By Gboyega  Akinsanmi

A human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana yesterday disclosed that the renewed crisis in the Niger Delta was the height of intelligence failure, insisting that the security agencies should be blamed.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the failure of the security agencies to keep proper records was the reason for conflict eruption and escalation in the different parts of the country.

He made the remark yesterday at a public forum organised by the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) at the Memorable Gathering Event Centre, Alausa to mark the 2016 International Archives Day.

The forum also featured the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Nation Newspapers, Mr. Sam Omatseye, Commissioner for Police in the state, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, a renowned archivist from the University of Ibadan, Dr. Abiola Abioye and LASRAD Director-General, Mr. Biodun Onayele among others.

Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde,  emphasised the strategic importance of keeping records in fighting and tracking crime and insecurity.

He said the illicit trade in historical artifacts “has gained prominence globally. Even though international convention has made this practice cumbersome, we have recorded some success in this regard. Some artifacts stolen from various communities in Nigeria are been gradually returned.”

The governor, therefore, explained that since the creation of LASRAB, efforts had been made “to gain access to valuable records that have been magnanimous handed over to the state government for safe keeping and conservation for all.”

Relating the importance of records to fighting crime and insecurity, Falana blamed the growing cases of social unrest in the Niger Delta to the failure of the security agencies to keep records.

 He said: “We are people without a record. There is no country that can fight corruption and insecurity without adequate information. What is going in the Niger Delta now is the height of intelligence failure.

“After the crisis in the region and the emergence of the militants and the crisis that led to the amnesty programme, we would have expected the country to keep records, as was the case in those days.

 “For instance in those days, when a prisoner is released, where he goes to, he will be monitored. But when unleash warlords, who have been asked to drop their guns and weapons to the society.

“But no one monitored them. At the time they were holding meetings to launch a more ferocious attack on the nation, no one was worried about them”.

The security operatives were concerned about other minor issues.

“It is pathetic that our security officials are more interested in reckless abuse of human rights rather than gathering information and intelligence that can fight and track crimes in the country.”

In Nigeria, the human rights lawyer explained that it was not always easy “to get copy of any judgment. There is no court in Nigeria that can give you a copy of judgment of 15 years ago; even if you give the country one billion naira.”

He cited the case Lagos High Court, which according to him, had an archive, though getting a document from the archive “will require one paying specially. They will tell you that you should give them three months.

“After time elapse, they will tell you that they cannot find the document. With this act, vital records are lost. The only apparatus that had standout in the last couple of years was the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They have helped in fighting corruption in the country.

The senior advocate explained why the EFCC succeeded as an anti-graft commission, noting that the commission “has a National Financial Intelligence Unit. They monitor the movement of money across Nigeria. The EFCC did this through the effort of technology. That is record keeping.

“But the police arrest first and from the statement they get from him, is what they use in their investigation. All the state ministries of justice have not done what EFCC had done in the last six months. The EFCC has been able to secure 140 convictions,” he explained.

 Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Communications has rejected the reduction of the fine slammed on MTN Nigeria, insisting that the full fine of N1.04 trillion must be paid by the telecommunications firm.

It also ordered all parties involved in the matter to stay action pending the outcome of its investigations.

The Committee, led by Hon. Saheed Akinade Fijabi (Oyo APC) summoned the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu and Danbata to appear before it next Monday, to explain the reduction of the fine, despite the insistence of the House that the fine must be fully paid.

Briefing newsmen yesterday, Fijabi expressed surprise at news of the reduction, adding that it is reneges on an agreement with the Minister, and the NCC and the Attorney General of the Federation, that all negotiations should be suspended until the House concludes its investigations.

led by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, had to also fly into Nigeria to continue negotiation on the matter.

This was after the NCC handed over the matter to the Presidency, at a time the NCC had no governing board to take decision on the matter.

The huge fine of N1.04 trillion, no doubt, caused panic within the management of MTN, which led to the resignation of three top executive officers. The first was the former Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group, Mr. Sifiso Dabengwa who was relieved of his job, but made to resign honourably.

He was immediately replaced by an Acting Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko.

Few weeks after his resignation, the former Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ikpoki, and the former Head, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck also resigned from their positions

Both had tendered their resignation letters at the heat of the challenge, occasioned by the N1.04 trillion, which drastically affected the shares of MTN in South Africa.

Since the fine was announced in October 26, MTN stock in South Africa had declined by about 25 per cent, according to Bloomberg report, and the decline continued for some months, having created panic among shareholders.

THISDAY gathered that MTN Group was unhappy with the way the fine issue was handled in Nigeria, blaming it on the structure of MTN management, where CEOs from various regions report directly to Dabendwa, a structure that Dabengwa instituted immediately he was appointed Group CEO of MTN.

The structure was a deviation from the initial structure, where Country specific CEOs report to a regional head, who will in turn report the CEO. The new structure instituted by Dabengwa, made it difficult to address issues fast, since every CEO reports directly to the Group CEO, who takes some time before responding to their queries.

It was gathered that Ikpoki had reported to Dabengwa on the MTN Nigeria fine, but that Dabengwa did not treat the matter as urgent as it should, a situation that made the issue to degenerate.

Ikpoki and Goodluck, who were the most senior management staff of NCC before their forced resignation, were said to have handled the issue with kids glove and allowed MTN to violate such sensitive fine.

Although the NCC said it acted according to the law by imposing N1.04 trillion on MTN, the telecoms regulator, however said it never envisaged that MTN would breach the law on SIM card deactivation to the extent of keeping up to 5.2 million unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards on its network, knowing fully well that each defaulting SIM card, attracts N200,000.

NCC had in October 2015, fined MTN the sum of N1.04 trillion for its refusal to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards on its network.

NCC had fixed a penalty of N200,000 for a single infraction on SIM card deactivation and it was discovered that MTN had 5.2 million infractions, which was the number of invalid SIM cards that were not deactivated on the MTN network, which amounted to N1.04 trillion.  After several negotiations and pleas from MTN, the NCC later reduced the fine by 25 per cent, to N780 billion, but MTN was not satisfied with the reduction and decided to seek redress in law court in December 2015, challenging the powers of NCC to impose such a whooping sum on a single operator.

