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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Strategising to maximise AfCFTA opportunities

    The Federal Government is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for maximum economic adavantage ahead of its implementation in July 2020. The status of AfCFTA negotiations was the theme of a dialogue organised by the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), in collaboration with Deloitte, in Lagos, CHIKODI OKEROCHA and CHARLES OKONJI report.

    The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement will come into effect in July, next year.

    But before the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) on AfCFTA,  held in Niamey, Niger, on July 7 agreed on the July 2020 implementation, the agreement had come into force on May 30. This followed the deposition of the 22nd instrument of ratification with the African Union Commission (AUC) on April 29.

    It was learnt that as at  August 21, 54 out of the 55-member countries of the AU had signed the trade liberalisation deal that promises a single liberalised market for trade in goods and services. Only Eritrea has not signed. And out of the 54 that have signed, including Nigeria that appended her signature at the Niamey Summit, 27 countries had deposited the instruments of ratification with the AUC.

    Although Nigeria foot-dragged for 16 months before she finally signed AfCFTA, which seeks to create a continental trade bloc of 1.2 billion people, with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about $3.3 trillion, the status of negotiations for the deal however clearly indicated that the country is determined to take full advantage of the deal. Apart from intensifying national stakeholder engagement on trade deal, she has taken same strategic steps to strengthen relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    These moves, The Nation learnt, were aimed at  driving the country’s readiness in projects and initiatives for the implementation. For instance, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved an AfCFTA National Action Committee to be headed by a chairman to coordinate the work of relevant MDAs and drive the readiness in projects and initiatives.

    The Assistant Chief Trade Negotiator AfCFTA/ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), Ms Demitta Gyang Chinwude, who disclosed this, said the body shall submit quarterly progress reports to the Fderal Executive Council (FEC) and industry stakeholders.

    She added that the ratification process for the AfCFTA has been initiated and expedited action would be taken based on national laws  as indicated  by Buhari in his speech at the signing in Niamey. Chinwude, who is from the Ngerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN), also said NOTN will be strengthened in accordance with the approval of the President enacting its enabling law.

    He was the keynote speaker at the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA)-Deloitte Dialogue Series held in Lagos, last week.

    Now in its second edition, the dialogue had: The AfCFTA: Current status of negotiations as its theme. It provided the platform to further engage stakeholders on the importance of the AfCFTA, its opportunities and challenges.

    The National President of NACCIMA, Hajiya Saratu Aliyu, said the dialogue was to roll out the trade implementation phases that are in line with the country’s economic development agenda.

    “We have gathered here to discuss the rule of origin, roll out rules of implementation of AfCFTA. We are focusing on how it will enhance manufacturers and other members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in general to be competitive,” she said.

    Indeed, the dialogue series brought stakeholders up to speed with the current state of AfCFTA negotiations, with Chinwude pointing out, for instance, that a trade remedy mechanism for the rules-based safeguard of the economy has been set up in the NOTN.

    She said specialists were ready to counteract any injurious trade practices against the economy. She also said the country‘s implementation work on the AfCFTA shall be reflected in the nation’s foreign policy, specifically, in the economic diplomacy initiative.

    Giving an update on the current status of AfCFTA negotiations, Chinwude said the agreement establishing the AfCFTA has six protocols: three in phase 1 and additional three in phase 2.The Phase 1, she said, include Protocol on Trade in Goods, Protocol on Trade in Services, and Protocol on Rules and Procedures on the Settlement of Disputes.

    The  Protocol for Trade in Goods has nine annexes.They include Schedule of  Tariff Concessions; Rules of Origin; Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance; Trade Facilitation;  Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary Measures; Technical Barriers to Trade; Non-Tariff Barriers; Transit; and Trade Remedies (all legally scrubbed except the schedule of tariff concessions, which is work in progress).

    However, the annexes to Protocol on Trade in Services, Chinwude said, were yet to be developed. The Phase 2 protocols, on the other hand, would include Intellectual Property; Investment and Competition.

    The schedules of Tariff Concessions for Trade in Goods shall have 10 per cent of Tariff Lines, set aside in an “Exclusion List”  (not subject to liberalisation) and a “Sensitive List” (subject to negotiated liberalisation).

