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Tag: ambush

  • Army confirms 14 killed in Boko Haram ambush

    THE military yesterday confirmed that about 13 personnel and a police officer were killed in an ambush laid by Boko Haram insurgents on Damaturu-Maiduguri road on Monday.

    But the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has urged troops in the Northeast to remain focused in wiping out the terrorists.

    It noted that the military personnel and the police officer were killed while extricating themselves from the ambush.

    A statement by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said that a soldier was killed in another encounter with terrorists at Kureta in Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe State.

    Col Nwachukwu, who is the spokesperson of the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, said the bodies of the gallant soldiers and the policeman as well as wounded soldiers had been evacuated.

    He said: “Troops repelled a Boko Haram terrorists’ attack on a Forward Operational Base at Kukareta in Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe state.

    “The terrorists, who attacked the location at about 6.30 pm, met with prompt and fierce response of the vigilant troops who engaged and overpowered them, killing several of the terrorists. Unfortunately however, a soldier was wounded in the encounter.

    “In another encounter, troops of 1 Division on escort duty along Damaturu -Maiduguri Road yesterday fought through an ambush staged by Boko Haram terrorists. The gallant troops engaged the terrorists in a fire fight, courageously wading through the ambush.

    “Sadly, 13 military and police personnel, including a police officer, paid the supreme price while extricating themselves from the ambush. A clearance operation to pursue and eliminate the Boko Haram terrorists ambush party is still ongoing.

    “The bodies of the gallant soldiers and the policeman and the wounded have been evacuated. The wounded soldier is currently receiving treatment.”

    However, a statement by Army’s spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman said the COAS visited the troops during the holiday to boost their morale, urging them to remain resolute in wiping out the terrorists from the northeast.

    Brig.-Gen. Usman said: “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. TY Buratai along with Principal Staff Officers, Corps Commanders and other senior officers of the Nigerian Army held a Christmas luncheon with troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the Northeast of Nigeria.

    “Specifically, the COAS was at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Delwa, Konduga Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State where he felicitated with the officers and soldiers of the FOB and 7 Division Garrison on Wednesday 26th December 2018.

    “In his address to the troops, he paid tribute to the gallant officers and soldiers that that paid the supreme price in the course of fighting terrorism and insurgency. He also congratulated the troops for their bravery and steadfastness.

    “The COAS further informed the troops that the government and Nigerians appreciate their efforts. He also said that the President has promised total support to the military in order to bring the conflict to logical end.

    “He, however, warned the troops to be wary of Boko Haram terrorists’ misinformation and propaganda aimed at demoralising the troops to break their cohesion and fighting spirit.”

    The COAS told the troops: “You have decimated the Boko Haram terrorists, but they want to brainwash you through propaganda. You should not believe their lies and misinformation.

    “There are several elements who don’t wish Nigeria well hence their concerted efforts to bring disaffection among the officers and soldiers into logger head through false information and claims on the social media.”

    He promised that Army under his watch, would continue to do its best for the soldiers, adding that the officers love soldiers more than anyone else and will never play with troops welfare and well-being.

    Gen. Usman said: “The COAS also said that the Nigerian Army have made significant progress and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country, what is remaining is to clear the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists through offensive actions, long range patrols and ambushes.”

    The highlight of the occasion was field training by the troops, and a lunch in which Lt. Gen. Buratai, Prinicpal Staff Officers, Theatre Commander, GOC 7 Division and Commander Sector 2 Operation LAFIYA DOLE personally served the soldiers with food and drinks.

    “Those that accompanied the COAS included: the Chief of Training and Operations (Army), Maj-Gen. LO Adeosun, the Director Military Intelligence, Maj-Gen SA Adebayo, Chief of Account of Budget (Army), Maj-Gen CU Agunlanna, Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maj-Gen BA Akinroluyo and the Acting Provost Marshal (Army), Brig.-Gen. H Ahmed.

    “Others were: the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, who is also Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Brig.Gen. Bulama Biu and Commander Sector 2 and Brig.-Gen. MB Dala, amongst others.

    “The COAS was also represented by other Principal Staff Officers, Corps Commanders and other senior officers at the various locations of Nigerian Army deployments in Operation LAFIYA DOLE, where they also had lunch with the troops and deliver his goodwill message and words of encouragement. The visitation to troops locations and celebrations with them continues.”