In February 2016, MTN withdrew the case from court on the advice of the federal government, as a condition for a renewed negotiation, which MTN kept asking for.

To appease the federal government, MTN paid N50 billion to government, immediately it withdrew the case and continued in the negotiation for a peaceful resolution of the matter.

 Why is Jimmy Idiagbon, a Kwara State-born businessman and House of Representatives aspirant under attacks lately?  This is the question agitating the minds of his fans, since the media, particularly the social media, began to beam its search light on his life and business.

His critics have not spared him their vitriolic attacks because he is said to be exaggerating his relationship with the former Chief of Staff, the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon, whom he calls his father. He is also said to be reaping bountifully from some dignitaries, especially in government quarters, since he has allegedly perfected the art of name-dropping.

However, it appears the fans and loyalists of the handsome politicians are ready to stand in his defence against what they described as character assassination.

 According to them, it is not only a calculated attempt by his traducers to rubbish his integrity and popularity, but also cause disaffection among the Idiagbon Clan in Ilorin.

His fans described him as a quite man, who has been minding his business since he arrived from Malta in 1999. They also attribute his success to hard work and grace of God.

• PMS not yet deregulated     Inflation projected to hit 14.7% in May

By Ejiofor Alike and Obinna Chima

Following the recent adjustment of the price of petrol to N145 per litre by the federal government, sales of the product have drastically reduced by about as much as 40 per cent, according to the Chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Group Chief Executive Officer of Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa.

It also emerged yesterday that as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) prepares to release inflation figure for May 2016 next week based on the bureau’s data release calendar, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has been predicted to hit 14.7 per cent.

Akinfemiwa revealed that though Nigeria is a driving country with a lot of dependence on petrol for both passenger and commercial vehicles, there are strong indications that motorists have devised various means of using less petrol in view of the high cost.

He confirmed this development in a statement at the weekend, stating that as the foremost indigenous energy solutions provider, his company’s customer surveys showed that motorists had resorted to various journey-planning initiatives to reduce fuel usage.

He identified some of the initiatives to include; “car-pooling, use of government mass transit buses and even cutting down on unnecessary movements and visits”.

“If you may agree with me, there has been a light flow of traffic in the Lagos metropolis in very recent times. We however deem this to be the initial reaction and thus believe that the demand will improve over time,” he added.

Akinfemiwa insisted that marketers would continue to clamour for deregulation, saying that the recent price adjustment was not deregulation.

“The clamour is still on and the market is not deregulated as we speak. What we have is an adjustment of the foreign exchange line items on the modulated template to approximately N285 per naira from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N197 rate previously used. However, we view this as a significant achievement and departure from the subsidy regime in which petroleum product imports accounted for over 50 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings leaving very little headroom for spending on social infrastructure,” he explained.

According to him, the over-dependence on the CBN window at the time implied that marketers were stifled with respect to import volumes and hence various supply outages at the time.

He said the industry would continue to work towards the full deregulation of the downstream sector and allow the customer benefit from the overall efficiencies.

“ In addition, the new pricing structure would create a more structured approach for the operations of the downstream sector with a reduced dependent on NNPC by all marketers for petroleum products supplies as we now go and source ourselves. I am aware that some Major Marketers have been approached by some independent marketers for integration and absorption as some of these independent marketers may not have the scale required to operate in the days to come. This is the beauty of this new structure and it shall be to the ultimate benefit of the consumers,” he explained.

 The MOMAN boss noted that the foreign exchange constraints are still there and recalled that when the price adjustment was made, there was an allusion to a secondary foreign exchange market.

 “But I am aware that the authorities are finalizing modalities for this and should be implemented in the coming days. There are sufficient petroleum products from both the NNPC and the Major Marketers pending the implementation of this policy,” he added.

 Inflation Projected to Hit 14.7% in May…

Meanwhile, as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) prepares to release inflation figure for May 2016 next week based on the bureau’s data release calendar, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has been predicted to hit 14.7 per cent.

The Economic Intelligence Group of Access Bank Plc in a report yesterday forecasted headline inflation for May to increase to 14.7 per cent from the level of 13.7 per cent.

Also, in a separate report yesterday, the Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC) also estimated a spike in year-on-year inflation to 14.5 per cent in May.

Access Bank’s Economic Intelligence unit based the methodology they adopted in arriving at the projection on an autoregressive analysis of past prices, while recognising all the assumptions used by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its computation of monthly composite consumer price index (CCPI).

According to them, the expected upward momentum in headline inflation in May reflected increases in both food and core components of inflation, adding that with a 51.8 per cent weighting in the inflation basket, the food component has been responsible for a sizeable amount of overall price pressure.

Specifically, increases in the prices of cereals, fruit, meat, fish, dairy, tubers, tomatoes, and vegetables were expected to be the main culprits behind the anticipated CPI acceleration.

“The review of petrol pump price is likely to have mounted further pressure on May inflation numbers, driven by the transport component and the electricity, gas and other fuels components, which together contribute 23.2 per cent to the CPI weighting.

“Continued weakness in the naira, following the announcement of the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector has also placed significant pressure on the inflation rate. This will have filtered into consumer prices as some firms may have sourced scarce foreign exchange from the parallel (black) market to import intermediate goods to maintain operations,” the report added.

 Also, rising inflation is expected to throw real returns for investors further into negative territory while bond yields will likely nudge higher as Investors will want to be compensated for rising prices and inflation.

•   Telecom firm to make staggered payment over three years, may list on NSE

By Emma Okonji in Lagos, Dele Ogbodo and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The eight months tussle between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and MTN Nigeria, over the imposition of a whopping N1.04 trillion fine on MTN by the NCC, was finally put to rest yesterday, when both parties arrived at a consensus.

The agreement was that MTN will now pay a reduced fine of N330 billion in a staggered form, within a time limit of three years, and it will be listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), as soon as it is commercially and legally possible to do so.

