The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GOVT

  • Feed Nigeria partners govt on food production

    The   Feed Nigeria Summit, is partnering the Federal Government  to increase  the production of  foods – which have not kept pace with demand, its Director–General, Mr. Richard Mbaram has said.

    Mbaram  said a summit had been scheduled for between April 6 and 7 , at International Hotel,Victoria Island, Lagos to discuss strategies to drive progress in agriculture.

    He said there was a need to bring together producers and leading industry representatives to agree to boost future production and open up new export opportunities.

    He said the meeting would need to set new targets to turbo-charge exports, boost inward investment and support emerging agro  companies to export overseas.

    He  said  there is a significant opportunity for  Nigeria  to develop international sales and profile through exploration of new markets and opportunities opening up all the time,championing  regional food  growing local businesses and potentially creating more jobs.

    According to him, Nigeria must embrace agricultural innovations to better compete in an evolving global bio-economy, by   technologies to address challenges related to population, poverty, food insecurity and climate change.

    He  emphasised the underdevelopment of  Nigeria ’s trade in agriculture, especially intra-regional trade, in spite of the potential for its expansion.

    He said the mission of the summit was to work with development partners and the Federal Government  to implement innovative solutions that could not only bolster agricultural performance, but also promote agri-food trade and food security.

  • Govt eyes 3bscf/d from Bonny-Olokola-Lekki pipeline

    The Federal Government is expecting three billion standard cubic feet per day (scf/d) when the Bonny-Olokola-Lekki gas pipeline takes off next year, the Chairman of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, Dr Saka Matemilola, has said.

    Matemilola said the project would help in transferring gas from Bonny to Olokola and Lekki in Lagos. He said the power sector would bounce back if all went well with the project.

    According to him, stakeholders, including the Federal Government, are banking on the project to improve the power sector and that the sector relies on 2bscf/d for generation, adding that increasing gas supply to 3bscf/d would have a significant effect on power.

    He said three projects – gas, petrochemical and refinery – are within the Lekki Free Trade Zone, adding that the projects would have multiplier effects on the economy via creating direct and indirect jobs, boosting trade and the revenue of the government.

    Speaking on the sideline of a media parley, organised by SPC, Nigeria Council, in Lagos, to herald this year’s edition of its Lecture Series, Matemilola said the bane of the oil and gas industrywas inadequate infrastructure.

    The Oloibiri Lecture Series had as theme:, Domestic gas usage: from producers to users.

    He said the Lecture Series was titled, Oloibiri, to mark the anniversary of the discovery of crude oil by Shell in 1956. He said the title was apt when one considered that Nigeria has since 1956 not been able to produce oil optimally due to decayed infrastructure and other problems in the industry.

    He explained that gas is located in areas where it is not being used, noting that the issue is causing problems in the sector.

    Matemilola said: “Gas is located in the Eastern part of Nigeria while the bulk of the users are in the Western part of the country.The infrastructure for transporting gas is not adequate, making it difficult for operators to move gas from the East to the West.This means that all the gas that is being produced in the East is not getting to the West, causing hitches in production for the power firms, which use gas as a feedstock.

    “It is one thing to build the pipeline and it is another thing to transport gas through the pipeline to where it is going to be used. Besides, the cost of building pipeline, among producing other infrastructural facilities, is enormous.”

    He said lack of infrastructure had resulted in the trapping of gas offshore, urging the government to assist in recovering the gas by providing the right infrastructure for the sector.

    He said the sector has what is called ‘Domestic Gas Supply Obligation,’ adding that the full implementation of the initiative would help the industry to meet its obligations to power, fertiliser and other firms, which use the product sufficiently for production

    Matemilola, who is also the Chief Petroleum Engineer, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (First E&P), said the cost of providing infrastructure for petroleum industry is beyond the governments across the world.

    “Nigeria has budgeted over N7trillion in 2017. Despite its huge budget, the country is unable to provide infrastructure needed for its oil and gas sector. The country does not have a revenue base that would support oil and gas infrastructure,” he said.

    The issue, Matemilola said, required that local and foreign investors come to the country to invest in oil and gas infrastructure to achieve the much-needed growth.

    He urged the Federal Government to incentivise the oil and gas sector, stressing that investors would be attracted to the industry, once they know that they would get enough incentives.