  • UN laments ambush of food supply in Borno

    UN laments ambush of food supply in Borno

    •Army: no UN worker died 

    The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, has condemned “last Saturday’s ambush on a convoy carrying humanitarian food supplies for conflict-affected persons” in Borno State.

    Kallon, in a statement yesterday, said there were concerns that such attacks would affect the delivery of life-saving supplies to the region.

    It reads: “The armed ambush by a non-state group happened on the road between Dikwa and Gamboru, in Borno State, and resulted in the death of about four persons, and destruction of basic aid items.

    “Violence against convoys carrying humanitarian aid is unacceptable, and can result in concerning limitations in our ability to provide life-saving relief to those who need it the most.

    “We must ensure the safety of aid workers and aid convoys in the Northeast so people in need of assistance can access it on time.

    “Since January, despite major challenges, humanitarian operations in the Northeast have managed to assist over 5 million conflict-affected people in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, including 3 million with food security interventions, 936,000 with nutritional support, 5 million with health care assistance, and over 1.3 million with safe drinking water.”

    A convoy of food trucks belonging to the World Food Programme of the United Nations was allegedly ambushed by Boko Haram insurgents. Foodstuffs were stolen and some UN workers were allegedly killed.

    But the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole Maj.-Gen. Roger Nicholas, in a statement by the Deputy Director of Public Relations, Col. Nwachukwu, said: “Contrary to the news that four United Nations workers were killed, and four trucks conveying food for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were carted away, the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole wishes to state that the report grossly misrepresents the true situation of the incident.

    “None of the casualties have been identified as workers of the UN.

    “It is necessary to state that a patrol escorting a convoy of civilian vehicles to Logomani encountered an ambush at Maula village, on Dikwa-Ngala trans-Sahara highway, which resulted in a fire fight between troops and the insurgents.

    “The troops, however, overpowered the insurgents and killed six of them. Three AK 47 rifles, three locally-fabricated fire arms, four magazines and a belt of 7.62 mm ammunition were recovered.

    “Sadly, four persons died in the encounter, though none of them have been identified as workers of the UN.

    “The situation has been brought under control and further exploitation of the general area is being carried out by the Mobile Strike Team of Operation Lafiya Dole.”

     

  • Army confirms ambush on soldiers in Zamfara

    The Army yesterday confirmed an ambush by suspected bandits on its anti-terrorism team on Friday, near Maru Local Government of Zamfara State.

    Army spokesman Brig-Gen. Sani Usman confirmed this to reporters on the phone.

    He said none of the soldiers was killed during the attack.

    Usman said army headquarters was still gathering intelligence on the development.

    Bandits have continued to terrorise people in the state, especially in rural communities, but troops have made their criminal operations uncomfortable.

    A source at the 223 Light Tank Battalion, Gusau, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that one soldier was injured and two vehicles burnt by the hoodlums.

    The source said many hoodlums were killed, while some escaped with bullet wounds.

    “Soldiers are on top of the situation,” the source said.

     

  • Three soldiers killed in ambush

    Three soldiers are feared dead and five injured in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists on a military operational vehicle in Borno State.

    A reliable security source said the insurgents ambushed the convoy of the commanding officer of 81 Battalion at Bulabulin Ngaura town, on the Damboa/Maiduguri highway; three soldiers were killed and five sustained injuries.

    The commanding officer and others escaped unhurt.

    According to the source, the insurgents allegedly stole two military gun trucks and burnt an operational Hilux van.

  • Boko Haram kill three soldiers, injure five in an ambush 

    Boko Haram kill three soldiers, injure five in an ambush 

    Three soldiers have been feared dead and five others injured in an ambush laid by Boko Haram terrorists on a military operatonal vehicle in Borno State.

    A reliable security source disclosed that the insurgents ambushed an operational convoy of the Commanding Officer (CO) of 81 Battalion, Nigeria Army at Bulabulin Ngaura town along Damboa/Maiduguri High Way where the three soldiers were killed.

    Read: Gunmen attack warehouse in Abia

     The source added that the CO with other members of his convoy escaped being killed by whiskers leaving other five soldiers wounded.

    He informed that two military gun trucks were carted away by the insurgents. The insurgents were also reported to have set ablaze a military operational camouflage colored hilux vehicle.

    Maiduguri/Damboa road has witnessed several kidnaps and ambushes of both civilians and security personal since the road was reopened by the military last year.

