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  • Timi Frank lied on alleged N90b cash gift to APC, says FIRS

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Monday debunked an online report that it supported the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with N90 billion through Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The publication in some online and daily newspapers was credited to APC’s former Deputy National Publicity Secretary Timi Frank.

    In a statement by FIRS’s Director of Communication & Servicom, Wahab Gbadamosi, said among others things:

    • That the entire allegation being spread by one Timi  Frank that the  Federal lnland Revenue Service spent N90 billion to fund the last election is mendacious, wicked, malicious and a calculated attempt to smear the image of the Service and that of his Excellency, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
    • This campaign of calumny and villifying false claims are entirely, libellous, unfounded in fact, irresponsible and a brazen assault on the integrity of the Service as a responsible and accountable organisation and clearly demonstrates an abysmal ignorance of the budgetary and expenditure process of the FIRS.

    Read Also: Clampdown on ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ politicians, Frank tells EFCC

    • That in the last four years since Mr. Tunde Fowler has supervised operations at the FIRS, the agency had not received up to N90 billion, per annum, as Cost of Collection from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). Mr. Frank and his band of liars might wish to cross-check this from FAAC, a public institution, whose records are open to the public.
    • That it is from the remittances from FAAC — which had never grossed up to N100 billion, per annum, that FIRS pays the salary and emoluments and trains it’s over 8000 staff, runs over 150 offices and provides for other needs of the Service.
    • That given the above, it is not plausible nor does it make any sense that FIRS will commit its resources to a phantom campaign of N90 billion as suggested by Mr. Timi Frank and FIRS does not fund political associations.”

    Urging members of the public to disregard the report as a tissue of lie, Gbadamosi said: “The FIRS is a public trust, which the agency operates on behalf of Nigerians. Taxpayers money – including the operational funds of the Service – are sacred and we exercise, extra care and diligence in expenditures, even after such funds must have been appropriated by the National Assembly.”

  • Lawyers ask court to stop APCON’s internet adverts regulation bid

    The Incorporated Trustees of Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative (DRLI) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to stop the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON)’s planned regulation of internet advertisements.

    DRLI, through two of its lawyers, Solomon Okedara and Olumide Babalola, is seeking a declaration that APCON lacks the power to vet and charge fees on Internet-based advisements posted by non-advertising practitioners.

    The lawyers are contending that going by the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of APCON vs Registered Trustees of International Covenant Ministerial Council and others, “the respondent (APCON) does not have powers to vet and or charge fees on Internet-based advertisements made by non-advertising practitioners.”

    They prayed the court to perpetually restrain APCON and its agents from further vetting and charging fees on online and social media advertisements made by non-advertising practitioners as it violates their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and the press.

    In an 11-paragraph supporting affidavit, one Sunkanmi Bello explained that DRLI is a non-governmental organisation, which advertises its activities, events and achievements on its website, www.drlawyers.com

    Bello said the NGO also used Internet-based social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, to disseminate information about itself.

  • Bello, Wada and battle for Lugard House

    The Kogi State governorship election is gathering momentum. Who wins between Governor Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? Correspondent JAMES AZANIA writes on the preparations for the poll.

    Eyes Are on Kogi State as it warms up for the November 16 governorship election. Analysts are unanimous that it will be a two-horse race between Governor Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The PDP candidate is a brother to Bello’s predecessor Capt. Idris Wada.

    The Wada brothers, alongside 11 others, participated in the PDP primary.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 52 candidates, including five women and their deputies, to contest the election.

    Seven women were cleared to contest the election as deputy governors.

    Notwithstanding the array of candidates, those of the APC and the PDP appear the two to watch out for. But, while the ruling APC appears to be going into the election as one united party, the same cannot be said of the PDP.

    Against all odds, Bello appears to have put the fractious and centrifugal forces that threatened to tear the ruling APC apart, in better shape. The PDP was only able to put its campaign organisation in place, few days ago. Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), also a governorship aspirant, rejected his appointment as the head of the PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation.

    With the D-Day fast approaching, other disturbing indices in the PDP have continued to unfold, including defections of its stalwarts.

    Read Also: PDP urges INEC to warn Bello, APC against violence

    Chief Clarence Olafemi, a former Acting governor and ersthwhile Campaign DG to the PDP presidential candidate in the last general election, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, was last week at the Government House Lokoja. He indicated he was set to dump the PDP, saying that the national working committee of the party had failed to recognise his input and effort, despite being one of the strong members of PDP in the state.

    The controversial Kogi PDP primary may have contributed to the crisis in the PDP family, with strong indication that the party may lose more of its chieftains in weeks to come.

