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  • FIFA to test Mikel, others

    FIFA to test Mikel, others

    As the 2014 World Cup approaches, FIFA have introduced a new method to test the Super Eagles players and other stars that will participate in the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    The World football governing body has introduced biological passport tests to ensure football’s elite players are not doping throughout the sport’s biggest international tournament.

    According to a FIFA report monitored on Friday, Nigerian players and their collegues would be tested unannounced before the tournament kicks off on June 12.

    A new method of testing players for banned substances has been introduced as FIFA has become the first international sports authority to introduce the biological passport.

    Professor Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s chief medical officer, and Martial Saugy, director of the LAD Laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland, are in charge of the doping analysis for the tournament and say they will test every single player before the tournament begins.

    “We are introducing a completely new approach with the implementation of the biological profile,” Dvorak told FIFA’s official website.

    “We are testing all the players from every team prior to the competition in unannounced controls. The results of those analyses will be compared with samples from previous competitions and from in-competition controls during the World Cup in order to detect potential deviations that may indicate an abuse of performance enhancing drugs.

    “From the experience of the controls that we have carried out so far, the response from players, coaches and team managers has been very positive, demonstrating the general support of the football community to keep our sport free of doping.”

    And Saugy insists there are no signs from the early tests which indicate any kind of doping from players.

    “The first results are still confidential and not published, but they definitively show that among those top teams, there have been no significant deviations from the norms.”

  • Delegates propose senators, Reps, others to work part-time

    Delegates propose senators, Reps, others to work part-time

    The National Conference yesterday adopted a resolution making legislative functions of senators and House of Representatives members part-time.

    The delegates also agreed that House of Assembly members should function part-time.

    The resolution followed the adoption of the recommendation of the report of the Conference Committee on Public Service, chaired by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Ebele Okeke.

    The corollary of the resolution is that if endorsed by the Federal Government, national and state legislators will become part-time workers rather than the current full-time basis.

    The delegates resolved that remunerations, including allowances of national and state lawmkaers, should be in accordance with what obtains in other countries.

    The conferees also resolved that the payment of pension, life insurance and severance allowances to national and state legislators, governors and deputy governors should be cancelled.

    They stressed that if done, the measure would reduce the high cost of governance in the country.

    The conference agreed that people with disability should be given an allowance equivalent to the salary of Grade Level 6 officers.

    The delegates adopted the proposal for the creation of a separate Foreign Service and a separate Foreign Service Commission.

    The proposal that there should be no transfer from outside the civil service into the directorate cadre of the civil service was accepted. The recommendation that there should be mandatory training for promotion from Levels 12 to 17 was also adopted.

    The delegates accepted that the Head of the Federal Civil Service of the Federation should only be made from the pool of permanent secretaries and same for Head of Civil Service of states.

    The proposal that the civil service of the federation should operate the same set of rules and procedures with those of states was accepted by delegates.

    They also accepted that State Character Commission be created.

    The delegates agreed that any civil servant involved in execution of contract for pecuniary benefit should be summarily dismissed.

    They agreed to make Social Health Insurance mandatory for public and private employees to grow the pool.

    The delegates rejected that Social Health Insurance should be extended to states and local governments and allow the National Insurance Scheme to oversee it.

  • PDP plots secret legal battle against Amaechi, Nyako, others

    PDP plots secret legal battle against Amaechi, Nyako, others

    Barely five days after the defection of five of its governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is plotting a secret legal battle to declare the seats of the governors vacant.

    Also, the party yesterday hired a 10-man team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to file a case at the Federal High Court on Monday on why the governors should step aside.

    But the five governors said they are ready for the battle against the PDP.

    Those affected are Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).

    Although there were arguments on whether to include Governors Sule Lamido and Aliyu Babangida in view of their comments and body language, the idea was shelved at the last minute.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the recourse to court was the outcome of tripartite marathon meetings of the PDP leadership, some selected elders of the party and some forces in the presidency between Wednesday and Thursday.