    Read Also: FG acquire technologies to fight Boko Haram – Buratai

  • Two killed as insurgents ambush travellers

    Two persons have been confirmed dead, while three sustained injuries yesterday as gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members opened fire on travellers on Damaturu Biu highway, security and military sources have said.

    A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the terrorists had buried IEDs along the highway.

    Our correspondent learnt the travellers took off from Damaturu on their way to Biu located 21 kilometres east of Damaturu when they encountered the insurgents midway into the journey.

    The three injured were taken to Damaturu Specialists’ Hospital by security forces.

    A hospital source at the Accident and Emergency ward of Damaturu Specialists’ Hospital confirmed that three people have been treated and referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe.

  • Professor among hostages held by Boko Haram

    Professor among hostages held by Boko Haram

    A Professor of Geology at the University of Maiduguri is among the three staff members of the institution ambushed and abducted last Tuesday by Boko Haram, it was confirmed last night.

    The don, Dr. Solomon Yusuf, was one of the trio in the photograph released on Friday by the terror sect.

    It was also learnt that security has been beefed up in the university and its vicinity to prevent any further attack.

    A reliable source said: “A Professor of Geology was among the three captured by Boko Haram terrorists while on oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin.

    “We are really sad in this academic community, we are feeling unsafe really: I mean the staff and students.

    “We are appealing to the government to do anything to negotiate the release of these staff who only set out to serve their fatherland.

    “Their families are distraught, we are all demoralised because it could have happened to anyone. Their children are inconsolable. We are really sad.”

    A military source however said: “We are probing the incident and reviewing how the insurgents got to know about the movement of the oil exploration team.

    “The insurgents have changed tactics because they have been decimated and we will respond accordingly.

    “As mandated by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, we are all putting heads together to avert a recurrence.”

    On the fate of UNIMAID, the source said: “We have beefed up security in and around the university to protect the community. We have done that successfully in the past few years, we will strengthen it.

    “This was why the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu” insisted that the university will not be shut. A closure will amount to conceding to the insurgents.”

     

  • I did not ambush Jonathan, others, Adeniyi

    I did not ambush Jonathan, others, Adeniyi

    •Raises alarm on how online hackers hijacked new book

    The Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi,  yesterday said he did not ambush ex-President Goodluck Jonathan or any respondents in writing his book–Against The Run of Play.

    He said Jonathan went through  the text of the interview he had with him line-by-line.

    He asked other leaders to join him in writing their own accounts to have the complete story of the 2015 presidential election.

    But he expressed regrets that hackers have succeeded in breaking the code to the online edition of  his book and are already circulating it online.

    Adeniyi made these clarifications in a statement in Abuja against the backdrop of the Jonathan’s claims that there are distortions in his book.

    He said: “For the record, after my first conversation with President Jonathan, I asked for his email address and promised to send him the raw text of our conversation which he could then amend as appropriate.

    “ I sent it to him that very day. When I went for a second meeting, I took along a printed copy which we both went through line-by-line. Whatever he wanted removed, reworked or rephrased was done while in some areas he provided further context to what he said.

    ”Incidentally, a few hours after our second conversation, President Jonathan called me that he felt uncomfortable about a certain response he gave to a particular issue. He told me what to do and I reflected it immediately.

    “I went into all that length because he is a man for whom I have tremendous respect and my intention was/is not to embarrass him or anybody. I just wanted his side of the story told in a way he is comfortable with.

    ”I went through this same process with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Senate President David Mark, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, former NGF Chairman and current Transportation Minister, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu and a few other principal actors who all have in their emails the raw text of our conversations.

    ”The reason I did that was so I would not misquote, misrepresent or distort the views of any of the people who spoke to me on trust.

    “My intention was not to ambush or set up anyone. This is why I gave them the opportunity to go over what they told me again before putting it in print.

    “ Fortunately, none of them has come out to say I distorted their views. Besides, I left out so many things in my book so as to avoid unnecessary controversies.

    “ For instance, President Obasanjo made some strong remarks about former Vice President Atiku Abubakar which I decided to remove even after he (Obasanjo) had approved it for publication.

    “I did the same to some of the things others told me that I believed could raise unnecessary dust or distract from the story at hand.

    ”Therefore, I did not distort President Jonathan’s view and he did not say I did. Now that he has reaffirmed what he told me that he is writing his own account, I will enjoin Nigerians to wait for his book.

    “I hope others will join him in writing their own accounts so that we can have the complete story of the 2015 presidential election. The more accounts and the more perspectives we have, the better for our education and learning.