    While the dust raised by the primary that threw up Wada is yet to settle, more PDP chieftains have expressed their willingness to either defect to the APC or work against the party from the inside.

    Permutations prior to the PDP primary were flung in the winds. Going into the exercise, the bets were on either Idris Wada or Abubakar Idris, son of former Governor Ibrahim Idris, to emerge the standard bearer.

    The PDP was happy with Bello’s emergence as Kogi APC candidate, hoping that the election will be a walkover, on account of the former’s alleged poor performance and inability to deliver dividends of democracy to Kogites.

    In a statement by Kogi PDP Publicity Secretary, Bode Ogunmola, the party said: “PDP has long been praying for the APC to make the mistake of presenting Bello for the governorship poll. It is a well-known fact that the governor cannot win any local government in Kogi, due to his poor performance, and the way and manner the resources of the state is being massively looted. His desperation to return is to save himself from going to prison over looted funds. That was why he had to spend hugely to get strong contenders (for the APC ticket) disqualified. If he succeeds in fooling the leadership of his party and the delegates, we are confident that he cannot fool Kogi electorate, who are victims of his monumental misgovernance.

    “It is shameful that in four years, Bello could neither invite President Buhari to inaugurate any project nor any of the governor’s colleagues to inaugurate projects initiated and completed by his administration.”

    Ogunmola called on Bello to forget a second term saying: “Kogi people are wiser, and so are not ready to go through another round of no salaries, no pension, harvest of suicide, no infrastructure development, but government sponsored thuggery and violence.”

    Bello became governor in 2015, following the sudden death of Prince Abubakar Audu, who was coasting to victory at the APC governorship candidate.

    The development threw spanners in the works of the winning party, with the lacuna in the electoral laws, as to who should step in as governor-elect. Chief James Faleke was Audu’s running mate. The runner-up at 2015 APC primary was Bello.

    The INEC declare the election inconclusive, and Bello was awarded the late Audu’s votes, leaving Faleke, who would have been deputy, out in the cold.

    Bello faced stiff opposition from the Audu/Faleke APC group right from the inception of his administration. There were strident calls that he should be denied the APC ticket for the election.

    Despite the protests, Bello picked the ticket, and got the endorsement of the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who said that he performed better than the PDP, which was in power for 13 years.

    Opponents of Bello’s second term bid, including his deputy, Simon Achuba, who is presently facing impeachment threat, accused him of irregular payment of salary to workers, victimisation of perceived enemies, mismanagement, appointment of ineffectual persons into office, muzzling of trade unions and non performance.

    The ethnic factor:

    The pervading ethnic influence on Kogi politics may end in Bello’s favour.

    The majority Igala people of Kogi East were waiting in ambush; to deploy their numerical strength to remove Bello from the Government House, at the poll.

    The plan being to present formidable opponents in both the ruling APC and the opposition PDP, to supplant Bello. But, they were outgunned by the latter, who not only won his primary with a very wide margin, but went on to play the joker, by picking his Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja, an Igala man, as his running mate.

    Onoja has in the last three years built a cult followership among his kinsmen, particularly the teeming youths. His coming on board as Bello’s running mate, is sure to be reciprocated at the polls by his kinsmen.

    The Ebiras of Kogi Central, where Bello hails, from will most certainly back their own, while the people of Kogi West, where Speaker of the House of Assembly, Prince Mathew Kolawole hails from, are likely to follow suit.

    Bello, with the combination of Onoja, is considered a first rate strategist, with the ability to penetrate the seemingly impenetrable.

    With the backing of the national leadership of  his party, which for obvious reasons will not want to lose Kogi State, the Bello ticket becomes even more formidable.

    Bello will also have the support of two senators, seven House of Representatives members, 25 members of the House of Assembly, commissioners and the legion of political appointees, including the 21council sole administrators he appointed.

    Recently, Bello commissioned the Omi rice farm, in Kogi West and stepped up on other areas.

    He was also able to offset salary arrears, with the release of the last bailout by the Federal Government.

    Bello’s main challenger and candidate of the PDP, Musa Wada an engineer is from Dekina, the largest local government area in Kogi East. A political neophyte, his emergence as the party’s standard bearer, from among more formidable opponents, including Capt. Idris Wada, Abubakar Idris, the son of a former governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and Senator Melaye, attested to the contrary. Between him and the incumbent, the November 16 governorship poll in Kogi will be interesting.

  • Much ado about new economic team

    Between lawyers and economists, there is a certain swagger.

    The lawyer quips, not unlike the tortoise in the Yoruba folktale, he had stuffed all learnedness inside a gourd, leaving only himself “learned”; and others merely “educated” — sweet delusion, to be sure.