    It was learnt that at the wee hours of the night on Thursday the party, the three groups agreed that there are sufficient legal grounds to move against the governors.

    According to findings, two issues were isolated at the secret meetings to back up PDP moves to unseat the affected governors.

    The issues are the Supreme Court judgment on Amaechi vs PDP and Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Section 221 says: “No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election.”

    A PDP top source said: “If you go through the decision of the Supreme Court in Amaechi vs PDP, it was expressly declared that parties are voted for at election and not individuals.

    “The position of the PDP is that since the governors have defected to the APC, they can no longer hold our party’s governorship mandate in trust. They have to step aside.

    “This is a major constitutional test for the country, and we are ready to pursue it to the logical conclusion.”

    As part of the secret plot, it was gathered that the PDP might invoke “case stated” principle during the hearing of its application by asking for interpretations from the higher courts to guide the Federal High Court.

    “With the interpretation of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution and other interpretations from the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the fate of the governors would have been sealed from the lower court,” an other source added.

    As at press time, however, the party has decided to hire a 10-man team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) which would be led by Chief Alex Iziyon (SAN) who is more or less the counsel to the President.

    Others already engaged are Phebian Ajogu (SAN), Austin Alegeh (SAN) and a northern constitutional lawyer said to be familiar with winning such a case.

    The list of seven others was kept under wraps last night because they are yet to extract commitment from them.

    Some of the lawyers met between 9am and 11am yesterday after which they went to stamp some evidence at the National Library.

    But surprisingly, the counsel to the PDP, Mr. J. K. Gadzama (SAN), is not among the lawyers because of what a source described as “his hands are full” in view of many cases involving the party, especially that of the National Secretary of the PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

    It was learnt that during one of the sessions, a PDP chieftain suggested the hiring of a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. J. B. Daodu (SAN) to lend weight to the legal battle.

    It could not be immediately ascertained whether Daodu would accept the offer or not.

    Meanwhile, investigation by our correspondent confirmed that the five governors have got wind of the plot and they have launched a counter-legal attack.

    One of the governors, who spoke in confidence, said: “We know what they are capable of doing, and we are a step ahead of them. We will meet in court. It shows how desperate and mean the PDP could be.

    “We have also studied the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution before we opted to merge the New PDP with the APC.

    “Sections 188 and 189 of the 1999 Constitution are explicit on how a governor can vacate his seat.

    “A governor can be removed by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal in accordance with Section 188 or 189 of this Constitution.”

    Section 188 says in part: “The Governor or Deputy Governor of a state may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section.

    “Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third members of the members of the House of Assembly is (a) presented to the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the state; (b) stating the holder of such office is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified.

    Section 189 reads in part: “The Governor or Deputy Governor of a state shall cease to hold office if (a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all members of the Executive Council of the state, it is declared that the Governor or Deputy Governor is incapable of discharging the functions of his office; and (b) the declaration in paragraph (a) of this sub-section is verified, after such medical examination as may be necessary, by a medical panel established under subsection (4) of this section in its report to the Speaker of the House of Assembly.”

    The governor said if the PDP believes in the rule of law, why did it keep quiet when governors were defecting to it.

    He added: “Let them remove the moth in their eyes before heading for court. Did the Governor of Abia, Theodore Orji, not defect from the PPA to the PDP to earn his second term ticket? Did Orji step aside?

    “He who goes to equity must do so with clean hands. Tell the PDP to practise what it is purportedly claiming to preach. Ex-Governor Ikedi Ohakim also defected from the PPA to the PDP and heaven did not fall. Even one of the die-hard loyalists of the President at present, Governor Isa Yuguda, moved from the ANPP to the PDP which was considered a good thing.

  • Fashola, others seek laws to regulate traditional medicine

    Fashola, others seek laws to regulate traditional medicine

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has called for a more effectice regulation of traditional medicine.

    He sought its full integration into the health care system for a better harnessing of their benefits.