    “In the same vein, I will also implore all the key actors in the major historical junctures of our national life to document their experiences for the present and for posterity.”

    He insisted that he did not distort Jonathan’s views in any manner whatsoever.

    He said: “Yesterday, President Jonathan said: ‘I have just read Segun Adeniyi’s new book, ‘Against the Run of Play’ which has so far enjoyed tremendous reviews in the media. My take on it is that the book as presented, contains many distorted claims on the 2015 presidential election by many of the respondents. There will obviously be more books like that on this subject by concerned Nigerians. However, I believe that at the right time, the main characters in the election including myself will come out with a true account of what transpired either in major interviews or books.’

    ”The respondents President Jonathan was referring to are the people who spoke to me and whose claims he apparently disputes or disagrees with. This should be clear enough to those who did not choose to read his statement with a tendentious accent. But apparently it is not. President Jonathan did not say I distorted his views and the fact that others may have presented him in ways he doesn’t like cannot be taken as an indictment of me or of my work.”

  • Senate rides on DSS ambush to reject Magu

    Senate rides on DSS ambush to reject Magu

    SENATORS  yesterday again turned down Ibrahim Magu’s nomination for confirmation as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman.

    The upper chamber relied on the Department of State Services’ (DSS’) revalidation of its report on Magu to refuse the confirmation.

    The lawmakers had on December 15, 2016 rejected Magu’s nomination based on a negative report by the DSS.

    Magu, who appeared before the Senate’s committee of whole at 11.55 am, was asked to go by 1.38 pm.

    In his opening remarks, Magu told the Senate that despite the efforts of the Federal Government, corruption remained not only pervasive but endemic in the country.

    Appointed in acting capacity by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 9, 2015, Magu said he was committed to the anti-corruption war.

    He declared his readiness to restore the glory of the EFCC by intensifying investigation and recover looted funds.

    The EFCC, he said, is focusing on community ownership of the anti-corruption war.

    He drew connection between the economic challenges facing the country and the endemic corruption.

    Magu also said that the anti-corruption body would focus more on prevention of corruption.

    The DSS’ letter the Senate relied upon to reject Magu’s nomination was dated 14th March, 2017 and addressed to the Clerk, Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    It was received by the office of the Senate Clerk at 5.02pm on Tuesday.

    It is entitled: “Re: Nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu Mustapha as Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) security report on the nominee.”

    The three paragraph letter read: “Your letter NASS/CS/SA/01/17/08/02 dated 7th March, 2017; requesting for security report on the above named nominee, refers.

    ”The security report being requested for on Ibrahim Magu Mustapha, the nominee for the Executive Chairmanship position of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has already been submitted to the Senate via Services’ letter No. SV114/2 of 3rd October, 2016, containing fourteen (14) paragraphs.

    ”Please accept once again the assurances of the esteemed regards of the DGSS.”

    The letter was signed by F.O. Adams for Director-General, SS.

    Asked to tell the Senate his response to the DSS report that made President Buhari resubmit his name for confirmation, Magu told the Senate that his response was made in writing.

    He added that he would have made a copy available if he knew the issue would come up during his screening.

    Magu said some senators knew how the EFCC started and how some of them were chased away.

    The nominee said he was detained for two weeks and placed on suspension for 20 months on the claim that he kept official files.

    He said he was later recalled and given double promotion.

    Magu said: “Your Excellency you are aware of this.” There was laughter in the chamber but Senate President Bukola Saraki quickly quipped: “Mr nominee, I am only aware of what is on record.”

    Saraki reiterated that Magu’s response to the DSS report was important and the Senate would want to share how he responded to the report.

    Magu said there were two reports and added that the claim that he was living in a house paid for by an Air Force officer was false.

    The house, he said, was secured and paid for by the Federal Capital Development Authority.

    Magu said he did not even know when the rent would expire.

    On why Sambo Dasuki is still in detention, he said Dasuki was being detained in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which gives the prosecution the powers to apply to the court for extension of detention period.

    Magu said: “At times in the course of interrogation, some facts do come up that would require further investigation. We don’t detain people unnecessarily.”

    On seizure of property by the EFCC, Magu said before any property is seized, it must have been investigated and traced to proceeds of corruption.

    He added that after investigation, the matter would be charged to court, which will determine whether the property will be released to the owner or forfeited to the government.

    On detention of people, he said the EFCC do not arrest people.

    Magu noted that there must have been thorough investigation before a suspect is invited to the commission.