    The public economist is well-nigh the unquestionable policy czar; because he bristles with arcane theories.  Still the economy is trite: when two or three are gathered, an economy dawns.  To survive, one needs the services of the other.

    Nevertheless, this economic oracle’s word must be law.  At the mention of his name, all plebs must kneel and bow!

    The New Testament may claim the ripping of the tabernacle’s holy-of-holies; and the gospel exposed to all, since Christ had paid the price.

    Not here!  The severe temple stands; its holy-of-holies holds, its immaculate creed, which only the sacred economic theory-priests understand, reigns!

    So, if not a few swoon and bow, at the advent of a new Buhari Economic Advisory Council (EAC), to replace the administration’s Economic Management Team (EMT) that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo chairs, you should know where the votaries are coming from.

    For one, the EAC is not so-called.  It boasts, in its ranks, among the most alluring minds in the land: Chair, Prof. Doyin Salami, of the Lagos Business School (LBS); Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Obasanjo’s national economic adviser and Yar’Adua/Jonathan era Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor; and Bismarck Rewane, boss at Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, a Lagos-based financial consultancy firm.

    The others in the team: Dr. Mohammed Sagagi (vice chairman), Prof. Ode Ojowu, Dr. Shehu Yahaya, Dr. Iyabo Masha and Dr. Mohammed Adaya Salisu, the senior special assistant to the president on development policy, who will serve as secretary.

    Unlike the VP-chaired EMT which cuts across disciplines, the EAC is an all-economist redoubt, with members boasting expertise in varied areas in that field.

    Salami, EAC chairman but a member of the old EMT, is clearly the link between the old and the new; and therefore offers some continuity.

    A PhD graduate from Queen Mary College, University of London, his research areas include characteristics of small and medium enterprises, macroeconomic policy and the economic management of business, his forte at LBS.  He has also served as member of the CBN Monetary Policy Committee.

    Rewane struts his stuff at Financial Derivatives, a regnant Lagos financial analysis company, with more than 30 years’ experience as a banker, economist and financial analyst.

    Prof. Ode Ojowu, though little media-driven, is a veteran in the economic advisory corridor.  He was Obasanjo’s chief economic adviser (2004 and 2005), before the Soludo-Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala era, aside from being former boss at the National Planning Commission.

    Read Also: Race for more revenue gathers steam

    Dr. Iyabo Masha, immediate past IMF country representative in Sierra Leone, had a stint in the CBN research department (1998-2003).  From there, she has bloomed as an international economist, with a rich career in central banking, specializing in financial markets, economic management, international lending, finance and development and microeconomic stabilization policy, research and implementation.  She also boasts a strong Breton Woods culture, having worked for both the World Bank and the IMF.

    The triad of Sheu Yahaya, Mohammed Sagagi and Salisu Mohammed, from their CVs, could well be described as still waters running deep — all boasting PhDs; with Sagagi and Mohammed also earning a B.Sc. first class in Economics.

    Yahaya, current chairman of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) board, was a one- time executive director at the African Development Bank (AfDB).

    Sagagi, aside from his PhD and other rich career strides, holds a certificate on how to make the market work for the poor, from the Springfield Centre, Durham University, UK.

    Mohammed’s thesis, en route to earning a PhD from Lancaster University, UK, was “Oil Exports and the Nigerian Economy: An Econometric Study.”

    Clearly, among the EAC members, Soludo most epitomizes the Obasanjo-era economic thinking (1999 to 2015).  But all that, with its surfeit of theories, crashed with the recession of 2015, prompting the Buhari-era new pitch: grow what you eat and eat what you grow.

    That pitch signalled new activism in agriculture, now resulting in increasing local rice mills, away from the old days of near-wholesale rice imports.  But the new spirit would appear more of praxis than theory.

    Indeed, it was a radical shift, in economic philosophy, from the Okonjo-Iweala ethos of rebasing of numbers, to signify economic growth, to tilling the land and firing the local furnace to enlarge and deepen the Nigerian real sector.

    As Obasanjo’s chief economic adviser, Soludo theorized on NEEDS — the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS), with its SEEDS (states) and LEEDS (local governments) coordinates.

    It was a brilliant and comprehensive charter.  But it was shackled by over-centralized, trickle-down thinking; when what Nigeria needs is federalized, bottom-up thinking.

    As Yar’Adua’s CBN governor, Soludo also theorized with what he called the Strategic Agenda for the Naira, a re-decimalization strategy, which he had hoped would make the Naira lean but strong, at least in parity with the American dollar.