    Ninety per cent of non-sensitive products will be submitted on September 30 this year, seven per cent will be submitted by November 30, 2019. The final schedule will be deposited in January 2020.

    She explained that trading will start in July 2020 to ensure Customs authorities in each country adjust  to the tariff changes. The Schedule of Specific Commitment for Trade in Services would be concluded by an indicative date of January 2020.

    Chinwude said a list of priority sectors for intial negotiations was agreed and adopted by the 6th Afican Ministers of Trade meeting and include: Business, Financial, Tourism, Transport and Communication Services. She added that a regulatory cooperation framework shall be developed for each of the sectors.

    She, however, said at the point of its establsihement, AfCFTA‘s goal was to create a continenetal rules based single market for goods and services to enhance trade and investment, and that this is a model whose testimony is borne by countries that have tried it.

    The Senior Expert of Customs, AfCFTA Unit at AU, Willie Shumba, corroborated her. Describing trade as a powerful engine for economic growth and development, Shumba said studies had shown a relationship among trade, growth and development.

    He, however, expressed regrets that Africa’s fundamental role in the global trade market has been to provide raw commodities in exchange of manufactured goods, thereby capturing a minimal three per cent of the global share of trade.

    “In addition, intra-Africa trade is just 15 per cent of its total trade, compared with 19 per cent intra-regional trade in Latin America, 51 per cent in Asia, 54 per cent in North America and 70 per cent in Europe,” Shumba said.

    Regrettable though, the expert said the low level of intra-African trade can change if Africa effectively addresses issues of supply side constraints, weak productive capacities, infrastructural bottlenecks, and trade information networks.

    He identified other hurdles that should be removed for Africa to become competitive in global trade to include lack of access to finance for traders and other economic operators, lack of trade facilitation and trade in services and free movement of people.

    According to him, AfCFTA’s objective was to achieve a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement among AU member states. He also said it was aimed at enhancing competitiveness at all levels and more specifically at the industry and enterprise level.

    This, he said, would be done through the exploitation of opportunities for scale economies, reducing business costs, continental/global market access and better reallocation of resources including through the development of trade-related infrastructure.

    Shumba added that it was envisaged that AfCFTA will help overcome Africa’s dependence on exportation of primary products and promote social and economic transformation for inclusive growth, industrialisation and sustainable development.

    He said the free trade deal has implications particularly for Nigeria considering her nature-endowed human and material resources. For instance, he said with Nigeria’s population estimated at 200 million, making her the seventh largest in the world, she is in a vantage position to leverage on AfCFTA to create opportunities for her people.

    Shumba also said Nigeria is the 20th world’s largest economy with many natural resources, as well as proximity to United States (U.S) and European Union (EU) markets. The country also boasts a middle income status, an entrepreneurial population that is strong in the services sector. All of these, the expert said, offer Nigeria opportunities for massive investments.

  • ‘I’m redefining African fashion’

    Kenneth Ize , a local fashion designer, puts in so much energy in his works.

    Speaking on how he makes a busy schedule work by enthusiastically embracing multi-tasking, he told CNN Style: “As a younger brand and as a millennial, I am in the space to do more things … and not have anybody (telling me) how to do it. The actual beauty people can see in the work is (because) we have freedom to create what we want to create. And the whole point for me is about being really real.”

    Ize explained the importance of authenticity and heritage to his work, including him modernising the ancient craft of Aso Oke handweaving, a technique developed by the Yoruba people of the Southwest.

    He describes his hopes for the craft to be taught more widely: “The goal  is to actually bring weaving into the  school curriculum… But we also want to train adults, so we are building a site in Ilorin, as I want people to be able to come to my home country and learn something.”

    On the benefits of educational and cultural exchanges, with his experience of studying at Vienna’s Institute of Design, and the need for more diversity in fashion, he said: “At the same time, we are teaching people … we are shifting the narrative.” He  highlighted the importance of his garments to demonstrate “the stories that we as Nigerians have to tell.”

    Citing the experiences and stories from Nigeria influencing his designs, he explained the narrative behind his latest men’s collection.

    He said: “For this season’s menswear, it’s a story about what happens after Christmas, a time when our parents — I mean the privileged ones — gave us pocket money, so there are new coats in the wardrobe.”

    CNN Style highlights that for lots of his customers, Ize’s clothes might be their first engagement with high-fashion made in Africa, which, as a continent, has long been excluded from conversations about luxury.