But in a swift reaction, the House of Representatives Committee on Communications rejected the deal, insisting that the full fine of N1.04 trillion must be paid by the telecommunications firm.

According to statement from NCC, the reduced amount of N330 billion, would include the initial payment of N50 billion earlier made by MTN to the government.

According to the statement, the balance of N280 billion would be made in six tranches within a period of three years.

By the terms of agreement, MTN will pay N30 billion into NCC’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), 30 days from the date of the agreement dated June 10, 2016.

Other dates of payments include: March 31, 2017, (N30 billion);

March 31, 2018, (N55 billion); December 31, 2018, (N55 billion); March 31, 2019, (N55 billion) and the balance will be in May 31, 2019, (N55 billion.)

The agreement and resolutions were signed by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garb Danbatta; NCC Commission Secretary, Mr. Felix Adeoye; Chief Executive of MTN, Mr. Fredi Moolman and MTN’s Company Secretary, Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, and witnessed by NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo; Chief of Staff to the EVC, Mr. Usman Malah; Assistant Director, Legal, NCC, Ms Helen Obi, and the Corporate Executive, MTN Nigeria, Ms. Amina Oyagbola.

It was also agreed that MTN shall tender an apology in line with the apology previously tendered in correspondences relating to the matter to the government of Nigeria and Nigerians within the one month of the execution of the agreement.

The agreement, which was signed by both parties, also mandated MTN to subscribe to the voluntary observance of the Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms industry and ensure compulsory compliance when the said Code is made mandatory for the telecommunications industry.

The agreement also compelled MTN to take steps to ensure the listing of its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as soon as commercially and legally possible after the date of execution of the settlement agreement.

Both parties agreed that these terms of settlement cannot be altered, varied, annulled or modified in any respect, except by writing duly executed by both parties; and the terms of settlement constitute all the terms and conditions of the settlement and supersede and replace any previous offers, representations and terms.

In a statement released by MTN, the telecoms company confirmed the settlement with NCC and the federal government.

MTN Nigeria CEO, Ferdi Moolman said: “MTN Nigeria once again offers its most sincere apologies for the series of unfortunate events that led to the imposition of the fine. It was of critical importance to reach a solution that would be of universal benefit to all stakeholders given the importance of the ICT industry in Nigeria and its tremendous impact on socio-economic growth. Along with the authorities, we believe that has been achieved.”

Regarding the company’s undertaking to list, Moolman said: “MTN Nigeria is undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s success stories. Broader public participation exemplifies this.”

Commenting on the final resolution of the NCC fine, MTN Group Executive Chairman, Phutuma Nhleko expressed his thanks to the federal government for the spirit in which the matter was resolved saying, “this is the best outcome for the company, its stakeholders, the federal government and the Nigerian people and the relationship between MTN, the federal government and the NCC has been restored and strengthened.’’

Also pleased with the resolution reached, Danbatta said: “NCC was careful not to take decisions that were likely to cripple the business interest of the operators we regulate. Besides, the downturn of the global economy is biting hard on everybody and every sector, so we must therefore be sensitive and flexible in our decisions.”

At the peak of negotiations between MTN, the NCC and the federal government, the MTN negotiating team was headed by former US Attorney General and Head of Covington & Burling LLP, Washington DC, Mr. Eric H. Holder, Jr., while the government’s team was led by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, had to also fly into Nigeria to continue negotiation on the matter.

This was after the NCC handed over the matter to the Presidency, at a time the NCC had no governing board to take decision on the matter.

The huge fine of N1.04 trillion, no doubt, caused panic within the management of MTN, which led to the resignation of three top executive officers. The first was the former Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group, Mr. Sifiso Dabengwa who was relieved of his job, but made to resign honourably.

He was immediately replaced by an Acting Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko.

Few weeks after his resignation, the former Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ikpoki, and the former Head, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck also resigned from their positions

Both had tendered their resignation letters at the heat of the challenge, occasioned by the N1.04 trillion, which drastically affected the shares of MTN in South Africa.

Since the fine was announced in October 26, MTN stock in South Africa had declined by about 25 per cent, according to Bloomberg report, and the decline continued for some months, having created panic among shareholders.

THISDAY gathered that MTN Group was unhappy with the way the fine issue was handled in Nigeria, blaming it on the structure of MTN management, where CEOs from various regions report directly to Dabendwa, a structure that Dabengwa instituted immediately he was appointed Group CEO of MTN.

The structure was a deviation from the initial structure, where Country specific CEOs report to a regional head, who will in turn report the CEO. The new structure instituted by Dabengwa, made it difficult to address issues fast, since every CEO reports directly to the Group CEO, who takes some time before responding to their queries.

It was gathered that Ikpoki had reported to Dabengwa on the MTN Nigeria fine, but that Dabengwa did not treat the matter as urgent as it should, a situation that made the issue to degenerate.

Ikpoki and Goodluck, who were the most senior management staff of NCC before their forced resignation, were said to have handled the issue with kids glove and allowed MTN to violate such sensitive fine.

Although the NCC said it acted according to the law by imposing N1.04 trillion on MTN, the telecoms regulator, however said it never envisaged that MTN would breach the law on SIM card deactivation to the extent of keeping up to 5.2 million unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards on its network, knowing fully well that each defaulting SIM card, attracts N200,000.

NCC had in October 2015, fined MTN the sum of N1.04 trillion for its refusal to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards on its network.

NCC had fixed a penalty of N200,000 for a single infraction on SIM card deactivation and it was discovered that MTN had 5.2 million infractions, which was the number of invalid SIM cards that were not deactivated on the MTN network, which amounted to N1.04 trillion.

After several negotiations and pleas from MTN, the NCC later reduced the fine by 25 per cent, to N780 billion, but MTN was not satisfied with the reduction and decided to seek redress in law court in December 2015, challenging the powers of NCC to impose such a whooping sum on a single operator.

In February 2016, MTN withdrew the case from court on the advice of the federal government, as a condition for a renewed negotiation, which MTN kept asking for.