    That strategy was ingenious, for by switching decimals — and not strengthening the local real economy — it had hoped to strengthen the flabby Naira against the dollar!

    That created quite a public uproar; and elicited a turf war between the CBN governor (Soludo) and attorney-general and minister of Justice (Michael Kaase Aondoakaa) who belched fire and threatened a legal Armageddon, should Soludo not eat crow and retract his fancy Naira policy.

    That was how the decimalization policy collapsed.

    Earlier, Soludo had implemented a banking recapitalization, if controversial, policy; which ensured banks with poor capital bases merged, to avoid the collapse of the banking system.

    Some hailed it.  Others rammed it.  It did what it had to do. But it didn’t prevent the Sanusi Lamido Sanusi CBN era from bailing out some banks with public money.

    It is unclear how Soludo’s theory activism would fit into the new structure.

    Still, it is good the EAC is a conclave of minds that can grapple with the latest economic theories, and show the way forward for the economy.

    But all that would be naught, if it can’t increase the stock of local rice; birth policies that  ensure the full firing of local factories; without abandoning the key pro-poor programmes of the last four years, viz: the school feeding scheme; and access to cheap credit by the most humble of Nigerian ventures, epitomized by the Tradermoni loans.

    If their efforts bolster these schemes, then the Nigerian economy would have been on the way to genuine deepening, starting with food security; and agro-allied processing to feed local factories and provide jobs.  That would be the making of true legacy.

    But if it alters that course, it would be back to the old days of rich theorizing but arid concrete results.

    Nigeria is not bereft of theories.  What it lacks is the political will to make those theories work for its people.

    Nigeria must build an economy that works for Nigerians; not the structured outpost of some foreign metropole, which must continue to grow, even as Nigeria eternally shrinks.

  • NCS Act 2019: Ex-AGF Ojo seeks more justice sector reforms

    Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), has called for more justice sector reforms following the enactment of the Nigerian  Correctional Service Act 2019

    Ojo said plea bargain, suspended sentence and parole, among others, should be entrenched in our criminal justice system.

    Praising President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the NCS Act 2019, he said the law would stimulate an overhaul of the prison system and bring succour and sanity to prisoners and stakeholders alike.

    The Act, which replaces the Prisons Act of 2018, also changed the Nigerian Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service.

    Ojo said: “As Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, I presented a memo to the then Federal Executive Council in January 2006, under the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, that any awaiting trial inmate who had spent time that is more than the sentence he or she would have bagged if tried and convicted of the offence  should be unconditionally released immediately.

    “Also, any awaiting trial inmate with the exception of those charged with capital offences like murder, armed robbery or terrorism that has spent up to five years in prison without trial should be unconditionally released immediately. Halfway homes should be established for prisoners who have spent 75 percent of their term to enable them prepare for re-integration back into the society. In addition, any convict that was  seventy years and above or with a terminal disease should be pardoned and released unconditionally.

    “He recommended that a stakeholders summit comprising all the Chief Judges in the country, all Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Justice, all Controllers of Prisons nationwide, all Commissioners of Police, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, National Human Rights Commission, Civil Society and any other relevant body should be convened as soon as practicable to fashion out a permanent solution to the intractable problem of congestion in our prisons

    “The memo was approved by Council and led to the biggest and most ambitious prison decongestion exercise ever embarked upon in the nation’s history.

    “This is one of the events that has given me so much joy in my life.”

    On how  he became familiar with bthe plight of prisoners, Ojo said: “I was not actually on a new road in this regard, between 1999 and 2004, I  was the Chairman of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LAC), a Federal Government parastatal established to assist the indigent in the society who cannot afford legal fees.

    “LAC provided lawyers for this category of people to represent them in court, especially in criminal proceedings.

    “In 1978, though  my place of  primary assignment was the Ministry of Justice, Enugu, I  also did part of my National Youth Service with the Legal Aid Council.

    “That was when I  visited the prison for the first time in my  life and the conditions there made a lasting impression on me  and I  resolved that if given the opportunity, I will do something to ameliorate the situation.

    “So, when I  became the Minister of Justice, my vision was to achieve three purposes. First was to fight the cases of so many poor people in court and see them released from prisons.

    “The second was to empower lawyers, especially the junior ones trying to find their feet in the profession and that was why I engaged many  lawyers and gave them briefs to fight the cases of the poor who were in prisons but could not afford legal representation. At the same time, this led to decongestion in prisons all over the country.”

    Explaining his passion for the oppressed, Ojo said: “Whatever is your calling in life, your only claim to real success is how you use your profession to impact positively on your environment, community and the lives of ordinary people of the society.