    As the screening progressed, Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) told Magu: “Today is the Ides of March. It is a very memorable day in the history of the Roman Empire when Caesar was executed when he came to the Senate. So may the Lord be with you.”

    Sani continued: “We have seen reports of detainees dying in detention and people are reportedly being badly treated.”

    But Magu insisted that there was always due process “in every thing we do”.

    He added: “I am not saying what we are doing are completely right. I won’t say that.”

    Magu noted that the issue of Desmond, who died in EFCC detention, was “regrettable” and “unfortunate”.

    He said when the detainee fell ill, he was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

    He noted that immediately Desmond was confirmed dead, his body was moved the National Hospital, Abuja.

    Magu said that the rule in the hospital is that “you cannot bring anybody from outside to do the autopsy.

    He said since it was a case of sudden death, it was reported to the police for investigation.

    The body of the deceased, he said, is still in the mortuary at the instance of his relations.

    On how much EFCC has recovered, Magu said it was difficult for him to be specific.

    The agency, said Magu use the technique of tracing, identification and recovery to recover looted funds.

    He said recently some officials went to Dubai and United Kingdom in search of looted funds.

    On why Dasuki alone is being prosecuted, Magu said everybody that needed to be invited for interrogation in Dasuki case had been invited.

    He said: “Body language or no body language, the commitment of Mr. President to fight corruption is not in doubt.”

    On Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Oil minister, Magu said the agency was not probing her alone as being insinuated.

    He noted that Mrs. Alison-Madueke escaped to London with some directors involved in the matter.

    Magu noted that because the matter was in court, he would not want to speak on it.

    On the whistle-blowing policy, he described it as new, adding that it is still fine-tuning for effect.

    On the sale of a Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O)by EFCC operatives, Magu said he was not aware of the matter.

    He said he would get back to his office to find out the truth about the information.

    Magu admitted corruption exists in EFCC.

    He said there was no political influence on the trial of some judicial officers.

    The tone of the screening changed completely when Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) read the DSS letter reaffirming its report that Magu should not be confirmed.

    Melaye specifically referred to paragraph 14 of the controversial report which states: “In the light of the foregoing, Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.” It was received by the Senate at 5.02 on Tuesday.

    But Magu promptly fired back that the DSS lacked integrity to indict him.

    Magu said: “What does it say of an agency that submitted two varying reports on the same person, the same day?

    ”Up till now, the DSS has not given me a chance to hear from me. I have not be given fair hearing by the DSS.”

    He insisted that he did not know how the house he was living in was rented.

    Saraki said there was an administrative issue that needed to be cleared – receiving two letters from the DSS.  “We will get the Clerk to confirm that,” he said.

    The Clerk, Mr. Nelson Ayewoh, told the Senate that only one letter was received.

    The clerk said that the letter received on Tuesday and dated 14th  March, 2017 was reaffirmation of the earlier letter by the DSS.

    Saraki ruled that the Senate had heard enough from Magu and asked him to leave.

    When he put the question whether the Senate would confirm Magu’s nomination as EFCC chairman, though some said “aye”, majority said “nay”.

    Sarki ruled that the “nay” had it.

    Former Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume queried why the Senate relied on a letter not signed by the DSS DG, Lawal Daura, to reject Magu.

    Ndume recalled that only on Tuesday the Senate rejected a letter written by an Assistant Comptroller of Customs on the payment of duty on old vehicles.

    He wondered why the Senate would accept another letter not endorsed by the DSS DG.The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) last night backed Magu to remain in office in acting capacity.

    Its chairman Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) said after consultations with members, PACAC had passed on a vote of confidence on Magu.

    “PACAC wishes to express its confidence in Magu and hope that he will be confirmed in due course.

    “He can also continue to carry out his duties in acting capacity,” Sagay said.

  • WORTHY AMBUSH ON DADU AND COHORTS

    WHEN you place a politician in the position of a technocrat, you simply make a mess of the polity. The appointment of Danjuma Dadu as Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan was a mess that has lasted more than four years and planning to spread.

    For some of us, we took his appointment with some level of optimism in the belief that even a child with a clean mind, obedient mien and listening hear could lead a society with remarkable reign let alone a university teacher. On the other hand, and perhaps worse, is that the film industry was, as usual, divided along political, ethnic and egocentric line that the protest against Dadu’s appointment was neither here nor there.