    Speaking at the African regional forum of the International Bar Association (IBA) conference in the United States , the governor said those referred as herbalists could be made to play more economic and health roles in Africa.

    Speaking on the topic: Off to the witch doctor! Regulating African traditional and indigenenous medicine, he said traditional medical practice cannot be wished away.

    According to him, they provide medical care for a large section of the people.

    “It exists and serves a segment of our society and some people believe in it because it works for them.

    “Integration is the key. There is no medical production that does not have its foundation in nature. Traditional medicine is based on beliefs and the acceptability of the practice is something that you really cannot legislate,” he said.

    He said Lagos has a Traditional Medicine Regulatory Board which not only registers the practitioners of traditional medicine, but also regulate what they do.

    He, however, cautioned that government cannot over-regulate the practice.

    If it does, the best results from their practice may not be achieves because some of their practices cannot be verified with empirical facts.

    Fashola called for more pragmatic regulation and full integration into the orthodox practice where possible.

    He said Lagos has trained hundreds of traditional medicine practitioners on how to improve their services.

    Fashola condemned the attitude of some practitioners who claime to solve all manner of ailments.

    The keynote speaker, Dr. Emmanuel Fashakin classified his experience with African traditional medicine into the good, the bad and the ugly.

    He noted that traditional medicine is orally passed on from generation to generation, possibly because of the lack of education among its early practitioners.

    He said traditional medicine is divided into two, the physical and metaphysical.

    The physical traditional African medicine is divided into herbal medicine, hydrotherapy and radiant healing, he said.

    He named some of the plants in the practice as Fennel, Serpentine, Digitalis, etc.

    Fashakin called for serious regulation of the practice, which he said should include registration of its practitioners, enabling laws to guide the practice, education of the practitioners and users, and possibly integration with the orthodox medicine.

    Dr. Joy Sackey noted that there is room for traditional medicine practitioners in Africa.

    She said Ghana has about 45, 000 of them, which was why the government enacted the Traditional Medicine Practice Act in the year 2000.

    Accordint to her, the Act led to the establishment of a Council to regulate traditional medicine and its practitioners.

    She called for balancing, integration and need to introduce basic standards, as well as promote collaboration between modern and traditional medicine practitioners.

    Dr. Richard Marlink condemned traditional medicine practice because according to him, it lacks standardised forms, its claims cannot be verified by empirical means and so, if it cannot be proved, then it does not exist.

     

     

  • Keshi invites Mba, Oboabona, 22 others for Abidjan cracker

    Keshi invites Mba, Oboabona, 22 others for Abidjan cracker

    Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, on Thursday called to camp 24 players who will fight for shirts in the 2014 African Nations Championship final qualifying leg against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, in Abidjan on July 27.

    All the players are expected to report in Abuja on Monday, 15th July. Only 20 players will make the trip to Cote d’Ivoire’s industrial and economic capital on July 24.

    Keshi has invited four new players, including one defender, one midfielder and two strikers, in line with a pledge to inject a few new faces following last Saturday’s opening leg win at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

    Kwara United’s former junior international defender Ganiyu Ogungbe, Kano Pillars’ midfielder Rabiu Mohammed, junior international striker Abdullahi Gero of Enugu Rangers and Osadinye Joseph of Warri Wolves

    are the new birds at hand.

    Ace playmaker Sunday Mba, who scored two goals and made two others in the commanding 4-1 win, tops the list that also includes goalkeeper and skipper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Chibuzor Okonkwo, as well as midfielders Olufemi Oladapo and Ayo Saka, and forwards Muhammad Gambo, Ifeanyi Edeh and Dele Olorundare.

    Having never previously qualified for the African Nations Championship– the flagship tournament for players plying their trade in their country’s domestic League in the continent – Nigeria has a firm leg in next year’s finals in South Africa, and Coach Keshi has promised there would be no room for the Ivorians to attempt a spectacular come-back in the return leg at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

  • N25.7b ‘theft’: Atuche, others urge court to quash charges

    N25.7b ‘theft’: Atuche, others urge court to quash charges

    The former Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone) Mr. Francis Atuche and two others yesterday urged a Lagos High Court, Ikeja to quash the 27-count charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The other defendants are Atuche’s wife, Elizabeth and the former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.