    According to him, incentives would enable investors to support the sector in order to achieve the desired growth. He advised the Federal Government to formulate policies that would guide the industry to growth first before providing incentives for investors.

    Dangote Group President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said Nigeria will be refining and exporting half of its crude soon, adding that the petrochemical project would come on stream in December, gas project next year while the refinery in 2019.

  • ‘Govt reforms to strengthen institutions, business, says Saraki

    ‘Govt reforms to strengthen institutions, business, says Saraki

    The Federal Government is to address concerns over investments inflow and ease of doing business through its new reforms that will see the emergence of strong institutions to implement its agenda, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said.

    At a forum in Lagos, he expressed concern about the country’s low ranking on the ease of doing business, saying the government has set up a technical committee to  review institutional, regulatory and associated instruments affecting businesses.

    Represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Sam Egwu, Saraki added that there were many reform bills being worked on to jump-start the economy and strengthen institutions. He said one of the bills has the potential to cut poverty and reduce unemployment by creating a friendly environment for investors and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

    “The bill is the Public Procurement Act Amendment Bill, which has already been passed by the Senate.

    ‘’Other bills aimed at improving our transport networks and maintenance culture includes the Private Sector Infrastructure Replacement and Protection Bill,” he added.

    He noted that the nation would require a collective approach to solve its insecurity  challenges, saying that the Federal Government, civil society groups, business and organisations shoulc fight insecurity to create an enabling environment where businesses will thrive  to ensure sustainable economic development.

     

  • Govt ‘ll step up support for leprosy patients, says minister

    Govt ‘ll step up support for leprosy patients, says minister

    The Federal Government will work with the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA) and others to increase support for persons affected by leprosy,Health Minister Prof Isaac Adewole has said. He spoke when he visited  on  Yangoji Leprosy Communityin  Kwali Area Council of  Abuja, as part of activities marking this year’s World Leprosy Day.

    Adewole said government would work with stakeholders to provide facilities and consumables to the victims in their communities.

    He said: “I know there are other leprosy communities that are in serious state of disrepair. I will certainly get in touch with the Minister of FCT so that together we can visit Dakwa community in FCT to access how we can support them.

    “I want to assure you that the real message we want to let the whole world know is that leprosy does not kill, leprosy is preventable, it is treatable and it is curable”.

    Adewole said the theme of this year’s World Leprosy Day, “Zero Disability among children affected by Leprosy”, was borne out of the need to prevent children from being infected with leprosy.  He said since leprosy was preventable and treatable, if anybody noticed any child with such symptoms he/she should quickly report to the relevant authority for treatment’’.

    The minister praised  the Board of Trustees of Leprosy Mission; Nigeria, World Health Organisation, the Damian Foundation of Belgium, German Leprosy and TB relief Association, Netherland Leprosy Relief (NLR) and Lions Club for their support.

    The Chairman of Persons Affected by Leprosy,  Ahmed Mohammed Nasir, urged the government at all levels to support people affected by leprosy with basic health and social amenities.

    “We hereby call on the government and other partners at Federal, states and local levels to come to our aid.  We also call on all Nigerians to see us as equal and part of the society. We need all the support to enable us actualise our full potentials towards national development”, he appealed.

    Speaking earlier, the Acting Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCT,  Dr. Oday  Achu, also appealed to the minister to provide accommodation and other social amenities to people affected by leprosy in Dakwa.

    “I humbly appeal for special consideration of the people affected by leprosy residing in Dakwa community to be relocated with appropriate provision of housing units for their accommodation, farm land and school for their children with other amenities.” Achu added.

    Highlight of the event was the presentation of two wheel chairs, crouches and tubers of yam to the community by the President, Abuja Metropolitan Lions Club, Dr. Ozy Okonokhau

  • Community urges govt to rehabilitate its only primary school

    Residents of Evbokabua in Orhionmwon Local Government of Edo State have appealed to the government to rehabilitate the only primary school in the community.

    They spoke yesterday in interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Evbokabua.

    A pastor, Mr. Peter Efe-Osayande, told NAN the present condition of Osadebawmen Primary School, the only public primary school in the area, was deplorable.

    “Rehabilitation is long overdue. The pupils get drenched whenever it rains and this is not good.