To appease the federal government, MTN paid N50 billion to government, immediately it withdrew the case and continued in the negotiation for a peaceful resolution of the matter.

House C’ttee Rejects Reduction, Insists on N1.04tr…

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Communications has rejected the reduction of the fine slammed on MTN Nigeria, insisting that the full fine of N1.04 trillion must be paid by the telecommunications firm.

It also ordered all parties involved in the matter to stay action pending the outcome of its investigations.

The Committee, led by Hon. Saheed Akinade Fijabi (Oyo APC) summoned the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu and Danbata to appear before it next Monday, to explain the reduction of the fine, despite the insistence of the House that the fine must be fully paid.

Briefing newsmen yesterday, Fijabi expressed surprise at news of the reduction, adding that it is reneges on an agreement with the Minister, and the NCC and the Attorney General of the Federation, that all negotiations should be suspended until the House concludes its investigations.x

•  Attackers of carpenter in Kaduna must be punished

Paul Obi in Abuja

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Founder of the Kukah Centre for Faith, Leadership and Public Policy, Most Rev. Mathew Kukah yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari cannot throw away the 2014 National Conference Report, given that the report was a sacred and quintessential document of Nigeria.

Kukah spoke to journalists ahead of the Fixing Nigeria Initiative event, slated for June 16, 2016 in Abuja, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s governance system and addressing critical leadership challenges confronting the nation.

He contended that the resolutions and recommendations inherent in the National Conference Report were sacrosanct in engendering a sustainable and peaceful nation devoid of rancor, and therefore, could not be dismissed or thrown away to the garbage hip of history.

The Bishop, who was Co-Secretary of the National Conference, took time to explain the imperatives of the 2014 National Conference Report, arguing that “the president cannot throw it (report) away; archives are archives. Thank God he did not say he will throw it into the dustbin.

“We are not in a military regime. The president cannot wake up and say the National Assembly should be closed. A lot of the powers have been taken from the President,” he added.

Kukah’s position came on the heels of comments credited to President Buhari where he was quoted to have stated that “I haven’t even bothered to read it or ask for a briefing on it, and I want it to go into the so-called archives.”

The comments have elicited severe criticisms, with many accusing the President of arrogance and complete disregard for the sanctity of Nigeria and its citizenry.

Also, speaking against the backdrop of the attack on a Carpenter, Mr. Francis Emmanuel by some Muslim Youth in Kakuri, Kaduna State this week, Kukah stated that such savagery was totally unacceptable, calling for the trial and punishment of culprits involved in the attack.

The Bishop, who deplored the increasing spate of religious extremism in the country, held that such attacks as occasioned by the brutal killing of 74 year old Mrs. Bridget Agbahime in Kano and the attack of Mr. Emmanuel were unwarranted, calling on the government to expedite action in bringing the perpetuators of such heinous crimes to book.

Kukah said: “The ugly things we have seen in the last one week, like the attack in Kaduna; this is totally unacceptable. Somebody goes out to buy food and you attack him and say why are you not fasting? It is totally unacceptable. The culprits must be arrested, tried and punished. There is no other way you can end this impunity,” he stressed.

•   Gbaramatu communities condemn bombings FG negotiating with wrong people, says IYC

By Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba, Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa and Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Despite federal government’s olive branch, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) continues to wreak havoc across the region. Yesterday, it successfully carried out yet another attack on a crude oil pipeline in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State belonging to Agip-Eni, a company that had earlier been a victim of the series of pipeline attacks by the militants.

In a related development, the umbrella body of youths of Ijaw descent, the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, yesterday accused the federal government of engaging the wrong set of people in negotiations to end the ongoing attacks on oil installations in the region.

A source noted that yesterday’s attack, which was carried out with dynamites caused a huge smoke in the coastal area, before fire broke out at about 3a.m.

The NDA which had rebuffed a proposed dialogue with the Federal Government claimed responsibility for the attack through its Twitter handle @NDavengers.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC confirmed the attack on the Agip-Eni facility.

Only last weekend, about 140,000 bpd of crude was shut-in by Agip following an attack on its facilities, for which the NDA also claimed responsibility.

The state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, who confirmed the incident said that the corps had started meeting with traditional rulers in various coastal communities as part of methods to resolve the crisis in the state.

Agu said that his men would continue to patrol oil facilities in the area, noting that officials of the NSCDC were on the trail of the perpetrators.

He said the meeting began with traditional rulers from communities in Southern Ijaw, a local government with one of the largest concentration of oil activities in the state.

Agu said the corps and other security agencies remained resolute and committed in protecting the country’s assets adding that his men were doing their best to protect the state from attackers.

He asked aggrieved youths to stop violence and embrace peace for Niger Delta to attain expected growth and development.

He said: “This is the case of people turning their weapons against themselves. This destruction is having grave impact not just on the economy of the region but also on the environment.

“Any polluted environment takes a long time to recover and become suitable for farming, fishing and other uses.”

Also yesterday, the NDA expressed delight over reports in the international media that some buyers were considering turning their back on Nigerian crude owing to the disruptive activities of the militants.

The group, in a tweet, applauded any decision by the international community to shun Nigeria’s oil alleging that Nigerian government had been denying the people of the Niger Delta benefits of its God-given hydrocarbon resources.

It urged the country’s customers not to buy Nigeria’s oil until issues bordering on alleged injustice and self-determination demand by the militants or freedom-fighters in the region were ironed out with the help of the international community.

The group had in a statement on Thursday defended its relentless bombing campaign against oil and gas installations in the region, stressing that it was prompted by decades of injustice against the oil-rich region, in terms of meaningful development.

The statement by the NDA spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, called on the international community and especially the advanced nations of Europe, Asia and America “to come to the aid of the Niger Delta people”  in their quest for self-determination.

Reacting to latest attacks, a prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Favour Izoukumor decried the bombings of national assets by members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) saying their activities were criminal and not in the interest of the region.

Chief Izoukumor, who is the Fiye-Owei of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government, noted that the militants had done more collateral damage on the already fragile ecology of the Niger Delta.