    The request was contained in a no case submission filed through their counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and brought pursuant to sections 35(3), 36(5) of the Constitution and Section 239 of the Administration of Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

    Atuche, his wife Elizabeth and Mr. Anyanwu were arraigned before Justice Lateefat Okunnu on allegations of stealing N25.7 billion belonging to the bank.

    The defendants urged the court to strike/dismiss or acquit them of the charges.

    In the motion supported by a five-paragraph affidavit and a written address filed by their counsel, Chief Idigbe, the court was urged to dismiss the charges against the first and second defendants for being “duplicitous.”

    “Counts one to 10 as listed and counts 11 to 27 are similar charges that are duplicated, which means that one cannot commit the two sets of count the same time,” he said.

    Idigbe argued that the evidence provided by the prosecution did not warrant putting the defendants in the witness box because they were circumstantial and contradictory.

    He also told the court that the evidence by the witnesses were unreliable, adding that there were noticeable contradictions of facts as it concerns issues of the actual money allegedly stolen and the acceptable banking procedures.

    Chief Idigbe cited several authorities to buttress his submission on why Atuche and his wife should have the charges brought against them discharged.

    He submitted that the over-generalisation of the facts by the prosecution, which is sacred and the absence of vital witnesses, such as Peter Ololo, was a serious lacuna in the prosecution’s case.

    Idigbe said there was no evidence linking Atuche’s wife, Elizabeth, directly to the charges against them.

    According to him, the only evidence before the court was that she was a director and a shareholder of the companies alleged to have benefited from the loan transaction.

    “The only offence against the second defendant was that she was a housewife to the first defendant, who was the managing director of the bank and a director of the companies,” Chief Idigbe said.

    In a similar vein, counsel to the third defendant (Anyanwu), Mr. Sylva Ogwuemor, urged the court to be bold in doing justice by discharging the charges against his client as there was no evidence sufficient enough to warrant his trial.

    He described the evidence by the prosecuting witnesses as speculative and that they did not show that his client was a beneficiary of the money allegedly stolen from the bank.

    According to him, the only link to his client was signing a letter and sending an e-mail, which he described as a legitimate duty associated with his position as the chief financial officer of the bank.

    Ogwuemor said the prosecution had failed to lay before the court impeachable evidence against his client as the statement of his client was inadmissible in law with regard to the administration of criminal justice laws for failing to video his confession or take his statement in front of a legal officer.

    But counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), opposed the defence and urged the court to discountenance their submissions.

    Pinheiro claimed to have provided enough potent, cogent and forensic evidence of the action of the defendants on the charges of which they are accomplices.

    Mr. Pinheiro argued that it was a misconception of the law for the defence to state that the charges were duplicitous since the doctrine of double jeopardy had no place with respect to counts or offences.

    Justice Okunnu adjourned the matter till July 1 for ruling on the no-case submission applications of the defendants.

  • Ohuabunwa, Utomi, others join business forum

    Stakeholders in different sectors of the Nigerian and British economy have initiated a new bilateral trade-promoting platform to benefit all categories of Nigerian and London based entrepreneurs.

    In a release made available to The Nation, the state said that the new body which is to be known as the Nigerian London Business Forum (NILOBF), parades distinguished personalities as board members including: Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former President, Nigerian Economic Summit; Professor Pat Utomi, a respected entrepreneurial advocate; John Momoh, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Channels Television); Ray Ekpu, founding former Editor-in-Chief, Newswatch Magazine.

    Others include Dr. Adekola Ali, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Union Bank, UK Plc, Jonathan Banjo, Managing Director, AJB Executive Search Limited, London and Dr. Chris Onalo, Director, CBS Credit UK, who incidentally is also the initiator of the novel idea.