    “The school was established in 1955, and three of the five buildings have collapsed, while the remaining one has a leaking roof.

    “The only building the pupils are managing now, was built in 2007 through the Education Trust Fund,” he said.

    Mrs. Rose Bose said: “Politicians have come here with electioneering promises and after getting our votes they refuse to keep their promises.

    “Parents are begging the government to rehabilitate the school.

    “For more than 15 years there has been no power supply at Evbokabua because the supply that came through Abavo in Delta State was disconnected.”

    Another resident, Mr. Friday Unionmwan, said the community was underdeveloped.

    He added: “We appeal to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) to come to our aid and fix the primary school, reconnect us with the national grid and repair our road.

  • Pension law: Govt, Labour bicker

    Pension law: Govt, Labour bicker

    Organised Labour in Ebonyi State has accused the government of deducting workers’ salaries before passage of the contributory pension law.

    A statement by Ikechukwu Nwafor (Nigeria Labour Congress NLC), Michael Nwonu (Trade Union CongressTUC) and  Patrick Ekwe (Joint Public Service Negotiating Committee JPSNC)  said the deduction was illegal as its law had not been passed.

    They maintained that the deduction should be the last action in the passage and implementation of the scheme.

    The labour leaders accused the government of not following due process.

    But the government denied deducting workers’ salaries.

    Special Adviser to Governor David Umahi on Labour Relations Mrs. Grace Chukwu said the allegation was baseless and an attempt to mislead and incite workers against the government.

    Mrs Chukwu urged the labour leaders to support the new pension law.

    “The labour leader were consulted, they were involved in the process.

    “They were at the House of Assembly during the public hearing on the matter and they made their input.

    “We are surprised that they issued a statement denying that they were not consulted. The labour leaders have been part of this administration.

    “Let me make it clear that workers’ salaries were not deducted as claimed,”she said.

  • Fed Govt raises N160b in local bonds

    Fed Govt raises N160b in local bonds

    • Unsure of how much to borrow from World Bank

    The Federal Government  has raised N160 billion ($525 million) in local currency bonds at its second debt auction this year.

    The bonds were raised at yields lower than inflation rate.

    The Debt Management Office (DMO) announced that it initially wanted to raise N110billion, but increased the offer due to demand, which was pegged at N337.03billion – a figure higher than N235.05billion demand at its previous sale.

    The DMO said it raised N70billion of the paper maturing in 2036 at 16.77 per cent, lower than 16.99 per cent same instrument fetched at the previous auction, and paid 16.61 per cent for the N30billion raised in the paper maturing in 2026.

    It issued N60billion in the note maturing in 2021 at 16.55 per cent against 16.89 per cent at the previous auction.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it has not decided on how much it wants to borrow from the World Bank.

    Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen Udoma Udo Udoma, who spoke yesterday said the decision will be taken after the passage of budget 2017.

    The external borrowing is needed to help pay for record spending of $24 billion this year.

    He said: “The figure will depend on the (2017) budget approved by the National Assembly.

    “We are waiting for the passage of the budget by the National Assembly so that we will know the budget gap or the actual deficit before we can go to the World Bank for loan.”

  • Govt, private sector embrace fish farming

    Govt, private sector embrace fish farming

    The government and the private sector are encouraging fish farming to provide an alternative to small farmers, DANIEL ESSIET reports

    Bamidele Onibalusi is an Oyo-based blogger. After a making money from the internet, he decided to explore other opportunities like fish farming. He then learnt the business of catfish farming, starting with a few ponds.

    He made a success of the business. Now he is encouraging others to take up fish farming.

    Onibalusi, knowing that farmers in many parts of Oyo depended on agriculture for their livelihood, is assisting them to upgrade their systems of farming with training and new technologies.

    His vision to improve his income  was paramount to his switching over to fish farming. And he was not dissapointed, hence, his appreciation of his mentor who introduced him to  fish  farming. Now, he can pay his way and his staff emoluments with his income. His success has encouraged and motivated others to take up fish farming.

    For him, fish  farming is highly profitable, and the number of new entrants is growing daily. Many  young entrepreneurs have been attracted to farming. In addition to fish farming’s contributions to food security at the family level, many professionals believe small-scale fish farming is an ideal way to empower young people.