    Ize said: “I believe I am a professional in this industry and I force myself to do more each season … I am telling the international audience it’s possible here.”

  • ‘Information on sugar readily available’

    The Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Latif Busari said the Council has put in place a system that upholds transparency, accountability and honesty in carrying out government’s businesses.

    He said all information relating to the Council’s activities can be accessed freely without going through unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks.

    The NSDC scribe, who spoke yesterday while flagging off the agency’s 2019 bid opening exercise for its capital projects, promised to ensure transparency in the entire process to ensure that the Council’s projects are executed by bidders who meet all the stipulated requirements and guidelines in line with the Procurement Act.

    Busari said interested parties in the sugar sector should approach the Council for clarifications on issues relating to the industry, pointing  out that the Council has  keyed into the anti-corruption policy of the government  which stresses the need for openness, transparency and due process in the discharge of government’s assignments.

    He urged the bidding companies to abide by all the rules and regulations, so as to ensure a hitch-free exercise, saying modalities have been put in place to ensure that no one was denied the opportunity of taking part in the exercise.

  • The Sun’s cartoonist holds exhibition

    As part of activities marking his 50th birthday anniversary, The Sun Newspaper Cartoon Editor, Mr. Albert Ohams, will hold an exhibition titled: Albert Ohams: 35 Years Strokes Of Master Cartoonist from August 29 till 31. The solo exhibition, which will hold at Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, Oniru Chieftaincy Estates, Victoria Island, Lagos, will feature 50 pieces of cartoons.

    The collection varies from political to social and economic issues captured in diverse styles and humorous imaginations. One unique feature in his works is the use of humour to douse political tension and depth of the topic.

    The exhibition will attract dignitaries such as the Minister of Labour and Productivity Dr. Chris Ngige; Prince Eze Madumere, former Deputy Governor of Imo State; Chief Solomon Ogbonna, President Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos and Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Director-General.

    Ohams joined the weekly Eagle Newspaper owned by Dr. K.O Mbadiwe, in Aba, 35 years ago after leaving Bishop Shanahan College, Orlu, Imo State. Today, the Mgbidi, Imo State-born cartoonist has carved a niche for himself in the profession, having won many media awards.

  • Beyond Wadume’s capture

    Last week, this column wrote about the urgency of the re-arrest of Hamisu Bala, the suspected kidnap kingpin who vanished into thin air after being freed from police custody by soldiers along the Ibi-Wukari road in Taraba State. Fortuitously, the police announced the capture of the runaway suspect on Tuesday, August 20, even before the piece landed on the streets. The development is commendable, and it is an honour to the memory of the slain members of the elite police crew who were gruesomely killed by soldiers while transporting the arrested suspect to Jalingo in Taraba state.

    The re-arrest of Alhaji Wadume, as the suspect is popularly known, is the first piece in a long line of actions that can restore some dignity to the police in this matter. It will also afford the army the opportunity to redeem itself. In the bigger picture of things, it currently seems like it was best that Wadume was recaptured by the police, rather than the army, who, as we were made to believe, were hot on the chase for Wadume. The next step is to find answers to the multiple questions that arose when this matter came to light on August 6.

    Already, it is being reported that Wadume is making a lot of revelations, including disclosure of details of his escapades with Balarabe Tijani, an army captain. Tijani appears to be central to Wadume’s apparent close relationship with security agents in Taraba and may have been a chief beneficiary of Wadume’s largesse in the state. Other details about Wadume’s involvement in political thuggery and alleged deals with top government functionaries in Taraba and beyond are also gaining media attention. News media report that Wadume is making all kinds of confessions, except to the one thing he was arrested for – kidnapping. In July of this year, the Taraba State House of Assembly passed a minimum of life imprisonment and maximum of death penalty for kidnappers.

    Whatever the truth is about the details of Wadume’s activities, the police have a job to do in investigating and managing the information coming out about his case. Unlike the articulate press release the police issued when its men where killed, the communication from police sources have been haphazard since his re-arrest, especially with an apparent media attack on the army still brewing in the police. This is demonstrated by the carefully prepared video of Wadume confessing to his rescue by soldiers, who allegedly cut through the restraints placed on him by the original police arrest team. It is the only section of his interrogation released by the police.

