished themselves in their work.

It is the equivalent of the Queen’s Counsel in the United Kingdom, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Canada (except Ontario and Quebec).

Several countries use similar designations such as Senior counsel, state counsel, senior advocate and president’s advocate.

A SAN is said to have been admitted to the "Inner Bar", as distinguished from the "Outer", where junior lawyers sit in court.

The LPPC, the conferring authority, comprises the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), as Chairman, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, a Justice of the Supreme Court who is chosen by the CJN and the Attorney-General (for a term of two years, renewable once).

Others include the President of the Court of Appeal, five states’ Chief Judges (chosen by the CJN and the Attorney-General for a term of two years, renewable once), the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and five legal practitioners who are SAN (chosen by the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General for a term of two years, renewable once).

The title was first conferred on the late Chief F.R.A. Williams and Dr Nabo Graham-Douglas on April 3, 1975.

CBN may cancel Bank PHB-Spring Bank deal

IF the authorities embrace the advice of the Minister of State for Finance, Mr Remi Babalola, Bank PHB may wave a final bye to its troublesome acquisition of Spring Bank.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is believed to be thinking of nullifying the 2008 deal.

The basis for the nullification is the report submitted by Babalola, following President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s directive. The President was said to have received many petitions from aggrieved shareholders of Spring Bank on the takeover, which many have defined as "hostile".

There were earlier indications in Istanbul, Turkey last week that the CBN was thinking of nullifying the takeover when CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi maintained that some of the aggrieved shareholders would be accommodated in the new scheme of things at Spring Bank.

But Sanusi did not say anything about the Babalola report, which a Presidency source described as indicting.

Sanusi said that from a practical view, "what will seem to be a most reasonable thing to do is seen in what manner some accommodation can be reached with the aggrieved shareholders and in what manner their interest can be taken into consideration in any kind of arrangement that Spring Bank gets into in the future. This is the only way I see this happening; otherwise, it’s going to be very difficult," he said.

Among the six reasons given by the report for condemning the acquisition is failure to execute post-merger adjustment, which is fundamental to the determination of the ownership structure of Spring Bank Plc, before any other interests or purported sale of shares in the bank.

The Babalola report also alluded to the joint CBN/NDIC Investigation Team, which it said should have been implemented on the position of the shares purportedly acquired under an explicit breach of banking practices by some of the then directors of Legacy Guardian Express Bank.

The Minister’s report examined the recommendations and directives made by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice on August 25, last year, but which the CBN ignored.

Babalola, a senior banking executive before joining the government in 2007, stated that the conduct of the interim management board of Spring Bank headed by Suleiman Ndanusa was not in good faith, professionally and impartially and that the CBN acted without due regard for the law in the conduct of its statutory responsibilities, despite the recommendations of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

It indicted the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for what it termed as tampering with the subject matter of the substantive suits before the courts and contravening the principle of lis pendis.

Babalola drew the President’s attention particularly to two suits: Abdul Wahab Muhammed & three others Vs Bank PHB plc, Spring Bank plc, CBN and SEC and Lord Chief Udensi Ifegwu and Emmanuel Okorie Vs Bank PHB plc & six others. These two suits, the report maintained, render any administrative decision subjudice at that stage and until their conclusion (or withdrawal), it will be difficult to resolve the various issues at stake.

SEC, according to the report, acted beyond its scope of responsibilities in the approval of the sale of shares of Springbank plc to Bank PHB Plc and Westcom Technologies. It urged the President to ensure that the directives of August 25, last year, made by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice are fully implemented.

It also recommended that the Ministries of Finance and Justice should convene a meeting of the CBN, SEC, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the principal parties involved in the PMA exercise to resolve all the outstanding issues within three months from the date of the meeting.

Besides, said the report, the CBN should invoke its powers under Sections 33, 36, 37, 38 and 39 of Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) should the PMA not be concluded within the said three months.

Incidentally, CBN then under Prof Chukwuma Soludo ignored the recommendations, the source disclosed - a situation which angered Yar’Adua, who then reportedly refused former Bank PHB MD Francis Atuche’s entreaties in the weeks leading to his sack by Sanusi. The Yar’Adua family owns substantial interest in Bank PHB.

Ribadu, el-Rufai threaten to sue govt over passports

The last may not have been heard about the Federal Government’s purported refusal not to renew the passports of former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nasir el-Rufai and pioneer Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chair Nuhu Ribadu.

It is likely they go to court to challenge the government’s decision.

Their lawyer Femi Falana claimed yesterday that his clients’ rights were breached by the directive.

According to him, the directive violates section 38 (1) of the Constitution, Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article three of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Community Citizens ratified by Nigeria.

He said the decision taken when Ribadu and el-Rufai’s citizenship was not in question, was reminiscent of the days of military rule in the country, adding that even the military "never went this far."

In the statement entitled: "Illegal directive on renewal of passports of Messrs Nuhu Ribadu and Nasiru el-Rufai," Falana said under section 38 (1) of the Constitution, every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to possess a passport to enable him/her exit the country at will.

Falana described the government’s action as "a primitive display of executive lawlessness", urging it to "reverse the illegal and unconstitutional directive without any further delay."

"The decision is a tragic reminder of the dark days of brutal military dictatorship when the confiscation of the passports of political opponents, human rights’ activists and pro-democracy campaigners was the order of the day. Even then, none of the military dictators ever directed Nigerian missions not to renew the passports of their opponents.

He cited the case of Director, State Security Service (SSS) versus Olisa Agbakoba (1999) 6 NWLR (PT 595) 314 where the Supreme Court held: "It is not in dispute that the Constitution gives to the Nigerian citizen the right to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof. It also guarantees to the citizen the right not to be expelled from Nigeria nor be refused entry thereto or exit therefrom.

" Section 38(1) of the Constitution which provides that every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom.

"It is matter of common knowledge that for a Nigerian to travel out of Nigeria to another country he must first hold or possess a valid passport issued by the government of Nigeria. See: Section 4(1) of the Immigration Act, Cap 171 LFN 1990 and the definition of the word ‘passport’ in Section 51 thereof. Without this document, he cannot leave Nigeria or be admitted to another country.

"It follows therefore, that without a passport a citizen of Nigeria cannot exercise the right guaranteed him by the Constitution, of egress from Nigeria. Can it, then, be said that the right to hold a passport is not one guaranteed by the Constitution? That is a question that calls for determination in this appeal."