    One of them is Prof Martins Antekhai of the Department of Fisheries, Lagos State University (LASU), who said empowering young people through fish farming to become more financially autonomous has proven to be one of the most effective poverty alleviation tools.  An important strategy, according to him,   to attracting  the  value chain  approach of exposing  them to several  business  services, such as inputs, value addition  which  are very  profitable  within  the fish  farming industry.

    The other thing, Antekhai mentioned, is forging links between the young farmers and   financial institutions  and offering mentoring for the most promising enterprises on how to access finance.

    He said Nigeria is geographically poised to be the world leader in the fishery sector and a vast population, especially the young generation, could be deployed in the fishing industries.

    According to him, young  people   can find an income source and maintain healthy life as well from fish farming.This is because  nutrition value of fish and other marine products has been measured and proven to be one of the highest, as compared to any other commonly available food products.

    In fish business, he said one can make 20 per cent  return on investment.

    Modernising the fish business, he believes, is critical to ensuring higher incomes for small-scale farmers, improved food security and a reliable supply  needed for fisheries’ feed supply chains.

    Antekhai said there was a need to bring together the main players, including cooperatives, processors, traders,policy-makers, development organisations and financiers to develop a strategy that can overcome challenges, enabling  fish farmers to have a more reliable supply.

    Recognising the need to increase the country’s domestic fish production to meet growing demand and end reliance on imported fish, the Executive Manager of TGI Group, the holding company of Chi Farms Limited, Dr. Johannes Flosbach, said under the deal, Chi Farms would train 1,000 smallholder fish farmers in Lagos and Ogun states on new farming techniques, access to credit, and marketing skills to help raise incomes.

    He said farmers would have access to quality juvenile catfish from Chi Farms’multiple hatcheries, as well as aquaculture management training and financial tools to provide the knowledge necessary to build successful aquaculture businesses.

    He said his  organisation has povided the opportunity for women and youths for the development of agricultural business, and wealth creation.

    With  training, he  said Chi farms has maximised output in fisheries development, empowerment of women and actualising food security.

    Triton Group  Chairman, Ashvin Samtani, said the group is expanding  its investment to cover a fish feed mill and place emphasis on employment generation, training and capacity building for Nigerians, in addition to exploring the considerable opportunities in marine-culture.

