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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • $9.6bn judgment debt, fraudulent target on our foreign reserve – FG

    The Federal Government  alleged on Friday that the $9.6 billion judgment debt against Nigeria over a botched gas contract was a calculated attempt by international and local scammers to deplete the country’s rising foreign reserve.

    “Anytime the foreign reserve of the country is rising, there is always this attempt by vultures that will come with one scam targeting the reserves,” Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said.

    He spoke on a TV Continental programme, This Morning, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He added: “It is also important to state here that these international scammers will not have succeeded without the collaboration of the people within.

    “That is why the federal government is focusing its searchlight on this particular contract to unravel those behind the move to inflict economic injury on Nigeria and its people.”

    Mohammed said that $ 9.6 billion (about N3.5 trillion) translates to 20 per cent of the nation’s foreign reserves.

    The minister reiterated that the contract as conceived was designed to fail and there were deliberate efforts to circumvent all the checks and balances to prevent breach.

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    Specifically, he said the Ministry of Petroleum Resources which signed the contract had no technical knowledge and the capacity and competence to execute gas contract of such magnitude.

    The minister also disclosed that the contract was not approved by the then Federal Executive Council as required by law.

    He said when the contract was signed in 2010, there were about seven other gas development projects that were signed about the time, which followed due process.

    Mohammed vowed that government would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the judgment is set aside, the case is resolved and Nigerian assets are not attached.

    A UK court had in a ruling authorised an Irish engineering and project management company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd. (P&ID), to seize $9.6 billion in Nigerian assets over the failed contract.

    The judgment was a fallout of the contract purportedly entered into in 2010 between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and P&ID, and subsequent award made in July 2015 by an arbitration panel sitting in London in favour of the company.

  • $9.6b judgment: FEC didn’t okay contract, says ex-AGF

    THE shady status of the oil contract, whose alleged breach led to the $9.6 billion judgment against the country was further stamped on Thursday.

    A former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Michael Aondooakaa, said it was never debated for approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    A United Kingdom court, in a ruling, authorised an Irish engineering and project management company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd. (P&ID) to seize $9.6 billion in Nigerian assets over the failed contract.

    The judgment is a fallout of the contract purportedly entered into in July 2010 between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and P&ID and the subsequent award made in July 2015 by an arbitration panel sitting in London in favour of the company.

    Chief Aondooakaa, who was the country’s chief law officer in 2010 when the contract was purportedly signed, said in a telephone chat with The Nation “I can tell you that no such contract was brought for deliberation to the best of my knowledge “I did not see such contract and since the news broke I have been wondering how this was possible.”

    He backed efforts by the Federal Government to reverse the judgment and remedy the embarrassing situation.

    Chief Aondooakaa’s position corroborated that of Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami that the contract was designed to fail ab initio.

    Malami, with the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Finance Minister Hajia Zainab Ahmed; and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, addressed a news conference on Tuesday to condemn the judgment and to assure Nigerians that the decision would be legally upturned. They also reaffirmed that the country’s assets abroad are safe.

    Also on Thursday, the Federal Government denied that it did not diligently defend the case leading to the award of $9.6 billion judgment debt against it.

    Read Also: Food import restriction has taken effect – CBN

    Alhaji Mohammed said: “It is not true that we did not defend it or we were not represented.’’

    Mohammed, who spoke when he appeared as a guest on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) programme: “Good Morning Nigeria’, said insinuations that the government did not defend the case both at arbitration and court were “untrue and unfair’’.

    He said the government successfully applied to have the award set aside by the Federal High Court in Lagos, but the Tribunal ignored this decision.

    “The contract was entered into in 2010 and from the records made available, there were three arbitrators.

    “The arbitrators were the parties to be nominated by the company, the other by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources while the two of them will agree on the third arbiter.

    “Nigeria was represented on the arbitration by the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN).’’

    The minister said that after the award in July 2015 by the arbitration panel sitting in London, the government went into negotiations with the company, but all to no avail.

    Mohammed said that when the company also filed the case for the enforcement order in both the UK and the U.S. courts simultaneously, the government engaged services of solicitors to defend the action.

    “We succeeded to some extent in the U.S. court and our lawyers are still there trying to defend the action.

    “It is quite disturbing the way Nigerians are commenting about this issue.

    “It is about all of us because 9.6 billion dollars translates to about N3.5 trillion and that is 20 per cent of foreign reserves.