Falana said he subscribed to the apex court’s position that possession of a passport makes exit out of the country possible, adding that "it follows that without it a citizen of Nigeria cannot enjoy the right of egress from Nigeria given him by section 38(1) of the Constitution.

"In my respectful view, therefore, to hold or possess a passport is anciliary to the right of egress from Nigeria given in Section 38(1). It is, as rightly held by the Court below, per Ayoola JCA (as he then was), concomitant to the right of egress from Nigeria. It is a concomitant right without which the right of egress from Nigeria becomes hollow or empty.

"In the light of the foregoing, the decision of the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Administration to strip Messrs Ribadu and el-Rufai of Nigerian citizenship by denying them of their constitutional right to hold Nigerian passports is a dubious violation of the provision of Section 38 of the Constitution and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

"Having regard to the fact that President Yar’Adua is the current Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, the denying of passports and their renewal is a clear violation of Article 3 of the ECOWAS Protocol on Community Citizens which has been ratified by Nigeria."

Opposition threatens Iwu, Ogbulafor over Soludo

THERE were signs yesterday that the adoption of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Chukwuma Soludo as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Anambra may run into a big crisis.

Party members, particularly fellow contestants, are kicking.

The protests have spread to other parties, with the umbrella Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) threatening to sue.

It threatened to sue Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair Prof. Murice Iwu and PDP National Chairman PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor.

Reason: The CNPP claims they have violated the 6pm deadline of October 9 (last Friday) to submit the name of the Anambra 2010 gubernatorial candidate.

CNPP, in a statement, objected to the "late" submission, adding that it is too early in the Anambra race for Iwu to start bending the rules in favour of PDP. It described the INEC chief as "an axe-man".

"We will contest this to the highest court in the land," the opposition parties said.

To the CNPP, Soludo had "wittingly or unwittingly" violated the PDP constitution as a beneficiary of an illegitimate mandate; hence PDP and their surrogates like Prof. Maurice Iwu, pose great threat of denying the good people of Anambra State the opportunity to elect a governor of their choice, under a free and fair election template.

CNPP said it recalled how "Mr. Fix" it; Chief Tony Anenih and other big- wigs of PDP hosted Soludo at a social function, the retention of Maurice Iwu and flagrant disobedience of court orders by Iwu on the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) issue without sanction from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa.

CNPP said it sensed a plot to manipulate next year’s Anambra State governorship election and indeed the 2011 general elections, with the recent moves by PDP members.

The statement, signed by CNPP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, read: "Pundits and lots of Nigerian democrats had predicted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra State gubernatorial primary that took off penultimate week will show case free, fair and transparent election, hence internal democracy, that opportunity was lost; for it is trite law that you cannot give what you do not have nor build nothing out of nothing.

"To us democracy is a journey, not a destination. The violation and disobedience of INEC’s 6pm deadline of October 9, 2009 and lack of internal democracy from the so-called largest political party (PDP) in Africa calls for great concern, as robust practice of internal democracy and obedience to INEC rules are essential ingredients to electoral rule of law and procedure for free, fair and transparent elections.

"The failure to manage successfully a party primary holding in only one state and submit candidate’s name on time has paradoxically gazetted why PDP is growing as the largest political party in Africa; while the country it has ruled for nearly 10 years is dangerously sliding into a failed state.

"CNPP has for the umpteenth time maintained that PDP’s chronic phobia for election is synonymous with their inordinate ambition to transform Nigeria into one-party state and rule for 60 years; otherwise how can one explain the repeat of the 2003 and 2007 sham elections prototype fraud, violence and plethora of petitions, in a primary conducted by a regime which preaches electoral reform.

"The sordid outcome and failure of PDP to conduct free, fair and transparent gubernatorial primary, in spite of the deployment of soldiers, serving governors, ministers and the Speaker is that Professor C.C Soludo, emerged the candidate of PDP without the genuine votes of members of the PDP but that of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and fixers.

"PDP’s chronic phobia for election, even in this instance, is painful not only because it signposts 2011 election looming anarchy, but the main objective of intra-party primary to enhance and restore the inalienable rights of party members to choose the candidate of their choice and purify the electoral process, has been violently atrophied by party bosses, fixers and their machine.

"CNPP thus contends that the fundamental principle of democracy is substantially flawed in Anambra State PDP gubernatorial primary, for the PDP constitution was violated and INEC’s 6pm deadline violently disobeyed. Thus, to save Nigerian democracy and stop the manipulation of the 2010 Anambra State election; CNPP calls on the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgent national importance, fast track genuine electoral reform, in accordance with the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee Report."

But defending its choice of Soludo, PDP said it relied on the provisions of its constitution.

PDP spokesman Prof. Ahmed Alkali said: "With the pressure of time mounting on the party, the National Working Committee (NWC) invoked the provisions of Article 17.1 of the PDP constitution, which recognizes the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC), exercisable by NWC, as the final authority for resolving all disputes relating to the choice of candidates for the party for any elective public office in the federation."

15,000 security police Eagles

Close to 15,000 security operatives kept vigil at the Abuja National Stadium before, during and after the match sensing that there will be reprisal attack on the players and coaches.

Every section of the stadium was cordoned off by plain clothes and uniformed police men all fully armed who were seen in their twos and threes walking around the premises.

Each of the nine exit gates had a retinue of officials as many as 15 all around the stand with pick-up vans ready to pick up anyone who misbehaves.

At the entrance of each gate, even though the traffic was not much as many as three plain clothes prior to the match took their turns to identify and search vehicles and those inside before allowing them in.

It must be stated here that after Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Tunisia Abuja fans pelted missiles at the players and the bus that was conveying back to their Nicon Hilton hotel the security network was beefed up to avoid a reoccurrence.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Strike: Oshiomhole is a traitor - Varsity worker - As ASUU calls off strike for 2 weeks

THE 111-day-old strike declared by unions in the nation’s tertiary institutions, which has now been called off for two weeks by one of the unions —Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) — took a new twist on Thursday when former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was disowned by three of the four unions involved in the strike.

Oshiomhole had been invited by the Federal Government to broker peace between it and the unions but the officials of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) said, in Minna, Niger State that the step taken by the Edo State governor was at variance with his comradeship position.

