The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos Trade Fair

  • Business resumes at Lagos Trade Fair market amid protests

    Business resumes at Lagos Trade Fair market amid protests

    Amid the ongoing protests that have enveloped Lagos for the past week, the Trade Fair Market remains a vibrant and thriving commercial centre.

    Despite the unrest affecting other areas of the city, traders and customers at the market continue to conduct business as usual, seemingly unfazed by the turmoil.

    The market, renowned for its diverse offerings ranging from electronics to clothing, shows no signs of slowing down, with stalls remaining open and operational.

    According to Chukwudi Uche, a trader at the market, “We need to keep working, as it’s what puts food on our tables.

    “We have to keep working, and People rely on this market for their daily needs. Shutting down is not an option for us”, he said.

    Read Also: Protests: Tinubu not wholly responsible for Nigeria’s economic woes – PDP Chieftain

    The resilience of the traders is evident. Many are quick to point out that while the protests are significant, their livelihoods cannot be put on hold.

    “I understand the protests; we all want a better Nigeria, and we need to provide for our families also. That’s why we’re here every day, no matter what,” says Mrs. Emmanuel, who sells electronics.

    Nwodika Solomon who sells a break pad stated that the market has never been closed, and that right from the outset, the market distanced themselves from the protest.

    “We distance ourselves from the protest from the onset, as the protest is going on, we are also going about with our business,” he said

    Despite the ongoing protests, security presence in the market has been minimal, and there have been no reports of disturbances within its vicinity.

    “We look out for each other here and everyone knows that any trouble in the market affects us all. We maintain peace among ourselves.” Mr. Emeka, a wholesaler.

    Customers, too, continue to flock to the market, driven by necessity and the relative calm within its confines.

    “I need supplies for my shop. The protests are worrying, but the market is safe. I have to get what I need”, Mrs. Uche who came from the island said.

    The Trade Fair Market’s persistence in the face of the city’s unrest is a testament to the resilience and determination of its traders and customers alike.

    While the protests highlighted the need for change, the market remains a crucial lifeline for many.

  • High, low points of Lagos trade fair

    This year’s edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair provided a forum for many businesses to evaluate trends in the economy and chart the way forward. Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE, who monitored the 10-day event, examines its highlights from the perspective of key public and private sector operators.

    THE just-concluded Lagos International Trade Fair, provided opportunity for partcipants, especially local and international exhibitors, to advertise to target markets and create brand awareness.

    It also provided a veritable platform for manufacturers and service providers to promote their products and services to a broader group.

    But to stakeholders, including public and private sector operators, the 32nd edition of the fair, was more than product and services exhibition, it aimed at reaching prospective customers and increasing market share.

    The event, which was organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), presented another opportunity to examine the benefits and impacts of the trade fair on the economy, do a hard-nosed retrospection on the economy, examine the current challenges and recommend the way forward.

    Reviewing the event, LCCI Vice-President and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, said more than 500,000 visitors attended the 10-day fair, while an average of 40, 000 square metres space was utilised. Also, about 2, 000 exhibitors attended the fair.

    In what perhaps underscored the growing interest of foreign investors and businesses in the Nigerian market, Idahosa said more than 200 foreign exhibitors from 16 countries, including China, Japan, India, Indonesia, and Ghana, showed up at the fair.

    Other countries that could not resist trade and investment opportunities in Nigeria included Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey, Cameroun, Kenya, Singapore, Jamaica, Republic of Benin, South Africa, and the European Union (EU).

    The LCCI chief described this year’s event as “very exciting”.

    “Our brand promise, year after year, will continue to be connecting businesses and creating value as you must have noticed in our marketing campaign for the past few months,” he said.

    Idahosa said exhibitors took advantage of the chamber’s automated website to register, pay and book for the space of their choice, adding that the process was ab-initio, designed to be seamless and friendly, as almost all the available spaces were booked.

    He also said the chamber took time to educate exhibitors on how noise pollution is injurious to health, which was why public address systems and music gadgets were banned.

    “We have been enlightening our exhibitors on alternative ways of marketing, and they embraced it. We didn’t allow any exhibitor to bring musical instrument as we insisted that it would be confiscated if found. We also sent a special team to ensure compliance,” Idahosa added.