    While Nigerians sympathise with the police over the death of its men, it is important that the police is not now consumed with vendetta against the army. The police should concentrate on extracting actionable information from Wadume that can be used in combating the bigger issue of kidnapping that the police authorities are supposedly investigating. To maintain credibility in the on-going investigation, the police must also be transparent, or at least consistent, in its release of information concerning the case.

    For many Nigerians, the death of the policemen in Taraba does not wipe away decades of public distrust in the police itself. The apparent manipulative release of information about Wadume’s case already raises suspicion. This suspicion is reinforced by seeming attempts by the police to brush the possible involvement of its own officers under the rug. There have been reports of policemen who were on Wadume’s payroll as well. Then there is that one outstanding issue, about missing police incidence forms, which could prove police involvement at some level, if true.

    On the evidence of past police precedents, there is the possibility of Wadume’s arrest being monetised. Possibly implicated VIPs can be exploited in exchange for keeping the lid on their involvement.  Also, without prejudice to the police’s previously expressed fear of the army snuffing life out of Wadume, the more connections that are discovered between Wadume and powerful Nigerians, the greater danger to his life, even in police custody.

    The police has a long history of deaths in custody or unexplained disappearances. Countless cases of people dying of injuries in detention litter police records. As news reports have stated that Wadume sustained some injury in the hail of soldiers’ bullets on the police vehicle conveying him to Jalingo on August 6, there may be a window for another police abracadabra. Even though he appeared fine in the video released by the police, anything is possible.

    On June 8, 2005, the police opened fire on five traders and a friend of theirs, now known as the “Apo Six” at a checkpoint near Apo, Abuja, under controversial circumstances. In the cover up that followed, which included the subsequent killing of two survivors of the incident in police custody, Chief Superintendent Othman Abdulsalam, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area at the time, mysteriously vanished from his detention at police headquarters. That issue remains unresolved till today. Also, the sudden, inexplicable death of the prime suspect in the more recent Offa robbery, just last year, is another case in point. Since there is no telling which way Wadume’s case will go at this stage, there is a need for constant pressure to be applied on police leadership to ensure this case is pursued diligently.

    The fear expressed here comes from Wadume’s confidence before his arrest. He had worked his way into the heart of the people of Ibi in Taraba State through acts of generosity that increased his profile, rather than lowering it, unlike the typical criminal. He was bold enough to seek public office, and mix with leaders of his local community openly. Although his high profile is no proof of any strong connection with powerful Nigerians, it does speak of a person confident of his contacts in powerful places. If one assumes that level of confidence suggests contacts beyond an army captain and some men in the local police division, perhaps, one can be excused.

    Beyond Wadume’s criminality or otherwise, the authorities will also have to contend with the subtle class war that fuels kidnapping in Nigeria. In his local town, it is reported that Wadume is seen as a hero, even after his arrest. By stepping into government’s role to fill the void in rural empowerment in Ibi through provision of boreholes, motorcycles etc. Wadume commanded the loyalty of local boys. These boys may have contributed to the death of the policemen and may have (willingly) formed part of Wadume’s kidnapping network if the allegations against him are true. Working against a Robin Hood complex in the town and environs will make the investigation all the more difficult.

    Beyond the story of heroic criminals and villainous security agents, Wadume’s case exposes, once again, the roots of the plague of criminal activity across the country in recent times. There is a class war raging in Nigeria and the security agents appear to be compromised on both sides. The police, army and other government authorities have a major problem on their hands, especially when the stark social/economic divisions exist within their ranks too.

    Today, the focus should be on breaking the alleged kidnapping network of Wadume and his possible associates through diligent investigation. Reconciling police/army differences in this matter will go a long way, and it will involve openness and mutual respect between the two security agencies. After Wadume, the problem of widespread crime will still remain and it can only be conquered through honest collaboration.

    The greater problem of uneven distribution of economic resources is a problem that can only be solved when the country works for everyone. Although Nigeria has an unenviable reputation internationally, many of our problems come from the uneven distribution of wealth and the wide class divide. The Wadumes of this world and the 77 suspected fraudsters of Nigerian origin arrested by the authorities in the US recently are mere manifestations of that problem. Perhaps, it is time we table these issues and seek lasting solutions.