SSANU, NASU and NAAT members of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, embarked on a peaceful demonstration on Thursday where they said they no longer recognised the Edo State governor as a comrade.
The union leaders, Saidu Ndagi and Ibrahim Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of others, blamed Oshiomhole for the alleged twist in the crisis in the universities and described him as a ‘sell out’.
They also described as ‘untrue’, the claim that ASUU was in the forefront of the three-month old strike, adding that “we all went on strike and it is very unfortunate that Oshiomhole and the Federal Government opted to talk to only ASUU.”
Scores of members of the unions involved in the peaceful demonstration carried placards, some of which read “no going back on this strike,” “what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,” “we say no to salary disparity in the university.”

The gates leading to the university were blocked by the protesting union members while those that had business to transact could not gain entry into the institution.
NASU, SSANU and NAAT officials said they would ensure that the universities were made not to function until the Federal Government listened to and addressed their demands.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been urged to ensure that it signed, without any further delay, the terms of agreement it recently reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in order to facilitate a genuine and final resolution of the crisis bedevilling the education sector.
The call was contained in a statement by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU, NASU and NAAT of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD).

The agreements, according to the statement signed by the chairmen of the three unions at a JAC meeting held at the UNAD premises, bordered on university funding and genuine autonomy, improved condition of service and 65 years retirement age as earlier agreed with the Federal Government.
In a statement entitled “University strike-UNAD aligned with the National Joint Action Committee (JAC) decision “and signed by Messers Olaitan Akinwumi (SSANU), Julius Asaolu (NAAT) and Joseph Adegbola (NASU) and made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, the committee noted that the unions at all levels in UNAD had withdrawn all the concession services earlier granted.
“This action is premised on the action of the Federal Government that excluded the three unions from the resumed re-negotiation with ASUU as this runs contrary to the advice of the Committee of the Vice Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors.
“Consequent upon this, the JAC (UNAD Branch) (consisting of all cadres of non-academic workers in the university community), who had been providing skeletal services since the commencement of the three-month old strike, resolved to put a halt to their services with immediate effect,” the statement read.

It urged its members not to succumb to any form of intimidation or threat from any quarter while obeying the directive of the three unions, admonishing them to ignore what it called sponsored propaganda which might make them derail.

In another development, ASUU will today in Owerri Imo State, suspend for two weeks the about four months industrial action embarked upon by the union over the failure of the Federal Government to sign an agreement it entered into with the union.
ASUU President, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, who confirmed the development to the Nigerian Tribune, said the decision to open the doors of the universities to academic activities for only two weeks was to let the Federal Government hasten the release of the modalities for the return of peace to the nation’s university system.
He disclosed that the two weeks were enough to arrive at any meaningful negotiations aimed at ending the impasse.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

TechnoGlass Nigeria: Head, Admin & Legal

Technoglass Industries, a world class company in the business of manufacturing high quality safety glass and glazing and in the forefront of promoting Architectural, Automative and domestic products through strategic alliances.

The company is seeking aggressive, dynamic and result oriented professionals to occupy the following position:

HEAD OF ADMINISTRATION/LEGAL

Qualification & Skills:

B.Sc or HND in secretarial studies, social sciences, or law
Minimum of 5 years experience in similar position; membership of CIPM is an advantage
Must be computer literate
Very good communication skills
Good initiative analytical skills
Maximum age of 35 years
Method of Application

Interested candidates can apply by sending their detailed CV to jobglass@technoglassng.com

Deadline is 13th October 2009

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Audit Report: CBN ready to sack three bank chiefs

arring a last-minute change of mind, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will release the second leg of its Audit Report of banks today.

Three banks may be in trouble for insider abuse and huge portfolio of non-performing loans, it was learnt last night. Their managing directors may be asked to step aside.

The 14 banks awaiting the CBN Audit Report are: Zenith, Bank PHB, First City Monument Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Spring Bank, Access Bank, Wema Bank, Equatorial Trust Bank, Skye Bank, Ecobank, IBTC, Fidelity Bank and Citi Bank.

Of the three banks, two have recently mergd. The third has links with a telecommunications giant, according to sources.

CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and his management team finalised recommendations on the last segment of the Audit Report on Thursday after a 24-hour marathon meeting in Abuja.

A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: "The CBN management has been meeting in the last 24 hours on the recommendations on the observations of the Audit Team on the 14 banks.

"There are strong indications that the report might be released on Friday because the anxiety over it has been hampering banking activities in the country in the last few months.

"I also think that three banks might be affected following their unjustifiable huge portfolio of non-performing loans and insider abuse.

"There is likelihood that the managing directors of the three banks might be asked to step aside."

Responding to a question, the source said: "The banks would have been more but the CBN had to weigh a lot of factors and indices."

The source confirmed that the CBN might change its method of releasing the report.

He added: "I think this time around, the CBN may adopt a different approach to the release of the report. For instance, the apex bank has been engaging the boards of some of the banks on how to apply the recommendations without any shock.

"When our examiners completed their assignment in the 14 banks, they had exit meeting with their management on their observations.

"So, all the affected banks have fair insight into the findings of the examiners."

The highly-placed source in the apex bank added: "The report is going to be much better than the previous one. It is likely to be a corrective report.

"For instance, if a bank needs to recapitalise, the CBN will say so without necessarily wielding the big stick of taking over such a bank."

No CBN official was prepared to speak on the release of the report today.

A source, who confided in our correspondent, said: "Very, very soon, we will release the report. We are still meeting on the findings; it is too early to give you any date. There is no cause for alarm.

"I think the CBN may issue a statement, instead of an elaborate press briefing. The names of the debtors might also not be made public as the case with the first report."

It was, however, learnt that the release of the report followed the submission of brief on the Audit Report on the 14 banks to President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Sanusi on Tuesday briefed President Umaru Yar’Adua on the findings of the apex bank.

The President is believed to have been consulting his Economic Team on the findings of the management CBN.

The briefing at the Villa followed the exit interaction between the CBN Examiners and the management of the banks on the observations of the audit team.

Some sources in The Presidency confirmed the briefing.

A source, who pleaded not to be named because of what he described as the sensitivity of the matter, said: "Sanusi has briefed the President on the latest audit report on banks. The President is still studying the findings of the CBN.

"I think the President has been meeting with members of his Economic Management Team on the findings and their implications for the economy.