Izoukumor noted that there were no justifications for resorting to violence instead of embracing dialogue in resolving issues.

“They certainly have no social, economic or political justification for their notorious actions. For me, their activities are purely criminal. Whatever reasons the Avengers have, they ought to seek dialogue with the government and it is when that fail to bring desired result that other options could be taken.

“But in all, militancy, wanton destruction of national economic assets and extreme violence are no options to modern day struggle and agitation”, the Ijaw Chief said.

The Ijaw Chief also advised the federal government to urgently enter into a robust dialogue with all stakeholders in the Niger Delta to end the senseless destructions by youths.

For peace to reign, he further suggested the implementation of the national conference report which signified a collective agreement negotiated by all Nigerians.

FG negotiating with the wrong people, says IYC… 

Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, has accused the federal government of engaging the wrong set of people in negotiations to end the ongoing attacks on oil installations in the region.

The IYC urged the federal government to engage credible leaders from the Niger Delta in the current dialogue with the NDA.

Spokesman of the group, Mr. Eric Omare, said that the breach of a ceasefire by the militants meant that the NDA did not trust those the federal government was currently talking to.

The government had directed the military to observe a two-week retreat from the communities in the ongoing efforts to return peace to the troubled region.

Omare said that the continued sabotage while talks were ongoing was an indication of lack of confidence on the representatives of the Niger Delta region by the militants.

 He noted that politicisation of the process was partly responsible for the non-compliance to the ceasefire by members of the NDA.

 In another development, the IYC Parliament, has described the purported suspension of the IYC President, Udengs Eradiri, and the spokesman,  Omare, as ‘’laughable, unthinkable and of no effect’’.

The Speaker, IYC Mobile Parliament, Mr, Mkpon Ijonama, at a news conference in Yenagoa, yesterday, passed a vote of confidence on the two executive members, noting that outsiders were bent on dividing the youths of Ijaw extraction.

Gbaramatu communities condemn bombings…

Also yesterday, riverside communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Council of Delta State, condemned in the strongest terms the bombings of crude lines in Bayelsa and Delta States respectively by the NDA.

Spokesman of the communities and Chairman of Kokodiagbene community, Comrade Sheriff Mulade said that the communities were the ones feeling the brunt.

The communities described the militant acts as appalling and inexcusable in view of the two-week ceasefire arrangement put in place by the federal government, advising them to embrace the olive branch by Abuja.

“Our position is that the continued bombings of the region in view of the ceasefire arrangement is highly condemnable.  They are technically crippling the economy to enable them get what they want. So, they should not personalize their Niger Delta demands.

“Some of the things they highlighted are what the Niger Delta people are agitating for and violence is not best way to get those things done. We think they are only taking advantage of government’s failure to address these fundamental issues.’’

“We want to draw the attention of these militants to the fact they are destroying our environment which is the only thing that we have. The massive spills these bombings triggered, have devastated the environment and to remediate the environment would take decades to do. So, their acts are roundly condemned,’’ they added.

Barely three days after the death of former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, the Technical Director of the senior national team, Amodu Shaibu, 58, has also been confirmed to have died in his sleep early hours of Saturday.

The four-time Eagles gaffer was reported to have complained of chest pain late Friday after dropping off fellow coach Godwin Izilien in Benin City.

Family sources said a check on Amodu at 4am on Saturday morning discovered his lifeless body. His remains has been deposited in the same Stella Obasanjo Specialist Hospital morgue, the same place Keshi is at the moment before the finalisation of his burial formalities.

Edo state Commissioner for information, Kassim Afegbua and a host of other government officials, including Amodu’ s relations from Okpella all gathered at the hospital early Saturday morning strategising on how to bury him today according to islamic rites.

*Says military invasion unprecedented, oppressive

*Soldiers still holding symbol of Egbesu shrine from Oporoza invasion

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Former leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, has again appealed to the members of the emergent militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), to accept the reported Federal Government’s offer of the dialogue option to resolve the resurgence of militancy in the oil-rich region.

He said that the appeal had become necessary because the NDA members were inadvertently promoting the militarization of the Niger Delta through the series of bombings they were carrying out in the area even as fingers were being wrongly pointed to him (Tompolo).

The ex-militant also noted that the new militant group has unwittingly opened wide the door for political jobbers and criminally minded elements “within the government circle”, who have suddenly emerged as dubious businessmen offering to arrange fraudulent negotiated deals between the government and militants.

He described the recent invasion of Ijaw kingdom of Gbaramatu by joint military operatives as unprecedented, oppressive and a sad reminder of similar military invasion of the area in 2009 before the introduction of the amnesty programme by the Yar’Adua administration.

The passionate plea by Ekpmupolo, who holds the high-ranking traditional title of Ibe-ebidouwei of the Ijaw nation, is contained in a press statement he personally signed and e-mailed to THISDAY in Asaba.

Tompolo, who has been in hiding since being declared wanted on February 11, 2016, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with his alleged involvement in a N45 billion fraud, has continued to wield much influence in the region with allegation in certain quarters that he might know something about the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta.

MORE TO FOLLOW

• To swear Xin new appointees on Monday
Abimbola Akosile

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode Saturday approved the appointment of new sole administrators expected to oversee the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, Governor Ambode would on Monday, June 13, swear-in the new appointees at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja.

Those to be sworn-in are: Ayeni A. Babatunde; Adebayo Taoheed; Adekunle Julius; Samuel Ojo; Jacob Kent; Mrs. Bashorun Bolanle A.; Gbenga Abiola; Olumide Olayomi; Mrs. Yeyintola D. Agaba; Isa Abiola Jubril; Yusuf Temitope; Alhaji Musa Nasir A.; Ogunleye Gbolahon; Babatunde Adetunji; Olu Ogunniyi; Sola Akande; Alhaji Wasiu Sanni; Abiola Kolawole Esrom; Muyiwa Okesanya and Shukura Okeowo.