    “The need to do this is the motivating factor to use the law as a tool for social engineering. Above all, the humanity of any nation is determined by how it treats its prison inmates”.

    He commended stakeholders, including  the National Assembly and the  Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for the law.

    Immediately after Ojo left office, he was appointed as a member of the United Nations International Law Commission based in Geneva, Switzerland where he joined other egg heads from across the world to contribute to the development of the world in the area of the law.

    But whatever contribution he may have made to the society, Ojo believes he is only following in the footsteps of great Nigerian legal minds that have used the law for the benefit of their people.

    “We’ve had in this nation eminent lawyers like the late Chief Gani Fewehinmi SAN, Alao Aka-Bashorun and Kanni Ishola-Osobu, who all through their lives, stood for what was right and what was just. Above all, they stood on the side of the people. They fought oppression where ever it reared its ugly head. I salute their courage. They should be immortalised. May their souls continue to rest in peace”.

    Nevertheless, he observed that his personal achievements are incomparable to the challenges that lie ahead for the nation, which is why the reforms in the justice sector carried out by his successors is commendable.

    He added: “We should be able to have plea bargain, suspended sentence and parole, etc fully entrenched in our criminal justice system.

    “The prisons need to be rebuilt with better infrastructure and the welfare of prisoners improved.

    “We should also make progress in terms of improvement in procedure in civil cases and better case management. Above all, we must embrace IT in all ramifications including fast track courts, electronic filing of cases, taking evidence electronically instead of long hand and training of judges, lawyers and other support staff of the courts”.

    On the political scene, Ojo observed that most people pay attention to Governorship, National Assembly and Presidential elections.

    The focus, he suggested, should be on Councillorship, Local Government Chairpersons and State House of Assembly elections. “These are the elections that are closer to the people and the grassroots. We need to pay keen interest on who becomes our councilor and local government chairperson. The same for who represents us at the various States Houses of Assembly”.

  • Lawyer hails Ayade over tribunal victory, new ministries, agencies

    Association of Professional Negotiators and Mediators President, Dr. Dorn cKlaimz Enamhe, has hailed Governor Ben Ayade’s victory at the Cross River Election Petition Tribunal, describing it as victory for all Cross Riverians.

    Enamhe told The Nation that this victory would enable the governor to continue transforming Cross River State without distractions.

    He urged politicians to shun primordial sentiments and join hands with the governor to make the state an economic hub in Africa.

    He said: “The victory of Sir Ben Ayade means so much to Cross Riverians. At a moment like this, where life for an average Nigerian in some states of the federation has been reduced to feeding from “hand to mouth”, where some state economies have been totally grounded, at a time President Buhari being aware of the sufferings of Nigerians will say he will not inflict more sufferings on Nigerians, Cross River State  is lucky with a selfless, people-oriented and industrialisation-driven governor

    “The tribunal judgment, beyond being expected, comes to consolidate a mandate that has its roots  at the polls. It  was unprecedented, a  governor that won his opponents in all the wards of the state from Gakem to Bakassi . The judgement was a clinical legal finishing reflecting,consolidating and validating the good wishes of the good people of Cross River State

    Read Also: Tribunal reaffirms Sanwo-Olu as Governor

    “At this moment, all we need to do is to pray for the governor who says all hands must be on the plough this time. We must support him and encourage him in his industrialisation drive; our state is in dire need of a new nomenclature “the industrialisation hub of Nigeria”. Our energetic youths would want a fall back and that can only come throughout permanent job creation and provision,” he said.

    Enamhe added: “I join the first family of Cross River State to celebrate with all Cross Rivereans on this joyous moment and milestone judgement. Let’s consolidate on the super highway project, the Bakassi deep sea project, the seed and seedlings factory, the noodles factory, the power plant project, the banana plantations, the rice mill in Ogoja, the Cocoa processing factory at Ikom, the toothpick factory, the pharmaceutical factory and most of all, the annual carnival Calabar project, the biggest street party in Africa, taking a close look at the additional ministries

    “Governor Ben Ayade must be appreciated for his policy of specifics,where people are made to serve in their specific areas of special interest unlike in the past where commissioners or directors -general of agencies will be overseeing bogus ministries, departments and  agencies  where they may not likely be able to deliver and control all the areas unde their watch

    Here, again, Ayade has shown his depth and rare gift of leadership  by creating nine new ministries and 11 agencies.