"A few think-tank in government too have also been put into confidence in analysing the findings of the CBN.

"I cannot say when the President will get back to the CBN on his views on the report. But the nation should be hopeful that the report might be made public soon."

Asked whether the report has been tabled before the Federal Executive Council, the source added: "All I know is that issues in the report are already being appreciated by the Presidency, including cabinet members."

The CBN leadership has been discussing the report with the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri.

They are said to be thinking of debt recovery ‘without any jolt’ on the economy.

A source said: "You know that Sanusi and Mrs. Waziri met recently in Saudi Arabia on the latest findings. There might a change of tactics in the release of the report this time around.

"Even the Presidency is aware of the new modalities for the release of the latest audit report."

There has been anxiety among the 14 banks over their fate.

A source said: "Some of these banks have been eager to know the contents of the full report but the CBN has been reassuring them that they have no cause to worry at all.

"In fact, as at Wednesday evening, the CBN management was still meeting on the findings and taking time to allay fears."

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

AC rejects mega party initiative

Action Congress (AC) leaders yesterday dissociated themselves from the mega party initiative, saying the idea is restricted to politicians battling with fading influence.

They also reflected on preparations for the 2011 elections.

The party leaders hinged the survival of democracy on peaceful conduct of the election.

They added that a successful poll may not be possible unless there is democratic reform.

AC National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina, former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo, AC governorship candidate in Osun State, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Tajudeen Bello said danger looms in 2011 if the electoral reform process is jettisoned by the Federal Government.

They spoke at a one-day conference of the Ogun State chapter of the party held at the Bishop Court Hall, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

Governor Babatude Fashola of Lagos State evoked passion at the meeting when he canvassed the restoration of welfarist system of government to the South-West states

The conference entitled: "Olumo2009" was attended by delegates from the 236 wards in the Gateway State and leaders of the party from other states of the federation.

Akande described the conference as a meeting of the national stimulators who were set to build and defend AC, instead of joining the mega party.

Thanking the chapter for its dedication, he assured that their labours would not be in vain.

Adebayo said attendance at the conference instilled confidence that the future of AC in Ogun State is bright.

Osoba said former governors, who were elected under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), had not been guests of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since they left office.

He stressed the need to re-adopt the modified open-secret ballot system.

The system, Osoba said, would stem rigging.

The former governor noted that when Nigeria and Ghana used the method, riggers were left in the cold.

Aregbesola, who spoke on party organisation, suggested that AC should build cadres dedicated to mass mobilisation of party faithful for electoral success.

At the conference were Bisi Adegbuyi, Femi Lanlehin, Lateef Raji, Abiodun Mafe, Daniel Adejobi, Segun Adesegun, Ayo Afolabi, Bimbo Awofeso, Pa Sunmola, Dipo Dina, Kayode Tejuoso, Kayode Soyinka, Pa Farinu, Rafiu Ogunleye, Segun Taiwo and Mudashiru Hussein

Abbe warns militants not to test govt’s might

The Federal Government yesterday closed all possibilities of extending the grace period granted militants in the Niger Delta to embrace peace.

It said by October 4 when the amnesty ends, there will be no extension.

This was the decision at a meeting between President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the Presidential committee on Niger Delta amnesty.

Also at the meeting were Vice President, Goodluck Joanthan, Governors Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa, Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Adam Oshiomhole of Edo, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom, Deputy Governor of Rivers Tele Ikuru, the Inspector-General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo, presidential aide on Niger Delta Timi Alaibe, Ministers of Niger Delta Ministry Ufot Ekaette and Godsday Orubebe, amongst others.

After the meeting, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Niger Delta amnesty, Major Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), told reporters that there cannot be talks with the militants while they are carrying weapons.

He warned the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) against testing the might of the government, noting that the government is prepared to express the sovereignty of Nigeria in all its ramifications.

Gen Abbe also said that the government was resolute in its plan to execute the amnesty to the letter.

He said: "As you notice, Mr. President and the vice president, the governors of Niger Delta Region, Ministers of Niger Delta Ministry, myself and other senior government officials have been deliberating in the last couple of hours and reviewing the amnesty programme and after looking at the various aspects of the programme, we have now come out with the conclusion that all the militants who have embraced the amnesty deserve commendation as patriots of this country, and to believe that between now and 4th of October, if there are other militants who are still in doubt as to the sincerity of government to make use of this opportunity by embracing the amnesty because after 4th of October the amnesty terminates; there will be no extension. Government is firm, is resolute and government will continue with subsequent aspects of the rehabilitation and reintegration of all those who have embraced amnesty."

On whether the government will consider MEND’s condition that they will only listen to their choice envoy, Gen Abe said that the government does not recognise the group as the spokesperson for the militants.

He warned that if they chose to test the might of the Federal Government, the government would defend the sovereignty of Nigeria in all its ramifications.

His words: "MEND is not recognised by the Federal Government as the spokesperson for the militants that are, if they exist at all physically. MEND can not choose for the Nigeria nation, if MEND decides to test the will of government and choose to threaten the very existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the government is prepared to express the sovereignty of Nigeria in all its ramifications."

He also said that MEND’s demand for the full implementation of the presidential committee on Niger Delta report is an expression of democratic right; adding: "The amnesty was granted unconditionally and they are expected to accept it unconditionally. What is important is that they cannot be discussing with government while they are carrying weapons. It is illegal and they have no right to bear arms."

On what to expect after 4th October, Gen. Abbe said: "Government is going to pay attention to all the militants who have embraced amnesty. They are going to be put together in various camps that have been designated and in these camps they will be categorised and personal contacts will be established with each of them after thorough documentation and their choice of training and settlement will also be identified."

He added: "Government is willing to train them and to join them in any rehabilitation effort that will bring about their going into life as normal citizens without resorting to militancy."

Ogedegbe dies after complications from eye surgery

Former Nigeria goalkeeper Best Ogedegbe tragically passed away on Monday night after being in a coma for a week following an eye operation at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

"It is very sad but Ogedegbe is no longer with us. I visited him yesterday [Monday], but his wife informed me of his death this morning," a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Taiwo Ogunjobi, confirmed to Goal.com.

A family member had earlier this week disclosed that Ogedegbe was moved to the intensive unit of the hospital, where he was kept alive with the aid of a life support machine.