  • ‘My silence means I wasn’t ready to talk’

    Former BBNaija reality TV star, TBoss who has kept mute on her pregnancy rumours, has finally come out to confirm that she is expecting a child.

    Though the father of the unborn baby is yet to be revealed, the entertainer on her Instagram handle on Monday said her silence was just that she was not ready to speak about it.

    “What is it about our Generation that’s always so eager to post up our private lives on Social Media? We get Good news- SM, Not so good news- SM, Someone offends us, someone owes us money, breakups, new home, new car, new shoes, fake designer shoes, borrowed stuff- There’s Absolutely No Mystery anymore. You wanna know about a person? Just look up their SM pages & you’d get a pretty close picture of whom you’re dealing with.”

    “I agree I’m not exactly social media compliant but I’m also guilty of sometimes putting more than I ought to have out there thereby subjecting myself to being misinterpreted, misquoted, misunderstood & highly misjudged. And that’s why it was extremely difficult for me to keep my pregnancy all to myself, she said.

    “I mean it was without a doubt The Best news I have ever had & God knows I wanted to shout it out so as to be heard to the ends of the earth BUT I had to…Not because I was ashamed or nothing of the sort. Hey, I’m a Grown woman let’s be Real.”

    “I was Afraid. I was afraid of exposing my best news to the negativity of little & sad minded people of which unfortunately happen to be a lot… I wanted to enjoy this journey, savor every little moment, understand what was happening to me, my body, and keep my sanity for my good & the good of my unborn child. Pregnancy is indeed a roller coaster ride and as ecstatic as I was, it really hit me.”

    “My friends all knew- if you didn’t oh well- maybe that’s your cue I went shopping & out a lot & took lots of photos with my beautiful fans – Selfies only of course & never felt the need to cover up or hide anything- And why should I? Do you know the struggle a lot of women go through to get what I have? A Free Gift from God! And you think at 35 I ought to feel some type of way because someone has an unsolicited opinion about me? Ha Ha Ha… Silence is NOT denial. My silence was just that: Silence- until I was ready to speak about it, she noted.

  • Travails of motorists on Lafia-Akwanga road

    Sir: The recent attack on the convoy of the Nassarawa State deputy governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe along the Lafia – Akwanga road in Nasarawa state is not the first on V.I.Ps (very important personalities) on that highway. What is shocking is that three policemen and two other persons were killed by the apparently rampaging bandits. Dr. Akabe himself who was visibly shaken was unharmed.

    According to accounts, at about 6p.m., the convoy was alerted of a robbery operation ahead of them and stopped for apparent consultation among the security personnel. Thereafter it was decided that the policemen should clear the road for safe passage by leading the convoy and shooting in the air to scare away the robbers. Rather, the gunmen fired at the policemen, killing aforementioned five persons.

    Some years ago, during the second tenure of former Governor Abdullahi Adamu, his then deputy, Hon. Labaran Maku’s convoy was similarly attacked on that same Lafia – Akwanga road. However, there were no casualties as security men in the erstwhile deputy governor’s entourage chased the bandits into the bush where they disappeared.

    Way back in 2004 the Benue State governor then, Chief George Akume was also targeted on that same highway and in fact lost a friend who sat beside him in his official jeep vehicle. The deceased was Andrew Agom, then managing director of the now defunct Nigeria Airways. A security detail, Sergeant John Ngam was also killed in that attack which happened around 7.15 a.m. Akume was heading to Kaduna from Makurdi to attend a meeting of northern governors when the gunmen struck, their bullet piercing the window to hit Agom who sat together with him. He was rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja where he gave up the ghost. To say that the former Benue State governor now a minister of the federal republic miraculously escaped death is no exaggeration.

    In March, the chairman of NUJ Correspondents’ chapel, Nasarawa State, Abubakar Suleiman (a reporter of Triumph newspaper) received a distress call. It was that his wife and her friends had been kidnapped on the highway while on their way to Keffi. They were later released after payment of some ransom. Many a public servant who do not enjoy privilege of police escort as well as many private citizens have fallen prey to robbers on this Lafia – Akwanga road. And  those that ply this road frequently would have experienced having to stop somewhere along the road in a long queue of private and commercial vehicles as news filter that robbers are ‘operating  in front’, continuing their journey only when signal reaches them confirming that the hoodlums have left.