    Today, the man is using the same politics that brought him to power to sustain his hold on filmmakers and the film industry, having ‘secretly’ spearheaded a bill to repeal the NFC ACT 2004 and  re-enact the Nigerian Film Commission ACT, 2016, to regulate the film industry in Nigeria.

    It is indeed untoward how Dadu treated the issue of transforming the NFC into a Film Commission like a matter for politicians alone, without carrying the stakeholders (who are the reason the NFC was created in the first place) along. The move for that supposed public hearing of December 6, 2016 by the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, ethics and Value was indeed questionable, as the event was somewhat ambushed by industry practitioners who disclosed that invitations were not extended to the heads of their guilds and associations or key players in the motion picture industry.

    Among those who had foreknowledge of the meeting at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja were the external sponsor of the bill, including Mr. Brendan Shehu, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya (both former Chief Executives of the Corporation), Alhaji Aldulkarim Mohammed and a large retinue of NFC staff. The National Film & Video Censors Board (NFVCB) was also there with some its key staff, led by its Director General, Patricia Bala.

    Just so we are clear on how secretive that public hearing was intended, when Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Chief Odebunmi O. Dokun, called for those that submitted memoranda, it was gathered that only the NFC and NFVCB represented by their helmsmen could submit written memoranda before the December 1, 2016 deadline given by the House Committee. Grace however came the way of the filmmakers when Hon. Dokun gave room for verbal presentations, to which the likes of Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Madu Chikwendu and Charles Novia rose to the occasion.

    Dadu and his team might have been surprised at the presence of the Nollywood group, including President of Association of Movie Producer (AMP), Ralph Nwadike, President of Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Fred Amata, former President of DGN, Andy Amenechi, Creative Designers’ Guild strong lady Iyen Agbonifo-Obaseki, notable actor Mr. Ramsey Nouah, former president of ITPAN Femi Odugbemi, AMAA boss and Chairperson of Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON) Review Committee, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, who obviously were a group to abort the sinister move.

    Suffice to say that while the issue of transforming the NFC to a film commission is a development which discerning minds have been clamouring for, some of the clauses injected by Dadu and co were the issues in contention.

    Shedding light on the issue, internal sponsor of the bill, Hon. Umar Buba Jibril, Deputy House Leader who also represented the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara at the hearing, informed the gathering that he actually sponsored and pushed the bill forward when he was Chairman of the House Committee on Information in the 7th Assembly. He urged all to see the bill, which had gone through second reading as the next step in moving the film industry forward.

    After Dadu, the originator of the bill talked about the amendments therein, the NFVCB reportedly picked holes in the proposed bill, saying the proposed Commission intends to take on the duties of the Censors Board yet requiring the Board to remit a percentage of its earnings to it when established.

    Bala had nominated the NFVCB’s legal adviser, Iwang Effiong, to do her presentation which elicited some banter between the latter and some committee members.

    Ali-Balogun, after promising, on behalf of Nollywood that a memoranda will be forwarded to the committee at a later date, made it clear that indeed, a film commission will be most appropriate for the motion picture industry in Nigeria but opposed the current draft which said contained clauses that will stifle the development and growth of the industry if not reviewed.

    Ali-Balogun who is the Deputy Chairman of the MOPICON Review Committee echoed the provisions in its current state whereby among other things, it seeks to  handle production and exhibition of films; set up production and post-production facilities; to establish the commission as the sole producer of all government video productions; to establish cinemas/theatres and exhibit films commercially and more importantly, regulate motion picture practice through guilds and association – as in the current MOPICON bill. This, he said contradicts the industry position.

    He told the House Committee that the guilds and associations as a unified industry body through a review committee set up by the Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had already submitted a Motion Picture Council Of Nigeria (MOPICON) Draft Bill barely three weeks before the hearing; and that the NFC was part of the committee as its secretariat, adding that the bill is to get to the National Assembly as an Executive Bill.

    It is laughable that while a film commission should serve as a developmental agency, it is being proposed by Dadu as a competitor to players in the industry. Another position of the whistle blowers which I quite agree with is that the head of the film commission should be a person with proven pedigree in motion picture practice contrary to what obtained presently, whereby Dadu, an engineer was made head of the Film Corporation.

    Thankfully, the bill will be reviewed and the chaff removed from the wheat because Dokun, on hearing the position of the practitioners, magnanimously gave the draft bill to the industry players to go and review. In about two weeks from today, real players in film business will present a final document to the House Committee for another hearing, beating Dadu and cohorts to their ‘game of thrones’.