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  • Court bars Attorney-General NAPIMS, Total, others from implementing oil field contract

    Court bars Attorney-General NAPIMS, Total, others from implementing oil field contract

    A Federal High Court  in Lagos has restrained  Attorney-General of the Federation, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, (NAPIMS) Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board, (NCDMB),  Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Limited (SHINL), and Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd, and their agents from implementing the  Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit (FPSO) contract. The FPSO is in the Egina Field within OML130. The order will subsist  pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The court also restrained the defendants and their agents from implementing the  contract either

    Justice Okon Abang gave the order after listening to the opposing counsel.

    In an affidavit sworn to by the plaintiff, Mr John Iyene Owubokiri, had averred that the scope of Egina FPSO oil field which is expected to produce 200,000 barrels of oil per day as stated by SHINL is expected to create 50,000 jobs, saying this is strategic to the future.

    Owubokiri averred  that there are established guidelines by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for tendering and awarding of fabrication projects in the oil and gas industry. These guidelines were not complied with in the award of the Egina FPSO to Samsung,he alleged, adding that there were breaches of extant laws in the contract award.  The defendants breached provisions of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD)Act 2010 and relevant laws guiding the fiscal regime of the oil and gas industry.

    The NOGICD Act stipulates that NCAMB should supervice, coordinate, monitor and implement  the local content plan in the oil and gas industry. It shall also approves advertisement, qualification criteria, technical bid document, technical evaluation criteria and the proposed bidders list in bids for project in excess of $1 million. The Egina FPSO contract is worth $3,143,499,498.

    Owubokiri  claimed that Total Upstream covert launch by  its call tender without approval of technical stage and commercial template broke the law, standard practice and the established process for tendering in the oil and gas industry.

    The establishment of a fabrication yard in Bayelsa State was part of the local content plan  by Samsung to get the award  contract,  he averred, adding  that this could have created thousands of job, enhanced transfer of technology and skill acquisition for Nigerians.

    But, after the contract award,  Samsung, he claimed, abandoned the establishment of the fabrication yard  and now plans to carry out in South Korea the fabrication work meant to be done in Bayelsa  to the detriment of the economy.

    In a counter-affidavit,  a lawyer, Mr Olajide Oyewole, on behalf of Samsung  while denying some of the plaintiff’s averments  deposed that Owobokiri’s  rights have not been infringed.  ‘’He has not shown that he has suffered any special damage peculiar to himself apart from the public,’’ Oye-wole claimed, urging  the court not to grant the plaintiff’s application.

    Total Upstream,  in an affidavit sworn to by its lawyer, Chidiebere Ejiofor, urged the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s application because his client is challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear  the suit.  The court ought to hear and determine the preliminary objection first, before entertaining any further motion of the plaintiff, he said.

    Attorney General of the Federation, NAPIMS and MCDMB did not file any response.

    Justice  Abang, in his ruling  adjourning till Thursday, and restrained  the defendants and their agents from implementing the  contract.

  • N1b subsidy fraud: EFCC re-arraigns Alao Arisekola’s son, others

    N1b subsidy fraud: EFCC re-arraigns Alao Arisekola’s son, others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has re-arraigned three oil marketers,  Opeyemi Ajuyah, Abdullahi Alao and Olanrewaju Olalusi over allegation of N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

    They were re-arraigned on an amended eight count charge alongside their companies; Majope Investment Limited and Axenergy Limited before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

    The defendants were initially arraigned on October 10, 2012 on a nine count charge bordering on alleged  conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and use of fake documents.

    They  had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were subsequently granted bail by the court.

    During  trial last Friday on the matter, counsel to the EFCC,  Seidu Atteh, intimated the judge that the commission had amended the charges.

    The lawyer consequently prayed the court to order the defendants to re-take their pleas.

    He alleged that the oil maketers  fraudulently obtained N1billion from subsidy fund of the Federal Government  between January 2011 and April 2012.

    Atteh said that the money was for subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 15 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    The commission also alleged that  the defendants forged a bill of lading, cargo manifest and other documents which it claimed were utilised to have facilitated the fraud.

    Atteh said that the offences contravene Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006. The offence is also said to violate Sections 363(a) and 364 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    All  the defendants again pleaded not guilty to the new eight count charge preferred against them by the commission.

    Justice Okunnu  adjourned the matter till October 20, 2015 for trial.

  • Activists, others seek re-classification of youths

    Activists and stakeholders in youth development have called for the review of the 1999 Constitution to legally  re-classified  youths as persons between the ages of 18-45 years and accommodate them within the constitutional age requirements for elective positions.

    The demand was made at one-day summit of the Nigerian Arise/Nigerian Youth Think-Tank Group Summit, Western Region Summit, themed: “Generation Change and Transformation in Government: Nigerian Youths and Young Professionals Arise: re-write your history, take your destiny in your hands, looking beyond 2015”, held at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja.