    Among other things, the board members are expected to carry out functions which are non-administrative and non-executive, but would border on bilateral policy advisory, advocacy as well as other essentials that strengthen bilateral engagements.

    According to the promoters, the objectives of the Nigerian London Business Forum are among others, to promote, support or oppose legislation or other policies and measures capable of affecting trade, investment, and business between Nigeria and London, as well as representing the opinion of London based Nigerian business community on those matters and the economy as a whole.

    The forum has also enjoyed the support and commitment of Nigeria High Commission in London who recognizes that down there in London, there is a very strong consciousness of the large population of Nigerians in business, the skills they have, the energy they have and their great economic potentials which has contributed in no small measure to the prosperity of the UK economy.

  • Artisan, others win prizes in Lipton promo

    A Kano-based plumber, Mr John Folajomi and Miss Ikemefuna Isioma, a worker of General Motors, in Lagos, who emerged winners of a brand new car prize each, in the just-concluded ‘Lipton switch on and win promo,’ have been presented with their prizes

    Five other customers, including an eight-year-old pupil of Ajelogo Nursery and Primary School, Ketu, Lagos, Ebonyegharun Osadumebi Zion, went home with N100,000 each, at the presentation held at Unilever’s head office in Lagos.

    Other winners were Razak Adeyemi,Amih Njideka, Kehinde Agbomeji, and Florence Ojebseme, with George Friday, winning a return ticket to Dubai as 100 other consumers were also rewarded through the exercise.

    Speaking at the presentation of prizes, the Vice President, Operations, Unilever Plc, Mr Anil Gopalon, said the promo was initiated late last year to reward consumers for their support for the brand.

    He said: “One of the major reasons for the promo was to spur Nigerian consumers to develop interest in taking healthy drinks, instead of carbonated products that could be injurious to human system. Our major reason for conceptualising the promotion was, first to reward consumers, encourage them to drink tea and to add value to the lives of our teeming consumers.”

    The vice president, who said the reward exercise always takes place at every first quarter of the year, also posit that consumers should expect more of such exercises in the future.

  • Gowon, Obasanjo, Buhari, others support Jonathan on centenary celebrations

    Gowon, Obasanjo, Buhari, others support Jonathan on centenary celebrations

    Some former leaders, including Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, were at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night to support President Goodluck Jonathan in beginning the centenary celebration slated for January 1, next year.

    The amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates, which made up the Nigerian nation in 1914 by the British colonial administration, would be 100 years old on January 1, next year.

    The event, which began at 8:30 pm and ended about 11 pm at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, had Pa Buhari, a 120-year-old from Zungeru in Niger State, who witnessed the 1914 amalgamation and a boy and a girl, representing the younger generation, lighting the centenary torch.

    Noting that the amalgamation was not a mistake but an act of God, Jonathan said it created a unique entity of the globe called Nigeria; a beautiful country richly blessed, which has turned out innovative people across the globe.

    Besides the endowed natural resources, he said Nigeria is blessed with a unique collection of people specially created by God.

    According to him, the “one Nigeria” consciousness, which has kept the nation together, must be guarded.

    He said it was a unique act of God that the country had survived a civil war and other challenges.

    Jonathan said: “The unity of Nigeria is indivisible and non-negotiable. We must remain the forward looking people we are.

    “I see a united, powerful and prosperous nation that will make the generation yet unborn very proud. Arise, we shall and prosper we will.”

    Gen. Gowon described Nigeria as “a unique nation, a nation of diverse, strong and hard working people.”

    According to him, not many nation could survive 100 years of cohesiveness despite the diverse nature of the nation and the challenges it has gone through.

    Unveiling the centenary logo, he said: “May the emblem symbolise a rallying point for the unity of the nation.

    “May it be a reminder of our entity, unity and oneness, which are not negotiable and serve as a symbol of peace, unity and prosperity.”