    “Imagine what is going to happen when 9.6 billion dollars of our assets are attached.

    “It is going to affect every Nigerian, and that is why we are appealing for patriotism and objectivity of the media in handling this delicate matter,’’ he said.

    The minister reiterated that the award was unprecedented, unjustifiable and an attempt to inflict economy injury on Nigeria and its people.

    He, however, reassured Nigerians that there was no imminent threat to Nigeria’s assets in spite of the award, stressing that the government would do all things, diplomatic and legal to upturn the decision.

  • $9.6b verdict: Fed Govt hires foreign lawyers to upturn judgment

    DETERMINED to overcome legal hurdles over the $9.6billion judgment debt against the country over a failed oil contract, the Federal Government is weighing three options.

    The options include applying for a stay of execution, an order to set it aside and the third is to negotiate with the firm on “reasonable” terms.

    The government has hired a crack team of foreign lawyers who will arrive in the country this weekend to be able to hold a review session with the government team in Abuja on Monday.

    A United Kingdom court in a ruling authorized an Irish engineering and project management company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd. (P&ID) to seize 9.6 billion dollars in Nigerian assets over the failed contract.

    The judgment was fallout of the contract purportedly entered into in July 2010 between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and P&ID and the subsequent award made in July 2015 by an arbitration panel sitting in London in favour of the company.

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed on a Nigerian Television (NTA) programme “Good Morning Nigeria,” said the $9.6billion award (over N3trillion) is untenable because the nation will lose about 20 per cent of its Foreign Reserves.

    He also said although the problem was created by the administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, President Muhammadu Buhari was trying to address it because government is a continuum.

    He said it was wrong for some commentators to conclude that the Buhari administration had not addressed the judgment debt.

    The minister said: “The Federal Government has engaged very competent lawyers both in the UK and in the US. Since the enforcement judgment is in the UK, we are working very hard, first for a stay of execution and also subsequently to get the award set aside.

    Read Also: Fed Govt loses 30% procurement budget

    “We are leaving no stone unturned. We are even ready or willing to sit down with P&ID and negotiate. We will take every legal, diplomatic and otherwise step to ensure that we do not allow this to take place.

    “Why did we take this matter to the highest level? Why did we say we are going to use legal, diplomatic and other means? It is not because we want to save money; it is just because the ward was unfair, unconscionable and punitive. I am short of words to really describe what the country is going through.

    “The government is doing its best to resolve it. At the end, we will sit down with P&ID and agree on something reasonable.

    “We are very confident we will succeed. I think we should just allow our lawyers to go into this.”

    Asked if the circumstances surrounding the award amounted to a movie, Mohammed added: “I wish it were a movie but it is actually a serious matter.”

    He gave insights into how the contract became stalemated without any service provided.

    He said: “Like I tried to reconstruct at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, the contract for the gas supply was purportedly entered into in 2010 between  P&ID (an Irish company) and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    “But ab initio, it was  a contract that was not meant to be because in the first instance, the contracting parties were very strange. If you want a contract to supply gas, you should have as parties those who own the gas.

    “The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not own gas, the gas is owned by the International Oil Companies (IOCs), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and others.

    “So, ab initio, you could see the intent was less honest. Unfortunately, some local actors, both within the system and outside the system, are being fingered to have collaborated with both local and international actors to defraud Nigeria.”

    “This is even more evident in the sense that  P&ID claimed to have invested $40million in the project but the CBN said there was no record of importation of any money from  P&ID.

    “They went to an arbitration panel, $6.597billion was awarded against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Attempts were made on the part of the government. We engaged the company but there was no headway. When you look at the final award on August 16, 2017, it has ballooned to $9.6 billion.

    “It is simply punitive on a gargantuan scale to inflict economic injury on Nigeria and its people. This is why the Federal Government is doing everything possible to ask for a stay of execution and to set aside the award.

    “It is quite unfortunate because it is one thing to breach a contract, if you have entered into a contract so to say and if the other party has performed, but for you to be slammed with a $9.6 billion fines when the injury suffered by the other party cannot be quantified.

    A former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Michael Aoondoakaa on Thursday said a the chief law officer of the country at the time the contract was purportedly signed, he did not know anything about it.

    “Arbitration is supposed to be restitution, it is not supposed to give you what you ought to have made in 20 years. This is why we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the judgment is set aside.

    “The contract was bizarre in the sense that a company comes and it says it wants contract and it does not bring anything to the table.