    The Nigerian 2009 National Youth Policy defines youth in Nigeria to include all members of the Federal Republic of Nigeria aged 18–35.

    Activist and Lead Advocate, Constitutional Rights and Peoples Development Advocacy Initiative (CRAI), Ikechukwu Ikeji, in his paper titled: “An Analysis of  Youths and  Young Professionals Involvement in Governace from the first republic: The prospects in 2015 and beyond”, called for an immediate review of the Nigerian National Youth Policy of 2009 to reflect changes taking place around the world and the setting up of a National Youth Commission to serve as the regulatory organ for Youth Affirmative Action.

    Ikeji advocated for a Youth Affirmative Action in political and elective positions for at least 35 per cent representation of youth in all structures, positions, committees and congresses of political parties, and that which would ensure that at least 35 per cent quota is reserved for young people in all elective and non elective positions as well as reserving the position of national youth leader in all political parties for young persons within the age bracket of 20-45 years.

    Drawing from experiences from European countries, Ikeji argued for more involvement of youths less than 50 years of age in the governance of the country and cited various studies to buttress the fact that productivity in the elderly persons declines by the time they attained 55 years.                                                                                                                                                             According to him “a  study on  “Age and individual productivity: a literature survey”, by Vegard Skirbekk, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, 2003 found that people’s numerical and reasoning abilities are at their best in their 20s and early 30s; that a study for America’s Department of Labour showed job performance peaking at 35, and then declining while another study by Fredrik Nerbrand of HSBC, a bank, shows that  worker’s productivity peaks somewhere between the ages of 30 and 50, and declines more quickly after the age of 55″.

    To buttress his argument, he cited Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, who assumed office at 43 years of age; British Prime Minister, David Cameron who was 43 years when he became Prime Minister 5 years ago; American President, Barack Obama became President at 46 and Prime Minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi assumed office at age 39, among others.

    He lamented that the nation’s laws, including the Constitution completely excluded the youths from participating in the governance of the country.

  • Patoranking, others to storm UNILAG on ‘Shuga’ Tour

    Patoranking, others to storm UNILAG on ‘Shuga’ Tour

    As the tour of the award-winning MTV series, Shuga, reaches the University of Lagos, top notch entertainers such as Ice Prince, Patoranking, DJ Neptune and DJ Humility are set to storm the campus.

    The show will begin by 4pm on Saturday, May 16, at the Indoor Sports Complex.

    Hosted by VJ Ehiz and Sharon Ezeamaka, the event also affords attendees the opportunity to interact with stars from the series such as Emmanuel Ikubese (Femi), Timini Egbuson (Toby) and Sharon Ezeamaka (Princess).

    Apart from entertainment, the tour plans for young people to know their HIV status as confidential HIV testing and counseling will be available free of charge at the venue.

    Shuga is an MTV Base production targeted at educating young persons on the importance of practicing safe sex at all times.

  • Firm sues MTN, others for intellectual property theft

    For allegedly using the Emergency Recharge Card Service (ERCS) without the approval of the patent owner, four telecoms giants have been sued to the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    They are MTN Nigeria Communication Limited; Airtel Networks Limited;  Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (ETISALAT) and GLOBALCOM Limited.

    The firms were sued before Justice Saliu Saidu by a company, Erosalem Global Limited, for allegedly disregarding the plaintiff’s right over its invention (ERCS) with Patent no: NG/P/2009/634 by integrating the service on their platforms and benefitting financially.

    In a writ of summons marked FHC/L/CS/1694/14, the plaintiff is seeking an order of court compelling the telecom firms to account for all profits they made through the unlawful use, supply, sale and application of its ERCS invention.

    The plaintiff wants the court to order the defendants to pay 50 percent of all the profits made from inception of the package as well as interest on the said sum at the rate of 21 percent till judgment is given, and 12 percent thereafter,  till the entire sum is fully liquidated.

    It is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the telecom firms and their agents from using, selling, applying, providing to their subscribers or anyone, the plaintiff’s ERCS, which involves the process and application of borrowing airtime to telephone prepaid subscribers either through the use of SMS, USSD code, printed recharge card, customer care or any other mode.

    The plaintiff alleged that it invented the ERCS in 2008 and 2009, adding that it was the first to ever develop the concept.

    It averred that the invention was patented in 2009, which was not prior to that time, part of the methods or applications of any telecommunication in Nigeria or the world over.

    Hence, the plaintiff is praying the court to award N5 billion against MTN for alleged breach of confidence,  as well as N25 billion jointly against the defendants for the unlawful use of its Patented right.

    Stating its case, the plaintiff averred that after obtaining its Certificate of Patent (CofP), it sought a platform where the invention could become accessible to the public and through one Chibuzor Eronini (the inventor), approached MTN (first defendant) who invited it to a meeting held on March 12, 2010.