"He was in a coma since last Monday, when he underwent corrective eye surgery," said a family member.

Ogedegbe was one of the heroes as Nigeria won their first ever Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1980. He was preferred by Brazilian coach Otoo Gloria to man goal for Nigeria ahead of the popular Emmanuel Okalla.

Four years earlier, he featured for the Shooting Stars, who became the first Nigerian club to win the African Cup Winners' Cup.

He has worked as a coach with the country's youth team and only recently signed a deal to train Premier League club Sharks of Port Harcourt.

The devil is called Obasanjo

When men are caught in wrongdoing, or are overwhelmed with troubles, they often lay the blame at the door of the devil. Poor chap. And so it is that former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, woke up with a start to discover that at the root of all his legal troubles has been none other than that old vengeance-seeker, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Verdicts are still some way off in the many cases against Ibori, but I hazard that if in the end the courts find against him, he may yet come up with something novel like ‘Obasanjo made me do it.’ Why not? After all he has blamed him for virtually every other thing.

I am not sure what the man expected when he called that press conference to inveigh against the former president and ex-EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu.

If he thought we would all whip out our handkerchiefs and start weeping in collective sympathy over his sudden troubles, then he was badly advised.

He would have been better served to keep his head below the parapet, given that the indefatigable Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, was already doing a good job battling Ribadu and the British on his behalf.

The trouble with press conferences is that your utterances cause those you accuse to activate their right to reply. I believe that Ribadu has done that to devastating effect. I am not sure how to interpret Obasanjo’s dismissive silence. Could that be read as contempt for his accuser? May be.

The former Delta State governor wants Nigerians to believe that his present prosecution is politically motivated because of his initial opposition to Obasanjo’s second term bid. If we accept Ibori’s recollection of events there were 15 likeminded governors, so how come he’s the only one being persecuted?

Much has been made of the fact that Obasanjo has the memory of an elephant, is unforgiving and vindictive. Still the man is no longer in office and has little or no say in who gets persecuted or prosecuted. Depending on who you talk to, it is even said that ties between Ota and Aso Rock could use some defrosting.

If anything it is the likes of Ibori who are the current influence peddlers in the court of President Umaru Yar’Adua. Political lore has it that he and a few others provided the financial magic carpet that swept the current incumbent into office.

For his troubles Ibori was rewarded with the installation of his loyalist and former Delta Finance commissioner, David Edevbie, as the President’s gate keeper in his position as Principal Secretary to the President.

This whole business of Ibori blaming Obasanjo for his woes gets more laughable by the minute. In the eight years in which both men were in power, they always found ways to use each other when it was convenient. Obasanjo deployed Ibori as one of his foot soldiers to force Yar’Adua down the throat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and ultimately the rest of Nigeria.

Ijaw leader and former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark, has also in response to the press conference, claimed that the former governor and president worked together to install the current Delta State governor – who just happens to be Ibori’s cousin. At that point Ibori also claimed to be at daggers drawn with Obasanjo!

Just as unconvincing is the motivation that Ibori imputes to Ribadu. If the former anti-graft czar turned political refugee is gunning for him it certainly cannot be over this nonsense about not being appointed Inspector-General of Police.

Any one truly determined to get into such high office in Nigeria would not put all his lobbying efforts into just one basket. So if Ribadu really wanted to be top cop, he would also have had some other people making the case for him, as well as a couple of others who would have declined to do so. Again, how come poor James Ibori is the only being picked on?

The truth is that from the onset officials of this administration charged with prosecuting former governors have been less than enthusiastic about doing the job. Their body language and utterances said it all.

Rather than carry on from where the Obasanjo regime stopped, their overriding priority appeared to be decapitating the pesky leadership then in control of the EFCC, and exposing its supposed shortcomings rather than going after corruption targets.

The only thing keeping Ibori’s prosecution alive is public interest. Secondly, some of the cases are outside Nigerian jurisdiction - otherwise our great defenders of the rule of law in the Ministry of Justice would have pulled the plug long ago.

I think that going forward the former governor would himself greatly by staying away from press conferences, until all the awkward questions swirling around his head are answered.

For years he has battled claims that he was either an ex-convict or corrupt. In one instance he was discharged by an Abuja court. Ribadu claims that while in office as EFCC boss he had established two such cases against Ibori. Unfortunately, he did not give further details.

Aside the cases in court, there is the other matter of 820 million units of shares of Oceanic Bank International Plc belonging to the Delta State Government, being used to secure a loan facility in favour of a private firm – Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited – with Intercontinental Bank Plc. This was done in January 2007 while Ibori was still in office.

Mr. Ibori must understand that he’s in a bit of jam here. He has questions to answer and needs to come up with a better performance than what he delivered at the press conference. Unfortunately for him the court of public opinion is irrelevant in his current travails. Only the court of law can determine now whether he winds up in jail; and they work with facts not sentiments.

Amputee tells Ekiti Tribunal how thumb-printed ballot papers sparked violence

An Action Congress (AC) witness, Mr. Segun Ajayi, has attributed the violence at the collation centre in Ido/Osi Local Government Area during the April 25 governorship rerun election in Ekiti State to an attempt by Governor Segun Oni’s aides to smuggle sacks of thumb-printed ballot papers into the centre.

Ajayi, who had his leg amputated from the upper thigh as a resulted of the injury he sustained from gunshot wounds he got from those he referred to as PDP thugs and security men attached to Oni’s aides, presented his medical report on the severed leg admitted by the Election Petitions Tribunal at yesterday’s proceedings.

The tribunal rejected the witness statement on oath of another witness, who was subpoenaed to appear before the tribunal, Mr. Peter Oladosu, on the grounds that his witness statement on oath was filed ahead of the subpoena on him.

Ajayi, who brought the severed leg to the court on Monday, averred in his witness statement on oath that he his leg was shattered by bullets allegedly fired by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs and armed policemen in the violence that erupted at the collation centre in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

He could not be cross-examined at the Monday’s proceedings following the foul odour oozing out of his severed leg.

The AC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is aggrieved with the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is challenging Oni’s return as the winner of the election.

Ajayi, in his witness statement on oath, which was adopted before the tribunal, said violence erupted at the centre when Oni’s aides allegedly attempted to force their way into the collation centre in Ido-Ekiti with what he called "rigged results and phony ballot papers" in Ghana-Must-Go sacks.