    He added: “This contract was entered into in 2010, five clear years before this government came on board. But we accept responsibility because government is a continuum.

    The Minister explained that a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo represented Nigeria at the arbitration panel in London.

    He said: “Of course, yes. We were represented at the arbitration level. From the records available to me, there were three arbitrators. One was nominated by a party, another by the second party and the two parties agreed on the third arbiter.

    “Nigeria was represented on the arbitration by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo. It is not true that we did not defend or that Nigeria was not represented.

    “Even immediately after the award, we went into negotiation with  P&ID. So, all these questions that the Federal Government did nothing were absolutely not true.

    “The contract was awarded in 2010, arbitration started in 2013 and award was given in 2017. And the moment we were aware of this matter, we immediately stepped into the case.”

    Mohammed pleaded for understanding of Nigerians by being patriotic in supporting the Federal Government.

    “This is not about any particular administration, it is about Nigeria. The award translates into over N3trillion, which is 20% of our Foreign Reserves. It is an essential threat to Nigeria.”

    As at press time, it was gathered that a crack team of foreign lawyers was being expected in the country by weekend.

    A presidency source said: “The foreign lawyers will hold a review meeting with the Federal Government’s team on Monday.

    “We are ready for the legal battle ahead if P&ID is adamant. This award cannot stand.”

  • Nigeria launches battle against $9.6b UK verdict

    LOCAL and foreign collaborators are behind the controversial $9.6 billion (N3.5 trillion) judgment debt against Nigeria, the Federal Government said on Tuesday.

    A British Court on August 16, awarded the judgment authorizing a firm, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd. (P&ID) to seize Nigerian assets anywhere in the world to the value of $9.6 billion for contract default.

    The firm entered into an oil  deal with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in 2010, during the administration of the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua.

    The government described the contract as a product of “criminal and fraudulent conspiracies, right from inception”.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Police to probe the criminal conspiracy behind the failed contract.

    The government said the contractor, P&ID, did not execute the job it claimed and the contract signed “in an underhand manner”.

    The Federal Government has invoked  all its powers to resist the enforcement of the judgment including obtaining a stay of execution.

    It insisted that the $9.6 billion damages, which is one fifth of the country’s foreign reserve, if implemented, is capable of impoverishing the country and “inflicting grave economic injury on Nigeria and its people”.

    Three ministers – Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Information), Hajia Zainab Ahmed (Finance and Economic Planning), Attorney General/Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and Central Bank of Nigeria  Governor Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday jointly spoke to reporters on the controversial judgment.

    The finance minister described the damages awarded against Nigeria as “excessive and exorbitant”.

    According to Hajia Ahmed, an award of $9.6 billion is equivalent to N3.5 trillion which is our annual budget.

    She added: “This award is unreasonable, excessive and exorbitant. It is also unfair and it is an assault on each and every Nigerian. It is beyond trying to compensate for a commercial interest.

    “For us in the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, we take comfort from the efforts that so far had been put in place by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to ensure that this judgment is set aside because the consequences will be unpleasant for each and every Nigerian.

    “And I hope our brothers and sisters in the press will help fight the cause of our country. We will be doing that not just for this administration but for our children and children. So it is time for us all to be up in arms to make sure that we are not unfairly treated as a people.”

    Mohammed said: “We want to place on record that the Federal Government views with serious concerns the underhanded manner in which the contract was negotiated and signed.

    “Indications are that the whole process was carried out by some vested interests in the past administration, which apparently colluded with their local and international conspirators to inflict grave economic injury on Nigeria and its people.

    “With the contract having suffered a setback, the case went to arbitration. P&ID’s claim in the arbitration proceedings was mainly for the loss of profit for the 20-year term of the GSPA. In an interim award, the Arbitration Tribunal ruled that Nigeria has breached the contract. Though Nigeria successfully applied to have that award set aside by the Federal High Court in Lagos, the Tribunal ignored this decision.

    “Consequently, on 31 January 2017, the Tribunal rendered its final award against the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in the sum of $6.597billion  together with pre-award interest at the rate of 7% per annum, effective from 20 March 2013 and post-award interest at the same rate from the date of the award. This interest increased the size of the award to US$9.6billion.”

    Read Also: U.S. blames Fed Govt for changes in visa fees

    The Minister said the Federal Government had made attempts since 2017 to resolve the issue amicably with P&ID.

    He also said the government engaged the services of the US law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP to defend similar proceedings in the US District Court of Columbia.