Others are: William Lawanson; Label Raji; Ibrahim Adigun; Mrs. Samiat O. Raji; Segun Anifowoshe; Sherif Balogun; Ilelaboye Rasaq; Mrs. Stella Kokumo; Yinka Kazeem; Quadri Ganiu; Princess Abiodun Elegushi; Mrs. Doyin Y. Salami; Ms. Soikoya Abimbola; Bolaji Adele Solomon; Mrs. Animawun Adejumoke; Shefiu O. Osinnuga; Adefuye Bayo; Biodun Agbaje; Genesis N. Williams; Engr. Biodun Taiwo; Okinurudeen Bamidele; Gokef Ona Olawale; Abdul Adewale; Femi John; Sanya Oshijo; Ipaye N. Adeleke; Hon. Tunde Alao; Are B. Abiola; Samson Akerele Oloyede; James Agboola; Princess Aderemi Adebowale; Rotimi Ogunwuyi; Olufemi Okedeyi; Rojaiye A. Olayemi; Surakat O. Idogun; Emmanuel Aguda and Habib Aileru.

The statement added that the 57 sole administrators after being sworn in would take charge of their various councils pending the conduct of elections at the Councils.

Ambode had last Thursday approved the immediate dissolution of Caretaker Committees following the resolution of the Lagos State House of Assembly relieving the Executive Secretaries of the 57 Local Governments Councils and Local Council Development Areas in the State of their responsibilities.

The Governor had also directed the Executive Secretaries to hand over the reins of administration to the Head of Administration in each of the Council Areas.

Demola Ojo in Lagos and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Shuaibu Amodu, the only man to have qualified Nigeria for two World Cup finals, was laid to rest amidst crying and wailing by his family members and friends yesterday evening. The remains of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Director was committed to Mother Earth at his residence in Okpella, Etsako East local government area of Edo state.

Amodu, who coached the Nigerian senior football team –the Super Eagles – on four different occasions, passed away early yesterday morning in his sleep in Benin City, Edo State, after complaining of chest problems.

The death of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director comes just days after former Nigeria coach and captain, Stephen Keshi, passed away aged 54 in the same city.
The late Amodu’s body was lowered into the grave at about 5:07pm, after his body had earlier been brought to Okpella from Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin. At about 12:30pm, he was brought out from the inner chambers of his house for internment.

Between the arrival of the body and the interment, which lasted about five hours, family members, neighbours, journalists and residents of Okpella gathered in the late Amodu’s compound discussing his passage just four days after that of Keshi. Some family members and neighbours could not hold their emotions as they cried and wailed uncontrollably.

At about 4pm, mother of the late Amodu, who had earlier been taken to the palace of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Alhaji A.Y.E. Dirisu, came back to the compound after she had been informed of her son’s death.
A cousin of the deceased who is also the Commissioner for Information in Edo State, Kazeem Afegbua, said Amodu died in his sleep at about 4am yesterday morning. He said Amodu, who led prayers before the family went to bed the night before, only complained of chest pain.

Afegbua said a doctor was called to the house to check Amodu. “He was checked and certified okay and they all went to bed. He was actually a BP patient and his BP last night when the doctor checked was 140/100. The doctor only warned him to stop fasting.
“After the prayers, he went to bed but asked that he be woken at 4am to prepare for the fast. It was around four they tried to wake him to prepare for the Muslim fasting. That was all. He didn’t wake up,” Afegbua said.

Amodu, who began his coaching career with BCC Lions of Gboko and also handled rivals El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, is the most decorated coach in Nigerian FA Cup history, having won it in 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994. He won the Nigeria League and Cup double in 1994, and won the Super Cup in 1989, 1993 and 1994. He also managed South African giants Orlando Pirates between 1996 and 1997.

An NFF statement said: “Amodu’s name was synonymous with the Super Eagles. You can’t talk about the history of Super Eagles without Amodu getting prominent chapters.” Amodu qualified the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2010, but did not lead the team to the finals. He also qualified the Beach Soccer National Team for the 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, but did not lead the team at the finals as he refused to travel to Brazil.

“As Technical Director he was known to be hypertensive, and had rejected taking over the Super Eagles coaching job in February on this ground,” the NFF statement revealed.
Amodu first shot to prominence when he guided BCC Lions to win the now-defunct African Cup Winners Cup in 1990. His team reached the final of the same competition the following year but lost to Zambian side Power Dynamos 5-4 on aggregate in 1991.

Three years later Amodu replaced Dutchman Clemens Westerhof as Super Eagles coach in 1994 and then led the reigning African Champions to fourth place at the 1995 King Fahd Cup (now renamed Fifa Confederations Cup) before his exit later that year. He returned to manage the team again from 1998-99, 2001-02 and 2008-2010.
Amodu helped the country qualify for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea and led them to a third-place finish in the 2002 Nations Cup in Mali.

Under his stewardship, Nigeria again qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but Amodu was sacked despite the team’s third-place finish at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

It was the second time he had been removed from his post ahead of a World Cup finals tournament – Amodu was also fired ahead of the 2002 edition after Nigeria finished third at the 2002 Nations Cup.
Before the observation of funeral rites for Amodu, a special prayer, led by Ustaz Ahmed Shehu, was offered for the repose of his soul. In his remarks, Ustaz Shehu described the death of Amodu as a great loss to Okpella community, Etsako nation, Edo State and the nation at large.

Members of the Nigerian football family including the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mohammed Sanusi; chairman of the Edo Football Association, Frank Ilaboya; Robinson Okosun and other football and sports enthusiasts gathered at the late Amodu’s residence to pay their last respect.
Top officials of the Edo State government such as the late Amodu’s cousin and Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua; Commissioner for Environment, Clem Agba, and other notable personalities from Afemai, also attended the burial.

Hundreds of residents of Okpella were not left out as they trooped out to honour one of their foremost sons. The late soccer tactician was survived by his late wife, Kuburat; seven children, mother, brother and sisters.

Obinna Chima

A conditional Budget Support Facility to provide financial relief to state governments is being finalised by the federal government, the Ministry of Finance has said.

A statement from the ministry of finance on Saturday, explained that the proposed facility, aimed at providing support to overcome the current financial challenges faced by several states, would be subject to the states meeting a stringent 22-point reform agenda called the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP).