    This Lafia – Akwanga highway is also notorious for motor accidents.  Indeed there was a portion of the road named ‘Many have gone’, so-called because of the fatal accidents that occur there. Before its reconstruction by the federal government (a construction that is still ongoing in certain parts as it is gathered that the plan is to dualise the road), it was a snaky, hilly, undulating highway. Heavy vehicles such as trucks and trailers that cannot climb the hilly parts often break down on the road, obstructing traffic. With the reconstruction the hilly parts have largely been levelled. The ‘many have gone’ portion has been renamed ‘many have survived’. Accidents still do occur on this road though.

    In 2015 a bizarre incident which almost resulted in the immediate past governor, Alhaji Tanko Almakura’s convoy having an accident on this Lafia-Akwanga road occurred.

    One sympathises with the deputy governor, his boss, the government and people of Nassarawa state, the police and families of the deceased over the convoy attack. However, it appears the policemen took things for granted. And one wonders why they were not wearing bullet-proof jackets.  I believe that the appropriate authorities would have learnt some lessons from this ugly incident and that they are taking needed actions to avoid/mitigate similar incidents in future. For the safety of the ordinary users of this highway though, the police should consider reintroducing checkpoints on the road. Police posts could also be erected along this road.

     

    • Victoria Ngozi Ikeano Lafia.

  • Tribunal upholds Aduda’s election as FCT Senator

    The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Abuja has upheld the election of Senator Philip Aduda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The tribunal in a judgment on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by Nkechi Chinyere Doris and the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) against Aduda’s election.

    The petitioners – Doris and PDM – had sought, among others, the cancellation of the election, on the grounds that the first petitioner (Doris), having been validly nominated by PDM, was unlawfully excluded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the February 23 election.

    The petitioners

    joined INEC, Aduda and his political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as respondents in the petition.

    Tribunal headed by Justice Okwudili Ezeoke dismissed the petition for lack of merit and awarded a cost of N300,000 against the petitioners – Doris and PDM.

    It held that the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the Constitution. It noted that the petition was brought pursuant to Section 138(1) of the Electoral Act, as amended, adding that the burden of proof rests on the petitioners.

    Read Also: Tribunal sacks Dino Melaye as senator

    According to the tribunal, nomination of a candidate to contest an election was not an event but a process, which would only be completed when the name of the candidate was submitted to INEC.

    It observed that, whereas the petitioners plead to tender the photographs of the convention where the first petitioner was nominated for the election, they failed to do this in the course of trial.

    The tribunal said the presumption was that if the petitioners had produced the photographs of the convention, they could have gone against them.

    The tribunal held that the claim by the petitioners that they attempted to submit the name of the first petitioner to INEC on October 11, 2018, but was turned down and that they were only able to do so through an order of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory was of no issue.

    It noted that there was nowhere in the FCT High Court order directing INEC to accept the first petitioner or any other person from the second petitioner.

    It,therefore, held that the relief sought by the petitioners has nothing to do with the alleged refusal of the first respondent (INEC) to accept the name of the first petitioner.

    The tribunal held that the petitioners withheld evidence by their failure to attach INEC Form CF001, Form CF002 and nomination form to their Exhibits D and D1 but attached the court order to the exhibits.

    According to the tribunal, PDM failed to comply with INEC’s guidelines on conducting primary election to nominate the first petitioner as its candidate in the senatorial election.

    The tribunal further held that the party never submitted nomination form of the first petitioner to INEC.

    It held that PDM was deemed not to have fielded any candidate in the senatorial election if February 23.

    It noted that the purported submission of its candidate’s name was done later than the date of submission of nomination of candidates to the first respondent. It is, therefore, invalid.

    The tribunal declared that the second petitioner is deemed not to have fielded a candidate in the election. The days the submitted the exhibits are less than the 60 days prescribed by the Electoral Act,” the tribunal held.

    It described the evidence given by the petitioners’ sole witness that an attempt made by the party to submit the name of the first petitioner to INEC which refused to accept but later did following a court order as “a mere tale by moonlight”

    The tribunal, therefore, held that the petitioners woefully failed to prove that Nkechi was validly nominated by the second petitioner as its candidate on the senatorial election.

    Earlier, It dismissed the preliminary objection n in which the respondents argued  that the petition was a pre-election matter, which ought to be heard by a High Court and not the tribunal.