    Continuing, he said: “To bring life to the exhibition ground, our central public address system was made available to disseminate information and light music to make the environment welcoming.  We established a Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) Radio for exhibitors, who want to place adverts, either by spot announcement or jingles, during the Fair.”

    For LCCI President Mr. Babatunde Paul Ruwase, this year’s fair with the theme: “Connecting Business, Creating Value”, underscored the importance of relationships and interactions among businesses for the purpose of wealth creation. He also said it underlined the value of interactions between producers and service providers; and the end users.

    While noting that the Chamber recognised the imperative of non-oil sector development and the need to add value to primary products in order to improve earnings for both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy, Ruwase said the fair provided a platform to identify non-oil alternatives and highlighted the significance of value addition.

    The LCCI president added that despite the limitations of the business environment, infrastructure challenges and the state of the economy, the Chamber was able to hold a successful fair.

    According to him, the success of the fair was a testimony that the Nigerian business community and foreign investors demonstrated their confidence in the economy.

    Ruwase, however, called on governments at all levels to continue to address the issues of enabling environment in the country, especially in the area of infrastructure.

    “We need to do this in order to fully harness the huge enterprising resource of domestic and foreign investors for the diversification of our economy and the welfare of our people,” he stressed.

    He has an ally in the President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode Alaba Lawson. The NACCIMA president asked the government to expedite action on infrastructure development, particularly in the construction of access roads to the ports and the provbision of reliable electricity supply.

    She commended the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) clinics, which she said, made it possible for MSMEs to get loans and working capital. She also asked the government to work earnestly to seek business relationship with developed economies

    .

    In exhibitors, operators, words

    The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Yutaka Kikuta, said Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and material resources. He, however, asked the nation to turn its potential to trade relations with foreign companies, which will serve as a catalyst for job creation and economic development.

    Similarly, Dr. John Eredo of Jonmaka Herbal Products/Cosmetic Ltd, from Zambia, commended the fair. He said although, he could do with more sales, the visits to his stand was commendable.

    The Nigerian representative of Debbies & Debbitone, hair, skin and home care manufacturers, Madam Uche, also said she had no regrets coming to the fair. While admitting that her sales increased during the 10-day fair, she said the organisers should step up in the area of publicity in the coming editions of the fair.

    Nkoyo Fresh Smothie Chief Executive Officer, who declined to have his name in print,  said although sales were low, the improved security and the elimination of excessive noise that used to characterise previous fairs were commendable. Like Uche, he urged the LCCI to embark on aggressive publicity to attract visitors to the fair.

     

    Govt to improve business

    environment

    To reassure existing and prospective investors, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the current administration was working on growing the economy by investing over N2.7 trillion in capital projects.

    Speaking at the Fair, Osinbajo said though the administration earned 60 per cent less from oil, it has done more by creating an environment that supports commerce, trade and foreign direct investment.

    The vice president specifically said the light rail between Lagos and Ogun and the port access road development were part of the enabling environment created by the current administration to create a competitive investment environment.

    He also said the government was working on building an effective rail line out of the ports and Lagos to ensure that port congestion was a thing of the past.

    On power generation, Osinbajo said the current administration was generating over 7, 000 megawatts as against the 3,000 megawatts it met on ground.

    He added that independent power producers are currently powering big markets such Ariara in Aba, Abia State, Sura in Lagos and markets in Edo and Ondo states.

     

    The low points

    But it wasn’t all good news for the fair and the exhibitors. For instance, some exhibitors raised the alarm over the LCCI’s alleged monetisation of the 2018 Lagos International Trade Fair, as well as poor publicity and public awareness.

    Checks by The Nation, however, revealed that the allegation was as a result of the denial of multiple access cards and serial gate passes for exhibitors’ cars and trucks unlike the previous fairs.

    Also, while some international exhibitors from Europe, Asia and Africa commended the LCCI for eliminating noise in the 2018 fair, some local manufacturers and retailers felt it was not good for their business.

    They claimed that the fair was too quiet unlike previous fairs when they used music, dancers and canvassers to attract visitors to their stand to make bulk sales.

    Some of them also said although security largely improved, a lot still needed to be done as some who do not have business at some hours of the day managed to find themselves inside the fair, which may have constituted a security breach.