    It claimed that the meeting held at MTN’s office with Eronini representing the plaintiff while one Lynda Saint-Nwafor, a senior management staff, represented MTN.

    The plaintiff claimed that it gave a detailed presentation at the meeting and explained the workings of the ERCS to MTN,  which was impressed and expressed serious interest in implementing the product on its platform as a telecom provider.

    It stated that MTN then collected the written proposal of the product prepared by the plaintiff titled “Proposal for Emergency Recharge Service” (ERS), MTN,  which was a confidential document and promised to get back to Erosalem Global with the intention of entering a partnership to sell the product to MTN subscribers.

    The plaintiff averred that MTN deliberately refused to contact it on the way forward after obtaining its confidential information contained in the proposal and it eventually reached out to MTN on May 22, 2012, through email asking why the telecoms company failed to get back to it on the ERCS.

    According to Erosalem Global, it got a surprising reply from MTN (Nwafor) which said: “Unfortunately, MTN has moved on and currently in the implementation phase of this solution. Do take care for now.”

    The plaintiff further claimed that the ‘keep talking with MTN Xtra time’, currently being provided by the service provider was its ERCS invention.

    It stated that while MTN started the unlawful use of Its patent in February last year, Airtel started it in February 2013, with Etisalat and Glo commencing their in March and May, last year.

    Erosalem Global Limited claimed that its ERCS invention was being sold by the defendants in large scale to their millions of subscribers without its consent or approval.

    It averred that the defendants’ actions have infringed on its proprietary right over the invention of the ERCS, noting that despite writing the defendants in August last year, to desist from the act and compensation it, they continued the willful infringement of its right.

    Consequently, the plaintiff wants the court to declare that it is the bonafide owner and registered proprietor of ERCS and that MTN by unlawfully using a confidential information received from it on March 12, 2010, without its consent has breached its (MTN’s) duty of confidentiality.

    But in its statement of defence,  MTN denied the allegations, noting that the concept was not exclusive to the plaintiff.

    It described as false, Erosalem Global’s claim to originality of the concept of airtime credit service or advance airtime service.

    MTN alleged that as far as 2007, a British Virgin Island registered company, Urbis Telecom Corporation applied for and was granted patent over the idea of airtime credit advancement, and has sold the concept in various countries of the world and grants licences to other companies or organisations interested in making use of the idea.

    MTN further contended that its Xtra time service was different from the plaintiff’s ERCS, noting that Erosalem Global’s Patent involved the purchase and use of emergency recharge card vouchers by a subscriber at a value lesser than the stated value of the recharge card.

    It claimed that while the plaintiff’s patent involved the purchase and use of vouchers before a subscriber can enjoy the service, no such requirement was needed on its Xtra time service.

    MTN further denied the alleged breach of confidence, stating that no confidential information was communicated by the plaintiff, describing it as false and speculative.

    Praying the court to dismiss the suit and award substantial cost against the plaintiff, MTN described the suit as frivolous, speculative,  gold digging,  vexatious and a calculated attempt of exploitation.

    Like MTN, Etisalat also claimed that the practice of airtime advancement has been in existence in other parts of the world with requisite intellectual property registration, prior to the grant of Patent right in 2009 to the plaintiff.

    The matter has been adjourned to July 9, 2015.

  • Havard don, others for Regenesys Business School forum

    Harvard professor of Business Administration, Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, and founder/chairman Regenesys Business School Dr Marko Saravanja, will lead other international experts to debate on competitive strategy in three emerging markets namely, Nigeria, South Africa and India

    The event which comes up on Friday, 15 of this month, this year would see the need to look into the comparative advantage in each of the aforementioned markets in relation to global market.

    “The session will take delegates through theories, models and international trends and cases that are applicable across markets and across industries”, said a statement by Regenesys Business School management.

    “Core to successful strategy is the understanding of the company’s extensive environment, its own composition and abilities, the market make-up and its most attractive segments based on the organisation’s ability to serve, adapt to or grow with such segments. All this is to be factored into a set of options for building the organisation’s sustainable competitive advantage, given its relationships, its partnerships and connections, and the attractiveness of its offer to the targeted customer, the statement added.

    According to the statement, the event aims to specifically contribute to emerging market managers to understand central strategic challenges facing senior managers and chief executive oficers, and through case study examination, be guided towards identifying or understanding the roots of competitive advantage, evaluating the limits to such advantage; and making decisions that create and sustain performance advantages over time.

  • African airlines, others record growth in cargo, passenger traffic

    The global air transport report has revealed that African airlines have recorded a growth of 4.9 per cent, which reversed the yearly contraction experienced in June, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

    IATA Director-General/Chief Executive Officer,  Mr Tony Tyler, stated this at the weekend.