    “After the arbitration award in 2017, Nigeria made several attempts to negotiate the award and resolve the whole issue amicably with P&ID but to no avail, which eventually led to the enforcement proceedings instituted, simultaneously, by the company in the UK and the US.

    “The Federal Government then engaged the services of the US law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, which took steps to defend the proceedings in the US District Court of Columbia to dismiss P&ID’s application for the enforcement of the award on the grounds that Nigeria, as a sovereign state, has an absolute right to obtain an authoritative determination of its sovereign immunity.

    “While Nigeria has recorded some successes in the ongoing case in the U.S., the Federal Government will ensure that its interest and that of the people of Nigeria are vigorously defended.”

    Mohammed said it decided to challenge the award after receiving an expert report which rated the damages as “excessive and exorbitant.”

    He added: “It is worth mentioning that in challenging the award, the Federal Government relied upon an expert report analyzing the damages given to the P&ID. The expert concluded that the damages:

    • were clearly unreasonable and manifestly excessive and exorbitant;
    • went far beyond any legitimate protection of the commercial interest of the P&ID;
    • were completely wrong and obviously unjustifiable;
    • and that the damages overcompensated P&ID on a frankly gargantuan scale and imposed a punitive award on Nigeria.

    “It was on this ground and others that the Federal Government took all available steps to resist enforcement before the court of the United Kingdom (UK). Unfortunately, the UK Court has recognized the award and given the company the authorization to seize Nigeria’s assets.

    The information minister said the government had discovered that the contract was negotiated and signed in an underhanded manner.

    “In the first instance, the enforcement of the award cannot even commence now because the Judge in the UK court ordered that the P&ID cannot enforce the judgment against Nigeria until after the court resumes from its current vacation.

    “What this means is that enforcement action cannot begin until further hearing on the matter, which will take place on a date to be determined by the court upon its resumption.

    “The Federal Government therefore wishes to use this opportunity to assure Nigerians that there is no immediate threat to Nigeria’s assets as has been wrongly interpreted by a section of the media.”

    The Minister confirmed that the Federal Government will file an appeal against the judgment of the UK court, including seeking a stay of execution.

    He said: “Nigerians should be assured that the Federal Government is taking  all necessary steps to appeal the decision of the UK Court, to seek for a Stay of Execution of the decision, to defend its rights and to protect the assets of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Nigerians should please be assured that the Federal Government will strongly avail itself of all defences customarily afforded to sovereign states under the United Kingdom Sovereign Immunity Act to stave off any enforcement of the award.

    Malami said: “The Criminal investigation relating thereto, has indeed become necessary in view of the certain antecedent relating to the contract in its own right and the eventual award.

    “Insinuations abound that the contract was originally designed to fail fundamentally against the background of the fact that there were inherent element of hitches that were designed into it right from conception.

    “When I talk of inherent element of hitches, I want to draw attention first to the fact that by the composition of the parties to the agreement there were two parties – the P&ID which is the company and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    “As you rightly know very well, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources is not a producer of gas. Gas products are produced by IOCs (International Oil Companies), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    “So when you conceived, signed and executed a contract for the supply of gas products without involving IOCs, NPDC, and NNPC as a party to that agreement, you know very well that there are a lot of questions to answer arising from the execution of that agreement.

    “These among others gave rise to the insinuations or perhaps certain criminal and fraudulent conspiracies right from conception of the agreement.

  • Alleged fraud: PDP seeks prosecution of Lai Mohammed, Usman Yusuf

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday demanded the immediate prosecution of former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over his alleged role in the reported National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) N2.5 billion fraud.

    The party also demanded the prosecution of the sacked Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, over alleged misappropriation of N919 million, as reported by a ministerial panel.

    Read Also: Lai Mohammed bows out, urges staff to cooperate with successor

    In a statement in Abuja by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said the duo “must not be left off the hook” because of their affinity with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency.

    The party insisted that Mohammed should be prosecuted alongside the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Alhaji Modibbo Kawu.

    Kawu is facing trial over an alleged N2.5 billion Digital Switchover deal, which was investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

     

  • N2.5bn DSO Trial: Defendants kick against Lai Mohammed’s appearance in court

    Defendants in the case of alleged misapplication of N2.5 billion Federal Government Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme, have countered application by the prosecution to present former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as a witness in court.