    A fabric dealer from Ghana, Madam Celestina Oseibonsu, who made her 5th outing to the international trade fair this year, lamented that she did not make much sales, as many visitors complained of low purchasing power due to the poor economy.

    She also complained of poor publicity of the fair. She also regretted that Nigerians wanted to pay the same price they paid last year for fabrics, noting that it was impossible as a result of inflation.

     

    LCCI reacts

    LCCI Director-General Mr. Muda Yusuf debunked allegations of monetisation of the fair. He stated that the chamber gave every exhibitor the mandatory stickers and gate passes, noting that the exhibition ground had limited parking space.

    Yusuf said if all the requests for passes were acceded to, it would have created chaos. Besides, there were private parking spaces beside the fair ground, which exhibitors could have made use of.

    In line with the chamber’s commitment to encouraging trade and commerce, Ruwase reminded Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State of its request for a permanent trade fair facility in Lagos.

     

  • Lagos trade fair: Visitors flood Japan pavilion

    A special zone at the Japan Pavilion, featuring a collection of products and services created by Japanese firms for women in Nigeria, was a beehive as many visitors stormed the place at the on-going Lagos International Trade Fair at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    Some of the visitors, who started trooping the place on Saturday, the second day of the 10-day fair, said they could not resist Japan’s exciting innovation to this year’s trade fair called: “Made in Japan, Made for Women”, corner.

    They said the special zone introduced Japanese products and services that enrich women’s lives with more fashionable and convenient items, including cosmetics, hair wigs, shampoo, processed foods and seasonings, nail printers, consumer electronics (sewing machines, headphones, hair dryers), etc.

    This year from the stable of Japanese firm DMM.com LLC came a brand new nail printer model, which came out to the public for the first time in Nigeria. The amazing product was an object of attraction for women irrespective of age and class.

    Speaking with The Nation, the general Manager of Kaneka Corporation (Africa), Mr. Hiroshi Seko, said it was of utmost importance and great privilege for his firm to exhibit at the Lagos International Trade Fair 2018.

    He said since its introduction in 1982, the company’s product, Kanekalon, has won the love of Nigerian women for 36 years. He said the product’s strategic communication drive through events and media, which started in 2010, has strengthened the brand awareness.

    “There is no doubt that Nigeria is our biggest market as Kanekalon holds about 50 per cent market share in Nigeria. We are keen to support Nigeria’s economic growth, and this has been our driving force,” Seko said.

    He added: “We are also very excited to showcase our products, which are fibre for hair goods making, hair goods and hair care goods at this year’s fair, which is our first.”

    Kaneka Corporation (Africa) was one of the about 30 Japanese companies exhibiting at Japan Pavilion. Others with their array of quality and reliable brands and technologies include Panasonic, Koncept Autocentre (partner of Isuzu Motors), and Canon Central and North Africa, R.T. Briscoe Nigeria (distributor of Toyota’s trucks, forklifts, etc).

    There are also Massilia Motors (partner of Mitsubishi Motors), Denka Brothers International, Honda, and CFAO Yamaha Motor Nigeria.

    The Trade Commissioner and Managing Director of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Lagos, Mr. Shigeyo Nishizawa, said the Japan pavilion was one of the biggest at this year’s fair.

    JETRO is a Japanese governmental organisation that promotes mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. It focuses on promoting investment and facilitating trade from Japan to Nigeria.

    Speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the fair, Nishizawa said without doubt, there was a huge difference in the size and number of exhibitors in Japan pavilion organised this year by JETRO compared to 2017.

    According to him, the 2017 pavilion had a gross size of 1, 750 metres square, with 23 Japanese companies, compared to 2, 125 metres square gross size, featuring about 30 Japanese companies this year.

    Nishizawa said the 30 Japanese companies exhibiting at this year’s fair include their local representative agents in areas such as food, vehicles, transportation machinery like motorcycles, trucks and auto parts; stationery, home appliances, power generators, and raw materials for cosmetics.

    Others are office equipment, industrial goods, electrical tools, fibre for hair making, hair care goods, dietary supplement, consumer electronics (sewing machines, headphones, and hair dryers), etc.

    The JETRO boss said the activities of Japanese companies in Nigeria were contributing to economic growth and development.