  • Govt: no plan to raise VAT

    Govt: no plan to raise VAT

    There is no plan to raise Value Added Tax (VAT), Minister of Budget and National Planning Udoma Udo Udoma said yesterday.
    Senator Udoma spoke during the opening of a public hearing on the 2017 budget by the National Assembly.
    Replying to a question from Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, who was worried that the private sector and others were not sure whether or not VAT would be reviewed upward, the minister said: “I will like to talk about taxation. A view was expressed that we should not increase taxes. We were told that we should broaden the collection of taxes and that is precisely what is in the budget. There is no increase in VAT, there is no increase in companies’ income tax, there is no increase at all in taxes.
    ”No increase in taxes, but people who are not paying their taxes should pay because its unfair that some people are paying others are not paying.
    The idea is to increase revenue by broadening the tax base, not by increasing taxation.”
    The public hearing continues today with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)and other interest groups expected to make presentations.
    Declaring open the event, the Senate President Bukola Saraki said that the public hearing was aimed to increase the efficiency of government and its responsiveness to citizens needs
    Saraki also said that the public hearing which drew members of the public and other stakeholders was aimed to improve overall transparency and accountability in governance.
    It is the first of such and was organised by the Joint Appropriation Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives.
    Saraki added: “The best way to achieve this is to ensure that all stakeholders are made a part of the decision-making process especially as it relates to the provision of public services and distribution of social benefits.”
    He said by engaging critical stakeholders and members of the general public to make input into the 2017 budget, the National Assembly hoped to increase the efficiency of government and its responsiveness to citizens needs as well as improve overall transparency and accountability in governance.
    He said, “You will agree with me that the current state of the economy is needs, among others, a credible budget that will stimulate real economic activities, fix our critical infrastructure and provide cushion for the poor and vulnerable.
    “The challenge, however, is how best to ensure that the Budget is utilized as an effective policy in achieving these. It is, therefore, in line with this belief that the 8th National Assembly deemed it necessary to bring Government, Civil Society Organisations, Private Sector, and other key actors in the economy to deliberate on the Budget proposal.
    “Through this engagement, and others to come, we hope to increase the efficiency of government and its responsiveness to citizens needs as well as improve overall transparency and accountability in governance,” he said.
    Saraki listed the issues challenging the nation’s economy to include low government revenues, shortages in foreign exchange supply, slowdown in economic activities, rising unemployment and cost of living.
    He said: “We are all affected in one way or another. With key economic indicators heading south, there is no better opportunity to reset the fundamentals of our economy.
    “What we have before our consideration is the 2017 Budget proposal of N7.298 trillion, which we believe has been designed based on a medium-term recovery and growth plan.”
    “At the various sub-Committees, we are objectively reviewing the planned expenditures especially as it relates to its feasibility and relevance in delivering the broad objectives of the Budget which are to: i. Pull the economy out of recession; ii. Invest in the people of Nigeria; and, iii. Lay the foundations for a diversified, sustainable and inclusive growth.
    “On a more specific note, the 2017 capital budget proposal is intended to support activities that will help to speed up the diversification of the economy and the promotion of the non-oil sector, as well as create jobs for our youth.
    “Accordingly, it is expected that “Made-in-Nigeria” (that is, domestic production of food, materials and other commodities) will be encouraged. In addition, 2017 capital budget proposal is intended to engender private sector partnership in infrastructure as well as other critical sectors of the economy such as agriculture, manufacturing and services.
    “However, the extent to which the budget proposal will succeed in achieving its overall objective of pulling the economy out of recession depends on a number of imperatives.
    ”In addition, the National Assembly will continue to focus on priority Bills that will loosen the structural bottlenecks that are impeding the ease-of-doing business in the country.
    “These priority Bills, among which, include: National Transport Commission bill; National Road Fund Bill; National Road Authority Bill; National Inland Waterways Bill; Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority Bill; Infrastructure Development Commission Bill, Petroleum Institution and Governance Bill; Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill will un-stiffen the investment climate in critical sectors of the economy.
    “What we want to build is a better Nigeria, and we all have a part to play.”
    Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, said the National Assembly would not abdicate the onerous constitutional responsibility of appropriation “no matter the degree of intimidation and blackmail the legislature is subjected to by persons who want to cow us and brazenly put our democracy in a recession.”
    Chairman of the Senate committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Gombe, warned that in considering the budget, partisan politics must be set aside in the interest of Nigerians.
    He promised that the joint committee would address the lopsidedness in the budget which favours one section of the country at the expense of others.

  • Why govt fired lead prosecutor in Supreme Court Justice’s trial, by AGF

    Why govt fired lead prosecutor in Supreme Court Justice’s trial, by AGF

    The Federal Government said yesterday that it fired Charles Adeogun-Phillips, the lead prosecutor in the trial of Supreme Court’s Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, for alleged conflict of interests.

    This is contrary to the claim by the former prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) that he withdrew.

    Adeogun-Phillips led the prosecution team until February 9 when he announced his withdrawal from the case. He was silent on what informed his decision.

    He was the leader of ‘Team 16’of the National Prosecution Coordination Committee (NPCC) saddled with the prosecution of the case involving Justice Ngwuta and three officials of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Registrar, Ahmed Gambo Saleh.

    Saleh, Muhammad Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal (both officials of the Supreme Court’s Accounts Department) were charged with alleged diversion of about N2.2billion and acceptance of gratification from contractors engaged by the court.

    On February 7, the office of the AGF withdrew the nine-count charge, marked: CR/13/2016, filed against Saleh and others before the High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT) on November 3 last year. State’s lawyer, Mrs. Hajara Yusuf was silent on the reason behind the withdrawal.

    Subsequent media reports, quoting some sources close to Adeogun-Phillips, however attributed his sudden withdrawal from Justice Ngwuta’s trial to his disagreement with the office of the AGF over its decision to discontinue the trial of Saleh and others, which is believed to have involved the largest amount of money – N2.2b.

    But, the office of the AGF yesterday faulted such reports, claiming that the lawyer was sacked because he allegedly withheld information about his involvement in a case against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Salihu Isah, Media aide to the AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said in a statement yesterday that it was wrong for the AGF to retain Adeogun-Phillips while he was representing a private interest against a government agency.