The witness admitted that the election was held peacefully at Oke Are polling unit 2, Ido-Ekiti, where he acted as agent for the AC, following which he escorted the result to the Ido/Osi Local Government Area collation centre.

The amputee identified suspected Oni’s aides, who allegedly stormed the collation centre in a commando-like manner to include his Personal Assistant (PA), Mr. Bunmi Ojo, the Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Mr. Olusoji Akinbayo and the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr. Philip Ojelade.

The witness claimed in his statement on oath that the governor’s aides stormed the collation centre in two vehicles and allegedly shot indiscriminately into the air.

But, he said the crowd that massed at the centre resisted the aides from gaining access into the main building where the collation was going on.

His words: "I know that collation began and everything was going on smoothly without hitch until about 5:00 p.m. when two vehicles containing Ghana-Must-Go bags arrived at the INEC office.

"Trouble erupted because the GMG bags contained thumb-printed ballot papers which the PDP members wanted to forcefully take inside the INEC office.

"The Police fired tear gas canisters and everywhere became rowdy and I suddenly felt that bullet entered my leg from the direction of the vehicle and I became unconscious.

"I was later taken to the hospital where my shattered leg was eventually amputated and now I am bed-ridden and in pain."

Ajayi, the Petitioner Witness 42 (PW 42), who was led in evidence by the Fayemi’s counsel, Chief Anthony Adeniyi, sought to tender the medical report on his severed leg but the move was opposed by counsel to the respondents.

The witness intended to tender the document in support of his averment in Paragraph 5 of his witness statement on oath that he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Ado-Ekiti, where his shattered leg was amputated.

The medical report, which was the original copy, was signed by Dr. P.O. Abiola.

Opposing the tendering of the report, Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), who objected on the grounds that the document was not in Ajayi’s witness statement on oath in line with Paragraph 4 (3) of the Tribunal Practice Direction.

Adenipekun’s second ground of objection was that the witness was not the maker of the document, adding that no foundation was laid for its tendering.

He said the document could only be relevant if the doctor who issued it is summoned to tender it.

Counsel to the PDP, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, aligned with Adenipekun’s submissions, adding: "It is trite in law that evidence dealing with an issue not pleaded is a non-issue".

Mr. Roland Otaru (SAN), counsel to INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said it is the medical doctor who issued the report was supposed to be called.

Counsel to Returning Officers of Ido/Osi and Ijero, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Police’s and Inspector-General’s Milton Ohwovoriole (SAN) adopted the submissions of Adenipekun, Adewale and Otaru.

Replying, Adeniyi noted that the issues raised by the respondents’ counsel had been raised in similar situations before the court but were overturned by the tribunal, adding that the decisions of the tribunal had not been appealed against.

Urging the tribunal to consign all the arguments of the respondents’ counsel to the trash can, Adeniyi said the report being sought to be tendered passed the tests of relevance, admissibility and pleadings as demanded by the Practice Direction.

He said the content of the medical report was relevant to the petition at hand, stressing that it was not only pleaded but was also listed as Item Number 18 of Fayemi’s petition.

In a short ruling, Tribunal Chairman Justice Hamma Barka admitted the medical report subject to the weight attached to it.

Ajayi, who was later cross-examined after the report was admitted, said his father was a soldier but he had not handled a gun before.

He denied struggling with the armed mobile policemen at the collation centre, adding that he had never been arraigned in court for any offence.

Oladosu, the PW 43, who told the tribunal that he lives at F5, Iletin Steet in Orin-Ekiti,Ido/Osi Local Government Area and that he works as a driver and farmer.

An attempt to adopt his witness’ statement on oath was opposed by lawyers to all the respondents.

They said it violates the provisions of Section 11 B of the Practice Direction.

Counsel to the respondents faulted the proposed adoption of Oladosu’s witness statement on oath on the grounds that it was dated September 24 while the subpoena issued by the tribunal had September 27.

They argued that it is a subpoena that gives rise to the witness statement on oath and not the other way round.

Another long session of arguments ensued among lawyers who cited a plethora of authorities to substantiate their submissions.

The row was sparked by Adeniyi’s oral application to have Oladosu stepped down from the witness box, a request which was opposed by respondents’ lawyers.

They insisted that the witness be cross-examined.

The tribunal, however, adjourned ruling on whether Oladosu’s cross-examination should continue or that he stepped down from the witness box.

Also yesterday, some PDP members and mobile policemen harassed a photographer working for The Nation newspapers, Toyin Anisulowo and a reporter with Adaba 88.9 FM, Akure, Jide Ogunluyi, at the court premises.

Anisulowo, who left the courtroom to ease himself outside, was harassed by some PDP members who were not happy with his shots on the happenings at the tribunal.

They warned him against coming to the tribunal or he would be attacked.

Anisulowo had to leave the court premises through the second gate.

He was stopped by some mobile policemen who demanded his identity card.

One of the mobile policemen seized his identity card, saying: "The Nation’s photo journalist. Na you we dey find".

Anisulowo was briefly detained by the policemen.

Ogunluyi, who went to find out what was happening to Anisulowo, was also harassed by the policemen.

Anisulowo fingered one of his family members, who is a member of the PDP as the one who revealed his identity to his fellow party faithful.

Ogunluyi also alleged that some PDP members threatened him over the reports of the tribunal proceedings being aired on his radio station. He is the Head of News and Current Affairs.

The news of the reporters’ harassment soon filtered into the courtroom, a development which prompted reporters in the court to rush to the scene.

A senior police officer, who later stormed the scene, warned his men to be civil with journalists who are doing their jobs.

Anisulowo and Ogunluyi were released after the officer’s intervention.

Anisulowo’s identity card was returned to him.

Oshiomhole briefs Yar’Adua on talks with ASUU chiefs

University teachers and the Federal Government resumed talks yesterday, raising hopes of a resolution of their disagreement.

The talks dragged on late into the night, with Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole as mediator.

Oshiomhole, who persuaded the teachers to return to the negotiation table, briefed President Umaru Yar’Adua on his efforts, before the parties went into another round of talks at the National Universities Commission (NUC) secretariat at about 8.15p.m.

Oshiomhole had met with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) leadership at the Labour House, Abuja. He later met with Education Minister Dr Sam Egwu, the leader of the government’s team, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode and ASUU president Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie.