    “The ministries are Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Foreign Affair,  Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Science & Morality, Ministry of Construction & Fabrication,  Ministry of Marine Services, Ministry of Urbanisation, Ministry of Internal Revenue Services, Ministry of Social Welfare while the newly created agencies are: Street Clearing Agency, Cross River Airport Authority, Cross River Port Authority, Cross River Border, Patrol Agency, Green Police (Sheriff) Agency, Afforestation Agency, Waste To Wealth Agency, Bakassi Development Authority, Obudu Ranch Development Authority, Fresh Forest & Flower Agency, Artificial Intelligence Agency,” Enamhe stated.

  • Nnamdi Kanu leads delegation to US for UN General Assembly

    Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu would lead other members of the group to the United Nations General Assembly slated for New York, United States of America.

    The Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Onitsha on Monday.

    It said the trip was something the leadership of the movement was looking forward to with great enthusiasm.

    The statement partly read, “Regarding the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, we have both direct and indirect representations for the forthcoming events in the US. Our people are on the ground.

    “If the right conditions which we are waiting for are put in place, our leader will personally lead our people; otherwise it would be on a later date which would be duly announced.”

    READ ALSO: Biafra: Kanu leads delegation to UN on Tuesday

    Speaking on the recent meeting with UN officials in Geneva, Powerful said, “Our exchanges were frank and forthright. If there were doubts before in their minds that Nigeria is one almighty calamity, the feeling we got after our discussions is that they now have a proper appreciation and deeper understanding of how irredeemably hopeless the case for one Nigeria has become in light of the reign of impunity, poverty, repression, unbridled corruption and collapse of the legal system.

    “We understand and respect the legitimate yearning of the public to know what transpired between IPOB delegation to the United Nations in Geneva led by our able leader and prophet Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the staff of the various agencies of the UN we met and had fruitful discussions with.

    “Without divulging very sensitive details that may undermine confidence and future discussions such as the one we just had, it will be prudent to say at this time that the meetings went very well and in some instances surpassed our expectations.

    “Our case is now before the various specialised UN agencies or working groups with specialty in various specific monumental human rights abuses systematically perpetrated against Biafrans and other vulnerable individuals and groups in Nigeria.”

  • AGF to judges: be credible, bold

    Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has urged  judges to be credible and render justice to all without fear, favour or ill will.

    He said this would  ensure that the integrity reposed in the courts remained unshaken at all times in order to foster and promote public confidence in all judgments and rulings from the court.

    Malami stated this in Abuja during the special court session held by the Federal High Court to mark the beginning of the 2019/20 legal year.

    He also praised the court for the speed with which it handled pre-election matters in the wake of, during and after the general election.

    “This court has set the records straight, which helped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to effectively field the right candidates for the elections and the efficient conduct of election processes,” he said.

    Malami urged lawyers to cooperate with the Federal High Court in ensuring that the dignity, integrity and credibility of the court are not put to ridicule.

    He said: “We must collectively shun fraudulent practices and to render sound and unbiased advice to our clients based on laid down laws and not on sentiment. We should also not be seen encouraging our clients to ridicule this court into doing the impossible. As ministers in the temple of justice, we must together foster the desired growth for a better society because this court, on its own, can only do little as permitted by law.”

    The Acting Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, while declaring the new legal year open, said that 116,623 cases were pending before the courts across the country.

    His words: “16,144 cases were filed in this quarter alone in which 12,692 have been disposed of. It is obvious that the judges were overburdened with work in the last legal year.

    “We, therefore, need to engage more judicial officers to help out. However, it does appear that there was no provision for appointment of judges in the current budget. I will make effort to discuss with the relevant stakeholders to see to the visibility of facilitating the recruitment of more judicial officers in the course of the year.”

    Also speaking, the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), represented by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, called for specialisation of courts.

    Read Also: Buhari committed to wellbeing of the masses – AGF

    It said: “The challenge, which we wish, respectfully, to place before my Lord, the Chief Judge is to break this court into specialised divisions.

    “What I mean is that the era of general jurisdiction in one judge has shown that a judge, each day, has over 25 cases to deal with.

    “Their claims or causes include political matters under Electoral Act, criminal matters under National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and sundry crimes.

    “In the same cause list, you have suits on aviation, fundamental enforcement, bankruptcy and insolvency, terrorism, mines and minerals including pollution, natural gas, including arbitration matters, arms and ammunition, cybercrimes treasonable felony and allied offences and interpretation of the constitution causes. The learned trial judge moves from law to the other within hours with rulings and judgments to be delivered thereon.

    “My Lord, specialised divisions of the federal court will lead to specialisation, increase productivity and reduce the much talked about delay in the administration of justice arising from unnecessary work load. The calls and argument for “Special Corruption Court” will pale into insignificance and spent.”