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC is prosecuting the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Ishaq Kawu in a Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged abuse of office and money laundering

    The Commission had filed a 12-count charge before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, against Kawu, Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Communications Limited respectively.

    In a motion filed before the court, Alex Izinyon, SAN, Counsel to Omoluwa and Onifade, opposed the list of the former minister and  Shuaibu Sabo as additional witnesses in the trial as requested by the anti-graft body.

    In the motion, the defendants are seeking the court order, “disallowing/prohibiting or forbidding the complainant/respondent to lead and use the additional list of witness of one Mr Lai Mohammed filed on 2nd June 2019 at the continuation of hearing of this criminal proceeding or any other date whatsoever.

    “And for such further order(s) as this Honorable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case”.

    It will be recalled that the anti-graft body had said that the former Minister will serve as a prosecution witness in the alleged N2.5 billion fraud trial.

    At the resumed hearing of the trial on Monday, ICPC lawyers, Henry Emore and E. A. Shogunle reminded the court of their application to call the two additional witnesses – Mohammed and Sabo.

    Shogunle said that they had filed a counter affidavit to the motion by the defendants opposing their requests to call Mohammed and Sabo as additional witnesses.

    On his part, Iziyon said the motion was not ripe for hearing because he would be filing a reply on point of law, to the prosecution’s counter affidavit.

    Meanwhile Justice Oginbanjo-Giwa has reprimaded the ICPC for disobeying the order of court regarding the application by the defendants seeking release of their travelling passports.

    The second and third defendants had filed the application seeking the release of their international passports to enable them travel abroad for official functions.

    The judge who had fixed the application for ruling on Monday said the prosecution had failed to carry out her order to verify the addresses and other particulars of the defendants and their sureties. .

    “I cannot give the ruling now because in the course of reviewing the motion, I realised that the prosecution has not carried out the order of the court to verify the addresses of the defendants and their sureties within five days.’’

    Read Also: Alleged N2.5b NBC fraud: Ex-Minister Lai Mohammed to appear as witness, says ICPC

    Counsel to the prosecution said he had done the verification and satisfied with it after the grey areas observed were addressed by the defendants.

    He, however apologised for his failure to file the report of the verification before the court.

    The judge, who expressed displeasure over failure of the prosecution to file the report of the verification stood down the case for the lawyer to do so.

    She stressed that she could not continue with the case while the prosecution was in disobedience of the court order.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge resumed the case about two hours after the prosecution had complied with the order.

    Upon resumption, the defendants took fresh plea of not guilty to the amended charges brought to them by the prosecution.

    The amended charges, according to ICPC lawyer were largely due to typographical errors which the lawyers to the defendants did not oppose to.

    Justice Ogunbanjo-Giwa adjourned the case until July 4 to hear motions on the release of the defendants’ passports and that challenging the listing of Mohammed and Sabo as additional prosecution witnesses.

    (NAN)

     

  • Stop dodging issues, address your failures, PDP replies Lai Mohammed

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed to stop dodging issues and address the monumental failures of the government he speaks for.

    The main opposition party was reacting to allegations of subversive activities which the Minister leveled against the PDP and its presidential candidate in the February 23 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubabar.

    Spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan challenged Mohammed to come up with evidence of subversion against the PDP and its candidate, if he has any, instead of playing to the gallery.

    Ologbondiyan expressed irritation at the Minister’s allegation of attempts by the opposition to overthrow the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.

    The PDP spokesman said the Minister is overwhelmed with the challenge of speaking for a government that has failed to deliver on the promises it made to Nigerians four years ago.

    Read also: Sabotage of Buhari’s govt: we have credible evidence against PDP, Atiku – FG

    Ologbondiyan further accused the Minister of avoiding issues pertaining to poor governance and maladministration, which he said, the APC and the Buhari administration are notorious for.

    Ologbondiyan said, “Nigerians are tired of a man who keeps running away from the real issues at hand. If Lai has evidence to substantiate what he has been saying,  he knows what to do”

    “The federal government has no answers to the numerous challenges facing the nation. Nigerians are daily dying of hardship and all their spokesman can say today is to look for people and party to scapegoat for their failure.

    “The PDP is determined to retrieve its stolen mandate at the tribunal and no amount of lies can distract us from realising this objective”.

     

  • Tinubu hails Buhari for making June 12 Democracy Day

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for taking an important step towards fully recognising June 12 as Democracy Day.