    “They create jobs, educate staff, transfer technology and share values of Japanese craftsmanship, which are key agenda of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP),” Nishizawa said.

    The 2018 Lagos International Trade Fair opened on Friday November 2, 2018. The Fair, which runs for a total of 10 days, will close on Sunday, November, 11, 2018.

    The fair attracted a huge traffic of visitors seeking to take advantage of the networking opportunities and discounted prices.

     

  • Lagos Trade Fair: Exhibitors call for reduction in leasing fee for stands

    Some exhibitors at the ongoing Lagos international trade fair on Thursday advised the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the organisers of the fair, to reduce the rent on each stand in future.

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the rent had consistently been on the increase yearly.

    The exhibitors said the LCCI should ensure that the rents were reduced to enable them have some returns on their investments.

    Mrs Jenifer Ende of Endis Global Ventures said she got her stand for N1.2 million, the premium package, which according to her is quite exorbitant.

    Ende expressed doubt if she would be able to break even with such rents before the end of the 10-day scheduled for the fair.

    She urged the management of LCCI to train their members of staff to be cautious in addressing exhibitors, saying that most of the staff addressed exhibitors rudely each time they lodged complaints.

    “Most of the LCCI staff are very rude; they must be cautioned,’’ she said.

    Ende said that she would appreciate it if the fees for the stands were reduced.

    “ I love the Lagos international trade fair because it is the best in the whole of West and Central Africa.

    Read Also: Niger government to join NHIS – Commissioner

    “I just finished with the Jos trade Fair before coming here, the leasing fees for stands there are not as much as here, though I know one cannot compare the two cities.’’

    Mr Adegboyega Ezekiel, a sales executive with Nkoyo Home and Kitchen Appliances, said LCCI had failed to accord the exhibitors some sense of respect in spite the exorbitant rent for exhibitors’ stand.

    He pleaded that the rents be given a downward review during subsequent fairs to enable exhibitors get larger portions of land to displace their stocks approximately.

    “The fair has been good so far, but we want the stands to be reduced for us next year so that we can afford to get sufficient space to display our stocks.

    “The LCCI officials at the complaint room have not been friendly at all and I know it is because LCCI know that we are bound to have complaints that was the reason the desk was created.

    “But each time we make our complaint, it is always demoralising responses we get, though such complaints are often treated, but they need to learn how to address exhibitors politely,” he said.

    Mr Richard Ibe, a generator dealer, said that the fact there were many vacant stands on the fairground indicated that most people could not afford the rents this year.

    He said the leasing rents had always been on upward increase, saying he paid N900, 000 last year, but now parted with N1.6 million for the same portion of space.

    “LCCI must look into this constant increase in leasing fee because this will affect our businesses at the long run,” he said.

    Mr Onyekachi Ezenwa said that as much as LCCI would continue to increase leasing fee for stands, it must also consider intensifying effort in improving traffic to the fair for bountiful sales.

    According to him, LCCI has not made enough publicity for the fair which was very obvious in the sales generated so far.

    He said when this is done, exhibitors would not be groaning to pay because they know their money would be recovered right on the fairground.

  • 214 foreign exhibitors, 5,000 local firms, others for Lagos Trade Fair

    ABOUT 214 foreign exhibitors from 16 countries, 5,000 registered businesses and 500,000 visitors are expected at the 2018 Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF).

    Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Vice President & Chairman, Trade Promotion Board Mr. Gabriel Idahosa stated this at the opening of the trade fair in Lagos.

    Idahosa said countries like China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Ghana, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey, Cameroun, Kenya, Singapore, Jamaica, Republic of Benin, South Africa and European Union (EU) have already shown interest or registered for the 10-day event.

    The 2018 LITF, which started on Friday with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the special guest of honour, is holding at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, (TBS). It will end on Sunday.

    The LCCI Vice President said: “So far, our exhibitors have been taking the advantage of our automated website to register, pay and book for the space of their choices. The process has been designed to be seamless and friendly.

    “Almost all the available spaces have been booked. This, you can verify if you register on our website.”

    Idahosa said the LCCI also established LITF Radio for exhibitors, who want to place adverts either by spot announcement or jingles during the fair to spread the reach of their products and services.

    Speaking at the event, Osinbajo said the present administration is working on growing the economy by investing over N2.7 trillion in capital projects.