Oshiomhole told reporters that the meeting was to seek ways of ending the over three months strike in public universities.

Oshiomhole said: "This meeting was convened so that we can revisit the dispute between the government and ASUU and the aim is to find a common ground to proceed so that the dispute can be resolved and the university system restored."

The government pulled out of the talks in July, asking the teachers to suspend their strike before the parley could continue.

But the lecturers refused, saying they would only return to the classrooms after their demands have been met.

The National Assembly leadership will join Oshiomhole in resolving the strike.

Senate spokesman Ayogu Eze lamented that the strike was capable of crippling the education system.

He said the intervention would be multi-faceted, adding that the Senate leadership would join the committee on education to dialogue with the university teachers.

A meeting convened by the Senate Committee on Education on July 21, to resolve the disagreement suffered a setback as the committee chairman, Senator Joy Emodi, could not find a common ground with the teachers.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Govt, ASUU resume talks today, SSANU plans prayers

THE intervention of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in the industrial disagreement between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) seems to be yielding fruits as both feuding parties have agreed to meet today to explore areas of mutual understanding towards ending the four-month old strike action.

The Guardian learnt that the parley, scheduled for the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja at 4.00 p.m. today, will be preceded by a parley between ASUU and Oshiomhole at the Labour House, headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), at 11.00 a.m.

The meeting, it was further gathered, was meant to smoothen the grounds for the meeting with government officials later today.

Though the detail of those to attend the meeting was sketchy as at yesterday, The Guardian learnt that the President of the Congress, Abdulwaheed Omar, the General Secretary, John Odah, will be leading the ASUU President and his group to the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has instructed its members to observe a three-day fasting and prayers for the early resolution of the imbroglio.

Addressing journalists in Abuja at the end of its emergency meeting, SSANU Deputy President, Malam Bala Gadanga Sokoto, said the association decided to seek God's intervention since the Federal Government has refused to listen to the advice of prominent Nigerians, including the pro-chancellors, traditional and religious leaders.

He said: "This emergency National Executive Council (NEC) has therefore ordered its members to fast and pray between the 5th and the 7th, three days, for God's intervention since government will not listen to the intervention of the Committee of Vice Chancellors, will not listen to that of the Pro-Chancellors and will not listen to that of Chancellors who are custodians of our culture. The important thing is that three very strategic committees, the Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC), the Pro-Chancellors and finally the Chancellors who also double as the conscience and the custodian of our culture have intervened and government is not interested. We want to resolve this issue so that our students can return to school and give peace to their parents and guardians."

Though he welcomed the latest truce spearheaded by Oshiomhole, Sokoto stated that the effort might be futile if government comes to the meeting with a fixation of an already pre-determined position.

"His involvement is a welcome development. Not just because he is our leader, he is not a former leader, he is still our leader, but because anything that will be an equitable resolution to this issue must be encouraged, welcomed and supported because we believe that the issues at stake are simple and that any sincere arbitrator would be able to see that the issues can be resolved in a matter of days. But this matter cannot be resolved within the concept of a fixated position by the Federal Government but I am confident that our leader must have taken those into consideration before accepting this onerous task," he said.

Oshiomhole's intervention is the latest in the series of efforts by stakeholders to intervene in the ASUU/FG crisis.

The Senate Committee on Education, headed by Mrs. Joy Emordi, had tried unsuccessfully to persuade the teachers to go back to the classroom. The meeting between the committee and the ASUU leadership ended abruptly over a disagreement on how to resolve the crisis.

Besides, an attempt by the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, to resolve the crisis was rejected when the teachers were asked to suspend their strike. In August, after all attempts to resolve the issue failed, the Federal Government issued a warning that it would invoke the no-work-no-pay rule if the teachers failed to return to work.

And in a swift response, the ASUU leadership called the government's bluff, insisting that the strike would go on for as long as it takes their demands to be met.

In fact, ASUU's President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, accused the government of playing politics with the university system because, according to him, children of most government officials are not in Nigerian universities but in institutions abroad.

Education Minister, Sam Egwu, shot back, insisting that children of ASUU members were also in foreign universities.

Indeed, there have been several accusations and counter- accusations since the strike started. While the government gave the impression that the teachers were on strike because of salaries, the union insisted that the collective issues affecting the university system informed their latest action.

In an open letter by ASUU to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua recently, the university teachers blamed the Federal Government negotiating team headed by Gamaniel Onosode for the current deadlock.

According to the teachers, despite the assurances they received that the team had the full mandate of its principal to discuss, resolve and sign an agreement with them, the same team turned around when it was required to sign the agreement after months of painstaking negotiation.

"When the negotiation ended in 2008, two years after it started," ASUU claimed in the letter, "in spite of his admission that he had the mandate to negotiate and sign an agreement with ASUU, your agent, Deacon Onosode, leading the government team, refused to sign the agreement reached by both sides, claiming that he was acting on the instruction of his principal."

What was particularly worrisome, the teachers further argued, was that "contrary to the principle of collective bargaining on July 10, 2009, Onosode announced that the negotiations were to be concluded by individual university councils."

The union then queried: "Is it permissible in a game for the player to change the rules after the game is over and ask the other player to accept the changed rules whether they are legitimate or not?"

The teachers further noted that the government eroded the collective bargaining rule "when the Education Minister announced a 40 per cent take-it-or-leave-it award to ASUU," since "it did not come from the negotiation table." Besides, ASUU reminded the President that when the late Gen. Sani Abacha took a similar step in 1996, by referring ASUU to governing councils, "it (the step) was abandoned when it became clear that it had worsened the crisis."

They continued: "What is at stake is really that ASUU members are citizens, not slaves. ASUU insists on truth and honour in dealing with citizens. We said it that negotiation could end in one week. Those who prefer to leave the university system in crisis instead of promoting industrial democracy, truth and honour are the ones who have refused to sign and have decided to abrogate agreements validly negotiated."

EFCC seeks psychiatric tests for public officers

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chair Mrs Farida Waziri reignited on old debate yesterday, with her call for psychiatric tests for would-be leaders and public officers. This, to her, is a way out of corruption in public office.

She advocated psychiatric tests because, in her view, some aspiring leaders "are mentally and psychologically unsuitable for office with the way they amass public wealth".

Mrs Waziri was delivering the keynote address at a workshop in Kaduna on transparency and accountability in the public service.