    Information Minister Lai Mohammed had on Monday revealed the decision of the Federal Executive Council to move the second term inauguration ceremonies to June 12 while a low-key ceremony holds on May 29 to comply with constitutional provision which at present sees May 29 as the take-off date for elected office holders.

    In a statement on Tuesday by Tinubu Media Office signed by Tunde Rahman, Asiwaju Tinubu said President Buhari and the Federal Government deserve thanks and commendation.

    He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari deserves our thanks and congratulations for taking another important step towards fully recognising June 12 as Democracy Day in our country.

    “The government moved the second term inauguration ceremonies to June 12 while events on May 29 would now be low-key swearing ceremonies in order to comply with the constitutional requirements covering the length of term for elected office-holders.

    “By this wise yet visionary decision, the president has scored double: first he has accorded respect to the Constitution, which recognises May 29 as the date to inaugurate new terms of office while at the same time ensuring the country moves on the rightful path to formalising June 12 as new Democracy Day.’

    Read Also: Buhari hosts Tinubu to Ramadan breakfast at Aso Villa

    “This decision soundly balances current legal requirements with the quest for political justice.

    “For this feat in moving the country in the right direction, President Buhari and the Federal Government deserve commendation.

    “June 12 represents an important milestone in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic journey.

    “It was the day Nigerians shunned ethnicity and religion to vote for that leader of their choice in an election adjudged clearly free and fair.

    “To complete this process, the president has started via Executive Order, we hope that the National Assembly acts with reasonable dispatch in cooperation with the presidency to assure that the requisite constitutional amendments are enacted to fully establish June 12 as Democracy Day.

    “As Nigerians we have a role to play: rededicate ourselves to democracy, peaceful co-existence, togetherness and the hope for a greater future, all of which June 12 represented”.

    The process to accord June 12 recognition began last year when President Buhari officially named June 12 as Democracy Day by Executive Order.

    The President also recognised the winner of the June 12 election, Bahorun MKO Abiola, as a past president and awarded the highest honour in the line the GCFR while Abiola’s former running mate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, was recognized a former vice president and bestowed with the GCON award.

  • FG expresses shock at death of Eddie Ugboma

    The Federal Government has expressed shock and sadness at the death of Veteran Movie Producer, Eddie Ugboma, describing him as a worthy pioneer of today’s burgeoning Nollywood industry.

    In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the fact that Chief Ugboma lived a purposeful life and left his footprint in the sands of time was a soothing consolation for all who knew him.

    ”In his lifetime, Ugboma produced a number of avant-garde movies that blazed the trail and fired the imagination of those who would later become the top producers in today’s Nollywood.

    ‘In a way, the success of the industry is a tribute to him and his co-pioneers,” the minister said.

    He expressed federal government’s condolences to the family and friends of the late film maker and prayed that God would grant him eternal rest and comfort his family.

    Read Also: Two days before surgery, Eddie Ugbomah dies at 78

    The 79 year-old veteran filmmaker and TV personality, died early Saturday morning while being prepared for surgery in Lagos.

    He was, last year, diagnosed with nervous neck and head pain leading to the left ear and eye malfunctioning.

    Ugboma held the record for the only African to have shot 13 movies on celluloid.

    He directed and produced films such as, the Rise and Fall of Oyenusi in 1979, The Boy is Good, Black President, Black Gold and Apalara, a film about the life and murder of Alfa Apalara in Oko Awo, Lagos.

  • Lai Mohammed, envoy for agency’s cultural event

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Olusegun Akinsanya, will next week chair an event on cultural appreciation.

    The event, which will be hosted by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), will hold in Lagos.

    The media aide to NICO’s Acting Executive Secretary, Caleb Nor, announced this in a statement.

    He said: “The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), a corporation of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in furtherance of its mandate of effecting a sense of cultural direction among the citizenry, is again set to organise a public lecture with the theme: Culture As An Effective Tool for Foreign Relations.

    “The lecture, scheduled to hold at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, on May 14 at 11 a.m, will be delivered by a senior research fellow at NIIA, Dr. Sharkdam Wapmuk…

    “The NICO quarterly public lecture series was conceptualised as a vibrant quarterly programme to serve as a platform for intellectual discourse on culture; sensitise Nigerians to the strategic importance of culture in the promotion and sustenance of good governance and our nascent democracy; effect a sense of cultural direction in the citizenry to better appreciate the need for Nigerians to embrace our culture, cherish its inherent values and accord it a pride of place in all aspects of our development agenda.”