    Chief Obasanjo recalled his 2003 national broadcast when he asked: “If you cannot love Nigeria and be positive about it and make contributions to its progress, then I should ask you what sort of Nigerian are you?”

    He told Nigerians that after 100 years of staying together, they should remain focused on the quest for making Nigeria a “humane, just and progressive” nation.

    After his remarks, Obasanjo presented the centenary theme: ‘One Nigeria, Great Promise’.

    Gen. Abubakar noted that Nigeria, for surviving 100 years and more of co-existence despite the challenges, is in the league of countries like India, China, Egypt, Ethiopia and Amenia.

    He said the nation should use the opportunity of the centenary celebrations to lay the foundation of a new nation.

    Abubakar thereafter presented a centenary theme song entitled: ‘This Land, Celebrating 100 years of Nigeria’, which was subsequently performed by a team of notable Nigerian musicians led by Onyeka Onwenu.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, launched the centenary web portal. “www.nigeriacentenary.com.ng” Senate President David Mark launched the centenary lottery.

    The lottery saw a State House correspondent with the Peoples Daily, Abdurahaman Abdulraheem, win an I-pad. A female guest won an I-phone.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said in line with the directive of the President, the celebration would involve all Nigerians and its sponsorship would be private sector driven.

    He said he was amazed at the response of Nigerians to support the celebration and make it strong, colourful and fascinating.

    Anyim said the centenary celebration would be used to replace pessimism with optimism to make the country rise above its challenges.

    He disclosed that the celebration would generate over 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    Other dignitaries, who attended the event, included the Deputy Senate President Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar.

    Some governors, ministers, presidential aides, captains of industries and members of the diplomatic corps were also present.

    With the beginning of the centenary celebration on Monday night, the Federal Government yesterday continued its programmes for the event by unveiling one of the endearing legacies of the celebration, the Abuja Centenary City, to investors.

    The City, which is planned to promote international, local business and boost economic activities in Nigeria, is also to create a solid example for the future of urban development in Nigeria.

    At the Investors Forum held yesterday in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim, while presenting the models to likely investors, said: “The new smart City would be built on a stretch of 1,000 hectares in Abuja, making it the second but largest city development in history…”

    According to him, the business hub would not only attract a record 500,000 visitors everyday, “by the end of its five-year development cycle, this innovative and vibrant City would have created over 50,000 construction jobs and 5,000 permanent well paying jobs.”

    On the occasion, the Minister of Culture and Tourism Edem Duke said: “We must re-orientate our minds to the fact that this City would also house middle income earners, who work within the City, but the principle of this development is to reposition Nigeria as the cultural, commercial and entertainment capital of the continent.”

  • Hajj: Sultan, senator, others restate support for govt sponsorship

    The Sultan of Sokoto and Amiru’l Hajj, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the Federal Government not to withdraw its sponsorship of pilgrims to holy lands.

    The sultan said there is need for Nigerian authorities to take a firm stand on Muharam to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj exercise.

    The conveyance of Nigerian pilgrims during last year’s Hajj was temporarily disrupted when some women pilgrims were barred from going to Medina because the need for male relations to accompany female pilgrims under 40 years was being implemented.

    Abubakar spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day post-mortem conference on last year’s Hajj.

    The sultan hailed the Federal Government for the successful execution of the last holy pilgrimage.

    He said the exercise was successful when viewed against the background of some challenges pilgrims and authorities encountered during the pilgrimage and how they were surmounted.

    Drawing from the objective of the conference: To review the 2012 Hajj operation and identify suitable strategies for improvement, the Muslim leader said: “It has become imperative to engage the Nigerian and Saudi authorities on the issue of Muharam.

    “They have to look at the fact that we are predominantly of Maliki school of jurisprudence. We don’t expect someone to order us to follow something else. Even though it is a give-and-take issue, there is still the need for engagement and enlightenment.

    “I urge this conference to take a stand, which will be in the best interest of the country and the Muslim Ummah, so that as we prepare for this year’s excessive, we don’t fall into the same trap again.”