    He added that though the administration earned 60 per cent less from oil, it has done more by creating an environment that support commerce, trade and foreign direct investment.

    The vice president stressed that the policy framework of government has made it sustainable and able to withstand volatility and shocks.

    Osibanjo said the light rail between Lagos and Ogun and the port access road development were part of enabling environment created by the administration to build a competitive investment environment.

    He said the government is also working on building an effective rail line out of the ports in Lagos to curtail port congestion.

    On power generation, he said the administration is generating over 7,000 megawatts as against the 3,000 megawatts it met on ground.

    According to him, independent power producers are presently powering big markets such as Ariara in Aba, Abia State, Sura market in Lagos and markets in Edo and Ondo states.

    He said this has increased trade and storage facilities for traders as well as their profitability.

    Osinbajo added that the government is partnering Goggle Station to provide free Wi-Fi and internet  services in public places such as Palms Super Market, Ikeja City Mall, landmark centre, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MM2), train stations, computer village among others.

    He said very soon, the internet services would move to Onitsha main market and other markets to ensure that nobody is left out.

    According to him, the administration has distributed over N15.2 billion to 400,000 traders, artisans nationwide with 56 per cent to women, including the trader moni given to the very poor to lift them out of poverty.

    Japan Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Yutaka Kikuta said Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and material resources. He asked the nation to turn its potential to trade relations with foreign companies to serve as a catalyst for job creation and economic growth.

    President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Iyalode Alaba Lawson asked government to expedite action on infrastructure growth, road and access to port and energy provision.

    She hailed the Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) clinics that have made it easier for business owners to get loans and working capital for small and medium businesses.

    Chief Lawson asked government to work earnestly to seek business relationship with developed economies.

    LCCI President Mr. Babatunde Paul Ruwase said the Trade Fair, with the theme, “Connecting Business, Creating Value”, is aimed at underscoring the importance of relationships and interactions among businesses for the purpose of wealth creation.

  • 30 Japanese firms for Lagos Trade Fair

    Thirty Japanese companies will showcase their brands and technologies at this year’s Lagos International Trade Fair, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) has said.

    The fair will hold from November 2 to 11, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    At a news conference in Lagos, the Trade Commissioner and Managing Director of JETRO Lagos, Mr. Shigeyo Nishizawa, said the 30 firms are an improvement over the 23 at last year’s fair.

    He said the increased number is an indication of the growing interest of Japanese firms to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria and also expand their businesses in Africa’s biggest market.

    Nishizawa listed some of the companies expected at the 10-day event to include Panasonic, Koncept Autocentre (partner of Isuzu Motors), and Canon Central and North Africa, R.T. Briscoe Nigeria (distributor of Toyota’s trucks, forklifts, etc).

    Others are Massilia Motors (partner of Mitsubishi Motors), Kaneka Corporation, Denka Brothers International, Honda, and CFAO Yamaha Motor Nigeria. They will be displaying a vast range of consumer goods such as vehicles, electronics, home appliances, processed foods, as well as industrial goods.

    Nishizawa said JETRO will bring an innovation to this year’s fair called “Made in Japan, Made for Women” corner.

    “JETRO is setting up a special zone at the Japan Pavilion featuring a collection of products and services cfreated by Japanese companies for women in Nigeria,” he said.

    “Made in Japan, Made for Women” zone will introduce Japanese products and services, helping to enrich women’s lives with more fashionable and convenient items, including cosmetics, hair wigs, shampoo, processed foods and seasonings, nail printers, consumer electronics (sewing machines, headphones, hair dryers).

    Giving insight into Nigeria’s trade with Japan, the JETRO chief said import from Japan slightly decreased in 2017 by 1.6 per cent to $320.8 million from 2016, while export decreased by 7.5 per cent  to $783.1 million.

    He attributed the trade decline to decreased natural gas import, low harvest of sesame seeds in Nigeria and weak demand for some goods.

    Nishizawa, however, said despite  the slowdown in trade, the number of Japanese affiliated companies in increased by four in 2016 and by one in 2017, indicating that “Nothing has changed on the huge potential of Nigeria and how strongly Japanese firms are eager to tap into the market.”