The statement disclosed that the FSP was unanimously agreed by state governors during the National Economic Council meeting held on May 19 and it encompasses a framework of reform measures including the requirement to publish audited financial statements and budgets, biometric and Bank Verification Number (BVN) payroll review exercises to sanitise payroll costs, as well as limits on recurrent expenditure levels.

Other conditions listed include the requirement that states set and meet targets to enhance Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the establishment of Efficiency Units to reduce overhead costs, privatisation of state-owned enterprises, domestication of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and limitations on securing further bank loans.

“On its part the federal government has agreed to develop IPSAS-compliant software for states to use, and to develop new bond issuance guidelines to ease access to the capital market for states wishing to fund developmental projects.

“Disbursements will be conditional upon states meeting their agreed targets and will be subject to monitoring and evaluation by independent monitoring agents. States that fail to meet the agreed reform targets will be excluded from further funding.

“The FSP mirrors the public financial management reforms currently being pursued at the federal government level and is expected to set the states on a path towards long-term fiscal sustainability,” the statement added.

Continuing, the statement quoted the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, to have also explained that the FSP represents an important programme of reforms that will develop best practice financial management across all tiers of government and will improve transparency and accountability.

“We are determined to attain financial discipline across government and implementing the FSP at state level will ensure alignment. The focus on increasing revenue, which is not limited to conventional taxes, but rather encourages states to explore opportunities in areas such as agriculture and solid minerals, is in line with our diversification objectives.

“The targets for cost management and improved efficiency will deliver value for money and will yield long term savings. Overall, we believe that the survival of state governments is essential to the economic recovery of Nigeria, specifically their ability to meet salary obligations,” she added.

In line with the federal government’s resolve to reflate economic activities in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had last year disbursed a special intervention fund totalling N338 billion to 27 states in the country. This was sequel to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of a relief package designed to enable states pay workers’ salaries and also salvage their economic situation. Part of the relief package then was the CBN’s special intervention fund to be offered to states in the form of soft loans to be accessed solely for the purpose of paying the backlog of salaries. The approval of the special intervention fund was sequel to the decision by the National Economic Council (NEC) at its meeting of June 29, 2015, requesting that the CBN, in collaboration with other stakeholders, should appraise and consider ways of liquidating outstanding workers’ salaries owed by state and local governments.

Gboyega Akinsanmi

The Afenifere Renewal Group Saturday demanded that the federal government should officially release the result of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election acclaimed to have been won by late Chief M.K.O Abiola.

The ARG, a pan-Yoruba socio-political and economic organisation, justified the need to officially release the election result because the Official Secrets Act “can no longer be binding on the document.”

It made the demand in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, to mark the 23rd anniversary of the June 12 election adjudged to be the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history, though it was annulled by former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

In a one-page statement, Oshun said President Muhammadu Buhari, as the beneficiary of a ballot revolution that mostly mirrored that of 1993, owed the citizens of Nigeria across the geo-political divides the duty of declassifying the election result, particularly now that 23 years had elapsed.

The group’s national chairman explained that the Official Secrets Act “can no longer be binding on the document. We believe this will reverse the stigma occasioned by the foolish act of canceling that election, adjudged to be the most peaceful in the history of Nigeria.”

He added that the official release of the June 12 election result “will open up the hypocrisy of military rule and help project democracy as a better form of governance. June 12 is no longer a struggle but now an obligation. The people have played their own part.

“It is now the obligation of the beneficiaries of that struggle to set the country on a truly democratic path by deliberately replacing every stamp of military rule on Nigeria’s nationhood, including the imposed governance structure and constitution, through democratic rights and tenets.”

Oshun argued that there “is no alternative way to deepen democracy in Nigeria. Let nobody be deceived. Until the federal government takes conscious steps to restructure Nigeria, the country will continue to wobble from one crisis of nationhood to another.

“To continue to ignore this necessity is a tacit support by elected officials for everything that transpired during the military era and this is why military rule has transited to ‘do or die’ politics and citizens now believed they have a right to take up arms against their country.”

He thus called President Buhari to see himself as best poised “to help Nigeria make this transition. This can be his best legacy and the starting point, we dare say, is to release the June 12 presidential election result and its winner appropriately recognised and honoured.”

In a phone conversation on Friday, Oshun lamented that it was tragic that no government “has given Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 election due recognition. It is a common knowledge that he won the election. The records are still there as proofs of Abiola’s electoral victory.

“It is injustice, and the injustice will continue as long as Abiola’s posthumous victory is not recognised. Buhari has opportunity to recognise Abiola’s electoral victory because sufficient time has already passed. The healing process of Nigeria will not have taken this long time if this injustice has been addressed. “This therefore calls for the need to look at the political structure of Nigeria. We need to restructure Nigeria in a way that devolves more powers and responsibilities to the sub-national governments,” he said.​

Says more than 1,240 persons killed in terrorist assaults in 2015 Level of interagency counterterrorism cooperation and information sharing limited

Anayo Okolie

The United States Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism has released its Country Reports on Terrorism for 2015 with an affirmation that the Boko Haram terrorist sect had lost considerable capacity to hold territory, though it continued to launch uncoordinated attacks.

The report confirms President Muhammadu Buhari’s oft-repeated assertion that Boko Haram has been dealt a devastating blow by the Nigerian military, but the group is yet to be completely defeated.

The report identified inadequate cooperation and information sharing among the security agencies involved in the antiterrorism war as the bane of the counterterrorism operation. It said over 1, 240 persons were killed in terror attacks in Nigeria last year.

“Regional military forces made progress during 2015 in degrading the group’s territorial control, in particular following the election of Nigerian President Buhari, but Boko Haram responded by increasing its use of asymmetric attacks,” the report said.

It added, “Bilateral and multilateral efforts by these regional military forces successfully challenged Boko Haram’s hold on territory, forcing it to abandon major military-style campaigns and revert back to the asymmetric tactics seen in previous years. Despite these setbacks, Boko Haram withstood and adapted to the military offensives.