    Isah also faulted insinuation that the decision to discontinue Saleh and others’ trial had religious and ethnic undertone.

    He said the charge against the Supreme Court officials was withdrawn because Saleh had agreed to serve as prosecution witness in Justice Ngwuta’s trial, which resumes today.

    He said a letter disengaging Adeogun-Phillips sent to him on Februrary 6 was acknowledged on February 8.

    The letter partly reads: “Contrary to impressions given by Charles Adeogun-Philips, the lead prosecutor in the suit against Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta in various reports, suggesting that he withdrew from the case on his own volition, the National Prosecution Coordination Committee (NPCC) that engaged his services actually withdrew thefiat issued to him to prosecute the case over non-disclosure of conflict of interest and for other sundry reasons.

    “The reports in a section of the media last Friday that he left in protest due to last week Tuesday’s dropping of charges earlier instituted against the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ahmed Gambo Saleh and two other officials of the apex court, Muhammad Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal which he is also handling for the Federal Government and withdrawn against his consent, cannot be relied upon.

    “The insinuation that the AGF withdrew the case against the three Supreme Court officials because they are Northerners is also unwarranted due to the fact that the dropping of the suit was done in good faith and in the context of plea bargaining to achieve greater goals in the prosecution of the other bigger cases that are ongoing against Justice Sylvester Ngwuta among others.

    “So, it is wicked and childish for anyone to allude undue colouration to an action taken in national interest and reduce it to a North/South thing with a view to confuse the discerning public.

    “This is not the first time such process will be entered into in law, especially so as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 allows plea bargaining in line with national interest.

    “And as a precedence, there was a time in the history of this nation that the allegations against Sergeant Rogers who was accused of killing Kudirat Abiola were stepped down for him to be used to testify against Major Hamza Al-Mustapha in the case between him and the Lagos state government over the killing of the wife of the acclaimed winner of the 1992 presidential election, late Chief M.K.O Abiola.

    “It has now clearly shown that, either corruption is fighting back or simply that some people want to be mischievous and to hoodwink and divert the attention of Nigerians from the core issues at stake.

    “Charles Adeosun-Philips is handling a brief in an ongoing suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which amounts to conflict of interest, which he failed to disclose when being engaged.

    “The suit in question involves a bank executive, who is alleged to have laundered  $40m on behalf of former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke as part of the $153, 310, 000.00 she is alleged to have siphoned from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    “The EFCC is currently prosecuting the case before the Honourable Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos pursuant to Section 17 of the Advanced Fees Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 as well as Section 44(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federation of Nigeria.

    “It would be recalled that the National Prosecution Coordination Committee (NPCC) chaired by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) was inaugurated by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on May 27, 2016 at the Presidential Villa.

    ”It is charged with assisting the Attorney-General of the Federation in the exercise of his prosecutorial powers under Section 150 and 174(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; especially as it involves high profile criminal cases,” he said.

    Isah, who is also the Head of Communication and Public Affairs at the NPCC, said information about Adeogun-Philips’ sack was conveyed to him vide a letter titled, ‘Withdrawal of your name as a member of Team 16 of the National Prosecution Team handling charges No. FHC/ABJ/C/232/16-FRN vs Sylvester N. Ngwuta’ dated 6th February, 2017 and signed by the Special Assistant to the President on Research and Special Projects, who doubles as the NPCC Secretary, Sylvester O. Imhanobe.

    He said Adeogun-Philips acknowledged receipt of the letter through an email message dated February 8 where, according to Isah, he said: “Your letter of 6 February 2017, is received with great relief. I wish you and/or your colleagues at the NPCC, success in the continued prosecution of your ‘high profile’ cases.  With my very best wishes.”

    Isah said, in view of its experience with the Adeogun-Phillips’ case, the NPCC “plans to carry out a critical surgery on the present composition of the entire prosecution team to weed out those with question marks around them, because they had been informed before hands that anyone found wanting would be eased out since it is a continuous process.

    “Meanwhile, the other members of Team 16 of the NPCC comprising Hajara Yusuf, Dr. M. Lawal Yusufari and Ibrahim Waru remain intact as only its leader is affected.”