    It continued: “We are in the 20th Century, where information technology has become a tool for efficient management of cases, resources and time in the administration of justice. It is not an impediment to elevation even up to the Supreme Court.

    “All you need is to invest in training, retraining and continuous education in the specialised fields. The judges will suffer less stress and pressure. We believe the greatness of the court lies in creativity and innovation and so, respectfully, recommend this idea for the consideration of all stakeholders.”

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on its part, stressed that the independence of the judiciary was under threat by the Executive.

    Its President, Paul Usoro (SAN), noted that it is not for nothing that the Federal High Court is described and looked upon in terms that suggest its ranking as primus inter pares in the hierarchy of High Courts in the Nigerian Federation.

    According to him, “The gamut of its jurisdiction, both exclusive and concurrent, stands it out. But more than that, it is the primary High Court in the federation that has jurisdiction over the entire federation, with its divisions dotted all over the country.

    “Your Lordships therefore have the unique advantage of being periodically transferred from one division of the court to another and in that process, Your Lordships get to work in, know and understand all the different component units of the Nigerian Federation and also appreciate the different quirks and idiosyncrasies of the people that make up this great country.”

    Usoro further said: “Your Lordships are therefore in a prime position to pronounce, as Your Lordships always do, through this Honourable Court’s decisions, that, though tribes and tongues may differ, we remain one great country and are strong in spite of and indeed because of both our diversity and unity.

    “It is in that context that I specially congratulate Your Lordships for stepping forward at critical moments to reaffirm and cement the bonds of our Nigerian unity through the various pronouncements and decisions of Your Lordships’ courts.

    “The opening of the legal year traditionally affords the Bar and the Bench the opportunity for introspection and to ruminate on national issues particularly those that affect the justice sector. Topping the list of such issues at all times is the need to promote and protect the rule of law in all its ramifications. That need is perhaps more pronounced today given the siege under which the justice sector is currently operating, evident in the open and sometimes veiled incursions by the executive arm and its agencies. In particular, the independence of the judiciary is under severe threat.

    “To be exact, the independence of mind and thoughts by Your Lordships in the determination of matters before the courts is under severe siege. The executive arm of government and its agencies are increasingly and unceasingly critical of the judiciary and its decisions, particularly in matters that the government and its agencies may be interested in. It is not unusual these days to hear high officials of government talk down the judiciary and ridiculously and rather ill-advisedly dump all the ills of society on the judiciary,” he said.

    Usoro noted that:“Decisions by Your Lordships are sometimes brazenly denigrated and attributed to ulterior and ill motives – and these on social and traditional media platforms. Veiled and sometimes open and, in all cases, audacious attempts are made to teleguide and programme the decisions of courts. These are very dangerous practices that destroy the independence of the judiciary and by extension the rule of law and indeed the fabric of our society.

    “The society needs and can only survive if we have independent-minded judges, who are empowered to dispense justice to all manner of men, including government departments, without fear or favour. We can only survive as a nation if the independence and vibrancy of the judiciary, particularly, the non-interference with the thoughts and decision-making processes of Your Lordships, are guaranteed and protected,” Usoro said.

  • Bye…EMT; enter EAC

    President Muhammadu Buhari may have set a new economic tone for his administration when Monday last week, he replaced the Economic Management Team (EMT) headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with a new body – Economic Advisory Council (EAC), headed by Prof Doyin Salami. Other members of the EAC are: Dr Mohammed Sagagi (vice-chairman); Prof Ode Ojowu; Dr Shehu Yahaya; Dr Iyabo Masha; Prof Chukwuma Soludo; Mr Bismark Rewane; and Dr Mohammed Adaya Salisu (secretary). The new body, according to presidential spokesman Femi Adesina will report directly to the president.

    The EAC, he said, will “advise the President on economic policy matters, including fiscal analysis, economic growth and a range of internal and global economic issues, working with the relevant cabinet members and heads of monetary and fiscal agencies”. Aside monthly technical sessions and scheduled quarterly meetings with the president, he also disclosed that the chairman may “request for unscheduled meetings if the need arises.”

    Expectedly, the move has generated controversies – much of it – we daresay are needless. In the first place, it remains entirely the prerogative of the president to put in place such advisory bodies as he might deem necessary in the discharge of the burden of governance so long as these are within the ambit of the relevant statutes.  Secondly, having been in the saddle in the last four years, the president must have reflected on the overall impact of the former team’s activities vis-à-vis the administration’s stated goals, hence he came to the inevitable conclusion that fresh hands are needed at this point in time.