    The tribunal held that, as against the respondents’ contention, it has jurisdiction to hear the petition, because it relates to a post-election matter, on which only a tribunal could preside.

  • I’m not dictating to Judiciary, says Buhari

    WITH a pledge to sustain judicial independence, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday opened this year’s  Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The President said he was not dictating to the third arm of government.

    He explained that the Federal Government under his watch had demonstrated this by accepting unfavourable court judgments.

    President Buhari, who was represented by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN), restated his administration’s commitment to strengthening institutions.

    Alluding to the raging controversy about the recent trial of top judicial officers, the President pledged to justly apply the law against “sacred cows”.

    He said: “We have had to disrupt the age-long wrong assumptions and historical narratives of the presumed immunity of sacred cows in our society, simply to demonstrate that henceforth the law will be used as a potent instrument to regulate the activities of all persons and institutions in our country in a fair and transparent manner.”

    Malami affirmed government’s resolve to probe the circumstances surrounding the failed power project leading to $9 billion arbitration award against Nigeria in favour of British firm, P & ID.

    The AGF regretted that the $9 billion is 20 per cent of Nigeria’s reserves and vowed that all culpable individuals and corporate bodies would be punished.

    He said: “It is a sad testimony with potential for national economic disaster when legal issues are handled either in a compromised, ignorant or incompetent manner.

    Read Also: Buhari has nothing to do with IPOB in Japan

    “Let me say that without prejudice to our right to challenge this award, Mr. President has already directed the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to take steps to ensure that all issues related to negotiation, signing, formation and obvious frustration of the purported contract are duly investigated and all persons and institutions, whether in the private or public sector, who acted in ways that have now made our dear nation face potential economic adversity and widespread opprobrium are made to face the law and prosecution in the law court.

    “Never again shall we allow such short-sighted individuals to compromise our national interest and walk away without a sense of accountability… Never again,” Buhari said.

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, noted that the Judiciary was not truly independent financially.

    He promised that it would not lose “its firm grip on the mantle of honesty, transparency and integrity”.

    The CJN, who explained that those three virtues formed the pivot of his administration, said the judges do not regard “anybody’s face or feelings” in deciding cases.

    He said: “By the grace of Almighty God, I will tenaciously hold on to that, even until that very moment of my last breath on earth.

    “Let me assure this assembly that we don’t look at anybody’s face or feelings before making our decisions.

    “If there is any deity to be feared, that deity is the Almighty God. We will never be subservient to anybody, no matter how highly placed.”

    He pleaded with those preventing judicial independence to desist.

    “Please, all that are concerned, let us enjoy our independence. If you say that I am independent, but in a way whether I like it or not, I have to go and bend down, asking (for funds) I have lost my independence” Muhammad said.

    Muhammed added that Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Justices sacrificed their annual vacation this year to clear the backlog of “time-sensitive cases”.  He admonished lawyers to desist from the practice of filing needless appeals at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

    The CJN warned that the apex court would be unsparing in punishing “blatant abusers of the court processes”.

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged lawyers to key into the ongoing global technological transformation, if they must remain relevant.

    Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said with the impact of technology in different aspects of life, the legal profession, as the voice of the voiceless, could not afford to swim against the tide in the scheme of things. NBA President Paul Osoro assured that the association’s members would ensure that the legal profession in Nigeria was “placed on the pedestal of integrity”.

    Delivering the keynote address, the International Bar Association (IBA) President Horatio Neto urged Nigerian lawyers to promote gender parity and ethnicity. He also advised them to specialise in different fields of technology that are relevant to the law profession at the global sphere.

  • Police recover body of slain cultist inside bush

    Men of the Edo State Police Command have recovered the body of a yet to be identified young man who was hacked to death by suspected cultist and dumped in a bush at Ugie community in Ikpoba-Okha local government.

    The deceased which was clad in black attire was taken to the morgue at Stella Obasanjo hospital.

    Okaighele of the community, Mr. Osas Imafidon, said he heard that some youths had engaged in bloody fight.

    He stated that further investigation showed that it was a fight between Vikings and Neo-black Movement of Africa.

    Edo police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the killing was reported by one Imafidon at the New Etete Police Station.

    He said investigation has commenced into the incident.