    According to him, Japanese firms in Nigeria are contributing to economic growth and development. “They create jobs, educate staff, transfer technology and share values of Japanese craftsmanship, which are key agenda of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP),” Nishizawa said.

  • China, U.S, others for Lagos trade fair

    • Business clinics for SMEs coming

    This year’s edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair will attract visitors and exhibitors from China, Japan, the European Union (EU) and the United States (U.S) to explore opportunities for investment and trade promotion, the Chairman, Trade Promotion Board of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Sola Oyetayo, has said.

    He spoke when he led some top officials of the board on a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of Vintage Press, publishers of The Nation, to seek partnership for the fair slated for between November 4 and  13.

    Oyetayo said the event, which has: Positioning the Nigerian Economy for Diversification and Sustainable Growth, as its theme, will also host visitors from neighbouring West African countries such as Ghana and Republic of Benin among others.

    According to him, arrangements have been concluded for a hitch free edition of the fair, which will hold in two different locations.

    He said the general interest/Business-to-Customer Fair will hold at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, while the Corporate Exhibitions/Business-to-Business Fair comes up at Eko Hotel & Suites.

  • Alleged N247m fraud at Lagos Trade Fair: AGF seeks withdrawal of suit

    Alleged N247m fraud at Lagos Trade Fair: AGF seeks withdrawal of suit

    The Attorney General of  the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Adoke,  has applied that a N247.746,097.31 fraud case at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja against five former staff of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex be discontinued.

    The defendants in the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) are Bassey Dominic, Okafor Ngozi Eunice, Francis Datla, Okocha Ajele Lazarus and Kolo Banabas.

    They were in late 2013 arraigned by the EFCC  over charges bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

    They were said to have committed the offences on various dates between 2009 and 2012 by allegedly stealing the money belonging to the management of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.

    The  EFCC said the offences are  contrary to the provisions of Sections 516 and 396 of the Criminal Code Cap 617 Vol 2 of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2003.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    At the last hearing of the suit, the victim of the fraud, Professor Chika Nick Eze, had narrated how the alleged crime was perpetuated by the defendants.

    Prof. Eze had insisted that the defendants kept collecting rents, even after the complex has been concessioned to his company, Pulic Nigeria Limited, a real estate management and development company.

    The matter was adjourned for defence to cross examine him.

    At the resumed hearing of the suit yesterday, Mr. Adoke through a counsel, D. E. Kaswe, said he had an instruction to withdraw the matter from court.

    Citing Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kaswe told Justice Kudirat Jose of Lagos High Court, Ikeja  that his chamber had filed a notice of discontinuance before the court.

    According to him: “In the exercise of his powers, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation has entered a nolle proseque in this matter. I, therefore, urge Your Lordship to deem the notice as proper and the court should discontinue the suit.”

    In his response, counsel for the EFCC, A. B. C. Oziokwo informed the court that the commission is neither aware of the presence of the counsel from the AGF office nor the application he brought to court.

    According to him: “Nothing was served on us at the commission. I submit that the EFCC is still prosecuting this matter. The files are still with us and we are ready to proceed.

    “We are aware that the AGF has power to enter a nolle proseque, but is it limited to federal enactments. The matter before the court is stealing and it is only the Lagos State Attorney General that can enter a nolle proseque in this matter.

    “Section 211 (a) of the 1999 Constitution is  clear with respect to this matter.

    “It is only the Lagos Attorney General and not the AGF that can enter nolle proseque with respect to this suit. The EFCC has the fiat of Lagos State AG to prosecute this matter and that fiat has not been withdrawn.”

    Justice Jose has however  adjourned the matter till  November 26, 2014 for ruling.

    Meanwhile, counsel for the civilian complainant, Victor Opara told journalists after proceeding that it is wrong and strange to enter nolle proseque in a matter that the party bringing the application has not even seen the case file.

    “It is surprising that a nolle proseque could be entered in a matter the EFCC is prosecuting without the Federal Government taking the commission into confidence. The EFCC denied knowledge of the application, and what that suggests to me is that there are no inter-prosecutorial meeting before the AGF decided to introduce that application.

    “My submission with respecy is that the power of AGF to discontinue is akin to public interest which must be exercised on ground of overriding public interest. The current AGF is a man of impeccable character.”