    Thirdly, for a presidency often accused of insularity, it certainly marks a new dawn that it is now seen as pooling ‘outsiders’ – albeit individuals regarded as being among the nation’s brightest and best – into the policy-making orbit. Here, it bears stating also that whatever perceived autonomy said to have been enjoyed by the former EMT was only within the latitude permitted by the president as the chief executive.

    Without necessarily passing any judgment on the former team, the relevant question is whether a new team is what is needed at this time. Here, it is sufficient that the president has concluded that he needs one. Although, he did not as much say why the previous team had to go, it is not difficult to speculate on. Fact is, the efforts put in by his administration in the last four years have not translated to much economic growth. Despite generous claims of achievements in the area of economic diversification, non-oil contributions remain modest even as oil still retains a substantial share of the growth equation.

    The famed potential of agriculture remains to be demonstrated as the sector is yet to truly live up to its billing. The same with manufacturing; any talk of backward integration has been extremely modest; to compound the misery of the sector, our manufacturing companies, unable to make forays into export markets, have long been reduced to perennially sourcing for foreign exchange generated by other players. The summary of course is that our economy remains uncompetitive. As a result, unemployment, particularly of the youth, has remained alarmingly high.

    The situation would ordinarily compel fresh, if not entirely unconventional ideas. And to the extent that the president is assumed to know where he’s headed, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

    However, as it is all too often the case, constituting an A-team to advise is only the minor part; allowing them the freedom to discharge their duties, or even accepting their expert recommendations is a different ball game altogether. By requiring that the EAC report directly to him, our understanding is that the president seeks to communicate the priority that he places on its assignment, which is perfectly in order. We expect that nothing should be done to either frustrate or truncate this desire. In the end, what Nigerians want is the measurable impact of their expert advice on the economy, and ultimately, their well-being.

  • Ministers’ score card

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo a few days ago declared at the Annual National Management Conference of the Institute of Management in Abuja that all the ministers recently appointed will render their first performance report to the Presidency in December 2019. Having been given specific mandates, the vice president believes the ministers have their duties cut out for them.

    The presidential election took place on February 23, 2019. The ministers were inaugurated on August 21, almost four months after the president and the vice president were inaugurated on May 29. The stark reality that virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy are suffering from endemic management failure was highlighted by the vice president. A good observation, we must agree.

    We totally align with Prof. Osinbajo that the ministers must hit the ground running. We also commend the idea of keeping them on their toes and for them to be subjected to regular evaluation to determine those to continue and the ones to be dropped. Nigeria at this point in time must be treated as though in the economic emergency ward, literally.

    However, we must point out that the lateness in nominating these ministers was a bit worrisome, both to the local and external economic watchers. We are in a world that works with the speed of light and actions and words of policy makers matter every minute. The speed with which the ministers should have been appointed would have made some difference and had some psychological impact on them and equally made them realise the sense of urgency needed.

    Read Also: To new ministers: Start as you mean to go on

    While we applaud the idea of accountability at that level and the need to make ministers responsive and responsibly accountable, we also acknowledge that barely four months on their duty posts might be too short a time for some comprehensive and valid evaluation of their performance. We believe that standing on past administrations’ style of blindly nominating ministers for Senate screening without their knowing their portfolio is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.

    Most of the ministers were posted to territories they have some real learning to do and a December performance card period might not truly show their performance capabilities. This however does not imply we disagree with the proposal. We commend any step that can elicit a sense of purpose and accountability, not only from ministers but from all public servants, including those in the states and local councils.

    Like the vice president rightly observed, there is a total endemic sectoral decay, but a stampeded evaluation might be counterproductive. We suggest that, like the ministers were told during their two-day pre-inauguration retreat, the real economic situation of the country must propel them to swift and committed action. They must be advised to be less partisan and see the country as deserving of their total allegiance and commitment.

    We equally believe that there must be an internal mechanism of monitoring such that immediacy of corrective measures is possible, to save the economy from drowning further. Those ministers that seem too lethargic to move on with the progressive economic rejuvenating steps must be dropped and more dynamic and upwardly mobile people appointed in their stead.

    Nigeria has an abundance of natural and human resources; so, she has no business being the poverty capital of the world. The periodic evaluation is welcome in ways that do not appear like hurrying into perdition. Consistency in policy execution seems to be alien to past administrations in the country. The government must not be permissive with ministers but must not rush the evaluation processes in ways that might be counterproductive.

    Being chosen from more than a hundred million Nigerians must be seen as a rare honour and an opportunity to truly serve and not to be served or be upgraded to untouchables. We urge the Presidency to remain consistent in evaluating the ministers’ productivity transparently. That way, those involved would realise that their image is at stake and might be persuaded to be more focused.