“The group carried out kidnappings, killings, bombings (including with child suicide bombers), and attacks on civilian and military targets throughout the Lake Chad Basin, resulting in thousands of deaths, injuries, and significant destruction of property.”

The report stressed, “While Nigeria and regional partners have made progress in driving Boko Haram from much of the territory it held in northern Nigeria, the group kept control over some territory and maintained its ability to carry out asymmetric attacks.”

On coordination of the antiterrorism operations, the report observed, “While the counterterrorism activities of these agencies and ministry were ostensibly coordinated by the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), the level of interagency cooperation and information sharing was limited.”

The reported also noted, “Among the problems that deterred or hindered more effective law enforcement and border security by the Nigerian government were a lack of coordination and cooperation between Nigerian security agencies; a lack of biometrics collection systems and the requisite databases; corruption; misallocation of resources; the slow pace of the judicial system, including a lack of timely arraignment of suspected terrorist detainees; and lack of sufficient training for prosecutors and judges to understand and carry out the Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011 (as amended). “

Kunle Aderinokun

With a reduced fine of N330 billion and a payment plan staggered over a period of three years, it will not be long before telecoms giant, MTN Nigeria, rebounds.

Reprieve came the way of MTN on Friday when the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) slashed its fine to N330 billion (less than $1 billion) from initial N1.04 trillion (which was $5.2 billion at the time the fine was imposed).

The reprieve came after eight months of engaging with the regulator over the fine imposed on the telecoms giant for failing to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards on its network.

In the wake of the fine imposition and as a consequence of their action or inaction, three top executive officers of MTN were forced to resign, namely Sifiso Dabengwa , the Group CEO; Mike Ikpoki, CEO of MTN Nigeria; and Akinwale Goodluck, Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs. The company’s shares also plunged by 5 per cent when the news of the imposition of the fine broke last year, before gradually picking up when the telecoms firm began to engage Nigerian authorities on way out.

With the adjustment of the fine to N330 billion, at a time of looming devaluation of Naira and the prevailing exchange rate of the Nigerian currency, MTN will be paying less than 20 per cent of the initial value of the fine under terms of agreement which also discounted the initial N50billion earlier paid by MTN to the government.

The flexible payment plan also gives MTN enough breathing space, as it provides that the balance of N280 billion would be made in six tranches within a period of three years.

By the terms of agreement, MTN will pay N30 billion into NCC’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), 30 days from the date of the agreement dated June 10, 2016.

Other dates of payments include: March 31, 2017, (N30 billion); March 31, 2018, (N55 billion); December 31, 2018, (N55 billion); March 31, 2019, (N55 billion) and the balance will be on May 31, 2019, (N55 billion.)

With a profit of about N200 billion in 2015, in one and a half years, it is possible for the telco to settle the fine from its profit without significant adverse effects on its balance sheet.

A cursory look at the financial statement of MTN Nigeria, showed that in 2015, the company recorded a profit after tax of N190 billion ($955 million) as at 31 December 2015.

Only last Friday, following the news of reduction in the humongous fine, the Group’s share climbed 13.18 per cent at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, South Africa, gaining 16.30 rands to close at 140 rands, which is the biggest gain since 2008.

Besides the company’s high profitability profile, industry analysts note that MTN Nigeria has the prospect of even growing bigger following its new business frontiers with the 2.6 GHz licence it got from NCC to stream TV contents. The MTN TV service, a digital pay TV, which pilot launch has already been done is expected to converge telecommunications, broadcasting and media.

Analysts are of the opinion that with the new business model, it could recoup monies lost to fines within the shortest time possible.

Other aspects of the agreement include that MTN Nigeria would be listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) as soon as it is commercially and legally possible, and the tendering of an apology in line with the apology previously tendered in correspondences relating to the matter to the government of Nigeria and Nigerians within the one month of the execution of the agreement.

However, the House of Representatives Committee on Communications has faulted the reduction of the fine and summoned the regulatory authority and the Attorney General of the Federation to appear before it tomorrow.

But the view among industry analysts is that the telecoms giant, in no time would put the issue of the fine behind it.

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Jonah David Jang, and the member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Istifanus Gyang, have rejected the grazing reserve policy, describing it as anti-people.

In the statement signed by Comrade Clinton Garuba, an aide to Jang, the Senator said, “For the Federal Government which owns no cattle, to connive with willing state governors to impose a grazing reserve policy on helpless citizens who have suffered the brunt of rampaging herdsmen in recent past is not only an abuse of their rights but an assault on their already battered psyche; and this must bevehemently resisted.”

Jang said his position on grazing reserve policy remains the same both on the floor of the senate and at any other forum that Plateau people have not land to cede the federal government or any group for grazing.

“As a people, who have experienced the atrocities of those who seek to take over their land by whatever means, Plateau people must be resilient in rejecting any law or request that seeks to tamper with their heritage, not even the involvement of the Government of the day should deter them”, he warned.

Further details later

Alex Enumah in Abuja

As the race into various offices of the national body of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) begins to gather momentum, no fewer than 31 persons have shown interest in replacing the current executive led by Alegeh.

Among those who have shown interest in contesting the forthcoming election of the association is renowned lawyer, Joe Gazama, SAN, who is vying for the position of the NBA President.

He and others emerged at the formal opening of Expression of Interest/Nomination Form, which was done in the presence of aspirants, their representatives and observers at the NBA’s national headquarters, Abuja.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Kenneth Mozia, SAN, who supervised the opening of the forms, assured the aspirants and members of the NBA that his committee would do its best in conducting not just as free, fair and credible election but, one that would serve as a model for future elections in the country and beyond.

The chairman disclosed that the committee would immediately go through the forms and published the names of successful candidates, so that those with a special case can know what to do.

“I want to assure you all that the committee would do its best to provide a level playing ground for all contestants. The nomination forms that are been opened publicly is an attestation that we desire to be as transparent as possible.

“The next thing for us now is to go through the forms and published the names of those that meet the requirement while those that have any complains can also know how to address them,” he said.

Further details later