    He said passenger capacity rose up to 4.5 per cent, with load factor improving to 70.2 per cent.

    Currently, the biggest factor impacting international traffic demand in July , according to Tyler is the slowdown of the South African economy, coupled with the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which intensified towards the end of July, the impact of which was affected the industry since last month.

    Also, with the released data for global airfreight markets have showed a strong increase in air cargo in July. Compared to July 2013, freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) that rose to 5.8 per cent.

    To IATA, it was acceleration in growth from June when cargo demand grew at less than half that rate of 2.4 per cent.

    Global air cargo volumes have now surpassed their previous July peak, in 2010, and look set to continue to increase.

    “In particular, the 7.1 per cent growth reported by airlines in Asia-Pacific is encouraging as it demonstrates a recovery in trade and a positive response to China’s economic stimulus measures,” Tyler said .

    He continued: “Airlines reported growth in July, which is a positive story for the global economy. Robust economic conditions support the expansion of travel. In turn connectivity stimulates economic growth and creates jobs. It’s a tried and tested virtuous circle. And the expectation is for continued solid growth over the remainder of 2014.

    “We cannot ignore, however, the risks that could de-rail this trajectory. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, weakness in the Eurozone, hostilities in Eastern Ukraine and instability in the Middle East loom large. Airlines are on track to record a profit of some $18 billion this year. But that is a net profit margin of just 2.4 per cent, which does not provide much of a buffer. So it is critical that governments shore-up connectivity with business friendly policies based on reasonable taxation, cost-efficient infrastructure and smart regulation.’’

    Tyler added: “July was another strong month of growth for air travel. People are connecting by air in ever-greater numbers. That’s true across all regions. Despite the various economic challenges, the outlook for passenger travel remains broadly positive. The overall sluggishness at the beginning of the year appears to be behind us with growth in China and other emerging economies offsetting recent deterioration in the Eurozone.”

  • Jonathan Butler, Yemi Sax, others to perform at Satchmo Jazz festival

    Nigerian jazz lovers can get set for an exciting experience as this year’s edition of Satchmo Jazz Festival comes to town.

    The event which holds on April 30 at Oceanview Marquee, Eko Hotel, Lagos, features Jonathan Butler, Somi, Bobby Ricketts, Tunde Jegede, The Nomadic Mystics, HKB FINN, Cleveland Watkiss, Trio Ivoire and Yemi Sax.

    Satchmo is the nickname of Louis Armstrong, a legendary jazz musician, trumpeter, film star and comedian. He has influenced many musicians and he exerts influence beyond jazz.

    Satchmo Jazz Festival commemorates the UNESCO International Jazz Day which is celebrated on April 30.

    Also, a grand finale of the jazz performances comes up on May 3 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

    Master classes in music composition, voice and vocoder, poetry and performance open to young musicians were held on Thursday at Goethe Institut, Lagos. In addition, symposiums and the screening of three Jazz Films: Blue Note, Play Your Own Thing, and Last Song before the War also held.

  • VC, others mourn Tamuno

    The UNILORIN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has described the death of the pioneer head of the institution, Emeritus Professor Tekena Tamuno, as a big loss to the academic community.

    Tamuno, who was appointed the pioneer principal of the university, then called the University College, Ilorin, in October 1975, died on April 11, this year in Ibadan, at the age of 83.

    Reacting to the death of the renowned historian and distinguished administrator, Ambali said  he would be remembered for his vision and pioneering role in laying a solid foundation for the UNILORIN upon which generations of Vice-Chancellors after him are building.

    In a condolence letter to Tamuno’s widow, Ambali said: “Prof. T. N. Tamuno contributed significantly to the establishment, development and stability of the University” of Ilorin, adding that he was “a pleasing, friendly and easy-going person, who was loved by all who were privileged to work with him.”

  • AAU to honour Oyakhilome, others

    AAU to honour Oyakhilome, others

    •First VC is first Professor Emeritus

    Founder, Believers Love World (BLW) popularly known as Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, is to be conferred with a honorary doctorate by the Edo State-owned Ambrose Alli University, his alma mater.

    Pastor Oyakhilome would be honoured with the Doctor of Science at the 19th Convocation of the university on Saturday.

    Others to be honoured are Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, who would be honoured with Doctor of Letter, and business mogul, Chief Lee Ikpea, who will bag the Doctor of Business Administration.

    Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Cordelia Agbebaku, who announced this at a pre-convocation  briefing, said a former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. John Osemeikhian, would be installed as the first Emeritus Professor of the institution.

    Agbebaku said a total of 8,167 graduands from the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 academic sessions would be presented with certificates, first degrees and higher degrees during the event.

    The VC said Prof. Gregory Akenzua would be installed as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the university.

    She ruled out arsonists’ attack on fire that gutted some of the university buildings recently, blaming it on electrical surge.