She said: "Having dealt with many corruption cases, I am inclined to suggest that public officers should be subjected to some form of psychiatric evaluation to determine their suitability for public office.

"The extent of aggrandisement and gluttonous accumulation of wealth that I have observed suggests to me that some people are mentally and psychologically unsuitable for public office. We have observed people amassing public wealth to a point suggesting ‘madness’ or some form of obsessive-compulsive psychiatric disorder."

In her address entitled: Transparency and accountability in public service: the role of anti-corruption agencies, Mrs. Waziri said the culture of accountability could only be entrenched in the public service if the proper legislation is in place.

"As you may all know the struggle has been on to get the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill passed into law. Closely related to this is the bid to have a whistle blower act passed into law. Let me emphasise that the future of the anti-corruption war may depend on what happens to these efforts.

"If we truly expect a public service that is accountable to the people of Nigeria, then the Freedom of Information Bill must be passed. If you deny the public the right to know, the anti- corruption war is lost, "she said.

Calling for collaboration among the various anti-graft agencies, Mrs Waziri said: "When these agencies work together, they are potentially capable of creating an environment which could make corruption a very hazardous affair for a public officer."

She urged Nigerians to be involved in the war against corruption, adding that it is only through their active involvement that the nation could be saved from the menace.

Mrs Farida said: "When I launched the anti-corruption revolution (ANCHOR), skeptics thought it was just another jamboree. But I think the crisis rocking the banking sector has justified our efforts. Were it not for the swift intervention of the Central Bank and the EFCC, we were surely leading for a crash that would have rubbished our financial system along with your money; your pensions. You cannot afford to be neutral in this war; make it your war."

She urged organisers of the workshop, especially the Kaduna State Government, to create an anti-corruption watchdog in the state public service that could work closely with the EFCC on information and intelligence gathering, budget tracking and project implementation, grassroots anti-corruption mobilisation, anti-corruption education and awareness as well as whistle blower activity, among others.

It was also an opportunity for Mrs Waziri to defend the EFCC’s integrity.

Lamenting that many states in the country were not doing enough in the fight against corruption, Mrs Waziri noted that Nigerians were in the habit of condemning the commission.

She said it was sad that when the commission takes a step to fight corruption, it is opposed and antagonised.

Mrs Waziri said: "When I arrest your friends, you criticise me and call me all sorts of names; you say I have lost track and I’m not doing my job the way it should be done, but when I arrest your enemy you now say I am doing a great job. It mustn’t be so

"Good governance is not necessarily attained because good road or a hospital has been attained or fertiliser has been provided to farmers, because even dictatorial regimes where the rule of law is completely absent provide these, but the question to be asked is: was due process followed in awarding the contracts?

"Has any public officer directly or indirectly benefited? The state of Nigeria today is a fact that most of our public servants are still lacking in transparency and accountability. The private sector does not fare better too

"Menace of corruption is still a large challenge to our developmental efforts as a country. Everybody seems so concerned about corruption but you wonder why it is still happening.

"It is everybody’s fight and not just that of the EFCC. Regrettably, corruption is still seen largely as a Federal Government responsibility."

She noted that it is sad that after 49 years as an independent nation, Nigeria is still where it was because of corruption, adding that it was regrettable that everybody is a victim of the menace.

Mrs Waziri is sure that the passage of the FOI Bill by the National Assembly would help check corrupt practices and curtail rumours of corruption where it did not exist in the country.

"In order for information to be readily available, I am one of the advocates of the Freedom of Information Bill because once the information is not free, citizens tend to speculate and carry very dangerous rumours. All we need to do is to pass the bill and put in place checks and balances so that these laws are not abused," she said.

Mrs Waziri disclosed that EFCC has recovered over N103billion from bank debtors across the country.

According to her, the commission has made giant strides in the recovery of loans within the short span of her tenure.

She said most of the recovered loans were the ones considered insolvent by the banks.

The loans, she said, were granted in complete disregard of banking procedures and questioned the rationale for the granting of a N15billion loan without collateral.

"Most of the recovered loans were collected without the intention of paying back at all.

"Imagine that somebody will collect such large sums without collateral and instead of paying back, they buy houses abroad and open offshore accounts," she said.

Mrs Waziri challenged those criticising her for pursuing bad loans instead of executing her mandate to define the boundaries of her job for her.

She wondered what could be an economic crime if the refusal to pay bank loans was not.

She called on Nigerians to support the fight against corruption, saying: "We stand to benefit from the gains of a corrupt free society."

Mrs Waziri lamented that the evils of corruption were responsible for joblessness, poverty and diseases.

She was, however, optimistic that the efforts of the present administration are paying off as Nigeria has leapt from its 147th position by international rating to 121.

The feat, she said, was accomplished by the strict adherence to transparency and accountability embedded in the concept of the rule of law.

The chairman of the occasion, former Chief Justice of the Federation Muhammadu Uwais, called on the media to expose all cases of corruption without regard to whose ox is gored.

Uwais bemoaned the dangers of corruption, saying it brought the society backward and caused the economy to remain stagnant.

The workshop attracted dignitaries within and outside the state. Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris and Deputy Governor Patrick Yakowa were among those in attendance.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Oyedepo lifts the old at 55th birthday

The Bishop of the Living Faith Church World Wide (a.k.a Winners Chapel), Rev. David Oyedepo, at the weekend lifted the spirits of the poor as part of activities marking his 55th birthday.

Some of his senior pastors were at Regina Mundi Catholic Church’s Old People’s Home, Mushin, Lagos, where they presented some gifts on Rev. Oyedepo’s behalf.

The leader of the team and an Associate Pastor, Mr. John Izebere, said the move was to show Bishop Oyedepo’s love for the aged.

He said the gifts were to nourish them physically and spiritually, adding that the cleric is concerned about them.

The items presented to the Home included seven bags of rice, seven kegs of groundnut oil, five packs of hot balm, two cartons of beverages and five packs of toilet soap.

The delegation also visited the Lagos State government, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Old People’s Home, Sabo, Yaba, where similar gifts were presented to the Social Welfare Officers in charge of the Home, Mrs Sadiat Sabiu and Mr. Ola Omisile.

Another member of the team, Pastor Paul Maijeh, described the occasion as an extension of God’s love in Rev. Oyedepo’s life.